Qualifications To Be Vice President

As many of you know, I ran Mabel for president and then tried to create a variety of political scandals for her as she was clueless to her candidacy, and, well, she eats things she creates.

I thought her character might be attacked, so we let her go back to eating kibble and doing her pub crawl, which she did last night.

But I have to point you to Sparkles Plenty, who has outlined her reasons on why she would make a great vice-president.

Anyway, now that all that has been cleared up, I know that I am supremely qualified to be your Vice President. Here is why I expect your vote in November:

1. I know how to drive a car.
2. I can open jars all by myself.
3. I always never forget to clean out the lint filter on the dryer.
4. My favorite soup is potato.
5. I don’t spit when I talk. Usually.

Mabel endorses Kristina for V.P. enthusiastically.

It’s About People, Not Politics

I couldn’t agree more.

As of this writing, it’s looking more and more like a major hurricane will hit New Orleans for the second time in four years. I’ve already read a couple of sites speculating about the “delicious irony” of seeing a split-screen GOP convention, with hurricane-ravaged footage on one side of the screen. I’m sorry, but this isn’t the time to be scoring cheap political points. These are people’s lives and livelihoods we’re talking about here.

Read the rest at Lean Left.

Go To Joe’s

Just read the whole thing.

Read KAG Now

Campers, listen to your elders. Because they have something to say and it’s kinda important about life as we know it.

A really interesting old woman who had lived there all of her life called me one night and said, “I hear that you’re having an affair.” I assured her that wasn’t true and she replied – and this is pretty close to verbatim – “Oh. I’m disappointed to hear that. I thought that if you could have all of those children, run for city council AND have an affair, you have the energy we need on the council.”

The elder isn’t KAG. It’s her mom. Yeah, I’m older than KAG. I guess I’m her elder. Well, not in brain cells but you get the point.

Man, I love this stuff.

A Round Of Applause For Russ McBee

Let’s all say Yay for Russ, who has been doing a bang up job of rounding up the hippie liberals for the last few weeks.

Given the large number of blog posts discussing the choice of Biden and the diversity of opinions on the topic, this week’s roundup is devoted exclusively to that subject.

• 10,000 Monkeys and a Camera: Biden! and Senator O’Biden [Ed. note: The RSS feed for 10,000 Monkeys and a Camera has moved to this link.]

• 55-40 Memphis: It’s official now

• Carole Borges: Joe Biden is perfect! I’m excited once again.

• The Crone Speaks: Obama Says it is Biden, I Say More of the Same

• Don Williams: Obama-Biden’s a brilliant ticket, but only if they win, natch

• Enclave: Wealthy Elite vs. Middle Class: Pick Your Biden Scorecard and Biden His Time: Delaware Senator Brings Commoner Cred to the Ticket

• KnoxViews: Joe Biden

• Lean Left: Hello, Joe! (Whadda ya know?)

• Left Of The Dial: Hey Barack

• Left Wing Cracker: I think it’s going to work..

• Nashville for the 21st Century: Asshatery at Fournier’s “Associated Press”

• Newscoma: Obama Chooses Biden and LA Times Gets Its VP Story Wrong and Breaking Down The Biden Factor

• Russ McBee: A quick thought on Joe Biden

• Sharon Cobb: BREAKING: Obama Picks Joe Biden!

• Silence Isn’t Golden: It’s Definitely Biden

• Southern Beale: So It’s Biden and IOKIYAR: Veepstakes Edition

• Tennessee Guerilla Women: Obama Picks a Bro: It’s Biden

• Vibinc: The Veep-Stakes Fiasco [Ed. note: OK, the Vibinc post isn’t a reaction per se, since it was written on Friday, but it’s still relevant. Sue me.]

And finally, Katie Allison Granju blogs on the subject from her new home at KnoxNews.com, “Because I Said So“:

• Because I Said So: Obama didn’t get this one right

Young People In The Old Political Machine

Mister Mack writes about attending a county democratic meeting and how disillusioned he is with the lack of young people involved.

Let’s be clear. He’s not upset with the young people but more with the system as a whole.

I read his words and I’m only going to comment on what I’ve seen happen recently in my own world because I don’t have access to what’s happening in other places as I’m not there. I also, before I get into my observation, want to say that younger people like Sean and Ilyssa give me a happy as they are very kicking up the dust and it’s a good thing.

I do, however, want to talk about young people in rural communities and the political infrastructure that, on occasion, is not always welcoming to them.

I don’t think young people are all detached in rural settings because I’ve seen some very active folks who are operating outside of the constraints of established political settings. An example is one of the writers who works with me. She ran for office, knew she probably wasn’t going to win and did it for the experience. I fully expect her to hold an office within the next few years. She ran for a delegate position. Politics excites her and intrigues her. However, she has seen some things that bother her some times and has shared it with me. I ache for her because there are people that want to have lively debates about policy, about the state of the nation and how to create a situation that would give local people the desire and passion to vote. She wanted that. She didn’t get to be part of the process because some things were already set in stone.

And she wasn’t that interested in walking the party line that was dictated to her without at least talking about it.

Several years ago, I tried to be active in the party. I didn’t want to talk about bake sales. I wanted to be involved with the process of local and state government. I saw such great opportunities and I was extremely excited. Let’s just say, I wasn’t treated badly but I also wasn’t given a voice and I didn’t feel heard. At that period of my life, I just softly walked away without anger but with some disappointment. I guess I was either too liberal or too strange.

One thing I try to do now is talk to people one person at a time. I can’t change minds but I can create a dialog. Sometimes there have been disastrous results other times it’s been more than ok. When only 4.4 percent of our county voted in the last election, I can’t help but wonder if older members of both parties have alienated some of the younger voters, and more financially disadvantaged voters. Just an observation I’m giving you here.

Older people, such as myself, must make a commitment to make sure that those people who want to be involved in parties are heard, something that I wasn’t given. That new ideas are sometimes agents of positive change. No matter what the side of the political aisle they sit on.

We are more fortunate here in one respect and that is there is a college with active individuals participating in the party system.

But those people, more times than not, move away because employment opportunities are limited here.

And what did I do to have a voice?

Well, eventually, I started a blog.

Incidentally, those young people are going to be in charge very soon. They better start being included on a local level because they are the ones who are going to sway the near future of this nation.

Tennessean Talks Blogging

In today’s Tennessean, there is a story about bloggers across the state from Knoxville to Memphis. Not a bad story but it amazes me that they didn’t link the bloggers they were talking about.

It’s a start though.

Of course, Silence has been telling us this for years.

Will It Be Joe Biden?

So it’s Vice-President Tuesday or is it? Well, at least that’s what MSM is pontificating about today.

I only have a couple of random observations about the next step in the road to the White House. I think whoever is placed on the ticket for both candidates is going to be key in rural America.

Of course, I’m just talking about my rural America but I do think it’s key.

Joe Biden is relatively well-liked and respected by some of the Dems over here but so is Hillary Clinton. I think Biden has more of the edge. I hear more people around here talking about having Clinton fatigue, but I don’t really think she is on the short list at this point but that’s just me. I’ve been wrong before.

I mention Clinton Fatigue but I think it’s more about having election fatigue in general. This race has been going on for what seems like forever. With two years of campaigning, at this point I believe everyone is pretty sure of whom they are going to vote for anyway.

But those undecided will be watching the VP choices.

Sharon has a poll for you to go and add your two cents to the pot regarding whom Barack Obama is going to choose.

Think of it as voting early and often.

Round-Up

As usual, this week’s roundup of Tennessee liberal bloggers covers a wide range of topics, so grab a cup of coffee and set aside some time to read the finest blogs in the state.

• 10,000 Monkeys and a Camera: An International, First-Hand Perspective (“Want to find out what bloggers who write in a language you can’t read are saying? This is a great place to start.“) and Running on Stolen Property

• BlountViews: Tennessee Division of Elections: No election (“But we assume nobody will press the issue with Blount County to seek further clarification, and they will do whatever they want to do as usual.“) and MDT: You get what you deserve (“Do we get what we deserve, or do we get what the backroom mechanics of the local political establishment and the MDT decide we need?“)

• Carole Borges: John Edwards and what seperates a man from a boy (“I’m so mad at John Edwards I could spit.“) and Bush’s pastor rebukes the Republican favorite son (“The Republican Right should be appalled at McCain’s record when it comes to having decent morals and values.“)

• The Crone Speaks: Rapists Get a Pass in Knoxville: It’s Her Fault (“This isn’t logical reasoning, it’s simple brutality that is not being acknowledged by juries.“) and Bush-dog Schuler Profiting From TVA Oversight Position (“This is a pretty substantial investment, and the approval by the TVA for the land swap will greatly increase the lining of Bush-dog Schuler’s pockets.“)

• Cup Of Joe Powell: Debating Student Rights and Southern History (“Can a school system’s dress code policy curb your free speech?“) and Kitchen Sink Bath At Burger King (“Thank God the internet allows stupid to be shared on a global scale.“) BONUS: Rep. David Davis can’t believe he lost here, here, and here.

• Don Williams: Putin and Bush doomed to waltz thru history in each other’s eyes (“No doubt, Putin saw his reflection in Bush’s vacuous eyes, for this is a man who, like Bush, views war as the natural state of humankind.“)

• Donkey’s Mouth: Chairman Dean Responds to Arkansas Democratic Party Shooting

• Enclave: 13,000 Children Abandoned by the United States Government (“Uncle Sam is one cruel bastard to el niños.“) and English Only is Astroturf, Not Grassroots

• Fletch: Hanging Around and Bigger is Better [Ed. note: Holy crap!]

• KnoxViews: Jesse Helms a great American? (“What editorial devil possessed the KNS to publish the “Citizen’s Voice” tripe by June B. Griffin in today’s (Aug. 16) edition?“) and Doughy yet suave man about town seeks sociopathic presidential aspirant and Online convention coverage and McCain embraces Bush, supporters defect (“Saying “nobody likes a funeral,” prominent Republicans are staying away from their convention.“)

• Lean Left: Is It Just Me? and Testing the Limits

• Left Of The Dial: Hyper Local and Summer Blog Blues

• Left Wing Cracker: OK, how about NOW? Here’s the MMHF 2008 SCHEDULE!! and Who owns McCain? Hint: it’s not you.

• Liberadio(!): An Open Letter to Rep. David Davis, Candidate Tim Barnes, Nashville Public Radio, and the National Media (“Since the story broke of potential recount challenges by both candidate Barnes and Rep. Davis, a couple of things have happened.“)

• Loose TN Canon: Top CIA official confesses order to forge Iraq-9/11 letter came on White House stationery‘

• Nashville for the 21st Century: 80’s Night at the TNGOP (“What is funny is that in 1984 the Soviet Union was on the brink of collapse. They were a paper tiger, not a bear in the woods. So, in that regard, Hobbs’ comparison is fairly accurate.“) and No Speaky Spanish (“Oh, and just to pour salt in the wounds of TIRRC, Crafton is proposing an interpreter fee for those who need language services. But remember, his wife is Japanese and his Brother-in-law is Hispanic, so its OK.“) and Republicans Attempt Voter Suppression in Ohio (“[T]he prospect of shorter lines in minority areas and easier access to vote is keeping some GOP officials up late at night.“)

• Newscoma: AT&T = Epic Fail and Random Thoughts and Martin Plant To Close (“A plant that has been around for most of my life is closing. … This is just another huge loss for this community.“)

• The Pesky Fly: Things I’m not buying for $1000, Alex and Presumptuous? Maybe. Dangerous and Wrong? Oh Yeah!

• Progressive Nashville: It’s just plain mean (“These knuckle-draggers who claim they are defenders of Judeo-Christian values clearly don’t understand the concept.“) and Spin control (“The Tennessean wants the story to be about numbers, but rezoning is a story about people.“)

• Resonance: NeoCon Dreams (“Yesterday Senator McCain said: “In the 21st century, nations don’t invade other nations.” Today comedian Limbaugh, et al., are framing (and condeming) the conflict as Russia’s quest to control oil flows. The irony is overwhelming.“)

• RoaneViews: Roane County Industrial Park causing Water Problems and Dear Tina E*****s

• Russ McBee: Pelosi caves yet again (“Pelosi is more than willing to substitute meaningless gimmicks for substantive policy, all based on her phobia of being called names by Republicans.“)

• Sharon Cobb: To Be President In America–Must Be Born In America, 35 Years Of Age,….AND CHRISTIAN! Rick Warren With Obama And McCain (“In a 2008 America, one clearly has to be a Christian to be elected. And that’s wrong.“) and Where Does The TnGOP Stand On Us Heartless Jews? and Day 3:The Tennessee GOP Still Won’t Reply To The Jewish Community Regarding It Being A Christian Organization

• Silence Isn’t Golden: How Many Times Can The Straight Talk Express Derail? and I Think I’d Rather Be A Turtle (“I did my first ever scuba dive in Bora Bora.“)

• Southern Beale: Saying No To Sean Hannity and Still Dropping (“This reminds me that back in April when gas prices started climbing into the stratosphere, local conservative yakker Steve Gill said it was the Democrats’ fault. Well, bless his heart. So, now that gas prices are falling, do Democrats get the credit?“)

• Tennessee Guerilla Women: CNN: Is Obama the AntiChrist? (“Oh, my aching head. If we weren’t stuck inside the borders of a giant insane asylum, CNN would be laughed off the air.“) and Hillary’s Name to Be Placed in Nomination and Sexist Olympic Photos of the Day

• TennViews: Unemployment continues up: shockingly so in some Southern States (“We have less than six months until someone new is in the President’s seat. How bad can it get in six months?“) and National English-only group congratulates Nashville on ballot initiative, takes credit for helping (“When even the local Chamber of Commerce doesn’t agree and instead takes the “progressive” point of view, it’s a pretty good signal that you’re on the wrong side of the issue.“) and A call for party unity (“For the sake of party unity, Rob Huddleston calls for 1st District Republicans to unite and tell David Davis to shut up and go away.“)

• Tiny Cat Pants: Some Child Left Behind (“I keep thinking how history will judge us, what the folks will make of the ways in which we lied to ourselves about what we’re doing and why we’re doing it.“) and Stupidity and Women’s Health

• Vibinc: Getting in a Wreck Teh Suk and Take Ice Cream off the Menu

• West Tennessee Liberal: Disrespect

• WhitesCreek Journal: Search Me and T. Boone’s Boy: “Will Lie For Money” and Running From Red (“John McCain is a half assed Conservative, even if he does lie like one.“)

• Women’s Health News: Tennessee Women to Have Fewer Options for Reproductive Health and HHS Sec. Leavitt Responds Further to Objections, Ignores Substance (“Clearly, Leavitt values a “social statement” just as much as women’s access to care, while completely ignoring objections that the proposed regulation may extend that refusal of care to very basic needs such as contraception. If that doesn’t send a chill up the spine of America’s women and families, I don’t know what will.“)

Pelosi: Strong Or Weak?

And you can vote at Russ McBee’s on Nancy Pelosi’s current role as speaker of the house.

Tennessee Politics Blog Closes Shop

From Adam Groves this morning.

After more than two years of reporting daily on Tennessee politics, I will be closing Tennessee Politics Blog. My reasons for doing so are personal – although I will say that at times it has been difficult to keep up the pace of a daily entry summarizing the news of the day. Late breaking news was often overlooked to the detriment of content and other blogs have risen since the time of this blog’s inception which have delivered the news in a far better fashion than I was ever able.

I went over there quite a bit. He was excellent in running down the political news stories of the day.

The Tennessee Blogosphere is constantly changing, isn’t it?

So, Who’s Not Voting? Apparently The Masses

Roughly 800 people out of 18,000 people (Edit: Registered voters for clarification) in this county voted last Thursday.

That’s pathetic.

Or is this an indication of some greater problem.

I’m thinking about it.

Progressive News, Tennessee Style

Russ is doing the heavy lifting this week for all of us libs out there.

Let’s rock:

Courtesy of TennViews

The proprietor of this site has a lot of other stuff on his plate right now, so I’ll be doing the TennViews progressive blog roundup for the remainder of August. If I’ve left anyone off the list, please let me know in the comments.

• 10,000 Monkeys and a Camera: Regarding Edwards (“Perhaps if he had taken a look around once in a while, at all the good people who were helping him up, he might have realized that he didn’t get where he was all alone. Then perhaps he wouldn’t have felt so much like superman.“) and Wordless Wednesday

• Andy Axel: Wires and Wood

• BlountViews: South Blount Utility: Consider bottled drinking water (“A resident in the South Blount Utility District said they got a notice of violation of safe drinking water standards indicating their drinking water was contaminated with high levels of lead.“)

• Carole Borges: First Lady aka Miss Buffalo Chip (“It was a touching moment and a lovely display of Republican family values. Cindy blushed of course and looked flattered. You could almost see her already measuring the thongs she will wear in the White House.“)

• The Crone Speaks: Racism Thriving?!? (“The very sad thing is, there are people that one wouldn’t readily categorize as being racist in any other situation, that do feel that Obama being president would “end” this country.“)

• Cup Of Joe Powell: Davis Not Conceding To Roe (“One thing about Davis – he has consistently blamed Democrats for all the national and regional ills, and now he blames them for not being re-elected. Perhaps there were some cross-over votes, but he simply need look in the mirror to discover the reason for his loss. His inability to accept the outcome of the vote, to accept responsibility for himself, says volumes about his failings.“) and Thoughts on Alexander Solzhenitsyn

• Don Williams: Bush puts Double-I brand on the Olympics–Insulting Incoherence (“Taking a stand against China’s big redemptive PR show by declining to attend would’ve been consistent and coherent. But complaining all the way to the show, and even at his reception in China this morning, smacks of incoherency, bad manners and outright hypocrisy.“)

• Donkey’s Mouth: The Dems Respond

• Enclave: But the tallest candle stick ain’t much good without a wick (“Let’s set aside the question of whether our expectations have sunk so low that we actually give kudos to politicians for just doing the right thing.“)

• Fletch: Elkmont In August and Cool

• KnoxViews: KAG, signing off (“Katie Allison Granju signed off for the last time at Knoxville Talks yesterday. She did a fantastic job creating a great new local media sponsored blog and set the bar high for her successor.“) and WBIR declares Bryant winner in Commission 6-A? (“Katie’s only been gone one day and look what happens!“) and Green Route Alert, Again! (“There is too much money to be made “developing” and paving the state for people who care about sprawl and the ruination of east TN to stay indifferent.“) and Technology corridor not working out (“High tech companies aren’t going to move to an area that doesn’t support education and only graduates people qualified to work in call centers.“)

• Lean Left: Send a Message in a Language They Understand (“Glenn Greenwald, along with Jane Hamsher of firedoglake and a variety of other pro-democracy bloggers and activists, is helping establish a new organization dedicated to targeting vulnerable Democratic candidates who work against progressive interests and civil liberties.“)

• Left Of The Dial: Olympics Freak (“Only I would be watching judo, badminton, Chinese women lifting weights and some dude trotting around on a horse doing half-circles simultaneously, live from Beijing on a Saturday morning.“)

• Left Wing Cracker: An open letter to Nikki Tinker (“How amazing it was to watch as you turned within 48 hours from an attacking Congressional candidate to a national pariah; “Worst Person in the World”, indeed. As Vito Corleone once said, how did things ever get so far?“)

• Liberadio(!): The Not-So-Veiled Partisanship of Congresswoman Blackburn (“And speaking of honesty, she and her friends standing in the dark in the House chamber might want to stop claiming that off-shore drilling will give us immediate relief from high gas prices. ‘Cause it won’t.“)

• Loose TN Canon: Republicans obstruct vote to lower gas prices (“Once again, the GOP leadership sided with oil profiteers and used their power to help keep oil prices and profits high, while hurting the average American.“)

• Nashville for the 21st Century: Election Day Is Here (“If passion alone won elections, it would be a landslide for Tuke this fall should he get the nomination.“)

• Newscoma: Grief Brings Out The Best In People (“This is my second funeral in three weeks of people I grew up with. We drove our cars fast, hid out on back roads talking about our future and drank beer bought by those a couple of years older than us in corn fields still smelling of a fresh harvest. We were going to take on the world. We wanted to own it.“) and Personal Reflections On Edwards Scandal (“Baby Boomers in politics amaze me. I’m not one of them, but I have to say, they have changed the world. I don’t necessarily mean that as a compliment.“) and Advice To The Young ‘Uns (“Don’t sweat the small stuff. Treat other people the way you want to be treated. Do things you are afraid to do. Don’t listen to Bill Hobbs, and eat more fruit.“)

• The Pesky Fly: Delusions of Adequacy (“If this is the Chairman’s take on the craziest sh_t to come down the pipe since, oh, I don’t know, a member of the TNDP Executive Committee accused the Democratic presidential nominee of ties to terrorism, it will be very revealing indeed when Mr. Sasser finally does find something that puts a fire in his belly.“)

• Progressive Nashville: Thank heavens for the white kids (“Thank heavens the white kids in Nashville’s public schools are doing so well academically. If they weren’t, our schools would look much worse.“)

• Resonance: CBS News: “Bicycle Mania!” (“The piece discusses the increased interest in bicycling that has accompanied higher gasoline prices. I have noticed more people riding on the roads this summer; unfortunately, a few of them appear to have not yet mastered safety rules on riding with traffic.“)

• RoaneViews: My letter from the Roane Alliance (“I have trouble understanding the separation between the Roane Alliance, a County Government function supported by our tax dollars, and the Chamber of Commerce.“)

• Russ McBee: Knox County voters fall asleep (“Today’s message is simple: all the GOB’s have to do is wait long enough, and the voters of this county will forget whatever transgressions may have angered them in the past.“) and Justice denied (“To shield itself from public accountability, the White House crafted rules which ignored centuries of legal precedent and tossed aside even the barest semblance of justice in favor of a system automatically tilted toward the prosecution.“)

• Sharon Cobb: John Edwards: You’re A Piece Of Sh*t (“Politics aside, let me tell you about Elizabeth Edwards.“) and Let The Games Begin (“Also, please ask whomever is your choice for President why he bought 5-6 million dollars in advertising during the Olympics, knowing what China is doing in Darfur, Tibet, Berma, and other human and animal rights violations.“)

• Silence Isn’t Golden: Tyson Caves To…Someone (“Sorry wingnuts, you still lose.“)

• Southern Beale: Tyson Plant Revises Holiday Plan AGAIN (“Of course the Malkin-tents are going to claim another victory, but hey, look at it this way: we liberals can snicker at them for defending a holiday with communist/socialist origins founded by the evil labor unions.“) and 22 Days & Counting (“Here in Nashville I saw $3.69 at a Pilot station earlier this week. That’s a 40-cent drop from the high of $4.09/gallon back in July. Funny none of the stories about that Republican kabuki theater on offshore oil drilling bothers to mention that.“)

• Tennessee Guerilla Women: NBC Says Bill Clinton Will Speak at Convention in Order to Get Media to Shut Up (“Gawd. Can we please get term limits for the pundits?“) and Hillary: 18 Million Cracks in the Glass Ceiling (Video)

• TennViews: The ballots are set and we’re off to the races (“We’ve updated the TennViews 08 Candidate Central database to advance the primary winners and set the field for November.“) and Volunteer State 39th in Volunteering (“Forty-five percent of volunteering in Tennessean is performed in the religious sector, whereas that number is 63% in Utah. Are Tennesseans heathens or is that just a Mormon thing?“)

• Tiny Cat Pants: Like a Coat You Somehow Slip On Without Noticing (“This, this I believe explains the virulent anti-Mexican sentiment here in the South. Who doubts Faulkner, right? And when he says “The past is not dead. In fact, it’s not even past.” don’t we believe him?“)

• Vibinc: Cashing in at MCS (“In an editorial over a the CA newly installed Superintendent, Kriner Cash lays out his plan to help the districts most at risk students find success. The prescription, 2000 college aged tutors. I have to say, this is a brilliant idea.“)

• West Tennessee Liberal: I’m Proud of Memphis (“I’d hate to be an incumbent Republican in two years. It’s going to be a bloodbath.“)

• WhitesCreek Journal: Yeah! (“The whole world loves Barack Obama. He’s really popular. That’s why we shouldn’t vote for Obama.“)

• Women’s Health News: HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt Issues Blog Post on Proposed Regulation (“Regardless of intent, the regulation certainly could functionally allow the defining of contraceptives as abortion.“) and Lying Liars Who Lie (About Reproductive Health) (“I’ve come across several blog entries recently that recount stories of women being lied to by their healthcare providers and/or being lectured on the basis of their provider’s personal values.“)

Dear John Edwards …

You are an idiot.

Liked you, but you so screwed up.

AND, the National Enquirer broke it?!!?

Asshattery.

I expected more from you.

Your message was good. Your wife has cancer.

What was little John Edwards thinkin?

Men are weird.

Updated: People make mistakes but I’ m irritated with John tonight. Big time.

Grrr,

Newscoma

Tinker, Cohen And I’m A Bouncer

Autoegocrat writes a hell of a post about Nikki Tinker.

The Nikki Tinker campaign and its surrogates have spent a few hundred thousand dollars and a tremendous amount of energy trying to portray an incumbent Democrat in good standing as a Jesus-killing atheist gay Jewish Klansman, and the chairman of the Tennessee Democratic Party interprets this as “a commitment to civil rights which transcends partisan labels and political attacks.”

Vote for my political boyfriend, Steve Cohen.

And, for the record, I tossed out a guy at the office yesterday too. I found out later that Homer and Squeegee Monkee had to get rid of the same guy at their business across the county.

He was pushy and didn’t leave when I asked him kindly to do so.

Then I tossed him.

I could get a job as a bouncer. Maybe Cohen’s bouncer?

Steve, call me.

Two Steps Forward, Five Steps Back

R. Neal reports this bit of interesting economic news.

In the morning-after glow of the news that VW will bring 2000 jobs to Chattanooga (at an estimated taxpayer cost of $500 million that we know about), Nissan has announced they are cutting 6,000 jobs in the state.

I can’t recall, how much did taxpayers pony up to get those Nissan plants here?

Sigh.

The Blow-up About Tyson

I’ve been reading the story at the Shelbyville Times Gazette regarding the Tyson’s plant removing the Labor Day holiday and replacing it with Eid al-Fitr.

The comments at that story are so filled with hatred and anger that it honestly just sucks the oxygen out of the room.

I can’t say anything that hasn’t already been said by other people in Tennessee.

When are people going to treat others, despite their race, religion or the sexual preference, the way that want to be treated. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, that Golden Rule thing is a good one.

Treat people the way you want to be treated. And you don’t get to pick and choose what religion they are or what color they are. It goes for everyone.

Southern Beale has a post on this as well. She writes this:

Remember:

“Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

I guess I missed the “except if you’re Muslim” line in that poem.

Well said.

Country’s Mood At Historic Low

Wheee!

“Only three events — Watergate, the Iran hostage crisis, and the economic downturn of 1992 — have driven below 30 percent the number who think things are going well,” CNN’s polling director Keating Holland said. The mood of the country has been assessed since 1974.

Only four presidents — Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, and the elder George Bush — have seen that number drop below 30 percent during their time in office; their parties all lost the White House in the next presidential election.

What does one say about them apples?

Tennessee Political Blogs Marked As Spam

Left Wing Cracker, Sharon Cobb and Vibinc are all reporting that they were marked as spam yesterday.

LWC has a thread over at his house about what happened.

And I don’t think my liberal blogging buddies won’t come out swinging because they don’t think this is a coincidence. Pissed might be the most accurate word.

We’ll see if more were reported as spam.

UPDATED: Blue Gal has a more comprehensive list which includes Skippy the Bush Kangaroo, which Sharon reported over at LWC.

It’s apparently happening to different kind of blogs on both sides of the political aisle.

Also Tom Guleff has been locked out according to LWC.

Obama’s Legacy

I haven’t really been able to wrap my head around all the things that are happening with Barack Obama right now.

Despite the fact that I lean to the left side of the aisle, I am also hesitant when it comes to believing in anyone in office. I spoke to a woman last night who sort of takes care of me and mothers me. She knew my mom very well and she fills the role of being a nurturer when I need it. I find myself seeking her out a couple of time a week.

Everyone needs a place to feel safe.

Last night, she asked me about what I thought of the whole media circus surrounding Obama. (I guess I should say she could give two craps about politics.) I said it was exciting on many planes but on the other hand, I’m still reserved about it all. I told her I like the fact that the world is excited about him and that gives me hope that we can rebuild our standing globally.

I think 20 years ago I would have been elated to the point of the stars settling in my eyes. Now, I sit and watch. New cycles aren’t what they used to be. A story is now not allowed to grow. It’s an explosion these days and then it’s over. Younger people don’t remember the way Watergate swelled slowly with so much detail and revelations. We watched TIME and the papers. We watched the hearings on three channels which was all we had. Same thing with Iran Contra although it was after 24/7 news became available.

These stories were allowed to evolve.

Now we hear it, we talk about it and it’s not news within a couple of days. The world of communication has changed.

We talked about how my mom would feel if she were still alive about this. I think the issue is, and I said this to her, that we are living in events that will be taught to our children as a monumental time of history. In many ways, it was like her Camelot with the Kennedys.

Am I excited? Sure. I like the fact that Obama appears to know what he’s talking about. And that’s good after years of a Texas oilman that was as clueless as a raccoon and has the personality of a cracked bowling ball. Am I going to watch the Berlin speech. You betcha. It’s history.

Just pontificating after an odd week.