The Arkansas Project

Stuff From Around Arkansas

By David Kinkade - December 3, 2008 12:57 pm

Hey look, it’s a bunch of random stuff:

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The Lil Spark Plug That Could: Gov. Mike Beebe will name Northwest Arkansas banker and man about town Dick Trammel as the next highway commissioner, the Morning News of Northwest Arkansas’ Doug Thompson reports. Noted: Thompson’s story has two separate people referring to Trammel as a “spark plug.” “Spark plug”? What the hell is that? Is it supposed to be a compliment? Beats me.

Camera Shy: Rep. Donna Hutchinson of Bella Vista will intro a bill to toughen penalties against video voyeurs who secretly tape or photograph people and post the images online, reports the AP’s Andrew Demillo. I suggest we call it “Tina Sherman’s Law.”

Victoria’s Secrecy: If you wanted to watch CBS’s annual Victoria’s Secret lingerie show, you’re out of luck in much of Arkansas, because KTHV won’t broadcast it, the Arkansas Times reports. Memo to Max Brantley: These trashy sexy stories are supposed to be my territory, so back off. Get back to writing about the Little Rock School Board, pal.

P.S. In an earlier version of this post, I tried to include both a photo of Dick “Spark Plug” Trammel and that shot of Victoria’s Secret model Allesandra Ambrosio, but I couldn’t get them to fit together on the page, so I just went with the one photo. I sure hope I made the right choice.

Where Will Lincoln Go On Union Ballot Vote?

By David Kinkade - November 25, 2008 7:57 am

Mark Pryor and Blanche Lincoln

Washington D.C. pub Politico notes that Sen. Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas will be one Democrat to watch in the coming debate on the absurdly monikered “Employee Free Choice Act,” a labor-backed bill to make union organizing easier by eliminating the secret ballot. Lincoln’s not been clear on where she stands on the issue.

That fact that has not gone unnoticed by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette editorial board, which has no use for the mealy-mouthed hedging on the issue coming from Lincoln and fellow Democratic Sen. Mark Pryor:

If and when our two U. S. senators make up their mind on this issue—perhaps they have and just don’t dare tell the rest of us—it would be nice to get a straight answer out of them.

Should they decide that Americans should be denied a secret ballot at their workplace, their votes would not be without irony.

Having just participated in the Democratic caucus in the Senate, which allows senators to cast their ballots in secret for their leaders, they would have tried to deny the same right to American workers.

The Arkansas Project has touched on this issue in recent days, along with other members of the Arkansas blogging posse Jason Tolbert at The Tolbert Report and Tim Griffin at The Griffin Room.

Inauguration Fever Hits Arkansas, Tix in Demand

By David Kinkade - November 23, 2008 9:27 am

Arkansas congressional delegation offices receive an object lesson in the principles of scarcity and supply and demand as requests for presidential inauguration tickets pour in. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette’s Jane Fullerton reports:

Each office expects to receive about 200 tickets — there are a total of 240,000 — which will be distributed just days before the ceremony and must be picked up in person. The tickets are free, and available only through congressional offices, so organizers have warned repeatedly against purchasing any tickets online, saying any such offer would be bogus.

“The whole delegation is working together to help as many constituents as possible,” [Sen. Mark Pryor spokesman Lisa] Ackerman said. “We’re trying to spread them as far as possible.”

Since it’s congressional staff developing the distribution process, I’m sure that the process will be as convoluted and asinine as you can possibly imagine. I don’t know why they’re making it so difficult—there’s nothing easier than distributing tickets equitably. Just print ‘em up on some gold slips and stick ‘em into a random assortment of chocolate bars to be sold in stores around the state. If it’s good enough for getting in to the chocolate factory, it’s good enough for the inauguration.

Gwatney Killer: The Final Chase

By David Kinkade - November 21, 2008 9:54 am

In case you missed this yesterday at the Arkansas Times blog, Max Brantley posted some remarkable video of the police chase that ended with the shooting of Timothy Dale Johnson in August, shortly after Johnson shot and killed Arkansas Democratic Party chair Bill Gwatney at party HQ in Little Rock:

Max has much more on the final (inconclusive) police report that was released yesterday, so go over there and check it out for more.

Edwards Over Eichler in District 38

By David Kinkade - November 18, 2008 4:51 pm

Kelly Eichler and John Edwards

Almost simultaneously, I received e-mail updates from the Kelly Eichler campaign and from lightning fast blogger Jason Tolbert that our long national nightmare is over: The recount in the race for District 38 shows Democrat John Edwards with a final lead of 77 votes. Edwards goes to the House.

Rumor Mongering: Should GOP Chair Be Paid?

By David Kinkade - November 18, 2008 9:02 am

This has been raised to me several times over the last few days, to the point where I’m just going to throw it out there as a blind item. Word about town is that at least one of the hopefuls in the race to take on the Arkansas Republican Party chair post expects to be paid for the position.

This rumor’s been floating around, and I’m hearing from several folks who are grumbling about it. Like, say, this individual, who e-mailed me the other day:

I think having a paid Chairman is a terrible idea. The Chairman is supposed to be a figurehead that raises money. If the money being raised goes to pay the Chairman then we aren’t raising any money to spend on candidates.

As the saying goes, I don’t have a dog in this fight. I don’t expect to be advocating for or against any of these characters for chair, because I thought about it for 2 minutes and realized that I don’t care much. But if any of the candidates do think that the party chair position should be salaried work, well, I suppose others will let them know what they think about that.

Is this a good idea? Anyone hearing anything else on this?

‘Two Cheers for the Arkansas GOP’

By David Kinkade - November 18, 2008 7:13 am

That’s the title of my latest piece up over at CapSearch.com, the new (and growing) site for Arkansas legislative tracking and government research. My column’s a look at some of the good news that came out of Election ‘08 for Arkansas Republicans, which I wrote to prove that I can say something nice every so often when I want to. And you didn’t believe it!

Of course, the focus now is shifting to 2010, and we’ve already started looking ahead here at The Arkansas Project. If you missed it, look back to yesterday’s post on the 2010 Senate race between Senator Blanche Lincoln and a fantasy Republican who has not yet revealed him or herself, and may or may not exist. Commenters Br549, Bill from Sheridan and others argue out the possibilities.

Incidentally, Matt Price and Katie Bodenhammer over at CapSearch also are running a blog at the site with a focus on state legislative doings. That’s my way of telling you that I’m not going to be recounting every organizational step in the House and Senate that takes place over the next few weeks, so I’ll refer you to them if you need to follow every step of the process.

Also, Steve Harrelson at the Under the Dome blog offers a good source for information on how things are shaping up heading into the 2009 legislative session. And I may weigh in on these matters from time to time, when the mood strikes.

Blogging may be a bit sporadic the next day or so as I focus on some other duties. We’ll see.

Southern Political Report Floats Lincoln Challengers

By David Kinkade - November 17, 2008 9:06 am

The Southern Political Report, focusing in on 2010 Senate races, floats a few possible GOP names to challenge Sen. Blanche Lincoln in 2010:

Patrick Calhoun, a Little Rock investment banker; Tom Cotton, a Harvard Law graduate and a US Army officer who served in Iraq and is now in Afghanistan; and former U.S. Treasury Official French Hill.

I hear these names bandied about all the time. But are any of these guys seriously interested?

Update: Patrick Ruffini at The Next Right also weighs in on this question today, and throws the names Asa Hutchinson and Rep. John Boozman out there as potential Lincoln challengers, because, hey, why not? At this point, I’m really starting to think you guys are just pulling names out of a hat.

AP: Looking Ahead to 2010

By David Kinkade - November 17, 2008 6:13 am

The AP’s Andrew Demillo explores upcoming races for campaign 2010 in his latest weekly column. While Republicans are cheered by their performance in Arkansas in 2008, will they have candidates to challenge Sen. Blanche Lincoln and the state’s constitutional officers in the next round?

Baker, Beebe Bury Hatchet

By David Kinkade - November 16, 2008 7:44 am

Baker and Beebe: Making nice

From the ‘All’s Well That Ends Well’ Category: GOP Sen. Gilbert Baker and Democratic Gov. Mike Beebe, long at odds over Baker’s campaigning for Beebe’s Republican opponent in 2006, met last week to clear the air and put all this a’fussin’ and a’feudin’ behind them.

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette’s Seth Blomelely reports on the meeting, which I have reason to believe was very gracious:

“He was very gracious,” said Baker, the expected Senate chairman of the Joint Budget Committee for the 2009 legislative session. “I think we’re going to have a good session.”

Beebe said Baker brought up the ads the Republican Party helped fund during the 2006 governor’s race trying to tie Beebe to a convicted felon. Beebe and other Democrats have said the ads were unfair, misleading and false.

Baker of Conway has said he regrets that the party funded those ads but has declined to say whether he owed Beebe an apology.

Neither would give details of what was said during their meeting.

“He was very gracious,” Beebe said. “He came up, asked for the meeting.” Baker said they met Nov. 6 in Beebe’s office for about 15 minutes. He said Beebe’s chief of staff, Morril Harriman, was also in the meeting.

Over the last few months, Beebe campaigned strenuously for Joe White, Baker’s Democratic opponent in Baker’s successful bid to keep his seat.

Arkansas Senate ‘10: Not a Top Race?

By David Kinkade - November 14, 2008 10:08 am

The Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza lists the “Top 10 Senate Races” of the 2010 cycle, and little old Arkansas is nowhere to be found. It is generally agreed that Sen. Blanche Lincoln may be more vulnerable than was Mark Pryor in 2008 (see poli sci prof Jay Barth’s thoughts on that matter over at Roby Brock’s blog). But thus far no GOP candidate has emerged to challenge the lady from Helena.

Last week, Arkansas Project readers urged former Gov. Mike Huckabee to challenge Lincoln. That would certainly catapult the 2010 race into most handicappers’ “Top 10″ lists.

Thanks to frequent Arkansas Project flier Br549 for the tip.

“The Reddest Blue State”

By David Kinkade - November 14, 2008 7:30 am

The Southern Political Report examines Arkansas, “the reddest blue state” after Election ‘08, and scratches its head at the weirdness:

In some respects Arkansas represents a rare success story for the Republicans this year. The home of former President Bill Clinton gave the Republican field a surprisingly competitive presidential contender in former Gov. Mike Huckabee, and last week, Arkansas became, in (John) Brummett’s words, the “buckle on the anti-Barack belt.” No state had more counties vote more Republican than they did in the 2004 presidential election. Bush won the state by nine points in 2004; McCain won it by 20 last week.

Down the ballot, however, the red turns quickly to blue.

Greenberg: ‘The Tom Coburn of Arkansas’

By David Kinkade - November 7, 2008 2:44 pm

Rep. Dan Greenberg

Libertarianish Reason Magazine profiles Rep. Dan Greenberg of Little Rock, who is of course better known as an occasional contributor to The Arkansas Project, with a look at Greenberg’s epic battle against the state Interior Design Board. Check it out.

2010 Senate Poll: Huckabee vs. Lincoln?

By David Kinkade - November 7, 2008 10:32 am

Max Brantley at the Arkansas Times blog is looking forward to the 2010 and 2012 campaigns, and wants to know: Will Mike Huckabee challenge Blanche Lincoln for her U.S. Senate seat in 2010?

Max wants to hear from Arkansas Project readers, all 30 of them, which is as shocking to me as it is to you.

For my part, I’m not sure what’s more troubling: The fact that Max now thinks he’s my assignment editor, telling me what to do, or the fact that I’m actually doing it.

Anyway, you haven’t been to the polls since Tuesday, so let’s weigh in:

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Eichler/Edwards Recount Slated for Nov. 18

By David Kinkade - November 6, 2008 5:00 pm

Dust off your hanging chads, because it looks like the race in House District 38 between Republican Kelly Eichler and Democrat John Edwards is headed for a recount, as suggested earlier today. This from an Eichler campaign e-mail received just moments ago:

As of today, the unofficial results for District 38 show the following:

John Edwards - 7,044 votes or 50.26%
Kelly Eichler - 6,970 votes or  49.74%
Under votes: 476
Over votes: 1

With only a 74 vote or .52% margin, the campaign has asked the Pulaski County Election Commission to hold a recount in this election.  Tentatively, that recount is scheduled for November 18 at the County Election Commission.

Eichler, Edwards Race Remains Unsettled

By David Kinkade - November 6, 2008 7:01 am

Kelly Eichler and John Edwards

The Under the Dome blog notes that all ballots have been counted in the House District 38 race between Democrat John Edwards and Republican Kelly Eichler, with Edwards claiming a slim lead of 74 votes.

Meanwhile, the Tolbert Report has chatted with folks in the Eichler camp and says it’s likely headed for a recount. Eichler tells an Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reporter same in a story in the morning paper.

I’ll note that when Arkansas Project readers voted on this race in a highly scientific online poll on Monday, Eichler commanded a solid 57 percent of the vote. That leads me to one conclusion: Obviously, there has been some serious vote fraud committed in this race, because there’s no way that online poll could have been wrong. Crafty Democrats! You just have to watch them every second!

Arkansas Legislative Race Results

By David Kinkade - November 5, 2008 6:48 am

I’m not going to reproduce the results of every state race—for that, head over to the Under the Dome blog or the Secretary of State’s website. But I will highlight the results of a few races that have been featured prominently on The Arkansas Project the last few months, because I know how important it is for you to have closure:

Sen. Gilbert Baker (R) fended off a challenge from Joe White (D) in District 30, with Baker pulling about 55 percent of the vote.

In House District 62, the GOP’s Terry Rice handily defeated former Republican-turned-Democrat Bill Walters, in a result that satisfies a hell of a lot of Republicans I know.

In Saline County, Republican Ann Clemmer captured an open seat from Democrat Scott Smith in District 29 (that’s a GOP pick-up), while Democrat Barbara Nix defeated Republican Dave McCoy in District 28.

Another Republican pick-up in District 42, where Jane English defeated Democrat Val Yagos. And add one more to the GOP roster with young Jonathan Dismang’s victory over Democrat Keith Williams in District 49.

In Fort Smith, Stephanie Malone (R) took out Mike Bock (D) to claim an open seat.

In District 38, it looks like Democrat John Edwards is claiming the slimmest of leads over Republican Kelly Eichler. Headed for a recount?

Republican Bryan King, the incoming House minority leader, laughed off a challenge from Democrat David Stoppel in District 91 with a commanding 66 percent of the vote.

The much-covered (on this blog, anyway) race between Rep. Steve Breedlove (D) and John Van Gorder (R) ended with a smooth victory for the incumbent Democrat.

And it looks like every one of those ballot initiatives/proposed amendments/referred questions passed, including the lottery (as expected) and the ban on foster care for cohabiting couples (which I thought was headed for defeat). And annual sessions for the legislature! I suppose that will be good for blogging material, if nothing else….

More later.

Today’s Poll: House District 67, Breedlove vs. Van Gorder

By David Kinkade - November 4, 2008 9:36 am

John Van Gorder (R, top) and Rep. Steve Breedlove (D)

Let’s do one final legislative poll today, mostly because I installed this poll feature and now I have no idea what on earth I’ll do with it once the election is past. Today: Rep. Steve Breedlove (D) and challenger John Van Gorder (R) in the closely watched District 67 race.

We’ve actually covered this race pretty extensively, for some reason, but here are a couple of last minute notes:

A Van Gorder supporter sends along this audio clip of former Gov. Mike Huckabee’s GOTV call in support of Van Gorder:

Click to here Huckabee call for Van Gorder

The incumbent Breedlove, meanwhile, has the support of Gov. Mike Beebe and other state Democratic honchos. I looked for his ads on YouTube and didn’t find anything, so, uh, here’s his website, for the sake of balance.

And now, to the poll:

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Early Voting is For Suckers

By David Kinkade - November 4, 2008 8:42 am

A staunch traditionalist, I waited until Election Day to cast my ballot over at the First Christian Church on Mississippi in Little Rock. Leaving Arkansas Project World Headquarters at 7:47 a.m., I did my civic duty and pulled back into the driveway at 8:26 a.m.—a 39-minute round trip. (The line was out the door when I arrived, but was entirely inside when I left, so I likely would have shaved off another 10 or even 15 minutes had I not arrived at the tail end of the first flush of voters.)

Early voting line at McMath Library, Little Rock, Oct. 31

Now, Arkansas Project contributor Dan Greenberg reported early vote wait times of more than an hour at Thompson Library on October 22. On Friday afternoon, Arkansas Project Girlfriend (APG) voted early at the McMath Library, a process that took her nearly two hours (that’s her photo of the line on Friday afternoon at left).

Lesson: If you value your time, early voting is for suckers. But I would like to thank you, Arkansas Early Voters, for spending the additional time waiting in line these last few weeks so that I could have smooth and convenient sailing on Election Day. I owe you one.

Update: Arkansas Project contributor Freeman Hunt up in the northwest corner of the state, at her other blogging home, joins me in rejecting the tyranny of early voting.

Political Notes from the Arkansas Blogosphere

By David Kinkade - November 3, 2008 6:51 pm

One of our periodic check-ins with our friends and colleagues in the Arkansas blogosphere:

At the Think Tank, Blake Rutherford has an end of the day political round-up that brings together all kinds of dandy Election Day scraps for all you political obsessive-compulsives out there. Includes a guide to who’s hosting watch parties where on Tuesday night in Little Rock.

Max Brantley at the Arkansas Times blog notes that a Time magazine political watcher tagged Arkansan Clint Reed, former state GOP director and now a Republican National Committee campaign honcho, as one of the “Five Most Important People in American Politics Not Running for President.” Ha! Suck it, U.S. Senators!

The Tolbert Report is tracking Gov. Mike Huckabee’s campaigning in Florida, with some good video.

In the Griffin Room, Tim Griffin writes that former Sen. Fred Thompson’s name is being bandied about to serve as the next RNC chair. He’s no doubt being cheered on by the same delusional lunatics who thought that Thompson would make a fine presidential nominee, a ridiculous fantasy that faded quickly in 2007. Yeah, that worked out great. Can’t wait to see what he has in store for the RNC.

The Youth Vote: Big in'08?

Finally, Lance Turner of Arkansas Business ponders the question, “Will the youth vote matter?” Oh, great, this again. We’re always having to talk about “the youth vote,” and it drives me nuts. Because there’s nothing stupider than a young person, and the younger they are, the stupider they are. I mean, like, babies and little kids. Have you ever talked to a baby or a little kid? They’re totally stupid. I can’t even carry on a conversation with one, so they’re boring, too. And they frequently don’t smell very good.

I’m going to go ahead and say, “no, the youth vote will not matter in Election ‘08,” and we’ll see if the numbers bear me out. But regardless of what happens tomorrow, believe you me, we’ll have to have the same damn discussion about the youth vote in 2012, because every four years is the election when the damn youth vote is really, really, really going to break out, and we really mean it this time. Don’t get me started on the damn youth vote.