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Wayne Dowdy Will Worry State GOP
Clarion-Ledger columnist Sid Salter writes that new Mississippi Democratic Party head Wayne Dowdy will worry the state Republicans: "Dowdy is a formidable opponent in every sense of the term. He's smart. He's tough. Dowdy has the demonstrated skills to repair some of the fundamental weaknesses of the Democratic Party in Mississippi — money and organization. But Dowdy's greatest weapon is the Medicaid debacle — Haley Barbour's size 13EEE political Achilles heel — and he'll use it."
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.
Wyatt Emmerich: Raise Cigarette Taxes
Emmerich writes: "For Pete's sake, let's raise the taxes on cigarettes. Mississippi currently has one of the lowest cigarette tax rates in the nation. Just a quarter-a-pack increase could raise $100 million or so. We all want to reduce smoking. Raising the price not only puts money in state coffers but discourages smoking as well."
Will the GOP Try to ‘Suppress' Non-White Vote?
Columnist Bob Herbert writes in The New York Times: "More than 80 percent of the population of Detroit is black. This is very well understood by John Pappageorge, who is white and a Republican state legislator in Michigan. 'If we do not suppress the Detroit vote,' said Mr. Pappageorge, 'we're going to have a tough time in this election.' Oops! Republicans aren't supposed to actually say they want to suppress black votes. That's so retro. It's so Jim Crow. This is the 21st century, and the thing now is to do the dastardly deed, but never ever acknowledge it. That's where our friend Pappageorge went wrong. After his startling quote was published several weeks ago in The Detroit Free Press, Mr. Pappageorge, who is 73, apologized and said he certainly never meant to suggest that anything racist or illegal take place. But he reiterated to me in a phone conversation last Friday that he did indeed mean that the vote in Detroit needed to be kept down."
Factcheck.org: Just How Many Bills Has Kerry "Passed?"
Bush said Kerry passed five bills. Kerry said he's passed 56. Who's right? That depends on the definition of "passed" and "bills."
Childers-Davis Debate Live Online at 4:30 p.m.
This afternoon, Congressman Travis Childers will debate candidate Greg
Tupelo Republican Wants to Block Gay Unions
The Clarion-Ledger is reporting: 'Saying gay marriage 'goes against everything society has ever stood for,' state Sen. Alan Nunnelee has filed a bill to ban the union under the state Constitution. Mississippi lawmakers must have all bills and constitutional amendments filed by Feb. 23. Nunnelee's bill calls for a constitutional amendment defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman. Mississippi already bans marriage for same-sex couples and does not recognize homosexual marriages performed in other states, but Nunnelee, R-Tupelo, says the 1997 state law may not be enough in years to come.
Barbour Signs Ten Commandments Bill
[verbatim statement] April 21, 2005—Governor Haley Barbour yesterday signed Senate Bill 2486, that authorizes the display of "In God We Trust," the Ten Commandments, and the Beatitudes at public buildings and property in Mississippi. "When I went to Yazoo High, we started each day with prayer and a Ten Commandments monument stood right outside the front door, on the grounds of our school," said Governor Barbour. "Those were good things back then, and they would be good things today."
[Just In] Barbour Says He Won't ‘Streamline' Education
We just received this from Barbour's office: Contrary to what some have said, the "Operation: Streamline" legislation does not affect funding for education at all. There are no bills dealing with schools, teachers or K-12 funding. My executive budget submitted last month simply accepts the Legislative Budget Committee's unanimous recommendation for K-12 funding * nothing less. Read full statement ...
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:
Open Thread: Post Exit Polls, Predictions Here
All, use this thread from here on out to share exit polling info and such. We'll start an actual Returns thread when the polls close.
Barbour: Of Course, Bush Will Take Mississippi
The Clarion-Ledger reports today: "Mississippi Republicans say President Bush can bank on a solid re-election showing here and in much of the South, but the latest poll shows him in a dead heat with Democratic rival Sen. John Kerry. ... Despite the fallout from the conflict in Iraq and U.S. abuses of Iraqi prisoners, Mississippi's GOP congressmen and Gov. Haley Barbour said they are confident Bush can hold onto the presidency."
Bush Approval Ratings at All-Time Low
CBS News is reporting: "President Bush's overall approval rating has fallen to the lowest level of his presidency, 44 percent, in the latest CBS News poll, reflecting the weight of instability in Iraq on public opinion, despite signs of improvement in the economy. Two weeks ago, 46 percent of Americans approved of the job President Bush was doing. On April 9, his approval rating was 51 percent. American's opinion of Mr. Bush's handling of the economy is also at an all-time low, 34 percent, while 60 percent disapprove, also a high of the Bush presidency. Increasing employment is seemingly not affecting Americans' view of Mr. Bush's economic policy.
Conservative Group Unveils Reagan Ad
AP is reporting: "Days after Ronald Reagan was laid to rest, a conservative interest group on Tuesday unveiled a campaign ad that aligns him with President Bush and criticizes Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry. The Club for Growth's ad, which is to begin airing Wednesday, portrays both Republican presidents as leaders - Reagan on communism and Bush on terrorism, while claiming Kerry was 'wrong then, wrong now' on national security. The ad shows Kerry, a Vietnam veteran, testifying to Congress in 1971 that 'we cannot fight communism all over the world and I think we should have learned that lesson by now.'
Report: 100,000 Iraqi Citizens Killed in War
Bloomberg is reporting:
Barbour Vetoes ‘Partnership' Bill
GOVERNOR'S VETO MESSAGE FOR HOUSE BILL 1115 -March 27, 2006-
I am returning House Bill 1115: AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 43-13-403, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO DEFINE CERTAIN TERMS IN THE HEALTH CARE TRUST FUND LAW; TO AMEND SECTION 43-13-405, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT ALL TOBACCO SETTLEMENT INSTALLMENT PAYMENTS MADE TO THE STATE SHALL BE DEPOSITED INTO THE HEALTH CARE TRUST FUND, INCLUDING ANY SETTLEMENT PAYMENTS MADE UNDER COURT ORDER FOR TOBACCO CESSATION PROGRAMS, EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN THIS ACT; TO EXTEND THE DATE OF THE REPEALER ON THAT SECTION;
Just In: USM Ballots Missing; Protest Planned
It starts. We just got this from LiveJournal tonight from "ThatGuy":
A protest is being organized for tomorrow for all disenfranchised students. please call Kim Dixon at 601-266-3385 for more information. [...]
New License Plate Supports the Arts
From the Mississippi Arts Commission: "House Bill 940 (legislative session 2003) authorized distinctive license tags for several organizations, including the Arts Commission. Our tag is now ready for pre-sale and we hope that you will consider supporting us with a purchase. The majority of money raised on each sale will help fund our Museum on Wheels initiative and other grant programs. To see the tag and obtain an application, visit our Web site, http://www.arts.state.ms.us Checks or money orders should be made payable to the Mississippi Arts Commission. After a pre-sale of 200, these tags will be produced and available in approximately six to eight weeks.
Clarion-Ledger: Don't Fund Children's Justice Center
A Clarion-Ledger editorial today says that the MCI settlement should only fund telecommunications-related causes:
The Man Who Started the False Obama ‘Muslim' Rumors
The New York Times has a story about the guy who started the false rumors that Barack Obama is a Muslim: