Here's to the losers...

We had a congressional run-off here in MS yesterday. The winner on the GOP side will win by a landslide in November. Essentially, we have a new congressman to replace the outgoing congressman Chip Pickering.

Thoughts.

• I have felt sorry all week for Charlie Ross, last night's vanquished. He is one of the best state legislators in the nation. Period. Smart, savvy, insightful. But I knew this would happen.
  
  
• The other guy was more likeable with a better ground game.
  
  
• Charlie graduated from Harvard. Served his country as a pilot. Been a man of one wife. Good family. Great lawyer. Incredible track record as a lawmaker.
  
  
• He must feel sick.
  
  
• I know he feels sick, because it feels like death to want two things as badly this year as Charlie wanted them - lieutenant governor and now congressman - and to be ready for the moment by your awesome history and...lose. Not even close, really. Either time.
  
  
• Here's to the guys who prepare, serve, run and lose (and for reasons that feel inexplicable to them). Politics is hard stuff. Thanks for taking it on, Charlie.
  
  
• One more thing. No one analyzing the race will say so today, but Charlie lost in some substantial measure to his voting for bringing casinos 800 ft. on-land. He had the foot of the governor firming in the middle of his back, of course, but that position can't win in the dead center of the buckle of the Bible belt - Rankin County and surrounding third congressional district area.
  
  
• There were essentially no other positions that Gregg Harper and Charlie Ross disagreed on. It cost Charlie Don Wildmon's endorsement (powerful stuff, as most elections will attest) and mine (not powerful stuff, believe me - although I do have a microphone that reaches fifteen stations across Mississippi and beyond). It cost Charlie the religious right. But sans that vote on casinos, I don't doubt for a minute that Charlie would be congressman-elect this morning.
  
  
• Pity.
  
  
• Here's to you, friend. One of the most talented politicians and legislators Mississippi ever said "no" to. Time doesn't heal all wounds, but it makes political loss easier. God bless.
  

About Gregg Harper, former guest host of the Matt Friedeman Show

This letter from David Landrum:

Dear Friends and Supporters,

Over the past 5 months, I have campaigned throughout the entire 3rd Congressional District and spent time with some wonderful people. I have also had the opportunity to campaign with all the candidates who initially ran in the Republican Primary.

Throughout the Primary, I have had the opportunity to see firsthand the character and motivation of each candidate. Now that we did not make it to the runoff, I believe I should let you know what I have seen on the campaign trail.

Throughout the debates, forums, and joint appearances, one of my opponents stood out of the crowd. This candidate has the convictions, passion, and the heart to serve the people of the 3rd District, which I think is vital for our next Congressman. This candidate has run a clean campaign and has refused to participate in the typical mudslinging or personal attacks used by other campaigns - either through television commercials or through word of mouth. I respect this candidate as a man of faith with a servant's heart.

That is why, in the Republican Runoff on April 1st, I am going to be supporting Gregg Harper for Congress and I humbly ask for your consideration to do the same. I have talked with Gregg about the issues that matter to me, and I feel confident he will address these issues as our next Congressman.

If you would like to help Gregg by volunteering for his campaign, donating to his campaign, or if you would just like more information, you can visit his website at www.greggharperforcongress.com or you can call his office at (601) 420.2211.

Again, thank you for your support during our campaign.

Sincerely,

David Landrum

Scruggs: Guilty

So says, Scruggs.

Pickering's most memorable moment

From: Perry, Brian
Sent: Thursday, February 07, 2008 9:05 AM
Subject: Pickering on his most meaningful experience in Congress

Chip Pickering sat down with the Madison County Journal last week and I expect we’ll see additional coverage, but I wanted to share this editorial appearing in the Neshoba County Democrat and the Madison County Journal this week. During the interview, Jim Prince asked Chip what his most memorable moment in Congress had been, and Chip talked about the memorial service for Joshua Ladd and Matthew Stovall killed in Iraq. I spoke with Jim later and he said that memorial event was very powerful for him as well and that he thinks of Ladd and Stovall every time he sees his press run and remembers that his freedoms aren’t free. I mentioned to Jim that he could see how it impacted Chip during the interview, that you could see the emotion in Chip’s face and eyes. Jim said he didn’t see, because he was unable to look up as Chip was speaking and retain his own emotional composure. Here are the editorials.

Neshoba Democrat: Remembering Matt and Josh
http://www.neshobademocrat.com/main.asp?
SectionID=7&SubSectionID=302&ArticleID=16089&TM=35547.84

Madison County Journal: American heroes
http://www.onlinemadison.com/main.asp?SectionID=3&SubSectionID=3&
ArticleID=19836&TM=35590.7

Brian Perry
Communications Director
Congressman Chip Pickering (Miss-3)

Whoa! on McCain...

From Mr. Pork, himself:

But others have outright rejected the idea of a McCain nomination and presidency, warning that his tirades suggest a temperament unfit for the Oval Office.

"The thought of his being president sends a cold chill down my spine," Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), also a senior member of the Appropriations panel, told the Boston Globe recently. "He is erratic. He is hotheaded. He loses his temper and he worries me."

The anti-Musgrove web site

Ouch.

Is one of Mississippi's American heroes at risk?

They made a movie out of Bobby Delaughter. Ghosts of Mississippi. Have a signed poster in my office. But my, how this drags the name through some mud.

Trent, and Chip

Sen. Trent Lott has resigned to make money, we all suspect. Rep. Chip Pickering is the choice of many to take his place.

Questions: Is it good for Mississippi when a guy like Lott decides to quit in the middle of term for personal reasons - like cashing in? Is that ethical? Is there another reason he might have quit?

And Chip. Can he legitimately take the position of senator now that he has said he didn't want to be a Congressman, hence resigning, because he wanted to spend time with that wife and those five boys? Does THAT lack integrity?

Mississippi election predictions - got 'em?

Course you do! Tell us about them!

John Arthur Eaves on the program today

What do you think of the Eaves for Governor campaign?

Article in the New York Times about John Arthur Eaves (with quote from Don Wildmon)

Here.

Barbour family and friends profiting from Katrina?

So says this Bloomberg report which lifts some material from our radio interview with the governor.

The new Eaves ad

Barbour, Franks receiving substantial dollars from casinos

Imagine that...

• Haley Barbour (R) candidate for Governor

02.12.07 $1,000.00 from Isle of Capri Casinos

03.02.07 $20,000.00 from MS Band of Choctaw Indians (operate casino and want approval for another)

04.27.07 $1,000.00 from Beau Rivage Casino

04.27.07 $1,000.00 from Mirage Casino

04.27.07 $1,000.00 from Gold Strike Casino

05.30.07 $1,000.00 to Beau Rivage Casino

05.30.07 $1,000.00 to Mirage Casino

05.30.07 $1,000.00 to Gold Strike Casino

-------------------

• Jamie Franks (D) candidate for Lt. Governor

03.27.07 $1,000.00 from Isle of Capri Casinos

03.21.07 $1,000.00 from Bobby Moak (D), gaming committee chairman and current candidate for House district 53

For the losers

It is hard to lose.

I have been close enough to a few contests across the years that I know how gut-wrenching it is to weather defeat in an election. Particularly if, like George Dale, you have been in office a while. Man, inside he is weeping. Alone in a room, probably outside, too.

Charlie Ross yesterday mustered, by sheer will, a "We are team!" response to defeat with Phil Bryant, Lt. Gov. Tuck and Gov. Haley Barbour looking on. It may seem a natural thing to do, but as Phil Bryant said yesterday on the radio, that is a very difficult thing to do. Hats off to Charlie for being so graceful in defeat. My favorite line of Ross' was something like "The providence of God has shone through the vote of the people. I accept their wisdom tonight." Nice.

If you enter into politics, you must eventually figure out how to handle defeat. And never say "It is not personal." I heard a bunch of people try with with Ray Mabus when he was thumped by Gov. Fordice. Getting whupped at the voter's booth is the most personal thing of all.

Kudos to all who ran. It is what makes America great. And we weep with you today.

Predictions revisted

For what it is worth...what I predicted and what actually happened...and might yet happen.

"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."

I was right. And PB will thump Jamie Franks in the general. Phil Bryant will see to that, and Haley Barbour knows that his next four years are relatively worthless without a lieutenant governor that he can see eye to eye with. The Barbour legacy is at stake, and the governor will find plenty of ways to help his Lt. Gov. nominee win.

"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...

This wasn't a prediction but I brought it up when Haley was on the radio Monday evening. I still think it was a classless moment for the governor and told him so. He said that when Eaves mentioned somewhere that his wife Angel would restore honor and dignity to the mansion that was a slap at his First Lady, and so...gloves off. Haley has lived in the South longer than I, but attacking wives seems beneath one of the best governor's in the state and a supposed southern gentleman even if he views it as "and eye for an eye, an insult for an insult."

"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."

Hood wins, I suspect. But look for Hopkins to give him a run. This is the closest thing to a sure thing the Dems get and might be there only statewide elected office come January.

"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."

Pickering in a landslide this November.

"Tate Reeves. Treasurer. Yawn."

Still, yawn. But a state-wide elected official nonetheless.

"'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."

Hosemann wins in the general. Watch for a few more good ads written by the same guy in Dallas.

"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."

I surprised even myself with this prediction. As I said on the election coverage of WAPT/16 George Dale must be the most frustrated man in Mississippi tonight given his Katrina woes, Dickie Scruggs belligerence and Democratic party snubs.

And Chaney wins the general because of the "sad but true statewide election disability" Mr. Anderson has.

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

I was wrong. Thought I might be. Lester Spell looks to be dodging bullets. Can he defeat Rickey Cole? Yes. The GOP is on a roll.

Negative overreach?

Just went out with a friend for lunch. He told me that he had about decided on the Lt. Gov. race but then changed his mind over the Ross negativity. Too much. Way too much.

Have to wonder how many others are thinking that thought.

White boys rap and dance for Lee Yancey.

Apparently couldn't get Lee Yancey to play the part of...Lee Yancey. Senate District 20 to take Charlie Ross' place. Watch it if you can. Good, cute. Rapping is better than the, uh, dancing...

Governor Barbour on The Matt Friedeman Show this eve

5-6 on your AFR station - 92.5 in the Jackson area. Or click here to hear it on line.

BTW, the state wide elected office candidates that called in (and all were invited on-air to do so, these were the ones that called and were thus interviewed):

Governor: John Arthur Eaves, Jr.

Lt. Gov race: Phil Bryant, Charlie Ross

State Auditor: Stacy Pickering

Secretary of State: Mike Lott, Delbert Hosemann

Agriculture Commissioner: Max Phillips, Leslie Riley

So says Southern Political Report on the Ross/Bryant race

Check it out. Looks like Charlie's negative advertising is working...it used to be a 20-25 point lead.

(8/3/07) State auditor Phil Bryant holds a 10-point lead over state Sen. Charlie Ross in the Mississippi Republican lieutenant governor’s primary race, according to an InsiderAdvantage/Majority Opinion survey.