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[Doyle] From Dixie, With Love
As a University of Mississippi graduate excited about the progress of his alma mater in the past decade, a strong distaste for the likes of Richard Barrett is interwoven into my DNA.
Election Post-Mortem
Well, all, there weren't a lot of surprises Tuesday night, and a lot of our prayers about the state rising above the race game went unanswered ... for now. But I truly believe that this election is meant to challenge progressive Mississippians to do everything it takes to attract better candidates and increase the voter base. And that work doesn't start three years and six and a half months from now. It starts tomorrow. So buck up; we have hard, but satisfying work to do, and powerful coalitions to build. And it will be done.
BREAKING: Councilman Accuses Melton of Lying
Jackon City Councilman Marshand Crisler accused Jackson Mayor Frank Melton of lying on a WJTV interview last night. In the interview, Melton told WJTV that an FBI investigation into the city is connected to a Jackson Public School bond management contract that Crisler's brother, Johnny Crisler, won over Integrated Management Service last month.
[Ali] Bootstrap Fury
I was attempting to have a nonviolent "discussion" with my conservative father the other day when he said the phrase, "Pulling themselves up by their bootstraps." After quickly looking around for President Reagan, I realized the man responsible for my existence had said that to me in reference to the ideal social welfare system.
OBAMA WINS; Eyes on Mississippi Tonight
Thoughts? Comments? Returns? Concerns?
The polls just closed, and the world is watching Mississippi's Democratic primary. (Sit up straight.)
The DA Game: A Trial Of Three
Photos by Adam Lynch & Cheree Franco
While some Hinds County electoral positions can go for years without challenge, the district attorney's office is routinely on the chopping block, and it's no different this year. Incumbent Faye Peterson is facing two Democratic challengers in the primaries, with no Republican wishful-thinker waiting in the wings for the November general election. The primaries, however, are fight enough. Former Special Assistant to the City Attorney Michele Purvis and defense lawyer Robert Shuler Smith are lining up to take a whack at Peterson, and their timing is seemingly perfect.
We Are Family: A Klan Child Fans A Different Flame
Photos by Kate Medley
Little Shirley Seale was in her room at the back of her wood frame house when she saw flames through her window. The Natchez girl, who was 5 in 1968, stared out at the green cow pasture that opened up beyond the window. She could see dozens, maybe a hundred people, wearing mostly whitebut some black and redchoir-like robes with pointy hoods covering their heads. A cross decorated the front of each robe.
Sutton Seeks Injunction Against Melton
BREAKING
Jennifer Sutton, the owner of a duplex allegedly destroyed by Mayor Frank Melton and his cohorts, has filed for a temporary restraining (PDF, 900 K) order against Melton and other city officials. The restraining order and preliminary injunction calls for city officials to stop referring to Sutton's property as a "drug house."
Senate To Investigate "Mega-churches" and the Pastors Who Run Them.
The senate annouced yesterday that they will be asking several so-called "Mega-churches" to come before them and answer some questions about their financial practices. On CNN yesterday, several pastors of those churches were asked to respond, but Atlanta's Creflo Dollar was the only one to come forth and give any comments. Dollar, the owner of TWO. not one, but TWO Rolls Royces and a sprawling mansion says in so many words that nowhere in the bible does it say that you should not be prosperous. What do yo think of these "mega-churches"? and the flashy pastors that run them? do you even agree with "state" interfering with "church" business. What are your thoughts?
President Ford: Iraqi War, WMD Story a ‘Mistake"
Bob Woodward did an interview with President Ford in 2004 that was embargoed by the former president until after his death. It is published today in the Washington Post, along with recordings:
Harvey Johnson Leads in New Mayoral Phone Survey
Verbatim from Brad Chism:
Friends, Below is a topline from the survey yesterday. Further below is a repeat of the explanations and qualifiers-these are important. From the blog traffic it appears that some don't read below the first paragraph. I had several calls and emails this morning looking for this ZataPulse wave, one from a healthy critic of this exercise. And yesterday, I ran into one of the candidates, who will remain nameless. He blew off some campaign steam with a few choice words about our survey work. And then he wanted to make sure we were surveying again last night and insisted that I add him to the email list!! Go figure.
Local Guide to a Worry-Free Turkey Day
Oh, the joy of Thanksgiving! As we prepare to give thanks and share time with family and friends, food will take center stage. Although many will spend hours in the kitchen to make everything from scratch, there are ways to enlist a little help.
BREAKING: Ramie Ford Leaves City Government
Ramie Ford, who Mayor Frank Melton tapped to head up a proposed Neighborhood Enhancement Division, has left city government to become the director of state parks under the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.
[Kamikaze] Spike's Daze
I've always been a fan of Spike Lee, especially for his "take no crap" stance against the Hollywood establishment.
City's Murder Rate Soars
The latest ComStat reports (June and July) show 26 murders for this year versus 15 for the same period last year, an increase of 73.3 percent. In fact, murder now shows a greater increase over last year than any other category of crime. Carjackings and armed robberies have increased by around 50 percent, while aggravated assaults have increased by 23.7 percent. The only category that declined was rape, which has fallen 10.8 percent from last year.
[Gregory] Vetting Sarah
Last week when McCain announced his candidate for Vice President Ilike many other people in Americaasked myself, "Sarah who?" I tuned in to the Republican National Convention just to hear her speak.
Ann Coulter Really Bears Her Fangs
It's truly hard to be uglier than this women. It's amazing to think that The Clarion-Ledger runs this idiot every week. First her indifference to actual facts to support her hate. Her love of McCarthyism. Now this:
Catholic Guilt
Flowood police are investigating why a 28-year-old deliberately cut off his penis.
Did anyone catch this in the CL today?
Clarion-Ledger Moves In; Indy Media Boxes/Racks Trashed
What citizens can do. June 20, 2006—A little while ago, calls started coming in from the reservoir area, telling us that our racks and boxes, and those of other members of the Mississippi Independent Publishers Alliance, were lined up next to dumpsters at businesses near the reservoir. Todd just drove out there and, lo and behold, there all of us indies were—lined up next to the dumpsters at several locations, including the Conoco on Old Fannin Road (pictured, right) and the one on Lakeland Drive near Wal-Mart. Goliath is on the move. An Alliance member called Ronald Gooding at The Clarion-Ledger, the "Non-daily distribution manager," who said that his guys had been moving our boxes all day, but that he was unaware that any had been put by dumpsters. Interestingly, the eviction letter that TDN/Gannett/Clarion-Ledger sent us said that "the store owner/operator will remove them or have them removed" if we didn't agree to pay TDN to be in their boxes. I guess they changed their minds; not a single business has itself asked us to remove our boxes/racks. We're also hearing that Gannett is letting businesses out of contracts who ask to be—so there's the best reason yet to go visit businesses where the JFP and other free pubs are located. Ask them to keep supporting indy media, and not allow the Gannett Corp. to make us pay our competition for distribution in order for you to be able to pick us up in their businesses. Remember: You can help save independent media; see how here.
[Hutchinson] Obama's Death Threats
President Obama has gotten more death threats in a shorter period of time than any other president in U.S. history.