Senator Wicker… Where Are You?

While Senator Wicker (R-MS) tries to convince voters that he cares about the troubles of people who have lost their homes in the mortgage crisis, my senator missed today’s vote in the Senate.  Where did you go, Roger?  Oh wait, you’re out and about telling reporters that national Democrats are trying to use the Medicare debate to scare voters before the election.  Really?  This coming from the same guy who has authored an amendment to the US Constitution banning gay marriage – with cosponsors Larry Craig and David Vitter?  Aren’t there more pressing issues out there, Senator?  And yes, people are scared out there.  Scared as to whether they will have a job tomorrow, scared that they will not be able to put gas in the car and groceries on the table, scared that they won’t be able to afford medicine for themselves and their family.  Yes, Senator, these are scary times – but they needn’t be scared of Democrats.  They need to be scared that the Republicans are offering the same garbage that we have listened to for 7.5 years now.

And now, come to find out, Wicker and his challenger, Governor Musgrove (D), were at an event over the 4th of July weekend in northeast Mississippi – and territory for our new Congressman Travis Childers (D-MS) – and from what my sources are telling me, Wicker did a poor job on the stump.  And this is coming from Republicans.  Republicans, I might add, that are starting to question whether or not Wicker is bright enough to serve in the Senate.  I have yet to talk with a Democrat that has the same questions about Governor Musgrove.

While on the stage, Wicker said that he was not sure what direction this country was headed down.  After making his brief remarks and leaving the event immediately thereafter, Governor Musgrove got on the stage and said that he knows what direction the country is going down, and it’s not the direction we should be going.  After his speech, true to form, he got out among the people and shook hands.  

And even while Wicker was hiding behind closed doors with President Bush, Governor Musgrove was at a Jackson restaurant with the average joes of Mississippi talking about gas prices, among other topics.  Wicker can have all the money Bush can muster, but retail politics in Mississippi goes a long, long way.

I don’t know about y’all, but I am very ready to see some positive ads on tv about the good governor.  The negative ads are already getting underway – and under voters’ skins.  I hope the NRSC realizes that they aren’t doing themselves any favors by bashing Musgrove while highlighting the record (such as it is) of an interim senator that most people don’t even realize is their senator.  The negative ads didn’t work against Travis Childers, and I find it unlikely that they will work against Musgrove in the political climate in which we find ourselves.

Four more months, folks.