I originally spelled his name “Barbar” like the french elephant story. Now that might work!
Our local newspaper here in Columbus, Mississippi has run some articles about how hard it will be for governour Haley Barbour to run for president should he decide to do so. I’ve only been in Mississippi about a year but I’ve picked up on the vibe that a lot of people here don’t want to stick their head up just to get beat down yet again over slavery, racism and the civil war. I don’t blame them. Sometimes it is best to just leave things be.
If Barbour has a chance I think it would only be if he could get some prominent african americans to stand up for him on the national scene. The local NAACP is not going to promote him for two reasons, one he is a republican and two they want to continue the “legacy” of 1960’s civil rights.
You know what I’ve really learned in Mississippi? There is a regular grievance industry in this state. Local politicians and neighbors are accomodating and they generally have enough to do putting food on the table and providing public safety and utility services. But the civil war rememberers and the civil rights movementers aren’t going to budge.
So Haley is probably out of luck unless he can get himself endorsed by Colin Powell.