Jackson Jambalaya

I guess that is one way to get Jackson streets repaved.

OMG, no!!!!

"Our way of life"??? what is that way of life?

I hope he doesn't survive the highway scandal.

NO, GOD!

NO, GOD PLEASE NO!

NO!

NO!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Rankin County's Big Boy enters the fray.....he screwed up PERS.....he paved his driveway with my money....no thanks biggun…...im done with you

Usually the first one to jump in ain't the winner.

Can't wait to see the private service road from the Sillers Building to the Guv-na's Mansion to help Tate avoid traffic. Will MDOT charge a toll? Will it be Republican only? So many answers and so little time.

Lawd, what a way to kick off his campaign, what a mealy mouth fool he is. He's going to need that optimism. Hood is going to mop the floor with him.

Never Tater!!!!

No, just no.

Everything he says is a contradiction. Preserving Mississippi' "values" is what made us the asshole of the country in the first place. How the hell will those same ole policies make a future for ALL of Mississippi's children. Maybe ALL don't matter anyway...

His election as governor will allow for continuation of 1) young talent drain 2) lackluster economic growth relative to peer Southeastern states 3) a state flag that offends a large percentage of our own population, let alone other capital investors 4) crumbling of the state’s only true urban core and capital city and 5) healthcare disparities, including continued financial struggles for rural healthcare centers. Hopefully one day we will wake up and realize we need to elect transformative leaders, not those who aren’t willing to do the right thing for the next generations.

He's got my vote. We need a strong conservative.

I will always vote for him over corrupt Jim Hood, but please find a GOP alternative. Thanks

The GOP's best, and only, argument is "hey, at least we are better than the democrats".

Way to go Tater - insult your wife and daughters, classy!

@2:51, c'mon, you know..."our" values, "our" way of life.

This is a great day for Mississippi! God Bless Tate

Guess that one "nay-sayer" finished their thoughts, finally. Tate has my vote and I see no one else on the horizon I would even consider. He is an honest, God-fearing, family man who is trying to bring our State into this century. It is embarrassing to see a map of the USA and Mississippi be one of the top 5 tax states. We have work to do and he has done his homework and knows how to get it done. Go Tate!

He's a helluva lot better than Hood!

Pssshhhh!!!

His war chest will help but he is disliked by way more people than he thinks. Having a democrat in office at the state level wouldn't be the worst thing. Cant put them at the federal level-especially senate but a democrat governor for 4 or even 8 years wouldn't be the end of the world.

So many anti Trump, anti Republican, anti Tate dummykrats on here. Y’all really think you can put “Conway” from the hood in the governor’s mansion. Dream on. Better still, quit trying to obstruct everything and try cooperating and getting along for a change. Naaaah! That isn’t going to happen. Tate will squash him like a bug.

Tata Tot might just lose to Jimmy the Kimmel Hood.

Does every single Mississippi politician have to mention abortion, guns, and "Hollywood liberals"? Even Lucien Smith's stump speech included that trifecta.

What is laughable is the comment about protecting "Our Way of Life" but also wanting to encourage people to stay in or move to Mississippi. That way of life is why everyone leaves!

I like Mike

I think Hood would be infinitely better

Governor Tater-Tot!

All you pin headed, college educated, intellectual snobs, who want to change our way of life and Mississippi values can leave any time now!

What. Already gone. Never mind.

That was a really awful announcement speech. "Our way of life is second to none" is a really delusional statement to make. I hope Delbert Hoseman and Bill Waller Jr will join the race.

Best wishes to him. But, I'm voting for Hood, unless Bill Waller, Jr., enters the race for governor.

This lifelong Republican will vote for Hood over Tater. Hopefully another Republican will beat him in the primary.

Having a check on the yahoos like Gunn and others would be a good thing. They’ve become drunk with their power and adopted corruption. It’s a well known on how they peddle their influence to friendlies. A vote for Jim Hood is a vote against the idiots in the legislature and the elites that gave us Cindy Hyde Smith. And no, I’m not a D.

Tate Reeves is a basically a breathing, waddling metaphor for Mississippi.

Tate is the Hillary Clinton of Mississippi. He feels entitled to a higher office but everybody hates behind the scenes. Wait and see.

“Our way of life....” He sounds more like Ross Barnett.

@4:28
Maybe not the end- but surely the beginning of the end.

Tater has a well oiled machine with all that special interest money. Hence all the strongly worded pro-Tate posts that appear so quickly. They look nicely pre-planned with conservative buzz words. Seriously, I run in the top R circles and all I hear is how much people don’t like Tot a bit but wont say anything till the voting curtain closes.

Believe me or not - I have never voted for a Democrat, but unless Bill Waller runs, this election will be a first for me. I will NEVER vote for Tate Reeves. He is completely out of touch, an absolute idiot that can only parrot what he hears in conservative talk. He does not at all understand the huge drain of educated people that are running out of this state, the embarrassment the state flag is, and what he has done to demolish education. Jim Hood may be crooked and he many be crazy - but at least it will be a different kind of crooked and crazy.

6:30 nailed it!

So I guess Tater likes the Mississippi way of life... 50th in everything!

Just saw Reeves on television. Didn't take him long to start with the Fire Pelosi nonsense and the Evil Schummer schtik they used for Palazzo.

Good grief.

Every Republican candidate claims, or has claimed, they will bring good paying jobs and great education to the state of MS.

Question- Are they lying or are they just really bad at the job description they stated?

Don't know the name of the representative/farmer who is running against Tate but he said he was told to "wait his turn". Funny how the "anti entitlement" crowd sure feels entitled to their turn at public office.

I hope Waller is reading this... please give us someone to vote for that’s not Tate, otherwise We’re gonna have to vote for Hood...a democrat

"The top R circles". Seriously? Do you believe all the negative Tate posts are not pre-planned? Maybe they came from the "top D Circles", LOL.

I have always voted Republican, but cannot vote for Tater. We need a gas tax and Bill Waller.

Another black eye for Mississippi. Tater as governor? Poster boy for every stereotype imaginable.

Voting for Hood. The rebublicans are outta control in this state. Time to remind them that the voters are actually in charge. Even if it means a democrat sits in the governor's chair. Not sucking too badly for our neighbor, Louisiana. Time to mix things up.

I am a conservative, although I am a registered Republican. Can't we (the voters of Mississippi) do any better than Reeves and Hood? Chief Justice Waller would be my first choice by far, but if Mike Espy would get into the race for governor, it would be a no-brainer vote for Espy (assuming Justice Waller sits this one out).

No matter how hard he tries and how hard I try, I DONT LIKE HIM. He’s an entitled, arrogant, power hungry, boss hog protoge. I will never vote for that man. Hillary could move here and run against him and I wouldn’t vote for him. He’s what’s wrong with our nation, our state, and the Republican Party.

Waller! PLEASE!!!

There have been 38 posts so far regarding Reeves announcement and 33 have been negative against him. Yet 6:52 complains about Reeves' "well oiled machine" and "all the strongly worded pro-Tate posts that appear so quickly."

6:52 fits well into today's Democratic discourse where no dissent is tolerated.

Tate will win and it won’t be close.

Tate says we’re thriving. I looked it up: double-wide w flowers out front. Go Tate, we can’t wait, we need a tater to lead our state.

@8:17 I agree that Tate has the highest probability of winning. But I’m afraid it’s going to be very close. Tate has my vote albeit I will have to hold my nose to vote for the arrogant SOB. And I’m damn sure not fooling myself into thinking Tate will win with a significant margin. It’s gonna be a heavyweight fight but at the end Tate should pull it off but by a split decision.

I guess by mentioning President Trump’s name it suppose to make things right when in reality Mississippi need someone who can stand on their own two feet. Mississippi need someone who is for Mississippi and not just someone who jumps on the wagon with others just because it’s trending.

Thanks to the trolls for your help in paying KF's electricity bill.

Bill Waller Jr. please throw your hat into the ring. PLEASE
We need someone blacks & whites can vote for.

I'm glad Feel Bryant and Feel Gunn took time out today to stand with Tater.

What's that, you say?

8:17pm Unless Waller gets in.

Tate never endorsed Trump and didn’t like Trump until he won and because he is so popular in Mississippi. Tate is a career politician—not what we need.

Keep in mind candidates have to win a majority of state house district AND the popular vote. If not, it goes to the house. This favors Republicans. Insurance for Tater if he doesn't win the majority of votes.

“He is an honest, God-fearing, family man who is trying to bring our State into this century. ”

By, for instance, slagging on the TV/movie industry that MS has been trying to attract?

He’s an ignorant panderer who will scare off outside investment and make our schools worse, not better.

11:01, neither did Phil......

10:48, not sure what you are implying, but Phil Bryant was there and is supporting Tate.

Ain't voting for a Democrat under any circumstances....period.

Tate hates Trump! Never Tate!

Bill, it's time to hit the road again, just like in your dad's campaign. We're never too old to do what's right for the state we love.
J C

Clayton Townley speech right out of Mississippi Burning.....someone ought to do a side by side comparison

The Little Emperor.

If Tater gets elected, I sure Mississippi will Shut Down.

When will we start to seriously address the real problem we are now having in almost every national/statewide election: YOU MUST HOLD YOUR NOSE WHEN YOU VOTE.

It's starting to become routine and it's ridiculous. The parties have become counter-productive. Time to make real change. (I don't mean electing a jackass like the president)

There are far too many "our way of life"ers in Mississippi who believe in just what that is.....those OLD Mississippi values. Tate's just using code to put those millions at ease. And yes, Mississippi will remain at the bottom because of the cotton snobs of old maintaining the power structure that drives white supremacy throughout the halls of power in the magnolia state. Tate will win for the same reason Cindy Lou Who did.....the silent (albeit racist) majority will enure it.

My ballot will join many in the "undervote" category associated with the Governor race. Skipping those two $h!++y selections.

"Time to make real change." Yep, never heard that one before.

Will his platform include "A tater tot in every pot?"

Time to make real change.

What do you suggest? Give us your Top 5 changes. Be specific.

The Hillary Clinton analogy is the best I have heard. Potato's entire justification for the office is that he's next in line. That is the crappiest reason in the world to elect someone, IMO.

Of course, he's ridden that, "I'm a Republican, vote for me!" strategy successfully for 16 years, so why the hell should he do things like present plans and options and tell everyone exactly how he will endeavor to make the state a better place.

If there's an emptier (ill-fitting) suit in the state of Mississippi, I'm not aware of it.

Who is taking bets on the first day we will see THE commercial? You know - the one with a slow drive into and through Tate's gated high-dollar neighborhood, maybe even a stop at his house - while the voice over tells of the $200,000 driveway to the stop light and shopping center. All while rural drivers are detoured around closed bridges and all drivers are avoiding huge potholes on old, patched roads.

defend MS from hollywood and liberals. that’s really laughable

I remember way back when rosy cheeked Tate was a teller at our local bank in Florence. He was such a nice young man and he always gave my grand children candy when I would make a deposit. He was a good boy then and he is a great man now. he has come a long way from those days.We miss him in Florence,

Tate. You have the poultry farmer's vote. We know you will look out for our interests.

The “hold my nose and vote for…” types are the reason this state has such pathetic, regressive leadership and remains stuck at the bottom in nearly all categories.

Well, the Democrats and the lobbyist crowd are out in force on this post. You're not fooling anybody with your "lifelong republican supporting jim hood" anonymous comments. Republicans support Tate and have time and time again. He will easily beat Hood because he's the better candidate for Mississippi.

Nobody wants to look at what he's done - lower taxes, smaller government, he even killed the bond bill one year to reduce spending. They only want to look at the iron fisted approach he's taken to getting his agenda through the Senate and that nonsensical road to his subdivision. You can't argue with his results, so I'll be supporting Tate for Governor.

The results? Poor schools, not a single Fortune 1000 HQ, horrible roads and a brain drain. Yeah, let's look at what he's not done. In his zeal to placate the conservatives he's left this state in even worse shape. Roads are a legitimate function of government and Tate doesn't even have the balls to raise the gas tax a few cents per gallon. I have had visitors, and you're lying if you say you haven't also, been in utter shock at the condition of our roads in this state. What do you think a decision maker from a company thinking of relocating thinks? You wonder why our children leave the state? Take a look in the mirror. I will be very surprised, and happy, if my children return to MS after college. I'm not holding my breath though. No way I'm voting for Tate.

"A Tater Tot in Every Pot" That was funny. I laughed.

Hi "bill" or should I say "tater". The public liberry compooters are for actual patrons, not "nonsensical" pranxterz.

"Come on people, it's his turn."

My name is Hillary Clinton, and I approved this message.

Good GOD that was unwatchable.

Y'all will elect him, don't worry.

And the rest of the nation will keep laughing at you!

Mississippian's voted for a guy who has no Values at all two years ago. Despite many of it's citzens feeling the pain of his trade wars and tariffs they still support him.
The case is the same with Tater, his private drive is proof of his self dealing and lack of concern for the common man in Mississippi. He will get elected because we always vote against on own interests in Mississippi.

For January 3 @ 3:33 pm - Please list any 'capital investor who has been offended by the state flag'. You can't do it. We've heard you people throw that straw-monkey in the ring for fifteen years.

Next - Please know that our governor is not empowered to address a 'crumbling of the state’s only true urban core and capital city'. You will also be displeased to learn our governor can't declare this to be a sanctuary state for illegals.

Next - If you're looking for 'transformative leaders' you might want to move to Connecticut, Maine, Oregon or Vermont where the primary concern is requiring that donut shops bake wedding cakes for rainbow weddings. Or were you thinking of Jerry Brown when you mentioned 'transformative leaders'?

There's time to throw your hat in the ring. We'll stay away in droves when you make your announcement from an umbrella table in The Fondren.

Past is prologue, right? Tate has been in there for eight years (not
counting however long he was treasurer). Does anyone believe that Tate has any plan that is going to slow the brain-drain emigration from Ms? The state’s population has been in decline, the population decline of educated young people is steep, not unlike the last aboard the helicopters out of Saigon. I guess if you don’t mind flying to New York or Seattle to see your grandchildren twice a year you’re cool w Tate. That changing planes is a bitch though.

Hey 4:10 from the BP settlement their is an 800 billion Gulf Research Center in the works. The flag is only one of the reasons Mississippi need not apply.

Kim Jong-Tater...the “wanna be” supreme leader of backwoods Mississippi.

Mississippi voters will continue to watch their educated sons and daughters rush across the state line within weeks of graduation to join all those Demoncrats in Atlanta, Austin, Dallas, etc. and congratulate themselves for upholding the great traditions of the state when they visit their grand children. The traditions of Vardaman, Bilbo, Barnett, et al, seem far more important to Mississippi's Konservative Kristian Klan than offering their children opportunities in this state unless they can make those opportunities exclusive to the Right people. Tater's people are all about "Separate but Equal" laws...... Wink-Nod. And of course those people currently have the White House on their side.

@12:54

If my kids were dumb enough to move to New York or Seattle then there wasn't much I could do for them here or anywhere else. Why don't you google brain drain and bring us some facts instead of bullshit.

... the population decline of educated young people is steep ...

Provide a link and prove that the decline is "steep".

Waller please run!!!

Ya know I wasn't excited about voting for Tate til I read the liberal, snowflake BS on here. Thanks to you whack jobs I have my bearings back. Now I can't wait to get to the polls to vote against yall !

7:27 - That's bullshit. Besides, where in Mississippi would a so-called 'Gulf Research Center' be located. The entire coastline is taken up with casinos that shit up the place and suck money out of this state.

An 800 Billion Dollar research center? Do you even understand that's almost a trillion dollars? Link please? And lay down the crack pipe.

Can Waller be Governor and draw his state retirement?

I'm asking for Bill.

I agree with the many posts urging Chief Justice Waller to run. I went to law school with him and am familiar with his stellar career in the Mississippi Supreme Court. I am also aware of AG Hood's buddy system with MS plaintiff's lawyers. I would urge anyone thinking of voting for Hood to look at the case of State Farm v. Hood in the Federal District Court of MS, Southern District, wherein he was asked about his meeting with Dickie Scruggs' co-conspirators Steve Patterson and Timothy Balducci. Chief Justice Waller would be a breath of fresh air compared to either Reevs or Hood.

4:01 - NO.

Representing "The Real MSGOP" for the Never Tater Campaign

Run of the mill Political leaders can't make Mississippi a more attractive state for investment nor can they transform the culture. If you've spent any time in 3rd world countries you will notice marked similarities; systemic corruption, rampant cronyism, a poorly informed populace, black market economies, and the obvious disparities in public services from region to region. Our infrastructure and roadway scheme, coupled with largely incompetent leadership make Mississippi the last logical choice to invest. Waller would be a good choice as would General Augustus Collins. Still waiting for a centrist that doesn't appeal to all the Kool-Aid drinkers in both parties. I think most Mississippians are sick of this partisan BS.

January 5 at 5:55PM wrote, "...would be a breath of fresh air compared to either Reevs or Hood."

Yeah, well, the shithouse at a all-you-can-eat truckstop buffet serving nothing but boiled eggs, cabbage and beans would be a breath of fresh air compared to either Reeves or Hood.

Which is not to say that either one is "evil" or anything like that, just that neither are truly good candidates for the majority of the average Mississippians, regardless of color, stance on the state flag, feelings about alcohol or pot, sexual orientation or any other distinguishing individual characteristic(s). Look no further than the Hyde-Smith/Espy/McDaniel race for yet another example of such an election. The real problem is that those who would be at least decent officials have no interest in running and wouldn't be elected even if they were interested.

Robert Foster for Governor! Even if it hurts your "middle of the state" hearts...

It speaks volumes that Tate Reeves is even in a position to be Governor. We can do so much better.

re: 1.25 PM and request to prove the Brain Drain in Mississippi.

Recall that Feel Bryant fired the head of IHL (Boyce) after he was quoted in multiple platforms that 2 of his 3 children had to leave Mississippi to find jobs.

Also, use your google finger to look up "Brain Drain in Mississippi." About 1.8 million citations, including quote by Roger Wicker.

Re brain drain issue: see 2016 IHL report: five years after graduation from Ms’s four-year colleges almost half of grads have left state. The highest % departures are from engineering, math and physical science grads, who earn the highest bucks. Is there really any debate about this? You may not like New York or Seattle, but how about Charlotte, Atlanta, Nashville, Asheville, Orlando, Austin, etc.? Ignore at your - our - peril.

Waller please..

Did someone actually mention 'General Augustus Collins' being a good gubernatorial candidate? That's impossible to imagine. I knew him thirty years ago when he was a technician in the Unemployment Insurance Division of MESC. Of course then he was Leon Collins. No background in anything real-world, then or now. Basically what he did for those ten years or more was show up at an office with a group of bureaucrats from Jackson and count claims-filed and tally how many forms were filled out incorrectly.

Other than this spell as appointed adjutant he's got zero management experience and zero private sector experience. He's never supervised employees, never met a payroll, never drawn up a budget, never hired employees, never sat down and looked at a profit-loss statement of any sort. But he is exactly the type fellow a governor might appoint to a board or some other meaningless position.

General Collins still is Leon, and he is CEO of MINACT, Inc. But since he is black, @7:22 felt compelled to trash him. Typical.

I am ordering my “No Tater Tot For Me “ bumper stickers today. Mississippi has to move forward.

Question for all those pushing for Waller to run?

There's no assurance he will run as a Republican. Would you still vote for him if he ran against Hood in the primary to win the Democrat ticket, to run against Tater Thot?

We know many of you are programmed to only vote for certain kinds of Republicans - would you actually vote for a good candidate regardless of party affiliation?

To 1/4 at 4:10 - “name one capital investor who has not invested in MS because of the flag” - you CAN’T name them - we will never know what opportunities we missed because of that flag that is our brand. And you will notice that the Nissan plant in Canton refuses to fly it. Like it or not, the Confederate flag has been hijacked by hate groups and it is not the brand for The Hospitality State. I speak as one whose relatives fought on the side of The Confederacy so I get your argument. And yes, Tater’s point about “our way of life” is a nod to those who support the flag and old times. We’ve been 50th long enough. Tater is not the answer. Our state deserves better.

@ 6:42pm

Good points

But in regards to capital investors, you are not going to find an actual list. But you can pinpoint the companies that avoid opening shop here, compared to being located in the contiguous neighboring states.

I can think of two major organizations that would contribute to our local economy in the metro area if we were to change the flag, that's the NCAA and NASCAR.

They have been building hotels and updating motels around the metro for a good minute. We can host regional and super-regional tournaments for the southeastern region in college sports. We can host a bowl game. Hell, look at our weather today - a high of 70 in January. We should be capitalizing on our location - in regards to logistics and our weather. Tourism is not Mississippi's strong suit.

Being 50th in everything gives this state a terrible reputation, that's bad for tourism. Changing the flag is an opportunity at rebranding this state. Its practically doing plastic surgery for a cheap price.

We're not losing anything by changing the damn state flag, because we are already at rock bottom!?