http://www.statedesk.com/index.php/site/index/ en lwschaefer@gmail.com Copyright 2008 2008-09-23T20:00:00-06:00 Subscribe with My Yahoo!Subscribe with NewsGatorSubscribe with My AOLSubscribe with BloglinesSubscribe with NetvibesSubscribe with GoogleSubscribe with Pageflakes http://www.statedesk.com/index.php/site/judicial_races_turn_ugly_with_push_polls/ http://www.statedesk.com/index.php/site/judicial_races_turn_ugly_with_push_polls/#When:19:00:00Z According to the Clarion-Ledger, Attorney General Jim Hood is investigating several “push polls,” political smears that masquerade as telephone opinion polls, targeting Mississippi Supreme Court candidates. Third-party organizations have conducted push polls on Justice Chuck Easley, Justice Oliver Diaz and Crystal Springs laywer Jim Kitchens, who is vying for Chief Justice Jim Smith’s seat. Attorney General, Judiciary, Elections, Releases 2008-09-23T19:00:00-06:00 http://www.statedesk.com/index.php/site/supreme_court_rules_sample_ballot_is_illegal/ http://www.statedesk.com/index.php/site/supreme_court_rules_sample_ballot_is_illegal/#When:22:26:00Z The Mississippi Supreme Court ruled against Gov. Haley Barbour and Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann today in their appeal concerning the contested sample November ballot. Justice Jess Dickinsons majority opinion (PDF, 496 KB) stated that the sample ballot, which listed the U.S. Senate race between Roger Wicker and Ronnie Musgrove near the bottom, is illegal.  The Mississippi Supreme Court ruled against Gov. Haley Barbour and Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann today in their appeal concerning the contested sample November ballot. Justice Jess Dickinsons majority opinion (PDF, 496 KB) stated that the sample ballot, which listed the U.S. Senate race between Roger Wicker and Ronnie Musgrove near the bottom, is illegal. “With respect to placing on the ballot a United States Senatorial raceҗregardless of whether or not the race is a special electionthe statute’s wordsדThe titles for the various offices shall be listed in the following order"can have but one meaning,” Dickinson wrote. In deference to the separation of powers, the Court stopped short of actually ordering the governor and secretary of state to issue a revised ballot with the Senate race listed alongside other national elections, but Barbour and Hosemann are expected to comply with the Courtגs interpretation. LetӒs all take a deep breath this afternoon and see if everyone does the right thing, Sam Begley, attorney for plaintiff Trudy Berger, said, adding that Barbour and Hosemann are both members of the Mississippi Bar. ԓI have every confidence that they will follow the letter and spirit of the Supreme Courts ruling,Ҕ he said. Following the decision, Barbour issued a one-line statement, which read: “The Supreme Court has spoken; so be it.” Headline 2008-09-18T22:26:00-06:00 http://www.statedesk.com/index.php/site/ap_michigan_rep_asks_justice_dept_to_investigate_mississippi_ballot/ http://www.statedesk.com/index.php/site/ap_michigan_rep_asks_justice_dept_to_investigate_mississippi_ballot/#When:21:33:00Z The Associated Press is reporting that Rep. John Conyers, the Democratic chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, spoke out against Barbour’s sample ballot today. He repeated the charge that a ballot with the Wicker-Musgrove Senate race near the bottom will disenfranchise voters. Conyers called the sample ballot “a blatant violation” of the Voting Rights Act. Ironically, Barbour has made the same claim about the alternate ballot that Trudy Berger and Tomie Green have proposed, because it would constitute a change in voting procedure from the past practice of placing special elections at the end. MS Newspapers 2008-09-16T21:33:00-06:00 http://www.statedesk.com/index.php/site/wicker_musgrove_closer_than_1_month_ago/ http://www.statedesk.com/index.php/site/wicker_musgrove_closer_than_1_month_ago/#When:20:49:00Z Daily Kos posted new poll numbers on the Wicker-Musgrove race yesterday, and they show a much closer race than the 52-43 lead Rasmussen gave McCain back in August. Wicker (R) 48 (45) Musgrove (D) 43 (44) The numbers should be heartening to Musgroves supporters, but heҒs also not dominating some key demographics. Musgrove pulled 75% of black respondents, but 18% declared themselves undecided. He also only got 50% of the Delta/Jackson region, which is supposed to be his stronghold. It will be interesting to see how the ballot controversy affects this race. I could see Musgrove getting a financial boost from all the national attention. MS Newspapers 2008-09-12T20:49:00-06:00 http://www.statedesk.com/index.php/site/old_testament_new_hero/ http://www.statedesk.com/index.php/site/old_testament_new_hero/#When:18:09:00Z by Matthew Caston August 4, 2008 Last week Barack Obama was a celebrity with popularity rivaling that of Britney Spears and Paris Hilton, but this week he has been paralleled with one of the greatest heroes of the Old Testament, courtesy of John McCain. MS Newspapers 2008-08-04T18:09:00-06:00 http://www.statedesk.com/index.php/site/dont_vote_mccain_vote_anti_obama/ http://www.statedesk.com/index.php/site/dont_vote_mccain_vote_anti_obama/#When:20:06:00Z by Matthew Caston July 30, 2008 It seems that the Republican strategy for this election year is not for you to vote for them, but against the other guy.  In this case the “other guy” is Barack Obama, and John McCain has him right in the cross-hares.  But how is this any different than any other election year? From now on the official slogan of the republican party should be: “Dont vote republican, vote anti-democrat.” MS Newspapers 2008-07-30T20:06:00-06:00 http://www.statedesk.com/index.php/site/giving_the_credit/ http://www.statedesk.com/index.php/site/giving_the_credit/#When:20:11:00Z by Matthew Caston July 23, 2008 After blaming Barack Obama for the high gas prices in his ad entitled “Pump,” Senator John McCain now says the recent drop in oil prices is on behalf of the almighty, infallible George Bush. MS Newspapers 2008-07-23T20:11:00-06:00 http://www.statedesk.com/index.php/site/destiantion_iraq/ http://www.statedesk.com/index.php/site/destiantion_iraq/#When:22:24:00Z by Matthew Caston July 22, 2008 We all want to get away at times.  Whether if it’s to escape the fast pace of the city or to escape the monotony of work, a vacation does the trick.  If youre big on vacations and tourists spots, a new one has just been made available.  Pack your bags because you’re going to Iraq! MS Newspapers 2008-07-22T22:24:00-06:00 http://www.statedesk.com/index.php/site/laying_the_blame/ http://www.statedesk.com/index.php/site/laying_the_blame/#When:19:53:00Z by Matthew Caston July 21, 2008 If youre looking for someone to blame for the high gas prices, look no further.  Apparently its been Barack Obama’s fault the whole time… no, seriously.  MS Newspapers 2008-07-21T19:53:00-06:00 http://www.statedesk.com/index.php/site/ice_cold_blooded/ http://www.statedesk.com/index.php/site/ice_cold_blooded/#When:17:57:01Z by Matthew Caston July 16, 2008 America has done it again.  It seems that exploiting and dehumanizing a people is written somewhere in the American Constitution.  In Postville, Iowa, America prevails in unjustly sending more than 300 people to jail, destroying countless families and killing the American dream that many of us hold in our hearts. MS Newspapers 2008-07-16T17:57:01-06:00