Thursday, December 30, 2010

A Message From Wade Munday

Wade, for those who may not know, is the former communications director for the TNDP, and now seeks its Chair.  While I have no vote, I urge those who do to support him.  His message:


Dear Executive Committee members,
Despite the hope of a New Year, our party faces many challenges.  I am writing to ask for your presence and your vote at the next meeting of the Tennessee Democratic Party Executive Committee on January 8th in Nashville.  In our search for unity and a new party chair; however, let us not forget the unprecedented economic hardships our neighbors are going through each day. The Democratic Party reflects the values of Tennesseans concerned about longstanding job creation.  Our immediate priority is to work together for our neighbors struggling through these hard times.
When Republicans begin to govern, it is imperative that we communicate more effectively.  Eight years of a Republican presidency wreaked havoc on our economy and environment.  People suffered. There is no reason to believe that four or eight years of the same governance in Tennessee would be any different.  And on behalf of concerned Tennesseans of a younger generation, we will not be silent about a Republican Party that governs without regard for individuals and their families. 
MESSAGE
My plan to lead our party into a new era starts as we develop our message and build a robust communications infrastructure. In the process of getting that message to every corner of the state, we will engage future candidates at every level of government; candidates concerned about improving their communities.  We will equip them to the best of our ability with media training, policy and research briefings, and by maintaining close contact with them throughout the election cycle.  As your chair, I will be on your side in the messaging battle.  We will present a unified voice to the people of Tennessee.
ORGANIZATION
Your state party will be managed efficiently, utilizing the strengths of our volunteer-led groups and individuals.  My first goal is to eliminate wasteful spending and to trim excess, beginning with the salary of the chair.  I will propose that the roles of the chair and the executive director be combined for a probationary period.  I will propose new uses for updated technology and social networking tools.  Ironically, our current investments in technology have been more expensive to implement and manage because of a lack of understanding about their functions.  As a former director of a non-profit organization, I know how to manage an organization and its resources.  I have successfully raised capital and led a large team of staff and volunteers.  I propose we rethink our organizational structure at this critical time.

LEADERSHIP
I will lead in such a way that the next party chair in 2012 will inherit a clear message for voters, an efficient organization, and a unified.  The Tennessee Democratic Party is not dependent upon one individual to implement a two or a four-year plan.  Thinking in those terms already limits us to the capabilities of an imperfect person.  Thinking in those terms also limits us to only two or four year plans. Together, as we strive for more perfect unity, we can become a force more powerful in our state. 

I have lived through the experiences that have made Tennessee a much different place than it was fifty years ago.  Through those experiences I have understood rural and urban voters.  I studied ministry at Vanderbilt Divinity School, and I respect the freedom of religion as much as those who choose not to practice any religion.  I grew up the son of a postal worker in Middle Tennessee, but I have mediated arguments between executive board members.  I have the leadership qualities that can bring us together at this point in time.  I respect the term of service that the current chair has offered to us, but he is incapable of uniting our party.  Integrity begins when we admit what we cannot do.  Courage is when we develop a plan to overcome our long odds.  Right now we must concentrate on these things first: establish our message as the minority party in Tennessee, build up our Democratic organization, and elect a unifying leader.  The least we can do is to leave Tennessee better than when we found it.  I plan to take my stand as someone willing to do that now, and to build up the future of our party.

I look forward to seeing you on January 8th in Nashville; and following that, I anticipate being in your districts immediately.  Have a happy New Year.
Respectfully submitted,

Wade Munday

Friday, December 24, 2010

The ONLY Video I Would Put Up for Feel Good Friday On Christmas Eve

It's Nat, of course.  May you all have the greatest Christmas ever, see you back Sunday or so with my take on the coming takeover of SCS by MCS, won't it be glorious?  Peace, friends.


Nat King Cole  The Christmas Song
Uploaded by avajra. - Explore more music videos.

Monday, December 20, 2010

YEEEEE-HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

The MCS Board voted 5-4 to let the citizens of the City vote on whether to surrender the Charter, leading to merger with SCS.

And on the same night, the Bears CLINCHED the NFC North, whipping the Vikings 40-14 (note: Johnny Knox dropped a sure TD and knocked me out of my Fantasy playoffs).

Oh, and this picture makes me think that's Tomeka Hart looking down at Jeff Warren after the vote:

Courtesy AP and the Chicago Sun-Times

You have to read Ross today

Go check out his adapted version of A NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS.

Deflation - a Video

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Jeff Warren: Peace In Our Time?

Yes, if you guessed that was a Neville Chamberlain reference, you would be correct.  My School Board Commissioner, whom I like and for whom I voted (and probably will again) has a well-meaning op-ed-piece in this morning's Commercial Appeal suggesting that we need to sit down and talk with our friends across the border of the city limits in Shelby County to prevent wholesale destruction of our county and city's educational systems.  Hell, I agree with a lot of his piece, until he writes this:

We also cannot legislate a conscience or sense of morality. We have proved that forced busing weakens public education. We have a more segregated MCS than we had before busing. Why does anyone think that forcing county residents (some of whom moved away from Memphis to get away from forced busing) to merge with MCS will produce different results? We need a different approach. We need MAD: Mutually Assured Dedication.
Just what does that entail? MCS would agree not to relinquish its charter and SCS would not accept special-school-district status. If either school district did not live up to the agreement, the other would be entitled to deal its trump card.
MCS automatically would be part of the new SCS special school district if SCS obtained that status. Likewise, SCS would automatically be allowed to form a separate special school district should MCS try to force consolidation by renouncing its charter.
Commissioner Warren suggests that we give up the last bit of leverage we have in this city? Sir, let me put this in the plainest of terms:  you do NOT negotiate with economic terrorists.  You do NOT try to shake hands with werewolves, you break out the silver bullets and SHOOT THEM.  APPEASEMENT DOES NOT WORK.  If he were alive, you could ask the aforementioned Mr. Chamberlain.

Commissioner, every Shelby County GOP legislator could try a faux attempt to stop such legislation (with a nod and a wink, no doubt) and watch "helplessly" as the SSD bill sailed through both houses and got signed by the Governor. THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE POWER TO DO IT.  They have waited for 35 years to have this chance, and don't think for a second that they won't pass this legislation.

Oh, the residents of the areas in the county outside the city will cry and scream and threaten to sell their houses, but how many of them have underwater mortgages?  Think they will be ABLE to sell them at anything close to what they paid, even if this fails?  I'll let Senator Clay Davis of Baltimore, Maryland answer that one.

In short, we have them by the short and curlies, and we need to act NOW.  Monday is the earliest possible moment, and I urge EVERY MEMPHIS CITIZEN to contact their MCS Commissioner to urge them to vote for surrender of the MCS Charter.  Ok, don't bother with Reverend Whalum, he can't be moved, but work on the others.  We MUST surrender this charter; John Branston was spot-on in his Flyer column this week and he says the very same thing!

Ross also has a great piece up on this situation; he's more well reasoned and nicer about this than I am, but well, that's why you come HERE, isn't it?  :-)

I will end this by stealing a line from a guy who also happens to be from my old home town of Dixon, IL.  To paraphrase ol' Ronnie:

MR. PICKLER, TEAR DOWN THAT WALL.

Thursday, December 09, 2010

We have a candidate in District 98!

 
Antonio "2Shay" Parkinson, the hardest-workin' man in Frayser and Raleigh, announced on Facebook that he is a candidate to succeed his mentor, the late Representative Ulysses Jones as representative of House 98.

While we do not yet know who else will run, I believe he would be the best candidate to succeed the North Memphis firefighter who became a powerhouse in Nashville.  I support Antonio for this office.

Here's a nice video from the Census Bureau that explains reapportionment

OK, time for Big Shelby's Democrats to get off their butts

In case you were doing other things yesterday, the Gov-elect, Bill Haslam, swooped into town long enough to grab our Attorney General, Bill Gibbons, and take him to Nashville as the state's incoming Safety & Homeland Security Commissioner.  Deputy AG Amy Weirich, who has served as deputy since August of this year, was named to succeed AG Gibbons, and she announced right then that she would seek a full 8-year-term in 2012.

All right, Democrats, what the hell are you going to do about this?  I yelled and screamed the last time Gibbons was up that someone needed to start raising money early and get ready to run.  No one did, Gail Mathes got in at that last minute, did what she could with little cash, and was summarily squashed.

What we do NOT need is some fool getting in the AG race with no money who thinks that just having the Democratic nomination will guarantee them victory; how did that work last August?  The SCDP, RIGHT FREAKING NOW, needs to start screening candidates, even though the actual election will not be until August 2012.  They need to find good candidates who understand how to run county-wide, and can raise the money to do so.  They need to find people who are WELL-QUALIFIED for the position, and tell those who have no money and are just looking for a job to stay the hell out of the race.

Yes, they DO need to do that.  Technically speaking, Democrats make up a majority of this county, yet our county offices are almost all held by Republicans.  Why?  Because even the good candidates that we had last year (and there weren't that many of them) couldn't raise any freaking money and depended on the Party to carry them.  Again, how'd that work for them?

(Ahem.  I am certainly aware of the problems with the Election Commission.  Yes, the machines sucked.   Yes, there were enough questions that the election should have been tossed.  But that was NOT why our African-American Democratic base did not turn out, and if you think so, you are deluding yourselves.)

So, Van Turner and the ExecCom, whatcha gonna do about this?  This is EXACTLY the type of thing that you folks need to be looking into.  Start recruiting candidates and doing what it takes.  By the way, you can find more than one; your job is to get as many as you can so that the base will be EXCITED about voting, and to discourage the people who run because they need a job from running.

Find candidates who won't be afraid to go to the eastern parts of the county to campaign (and not just at the G-Town meetings, either).  Find candidates who will do targeted mailings and knock on doors and not just go to rallies in the home areas.

Happy Holidays, SCDP, you have a big job to do, and you need to start NOW.

Wednesday, December 08, 2010

30 years ago tonight

If you were, as I was, watching Monday Night Football, you heard Howard Cosell give us this awful news:


I will never forget it as long as I live.

Yoko has a lovely remembrance of John Lennon in the Times today.  He is still very much missed.

My friend Mike Brester took this photo of Strawberry Fields in Central Park:

Here's Rachel on Obama's Capitulation


Friday, December 03, 2010

A Late Feel Good Friday

NashvilleNewscoma, I see your Tori Amos and raise you Marvin and Tammi!



RIP Ron Santo

The legendary Cubs 3rd baseman (who should be in the Hall of Fame) and broadcaster for the last 20 years passed away this morning due to complications from bladder cancer.

It is a travesty that the Veterans Committee never voted him into the Hall of Fame.

I had the great fortune to be there in 2003 when his number 10 was retired at Wrigley Field, here's a picture of Ron talking to ESPN analyst Dave Campbell:

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

No, we're not going to have a new Charter Commission tomorrow

What Steve Mulroy is proposing is that the Commission go on record, simply, as NOT BEING OPPOSED TO THE CONCEPT of consolidation, even though the title of this post by JB might lead you otherwise.

This charter that was defeated was hard to vote for, and it was hard to defend to people.  Don't you think for a minute that CONSOLIDATION is going away, though.  As soon as it is LEGAL to do so, there will be another proposal for another Charter Commission.  If this one is done better, with more transparency in every sense of the word, it might have a chance to pass.

Not only that, if the Mutually Assured Destruction path continues for the schools, they may already be merged by then, so it will be a moot point.  If you agree with me that consolidation is worth thinking about, come on down to the County Commission meeting around 12:30 tomorrow.  Also, email your Commissioners on the subject, they want to know what you think, and that the county is not as one-sided as they have been led to believe.

This isn't going away, folks, not now, not until it passes someday.

Sunday, November 28, 2010

It Was A Grand Time

As you are aware, our beloved Newscoma is in the process of becoming NashvilleNewscoma, and they threw a magnificent going-away party at The Looking Glass in Martin last night; yours truly was privileged to attend.  After having a magnificent martini at Olivia's Opera House beforehand, we went across the street for the party.

Her friends, some of whom I had met on my earlier visit, had gotten together to give her a gift, and I was also allowed to take part in that as well. Of course, the night belonged to Trace, as it should have, and she gave a grand going-away speech as expected.  Here it is in fabulous High Definition:

Saturday, November 20, 2010

SCREW SCS, Let's Drop The Big One

If the legislature decides they are going to let Shelby County Schools become a Special School District, then let's make it bigger than they had planned.

BIG props to MCS Commissioner Tomeka Hart for leading the fight to surrender the MCS Charter if this happens.  Hell, I say let's do it anyway.  If they think they can educate the poverty-stricken youth of Memphis better than we can, let SCS do it.

That would A) REDUCE property taxes in the City, B) INCREASE property taxes in the rest of the County, C) force SCS to redraw the School Board lines to reflect a county-wide district, and D) that means the City dominates the County, as it SHOULD. Oh, and E) provides a SINGLE funding source for education for the ENTIRE county.

So, all you people out there say you'll sell your houses and move?  TRY IT, I DARE YOU.  See how far you'll get in this economy, I have NO sympathy for you.  You're stuck with us, so you had damn well start trying to work with us, because there has never been a wall built that can't be knocked down,

Ask the Germans.

Friday, November 19, 2010

We Welcome Back An Old Friend With A New Blog

Our friend Blinders Off returns to blogging with a new blog about her home area called LIVING IN MILLINGTON.  Of course, it can be found down and to the right in THE ENDLESS BLOGROLL; We invite you to go there often, and put it in your RSS feed as well.

Welcome back!!

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Can You Help the Mid-South Food Bank?

I was stunned when this CA headline came over my RSS reader today:

No turkeys donated to Mid-South Food Bank yet for holidays 

That startled me, to say the least, as we are a week and two days from Thanksgiving. Folks, I know times are tough, and if you can't do anything, I understand.  If you CAN, however, why not run by your local grocery in the next couple of days , pick up a turkey and take it to the Food Bank at 239 South Dudley, between Union and Linden. They are open Monday-Thursday from 8 AM-4 PM, and from 8 AM-12 Noon on Fridays.

I intend to do that very thing tomorrow morning, and I hope you can, too, because they really need it.  

Don't forget the District 6 School Board Runoff

With thanks to Dee Nollner for the heads up.  Note: If I lived in District 6, my choice would be Cherry Davis, with whom I served on the ExecCom.  She would be a fresh face and would do a great job on the MCS Board.

Special District 6 Memphis City School Board Election  
 
Since no candidate received a majority of the votes cast in November, there will be a
 Special Election – December 7 for
 
 District 6 of the Memphis City School Board 
Early voting November 17 – Dec 2
at
157 Poplar  8 a.m.  4:30 p.m.
Saturday November 20 – 10 – 4 p.m.
closed Thursday, Nov 25 thru Saturday, Nov 27 for Thanksgiving
 
Satellite location: Riverside Baptist Church 3560 S. 3rd St
 Nov 29 – Dec 2, 10:00 a.m – 7:00 p.m.
 
On Election Day you may only vote in your regular precinct
As listed on your voter registration card..
 
Two run-off  candidates from the November election are:
 Sara Lewis   (8,289 votes)
                             Cherry Davis (3,374 votes)
The other four candidates received between 290 to 3,145 votes.
Only residents in Dist 6 will be able to vote in this run-off election. This is the only item on the ballot but it is important that you make your choice known.
 
Check your voter registration card or go to www.shelbyvote.com
to determine your School Board District.
 
1. Select Precinct Locator on far right side of the page
2. Put street number in top box, street name in second block
(do not put “Street, Rd” etc and only put the first part of a double named street)
3. The next screen will ask you to confirm the street information
    The next screen will display all your districts.
 
The Shelby County Election Commission number is 545-4136

Preach It, Keith

Friday, November 12, 2010

Curry Todd Went WAY Over The Line

Now, I don't think for a minute that Curry Todd said anything that the majority of his constituents would oppose; that's why I live in the freaking CITY and not out in the burbs with those morons.  What? You haven't seen the video yet?  Well, hell, go look for yourselves!



This is objectionable on so many levels, but Polar Donkey NAILS why the use of rats as a metaphor for immigrants is so evil: it's the same one the Nazis used to dehumanize the Jews, and he has the video to PROVE it.  (Note: Don't you DARE bring up GODWIN'S LAW to me; only right-wingers use it to justify douchebaggery.)

Curry Todd will not be reproached by his district; hell, they would probably want to execute everyone who doesn't watch FOX NEWS.  If you are an actual left-of-center person who has him for a Rep, I feel for you, but hope you can escape at the earliest moment possible.

If we don't bust the balls of EVERYONE who uses such fascist language (and that IS what it is, nobody uses code like the GOP), then we will be living in a fascist nation, and SOON.  I LOVED yesterday's protests, keep the heat on him.  You damn well know he knows better.

UPDATE: Here's a good take on this from VVixen.

A DIFFERENT Feel Good Friday

Ok, this is odd, but there's something unsettling and yet endearing about this, a mashup of Miley Cyrus and Biggie.  Hat Tip to Deadspin.  Oh yeah, the Biggie part is probably NSFW.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Services for Rep. Ulysses Jones, Jr.

with thanks to Gale Jones Carson...


Home Going Services for State Representative Ulysses Jones Jr.

Wake/Visitation
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Middle Baptist Church
4982 Knight Arnold Road
(901) 332-4799
3 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Visitation
Monday, November 15, 2010
Hope Presbyterian: 8500 Walnut Grove
10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Funeral Service
Monday, November 15, 2010
Hope Presbyterian: 8500 Walnut Grove
12 p.m.

Tuesday, November 09, 2010

Rep. Ulysses Jones has passed away

Jackson Baker is reporting the death of 12-term legislator Ulysses Jones (D-North Memphis) last night after an illness.  Jones was a longtime committee chair and had just been re-elected to a 13th term. Cause of death appears to be a collapsed lung.

Please remember his family and his colleagues in the legislature and the Memphis Fire Department in your prayers; this is a significant loss for Memphis and Shelby County and we mourn his passing.

Monday, November 08, 2010

Commissioner Ford, can I offer some friendly advice?

This profile of newly-elected District 3 Commissioner Justin Ford even brought out David Holt's cranky-old-white-man, and Dave's not even 30 yet:
He manages to talk about himself in the third person and to announce his intention to get elected to Congress, the mayorship, and King of the World (I'm sure the last one got lost in editing.)
 Commissioner Ford, I fear you're getting bad advice; what may work for Yo Gotti may not work for you, especially if you ever want to be elected to any position beyond your district.  First, you've only been on the Commission for TWO MONTHS, you haven't done anything yet, and you got there primarily due to the great work done by your father and your late Uncle James when they held that seat.

To paraphrase an old saying, "Actions talk, bullshit walks".  DO SOMETHING, then you can brag about it all you want.  When you talk in advance about what you're going to do, you put a target on your back, and you look like a fool if you don't achieve what you've said you would achieve.

Want a good role model?  First, look at your father, who did yeoman work first on the City Council and then The County Commission, and rarely bragged even when he had things to brag about.  Too close to home?  Then look at your cousin Edmund on the City Council; he is quiet, but does outstanding work and would have a reasonable chance to win if he decided to run for higher office.  Like your father, he did the work FIRST, then talked about it.

In case you missed the lesson of the August elections, when you run city or county-wide, you have to reach EVERY section of that area.  Even if your father fell short, he proved that Democrats could get votes in areas once thought inhospitable for any candidate with a D next to their name.  Speaking as you did to the CA sends a bad message to those areas, and you will now have to work twice as hard if you ever want higher office.

You're young, and you'll make mistakes, but remember that any mistakes you make now affect not just your fledgling career, but your constituents as well.  You have four years, do what you need to do, but don't TELL us what you're going to do, just do it.

If that happens, you'll be in great shape. If it doesn't, you won't have as much time as you think.

Wednesday, November 03, 2010

Revenge of the Old White People!!!!

First, US House-wise, the majority of the Democratic losses were Blue Dogs, which means appeasement doesn't work.  The rest lost because they were horribly outspent in this post-Citizens United world.  We'll have gridlock for the next two years.  Enough about that.

Let us now speak of the Tennessee Democratic Party, which essentially was blown off the map last night. Democrats lost FOURTEEN seats in the State House, 2 vacated seats and 12 incumbents. Of these 12 incumbents, 11 were in rural areas.  Only District 60, in Davidson County, was in an urban area.

Outgoing rep Henry Fincher was quoted as saying the President "poisoned the well".  For what? Having the audacity to be elected President While Black?  Yet, I suspect that he may have summed up what happened in the rural area; this was payback to Democrats for nominating and electing, a, well, you know.

How am I so sure from my liberal enclave here in the Bluff City?  Well, EVERY Democratic rep was tied to Obama and Pelosi, which was ridiculous. It's the moral equivalent of screaming the N-Word, and in the South, it cost everyone.

Look no further than Senator Doug Jackson of Dickson, a Democrat who got the NRA endorsement and sponsored the guns-in-bars legislation. HE STILL LOST.  Democrats who wouldn't know what a liberal was if you gave them a picture of Hubert Humphrey were tagged as SOCIALIST CONSPIRATORS OF OBAMA AND PELOSI and beaten.

There is no point in bashing Chip Forrester, he won't be around much longer as TNDP Chair, I suspect, though he had little to with this.  The truth is, we started dying after the attempt to get an income tax failed.  Rather than trying to advance an agenda, they got scared, they hunkered down, and last night was the final straw.

The final totals?  in the State House, R 64, D 34, and Independent Kent Williams, who will soon grasp the meaning of the song One Is The Loneliest Number. In the Senate, 20 Republicans, 13 Democrats.  Oh, and Bill Haslam was elected Governor to the surprise of no one.  That happens when you have an unlimited supply of money.  Mike McWherter gave it a good shot, but on a night when all of the old West Tennessee Democratic team than ran the state was beaten (EXCEPT FOR NAIFEH, HE WILL NEVER DIE, BWAHAHA), it was sadly fitting that the progeny of the greatest Governor of my lifetime was beaten badly.

We aren't just in the wilderness, people, we're in Mad Max country.

The GOP is in total control of government and in control of redistricting, although in reality they got pretty much everything they could ever want here last night.  John Ryder is a man who will know that without being told, as Vito Corleone would say.  We don't know the census numbers yet, so we don't know what will happen, but one can figure that A) just by population, West Tennessee will lose seats, B) Middle Tennessee will gain seats, and C) East Tennessee will gain, but at a slower rate with lesser numbers.

Shelby County, I project, will lose 2 House seats and 1 Senate seat, and that won't be pretty.

So, the question will be asked by someone, where do we go from here?  Good question, and we need to start thinking about it and working on it now.  The one thing we DO know, above all else, is that what we have used for the past 20 years will no longer work, now or in the future.

Tuesday, November 02, 2010

My attorney, right on time as usual!

On the phone with my friend and attorney Mike Gatlin, who DROVE 175 miles to vote Democratic in Millport, AL this morning and is on the way back, he says this:

"Republicans need to ask themselves, WHAT WOULD LINCOLN DO?, and no, I don't mean Blanche, either!"

Well said.  Think of that, though, he left Memphis at 3 AM, drove home 175 miles, had breakfast, voted, and is driving back to Memphis.  Unless you're on your sick bed, do you have ANY excuse not to vote today?

I didn't think so. Oh, wait, you're used to voting early and forgot this year, and don't know where to vote?

I have that solution for you, just click right here.

Monday, November 01, 2010

Ok, Here's My Predictions

First, locally, Consolidation loses 2-1 in the County, barely wins in the city but not by enough to matter.

In the School Board races, I think Sara Lewis unseats Sharon Webb in 6, but Rev. Whalum wins in a walk over his two opponents.

In the legislature, NO seats change hands.  Mike Kernell wins 58-42, Jeanne Richardson wins comfortably as well.

Anything else there? Oh, Steve Cohen wins with a minimum of 65% of the vote.

Statewide, Haslam wins 2-1, carrying 85 counties.
In the Congressional races, all incumbents win, counting Lincoln Davis in TN-04, and that is like 51-48.  However, we lose the two seats vacated by Bart Gordon and John Tanner.

In the Senate, George McDonald unseats Mae Beavers in 17, Lowe Finney dodges another bullet in 27 while Stacey Campfield succeeds tim Burchett in 7.  Net Democratic gain: 1.

House wise, the Democrats hold serve in West Tennessee, and Sam Coleman holds the seat from the departing Ben West.  Outside of that, it's not good.  Final totals: R 52, D 46, I (Kent Williams) 1.  Redistricting is not good for us.

Go down to the post below and give me your predictions!

I want to see YOUR predictions

I would like to see in comments your predictions on the following;

TN-04 (Lincoln Davis), TN-08 (Herron vs Fincher vs Janes), TN-09 (Cohen's % vs Bergmann's %), Governor (with percentages), consolidation (split it city and county, please), and whether the Democrats get control back of the State House.

Also, your predictions on whether we keep the US House or not, and what the final D vs R numbers are in the US Senate.  My predictions will be up tonight.

Ok, readers, let er rip!

I remember, too...

Thanks to Kelly Jacobs for this one...

What John Lewis Said

personal note, the last post was #2000 over the last 6 years. amazing.

Congressman John Lewis says it better than I could:

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Me and Guleff talk about Consolidation

Of course, I'm right and he's wrong, but...   Heh, it was a great time, it always is!

Saturday, October 30, 2010

I'm just about there myself...

This comes from a post at MyDD written by Jerome Armstrong, who co-wrote CRASHING THE GATES with Markos Moulitsas of Daily Kos.  It's come to the point that the Democratic Party has left ME, and maybe it's just time to move on.



Part of this comes from realizing that, outside of Shelby County and parts of Davidson County, no one has the faintest clue what the Democratic Party IS, or was SUPPOSED TO BE.  Read that clip from Rep. Henry Fincher:

"I'm not advertising or trumpeting the fact that I'm a Democrat. It's a bad year to be a Democrat. The brand has been damaged by the left wing of the party. They have really screwed up things for guys like me."
Why even bother with the Democratic Party when you have morons like that?  There are people IN the party worth supporting who actually FIGHT for Democratic principles, like Cohen, Kernell, Beverly Marrero, and Jeannie Richardson.  They, however, are a minority in a state party that is determined to just be barely to the left of fools and racists.


Let the monsoon come, let's protect our own and then worry about building a MOVEMENT.  The Democratic Party is no longer it, folks. Obama blew the biggest chance we ever had by not being a strong enough leader to fight for people and not strong-arming Congressmen and Senators IN HIS OWN PARTY to stand up for people.  He hired the Wall Street crowd to run the economy, the very same people who ran the economy into the ground.


And he wonders why his base is not turning out?  When you are fighting Republicans, you have to FIGHT them.  Kick them in the balls and then stomp on their heads when they are down, because that's all they understand.  Instead, he wants to reach out to them.  What happens when you shake hands with a werewolf?


Well, I've voted, and I'll show up at Cohen's event on Tuesday night to congratulate him on his victory.  After that, though, I'm done, i'm not even sure what I'm going to do with this blog yet.  Stay tuned.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Well, we may well BE in John Jay Hooker territory

The Tri-State Defender endorses Bill Haslam for Governor.

I think I need another martini or three, I'll see you tomorrow.  Sigh........

Pro-Consolidation News

First, your humble Cracker is going up against our buddy Tom Guleff on the post-World Series game FOX 13 news tonight speaking in FAVOR of consolidation. UPDATE: our segment will be shown on the Saturday night news, we found out when we got there.

Next, an event will be held this weekend talking about the Charter, from our friend Bonny Kinney of Rebuild Government:


Commissioners Reunite for Final Push to the Polls

Memphis, TNCommissioners who helped draft the new charter on the ballot November 2nd will meet together this weekend to talk to the community about the importance of a new, more efficient government structure.  It will be the last time they meet before Election Day on Tuesday.

Date:   Saturday, October 30, 2010
Time:   11 a.m.
Place:  Bloomfield Full Gospel Baptist Church
             123 S. Parkway West
             Memphis, TN  38109

Bloomfield is the home church of Reverend Ralph White, who also served on the Charter Commission.   Other civic leaders, including Dr. Maxine Smith, are also scheduled to attend.

Rebuild Government is made up of concerned citizens who organized in 2009.  The purpose of Rebuild Government is to create public awareness and foster a county-wide conversation about the need for a new government.  You can learn more about Rebuild Government at www.rebuildgovernment.org.

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Um, NOW will you go vote?



mike matthews
On Informed Sources this week, both Norm Brewer and Jackson Baker say Charlotte Bergman could get up to 40% of vote vs Steve Cohen.


Now, the Watchdog and these folks are saying this NOT because of a groundswell for Bergmann, but because DEMOCRATS AREN'T VOTING.  Get off your butts and get out there! Do you WANT the Republicans in charge?  How'd THAT work out last time?

Friday, October 22, 2010

Want to Help Democratic Turnout? Show Up At One of These Events!

MEDIA ADVISORY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TO ALL MEDIA OUTLETS

Date:  October 22, 2010               Time: 5:30 p.m.


          Please make note of the following dates and activities to date:

1.            October 23, 2010, Get Out The Vote Rally, Orange Mound Satellite Headquarters, 1404 Airways, 10:00-12:00 p.m. and 2:00-4:00 p.m.

2.            October 23, 2010, Get Out the Vote Rally, Herron for Congress Headquarters, 3518 North Watkins, Memphis, Tennessee, 12:00-2:00 p.m.

3.            October 26, 2010, 2:00 p.m., Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church, 70 North Bellevue Blvd, Memphis, Tennessee, Get Out The Vote Rally and Press Conference with Elected Officials and local clergymen

4.            October 28, 2010, 6:00-8:00 p.m., Strategy Session for Election Day Voter Protection and Poll coverage, Whitehaven Headquarters, 4118 South Plaza, Memphis, Tennessee

5.            October 30, 2010, 12:00-4:00 Election Day Rally, Whitehaven Headquarters, 4118 South Plaza Drive, Memphis, Tennessee!!!!!

6.            November 2, 2010, ELECTION DAY, Transportation, Poll watching, and Voter protection!!!


Contact:

Van Turner, Chair
Shelby County Democratic Party
4118 South Plaza Drive
Memphis, TN 38116
Phone:  901-283-5017