Last Word On Shows/ Hyde-Smith Switch

A couple remaining pieces on the three Democrats who switched parties yesterday.

** Here are comments from Haley Barbour at the press conference yesterday: “I think what Bobby Shows said speaks for a lot of Democrats that they feel increasingly like their party has moved way to the left, whether it’s President Obama, whether it’s Pelosi in congress or even the local level, they feel likes it’s moved way to the left and this sort of re-alignment is to be expected.”

Barbour also spoke of the welcoming GOP ‘Big Tent’ and said this: “I think they’re finding that this is the right place to be at home.”

** No official comment from the Mississippi Democratic Party has been made apparently, but the Clarion-Ledger did speak with Keelan Sanders, who previously served as executive director of the party. Sanders echoed the typical comments saying they were never ‘true’ Democrats and that “they were running as Democrats out of convenience so they could get elected.”

Sour grapes aside, the fact that the Clarion-Ledger and the AP can’t get a statement from the Democratic Party is telling of the position they are in.

** There was a detailed story on Cindy Hyde-Smith’s switch in her hometown newspaper, the Daily Leader. Here are some quotes from Hyde-Smith: “I am extremely concerned about our state, extremely concerned about our country and I just feel at this point in the political landscape this is what I need to do… At that point, it just really wasn’t a huge issue. After serving in office as long as I have, I just live under the belief of conservative policies. I think it’s time to woman up and take control, get us in the direction we need to be going.”

** Bobby Shows made some comments that are probably not politically correct, but something that has been talked about for years now. He said the Democratic Party is no longer a place for white conservatives, and that, “I’m here to be a white conservative Republican.”

Speaking of white Democrats, there coalition in the House is down to 34 members- the lowest it has ever been. It is smaller than the Black Caucus (37 members) and the Republican caucus (51 members).

** Mississippi Party Chairman Brad White (who doesn’t get enough credit for his work) said this: “This has been a trend that shows no sign of ending.”

He was also quoted in the Daily Leader as saying, “Cindy’s not alone. I believe we’ll see across the state people who qualify as Republicans from governor down to constable. I think we’ll have the biggest Republican primary we’ve ever had in Mississippi.”

** The state Senate is now nodded at 26 Republicans and 26 Democrats. That is essentially symbolic however as Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant, a Republican, controls the Senate and has the ability to appoint committee’s to his liking and control the legislation as he sees fit. There is no Majority Leader or Minority Leader as with the U.S. Senate or many other states.

** Here is the full list of elected Democrats who have joined the Republican Party since Obama’s inauguration in January, 2009: Central District Public Service Commissioner Lynn Posey; Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (District 39); Representatives Billy Nicholson (District 78), Scott Bounds (District 44) and Bobby Shows (District 89); District Attorney Eddie Bowen (Smith, Jasper, Covington, Simpson Counties); Neshoba County Chancery Clerk Larry McMillan; from Simpson County Superintendent of Education Joe Welch, Sheriff Kenneth Lewis, Supervisor Mickey Berry, Circuit Clerk Cindy Jensen, Justice Court Judge Eugene Knight, Constable Dan Easterling and D’Lo Alderman Michael Shoemaker; and from Marion County Supervisor Randy Dyess, Justice Court Judge Gwen Broom and Election Commissioner Charles F. Broome.