2008 Alabama Senate Debate: on Principles & Values


Jeff Sessions: Declines debate challenge from Vivian Figures

Vivian Davis Figures did what challengers who are behind in the polls and short on money usually do--she challenged her incumbent opponent to debate her. Sen. Jeff Sessions did what incumbents ahead in the polls and flush with money usually do --he ignored the challenge.

Figures actually dropped by Sessions’ Mobile office Monday to deliver the debate challenge, but no one was at work on the Columbus Day holiday. So, Figures said she faxed and e-mailed the debate challenge to Sessions Tuesday As of late Tuesday, Figures said, she had not received a response from the Sessions campaign.

The state director for Sessions, said the campaign had received nothing from Figures. “We haven’t received anything to respond to,” he said, adding that Figures should have approached them months ago. “We debated in 1996 and 2002 and in each case the details of those debates were worked out months ahead of time. This is something we’re not going to be discussing,” he said.

Source: 2008 Alabama Senate Debate reported in The Birmingham News Oct 15, 2008

Vivian Davis Figures: Challenges Jeff Sessions to debate; Sessions declines

Vivian Davis Figures did what challengers who are behind in the polls and short on money usually do--she challenged her incumbent opponent to debate her. Sen. Jeff Sessions did what incumbents ahead in the polls and flush with money usually do --he ignored the challenge.

Figures actually dropped by Sessions’ Mobile office Monday to deliver the debate challenge, but no one was at work on the Columbus Day holiday. So, Figures said she faxed & e-mailed the debate challenge to Sessions Tuesday. As of late Tuesday, Figures said, she had not received a response from the Sessions campaign.

The state director for Sessions, said the campaign had received nothing from Figures Tuesday. “We haven’t received anything to respond to,” he said.

Figures said she hopes Sessions will take her up on her offer. “I think the people of Alabama deserve to hear from both of us, see both of us together answering questions,” Figures said.

Source: 2008 Alabama Senate Debate reported in The Birmingham News Oct 15, 2008

  • The above quotations are from 2008 Alabama Senate Debate between US Sen. Jeff Sessions and State Sen. Vivian Davis Figures.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Principles & Values.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Vivian Davis Figures on Principles & Values.
  • Click here for more quotes by Jeff Sessions on Principles & Values.
Candidates and political leaders on Principles & Values:

Retired Senate as of Jan. 2015:
GA:Chambliss(R)
IA:Harkin(D)
MI:Levin(D)
MT:Baucus(D)
NE:Johanns(R)
OK:Coburn(R)
SD:Johnson(D)
WV:Rockefeller(D)

Resigned from 113th House:
AL-1:Jo Bonner(R)
FL-19:Trey Radel(R)
LA-5:Rod Alexander(R)
MA-5:Ed Markey(D)
MO-9:Jo Ann Emerson(R)
NC-12:Melvin Watt(D)
SC-1:Tim Scott(R) 		Retired House to run for Senate or Governor:
AR-4:Tom Cotton(R)
GA-1:Jack Kingston(R)
GA-10:Paul Broun(R)
GA-11:Phil Gingrey(R)
HI-1:Colleen Hanabusa(D)
IA-1:Bruce Braley(D)
LA-6:Bill Cassidy(R)
ME-2:Mike Michaud(D)
MI-14:Gary Peters(D)
MT-0:Steve Daines(R)
OK-5:James Lankford(R)
PA-13:Allyson Schwartz(D)
TX-36:Steve Stockman(R)
WV-2:Shelley Capito(R) 		Retired House as of Jan. 2015:
AL-6:Spencer Bachus(R)
AR-2:Tim Griffin(R)
CA-11:George Miller(D)
CA-25:Howard McKeon(R)
CA-33:Henry Waxman(D)
CA-45:John Campbell(R)
IA-3:Tom Latham(R)
MN-6:Michele Bachmann(R)
NC-6:Howard Coble(R)
NC-7:Mike McIntyre(D)
NJ-3:Jon Runyan(R)
NY-4:Carolyn McCarthy(D)
NY-21:Bill Owens(D)
PA-6:Jim Gerlach(R)
UT-4:Jim Matheson(D)
VA-8:Jim Moran(D)
VA-10:Frank Wolf(R)
Please consider a donation to OnTheIssues.org!
Click for details -- or send donations to:
1770 Mass Ave. #630, Cambridge MA 02140
E-mail: submit@OnTheIssues.org
(We rely on your support!)

Page last updated: Dec 01, 2018