Google is screwing with me again

I am having trouble sending to my email list because they are trying to force me into Google Groups, and I just want to send to my list.  If you are having trouble getting my emails, I apologize, but this is Gmail's fault.

So, you don't think being white gives you privilege, eh?

With a doff of the chapeau to KC Gibbons, this is nothing short of awesome.

 

Ok, so I stole the idea from Betsy, but..

In honor of yesterday's news regarding Steve Cohen, and in keeping with Betsy's trend, here's Dino:

Senate 29 residents, I have a question for you.

Les Smith of Fox 13 has an interesting story up about former State Senator John Ford, who went to prison after being convicted of charges related to Operation Tennessee Waltz.  Ford was recently released from prison, and it is not known whether Ford, in the process of having his rights restored, could serve again in the Tennessee General Assembly.

Given the antics of his sister, Ophelia, with her repeated illnesses and actions as the Senator who replaced her brother, I have a question for you:  If you COULD have John or Ophelia as your Senator, whom would you choose?

John Ford, for all his faults, was one of the most effective legislators I have ever seen, and if you don't believe me, ask the Mayors, City and County, who depended upon him to lead their legislation in Nashville.  Obviously, in the current GOP-dominated legislature, even John Ford would have difficulties, but whom would you choose?  I will put up a poll in the sidebar!

Join us this Saturday night for a celebration of Mike Kernell

I am one of the hosts for this event, and I would love to see you there.

You are Invited! 

We Like Mike Kernell Celebration

Where: Asian Palace 5266 Summer Ave. Memphis, TN 38122. Located in
the Perimeter Shopping Center next to the Garden Ridge, several blocks
East of Summer Ave and White Station.

When: February 16, 2013, Saturday. 6:30 PM to 11:30PM or longer

Event Schedule: 6:30 to 7:30 Reception (door prize drawings)
7:00 to 9:00 Mariachi Band
7:30 to 9:00 Dinner (buffet style) (door prize drawings)
A word or two from Mike and a few others. 
Commissioner Steve Mulroy will be Master of Ceremonies.

9:00 until ? Karaoke for those inclined and after dinner networking for those not
inclined. All attendees will receive a unique campaign button designed
for this event. Come early and leave late. Come late for the after
dinner activities. Door prizes will be given away during the reception
and dinner only. Check Facebook or Twitter for updates to activities.

Suggested contribution of $100 per person payable to the Kernell Campaign can
be paid at the door or mailed to Kernell Campaign, 111 South Highland, Memphis, TN 38111

The Host committee thanks you for your attendance

Dean Balding Baxter, Carol Chumney, Representative Lois Deberry, Representative Craig Fitzhugh, Barry Frager, Mickey and Dick Klenz, Senator Jim Kyle, Nate Lenow, John Mahaffey,  Dr. Harry Mahood, John Marek, Beverly Marrero, Commissioner Steve Mulroy, Jeannie Richardson, Representative Joe Towns, David Upton

For more information email welikemike@outlook.com or call 901-726-0735
Also you can check the events page on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/events/299374253518871/

Follow us on Twitter @ welikemike2013 

Some things to remember about these parks

Yes, the City Council voted to rename Forrest, Confederate and Jefferson Davis Parks last night as Health Sciences, Memphis, and Mississippi River Parks, respectively.  Part of it was done because our idiotic GOP-dominated legislature was about to pass a bill prohibiting municipalities from doing that very thing, an act which one of my Councilors, Shea Flinn, delightfully described as "the ironic war of aggression from our northern neighbor in Nashville".  

I saw an angry woman on one of the local newscasts saying that this was history, good and bad, and we needed to remember it.  Well, that may be true but it is disingenuous by half.  First, Jefferson Davis was a traitor and he and Alexander Stephens should have been hung in the public square in Richmond.  As for N.B. Forrest, well.....

Let's accept, for the moment, that he had a great change of heart in his later life, (and, frankly, I DO, because I believe that all human beings have a Buddha nature, and well, frankly, that's another post entirely).  One has to remember, however,  the fact that the statue placed in the Park formerly named for him was not put there to honor his change of heart, but to honor what he did for the Confederacy and all that it stood for as a society.  

It is one thing to REMEMBER the Confederacy; every human should be taught about it to prevent it from ever happening again.  It is quite another to HONOR the Confederacy, which, frankly, was evil. Period.  No discussion.  Honoring the Confederacy should cease forevermore.

I don't care if your great-great-great-great-granddaddy didn't own slaves and fought for the Confederacy, he was fighting to preserve his OWN right to own slaves if he ever got the money.  Do NOT try to bullshit me with that argument.

Also, don't tell me that your ancestor fought bravely; I am sure that he did.  I am also sure that the Wehrmacht soldiers fought bravely, too.  It's not HOW they fought, it is for WHAT they fought, and no amount of whitewashing can replace the evil for which they fought, the state's right to preserve the institution of slavery.

Remember Lee as a general who lost due to his own hubris, remember Forrest as a slave trader who started the Klan and then shut it down and had a change of heart, remember Davis as a madman.  NEVER, EVER forget that the Confederacy was evil and had to be stopped.

And NEVER, EVER honor that horrific state again.  Great job, City Council, it's about time.

KnoxViews turns seven years old today

Before there was Newscoma, LeftWingCracker, or anyone else blogging in this state, there was SouthKnoxBubba, which eventually became KnoxViews.  It was SKB's writing that inspired me to start this blog after John Kerry's defeat in 2004, and I was crushed when the blog was taken down.

Then, I rejoiced when KnoxViews was started, and it is still going strong today.  Randy Neal (the TRUE Blogfather of Tennessee, in my opinion) is the founder of that blog and the original SKB, and you should be reading KnoxViews.  Go read it and thank him for being a true inspiration to all of us who write about progressive politics in this state.

Randy, if you hadn't started SKB, I doubt I ever would have started LWC.  Thank you.