Jackson Jambalaya

This perfectly illustrates what a sleazy character Knox Ross has. Instead of letting voters choose who they want, Ross goes and tries to cut a deal under the table. I hate it when politicians do this and I will not be voting for Knox Ross!

So much for comments from the Bahou campaign (above; anon 10:56). At the risk of being picky, but doing so anyway, this 'press release' I assume was written by a spokeswoman. In the first sentence of the release, the word 'ran' should be 'run'. In the second sentence, the phrase 'along with another candidate' should be set off by commas and the word 'were' should be 'was'. Further down into the diatribe, there is a sprinkling of commas that don't belong. Journalists and press agents don't know better than this?

I don't know either candidate; however, Ross has every right to make campaign assumptions and predictions and engage in polite 'strategerie'.

"I strive to run a transparent campaign," stated Bahou... ... A representative from the Ross campaign has also made several attempts to contact the Tony Bahou for Senate marketing team to gain knowledge on their current efforts.

Transparent or not? Transparent when he wants to use apparent obfuscation of an offer of negotiation against his opponent but admittedly not transparent (even in the same paragraph) when asked about marketing efforts. Both Republicans are seeking the same office, right?

So much for the transparency of "may the best man win".

Seems to me, Ross simply believes and implied to Bahou, "I'm going to beat the socks off you so how about throwing your support my way". Doesn't that happen fairly often?

Shadowfax, so much for your comments, as you seem
to be in the tank for Knox Ross. I'd rather elect ANY of the other 3 candidates than Ross. They would do a better, more ethical job.

9:04 AM - You clearly do not know Knox Ross nor have you seen anything he has actually accomplished while Mayor of Pelahatchie. In fact...I would submit you are really probably Tony Bahou or some way affiliated with one of the other candidates. Shame that libel is the last resort of the politically ill fated.

@9:15 I actually DO know Knox Ross and have heard him bad mouth other candidates with my own ears. I have no dog in this fight, and am not affiliated with any other candidate, but I stand by what I said. Knox Ross is the LAST person I'd vote for.

"the T B for Senate marketing team" , What marketing team? A quick look at his campaign finance report shows no expenses of any marketing, but he has clearly spent money on these items. Is he lying to us about having one or lying to the Sec of State about not?

She could just be a volunteer.

Gosh...isn't this just part of the political process? I don't see anything wrong with Knox Ross seeking to negotiate with another candidate.

@Anon 9:04. I'm in no tank for anyone. I've never heard of Knox Ross before seeing an ad the other night. Commenting intelligently on the reality of political campaigns means, to you, being in the tank?

If you claim to have heard a candidate, any candidate, 'bad mouth' another (in a non factual or false way) please post your proof of that (although you have no dog in this fight, ahem.)

Ross, hmmmm, he must be Charlie's twin. He sure is running like it (Negative). How arrogant can you get. It shows little respect to tell someone that 3 weeks out from the primary.

9:45, I have heard from someone else, that he has heard him directly bad mouth his opponents. Was sitting at a table next to him having coffee. He did not know anything about this race, he just said that Ross would be embarrassed if people knew how he talked about his opponents.

Ross has done nothing wrong; this is a normal part of elections.

First, Tony has always had lousy grammar. He'll say "between you and I" and other stupid stuff.

Second, this is a desperation attempt to gain traction by a bottom-tier candidate the week before the primary election.

Three years ago, Tony told me he might like to get into politics. I told him I'd help if he ever tried. I gave him a caveat: You're not from here. That's gonna be tough.

He's also pro-choice. I told him flat-out: there's no way you can be elected as a pro-choice Republican in Rankin County. I wasn't arguing his position; just giving him some political reality.

His answer on that: "I'll pray about it."

To this day, he won't admit that he's pro-choice on abortion.

He knows who I am, and he knows this conversation took place.

And this press-release is one of the most bush-league, amateurish moves I've ever seen.

so, phil endorsed Harkins as did greg harper

word is that the knox ross camp was plotting to "go negative" on phil to keep him out of senate 20 primary. present at the meeting was "mustache man", Charles Porter who is said to have called phil to tattle on Knox Ross, who i think is paying his company (porter's) to run HIS campaign.

I bet knox is going to be mad at charlie for outing him to phil.

1:13 I've been through many elections and I disagree with you. It isn't "a normal part of elections" for a candidate in the middle of a race to contact another candidate and try to get him out of the race.
What IS normal is that the candidates in a runoff contact those that did not make it into the runoff and see if they can garner their support. Knox Ross has pretty much guaranteed, by his actions and words, that neither Bahou nor Gaines, nor Harkins will support him. That means that whomever makes it in to the runoff with Ross (assuming he makes it in himself) is going to likely support his opponent. Good work Knox! I guess your Opportunity is going to Knox on someone else's door!

1:13; I've been affiliated with a few myself and it is indeed common for candidates to squeeze the shoes (an old NYC Jewish term) of opponents prior to a vote. Psychology 101. I suppose the only mistake was putting it in writing and floating it.

And 12:47 has heard from someone who heard from someone who heard that a candidate said something unkind about an opponent. Louisiana politics in the making! Perish the thought. Newt Gingrich, on the other hand, while really wanting to perform the Jesse Jackson vs.Obama de-nut on his opponents, said this morning "Rick Perry is a fine man, a good friend, he will be a great addition to the contest." Now that's the way a true gentleman talks about someone he despises.

Newt Gingrich already knows he is toast

Rick Perry will make a great candidate

Bahou is a yahoo...

Seems as the only one who has commented was Tony's campaign--so where's the Proof. Alegations are easy to throw out???

6:39 That's the best line I've seen on here all day

I live in Rankin County, though I live outside this district and can't vote in this Senate race. However, I CAN tell you, if I DID live in that district, I would not likely cast my vote for Bahou. I don't know him, nor do I really know anything about him, but if he reviewed and approved this "press release," I'd be forced to vote for another candidate out of fear that Bahou is incompetent and, thus, incapable of adequately representing the people in his district. Call it splitting hairs if you will, but this is certainly the most poorly-worded, grammatically incorrect official letter I may have ever seen. So much so that it really makes me wonder if he's a credible candidate. Granted, he may not have reviewed it, but that, in and of itself, is a bad sign for someone who is asking to be a representative of the people! An official letter of this sort is a DIRECT reflection on a candidate and his credibility

Charles Porter, Mike Marsh, and ring leader Charlie Ross. Nobody can fracture friendships and communities to gain a vote better than those three.

"Mustache Man" - that was funny and what an absolute idiot to sit in on a strategy meeting and then run and tell apparently everybody..... I'm thinking his expertise may be available for the next election cycle..... And More Than Likely Cheap !

Pro - Choice, interesting.... I'm sure he has lsted that on one of his brochures along with the standard lineup of values. No nevermind, then he would have to list Honesty as a value.

7:03 So It's Honesty You Want.

Knox Ross touts himself as The True Conservative and his propaganda depicts Knox single handedly saving the entire poultry industry.

Yet the self appointed only true conservative Ross fails to disclose and explain to the people in District 20 WHY he voted for Democrat Joel Gill and not for Incumbent Republican Congressman Gregg Harper in the June 2010 primary.

Cluck Cluck Who Is Really There ?

Matt Armstrong (Trent Lott's son-in-law) is heavily involved in Knox Ross' campaign. Matt and Charles Porter are partners in a political consulting/lobbying firm. Anyway, I'm sure that's why Porter was at Knox's strategy session. Porter's allegiance is first and foremost to Phil, though, so I'm not surprised if he shared information that might be interesting to Phil. Charlie Ross, whose name has been mentioned in a couple of posts for some reason, is not associated with that crowd. As an aside, as aloof or uncharismatic as he might seem, Charlie Ross would have made an excellent Lt Gov and an excellent Governor.

Rankin County politics are a hot mess right now. One small group is trying to control everything and it may yet backfire.

Charlie Ross is most definitley part of that crowd. Knox's campaign has Charlie Ross and Mike Marsh written all over it. The campaign is driven by Charlie's hatred derived from past political failures and his desire for revenge on Rankin County. You are correct though that one small group is trying to control not only this race but the Treasurer's race and the Coroner's race and that group consist of Charlie Ross, Mike "The Hatch" Marsh, Charles Porter, and Matt Armstrong.

If you think Charles Porter and Matt Armstrong are in league with Charlie Ross, you haven't a clue. Both of these guys are and have been in Phil's camp. If Charlie is supporting Knox, it's because he thinks Knox is the best candidate, not because of any grand association with Porter/Armstrong.

The group I was thinking of was Phil, Gregg Harper and Gary Harkins (daddy of the chosen one for District 20).

Charlie doesn't care one iota about who's the best candidate. He is seeking revenge and he despises all three you mentioned as being the so called group and remember The Hatch rolls with Charlie.

The dude with the woody about Charlie Ross is clueless.

The woody - cute - Get off the couch Lebowski and simply ask Charles, Matt, Hatch, or hey even Charlie if he isn't diligently working behind the scene for Rankin County's Best Disquised Democrat.

The real issue in this campaign is not the last gasp rantings of a soon-to-be loser like Bahou.

The real issue, up until this time left unspoken, is whether Phil Bryant, Gregg Harper, the elder Harkins and Billy Powell can tell the voters of Rankin and Madison counties how to vote.

For some inexplicible reason, a soon-to-be governor, a sitting congressman, a former state GOP chairman have chosen to get openly and personally involved in the race. This begs the question as to why the average voter in that district puts up with being treated like a helpless sheep.

Unfortunately, Knox Ross and Steve Gaines, the other two candidates in the race besides Bahou, dont have the kahones to make this a campaign issue.

@11:06 Exactly.

KNOX? Why would a true republican conservative give their support to someone that has proven you can't count on to vote or act in the best interest of the constituents in District 20 and Mississippi. So, as far as Knox goes the reason is not inexplicable and remains quite clear.

Could someone please bring me up to date and tell me what Mr. Ross did to upset so many Republicans? And I was wondering if Charlie Ross and Knox Ross are related and if so, how?

No Charlie and Knox are not related. Know is related to formar Ag Commissioner Jim Buck Ross.

Some GOP bigshots claim to be mad at Knox Ross because he voted in the Democrat primary for Congress in 2008. So what? In Mississippi, how many Republicans can truly say that they have NEVER voted in a Democrat primary? It is a manufactured issue.

Shame that libel is the last resort of the politically ill fated. (as quoted previously)

Knox's vote for the Democrat was in June of 2010 - just last year!

The biggest issue that conservatives have with Ross right now is the promotion of a $2 billion sales tax increase.

Mississippi can't stand more taxes for any reason!

Question: what does the Hatch Act have to do with all of this ?

The biggest issue that conservatives have with Gary and Gary, Jr. is where both of them will sit if Jr. is elected. Somebody forgot to tell them this is for a single senate seat. Not plural.

Senior will be on Lakeland Drive continuing to make a living and working tirelessly (as usual) to promote quality conservative candidates within the Republican Party.

The issue also is that Gary and Gary, Jr. have been waving the Hewes flag from day one. Seems odd to me that a Rankin Co. Chairmann would endorse someone from the coast, when another candidate from their own backyard is running.
Due to some recent polling those flags have not been seen lately.

I thought THE issue was the seat(s) in regards to where the next Senator will sit.

Nah, the one about the Rankin Co. Chairman and his son not supporting Rankin Co. is MUCH BETTER.
Let's make it the issue.

Then you need to switch back yards to play in?
Your comparing that to Mayor Ross voting for Joel Gill (Democrat) when Gregg Harper (R - Incumbent) is in Knox's back yard.
Give me a break, a self-proclaimed Republican voting Democrat is a defining issue.

FYI -
In the 2007 General Election, there were 35,140 votes cast in the Treasurers race and 35,388 cast in the AG's race.
(alomost equal turnout)
Tate received 29,653 and his Dem, opponent received 5,487 in Treas. race.
The same voters gave Jim Hood (the Dem) 15,404 votes and the Republican Al Hopkins 19,984...a difference of 9,917 voters that voted a split ticket in 2007.
Who really knows if someone did or didn't vote for an exact candidate?
What we do know is almost 10,000 Republicans voted for Hood.

Are you kidding?
Gary Harkins is supporting Hewes and he is the head of the Rankin County Republican Party.
Good info, Thanks

OK guys let's ask Mustache Man what he thinks as he is apparently working both sides of the fence.

Maybe a new reality show starring c porter would get some traction. Porn Stache has could get legs.

Sounds like we already have the makings of a soap opera. Politics, politics...who would have thought? All of the above are power seekers and do not deserve to represent the people. Or do they totally represent the people as we sit and do nothing!!!

I'm from Rankin County and I'm actively supporting Billy Hewes. Tate cares nothing about Rankin County, and Hewes is definitely more qualified for the job. Wanna talk about a power seeker? TATE REEVES is a power seeker and a jerk.

10:32 DItto, ditto, ditto! Well said!

Y'all lay off Harper. I learned listening to him on Gallo that he 'serves on the printing sub-committee of the US Senate'. I sure as hell want the right man representing our best interests when it comes to printing government publications. Don't you?

As to the notion that one ought to support people who live in or come from 'their own back yard, what HOOEY! If that were the case, all those holding statewide office would for the past sixty years have come from one of the counties in the Metro area. Wait.......