McGregor will do anything to get gambling in Al.   A lot of politicians are in his pocket. Interestingly he and Bear Jr want gambling but do not want to open it for bids where the big guys like Harrah would outbid them.  He and Jr give a pittance to the state and locals and all smile.  I read where they give about 40% of the norm in other states.

I haven't heard about it.  Got a link to the story?

Quoted: how do i stand on the gambling issue in the bid for the govenors office?

You're legalizing gambling, and building me a Hard Rock Casino in Calera.

SG

Quoted: why the big jihad this last year on gambling?

This target is on McGregor, not gambling, McGregor = Democrats = AL's bought and purchased corrupt democrat legislature = wrong side of govenors race this time?

I think this is political calculation on the sheriff's part, hard to tell if he made the right bet, really has nothing to do with gambling, more to do with being on the side of the "Roy Moore tide" he may believe is going to sweep the state and be the real turn out factor in the next election...

As to your political aspirations, run for Lt. Gov this time around, it's wide open, Gov race is likely going to be Lucy Vs Roy.  I would bet Bob RINO, er' Riley goes down in the primary and Siegelman can't run from the crossbar hotel he is finally headed to.  Roy Vs Lucy will be fascinating in this state and probably too close to call.  Either way we loose wrt the quality of our next Governor's ability to lead but nothing new about that.... since 1978 James, Wallace, Hunt, Folsom, Seigleman, Riley.....name the great leader in that bunch....NONE!

Quoted: Quoted: how do i stand on the gambling issue in the bid for the govenors office? You're legalizing gambling, and building me a Hard Rock Casino in Calera. SG

We are growing too fast as it is, I have not gotten over the new Wal-mart yet, now theres talk of a Cabelas, Outback Steakhouse and several other biggies.

Quoted: heard today that the sherrif's department is now going after illegal aliens hard core as of today. so in the last few months we have..... strip clubs the dog track illeagle aliens and not much interest prior to this. I am thinking more and more this is just political posturing

Of course it is. That's why sheriffs make the major drug busts the month before the election. Wait and see.

These gambling schemes are largely unregulated.  For example, in states with legal gambling, slot machines must pay out a certain amount and are inspected to ensure they aren't rigged.  These weird bingo machines and such are probably fixed because they aren't regulated and inspected because, well, many aren't legal.  And the state won't regulate the legal machines, as it would look like an endorsement of gambling machines in general.  

One possibility for the raid: illegal gambling machines are subject to forfeiture.  i believe i read one article that indicated that the machines seized in this last raid cost several million dollars.....

D'oh, double post!

Plus McGregor, while bragging about what he pays to the govvy and charity, actually has negotiated the lowest rate in the U.S. so he is a bad deal.

...i have no problem with enforceing the laws but it shouldn't be just in an election year.

Always what is going to happen when the CLEO is elected, a politician first and a lawman second, this pattern is not new and it repeats in every county in this state...always has, no rational reason to believe it would work any other way.

They (Sheriff's) are going to get active on what ever political tide they think will help them keep their job.  This time around I think it is the assumption that Roy Moore is going to bring an unprecidented wave of anti-vice voters to the polls with him.  Hence, time to be tough on gambling, strippers, etc. etc.  

Quoted: dammit we can't be hastling the strippers. Those poor girls need jobs too. those poor naked bodies shivering the cold because they can't work is an abomination!!!

Amen!

Somebody should buy Mike Hale one of these T-shirts:

http://www.tshirthell.com/store/product.php?productid=330