Arkansas Blog

Stupid is as stupid does.

I would like to elect a Senator to represent our state that is neither racist nor stupid. Either way, he's not getting my vote.

Note to Jason: NEVER CONDUCT AN INTERVIEW NEXT TO A SOLID WALL IN A NOISY ROOM.

Yes, Curtis, we know that when you go from VendorVille to SE Arkansas not only the economy changes but the shades of voters changes too. Just say it an get over it.

Speaking of getting shots, I predict there's going to be a rush to get them soon in NWA with its high concentration of Hispanics.

Click for L.A. Times story on rapidly spreading swine flu.

Foot, meet mouth. If he in fact runs, I hope he enjoys that flavor because he is showing the skill for it.

So is he both "racist" and "stupid" hard to tell from his comments.

So far, he has all of Huckabee's foot in mouth disease with out Huck's ability to sell it.

Coleman is Huckabee lite.

"It is a thousand more times more likely that I am stupid than I am racist."
Or more likely too stupid to know it was racist. Which is more recommendation for the job?

I spent much of my life in SEARK and, frankly, if it's not third world, it's at least fallen so far behind the rest of the state and most of the country it's tragic. Pine Bluff's population is tumbling, and PB has long been the beacon of the district. The rest of this state's answer to the problem of how to save the southeast quadrant apparently is to just ignore it, or at least hope that Congress will get I-69 finished and the PB corridor to I-69 finished and US 65 widened to four lanes from 530 to the La. line so you can breeze through it without being bothered with a stop.
Is this any surprise, though? Both major state prisons were placed in southeast Arkansas forever ago. On the other hand, this state managed to place its two largest universities in the farthest reaches of northwest and northeast Arkansas. That makes helluva sense. That would be a great motto for Arkansas: "We do things that make helluva sense -- not!"
So, when SEARK is a complete joke and a desolation dried up, empty ghost towns, the entire state will have itself to blame.
Coleman doesn't need to be crucified for saying the truth. If he'd promise to help change it, and actually do what he promised, I'd vote for him.

Jimmyboy, you're talking about things that happened when cotton was king and the SE corner of the state was it's wealthy realm. UAF & ASUJ were both established long before agriculture died. PB was once the second largest city in the state and the economy boomed. The problem with SE Arkansas is they put all their eggs in the basket of agriculture and it's dropped. I grew up in SE AR and there was a mayor who actively discouraged new and drove existing manufacturing out of town because he didn't want any competition for the farm workers. The only growth industry in SE AR the past 2 decades has been arson.

No, Coleman didn't cause any of that and his remark was likely innocent enough. But, he can't play in the big leagues with a minor league wit.

This entire state is a third-world country, comparatively speaking. NW Ark putting
SE Ark down is the intra-state equivalent of "thank God for Mississippi."

The guy was playing to an all-white crowd with some covert racism, all it was.

but he"s right ,southeast Arkansas is a hole.

I bet he is in favor of packing in the pews, too. do you coordinate your firearms with your dress or your accessories?

Auggie, you can just kiss my posterior sphincter muscle!!!!

All candidates are capable of saying stupid things. That's one of the reasons that politics is so entertaining. But this is more than just a stupid comment. It could and probably does reflect racism, but, even more importantly, it reflects an NWA arrogance that it condescending of anyone of any color who happens to live "down state." Funny, I too remember when NWA was the backwater of the state. And I'm not all THAT old.

I'd still like to know where he would put the border. Little Rock? Russellville? Clarksville? Ft. Smith?

Ooh, Country Boy!

Few years ago I met another woman, from New York, who'd taught Art History or something at UAPB for three years.

"How'd you get from New York to here!" I asked.

Then, "What'd you think of Pine Bluff?"

She didn't hesitate one second. "It's a perfect example of what racism does to a town."

It's a beautiful state. A wonderful state.

What she said was sad.

And true.

"It's a perfect example of what racism does to a town."

and agricultural mechanization/corporate farming, too.

My name is Steve Mackey, and I'm Curtis Coleman's son-in-law. I moved to a small city in Arkansas about six years ago and since then have worked in every part of this great state. I love Arkansas, but the fact is over the years I have heard very racist comments from people across the political and socio-economic spectrum; to the point of being appalled on many occasions. So this is an important issue, no doubt.

I've known Curtis for about 14 years. Over that time I've had many opportunities to discuss politics, spiritual issues, and other life events with him. I have never known him to make any derogatory or stereotypical comment about any region or group of people. It's just not in him. He's simply a good and compassionate man trying to make a difference. A lifetime makes a racist, not a vague comment about the diversity of Arkansas.

Steve,

Care to explain to all the good Republican voters why they should even take a chance on a guy who has a track record that sounds a lot like a cross between John Ensign - Mark Sanford - Tim Hutchinson? We all know the Arkansas Times has the documents and is holding them just like happened in South Carolina. If Curtis wins the nomination then the newspaper will use that information at just the right time to make sure that Blanche wins.

I understand that divorce is an important issue for conservatives (I happen to be one too.) But it's old news. 16 years old to be exact. It has been blogged about and discussed. He's not hiding the fact. It's hard to surprise the public with something they already know. Curtis knew the scrutiny he would face over this issue, but he decided to wade into the muddy waters of politics because he truly wants to make a difference. We need to support someone who holds to true conservative principles and has the capability to do the job before and after the election, not second guessing how a particular candidate might be attacked by the opposition.