Ethics scrutiny into Bennie Thompson's travel continues

The Washington Post reported that a leaked report on ethics investigations in the U.S. House of Representatives indicates the probe into the travel of Reps. Charles B. Rangel (N.Y.), Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick (Mich.), Donald M. Payne (N.J.) and Bennie Thompson (Miss.), and Del. Donna M. Christian-Christensen (U.S. Virgin Islands) "appears to be ongoing, and the committee document gives no details about how far the investigation has progressed."

The members' official disclosure forms listed the New York Carib Foundation or Carib News Foundation, a nonprofit group affiliated with a New York-based newspaper, as the sponsor of the event. Because of that information, the ethics committee approved the trip before it occurred.

But an official with the National Legal and Policy Center, a conservative watchdog group, attended the 2008 event and came back with photos and other evidence suggesting that AT&T, Citigroup, IBM, Pfizer and Verizon may have played a role in sponsoring the conference.

The ethics panel also reportedly is scrutinizing a 2007 trip to Antigua and Barbuda that some of the same members took.

Under more stringent rules imposed in 2006, House members are not allowed to accept travel paid for by corporations, but they can take trips sponsored by nonprofit groups.

Rangel, who also is under investigation on several unrelated fronts, said this week that he has discussed the Caribbean trip inquiry with the ethics panel.

Milton Friedman on Capitalism

Thompson Wants to Protect Power

We're usually critical of U.S. Representative Bennie Thompson, but last week in a column for the Washington, D.C. newspaper Roll Call, he made some good points. He said:

Electric power is not only America’s economic lifeblood, but an essential element of our nation’s security. Businesses, chemical plants, banks, refineries, hospitals, water systems, grocery stores and military facilities all rely on electricity to operate. Our electric grid, in turn, increasingly relies on computer-based operating systems. Herein lies a unique homeland security challenge — how to protect the electric grid from failing, as a result of either intentional or unintentional events.

Today’s electric grid is very similar to the system that existed in the early part of the 20th century, with one critical difference: Computers are in charge. Our grid is highly dependent on computer-based systems. These systems are used to monitor and control sensitive processes and physical functions. When they were originally created, they were closed to the outside. To increase efficiency and save money, operators began connecting these systems to corporate networks and the Internet. Unfortunately, these connections also expose these critical systems to potential attacks online. Specifically, our reliance on electric power and the vulnerability of our interconnected system makes the electric grid a prime target for an adversary who seeks to cause catastrophic harm to our country. In fact, there is some evidence, according to a recently released publication, that cyberspies have penetrated the U.S. electrical grid and left behind software programs that could be used to disrupt the system. These malicious programs could do anything from briefly interrupting power delivery to destroying our nation’s large electric generating units.

Representative Thompson, as Chairman of Homeland Security, knows the threats to our electrical grid from foreign enemies. Such an attack not only turns out the lights, but it turns out the economy. It would also turn off Respond Mississippi...and we can't have that. We're glad to see he recognizes the importance of delivered power to our economy and hope he continues his efforts to ensure our electrical grid remains secure.

Malcolm Harrison's About Face: "I don't think it's important that you choose an African American"

It's funny how things change. Consider Malcolm Harrison attacking Governor Haley Barbour on his judicial appointments eight months ago.

"He has not appointed any African Americans for judge in any of his 20 appointments. It’s sad that he cannot believe an African American could do the job. African Americans are more than qualified to serve on the Mississippi Court of Appeals, as well as any other judicial appointment. In fact, Mississippi Court of Appeals Chief Judge Leslie D. King is an African American—at least he was last time I checked. There are qualified people who are available, but the governor has seen fit not to even consider an African American in these positions." - Malcolm Harrison, Jackson Free Press 2/11/2009

"We know there were qualified African-Americans who can serve on the judiciary, and why African-Americans have not been appointed or even considered makes no sense to us. The Republican Party in Mississippi doesn't believe diversity is important, especially not in the judiciary in Mississippi." - Malcolm Harrison, Associated Press 2/23/2009

Now that Governor Haley Barbour has appointed him to a circuit court judge position in Hinds County, Malcolm Harrison has changed his tune.

[Harrison] said race was never a part of his discussion with Barbour or the governor's staff. "In my conversations with the governor, he was serious about appointing the best person for the job," Harrison said. "I think it's important to take all opinions into account, but also have a diverse pool in which you choose the best qualified candidates. I don't think it's important that you choose an African American, but I do think it's important to consider everyone." - Clarion Ledger 10/28/2009

Most hard working, qualified people don't want to think they got a job because of anything other than their qualifications. They don't want a job just because they're black, or white, or male, or female. They want to know they got the job because they were qualified. I'm sure Malcolm Harrison feels the same way. Certainly, that is what the Barbour Administration is saying.

"[Harrison] was chosen for the judgeship based on his qualifications," Barbour spokesman Dan Turner told The Associated Press.

Here are a few more quotes by Harrison on his selection.

"Race was not an issue. The Magnolia Bar has a position. Me personally with my interview with Governor Barbour race never came up, not once. I thought the process was fair and balanced." - Malcolm Harrison, WLBT 10/29/2009

"Race was not an issue. During my interview with Gov. Barbour, race never came up, not once. I thought the process was balanced and fair.” - - Malcolm Harrison, WAPT 10/29/2009

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Obama Takes Credit For Katrina Recovery

We suspect the Nobel Peace Prize has gone to his head, because now the Obama Administration is taking credit for Mississippi's Hurricane Katrina Recovery. The Associated Press has this quote from White House spokeswoman Gannet Tseggai:

President Obama’s commitment to Mississippi’s recovery is demonstrated by his tireless work to cut through the bureaucratic red tape and improve coordination among federal agencies and local partners who have too-often failed to collaborate in the past four years. As a result, public assistance projects that had been stuck for years have moved forward since the start of the Administration.

It's one thing for President Obama to skip Mississippi, the place where Hurricane Katrina hit, and visit New Orleans, the place where levees failed and flooded the city; but, it's another thing entirely, to take credit for our recovery, the bulk of which belongs to the "local partners" the White House says "have too-often failed to collaborate" with the feds. We still have a lot of recovery to do, and Mississippi appreciates assistance from the federal government - both Democrat and Republican. But of all the people who want to take credit for what has been done, President Obama should not be pushing to the front of the line.

Bill Luckett? Mississippi Don't Believe It

With friends like this....we're big fans of Morgan Freeman - Unforgiven, Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, even Deep Impact and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. He is a great actor and entertainer. Today, he brought his entertainment to Mississippi politics.

Right of Mississippi has been following Bill Luckett's comedy of errors as right out of the gate he reportedly called non-Democrats "racists" and then blamed it on reporters. Now Luckett's business partner Morgan Freeman has described Mississippians as "mule-headed bunch of farmers" (which we think is a compliment compared to what Luckett said).

Thanks to the Associated Press for bringing us tonight's entertainment.