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N The Coach? 2007-11-27 12:30:00 Back to football for a minute… I am not sure what PR campaign Ole Miss will come up with, but either way I think they got a great addition in hiring former Arkansas coach Houston Nutt as the new head coach. I will admit I didn’t follow Arkansas that closely, but from what I have seen he gets his team prepared to play and their in most games. I look forward to him securing Coach O’s recruits, as well as finishing up the recruiting season; and I am thoroughly looking forward to next year. Two thumbs up to Pete Boone (as much as I hate to say it). P.S. Does anyone up in Oxford know if Rebel Rags or the other book stores still have “O The Coach” stickers? Added 6:00 p.m.: From Warner Alford, Director of Alumni Affairs: Dear Ole Miss Alumni and Friends: We hope you will join us at noon tomorrow, November 28, in the Ford Center as we introduce Houston Nutt as our new head football coach. Friday, Coach Nutt concluded an 8-4 regular season at Arkansas with a triple-overtime upset o ...

CQ Early Senate Rating: Republican Favored 2007-11-26 22:16:12 It’s way to early to make predictions since we are not even sure when the election will be (never mind whom the candidates will be), but for what it’s worth CQ Politics gives the early edge to Republicans retaining Lott’s seat: CQ Politics has placed a preliminary rating of Republican Favored on the previously unscheduled contest, which will be the 35th Senate race next year and the 23rd for a seat currently held by the Republicans. The rating reflects the analysis that the Democrats could make a run at the seat — precluding a Safe Republican rating — but that they do not yet have an official contender who can make that serious challenge real, precluding at least for now a Leans Republican rating that would signify a more competitive race. Here is some of what they base that rating on: All of these machinations take place within the context of the Republicans’ growing strength in Mississippi politics over the past quarter-century. Democrats have not won a Senate race in Mi ...

Hey Libs! Is Eric Clark Trying To Rewrite The Law? 2007-11-26 20:48:28 You may have read this typical Daily Kos post titled, “Barbour trying to rewrite state law.” This is in response to Barbour stating that he will appoint a successor to Lott and there will be a special election in November with the other elections. As anyone could see (unless you are a hate-filled liberal)- this is an extremely complicated issue. We know what Haley has said, but here is what Democratic Secretary of State Eric Clark had to say about the special election: The Mississippi secretary of state’s office said early Monday that state law appeared to require a special election within 90 days if Lott retires in 2007. After consulting with lawyers, however, a spokesman said the secretary of state concurred with Barbour based on a technicality in the letter of the law. In an exception to the 90-day rule, the law says the governor “shall designate” the special election for the same day as the general election if a vacancy occurs the same calendar year as a statewide electi ...

Who Will Be Lott’s Successor? 2007-11-26 18:19:56 Added 11/28/2007: Since I wrote a story about the possibility, I will add former Democratic Congressman Mike Espy to the list. Added 11/27/2007: Here are some additional names, that are also mentioned on RedState (courtesy of Hotline): Ex-Netscape CEO Jim Barksdale Businessman Dave Dennis Ag. Undersec./ex-Cochran CoS Mark Keenum Ex-Tupelo Mayor/ex-TVA chair Glenn McCullough State Sen. Walter Michel Originally posted 11/26/2007: The obvious choices: Rep. Chip Pickering Rep. Roger Wicker Less than obvious, but still well-known: Lt. Governor-elect Phil Bryant Treasurer Tate Reeves Secretary of State-elect Delbert Hosemann Former State Senator Charlie Ross Former Lt. Governor Amy Tuck Not in the running: Haley Barbour- has already said he won’t appoint himself I will keep this updated. ...

More About Lott Resigning 2007-11-26 17:43:15 I don’t think the whole deal with Trent resigning could get more confusing. But I will try to hash out some possibilities about filling his seat. Here is some of what Barbour said about the soon-to-be open seat, according to the Clarion-Ledger: In a statement after the news conference, Gov. Haley Barbour said he will appoint Lott’s replacement within 10 days of his resignation. That person will serve until voters decide in a special election held Nov. 4, 2008, who will fill the seat on a permanent basis. That date may not be exactly correct, or constitutional, however. Lott is presumed to retire on or before December 31, 2007. This way he will not be subject to the new two-year waiting period for lobbying. Since he is retiring in 2007; which is not an election year- as we’ve already had out state elections- Gov. Barbour will have to call a special election 90 days from his proclamation that has to take place within 10 days of Lott’s retirement. I would imagine that the dat ...

Trent Lott Resigning 2007-11-26 07:36:25 From the Clarion-Ledger: Sen. Trent Lott of Mississippi, the Senate’s No. 2 Republican, plans to resign his seat before the end of the year, congressional and White House officials said Monday. Lott, 66, scheduled two news conferences in Pascagoula and Jackson later in the day to reveal his plans. According to congressional and White House officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity ahead of the announcement, Lott intends to resign effective the end of the year. No reason for Lott’s resignation was given, but according to a congressional official, there is nothing amiss with Lott’s health. The senator has “other opportunities” he plans to pursue, the official said, without elaborating. The senator is serving his fourth Senate term. Lott’s colleagues elected him as the Senate’s Republican whip last year, a redemption for the Mississippian after his ouster five years ago as the party’s Senate leader over remarks he made at retiring Sen ...

Now Arkansas Is Complaining About The Debates 2007-11-26 07:06:08 Last week, I wrote about the column in the Times-Picayune where they were none to happy that Oxford was selected over New Orleans for a presidential debate. I have never followed the presidential debate picking closely, but do not recall anything like this happening before. Conway, Arkansas- home of the University of Central Arkansas- was also in the running for the debates. They have joined New Orleans in complaining about the selection process. Here is some of what was written in the Arkansas News Bureau: It looks to me like Arkansas may have received the shaft again, and Mississippi the gold mine. You can just see the smirk on Haley Barbour’s face. Mississippi’s governor, this smirking Barbour, is a former K Street lobbyist who did a stint as Republican national chairman. Mississippi’s senators, Trent Lott and Thad Cochran, were deemed more valuable allies by Toyota than our Democratic tyros, even in a Democratic Senate. Toyota, being Japan-based, thought it neede ...

Smith: This Race Ain’t Over 2007-11-26 06:14:18 Smith for Speaker press release: There was a press release earlier today by the VPAC staff that stated Rep. Tracy Arinder and Rep. Bennett Malone had committed to the re-election of Rep. Billy McCoy as Speaker of the House. Both Rep. Arinder and Rep. Malone also appeared on the original list of 62 “committed supporters” that Rep. McCoy put out several days ago. We are sure the first list was wrong, the second list is also wrong, so just who really is a committed supporter of Rep. McCoy? We continue to have a number of pledge cards signed by members who appear on the list of McCoy “committed supporters” who have put their names down as committed to Rep. Jeff Smith in the election for Speaker of the House that will take place in 2008. We expect those members to honor their written words. We also continue to talk to members of the House who also appear on the list of “committed supporters” for Rep. McCoy who tell us they are uncommitted and remain uncommitted. We remain confi ...

Orgeron Fired 2007-11-24 11:17:09 Although I like the guy, I have been calling for this since September. From the Alabama Press-Register: Ole Miss coach Ed Orgeron and his entire staff were fired Saturday morning, the Press-Register has learned. Ole Miss lost a 17-14 decision at Mississippi State Friday, blowing a 14-0 fourth-quarter lead and finishing the season with an overall record of 3-9, including an 0-8 mark in Southeastern Conference play. Orgeron’s decision Friday to go for a first down on fourth-and-1 from the Ole Miss 48 yard-line midway through the fourth quarter _ with the Rebels nursing a two-touchdown lead _ was heavily criticized and served as the final straw for his regime. The former Southern California defensive line coach/recruiting coordinator admitted the decision to go for a first down rather than punt changed the momentum of Friday’s Egg Bowl. In three seasons at the school after replacing David Cutcliffe, Orgeron was just 3-21 in SEC play. Overall, Orgeron won just 10 games while ...

Reiterating the SEC’s Cowbell Policy 2007-11-22 21:30:50 The SEC’s artificial noisemaker rule and its penalties for football are: “Artificial noisemakers shall not be permitted to be brought into or used in SEC football stadiums. Each institution should have statements printed on tickets and notices to the effect that such noisemakers will not be permitted inside its competition areas. Penalties for violations – In the sport of football, the game officials shall be responsible for enforcing the conference ban on artificial noisemakers utilizing the following procedures: (a) The first time the referee detects the significant use of artificial noisemakers by those in the crowd, he will call a referee’s timeout and issue a verbal warning through the public address system. (b) On the second incident involving the significant use of artificial noisemakers, a 5-yard penalty shall be assessed against the offending institution. (c) On the third, and any subsequent, incident involving the significant use of artificial noisemakers, a 15-yard ...

Forget The Politics- It’s Egg Bowl Time 2007-11-22 17:37:18 Ole Miss and State will meet tomorrow for the 104th match-up between the two schools tomorrow. This will also mark the 92nd consecutive year that the schools meet, and the 80th time they will play for the “Battle of the Golden Egg.” You can see more on the history of the game here. Let’s take a short trip down memory lane with some classic moments, thanks to YouTube. Here is a fight between the two schools before the 1997 game. And from 1983, here is the famous “Immaculate Deflection,” where a chip shot, would be, game winning field goal for State suddenly stops in mid air amidst a gust of wind and lands on the field of play. You can read more about it here. If you haven’t seen this, it is unbelievable. I only wish the footage was longer. Some thought about tomorrow’s game… For Rebel fans like myself, this is basically the season. We’re obviously not going to a bowl game and currently winless in the SEC. It would be nice to pick up that first win in Starkville and ...

Turkey Day Headlines 2007-11-22 05:18:39 Here you go with some news you may or may not have heard yet… Let’s start out on the left-coast. Just when you think San Francisco couldn’t get any kookier, they come out with this new plan. The board of supervisors approved issuing municipal ID cards that will include your name, birth date and a photo. However, missing from those cards is that tricky question of gender. Yes, whenever I have to fill out papers and check off male, it is extremely difficult. Heading east, New Jersey state employees will not get the day after Thanksgiving off as a paid holiday. Instead, those poor workers will have to use PTO or vacation time (as I had to) or actually show up to work. Keep in mind that they currently have 13 holidays a year (including three others in November alone). The reason they will have to head to work is because Governor Jon Corzine, a Democrat, refused to issue an order giving them the day- the first time since 1962 they have not had the day off. American Spectator brings ...

Times-Picayune: Mississippi Shouldn’t Have Been Chosen For Presidential Debate 2007-11-21 17:48:53 Looks like the folks in Louisiana ain’t too happy that their state got passed up for a 2008 presidential debate. How naive of New Orleanians to think that a sense of justice and site logistics- not politics- would determine the locations for next year’s presidential debates. What else but politics explains the indefensible decision by the Commission on Presidential Debates to leave New Orleans out? The commission’s official line is that the city, recovering from Hurricane Katrina, is not ready to host such an important event. That’s what commission Co-chair Paul Kirk told Anne Milling, founder of Women of the Storm, which together with four local universities sponsored New Orleans’ proposal. “’Politics trumped the moral decision,” an incensed Ms. Milling said Monday. The commission’s explanation is a slap in our face. It also contradicts the reality on the ground. So selecting a debate city is now a moral decision? You can go and play the hurricane ca ...

District 71 Revote Dec. 18th, May Decide Speakers Race 2007-11-20 17:43:03 There will be a revote in four precincts in House District 71 on December 18th. Initially, the Hinds County Election Commission had determined that Democratic challenger Adrienne Wooten had upset incumbent Republican John Reeves, but he challenged that ruling. From the Clarion-Ledger: Reeves filed a petition with the Hinds County Election Commission to challenge his defeat in the District 71 race. He maintains problems at four voting precincts cost him the election, and he wants the commission to determine the extent of poll-worker errors. Reeves also wants the commission to disallow Hinds County election District 3 commissioner Jermal Clark from participating in any hearing. Clark is a member of the Hinds County Democratic executive committee. Reeves got his wish, and a lot can hinge on this one seat. Wooten was on McCoy’s initial list of supporters and I would imagine Reeves is in the Smith camp. This one race could decide who the next Speaker will be. ...

Daily Kos and RedState 2007-11-20 17:07:21 RedState, probably the largest conservative blog around, decided to post a link to the America Supports You campaign where anyone can send text message to the troops thanking them for their service. I then skipped over to the largest liberal blog out there and an influential player in Democratic circles, Daily Kos, but they must have thought that this is not worthy of making it onto their site. Frankly, I’m not too surprised. ...