Gene Policinski: Mr. Williams – trust me, many feel your ‘pain’

  Whatever happens to Brian Williams, another gut punch has been thrown to the collective body of work known as “journalism.”

  The NBC News anchor is now on hiatus from “Nightly News” and has decided against a reprise appearance later this week on the David Letterman show. He’s also slowly twisting in the now-familiar social media wind of online scrutiny, satire and dissection.

Steve Flowers: Inside the Statehouse: Defying the federal government hasn't paid off for Alabama

  As the legislature and governor prepare for the upcoming initial legislative session of the quadrennium, they are facing ominous and obvious problems. The General Fund is in dire straits, primarily due to the escalating costs of Medicaid and prisons.

  The problems in the prison system may be even more acute than with Medicaid. The reason is that our prison population is well in excess of what federal courts have determined is constitutional. There are federal judicial standards of humane care for prisoners and we currently are not within these guidelines. Therefore, we are on thin ice and shaky ground if our prison problems come before a federal judge.

Alabama recognizes Paul Hard as surviving spouse on husband’s death certificate

  On the same historic day same-sex couples in Alabama were allowed to marry, Southern Poverty Law Center client Paul Hard finally received an amended death certificate recognizing him as his husband’s surviving spouse – a recognition that came nearly four years after his husband died in a car crash.

Photo by by Valerie Downes, SPLC

  “It’s a good day,” Hard said, clasping the certificate in his hand. “It’s bittersweet. Today my home state recognizes our marriage. I put my wedding ring with David [Fancher] back on today in anticipation of this moment. I have been waiting for this recognition from the state, but sadly this had to come after his death.”

Michael Josephson: The disease of low expectations

  The serious damage done to our economy, social institutions and personal relationships by widespread cheating and dishonesty is bad enough. But widespread acceptance of such behavior as inevitable threatens to make our future a lot worse. In effect, our culture is being infected by a disease: the disease of low expectations.

Joseph O. Patton: Probate judges jump on the bigotry bandwagon

  As Alabama's clock ticks down to the opening day of marriage equality Monday, probate judges across the state - perhaps to pander, perhaps because they're simply hateful - are opting to no longer offer marriage officiating at county probate offices. Though offering such a service isn't required by law, it has been a given, a long-standing tradition and something routinely offered throughout the state.

  But rather than serve their fellow taxpaying Alabamians (the same individuals who pay their salaries) - in this case same-sex couples who will finally be able to be treated like full citizens of these United States - a number of the state's county probate judges are abruptly abolishing this service in order to avoid having to conduct same-sex wedding ceremonies. It's the equivalent of a bratty, snot-nosed loser on the ball field taking his ball and going home because he just had his ass handed to him in a little league game.

Jacob G. Hornberger: The national security establishment vs. defense

  I have a simple proposal: Why not bring all the troops home from Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen, and elsewhere in the Middle East? I mean all of them. Bring them all home and let them defend the United States. After all, it’s called the Department of Defense, right? Well, what would be wrong with applying the principle of defense to our country by bringing all the troops home and having them defend the United States?

Montgomery's Lattice Inn offering Marriage Equality Package

  With the advent of marriage equality in Alabama, The Lattice Inn of Montgomery is announcing a unique wedding package for couples starting as soon as the courts’ rulings are finalized.

  “We’ve always supported marriage equality and are happy to offer The Lattice Inn as a venue for any couple who wants to solemnize their relationship,” said Innkeeper Jim Yeaman.

Our Stand: Jim Zeigler, please remove your tin foil hat

  Yesterday Alabama State Auditor Jim Zeigler dragged one of Alabama's constitutional offices into the sewer of conspiracy theories and shameless race-baiting, made worse by the fact that Zeigler is little more than a glorified accountant.

  Channeling those who dish tales of Big Foot, vaccines causing autism, and Elvis Presley currently working as a gas station attendant in Tuberculosis Springs, Wyoming, Zeigler claimed to Montgomery news outlet WSFA that the routine rotation of governors' portraits in the Capital Building - this time including George and Lurleen Wallace - amounted to a conspiracy being afoot to "revise" history, somehow spear-headed by a major motion picture and Oprah Winfrey.

Steve Flowers: Inside the Statehouse: Who's who in the Alabama Legislature

  The Alabama Legislature completed their week-long organizational session last month with very little fanfare or controversy. They will get to work on substantive issues beginning with the regular session in March. Their work will be cut out for them since they're facing a General Fund Budget that has at least a $250 million deficit.

  The legislature that organized for the quadrennium is overwhelmingly Republican. The House has 72 Republicans and 33 Democrats. The Alabama Senate is even more dominated by Republicans. Three-fourths of the senators are Republican. The numbers are 26 to 8. This gives the GOP a carte blanche path to pass anything they desire with little or no opposition.

Michael Josephson: Three things I hated about Superbowl XLIX

1. I did not see a second of it as I was en route from L.A to Des Moines thru Dallas. But I read the entire play by play when I got to my room allowing me the second thing to hate: self-righteous, after the fact, critics of a play call.