In Good Company

Congratulations are in order for JT and Dave. On their program a few days ago they noted that Jamie Franks had come by their booth at the Neshoba County Fair to glare at them in his typical beady-eyed menacing fashion, which renders him looking more like a frustrated Elmer Fudd than one of the guys from 300. I hope they don't take offense to it.

Mr. Franks, of course, belives that he's an intellectual giant, and his actions shouldn't be questioned by those who don't live in $2,000,000 mansions overlooking Highway 371. No, those of us who don't have the proper governmental training (and, outside of a lawnmowing business that seemed to...well...not exactly deliver on services all the time, that and lawsuits have been his life) should leave the heavy lifting to those who have made politics their life. It takes years to perfect the art of the late-night campaign-sign grab, or the bonfire that inevitably follows.

Not far from the surface of the Champion of the Little Man is a contempt for those who maybe didn't have the Shelton family as patrons, or Bill Wheeler as a close personal friend. See, Mr. Franks was smarter than the average little man, and made the right connections. It's how he's risen so far, so fast.

So don't be offended, JT and Dave. Mr. Franks' scornful looks are reserved for people he truly despises. Alan Nunnelee gets them. Brian Aldridge gets them daily, since his seat is so close to Mr. Franks in the House. I'm sure Haley Barbour has felt the warm ambiance of Mr. Franks' soul-searing gaze. And do I really need to get on the Jeremy Martin bandwagon one more time?

If Mr. Franks is looking at you like he wants to fight, that's a good thing. You've gotten under his skin. He works hard to keep his temper, but he's not good at it. I'm sure if you keep it up, he might even muster the courage to appear on your program, if for no other reasons than to tell you that you're 'queers' and that he'll 'whip your ass.' And that would be good for everyone involved.

Jamie Franks Jr. is a bully, plain and simple. And we all know how to treat a bully. You've got to whip him or he'll just continue to intimidate people with no regard for anyone other than himself. And we can't afford that.