Election Updates: MS01 and MS04

Majority in Mississippi - MS-01: Huckabee Endorses Nunnelee

Y'all Politics - Former Eupora mayor Henry Ross considering testing Nunnelee for Childers seat

Majority in Mississippi - Ross Still Interested In MS-01

Hattiesburg American - Tegerdine to take on Taylor

JoeTegerdine.com - 15 County Sprint

Bennie Thompson's Reading List

The Hill asks Bennie Thompson what he likes to read.

What magazines do you read regularly?
North American Hunter. Mississippi Game & Fish.

What books have most influenced your political philosophy?
The Autobiography of Malcolm X. All the King’s Men. George Orwell’s 1984.

Which author do you most often reference?
I usually reference politicians, like Woodrow Wilson and Lyndon Johnson.

What are your favorite novels of all time?
All the King’s Men.

Gregg Harper on 10.2% unemployment: "disturbing" numbers,

NJ / VA Elections' Impact in Mississippi

Majority in Mississippi asks whether last night's elections have an impact on the reelection of Congressman Travis Childers in the First District. The post concludes,

"What we knew before has not changed: the voters are conservative, they have a history of supporting local Democrats and national Republicans, and want someone who can appeal to them. The one thing I would be nervous about if I was Childers is turnout. Black voters made up about 20 percent of the Virginia electorate in 2008 with Obama on the top of the ballot. That was down to around 15 percent this time around without Obama. It is no secret that Childers benefited from that turnout a year ago. And signs indicate it will not be there for him in 2010."

It is interesting the day after those elections, Travis Childers announces he will NOT vote for the Democratic health care plan,

"First and foremost, I cannot vote for legislation with this big of a price tag in today's economic climate. I would also like to see legislation that contains stronger language to prohibit federal funding for abortion and provides equal access to care for individuals in rural communities. My concerns in these areas have not been sufficiently addressed by this legislation."

If that isn't clear enough, Gene Taylor spells it out for the Democrats,

"The House leadership needs to pay attention to what happened in Virginia."

Tuesday Digest

The Commercial Appeal writes about the upcoming anticipated Childers-Nunnelee race: Nunnelee, GOP take aim at Childers. Majority in Mississippi posts Nunnelee takes a swing at Pelosi-Care. Human Events says if Childers joins the Democrats in supporting the House health care bill, he will be one of Pelosi’s Kamikazes.

Respond Mississippi posts an update on the ethics investigation regarding Bennie Thompson's travel.

Charles Dunagin from the McComb Enterprise Journal writes:

Third District U.S. Rep. Gregg Harper probably will remain the McComb area’s congressman as long as he wants to be -- barring significant realignment of his district. But some of the other flippant answers given by Harper in the interview, as reported on the Internet, would make good advertising fodder for an opponent, if Harper ever has a serious one.

Meanwhile, Y'all Politics posts that Harper will have a teletown hall tonight for people in Oktibbeha, Winston, and Noxubee Counties.

Gene Taylor opposes the FDA's new Gulf Coast oyster regulations in the Sun Herald and Press Register. He also opposes the Richton Salt Dome project funding. But he supports the "Interstate 10 connector road that would tie the shopping mecca of Sangani Boulevard to Washington Avenue north of I-10."

Friday Digest: Thompson and Security; Campaign News

Bennie Thompson writes in The Hill that steps must be taken to protect chemical plants from terrorist attacks. But Bill Allmond, vice president of the Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates, argues that Thompson's approach is wrong.

However, DHS’s mandate is to secure the assets at these facilities, not substitute or replace them, as the congressman suggests. If proponents for government-mandated product substitution get their way, a shortage or elimination of common products, like ibuprofen, could become reality.

Meanwhile Respond Mississippi praises a recent article by Thompson calling for protection of the nation's electrical grid.

Thompson is also concerned over the nation's preparations in H1N1 cases.

The chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee on Wednesday said health authorities were underprepared for the increase in H1NI cases.

Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) also said federal agencies would be in bad shape if a mutated strain of H1N1 developed or if the nation faced another public health crisis while dealing with the so-called swine flu.

“If this virus mutates or something else comes along, how is the vehicle to get us going in a manner any different than what we did with H1N1?” Thompson said in an interview.

The Desoto Times predicts "DeSoto a major player in Childers, Nunnelee race." The Picayune Item reports on a visit by Gene Taylor's opponent, "Tegerdine makes whistle stop in Picayune to kick off his congressional campaign against Taylor." And Charlie Mitchell writes about the power of the incumbency, "Congress has evolved so that most seats are safe."

Gregg Harper continues his opposition to the Democratic health care plan.

Gregg Harper: A Government Takeover of Health Care

Tuesday Digest: Thompson in KY, Childers on Health Care, Taylor in Seapower Mag

Bennie Thompson to keynote Louisville Urban League's Annual Report Luncheon in Kentucky on December 4.

Travis Childers "has introduced a bill on the House floor that would extend the first-time homebuyer tax credit and expand the provision to include all homebuyers purchasing a primary residence. The $8,000 federal tax credit is set to expire Nov. 30 and Childers' bill would extend it through 2010."

Opponents of Consumer Financial Protection Bill Got Big Money from Wall Street Interests - Opponents of the legislative proposal received an average of 20 percent more in contributions from financial interests over the past two-and-a-half years than the bill's supporters, a Center for Responsive Politics review has found. Travis Childers voted "no" and received $246,914 according to CRP.

Travis Childers on health care: "The best way to lower costs is to increase competition. A public option is not the only way to do this. I believe a health care exchange will create sufficient competition within the insurance marketplace without a public option. If it does not, then we need to act accordingly to continue to bring down the cost of health insurance premiums.”

Joe Tegerdine of Petal announces run against Gene Taylor: "A 'no' vote is not enough."

Gene Taylor is interviewed by Seapower Magazine (ht Slabbed). He discusses the challenges of aging equipment from the Cold War in a tight budget, and the anticipation of greater Congressional oversight on shipbuilding.

Politico Questions Gregg Harper

Politico - Get To Know A Congressman - Gregg Harper

Freshman Gregg Harper (R-Miss.) tells us what he learned from his mentors Haley Barbour and Trent Lott — and what exactly happens in the Sportsmen’s Caucus.

Why do you think the majority of congressional representatives are lawyers, like yourself?

I could tell you, but then I’d have to sue you.

What’s the best advice your pal Haley Barbour ever gave you?

Maintain your old contacts, and stay in touch with your local leaders back home. Continue to work on your grass-roots efforts. No one “gets it” more than Haley.

Trent Lott?

Learn the rules of the House and always stick with your friends. Trent has always been there for me and has been a living example of what loyalty means.

What in the world does the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus do?

We hunt liberal, tree-hugging Democrats, although it does seem like a waste of good ammunition.

You’re an avid autograph collector. Who’s your dream signature?

I would like to acquire a document autographed by John Witherspoon, who signed the Declaration of Independence and is one of my American heroes. Witherspoon was a Presbyterian minister, was the president of the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) and influenced many of our early political leaders.

Ole Miss or Mississippi State?

Yes.

Have you broken your streak of not introducing any bills yet?

Bill who?

What’s the biggest misunderstanding people in Washington have about folks from Mississippi?

Folks have a common misconception that Mississippi is strictly a rural, outdoors state. While we are famous for our hunting, sport fishing and year-round golf, we also have leading manufacturers like Peavey Electronics and Viking Range Corp.

Who is your favorite Mississippi literary great: Eudora Welty or William Faulkner?

Neither. I’ll take my law school classmate John Grisham any day.

Tuesday Digest: Gene Taylor, Bennie Thompson, Childers v Nunnelee

Sid Salter Blog - Gene Taylor: Calls it like he sees it

Y'all Politics - RollCall - Travis Childers likely an underdog if political shift continues

Y'all Politics - Cook Report puts Childers, Nunnelee race as a toss up

Clarion Ledger - Childers-Nunnelee race gains national attention

Sun Herald - Gene Taylor: Stennis could be home to Riverines

Roll Call - Bennie Thompson Column: Computers Present Security Challenge

2009 3rd Quarter FEC Reports

Childers for Congress
Raised: $274,464.26
Spent: $49,650.04
Cash On Hand: $507,220.73
Debt: $100,000.00
Note Contribution Includes: $1000 from Ronnie Musgrove and $1000 from Musgrove for U.S. Senate

Nunnelee for Congress
Raised: $219,954.00
Spent: $38,790.63
cash On Hand: $181,163.37
Note Contributions Include: $1000 from HALEYS PAC and $1000 from Friends of Phil Bryant

Friends of Bennie Thompson
Raised: $305,482.53
Spent: $146,760.55
Cash On Hand: $1,738,288.68
Note Transfer to DCCC: $100,000.01
Report Not Yet Posted at FEC.gov for Second District PAC or Secure PAC

Gregg Harper for Congress
Raised: $142,792.60
Spent: $47,807.53
Cash On Hand: $155,800.67
Note: GREGG PAC also raised $5000; Spent $2000; and has $4,301.01 Cash On Hand

Gene Taylor for Congress
Raised: $65,234.98
Spent: $49,185.55
Cash On Hand: $216,492.64

Gene Taylor calls Michigan Governor Granholm's remarks against Mississippi "stupid"

"That was a really stupid thing for her to say and she should come and visit Mississippi before she says a stupid thing again," Congressman Gene Taylor said joining Treasurer Tate Reeves, Senator Dean Kirby, Senator Roger Wicker, and Lieutenant Governor Phil Bryant in responding to Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm's remarks about Mississippi.