Barbour Declares Budget Victory for ‘Both Republicans and Tea Party'
Gov. Haley Barbour just issued a verbatim statement about the debt deal: "The Budget Control Act is a major victory for conservatives both Republican and Tea Party. It is not perfect, but it is a big step in the right direction, which is all you can ask for when you have a Democrat Senate and a Democrat President. While there will be much left to do after this passes, this is a big step forward."
Will the Debt Deal Spell Disaster for the U.S.?
Paul Krugman explains in his New York Times column why we could be facing economic disaster as a result of the obsession over slashing spending:
WaPo: Who ‘Wins' With The Debt Ceiling Deal?
Some say the debt deal announced this weekend helps Obama claim centrist cred and position him for re-election:
JRA Questions Old Capitol Green Garage Plan
Jackson Redevelopment Authority board members are questioning the first phase of the Old Capitol Green development while they wait on the developers to submit a proposal for JRA to help to finance a $27 million parking garage with adjoining commercial space.
A Reading List for Following the Debt Ceiling Drama
Congress has until Aug. 2 to raise the debt ceiling, the cap on the amount of money the Treasury can borrow to pay the government's bills. As the clock keeps ticking, you may still have unanswered questions. How dire could the consequences of not raising the debt ceiling be? What are the possible solutions? Here's a reading list to help you keep up.
Candidate Sandridge Says Jackson Threatens Madison ‘Way of Life'
Here is the full write-up:
In his bought campaign write-up in The Northside Sun this week, Madison County Sheriff candidate Mark Sandridge amps up the anti-Jackson rhetoric that brought him massive criticism in May when he ran this campaign ad. This write-up, which the Sun gives candidates who also buy advertising in the paper, goes even further than calling Jackson one of the "most violent cities in the nation" (which is inaccurate). In this anti-Jackson diatribe, Sandridge borrows from segregationist language of old and says that Jackson—now a majority-black city—actually "threatens our schools, businesses, property values and way of life."
Candidate of the Day: Lee Yancey
Sen. Lee Yancey, R-Brandon, claims to be the only candidate for state treasurer who has a voting record to study.
Mark a Ballot
"Are you voting in the primary elections?" I asked him. I knew I was marking a ballot Tuesday.
I was riding with my friend back home after seeing Cowboy and Aliens at Malco Theaters. I looked at the election signs that seemed to multiply overnight.
Community Events and Public Meetings
Parents & Kids Magazine's Back-to-school Pajama Parties. Children in kindergarten through second grade enjoy music, bedtime stories, goody bags and refreshments. Parents must accompany children. Pre-registration required. The first 100 registrants receive a surprise gift. Free; call 601-366-0901.
Field Trip, Indeed
"It'll be like a field trip," said Lacey McLaughlin, while instructing me to retrieve the Hinds County Sherriff campaign contributions from the Circuit Court Clerk.
Water Boil Notice Still in Effect
The city of Jackson issued a precautionary boil-water notice after two water lines broke this weekend.
Why Write? We've Got Computers!
I've been doing too much work in my head and on paper instead of where it actually counts so that people can see it. I didn't realize this until last week when Donna asked about my lack of blog posts. At first I was so confused. How could she have forgotten all of the things about jobs and school and life that I had been writing about this summer? Turns out I was just being crazy, because all of this is written on paper and is neatly tucked away in my room. This ordeal made me wonder: Why have I been keeping everything on paper? Is it some weird form of procrastination or am I just unwilling to change my routine?
Dem Candidates A Minority at ‘Republican Woodstock'
Even though Democratic candidates are the minority at the Neshoba County Fair, many see the Republican-heavy grounds as a vital campaign stop to rub elbows with party supporters, media and even a few undecided voters.
How Building Green Helps Mississippi
Sustainable building can promote economic development and make life better for residents, according to an organization that is promoting "green building" in Jackson.
Candidate of the Day: Addie Green
In a campaign season when few Democrats and even fewer women are running for state office, African American grandmother Addie Green stands out.
It's the Weekend!
It's a beautiful night of jazz in Fondren that will involve all your senses. Jazz Night Live is at 7 p.m. at circa Urban Artisan Living (2771 Old Canton Road). Jazz Beautiful with Pam Confer performs, and Pam Confer also celebrates her birthday with cake, a toast and a perfume giveaway. See, hear, taste, smell and feel the night. Why limit yourself to Fondren? After the jazz, catch some other live acts in the JFP Music Listings.
Sales Tax Holiday Begins Today
Back-to-school shoppers will get a boost this weekend during the state's sales-tax holiday.
The tax holiday started just after midnight and continues through midnight on Saturday. Shoppers will save 7 percent on eligible items.
Cult of ‘Objectivity' Is Destroying America
Anyway, here is some of what Krugman says. (Better late than never, I guess.):
So-called media objectivity is destroying our country, The New York Times' Paul Krugman is telling us on his blog. I've been warning about this he-said-she-said approach to journalism for years now: a faulty device that tries to split any side down the middle regardless of what the facts are. It is just the opposite of real "enterprise" or investigative reporting. I like to tell my students and staffers that it's actually opinion writing when you take a story and just quote two different opinions and call it objective. It's ludicrous. What matters, or should matter, is actual fact finding -- not just quoting people giving bad facts, which we see constantly in mainstream journalism. And, way too often, without bothering to factcheck (most daily papers don't; we do) or to correct faulty information said by one of the "sides" quotes. And it's a false division: the two sides are often decided by some fake political compass that divides people into left or right, Democrat or Republican, when most Americans reject that kind of binary categorization. Meantime, they allow their media to get away with it.
Candidates Reject ‘Career Politician' Label
Political candidates walked a fine line Wednesday at the Neshoba County Fair, trying to persuade voters that they were neither inexperienced nor—a harsh indictment—a "career politician."
District 70 Race Ends With Primary
The race for District 70 this year will again end in the Democratic primary. The race carries some small entertainment value; former Hinds County public defender Matt Eichelberger dropped out in June.