Our Congressman In Action!

Just saw this over at VolunteerVoters.com. ACK picked it up off of Think Progress. (Reminds me of the DCYD Book Club days)




And for those who can't see the video:

Transcript:

REP. JIM COOPER (D-TN): Second, let me mention a dinner party I attended about two months ago here in Washington. The honoree was John Negroponte. He was then the director of national intelligence. He was there to receive an environmental award.

It was very interesting because in anticipation of his remarks, word slipped through the crowd he was not allowed to utter the words “global warming,” at least not in the same sentence. Apparently, he was allowed to say the word “global” in a separate sentence, and “warming” in a separate sentence, but not together. So it became a little parlor game during his remarks, to see how closely he would fit the words “global” and “warming” and not incur the wrath of the White House.

I thought this was a sad statement of the current condition of our scientific community when a very eminent statesman like John Negroponte would be so hamstrung by the administration that he would not be allowed to utter the two words in conjunction. I thought that was an indignity to Mr. Negroponte and a sad comment on the level of the Bush administration to so hamstring its talented and capable appointees.

We've Seen This Movie Before, Mr. Bush

Merriam-Webster defines the term "deja vu" as the feeling that one has seen or heard something before.

As I watched my beloved Countdown with Keith Olbermann last night and woke up to the morning news shows, I had this strange feeling like I was reliving the last couple of years all over again. From the trial of I. "Scooter" Libby replaying the details of the Valerie Plame scandal, to "new evidence" being offered by the Bush's administration that a rogue, Middle East country is attacking or threatening to attack the United States. This time, however, replace the "Q" with a "N." And for good measure, British police apprehended a group of men allegedly planning to conduct "Iraq-style" terrorism in the United Kingdom.

That's when it hit me. I think I've seen this movie already. Yeah, I'm sure of it. Only last time it was Iraq and nukes, not Iran and soldiers. And the round up of alleged terrorists in the UK last time only led to the release of nearly all of them for lack of evidence. But it made many parts of the world nervous again, wondering when the next attack will come.

To the president's displeasure, however, the "breakup" of the cell in Britain didn't do enough to keep Congress in the hands of the Republicans.

But this script, this regular routine of lies and deceit followed by an "event" that causes serious alarm and concern, seems to be the only card this administration has to play and now it's getting to the point where no one knows what's a real threat and what is a politically motivated lie.

You have cried wolf six too many times, Mr. President, and now our country doesn't know who or what to believe.

We are like passengers on the Titanic, realizing that we've hit an iceberg, but are just now coming to terms with the fact that our captain is to blame. But instead of you asking for forgiveness for your deadly mistakes, you just keep the engines churning. And the next iceberg ahead, Iran, may be even more disastrous to this nation.

Stop this madness, King George! Stop this right now. And if you will not stop, then I hope to God that Congress will do it for you.

You have done nothing for this country, for even your own political party, except divide and destroy. You have made this nation focus on the dark and destructive elements of humanity, and not the hope and imagination of this world. You have tried to recreate this country in your own image, but you sir are NOT God. We are one nation under God, not two nations under you.

Those few Republicans reading this, I beg you to write your congressman or senator and ask them to stand up to this Executive Branch. Democrats, we must keep our representatives feet to the fire and make them demand answers.

And while we keep waiting for 2008 and hoping for better days, we must not let this country fall any further into the depths of deception and despair before we get there. We cannot simply hold out until then. This is OUR country and we must take it back!

Be Cool

What is the next best thing to eliminating Republican obstinance when it comes to Global Climate change? Answer: A marketing firm, a lot of cash, and some young celebrities.

Global Cool is a new organization/movement which is seeking to get people to switch off those lights, turn off that TV, and turn down their heat in order to do their part to reduce Co2 emmissions and reduce the threat posed by global climate change.

Some interesting ideas from their website are:

Unplug that charger - Most gadget chargers eat electricity even when not in use. So once you've powered up your PSP, iPod or mobile, be sure to power down its greedy little charger.

Stuff the freezer - Freezers work best when they are tightly packed - that way, they don't have to work so hard to freeze air space. A great way to justify some extra tubs of ice cream.

Buy local food - Veg from a mile away is just as tasty as veg from half the world away and doesn't have to be flown to you in energy-guzzling airplanes.

It's an interesting approach, one that could help reduce future consumption. Unfortunately, no amount of personal conservation will make up for the trillions of tonnes of Co2 emissions that industry produces every year. But if the campaign can get more people to focus on what they can do to reduce their environmental impact on the world, perhaps it will get them to pay more attention to the environmental views of their elected representatives.

Is it Really All About the Benjamins?

Financial disclosure week is upon us and Nashville's mayoral candidates are strutting their stuff when it comes to fundraising. But is it really just all about the money? The campaign managers and long time politicos will say "Yes, you idiot!," because without big cash you can't buy ads, make signs, throw big events, and do all the gimics necessary to win an election.

Maybe I'm just an idealists, or maybe I've been watching "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" too much, but to me all this talk of money is really just a big ol' waste of newsprint and blog space. We're already doing it with the 2008 presidential race, and we're doing it for the local mayor's race. But at the end of the day, if "Candidate X" has no vision for Nashville or no platform on which to stand, what do I care if he or she has all the money in the city?

Last time I checked it's still January and we still have six months until early voting begins. Before we start looking for white flags of surrender based on finances, let's first hear a bit more about what these candidates actually have to say rather than how much they plan to raise.

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I Must Respectfully Disagree, Senator Harper

I've reread over and over again a quote attributed to Sen. Thelma Harper (D-Nashville) with regards to the TN Lottery scholarship report that shows, from 2004-2006, a decrease in black students receiving scholarships (10% down to 8%), while whites receiving the lottery went up from 85% to 87% in the same time span.

"What it [the report] says is that poor people are sending wealthy kids to school, children that will be going to college anyway," Harper said.

Senator Harper was also heard on WKRN this morning speaking about the report and promised John Dwyer a copy of the report in order to make a better assessment of the information. Senator Harper, I would also like a copy of this report if you don't mind. I think it would be very interesting to know how a decrease in black students applying and receiving the Lottery Scholarship has anything to do with "wealthy kids" taking their money.

While I would absolutely agree that we need to make sure every student in the state of Tennessee knows about and has access to the scholarship, blaming the drop on "wealthy kids" who have taken better advantage of the scholarship program rather than "poor kids" seems political at best and outright inappropriate at worst.

Hate the scholarship because it tends to suck poor people in with delusions of winning, hate the scholarship program because it doesn't allow all Tennessee high school graduates the opportunity to have a tuition free ride to an in-state school. But don't hate the player (i.e. the "wealthy kids"), hate the game (i.e. Tennessee's education system).

If DCYD Polls Decided Elections...

Then the Democratic nominee for governor in 2010 would be ...

Nashville Mayor Bill Purcell 27, 64%
Congressman Lincoln Davis 6, 14%
Former Congressman Harold Ford Jr. 3, 7%
Former State House Majority Leader Kim McMillan 3, 7%
Country Singer Tim McGraw 2, 5%
Other (please list in the comments) 1, 2%
Summary: 42 votes

And the Democratic nominee for president in 2008 would be ...

John Edwards 6, 33%
Barack Obama 5, 28%
Gen. Wesley Clark 5, 28%
Bill Richardson 1, 6%
I'm a Republican, so I'm checking this box so as not to skew the poll. :) 1, 6%
Hilary Clinton 0, 0%
Summary: 18 votes

For those worried about the numbers, remember this is an online poll. About as unscientific as you can get. Out of a population of 600,000+ in Davidson County, only 42 people contributed to the governor's poll and 18 to the presidential. Tell your friends and neighbors to visit the blog to vote and help give a better sample. But until then, read into these poll numbers all you want.

A Conservative Says Canada Does Healthcare Better

Anyone watching "This Week with George Stephanopoulos" may have had to take a double take during the round table. It seems after trying to tout the new Bush health care tax break as a good thing, George Will showed accidental support for socialized medicine:

"There's a reason why it cost a thousand dollars more to manufacture a car in Michigan than it does across the river in Ontario, Canada and it is the healthcare component of this."

That's right, George, Canada doesn't have a healthcare crisis because Canada provides affordable healthcare to ALL its citizens and yes, that is why it cost a thousand dollars less to build a car there rather than here. But George, the Bush administration and your conservative colleagues are still not addressing the real issue. Let me give you an example my father just offered up to me this weekend.

A friend get a clot in his eyeball that caused his whole eye to turn blood red and him to have vision problems. The doctor charged that man $14,000 for a "specialized" procedure to fix the issue. The private insurance, offered through the company he works for, gets billed by the office $4,000 for the procedure. Exactly where does the $10,000 markup come from? And there in lies the problem.

Socialized medicine would not destroy healthcare in this country, it would simply destroy the healthcare business. Private insurance could still exist, and private practice could still thrive, but not in the current state where prices for medicine and healthcare fluctuate like the price of oil. But unlike the price of oil, the price of healthcare just keeps going up and up. By socializing medicine, offering it to all legal citizens, you provide a more balanced and reasonable approach to healthcare.

The healthcare industry should NOT be a huge cash cow. Vaccines should not be created for the profit of it, but for the good of all mankind. Sure, if someone wants a boob job or a tummy tuck, you're welcome to charge them any and all kinds of cash. But when a child is dying of cancer, the treatments shouldn't come with $100,000 strings attached to them. Not everything in this world, contrary to the capitalist's belief, is about making money.

So yes, George, Canada does make cars for less and its because they have medicine provided for all its citizens. And if the United States provided healthcare to all its citizens US companies would be able to make products for cheaper too. But until we start treating healthcare as a right as citizens, then you'll just have to keep watching our nation fall farther behind in business while the healthcare industry continues to suck dry the finances of this country.

That's How Bad We Want a New President

The headlines over the last few days have talked about how the 2008 Presidential Primary has started so early (647 days until Election Day) and how this could be the sign of some new trend thanks to instant communication or 24 hour News Coverage. While the Internets (that series of tubes) and MSNBC, CNN, FAUX News, and such may be pushing us to seek more answers, they are not the reason for this sudden urge to start the 2008 race. It's quite simple why we're looking so far ahead: we want a new president.

If it was possible to elect a new president in 2006, the American people would have done it and there would have been massive blue spots in Montana, Missouri, Virginia, and Colorado. This country has had enough with this President. And unlike bad shows on TV, we can't simply throw him out of the White House for consistantly bad ratings.

The American public is looking ahead to 2008 because they are desperate for some hope and direction. Though the indicators may say the economy is strong, the truth is most people aren't feeling it. There are still millions who have no health care and millions more making well below the poverty line. We have an illegal immigration crisis that has nothing to do with immigration itself or the War on Terror (Securing our borders is like airport security ... a red herring) but rather a stigma perpetuated by racism and ignorance. We have spent billions upon billons on a war we should never have started, lost over 3,000 American men and women for a cause that was never right or just, wounded over 22,000 brave soldiers in the hopes of playing God with the Middle East. I can only imagine God sitting up on his throne in Heaven, shaking his head, screaming down to the White House "No, I didn't tell you to become President! I said you had the brains of a pheasant!"

So yeah, I can understand why we're watching with such interest into who will be our next president. With a present as good as this, and the past 6 years as bad as they've been, that only leaves us with the future. And unless we make the right decision in 2008, the Global Climate Crisis facing us now and the continuing destabilization of the Middle East may just make even the future too bleak for hope.

Invitation to Young Democrats

My good friend and loyal Young Democrat Claudia Weaver shot over a proper invitation to the Davidson County Young Democrats from Jerry Maynard, former Deputy Chairman of the Tennessee Democratic Party. Rev. Maynard is officially throwing his hat into the At-Large Metro Council race tomorrow and wanted to invite all DCYDs in Nashville to the event.

The Morning After...

Last night President George W. Bush laid out the current State of the Union and outlined a laundry list (or as some call it grocery list) of things he believes should happen in America in the coming future. Mr. Bush touched on a host of domestic issues including healthcare, education, immigration, and the economy. Some of his ideas were grand, though greatly lower in scale.

In the past Mr. Bush said we should go to Mars, where as now he'd be happy if we could just cut back on gasoline by 20%. In the past Mr. Bush wanted to spread freedom to Syria, Burma, Zimbabwe, North Korea, and Iran. This year he would settle for Cuba, Belarus, and Burma. (How many times do we hear about Burma these days?) In the past Mr. Bush was quite specific on his desires for Social Security reform (aka Private Savings Accounts), but not this year. It's as if he is finally starting to realize the severe limitations of power, especially now that Congress no longer belongs to him.

The point is President Bush, in both his Iraq speech and now his State of the Union address, shows that he has truly entered into the realm of "Lame Duck." The citizens of the United States of America no longer trust the words that come from this president or his administration. On the same day we hear words of hope from Capitol Hill, a federal court down the road is hearing testimony fill with deception and deceit connected to Vice-President Cheney. On the weekend before the State of the Union, 28 soldiers are killed in Iraq along with hundreds of Iraqi citizens. And we're just suppose to believe you when you say this time a mere 21,000 more troops will get the job done? Oh no, Mr. President, I think not.

Perhaps we need to look at what was NOT said in Mr. Bush's speech. No mention of Katrina and the still present disaster zones of New Orleans and the Gulf States. Maybe if we don't talk about it people will forget, eh GW? What about the Kyoto treaty, Mr. President? You're ready to take serious steps towards combating Global Climate Change, yet you don't have the gumption to admit you were wrong and that serious CO2 limits are needed?

Mr. Bush, perhaps it is your lack of vocabulary skills or public speaking presence that ultimately destroys your creditability. Perhaps if you were as suave as a President Clinton or as talented as a President Regan you could sell me. But you're not. You're not even close. In fact, watching you stumble over the name of NBA Superstar Dikembe Mutombo just reminded me of how poor a representative of this nation you are. Mr. Bush, for two more years you are the President of the United States and that means you have two more years to get it right. Either start making a difference or get out of the way, go back to your ranch, and let the new Congress do it for you.

What Did You Think of the State of the Union Speech?

• 
  
  Great speech, well delivered, and I'm on board.


• 
  
  Ok speech. Not sure I agree, but it's doable.


• 
  
  Eh...But I did enjoy seeing Pelosi over his LEFT shoulder.


• 
  
  Crap, crap, crap. This president is full of it.


• 
  
  Missed the speech. Was catching up on my TiVo'd shows.

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State of the Union Reaction

Ok, so I'm watching the President sign autographs and I'm reviewing the highlights of the speech, but here are a few points I took away from the whole event.

- Madam Speaker ... Ahhhhh, that just sounds so good these days.

- Balancing the budget "Good," Without raising taxes "Not Likely" and needs to stop being talked about. We're the second lowest taxed country in the world, so let's stop complaining.

- No Child Left Behind is BAD, so let's stop touting it as a success

- I'm impressed the President acknowledged Global Climate Change. I'm impressed the President suggested that an immediate need for alternative fuels is required. But then again, we heard that last year and what did we get? So can we finally sign Kyoto?

- His health care plan confused me greatly. Exactly how do I get the break? Where do we make back the money we're giving away to pay the government's bills? And how does this tax break lower insurance premiums?

- What's the deal with this new volunteer civil non-military guard? What, we do the work without guns or military training?

- Consequences, consequences, consequences ... Mr. President, you've tried to tell us about the consequences of failure in the Middle East. You put us here, Mr. President with lies ... wait, I'm sorry ... with failures in intelligence. And now, after you gave us "bad information" we're suppose to trust you now? Give it up, GW. The more you talk about it, the more we tune you out. We do not trust you and you need to get that. Change is required, and if we could hold another presidential election, we would.

- NBA Star - Good Story, "Baby Einstein" - Bad Story, Subway Hero - Good Story, Wounded Veteran - Honorable Story but too obvious a political ploy.

- Final Score: 2 out of possible 5

What Historical Character?

I keep hearing the back and forth on this proposal for a Westin Hotel in Lower Broadway, downtown between 2nd and 3rd Ave. One side promises to maintain the historical character of Lower Broadway, while the other cries foul and believes the project will destroy all that the Lower Broadway community symbolizes.

Maybe I'm just a cynic, but exactly what image exactly are we looking to protect? The infrequent stores and restaurants peppered along the dirty streets? The overpriced parking strips which do nothing for visual value except to show people what a lot of wasted concrete space looks like. How many Nashville residents frequent lower Broadway on a regular basis "just for the character?"

As some who grew up downtown (Hume-Fogg Class of 1997), worked downtown (Demos', B.B. King's), and played downtown (Dancin' in the District, Predators games, Kats games, etc.) I feel I have a little authority on what the "image" is of downtown. Putting in a 19 story hotel that is state-of-the-art, environmentally "green" in its design, and accepting of the street level shops will not do anything to destroy Lower Broadway.

If the plans proposed by the Westin Company are true to form and they are trying to preserve the street-level world around them, then I have no problem with a company coming in to try and make downtown work again. But for anyone crying foul because of "historical character," I think you need a new rallying cry.

Governor [fill in the blank]

As Addison pointed out below, there is one really big name in the running for Governor on the Republican side, but what about the Democrats?

Seeing as there are only three statewide elected offices, Governor and two Senators, there isn't a backbench of statewide elected officials that would easily be seen as Presidential contendors. So who do you guys think will be the nominee?

Who will be the Democratic nominee in 2010?

• 
  Former Congressman Harold Ford Jr.


• 
  Former State House Majority Leader Kim McMillan


• 
  Congressman Lincoln Davis


• 
  Nashville Mayor Bill Purcell


• 
  Country Singer Tim McGraw


• 
  Other (please list in the comments)

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The problem with competing with a person like Bill Frist, will be name recognition. In 2002, when Bredesen was elected, he went up against a Congressman and idiot; Frist is neither of these things. Granted, he's said and done some stupid things (spit transmits AIDS?) but he is still a capable politician and will probably be thought more highly of in 4 years, than he is today.

Oh Boy, Here We Go Again...

As if 2008 speculation wasn't enough, now bloggers and the press have started speculating about 2010! Kleinheider over at VolunteerVoters.com got wind of an article over at The Hill that cites "sources with knowledge" who say Bill Frist has all but decided to run for governor in 2010.

Waiting three to eight years before making a gubernatorial or presidential bid would provide Frist needed distance from his unenviable tenure as Senate majority leader, a period that culminated in the Democrats’ takeover of Congress last November.

Such a significant layoff would also allow Frist to distance himself from allegations of conflict of interest involving his ownership of stock in Hospital Corporation of America, a company founded by his brother and father, allegations that could have further derailed his White House hopes this year.

Lest we not forget last February, when the good doctor from Tennessee did a video tape diagnosis of Terry Schiavo from his Senate office. As quoted from the WashingtonPost.com:

"I question it based on a review of the video footage which I spent an hour or so looking at last night in my office," he said in a lengthy speech in which he quoted medical texts and standards. "She certainly seems to respond to visual stimuli."

His comments raised eyebrows in medical and political circles alike. It is not every day that a high-profile physician relies on family videotapes to challenge the diagnosis of doctors who examined a severely brain-damaged patient in person.

Listen, I welcome Bill Frist into the fight that will be the governor's race of 2010. With the stink of Bush all over him, his connection with the fall of the Republican party in the Senate, and his thorough medical knowledge (remember his AIDS comments on "This Week with George Stephanopolous") I'm sure ol' Billy will have no problem taking this state by storm.

But personally, I just wish he'd go back to the non-partisan world of heart surgery where it doesn't matter what your political affiliation is, just what insurance card you have. If you have even any insurance at all.

Clear the Smoke out of the Rooms

State Sen. Rosalind Kurita has released a more detailed explanation for her vote against "Democrat" John Wilder in favor of the Republican Ron Ramsey for Speaker of the Senate. Autoegocrat of the Pesky Fly has all the goods, but here are a few excerpts:

This past week I have been asked many times why I voted for a new Lt. Governor. How could I vote for someone who is not a member of my own political party?

The answer is very straightforward: I voted my conscience.

The most basic tenet of democracy is that the majority rules. In the Tennessee state Senate, Republicans have held the numerical majority for three years. Yet, we were in a "peculiar" situation where the minority continued to keep the majority in the form of the Lt. Governor. That is not our democracy.

It was time for a change in the structure. The dedication to keeping a status quo was preventing our state from putting real energy and bi-partisan effort into solving problems and moving Tennessee forward.

True enough. I've heard people this past week say that Kurita cost us the majority in the Senate, but the truth is we lost that three years ago. What we had was a system designed by John Wilder, for the benefit of John Wilder, so that he could maintain control by working deals with a few Republicans. This system had been in place long before the Republicans won the majority of the Senate, and this system kept the Senate Democratic Caucus from having true vision and values.

Kurita seems to think that now this good ol' boy system of favors for votes can finally be put to rest, and that voters will be voting on the ability of that legislator to promote a vision, not simply promote themselves. Whether its Education, Health Care, or Open Government; the truth is the Senate Democrats haven't been leading sufficiently, largely because they were too busy worrying about how to maintain their power without having been given it by the voters.

Nationally, Democrats benefited from being in the minority because it forced our party to hone a message that resulted in the tremendous gains of 2006. I believe we can now use this time to communicate a new message to Tennesseans that will emphasize people over party and benefit our state as a whole.

Every member of the Senate is tired of being 49th in so many areas. I intend to work with my fellow Democrats and Republicans as well as the new Lt. Governor to create legislation that moves our state forward.

The era of the smoke-filled back room is over and we are now free to have a healthy public policy debate that can only benefit the citizens of this great state.

An era is over, that much we know. The question now is what era will replace it? Will it be an era of Republican domination, with Democrats fighting for scraps from the Republican leaders? Or will it be an era where the Democrats band together to fix the problems of our state, and take those solutions to the people for them to decide who is better to lead this State? I am confident that if Democrats stop worrying about power, and start worrying about how best we can fix our state problems, the Democrats will regain a majority in the Senate in order to do so.

Obama Forms Presidential Exploratory Committee

As reported by MSNBC, CNN, and all the other news websites out there, Senator Barack Obama has filed the paperwork to create a presidential exploratory committee. That means he can start raising money in the pursuit of announcing a bid for the presidency. So for those of you keeping score at home, we have these confirmed candidates for the Democratic nomination:

1. Tom Vilsack, former Govenor of Iowa
2. John Edwards, former US Senator from North Carolina
3. Joe Biden, US Senator from Delaware
4. Christopher Dodd, US Senator from Connecticut
5. Dennis J. Kucinich, US Congressman from Ohio
6. Barack Obama, US Senator from Illinois

And those expected to run but have yet to file the paperwork or announce:

1. Hilary Clinton, US Senator from New York
2. John Kerry, US Senator from Massachusetts
3. Bill Richardson, Governor of New Mexico
4. Al Sharpton
5. Gen. Wesley Clark, former NATO Supreme Allied Commander

So, out of these 11 possible candidates, we want to know what you think.

Who would you like to be the Democratic nominee for President?

• 
  
  Tom Vilsack, former Govenor of Iowa


• 
  
  John Edwards, former US Senator from North Carolina


• 
  
  Joe Biden, US Senator from Delaware


• 
  
  Christopher Dodd, US Senator from Connecticut


• 
  
  Dennis J. Kucinich, US Congressman from Ohio


• 
  
  Barack Obama, US Senator from Illinois


• 
  
  Hilary Clinton, US Senator from New York


• 
  
  John Kerry, US Senator from Massachusetts


• 
  
  Bill Richardson, Governor of New Mexico


• 
  
  Al Sharpton of New York


• 
  
  Gen. Wesley Clark, former NATO Supreme Allied Commander


• 
  
  Give me someone else...


• 
  
  I'm a Republican, so I'm checking this box so as not to skew the poll. :)

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Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

"Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love." - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Today we celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. When you get a chance, take a few minutes to remember Dr. King's famous 1963 speech "I Have a Dream." And for those wanting to know more, please visit the King Center.

The Friday Dump...The Week's Final Thoughts

Friday is the day most people stop reading the blogs and start planning their weekend, so I figured why not go ahead and throw a little of everything out there to finish up the week.

Local: The Tennessean reports that Councilman John Summers of District 24 believes that Metro teachers raises should mirror the raises of Metro Schools Director, Pedro Garcia. His pay is getting bumped up 8.34% to $216,000. The Tennessean also provided salaries of some of the top paid Metro Schools Administrators, with the bottom of the list starting at $130,021.

It makes me laugh to think that the Governor of our state, who refuses to actually take a paycheck, makes $85,000, while the guy who runs the schools of Metro Nashville makes nearly three times that. Don't that just seem odd to anyone else?

State: I know I said it was time to move on from the Julius Caesar like moment ("Et tu, Brute) that was the State Senate election of a new speaker. But unfortunately a couple bloggers out there continue to miss the point completely and I can't let that keep going on.

Kleinheider from VolunteerVoters.com writes:

That is why most voters and most Democrats won't hold this vote against Kurita. The Republicans hold a numerical majority in the Senate and have for sometime. Wilder was becoming an embarrassment. She did the right thing or at least something that can be reasonable interpreted as the right thing. It needs to happen and it was just that it did.

The reason why most voters and most Democrats WILL hold this vote against Kurita is not because of the reason, or even because of the outcome, but because of HOW the event took place. Sure, there are a lot of state Democrats who believed it was time for a change. Senator Joe Haynes wouldn't have thrown his name out there if there wasn't. And sure, I would go so far as to say there are some in the party who agree with the idea that the majority party should name the speaker.

But what Kurita did was just plain stupid. She looked at best self-serving and at worst like a bitter woman mad that the boys wouldn't let her play. There were a dozen ways she could have handle this situation and she'd be looking like the hero, but she chose to act like a child and cast a vengeance vote.

At the end of the day, when the Republican controlled Senate stops all legislation coming out of the House or, God forbid, attempts to pass abortion legislation or some other wedge-issue bill through, then Kurita will truly see what kind of damage she just did. To her Party, to the state of Tennessee, and to her own political career. That is ... if she's even a Democrat by then.

National: Wow, only a few days in power and the Democrats have already passed a minimum wage increase, enacted the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, expanded stem cell research, and allowed for better negotiations on Medicare prescription drugs. At this rate we might solve all our problems (minus Iraq) by Easter.

Next up on the agenda is the cut in school loan interest rates. This one is a BIG one to many of us in the Davidson County Young Democrats. If you haven't already, be sure to send a quick note to Congressman Jim Cooper asking him to vote in favor of the cuts. Though I have a feeling his vote is one we don't have to worry about.


To steal from the great Garrison Keeler, "Be well, do good work, and keep in touch."

Fresh Off a "This Week" Appearance, HFJ is Tapped to Lead DLC

For all those Harold Ford, Jr. lovers and haters out there, a little tid-bit off the Daily Kos talking about an article from Radar magazine. Looks like HFJ is about to get himself a leadership position in the DLC. At least, that was the case before the memo was leaked. In any event, from the looks of the memo it shows that the DLC will continue to be a mouth piece for the Clintons, specifically Senator Hillary Clinton and her 2008 presidential run.

"I assume there will be an effort to help Senator Clinton's campaign and I would support such an effort."

Not that we didn't already know she was running, but isn't the bigger news of this memo that HFJ has already decided the DLC is supporting Senator Clinton's presidential bid even though she, herself, hasn't confirmed she's running? Heck, I'm not sure if there is really any news at all in this story, but I know all you HFJ lovers and haters out enjoy good political gossip. We now return you to our regularly scheduled crisis already in progress.

No, Mr. President ... Enough is enough

(Note: This is an immediate response to the president's speech, without having reviewed the entire text.)

Well President Bush just went double down on Iraq with his latest speech and fell flat on his face. While I must give him credit for taking responsibility with regards to all the failures up until this point, he did nothing to show that he has a clear sense of what needs to be done. If anything he rattled the saber against Iran and Syria. Ok, so we're losing the war in Iraq, we have spent nearly all our quality military power in the region over the last four years, and now we're threatening Iran?

Mr. President, force hasn't worked with Iraq. Do you seriously think force will work with Iran or Syria? All force does in this region is create more violence. The people of Iraq, Iran, and Syria are not asking for our help. The people of the Middle East do not want our form of democracy, so drop the neoconservative theory of spreading freedom across the world with force. It doesn't work!

And for God's sake would you please stop trying to tie September 11th to Iraq. September 11th occurred because a group of extremist wanted to hurt us. Saddam Hussein and the Iraqi government of his reign, while wanting to hurt us as well, had NOTHING to do with "bringing the fight to our streets." Granted, thanks to your flawed and failed strategy terrorism is now a greater issue in Iraq than it was before we invaded. But stop trying to sell that load of bullsh*t. We're not buying!

Finally, and this is for all of us, getting up and leaving is not a viable option. We cannot just leave. We cannot just walk away. We made this mess. We screwed this thing up. Damned if we do, damned if we don't. But like the financial budget crisis looming in the years ahead, our long term security and stability in the region will be a time bomb waiting to explode if we simply walk away and ignore the mess we made.

And by "we" I mean, President Bush and the Bush Administration. While I didn't vote for the man, and never supported this mission, I am an American and my flag is worn on the arm of every brave soldier over there. It is the flag every Iraqi sees. Therefore, it is my responsibility to make sure we fix this mess, regardless of whether or not I personally did anything to cause it.

Mr. Bush, you failed to sway me. In fact, you've scared me even more because you look just as scared as the rest of us. You just put our mortgage on the poker table and are hoping beyond hope that your luck's going to change. For the sake of us all, I hope your luck changes too, but in the mean I'm going to do whatever I can to get that mortgage back before the final card is dealt.

Moving On...

I apologize for the delay in responding to the dramatic news in our state senate, but unfortunately Blogger.com decided to do maintenance on our site. But in case you didn't already hear, Senator Ron Ramsey (R) is now Speaker Ramsey or Lt. Gov. Ramsey if you prefer. For the first time since the Civil War era (1869 to be exact) a Republican is Speaker of the Senate and second in line behind Bredesen for the governorship. Many Democrats, like myself, were a bit upset about the whole thing. Not because former Speaker Wilder was all that and a bag of pretzels. Hardly. As a younger voter and one still growing into the Tennessee Democratic Party, I was left scratching my head trying to figure out how the man had retained the position this long. No, the reason for my dismay was how this event transpired.

But crying about it won't help, and complaining about it doesn't make things right. If we are truly Young Democrats then we must accept the good with the bad and learn to work with what we've got. The double-edge sword of the Democratic Party is that we each have individual thoughts and beliefs. We do not step in line on issues as easily as our Republican counterparts. The good news is that we have the ability to hear all ideas and cooperate or compromise in getting work done. But as we saw yesterday, it also shows how just one of us can really throw a wrench into the system.

What's done is done. Senator Kurita voted her conscience and, though it may have killed her future chances politically or, at worst, forced her to change her party loyalty, we all must live with that choice and move on. State Republicans now have an opportunity to shake things up, the same opportunity our national leaders have in the Congress. All eyes will be focused on the Speaker Ramsey and his decisions over the next two years.

My hope is that our Tennessee Democratic Party will take this dramatic chain of events as a wake up call for internal reform. My fear is that we'll forget about this in a few days and it will be politics as usual. Either way, it's time to move on.

Then & Now

A recent post was brought to my attention by Kleinheider of Volunteer Voters, who was informed of this post by The Cracker of the blog LeftWingCracker, who initially read the post found on The Flypaper Theory. (Still learning blog etiquette with regard to sourcing)

Jeff of The Flypaper Theory takes a serious look at the economic differences between his generation, Generation X, and the generation of his father:

For years, I've wondered why my parents, at my age, seemed to be so much better off economically than I currently am. They were already well on their way to having significant retirement savings, and at the same time were able to build a big house, followed by several large editions.

This morning in the shower I figured it out.

In 1966, my parents purchased a two-bedroom house off Perkins for $13,000. During the twelve years we lived there, they managed to add a den, master bedroom and half bath to the house, as well as build a large workshop in the backyard. When we moved into our newly built house, their combined income was five times the original purchase price of their first house.

My wife and I purchased our three-bedroom house off Shelby almost five years ago. For our combined income to match the growth of my parents' income over a 12 year period, as expressed by the original value of our house, in the next seven years our income would have to increase eleven-fold. If our incomes were to match my parents' in pace of increase, in 2014 we would be making almost $700,000 a year.

That's definitely upper middle management salary.

I recommend everyone read the entire blog, because it is absolutely mind blowing to consider the financial differences of a couple generations. For many of us who are Generation X or Generation Y, this post will give you something to think about. For Democrats, deeply rooted in the fundamental ideas of organized labor and education, think about this:

But compare that to my parents' occupations at the end of their 12-year period. My father was maintenance manager of the plant where he worked. My mother taught in the Memphis City Schools. Definitely not upper middle management.

Perhaps I'm just wishing for "It's a Wonderful Life" to come jumping off the screen, and the ol' Bailey Building and Loan to help fight off the corporate evil of Mr. Potter. But maybe the United States has become one great big "Pottersville." If that's true, I think it's time for a change.

Is it just me?

Or does it seem a bit ironic that the conservative group Competitive Enterprise Institute in today's Tennessean compares former Vice-President Al Gore's Climate Project, in the words of the director of energy and global warming policy Myron Ebell, to:

"the missionaries sent out to Christianize the world in the 19th century...The former vice president is so convinced that he is the chosen one to save the
world."

Is that like how God told President Bush that he was chosen to be president?

"Bush believes he was called by God to lead the nation at this time, says Commerce Secretary Don Evans, a close friend who talks with Bush every day."

Until the Republican Party seperates itself from the Conservative Christian wing, I don't think conservative organizations like CEI should be using fanatical Christian movements to describe their opposition. Not to mention the fact that Al Gore is preaching ... GASP ... conservation. Oh the irony of it all.

Shenanigans

If, like me, you've been trying to make sense out of the race for Speaker of the Tennessee Senate...good luck.

The election of the Democratic nominee for Tennessee Senate Speaker was held yesterday behind closed doors. Current Speaker (also Lt. Governor) John Wilder was nominated over his challenger Sen. Joe Haynes. This is probably the least surprising development in an extremely unusual contest for Lt. Governor/Speaker of the Senate.

The Republicans hold the advantage, but only by one vote, and that vote happens to be Mike Williams, who seems bound and determined to buck his party affiliation, and vote for a Democratic Speaker. But now, there has been another wrench thrown into the process, and that is Sen. Jerry Cooper. Cooper was indicted last year on charges of bank fraud, mail fraud, and conspiracy to commit bank and mail fraud. From Wikipedia:

On August 22, 2006, Cooper was indicted by a federal grand jury sitting in Chattanooga, Tennessee on three felony counts: bank fraud, mail fraud, and conspiracy to commit bank and mail fraud. No trial date has been set. Cooper could face up to 65 years in prison and up to $2 million in fines if convicted on all counts. It is alleged by federal prosecutors that Cooper tried to defraud BankTennessee, where John S. Wilder sits as a member of its Board of Directors,[6] and that he approached "a political friend of his who was an influential person and a director of BankTennessee."

I'm guessing Cooper's decision (or indecision) on whether or not to vote for Wilder, stems from his legal troubles. Or perhaps, Cooper just wanted to get political favors and tuckus kissing from Wilder...if that was his plan, it worked. From the City Paper:

Wilder said Williams was “with” him, but had doubts about Cooper’s support.

“I hope so,” Wilder said. “I’m with him. He’s good. He’s one of the best and I care about him and I mean, he’s good. I’m going to do all I can to help him.”

Frankly, I think its a bit pathetic that Democrats are reduced to begging for the support of an indicted State Senator, in order to maintain control of the Senate, when after the November elections, they really have no business controlling the body in the first place.

While I certainly don't think that Ramsey, or the Republicans in general, would be good for the State. I think perhaps, a little time out of power might give Democrats some time to reflect on what they are there for, and perhaps enact reforms so that every other month we don't hear of another Democratic Senator being indicted.

Power is an intoxicating drug, and from an outsiders perspective, it seems as though the Senate Dems might have a little addiction problem. If Ramsey wins and becomes the next Speaker, Democrats need to do some soul searching about why they are there. Is it to maintain and increase their power and influence? Or is it to make Tennessee the best state it can be?

Sean McGuire for Council District 25

Sean Patrick McGuire has announced he is a candidate for the Metro Council in District 25. “I want to work hard to improve our community in the Green Hills area and bring my common sense business approach to Metro government,” said McGuire, a Nashville area native.

McGuire is currently involved in Nashville’s banking business and other entrepreneurial pursuits. He earned a B.A. in Political Science from Wake Forest University and is currently looking to start work on his Masters in Business Administration. After earning his undergraduate degree, McGuire worked as a special assistant for Congressman Jim Cooper, both in Washington, D.C. and in Nashville. “Working for Congressman Cooper only strengthened my desire to be involved in public service. I hope to follow his example of steady, common sense leadership in approaching the issues facing our city” McGuire said. McGuire has also worked for Regions Bank in Green Hills.

McGuire currently is a volunteer teacher with Junior Achievement and has taught first and second graders in local Metro Public Schools. A former volunteer firefighter who is currently active with the Nashville Area Habitat for Humanity, McGuire says that serving others is a mission he feels gets lost in today’s politics. “Sometimes in politics candidates are focused on something other than the folks they hope to serve. My focus will be on serving my neighbors in the Green Hills community as well as continuing to serve Nashville in general. Green Hills is a great community, and I know it can be even greater. I want to serve all the interests of this neighborhood in order to achieve that greatness.”

Currently serving as the Secretary and Treasurer for The Green Hills Action Partners (TGHAP), McGuire wants to focus on quality-of-life issues on the Metro Council. “Working closely with TGHAP has helped open my eyes to the issues and concerns facing Green Hills’ neighborhoods.” His goals for the neighborhood include improving and increasing sidewalks and green spaces, traffic improvements along Hillsboro Road, and making sure that any future developments are incorporated into the character and uniqueness of Green Hills. Citywide issues that McGuire wants to focus on are better fiscal responsibility within Metro government and improved social services for Nashville residents. Furthermore, McGuire hopes to work to increase revenue for Metro Public Schools by attracting and keeping businesses in Metro Nashville.

Says McGuire: “I think I live in the best neighborhood in the city, and I still want to live in the best neighborhood in the city twenty years from now. That’s my focus and that’s what I’d work towards in the Metro Council”.

What Are Your Issues?

Yesterday the Nashville City Paper's Editorial Page posed a number of issues that they believe are important to this year's mayoral race. The City Paper's top issues included funding, funding, and funding - more specifically the funding of our education system, law enforcement, and proposed civic projects like the Music City Center. Other smaller issues included managing the Metro budget process and future funding of hospital operations.

Ultimately all these questions could be rolled into one:

"What do you plan to do with my money?"

Sure the property tax debacle of 2006 that forced a referendum on tax enforcement has also forced a more thorough investigation of local candidates fiscal policies, but must we lose the vision as well?

Maybe I'm still stuck in my idealistic youth, believing that people should take bold steps regardless of the cost. But if we elect leaders based simply on how they answer the question "How much will it cost?," we face stifling the growth of our city and ruining our "Athens."

As the Davidson County Young Democrats move forward, we want to be a force in the August elections. We want to make the candidates accountable to people other than the moneyed interests in Nashville, especially the younger generation who will be effected immensely by the decisions made at the Municipal level. So my questions to you are:

What issues are most important to you?
What questions do you want answered by this year's mayoral candidates?
What will it take to get the younger generation out to the polls in an off-year, off-month election?

Please, if you have thoughts or feelings, leave them in the comments below so that the DCYDs can better know how to approach the municipal elections, to boost both the electoral turnout, and increase the interest given by candidates to younger voters.

The Gloves Are Off, Mr. President

Keith Olbermann has done it again and this time the gloves are off. For my first blog I wanted to post something catchy or, at the very least, interesting. But last night I saw something inspiring and thought, with the new Congress being sworn in today, I should share it with my fellow Young Dems. So I present to you last night's MSNBC Countdown with Keith Olbermann Special Comment with this addendum.

Starting tomorrow our party takes back the power of Congress and starting tomorrow we must make sure to hold our party accountable. Just because you have a big "D" by your name doesn't mean we won't throw you out. Being big "D" Democrats means we must hold ourselves to a higher standard than those on the other side of the aisle. We must police our own leaders just as seriously as we have policed this president and his Republican Party over the last two years. We cannot simply let the next two years drift by while we wait for change in the Oval Office. So starting tomorrow, to steal from Stephen Colbert, we as Democrats need to put our Democratic leaders on notice. We helped you get back the keys to the kingdom and now we're watching you. Don't let us down.

Be well, Young Dems, and as always, Stay Blue!