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RZR Computer
Chip??? Congressman Chip Pickering is celebrating the recent United States Supreme Court ruling that upheld the Children's Internet Protection Act that he authored and sponsored in the House of Representatives. He called the ruling a "victory for our Constitution and for common sense protections of our children in libraries and schools." Three previous laws passed by Congress seeking similar restrictions had been overturned by the Supreme Court, but Pickering's legislation was crafted under definitions and principles handed down in those rulings to withstand the Constitutional challenge. The act requires public libraries and public schools that take federal funds to install filters preventing the access of pornographic materials on Internet connected computers.
Vice President Cheney arrived at Keesler Air Force Base mid-morning and greeted families of service men and women who were involved in Operation Iraqi Freedom. At the luncheon, Haley Barbour briefly introduced the Vice President saying that his friendship with Cheney went back as far as 25 years when Cheney was chief-of-staff for President Gerald Ford at the White House. Barbour praised Cheney as being the most capable and qualified partner that any President could have. Barbour also noted that Cheney was selected by Bush to be his running mate in the 2000 election, not for political reasons, but for the purpose of forming a strong governing administration of the most qualified individuals, regardless of whether they came from a state that had electoral vote implications. Cheney stated his strong support for Barbour’s
campaign in the first lines of his remarks, expressing full confidence
in Haley Barbour Cheney’s remarks also touched on the need to stop frivolous lawsuits so healthcare is available and accessible for Mississippians. He talked about the need to get America’s economy back on track by lowering taxes to spur economic growth. Cheney reiterated the Bush doctrine, saying that countries which harbor or support terrorist organizations will be held accountable just as the terrorists themselves will be held accountable. To hear the Vice-Presidents entire speech go to www.magnoliareport.com/Cheney.htm. One of the highlights of the lunch entertainment program was a talk given by Craig Ziemba about his experience as a pilot in America’s military or armed forces. Ziemba just recently returned to his hometown of Meridian after flying missions in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Ziemba talked about the new energy and boost in morale that America’s armed forces have because of President Bush and Vice-President Cheney. Ziemba was well received by the audience when he stated that with Presdient Bush, members of our military now cheer for our Commander-in-Chief not simply out of respect for the office but because they genuinely support the President. As a pilot during the 1990’s, Ziemba
believed that America’s Armed Forces were experiencing low morale.
Ziemba talked about how He knew America could do better now he believes
America is doing better and compared his experience in the military to
Mississippi’s current situation were if a leadership void exists.
The pilot from Meridian stated his belief that Haley Barbour can provide
strong leadership for our state and make us proud just as President Bush
and Vice President Cheney have made America proud. Mississippi’s
Most Eligible Bachelor Former Governor Kirk Fordice and his wife Ann Creson filed for divorce March 9th citing irreconcilable differences. Fordice and Creson were married on February 26th, 2000 soon after his divorce from Pat Fordice, one of Mississippi’s most popular first ladies ever and Fordices’ wife of 44 years. Fordice and Creson had been high school sweethearts years ago in Memphis. Shortly after Fordice wrecked his vehicle on Hwy 55 South near Grenada, news surfaced that Fordice had been spotted in a Memphis restaurant earlier that evening with a woman who was later identified das Creson. Months later, Fordice was photographed returning from France. Relatively soon after Fordice and Creson were married, rumors circulated that the former governor was unhappy.
Newspaper endorsements which will be forthcoming during the weeks prior to the primary and general election can be a double edged sword, especially for Republicans. The GOP faithful often view the media with suspicion to begin with and usually don’t agree with what they write on their editorial pages. When a paper Republicans view as left of center endorses a particular candidate it’s not necessarily to their advantage. Democrats tend to have less of a problem with it except in the rare instances when an editorial page speaks with a conservative voice. Editorial pages have also marginalized themselves in past elections. Case and point was in the 2002 Congressional race between Congressman Chip Pickering and former Congressman Ronnie Shows. The Clarion Ledger editorial page consistently tilted toward Shows in the months leading toward Election Day but then chose to endorse Pickering in the final days of the race after a Stennis Institue poll showed Pickering way out front. MAE Endorsement Curiously, the MAE did not endorse incumbent Lieutenant Governor Amy Tuck, even though Tuck was instrumental passing in the teacher pay raise package that will finally bring Mississippi educators to the Southeastern average in teacher pay. The MAE has had a cool relationship with Tuck dating back to at least 1999. That year, the MAE had high hopes the candidate they endorsed in the Democrat primary, Tuck’s primary challenger, Senator Gray Ferris of Vicksburg. The MAE then shocked most political watchers by endorsing Tuck’s Republican opponent, State Senator Bill Hawks. Oddly enough for the teachers’ group, Tuck’s pro-education stances haven’t quite healed the wounds leftover from 1999. MMA endorsement Coast
Debate Are
You Being Served? Roberts’ announcement came in his hometown of Pontotoc on June 7th. The former State Supreme Court Justice and 1999 candidate for governor is trying to define himself as the “man in the middle” in the race for lieutenant governor. In his announcement, he largely avoided talking about specific policies, preferring to stick to broader themes. He played to his Democratic base by praising the diversity of Mississippi. “We are a state of diversity, and we must all work together,” said Roberts. “Diversity is a strength, not a disadvantage.” Blackmon made her announcement at the state capitol on June 24th to a crowd of about 150 onlookers. The State Senator and partner in the hugely successful Blackmon and Blackmon law firm struck a tone of a political moderation in her announcement speech. “We need accountability from our schools that our students are learning, and our tax dollars are being put to their highest and best use,” said Blackmon. “We need to do everything possible to make sure our schools are safe.” As reported in the last Magnolia Report,
both of the leading Democratic candidates for lieutenant governor have
their own poll numbers showing momentum for their respective campaigns.
Jim Roberts campaign’s poll showed undecided leading the race with
48 percent while Roberts outdrew Blackmon 35 percent to 15. Blackmon’s
poll, which she released immediately after Roberts, showed her leading
Roberts in a head-to-head match-up 10 points (31%-21%). Magnolia
Report Polls Have
elections become too expensive? In
which primary will you vote on August 5th?
Interestingly, during the 83 day special session last year, Tuck took the lead on enacting the most significant tort reform legislation in Mississippi in years. Soon afterwards, she changed her party affiliation from Democrat to Republican. Tuck has repaid $100K of the loan and says she intends to have the balance paid off in the near future. Click here to listen to the press conference held Wednesday, June 25, 2003 Although the $510K is a lot of money to
borrow for a state-wide campaign, it is not unusual for candidates to
take out loans if they are not independently wealthy. Below is a breakdown
of the other “major” players who took out loans or loaned
personal money to finance their campaigns. Jim Roberts 6/10/1999 (Periodic) 7/09/1999 (Periodic) 07/27/1999 (Pre-Election) *Roberts took a total of $953,000 in loans that relatives eventually paid off. Bill Hawks Eddie Briggs 7/15/99 - $50,000 (Personal Loan) 7/30/99 - $60,000 (Personal Loan) |
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due to Barbour’s extensive political and business experience in
the past 28 years. 
Lieutenant Governor candidates Barbara Blackmon and Jim Roberts officially
threw their hats into the ring when they qualified for the office before
March 1st. Both though recently made it “official” again by
announcing their intentions to run in public announcements. 
In
a Wednesday, June 25, 2003, Clarion Ledger article, Scruggs attributed
his support of Tuck to the pro-tort reform position of Tuck’s opponent,
State Senator Bill Hawks. Tuck at the time was a Democrat and Scruggs
was one of the chief contributors to Democratic candidates in Mississippi.
