News

New CBS Poll: Obama Up 54-41 Over McCain

New CBS poll shows Obama with big lead:

CBS is reporting:

Listen to McCain's Despicable ‘Robocall' to Voters

After acting at the last debate as if Bill Ayers didn't matter all that much, John McCain launched the following "robocall" (recorded message) to voters in many states today, creating yet another firestorm about his vicious and misleading campaign tactics. Take a listen.

How to Steal Back the Vote

A video message from Robert Kennedy Jr.:

Thousands of Manufacturing Jobs Cut in Mississippi

The Associated Press is reporting bad economic news for the state:

Tuesday Conference Call & Webinar for Miss. Obama Volunteers

Verbatim from the Obama-Mississippi site:

Miss. Supreme Court Race Goes On

The Sun-Herald [http://www.sunherald.com/local/story/889609.html]is reporting that Bubba Pierce, the choice of the big business lobby, is far outpacing incumbent Oliver Diaz Jr. in fund-raising:

Va. Sen. Jim Webb Stumping for Musgrove Today in Jackson

Just saw this on Folo:

Sen. Jim Webb is visiting Jackson, MS, today to do a fundraiser for Ronnie Musgrove and have a press conference in front of the War Memorial at 2 PM? They've issued a special invite to veterans ....

The Story of Cindy McCain

It was heartbreaking that she had to go through several miscarriages alone because they lived apart.

There is a fascinating profile of Cindy McCain in the New York Times today, which includes details about her drug abuse and her role in Keating Five. Also, Rick Davis is *her* idea. Definitely worth a read.

10/16 And, Dow Back Up Again…But Recession Fears Still Loom

The Dow was down as much as 360 points today in intra-day trading but ended up 400 points or nearly 4.7 percent. Some of the rally seemed to be a result of oil prices that have dropped to almost half of their record high earlier in the year; those numbers withdrew some short-term inflationary fears and helped send airline stocks up.

McCain Fund-Raiser Under Investigation for Iraq Contracts

New York Times:

U.S. and Iraq Agree on Pull-Out Plan, Like Obama's

The Independent in London is reporting:

Voters: Obama Wins Debate 53-22 (CBS); 58-31 (CNN)

Well, that's done. Well done, Obama. Well done.

Freedom Van!

The JFP's fourth annual Chick Ball raised $13,000 for CVP, and in September, it was able to purchase a much-needed van to transport women and children.

Wash Post: The Reformer and his Free Cell-Phone Towers

The Washington Post is reporting that John McCain has a fresh ethics problem on his hands, even as he presents himself as a "reformer" of rampant ethics problems in Washington:

Fourth Man Exonerated, Registers to Vote

Arthur Johnson, 48, registered to vote this month, after nearly 16 years in prison for a rape he did not commit, and another eight months waiting for Mississippi to officially exonerate him.

10/15 Dow Registers Second Largest Point Loss Ever

With the analysts chalking it up to new concerns that we're in a recession, the Dow experienced is second greatest point drop ever today with relatively little fanfare, dropping 733 points. The NASDAQ was off 8.5 percent and the S&P 500 lost 9 percent of its value. It goes without saying that this extraordinary volatility continues with the market see-sawing between massive losses and record-setting gains.

Sunny Smith

Dr. Sunny Smith started her career in journalism working with networks such as CBS Sports and Time Warner Inc. Now a mass communications professor at JSU, Smith believes she has found her calling.

Childers-Davis Debate Live Online at 4:30 p.m.

This afternoon, Congressman Travis Childers will debate candidate Greg

Palin: A Woman's Woman?

The lights were low in Hal & Mal's Red Room the night of the vice-presidential debate on Oct. 2. Excited chatter filled the room, along with a big screen set up at the far end.

White Men for Obama?

A long New York Times magazine feature by Matt Bai explores the question on everyone's mind: Can white men bring themselves to vote for Barack Obama in November? This is near the end:

Don't Miss These Debate-Day Funnies

OK, they are only so funny, considering the serious implications of Sarah Palin (and now John McCain) anywhere near the White House, but enjoy anyway:

Watch McCain "Whip" Obama's "You-Know-What" Tonight at Hal & Mals

The Jackson Free Press is a co-sponsor of the final debate party tonight in the Red Room at Hal & Mals. (Click here for info.) Join us to watch John McCain deliver on his threat to Barack Obama: "After I whip his you-know-what in this debate, we're going to be going out 24/7," the Republican nominee told volunteers at his campaign headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, sparking laughter and applause from the group."

New Wicker Ad Uses Cheap Gay Stereotype

A new ad from Roger Wicker's Senate campaign attempts to tie former Gov. Ronnie Musgrove to such left-wing groups as...the Village People. The ad shows a parade of liberal interest groups--including a man dressed like a cowboy representing "the largest gay-rights group in the country"--all donating money to a "DSCC Musgrove fundraiser."

ACORN Strikes Back at Smear Campaign

And how. Verbatim:

WASHINGTON, DC -- In a press conference at the National Press Club yesterday, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) held a nationally televised press conference to discuss their successful nonpartisan voter registration drive, which helped register over 1.3 million low-income, minority, and young Americans this election year, and to respond to partisan allegations of "voter registration fraud" centering around a relatively small number of faulty or falsified registration applications collected in the nationwide effort. Representatives of ACORN were joined by leaders from the voting rights groups Common Cause and Demos, as well as by actual voters to testify to the importance of voter registration.

Many New Mississippi Voters, But More Postage Required

The stamp box on your absentee ballot envelope isn't big enough, says Hinds County Circuit Clerk Barbara Dunn, but the NAACP and the U.S. Post Office say they will make sure that your vote will be counted.

Obama Opens Up 14-Point Lead Due to Palin and Attacks

CBS News just announced the results of its latest poll, which finds that Barack Obama has opened up a 14-point lead over John McCain in one week, and has taken a commanding lead among independent voters. Voters cite the choice of Sarah Palin and the vicious attacks out of the McCain-Palin as primary reasons:

Watch the McCain-Palin Hateful Highlights

Here's a film that gathers many of the dark moments of the last week of McCain-Palin rallies into a documentary short:

UPDATED: New Voters, More Postage

The stamp box on your absentee ballot envelope isn't big enough, says Hinds County Circuit Clerk Barbara Dunn. The size of the envelope and the ballot inside raises the postage to 83 cents, she said, despite the postage box on the exterior of the envelope reading: "Place stamp (singular) here."

MSU To Play JSU In Football

Jackson State will play Mississippi State in football in 2009.

Six Flags Over Wall Street: Market Climbs 11 Percent

In an amazing recovery after weeks of selling, the Dow industrials gained 11 percent and the NASDAQ nearly 12 percent. The Dow gains represent the most points ever and match an 11 percent rise in March 1933, according to the Portland Business Journal.

Ellington