The news gets worse: Lowe Finney is not running for re-election to the Senate

Senator Lowe Finney (D-Jackson, District 27) sent out an announcement that he is not seeking re-election to his seat, which used to represent Madison, Gibson and Carroll Counties, but now represents Madison, Crockett, Dyer, Lake and Lauderdale Counties.  If this is for a run for higher office, then this may be a good thing.  However, from the tone of this letter to his constituents, it appears as though he is leaving politics, and that is NOT of the good:

Share this:

Dear Friend, Today I am making an important announcement, one that I wanted to share with you - one of my friends and strongest supporters - before it’s out in the news media. After much prayer and thoughtful consideration, I have decided not to seek a third term to the state Senate. I have had no higher honor than representing West Tennessee families in the state legislature. I am proud to have worked to improve health care for senior citizens, cut the sales tax on food and provide great opportunities for young students and veterans to attend college. I thank my wife, Tiffany, for her support all these years. Although I am leaving the Senate at the end of next year, I will remain your Senator for Dyer, Crockett, Lake, Lauderdale and Madison counties until the November election. I will work even harder in my last session, and I will be available to serve you in any way I can. I remain,   Respectfully yours, Paid for by Friends of Lowe Finney | Teresa Luna, Treasurer PO Box 1432 | Jackson, TN 38302

Two things of note today!

One, if you are in the Memphis area, go to the Germantown Democratic Club meeting tonight at Coletta's Restaurant, 2850 Appling Road; Dinner will begin at 6 P.M. and the speaker starts at 6:45.  Who's the speaker, you ask?  None other than our own VIBINC, Steve Ross, who will discuss the new County Commission districts.  Nobody is more prepared than he is, so it will be informative and fun.. I gotta work late tonight, so I can't be there, but you should go!

Next, stop what you are doing and go read NEWSCOMA right now.  Go ahead, I'll wait.

Again, she asks the right questions, but will the TNDP have the right answers?  I like this part right here:

A lot of folks I talk to discuss the wealth of Haslam and it is a fair discussion. He has a great deal of money and how much is something that no one truly knows. It’s hard to fathom what kind of money would be needed to set up a serious gubernatorial challenger. And it’s not just democrats raising eyebrows but moderate republicans as well.
And then I think about Wendy Davis from Texas. I think that what it really takes is someone opposing what is happening in this state right now just as she did. She stood up for something she believed in.

Bingo.  It's time for the TNDP to wake up and realize that GOP-lite will not work any more.  Until we find candidates that EXCITE and INSPIRE people, we are screwed.

Ok, that's all for the moment, I will try to get back here more often.

Tennessee Democrats, you need to be a part of this!

Next weekend, the Tennessee Democratic County Chairs Association is sponsoring a two-day event in Spring Hill, the Statewide County Party Conference.  The great news is that even if you are NOT on any county's Executive Committee, you can still take part in this event.  Here's a list of what will take place:

• Conference Agenda
• Who's Invited?
• Hotels and Accomodations

Statewide Democratic County Party Conference

Posted by Todd Sharp 46pc on May 02, 2013 · Flag ·   Add your reaction

    Statewide Democratic County Party Conference Friday & Saturday, June 7 & 8, 2013 at Spring Hill, TN

(scroll down to register)

Register now for this great opportunity to come together as Democrats, share with each other, and learn from each other!

Building and connecting effective networks of Hometown Democrats in every county across Tennessee is the theme of our "Keep Calm and County Party On" conference.*

This two day event begins Friday, June 7th at 6:00 pm with Make it Blue Tennessee: Evening Meet & Greet with live music, food & drink. On Saturday, June 8th the conference opens at 9:00 am and will feature round-table discussions, interactive workshops, luncheon, and presentations to help us move Tennessee forward, followed by dinner with Keynote Speaker, State Representative and former Knox County Chair, Gloria Johnson. All Democrats are welcome and encouraged to attend!

The Tennessee Democratic County Chairs Association will hold our biennial election of Officers.  See our conference agenda for more information.

 

WHEN

June 07, 2013 at 6pm - June 08, 2013

WHERE

UAW Local 1853 Banquet/Conference Center
125 Stephen P Yokich Pkwy
Spring Hill, TN 37174
United States
Google map and directions

Click on the link for the conference at the top for contact information.  

So now they want to INCREASE the size of the ExecCom

Heh.  So the plan all along was to INCREASE the size of the ExecCom?  Suuuure it was.

In any event, it had the desired effect of shaking the TNDP ExecCom up and making everyone think about how things are going over there, so it WORKED.  So, what's the NEW plan, you ask?  here you go:

• No changes are being made to the 66 members of the Executive Committee that are elected as one man and one woman from each state senate district; 
• The amendment states that the House Democratic Leader shall appoint six members to the Executive Committee, two from each of Tennessee's grand divisions, for a term of two years;
• The amendment states that the Senate Democratic Leader shall appoint six members to the Executive Committee, two from each of Tennessee's grand divisions, for a term of two years; 
• The amendment says each U.S. Congressman, if a Democrat, shall serve on the Executive Committee or appoint a member to the Executive Committee;
• The amendment says each U.S. Senator, if a Democrat, shall serve on the Executive Committee or appoint a member to the Executive Committee; 
• The amendment says Tennessee's governor, if a Democrat, shall serve on the Executive Committee or appoint a member to the Executive Committee; 
• The amendment states that the Executive Committee may create ex-officio voting positions, provided that the number of such positions shall not exceed nine members. 

Figuring in 12 appointed by the Caucuses, one each from Steve Cohen and Jim Cooper (with more to be added if we take Congressional seats back) and ex-officio seats from College Dems, YDs and TDFW and we are now up to 83 members of the ExecCom.

That could be unwieldy, but if you get some of the older folks out and replace them with younger folks, it might just work, as long as they DO work.

More here from Ross and R. Neal.

Just a note.

I am in the process of getting ready to move on Monday, so I am going to take a few days to process what happened today at the TNDP.

Congratulations to Gale Jones Carson, re-elected as Secretary, and to Wade Munday, elected as the new Treasurer, they will be terrific.  Kudos to Elisa Parker, re-elected as Vice Chair.

As for Roy Herron, well, now is not the time for me to post, as I still want people to speak to me.

Time to pack.

I meant to write something about the TNDP Chair race today

Especially after THIS piece of news that shows why those of us outside the 440 Loop are tired of Nashville.

However, as Rachel points out at Women's Health News, we don't want a Blue Dog leading our state party either, and for good reason.  Roy Herron has more baggage than a Pullman car, not the least of which is that he will not do as the McWherter family asked and take their name off the Center Roy heads, established in Ned's name.

We know Roy, and are not comfortable with him.  We DON'T know anything about Dave Garrison, and his reticence to be more open only lends credence to the idea that he is a puppet for outgoing Chair Chip Forrester.  Fair or not, until he is more public, what other inference can we take?

Steve Ross has a brilliant piece about what we DO need and what we do NOT need, and if you have not read it, you should, right now.  Go ahead, I will wait.  See?  Aren't you glad you did?  I know, why isn't HE running, right?  Because he has a job and a family and a mortgage, that's why.

And, in her own inimitable way, our Aunt B sums up the problems of the TNDP perfectly:

The thing that’s most hilarious about this is that the Republicans have redistricted us into a party whose most reliable districts are urban and black. And the white guys all bemoan how the party needs to spend more attention on “outside of Nashville.” Where they hate Democrats. It’s important to realize that these dustups are happening–and more publicly–not because either of these groups of warring white guys has a good idea for what direction to take the party, but because the era of the white dude Democratic party is over. Our parade doesn’t look that way anymore. But at this second, there’s not someone who looks more like the people who actually vote Democratic–black people, women, gay people, young people who live in cities, etc.–who can get the support of the Executive Committee and step up to be Grand Marshall of said parade. So, we have these two factions fighting over who gets to lead a bunch of people who aren’t going to concede parade leadership to them.

Yep.  And THAT'S why I have the sad feeling that no matter who wins tomorrow, Democrats lose.

And I am getting tired of it.

The TNDP Chair race takes interesting turns

This has not been that good a week for progressives who want to see new direction for the Tennessee Democratic Party.  First, this piece from Andrea Zelinski of the City Paper documents Roy Herron's run for the Chairmanship, which dramatically has affected the race.  I have made points about why I think Roy is not the best possible choice, looks like I may have to make a few more.

Then, I received this news from Wade Munday, whom I wanted to win:

Dear Friends, 

In politics, the same as in life, situations change rather quickly and it is often difficult to have clear eyes for what is truly in the best interest of a party such as ours.  As a candidate for Tennessee Democratic Party Chair I have argued that I am ready to listen, ready to lead, and prepared to fix some of the things many of us so desperately want to change about our party. I believe I can accomplish that best by achieving some measure of party unity and by serving as your next Treasurer. I hope you will support me in this endeavor.

I will approach the position with the same enthusiasm and commitment I have always had for our party. I will not be sitting on the sidelines, but I will be actively involved in our strength building. I will help raise the money we need to compete. I will oversee party expenditures and hold us to a higher standard than ever before. And I will remain a vocal advocate of Democratic values and principles in Tennessee. 

What has changed in the race for TNDP Chair is the debate over which direction our party should now turn. We are fortunate to have many  candidates, and I will work with whomever you see fit to elect. Please allow me, however, the chance to state the case for Dave Garrison. 

Dave has spent considerable time thinking about the party rather than the politics of this race. With clear eyes and vision, he knows what must occur every step of the way for the next two years. He has provided a thoughtful framework to operate our party, created state and national ties, and shown considerable ability to bring people together. He has supported our party in good times and in bad, like so many of you. Dave Garrison is more than capable of serving our candidates, our campaigns, and our party. I am excited to work alongside him, and I am excited for the unity we represent. 

I humbly ask for your support for TNDP Treasurer, and please consider Dave Garrison as your next TNDP Chair.

Sincerely,

Wade Munday

Needless to say, I was saddened, but Wade is sharp and knows how to count.  Since I have heard little about Jane Hampton Bowen from anyone, it appears the race is between Dave Garrison and Roy Herron.  I understand concerns you may have about Dave and his connection to Chip Forrester, but Chip is going to be GONE, as he is a lightning rod.

As I said in the other post, I like Roy personally, but I question how his election will move this party FORWARD.  If he still had juice in rural areas, then his campaign of 2010 would have been successful, like his announcement that he would not vote for Nancy Pelosi for Speaker.  We would also still have his State Senate seat, which he decided not to run for in 2012.

Friends, the era of Blue Dogism is over.  If Tennesseans want to vote for a conservative, they will vote REPUBLICAN. Period.  Roy is a nice person, but his candidacy is yet another attempt by those who make money off the TNDP campaigns to pretend that it's still 1992 and we are still in control.  Why the hell should THEY care, they make money either way!!!!

For all that we worry about Chip, he will be GONE.  While he was a lightning rod, he had some good ideas, ideas that are being put in play as we speak.  We need someone who can execute these plans, and I believe Dave Garrison is that person.

At the end of the day, do we as Democrats want as our Chair someone who voted to allow Guns in State Parks, Guns in Bars and Restaurants, and campaigned as a Blue Dog?  Look, I know a lot of you want rural outreach, but maybe we need to realize that A) there aren't as many rural Tennesseans as there once were and B) the ones who are still there tend to vote culture over economics, against their own best interests.

We need people who can fire up the base and lead.  While I would have preferred Wade Munday, knowing that he would be a part of a Garrison administration shows that Dave Garrison will move us forward, not backward to a past that is gone forever.  Let's prepare for 2020, not 1990.

Come and meet Wade Munday!

I got this from Kerry Hayes about an event taking place on Friday night at South of Beale at 5:30, and he has graciously allowed me to post this:

Hey friends - My buddy from Nashville, Wade Munday, who some of you have met, is running to become the next chair of the Tennessee Democratic Party. He's planning to join us at South of Beale on Friday evening and is interested in meeting as many young professionals and up-and-coming civic leaders as he can. We're planning to meet at 5:30pm at SOB (hopefully on the patio - fingers crossed for good weather!) and would love if you could join us. This is NOT a fundraiser or a big solicitation opportunity of any kind. Just a good guy from another part of our state who's trying to meet some smart good people in Memphis.  

Please join us and bring a friend! 

See you soon -

STOP! You need to go read something NOW!

And it's this.

THE VIEW FROM MY KITCHEN TABLE says it better than I did, and he is absolutely on point here, every word.  I don't even want to excerpt, I want you to go read it all, and then comment.

You will be glad that you did.

A few notes on what's happening now...

I just realized I hadn't written anything since before the holidays, and Trace gently reminded me of this on the phone last night, and she is right, as she always is.  

Truth is, I have been busy with my personal life; more on that by the end of the week, I hope.  Don't worry, it will be good!

Enough on that; you want to read something substantial.  As Trace and Joe Powell have noted, the GOP-dominated General Assembly begins tomorrow, with all the usual madness since the Democrats became an endangered species.  It appears that House Speaker Beth Harwell, who, unlike her Tea Party Republicans, actually believes that they are in Nashville to GOVERN and not showcase insanity, is trying to place limits on the number of bills a legislator can introduce.  Good luck with that.

Meanwhile, it appears that the race to succeed Chip Forrester as captain of the Titanic, er, chair of the Tennessee Democratic Party, has gotten a jolt or two recently.  What started out as a race between TNDP Treasurer Dave Garrison and former Communications Director Wade Munday has expanded and contracted.

Rep. Sherry Jones of Nashville joined the fray, as did attorney Ben Smith of Nashville as well as labor activist Jane Hampton Bowen of Chattanooga.  Then came former State Senator and Congressional candidate Roy Herron of Dresden, and Jones and Smith dropped out, with Jones indicating that she thought a female could not be elected (really????) and Smith endorsed Herron, stating that he (Smith) could not win.  I met Smith at the DWSC Christmas Party, nice guy, but I was never sure how he thought he could win in the first place.

On the one hand, Roy has positives, in that A) he is NOT from Nashville, although he still spends a LOT of time there and B) he is from rural West Tennessee (Dresden) and would presumably be able to help the party rebuild in rural areas.  However, if he still had pull in those areas, 1) wouldn't we still have his State Senate seat (we had a great candidate in Brad Thompson) and 2) wouldn't we still have the 8th District Congressional seat?

I like Roy personally, and people like his ministerial background and his ability to connect, but we need someone, IMO, who can raise money and build an infrastructure to get the County parties active and moving.  It has been estimated, privately, that only 25 of the 95 counties in this stating have active, functioning Democratic Parties.  I am not necessarily certain that Roy can do that.

Believe me, I GET the concept of having someone, ANYONE, outside the 440 Loop as Chair, because the navel-gazing and focus on Nashville and Middle Tennessee has helped facilitate our downfall.  However, we need to ensure that whomever is Chair needs to get everyone moving throughout the state and bring in newer, younger people.  Without that, we are doomed.  We will ALWAYS be outspent, but we have to find ways to offset that through organization and rebirth in the rural areas.  

If you care about this race, and if you are a Tennessee Democrat, you SHOULD, you need to contact your TNDP Executive Committee member (Shelby County has Districts 28-33 until 2014) and ask them about it, because they are the ones who will choose the new Chair.  Talk to them about who has the best chance to revitalize the County parties and who can build the infrastructure that we need to elect a majority of Democrats to the General Assembly, Congress and the US Senate, not to mention the Governor's office.  You will be glad you did.

And, here we go!

The first hat has been tossed in the ring in the race to succeed Chip Forrester as Chair of the Tennessee Democratic Party.  Wade Munday states with this post what he believes must happen for Democrats to get back on the right foot in the Volunteer State.

It will be a long road back for any Democrat, even those of us in one of the blue islands.  Wade realizes this, and I hope, if you are a Tennessee Democrat, that you will read this and understand why he is running.

Good luck, sir!

Shameless Self-Promotion Part MMXII - Reminder

I have been invited to join David McLaughlin this Sunday night from 6:10-6:30 on KudzuVine, an online radio show discussing Southern politics from a Democratic perspective.

You can listen to the show at this link, and can call in if you like at the number listed at the link. I look forward to this, and hope that you will as well!

UPDATE: if you missed it, you can listen at the link above.  I wasn't bad.

Brad Parish creates the FUTURE CAUCUS

TNDP's Vice President for East Tennessee, Brad Parish, has created THE FUTURE CAUCUS, which you can read about here.  He announced this with a post at KnoxViews this morning.

The gist of this is a way to bring more people into the actual party infrastructure, which I believe is a good thing.  The more people you include, the better.  Tennessee's Democratic Party needs new blood, and YOUNGER BLOOD, if you ask me, and this seems to be a great way to start.

Braisted has more here, let me know what you think.

Some Free Unsolicited Advice to Chip Forrester

No, I can't write about the attempted assassination of Congresswoman Giffords just yet; I am liable to sound crazy and Stalinist, so let's just pray for her speedy and complete recovery.

Ok, then.  First, just as Ross did, I offer my congratulations to Chip Forrester on his re-election as TNDP Chair on Saturday.  You had your votes lined up, and you received solid support from ExecCom members who wanted to send a message to Democrats around the state.  You did a good job of organizing, that's what winning a caucus election is about.  You have my support.

I publicly call on those who have been attacking you under pseudonyms in various blogs around the state to either get on board, or go away.  While I supported Wade Munday in place of you, and would have done it again, I am behind you.

Now then, while there are some people (old Bredesenites and Blue Dogs) you will never get, you need to seriously make amends with the state YDs and College Democrats.  We need every one that they can get, and they not only need a real place at the table, they need to be be heard, and listened to, with their opinions taken seriously.  These are the FUTURE leaders of this party, and they provide tons of volunteer hours.

(By the way, you might also want to privately smack T. Robert Hill with a wet fish for his idiotic remarks.  He should have KNOWN that in a tightly contested race, his comments would get out.)

I do not blame you for what happened last November; you were hamstrung by the donors and by the staffs of some of our Congressmen.   Now, we can move forward.

In the near future, you know that you need to get the ExecCom and the County Chairs going hard to revitalize the parties in their own counties, we have too many County Parties that are practically non-existent.  Partially, that is because some of the ExecCom members out in those areas hang on to their positions because no one cares enough to take those positions from them.  That is a scary proposition, frankly.

You need to have more small-dollar fund-raisers all over the state, working with the County Chairs and ExecCom members in each area.  You need to find a REALLY GOOD communications director, one who knows better than to send out press releases on Friday afternoon.  (OK, cheap shot, and I'll let it go, but seriously....)

Now then, there's something else that we as a Party need to think about.  While my own Senate District, 30, is an anomaly as we have two relatively new members, the fact remains that by electing our DEC members in August of an election year, we have no way to hold them accountable for election results.  And, yes, just as you had to face an ExecCom for your job after a bad election, the ExecCom should have to face Democrats the spring after every Governor's election.

Yes, I am aware we are talking Constitutional change here, but it's worth it.  Imagine if the State ExecCom members were elected as our County Parties elect theirs, in the spring, and at caucuses and conventions?  Think this could inspire people to get involved, and actually CARE about what happens to the Tennessee Democratic Party?  I do.

Finally, we may just be bloggers, and in the end we will all say what we think, but all of us who care enough to write have been involved at just about every level, and we didn't fall off the turnip truck yesterday.  We will continue to email you, and talk to you.  if we can help, we will, but we need to send a clear message about who we are and what we stand for and THAT we stand for something.  That's not even remotely your fault, but you're the guy out front.

And yes, I have no problems with another Monteagle-type summit; I think the last one helped, and so could another one.

All right, that's enough from me.  Again, you have my support, and let's elect Democrats in 2012, Democrats who aren't ashamed to be Democrats.  Good luck.

An Open Letter to the Tennessee Democratic Executive Committee

Folks, you have a big vote this Saturday.  The Party is in the ditch, and we have to figure out who has the best chance to lead us out of that ditch.

Those of you who are leaning to keeping Chip Forrester, I understand how you feel.  I, too supported his candidacy when he was elected two years ago, thinking he would lead us out of that ditch.  And I agree that the good ole boys and Phil Bredesen hamstrung him at every turn, which helped lead to this disaster we had last year.  You feel loyalty to him, and I understand.

However, in my opinion, Chip is the candidate of the present, and he didn't drive us into that ditch, but he hasn't been able to find a way out of it either.  His response to the state YDs and College Democrats' endorsement of Wade Munday was not that of a leader, to be sure.  That was a horrible way to send a message to younger Democrats, who are only the FUTURE of your party.  I have to agree with my buddy Michael Lipe, who responded to Forrester.  So, no, I can't ask you to vote for his re-election.

So, What about Matt Kuhn?  Helluva nice guy, he's been around, run several campaigns, friends with lost of West Tennessee Democrats, a natural, right?  Well, not so much.  First, as Matt is supported by many of the people who DID drive this Party into the ditch, and who want to apparently keep it there by returning to a Blue Dog-friendly message, Matt, sadly, is the candidate of the past, despite his 40 under 40 proposal.

And, with Matt, you have a record to follow, as he was SCDP Chair from 2005-2007.  Other than re-electing Democrat AC Wharton as County Mayor, there's not much to note either way, except for a major faux pas in 2006.  For those of you outside Shelby County, around May or June each year, we have our major fundraiser, Kennedy Day.  In 2006, as we were getting ready to go into our County elections, Matt inexplicably was going to allow REPUBLICAN AG Bill Gibbons to come to Kennedy Day, and didn't seem too upset about it.  Even worse, he didn't seem to want to respond until the whole Democratic ticket sent Matt a threatening letter!  Finally, he relented, and disinvited Gibbons, but his lack of response was very troubling.  Folks, we can't afford another PR disaster like that.

I like all of these folks personally, but I am asking you to vote for the person I believe has the tow truck ready to go to get us out of that ditch, Wade Munday.  As shown with his endorsement by the State Young Democrats and College Democrats, Wade is the candidate of the future.  Wade was the communications director for Gray Sasser, as you remember, and has a great ability to lead and communicate, qualities desperately necessary when rebuilding a Party.

He is an accomplished fundraiser, and is the one person who can reach out to all groups in this Party and unite them as he leads us out of the wilderness.  He has a calm temperament and solid judgment, and I trust him to do whatever is necessary to get the Party out of the ditch and on the road to victory.

Folks, I know that it's a tough thing that you face, but I believe that there is a clear choice, and that choice is Wade Munday.

Thank you for your time and consideration.


Steve Steffens
Democratic Activist and Blogger

Tonight, a TNDP Chair debate

With a doff of the chapeau to Mr. Neal:

What: Tennessee Democratic Party Chair candidate debate
When: Monday, January 3, 2011 - 7:30pm
Where: TNDP HQ in Nashville, webcast, conference call-in

From Brad Parish:

As promised, here is the access information for Monday's TNDP Chairs Debate...

We will be broadcasting "live" on TNdebates.com this Monday from the TNDP Headquarters in Nashville directly to you.

You can watch and listen live through your computer at the website http://www.TNdebates.com or you call-in on our conferencing line at 1-712-432-0075, then enter access code 112002. Every interested Democrat in Tennessee is definitely invited to tune-in.

We've made the cut-off for questions tomorrow (Saturday, January 1st) at 9:00 a.m. in the morning. If you still have questions that you would like to submit for consideration, please email them immediately to debate@bradparish.com.

Sincerely,

Brad Parish
12th District Executive Committeeman

P.S. Please remember to mark your calendars and join us this Monday at 6:30 CST (7:30 EST).

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 8^th 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

Some things are just simply indefensible.

Just go to Post Politics and HEAR what I am pissed about.  I tried to defend Mike McWherter on the Informed Sources segment that ran last night on WREG, and now I hear that McWherter is attacking Haslam for not being a conservative.

Seriously, does he not understand that at least FIFTY percent of his vote is supposed to come from the LEFT? And when he does idiotic ads like this, he runs the left into the arms of Haslam, who gives the appearance (even if we know otherwise) that he is the right-wing Bredesen (I know, redundant).  If it weren't for Mike Kernell and Steve Cohen (Beverly Marrero is NOT up this year), I would stay home this year.

If this is the best the TNDP can produce, it deserves the butt-whipping it is about to receive.  Only after it has been reduced to ashes can a new party rise up and be what it has to be in order to have any meaning.

As the officer in Vietnam said, "We had to destroy the village in order to save it".  Yup.

RIP, TNDP.

I want to talk more about this TNDP stuff

Look, I actually LIKE Mike McWherter, despite the idiotic press release sent out earlier today.  He is in a difficult position, and there are those who believe that he is being set up to lose as a sacrificial lamb.

Why else would someone advise him to chase after votes he cannot possibly win?  The teabaggers, birthers and xenophobes who are scared of the swarthy brown people will not vote for Mike, or ANY Democrat, for that matter.

They are of the belief that liberals like us will have to vote for them, because, after all, you wouldn't vote for a Republican, right?  Well, dumbasses, if there is no real difference, why bother to vote in that race at all? As Ross noted at STP, if McWherter has any hope of winning, he has to excite his base this November.

And you and I are the base.  Yes, LIBERALS are the base, you can't win without us, and if you don't give us a fucking reason to vote, we will NOT VOTE in your race.  Seriously.  Mabel will be very easy for me to write in on Election Day, and I wouldn't even think twice.

You people in the TNDP (and all of you Bredesen assholes, ESPECIALLY) seem to forget something: YOU are beholden to US, and not vice versa.  At a time when Democrats need to be EXCITED about something, the people running the show for McWherter and the TNDP seem to be finding new ways to DEPRESS the turnout.

Look, if Mr. Pilot Oil becomes Governor, he'll be the GOP version of Bredesen, except that it will be the wingnuts screaming for 8 years that Haslam has betrayed them, which he will, which could be real fun to watch.  I would still rather have a DEMOCRATIC governor, if Mike will just stay away from the the right-wing bullshit, this could still be salvageable.

Just remember though, you have to come to US, not vice versa.

Unless you like the idea of Governor Haslam.

The Tennessee Democratic Party 1824-2010

It is my sad duty, friends and neighbors, to report the passing of the Tennessee Democratic Party this morning, dead of an press release at the age of 186.  

This party, founded by the National Democratic Party's founder, Andrew Jackson, succumbed to a debilitating long-term illness called RUN-AWAY-FROM-LIBERALISM. This tragic malady led to its demise this morning in this press release from its gubernatorial candidate, Mike McWherter, son of Ned, who would presumably have smacked him in the head had he known Mike's campaign would have released this tripe, sent to me by Jackson Baker:

NEWS RELEASE                                   

Contact: Shelby White

Phone: 615.321.1590

  

McWherter Denounces Federal Lawsuit Filed Against Arizona Over Controversial Immigration Law

Cites Federal Government’s Absolute Failure to Secure US Borders as the Real Problem

NASHVILLE, TN – Mike McWherter, Jackson Businessman and Gubernatorial Candidate, issued the following statement today in response to the US Department of Justice's lawsuit against the state of Arizona over its controversial immigration law:

“I think the administration is wrong on this one. Arizona’s trying to get a handle on the immigration policy because of Washington’s total failure to deal with the real problem,” said Mike McWherter.  “Immigration has become another political football in Washington and this lawsuit only continues the game, rather than solve the problem. We need to control the border, crack down on businesses that employ illegal workers, and give businesses the tools to quickly and reliably verify a job applicant’s status.”

About Mike McWherter

Mike McWherter, the only candidate in the race who is not a career politician, is a successful small business owner in West Tennessee. A native of Northwest Tennessee, he now lives in Jackson with his wife Mary Jane and their children Walker and Bess. 

The McWherter for Governor campaign can be found online at  www.mikemcwherter.com.

Sam Claycombe

Press Secretary

Mike McWherter for Governor

P.O. Box 331815, Nashville, TN 37203

Office: 615.321.1590

Cell: 615.294.5074

sam@mikemcwherter.com

Yes, dear friends, this is real, and it's NOT spectacular.  The state's de facto Democratic nominee is attacking the President of the USA, of his OWN party, for fighting against a racist law in Arizona.  

Yes, you read that right.

Our own Democratic nominee is taking a nativist position on immigration, OF WHICH HE WOULD HAVE NO CONTROL AS GOVERNOR OF TENNESSEE. 

I have few words, except to say that I am done with the TNDP, and will shortly remove the link from THE ENDLESS BLOGROLL.  Other than helping local friends like my Shelby County representatives and Senators, who still remember what it means to be a Democrat, and local Democrats like Steve Mulroy, Regina Morrison Newman, Steve Cohen (the last liberal standing, it appears) and Randy Wade, I am done.  

OK, maybe Andy Berke, too, but he sure seems to be outnumbered as well. If you're outside Shelby County, and you're to the left of the Tea Party, you're on your own.  

The murder of this party that began with the election of Phil Bredesen was completed this morning with this press release.  Funeral Services will be held July 16 at 4:30 P.M., with Vice President Joe Biden presiding.  He's a helluva speaker, but he's not Lazarus.

Survivors include liberals and progressives, who have been abandoned for some time and who have been preparing for this death for a while now.  However, one knows you can never really prepare for something like this when it occurs.