“The Easy Part”

August 29, 2008

It was a swell week for Arkansas Democrats at the national convention in Denver. But partying down with the lobbyist crowd and patting one another on the back was the easy part, and now they have to return home and sell the people of Arkansas on a Barack Obama presidency. Aaron Sadler of the Stephens Media Washington Bureau (who’s been doing some punchy blogging from Denver, if you missed it previously) reports.

In the meantime, Congressional Quarterly has been keeping score, and they rank Arkansas in the GOP column:

Republicans say they will have no trouble portraying Obama too far to the left. “He has a voting record in the United States Senate that is more liberal than Ted Kennedy and an economic policy that is not consistent with most Arkansans,” says Asa Hutchinson, a former House member and GOP candidate for governor two years ago.

McCain is likely to do well with the state’s rural white voters, a bloc that Obama had difficulty courting in the primary. The traditionally Republican House district in the state’s northwestern corner gave Bush 62 percent in 2004 and is McCain’s surest wellspring of votes, though the other three districts also supported the president’s re-election.

Filed Under: Arkansas Democrats, Arkansas Politics, Arkansas Republicans Tagged With: ,

Decline and Fall: Hardin Calls It Quits

August 28, 2008
Lu Hardin: Cut and Run

Lu Hardin: Cut and Run

Beset by scandal and having lost the crucial support of Arkansas newspaper columnists Kane Webb and John Brummett, University of Central Arkansas President Lu Hardin resigned today, the AP reports.

Thus ends the LHSDTSMTWHFW, not with a bang, but with a whimper….But weep not for Hardin, who has four years remaining on his contract and can expect a sweet, sweet pay-out to ease his pain.

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Texas Lottery on the Decline?

August 28, 2008

With Arkansans facing a ballot initiative this year to create a state lottery, it’s a good time to look at the lottery dynamic in other states. Lawmakers in neighboring Texas are contending with declining revenues from the state lottery and considering their options—including privatizing the lottery. The Dallas Morning News reports:

But as revenues from lottery ticket sales – including scratch-off cards and online tickets such as Lotto Texas and Pick 3 – hit their second straight year of decline this fiscal year, legislative leaders have become concerned about the future of the lottery.

“The easy money from the Texas Lottery has already been made. Growth will not be easy from here on out,” said Eugene Christiansen of Christiansen Capital Advisors, a consultant to commercial gambling and entertainment industries.

In Texas, those state revenues are significantly greater than the estimated $50-100 million that Arkansas might expect to command from a state lottery. But it’s worth looking at what other states are facing, as Arkansas will face those same hurdles in just a few years. (Note that I’m talking like the Arkansas lottery is a done deal, because I think it is).

Filed Under: Arkansas Legislature Tagged With: ,

Huck on Colbert: Biden a ‘Vanilla’ Pick

August 28, 2008

Mike Huckabee hit “The Colbert Report” last night and talked about the Democratic National Convention, Hillary Clinton’s speech and Barack Obama’s vice-presidential selection: “He ended up picking Joe Biden, which is kind of like going into Baskin-Robbins and ordering vanilla,” quipped the Huck.

Let’s go to the video:

And columnist John Brummett weighs in pithily on the Biden pick: “Everything about Joe Biden says weakness in Barack Obama.” Read the whole thing.

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LHSDTSMTWHFW: Clock is Ticking

August 27, 2008

Lu Hardin: Clockwatcher

The Lu Hardin Steps Down to Spend More Time With His Family Watch (henceforth, the “LHSDTSMTWHFW,” because I’m really tired of typing “Lu Hardin Steps Down to Spend More Time With His Family Watch”) is now kicking into overdrive.

In fact, it now appears that the LHSDTSMTWHFW can be measured not in weeks, not in days…but in hours.

The Arkansas Times is reporting that an unnamed University of Central Arkansas faculty member tipped them off that the embattled UCA president will resign Thursday and take a $1 million buy-out. There’s a previously unscheduled Board of Trustees Thursday at 11 a.m., the AP reports.

Meanwhile, over at the Under the Dome Denver Edition blog, incoming Speaker of the House Robbie Wills guest blogs that he’s hearing the same rumors. We have confirmation! Now that’s what I call reporting. Arkansas Project blog, you’ve done it again!

Filed Under: Arkansas Democrats, Arkansas Legislature Tagged With: , ,

Church School Kiddie Warriors to Get Counseling

August 27, 2008

Yesterday we noted the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette’s reporting on the church pre-school fight club in Fayetteville, in which teachers pitted 3- and 4-year old children against one another in gladiatorial combat for the whole class to watch. It is safe to say that this is a strong contender for “Arkansas News Story of the Year.”

Reporter Michelle Bradford follows up today with more, writing that the church is going to offer counseling for the kids involved in the combat play.

Sidenote: Today’s story indicates that the teachers involved with the pre-school fight club initiative, both of whom have been removed from their positions, were both women, and that a third teacher was involved but had moved on from the school before the fight club was exposed.

So, uh…. was I the only one who just kind of naturally assumed that the teachers who hatched this whole scheme had to have been two guys? Anyone else? No? Just me? Hm. OK. I guess if guys had been behind this there would have been gambling involved.

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But Don’t Worry…

August 27, 2008

…it’s not like we need a fence or anything.

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Huckabee On Colbert

August 27, 2008

"And here's another reason I hate Mitt Romney, Stephen..."

Gov. Mike Huckabee will be yukkin’ it up with Stephen Colbert on “The Colbert Report” tonight, for those of you capable of staying up later than I can.

Update: Huck’s making the media rounds today. Over at Jason Tolbert’s blog (which should really be called “The Tolbert Report”), Tolbert notes a surprise Huckabee guest appearance on the Rush Limbaugh radio show, setting the record straight on why he doesn’t want Mitt Romney to be vice-president. Man, those dudes hate each other!

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U.S. Chamber Endorses Pryor

August 27, 2008

OK, I’m not going to lie to you—it’s so far looking like a slow news day out there, with the state’s ruling class having a grand old time in Denver, but we’ll see what we can dig up for you.

Sen. Mark Pryor

Sen. Mark Pryor

Hey, here’s something: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce will endorse Sen. Mark Pryor of Arkansas for re-election, says the National Journal.

Not exactly an act of courage, given that Pryor faces only a Green Party candidate, who seems like a nice person but whose name I couldn’t remember and had to Google (It’s Rebekah Kennedy). And given the fact that Pryor supports the union-backed card check bill that the Chamber declares—in the same story—they are seeking to defeat. But, whatever, I’m kinda scraping for material over here.

Filed Under: Arkansas Democrats, Arkansas Politics Tagged With: , ,

Sanders on Dem Convention

August 27, 2008

And what the hell kind of a name is "Wolf," anyway?

Columnist David Sanders has a pertinent question and answer piece on the Democratic National Convention. Look, someone had to tell the truth about Wolf Blitzer’s beard.

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