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.
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. 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. "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.
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:
CNN's Campbell Brown: ‘Sexist' McCain Campaign Must ‘Free Sarah Palin'
This is simply too fabulous for words. CNN's Campbell Brown offers up a stunning take-down to the McCain campaign over their apparently refusal to let Governor Palin hold a press conference or take questions from the media:
The Poop on the Oxford Debate
To keep up with specifics (and find out about ticket and media info, event schedules and the like), check out the Ole Miss Presidential Debate Site. The main UM debate site is here, and the Commission for Presidential Debates is here.
Rock the Vote Poll: Youth Want Obama; No Palin Effect
Michael Connery is blogging about the new Rock the Vote poll results of young voters at futuremajority.com:
Meredith: ‘No, Just Acting Like Students, I ‘Spose'
In this video shot during the Ole Miss uprising over his enrollement, James Meredith sure looks a lot younger, but he rather sounds just like he does today when he says of the angry students around him, "No, Just Acting Like Students, I 'Spose."
John McCain's Mississippi Roots
Jake Tapper (now of ABC) and Arkansas journalist Suzi Parker wrote a piece for Salon back in 2000 during the last presidential election in which they revealed to the world, and to McCain, that his family in Mississippi had owened 52 slaves in Carroll County (incidentally Trent Lott's home county and a hotbed for the Citizens Council back in the day):
James Meredith Will Not Be in Oxford for the Debate
Ole Miss' most famous alumnist, James Meredith, has made it clear that he will not attend the debate Friday at Ole Miss. His wife, Dr. Judy Meredith, and one of his sons will be in attendance, however. She told the JFP today that she is told that the two of them will be escorted to the debate by Secret Service.
Ole Miss Debate a Conspiracy to Help Obama?
You gotta love it when the conspiracy theorists get going. This blog asks, "Was the debate schedule gamed for Obama too?. (Wonder if they know when the debate was scheduled for Oxford?)
‘Hot Democratic Women' Present the Oxford Debate Music Guide
Now we get around to the important stuff: music in Oxford this week. The advance word on the Obamarama at The Lyric. We'll see what the JFP's road team has to say; they rushed out this afternoon to get there in time. We await their reports.
Obama Prepping for Debate in ‘Battleground' Florida
Per a CBS blog: Barack Obama is taking the day off from campaigning today – instead he will be preparing for Friday's presidential debate at an undisclosed location in the Tampa, Fla., area.
Katie Couric Asks You-the-People to Help Her Interview Palin
On her chatty blog, CBS' Katie Couric wants to know what you would ask Sarah Palin! She's going to interview her next week! She thinks Palin has made the campaign really exciting! She won't ask "gossipy stuff"! She needs you! Read more:
Families United Supporting Troops at Oxford Debate
The Pontotoc Progress is reporting (in a whole bunch of one-sentence paragraphs):
Oxford's Changeand the McCain Slaves
NPR has one of the requisite stories about how far Oxford has come since 1962. (Doh.) This one has some good stuff from Boston Globe reporter Curtis Wilkie, who was a famed civil rights reporter and now teaches at Ole Miss:
Another Oxford DebateThis One Malcolm X
Allow us to pause during Debate Week madness in Mississippi to observe a different tall, skinny black man in an Oxford debate.
State Democrats Plan ‘Turning Mississippi Blue' Rally
[Verbatim] Mississippi Democrats will celebrate the first 2008 presidential debate with a political rally Thursday night, Sept. 25, in Oxford where party candidates and leaders are expected to speak. The "Turning Mississippi Blue" rally starts at 6 p.m. at the Oxford Activity Center. Democrats who plan to speak include state party Chairman Jamie Franks, former Gov. William Winter, former Gov. Ray Mabus, Oxford Mayor Richard Howorth, U.S. Senate candidate Erik Fleming and U.S. House candidate Joel Gill.
State Launches Site for Visiting Debate Journalists
[Verbatin] An estimated 3,000 journalists are expected to descend upon Oxford this week for the first 2008 Presidential Debate. To assist media with resources for broadcasts and articles pertaining to Mississippi, the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) has created a website containing helpful information regarding the state. Media and journalists can access the site at http://www.msdebate08.org . "The first 2008 Presidential Debate being held on the campus of the University of Mississippi is a historic event – not only for Ole Miss and Oxford, but also for the entire State of Mississippi," Governor Haley Barbour said. "We have a great story to tell, and this event is an excellent opportunity to share it with the world. The website is designed to help the media tell the story, and I am sure the information contained within the site will be useful to anyone wishing to learn more about the state."
Millsaps Grads Win ‘Quiz Me,' Get Debate Tickets
[Verbatim] After correctly answering 106 questions during a quiz bowl competition, two Millsaps grads have received two highly coveted tickets to the first presidential debate on Friday.
McCain Tries to Bar Media From Palin at UN; CNN Rebels
The McCain campaign's efforts to keep Sarah Palin from embarrassing herself in front of the media is reaching ridiculous depths. Today, to their credit, CNN threatened to not show any footage of her effort to look presidential if the McCain camp followed through on restricting all reporters except for cameras. (She likes cameras.) Here is CNN's blog report on the mess.
MEMA Headed to Oxford Debate
[Verbatim] PEARL – The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency is coordinating with key federal, local and university personnel to provide support and resources for the Presidential Debate at the University of Mississippi in Oxford on Sept. 26. "We are proud to be a part of this historic event," said MEMA Director Mike Womack. "The preparation for this monumental debate has been a collaborative effort among MEMA, other state agencies, federal entities, city and county officials." MEMA is scheduled to deploy its Mobile Command Unit and members of its state emergency response team Wednesday to set up a forward state emergency operations center near the Oxford Police Station.
McCain Campaign Head Paid $2 Million to Stop Mortgage Regulations
The New York Times has the story of the day (of the campaign?):
Obama: 'We Must Also Help Main Street'
Barack Obama wants the government to give attention to families and workers as well as the financial industry. CNN reports:
Palin's $50,000 Office Makeover ... into 'Bordello' Red
Salon is reporting that Sarah Palin shocked Wasilla when she spent $50,000 from a city highway fund to re-do her mayoral office:
Another Mucked-Up Hurricane Response?
Folo has a good post, and several links, pointing to another inadequate response to a hurricane disaster, this time in Texas. And there are reports that Texas Gov. Rick Perry is trying to keep the severity of the problem under wraps. Can this really be true?
Wall Street Journal: Of Palin's Earmarks and McCain's Lies
Even as John McCain said this week that Palin asked for no earmarks as governor, The Wall Street Journal that she, indeed, asked for $453 million in projects:
Hood Takes Gloves Off Over Barbour Ballot Scheme
[Verbatim from Attorney General Jim Hood] Jackson, MS-Gov. Haley Barbour's ill-conceived attempt to gain a partisan political advantage for his party and violate state law is an embarrassment for both his office and the state's voters, Attorney General Jim Hood said today. "If Gov. Barbour believes his legal acumen is greater than that of a legal staff with a combined 100 years of experience in election law -- including two attorneys considered the deans of election law in Mississippi -- then he is walking in a dream world," General Hood said in reference to the career attorneys in his office.
Obama Supporters Launch "Watch Oprah" Counter Campaign
In a campaign cycle getting more ridiculous by the moment, Obama supporters are fighting back against the McCain-Palin supporters who are boycotting Oprah because she said she isn't inviting Palin on her (optimum word there) show until after the election. The following e-mail came today:
Associated Press, Factcheck.org Expose McCain's Lies
The current national furor over the lies coming from the McCain-Palin camp reached a ridiculous level today when Factcheck.org had to call the campaign out for distorting the non-partisan's correction of Internet rumors about Palinbecause McCain ran an ad that dishonestly said Factcheck said the Obama campaign told the lies, not anonymous Internet users. Uh, big difference. Factcheck.org today:
‘Reformer' Palin Billed State for 312 Nights Spent at Home
The Washington Post is reporting that Gov. Sarah Palin and her family haven't been conservative with their expense reports in the year+ she as served as governor of Alaska:
Factcheck.org: McCain and Palin Lie During RNC Speeches
Factcheck.org, a non-partisan campaign fact-checking site run by the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania reported today that John McCain "made some flubs in accepting the nomination." Following is the verbatim summary of the McCain factcheck; go to the report for full details and attribution:
Grand White Party
Saddest of all is that the Republican Party has essentially made no strides on race issues, as was in shocking evidence last night as Sarah Palin, Rudy Guiliani and Mitt Romney threw red meat, and belittlement of Obama, at an extremely white crowd. The Washington Post called it today in this story, In a More Diverse America, A Mostly White Convention:
Why Is Sarah Palin Sneering So Much?
Quite frankly, I'm shocked. I expected a speech from Palin that would make Americans who'd never heard of her last Friday *like* her. She's just sneering over and over agaon. I'm truly shocked at the level of nastiness here. There's a belittling tone here that I'm not used to hearing on a national stage. It feels very FOX News, and the room loves (and their return sneers reflect it), but I don't see how it plays to people who aren't going to vote for McCain already. And it could turn some off. Is she going to belittle world leaders she doesn't agree with? Weird. And puzzling.
Is Palin a ‘Reformer'?
Word is that Sarah Palin's speech tonight will focus on being "a reformer." Thoughts?
(No sex-pregnancy-abortion scandal talk on this thread, please. I'm trying to break them up to make conversation talk easier.)
WAIT: Isn't It ‘Sexist' to Criticize Female Reporters!?!
It's call-the-messenger-sexist time. After keeping embattled running mate Sarah Palin under wraps since Monday, and canceling a CNN interview due to Campbell Brown asking about Palin's foreign policy expertise, McCain campaign today blamed the media for pursuing questions about Palin's background and said that the criticism of her is sexist. Read more at Politico:
Tornadoes Plague State Today; Evacuees Should Stay Put
Mississippi residents woke up today to tornado watches and warnings swirling around the state, especially in central Mississippi, in the aftermatch of Hurricane Gustav. As we return to work and school, the JFP's best advice is to listen to Mississippi Public Broadcasting, which is live with constant updates, as it has been all weekend. Also, Gov. Haley Barbour is cautioning evacuees not to try to return to the Coast until Wednesday, even some highways down there are starting to re-open.
How to Donate to Help Hurricane Victims
Also see: Jackpedia: Hurricane Gustav to get/post vital information.
So Far, So Good: Whew
It's 2:04 p.m. Monday, and Gustav didn't turn out to be the monster we feared. Thank God. It's raining here in Jackson, and we're keeping our eyes out for tornados. Our biggest challenge in the city is caring for evacuees in the shelters. There is early evidence that the shelter situation, and the contraflow from Louisiana, didn't go as smoothly as it could have. We'll be looking into that more.
Bristol Palin, Unmarried and 17, Is Pregnant
The drama is coming fast and furious from the abstinence-only McCain-Palin campaign today. The Washington Post is reporting:
Red Cross Needs Volunteers In Jackson
Also see: Jackpedia: Hurricane Gustav to get/post vital information.
AG: How to Protect Yourself from Gustav Scams
From Attorney General Jim Hood, verbatim: Jackson, MS-As Hurricane Gustav wraps its sweep across portions of Mississippi, Attorney General Jim Hood reminds residents impacted by the storm to protect themselves from the scammers that every storm brings.
Barbour: ‘Don't Let Your Guard Down Yet'
Also see: Jackpedia: Hurricane Gustav to get/post vital information.
URGENT: 211 Emergency Number Failing; call 866-472-8265 Instead
The 211 number has been failing over the last 24 hours. The United Way reports that you call use this number instead: 866-472-8265.
American and Southwest Cancel All Jackson Flights Today
American and Southwest Airlines have cancelled all flights in and out of Jackson-Evers International Airport for the rest of today, Sept. 1., and at least until 9 a.m. Tuesday. Delta is cancelling at least some flights. Be sure to call the airline to check on status of flights. WAPT is discussing the fact now that any passengers stranded at the airport cannot check into local hotels because they are all full.
MEMA Belatedly Reveals More Shelter Options
The morning after shelters were turning away frustrated evacuees in the Jackson Metro, MEMA put out a release telling people where space was still available. Verbatim:
Gustav Hits Houma; Levees Holding; Tornado Watches Multiply
The Associated Press is reporting:
Cat 2 Gustav Approaches; Pushing Levees; Hwy. 90 Under Water
Also see: Jackpedia: Hurricane Gustav to get/post vital information.
MARL Needs Supplies to Help with Evacuee Pets
Also see: Jackpedia: Hurricane Gustav to get/post vital information.