Jackson Free Press

Tune in to hear a live broadcast of the debate between Gov. Haley Barbour and challenge John Eaves tonight at 7 p.m. on MPB radio. Feel free to comment on the debate here.

Previous Comments

ID

114765

Comment

Right now, Barbour is "parting the fog" about waivers for us.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-09-20T18:38:56-06:00

ID

114766

Comment

Asking Barbour now about his "trust." Barbour isn't answering the question about why he hasn't disclosed what he hasn't reported.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-09-20T18:44:12-06:00

ID

114767

Comment

He's talking about "record employment" instead of answering. the. question.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-09-20T18:44:43-06:00

ID

114768

Comment

Barbour, do you, or do you not own stock in the lobbying firm? Eaves: Governor, who do you serve?

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-09-20T18:46:04-06:00

ID

114769

Comment

Eaves: Why does he have to hide? Barbour: Saying he he is used to being attacked by "liberal media" and "left-wing magazines" in other places. He's not used to being attacked by "left-wing magazines" here, though, he said. (I gotta get that direct quote. I loved it to pieces.) LOL. Isn't that some admission? He's not used to real stories being written here in MIssissippi about him. Get used to it, governor. Get used to it. And you might as well put away the old saw about blaming the "liberal media" when you get caught with your hand in the cookie jar, or on the yacht. Folks, common sense tells you that if Barbour didn't still own stock in that lobbying firm, he would tell us. What is he trying to hide, indeed? It's remarkable to listen to him blame everything else rather than answer. the. damn. question. Whatever happened to that old Republican ideal of "personal accountability"?

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-09-20T18:49:31-06:00

ID

114770

Comment

By the way, is Bloomberg News "left-leaning"? Isn't interesting that he keeps saying that "Jackson" can't tell the Coast what to do. What doesn't he say Legislature? Is "Jackson" Barbour's new code word, being that some of his other ones have fallen out of favor?

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-09-20T18:59:12-06:00

ID

114771

Comment

Eaves' prayer schtick is annoying as always, and Barbour's prayer response was rather fascinating. In some ways, it was the smartest thing he said, but not the way he meant it. And I'm not sure it was the most solid way to comfort his radical-right base. It was hilarious to hear Barbour complain about something use a political wedge issue, though. I mean, he's the man who perfected the art of the wedge, as head of the RNC. Now it's turned on him. Ha! I still don't like the strategy, though. It means that they are both fighting for the same conservative voters, helping keep home more progressive and younger voters smart enough to actually understand that the Establishment clause protects religious freedom for Americans. They both sound like dumbasses up there pretending they don't know that. But at least Barbour admitted that he wants it to stay as it is. My overall take is that Barbour sounds a lot more scared than he should if he's in the position his supporters think. All the revelations, and his unwillingness to answer the basic questions about stock in the firm, make him sweat, as it should. For his part, Eaves sounds too relaxed and not quite passionate enough. He got some good points in, though, with this approach, and made Barbour's responses sound really bratty. These remarks will be fun to factcheck. If anyone has an easy transcript to e-mail, please do, being that we're buried in other stories. ladd (at) jacksonfreepress (dot) com. Night, all.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-09-20T19:16:04-06:00

ID

114772

Comment

He's not used to criticism on his home turf, eh. Just Google "Haley Barbour" and "Blind Trust" and see what you see—Adam's story wedged between Bloomberg's and the Washington Monthly. At some point, his "liberal media" excuse is gonna go belly up. Our suggestion: Just answer the question, Haley. Do you, or do you not, own stock in your (former?) lobbying firm that has benefitted from Katrina?

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-09-20T19:25:45-06:00

ID

114773

Comment

Hat tip to Yaller Dog, for quoting the JFP at length.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-09-20T19:26:41-06:00

ID

114774

Comment

After listening to the debate, I'm shocked that I will now actually vote for Barbour. His blind trust aside, his record speaks volumes and Eaves just didn't offer anything except his first act as Governor would be to require voluntary prayer at the beginning of the day in all schools. And of course the money quote came from Barbour in his closing statement: Now if you leave here thinkin' "you don't know what he would do as governor", I understand. Cause he dudn't know either. Thank you. Yeah, it says "dudn't" because, well you know Barbour has that country boy accent and speak. FYI, I recorded the whole thing. I'm sure MPB will have it online but if not, and you can host it, I'll give it.

Author

LambdaRisen

Date

2007-09-21T03:26:45-06:00

ID

114775

Comment

Sorry.. I reposted that here from the Shadow thread. Eaves didn't offer anything except requiring prayer in the schools. The rest of his time was throwing barbs at Barbour about the Blind Trust and about how Barbour takes money from everyone. Barbour on the other hand tossed out numbers left and right, had his facts. He did answer the Blind Trust by stating that the Democrat Attorney General questioned him on it and he told Ag to send it to the Ethics Commission, of which AG's brother heads. That got a good laugh from the crowd. Barbour then said the Ethics Commission didn't find anything unethical. Sorry to say, but Barbour ripped Eaves a new one the whole hour. Eaves sounded like a B-movie actor reading a script. Trust me that I am not a Republican but if Eaves can't do any better than he did last night, Barbour's got my vote. They're both Republicans anyway, except one paid his entry fee to the Democrat party.

Author

LambdaRisen

Date

2007-09-21T03:32:32-06:00

ID

114776

Comment

I am so sorry to hear about this- I had a friend who drove down for the debate- he proclaimed a solid Eaves victory. I knew not to believe him though- he can't get past his bias... I'm sticking with plan B, which is to write in my wife's name on the ballot. If the best the Democrats can do is to offer up another Republican then they don't really deserve my vote. I'm not automatically voting for anyone just because they have the letter "D" after their name.

Author

Rico

Date

2007-09-21T07:42:50-06:00

ID

114777

Comment

Lambda, I missed the beginning, but the part I heard doesn't match your description. Barbour spent much of that time not answering the question about his interest in the lobbying firm, and blaming everyone but himself for being in the mess. It sounded like him as chairman of the RNC trying to cloud the issue. I thought Eaves calmly pushed that issue well. However, I didn't hear much of real substance from either one, but as I said I missed the first part. It'll be intriguing to check the facts. It was a solid draw in the part I heard, with a slight edge to Eaves for calmly pushing the very vital issue about whether Barbour has lied, or told the whole truth, about his financial holdings, which could be at the basis of about everything he has done as governor here. But it is always remarkable to hear what impresses people. "Ripping someone a new one" because they're asking the right questions never impresses me, personally. Voting for someone because of their willingness to change the subject gets you people like, well, Bush and Melton.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-09-21T09:06:21-06:00

ID

114778

Comment

You can view the Eaves/Barbour Debate video (Parts 1, 2, and 3) here at the WLOX website. http://www.wlox.com/Global/story.asp?S=7108411

Author

blu_n_a_redstate

Date

2007-09-21T14:21:36-06:00

ID

114779

Comment

Groovy. Thanks, blu! Also, John Leek over at Cottonmouth posted a crib sheet of what was said.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-09-21T14:43:54-06:00

ID

114780

Comment

Thanks AGamma. Blu Here are AGamma627's comments from another thread: Blue I was at the debate. I say right now that I am an Eaves supporter for full disclosure. I also say, Haley was shaken or at least flustered at the debate. He turned bright red more than once and his hands actually were shaking after the blind trust issue came up. I am sure it was rage and you could see it in his expression and his comments he was mad. A couple of times it got to him and he got off track and just lashed out, then you could see him try to come back to message, but he certainly got upset and he lost his flow several times. As a side note, after the debate in the back, he chastised a reported (harshly) for not being ready enough then latter yelled at his staff. They were told to GET BACK TO THE OFFICE NOW ! STAFF MEETING. He was HOT and his blood pressure was soaring --AGamma627

Author

blu_n_a_redstate

Date

2007-09-22T13:18:01-06:00

ID

114781

Comment

But the only thing he said he WOULD DO, was his first act as Governor would be to require voluntary school prayer. Yes, he did talk about Kid Care but didn't tell us how much it would cost or how it would be paid for. Barbour pointed that our saying he and Hillary Clinton introduced their health care plans on the same day but the only difference was that Hillary was honest and said it would require raising taxes. Yes, he did say raise casino tax by 2% without mentioning anything else about it. The fact is, Eaves didn't offer anything concrete except prayer. He just kept on and on about Barbours blind trust. And it wouldn't surprise me if it was Eaves daddy that leaked the info about the blind trust but we won't ever know. I am not a Republican and for the most part, can't stand the Republican platform but in this debate, Haley trounced Eaves. Common case of experienced versus unexperienced, no doubt, but aside from Barbour's gaffe (not everyone believes he is wrong on it) on grocery/tobacco tax and his dismal human rights record, he's done a good job about the State's business matters.

Author

LambdaRisen

Date

2007-09-22T14:14:54-06:00

ID

114782

Comment

His first act "would be to require voluntary school prayer"? If it's 'required', how can it be 'voluntary'? And how does he reconcile requiring voluntary school prayer with the separation of church and state? I don't know whose name I'll be writing in, but I sure won't be voting for Eaves. Haley, as a Republican who supports this present administration, won't be getting my vote either.

Author

lucdix

Date

2007-09-22T17:08:32-06:00

ID

114783

Comment

Just write in "Cindy"- that will give her at least two votes...

Author

Rico

Date

2007-09-22T18:43:12-06:00

ID

114784

Comment

Or Sherman Lee Dillon or Elvis. Does anyone know who else will be running in the election? Are there any independent candidates?

Author

lucdix

Date

2007-09-22T19:07:17-06:00

ID

114785

Comment

Haley, as a Republican who supports this present administration, won't be getting my vote either. --lucdix Well, lucdix, just take a look at what this present administration, that Haley supports, is up to for '08. They know they can't win fairly, so of course, they resort to dirty tricks: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/22/opinion/22herbert.html?em&ex=1190606400&en=5dac0b87bfaf9dcc&ei=5087%0A

Author

blu_n_a_redstate

Date

2007-09-22T19:20:43-06:00

ID

114786

Comment

They know they can't win fairly Sorry. I should have said Republicans know they can't win that (Blue) state fairly.

Author

blu_n_a_redstate

Date

2007-09-23T06:36:53-06:00

ID

114787

Comment

I am not thrilled with H.B. but he has been a darn sight better than Musgrove who was hated even by members of his own party. JAE is crazy to be running to the right of Hagar the Horrible--voluntary school prayer is settled law and stirring the pot again for the Bible-thumpers and the know-nothings who never read the Bible or understand our constitution and the rights that it confers is nuts! I will either vote for H.B. (and hope that scandal sweeps him out), an independent, or maybe "Cindy."

Author

Turtleread

Date

2007-09-23T17:58:26-06:00