Rumor around the coffee shops in Lee County has incoming Superintendant Mike Scott keeping outgoing super Johnny Green on as a 'consultant.' I'm sure the folks in Lee County appreciate keeping a retiring employee on the payroll. Heck, we pay for two Speakers in the state House of Representatives-why not pay for two Superintendants of Education in Lee County?
Of course, Mr. Green-whom we affectionately refer to as 'Slimy' here-played Hamlet with his qualifying papers until the filing deadline passed, keeping many who would have run to replace him from filing-except, of course, for Mike Scott, the principal of Shannon High School.
Mr. Green's most prominent success was getting a school bond issue passed-one which, of course, was tilted heavily toward the North Lee Attendance Zone, a/k/a Saltillo and Guntown schools (of which he was the head principal for many years). 7 of the 10 projects were slated for that attendance zone, with two headed to the Shannon Attendance Zone and one to the Mooreville Attendance Zone. In fact, an alternate project for Mooreville was a new cafeteria. I'm sure the teachers there-who were sharing classrooms all over the facility while just four teachers at Saltillo were doing the same-just loved the idea of a getting a new cafeteria.
But hey, I'm sure the Lee County School Board will love having him around for a few more years and probably a good chunk of his old salary. Because heck, if one superintendant is good...two MUST be GREAT!
Showing posts with label Slimy Green. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Slimy Green. Show all posts
Monday, November 5, 2007
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
I Weep for the Candidate
Seriously, Jamie Franks Jr. is crying because Phil Bryant is mean? Jamie Franks Jr. is one of the dirtiest campaigners in this state. He's stolen campaign signs and burned them-just ask his first opponent (the man he once so ironically told people didn't need to be elected because "we don't need another lawyer in Jackson"). He and his cronies have spread vicious rumors about his opponents in other races-just ask Mark Duvall, who was called a homosexual. How about Jeremy Martin, who was blackballed from Lee County schools, called a phony teacher, and ended up in jail? Oh, yeah-Mr. Franks doesn't know anything about that.
I weep for him as he stands on the steps of his church-that's the one that he got his morals from, not the national Democrat or Republican party, mind you-and says Mean ole Phil is going negative. Never mind he swore through one of his schills that he'd never go negative, then threw the first dirt.
And that church? It preaches against alcohol and against gambling. It's where he got his morals from, if you'll remember. Yet the candidate didn't refuse thousands from beer companies and the gaming industry. But I guess they granted him a special exemption or something from his moral obligations on those issues.
I weep for him as he stands on the steps of his church-that's the one that he got his morals from, not the national Democrat or Republican party, mind you-and says Mean ole Phil is going negative. Never mind he swore through one of his schills that he'd never go negative, then threw the first dirt.
And that church? It preaches against alcohol and against gambling. It's where he got his morals from, if you'll remember. Yet the candidate didn't refuse thousands from beer companies and the gaming industry. But I guess they granted him a special exemption or something from his moral obligations on those issues.
Thursday, September 6, 2007
A Photo for Slimy
Here's a little something for the folks reading on College View Drive in Tupelo.
'Not a real teacher.' Enjoy retirement.
What am I saying? I hope your retirement is miserable.
'Not a real teacher.' Enjoy retirement.
What am I saying? I hope your retirement is miserable.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
If Only I Had Delusions of Grandeur
If I did, I'd claim that this blog brought down Brandon 'Yaw Yaw' Cherry in the District 19 runoff yesterday. But, it takes someone who's very insecure in their own accomplishments to claim they had a part in something that in reality, they did very little to aid in. I can't say that three or four blog posts brought down a candidacy-though I'd like to think the response to them swung a few people toward the winner.
No, Mark Duvall deserves the credit. He ran as his own man, didn't scream at people, didn't have to resort to someone else's playbook, and won 56% or so of the vote. He's probably going to sweat a little in the general election but he's probably going to win the seat-after all, the precincts making up District 19 in Itawamba County were almost all carried by Al Gore in 2000 and John Kerry in 2004, and the largest single bloc of votes is located there. The district as a whole will trend Republican after the next election, as its more than likely to expand west into Lee County, but that's 2015, not now.
Here's my advice to you, Mr. Duvall, should you choose to accept it.
Run the hell away from Jamie Franks. After all, Brandon 'Yaw Yaw' Cherry was his boy. His parents are both administrators in the Lee County School District, where Mr. Franks wife works. Steve Holland, Mr. Franks' good friend, gave him $400. So did 'Lawyers involved in Miss. Betterment' (I'm sure that if they benefit from that betterment, that's okay with them). Mr. Franks has never been exceedingly popular in his home district anyway-he went to a runoff in the primary in 1999 (no R in the race), and spent over $100K to win by 600 votes in 2003. I've yet to see that in anyone's column (Sid, your blog doesn't count and you know it), but it's damn true and they can look it up.
Yeah, he's a Dem, but remember: You're not in this for the good of the Democrats. You're not in it for Mark Duvall. You're in it for District 19 and the state of Mississippi. If he wins, and you don't kiss up to him, what can he do? He doesn't gain you a single vote anywhere in the District-even though, like Mussolini, he still amazingly has supporters. And knowing him, his partisan nature won't bring him-or those who support him-to hold his nose and vote Republican.
Be your own man, Mark. You don't need him; otherwise, you never would have run against him 8 years ago. Best of luck to you; represent my old hometown well.
No, Mark Duvall deserves the credit. He ran as his own man, didn't scream at people, didn't have to resort to someone else's playbook, and won 56% or so of the vote. He's probably going to sweat a little in the general election but he's probably going to win the seat-after all, the precincts making up District 19 in Itawamba County were almost all carried by Al Gore in 2000 and John Kerry in 2004, and the largest single bloc of votes is located there. The district as a whole will trend Republican after the next election, as its more than likely to expand west into Lee County, but that's 2015, not now.
Here's my advice to you, Mr. Duvall, should you choose to accept it.
Run the hell away from Jamie Franks. After all, Brandon 'Yaw Yaw' Cherry was his boy. His parents are both administrators in the Lee County School District, where Mr. Franks wife works. Steve Holland, Mr. Franks' good friend, gave him $400. So did 'Lawyers involved in Miss. Betterment' (I'm sure that if they benefit from that betterment, that's okay with them). Mr. Franks has never been exceedingly popular in his home district anyway-he went to a runoff in the primary in 1999 (no R in the race), and spent over $100K to win by 600 votes in 2003. I've yet to see that in anyone's column (Sid, your blog doesn't count and you know it), but it's damn true and they can look it up.
Yeah, he's a Dem, but remember: You're not in this for the good of the Democrats. You're not in it for Mark Duvall. You're in it for District 19 and the state of Mississippi. If he wins, and you don't kiss up to him, what can he do? He doesn't gain you a single vote anywhere in the District-even though, like Mussolini, he still amazingly has supporters. And knowing him, his partisan nature won't bring him-or those who support him-to hold his nose and vote Republican.
Be your own man, Mark. You don't need him; otherwise, you never would have run against him 8 years ago. Best of luck to you; represent my old hometown well.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
So Another Day Goes By
I had hoped that the Ike Brown article Sid Salter published today would include something about the Jeremy Martin case. After all, he linked the Brown case to Mr. Martin very succinctly in his blog. Too much to ask for the print edition-which is much more widely read.
And here's another thing for Attorney General Samson: If Jeremy Martin is a 'coward' for some mailings that highlighted something that Mr. Franks actually said ('The last thing we need in Jackson is another lawyer') what does that make the Golden Boy for all of the things he said about Mr. Martin to the entirety of District 19 that weren't true-such as:
* 'They recruited some kid to run against me.' (Amazing how 'they' are always out to get him). Mr. Martin was 24 when he ran; Mr. Franks was 22 when he took office.
* Going around with the Superintendant of Lee County Schools claiming that Mr. Martin 'ain't no real teacher.' There are a number of kids he taught who'd disagree with that assessment.
* Not-so-subtly suggesting that Mr. Martin engaged in the love that dare not speak its name-just like he did Mark Duvall in 1999.
Feel free to answer any time, Samson. Just remember that I've got clippers ready for you if I don't like your answer.
And here's another thing for Attorney General Samson: If Jeremy Martin is a 'coward' for some mailings that highlighted something that Mr. Franks actually said ('The last thing we need in Jackson is another lawyer') what does that make the Golden Boy for all of the things he said about Mr. Martin to the entirety of District 19 that weren't true-such as:
* 'They recruited some kid to run against me.' (Amazing how 'they' are always out to get him). Mr. Martin was 24 when he ran; Mr. Franks was 22 when he took office.
* Going around with the Superintendant of Lee County Schools claiming that Mr. Martin 'ain't no real teacher.' There are a number of kids he taught who'd disagree with that assessment.
* Not-so-subtly suggesting that Mr. Martin engaged in the love that dare not speak its name-just like he did Mark Duvall in 1999.
Feel free to answer any time, Samson. Just remember that I've got clippers ready for you if I don't like your answer.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Appalling?
Here are some things I find appalling.
A beef plant disaster that no one in the state legislature, apparently, saw coming.
Teachers Unions placing their interests over those of children.
The sad good old boy administration of Lee County Schools.
School work trucks with candidate stickers on them.
Illegal immigration.
Teddy Bear legislation.
The crime problem in Jackson.
The Jeremy Martin fiasco (thought I'd forgotten, huh, Samson?)
Suing small businesses in election years.
Suing small businesses located within a quarter mile of your home.
Suing Fair View Junior High.
Suing AmVets.
Suing Ole Miss and the ATO fraternity three years after a tragic fire.
Ike Brown's continued presence in the political process of this state.
Complacent media types.
Hothead state legislature candidates.
Katrina fraud arrests in an election year.
Starting fistfights at your party's national convention.
$14 million sweetheart deals for your campaign supporters.
VPAC stealth candidates.
Requesting three times as much travel funds as other representatives from your county.
All of this rankles me WAAAAAY more than three and a half pennies being saved on the dollar next time I buy milk or bread. By the way: The TAX SWAP SCHEME WILL NEVER WORK! Not even if you put on a display at the Big Star for the Clarion Ledger folks. It's still diminishing returns (that means you get less as time goes on, Yaw Yaw), meaning that the state will lose whatever surplus we have today since if you're elected we'll go about spending like a drunken sailor on shore leave in Thailand after six months at sea.
There's the one issue Jamie Franks Jr is counting on in November. Never have the press questioned the fact that some working families (whom he's the CHAMPION of, remember) might see an increase in prices when you SUE THEIR LOCAL GROCERY STORE!
If a sales tax is what you find appalling, you haven't been paying attention here lately.
A beef plant disaster that no one in the state legislature, apparently, saw coming.
Teachers Unions placing their interests over those of children.
The sad good old boy administration of Lee County Schools.
School work trucks with candidate stickers on them.
Illegal immigration.
Teddy Bear legislation.
The crime problem in Jackson.
The Jeremy Martin fiasco (thought I'd forgotten, huh, Samson?)
Suing small businesses in election years.
Suing small businesses located within a quarter mile of your home.
Suing Fair View Junior High.
Suing AmVets.
Suing Ole Miss and the ATO fraternity three years after a tragic fire.
Ike Brown's continued presence in the political process of this state.
Complacent media types.
Hothead state legislature candidates.
Katrina fraud arrests in an election year.
Starting fistfights at your party's national convention.
$14 million sweetheart deals for your campaign supporters.
VPAC stealth candidates.
Requesting three times as much travel funds as other representatives from your county.
All of this rankles me WAAAAAY more than three and a half pennies being saved on the dollar next time I buy milk or bread. By the way: The TAX SWAP SCHEME WILL NEVER WORK! Not even if you put on a display at the Big Star for the Clarion Ledger folks. It's still diminishing returns (that means you get less as time goes on, Yaw Yaw), meaning that the state will lose whatever surplus we have today since if you're elected we'll go about spending like a drunken sailor on shore leave in Thailand after six months at sea.
There's the one issue Jamie Franks Jr is counting on in November. Never have the press questioned the fact that some working families (whom he's the CHAMPION of, remember) might see an increase in prices when you SUE THEIR LOCAL GROCERY STORE!
If a sales tax is what you find appalling, you haven't been paying attention here lately.
Friday, August 17, 2007
What are they doing on College View Drive?
There has to be some kind of smokescreen of impartiality when we deal with offices that serve the public. I realize that everyone who gets in doesn't support the candidates that I do. But, shouldn't their endorsement stop when they get into vehicles not their own? Who would want the Water & Power departments around the state to put stickers endorsing Candidate A or B in the race for supervisor or city council on their work vehicles? What about Park and Rec endorsing someone for mayor with their little league uniforms? These aren't the things that publicly owned vehicles are supposed to be used for. They aren't floating billboards for candidates, and I'm pretty sure there's some kind of law or regulation against such a thing when it goes to vehicles not owned by the driver but by the public.
So who thought it might be a good idea to stick a Jamie Franks sticker on Lee County Schools work truck #001? Witnesses speaking to the Tank have placed that truck in the Saltillo school district (north Lee County), meaning that it serves either Saltillo or Guntown schools. I don't know about any other trucks; perhaps the powers that be don't think Mr. Franks needs the advertisements in his hometown of Mooreville (hate to tell them, but Mr. Franks lost the Mooreville vote in the last election-he polled only 48.6% in Lee county last time, and his district lies almost entirely in the Mooreville school district, with a couple of precincts in Saltillo and Tupelo) or the Shannon district, whose students are 60% African-American, 66% eligible for free/reduced lunch (that's higher than the state average). Mooreville, by comparison, is 93% white, with 44% eligible for free/reduced lunch; Saltillo, 90% white, 28% free/reduced lunch. It's the school in Lee County pegged for the most growth from the Toyota plant, its boundaries buttressing nicely against the PUL nexus.
We've already established the Franks connection to Lee County Schools' administration-his wife works in the central office, and the superintendent is his good buddy-so somehow I doubt this is an isolated rogue maintenance worker. The desperate acts that Mr. Franks' coalition has begun to resort to are amateurish, even for his standards. Of course, by Monday the truck will have been tracked down and stripped of the sticker, and probably scrubbed with a fine toothed comb. Whoever was driving it will get reassigned. The sticker will get burned and the culprits will vanish into the night to pull down Phil Bryant signs and build a bonfire with them. By the time the staff at the Daily Journal or Clarion Ledger are out of the gate looking for the truck, it'll be like Keyser Soze all over again.
It's another strike against the way things are done in Lee County Schools. It's power politics at its best (worst?)-after all, who is to stop them? There's no superintendent's race, with Mike Scott running without opposition (but no longer the principal at Shannon High). The press could care less about something so trivial. We know what the Attorney General will do-not a damn thing. Meanwhile, a bunch of bullies are allowed to run roughshod over the people they're supposed to serve, all in the name of the holiest of holies-public education-and anyone who opposes them hates children and education. Because that's the atomic bomb of accusations these days, unless you've been in a dogfighting ring.
People wonder why folks are leaving the public schools, and often they point to race. I'm not sure they're always wrong, but examples like this one in Lee County, so full of hubris, should give the public pause in a majority white, fairly well-off school district. You'd think they'd get better than they do. It's amazing kids learn anything with this kind of "GREAT LEADERSHIP" as some would call it.
They can call it what they want. I call it ridiculous. I call it disgraceful. I call it abuse. Because that's what it is.
So who thought it might be a good idea to stick a Jamie Franks sticker on Lee County Schools work truck #001? Witnesses speaking to the Tank have placed that truck in the Saltillo school district (north Lee County), meaning that it serves either Saltillo or Guntown schools. I don't know about any other trucks; perhaps the powers that be don't think Mr. Franks needs the advertisements in his hometown of Mooreville (hate to tell them, but Mr. Franks lost the Mooreville vote in the last election-he polled only 48.6% in Lee county last time, and his district lies almost entirely in the Mooreville school district, with a couple of precincts in Saltillo and Tupelo) or the Shannon district, whose students are 60% African-American, 66% eligible for free/reduced lunch (that's higher than the state average). Mooreville, by comparison, is 93% white, with 44% eligible for free/reduced lunch; Saltillo, 90% white, 28% free/reduced lunch. It's the school in Lee County pegged for the most growth from the Toyota plant, its boundaries buttressing nicely against the PUL nexus.
We've already established the Franks connection to Lee County Schools' administration-his wife works in the central office, and the superintendent is his good buddy-so somehow I doubt this is an isolated rogue maintenance worker. The desperate acts that Mr. Franks' coalition has begun to resort to are amateurish, even for his standards. Of course, by Monday the truck will have been tracked down and stripped of the sticker, and probably scrubbed with a fine toothed comb. Whoever was driving it will get reassigned. The sticker will get burned and the culprits will vanish into the night to pull down Phil Bryant signs and build a bonfire with them. By the time the staff at the Daily Journal or Clarion Ledger are out of the gate looking for the truck, it'll be like Keyser Soze all over again.
It's another strike against the way things are done in Lee County Schools. It's power politics at its best (worst?)-after all, who is to stop them? There's no superintendent's race, with Mike Scott running without opposition (but no longer the principal at Shannon High). The press could care less about something so trivial. We know what the Attorney General will do-not a damn thing. Meanwhile, a bunch of bullies are allowed to run roughshod over the people they're supposed to serve, all in the name of the holiest of holies-public education-and anyone who opposes them hates children and education. Because that's the atomic bomb of accusations these days, unless you've been in a dogfighting ring.
People wonder why folks are leaving the public schools, and often they point to race. I'm not sure they're always wrong, but examples like this one in Lee County, so full of hubris, should give the public pause in a majority white, fairly well-off school district. You'd think they'd get better than they do. It's amazing kids learn anything with this kind of "GREAT LEADERSHIP" as some would call it.
They can call it what they want. I call it ridiculous. I call it disgraceful. I call it abuse. Because that's what it is.
Monday, August 13, 2007
A Retort to Yaw-Yaw
Dear Yaw-Yaw,
I'm sorry your teachers at Saltillo High didn't do such a good job at the reading comprehension thing.
That's good. I'd hate to think you left because you wanted 'a real foosbaw coach.' How'd that work out for you?
I know; telling anyone they've worked for Johnny Green for 10-12 years is akin to saying they smelled of elderberries.
Then why'd you leave? Oh, that's right-foosbaw. How'd that work out for you?
Too bad none of it resides at the central office. Once again, the worst thing I've said is that your father is a long time employee of Johnny Green. If I'm wrong, let me know.
There's a few foosbaw coaches that wish you'd have taken that advice on your own. But I guess it's different for you, huh? Sounds exactly like what I want in my representative. Then again, I've had it for 12 years.
Then you'd better get a translator for the Yaw Yaws.
Here's something for you:
Don't give up the ship. Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead. There's something rotten in the state of Denmark. When the going gets tough, the tough get going. Did we quit when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Live free or die. I have nothing to give but blood, sweat, toil and tears. We have nothing to fear but fear itself. Beer before liquor, never sicker. Where's the beef? My name is Gladiator. Tastes great, less filling. Beam me up, Scotty. I pity the fool. Stellllaaaaa! Can you hear me now?
Don't tell me...I'm a "queer" and you're going to "whip my ass?"
If you know who I am then you know where I live.
These are my boots. I'm not quaking in them.
I'm rolling on the floor laughing at you. Seriously. Comparing me and you is like comparing the Harlem Globetrotters to the Washington Generals.
No you don't. You just wrote thirty minutes of "shut the hell up or else," complete with the ominous "I know who you are." Go play tough guy with Matt Damon. He's more convincing than you anyway.
The refuge of the intellectually beaten-claim to be the victim, then give an empty platitude. John Edwards would be proud. Here's a suggestion. If you want to be a public official, grow some thick skin, especially on your tooshie. And please, work on your reading comprehension.
And get a bigger boat.
Sincerely,
The Commander
I'm sorry your teachers at Saltillo High didn't do such a good job at the reading comprehension thing.
If I am to young to run for office then why don't you go tell a mother that lost her son in war or Veteran that fought and served overseas the same thing.
'cause I didn't say that. Your buddy Jamie Franks Jr did in 2003, when his opponent was 24. Personally I voted for the young fella. Go cry in your oatmeal over something else.
Yes I lived in the Mooreville School district but there is a law that says any student that's parents work in Lee County School district can attend ANY school without paying tuition
That's good. I'd hate to think you left because you wanted 'a real foosbaw coach.' How'd that work out for you?
You can call my father what you want
I know; telling anyone they've worked for Johnny Green for 10-12 years is akin to saying they smelled of elderberries.
Remember as well that Mooreville Jr. High, High School, and Elementary are graded out EVERY year as having some of the highest test scores in the county. Apparently someone is doing something right
Then why'd you leave? Oh, that's right-foosbaw. How'd that work out for you?
They have great teachers and GREAT LEADERSHIP
Too bad none of it resides at the central office. Once again, the worst thing I've said is that your father is a long time employee of Johnny Green. If I'm wrong, let me know.
Its easy to talk down about another individual while lifting yourself up in the process.
There's a few foosbaw coaches that wish you'd have taken that advice on your own. But I guess it's different for you, huh? Sounds exactly like what I want in my representative. Then again, I've had it for 12 years.
I have been writing speeches all summer so I have become accustomed to writing how I would speak.
Then you'd better get a translator for the Yaw Yaws.
"Don't throw stones if you live in a glass house."
Here's something for you:
Don't give up the ship. Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead. There's something rotten in the state of Denmark. When the going gets tough, the tough get going. Did we quit when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Live free or die. I have nothing to give but blood, sweat, toil and tears. We have nothing to fear but fear itself. Beer before liquor, never sicker. Where's the beef? My name is Gladiator. Tastes great, less filling. Beam me up, Scotty. I pity the fool. Stellllaaaaa! Can you hear me now?
I know who you are.
Don't tell me...I'm a "queer" and you're going to "whip my ass?"
If you know who I am then you know where I live.
These are my boots. I'm not quaking in them.
Cowards point fingers and blame others for not accomplishing things in there life.
I'm rolling on the floor laughing at you. Seriously. Comparing me and you is like comparing the Harlem Globetrotters to the Washington Generals.
I respect your opinions and beliefs
No you don't. You just wrote thirty minutes of "shut the hell up or else," complete with the ominous "I know who you are." Go play tough guy with Matt Damon. He's more convincing than you anyway.
Just remember who gave you those rights.
The refuge of the intellectually beaten-claim to be the victim, then give an empty platitude. John Edwards would be proud. Here's a suggestion. If you want to be a public official, grow some thick skin, especially on your tooshie. And please, work on your reading comprehension.
And get a bigger boat.
Sincerely,
The Commander
Saturday, August 11, 2007
A Runoff in District 19
District 19's Democrats are in runoff phase. The two top vote-getters are Brandon Cherry and Mark Duvall.
Mr. Cherry hails from Lee County. Mr. Cherry was a student at Mooreville Attendance Center until he reached high school; for some reason, he chose to leave and attend Saltillo High School-probably the fact he lived in the Saltillo school district. I've met Mr. Cherry; he's loud, bombastic, and has a temper.
Mr. Duvall hails from Itawamba County. This is his second run for the seat, having competed in 1999 and finishing third in the primary. Much like Jeremy Martin, he was slandered by Mr. Franks as a homosexual during his last run. Unfortunately, the Tank has yet to meet Mr. Duvall.
Any guess whom we here at the Tank prefer? Brandon Cherry's father is an administrator at Lee County Schools. He's been a supporter of Johnny Green for many years, and worked for him at Saltillo High School. Mr. Green is in the pocket of Jamie Franks Jr and the Cholesterol Crew. I'm shocked that the Democrats in D19 are letting Mr. Cherry run-after all, their mantra in the last election was "24 is too young." Mr. Cherry is about that age.
Here at the Tank, we'll be taking the Devil We Don't Know.
Mr. Cherry hails from Lee County. Mr. Cherry was a student at Mooreville Attendance Center until he reached high school; for some reason, he chose to leave and attend Saltillo High School-probably the fact he lived in the Saltillo school district. I've met Mr. Cherry; he's loud, bombastic, and has a temper.
Mr. Duvall hails from Itawamba County. This is his second run for the seat, having competed in 1999 and finishing third in the primary. Much like Jeremy Martin, he was slandered by Mr. Franks as a homosexual during his last run. Unfortunately, the Tank has yet to meet Mr. Duvall.
Any guess whom we here at the Tank prefer? Brandon Cherry's father is an administrator at Lee County Schools. He's been a supporter of Johnny Green for many years, and worked for him at Saltillo High School. Mr. Green is in the pocket of Jamie Franks Jr and the Cholesterol Crew. I'm shocked that the Democrats in D19 are letting Mr. Cherry run-after all, their mantra in the last election was "24 is too young." Mr. Cherry is about that age.
Here at the Tank, we'll be taking the Devil We Don't Know.
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Well, You Want Differences?
If you want to know what separates Jamie Franks Jr from Phil Bryant, Sid Salter, you don't have to ask Phil. I've got your one-stop shop of differences.
Jamie Franks Jr is a plaintiff's attorney, one who's made a fortune off of lawsuits, including suing people who operate businesses within sight of his home. I can name off a few, in case you don't know them (I guess you've been a little to busy to call F. G. Wiygul, the superintendent of Itawamba County Schools). I may be wrong but Phil Bryant, who is not a self-styled champion of education, has never sued Fair View Junior High.
You could of course also call the owners of Mooreville One Stop, another lawsuit victim of Mr. Franks. The store operates within sight of his quite-large front yard. There's a friend of the little man if ever there was one.
He can claim to be for tort reform and to have put his name on it; but at the end of the day, he still made the motion to kill the bill before it could come up to a vote. I'm sure one day we'll look back and see it as an inspiration to John Forbes Kerry in 2004.
Nothing says "I support seniors" like suing the Amvets. This is, of course, not an organization made up of Gulf War and Grenada veterans.
I see that with the end of Primary Season, the CL has made the decision to label Mr. Franks a 'small businessman.' I'd sure love to know when he mowed his last lawn-or his own, in fact. He wasn't very good at being a 'small businessman' since he routinely didn't do work he'd contracted. Heck, Mr. Franks can't even pay people for work they did on his house. I know life must be tough for him and his $2,000,000 home.
There are others; the suit that made him his fortune, of course, was the Fen-Phen suit. I suppose there are other ways to make drugs cheaper, but I'm sure suing companies never causes an increase in price. The price tag of that one was $14 billion to Wyeth; that is approximately four times what the company's four best-selling products take in annually. I'm sure that didn't raise drug prices at all, though.
I find it hard to believe that a man who counts cigar manufacturer Swisher International as a contributor is truly interested in people's health and grocery taxes. Nor do I find it believable that a man who claims to be more pious than the Pope continually takes funds from the casino industry, or from beer manufacturers. If he was paying attention in Sunday school, he'd remember the Church of God of Prophecy frowns on both.
Jeremy Martin. Where's that name in your column, Sid? The people of Mississippi deserve for you to put in print what was done to that man, by any and all accounts a smear and a railroading. And I'm not just talking about the arrest and trial; I'm talking about the campaign button ban at Lee County Schools, directed at Mr. Martin's supporters (most of whom can't vote! That's the worst part of it!). I'm talking about Johnny Green going around the Hebron community in Lee County telling the residents that Mr. Martin wasn't a 'real teacher' (I wonder if Mr. Green has ever checked the resume's and licenses of some of his 'real teachers' in Lee County). I'm talking about the strategically placed rumors that Mr. Martin engaged in the love that dare not speak its name.
I'm talking about the inane criticisms from Mr. Franks throughout that campaign: That kid's too young (Mr. Martin was 24 when he ran for office; Mr. Franks, as he'll tell anyone who will listen, was 22 when he was elected). That kid lives with his parents (uh, so did you when you were basically handed the seat by Bill Wheeler-and Mr. Martin had been at college and teaching for the previous four years). That kid's never had a real job (didja ever think that at 22 you'd had one? And I thought you liked teachers?)
Of course, when Mr. Martin's supporters poked back-going to Mr. Franks' first election statement that 'the last thing we need in Jackson is another lawyer'-he cried foul like a little kid who got his binky taken away, and ran to his good buddy Attorney General Samson to protect him from Mean Old Jeremy. So much for that cultivated cultured image (the expensive car, suits, cufflinks, shoes, home)-or was it the brawlin' tough guy (I'll whip your ass)? I forget.
Jamie Franks Jr is a hypocrite. He's the worst kind of politician. I don't know anything personal about Phil Bryant, but he can't be any worse than this. Jamie Franks Jr makes me want to puke every time I think about him. Unfortunately, the masses aren't being informed about this. All they get are the generic statements of 'staying on message,' 'effective campaigner,' 'blue collar working man,' and the other schtick that the media gets from their Jamie Franks handouts. If they were interested, they'd've followed up on some of the things we've discussed here at the Tank. Unfortunately, either they're too lazy to do some investigating outside of their offices (I guess it's too hot) or too busy setting the type for November's endorsement.
Jamie Franks Jr is a plaintiff's attorney, one who's made a fortune off of lawsuits, including suing people who operate businesses within sight of his home. I can name off a few, in case you don't know them (I guess you've been a little to busy to call F. G. Wiygul, the superintendent of Itawamba County Schools). I may be wrong but Phil Bryant, who is not a self-styled champion of education, has never sued Fair View Junior High.
You could of course also call the owners of Mooreville One Stop, another lawsuit victim of Mr. Franks. The store operates within sight of his quite-large front yard. There's a friend of the little man if ever there was one.
He can claim to be for tort reform and to have put his name on it; but at the end of the day, he still made the motion to kill the bill before it could come up to a vote. I'm sure one day we'll look back and see it as an inspiration to John Forbes Kerry in 2004.
Nothing says "I support seniors" like suing the Amvets. This is, of course, not an organization made up of Gulf War and Grenada veterans.
I see that with the end of Primary Season, the CL has made the decision to label Mr. Franks a 'small businessman.' I'd sure love to know when he mowed his last lawn-or his own, in fact. He wasn't very good at being a 'small businessman' since he routinely didn't do work he'd contracted. Heck, Mr. Franks can't even pay people for work they did on his house. I know life must be tough for him and his $2,000,000 home.
There are others; the suit that made him his fortune, of course, was the Fen-Phen suit. I suppose there are other ways to make drugs cheaper, but I'm sure suing companies never causes an increase in price. The price tag of that one was $14 billion to Wyeth; that is approximately four times what the company's four best-selling products take in annually. I'm sure that didn't raise drug prices at all, though.
I find it hard to believe that a man who counts cigar manufacturer Swisher International as a contributor is truly interested in people's health and grocery taxes. Nor do I find it believable that a man who claims to be more pious than the Pope continually takes funds from the casino industry, or from beer manufacturers. If he was paying attention in Sunday school, he'd remember the Church of God of Prophecy frowns on both.
Jeremy Martin. Where's that name in your column, Sid? The people of Mississippi deserve for you to put in print what was done to that man, by any and all accounts a smear and a railroading. And I'm not just talking about the arrest and trial; I'm talking about the campaign button ban at Lee County Schools, directed at Mr. Martin's supporters (most of whom can't vote! That's the worst part of it!). I'm talking about Johnny Green going around the Hebron community in Lee County telling the residents that Mr. Martin wasn't a 'real teacher' (I wonder if Mr. Green has ever checked the resume's and licenses of some of his 'real teachers' in Lee County). I'm talking about the strategically placed rumors that Mr. Martin engaged in the love that dare not speak its name.
I'm talking about the inane criticisms from Mr. Franks throughout that campaign: That kid's too young (Mr. Martin was 24 when he ran for office; Mr. Franks, as he'll tell anyone who will listen, was 22 when he was elected). That kid lives with his parents (uh, so did you when you were basically handed the seat by Bill Wheeler-and Mr. Martin had been at college and teaching for the previous four years). That kid's never had a real job (didja ever think that at 22 you'd had one? And I thought you liked teachers?)
Of course, when Mr. Martin's supporters poked back-going to Mr. Franks' first election statement that 'the last thing we need in Jackson is another lawyer'-he cried foul like a little kid who got his binky taken away, and ran to his good buddy Attorney General Samson to protect him from Mean Old Jeremy. So much for that cultivated cultured image (the expensive car, suits, cufflinks, shoes, home)-or was it the brawlin' tough guy (I'll whip your ass)? I forget.
Jamie Franks Jr is a hypocrite. He's the worst kind of politician. I don't know anything personal about Phil Bryant, but he can't be any worse than this. Jamie Franks Jr makes me want to puke every time I think about him. Unfortunately, the masses aren't being informed about this. All they get are the generic statements of 'staying on message,' 'effective campaigner,' 'blue collar working man,' and the other schtick that the media gets from their Jamie Franks handouts. If they were interested, they'd've followed up on some of the things we've discussed here at the Tank. Unfortunately, either they're too lazy to do some investigating outside of their offices (I guess it's too hot) or too busy setting the type for November's endorsement.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Casting Call
So I'm writing a screenplay. It's called, "Stinkin' Danged: The Jeremy Martin Story." Here's my picks for the cast.
LUKE WILSON (Old School, Rushmore) as Jeremy Martin
FRED THOMPSON (Law & Order) as Steve Holland (Sorry, Fred).
WILL FERRELL (Anchorman, Old School) as Bill Wheeler
KURTWOOD SMITH (Robocop, That '70s Show)(and a hairpiece) as Speaker Billy McCoy.
TIM ROBBINS (Shawshank Redemption, Mystic River) as Jim Hood
DEBORAH RUSH (American Wedding) as Amy Tuck
MORGAN FREEMAN (Batman Begins, Bruce Almighty) as George Flaggs
BRUCE MCGILL (McGyver, Cinderella Man) as Haley Barbour
And, Our Boy Himself: JEREMY PIVEN (Old School, Entourage) as Jamie Franks Jr.
CAMEOS BY:
KATE BECKINSDALE
VINCE VAUGHN
DONALD SUTHERLAND
JON FAVREAU
JERRY O'CONNELL
AND FEATURING STACY KEACH AS JOHNNY GREEN
It's sure to be a hit.
LUKE WILSON (Old School, Rushmore) as Jeremy Martin
FRED THOMPSON (Law & Order) as Steve Holland (Sorry, Fred).
WILL FERRELL (Anchorman, Old School) as Bill Wheeler
KURTWOOD SMITH (Robocop, That '70s Show)(and a hairpiece) as Speaker Billy McCoy.
TIM ROBBINS (Shawshank Redemption, Mystic River) as Jim Hood
DEBORAH RUSH (American Wedding) as Amy Tuck
MORGAN FREEMAN (Batman Begins, Bruce Almighty) as George Flaggs
BRUCE MCGILL (McGyver, Cinderella Man) as Haley Barbour
And, Our Boy Himself: JEREMY PIVEN (Old School, Entourage) as Jamie Franks Jr.
CAMEOS BY:
KATE BECKINSDALE
VINCE VAUGHN
DONALD SUTHERLAND
JON FAVREAU
JERRY O'CONNELL
AND FEATURING STACY KEACH AS JOHNNY GREEN
It's sure to be a hit.
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Green with Slimy
It's known around Lee County that Jamie Franks Jr. and Johnny Green, the County Superintendent of Education, are big buddies. Since Mr. Green didn't have opposition in 2003, he must have thought it was a good idea to butter his bread, by campaigning for Mr. Franks. Hey, that's his right. So is keeping Mr. Franks' wife on the payroll shuffling papers and shooting her big mouth off (I guess). But that's not the issue this time, boys and girls.
See, in 2002, Jeremy Martin served as a long-term substitute at Mooreville High School, his alma mater, working with the Special Ed department for most of the year. The kids loved him, and when he announced his candidacy for House District 19, many of them were in attendance at Hardin's Country Store (a fine eating establishment, let me tell you!). A lot of kids worked for his campaign, making signs, going door-to-door, etc.
The first thing that the esteemed Superior Educator did to sabotage Mr. Martin's campaign was to insist that he wasn't a 'real teacher.' This comes as a shock to Mr. Martin's friends, who knew that he had been employed the year prior at Marks Middle School (you know, the town John Edwards is so fond of-because its' poor), and to the state, which issued him a license (which, by the way, is more than a few employees of Mooreville School can claim, but that didn't stop Mr. Green from handing them some prominent responsibilities).
The second was to help spread the rumor that Mr. Martin preferred the love that dare not speak its name. Judging by the past behavior of the Lee County School District when a teacher was discovered to engage in such, it's a wonder Mr. Martin was allowed to remain there. I guess Mr. Green had better things to do that week.
Finally, the coup de grace. Students were not allowed to display campaign buttons in school. I know, I know, I hear you: What about Tinker vs. Des Moines, you ask? Well, who's to let a pesky thing like Supreme Court rulings and First Amendment rights get in the way when you're trying to keep your party's establishment happy? That's not a can-do attitude, Mister.
Of course, that position was reversed a few years later. I know this, because Mr. Franks got to kick off his campaign at Mooreville High. I'm sure Mr. Green had a good reason to parade the entire school to the gym, disrupt the school day, and allow a person who once said he wouldn't come back to Mooreville High "unless it was to burn it down" kick off his campaign in the confines of a nice, 2,000 seat gym/auditorium (which is structurally unsound, by the way, and has been since it was built in the late '80s-early '90s, but I'm sure Mr. Green will get to that any day-after all, there's only so much time in the day and so many projects at Saltillo/Guntown to oversee). I don't know if he got cheerleaders to do a cheer using his name, and the band to play some Woody Guthrie for him-hey, does Mr. Franks even know who Woody Guthrie is?-while he espoused making our schools better.
If he wants to do that, maybe the students should spend less time as props for political rallies and more in the actual, you know, classroom.
I hope this policy will change, but I doubt it-Mr. Green has basically appointed his successor in the form of Shannon High School Principal Mike Scott, who is running unopposed for the seat. Once again, there's a story that the cheerleaders at the Daily Journal have buried their head in the sand and refused to investigate. Oh, well-maybe they'll look into it after August 7.
I have my doubts, and so should you.
See, in 2002, Jeremy Martin served as a long-term substitute at Mooreville High School, his alma mater, working with the Special Ed department for most of the year. The kids loved him, and when he announced his candidacy for House District 19, many of them were in attendance at Hardin's Country Store (a fine eating establishment, let me tell you!). A lot of kids worked for his campaign, making signs, going door-to-door, etc.
The first thing that the esteemed Superior Educator did to sabotage Mr. Martin's campaign was to insist that he wasn't a 'real teacher.' This comes as a shock to Mr. Martin's friends, who knew that he had been employed the year prior at Marks Middle School (you know, the town John Edwards is so fond of-because its' poor), and to the state, which issued him a license (which, by the way, is more than a few employees of Mooreville School can claim, but that didn't stop Mr. Green from handing them some prominent responsibilities).
The second was to help spread the rumor that Mr. Martin preferred the love that dare not speak its name. Judging by the past behavior of the Lee County School District when a teacher was discovered to engage in such, it's a wonder Mr. Martin was allowed to remain there. I guess Mr. Green had better things to do that week.
Finally, the coup de grace. Students were not allowed to display campaign buttons in school. I know, I know, I hear you: What about Tinker vs. Des Moines, you ask? Well, who's to let a pesky thing like Supreme Court rulings and First Amendment rights get in the way when you're trying to keep your party's establishment happy? That's not a can-do attitude, Mister.
Of course, that position was reversed a few years later. I know this, because Mr. Franks got to kick off his campaign at Mooreville High. I'm sure Mr. Green had a good reason to parade the entire school to the gym, disrupt the school day, and allow a person who once said he wouldn't come back to Mooreville High "unless it was to burn it down" kick off his campaign in the confines of a nice, 2,000 seat gym/auditorium (which is structurally unsound, by the way, and has been since it was built in the late '80s-early '90s, but I'm sure Mr. Green will get to that any day-after all, there's only so much time in the day and so many projects at Saltillo/Guntown to oversee). I don't know if he got cheerleaders to do a cheer using his name, and the band to play some Woody Guthrie for him-hey, does Mr. Franks even know who Woody Guthrie is?-while he espoused making our schools better.
If he wants to do that, maybe the students should spend less time as props for political rallies and more in the actual, you know, classroom.
I hope this policy will change, but I doubt it-Mr. Green has basically appointed his successor in the form of Shannon High School Principal Mike Scott, who is running unopposed for the seat. Once again, there's a story that the cheerleaders at the Daily Journal have buried their head in the sand and refused to investigate. Oh, well-maybe they'll look into it after August 7.
I have my doubts, and so should you.
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