Jackson Jambalaya

Will be fun to watch the RINOs argue against term limits.

Boss Hog and Butler Snow do not approve this message.

Just to make sure I understand this correctly; Senator McDaniel is proposing a two term limit for a person to hold the same office as he runs for his third straight term in the state senate.

Why don't you be the first and limit yourself Mr. Conservative. Elections are term limits. I guess you think you are doing such a great job "For The People" that it should not apply to you.

Good Riddance.

Can't recall ever agreeing with McDaniel on a single issue. However, I fully agree with this effort.

The only opposition will come from politicians, staff of politicians, and lobbyists.

Can't wait to read the posts of staffers and politicians on here pretending to be concerned citizens.

He should not limit it to state wide offices but instead all elected offices at all levels state, county, school boards, judges and city.

2.48 add big corporations to that. Butler Snow will have interns posting on here soon.

See that the Alan Lange panty bunch parade has already gone by.

does McDaniel have an opponent as he seeks his third consecutive term as a legislator? Does he plan to resign if they get the measure approved? Or is this simply just another dog and pony show to keep his name in the public mind...

hypocritical snake oil salesman is he...

WHY will he just not GO AWAY?????

4:11,

I'll answer that question if you'll answer mine first:

Are all caps necessary to getting your point across?

Interesting that the political staffers are attacking McDaniel, but not discussing the merits of the idea.

Tell us @ 4:11 PM why the MSGOP didn't primary McDaniel?

For someone y'all claim has next to zero following McDaniel sure gets a whole lot of your attention.

@4:11 he's here to torture your soul.

Hey McHooty - you need to branch out and form a " true the residence" group. You'd be doing us all a huge favor.

Why does any care about Capps on a blog? Sensitivity issues have gotten out of hand. Now, to answer 4:11 question. The teaparty won't go away till we republicans make them go away. They still have a little hope left they can get a foothold in the Republican Party in Mississippi. They are beat down but not out. To make them go away you, me, all republicans have to beat them at the polls. We do this enough times they will disappear. So look at this year. MCDaniel isn't running so he is a non issue. We do have several tea Party idiots running for the legislature that you can do something about. Desoto county has 3 tea party people running against 3 current GOP legislators.Those Tea Party peoplein Desoto were recruited by Joel Bomgar who is running in Madison County. Joel is also the largest donor to Empower Mississippi that ran a Robo call to recruit people to run against GOP Rep. Steve Masengill and Rep. Margaret Rogers. Also Julia Hodges and Bill Billinglsy are tea party people running in the Madison area. Know your candidates. Who is a real republican and who is tea party. We defeat all the tea party this year then MCDaniel will have less people to help him the next time he runs. Stay in the fight cause the tea party is betting you won't.

McDaniel makes my skin crawl!

Having said that, this is a great political move. Who does not want term limits other than those mentioned upthread?

This will cross all parties and voter groups.

Never mind, we all want better education too.

Thanks for the info Miss Republican party staffer. What about term limits?

Only thing you can beat 4:45 is yourself. Bomgar wins. Longwitz is self-acknowledged Tea Party. He has never repudiated them publicly. So sorry.

What corrput Barbour klan and the RINO Krishnas who shag the MSGOP legs don't want you to know is that they've lost control of the DeSoto County conservative voting base, the number of their die-hard old white voters in NEJackson is shrinking rapidly, their reliable votes amongst the shipbuilders & rocketeers on the coast is shrinking because the number of shipbuilders & rocketeers is rapidly contracting despite any Federal budgetary largesse, McDaniel won the primary against Cochran despite the polls and their paid-for MS PressCorps and, then, McDaniel went and dramatically expanded his vote in the runoff without having to race bait black Democrats.

What the establishment MSGOP and RINOs don't want you to be able to read is the new map laying out the land.

4:24 pm
While some take every opportunity to attack Senator McDaniel, some of posters raise a very legitimate point. Senator McDaniel is crusading for two term limits from one side of his mouth against supposed tyranny by what he labels as entrenched politicians that have forgotten their constituents but is simultaneously running for a third consecutive term. That poses a real credibility problem. He can't have it both ways.

@5:54 PM here is a legit question for you. Why didn't the Republicans put up a primary opponent against Chris McDaniel?

McDaniel just loves attention of any kind so nothing he thinks of next surprises me. As long as he and his Teabagger friends don't start calling my home day and night and being nothing but damn pests like they did before I really don't care what he says or does. He could not run for state-wide dog catcher and be elected now.

5:03, Look at Bill Billingsley's supporters. Tea Party.
Will Longwitz doesn't tolerate the dwindling McDaniel crowd and he's called their bluff. That's why they are working so hard to get Billingsley in there, so they can have someone to work with Chris.
I got a robo call asking what I thought of Billingsley & McDaniel. I bet you a beer it was paid for by McDaniel.

Just what we need, some yo yo telling us who we can't vote for.

5:54 - you just don't understand!! McD can do what he wants, say what he wants, and act as he wants and the idiots like 5:53 that can't accept that he lost an election will never consider that the rules apply to McD or to his 'followers'.

Yes, running for a third term while his PAC (yes, this is another grifting scenario) promotes term limits. Don't know why we should question that kind of logic - after all, its the annointed one, McD himself, so why should we question. (Oh, by the way, his waterboy Michael Watson is on the same path. Wonder if he has signed the petition yet.)

Term limits would not reduce the power of special interests. No lobbyist is afraid of a freshman lawmaker. It is so easy to steer a freshman to crusade about something insignificant or imaginary while the state government keeps on doing what it always does.

>>That poses a real credibility problem. He can't have it both ways.<<

Proof that this poster probably isn't a Tea bagger.

No lobbyist is afraid of a veteran lawmaker....because they already own them. Try again.

Will Longwitz ran as a Tea Party member and has never publicly repudiated the Tea Party. Period. You can weave and dodge that inconvenient fact but a fact it remains until he publicly disavows the Tea Party association he featured in his last campaign.

Will Longwitz Tea Party Member

the voters have already spoken regarding term limits and it lost.....just saying

Regarding term limits: it is a spent idea that has been on the ballot twice now and lost both times. Why not find another issue rather than waste time and money on this? Even if they get the signatures, the proposal will lose to a coalition of rural whites and blacks. Just like last time.

That's right, Rinos and Democrats hate this because they would cease to exist if this country had term limits and universal voter ID

I don't think the Democrats are as scared of term limits as the RINOs are. It has been a long, long time since limits were put to the voters of MS. Much, MUCH, has changed.

ah, this has NOTHING to do with RHINOS or DEMOCRATS,,,,this is chris mcdaniel's feeble attempt to keep himself relevant

McDaniel is unopposed in his GOP primary and therefore he's already relevant.

The establishment MSGOP has its herd of RINOs babbling gibberish soundbites. Reading that crap Alan 'Hot-for-Melanie' Lange spews out has turned the RINO brains to mush.

Billingsly has never been tea party and has a long list of Cochran supporters on his side. Thanks for playing, though, Amile...

Yet to see a reasonable argument against term limits. I won't vote for MacDaniel, but I will vote for term limits.

Back to the merits of the issue...What is the experience of other states who have term limits? How does it enhance or impair governance? Are there any think tank (conservative, moderate, liberal) white papers on the subject?

1). McDaniel proposing term limits while running for a third term is hilarious and sad. That people can't recognize that is even sadder.

2). On to the actual idea...
Pros: Keeps the bath water clean; Prevents moss backs
Cons: Less institutional knowledge (more influence for lobbyists and Gov's staff) for a part-time position

It would probably lead to more bold decision making. At times, it would be wonderful. At others, it could prove to be like a rubber band. While I am fine with either, I still can not get over the hypocrisy of McDaniel.

The argument against term limits is simple - voter preference. Voters who want to send Thad Cochran back to Congress for 40 years should have the option to do so. I think executives - President and governors - need to be limited because of the amount of power that can be gained by one person, but Congress has plenty of others to watch over the old guys.

Term limits sound WONDERFUL, but all of you who are so all about this initiative don't you think that the man suggesting it should maybe LEAD BY EXAMPLE???? I can't sign a petition or vote for an initiative lead by a man that refuses to step down from his post after two terms. Just food for thought...

Since some people asked here are some arguments against term limits:

We already have term limits they are called "elections". <--This one ALWAYS turns up.

Term limits kick out the good leaders who may deserve to stay in office for excellent work.


Every job has a learning curve, and politics is no exception. Any new politicians would have to go through that when they come into office. By squeezing the experienced office holders out, term limits make lobbyists (and legislative employees, however outstanding most are) the "decision makers". Politicians that leave office take with them a lot of experience and contacts that are essential to get things done. New leaders would have to develop these from scratch. Experienced legislators know where the bodies are buried and they know the nooks and crannies and yes 'tricks' of how to get a budget passed.

Term limits can strengthen the Executive branch. When an office holder knows he's about done he may be willing to go along with an executive for the promise of working THERE after their term is up.(Personally I find this one week because the executive would be limited too, but I've seen it mentioned so I'm including it.)

Term limits are elitist. They basically imply the voters are too stupid or lazy to actually judge candidates.
Politicians who are in the last term of office are more likely to ignore the will of the people since they don't face the wrath of the electorate in the future.

Oddly enough, term limits would probably help the black community.

There's nothing hypocritical about McDaniel's stance. As the law is written now, he has every right to run for as many terms as the people will give him. Considering the fact that he's unopposed by another Republican, that run could go on for a while. He is trying to institute a new rule that would, in effect, end his run of consecutive terms. Something that should have happened a long time ago to a large number, if not most, of our professional politicians.
Those that continue to wonder at his supposed hypocrisy or any playing the "look over there, not here" game.

Devil's Advocate time: Guess you never heard of Tom Coburn.

@9:11 AM
In response to "Politicians who are in the last term of office are more likely to ignore the will of the people since they don't face the wrath of the electorate in the future."

YES! This JUST happened in Rankin County. A concerned citizen and teacher emailed all of the Rankin Legislative Delegation to say that she as a concerned citizen would be watching how they each voted. Sen. Perry Lee replied to her email with only TWO WORDS... "DON'T CARE". Oh, and he isn't running again, which means he saw his actions this session as unimportant to those he represents.

Anyone who says that elections are term limits is a fool and a part of the problem. Those challenging incumbents have a financial uphill battle when it comes to getting their message out. I shutter to think of the state of the US if Presidents were not limited. If the highest office in the land requires it, it should be the same throughout all offices.

6:13 "here is a legit question for you. Why didn't the Republicans put up a primary opponent against Chris McDaniel?"

Because of residency requirements - no one in their right mind would subject their family to moving to Jones Co.

McDaniel: "If we can't vote them out, we'll wait them out."

Lame response @ 10:14 AM

It seems that operating without term limits for the last hundred or so years, we have managed to be in last place. What is to lose by trying it? Only politicians and their staff (and lobbyists) are against it.

Term limits would only freeze the current power structure in place. There would be no time for Mississippi to gain any political capital at any beneficial level. Also, where is the incentive for a politician to think long term and make meaningful change when his or her office tenure is only but a few years???

I can't recall a politician ever thinking about anything long-term other than his/her term in office.

No politician (Dem, Repub, male, female, black, white, etc.) thinks past the next election cycle. To say otherwise is an outright lie.

The problem with Gov't thinking long-term. Income Taxes, Social Security, Obamacare. Also, to use the words Government and Thinking in the same sentence is somewhat of an oxymoron.

There is no viable argument against term limits. I've yet to hear an argument from anyone who wasn't on the political tit of some politician.

@1:51 pm... you have proof that all comments above are from those "on the tit of some politician?

Why does this seem familiar? "State legislatures with term limits have experienced some unforeseen problems. Newly elected legislators tend to be more partisan and ideological than their more seasoned colleagues. Long-serving lawmakers often become more understanding of the rival party and learn how to find workable compromises. Novice legislators, fresh from the campaign trail, often see the other party as an enemy. This can greatly inhibit the coalition-building needed to pass budgets and meaningful laws." Wow. Y'a think? McDaniel is the poster child for this crap.

10:50 Truth hurts, don't it? :-)

"Also, where is the incentive for a politician to think long term and make meaningful change when his or her office tenure is only but a few years??? "

Gee - it seemed to work just fine for Cincinattus, whom we still study, quote and admire some 2000 years after he term-limited himself. Same for George Washington, who set the precedent for US Presidents (only broken by a perceived need to keep FDR in office because of WWII).

Long-serving lawmakers become more accustomed to the funding of their campaign and entertainment budgets by long-serving lobbyist friends. I love the generalization about other states and the fuzzy results that are given.

I say, hell, it can't get any worse than being 50th. Let's try something different.

2:18 - the fact that you inquire, makes you a prime suspect.

I consider this to be a viable argument against term limits: They are not mentioned in the Constitution, though they were certainly considered. Term limits were not inserted in the Constitution until 1951, when the 22nd amendment was ratified, and that was limited to the Executive Office of President. Perhaps the founding fathers had faith that the voters would exact their own version of "term limits" by exercising their right to vote. Being an American means I have the freedom to vote to whomever I want. I don't want that freedom abridged by disqualifying an otherwise excellent candidate because of arbitrary term limits. Term limits, I would argue, are anti-Constitution, and repulsive to my right to vote. It's not term limits that are the problem, its the laws regarding campaign finance (but that is another argument for another day).

Your freedoms 5:08 PM have already been so abridged that the founding fathers wouldn't begin to recognize today what they birthed.

Don't sign the petition, don't vote for the initiative if it qualifies and, by all means, continue to bitch. You'll protect what you see as your (remaining) freedoms perfectly that way.

To all who say that "elections are term limits," then let people vote. If you believe so much in the wisdom of the electorate, then surely yo can have no reasonable objection to submitting this issue to a vote.

Term limits solves nothing. The problems those who seek term limits hope to solve become worse. Having someone in office who knows its his last term and is not accountable to the voters is FOR SALE. Children. Just stupid little kids.

OK 5:08. Initiate a petition to lift term limits on the President and Governor elections. Or better yet, file a lawsuit asserting that those limits violate the Constitution. Surely, those are considered quite important offices to which we should not be denied the right to elect them for more than two terms.

No doubt that 5:08 is concerned about keeping his or her job as a lackey for some politician.

A newly elected official is for sale. A long term incumbent was sold a long time ago and has been in servitude to the lobbyists for years.

April 20, 2015 at 8:26 PM: I wish I had your picture so I could photoshop DOUCHEBAG on it.