Arkansas Blog

There's not many things that could cause me to mark my ballot for Buddy Villines, but having that scumbucket Wyrick on the other line is more than enough.

Good choice in opponents Buddy.

So is he running as a Republican or is he coming back to the Democratic fold? Not that he would be welcome, but given his opportunistic bolting of the Democratic party I wouldn't be surprised if he decided the time might be right to have a prodigal son moment.

ARK. BLOG: He's running as a Republican.

Plenty of us still remember how Phil left the Democratic Party and the race he ran against Vic Snyder. I'll support anyone running against Wyrick.

Agreed, 70%. Wyrick gonna be a Dem or a Repub this time? Is he still getting the payback check from state government - the one Huck rewarded him with for challenging Snyder?

Lets examine his City Director Spouse's vote on jail funding issues. Will Phil appear on horseyback in his campaign commercials? He sorta resembles a male susan macdougal from her halcyon horseyback commercial days selling land not too far from the Wyrick Manse

He can't be any worse than the current Judge. Buddy is a horrible administrator.

Not so sure I agree on the more jails approach.. I think it's time to reevaluate our society's willingness to incarcerate so many non violent actions.

NY Times: 1 in 100 Americans behind bars

For the first time in the nation's history, more than one in 100 American adults is behind bars, according to a new report.

Nationwide, the prison population grew by 25,000 last year, bringing it to almost 1.6 million. Another 723,000 people are in local jails. The number of American adults is about 230 million, meaning that one in every 99.1 adults is behind bars.

Incarceration rates are even higher for some groups. One in 36 Hispanic adults is behind bars, based on Justice Department figures for 2006. One in 15 black adults is, too, as is one in nine black men between the ages of 20 and 34.

The report, from the Pew Center on the States, also found that only one in 355 white women between the ages of 35 and 39 is behind bars, but that one in 100 black women is.

The report's methodology differed from that used by the Justice Department, which calculates the incarceration rate by using the total population rather than the adult population as the denominator. Using the department's methodology, about one in 130 Americans is behind bars.

Either way, said Susan Urahn, the center's managing director, "we aren't really getting the return in public safety from this level of incarceration."

SNIP (Full story at my name)

It's so like Phil Wyrick to decide to file for office only when the incumbent is slowed by health issues. He's as good a blood-sniffing opportunist as I know.

There are more issues for running against Buddy than just health. Is it Wyrick's fault Buddy abuses his body?

Speaking of things in the current issue, I just read the editorial that cites the disgusting quote from John McCain about Chelsea Clinton. What kind of a slime ball would crack that one? No thanks to a guy like that being in the White House.

Looks like Buddy will get my vote by default. I used to live next door to Wyrick's niece when he was running against Snyder and she could tell you some stories about him that would singe your hair. She and her husband are Republicans but they voted for Snyder, ..........does that tell you what kind of a person Wyrick is....... when his own family won't vote for him.

Marilyn Edwards in Washington County
In Fayetteville, NWA, former Washington County Clerk and state Representative Marilyn Edwards will be running on the Demo ticket for County Judge. She's capable and has an excellent record in public service.

I'm guilty....I only read the blog.

I'd love to buy the paper. Can you tell me the nearest newstand where I can get a copy? I live on 12th Street.

In Austin, Texas.

Man-Bimbo Phil has already declared he will fix the jails within his first four year term or not seek re-election. Will somebody get with this fine student of government and advise him the County Judge gets to stand for re-election every TWO years??

I would happily pay for a direct-mail hardcopy of the AT if it were available. It's a difficult publication to find up here in my little hamlet in the Ozarks --- Tommy's Pizza usually has it, somehow.

But for now, the e-copy works. But I find holding the publication in my hands a little more satisfying.

ARK. BLOG: We happily sell mail subscriptions. write anitra@arktimes.com