Set the record straight

An analysis by Charlie Stogner, TV commentator on YLTV channels on the StogTv network

For months both Dave Dennis and Phil Bryant have each attached themselves as closely as possible to former governor Kirk Fordice, both over looking the fact that not only was Fordice a successful businessman but also a retired military officer. Of course both candidates overlooking the fact Fordice has much more in common and similarity to General Hudson Holliday than either of them.

But Dennis has used the statement as a mantra cry that Fordice said “you should sign the front of a paycheck before running for office”, but it’s probable the ‘self-made’ Fordice meant one should have the experience of owning and operating a business rather than simply being a payroll clerk.

Dennis has coupled this remark as he promotes himself to be someone who can serve as CEO for the state. His website states he’s president of a family business but he doesn’t share this is actually a sheetrock installation operation, handed down by his father-in-law and with his wife, Jake, the principal stockholder. In fact a check at the Mississippi State Board of Contractors will show Specialty Contractors and Associates, license # 05062-MC, is listed as a “minority” firm headed by Jane R. Dennis, Dave’s wife and a good explanation of what defines a business as a ‘minority-owned’ operation is found at http://www.mybrotha.com/minority8a.asp.

What this shows is that his family business is able to get SBA assistance for a ‘socially and economically disadvantaged business-owners gain access; meaning favored status on securing government financed contracts.

On the other hand, General Hudson Holliday has created and managed numerous businesses using his own funds. He, like Fordice, is a ‘self-made’ successful businessman.

Bryant has no military or business ownership experience. Dennis has no military experience and is president of a ‘minority-owned’ business controlled by his wife.

Holliday is a retired Mississippi National Guard General, an ‘officer of the line’; a successful entrepreneur with numerous business enterprises and has the ‘where-the-rubber-meets-the-road’ government experience of a county supervisor.

Compare the candidates and ‘set the record straight’.

Lest we forget

It’s not always name recognition that wins

Lest we forget…. Analysis by Charlie Stogner

Dennis Murphree was Lt. Governor from 1924-1927, appointed governor on the death of Henry Whitfield, ran for governor and lost. He was again Lt. Governor from 1932-1936, ran for governor and lost. Once again he was Lt. Governor, again appointed governor on the death of Paul Johnson, Sr., ran for governor and lost.

Carroll Gartin was Lt. Governor from 1952-1960, ran for governor and lost.

William Winter was Lt. Governor from 1971-1975 and in 1975 and ran for governor leading the ticket in the First Primary only to lose to Cliff Finch in the run-off.

Evelyn Gandy was Lt. Governor from 1975-1979 and ran for governor. She too led the ticket in the First Primary only to lose to William Winter in the run-off.

That’s six times a seated Lt. Governor has had plenty name recognition, ran for governor and was rejected by the voters.

In 1963, then Lt. Governor Paul Johnson, Jr, using the theme, “stand tall with Paul” based on his belly to belly meeting with marshall McShane at Ole Miss when James Meredith was enrolled. It can be said James Meredith elected Paul Johnson, Jr.

In 1999, then Democrat Lt. Governor Ronnie Musgrove became9.6
governor after winning over Republican Congressman Mike Parket, 379,033 to 370,691 giving Musgrove 49.6% and Parker 48.5%. The election was determined by the Mississippi House of Representatives, strongly dominated by Democrats.

That’s twice a seated Lt. Governor has won the election.

However, four years later Musgrove, now governor, surely with plenty name recognition was upset by Haley Barbour.

As best I can determine this means that at least as far back as the 30’s, no Lt. Governor other than Johnson and Musgrove have been elevated to governor and these two only through extenuating circumstances.

But if we’re basing who is going to be elected due to name recognition, how many remember the name of the Vicksburg Senator who unseated three term Lt. Governor Brad Dye only to lose to a little known Senator turned Republican, Eddie Briggs?

Name recognition? Not in any way a guarantee of being elected governor.

Or maybe they do.

I'm a user of 'leased access', a law created by Congress in 1984 that requires all cable sites to set aside airtime for use mainly by local programmers unaffiliated with the cable operator. Congress was very clear they intended this to provide some competition but today's members of Congress seem to be the recipients of cable industry contributions to the extend they do not, will not, see that FCC makes cable play fair.

Most leased access programmers struggle to get by while the cable industry’s political action committee passes out thousand dollar bills to members of Congress as if it were candy. There’s strong evidence this largess extends to staff members at FCC since they so overtly favor cable in disputes with leased access programmers.

So, maybe I’m wrong and in fact members of Congress and some at FCC ‘do get it’. They get it by the handfuls.

They don't get it

I think it safe to say that most, or at least many, embezzlers have no intention of stealing but take a few dollars from the till 'until payday' but when payday comes and they find themselves too short to put it back or even make all other financial commitments, they far too often take a little more from the till, maybe even telling themselves this will be the last and they are absolutely going to pay it back the next payday.

We, far too often this scenario keeps repeating until the individual has taken so much all they can do now is attempt to keep it covered up and more than likely keep taking more until they're caught.

I think maybe this happens to far too many members of Congress who initially are elected and go to Washington, the state house, county seat or city hall, with full intentions of only doing the best they can and not succumb to the temptation of profiting personally from their position.

Alas and alack, the soon fall into the “they do it syndrome” and the die is cast. From this point on it becomes “what’s in it for me” if only to insure re-election but more often that not it’s full speed ahead for ‘pork’, ‘perks’, lobbyists largesse and whatever else they can get for themselves.

All one needs to do to make this become very real is learn your member of Congress is accepting money from a powerful organization causing your grief that may influence how the member of Congress acts.

Waking up

I se this up a year ago and now need to begin blogging. Stay tuned for what's coming

About time

It's about time to active this blog and associate it with the StogTime TV show that will appear on selected cable TV sites.
I'm realizing I've too long held on to the old media paradigms and not paid enough attention to the changes that have taken place in how news is perceived by different generations.
So, here’s hoping I can generate some dialogue with those that visit this site and get their input on what the want in news and how they want it delivered.

Frst post

I'm attempting to learn how to use this blog site.