The Root

Today I heard Mr. Reginald Williams the principal of Kirby High school and he gave me hope for the future of our city schools. I didn't hear the whole interview, but I like what I heard. Instead of always going out and trying to recruit some superintendent with a five star resume. We need some front line soldiers with time already served in the trenches. These are the kind of people we need in positions of responsibility and influence in this city. He didn't sound like Barack Obama or Jamal Bryant in his delivery but he definitely got his point across. He seems to truly understand and operate under the premise that there is no I in the word team.
He was acknowledging to his staff almost to a fault. A spirit of humility isn't something most leaders have to overcome.


Enough about his style of administration and character. He has accumulated some impressive numbers rating his effectiveness as well. He has to a degree turned Kirby High School around. He has went from a 30% to 70% graduation rate with real high school diplomas. They were passing out what are called "Tennis Diplomas " at an alarming rate. I blogged about this some time ago. It was obviously bigger on a local level than I though. ttp://indepcons.blogspot.com/search?q=certificate+of+completion I like the way he has gone back to the basics while keeping up with the pace.All the while stressing discipline and accountability. We'll get to the branches later, let's first get to the root.

Even A Broken Clock Is Right Twice A Day

This is what happens when you side with Democrats. I find myself in agreement with some of the most unlikely of people these days. I take issue with most of the stances this group of ministers take. Anything Lasimba Gray and Dwight Montgomery put their hands on is usually race based. And Rev. Jackson is quickly building a reputation of doing the same thing. I am less critical of Rev. Montgomery than I am Rev.Gray. He at least lives and pastors a church in the city limits. Neither of which is true when it comes to Gray. Montgomery tries to be a voice for those who otherwise might be overlooked. So often Montgomery is fighting on behalf of what he believes his congregation needs.
That's not the case with Gray. His main objective is the press conference. is track record supports my assessment. http://indepcons.blogspot.com/2007/07/just-jockeying-for-position.html This time they even enlisted the help of State Rep. G.A. Hardaway another publicity seeker himself. But I agree with one of their positions this time. I just as vehemently disagree with the other two though. If there is a way that we can save the taxpayers the cost of an election, I'm definitely on board. Even a broken clock is right twice a day.

Another Straw

If the field of candidates stays the same Sharon Webb probably will have maintained the same standing she had in the last race. She finished fifth last time and if no one else declares their candidacy she will probably do it again. I understand she comes from a large family and is the pastor of a small church. Neither has had a tremendous growth spurt in the last year. They probably made up for 90% of the 510 votes she received and this time they'll make up half. Like Jerry Lawler she's just another straw.

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At first I was wondering why in the world would Jerry Lawler be entering in the Mayor's race? He is like the protest candidate who is in every race. He really has no chance of winning but he'll draw attention. This might be the straw that broke the camel's back though. The Mayor announced he was delaying his resignation until the end of the month. Everybody with any name recognition at all is getting in this race. Lawler's main business is Wrestling and fireworks. We have a couple of months before our next holiday and Wrestling isn't real popular these days. Jerry Lawler is like the local P.T. Barnum. He is just getting free advertisement for both his businesses

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Steve McNair (1973-2009)

Then And Now

Beauty has always been a matter of personal preference. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

In The Other Direction

I had the opportunity to hear the author, political analyst and activist Angela McGlowan the other day and I was somewhat impressed. She was co-host on a weekly talk show and she handled it like a seasoned pro. In spite of her being a former Beauty Queen and a Fox News contributor now. She has a down to earth quality and a instantaneous command of the facts as it pertains to politics. Like most Conservatives do when engaging in a debate with Liberals, she went through them like a hot knife through butter.. I didn't hear her say anything I hadn't heard before. It was just odd hearing it come from a black female outside my house. My wife is the most Conservative black woman I know. But like the majority of people who share our views hasn't written a book.

Hold up, wait a minute, and stop the press t's the same thing in the other diecton.. Let's not celebrate breaking down any barriers just yet. I see something wrong with this picture that most people don't see. She was well received by people that are usually anti-Conservative so I should be happy you would think. But I'm not so sure her converts represent a true conversion. She made two other little publicized appearances in places that were moderate at best. She was at World Overcomes and KWAM incognito. Makes me give some thought to one of the criticisms I had earlier dismissed. Is she just the latest trophy mouthpiece saying what she's told.or implementing the latest plan to get a man with a six figure income? If indeed this is true we're just jumping from the skillet to the frying pan. It's the same thing in the other direction.

Courtesy Of Cohen

Hopefully Edmund Ford couldn't possibly win any seat other than the one presently held by his son. But stranger things have happened. You would think he would get somewhere keep a low profile and be quiet. Since it was by the grace of God that he wasn't found guilty in his last trial. It was like payback for the Rodney King verdict. He got off in spite of them having him taking money on tape.This is exactly what I was afraid would happen when he got off. Instead of being humbled by the experience and cleaning up their act. He would feel vindicated and show up somewhere else in politics. Now we see another one of those backroom deals that got him in trouble when he was in office. Coming out and rearing it's ugly head at the worst possible time.

Why would Edmund Ford enter into the special election? He has to know he has about as much chance of winning as a ice cube lasting in an oven. I bet he won't spend over a hundred dollars on this campaign. He can do whatever damage he is going to do for free. Any votes he is going to get he already has. Just the mention of his name brought out the television cameras and news reporters. Now hemust be considered as a serious candidate. Even though he has the credibility of a can of kraut. At first I thought Carol Chumney may have been behind all these people getting in the race. After further thought I eliminated her as a possibility. Willie Herenton deciding not to resign wouldn't be to her benefit. It would only prolong her agony. Then it came to me who it would benefit and why. The more time and energy Willie Herenton spends on being the Mayor of Memphis. The less time he has to focus on running for Congress and beating him. Him being none other than the infamous Steve Cohen. Just last week Harold Ford Sr. held a fundraiser for him. But we know money doesn't necessarily mean votes. Even though Edmund and his family don't get along. Blood is still thicker than water. I bet big brother Harold had a word with him. Ed Ford joining the race is courtesy of Cohen.

He Needs To Be Muzzled

This commissioners main claim to fame is his close friendship with Mayor Willie Herenton and his ties to the Teamsters Union. In the past my respect of his position was based on what I thought were his religious convictions. I thought there were certain things he just wouldn't do or say publicly as a matter of principle. Obviously I was wrong Today I found out different. My level of respect for him just went down a couple of rungs. I can't vote for him anyway though, because I don't live in his district. If I did he surely wouldn't get my support now. As long as we have people like him in office, the race issue won't improve in Memphis. Today I heard him make some of the most divisive comments I have ever heard one elected official make about another one. Now I see where Willie Herenton's militant side is coming from. He is simply reflectimg the racists, one sided conversations he engages in with his close friends.

Hopefully we're approaching a new day in how political power is gained in Memphis. This just goes to show how influence has been acquired in the past. All the black voters in Memphis can't be bought with a smoke sausage sandwich some baked beans and a Big K drink. It takes more than a annual picnic to make up for a whole year of polarized votes. This guy is nothing more than a undercover Henri Brooks. Who unfortunately is joined by the media at the hip to the mayor. Everything he says makes the news these days. I have always stood with Mayor Herenton on his positions concerning race because I knew where he was coming from. Though he don't always have the best choice of words. I knew it was always about fairness with him. Commissioner Chism wants to stack the deck though. To imply that hiring a qualified white to a position would set this city back forty years is ridiculous. Blacks have been in charge now for at least eighteen of those. They should be able to compete on merit alone. I hope the Mayor doesn't let the commissioner dig him a trench with his mouth. He needs to be muzzled.