Jackson Jambalaya

Beware, KF. With a poll like that you're probably going to be invaded by ye-ole-campaign-surrogates-posing-as-commentors. They comment something like this:

"So-and-so is a blankety-blank. So-and-so should never have done that thing he did that time and definately isn't the true conservative/liberal/vegetable in this race. I'm going to support Whas-his-name, he'd never do blankety-blank like So-and-so did. Whas-his-name is the only real choice."

It's a predictable formula: name-calling, followed by some real or pretend grievance, followed by a suggestion of a different candidate to support. *Yawn*

From an actual commentor: Dave Dennis, without question. After researching his experience and then meeting him personally, he is clearly the best candidate for Governor. My only concern is his aggressiveness in increasing name recognition throughout the state, but I am hopeful that he will prevail in the end.

Aggressive nature has definitely been lacking. Meanwhile I'm watching Phil, Josh, & Q go for the kill.

How about "none of the above" choice?

I know nothing about any of the candidates. I'm familiar with Phil Bryant simply because he's been around the longest in the media. Something about him doesn't sit well with me, but on the other hand, I know NOTHING about the others. When are they going to go into full on campaign mode? I know I could go to their websites and read about them, but how reliable would that be? They would only be showing their prettiest smiles and shiny personalities. I would love to know the nitty gritty about the candidates in order to make a good decision. I guess I'm going to leave that up to you, KF, to get the transparency going. :-)

Phil is actually taking credit for "working with Delbert" to clarify the redistricting process that Brunini and the SOS did. Phil was never a part of that equation.

Took credit. What a rube.

Dave Dennis is the "clear choice"! If you do not know him, please take the time to get to know him - I think you will like what you see and hear! He is a conservative businessman who only has the best interest of this state at heart. He is not a "business as usual" politiican and has never run for or held public office prior to his current bid for Governor of Mississippi. Check him out before you cast your vote!

Agree with above. Something doesn't sit right with Phil Bryant. He seems to be really pushing the family values angle which scares me. It seems too many family values Republicans get busted for not having any.

My family and I are supporting Dave Dennis. I'm not a fan of career politicians that use too much hair spray...

I agree that I can't vote for Phil Bryant. I have heard some good things about Dennis. BUT, I don't know what ideas any of the candidates have for our State.

The mantra of buzz words " family values", " business", " reduce spending"," no new taxes" or " for education, improving our economy" is wearisome. HOW are they going to do those things and still improve education and roads and fight crime and deal with disasters is what I want to know.

What, pray tell, are these guys going to do differently?

I guess I'll have to vote for who seems the sharpest and least likely to simply help his buddies.

True enough. I'm sick and tired of the damn slogans too. I'm going to cut spending, bring business, not raise taxes, make Mississippi favorable to business, blah blah blah. How about some actual specifics. Dennis has failed in that regard and that is where he should clean Bryant's clock. I would love to see him address a chamber of commerce (minus $390,000) where he gives a 20-30 minute talk on what exactly mississippi can do to bring more industry to the state or how to improve the tax structure. I don't think that is asking too much of someone who served at the Federal Friggin' Reserve. I remember Bill Minor wrote a column about the state's tax structure and blasted businesses. Was a perfect opportunity for a pro-growth candidate to write a serious column explaining why Minor was wrong and blowing his arguments out of the water. Suggested it to the Dennis people. Did they do it? Nope. thank ya much and went back to doing um, something I guess.

The truth is very few campaigns in this year's elections have been well-run with the majority could be classified as mediocre or incompetent. I can pick maybe 4 I've seen that are well run and three or four others that started out mediocre but are definitely improving.

7:31, Phil taking credit for the redistricting decision of the court, or any part of the argument the court adopted, is goddamn laughable. But then again, it's Phil.

KF, Dennis has done that at many talks to groups - he just can't do it in a 30 second commercial. Have you attended any of the functions where Dennis (or Phil, for that matter) has given a talk on substance?

How has the career politician been working for you?

DAVE DENNIS ALL THE WAY!!!!

He has signed many front of checks! No Question he is the MOST QUALIFIED.....

Who said anything about a 30 second commercial? If he had indeed done that then why the heck hasn't someone put it on youtube? Found one video over a couple of minutes and it was only six minutes. Spoke over and over about private sector experience but nothing specific. Believe it or not, there are people that will watch speeches that are more than two minutes long and those people also tend to vote on a regular basis.

7:31 and 8:48,
If Phil let the vote go in the Senate where in the world do you think it would be? Delbert and Phil did a great job in saving our state from a chaotic house for ten more years. Facts are facts!

In speaking to the Capital Area Bar Association last month, after going through his canned right-wing platform (immigration, right to life, health care, etc.) he launched into the state budget. His criteria for deciding what to cut was would someone die because of the cuts. Then he said: "Little Johnny won't die because he doesn't have supplies in the classroom."

The chances of my voting for him was slim to none, but that callous comment sealed the deal. I am not sure who I will vote for, but I KNOW I will not vote for Bryant.

The reason the Senate redistricting was such was mess was because of Phil. No if's, ands, or buts, or despite the propaganda put out by other conservative websites.

Don't forget voter ID that was a SLAM DUNK DONE DEAL before he and his hick ass buddies muddied it up.

Some of the campaign surrogate commentators visiting this site have really stepped up their game. I'm impressed by these comments. It almost looks like real political discourse.

Looks like Dave Dennis has momentum and is rising, but I'm still not impressed with his campaign just yet. He's probably counting on the Neshoba County Fair media coverage to give him a good "outsider clawing his way past the frontrunner" narrative, looking for that to be the game-changer. Might work, but who knows?

Phil Bryant has a great organization, name recognition, and a radio station pumping him up bigtime, but he's also got a bunch of folks mad at him (including DA's and Judges because of the no-pay-raise debacle, fair or not). He's the frontrunner, but I smell some chaos in the air.

This governor's race is REALLY turning into a nail-biter. And I don't have a CLUE who I'm voting for. The only ones I've marked off the list are Johnny Dupree and Ron Williams. So, all you Bryant, Holliday, Dennis, Luckett folks, here's your chance to convince an honest to goodness undecided voter!

I wish you'd added an "undecided" to your poll, KF.

Is Phil still planning to move the state capitol to Rankin County?

If you've ever spent much time around Phil Bryant in person, you know that uneasy feeling several of you mentioned is even stronger in person. He's ruthlessly ambitious, but there's no substance to him. His only concern is serving his political ambition.

I keep hoping the Dave Dennis campaign is going to steam ahead. If it comes down to Bryant and Luckett in the general election, I'll have to vote Luckett--and I'm not a democrat!

ron williams?

Agree, KF and candidates can create websites as well as write letters/guest columns anywhere, including here.

But, as long as " true believer" continues to be a requirement for a campaign strategist, no candidate will be able to get an objective analysis about strategy.

And, as long as MS's GOP can't get their act together to develop a candidate strategy, then we'll be stuck with Mr. Sleazy.

If there was only ONE GOP candidate opposing Mr. Sleazy, we'd be rid of him. His negatives are too high. IF a Democrat could ever beat a Republican on the State level in this state, running against Mr. Sleazy is the best chance they have.

He makes women's skin's crawl , he's said so many stupid things that he could be beaten like a drum with them, and Independents will NOT vote for him.

Of course, the DEMS can manage to field some lame candidates and shoot themselves as well.

No surrogate commenter here, I'm unabashedly in General Hudson Holliday's corner. While I too think Phil's long ago become not 'what you see is what you get' but 'what you see is what he thinks you want to see'.
Dave Dennis is a fine person and has toiled in the GOP camp holding finance positions.
However, I think if you'll take a real look at Gen. Holliday you'll find he, like Kirk Fordice, also a retired military officer, has the real leadership ability we need as we take Mississippi off the bottom.
As I say, no surrogate here but a genuine on-the-team player.

Good night and good luck Phil. I am not amazed at the anti-feel comments. The pathetic level of arrogance displayed by both Phil and his campaign staff is enough of a reason not to vote for Phil in the primary and much to my chagrin, Luckett in the general (hopefully that won't happen). Note to Phil and his young cocky staff, YOU HAVE NOT WON ALREADY.

PLEASE VOTE FOR ANYONE BUT PHIL! MISSISSIPPI deserves a lot better!

Phil and Senator Kirby showed a complete disregard and disrespect for Republican voters and TAXPAYERS... especially in large Republican counties such as Rankin, Madison, Desoto, and the Coast counties, last year when they opposed closing loopholes in the law pertaining to Section 42 Housing. These loopholes allow developers to pay virtually zero ad valorem taxes.

Even the House saw the light and voted 117-2 to close the gaping holes in the law.

Now, due to the inaction of Phil Bryant and Dean Kirby, the Mississippi Association of Supervisors and the Mississippi Municipal League have taken to the Courts in an attempt to close the loopholes costing some counties $100's of thousands and passing off the cost of schools, security and roads and bridges to all the others who are paying taxes.

Voters should be enraged by this insensitivity to local taxpayers! AND, IT IS SHOWING! Voters are sick of professional politicians who do not represent the people!

To Boarzombie at 11:08

In reference to Bryant's campaign: And I quote, "a radio station pumping him up bigtime".

Does anyone wonder why SuperTalk is pushing Bryant so hard? It is not just political advertisements -it is the show hosts and ownership of the station. They do not want the name of any other candidate "even mentioned" on that station. Why do we think that is? Inquiring minds want to know - KF would you look into that for the readers of this blog and let us know? Thanks.

Shows how much you read this website.

Re: Supertalk. I listened to several stations driving to work this morning, usually a time ("drive time") with the highest ratings. 1180 and 1590 AM and 103.9 FM all had political talk shows, and NO COMMERCIALS (only public service announcements). Only 97.3 FM was running commercials, and lots of them. Either these other stations don't know how to sell ads, or their shows don't attract listeners, or companies don't know how to reach potential customers. Very curious. Maybe they're aren't enough people with sufficient income to support several stations here (i.e., like pro sports and big-name entertainers).

I voting for Phil because he's a family man, and I like that.

Were it not for Phil, we would have a bad version of voter ID rather than the very good version which will be on the ballot this November. Were it not for Phil, a House redistricting that screwed conservative Dems and Repubs would have been enacted without comment rather than beaten in the Senate. Phil is a good person; he is not perfect and has made some mistakes. However, he will be a good governor and is the best of the lot actually running this year.

Phil mentioned to my neighbor that he is pleasantly surprised that Dennis is not coming at him hard. Makes his campaign easier.

That's ole Phil for you - does not want to work for anything - just slide right in! Does this remind any of you of a "slick politician"?

KF @ 8:33

Are you saying this issue has already been addressed? If so, I must have missed it.

Were it not for Phil redistricting....

It was because of Phil redistricting in the Senate was so screwed up. He, Josh, and Quentin had the bright idea to assemble a bipartisan committee that came up with a Democratic friendly plan, no surprise as Hob Bryan dominated the committee and wrote the bill. Phil didn't know about the plan until thelast minute. If he had been a real lieutenant governor like Dye or Speakers like Sillers or Newman, there is no way in hell that would've happened as he would've known form the beginning what the plan was or given Burton a plan and told him to come up with that plan. Very weak and no amount of spin from you and three other republican bloggers can change that fact.

Still voting for Phil...

I really hope Dennis picks up speed very soon. I don't really think he will, but I think he's better for Mississippi.

Haley has big shoes to fill, and I just don't believe that Phil is capable.

Phil is in no way capable of filling Haley's shoes! That is why we must make sure that Dave Dennis is elected Governor!

Dave (Douchebag) Dennis, Does not support Mississippians. He hires out state businesses to do his campaign work. The only Mississippian he has hired to do any work for him is Jeppie (Boy) Barbour. Just remember we Mississippians are to ignorant and backwards for Dave (Douchebag)Dennis. If you vote for him, then he is correct. I say vote for anyone but DDD.

Haley's got real big pants to fill also. I don't know many that can afford to fill those BIG pants either.

To 9:41

I'm not sure where you got your information; but, it is INCORRECT! Dave Dennis has a number of individuals on his campaign PAID STAFF who ARE NATIVE MISSISSIPPIANS.

DO NOT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU HEAR - CHECK IT FOR FACT! It could very well be coming from INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE AN AGENDA.

11:49

You must be one of those out of state blogers from DDD's out of state Internet firm handling all of his social media.

Funny how 9:41 can correctly spell "douchebag" but can't correctly use the word "to" or "too" in a sentence. Way to keep it classy, 9:41....

11:49

Sorry to disappoint you; but, I am a native Mississippian and proud of it! I have lived here all of my life. I am also a Madison Countian and proud of that as well! In addition I am a Dave Dennis supporter and could not be more proud of my candidate! I am proud to support an intelligent business man who has never run for public office (not a career politician hanging on to the coat-tails of others)and has spent his adult life as a business owner in the State of Mississippi creating jobs for others, paying taxes and giving back to his communtity and state. I am proud to be supporting THE ONLY CANDIDATE in this race who is capable of being the next CEO of this state! I want a better life for my children and grandchildren! That's why I am working hard every day to help ELECT DAVE DENNIS IN 2011!

I am simply amazed that not one single one of you have even mentioned General Hudson Holliday's name. Take the time to educate yourself instead of waiting for someone to lay it in your lap. You are all right! PHIL BRYANT is not the man we need for Governor of this state. He is everything you said he is and more.
BUT, Dave Dennis is not the man we need either. He's a business man. So What!! His wife owns the company. She is a minority contractor. Hudson Holliday is Mississippi born and raised. A retired Major General with the Mississippi Army National Guard, holds a degree in business from USM, has started at least 10 different successful businesses and still owns 6 of them. HAS SIGNED THE FRONT OF MANY PAY CHECKS. Has worked behind the scenes in government in Pearl River County for over a decade. Is serving as a Supervisor there now because the PEOPLE DEMANDED IT. He has done an excellent job in fighting over regulating by government. He is a man of great character and has tremendous leadership skills. He has a vision and a plan for the future of this state. He is the only candidate, Republican or Democrat qualified to be our next Governor!!! The rest of the candidates are no comparison.

9:44 All of what you are saying could be true, but anyone is lying who even thinks Hudson Holliday will come in the top 3. It's a fact. Nothing personal.