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How's this for an inaugural ball?

Daily Kos contributor Kenyada wrote a creative diary entry about what Obama's inaugural ball could be like if those who went on before him could celebrate with him:

Lies, Damn Lies and Excuses

Nothing is more predictable in Jackson than watching for that David Hampton column in The Clarion-Ledger after any major event, endorsement or election. It's the one in which he tells us why everyone but the Ledger is doing something really, really bad.

Volunteer to Be Fired, Please

Clarion-Ledger Publisher Larry Whitaker sent out this e-mail to employees last week:

Thank you for working diligently through these tough economic times, even as I know you are aware that we are in the process of making difficult payroll reduction decisions. Since the announcement that we will decrease payroll by approximately 10 percent, we have been in constant contact with corporate staff about the possibility of adding a voluntary component to the reduction.

Is the South Politically Irrelevant?

Read this provocative piece in the Times about, well, us:

LoungeList Photos: Charley's Fund Benefit

Charley's Fund benefit on Saturday raised money for fighting Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. To make a donation call 769-798-4417 or write [e-mail missing].

A Funny Thing Happened To Me Downtown Last Friday….

...ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!! Attended the Blocktober Halloween Party on Congress St. and had a blast. No one got shot, stabbed, robbed, raped, assaulted, or any of the like. Whats still frustrating is the fact that residents of the Plaza building and organizers of the event got more of those dirty looks, strange emails, and snide remarks about the "safety" of downtown. Of course, not being privvy to the REAL statistics we're still being held hostage by the perception of out-of-control crime in downtown. Especially when in actuality its the safest place in the state. I was disappointed to hear that the Southern Starz Talent Show(that was supposed to have 10 week run at the Alamo theatre) had to relocate because contestants complained that they didnt want to come downtown. Despite the fact it wasnt dark at 7pm and there were two JPD officers outside the event every week. SAD! Whats even sadder is that citizens are apparently dont even feel safe WITH police presence! Its as if they feel the criminals will just mug you right in front of them. AAARGH!

Is Mississippi Ready For A Black Governor?

So. America has elected its first African-American President. But while other parts of the country clearly were getting over the race hurdle. It appears the south particularly, Mississippi and Alabama, remain decades behind the curve. The south reamained a sea of red despite increased numbers for the Democratic Candidate. As the winds of change sweep across The U.S. The only thing I can see now that would be as earth-shattering as a Black President would be for MS or AL to elect a Black Governor. But are we ready? MS has yet to elect an African American to a state ofc. Can we ever turn this state blue? Or better yet, will this state EVER elect a Black man Governor. And an even better question is, of the available talent who could run next election?

LoungeList Photos: Brews and ‘Tinis

Check out these photos from the Mistletoe Marketplace "Brews and 'Tinis" event last night at the Mississippi Trademart. (Photos by Kip Caven.)

Obama Releases List of Approved Jokes

Apparently feeling the pain of late night talk-show hosts, President-Elect Barack Obama took time out of his busy transition schedule to put together an approved list of jokes for the comedians to use. They're doozies, like:

Clarion-Ledger Layoffs Coming Dec. 3?

The Jackson Free Press has learned that the next round of Clarion-Ledger layoffs ordered by the Gannett home office in Virginia could come as early as Dec. 3. Bizarrely, even as the newspaper is shrinking staff and doing less substantive news coverage than ever, it has asked staffers to literally work overtime to help take pictures of people hanging out in bars (a photographer even showed up at our Election Night party at Hal & Mal's last night). On Election night, as the world watched Barack Obama become president-elect of the United States, the Ledger was busy launching its new Metromix Web site, which is part of a national chain of fluffy entertainment Web sites, now operated by many Gannett Corp. newspapers nationwide. The U.S.' largest newspaper chain is not known for local entertainment coverage—The Clarion-Ledger notoriously reported that nightlife is "non-existent" in Jackson at one point—but believes that its future profits may lie more in fluffier coverage. The local outlet of Metromix was set to launch in the summer, but was delayed likely due to The Clarion-Ledger's first round of layoffs.

Four Years Ago Today

In my election hangover today, I've thought a lot about how four years ago today felt after a very bad president was re-elected. Here's our post the next morning, "Mourning in America." It was hard to feel worse than that day with a mess in Iraq and progressives under fire, here in Mississippi and around the country. We didn't know just how bad it would get during Bush's second term, or that Katrina would change us forever, or that the Republican Party of recent years would crumble under its own greed and corruption right before our eyes. We sure couldn't have known that four long years later the country would elect an openly progressive African American president with record turnout—a president with the ability to help us first face, and then heal, our divisions.

A Heartfelt Response to Obama's Victory

Watch this clip of The View's Sherri Shepherd crying tears of joy over Obama's win. Get your tissues.

The Real Sarah Palin Unveiled

Now, it seems, we're going to hear all about the woman who helped McCain lose the election. A Newsweek story out today starts telling the rest of the story:

"Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now"

I saw this YouTube video today and it inspired me greatly, but I decided that I would not post it unless Obama won because of the song choice. Well, he won, so here you go:

‘Studies Weekly' Kids' Vote Goes to Obama

Map below the fold.

With over 850,000 K-6 graders participating, the Studies Weekly poll was, well, a rout. Popular vote went 496,335 for Obama to 349,980 for McCain. The Electoral breakout was 483 to 55. (Obama won Texas, for instance.)

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