Old Testament New Hero
by Matthew Caston
August 4, 2008
Last week Barack Obama was a celebrity with popularity rivaling that of Britney Spears and Paris Hilton, but this week he has been paralleled with one of the greatest heroes of the Old Testament, courtesy of John McCain.
Posted by ladd at 01:09 PM on 08/04/08. Discuss (0)
Don’t vote McCain, vote anti-Obama
by Matthew Caston
July 30, 2008
It seems that the Republican strategy for this election year is not for you to vote for them, but against the other guy. In this case the “other guy” is Barack Obama, and John McCain has him right in the cross-hares. But how is this any different than any other election year? From now on the official slogan of the republican party should be: “Dont vote republican, vote anti-democrat.”
Posted by ladd at 03:06 PM on 07/30/08. Discuss (0)
Giving the Credit
by Matthew Caston
July 23, 2008
After blaming Barack Obama for the high gas prices in his ad entitled “Pump,” Senator John McCain now says the recent drop in oil prices is on behalf of the almighty, infallible George Bush.
Posted by ladd at 03:11 PM on 07/23/08. Discuss (0)
Destiantion Iraq
by Matthew Caston
July 22, 2008
We all want to get away at times. Whether if it’s to escape the fast pace of the city or to escape the monotony of work, a vacation does the trick. If youre big on vacations and tourists spots, a new one has just been made available. Pack your bags because you’re going to Iraq!
Posted by ladd at 05:24 PM on 07/22/08. Discuss (0)
Laying the Blame
by Matthew Caston
July 21, 2008
If youre looking for someone to blame for the high gas prices, look no further. Apparently its been Barack Obama’s fault the whole time… no, seriously.
Posted by ladd at 02:53 PM on 07/21/08. Discuss (0)
ICE: Cold Blooded
by Matthew Caston
July 16, 2008
America has done it again. It seems that exploiting and dehumanizing a people is written somewhere in the American Constitution. In Postville, Iowa, America prevails in unjustly sending more than 300 people to jail, destroying countless families and killing the American dream that many of us hold in our hearts.
Posted by ladd at 12:57 PM on 07/16/08. Discuss (0)
Satire Is Hard
by Matthew Caston
July 16, 2008
The “satirical” cover of the New Yorker appeared over the weekend. It depicts Democratic Presidential Nominee Barack Obama dawned in, as one Fox News correspondent calls, Muslim garbӔ in the oval office fist bumping his wife, Michelle Obama. She, supposedly depicted as an insurgent, carries an AK-47 and sports an afro. As the extremist couple fist bumps the American flag burns in the fireplace as Osama Bin Laden watches from his perch above. Perfect satire, right?
Posted by ladd at 12:57 PM on 07/16/08. Discuss (0)
L.A. Times: Musgrove-Wicker Race Highlights GOP Woes
Jackson is buzzing about a story in the Los Angeles Times this weekend, in which the mainstream media concedes that remarkable political things may be happening in Mississippi (the prospect of which the JFP wrote about back in 2004).
The Los Angeles Times reports that the prospect that former Gov. Ronnie Musgrove could beat Roger Wicker for Trent Lott’s old seat “is a window onto a remarkable political trend that has been eclipsed by the fireworks surrounding the 2008 presidential contest: Democrats are running strong Senate campaigns in states such as Mississippi, Alaska and North Carolina that Republicans have long taken for granted.”
Posted by ladd at 01:01 PM on 07/07/08. Discuss (0)
Gas Price Woes; Wicker to the Rescue?
by Matthew Caston
July 1, 2008
Summer time usually means a road trip with the family, but this year summer is just four hot months. The reason, as we all know, is the exceptionally high gas prices. The people’s answer to high gas prices is an organization founded by Dustin Coupal and Jason Toews called Gas-Buddy Organization. The organization has made it its mission to provide a real-time gas price forum that consumers can access to find the least expensive gas in their community. The Web site boasts that it is proven, tested, and guaranteedӔ to save consumers 19 percent or more at the pumps. According to gasbuddy.com, the national average for gas in the U.S. currently is $4.10. The site also offers a map of the U.S. that can be used to pinpoint the exact location of the cheapest gas in their community. The cheapest gas around Jackson can be found at Raceway on 4615 Clinton Blvd at $3.75 a gallon for regular unleaded gas.
Posted by ladd at 01:23 PM on 07/01/08. Discuss (0)
Gov. Haley Barbour’s 2008 ‘State of the State’ Address
[verbatim] Governor Bryant; Speaker McCoy; ladies and gentlemen of the Legislature; and fellow Mississippians: This is the fifth time you have allowed Marsha and me to join you in this historic chamber to report on the State of our State. Were honored the people of Mississippi have allowed us this opportunity, and IҒm grateful and proud to have the best partner a man could have to help meet this challenge, Marsha.
It is appropriate we are again together for this occasion on Dr. Martin Luther King Day. Our state has the highest percentage African-American population; and the issues, with which we will deal, affect all Mississippians and should receive our best effort to serve the interests of all.
Posted by ladd at 06:12 PM on 01/21/08. Discuss (1)
Treasurer Tate Reeves: ‘No New Bonds in 2008’
Mississippi state Treasurer Tate Reeves released the following fiscal update today. Reprinted verbatim:
Jackson, Miss: (January 17, 2008) - State Treasurer Tate Reeves spoke to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee and other members of the House and Senate today at the annual fiscal briefing. In Reeves briefing, he made a recommendation that the Legislature withhold from authorizing the issuance of any new bonds in the 2008 session. According to Reeves, since 2003 the states debt has begun to level off, and in order for this positive trend to continue the Legislature must reduce the authorization of new bonds. ғWe have made great progress in the last few years reducing the overall debt burden on Mississippi taxpayers Reeves said. ԓGiven the budget challenges that face the Legislature this year, the only fiscally prudent approach to bonds is to forego the pressure and not authorize any new debt.
Posted by ladd at 11:49 AM on 01/17/08. Discuss (0)
Andy Taggart Fingering Moore … and Hood?
In a confusing post on the Ledger’s Red-Blue Blog, Republican pundit Andy Taggart complains that two of the attorneys now caught up in the Dickie Scruggs bribery scandal—Tim Balducci and Joey Langston—did not give back the settlement money from MCI-Worldcom that paid their attorney fees for recouping $108 million for the state:
A little over a year ago, then State Auditor Phil Bryant sent a demand letter to Joey Langston and the Langston Law Firm, where Tim Balducci used to practice, seeking recovery of the $14 million in attorneys fees improperly paid to Langston and Balducci in the MCI tax settlement case. Former Attorney General Mike Moore had represented MCI during the settlement.
The post seems designed to implicate former Attorney General Mike Moore (who played the odd role of representing MCI in the case) and current Attorney General Jim Hood, who awarded the contingency contract. What isn’t clear from this extremely partisan post is fourfold: (a) What did Moore know, and when did he know it? And did he know about anything illegal? (b) Ditto for Hood; same question, remembering that he and Moore are not necessarily joined at the brain. (c) What is the law that would have required them to give back the attorney’s fees that the company paid them? (d) Positing that those attorneys are now “known scumbags,” what exactly is the relevance of this to that case?
We’d really like some of the salivating pundits in the state to connect more dots for us, rather than deal in partisan innuendo. Maybe they know stuff they can’t tell us, or think they do. Time will tell.
Posted by ladd at 07:32 PM on 01/15/08. Discuss (1)
Haley Barbour’s 2008 Inaugural Address
[Verbatim/Jan. 15, 2008]
Mr. Chief Justice, Governor Bryant, Speaker McCoy, fellow state officials, Senator Cochran, Senator Wicker, Secretary Espy, members of the Congressional Delegation, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Legislature, other distinguished guests, family and friends: Four years ago Marsha and I were here to accept the highest honor the people of Mississippi can bestow on someone, and it was humbling, challenging and exhilarating all at once. It was an unbelievable day for Marsha, our sons and me. And today we are even more grateful for the confidence the voters have shown in us and for all the help so many of you gave us in the election. We also thank all of you who pray for us. We appreciate your prayers and need them.
No one deserves my thanks as much as Marsha, my helpmate for more than 36 years. As people on the Coast learned after Katrina, no one could have a better partner. Thank you, Marsha.
Looking back today it seems impossible that everything that has happened since that Inaugural Day could have taken place in only four years.
Posted by ladd at 01:57 PM on 01/15/08. Discuss (0)
AG Removes Langston from Lawsuit Against Eli Lilly
Attorney General has removed attorney Joey Langston from a state lawsuit against drugmaker Eli Lilly, according to Legal Newsline, a pro-tort reform Web site that is closely following the Dickie Scruggs bribery scandal. Langston has pled guilty to trying to bribe a judge. Langston was a contingency attorney who successfully sued Worldcom on behalf of Mississippi for back taxes. That case settled for about $108 million in money and property for the state, and the company had to pay Langston and other attorneys $14 million. The money did not come from state coffers, as anti-Hood pundits like to accuse. Hood’s Republican and pro-big-business critics are trying to link the attorney general to the scandal because, they say, Langston gave money to his campaign, and criticize him, as is apparent from the Legal Newsline article linked above, which complains that Hood “only” fired Langston, but doesn’t plan to prosecute the attorney himself.
Hood responded that it would be a conflict of interest for him to prosecute someone he worked closely with on the Worldcom lawsuit, but offered state resources to back up local prosecutions by district attorneys:
Since the matter is being handled by the federal government, it would be inappropriate for me to comment any further until all the facts are known,” Hood said.
“Due to Mr. Langston’s past representation of this office, it could create an appearance of impropriety for our office to participate in a potential state prosecution of this case. It will be up to the appropriate District Attorney(s) to handle any potential state case(s). The resources of my office will be available to them.
Posted by ladd at 08:10 PM on 01/14/08. Discuss (1)
Judge Rules That Barbour Wrong in Election Date
Hinds County Circuit Judge Bobby Delaughter ruled late today that Gov. Haley Barbour interpreted Mississippi statute incorrectly when he elected to schedule the election to fill Sen. Trent Lott’s vacant seat. Some political watchers believe that Barbour may run for that seat, but is just being inaugurated this week for his second term as governor. Delaughter ruled that the election should be held within 90 days. Delaughter ruled that the election should be held within 90 days of when Barbour declared a proclamation of writ of election on Dec. 20, 2007that is, on or before March 19, 2008.
Barbour released a statement saying he is confident that the Mississippi Supreme Court will back him up and reverse Delaughter:
When I set the special U.S. Senate election for November 4, 2008, I felt very strongly that it was the legal and appropriate action under the U.S. and Mississippi Constitutions and state law. Nothing in this decision by the Hinds County Circuit Court changes that belief. As I have said all along, the final decision in this case will be made by the Mississippi Supreme Court, and I look forward to that decision.
Posted by ladd at 07:39 PM on 01/14/08. Discuss (0)
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