Arkansas Blog

Warboy V. Warbucks in an all out Texas cage match and the loser retires from wrest... um politics.

Are there no adults that want's this job anymore?
Someone at least fifty...Jeeeze

I support Suskie, but seriously who would watch the debate? The only voters that would watch have already made up their minds.

Why did Suskie wait until voting had already begun to make a challenge. If he were sincere in his challenge, he would have done so on election night. He will miss approximately 35% by taking this route.

You don't have to be 50 to be an adult.

Voters should make up their minds on what candidates have already actually done. Anyone can say they'll do this or that just to get elected.

These two have records and experience. Voters should look at them and make up their mind.

I believe the press release states that that is precisely what is to be debated...their track records. I am not sure who wins, but let the fur fly.

It appears that Wright, Lindsey, & Jennings, LLP has endorsed McDaniel. (See Link)

http://www.dustinmcdaniel.com/gallery/images/75-1127933319.jpg

Are there any other major law firms in Little Rock that have made endorsements in this race? I want to clerk in the AG's office next year but do not want to start working at a place now that has made an endorsement. That might hurt my chances on down the road if they endorsed the loser.

Two attorneys from there used their conference rooms for a fundraiser. The firm ddn't endorse a candidate and both Dustin and Paul have received money from that firm.

Let's try it for four years without an attorney general and all the expense that goes with it.....that money could go back to the tax payers..

The law firm uses its conference room for all kinds of fundraisers. These goobers decided to pose for a picture is hardly an endorsement. There are lots of WLJ attorneys that have given to Suskie also.

I'm shocked, shocked! to see two middle age white guys in the race. I guess that is one of the constitutional requirements.

Dustin's people will never agree to this. They know he has to many weaknesses to broadcast to all the voters right before the run off.

I voted for Suskie and will again, but I'm not sure it's that smart to challenge McDaniel in a debate. From what I've seen, I think McDaniel could get the better end of things. Suskie comes across as a little vanilla, even though I think he's the best candidate for the job. If he has problems with McDaniel's record, he can talk about them in the campaign.

They both have weaknesses. I have met, spoken with and respect both of these men.

As to Paul, being in Afghanistan is important, but that type of political capital only goes so far (ask John Kerry). His accomplishments while in office should've been more prominent during his media buys.

As to Dustin, he plays himself as a man of the people. However, when you fly around in a private plane, and have $200,000 lying around to lend to your campaign, it doesn't resonant well with us common folk.

What do they have to say about the biggest problem in the State House - the influence of lobbyists on our legislature?

What about the budget surplus that has got legislators salivating?

What about the Oklahoma sewage case?

What about Deltic timber and Lake Maumelle?

McDaniel would have to be crazy to debate. He's too vulnerable on too many issues:

He voted to let meth manufacturers out of prison faster.

He sued a gun manufacturer.

He's taken tens of thousands of dollars in pay-offs from developers for his TIF legislation.

His prescription drug plan does not benefit a single person.

Dustin has a temper that he cannot control, and if he's confronted with these facts public he will blow his stack.

He'd better run away from a debate. He can't win.

Of course, if he won't debate he's chicken.

"McDaniel would have to be crazy to debate. He's too vulnerable on too many issues:
He voted to let meth manufacturers out of prison faster.
He's taken tens of thousands of dollars in pay-offs from developers for his TIF legislation."

Beebe has done the exact same thing that McDaniel did here, but you are fine with Beebe doing it. Its only politics that is driving you to attack McDaniel on these issues.

It would be hard to debate McDaniel because you wouldn't know which side he is likely to on any number of positions on the night of the debate.

If Suskie intends to flaunt his previous experience, this is how the Suskie part of the debate will
sound:

Suskie: Well, in high school, I was in the BETA Club, the Glee Club, FBLA and I was voted King of the 9th Grade Banquet in my junior high school. In High School, I was President of the science club and served as the governor of boy?s state. In college, I was the sergeant at arms of
my fraternity and helped build the winning homecoming float my junior year.

Oh yeah, I did not make law review at my law school, but I did clerk at the AG?s office and my wife worked there.

Also, I have never truly practiced law in the private sector, never held another full-time legal job except to be the North Little Rock City Attorney and I prosecuted Cedric Cobbs DWI case.

Oh, and yes, I volunteered, by coincidence, to go to a demilitarized zone in Afghanistan to serve
in the JAG for four months just prior to announcing that I was running for AG. And I have not shut up for one minute talking about how I served my country since then.

So, as you can see from my various experiences in junior high, senior high, college and as a clerk in the AG?s office, I am well qualified to be your next AG. Oh and by the way, I did serve in Afghanistan, did you hear me say that?

Wake up dumbasses. Clerking for the AG's office means nothing with regards to your qualifications to be the AG. Your wife working there means nothing with regards to your being qualified to be the AG. Being the governor of Boy's State means nothing except that you were an annoying goobersmooch in high school. Honestly people, the man is touting the work he did in HIGH SCHOOL as making him qualified to be your next AG. HIGH SCHOOL!!!!!!!

Everyone who went to law school clerked somewhere. When I was in law school, there may have been 20 clerks at the AG's office. Clerking at the AG's office has absolutely nothing to do with whether a candidate would be qualified to be the AG. There is a reason that the past 13 presidents of the governing body of all attorneys in Arkansas has endorsed Dustin......he has done the work. He has been a cop, a private attorney, a legislator and so on. Have your heard Dustin talking about anything he did in high school?

No, the only thing you hear about is how he should not be the next AG becauise he drives a nice car or flies an airplane. Wooppity-do. Yeah, we need someone who has been a failure in life and has no money, drives a pinto and eats from a trash can. No need for someone who has been successful and can maybe get anything done. No, that would be bad. Oh, I forgot to mention that Suskie may add that his wife is pretty and he loves his family.

Remember the infamous "bulge" in Bush's jacket during one of the debates with Kerry in '04? Scuttlebutt was that it was some kind of remote listening device through which Karl Rove was feeding Bush lines to say.

If Dustin agrees to debate Suskie, watch for a "bulge." It will be for Bruce Burrow to feed Dustin lines about how "education friendly" the Burrow-McDaniel TIF bill is.

In reality the TIF bill guts public education to give tax breaks to fat cat developers like Burrow.

Burrow as previous posts have noted steered $20,000 plus in donations to McDaniel's campaign to say "Thanks, Dustin!"

"Oh, and yes, I volunteered, by coincidence, to go to a demilitarized zone in Afghanistan to serve
in the JAG for four months just prior to announcing that I was running for AG. And I have not shut up for one minute talking about how I served my country since then. "

In Afghanistan, were exactly are the demilitarized zones? We are fighting an insurgency, they do not recogize "demilitarized zones." There is only "inside the wire" and "outside the wire." Mortors don't recozied "demilitarized zones" or if someone is "inside the wire." The man served his country in a freaking war zone, at least give him the credit he deserves. Why don't you suit up and go over there? I bet you would have some respect for service if you did.

My wife went to school with McDaniel. She tells me how he got a hardship license and would drive to Andy Camp Jr. High in his Beemer and would walk around the school dressed up like Alex P. Keaton in suit and tie, carrying a briefcase. But that doesn't matter. It should really be about McDaniel's lack of experience. The debate won't matter too much unless Suskie can energize people with some mass media info about how McDaniel won't do a debate. Judging from comments, conventional wisdom seems to be he won't fair well. Who knows? The bottom line is it's going to get hard to get people motivated to get out and vote so it's going to be a ground war over who can get the most supporters to the poll. That means it also is a competition between rural and urban voters (but I didn't study the results from the last election; it's just my gut talking). I think it's going to be about the candidate with the better network. Ideas, achievements, and experience will probably be secondary.

Some day, we should try to get our government to let us vote on Saturdays.

"Have your heard Dustin talking about anything he did in high school?"

If it's anything like what he did in college, it's no surprise Dustin's not talking.

In Texas you can vote on Saturdays. That convenience is nice.

I wanted to vote today but am still at the office. Is EV over at 5 or 6?

If there is such a thing anymore as the demilitarized zone anymore, it would certainly be the JAG area. I heard a radio interview from Suskie about how he woke up every monring while in Afghanistan and went for a jog. Yep, sounds real dangerous.

As for me suiting up, that would be fine. But if I did, it would not be for political reasons. If you think the timing of his "deployment" was anything but political, you have lost your mind.

Early voting at the remote sites is open until 6.

No actually Suskie's response would be something like:

As City Attorney I have defended and represented the city of North Little Rock in many of the same ways the Attorney General defends and represents the State of Arkansas.

In my capacity as City Attorney, I started an award-winning program that has reduced crime and cleaned up neighborhoods throughout the city of North Little Rock. I have also defended and represented several municipalities and the state in front of the Supreme Court and won. I also worked with the Department of Corrections to enact the first regulations regarding halfway houses for people released from prison, ensuring that they are both monitored and given at least a chance of having a successful transition back into society. It was introduced through the Senate and is now on the books.

I did work in the Attorney General's office from 1994-1996. I worked in several areas including helping draft the materials for the Attorney General's Gang Task Force.

During my nine years in the military, I have served overseas in Afghanistan which gave me a new perspective for public service and politics.

How would Dustin's go?

I worked for two years as a cop during which I was suspended for saying I needed to stop smoking crack.

I then went to work at my daddy's law firm where I filed lawsuits against gun manufacturers, even though now I deny that I did it.

I went on to be a state rep where I passed a law to take money away from schools and put it in the pockets of wealthy developers. In return they have donated tens of thousands of dollars to my campaign for Attorney General. Depending on who I am talking to, I might say that was a mistake.

My proudest accomplishment has been my prescription drug plan that not one person has signed up for or has any idea how to signup for.

My daddy got 16 past presidents (not the past 16 as was previously stated) of the bar to write a letter for me.

Yep, that's more like it.

In Arkansas, you can too

good God.... You have offended so many people, that I suspect you are now hurting your candidate. To mock ANYONE'S service is a shameful act. Dustin would do well to come out and disavow the comments of you and your ilk.

I heard Suskie mention how he lost friends there (at a meet and greet after he spoke. I've never heard of him mentioning his lost comrades in a speech). He's an attorney, so of course he wasn't on the "front lines" (although those lines are to see anymore). Regardless of how he served, Paul Suskie stepped up when he did not have to do so. It's so sad that the McDaniel camp has resorted to this type of desperate attack.

Speaking of comparisons, here's a good one: Suskie served his country in Afghanistan and McDaniel got suspended by the Jonesboro PD.

Yeah... Dustin's folks might want to pipe down.

Nicely said.

Run Dustin Run!!!!

Suskie is not nice. Suskie is not entitled to anything. Suskie spent months talking about wheel of fortune and his wife's birthday. He came in 3rd on election night unitl PuCo and will lose on the 13th.

He came in third until Pulaski came carried him? What a moron.

The votes are cast at the same time. He easily carried the most populous county in the state. Dustin should be as scared as he appears to be.

Not sure why Paul washed that grey right out of his hair. It helped him not look too young for the job.

"I only learned of this challenge when the press called to ask about his press release. If his campaign is serious about setting up another debate, a phone call would be more effective than a press release."

Imagine that! Welcome to what is called a campaign, Hairclub. You should expect things like this rather than acting like a whiny little bitch to the media.

"Some day, we should try to get our government to let us vote on Saturdays."

Related to Jonesboro, you are a dumbass. We already vote on Saturdays. Feel fre to go this Saturday and next Satruday. Early voting is a neat thing.

Hey dipshit good God, get yer facts straight mister....

Paul graduated from high school in 1989. He worked for the AG's office 94-96.

Tell me how Dustin is more qualifed the Paul. Yes Dustin got the endorsement from the past presidents and all but his dad got that for him. Another question if he was so good why is he still an Associate in his dad's law firm.

Good Grief, his dad won't even make him a partner...and you think he is qualified to run the top law firm in the state Ithe AG's Office). Dustin knows Suskie will kick his ass on these issues...as a result, he won't dare debate Paul.

By the way, Paul was not a computer geek as you say, he was an all-conference football player, debate team captain, student body vice-president, captain of the football team, and govern at boys state. This is just shows that Paul isn't some Johnny come lately. He has been recognized his whole life as a leader. Dustin what did he do in high school other than dress like a geek. I understand his nickname was Dusty McDonut when he was a cop.

Give me a break!

"Not sure why Paul washed that grey right out of his hair. It helped him not look too young for the job.

Posted by: Clairol"

He still has grey hairs. What you smoking?

Warboy V. Warbucks

he has to many weaknesses to broadcast to all the voters

when you fly around in a private plane, and have $200,000 lying around

Dustin has a temper that he cannot control

he's chicken

you wouldn't know which side he is likely to on any number of positions on the night of the debate.

Burrow-McDaniel TIF bill

Hairclub.

whiny little bitch

etc . . .

Yup, Suskie and his private school chums are really the dignified ones in this race.

Paul was a prick Sigma Nu when we were at UCA, and he still is.

Snake,

I guess you are going to start crying now?

Face it. The things said here are all true about Dustin. There is nothing here that can be disputed. The facts speak for themselves.

I have a question for the community. Is it just me, or does Dustin appear to be the most polarizing Ark Dem candidate in quite some time?

I like Paul, and I'll probably end up voting for him. But that has little to do w/ my question. I really just am curious about what everyone else thinks.

Good god indeed! I thought for sure it would take at least three or four of my posts for your Rovian tendencies to come springing out... Of course, I should expect nothing less from a
person supporting a republican in hiding than for you to shoot right out of the box with a ploy
from the first page of the "Karl Rove Guide to Republican Campaign Tactics" book in Suskie's
office. Here goes...

Page 1: Karl Rove's Guide to Republican Campaign tactics

Rule 1. Run on a platform of being a god-fearing American, flaunting your "service" to your
country and be sure and run a crapload of ads with you waving a flag, or in camo, or with aDallas Cowboy hat while you hug foreign children and then put them in a commercial where you
hug your wife, wear that blue button up shirt that all politicians are required to wear and talkabout how much you love your country while you "served" and how much you missed your
family. If at all possible, volunteer for a non-combat assignment shortly before the time for you to announce your candidacy arrives and send out a press release talking about how you are going
to wait until your return from "war" to make your announcement about whether or not you are going to run for AG.

Rule 2: When your service or motives for serving at the time and in the location you serve are questioned, IMMEDIATELY question the patriotism of the person that questions your "service" or your motives for serving when you did and denounce them as un-American and show more
pictures of you in camo or hugging foreign children in a Dallas Cowboy hat, or even better, in an Arkansas Razorback sweatshirt with camo sleeves!

As for the boastful poster that mentions Mr. Suskie's long, successful list of defending the City of North little Rock and MANY, not some, but MANY municipalities in front of the Arkansas Supreme Court, well, what is your definition of many? A bunch? A few? How about 2? Yep,
that is right, if MANY equals 2, you are are correct. A quick search of opinions from the Arkansas Court of Appeals and Arkansas Supreme Court reveals that Mr. Suskie has defended
the citizens of NLR and MANY other municipalities (Maumelle to be specific) 2 times, not MANY, but 2 times in front of those courts. A bit of an overstatement about his experience don't you think? Kind of like the SIX month stint or "service" he likes to talk about. Hey Paul, how about floating us some pictures of the firefights you were involved in, or a car that you saw blown up by a car bomb while you stood nearby?

And what response would one expect from the Suskie campaign when it encounters criticism of the fact that their candidate is running partly on his HIGH SCHOOL, say again, HIGH SCHOOL record as
making him best equipped for the AG spot? Well, they come right out of the box and again flaunt his HIGH SCHOOL record. Nice. When was Paul's first kiss? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Folks, this man was
the captain of his high school football team. THE CAPTAIN for God's sake! What more could we want from our AG? I bet Mike beebe was never captain of his high school teams. I bet Winston Bryant sure as heck was not. Can anyone verify if Mark Pryor was captain of any of hi high school teams? Quickly please. Oh, and I almost forgot, insert the ever useful "Dustin's dad is rich and Dustin drives a nice car, blah, blah, blah, airplane, blah, blah, trial attorney, blah, ....... " line. Does that sound familiar? Can anyone say Bush campaign, 2004?

As for Suskie's promise for rotecting the consumers of this state? What are we supposed to make of
his being endorsed by an opponent who was endorsed by the Pharmacy lobby? Ask the good elderly people in this state if the pharmacists are losing money on their prescription medication?
Hardly sounds like a champion of the consumer.

Pro life. Pro big business. Pro public taking of property. Tort reform. Paul Suskie,
Democrat.....hardly.

good God,

You are loosing credibility attacking Paul's High School days...I don't think anyone is following you.

As you attack Paul's military record, keep in mind that he has been in the Arkansas Army National Guard for more than 10 years. Getting called up to serve your country is what those guys do. I guess you are going to say next that he signed up for the Guard 10 years ago, just to run for AG today?

I think the credible Democrats would agree that Paul is a Democrate through and through. Just as the ones he has worked for/with....David Pryor, Vic Snyder, Winston Bryant and Bill Clinton. I be they would all disagree with your assertions that Paul is a Republican.

Wasn't it Dustin that said (I paraphrase) in a Sunday Jake Bleed article that "Suskie should expect to be investigated if he wants to play big time politics". And today McDaniel is whining because Suskie didn't call him to issue a debate challenge. Welcome to the world of Big Boy politics Dustin. And how bout those conditions Dustin is laying down, statewide televised debate. Dustin why don't you just buy and TV station and then host the debate? Stop the whining and start the debating.

And good God where do you get your information? Please tell us what you believe to be Suskie's position on tort reform and takings. And for the love of God do it succinctly. You're ramblings are quite boring and your venom spewing is not helping your man Dustin.

Come on Dustin, show off your trial lawyer skills by debating Suskie.

Man... Dustin's team is SCARED! Look at what they're doing... Don't look at Dustin's record, just criticize a good man and tear Paul down.

And who's running the "Rove" style attack campaign?

I understand that Paul spent more time in the war (Afghanistan) than Dustin spent in the Leg....is that true?

Also, has Dustin ever prosecuted a case/represented the government. I though he only sued people?

I like the post from Give me a break.

Good point. Why isn't Dustin a partner in his dad's law firm? I would think a lawyer who is so well qualified to be our AG (as we are told by the McDaniel supporters) would have been a partner by now.

Can any McDaniel supporters explain that to us? I personally want to know why he is still Associate status...

"Pro life. Pro big business. Pro public taking of property. Tort reform. Paul Suskie,
Democrat.....hardly. "

Hmmm did I wake up in California or Boston. Just a hint bud this is Arkansas and if you were to stand every old lady democrat in a line and ask how many were pro killing babies because someone was too stupid to use birth control or supported giving some moron 10 Million because their coffe was too hot.

You would be suprised .

"Yup, Suskie and his private school chums are really the dignified ones in this race."

Reptile:

I can't speak for every person posting on the blog but it's not so much that I like Suskie (I have yet to vote for him) it that I just plain can't stand McDaniel.

I am from Saline County and was a big backer of Herzfeld. Although we were highly disappointed in the turnout of the race for AG, it became obvious to us who the good guy and the bad guy was in this race.

I am backing Suskie. He is the only candidate left who has the experience to serve as
AG.

I would also like to add that I can't stand McDaniel. He is a cocky Prick who is trying to buy this race. I hope Suskie kicks the ever-loving crap out of McDaniel in this run-off, and Dustin is left with about $500K in debt.

Good god- really just let the anger go. We all know that Dustin is in panic mode and the only way he can think to attack Paul is to try to paint him as a Republican, which of course he is not. The Karl Rove comments are particularly outlandish and funny. Paul has not spent one dime, not one dime, doing opposition research on Dustin. How much has Dustin spent on Paul? Oh that's right $25,000.

Paul has worked or volunteered for Democrats for nearly 20 years. Your poorly written arguments are really just sad, but I will address your points. Paul has said that he is personally pro-life, but he has stated time and time again that his job as AG would be to uphold a women's legal right to an abortion. At least Paul is consistent on that issue, which is more than I can say for Dustin. (who by the way has no problem with his favorite congressman, Marion Berry being pro-life in a position where it could actually affect abortion rights.) As far as your other "points" I don't even know where to start.

How is Paul pro big business, pro public taking of private property (this statement particularly ironic in light of Dustin's TIF law), and pro tort reform? I would like examples for each of these statements.

What is more Karl Rovian? Suskie's campaign or McDaniel's for coming immediately out of the box and pointing the finger at the other for running a "Rovian" campaign. The latter sounds more "Rovian" to me when you try to divert attention from your candidate's weaknesses to some make believe campaign issue.

I still can't get over Paul's being against a woman's right to choose. The government has no business getting in the middle of family decisions. I don't want the government to start dictating my values and will vote against anyone who thinks that they should. This is the main, numero uno reason, that I am a democrat. Keep the government out of my social decisions! This also includes who I marry, what fatty foods I choose to ingest, which language I prefer to speak, which religion I partake in, etc. etc. I repeat, I will never vote for someone who thinks that social decisions are to be made by a governing body. My values are for the most part main stream, but by god, I will stand up for my right to choose them!

Paul's views seem, at least from what we know, to reflect those of most Ark Dems. In fact, it's a mirror image of Mark Pryor's stance. Now, that may not mean much to several Dems, it's the truth.

I respect that Paul Suskie sticks to his guns. If you don't vote for him b/c his choice stance is different than yours, so be it. At least with Suskie we know what to expect. McDaniel's position seems to be clear as mud.

Suskie isn't against a woman's right to choose, he is personally against the issue though respects and will uphold the law as it is. Becareful to put too much into McDaniel's position because he has on numerous occasions changed his stance on the issue depending on who he is speaking.

Hey Anonymous,

McDaniel voted to prohibit smoking in public places. Does that count as government making social decisions?

Suskie is not anti-choice. He has the same position as Mike Hathorn and most Arkansas Democrats.

Look at the counties carried by the AG candidates in the primary. Now examine which of those counties have a significant number of down-ballot candidates facing run-offs. Those are the counties which will turn-out the largest numbers. The candidate who was strongest in the counties with the greatest number of down-ballot run-offs will once again win those counties and the numbers will tell the story.

The whole discussion on pro-life pro-choice is a waste of time. Neither the AG or any state official can do a thing, one way or the other, unless Roe v. Wade is overturned and I don't see that happening anytime soon.
However, the Dems better wake up and start welcoming pro-lifers back into the party or we'll hand the presidency to another right wing religious nut

"Related to Jonesboro, you are a dumbass. We already vote on Saturdays. Feel fre to go this Saturday and next Satruday. Early voting is a neat thing."

Thank you Mr. Anonymous for that post.

There's no need for name calling, Dickhead, when you see an opportunity to gloat in someone's ignorance.

http://www.pulaskiclerk.com/EarlyVS.htm Looky there. This time around, no Saturday voting. But, I will excuse your mistaken preconception because I'm sure you are a fart smeller.

Correcting another error of mine: the school's name was "Annie Camp Jr. High" in Jonesboro.

I think Suskie wins this one hands downs.

I agree with Jola. Since even the pro choice people have recently said that abortion should be a rare occurrence, they should join prolife people to help provide alternatives to abortion. This whole issue needs refocusing on meeting the needs of expectant mothers so they don't feel that abortion is their only option. The prolifers need to get past their total focus on the fetus and give equal attention to the welfare of the child after it is born. Lets focus of welfare and adoption reform and aid to mothers and children and stop using this issue to villify those with whom we disagree!

"Ask the good elderly people in this state if the pharmacists are losing money on their prescription medication?"

Small town pharmacies are losing money every week and many of them have had to close their doors.

The PBM middlemen have no accountability and are driving community pharmacies out of business so the PBMs can come in with their mail order companies and make even more money off the sick and elderly.

Rural pharmacies are often the only health care providers in small communities. Losing them would be devestating for the Arkansas health care system.

Dustin is a partner in his dad's firm. http://www.dustinmcdaniel.com/aboutdustin.htm. I guess Paul's just jealous because he couldn't really join his father in his republican appointed position as HUD director. If Dustin is ruined because his daddy's rich, Paul can't be much better off given the fact that his daddy is a financial contributor to the Republican Party. Paul allegedly did all that work for Mark Pryor, but did he do enough to counter his dad's contributions to Tim Hutchinson in '02?

I know that Dustin was a republican until after college. He used to keep several pictures of past republican presidents by his night stand in the fraternity house.

Suskie's dad was appointed by President Jimmy Carter. Not Ronald Reagan.

Can Dustin's folks just can't tell the truth?

The desparation is obvious.

Suskie's dad has been a lobbiest for years. He gives to both parties, both Republican and Democrat.

Irregardless of Suskie's dad's stance, Paul is running as his own man. He isn't running on "daddy's coat tails" as Dustin is...