Jackson Jambalaya

Congratulations Senator McDaniel. US Senator McDaniel that is.

This wil complete the destruction of the Republican Party in Mississippi. Mike Espy is about to go back to Washington.

All hope is gone.....

I can think of many people MUCH better suited for this position than Cindy. Is this REALLY the best our state has to offer in the US SENATE? REALLY? I never thought I could be so disappointed in the GOP.

Espy will win the senate election if we ever get to vote. Thad never should have ran for office during the last cycle.

I would have preferred Lynn Fitch if we are going to go all "girl power!" for this seat.

First, if true, good for Phil. I think this would be a huge positive for Mississippi and its image - and the two are never completely separate. Second, Cindy Hyde Smith would be an excellent choice. She's solidly conservative, smart, likeable, and a damn good campaigner. And she served plenty of time in the state senate - long enough to credibly point out McDufus's lack of leadership and comraderie there, as well as his absenteeism. I repeat, good for Phil.

Looks like Team Lynn and Team Delbert are in full force today,

Quite telling that none of the MSGOP heavy hitters were willing to join the battle for their beloved party. Cindy isn't a spring chicken.

I am done. I try to be a good Republican and get in line even when I don't agree with decisions made at the top of the party. But damn, now this. Only thing worse would be to appoint Speaker Gooberhead Gunn. Who was on the list!
Phil Bryant is an idiot.

Have to laugh every time the Ledger goes out of their way to suddenly refer to the Bryant as the "Tea Party Governor". It is ALL orchestrated.

I'm not Team Lynn or Team Delbert or Team Cindy. I'm team MISSISSIPPI, and if the GOP wants to continue to have a stronghold in our state they HAVE to end the political incest. It is CRIPPLING our state.

Totally agree with 9:42. CHS is no-nonsense, likable, knowledgeable, and definitely solid conservative.
I'm not a Phil fan but this appointment is a good one.

I'm a life long Republican and I will vote for Espy.....

Philbilly is going to screw up and it will cost the state big time.

Negative attitudes as usual... Cindy is an unexpected, but good pick. Good job Phil. She will serve Mississippi well.

Really thought and hoped Harper would fill this seat.

Elvis sang...

She is a solid pick. Based on her time in the state Senate she can certainly speak to McDaniel's being an empty suit.

She was a Democrat until 2010. She is toast.

Will the anti-Cindy folks please give solid reasons for opposing her? Did she vote the wrong way while in the Senate? Has she done a bad job in her current ppsition? What's the problem?

I honestly don't know that much about her but I like the optics of a female Ag Commissioner / U.S. Senator.

Corrected post!

Elvis sang...

I understood from sources in the Capitol that the announcement will be today at 5:00 in Brookhaven.

The last time I saw her or heard anything about her was at the rodeo five years ago when she was riding in a buckboard with the Governor, both waving to a half filled coliseum of bored folks in baseball caps.

Has she been heard from since?

Qualifications? What qualifications?

Espy 38%
Hyde-Smith 33%
McDaniel 29%

Gregg Harper would have been a much better choice.

Speaking of Elvis, the one from Madison County, he ought to be ready for another go at public office.

Dangit. I was hoping it would be Lauren Stennis. We could preserve the Mississippi tradition of aristocracy and I'd be spared the flag change crusade on social media and whatever else she was doing to prep for a run for national office. It would have been a win-win.

If espy would publicaly join the republican party, he would win in the first round.

Who else wants to be in the minority party besides her and McDaniel?

Comments at 9:42, 10:24, 10:30, and 10:49 were paid for by the Committee to presumably re-elect Cindy Hyde-Smith, U.S. Senator. Phillbilly Bryant, Chairman.

I swore that I would never vote for McDaniel for anything. However, that was before this. I cannot in good conscience support Hide Smith. I’d rather have McDaniel opposing everything than have a senator that is nothing more than an opportunistic lap dog to the party.

If Gov. Feel appoints Cindy Hyde-Smith as Cochran's replacement, McDaniel and Espy will be in a runoff after the November general election with Espy being elected senator.

Following the long tradition of Mississippi politics, Gov. Feel and the Republicans are making sure that we stay 50th in everything good and 1st in everything bad. Unbelievable!

Dems will cross over for the lady easier than they will a man.

This is the fault of Republican greed. Thad should have never ran, allowed for a good ole'fashioned election. But they tried to "fix" everything and have stepped in their own dung. Espy will win walking away. Gov. might as well call him and see if he'd be interested in the appointment. Save his nominee a lot of embarrassment. The second shoe to drop will be when Tater loses the governor race to Hood. Don't say it won't happen. Deep down inside, you know that's a real possibility.

This is too important to fool around with. Put emotions aside and do the right thing - appoint and give McDaniel a head of steam as the best chance to buck the establishment.

3:562, I agree this is a very important decision. I mean this respectfully and am not trying to be a jerk, but I'm not basing my objections to McDaniel on emotions. I'm basing it on the belief that I do not think Chris will be a good or effective Senator for MS or the US. He has disrespected so many people in not only the Democratic Party but even within his own Republican Party that he will be ignored and sidelined and end up not accomplishing anything and even further doing possible harm to what little reputation MS already has in DC. Chris is a great speaker but has little to nothing to show in the way of accomplishing or effectuating any of the policy he speaks of. Regardless he has made so many enemies even within his own party, that I truly don't see him being effective.

@ 3:562 Thank you for outlining the salient reasons that McDaniel quite possibly can win. Everyone he's "pissed off" is for keeping things the way they've always been. People want change. Period. That's why Trump got elected. The silent majority (by a thread) can very likely elect McDaniel who is no worse than anyone in the present establishment. Could he become corrupt? Yes, but maybe not. People are tired of the same old guys.

Cindy Hyde-Smith is a better choice than empty-suit McDaniel or hand-out Espy.