Gene Barton, "I am pro-choice."

Finally, a judicial candidate gives a straight answer on an issue of policy. Gene Barton told the Lafayette County Bar Association at a candidate question and answer luncheon, "I am pro-choice." He said you have to put your faith on hold. Sure, judicial candidates aren't supposed to prejudice themselves on matters that might come before the court. Sure, running in North Mississippi, announcing that you're pro-choice is not smart. But at least we know where Gene Barton stands. He stands with the "pro-choicers."

Mississippi Republican Party endorses Lamar, Pierce, Smith, Chandler

Yesterday, the Mississippi Republican party endorsed Ann Lamar, Randy Pierce, Jim Smith, and David Chandler for the Mississippi Supreme Court. From the release:

“These four individuals have demonstrated experience, integrity, fairness and a commitment to the Mississippi values the Republican Party supports,” said Republican Chairman Brad White.

In the Central District, the Republican Party endorsed Chief Justice Jim Smith for reelection. “As Chief Justice, Jim Smith has led the Supreme Court to timely hearings and has cleared judicial backlogs. With a proven record of fair leadership as Chief Justice, we endorse him for reelection.”

The GOP endorsed Chancery Judge Randy “Bubba” Pierce for the Southern District post currently held by Oliver Diaz. White said, “Judge Pierce represented his constituents with honor and integrity as Chairman of the Education Committee in the House of Representatives. The Democrats there started giving him the cold shoulder when he showed his independence and voted with his fellow conservatives for tort reform. And after being appointed by Governor Haley Barbour to the judiciary, Judge Pierce continues to demonstrate fairness, integrity, and a commitment to Mississippi values.”

“When Governor Barbour appointed Ann Lamar to the Supreme Court, he made a wise choice,” White said of the Republican’s endorsement in the Northern District, Place One. He continued, “As a prosecutor, Ann Lamar put criminals in jail. As a circuit judge she demonstrated fairness to all parties. Now she serves with distinction as the only woman on the Mississippi Supreme Court, and with her decisions she demonstrates integrity and a commitment to being fair and unbiased.”

For Post Two in the Northern District, the Mississippi GOP chose Appeals Court Justice David Chandler over the incumbent Chuck Easley. “There is no question, no doubt that David Chandler will make a better Supreme Court Justice than has Chuck Easley. Chandler’s professionalism and competence outshines Easley’s record in every respect,” White said.

In 1998, the Mississippi legislature changed election laws to require judicial candidates to be nonpartisan. In 2002, the federal court ruled in response to a case filed by the Mississippi Republican Party “that a state may not directly suppress core political speech of a political party concerning the merits of judicial candidates by prohibiting the party from endorsing or financially supporting judicial candidates.”

“Ever since the federal courts returned our freedom of political speech, the Mississippi Republican Party has made endorsements of judicial candidates. We will communicate our endorsements to Mississippians and encourage voters who agree with the principals of the Mississippi Republican Party to support and vote for these candidates,” White said.

The Beef Plant is Gone - But Plenty of Bull on Sale

Hat tip to Conservative Belle, we're laughing, too.

Biden Doesn't Approve of Obama Commerical

Maybe their new disclosure should be, "I'm Barack Obama and I approved this message." "And I'm Joe Biden, I don't, and I'm not really sure Barack does either."

Change We Can Bail Out

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Campaign Contributions (Source: OpenSecrets.org)

Barack Obama - Rank #2 - Amount $126,349
John McCain - Rank #62 - Amount $21,550
Joe Biden - Rank #217 - Amount $3,300
Sarah Palin - Rank (none) - Amount $0

Interestingly, Barack Obama used former Fannie Mae CEO James Johnson to help vet his choice for vice president. Johnson resigned from Obama's campaign due to favorable loan deals with Countrywide Financial.

Barack Obama Taps Former Fannie Mae CEO Jim Johnton to Help Choose Running Mate

Barack Obama advisor Jim Johnson quits under fire

Obama and Jim Johnson


Obama's Economic Advisor Franklin Raines

The Tort Bar's Comeback

John McCain, Thad Cochran, Roger Wicker...congressional and judicial races...for some it comes down to this, and that's why you see the trial lawyers working so hard to beat the good guys. "The Tort Bar's Comeback" (The Wall Street Journal: 16 September 2008)

As voters mull the stakes in this year's election, here's an issue that ought to ring alarms in the ears of serious people: tort reform. After 20 years of state and federal efforts to reform a runaway legal system, the trial bar is reviving the monster.

At the federal level, lawyers and law firms invested in 2006 more than $85 million to get pro-lawsuit Democrats elected. Congress's new leadership has begun a political repayment plan -- packing legislation with provisions to increase the number and size of lawsuits. So far, this effort has been largely stymied by President Bush's veto threat. The tort bar sees 2008 as the real prize; it has already thrown $107 million toward increasing Democratic majorities.

The trial barons are making more progress at the state level, as described in a report by the American Tort Reform Association. States had been making progress: New laws cleaned up venue requirements, reformed punitive and noneconomic damages, and enacted medical malpractice reform. So-called "judicial hellholes" like Texas and Mississippi have seen insurers return and premiums fall.

The trial bar is fighting back, with success. In last year's legislative session, Michigan lawmakers proposed repealing safeguards for prescription drug providers; Maryland legislators wanted to revoke medical liability reforms; and Florida's legislature entertained the nullification of its joint and several liability reforms. The trial bar's big coup was in Colorado, where Democratic Governor Bill Ritter signed a law increasing previous limits on noneconomic damages.

Lawyers have also been laboring to create opportunities for more lawsuits, more money and more time to sue. Last year, Alabama saw legislation that would allow a tort claim to continue even after a plaintiff had died, while California proposed authorizing lawsuits for any violation of privacy. New Mexico and New Jersey passed laws authorizing citizens to file "false claims" suits on behalf of the state -- in effect turning private individuals into state bounty hunters.

Four states -- Colorado, Washington, Illinois and Texas -- considered proposals to increase the size of awards plaintiffs could claim, and with it attorneys' contingency fees. The tort bar pushed bills across the country to expand "consumer protection" damages and in at least three states to allow plaintiffs to claim damages for "emotional harm" when their pets are injured. In Maryland and Oregon, lawyers successfully shepherded new laws to extend the time in which plaintiffs could file lawsuits.

Plenty of legislatures remain wary of walking back down the highway of ruinous lawsuits, while many Governors say they'll veto this legislation. Still, the lawsuit industry is counting on discontent this fall to help flip a few more legislatures and governorships to pro-tort majorities, laying the groundwork for their proposals to become law. Tort reformers will have to push back.

Grover - Musgrover

Some blogs post pictures of sexy women or hot men in between political posts. We are G-Rated here at Respond Mississippi. At least today. We think this will help Ronnie Musgrove attract the youth vote, could they vote.

We Know Better

The Beef Plant Scandal. Con men give $70,000 to Ronnie Musgrove’s campaign. What did Musgrove do? He asked for more money - 495,000 total and the con men get a fat state contact. Result: 55 million of our tax dollars wasted, 400 jobs lost. The con men: convicted. Musgrove: he runs for the Senate. Ronnie Musgrove, we trusted him once. This time we know better.

Lipstick

There is a big difference between a hockey mom and a pig, Mr. Obama. Palin is a hockey mom and you are, well, impolite.



UPDATE: CBS has objected to perky Katie Couric being in the spot and sent their legal hounds after YouTube. But no fear, there is still free speech at JohnMcCain.com and you can see the spot here. The liberal media isn't even pretending anymore, they'll do anything for Barack Obama.

Do as I say, not as I did

In 2002, Governor Ronnie Musgrove approved a sample ballot that placed special elections at the bottom of the ballot. The ballot was prepared by a Democratic Secretary of State.

In 2008, Governor Haley Barbour approved a sample ballot that placed special elections at the bottom of the ballot. The ballot was prepared by a Republican Secretary of State.

The difference? In 2008, Musgrove is in that special election.

"What I saw today was an absolutely lawless decision of the secretary of state and the governor," said Tim Phillips, Musgrove's campaign manager.

So when Republican Haley Barbour does exactly what Democratic Ronnie Musgrove did, it becomes a "lawless decision"? I guess Ronnie Musgrove whines we should do as he says and not as he did.