I am highly skeptical of the Coffee Party. No, scratch that, it doesn't quite communicate my feelings accurately. In fact, the Coffee Party viscerally repels me. Of course, I reserve the right to do a complete 180 and change my mind entirely if this really turns into a meaningful, substantive movement for change. But all signs point to NOT A CHANCE. Why the bitter sarcasm? Because the Coffee Party just doesn't get it - they don't get politics, they don't get democracy, and they don't get what ails us today. Here is the opening paragraph to their platform, if we may call it that:
Coffee Party USA aims to reinvigorate the public sphere, drawing from diverse backgrounds and diverse perspectives, with the goal of expanding the influence of the People in America's political arena. We do not require nor adhere to any preexisting ideology. We encourage deliberation guided by reason amongst the many viewpoints held by our members. We see our diversity as a strength, not a weakness, because we believe that faithful deliberation from multiple vantage points is the best way to achieve the common good. It is in the responsible and reasonable practice of deliberation that we hope to contribute to society.
Compare this placid, polite statement to what the Tea Partiers are doing - taking to the streets and the White House lawn, protesting loudly and uncivilly, engaging in raucous street theater, and demanding specific political objectives. The problem, of course, is that all of this sound and fury is in the service of completely incoherent goals, on the one hand, or utterly terrifying, borderline fascist goals, on the other. As the country (and perhaps the world) goes down the drain of plutocracy, financial malfeasance, environmental destruction, endless war, and the crumbling of the last tattered remains of any public goods, it's not the time to sit around in coffee shops and have a polite conversation with centrist Republicans and Democrats about our differences. At least the Tea Partiers, for all their wackjob conspiratorial John Birch-esque insanity, understand that the times call for direct-frickin-action.Go read the rest here.
"MEMPHIS, TN —Today Coffee Party USA, a new grassroots effort that has captured the attention of the nation, announced it will hold a community event at OTHERLANDS COFFEE BAR, 641 COOPER ST. AT 2:30 PM as part of National Coffee House Day on March 13, 2010.
"In the midst of growing frustration with the political climate of the country, the grassroots movement Coffee Party USA has declared March 13, 2010, National Coffee House Day, during which Americans across the country will meet at coffee houses and around kitchen tables to facilitate informative and civil dialogue about a myriad of issues. This diverse and non-partisan organization has drawn members from all walks of life who wish to regain their civic pride and have a strong desire to contribute to the political discourse that is the basis of our democracy.
Why am I writing about this? This is pointless. These people are the fringe, right? Right? They will die out soon, right? My generation and beyond, we see past this unbelievable — and unbelievably mundane — horse shit, don’t we? I mean, I know lots of us are still locked into these idiotic ape thought patterns but most of us, we’re rational, yes? We don’t affix scarlet letters to various sweaters based on who those sweaters prefer to hug. Right? All the hope I’ve ever had is caught up in the notion that we will get past this ridiculousness some day before I eke out my last breath. That some day — some day soon — we will stop listening to these selfish, hateful fucks (YES I CALLED THEM FUCKS BECAUSE THEY ARE MEAN, AWFUL PEOPLE FULL OF HATRED IN THEIR HEARTS AND IT MAKES ME YELL) and go about the business of making sure, at the very least, that our laws are truly fair and not just blink yawn fair or *whatever* to people who deserve to be treated as fully human, fully citizens.There's more to read here. This is our first edition of WHAT LINDSAY SAID, but it sure won't be the last, because she is awesome.
She is in the middle of the page, sitting happily on her pillow.For Kyle, the reality is that he simply couldn’t raise enough money fast enough. Sure, he raised a sight more than most, but even back when he visited Drinking Liberally in the summer there were questions about his ability to raise money, or have a big enough stockpile to last through session. That’s just reality.Yes, that's true, but I agree with Kleinheider here:
I must say, I don’t really see why. He has as good a chance at the nomination now as he did when he got in — maybe more. Nothing has really changed. Everything he cited in his press release he knew long ago.So, I'm not necessarily buying this. You see, I personally like all of the candidates, they have been gracious and kind and nicer to this crazy blogger than I had any right to expect.
Do we face a lot of challenges going into November? Absolutely. Republican candidates have raised a lot more money than the Democrats. The state is teetering further and further to the right as the Democratic Party becomes more fractured on many levels, one of the biggest of these being the rural/urban divide, which is second only to a lack of a clear and concisely stated Democratic vision and leadership from all quarters within the party establishment.
There’s a lot of suffering out there in the state, and while Tennesseans are a proud, stubborn people, the overriding sentiment is that our government has forgotten about the regular folk out there just trying to make a life in this crazy world of ours. In order to win, we have to demonstrate how we intend to positively impact their lives and instill hope in them that this is not only possible, but our number one priority.
If we can do this, we have a damn good shot at winning in November, but we all have to quit with the pity party, and get to work. Use whatever metric you want to choose your preferred candidate, but remember, at the end of the day, our job is to elect A DEMOCRAT, because as Democrats we believe that ANY Democrat is a sight better than even the most moderate Republican.
Go back and read that part about "a clear and concisely stated Democratic vision and leadership from all quarters within the party establishment." BINGO. These folks are still living off 1992 when it's 2010. They cannot figure out that a clear message defining who we are and what we're about can win, because, in their hearts, I don't think they believe it themselves, and that's the damn problem.
Yet, when those of us in the blogosphere, who have been on the ground for campaigns, suggest something new, they recoil from us and call us a bunch of dirty f-ing hippies. When we can solve THAT problem, I'll feel better about things, and not before.
Rant over.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FEBRUARY 26, 2010
Contact: Katy Cutright | 901-543-8683
katy@jimkyle2010.com
NASHVILLE - Memphis Senator Jim Kyle (D-Memphis) announced today that he will be withdrawing from the 2010 Tennessee Gubernatorial race, and issued the following statement:
"After careful consideration and consultation with my family, I have decided that I will no longer be a candidate for Governor of Tennessee.
It is clear to me that while our campaign had the assets to be competitive in the Primary, the legislative fundraising restriction, the economy, and my duties as Senate Leader have severely hampered my ability to generate resources which would have been vital to our success in the general election. Our state faces unprecedented budget and funding issues that cannot wait for the next Governor, and I plan to devote all my energies to working with Governor Bredesen and my colleagues in the legislature to ensure that the best interests of all Tennesseans are placed first.
I started this campaign for governor to help our state create the recession-proof jobs that will move us forward. My vision for accomplishing this task was to take "Higher Education to a Higher Place," and make our colleges economic engines for Tennessee. While no longer a candidate for Governor, I will continue to be an outspoken advocate to promote and define the solutions that answer our state's most pressing challenges, in both higher education and job creation. Perhaps, my exit from this race will enable some of my legislative initiatives, which will address these challenges, to be seen and heard more clearly.
For a guy whose Mom worked in a tire factory and whose Dad drove a truck, perhaps the most humbling support has been from Tennessee's working families. My parents' jobs were hard jobs, and because of the Unions they belonged to, they were able to provide a better life for our family.
I would like to thank each and every Tennessean who has assisted me in this campaign. I am proud to call Tennessee home. I have built a career in this great state, raised my family here, and will continue to pursue the same goal I set for this campaign: that we have a government that measures its success one citizen at a time."
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Sen. Ford ReturnsWe are delighted at her recovery and hope that she is, indeed, back to stay.
Tennessee Sen. Ophelia Ford has rejoined her colleagues after being absent because of an illness.The Memphis Democrat stood on the Senate floor Wednesday and thanked lawmakers for their prayers and said her doctors have given her a "100 percent good bill of health."
Ford, who is 59, missed the Legislature's special session on education reform last month due to flulike symptoms that resulted in her being admitted to a Memphis hospital.Family members later said she suffered complications from an unspecified surgical procedure and could miss the entire legislative session.
When asked specifics about her illness Wednesday, Ford only said that she had gone into the hospital for something "very minor," and complications developed. However, she said: "I'm back to stay."
