Monday, March 31, 2008
Bordering state update: GA Equality gets new E.D.
Hopes high for a $500,000 budget. Good luck, Jeff! http://www.sovo.com/2008/3-28/news/localnews/8312.cfm
A confident Steve Cohen files for re-election
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/mar/31/31cohenweb/
His take on the role of race is an intriguing spin. We'll see how it plays out. Maybe some Memphians will weigh in on this one.
See Jonathan's earlier post on one of his opponents, Nikki Tinker here: http://grand-divisions.blogspot.com/2008/03/so-what-does-nikki-tinker-think-about.html
His take on the role of race is an intriguing spin. We'll see how it plays out. Maybe some Memphians will weigh in on this one.
See Jonathan's earlier post on one of his opponents, Nikki Tinker here: http://grand-divisions.blogspot.com/2008/03/so-what-does-nikki-tinker-think-about.html
Investigate big oil, says House
The House passed a non-binding resolution "urging" investigation and study of price gouging by BIG OIL. John Rodgers gives us the highlights: http://politics.nashvillecityblogs.com/?p=495
My Old Tennessee Home
Sorry, I'm a native Kentuckian, and the state song of my homeland is all I could think of. Nice piece in the City Paper on the battle over capping lawsuits against nursing homes.
http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/news.php?viewStory=59328
http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/news.php?viewStory=59328
In search of an ending: Joe White on the Legislature
http://wpln.org/?p=519
Nice audio file of this morning's broadcast segment on how things might end up in the Legislature.
Nice audio file of this morning's broadcast segment on how things might end up in the Legislature.
Interesting Republican House primary heating up
The Chattanooga Times Free Press reports that former Rep. Jim Vincent will seek his old seat against fellow Republican Jim Cobb. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2008/mar/29/vincent-run-again-state-house-seat/
District 31 includes northern Hamilton County and Rhea County. Yes, that Rhea County that tried to ban gays.
"Mr. Vincent said he conducted a poll of Hamilton and Rhea counties and found conditions favorable for him to run. He declined to share the poll results with the media." Hmmm. One can only wonder what those favorable conditions include.
District 31 includes northern Hamilton County and Rhea County. Yes, that Rhea County that tried to ban gays.
"Mr. Vincent said he conducted a poll of Hamilton and Rhea counties and found conditions favorable for him to run. He declined to share the poll results with the media." Hmmm. One can only wonder what those favorable conditions include.
Tuke troubles: eVites and phone calls not returned
Matt Pulle is relentless in dogging Bob Tuke for not getting back to him on any number of things. He starts with the fact that Tuke won't attack Lamar Alexander over the Gus Puryear affair. But then the issue turns to modes of communication. Tuke used eVite to invite folks to his fundraising event. Hey, we used it at TEP too, but, um, our parties aren't usually in the $1000 range. But back to the story... Pulle notes that as a result of using eVite, Tuke "outed" those who couldn't be at the soiree. Ouch!
http://blogs.nashvillescene.com/pitw/2008/03/all_tuke_all_the_time.php
It's hard to say why Mr. Tuke won't return Mr. Pulle's calls. Matt, to use a well worn phrase, maybe he's just not that into you.
http://blogs.nashvillescene.com/pitw/2008/03/all_tuke_all_the_time.php
It's hard to say why Mr. Tuke won't return Mr. Pulle's calls. Matt, to use a well worn phrase, maybe he's just not that into you.
More secrets in Knox County?
A Knox County Commissioner is shocked that the Mayor wants the file of her constituent correspondence after she said that she had received numerous complaints and expressions of concern about an audit of the spending in the Mayor's office. Touche! The Commissioner has requested an Attorney General's opinion on the matter. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/mar/31/mayors-open-records-request-prompts-defreese-press/
Isn't this all going too far? It seems as if government secrets are being hunted down like deer this month.
Isn't this all going too far? It seems as if government secrets are being hunted down like deer this month.
Editorial: Missed opportunities
The April 3 filing deadline for state House and Senate races is approaching and it looks as if we won't have any gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender candidates running--or at least no candidates who are openly so.
It is a missed opportunity. A number of incumbents are not seeking reelection. This is the time to have people ready to run, and this time we're going to have to sit it out.
Why?
Maybe we haven't developed the "farm team." Perhaps we're just at the point of being able to identify and field viable candidates for local office who can later run for the Legislature.
Maybe we're too focused on the GLBT thing and not politics as usual. Understanding politics as usual, even if candidates from our community represent something of a departure from it, is essential. We could do a better job of scanning the field of opportunities and lining people up to take a risk and run if we were always looking at the electoral map.
Maybe it just never occurs to us to run. We're still in the mode of getting behind "progressive" candidates in Tennessee and hoping they'll at least help us beat negative legislation. Rarely do we ask them to advance any positive bills on our behalf. It happens, but it's rare.
There's an additional point buried in the previous point. We're stuck in defensive mode. We've learned how to draw on allies to help us beat negative legislation and maybe that's all we can see in our future. More negative bills and more cliffhanger battles with tough victories, but at the end we're still at 0.
We've got to pivot over the next two year starting now. Notice that I didn't say we've got to pivot IN two years.
The possibilities that GLBT candidates bring are impossible to ignore if we'd just open our eyes. First, their very presence has a way of deterring the introduction of negative bills and of making it harder for negative bills to pass. Legislators will occasionally attack their colleagues, but they are reluctant to do so because they may need them on another piece of legislation.
Second, GLBT legislators can gauge the pulse of their colleagues and build alliances in a unique way. They cause the guild of legislators to look at all GLBT people differently. They cause them to look at us as actors and not merely a constituent group that comes begging for protection from January to May every year.
Third, they have almost nothing to lose in introducing positive legislation. If they are "out" and they got elected, their constituents aren't likely to second-guess them for introducing, say, a non-discrimination policy for state employees.
None of this is to discount the courageous stands of straight allies in the Legislature. But allies coupled with elected members of our community is the true representation we need in the Tennessee General Assembly.
Let's get to work and be ready for the April filing deadline in 2010.
It is a missed opportunity. A number of incumbents are not seeking reelection. This is the time to have people ready to run, and this time we're going to have to sit it out.
Why?
Maybe we haven't developed the "farm team." Perhaps we're just at the point of being able to identify and field viable candidates for local office who can later run for the Legislature.
Maybe we're too focused on the GLBT thing and not politics as usual. Understanding politics as usual, even if candidates from our community represent something of a departure from it, is essential. We could do a better job of scanning the field of opportunities and lining people up to take a risk and run if we were always looking at the electoral map.
Maybe it just never occurs to us to run. We're still in the mode of getting behind "progressive" candidates in Tennessee and hoping they'll at least help us beat negative legislation. Rarely do we ask them to advance any positive bills on our behalf. It happens, but it's rare.
There's an additional point buried in the previous point. We're stuck in defensive mode. We've learned how to draw on allies to help us beat negative legislation and maybe that's all we can see in our future. More negative bills and more cliffhanger battles with tough victories, but at the end we're still at 0.
We've got to pivot over the next two year starting now. Notice that I didn't say we've got to pivot IN two years.
The possibilities that GLBT candidates bring are impossible to ignore if we'd just open our eyes. First, their very presence has a way of deterring the introduction of negative bills and of making it harder for negative bills to pass. Legislators will occasionally attack their colleagues, but they are reluctant to do so because they may need them on another piece of legislation.
Second, GLBT legislators can gauge the pulse of their colleagues and build alliances in a unique way. They cause the guild of legislators to look at all GLBT people differently. They cause them to look at us as actors and not merely a constituent group that comes begging for protection from January to May every year.
Third, they have almost nothing to lose in introducing positive legislation. If they are "out" and they got elected, their constituents aren't likely to second-guess them for introducing, say, a non-discrimination policy for state employees.
None of this is to discount the courageous stands of straight allies in the Legislature. But allies coupled with elected members of our community is the true representation we need in the Tennessee General Assembly.
Let's get to work and be ready for the April filing deadline in 2010.
Openness riddled with secrecy in TN
The Tennessean complains (kind of) about the exceptions to the 1957 open records law in Tennessee. http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080330/NEWS02/80330013/-1/RSS05 .
After crowing about the 250 exemptions, we learn that Florida has 1000 exemptions and one commentator says it should be the model because all of Florida's exceptions are "microscopically narrow."
So What Does Nikki Tinker Think about GLBT equality?
Don't miss my article featuring an interview with Nikki Tinker in this month's Triangle Journal (p. 5).
I asked the candidate about her views on hate crimes legislation, her opponent Steven Cohen, ENDA, the Federal Marriage Amendment, and civil unions.
The quality of the Triangle Journal is improving with each issue. Congratulations to Co-Editors James Cox and Len Piechowski, the Editorial Review Committee (Will Batts, Jamie Griffin, Alan Herbers, and David Mabury), and all contributing journalists!
I asked the candidate about her views on hate crimes legislation, her opponent Steven Cohen, ENDA, the Federal Marriage Amendment, and civil unions.
The quality of the Triangle Journal is improving with each issue. Congratulations to Co-Editors James Cox and Len Piechowski, the Editorial Review Committee (Will Batts, Jamie Griffin, Alan Herbers, and David Mabury), and all contributing journalists!
Could Herenton be plotting to put Memphis City Schools under city government?
The latest conspiracy theory from Blake Fotenay of the Commercial Appeal.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Bordering state update: GA bullying bill advances
http://www.sovo.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=17427
A Georgia House committee passes an anti-bullying bill that Georgia Equality has been lobbying for. The Tennessee Legislature is also working on a couple of bullying bills.
A Georgia House committee passes an anti-bullying bill that Georgia Equality has been lobbying for. The Tennessee Legislature is also working on a couple of bullying bills.
Wealth distribution and race
The Commercial Appeal's editorial takes on the tough issues of race and poverty. It's an interesting piece about the elusive goal of creating financial success in the African American community. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/mar/30/editorial-leveling-the-field-an-elusive-goal/
Call me
No, I'm not referring to that race-bating commercial used against Harold Ford, Jr. in his Senate bid. This time it's Matt Pulle of the Nashville Scene calling on Senate candidate Bob Tuke to return his calls: http://blogs.nashvillescene.com/pitw/2008/03/hello_its_me.php
Jim Hammond to be GOP candidate for Hamilton Co Sheriff
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2008/mar/29/gop-picks-sheriff-candidate/
Pictures and all! I'm assuming the picture of the man being interviewed is Ol' Jim.
Pictures and all! I'm assuming the picture of the man being interviewed is Ol' Jim.
Call for putting Knox County Charter amendments on ballot
Today's Knoxville News-Sentinel's editorial: http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/mar/30/put-charter-amendments-on-the-ballot/
Legislature or Waffle House?
Larry Daughtrey shows the connection between legislators waffling on bills and getting money for campaigns: http://tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080330/COLUMNIST0105/803300380/1099
"As is," says Fred Cloud
Compelling letter in today's Tennessean: http://tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080330/OPINION02/803300345/1007/OPINION
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