Jackson Free Press

Donna Ladd will sit in with Kim Wade on WJNT this afternoon (Sept. 15) from 5-6pm. There's probably no point in me saying what they plan to discuss...Tune in to 1180 AM.

Previous Commentsshow

Okay, I got the radio show to listen to and three news programs to watch all at once. God help me!

LatashaWillis

Sep 15 2006

I'm off to Kim's show. Y'all listen in now, you hear?

DonnaLadd

Sep 15 2006

Unfortunately I won't be listening as I'm off to Pensacola for the weekend, but I'm sure there will be excerpts reported in this thread. If someone happens to catch Charles Tisdale on 90.1 at 8 pm tonight, how about reporting what (if anything) gets said about the Mayor on there as well?

Jeff Lucas

Sep 15 2006

Is there a way to get an audio recording of Donna and Kim's conversation?

sny guy

Sep 15 2006

It'll be up Monday, Sny Guy. I agree. Mr. Tisdale's show should be sumthin' else tonight. Sombody record it in case I miss it!

DonnaLadd

Sep 15 2006

Just wanted to say that I listened to the show and Donna did a GREAT job as well as Othor Cain and Kim Wade. Be sure to listen to the audio when it is available.

LatashaWillis

Sep 15 2006

Listening to Tisdale's show while waiting for Todd. Stephanie Parker-Weaver is saying that the same people who impeached "the people's president, Bill Clinton" are the same ones who are indicating "the people's mayor, Frank Melton." She's saying that Frank Melton "has empowered the inner city." She said people hadn't heard much from her in the last year because the people "were getting everything they needed." Now, a woman has called in talking about "house n*ggers" like Peterson, Crisler, etc., and how they have to protect the community from white folks. It's remarkable that they don't seem to understand who Mr. Melton's biggest supporters are and why they supposed them. and Clinton ain't my man, but it would be interesting to get a comment from him about what Mr. Melton was indicted for doing on Ridgeway Street. It's really funny to invoke Clinton here, I think.

DonnaLadd

Sep 15 2006

Stephanie Parker-Weaver is saying that the same people who impeached "the people's president, Bill Clinton" are the same ones who are indicating "the people's mayor, Frank Melton." Oh. My. God. Are you saying that *Joe Lieberman* is going after Frank Melton? Could two threads truly collide in so dramatic a fashion?!?

Todd Stauffer

Sep 15 2006

A caller is saying, "The best thing we can do for Frank Melton is jury nullification. Jury nullification. Jury nullification"—with everyone agreeing with him.

DonnaLadd

Sep 15 2006

Tee, hee, I did see someone who looked like old Joe peeking out of the courthouse as Peterson did her press conference. Hmmm. Can we go home now? ;-)

DonnaLadd

Sep 15 2006

That was a good caller. He called in and corrected the false statement about the people who were supposed killed at Upper Level, when it was in that neighborhood, but not at the club.

DonnaLadd

Sep 15 2006

OK, truly my last comment of this very crazy day: How convincing is it that Frank Melton is one of "the people" when he shows up at the courthouse to post bail with Dale Danks driving him in his Jaguar? Is Danks an honorary member of "the people"? Ed Peters? Ben Allen? These are the people whom Mr. Melton seems to spend the most time courting. That program was very sad. You can't get past the feeling that he has sold a lot of people a bill of goods. And to listen to Ms. Parker-Weaver criticize a black district attorney for trying to protect the civil rights of "the people" is really, truly, really remarkable. I feel like we're in the middle of The New, New Twilight Zone here.

DonnaLadd

Sep 15 2006

Well, the one and only experience I had with him was a total race bait. I didn't do x so therefore I am racist. He thought I was the person who made advertising deals, I explained that those decisions are not made here but at a corporate office and he told me that if I didn't advertise with him, he'd take care of the problem. But I couldn't make that decision. Not mine to make. And we also didn't have an advertising budget to work with. I asked how he'd take care of it and he said "I can show you better than I can tell you". I still wonder if he "showed me". But I did have to email the incident to my corporate office in case he followed through on that "threat". I don't care for folks who use positions of power for personal gain, especially when they use it against those who do not have power. But that's just me.

emilyb

Sep 15 2006

I'll save my Stephanie Parker-Weaver story for another day. It was a fun day too though.

emilyb

Sep 15 2006

Ladd: I'm not even sure what to say about your one of "the people" comment. You've been in Harvey's City Hall office. You've also been in Frank's City Hall office. Which one is more emaculate? You tell your readers. Give some of your BS (normally I wouldn't call it that, but I'm a bit on fire) a break. Quit acting like "Ben" is some right wing biggot, high browser. He's the biggest proponet of growth in the wards you talk about that I know - or could ever know. And you know that. But that doesn't sell papers. So you take the easy route, which does get people to take a paper off the rack - quietly act like a guy who is white and is Republican is in the "Country Club", and therefore isn't one of "the people." How easy. BS. You tell me when you basically adopt a kid from Lexignton, MS, who lives in a shotgun house and has no hope. Whose mother can barely read. And you bring them to your dinner table to do everything you can to help them. And he sits beside his children. But I guess he isn't one of "the people" because of where he lives and his party affiliation. Give me a break. He's a guy who has contributed for at least 15 years to the United Negro College Fund. He has been a member of the advisvory commission of the Mississipp Advisory Committee to the United Stated Commission on Civil Rights. But that isn't cool in ink. Afterall, it might make a Republican look like he has a heart. Don't delude these people about "the people" BS. Someone can live in Eastover and do more for "the people" than many others. I take great, great offense to you insinuation that some persons can never be one of "the people." In a certain sense, they can't, just as you can never be. And you aren't. But don't chuck that BS out as a journalist against certain persons. You are doing it because of where they live and their party affiliation. You can say I'm putting words in your mouth, but you know I'm not. Wait a minute. No you don't. You know better. You know Ben. And you know all this BS about "the people" is garbage.

MAllen

Sep 15 2006

MAllen, you need to learn to control your temper before you make a fool of yourself and your father, who both Donna and I respect tremendously. You completely overreacted to what Donna wrote. The clear implication of what Donna wrote was that Allen is not one of the "common folk," in the sense that he is of somewhat better means than most residents in this city. Do you dispute that your father is a successful businessman? Would you like me to post the appraised value of Benjamin Allen III's house on this thread? Her point was that Melton is not a populist. It had almost nothing to do with your father. No has claimed that there is anything wrong with living in Eastover--I mean, no one but Kenneth Stokes, of course. No one has claimed that there is anything wrong with having a nice house. No one, particularly Donna, has ever implied that Mr. Allen is ungenerous or that he does not work tirelessly to promote development in this city, though I am personally unaware of any attempts to develop affordable housing and the like. It would not surprise me if Mr. Allen has made those efforts. It certainly does not surprise me that Mr. Allen has given to the United Negro College Fund and been generous with his money. Your race baiting on this--that Donna went after Allen because he is white--was pulled out of thin air. And your disgusting, sneering comments about selling papers are just shameful. Your father has much more sense. I honestly think that you are spending too much time on "the other blog." Stop trolling, or that's the only place you'll be welcome.

Brian C Johnson

Sep 15 2006

Matt: You misunderstood my post. When I referred to "the people" I'm talking about Tisdale and Parker-Weaver's version of "the people," which seems to mean black people who distrust and refuse to work with white people. (Remember these are the same pundits who regularly assign black leaders to their "brown society" because they're perceived as not "of the people" enough for their tastes.) My point is that it's ironic for them to hold Melton to a different standard considering who his good friends and most ardent supporters are. This wasn't a slap at your dad, and I promise I'm not comparing him to Danks. :-)

DonnaLadd

Sep 15 2006

Brian, good post. If you think that is my temper, then you should see what my real temper is like. Unfortunately that ain't it. BTW, I hear from good sources you are a great reporter. Sorry, but I didn't make a fool of myself. She said candidly the comment about "the people," and attached Ben's name to it. And go ahead and post the appraised value of his house. Anyone can get that off the net, so that's no suprise. But certain persons are tired of being the only persons to help you persons get news, and then get trashed. Good luck finding Kenny in the future. Of course, Marshand will always be ready. I don't post much on the "other blog" (just check). I read it only as much as yours. I don't expect to win here in a blog-war. I can't. I could announce a cure to kids cancer here and I'd be told I'm wrong.

MAllen

Sep 15 2006

Ladd: fair enough.

MAllen

Sep 15 2006

Speaking of Danks... Somewhere Mike Moore is laughing his a$$ off right now. He took Danks down in the AG race, and his successor is going to beat him in court.

pikersam

Sep 15 2006

I'm sorry, MAllen, but I just don't see how Ladd has trashed your father. He says he welcomes criticism--I know, because I covered him saying it--and he likes to say that disagreements--civil disagreements--are healthy. It's one of the things I like about Mr. Allen. I believe that his commitment to democracy is deep and genuine. He is a wonderful public servant, in my opinion--God knows he respects democracy and the rule of law in a way that Mr. Melton couldn't even understand, much less emulate. Ladd has been critical of your father for failing to stand up to Mr. Melton in City Council. That is a political disagreement. She has also said that she does not think that Mr. Allen would be a good choice for mayor at this time. (I really don't understand how a Republican could win in this city in any case.) My point is that these are entirely responsible, civil, political disagreements. They are a million miles away from trashing. Perhaps the association with Danks et al. above upset you, but please just accept the fact that these are respectful disagreements, not indictments of his character.

Brian C Johnson

Sep 15 2006

It sounds to me like folks are a little punchy--Matt called Donna on a comment she didn't make, and then Brian vociferously defended that nonexistent comment, making what I'd consider a completely unnecessary threat. Understandable, given the circumstances, but unfortunate. Seems like half the country has had a long day, for different reasons, and certainly anyone who cares about Jackson has had a long day--especially the hardworking JFP reporters, who have to work many times as hard as the MSM reporters to put all of this together. I'm really kind of surprised Brian can string together a sentence right now after the day he's had. I certainly have no "general" argument against your father, Matt, FWIW. I've been hard on him lately because he's been making some decisions lately that I have an emotional investment in, and I get worked up over that, but I would like to remind everyone that he hasn't backed down on anything that Leslie McLemore hasn't also backed down on, and nobody can (or should) ever accuse McLemore of selling out. Both have shown they'll stand up if and when they need to, and I appreciate them for that. All of this reminds me for some reason of Harvey's "privileged and powerful" rhetoric, which I believe hurt his campaign tremendously. I think that was a very unfortunate, racially loaded choice of words, and I think it had the effect--intended or otherwise--of pandering to Tisdale and other opponents of the "brown society," who would never have accepted the man anyway. [continued]

Tom Head

Sep 15 2006

I love the "brown society," by the way--which is just another way of saying racial integration. I sure as hell don't want to live in the "white society" isolated from a "black society" a few miles away. Let's all go brown--and I don't just mean black folks assimilating into white culture and white social networks, I mean everybody assimilating into everybody else's culture and social networks. That's where we'll have real progress, on reducing crime and poverty and on everything else. Anyway, the truth is that everybody in this discussion is "privileged and powerful" because we're in a position to be posting on a damn web board about city politics. I'm not going to criticize an Eastoverite for being "privileged and powerful" just because he has caviar and a latte when the other regulars just have the latte. I don't mind having rich folks in the city. It's good for the tax base. They shouldn't get special rights and privileges, like they essentially do under Melton every time he feels free to harass poor folks, but Jackson wouldn't be where it is today if there weren't some good people with money to go with the good people without. What we don't need are bigots, and people who use their money and manners to cover up their bigotry. I don't believe your father is one of those people. I believe that some of those people can be found on the Other Blog slamming your father right now. Maybe those people are who Harvey meant to refer to when he said "privileged and powerful." I don't know. But I think that when Donna expresses skepticism about this whole "the people" crap, she's saying something I can get behind. And while I've had my little crises of faith about various people lately, I think that in the final analysis, your father stands for the integrated society, the "brown society," and not just for white privilege. I don't even know the man in person, but his actions speak volumes and I'm willing to bet my reputation on the fact that when it comes to the important "big picture" issues facing this city, he's one of the good guys. Cheers, TH

Tom Head

Sep 15 2006

Tom, excuse my ignorance, but could you PLEASE tell me what MSM stands for?

LatashaWillis

Sep 16 2006

Mainstream media, but kudos to you for asking. The first time I saw it used here I thought it referred to methylsulfonylmethane and couldn't figure out what in the world these wacky folks were discussing. ;o) Cheers, TH

Tom Head

Sep 16 2006

Well Tom, four press conferences will make a person testy! I assume the threat you refer to is the business about Allen's house. For what it's worth, it only popped into my head because of another project I'm working on. I won't say more now, lest WLBT is reading. :p

Brian C Johnson

Sep 16 2006

and just a little personal observation about Eastover maybe a bit of a break from the present troubles....and really all of Northeast Jackson in general...I was over there two weeks ago and was able to drive around my old streets....I was very relieved and impressed, as well, to see all of the tear downs, new builds, and renovation going on. It does not look to me as if anyone is giving up on Jackson as I saw a lot of investment in residential property. Indeed I rounded the corner of Wild Valley down by the river and saw a huge track that had been reclaimed from what was flood plain and dense woods (sorry to have seen the woods gone though) but I understood from a resident that it will soon contain million dollar houses. I assume that just as much is going on in North as well. I know already it's going on in "Bell" and the Heights and Fondren Now I understand that South is another matter but that will change in time. West, that will be a challenge.....but it can be done.... So with all of the contention of the last 14 months.....there is little that can development and the rising tide of propety values. Just like the council said this morn....."Jackson" will survive this storm......

ATLExile

Sep 16 2006

I'm looking forward to catching the Kim Wade podcast when its available. I also appreciate the Tisdale show summation. I was expected Kenny to be on as well supported the mayor and criticizing the indictments, but looks like SPW brought enough hot air to fill the studio. Probably the same cast of clowns calling in as usual about Uncle Tom Negros and such. Like it or not, there are a number of blacks who support Melton without knowing or caring about the NJAMs who backed him. They see Melton as a man who cares enough about the inner city to DO SOMETHING about the "dope boys" instead of just putting on a three-piece suit to dine with developers and politicians, not realizing that a good mayor shouldn't be out patroling the streets threatening to break down the front doors of those he *thinks* are dealers or criminals.

Jeff Lucas

Sep 18 2006

When will this podcast be up?

millhouse

Sep 18 2006

Millhouse, I'm waiting for them to get me the digital file. We'll call over there and check on it. Thanks for your eagerness. ;-)

DonnaLadd

Sep 18 2006