Sorry folks. Couldn't resist.

ALT.mayorwatchers are now trying to frame their justification for their discontent going forward by defining what "success" will be for the new mayor. Read the title . . . "IF". That tells you all you need to know. It tries to cast doubt and suspicion as if a newly elected mayor with 89% of the vote might somehow not be "Pro-Jackson". Give me a break. There is no real recognition that even he has a mandate (which he does).

Their criteria of success are so restrictive as be impossible to acheive "success" as they've defined it, which is exactly the point. Though certainly their right to venture an opinion, the only opinion that matters will be given at the ballot box (presumably) in another 4 years.

Unfortunately, during the campaign, they were not able to get Melton on record as they now call on him to do. Given exchanges with the campaign as detailed in the following links . . .

http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/politics/comments.php?id=5826_0_41_0_C

http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/politics/comments.php?id=P5871_0_41_0_C

. . . I wouldn't lose any sleep in wondering why. Guess they'll keep on quoting press releases and the Clarion Ledger. Hell, even Kim Wade was even able to bait Frank into being "on the record" with him on his show. If Melton heeds the advice he's been given, he'll stay the hell away. It's a guaranteed hit piece.

Kim Wade and the ALT.mayorwatchers on the same side. Politics is truly a funny business.

Look at that 'unity' in action. Alan, you, as a financial contributor and backer of the whole 'unity' notion, highlight exactly why many doubt the legitimacy and open-ness of the alliances Melton has formed. Rather than applauding and welcoming shared enthusiasm for potential change in the city, you throw snide commentary at a person that is attempting to support our new mayor and what could be a dramatic shift in Jackson's politics. That is maturity at its finest. Honestly, I expected far more from you.

Guilty as charged. I am a financial contributor and an early backer of the Melton campaign. I join lots of very good company there. It is in the finance reports and I am on the record multiple times disclosing it.

But "Unity", unity doesn't mean that the people who were out to get you now automatically get the slate wiped clean. Unity in this context means it is an equal playing field and that no group or constituency is written off as it was in the prior administration. Everyone who is willing to get with the program and help has a seat at the table. That's unity, "Unity".

As a relatively seasoned observer of press tactics, I know what I see . . . lots of hedging language to set the stage for later bomb-throwing (in my humble opinion).

True support is "Melton has a mandate" or "how can our publication help?". This was "If Melton is this, then we are on board". It was "interesting" candidates instead of "quality" candidates. He won by 89% in the general and beat a two term incumbent by 30% in the primary. Could it be that this guy is for real? He has a mandate. MOVE ON.

From the piece.
At the same time, we call on the Melton administration to run an open government and to get down-and-dirty discussing its plans. One excellent way for Mr. Melton to get the word out is to honor his repeated promises to sit down with the Jackson Free Press for a Q&A interview.

Of course insinuating that he plans on running a closed government with no forethought whatsoever. They labor under the very false assumption that if a tree falls in the woods and they didn't hear it, it doesn't make a sound. In this case, many trees have already been cut and plans have been made, but they made the mistake of distancing themselves so far away that they couldn't hear it if they tried. The editorial positioning throughout the campaign and they abruptness displayed to people in the Melton camp and to Melton himself is now coming home to roost. Now they come back asking if not begging for access. My money says it won't be granted anytime soon.

"Now they come back asking if not begging for access. My money says it won't be granted anytime soon." -Alan

I guess you'll do all you can to make sure information is made available to them and every other blogger, journalist and crime-fiend in the city?

Weren't you an avid host of complaints about a lack of accessible data from the Johnson camp (including Moore)? Hell, you even challenged the JFP to "Please give us the numbers and the source of those numbers so that we can do our own journalistic research to make sure they are accurate and in context." A swift Google finds all sorts of references from you complaining about the Johnson administration not participating with media and citizens' information/data requests.

Didn't you call it "PROGRESS" when COMSTAT data was made available to the media? Something like, "it is just good government."

Now it's "PROPERTY" if someone dares criticize (in the past or present) or seek answers and details? Hmmm...

Smells like hypocrisy served with a bowl of mounted-police poo.

Curious behavior but not unpredictable.

Knol:

I am honored to have risen to the level of crime-fiend. I think that beats the hell out of the editor of the anti-mayor blog, Republican luminary or a member of the North Jackson Angry White Man's club or some such.

But seriously, let's make a distinction. There is a big difference between not granting an interview and not providing access to public information. A BIG DIFFERENCE. If Melton were to choose the latter, everyone would have a beef including me. I was tough on the Johnson administration because they would not release crime stats for the longest time, would not release a budget and generally stonewalled on public records requests. Knol, you're right. COMSTAT was a big step forward - 6.5 years into that administration after years of requests from media and non-profit organizations. To this day to my knowledge, the city still won't publicly release a budget or proposed budget.

I could give a flip about whether he sat down with an interview with me or anyone else. Johnson cooked his own goose in that he was personally evasive with all of the media, save a few pet publications on the fringe. Melton has not shown that tendency. To straight up journalists, he is unbelievably available. Most of them call him at home.

My point is that Melton can do whatever he wants. But if I had been treated like he was by a certain publication, I would have no problem whatsoever in never granting them an interview no matter what they though they were entitled to . . . ever.

Alan--are you sure Donna wrote this? It's not bylined on the website, the posting address is different, and she has started making distinctions between the "Editor's Note" and "Editorials". It also sounds nothing like her writing style. Just a nit to pick, but it can be an important distinction.

JW, I don't know who wrote it. I just see it online. Don't really care who wrote it. It was a commentary of the editorial position as a whole - not just of some individual.

My bet is that it was her piece. Words were VERY carefully chosen (well written by the way -wrong, but well written). Maybe someone who knows for sure can enlighten us.

Alan,

The print edition clearly indicates that Donna wrote the editorial in question.

And I totally agree with your point about her setting the bar impossibly high. Here's my favorite line:

Ultimately, Mr. Melton will need to be judged against his promises. We expect to see West Jackson housing improved, Highway 80 populated with new businesses and a vibrant, exciting downtown once again serving as the heart of the Metro.

In other words, if Melton can turn Jackson into nirvana overnight, then yeah, we'll support him. But only then. Problem is, Melton never claimed to be a miracle-worker. He quite accurately and sensibly focused on Highway 80 as an example of what happens when crime gets out of hand and businesses dry up as their customers go elsewhere. Same with housing in West Jackson – people with the wherewithal to spruce up get the hell out when crime becomes pervasive. Melton’s approach is simple – deal with crime and the market (housing, business development, etc.) takes care of itself.

And it’s just nutty to insist that Melton grant them an interview after they ran stories raising the most vile, and unsubstantiated, questions about his character and personal life. There’s a price to be paid when you become a partisan hack. If Harvey had won, I doubt Ms. Ladd would be suggesting that he ought to give you an interview.

Wilson

Ha Ha Ha! Touche, Wilson! Very well put, particularly the line, "There's a price to be paid when you become a partisan hack." No one has yet been able to convince me that the JFP is read by more than a handful of artists-by-night/grocery-baggers-by-day. I seriously doubt that a significant number of those who live on McDowell Road or West Woodrow Wilson or Watkins Drive rush out to read the latest diatribe.

I'm going on record right here to demand that Mr. Melton block off 3 hours of his busy schedule to answer whatever questions I dare throw at him so I can publish it in my weekly e-mail that I send to 10 or so Jacksonians. That will prove to me that Melton is pro-Jackson and seriously getting down and dirty about his plans. If he doesn't comply to my strigent demands, he's anti-Jackson, dammit!

Like I said--it was a nit to pick, with no partisan or passionate interest whatsoever on my part in the answer to the question. But she says in comments underneath it that she didn't write it.

Wilson, wow, is that a grudge or are you just happy to see me? You won... Remember? Well, at least your horse won in this election. Take a breath and enjoy the mint juleps... Grace is a great attribute esepecially for adults and politicians.

While Googling last night, I found quite a few nasty things you've said about Moore and Johnson dating back to early 2003. It seems you can almost trace the rumors to their core if you try digging hard enough in the search engines. Many accusations with no facts and lots of negatives about the city and its administration. And you're coming into this smelling like a rose? You're without fault, right, or are you simply being specious?

But that's not the point. I digress and probably should be more polite to someone that holds onto such negativity for so long.

Still, I guess most of you (a loose generalization of the folks that visit this site and the crimeblog) feel it's OK to harass and make false claims, speculations and accusations against Johnson, Moore and the city administration as well as individuals and private businesses? I'm basing that speculation on actions and words...

Why can't another individual or business or media outlet criticize Melton and hold him to his promises whether they endorsed/supported Johnson or not? Hell, if anything, the dissent is following the actions of your circles over the last few years...

Many of you have gone for Johnson's and Moore's throat repeatedly -- holding them to paraphrased promises and cherry-picked quotes. You've been VILE and DEGRADING at times (I'm sure you know how to use Google) making accusations that have never been proven including "fraud on a federal level". You've complained about empty promises and delayed deadlines when it comes to Johnson's projects.

Now, riddle me this... WHAT THE HELL MAKES YOU SO SPECIAL THAT YOU CAN CRITICIZE THE MAYOR (Mayor-elect) AND OTHERS CAN'T? Why are your circles so f-ing flawless that you can be harshly judgemental about elected officials and others can't?

I'd like to take you all seriously (and have Alan in the past) but find it difficult because the unctuousness of most of your online attacks and ideals. Interestingly, I realize most of you aren't this repugnant in reality.

Also, didn't Melton spend most of his career as
a "journalist" holding public officials' feet to the fire? So, it's, again, OK for one of your circle to do something but not OK for someone you disagree with?

Hmmmm... Again, all I see is hypocrisy.

Alan/Wilson,

I think you are grossly misrepresenting the JFP's position. If you had been following the JFP coverage and blogs from the beginning, and I'm quite sure that you have, you would know that the JFP's position from the start was, essentially, Johnson had enough successes to be given some credit, and that it was up to Melton to prove he could be a better mayor.

I came into into the race with an "anyone but Johnson" point of view. I knew my position was not well informed and based largely upon the sensationalist coverage of crime and election man cartoons. I looked to Melton's supporters for substance, but heard only the drumbeat of crime and personal attacks. I think crime is much more than perception. The issue was whether or not the Johnson administration was doing anything about it. The stats said he was, but the perception was that the stats were cooked. The only proof ever presented that the perception was correct was that the majority of voters believed it. I for one was looking for more substance.

I do think the JFP made an honest effort to try to figure Melton out. Anyone can understand that a journalist is going to be suspect of a democratic primary challenger with more republican support than the republican candidate. However, I personally missed the bias you and Alan keep harping on before Melton refused to speak at a forum at which Ladd was a participant, and then repeatedly refused an interview with the JFP. This left the JFP to report on the facts available through the public record without the opportunity to get Melton's side of the story. It appeared to me that the Melton campaign labeled Ladd as a "partisan hack" from the beginning, then this blog did all it could to twist the JFP position to fulfill the prophesy. I thought this was a gross failing by Melton, though you can freely gloat that it made no difference in the election.

I suppose we can "agree to disagree". I submit that it is possible you honestly believe the JFP was in Johnson's pocket. However, I am well informed in my position that this was most certainly not the case.

My point, however, is this. The JFP is, for me, a huge resource in Jackson. From the cultural activities they support, encourage and broadcast, to their well written paper, to their well moderated and insightful blogs, for me the JFP is high on my list of the best things Jackson has to offer. Perhaps that is because my politics lean to the left of yours, but I think it is because the JFP staff is passionate and committed to making Jackson all that it can be. They are good people; a term of respect too often applied only to people we agree with.

The JFP has become a binding and nurturing force for a community of people that I am honored to be associated with. This site may mock us, belittle us, or just plain hate us, but we want Jackson to prosper and are doing our part to make that happen. The JFP make me feel that I have a welcome home in Jackson. I would be very disappointed to learn that the Mayor of Jackson truly held some partisan vendetta for an alt-weekly that is doing it's job.

Jackson:

First of all, welcome.

I read this editorial from the JFP from the perspective that it sounded like they have a sense of entitlement to access to our mayor-elect or that he owes them something. Given the way he was treated, he don't owe them squat.

I agree with you. The JFP and the Planet Weekly and the Northside Sun and even VIP Jackson are all good for the community. The JFP, in my very humble opinion is overtly agenda-driven, which is fine. But then there is some masquarade of journalistic fairness, which absolutely flies in the face of their editorial positioning and ongoing blog commentary. Again, people who hold themselves out with the "journalist" moniker in my experience usually suck the most at it.

I do not feel they were "in Johnson's pocket" in some clandestine pre-ordained agreement. I do believe they "drunk the Kool-aid" and slanted their coverage "journalistically" and editorially to the end of getting Johnson re-elected. Any dispassionate review of their election site from the graphics on down I believe tells that story. As you said, we may agree to disagree as many on this site often do with good cheer.

I took particular exception to this piece because I do think you choose sides in this world. Choosing the wrong side isn't bad unless you cross the line. I think some lines were crossed in the election and now there are those in the press and who have business before the city that would like to pretend that those lines weren't cross and that "they were with him all along", when in fact they said or did anything regardless of consequences to change the result.

Knol:

I saw your comments as well and always enjoy (though don't always agree) with your incite. I don't think anyone is trying to negate anyone else the right to criticize. That is certainly not mine to do.

I certainly learned some lessons throughout the course of running this site. I hope other sites involved in dissecting this election did too. As for the performance of this site, I have no real regrets and the information I put out there was some found nowhere else and there was in several cases more info that I had than I put out. Some that would have even shut some people up permanently that came back against me.

Like I said in the post above, these publications and online sites are good for Jackson . . . all of them. The rules are still being figured out as we go.

Thank God for technology. We have the watchdogs watching the watchdogs watchint the watchdogs.

I have to confess that I responded to your and Wilson's attack on the JFP without actually reading the editorial you linked to above (which was not written by Donna Ladd, so you might want to correct that error), or the article in this weeks JFP on Melton:

http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/comments.php?id=6541_0_9_0_C
(not clear on why didn't you include this link in your thorough compilation of the media)

Wow! I won't pretend understand "y'all's" agenda, but clearly you must have a big one to resort to such blatant cherry picking in your criticism. Both the editorial and article were upbeat, optimistic, responsible and consistent with past reporting. Is your goal to trash the JFP or build "Unity"? I trust Melton is smarter, less paranoid and bitter than you and the 4 or 5 folks that rant on this site. I simply can’t bring myself to understand why you go to such lengths to misrepresent the JFP, while pretending to have Jackson’s best interests in mind.

Jackson: Shut up and go rant at the JFP. nobody cares about that left wing rag of a paper you call news.

"But "Unity", unity doesn't mean that the people who were out to get you now automatically get the slate wiped clean. "

^quote of the week....LOL...

k.a. wrote: Now, riddle me this... WHAT THE HELL MAKES YOU SO SPECIAL THAT YOU CAN CRITICIZE THE MAYOR (Mayor-elect) AND OTHERS CAN'T? Why are your circles so f-ing flawless that you can be harshly judgemental about elected officials and others can't?

^ Isn't this the same snide approach that other lady from the j.f.p. takes?

My question was to all of you and YOUR actions -- not the actions of others that are not partaking in this discussion, Mr Mississippi. Bait. Switch. Avoid the original question but it's still on the table.

Alan/Wilson,

I think you are grossly misrepresenting the JFP's position. If you had been following the JFP coverage and blogs from the beginning, and I'm quite sure that you have, you would know that the JFP's position from the start was, essentially, Johnson had enough successes to be given some credit, and that it was up to Melton to prove he could be a better mayor.

I came into into the race with an "anyone but Johnson" point of view. I knew my position was not well informed and based largely upon the sensationalist coverage of crime and election man cartoons. I looked to Melton's supporters for substance, but heard only the drumbeat of crime and personal attacks. I think crime is much more than perception. The issue was whether or not the Johnson administration was doing anything about it. The stats said he was, but the perception was that the stats were cooked. The only proof ever presented that the perception was correct was that the majority of voters believed it. I for one was looking for more substance.

I do think the JFP made an honest effort to try to figure Melton out. Anyone can understand that a journalist is going to be suspect of a democratic primary challenger with more republican support than the republican candidate. However, I personally missed the bias you and Alan keep harping on before Melton refused to speak at a forum at which Ladd was a participant, and then repeatedly refused an interview with the JFP. This left the JFP to report on the facts available through the public record without the opportunity to get Melton's side of the story. It appeared to me that the Melton campaign labeled Ladd as a "partisan hack" from the beginning, then this blog did all it could to twist the JFP position to fulfill the prophesy. I thought this was a gross failing by Melton, though you can freely gloat that it made no difference in the election.

I suppose we can "agree to disagree". I submit that it is possible you honestly believe the JFP was in Johnson's pocket. However, I am well informed in my position that this was most certainly not the case.

My point, however, is this. The JFP is, for me, a huge resource in Jackson. From the cultural activities they support, encourage and broadcast, to their well written paper, to their well moderated and insightful blogs, for me the JFP is high on my list of the best things Jackson has to offer. Perhaps that is because my politics lean to the left of yours, but I think it is because the JFP staff is passionate and committed to making Jackson all that it can be. They are good people; a term of respect too often applied only to people we agree with.

The JFP has become a binding and nurturing force for a community of people that I am honored to be associated with. This site may mock us, belittle us, or just plain hate us, but we want Jackson to prosper and are doing our part to make that happen. The JFP make me feel that I have a welcome home in Jackson. I would be very disappointed to learn that the Mayor of Jackson truly held some partisan vendetta for an alt-weekly that is doing it's job.

Alan,

I have to confess that I responded to your and Wilson's attack on the JFP without actually reading the editorial you linked to above (which was not written by Donna Ladd, so you might want to correct that error), or the article in this weeks JFP on Melton:

http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/comments.php?id=6541_0_9_0_C
(not clear on why didn't you include this link in your thorough compilation of the media)

Wow! I won't pretend understand "y'all's" agenda, but clearly you must have a big one to resort to such blatant cherry picking in your criticism. Both the editorial and article were upbeat, optimistic, responsible and consistent with past reporting. Is your goal to trash the JFP or build "Unity"? I trust Melton is smarter, less paranoid and bitter than you and the 4 or 5 folks that rant on this site. I simply can’t bring myself to understand why you go to such lengths to misrepresent the JFP, while pretending to have Jackson’s best interests in mind.

Johnson's Free Pass...April 28th, 2005 "Idiotorial (LMFAO) Endorsement...."

"But know this---whoever wins, we won't let him or her get comfortable..."
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HA..HA...HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Somebody STOP me.....LOLOLOLOLOL...AHAHAHA...ha...PLEASE I'm in tears....

Based on Frank leaving the little Medical Mall gathering, I don't think he gives a s@#! what they think. He just shook them off like a bad case of the flees, and went on about his business of winning this election.

He's smart enough to know the small-time when he sees it. That's why The Clarion Ledger chose to support him. The CL is more forward thinking than they could ever pretend to be. They will NEVER be taken seriously in this town.

Posted by: Can't Wait til Wed... at May 1, 2005 12:59 PM

Back to the topic at hand -- first Wyatt and now David Sanders himself have chimed in on the discussion at JFP. They have no idea how petulant and creepy they look. They have absolutely no sense of humor. Sanders was being funny, for God's sake. I'm pretty sure he doesn't really believe liberals like crime, but as long as they define themselves by opposing whoever and whatever middle class republicans support (as, for example, in the last mayoral election) they're going to be easy targets for caricature and ridicule. The prolonged thread over there just puts an exclamation mark on Mr. Sander's original point.

They really can't take the heat. And it's not so much the silly accusation that "liberals like crime" that's driving them to the edge. It's the much more serious point that, for the first time in Jackson's history, a "rainbow coalition" came together in support of a black mayoral candidate, and the JPF and its crew were totally unsupportive. They have to face the grim reality that after several years promoting themselves as the face of racial justice and reconcilation, the majority of blacks and 95% of whites in this town don't give a crap about their opinions. THAT'S gotta hurt, baby. I'd cry too.

Posted by: ReadyForAChange at June 1, 2005 04:55 PM

I guess the point is that they have said "we won't let the mayor get comfortable" and "we ask the tough questions" when there is clearly a journalistic double standard. Johnson and his campaign folks would talk with them when he would talk to no one else because it was a lay up. There was no threat of any edgy follow up question.

Melton got crucified for just about everything there (his wife, his sister-in-law, his residency, COMPLETELY UNSUBSTANTIATED rumors about his past, etc., etc., etc.). Johnson and some on his inner circle had plenty of skeletons in the closet - never mentioned over there.

Jackson, you said something interesting.

This site may mock us, belittle us, or just plain hate us

If you would like to labor under those misconceptions to play the victim, go right ahead. I, not really speaking for anyone else here, just disagree with you and expose some hypocrisy from time to time. I don't "hate" y'all. Far from it. I enjoy a beer with Knol from time to time. Town's too small. Life's too short.

Get over it.

ALAN, DO YOU REMEMBER THE UNSUBSTANTIATED RUMORS BEING SPREAD ON YOUR OWN SITE BY A PARTICULARLY BITTER PERSON THAT STILL POSTS THE SAME RUMORS ON THIS SITE? Do you remember when he started those rumors almost two years ago and has been one of the primary talking heads promoting the rumors? Speak of hypocrisy all you want... Until you challenge him with the same scrutiny and stop providing him a platform to spread vicious rumors, I simply won't trust your feigned concern of the damage you think JFP was trying to cause Melton. The same scope could be placed on you for hosting such unsubstantiated facts with no challenge and often a pat on the back from most on the site.

I know enough about their [JFP's] editorial approach to know they only wanted answers straight from the horse's mouth and had no sinister motives... They are passionately concerned about this city. Don't confuse concern with vindication.

Hell, most Melton supporters didn't even have straight answers. We'll call them the 'faith voters' since most had no clue how Melton planned to succeed in his promises and still do not. Most of the Melton supporters I know are already confused about his actions involving the termination of the dept. heads. Most are more than a little freaked out by the mention of 'military aircraft' and SWAT teams. It's not a matter of like or dislike... It's a matter of information and trust. If you know NOTHING about someone and have a skeptical bone in your body, you can't trust them until they provide more info.

The issues on the JFP blogs were based on public record as Jackson suggests. If Melton or anyone else cared to provide FACTS they had that opportunity through interviews or by blogging those facts -- but little FACTS ever came to the surface... The 'probing' of WLBT and the C-L did nothing in the way of releasing actual information most were seeking. It was much like getting FOX to interview Bush... The cheerleader certainly isn't going to challenge the quarterback or coach. His/her job is to look pretty and sell the game even if the team is a loser.

So, Alan, you have your mandate. I'm curious how long you'll feel its a mandate. When Mrs. H gets pulled over at 8:30 and searched for drugs, will you? When the tykes have 'military aircraft' hovering their school like they live in Fallujah and come home paranoid and creeped out, will that mandate still be there? When your friends have been through the fourth roadblock or had their business shut down because a shooting happened nearby, I'm sure you'll still support the mandate and say they shouldn't have been there in the first place, right? You can say I'm being extreme but these are the concerns from most I talk to... Melton's already talking about shutting down businesses. Maybe we should shut down the city since it seems to harbor the bulk of the crime in the Metro? Jackson -- going out of business sale. Next week! There's criminals here so everything must go! Pardon the absurdism... It's Saturday and I'm getting ready to forget this nonsense for a few days! ;-)

See, Alan, all we have to work with are sound bites. Just like those sound bites killed Johnson's chance for re-election (primarly 'Perception-gate'), they'll be quick on the heels of Melton regardless of the performance of his administration. Remember, even on Johnson's good days, it was never enough for those hounds downtown (WLBT and the C-L).

I promise you one thing: in the near future, the JFP won't be Melton's, primary media enemy. You better believe those editorial cheerleaders and the pundits on the web will quickly turn as they always do -- for ratings. After all, that is the nature of corporate media especially media with no investment in the city they're covering.

More cherry picking Alan. You are a being divider not a uniter, and you refuse to even acknowledge it. It has gotten consistently more evident since you started this site. If you can't see how some of the attacks on this site would be construed as hate, then you're not even trying. I don't get the motivation behind your efforts to discredit the JFP, but it is counterproductive.

I don't feel like a victim. I am not trying rant nor to engage you in some sort of crossfire semantic game of mental checkers. I think you and Wilson are way off track with your attacks on the JFP and I have enough respect for you both to put in my two cents in the hope you might try to see my point. All you do with your replies is cherry pick whatever sentence you feel will be the easiest to condescendingly reply to. Try to focus on the positives a little. There was much, much more positive in the JFP editorial and Melton article, and your cherry picking for the negative was a reach.

Posting on this site and then reading your condescending replies, and attacks from posters like pp, makes the interaction a huge effort. I am not trying to make a semantic attack by saying that.

Alan:

Get the next Gov. site going. I smell blood in the water...

BTW, I didn't purposefully post 3million times... Alan, your site is suffering 500 Server Errors... CGI is so 1992... Let's get you to some more efficient server-side scripting.... You should probably talk to Greggy-poo (my fave checker player in the world).

Just getting back into it. Went to a great party today. Ribs were eaten, ATVs were ridden, guns were fired. I think someone even said a prayer. A great time. This country rocks.

Back to business.

Knol and Jackson, I am going to try and answer both of your concerns. To start, if you folks disagree with me or someone else, we are hateful, stupid, fools, ridiculous, pathetic, idiotic, absurd, anti, rabid (don't stop me - I'm on a roll), angry, racist, sexist, homophobes, whose logic resembles Jim Crow, Hitler and racists of the 1960's - did I leave anything out?. In the arena of ideas when people get all hepped up, I take shots and I've learned that it kind of goes with the territory. I've learned their criticism is poetic because their logic is unsound. I sleep pretty good.

When I disagree with you, you're just wrong. That's all. I don't hate you or them or anyone else I can think of. I have lived here all of my 34 years. Jackson is not the sort of community where you can carry a whole lot of hate around and get away with it. I have so much more fun watching folks who think I actually would expend enough energy on them to hate them.

Knol, my analysis on the Melton thing was that people bet on the horse, not the horse race. Melton is going to take political risks not before seen here. Risk scares a lot of people (on both sides of the aisle). I come from a school of thought that says if you risk nothing, you have nothing to gain (e.g. Johnson). Melton is going to roll the dice. He'll crap out more than once, but people sense that he is sincere, he will get up in the morning and bust-ass to do the right thing, surround himself with good people and motivate them like there's no tomorrow. He has a 20+ year track record of doing exactly that. I know he has plans, but I think on several major issues, I am not sure that he knows what he is going to do yet exactly.

You are right that the press will probably jump on him. The difference is, Melton will own it and then move on. He is not going to treat it like some conspiracy. He will already be on to the next thing.

As to all this hand wringing about the termination of department heads - IT'S A POLITICAL TRANSITION. He holds the cards. He doesn't owe it to anyone to explain how he deals with at-will employees. People who occupy those spots and the structure they take on are basically how he can get stuff done. If he fires them all, that's his call. You think Clinton kept Bush 41's at-will hires? Did Bush 43 keep Clinton's? Did Barbour keep Musgrove's? Hell no. New administration - new folks. 89% handed him those keys to the car.

I don't know how else to explain it. He has a mandate to address crime, improve living conditions in the inner city, and improve the breadth of economic development. AND, he has a honeymoon. That stuff doesn't happen overnight. He will have some period of time 30-90 days depending on how he plays it when he can shuffle the deck on only the true partisans will be on his case before then.

Alan, glad to hear the party went well!

Melton is more media-savvy than Johnson. Even Johnson himself has admitted that. To turn a phrase around, I think Johnson's biggest problem may have been perception--the perception that he didn't care about crime, that he wasn't really kicking it into high gear to improve the city, that he was a fatcat ticking off the days. I don't think that perception is accurate, and I think history will be very kind to Harvey Johnson, but he botched the way he dealt with, and used, the media. The "don't let 'them' take over the city" TV spot is Exhibit A. Who are "they"? I'm not sure anybody really knew. In contrast, Melton's TV spot--"You know me"--was gold. We do know him. That was his whole campaign, and that's all he needed to win by a landslide. When he said that was a good indication of how Jacksonians "felt" about him, he had it nailed. Jackson voters were making a character judgment, and Jackson voters liked his character.

I'm willing to give Melton a chance. I voted for him in the general--and would not have done that if I didn't think there was at least a strong chance that he'd deliver. I won't lie and say I'm more comfortable than I would be with a third term of Johnson, but part of me has wanted Melton to run for a good 15 years now and I'm eager to see what he does with this job now that he finally has it. I have said all along that I don't think it'll be a disastrous term; the only issue is whether he'll be noticeably better than Johnson, noticeably worse, or about the same. The reason turnout tends to be low in municipal elections vs. state and federal elections is because there's the perception that the stakes aren't as high. Unless Melton plays it safe (which I don't anticipate), then I feel comfortable in assuming that, one way or another, he'll get more people excited about city elections.

Cheers,

TH

Tom:

I believe your comments are dead on. Not much more to add on that.

Alan

Alan said:
"Knol and Jackson, I am going to try and answer both of your concerns. To start, if you folks disagree with me or someone else, we are hateful, stupid, fools, ridiculous, pathetic, idiotic, absurd, anti, rabid (don't stop me - I'm on a roll), angry, racist, sexist, homophobes, whose logic resembles Jim Crow, Hitler and racists of the 1960's - did I leave anything out?. In the arena of ideas when people get all hepped up, I take shots and I've learned that it kind of goes with the territory. I've learned their criticism is poetic because their logic is unsound. I sleep pretty good...."

The following quote proves your point Alan:

"Is it possible to be a more dispicable human being than Karl Rove? Gag....."

Posted by: ladd on Jul 05, 05 | 5:37 pm

Now. If these things had been said about her...HERE, she would threaten to SUE. Indeed, there is a double standard.

BTW... the hate from her and the ilk is WHY they keep LOSING. To the loser left.. I say...Don't stop what you're doing!!! Thanks for all the votes you swing OUR way. Keep up the GOOD work!!!

You know, in Donna's defense, JNM wasn't even mentioned in that thread. If I'm not mistaken, the subject was the Killen trial.

Cheers,

TH

Scratch that; I misread your post and confused what you quoted in Alan's post with one of Donna's. But you know, dissing Karl Rove is hardly new and bold.

And for all this "red state" talk, I think I need to remind you that I'm pretty sure the candidate Alan supported (and the candidate I voted for in the general election) was a Democratic candidate endorsed by the AFL-CIO. Hardly equivalent to Karl Rove!

Cheers,

TH

Finally back after a very long and eventful Independence Day celebration.

Correction: Donna did not write the editorial in question. I did, indeed, read the hard copy instead of the online version, and mistakenly thought it appeared under her byline. I apologize for the error.

Otherwise, I stand by my comments.

Wilson, did you and Donna share Independence Day poetry reading????

I'm not sure I read the editorial in question all the way through, actually. I do know that I've logged a lot of time defending Melton on the JFP site, and a decent amount of time defending Donna on this site. Makes me dizzy!

Cheers,

TH

Great blog. It's nice to be here! Create Table is very good Corner: http://www.euronews.net/ , Red is feature of Small Circle Collective Chair Play or not , Stake can Roll Gnome Full is feature of Astonishing Cards

cool site! i'll be back.

You're doing a great work here. I enjoyed visiting here very much. Thanks!

If the weight is given in decimal parts of a carat, the figure should be accurate to the last decimal place. One type of treatment fracture filling conceals cracks in diamonds by filling them with a foreign substance. If diamond weight is stated as fractional parts of a carat, the retailer should disclose two things that the weight is not exact myproservice.com, and the reasonable range of weight for each fraction or the weight tolerance being used. mylosangelesca.us http://www.mylosangelesca.us/links/Shopping.html

big is feature of lazy girl coolblooded is feature of industrious slot: http://www.news.com.au/ , hedge rape compute - that is all that gnome is capable of