Author: Talk Business

by Talk Business - October 6, 2011 7:00 pm

‘occupy Arkansas’ Organizer Called For Guillotines For Republicans

Max Brantley with the Arkansas Times reports on the efforts currently under way to organize an "Occupy Arkansas" protest.  He posts a video of their first meeting where it appears they have not yet figured out exactly what they want to protest.

"I am Adam and I am here because I have no idea what is going on and I want to understand why people are occupying Wall Street and other streets," commented one of the participants.

I noticed one of the organizers in the video is the former Green Party nominee for Governor, Jim Lendall.

"Basically we are living under the wrong Golden Rule," says Lendall on the video. "They believe that the Golden Rule is who has the gold rules. That’s not the Golden Rule. We want to get the right Golden Rule out there."

You may recall Lendall for making news back in April when he stood on the steps of the state capitol at a "Make Them Pay Rally" and called for erecting guillotines.

“The French, inspired by our American Revolution, knew how to deal with the wealthy arrogant aristocrats. The French people built guillotines. Maybe we can park a guillotine in front of every chamber of commerce, corporate headquarters, bank, investment house, and Republican Party headquarters to remind them that democracy is about people not profits. We need to tell them in one clear voice, ‘no more greed,’” said Lendall.

No word yet if the Occupy Arkansas group will call for building guillotines as well. 

by Talk Business - October 6, 2011 7:00 pm

Arkansas Democratic Party Disputes Report From Kark

A spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Arkansas has just issued a statement disputing a report from KARK.  As reported yesterday, KARK did a story on Lieutenant Governor Mark Darr’s opposition to the federal health care reform law.  They asked for a response from the Democratic Party of Arkansas and reported the following…

by Talk Business - October 5, 2011 7:00 pm

Brewer: Arkansas Said, “we’re Not Taking Your Stinkin’ Money” (updated)

Arizona Republican Gov. Jan Brewer was on KARN Newsradio this afternoon.  She is in Little Rock today to speak at the Republican Party of Arkansas annual Governor’s dinner.

My left-leaning colleague Michael Cook pointed out that unlike Arkansas Republicans, Brewer decided to accept a $30 million federal grant for planning for a state health care exchange.

Brewer addressed this today on KARN’s Dave Elswick show.  She stated that –  unlike Arkansas – Arizona has sued to challenge the constitutionality of ObamaCare and has brought this lawsuit all the way to the Supreme Court.  She defended accepting the grant to plan for a state exchange saying this was in case their lawsuit was unsuccessful.

But, she said she can understand why Arkansas Republicans would use the grant funding especially since Gov. Beebe and the Attorney General have not joined in the lawsuit.

"Probably some of that is how Arkansas is fighting back saying, ‘We’re not taking your stinkin’ money’," said Brewer. (Audio coming later.)

She speaks tonight at 7:00 in Little Rock at the Statehouse Convention Center.

UPDATE – The Governor’s Dinner was one of the most well-attended dinners in recent memory with a crowd of about 500. Brewer focused primarily on the need to beat President Obama in 2012 because of his failed policies.  She compared his new jobs bill to a "ketchup popsicle" saying that the American people aren’t buying it.

One funny moment happened after RPA Chairman Doyle Webb surprised Brewer with a .44 magnum Henry rifle and she surprised him with a kiss on the lips. 

"Governor Huckabee never kissed me like that," joked Webb.

by Talk Business - October 5, 2011 7:00 pm

Democratic Party Of Arkansas “stands Behind The Health Care Law”

Good story last night from KARK Channel 4 on Lieutenant Governor Mark Darr’s speech to the Political Animals Club yesterday. The headline of the speech was his endorsement of Mitt Romney, but he also talked quite a bit about his opposition to ObamaCare and its implementation in Arkansas. KARK got a very interesting response from the Democratic Party of Arkansas to Darr’s position.

But the Democratic Party of Arkansas disagrees. Spokeswoman Candace Martin said the party stands behind the health care law and its implementation and Democrats are ready for 2012.

Wow. Good for the them for being so clear that they support ObamaCare and are working to implement it in Arkansas.  But of course, wanting to be diligent with my blog, I asked them whether this report was accurate.  They did not dispute it, but instead said, "We disagree with the Republican Party of Arkansas pushing for the federal government to implement the healthcare exchange."

They were referring to the minority party not signing on to Gov. Mike Beebe’s request for a $3.8 million federal grant to begin planning for the implemention of a health care exchange.  ObamaCare contains incentives in the form of grants to states who begin implementing federal health care reform early.  The grant money the Democrats wanted would have gone to items such as $1.5 million for a "public education campaign."

In addition, the federal government has offered to outsource part of the function of running the health insurance exchanges to the state government if they play ball on implementation.  No one that I have heard has offered any substantive difference for these exchanges other than allowing the funds to flow through a state run agency.

The argument that the Democratic Party is trying to make is that by standing up to Washington, turning down their grants, and therefore slowing down the implementation, the Republicans risk the state not getting to be the outsourcing agency for implementing ObamaCare in Arkansas.  Keep in mind this argument is coming from the Party that has gone on record now as standing behind the health care law and its implementation.

Also worth noting, the report from KARK was briefly missing from their website.  I posted a link to a cached version of the website and inquired what happened to the story.  The station responded that it was a "computer glitch."  The story is now back up.

by Talk Business - October 5, 2011 7:00 pm

Walking In High Cotton

The Tom Cotton for Congress campaign today announced that it raised over $343,000 in the third quarter and spent less than $12,000, leaving $331,000 cash on hand and no debt. The campaign achieved this in only two months of activity since its kickoff.

"I am deeply grateful for the incredible and humbling support from our many grassroots volunteers and donors. I will work tirelessly to fight Barack Obama’s failed agenda and to stand up for individual liberty, limited government, the free market, and Arkansas values," said Tom Cotton about the campaign’s third-quarter performance.

In addition to Cotton, former 2010 Republican candidate Beth Anne Rankin and Marcus Richmond have also announced for the GOP nomination. So far, state Sen. Gene Jeffress is the only Democratic candidate to declare his intention to run.

UPDATE – Rankin also send along her first fundraiser numbers showing $170,000 raised.  The release does not show cash on hand or how much was spent but does tout that 91 percent came from Arkansas and 81 percent came from the fourth district.

“I am overwhelmed and tremendously grateful for the swift and incredible outpouring of grassroots support from all thirty-three counties in the Fourth District. To have donors in all 33 counties within 33 days of the start of our campaign is absolutely amazing, and I am so grateful for everyone who invested in our efforts and wants to get America moving forward again. The supporters of our campaign recognize the importance of launching a strong and well-funded organization. Our message of getting back to the basics of a smaller federal government guided by Constitutional principles is resonating with citizens all across the Fourth District. It’s time Washington, DC understood that it needs to get out of the private sector and let the free enterprise system get this economy roaring again,” Rankin said.

by Talk Business - October 4, 2011 7:00 pm

Darr Endorses Romney

Lieutenant Governor Mark Darr announced today his endorsement of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney for President.  Darr made the announcement at the Little Rock Political Animal’s Club luncheon, which was held at the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion. The endorsement is the first high-profile endorsement for Romney in the Natural State, although more will likely follow.  (Update – Congressman Tim Griffin announced his endorsement about the same time as Darr.)

"I think Arkansas is looking for its leaders to be bold and want to know where they stand on the issues and who they do or do not support," said Darr when asked why he is endorsing this early in the primary. "Because the field of candidates needs to begin to narrow, I have decided who I am going to support and felt now was the time to make that public."

Darr stated that he believes that Romney "gives us our best chance of defeating President Obama."

"I like that he has real-world business knowledge. He’s not just a politician, he’s owned businesses. I think he has stood out during the debates as someone who is well-versed on the issues. He has shown that he can go toe-to-toe with the President. I believe he will be able to appeal to and pull support from other parts of the country that other candidates might not. He also has shown that he can put together the necessary resources to mount a successful campaign," said Darr.

In June, 20 Arkansas legislators formed "Arkansans for Rick Perry" encouraging the Texas Governor to get in the race.  Darr was part of a group from Arkansas that traveled to Austin to meet with Perry in late July. In August, Perry took the Arkansas legislators’ advice as well as others from around the country unhappy with the current field of Presidential contenders and jumped in the race. He immediately shot up to the top of the polls and became the frontrunner; however, after a lackluster performance at a debate last month in Florida and a distant second place showing in the Florida straw poll a few days later, his bubble seemed to burst and former Godfather’s Pizza CEO Herman Cain’s stock started to rise.

"I think Governor Perry is a great man and a great governor for Texas, but from what I’ve seen in the campaign so far, I think Governor Romney is better prepared to take on the President and win," said Darr when asked why he went with Romney over Perry.

Rep. David Sanders with Arkansas for Rick Perry said he is sticking with Perry in spite of his recent stumbles pointing out that he is "a proven job creator" in Texas and just announced today that he has raised $17 million.

"Campaigns are long enterprises. There are going to be starts and stops and bumps in the road," said Sanders. "To not acknowledge that there have been some bumps along the way would be to ignore reality. But I feel confident in his ability to get things going, and again, I think the message and record is so compelling. Some of the items have been substantive while some have been nitpicky but I think the record and the message overshadow that."

The average of the latest polls from Real Clear Politics shows Romney leading with 21.6 percent, followed by Perry with 18 percent, and Cain with 15 percent.  All other candidates are below 10 percent.