Judicial Races Turn Ugly With Push Polls
According to the Clarion-Ledger, Attorney General Jim Hood is investigating several “push polls,” political smears that masquerade as telephone opinion polls, targeting Mississippi Supreme Court candidates. Third-party organizations have conducted push polls on Justice Chuck Easley, Justice Oliver Diaz and Crystal Springs laywer Jim Kitchens, who is vying for Chief Justice Jim Smith’s seat.
Posted by Ward Schaefer at 02:00 PM on 09/23/08. Discuss (0)
Supreme Court Rules Sample Ballot is Illegal
The Mississippi Supreme Court ruled against Gov. Haley Barbour and Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann today in their appeal concerning the contested sample November ballot. Justice Jess Dickinsons majority opinion (PDF, 496 KB) stated that the sample ballot, which listed the U.S. Senate race between Roger Wicker and Ronnie Musgrove near the bottom, is illegal.
The Mississippi Supreme Court ruled against Gov. Haley Barbour and Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann today in their appeal concerning the contested sample November ballot. Justice Jess Dickinsons majority opinion (PDF, 496 KB) stated that the sample ballot, which listed the U.S. Senate race between Roger Wicker and Ronnie Musgrove near the bottom, is illegal.
“With respect to placing on the ballot a United States Senatorial raceҗregardless of whether or not the race is a special electionthe statute’s wordsדThe titles for the various offices shall be listed in the following order"can have but one meaning,” Dickinson wrote.
In deference to the separation of powers, the Court stopped short of actually ordering the governor and secretary of state to issue a revised ballot with the Senate race listed alongside other national elections, but Barbour and Hosemann are expected to comply with the Courtגs interpretation.
LetӒs all take a deep breath this afternoon and see if everyone does the right thing, Sam Begley, attorney for plaintiff Trudy Berger, said, adding that Barbour and Hosemann are both members of the Mississippi Bar.
ԓI have every confidence that they will follow the letter and spirit of the Supreme Courts ruling,Ҕ he said.
Following the decision, Barbour issued a one-line statement, which read: “The Supreme Court has spoken; so be it.”
Posted by Ward Schaefer at 05:26 PM on 09/18/08. Discuss (0)
AP: Michigan Rep. asks Justice Dept. to Investigate Mississippi Ballot
The Associated Press is reporting that Rep. John Conyers, the Democratic chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, spoke out against Barbour’s sample ballot today. He repeated the charge that a ballot with the Wicker-Musgrove Senate race near the bottom will disenfranchise voters.
Conyers called the sample ballot “a blatant violation” of the Voting Rights Act. Ironically, Barbour has made the same claim about the alternate ballot that Trudy Berger and Tomie Green have proposed, because it would constitute a change in voting procedure from the past practice of placing special elections at the end.
Posted by Ward Schaefer at 04:33 PM on 09/16/08. Discuss (0)
Wicker-Musgrove Closer Than 1 Month Ago
Daily Kos posted new poll numbers on the Wicker-Musgrove race yesterday, and they show a much closer race than the 52-43 lead Rasmussen gave McCain back in August.
Wicker (R) 48 (45)
Musgrove (D) 43 (44)
The numbers should be heartening to Musgroves supporters, but heҒs also not dominating some key demographics. Musgrove pulled 75% of black respondents, but 18% declared themselves undecided. He also only got 50% of the Delta/Jackson region, which is supposed to be his stronghold.
It will be interesting to see how the ballot controversy affects this race. I could see Musgrove getting a financial boost from all the national attention.
Posted by Ward Schaefer at 03:49 PM on 09/12/08. Discuss (0)
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 (1)
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)
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