Jackson Free Press

Councilman (and JFP blogger) Ben Allen and and JFP Editor Donna Ladd are taking over Kim Wade's time slot today on WJNT (1180 AM), while Kim takes the day off.

Tune in, or call in, all. And be sure to post comments here about the show.

Previous Comments

ID

171282

Comment

I should mention that this is the first time I've consented to being a guest on WJNT after many invitations over the last three years. Ben didn't give me a choice this time and, hell, if he can blog here, I have a feeling I can hold with him on his turf. We'll see. ;-)

Author

ladd

Date

2006-04-13T14:47:50-06:00

ID

171283

Comment

if anybody can, you can. Go get 'em girl!!!! i'll be listening!

Author

notme

Date

2006-04-13T14:49:47-06:00

ID

171284

Comment

Wow! After all of this time I finally managed to catch one of Donna's many radio appearances. She sounds great! Ben, Donna and Otha are having a pretty good discussion

Author

jeff lucas

Date

2006-04-13T17:28:37-06:00

ID

171285

Comment

Ben getting a pretty good lashing by Donna and Otha. Even caller Michael couldnt' come up with a good argument against the dynamic duo!

Author

jeff lucas

Date

2006-04-13T17:51:02-06:00

ID

171286

Comment

Sorry, I think his name is spelled Othor

Author

jeff lucas

Date

2006-04-13T17:59:28-06:00

ID

171287

Comment

Loved it... Actually, I wish more shoes involved diverse opinions like this one did.

Author

kaust

Date

2006-04-13T18:23:33-06:00

ID

171288

Comment

That was amusing. ;-D Thanks, guys, for tuning in. I am now the proud owner of an autographed Kim Wade t-shirt.

Author

ladd

Date

2006-04-13T18:57:33-06:00

ID

171289

Comment

Donna, you are a great sport for doing the show. As I have said so many times before, I don't particularly comment on most political issues, but I did leave the hour feeling that you got your points across, even if it didn't seem as though time allowed you to do so as thoroughly as you are able to. I was surprised at Othor Cain being there, and he was more subdued than I normally hear him. I want to get your thoughts on it, though, Donna. How was the experience for you? I got the sense that Ben allowed the listening audience to know you as a person by is intro and give some insight as to how the two of you were introduced. Not many callers. I'm just curious as to your analysis of the hour when you left.

Author

c a webb

Date

2006-04-13T19:26:42-06:00

ID

171290

Comment

Not to belabor this, but I didn't get the sense that Othor got a chance to say what he wanted to. I heard him say towards the last 5 or 6 minutes that he thought he was going to be able to discuss the direction that the city was going in. Did the two of you discuss that before or after the show? Another moment that I remember that seemed to stand out was the "getting over" of the past of our state's troubles with race. There's so much to be said for that topic still. Even the woman who called in that was in the interracial relationship mentioned her "fear" of letting others know. I would like to know if it is possible for us to really "get over it" if we are unwilling to even admit there is a problem.

Author

c a webb

Date

2006-04-13T19:30:46-06:00

ID

171291

Comment

Thanks, C.A. We're trying to podcast it tomorrow. Will keep y'all posted. Neither Ben nor I expected Othor, although he certainly added a good dimension to the show. Overall, it was probably as good as a visit to conservative talk radio can be. The callers, over all, were unimpressive and even offensive -- I couldn't believe someone trotted out the ignorant blacks-better-off-due-to-slavery argument; Lord. We just didn't get to most of them. We had a lot to pack in. And I really don't like having battles of wit with unarmed people. I get ugly. ;-) Othor wanted to talk a lot more about Melton, I think -- to criticize him. I don't really want to go far down that road at the moment, as I'm still in sponge mode with him and still doing interviews. But the race conversation ended up taking up a lot of time. It is funny that the very people who complain the most about talking about race are the ones who seem to bring it up the most, eh? And that's with due respect to Ben. The "get over it" thing is hogwash, though, and I suspect he knows it. He's smart enough to know it. I wouldn't mind doing the occasonal show with Ben if we could get the word out and attract a higher caliber of callers overall. It's just like this site -- I'm not providing it in order to have a bunch of people who hate themselves call each other names. You run that kind of site, that's all you get. That's a big problem with screech radio. Personally, I think both Ben Allen and Kim Wade, on his better days, are so much smarter than they present themselves on the radio. Maybe one, or both of them, will try to help raise the caliber of talk radio in Jackson and in so doing, diversify their audience a bit -- adding more women, more people of color and more people who aren't extremists or uneducated about the issues. Then, again, maybe they enjoy throwing a piece of raw meat out and watching the hounddogs fight over it. I don't. Fortunately, it didn't feel like that today. Ben and I have enough mutual respect not to allow that to happen.

Author

ladd

Date

2006-04-13T19:58:13-06:00

ID

171292

Comment

Donna, I had to mention that another thing I appreciated about last evening's interview was the way you explained the roles of the Publisher and the Editor. I think that was important for the listeners who may feel as though the two are in cahoots. I think if more people gave you and the Jackson Free Press credit for actually doing reporting, they would appreciate the work that goes into every issue rather than looking for something that isn't there. Course, that is just my humble opinion.

Author

c a webb

Date

2006-04-14T10:30:11-06:00

ID

171293

Comment

P.S. And though I have never met Mr. Allen, it was obvious by his own comments about Donna and the other reporters for the JFP that he recognized the effort that went into the work that they did. Mr. Allen, I appreciate your being able to articulate your feelings and convictions, yet allowing others to do the same without degrading the position you have. As you said on the program last night, it is unfortunate what has happened with the way the City Council of Jackson has been portrayed, partly because of some nasty sound-bites. However, I think more than that, people can look at the overall record of the individuals involved, as well as their past behavior before making a decision. That way, no matter how they feel about the person, it will at least be informed decision.

Author

c a webb

Date

2006-04-14T10:33:56-06:00

ID

171294

Comment

Iwas out of town and didn't hear it. I saw Donna on WAPT a while back. I thought she looked and sounded marvelous - real. The race dating and friendship thing is still a rough road in Sippi. I'm often tempted to go over and tell staring sisters who see me with white co-workers and interns, "She ain't my women, just my co-worker." The looks we get are so noticeable and intense that I've likewise have considered telling interns who are quite fond of me to act less fond when we're around too many good old boys. After all, I can't whip but two of them at a time, not 20.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2006-04-14T11:12:48-06:00

ID

171295

Comment

Not that I analyze things too much---then again I guess I do---but I think this is a good time to say that when people on this site tell Donna and for that matter any of the writers for JFP that they are "doing great", or "nice job" or have an article that is an "excellent read", that it is genuine. Speaking personally, it is not to give anyone the big head or boost their ego. It is just being appreciative for the job that you all do. And you all deserve it.

Author

c a webb

Date

2006-04-14T11:38:37-06:00

ID

171296

Comment

Thanks, guys, for the kind comments. This role of broadcast pundit is new to me, and is kinda gun, but is taking up a bit of time at a juncture where I have a lot of work to do on stories. I was just asked to appear on Mr. Evers show next week for a discussion with and Eric Stringfellow about Melton, and I owe return phone calls to WLBT and the Paul Gallo show. I dunno about the conversative talk thing, though. Ben wants me to keep sitting in with him occasionally, and because I know him well at this point, I might do it. But I don't know about any of the others. I just can't deal with some of the dolt callers they get who are ignorant of history, and just want to hang liberals and whine about people who have a different opinion. Just call it ad-hominem radio. Not my thing. So we'll see.

Author

ladd

Date

2006-04-14T12:27:15-06:00

ID

171297

Comment

Well, I think you should. Like I said, I really enjoyed the differing perspectives. I mean, you're both moderates in my opinion (liberal and conservative) and it offers a unique dialogue/discussion rarely witnessed in media these days. It's either uber-conservative or uber-liberal... No real balance of opinions on one show. I'd tune in.

Author

kaust

Date

2006-04-14T12:35:52-06:00

ID

171298

Comment

Interesting. I'm listening to Kim Wade show, and a firearms expert (credentials sounded impressive anyway) just said that it's a felony for Mr. Melton to carry a weapon or wear a police uniform.

Author

ladd

Date

2006-04-14T17:27:45-06:00

ID

171299

Comment

Interestingly, Bob Hickingbottom is saying that it's "unfair" to criticize Chief Anderson. Huh? Does anybody remember the barrage of criticism Mr. HIckingbottom and other Melton supported rained down on Chief Moore? This is absurd. The criticizers can't be criticized!?! Of course, Mr. Hickingbottom is the henchman who repeatedly went on talk radio and told outright lies and me and the JFP. So there you go.

Author

ladd

Date

2006-04-14T17:51:06-06:00

ID

171300

Comment

Interesting, Bob Hickingbottom is threatening to expose documents about Marshand Crisler and his traveling habits and partners, but he's "going to hold back on it for now," hopeing for "peace and harmony." What the ...??? ARe these threats? Amazing.

Author

ladd

Date

2006-04-14T17:57:25-06:00

ID

171301

Comment

I have to tell you that this strikes me as some of the dirtiest politics I've ever witnessed.

Author

ladd

Date

2006-04-14T18:22:24-06:00

ID

171302

Comment

Interesting, Bob Hickingbottom is threatening to expose documents about Marshand Crisler and his traveling habits and partners, but he's "going to hold back on it for now," hopeing for "peace and harmony." And yet he scolded another caller for alluding to the pedophilia rumors against Melton, saying that the caller crossed the line. Sheesh.

Author

jeff lucas

Date

2006-04-14T18:44:29-06:00

ID

171303

Comment

Who the heck is Bob Hickingbottom? Cheers, TH

Author

Tom Head

Date

2006-04-14T18:53:19-06:00

ID

171304

Comment

Hickingbottom is a paid political operative much like a Carville or a Matalin sent out to try to do damage control. He's the one who would always say that we worked for Harvey Johnson. I've had some pleasant dealings with him since then, and he apologized for doing his job, as he put it. But today was too much. Back to the dirty tricks, I guess. It is really too bad that Melton would authorize and allow such things. But, frankly, Melton himself alluded to things about Crisler to me today, so there seems to be coordination. And, of course, Melton and Stokes are trying to "impeach" Crisler and replace him with Tillman. It is so ironic that a man who led the caviling against past adminstrations tries to squelch criticism of his own. Huge disappointment. Also, Melton himself talks openly about the pedophilia rumors. He clearly wants all that out in the open, so it makes no sense for him to talk about them and then expect no one else to. Can't have it both ways. Maybe Hickingbottom didn't get that memo. But I just can't get over that threat of Crisler. If Meltonians have information the public needs against Crisler, they put it out there. They shouldn't lord it over him publicly like this to try to spread innuendo or even blackmail him or such into "peace and harmony" -- with them, I suppose. I find that unconscionable. Mr. Crisler has just as much right to criticize the mayor as Mr. Melton did in the past.

Author

ladd

Date

2006-04-14T19:16:39-06:00

ID

171305

Comment

BTW, Ben has said that he is not going to vote to replace Crisler with Tillman, so that Stokes-Melton idea isn't going to go far.

Author

ladd

Date

2006-04-14T19:20:19-06:00

ID

171306

Comment

Once again they trot out Hickingbottom to do the dirty work of the da Mayor. He was just offal. This is just another sign that the Mayor is cracking up. For them to come out this fast and this dirty shows they have very little substance to back up anything they do. Real disappointed that Kim didn't take him to task about crime when Hick (of course with insult) mentioned the past Chief. How about COMSTAT and the fact crime did go down over 20% in a little less then 3 years under Moore and Johnson. And that was without the RV! And two body guards!

Author

pikersam

Date

2006-04-14T19:34:28-06:00

ID

171307

Comment

They will keep trying. And now come July will have more antics that will sidetrack all of them from making any good decisions. Funny how the one guy trying to stick up for the law and good governence is being singled out! Still needs to be televised!

Author

pikersam

Date

2006-04-14T19:41:00-06:00

ID

171308

Comment

I'm not surprised that they would want Tillman. He's older and doesn't say much, so they would use him as a doormat.

Author

L.W.

Date

2006-04-14T19:49:24-06:00

ID

171309

Comment

Donna.....another great job.

Author

lance

Date

2006-04-14T19:54:17-06:00

ID

171310

Comment

This was Harvey Johnson's plan to fight crime three years ago: http://orig.clarionledger.com/news/0304/22/mplan.html Believe it or not this plan was actually working. After the implementation of this plan, violent crime in the city of Jackson was actually dropping. In this plan, community policing was a tremendous asset, however Melton disbanded community policing as soon as he took office. Why would he sever communication lines between citizens and law enforcement? That move was very perplexing and I might add suspicious. What current plan does Melton have to fight crime other than illegal police sweeps and searches? Statistics have shown that this kind of behavior by law enforcement only serve to alienate law enforcement from the majority of law abiding citizens? Maybe this is what Melton's trying to accomplish. If it is, then he's doing a darn good job of alienating his constituents. Very few people are now willing to admit that they voted for this man.

Author

Joerob

Date

2006-04-15T09:43:49-06:00

ID

171311

Comment

Goodness, Joerob. I guess Uncle Meltie doesn't understand the concept of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".

Author

L.W.

Date

2006-04-15T10:24:19-06:00

ID

171312

Comment

Cliff Cargill is making very good points about Mr. Melton's gun safety on Kim Wade's show right now. I don't always agree with Cliff on everything, but he's making real good points on this one. Hat's off to him.

Author

ladd

Date

2006-04-17T17:24:23-06:00

ID

171313

Comment

I have to agree with Cliff, btw. There are serious dangers here, and if something happens, it is not only going to be Mr. Melton's responsibility. It is going to be on the back of every elected and appointed official who turned their heads and allowed this. What I observed is dangerous to the public safety, I believe strongly.

Author

ladd

Date

2006-04-17T17:28:07-06:00

ID

171314

Comment

Finally heard a little bit of the show. Someone called in believed to be Don Taylor, Executive Director of the Department of Human Services, and Wade asked if Melton was licensed or legally sanctioned to keep children in what is essentially foster care. He said he didn't know and would have to investigate to answer that question. I can't beleive human services doesn't know the answer to this. I wish I had listened better to be 100% sure this was Taylor. I tried to depose him once when they let a child die at Oakley for refusal of adequate care and deliberate indifference; but he ran like a scalded dog and I never got to depose him. The suit the justice department prevailed on recently was by and large the one I had filed years earlier. I even supplied them with my old complaint.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2006-04-17T18:13:08-06:00

ID

171315

Comment

I had someone in my office then and didn't hear that part well. Kim, you out there? Why don't you sign on and tell us what was said, and if you know if this was Taylor. And, surely to God, someone has explored this question at some point over the years. One of my fears throughout this is that no one actually cares what is happening with Melton's mentees, regardless of whether it's good or bad. His argument is that no one cares about these kids and, certainly, if people aren't checking up on how things are going over there, that proves his point.

Author

ladd

Date

2006-04-17T18:17:35-06:00

ID

171316

Comment

Did anyone get a chance to listen to Ben and Larry? They had Melton on for a while. I caught the second half. Mary (Mary’s House) called in and Melton told her he had a home all ready for her that is getting window treatments and stuff. She said I don’t need your house I need my foundation built. They then cut her off and took another call. Melton left and she called back. Larry and Ben said Melton had told them some things about her house that they cannot discuss (the fraud and money management – that we’ve all heard about); but that is the hold up. She replied, “Can the mayor come talk to me about it?” Thus pointing out he'll tell this crap to everyone else but her personally! At least they offered some help by getting her number. So, later in the show Hickinbottom calls in and says she is one ungrateful woman and if has to he will expose her and call her out. "If she keeps this up, I'll expose her! I know things!" Ben and Larry did nothing! For a Councilman to let him make those threats and say nothing is about as low class as Hickinbottom himself.

Author

pikersam

Date

2006-04-21T13:46:53-06:00

ID

171317

Comment

"One ungrateful woman"??? "I'll expose her"??? He did not do that. Tell me he didn't. Ben Allen, what the hell happened with this? Pike is right; there is NO WAY I could respect it if you and Nesbit and said there and let a man with Mr. Hickingbottom's truth problems sit there and trash that old woman who doesn't have a house now as a result of promises made and not followed through on.

Author

ladd

Date

2006-04-21T14:21:19-06:00

ID

171318

Comment

BTW, why does a mayor need someone like him to go around trashing his critics? It was bad enough during the campaign, but now he's being paid by a public servant to do this stuff. Is Council going to ask some questions about this???

Author

ladd

Date

2006-04-21T14:22:28-06:00

ID

171319

Comment

The truth is we were stunned by revelations about this project told to us during the break and before "Bob's" call. We both admitted our ignorance to the "facts" as to what was told us. Dennis Warren called me as well after the show. I shared with him that this situation, if accurate and if true, was way over our heads and we did not want to discuss it again on the air. I told him he could call in any time, but we were not going to be anyone's sounding board on this subject again, until the allegations told to us were handled by the appropriate parties. He could certainly refute anything "Bob" said, but his call would be the last one we take on this subject. I do not know the truth on this subject, and don't want to be the lightening rod involving it. We have other fish to fry, and this may be a mess. I do not apologize for our radio response to what transpired. No, we did not respond, because what was said on the air, we determined, would get a "life of its own", and if true, and if the conversation "off-air" was true , we wanted, as a radio talk show, no part of it. It will take care of itself. From a position as a Councilman, I will be following up on this situation full force.

Author

Ben Allen

Date

2006-04-21T14:53:23-06:00

ID

171320

Comment

Blunston called in after that to give his two cents of Melton love too. I wish Mr. Hickinbottom would crawl back into the rock he came from. One thing is clear from your interviews and the recent radio shows; Melton is the man behind most of the misinformation and rumors about "his enemies." Look at how almost a year later and he still goes on with stuff like this: "And the people around me are good people, but what Harvey did to them, he did in two areas. He shuffled a lot of employees after the primaries. And he put them in civil service-protected jobs when they were will-and-pleasure (of the mayor) people. He spread them all over the city, and it’s hard as hell for me to find them." Find them for what? To fire them? Advice? Last I checked most of the good people around Mayor Johnson were dismissed after Melton took office. Many were with the city well before Johnson. Who are these other mysterious employees? What do they do? Why can't he find them? They have names and social security numbers. The city has an HR person, I think. He just talks to hear himself talk. And this is really getting old. When you catch him in any kind of double speak or where he is off base on the facts; he replies, "I'm going to be honest with you about this." Or, "Well, you are the first person I've told this too." Or he tries to tell you some kind of emotional story about poor children that is supposed to excuse his actions.

Author

pikersam

Date

2006-04-21T14:55:56-06:00

ID

171321

Comment

Councilman, Melton has been going around for several weeks talking about the fraud and the chance that Mary is being ripped off. I thought that Ladd touched on it; but I can't find the quote. Why hasn't he gone and talked to her? There was no reason why you couldn't have said to Bob that we will not have you trying to trash some little old lady on our show! But, y'all didn't. therefore the impression you give is that it is OK for Bob to continue to spew out garbage. Sorry, that's how it sounds on the radio and most of your listeners do not read the JFP. But, most of your listeners could care less what happens in West Jackson as long as thugs are being locked up.

Author

pikersam

Date

2006-04-21T15:07:06-06:00

ID

171322

Comment

That seems to always be the impression that people give to Mr. Hickingbottom. I called him out to his face about lying about me on the air during the campaign, and he said it was his job to be a political whatever-he-called-it. I'm with Pike on this one. He should not be given a forum, period, because he has a trash track record. Talk radio should not take his calls, and certainly should not invite him on the air. Furthermore, Melton should be called out on hiring someone to spread unproven trash around. And for the record, I deleted part of what Mr. Melton said to me about Mr. Warren from one of our interviews, because it was unsubstantiated and possibly untrue. It would have be irresponsible for me to run it, just as it is talk radio to entertain this crap.

Author

ladd

Date

2006-04-21T15:24:58-06:00

ID

171323

Comment

I can understand why Ben wouldn't want to get into all this. I'd like to think I would have said something had I been moderating the show, but talk radio happens fast and I'm not going to hold it against him if he didn't respond. That said, this Hickingbottom person sounds like all kinds of bad news. Cheers, TH

Author

Tom Head

Date

2006-04-21T15:41:51-06:00

ID

171324

Comment

This highlights, BTW, why I would never want a career in political talk radio. Odds are very good that I would respond when I shouldn't, or not respond when I should, and it's all out there just as much as if I'd written it in an op-ed where I had a backspace key handy. I remember an old forum I used to visit years ago. Two folks were arguing, and I quoted a cheesy line from Rising Sun to throw comic relief into the discussion. The only trouble is that one of the participants was Japanese-American. Oops. Was that racist of me? No, but it certainly left a bad taste in everybody's mouth. Then there's the business in the other thread where I wrote my post in such a way as to suggest that southern Democratic primary discrimination had no role to play in the Voting Rights Act. Did I know better? Yes. But my fingers were faster than my brain. Political talk radio allows so many opportunities for dumb mistakes that I can't get mad at folks for occasionally making them. And sure, if you switch the tone from Scarborough Country to Charlie Rose, you'll make fewer of those mistakes--but you'll also get fewer listeners. It's a tough row to hoe. I wouldn't want to be in that line of work. Cheers, TH

Author

Tom Head

Date

2006-04-21T15:48:37-06:00

ID

171325

Comment

We had no idea what "Bob" was going to say when he called in. To our knowledge, he has not called OUR show before. If he calls again, we will be in the "fool me twice" mode. We can't "delete" what he or anyone says on our show. We have a 5 second delay. What IS SAID however is subject to rules established by the FCC, and is admissable in a court of law, should a situation evolve that would deem those comments valid to a case. I have personally met Mr. Hickenbottom once in my life, and that was at a City Council meeting about a month ago. I would not recognize him if he walked in my office and hit me. WE (Larry and me) DID NOT comment on the allegations made about this issue to us (expressed to us during one of our breaks) and due to the seriousness of the comments had no comment to "Bob" in his allegations. We have been one of Mr. Warren's most vocal supporters during this entire process and were simply stunned at what we heard. We are talk radio. We prepare for our show in about 5 minutes each day. We confess and claim nothing else. I have done this show 3 days a week for almost 8 years now. Every day, we will handle or respond to a situation or subject differently than many of our listeners. This is talk radio. When the tube is squeezed, you can't put the toothpaste back in.

Author

Ben Allen

Date

2006-04-21T15:54:43-06:00

ID

171326

Comment

I never implied you knew Bob was calling in. Or that you knew who it was when they called. Bob never gave his name, and I wasn't sure it was him until Larry said, "Bob...." So, you gotta figure he knew who he was. His voice is very distinct. Put the show out on PodCast, and let us hear the Melton interview and make our own conclusions. You may pick up some listeners! However, the issues behind the scenes should have nothing to do with telling a caller they are being rude or are out of line. I'm sure in your time on the radio you have deleted a few callers for their rudeness. I appreciate your response though.

Author

pikersam

Date

2006-04-21T16:15:37-06:00

ID

171327

Comment

Everyone knows that Bob Higginbottom is a huge problem here in Jackson. The mayor does not need a political hitman to call into shows claiming he has terrible stories to tell about Councilman Crisler (which Melton alludes to himself), terrible stories about Mary, and anyone else who is on Melton's hit list that day. He was wrong about every false claim he made against Mayor Johnson and his family. Kim Wade said he was like the "Karl Rove of Melton's campaign." Let me be the first to tell you, even a squirall finds a nut every now and then.

Author

pikersam

Date

2006-04-21T16:25:39-06:00

ID

171328

Comment

First, Melton talks to that lady like he did, and then proclaims his vision of Jackson is one of Grace and Benevolence. Then his political hitman calls in to trash her. In the grand scheme of things (Mary aside) is something not horribly wrong with this?!?

Author

pikersam

Date

2006-04-21T16:31:54-06:00

ID

171329

Comment

Sorry, that would be "squirrel" not squirall. Darn spellcheck!

Author

pikersam

Date

2006-04-21T16:34:04-06:00

ID

171330

Comment

Kim Wade and Cliff Cargill are giving Larry Nesbit hell right now on the Wade's radio show about their show this morning. Larry just said: "All we tried to do this morning was to try to give him (Melton) his say." OK, that's well and good. I did that, too -- but I did not publish the trash about other people I couldn't confirm. Just sayin'. Here's your problem with talk radio. Also, I don't know what Wade is talking about with *five* young men coming up dead. He said that came from my story; it didn't. Mr. Melton and I talked about two young men was he accused of committing wrongdoing against. I appreciate Wade saying great things about the story, but this number is an exaggeration. He should clarify it.

Author

ladd

Date

2006-04-21T17:41:57-06:00

ID

171331

Comment

Donna , my friend. We have two different missions and methods in media. One is completely controllable.....PRINT MEDIA. One isn't....TALK RADIO. You in print media have a charge that we in talk media don't. We will never be able to change its scope or context. It is talk radio. This "bam factor" makes it fun. There is no (IMHO) problem with talk radio. It is what it is....nothing more, nothing less. Enjoy!

Author

Ben Allen

Date

2006-04-21T17:51:54-06:00

ID

171332

Comment

Fun? There is nothing funny about a political hitman trashes an old lady who has lost her house -- and then nobody jumping in to defend her. If that's the way it happened. I understand the problems of talk radio well -- but it is also irresponsible to entertain people with a known track record of using talk radio to tell lies about other people and even defame them. And I believe everyone on talk radio knows Mr. Hickingbottom's voice immediately.

Author

ladd

Date

2006-04-21T18:00:59-06:00

ID

171333

Comment

"Dennis Warren" called our screener. Gave the phone to "Mary" when we clicked on. Trashing an "old lady who lost her house and nobody defending her"....yes I agree....human dignity says we should have done differently than we did at the spur of the moment... Why it is where it is....to be determined. We will see.

Author

Ben Allen

Date

2006-04-21T18:11:47-06:00

ID

171334

Comment

I assume she will be getting a public apology on the next show then?

Author

ladd

Date

2006-04-21T18:15:09-06:00

ID

171335

Comment

Meantime, I'll see what we can do about confirming the stuff Melton told me about Mr. Warren, against Mr. Crisler and against the MBN agent who signed an affidavit about Chris Walker handling weapons. Or, and let's not forget the D.A.

Author

ladd

Date

2006-04-21T18:18:51-06:00

ID

171336

Comment

Sure. No problem at all. I mean that. I think, from what we were told, Mary is in the middle of something bigger than she bargained for, if these ugly allegations are true. But that is ALL we will say on this issue, from a WJNT 1180 "talk radio" perspective. Now, from the JCC.....hang on. We will have this puppy up for discussion a week from Tuesday.

Author

Ben Allen

Date

2006-04-21T18:23:19-06:00