Does Senator Roger Wicker Really Not Know If We're Going In The Wrong Direction?

This July 4th weekend Roger Wicker spoke in Jacinto and said he didn't know if he thought America is on the right track or the wrong track:



Really Senator?

I think if you'd get out of your Republican only meetings that you've had all over the state telling folks not to expect anything other than a typical Republican and spoke to regular Mississippians that would be a easy thing to decide whether you took a show of hands or not.

Senator Roger Wicker Voted No On Possible Solutions To Gas And Energy Prices

Roger Wicker voted against the Consumer-First Energy Act that would lower prices at the pump by addressing the root causes of record high gas prices, including rolling back tax breaks for big oil companies and investing in renewable energy. Wicker, who has taken almost $250,000 from the oil and gas companies, voted against the legislation despite the average price of gas in the United States having reached $4 per gallon.

Why did he vote against the bill?

Wicker Has Taken Almost $250,000 From Oil And Gas Industry. Since coming to Congress, Wicker has accepted $248,235 from oil and gas interests.

Jeff chronicled some of his other pro-oil/anti-consumer votes in this previous post.

Is Senator Roger Wicker A Coward? He's Already Backed Out Of The First Debate

Wicker runs away from Neshoba County Fair Debate

Crawfishes on commitment, 

blames Democratic Leader for scheduling votes

…but none are currently scheduled

From a press release:

Interim U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker yesterday backed out of a scheduled candidate debate with Gov. Ronnie Musgrove. The debate, scheduled for July 31 at the Neshoba County Fair in Philadelphia, was accepted by both candidates more than a month ago.

Wicker claimed the press of Senate business, and important votes, yet was able to find time out to speak at the fair on Wednesday morning, July 30. Wednesday is smack in the middle of the Senate work week.

"I like to believe you can take a man at his word, but Wicker agreed to this debate weeks ago and now he crawfishes out of it," said Tim Phillips, campaign manager for Musgrove's Senate campaign.

There has been no change in the Senate schedule in the weeks since Wicker agreed to the debate. While it is possible that votes may be scheduled on July 31, none are currently scheduled. It is just as possible that votes might be scheduled on June 30, when Wicker will be at the Fair.

A copy of the Senate yearly schedule, prepared at the beginning of the year, is attached. (calendars can be found below)

"If he can't keep his word about this, how can Mississippi voters trust anything he says?" added Phillips.

John McCain (And People Who Enable Him Like Wicker) Is The Wrong Choice For The Coast

This video is Florida centric, but the issue of mulitperil insurance is the one courageous Congressman Gene Taylor (MS-04) and Lott (since retired) have been pushing with such dedication and principle.



Roger Wicker supports President John McCain who indicates he would veto such a bill if it ever got to him. What's more important Senator? Our nation's Gulf Coast or your political connections.

We need an independent Senator like Lott became after Bush threw him under the bus and how Representative Gene Taylor has always been. Our best choice for Independence, and a voice in the continuing Democratic majority,in this election is Ronnie Musgrove.

Update:  I can see where some confusion may be.  Roger Wicker has said he'll support Multi-peril Coverage.  Our point is that it would go nowhere with McCain (his choice) as President.

Republican Activist Court Disenfranchises the Public

The Clarion Ledger

This means that Barbour appointee Roger Wicker will remain Senator until November.

In a 7-2 decision, the court said the state statute was unclear and it was reasonable for the election to be in November instead of March as stated by Attorney General Jim Hood.

The Republican activist court did the job those campaign contributions paid them to. This is what happens when the Republican party and the US Chamber of Commerce buy our Supreme Court elections.

How is it "reasonable" to make voters wait till November to have any say on their new Senator?

Give me a break.

Will Bardwell's analysis of the decision that Barbour appealed to the Mississippi Supreme Court

Wicker Is Already Missing Votes (Including a Vote To Request Absent Senator's Attendance)

So, Wicker has missed a couple of votes already. One was on invoking cloture to move forward with the stimulus package and tax rebates which I think is important to Mississippians. The other was a vote to require attendance of Senators. It's funny that he missed the vote to instruct the attendance of absent Senators so soon after becoming a Senator. Senator Cochran voted for the bill.

How Those Present Voted

Procedural Motion - Require Attendance

Feb. 5, 2008
Senate Roll Call Vote 6

Reid, D-Nev., motion to instruct the sergeant at arms to request the attendance of absent senators.

Motion agreed to by a vote of 73-12:

Republicans 31-12
Democrats 41-0
Independents 1-0

The Anti-Cigarette Tax Man Former Senator Tommy Robertson Selected By Barbour?!?

From The Communities for a Clean Bill of Health blog:

Governor Barbour released the names of those appointed to his Tax Study Commission yesterday- Jan 23. The list included the infamous former state Senator Tommy Robertson. Robertson, as Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, blocked legislation that would have increased the cigarette tax up to a $1.00 while cutting the grocery tax by half. In August, Robertson was soundly defeated in the Republican primary largely due to his opposition of that popular piece of legislation.

The Complete List Of Tax Study Commission Members



Michael Watson who defeated him was asked about the legislation in the Mississippi Press:

Q. Sen. Robertson is responsible for the death of the grocery tax/tobacco tax swap legislation that would have lowered the tax on unprepared food items from 7 percent to 3 percent, and increased the tax on tobacco products to as high as $1 per product. Robertson refused to introduce the Senate bill in this year's session and the issue died in committee. Do you think the Senate should have been allowed to vote on the tax swap proposal and do you plan to support similar legislation in 2008?

A. The Senate definitely should have had a chance to vote on the proposal. A senator is there to represent the people who put him in office and that cannot happen if he or she isn't given the chance to vote on the issues. I think the tax swap is a great idea, but I think the numbers still need a little work. Replacing an increasing revenue with a declining revenue just doesn't make good economical sense. There are numbers that will make the swap work. It's our job to find them.

Republican Leadership Appoint Wicker To Seat On Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees?!? What?!?

The Democrats Respond.

From a press release:

Republican leadership in the U.S. Senate formally announced interim Sen. Roger Wicker’s committee assignments today – including a seat on the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee.

But with Wicker’s history of voting against veterans, his assignment on the Veterans’ Affairs Committee is surprising and troublesome.

“Sen. Wicker has proven time and again that Mississippians can’t trust him to look after our nation’s and our state’s veterans,” Wayne Dowdy, chairman of the Mississippi Democratic Party, said today.

“How can anyone think that Wicker, who has consistently voted against veterans’ health care, should be given the responsibility of caring for our servicemen and women? Wicker is clearly the wrong person for this important job and wrong for the U.S. Senate.”

Roger Wicker’s votes against veterans

While serving in the U.S. House of Representatives, Wicker voted at least 12 times against additional funding for veterans health care. Here are the votes and links where available:

• Vote No. 1050, Nov. 6, 2007

• Vote No. 87, March 17, 2005

• Vote No. 82, March 17, 2005

• Vote No. 17, Jan. 29, 2003

• Vote No. 473, Nov. 13, 2002

• Vote No. 296, July 30, 2001

• Vote No. 843, Dec. 7, 1995

• Vote No. 829, Nov. 29, 1995

• House Appropriations Committee Markup, May 10, 2006

• House Appropriations Committee Markup, July 22, 2004

• House Appropriations Committee Markup, July 21, 2003

• House Appropriations Committee Markup, July 30, 1999



Also check out our earlier post on Wicker and veterans HERE

Lost In The Misguided Attacks On Ronnie Musgrove Is This

A liberal blogger has unfortunately attacked Ronnie Musgrove recently for being in their eyes beholden to the insurance industry.

Now those attacks are being gleefully used by Republicans including the National Republican Senatorial Committee to attack him.

I am a Coast resident and I care deeply about the recovery of my home, but these one-sided attacks ignore history and the context of this election.

1. Ronnie Musgrove has sued insurance companies for unlawfully denying claims.

2. Roger Wicker, the Republican candidate, has taken over $80,000 from insurance interests. Even after Hurricane Katrina Roger Wicker took $3,000 from the Council of Insurance Agents and Brokers PAC, $500 from the Independent Insurance Agents, and $500 from the Professional Insurance Agents.

3. Both Wicker and Musgrove have pledged to support Representative Gene Taylor's All Perils Insurance Bill.

The question then is who will be able to be most effective in partnering with Representative Gene Taylor to pass the legislation. Republicans WILL be in the minority. Democrats WILL continue to be in an increasing majority. We need a Democratic senator to get important legislation through. If Senator Lott couldn't get it passed, then why would a less distinguished freshman senator in the minority party have any more success?

I care about the Mississippi Gulf Coast. It is my home and where I have helped friends rebuild their lives. I want what is best for the Coast and that is not a Republican freshman senator in the minority.

Former Governor Ronnie Musgrove Has Been An Advocate For The Mississippi Gulf Coast

It is clear from his record that Ronnie Musgrove cares deeply about the Mississippi Gulf Coast.  

Musgrove helped protect the Coast as Governor and always spent time with Coast residents to better represent our needs (I'm from Ocean Springs).

Additionally, Musgrove supports the multi-perils insurance bill to help protect citizens and has been an attorney representing people who were denied insurance coverage.  

After Hurricane Katrina he worked to bring new tax incentives to the area and helped educate local businesspeople on how to use them.

Interim Senator Roger Wicker on the other hand has taken over $80,000 from insurance companies, including money from insurance agents after Hurricane Katrina.

Over the next few days I hope to bring you more on how Musgrove has been a friend and advocate of the Coast.

Interim Senator Roger Wicker and Ethics

Early last month the Project on Government Oversight put out THIS report detailing possibly shady dealings in Roger Wicker's actions. That article caught Will Barwell's eye garnering THIS post discussing "Roger Wicker's Convenient Interest in Unmanned Flight." Now the Washington Post has noticed now that Wicker is a Senator and deserving of more scrutiny.

Washington Post

Over the past three years, as Aurora sought defense contracts, the Republican member of the Appropriations defense subcommittee received escalating contributions from the company's executives. Aurora was Wicker's top source of campaign funds in 2006, campaign finance records show. In 2005, the company flew the congressman on a private jet to the ribbon cutting of a manufacturing facility it opened in Wicker's Mississippi district.

And just days after Wicker's chief of staff, John Keast, left his employ in 2006, Aurora began listing the former staffer on public forms as one of its lobbyists in Washington. Wicker placed the earmark in a defense appropriations bill that became law in November 2007.

The Democrats Respond:

“Roger Wicker is the poster child for quid pro quo politics, repaying campaign cash with an even more generous earmark,” said Wayne Dowdy, chairman of the Mississippi Democratic Party.

“Sen. Wicker was elected to look out for the people of Mississippi, not to fill his campaign coffers. When the moving company relocates Wicker’s things from his House office to his temporary Senate office, I hope they leave the revolving door behind.”

Will state media respond OR like during the gubernatorial campaign can we expect crickets?

Roger Wicker: The Cookie Cutter Candidate

In a series of private meetings around the state local Republicans have been introducing Wicker in communities he is not familiar with. The purpose is to reassure Republicans in those areas and to solidify Republican support early. It makes sense to do.

A friend of mine, a Republican, was at one of those meetings and asked Roger Wicker a few questions. He came away unimpressed.

When he asked the interim Senator about himself he said he was a Mississippi Republican and that his ideas and votes would be just like those of Senator Trent Lott and Governor Haley Barbour. When asked to clarify if he'd have any differences he offered none.

According to his reports the interim Senator showed no passion about anything at the meeting.

We have a candidate who says all the right things and insists he won't be any different.

That may reassure the small percentage who rarely disagree with the right-wing of the Republican party, but most Mississippians would prefer a Senator with a mind of his own.

We have a cookie cutter candidate.

Get on the Wicker Campaign Bus*

A friend of mine spotted the Wicker campaign bus on the Coast today. She said that it was dark colored with light colored print. It had text, but no smiling (or otherwise) picture of Roger Wicker.

She hypothesized that with the fancy paint-work it's likely the artist knew before the announcement. Perhaps he read it here first.



*or at least send us a picture when you spot it and tell us where it was shot.

www.breauxlott.com

The Hill:

Sen. Trent Lott’s (R-Miss.) son registered the domain name breauxlott.com this fall, signaling strongly that the retiring minority whip will join forces with former Sen. John Breaux (D-La.) on K Street in 2008.

Chet Lott, a registered lobbyist, secured the rights to the domain name on Oct. 16 — six weeks before his father announced his retirement from the upper chamber.

Two days after Sen. Lott’s stunning announcement, Breaux told his colleagues at Patton Boggs that he was leaving the firm to start a lobbying firm with his son, John Jr.

Caught by Y'all Politics first.

Rep. Roger Wicker and Ethics

Several folks e-mailed me about an article pointing out a possible ethics issue around Rep. Wicker and Aurora Flight Sciences:

The article highlighting what is best pork from the Project on Government Oversight

Will Bardwell summarizes the article while offering his own good commentary.

What is unknown is if this will effect Barbour's decision to appoint him to Trent Lott's open US Senate seat.

Democrat? Need Work? Musgrove is Hiring.

Former Democratic Governor Ronnie Musgrove is trying to put together some folks should he decide to run for Senate.

I hope Mike Moore runs and Musgrove decides against it. If Moore won't run then I hope he finds some good people and a better strategy than he had 2003.

Erik Fleming: "Told You So"

Fleming's article at the Jackson Free Press:

I hate to say I told you so … but I did.

In 2006, when I was the Democratic nominee for the United States Senate against Trent Lott, I basically predicted that he would not finish his term. If you remember, Lott was a little less than enthusiastic about seeking re-election, seemingly waiting for public opinion to prod him into the race. Remember when he said that the only reason he ran was because he felt compelled to help the Gulf Coast recover, being a victim himself?

It’s clear now that Lott wanted to retire and make some real money, hence the “Herding Cats” memoir. The GOP begged him to stay until Haley got re-elected, then the governor could choose his replacement. Well, Haley lived up to his end of the deal, and now Trent rides off into the sunset, which means greener (as in money) pastures ahead.

Basically, Sen. Lott is leaving the Senate to take advantage of the provision in the new lobbying reform legislation that allows a member of Congress to not serve in the next session and instantly become a member of the K Street Gang, as D.C. lobbyists are called. Had he served out the full term, Lott could not lobby Congress for two years after leaving office, meaning in his case, the year 2014.

The question is did Lott know he was going to do this when he ran for re-election or, if not, what really caused him to change his mind?

More Polling Numbers For Lott's Open Seat

Zata 3 has released polling numbers for three more Republicans and one more Democrat.

Here are the preliminary percentages based on 678 surveys:

Opinion Pickering Mabus Tuck Ross
Very Favorable 46% 12% 20% 6%
Somewhat Favorable 18% 16% 31% 20%
Somewhat Unfavorable 7% 28% 21% 18%
Very Unfavorable 7% 26% 14% 9%
Not Enough Info To Form Opinion3% 20% 13% 48%

Former Governor Mabus is the Democrat. US Representative Pickering, Current Lt. Governor Tuck, and State Senator Ross are Republicans.

It comes with this disclaimer:

Please note that this is a preliminary report. These figures have not been weighted for age, race, or gender. These raw numbers overstate the opinions of women and understate the opinions of African American voters by more than half. Additionally, the survey results understate the opinions of voters under age 50. This preliminary survey significantly overstates the opinions of Republican voters.

"Draft Moore for US Senate" Campaign Begins

We at Cotton Mouth are attempting to "Draft" former Attorney General Mike Moore into the race.

The following is our press release that we just sent to hundreds of blogs and which we will send the dead tree media a little later.

“Draft Moore for US Senate” Campaign Begins

Former Attorney General Being Drafted to Run in 2008 Special Election

Today Democratic Party activists and editors of the state’s leading political blogs are beginning their efforts to draft former Mississippi Attorney General Mike Moore as a candidate for US Senate.

John Leek, editor of Mississippi political blog Cotton Mouth said “ Mike Moore has been a tireless advocate for justice, both in his public capacities as District Attorney and Attorney General, and in his private practice where he represents those denied legitimate insurance claims as a result of Hurricane Katrina. It is this sense of compassion and integrity that our nation so desperately needs today, and Mike Moore will carry those values to the US Senate.”

The campaign is launching a website, http://www.wewantmikemoore.com that will provide a method for supporters to contact Moore. Efforts are underway to begin a media campaign to support the online organizing efforts.

In addition to serving for 16 years as the state’s Attorney General, Moore served as the district attorney in his native Pascagoula. In 1997 he was awarded “Lawyer of the Year” by the National Law Journal and portrayed himself in the Michael Mann film, The Insider, which focused on the tobacco law suit.

Local Democratic activists already involved include Victor Warnsley, Starkville; Jesse Johnson, Oxford; Renick Taylor, Biloxi; Mary Macki, Jackson County; Casey Hughes, Natchez; and Matthew Becker, Hattiesburg.

.....

I'd like to add that the effort is entirely independent of any candidate considering a run for that office. Anyone who thinks otherwise can go pout someplace else. - The Editors

Talking Points Memo Brings Us The Recent Best Of Trent Lott

Talking Points Memo:


Their caption:

Trent Lott may not have been good for America. But he was pretty good for TPM. So in honor of his announced resignation from Congress, in today's episode of TPMtv, we take a walk down memory lane to remember some of Trent's best moments (definitely don't miss the special Larry Craig/John Ashcroft duet moment) ...

This is a good compilation of video of "The Singing Senators", his comments that caused his toppling as Republican leader and his appearance on BET afterwards.

The comments that got him into trouble were as follows:

When Strom Thurmond ran for president we voted for him. We're proud of it. And if the rest of the country had followed our lead we wouldn't have had all these problems over all these years either.

Strom Thurmond, of course, ran on the Dixiecrat ticket whose main policy difference with the available parties was that they were dead against civil rights and supported the preservation of segregation.

The video is even worth watching for the singing alone.