Races I'm Watching Tonight Update 3

Democratic Primary Insurance Commissioner's Race - You Know Why
With 84% reporting Gary holds onto a 51% lead.

Republican Primary Agricultural Commissioner's Race - With Lester as the nominee Democrats can make this a race.
Lester Spell survives and will go on to be beat by Democratic candidate Rickey Cole

Democratic House Seat 115 - I'm rooting for Chip Barnes to upset DINO Randall Patterson
DINO Patterson beats Chip Barnes 69% to 31%. Look for Patterson to possibly switch parties before the next election unless he feels that he will be unable to win as a Republican in this Democratic district.

Senate District 46 on the Coast: I want Baria over Cuevas.
With 86% reporting Baria leads 53% to 47%

Senate District 10: I want Mona Pittman to win.

Senate District 51: I want Watson to beat Robertson.
With 62% reporting Watson Leads 61% to 39%. Barbour loses one of his biggest allies in the Senate.

Democratic Supervisor District 2 in Jackson County:
Melton Harris wins with 53%!

Republican Supervisor District 4 in Jackson County:
With 100% Reporting the incumbent comes in second and will face the former incumbent in the runoff.

With 78% Reporting:

93% Haley Barbour

70% John Arthur Eaves

57% Phil Bryant
43% Charlie Ross

72% Robert Smith
20% John Windsor
08% Jabari Toins

52% Delbert Hosemann
37% Michael Lott
08% Jeffrey Rupp

47% Mike Sumall
36% Todd Brand
17% Jacob Ray

55% Lester Spell
45% Max Phillips

51% Gary Anderson
49% George Dale

Races I'm Watching Tonight Update

Democratic Primary Insurance Commissioner's Race - You Know Why
Maybe he'll pull it out. We need you Gary!

Republican Primary Agricultural Commissioner's Race - With Lester as the nominee Democrats can make this a race.
Thanks Lester for a $55 million dollar boondoggle and a race in November.

Democratic House Seat 75 - There are two good Democrats, but it could be an upset.

Democratic House Seat 117 - I'm rooting for Chip Barnes to upset DINO Randall Patterson

Senate District 48 on the Coast: I want Baria over Cuevas.

Senate District 10: I want Mona Pittman to win.

Senate District 51: I want Watson to beat Robertson.

Races I'm Watching Tonight

Democratic Primary Insurance Commissioner's Race - You Know Why

Republican Primary Agricultural Commissioner's Race - With Lester as the nominee Democrats can make this a race.

Democratic House Seat 75 - There are two good Democrats, but it could be an upset.

Democratic House Seat 117 - I'm rooting for Chip Barnes to upset DINO Randall Patterson

How I Would Vote In The Republican Primary

Governor: Frederick L. Jones (Because he hasn't attacked his opponent's family or attempted to kick thousands off of Medicaid)

Lt. Governor: People supporting Ross and Bryant have both accused me of being biased in favor of the other candidate. Sorry folks, I am biased but it is favor of Jamie Franks. Write in Jamie Franks.

Auditor: You've got 1 choice and his last name is Pickering.

Secretary of State: Write in Englebert Hosemann if only for the commercials.

Attorney General: Vote for the candidate with the best scowl: Al Hopkins.

State Treasurer: You've got 1 choice and he's the incumbent.

Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce: Vote for the guy who switched parties last decade instead of this one. (Max Phillips)

Commissioner of Insurance: Ronnie English is not a serious candidate leaving you to vote for Mike Chaney and his rubber chicken.

(I've brought this up again for people who said they had trouble finding it)

Beef Plant Edition

I believe I snapped this one during Lester Spell's speech.

Max Phillips was the Republican nominee in 2003 and is attempting to beat Lester Spell in that primary this year.

Rickey Cole is the Democratic nominee and of the 3 appeared to have the most passion and best speech.

Here is the man himself. He said he wanted a "positive campaign" roughly a dozen times and failed to even attempt to defend his handling of the beef plant.

Max Phillips At The Neshoba County Fair

July 10th Update: Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Edition

Candidate's Name : New Donation This Period : Expenses This Period : Current Cash On Hand

Rickey Cole (D): $3,165.00 : $475.00 : $6058.53
Max Phillips (R): $9,500.00 : $13,312.13 : $325.05
Lester Spell (R): $3,750.00 : $17,821.87 : $153,582.38

Max Phillip's Empty Term Limits Gesture

Max Phillip's recently issued a press release calling for term limits for the position of Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce. Here's an excerpt:

Therefore, when elected, I will propose legislation for term-limits of two terms for the office of Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce for the State of Mississippi, and will only seek to serve two terms. This will serve the best interests of the citizens of Mississippi and the staff of MDAC.

Term limits will provide more effective, more efficient leadership for the most important industry in our State. Term limits will also create the opportunity for new ideas and new energy to continue moving Mississippi forward as we attempt to regain our position of leadership among those providing safe, nutritious food for a rapidly expanding population.

It seems like a rather ironic that he would call for term limits after all he's run for the office 4 out of the last 5 times he was eligible to do so. He ran as a Democrat in '91 and '95 and as a Republican in '03 and '07. Oh, and if he were to be elected and serve two terms his self given term limit would force him leave office at the sprightly age of 68. That doesn't seem like it would be a very hard pledge to keep.

Early Straw Poll

Leesha Faulkner put up the results from an unscientific straw poll conducted by Republican candidate Everett Dutschke. Here's a sample just for fun:

Governor
Haley Barbour –R=41%
John A Eaves –D=59%

Lt Governor
Phil Bryant –R=41%
Jamie Franks –D=55%
Charlie Ross –R=3%
...
Attorney General
Jim Hood –D=74%
Al Hopkins=7%
...
Agriculture Commissioner
Ricky Cole– D=50%
Lester Spell– R=23%
Max Phillips –R=27%
...
House-16
J. Everett Dutschke –R=46%
D. Stephen Holland –D=54%

Obviously the margin of error here is HUGE as I think it is clear that it is clear that Barbour and Hopkins enjoy higher support than is shown here. I also suspect Holland is more popular than this, but it is fun to look at. Thanks to Everett Dutschke for conducting the straw poll.

Clearing the Cobwebs (Leesha Faulkner's blog)

Where's the Beef?

The Clarion Ledger editorializes on Judge Biggers' decision:

But last week, U.S. District Judge Neal Biggers apparently decided he'd had enough of that particular status quo. Biggers rejected a plea bargain proposed by prosecutors for a construction company owner who paid kickbacks to the operator of the defunct plant.

Biggers said the plea bargain for Sean Carothers was "overly lenient" and that it "would not serve the interests of justice and would be a radical departure from sentencing guidelines for this case, and it is therefore rejected."
...
Biggers' decision should be a clear signal to federal and state investigators to get moving and provide the public some answers. If the investigation is over, then it's time for some cell doors to clang and fine checks to be written. It's time for some politicians to be held accountable.

In short, the bill for this big all-beef burger has come due and it's time for the baloney to end.

The two politicians primarily responsible for this mess were Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Lester Spell and Lt. Governor Amy Tuck. If Tuck were running for anything else you bet this would be an issue in that race, but she stepped out. Lester Spell has instead decided that his potted meat/old goat vision for the state needs another 4 years. It does not. He has solid, respectable opponents and they deserve the opportunity to serve.

Exclusive Max Phillips Video from Harrison County Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo

Sorry, he didn't bring his prop chicken. I asked. :)

The Mississippi Municipal League Event

Some Observations:

- Barbour scheduled his appearance so that it would come during the luncheon event Wednesday. This way he guaranteed a crowd. All the other candidates had to speak at a seperate "stump speaking" event after the luncheon.

- Barbour went further into the story of Marsha Barbour and her heading down with the State Troopers after Hurricane Katrina. In his story he told of poor folks with twisted trailers and caved in roofs. He said he was touched by how selfless they were. (These are the same folks the Barbour tried to kick off Medicaid so he obviously doesn't care about them that much. They do make a good story though.)

- Other than the story he just said the same things he has been saying including, but not limited to, how absolutely wonderful everything is for everyone in Mississippi. (I think a sizable number of Mississippians would disagree.)

- I watched the state office candidates watch as all the folks left who they had been hoping to speak to either heading back to hotels or the casinos. (the folks are city officials from every community in the state)

- At the "stump speaking" event almost everyone there was a candidate or was specifically there with a candidate.

- Marty Wiseman is a great host and moderator and Todd Brand acknowledged him as one of the folks he had learned under. Wiseman was actually on Brand's doctoral committee.

- The candidates made mention of how they were only speaking to themselves several times and overall the speeches were good.

- In the props department Max Phillips featured a rubber chicken, Mike Chaney had a toy monkey, and one of the transportation commissioner candidates held up a newspaper to highlight some point.

- One candidate each from the Northern and Southern Transportation Districts played off their weight in promising the most transportation commissioner for the votes.

- Feel free to include your observations in the comments section.