Thursday, August 11, 2011

WAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

The Madison County Journal published a story that was downright funny:

"Accusations fly in heated senate race
By STEVEN G. WATSON
Associate Editor

MADISON - At a political forum five days before last week's primary election, Charles Barbour thanked Will Longwitz for running a clean campaign in the District 25 Senate race. It seems that was the last time either candidate had something nice to say about the other.

The race for District 25 has gotten heated in the last two weeks as Barbour and Longwitz trade barbs leading up to a runoff election Tuesday, Aug. 23. Neither received more than 50 percent of the vote in the Aug. 2 Republican primary.

From a debate over the candidates' NRA ratings (both received As), to arguments over basic semantics and even a rumor one has cancer, both camps are crying foul and the battle is being waged through mail outs and calls to voters.

Barbour says Longwitz started the fracas with a misleading mail out questioning his voting record as a Hinds County Supervisor.

Longwitz says Barbour should be held accountable for his voting record and that the questions are valid.

Barbour says Longwitz has a history of "sleazy politics" and misrepresents his qualifications.

Longwitz says Barbour is desperate and trying smear his name instead of talking about the issues.

The two are even arguing whether or not they had an agreement not to run negative campaigns.

And so it goes as the District 25 race, which along with races for sheriff and justice court judge, will highlight the runoff election in Madison County.

Barbour said the whole thing started with an "attack piece" mailed out to Northeast Jackson by the Longwitz camp the weekend before the primary.

The mailer calls into question Barbour's time as a Hinds County Supervisor, claiming he voted to "raid" the Hinds County E-911 fund and increase the county's debt.

Barbour said the accusations in the mail out are ridiculous and at best taken out of context.

"Saying 'raided' implies stealing and every financial transaction Hinds County makes is monitored by the State Auditor and Attorney General," Barbour said, explaining that any funds taken from the E-911 fund were later replaced as part of the budget process.

He also pointed to Hinds County's bond rating that was upgraded while he was on the board.

"The rating agencies had great confidence in what I did as a supervisor," Barbour said. "And I'm extremely proud of my record as a supervisor."

Longwitz denies that the mail out was dirty.

"We haven't done anything but state my opponent's voting record," he said. "The votes he took are bad for Hinds County and he should explain them."

Since the mail out, the Barbour camp fired back with calls in Madison County that Longwitz described as "push polls."

The calls assert that Longwitz lied about his rating with the NRA when he claimed to have the organization's top rating.

Longwitz received an "AQ" rating from the NRA, while Barbour received an "A." Both are not the highest rating given by the NRA, which is an "A+."

However, technically Longwitz's "AQ" rating is the top rating he can receive since he has never held public office and has no voting record.

Longwitz called the calls from Barbour's camp despicable and underhanded.

"The dirty and dishonest telephone push polls that they've brought into Madison County need to stop," he said. "That's dirty politics and Madison County doesn't want it.

"I'm going to continue talking about why I am the best candidate for this district," he continued. "I want to keep talking about jobs, economic growth and lower taxes. If my opponent wants to run a dirty campaign that's up to him."

Barbour would not apologize for the accusations about his opponents NRA rating.

"He lied about it," he said simply. "He claimed to be top rated and he's not."

Barbour went even further saying this type of thing is an example of how Longwitz "stretches the truth," noting the campaign he ran against Steve Ratcliffe in the 2010 Madison County Court Judge race.

"If you look at the sleaze he put out towards Ratcliffe he's done the same thing to me," Barbour said.

Longwitz, who garnered the majority of votes in the Aug. 2 primary, denies running a negative campaign and says his opponent is desperately trying to change the conversation from what it should be about.

"They know that the voters of this district have made their choice and all they can do is go dirty and negative," Longwitz said. "I'm talking about my ideas and my plans for this district. We're also talking about my opponent's record, if that's upsetting to him he should address it."

Along with all the finger-pointing Longwitz said they've even stooped to starting rumors or a "whisper campaign" claiming he has cancer, which he said was completely false.

Barbour outright denies starting any such rumors asking why he would want to give his opponent the "sympathy vote?"

The two are even arguing over whether an agreement was reached six months before the election not to run a negative campaign.

Barbour claims the two promised to concentrate on their own ideas and qualifications and not run negative things about each other.

"We had an agreement and I think it's fundamental to this argument that one of us has violated that agreement and led to all this unpleasantness," he said.

Longwitz denies there was ever any deal and again says all he is doing is talking about the issues and who is most qualified for District 25.

"I never talked to my opponent about any back room deal," Longwitz said. "If he believes there is one then he has broken it.

"The only deal I have with my opponent is the same deal I have with the voters of District 25, and that is to talk about how I would perform as their next state Senator," he added.

Longwitz is an attorney in private practice and lives in Madison. Barbour, a Jackson resident, is retired from the U.S. Military and is in real estate management.

Whoever wins the Republican nomination will face Democrat Cecilia Sampayo in the Nov. 8 General Election.
"

I read this story to a certain county GOP chairman last night over the phone and by the time we got through with it, we were both laughing so hard there might have been a small tremor in Jackson. How old are Charles and Will? 5? Make him stop touching me!! HE started it!!! No, HE started it!!! He's lying!! No, HE'S lying!!! HE started it!!! STOP TOUCHING ME!!! Waaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!!!

Message to both candidates: Both of y'all, KNOCK IT OFF!!!

96 comments:

Anonymous said...

I hate to disagree with KF when he asks the candidates to KNOCK IT OFF...i say PLEASE DONT STOP!!!! This is good stuff....and re-affirms what people have been saying to me about this race for months...DO I REALLY HAVE TO VOTE FOR ONE OF THESE GUYS? YES...YES YOU DO...So MAN-UP and vote.....GOOB-OUR or Geek-Witz. Im just glad football is about to start soon...i need something manly to watch now!!!

Anonymous said...

Im just glad football is about to start soon ...

Anybody interested in joining a fantasy football league of JJ readers?

Curt Crowley said...

I don't know Will Longwitz personally. I've met him a couple of times and he seems like a nice guy. His relentless campaigning has opened him up to ridicule (I've taken a good-natured shot at him myself). That being said, Charles Barbour needs to lose the bush-league tactics.

In government, "raided" doesn't mean stealing. Raided means that a politician takes funds intended for one public purpose, and uses them to pay for another unintended public purpose. The only one who mentioned "stealing" is Barbour himself. I'm not accusing Barbour of doing anything wrong, but that sounds awfully defensive to me.

As far as sleaze against Judge Ratcliff, I don't recall Longwitz attacking Ratcliff. Longwitz's supporters may have engaged in some puffery about his qualifications, but I never heard any sleaze. Ratcliff was far and away more qualified to be county court judge. The right man won that race. For Barbour to resurrect that campaign smacks of desperation.

As far as the NRA rating, the NRA notified Longwitz of his rating by letter on July 11. The same day, Longwitz posted the original letter on his website. How can it be argued that Longwitz misrepresented his rating, when he published the original letter from the NRA--the NRA's own words--on his website?

From now on, before Charles Barbour does anything, he needs to ask himself this question: Would Haley do this? If the answer is no, then he shouldn't either.

Anonymous said...

Yes I agree with Kingfish for once. These two are acting like jealous brats in the school yard arguing about who gets picked last for dodgeball.

Barbour is a sleazeball with a piss poor record to run on and Longwitz doesnt have a record or a job for that matter, so has to make things up like being a federal prosecutor to beef up the fact he has never done anything but try to run for office.

John Dennery where are you when we need you?

Shadowfax said...

yada yada yada. Already read as much of that drivel as I could handle. Makes me very very tired to read that kind of crap, plus each paragraph (and there were a hundred of them) contains an average of something like 20 words. What a piss poor job of article submission. But every new graduate has to start somewhere. PS: since I quit halfway into the article I might have missed the part where they argue over who is or HAS the biggest prick.

Anonymous said...

Longwitz's 'Thad' mailer was a big time stupid move.

Anderson said...

Yah, the "Thad" postcard gives one no confidence in Longwitz's integrity. And I already doubted Barbour's. I will probably skip that one ... or write in "Kingfish"?

-- Anyone heard of any endorsements in the Madison sheriff's race? That's the runoff that will drag me to the polls.

Kingfish said...

The postcard was signed by Thad McLaurin, husband of Mary McLaurin and was sent to local people he knew. Kind of like when I talk to Bill Billingsley I would mention "leland". Well, I assumed he knew I meant Speed, he immediately thought the first few times I mean the guy who ran for Supe. This is much ado about nothing and we'll have a haha about it for a day or two.

Anonymous said...

You go ahead and believe all that Fish.

Anderson said...

OK, so if not Longwitz's integrity, then just his plain good sense. The inability to grasp how one's actions will be perceived is not, I submit, a qualification for politics.

But again, good sense is not something I associate w/ Chas. Barbour either.

Anonymous said...

Let me get this straight. A man named Thad must now refer to himself by his full name when writing to a friend lest he be confused with another Thad? That's the stupidest thing I have ever heard. Charles has nothing to run on, so he runs from, while trying to run his opponent into the ground.

Bush League Barbour needs to give it up. His last name ain't enough to make him look smart, especially if he opens his mouth to speak.

Anonymous said...

isn't it odd that Sampayo is running in that race? didn't she work for Barbour and then he got her a job with Mcmillin?
???????

Anonymous said...

Longwitz is unproven, Barbour has proven to be bad. Not much of a choice, but it is a clear choice.

Shadowfax said...

Assuming the district is not totally within Madison County, does Mike Kent opining that the winner must reside within the county suggest those who live elsewhere need not care where the victor lives?

Kent, in a separate piece on here (I believe one of those 'break one-nine' for a commercial threads), says he supports Barbour's opponent because the victor needs to live in Madison Co. in order to properly serve the needs of the school district (of which Kent is superintendant and from which he is about to retire). So, Kent is in someone's hip pocket. I think Kent needs to keep his trap shut until he is out of 'office'.

Anonymous said...

So I guess Walter Michelle did not represent Madison County schools well by Kent's logic.

Anonymous said...

I think Shadowfax is in someone's hip pocket.

Anderson said...

"So, Kent is in someone's hip pocket."

Did you omit a premise, Shadowfax? Because that conclusion makes no sense as you've presented it.

Anonymous said...

The Thad signature in question looks nothing like Senator Thad's signature, it's pretty clear that this was not malicious. Just a distraction from the fact that Charles Barbour voted to raid the 911 fund and make Hinds county less safe.

Good strategy though.

Anonymous said...

seriously - are people really making a ruckus about a piece of mail sent out by an individual and NOT THE CAMPAIGN? I sent out post cards for another candidate that the candidate gave me to my friends. I signed my first name, like i always do on postcards. it never dawned on me to worry about if i was going to mistaken for someone else. Frank Corder even wrote about this. why are people worked up about this? geez - ousin

Anonymous said...

Too bad for Longwitz as his stupid stunt has now brought him national focus for being a boob.

Anonymous said...

So to replace someone like Walter Michel, we're down to these two...

Longwitz could screw up a one car funeral. He absolutely blew an easy race last time against Ratcliff, when Longwitz was endorsed openly by GOP bigwigs such as Haley, Mayors Mary and McGee, and other big Madison Cty GOPs. Now, with this Thad fiasco, he is on the verge of blowing this one. He has given Charles barbour the hook the needs to hang his hat on, regarding ammunition to close out the campaign with.

Of course, it remains to be seen as to whether Charles is savvy enough to know how to take advantage of it.

Anderson said...

Longwitz kinda reminds me of the Reese Witherspoon character in that "Election" movie.

Just really, really wants to be elected to SOMETHING -- judge, legislator, whatever.

Speaking of which, how much do justice court judges make, and is the annual salary enough for Louvier to pay for all those signs?

Anonymous said...

The back and forth doesn't benefit either candidate. Will should win this race with 2/3's of the district in Madison County, but Barbour is effectively distracting him from running a solid campaign at this point.

In terms of the mailer, that is a load of hogwash. Postcards were given out to Will's supporters for them to write personal notes and send the cards to friends. Will didn't dictate content and he didn't tell me people how to sign the cards. Thad McLaurin signed the cards "Thad" on his own and sent them to friends. To portray this as some orchestrated scheme to mislead is just silly.

Anderson said...

2:40 -- "and he didn't tell *me* people how to sign the cards"

Mr. McLaurin? Is that you? May I call you "Thad"?

... It certainly is possible that McLaurin, not Longwitz, was the doofus here. "Protect me from my friends" should be in every politician's prayers at night.

Anonymous said...

Whether Longwitz did this intentionally (and I dont think he did) or not.....it kills him. He doesn't have a record and now he looks like a liar, even if he isnt. The press release from the senators office really does him in.

Anonymous said...

Why did McLaurin then send the cards to people in NE Jackson that he doesn't know?

Longwitz is caught in a lie. Plain and simple.

Kingfish said...

I'm sure if Will Longwitz said hi to you you would accuse him of influence peddling or something similar. That is how bad this race has gotten.

Anonymous said...

3:12 Thad McLaurin along with many other volunteers wrote postcards for Will. To take a postcard written by Thad McLaurin and say it was written by Thad Cochran, or implied, or whatever other nonsense you are saying, is just garbage.
Charles Barbour should be ashamed. This makes him look really stupid.
Will Longwitz is by far the best choice in this race, and I will be voting for him again on August 23.

Anonymous said...

It really is a simple question and the evasion glaringly obvious.

Why did McLaurin send the postcards simply signed 'Thad' to people he does not know in NE Jackson?

bill said...

Crap. I just heard from President Clinton. He said I'm not allowed to impersonate him anymore when I send post cards. My friend Hillary is in trouble as well...

This is silly. A campaign volunteer signed his first name only. The candidate didn't have anything to do with it. If that was what Will was trying to do, why not find someone named Haley to send out some cards as well? Or even Charles? Lots of people named Charles out there, and I'm sure one of them in Madison County is going to vote for Will and might be interested in volunteering to send some postcards on his behalf. To think the candidate had some sort of treachery planned with Thad McLaurin means that you don't know either man. Bill Billingsley

Anonymous said...

"He looked at me! Mom, make him stop"

Anonymous said...

Longwitz doesn't have a record to attack, so Barbour's campaign had to resort to personal attacks well before the primary (i.e., Longwitz is a gay communist sympathizer who voted for Obamacare because he has cancer that he caught from one of the murders he represented). Part of that strategy is to preemptively drill it in to voters' heads that Longwitz is running a dirty campaign so Lonqwitz can't respond to the Barbour camp's attacks without confirming he is a "dirty" campaigner. This is not a brilliant new campaign tactic, invented by Barbour and used for the first time here, but Longwitz is having trouble dealing with it.

Although Longwitz is the better candidate, his campaign is no match for the Barbour Machine. He will not beat them at their own game. He will have to reinvent the game if he is going to have a chance. My advice is: throw away the playbook (they wrote it), start calling plays at the line, and don't count on your defense.

Also, take Georgia and the points versus Boise State.

Anonymous said...

If your opponent accurately reports your record, and you accuse him of violating his promise to run a clean campaign, what does that say about how you view the worth of your own record?

Anonymous said...

Bill, why did McLaurin send the postcards simply signed 'Thad' to people he does not know in NE Jackson?

Anonymous said...

And word on the street is that the Thad Cochran who represents Mississippi in the United States Senate is none too happy with this high school campaign prank.

Shadowfax said...

Anderson; sorry you missed the 'premise'. I covered it by repeating Kent's strong support of one candidate and by pointing out how weak Kent's logic for that decision seems to be (gotta live here to represent us). You don't read well do you? You can find more on the Kent endorsement thread on here which was also referenced.

I'm in nobody's hip pocket. Don't know that I would recognize either candidate. Well, let me take that back. I did see a commercial with Longwitz and his family walking through a meadow of some sort.

Anderson said...

Jere Nash on dirty campaign tricks?

Really?

Anonymous said...

3:58 Thad McLaurin grew up in NE Jackson, as did generations and generations of his family. There are plenty of people in NE Jackson who know Thad McLaurin, which is why he sent his postcards to people in NE Jackson.
And I understand Thad Cochran has been made aware that he's been fooled by Bumbling Bitter Barbour and is very unhappy.

Anonymous said...

No surprise who Jere's pulling for in this race. The dems/former dems gotta stick together!

Anderson said...

"Anderson; sorry you missed the 'premise'. I covered it by repeating Kent's strong support of one candidate and by pointing out how weak Kent's logic for that decision seems to be (gotta live here to represent us)."

Kent cares about Madison County schools, and thus thinks someone who lives in Madison County (and sends his kids to school here) will be a better rep than someone who does not.

That's not "weak logic." Nor does it imply that he is in someone's "hip pocket" -- "completely under someone's control," as the dictionary defines the phrase.

But doubtless my weak reading skills are to blame.

Anonymous said...

The best question that has been asked several times is if this were just a volunteer post card that Thad McLaurin sent to his friends, then was it actually sent to people he didn't know? If so, it seems to me he would have signed his full name.

Likewise, does anyone have multiple versions of this mail piece? It would be interesting to see if they were actually handwritten or computer generated as well.

If I knew Thad McLaurin and got a note from him I'm sure I'd think nothing of it. If I didn't know him and got the note I suspect I would think "who is Thad" or very likely "is this Thad Cocrhan"?

Anonymous said...

4:50 PM. Answer the question. Why was the McLaurin 'Thad' signed postcard, regardless of his origins, his generational family history and where he grew up, sent to people who have never met McLaurin in NE Jackson?

BUT thanks for debunking the earlier lies that the cards were only sent to people McLaurin knew. Because we all know that is 100% pure unadulterated bullshit.

Best Regards, Ronald said...

The best question that has been asked several times is if this were just a volunteer post card that Thad McLaurin sent to his friends, then was it actually sent to people he didn't know? If so, it seems to me he would have signed his full name.

The Longwitz camp doesn't want to answer that question because they know they've been caught.

Anonymous said...

Unless a few hundred voters show up and say "I got the postcard," this just sounds like a case of a) wrong/old addresses for a few people or b) more manufactured bullshit from Barbour.

Anonymous said...

Another ridiculous effort to distract Will. If you knew Thad, you'd know that he is a no nonsense, no bullshit kinda guy. Longwitz didn't ask Thad to impersonate the Senator and Thad wouldn't have agreed to try and mislead anyone if asked. He just signed his damn name. Did he send it to some people that weren't close acquaintances, perhaps. I don't know, but the man has a former Governor in his lineage and his family knows a lot of people. I suspect that the implications being made here are being made by Charles or one of his brothers.

Sincerely Yours, Kirk said...

Sure it is.

Anonymous said...

I suspect 5:50 PM that you are Longwitz himself.

Shadowfax said...

Anderson; It may have eluded you, but another contributor asked, rather parenthetically (above), if Kent's insistence that the victor live in Madison County means Kent is somehow displeased with Michel's representation the last several years when Kent had his most successful years with Mad County schools and the office holder didn't live in these parts. Or is Kent's reasoning simply weak? Or did Thad write Kent's endorsement? Or is Kent looking for a part time gig?

Kingfish said...

waaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh

Anonymous said...

It's too bad Charles would never agree to a debate. This would be a good one.

Anonymous said...

Why debate a candidate who has done nothing except inflate their resume with puffery?

Anonymous said...

I think you're being a little hard on Charles. His resume with the Hinds Co BoS alone made him eligible for several awards in the democratic party. My favorite was when he won JFP politician of the week.

Kingfish said...

If I'm not mistaken, Mr. Michel lived in Madison County for a while. If wrong, I stand corrected.

Anonymous said...

11:28 -- Anyone heard of any endorsements in the Madison sheriff's race? That's the runoff that will drag me to the polls.

Brad Harbour has endorsed Houston.

Mike Crook (former Alderman and Ridgeland resident, according to his Facebook endorsement) has endorsed Tucker.

Haven't heard of any others.

bill said...

I sent out a number of these postcards for Will Longwitz. Many of mine went to friends, and I signed my first name only to most of those. Some went to people I don't know but who might have recognized my name from some of the political things I've done in the past. Those I signed with my full name. All my cards were hand written and signed by me - no printer or copier. I thought that people might be more likely to pay attention to something that was hand written and signed by someone they know - or might know - than they would one of the many pieces of direct mail that deluged us all in the last couple of weeks of the campaign. It's good political strategy to make a piece of mail be as personal as possible, and I think it was smart of Will to allow his supporters to do help him in this manner. There were no guidelines or suggestions as to what I was supposed to write, and Will certainly didn't have to tell me how to sign my name.

But I'm not defending Will Longwitz. There are obvious posters hereto - mostly anonymous, of course - who would continue to criticize Will if he discovered the cure to the cancer he was supposed to have had. I'm here to defend my friend Thad McLaurin. He was simply trying to do the same thing I was, the same thing dozens of volunteers did for Will - send out some postcards. He is a decent and honorable man, and those of you - including Charles Barbour or anyone else in his family or on his campaign staff - who accuse him of this kind of trickery should be ashamed of yourselves. Do you know Thad? His wife? His family? Candidates know that a certain amount of BS is expected, but Thad isn't the candidate. It's gone too far when a volunteer like him, dedicated to the Republican Party and its ideals, is accused of such dishonesty. This needs to stop, and a lot of people owe Thad McLaurin an apology. Bill Billingsley

Anonymous said...

Does anyone else see that (mostly) everyone on this blog is trying to defend Longwitz about this "Thad" debacle? I really dont think that Longwitz intentionally did anything wrong but the controversy and defense of him will kill his chances.

Anyone disagree?

Anonymous said...

Yes, I disagree. This is doing nothing but making Charles Barbour look like the total jerk he is.

Shadowfax said...

Who knows where Michel lived or lives, or cares. He moves around. Kent's point was that in order to represent the interests of Madison County, one must live in Madison County. Can we all agree that's hogwash. Or Kentwash.

Anonymous said...

Barbour had a meet and greet at Madison Central and was 30 minutes late for it because, ......get this, ......... he didn't know where in the hell it was! Then he was dumb enough to tell everyone why he was late! Get a clue Charles. If you'd ever spent time in Madison County, you might learn that they actually still have public schools there, they work pretty well, and they're (justifiably) proud of them.

Anonymous said...

Barbour doesn't give a damn, or know anything about, Madison County, and with the exception of a very select few, he does not give a damn about NE Jackson.

Despite a life spent, directly or indirectly, on the government tit, he has accomplished nothing positive he can run on. You can expect nothing but attack ads and direct mail from here on out from Charles, per his usual m.o.

Anonymous said...

When Yazoo City got slammed with a tornado a year or so ago, and we were kept out of the city by the police blocking Hwy 49, Charles Barbour took a chainsaw and cleared a tree blocking the driveway of my 93-year-old mother-in-law.

Obviously he's getting our vote, because that spells character to me. His opponent just seems too desperate for some kind of power and public paycheck; he needs to work a real job and accomplish something before running for office.

Anonymous said...

It would have been a lot funnier if you said all that and then, "obviously, I'm voting against the s.o.b."

Anonymous said...

Seriously? Haley owns Katrina. I don't think you'll be able to repackage that and put your name on it. I look forward to the ads, though.

Delbert-esque old lady on park bench with Charles: (visibly shaken) "Those storms that came, really scared me. A tree fell right on top of me, and I had almost given up, when I heard that chainsaw and saw Charles Barbour. Without him, I would have never seen my grandchildren again" (shot of granndkids singing in church)

Charles (earnest, humble): "That's right [old lady], when I heard what had happened to the hard working, good people of my hometown, I told those democrats in Washington that they could shove their new taxes and I drove all night and brought my chainsaw, and a photographer, and rolled up the sleeves on my nice but not too expensive shirt, and I cleared the roads just like I'll clear the way to a better future for all of us."

Old Lady (visibly angry): Not like that bad, bad man Will Longwitz. Did you know he's Jewish?"

Charles (laughing good-naturedly): Now, now granny.

Paid for by No One Actually in the District

Anonymous said...

Thad said it perfectly! I agree with Thad and Mike Kent, Will Longwitz is THE MAN! Will Longwitz will get my family's vote and SUPPORT! Will knows where Madison Central High School is! And, he knows where every other school in Madison County is! He knows because he has been to them helping get students registered to vote! And, attending their sporting events and other school activities!

I bet that Charles can't even name all the high schools, much less all the schools in Madison County!

Go WILL! We are proud of you and what you stand for!

Micah Gober said...

I'm sure both Will and Charles are well qualified for the job. Its sad that both are attacking each other.

Kingfish said...

I'm not. Its great for traffic.

Anonymous said...

"Charles Barbour took a chainsaw and cleared a tree blocking the driveway of my 93-year-old mother-in-law."

Considering that he doesn't have a job and lives off his wife, running that chainsaw was probably the most labor he has done in 10 years.

Anderson said...

I hardly think "I want my representative to live where I live" is an odd proposition.

Benny053 said...

Not having lived in the State back in the day with Charles as Supervisor ...one of y'all mentioned his past run ins...so I googled, and this wife stuff is just seedy...http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-501263_162-2968476-501263.html?tag=mncol;lst;1

So why push him off on to the State, then?

DRB said...

Seems to me that anyone not smart enough to know that, if Thad Cochran was going to send a postcard supporting someone, he would sign the card "Thad Cochran", well, they don't need to be voting anyway.

Kingfish said...

As arrogant as Thad's office is, I bet they ALL thought it was about Thad Cochran. Probably never crossed their minds it might be the husband of the CHairwoman of the County Republican Party.

Anderson said...

Seems to me that anyone not smart enough to know that, if Thad Cochran was going to send a postcard supporting someone, he would sign the card "Thad Cochran", well, they don't need to be voting anyway.

You mean, like how his campaign signs all said "Thad Cochran," not just "Thad"?

DRB said...

Apparently.

DRB said...

Just to clear it up, the response at 3:02 was for KF.
Anderson, maybe you don't know the difference between someone having their name on their own campaign sign and someone signing his name on a postcard for some other candidate's campaign, but, I'd bet that pretty much everybody else does.

Anonymous said...

For this "dirty trick" to have any effect, the guy would have had to send this postcard to hundreds of voters who did not know him who would believe it was Cochran. I have yet to see a single person come forward and say they were confused, much less any confused mass of people.

This whole issue was a red herring by the Barbour camp to 1) distract people from considering his record and, most importantly, 2) to keep Longwitz bogged down dealing with a bunch of false accusations instead of getting out the vote. Nobody, including Barbour, believes the post cards fooled anyone (or were even intended to).

Anonymous said...

I just got ANOTHER direct mail attack ad, in addition to the three push polls I've gotten. Somebody is spending a WHOLE hellavalotta money that isn't being reported, and what I'd estimate is 15-20 times senate pay (above the table, and without considering government contracts, on the side).
How sad is it that I don't have to name the candidate for all of us to know exactly who I'm talking about? If you're sick of the government we have, don't just vote. Get other people to vote, too.

Anonymous said...

Will Longwitz is the man... Charles Barbour has managed to sabotage his own campaign with endless attacks against Will... anyone with any gumption knows Charles is grasping for straws and making up the BS he acclaims to Will... What a bunch of boloney! Go Will... you are the man!

Thanks THAD... Thanks MIKE! I agree with you!

Anonymous said...

Wow 11:07! Amazing story... thanks for sharing... for those who don't remember or didn't live here, check this CBS News piece out - Feds Raid Office of Mississippi Governor's KIN

Anonymous said...

My goodness! No wonder Charles is making up crap against Will and flooding the mailways with attacks... trying to keep anyone from discovering his own sleazy past involvement in the sweetest of all sweetheart deals!

Anonymous said...

Who sends anything ramdomly without signing their last name? There is no way to cover this up from being what it is.......a political trick gone bad. Imagine if someone named Haley sent a bunco of cards out with just his first name.

Anonymous said...

6:59 - fail. stick to calling in favors/twisting arms in the rest of the blogesphere. consumers of this website are a little more sophisticated than they are over at the CL

Anonymous said...

@1028.....I don't have a dog in this hunt so I don't know what arm twisting you are referring to and I am not on the CL. I am only pointing out the obvious that this was intended as a slight of hand and it backfired. One doesn't have to be in Barbour camp to call the truth here.

Anonymous said...

If this was, as you claim, a campaign trick designed to fool people into voting for Longwitz, it would have had to have gone out to hundreds, if not thousands, of people (who did not know McLaurin and would confuse him with Cochran) to have any effect. Where are these "duped masses"? On what do you base your assertion that any of McLaurin's cards were sent "randomly?" This is simply a contrived bunch of bullshit by Charles to justify the negative campaign blitz he has been planning from the beginning. If this happened during the primary, why are we just now hearing about it? He has so little to attack in Longwitz that he has had to create a fictional opponent to rail against.

I didn't have a dog in this hunt before, but I do now. I know the men involved. I know their families, and I know (and Charles knows) they've done nothing wrong. Before this latest stunt, I would have made sure to vote in this election. Now, I'm going to spend every day from now until the election calling friends, family and colleagues to let them know what's really going on in this race. People who run campaigns like this should not be elected. People like Charles Barbour should not be in office.

I don't know whether Longwitz can win against one of the most massive, far reaching and powerful political establishments in this Country, but I'm going to have a hard time looking my kids in the eye if I don't try to help him.

Anonymous said...

@11:47 I agree. I've always heard--and so far it holds--that a man will run an office just like he ran to get there. This is the only way the Barbour clan knows how to run a campaign. They use their name to get massive amounts of money for a candidate that they can control (like their dumb-as-a-box-of-rocks brother) and then throw every piece of nasty crap they can at the opponent. They're a bunch of playground bully's and a lot of people are getting tired of their bullshit. Henry is an asshole who has started believing his own press that he is somehow an up and coming star. The heir apparent's to the throne are going to find themselves on a sinking island with all the bridges burned before long.

Anonymous said...

I will NOT vote for Charles Barbour because of his brother Henry's letter I received today. I hate negative campaigns.

Anonymous said...

Amazing that so many think what gets written on this board anonymously has any influence at all.

Anonymous said...

No one in ne jackson should support Longwitz. He has purposely neglected this area until he decided he needed the votes and wanted to run for senate.

Anonymous said...

I don't know of a living sole who would vote for anyone flooding the mailways with such made up $hit as Charles Barbour is spewing out. Now they have enlisted Henry... what a helluva note! Now they are going down hill even faster!

EVERYONE I KNOW IS VOTING LONGWITZ! He's the man!

Anonymous said...

@524. The Longwitz campaign staff would be better served knocking on doors than posting here.

Kingfish said...

Y'all can email me said letters and mailers. I never get them in the mail so it would be interesting to see what they look like. Thanks.

Anonymous said...

Please have a conversation with Charles Barbour before you vote. Just have a conversation with him.

Then imagine his last name is "Andrews" or whatever.

He is as unimpressive as a human being can be.

Anonymous said...

Voters don't appreciate the Barbour's sleazy negative direct mail, nor Henry's attack letter!

Obviously the only thing they can do is to contrive something against Will since Charles Barbour has never accomplished anything positive. Well unless you count the Katrina sweetheart deals tossed his way.

And, yes he loves creative use of 911 fees(taxes on all phone users) as normal County revenues!

The voters of North Jackson have seen Charles Barbour at work and don't like what we saw.

LONGWITZ BY A LANDSLIDE!

Anonymous said...

Put down a marker. Predict the percentage of the vote Longwitz will garner in this "landslide".

Anonymous said...

When Longwitz looses this race I am sure he will suddenly have a lifelong dream to be Coroner. This guy just wants o be in office not serve. Barbour is a true public servant.

Kingfish said...

I'm finding the whole thing amusing. Some trash talk goes on, one candidate takes the bait and sends out a mailer, then the other responds with an artillery barrage that seems more suited for the Somme or Verdun than Eastover except its negative ads instead of ordnance. I wouldn't be surprised if there is a backlash. The B camp made one mistake in the last few days. It will be interesting to see if they figure out what it is.

Anonymous said...

How many campaigns have you run or worked for Kingfish?



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Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


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Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

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