Arkansas Blog: Asa! emerges

Asa Hutchinson (pictured), thrashed in the race for governor in 2006, is baaack. He's formed a committee to point to elections in -- 2010. Yes, sports fans, you remember correctly. There's an election this year, 2008.

But Asa apparently proposes to undertake oppo research now against Gov. Mike Beebe and Attorney General Dustin McDaniel, who'll likely seek re-election then. Many FOI requests are planned.

Well. Some party insiders aren't exactly thrilled about this, or the implicit suggestion in his e-mail (on the jump) that his effort should share credit for a big Republican vote in the recent presidential primary.

"It's three yards and a cloud of dust," said one party insider. "It's a long-term project for small gains."

The point: Beebe and McDaniel rose from the legislature. Doesn't it make sense to focus now on making gains there with strong candidates? It would also be nice for the Republicans to run SOMEBODY for U.S. Senate this year and somebody other than sadsacks like Mayberry and Stumbaugh for congressional seats. Some Republicans see this as a self-interested effort by Hutchinson to re-establish himself as a controller of the party, now that Mike Huckabee has gone off to pursue cable TV stardom.

No harm in preparing for 2010, particularly if you were a party with many robust leaders and lots of money. But there's no time like the present to get politically active and strengthen grassroots.

I am happy to hear that Asa plans to make FOI requests to the governor's office. He may have forgotten that his party's governor took the position that there wasn't a shred of information in that office open to public inspection. Hutchinson is a lawyer. Maybe he'll file the long-needed groundbreaking suit to pour a little sunshine into that office. Then Jim Parsons will have a leg to stand on when he delivers a subpoena to Brenda Turner for The Huckster's records.

PS -- Does this means Asa is running? He says no.

ASA HUTCHINSON E-MAIL FOR THE ASA/2010 COMMITTEE

(Recipients included John Byrd, Amy Gunnett, Andrea Allen, Cory Cox, Jeremy Hutchinson, Jill Cox, John Eddy, Michael Lamourexu, Ted Thomas and Chris Stewart)

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Congratulations to all for a very successful primary! The GOP had a record turnout with over 200,000 voters participating in our primary.   Remember the bleak discussions around the table about an expected low turnout with most estimates of about 50,000? The success mostly came as a result of a competitive primary but I think our team should take a little credit for drawing attention to the opportunity and helping to promote its importance. Thanks to all who helped make this effort a win for the Party. By the way, I think Dennis and Karen did a nice job with follow-up media opportunities.

In terms of our next area of work:

1. Next meeting: Let me suggest February 28 at 5 pm at State Party Headquarters. Please advise Amy if this date works and you can make it.

2. In the meantime, Ted has the lead on research on the reports of Dustin McDaniel and I think Jeremy was going to get some other reports. I have a source to pay for copies so if these can be obtained and you can get a group together to review then we can discuss at next meeting.

3. Also, think about FOI requests that should be made on each office. If everyone would give that some thought then we will have that on the agenda.

4. Please think about how we as a group can aid the party and help prepare for 2010!!!!

Thanks for your work and efforts.

Regards,

Asa Hutchinson

Comments

If the private sector is as great as Republicans claim, why do they keep trying to stay in government?

Asa? running for Gov. has to be the Republican's worst nightmare. He's ran statewide 3 times and lost badly each time. Do you think they're wanting to float him money so he can do it again? In 2006, he did horrible in the 3rd CD for crying out loud.....

Posted by: NWASooner | February 12, 2008 05:39 PM

An aside: at least you can LOOK at Asa, unlike Timmy. Before I get creamed, has he had Bell's Palsy or some other affliction which is distorting his facial features? Each time I see him he is twisted into a grimace that makes MY face hurt... Having met and had a discussion with him once, I was personally under-impressed, to say the least. Then later add his 'place-holder' performance in the US Senate, well...'nuff said?

Posted by: Larry | February 12, 2008 05:50 PM

Tim always looked goofy to me, kinda like the family idiot you try to hide away from
public view. Maybe he has penis pain, from his new sweetie, causing the grimace on his
face...........
I wish they would all just disappear.

Posted by: jazzy | February 12, 2008 06:15 PM

Asa is a Bob Jones University alum.

'Nuff said.

Posted by: Cato | February 12, 2008 06:22 PM

The next time he runs for office I think his campaign sign should read

Asa?

Posted by: slydog | February 12, 2008 06:28 PM

While Asa is doing all that FOI-ing why doesn't he FOI his emails between him and St. Rudy. Let's find out all about that Oxycontin deal. And why not cough up the email so we can find out if he had anything to do with railroading Robbyn Tumey. FOI Asa! FOI!

Posted by: Deathbyinches | February 12, 2008 06:39 PM

From the Party of Corporate America? ...can't "those people" count?
Arkansas is Blue - Democrats cast 25% more D ballots than R ballots in this primary - something like 310K to 200K.

The Republican Party is irrelevant in any statewide or federal race...numbers don't lie. Hutchinson himself conceded the race to Beebe before Benton County (the R stronghold) even was counted in '06. The State House and Senate have damn near D super majorities. Sure the R's will continue to dominate Benton County (for a while) and they'll keep and take a seat here and there, but their ship is sinking and they'll get a drubbing in '08 - the trend speaks louder than numbers or words.

This is the Republican Party of Arkansas trying to put on a happy face on what was a crushing loss in '06 and a very troubling '08 primary where the Republican Governor - gone less than a year barely pulled 50% of the vote and former first Lady of Arkansas who has been gone for the last 16 years got 62% of the vote.

Posted by: BlueTicker. | February 12, 2008 06:52 PM

Most all of the effective AR Republicans have successfully fooled the electorate int believing they are Democrat.. (See each and every federal elected office holder we have).. Only the nut cases who don't give a rats arse about winning call themselves a GOPer.

Posted by: Eureka Springs, AR | February 12, 2008 07:01 PM

Point taken Eureka.

Posted by: BlueTicker. | February 12, 2008 07:03 PM

Hutchinson himself conceded the race to Beebe before Benton County (the R stronghold) even was counted in '06.<<

Did Benton County finally get a vote count in 06? I thought they just gave up and canceled the thing.
.
Jazzy don't you enjoy watching Tim H. feed the commentary as a Huck supporter? He's a trip. Looks like a modern day Daniel Boone gone to Washington. Maybe it's just the wrinkles.
.

Posted by: eLwood | February 12, 2008 07:21 PM

Jazzy, you rock! That's the funniest thing I've read all day.

Posted by: BlueRidge | February 12, 2008 08:41 PM

Max,

If they coordinate it with the Republican Party of Arkansas how murky does the campaign finance and disclosure law become?

Can a 527 (if that is what it is) coordinate with the state party? If it isn't a 527 then what do the finance laws say about how early a campaign can begin collecting money. And if he says he isn't running but is accepting contributions and making expenditures then what are the reporting requirements?

It appears from the email that the group has been around for a while. Where are their finance reports?

Posted by: Stump | February 12, 2008 08:42 PM

eLwood,,,,naw,,I see ole Daniel Boone as a tanned, outdoor manly man, who could slay a
bear, or was that Davy Crockett?? Anyway, old Tim looks like a girly man to me, color of
a fishes belly, lopsided face, eyeballs spinning in different directions, just a human mess.....
how did he get two women? must be something clothes cover up.
Mac should NEVER give a speech after Obama...big mistake.

Posted by: jazzy | February 12, 2008 10:09 PM

Lord Almighty, where did he get that haircut?

Posted by: Polecat | February 13, 2008 04:01 PM

Arkansas Blog

Asa! emerges

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