Let's put an old GOP lie to rest

A finance professor at the University of Illinois-Chicago decided to test out the old theory that Chicago Mob boss Sam Giancana inflated vote totals for John F. Kennedy in the wards that he controlled.

And what did he find?

He found that the mob-controlled areas in the city, as well as Cicero and Chicago Heights, voted no differently than others. In fact, Democratic vote totals remained about the same in those wards for Kennedy in 1960 as they were for Adlai Stevenson in 1956. Binder also disputes the notion that Giancana helped Kennedy win the state of West Virginia, and that the mob influenced citywide votes via union support.

Harrumph. We used to have a saying in Illinois about that to piss off the Repubs; for every stiff that supposedly voted for JFK in Chicago, there are three cows Downstate that voted for Nixon.

All right, do you want to put your sweat equity into some campaign work?

UPDATE!!! Please note changes to the Mulroy event for Saturday!!!!!


OK then.

If you agree with me that Joe Young should be our next County Clerk, he needs your help. if you support Joe and can volunteer your time and effort, email him at joeyoungforclerk@aol.com.

Looking to help Steve Mulroy? They are looking for door-to-door help this weekend. Lynn Strickland explains:

Steve Mulroy is going door to door Saturday and would like some enthusiastic company. If you have map reading skills that will be a plus, but not a requirement. We will meet at 755A Graham Street, Campaign HQ, near the U of M Campus at 11:30 am. The plan is to work the selected neighborhoods for a while into the afternoon.

Join Steve for a fun day in the sun participating in grass roots politics at its best. Sign on for the morning, afternoon or both sessions. Love to have you!

Please respond by reply back to me, Lynn Strickland - Lynn@mulroy4dist5.com, or reach Steve directly at steve@mulroy4dist5.com. ALSO if you have not visited the website at www.mulroy4dist5.com and filled out the Volunteer Registration page, please do so at your very earliest convenience.

Lynn Strickland

I like your choices, David!

David Holt, the West Tennessee Liberal his own self, has decided to join the Cracker in endorsing Joe Young, Reginald Fentress, and Steve Mulroy in their campaigns.

This would have been up earlier in the day, but Blogger has been down for posting since this morning.

I will have an interesting story about the SRLC later in the day; however, go read brother Holt's good comments on our candidates!

The Cracker Endorsements

There's a crapload of races on the May 2 Democratic Primary ballot for Shelby County offices, and the Cracker is stating preferences in some of the races.

The four that I care the most about are as follows:

Countywide

For County Clerk - Joe Young

I have known Joe for years, worked in his campaign for SCDP Chair and heartily support him in his efforts to reclaim this seat from the Goopers. He is extremely organized, and will have that office running smoothly for years to come.

Commission Seats

In numerical order...

For District 2, Position 2 - Reginald Fentress

Reginald, who lost four years ago to the juggernaut that is Deidre Malone, has been working closely in his community and with groups such as Democracy for Memphis on issues that matter to the community. I have every reason to believe he will hold developers' feet to the fire on matters of smart growth, and will make every effort to bring better jobs to that district.

For District 3, Position 1 - Bob Hatton

This is a tough one for me, as my friend Del Gill is also in this race. However, Bob, whom I have known and worked with for over 25 years and is a very good friend, came to me over a year ago to let me know he wanted to serve this District on the Commission, and has been working it ever since. I have every confidence that Bob will work hard to bring better jobs to the community.

For District 5 - Steve Mulroy

Gee, what a surprise, eh? Did the fact that his website is linked on the blogroll give it away? Look, we can WIN this seat, and with it, control of the Commission. He is a tireless worker, a tough advocate, and he is far and away our best hope. He is correct on all the issues, and a hell of a nice guy to boot. Please help him, too, if you can.


All right, what about the others? Here are some observations about some of the other races; if I don't comment, they're either unopposed or I am content to let the electorate decide for themselves.

Juvenile Court Clerk - I am voting for Wanda Halbert, because she simply has the only chance to beat Steve Stamson, as I noted back on Valentine's Day. I like Shep Wilbun, but he should have gone back to the Commission for a term before he ran for this seat.

Criminal Court Clerk - Kevin Gallagher is my choice here, even though Bill Key has been tough to beat, I think he has a reasonably good shot.

Well, those are my picks, and your mileage may vary.

Well, if we're going to rebuild local parties, we'd better start with this one!

And what better way than by raising money? (Yes, I'm an old hack from way back, how did you know?)

The SCDP announces the following:

Kennedy Day Dinner

The Shelby County Democratic Party's Annual Kennedy Day Dinner will be held on Monday, May 22, at the Central Ballroom of the University of Memphis Holiday Inn (3700 Central Avenue). The featured speaker will be Bob Tuke, Chairman of the Tennessee Democratic Party.

Tickets are $125. Tickets to the pre-dinner reception (5:30, also at the U of M's Holiday Inn) are $75. Or purchase a full table (seating for 8) for your group for $1000. Click HERE to purchase tickets online (coming soon).

Online tickets? Holy smokes, they are trying to get tech-savvy! By the way, we appreciate that the SCDP is returning to dear old House District 93 (home of the Cracker, this guy and this guy, not to mention this blog), as we do enjoy hosting our fellow Democrats.

On another note, all we get for $125 is Bob Tuke? No Hillary Clinton? Not even a DLCer like Pryor or Lincoln? Oh well, at least he's a good Democrat, even if he does support Bredesen! :-)

If it weren't for Howard Dean, I'd now be Green.

If it weren't for the terrific work our Chair is doing to rebuild state and local parties, I would leave the Democratic Party. However, the Democratic Party will rise again.

Those worthless bastards in the Senate, Feingold & Leahy excepted (maybe Obama), however, can go straight to Hell. Senator Feingold has a censure motion against the Dictator, but Senate staffers are too goddamned worried about their bosses and saving their own skins to try and do anything to save the republic.

Here's a tidbit from the linked article:

Gotta love it. Feingold steps up and acts like a patriot and rather than supporting him his fellow Democrats are fuming:

One longtime Senate aide was particularly scathing.

“Feingold’s grandstanding screwed the pooch and played into Bill Frist’s hands,” the aide said. “Thank God Dems punted this down the field. Frist was going to force Democrats to vote on a resolution Feingold had kept a big secret and he would’ve split the caucus on an issue that needed time to get the whole caucus to support. Russ Feingold had only one persons’ interests in mind with his Sunday bombshell, and those were his own. He practically handed a victory to a Bush White House that desperately needs a win.”

WTF?? Is there something about living inside the Beltway that turns their minds to mush? Would someone dare to tell me how a censure motion HURTS the Democrats? Even if it lost, (which it would) it would show Americans (only 34% of whom support the Dictator right now) that we are STANDING UP. Now, we look like pussies. No one will vote for a bunch of pussies, and if we can't do better than this we are a PERMANENT MINORITY.

However, Feingold responds:

And Feingold’s fighting back:

I’m amazed at Democrats, cowering with this president’s numbers so low. The administration just has to raise the specter of the war and the Democrats run and hide. … Too many Democrats are going to do the same thing they did in 2000 and 2004. In the face of this, they’ll say we’d better just focus on domestic issues. … [Democrats shouldn’t] cower to the argument, that whatever you do, if you question the administration, you’re helping the terrorists.

I can hardly wait until the Chair finishes rebuilding the state & local parties and get these worthless pieces of shit out of Congress and replace them with REAL Democrats.

Is he ever going to wake up and smell the coffee?

Despite the Goopers giving Harold Junior the Ned Beatty treatment with their FANCY FORD website, despite every NRSC post making reference to his "liberalism" (that's hysterical), despite all of that. Junior has decided that he will still try to get people who would never vote for him, to, well, vote for him.

Junior, UNLIKE local Democrat John Tanner (that Commie bastard he) and that Republican fellow-traveler John Duncan of Knoxville, voted FOR the reauthorization of the Patriot Act. That, despite the fact that it's a far more vicious attack on our constitutional rights than anything any Al-Qaeda member can dream up.

It's time to level with you, Congressman. All those folks outside Shelby & Davidson Counties, most of them aren't going to vote for you, ESPECIALLY if they're Republican. Those morons in DC who are sucking out your money at an incredible burn-rate are giving you VERY bad advice.

While many of those non-urban folks will smile at you and shake your hand, they're NOT going to vote for you, even if it's that "liberal" Bob Corker fella that wins the Gooper nomination. All your hard work sucking up to Anus, er, Imus and Fox News is going to waste, especially once your uncle's trial starts.

Save your money, get out now, and run for Mayor of Memphis; you'll be better off in the long haul.

Well, it's campaign season, so why not?

Well, since Wendi C. Thomas is heading for Bal-mer to work for the Sun, local libertarian blogger Mike Hollihan is shamelessly campaigning to replace her. Yes, Mike, I'm certain you will be popular with her readers, whoever they were.

Nonetheless, we try to be supportive of our fellow bloggers, so as a public service, I present his campaign banner. Striking, eh?

Here's DC's REAL Pimp

The DSCC has answered the Fancy Ford site with one of their own about the ole Kat Killer himself, Bill "Very Fancy Frist".

Let's see who the REAL Pimp Daddy is!

Kurita keeps up the fight!

Jackson Baker profiles state Senator Rosalind Kurita (D-Clarksville) in her quest to become the next US Senator from the Volunteer State.

Here's an excerpt:

Kurita acknowledges that on the war issue she's to the left of Ford, who voted for the war in 2002 and, though critical of President Bush's management of the war, has never disavowed his original support. Kurita has a concrete proposal: Take our ground troops out of the cities, where they are "magnets" to the growing insurgency, and maintain air support for the struggling new Iraqi government. It's a strategy that's arguably a prelude to orderly withdrawal.

Kurita's increasing forthrightness on the war and on Iraq itself ("Let's face it. Iraq ought to be three countries, not one," she has said on other recent occasions) is one of the factors that make her at least a theoretical alternative to the nationally ballyhooed Ford.

See Ya, Wendi!

UPDATE @ 4:30 P.M. : The CA finally breaks the story on their site.


Breaking News: Wendi Thomas is leaving for the Baltimore Sun, according to Romenesko's MediaNews, which got a copy of the internal Sun memo.

Here it is:

Memo to Baltimore Sun employees

03/10/2006 03:01 PM

To: Newsroom

Subject: Staff announcement

We are pleased to announce that Wendi Thomas will be joining The Sun as a metro columnist.

Wendi has been a columnist at The Commercial Appeal in Memphis since August 2003. Her columns -- known for their flair and humor -- include taking on a prominent and controversial political family and calling for elected officials to sign ethical codes of conduct. She has examined potential budget cuts to after-school activities in Memphis and told stories of redemption among ex-gang members. And she has challenged a ballet teacher who won't let a pupil with dreadlocked hair perform in a recital.

Before joining [the Commercial Appeal] -- her hometown paper -- Wendi worked as a reporter and editor at The Indianapolis Star, The Tennessean and the Charlotte Observer. She is a 1993 journalism graduate of Butler University.Wendi is set to start at The Sun April 17, and she'll begin writing later in the month. We're excited to have her bring her sharp insight to Baltimore and read her take on the people and events of our community.

Tim, Bob, Sandy, Mike & Howard

Come down and infuriate Republicans!!!

I am reposting this to move it to the top of the blog, and to note that the TDP got off its butt nad scheduled a Press Conference downtown at 11 AM Friday..

From my buddy Brad Watkins of Democracy for Memphis comes the following:

This week as many of you may know is the Southern Republican Leadership Conference, from Thursday, March 9th until Sunday 12th. Karl Rove, Lamar Alexander, Bill Frist and many other Republican Presidential wannabes will be here in MEMPHIS, and that will not do.

This Friday, March 10th @ 3:30pm Democracy For Memphis is hosting a progressive counter event at the Bon Ton cafe at 150 Monroe ave. Here we will not only discuss and celebrate progressive values, but will honor the memory of DFM member Charles Grace, who passed away last winter. Charles Grace was a man of warmth, compassion and humor. He saw people for who they were, and tried to accept them. He was steadfast in his passion and desire to bring about positive change for this party and this community, and his humility and kindness will be greatly missed.

It is in his spirit that we would like to extend to all local progressives this invitation to a brief rally which can serve as a potential rally point for protests planned by local grassroots clubs and groups.

We are very fortunate to have a great line up of speakers led by our Event Host, County Commissioner Deidre Malone, who will also speak on the theme of Race Relations and party unity.

Other speakers include...Democratic Candidates for County Commission Reginald Fentress, who will speak in favor of the Living Wage, and Steve Mulroy, who will speak on Ethics and Election reform.Shelby County Democratic Party Chairman Matt Kuhn will also attend and inform the attendees about the SCDP'S "Covenant with the County", A party platform for Shelby County.

Other speakers will be announced soon.

It is my deepest desire to see many local progressives join us as we tell the Republicans that Memphis is NOT buying what they are selling.

Donations will be accepted to offset costs of host this event, ALL PROFITS WILL BE DONATED TO THE MIDSOUTH INTERFAITH NETWORK'S LIVING WAGE CAMPAIGN IN THE NAME OF CHARLES GRACE.

So start making your signs and let's get ready.

DEMAND CHANGE
Brad Watkins, Organizer

EVENT- CHARLES GRACE
DAY & TIME- 3:30-5:30pm
DATE- March 10th
LOCATION-The BON TON CAFE, 150 Monroe Ave.
"One block west of AutoZone Park!"

I'm for the recall; however...

Confessions of a West Tennessee Liberal...: Thoughts on the recall... (Sorry Brad)

David Holt does make some salient arguments AGAINST the recall of the Mayor, and it's worth reading. Here's an excerpt:

And despite what many people say, Herenton is not a Democrat. I don’t think he even really sees himself as one. He is elected to a nonpartisan office, gets most of his money from Republicans, most of his votes from Democrats, and has supported politicians from both parties. Seems like I would be a perfect candidate to sign the recall petition, right? Wrong. The Davis recall in California was wrong. Davis had done nothing illegal and was merely in a bad political position in the middle of his term that any governor would have been in in the same circumstances. It would be hypocritical for me to oppose that recall but support this one.

Click on the title and go read the rest...

Kurita is picking up steam as Ford looks more unelectable

I have been told by a friend who has seen the new issue of the Flyer that Senator Kurita is on the front page with a good story to back it up. The new issue is on stands now; it will be put on the website Friday, if they follow normal procedure.

Add to that the fact that Junior slipped again in the latest Rasmussen polls pitting him against each Gooper candidate, and that his burn-rate of campaign $$$ is apparently approaching warp speed, and we actually have a Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate.

I am in the process of developing a separate blog for the Kurita campaign, which I will link to over in the blogroll once it's done.

The Rude One is at it again...

Our beloved Rude Pundit has a, shall we say, INTERESTING plan to get South Dakota to reverse their vote to ban abortion yesterday.

I am saying no more, other than go read it yourself. Unless, of course, you're at work, because, after all, this IS the Rude One!

Kirby Puckett, 1960-2006

While I have never been a fan of the Minnesota Twins (they're in the same division as the White Sox, after all), I have always admired and respected Kirby Puckett, their Hall of Fame centerfielder. He played the game with an infectious joy and an incredible energy that lifted his teammates time and time again.

Now, stunningly, only five years after his induction into Cooperstown, Kirby Puckett is dead of a stroke at the age of 45. Only Lou Gehrig was younger at the time of his death among those who were inducted while living, which makes this all the sadder.

Yes, he had problems in his personal life after having to retire from baseball in 1996 due to a diagnosis of glaucoma in his right eye. Yes, he had to go through a messy divorce as a result of all that.

Tonight, though, I remember the fluid swing that led the Twins to World Series wins in 1987 and 1991 and that garnered over 2300 hits in his 12-year career. I want to remember, even though I rooted for the Braves that year, his game-winning home run in Game 6 of the 1991 Series that saved it for the Twins. It is still remembered as one of the greatest moments in Series history.

Now, he's gone, just like that. For more remembrances, I recommend Bat-Girl's site; she has been hilariously funny in past posts about Twins' baseball. However, tonight, she, along with Twins' fans and all baseball fans, mourn Kirby's passing as a deep loss for baseball and anyone who loves it, as I do.

This really stinks.

I saw THIS

on a car at the North Texas Irish Festival Friday night...

Represent!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bite me, Aunt Esther!

I had to run downstairs at the hotel where I'm staying in Dallas, because I am delirious and proud to be a Memphian, Three 6 Mafia has just won the Academy Award for "It's Hard Out Here For A Pimp" from Hustle & Flow!!!!

Can't you hear Wendi whining now? While this is not the first time a Memphian has won this award, it is a tremendous achievement, and we should celebrate it!

Now if Terence Howard can just win Best Actor.....

It's time for jigs, reels, and Guinness!!!!!

The Cracker is bailing and headed for Big D in the morning to attend the 24th North Texas Irish Festival at Fair Park. There won't be any posting after tonight until Tuesday, so none of you get in trouble while I'm drinking and singing and seeing old friends down there.

Headliners include the fabulous Eileen Ivers, Aoife Clancy (her father was Bobby of the Clancy Brothers) and the great balladeer Robbie O'Connell.

No, I'm not Irish or Scottish or Celtic at all, and I'm not wearing a kilt, because they don't make tartans for Polish people. Well, there are always Utilikilts!

See you Tuesday!

Junior is spending his contributions like a drunken sailor!!

The fabulous Pesky Fly beat me to this stunning note from Rosalind Kurita's website:


Harold Ford, Jr. keeps touting his big fundraising numbers.What he's not telling people is this:"In the third quarter, he spent more than he raised. In the fourth he took in $1 million and spent $910,755. His balance is ... considerably less than he estimated a few weeks ago."

Tennessee Journal, Feb. 6, 2006 edition.

Here's my question: on WHAT is he spending his money? Have any of YOU seen any ads lately? Have you gotten flyers in the mail from the Man Who Would Be Senator?

Just how much more ass will he have to kiss in the event he wins the primary? How much will he have to sell out to keep the $$$ rolling in IF he gets to represent the Democrats in November?

Stay tuned, and great job as always, big Fly!

Maybe it's just me, but..

Is the woman on the left

Beginning to sound a lot like the woman on the right?

Wendi Thomas today laments the fact that our own Three 6 Mafia has been nominated for an Oscar for the song, "It's Hard To Be A Pimp Out Here" because, well, you know, pimping is BAD.

Who knew?

Never mind that this is the highest profile for a Memphis-based recording act in a long time, never mind that while Hustle and Flow showed the seamier side of this city, it's a side that exists, and will continue to exist as long as we have the same people running the show economically.

Her columns of late have had that lecture-like tone we used to hear whenever Aunt Esther would lecture Fred Sanford that he would wind up in Hell if he didn't get right with God, to which Fred would note that if she weren't in Hell and he was, he'd be better off.

There are times when Wendi has good points and makes sense, but she ignores the fact that our music industry was made by wild-ass crazy people who were, well, brilliant. Do the names Jerry Lee Lewis, Sam Phillips, or Jim Dickinson mean anything to you?

Enough said. I'm rooting for Three 6 Mafia to win Sunday night, and for Terence Howard to win the Oscar for Best Actor. Even if I do burn in Hell.

Smart City represents on Living Wage!

A great post from Smart City calls on Mayor Herenton and the City Council to stand up and get on board the Living Wage train for city employees.

An excerpt:

Meanwhile, back in Memphis, we continue to grapple with the living wage issue. City Council has dragged its feet on this issue, but like so many issues that dissipate with time, this one is not going away, particularly as long as tax freezes are handed out as casually as they are by city and county governments.

The Living Wage Campaign is calling on the City Council to pay its workers $10 an hour with health insurance or $12 an hour without insurance. In addition, it makes the case that if companies are going to have their property taxes waived, they should at least agree to pay a living wage to their workers in return. The $10 an hour would bring a family of four to the federal poverty level.

Bingo.

For ONCE, Phil's folks do something RIGHT..

and now they're under siege for it.

The terrific Nashville Scene article linked above notes how Bredesen challenged the TDOT culture upon arrival in the Governor's Mansion. The "PAVE EVERYTHING" mentality has beren curbed under the watchful eye of TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely, who has taken powers away from the TDOT engineers, and actually considers that there are such things as mass public transit.

The good-ole-boy rural legislators, who only have schools and roads to bring back to their districts (why? so people can leave them for cities quicker?), have decided to try and pass legislation that would shift the power back to the Ledge, where those fat road contracts (and those fat campaign contributions would come back in return) could be dealt out to their buddies.

Disturbingly, the legislation would gut any money going to mass transit in Tennessee, according to this excerpt:

Another provision ensures that, even if TDOT experienced a budgetary windfall, public transit wouldn’t benefit. The draft decrees that no money shall be spent on the operational costs of mass transit in counties with a population of more than 100,000. The affected counties collectively contain more than half of the state’s population.

In short, a nice fat UP YOURS to MATA and Nashville's Metro Transit Authority, as well as any other urban public transportation. Call your legislator (you DO know who your Rep and Senator are, of course) and tell them to stop this garbage.

Screw those rural bastards; let 'em ride mules!

In the words of Stan Marsh,

This is fucked up right here.

Channel 5 did some research and made a rather interesting discovery. Thaddeus Matthews could be successful in getting the recall of Willie Herenton on the ballot, and the voters of the City of Memphis could recall him. However, in spite of that, it is still possible that the City Council, after the initial 20-day term of Council chair Tajuan Stout-Mitchell, could REAPPOINT Herenton. For a Councilperson to accept the appointment, they would have to resign their seat.

Yes, you read that right. It is theoretically possible that, even if all the pieces fell into place and the voters of our city told him to take a hike, he could be reappointed.

Is that likely? Well, I can think of at least four probable NO votes on the council (and not all of them are white by any means), but you would need SEVEN.

My head is spinning......

Well, friends, Thaddeus has done it again...

I saw this little movie of the Mayor with the holy spirit as it carried him across the pulpit, and I thought, wow, Thaddeus has got a HUGE pair to put this out!

I thought, that's funny, but I shouldn't link to it. Then, what the hell, Brassmask and Autoegocrat did, so HERE WE GO!

It's getting CRAZY here!

With all of the political nuttiness of the last two days, the blogging around this town is on FIRE!

Nobody is hotter right now (well, other than Rachel, of course) than the mighty Autoegocrat, who responds to our post about the newest Ford in our future with a terrific column of his own.

Here's a snippet:

Upon reading this news, the first thought that sprang to my mind was this one: if I hurry, I still have enough time to legally change my name to Chevrolet and file for the damn seat myself. I'll do it, too, but only if I can convince Mike Hollihan to change his name to General Motors and run for the 9th District seat as a Republican. I'll have to gamble on the chance that no one named Toyota or Honda pops up and decides to run as an independent at the last minute.

Go and read it NOW!!!

That's what I'm talkin' about!!!!

Rosalind Kurita has come to town to kick ass and take names! In town for a fundraiser tonight (which I will be attending), she held a press conference on the steps of the US Bankruptcy Court to remind everyone who voted for the bankruptcy bill that will decimate his own constituency. Here's a hint; he's running for the Senate, too.

In addition, the Clarksville Democrat challenged the 9th District Congressman to a debate on the issues. I particularly liked this comment in the Flyer article:

Referring to the widely ballyhooed joint appearance in Memphis this week of Ford and Illinois U.S. Senator Barack Obama, Kurita, a state senator from Clarksville, took note of the fact that Obama had used the line, “I believe we are our brother’s keeper,” in defining the mission of the Democratic Party. Kurita herself had featured the line on the stump in explaining her candidacy, usually adding, as she did in Memphis on Friday, We’re a nation of souls, not a multinational corporation focused on the bottom line.”

Kurita said that, in contrast to her own emphasis on traditional Democratic principles, Ford seemed intent on sounding as Republican as possible.

Enough said.

Yet ANOTHER Ford in our future?

I received an email that contained a press release from Joe Ford JUNIOR, son of the County Commissioner and erstwhile City Mayoral candidate, announcing to one and all that he was moving back to his hometown from Los Angeles and filing for his cousin's old US House seat.

Essentially, he hasn't lived here since he graduated from Kirby High in 1991. After a two year stint at the U (University of Miami, FL for those who don't watch SportsCenter), he transferred to UCSB, where he got a degree in Computer Science. He then changed courses, got a MS in Sports Management from Georgia State, then got his JD from Pepperdine Law School.

He's been in LA until now, where he apparently deemed in necessary to return home to save the seat, I guess.

Look, I've always liked Joe Senior, he's a very nice, unassuming fellow who could presumably have been an damn good Mayor of Memphis. I also presume that he has kept his son abreast of all the political madness in this town.

What makes this guy think he can waltz into town on short notice and claim the seat? Where has he been for the last 15 years? Not here.

End of rant.

I got your Lifestyle Center right here, mofo!

The killer crew at Smart City Consulting delivers a broadside here about what "lifestyle centers" are doing to downtowns all over the USA. Here's a tidbit:

Lifestyle centers are simply the latest incarnation of shopping malls cleverly masquerading as public town centers or public main streets. In fact, many developers incorporate the name “town center” or “village” into the development’s name and brand. They offer visitors shopping, dining and entertainment opportunities that are often marketed as urban, unique, historic and even European-style shopping experiences. The truth is that these centers are solely created to attract national chain stores and restaurants such as the Pottery Barn, Ann Taylor Loft and California Pizza Kitchen, anchor retailers that would better serve the community if located in downtowns or town centers.

They're talking about potentially turning the Highland Strip, five blocks from my house, into a "lifestyle center". Great, just what we need in the 'hood, a mall-like atmosphere. I'd rather have the Highland Street Church of Christ myself, and I'm not even Christian. It's a more stable part of the community, though.

The NRA Shoots Itself In The Ass

Wow. According to this MyDD post, the NRA went after businesses in Florida because some of them wouldn't allow their employees to keep guns in their cars while at work. In so doing, they forced the Republicans in the Florida legislature to choose between the NRA and the Chamber of Commerce.

The result? Fuck you, NRA! Here's an excerpt:

Lakeland Republican Rep. Dennis Ross could speak from both sides.

"I'm sorry that we have to come to this crossroad where I have to make a decision between what I think are two very fundamental rights," said Ross, who said he belongs to the NRA, numerous hunting organizations and even holds a permit to carry a concealed weapon.

But he couldn't support the NRA's bill.

"While I believe that my Second Amendment rights are very important to me, as a business owner my private property rights are (paramount)," said Ross, a lawyer.

Look, I grew up around weapons; I hunted as a boy and my father was a gunsmith. Let's face it, the NRA doesn't give a rat's ass about gun owners, they represent gun manufacturers. Nobody I know who hunts takes a damned AK-47 deer hunting; that weapon is for hunting PEOPLE.

Yet, when the assault weapon ban was considered, one would have thought we are being disarmed, to hear the NRA tell it.

If the NRA really gave a shit about guns and gun safety, they would push for licensing, with someone having to pass a gun safety course before you could own one. Incidentally, the NRA Gun Safety course, IIRC, is one of the best.

However, they want nothing to do with anything that restricts ANYONE'S right to purchase a weapon, no matter what; that would hurt the precious gun MANUFACTURERS.

I think it's hilarious that when the NRA forced Goopers to make a choice, they stuck with business rather than the NRA. Fuck 'em!

Talk about lobbing a grenade!

The unexpected withdrawal of County Commissioner Bruce Thompson from the District 5 race has thrown a monkeywrench into the works.

As the Flyer article notes, Thompson's retreat leaves the Republicans (temporarily) without a candidate for that seat, which would shift the balance of power to the Democrats. However, it should also trigger the state's anti-skulduggery law, causing the filing deadline to be reopened for another week.

(Note - as always, Jackson Baker and the Flyer beat the CA like a red-headed stepchild to this story. This would not happen if we had a fully functioning daily newspaper that cared about hard NEWS.)

The reopening of the filing deadline also should render moot any of Joe Cooper's arguments regarding Steve Mulroy's residence (NOTE: It's at 755 SOUTH GRAHAM in the heart of precinct 46-2, in the northwestern corner of District 5, shown in yellow in the link!) which will be grandfathered in and he will probably allowed to run.

Who will run on the Gooper side? The flyer article indicates it might well be Thompson's 2002 opponent in the Gooper primary, John Ryder, a former Republican National Committeeman and one of Terry Roland's attorneys. Think he might try to make this an Ophelia Ford referendum?
Given that Ryder has been one of the ultimate Republican insiders for more years than I can remember, he will fight the Democratic nominee like a rabid badger, and will use ANYTHING to win.

This is THE BATTLE in Shelby County this fall, especially if Mulroy beats Cooper.

Uh, let's not blow up the building just yet...

There apparently has been a hatchet job on Steve Mulroy by Andy Wise of Channel 3 (Andy Wise? Hatchet job? who knew?) regarding the fact that he is renting (for the time being, until his wife finds a house to buy) a home in District 5.

As Greg Duckett points out, it is about INTENT TO LIVE. He's selling his house, for heaven's sakes, and NOW LIVES at 755 South Graham, in 46-2, in District 5.

Joe Cooper is desperate to get Mulroy out of the race, because he knows Mulroy is the candidate who can beat him, thus, the phony lawsuit designed to get him out. It won't work, either. Cooper, a convicted felon (yes, it happened in the 70s) wants to get on the Commission so that he can sell off Shelby Farms to his developer friends.

Thompson wants to sell off the Jail to private interests, screwing over the workers at the jail.

Yet, as Mike Kernell notes, all Mulroy wants to sell is his old house in District 1 so that he can represent the people of District 5 and not the developers or the privateers.

Here are two terrific comments on the Obama visit.

A. I had to work and B. i didn't want to appear at ANYTHING that was a rally for that sellout Junior.

However, the mighty Brassmask went, took pictures, and wrote a killer review of the proceedings. Then. riffing on the Brassmask report, Autoegocrat puts a Charles Oakley-like hurting on Chuck Schumer, the DSCC, and the Man Who Would Be Senator.

Did he REALLY say this??

I am enclosing the entirety of a Junior press release sent out today. I deleted the phone number so Schuermann wouldn't be besieged by phone calls; it's not his fault his boss is an idiot.


For Immediate Release
Contact: Mark Schuermann
Friday, February 17, 2006 (202) XXX-XXXX

Ford: "We must have an honest budget that ends wasteful pork barrel spending,
finds savings in every federal agency and includes the cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan"

WASHINGTON - Congressman Harold Ford, Jr., a member of the House Budget Committee, today urged Congress to find budget cuts in every federal agency, end wasteful earmark spending and include the President's emergency war and Hurricane Katrina relief funding in the regular budget, not as off-budget spending items.

"Today, the President asked Congress to appropriate $72 billion more for Iraq and Afghanistan and almost $20 billion more for hurricane relief, both of which I will support. However, if we expect to keep the American people fully behind the war, we should have an honest budget that ends wasteful pork barrel spending, finds savings in every federal agency and includes the cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. In the past, I have not supported an across the board spending cut, however, the federal budget situation we find ourselves in today is indefensible," Ford said.

(My bolding - LWC)

Ahem. An across-the-board spending cut? Would that not mean cutting social spending even beyond the draconian cuts it has already experienced under King George II? WTF????

Harold Senior, you did your son a serious disservice by letting him stay in DC all these years. If he had stayed home and learned the mortuary business and dealt with REAL people all these years, he wouldn't come up with this garbage.

I can hardly wait until he's out and we get a REAL Democrat to represent the 9th District.

It's all campaign mud-slinging, but....

When a Republican calls you an unethical whore, that's saying something. Who would know better?

Howard Dean is not pleased

with the DSCC's undercutting of the Paul Hackett campaign, and he spoke out in Miami.

The AP story notes that "Dean told a student audience in Miami that "some skulduggery in Washington" improperly led to Hackett's decision to end his bid. And he said Democrats will have a tough time winning if similar things happen to others."

That's why I wanted him to be chair, to stop this garbage in DC. That's why I signed up for a Democracy Bond, so we can build the party from the ground up and tell the elected officials what to do, not vice versa.

Hat tip to Jeff over at Pesky's site!

I feel like I'm waiting for the the Party to die after a long illness.

I'm not talking about at the local level, there are still more of us (D) than THEM (R) in Shelby County, but after what happened to Paul Hackett in Ohio, I wonder how even Howard Dean can turn the national Democratic Party around.

As you may have read in Autoegocrat's post, Chuck Schumer and Harry Reid called Paul Hackett's donors and asked them to cut him off. Yes, that's right, they saw to it that his money dried up. This is NOT the DSCC's job; their job is to stay the fuck out until AFTER the primary and THEN help who ever the VOTERS decide should be the Democratic nominee.

You can see that here, as the DSCC refuses to even recognize that Rosalind Kurita's Senate campaign exists; they have attached themselves to Junior like baby hogs to their mother's tit.

I, for one, am tired of it. It is mighty damned infuriating to be told who I can and can't support by some moron in Washington who is afraid to stand up to a would-be dictator like Bush.

I have made the following decision: I will NEVER vote for a Republican unless Lincoln or Winthrop Rockefeller comes back from the dead. But I'll be damned if I EVER vote for another Democrat who doesn't live up to what a Democrat is supposed to be: Pro-labor, Pro-working and middle-class, pro-FAIR trade.

If things don't turn around and quick, I might be going to the polls just to vote for Mike Kernell this November, and then go home. I hope that's not the case.

The DSCC throws Paul Hackett under the bus

Chuck Schumer and Harry Reid threw Paul Hackett and his Ohio Senate campaign under the bus, even calling his donors and asking them to stop giving. These same people, who refuse to recognize the Kurita for Senate campaign here in Tennessee, are killing our Party.

I'm not the only one that's mad, though; go read Autoegocrat at the Flypaper Theory:

It's bad enough that the government is in the hands of murderous sociopaths, but the situation almost becomes dreadfully poetic when you stop to consider that the biggest obstacle to a return to normalcy and decency in this country is the gang of runaway court eunuchs in charge of the opposition party. It's not even that they're afraid of losing, they're simply afraid to take any risks at all.

With the DLC doing absolutely everything possible to squash every single outbreak of democracy coming up from the liberal grassroots, it's hard for me to believe that they are actually this incompetent. If some jackass blogger in Memphis can figure this stuff out, it isn't exactly rocket science. Either the DLC works for the GOP, or they are the most spineless bunch of invertebrates this planet has seen since the Paleozoic Era.

This is not the best idea, I believe..

I have always liked Shep Wilbun. He carries himself with dignity and grace and there is good reason why I supported his mayoral campaign in 1999, unsuccessful though it was.

He is running for his old job of Juvenile Court Clerk, which puts him in the primary against School Board commissioner Wanda Halbert. He was cleared of criminal wrongdoing that occurred under his watch, which the Commercial Appeal blew out of proportion. I am certain he believes that he was wronged, and is now asking for a second chance, which everyone deserves.

On the other hand....

While he may very well win the Democratic primary, it is difficult for me to see how he could defeat Steve Stamson in the August general election. While it is true that he did not commit any criminal acts, things occurred under his watch that had to be either a lapse of judgement or a lack of oversight, and you can bet that Stamson would throw them into Wilbun's face. It's not difficult to envision a TV commercial from Stamson that suggested that Stamson "cleaned up" the office of JC Clerk.

Wanda Halbert carries no such baggage, and could argue that Stamson has merely acted to perpetuate a sluggish JC system in tandem with the retiring Kenneth Turner. She should do that, if she hasn't planned to, anyway.

I believe Shep Wilbun could win a district County Commission or City Council race right now without much trouble; this would enable him to rejuvenate his political career in short order.

However, to run for his old office now would only ensure Steve Stamson's eventual re-election, and I don't think any of us want that, do we?

It's Official! Joe Young is IN the race for County Clerk

Here is Joe filing his petition yesterday at the Election Commission offices. I am hoping we will know more soon, as I believe has had an excellent chance to regain this office from the Republicans.

Watch this space for more information as it comes down the pike. Let's help Joe become the next Shelby County Clerk!

ANNOUNCEMENT!!!!!!!!!!!!

My friend Joe Young, who as you know I supported for SCDP Chair last summer, has decided to run for the Democratic nomination for Shelby County Clerk, and I am supporting him for this office as well.

Republican Jayne Creson is retiring from the office, and since it appears that there is a potentially brutal GOP primary between Debbie Stamson (WIFE of JC Court Clerk Steve Stamson) and outgoing County Commissioner Marilyn Loeffel (she of FLARE fame), this is a PRIME opportunity for the Democrats to pick up a County office.

Joe is just the person to do this, in my opinion. He is a terrific administrator, is goal-oriented, and would be outstanding in this job.

As soon as I know more about logistics (HQ, how to help, any fundraising, etc) I will let you know!

They're having an interesting discussion on the LIVING WAGE

Confessions of a West Tennessee Liberal...: Living Wage

at the West Tennessee Liberal's site, and a tip of the hat to the Pesky Fly for pointing it out!

DFM, along with the Mid-South Interfaith Network, has set up several townhall meetings and encourages everyone to turn out in support of the Living Wage for full-time city workers.

One of the interesting questions is whether SCDP Chair Matt Kuhn will show up for the Thursday night Town Hall meeting, as he has promised to do. Note: I had said earlier that it was the City Council meeting tonight, but thankfully Brad Watkins' post below corrected my error. Mea culpa!

I cannot imagine why he wouldn't, this is a DEMOCRATIC issue if there ever was one. If not, it will certainly look like he was pressured not to show up by those who are opposed to the amendment.

One thing; do NOT confuse LIVING WAGE with LIVABLE WAGE, as some may try to do; LIVING WAGE has been researched heavily to ensure that full-time workers are paid fairly for their work, which is not always the case.

Go read the post and see what the fuss is about.

A matter of clarification...

It seems that NBC anchor Brian Williams became confused during the State of the Union speech, and identified Harold Ford Junior as Barack Obama. Our friend the Pesky Fly clarifies the difference in his post; go read it!

Bolton Jumps in to the 9th District Race

Longtime Shelby County Commissioner Julian Bolton is now a candidate for the 9th Congressional District being vacated by whats-his-name.

One can only imaginer how this might affect the race, and who might opt not to run because of this announcement. Frankly, I hope EVERYBODY who is announced runs, because we ought to have a choice, and I believe that whether or not Steve Cohen gets in the race that they ought to stay.

Frankly, we could use new blood around here; let's see what happens with this new crop of candidates and see if they can withstand the rigors of campaigning.

Flame away.

That gurgling sound you hear

is probably the reign of John Wilder going down the drain. As Sgt. Larry commented in the post below this one, Democratic Senator Don McLeary of Humboldt announced today that he is now a Republican. Counting still-seated Senator Ophelia Ford, that makes the GOP advantage in the State Senate 18-15.

If McLeary is re-elected this fall as a Gooper, combined with the retirement of Senator Curtis Person, this will ensure that, come next January, Tennessee will elect a new Lieutenant Governor/Senate Speaker for the first time since John Wilder ascended in 1971. Gone will be any Democratic chairmanships, such as Steve Cohen (if he's not already in Congress) at State and Local Government, Jerry Cooper at Commerce, Thelma Harper at Government Operations, Jim Kyle at Rules, Roy Herron at General Welfare, and, perhaps most importantly, Douglas Henry at Finance, Ways and Means. Henry has long been regarded as the Senate's finance guru, and this will hurt Bredesen deeply should he actually attempt to govern as a Democrat.

OK, cheap shot, but not undeserved.

What this will do is allow the state GOP to focus on taking the State House of Representatives, where the Democrats have a precarious 53-46 advantage at this time. Every remotely vulnerable Democrat will be attacked repeatedly in order to gain a hammerlock on the General Assembly.

I know many of you who read this have a less than stellar view of our legislators. Outside of Shelby County, I would agree with you. Despite the unfortunate unpleasantness that is Tennessee Waltz, our delegation has fought like hell for Shelby County; if the Goopers get the House on top of the Senate, Shelby County may as well not exist in Nashville. If you think we're treated badly now, just wait until they seize complete power; it won't be pretty.

Another domino falls...

The Republican takeover of the State Senate got one step closer today with the announcement that Senator Curtis Person would not seek re-election to the District 31 seat that he has held since November 1968.

Person, who served two years in the House as a Democrat prior to switching parties and running for the Senate, is a close ally of Lt. Governor John Wilder, something that has gotten him in trouble with his GOP brethren in the past. He was reportedly threatened with primary opposition if he hadn't voted for Sen. Ron Ramsey (R-Blountville) for Speaker prior to the 2005 session.

He voted for Ramsey, but not before making sure there were at least two GOP votes for Wilder in the form of Senator Mike Williams of Maynardville and Senator Randy McNally of Oak Ridge.

Person, who may run for Juvenile Court judge if his friend Kenneth Turner decides to step down, will no longer be there to help his friend Wilder. And it is a given that NONE of the candidates listed in the CA story linked in the title will vote for Wilder, who the Republicans have been trying to remove for years.

As for Williams and McNally, they may well receive the same pressure that Person got last winter; only this time, there's no room for error and Wilder might well be toppled. Should that occur, don't be surprised if Wilder were to abruptly resign his seat; after 36 years as Lt. Governor, the longest unbroken term in the country, he may well pack it in and go home to Mason. If Wilder leaves, the seat would almost certainly go GOP and that, my friends, would be that.

This would almost certainly cause Shelby County to take yet another hit in power, as Steve Cohen (if he's not in Congress by then) would lose his chairmanship of State and Local Government. That on top of the loss of John Ford would be a punch in the gut for the County.

Do you see NOW why there is a brawl over the seating of Ophelia Ford? This is about far more than Ford, it's about preserving what little power the state's largest county has left in Nashville. Given that the rest of the state has never forgiven us for the Crump years, Shelby County may soon get the Ned Beatty treatment from a GOP-led Senate.

Steve Gilliard, I am stealing your post!

Because it's SO good! What starts out as a fund-raising quest turns into a great column about our relationship with the Democratic Party and its' elected officials. By the way, if you like his stuff, go to his site (linked in the blog roll) and give him some $$. He's worth it!


Chris Bowers , Matt Stoller and Kevin Hayden are all doing post-mortums on the Alito fight. And they all make good points, but miss something.

First, we, the netroots, didn't do anything wrong. We created a campaign out of whole cloth and forced the Senate to respond. While that didn't work, it's a powerful tool to have on tap. We did what we could and we did it well, better than I imagined, but.......

The problem is that we're outsiders. People for the American Way, after sitting on their hands, is now raising money after not fighting Alito, using him as a boogieman. NARAL is still backing Lincoln Chafee, despite his refusal to vote for a filibuster, and the rest remain mute as French mimes. PFAW now says "we did all we could" to stop Alito, which is, excuse my French, utter and complete bullshit. Ralph Neas must think we're idiots.

We were the only people in the fight, and they want to collect the money for it.

Second, the Washington insiders think we're their bitches. We exist to raise money, do field work and shut up. Many bloggers are stunned when they get on a conference call with the 527 people and pols.

People were pissed when I went after Tim Kaine last year, and now Matt Stoller is saying we need to stop being starstuck by pols. Well, being a bit older than my friend Matt, I waill say this: as long as you go along to get along, you won't be respected. As long as you rely on pols to transmit your message, you will be constrained by them.

I value my self-respect far more than party loyalty. It nauseates me to see all the right bloggers defending Bush at any price. What? Did they stop thinking? Power groupies, the lot of them.

What Matt is getting at is that people have to stop genulfecting because Ted Kennedy is on a conference call, which is true. Respect often morphs into synchophantic behavior when confronted by the famous. It takes a lot of time to get that hard nose that you learn in J school.

But it's more than that. The old liberal structure is basically founded on the condescening idea that an elite is needed to protect our basic rights and promote progressive ideas, and you can see that from the Nation to NARAL.

The reason I harp on the Nation is that it is the most liberal magazine published, yet it is a preserve of the rich and white in a city which is black and hispanic. NARAL backed Chafee despite pro-choice Dems running, and both come to us, hat in hand, saying they're fighting for us.

Well, that day should end. We don't need people to fight for us, we need people to fight with us. Steve Elmendorf, one of Kerry's former consultants, said basically, well, let's figure out a way to take their money and not respond to their demands.

The sad part is people defended him because they knew him.

My response to that is "so fucking what."

Anytime someone disrespects you, you have to defend yourself. Even if you like him.

The reason we raise money, not just here, but at most other sites, because we have no choice. There is no liberal structure to support us, to fund our research. I hate asking for money, I don't think any blogger likes asking for money, but George Soros isn't dolling out research grants and sending us around the US to write on issues.

When bloggers went to New Orleans after Katrina, we did that. When they went to DeLay's indictment, we paid for that. There wasn't a call we could make and a project officer to talk to.

Despite that, we, collectively have a lot of power.

The problem is that we lack the institutional support the right has. Their bloggers may be hacks for the most part, but they are part of a larger team.

We need more from those rich liberals we see in the media. What, exactly, are they waiting for, another election, another 527? The more people who do this full-time, the better the work becomes.

It isn't that your support isn't great, it is. It makes things possible, but unless someone has an endowment of $2m to kick in, our activities are limited.

I mean, we can see how the right treats their young people, and how you still have to have a rich father to work on the left. The left has gotten use to cheap, subsidized labor and then wonders why they aren't effective. Because the best and the brightest wind up in government, with unions, with people who can pay their bills.

But I think the problem is that a lot of bloggers like politics and wanted to be inside the game. Well, not me, but that's not the point here.

You are either an insurgent or not. If you want to change the Democratic Party, you have to be serious about it. No more talk about the Greens, no stomping off. We have to be serious about getting rid of the dead wood at every level and pushing our arguments relentlessly.

We did that last weekend. We need to keep doing it.

As usual:
Stephen Gilliard
217 E 86th St
NMB 112
New York, NY 10028
posted by Steve @ 10:55:00 AM

Is this like splitting the baby?

And if so, where? Federal District Judge Bernice Donald refused to grant Ophelia Ford relief from a possible removal from her District 29 Senate seat.

However, she advised the Senate that they cannot take any action which violates Federal or state voting laws. Here is the full text of the 32-page ruling; tip of the hat to David Holt for sending the link from WMC-TV.

I'm not a lawyer, and I don't even play one on TV, but it appears that Judge Donald is warning the Senate to have their ducks in a row before they toss her to the street.

The question remains this; if she is removed, do the Republicans on the County Commission risk out-and-out war by attempting to name Terry Roland as the interim Senator? We have elections coming up, and ANY Democrat on the Commission who doesn't fight this tooth and toenail will face a fight in the primary. This COULD be war!

This is too true to be funny...

Jeff posted this at the Pesky Fly site, and I had to steal it....

So Harold's our best bet, eh?

There is a huge post from Kos his own self showing Rasmussen poll numbers for the Senate race. yes, it also has Minnesota numbers, but half the comments are about Tennessee and how the race is shaping up.

By the way, here are the numbers from Rasmussen:

Rasmussen Reports. 1/17. Likely voters. MoE 4.5% (12/12 results)

Corker (R) 42 (36)
Ford (D) 40 (42)

Bryant (R) 42 (41)
Ford (D) 40 (38)

Hilleary (R) 43 (41)
Ford (D) 37 (39)
::
I feel more confident already...

Tip of the hat to Bryan at Brassmask for letting me know about this, and to Frank at Polar Donkey for linking to several of us so people around the country can learn about the race!

The Rude One gets it right

Today's Rude Pundit offering shows how pathetic many of the Democratic Senators have become. Here's a sample:

Today, Senators who voted for cloture are going to vote against the nomination of Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court. And when Lincoln Chafee, Maria Cantwell, Herbert Kohl, Blanche Lincoln, and Jay Rockefeller, as well as all the others run for re-election, they can say, "Look, I said 'No.'" But that "no" matters so little as the very issues they say caused them to vote that way - the power of the presidency, abortion rights, the right to privacy, the favoring of corporations - are turned against them time and again. Yeah, they voted against Alito, but there's a starving, beaten prisoner in Gitmo, a pregnant teenage girl in Nebraska, a coal mining family in West Virginia who are all gonna be the ones fucked because of such cowardly courage. And when they say they voted against Alito, someone's gonna be smart enough to say, "Hey, Maria, if it's such a big fuckin' deal, why didn't you join the filibuster?"

'Nuff said; go read the rest of it.

Another new member of the Posse!

David Holt, who also serves as 3rd Vice Chair of the SCDP, has taken up blogging at CONFESSIONS OF A WEST TENNESSEE LIBERAL. You will note that I have linked to it down in the blogroll, go check it out.

Back to the 9th District for a moment.

As you can tell from the bloggers and the posters out there, there was a good turnout Tuesday night for the DFM Forum (BIG props to Brad Watkins, Frank Burhart, David Holt, Bob Hayes and the rest of DFM for pulling that off as well as they did!)

I don't think that I need to remind the candidates of this, judging from their answers, but I will anyway: PRIMARIES ARE WON BY CONNECTING TO THE BASE. I think MOST of you understand that issues are what drive the base. Some of you apparently DON'T and that will come back to haunt you.

This Forum was a great idea, and it connected faces to names for a lot of Democratic activists, who can be VERY helpful to you, especially if this is your first race. UPDATE: Stanton wins the SCDP Straw Poll with 56 votes, full report from Jackson Baker right here.

Remember, you can go chasing to the center AFTER you win the nomination, not BEFORE.

On the other hand...

While I did not support Ophelia Ford in the District 29 Primary for the Senate, and I, like 3/4 of everyone in Shelby County, happen to be curious about the election that she won over Terry Roland, I have no problems supporting her in her battle to be seated in the State Senate.

First, the Republican Party stole at least one and possibly two Presidential elections. Second, if this election is declared null and void, the Republican-controlled County Commission will almost certainly appoint Terry Roland to the seat.

It has been said that you can't hold speaker elections in mid-session; however, if Roland gets that Senate seat, I wouldn't put it past them to try. Then, Democrats lose their chairmanships and any Democratic agenda (such as REAL TennCare reform) goes into the toilet.

This also would create gridlock as the Senate killed bills by the Democratic-controlled House.

Do I wish Ophelia Ford would have primary opposition this year? Yes, because her candidacy drove a lot of hardcore Democrats to vote for Roland (and not just in the white community, bubba!) because they simply do not believe that this seat is anyone's property other than the voters.

However, the risk to the Democratic control of the State Senate is too great not to hold your nose and support the fight, because, in the long run, this is about a hell of a lot more than any one person.

I obviously need to clarify something here.

I have received notes and posts as to why I crack down on my own Democratic Party more than I do the Republicans.

First, if you have to come here to learn that the Republican Party is filled with greedy, incompetent boobs with the expressed intention of destroying government as we know it, then you just haven't been paying attention. Besides, most of those lovely national blogs over in the blogroll do a much better job of it than I ever could.

Second, I have to crack back because of things like this. Why is the DSCC crapping on Rosalind Kurita by refusing to even acknowledge her candidacy? This is the sort of thing that caused me to support Howard Dean first for President, then for DNC Chair.

These Washington morons, who have NEVER gotten a President elected (Clinton was smart enough to keep them miles away from his campaigns) have no clue what goes on outside the Beltway. All they see is that Harold the Younger has a pretty smile (not to mention pedicures!) and has raised lots of Washington $$$.

Never mind that he is about as electable statewide as Otis Campbell is in Mayberry. Despite Jackson Baker's comments about the race (see about halfway down the page) being pushed by the national media, I have my doubts that he can carry more than Shelby and Davidson Counties.

Can't you imagine what sort of evil commercials are already in the can at TRP headquarters? Not to mention that it's possible that Uncle John's trial may be taking place during the general election campaign, and Ford's nomination is a recipe for disaster.

If he weren't such a sellout, it would be easy to buy into the narrative of the proud, articulate African-American from the South (bring in choir here, please) fighting those nasty old racists and his less-than-perfect family to be the first elected Black (or at least 3/4 black, if you ask him) Senator from here since Reconstruction. It kind of gets you right here, eh?

This, however, is about Junior, not Barack Obama, the guy who voted for a bankruptcy bill that hurt his own constituency, not some proud warrior for the common good. For crying out loud, he grew up in Washington, not South Memphis!

So, dear friends and gentle readers, it's this sort of thing that makes me crack out the verbal 2X4 on my own party. With the help of you, Howard Dean, DFM, MSDIA and any other initials you may want to bring, we'll clean this bad boy up or die trying!

There's LOTS to read about last night's 9th District Forum

For good solid analysis, there's Jackson Baker's column in the Flyer here. Then, you have the CA's slightly bizarre column here, with this odd note:

Rev. Ralph White, pastor of the Bloomfield Full Gospel Baptist Church, drew chuckles for his folksy language and for referring to the other candidates as "fine young men" who reminded him of his sons.

But he was also the only candidate willing to criticize organized labor, which he said could be corrupt, and the only one who talked about prison reform.

Dude, if you're in a UNION HALL, why would you say that???? Why does Oliver Staley make it sound like it's a great thing for a DEMOCRAT to do? If Angus MacEachran were still alive, by God, they'd know how to write a story.

What? He's not dead, just retired? Hell, go get him back NOW!!!

However, for hard-hitting coverage with just a slight hint of opinion, go read Polar Donkey, who applies the serious smackdown on Nikki Tinker for ducking the event. Also, Autoegocrat advises that he RECORDED the entire event on audio tape, with a report to come tomorrow at Flypaper Theory.

Yours truly had to work late and missed the spectacle, which had a terrific attendance in my book, and everyone seemed happy with the event. There is a SCDP fundraiser and 9th District Straw Poll at the Rendezvous on Thursday night, but you have to shell out $50 to vote, if my understanding is correct. What the hell, it IS a fundraiser!

9th District Candidate Forum on the 24th

ATTENTION: This is an update as of 7:40 PM CST on January 20! Please note that we have a NEW venue and more candidates have signed up!

Hello-

Democracy For Memphis wants to invite you to the first of several candidate forums for the upcoming 2006 elections. On Tuesday, January 24th Democracy For Memphis and our good friends at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (special thanks to Paul Shaffer), will host a question and answer forum with five of the current candidates for United States Representative of District Nine.

In attendance will be Lee Harris, Tyson Pratcher, Ron Redwing, Nikki Tinker, Ralph White, Ed Stanton and Joseph B. Kyles. We decided to open this meeting up to the public so that the greater community of Labor and Progressives could become better informed about this exciting and historic race in local politics. We also want to know your questions; DFM members, please submit your questions to Brad@democracyformemphis.com. Please label your email Forum Questions.
Any Non-DFM member questions should be sent to Steve Steffens at sjs1959 at earthlink dot net.

We also want to add that while we attempted to contact all candidates in this primary there were some whom we could not obtain contact information for. We want to make sure EVERY candidate has an opportunity to attend this event and want to extend an invite to any in this race who we have not spoken to.

I hope as many of you as possible can attend, this is a great opportunity for the voters of District Nine to meet and get to know their next Representative.


DFM Candidate Forum

Tuesday, Jan 24th, 1870 Madison Avenue, Memphis, TN 38104 at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Hall.

6:30pm
Free Admission

Brad Watkins
Organizer
Democracy For Memphis

Say it isn't so!

Mike Hollihan, local libertarian blogger at Half-Bakered, is apparently calling it quits.

While I usually disagreed with him, whether I commented there or he commented here, I always enjoyed reading him. On local politics, we agreed more often that you might think and we always had fun arguing.

Now, he says he's taking a walkabout; don't make it too long, Mike, as you will be missed.

Jack Murtha is being SwiftBoated!

A so-called worthless piece of $#it "news service" is attempting to attack the good name of Congressman Jack Murtha, Marine war hero. These chickenhawks have the gall to attack someone who has faced enemy fire in defense of our freedoms.

These people have the morals of hyenas; however, BUZZFLASH goes into more background on who and what's behind this unwarranted attack. Thanks to Jeannette Warren for letting me know about this!

Wow, this sums it up right here...

Go to driftglass now, this is terrific! I saw this at Dark Bilious Vapors, and had to link to it.

The CHAIRMAN is coming! The CHAIRMAN is coming!

Howard Dean is coming to MEMPHIS!!!! He will be here in Memphis on Tuesday, January 17 from 2 P.M. to 3 P.M. at the Hunt-Phelan Home, and you can meet him!

Click on the above link, which will take you to MemphisDemocrats.com (David Upton's website) and you can sign up to meet the Chairman, who is changing the way Democrats fight and win (and it's damn sure time for that!).

TDP Chair Bob Tuke will be there as well, and we look forward to a great turnout, but do this quickly, seating is LIMITED.

Somehow I had failed to notice that...

The SCDP website is up and rolling, and since they have been kind enough to link to this blog, I have returned the favor in the blogroll to the right.

Go check it out, it's still somewhat under construction but it's coming along pretty well, nice work, folks!!

This would change EVERYTHING.

Jackson Baker reports in the Flyer column above(click on the title for the story) something that I had figured would happen after I spoke with my Senator at the Shelby County Democratic Women's Christmas party - that Steve Cohen is a likely candidate for the 9th Congressional District seat being vacated by Harold Ford Junior.

Unlike 1996, when he lost to Harold the Younger, he would be facing a group of largely unknown candidates, with the possible exception of Rev. Ralph White, the former candidate for Criminal Court Clerk who was unsuccessful in 1998 and 2002 against GOP incumbent Bill Key.

Newer candidates like Lee Harris, Ed Stanton III, Nikki Tinker, and Tyson Pratcher could find it tough sledding against Cohen, who has served since 1982 in the Senate representing what was then mostly Midtown, but now extends further east and southeast into the city.

Ron Redwing, who is close to many of those folks in the Sidney Chism sphere of the SCDP, is also among those raising money right now and seems to be making solid progress as well.

However, should Cohen, with his years of service to the area and a very devoted base of support (both of volunteers and money) make the race, it would be difficult to see how he could lose, UNLESS..........

Some of the younger candidates get together, draw straws, and pick one candidate. Even then, it would be hard to stop Cohen, especially if the Man Who Would Be Senator holds fast to his stated neutrality in that race, which I suspect that he would.

What would a Cohen in Congress look like? I suspect he would go after the Bu$h policies like a rabid badger, and represent the 9th District like it hasn't been since, oh, 1996?

Look, I've known Steve Cohen since, well, longer than either of us would admit. I haven't always agreed with him, and I've let him know it. However, if he makes this race, I can't imagine supporting anyone else.

That's my bias, and you might as well know it up front.

Sad news

Thanks to Len Cleavelin for letting me know that CG, blogger of Mama Said There'd be Days Like These, apparently passed away last month from cancer.

CG was an astute observer of local life who occassionally graced these pages with his comments, and he will be missed.