It started in 1950 and it hasn't stopped. What I speak of are the countless men and women who have run for governor of Alabama even though they know they have absolutely no chance of winning.

Prior to 1950 gubernatorial campaigns were nearly always limited to three or four men...most of them well known in the arena and with at least some chance of making a dent in the race.

Then came 1950 and everything changed. There were 15 candidates in that primary. I have long referred to these unknown men and women...perhaps harshly but not unrealistically...as "run for the fun of it" candidates.

It doesn't cost a greal deal of money to run for governor of Alabama...the qualifying fee is only $2,029...and the candidate is assured of getting his or her name in print and on television countless times. It is the cheapest advertising you can buy.

With that lead in, let me introduce you to the latest "run for the fun of it" candidate. His name is Joe Copeland of Cullman. He is 65 years old. He is running for governor in the Democrat primary. And...are you ready for this...the No. 1 plank in his platform is to give free contraceptives to all Alabamians to control the population growth.

Thought you would want to know.

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I went out to a local eatery a few days ago to see Fob and Bobbie James for the first time in a long time. The former twotime governor and his wife were to speak at a press conference kicking off a fund-raising campaign for cystic fibrosis. This terrible disease claimed the life of their son Greg in 1967 and they have been hugely involved in fighting that disease ever since.

Gov. James did not show for the event...he was feeling poorly... but Bobbie was there and in an interview she left no doubt where she and her husband were in the 2006 gubernatorial campaign: They are strong supporters of Roy Moore.

"I am convinced Roy Moore was raised up by God for a special mission," Mrs. James said.

"Even if he does not win," Mrs. James added, "it is important that he run."

When asked about her views of Gov. and Mrs. Bob Riley, she said she had never met either one of them but "they seem like nice people."

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Associate Justice Tom Parker of the Alabama Supreme Court made it official a few days ago...he will indeed challenge his colleague Drayton Nabers for the office of Chief Justice in the GOP primary.

It is a win-win situation for Parker. The law allows him to run for the CJ post without having to vacate his seat on the same court. If he loses he will still have a job for four more years.

Parker of course will be running as a "Roy Moore Republican." He was Moore's top counsel before getting his endorsement in his successful race for the high court two years ago.

Parker has some strong family ties in the political arena...his wife Dottie James Parker is a cousin of former Gov. James and his step-father is Harry Pennington of Huntsville, a major player in past administrations of Gov. George C. Wallace.

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With only two days left in the 2006 regular session of the Legislature, funeral services are being held for hundreds of bills which no longer have a chance of passage.

Among the victims was a bill to authorize cameras at traffic intersections to catch motorists running red lights; enacting term limits on legislators; requiring legislators to post their travel expenses on the Internet for all to see; a ban on most abortions in Alabama; and a bill to impose a three-year moratorium on capital punishment in the state.

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Residents of Huntsville and Madison County have reason to be proud of the role they played in sending man to the moon, and they are expressing that pride with their purchase of special vehicle license plates.

The new tags which proclaim "Saturn V--First To The Moon And Beyond" are selling briskly. Through Feb. 1 a total of 2,492 such tags have been purchased or renewed.