Barbour Files Campaign Finance Report
The following are details of the report for the period of July 1—July 26, 2003:
[Trent Lott column] Beyond Casinos
I will be in Tunica County soon to officially open the new Tunica Airport. As most Mississippians know, Tunica County is one of the handful of Mississippi counties where citizens allow legalized gaming. No matter what one's opinion of gaming, one cannot deny that it has helped make Tunica County a much different place than it was decades ago, when the infamous "Sugar Ditch" was known worldwide as America's poorest spot. Yet, history teaches Mississippians to be wary of putting all of our economic eggs in a single basket, lest we risk a return to "Sugar Ditch." This is why projects like Tunica Airport and other infrastructure initiatives are so important.
Musgrove Campaign Holds $4 Million Cash on Hand
(Jackson, MS) July 29, 2003/press release: As required by state law, Governor Ronnie Musgrove's reelection campaign today will file its campaign fundraising report with the Mississippi Secretary of State. Musgrove has raised a total of $5,448,312 for his campaign to serve a second term. Between July 1st and July 26th, Musgrove reported raising $600,519. Governor Musgrove holds $4,070,500 cash-on-hand to face whomever emerges from next week's August 5th Republican primary.
C-L Endorses Blackmon, Tuck for Lt. Guv
The Clarion-Ledger pointed to Blackmon's experience in the Senate to choose her over Democratic challenger Jim Roberts for the Dem nod, and to take on Tuck in November. Sid Salter pointed out in his fairtime column correctly that Blackmon's place on the ticket could help interest more black voters, which in turn could hurt Haley Barbour come November. He also pointed out that the black woman's race (to be the first black elected statewide in Mississippi since Reconstruction, by the way) could "result in an awakening of the 70,000 additional rural white male votes that Republican Kirk Fordice was able to get to the polls in his 1995 re-election." Presumably, all those presumably angry white guys would never think of voting for a qualified black woman as lieutenant governor. Talk about the bigotry of low expectations; maybe this year is the year that the state's voters will start bucking, er, conventional political wisdom. Let's hope.
Opponents: Barbour Helped Mexico Steal Miss. Jobs
The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal reports on assertions by both Tyner and Musgrove yesterday at the Neshoba County Fair that Haley Barbour's lobbying for Mexico cost jobs in Mississippi. "The primary criticism of Barbour centered around his representation of Mexico as a lobbyist. Musgrove said Mississippi had lost 41,000 manufacturing jobs to Mexico since the North American Free Trade Agreement was passed by Congress in he early 1990s."
Play Rugby!
Play Rugby, the toughest full-contact team sport you will ever love. All are welcome with no skill required. Jackson Rugby practices every Tues. and Thurs. 6 - 8 p.m. at Ridgecrest Baptist Church in Madison. 714-4444. http://www.jacksonrugby.com
Plea to Candidates: Prosecute Civil Rights Murders
John Gibson writes: "Please call the candidates for District Attorney for Mississippi District 8 (includes Neshoba county) and ask will they and how will they aggressively pursue prosecution in the murders of James Chaney, Michael Schwerner, and Andrew Goodman and others whose bodies were found before, during, and after the search for the three civil rights workers . Please call or write others, especially residents of District 8 (Leake, Neshoba, Newton, and Scott counties), and ask them to contact the candidates. Assistant district attorney Mark Duncan (601 656-1991) of Philadelphia and Johnny Pope (601 267-5636), a Carthage attorney and former justice and municipal court judge, will meet in the Democrat primary. There are no Republican challengers. The vote is on August 5, 39 years and one day after the finding of the three civil rights workers bodies. The state of Mississippi has never charged anyone in the those murders as well as many other murders."
Heroes of Hedonism, by Alphonso Mayfield
To attend a 2 Live Crew concert is to experience a mixture of hedonism and mass hysteria. Between the kick of 808 drum patterns and thongs moving to the rhythmic swing of the music, who would guess this group had once fought one of the most significant wars regarding free speech in the United States?
Take That, Joe Lieberman
After all the talk-show babble of the last couple days about Howard Dean being such a "far-left" candidate, it's a relief to see a New York Times story today that actually explores his hard-to-define independence—which may well be drawing much of his surge of support: "But in Vermont, whose political center of gravity lands left of the nation's, one of the secrets to Dr. Dean's success was keeping the most liberal politicians in check. Over 11 years, he restrained spending growth to turn a large budget deficit into a surplus, cut taxes, forced many on welfare to go to work, abandoned a sweeping approach to health-care reform in favor of more incremental measures, antagonized environmentalists, won the top rating from the National Rifle Association and consistently embraced business interests."
Haley Barbour's New "Democrat-Lover" Nastygram
July 30, 2003: Gubernatorial hopeful, and former national GOP party head, Haley Barbour seems more stressed about Davidian challenger Mitch Tyner than you'd think. A rather breathtaking nasty-politics flyer landed in the JFP PO box this morning. In a tone worthy of Ann Coulter, the four-color (read: expensive) Barbour fold-out shows Mitch Tyner in the backseat of a stretch limo driven by a donkey (you'd think that'd be hard to afford with the $209,484 Tyner has raised to date, compared with Barbour's $5,316,884) with "Liberal Trial Lawyer and Democrat-Lover Mitch Tyner." With a huge photo of a zebra on the front, the headline reads: "A zebra can't change its stripes and neither can a donkey!!" READ MORE ...
Haley Barbour Issues Statement Posted
Go take a look at Barbour's positions on a list of issues just posted on his JFP candidate blog.
New answers up from Max Phillips
I have to say, two of the agriculture commissioner candidates, both Republicans, are leading the pack on substantive questionnaires as far as I can see. You've got to go read the very thoughtful answers of Max Phillips and Roger Crowder and about very important issues for Mississippians (pesticides, organics, grocery-store safety and so on). Go on to the Ag page. These are the kind of thoughtful answers we're looking for; I applaud them. On a lesser note, I don't think that anyone's running for lieutenant governor, and I thought the treasurer field was crowded and competitive, but only two have been in touch about their answers. Oh well. To Haley Barbour's credit, his campaign staff has called repeatedly to apologize for not getting answers in, yet. Until they get them done, we're going to post issues information from his Web site. But the campaign has promised a full and substantive line-up of answers in the next couple weeks at least. (You get the feeling they're not worried about primary challenger Mitch Tyner.) We do look forward to the answers, and we appreciate them communicating with us about them. A point added to the Barbour column.
Musgrove statement to JFP, more Klotz answers posted
This morning, we posted a statement from Gov. Musgrove on the Politics Blog addressing several of the substantive issues in our questionnaire. And House 66 candidate Chris Klotz sent over his free-expression answers, which we added to his page. (We're rather impressed with how Klotz is making time to answer our questions, even in chunks. We haven't heard from his opponent at all, yet.) Head on over and check out the latest round of answers.
Fun Politics? Imagine ...
Right now, over on Howard Dean's blog, there's a fund-raising "bat" marathon going on to beat the $250,000 that Dick Cheney is going to get from a few wealthy contributors Monday night. As of right now, they're up $130,000 since last night in small contributions—and has two days to go. Go check it out: Whatever you think of Dean, this energetic grass-roots movement is something to behold. Sure beats the hell out of conventional political, er, "wisdom."
[Ladd] Stuck in the Middle with You
I don't know about you, but I'm sick of nastiness. Of sniping. Pettiness. Silly arguments. Name-calling. Divisiveness. It seems as if hurling insults has become the new national pasttime. Chris Matthews yelling louder than his guests. Michael Savage telling a presumably gay listener he hopes he contracts AIDS. Ann Coulter accusing anyone left of Attila the Hun of committing treason. Michael Moore exploding at the Academy Awards.
[Ladd] ‘Say These Words With Me'
"How is everybody?" Bob Moses asked the congregation in his famous whisper. He paused and then added, "Say these words with me."
Bitter Waters
Artist Martha Ferris and husband and playwright Kos Kostmayer of Vicksburg believe we're in danger. Since 1985, we have lived in the shadows of Entergy's Grand Gulf Nuclear Power Plant in Port Gibson, which provides a third of the state's power and creates about $20 million in tax revenue. The couple warns it also poses a grave risk of both security breaches and serious accidents such as the April 26, 1986, Chernobyl nuclear-power meltdown. They want to "alert the public about what Entergy is up to, who's footing the bill, and the incredible hazards of building a second nuclear reactor in our back yard poses," as Ferris wrote in an e-mail.
Watermelon Classic
The 20th running of one of Mississippi's oldest road races takes place at 7:30 a.m. on Friday July 4, 2003 in front of the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum at 1152 Lakeland Drive in Jackson, MS. Registration forms are currently available at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum, Fleet Feet stores and all Baptist Fitness Centers for The Baptist Health Systems Watermelon Classic 5K Run & Walk. Entry fees for the race are $15 for pre-registration, $20 on race day. Entry fees for the fun run are $10 in advance, $12 on race day. Advance team and family entries are welcome.
Here Comes Da Judge
Damn, it's time for more Morgan-Quitno rankings. The last time we got dinged, it was for being the 10th most dangerous city, based on 2001 crime statistics and released last fall (and reported by daily media this spring as if they had just come out). In this round, though, the Lawrence, Kan.-based book publishers have the state of Mississippi in its sights. (Didn't that town learn anything about needless agitating back in frontier times?) This hellhole of a state we live in, it seems, is the 14th most dangerous, our second-worst ranking ever. We were more dangerous in 1999 (13th) and hit our safety peak in 1994 (the first year of the rankings). And, after all, Vermont is the safest state, and we wouldn't want to rank anywhere near them wussy-butts, even if they do, too, appreciate the right to arm bears, er, bear arms.
Senators in town!
Jackson Senators Baseball Now - July 23. Game times Tues.-Sat. 7:05 p.m., Sun., 6:05 p.m. Gates open 1 hour before start time. Tues. - 2 for $1 drinks. Wed. - .50 cent drinks. Thurs. - $1 drinks. Fri.- Kids run bases after the game. 362-2294. http://jacksonsenators.com
Tyner Accuses Barbour of Gambling Ties
From a Tyner statement, quoted by the Magnolia Report: "'Somehow, Mr. Barbour believes it is morally sound to expand gambling nationwide, even within miles of our state's border, but we should give him a free pass if his efforts failed to expand gambling in Mississippi,' Tyner states while smiling and shaking his head in the negative. "I do not accept that proposition and I also question the integrity of his representation that he has not been paid to help get more gambling in Mississippi,' says Tyner."
How the Left Lost Teen Spirit
Read a Salon interview with Danny Goldberg, author of the book, ""Dispatches From the Culture Wars: How the Left Lost Teen Spirit." The reviewer writes: "As Goldberg points out -- and no other political pundit, to my knowledge, has noticed this -- in 1996, Bill Clinton beat Bob Dole by 19 points among voters under 24. In 2000, George W. Bush and Gore were dead even in that age group, a total of about 9 million votes. Restore even half of Clinton's '96 edge with youth, and the result of the election is clearly different, with or without the much-debated Nader factor." He adds: "But would it really be so daring for Democratic candidates to make it clear that they support free speech, and that what Americans want to watch and listen to is entirely their own business? Wouldn't it be OK for candidates to the left of Bush to admit that fact, and to point out that they represent a party that, at least historically, has stood alongside the civil rights movement, the abortion rights movement, the environmental movement and the lesbian and gay liberation struggle?"
State Games, Olympics Style
State Games of Mississippi June 20 - 22, June 26 -29. Two full weekends of Olympic-style games feature more than 4,500 amateur athletes from across the state, competing in over 28 sports. Opening ceremonies offer top-name entertainment, parade of athletes, lighting of the torch and fireworks. 800-482-0205. http://www.stategamesofms.org
Shagadelic Senators Back at Home
Jackson Senators Baseball Tues., June 17 - Tues., June 24. Game times Tues.-Sat. 7:05 p.m., Sun., 6:05 p.m. Gates open 1 hour before start time. Tues. - 2 for $1 drinks. Wed. - .50 cent drinks. Thurs. - $1 drinks. Fri.- Kids run bases after the game. Shagadelic Saturdays with Austin Powers. 362-2294. http://jacksonsenators.com
Amy Tuck's $510,000 Question
Press statement from the Mississippi Democratic Party: Recent press accounts of $510,000.00 in "unexplained loans" to the Amy Tuck campaign raise serious questions that must be answered: 1) Does she still owe the debt? 2) Is she paying off the debt? 3) Has the debt already been paid off? 4) If there were personal loans made to her, who provided those personal loans? 5) What were the terms of any personal loan agreements? 6) If the loans were secured, who secured the loans? 7) Were there written or verbal promises or commitments made in exchange for the loans? 8) Did the bank give Tuck the same consideration that would have been given to an individual of comparable financial standing who was not a candidate for high public office? 9) Do the loans or the repayment of the loans involve anyone giving or donating $200.00 or more to Tuck or to her campaign? 10) Was the money loaned from Tuck's personal assets? If so, will those assets be publicly disclosed? 11) What does Tuck mean exactly when she says that she is "honoring financial commitments over time?" Does that mean quid pro quo arrangements or political paybacks? 12) Were any legislators, lobbyists, state or federal officials, or other prominent public figures involved in helping Tuck secure or pay these mysterious loans?
Chip Pickering Celebrates Medgar Evers
Press statement: Congressman Chip Pickering: CELEBRATING THE LIFE AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF MEDGAR EVERS ... House passes resolution commending the lives and accomplishments of Medgar Evers and Myrlie Evers-Williams ... (WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Today, the US House of Representatives passed House Concurrent Resolution 220, commending the lives and accomplishments of Medgar Evers and his widow Myrlie Evers-Williams. Discussion on the House Floor followed a special ceremony held at Arlington National Cemetery. The resolution was sponsored by Congressman Bennie Thompson (D-MS, 2) and co-sponsored by Congressman Chip Pickering (R-MS, 3). A similar resolution passed the US Senate last week, sponsored by Mississippi Senator Thad Cochran (R) and co-sponsored by Senator Trent Lott (R-MS).
Myths of War
This reminds me of the "myths" story the JFP ran as the Iraqi war began:
Knight-Ridder reports on the factual misconceptions many Americans hold about the war: "A third of the American public believes U.S. forces found weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, according to a recent poll, and 22 percent said Iraq actually used chemical or biological weapons. But no such weapons have been found, nor is there evidence they were used recently in Iraq. Before the war, half of those polled in a survey said Iraqis were among the 19 hijackers on Sept. 11, 2001. But most of them were from Saudi Arabia. None were Iraqis. How could so many people be so wrong about information that has dominated the news for nearly two years?"
Statistics, Men and Mississippi
• 100 years ago, most Americans were men under the age of 26, living in the Midwest and renting; today, more Americans are women over 35 who live in the South or West and own a home. Men are older, too—the median age for all Americans is 35.3 years. However, there is a higher ratio of men to women today than there was in 1980. Seven states, all in the western U.S., have more men than women. (source: U.S. Census data)
Seeing the Light? Challenging ‘Compassionate Conservatism'
Ala. Gov. Riley is causing serious discussion and though by arguing that the Bible supports raising state taxes to care for the poor. He is arguing for--drum roll-- a progressive tax system. The New York Times reports: "If Governor Riley's tax plan becomes law — the voters still need to ratify it in September — it will be a major victory for poor people, a rare thing in the current political climate. But win or lose, Alabama's tax-reform crusade is posing a pointed question to the Christian Coalition, Focus on the Family and other groups that seek to import Christian values into national policy: If Jesus were active in politics today, wouldn't he be lobbying for the poor? ... Alabama's tax system has long been brutally weighted against the least fortunate. The state income tax kicks in for families that earn as little a $4,600, when even Mississippi starts at over $19,000. Alabama also relies heavily on its sales tax, which runs as high as 11 percent and applies even to groceries and infant formula. The upshot is wildly regressive: Alabamians with incomes under $13,000 pay 10.9 percent of their incomes in state and local taxes, while those who make over $229,000 pay just 4.1 percent. ... Governor Riley's plan, which would bring in $1.2 billion in desperately needed revenue, takes aim at these inequalities. It would raise the income threshold at which families of four start paying taxes to more than $17,000. It would scrap the federal income tax deduction and increase exemptions for dependent children. And it would sharply roll back the current-use exemption, a change that could cost companies like Weyerhaeuser and Boise Cascade, which own hundreds of thousands of acres, millions in taxes. Governor Riley says that money is too tight to lift the sales tax on groceries this time, but that he intends to work for that later." For more info, see Riley's Web site. National Review fires back.
Mr. Dylan, Mr. Evers
A bullet from the back of a bush took Medgar Evers' blood.A hand set the spark Two eyes took the aim Behind a man's brain But he can't be blamed He's only a pawn in their game. —" Only A Pawn in their Game," Bob Dylan, 1963
Bringin' It Back Down, by Scott Barretta
Country stars Merle Haggard and Marty Stuart stopped in at William Faulkner's home, Rowan Oak, in Oxford recently to announce an effort to bring the music back to its roots and away from the mega-glitz of Nashville, Los Angeles and New York City. Stuart—a native of Philadelphia, Miss., who went on the road with Lester Flatt when he was 13, played guitar for Johnny Cash in his 20s and then found his own fame as a bandleader in the early 1990s—dreamed up the "Electric Barnyard Tour," which will kick off July 6 in Sierra Vista, Ariz.
Mississippi Dems Uniting?
The Petal News reports: "Mississippi Democrats held their annual pep rally, the Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner in Jackson this past weekend. And Party Chairman Rickey Cole reported the largest turnout in recent years. It appears at this point that the party has survived the disruptive events of the past two years and is making a recovery."
Mr. Positive Headed into Second Divorce
I sure am glad I missed the days of Mr. Positive Mississippi into the governor's mansion, although it sure was entertaining enough from a distance. Why is it that people who like to talk about "family values" the most often seem to have the least?
‘An Old Washington Hand Goes Home to Mississippi'
David E. Rosenbaum writes in the New York Times today about Haley Barbour's return to Mississippi: "Mr. Barbour must overcome the charge that he has spent his career as a fixer. His law firm, Barbour Griffith & Rogers, ranked seventh among Washington firms in terms of lobbying revenues last year, according to a study by The National Journal, and Fortune listed the firm as No. 1 in terms of political influence."
‘The Young Hipublicans'
Read about young, hip Republicans on college campuses in the New York Times magazine—and the groups that are funding them: "As with college conservative movements in the past, the recent wave has been fueled and often financed by an array of conservative interest groups, of which there are, today, almost too many to keep straight: Young Americans for Freedom; Young America's Foundation; the Leadership Institute; the Collegiate Network; the Intercollegiate Studies Institute. These groups spend money in various ways to push a right-wing agenda on campuses: some make direct cash 'grants' to student groups to start and run conservative campus newspapers; others provide free training in 'conservative leadership,' often providing heavily subsidized travel to their 'publishing programs'; others provide help with the hefty speaking fees for celebrity right-wing speakers. Through these coordinated activities, these groups have embarked in the last three years on a concerted campus recruitment drive to turn temperamentally conservative youngsters into organized right-wing activists."
NBA Whitewash?
Dan McGraw writes in the Village Voice: "[T]he NBA is changing, on the court and off, getting whiter and more foreign, and many African-American fans and players think there is more going on here than international meritocracy. The perception—and perception is always important in matters of race—is that the NBA is acing out the black man because of corporate (read: white) fans and international marketing money. High-scoring white guys equals big bucks."
Home to the ‘Worthy Scrap'
Myrlier Evers-Williams is not boycotting Mississippi and its progeny; she wants to introduce young people to her first husband.
Democrats Getting Fired Up?
"We don't need another Republican Party!" Democrats declared at a Take Back America rally this. Read Salon's report.
The Proposition, by Judy Jacobs
When I heard James Taylor was coming to the Pyramid in Memphis on Friday, May 23, I snapped up two tickets. I got great seats on the floor. Well, two weeks later tickets went on sale for his Jackson concert, which was two days before the Memphis one. I got even better seats, on the floor, row 6. James was just as I remembered him, his hair being the exception. Excellent.
Tough Questions for Mitch Tyner
The uncut version.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Mitch Tyner answers tough questions about his Davidian quest for the state's top office, if liberals can love God, and whether or not he's a closet Democrat.
Goodbye, Sweet Ladies
Two beautiful women are about to leave Jackson—and leave a huge void in the creative community here. One of them introduced me to the other of them; without them, the Jackson Free Press might not have been, or at least not what is has become.
Women's Shelter Needs Energetic Bodies and Supplies
Supplies are also needed:
Energetic bodies are needed to get a lot done in a short time. Saturday, May 31, is the work day for Stewpot's newest women's shelter: FLOWERS HOUSE. We need worker volunteers to clean and paint. Meet us at the house on the corner of Mill Street and McTyre Street. We plan to start at 8 a.m. and work until dark. (You can come for any length of time to help.) There will be Stewpot personnel there in addition to me and my husband Andy. Lunch and beverages will be provided. Please RSVP to Debbie Taylor: 965-1919.
Tough Questions for David Banner
"God I know that we pimp, God I know that we wrong, God I know I should talk about more in all of my songs, I know these kids are listening, I know I'm here for a mission, but it's so hard to get ‘em when 22 rims are glistening."