More evidence the surge is working - the Dems are losing their composure

Interesting. It is notable as an insight that the Democrats don't want the surge to work and don't want to see our political and military objectives in Iraq and the broader Middle East to work. Against all expectations, they apparently are beginning to.

UPDATE: Another example of Dem dismay.

Don't like the politics of John Edwards, but I like this

And, a lot less pricey than what I do for my bride.

State wide election observations and predictions

In the GOP primary - Phil Bryant by a sizeable double digit margin in the GOP Lt. Gov. primary. Congrats to Charlie Ross for a formidable State Senate tenure. Sad news that he will now have to go. And PB will defeat Dem Jamie Franks in the general, although not without sweating. Maybe profusely.

What the heck is Haley Barbour doing (see Neshoba speech) personally insulting John Arthur Eaves, Jr., and then continuing to mention him in his address (the former not scripted although the latter was on the page before him)? Is there some poll somewhere that says...

GOP awfully excited about Al Hopkins taking on Jim Hood for AG in the general. Long way to go and a short time to get there for Al. But he has raised the money to get the job started.

Stacey Pickering (GOP) in a walk for State Auditor all the way through the general. Great guy in his own right, but names help, too.

Tate Reeves. Treasurer. Yawn.

"Englebert" Hosemann for Secretary of State on the GOP side. And if he keeps up a substantive campaign and commercials that visually take him outside of NE Jackson...he will win it all.

No feel for Insurance Commissioner on the Dem side. I'll predict Gary Anderson for no good reason than he is supposedly a great guy with solid credentials. And expect Mike Chaney to beat him in the general if he wins because of race (a sad but true statewide election disability). And George Dale would beat Chaney if Dale wins.

Max Phillips for Ag. Commissioner. And wins the general, too.

Great news from the - get this! - NYTimes

Michael O’Hanlon and Kenneth Pollack, both of the Brookings Institution, have often been vehemently against Bush and his work in Iraq. Until now. They just got back from that beleaguered nation, and they have this to say:

Here is the most important thing Americans need to understand: We are finally getting somewhere in Iraq, at least in military terms. As two analysts who have harshly criticized the Bush administration’s miserable handling of Iraq, we were surprised by the gains we saw and the potential to produce not necessarily “victory” but a sustainable stability that both we and the Iraqis could live with.

“[T]he surge cannot go on forever,” they say, “But there is enough good happening on the battlefields of Iraq today that Congress should plan on sustaining the effort at least into 2008.”

This good news isn’t from some wacko conservative rag. It’s from the New York Times.

Posted by Harrison Scott Key on Jul 30, 07 02:42 PM on the WorldMagBlog

Legislator of the Year

Received this news release from the Ross campaign for Lt. Gov. It is great news for Charlie. What is sad is that after next Tuesday he will have no future career as a Mississippi legislator owing to his lack of name recognition, his unexciting personality and his work for the pro-gambling forces of MS in the post-Katrina legislative session. The latter kept the religious right from jumping on board, and thus Mississippi loses one of its most talented conservative politicians.

July 30, 2007

Mississippi State Senator Charlie Ross Honored as "Legislator of the Year" by Peers at National Gathering of State Legislators

(Philadelphia, PA)- Mississippi State Senator Charlie Ross (District 20) was honored as the 2007 "Legislator of the Year" by his peers at the 34th Annual Meeting of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) in Philadelphia on Friday, July 27.

This award goes to state legislators who are ALEC members in good standing and have distinguished themselves by advancing, introducing and/or enacting policies based on the fundamental Jeffersonian principles of free markets, limited government, federalism and individual liberty.

"Senator Ross has been at the forefront of pursuing policy solutions based on Jeffersonian principles and fighting for conservative values in sometimes difficult situations," Said Missouri State Representative and an ALEC National Board Member, Jane Cunningham on presenting the award.

Charlie Ross currently serves as Senator from District 20 in the Mississippi Senate. District 20 is comprised of parts of Madison and Rankin Counties. In the Senate, he serves as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, and is a member of the Constitution, Elections, Environmental Protection, Executive Contingent Fund, Finance, Insurance, and Veteran and Military Affairs committees.

In 2004, as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Charlie drafted the comprehensive Tort Reform Bill and was the leader in the Senate in the successful fight to pass the bill.

"I am honored to receive an award from one of the strongest conservative groups in the nation," Ross said. "ALEC fights for our conservative values through every State Legislature in the nation, and I am proud to have the opportunity to stand with them in the Mississippi Senate."

The campaign commercials: Gov.

The campaign commercials: Lt. Gov.

Get a load of these...

Verbatim speeches at Neshoba County Fair

John Arthur Eaves

Haley Barbour

Has Haley Barbour had a lower moment?

Eaves got under Haley's skin, right where he wants to be.

After introducing his wife, Marsha, to the packed pavilion, the governor lobbed an insult toward John Arthur Eaves Jr.

"I got my trophy wife the first time," said Barbour, sparking cheers among supporters who waved blue campaign signs and sipped water with the name "Haley."

Eaves, who married his second wife, Angel, a year ago, said after the speech that Barbour's comment was a "style of Washington politics."

"It's the politics of division," Eaves said. "It's the politics of personal attacks."

Angel Eaves said little in response. "I can't and still be a lady about it."

Are you more or less likely to vote for somebody because they wear buttons that say "Be kind to casinos!"

The Sun Herald endorsement of Charlie Ross.