Subject: Send to your Republican friends all across MS
The following e-mail went around the Sunday before the March 11 primary. When one of the JFP writers got it (through an account for an organization he volunteers with), it had the sender's name listed, as well as a list of other e-mail addresses it went to, including many people who work at a bank in Brookhaven and members of the local business press. We are seeking a comment from the sender.
Is Hillary Clinton's Candidacy Over?
Politico seems to think so, exposing what it calls "the Clinton myth", and explaining why they believe Barack Obama already has the nomination in a lockbox:
Lori Gregory and Emily Braden Guests on Radio JFP Friday
Join JFP columnists and chicks-about-town Lori Gregory and Emily Braden Friday at noon on Radio JFP. They will draw on their social worker and teacher experiences in Jackson to talk about problems facing inner-city young people and what you can do to help. Donna Ladd and Todd Stauffer host. The show is on WLEZ-FM, 103.7 from noon to 1 p.m., and stream live at http://www.wlezfm.com . Tune in!
Come FLY with us: What to Make from Old Sweaters?
OK, here's a Fly question of the week. We have two old wool men's sweaters here with a few holes in them (moths?). One is black; one is gray. What kind of DIY project would you use them for?
Flashback: JFP Cover Story, March 19, 2003
As the Jackson Free Press prepared to go to press five years ago this week, we knew that the U.S. invasion of Iraq was immiment. Even as most of the media supported Bush's war, and dissent was unpopular, our consciences told us to speak out against the war, even though we were only a few months old. So we pulled our cover story (about Chief Robert Moore and Jackson crime hysteria; ran the next week), and published this piece instead, "13 Myths About War in Iraq." The cover was an overlay of the word "WAR" over photographs Jaro Vacek had taken of small, local anti-war vigils.
Which is Worse: An Uninformed Electorate or a Bad Newspaper?
The Clarion-Ledger today has a somewhat-admirable editorial blasting the Legislature for passing such a stupid anti-immigration bill. It's called "Immigration: Pandering to fears is shameful." It starts out:
Calling All Shoes! Still Accepting!
Northwest Rankin senior Alecia Edney needs your help. For her senior project, she is collecting used (or new) shoes for women and children to donate to the Center for Violence Prevention, the shelter that the JFP works with to raise money. I met Alecia at the Flowood library in November when Sandy Middleton of the Center and I were on a panel about domestic violence, and she was in the audience and waited afterward to talk to me about wanting to make a difference. I urge all of you to search through your closets to help Alecia meet her goal of 500 pairs of shoes by March 15. I have offered the JFP offices as a collection spot for the shoes. So please drop them off here between 9 and 6 Monday through Friday, or call or e-mail to arrange a good time: 601.362.6121 ext. 2 or sage (at) jacksonfreepress (dot) com.
Mississippi GOP Politicizes Scruggs Plea
The head of the Mississippi Republican Party is using the guilty plea of Richard "Dickie" Scruggs to try to focus the scandal spotlight away from Republicans and put it squarely on Democrats, especially Attorney General Jim Hood, who was re-elected last November with more votes than any statewide elected official, including Gov. Haley Barbour. Scruggs, the brother-in-law of former U.S. Sen. Trent Lott and known for campaign contributions to both major parties, pled guilty last week to conspiracy to bribe a Lafayette County Circuit Court judge.
Hot 97.7 No Longer Blazin' Hip-Hop
[verbatim statement] Effective March 17, 2008, HOT 97.7FM has changed its name to 97.7FM WRBJ and no longer promotes itself as "Jackson's Blazin' Hip-Hop and R&B Station." In addition, the station will no longer carry the nationally syndicated Russ Parr Morning Show. 97.7FM WRBJ will now dedicate more of its programming to R&B music that is more appropriate to the entire expanse of the community. In addition, 97.7FM will air the nationally syndicated Rickey Smiley Morning Show.
Civil Rights Museum Part of Tougaloo ‘Master Plan'
Tougaloo College President Beverly Hogan told The Clarion-Ledger today that a civil rights museum has been part of the college's "master plan" for years:
Scruggs Pleads Guilty
The Sun-Herald is reporting that attorney Dickie Scruggs has pled guilty:
Need a Crazy Paddy's Crown? Then D.I.Y.
Don't miss our gallery of "Head Games" crowns that we put together this issue. Much of the JFP staff let me do really crazy things to their heads, and the result is pretty fun. Enjoy.
Join the JFP Tonight at Pi(e) Lounge
The JFP's monthly Lounge is tonight—Thursday, March 13—at Pi(e) Lounge, Sal & Mookie's new tres-chic cocktail spot. Please join us 6 to 9 p.m. for a specially designed "creative class" cocktail concocted in honor of the JFP (we haven't even tried it yet!), and free munchies. And if you haven't been to Pi(e), yet, now is your chance to visit the hottest little watering hole in town. Oh, and there are also tables out front for what looks to be a gorgeous night. Please join us!
Who Are Mississippi's Top Sports Heroes of All Time?
Folks, we're preparing a special sports issue and want to get your nominations of the best sports heroes from/in Mississippi of all time. Talk to us.
Are ‘HillPublicans' True Dumba$$es?
Just ponderin'. (See Alternet article).
OK, if all these desperate Republicans are going to follow Rush Limbaugh's advice and turn out to vote for Hillary Clinton in order to try to keep Obama (and his turnout) from beating McCain in November, then why in holy hell don't they *not* telling the exit pollsters what they're up to? Because, uh, doesn't it rather negate the purpose of trying to get Democrats to think that Clinton is more electable (when she's not) by 'fessing up to your crossover-crime as soon as you leave the poll booth? I'm thinking this just makes the Republican Party look kinda out of tricks, no?
The Nation Blogs on the ‘Hell-Raising' JFP
This is how he starts out:
Folks, Bob Moser at The Nation is blogging about our Obama commentary last night, quoting from us liberally (which he asked permission to do because he is a class act). Check it out. (I bet it's the first time that Pike-the-Republican has been quoted by The Nation!). I like the "hell-raising" part, I must say.
Clarion-Ledger Downplays Huge Turnout, Hosemann's Error
Remarkably, even in the light of day, Clarion-Ledger reporter Natalie Chandler is still repeating an abysmally off turnout prediction by Mississippi Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann as if it were accurate, and she as yet has not corrected or apologized for a massive error about party turnout that she posted on the Ledger site last evening. (Click here for last night's discussion of those errors as they unfolded.)
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.)
‘I'm Keeping the House'
Amy Ephron is blogging on Huff Post about women who publicly stand by their cad husbands, as Eliot Spitzer's wife is doing, despite the humiliation:
What a ‘Bad Week' Obama Has Had
Since the media narrative flip-flopped once again toward Hillary Clinton in the last week, just how has Barack Obama actually fared. Read Kos' analysis of Obama's "bad week"—including all the superdelegates he's picked up, including Everett Sanders of Mississippi.
Chelsea Campaigning for Mama at Cups, Broad Street
Update: See Roy Adkins' photos of Chelsea Clinton at Cups here.
Clinton's Plan for ‘Forgotten' Afghanistan
Hillary Clinton's Plan for the Forgotten Front Line in Afghanistan
With the Mississippi primary next week, suddenly the Clinton campaign is courting Mississippi voters with a vengeance. This is one of her statements that are filling our inbox today/verbatim:
Passing the Torch to Obama
Letter to the editor,
It's a new thing for Mississippians to have the world giving a damn about how we're going to vote on something. But the primary next week suddenly is drawing international attention, and my inbox is filling up with attacks on and support for both Obama and Clinton. Here's a (form) letter from an Obama supporter I got this a.m.:
Snark
Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann's office sent out a bizarro, mistake-riddled press release this week that, ultimately, seemed to avoid taking a position on what to do about "felon voting." The release complained that of the "50,000 criminals which are incarcerated at our expense," "only 12,000 are prohibited from voting." It then added: "Meaning, 38,000 felons are allowed to vote on state officials as well as the judges and district attorney's (sic) who sent them to prison. The release said that the following are not allowed to vote currently: "criminals convicted of murder, rape, bribery, theft, arson, false pretense, purgery, forgery, embezzlement or bigotry." Bigotry? Purgery?
Clinton Gets 12 New Delegates; Obama Still Leads
Even as Hillary Clinton is trying to claim a major victory last night—and seems to think that Ohio speaks for the nation—her wins Tuesday netted her 12 new delegates when all was said and done, according to the Associated Press. Still, even though she still trails Obama by 101 delegates, she is hinting today that he should be her vice president (because Ohio said so):
‘Quixotic Do-Gooders': ‘They Really Are Right'
It's good to start seeing the mainstream press in Mississippi taking seriously the idea that there may be many innocent people in our prisons due to a screwed-up judicial system and plain ole racism. Vicksburg Post editor Charlie Mitchell has a good column out about the work of the Innocence Project, which the JFP's Ronni Mott's has been chronicling for months now. Here are some money quotes from Mitchell:
Landrum Campaign Reacts to Voting Revelations
From Bill Lampton, campaign manager for David Landrum, who is running for the Third Congressional District as a Republican/verbatim:
I Have Been On Hold for 91 Minutes ...
I'm trying to call Comcast "customer service," and I've now been on hold for 91, er, 92 minutes with them promising to get with me momentarily. Nice.
AP Reports on Columbia Training School Abuse
This isn't exactly a new story–see the JFP story from January 2005–but it is good to see the Associated Press taking our training-school horrors to a national stage. The story, about juvenile abuse claims across the country, begins:
Delbert Tries to Hose More Felon Voters?
[verbatim statement from Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann]Jackson, MS—Our current Constitution excludes certain felons from having the right to vote. These include criminals convicted of murder, rape, bribery, theft, arson, false pretense, purgery, forgery, embezzlement or bigotry. Yet, there are hundreds of other felonies in which the right to vote is not taken away. The Mississippi Legislature has begun to debate this issue.
Kaze and Ladd Host Radio JFP Today at Noon
Kamikaze and Donna Ladd will host Radio JFP today (Friday, Feb. 29) today at noon for a special "Leap" edition. Adam Lynch will join us with a legislative update. And Jacksonian Bruce Golden, a teacher and jazz musician, is a guest. And, yes, we will probably also talk about the Civil Rights Museum a bit. Tune into WLEZ 103.7 FM or listen to the live stream at http://www.wlezfm.com.
Huge 'Leap' Show at Swell-o-Venue Friday
Swell-o-Venue kicks off their 2008 season on Friday, Feb. 29, with their first show of the year featuring Bear Colony (Esperanza Plantation), Look Mexico (Lujo Records) and Captain & Company (featuring ex-Colour Revolt-er Drew Mellon). Bear Colony are touring in support of their 2007 debut, We Came Here to Die, and are debuting new material on their first tour of 2008. Doors are at 7 P.M., the event is all-ages, and the cost is $10. Bear Colony will also be playing an earlier acoustic in-store performance at Be-Bop Record Shop (Maywood Mart) at 4 P.M. that is free to the public.
Watch ‘Former' Lobbyist Barbour Pander for Big Energy
... and you wonder why Mississippi ratepayers are being asked to pay for a risky Entergy plant venture in advance, and whether it comes to fruition or not! Robert Novak writes in the Washington Post about vice presidential hopeful Pawlenty of Minnesota. But it's the part buried within that should interest Mississippians:
Scruggs Paid Lawyer to Convince Hood in State Farm Case
It has emerged in court documents that attorney Dickie Scruggs paid attorney Steve Patterson $500,000 to lobby Jim Hood to try to get him not to indict State Farm. The informant says that Patterson talked to Hood, but it is unclear whether Hood was convinced by that conversation or knew about the lobbying fee. He says he did not. Clarion-Ledger:
Yerger Orders Investigation of Ed Peters
Whoever thought you'd hear those words!?! It does seem like a long, long time ago when Ed Peters was the driving force behind Robert Smith's campaign for district attorney, appearing in Smith's ads to help oust a D.A. who had challenged his friends, and to put North Jackson's minds at ease, eh? Oh right, it was only a dozen weeks or so.
Americans Change Faiths at Rising Rate
The New York Times has a story today about a new report surveying how loyal people remain to the church they were raised in:
Obama Campaign Comes to Mississippi
The Associated Press is reporting that the Barack Obama presidential campaign is opening an office in downtown Jackson in order to work toward the March 11 state primary. The JFP learned separately that the office will be in the site of former gubernatorial candidate John Arthur Eaves' campaign offce. Former Gov. Ray Mabus and U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson are Obama's state co-chairmen.
Family Shelter Needs Furniture
I just got this from Sandy Middleton at the Center for Violence Prevention, which provides shelter and assistance for women and children escaping domestic violence. Please help if you can:
Downtown Civil Rights Museum Supporters Gathering at 1 p.m.
Council President Leslie McLemore is leading a diverse group of Jacksonians who want to see the new Civil Rights Museum located in downtown Jackson, rather than then the suggested locale of Tougaloo College land north of the city. Join the group at 1 p.m. at the Smith Robertson Museum in downtown Jackson today (Monday, Feb. 25) to show your support.
Why Not Answer the Question, Mr. Agnew?
Clarion-Ledger Executive Editor Ronnie Agnew has a truly absurd column out today. Once he gets through the crap in the beginning about Jim Hood bothering to talk to them on President's Day (who cares?), Agnew reveals that Hood asked him if he's going to hire a Democratic columnist to balance his partisan Republican columnist Sid Salter. Agnew then goes into a diatribe whining about how various people question fairness, and how Salter is fair to Hood, blah, blah.
Trouble Running a Campaign, Much Less a Country
Frank Rich has an excellent column in the New York Times today about the Clinton ineptness at organizing good campaign, and how that speaks to her specious claim that she has the "experience" needed to run the country:
Finding James Ford Seale Alive: A Timeline
This is how the discovery that James Ford Seale was alive transpired
Media folks often ask the Jackson Free Press to clarify why the timeline in the original story, "I Want Justice, Too," published in the JFP on July 20, 2005, about Thomas Moore's July 2005 trip to Meadville varies from the "Mississippi Cold Case" documentary released about that trip back to Meadville nearly two years later. The truth is that that documentary muddles the timeline in some small, but significant ways, that leave out the role of the Jackson Free Press. (The original intent of the documentary was to document Mississippi journalists covering Moore's journey for justice.)
Immigration Myths on Radio JFP
Join Todd Stauffer, Donna Ladd, Adam Lynch and Erik Fleming of the Mississippi Immigrants Rights Alliance today on WLEZ 103.7 FM at noon for a discussion of immigration myths and realities. You can also listen to a live stream here.
WSJ Law Blog on the Growing Evidence Against Lott
The Wall Street Journal is talking about the explosive news that is coming out of the federal investigation of Dickie Scruggs—including Tim Balducci's testimony that Scruggs promised a judge that Lott would help him get a judgeship. That judge is Hinds County's own Bobby DeLaughter bringing this state mess home to our Hinds door step once again. The feds are investigating Lott's role, so keep an eye on what they release on this case.
McCain's Relationship With Lobbyist Scrutinized
The New York Times created a national firestorm today when it published a story about a close relationship McCain had in the past with a female telecommunications lobbyist. Apparently, his aides were worried enough about the way it looked to ask him to distance himself, and there is concern that he may have done favors for her clients. I guess you call this the "February Surprise." The story begins:
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:
USDA Recalls 143 Million Pounds of Beef
The Associated Press is reporting:
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: