Your Midweek Gin

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September 28, 2005

Your Midweek Gin

Progressive activist and columnist Dan Sweeton says things that sound a lot like what I have heard from the far right corner (TeamGOP, Bill Hobbs, GOP U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Moder). What's going on here? Is it populism, general disaffectedness, or do these folks not know that they're all part of a Common Cause?

We work to strengthen public participation and to ensure that the political process serve [sic] the public interest, rather than the special interests.
Our purpose is clear: make public officials and public institutions accountable and responsive to citizens.

Am I the only one who considers this text as equally likely coming from Common Cause or from Tennessee Tax Revolt? I don't know whether we need to go ahead and all-out fight the "culture war," or get to a cease-fire situation, but one way or another that little puppy needs to be resolved, since it is largely responsible for some of the biggests rifts between otherwise like-minded men and women. (Admittedly, there are also major differences in how some of us view the role of government in economic matters; but part of me wants to believe that, if we returned to true citizen rule, we'd work out the balance.)

Speaking of fighting wars, there's a young one brewing over at Tennessee Liberal's un-home.

For a taste of the truly bizarre, though, you'll have to dig into the Civic Forum archives and read some of the comments left by Phil Driscoll fans. (I'm not sure all of them understand that their comments don't go directly to Phil. Furthermore, this post's reaction is one of the reasons I'm considering a name change for this blog.) My favorite snippet, so far: "PS....Met you at a Amway conference. You blessed me to tears of joy."

The campaign for Republican Senate Nominee is getting more interesting all the time, at least in the Tennessee blogosphere. Today's picks: 1) Conservatives for Corker blasts back at TeamGOP for the latter's latest attempt to associate Bob Corker with specific issue positions held by his vast array of supporters; 2) Nathan Moore and B4B tag-team Van Hilleary's stump speech (and supporters), from a Corker and Bryant perspective, respectively. UPDATE: Kleinheider lends some thoughts to the rumor that Bill Frist is actually re-eyeing his current Senate seat. I wouldn't hold my breath. This HCA stock sale not only sent Frist's POTUS ambitions the way of certain Boston-area kittens, but it would possibly give Bryant* and Corker* the temerity to stay in the race, and welcome him to the party only to beat him on the ethics rap. You think he hasn't thought of that? (*Van? Oh, yes, he's already proved his pluck.)

What can I say? I'm Pulse-ified again. I'm going to cross-post the article here because — well, because I can.

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