I'm Roger Wicker, and I Approved This Message

Just got sent this by a reader. Roger Wicker's running ads decrying Ronnie Musgrove's supposed "embarrassing ethical conduct." But when called to account for these charges by a local TV station, Roger Wicker showed that he's an empty suit, whose campaign is being run outside of his own jurisdiction. He didn't even know what his own ad was talking about. If you're going to make allegations like that, you should at least know what in the world it is you're implying. And be prepared to account for it, since the ad carries your statement of approval.

Check it out:

I'd say many more such "truth tests" are in order.

Whither Travis Childers?

Speaking of Greg Davis' invisibility, what about his opponent? Well, Rep. Childers is back from Washington and using the five-week break to hear from his constiuents. According to the D-J, Childers will be visiting each of his district's 24 counties during the recess:

Childers' first stops included Itawamba and Lee counties, where the newly elected congressman visited with officials and introduced some of his staff.

"I want to work with you folks," Childers told the Lee County Board of Supervisors on Monday morning. "I want to help Lee County and Tupelo and the other municipalities here."

Childers said he wants to reach out to each county and let both leaders and residents know that he and his staff are available to hear comments and answer questions.

When asked about the biggest concern voiced so far by constituents in his north Mississippi district, Childers said "fuel prices." The Booneville native vowed to continue fighting for lower prices at the pump but said a negative campaign run by conservative-aligned independent group Freedoms Watch has been claiming the opposite.

The nonprofit, lobbying organization last month ran TV ads and made phone calls accusing Childers and other Democrats of doing nothing to lower oil prices.

"It was petty politics," Childers said. "And I'm offended they'd insult north Mississipipians with that."

I was talking with someone the other day, and the ridiculously annoying Freedom's Watch robocalls came up. I commented that it seemed like they started before the special election in May and never stopped.

There has been a lull in the last few weeks, though, and I saw recently that Freedom's Watch has plunked a good bit of change into House races across the country:

Freedom’s Watch, the conservative advocacy organization heavily funded by Las Vegas billionaire Sheldon Adelson, is hitting the airwaves with a television and radio ad buy targeting Democratic House candidates across the country.

It is Freedom Watch’s single largest advertising purchase since the organization aired ads earlier this year in a Mississippi special election, according to a source familiar with the buy. The size of the buy is in the mid-six figures.

The ads take aim at Democratic incumbents, challengers, and open seat candidates. Ads airing on broadcast television are targeting U.S. Rep. Nancy Boyda (D-Kan.) while ads on cable stations are taking aim at U.S. Rep. Nick Lampson (D-Texas).

Radio ads, meanwhile, are targeting Michigan 7th Congressional District candidate Mark Schauer, Ohio 15th Congressional District candidate Mary Jo Kilroy, Idaho 1st Congressional District Candidate Walt Minnick, Missouri 6th Congressional District candidate Kay Barnes, New York 29th Congressional District candidate Eric Massa, New Mexico 1st Congressional District candidate Martin Heinrich, Ohio 16th Congressional District candidate John Boccieri, U.S. Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D-N.H.), U.S. Rep. Chris Carney (D-Pa.) and U.S. Rep. Don Cazayoux (D-La.).

Hmmm. I notice there's a race missing from that buy. Could it be that Freedom's Watch has decided there's little to gain in MS-01 this cycle? My guess is the calls will heat back up again, regardless. And probably ads, closer to the election. They're funded out the wazoo, you know:

Democrats fired back against the ads.

“National Republicans have spent years stuffing their pockets with Big Oil money and then thanking Big Oil by blocking Democratic efforts to lower gas prices and make America energy independent. So it’s not surprising that Republicans are outsourcing their false attacks to a shadowy soft money group like Freedom's Watch which won't even reveal whether Big Oil has joined casino magnate Sheldon Adelson in funding them," said Doug Thornell, a spokesman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

That Freedom’s Watch is investing in House races is surely welcome news for the National Republican Congressional Committee. The beleaguered GOP House campaign arm trails its Democratic counterpart in fundraising by a steep seven-to-one ratio.

And you know, speaking of Freedom's Watch, I wonder how Mr. Campaign Finance Reform himself feels about such "shadowy soft money groups" working so hard to influence the democratic process. I remember a time when this (campaign finance reform) was John McCain's issue (having been clubbed in the alley by the Bush team and its own shadowy groups in South Carolina back in 2000). Of course, he's a changed man now.

Question for the Morning

Whither Greg Davis? Is his new campaign strategy to remain invisible until the last weeks of the election?

NPR on Neshoba, Musgrove v. Wicker

Interesting Mississippi-focused segment on NPR's Morning Edition today. Reporter Debbie Elliot takes a look at Mississippi politics, and the Musgrove-Wicker senate race particularly, from the historic Neshoba County Fair:

Longtime Republican Senate leader Trent Lott won re-election in landslides, but now that land is sliding. His once comfy seat in Mississippi is up for grabs. Republican Sen. Roger Wicker, appointed after Lott retired last year, faces former Gov. Ronnie Musgrove in what pundits are calling the Deep South contest of the year.

And that has brought the candidates to the summer political tradition of the year — the Neshoba County Fair. It's a 10-day tent revival meeting in the red clay hills near Philadelphia in east Mississippi — except that the tents are two- and three-story cabins, 600 of them, lined up beyond the carnival rides and cow barns.

Elliot finds that Wicker is (shocker, I know) sticking to the same strategy that failed the GOP back in May's MS-01 Special election, trying to tie the local Democratic candidate to the national party, counting on the same liberal bogeyman to rally Mississippi Republicans. Well, it didn't work then, and it's not certain it will work now. But that doesn't mean Roger won't give it the good old college try:

"When you're at the Neshoba County Fair, you know you're in the heart and soul of Mississippi," says Wicker, 57, a lawyer, long-time congressman and former state senator. He's on a stage in the fair's pavilion, where hundreds of people have crowded onto rustic wooden pews.Wicker has a receptive audience in this nearly all-white, rural crowd. A few folks in the front rows have made signs juxtaposing Democrat Ronnie Musgrove with a few national Democrats who are not so popular here: Hillary Clinton, Al Gore and Barack Obama. Wicker also makes the link.

"My opponent is the Democratic national nominee for U.S. senator," Wicker says. "Barack Obama is certainly supporting Ronnie Musgrove. He's raising money for him, working for him and wants Ronnie elected."

Remember that in Sid Salter's dispatch from Neshoba we learned that the "rustic wooden pews" were stacked with bussed in Wicker supporters, to "create an image pervasive widespread support" (which, it should be noted, Wicker does not have). So take his showing at the - admittedly and historically very conservative-friendly Neshoba County Fair - with at least a grain of salt. Likewise with Musgrove's positioning at the Fair:

Musgrove, a 52-year-old lawyer, does benefit from Obama's popularity among African-Americans in Mississippi. And blacks make up more than one-third of the electorate. But that's not something Musgrove touts to the crowd in Neshoba County, where the thing to advertise is conservative credentials.

"Make no mistake about it," Musgrove tells the crowd. "I'm a Mississippi Democrat, pro life and pro gun." It's the same strategy Democrat Travis Childers used to win Wicker's north Mississippi House seat earlier this year. That victory has political observers wondering if the Republican hold on the Deep South is slipping.

Elliot touches on history, too, via Salter, again:

"1980 was the watershed," says Sid Salter, a columnist with the Clarion-Ledger in Jackson. "When Reagan Republican politics came to Mississippi, it had ripples that carried on. I think now the pendulum may be swinging back."

Salter says Mississippi Republicans like Trent Lott found success using Reagan's formula: looking back to better times and emphasizing issues of faith and family values. "The challenge for Roger Wicker right now is that when people go through the checkout line or the gas station, they're not feeling warm and fuzzy."

No, they are most certainly not feeling warm and fuzzy. they're under pressure, and in many cases, rural Mississippians are hurting disproportionately more from the price of gas and other economic burdens.

This thing is a toss-up right now, despite the Mississippi and national GOP coming in strong for Wicker, despite his fundraising advantage, and despite the historically safe-Republican nature of the seat. That ought to tell you something.

In any case, the audio of the segment is longer and more detailed than NPR's print version, and I encourage you to give it a listen. And let me say once again how refreshing it is to see national eyes turned toward Mississippi politics. After years of being ignored by the media, surrendered by the Democrats, and taken for granted by the Republicans it's nice to see our state making political news.

Ole Miss Presidential Debate News

Well, not news, really, but an interesting tidbit. The Commission on Presidential Debates has announced the moderators for the upcoming presidential and vice-presidential debates. The first, to be held at the University of Mississippi on September 26 (check here for some historical context), will focus on domestic issues and will be moderated by the venerable Jim Lehrer, executive editor and anchor of PBS’s “The NewsHour.”

Considering that, given the insanity of this world, we could well have been looking at someone like Katie Couric taking the lead, I think we can all be pleased with the decision to give it to Lehrer. So be thankful for small favors.

Wicker's in a Dogfight, Pure and Simple

Not sure how I missed this the other day, but Sid Salter of the Clarion-Ledger had a dispatch from the Neshoba County Fair, comparing and contrasting the two candidates for Trent Lott's old Senate seat. It doesn't sound so great for Roger Wicker, despite his seeming advantages:

In Wicker, the Republicans have a candidate who isn't particularly comfortable in the role of candidate.

Even with a packed house under the Founder's Square pavilion with most of the seats taken by people bused in for the purpose of providing a pro-Wicker background, Wicker isn't the most charismatic candidate....

...Wicker had a larger professional and volunteer campaign staff on the grounds at the Neshoba County Fair than did Musgrove and obviously invested more time, more money and more man hours into creating an image of pervasive, widespread support. Wicker signs by far outnumbered Musgrove signs on the cabins and there were more Wicker T-shirts on more Wicker bodies.

But Wicker simply didn't generate the excitement that Republican lead dogs like the late Kirk Fordice or Gov. Haley Barbour generate here.

Even outnumbered and facing hecklers, Musgrove stood in there pitching and stayed on message. He even turned the old Ronald Reagan ("Are you better off than you were four years ago?") question around on Wicker and did so with success.

Musgrove is a better retail politician than is Wicker. That's not a knock on Wicker, it's simply a fact. Musgrove is a people person. Wicker is more reserved.

What Wicker lacks that has benefited Republicans over the last 20 years is the sense of inevitability that he will win.

Wicker is in a dogfight, pure and simple, with Musgrove. Democrats in general in Mississippi and Musgrove's camp in particular, believe that he not only has a chance to win the race but an excellent chance. Republicans, in contrast, for the first time in years have some doubt.

Morgan Freeman Injured in Delta Wreck

Morgan Freeman, in addition to being one of the hardest working men in Hollywood (seriously, he is everywhere), is something of a Mississippi treasure, and he is a familiar sight at a variety of local spots statewide. Seems that Mr. Freeman was in a pretty bad car accident in Tallahatchie County in the Delta and is currently in serious condition at The Med in Memphis.

I hope this is something from which he can rebound. Our thoughts are with him and his family at this trying time. We all wish him a speedy and uncomplicated recovery.

UPDATE: Some more details from a CBS affiliate:

The Mississippi Highway Patrol reports Freeman's car went off Highway 32 near in Tallahatchie County. Mississippi, and flipped several times.

Freeman was air lifted to the Regional Medical Center at Memphis (The Med) in critical condition. A woman who was in the car was also taken to the Med.

Clarion-Ledger To Cut 5% of Staff

Hard days for the newspaper business (in addition to so many others). Editor & Publisher's reporting that Jackson's hometown paper will be laying off 20 employees:

The Clarion-Ledger in Jackson, Miss., has to eliminate 20 positions, Publisher Larry Whitaker wrote to staff in a memo posted on Romenseko. Whitaker cites the slowdown in print AND online advertising as the reason for the move.

"While you might have read about staff reductions at other newspapers, we have, up to this point, made tough business decisions to avoid having to take those actions here," wrote Whitaker. "I regret to inform you that we can no longer keep our name off the growing list of newspapers that have reduced staff or are in the process of doing so. The unstable market, higher fuel costs, big spikes in newsprint costs, and a challenging advertising climate have made that impossible."

The cut amounts to 5% of the workforce of the Gannett-owned newspaper. The memo did not address which positions are affected or if those employees will receive severance.

E&P goes on to print the contents of Whitaker's memo, if you're interested.

More on Trent Lott

While I have no sympathy whatsoever for State Farm, nor any other insurance company that sought to deny Katrina claims over semantics (i.e., if Category 5 force hurricane winds lift up the goddamn Gulf and slam it into your house, is that wind or flood damage?), I also think that an acting Senator (at the time) using his stature to influence the players in a pending legal case is pretty foul.

Anyway, Wednesday night, I posted an AP news item on a State Farm attorney introducing the prospect that Trent Lott, on behalf of his brother-in-law (and in his own self-interest as a claimant in the case against State Farm), may have urged witnesses to give false information. Under questioning on the issue, Zach Scruggs invoked the 5th.

On Thursday, that attorney, Jim Robie, talked with LegalNewsLine:

"Clearly, the record couldn't be more plain that Sen. Lott and his associates were talking to people that were key advisers to Mr. Scruggs, paid consultants and those who were creating an illusion that simply doesn't have any basic fact," Robie told Legal Newsline on Thursday.

Robie said he will continue his efforts to depose both Richard and Zach Scruggs, during which he will probe the influence of Lott.

"I expect to follow-up deposition of both Zach and Dick, which will now have to take place in a federal penitentiary," Robie said. "They clearly had a close liaison with Sen. Lott."

Robie said Lott, a leading Republican, initiated contact with people surrounding this case, something unprecedented for a U.S. Senator.

"Have you ever had a U.S. Senator call you?" he asked rhetorically.

Bret Boyles, a spokesman for Lott's lobbying firm The Breaux Lott Leadership Group, told Legal Newsline the former senator had no interest in justifying the implication with a response....

...Both Zach and his father invoked their Fifth Amendment right to virtually every question asked of them during their deposition last week. The pair filed a motion Friday asking the court to seal their testimony to State Farm, claiming it could hurt them in future criminal proceedings, and compromise their Fifth Amendment rights.

"There are no seal orders," Robie said. "We filed our motions to compel and they are public record."

Lott's name surfaced during the Scruggs legal odyssey when one of the convicted attorneys testified that Scruggs instructed him to offer a bribe to influence a county circuit judge, not with cash as in the case he pleaded guilty to, but "the influence of Mr. Scruggs' brother-in-law, who was Sen. Trent Lott, to put him on a list to be considered for a federal vacancy.''

Lott did place a call to the judge, but did not nominate him, according to published reports.

Lott unexpectedly announced his resignation from the Senate just days before Richard Scruggs was indicted last November. At the time, CNN reported that Lott's resignation was due in part to an act that took effect at the end of 2007 forbidding lawmakers from lobbying for two years after leaving office.

Lott said his desire to spend more time with family, not the new law, influenced his decision to resign. Less than two months (later) he opened his lobbying firm.

Trent Lott, Witness Coach?

The Scruggs' request to have their testimony sealed was denied. So what's news? According to the AP:

An insurance company's attorney suggested during a sworn deposition that former U.S. Sen. Trent Lott urged witnesses to give false information in a Hurricane Katrina lawsuit, according to court records.

The implication was made last week during a deposition with Lott's nephew, Zach Scruggs, who represented the former Mississippi Republican senator after his Pascagoula home was destroyed by the 2005 storm. Zach Scruggs is the son and law partner of disgraced former attorney Richard ''Dickie'' Scruggs, Lott's brother-in-law.

''Has it been your custom and habit in prosecuting litigation to have Senator Lott contact and encourage witnesses to give false information?'' State Farm Fire & Casualty Cos. attorney Jim Robie asked, according to a transcript of the deposition.

''I invoke my Fifth Amendment rights in response to that question,'' Zach Scruggs responded.

Hmmm.

UPDATE: A bit more on the matter here.

New MS Poll: Musgrove vs. Wicker Neck and Neck, and Obama Rising

A brand spanking new Research 2000 Poll is out, commissioned by Daily Kos on the state of the Mississippi Senate and Presidential races. And what's it find? Well, there's a statistical tie between Musgrove and Wicker, and Obama's numbers are ticking up (and these numbers include 15% of African-American voters as undecided). Numbers in parenthesis are from a 5/22 poll conducted by the same outfit:

Wicker (R) 45 (46)

Musgrove (D) 44 (42)

Looks like float within the MoE. This one is tight. Note, there was a methodological difference in this poll from the last -- we omitted the party ID of the candidates since the ballot will omit them. Ultimately, it seemed to make little difference.

And check out the presidential:

McCain (R) 51 (54)

Obama (D) 42 (39)

Obama is getting 19 percent of the white vote in this poll, just shy of the 20 percent DavidNYC identified as key for winning the state. The second part of that equation is to boost African American turnout in the state to 40 percent of the total vote. In this poll, African Americans represent 37 percent of the vote. The undecided African American vote -- 15 percent (!) -- will come down for Obama. Now it's a question of turning them out in historic numbers.

Full cross-tabs of the poll are available at the link above if you're interested, and y'know, while you're at it, I'd recommend y'all go ahead read the diary linked in Kos' comments as well. Things are still very much up in the air in the Magnolia state, in terms of both the Senate and Presidential races.

Mortgage Crisis Hits Home

And it's more bad news for Oxford.

Reliable sources tell me that FNC, Inc., a local company that is tied directly into the mortgage industry, is in the process of laying off roughly 10% (maybe more) of its workforce. Bad news for the job market in Oxford (and elsewhere), but really just par for the current course in the industry.

Sad. For the folks who are now unemployed, for the company, and the town. FNC was one of the "new Oxford" success stories, and became one of the better-paying employers here. With any luck, they'll survive their current troubles, and these will be the last of the layoffs. But that all depends on the mortgage market.

More as it develops.

They Keep Popping Up

Ben Ginsberg is the Wicker for Senate lawyer? This Ben Ginsberg? Jeez Louise. Talk about low friends in high places. And talk about hypocrisy. He's launching an attack about coordinated communications? Please.

Musgrove Supports Net Neutrality

By way of Cotton Mouth:

“In such a short time, the internet has developed into a key tool for our free society. It has driven economic development, enabled innovation, stimulated political discussion and provided new forums for the exercise of our First Amendment right of free speech. Net Neutrality is vital to keeping the internet free and open, and protecting access to its information for all Mississippians and Americans.”

-Governor Ronnie Musgrove

DSCC Ad for Ronnie Musgrove

I'd been unable to find and capture this ad and get it up on YouTube myself, but luckily someone else has:

I know there's lots of right wing noise about how this ad supposedly violates the Coordinated Communications restrictions of the FEC, but as far as I can see, it does nothing of the sort. From a comment I left on another site:

For the record, the FEC has a three-pronged coordination test, and according to FEC rules on the matter, all three must be met for something to be considered coordinated communications. All three. And, additionally, they apply to outside groups, not political party committees (of which the DSCC is most certainly one):

Three-Prong Coordination Test

FEC regulations establish a three-prong test to determine whether a communication is coordinated. All three prongs of the test—payment, content and conduct—must be met for a communication to be deemed coordinated and thus an in-kind contribution.

Payment Prong

In order to satisfy the payment prong, the communication need only be paid for, in whole or in part, by someone other than a candidate, a candidate’s authorized committee, a political party committee or an agent of the above.

I do believe that the DSCC qualifies as a political party committee. So, strike one, and according to the FEC rules, game over.

But Let's look further:

Content Prong

The content prong relates to the subject matter and timing of the communication. A communication that meets any one of these four standards satisfies this part of the test:

1. A public communication that expressly advocates the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate;

Okay, I'll grant you that one, but since the DSCC is an allowed entity, no matter. Or should I suppose all of the DCCC buys on behalf of Travis Childers were illegal too?

2. A communication that is an “electioneering communication” as defined in 11 CFR 100.29 (i.e. a broadcast communication that mentions a federal candidate and is distributed to the relevant electorate 30 days before the primary election or 60 days before the general election);

We're still outside that window

3. A public communication that republishes, disseminates or distributes in whole or in part campaign materials prepared by a candidate or a candidate’s campaign committee;

(this ad was not made by the candidate nor his election committee.)

or

4. A public communication that is:

a. Made within 90 days before an election and:

(since we're outside the window, all of the following cease to matter)

* Refers to a clearly identified House or Senate candidate and is publicly distributed in that candidate’s jurisdiction; or
* Refers to a political party, is coordinated with a House or Senate candidate, and is publicly distributed in that candidate’s jurisdiction; or
* Refers to a political party, is coordinated with a political party, and is publicly distributed during a midterm election cycle

b. Made 120 days before a Presidential primary election through the general election and:

since this is a Senatorial and not Presidential election, the following are moot

* Refers to a clearly identified Presidential or Vice Presidential candidate and is publicly distributed in a jurisdiction before the clearly identified federal candidate’s election in that jurisdiction; or
* Refers to a party, is coordinated with a Presidential or Vice Presidential candidate, and is publicly distributed in that candidate’s jurisdiction; or
* Refers to a political party, is coordinated with a political party, and is publicly distributed during the Presidential election cycle.

For communications that refer to both a party and a clearly identified federal candidate see 109.21(c)(4)(i)-(iv)

Okay, what about the third and final prong?

Conduct Prong

The conduct prong examines the interactions between the person paying for the communication and the candidate, authorized committee or political party committee, or their agents. A communication satisfies this part of the test if it meets any one of the five standards regarding the conduct of the person paying for the communication and the candidate, the candidate’s committee, a political party committee or agents of the above:

1. If the communication is created, produced or distributed at the request or suggestion of the candidate, candidate’s committee, a party committee or agents of the above; or the communication is created, produced or distributed at the suggestion of the person paying for the communication and the candidate, authorized committee, political party committee or agent of any of the foregoing assents to the suggestion. 11 CFR 109.21(d)(1).

2. If the candidate, the candidate’s authorized committee or party committee is materially involved in decisions regarding the content, intended audience, means or mode of the communication, specific media outlet used, the timing or frequency or size or prominence of a communication. 11 CFR 109.21(d)(2).

3. If the communication is created, produced or distributed after one or more substantial discussions4 about the communication between the person paying for the communication or the employees or agents of that person and the candidate, the candidate’s committee, the candidate’s opponent or opponent’s committee, a political party committee or agents of the above. 11 CFR 109.21(d)(3).

4. If the person paying for the communication employs a common vendor to create, produce or distribute the communication, and that vendor:

* Is currently providing services or provided services within the previous 120 days with the candidate or party committee that puts the vendor in a position to acquire information about the campaign plans, projects, activities or needs of the candidate or political party committee; and

* Uses or conveys information about the plans or needs of the candidate or political party, or information previously used by the vendor in serving the candidate or party, and that information is material to the creation, production or distribution of the communication. 11 CFR 109.21(d)(4).

5. If a person who has previously been an employee or independent contractor of a candidate’s campaign committee or a party committee during the previous 120 days uses or conveys information about the plans or needs of the candidate or political party committee to the person paying for the communication, and that information is material to the creation, production or distribution of the communication. 11 CFR 109.21(d)(5).

Formal agreement or collaboration between the person paying for the communication and the candidate, authorized committee or political party committee, or their agents, is not required. 11 CFR 109.21(e).

From where I sit, all of that's on the up and up. If anyone has proof to the contrary, please do share.

Like I said, in order to be in violation of the FEC's Coordinated Communications rule, an act must violate all three of those prongs. This ad hits none. Especially since it comes from an allowed entity.

Musgrove to FEC: Wicker's Breaking Campaign Finance Law

Clarion-Ledger's reporting that Ronnie Musgrove has filed a complaint with the FEC, saying Roger Wicker has been breaking federal campaign financing laws by accepting contributions that are in excess of the federally allowed limits.

Ronnie Musgrove Interview

By way of John in the comments down below (and just the tiniest bit of sleuthing), we get this interview from WLOX in Biloxi with former Governor and current Senatorial candidate Ronnie Musgrove:

DSCC to Bring Musgrove Campaign on the Air

Finally (Thanks John). I know Ronnie's fundraising has been less than spectacular, so it's nice to see the DSCC throwing a little support behind his candidacy. I'll see what I can do about getting the commercial recorded and uploaded, but until that point, if anyone sees it online, give me a holler and let me know the context. Or even better, if you've got TiVo and can grab it, send it along and I'll upload it on your behalf.

Oxford to Lose 1000 Jobs

That's a whole hell of a lot in a town this size. And when you extrapolate that number to include the families impacted by each job loss, and the compounded effect on the community, it becomes a whole hell of a lot more again.

Whirlpool, true to what seems to be it's long term plan to relocate all of its manufacturing overseas, is closing its plant in Oxford, Mississippi. That sucks, and is yet another sign that this town has been lost for the working class, and will continue headlong into its unfortunate destiny as a town for the rich and/or retired.

By way of lotus at folo we get word of this story from the Oxford Eagle (this link will only work for about 24 hours, due to the absolute ridiculousness of the Eagle's Web site):

In a climax to months of rumors, Whirlpool Corp. officials are to announce today that the company’s Oxford facility will close by the end of this year, according to at least one area official.

State Rep. Warner McBride was the first to release official word today that the announcement was pending, saying that as a representative of many affected families he is “stressed beyond words.”

“The families, especially the children of those who lost their job, need the community’s support,” he said in a written statement.

“I am going to be working night and day with the Mississippi Development Authority to make sure each employee does indeed receive all of their unemployment benefits, as well as needed job training so that we can put these people back to work very soon.”

Oxford Mayor Richard Howorth and Oxford-Lafayette County Economic Development Foundation Executive Director Max Hipp declined to comment this morning. Plant officials said they were not yet ready to announce a statement....

...According to figures provided by the company recently, Whirlpool employs about 1,000 people in the Oxford plant, which builds cooking products under the Whirlpool and KitchenAid brands.

In a town where the working class (you know, the people that make the town actually function: teachers, cops, firemen, sanitation workers, etc.) have been all but priced out of the housing market (when you're ready to to throw up, just a little, in your own mouth, check out this "Havens" piece on Oxford from the NY Times last week), this will make a bad situation only worse.

And, oh, the housing glut....just wait. But that's another post for another time.


UPDATE: Subsequent reports are putting the jobs lost at 750 and not the 1000 claimed in the article and headline above, but I'm not certain that's not some spin coming from Whirlpool, with the unspoken piece being that 250 of the lost jobs here (and the majority lost at the Puebla Mexico plant also closing) will be moved to Cleveland and not "eliminated." While that may be a good way to spin it for shareholders, the net result is the same. If 1000 people are employed at the plant and it is closing, that means 1000 Mississippians losing their jobs.

Medicare Bill Passes, Wicker Loses

Hopefully the start of a trend for old Rog.

Vote came in at 68-30, a veto-proof majority, with 18 Republicans and two Independents joining 49 Democrats to shoot down the 10.6 percent pay cut for doctors treating Medicare patients.

Given the utter disappointment with the FISA vote earlier in the day, and Senator Kennedy's return to the senate floor for the vote, this was heartening

Wicker, true to form, voted against the doctors and for the insurance companies. We know where his loyalties lay, and now so does every doctor in the state.