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A Liberal Praises Haley Barbour

Ellen Ratner calls Haley Barbour a Katrina Hero

As one of the almost million volunteers who went to help after Hurricane Katrina (about one out of every 230 adults in the United States) I have seen the devastation and recovery first hand. At first it seemed totally unbelievable, as if the country had moved from first world status to third world status in twenty-four hours. Basics such as clean water and soap, luxuries in places like poverty ridden Sudan were not available. People were stuck in the Superdome without a way out. This, I thought could not be America.

What we learned from Hurricane Katrina is that good leaders become great leaders and others are shown to be empty suits. It also became clear that government has a job to do but only local communities can implement those tasks. Locals know who needs what and how to cut through the bureaucracy. They also can hinder response (such as zoning out housing solutions) but in general it is the best line of action and defense.

I have written about Gov. Haley Barbour several times but I really can't write enough about what he did after the storm. I knew Barbour from his days as RNC Chair and to say that our politics are different would be an understatement. However, he ran the storm response like FDR ran the recovery from the Great Depression. Mrs. Barbour went out all over the state without saying a word that she was the governor's wife and reported who needed what every night. Gov. Barbour responded by making sure local needs were being being met.

There were no political calculations on his part, it was just helping as needed. He has moved around the Gulf Coast as if he was just the good neighbor from across the street. I've been around politicians for 19 years as a reporter and Barbour is a master of being totally present to his citizens. It is a rare gift.

No, Barbara Blackmon is handicapped

WLBT following up on Jackson Jambalaya's post reported it was lobbyist and former state senator Barbara Blackmon driving the car parked in the handicapped spot. She faxed in a handicapped placard to WLBT but would not discuss it. JJ also has a shot of the car at the Hilton in a handicapped spot.

Ed Blackmon Handicapped?

We have been critical of Ed Blackmon when he failed to pay his taxes, and when he killed open meetings reform, when he championed secrecy, and generally as he has led the Party of No even when it comes to school bus safety for children.

But our prayers go out to him now because apparently he has been in an accident. That would be the only explanation we could think of for him stealing a handicapped parking spot from those who actually need it. Jackson Jambalaya has the photos of Blackmon's BMW (with his legislative tag clearly seen) parked in a handicapped spot at Bravo's on Friday. Of course, maybe it was someone else driving Ed Blackmon's car. Or even, someone else's car with Ed Blackmon's license plate. Or maybe its a plot of the vast right wing conspiracy.

Oppose the Ground Zero Mosque? Nancy Pelosi is looking for you.

Remember when the White House wanted Americans to snitch on each other and forward to flag@whitehouse.gov materials that opposed President Obama's health care plan?

Remember how "evil" to President George W. Bush were the terrorists on 9/11; but "evil" to Senator Harry Reid was questioning congressmen at town hall meetings?

Well, the latest attack on political dissent comes from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi:

"There is no question there is a concerted effort to make this a political issue by some. And I join those who have called for looking into how is this opposition to the mosque is being funded."

Roll Call: Black Caucus’ Institute attempts better ethics in Tunica this year

As we have blogged previously, The New York Times reported on the Congressional Black Caucus 2008 event in Tunica:

House rules, which prohibit lawmakers from taking multiday trips “planned, organized, requested or arranged by a lobbyist.”

It takes a little digging to find the role big companies with lobbyists played in sponsoring the Congressional Black Caucus’s four-day 2008 conference at a casino resort in Tunica, Miss.

Each of the 14 House members submitted a detailed agenda for approval to the ethics committee. It listed social events like a golf outing, but it also included serious topics like health care and global warming.

But there is something missing from the agenda sent to the ethics committee.

A different copy handed out to the caucus members is much the same — except for the line under each event that names a corporate sponsor. A workshop focused on health care included the words “Sponsored by Eli Lily,” the big drug company with a huge stake in health care legislation. Edison Electric Institute, an association of power plant owners, hosted the global warming seminar. Wal-Mart sponsored a clinic to teach lawmakers and other attendees how to skeet shoot; after the lessons came a competition sponsored by the International Longshoremen’s Association.

The NYT then said in an editorial:

Representative Zoe Lofgren, who leads the ethics panel, said that if nonprofit groups are being used “as a pass through” for corporate players, then “that is a fraud.” It looks that way to us.

Without admitting it did wrong, the Congressional Black Caucus and members of Congress were more careful this month in Tunica. Roll Call reports:

The Congressional Black Caucus Political Education & Leadership Institute took extra steps to ensure its annual policy conference in Mississippi last week complied with House ethics rules, according to Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) and an institute board member.

The effort comes a year after the nonprofit ran into criticism over corporate sponsorships listed on its itinerary and for giving free space to the American Gaming Association to host an industry forum.

Thompson, chairman of the CBC Institute board, received approval from the ethics committee for the event Aug. 9, two days before the conference started and nearly a month after he submitted forms seeking approval.

Thompson said the ethics approval process has become so arduous it requires Members to seek legal counsel to ensure compliance. And more lawmakers are picking up the tab for their own travel rather than having to interact with the ethics committee. Thompson estimated that about half of the Members who attended the policy conference opted to pay for their own travel.

“More and more Members will say, ‘I’m coming, but I’ll pick up my own expenses. I won’t go through this constant badgering by ethics,’” Thompson said.

Thompson was one of six CBC members who had to reimburse the government for the costs of two trips to the Caribbean. After an investigation, the committee found that the trips were largely paid for by for-profit corporations.

“There’s a reluctance to rely on ethics for advice anymore, and when Members of Congress have reluctance to rely on Congress for advice, that undermines the whole process,” Thompson said.

In order to get the ethics committee’s approval this year, the institute made sure to demonstrate that corporations and trade associations that contributed to the group did not control the agenda of the three-day event.

Roll Call reported in October 2009 on the forms a dozen CBC members filed with the House ethics committee in 2008 and 2009 seeking approval of their travel to the annual conference. The copy of the 2008 itinerary listed corporate sponsors for every aspect of the conference.

Capital City Young Republicans Kick-Off with Senator Roger Wicker

The Capital Area Young Republicans filed their national charter papers and kicked-off the club's activities with a visit by U.S. Senator Roger Wicker at Hal & Mal's in Jackson. Mississipp Republican Party Chairman Brad White introduced Wicker at the event.

The group "will foster active participation in the political process for conservatives ages 18 through 40 from Hinds, Madison, and Rankin Counties."

“I am pleased to announce the official establishment of the Capital Area Young Republicans, which will provide young adults with an opportunity to network with like-minded individuals in the Metro Area,” said Matt Allen, CAYR chairman. “As a young conservative, I realize the importance of engaging our elected leaders on issues that affect all of us, no matter what age. CAYR will provide a forum for individuals to come together to learn more about the Republican Party, candidates, and relevant news.”

According to its governing charter, the Capital Area Young Republicans will promote and encourage support for and participation in the Republican Party at the local, state, and national level; provide information about news, elections, candidates, and activity updates; and foster active participation in the political process, particularly among young adult in the tri-county area.

Jim Hood Doesn't Like The Topix(.com)

WTVA reports

Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood has joined attorneys general in several other states in a joint statement to Topix.com.

It focuses on how the internet message board handles posts that are considered abusive and inappropriate.

In a statement released Monday, Attorney General Hood said, "we are concerned about derogatory posts that are personal in nature."

I wonder if he means this one?

Topix.com: MS AG Jim Hood's Office Ignoring Crimes by Gov't and Clergy!

Or maybe this one?

Topix.com: AG pulled into Scruggs fray

Charlie Rangel: Mr. Tax-Law-Writing-Tax-Evader