Monday, May 4, 2009

Robert Johnson for Mayor.

I am supporting Robert Johnson to become Mayor of Jackson. I am not basing my vote on who has the best chance of winning or who I don't want to see Mayor but who I actually think is the best choice for Jackson to make. That choice is Robert Johnson.

Jackson is at a crossroads. Crime is at levels last seen in the early 1990's as in 2008, there were 75 homicides, the fifth-highest on record. JPD is in shambles. The last thing Jackson needs is the same crime that drove out so many fifteen years ago to do the same to those now trying to make a difference. Jackson faces seemingly endless competition from the suburbs while its tax base declines. One term of Frank destroyed morale and wrecked city government. After years of decline, Jackson does have a glimmer of hope with the renaissance of Downtown and Fondren, a glimmer that can spread to the rest of the city. Our future is at a crucial point right now and its imperative this time we get it right at the ballot box. We can't afford leaders for whom the Mayor's office will be a first full-time job or simply a job-training program. We need someone serious. Someone who doesn't pander or worry about polls. Someone who knows how to listen to everyone yet has the backbone to make decisions when needed. Jackson requires not just someone who claims to be an expert on everything but who also knows what he doesn't know. Such a person will be more inclined to seek the advice and counsel of true experts for the betterment of us all. Jackson does not need a planner or manager sitting in that chair but an actual leader. Leadership learned through experience and skill.

There are many candidates seeking to end the Melton disaster. Harvey thinks the Mayor's office is something he is entitled to as he still doesn't realize why so many people voted against him. Harvey served his two terms, which is enough for any mayor. No one should think of being Mayor as a career. Jackson needs change and fresh thinking, not old leaders from the past who've had their day and were rejected. Horhn is a good man with a good platform but has never actually run anything of substance, much less a city with a budget over $300 million. Crisler has never been anything but a street level cop, has never even actually run a department, yet somehow he is supposed to be qualified to understand running a capital city. The same Char-loving shysters who say being a cop makes him qualified to be Mayor would never allow a paralegal to be the managing partner at Phelps Dunbar. Can one imagine Jeff Goode allowing a busboy or waiter to operate all of his restaurants because he's "been in the restaurant business" for years? Please. Then there is Melton. Crime. Wrecked budgets. The constant lying. No arrests for drug sales for a whole year. The drinking. A JPD that has become even more of a joke with Chiefs such as Tyronne Lewis pimping their jobs out at every chance while they are rewarded for it. Frank needs to be thrown out of office as soon as possible.

Robert Johnson is a leader. While other candidate talk about their plans to fight crime, plans based on nothing but studies and ideas, Robert Johnson is uniquely qualified to lead Jackson in crafting a comprehensive crime plan based on actual experience. Johnson has always led from the front and doesn't need a consultant or mentor to tell him when or how to lead. One can look at Jackson's crime statistics for the last twenty years and see by the drop in crime when Johnson was Chief. Johnson ran the Mississippi Department of Corrections (with a budget comparable to Jackson's.). The two who performed best in the debates were the Brothers Johnson: Robert and Havey. Robert Johnson will put an end to a JPD run by pimps and rejects who can't get a job anywhere else. A Robert Johnson administration will make fighting crime a serious priority that will help all Jacksonians, not just those in a particular area or friends of the right politician.

While Johnson understands crime-fighting, he also understands how important economic development is to Jackson's future. Johnson sees the surrounding communities as neighbors and potential partners, not competitors. He knows how important the current projects are and how important a partnership with Jackson's business community is to our future. However, stopping crime is economic development as businesses will go where customers are and customers aren't going where they are in danger. Businesses and customers expect action and support from the city, not plans, excuses, or a Mayor telling them their problems are a "perception". Johnson is a straight-shooter who doesn't always tell someone what he wants to hear or allow himself to be "managed" by others. He'll stand up to business interests who seek to rip-off Jackson or politicians who try to kill business projects just to make themselves look good at our expense

Robert Johnson is not the best talker. He's not smoooove. He doesn't give the best speech. Begging others for money is not his forte. Being a lapdog so the press will like him as never been his style. He doesn't have 20 talking points that have been drilled into his brain for years with little other thought behind them as do other candidates. He's not even the best candidate.

He's just the best man for the job.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well stated....

Thanks for Asking said...

When it comes to a complete top-to-bottom proactive and reactive approach to crime there is no candidate in the race with anywhere near the credentials of Robert Johnson. Bar none.

Also, thank you, thank you Kingfish for recognizing that addressing crime is the most important tool in Jackson's economic development kit. Our tax base has not been ravaged by businesses and residents streaming for the exits because we didn't have some fancy downtown with daiquiri bars.

Anonymous said...

Lose your neighborhoods, lose your city.

Anonymous said...

I have been supporting Robert for mayor from the start, even though I dont expect him to win. Your article, however, just made me feel good about it, win or lose. Sometimes the best candidate doesnt win.

Anonymous said...

I attended the debate and was impressed by R. Johnson. To me, he and Horhn had the most to say, and both stayed out of the name calling and finger pointing that the others tended to dabble in.

Depressed said...

Ask Robert Johnson about the details of the city, and he will tell you. [Or HJ, JH, or EF]

Ask Crisler, and you will get a "deer in the headlights" big time.

Wait til he is debated by anyone else in the run-off.

The "handlers" [BC, RG, JG, LO or LS] have a job on their hands.

The man [MC] defines "lightweight".

Shame on Jeff.

Anonymous said...

Crisler would do fine, but he's probably out of his depth with Horhn and the two Johnsons in the race. In a normal election year he'd clean house.

stilettoGOP said...

Happy cinco de mayo and voting day. Let's get lit and go to the polls. ..Its how frank would want it.

Schizo said...

You can't buy alcohol on election day, Stilletto. Sorry.

stilettoGOP said...

Tell that to the flask in my Louis.

Yal have a good one..

Autogyro said...

Surely that blue law was overturned some time ago, wasn't it, stilleto?

Autogyro said...

I mean "stiletto." Sorry - I misspelled your name.

Kingfish said...

Never stopped me before.

stilettoGOP said...

Law schmaw.

In a bad mood. Yal will have to excuse me.

KP said...

and you made fun of donna ladd for her endorsement???? wow

Anonymous said...

To have fun on the fourth, buy a fifth on the third.

--Dean Martin



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Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

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Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


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Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

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