Mark Pryor is still a Democrat? He’s worked so closely with Republicans, I thought he switched parties already. Anyway, I’d like to hear Sen. Pryor offer an explanation about his tax evasion issue. Did he pressure the IRS to let his wealthy mother-in-law walk away from paying $2Million in back taxes in 2006? There’s this website www.retirepryor.com that accuses Senator Pryor and his wife of taking as much as $24,000 per month from a company that owes the IRS millions of dollars. Are these accusations true? I hope not.

You make a lot of sense there Butch, as usual. I too am an "independent"; and almost always vote for the person and not the party. If they are "equal" as far as their platforms, then I lean towards the more conservative party, in this particular time, the Republicans. I have to agree with something else you mentioned; something I've known for years. We are the richest country in the world, or used to be; yet we do not take care of the sick and elderly as well as some other countries do. It's a black mark on our "leaders". I also believe drug testing in the work place is a violation of our 4th Ammendment; but I'm just one voice, and one opinion. I agree with you on our troops also; bring 'em home; Muslims do not want democracy, nor will their "religion" allow it. We are wasting our time, money, and our soldiers lives trying to do something that just will not work. It's all about setting up puppet governments in parts of the world we wish to control; as we did in South Korea, and as we tried and failed to do in Vietnam. Obama is no better than Nixon. They didn't put us in these wars; but Obama, like Nixon, is taking his sweet time getting us out of it. Russia spent how many years in Afghanistan? Their "Vietnam". What's that they say; those that don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it? You can bet I'll be asking questions come the next state elections. I want to know where my candidates stand on killing children in the womb, veterans benefits, my Bill of Rights, and medicinal marijuana, among other things as well.

I know their are lots of people abusing their stamps trading or selling them to get liquor and drugs. Alcohol is legal. We can't expect them to test for it. How can you stand legally or morally for punishing or with holding things from anyone for doing something legal. You can't. Well maybe you can but it doesn't hold with principles our country was built on. That's a big problem in this country. Senseless people voting our rights away. When I look at people running for office I look at their point of view on many things. The main one is are they willing to protect our rights. Their point of view on our criminal justice system, taxes, government spending. There are lots of things to consider in voting for someone. Over seas spending also gripes me. Pull our troops in. Protect our homeland at all cost. Let all these third world countries work out there own problems. We spend many trillions of tax dollars supporting other countries. Neglecting our own poor, sick, and unfortunate. Yes it is an honor and privilege to be part of the greatest country on the planet. We have to be careful to maintain that for the future. Put our self-righteous, self-centered, feelings aside and care for the country, citizens, and future. Allowing our people to live within their rights. Voting is a thing that needs much thought and research. To vote a straight ticket is about as smart as standing in the middle of the road in rush hour. I like to look at the principles a man runs on not the party.

minnow: Nope. And people do care; just not enough, or about the right things. ForthePeople; Sounds like he has very good ideas. But if he doesn't run on one of the two major parties tickets; well, we all know how that ususally turns out. And if he did make it into office; too many good ol' boys in the state legislature would probably be against all those things; after all, it would keep their relatives from driving those Caddy's and Lincolns. And drug testing people on welfare? They wouldn't vote for him! But I like his ideas; if he is in the 21st Century when it comes to medicinal marijuana, then I'd vote for him; gotta be better than the two choices that have already thrown their hats in the ring.

There is a younger (mid 30s) guy that I have heard is considering a run for governor. He wants to do away with state income tax, tax on used automobiles and do a complete overhaul of all state agencies and state boards. He says that there is way to much waste of tax payer money. From listening to him, he wants to get rid of the expensive cars that state agencies use and put them in base models, thus saving tax payers, look at agencies that get monies from gas leases and gas royalty's and deduct those monies from their budgets instead of letting those agencies hide that money in CD's and make people working for our universities pay for their own cars instead of tax payers footing the bill for them to drive Cadillacs and Lincolns. He said that he would also work to ensure that our elderly are taken care of and that everyone hat received food stamps or other state aid would undergo drug and alcohol testing before receiving those benefits. We seen him at a grocery store in Russellville talking to people last week.

SHUT UP ABOUT POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS ALREADY!!!!! We need a break and at this time we DON"T CARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Next race for governor? Yuck. Two lawyers. Still wonder about Asa while he was US Attorney for NW AR, and all those drugs were coming into Mena. Very good article about all that in a local rag many years ago. And what was Dustin's stand on Issue 5? I can't remember exactly. Didn't he move himself away from Cox and the other nuts on that issue? Smart move if so.

Atomic plans on being mayor of Bryant. Leatherneck is running for Sherriff; forgot what county. I don't think ( by his posts ) that Atomic believes in God. Leatherneck sounds like a good choice, except for one thing; he's still in the last century when it comes to medicinal weed. Like Butch says, get to know who's running, and what they stand for! Good-bye El Beebe!!! Lord knows we'll have the old lesser of two evils battle for that office!