Didn't Like The First One? Well, Here's Another

Juvenile Court Clerk Vic Lineweaver had his day in court to contest a willful contempt of court charge that he had received last year in regards to some misplaced case files his office could not locate. The trial had to be moved to Rutherford County in order to maintain partiality, and it appears the judge in Rutherford is about as big a fan as the judge in Davidson.

The judge not only upheld the original contempt charge, but added another for good measure.

(h/t ACK)

Nattering Nabobs of Negativity

Jeff Woods has an exclusive interview with "a Democratic insider" who, shockingly, blames Chip Forrester for the much anticipated departure of Lincoln Davis from the Gubernatorial race.

"At Saturday's meeting, the talk was going around that if Chip won, Lincoln was out. Suddenly, boom, the announcement comes this week. The timing of it really got my attention. It feels like a 'fuck you Chip Forrester' to me. It has that feel. Lincoln was probably not going to run anyway, but Chip's election sealed the deal."

Forrester's perceived weakness as a fund-raiser was part of the calculation, the source says. Statewide candidates count on the party to raise enough money to run coordinated get-out-the-vote drives. But it was also ideological.

Wow, my guess is that is the same source who said that Congressional leaders like Lincoln Davis were going to pack up their toys and start a PAC to circumvent the Tennessee Democratic Party.

"The Party is now irrelevant!"

"Chip is the leader of nobody!"

"Chip is so powerful he forced Lincoln Davis to abandon his Gubernatorial ambitions!"

Whatever. Oh, as for this "Forrester is too liberal" crap, since when is Gray Sasser a conservative? I don't recall him coming out against gay rights or talking about ending abortion as we know it while he was chair of the party. Chip is no more demonstrably liberal than our previous chairman.

"OH, BUT HE WEARS A BOW-TIE!!!" Uh-huh. Yeah, his wife is a vegetarian too...deal with it.

Senate Passes S-Chip

The US Senate passed the State Children's Health Insurance Program with only 7 Republican votes, and two of them were Tennessee's Bob Corker and Lamar Alexander.

Lilly Ledbetter's Rights Upheld By President

President Obama, flanked by Co-Vice Presidents Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton, as well as other House and Senate Democratic leaders, signed into law the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which will enable women to seek legal recourse in order to ensure that the Equal Pay Act is enforced.



The majority of Republicans, and all Tennessee Republicans, voted against this law.

Fake Workers Unite

A group of laborers who stand to gain fake jobs (because according to right wing lore, the only real jobs are those created by tax cuts) if the stimulus package passes, issues an ad promoting their self-interest.



One question...how long will the "goodwill" between Obama and the Republicans go in only one direction before the President cuts off the spigot?

A Second Home for Angry White Americans

The first being the Republican party, the second being WeHireAliens.com, a delightful website which shows which Mexican restaurants have the most authentic food.

Campfield 2.0?

Is Brian Kelsey working overtime to make Rep. Stacey Campfield seem like a moderate, considerate legislator? He just got rebuked by 6 Republicans on the Ethics committee, and he's running around crying as if he just found out there isn't a Santa Clause. Rep. Mike Turner notes:

"This man brought this up for pure political reasons because he didn't like what happened in the speaker's race. Speaker Williams bent over backwards, made him a subcommittee chairman. He's tried to meet him halfway, and he's still trying to dig in and keep this thing festering," Turner said.

Seriously, this move by Kelsey, which wound up putting his supposed friend, Susan Lynn, in the hospital, is pure political grandstanding at its finest.

Update: Rep. Turner calls out Brian Kelsey for putting Susan Lynn in the hospital:

(h/t ACK)

Well T'anks for Nuttin'

A front-pager over at DailyKos gives the ol' one finger salute to our own Rep. Jim Cooper for being one of 11 Democrats to vote against the stimulus package that passed the House with no Republican support whatsoever:

Now there are a handful of Dems on that list that could conceivably get a pass on this vote because of the difficulty of their districts (though with Obama's approval rating and the extremely desperate straits of our economy, that's debatable). Jim Cooper ain't one of them. This leader of the Blue Dogs won his district 66-31. Obama carried it 55-43.

Cooper's disloyalty goes beyond his FU to Obama on the issue of a "fiscal responsibility summit," because he was actually on Obama's campaign team as a health care adviser. Hopefully that summit is off the table. And hopefully Obama, and Emanuel, will remember this when the time comes to start talking health care reform, and area where Cooper's obstructionism is legend.

I know the Kossacks think Cooper can be primaried over issues like this, but its hard to imagine a winning campaign based on "you didn't vote for that extra 1 trillion in budget deficits 2 years ago...I want someone who will! Most likely, the bill will be altered in the Senate, it will go to a joint committee, and Cooper will probably vote for whatever slightly altered bill comes out of there.

Kelsey Puts Lynn In Hospital

Apparently, Rep. Brian Kelsey has put Rep. Susan Lynn in the hospital because of his demagogic desire to bring about an issue she had tried to put to rest nearly two years ago.

He should be ashamed of himself, but he's too self-absorbed to care about anything other than his political ambition.

(h/t ACK)

Cooper Not Happy With Stimulus Process

Yesterday Rep. Jim Cooper was the only one of five Tennessee Dems to vote against a procedural motion relating to HR 1, the stimulus package. Apparently, Rep. Cooper isn't too pleased with the way the stimulus package has been managed by House leadership, especially the adding on of pet projects by Committee Chairmen, rather than looking at Obama's plan as was introduced.

Here's what could be interesting to watch. Typically with a bill like this, the Republicans will offer a substitution amendment with their own goals and dreams, which will be crushed in a party-line vote. But what if the Republicans just introduce Obama's original plan, sans whatever the Democrats added in during committee? That might give cover to some Democrats to vote against the House leadership version of the bill, while still not breaking with the President.

Of course, I doubt this will happen. The Republican substitution will likely be a plethora of tax cuts for the top 1%...but all the same, it would be a test of loyalty for some House Dems.

And Then There Were Four

Just when you thought the race for the District 18th Metro Council seat could not get any more exciting, a fourth contestant jumps into the fray. This time, former Treasurer to Keith Durbin, Stephenie Dodson, has announced her intentions to be the next Councilmember for that district.

Dodson served as Treasurer for the Durbin for District 18 Campaign in 2007 and also volunteered for Megan Barry during her successful run for a Metro Council At-Large position. Bynum, a Belmont-Hillsboro Neighbors, Inc., steering committee member, will serve as Dodson's campaign treasurer.

She has been a resident of the Hillsboro–West End neighborhood for twenty five years. Her work on several boards, committees and advisory groups includes service on the board of the Hillsboro-West End Neighborhood Association (HWEN) for the past nine years. That service has given her numerous opportunities to participate in activities and initiatives aimed at improving her neighborhood's viability and livability.

In jumping into the race, Dodson has the deepest roots in the district of any of the others who are in the running. She has also swept up some of the supporters who likely would've gone to Kristine LaLonde or David Glasgow.

A neighborhood meet-and-greet with Dodson is scheduled for 4-7 PM this Saturday, Jan. 31, at the home of Brett Sheriff at 1504 Linden Avenue. Sheriff's co-hosts for the event include Gary Bynum, Ross Pepper, Melinda Newpher, Jan Bushing, Ann and Evans Donnell, Mary Brooke and Blaine Bonadies, Susie Campion, Christine Ward and Will Pinkston.

One test of the strength of her candidacy will be to see if anyone who is currently running, drops out because of it.

Places To Boycott

Christian Grantham was kind enough to stop by the election commission to pick up the list of contributors to English First of Nashville. The vast majority of their funds came from the Anglo Supremacist organization ProEnglish. Followed by Lee Beaman of car dealership fame (who interestingly translates his website into Spanish), and a small donation from the Legends Corner bar on Broadway, as well as some individual donations. Absent from the list, Eric Crafton or Jon Crisp, the leaders of the movement.

English First Feb 07 - Jan 12

Publish at Scribd or explore others:

English First Jan 12 - 15

Publish at Scribd or explore others:

Corker One of Ten To Support Geithner for Treasury Secretary

Despite Bob Krumm patting himself on the back last week for the Republicans ability to defer to President Obama, the majority of Republicans voted not to confirm the new Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner.

Sen. Alexander voted no on confirmation, Sen. Corker voted in favor of Mr. Geithner.

In a normal economic cycle, I doubt that Timothy Geithner would've made it past the confirmation process because of his failure to pay social security and medicare taxes in a timely fashion over the course of a few years while working with the IMF. Personally, I don't see much of a problem here because he wound up paying more than his share with the addition of penalties and fines. So, ultimately, the Federal Government benefited from his slip up.

Protect Us From The Mongrul Hordes

Jon Crisp is apparently concerned for the safety of his fellow English only proponents who donated to the cause of Anglo supremacy:

Nashville English First finally filed its financial disclosure on Monday, but the Metro Department of Law has blocked releasing it to the public pending review of allegations that those who gave money to the cause might be threatened.

The Davidson County Election Commission received the financial disclosure, Director Ray Barrett confirmed to NashvillePost.com, but won’t release the report yet.

Last week Jon Crisp, a Nashville English First supporter and former president of the Davidson County Republican Party, wrote a letter to the Election Commission asking for an extension on filing a financial disclosure. The letter stated there was fear that those who donated money to the cause could face harassment.

Thems the breaks. If you donate money to a political campaign you are always at risk of being harassed by co-workers, friends, family members, or perhaps even strangers. Hell, I get harassed all the time by various Democratic organizations looking to boost their coffers.

If they felt so compelled to establish Anglo supremacy in Nashville that they opened up their wallets to the cause, then I see no reason why they shouldn't be proud to have their efforts made public. If they didn't understand the rules and laws associated with donating money to a political campaign, well then perhaps they ought to take some English lessons because the law is pretty clear about it.

Rememberin' The Good Ol' Days...

...back before them uppity politicians in Washington decided to let the coloreds into our schools.

Those memories of a bye-gone era help potential RNC Chairman Katon Dawson get up every morning to fight the good fight on behalf of the Republican party. Because if he doesn't, then who will be there to stop the uppity black folks from exercising their rights as human beings?

Seriously, Robin Smith, you just endorsed a guy whose reason for being involved in politics was the fight AGAINST integration? I thought y'all wanted to expand the scope of the party, not further isolate it to a few disgruntled white southern conservatives.

Minority Leader Mumpower?

Stacey Campfield reports on the rumored efforts to kick Speaker Kent Williams out of the Republican party. Me hopes they do. If the Republicans refuse to allow him to caucus with them, that makes the partisan breakdown of the House 49-49-1. Would he then caucus with the Dems so that they could retake the House majority? If so, why would the Republicans want to do that?

Good Signs From White House Blog

While WhiteHouse.gov had gotten off to a slow start after the initial 12:01PM switchover from Bush's website, it appears the new media team is finally starting to get into the groove. Understandably, moving offices and learning a new building can throw people off their game, so its no surprise its taken them a few days to hit the ground running.

The last blog post was in relation to the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. While the post itself isn't anything remarkable, I do appreciate the more conversational tone the new media team is taking with the blog. One of the worst things that a new blog can do is come off as a forum for press releases, and it appears that the Obama team is taking that to heart, and will treat the blog as it should be.

Can Obama Save Liberalism?

Short answer: probably not.

In Bill Kristol's last dismal column in the New York Times (and I know its his last dismal one because its his last one period), Kristol declares with no evidence to show for it, that Conservatism has been more right than wrong, and was right on all important issues facing America, from "Communism and jihadism, crime and welfare, education and the family. Conservative policies have on the whole worked."

He then goes on to wonder if Obama can be the savior of liberalism that Reagan was to conservatism. My guess is no for a few key reasons.

1) Obama doesn't accept the liberal label. Whereas Ronald Reagan wore the term Conservative like a badge of honor, Obama has worked hard to craft the notion of a pragmatic ideology, rather than a liberal or conservative one.

2) Conservatives will adopt anyone who is popular as one of their own. Notice in the Kristol column that Obama's inaugural address was a "conservative one". Apparently, only Conservatives can have any respect for the founding fathers, or for the nation at whole. Because liberalism is defined in their mind as hatred of America, anyone who comes off as not hating America, is therefore not a liberal.

3) The media, fearing the dreaded liberal label themselves (lest they be accused of bias), will embrace the Conservative attempts to co-opt the Obama Presidency (so long as it remains popular) as part and parcel of their movement. They will amplify any and all liberal criticisms of Obama, while simultaneously amplifying conservative plaudits for his actions.

While all this might result in better numbers for Obama, and a better chance at a strong re-election campaign, it will also significantly reduce the chances of Obama embracing his role as the new figurehead for liberalism. Now, I still think liberals will get the ancillary benefit of a good deal of Americans viewing Obama as liberal, and thus people will be less ashamed of the term, but all the same, Obama won't be to liberalism what Reagan was to conservatism.

Chairman Chip

As it was reported by ACK, Chip Forrester is the new Chair of the Tennessee Democratic Party. With 42 votes, and only a few dissensions from his often publicized list of supporters (most notably Bill Owens, who had been working behind the scenes fairly hard for Forrester, but ended up voting for Bone), Chip was elected party chair with loud applause from the numerous supporters of his filling the House gallery.

Chairman Gray Sasser agreed to serve as temporary Treasurer until a new one to replace Chip can be found.

After dealing with the rest of the Exec Committee speech, Chairman Forrester gave a barn-burner of a speech excoriating the Tennessee Republican Party for their racist tendencies in certain campaigns, and promised to fight back at every turn against their wicked ways.

The question remains, were the party leaders who had endorsed Charles Robert Bone serious about plans to leave behind the Democratic Party if the Exec Committee didn't do their bidding? Or can Chip Forrester work to gain their trust and support to move forward in a unified fashion? Money will be a key factor in the success or failure of Chairman Chip's tenure, and it will be interesting to see if there is a revolt by the party big-wigs over their lack of say in who leads the party.

Stacey Campfield LET MY PEOPLE GO!

Breaking news...college students live in shitty house. OK, so that isn't anything exactly new, but when a rental house is condemned, and that property belongs to a certain controversial lawmaker, then it gets a bit of coverage:

Tenants living in a condemned rental house belonging to state Rep. Stacey Campfield allege the Republican lawmaker has dragged his heels making repairs, threatened to sue them if they break their lease and pumped raw sewage out of the basement that went into a storm drain.

Campfield counters that his tenants just want out of the lease, and he would have the property up to code in time to pass muster with city officials.

The city codes office deemed the house on Silver Place in North Knoxville "unfit for human habitation" after a Jan. 8 inspection that found the basement flooded with water and feces, leaking faucets, inoperable windows, missing gutters, "bootleg wiring" and other problems - 47 violations in all, according to city records.

His tenants want out of leasing a condemned house? Why perish the thought.

Obviously, there are probably two sides to every story. But I think every lease should have a clause in there that if the city condemns the property, you have the right to terminate the lease without penalty.

49 of 72 is Pretty Good Odds

Chip Forrester has announced the addition of three names to his list of public commitments for his bid to be Chair of the Tennessee Democratic Party:

Tennessee Young Democrats President Seannalyn Brandmeir, Executive Committeewoman Maryanna Clarke and Executive Committeewoman Hazel Moore from Shelby County have committed to my campaign for Chair making 49 commitments to date. I could not be more pleased.

Still have not seen anything to indicate that those on "the list" have double committed to Charles Robert Bone, so I'm still not seeing how this is a "close" race...but perhaps CRB has about 15 Kent Williams' in his back pocket on the Exec Committee that we just don't know about.

Media FAIL

Ben Smith over at Politico analyzes the pick of Rep. Gillibrand for Hillary Clinton's vacant Senate seat, and comes away with this conclusion:

The loser, of course, is Paterson, whose strong choice is overshadowed by a process that deeply alienated one of America's most powerful political families, humiliated a friend of the president of the United States, and generally appeared utterly, needlessly chaotic -- at a time when the accidental governor is struggling to demonstrate that he has a firm grip on his power and can stand up to a powerful legislature. When the headline is "Blago Did Better," you know you have a problem.

The process could badly damage Paterson in 2010, and the risk for Gillibrand that she be tarnished by the process that chose her -- it's a different (and lesser) version of Roland Burris's problem -- and yoked to a governor who is in serious trouble.

Oh, "of course". Actually, the loser here is the media. Gov. Paterson did what he should've done. He took as much time as he needed to carefully vet the potential senate nominees, took into consideration the advice and consent of his fellow Democratic leaders, and announced the decision after Sen. Clinton left her seat.

Gov. Paterson never at any time indicated that he would choose Caroline Kennedy for the seat. The press relied on anonymously sourced conversations with "insiders" to come up with their conclusion that she somehow had a lock on the seat. Personally, I was always skeptical of the idea that he'd pick Caroline Kennedy, because it had become abundantly clear she had no business being a US Senator based on her record and her interactions with the press.

As for Rod Blagojevich, he chose the first black person who'd say yes to his tainted appointment. Paterson deliberated carefully with his important decision, Blagojevich played games.

Bigotry FAIL

Damn, am I glad to be wrong.

With 162 out of 173 precincts reporting, the English Only Amendment, as well as the Referendum Amendment, both went down to defeat by extremely large margins.

English Only 57% Against, 43% For.

I guess with a combined effort by just about every rational thinking Nashvillian, hundreds of thousands of dollars, and thousands of volunteer hours, you can really accomplish the seemingly impossible.

Nashville is one of the first cities to stand up to English Only, and those who worked their asses off should be damned proud of their accomplishments. If I could buy all of you a cervesa, I would.

Apples To Ashcrofts

Lets rewind a bit.

January 20th, 2001. George W. Bush is sworn in after losing the popular vote but winning a contentious legal fight that goes to the Supreme court in mid-December, with the court ruling to usurp a state's right to run its elections, while simultaneously ruling that this decision could not ever be used as precedent in another case (the first ever such clause).

George W. Bush greets a split, 50-50 US Senate, with the Vice-President in charge of tie-breaking votes. How does he respond? By engaging with Democratic leaders? By embracing humility in the fact that he was not the choice of a majority of Americans? By recognizing the divided nature of our country and attempting to reconcile the two halves towards one common purpose?

Hells no. He nominates a far right-wing, ultra-anti-choice Republican whose social views lead him to cover lady justice with a white cloth because she has her nips showing. A former Senator who was so extreme for Missouri that when faced with the prospect of re-electing him or the dead guy he was running against, they chose the dead guy.

Fast forward 8 years.

Barack Obama is elected with more votes than any President in history, and by a larger majority than any Democrat since LBJ. Barack Obama greets a strongly Democratic House, and an 18 vote Democratic advantage in the US Senate.

What does Obama do? Spit in the face of the GOP and laugh at their losses? Nope. He embraces his former rival, holding dinners in his honor and actively seeks his advice on political matters. He regularly engages the Republicans in the major decisions of his administration. And goes out of his way to appoint cabinet officials who are known for their abilities, and not partisanship.

So why is Bob Krumm now patting his fellow Republicans on the back because they didn't oppose Hillary Clinton for State Department? Its not like he chose Dennis Kucinich. He picked a mainstream Democrat whose foreign policy leanings are well within the confines of most moderate Republicans, not to mention, the GOP spent a good part of the general election trying to convince voters that McCain/Palin was the standard-bearer for her Democratic primary campaign.

Democrats in 2001 didn't oppose Ashcroft because they opposed Bush, per se; they opposed Ashcroft because he was a partisan extremist going into the role of the nation's top cop. In fact, only two of Bush's cabinet appointments had votes against them, Ashcroft and Gale Norton.

So far, one of Obama's appointees has had votes against them, and that was Hillary Clinton. If Eric Holder has some nays, which all indications are that he will, then we will be par for the course.

Kelsey Loses His Shit

I think the men with the white jackets will be pulling up to the state house at any moment now to administer some much needed medication to Rep. Brian Kelsey of Shelby county.

Rep. Kelsey is perpetually aggrieved by Speaker Kent Williams so much so that he has taken to excoriating him for not doing things he wanted, even when he did them.

First, he wanted Speaker Williams to resign his seat in the House and run as a Democrat or Independent. Unfortunately for Kelsey, Williams did not oblige.

Then, he filed an ethics complaint against Speaker Williams for an incident back in 2007 in which he allegedly made some, lets say, inappropriate comment to a fellow female Republican. In that ethics complain he asked Speaker Williams to have Leaders Mumpower and Odom pick the members of the ethics committee.

Speaker Williams obliged to this request, but despite this, Rep. Kelsey still threw a temper tantrum:

“For the Speaker to go ahead and appoint the members of the Ethics Committee, knowing that they will be hearing a pending complaint against him shows a further lack of ethical judgment. It’s a clear conflict of interest for the Speaker to hand-pick all his own jurors.”

I was somewhat worried for a moment that the whole Kent Williams fiasco would blowback on the Dems. But the more Rep. Kelsey and his compatriot Robin Smith open their mouths about Speaker Williams, the pettier they look.

After the bi-partisan committee appointments were made, Smith complained that despite a one vote majority in the House, only a majority of committees have Republican chairs, rather than all of them and their vice-chairs.

Will this complaint resonate with Tennesseans? Will they see the injustice in Republicans and Democrats sharing power representative of their numbers in the legislature? Or will they see Smith, et al, as crybabies who can't share their toys, and are stomping around like toddlers?

As Obama and The Bible would say, "let us now set aside childish things."

El Voto Againsto English Only-o

El Grande Dia is here. Your chance to be a part of the movement that drives back the English Only movement in America. If you've been living under a rock, or for some unfortunate reason get your news and information only from this blog, then I would like to remind you that today is the last day to vote AGAINST charter amendments 1 & 2 at your local voting precinct.

We've all heard the arguments for and against English Only. Whether its your bleeding liberal heart driving you, or the cold conservative calculus of wasted money and lost business/revenues, the bi-partisan reasons for voting against this amendment far outweigh the arguments for it.

In regards to amendment #2, the ability to have numerous charter amendments ad naseum would be a significant thorn in the side of those who want an effective and stable Government. By reducing the needed signatures down to 1% of registered voters, as well as removing restrictions on the number of ballot initiatives each year, we are setting ourselves up to have to fight idiotic amendments like #1, at nearly election cycle...not to mention numerous special elections that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars each.

Personally, I'm not too optimistic about the prospects of defeating either of these two (especially the latter). But at the very least, we can make it close and show that there is a large part of Nashville that doesn't accept scapegoating and division.

Hopey Changey

The Wall Street Journal gathers some notables from both sides of the ideological divide to list their hopes for the incoming administration.

Sarah Palin wants Obama to drill, baby, drill and thinks tax cuts which won't be felt until a year after they go into effect, will be the key to improving our economy.

Newt Gingrich wants Obama to let the economic system correct itself, now that Republican policies have contributed to its downfall (if the economy collapses, the dollar will collapse, then the Federal Government will collapse, and we'll be living in the American Balkans as Conservatives have always dreamed).

Glen Reynolds thinks President Obama should remove federal funding restrictions on states which lower their drinking age below 21.

Personally, if I were to pick one thing outside of health care, the economy, education, etc...I would prefer the Obama quickly tackle the issue of our embargo on Cuba.

President Obama, in his inaugural, talked about moving past ideological labels and about putting aside "childish" things. Well, one way to do this is to admit that the blockade against Cuba has not worked, and move on to alternative solutions. How better to show an end of the past conflicts than to end a policy born in the fear of a Cold War that no longer exists. How better to show the rest of the world that we are willing to be the bigger person and extend an olive branch before getting all of our desired concessions? Its a relatively easy task, and considering Cuba poses no real military threat to the United States, its a fairly safe one as well.

Sure, he'd get opposition from Conservatives who still cling bitterly to the battles which formed their ideological cores...but I think many Americans are ready to embrace the pragmatic ideology which Obama has espoused, and nothing is more pragmatic than recognizing failure.

Ahhh Crap

From Mark McKinnon:

Bush has gotten to know Obama during this transition period and he has a pretty good gut for people. His gut tells him Obama has what it takes to be a successful leader.

From George W. Bush:

I looked [Vladmir Putin] in the eye. I found him to be very straight forward and trustworthy and we had a very good dialogue.

"I was able to get a sense of his soul.

"He's a man deeply committed to his country and the best interests of his country and I appreciate very much the frank dialogue and that's the beginning of a very constructive relationship," Mr Bush said.

Help Us Help Barack

I just got a call from someone working on behalf of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee soliciting money for their cause. Interestingly, in the pitch, they prefaced this donation on the premise that there are certain Democrats in Congress who are opposing Obama's stimulus package and that he "needs all the help he can get".

What I find interesting is that the DCCC's main priority will be to get these same Congressmen and women, the ones who live in conservative leaning districts, re-elected in 2010. The DCCC exists to benefit the Democrats at the margin who'll have a tough re-election fight, not the ideological kindred spirits who support Democratic policies to the hilt.

I'm So Serious That I Don't Want My Name Attributed To Your Piece

Jeff Woods has the skinny from an "insider" who is threatening to burn the Democratic house down if Chip Forrester, whose vast crimes include wearing a bow-tie and running in a Democratic primary 16 years ago, is elected to be the next Chairman of the TNDP:

"The money people are on Charles Robert's side," one insider tells Pith. "Seriously, if Chip gets the chairmanship, they're pulling out. They're done with the party. I think you'd see the governor's office bail out and the congressionals bail out. So I don't know where Chip would get his money, I really don't."

Here is why I'm not quite willing to take this seriously...if they were so adamant in their lack of support for Forrester, to the point that they'll abandon the Democratic party, then why not let Woods attribute your name to the piece?

I mean, I'm all about anonymous sources...90% of my original content comes from them. But if you are going to leave the party if Chip is the Chairman, then I don't see the harm in just throwing your name out there, and letting people judge the veracity of your claims that way.

No We Can't

Overly Affectionate Speaker?

It appears the knives are coming out from the House GOP caucus in regards to Speaker Williams. They appear to be dredging up allegations made by Rep. Susan Lynn towards now Speaker Kent Williams, that Williams made inappropriate comments and violated her personal space back in 2007.

Perhaps the GOP should've nominated her to be Speaker Pro Tem?

Its hard to tell whether this is much ado about nothing, or a serious violation of sexual harassment policy. No actions, beyond an apparent apology, seem to have been taken after these encounters between Rep. Lynn and Williams. It only seems to be newsworthy to Republican Leader Mumpower now that Williams blocked his ascent to the Speaker position.

President Barack Hussein Obama's Adversaries Rally

From the comments:

Obama and the Democrats now own the situation we are in for they have full and overwhelming control of the federal government. Much like liberals were quick to attack GW Bush at every turn, it must be my job to attack our new president at every turn where it is advantagous to do so. It is time to return the favor that liberals gave conservatives in 2001 - 2008.

It is a dirty sport this game of politics. It is sad that it must be this way. However, it is irresponsible to unilaterally disarm. That will not happen and Obama must be held accountable and criticized by his political opponents when the advantage can be achieved in order to defeat his liberal agenda.

In the words of the last guy: Bring It On.

I welcome the attacks from those who throw around the word "liberal" as if it were an epithet. If President B. Hussein Obama isn't pissing off those folks, then he isn't doing his job.

I do hope that what is left of the reality based caucus within the GOP is willing to work with the President to find common ground. But if the Michael DelGiorno's or Rush Limbaugh's of the world don't treat Obama with contempt, then clearly he is doing something wrong.

All great President, such as LBJ pre-1967 or FDR, had their detractors even when vast swaths of the American public supported them. Life would be boring without the wingnut contingency in America being louder and more forceful than their numbers support.

President Barack Hussein Obama on Civil Rights

Somewhat interesting, while I'm still exploring the new White House website, I found it interesting that on his agenda, fully half of the "Civil Rights" page is dedicated to LGBT rights. Including:

Repeal Don't Ask-Don't Tell: President Obama agrees with former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff John Shalikashvili and other military experts that we need to repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. The key test for military service should be patriotism, a sense of duty, and a willingness to serve. Discrimination should be prohibited. The U.S. government has spent millions of dollars replacing troops kicked out of the military because of their sexual orientation. Additionally, more than 300 language experts have been fired under this policy, including more than 50 who are fluent in Arabic. The President will work with military leaders to repeal the current policy and ensure it helps accomplish our national defense goals.

President Barack Hussein Obama's First Proclamation

Per the White House blog:

NATIONAL DAY OF RENEWAL AND RECONCILIATION, 2009

- - - - - - -

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

As I take the sacred oath of the highest office in the land, I am humbled by the responsibility placed upon my shoulders, renewed by the courage and decency of the American people, and fortified by my faith in an awesome God.

We are in the midst of a season of trial. Our Nation is being tested, and our people know great uncertainty. Yet the story of America is one of renewal in the face of adversity, reconciliation in a time of discord, and we know that there is a purpose for everything under heaven.

On this Inauguration Day, we are reminded that we are heirs to over two centuries of American democracy, and that this legacy is not simply a birthright -- it is a glorious burden. Now it falls to us to come together as a people to carry it forward once more.

So in the words of President Abraham Lincoln, let us remember that: "The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature."

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim January 20, 2009, a National Day of Renewal and Reconciliation, and call upon all of our citizens to serve one another and the common purpose of remaking this Nation for our new century.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twentieth day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-third.

President Barack Hussein Obama

How many of you Republicans are watching TV waiting for Ashton Kutcher to jump out from behind the scenes and yell out, "you just got Punked! America"?

Sorry, ain't gonna happen. Though, given Chief Justice Roberts mixing up the words of the Oath of Office, and the confusion that followed, I await the new websites dedicated to the proposition that Barack Obama is not President because the word "faithfully" was placed out of order.

I stopped by a packed Belcourt (almost didn't get in because the doors were locked due to capacity...but someone left so I was able to get in in time to see the swearing in) to watch the inauguration surrounded by fellow supporters. I wasn't sure how I'd react, I did tear up a bit after the oath was finished, but the speech itself wasn't so much a tear jerker as it was a reclamation of the greatness of America that many of us have read about in history books. Obviously grandiose, but I think it met the expectations many had for this speech.

We've seen that he can inspire many with his words (sorry to the frustrated Republicans who "just don't get it"), and even inspire with the very idea of his Presidency...now comes the test of whether he can inspire with his deeds.

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Read the transcript.

Update:

A website now worth visiting:

2 Years In The Making

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We are about two hours away from the beginning of a new chapter in America. Very rarely in American political history does the very act of a new President being sworn in merit such cause for celebration. Not only has it been 8 years in the wilderness for Democrats, Liberals, and people who don't dismiss intellectualism as "elitism;" but today is the culmination of a dream for countless Americans, many Black, but many also White, Latino, Asian, etc...who have been waiting for the melting pot of America to be reflected in the highest office in the land.

The twists and turns during this 2 year long process could not have been dreamed up by a Hollywood script writer. When I jumped on the Obama express, I was in a club of about 15% of American idealists who saw something the pundits couldn't. It was a frustrating year in 2007, Obama didn't even post a lead in the Iowa Caucus poll until late November of that year. I remember, in mid-2007, some of us in Nashville gathered at a local Nashville home to watch an Obama town hall meeting being streamed from Iowa. Its interesting, during the first leg of the campaign, Obama was criticized (and rightly so) as being too professorial and wonkish; too focused on policy details and not enough of connecting that to the average American. Fast forward about 6 months, and the standard media and political criticism was that Obama was all flash and no substance...which is just indicative of the myopic tendencies of the punditocracy.

Along the way, more and more people joined "the cause". While at first it your standard collection of white liberal activists, as the campaign dragged on you saw more and more people who had no prior political experience, getting involved in ways they never thought they would. By January of 2008 you began to see the movement expand beyond hippie pacifist liberals and idealistic newcomers, but more of your traditional Democratic establishment figures, and after the Iowa caucuses, the number of African Americans involved in the process jumped dramatically.

My first trip outside of the state to campaign for a candidate was in South Carolina on the day of the primary. We ended up canvassing a middle-class, predominately African-American neighborhood in Greenville, SC. I can only image that if we had canvassed the same area 3 months prior, before the Iowa caucuses, we would've run into a lot more cynicism about the prospects of Barack Hussein Obama. But on that January day, there was quite a bit of optimism and enthusiasm. It had just finally started clicking in the black community that this wasn't just some pie-in-the-sky dream; that the possibility could become a reality.

After South Carolina, the next 4 or 5 months were pretty freakin' brutal. Friendships were strained, the party divided and split, charges of racism and sexism flowing like beer at Titans game. But, we got through it, and after a few weeks and months, the Democratic party was nearly completely reunited in our desire to see Obama elected President.

The general election campaign was nothing compared to the level of passion and stress of the primary. I was generally pretty confident about his prospects, and despite a week of unfavorable polling after McCain's nomination acceptance speech, nearly all indications were that Obama would become the next President. His performance on the trail was near flawless post-primary, and his debate performances were better than could be expected. During the whole process, for many Americans, he looked and sounded like what a President should be.

Now, after countless victory celebrations during the primary and on election day, we come to the realization of a 2 year dream. Shortly after Obama puts his hand on the Bible and swears his oath of office, he will have the opportunity to begin rolling back the disastrous Presidency of George Walker Bush. Now, maybe "history" will remember him more kindly than the American people do today...though I somewhat doubt it, but for a Presidency that came to fruition because of some elderly Jewish voters and a poorly designed butterfly ballot, it seems kind of fitting that Bush is leaving office less popular than any other President in modern American history (and according to some polls, less popular than Nixon).

But just now, watching President Bush greet soon-to-be President Obama at the steps of the White House, the years of anger, bitterness, frustration, and disappointment are fading. The optimism for the next 4-8 years vastly overshadows the lament of the past 8.

I can't overstate the effect the Obama campaign has had on my life. First, as a political junkie who had always dreamed of a President like Obama; even-keeled, smart as hell, but with an ability to connect to the common man without pandering or talking down to us...and liberal to boot! Second, and I've noted this before, but the friendships gained and strengthened over the course of this campaign will likely last a lifetime. I'm grateful to have shared this experience with so many great people.

Obama has a great weight upon his shoulders. Not only does he have the weight of domestic and foreign catastrophes...but he has the weight of the hopes and dreams of a new generation of Americans who have the potential to be engaged in the American civic process like no generation since World War II. I don't expect miracles, but so long as he stays true to himself and his family, so long as he does his best to be honest with the American people, and so long he reaches out to adversaries both foreign and domestic, as he campaigned to do, I think our work and faith will have been vindicated.

Interesting Thought

David Oatney thinks that the election of a Republican Speaker of the House in Tennessee could lead to a dissolution of the three grand divisions that make up our state.

For a party that despises gays so much, they certainly do have a flair for the dramatic.

(h/t ACK)

I Pledge...

...to cap my salary at the level of the President of the United States and use the rest towards charity. Heh, oh, wait, just kidding...I mean, I'll donate some scratch (and catalog it for a tax deduction) and have Consuela use those green bags at whole foods from now on.

MySpace Celebrity and Katalyst present The Presidential Pledge

Senator Smithers

Is it just me, or are the dynamics of the McCain-Graham relationship oddly similar to that of Mr. Burns and Smithers in The Simpsons?

NY Times Corrects Crafton

The New York Times finally got around to running a correction to their January 11th story which quoted Eric Crafton as erroneously stating that the California legislature required translators for their members:

An article last Sunday about an effort in Nashville to prohibit the government from using languages other than English included an incorrect statement from Councilman Eric Crafton of Nashville, the chief supporter of the city’s plan, about the California State Legislature. The Legislature has never had members who needed the proceedings translated into English for them. (Mr. Crafton, contacted after a reader alerted The Times, said he recalled seeing a story about such translators on television, but could not provide specifics or documentation for his claim.)

Southern Beale caught Eric Crafton once again peddling false information to backup his ridiculous ordinance.

(h/t Ben Vos and ACK)

The Impact

NPT looks at the impact to the Metro Government from the English Only charter amendment as a prelude to the forum, tonight at 7PM, between David Briley and Eric Crafton...oh, that's right, Crafton is too busy to have a free forum to discuss his points.

If He Can Use It As A Matter of Fact, Why Can't I Use it to Fear Monger?

Rep. Steve King of Iowa is a bit miffed that Barack Hussein Obama will utter those 3 words when swearing in as the 44th President:

After telling the Associated Press last year that Obama’s middle name was among the reasons Islamic terrorists would rejoice over his election, King says he’s since been careful to avoid using it. Thus he found Obama’s decision to allow it be mentioned on the steps of the Capitol “bizarre” and “a double-standard.”

“Is that reserved just for him, not his critics?” King asked.

The congressman says he doubts Obama’s sincerity when he explained that he chose to use his middle name so as to be historically consistent with past inaugurations, when America has heard the full names of its presidents echo from the inaugural stand.

“Whatever his reasons are,” King said, “the one he gave us could not be the reason.”

He continued: “The society is a little strange about this. If you’re speaking the truth and in an effort to be objective, there should be nothing off limits in a free society, [but] there are many biases building and clearly a double-standard.”

Why is this concept so hard to grasp for Republicans. Its pretty simple. Say Obama's name all you want, but if you use his middle name in the context of trying to raise doubts about his allegiances to America, then you are more likely to be criticized by those who aren't ignorant bigots.

There was no mystery in why Ann Coulter and Steve King were fixated on Obama's middle name, it was because they (and most Republicans) think the American people are such knuckle-dragging morons that they would actually vote against someone because their name is not of Anglo origins. Well, you be wrong...so say B. Hussein all you want, just be sure to affix "President" before it.

Was "Shock and Awe" A Campaign of Hope and Freedom?

El Presidente Bush blathered on for 13 minutes last night in what was his last, thank God almighty, last prime time address to the nation as President of the United States.

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What have we learned? That Bush's mindset has not changed one iota from just immediately after 9/11. His only regrets seem to be that his policies didn't work out as well as he'd have like...not that he instituted piss poor policies. That the world is still divided into Good and Evil, that free people would never elect leaders who'd institute "a campaign of terror," despite the fact that his push for elections in Palestine resulted in the election of Hamas.

I know some Republicans probably think we Democrats should be magnanimous or appreciative in the waning days of his Presidency. Personally, I think he's done far more damage to our system of Government than Richard Nixon could ever dream of...luckily, I think we have an incoming President whose presence alone will help erase the stain on our democracy that was the Bush Presidency, in ways that Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter could not. If not for the damage he's caused, I think Bush would be but a footnote in history. Hopefully, he'll be a lesson in what not to do for future leaders in America.

This Thing "Could" Pass

Last night I was speaking to a volunteer with the Nashville for All of Us campaign and learned some interesting stuff, namely, that Charter Amendment #1 could actually pass, and that some people are getting complacent thinking there isn't any way Nashville will vote for this thing.

Lemme just say, I will be fucking flabbergasted if this English Only amendment fails. If I were a betting man, I'd put its odds at passage at 9-1. Why? Simple really...the argument in favor is far more simpler and easier to understand than the argument against.

For? Do you think we should speak English in America? Vote yes.

Against? A ten minute schpeal about how this would adversely impact commerce, how we are "better than that," how its unnecessary because of state laws...yada, yada, yada.

Last night I made a few phone calls for the cause and ended up calling 50-60 year old people in Hermitage and Joelton. Any guesses on how they'll likely be voting? Yeah, "tolerance" isn't exactly a selling point.

In addition, a lot of people are focusing on the early voting turnout in the presumed white liberal areas of the city. Which is all sunshine and rainbows, except those are the districts closest to the Howard School building. When you get to election day, you'll have a whole host of voters who vote in every election, regardless of the cause, and they are less likely to have sat down and weighed the pros and cons of the two charter amendments. We are in America, and we speak English in American...nuff said.

This isn't to say that its impossible to stop this measure, anything is possible, but if anyone out there is confident this amendment will fail, you really need a reality check, post haste. Step out the bubble.

Anglo-Supremacists Like The Dark

The head of the Anglo-Supremacist movement in Nashville, Eric Crafton, is ducking and weaving to avoid any sort of sunlight on his organization designed to promote the English Only amendment to be decided on Jan. 22nd.

First, ol' Crafty is afraid to debate David Briley on NPT this Friday...apparently, he's got more important things to do at 7PM on a Friday night.

Second, his group is looking into obfuscating the campaign finance requirements of the Metro Government in order to avoid disclosing who the donors are to their anti-immigrant organization. I guess when you have a collective of crazy hate groups from around the country giving to your cause, you'd rather not have that be the lead story going into the final day of voting.

Dirty Hippies Gotta Do Laundry Sometimes

Whole Foods not whole enough for ya? Trader Joe's a little too commercial? Well have no fear my non-bottle water drinking, beat up bio-diesel pickup drivin', hemp clothes wearing friends...there is now a place for you:

Two years ago in Tucson Arizona, Jen Casale found herself driving all over the city (in her 1982 Mercedes station wagon that runs on waste vegetable oil) to shop at different stores to gather eco-friendly products she could use at home. One night after one too many red lights, she realized that a one stop earth friendly shop was desperately needed. Several years of planning later, Jen's vision of a "green" general store evolved into what will soon be The Green Wagon, a cozy yet comprehensive retail collection of environmentally friendly home necessities. Scheduled to open on January 16, 2009, The Green Wagon is nestled in the heart of historic Sylvan Park in Nashville at 4429 Murphy Road and will be open 7 days a week from 10am – 7pm. Jen Casale is passionate about making "green" shopping easy and practical for customers. The Green Wagon's mission is "To assist communities in reducing our collective carbon footprint by making environmentally friendly products accessible and affordable."

They Still Love Kent Williams In The Same Way They Love Gay People...

...meaning, they hate them, but they have to say they love 'em because they wanna win the Evangelical vote.

One Republican decided to unburden his heavy heart today in church session over Speaker Williams' perceived act of betrayal this past Tuesday. Here's a brief synopsis:

God, grant me the serenity to deal with these sons of bitches who kept me from getting a plum committee assignment. Help me find a way to exact retribution while still claiming piety in the process.

Gotta Spend Money To Make Money

It appears that Democratic Leader Kyle's tenacity paid off, and he was able to get the Republican candidates for the Constitutional Officer seats to admit that they tried to grease the wheels a bit by making donations to Republican legislative candidates in 2008.

In correspondence to Senator Kyle’s office today, Comptroller candidate Justin Wilson and Treasurer candidate David Lillard disclosed that they made contributions to legislative candidates during the 4th Quarter of 2008, which began just prior to the November 4th General Election.

The other candidates, Treasurer Dale Sims, Comptroller John Morgan, Secretary of State Riley Darnell, and Secretary of State candidate Tre Hargett stated they made no such contributions.

Brian Kelsey : Concern Troll

Rep. Brian Kelsey graciously gives Speaker Williams the option of resigning from the House of Representatives. For whatever reason, the newly elected Speaker opted not to take Mr. Kelsey up on his advice.



(h/t ACK)

Tennessee Republicans Hatin' On The Kids

The Tennessee Republican Congressional Delegation took time out of their busy schedules to attempt to deprive kids in Tennessee of much needed health care benefits that their parents can't afford.

The SCHIP reauthorization bill passed the House by a 289-139 margin, with all Tennessee Democrats voting in favor of the legislation, and all Tennessee Republicans voting against it.

The bill in question raises taxes on tobacco products to expand health care coverage for kids, including cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, and rolling papers. The biggest increase seems to be with "roll your own tobacco" which has been increased from $1.0969 per pound to $24.62 per pound. So, if I read this correctly, on a six ounce pouch of tobacco, you're looking at a $9 tax...not sure if this is correct or not, seems a bit outlandish.

Aren't We So Much Better?

Rob Huddleston waxes poetic on the loss of the Speakership to Rep. Kent Williams yesterday, and has some contradictory lessons learned.

1) "The problem here is that Naifeh, Odom, and Williams have raised the stakes of partisanship to a level we are unaccustomed to seeing out of Nashville."

So, the Democrats raised the level of partisanship by voting for a Republican to be Speaker? Define: "partisanship".

2) "[T]he Republicans' struggle greatly ties in with the hit television show, "24." In order to stop the Democrats, who, like the terrorists play by their own set of rules, the Republicans need a rule breaker themselves - their own personal Jack Bauer, if you will. But that isn't going to happen. The Republicans I know at the state level want maximum sunlight on their processes, want to follow the rules and by-laws set for their actions, and want an end to the backroom deals made in smokey rooms on Capitol Hill."

The rules played by the Democrats can easily be found in Roberts Rules of Order, or whatever procedural book the State House uses to conduct its meetings. The rules allowed for the Democrats to nominate and vote for a Republican, they thus exploited those rules to their benefit.

Here is another analogy; a group of friends are playing Scrabble, someone uses a word like "Verisimilitude" and another player bitches because he hadn't heard of the word before and doesn't think it should count.

Republicans can bitch and moan about the "will of the people," but the fact is Republicans hold a one vote majority, and they now have a Republican Speaker of the House who has said he'll apportion committee positions regardless of their party. Now, if Speaker Williams does in fact appoint a good number of Republicans as committee chairs, with perhaps a slight edge to the GOP, then how does that not reflect the will of the people? The only Tennesseans who voted for Jason Mumpower were those in the 3rd House district, and 48 other members of the House GOP Caucus.

In other analogy news, Roger Abramson compares Jason Mumpower to Adolph Hitler, and Kent Williams to Joseph Stalin...which I guess makes Naifeh into Franklin Roosevelt.

No Job Security In Politics

A Young Republican laments his new found unemployment status after being promised a job by "Speaker-elect" Jason Mumpower.

The reason I was in attendance is because I was set to be a research analyst for the Legislature, conditional upon a Mumpower election as speaker. I have been interviewing since November, and was finally offered the job on Saturday. Now, as a result of your election, I must begin searching for jobs again. Let me thank you for that.

Of course, one wonders what might've happened if Mumps, et al, swallowed their pride and welcomed their new Republican Speaker after they so publicly got pwned. Perhaps he would've been amenable to voting for the intended GOP Speaker Pro Tem, or hiring on some of he staffers who had been promised jobs by Mr. Mumpower. But, they didn't...instead, they booed, hissed, and threw temper tantrums, thus leaving Speaker Williams with little reason to work with the House Majority Leader.

Best o' luck to Young Goopers like Robert Martin, as well as the plethora of Democratic and Republican political operatives who have been hard up to find a job over the past few weeks and months.

Where All The Democrats At?

That is the question some Republicans are apparently asking as none of them voted for Mumps to be the next Speaker of the House:

Many Democrats lost a lot of trust with the Republicans as well today. I can't count the times I heard over the years "Well, if we get close or get to 50 so and so will be with us." We can all see how that went when they all voted first. 0 Democrat cross over. It was all about power.

You can't trust them.

Some of them had even pledged to vote for Jayson before the election. Where were they when it counted? There are no more of their strong caucus supporters. They are now silent. They even had a chance to vote for Beth Harwell against Lois "Nickles" DeBerry. A clear and easy choice away from the old corruption of the past and what many would say is a very bi partisan Republican. We see where they fell. Another Williams lie.

Of course you can't trust them to vote for the Republican caucus' choice for Speaker of the House...why the hell would you?

Now, I should clarify something I said earlier. I had been under the impression that Jason Mumpower was now just a lowly House member, but apparently, Glen Casada's rise to the position of Majority Leader was conditional on Mumpower's Speakership...so Mumps will still maintain a power position within his caucus.

Campfield also says that Republicans might have preferred Naifeh to Williams as Speaker if not for anything else, because Naifeh was skilled at the job of running the show. I too am concerned that Williams' lack of experience will be a hindrance to his ability to keep the House moving in good order. It will be interesting to see how often he relinquishes the gavel to have someone else deal with the parliamentary duties that the office entails.

Tears of Unfathomable Sorrow

Maybe its just me, but I can't help but be reminded of this South Park clip after the festivities today:



The full story on how this whole thing played out will be interesting to hear at some point. From what I've heard so far though, Terri Lynn Weaver's voting mishap was crucial to giving the Democrats time to put the finishing touches on this little coup. So, if that is true, Thanks Terry Lynn!

Update:

How it went down, according to Speaker Williams:

Q: When did the Democrats first approach you about this?

Williams: The Democrats didn't approach me. I approached them.

Q: And what did you say?

Williams: I told them I'd like to be speaker of the House. It was maybe a couple of days ago, I don't know.

Q: What did the Democrats say to you? OK?

Williams: Evidently.

Q: What about the infamous pledge? The 50 signatures?

Williams: That we would vote for a Republican. Yes, I voted for a Republican.

Dan White Watch

How do you go from being the first Republican Speaker of the House in 4 decades, to being just another one of 99 members of the Tennessee House of Reps?

I mean, damn, that has got to sting.

Speaker Pro Tem DeBerry

Speaker Williams breaks his oath with the House Republicans and votes for a Democrat to be the Speaker Pro Tem. Williams effectively has just left his party to caucus with the Democrats, not sure when it will be official.

The January Surprise

The other day, Rep. Mike Turner dropped a comment on one of my posts in which I assumed that Naifeh probably couldn't get a Republican to cross over and vote for him, and wondered if Mumpower could get any dems...

Sean even though we have a big tent with many different views, on a varity of issue's, at the end of the day we are still Democrats and we will be united. Don't count us out as of yet. " THE JANUARY SURPRISE "

Well, I was right, no Republicans voted for Naifeh; nor did any Democrats for that matter, as they decided to go with option C) a moderate Republican who his colleagues tried to primary a few months ago, and who never got along with Rep. Jason Mumpower.

Kent Williams was good to his word and voted for a Republican Speaker, even if that Republican happened to be him, and his was the only Republican vote for his Speakership.

In his address to the House as the newly minted Speaker, Williams stated that he planned on using his authority to fill committees based on experience and ability, but more ability.

The Democrats managed to keep this close to the vest, and didn't let any leaks out...so you have to give the leadership and their staffers credit on that one. The interesting thing to see is what the Republican's next move will be. Do they kick out Speaker Williams from the caucus and risk loosing what committee assignments they would get with him? Or do they piss and moan for two years and cry about how unfair the mean Democrats are with their superior gamesmanship?

Update:

As per usual, the TNGOP speaks before they think, "Kent Williams has betrayed his constituents and the people of Carter County in breaking his pledge - his signed oath - to vote for the nominee of the Republican caucus for Speaker of the House."

Careful now, that is the Republican Speaker of the House you are talking about... ;-0

Speaker Williams?

Apparently, the Democrats are nominating Republican Kent Williams to be Speaker of the House. I'm listening to the broadcast online (video isn't working for me), but I think I heard one Democrat, Barker, pass...not sure who'll have the votes.

HOLY FUCKING SHIT!!!! Kent Williams is the next Speaker.

Money quote: "I'm a Republican, probably for not much longer because you guys are going to kick me out."

Update:

Speaker Naifeh to finish out Speaker Williams' first session as the newly elected Speaker of the House.

Update II:

The House recesses so Mumpower can cry in the bathroom.

Do We Understand What A Tabling Motion Is?

My network connection is kind of choppy, so I can't really watch the streaming video of the legislature in session, but it appears as if they just went into recess because a Republican crossed the line and voted against Jason Mumpower's tabling motion. From what I hear, it was Terri Lynn Weaver who voted to recess because she didn't quite understand what she was voting on. Somehow, I have a feeling there will be a lot of those instances in the coming legislature with Rep. Weaver.

Open Seat In The 3rd

Zach Wamp, regardless of how the Governor's race pans out, has decided against running for re-election to the 3rd Congressional District.

Will the Democrats run a competitive challenger for this Republican leaning seat? Time will tell.

Opening Up The Inauguration

So often this blog focuses on people who screw up, or screw us. So its great when there is a story about someone giving a regular person a chance at witnessing history the way so many more well connected people often do:

In front of a crowd of dozens of other ticket winners, Cooper surprised Robinson [a High School student at MLK] with two tickets to the inauguration, round-trip airplane tickets and hotel accommodations.

The tickets and hotel stay are gifts from Ted Helm, a member of Cooper's Rotary club. He and his wife bought the tickets and made the hotel reservations just hours after Obama's victory speech. Robinson's mother will accompany him while his father stays home.

"It's a part of history. I get to see history in the making. I'm so excited," the almost-overwhelmed Robinson said.

50+ years ago, Washington DC was a segregated city...the Robinsons probably couldn't even stay in the hotel that Ted Helm put them up in. Now, they are going to be participants in the inauguration of the first Black President.

America...Fuck Yeah!

Should We Bail Out TVA?

I'll admit, I've been rather negligent on the story regarding the coal ash in East Tennessee; Mike Byrd's been all over it though.

So now it appears that Lamar Alexander and Zach Wamp want the Federal Government to cover the cost of the cleanup. After all, TVA and other electric companies have been fighting regulations that might've prevented the coal ash spill for decades, so its only fair that we should be forced to pay for our mistake in letting the TVA be responsible for their own waste storage.

Personally, I think TVA should pay for the damages, even if it will mean higher electricity rates for us. It may end up pushing people towards alternative forms of home energy, such as propane or natural gas, and the loss of customers might encourage the TVA to push for better, cleaner, and safer forms of energy production.

Forrester List Expands

As the TNDP elections come closer, there is no real sign of erosion for the support of Chip Forrester, who still claims more than enough votes (currently 46) to become the next Chair of the Tennessee Democratic Party:

If you honor me by electing me as your Chair on January 24th, one of the first things I will do is to reach out to my opponent and ask him to use his skill to co-chair our fundraising efforts. Or if he should change his mind before then and decide to serve our Party as Treasurer, I will gladly support him.

The second thing I will do is to meet with all the members of the Congressional delegation, the Governor, and those former chairs who have supported my opponent to ask them to participate in re-building our Party.

This race is not about Chip Forrester and Charles Robert Bone. This race is about changing the direction of the Democratic Party in Tennessee. And to do that, we must all work together.

One enthusiastic supporter, Diane Davis representing District 26, said of Chip's candidacy:

“I am having trouble deciding how to keep this letter short and sweet. I am tired of being a rubber stamp. I truly believe that you are what our party needs right now. We have to start over from the ground up. I have been on the Committee for almost 20 years and I experience less and less respect as a committeewoman.

I wanted to keep this short but here I go. All that I need to say is "PUT MY NAME IN CAPS AND UNDERLINE IT"

For the full list of Chip endorsers:

House Democratic Caucus Chair Mike Turner (Ex-Officio), Vicky Harwell, TFDW President (Ex-Officio), Leah Kirk, College Democrats (Ex-Officio), Tom Jesse District 3, Bruce Seal District 4, Harold Woods District 6, Bill Owen District 7, Dan Lawson District 8, Jimmy Bilbo District 9, Weldon Markham District 10, Terry Lee District 11, Fred Hobbs District 13, John Wiseman District 16, Bill Bassett District 18, Jerry Maynard District 19, Chip Forrester District 20, Keith Jackson District 22, Jon Faill District 23, Robert Patterson District 24, J.W. Hampton District 25, Mike Kiddy District 26, J.M. Bailey District 28, Henry Hooper District 29, David Upton District 30, Pam Harris District 3, Sylvia Woods District 6, Barbara Wagner District 8, Sandra Perkinson District 9, Charlene Kilpatrick District 10, Mary Anglin District 11, Brenda Ables District 13, Geeta McMillan District 15, Karen Garner District 16, Inez Crutchfield District 19, Martha Brooke Perry District 22, Elisa Parker TDP Vice Chair & District 23, Martha Shepard District 22, Diane Davis District 26, Patsy Johnson District 27, Joyce Adams District 29, Hazel Longstreet District 30, Leslie Byrd District 31

Without a competing list from the Charles Robert Bone camp with some overlapping names, its really hard to see how this race isn't pretty much over. But the key is going to be who votes when the group meets on the 24th.

Crafton Full of Mierda de Toro

Eric Crafton, our illustrious Councilman from the Bellevue area, decided to embarrass our city even further by granting an interview to the New York Times in which he stated:

“I happened to see a state legislature meeting in California where several of the state representatives had interpreters at their desk because they couldn’t speak English,” Mr. Crafton said. “That’s not the vision I have for Nashville.”

Southern Beale was rightfully skeptical of Crafton's comment. So I checked with the California's Chief Clerk of the Assembly to see if any of their members require translation services. According to Russell Tomas, with the Office of the Chief Clerk:

[T]o our knowledge, every person that has been elected to the legislature since 1850 has known how to speak English.

The only time we’ve had a translator present is in the rare instant when a foreign dignitary is delivering an address to the Assembly.

So, I guess its up to you as to whether or not you'd believe a two-bit hack of a politician from Nashville, or the office in charge of running the California General Assembly.

Update:

Southern Beale verifies this with the Secretary of the Senate to ensure that both houses of the California Legislature speaky the English.

Update II:

Caleb with the Nashville Scene explains what Crafton was trying to say:

Talking to Crafton this morning, he said he hadn't actually seen the session in person (big shock, I know) but he THINKS he saw something LIKE IT-- possibly in a local council meeting rather than on the state legislative level--on a Fox News segment "two or three years ago."

So, his fear of what happened in California has driven him to waste taxpayer money for this pointless initiative...even though he isn't exactly sure what happened in California.

Damn, he makes Sarah Palin look prepared.

7 Days, 23 Hours, 23 Minutes To Go...

...before you never, ever, have to see this spectacle again.

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Its still too surreal though; I won't believe it until I see Barney and Friends being loaded up onto a Helicopter or whatever they'll take to get the hell out of Washington DC. I only wish he'd take a train so Americans could line the tracks and wave goodbye with their one finger salutes.

The Downfall of the Conservative Movement in Under Two Minutes

Brought to you by Joe the Plumber:

Like Fredo At The End of Godfather II

Stacey Campfield notes that the Republicans will blacklist any member of their caucus who votes for Naifeh in the upcoming race for Speaker of the House:

The caucus has upped the bid and has enacted "Unit rule" for our first weeks votes. The party has sworn to have the name of any candidate who crosses party lines removed from the next Republican primary ballot. Vote for the party nominee or expect to be running in a different party in two years. Yes, they can do that.

Quite frankly, I don't see how Rep. Naifeh will be able to peel off a Republican. After all, these folks all just ran and won under the banner of the GOP. Its one thing to vote for a Democratic speaker when they are in the majority and you want to increase your influence in the House as a member of the party opposite; its quite another to buck your party brand and risk complete isolation, unless you switch your affiliation just months after affirming your party loyalty through the election process.

What will be interesting is to see is if any Democrats, seeing that no Republican will crossover, decide to vote for Mumpower for Speaker. We've seen it happen in other Southern states, once the Democrats lose their historic control of the legislature, Conservative Dems start running away from the party as if it were a burning house. It will be quite interesting to see how many of these Dems, who on many issues are ideologically alligned with the Republicans, deal with the pressure of being in the minority.

To Be or Not To Be

Andy Berke spells out the differences between the Republicans and Democrats:

If there is one fundamental, philosophical divide between Democrats and Republicans in our Legislature, it is over state government’s role in addressing these concerns. If you’re struggling in this economy, Republicans believe you’re on your own.

Democrats view things differently. Democrats believe we should use the tools of government to provide a platform of equal opportunity for all. While each individual’s success ultimately is his or her own responsibility, Democrats believe each individual’s likelihood of success will grow if we come together to provide good schools, safe neighborhoods, sound infrastructure and a clean environment.

All of us see the economic crisis. For our citizens, however, economic crises are not systematic. They are personal crises, with personal consequences: a child who must sacrifice dreams of college, a mother whose health care costs have stolen her retirement, a father whose job is lost and isn’t coming back in the next recovery.

Assuming we are still in an economic downturn come 2010 (which is extremely likely), this populist/progressive message might sell fairly well, especially if Democrats face a more traditional rightwinger like a Marsha Blackburn or Zach Wamp. It will largely come down to whether or not the people of Tennessee blame Bredesen for the problems we are having in the state, considering just about every other state is having similar problems. If Democrats can succeed in keeping the onus on the Federal Government, the chances for Democrats to maintain the Governorship in 2010 increase dramatically.

But, ultimately, this rhetoric must be matched with concrete legislative solutions to the problems faced by Tennesseans...lip service alone will not do the trick.