Two New from NRSC

Devastate



Ronnie Musgrove Day

Kitchens: Pain and Suffering Caps "Unfair"

Let there be no doubt, Jim Kitchens is a trial lawyer. He served on the American Trial Lawyers Association Board of Governors for 17 years. He served on their Executive Committee. Trial lawyers all over the county know he will be on their side if he gets on the Supreme Court.

Jim Kitchens believes the medical malpractice reform the legislature passed in Mississippi is unfair. How do we know? He said so.

Jim Kitchens, a trial lawyer in Jackson, warned the committee that tampering with contingency fees charged by lawyers would ultimately hurt poor clients who couldn't afford to hire attorneys on an hourly basis. And, he said, capping how much a victim could collect for pain and suffering was unfair. - Commercial Appeal (June 21, 2002)

Tupelo Daily Journal Endorses Wicker

Today the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal endorsed Cochran, Wicker, Childers.

Wicker for Senate – Wicker, like Cochran, has proven that he understands the importance of securing federal discretionary spending producing jobs and prosperity that otherwise would go elsewhere. Some call it pork; we call it investment. He was an effective 1st District congressman who has stayed in close touch with his constituents and deserves a chance to prove he can carry that effectiveness into the Senate over the better part of a full term. Given the likely strengthened Democratic majority in the Senate, that may require a less party-oriented approach on Wicker’s part.

We have considerable respect for the accomplishments of Musgrove, especially as an education-oriented governor and lieutenant governor. But Wicker gets the nod on experience at both the federal and state levels and a proven ability to deliver in areas critical to the economic success of our region and state.

Pay to Proclaim

Conservative Belle has posted a number of campaign contributors to Ronnie Musgrove, who Musgrove then honored with a proclamation. Hey Ronnie, a receipt works just fine. You don't need to put the state seal on it! Conservative Belle: Sure, Ronnie Musgrove. We Believe You.

Barton's Balance: More Lawsuits

Can a candidate sue himself for political malpractice? I'm sure Gene Barton will look into that after the election. An article in today's Clarion Ledger describes Barton's balance:

There's no question there were too many frivolous lawsuits in Mississippi at one point, he said. The doctor his wife worked for as a nurse was sued 15 times, he said. "But now the pendulum has swung to the other extreme," Barton said. "I'm running to bring back balance."

Let's get this straight. Barton wants to take Mississippi back to when there were too many frivolous lawsuits? That's his idea of balance? No thanks.

Connecting Kitchens and Diaz

Jim Kitchens and Oliver Diaz are both running for the Mississippi Supreme Court. Diaz was acquitted of charges involving a judicial bribery scheme in which trial lawyer Paul Minor, former chancery court judge Walter W. Teel, and former circuit judge John H. Whitfield were convicted. Also wrapped up in that trial was Oliver's wife Jennifer Diaz. He is proud to have been acquitted, she pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of tax evasion. Her attorney was Jim Kitchens who said she, "did what she did for her family.” Just an interesting connection.

Gene Barton's Team: Bennie Thompson, NAACP, Barack Obama

Gene Barton already announced he is pro-choice. We don't need to wait till he is on the bench to find out that opinion. Now we know how liberal he really is. In Greenwood, Gene Barton said he had been endorsed by the U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson and the Mississippi Democratic Party. He said the NAACP has not endorsed him but is helping his campaign with resources. And Obama?

Barton also linked his campaign to that of Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama.

“In fact — this was before I got in the race — I was going to put all of my energy into Obama’s campaign,” he told the Democratic crowd to sustained applause.

He said his support for Obama early on had his neighbors talking.

“They said, ‘Gene Barton, he’s got an Obama sign in his yard. Nobody else has one in the whole county,’” Barton said.

Barton then said Obama was “very worthy of the office” of president before adding, “But I’m not supposed to endorse anybody. I still have an opinion. It is hard to shut me up.”