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All Politics is Local

MAY 18TH, 2013/Exit The Man in the Middle

I came to Jackson in 2007, and thus my introduction to the politics of the city was the spectacular flameout and slow death spiral that was the last half and ignominious end of the Melton administration. As I was absent during the years of his very public ascent and eventual election, it was difficult if not impossible for me to comprehend how this community could see in such a flawed man the capacity to lead. Jackson seemed like some sort of Bizarro world, a city called Noskcaj, where everything was inverted or backwards.

All Politics is Local

APRIL 28,2013/Campaign Strategery Part 2: Crisis Management

In any professional political campaign, ones that raise money, hire campaign staff and build a grass roots operation, there is a meeting that usually happens at the beginning of the campaign, before the candidate has even announced his or her candidacy, which is critical to the success of the campaign. The candidate, the campaign manager and sometimes one or two advisers will sit down in a room, close the door, and then someone in the room, usually the campaign manager, will ask the candidate a difficult but necessary question. “Is there anything we don’t know about you that could have an impact on the campaign?” Or if they are really direct they might just say “tell me about every skeleton you have in your closet. And don’t leave anything out. I want to know if you cheated on your second grade penmanship exam!”

All Politics is Local

Run Off By The Primary Process

This primary election has been fascinating on many levels. In my last post I argued that the election hinged on two universal political rules: 1) Challengers must convince the electorate to fire the incumbent in order to have a chance at success, and 2) Incumbents wear out their welcome over …

Food Blog

JFP Beer Fridge #6: Schlafly APA

Up this time in the beer fridge it's Schlafly APA from St. Louis Brewery; this is a smooth drinking, hoppy pale ale that's worth a taste:

Jackblog

Forbes Features HOPE's Bill Bynum

Last week, Forbes Magazine ran an interesting Q&A with HOPE Enterprise Corp.'s chief-executive officer Bill Bynum. Bynum told interviewer Willy Foote that the population HOPE serves through its credit union is similar to a developing nation and talked about why HOPE is successful, saying: "It’s certainly not easy but it …

Music

60 New Albums in 2013: 10-1

Hello readers. You might remember me from my time at the JFP as the writer of the bi-monthly column “The Key of G,” where I covered local and national music, as well as just musing about different topics related to music in general. One of the things I liked to …

Jackblog

One Church: An Oasis of Religious Diversity

While working on a story on Tony Yarber's Jackson Crime Alignment, I got the pleasure of speaking with pastor Matt McGue of one of Jackson's newest churches, One Church. I am admittedly not very religious, but there's something about McGue's message of inclusion that struck me as incredibly genuine. There …

Politics Blog

Does 'Open Carry' Actually Increase Gun Violence?

An interesting piece in Salon this week seems to have discovered (bless their little San Francisco hearts) that 'open carry' is a "new craze" (ahem) out here in flyover country. But, now that they've caught on, the piece does take a fascinating look at some of the psychology of open …

Music

Thanksgiving leftovers, new music, new releases...

Cool stuff at Morningbell, new releases and regional picks...

SportsBlog

Comegy Fired As JSU Football Coach

Jackson State University will replace head football Coach Rick Comegy, the university announced today. A search for Comegy’s successor will begin immediately, JSU Director of Athletics Vivian L. Fuller said. “We are grateful to Coach Comegy and his staff for their service to Jackson State,” Fuller said. “We appreciate the …

Politics Blog

The AFA Warned Us! Polgamy Now Legal and It's the Gays' Fault

The American Family Association's president, Tim Wildmon, sent out an "AFA ActionAlert" this morning to let us know that our worst fears are, indeed, coming true. Thanks to an "activist" Federal judge in Utah, "...polygamy is now essentially legal in the United States." Whoa! I tell you, those activist judges …

Politics Blog

For Some Reason, Phil Bryant Thinks Feds Want to Educate Mississippi's Kids

Mississippi routinely lags the rest of the nation when it comes to educating or kids. Apparently, Gov. Phil Bryant is under the impression that the federal government -- with everything it's dealing with related to the rollout of the health law -- now wants to try to fix Mississippi's public-education …

Politics Blog

City To Host Three More Town Hall Meetings

Mayor Chokwe Lumumba and the City of Jackson will host three additional town hall meetings to discuss the merits of the proposed 1-percent sales tax option currently before Jackson voters, the city announced Monday morning. Wards 1 and 2 will meet at 6 p.m. on Dec. 19 at Word and …

Music

60 New Albums in 2013: 20-11

Hello readers. You might remember me from my time at the JFP as the writer of the bi-monthly column “The Key of G,” where I covered local and national music, as well as just musing about different topics related to music in general. One of the things I liked to …

Jackblog

ACLU: Couple Researching Mississippi Stereotypes Are Racially Profiled in Mississippi

From the you can't make this ish up file, the Mississippi American Civil Liberties Union filed a complaint this afternoon alleging the Mississippi Highway Patrol engaged in racial profiling and violated the First, Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment rights of Raymond Montgomery and Cathryn Stout, who are African American. The stop …

Music

12/29 Saliva Show Cancelled

This just in from Ardenland: Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Saliva show recently scheduled for 12/29/2013 at Duling Hall has been cancelled. http://www.ardenland.net/shows.html

Music

It's beginning to look a lot like...

Spotify for free and new releases...

Jackblog

Neighborhood Organization Set To Feed Cops

Civic group OurFondren plans to feed the officers of Jackson Police Precinct 4 this Thursday at 1 p.m. to show their appreciation. The group is in its second year sponsoring the program, but it needs help. According to a Tuesday press release, McDade's Grovery, Fondren Renaissance and the Fondren Association …

Music

60 New Albums in 2013: 30-21

Hello readers. You might remember me from my time at the JFP as the writer of the bi-monthly column “The Key of G,” where I covered local and national music, as well as just musing about different topics related to music in general. One of the things I liked to …

Politics Blog

Cochran Running: What They Are Saying

With the announcement that he will seek a seventh term representing Mississippi in the U.S. Senate, Thad Cochran set off an flurry of statements from state and national figures, alike. Here are a few, including one of his opponents. Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant, in an official release: “Deborah and I …