Let’s keep it real. Many citizens will be concerned with race and representation. There is strength in diversity, but currently the Tennessee Congressional Delegation is not inclusive.(snip)During the last 30 years, I have gained invaluable experience and knowledge by serving as superintendent of one of the nation’s largest public school systems and as Mayor of the eighteenth largest city in America. It seems clear to me that the nation and the Ninth Congressional District could benefit from my vast executive experiences and those are just a few reasons I am seeking the office of Congressman of the Ninth Congressional District in the United States of America.
Read the rest here. Yeah, a 70-year-old guy who has been used to telling people what to do as an administrator for 30 years is going to do really well as a rookie Congressman who will be told to sit down, shut up, and vote as we tell you to. Yeah, that should work out JUST FINE.
Oh, and did he mention he's black and Steve Cohen isn't? Just in case you had forgotten. This, of course, means Cohen, despite the intensity with which he has represented his district, just can't represent this District like Herenton could, except that Cohen has been the best Congressman since Harold Ford Sr.
Mr. Mayor, I know you are going to be a fierce campaigner, since this is going to be your last attempt at public office, and I know you've never lost...YET. Your ONLY hope is to make this a black/white issue, and hope that the memories of 1991 carry the day. I have no doubt that Steve Cohen understands the difficulties of this campaign, and is preparing for it as I write.
However, it's not 1991 any more. You may not be Nikki Tinker, but Cohen isn't Herman Morris or Carol Chumney, either. The African-American community know how hard he busts his ass for them, because he HAS to. What would you do, other than sit in committee meetings trying to stay awake while wondering when the next lobbyist contribution comes in?
In the long run, Mr. Mayor, it is YOU who sullies the legacy of your first three terms by overstaying your welcome, bored and grumpy. Now that McGhee's leaving, you may have to work at being Mayor AND run for Congress. Good luck with that.
In the end, you may well be a historic figure, but at the rate you're going, you'll wind up on the scrap-heap of history. And as you are someone who was a role model to a whole community for a long time, that's a damn shame. However, there's no one to blame but the man in the mirror.
See you at Sidney's.
7 comments:
I like the slogan - "Let's Keep It Real". I might use that one day.
This is going to be a nasty race for the 9th District.
The worst thing Cohen can do is try to win over Herenton's solid base and get into a street fight with Herenton.
The talk amongst many intelligent people I know who can vote in that race is Cohen has more support than he probably think he does.
I want to contribute to Cohen's campaign, but I'm momentarily (one hopes only momentarily)tapped out from the continuing sucky economy, the looming property taxes, the Presidential campaign, contributing to all the social service agencies, and Cohen's last two races.
This is truly a situation where the lousy state of Memphis economics works in favor of the mayor, unless one stops to think about who drove the local (as opposed to the US) economy into the ditch.-CD
All this garbage about how the 9th seat being a black seat is a fucking LIE. It means that, according to Nikki, Sidney, and now Willie that neither I nor my children nor my grandchilren or theirs should ever be elected to congress in the 9th district because they are the wrong color. Can you believe this SHIT?
Do the perpetrators of this crap really believe it, or is it just a campaign rhetoric of the most divisive sort. Besides, hasn't this bullshit already failed miserably twice?
"Bored and grumpy." I like that.
Anon 8:39, I like the cut of your jib.
Herenton is trying to perpetuate the old style politics by playing the race card which unfortunately has worked time after time, for white and black politicians.
I would hope that Cohen will stay away from that rhetoric and train his troops to do the same. They don't need to be out there shouting "King Willie" and using excessive profanity (eg Anon 8:39) but use more of populist argument that Herenton has made his fortune and is just there for his ego but you the voters need jobs, jobs, jobs and cohen is producing.
This is also classic Dog-whistle politics used by many politicians(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog-whistle_politics). A carefully coded message. Never underestimate the mayor.
I wouldn't get upset, because there's many more to come.
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