News

Oxford Police Still Working Overtime

OXFORDI sat down with Oxford Police Chief Mike Martin this morning to talk about his preparations for the debate and how his officers have responded to uncertainty. He wouldn't say exactly how many additional officers he's put on duty, citing security concerns, but he confirmed that he has "a good many" officers working overtime.

Barbour: ‘I Expect There to Be a Debate'

At a press conference that just concluded at the University of Mississippi, Gov. Haley Barbour said that the debate is happening Friday night, as far as he is concerned: "It's going to be a great debate tomorrow night ... we're excited about it and that the state gets to host it."

Ole Miss Student Paper Poll: ‘It's a Cop-Out'

The Daily Mississippian is running an online poll that currently shows that 69 percent of respondents think that McCain's bailout on the debate is a "cop-out."

Mississippi GOP on McCain: ‘Heard Nothing'

The Daily Mississippian is reporting that all plans are moving ahead (except for people having to cancel already due the financial risk) for the debate Friday night. Even the Mississippi Republican Party had gotten nothing from the McCain campaign:

Fall-Out: ‘Women for Obama' Event Canned; Caterer Loses $7,000

Just in, verbatim:

Due to the uncertainty surrounding the Presidential Debate scheduled for Ole Miss, the Federation of Democratic Women reluctantly postpone the Women for Obama-Biden Forum.

What Will Barbour Say?

Gov. Haley Barbour is holding a press conference with Ole Miss Chancellor Robert Khayat at 11 a.m. today on campus. This press event was already scheduled, but took on a new urgency after John McCain announced that he was standing Oxford up for the presidential debate this Friday. One wonders how the governor will handle being stuck between a frantic Oxford and supporting a candidate he doesn't like much of his own party.

Oxford Residents Sharing Homes, Volunteering, Spending ... for Nothing?

This is about more than you.

To put John McCain's bailout on Mississippi in perspective, recall that Oxford homeowners have been bending over backward to both rent and share their homes with visiting journalists and others in town for the debates. You see, Sen. McCain, Oxford is a small town without a ton of hotel rooms. People have planned for months for this event. Many have volunteered for months. People have spent a lot of money. Ole Miss itself has spent $5.5 million; small businesses have stocked up in ways they cannot afford to lose.

Gov. Winter: McCain Takes ‘Red' Mississippi for Granted

Former Gov. William Winter, an Ole Miss graduate and the founder of the William Winter Institute for Racial Reconciliation, had this to say about McCain trying to stand up Ole Miss:

What Are We Gonna Do With All This Stuff?

OXFORDYou're going to hear more from us tomorrow about the money Oxford stands to lose if the debate falls through. But it's also time to consider those purchases Ole Miss made that will quickly seem ridiculous without a presidential debate. We appreciate the hospitality, Ole Miss, but you might regret getting:

Letterman Ticked; Olbermann Takes McCain Spot

Per The New York Times Caucus Blog, McCain may be in Dave's doghouse:

Ole Miss Students Address 'Economics' of McCain Bailout

That's the best way to describe the attitude on here at the University of Mississippi. Months of planning. Millions of dollars. All down the drain because of one apparent maverick's desire to stay "above politics." For the candidates, the debate at Ole Miss is simply one obstacle in a series of hurdles that ends with a potential stint at the White House. For Ole Miss, the debate is everything, the final pat on the back that the university has been seeking ever since it started burying its Confederate past under Chancellor Robert Khayat's administration. And, for a moment at least, it seems ruined. John McCain stood them up, or is trying to, at least.

Ole Miss to ABC: ‘Devastating'

Andrew Mullins, special assistant to the Chancellor at Ole Miss, told ABC News that postponing the debate would be "devastating" and that the university has invested millions in the debate scheduled for Friday night.

James Meredith on the 5 Most Important People in the Obama Campaign

In James Meredith's JFP Interview this week, he details the five people he believes have (or had) the greatest effect on the Obama campaign, starting with Sean Hannity. His thoughts, verbatim:

McCain Wants Oxford on Call for a Maybe-Veep Debate

Sheer absurdity. It just gets worse, as McCain also tries to find a way to reschedule (or cancel) Palin's debate with Biden. CNN Political Ticker:

William Green

Dr. William Green is a bishop and an interdenominational chaplain, has studied Buddhism with the Dalai Lama and is a published religious scholar. But most people in Jackson call him "professor.

Top 13 Ways Oxford Can Replace the Debate

1. Pick-up Ultimate Frisbee between the Gay-Straight Alliance and the College Republicans.

Now that John McCain is cutting and running from the first debate, the town of Oxford is left bursting at the seams with people, reporters, and lots of extra food, booze and energy. So, the JFP staff decided to them out and come up with alternative activities for Friday evening.

Verbatim: James Meredith Policy On Interviews

I will grant an interview only to people who agree to the following five stipulations.

See what rules James Meredith makes all mediaexcept the Jackson Free Pressagree to before granting an interview.

McCain Screwing Ole Miss?

Folo's got some good chat going over how McCain's stunt is going Ole Miss (and Mississippi). I mean, our economy can't handle getting ready for a huge political party that doesn't show. I like how olemissreb put it:

Abortion: 'Issue of Our Day'?

40 Days for Life, a national pro-life campaign, is focusing its efforts on the only abortion provider in Mississippi, the National Women's Health Organization in Fondren. Described as "a unique approach to ending abortion," the campaign will hold a prayer vigil outside the clinic from Sept. 24 through Nov. 2.

Survey USA Instant Poll: Show Must Go On

Survey USA wasted no time taking America's pulse on McCain's latest bombshellAmerica's First Reaction: Friday's McCain-Obama Debate Should Still Be Held On Friday, But Perhaps with New Focus: Immediately after John McCain's announcement 3 pm ET today, Wednesday 09/24/08, that he was suspending his campaign and seeking to postpone Friday's schedule presidential debate, SurveyUSA interviewed 1,000 adults nationwide. Key findings:

McCain's Debate Stunt Doesn't Impress

No one at an afternoon panel at Ole Miss' Overby Center was willing to stick up for John McCain's plan to ditch the debate. Former Gov. William Winter, Jackson City Council President Leslie McLemore and former Mississippi Republican Party chairman Clarke Reed were scheduled to discuss party realignment in the South, and they mostly stuck to that subject, except to express their disapproval of McCain's stunt.

Debate "Going Forward," Khayat Says

Official statement from Chancellor Robert Khayat posted on The University of Mississippi Web site:

The University of Mississippi is going forward with the preparation for the debate. We are ready to host the debate, and we expect the debate to occur as planned. At present, the University has received no notification of any change in the timing or venue of the debate. We have been notified by the Commission on Presidential Debates that we are proceeding as scheduled. We will keep you posted as information becomes available.

Ole Miss: Debate Is Still On

Official Statement From Chancellor's Office

The University of Mississippi is going forward with the preparation for the debate. We are ready to host the debate, and we expect the debate to occur as planned. At present, the University has received no notification of any change in the timing or venue of the debate. We have been notified by the Commission on Presidential Debates that we are proceeding as scheduled.

Quiz: What Mississippi Legend is Calling Sarah Palin ‘White Trash'?

The JFP will tell you a bit later today on our brand, spanking new Debate-Politics Blog. Stay tuned.

WJTV Defends Web Poll Focusing on Obama's Race

Two polls on the Web site of Jackson CBS affiliate WJTV reveal an inordinate focus on Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's race. The first poll deals with Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain and his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. It asks respondents to describe themselves as voting for or against "the McCain-Palin ticket" because of one of three issues: "their positions on issues," their Republican affiliation or Palin herself.

Just In Time for the Debates, a ‘Pro-Baby, Anti-Palin' Onesy!

Leave it to Portland ... (verbatim): With less than two months to go in a hotly-contested, too-close-to-call race for president, the creators of the popular "President Poopyhead" and "I Already Know More Than The President" baby t-shirts are hitting the presses again, this time in support of the Democratic ticket. Fans of Baby Wit's hip political gear can choose from five original styles of Election 08 t-shirts now available at http://www.Babywit.com.Â The "Obamarama" tee features the democratic contender in a Tony Manero disco-fever suit (starting at $26), the "What Would Obama Do" tee stars Obama as Jesus Christ (starting at $26), the "Team Obama" tee sports a 70s-inspired, distressed logo screen printed on a soft, heather-grey gym tee (starting at $21), and "Obama, Baby!" is a close-up of the democratic hopeful (starting at $21). Obama tees are available in sizes for baby, toddler, women, and men.Â "Pro-Woman, Anti-Palin" baby one-pieces featuring a devilish Sarah Palin are available in both pink and blue (starting at $26).

Parties, Debates, Meetups, Oh My! ... JFP Debuts Political Events Calendar

Just in time for the Big Debate (or Big Deflate as Adam Lynch is calling it since McCain called for a time-out), the JFP has launched both a new Politics Blog, as well as devoted a section of our JFP Events calendar to politics-related listings. Here's the fun part: You can add your own events, from debate watch parties to meetups you want to invite the public to. And regardless of your party. Even if you're a McCain fan (boo, hiss). So bring 'em on, and let's put the fun back into politics.

'So Be It': Ballot 'Trick' Fails

The Mississippi Supreme Court ruled last week that the U.S. Senate race between Roger Wicker and Ronnie Musgrove should appear near the top of the general election ballot, ending a controversy that attracted national attention and stirred accusations of partisanship on both sides.

Michelle Obama: Have a Debate Party!

OK, it's just a campaign letter, but here is what Michelle Obama sent out today about the Friday debate, verbatim, of course:

Ole Miss, Warts and All

An article in today's New York Times deviates a bit from the standard narrative on Ole Miss and the debate. It provides some counterpoint to the several versions of "Look how far they've come!" I've seen in the mainstream media thus far, in the Washington Post (twice), the Wall Street Journal and on NPR.

Ellington