Jackson Free Press

Okay, this piece in the Clarion Ledger is now officially my "all time favorite Melton moment".

Jackson Mayor Frank Melton said he impulsively asked his police escort to pull four Callaway High buses over on I-220 on Friday afternoon because he needed a hug.

The buses were taking students home from school, about 4:30 p.m.

"It's been such a stressful two weeks," Melton said. "I wanted to shake their hands. I wanted to touch them. That's all it was. ... I went through the buses and shook their hand and hugged them and told then how proud I was of them."

Melton said students saw him out their windows and waved before he had the buses stopped. "I told the kids to have a great weekend and a safe weekend," he said. "I didn't do anything stupid or illegal."

And, ONE MORE TIME, for the people in the cheap seats:

"Its been such a stressful two weeks....I wanted to touch them."

I leave you to your own thoughts.

But here is the shirt I have made to commemorate the moment:

Previous Comments

ID

105894

Comment

This should probably be in the Melton blog, but I couldn't help it.

Author

Lori G

Date

2006-05-04T08:42:44-06:00

ID

105895

Comment

The wonderful thing about kids is that they just want to have some fun and be happy. Give them the desires of their hearts and they will be happy. They're also goo goo eyed toward celebrities or people of alleged high status. One of the thing Frank obviously likes about kids and young folks is that most can not see how full of shit he is. Thinking or cerbral people can identify or sumise bullcrap long before it reaches their doorsteps. These same people will recoil bullcrap. Believe it ot not, even bullcrap wants to be loved. Who can better love bullcrap that has a big house, deep pockets, a good job, and a generous heart without condemnation? Try children, cheerleaders, brown-nosers and the ignorant. Bullcrap also knows that children don't know much about arrogance or condescension. But they do know about "I love you." Melton is simply saying, "can a lying and full of shit pimp or ganster get some love from somebody?"

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2006-05-04T09:28:01-06:00

ID

105896

Comment

Ladies and gentlemen, Melton got the greenlight on FARK.com!!!! Props to whoever did it. I've sent in several Melton headlines! It is about the buses. Here is the user submitted headline for this story: "(Jackson Clarion-Ledger) Mayor to police: Tell those school buses to pull over, I need a hug. Or maybe four busloads of hugs" The first poster on their board wrote: "I would have punched the mayor in the balls. I'm not his damn hug monkey." Thanks to Drew and gang! And you too Ali! We may all need a "hug monkey" after this!

Author

pikersam

Date

2006-05-04T09:57:08-06:00

ID

105897

Comment

I totally need a hug monkey! That's the best thing ever. Someone come be my hug monkey!! That way whenever I get depressed, lonely, and a little freaked out, I won't have to touch De Children. I can just touch the hug monkey. Problem Solved. Ray and Tom, you guys are first in line for the "hug monkey" position. I need applications, references from previous people you have hugged, and possibly a used school bus. Someone get right on top of that....

Author

Lori G

Date

2006-05-04T10:20:13-06:00

ID

105898

Comment

Ali, for your 1st hug, read these lyrics By Sounds of Blacknes: Yesterday a man said to me How can you smile when your world is crumbling down I said Here's my secret When I wanna cry I take a look around And I see that I'm getting by And then (I say) Hold on A change is coming Don't worry (don't worry about a thing) You can make it Everything will be alright. If the trouble's of life Weigh you down Then lift your head up When the love you seek Is hard to find Don't give up Just be strong Keep the faith.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2006-05-04T10:53:49-06:00

ID

105899

Comment

That's called a media event. We study them in J-school.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-05-04T11:00:23-06:00

ID

105900

Comment

Second hug for Ali by Bobby McFerrin: Here'a little song I wrote You might want to sing it note for note Don't worry - Be happy In every life we have some trouble But when we worry we make it double Don't worry - Be happy Ain't got no place to lay your head Somebody came and took your bed Don't worry - Be happy The landlord say your rent is late He may have to litigate Don't worry - Be happy Ain't got no cash, ain't got no style Aint got no body to make you smile Don't worry - Be happy Cause when you worry your face will frown And that will bring everybody down Don't worry - Be happy

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2006-05-04T11:00:32-06:00

ID

105901

Comment

I wondered why my attorney e-mailed me this a.m. (I look at e-mail before the Web) and said: I want to lodge a complaint (subject line) Because neither of you has ever pulled over my car and gotten a hug from me. Obviously, if you cared more, you would. I thought he was crazy for a moment. ;-D

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-05-04T11:01:51-06:00

ID

105902

Comment

I thought he was crazy for a moment. ---Naw, he should just run for public office. ;) I'm sorry. But this truly is the best thing he's done. I'm totally ripping people from their cars at intersections today and forcibly hugging them.

Author

Lori G

Date

2006-05-04T11:10:04-06:00

ID

105903

Comment

Let's form a roving band of huggers. We can get matching heart tattoos and wear our caps backward.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-05-04T11:13:36-06:00

ID

105904

Comment

Who else just had a total "Entourage" moment where you heard someone scream "Let's hug it out, b1tch!" ? I cannot stop laughing at this.

Author

Lori G

Date

2006-05-04T11:19:36-06:00

ID

105905

Comment

Mayor ganster/pimp needs some adoration, liking, worship, accord, affection, amity, courtship, delight, fondness, friendship, kindness, tenderness, warmth, amour, ardour, attachment, passion, devotion, inclination, benevolence, charity, and good Will. And he could use a semon on the value of love verses bullsh!t. I saw a good sermon about this in the movie called "Jason's Lyric." A street preacher (aka tattered junkie) preached it. All I remember now is that he said "stay away from sh!t. It will get on you, and you can't flick it off. It will make you funky. It will smell up the place. People will run from you." I'm going to watch the movie again for the sole purpose of remembering those lines.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2006-05-04T11:30:26-06:00

ID

105906

Comment

What Melton did and said about the hug sounds kinda mildly perverted to more or less strange, anybody see the news about the Bus Driver harassing the little girl for a Hug when she gets off the bus daily, and they City told the News Station that the Bus Driver would be assigned to another route WTF.....A Elementary Student! Back to Frank, this is just not the climate where grown men should be pulling over School Buses full of kids for hugs especially not a Mayor nor anyone else.....how long will the true supporters be able to condone this?

Author

JAC

Date

2006-05-04T12:23:08-06:00

ID

105907

Comment

I don't think there's anything perverted about the mayor hugging school children, though at the risk of contradicting myself, it does make me a bit tongue-in-cheek nostalgic for the good old days, when a mayor who needed a hug went to a prostitute. Somehow, that seems more straightforward. Joking aside, it's clear that Melton has a genuine love for children, and it does say something that he sought them out for comfort. He sounds a bit worn down.

Author

Brian Johnson

Date

2006-05-04T13:25:48-06:00

ID

105908

Comment

By the way, Ray Carter, take it easy with the Bobby McFerrin or I'm going to have to pull over a bus myself. Nothing makes a man in need of a hug crazier than being told to just be happy. Yes, I admit it, I need a hug. Does anyone know a woman with very many tattoos? Somehow, I think that will work best for me. ;)

Author

Brian Johnson

Date

2006-05-04T13:28:28-06:00

ID

105909

Comment

I'm finally speechless, Brian.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2006-05-04T13:32:15-06:00

ID

105910

Comment

Ray Carter-- And he could use a semon on the value of love verses bullsh!t. ...uhh... Freudian slip?

Author

Rex

Date

2006-05-04T13:32:25-06:00

ID

105911

Comment

I meant sermon!!!!!!! I don't know what the other word means. Y'all know I'm slow and can't spell.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2006-05-04T13:34:21-06:00

ID

105912

Comment

HEEL, Brian. Ray, stop writing smut. THE CHILDREN might see it! ;)

Author

Lori G

Date

2006-05-04T13:49:49-06:00

ID

105913

Comment

To quote comedian George Wallace, "I be thinking." Since I do "be thinking", do any of you think Melton could get any love from a whore house or wonderful home of prostitution? Would any of those hard working and essential citizens trust him to not immediately arrest them 3 minutes later? We saw what he did to the strip clubs. Since the stripping of the strip clubs in Jackson, I have heard numerous stories of old men walking out into the streets in front of cars, and refusing to get out of bed some days. One old man reportedly said he wasn't planning on opening his eyes again until Centerfolds was back in business.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2006-05-04T13:55:31-06:00

ID

105914

Comment

Brian started this. I'm not going to say anything else though. I'm scared of this subject.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2006-05-04T13:57:32-06:00

ID

105915

Comment

Brian started this. ---Oh, my fault. I completely neglected to think about the fact that you guys might actually BE the children here. ;)

Author

Lori G

Date

2006-05-04T14:16:41-06:00

ID

105916

Comment

Okay,someone has to come look at this. I obviously have a lack of things to do today. I've added a PICTURE to this entry.

Author

Lori G

Date

2006-05-04T14:43:52-06:00

ID

105917

Comment

Sighhhhh......I support the Mayor. I think? I just don't know what he is trying to accomplish. And I won't be able to condone pulling over the buses for a hug and wasn't the CNBC news crew there too...seems Melton has a genuine love for Cameras and Publicity.

Author

JAC

Date

2006-05-04T14:49:44-06:00

ID

105918

Comment

Ali writes: Someone come be my hug monkey!! That way whenever I get depressed, lonely, and a little freaked out, I won't have to touch De Children. I can just touch the hug monkey. Problem Solved. Ray and Tom, you guys are first in line for the "hug monkey" position. Cool beans! I'll send my resume right over. If Ray gets the gig, can I be deputy hug monkey? :P Re Melton and the kids: You know, I fully buy into everything Leo Buscaglia ever said about the healing power of human touch, and I'm pretty much the living equivalent of that huggy guy in the Dave Matthews Band Video, but when you're pulling over a school bus full of other people's kids on I-220... Lord. Is he going to start bleaching his hair, grabbing his crotch, and moonwalking now? This was so tailor-made for Fark.net. Cheers, TH

Author

Tom Head

Date

2006-05-04T15:07:41-06:00

ID

105919

Comment

anybody see the news about the Bus Driver harassing the little girl for a Hug when she gets off the bus daily, and they City told the News Station that the Bus Driver would be assigned to another route WTF.....A Elementary Student! Back to Frank, this is just not the climate where grown men should be pulling over School Buses full of kids for hugs especially not a Mayor nor anyone else.....how long will the true supporters be able to condone this? I did and I thought the same thing...they said they would reassign the driver as a "courtesy" to the parents. hah! how about putting the driver on probation for inappropriately touching and harrassing a student?

Author

Izzy

Date

2006-05-05T09:55:42-06:00

ID

105920

Comment

I saw it. I hope Frank saw it too, and realizes the error of judgment.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2006-05-05T10:02:09-06:00

ID

105921

Comment

Here's the Marshall Ramsey cartoon from today's Clarion-Ledger.

Author

Ex

Date

2006-05-05T12:59:51-06:00

ID

105922

Comment

New bumper stickers proliferating all over the City of Jackson on Mobile Command "Party" Van, yellow school buses, City of Jackson fleet vehicles, JPD cruisers, JFD fire trucks, and on the cars (all with flat tires) of blindly loyal Melonheads: ***Children, Have You Hugged Your Mayor Today?***

Author

Kacy

Date

2006-05-05T17:49:54-06:00

ID

105923

Comment

HA! Someone on the CL forum lifted the picture of the T-shirt and posted it. Man, can people get their OWN fabulous sense of humor, or must they always depend on me? ;)

Author

Lori G

Date

2006-05-06T10:13:05-06:00

ID

105924

Comment

What's amazing is the copyright violation of doing it without saying where it comes from. Ahem, Ledge. Paying attention? And they're linking to it off our site. Ali, we should change the URL on it.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-05-06T15:13:58-06:00

ID

105925

Comment

If I knew how to do that, I would. ;) They should have at least given us a shout out.

Author

Lori G

Date

2006-05-06T15:51:16-06:00

ID

105926

Comment

I think you can just change the name of the file and re-upload it to your blog. That'll show 'em.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-05-06T16:12:16-06:00

ID

105927

Comment

I think a better idea would be to replace the original file with something they would be less proud to link to. Use your imagination! Cheers, TH

Author

Tom Head

Date

2006-05-06T19:03:53-06:00

ID

105928

Comment

(And then, of course, you can change the URL in the blog entry to refer to the more savory shirt image. :P)

Author

Tom Head

Date

2006-05-06T19:04:22-06:00

ID

105929

Comment

I would love to, but that file is on my work computer. :)

Author

Lori G

Date

2006-05-06T23:50:36-06:00

ID

105930

Comment

I am very upset. I tried to make another t-shirt that said "I stole this from the JFP. ALI GREGGS RULES!" and rename it the same as the other file so it would pop up on the CL site. Somehow this did not work out as planned. So, I changed file name and reposted.

Author

Lori G

Date

2006-05-08T13:18:02-06:00

ID

105931

Comment

Ali, your wish is my command... At least if they're going to hijack bandwidth and stolen images, it should be an advertisement. ;-)

Author

kaust

Date

2006-05-08T14:32:33-06:00

ID

105932

Comment

*Sigh* I love you, Knol. (Ali will now rub the Buddha head for a full thirty minutes)

Author

Lori G

Date

2006-05-08T14:54:04-06:00

ID

105933

Comment

I have been lost the last several posts. Y'all are too deep for me. Are y'all using codes to purposely fly over my head. "I can't help it if I growed up po' and slo'." Ali ain't never told me she loves me. Can slo' folks get some love too. "I got money in my pockets but I still can't get no love." Frank Melton. And now I dare say Ray Carter, too.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2006-05-08T15:03:04-06:00

ID

105934

Comment

HA! Ray, some guy took the picture from this post and used JFP bandwidth to post it to the CL forums. So, this means we technically still have control over the content of the file. Knol just replaced the "content" (which is the hug monkey t-shirt) with a very large sign saying "I LOVE THE JFP". Its beautiful. If you hit the link a few posts above where I posted the original comment you should be able to see the new picture. Better? And, last but not least, I LOVE YOU TOO, RAY!

Author

Lori G

Date

2006-05-08T15:10:47-06:00

ID

105935

Comment

Click here for a giggle.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-05-08T15:11:48-06:00

ID

105936

Comment

Here. Its still up!!

Author

Lori G

Date

2006-05-08T15:11:52-06:00

ID

105937

Comment

Damn, Ladd, you gots a quick trigger finger...;)

Author

Lori G

Date

2006-05-08T15:12:24-06:00

ID

105938

Comment

Now I understand, ladies. Thanks a million. Let's hope the mayor is now about ready to be just our mayor. It's quite obvious he needed to get beat up before foregoing all his crazy ideas about crime fighting. I'm going to go out on a limb and predict the mayor will do better in the future. And I aver he's quiet now because he's listening and contemplating how he got in this mess and moreover how he will overcome it. We shall see.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2006-05-08T15:49:06-06:00