Where You At?

Apologies for the lack of posts in the past few weeks, I should've updated sooner, but I recently started working with the Tennessee Democratic Party doing New Media.  While it doesn't preclude me from blogging here, chances are most of my attention will be on the TNDP blog I'll now be operating. 

So if you want to see my flackery in full effect, redirect your bookmarks and feed readers to http://tndp.org/blog.

Democrats "unenthusiastic" just like in 1996

The Tennessee Republican party is trying to spin away the great dissatisfaction with their nominee to be, Mitt Romney, by projecting some feelings on the Democratic base in Tennessee that just do not exist.  In a press release, the Republicans are claiming that “The only enthusiasm gap that exists in this Presidential election is with Democrat voters. The fact that more than 1 out of 10 Democrats took the time to go to the polls to reject having President Obama as their nominee, should be very troubling to the Obama campaign."

Right, just like in 1996, when Bill Clinton pulled 88.93% of the vote to 10.99% for "uncommitted". How did this "lack of enthusiasm" for Bill Clinton play out in the general election? Oh, yeah, he carried Tennessee with 48% of the vote to Dole's 45.6%. And, unlike Mittens, Dole actually won Tennessee with 51% of the vote.

Now, I'm not predicting an Obama victory in Tennessee, but based on the GOP's faulty logic, Tennessee should be ripe for the picking for President Obama given the historical comparisons.

The End of an Era

The son of a Lebanese immigrant, Speaker Jimmy Naifeh, the "Lebanese Lion" as Mike Turner calls him, was perhaps the most influential and important political figure in modern Tennessee history who was not the governor.

While controversial at times, Naifeh never feared speaking his mind and doing what he felt was right, despite an increasingly conservative and Republican leaning district.  That meant sometimes using the power of the committee to ensure the legislature focused on issues that were actually important in the lives of Tennesseans, rather than the social conservative distractions the Republicans have pushed in recent years.  As Mike Turner said in a press release:

He has done more for the people of Tennessee than most of us will ever know. He’s a hard worker, he’s well-informed and he’s not afraid to stand-up for the issues and the people he cares about. When he goes home this fall, our caucus and this House will be a much emptier place. I will miss him, but I wish him the best in everything he does in the future.”

In remarks on the House Floor, Speaker Naifeh said "Governor McWherter, my mentor, always told me I would know when it was time to go home and I know that time has come for me to step aside for the next generation of leaders." Indeed, with this end of an era brings the possibility of a rebirth of both the Democratic party and the House Caucus. While his district will likely fall to the Republicans this year, there are many other opportunities to infuse new life and blood into the legislature, hopefully within the new crop of Democrats there lies the potential for the next "Lebanese Lion".

Update: Video from Naifeh's farewell address to the House, with words of support from his fellow members, and a brief turn back at the gavel.

Jason Powell Announces in District 53

Civic leader Jason Powell has announced he will be running to replace Rep. Janis Sontany at the State House in District 53. Powell, 34, had previously run for State House in 2006 against Rep. Mary Pruitt and is starting off the race with some major endorsements from Councilman Jerry Maynard, Sheriff Daron Hall, and former US Senate candidate Bob Tuke.

In his release, Powell stated that he has "always been looking for opportunities to give back" and this was another way for him to do so, along with his charitable work with Big Brothers Big Sisters and role as Hope Gardens Association President.

The election is August 2nd and the filing deadline is April 5th. Read the full release after the jump:

Mayor Berke?

You won't have Chattanooga's Sen. Andy Berke to kick around at the legislature for much longer:

State Senator Andy Berke announced Tuesday that he will not seek re-election to the State Senate District 10 seat he has held since 2007...

...“Although I am not running for re-election, I am dedicated to growing jobs in our area and working on issues that affect my neighbors,” Berke said. “I am excited to continue to serve Southeast Tennessee, and I look forward to new challenges and opportunities.”

So, in other words, he's giving up his chance to be one of a handful of Democrats in a Republican dominated Senate in order to serve *cough*Mayor*cough* in new *cough*Mayor*cough* ways.

Don't Say Stacey

Gender neutrality in the allocation of names is a crime against God.

Richard Exton on being in the loyal opposition

It looks like Richard Exton has moved beyond simply collecting signatures for a possible Senate District 20 race, and began making his pitch for his candidacy at a Bellevue Democrats (there are some...really) breakfast. (h/t Dru Fuller).

Jameson Wins Bar Poll

Judge Jameson has once again curried favor with his fellow Nashville Bar members who have overwhelmingly chosen him to be their candidate for the Democratic nomination in the March 6th election:

In results released by the Nashville Bar Association today, Judge Mike Jameson dominated the field in recommendations by his peers to remain on the bench. Judge Jameson, who currently presides over the General Sessions Division VIII court, was "highly recommended" five times as often as any other candidate and received the recommendation or high recommendation of almost 700 of the 1,062 attorneys contributing to the poll. 

"My service to Nashville has always been an honor, but no more so than today," Judge Jameson said. Judge Jameson's success in the NBA survey comes on the heels of a recent stream of endorsements from the Nashville Firefighters, the Neighborhood Defense Fund, the SEIU and the Central Labor Council. "Our local courts should be places within which the expertise of the law is matched with service to the the individual. On the bench, I've tried to balance the rights of individuals with the mandates of the law. Earning the support of so many attorneys, civil rights, labor and neighborhood groups confirms that aim."

Sometimes good people do bad things

I'm sure all of you know by now the news about Councilman Brady Banks.  I won't get into the details, you can find that elsewhere.  As it seems traffic is being driven to my blog because of a story I wrote a couple weeks ago regarding his potential for the Senate District 20 spot, I thought I'd say something.

I understand the "game is the game," I'm one of the worst offenders in treating politics as sport. We've all, at one time or another, experienced some level of schadenfreude over the failings of a politician because they were a member of another party or because we didn't like them. So I understand the inclinations of some Republicans or people who hate the Mayor as to why they would relish in this news.

For many of us though, especially many readers of this blog in Nashville, this is a personal story about a friend who made a horrible mistake and has deeply and perhaps irreparably hurt his wife and marriage.  His political career is irrelevant at this point, for those closest to him that is what we are concerned about.  So, I ask all of us to try and be better people, not just in our own lives but in how we treat those who fall, because we have all done things we aren't proud of at one time or another, and being a real friend means being there for someone in good times and in bad.

Petitions Pulled in 53

News of Sontany's desire not to run for re-election has inspired two women so far to pull petitions for the district.  One, a Republican, is Nikki Goeser, a gun advocate who has gone around the country arguing for looser restrictions on carry permits after her husband was killed in a bar.



Another, a Democrat, is Shannon Stoner, but I don't have any info on her yet.

On the State Senate side, three Democrats have pulled petitions for District 20.

James Baxter, a TSU History Professor and perennial candidate.

Kevin Doherty, lawyer and creator of ChangItNow.us, a political reform advocacy group.

and Richard Exton, a real estate appraiser who ran in 2007 for Council At-large.

Why I Like Mike

Today is election day in Nashville and around Tennessee.  I know many of my Democratic friends in Nashville are going to be tempted to vote in the Republican primary for either the worst or the least worst option...don't.  While it may not be glamorous, we do have important local elections in Nashville, and one in particular is that of Metro Sessions judge.

I'm voting for Mike Jameson, and here's why.  Sometimes I vote for someone because I like him or her better than the alternative, in this case, with Judge Jameson, I've voting for him because I believe he is what other public officials should aspire to be.

I've been to a few of his events recently, and he's taken to telling a story about his first day on the job.  Jameson, being a politician, is conditioned that whenever you meet someone, you reach out your hand.  Now, in the world of judges, this isn't commonly done because, hell, you don't know where that hand has been or what is in there.  But Jameson did it his first time, and despite protestations from courthouse staff, he has continued to do it ever since because the first man whose hand he shook told him that he'd never had a judge do that before, and they made a human connection, however brief it may have been.

What I want in a judge is someone who will look at the person standing in front of them, not as a statistic or a case number, but as a person whose life will be impacted by their decision, and I want a judge who will take that responsibility seriously.

I don't know if Rachel Bell or Jack Byrd are those type of judges, they may be and my interactions with Rachel Bell indicate she's a good person who'd do a great job.  But I know Mike Jameson, I've considered him my representative in the council even when I didn't live in the district, I know him to be a good person with great principles, and we need those people in our courts and government offices.

So, resist the temptation to meddle in GOP affairs, and vote for Judge Mike Jameson in the Democratic primary.

Alright, show of hands, who IS running for re-election?

Rep. Janis Sontany has added her's to the list of Democratic incumbents who won't be collecting their 25 signatures over the coming weeks. Stating that she "never wanted to be a career politician" (and admirable and under-represented quality actually), Sontany leaves a newly redrawn district that has shifted "dramatically" according to Caucus Chairman Mike Turner who understood her decision to spend time with family instead of trying to relearn a largely new district.

Based on the numbers I have less than 30% of the residents of the newly drawn district 53 were in the old 53. So, yeah, in a sense this is a whole new district.

I haven't heard who is running or eying the seat just yet. I'm sure the names will start popping up shortly.

Jameson Bags CLC and Firefighters

The Central Labor Council and the Firefighters Union have endorsed Mike Jameson for Judge:

"Judge Jameson began his legal career in General Sessions court. He has gone on to practice in every court in Tennessee, giving him the perspective a good judge needs -- all while demonstrating concern and dedication for the working men and women who are Nashville's firefighters.” said Mark Young, President of Local 140.

Lewis Beck, President of the Central Labor Council of Nashville and Middle Tennessee said, ”Based upon [Judge Mike Jameson’s] past record, we know he will continue to dedicate himself to the service of men and women who live and/or work in Davidson County.”

Jameson is up for election on the March 6th Democratic Primary Ballot.

On Bad Legal Advice

Has the Tennessee legislature not learned about Google? Well, if so, they probably won't be reading this blog post, but just in case, might I recommend that the Republicans exercise their rights to use Google's free services when deciding who to bring as "expert" legal testimony?

Case in point, Van Irion. He served as Rep. Bill Dunn's legal expert in the House Judiciary Subcommittee as they sought to pass HB2619, which makes it a crime to enforce laws that Republicans don't like. Basically, Van Irion argued that the bill to criminalize the enforcement of laws without first gaining the permission of a local sheriff is not "nullification," and even it if was, its necessary in order to challenge federal laws in court.

Who is Van Irion? Why, not only is he a failed Congressional candidate, but he was also acting as one of the attorney's in a recently failed lawsuit challenging the President's eligibility to be on the ballot. Yep, Irion's a birther lawyer. Not only that, he's so awfully wrong on the law that even with a judge hostile to the President's legal defense team, he still couldn't get a judgement in his favor even though the President put up zero legal defense. Yeah, that's right, Irion couldn't win an argument with a brick wall.

This is who the Tennessee legislature has acting as their legal counsel...I'm sure that'll end well.

Haslam Prefers His Own Do Nothing Approach to Health Care

Governor Haslam has signed on to an amicus brief presented by the Republican Governors asking the Supreme Court to invalidate the Affordable Care Act because they claim it would cost them too much to implement.

“The Obama administration’s approach is an unaffordable healthcare mandate that is a significant overstep of the federal government’s authority,” Haslam said.

“I’m committed to controlling health care costs and finding meaningful ways to improve the health of Tennesseans by encouraging healthy choices, personal responsibility and accountability. Forcing mandates on states and individuals is the wrong approach, and if Obamacare is implemented, healthcare costs will rise significantly, putting a serious strain on state budgets across this country.”

So, apparently, if the Obama administration were to have done nothing, health care costs would've magically stopped rising significantly? Because, I seem to remember there being a little problem with bloated health care inflation that necessitated action by the federal government in the first place.

Oh, but wait, Haslam has his own novel approach to encourage "healthy choices, personal responsibility and accountability." Could someone fill a brother in on what that is? Are we talking about their plans to protect negligent doctors from legal repercussions?