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August 30, 2006
You Could Help Write Dilbert
Scott Adams is seeking input for his painfully funny strip. Be a contributor. Thank me later.
Posted by joe lance in About Blogs at 08:03 PM
Consider Me Part of the "Hit"
Today President George W. Bush arrives in Nashville to campaign (read: raise lots of cash) for US Senate candidate Bob Corker.
Readers of this blog will recall that I supported former Mayor Bob Corker through the entire Republican primary election, over rivals Ed Bryant and Van Hilleary. Especially Van Hilleary.
However, today's side-by-side with the President seems as opportune a time as any to "un-endorse" Bob Corker for Senate. Kleinheider says that the cash will more than make up for what I and undoubtedly others will do with this information, and he's probably right.
But here's the thing, y'all: there's a fairly good chance that the GOP nominee will win this election to succeed Senator Frist. The idea of Ed Bryant — or, worse, Van Hilleary (whom we know came into the election with the highest name recognition) — becoming our next Senator was unacceptable to me. I don't just sit and savor the thought of any Republican (that I can think of, in this state) winning, but of the three big names in 2006, Bob Corker was the one person whose qualifications at least came close to mitigating his drawbacks, so he won my support. I cannot, however, continue that support in light of three things: 1) my personal political status as a "liberal libertarian"; 2) large-picture ramifications regarding control of the branches of government; and 3) Corker's willingness to rub shoulders with Bush.
Am I endorsing Harold Ford, Jr? Not explicitly. I am forced once again into a "lesser of two evils" election. It happens time after time, and I suspect that it will continue to do so: the kind of decent person it would take to generate an enthusiastic vote is exactly the kind of person that will never make it to federal office.
As of this point, I am officially undecided in this race, and I thought it would be fair to let you know. Questions and comments are welcome, and I'll update this post with more of my reasoning as time allows.
Posted by joe lance in Politics is Personal at 12:47 PM
Off the Stump and Into the Crowd
Old-fashioned campaigning in the post-modern era
Tennessee’s 2006 U.S. Senate election may turn out to be the most expensive ever. Millions of dollars have been raised around the state (and, as many detractors on all sides have complained, from around the nation), and there are still a couple of months to go. There is one aspect to effective campaigning, though, that might be described similarly to a certain credit card ad’s tagline. All the mailers, phone banks, and slick television ads in the world are just costly substitutes for the face-to-face meeting.
While there is much variance in candidates’ ability to transmit their relative vote-worthiness, a few downtown Chattanooga workers recently had some time with a top act. Just over thirty minutes past the scheduled hour, United States Representative Harold Ford, Jr. walked into their workplace dining area. His engaging smile and firm handshake at the ready, Congressman Ford set about on an intense campaign with the firm’s employees.
“Hey man,” he said to me as he made his way through the small knot of anxious admirers and curious types in the breezeway. “I’m Congressman Harold Ford. What’s your name?” “Joe Lance,” I said, “it’s good to see you.” “Nice to meet you, Joe Lance,” came his affable reply as we shook hands. For that period of time, his gaze never broke from meeting mine square in the eye. A split second later, he was asking the name of the PR liaison next to me, and I swear he had a subtle shift in his voice and a different look in his eye as he repeated her name. Ford, a polished politician if there ever was one, has a highly effective personalized greeting style: for the five seconds you’re talking to him, you feel like you are his number one priority. Even his opening words seem chosen as if by prescience: with some, it’s “Hi.” Others, “Hello,” “Hi there,” and so on. “Hey man” happens to get my attention the best. It’s classic charisma.
Given the national stature of this race, it seems that there would have been more people there. Did folks literally not get the memo? Even if one plans to vote for Corker, this is an unusual occurrence in the workday; and if you’re undecided, it was the perfect opportunity to learn more. A smattering or two of applause rang out as people circled the candidate and he got into answering some of their questions, but it was mostly a subdued affair, at least as compared to the type of event one might have expected with a “star” candidate like Ford.
It was fascinating to walk around in a sort of orbit with Ford as he worked the room, and to hear the exclamations of support from those whose hands he gripped. (It’s tough to say for sure, but several of these were likely Bush voters in the last two presidential elections. One man was overheard saying that Ford would be the first non-Republican ever to receive his vote.) Tennessee political blogger A.C. Kleinheider, writing at VolunteerVoters.com, admonishes against engaging with candidates this closely, precisely because of the charisma factor. “[Don’t] ever meet a politician involved in a race you haven’t decided on yet,” he chides. “Stay at arm’s length...unless you are used to dealing with famous charismatics on a daily basis.” Kleinheider’s wariness uncovers exactly why the campaigns want to put their man in front of you.
Harold Ford, Jr. gets extra credit for doggedness, too, in terms of “working it” for the vote. His handlers were past the suggestion point in terms of it being time to leave, and young Harold was still extending his handshake to doughy corporate midshipmen. Who cares about a lag in the schedule if there are more people to directly influence?
Just before he relented and made his way toward the exit, I heard him assert to a smartly dressed businesswoman with striking red locks, “I’m glad to be here; and I really like your hair!”
This is one tuned-in fellow.
(The same company is also planning a visit by Ford’s major rival, former Chattanooga Mayor Bob Corker, in the coming weeks. Look for a comparison to the Ford event right here at the Civic Forum.)
[This column appears in the August 30, 2006 Pulse.]
Posted by joe lance in Pulsations at 12:11 PM
August 29, 2006
I'll Take "Canadian Pianists That Hum" for $2,000, Alex
So I was waiting for a ride home today, and there happened to be a Wall Street Journal sitting nearby. I rarely read this paper, but it was there.
The front page featured a strange story about theft and fraud and the great (some say) Bach interpreter Glenn Gould. It seems that a prized item containing his "doodles" has been somewhere other than the museum everyone thought it was in, while the one in the museum turns out to be a fake. Or something like that.
The WSJ's front page also contained a teaser for a human interest story in its innards about jazz piano virtuoso Oscar Peterson. Naturally that piqued my interest.
What do Glenn Gould and Oscar Peterson have in common?
1. From Canada, born in roughly the same time period (1932 and 1925, respectively).
2. Played piano with extreme skill.
3. Hummed while playing, on stage and in the recording studio.*
Okay, is that enough to make it odd that they were both featured in the same business-oriented American newspaper on the same day?
What about this? In the Gould story, it was noted that he liked to dine on a certain Hungarian soup as a child. Oscar Peterson's interview mentions an early teacher, Paul de Marky -- who was Hungarian. How many Hungarians were there in Montréal or Toronto in the 1930s?
*Someone once tried to convince me that the humming in Oscar Peterson recordings was actually coming from bassist Ray Brown. I've heard recordings of Peterson without Brown, though, in which the humming can still be heard.
Posted by joe lance in Miscellaneous at 11:54 PM
House Candidate Accuses Incumbent of Fraud
I guess we'll have to wait until Thursday to find out more, but here's the press release as received from District 58 candidate Jim Boyd:
Tueaday [sic], Nashville (Tn) – Jim Boyd announced a press conference today where he will make available new evidence that Tennessee State Representative Mary Pruitt illegally laundered and pocketed PAC and special interest money.“Representative Pruitt deliberately set out to defraud the public” Boyd stated. “I have proof that she set up a sham company. Through this sham company, she was able to launder thousands and thousands of dollars in campaign contributions.”
Boyd plans to hold the press conference on Thursday, August 31 at 11:30 AM in the open street, on Charlotte Avenue between the Tennessee State Capitol building and War Memorial Plaza. There he plans to make the evidence he found available to the media and the general public. “Representative Pruitt’s criminal actions are just part-and-parcel of the old ‘business as usual’ attitude here on Capitol Hill. An attitude that, thanks to the FBI, the media and the Internet is quickly being blown away. We will one day have a clean legislature in Tennessee.”
Boyd has already made the evidence he discovered available to the FBI and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. “What Representative Pruitt conducted was fraud, plain and simple” Boyd said. I’m sure the authorities would be very interested to look into that.”
Boyd is running against Representative Mary Pruitt for the Tennessee State House 58th District seat.
This is Boyd’s first run for an elected office. He is a member of many civic and community organizations including the Reserve Officers’ Association, the National Rifle Association and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
The 58th Tennessee State House district covers downtown Nashville, Berry Hill, and the South and East sides of Metropolitan Nashville.
For more information, visit Jim Boyd’s campaign site at cooljim.com.
Posted by joe lance in State House Elections at 09:28 AM
There's No Need to Get Snippy
And that makes it all the more enjoyable when you do.
Lincoln, Churchill, Bowers. That's the pantheon. She was a political hero. Now, she's a political martyr too.
I mean--no government officials like prosecutors or Homeland Security or the mass media would possibly be irresponsible enough to buy such a story/confession of someone who couldn't have possibly committed the crime. Just how stupid would they have to be? Whew. Glad that could never happen.
But allow me to add a very serious note to the Boston Globe -- Under the clothes of every human on the planet, they are totally naked.Perhaps the razor-sharp minds at the Globe could offer us some other must-read polls, like "Hands - Should They Be On The Ends of Your Arms?"
Posted by joe lance in News at 08:34 AM
August 28, 2006
Catching Up
Bloglines wasn't feeding me my news all morning, and then I've been in meetings/childcare/kitchen duty ever since. But, boy, a few things have come up:
Kathryn Bowers will resign from the State Senate. Okay, Ward. Time to get off the can. I do wish Sen. Bowers the best with her health problems, but will not be sorry in the least to see her leave the legislature. Hat tip: VV
More and more attention is being given a story that slipped into the blogstream rather quietly over at the Groves. Friends, I'll do all I can, but some help would be good here. You can email me with any information you have. Make sure to read the comment thread at BillHobbs for the latest as this develops. If time permits, I'll pay a visit (or at least a phone call) to the Election Commission for some data. I want it to be clear that I am in this as much for vindication, if that's what's warranted, as for confirmation of wrongdoing, if indeed that's the case. Most of the people raising this issue are pretty partisan, and not on Favors' team. I want it on record that I'm an independent analyst who will look into the matter fairly and completely. I'm just as neutral, but just as adamant for truth, in the Shirley Ward story where these comments first appeared.
In other news, there's been a Phil sighting.
A local favorite blogger, Alice of 10,000 Monkeys and a Camera, gave an interview about Tennessee politics to Pensito Review. I wasn't very familiar with that site, but she seems pretty stoked about it.
More later, as I get more caught up.
Posted by joe lance in Political News at 09:34 PM
August 26, 2006
Is there a doctor in the house?
The Cup of Joe Powell got filled yesterday with a list of favorite TV characters. I would have just commented there, but Blogger isn't letting me. Figures.
Anyway, Powell laments the fact that he couldn't think of a "private detective, cop or doctor" for his list.
Doctor? Are you kidding me? Hawkeye Pierce, hands down. Never mind that the television show "M*A*S*H" holds no candle to the film; Alan Alda certainly made the character a favorite on the small screen.
My favorite cop would have to be Lennie Briscoe from "Law & Order"; and I can't think of a private detective at the moment.
Television is overrated in general, but it's the weekend, so let's be frivolous and continue this side thread: who are your favorite private eye, cop, and doctor from television?
Posted by joe lance in Miscellaneous at 10:53 AM
August 25, 2006
Friday Guitar Blogging - Copy Cat
Not long ago I was at a friend's house for practice, and he let me try out his guitar during rehearsal.
It's a Les Paul, only it isn't. It feels, looks, and plays like a Les Paul (though, surprise, the 2nd string stays in tune a little better), but the name on the headstock is Aria.
Yep, that's right, it's a 1970s Japanese copy of one of the world's most famous guitar brands. This one is finished in a gorgeous cherry sunburst. Several Japanese companies got the fire sued out of them for making and selling these and other illicit knockoffs. No, that's what I used to think, before I read this piece about Ibanez and Gibson. Interesting. (It also cleared up why a Japanese company would have a name like "Ibanez," which you, dear reader, doubtless recognize as having a rather Iberian lingual heritage.)
This Aria is in need of some help, in terms of a new pickup switch and maybe a good cleaning, but overall it plays and sounds great.
By the way, playing a Les Paul copy on Patsy Cline songs was interesting. The common impulse upon picking up a Les Paul is to play something by, say, Jimmy Page (or maybe that's just me). But all one has to do is remember the instrument's namesake, and playing clean, high countermelodies with maybe a touch of echo on comes quite naturally. Of course, as soon as we took our first break, I had to stomp on some pedals and make it wail.
Posted by joe lance in Guitar Blogging at 03:31 PM
August 24, 2006
US Senate candidate visits Chattanooga business
CHATTANOOGA—Today a large downtown employer held the first of two planned "meet and greet" events by the major candidates running for the United States Senate in Tennessee. The media were not invited to cover the visit, as it was intended as a service to employees. A non-credentialed member of the citizen media known as "bloggers" was there, however, and filed this report:
Just over thirty minutes past the scheduled time, United States Representative Harold Ford, Jr. walked into the employee dining area. His engaging smile and firm handshake at the ready, Congressman Ford set about on an intense campaign with the firm's employees.
"Hey man," he said to me as he made his way through the small knot of anxious admirers and curious types in the breezeway. "I'm Congressman Harold Ford. What's your name?" "Joe Lance," I said, "it's good to see you." "Nice to meet you, Joe Lance," came his affable reply as we shook hands. For that period of time, his gaze never broke from meeting mine square in the eye. A split second later, he was asking the name of the PR liaison next to me, and I swear he had a subtle shift in his voice and a different look in his eye as he repeated her name. Ford, a polished politician if there ever was one, has a highly effective personalized greeting style: for the five seconds you're talking to him, you feel like you are his number one priority. It's classic charisma.
Honestly, I expected more people there. Did folks literally not get the memo? Even if you plan to vote for Corker, this is an unusual event; and if you're undecided, it's the perfect opportunity to learn more. A smattering or two of applause rang out as people circled the candidate and he got into answering some of their questions. I needed to start writing, so chose a table—one that ended up being too far away from the interaction. I have a knack.
After I gave up on "live"-blogging (I wasn't connected, just trying to capture thoughts in realtime), I moved around in a sort of orbit with Ford as he worked the room. I kept a polite distance, since I had already met him, and since I suspected that others there hadn't been following this election since late 2004 as I have—and since I had already given my contact info to one of his minions, and didn't need to be bothered by the rest of them. They were working hard.
Ford, though, has to be given full credit for being just as dogged as I've seen Bob Corker be, in terms of "working it" for the vote. His handlers were past the suggestion point in terms of it being time to leave, and young Harold was still extending his handshake to doughy corporate midshipmen.
Just before he relented and made his way toward the exit, I heard him exclaim to a smartly dressed businesswoman with striking red locks, "I'm glad to be here; and I really like your hair!" This is one tuned-in fellow.
[Photos by Richard White. Used with permission.]
For another perspective on the visit, see gid's account.
UPDATE: Kleinheider seems to think I was ga-ga. Let me be clear: while there was definitely swooning to be observed all around, I simply reported on what Rep. Ford was projecting. A super-smooth exterior like that is something to behold, but do not make the mistake of assuming that it would affect my vote in any way.
Posted by joe lance in US Senate Elections at 09:26 PM
Astronomically Big News
Pluto is no longer a planet. It never really was. Discuss.
Posted by joe lance in Nature at 02:38 PM
I Met Harold Ford Today
But I can hardly blog about it due to Chattablogs' lovely server. AAARRRGH.
More later, with pictures and everything.
Posted by joe lance in US Senate Elections at 01:44 PM
August 23, 2006
Education in the Marketplace
This sign was seen outside Hair of the Dog Pub in downtown Chattanooga. I don't suppose one would have to instruct patrons on the pronunciation in some parts of the country. This is where I live.
Oh, and the salmon cakes were pretty good. They weren't spectacular; just good. I like this pub, though I've never been during its prime hours. I hear they pack the place.
Posted by joe lance in Miscellaneous at 05:58 PM
State Senator Cooper Indicted
I was away from the internet for many hours last evening, and only saw the paper headline as I was walking into an office building this morning.
The story certainly raises questions about the bank from which the loan came.
Links: VolunteerVoters, TNPoliticsBlog
UPDATE: Get thee to the Oracle to find out what it means. While he takes the Commerce Committee members' terrible track record in a different direction, I find it, once again, pointing at the one man who made all of these disastrous appointments.
And this is just the stuff we know about.
Posted by joe lance in Government at 08:53 AM
August 21, 2006
When will Ward cave?
Well, the inevitable keeps happening to defendants in Operation Tennessee Waltz, as one by one they fold their hands and hope for the best deal they can get. The word is stronger than ever that Sen. Kathryn Bowers will plead guilty.
That leaves the question hanging like so much ripe E-Cycle cash: what will be Sen. Ward Crutchfield's exit from public life? Will he, like former County Commissioner Cotton, stubbornly refuse to accept that the jig has been up, and "full steam ahead" to a jury conviction? Or will he, too, tire of the charade, and settle for some rather mild sentence? I think they'd go easy on him, given his age and relatively infirm condition.
What is going down next? This state needs to heal, but the festering rot must first be removed.
Posted by joe lance in Political News at 09:56 PM
Would you buy insurance from this man?
Former State Senator John Ford, awaiting trial on federal bribery and corruption charges, is fighting to keep his Tennessee insurance license active:
The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance is asking an administrative law judge to revoke Ford's license, citing campaign-spending violations as proof of financial irresponsibility and untrustworthiness.
Note: the department is not even including the Waltz-related allegations in their complaint. This is about earlier misdeeds, for which the former Senator has already been penalized.
Proven financial irresponsibility is a huge no-no in the insurance licensing world; or, at least, it should be treated strictly as such.
Posted by joe lance in Political News at 10:42 AM
August 20, 2006
Well, you gotta blame somebody
The slow rate at which the TennesseeTicket candidate pages are being converted from primary elections to general is a cause of minor concern here. (I did jump ahead to House seat 99 so I could just "fill in" the rest.)
The thing is, I recently installed this thing called Google Earth, so if I seem preoccupied, that would be why. I've been waiting for this ever since I was ten years old and pushing buttons on the interactive 3D model of Smith Mountain Dam at the visitor center. You can geek out all you want and tell me about the discrepancies, the inaccuracies, whatever; but I have one question. You got something better?
Posted by joe lance in Miscellaneous at 10:31 PM
Sunday Blogging Coming Down
Here's a weekend roundup of Chattanooga and Tennessee news:
The Governor, home now, continues to recover from a fever they say might have been brought on by a tick bite. Meanwhile, a case of West Nile virus has been diagnosed in the Memphis area. Ticks and mosquitoes are two critters that seriously erode any resolve I try to maintain on the order of avoiding hurting living things.
Speaking of critters, Chattanooga City Council member Marti Rutherford won't let her dog swim with other dogs.
I stumbled upon the new Hamilton County website the other day. It looks a little better than the old one, but I haven't had time to fully check it out.
Investigative reporter Michael Weber helped pull the covers off a lawsuit concerning the possible violation of a conservation easement when the Brainerd Wal-Mart was developed. At issue is a road leading from Brainerd Road to the Wal-Mart property, and a former wetlands that was mostly filled in when the road was built. I strongly opposed the construction, as did many of my Brainerd neighbors and area citizens. We were right, too: traffic, which already had problems flowing through the Eastgate area, now snarls around that new intersection, even during off-peak hours. Walking on the levee is not as pleasant when you're stared down by a big-box store and its gargantuan parking lot. Aquatic and semi-aquatic life that once called the wetlands home? They never call. And all the while, there were two perfectly good Wal-Mart stores within a reasonable distance (Gunbarrel and Ft. Oglethorpe).
What of US Senate candidate and former Mayor Bob Corker's involvement in the whole deal? Well, there's more to come on that, along with a few other developments in the Senate race. Stay tuned.
Bank officer Joe Pitts wants very much to represent the good citizens of Tennessee House District 67 (located in Clarksville/Montgomery County). There's just one glitch: he doesn't currently live there.
As always, there are more election/politics news and commentary ahead. Thanks for reading, and visit often!
Posted by joe lance in Miscellaneous at 09:57 AM
August 18, 2006
Chattanooga Voters - Sign the Petition Today
I'd love to have help from everybody on this, but only registered voters in the City of Chattanooga are eligible. And that's as it should be, since it only affects us.
But for all of you in Chattanooga, please download, print, and sign the petition to reinstate curbside recycling (caveat: hopefully with the economic and other reforms being developed by the Recycling Task Force, so it's a sustainable program).
Get your neighbors to sign it as well. I'll work on mine.
Posted by joe lance in Community | Government at 08:31 AM
August 17, 2006
Born Schree
Someone who calls himself Nick, commenting at Volunteer Voters, says that freshman Rep. Stacey Campfield may be in for a surprise come November, as his Democratic opponent has no plans to sit still and let him walk back to victory.
Nick is right: this will be a run. Campfield may still pull it off (he surprised more than a few with his primary win), but he'll have to work hard.
And I'll have to work hard too, to get that Europe song out of my head. Thanks, A.C.
Posted by joe lance in State House Elections at 11:24 PM
August 16, 2006
Wednesday Guitar Blogging: A Boy and His Guitar
I still remember a conversation I had with my (late) father sometime in the Fall of 1979 (or was it 1978?). He wanted to know how serious I was with my interest in guitar. Dad was very practical when it came to money, and he wasn't going to buy something that I'd toss aside in a few months. Besides, we already had a piano, and I was doing okay (not great; never have been) with learning that.
But I wanted a guitar more than anything, and I told him as much. His old Fender Newporter acoustic was a little too big for me at the time, so he went with a student-sized model; a Kay, it only cost him 30 or 40 bucks, used, but it's a real guitar, not a toy. He gave me the guitar for Christmas that year. It was a big deal, because we kids were always surprised with our Christmas gifts -- none of this making a list and shoving it at your parents stuff -- but we drove to Phoenix that year to visit the maternal grandparents, and it had to ride in the station wagon with us, so of course I knew it was coming. I was beyond grateful.
I hadn't carted that guitar around with me after leaving the homeplace, but when Dad died a couple of years ago, I decided it was time to bring it on down to Tennessee. We had a baby on the way, which we thought was going to be a girl, and I had visions of "Olivia" starting her own musical journey someday.
Turns out we had a boy, and though things may change over time, as of now he seems to love guitar just as much as his daddy does. I'm calling myself the guitar's "guardian" (guitardian?) until he's old enough to handle it.
Posted by joe lance in Guitar Blogging at 08:02 PM
August 15, 2006
Quote of the Day
Congressman Tanner agreed [that Sarbanes-Oxley overreached], saying, to much laughter, that if Sarbanes-Oxley applied to Congress, "I'd be in jail right now."
That's US Rep. John Tanner, District 8, as quoted by the Music City Oracle.
By the way, if you're at all interested in what's going down at the National Conference of State Legislatures' annual conference -- as you probably aren't, but perhaps should be -- you'll be keeping up with MCO.
Posted by joe lance in Political News at 08:26 PM
Who Are the 5 Most Influential Political Bloggers in TN?
Don't answer that here; go tell Michael Silence.
Also, check SayUncle's reasonable list.
And if you wanted to include TennesseeTicket.com in your list of five, you can at least say that 80% of your responses were based in fact. ;-)
Seriously, I don't harbor any illusions about being politically influential. Plus, I'd rather be known for that in Chattanooga first, statewide second (though statewide wouldn't be too shabby at all). But Irresponsible Journalism, 10,000 Monkeys, and smijer's site have me beat on the local scene.
It's a good question. Go answer it.
UPDATE: I made someone's list. Mr. Kleinheider, I'm honored.
I need to update the Battle for the General Assembly pages in order to maintain my rep, tho. They still show pre-primary data. Time, where does it come from?
UPDATE 2: Now you can vote.
Posted by joe lance in About Blogs at 01:17 PM
August 13, 2006
The Party of Lincoln
Was anyone else surprised by the GOP primary results in the Fourth Congressional District?
If you had asked me at any point before the election, I would have said that Alan Pedigo would have definitively secured the nomination on August 3.
Donald Strong, who ran a spirited campaign alongside Pedigo, sent an email that inquires thusly:
Tennessee's 4th congressional district shows 65,393 votes in Dem Primary for U.S. House and only 36,203 votes in Rep Primary for U.S. House..............The same voters from the 4th congressional district cast 68,166 votes in the republican primary for a republican senate candidate..........What happened to the other 32,000 republican U.S. House votes?
Well, my untrained eye would call this the same way that I've observed the last several elections in the Third: a lot of Democrats, especially in his home county of Hamilton, quietly support US Rep. Zach Wamp, and so they don't register a vote for any of the Democratic contenders on their primary ballot. Case in point: there were 28,746 votes cast in the Democratic primary for District 3, and 65,916 cast in the GOP race. In the Senate totals, the same counties* yielded 42,702 votes cast for Harold Ford or another Democrat, and 75,175 for the Republicans.
Strong's question, paraphrased for use in this district, becomes "what happened to the other 14,000 Democratic US House votes?" (42,702 - 28,746) The answer is, some voters will make a choice on one seat but not on another. The reasons can vary, to be sure, but it seems likely that one of two things happened: they didn't know enough about either Brent Benedict or Terry Stulce to make a choice, or they have no problem with the incumbent.
The discrepancy is certainly greater in the US Senate and District 4 US House Republican primaries. 32K is way more than 9500 (comparing district to district*); but since Congressman Lincoln Davis is quite conservative, and there were three lesser-known candidates vying for the GOP nod, it would appear that, among other factors, Davis has significant tacit support from 4th District Republican voters; or, you tell me what the deal is.
And again: how is it that Ken Martin won?
*Roane County is divided between Districts 3 and 4, but its countywide totals are included in each US Senate figure I list here. I was too lazy to dig down into the precinct results to properly weigh the county totals; plus, I don't have a spreadsheet program or other handy math tool on this machine.
Also, it looks like the records on the unofficial SOS PDF files do not take write-in votes into account. That may cut into these discrepancies somewhat, although it's safe to assume not by much.
Posted by joe lance in US House Elections at 10:04 PM
Vote in an online US Senate poll
Blogging for Corker has a poll up. Go vote. Although I would have preferred one showing all of the general election candidates, at least they included a "None of the Above" option alongside Corker and Ford.
Some Tennesseans will be hard-pressed to choose one of the frontrunners. Ford is too corporate-friendly for many progressives, and Corker isn't nearly theocratic enough for many of the state's so-called social conservatives.
There are reasons to select one of the major party candidates in spite of these factors. First, there's that tired old "spoiler" word. This will be a close race. Post-primary polls gave Corker the lead, but Ford is rebounding, and fast. Each man has access to inconceivable amounts of money. The predictions (which could be wrong) are that the outcome in Tennessee will determine control of the Senate. That's enough to scare just about any partisan away from sitting out the election, and to diminish the showings for any of the "third party" candidates, since independents and swing voters likely have major-party sympathies. (I'm trying to shed mine, but they're sticky, I tell ya.)
Still, and I've been saying this for six years (and others have for much, much longer), don't let yourself be forced into voting for someone in whom you cannot place your complete confidence. If you honestly perceive that Ed Choate, David Gatchell, James Gray, Bo Heyward, Gary Keplinger, or Chris Lugo is the man (where are the women?) that deserves your vote, then by all means register it accordingly. (A "nota" on David Gatchell: he's not running on any platform, per se, but for the specific purpose of providing the "None of the Above" option.)
Lastly, sometime soon I will find one of these free blog poll services and put one here that will allow you to choose among all the candidates. (UPDATE: In the meantime, A.C. Kleinheider's got one.)
Posted by joe lance in US Senate Elections at 09:59 PM
August 10, 2006
Google Gossip - Tennessee Tell-all
Here are a few of the searches that have landed you here today:
what happened to the citizen in citizen legislature
(mgate.rilin.state.ri.us (Legislative Data Systems) Rhode Island, Providence, United States)
-- Man, is that the understated question of the year, or what?
Sevier county kkk
(host194.p2s.com (Pro2serve Professional Project Services Inc) Tennessee, Oak Ridge, United States)
-- No, buddy, you won't find that here. Sorry.
judd Matheny Tennessee Waltz and William Baird Tennessee Waltz
(host-65-7-65-205.bna.bellsouth.net (Bellsouth.net Inc) Tennessee, Nashville, United States)
-- Oooh, this sounds interesting. Tell me more.
Posted by joe lance in Miscellaneous at 04:04 PM
Colorblind in Pennsylvania
UPDATE 8/13: I just read the inimitable Richard Winger's comment on Third Party Watch, which serves to cool much of my below rhetoric. Still, though.
These people are not acting like Greens (scroll down to Pennsylvania). I don't know what color their party is, but this stuff has me cursing a blue streak. First it was the whoring about for GOP money. (And re-elect Santorum? That's not in the 10 Key Values.) Now it seems that a review of the signatures collected to put the gubernatorial and senatorial candidates on the ballot has turned up a real "Mickey Mouse" operation.
I've had my issues with the Green Party, at national, state, and local levels; but I still expect Greens to promote honesty and fairness in elections. Most of them do, so don't get the wrong idea here. These particular ones, though, are a disgrace, if the Democrats can be believed.
This whole thing smells: how crazy is it for me to imagine a Republican ploy to infiltrate the GP and use it as a tool in their bid to outmaneuver Casey? Pretty crazy, yes; but I was at a GP meeting in Chattanooga a few years ago and, as far as I could tell, a couple of new guys that showed up one day were plants of some kind. One was very aggressive in a sudden bid to control the group -- but, as the cliché goes, working with Greens is like herding cats, so he kind of bit off more than he could chew. I never saw him again. Maybe he relocated to Pennsylvania.
Posted by joe lance in Political News at 01:57 PM
August 09, 2006
(N)PAT Answers
Michael Silence notes that Project Vote Smart (a few lucky souls who get to live in beautiful Montana and collate information for, yes, smart voting) is alarmed by the number of politicians who refuse to participate.
I have been personally frustrated many times by visiting PVS' great site, looking up a candidate, and seeing the default "would not respond" message instead of answers.
How can we get Tennessee's candidates to set an example?
Also, Adam Kleinfelter beat me to it.
UPDATE 8/10: Two candidates weigh in: Mickey White, who's among those running against US Rep. Marsha Blackburn in District 7, comments below; and Bob Krumm, who's challenging Senator Douglas Henry in District 21, says he's "ahead of the curve."
Posted by joe lance in Elections at 11:38 PM
Elections or Ejections?
Do all those who are bemoaning last night's loss by US Senator Joseph Lieberman in the Connecticut Democratic primary also know about the ouster of sitting US Rep. Cynthia McKinney in Georgia's 4th District?
It would seem that the Democratic Party, taken as a whole, acted in two different directions with these elections. Put that in your "wackadoo" pipe and smoke it.
But really, it's not that simple. Many factors played into both outcomes. Joe Lieberman has a solid record on many core Dem values; but he got too close to the Bush administration's neo/theo-con hawkishness. Did anyone watch the 2004 presidential primaries? Joe Lieberman sounded like a Republican most of the time. Can you blame Democrats, even moderate ones, for wanting themselves rid of such a person?
Cynthia McKinney took a swing at a Capitol Police officer, among other transgressions. I used to like Rep. McKinney better: she was a bold black woman with a purpose and a spine, I thought -- unlike so many Democrats. More recently, it seems that she has made some unfortunate choices. Whatever the case, the voters of Georgia's CD-4 have spoken, and rather loudly.
While there are undoubtedly a number of "rationally challenged" folks among those who helped Ned Lamont score his victory, the notion that opposing the invasion and occupation of Iraq is somehow "wacko" is altogether false. Being against a war that was largely unnecessary, was justified by falsehood or at best misinformation, and is contributing to even greater security threats in the region and at home is no fringe psychosis. 'Tis common sense, at least among a growing majority of Americans.
That said, the Democrats also decided that neither did they need "Bush was behind 9/11" talk coming from within their elected ranks, and they acted on that as well.
Maybe with these and a few more strategic purges, the Democratic Party will begin to find a cohesive voice once again. Then again, maybe not.
Posted by joe lance in US House Elections | US Senate Elections at 01:51 PM
Out With the Old, In With the...Old, Mostly
Meet your new government
It’s a painful realization: many of the scant 28 percent of Hamilton County voters who even bothered to register an opinion last Thursday only got curious the day or so prior to choosing their officials. Procrastination as a virtue notwithstanding, this is not an area well meant for its exercise. Hope abides that this will change; that not only the volume of voters but also their collective understanding of what and whom they’re choosing will increase. Failing to take advantage of one’s franchise is automatically relegating oneself to less than full citizenship. Who does this voluntarily? Apparently, nearly three out of every four people.
Some will argue, though, that it’s better to stay away from the polls, if going would mean casting a ballot as if playing darts blindfolded. There’s really no excuse for being uninformed. Your news media, riddled with human frailty as they are, nevertheless toil away to get the facts in front of you well in advance (more or less, depending on the outlet). Just an ounce of initiative on the citizen’s part usually results in finding the necessary information to make informed choices. Yes, it’s “boring” and no, it’s not as “sexy” as is voting on a glorified talent show. But here’s the deal: Kelly Clarkson doesn’t affect schools, jobs, taxes, sewer lines, nor anything else important to daily life. If more of us paid attention on a regular basis, those elected, and are so inclined, wouldn’t feel as though they could get away with so much monstrous chicanery.
The 2006-2010 County Commission will consist of six Republicans and three Democrats, all males either in or beyond middle age. Their names, in order of district number: Fred Skillern, Richard Casavant, Jim Coppinger (new), Warren Mackey (almost new), Greg Beck, John Brooks (new), Larry Henry, Curtis Adams, and Bill Hullander.
There’s a new Sheriff in town, Billy Long, whose success surprised some but shouldn’t have, as the incumbent didn’t bother rising from his laurels (such as they are). It’s difficult to say whether Dave Alverson’s votes pulled from John Cupp’s totals enough to make the difference, but some have considered the Alverson candidacy a factor. It is more likely that the solid support given to Long by the various law enforcement organizations (among others) garnered him the victory. Let us follow up with Sheriff-elect Long to ensure that his promises to reinstate the domestic violence and child abuse task forces, as well as to institute much-needed reform at the jail, are duly honored.
On the judicial front, a quite cordial race for General Sessions Court, Division I, ended with Christy Mahn Sell getting the most votes. The Division II contest, not so friendly as the first, saw recent appointee David Bales retain his seat. Both of these wins are clearly attributed to better fundraising. In Circuit Court, Jeff Hollingsworth’s funding advantage led to a wide victory over Tom Crutchfield; and voters promoted deputy chief prosecutor Barry Steelman to the Division I Criminal Court seat. Also, Red Bank has a new judge (Johnny Houston).
Kenny Smith and Chester Bankston will join the School Board as new members. Newly installed District Five member Jeffrey Wilson held on to his seat as well. There are many challenges ahead for these men and the new Superintendent to overcome. The assembled Board, with the partially refurbished Commission, had better put the past aside and hurry to make up a lot of lost time. Here’s a slogan to get them started: “The children shouldn’t wait until two-thousand-eight.”
Elsewhere across the county, the government you knew is the one you’ll be responsible for going forward. In a few weeks, the entire group will be sworn in. Please do your part in respecting the importance of their offices by actually keeping up with what they do.
Primary school
It seems that confusion abounds with regard to the primary elections. Maybe the following illustration will be in terms people around here can understand. Primaries are like auto racing, but stricter. Each party has a qualifying round, and only the pole position winner gets to race, against the pole position qualifier for the other party, and all the independents. (In Tennessee, there are two recognized parties; all the rest, whether or not they have a party platform on which to stand, are listed as Independent on general election ballots.) So, for example, U.S. Rep. Harold Ford, Jr., and former Chattanooga mayor Bob Corker won their respective parties’ pole positions, and will go on to try and win in the actual race, which is a field of seven candidates. Question is, which one will Darrell Waltrip back, now that his favorite driver (Ed Bryant) failed to qualify? My money’s on Corker.
Do we even know who won?
Hamilton County’s numbers seem fairly secure, but across the state it’s a different story. As of press time, not enough counties had turned in totals for the Secretary of State’s office to issue unofficial results. The problem, we’re told, is with the new machines that saw their first action this time around. It’s not clear whether the issue is a learning curve or a real technical problem. Let’s hope for the former.
Finally, a note to readers:
The Civic Forum is going on vacation to the south of France. (Too bad its author is not.) Columns will again hit the stands after Labor Day.
[This column appears in the August 9, 2006 Pulse.]
Posted by joe lance in Hamilton County Elections | Pulsations at 10:36 AM
August 08, 2006
Gray matter; and US House page updated
Based on unofficial primary results, some of which took days to be reported, I have moved the names around on the US House candidates page. The active lists (indicated by the thick dashed border) should show what each district's ballot will hold in November. Check me for accuracy.
Speaking of which, I got an email tonight from one James Gray, an independent write-in candidate for retiring Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist's seat. I've not heard of him before. If you have info, do share. Here's an excerpt from the email:
He has a degree from the University of North Alabama and a degree in secondary education from the University of Wyoming. He was born in Lawrence County in 1949 and is a Viet Nam vetran [sic]. Read his blog at jamesgrayussenate.com.
Indeed there is a blog, at http://jamesgrayussenate.com/blog/, and it has comments and syndication. Duly noted, Mr. Gray, and I'll add your name on the US Senate page.
Any others out there that I've missed?
Posted by joe lance in US House Elections | US Senate Elections at 11:03 PM
CD-3: Brent Benedict Claims Dem Victory
The news item can be found on Chattanoogan.com.
I am somewhat surprised by this, especially the votes in Bradley County. I gather Terry Stulce really only campaigned in and around Chattanooga, which explains his winning number in Hamilton.
Then again, I guess anything is possible in a Congressional district where June Griffin takes second place in the dominant party's primary.
Posted by joe lance in US House Elections at 03:38 PM
August 07, 2006
Monday Guitar Blogging: California Guitar Trio Live in Chattanooga Tonight
This just in ~ joe public will be at the CGT show tonight, at Rhythm & Brews, at 8:00pm EDT.
That's right, heads-up to anyone who has already had plans to go: showtime has been moved up from 9:30 to 8:00.
This will be my first CGT show. I missed them at last year's Riverbend and also when they came back to play at Rhythm & Brews last Fall. I got lucky on the timing for this one.
Hope to see you there.
Posted by joe lance in Guitar Blogging at 01:38 PM
Site Updates in Progress
Now that the primaries are over, along with the county general election, it's time to overhaul the data (and, if I feel like it, the design) on the candidate pages.
I've updated the US Senate and Governor/Referenda pages, but as results are still shaky in some other races down ticket, I've not started on the rest yet.
Your patience is most appreciated.
For a good read today, head over to TNPoliticsBlog and check out Matthew White's latest "Inside Baseball" entry. I don't endorse everything he says, but he does say it so well.
Posted by joe lance in Site News at 12:59 PM
August 06, 2006
Hilleary-ous
While Rob Huddleston intimated that Van Hilleary, whom I can only thank for helping Bob Corker win the GOP Senate primary, would now be leaving the state of Tennessee, it seems that an intrepid young Volunteer Voter has done the digging and has uncovered the real plans of former (and future?) Congressman Hilleary.
Keep an eye on this one.
Oh, and speaking of badgers, read this "unity" post from LeftWingCracker.
Cracker, a bit of instrusive, unsolicited advice: you don't want to go with Lugo.
Posted by joe lance in Miscellaneous at 08:50 AM
August 05, 2006
Send John Some Love
County Commission District 8 candidate John Bailes (D) has conceded the close election to incumbent Curtis Adams (D->R) with a message of hope.
This loss is being felt very deeply in the joe public household, and in others in the neighborhood.
It's good to focus, then, on the fact that the close outcome signals a tide turning away from the "good ol' boy" politics and public pettiness of the past -- though it's certainly shameful that we have to look forward to four more years of the same.
Maybe another round of Adams' negativity and self-promotion will be the bitter medicine that finally gets us off our collective, widening arse and to the polls. 28% turnout is a pathetic excuse for democracy.
So go visit John Bailes' blog, congratulate him on a good, fair contest, and wish him and his lovely wife Dinah all the best in whatever endeavors the future brings.
And if you didn't vote (no matter if you would have voted for Curtis or for John, or that you're in a different district), I have nothing but scorn and pity to show you for now. I'll get over it, and we'll be friends -- but you're in time-out today for sure, you slacker.
Posted by joe lance in Hamilton County Elections at 10:57 AM
August 04, 2006
It was a great practice
I didn't hear the news when y'all did. I didn't make any victory/concession parties.
I think I had just what I needed, which was working hard through song forms, arrangements, intros and all the stuff that makes music "pop" on stage, and doing so with my favorite colleagues in the world. I've been following some of these elections since late 2004 (when Bob Corker started), and I stood out in the sun today and waved signs for a great challenger in my county district; and it was simply time to put it all down and to do what comes naturally.
So, yes, I'll be writing and writing some more on the "what now" side of this election, but I'm not doing so tonight. Congratulations to the winners and my condolences to the "winners in spirit."
This comment makes the past year and a half of running this website so worth it:
I really appreciate the list of all the candidates. Information can be scarce in my county, and I finally found the names & websites of all the candidates that I would be voting for in Hawkins County; I was actually able to make an informed decision. Thanks again!
Posted by joe lance in Elections at 12:31 AM
August 02, 2006
24 hours from now we'll know
TennesseeTicket.com is seeing its biggest traffic day ever. (The previous record was set on the day of the Operation Tennessee Waltz arrests last year.)
The obvious reason for hits is the number of searches for ballots, candidates, and polling place information. I hope people are finding what it is they're looking for.
I had a conversation tonight that brought me some much-needed feedback about the organization and layout of this site's supplemental pages. I'll be re-thinking some things between now and November, and will try to incorporate changes that increase the usability factor.
Tomorrow I'll be one of the crazies braving the August sun and holding a sign in front of a polling place. My candidate of choice for this activity is John Bailes for County Commission, District 8. I'll appreciate a friendly horn-honk if you happen to be driving down Ringgold Road from 1-3pm. I'll be out by the United Methodist Church. (Update: I just googled the polling location address and it seems to be off the main drag, but honk anyway.)
I have practice with the band tomorrow night, so I won't be at any victory parties, I guess. That's too bad. I'll bet the Corker bash will be, as they say, a real corker. If you're a Corker backer, the party is at the Read House at 8pm.
If you need to know your districts, your voting location, or other similar information, stop by the Hamilton County Election Commission website (or your county's if you're reading this from afar).
My endorsements are in the Pulse again today, so read over them if you want something to mull.
Finally, I'll leave you with this thought from John Farmer, who is a Republican candidate for Congress in Tennessee's 8th District, and as well for the State House of Representatives in District 89:
If our sons and daughters can serve in the desert heat dodging bullets and IED’s, then the least we can do is participate in the process they hold the line to defend. Whether you pull the lever for John Tanner, Rory Bricco or [John Farmer] is of little concern to me. As long as you do your homework and make the choice that best serves you, then my task as a candidate will be complete.
Posted by joe lance in Elections at 10:18 PM
A message from the wife on election eve
Hey there, campaign workers, volunteers, and all-around good people:
The wife said to cut out the phone calls. Yes, she's going to vote. Yes, she's likely to vote for your candidate, because the reason you have her name is that she has voted for candidates of your candidate's type before. No, she doesn't need you to remind her that Thursday is election day. She's got that. All set.
Frankly, your calls are driving her crazy.
The number of electoral solicitations at the house is doubled because the wife kept her name, and either the rolls are split up alphabetically, or the same person doesn't recognize the number in the W's as the same number that was called back during the L's.
I understand that you're just doing your job (or your kind volunteer work). I know that you need to get out the vote. The wife? She doesn't care by this point. She's been home all day for two days, and just wants the phone to stop ringing.
So, if you value all that is good and nice in the world, just call the next number. You're preachin' to the choir here. Good luck to your campaign, and we'll talk to you later. Or, not.
Posted by joe lance in Politics is Personal at 07:52 PM
If only the band I play in were a little more rockabilly
See My Ships..towing wakeboarders?
Check it out. The Violent Femmes are playing at the first annual "Between the Bridges" festival, which features live music, an amateur wakeboarding contest, and a lot more.
Even though two national acts have been selected to up the draw, the focus is really on local music. I am mighty jealous (except for the heat factor) of those getting to play this festival.
I think some swingin' Daddy-O rockabilly music like that played by Sean Mencher and his ilk would be perfect for a wakeboarding festival.
Posted by joe lance in Community | Guitar Blogging at 01:13 PM
Throwing Recyclists to the Curb
The task force’s first task is to define itselfThe first meeting held by the Mayor’s task force on recycling was a rough start, by all accounts. At least one city official complained privately of “heartburn” before the session officially began, and it only got worse as the evening progressed. The problem wasn’t so much the subject at hand, but instead whom was supposed to talk about it, and in what capacity.
A sketchy press release on a local news website made it sound like there was a 27-member task force, including yours truly, named to examine the economic and environmental concerns with the current curbside program that’s slated to be trashed, and to come up with recommendations for City Hall. When we arrived at the Development Resource Center on South Market, it was clearer than in said press release that there were “named” members, but not twenty-seven; and the rest were in limbo as to status. We sat in the “audience” chairs, while those selected by the administration and by the City Council sat on the dais and had name tags and microphones. While it turns out that my invitation to the meetings was never intended to imply membership on the committee, others in the group certainly had made reasonable inferences to the contrary—in particular, the citizen activist who first raised the outcry over the proposed end to curbside service, one Frank DePinto.
Let’s talk tactics for a moment. As the people were filing in, DePinto distributed a photocopied handout that listed two items which should be voted on, right at the start of the meeting, with specific instructions for “no discussion.” Just read this, keep quiet, and perform a couple of votes which ostensibly set some kind of direction for the group. It was astonishing. Many of these people had never seen each other before, and were coming together to do serious work on an important issue. It was surely an affront to be asked to vote without discussion on anything before determining how the group was going to function at a fundamental level. Likewise, when the panelists began the initial discussion to get themselves organized, Mr. DePinto stood up and began badgering (some might say, anyway) Chairman Michael Mallen over the task force membership question.
Perhaps, though, abrasive tactics are deemed necessary by those who feel marginalized. In Herman Wang’s succinct coverage in the daily paper, the picture presented was one of the city’s powerful making a show of listening to concerned citizens, but also making damn sure they didn’t have to do anything after so politely listening. The city’s presentation was a well-crafted résumé of past accomplishments (one would have thought Ron Littlefield had invented recycling) combined with a woeful shrug toward low participation and high costs. The one seeming exception to the “just let us handle this” tone was voiced by Betsy Bramlett, appointee of District 9 Councilmember Debbie Gaines. Ms. Bramlett repeatedly called for more educational outreach and other measures to “save” curbside recycling, to the apparent chagrin of at least a couple of her panel-mates.
It is good to know that the city’s mayor is, in his words, a “determined and committed recycler.” On the other hand, it’s disturbing that, according to the Mayor’s office, only about 15 percent of Chattanoogans currently join him in choosing to be good stewards that contribute to the sustainability of our city (not to mention provide vocational opportunities for the clients at Orange Grove). There are many competing factors to balance as we move forward on this question, but here’s hoping that the administration really means to seek a viable, participation-friendly recycling program, and that we who want to see that happen are genteel in our efforts to help bring it about.
[This column appears in the May 2, 2006 Pulse. Author's note: according to today's Times Free Press, it sounds like the August 1st meeting at Orange Grove was a much more unified and civil affair, and I'm glad to hear it.]
Posted by joe lance in Community | Pulsations at 09:53 AM