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Thursday, January 3, 2013

Stanford holds off Wisconsin 20-14 in Rose Bowl

Stanford wide receiver Jamal-Rashad Patterson, left, makes a catch against Wisconsin defensive back Shelton Johnson (24) during the first half of the Rose Bowl NCAA college football game, Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Stanford head coach David Shaw, center, lifts the trophy following their 20-14 win over Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl NCAA college football game, Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Stanford quarterback Kevin Hogan looks to pass during the first half of the Rose Bowl NCAA college football game against Wisconsin, Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Wisconsin quarterback Curt Phillips looks to pass during the first half of the Rose Bowl NCAA college football game against Stanford, Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Stanford wide receiver Jamal-Rashad Patterson (21) makes a catch against Wisconsin defensive back Shelton Johnson (24) during the first half of the Rose Bowl NCAA college football game, Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

PASADENA, Calif. (AP) ? Although Stanford didn't score many style points in the 99th Rose Bowl, the Cardinal could celebrate because they didn't let Wisconsin score any points at all after halftime.

Stepfan Taylor rushed for 89 yards and an early touchdown, Kevin Hogan passed for 123 yards, and No. 8 Stanford won its first Rose Bowl since 1972, beating the Badgers 20-14 on Tuesday night.

Usua Amanam made the decisive interception near midfield with 2:30 to play as the Pac-12 champion Cardinal (12-2) ended their four-decade drought in the Granddaddy of Them All with arguably the biggest bowl win yet during the long-struggling program's recent renaissance.

"We knew this was going to be a battle, and we wouldn't expect it any other way," Stanford coach David Shaw said. "We know it's going to be tight, it's going to be close, and we're going to find a way to win. That's the way it's been all year."

Stanford clamped down on the Big Ten champion Badgers (8-6), who lost the Rose Bowl in heartbreaking fashion for the third consecutive season. Montee Ball rushed for 100 yards and his FBS-record 83rd touchdown, but Wisconsin managed only 82 yards in that scoreless second half.

With impressive defense of its own, Wisconsin still stayed in position for an upset in the one-game return of Hall of Fame coach Barry Alvarez, who was back on the Badgers' sideline in his red sweater-vest seven years after hanging up his whistle.

"This group of kids has been through a lot, and they competed extremely hard against a very high-quality team," Alvarez said. "We've played three very good football games (at the Rose Bowl). These guys played hard. In fact, most people would like to get here once. But we just didn't get it done."

Kelsey Young rushed for a score on Stanford's opening possession, and Taylor scored on the second. Wisconsin kept the Cardinal out of the end zone for the final 51 minutes, holding them to three points in the second half, but Stanford's defense didn't need any more help in the Cardinal's eighth straight victory.

"We knew coming in, it was going to be a physical game," Taylor said. "We knew they know how to play against power as well as us. They did a great job. It was our defense keeping us in the game that enabled us to get this win."

After winning the Orange Bowl two years ago and losing the Fiesta Bowl last season, Stanford earned its first conference title and its first Rose Bowl berth in 13 years. The Cardinal finished with 12 victories for just the second time in school history ? and the second time in the last three years.

The Cardinal ousted top-ranked Oregon on the way to the biggest season yet in the improbable surge of success started by Jim Harbaugh and Andrew Luck. Many Pac-12 observers expected a sharp decline at Stanford this season ? but Shaw and Hogan, who took over as the starting quarterback in November, have accomplished something even Harbaugh and Luck couldn't manage.

"I think it served as some motivation for us throughout the year," Amanam said. "I think it's just a testament to our program and how we train and prepare every season."

When Bret Bielema abruptly left Wisconsin for Arkansas after winning the Big Ten title game, Alvarez agreed to coach his fourth Rose Bowl before handing off his program to new coach Gary Andersen, who met with Alvarez on the field before the game.

But the Badgers' third straight Rose Bowl appearance ended in much the same way as the last two: With the offense failing to get the late score the Badgers desperately needed.

"This stings just as much, because we fell extremely short when we had the opportunity to win," Ball said. "We had numerous opportunities to capitalize on big plays, and we fell short. ... This is not the way we want to be remembered. Speaking for the entire senior group, this is not the way we wanted to go out."

Curt Phillips went 10 for 16 for 83 yards passing and that crucial interception for Wisconsin, doing more with 64 yards on the ground. Jordan Fredrick caught a short TD pass right before halftime, but no Badgers receiver had more than Jared Abbrederis' three catches.

And though Ball became the first player to score touchdowns in three Rose Bowls, the powerful back fell short of Ron Dayne's career Rose Bowl rushing record, swarmed under by waves of tacklers from one of the toughest defenses in the nation ? a defense that shut down the top-ranked Ducks in mid-November to pave Stanford's path to Pasadena.

Wisconsin returned to Pasadena in a much more roundabout way as the first five-loss team to make it, losing three overtime games and making the Big Ten title game only because Ohio State and Penn State were ineligible. The Badgers then steamrolled Nebraska to become the first Big Ten team in three straight Rose Bowls since Michigan in the late 1970s.

With the Rose Bowl filled with fans wearing the schools' near-identical cardinal-and-white gear, Stanford went up 14-0 on Taylor's 3-yard TD run just 8? minutes in. Wisconsin briefly got rolling behind Ball, who rushed for 296 yards in his first two Rose Bowls.

Stanford stopped James White inside the 1 on fourth down early in the second quarter after a touchdown run by Ball was wiped out by a holding penalty, but Ball scored on the next drive. The Badgers then mounted an 85-yard drive in the waning 2? minutes of the first half, with Phillips' 38-yard run setting up Fredrick's short TD catch to trim Stanford's halftime lead to 17-14.

After halftime adjustments, both defenses dominated the scoreless third quarter, allowing just three combined first downs.

Wisconsin's personal foul on a fair-catch punt return finally sparked Stanford early in the fourth quarter. Stanford got inside the Wisconsin 5 before stalling, and Jordan Williamson's short field goal put the Cardinal up by six points with 4:23 to go.

The Badgers got to midfield, but Phillips threw behind Jacob Pedersen, and Amanam easily made the pick.

"I just happened to be at the right place at the right time," Amanam said. "We were able to kind of seal the game on that one."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2013-01-01-FBC-T25-Rose-Bowl/id-a4d10063783940429606bad039ce85b9

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Are You About To File For Personal Bankruptcy? See These Tips First!

A lot of people see bankruptcy in a negative way, but it is really a good solution in certain situations. A financial catastrophe, like a major medical emergency, can cause someone to face bankruptcy. If that is your situation, you can find help by using the advice in this article.

Proceed with your bankruptcy plans even if you obtain new employment before your filing date. Bankruptcy may be the solution for you, even with your changed circumstances. Your timing can make a tremendous difference when filing for personal bankruptcy. If your filing is processed before you actually start making your higher salary, your repayment terms won?t reflect that new income source.

Be certain that bankruptcy truly is your best option. You may find consolidating your debt may be simpler. Going through a bankruptcy is a long and stressful process. Remember that your credit will be affected by the mark of personal bankruptcy for a long time. Because of this, you need to think of bankruptcy as a nuclear option; that is, a last resort.

Don?t leave all the details in your lawyer?s hands. It?s very important for you to understand what is going on throughout the bankruptcy process, even if your lawyer is providing all of the guidance for your actions. You may be tempted to hand over the reins to your attorney, but keep in mind that your future is actually at stake.

Be certain you are totally aware of the laws of bankruptcy before you file. For instance, for 365 days before filing, no one is able to receive assets from the filer. Not only that, but the filer cannot lawfully accrue additional debt just prior to filing.

If you have fears that you will lose your car, ask your lawyer about the possibility of lowering your car payments. Most of the time Chapter 7 bankruptcy will allow your payments to be lowered. The vehicle must have been obtained more than 90 days before filing and be a loan with high interest. You must also have consistent work history.

You may end up losing more than you bargained for when you file a bankruptcy claim, so be sure that you know just which assets may be taken before filing. The federal statutes covering bankruptcy can tell you exactly which assets are exempt from forfeiture to pay off creditors. It?s crucial to read that list before filing to see which of your prized possessions can be seized. If you don?t read it, you could have nasty surprises pop up later due to your prized possessions being seized.

It?s important that you understand that bankruptcy is not a way to get out of paying tax debt. Filing for bankruptcy does not exempt you from paying your taxes. These filers think they?ll never have to actually pay that money back as it is now part of the credit card debt. Unfortunately, you?ll just end up having to pay your credit card balance plus interest.

Lots of individuals who filed bankruptcy vow to never again use credit cards or lines of credit ever again. The fallacy in this thinking is that credit is needed to improve your credit history again. Good credit is needed to make major purchases, such as those for homes and automobiles. However, if you don?t use credit, you will be unable to establish a good credit history, which is necessary in order to make those purchases. Get one credit card and use it wisely to get on the right path.

You can stop unwanted calls from creditors in debt collectors by filing for personal bankruptcy. The stress of excessive debt can be too much to bear. Utilizing bankruptcy protection can often be the way to keep your mind at ease as you go through the process.

After exhausting every avenue for resolving your financial debts, bankruptcy may be a necessity. You need not stress out, if your circumstances have brought you here due to things outside your personal control. This article contains many useful tips you need to know about before you make your decision.

You should see that it will be far easier if you know as much as you can about the world of stock market trading; this is where you should come for information. Be sure to read the whole article again for best results. Your life will be much easier with this information.

Source: http://forexinvestmentreport.com/2013/01/01/are-you-about-to-file-for-personal-bankruptcy-see-these-tips-first/

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Wednesday, January 2, 2013

House scraps vote on Superstorm Sandy aid

In a surprise move, the House of Representatives will not vote on Sandy aid in the 112th Congress, a GOP leadership aid confirmed late Tuesday evening. A vote to provide aid to victims affected by the storm could come later this week during the 113th Congress, leaving lawmakers to start from scratch on a resolution to the standoff.

After the House passed the "fiscal cliff" deal, members from Sandy-stricken areas on both sides of the aisle took to the floor to decry the lack of action.

"We have millions of our fellow citizens who have been badly damaged by a storm called Sandy," House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said on the House floor. "Overwhelmingly the United States Senate passed some relief. I can't remember a time when we had a very serious storm, tornado, fire, flood where we did not act. This Congress is apparently leaving town without responding to that emergency."

The Senate has already acted to provide $60.4 billion to the region. But many House Republicans outside the damage zone believe the price tag is too high and includes extraneous spending.

"I'm here tonight saying to myself for the first time that I'm not proud of the decision my team has made," said Rep. Michael Grimm, R-N.Y. "It is the wrong decision, and I' m going to be respectful and ask that the speaker reconsider his decision. Because it's not about politics, it's about human lives."

In remarks on the House floor, Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., called the decision "absolutely inexcusable, absolutely indefensible. We cannot just walk away from our responsibilities."

Members of Congress booed inside the chamber as the House adjourned near midnight. The House meets today at 10 a.m. and 12pm for legislative business, although the floor schedule is unclear.

"The people who have been damaged by Sandy?should be deeply disappointed and yes angry that this Congress would adjourn without addressing the pain of our fellow citizens," Hoyer blasted.

"I would hope this decision would be reconsidered. I would hope that we would say to those citizens: we're here for you, one country, one nation," he added.

Check Out This Great Payday Loan Advice - Best Stock Market ...

A lot of individuals often are wary when it comes to companies that ask for high interest rates when it comes to their loans. Cash advance loans come with a responsibility. You might find yourself making payments for years if you do not select a legitimate lending establishment. The following article will give you advice so you are well-protected when getting a payday loan.

Don?t simply hop in the car and drive over to the closest payday loan lender to acquire a bridge loan. It?s tempting to think you understand cash advances well, but many company have terms that very widely. You want to find the best terms for your situation. Investing only a little bit of time can help you save quite a bit of money.

You?ll need phone references for your payday loan. You will generally need to share your home phone number, cell number and your employer?s number. The vast majority of lenders ask for three personal references along with phone numbers.

Don?t overuse payday advances. Think about seeing a credit counselor to get your finances under control if you?re having financial problems. Payday and cash advance lending has driven many individuals towards bankruptcy. You will only be able to ensure this never happens to you if you stay away from these kind of loans in the first place.

Payday cash advances are usually quick. The downside of this convenience is the cost. If you can?t afford the high interest payments you should try talking to friends and family to see if you can work out a short term loan with them. You may find this better than the high interest rates associated with cash advance loans.

Investigate what the total cost of the loan will be. Payday lenders have notoriously high interest rates and excessive fees. However, this isn?t the only thing that providers can hit you with. They can also charge you with large fees for every single loan that is taken out. Reading the fine print and asking pertinent questions can help you become more knowledgeable about payday cash advances.

It is important to have verification of your identity and employment when applying for a payday loan. You must show this provider you are actually over 18 and you?re getting regular income if you want to have a chance at receiving a payday loan.

If you face hardships, give this information to your provider. Often payday loan providers will use debt collectors if you do not pay your loan back in time. If you cannot pay it back in time on the date it?s due, you need to contact them and talk about an extension.

If your friend wants to get a payday loan and put it in your name, don?t do it. It is important to help people you care about, but this can ruin anyone?s relationships.

Check to make sure your payday loan company is licensed to operate in your state. The rules and regulations regarding payday lending vary by state. Your lender has to be licensed to be able to operate in your home state.

If you?re applying for cash advances, try borrowing the smallest amount you can. Of course, these loans come in handy when emergencies arise. However, the amount of money you will be paying for interest is a lot higher than the interest on a credit card. Keep these rates low by taking out a small loan.

Do not take out multiple payday cash advances. Don?t go to more than one company to get cash advance loans. This will put you in a place where you won?t be able to get the money paid back, no matter what salary you?re making.

Only borrow what you?re positive you can repay down the road. Lenders often try to get you to accept more than you can afford, and this will cost you a lot of money.

Don?t borrow extra money, even if it is offered. Companies may offer you extra to pick up more money with fees and interest. Just borrow what you need and don?t embellish it.

A payday loan is a good solution in certain situations, but do not let this become a habit and always explore other options first. This information can help you when you need some quick cash.

You may find stock market newsletter intimidating, but research goes a long way. Great tips will bring you a long way in your quest for information. There is so much information about stock market newsletter here, you shouldn?t be wanting for more.

Source: http://www.beststockmarketinvestment.com/2012/12/31/check-out-this-great-payday-loan-advice/

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Small business money management errors to avoid ? The Punch ...

Every small business owner works for the growth of his or her venture. However, this cannot be achieved without scrupulous financial management, Okechukwu Nnodim writes

Financial management consultants and small business analysts say no venture can grow as expected without proper accounting of its finances. It is common knowledge that the wrong usage of money, especially when running a small business, often leads to regrets. It is therefore, important that you manage your cash flow wisely considering the harsh economic realities of the present time. Experts say two of the most important aspects of owning a small business are to keep personal spending and business spending separate. They note that the life-line of your business is a healthy cash flow.

To avoid making money management errors as an entrepreneur, you should always try to stretch the business?s available capital for as long as possible before the injection of additional capital is necessary. Speaking on money management guidelines for small businesses, a business analyst, entrepreneur and consultant, who is also the Chief Executive, Solomon Hunt Limited, Mr. Tobenna Okoli, says ?We need to categorise money management into costs and income. On the cost side, there is a rule of thumb not to buy that which you can lease. Do not lease what you can borrow. And do not borrow what you can manage to do without.

?But, financial prudence notwithstanding, spending is a necessity. Business managers who choose to under-spend in key areas are shooting themselves in the foot. The key is for value to exceed expenditure.? As an instance, experts say spending on marketing and advertisement, if well done, is very critical to attracting business prospects. A business that does not spend on getting the best hands, for example, will not go far. On the income side, revenue generation must be sustainable. This can be achieved by engaging in businesses to generate repeat patronage from customers. ?It can also be achieved by engaging in scalable businesses,? says Okoli. He adds, ?Scalability simply means the ability to serve a wider market with only marginal increase in costs. This is typical of service based industries like ICT and media. Overall, entrepreneurs need an above-average understanding of accounting especially cash flow, costs assessment, depreciation and taxation.?

Below are common money management errors to avoid as a small business owner, according to experts:

Checking profit only at year end

Experts say many business owners wait until the end of the year to find out whether they are making money. They note that small businesses shouldn?t be run as such. According to professionals, waiting until the end of the year is not good enough. Fixing problems at the end of the year is simply the wrong way of running a small business, adding that instead, problems need to be addressed along the way. When this is adequately followed, by the end of the year, the entrepreneur need not worry on whether the business made money, lost it or broke even. Experts say liquidity is important to maintain the day-to-day operations of a business. Your employees need to be paid, you need to pay yourself, and new stock needs to be ordered, but without liquidity it will be a tough stretch for your business.

Failing to pay yourself

As an entrepreneur you should learn to pay yourself as you run your business. According to experts, often small business owners forget to pay themselves first. They note that the first basic aspect in business is the ability to pay yourself first. You must learn to reward your efforts and should include a reasonable living wage for yourself in business and cash-flow planning. Planning ahead is essential, and if you go into a personal cash-flow crisis and need to pull cash out of the business, you?ve also created a business cash-flow crisis for yourself when you fail to pay yourself. That is why you need to plan accordingly so that you are ready at the time of crisis as you manage your venture.

Credit mismanagement

As an entrepreneur in the small business category, you need to prearrange credit through financial institutions before you need it. You have to be proactive in the management of credit in business. If your cash flow is tight and you are experiencing challenges, it will be more difficult for you to get credit from financial institutions when you need it the most. For individuals who use credit to defer cash outflow, you must ensure that you pay back before high interest rates kick in. It is also advisable not to make personal purchases with your business credit. Keep business and personal expenses separate or you will end up in serious debt.

Employing defective tracking system

Experts advise that you use special accounting software and online interactive tools that can help in cash-flow tracking and forecasting .i.e., using tools that can help you know what is likely to happen to your business in a day, month or year. You must ensure you track your accounting system regularly and by using the right software you can achieve this without must stress. This will help boost your productivity and give your business the right edge.

Ignoring bills

Experts say just as much as you enjoy getting paid on time, so does owners of other businesses. It is therefore wise to pay your taxes, suppliers, utilities and other bills on time to avoid interest charges and a bad reputation in the industry. Every supplier has its terms. Some may give you 15 days, others seven, while a few may not allow you to exceed the date of agreement. You can use online programmes to keep tabs on the due dates or possibly even setup pending payments in order not to default.

'Silly season' arrives as transfer window opens

Associated Press Sports

updated 10:51 a.m. ET Jan. 1, 2013

(Eds: With AP Photos.)

LONDON (AP) - Expect plenty of speculation about Cristiano Ronaldo, David Villa, Wesley Sneijder, Frank Lampard and Theo Walcott, among others, to be flying around for the next month.

Yes, the "silly season" has arrived.

European soccer's January transfer window opens for business on Tuesday, giving clubs a month to strengthen their squads for the second half of the season.

Top teams operating strategic transfer plans, such as Barcelona, Real Madrid and Manchester United, rarely make major deals during this period. Likely targets are usually tied up by Champions League restrictions and managers can be put off by inflated prices and a preference to add new players in the offseason.

However, an inspired January signing - whether a loan or permanent move - can make the difference between winning a title, qualifying for the Champions League or Europa League or surviving relegation, meaning plenty of deals will go through over the next 31 days.

The cash-rich English Premier League is usually the place where the big acquisitions are made, especially on deadline day. And considering the lucrative television deals lying in wait from next season as well as the impoverished state of many leagues across the continent following Europe's financial crisis, this should be the case this season, too.

"Many of the traditional European leagues are facing economic problems so we would suggest the trend of overseas players coming to the Premier League to ply their trade will continue and outweigh transfers between English clubs," said James Skelland, a player representative for James Grant Sport Management.

"We would anticipate that there will be more loan moves," Skelland added, "which tend to suit all parties better, and some permanent moves made by clubs who are looking to stave off relegation or push for European places."

English clubs memorably spent 225 million pounds (then $362 million) in the January 2011 window, defying the recession. In the nine winter windows since 2004, nearly a billion pounds have been splashed out.

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, who has dubbed the transfer window the "silly season," has virtually ruled out making any signings in January, with his team top of the Premier League. However, his rival coaches are poised to make moves.

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini indicated Monday that he would "probably" go into the market while Arsenal counterpart Arsene Wenger has money to spend - especially if he fails to keep hold of Walcott, who appears to be holding out for a big wage increase with his contract expiring in June.

"If we find a player who will give us something special, we will do it - but that in January isn't easy," said Wenger, who has been linked with Villa of Barcelona.

Wenger, like Ferguson, is not a fan of the January transfer window, although he couldn't resist the temptation to dip into it in 2009 when he beat the deadline to sign Russia winger Andrey Arshavin for 15 million pounds.

Chelsea, the European champion, should be one of the most active of the big English clubs. The 34-year-old Lampard is out of contract in the summer and could be sold, along with forward Daniel Sturridge reportedly going to Liverpool, and the club has been linked with moves for Newcastle forward Demba Ba and Atletico Madrid striker Radamel Falcao.

Either player would join a squad containing Fernando Torres, the most famous January transfer signing after switching from Liverpool to Chelsea for 50 million pounds (then $81 million) in 2011.

Ba, the joint-second top scorer in the Premier League, has a release clause of 7 million pounds in his contract and Newcastle manager Alan Pardew said Friday it is "even (money) whether he'll stay or go."

In Italy, the future of Sneijder has been a topic of much debate. Although Inter manager Andrea Stramaccioni says there's still room for him, the unsettled Dutch playmaker is expected to leave. England is a likely destination.

Over at AC Milan, which is seventh in Serie A and struggling financially, one of the team's two Brazilian strikers - Alexandre Pato or Robinho - is likely to leave and the club has been linked with Didier Drogba as a replacement.

Starved of action on the pitch because of the winter break, the sports pages in Spain have been dominated by the upcoming transfer window and the potential departures of three of La Liga's top forwards.

Ronaldo has been linked with a move away from Real Madrid ever since he said he was "sad" in September. Talk of a move back to Man United refuses to go away, despite Ferguson recently claiming the Portugal forward was "unbuyable."

Villa, Spain's record goal-scorer, is more likely to leave La Liga. British media are reporting that Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool are interested in the 31-year-old forward, who spent eight months sidelined with a broken leg and has found it hard to win a place in Barcelona's starting lineup since his return.

Falcao, meanwhile, said Saturday he doesn't expect to leave Atletico until at least the summer.

"I'm proud that so many great clubs have manifested an interest in me, but they will have to wait until the end of the season, then we will see what might happen," he said. "Leaving Atletico in the winter transfer window is absolutely not on."

Money talks, however, and agents' phones are sure to be red hot throughout January, when clubs' fortunes can be revived and coaches' reputations destroyed.

More news

Transfer spec? Start with Sneijder

??CFT: January is here, and that means the transfer speculation and scuttlebutt that was on low simmer through the last weeks of 2012 will now be on full boil for the first month of 2013.

Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/50336781/ns/sports-soccer/

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Missouri GOP Director Lloyd Smith Interested in Vacated House Seat

Lloyd Smith, the executive director of the Missouri Republican Party, emailed members of the Republican congressional committee saying he is interested in the nomination for retiring Rep. Jo Ann Emerson's House seat in southeast Missouri. Although currently based in Jefferson City, Mo., Smith lives in East Prairie, Mo. His ties to the Emerson family go back several decades when Bill Emerson was in Congress.

* According to the Southeast Missourian, Smith wants to talk to committee members to answer questions about his "background, family faith, philosophy of government and political experience." Because there is no primary election, committees from both parties will recommend one candidate for a general election in the spring.

* The seat up for grabs is Missouri's 8th District, which covers southeast Missouri and huge swaths of rural farmland over dozens of counties. Someone named Emerson, either Bill or Jo Ann, has filled that seat since 1981.

* Smith served with the Emerson family for 28 years. At one time, he served as Jo Ann Emerson's chief of staff before becoming the head of the Missouri GOP in 2009. MissouriNet News reveals Smith also worked on the campaigns of former Sen. Jim Talent and former President George W. Bush.

* Other Republican candidates mentioned as possible successors to Emerson include Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, former state treasurer Sarah Steelman and state Rep. Todd Richardson of Poplar Bluff. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reveals a committee of around 100 individuals will select the GOP candidate for the 8th District's special election in early 2013.

* Kinder helped run Bill Emerson's campaign in 1980 that got him elected in the first place. Kinder's difficulty is that he was beset by scandals for a few years leading up to the 2012 election. The lieutenant governor is the only Republican elected to statewide office in November. The 8th District has been a Republican stronghold for years, thanks in part to Bill Emerson.

* Smith's ties to Emerson family run deep. He delivered the late Emerson's eulogy in 1996 after the representative died of lung cancer. Smith said of his boss, "He loved the people and we loved him. His staff, whom he loved and encouraged, is a legacy to Bill."

* Gov. Jay Nixon must set the special election date to decide Emerson's successor, according to the Southeast Missourian. If an election is chosen soon enough, the representative said she will consider stepping down in late January instead of early February.

William Browning is a research librarian specializing in U.S. politics.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/missouri-gop-director-lloyd-smith-interested-vacated-house-205700343.html

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