Henry Barbour profiled in NYT

There’s not much left between Henry Barbour’s house and the horizon. Since the tornado came through here last April, the house has sat on a bare hill, looking out over the meager remains of the surrounding woods.

It will be decades before that seclusion grows back, but Mr. Barbour is staying anyhow. He grew up here, his family is here and he has managed a career in big-money politics from here perfectly fine.

Whenever Mr. Barbour’s name has shown up in the national news media, it has regularly been followed by the words “nephew of Gov. Haley Barbour.” That suits him well enough; Mr. Barbour has no problem being a backstage player.

But he is also fiercely competitive, and his profile has begun to rise over the last couple of months, as Mr. Barbour, a member of the Republican National Committee, has led a widely publicized campaign to have Michael Steele ousted as chairman. The committee begins its annual winter meeting on Wednesday and holds its election for chairman on Friday, and few are playing a more central role than Mr. Barbour.

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East Flora PTA to meet Thursday night over potential school closing.

The East Flora PTA will meet Thursday night at 6:00 in the school gym to discuss the potential closing of the school. If closed, the town of Flora would be the only municipality in Madison County without a school. The move would force students to be bussed several miles away.

East Flora Middle School serves 147 students and is listed as underperforming. Madison County spends $14,000 per student at East Flora compared to the average per student cost of $7,700.

Concerned parents and town officials met Tuesday night at Flora City Hall to discuss the predicament.

Barbour's Last State of the State in Pictures

BY: B. Keith Plunkett

Prognosticators, Politico's and Pundits have already begun to break down Governor Haley Barbour's final State of the State Address given last night. You can check out Majority in Mississippi to view a transcript of the Guv's speech. Follow this LINK to see the transcript of the Democrat response. And, you can view the entire MPB coverage of the event HERE.

I won't attempt to add another layer to those who have started breaking it all down to tell you what you thought you heard. Instead I'll offer a few visual aids.

Click on the photos to enlarge.

Enjoy.



Congressman Gregg Harper arrived on the House Floor
early to talk to Lawmakers.



Speaker Billy McCoy brings the House to order.



Lt. Governor Phil Bryant and President Pro-Tempore Billy
Hewes welcome First Lady Marsha Barbour.




















Speaker McCoy welcomes Governor Barbour to the floor of
the House.

















The Governor received a warm welcom from the joint session of the
Mississippi State Legislature.



Lt. Governor Bryant, a gubernatorial hopeful, and Senator Billy
Hewes who is looking to replace him as head of the Senate.

Barbour was at times sentimental about his time in the Governor's Mansion.

  

Members of the Legislative Black Caucus sat on their hands for much of the
Governor's speech. But, rose in agreement when Barbour called for a
plan to build a Civil Rights Museum in Jackson.



Senator Giles Ward, Representative Scott Bounds and other
legislator's listen intently to the Governor's speech.

 

Madison Representative Rita Martinson