Secretary-Designate Mabus Clears One Hurdle

From the Navy Times this morning:

The Senate Armed Services Committee recommended Thursday that the full Senate vote to approve the nominations of Navy Secretary-designate Ray Mabus, Navy Undersecretary-designate Robert Work and other nominees for civilian Pentagon posts.

Mabus and Work’s nominations were part of a group approved by voice vote, according to a committee announcement. It wasn’t clear how long it could be before the full Senate votes on whether to confirm the nominees.

Congratulations to Ray Mabus -- and on to the Senate!

h/t to Dorsey Carson (via Facebook)

Anyone know the statute for this?

(Click to enlarge.)

I'm thinking it's either 97-3-53 or 97-1-5, but I'm just guessing.

Jackson Mayoral Democratic Runoff Debate is tonight

Tonight at 7:00 p.m., Harvey Johnson and Marshand Crisler will take the stage at JSU's Rose McCoy Auditorium for a one-hour debate. Admission is free and on a first-come, first-served basis. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the organizers of the debate ask that you be seated by 6:40 p.m., as the debate will be televised live starting promptly at 7:00 p.m.

The debate will be broadcast on TV on JSU's TV23 (Comcast channel 14), and WAPT’s digital channel 16-2 (208 on Comcast). You can also listen to a live feed of the debate at wapt.com, jacksonfreepress.com, and jsums.edu, and on the radio on WJSU 88.5.

After the debate, there are two social functions worth attending: The Debate Afterparty will be at Tye's (120 N. Congress in Downtown), with live music by Homespun. Also, JFP will be hosting their "JFP Lounge" at Pi (Sal & Mookie's in Fondren).

If you're a Jackson voter, this is your chance to learn more about Crisler and Johnson. And if you live in the Jackson area, this is a great opportunity to get out and socialize with other plugged-in, thoughtful people like yourself.

Why Won't the Feds Let the Fat Lady Sing for Ricio?

The Clarion-Ledger is reporting that the Government has announced it will go forward in the "sledgehammer" case against Michael Ricio alone. That makes no sense to me.

Let's face facts: Ricio was only indicted in the hope that he would "flip" and testify against Mayor Melton. He was acquitted in State court and there's no point to be gained in a stand-alone trial against him. The only reason I can see for going forward is for DOJ to save face. That's not good enough.

Let's hope the "Fat Lady" sings for Ricio this week. This case needs to be over.

The "As Good As It Gets" Election

Jackson mayor foes win endorsements (Clarion-Ledger, May 13, 2009)

So what now, Jackson? Former Jackson Police Chief and Mississippi Commissioner of Corrections endorses Marshand Crisler; State Senator John Horhn endorses Harvey Johnson.

I admit to some ambivalence at this stage. My main concern in the first primary was to prevent Mayor Melton from being re-elected. That was doubly accomplished on Election Night. As I see it, Harvey Johnson is well versed in the analysis of municipal government. He has studied, taught and consulted on urban planning throughout his career. He served two terms as Mayor and began several projects (Convention Center, Telecommunications Center) that are just now coming to fruition. My gut tells me that he's more able to call his own shots than Councilman Crisler.

But while Harvey Johnson knows urban government in theory, he was less than artful in practice in his previous terms. His relationships with the Legislature and other metro-area mayors were strained. His own former police chief, Robert Johnson, has endorsed his opponent.

Jackson is not a self-sufficient island. Can Harvey Johnson build the support we need to lead the City forward?

Marshand Crisler is young, assertive, and obviously connected to law enforcement and the business community. The endorsement of both Sheriff McMillin and former Chief Johnson speaks volumes in his favor. Also, the consolidation of city and county law enforcement, which Crisler supports by way of re-appointing McMillin to be Chief of JPD, may be a far more efficient and effective means for addressing municipal crime. Further, Crisler is the only former City Council member to run for Mayor; that is an experience that may bring a politics of consensus-building to city government that has been sorely lacking in recent years.

But one wonders about the slightly too "well-prepared" Crisler. Does he speak his own mind, or is he a little too "connected" to business and law enforcement interests? And Kingfish at Jackson Jambalaya has raised some critical questions here and here that have yet, in my opinion, to be put to rest. We've suffered one "Lone Ranger" Mayor; would a Mayor Crisler follow the Constitution even when it's inconvenient to do so?

It's not an easy choice. The pay rate for Jackson's CEO can't be expected to draw out the "Best and the Brightest" -- and the job is a political graveyard, not a stepping-stone to higher office. So, to steal Jack Nicholson's line, this choice is "As Good As It Gets."

We have a week to decide . . .

Where's Waldo?

I promised Kingfish at Jackson Jambalaya an Irby post. This isn't the one I'd promised.

I just took a look at the indictment, and found an error. Any guesses as to what it is?

Morning Mobile Blogging

It's a busy morning for me as I prepare for a hearing, so there won't be much blog activity until later today. Here are a few tidbits this morning:

It's possible to blog from your BlackBerry if you use Blogger, like Jim and I do for this site. If you're interested, go to the Settings page on your Blogger Dashboard, then setup the "email blogging" feature. Then just email your entries to that email address from your BlackBerry.

The Bennett & Bennett criminal defense firm out of Houston, TX, has an excellent legal blog. I highly recommend it, especially if you do criminal defense. The address is http://bennettandbennett.com/blog/.

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T