Category: Blogosphere


 

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.

Continued...

Posted by ladd at 07:32 PM on 01/15/08. Discuss (3)

Blogger Launches ‘We Want Mike Moore’ Campaign for Lott’s Seat

John Leek of the Cottonmouth Blog has sent out a statement announcing the We Want Mike Moore campaign to get former Attorney General Mike Moorehe of anti-tobacco company fame and corporate Republican hatredחto run for Sen. Trent Lott’s soon-to-be-open seat. Here is the e-mail in its entirety:

Dear Progressives,

I hope that you are fully aware of the opportunity we have in this retirement by Senator Trent Lott.

This open seat is our chance to elevate someone who will stand up for Mississippians of all races and economic groups. We have a chance to encourage and elect someone who will stand up for consumers’ rights and work tirelessly for insurance reform at the national level.

That person is former Attorney General Mike Moore.

He’s stated that he’s considering running so let’s make that decision easier by showing that he has grassroots support statewide by sharing this release and by going to WeWantMikeMoore.com and signing a petition showing our support.

If he runs, he can win and that would be a win for all of us.

The press release is attached and follows.

- John Leek / http://www.COTTONMOUTHblog.com / http://www.WeWantMikeMoore.com / Mississippi

Continued...

Posted by ladd at 11:00 AM on 11/28/07. Discuss (4)

Trent Disliked By Blogosphere, Left and Right

For a roundup of reactions to Lott’s resignation, head to Beltway Blog:

By his own account, Trent Lott was the “first pelt” of the blogosphere. Although Lott’s political career was revived somewhat last year with his elevation to Senate minority whip, the Mississippi Republican has been a bit player on the Washington scene since bloggers helped force him from the Senate majority leader’s post five years ago next month.

Posted by ladd at 09:00 AM on 11/28/07. Discuss (1)

Page 1 of 1 pages


Mississippi Political Blogs

A.M. in the Morning
Will Bardwell
Donna Ladd
John Leek's Cottonmouth
Gulf Coast Realist
David Hampton
Jackson Progressive
Magnolia Report
Majority in Mississippi
Nash-Taggart
Natchez, Mississippi
Right of Mississippi
Matt Saldaña
Sid Salter
Yaller Dog

2007 Election Winners - State

Governor
Gov. Haley Barbour, R, Incumbent
Lt. Governor
Phil Bryant, R
Attorney General
***Jim Hood, D
Secretary of State
Delbert Hosemann, R
State Auditor
Stacey Pickering, R
State Treasurer
Tate Reeves, R
Shawn O'Hara, Reform
Insurance Commissioner
***Gary Anderson, D
Mike Chaney, R
Agriculture Commissioner
Lester Spell, R
Public Service Commissioner Central District
***Lynn Posey, D
Transportation Commissioner Central District
***Dick Hall, R

2007 Winners - Legislative/Metro


Senate
Mississippi Senate District 25
Michael Hardin, D
Walter Michel, R
Mississippi Senate District 26
***John A. Horhn, D
Mississippi Senate District 29
David Blount, D

2007 Candidates - Legislative/Metro


House
Mississippi House District 66
***Cecil Brown, D
Corey Wilson, R
Mississippi House District 69
Alyce Griffin Clarke, D
Mississippi House District 71
***Adrienne Wooten, D
John Reeves, R
(challenging vote) Mississippi House District 73
Jim Ellington, R
(*** Denotes JFP Endorsement.)