Wonkette

Americans may forget amid all the sexy sex scandals that yet another primary is happening today, this time in the quaint southern town of Mississippi. If Barack Obama doesn’t win this thing by at least 30 points, Hillary Clinton will call it a moral victory. So expect either a very dull blowout tonight, or else a hectoring victory speech from the candidate who lost by “only” 20 points. [AP]

Famous racist Trent Lott is, more or less, a god. He may not be a senator anymore, and he may not like black people — I mean, HE REALLY HATES THEM! — but he definitely was, you know, a legislator for many years. To honor his legacy, various county chambers of commerce in Mississippi are honoring him today with “Trent Lott Appreciation Day.” Hooray! MORE »

Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour reportedly plans to announce that Congressman Roger Wicker will be filling Trent Lott’s Senatorial shoes until the next election at least. Chip Pickering, who was initially considered to be the obvious choice, told everyone last week that he really did want to spend more time with his family, which means he is either poised to make a shitload of money as a lobbyist or has a sex scandal in the wings. We’d say more about Wicker, but he’s sorta boring and virtually unknown, which is probably why they chose him. [Yahoo News, Clarion-Ledger]

MORE »

Outside of our not-really-a-state District of Columbia, Mississippi has the largest percentage of blacks of any state in the union — 37% of Trent Lott’s constituents are African American. MORE »

• Names & Faces: Tourism officials in Tupelo, Miss., the birthplace of Elvis Presley, are hoping to get Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and President Bush to swing by Tupelo after their visit to Graceland on Friday… A new novel by Thomas Pynchon will be released in December. [WP]

• Lloyd Grove’s Lowdown: Malcolm Gladwell cheerleads for the MSM, derides bloggers as “parasites.” [NYDN]
• Rush & Molloy: Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger gave an interview to the National Enquirer after the tabloid threatened to write about an alleged tryst between him and Brigitte Nielsen. [NYDN]

* Josh Bolten seeks “fresh start” for the White House. McClellan: “This is a time to reenergize and renew our commitment to help the president advance his agenda.” [WP, NYT, W$J]
* Mississippi senators are criticized for allocating $700M from war funding to relocate brand-new freight rail line. Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.): “American taxpayers are generous and are happy to restore damaged property, but it is wrong for senators to turn this tragedy into a giveaway for economic developers.” [WP]
* Sen. Hillary Clinton raised $6M in the first quarter and holds $20M in the bank; Sen. George Allen (R-Va.) has $7.2M on hand. [WP]
* Rumsfeld says calls for his retirement will fade. [NYT]
* Gay families attend White House Easter egg roll; few complaints about missing the Bushes. [USAT]
* States are showing some fiscal restraint; surpluses seen in 42 states. [USAT]
* National Archives pledges new era of “transparency”; Archives had “secret agreement” with the CIA to withhold documents. [WP, NYT]
* Mike Gravel, former Democratic senator from Alaska, officially announces bid for ‘08 presidential nomination. [WP]

It’s a good thing that we get to enjoy the pony that’s been hidden in slavery, because for the people of Mississippi, it could be a long time before they get to enjoy anything hidden in their vaginas. MORE »

Selections from a book being handed out to children by FEMA officials at a coastal Mississippi Lowes. MORE »

• Harry Reid, in surprise move, will vote against Roberts, citing concerns about women’s rights and civil rights. [WP, NYT, LAT, WT]
• Republican unity tested by divisions over how to cover high costs of Katrina relief. [WP, NYT]
• Democrats brace for strategic battle over O’Connor’s seat. [WSJ, WT]
• Arrested official did not disclose links to “controversial foreign clients”; Democrats cite arrest as need for independent inquiry into Katrina response. [WP, NYT]
• Nine Americans killed in Iraq over the past two days. [WP]
• House, Senate negotiators agree on $6b in tax breaks for Katrina relief. [WSJ]
• Bush praises Mississippi for “moving forward.” [WP]
• Katrina has not altered views on poverty; majority favored policy action a year ago. [USAT]
• Lawmakers milk Katrina to push pet causes. [LAT]
• Eight governors request investigation in gouging at the pumps. [NYT]
• Daschle interested in ‘08? [WP]

• Bush visits Mississippi and Louisiana: “There’s a lot of work to be done. . . this country is going to be committed to doing what it takes to help people get back on their feet.” [WP, NYT, WT]
• Shift of Roberts provides Bush “a bit of time to untangle the aftermath of the hurricane, a job that his trip on Monday suggested might take a while, as the images of suffering continued to dominate television news coverage during the long holiday weekend. The challenge for the president is to repair the political damage caused by the government’s slow response. . . without looking political.[NYT, USAT]
• Republicans return to Washington facing deluge of problems, from rising gas prices to vacancies on the Supreme Court; Democrats hope for upper hand; lawmakers race to provide plans and answers in hurricane’s wake. [WP, NYT, WT, WT, USAT]
• Administration strategizes long-term relief for hurricane victims. Pastor: “I think the gains that Republicans have made in some parts of the black community, particularly among the young, may be in jeopardy.” [WSJ]
• Central morgue established outside of Baton Rouge; thousands of bodies expected. [NYT]

MORE »