Sunday, September 20, 2015

At Alabama, doubt replaces a football dynasty - Dan Wolken - USATODAY

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2015/09/20/alabama-crimston-tide-struggles-ole-miss-loss/72513440/


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Carson: A Muslim Shouldn't be President - The Daily Beast

http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheats/2015/09/20/carson-a-muslim-shouldn-t-be-president.html?via=newsletter&source=DDMorning


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NFL Scores & Schedules - USATODAY

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/nfl/scores/


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Bell Tolls: DeMarco Murray says Cowboys week just another week - USATODAY

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2015/09/19/demarco-murray-cowboys-eagles-tyrod-taylor-johnny-manziel-kirk-cousins/72477468/


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AL.com's instant analysis: How Ole Miss stunned Alabama on wacky night | AL.com

http://www.al.com/alabamafootball/index.ssf/2015/09/alcoms_instant_analysis_how_ol.html#incart_river_mobileshort


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How Ole Miss ever scored a touchdown from this play is a complete mystery | For The Win

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2015/09/how-ole-miss-ever-scored-a-touchdown-from-this-play-is-a-complete-mystery


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Rising Mississippi makes it two wins in a row vs. Alabama - USATODAY

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/sec/2015/09/20/ole-miss-alabama-college-football/72508334/


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Saturday, September 19, 2015

Donald V. Watkins/Facebook - Exclusive: Mike Echols Splits From Bentley - Mike Echols, Governor Robert Bentley’s long-time personal CPA and heavy hitting moneyman for the Robert Bentley Campaign Committee, has split from the governor.

EXCLUSIVE BREAKING NEWS---
Mike Echols Splits From Bentley
By Donald V. Watkins
©Copyrighted and Published (via Facebook) on September 18, 2015
Mike Echols, Governor Robert Bentley’s long-time personal CPA and heavy hitting moneyman for the Robert Bentley Campaign Committee, has split from the governor. Echols, who handled the financial books and records for both the Bentleys and the Campaign Committee, resigned his post over a disagreement with Bentley about Rebekah Mason, the governor’s mistress and married paramour.
The precise nature of this dispute, which occurred several weeks ago, is not known at this time.
What is known, however, is that Bentley wanted Echols to do something questionable with the financial records relating to Rebekah Mason. The governor's request did not sit well with Echols, a respected Tuscaloosa accountant and well-known PAC organizer. During a heated exchange between the two men, Echols refused the governor’s request and turned over the various checkbooks and financial records in his custody to Bentley. With this handover, the professional relationship between Echols and Bentley ended.
Echols has been Bentley’s personal accountant for many years. He was also the Campaign Committee’s treasurer in 2010 and 2014.
In a slick move that is expected to become the focus of First Lady Dianne Bentley’s divorce proceedings, as well as law enforcement agencies in Washington, the governor stashed $500,000 of cash from the marital estate away for his life with Rebekah after the divorce. He laundered this money in the form of leftover donations through a series of transfers, starting with a personal loan to his campaign account, then a transfer of this money from his campaign to his newly formed non-profit organization, the Alabama Council for Excellent Government, followed by payments from the Council to Rebekah Mason for services rendered. The loan can be repaid to Bentley’s campaign after his divorce.
As we reported on September 13, 2015, the governor has secured the legal services of Joe Espy, a Montgomery attorney and fellow University of Alabama trustee, to handle his potential criminal exposure for using state resources to carry on his illicit love affair, among other matters. Espy specializes in white-collar crimes and public corruption cases. Bentley confirmed Espy’s hiring earlier this week.
Echols’ departure from the governor’s inner circle adds to a growing list of top staffers and supporters who have split with Bentley over his illicit love affair with Rebekah Mason and his cover-up of the misuse of state resources and misspending of campaign funds. This list includes prominent officials in Bentley’s Tuscaloosa church who have urged him, albeit without success, to break off the affair. The list also includes a staffer who reported Rebekah’s misuse of state resources and misspending of campaign funds directly to the governor, and was chastised.
Others on the list include former trooper lieutenant Wendell Ray Lewis, the departing chief legal advisor David Byrne, a former executive employee at the state capitol who quit because of the Bentley-Mason affair, two of the three board members of the Alabama Council for Excellent Government (whose resignations are forthcoming), and several security officers (who are waiting to bolt from the mess created by this scandal).
More to come.

By Donald V. Watkins

Another college game day, 8 players ejected for targeting - USATODAY


http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2015/09/19/another-college-game-day-7-players-ejected-for-targeting/72494082/

Joe Biden Edges Closer to Joining Presidential Race - WSJ


http://www.wsj.com/articles/joe-biden-edges-closer-to-joining-presidential-race-1442617215

Alabama goes with different starting quarterback | AL.com

http://www.al.com/alabamafootball/index.ssf/2015/09/alabama_goes_with_different_st.html#incart_river_mobile


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Will Jeremy Johnson remain Auburn's starting quarterback? 'Every position' under evaluation | AL.com

http://www.al.com/auburnfootball/index.ssf/2015/09/will_jeremy_johnson_stay_aubur.html#incart_big-photo


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What's wrong with Auburn quarterback Jeremy Johnson? - USATODAY

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2015/09/19/auburn-qb-jeremy-johnson-struggles-lsu/72488126/


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College football Week 3 winners and losers - USATODAY

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2015/09/19/college-football-winners-losers-miami-oklahoma-auburn-missouri/72480258/


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Alabama, Ole Miss both enter Saturday with plenty to prove | AL.com

http://www.al.com/alabamafootball/index.ssf/2015/09/alabama_ole_miss_both_enter_sa.html#incart_2box


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Watch LSU's Leonard Fournette run all over Auburn | AL.com

http://www.al.com/auburnfootball/index.ssf/2015/09/jeremy_johnson.html#incart_river_mobile


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AL.com's instant analysis: Auburn's season makes a wrong turn at LSU | AL.com

http://www.al.com/auburnfootball/index.ssf/2015/09/alcoms_instant_analysis_auburn_lsu.html#incart_river_mobile


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Nick Saban explains what angers him most on sideline during games | AL.com

http://www.al.com/alabamafootball/index.ssf/2015/09/nick_saban_explains_what_anger.html#incart_2box_sports_index.ssf


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Former Auburn players chiming in on 'sickening' game at LSU | AL.com

http://www.al.com/auburnfootball/index.ssf/2015/09/former_auburn_players_chiming.html#incart_2box_sports_index.ssf


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Blue Jays OF Chris Colabello takes incredible journey to the majors - USATODAY

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2015/09/18/blue-jays-chris-colabello-takes-incredible-journey-majors/72418190/


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Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer has heated confrontation with manager during mound visit | For The Win

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2015/09/washington-nationals-max-scherzer-matt-williams


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Golfers react to news of Tiger Woods' surgery - USATODAY

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/golf/2015/09/19/tiger-woods-surgery-reaction/72471088/


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NCAAF Scores & Schedules - USATODAY

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/ncaaf/scores/


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Johnny Manziel rips on ESPN critic (Merril Hoge) who called him a ‘juvenile punk’ | For The Win

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2015/09/johnny-manziel-disses-merril-hoge-ties-juvenile-punk-criticism?source=newsletter


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Friday, September 18, 2015

2015 college football TV schedule - USATODAY

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2015/06/02/college-football-tv-guide-schedule-fbs-2015/26525745/


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Game preview: Ole Miss at Alabama | USA TODAY Sports

http://sports.usatoday.com/2015/09/18/game-preview-ole-miss-at-alabama/


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Johnny Manziel says he is 'more ready now' after being named starter for Sunday - USATODAY

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/browns/2015/09/18/manziel-browns-titans/72399640/


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Armour: Unhappy with prospect of being jilted, NFL fans protest in seats - USATODAY

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2015/09/18/oakland-san-diego-st-louis-move-los-angeles/72358584/


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Alabama, Ole Miss both enter Saturday with plenty to prove | AL.com

http://www.al.com/alabamafootball/index.ssf/2015/09/alabama_ole_miss_both_enter_sa.html#incart_river_mobile


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Hollis Picks: Can Auburn fix Johnson in time to win at LSU? Ole Miss' Tuscaloosa history says Tide gets revenge | AL.com

http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2015/09/hollis_picks_can_auburn_fix_jo.html#incart_2box_sports_index.ssf


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Chiefs fumble away their chance to flip script on Broncos in AFC West - USATODAY

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/broncos/2015/09/18/peyton-manning-denver-kansas-city-chiefs-fumble/72380118/


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Thursday, September 17, 2015

GOP debate a CNN ratings success - POLITICO

http://www.politico.com/story/2015/09/2016-cnn-gop-debate-ratings-213786


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Trump's bad morning after - POLITICO

http://www.politico.com/story/2015/09/donald-trump-after-2016-cnn-debate-213783


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Alabama Legislature's 2015 Winners and Losers | AL.com

http://www.al.com/opinion/index.ssf/2015/09/alabama_legislatures_2015_winn.html#incart_2box


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Milo Hamilton, voice of Hank Aaron's 715th homer, dies | www.ajc.com

http://m.ajc.com/news/sports/baseball/voice-hank-aarons-715th-homer-dies/nnhGL/


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Roger Goodell's role in conduct policy might not change 'for years' - USATODAY

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2015/09/17/roger-goodell-conduct-policy-art-rooney/32561161/


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Hall of Fame broadcaster Milo Hamilton dies at 88 - USATODAY

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/allstar/2015/09/17/hall-fame-broadcaster-milo-hamilton-dies-88/32568343/


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USA TODAY Sports college football staff picks for Week 3 | USA TODAY Sports Wire

http://sportswire.usatoday.com/2015/09/17/usa-today-sports-college-football-staff-picks-for-week-3/


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USA TODAY Sports’ Week 2 NFL picks | USA TODAY Sports Wire

http://sportswire.usatoday.com/2015/09/17/week-2-nfl-picks-predictions/


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Fact check: The second Republican debate - USATODAY

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2015/09/17/fact-check-second-republican-debate/32517889/


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Wednesday, September 16, 2015

The Meck Report: Executive Betrayal - Robert Bentley's Fleecing of Taxpayers and Donors - By Donald V. Watkins

http://themeck.blogspot.com/2015/09/executive-betrayal-robert-bentleys.html?m=1


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If Donald Trump wins, what country would you flee to? | OnPolitics

http://onpolitics.usatoday.com/2015/09/15/if-donald-trump-wins-what-country-would-you-flee-to/


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Republican debate 2015: Start time, schedule, and what to expect - Vox

http://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2015/9/15/9332011/republican-debate-time-schedule


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NFL games raking in more than $600K for 30-second ad | Yardbarker.com


http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/nfl_games_are_raking_in_more_than_600000_for_a_30_second_advertisement_this_season/s1_9754_19546798

Report: Mike Lupica out at Daily News in wave of layoffs | Yardbarker.com


http://www.yardbarker.com/other_sports/articles/report_mike_lupica_out_at_new_york_daily_news_in_wave_of_layoffs/s1_9754_19547287

Bowl projections: Notre Dame, Auburn fall out of College Football Playoff | USA TODAY Sports Wire


http://sportswire.usatoday.com/2015/09/16/bowl-projections-notre-dame-auburn-college-football-playoff/

You can now download Apple's iOS 9 - USATODAY


http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/personal/2015/09/16/you-can-now-download-apples-ios-9/32502971/

What Peyton Manning did for my friend, dying of breast cancer - USATODAY


http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2015/09/16/what-peyton-manning-did-for-my-friend-who-is-dying-of-breast-cancer/72283084/

GOP debate looks to be outsiders vs. insiders battle - USATODAY


http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2015/09/16/republican-debate-reagan-library-cnn/72299634/

Pacman Jones fined $35,000 for Amari Cooper incident, says he will appeal - USATODAY

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/bengals/2015/09/16/pacmanjones-bengals-cooper/32500113/


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Apple's $1.1T bet: You want an iPhone payment - USATODAY

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/markets/2015/09/16/apple-iphone-payment-bet/32498613/


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Biden: Trump has ‘sick message’ over immigration | OnPolitics

http://onpolitics.usatoday.com/2015/09/16/biden-trump-has-sick-message-over-immigration/


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Wynfield Estate Photo - 'Love Nest for Robert Bentley and Rebekah Mason' -- Donald Watkins


This is the magnificent Wynfield Estate. It served as a love nest for Robert Bentley and Rebekah Mason, courtesy of taxpayers dollars. -- Donald Watkins 

Executive Betrayal - Robert Bentley's Fleecing of Taxpayers and Donors - By Donald V. Watkins

Executive Betrayal – Robert Bentley's Fleecing of Taxpayers and Donors

 

By Donald V. Watkins

©Copyrighted and Published (via Facebook) on September 16, 2015

 

Governor Robert Bentley could barely contain his lust and love for Rebekah Caldwell Mason in the months leading up to his re-election in 2014.  He was so obsessed with Rebekah that he sent a romantic text written for Rebekah to First Lady Dianne Bentley by mistake.  It was graphic in content.  Ms. Bentley's subsequent review of her husband's text messages answered all of her questions about the nature and scope of the governor's marital infidelity.  The text message exchange between the two lovers, along with what Dianne overheard during the governor's private phone calls to Rebekah, let her know that the governor, 72, was "head-over-heels" in love and lust with his 43-year-old paramour.

 

Not only has Bentley proven to be a cheater and a sexual pervert, but now he has proven to be a crooked governor too.  We have recently learned that Bentley not only had direct and personal knowledge of Rebekah's handling of questionable financial practices with state and campaign monies, but he even went so far as to take calculated measures to prevent his staff from investigating these practices.

 

During the 2014 campaign season and beyond, the Bentley-Mason romance flamed with an intensity that bothered the governor's close friends and most loyal staffers.  They worried that the love affair would eventually spill over into the public arena.  They were also very concerned with Rebekah's unfettered access to state resources and cashwhich included her unprecedented control over the expenditure of campaign funds.

 

At first the lines were blurred with regard to legitimate uses of state resources and campaign funds.  When those blurred lines failed to raise any red flags among the oversight groups, the seemingly minor misuse of funds and resourcesgraduated to a blatant disrespect for and clear abuse of the applicable regulatory rules and laws. Internal efforts to check Rebekah's control over the money became an exercise in futility.  Rebekah made it known among the campaign staff and within the governor's office that she spoke for the governor, and her word was final.

 

Eventually, one of the governor's top staffers and campaign officials grew impatient with the incessant whitewashing of Rebekah's questionable financial practices.  This staffer, whose name is being withheld because the individual is not authorized to speak on these matters, became afraid of being implicated in the governor's scheme to skirt Alabama's financial accountability and election reporting laws, as well as various federal anti-public corruption laws.

 

The staffer mustered up the courage to approach Governor Bentley about Rebekah's control and dominion over state resources and campaign funds.  He also informed the governor that she was misusing the state resources and misspending the campaign funds.  After the staffer offered to investigate the matter further, an angry Bentley snapped and told this individual to "drop it or leave".  The staffer dutifully complied with the governor's directive and dropped the matter.  

 

The financial shenanigans continued unabated until Dianne Bentley filed her divorce complaint in August.

 

The governor and de facto First Lady Rebekah Mason took their love affair to the "new" governor's mansion – the Wynfield Mansion, a/k/a Winton Blount Estate.  This12,000 square feet, $28 million mansion was donated to the state in 2007 by the estate of the late billionaire Winton Blount.  The mansion is breathtaking in its magnificence, beauty and elegance.  The governor has used public money and donor funds to ready the secluded mansion for his romantic lunches, discreet in-town getaways, and trystswith Rebekah.

 

Rebekah also made sure her husband Jonathan continued to be well compensated for continuing to turn a blind eye toward the love affair.  Not only is Jonathan drawing a healthy annual salary in his position as director of ServeAlabama, he also reportedly receives economic benefits for the donations he secures for the various programs under this umbrella organization.

 

The governor and Rebekah made sure that they would continue to have access to lifestyle money with the establishment of Bentley's "Alabama Council for Excellent Government".  This non-profit organization made it possible for Bentley to shield from public view the payments to Rebekah.  The Council has three board members and has never had a board meeting.  Yet, expenditures of Council funds have been made without board knowledge or approval.

 

After the news of the Bentleys' divorce broke, Bentley arranged a hasty exit for Rebekah from the state.  She is reportedly working for Presidential candidate John Kasich(R-Ohio). Kasich is also the current Governor of Ohio.Bentley endorsed Kasich for President in a surprise announcement on August 17th.  Rebekah landed a job with the Kasich campaign shortly after the announcement.

 

In the aftermath of the governor's cheating scandal, the list of defections by Bentley's top staffers and supporters is growing.  This list now includes prominent officials inBentley's Tuscaloosa church who have urged him, albeitwithout success, to break off the affair.  The list also includes the staffer who reported Rebekah's misuse of state resources and misspending of campaign funds.  Others on the list include former trooper lieutenant Wendell Ray Lewis, the departing chief legal advisor David Byrne, a former executive employee at the state capitol who quit because of the Bentley-Mason affair, two of the three board members of the Council for Excellence (whose resignations are forthcoming), and several security officers (who are waiting to bolt from the mess created by this scandal).

 

Written by Donald V. Watkins


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Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Rangers move into 1st in AL West: 'Never ever quit' - USATODAY

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2015/09/15/rangers-revival-al-west-never-ever-quit/72344600/


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Hewlett Packard to cut up to 30,000 jobs from enterprise unit - USATODAY

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2015/09/15/hewlett-packard-cut-up-30000-jobs-enterprise-unit/72331176/


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Roger Waters on Donald Trump: 'He Is Pig-Ignorant' | Rolling Stone

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/roger-waters-on-donald-trump-he-is-pig-ignorant-20150915?utm_source=newsletter&utm_content=daily&utm_campaign=091515_16&utm_medium=email&ea=dGhlbWVja0B0aGVtZWNrLmNvbQ==


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Is Bob Stoops irrelevant? Oklahoma coach fires back at Paul Finebaum | AL.com

http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2015/09/is_bob_stoops_irrelevant_oklah.html#incart_river_mobileshort


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Texas fires athletic director Steve Patterson amid fan unrest - USATODAY

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2015/09/15/ap-source-texas-athletic-director-steve-patterson-fired/72303202/


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37 fraternity members charged in hazing death of pledge | USA TODAY College

http://college.usatoday.com/2015/09/15/baruch-college-hazing-death-deng/


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Golf analyst David Feherty to join NBC after split with CBS | For The Win

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2015/09/golf-analyst-david-feherty-to-join-nbc-after-split-with-cbs


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Tell Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze membership in the 'I Beat Saban' club has its pitfalls | AL.com - Scarbinsky

http://www.al.com/alabamafootball/index.ssf/2015/09/tell_ole_miss_coach_hugh_freez.html#incart_river_mobile


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Florida coach Jim McElwain ‘got an earful’ from his 94-year-old mother after berating player | For The Win

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2015/09/florida-jim-mcelwains-mother-not-proud-of-berating-player


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Rangers close in on Astros in exciting, unlikely AL West race - USATODAY

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2015/09/15/rangers-astros-prince-fielder-al-west-race/72292348/


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Donald V. Watkins/Facebook: Coming Soon --- Executive Betrayal (re Gov Bentley)

By Donald V. Watkins - Sep 15, 2015
COMING SOON---
Executive Betrayal
Just when we thought our Facebook news team had finished its exclusive reporting on Governor Robert Bentley’s illicit love affair with Rebekah Caldwell Mason in “Forbidden Love-Robert Bentley’s Secret Love Affair”, we learned that there is way more to this heartbreaking story of marital infidelity.
“Executive Betrayal” is the second special series of articles on Bentley’s love affair. This series will focus on (a) the governor’s direct and personal knowledge of Rebekah’s inappropriate expenditure of campaign funds and misuse of state resources and money, (b) Bentley’s direct order to a top gubernatorial staffer to drop an inquiry into Rebekah’s misuse of these funds and resources, (c) Jonathan Mason’s strange, but well-compensated role in the love affair, (d) unauthorized payments from the slush fund Bentley established a/k/a the “Alabama Council for Excellent Government”, (e) Bentley’s life in the “new” Governor’s mansion a/k/a the Winton Blount home, (f) Rebekah’s hastily arranged exit from the state after Dianne Bentley’s August divorce filing, (g) the growing list of defections by Bentley's top staffers and supporters, and much more.
Stay tuned for more exclusive breaking news in "Executive Betrayal".
By Donald V. Watkins/Facebook

Monday, September 14, 2015

Amari Cooper says Pacman Jones shouldn’t be suspended for ripping his helmet off | For The Win


http://ftw.usatoday.com/2015/09/amari-cooper-says-pacman-jones-shouldnt-be-suspended-for-ripping-his-helmet-off

REO Speedwagon guitarist Gary Richrath dies - USATODAY


http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2015/09/14/reo-speedwagon-guitarist-gary-richrath-dies/72252516/

Video: Paul Finebaum Says SEC Fans Need To “Shut Up” After Auburn, Arkansas Performances | College Spun

http://collegespun.com/sec/missouri/video-paul-finebaum-says-sec-fans-need-to-shut-up


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Bell: Marcus Mariota perfect, if only for a day - USATODAY

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/columnist/bell/2015/09/13/marcus-mariota-perfect-tennessee-titans-jameis-winston/72236746/


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'Jameis Winston is a bust' and other Week 1 overreactions in the NFL - USATODAY

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2015/09/14/jameis-winston-bust-and-other-week-1-overreactions-nfl/72250446/


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Forbidden Love­ - Robert Bentley¹s Secret Love Affair- Part 4 - Final 9-13-15 - (Donald Watkins to ask U.S. Attorney Gen Loretta Lynch for a criminal investigation of Gov Bentley)


http://themeck.blogspot.com/2015/09/facebook-forbidden-love-robert-bentleys_13.html?m=1

Donald V. Watkins - Exclusive - David Byrne Leaving Bentley - Sep 13, 2015



http://themeck.blogspot.com/2015/09/donald-v-watkins-breaking-news.html

Tony Romo, Cowboys pounce on Giants' blunder - USATODAY


http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/cowboys/2015/09/14/tony-romo-dallas-comeback-new-york-giants/72238338/

Cowboys face daunting task of getting by without Dez Bryant - USATODAY


http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/cowboys/2015/09/14/dez-bryant-injury-foot-dallas-tony-romo/72239766/

US 'disrupted' plot to harm Pope Francis - Telegraph


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/the-pope/11862792/US-disrupted-plot-to-harm-Pope-Francis.html

Moses Malone, 76ers’ ‘Chairman of the Boards,’ Dies at 60 - NYTimes.com

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/09/14/sports/basketball/moses-malone-dies-at-60.html?referrer=


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Sunday, September 13, 2015

Donald Watkins: 'Bentley's use of state resources and campaign funds to romance Rebekah for personal gratification is illegal under state and federal law, just as his hiring of Joe Espy is prohibited under state law.'

https://www.facebook.com/donald.v.watkins/posts/10207603189379968

Written by Donald V. Watkins via Facebook

The governor has secured the legal services of Joe Espy, a Montgomery attorney and fellow University of Alabama trustee, to handle his potential criminal exposure for using state resources to carry out his illicit love affair. This arrangement may well violate Section 36-25-13(e) of the Alabama Code because Espy serves as UA trustee, alongwith Bentley.  Espy cannot sit on the UA board as an agent of the state and represent Bentley in a legal matter in which the state has a direct and substantial interest.  In Bentley's case, the state is a white-collar crime victim.  Bentley's use of state resources and campaign funds to romance Rebekah for personal gratification is illegal under state and federal law, just as his hiring of Espy is prohibited under state law.

Johnny Manziel comes up short in relief performance, but no need for panic - USATODAY

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/browns/2015/09/13/manziel-browns-mccown/72215878/


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Auburn tumbles in coaches poll following close call with Jacksonville State | AL.com

http://www.al.com/auburnfootball/index.ssf/2015/09/auburn_coaches_poll.html#incart_big-photo


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Donald V. Watkins - Breaking News Exclusive - David Byrne Leaving Bentley - Sep 13, 2015


https://www.facebook.com/donald.v.watkins?fref=nf
By Donald V Watkins
Breaking News Exclusive---
David Byrne Leaving Bentley

Our Facebook news team has just learned that David Byrne, Governor Robert Bentley's chief legal advisor, is leaving his position. Our special four-part series titled, "Forbidden Love – Robert Bentley's Secret Love Affair", described Byrne's role in the governor's cheating scandal, including former trooper Wendell Ray Lewis' questionable promotion from sergeant to lieutenant, Bentley's marital infidelity with Rebekah Caldwell Mason, the employment of Rebekah's husband on the state payroll, and the ongoing cover-up of the love affair.

Byrne is reportedly having serious personal health issues and is distancing himself from Bentley. Byrne does not want to be swept up in Bentley's growing web of legal problems. These problems include the governor's marital infidelity, as well as a growing body of evidence relating to Bentley's criminal conspiracy, wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, and racketeering violations under federal law.
Byrne was also the governor's liaison with Montgomery U.S. Attorney George L. Beck, Jr., whom Byrne controlled through a long and extensive personal relationship. This personal relationship created a conflict of interest for Beck to investigate Bentley for potential criminal charges.
Byrne's job has been offered to another attorney, who turned it down.
Trooper Lewis, a member of Bentley's inner circle, left his high paying state job as head of the governor's security detail several months ago. More departures are expected this week, particularly with respect to the board membership of the Alabama Council for Excellent Government. The Council is the slush fund Bentley established in February to funnel secret payments to Rebekah Mason.

Forbidden Love­ - Robert Bentley¹s Secret Love Affair- Part 4 - Final 9-13-15 - (Donald Watkins to ask U.S. Attorney Gen Loretta Lynch for a criminal investigation of Gov Bentley)

https://www.facebook.com/donald.v.watkins/posts/10207603189379968

Forbidden Love – Robert Bentley's Secret Love Affair – Part 4

By Donald V. Watkins
©Copyrighted and Published (via Facebook) on September 13, 2015

State of the Union

The state of Alabama is flat broke.  The Legislature is in the midst of the second special session that was called to pass general fund budget for 2015-2016, having failed the task during both the regular session and the first special session.

Alabama has been named one of the most corrupt states in America by researchers at Harvard University.

Mike Hubbard, Alabama's speaker of the house, is currently under indictment for twenty-three felony counts of ethics law violations.

Former Montgomery federal judge Mark E. Fuller was forced to resign August 1st because he was arrested last year for viciously beating his second wife Kelli.  He also cheated on Kelli with his young female law clerk. 

Governor Robert Bentley's wife Dianne, 72, is suing him for a divorce after 50 years of marriage because of his illicitlove affair with senior political advisor/paramour Rebekah Caldwell Mason.  Dianne is seeking title to their home, alimony, and the payment of her attorney's fees.  The governor's handpicked judge has sealed the divorce recordsfrom public view.

The governor is also estranged from his four sons because of his betrayal of their mother.  In essence, the governor has betrayed his entire family, not to mention the 4.8 million people in the state of Alabama, in a selfish act of lust and love.

Up until July 24th, the night when Dianne spent her 50thwedding anniversary alone, she thought there was a glimmer of hope that the governor would come to his senses and return to his marriage and family.  She was wrong.

Wendell Ray Lewis, the former head of the governor's security detail, took an early retirement from his job because he could no longer, in good conscience, watch and facilitate Bentley's betrayal of Dianne as he romancedRebekah.  In the end, Lewis was loyal to Dianne.

Bentley's close personal friends in Tuscaloosa think he has lost his mind over RebekahFriends, including fellow University of Alabama trustee Paul Bryant, Jr., have ended their friendship with the governor over his love affair with Rebekah.

The carefully crafted "Christian" image developed for the governor by Rebekah during the 2010 campaign has been shattered. Bentley's self-portrait as a philanderer and home-wrecker has emerged publicly in the aftermath of Dianne's divorce filing.

In a cunning move, the governor stashed away $500,000 of cash from the marital estate, saving it for his life with Rebekah after the divorce.  He laundered this money in a series of structured transfers, starting with a personal loan to his campaign account. Following that, he transferred themoney from his campaign to his newly formed non-profit organization, the Alabama Council for Excellent Government, which promptly made concealed payments to Rebekah Mason for "services" rendered.  The loan can be repaid to Bentley after his divorce has been finalized.

The governor has secured the legal services of Joe Espy, a Montgomery attorney and fellow University of Alabama trustee, to handle his potential criminal exposure for using state resources to carry out his illicit love affair. Thisarrangement may well violate Section 36-25-13(e) of the Alabama Code because Espy serves as UA trustee, alongwith Bentley.  Espy cannot sit on the UA board as an agent of the state and represent Bentley in a legal matter in which the state has a direct and substantial interest.  In Bentley's case, the state is a white-collar crime victim.  Bentley's use of state resources and campaign funds to romance Rebekah for personal gratification is illegal under state and federal law, just as his hiring of Espy is prohibited under state law.

Furthermore, Bentley's case is dripping with evidence of criminal conspiracy, wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, and racketeering violations under federal lawAt the end of the day, Robert Bentley is nothing more than a marital cheater and "run-of-the-mill" crook whosponsored his illicit love affair with Rebekah usingtaxpayers' dollars and campaign donations. 

Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange is too weak and scared to handle a criminal case of this magnitude.

Montgomery U.S. Attorney George L. Beck, Jr., has a conflict of interest because of his close personal relationship with David Byrne, the governor's chief legal advisor. 

Bentley's marital infidelity is an embarrassment to the state of Alabama.  It is one thing for Bentley, 72, to make a fool out of himself by romancing Rebekah, 43, with his own money; it is criminal for him to do it with taxpayers' money.

However, hope is not lost.  The U.S. has a new Attorney General, Ms. Loretta Lynch, who seems willing and capable of taking on the big-name white-collar criminals.  All of the information and evidence gathered during the course of our year-long investigation will be sent to the Attorney General in Washington, along with a request for a thorough criminal investigation by seasoned federal prosecutors.                                  

Written by Donald V Watkins
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NBA legend Moses Malone dies at age 60 - USATODAY

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2015/09/13/moses-malone-dies-age-60/72201802/


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Toledo shocks, upsets No. 18 Arkansas 16-12: Three things to know - CBSSports

http://mweb.cbssports.com/ncaaf/eye-on-college-football/25299641/toledo-shocks-upsets-no-18-arkansas-16-12-three-things-to-know


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Mariota vs. Winston, Packers without Jordy, AP returns: 10 intriguing things - CBSSports

http://mweb.cbssports.com/nfl/writer/pete-prisco/25298281/mariota-vs-winston-pack-without-jordy-ap-returns-10-intriguing-things


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NFL Scores & Schedules - USATODAY

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/nfl/scores/


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Google, Twitter and Publishers Seek Faster Web - NYTimes.com

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/09/12/technology/google-twitter-and-publishers-seek-faster-web.html


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Saturday, September 12, 2015

College football's Week 2 winners and losers - USATODAY

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2015/09/12/college-football-week-2-winners-losers-auburn-michigan-boston-college-maryland/72151700/


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Civil rights attorney Solomon Seay dies at age 81 - Montgomery Advertiser

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/story/news/2015/09/11/civil-rights-attorney-solomon-seay-dies-age/72101862/


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Alabama defense adjusted to wrinkles, got taste of Ole Miss pace after 'them guys were moving' | AL.com

http://www.al.com/alabamafootball/index.ssf/2015/09/alabama_defense_adjusted_to_wr.html#incart_river_mobileshort


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Alabama quarterbacks take step back against Middle Tennessee | AL.com

http://www.al.com/alabamafootball/index.ssf/2015/09/alabama_quarterbacks_take_step.html#incart_river_mobile


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Just call it the most embarrassing victory in Auburn football history | AL.com - Scarbinsky

http://www.al.com/auburnfootball/index.ssf/2015/09/where_does_auburn_go_from_here.html#incart_2box_sports_index.ssf


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Auburn barely survives against 41-point underdog Jacksonville State | For The Win

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2015/09/auburn-nearly-lost-to-41-point-underdog-jacksonville-state


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College Football Scoreboard - USATODAY

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/ncaaf/scores/


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Alabama lawmakers show the audacity of greed; try again to gut ethics law | AL.com - John Archibald

http://www.al.com/opinion/index.ssf/2015/09/alabama_legislature_shows_bras.html#incart_river_mobileshort


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Five matchups that will decide Week 2's biggest games - USATODAY

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2015/09/12/five-critical-matchups-college-football-week-2-oregon-michigan-state-tennessee-oklahoma/72063312/


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