The @%$#ing Developers are at it AGAIN

And they are trying to gut the UDC and revert the zoning laws back to the 1980s, which is why the UDC was proposed in the first place.  Allow my friend Louise Mercuro to explain:

This is such a very important and the negative impact on Memphis is so massive that it is almost impossible to put into a few short paragraphs.  Almost every page of the UDC has changes proposed.  Major issues are that all the uses that the UDC prohibited in residential neighborhoods, small business centers and in mixed use shopping centers are back in.

The planned development process has been obliterated retreating to the Gold rush days.  Virtually no public notice will be given on PDs and they will exist forever within City limits.  Developers will not have to show an actual plan for their development, only an outline of their property and a potential list of uses.  Once a PD is approved it can NEVER be changed by the legislative body only by the developer or property owner.  In other progressive cities the PD process is an exception allow innovative developments;  in Memphis it is the rule to get around traditional zoning and subdivision rules and regulations.  Cheaper, faster, no notice to citizens of any consequence and cursory review. 

Use variances (cell towers, billboards, day care centers in neighborhoods, etc.) which were taken from the Board of Adjustment by the Council because of lack of notice, by-passing zoning process, misuse and other issues are to be given back to BOA.  Overlay Districts (Midtown, Medical Center, University, New Town Districts) are slated to be eliminated. 

These changes touch every piece of property in the city and thus all of our citizens and business owners.  In effect what the UDC set out to be a blueprint for the future of Memphis has been obliterated.  All of our work (citizens, consultants and staff) to control sprawl, aid in inner-City redevelopment, protect the environment and openspace, create walkable neighborhoods and on and on will be gone.  God only knows the financial implications to the City and in some cases to the County.  We will be going back to the 1980s and 1990s. 

There is much more.  But just a notice to your followers to call or email the Council and ask for an indefinite hold until OPD holds as many public meetings as it did when the UDC was being developed would help.  THERE HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY NO SUNSHINE IN THIS PROCESS.  IT HAS BEEN DONE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.  A few folks who got wind of it through connections met with Josh Whitehead and MAY have gotten a few concessions, but review of ordinance posted on OPD blog shows that the concessions they thought they got actually were changed again and were made even more onerous.

I know that OPD was the biggest part of my career in Memphis and I learned and grew there.  I will always consider the UDC to be one of the major achievements of the agency.  I just can't let it go down without a fight. 

Meeting of Council is Tuesday June 6th and then I believe it goes to Commission and will go back and forth until there are 3 readings on both sides.  Either the Council or Commission can make changes, but both bodies have to approve. 

A copy of the changes can be found at http://www.shelbycountytn.gov/Blog.aspx?IID=12  It will be very confusing to the general citizen let alone a professional in planning, engineering, architecture, etc. or a savvy layman.

Any help that you can give would be greatly appreciated. 

Thanks so much,
Louise Mercuro

By the way, here's what YOU can do to stop this:

 City Council Contacts

Phone:   (901) 576-6786Fax: (901) 576-6796 

Chairman Planning and Zoning Committee:  Ed Ford, Jr.Vice Chairman:  Reid HedgepethMembers:  Bill Boyd, Myron Lowery, Janis Fullilove, Joe Brown
Broad Avenue Councilmen:  District 5 - Jim Strickland   Super District 9 - Kemp Conrad, Shea Flinn, Reid Hedgepeth

Emails for all Councilmen are in this format firstname.lastname@memphistn.gov or you can email them all at once from their page found here:   http://memphistn.gov/framework.aspx?page=690 

So much for an Aerotropolis

Have many of you noticed that if you try to fly Delta out of Memphis, you are gouged on price?  Have you noticed that if you drive to Little Rock, and fly somewhere THROUGH Memphis, it's cheaper than if you leave FROM Memphis?

Well, Tom Jones, our friend from Smart City Memphis, has noticed and is trying to do something about it with a new group on Facebook called DELTA DOES MEMPHIS.

While Delta has said little about this group, The Airport Authority felt the heat and created a group called My Memphis Airport and announced a forum where people could air their concerns (pun intended), but scheduled it from 10:30-11:30 A.M. on a Tuesday morning!  I criticized that on their site, but they spouted PRspeak to explain why this works SO much better.

Folks, the lack of inexpensive flights in and out of this city has caused us to lose The Folk Alliance and its annual conference, and it kills us when we are trying to recruit new business, and Delta cares not one whit.  We need to recruit new airlines (HELLO SOUTHWEST AIRLINES) and we need Delta to drop their fares.

This group is having an effect, but we need more members.  If you are on Facebook, I implore you to join DELTA DOES MEMPHIS, and the group started by Cheri Delbrocco, MEMPHIS WANTS SOUTHWEST AIRLINES.

It's not just about dropping fares, it's about bringing business to Memphis, and we need your help.

Thanks.

A Memorial Day message from Steve Ross

Romney/GOP Economics explained by Tony Soprano

With a tip of the cap to Bob Newman and the Huffington post...

WHO are the Job Creators???

Hat tip to my pal David in Newport for this one, from the MSNBC website. This occurred at the TED Conference in March. Enjoy!

Donna Summer, 1948-2012

Sadly, dead of cancer at 63.

Can we clone Bernie Sanders??

The Police Association fights back!

The Memphis Police Association has decided to revamp their website and fight back against proposed cuts by the Wharton Administration and the City Council.

Go check out their site and decide for yourself, then email the council and let them know what you think.

More Romney Economics

Romney Economics

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.

On the subject of marriage

David Waters, the terrific religion writer for the CA, got the reactions of several ministers to yesterday's announcement by the President that he now supports marriage equality.

I was struck by this response by Chris Altrock of the Highland Church of Christ:

If we want to have a civil discussion about the status of homosexuals in our culture or about the legal privileges afforded to homosexuals, let’s do so by all means. Jesus would urge us to love our neighbor, heterosexual or homosexual, and to create a cultural climate in which all neighbors are treated with justice and mercy. But let’s leave marriage out of this discussion. From a Christian perspective, marriage has nothing to do status or stability. Marriage between a man and a woman exists to reflect the world-changing love between Jesus and his bride.

With all due respect, Reverend, I must take issue.  Marriage is not the sole propriety of the church, and this is why my gay friends seek marriage EQUALITY.  Marriage may well be a covenant, but what is a covenant? An AGREEMENT, and what is another name for agreement? CONTRACT.

You see, the state governs contracts, not the church. If the Supreme Court of the United States were to rule that gay marriage were legal, all that would mean is that gay couples could not be denied marriage licenses by their County Clerk.  If that couple were to bring their license to your church, sir, you and your congregation would have every right under your guaranteed freedom of religion to politely explain that such marriages were against your beliefs and that you could not honor their request.

But it would still be a MARRIAGE license.  And MARRIAGE, not civil union, is what gives not only legal protection, but EQUAL STATUS in this great land of ours.  To not grant the right of MARRIAGE to gay people is to deny them EQUALITY.

And that is a civil rights issue, ladies and gentlemen.  I support civil rights for all regardless of race, creed, origin, gender, gender identity or sexual orientation, even though I am a straight white male.  Civil rights should be the birthright of all human beings, and last I looked, gay people were human.

So, Rev. Altrock, while I appreciate that your response was not homophobic, (and, frankly, much more open and welcoming than some of your fellow ministers in the article), I must gently remind you and all ministers, regardless of faith, that MARRIAGE belongs to all, not just the church.

Civil rights is civil rights.  NEVER forget that.

At a time when it was very much needed, President Obama leads on marriage equality

From Think Progress;  thank you, Mr. President, for leading.

Foamy The Squirrel has the proper perspective on gay marriage

Even if North Carolinians do not.

Kennedy Day is coming!!!

Speakers are not known yet, but we'll have that here soon.

The Shelby County Democratic Party is pleased to announce its Kennedy Day dinner.

June 8th from 7 to 10 pm
Balanise Ballroom
330 N. Main, Memphis, TN.

A VIP reception will also be held that evening from 6 to 7 pm.

Tickets for the dinner are $100 per person or $1000 for a table.

Tickets for the VIP reception are $50.

All can be purchased online here.

How do you steal $53 Million in a town of 15,000?

The City Comptroller for my birthplace, Dixon, IL, is accused of embezzling $53 million dollars over the last few years, and she apparently just got caught!  This has been amazing to watch; it is a town of 15,000 people, and I never thought there was ever THAT much money in Dixon at any one time in my life.  Here is a report from WQAD of Moline, which used to be a sister station to WREG: I hate that this happened to Dixon, but to those of you who think Memphis has problems, realize that a small town like Dixon can have just as big a problem with crooks, because everyone assumes that something like this could NEVER happen here!

SCDP Happy Hour This Thursday

Liz Rincon sent this to me and asked me to inform all of you about this event, which is from 5 PM-7:30 PM this Thursday, May 10:

Come join the Shelby County Democratic Party for our bi-monthly happy hour. We are excited that Mollie Fontaine's Lounge is having our group in their amazing space! Drink specials and good political talk. See you there!

Go read Newscoma. NOW, please.

The best writer I know is having a rough week, and I think you should go read her now.  And while you are at it, kick a little in the Paypal over there while you are at it, if you can, because for some reason while Republicans support their own financially, Democrats do NOT, well, most of them, anyway.

Seriously, she writes, she sends out the terrific DAILY BUZZ every morning (and if you are a lefty, you should sign up if you have not already done so) and she is trying to stay afloat as best she can.  When she wrote about this other day, she was attacked by Freepers.  I took this as a sign that she is being wildly successful at bring ALEC's evil to light, so they sicced the Freepers on her.

In short, we need to rally behind her now, and fully support her fight, because it is OUR fight, too.

Go read her and appreciate her, because she is badass and fighting for US.

ONE CHANCE.

West Tennessee Resource Center Opens April 28! (Updated)

 You Are Invited

Grand Opening Celebration

With Guests of Honor

Mayor A C Wharton

&

Congressman Steve Cohen 

West Tennessee 

Democratic Resource Center

 in the Century Building

3294 Poplar Avenue,  Suite 310

Saturday April 28, 2012

Grand Opening 1:00PM

Ribbon Cutting 2:00PM

Sponsored by:

A & R Bar-B-Que	Cooper Hotels	Ryan Properties
Mayor A C Wharton We are asking attendees to donate office supplies to help us operate this new regional resource center.  Click here to find out what you can contribute.

April 24 - SCDP Fundraiser "Sunset on the River BBQ"

From our friend Liz Rincon at the SCDP:

The Shelby County Democrats will be hosting the "Sunset on the River BBQ" Fundraiser on Tuesday, April 24 at 6-9pm. The fundraiser will be held on a beautiful rooftop by the Mississippi River at 648 Riverside Drive, Memphis, TN 38103. There will be Ghost River beer and local foods served as well as the musical talent of Lee Taylor and Evan Hurst!

Suggested Donation of $25 and students can pay what you can. RSVP to Liz Rincon at liz@shelbydem.org.

The SCDP would like to give a special thanks to Skip Ledbetter for hosting this event!

We welcome THE GULLYWASHER to THE ENDLESS BLOGROLL

Our friend Cheri DelBrocco, noted for her co-hosting of the EYES ON MEMPHIS radio show with Lexie Carter on AM990 Wednesday mornings, and her MAD AS HELL column in the Flyer, has decided to start blogging, which we welcome.

Her blog is THE GULLYWASHER, which can be found down and to the right in THE ENDLESS BLOGROLL!  Go check it out; congratulations Cheri!

SCDP Happy Hours to begin this week!

From Antonias Hawkins at the SCDP:

The Shelby County Democratic Party is really excited to announce that we are starting a happy hour event twice a month around our great city of Memphis! Come join us as we discuss current issues, the election and of course what the SCDP is going to do to ensure a successful year! This is a great networking opportunity and we are looking forward to having more youth participation as it is on us to make our future a great one!

Our first happy hour event will be this Thursday (April 12) at Slider Inn from 5-7pm!! The address is 2117 Peabody Avenue, Memphis, TN 38104. Obama 2012 and Shelby County Democrats gear will be available!

Happy Easter!

From the greatest Easter movie of all time...

Here's your filing deadline roundup for Shelby County

The apparently final update from the Election Commission is in, and here we go:

A surprisingly crowded 4-person Republican Primary for Congress (TN-09) features returning nominee Charlotte Bergmann, who has to be an underdog to George Flinn, the doctor/media mogul who is running in an overwhelmingly Democratic district but will be spending a LOT of money.  Joining them are Ernest Lunati and Rollin Stooksberry.

As expected, Unified School Board member Tomeka Hart filed in the Democratic primary for TN-09 against Congressman Cohen, only to have Cohen's campaign announce shortly after noon that, like 2010, The President of The United States was endorsing him for re-election.  As I said when I read that, BOOM GOES THE DYNAMITE.

The primary winners will face independents Gregory Joiner and Brian L. Saulsberry.

In state Senate Races, Senator Beverly Marrero will face off against Senator Jim Kyle in District 30.  While it still has her number, the district more resembles Kyle's old district, and it will be a tough battle for both of them, and it is likely to split the Democrats in the county in two.

Interestingly, GOP Senate Leader Mark Norris of Collierville has a primary battle coming up against Woody Degan, of whom I know nothing about.  We will see if he has any traction against the longtime Senator.

Now, to the House.  Escaping opposition and winning re-election by default were Reps Mark White (R-83), Joe Towns (D-84) who saw both of his potential opponents disqualified due to insufficient signatures.  This is a surprise, as the SCEC had listed Hendrell Remus as being qualified earlier in the day.

(UPDATE- Remus says on his Facebook page that he was certified on March 8 as having sufficient signatures and was not listed as being INSUFFICIENT until this afternoon and intends to fight this.  Towns may not be out of the woods just yet.)  FURTHER UPDATE ON SATURDAY: Remus IS qualified, thanks to Steve Tapp and Cherrie Holden for the information!

Joining these two in cruising to unopposed victory are Reps. Karen Camper (D-87), Lois Deberry (D-91), and Jim Coley (R-97).

Some had no primary opposition but face opponents in November.  Those include Barbara Cooper (D-86), who once again is up against the GOP's George Edwards, Larry Miller (D-88) versus Harry Barber (Miller's potential primary foe, Tammy Warren, was DQ'd for insufficient signatures), Curry Todd (R-95), who will face Democrat Robert Noziglia, and Antonio "2Shay" Parkinson, who gets independent Artie Smith in November.

The GOP House primary fights between incumbent Steve McManus (R-96) and Jim Harrell and Ron Lollar (R-99) and Thomas D. Stephens.  I won't pick here; whomever I pick I would hurt as the picked person would inevitably be accused of being a LIBERAL!

Last, but not least, are the Democratic House primaries, which look like barn-burners.  First, in a re-drawn District 90 that now includes Hein Park, Central Gardens, Chickasaw Gardens and Cooper-Young, incumbent John Deberry now finds himself up against redistricted Rep. Jeanne Richardson, who saw her House 89 sent to Knox County, and Ian Randolph, who has unsuccessfully sought legislative office in the past.  Richardson has been gathering support for this race, and will give the veteran Deberry a tough fight.

The other fight will be between 19-term veteran Mike Kernell and redistricted GA Hardaway in 93.  Hardaway's 92 is now in South Central Tennessee.  Though the district contains more of Kernell's former district (and parts that were with Hardaway in 92 until this year, but with Kernell in 93 in the 70s and 80s), there are new parts of the district that formerly were in 89 and 98.  Both men are hard workers; this summer will be very interesting to say the least.

I am donating this post to Steve Ross

As you are aware, my friend Steve Ross is seeking to fill the unexpired term of former County Commissioner Mike Carpenter.  He will be facing Steve Basar in the August general election.

I know little or nothing of Mr. Basar, but I'm not here to tell you why you shouldn't vote for him, I am here to tell you why you SHOULD vote for Steve Ross.  If you have read his posts at VIBINC over the years, you understand that no one researches issues like he does.  He truly understands the short and long-term issues facing Shelby County, and takes positions based on that research and what will best serve his potential constituency.  He's not someone who will swoon at a lobbyist who pushes a project for a benefactor, but he will listen to all parties before making a decision.

Most of all, he is one of US.  No, I'm not talking about being a blogger and a Democrat, both of which he is, I'm talking about the fact that he is a WORKING person.  He works for Nolan's Audio-visual while working on his degree at the U of M while campaigning for Commission.

We deeply need someone of his depth and intellect in this seat, someone who sees things not in terms of how (AND WHOM) an issue would benefit, but also its long-term ramifications.  In short, he's not like the Commissioners who allowed sprawl to injure the City of Memphis so a few developers could benefit.

He would work for ALL of us, and that is something Memphis and Shelby County desperately needs, so I am asking you to support in the August general election in District 1.  Please visit the website at www.votesteveross.com (you can donate to him there) and like his campaign on Facebook!

Thank You, Mr. Speaker

A giant, an icon of Tennessee politics, a servant of the public.

Jimmy Naifeh has been all of that and then some in his 38 years in the Tennessee House of Representatives, 18 of those years as the longest serving Speaker in state history.

 Naifeh, 72, of Covington, announced on the floor of the House that he will not seek re-election to his seat this fall, a seat that had been made difficult, if not impossible, to win due to GOP redistricting. It is a damn shame he is leaving, because he has been great for his state, his party, and ESPECIALLY Memphis and West Tennessee.

Yes, I understand I have not always been charitable towards the Speaker, but I have always respected his ability to get things done for our state, to make government work FOR the average citizen instead of against it, as the GOP is doing now. When Speaker Naifeh led the House, none of these idiotic gun bills or anti-Memphis/urban area bills ever saw the light of day, and we were better off for that.

 Much of what Memphis has received from Nashville (which was usually not as much as we GAVE to state government) we got due to Speaker Naifeh, who worked closely with the Shelby County delegation.

It is my opinion that his 38 years was spent trying to ensure that every Tennessean, whether they lived in Germantown or Boxtown, Farragut or Austin-East, Brentwood or Palmersville, had better opportunities to achieve what they wanted than his father had when he emigrated from Lebanon those many years ago.

 He was even nice enough to meet with a bunch of crazy leftie bloggers from all over the state on more than one occasion, which we all appreciated.

Mr. Speaker, you have served this state faithfully and left a shining legacy of service for others to follow, and one can only hope that they DO, or we are all in big trouble.

Thank you, Speaker Naifeh.

I really didn't see that coming

I have to admit that I was surprised by Ed Stanton Jr.'s victory yesterday in the Democratic primary for General Sessions Court Clerk.  As you know, I feared that Stanton would pull enough votes away from Sidney Chism to enable indicted Clerk Otis Jackson to win renomination and kill our chances of victory in August.

OOPS.

Stanton's effort, which received a boost with the endorsement of Congressman Steve Cohen, showed great work throughout the county in edging the veteran Chism.  Jackson, fortunately, turned out to be a non-factor, finishing a distant third, ahead of only newcomers Karen Woodward and Marion Brewer.

Now, the county ticket for August looks like this:

ASSESSOR - Cheyenne Johnson, who easily turned away Steve Webster yesterday by a 4-1 margin.

ATTORNEY GENERAL - Carol Chumney (unopposed yesterday)

GENERAL SESSIONS COURT CLERK - Ed Stanton, Jr.

COUNTY COMMISSION, DISTRICT 1 - Steve Ross, who will face newcomer Steve Basar.  Basar upset culture warrior (and former office-holder) Marilyn Loeffel by a 51-49 margin.  It is a tough but not impossible road for Ross, whose thoughtful blog posts at VIBINC show the depth of research that he would bring to the issues that face the county.

Let's support this Democratic team as they prepare for battle in August!

Congratulations to Congressman Cohen!

Why? Because George Flinn has decided to challenge him for the 9th District.  Of course, the former Commissioner will be running as a Republican, which means Cohen will be able to raise more money, and might even get help from the DCCC!

What's that you say?  He still has a primary to win? Yes, he does; however, ask the average 9th District Democratic voter for whom they will vote, Cohen or Tomeka Hart, and see how many of them state, "Who's the other candidate?" or "She's running? I haven't seen or heard ANYTHING from her, isn't it a little late?"

Which, of course, is my point exactly.  Hart would need to raise at least million to be able to challenge Cohen, and there's no indication that she has raised anywhere close to that amount.  If you say that this is an African-American district and she's African-American, well, so were the last two challengers, and Steve pulled 75% of the African-American vote against THEM.

However, knowing the Congressman as I do, he will run against all of them like he is twenty points DOWN instead of twenty to thirty points ahead.  That's how you win every election but one since 1982 (1996, to Harold Ford, Junior).  Time to get cranked up NOW!!!!!

Once upon a time, such things didn't matter...

John DeBerry has represented District 90 since the late 1980s as a reliable vote for Democrats on economic issues, and until the 2010 elections, that's really all that mattered.

In the old days when Jimmy Naifeh was Speaker of the House (I miss his presence in that chair now more than ever), right-wing wedge issue bills like Don't Say Gay were crushed in committee or even sub-committee.  These bills never saw the light of day, so it never mattered that, on social issues, John, being a minister of a conservative church, would have supported these bills.

(Full disclosure: I have known John for several years and think highly of him, I just don't agree with him on these issues.)

Well, of course, with the 2010 elections came sweeping change, and none of it for the good.  Even the supposedly "moderate" Speaker Beth Harwell looked away as the craziest of bills got through and even passed, such as the defunding of Planned Parenthood.

Also, the biggest change of all was the redistricting, of which the GOP had control for the first time in 140 years, and they used it to their advantage, just as we had when the Democrats were in control.  In the old days, even if the bills had gotten through and John had voted for them, he had few white liberals in his district and it would not have been major to his district.  Well, at least there would not have been an organized effort.

However, John now represents Hein Park, part of Cooper-Young, Central Gardens, Vollintine-Evergreen, Annesdale-Snowden and Chickasaw Gardens in addition to his old neighborhood, in addition to parts of Frayser.  Putting Frayser aside for the moment, those are neighborhoods of white liberals and moderates, most of whom are affluent, and many of them are part of the GLBT community of Memphis.

To say that they were steamed (as I was, frankly) that John supported Don't Say Gay is an understatement.  Jonathan Cole, head of the Tennessee Equality Project, acted as a resident of District 90 when he sent out a letter (and posted it to Facebook) calling for a Democratic opponent to John DeBerry.  He also called for these folks, if possible, to raise at least $1000 each for such an opponent.

First, that's how democracy works (if we can keep the GOP from KILLING it) in this country.  While it pains me that I won't be supporting John, this is necessary.  Since the GOP took control, the Democrats HAVE to be seen as the supporter of human rights and the middle-class and working poor; the GOP is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the 1%.  Human rights means GLBT rights and it means women's rights as well.  Did I mention that Cole found that John had also voted to support the defunding of Planned Parenthood?

Of course, there will be many in the Democratic community saying this is a wild-goose chase as the district is overwhelmingly African-American.  Not so fast, my friend, as Lee Corso would say.  Yes, the district is only about 36% white, but these are high-information voters who rarely miss an election.

The truth is that African-Americans rarely turn out in high numbers for August primaries; since they are held in conjunction with County GENERAL elections, this puts Democrats at a DIS-advantage in County races, but I digress.  I don't know if it's that the community doesn't like to pick between Democrats, but this fact suddenly puts the re-nomination of DeBerry in major difficulty; the Democrat who is nominated will win the general in November.

At this time, we don't know who will step up, but it will be very interesting to see who runs against John, of whom I can only say, this isn't personal, this is just business.

The PEOPLE'S business, that is.

So REALLY: Why are we in Afghanistan? Iran? Iraq?

What: Public lecture by former CIA analyst Ray McGovern
When: Thursday February 23, 7:30 PM 
Where: First Congregational Church, 1000 S. Cooper St, Memphis
Free admission 

Ray McGovern, former CIA analyst turned anti-war activist, will speak in Memphis on current US policy on Iran and other Middle Eastern countries.

McGovern served his country as a CIA analyst under seven presidents. Upon retirement, he was awarded the Intelligence Commendation Medal (which he later returned).

McGovern's loyalty is to his country, not its leaders, and in 2002 he publically criticized George W. Bush’s use of government intelligence in the run-up to the war in Iraq. In 2003, he co-founded the group Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity. In January 2006, McGovern began to speak out on behalf of the anti-war group Not in Our Name. Today he leads the “Speaking Truth to Power” section of Tell the Word, an expression of the ecumenical Church of the Savior in inner-city Washington,and he teaches at its Servant Leadership School.

In February 2011 McGovern was arrested for a silent protest of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s speech at George Washington University. (Go to YouTube.com, enter “McGovern Clinton.”) Later that year he joined a group of activists who prepared to set sail to Gaza to challenge the blockade of Palestine.

McGovern has made several media appearances, including interviews in NBC, MSNBC, and CNN, and in “The Daily Show.” His essays have appeared in the Boston Globe, Christian Science Monitor, truthdig.org, and commondreams.org.

The event is sponsored by the Memphis chapter of Veterans for Peace, and is co-sponsored by the First Congregational Church, Caritas Village, Mid-South Peace and Justice Center, Pax Christi Memphis, and the Memphis School of Servant Leadership. In addition to his talk at the First Congo church, McGovern will also speak to students at Christian Brothers University (Feb. 22) and Rhodes College (Feb. 23).

Thanks to Les Smith for putting me on FOX 13 tonight

Your Humble Cracker on FOX13 regarding the Norris-Todd 2 Bill and annexation

To Annex or Not to Annex: MyFoxMEMPHIS.com

Go get some coffee, this will be a long one.

First, let me begin this post by saying that breast cancer has affected my life and my friends lives; I have lost a friend to it and watched as more than one of my friends survived it.  This is why I have a heavy heart in stating unequivocally that I will not give one more penny to RACE FOR THE CURE.

The Susan G. Komen Foundation caved to pressure from anti-choice supports and announced that they would no longer fund Planned Parenthood's breast exams for women who cannot afford them on their own. The unrelenting attacks on Planned Parenthood by the forced-childbirth movement (they are NOT pro-life in any sense, in my opinion) are a result of GOP control of legislatures and the Citizens United SCOTUS decision.  Conservatives, at their core, think of women as no more than birth vessels and not as human beings.  So, as long as Komen defunds Planned Parenthood, I will have to find other places to send money for breast-cancer research.  I normally don't ask for money for other organizations, but please, if at all possible, send a contribution to Planned Parenthood today.

Now, to local matters.

We are two weeks away from Early Voting in the Democratic Primary for County offices and for President (as the President is not opposed, who cares?) and I have not received ONE PIECE OF MAIL from any Democratic candidates for office.  Now, as Carol Chumney is unopposed in the primary for Attorney General and Steve Ross is unopposed for County Commission, District 1, they are excused from this rant.

However,  with five candidates for General Sessions Court Clerk and two for Assessor (including incumbent Cheyenne Johnson), one might think that these candidates would be sending out mail to ask for votes from their fellow Democrats, some of whom might not have had the chance to meet them in person.  Nope, apparently not.  Now, Cracker, you may be saying, you KNOW who most of these people are and you have probably made up your mind.

True enough, but are these candidates sending out mail to REGULAR Democratic voters and not political junkies like me (and like YOU, if you are reading this post)?  You see, every time I hear African-American candidates whine that white Democrats won't vote for them, I laugh.  Harold Ford, Senior and Junior.  AC Wharton.  W.W.Herenton. Otis Higgs.  Thomas Long.  Ever heard of any of THEM?

What did all of THEM do that YOU didn't?  They raised enough money and did outreach to white Democrats, not all of whom are political junkies like us.  When it comes to Countywide races, ESPECIALLY clerkships, most white Democrats see these as positions that should be NON-partisan and not involved in policy making, like executive and legislative positions are.

Frankly, white non-PJ Democrats haven't the faintest clue who you are, unless you are an incumbent.  This, of course, will work to Cheyenne Johnson's benefit, but will hopefully work against Otis Jackson, whose renomination would likely bring down the whole Democratic ticket in August.

What happens when you can't reach white Democrats in the primary is that they forget about you in August.  Inevitably, their spouse/relative/friend-from-church/ comes up to them and says,"look, I know you're a Democrat, but if the Democrat is elected to run my office, I will get fired and i NEED my job".  The white Democrat will think, "well, it's not a policy-position, I can change my vote and still be a good Democrat".

Unfortunately, that's also how we got Mark Luttrell as County Mayor, with a LOT of African-American votes.  Need I mention that he has never missed a Sidney Chism picnic since becoming an elected official?  HE reaches out to African-Americans, and YOU need to reach out to white Democrats.  Ok,rant over.

Now, Democrats, we need to talk about something else.  The fact remains that many of our middle-class African-Americans have left Shelby County and moved into Desoto County, as the 2010 Census confirms.  Many of our potential African-American voters are low-information voters who vote on name recognition, if they bother to vote in the primary at all.  Name recognition, sadly, will be key for voters in our March 3 Primary.

Why I bring this up is the potential problem we could have.  Whose names are most well-known in the General Sessions Court Clerk race?  I would expect that Otis Jackson is very well-known, not just from his indictment but from his days as MSU's point guard.  In fact, many of these low-information voters may well think Mr. Jackson is being persecuted by a GOP prosecutor and will vote for him because of his indictment.  Frankly, that's self-destructive, but it is what it is.

So, if you are a Democrat who wants to see this office remain in Democratic hands, you KNOW that if Mr. Jackson is renominated, either the rest of the ticket will have to disown him or be dragged down BY him in August.  This means he must be defeated in the primary if Democrats want to have ANY hope of holding on to or adding Democratic offices in August.

Which brings me to the other two well-known candidates, Commissioner Sidney Chism (full disclosure - I am supporting him) and INTERIM General Sessions Clerk Ed Stanton, Jr (father of the US Attorney).  I know a lot of my friends rushed to support Stanton, who is doing a fine job in the office, partially for that reason and partially because they don't care for Commissioner Chism.

I have had plenty of run-ins with Chairman Chism over the years, but we always put it behind us and came together for the Party.  At the end of the day, I firmly believe he is the one man who can prevent the re-nomination of Otis Jackson and the destruction of the ticket in August.  I fear that any vote given to Mr. Stanton is more likely to aid Mr. Jackson than elect Mr. Stanton.  Should I be wrong, I would happily support Mr. Stanton if he is the nominee - I just don't believe he can win the primary.

And one last thing about Mr. Stanton.  He has a nice billboard on I-240 facing the eastbound lanes near Getwell.  Good picture, good logo, all except for one thing - nowhere could I see the word DEMOCRAT on that billboard.  It's still the primary, sir, don't you think that is important?

Any way, I'll shut up for now and wait for that piece of mail from a Democratic candidate that asks for my vote and doesn't just assume that I will give it to them.  I hope I don't have to wait long.

We are going dark today. Here's why.

On This Day..

When we remember a great man and the single worst event this city has ever experienced (we recovered from the Yellow Fever, we have NEVER recovered from the King assassination), let us never forget that it was only when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. began to critically address ECONOMIC inequality in addition to racial inequality, that he was assassinated.

Remember him always.

I am not fond of Democrat on Democrat violence

Because the Republicans are screwing us hard enough in redistricting, I hate when Democrats turn on other Democrats.  That is what has happened TWICE the last two days, by male Democrats on female Democrats.  First, if you haven't seen it, go over to Ross' place to watch Antonio Parkinson table a DEMOCRATIC amendment by Jeanne Richardson adding precincts to the district which they share for the moment.  I am going to give him the benefit of the doubt and say it was a rookie mistake, at least I hope so, for his sake.  And, as Jeanne pointed out, it's not HIS district, it belongs to the voters.

Jeanne is a fearless voice for women's rights and LGBTQ rights, and I want her to run SOMEWHERE this year.

However, there is another situation where someone who knew better made a crap move on a fellow Democrat, a COLLEAGUE, and is forcing out yet another voice for women's rights, children's health, safety and protection and the LGBT community, Beverly Marrero.  Yes, Jim Kyle, I am talking to YOU.

Kyle had been targeted for ouster by the GOP for a while once the disaster known as the 2010 elections occurred, so it was no surprise when his District 28 was moved east and included Senator Brian Kelsey of Germantown.  This would have meant they would face off this year, which Kelsey apparently agreed with.  The GOP, not apparently fond of either, felt that no matter who left, they won.

Then, Kelsey apparently whined, so Senate 28 was shifted to Middle Tennessee (we were going to lose a seat anyway due to population shift) and the District was renumbered 31.  THIS meant that now the election was shifted back to 2014 and Kyle, with 28 shipped off to the hinterlands, would be forced out of the legislature.  Well, that's what happens when you let your majority go.

Now, why the GOP didn't tell Kyle to go piss up a rope, I don't know.  Kyle apparently plead his case to the point where they essentially OK, shut the hell up, here's your district back, go beat Marrero.  I presume the GOP's thinking was that they were getting rid of another liberal AND a woman, two things they hate.  They even gave him back some of his old District, which Beverly was preparing to run for this year.  It will still be called District 30, but it more closely resembles the old 28.

Before you come at me with that "but he's the senior Democrat" business, I respond, SO WHAT?  What's he done with it?  He protected John Wilder to the point he didn't see it coming when Rosalind Kurita voted for Ron Ramsey to flip the Senate into GOP Control in 2007.

Whenever he has attempted any moves to break his mold in the past, Jim Kyle has backed out.  In 2002, he ran, for a while, for County Mayor, then backed out when rumors that AC Wharton would enter the race.  Then, he ran for Governor, and ran hard for what, just a few months?  Then he announced that he didn't see a way forward even if he won the Democratic nomination because of the wealth of GOP eventual nominee Bill Haslam and was dropping out, AGAIN.  I hate to point out that Bill Haslam was just as much a candidate when Jim Kyle announced he was running as when Senator Kyle withdrew.  I still don't know what the hell changed.

Then, as you'll recall, many of us asked him to consider a run for Attorney General in Shelby County, since we knew he was going to be run out of the Senate.  After a while he said no, his duties to his law firm prevented another candidacy.  And another Senate race won't be a candidacy?

All in all, he may well go back to the Senate, and since I am now in District 33, I can't vote, but I will tell you this much: Beverly, if you want to run for that seat, I will go walk that district with you, because we can't afford to lose YOU. It looks like she is ready to do it, judging by this quote from today's CA:

Said Marrero: "It's my district, 30, and I'm going to run. It will be interesting. Those days of women just saying, 'You take it and I'll go home,' are over."

I will be there with you, Beverly, and I won't be alone; go also read this terrific post from Tennessee Talking Points!

Maybe we need to take another look at the Redistricting Map.

Go take a look at the Congressional redistricting map again.  Especially Shelby County, of course.

Notice that little finger from Stephen "Gospel-Singing Farmer" Fincher's 8th District that looks like it comes into Memphis?  I had thought, as others had, that it stopped at I-240 on the West and snaked around to Walnut Grove Road and the Wolf River.  We haven't seen the precinct list yet (the GOP won't release it yet), so we have had to make guesses as to where it went.

I have learned today that this is wrong.  REAL WRONG.  As in, the western edge of the 8th District is GOODLETT ROAD.  As in, the EASTERN EDGE of my precinct.  As in, almost all of the primarily Jewish neighborhoods of the city will lose the representation of the first Jewish Congressman ever elected in Tennessee.

Temple Israel? Represented by a gospel-singing farmer whose district is 75% rural.  Beth El Sholom? No more Cohen.  Jewish Community Center?  Represented by the man from Frog Jump.

And, to insult to injury, MIllington, which is as non-urban as you can get in this county, now is represented by Steve Cohen.  Yes, the home of the Political Cesspool is now in Steve Cohen's district but not any of the Jewish institutions of Memphis.  That's not fair to Millingtonians, either.

Now, Steve Cohen is not in any danger of losing his seat, despite what some would have you believe, and I know he realizes that, too, although he is running for a fourth term like he is twenty points behind, because he ALWAYS runs that way.  This is how he managed to receive 75% of the African-American vote in 2010 against the City's first African-American Mayor.

However, what the GOP has done is to crap on those people who have supported Steve the most over the years. It is frightening to me that the 8th District is only six blocks away from my house and not ten miles away, as it SHOULD be.  Stephen Fincher should have NO part of the City of Memphis; the eastern suburbs will vote for a GOP candidate even if it were RuPaul, but not the CITY.

Given that the GOP did this in secret, they need to be held accountable.  The West Tennessee regional coordinator for the Congressional redistricting effort is Senator Mark Norris of Collierville.  Please call his office at 615-741-1967 and let him know how you feel about Steve Cohen being taken from you.

Redistricting, the TNDP, and other bidness

Steve Ross, in the middle of a campaign, still has managed to write two really good pieces about redistricting and about the TNDP's ill-advised plans to create a 4-year term for their Chair (relax, it would NOT apply to Chip, unless he decided to run again).

The redistricting piece has great links to other posts by Sean Braisted, Tennessee Talking Points and the magnificent Aunt B.  Read them all.

Oh, and I'm 53 today, yay me!  Thanks to Susan, this is a great birthday; thanks, too, to all of you for continuing to read my posts.

Tomorrow, we find out how badly the Democrats in the TGA are screwed

Tomorrow morning, the new legislative maps are to be unveiled at the Capitol, and the result of the GOP getting control of both Houses for the first time in 140 years will be gruesome for Democrats, who hold only 34 of 99 House seats and 13 of 33 Senate seats.

The goal for the GOP is to get to 66 House seats and 22 Senate seats; this could theoretically result in a General Assembly where Democrats can be steamrolled and ignored.  We will have to wait and see how bad it will be and if it falls within Voting Rights Act guidelines (here's betting that it DOES, John Ryder is no fool, and here's betting that we challenge it in court any way).

Just from sheer numbers, Shelby County, which had stagnant growth in the last decade, will lose one Senate seat (expected to be that of Senate leader Jim Kyle) and two House seats.  While nothing will be confirmed tomorrow, what we are hearing is that Barbara Cooper (D-86) and G.A. Hardaway will be thrown into a district together, and that Jeanne Richardson's (D-89) district has been split between John Deberry (D-90) and Antonio Parkinson (D-98).

Rural West Tennessee, which has experienced serious reductions in population as jobs have left the area, is expected to be equally hard-hit.  Given that this was once the heart of the Democratic brain trust of the late Governor Ned McWherter (Dresden), the late Lt. Governor John Wilder (Mason), and Speaker Emeritus Jimmy Naifeh (Covington), this will be rather depressing news.

Democrats have to find a way back.  One of those ways, in my opinion, is to stop trying to govern and start OPPOSING.  I realize that, after 140 years of power, it is still very difficult to come to grips with a reduced station in life.  However, that cold, hard reality is still better than being deluded that you have any voice at all right now. 

What Democrats need to do is show how they are DIFFERENT.  Nobody really likes the GOP all that much, and you have to show how you are DIFFERENT, and how you want to work for working people and small businesses, and not be a tool of Wall Street.  Newt Gingrich worked on opposing the Democrats and supporting the right-wing philosophy for a long time in preparation for the day when they would get control of Congress.

Have a consistent philosophy of supporting PEOPLE over MONEY, and you may regain enough support to get power back.  Then, once you do, tell the lobbyists to go to hell, and you'll never lose that support.

See you tomorrow!

Merry Christmas from your Cracker, and read Charlie Pierce

We will all muddle through somehow, as I go through a wonderful Christmas, which will be even more wonderful when my Susan gets back from Jackson this afternoon.

Charlie Pierce speaks of Judy Garland, muddling through, and I believe, hope, which is what we all need.  Just remember, we can get through this, and we will endure.

Merry Christmas.

Carol Chumney is the Democratic nominee for AG

Courtesy Steve Mulroy; this picture of Carol with Jackson Baker and Steve Mulroy was taken on my back porch.

I have received texts confirming that Linda Nettles Harris and Glenn Wright have withdrawn their petitions for the Democratic primary for Attorney General, leaving Carol Chumney as our standard-bearer.  Now is the time to get behind Carol, who is running against interim Attorney General Amy Weirich, who was hand-picked by former AG Bill Gibbons.

Weirich, who is apparently too ashamed of the GOP to list on her signs that she is a Republican, is a career prosecutor.  The question that needs to be asked, however, is this: does a long list of prosecutions equal JUSTICE?  I am hoping that Carol makes JUSTICE FOR ALL a key part of her campaign.

Yes, of course I am supporting her, as should you, unless you LIKE the idea of an AG who only sees one side of an issue.

Carol's in for AG

Just sent to me in email:

CHUMNEY VOWS TO BRING EQUAL JUSTICE TO ALL AS D.A.

            -Chumney Files to Run for District Attorney         

            Contact: 634-6540

Today, Carol Chumney, trial attorney, former Tennessee state legislator, and Memphis City Council woman,  filed to be the next D.A. vowing to bring equal justice to all—including white collar criminals, and to enforce the highest standards of professionalism.

            “At the local courthouse, the lady holding the scales of justice, is a symbol that in our country noone is above the law.”, says Chumney.  “I vow to protect our community from those who prey on the vulnerable, such as senior citizens who are scammed by con artists, children and youth from sexual predators, families from domestic abuse, workers who are not paid  equally for their work, and the trusting public that suffer abuses from even the most prominent professionals in our community—lawyers, doctors, and bankers . When I take office as D.A. noone will be above the law anymore.”

            As D.A. , Chumney will enforce the highest standards of professionalism to those who serve the public, starting with that office.  The D.A. will serve the citizens equally and provide justice for all.

            Chumney brings over 25 years of experience as an attorney in state and federal courts, along with 13 years of state legislative experience passing laws to protect citizens from criminals. She is the former President of the Memphis Federal Bar Association, served as an appointee to two Tennessee Supreme Court Commissions, and as an office of the House Judiciary and  Children & Family Affairs Committees. 

            During her career, Chumney has been recognized for her outstanding service by the local women’s bar, and earned statewide awards for her work to protect victims of domestic violence, and for consumer protection.  

Well, Mr. Jackson, we have a small problem here...

Otis Jackson, currently on suspension from his job as General Sessions Court Clerk due to the fact that he was indicted back in July, has apparently decided that it would be an admission of guilt NOT to run for re-election to his position.  Toward that end, he has pulled and FILED a petition for re-election.

My question to Mr. Jackson would be this: Why are you not focusing on preparing for your defense in your trial?  In putting up a fight for re-election, are you not placing your liberty and the security of your family in jeopardy?  What on earth are you thinking?

Sir, you are entitled to the presumption of innocence until and unless you are proven guilty in a court of law. However, the perception that occurs when ANY office-holder is indicted renders moot their ability to perform their duties.  I am rooting for your acquittal, Mr. Jackson; if and when that day comes, you would then be welcomed back as a candidate.

Until that day comes, you should NOT be involved in any elective campaign; you need to think of your family, your workers in that office, and your obligation to the County of Shelby to remove that cloud which now hangs over you.  Then, and only then, should you consider seeking office again.

Toward that end, if you do not withdraw your petition prior to the end of the withdrawal deadline of December 15 at noon, I will then petition the Shelby County Democratic Party to decertify you as a candidate in the Democratic primary.  The potential that you could take the entire Democratic ticket down with you, should you be renominated in March, is too great.  You may not be thinking of your party, sir, but I am.

I do not take this action lightly; however, as a Shelby Countian, I am tired of the endless problems with office-holders, especially those who run under the Democratic banner.

Enough is enough, Mr. Jackson.  Put your liberty first, and withdraw your candidacy.

Like I don't have ENOUGH going on..

At the suggestion of our beloved NEWSCOMA, I have followed her to Tumblr.  No, this is not going away; in fact, I have something to say about Otis Jackson later tonight. 

Tumblr is for people who are too ADHD for Twitter.  Need I say more? :-)

Watch this space later tonight, as long as Zippy doesn't pee in the floor!

I have a favorite new website...

It's VoteSteveRoss.com, the website for my friend and now County Commission Candidate Steve Ross, who is running as a Democrat to fill the seat of Mike Carpenter.  Carpenter resigned to take a job in Nashville.

Ross, for those of you who are regular readers here, is the author of the Vibinc blog, and a stellar observer of local policy and politics and would be a terrific Commissioner, and I will support him.  I hope that you will as well.