Jackson Jambalaya

I see Espy as a way to build a bridge to the rest of the country...that is if he plays his cards right. He would really have to be the most bi-partisan Democrat ever in the history of Democrats to stay in office and still not tick of the DNC to the point of abandonment.

Perhaps people would see Mississippi in a different light if we had Espy (D-MS) in office. That being said, we already had Childers (D-MS) and we were still the barefoot banjo pickers at which this nation loves to point its long-rifles and send its blue-coats.

Bryant is sooooo stuck and rightfully so. Pender's amusing spin yesterday spoke volumes regarding the fear of establishment Republicans.

There are other Democrats 3:39 keeping their powder dry.
There is no slam-dunk groundswell in the party for Mike.

Senator Hyde-Smith it will be. Maybe she can settle on a damn last name before the name plate is printed.

Phil can't appoint his daughter? Glad to see Espy shaking things up.

If Epsy switched parties, who he get the Nonimation? Phil and his boys should be on the phone.

Hyde-Smith is as much of a Democrat as Espy is. Leave it to Bryant to screw up a golden opportunity like this.

What other Democrats would come out of hiding to win this from Espy??

Isn't this the same Espy who was forced to resign as Sec of Agriculture? Are we sure we want him? Do we really think he would make MS look good?

This goes back to the fact that Thad should have never run for reelection last time. Had he done the right thing, McDaniel would have had more opposistion and the voters would have made the decision. Now, Phil wants to impose someone on us who will be reelected several times, but Phil doesn't like McDaniel. The solution is get someone like Trent or Hailey to take the job for six months and let the people decide in November.

@ 5:26 Are you serious about Trent or Hailey? Bless your heart.

The gov is in real danger of his lasting legacy being: U.S. Sen. Mike Espy. Many, many Republicans will NEVER support McDaniel, which is neither good nor bad, necessarily (everyone has an opinion), but a FACT which I, for one, believe. What I can’t understand is why Stacy Pickering has not been given the most serious consideration (assuming the gov, Tate, and Harper aren’t interested). Pickering is a Jones countian. What better way to a put a nail into McDaniel’s coffin? There are probably three dozen or so Republicans who honestly believe they’d be a stronger pick than Hyde-Smith, including any number of legislators and agency heads. Only three or four could honestly say the same about a Pick pick. Heck, Delbert, Fitch, Gunn, and many others would have a much better shot at a permanent seat than Cindy does. Although she IS well-liked and GOP people (other than McDanielites) will do their best to get her elected, the truth is, hardly anyone sees her as Senatorial material, and nobody I’ve heard comment thinks the presumed appointment makes any sense at all. In fact, most believe this would be a MONUMENTAL FAIL for Phil Bryant. Picking Cindy is a default pick for Espy, many think, sad to say. There will need to be much, much heavy lifting to get her into the November run-off. Unless a whole lot changes, which it could (heavy Trump involvement?), in the end, with all the antipathy for McDaniel, we will have a Democrat seat, probably Eapy, unless Bryant reconsiders, or unless Thad does (still an option)! Terrible for Mississippi, and disasterous for the Party.

In this political climate who in their right mind wants to be in congress- and for that matter the state legislature.

McD will easily beat Cindy Hyde-Smith. I like Delbert but he is too old for DC. If that is the field Espy wins.

Espy in office will build a bridge to the rest of the country? What? The rest of the country will see his appointment and say, "Ya know, I've been rethinking Mississippi. Maybe they're not the backward black/backwoods boofusses we thought. That Mississippi, they're really going places."

Ain't going to happen. Ever. Mississippi is and always will be America's whipping boy, the butt of all jokes no matter what progressive course Mississippi should take.

And you're not going to vote your way out of anything, and you better not ever forget it.

Espy only wins if the RINOs vote for him.

Lord, I know we don’t have long, but please, end it soon!

I love stupid people.

If Hyde Smith is the best candidate that the republicans can produce for a Senate seat, I think the republican party in MS is in trouble. This is a sad statement on the strength of the party. No one wants McDaniel, but if Hyde Smith is the best that they can do, then McDaniel will be our next Senator. What a joke.

It's all about the money. Who gets a job and who gets to keep his snoot in the trough.

Calm down. Espy is not being appointed.

Serious question: what has Hyde Smith accomplished as Commissioner of Ag? Wait. It just hit me that Mississippi will be sending its Ag Commissioner to fill the senate seat. That’ll break some stereotypes. SMH. At least she’s not Lynn Fitch???

Won't we have to go through all of this again in two years?

Cindy Hyde Smith???? You’ve got to be kidding me. She’s a total zero. The only thing making sense about appointing her would be if Bryant resigns in August and runs for the seat. Let CHS be a place holder until then. I can’t believe Phil would be foolish enough to appoint someone so inept.

What about Tate, I thought he had the best numbers to beat McD?

McDaniel will easily beat Espy, Hide Smith, or any other weak knee opponent. Phil needs to show some strength (if he has any) and appoint someone that can stand strong against the McDaniel shit storm.

Senator Hyde Smith.

Nothing would be funnier than watching RINOs push Espy across the finish line. Mississippi Republicans have already shot themselves in one foot, why not shoot a hole in the other.

Hyde Smith would be a disastrous pick. If Delbert Hosemann is what it takes to keep McDaniel out of the Senate, then he should be the choice.

Governor Bryant . . .

Put Melanie Sojourner in there to replace Thad.

She's conservative, hot as hell, and would cause many Liberals to have a stroke/heart attack on the spot.

I visit this blog most every day and didn't see any poll. Was it hidden over in the advertisement column?

Espy? Right. We do want Mississippi to set a good example of sending competent, productive representation to D.C., those who will produce results for their district, bring home a little bacon, become a show horse and be articulate. We already have Bennie setting the bar.

It's utter nonsense to say that Espy or any other Democrat not named Jim Hood and not running for AG will win a state wide election in Mississippi. I'm not sure McDaniel can beat Hyde-Smith with all the money that the Republican establishment will be throwing at this race, but whichever Republican gets into the runoff will win, just like Trent Kelly did. Yes, there are ardent McDaniel supporters who won't support any Republican other than their messiah, but most have enough sense to keep the seat in the Republican column.

Looks like Feel will be giving Feelip a vote of no State wide confidence.

I see no reason that Fitch wouldn't continue to be the disaster she's always been.

It won't take much digging to find Hyde-Smith votes while she was an elected Senate Democrat that were not remotely conservative. Not much digging at all.

Phil is making a big mistake appointing Cow-Hyde. She will run 3rd. and go home to Brookhaver and lick her wounds!

Y'all just do not understand how upset the women ( especially mothers) and the 18 to 25 year olds are with the current GOP.

We are seeing in the children the effects of not only the bullying political tactics, outrageous personal attacks and use of social media to malign others , but the support of immoral candidates.

We do not want our sons or grandsons emulating you or using your behavior to justify theirs. We do not want them disparaging women or to be womanizers.

We voted on basic conservative values like fiscal responsibility and believed the GOP was pro-family, pro- Christian values and anti- Communist.

The thing Delbert and Espy have in common is that they are well mannered gentlemen who don't have to brow beat others to succeed. In short, they are good role models and we'd like to make it clear that the bullies and jerks don't succeed in the long run.

Basura @8:50 AM.

If Phil appoints Hyde-Smith, all us RepublicaNS better get ready to saddling up next to Mississippi's Democrats in learning how to say Senator Espy.

Governor thinks his popularity can carry anybody across the finish line, no matter their weaknesses or shortcomings. Hyde-Smith is a nice person, but has reached her Peter Principle of success.

Phil wants the legeCy of creating the first woman Senator from Mississippi. He will also have the legacy of creating the shortest term Senator - eight months total term.

+1 8:50. I'm tired of the trash too.

11:42pm, Melanie Sojourner is "hot as hell?"

Mississippi is lost...

No we don't need Stacy Pickering 6:16,and no we don't need Cindy Hyde-Smith. McDaniel will be strong but probably not strong enough to win.
I think the Democrats will enjoy taking this seat. I see no future for Hyde-Smith being Senator.
I think the Governor will be making a very bad decision by appointing her, if he in fact does.

__________ (insert pejorative adjective here such as radical, Klucker, Social nut job, etc,) conservatives have voted for moderate republicans for decades. If moderate republicans turn out for Espy over McDaniel and Espy is elected, then ________ conservatives will walk and not support moderate republicans again.

Democrat dreams fulfilled.