The SunHerald noted that the Washington Post political blog “The Fix” paid tribute to Haley Barbour’s tentacles (really! literally! it refers to his tentacles!) in ranking him Number 9 among Republicans to watch in 2012.
Haley Barbour: There are those who mention Barbour’s name for the 2012 GOP nomination. We are decidedly skeptical about that — will the country be ready for a man who had a hand in inventing modern-day lobbying in Washington? — but Barbour is clearly someone to watch. Remember that before he became governor of Mississippi in 2003, Barbour was one of the leading political operatives in the country and has tentacles (and acolytes) all over the country. That makes him a force to be reckoned with.
The blog intentionally omits from its ten-to-watch list both Gov. Huckabee, who apparently bores the blog writer, along with Lotus’s least favorite Republican woman, both on the theory that (at least inside the beltway) they’ve both passed their sell-by date. I’m not sure they can so readily write off Huckabee, but then I’m neither a Republican nor a Washington Post blogger.
Any being with both tentacles and acolytes needs to be the main villian in a science fiction cartoon.
Updated with an illustration sought after reading IT-guy’s comments.
I have a question for you Mississippians – back right after Katrina, I recall reading that a bunch of the trailers FEMA bought came from a relative (maybe brother-in-law) of Barbour’s from somewhere in Florida.
It stuck in my mind because it seemed more corrupt than usual, and I filed it away thinking I’d hear more about it, but I never did.
So, was the initial report I remember wrong?
If not, why haven’t we heard more?
Also if not, were those trailers some of the ones that out-gassed sickening chemicals?
Seems like Barbour always gets kudos on his handling of the Katrina dislocations, and I just wonder about the trailers.
Thanks.
LD
The Flying Spaghetti Monster has both tentacles and acolytes.
Plus, presumably both It and Barbour are proponents of intelligent design.
Noodly Appendages fo’evah, W00T!
it_guy, you’ve given me inspiration to post an illustration
Dog: Those wings never developed any lift. The Bush administration and the Southern District USA aren’t gonna make any inquiries into Barbour’s dealings and tie-ins.
Something else I’d like to know more about is the proliferation of private prisons hither and thither across the state. This week’s news reports that yet another private prison is going into Alcorn County. Some reporter needs to be investigating this curiosity.
Something else I’d like to know more about is the proliferation of private prisons hither and thither across the state. This week’s news reports that yet another private prison is going into Alcorn County. Some reporter needs to be investigating this curiosity.
I’ve heard it said (On Thom Hartmann’s show maybe?) that these for-profit prisons lobby for more sentencing, longer sentencing, more arrests, etc. to keep their prisons full and their profits growing.
Seems like that is a bad idea in a country that is interested in justice.
I mean, where’s the lobby for Justice?
ld
Dog: Those wings never developed any lift. The Bush administration and the Southern District USA aren’t gonna make any inquiries into Barbour’s dealings and tie-ins.
Was there anything to it?
ld
Barbour’s move to spare MAEP any cuts and his apparent concession on the tobacco tax seems consistent with building his image for a national run.
little dog, I don’t remember the trailers themselves coming from a Haley kin. Mebbe you are remembering his nephew’s wife, Rosemary, whose company got a chunk of money, I think, for some trailer maintenance. Here’s a story:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/07/national/nationalspecial/07barbour.html
a Barbour relation from Florida got a $500m contract immediately post Katrina. I do not remember if it was trailers, but remember thinking it needed to be questioned.
Thanks, DWP. That’s interesting.
That might have been it, but for some reason I thought the company was in Florida.
That deal at Shelby sounds all on the up and up, doesn’t it?
Ha.
ld
duck: my thoughts exactly. Little dog: there are all sorts of scandals about the Katrina money and Barbour which the Mississippi press doesn’t want to touch with a ten foot pole for some reason. These concerns are such that millions from the Feds for katrina relief have never been directed any where near a katrina victim. The house passed a bill requiring Barbour to account (since our Republican auditor never would and never will) but the Senate under the leadership of I wanna be Trent Lott Phil Bryant killed the bill. I imagine Barbour is mighty beholdin’ to Phil for that.
If this critter represents Barbour, NMC, can u teach it to talk like it’s got a big ole wad of tobaccy in its bottom lip.
Barbour has the worst fake southern accent I’ve ever heard. He has to fake it because he lived in the beltway so long; he lost it long ago. Wonder if you said “pl Blake” to Haley, how high would he jump?
“Wonder if you said “pl Blake” to Haley, how high would he jump?”
Reckon he could achieve takeoff? Man, that’d shake a building. Not sure I’d want to watch.
duck:
That’s not the one I remember. I remember the relative was in Florida, the contract was $500m.
lotus @ 13: excellent point, my dear.
This sound familiar? From CorpWatch.org, Aug 16, 2006 — It’s who you know:
Separate deal:
Governor’s Relative Is Big Contract Winner
Concerning the private prisons, study the board of directors http://www.correctionscorp.com.
Lots of Mississippi folks!
The prison at Tutwiler is supposed to be worse than Parchman now a days.
And yes, Ben, we do need an investigative reporter to follow the story as they did in Texas.
Thats a lotta dots to connect. But I’d like to see ‘em connected. Something’s afoot. Mississippi’s prison system historically has been a source for much mischief, from many people in, out, and close to state officials. And I’d like to see some names of the people who have frequented Parchman’s VIP guest quarters. Same for the guest quarters at Camp McCain. But that would be mere gossip.
Back to the private prisons … something just doesn’t ring true. And why in the world would anyone build a private prison in Tutwiler, of all places, and stuff it with prisoners from Hawaii? And now Alcorn County is going to get one?Who’s operating all the puppets here?