News

UPDATED: Voter Suppression Growing Nationwide

CNN is reporting:

The voter-purge machine is kicking into overdrive this week. Down below, and in the comments, we will keep you apprised of stunts being pulled, so we can watch for them here on the homefront. Please add to the list as you see examples.

Drudge, FOX News Distorts Obama ‘Redistribution' Comment

Media Matters is warning:

On-screen text on Fox News echoed the Drudge Report in falsely claiming that Sen. Barack Obama said it is a "tragedy" that the Supreme Court has not addressed wealth redistribution. In fact, the "tragedy" Obama identified during the interview was in what he said was the civil rights movement's overreliance on the courts to pursue political and economic justice.

Ted Stevens ‘Rocks GOP'; Cochran to Take Spot

Politico is reporting that Sen. Thad Cochran will take the seat of Sen. Ted Stevens on the Appropriations Committee as Republicans decide what to do with him since his indictment for corruption today:

Hilarious: Texas Man Thwarts the Obama Sign-Stealers

Stealing Obama signs has become high sport in recent weeks. One Texas man found a way around it, though: He just painted his damn lawn.

AP: Feds Disrupt Plot to Assassinate Obama

Just in from the Associated Press:

NASCAR's Junior Johnson Endorses Obama (!)

The support of Junior Johnson may be Obama's biggest endorsement, yet. Here it is, as posted on Sean Hannity's forum. (Tee, hee.)

Why Republican Chuck Hagel Doesn't Support Friend McCain

The New Yorker has a good piece on why Sen. Chuck Hagel isn't supporting John McCain, one of his closest friends:

Anchorage Daily News Endorses Obama

Up in Alaska, the Anchorage Daily News published a ringing endorsement of Barack Obama today, says neither John McCain or Sarah Palin are ready to be president:

Palin's Pipeline Problem

The Associated Press just published a long investigative piece on Sarah Palin's vaunted pipeline successand the parts she's not talking about. It starts:

Update II: McCain Camp, Young Republicans Pushed Mutilation Story

KDKA in Pittsburgh is reporting that Ashley Toddthe Susan Smith of 2008?made up the story that she was attacked by a large black man at an ATM because she was a McCain supporter:

L.A. Times: Palin's Patronage Problem

A Los Angeles Times investigation found:

McCain's $500-Welfare Rumor Is False

The Associated Press allowed Sen. John McCain to start a false rumor asserting "welfare" based on flatly false information, and that rumor is swirling. Per Media Matters:

Wall Street Journal Compiling ‘Obamacan' List

The Wall Street Journal has started a list of prominent Republicans who have endorsed Obama. Fascinating.

Judge Blocks Entergy's Efforts To Conceal Records

[Verbatim From AG's Office, Oct. 23, 2008] Jackson, MS--Today, United States District Judge William H. Barbour denied Entergy's attempt to stop Attorney General Hood from seeking to obtain records of their energy purchases, clearing the way for the Attorney General's Office to demand their release before a state court on Monday.

10/23 Dow Ends Up 172; NASDAQ Stays Down

Although the Dow got as low as 275 it rallied back by the time the bell rang to go up 2 percent after two straight days of sliding, including a massive point drop yesterday. Some of the stocks that bounced back included oil and transportation stocks.

Who's the Better Dancer: Barack or Michelle?

Watch a very fun clip from the Ellen show; hat/tip Folo:

10/22 Stocks Hit Again Over Earnings Woes

The Dow dropped more than 500 points today settling a little over 8500 as weak earnings and a continued drop in oil prices drove recession woes. Intra-day the Dow was down nearly 700 points; the 500 point drop today (which would have been called "Black Something-Day" if it'd happened 12 months ago -- it was the Dow's 7th worst point drop) represents nearly 6% of the index's total.

189,817 New Mississippi Voters Since Jan. 1

New Voter Registrations from January 01, 2008 – October 4, 2008:

Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann's office has released the following update on the number of new registrations. Note that he advises you to check your registration with the Circuit Clerk's office if you registered when you got your license. We're not sure why.

The Millennials' First Recession

The financial crisis is blowing toward Jackson, and the Millennial generationpeople ages 18 through 29is taking notice.

Vince Gordon

"Fast cars, fast motorcycles, fast women." That's how Vince Gordon describes his former lifestyle as a military policeman in Yokosuka, Japan.

McCain Camp Bummed at Lack of Third-Party Smear Money

Politico is reporting that third-party smear groups, such as the Swiftboat crowd, aren't likely to step forward to fill in McCain's money gap with ugly adsand resurrect Rev. Wright so McCain doesn't have toin the next two weeks:

Apple Posts Strong Quarter; Yahoo! Cuts Jobs

The NASDAQ eagerly awaited reports from two stalwart tech stocks after the bell rang today. Apple offered up one of its best quarters in its history, but with unsteady guidance for fiscal Q1 2009. (Apple's first fiscal quarter of each year corresponds with the holiday quarter, calendar Q4 2008.) Apple posted revenue of $7.9 billion and a profit of $1.14 billion, compared to $6.22 billion and net quarterly profit of $904 million in the year ago quarter.

Palin: Vice President "In Charge of" the Senate (!?!)

Q: Brandon Garcia wants to know, "What does the Vice President do?"

Vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin has now erroneously stated, twice, that the role of the vice president is to be "in charge of" the Senate. Watch the latest example here. Here's what she said:

10/21 Markets ‘Sell' on Recession Fears

The DOW stayed above 9000 today, but still dove over 230 points, down 2.5 percent, with the market focused on some tough earnings reports from banks and financials. Deep into earnings season, fears have turned to recession, even as credit markets appear to be loosening somewhat.

Melton's Boys Come to His Defense

Additional reporting by Ward Schaefer

Three of Mayor Frank Melton's previous mentees, and the mother of another who died more than a decade ago, have filed affidavits in support of their mentor's efforts in what the U.S. Department of Justice believes was a drunken Aug. 26, 2006, double attack on a duplex at 1305 Ridgeway St. One of those affidavits, if true, indicates that federal agents have investigated the long-time rumors that Melton is involved in the city's drug trade, and had asked at least one of the young men to turn evidence on him.

DSCC Ad Attacks Wicker on Health Care, Wages

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is running a new ad that criticizes Roger Wicker for voting repeatedly against expanding children's health insurance, raising the minimum wage and increasing Medicare funding. An accompanying press release details the claims about Wicker's voting record.

Ellington