The Alabama Senate race was a disaster for Republicans that was entirely avoidable.  The Republican governor, Robert Bentley, appointed Luther Strange to replace Jeff Sessions.  Bentley had ethical problems of his own and resigned.  The replacement Republican governor, Kay Ivey, then chose to hold a special election to fill the seat this year.  Ivey could have allowed Strange to hold the seat until November 2018, the next federal election date. Though Strange voted with President Trump 100% of the time, Steve Bannon apparently thought this was not enough.  While Trump endorsed Strange in the GOP primary, Bannon (I guess) knew better who was the pro-Trump candidate in the race and endorsed Roy Moore.  Even before any disclosure, true or not, about Moore's past history with teenagers, he was an awful candidate in many ways.  Consider him an Alabama version of Todd Akin.  Then the Washington Post story appeared.  Of course,...(Read Full Post)