Shazzamm....makes you want to cut your mullet to a mohawk!

Here’s my question.  What if there is the appearance of impropriety?  What then?  Would it go to the Ethics Commission?  Would he and Tom Hood (his brother and head of the Ethics Commission) work out penalties over Thanksgiving dinner?

This whole thing is starting to smell.  While Hood is bashing Barbour by alleging functionally the same behavior, I think Hood should voluntarily submit to the Ethics Committee to see if the proximity of his awarding work creates an ethical question.

Alan,
First, there are more republicans on the Ethics Committee than Democrats correct? or did i misread the article? Second, How many republican firms have tried to get these contracts? Butler Snow, Baker Donelson, and Watkins? How many proposals did they submit?  Whether you like it or not....Joey Langston is probably the best lawyer in the state or in the top three.

Oh, Please!

David, don’t get stressed, snuffy’s not of the same logic.

David Watkins sure would be interested to know he’s Republican.

So David .....who would you say is the best lawyer in the state and what would be your criteria?

Whether you like it or not....Joey Langston is probably the best lawyer in the state or in the top three.

Is there a point in this?  Who cares.

Folks, I don’t know how to break it to you, but this is worth about as much as the blind trust.  It’s not going to win Hopkins the election.  He needs to focus more on Hood’s actual job performance, not on the vague whiff of scandal.

vague??? vague??? Tom, go get a real job.....

After 23 books?  You must be joking.  Though it looks like there’s a lot of money in the legal field right now.

Look, I’m not making the Eaves people happy when I say this, either, but nobody is going to mistake an election-year challenger for an investigative reporter.  The blind trust won’t fly.  The Ethics Committee business won’t fly.  Barring something really big developing over the next five weeks, both Barbour and Hood will win.  Sorry.

My point “jacktown” is that if the Mississippi Code authorizes the Attorney General to hire special counsel SINCE 1880.  This is not a Hood/moore creation.  And if Joey and Jim are best friends.  What is the harm if Joey is the best lawyer in the state and the Miss. Legislature authorizes Jim to make his choice?  Here is my list of lawyers and you will see a pattern.  Jim Waide, (big Democrat contributor) Joey Langston, Don Barrett (Big Democrat contributor) Dennis Sweet (State Court) and Walter Johnson (democrat).  And if it is such a big issue, why doesn’t the State Senate and least pass something changing the statute.

Snuffy, you can be “jacktown” and ignore the figures.

Well Shadyal if you will scan up, I have two contracts and have only given $250.  So you going to explain that?

What would I be ignoring Al?

Langston’s ability, which is what Snuffy it touting, has nothing at all to do with the strange tightly choreographed-looking correlations between Jimmy the Hair’s received campaign contributions and his letting of work to outside counsel.

‘My point “jacktown” is that if the Mississippi Code authorizes the Attorney General to hire special counsel SINCE 1880.’

So you’re saying the MCI deal followed the letter of the law exactly Snuffy?  I’m not convinced on that specific matter that there isn’t a problem.  Langston and Hood’s responses are awful similar to Moore’s protestations about the Partnership and we know how that one turned out, legally speaking.

Oops!  I missed that “jacktown” was an individual, thought it was a general opposition to snuffy slurr.....

I do not question Mr. Langston’s competence as a lawyer. I have no idea what criteria one would apply to determine Mississippi’s “best” lawyer.

Well Jacktown.....Miss. code

§ 7-5-7. Special counsel and investigators.

The attorney general is hereby authorized and empowered to appoint and employ special counsel, on a fee or salary basis, to assist the attorney general in the preparation for, prosecution, or defense of any litigation in the state or federal courts or before any federal commission or agency in which the state is a party or has an interest. 

It was held up in Pursue entergy by many member of this Supreme Court.  Look, i have two contracts with the State.  I am about as Republican as you can get in Miss.  I had to go through a 4 month interview process.  It is legal.  It is legit.  Now i know that kills the whole John Grisham story here, but most facts do.

David,
My criteria is simply cases tried and appeals.  Most lawyers dont go to court, and you would be amazed at how bad some are.  It is the “the practice” of law.  It is not some god giving ability or something you earned after you get a J.D. The Federal Courts system about class counsel looks at experience, legal ability, and ability to finance the case.

That explains why John Deakle was class counsel in some many cases.

You ducked my question Snuffy.  Are you saying the MCI deal followed all aspects of the law exactly?

The Madison County Journal has an editorial, a column, and an article on Hood today.

Hood defends allegations he’s influence peddling

Editorial: Hopkins’ allegations against Hood valid

Jim Prince: Is Jim Hood for sale?

Yes, the MCI deal followed all aspects of the law.  The AG is empowed by Miss. Code Ann. 7-5-5 and 7-5-7 to designate outside counsel as special assistant attorneys general; and, to hire and ensure the payment of these SAAGs.  Of couse, the irony of the MCI case is that the attorneys were not paid a contingency fee but were instead paid an amount of money which was in addition to the taxes owed the State.

Would you please make a single legal (note: I said legal, not political) argument with citation to actual statutory and/or case law to illustrate that the payment of the attorneys, or any other aspect of the MCI, did not conform with Mississippi law?

"Jim Waide, (big Democrat contributor) Joey Langston, Don Barrett (Big Democrat contributor) Dennis Sweet (State Court) and Walter Johnson (democrat).”

fyi.... Waide is supporting Hopkins up here in North MS

Jacktown,
Yes, i am saying it.  The AG hired Joey.  Joey took the case and got it settled.  The attorney fees was approved by the NY Court by a federal judge.  DO you really think he would have approved them if they were fraudulent, considering that MCI was in bankruptcy and its assets were controlled by the Trustee?

The Miss. Supreme Court in 2002 said in Pursue Energy Corp. v. Mississippi State Tax Com’n, 816 So.2d 385

“Section 2382 of the Code of 1906 is the precursor of Miss.Code Ann. § 7-5-7 which allows the Attorney General to employ special counsel “on a fee or salary basis” which is “reasonable compensation” and “in no event to exceed recognized bar rates for similar services.” Miss.Code Ann. § 7-5-7. The statute places no restrictions upon the type of fee the Attorney General can negotiate, even though the Legislature could have restricted the use of contingency fees if it so desired.”

Well For the Right ....i worked for Jim Waide (miserable experience) but the man told me that he will always be a democrat, and Jim was at a fundraising for Hood at Morgan Freeman’s soooooo ....

Check the contributions report… and yes, he was at Hopkins event in Tupelo

And he also supported Charlie Ross---is not supporting Franks.

Check the reports

Above The Law Or Not: When will the people in our country say we have had enough. We help elect these people to serve the people, and we see them serve themseves. There is less and less integrity in our state offices. These people are violating the public trust, and in black and while, we see favors to special interest groups. A professional family is treated one way, and the working people are treated different. They call this professional courtesy, I call it a crime. If the people don’t raise their voice, they will continue to rape our society for their own benefit. It might just be you next.