The Arkansas Project

Stuff From Around Arkansas, April 16

By David Kinkade - April 16, 2009 1:01 pm

Halter

Gearing Up: Now Lt. Gov. Bill Halter is busy raising money for his 2010 re-election, though his ‘06 campaign owes him several hundred thousand dollars. But will he be able to withstand the TYLER DENTON JUGGERNAUT? (AP)

Salaryman: Arkansas GOP chair Doyle Webb will get $60K per year for his troubles. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)

Carrying On: Interesting perspective piece on availability of concealed carry weapon permits, from a concealed carry instructor. (The City Wire)

FroshPit: CapSearch offers video interviews summing up the ‘09 legislative session from freshman legislators. (CapSearch)

Kid Stuff: Blogger Jason Tolbert posts family photos of the new lil baby boy that arrived last week. (The Tolbert Report)

Do NOT Listen To This Man: Blogger Lance Turner lists his picks for “10 Arkansans Who Should Be Blogging,” which is a terrible idea, because at least seven of those listed almost certainly should NOT be blogging, under any circumstances whatsoever. C’mon people, we don’t want another Dustin McDaniel situation on our hands. (This Is My Blog By Lance Turner)

Parasitic: Blogger Blake Rutherford takes apart the latest sad sad reflection on the sad death of newspapers from sad columnist Gene Lyons, who is very very saddened by these latest sad developments in his sad industry, and oh yeah he laments the emergence of all these smug young “bloggers,” too. In other news, I’m taking up a collection to compensate Blake for the agony of having to read a Gene Lyons column, something I hope to never have to experience. Please give. (Blake’s Think Tank)

Stuff From Around Arkansas, March 19

By David Kinkade - March 19, 2009 9:44 am

This blog has never been known for its good taste, but I may be pushing my luck with this one.

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)

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

By David Kinkade - March 17, 2009 1:56 pm

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!

Bud Jackson to Sen. Roland Burris: ‘I’m Outta Here’

By David Kinkade - February 23, 2009 9:17 am

Photo credit: New York Times

This has only the most tangential relationship to Arkansas politics, but will interest some Arkansas Project readers. Bud Jackson, a Virginia-based political operative known around these parts for counseling Lt. Gov. Bill Halter’s campaigns, is in the news big today for distancing himself from an even higher profile client: U.S. Sen. Roland Burris of Illinois.

Burris is, of course, the Chicago Democratic politico appointed to the Senate by disgraced former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagoevich. Burris finds himself in hot water because he was something less than forthcoming about his dealings with the shady governor—and Jackson is now declaring himself distanced from the whole stinking mess.

Chicago Sun-Times reporter/blogger Lynn Sweet has all the scoop over here, featuring a memo from Jackson explaining that he no longer has anything to do with this band of hacks and poltroons. (Hat tip to the inimitable Wonkette.com)

The Arkansas Project connected some dots between Jackson and Burris a few weeks back.

Oh, and a couple of days ago, I tried to follow Jackson’s zany misadventures on Twitter but he unkindly blocked me from following him. Can you imagine? The nerve!

Stuff from Around Arkansas, January 30

By David Kinkade - January 30, 2009 2:58 pm

The cigarette girl lobby is growing concerned.

My and Blake Rutherford’s appearance at the IABC lunch today went great, thanks for asking. I was incredibly awesome, of course, and Blake really, really tried, bless his little heart. On to other things:

Crossover Vote: Dems claim the cigarette tax hike enjoys bipartisan support, and they’ll unveil their new pet Republicans at a Monday news conference. Oooooh, who could it be? (The Arkansas Times)

Rara Avis: Rep. Duncan Baird: American Hero. (Political Buzz blog)

Power Trip: Much of north Arkansas is still without power after ice storms. Can you imagine, no power? Why, I’d have to blog by candlelight! (AP)

Enemies, A Love Story: Ha ha ha, Gov. Mike Beebe hates Lt. Gov. Bill Halter sooooo much. (Doug Thompson’s blog)

Party Time: If you’re interested in the race for Republican National Committee chair, you want to go check out The Tolbert Report. You also want to take a good long hard look at yourself and ask why the hell you’re interested in that stupid crap. (The Tolbert Report)

Stuff from Around Arkansas, January 16

By David Kinkade - January 16, 2009 2:51 pm

Immigrant Song: Illegal immigration enthusiasts continue to thank the stars that laughably ineffectual Secure Arkansas organization is the public face of their opposition. (Times Record)

Penny Saved: Sen. Bobby Glover files bill to cut grocery tax by one penny. Good start, but keep going. (AP)

Out of Commission: Sen. Hank Wilkins proposes to cut useless and dysfunctional Arkansas Martin Luther King Jr. Commission by half. Good start, but keep going. (AP)

I didn't know Bill from Sheridan had a place in Monroe County! (Photo: Washington Post)

McCain Country: Here’s that Washington Post article that everyone is talking about detailing the lack of enthusiasm for Barack Obama in Brinkley, Ark. Now quit wasting time talking to reporters from DC and get back to finding that damn woodpecker. (Actually, you can skip the story, which is the usual “east coaster comes to flyover country and does discount sociology on the locals” thing, and just check out the photo gallery, which is pretty great.) (Washington Post)

World of Wonders: In northwest Arkansas, students learn of school closings via Facebook and text messaging. I look forward to when these modes of communication are finally used widely enough that they’re taken for granted, so that newspaper people will stop writing credulous and wide-eyed stories about them like they’ve just discovered fire. (Benton County Daily Record)

Debt Man Walking: Bill Halter’s ‘06 campaign still owes him $448,000, meaning Halter went nearly a half million dollars in debt to be lieutenant governor of Arkansas, meaning Halter is a complete and total retard. (KTHV)

Stuff from Around Arkansas, January 8

By David Kinkade - January 8, 2009 8:13 am

A few things that catch the eye this morn:

Stock Character: Columnist Kane Webb rates Arkansas politicos: He’s high on Halter, but busts on Beebe. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)

So long, suckers: KATV's Fisher chooses her news, and it's in D.C.

Disastrous: Feds declare three Arkansas counties “disaster areas.” Still awaiting disaster designations: The Arkansas Martin Luther King Jr. Commission and Republican Party of Arkansas. (Arkansas News Bureau)

Paper Chase: Hussman-owned newspaper in Chattanooga, Tenn., has snazzy and accessible website, making Hussman’s terrible web strategy in Arkansas all the more puzzling. (Lance Turner’s Unimaginatively Titled Blog)

Chosen: KATV “Choose Your News” gal Kristin Fisher decamps to Washington D.C. for new job. And after all we did for her! (Blake’s Think Tank)

Halter Flack in Burris Senate Melee

By David Kinkade - January 6, 2009 12:46 pm

Photo credit: New York Times

Keen-eyed Arkansas political watchers will recognize Lt. Gov. Bill Halter’s political muscle man and noted charmless vulgarian Bud Jackson in the above photo from the New York Times.

BudJack’s apparently lending his skills in the dark arts to the controversial effort to place Illinois politico Roland W. Burris in Barack Obama’s Senate seat. Burris, tapped to fill the seat by toxic and indicted Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, was blocked by the Senate today.

Kudos to frequent Arkansas Project commenter Br549, who has extra time on his hands since he’s taking a break from playing Tetris on his Gameboy due to a painful case of “gamer’s thumb,” for the tip.

Sides Square Off in Arkansas Lottery Debate

By David Kinkade - October 7, 2008 9:56 am

It’s dueling court briefs in the big Arkansas lottery debate of 2008, the Arkansas News Bureau’s John Lyon reports.

Lottery foes the Arkansas Family Council argue to the state Supreme Court that the lottery proposal needs to be thrown off the ballot. They say that since the measure doesn’t define what is meant by the term “state lotteries,” which the Family Council argues will pave the way for casino gaming in Arkansas. (For more on this, Max Brantley at the Arkansas Times and Ernie Dumas at the Arkansas Leader have both explained how it might all come down in recent columns.)

In response, Lt. Gov. Bill Halter, who’s pushing the lottery to fund college scholarships, and Attorney General Dustin McDaniel argue in separate briefs that the “wording of the ballot question is accurate and easy for voters to understand,” Lyon reports.

The court will hear oral arguments on Monday, October 13.

Lawsuit Seeks to Stop Lottery Vote

By David Kinkade - September 19, 2008 2:27 pm

Oh, my, we’ve seen more interesting news on the Arkansas lottery in the last four days than in the last four months….

The conservative Arkansas Family Council, which is more or less leading the anti-lottery push in the state, asked the Arkansas Supreme Court on Friday to have the lottery proposal thrown off the ballot, the AP’s Andrew Demillo reports:

In the complaint, the council argues that the proposed constitutional amendment’s title and name are “inaccurate, incomplete and misleading” because they don’t define lotteries and doesn’t warn voters of potential consequences of authorizing a state-run lottery. The proposal leaves it up to the Legislature to work out the details of the lottery and the scholarships it would fund.

Bud Jackson, who is Lt. Gov. Bill Halter’s mouthpiece on the lottery push, offers one of his typical hyperventilating responses.

“This is yet the latest example that the Family Council, a special interest organization, will do anything to impose its will upon the entire state of Arkansas and do anything to prevent Arkansans from having the right to vote on this themselves,” Jackson said.

Jackson said the lawsuit has shut the door on any possibility of debates between the lottery campaign and the Family Council.

“We’re not going to have an honest debate with an organization that isn’t interested in dealing with the pros and cons of this issue,” Jackson said.

By the way, the Arkansas Journal blog has some more on the Family Council’s efforts on other ballot initiatives. Check it out.

Sanders Turns Spotlight on Arkansas

By David Kinkade - September 15, 2008 6:49 am

While the entire world breathlessly awaits the next twist and turn in the presidential race (lipstick on a pig! McCain doesn’t Twitter!), columnist David Sanders turns his eye to Arkansas to assess elected officials here. Remember those guys? Among the findings:

Does Gov. Mike Beebe’s managerial style include communicating with state agencies? A frustrated Sanders source in state government says “not so much.” (Earlier this year, we learned that Beebe had eliminated Cabinet meetings from the governor’s agenda.)

Sanders credits Lt. Gov. Bill Halter for standing by his guns on the lottery initiative, and reports that anti-lottery forces are “testing a few ideas as they gear up to take on Halter’s lottery proposal.” “Testing?” “Gearing up”? As early voting starts in a little over a month, they might want to get moving on that.

As Attorney General Dustin McDaniel wades into the minefield of illegal immigration, will he provoke a significant response from immigration restrictionists? (It’s a good test case for my earlier “illegal immigration is waning as a political issue” hypothesis.)

Read the whole thing.

Convenience Store Trade Group Endorses Lottery

By David Kinkade - September 9, 2008 10:44 am

Chalk up another one for Lt. Gov. Bill Halter’s state lottery: The Arkansas Oil Marketers’ Association, a trade group that represents some 3,000 convenience stores in the state, has endorsed the lottery proposal that voters will weigh in November, the AP reports.

Update: Apparently, these guys put up a website in 1995 and have never changed it since.

Arkansas Lottery Push Scores $11K

By David Kinkade - September 5, 2008 8:27 pm

Lt. Gov. Bill Halter’s campaign for a state lottery raised another $11,000 last month, bringing Arkansas that much closer to the wondrous world of scratch-off tickets and gambling addiction.

The campaign has raised over $563,000 total, with almost $70,000 cash on hand, the AP reports. (Wait, what? They’ve already dropped half a mil on this thing? What on earth for? That’s a snappy new website, but if they paid $500,000 for it, they got hosed.)

On the other side, I hear that lottery opponents reported receiving a smooth $67.50 and some coupons for half-off at Jiffy Lube.

Brother Bill’s Arkansas Lottery Traveling Salvation Show

By David Kinkade - August 20, 2008 7:51 am

Lt. Gov. Bill Halter: Yeah, that's the ticket!

Lt. Gov. Bill Halter took his Arkansas Lottery Traveling Salvation Show to Springdale on Tuesday, where he pitched the plan to the Senior Democrats organization.

Reporter Tracie Dungan from the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette notes that several attendees flatly stated that they opposed the plan. While some folks have argued for setting a minimum percentage of lottery revenues to be dedicated to scholarships, Halter says that’s not part of his plan:

Lottery directors in other states have cautioned against mandating a scholarship percentage.

“They’ve found that simply doesn’t work,” Halter told the Senior Democrats of Northwest Arkansas during a luncheon speech and question session in Springdale.

The other states have found that such commitments can drive the prize jackpots down, hurting a state’s competitiveness with lotteries in other states, Halter said, surmising that residents of the state’s northwest corner are familiar with lotteries in neighboring Missouri and Oklahoma.

Arkansas Family Council head Jerry Cox chimes in with some relevant questions, but without a well-funded organized opposition, the lottery issue looks like a runaway train.

The Arkansas Project’s Freeman Hunt laid out her brief against the state lottery here, and I covered disputes between state legislators and Halter on the issue here.

About That Lottery….

By David Kinkade - August 4, 2008 3:33 pm

Warren Stephens

Lt. Gov. Bill Halter’s drive to create a state-run lottery for college scholarships got a big shot in the arm with a $50,000 contribution last month from Little Rock financier Warren Stephens, reports the AP’s Andrew Demillo. The lottery initiative was always believed to enjoy pretty broad popular support, based upon polling data, but more and more it’s looking like a runaway train, isn’t it? If lottery foes are planning to launch any serious opposition, they’re going to need to get moving.

The Lottery Song

By David Kinkade - July 30, 2008 8:27 pm

Bud Jackson: Halter spokesman, charmless vulgarian

Over at the Arkansas Times blog, Max Brantley digs up a nice little nugget from the Chronicle of Higher Education. A Rhodes College professor with some expertise on state-run lotteries, during a recent lecture at the Clinton School for Public Service in Little Rock, ventured some criticism, noting that lotteries are a particularly regressive vehicle for generating state revenue. (You can read the professor’s full recounting here—recommended).

Fair enough. Let’s get all sides out there, right?

Well, no, not if you’re Arkansas Lt. Gov. Bill Halter.

The lottery, as you well know, is Halter’s pet issue, upon which he has staked his short-lived political career—so those who would question the scheme can’t be debated. They must be shouted down, belittled and bullied.

That job fell to Halter’s spokesman Bud Jackson, a Virginia-based political consultant who, based upon his regularly published comments in the newspaper, is as charmless a vulgarian who ever drew breath, and who clearly relishes his role as Halter’s pit bull.

Jackson’s response, as Halter’s mouthpiece, showed up in the paper the following day:

Halter spokesman Bud Jackson said Arkansans ‘are smart enough to trust the facts over some kooky college professor trying to turn a quick buck with a book that is several chapters short of being an honest and complete representation of reality.’

Arkansans ‘would also be thrilled to know that the kooky professor would prefer tax hikes for all people rather than a voluntary game that would benefit tens of thousands of Arkansans with new scholarships.’

Brantley points out, quite rightly, that Jackson’s response was “over-the-top” and characterized Jackson as “bumptious” (great word). That sparked another response from Jackson, which I’ll let you read over at Max’s blog.

But this is all a long way around of noting that if Halter is looking to win friends and influence people on this issue and others, a good place to start might be placing a muzzle on his overly aggressive and embarrassing spokesman. Bud Jackson, as a political consultant, is no doubt making plenty of money off Halter and the state of Arkansas. But that doesn’t change the fact that he’s low rent.