Ever since Roy Moore’s surprising victory in the March Republican primary a hue and cry has arisen from some mostly upscale GOP and Independent Alabam-ians to derail his return to his old position as Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court. The rumors and plans abound from all areas of the state. They are more prominent in coffee club conversations, country club cocktail parties and suburban watering holes. The people are frustrated and convinced that Moore’s resurrection is an embarrassment to the state.
The bottom line is that Moore will be elected to his prior post as Chief Justice in November. Winning the GOP primary nomination is tantamount to election in Alabama, especially in a year when Barack Obama is heading the ticket and the contest is for a judicial job. Alabamians decided about two decades ago that they want only Republicans on their state courts. The current count is 19 Republi-cans and zero Democrats on the state appellate courts of Alabama. The numbers will remain the same when the dust settles on the night of Nov. 6.
Those who bemoan the fact that Moore will return to head our state court system need only face the facts. We are a very religious and conservative state. We are not California. If you want liberal judges move to California. Likewise, under our antiquated Electoral College system of selecting our president, if you want your vote to count for president move your voting to Florida.
The plans to thwart Moore’s ascension to the high tribunal range from a write-in campaign to replacing the current Democratic nominee with a more qualified and electable candidate. That will not happen. The Democratic nominee is Harry Lyon. He likes his fun in the sun. This is his 11th Don Quixote foray into state politics. He enjoys being the brunt of jokes and ridicule. He will not quit and he also will not campaign.
The idea of a write-in campaign winning or even having any affect on the outcome of this race is futile and ludicrous. Several potential write-ins are out there quacking around. Indeed, if you are looking for quackers, Donald Duck will probably receive more votes than these other potential write-in candidates. Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse always get write-in votes, even for president.
My guess is that in the presidential race in Alabama Romney will get 63 percent to Obama’s 37 percent. In the Chief Justice race Roy Moore will be elected in November. He will probably quietly serve his six-year term and ride off into the sunset. He cannot run for a second term because you are prohibited from running for a judgeship in Alabama at age 70. Moore is 65 years old.