MSinformed 2007: Election Coverage

Today we shall start a new tradition. I will make the official Web-land endorsements for the current election. Like many of my entries, some of my picks are well reasoned and some are just based on a whim/good commercial. Endorsed candidates are in bold.

Please pardon any typos, I am not going to edit this post b/c it took too long to write.



Governor:

Haley Barbour- Haley is the incumbent. He has overseen a boom in outside investment in Mississippi that is unparalleled in my life time. He also brought Mississippi through its most difficult time since the civil rights movement- Katrina. Its his 9-11 but unlike Gulliani, Barbour is milking it like the consumate politician he is. Barbour's biggest knocks are that he founded the most successful lobbying firm in Washington and he vetoed the cigarette/grocery tax thing. As far as the lobbying firm, he has all of his money still associated with them in a blind trust meaning no matter what happens there he cannot effect his money. His connections as a Washington power broker are a plus for the state. I do not agree with his veto of the cigarette/grocery tax, but he ran initially saying he would not raise taxes. So he only did what he said he would. That rhetoric is absent from this campaign.





John Arthur Eaves- What can I say? He is running the best campaign he can. If you cannot run on your record, spew some biblical nonsense. His basic platform is that he loves Jesus and Jesus loves him. So if you love Jesus, you should love him. It will work on people whose faith blinds them to any reason. Prayer will never be allowed in public school again. GET OVER IT! He may have some other planks to his platform, but his biblically based rhetoric overpowers them.


Lt. Governor

Phil Bryant- Phil served as Auditor for a number of years and received pretty good reviews. Everyone that I know who has interacted with Bryant while he was auditor believe he was easy to work with and did his job very well. He is among the most respected politicians in the state. His biggest knock against him is that he was state auditor when the beef plant stuff went down. But those who live in glass houses should not throw stones. By that I mean, everyone in office when the beef plant thing went down has mud on their boots.


Jamie Franks- Franks looks like he is about 12 years old. Looking at his website, I agree with many aspects of his platform. His platform does not seem as complete as Phil Bryant's. Franks has been a member of the House of Representatives for 12 years so he is obviously doing something right as far as his constituents are concerned. In this case it really comes down to the positive image of Bryant's ability to work with others and his effectiveness.


Attorney General

Jim Hood- in opposition to Bryant, Hood seems to have a fairly negative image. Many people feel like he was stirring up trouble with the Edgar Ray Killen trial. (He did certainly use it as a photo op). He has also gotten some flack for settling law suits for pennies on the dollar and the attorneys hired to pursue the claims have ties to his fundraising. Well what do you want me to say? He is a democrat. He may have some shady dealings but he is the best candidate. He has a very strong victim rights program and a totally sweet haircut. Plus he has done right by me, so I will support him.


Al Hopkins- I am not really sure why it matters that he only tried cow and pig cases. The AG is an administrator not a lawyer anyway. Hopkins has served his country and his state since 1965 as a member of the guard. This devotion cannot be understated. But, I cannot seem to find anything he stands for. He seems to just stand against Jim Hood. That will not earn my august endorsement.


Secretary of State

Delbert Hosemann- His commercials are funny and I don't really think the Secretary of State matters. So that means he gets my endorsement. Secretary of State oversees elections and consumer protection. I think any candidate would be for legit elections and consumer protection.


Rob Smith- He has some things going for him. First of all, he has served the state for a number of years as a member of the state legislature. Secondly, he looks like Art Garfunkel. Maybe if he did a commercial with Paul Simon, I would re-think. Until then hold the parsely, sage, rosemary, and time.


State Auditor

Stacey Pickering- He is a Pickering and he is from Laurel... Where have I heard this one? Other than the fact that his cousin (I assume) is a member of the US House I don't seem much happening here. I think he will probably win for three reasons: 1) he looks like a guy you want to elect 2) his name 3) he is Republican. However, I have looked at his platform and his plans for the State Auditor's Office and I am not impressed. He calls his platorm the "Contract for Accountability." It is pretty vague. He has goals, but not really any information on how he plans to achieve them.

Mike Sumrall- This guy is a big fat slob. He has said he probably could not pass the CPA exam. He is trying his best not to win. However, looking at his website, he seems to have some very practical ideas on how to increase the effectiveness of the State Auditor's Office. His platform is very nuts and bolts and does not have a catchy title like "Contract for Accountability." But, it does seem that he has a plan to make the office more efficient.

Treasurer

Vote for Tate Reeves, although I don't really like him, and I voted for his opponenet last time. O'Hara pops up every election and runs for something and then disappears into whatever hole he crawled out of. This is a choice between two poor candidates.

Insurance Commissioner

Mike Chaney- Hey he shares his name with one of the most despised people in the entire nation... Mike Vick. HAHA. He and Anderson basically have the same views on the same issues. Vote Republican on this one because the Democrats fought tort reform which raised insurance rates for everyone.

Gary Anderson- He should be the incumbent Treasurer, but in 2003 the state made the wrong choice. Now Gary is just trying to get a piece of the pie. He claims he does not take any contributions from insurance. That could be a plus.

Agriculture Commissioner

Les Riley- he is running on the Constitution Party Ticket. His platfomrm sounds pretty good at first... then he goes nuts. Apparently, God plays a major role (or atleast should) in the Department of Agriculture. God makes rain, not policy.

Ricky Cole- He is the former leader of the Mississippi Democratic party and was run out of the post after the 2003 elections. If he runs the Department of Agriculture that well, we are all in trouble.

Lester Spell- Perhaps, more than anyone in the state government, he has beef on his hands. He was Ag. Commissioner when the Beef Plant stuff happened. According to the Clarion-Ledger he has taken no responsibility for it. Again though, everyone in office the last term had some involvement with the beef plant. He has been Ag. Commissioner since 1996, and I see no real reason to think that should change. Oh yeah and Boys' State City of Spell Best City 1998 respect!