KnoxViews turns seven years old today

Before there was Newscoma, LeftWingCracker, or anyone else blogging in this state, there was SouthKnoxBubba, which eventually became KnoxViews.  It was SKB's writing that inspired me to start this blog after John Kerry's defeat in 2004, and I was crushed when the blog was taken down.

Then, I rejoiced when KnoxViews was started, and it is still going strong today.  Randy Neal (the TRUE Blogfather of Tennessee, in my opinion) is the founder of that blog and the original SKB, and you should be reading KnoxViews.  Go read it and thank him for being a true inspiration to all of us who write about progressive politics in this state.

Randy, if you hadn't started SKB, I doubt I ever would have started LWC.  Thank you.

Robert Reich reminds us what's at stake in the 2012 Elections

Can we clone Bernie Sanders??

A Book Signing this Saturday at Davis-Kidd!

Book Signing

Tennessee Women: Their Lives and Times, Vol. 1

eds., Sarah Wilkerson Freeman and Beverly Greene Bond

“The authors of these well-researched and gracefully written biographical studies admirably capture the complexities of multi-textured lives of diverse women who were often heroines on their own terms. Sarah Wilkerson Freeman and Beverly Greene Bond have edited an outstanding work, one that makes a major contribution to American women’s history, southern history, and especially the history of Tennessee.” -- Darlene Clark Hine, editor, Black Women in America

Davis-Kidd Booksellers, Inc.

387 Perkins Ext. , Memphis, Tennessee 38117

October 17, 2009, 1:00 PM

THIS was sure a smart thing to do......

NOT.

Does the junior Senator from New York have a deathwish for her campaign? The Huffington Post has a story (with audio) of Senator Clinton badmouthing Democratic activists like MoveOn.Org and those who support her opponent, Senator Barack Obama. Here's an excerpt of her remarks:

"Moveon.org endorsed [Sen. Barack Obama] -- which is like a gusher of money that never seems to slow down," Clinton said to a meeting of donors. "We have been less successful in caucuses because it brings
out the activist base of the Democratic Party. MoveOn didn't even want us to go into Afghanistan. (LWC note: that's a lie) I mean, that's what we're dealing with. And you know they turn out in great numbers. And they are very driven by their view of our positions, and it's primarily national security and foreign policy that drives them. I don't agree with them. They know I don't agree with them. So they flood into these caucuses and dominate them and really intimidate people who actually show up to support me."

Here's the money quote from Celeste Fremon, who also writes for OffTheBus:

The disclosure of Clinton's statement disparaging the prominence of party activists in the caucus process comes after she repeatedly suggested that Obama's electability had been compromised because he had allegedly offended other key Democratic constituencies.

What part of THE BASE DOES NOT WANT YOU have you not figured out, Senator?

Yahoo! I made it to 1000!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ladies and germs, this is your humble Cracker's 1000th post, in our fourth year of operation, and I want to thank YOU for your viewing, your reading, your comments, and your support.

Thanks also to Jon for his commentary, I'm glad he settled here to help out with this effort.

Onward to 2000 and beyond!!!!!

UPDATE: in addition to the wonderful comments you have left, our beloved Newscoma is leading cheers at her place on this milestone, for which I am thankful...

Bravo! Come down for “MISSION ACCOMPLISHED”!

“MISSION ACCOMPLISHED” EVENT
MARKS FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF IRAQ WAR’S END

THIRD MAN, GIANT BEAR,

ANTIQUE CURTAINS,

AND DAN MONTGOMERY
TO PLAY FREE OUTDOOR EVENT DOWNTOWN,
FEATURING CLASSIC PROTEST SONGS AND ORIGINAL MATERIAL

SATURDAY, MAY 3, BEGINNING AT 2:00 P.M.
FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC,

NEAR THE NATIONAL CIVIL RIGHTS MUSEUM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MORE INFO:
April 8, 2008

Kerry Hayes
kerry.hayes@gmail.com

901 481 5104

Major combat operations in Iraq have ended. In the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed. And now our coalition is engaged in securing and reconstructing that country. --George W. Bush, May 1, 2003

MEMPHIS—On Saturday, May 3, we commemorate the fifth anniversary of this historic moment with “Mission Accomplished: Five Years Later,” an afternoon of free music and free thought. Memphis artists Dan Montgomery, Antique Curtains, Giant Bear, and The Third Man will take the stage on the grounds near South Main Street and Nettleton Avenue, near the National Civil Rights Museum, to perform a selection of classic and contemporary protest music.
“Mission Accomplished: Five Years Later” is an outdoor event, free and open to the public.

The artists:
Dan Montgomery: "Montgomery's ability to spot people you'd never notice and turn them into characters you can't resist is uncanny." –Cosmik Debris.

Antique Curtains: “Perfectly Wire-d songs with an arty, angular approach that will leave you panting for more.” –vicitimoftime.com

Giant Bear: “This highly touted Memphis-based quintet throws big band, bluegrass, country and Bob Dylan into a blender with unpredictable and exhilarating results.” –Creative Loafing
The Third Man: "Smart pop is hard to come by, and the Third Man's latest release, ‘Among the Wolves,’ is borderline brilliant.” –Commercial Appeal

Key Points:

While Memphis’ activist community have staged and/or taken part in numerous rallies and protests opposing the Iraq War, this is the first event to include significant participation by Memphis’ independent music community.

Each band/artist will be performing a mix of classic “protest” rock music (Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie, U2, Bruce Springsteen, Rolling Stones, etc.) as well as original music.

Yes, we are doing this to take advantage of the many thousands of people who will already be downtown for Beale Street Music Festival.

No, we are not trying to position ourselves as a competitor to that event. This is a locally-focused alternative to mark an important date in the history of our nation’s propaganda.

3,874 American lives have been lost since May 1, 2003—a date that President George W. Bush arbitrarily declared “an end” to the Iraq War. (Source: www.antiwar.com/casualties)

Tennessee has lost 93 men and women in the war. (Source:projects.washigtonpost.com/fallen )

As our country slips farther into recession, the long-term economic burden of the war on American taxpayers is currently estimated as $1 – 5 billion. (Source: www.alternet.org/waroniraq)

Photos, MP3s, press materials and artist interviews available
by contacting Kerry Hayes, kerry.hayes@gmail.com or 901 481 5104.

I'm not really worried about this...

Look, folks, if it goes to Denver, it goes to Denver.  I support Barack Obama, as I think he would be far tougher to beat than Hillary Clinton.

If she wins the nomination in a fair process (FL and MI have to do re-votes), then she does and I support her, albeit not with as much passion as I would Obama.  The truth is that my Silky would be a better President than John Sydney McCain, so I am not as frenzied as the supporters of either candidate.  Hillary is not the AntiChrist, and neither is Barack, so everybody needs to chill the fuck out, OK?

Look, I understand why my friends who are elected officials got behind Hillary; they knew her and had relationships with both of them from the White House days and before and felt comfortable with them, while they had no idea who this guy Obama really was.  (Hell, I didn't either for a while).  That's cool that they support them; elected officials are not-so-trusting lot, in case you didn't notice, and they're not going to go out on a limb for someone they don't know.

Of course, this timidity in the face of a Republican hegemony is not very comforting if you're a concerned progressive voter, and this to me is why Obama has touched so many people.  He does represent hope for the future; after 8 years of a treasonous, unlawful administration, Americans ARE CRAVING HOPE.

Even if the Clinton years WERE better (and they were, economically), people realize that we're not in a position to return to that, and we may not be for a while.  We're going to need someone who can LEAD, not incrementalize, and that person is Barack Obama.

She's a manager, not a leader; if I have to settle for that, I will, but I would rather not do that and risk a Bush third term via McCain.

Flame away!

We have all forgotten, and shame on us for doing so

Today, March 4, 2008, is the 75th anniversary of the inauguration of the greatest President since the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

Enough said.

That's what I get for sending the email out!

I had a really good post in my head regarding this terrific post by Sara Robinson at Orcinus earlier today, which I sent to my email list, including GoldnI.

Damned if she didn't beat me to it, so you'll just have to go here to read her commentary after you read Sara's post.

Update: so, GoldnI wants to know what I think, so here goes.

First, let me quote Sara:

So if Obamamania doesn't come close to making the cut as a "cult," then just what the hell is going on there?

What's going on is that we've finally got a Democratic candidate who understands exactly how the Republicans did it. As I pointed out my very first week on this blog, the GOP didn't come to power by talking about plans and policies; they did it by using strongly emotional appeals that grabbed people by the gut and didn't let them go. Theirs was never a movement based on reason. It was, from the very beginning, a movement of hearts and souls. And it was that deep, emotionally sustaining commitment that drew people in so deeply that they were willing to give 25 years of their lives to bringing about the New World Order their leaders promised them. We may hate what they've accomplished -- but we're never going to be able to do better until we can inspire that same kind of passion for change.

This reminds me of something Steve Cohen once said about Phil Bredesen: He's a manager, not a leader.  That's the difference between Obama and Clinton: he's a leader and she's a manager.  She is just not the type of person to bring about wholesale change, the type that Obama wants, and his supporters want even more.

Sara continues:

The energy of Obama's rallies scares the hell out of reason-bound, well-educated liberals; but it's nothing new to anyone who's spent time in the overheated revival-meeting atmosphere that conservative politicians have used to rouse their voters for decades. Stirring up their base in exactly this same way is how they won. Our chronic inability to move people like that is why we've continued to lose.

Hillary is going the old route, with more plans and promises. And she's losing. Obama is trying something that's new to Democratic politics -- but that also has a proven track record when it comes to raising and consolidating truly transformational movements. In fact: that kind of change simply does not happen unless you've got this kind of committed mass movement.

In short, Hillary is a technocratic tweaker and not a revolutionary.  While Barack Obama is not exactly Che Guevara, he understands how strong the need for change is, and he shows every indication that he will do his damndest to pull it off.

Edwards continues to move closer in Nevada

Leslie Byrd forwarded this article to me about Edwards' poll numbers surging in Nevada, and asked me to note the following:

Three instructive notes about these numbers:


1. This poll was taken after New Hampshire and yet John gained nearly 15 points, demonstrating he has the momentum going into the caucus.

2. This poll was taken after the Culinary Workers Union endorsement. So any bump Obama got from that endorsement should be reflected here.

3. There is still 9% undecided. Moreover, given the unique nature of the caucus, Gravel and Kucinich will likely not be viable and there 1% will most likely go to Edwards on second choice votes. Thus, in practical terms (or caucus terms) the numbers are actually more like O-32% H-30% E-29% --- with a 4.5% margin of error.

The message in all this:

THE PEOPLE NOT THE PUNDITS WILL PICK THE NOMINEE!

Yeah, I know...

I've been a slacker this week, but I'm not alone (Jon, where are you?) and I will have more up later, I promise, really, really, I do.

I am getting more pissed off at the Democrats in Congress (excluding MY Congressman, who, with one exception, has been his usual progressive self) for being the very wimps that the VRWC says they are. They seem to forget very easily why we sent them there, to stop at every turn the corporatist policies of the Republicans who have tried to destroy everything that America stands for.

Which is why Rahm Emanuel and Steny Hoyer should be run out of the party and kept out.

Enough on that.

I want to say GREAT JOB to the Flyer for expanding their blogroll, which I have been fortunate enough to be included for some time now, there are more great local blogs than ever, and Kudos to them.

More later.

Let's help Mike Kernell!

This Saturday Evening, December 1

from 4-8 PM

A Party and Fundraiser

for

State Rep. Mike Kernell (D-93)

at the home of

Shelby County Commissioner Steve Mulroy

1035 Perkins Terrace

All donations welcome, no corporate checks, please.

If you are unable to attend but would like to donate anyway,

please make out your check to the Kernell Campaign and mail to

The Mike Kernell Campaign

111 South Highland

Memphis, TN 38111

We hope to see you there!

Let's get statewide for a minute..

We need to put a stop to what appears to be looming for Tennessee Democrats in 2010: a Lincoln Davis-HFJ primary for Governor.

OK, I should have provided barf bags before I put that up for you, but I started thinking of it after GoldnI's comment on the post below, and discovered that she had written a fine piece about 2010 herself.

Here's a sample, but you should read the whole thing:

Great! The DINO with no substance, the Congressman with the 66.3% lifetime rating from the American Conservative Union, the man who wants to be a "pro-war Democrat", the one Democrat who could make Harold Ford Jr. look progressive, is running. Color me thrilled.

Remember when...(Moved UP)

I got cranked up about the political process here in Big Shelby, especially with regard to SuperDistricts?

Vibinc jumped on this like a first pitch fastball, and has kicked it up a notch:

Because of the “Super” Districts, some areas have more representatives than others. In Super District 8, which comprises all of 6 and 7, and a majority of 3 and 4, ALL of the members of the Super District 8 delegation reside in District 7, effectively giving District 7 a disproportionate power. There is a similar problem in Super 9, 2 members reside in 5 and one in 2. To break that down, District 7 currently has a 1:23000 ratio (4 members of the council residing in that district with 3 representing Super 8), District 5, my district, has a 1:30566, and District 2 has a 1:45850 ratio.

The big losers in this deal are Districts 1,3,4 and 6, arguably some of the most impoverished areas of the city.

Go read the rest of the article!

UPDATE: One of our loyal readers (and ExecCom Member) Dwayne Thompson, went to the Charter Commission gathering at the Cordova Library and presented the following:

PROPOSAL TO CHANGE THE METHOD OF ELECTING CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS

This proposal is to propose how City Council members are elected. My proposal is the have all members elected from 13 separate single member districts.

Beginning in 1967, there were seven single member districts and 6 members elected from at-large positions, citywide. About 12 years ago, the Council voted to change the At-large positions to two “Super Districts,” District 8 and District 9 with three positions each. District 8 was set up as predominantly African-American and District 9 as predominantly European American.

The referendum that adopted the “Super Districts” passed but by a narrow margin despite no organized efforts to oppose it.

Whether a candidate runs for an At-Large or a “Super District” position, it requires a lot of money and/or a lot of prior name recognition to get elected to these seats with a constituency of over 300,000 residents. Once a member is elected to one of these seats, it’s almost impossible to unseat the member, no matter how lacking their representation may be. Also, this leaves the remaining seven single member districts with large 90,000 resident Districts covering several communities.

The arguments for these types of seats in the past have been that voters got to vote for 7 (with At-Large) or 4 (with “Super Districts”) of their council members. However, a large majority of Memphians cannot name their At-large or now their Super District representatives.

The other argument was that these members have a broader view of the City as a whole. However, they have not produced any better quality than single member districts and worse in some cases.

PROPOSAL TO CHANGE THE METHOD OF ELECTING CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS

Therefore, I propose that the City Charter be amended to allow for 13 single member districts, eliminating all Super-Districts and that there be an effort to retain community integrity for each district as much as possible.

Reasons include:

1. To strengthen communities. A single member district would typically encompass one community or two or three neighborhoods in Memphis, making its council member the designated and clear-cut representative for that community or neighborhoods. Based on current census figures, this would include around 48,000 to 49,000 constituents. There may also be residual effects that help constituents identify with their communities in a stronger way, creating more community pride.

2. Campaign costs. Campaign costs have risen exponentially over the past two decades. Single member districts will eliminate much of that, making candidates less dependent upon special interest money and making middle class citizens who are public minded able to make a credible run for office.

3. More Accountable Council Members. With a constituency of less than 50,000 residents, a single member Council member is more identified and more accessible to a community. Residents would know who to contact for City issues. If it was perceived that a council Member was not doing his or her job, it would not require large sums of money or a well known name to mount a credible campaign at election time to change representation.

4. Race. Having 13 single member districts will make the racial makeup of the Council more reflective of the City’s overall racial makeup. Also, as racial figures change, districts may have a more orderly change.

Submitted by

H. Dwayne Thompson

June 26, 2007

Outstanding, great Job Dwayne!

America is NOT a conservative country

And Media Matters has done an extensive report that refutes the bilge spewing from the Mainstream Media regarding the conservatism of the USA, cultural and otherwise.

You can go directly to the report here, or download the PDF for printing and reading. Either way, it's a great way to learn the truth about this country, and call bullshit on those who say otherwise.