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Eaves Shoots And Misses At Barbour 2007-10-01 18:35:07 For some reason the Eaves campaign doesn’t send me their press releases, but Cotton Mouth has the latest note from the Eaves camp concerning Barbour winning the NRA’s endorsement. Let me just say that I am glad Eaves is a hunter and teaching his kids to hunt. I am glad he is a gun owner. I am glad he respects and would uphold the Second Amendment. I am glad that he is not supporting the position of national Democrats (and its leaders), but rather supporting the Republican Party’s stance on the Second Amendment. Now, let me take issue with some of what Eaves said: Governor Haley Barbour received the endorsement of the NRA today, but it’s unclear when Barbour last fired a gun. When I go to the polls, I am not going to be thinking about the last time Barbour fired a gun because I know where he stands on the issue through his four years of supporting the Second Amendment. Barbour signed two key bills during his first term- the Castle Doctrine and the Emergency Powers bill. He a ...

Next Debate Will Be On TV 2007-10-01 13:19:13 After listening to how clueless John Eaves was at the last debate, we will now be able to see how clueless he is at the next debate this Thursday night. The second gubernatorial debate will begin at 7 p.m. and be broadcast live on Mississippi Public Broadcasting television, as well as radio and Internet. ...

NRA Endorsement for Barbour Official 2007-10-01 12:47:58 On Friday, I mentioned that NRA Vice President Wayne LaPierre will be coming down to Mississippi and make an “important announcement” with Haley Barbour. This not so well kept secret became an official endorsement today: Fairfax, VA. - The National Rifle Association’s Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre and NRA Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) Chairman Chris W. Cox are traveling across the State of Mississippi on October 1 for a tour announcing the endorsement of Governor Haley Barbour’s re-election for Governor of Mississippi. In his first term, Governor Barbour signed “Emergency Powers” legislation that protects law-abiding gun owners from firearms confiscation during a state of emergency and the “Castle Doctrine” that allows lawful citizens to defend their homes, families and businesses from criminals without fear of prosecution. Also, under the Governor’s watch, legislation passed to lengthen mandatory prison sentences for gun crimes. Governor Barb ...

Eaves Receives Support From Mayor Claiming To Be A Republican 2007-10-01 06:43:58 Last week, the Hattiesburg American ran a story titled “GOP’s Lott backs Eaves for governor.” Needless to say this caught my eye considering the Lott’s within the state Republican Party. If you just took a glancing look at this, what would you think? Of course, our junior Senator who has as high of name recognition in the state as anyone is a Lott, Trent Lott. Then there is Mike Lott, a state Representative from Petal who ran for Secretary of State this year. And then there is Nic Lott, a former Department of Corrections spokesman who ran for the GOP nod for Senate District 34. Three Lott’s, some with better name recognition than others, but all conservatives and all supporting Haley Barbour. Does the Hattiesburg American not think they readers who simply saw the title would be confused and assume it was one of those Lott’s? The Lott this paper is talking about is Aaron Lott, the mayor of Lumberton. Adding another wrinkle to this story is the misleading first line stating: ...

Closed On Sundays 2007-09-30 06:54:46 Gone to church. See you on Monday. ...

NRA To Endorse Haley On Monday? 2007-09-28 13:03:59 The NRA sent out an e-mail earlier saying that Wayne LaPierre, the organization’s vice president, will join Haley Barbour in making an “important announcement” on Monday, October 1st. The only thing I could think of would be an endorsement for Barbour by the NRA, but we shall see on Monday unless more information comes out before than. ...

Letter From Barbour Campaign To TV Stations Concerning Eaves Ad 2007-09-28 12:23:00 Below is the text of the letter sent to various television stations by the Barbour campaign asking them not to run this false ad by the Eaves camp. September 26, 2007 Dear Station Manager, The John Arthur Eaves, Jr. campaign began to run a television advertisement today, which is factually incorrect in several respects. On behalf of the Barbour for Governor campaign, we request that your station not air this commercial. Any one of the following three reasons would be independently sufficient to justify removing the ad from your station. First, the television ad asks, “why have his clients gotten so many government contracts and special treatment” after Katrina. The “his” in this sentence is clearly referring to Governor Barbour. Everyone, including the Eaves Campaign, knows that the Governor has no “clients” because he does not have another job of any kind outside of his work as the Governor of the state of Mississippi. On January 13, 2004, Governor Barbour resigned from Ba ...

Eaves Goes Negative and Barbour Responds 2007-09-27 21:55:10 The Associated Press is reporting that the Barbour campaign asked television stations to stop running this false ad by the Eaves camp. After reading this, I contacted the Barbour campaign and got the following response from campaign spokesman Brian Perry: Governor Barbour always expected Mr. Eaves to go negative, but this commercial is false and the worst part is, the Eaves campaign knows it is false. But that is what we can expect from the Eaves campaign until Election Day, no plan, no ideas, just false attacks. Meanwhile, Governor Barbour’s latest ad features a northeast Mississippi family who is utilizing his work force training programs to find new and better jobs. Governor Barbour stands on a record of moving Mississippi forward. Mr. Eaves can only make false attacks. Barbour can and is running on his record. If I was advising him, I wouldn’t even act like I have a challenger- because he really doesn’t. The best Eaves can hope for at this point to try to demonize the gov ...

Will any candidate for Ag Commissioner receive a majority of the vote/ House districts? 2007-09-27 17:57:47 This is my latest poll question, and it’s kind of a spin-off from last week’s. For those not familiar with the state Constitution, a candidate must win a majority of the vote and a majority of the House districts to be declared the winner in November. If this does not happen then it goes to the House of Representatives in January, unless the runner-up concedes. Vote yes if you think there will be an outright winner (whether you think it will be Cole, Spell, or Riley), and no if you don’t think there will be one. Updated 9/28: The poll is not working at this point, so I have taken it down. I still encourage y’all to speak your thoughts on this interesting three-man race. ...

Another New Ad From Haley 2007-09-27 16:28:13 Haley’s campaign continues to deliver new ads highlighting many of his accomplishments from his first term, including this ad detailing his workforce training initiatives. From the Barbour For Governor release: Barbour for Governor - “Path to a Brighter Future” Steve Brock: I’m Steve … Patty Brock: … and I’m Patty Brock, and we live in Booneville, Mississippi. Steve: … and we have four teenage children. Patty: … and we’re going to college! NARRATOR: When the Brocks needed new jobs, they turned to Governor Barbour’s job training program to improve their skills. Graphic: Governor Barbour’s plan “simplifies Workforce Training,” Clarion Ledger, 2/17/07 FACT: “Barbour said too many agencies currently are involved in the process, making it too complicated for workers and employers to find help. … His proposal, the Mississippi Comprehensive Work Force Training and Education Consolidation A ...

Weekly SEC Picks (Week Five) 2007-09-27 13:18:11 I finished last week a decent 5-2, with a couple late SEC finishes going against me, so we’ll see if I can better this week. A few cupcakes on the schedule this week, but a couple interesting match-ups as well. LSU at Tulane- I have two questions about this game. One- why is it on TV? Second- will there be more LSU than Tulane fans? I don’t know many people who have a good reason its on TV, and I think there will be many, many more LSU fans in New Orleans. And for good reason, LSU should win easy. Mississippi State at South Carolina- State has proven they can play on the road; just ask Auburn. Right now, SC looks to be better than Auburn and had a big win against Georgia earlier this year. I was thinking I might take State in the upset, but in all actuality I think State’s performance against Auburn was the exception, not the norm. South Carolina should win. Ole Miss at Georgia- I bet this will at least be closer than LSU/ Tulane (ESPN). Last year, Georgia held on to beat the Re ...

Barbour v. Eaves 2007-09-26 17:42:38 The choice is clear. From the Haley Barbour campaign: JOBS VS TAXES: GOVERNOR BARBOUR Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Labor released the latest job numbers showing that under Governor Haley Barbour’s leadership, Mississippi has broken its all-time record employment level for a second month this year. Employment levels rose to 1,166,800 in August, topping the previous high set in June 2007 at 1,160,600. Mississippi’s employment rate grew faster than any other state in the country, creating 46,000 since Governor Barbour took office. This does not even count all the new jobs (like Toyota) coming to Mississippi. Just Tuesday, Governor Barbour announced 400 new jobs on their way to Baldwyn. For more on this, watch the Barbour for Governor’s campaign advertisement: “40,000 and Counting.” MR. EAVES, JR. At the recent debate in Biloxi, John Arthur Eaves, Jr. proposed increasing the tax on casinos an additional 2%. Governor Barbour supports strict gaming regulation. Governor ...

Pickering’s 5-Point Plan 2007-09-26 17:29:15 Republican candidate for State Auditor Stacey Pickering released what he calls a five-point plan for the auditor’s office today. Here are the main points: Pickering is offering a “contract for accountability” that includes five points: Performance audits that will allow government to operate more effectively and with less duplication; a partnership with local elected officials to provide more training and offer resources on available grant money; an increase in audits of public agencies, including more timely audits; greater use of technology, such as paperless audits; and a partnership with school districts to ensure funding is fair and balanced. Read the entire Sun-Herald article here. ...

Taylor Among Bi-Partisan Group Looking For Common Group On Iraq 2007-09-25 20:33:03 Fourteen Republicans and 14 Democrats signed onto what they call a bi-partisan compact relating to the Iraq War. Gene Taylor was one of the Democrats who signed it. Here is some of what the compact says: We agree that the U.S. Congress must end the political in-fighting over the conflict in Iraq and commit immediately to a truly bipartisan dialogue on the issues we are facing. We agree that efforts to eliminate funding for U.S. forces engaged in combat and in harm’s way in Iraq would put at risk the safety and security of our service members. We agree that there must be a clearly defined and measurable mission for our continued military involvement in Iraq. This mission must be further and continually defined so that the military and the country are aware of the end goal of our mission in Iraq and what progress toward that goal is being achieved. We agree that the Government of Iraq must now be responsible for Iraq’s future course. The Government must continue to make progress ...

John Eaves Sr. Likes Hillary Clinton, But John Eaves Jr. Loves John Kerry 2007-09-24 19:26:04 Apparently it was John Eaves, Sr. who donated to Hillary Clinton’s campaign, but Eaves, Jr. list of campaign donations reads like a “who’s who” of Washington liberals. Click on the candidate or PACs name to see where they stand on the issues, according to On The Issues. Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS), 7/6/1998, $1,000.00- see receipt here Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE), 4/24/2006, $2,000.00- see receipt here Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE), 4/26/2006, $2,000.00- see receipt here Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE), 4/26/2006, $2,000.00- see receipt here Sen. John Edwards (D-NC), 3/10/2003, $2,000.00- see receipt here Sen. John Edwards (D-NC), 2/22/2007, $2,000.00- see receipt here Sen. John Kerry (D-MA), 3/10/2004, $2,000.00- see receipt here Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ), 10/26/2006, $2,000.00- see receipt here New Millenium PAC, 4/2/2004, $5,000.00- see receipt here Some receipts are too new for the FEC and have yet to be processed. You can go here and type in the name of any individual to see whom they have dona ...