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Fellow Tougaloo Grads: The Civil Rights Museum should be in downtown Jackson.

***UPDATE: The rally will be at 1:00 PM instead of 2:00 PM.

Some of you may have heard about Tougaloo College being selected as the location for a new Civil Rights Museum in Mississippi. However, even though I am a Tougaloo graduate and love my alma mater, I believe that it would be better for the museum to be located in downtown Jackson.

Join JFP Editor for Congressional Debate Live on WAPT.com, 7 p.m.

I am joining moderator Sid Salter, Rankin Ledger reporter Josh Cogswell, Stennis Institute director Marty Wiseman and MSU student Lori Ann Holland Monday night for a two-hour debate of the 3rd District congressional candidates Monday night in Rankin County. The debate will be Monday from 7 to 9 p.m. and broadcast live on the WAPT Web site. Now, though, I would love help with questions; I need about 10, and I would love to hear what readers would like asked. So bring it on!

'The Grand Ole White Party Confronts Obama'

In his current New York Times column, Frank Rich dives into the racial fray that Republicans are facing in trying to campaign against Barack Obama:

Ledger Suddenly Questioning ‘Expert' Testimony

After many years of extolling the virtues of the death penalty and cheering on the state with gleeful editorials about prisoners about to "ride the needle," The Clarion-Ledger is suddenly acknowledging that just maybe, possibly the criminal-justice system in Mississippi might not be perfect. It's good to see them at this place, finally, but they don't really have any choice now that the Innocence Project has come to the state and is exposing questionable autopsies and "bite mark" testimony that has sent so many people to prison in Mississippi. And that includes death row.

Are Americans Hostile to Knowledge?

A new book, by Susan Jacoby, asks this question, especially about why so many Americans are so little interested in actual facts before forming (and spewing) opinions. Read more, as reviewed by the New York Times:

John Lewis Switches Support to Obama

The New York Times is reporting that the great civil rights leader John Lewis is saying he will cast his superdelegate vote for Barack Obama, rather than Hillary Rodham Clinton, whom he endorsed in October:

Sexist Media Depictions of Hillary Clinton?

We've had a side conversation going on this topic over on our Super Tuesday thread, and I don't want it to get lost. Would love to pick up that thread here, and hear what people have to say about it. Also see Maureen Dowd's "A Flawed Feminist Test."

Senate Votes for Telco Immunity in Wiretapping

Cochran and Wicker both voted "yea."

The Senate caved to the White House on immunity for telecommunications companies while overturning amendments that would have provided greater checks in the interest of civil liberties. Senator McCain voted in favor the final measure, while Obama and Clinton did not make the vote. Clinton issued a statement from Texas saying she would have voted No.

Can You Get More Irrelevant Than This Guy?

Headline over at MSNBC: "Bush condemns noose displays President says displays 'have no place in America today.'" Thank you, Dubya Bush. Nice to see you go out on a limb there. Geez, Louise.

Why the Republican Party Is Tanking

You have to read this Orwellian speech by Veep Dick Cheney this week in which he proclaims that his borrow-and-spend government does not torture, respects the Constitution and "treats tax dollars with respect and restraint." Better yet, read the hilarious annotated version on DailyKos, called "The Wonderful World of Cheney":

Prayers for Adam Lynch's Family

Folks, the JFP was saddened to learn that Adam Lynch's mother died this week after a long illness. Please send your prayers to Adam and his family.

Poll: Obama Would Beat McCain; Hillary Would Tie

A Time magazine poll finds that, thanks to the independent vote, Barack Obama would beat John McCain head-to-head; Hillary Clinton would tie him. Per Time:

Preventing Identity Theft

[verbatim from AG's office] Attorney General Jim Hood, Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann and Better Business Bureau President Bill Moak are joining together with a host of private partners to help Mississippians tak a pro-active approach in the fight against identity theft.

Man opens fire at city council meeting in Missouri

Six people, including the shooter, are now dead:

Creativity in Politics

Here are some current examples I find either to be inspiring, clever, or just plain silly:

It's amazing how a hot-as-fire political campaign can get the creative juices flowing. You get catchy slogans such as "Tippecanoe and Tyler Too," or the viral video of a Bush/Kerry cartoon back in 2004 that nearly tore the Internet down because people were playing it so much. I also recall a cool tortoise/hare JFP cover of Harvey Johnson and Frank Melton during the 2005 mayor campaign.

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