Huckabee: Savior of Towns

March 23, 2009

Hey, what the hell has been going on with Mike Huckabee’s Saturday night FOX news show lately? I used to track it on a regular basis, but the last time I checked it out he had Tony Danza, of all people, on talking about the economic stimulus package and…well, I just had to take a break, OK?

But look! Huck’s taking his act on the road with a new series titled “Save This Town,” where he visits distressed communities and focuses on the difficulties folks are facing. This weekend he hit Elkhart, Indiana, a town recently visited by President Barack Obama when he was selling the big ticket “recovery” package. Let’s watch:

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But more importantly, let’s talk about that FOX News anchor chick, Julie Banderas. Is she hot? I think she’s kinda hot, but it’s a little hard to tell from this video clip. I think we may need to see her in her underwear or a bikini or something to be absolutely sure.

Wait, where was I going with this? Oh, yeah, Huckabee’s trying to inject some desperately needed energy into his dreadful TV show with some kind of dumbass stunt or something. The end.

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The 2010 Polling Begins?

March 20, 2009

Too early for 2010 polling? Oh, dear heavens no, my friend.

I just took a call off my desk phone in which a recorded voice of some nice man invited me to field a few questions. The survey was comprised of nine questions focused on Sen. Blanche Lincoln, potential GOP challengers Gilbert Baker and Tim Griffin, some other Arkansas Democratic officials, and, believe it or not, Rush Limbaugh. All the questions are listed at the jump.

Then there were the usual demographic questions about race, gender, etc. In case you were wondering, I’m a 63-year-old black Democratic woman.

I was taking notes quickly, so the transcriptions won’t be 100 percent precise, but this gets at the substance of the questions. I don’t recall hearing the nice man say who was running this survey — I don’t believe he said.

But I assume, since those Rush Limbaugh questions are in there, it’s probably one of those thoroughly inept Washington D.C. organizations like the Democratic National Committee or the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. I don’t think the Lincoln campaign people would waste a perfectly good question on such a perfectly asinine matter.

[Read more...]

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

Stuff From Around Arkansas, March 20

March 20, 2009

Antique Roadshow: A bunch of old geezers named Clinton, Pryor and Bumpers speak at the Clinton Presidential Center. I’m like you, I’ve never heard of them either. (Political Buzz)

Dead Pool: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette publisher Walter Hussman says “Never surrender” on print news, giving Lance Turner a set-up for zinger of the week: “Hussman’s losing his print-loving base every time he publishes an obit.” (Lance Turner’s Unimaginatively Titled Blog)

Target Practice: Lawmakers taking aim at the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission? Oooh, this could be fun. (Arkansas News Bureau)

A Dog’s Life: Blogging Rep. Mark Martin goes all Legislating 101 with a look at how to read a bill. I might clip and save this post, just in case I ever decide to do something like that. (Off the Marble)

Steady as She Goes: You know, say what you want about Democratic Rep. Vic Snyder, but at least he doesn’t run off like a hysterical posturing ninny every chance he gets. Like most of the rest of the Arkansas congressional delegation. (Arkansas Times)

Call of Duty: Easily excitable nitwit Jason Tolbert thinks I should run for Senate. I was telling Arkansas Project Girlfriend (APG) how funny that would be if I ran a Stephen Colbert-type parody campaign, and she just rolled her eyes. She actually does that a lot when I’m talking. (The Tolbert Report)

Filed Under: Arkansas Legislature

Stuff From Around Arkansas, March 19

March 19, 2009

Inside the Hollowed, Weathered Cabinet: OK, everyone raise your hand if you believe, as does John Brummett, that a cabalistic Clintonite machine in Arkansas is advancing young Democratic candidates to challenge the damnable apostate Lt. Gov. Bill Halter. Yeah, that’s what I thought. Me, neither. (Blake’s Think Tank)

The Hard Stuff: Proposal to hike taxes on “alcopop” drinks beloved by girls and, I don’t know, John Brummett, probably, fails in committee. Blogger Zack Stovall’s got some questions. (Unfamous First Words)

Annals of Gun Nuttery Update: Blogger John Anderson at the Arkansas Concealed Carry Association gives thumbs up to Democratic Rep. Mike Ross for work in opposing federal ‘assault weapons’ ban. (ARCCA Blog)

Baker Watch: Roby Brock gets reaction from Sen. Gilbert Baker to the “Draft Gilbert Baker for Senate” boomlet. (Political Buzz blog)

Mother’s Milk: Good news, moms!: Arkansas Senate OKs breastfeeding bill. Bad news: They’ll probably try to tax that milk, too. Zing! (AP)

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

My Conversations with Rep. Cheapstunt (D-Gerrymand)

March 18, 2009

The end of the legislative session is approaching. Time is short, and tempers are a bit frayed. The norm of politeness and friendliness among legislators is now abandoned with some frequency. Case in point: two recent conversations with my Democratic colleague Rep. Cheapstunt (his name has been changed to protect the guilty):

I. The scene: just after yesterday’s State Agencies committee meeting, in which one of my bills, HB 2096, (links opens in PDF file) narrowly failed to clear committee.

ME: Sorry I couldn’t get your vote on the bill. Maybe I could amend it to get your support. Say, didn’t you tell me a while back that you supported my bill?

CHEAPSTUNT: Yeah.

ME: Ah. What happened?

CHEAPSTUNT: (Grins.) Changed my mind.

II. The scene: earlier today, just after Rep. Frank Glidewell and I presented his HB 2216 bill to the Judiciary Committee and started to take questions about it. Cheapstunt asks one of the first questions.

CHEAPSTUNT: Because the governor opposes this bill, I’d like to know if either of you have met with any of his staffers to work out your differences on it.

(ME and GLIDEWELL, at the end of the table, look at each other and confirm that nobody from the governor’s office has approached either one of us to discuss the bill or otherwise informed us about the governor’s views on it.)

ME: This is the first that I’ve been told about this. Obviously I am happy to meet with the governor anytime. If the governor or his staff wants to tell us how he feels about a bill, he can find us. We’re up in Room 350 most afternoons.

(That’s probably a little more cogently put than what I said, but you get the picture.)

***********************

I like Rep. Cheapstunt, despite his inconstancy and his desire in hearings to throw sucker punches. Cheapstunt tends to become more partisan towards the end of the session, but he is hardly the only offender in this respect. In fact, after he announced a few weeks ago that he was going to run for state senate, I told him that I would support him. On the other hand, it’s a legislator’s prerogative to change his mind.

Filed Under: Arkansas Legislature Tagged With:

Stuff From Around Arkansas, March 18

March 18, 2009

Drafty: Blogger Rett Hatcher launches the “Draft Gilbert Baker for Senate” movement. Even includes a rockin’ music video to get your blood pumping. (Run Gilbert Run)

Enough: Look, Arkansas newsguys, you can keep reporting on the progress of the lottery legislation, but I’m not going to read it or pay attention. I thought I’d made that clear. (AP)

Moneychangers: Sen. Blanche Lincoln has had it up to here with these Wall Street fat cats and their taxpayer-funded bonuses, boy howdy. (Arkansas News Bureau)

Freedom: Meanwhile, columnist David Sanders wonders, Did Vice President Joe Biden give Lincoln a “get out of jail free” card on controversial union-backed card check legislation and other Obama priorities? (Arkansas News Bureau)

Milk Run: A Senate panel OKs the dreaded and dreadful milk tax, and I rain down curses on them and their children and their children’s children. (Arkansas News Bureau)

Who Knew?: JonBenet Ramsey’s father lives in Little Rock now? Am I the only person who didn’t know that? You know, it wouldn’t be all that difficult for you guys to fill me in on these things every once in a while. (AP)

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

Rumor-Mongering: Primary Challenge for Halter? (Updated!)

March 17, 2009

Tyler, Denton. Oh, look, Blake Rutherford decided to talk about something besides his love of Twitter and the death throes of newspapers for once. Blake’s Think Tank blog is reporting that Democrat Tyler Denton is weighing a primary challenge to Lt. Gov. Bill Halter. Based on Blake’s information, it appears that Denton is currently employed as a sound check roadie for U2, so this would be a significant step down in actual responsibility.

Pfft. I’m not even convinced this guy is real. “Tyler Denton.” It’s like he’s just stringing together names of random towns in Texas. Hey, I can do it, too: “Dallas Lubbock” is planning a run for attorney general! “Austin San Antonio” is thinking about running for Congress! Whatever.

UPDATE: Actually, now that I think about it, I wish my name was “Austin San Antonio.” There’s just no way a guy with a name like that wouldn’t be getting laid all the time.

UPDATE: Oh my God, it’s true!


Filed Under: Arkansas Politics Tagged With: ,

Sides Square Off on Terrible Milk Tax

March 17, 2009

Rob Moritz at the Politics in Arkansas blog notes some opposition to the milk tax from the Arkansas Hospitality Association, which is calling on its members to stand up in opposition to this terrible terrible idea. The milk tax is on the Senate Agriculture Committee’s agenda today (link opens in PDF file).

On the flip side, Democratic Rep. Johnny Hoyt is circulating a letter to House members reporting that the Arkansas Association of School Administrators is supporting his proposal. Text below:

March 16, 2009

Dear Fellow House Members:

The Arkansas Association of School Administrators at their Legislative meeting Wednesday, March 11, 2009 voted to support HB1451 and SB934. It was discussed and determined that the association needed to support the milk producers of Arkansans to help ensure continued production and to provide for future cost savings to its school lunch programs.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me personally.  I look forward to discussing this issue with you.

Sincerely,
Johnny Hoyt
State Representative
District 60

I look forward to hearing Rep. Hoyt’s explanation for how raising the wholesale price of milk will reduce costs in his crazy topsy-turvy world.

Last week, Attorney General Dustin McDaniel suggested in an opinion that the tax may not be constitutional. Meanwhile, the Arkansas Project has been harping on this issue for months like a lonely voice in the wilderness.

Filed Under: Arkansas Legislature Tagged With: ,

‘Max’s Law’ To Hit Senate This Week

March 16, 2009

Imagine my excitement this weekend to pick up a print copy of the Arkansas Times and flip through to Max Brantley’s column, where I saw this headline:

I had taken to calling Democratic Rep. Randy Stewart’s bill to limit public availability of information on concealed carry permit holders “Max’s Law,” because I’m obnoxious, and was delighted that Max was enough of a sport to run with it in his latest column explaining his decision to publish the list in toto.

Also delighted is John Anderson of the Arkansas Concealed Carry Association, who weighs in with a lengthy argument on the issue that’s worth a read. Memo to Andrew Demillo: Get these two together for a debate at the next Arkansas Society of Professional Journalists meeting!

Anyway, looks like Max’s Law, which passed the Arkansas House a couple of weeks back, is on the Senate State Agencies Committee agenda for tomorrow (opens in PDF file). One to watch.

Filed Under: Arkansas Legislature Tagged With:

Stuff From Around Arkansas, March 16

March 16, 2009

Photo Op: So, is there a living Republican official anywhere in the United States who has not yet had his or her photo taken with Jason Tolbert? (The Tolbert Report)

Science!: Democratic Sen. Mark Pryor proposes ‘science parks’ as economic stimulus measure. I’m gonna go play on the giant centrifuge! (Benton County Daily Record)

Freedom Fighter: More on Rep. Dan Greenberg’s heroic and visionary fight to bring greater openness to Arkansas public information. (AP)

Wishful Thinking: The City Wire’s Michael Tilley lists legislation he’d like see coming out of the Arkansas Capitol. (The City Wire)

It’s Miley!: The Hannah Montana bill clears committee; somewhere, Dwayne Dobbins is smiling. (The Legislative Beat)*

*I started to do a Google Image search on Miley Cyrus to go along with this last item, but then as soon as I saw the first page of results it occurred to me that I’d just as soon not be the special guest on the next edition of “To Catch a Predator,” thanks very much, so you’re on your own.

Filed Under: Arkansas Legislature Tagged With: ,
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