May 11, 2008
Sizing up Wamp's opposition
U.S. Representative Zach Wamp has not faced a well-supported challenger in any of his re-election bids. Tennessee's congressional districts are gerrymandered enough; but the Third District was represented by a Democrat for twenty years (former Congresswoman Marilyn Lloyd). Rep. Wamp seized the open seat during the 1994 Republican takeover, and has easily glided back into office ever since, even in the 2006 pendulum swing.
But could it be different this time around, since Wamp has made his intentions quite clear regarding the 2010 campaign for Governor of Tennessee, and as such will be a "lame duck" congressman? Let's check into who is running against him. Unlike the First, Seventh, and Ninth Districts, there is no primary challenger.
There is a ballot-qualified independent candidate named Jean Howard-Hill. Ms. Howard-Hill teaches Political Science at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC), and has run for this office at least once before. Judging by past vote totals, though, she will not pose a threat this time around. In 2004, she received less than one percent of the vote.
Another independent candidate is running a write-in campaign. June Griffin of Dayton is an infamous gadfly, and gained even more notoriety a few years ago when Ed Helms (formerly of Comedy Central's The Daily Show, and now appearing on The Office) visited Dayton and recorded an hilarious (to many) satirical report on the town.
Now to the Democratic Party, which occasionally has put up more or less respectable candidates in the past (Will Calloway, 2000; and John Wolfe, 2004, respectively), but has not funded any of them with any gusto. It is somewhat surprising that an experienced politician, such as retiring state Senator Tommy Kilby of Wartburg, or even brand-new state Senator Andy Berke of Chattanooga, is not taking Wamp on this year, given the political climate and Wamp's intentions.
The only Democratic opponent of which I am aware is Doug Vandagriff, who, like Howard-Hill and Griffin above, is a repeat candidate for this office. I don't know anything about Mr. Vandagriff, except having heard through the grapevine that he is "a nice guy." That may be; but will he present a serious challenge to the incumbent? Such hardly seems likely.
In conclusion, it seems that Rep. Wamp will be able to retain his position, as nominally as that may be, as a great launching pad into the 2010 GOP gubernatorial primary. It could be that the good citizens of this district wish it to be so; but I'm a little puzzled at their refusal to even pretend to fight him for it.
Posted by joe lance in US House Elections at 10:15 PM | Comments (0)
Michelle Obama in Tennessee Thursday
The event is a fundraiser. Details are at Post Politics.
Posted by joe lance in Presidential Elections at 09:30 PM | Comments (0)
Registration drive nets scores of new voters
Staffers and volunteers gathered on Patten Parkway in downtown Chattanooga Saturday for the kickoff to "Vote for Change," a national voter registration effort sponsored by the Barack Obama campaign. Organizers say some 55 volunteers gathered 140 voter registration forms in over two dozen locations throughout Hamilton County. The drive will continue until the last day for voters to become registered. In Tennessee, for the general election on November 4, that day is October 4. (Some states allow same-day registration.)
Attendees were given a rousing send-off by state Rep. Tommie Brown (D-28) prior to receiving instructions and assignments. Dr. Brown recalled some of her early voter registration efforts, and told those gathered that, by participating in the day's events, they had "chosen to transform themselves" beyond supporters of a particular campaign or political party. Event organizers Justin Wilkins and Elizabeth Crews reiterated the message: this effort is to get eligible voters registered, regardless of what party or candidate they may support.
There were similar events held Saturday in Nashville, Knoxville, and Memphis. More than 100 registration efforts were held around the nation. More media coverage:
Chattanoogan.com (with photos)
Chattanooga Times Free Press (photo/caption only)
BarackObama.com
Your blogger's personal account after the jump:
I was paired with another volunteer who had come alone, and we were assigned to the shopping centers along Highway 153 in Hixson. We decided to hit the Wal-Mart first, then make our way back toward the city.
The good news is that a great many voters in that area are already registered (or, they said they were in order to be left alone). The bad news is that we did not contribute very well to the overall total. Most people were fairly polite about stating that they were all set; a few, though, saw the Obama-related stickers we were wearing and made us "talk to the hand."
I was thinking of removing the sticker, because the point was to increase voter registration, and not to sway those new voters in any one direction. At least, that is how I saw it. But then I decided to leave it on, because it identified the event that I was assisting.
I am glad for the experience (though not so much for the sunburn — didn't realize I'd be outside for so long), and for the Clumpies ice cream I managed to find. After learning about doing this type of thing in shopping center parking lots, I would think that a better application of such an effort would be where people are going to be there for a while, instead of heading to or from their cars with errand lists on the brain.
So, you may see me at a table at Nightfall, or some such event, enticing people to file or update their voter registration.
Posted by joe lance in at 03:05 PM | Comments (0)
May 09, 2008
On the bus: CARTA raising rates, seeking budget increase
The top story on Chattanoogan.com as of this writing is that CARTA plans to raise rates; has asked the city and the county for additional funds; and states that cuts to some services (such as the awesome free electric shuttle) could be made if the requests are not approved.
We all knew the increase was coming: look at Diesel prices. Also, look at almost any given bus en route, and calculate the fares received based on the number of passengers you see in its seats. Taken together, these things present a dismal forecast.
However selfish the motive, I do not want to see the electric shuttle program eliminated. Though it is somewhat of a novelty, its usefulness is growing. It is a great feature for downtown tourists, workers, and residents. It looks good, frankly, on our city's résumé.
I have found the shuttle to be indispensable on several occasions, when I had meetings on or near Main Street and I had to get there from 5th, and the wife had our only car. No problem: hop on the shuttle at 6th and Market, and ride it all the way to the Choo Choo. And back. For free.
So what can we do? One thing I have considered is using the bus for transportation to and from work. It would not be the most convenient, in terms of where the stops are, relative to home and the office; inclement weather could be a challenge. But the line is still pretty close to me. (We just need better sidewalks in this area.)
Will you join me in contacting your city and county representatives to ensure that we adequately fund our public transportation system? With fuel prices so high (in my book, probably more realistic and market-corrected, but painful even so), and with national energy policy at the forefront, public transportation is that much more vital.
And let's get those regular CARTA buses running on something like BioDiesel — not necessarily the kind made from soybeans that are needed for food, but alternative fuel that makes sense.
Other ideas?
Posted by joe lance in Community at 08:34 AM | Comments (3)
May 08, 2008
Nary a mention of the henchman
I hope you have been following the discussion (as dry as it may seem) regarding the purpose and function of auditors in the City of Chattanooga.
Like many a tedious procedural debate, this one started with something of a scuttlebutt: though not quite a scandal, the recent report of a few minor infractions uncovered during an audit of the 21st Century Waterfront raised general concerns about the audit process.
The next milestone was the report by Dave Flessner that indicated how developer and former Ron Littlefield for Mayor campaign manager Dale Mabee received what many consider to be perks in his partnership's deal to build the condominiums between 2nd and 3rd Streets near the Walnut Street Bridge.
The main question resulting from that revelation was: why was an audit conducted of the RiverCity Company's and related Waterfront transactions, but no audit has been performed to date on the Walnut Hill project? Or, more to the point, are there political implications in the decisions about which audits do or do not take place?
Most recently, the lead attorney for the city, Randy Nelson, informed the City Council that an auditor has not been properly installed since the inception of the current charter in 1990. According to reports, the Council has an analyst, but auditor Stan Sewell reports to the Mayor. (The charter calls for the auditor to report to the Council.)
Mr. Sewell recently stated, as part of his declaration of independence, that "the mayor does not tell us what to audit." But let's take a closer look at that statement from a couple of different angles. The most obvious inference is that Mayor Littlefield did not order the audit on the Waterfront. I'm fairly inclined to believe that.
After all, His Honor's background is in real estate, with additional experience in public works administration. But what if there were, say, an experienced CPA in the administration? Like, perhaps, Chief of Staff Dan Johnson? And what if Dan Johnson has a history of being critical of RiverCity Company? Why, there is; it's he; and he did. Could Dan Johnson have ordered the audit?
Now, back to the Dale Mabee deal. Here's what Stan Sewell did not say: "The mayor does not tell us what not to audit." Is it therefore possible that Mayor Littlefield (or Dan Johnson) ordered the absence of an audit on a close political ally? Technically, yes.
Another thing: Sewell says that audit targets are chosen for a) large amounts (which, to be fair, would explain the $120M Waterfront's inclusion) and b) "operations where cash is involved." I'll remind you that the land deal around the Walnut Hill development was made possible by an interest-free loan from the city, and the city accepted a promissory note as payment. It could be argued, I suppose, that this was not a "cash" operation.
Please be careful not to infer any allegations here, against Messrs. Littlefield, Johnson, Sewell, or anyone else; I am simply raising the possibility that these things could have happened, and Mr. Sewell would have nonetheless gone on record stating the truth. In all likelihood, there was no intrigue behind what I have pointed out as potential omissions from his remarks. He was probably just answering a question.
But the mere possibility of politically motivated audit decisions emphasizes the need for the City Council to take swift action so that an independent auditor is accountable directly to the people of this city (through their elected represantives in the legislative body), and is not taking orders from an arguably power-hungry chief executive nor from his power-wielding administrative director.
Posted by joe lance in Government at 10:09 PM | Comments (1)
And now for an historical lesson from one of the experts
Brittney Gilbert sums up Then and Now.
(Think I made a tweet about this? You bet I did.)
Posted by joe lance in About Blogs at 07:48 AM | Comments (0)
May 07, 2008
Quotes from primary coverage
Gems from last night, and ongoing:
Hillary's assertion that Indiana "broke the tie" in the PA-NC-IN trifecta is quite possibly the most pathetically unconvincing piece of election-night spin since Joe Lieberman's "three-way split decision for third place" in New Hampshire four years ago.-- Brendan Loy
I think [MSNBC's Chris Matthews] still refers to Harold Ford, Jr. as "Congressman" because otherwise people wouldn't know why they were talking to him.-- the Wife
Tim Russert even suggested this morning that Sen. Barack Obama may offer to retire [Sen. Hillary Clinton's] campaign debt as part of an exit deal.-- Taegan Goddard
[HRC] has become the Democratic Party's psycho ex-girlfriend, and she's not going away without a restraining order.-- Johnny Highland
Posted by joe lance in Humour | Presidential Elections at 09:27 AM | Comments (0)
May 06, 2008
Pleasant green signs, but what do they do?
Last week, the family and I drove to Nashville and back (well, we never saw Nashville, just part of Nolensville Pike), and I noticed some new driver awareness communications along Interstate 24.
Every so often, I would be kindly informed by a large and friendly sign that my vehicle was entering such-and-such watershed — and admonished to please keep it clean.
As the car glided horizontally across each watershed, on the asphalt surface, emitting only the barest minimum of pollutants, of course, I would barely be able to ponder how best to keep it clean, when I would be alerted about passing into a different watershed. "I hope I kept that last one clean, and I'll do my best with this one," I thought.
Now, I realize that some of the highway traffic in each locality is, in fact, local; and that these people have a chance to avoid making a negative impact on the watershed. Same with visitors who are stopping in a given area. But for distance drivers, truckers, and the like: what good are these signs?
And finally, what was their cost to taxpayers? Fortunately, the Tennessee Center for Policy Research has the answer: $280,000.
Anyone who knows me at all knows that I want nothing more than to protect natural resources, including lakes, streams, and rivers, from abuse. I think there are ways to educate ourselves about how to better preserve our surroundings; and, yes, some of that education may come at a public cost. But these interstate signs just don't seem to do the trick.
Your thoughts?
Posted by joe lance in Government at 10:56 PM | Comments (0)
The Long and the short of it
So, I can now openly say that former Hamilton County Sheriff Billy Long was as guilty as sin on those charges of extortion and drug trafficking, and all the rest, because he has entered such a plea on over two dozen federal counts.
On paper, Long faces a minimum of ten years (it looks like it would have been fifteen, with the one firearm-related charge that is to be dropped), and a maximum of life in prison; but that is what you or I would get, and not a connected former law enforcement and political official.
See, Long's well-known defense attorney, Jerry Summers, plans to get his client a sentence of, say, one day. What is this "safety valve," and how can I invoke it should I ever — gods forbid — run afoul of the law?
I hope justice is served in this case, and that no special treatment is given this criminal over any other.
Posted by joe lance in Miscellaneous at 08:58 PM | Comments (1)
Sigh. There goes Garrigan
When I seriously got into blogging and went to a national conference in Nashville nearly three years ago, one panelist in the first night's "old media/new media" discussion was an impressive alt-weekly editor named Liz Garrigan. I was not familiar with the Scene prior to that time, but I have been a distant denizen since.
However, things change, and Liz Garrigan is moving on. I wish her well, and hope that the alt-weekly remains as killer.
See also:
Post Politics
Nashville is (still sorta) Talking (By the way, NIT alerted me to this item via Twitter. Bloggers take note: I'll typically get your tweet before I see your RSS feed.)
Posted by joe lance in News at 07:25 PM | Comments (2)
'Heels and Hoosiers
Add me to the list of bloggers who'll be watching the North Carolina and Indiana returns tonight.
Though opinion polls can be useful indicators, the election results are always the real document, of course. And there can be surprises.
I wish for an Obama victory in both states, not only because I have selected him as my preferred candidate, but as it may boost the chances that this Democratic (sic) Party nomination process will end.
Don't make the mistake of counting out Senator Clinton, though, until she herself makes that choice.
Posted by joe lance in Presidential Elections at 10:23 AM | Comments (0)
May 05, 2008
Chattanooga infiltrated by impostors
A couple of days ago the annual Armed Forces Day parade wound its way through the streets of downtown Chattanooga, and throngs of the Tennessee Valley's most patriotic citizens lined its path.
Photographer Wesley Schultz was there to capture some images, and one that stood out in particular is posted on Chattanoogan.com's front page. This is ostensibly one of the area's most patriotic couples, right? They are wearing shirts patterned after the flag, and holding a sign that says "God Bless America."
But look closely at the photograph. Do you see the graphics on the folding-chair bag?
That's right: soccer balls. And everyone knows that soccer (what those heathens in …well, the rest of the world call futbol) is distinctly unAmerican.
I hope these infidels get found out and deported.
Posted by joe lance in There are no words at 09:20 PM | Comments (1)
May 03, 2008
Obama wins squeaker in Guam, party readies for recount
Let's see, who gets the link tonight? How about race42008.com? They are just pointing to CNN, though.
Obama led the vote count throughout the day and had a 52.7 percent to 47.3 percent advantage over Clinton by late afternoon. Clinton then won the sole remaining precinct — Guam’s largest village of Dededo — by a 61.9 percent to 38.1 percent margin, which brought her to within 7 votes of Obama in the overall tally.
Huh, and all this time I thought Harry Belafonte supported Obama! (You may stop groaning now. I'll be here all week.)
Meanwhile, a breaking news "tweet" popped up on twhirl that suggests it isn't quite over.
Posted by joe lance in Presidential Elections at 09:34 PM | Comments (0)
May 02, 2008
Frederick Douglass ran for US Senate?
Our buddy Dan Lehr of NewsChannel9 posted a screen capture from FOX News* that would be amusing if it were not so depressing. One of the on-air personalities is even shown laughing about the idea that a crew member was trying to dig up video of the Lincoln-Douglas debates (from the 1850s). But then this same crew puts up a graphic depicting Abraham Lincoln opposite Frederick Douglass, instead of Stephen Douglas.
I checked Wikipedia after writing the title to this post, just to be sure the eminent abolitionist (and so much more) Mr. Douglass did not, in fact, ever run for the United States Senate, and learned something today: he was named (but did not really run as) the vice presidential nominee in 1872 for the Equal Rights Party. But during the era when Abraham Lincoln was famously debating Stephen Douglas, Frederick Douglass was still fighting for his brothers and sisters to be free.
Furthermore, I would imagine that Frederick Douglass at least sympathized with the newly minted Republican Party, which found its first White House victory with Abraham Lincoln; Stephen Douglas, on the other hand, was a Democrat.
Make sure to check out the post at Vote08, as there is another funny-yet-sad photo there.
*I am not picking on FOX News, as I have seen similar blunders from each of the 24-hour cable news networks (like a picture of Osama bin Laden when the subject was Barack Obama). I think the pressure to be so quick with every story, while at the same time trying to fill 24/7, causes crap like this; but it seems to be increasing.
Posted by joe lance in News at 02:53 PM | Comments (1)
May 01, 2008
Out of season today: oysters and open fires
Happy May Day, or International Workers' Day; but before you go building a huge bonfire, shucking oysters, and slithering around a maypole — as fun as all that sounds — remember that your fire can net you a fine if blazing in Hamilton County, and that oysters are unofficially out of season until September.
As far as I know, there are no restrictions upon maypoles.
Posted by joe lance in Miscellaneous | Nature at 09:08 AM | Comments (3)