So long farewell, auf weidersehen good-bye

The lives of I and the other main contributors have changed a lot in the past couple years.

We've (mostly) enjoyed writing this blog and sharing our unique perspectives with you.

Your active readership and response has made it worthwhile and we're happy for the good we believe we did for some of the better political folks here in Mississippi.

We wish you the best and pray that God will direct this state and it's leaders toward a brighter, more compassionate future.

- The Writers

Barbour in Europe

WAPT has reported that the taxpayers are footing the bill for Barbour's trip to Europe over the next two weeks.

JACKSON, Miss. -- Mississippi taxpayers are footing the majority of the bill for Gov. Haley Barbour’s two-week European trip, officials said.

Barbour was in Dublin, Ireland, on Tuesday where he was honored by the Trinity College University Philosophical Society for his role in Mississippi’s recovery from Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Barbour is also scheduled to meet with executives in Germany and Spain to discuss the possibility of their companies’ doing business in Mississippi.

Pete Smith, the governor's spokesman, couldn’t say on Tuesday how much the trip is costing taxpayers, because the total won’t be known until Barbour returns from overseas.

"Even in a time of national and international economic uncertainty, it is important that we continue to explore potential business opportunities and build relationships with European companies," Barbour said. "Mississippi is pro-business and pro-jobs, and has a great story to tell."

Barbour left for the two-week trip this past Saturday.

Now, before someone gets all upset and starts posting that he's creating jobs for Mississippi, let me say that I have no problem with the state paying for an economic development trip, if that is the legitimate reason (though I hope someone reviews the receipts).

Why I think this post is interesting is because of all the speculation of what Barbour may do in 2012, especially since The Washington Post blog last Friday put Barbour on the top 10 list of Republicans to watch. (Click here for FOLO's coverage of the post.)

A potential 2012 presidential contender visiting foreign dignitaries. Coincidence... I think not.

The tobacco tax that could

As the 2009 Legislative Session approaches, it looks like we'll have another go at the tobacco tax.

In an AP article today:

Two businessmen are petitioning to let Mississippi voters decide whether to increase the state tobacco tax and designate the revenue for Medicaid.

Clarksdale attorney and restaurateur Bill Luckett and Jackson advertising consultant Rory Reardon filed an initiative Thursday in the secretary of state’s office. They have a year to gather about 90,000 signatures to put the issue on the ballot.

And, somewhat surprising, Barbour is not completely opposed to the idea of raising the tobacco tax. Don't get too excited, though. His proposal is so low, the whole thing will inevitably get bogged down, and the King of Tobacco could still come out looking good to his tobacco buddies after all.

Gov. Haley Barbour said this week that he’ll ask the 2009 Legislature to increase the cigarette excise tax, which is now 18 cents a pack. Barbour proposes adding 24 cents a pack on premium brands and 43 cents on off-brands.

I guess off-brand folks don't hire big-time DC lobbyists.

If we do have a ballot measure, which would be preferrable over whatever plan Barbour devises for his buddies, it will be interesting to see what numbers the legislature comes up with, and how much money will be poured into the state on such a measure.

Governor Bryant?

The Sun Herald reported today that Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant is considering a run for governor in 2011. (Unless Barbour changes the Mississippi Constitution, this is his last term.)

Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant told the Sun Herald Thursday he is mulling a run for governor, the same day he held a fundraiser to build his war chest for future campaigns.

Bryant said he had not made any firm decision yet about whether to seek re-election as lieutenant governor or to run for governor, but he was certainly considering seeking higher office.

He said keeping revenue in his political account is vital, so Bryant was to hold a fundraiser at a Biloxi home Thursday where attendees would pay $250 a couple, he said. The funds could be used for either his reelection or, if he so chooses, a bid to become governor when Republican Gov. Haley Barbour, an ally of Bryant's, finishes his last term, which would officially end in early 2012 following the 2011 elections.

"I haven't made that decision yet," Bryant said. "The one thing you never try to do is look three years into the future and decide but the one thing I do know is whether I am running for re-election or decide to run for governor it is going to take a lot of money to do so. I don't like to try to wait until the last minute."

We have all been speculating on what he might do in 2011, so it's not surprising to see his comments.

Several employees of the state auditor's office (former and current) have made rumblings about the mess Bryant made while auditor. It will be interesting to see if Pickering can clean up the mess before 2011 since it will come back to haunt Bryant if he runs for governor.

Update

Sorry guys I will be back to posting real soon. I am in the middle of a job change and have a lot more on my plate than I can handle. I have a demanding job and do this at night for the love of politics and writing. I just want to say that this is just a temporary interruption. I will try and get some good stuff up later tonight or tomorrow. Lord knows I have a ton of thoughts brewing in my head that need to get some air time

Not so proud moment for Mississippi

According to WAPT, two students were kicked off a public school bus for saying Senator Barack Obama's name. In a separate incident, a girls' basketball coach (at a public school) threatened to suspend any student from the team who mention Senator Obama's name.

Here's a link to the web-story: http://www.wapt.com/video/17928161/

I had heard some unconfirmed rumors of this type of activity occurring in some workplaces, but I am definitely shocked to hear this. Times are changing in the world, and it makes me very sad to hear people clinging to such hatred in the year 2008. I'm not naive enough to think racism doesn't exist everywhere - I know it does. However, we are obviously in the limelight on such issues, and I hope we can all grow and learn from this experience of having elected the first African American president.

As Mississippians, we will never be better than the bottom (where we remain on many lists such as health care and education) unless we stop hating people because they do not look like us or they do not think like us.

America took a giant leap forward last Tuesday, but Mississippi refuses to budge.

Senate race to 60 update (Updated x3)

The Democrats came into tonight sitting on 50 seats plus LIEberman for a total of 51 in the caucus. There were about a dozen or so contested races with only one being a Democratic seat. Here is what has happened so far with a running tally:

NC - Hagan (d) defeats Dole (r-inc) - Dem total 51 + LIEberman
VA - Warner (d) defeats Gilmore (r) - Dem total 52 + LIEberman
NH - Shaheen (d) defeats Sununu (r-inc) - Dem total 53 + LIEberman
GA - Chambliss (r-inc) and Martin (d) are headed to a runoff!! (UPDATED)
KY - McConnell (r-inc) defeats Lunsford (d) - Dem total 53 + LIEberman
MS - Wicker (r) defeats Musgrove (d) - Dem total 53 + LIEberman
LA - Landrieu (d-inc) defeats Kennedy (r) - Dem total 53 + LIEberman
CO - Udall (d) defeats Schaffer (r) - Dem total 54 + LIEberman
NM - Udall (d) defeats Pearce (r) - Dem total 55 + LIEberman
OR - Merkley (d) defeats Smith (r-inc) - Dem total 56+ LIEberman


Minnesota is too close to call in the Franken vs. Coleman race. We still are waiting on Oregon and Alaska. Sixty looks out of reach, but President-elect Obama will have a large Democratic majority in Congress to work with.

UPDATED: Jim Martin has knocked Saxby Chambliss under the 50% mark which requires a runoff in the state of Georgia. In Minnesota Norm Coleman is hanging on to a 600 voted lead, with almost all of the returns in. A recount could be called. In Oregon Democrat Jeff Merkley trails by around 10,000 votes with 73% reporting. The Portland area still has a lot to be counted. Convicted felon Ted Stevens looks like he will retain his seat over challenger Mark Begich.

UPDATEDx2: Not so fast on the Alaska call. Apparently there are 60,000 absentee ballots yet to be counted and they are breaking by a good margin for Begich. In Minnesota there is very good chance Franken wins the recount which is done by hand. The first count is done by optical scanners looking for bubbled in marks. Many first time voters (likely Dem) might just mark an x or something. The state of MN estimates 2 per thousand missed ballots. At 3,000,000 ballots, 500 votes looks pretty likely. In Oregon Merkley has taken a 7,000 vote lead with 79% reporting. The remaining ballots are from heavy Democratic districts. We will pick up a seat in Oregon.

UPDATEDx3: Oregon has gone the way of change with Jeff Merkley defeating incumbent Gordon Smith. Minnesota is down to 250 votes and a recount is coming.

Travis Childers rolls

The voters of north Mississippi had no problems reelecting Travis Childers to stay in Washington to continue his hard work. There was whispers this past month that Greg Davis had been able to close the gap. Certainly many Childers backers were concerned about the report of over 10,000 new voters registered in Desoto county. No worries, Travis coasted to a resounding 54-44 win over the Republican challenger.

Childers understands Mississippi politics better than any Democrat to run for state office in a long time. He might be conservative on some social issues but he is a Democrat to the bone on the issues Democrats won on for years in the South like economic fairness. Other aspiring Mississippi Dems should look hard at the success Travis had running on meat and potato economic populism. Leave the gay bashing and GOP lite stuff alone and run as a Democrat. State your socially conservative positions if need be, but don't jump and down about them.

Obama wins big, Musgrove looking bleak

As expected Barack Obama will become the 44th president of the United States. Obama carried all of the Kerry states along with Ohio, Virginia, Iowa, Florida, and Colorado so far. Mississippi took 2 hours for the networks to call but sits at 57-42 as of this time. Unfortunately Ronnie Musgrove looks to be in a bind against Roger Wicker, trailing by a 55-45 margin with over 60% reporting.

I will give a detailed report of the Senate races as well as more on the Obama romp.

Election night update

Kay Hagan is a winner in North Carolina.

Pennsylvania was called at poll closing. McCain has to win Virginia to have any chance.

Mississippi has been listed as too early to call by MSNBC.

Georgia went McCain, the Senate race is too close to call.

Virginia and North Carolina are too close to call.

Florida, Ohio, and Indiana look promising for Obama.

Mitch McConnell is the fight of his life in Kentucky.

Early races to watch

Here is what I am watching for at the 6:00 release. The road to change starts now.

President: Virginia, Pennsylvania, Georgia, North Carolina, Indiana, Florida, Ohio

Senate: Shaheen (NH), Hagan (NC), Martin (GA), Warner (VA), Lunsford (KY)

Election Protection

The Protect the Vote Coalition will have live blogging all day long on their site http://601vote.wordpress.com/.

They are posting election issues that have come into the call center. If you have any issues voting, or if you hear of anyone with any issues, tell them to call 1-888-601-VOTE!!!