Memphis Blue

It's time to shed some blood

2007-01-09T13:24:00.000-06:00

Talked to Cracker today and he encouraged me to post this. It is something that I have been calling for with him for four years and something that is near and dear to my heart.

The SCDP needs a major change. The SCDP has a decided lack of people in the target demographic of 25-39. Don't believe me. Go to a Exec. Com. meeting and also to a convention. You'll see my point.

The same people are there year after year after year. This is not good. Give it up to the Republicans, they actively recruit young and/or new people with every election. When was the last time that we actively tried to interest young people to get involved at the local level.

I know about Ford and what he did. That doesn't count because for the most part you don't see these same people working for City Council, County Commission, and school board races in a concentrated, coordinated effort.

This past election we had a candidate for office who was elected because he galvanized young people and bloggers to help out on his campaign both on line and on the street. When he won, he thanked them and helped them out, many of them went on to help out in other elections later in the year. Most of them went to help out on one race in particular.

The reaction from the staff was favorable, enjoying their help and crediting them with helping to win. The candidate's reaction was different, essentially acting as though the election was a predetermined win and that the staff both old and new did nothing spectacular. EVEN though this candidate's win is considered by many to be a turning point election in Memphis politics.

Memphis politics is at the crossroads. The old machines are starting to fall apart. The Ford machine is virtually dead. Herenton has no real coattails and never really has. With the City Council going through what can be calmly called upheaval, at least 3 new members will be elected this fall, we face a key turning point in the future of the SCDP.

WTL hypothesized on who might run for SCDP chair. I want Steffens. This is not because I consider him a close friend who is my son's godfather. I want him because we share a lot of beliefs in what the chair should be.

Keys should be fundraising ability, consensus building, connection with the youth, and the possession of a set of brass balls. One big complaint that I have and have heard expressed is a lack of faith in current chair Matt Kuhn. No one fears him. Witness what happened last year with the failed coup attempt.

I know part of that was the last gasp of the old power brokers, but it makes a point. We need a strong chair who can tell people to keep their mouth shut and stop backbiting and unify. On top of that this candidate needs to connect with the 15-39 year olds in Memphis.

The current group of activists in the local party are, with the exception of the bloggers, predominately in their late forties and up. There is almost no one my age or younger involved and we need to stop this. I hate to say this, but the older activists need to take a step back or at least a step over and try like hell to get good younger people involved.

This is not a black or white issue, or a young and old fight, this is an issue of fighting for the continued survival of the local party. Ask yourself, what was the biggest complaints about the 9th District primary? That a lot of these candidates were too young, too inexperienced, and had not paid their dues by working their way up. Has it been considered that this was the only real opportunity they had what with every other local and county election being full of the same old hacks year after year? Comments welcome.

LIberty Bowl Memorial Parking Lot

2007-01-05T10:32:00.000-06:00

Steve asked me to write this when I gave him my reasons why the mayor's ideas should be followed.

Five plus years ago when the Grizz were planning to come to town I was against it. Unlike almost everyone else, I was not for it because of the new arena being built. Well, I was against the new arena but for a different reason altogether. I was against it not for the tax payer expense but for a reason you won't expect.

Namely, a new arena for the Grizzlies would mean that the Liberty Bowl would not get replaced. I felt then and still do today that the stadium is antiquated and is a shithole outside of the playing surface. The bathrooms got updated recently but the concession stands menus look to be the only part of the whole concourse built post Rex Dockery.

In 2001, I had heard about the ADA lawsuits coming to a head. The city was going to have to pay to upgrade the stadium to meet the accessibility guidelines. Mostly in ramps and bathrooms, it would require extensive reworkings that would essentially remove the post 1987 upgrades that rose capacity to 66,000 and bring it back down to around 52 to 55 thousand.

At that time, Louisville had just opened three years earlier Papa Johns Stadium. A not state of the art but a very, very good stadium that could be easily upgraded and came equipped with things that they had been lacking. Luxury boxes for the boosters who donated the money that built the stadium, a press box for an up and coming football team that could accommodate more and better angles and broadcasters and interviews, and also a set of locker rooms and training rooms that were new, and not the closet sized one that was there before.

This cost them around 70 million. I had done a paper for a class that evaluated the impact of stadiums and financing on the cities and universities that conducted them. It was for both pro and collegiate and looked at the total impact. The overwhelming decision was that for pros it was a zero sum game. No real benefit was lost or gained. College though in new arenas built specifically for them received big increases to the athletic and general funds. It also produced an effect typically within around five years for these schools. Witness Rutgers, Pitt, UCF, Louisville, Maryland (basketball), Tigers (Pyramid and Forum), and several other schools.

Now, we can't build a new stadium for 70 million here. Louisville didn't have the demolition costs we are going to have with the Coliseum and the Liberty Bowl. However, we as a city need to give up the NFL dream. We lost it in 1992 when the NFL gave a team to Jacksonville because they promised to completely rebuild the Gator Bowl and make it virtually new and we were just going to renovate LBMS. I know there were other issues, but you can't lie to me and tell me that this didn't play a big factor, Hound Dogs Jesus Christ.

We aren't getting into the SEC either. We are in C-USA. We might end up in another conference because of basketball but unless the Tigers win consistently for the next ten years plus the SEC ain't bringing us in.

We need to embrace who we are as a University and as a city. You could build a very good stadium similar to PJ Stadium here with total costs of between 100 and 120 million. You put in extra locker rooms for the Classic and the Bowl game. You build extra suites. Remember, a lot of businesses are relocating here and it will be easier to get a box here then in Starkville or Oxford. You contact the right people, look at the Forum, on time and on budget.

The city is going to have to spend 50 million to upgrade the Stadium and Coliseum. Take that 50, and say to UofM, I'm sorry University of Memphis, I don't want to piss of any fans of Michigan or Montana, Ole Miss can go to hell, oh wait, you already have, here is half the cost that we were going to have to spend anyway, you raise the rest, you go over that in your find drive, we donate the money to the University's general scholarship fund, and not to this construction.

This way, you get the stadium done right, the only down I see is that you might have to sell the naming rights, Autozone I'm looking at you, so you lose Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, but you keep Rex Dockery Field by god. This will help make Memphis better as a football team, recruiting anyone, I've said it a hundred times, 35000 people looks half full when capacity is 66000, it looks pretty damn good when capacity is 55000. The Classic should receive a spike and the Liberty Bowl Game might not have to rely on corporate sponsors to buy all the tickets at a discount, they could sell more at full price. Only one game will be affected, Memphis vs the other UT, but hey, if this forces more people to buy season tickets and makes things harder on the Orange Goblins to get tickets, GO MEMPHIS.

The Memphis Clippers

2006-11-24T22:03:00.000-06:00

Head on over here first.

We are in danger of having the Griz turn into the Clip. Davis wants to raise the average ticket price 10 bucks and slash payroll. While I agree that cutting payroll (bye, Eddie Jones, Jake Suckilidas, and Chucky Atkins) is a good decision, they are going about it the wrong way. They believe that they can win with a payroll under the cap with young, cheap players while raising ticket prices.

I agree that they might have more knowledge about basketball then me, but I also know that the only way to contend is to spend money to a degree, that's why the NBA has cap exceptions and cap minimums. We are in danger of having the old Clippers here. A team of good young players that we trade or let go in free agency. There will be little to no loyalty by the players and even less reason for them to want to come here if the owners won't spend money because it doesn't fit their plan for the team.

I am worried that the prospective majority owner is selling ownership shares in order
to raise the money to by Heisley's over priced shares. Attendance is down and will remain that way until next year when the Griz will be reloaded with Pau back and a likely high draft pick that we could turn into Noah, McRoberts, or possibley Oden. It's kind of funny that at the start of the season ESPN and SI said that we would be players in the hunt for Rashard Lewis when he is a free agent this summer.

Enjoy these last three years of Grizzlies. If Brian Davis and company buy the team, this town is doomed to be the new Clippers, Warriors, Wizards, or Hawks. As a Duke apologist on a level just below Dick Vitale, this is going to be painful to watch.

Vote by Mail-My Two Cents

2006-11-19T17:20:00.000-06:00

I am opposed to vote by mail for several reasons. I think it is a good idea for Tennessee, but at this point in time I think it is unworkable for Tennessee especially Memphis and will disenfranchise a lot of minority voters.

One is that the ballots are mailed to the voters address of record. A lot of Memphians move around a lot and don't bother to update their voting records. To my understanding, these voters will have no way to post a provisional ballot or vote on election day at an actual polling station.

The second and primary reason surrounds us here in Memphis and also around Davidson County. I am talking about the White Flight areas of Lakeland, Atoka, Tipton, Fayette, Desoto, and Crittendon locfally. Thousands of former Memphians have fled here to go there.

The voter rolls in Memphis need to be purged after each election. Match them up with tax records. Send these registered letters that are the same as the ballots to the houses on record. If they get no response or find they have moved, purge them. Purge the dead as well for Ophelia's sake.

If they wish to retain their right to vote in the elections, let them produce tax records, utility bills, rental agreements, or cable bills in their names at these addresses. Give them until the day before election to cast provisional ballots and verify their address. Partner with the aforementioned counties and this information so that they can add them to their rolls.

Purge the rolls and give people who have moved or otherwise failed to vote during an early voting style format and you will have a lot more workable way to process vote by mail.,

My thoughts on Health Care

2006-08-20T18:36:00.000-05:00

You want to know why I support universal health care. It's sitting, well crawling, on the bed next to me right now trying desperetly to grab the cat's tail. My son, Jon Jr. or Jack as we prefer to call him.

Another reason is the pain in my left hand. I have a non-cancerous glomus tumour in my pinkie finger I am having removed in about a month. I had one in my middle right finger for five years before having it removed in January. These are not fun things. You cannot put pressure on your finger tip and they like the cold as much as Bush likes the truth. I could do nothing about them as I had no health insurance.

The surgery to remove them cost me a total of $150 dollars, all of which were my doctor's fees. I paid nothing for the surgery bcause the company I work for, Sprint, has a good health care plan. If I had had to pay it out of pocket, I would have been out around four grand. My wife and I could not have afforded that.

We were six months pregnant before I got coverage. We paid around 1500 dollars for doctor's visits (at the health clinic over by Melrose), lab fees, and an ultrasound before this. Afterwards, we paid 400 dollars for everything including his five day stay (slight jaundice), her c-section, and other assorted crap. My point?

Having insurance makes up for a lot of things. My son's well baby visits, birth control, my insurance, doctor's fees, and prescription drugs have all been covered by my employer's health care plan. I am one of the lucky ones. Mr. Holt is as well. He thankfully can rely on his wefe's coverage. Steffens has his job. But what about the rest of us. Pesky, Auto, Winter, the Maynard brothers (yes I know you're not) and Brassmask I don't know well enough. But I know that it is something that goes through the head of a lot of people.

I wonder how many people in Alabama, West Virginia, Georgia, hell, pick a state pray every day that they don't get sick, their children don't get sick, or someone close to them doesn't get sick. I wonder how many of them get mad at their job for not offering helath care. I bet many of them believe that the US has the best health care on Earth (it does if you got some insurance). I wonder if they think that the federal government can pick up the majority if not all of the cost like France, Sweden, the UK, and Japan. I wonder how many of them would think that Nixon proposed a single payer government run health care plan that was his big policy intiative for his second term.

Finally, I wonder if they would get mad if you told them that it would only cost them at most around 20-30 bucks a week, and the only thing preventing it from going into effect is the work of private insurance companies who scream that the government is more inefficient (its not), would raise prices (actually lower dramatically), and reduce quality of care (actually raise it). Remember, a good part of Memphis has Third World infant mortality rates. How many of these children would be saved if their mothers could afford the care to get what they need. Medicaid does a good bit, but it does no where near enough. And don't forget about the rest of us, those who don't qualify for assistance, but still don't make a lot. Society is a group contract, we are judged by how we treat the least fortunate among us.

It's been a long time

2006-08-09T15:14:00.000-05:00

Three weeks off when I had been posting nearly every day there. Work intruding again. No free time, hell no time at all. I will admit that what little time I had was devoted to NCAA College Football 2007, I am a gamer geek, I admit it.

Stevie Ray Cohen won..YEAHH! Bob Corker won..BOOO!! Harold Ford Jr won...eh.

Lieberman is a tool and a sellout who apparantly forgot the lesson on losing gracefully.

The Isreal-Lebanon story had burned out because no one cares anymore hardly.

50% of people believe that Iraq had WMDs. This wouldn't be so sad if last year, it was at 36%.

These are truly the dog days of summer, little news on all fronts. I can't wait for the fall when the news is coming fast and furious.

Clinton v. Bush and a thought

2006-07-22T11:27:00.000-05:00

Bush said that he understood the struggle of blacks in America. Yeah, but understanding from reading it out of books and having Condi telling you how it was growing up in the shadow of Bull Connor while you grew up in Connecticut and Texas at a prep school surrounded by white kids of privilege is one thing. Growing up dirt poor in the South in Arkansas with blacks is another.

Bush doesn't get it, he can't get it, Pesky can, Condi could at one point, Mike Kernell can, Steve Cohen can, John Kennedy couldn't, Bobby Kennedy could, Bill can, Hillary can't, I can, Evan Bayh can't, John Edwards can, Harold Ford Jr., much like everything, can go both ways. The struggle of blacks and Hispanics in this country is something that only a small number of us that aren't can understand and take to heart.

You either have to live in it for years, or be born with an understanding and empathy of people that transcends all. Bush insults everyone when he says he can understand it. Yes, on one level you can, but unless you have ever lived hand to mouth, not running the heater or air conditioner to save money to pay the rent, made a wish sandwich, held a women's hand while her husband died of untreated cancer at home because there was no money to treat it, gone to work every day at a job you hate for low pay and then gone to another just to pay the bills, cried yourself yourself to sleep because you are scared your children are going to end up in the situation you are in, you cannot begin to understand the struggles that poor people of any race deal with on a daily basis.

We must all work to overcome the class divisions that seperate us in this city. There are plenty of white and black people in this community that are working to build the bridges of community. There are just as many white and black people working to make their struggle their own, excluding those who they see as different, saying that they don't understand their struggle and cannot begin to undestand it.

In some ways they are right. But in many, many more, they are wrong. I may be a hite, heterosexual male, but because of my life experiences I can understand at a deep level the struggles of blacks, hispanics, gays, and women to find equality and a future in this country. You could argue that I can understand, but I cannot know the environment. That might be partially true, but until you get to know me and my background, you would be wrong.

Women attained the rigt to vote when men decided that it was unfair for them to be suppresed in such a way working with them to overcome millenia of oppresion in their struggle fr equal status. Civil rights for blacks and latinos came about when whites relaized that we are all one brotherhood and oppresion and suppression was wrong.

Gays are beginnng to receive this in more and more areas, but are fighting against the same forces that worked against the previous groups. The Bible was used to justify segregation and the suppression of women. What is the difference between forbidding a white and black person from marrying and forbidding two men from marrying? The struggle for rights for homosexuals is not the exact same as the struggle for black civil rights. However, the struggle for blacks was not the exact same as the struggle by women. They are tied together though. The end of rights for one means that the government can remove the rights for others. Ask yourself, who will be there to speak out for you?

Where's that handbasket?

2006-07-20T13:23:00.000-05:00

Shit's going down in the Middle East. I got nothing to say except that for once, I support Isreal. Normally, I disagree with Isreal on the Palestinians, but in this case I think they are in the right. Surreal moment on MSNBC last night, Tucker Carlson interviewing Netanyahu. Carlson in Tel Aviv, while Binny was in New York, slight switch there.

The NeoCons are salivating because now they can further destroy the military and invade Iran and Syria. Great, get ready for a draft because conservatively estimates run that we will need another 400 thousand troops to take over those countries as well as keep a presence in Iraq. Last word on this, THESE ARE NOT THE END TIMES YOU DUMB M*&^%^FU&^ERS.

Cohen should win his race, but he needs to keep campaigning harder. Steve wants to join the Congressional black caucus if elected, I wonder what Mike Kernell thinks of that. I just put up a sign in my neighborhood less than a half mile behind Stanton headquarters. McKinney almost lost. Yeah, I know she's one of ours, but she is a little crazy. Usually she's good crazy, but sometimes not.

Republicans of course hate Ronald Reagan. You gotta love a bill that I can agree with Frist on. It's strangely ironic that for once his medical judgement was used in a positive way, although all the stem cells in the world would not have saved Schiavo. The Arkansas man who recovered from a twenty year coma is different, his brain mass never deterioted 50%

I have removed two anonymous posts from people who got a little vulgar. I don't mind profanity, but dude, be a little creative. Also, I hate people who are cowards and hide behind anonymous posts. This shows that you are just a little baby who doesn't want his name known to others. I am not going to be like Steve and disable anonymous posting, Vishnu knows I welcome all posts, but if you want to comment, use an alias, it takes less than two minutes to create one.

Out but remember, all white people are racists no matter where they live.

Republicans hate poor people

2006-07-17T10:13:00.000-05:00

Despite all evidence that sales taxes are regressive and hurt poor people the most. All three stooges came out in favor of a national sales tax to replace the income tax. Once again I have to call out shenanigans as the Republicans know they can't win on actual important issues like job creation, national defense, and deficit reduction.

Instead these morons call for what else, death to gay marriage, they want to take your guns, abortion (remember it may be only 1% of all of them but if you got too close with your family or you tempted one of those criminal types and got raped and preggers, well, you're out of luck in a Republican world), and the damn revenuers taking all your income. Class wargare again. John Edwards said it best and that's why I was supporting him before I realized it was hopeless and voted for Sharpton.

There are two America's. One for us 95 % of the population, those who work hard and scrap by, putting aside a little at a time to make sure that our children can have a little future. The other is for the other 5%, you know, the one the system is rigged to favor. Republicans do a damn good job of creating an issue on wealth where we stumble around like a drunken sorority girl.

Taxes, instead of showing people that their tax money goes for things that they use, want, and better yet need, parks, education, roads, health care and retirement for your parents, we let them show welfare queens (fake), studies to study studies, and other "evidence" that the government is wasting your money.

I know that some waste is going on, but Clinton trimmed a lot of fat reducing the size of the federal government more than any president last century. Republicans expand government at every opportunity, thereby wasting more money.

We want to keep government running efficiantly so that it can continue to provide for the next generation and beyond. Republicans want to expand government so that it collapses in upon itself, which is their true goal.

Getting back to wealth, Republicans use ideas like family farm and small business. News flash, their are few family farms that are the sole source of income anymore. Most of them are agribusiness that are worth more than $5 million. Most small buisiness are also worth less. How many small business do you know make more than 420 thousand a month in profit? Those that do are usually in possession of more than one location. But rather than point out things like this, we let the Republicans paint us as antiinheritance. It only became the death tax because inheritance sounds like something rich people get.

More later.

Boring week and a raving lunatic

2006-07-16T20:36:00.000-05:00

Nothing much happened other than Pesky was called a racist, WTL a racist, me a racist, and I'm sure some other well meaning practical liberal was called one again in this town. These people are missing the true racist in the Memphis Subversive Coalition, Left Wing Cracker, his name saye it all.

It strikes me as deeply offensive that blacks can insult ignorant white trash that chooses to be ignorant and uninformed. Yet when one of us pigment challenged individual points out that the system is stacked against blacks especially poor blacks, we are branded as racist. News flash, the system is stacked against you and for white people, however, the system within your community is even more stratified. Yes, I have an inherant advantage over you in job applications because I am white and especially here in the South, most hiring managers are white.

But, the media is full of examples of blacks embracing ghetto culture, ignorance, and the quick buck over perserverance, education, and long term wealth growth. I ain't getting into that argument. The media is full of people who overcame the ghetto. Unlike thirty to fifty years ago, these examples nowadays are almost entirely sports related. The highest earning African-Americans today are overwhelmingly sports figures.

What's worst is today's sports stars are overwhelmingly pussies when it comes to making political stands. Why? Lack of real education on the issues and education by their agents toward gaining more endorsement dollars. When was the last time you remember a black or white sports star other than Pat Tillman making any comment about the current situation other than, "I support the troops", "They are the real heroes", "This puts our job in perspective", and/or "Republicans mean I get to keep more of my signing bonus to spend on strippers, diamonds, and some other useless shit that I'm going to have to sell in 10 years when my career is over".

Okay, I made the last one up, but its true. Michael Jordan refused to endorse a black canidate in North Carolina saying that white kids buy shoes too. NO SHIT!! But, if others had taken your stance, where would you be today. How much of our acceptance of Terrell Owens is because of Muhammed Ali? Clarence Thomas used affirmative action to get into law school and get his first jobs and now wants to end it.

Circling back to Pesky's point, Memphis is not separated on racial grounds, like every other city, it is separated on class grounds. Memphis just happens to be overwhelmingly black. Contrast us with Atlanta and Washington, D.C.. Similar racial demographics. Similar major corporation dominating everything. Similar corrupt mayor. The difference is that they had a vibrant middle class that is upwardly mobile. They bring in events. They do things. Memphis does not. WHy, we as a city have seemingly given up, and we need to change that. How, give me your suggestins and I'll post mine on Wednesday.

Random thoughts on a Wednesday afternoon.

2006-07-12T15:59:00.000-05:00

Finally broke down and put up some links to the most of the west of the Memphis Subversive Gang, aka the 'Cue. As the least known and respected blogger of us, I have to get some links somehow.

Try this link for the podcast, Cue Podcst 1.

Junior getting into a pissing match about his dad, bout time you grew a set although Bryant is not who you should be targeting, you can beat him, its Hilleary and Corker that can defeat you easily.

Cell phones should be banned from school, but before and after are a different thing, but one of those cell phone blocker thingamajigs.

Uggh, Reggie French and Mark Luttrell are a case of definitely holding the old nose when you pull the lever.

Dell Gill has said to some that the only time he was actually out of order, he wasn't called on it because they agreed with him. So what Dell, others sing your praises, but you are just too arrogant for me and in a lot of ways, not all, but in a lot of ways you and many others in the SCDP represent what is wrong about the SCDP and our party at the local level nationally.

Imagine you get elected to the local Party Board. You get a little bit of power and you think that makes you a mover and shaker. You also work hard to get others elected. They fail and you say to yourself, I know why they lost, they didn't do thing X that I told them to do. So you decide to run for an office.

You go out there and try and you fail. You try again and again. After the third time, your candiacy is a private joke. Meanwhile, you keep geting elected the local board and help others win, garnering you some loyalty. Rather than help others succeed you and keep the party fresh and new, you hang on to your limited power. New talent is not brought in in numbers and the bit that is beholden to the current cabal. When the old guard retires, the new guard is caught with a smaller and smaller group to draw fresh ideas from.

We are seeing in Memphis an atempt at changing the guard witht the Kuhn gang. I am finally going on record with saying that all true Democrats should support them. They are the current leaders, but mre importantly, they are for the most relatively new, relatively young party members who want to help change the world. Te Deaniacs, who I never supported, the Moveoners, and the fedupers are all part of this mish mash of good people. Let's support them and in so doing, renew the tree of Liberty with the blood of tyrants. Who wants to be first in line to cut Willie?

I see things are coming out the way I foresaw

2006-07-07T22:21:00.000-05:00

Three years ago I made an impassioned plea to Cracker over what I wanted the SCDP to be. I wanted it to have relevance, be a power, and raise a lot of money. To do this, it was going to have to come to grips with what it was. A joke.

Ultimately, the Ford, Chism, and Herneton factions were going to have to be largely removed. The first step was the removal of Gale Jones Carson. I thought that election of Katherine Bowers was a step in the right direction. While Katherine delivered Memphis in 2004, she was apparently more concerned with her own succession of Roscoe and allegedly taking bribes.

We follow her with the compromise Matt Kuhn. Matt was doomed from the start. I think I put it once that his coalition was reminiscent of an Italian parliment in the 80s. Matt is toast and that is a shame. Whoever follows him will be the guy who follows the guy who tried to change things.

I don't hate to say this, but it is known that I am going to lay the blame at one man's doorstep. Dell Gill. Dell is beloved by Cracker and many others because of his tireless campaigning and desire for the party to succeed. Christ on Lady Libertine, so do Mike Kernell's consigliore Jody Patterson and Mike Brister, but that doesn't mean that they should run unchecked, and Dell does.

Yes, I am white (that's what the W in my WMD stands for). Yes, I live in Whitehaven. No, I don't have enough capital and experience to criticize him, but you know what, I am right.

Too often, we have driven out members of this local party who have worked tirelessly and be shit upon. Quintrell, Cracker, Patterson, and Mr. Personality, Jim Strickland all have been crapped on by leadershit in the local party. I think Cracker will be back within the fold. I remember a conversation we had a year ago and he changed fairly quickly about that.

The local party is having a problem recruiting locally because we are seen as a party that is out for ourselves (isn't that the Republicans stance?). We are not recruiting whites because our leaders ignore them and write them off. The gay community is close to dumping us because of the vitriol of preachers who cannot equate gay rights with civil rights. We might lose the Hispanics because they religiously are more inclined to vote more for Republicans, and we are the party more likely to have racial divides than the Republicans.

Ultimately, its late and I'm tired. Remeber, the soil of the future is fertilized with blood and bodies of the present. We need to have a bloodletting. I've been saying it for three years. We need to organize and storm the ramparts of next year's conventions and force our way onto the committees and take over.

Out.

Happy Birthday Ya Schmuck

2006-07-07T08:27:00.000-05:00

Bush is 60, great, that means he'll be able to soon collect that disappearing social security.

Lieberman made me even madder at Lloyd Benson. Yes Joe, you ran against Shrub, but at the same time you showed the confidence you have by running for Senate as well. From what I saw, Lamont did okay, but he needs to hammer the point that Lieberman has no faith in Democrats, and that is why he is running as an independant as well. It seems like he would rather blow up the party there and cause division than admit defeat graciously.

Doesn't appear that Kenny Boy's wife will have to pay out anything due to the two key assets of his being protected. Very Christian of her to take care of others and lifting herself up by the straps of her Manolo Blahnks.

Kos is either doing something very good or something paranoid filled. Eventually when I figure out what I am doing, I will put links in these.

Finally, saw he Lady Libertine figure at Starship Jesus yesterday. If it's been said, I apoligize for ripping them off, but I wanted to go get a couple of pink flamingos and some garden gnomes to put out there as well. That thing would be a Jeff Foxwoarthy joke if he wasn't such a Republican piece of crap.

Reason number 12 why Willie shouldn't be mayor: He was even worse as superintendant and ran on that record. Remember kids, fail upwards.

Good News and Bad News

2006-07-05T09:04:00.000-05:00

Joe Lieberman is actually going to pull a petition and run as an indepenant if he loses the nomination? Good for him way to show that faith like you did in 2000 when you ran for both VP and the Senate.

Not much else happened in the last week. North Korea tested a rocket this morning providing Bolton a reason to appear and the rest of us to hate this unconfirmed piece of crap.

Oh, Yeah. Kenney Boy Lay died this morning. I would say the usual platitudes, but he was scum. No two ways about it, scum.

Also, remeber to vote for Ed Stanton if you think the Jews are out for your money and to steal your babies.

Reason Number 2 why Willie Shouldn't be mayor. Uh, look at the budget?

Bad day for sports

2006-06-28T13:13:00.000-05:00

The premier baseball writer in America today suffered an aneurysm yesterday and in in good condition after brain surgery. Peter Gammons is an icon in baseball writing. I fear that even if he comes back, he won't be the same physically. Prove me wrong Peter.

In the early part of net coverage of sports Gammons was derided because of his opposition to OPS and that a lot of his information and tips were proven to be false or were broken by someone earlier in the day on a web site. Rather than fade he away, he embraced the statheads to a degree and mined his contacts for better information and made new ones. He also retired from his post as a regular writer in Boston. While he still had a New England bias (not to the degree of the impartial as always Bob Ryan), this freed up up to be more of a commentator on ESPN.

I liked Peter because I am not a stat head. My one fear for this is we a repeat of the late, great Dick Schapp who went into the hospital for heart surgery and passed away not long after. Good luck and God Bless.

Was perusing TVsquad.com, one of my favorite sites today and saw where they had a preview of what was to come for MSNBC. Olbermann and Matthews are safe, but what cracked me up was the vitriol that spewed there. The only comments as of this post were from people who hated Olberman. One other guy in obviously misinformed as he said that Matthews= Conservatives are shady. Uh, mule fritters. Matthews is dancing to Jack Welch's tune which is to seem like a DINO and attack the Dems.

Looks like we got our first signs of what kind of court we are going to have with the Supreme Court apparently ignoring the Constitution's own words that said districts must be redrawn after censuses. Until now, states have saved time and money and just done it after the censuses. Now they are going to gerrymander districts after every shift in control of state houses. That's going to be fun.

All for know, out.

The wait is over

2006-06-27T15:04:00.000-05:00

The move is now complete, I just have to unpack some boxes and put together a desk. That'll be ineresting to watch, earmuffs any one?

Tyson Pratcher pulled out today and to be honest with you, I forgot he was running. The race seems like it is going to come down to Nikki Tinker and Stevie Ray Cohen. We have seen some interesting moves in this race like a candidate using myspace as his campaign website and another candidate coming out against Unions in the IBEW hall. It's too bad I don't get to hear any calls of white devil for this election, sniff, I'm brushing back a tear.

Hitler, I mean Bush is coming to town and I sticks his foot in it by choosing the Rendevous of all places to eat. I will shout this for you all to hear, THE RENDEVOUS IS NOT MEMPHIS BBQ!!!!!!!! Plus John Vargos sells out by letting him eat there, yeah, he's really a good democrat.

I am going to start a trend for all of you, why should you not vote for herenton for mayor, more to come, 1. Crime rate has skyrocketed under him. I'll have another one tomorrow, yes, I will post tomorrow.

Also, Hillary is reaching out to the netroots so that she can get her campaign going. Newflash Hillary, the netroots hate you. We are not some local pol in Debuque, Iowa you can glad handle and convince to be on your side. You have been transparent in setting yourself up for a run in 2008 since Bill left. Your one saving grace is that you are not a DINO, like Ford.

Out, more later

Who was quoted on MSNBC.com

2006-06-13T14:18:00.000-05:00

Your favorite and mine, the one guy I read every day, the Rude Pundit. His calling out of Ann Coulter was a front page citation of her plagirism. One of the last bloggers I expected to see on a major mainstream web site.

Kos was on Countdown last night. As Keith wasn't on, I didn't watch, don't like his fill ins, I see on eof them I turn the channel in a heartbeat.

Might have something coming out of the Blogger Bash, more news when it is available.

Lastly, good-bye Super Bowl chances Pittsburgh. I know that Big Ben (like I'll try to spell that off the top of my head) was not seriously injured, but it doesn't bode well. As a long time motorcycle rider, I am a firm advocate of helmet laws. Hell, if it wasn't for the heat, I think full-face ones should be mandatory.

My wife doesn't ride and doesn't believe it is the governement's right to tell us that we have to. While I am against government intervention in most cases, when it comes to public safety I am for it for this reason.

Most of the time when a rider has an accident, he dies pure and simple. Usually this is because of injuries involving body trauma or neck compression. But wearing a helmet can reduce or stop most nonfatal injuries. Wearing proper gear, no shorts, sandals, or flip-flops can prevent skin abrasions that make you look like you just went ten rounds with a cheese grater. Proper footware can prevent distracting small injuries, broken feet when you are thrown, and provide proper balance and traction at stop lights.

I realize I have gone on too long, but remeber this, it is not your life you risk when you don't wear a helmet or other proper gear, you risk your loved ones as well.

says it all

2006-04-25T22:19:00.000-05:00

GO BARRY BONDS!!!!

2006-04-25T22:17:00.000-05:00

Sunday Morning Coming Down

2006-04-23T08:32:00.000-05:00

Went and trolled the blogosphere this morning after reading the Commercial Advertisement and found two things that I enjoyed. Whoops, make that three things. One is the Clippers won their game last night against the Nuggets. I have been a moderate Clippers fan for about fifteen years. Go Lary Brown!!

The second thing is WTL and his rembrances of slug sandwiches. I had forgotten about them and what they were called, but up in Humboldt, where I'm from, we had them too. But we didn't call them that, I can't remember what exactly, but I liked mine with ketchup and mustard.

The third is Cracker man and his call for the heads of traitorus Democrats. While I am much more moderate in many cases than he is, I agree with his statements to a degree. HFJr. should have his Democratic epaulets torn off his shoulders, his rank insignia removed, and our backs turned to him. Another that deserves this is Lieberman as he is worse than HFJr.

The revolution is coming. It ain't happening this year, we might win the Senate, it will take a Villanova style run to do so, but it is possible. We will not take the House as too many traitorus Democrats joined Republicans in making seats safe for both. More on this later today or tomorow. Got to go to work, and my son is screaming, gotta love an 8 month old.

yeah, I know

2006-04-20T11:29:00.000-05:00

Work and family and lack of news conspire against you sometimes. I am back to disagree with Cracker. I agree with the decision to kick out Ophelia.

I know the number of disqualified voters does not equal the number of votes Roland lost by. Even still this election stunk and she knows she is going to win the election in November. With her nephew running in the same election, she is going to win probably 60-40.

I will applaud Cohen for his defense of her. Steve is desperate to win the US House seat and this is a good way for his to deflect some of the call to keep this a black owned seat. I know Cohen's personal beliefs are those that he professes, however, he is a shrewd political operator and knows the benefits this will have.

I disagree with Dell Gill and his call for Democrats that voted in Republican primaries to be not bonafide's. Excuse me, I am a Democrat, and I have been all my life, but I vote in the Republican primaries for a simple reason, I like getting their push poll and mailer information. It allows me to know and inform others of their tactics. Hearsay is one thing for polling, actual experience is another. In 04, Pelliciotti ran one of the most onerous and obvious push polls in recent memory against Kernell. When I called him on it, he denied it and said they were nonpartisan. Sorry, my major in college was public policy and communcations, that don't fly.

We do need to unify in face of the election this year. But I have a novel idea. Do NOT give money to Ford, he has plenty of it. Instead, give it to Rahm Emmanuel and his committee to draft and elect new Democratic reps. Give it to the DNC so Dean can rebuild the local party infrastructure across the country. Do NOT give it to Chuck Schumer. I hate him, I understand his desire to get us into office, but he rolls over more times than a dog at a belly scratching competion. Give it to candidates that are running against strong Republicans in an effort to blunt them and make them run actual campaigns and not the shadow ones we are used to here with Junior.

Any suggestions?

It's been a long time

2006-04-15T09:16:00.000-05:00

Yes, its me again. Having a kid and two jobs make Blue very sleepy and have less free time than Junior at a leather bar. LBJ again, deny it. Don't get me wrong, I'm going to vote for him in the primary, but Christ on a stick, er...wrong time to make that comparison.

HFJr is counting on us as Democrats to vote for him, even if we can't stand him or his positions. He must be counting on the whole better the devil you know then the devil you don't. After reading an article on MSNBC, no I won't put a link up, go there and look at some of other stuff, ya lazy bum, that and I can't remember how to do it, on Lincoln Chafee and his problems there, I am convinced HFJr is our version of him. The difference, Rhode Island has INFORMED voters. Yes, they have partisans, but they are a small part of the electorate. Heck, Chafee is more of a Democrat in many ways then HFJr is.

HFJr is trying too hard to become a nationally important person. And he is, to the Republicans. He has been on Fox so much lately, I half expect Faux News' next show to be The Quisling Show with Harold and Zell.

HFJr is not his father. Good, his father was a polarizing figure here in Memphis and the state at large, but he was always here fighting for his constiuents even when it bucked his own party. His son is not polarizing, even in fact being A Worthy Negro. He also bucks his party, to his constituents despair. And other then fundraisers and important Tiger games, how many times can you recall Junior in town, picking up his dry cleaning, buying his groceries, or just doing ordinary things here in Memphis?

While I disagree with Cracker that a Congressman's first loyalty is to the country's best intrests and not his constituents, other then Pitt Hyde and Fred Smith, who don't live in his district, how many of his constiuents would be affected by a tax that only hits estates over 5 million dollars, and even better, how many would vote for him? How many of his constiuents are living paycheck to paycheck and have to declare the bankruptcy to get their lives back to normal? Which is greater? My personal idol, Tip O'Neil said it best. All politics is local. The Cracker's roomate, the DR said it best, If you *&%$ your constiuents enough, they will *&%$ you back.

Long diatribe on Easter and 2006 is not 1994 tomorrow, I promise.

See I told You so

2005-09-18T14:23:00.000-05:00

The Federal government is rightly receiving a lot of blame for Katrina reaction in LA. Why? Because the governor and other people on the ground are Democrats. Is it just coincidence that Mississippi and Florida which have also been hit by hurricanes in the last year had as their governors a close friend of the Prez and the Prez's brother?

Is it a coincidence that millions in no-bid contracts were let out before and immediately after the hurricane hit? Is it unusual that these companies had close ties to administration higher ups? Is it unusual that Republicans put cronyism ahead of competance?

The answers are of course, no. Let's not kid ourselves, patronage has been a part of the political landscape for centuries. It took until Garfield was killed, anniversary tomorrow, for the start of reform to happen. However, the civil service bills had no effect on the upper reaches of political offices, these remained appointed by the Prez or Gov, whatever. As long as people help someone get elected, then paybacks will occur and unqualified people will land in jobs they have no right to be in.

Much of the time, these positions are in out of the way jobs where they have no real power or are staffed by individuals who realize that the people who know what they are doing are best left in charge. Except when the individual is a Republican. Does the term tin-pot dictator ring any bells. In Brown's defense, and this is his only one, Chertoff told him that he had responsibility for everything and was left out to dry. He still deserved everything he got.

I long for the days of Republicans in the mold of Nixon, Ford, Bush I, Goldwater, and Rockefeller. They would have had competant people in control because they knew the dangers of having unqualified leaders due to their military experiences. It has been said repeatedly that Bush II has run his presidency using his father's term as an example to avoid. With the cost of Katrina and Iraq, it is sad that he can not follow his father's lead and re-enact fair taxation on those who he cut to pay for the weakest of all of us, didn't Jesus say something similar?

A Change is Going to Come

2005-09-15T09:45:00.000-05:00

Looked out my window today and saw something that bodes ill for the Fords. It looks like we are going to have intermitant rain today here in the Bluff city. With a 600 odd vote count to make up, it looks like the beginning of hte end of the Ford dynasty.

Ophelia will, baring a miracle, go down today. Junior will more than likely lose next year. If I am right, and as Cracker can back up, and I usually am, Carol Chumney losing her Council election being a big blunder against me, then the Ford machine will have lost its power over the city.

We saw the beginnings of this in 99 when Senior decided to run his brother and not himself for mayor. We've seen it with the prayerful grooming of Junior for a run at a Senate seat, waiting out first Thompson and Frist. We've seen it with John self destructing like an out of control rock star. And now Ophelia is going to lose a seat she should not have been defending in the first place.

There is an old saw in football and politics. It is about matchups. Certain positions or people matchup better then others. Barbara Cooper and John DeBerry did not match up as well in the primary to a Ford. It was going to be almost impossible for them to beat whomever that person was. However, they had less negatives then a Ford when it comes to the general. The Republicans are going to get the vote out to beat a Ford because people like voting against a Ford (guess they like Chevy or Dodge). Cooper and Deberry do not have these same problems because they represent a change to people.

We all saw the writing on the wall six years ago when Joe ran and Senior didn't do anything until almost the end. I told Roscoe Dixon earlier that year that the Ford name alone is poison in West Tennessee despite what others may tell them. I stand by my assertion today. John and Senior have potentially poisoned the well.

Ophelia could still win, but it will be the last gasp of the Ford machine before it konks out for good. Junior will lose unless he lowers himself to a year long retail politics drive like one of his self professed political idols, Lamar Alexander. A Change is going to come today, watch.

Sacred Cows Make the Tastiest Hamburger

2005-09-12T21:15:00.000-05:00

The greatest sacred cow of the Republican party and its supporters is that smaller government helps people letting those that it says, private corporations, do things more efficiently and quicker than the government. Katrina has shown the lie that this is. A larger or at least better funded Department of Homeland Security would have been able to do more.

Florida last year showed that FEMA can do its job even with unqualified leadership. To do this though, requires money and commitment at the highest level. Florida was a battleground state that Bush wanted to win so the commitment was there. Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi have no pending elections for Bushies so no commitment to save it.

I do think Louisiana's governor being a Dem did play a factor because they wanted greater control in the state. They knew the Alabama governor would play ball if he wanted to win reelection. Plus, the Armani Redneck was going to do things only the Rude Pundit can describe even if Bush came down and peeed on the wreckage.

Some have said that they didn't want the bad image of superceding a women Dem governor. Horesefeathers. They had ammo in her asking them to take control two days before.

One thing that is continually left out is the people outside of NOLA who have suffered damage as well. Many of the people that I encounter here in Memphis are from the outlying parishes and they are excedingly white. The people in Mississippi are white as well for the most part. Conservative economic policies abandon those that they profess to help the most.

When government wants to give people money or assistance, those that benefit are for it and fight tooth and nail to keep it. But when government wants to regulate for the greater good or interfers in state power, they fight tooth and nail to keep it out. Witness TVA, bridges to uninhabited islands, mine safety, the EPA, and shipbuilding in Mississippi.

I am a states rightist. I don't believe in state supremecy over the federal government though. I think that more power should go to the states. A lot of Republicans agree with this. The problem lies with fuckwads like Eagle Forum who cry for local and state control and then want to deny the funding that leads to disasters like the Southern educational system and the Soutern lack of health care.

If you want state and local control, then be a man or woman, and grow a set and agree to fully fund government so that it can help you. Don't be a waste of all of our air, time, and money and move to Tipton County or Olive Branch. The problems will follow you there as well. You are only delaying the inevitable and making the situation worse for those you profess to care about.

I heart Ford

2005-08-21T13:45:00.000-05:00

Why? Because he is giving everyone someone to hate over here in left blogsylvania. He is turning his back on his base and becoming more and more, someone to dislike.

However, I think that he should still get our votes. Even a conservative democrat is better than a liveral or moderate Republican, and Bob Corker is neither. Hold your nose and push the button or pull the lever. No matter how bad he is, the alternative is worse. If we take this seat and Santorum's and hold serve everywhere else, that will put us down only 53-47 with a Presidential coming up in two years. If we take out Norm Coleman and Saxby, a name only a Republican would have, Chambliss in 2008, which is doable with the right candidates (sorry Al, I am rooting for Alan Paige), we can tie the Senate with only one more pick up.

I don't like Junior for reasons that I have made clear. But, I would rather have him if he is the nominee and be one step closer to taking back the Senate, then to have a Republican in that seat.

back again

2005-08-19T10:49:00.000-05:00

Couple weeks off because nothing good was happening that I felt deserved by moaning and crap. And then that wonderful man Chuckie Shumer opened his mouth and pissed me off.

I don't do exact quotes and those of you reading them already know that he said that Kurita should commit seppuku. Just go off to the corner dear and let the Junior win because we need another Obama. Let's all sing the original Kumbaya and not my preferred version.

Excuse me, but Chuckie, shut the HELL UP!!! Stay out our PRIMARY until it is over. You don't see Republicans do this shit. Let's be honest, Junior is going to win unless a miracle happens and Kurita gets a lot of money in the next year.

What is worrying the DLC is that Kurtia will use the Net and free Media to force Harold to move away from his preferred center-right. Instead of worrying about the primary and how it will enable Jr. to stay in the right middle, he and his strategists are going to be forced to move left and they don't want those quotes and positions to be used against him.

You know what? GOOD. Ford needs to realize that he is a DEMOCRAT and should be working for the PEOPLE of his district first-representing what they want and feel, as well as someone who stands up for the people against big business raping and pilaging their hopes and dreams.

Be what your father was and embrace Tennessee. Don't be like Al Gore and be a Washingtonian. No matter what you and your advisors think, you are still not a Memphian. You didn't really go to school here and you sure don't act like a Memphian. Your advisors may feel this is good and will allow you to appeal across the state. It might, but it also says you don't know your base when your top advisors are from Middle Tennessee. If you are dumb enough to put your main headquarters anywhere but Memphis, you will lose big.

Two day layoff

2005-07-31T12:22:00.000-05:00

I hate running. That's all I have to say about my choice of exercise to keep my weight down. I'm not giong to give up my favorite foods and I detest gyms so that leaves running. Before I got a shin splint, I was running four to five miles a day every couple of days, now I am barely doing two after a two month layoff. Enough with this crap and my whining, let's sink our teeth into some red meat.

Harold came down and threw a breakfast and donated the large sum of 2500 to the party. A good start, but not enough in my view. Junior spends a lot less time down here then he should. If he was actually down here more often, does anyone think that David Cocke would have lost.

A rant that I have given to crackerman several timesis finally about to spew. Sit back and enjoy.

My list of issues with the SCDP is long, varied, and solvable in most cases. The main problem I have is solvable, but is going to take a fundamental change in how this party functions.

That problem is recruitment. Not on election day. Not in candidates. No, our problem is something that if we don't stop it now, will kill this party in twenty years locally. That problem is the ignoring of people between 18 and 25 by the local party.

This is evident in the lack of suport in continuing College Democrats except at election time. The Republicans keep their party going year after year, gathering new members and laying a foundation for future members and fundraisers. Admittedly, many of these members are elitist white frat boys and girls and are thus way more inclined to want to support issues that ensure daddy keeps his money and them from having to find real work.

That is another area we have abandoned. We don't even try to recruit in frats and sororities that are white. I have no problem in getting support from the Q's, Omega's, and Alphas. My best friend from high school is a Q-Dog (why does that statement soound so like an apology). However, abandoning these groups without a fight is dumb. they have to do service anyway, helping out on our causes is a natural progression then republicans can.

Targeting people in this area that aren't in these groups is just as valuable. The war in Iraq, equal access for all people, freedom from government intrusion, more money for schools and Universities, and health care should be our focal points. Kids leaving for school want to know they are safe and that they will have health coverage after they graudate and before they get a real job.

For too long we have ignored kids that could become solid Dems by the age old saws. They have no money, they're more prone to flake out, and they have paid their dues. Well, howsabout some of you old campaign vets give up some damn power and let others have input on campaigns. Just because the old ways have worked for this long doesn't mean you can't change it. The coalition provided a shot of new blood that has been shut our for two long.

This shouldn't have happened. We need to recuit them young when they are most impresisionable. This will help us in providing future donors and candidates. Having to go hat in hand to our few relieable donore in off years just to keep the office going is embarrassing and donations will go down if we lose the state senate and possibly the house.

Many of you who will read this joined the party in the fire of the sixties and seventies because you wanted to take back the country for the good. You are baby boomers who have had a voice for twenty years. You are at the fore front of politics today. You are where you are because the previous generations let you come in and provide new ideas. Don't you think it is time to do the same for my generation and the ones to come?

Pass it on

Hasta La Vista Employment

2005-07-28T10:55:00.001-05:00

CAFTA passed. Hey it's great for farmers for now, and bad for every one else forever. I knew Tanner would support it when I saw him on Bloomberg last week. He talked for 5 minutes on gerrymandering reform when everything on their bottom line told about his support for CAFTA and what it woul do.

The only dues we should be required to pay for the SCDP is two pennies. The same two pennies that you have to pay the ferryman. This is just another stupid idea by our own people that will make us look weak and dumb to voters. It is a last ditch grasp to regain power by those that lost the chairmanship race.

Novak was told TWICE by the CIA not to reveal her name and did so anyway. I don't care that he can't have charges brought against him, string the lying sack of shit up or better yet, imbed him for a year in Iraq with Judy Miller. Ever notice that those who supported the Presiden tthe most in national news went over there the least with one exception, the excreable Geraldo Rivera.

Sports-Braves are going to win again. The Nats were a great story, but reality and a slew of injuries have killed them.

A-Rod, baseball's Dan Marino?

Peyton Manning-the new Dan Marino?

Jack-Jack-27 days to go until the due date.

Out, more tomorrow

www.msnbc.com

2005-07-28T10:55:00.000-05:00

Add me to the list

2005-07-27T15:37:00.000-05:00

Of people who have been lied to by Dell Gill. Strickland sent me a further clarification stating that he has never worked on a Dixon campaign and that Dell is not a good source of information. I already knew this, but, being a complete idiot, I at least felt that Dell would remember who was on a campaign and did some heavy lifting for it and caused someone to garner flak.

Further comments: Dell is one of the people who has put forth a idea to charge (poll tax) people to be members of the local party or sit on exec comm. He wants people to pay their dues, literally or figuratively. D-U-M-B idea. Just what we need, a way to alienate people from joining, smart, very smart.

Gonzalez says that SC Judges can take personal feelings into account when deciding cases, and ignore that tricky thing called the law. Could he make it a little more obvious that he is sucking up to Christers in the Republicrat party. He wanted that nomination bad and must feel this is a way for him to get it.

But what about Brown, it overturned Plessy, because the SC thought it was wrong. Yes, without question. But how did they know this, Virginia? Evidence, years and years of evidence that proved seperate was not equal. This same evidence does not exist excpe in Pat Robertson and Eric Ruduloph's heads. The evidence I've seen make about as much sense as the right's position on global warming.

He might have pleased the right, but he has no shot of being nominated successfully now.

Out, more to come

More than Hornet's, Killer Bees

2005-07-26T18:56:00.001-05:00

Got a nasty email from Jim Strickland today. He was 100% correct in telling me that I make it seem that he was responsible form Roscoe losing. I was not saying that. I was informed that Roscoe campaigned with him in U and Near East Memphis by Dell Gill in 2000. This is the election I was referring to. Jim says that he did nothing for Roscoe, not even talk to him. I have to conclude that he was referring to 2004 and my information stated 2000. I am not being facetious in saying that I assumed you would know what year I was referring to. I apologize again.

The crux of my argument remains though and for that I do not apologize. I feel that Roscoe could have made a bigger impact by getting Carol and Mike to help him with door to door as they know their districts and how they vote better than Jim does. I'm sorry, that's the truth, they have won elections from those districts and could have gotten out the vote as neither faced credible primary challengers. At least Jim was asked to help do campaigning, most of the time the only thing you find in non-power base precincts is a sign on a major intersection.

Enough of rehashing for now. On to more things.

Jane Fonda-National book tour in vegetable oil powered bus. It's hot enough now that when she goes through Texas on this tour they won't have to turn the fryer on.

Hillary-Another DLC sellout who will probably get the nomination. Here's hoping she tacks to the left unlike Bill who tacked right.

Plame-Rove should be fired, tried, and hung along with Bush, Rummy, Cheney, and Wolfowitz for crimes agianst America

Trading Deadline-Braves not going to do anything, hoping the Cards have injuries, and West Tenn bounces back.

John Roberts-unqualified wingnut

Gonzalez-the foundation of our Judicial system, precedent, is null and void if a SC judge personally disagrees with it, more on this tomorrow when I simmer down.

Out

Hornet's Nests

2005-07-25T18:36:00.000-05:00

Dell Gill set out an email that said essentially I am an idiot who doesn't know what I am talking about. About many things this can be said to be undeniably true. In this case he is wrong.

Let's see, Roscoe lost because he spent 50% of the time campaigning in East Memphis. Okay, I'll take your word on that. Unfortunately, he did this with a man who has a decided lack of charisma for inspring people, Jim Strickland. I like Jim because he helped bail Mike Kernell out several times, but a man that is inspitational and willmotivate people in working class white neighborhoods to get out and vote for a black candidate? No.

You say that it was North Memphis blacks who lost him the election. Hmm, could it be because there was no mail outs to any of these districts? You do a mail out and they would have known that Roscoe Dixon is a black man who just happens to have a name that sounds like a Dukes of Hazzard fan.

Roscoe never did door to door or anything in my district in 2004. I know a lot of people consider the University District East Memphis, it ain't. East Memphis starts at Oak Court. The people in the neighborhoods near mine are closer to Mid-Town then East Memphis. Come to Mid-Town and give people a reason to vote for you.

I don't get it. When you see a canidate for office or people you know are on his campaign and you tell them, hey, we are doing door to door for the X campaign, save your money and just give us some literature and a quick explanation and we'll do it for you, you would expect to get some information, right?

A black can win county wide. Witness AC Wharton. How did he win? He outworked his opponents, took nothing for granted, and told the detractors within his campaign to shut it and get in line. If you don't follow this example, you are doomed for failure every time.

Calling people out

2005-07-24T09:48:00.000-05:00

A lot of people from both sides are whining about Herenton being in control now, blah, blah, blah. No, he isn't. Why? Just because his people helped get Kuhn elected doesn't mean he is now the Don again.

The Coalition is doing something that is vital to the future of the SCDP. They are getting true believers who want to take back the party at a state wide and national level. They are not the insulated people who only want to win local elections and get elected people who will return pork barrel patronage to the local areas. Also, these people are getting younger people involved and energized about the elections. It's a good thing when they are with me or can be patted on the head and told to wait their turn while nothing happens and eventually they give up. Well, the Coaltion isn't going to do this. I am not one of them. I know none of their leadership. I don't like some of them. But I applaud their tactics.

Leon Gray has a talk show. Good luck Leon. Those first few weeks of people bitching about traitiorous Dems is going to be fun to listen to. I'm just pissed that I can no longer get Majority Report. I can't stand Randi Rhodes. I like Sam and Jeannine.

Dell Gill has sent out an email stating that whitey is selling out black candidates by voting for them in the primary, but against them in the general. Well, no shit. All politics is local, said Tip O'Neil.

I know I just mangled that. But a lot of the candidates he refers to will not campaign in majority white districts. Roscoe could have won if he had just sent literature out in Kernell and Marrero's districts with their door to door people. I hate to say this, but relying on the Whitehaven-South Memphis turnout to win you an election ain't going to happen. If you don't campaign in white working class areas of Mid-Town, Raleigh, Frasier, Millington, and Arlington, your not going to win.

I agree that the polling numbers for those areas don't skew our way. But, you got to give people a reason to vote for you. If you just ignore an area, then our progressive message will not get out. People will believe everything they see on TV. Oh, here's another tip, give out a home or at least a cell number where you can be reached for comments. Calling a headquarters at election time, you office (long-distance) in Nashville, or your local one don't count when the one's here are never open.

Out

back again

2005-07-23T22:58:00.000-05:00

Jeez, has it been almost three months since I last posted. Why, yes it has. Simple explanation, computer crash+new job+60 hours a week working+moving=no time for blogging Dr. Jones.

I guess the reason I am back is to comment on the recent craptoberfest that has been the SCDP executive counsel elections. What I gots to say is go to be long and chock full of that wnderful drug called vitriol.

Let's see, for all those on each side going batshit crazy over it, get a life. This is not the end of the world that your candidate/faction lost. Suck it up, be a man (or woman), join hands and sing Kumbaya, my lord, the Republicans are going to die, my lord, Kumbaya.

The Republicrats win because they stay on message. We all know this. I've heard it from every side of my beloved party. Unfortunately, this is usually followed by a that person (Jodie Patterson) is not a Democrat because she voted twice in Republican primaries. News Flash, a lot of us do so not because we want them to win (Dell Gill), but because you can get crazy wingnuts nominated that have as much chance of getting elected as my dog. My reason though it that it gets me on the Republican mailing list and get all their crazy John Birch society crap.

My bud the Cracker has people complain about all sides in the debate. Upton is a tool (yep)...of the Fords. I like David and the man is the best at fundraising locally I've ever seen, but his dismissal of rural West Tenn., i.e. everything but Shelby, is going to kill Junior. The Herenton people are Republican lite. Maybe, who cares We should get rid of him because after so long in office you have inertia set in and without a doubt, he is the most polarizing figure locally. The Coalition are al newbies and are rude. And, this is important how?

People say that they will ignore exec. comm., or they will try to get along with these people that we just don't know, or they will wait two years and lead a charge of the light bri..er, old hands and take back the party. Sorry, you just got a flag for incompetant boobery. I admit that I haven't been as involved as I need to be. My excuse is simple, it is the old hands fault in placing a virtual freezeout on new, young blood joining. I go to exec. comm. meetings in 2003-2004 and by a good twenty years, I'm the youngest in the room.

There are exceptions, Cracker, Quintrell, and Patterson. All three are nuts and are far more liberal than I. They are focusing on recruiting us people in their early to mid twenties. Yes, people with money are important, but if you can't get get new people and don't effectively freeze them out by not keeping College Dems going, how are you going to get progressive people in ten to twenty years that have money now. The lack of a real College Dems outside of the Presidential elections will hurt in us beginning in 2012.

One final note, to the guy who said we don't need a bilingual website because Hispanics are less than 1% of the electorate, I want you to walk up and tell Lupe that to his face. Better yet, why don't you just write off the Number one minority in the country? Hey, hey, why don't you piss off a group of people who 60% of voted for us including the Cubans who hate our guts.

More later, on Dell Gill, Leon Gray, the Braves and whatever else pops in my head.

Oops

2005-04-29T11:14:00.000-05:00

Okay, no post yesterday, got called into work and combined that with updating the computer to Professional with service pack 2 took forever. Nothing on Junior. I'll do that next week.

Caught the entire press conference yesterday because it preempted countdown. Got to say Bushland is the land of make believe if he thinks that even this tweaking of Social Security has any chance of passage. It has even less chance than the load of crap he had before. He also is tying himself to personal accounts, saying that unless they are included, he ain't signing. He calls them ownership of your retirement. Yeah, passing on your benefits if you die before retirement is good, but you can't pass on your retirement benefits if you die after retirement.

Why? You have to buy an annuity that assures you a level of income equal across the board. This means you can't pass it on because annuities end when you or your immediate spouse does. The exception is if you are rich enough to not have to buy this annuity and that you can pass on, but the number of the people who can do this is one percent. Familiar number isn't it?

The insurgency is at the same level terrorism is on the rise world-wide, and Iraq took an embaressing three months to form a governement. But we are winning against these people by spreading freedom and democracy. he repeated those word at least 15 times in 4 minutes. We are winning, but the Bush isn't willing to make the neccessary sacrifices. Roll back the tax cuts, force Iraq to pay us back for the reconstruction, call on people to join the military, or call on people to conserve so that we have the money and manpower to fight this war on terrorists.

Bush says that he doesn't use focus groups and polls. Hmmm, that is a poll driven answer. He also used triangulation, a focus group and poll driven strategy, to distance himself from Dobson. He did say the truth by saying that we oppose his nominees because they are wingnuts, not religious wingnuts.

Further post later.

One More Time

2005-04-27T22:50:00.000-05:00

Tried to do this earlier,but kept getting error messages, so I'm I guess I'll just do it now. Couple of quick topics.

Braves won. YEAH!!!! We beat he traitor Glavine. Don't get me wrong, I love him, but he might have cost himself the Hall of Fame by going to Mets. He left because he is the head player rep and had to go for the longer contract and bigger dollars. He went from a great pitching coach and an outstanding defense to, well, a horrible defense and mediocre coaching.

The BCS is going to let more teams in. Well, let me give a big woop. These extra bids aren't going to a CUSA team, but rather to further line the pockets of the Big 6 confrences.

The Center for Digital Democacy has some good stuff on how the GOP controlled CPB is trying to change NPR and PBS despite most Americans being perfectly happy with them. Republicans like to say that PBS isn't needed because of A&E and the History Channel and other such. Maybe this is so on the National level,but what about locally?

Last year, I watched a fascinating story on how the city planning of East Memphis and a large part of the U of M area were done. I also try to catch the legislative report on Sundays whenever possible. This is an invaluable tool to gauge the pulse on state wide politics. You just aren't going to get coverage of stuff like Chucalisa and Pinson Mounds anywhere but on PBS because the local media aren't going to cover them unless someone dies or it's a really slooooow day.

That's all, I'm going to try to keep these posts short and simple and also I'm missing Countdown. More tomorrow on the Hammer and why Jr. should run for Senator.

Whaaaa?

2005-04-26T12:50:00.000-05:00

Scott McClellan actually said that the US doesn't get involved in internal elections of other states. Yes, I know he was talking about upcoming elections in Britain and whether or not the US wants Blair to win, but still, that has to rank up there with some of the dumber statements I've heard this week.

Number 1 for dumbness is South Carolina Rep. John Graham Altman. I first saw this video on Countdown and was just utterly amazed at the stupidity of the drivel he was spewing and then I realized a few things. One, he's a Republican and nothing should shock me that they say. Second, he ain't going to lose re-election so what does he care. Finally, jeez, does this guy want to pull back the 19th Amendment?

Good pitching matchup tonight as my beloved Braves take on the Mets. I like the unbalanced schedule, but I wish more of these games were in later months like July and August when I, like most baseball fans, aren't watching much outside of the All-Star game and BBTN to see what trades have gone down. Familiarty doesn't breed contempt, it breeds apathy.

It gets a little excruiting to think that we have played the Mets, Philly, Marlins, and Nats and no one else but Houston yet this season and its almost MAY. Give me the Cards, Giants, Reds, and Dodgers. I hate all those teams because three or them were division rivals growing up and the other was the team everyone I know rooted for. I have been a Braves fan for twenty years and hope to pass on this love to my son, hopefully they won't be as almighty awful as the teams I grew up rooting for.

That's it until tomorrow or maybe later today, depends on if I get bored at work or get angry and decide to post something tonight.

First Time Out

2005-04-26T11:51:00.000-05:00

Yeah, its a blog, so sue me for jumping on the bandwagon a little late. This blog will talk about the second, third, and fourth most important things in my life, politics, sports, and technology. Why not the first, you are asking yourself hopefully? Simple, my wife and future son will pop up on occasion, just not on a regular basis. I'll update every few days, more than likely three to four times a week, work and ammunition provided. Check back later for some more thought and feelings.