Chip Forrester Wins TNDP Chairman’s Race
Posted on January 24, 2009 at 2:13 pmForrester defeats establishment candidate Charles Robert Bone by a vote of 42 to 25 to become the head of Tennessee’s Democratic Party.
UPDATE 3:30PM: In his acceptance speech, while thanking Charles Robert Bone and extending the requisite olive branches to the establishment that tried to derail his candidacy, Forrester made abundantly clear who he was and what he was about. This was not a man interested in painting in pale pastels. This was a man looking to create from a palette of bold colors and stark contrasts.
Noting that he was “still high” from his trip to DC for the inauguration of Barack Obama, Forrester announced he was “putting Tennessee Republicans on notice” calling out Robin Smith, Bill Hobbs, Jason Mumpower, Chip Saltsman and others explicitly by name as purveyors of racism and demagoguery. Their attacks on the party and their candidates would no longer go unanswered.
“When you lie, we are gonna call you out as liars,” stated Forrester.
If there was any doubt about who was the establishment candidate and who was the candidate who wanted to shake things up, Forrester put it rest with his impassioned speech. While Tennessee may have rejected Barack Obama’s message of hope and change at the ballot box, today the Tennessee Democratic Party gave it a great big bearhug by overwhelming electing Forrester over the objections of the party fathers.
UPDATE II: See Andy Sher for reaction from Robin Smith and notation of the presence of aides to Rep. Bart Gordon and Rep. Lincoln Davis at the vote.
UPDATE III: State Senator Eric Stewart twitters about this thread.
SEE ALSO:
The official press release
Chip Forrester’s acceptance speech as prepared for delivery
Sean Braisted
Mancini Twitters
Christine Buttorff
Jeff Woods
GoldnI
Dru Fuller
Ben Vos
Newscoma
The AP
Comments
238 Responses to “Chip Forrester Wins TNDP Chairman’s Race”
This is HUGE! Congrats to Mr. Forrester. A great guy and a richly deserved victory.
Props to Chip, he will do well.
This is the beginning of the end of TNDP. Look for the creation of a new organization that will supplant fundraising and support candidates who can actually win races. Hope Chip had a big collection plate on Sunday. He’s going to need all the loose change he can find just to keep the lights on.
Beginning of the end? Have you been paying attention to the TNDP these last few years?
I stand corrected. Make that “end of the end.” Also watch for the DNC to withdraw its 50-state funds from TN.
Oh, lord, this is hillarious. Democrats are through in Tennessee. The just put a crazy ass liberal without fundraisers in charge of the party. Fuck them.
A sad, sad day for my party. Tennessee Democratic Party, RIP.
Do you think that Doug Horne will continue to let the Tennessee Democratic Party have that huge office space at bare-minimum rates? Do you think that the Congressionals, or the legislative caucuses, or whoever the Governor candidate is, will invest in a Coordinated Campaign in 2010? Let’s see what kind of Jackson Day fundraiser we have this summer. Let’s see where the DNC, the DCCC and the DGA send their money — to the Party or to the individual candidates.
Harrison is exactly right about all of this. Whoever he is, he has warned the Democrats from the get-go. As bad as it was for us in Tennessee in 2008, it can be a lot worse. And now, it is.
For all the handwringing, bitching, moaning and complaining we have heard, Tennessee Democrats hold five of the nine Congressional districts, the Governor’s chair, half the state house, and at least half of the largest city and county mayors positions. And these ding-dings on the Executive Committee (have you ever looked at what a collections of wannabe nutjobs these people are) turn their backs on the people who do what you want Democratic candidates to do — WIN — and snub the opinions of those who bankroll the party. What a disaster. Forrester is a bizarro wingnut. People like Al Gore hate him for a reason, and now he is chairman. Looks like our state’s Democratic Party will be traveling the road of the Whigs.
The venerated establishment leaders who supported Chip’s opponent may be geniuses at raising tons of money–but what good is it unless they can prove that know how to effectively direct those resources? Are the insiders so panicked that they are willing to compromise the future of the party just to retain control? Obviously so.
Democrats have lost two successive Senate races, lost control of our state House of Representatives, and gave a BIGGER percentage of our popular vote to the GOP candidate for President in 2008 than we did in 2004! There is plenty of blame to go around for all of these losses, and at some point the circular firing squad becomes a waste of time. The point is, a change was necessary.
What happened in Nashville today was in many ways a redux of what happened with the DNC’s chairmanship after John Kerry’s defeat in 2004. With the party in dissaray and morale at all-time low, a grassroots-centric outsider stepped forward with bold ideas about aggressive new fundraising techniques and advancing the party’s message into previously uncontested territories; the establishment figures protested and panicked, but ultimately lost because the grassroots, at that point, had become to organized and engaged to be silenced.
By now, the fruits of Howard Dean’s labors have clearly paid off in dividends for Democrats everywhere. The TNDP now has Chairman who is committed to these same tactics on a statewide scale, and not a moment too soon. I am excited and eager to see the progress that we will make as a state and as a party in the years ahead.
Good bye, Tennessee Democratic Party. Ask someone that knows how much Howard Dean did for Tennessee. The answer is nothing. Now Democrats elect an ultra-libeal Dean clone as party chair. Obama did nothing for Tennessee, but a handful of his supporters take over the state Democratic party. What lunacy. I might as well vote Republican because the Tennessee Democratic Party doesn’t matter anymore.
So much negativity! what made Bone the better candidate? Both had good qualities to lead us forward. the blue print is there. If you are going to switch parties because your guy didn’t get voted in the, and you wont even let Chip implement his plan, then you probably were not a Democrat anyway. Ultra liberal Dean? He’s a DEMOCRAT, should he be more like Shaun Hannity or Pat Buchannon? We don’t need anymore “republican” “democrats”. Congratulations to Chip and we as DEMOCRATS will move forward with or without people. Stop being so negative so early. We can have all the money in the world, but with no plan and no outreach goal implemented we will just loose bad again
I’ll go first. These anonymous commenters are liars.
WOW NO WONDER THE DEMS HAVE BEEN IN RETREAT FOR SO LONG, WITH ALL THESE CRY BABIES CALLING THEMSELVES DEMOCRATS, GOOD RIDDANCE I SAY, HOORAY FOR THE NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
I would be willing to bet that A) these anonymous commenters are all the same person, and B) they were in some way personally involved to work against Forrester.
Liars about what, Mary? Plenty of us have invested decades in the TNDP, and we are not happy to see it set itself up for failure. That’s no lie.
Well, Former Dem, as unhappy as I am, I can’t see myself ever voting for a Republican. I will be voting the same way I have for nearly 40 years — Democratic. But I don’t owe any more of my money, energy or effort to the state party, and it will get none of it until Forrester is out. I’ll be sending my dollars directly into Democratic candidate’s campaigns.
TennRod, the Executive Committee may well be a bunch of idiots, as you say. I don’t know. They are deluding themselves if they think that all the activism and grassroots organizing n the world would have elected Obama if he had not raised a record-breaking amount of money. Ironically, Bone — not Forrester — was a major help to Obama last year.
TennRod. How is it know being set up for failure? Like i asked before, tell me the MAJOR game changing deference between Chip Forrester and Charles Bone? Setting up for failure is you and others COMPLAINING and not getting out on the street working to make changes. You should run for county chair or other leadership roles.
The major game-changing difference is the ability to relate to people outside Nashville. If Chip Forrester can do that, then a) I’m wrong, and b) things might turn out okay.
Game changing differences?
1. The people that fund the party have publicly said they won’t work with Forrester. Where is he going to get his money? He talks a big game. How will he fund it? You think that’s a lie. Ms. Mancini? You better wake up. And how much money are you going to raise for TNDP?
2. Tennessee Democrats don’t have problems in Nashville and Memphis. They have problems in rural Tennessee. Does anyone think Forrester can connect with rural Tennesseans?
Anyone that doesn’t see the severity of these problems is delusional.
As for me, I can say with certainty that I’ve done more for the Tennessee Democratic Party over the last 20 years than any other commentor. No more. I cast my lot with Lincoln Davis, Bart Gordon, and Phil Bredesen.
You people have a long two years of living with your mistake.
I would like to personally thank the Tennessee Democratic Party for insuring by its vote today that there will be a real Republican majority in both Houses of the General Assembly in two years, and that the GOP will control the Legislature for many years to come…I can’t begin to thank you enough.
Former Dem. when we take back the House and The Gov. office and pick up Senate seats, don’t just back in. You may have done more over the last twenty YEARS TOTAL. Twenty years ago i was 8. ten years ago i was 18. how exactly does bone reach out better in rural TN? Tennessee Democrats we will be OK. We WILL move forward with the people we have who have the fight in them to take back Tennessee. You either lead, follow or get the hell out of the way. Former Dem, you probably are the same type of person upset that Hillary lost, and didn’t support Obama in your district like many Dem. Candidates. (the majority of whom LOST)
We will win the Governor’s seat and we will pick up other legislative seats. Forrester may even try to bring Bone in in some form or fashion. Have a vision, have faith and work towards the best. we all are apart of this.
Much as I hate to admit it, Oatney is right. The Republicans are guffawing at this development. The only hope at this point is a new organization that can accomplish what Chip can’t: Bridging the gap between enthusiasm and actual ability to win races and connect with independents and moderate Democrats. Good luck running a party when the Governor and members of Congress won’t even return your call.
The bottom line is this.
There is a role for everyone to play in the big tent Democratic Party. Some people run for office, some sit on the Executive Committee or their county party, some people raise money, some people knock doors, and some just vote for Democrats and that’s it.
And the role that people like TennRod and TennDemocrat can play is simple. Raise money and vote for the D - we don’t need your “advice” on how to win since you stand with the people who’ve responsible for losing. Tennessee Democrats have lost their majority over the last four election cycles and because of that, people like you - and Bredesen, Davis, Gordon, Tanner, and Cooper, should open their wallets and shut their mouths. None of them got elected by being good strategists - they won by either being millionaires or 20-year incumbents.
The ground has shifted under their feet and they need to adapt or die. Democrats can’t get elected here anymore by just having a D next to their name or paying some direct mail vendor to do everything for them. Grassroots organizing, not high-dollar media blitzes, are how Dems have to win now and thanks to the “pro-business” business crowd’s influence on the state party, Tennessee Democrats have forgotten that.
Take your $5000 checks and blow them out your ass. Gray Sasser collected tons of those and what did it get us? More Republicans. I’ll take a Democratic Party that knows how to get out the vote and what to do with the money it does raise.
Chip Forrester’s election is a step in the right direction and if the bizpigs won’t play ball, so be it.
Oh, and “Harrison”…
The DNC has already cut it’s 50-State funds. Not just to Tennessee, but to all the states.
The program ended when Howard Dean’s term ended. Hopefully, incoming DNC chairman Tim Kaine will re-institute the program.
In any case, Harrison’s comment is yet another example of the establishment hacks not knowing what the hell they’re talking about. Again, are these the kinds of people we want offering strategic advice to Democrats?
I don’t know who Chip Forrester or the “establishment candidate” Charles Bone are, but if Forrester is a REAL Democrat (a progressive/liberal) and not a nother DINO (Democrat in Name Only) then the Democratic Party might have some hope left in TN. Since I don’t see much difference between the “establishment” Democrats in TN and the Republican Party… I was going to join the Green or Socialist Party…
Morpheus,
U r 2 funny . . . write us checks and shut up . . . yeah, that’s how u win elections . . . a broke party run by loud mouthed know it all liberals . . . good luck next year . . . how many elections have u and the liberal crowd won n TN? . . . u people couldn’t even win the Democratic primary 4 prez.
And how about this for an idea?
If our Governor and Congressional Democrats want to keep on mouthing off and threatening to take their toys and go home because their guy didn’t win, I say that the rank-and-file strike back.
The county Democratic parties ought to invite Bart Gordon, Lincoln Davis, John Tanner, and Jim Cooper to their next round of meetings and tell them “if you threaten us again, we will run somebody against you in the primary and send your ass home.”
Mark my words, the DINO’s will change their tune faster than you can say “Charles Bone WHO?”
“Liars about what, Mary?”
Lying about being Tennessee Democrats.
Ironic comment coming from a Republican.
You’ve been taking money from people and telling them to sit in the corner for decades.
And your illiterate ass is missing the point. It’s the rank-and-file who get to pick the party chairman. They voted and Forrester won. The reactions from the establishment is childish and counterproductive. More importantly, they have demonstrated that they don’t understand how elections are won now and they’re advice is outdated and doesn’t produce results.
In any case, none of what is going on in the Tennessee Democratic Party now has to do with ideology - it has to do with strategy and tactics. We’ve been running conservative Democrats in conservative districts for years and they STILL can’t win. They’re losing because they’re not organized, not because they’re too liberal or don’t have enough money.
Now go back to RedState where you can hang out with the other fascists who don’t know what they’re talking about.
My previous comment is directed at “GOP Glee”.
Mr. Oatney as long as you guys keep putting incompetant racist like Jason Mumpower on the ticket the Dems are always in the game. The gop can’t take control when they have control. You want have the McCain coatails in 2010.
Yeah, Morpheus, those powerful county parties that couldn’t recruit Democrats 2 run against Republicans . . . Bet Davis and co. r quaking with fear . . . what do u suppose the DNC will do with it’s money when it finds out the big dog Democrats have bailed on the state party . . . n a state where Obama got crushed . . . I wouldn’t count on DNC money 4 TN.
For the record, Obama currently has a 60% approval rating in Tennessee.
That means that so far, all Democrats and all independents in the state approve of how he’s handled himself since he beat McCain.
If Obama has that kind of number by the time elections roll around in 2010 and the Dems spend the next year party-building, the GOP will lose the state House and probably one or two in the Senate.
You heard it here first.
GOP Glee, county parties do not recruit candidates to run. The state party does that.
And outside of the 50-State money that came down here under Chairman Dean (and is now gone), the DNC doesn’t send money to state parties. They haven’t for decades.
Go solicit a gay prostitute or take away someone’s pension or whatever you people do on a Saturday night - you’re in over your head here.
“Rank and file Democrats get to elect the Democratic Party chair”??????? I can’t believe that someone is so uninformed that they said that in public.Tennessee Democrats totally got duped today.
The executive committee elects the party chair. The executive committee is made up of the ultimate party insiders and they tend to be total wingnuts. Look at the roster. Most executive committee members have been on the executive committee for decades.
What happened today is a group of party insiders elected one of their own to lead the party. A total farce.
But let’s see what else these insiders have done:
They stole a legitimate primary election win from Rosalind Kurita.
Fred Hobbs, a Forrester supporter, called President Obama a terrorist.
In 2001, they passed a resolution supporting a state income tax.
And this group now runs the Tennessee Democratic Party.
How do you spell “disaster” - “T-N-D-P.”
“When you lie, we are gonna call you out as liars,” stated Forrester. Words destined to bite Chip in the ass.
Morpheus, thine ignorance doth inspire awe. County parties have a lot more to do with candidate recruitment than the state party. But let me ask you, how many candidates have you recruited? And, oh, yeah, executive committee members are charged with candidate recruitment by the party bylaws. Yep, the same geniuses that killed the Tennessee Democratic Party today.
Finally, tell me how successful you think Forrester will be at recruiting candidates in rural Tennessee since you think the party chair should do it?
Noodles, insofar as a political party can be organized, the Exec. Comm. represents the rank and file. They are, after all, elected by “card-carrying” Democrats in primary elections. I suppose they are insiders if you’re comparing them to people who are new to the Party or those who don’t participate other than just to vote, but they are popularly elected and do in fact represent rank-and-file.
FWIW, I predict that many of the current Exec. Comm. members will be replaced in the next election by new people who came to the Party because of Obama. Don’t expect to see Fred Hobbs again after the next election, btw.
I do not defend the Exec. Comm.’s decision to oust Rosalind Kurita. It was petty and stupid, as Republicans are learning now when they tried to primary Speaker Kent Williams.
As for the TNDP’s resolution supporting Republican Governor Don Sundquist’s income tax… well, if it had passed, we would not be in the budget mess we are in now. If you understood tax and budget policy, you’d know that having a broad tax base that is not entirely reliant on a sales tax is the most stable way to fund public services that the people want and need. When sales are down and business is bad, you need multiple revenue streams (along with disciplined spending) to keep things together. States the size of Tennessee that have an income tax and other forms of revenue are doing better then we are.
But that’s a topic for another thread. Thanks for playing!
Actually canidate recruitment is done by the house and senate caucases, not the party or the county chairs.
Willie, you’re nuts.
There is no section of the Tennessee Democratic Party bylaws that requires members of the Executive Committee to recruit candidates for office. They may keep their eyes open and pass names up the chain to Nashville, but it is not their job. I have actually read the TNDP bylaws, so please show me where that exists and I will gladly admit my error. In the meantime, I call bullshit.
In Tennessee, the state party chair and the caucus leaders (Odom, Naifeh, Kyle, etc.) have traditionally done the recruiting. And I have no idea how well they’ll do with recruiting in rural Tennessee this cycle - its always a luck of the draw for both parties every time.
And this is not just about recruiting. Its about training new candidates on how to run for office and about having a strong county organization to get out the vote. Right now, the TNDP’s “candidate training” is laughable. It is run by the caucus offices and this is a critical weak link in the Party’s structure. The only new Democrat candidate who knocked off an incumbent Republican - Ty Cobb - was able to do so largely by ignoring what the caucuses told him to do. Ty went to campaign school in Washington and ran a solid grassroots campaign with the Unions running point. This is the recipe for success and the next wave of candidates would do well to emulate it.
The people he called out are not the players for the GOP. That shoes how much he knows.
So Morpheus thinks the path to success is the unions and the income tax. Holy shit — these pro-Chip nuts are worse than I could ever imagine.
All I want to know is whether or not Mr. Forrester is interested in working with me –an East Tennessee Democrat– in establishing an actual party here. If so, then “Praise God and Hallelujah! Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna!” How do I get in contact with him?(preferably yesterday)
As to those claiming, liberals couldn’t even win the Presidential primary… I assume you mean Obama supporters. However, the fact is Hillary Clinton was farther to the left than Obama on just about everything. His claimed opposition to the war convinced many otherwise but those folks have not taken a hard comparative look at their policies. That said, it hardly matters now. I was and remain a die-hard Clinton supporter and I also support OUR President.
The Democratic Party has elected its third straight ultra liberal Nashville attorney as party chair. How well did the first two perform?
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results. Tennessee Democrats are insane.
Morpheus, that last paragraph of yours is about the smartest thing I’ve read in this whole thread of comments (except my earlier one, of course).
Harrison, when the unions make a comeback - and they will when Obama signs the Employee Free Choice Act - the GOP will be dead meat for the next 30 years (if they’re not already thanks to Herr Bush). And they know it. Which is why the Cons have been lying about what EFCA actually means and will most likely use their first filibuster to try and kill it. EFCA is a death knell for the GOP.
As for the income tax… well, I would not advise any candidate outside of Davidson or Shelby County to support it. That doesn’t mean that having one isn’t the best thing for the state and the citizens. Some 65% of Tennesseans will benefit if we had a state income tax because it is deductible from federal income tax and keeps money in-state instead of going to the feds. And again, it is an additional revenue stream that provides insurance when there’s a slump in consumer spending. I will concede that an income tax is the “third rail” in Tennessee politics, but don’t assume it always will be. After all, a year ago, you were probably saying to yourself, “America will never elect a black man whose named Barack Hussein Obama”. Right?
Alex, explain to me what being “ultra-liberal” has to do with the job of party chairman.
I’ll just go ahead and answer that for you. Nothing. The chairman’s political ideology has zero impact on the job and its the candidates who set the tone for what the political ideology is supposed to be in the state. That ideology, by the way, is conservative. Conservative Democrats actually steer the ideology of the party. And how have they been doing?
As an aside, nobody who knows Gray Sasser would characterize him as “ultra-liberal”. Then again, to the fascists that make up the Tennessee Republican Party, even Phil Bredesen’s a liberal. What a laugh!
Appreciate the props, d.
Hey, Morpheus, tell us how many doors Jim Hawkins knocked on. A lot, and he got his ass whupped. Why don’t you tell us how many campaigns you have managed and won, smart guy.
MORPHEUS, HERRON AND TURNER ARE THE CAUCAS CHAIRS THEY WILL RECRUIT THE CANIDATES, NOT ODOM AND KYLE
Harrison, Morpheus never said anything about the help of a state income tax or that unions are the only way to go, but if you actually knew about Ty Cobb’s campaign as i do because I worked directly with him it, He had 85% of the Union support in Maury County. I don’t know if you know , but there is a Saturn plant there. They took there people and made calls and did door to door every week, 5 plus days a week. it aided him to say the least over Tom Dubois. Ty Cobb supported Obama openly even as people in his town would call him ‘ocobba”. he allowed me to do whatever necessary to get out the African American vote. And he won the two main black precints by over 85% and one by 1500 plus votes. Other candidates i worked with didnt want to be associate with obama in any form. And the black community took that as a democratic slap in the face. A.k.a Robertson county and the Robertson County dem Party, Randy camp a.k.a Brownsville and the Haywood County Dem party. Tell me how in Haywood county OBAMA could win the county, but Randy Camp loose the county. you know how. PARTY CHAIRS AND THEIR Ego’s( the I’ve done this longer than you mentality)
We will be fine with Chip once we put everything on the table from city to city, county to county.Republicans can only play the fear game for so long. If Obama is even half the president we expect him to be, how can republicans complain if they are back to work, providing for their families and safe from outside countries during his tenure?I’m sorry to say but i speak with young republicans who are educated and they will contest to the notion and the fact abortion, gun, religion platform in the south is killing them NATION WIDE. These EMOTIONAL issues will only continue to be talking points for your (i guess) greatly skilled candidates who speak of so much(guns, gays,god, abortion and nothing else) Once Tennessee comes past the stage its in now, the mid 80’s, and comes into the 21st century Tennessee will be like Virginia and N.C.
Tenndem, you are correct. I was talking about the previous leadership in the last cycle. I would expect Odom and Kyle to keep their hands in the mix, though.
No need for the caps, bro. Have a drink.
You are right, think i will, cheers
Alex, Jim Hawkins had a very tough fight and I’m not sure ANY Democrat could have won that race. That district is trending more R every day. And knocking off an incumbent is VERY tough to do in Tennessee.
But I can say with absolute confidence that had Jim relied on big ad buys only and not knocked those doors and done the grassroots, he would have gotten walloped even worse.
And while I will not reveal my identity, I will tell you that I worked in some capacity on dozens of campaigns. I have actually run six of them. Five were wins and the one loss was because the candidate listened to their wife instead of to me.
You can believe me or not, but I know what I am talking about when it comes to political campaigns and party politics. Not so much with legislative strategy, but good God, who wants to watch paint dry?
Morpheus,is right the only ground game the dems have right now is the unions, like it or not they are the most loyal segment of the Demcratic Party
Hawkins’ biggest problem was that the caucus wrote him off early and decided to focus their efforts on Ruppe and Randy Camp. If he had had the full support of the caucus, he could have taken in more money from the D-leaning pacs and other people who look to the caucus for guidance.
Jim was an outstanding candidate, and could have won with more caucus support (and more help from the Robertson and Sumner county parties).
Morpheus, the previous caucus chair were Haynes and Rinks. They recruited the candidates and ran the caucuses. Are you calling them incompetent?
Morpheus You gave out to much info I just figured out who you are. hows that new baby.
Hard to keep up with this frenzied exchange. In the interest of expediency, I won’t name names, but: It is retarded to point to Ty Cobb as the example of union power. He’s the only guy in Tennessee who works in a UAW community. You could almost argue that the Democratic candidate who loses that district is a fool. Second, on the topic of unions: It is absurd to think that unions are “making a comeback.” Did you even pay attention to the auto bailouts? Read between the lines: The auto industry is getting turned upside down, and unions will fall out of the pants pockets like so much lint. Obama won’t help unions; he’s too busy praying with Rick Warren. Finally, let’s talk about the income tax. Whoever raised that issue as a would-be asset in this slow economy must not be aware that times are equally (if not more) tough in the 41 other states that do have an income tax. Here’s a tip Sherlock: The income tax doesn’t mean shit if your people are getting laid off. Get a grip. Get real. And get a different party chairman, because this weirdo Forrester will lead Democrats into a wilderness unlike any we’ve seen in modern Tennessee history.
Ashford. First, THANK YOU for all the hard work you did for Ty Cobb.
And you hit the nail on the head with regards to how Ty handled Obama being at the top of the ballot. Randy Camp… not so much and he paid the price for the bad advice he got from the Bredesen crowd to throw Obama under the bus.
And I agree with you 110% on what you say about the wedge issues. They still work - for now - on Southerners but it is killing the Republican Party everywhere else. Before long, the “God, Guns, and Gays” schtick won’t even work here and the Republicans will actually have to come up with policies that work. They don’t have any now as Bush has demonstrated and that’s why they’re getting their asses kicked everywhere.
Time will catch up to them before long. Like I said, once people see that Obama isn’t the big boogeyman that Rush Limbaugh said he would be, the GOP will be finished. Even here. In the meantime, Dems have to keep organizing at the precinct level, running grassroots campaigns, and holding the bad Democrats accountable until the rest of the state catches up. It WILL happen. Slow and steady wins the race.
First of all Alex, Jim Hawkins was a good candidate who faced and uphill money battle from the jump. And Jim Hawkins was a genuinely nice, smart and damn good PERSON who would not play the push and shove politics needed to defeat Diane Black. Don’T get me wrong Jim is a man whom i could sit and talk with and learn from for hours and days, but he was so nice that he let Diane Black beat up on him with not retaliation. And once again the Sumner County Dem Party took offense to some of the strategies levied by the State Party as well as the Campaign team of Hawkins. And please don’t make it seem like the candidate recruitment is so much better with the TNGOP. Please. Sorry to let most of you guys with your head in the racial Utopia sand know, but many candidates only won do to McCain being a white man on the Republican ticket dragging votes down to other candidates. No. it doesn’t make you automatically racist if you voted against Obama, but stop playing the blind fool. Go visit some of these counties in rural Tennessee. No, don’t just visit go talk politics and life with them, go canvass in their communities go to THEIR CHURCHES and you tell me how some of these candidates one. Like in Gibson and Carroll County. Like Robertson. and so on and so on.
Your full of shit, Morpheus, and you don’t know shit about winning elections in Tennessee. Name these campaigns that you managed. Otherwise, I call bullshit on you.
harrison one place the unions are making a comeback, is in the legislature, there are more union firefighters in the house than there are attorny’s.
Gee, morph, the people who are “responsible for losing”? You mean Bredesen, Gordon, Tanner, Davis and Cooper? You mean the people who, let’s see… WON? What kind of dope are you?
Last I checked, Mary Mancini was not put in charge of deciding who is and who is not a Tennessee Democrat. I’ll put my Democratic credentials up against hers any day of the week. I have out contributed, out organized, out door-knocked, out hone banked, and generally out-Democratted (not a word, I know, I know) her and pretty much anyone else I can name (including whoever it was that said he was number 1) for the 35 years I have been able to vote. And, you know, Mary, I can out liberal you, too. Yapping on a low-watt, low listener radio station is great, but that doesn’t make you the all-knowing queen of the Democrats.
But I have seen a lot of self aggrandizing jerks like Forrester over the years, and they all have been disasters. When I was protesting the Vietnam War, or working for the ERA, or donating to NARAL, or working door-to-door for George McGovern, or registering African-Americans in Hardeman County at a time that was risky business, or whatever I have participated in along with fine people who often did more and did it better than me, believe me, we had ideals and hopes, and were enthusiastic ad believed in he power of grassroots organizing — and you know, I still do. But I saw early on that all the thumbing your nose at those actually in a position to do something to make your ideals a reality — Members of Congress, and Governors, and fundraisers, and mayors, and opinion leaders and the media — just ensured that you would never succeed. Martin Luther King had a great dream; the Supreme Court and the Congress and LBJ passed and enforced the laws we had to have to make that dream possible.
Obama was helped great and enthusiastic activists; he won with records amount of money and guidance, help and advice from those who knew what they were doing.
I know Chip Forrester. He merits no trust or confidence. He is a disaster for the TNDP. But when he has placed us firmly behind the 8 ball, up shit creek in a chicken wire boat with no paddle, it will be me and TennRod and Harrison and Former Democrat who will pull out the life rafts and somehow get us back into the majority. Charles Robert Bone will help us raise the money. We’ll look to winners from the Democratic Party (the ones you seem to disdain) to remind us how to win. I hope we are not too very old by then.
Good nite fellows I have to work in the morning
Tenndem, you apparently know something I don’t. I wasn’t aware that I was a new mother… I didn’t feel a thing.
But you’re welcome to keep guessing at the “too much information” I gave away.
Have another drink. I’m calling it a night.
Things are already changing here and much quicker than many folks realize. I’ve heard older people who were afraid of Obama now saying they are PROUD of Obama and also saying how good they think he’s going to do. Some of those same people are now reading his books! People are tired of living their lives in fear and division. Tennessee is changing fast — it’s just that those with little faith in their fellows can’t see it.
Great. Three firefighters in a minority caucus of 49. Whoo-hoo! Those unions are in control now! Meanwhile, everyone is chuckling about that so-called “bad advice” from the Bredesen crowd. Those folks definitely don’t know politics. Their 95-county sweep must have been a fluke. I reiterate my earlier forecast: Chip Forrester is a neutered (and financially bankrupt) chairman. Nothing the blog commenters can say will change that. Democrats are screwed. P.S.: I can’t wait until Hobbs starts attacking the Party over Chip’s pro-income tax votes on the TNDP executive committee.
harrison the number is 5
Harrison Mr. Hobbes just supported Justin Wilson the arhitect of the Sundquist In-Come Tax. Even Mr. Hobbes hypocracy only goes so far.
Ok… so will someone on the anti-Forrester side explain to me why he’s so bad? All I’ve heard is “he’s teh librul!11!1!” No voter cares about the stances of the Chair. And as to the fundraiser argument…they’ll come around or they’ll lose their power. Since they don’t want to lose their power - they’ll come around.
How exactly is Forrester a disaster in this role?
Great. So that’s 10% of the minority caucus instead of 6%. That union pressure is coming on strong. Two things: Justin Wilson is not the self-proclaimed leader of his party. And Hobbs’ hypocrisy knows no bounds. Fasten your seat belt. It’s going to be a rough (and financially bereft) ride.
Just great. The Democratic Party chair is an open income tax supporter. Bet Naifeh and his income tax cronies love that.
Jen, the way I’ve heard it described (I really didn’t back a horse in the race one way or the other myself) is that a “bowtie-wearing, salon-hosting Nashville Obama supporter can’t relate to a Hillary-loving redneck in Alamo, Springfield or Harriman.” That’s an unfortunate way of characterizing it, but the point the person was making is a valid one, I think.
Elected officials don’t “come around” to party hacks. It works the other way around. As for why nobody likes Forrester: It has nothing to do with liberal. It has to do with honesty. He won’t tell you the following (because it doesn’t fit his false resume), but: Chip was fired by Gore, ostracized by the Clements, ignored by McWherter and Bredesen, and now demonized by every member of Congress. People don’t like this guy. Period. It will be a long, uphill climb for the Party to find it’s way back into mainstream Democratic politics, successful or not.
I think the great number of the comments on this post exemplify the misunderstanding that the party chair is solely responsible for everything that occurs in Democratic Party politics in the state of Tennessee. For Christ’s sake, I know this sounds odd coming from an anonymous blog poster, quit anonymously posting about things and get involved in the party. If you are involved in the party, then take responsibility for your previous failings and move on with it.
Why doesn’t someone ask Al Gore what’s wrong with Chip Forrester? Ask Gore how trustworthy Forrester is.
Two words for all those thinking Bredesen, Cooper, Davis, and Gordon won’t ditch the party: YOU’RE FUCKING KIDDING YOURSELF. The state party has never done shit for these guys. They’ve done everything for the state party. Today, the state party told them to fuck off.
Please, you idiots, tell me why they shouldn’t tell the party to fuck off. And please check the records, the governor and congressionals raise ALL of the money for the state party.
You fucking idiots shot yourselves in the head today.
I don’t think he’s too liberal. In fact, I haven’t heard that criticism from anyone but the Republicans who has weighed in. Maybe he’d like to make it a liberal vs. moderate thing, but I doubt there’s really a whole lot of philosophical difference between him and Bone. It doesn’t matter how liberal or conservative a Chairman is; his job is to help elect our nominees.
Chip is a disaster because, over at least the past 25 years, he has lied to, backstabbed, double talked and generally pissed off just about every elected Democratic official in this state. Those he has worked for hate him the most. Al Gore fired him (Forrester likes to spread the fiction that he “resigned”) when Chip lied to him about running against Bob Clement. His mean spirited and dishonest campaign against Clement was a disgrace, and he was rightly humiliated in that race. He has a reputation, well-deserved by the way, of sowing discord among those he works with, promoting himself at the expense of others, and claiming credit for others’ work and successes. His personal life has skeletons just waiting to emerge.
Ask yourself in a serious way: Why would those four Congressmen and the Governor and all those former Democratic Chairmen and Harold Ford Jr. and members of the General Assembly give enough of a shit to publicly oppose Forrester? What’s really in it for them? Chip has been around for a long time, these people know him, they know his personality, they know his capabilities, and they know his shortcomings. They have invested their lives, their reputations and their careers in the Democratic Party. And they stuck their necks out to support his opponent.
Doesn’t that give you pause? Doesn’t that make you at least a little curious? Doesn’t that give you cause for concern?
I’m not anonymous. My name is Harrison. And I agree: The import of party chair is overrated. Which is why you’ll see a brand-new organization outraise, outspend, outwork, and out-relevant the Forrester-led TNDP.
that a “bowtie-wearing, salon-hosting Nashville Obama supporter can’t relate to a Hillary-loving redneck in Alamo, Springfield or Harriman.” That’s an unfortunate way of characterizing it, but the point the person was making is a valid one, I think.
And Charles Robert is a good ole boy?
You can say that CRB can raise money better than Chip but I’m not seeing a big redneck quotient on Charles Robert.
Explain to me how I’m missing this vast cultural appeal CRB possesses that will appeal to rural Tennesseans.
With Chip, I think the urban-rural disconnect is a distant second concern behind the trust-distrust disconnect. No trust equals no support– financial and otherwise.
Thanks both D and Harrison.
Here’s my thing; I don’t care who is in charge as long as Nashville gets the message that we WANT a party in the East. So far I charge the TNDP with 140+ years of malpractice in terms of East Tennessee. Who is going to fix that? From what little I’ve heard from Forrester, he’s indicated at least an interest. If he can’t get along with the powers that be then perhaps the powers that be will get the message that Forrester won because a lot of democrats feel neglected.
At any rate, what’s done is done. We’ve got what we’ve got. Perhaps Forrester can be used to reach out to the rest of us — we’re too alienated to feel alienate by actual contact — while the others can work the inside lines.
As for the rural-urban divide… I’m a rural Appalachian Democrat. I’m begging for help from anyone. We can be self-sufficient but we need help getting organized. We don’t need someone to reach out to us what we need is someone to help us establish our own parties and leadership in our counties and we also need money.
Here’s a little tip: The “powers that be” are in power because THEY won. Including provinces in East Tennessee. Meanwhile, no one is going to work with Chip. Period.
What is Chip going to do for you that you can’t do for yourself? Use some of that hardy Appalachian background to do for yourself instead of whining. (If this were “The Godfather,” you’d be Johnny Fontaine getting smacked around.) If you’re so politically inept, then give me your address and I’ll buy/send you a copy of Politics for Dummies. But don’t wait on Chip to ride to the rescue. Today is the first race he’s ever won. An electorate of 66. And don’t start counting on a newfound political funding source. Chip will be lucky to house the party in a refrigerator box before all this is over.
Harrison is right. It’s the trust issue. Ask the people that know Forrester.
No group of people have done more to destroy the Tennessee Democratic Party than the executive committee. Today’s vote was the latest and maybe the fatal blow.
They cost the party votes by passing a resolution supporting an income tax. They stole a legitimate election from a sitting senator and forced the party to spend time and money on her opponent when they had other races.
Forrester has been in the middle of all of this. He is personally killing the party.
Harrison, I’m not whining. I don’t want Chip to ride to the rescue. I’m saying we don’t need someone to take over. IOW, we don’t give 2 shits about anyone’s so-called redneck quotient. However, we do need a FUNCTIONING STATE party and all that, that entails. Thus far, the party has hoarded its resources. It’s time to share.
I could be wrong on the urban-rural thing, I’m just the messenger, and don’t know either well enough to say authoritatively.
But in relation to the 140+ years of neglect, Jen, some of that goes back to the days of Boss Crump in Memphis. When he more or less ran the state in the first half of the century, he made a deal with the East TN Republicans that essentially said, you stay on your side of the fence, we’ll stay on ours. Leaders like Carroll Reece in E TN got to name their people for federal patronage, and Crump agreed not to endorse any Democrats trying to run against them. The way it was then hasn’t changed much, except that the material benefits (in terms of patronage, etc) have gone away.
Maybe I should just stick to talking about the past and stop trying to explain the present, haha.
D, you’re right. And it’s past time to break this ‘gentleman’s agreement.’
Which party hoarded it’s resources? I read that Democrats spent several million dollars on state legislative races last fall.
Sounds to me like that’s where all of the party resources went, as they should. I’d also bet no party has ever spent more. Sounds like your county party needs to raise it’s own money for whatever it is you wnat to do. The state party is doing what it’s supposed to.
WilsonRo, this topic is much more emotional to many of you than I anticipated but I don’t think anyone can rightly claim that the state party has done anything but let the East be run by the GOP since Boss Crump’s day as D pointed out. When party presence is pretty much defunct or non-existent you have to build it and yes when every year I support whatever Nashville and Memphis decides I do expect some help out here. I don’t understand why it’s such a controversy to ask for a STATE party rather than one that only exists in the Middle and West.
As I’ve said before, I don’t care WHO it comes from.
Jen: I can guarantee that Chip is reaching out to rural counties and especially East TN. I spoke with someone from the Bristol area today and he is chomping at the bit to get y’all involved. Plans are in the works, so be looking for contact shortly.
Re: Chip and his appeal to rural counties - you really don’t get it, do you? Seriously, am I missing something or did we fricking lose all over the state with the leadership we had? Do you not think he has a plan to involve everyone? There are networks all over TN just waiting to be activated, and the outreach has already begun. Just wait and see before you moan and bitch.
As for the rest of the anti-Chip party - are you all serious? What the frick has worked so far with the TNDP? Are you actually telling me that Bredesen et al should just cry foul and make threats to split their own party? WTF? THIS is what you want? What has it gotten us so far? If you’re so smart, get off your collective asses and DO SOMETHING - GET INVOLVED. Seriously, you whiny bunch of naysayers are pissing me off. Join in and help take this state back - or don’t - but shut the hell up if you’re going to be negative! We are trying to open the party up to the people of TN and you are freaking out? This stranglehold on power MUST stop. Change isn’t coming, it’s here. Get on the train or get out. We’d rather have you on board, but we will kick your asses out if necessary. Screaming and throwing fits will not help. If you aren’t happy, DO something. If you want to take the state back, DO something. Quit supporting those who are within our ranks and seek Chip’s failure, and instead join and ensure success.
Everyone has a seat at the table - and the rural county voices WILL be heard and you will be put into play and get the support you need.
Let’s quit this childishness and join together - I don’t expect kum bay yah, but I do expect us to act like adults. What do you gain by being negative? I’m donating tonight to the TNDP for the first time, because for the first time I’m PROUD of being a TN Dem. I think we all should in the spirit of unity. And if you can’t do that - THEN SHUT UP OR PUT UP. You want change? Work for it. This is our chance, and I for one am taking it.
lookingto2010, is there a social network/website etc. in place to make contact with you and others?
Looks like Chip promised lookingto2010 a job. Just like he made all those other promises to get votes. Don’t whine, lookingto2010, when it turns out Chip lied to you, too?
I hope that’s a BIG check your writing to Chip. He’s going to need it. Those little penny ante contributions won’t get him where he needs to be.
And you sound a little schizo. In one breath, you plead with Bredesen and Davis not to leave the party. In the next breath, you tell them to get out, Guess what, big boy, they’re out and they’re talking their fundraising with them. Get out your chechbook and fund that Bristol outreach yourself.
Forrester is finished and so is the Tennessee Democratic Party.
Oh Chipper,
Why so glum? No job here - don’t need it, don’t want it. Some people actually VOLUNTEER for outreach. Shocking, I know, but it’s the truth nonetheless.
And to educate you, I’m telling those who are threatening to take their toys and leave - just because their candidate didn’t win - that we would like them to be in the party and unify, but if that is impossible, adios. Do you really want a puppet chair, one supported because he is more easily controlled? If so, take your toys and run. Not my first choice, but seriously, threatening to pull funding is ugly and unbecoming. Is that really necessary?
Watch and learn, grasshopper. There’s always a place for you at the table should you decide to accept it. You can even volunteer and help make the change you so desperately seem to want. Otherwise, as my mama used to say, if you don’t have anything nice to say, STFU!
What are the Democrats doing? They’re running anyone with any sense out of the party. First Kurita. Now Bredesen and Jim Cooper. This is crazy.
As a Blount County Democrat in East Tennessee, I’m with Jen on this. We’ve been ignored for far too long. Historically, we had a sort of bargain in this state: Democrats control the statewide offices and run Middle and West Tennessee, but promise not to even field candidates in the East TN fiefdom. But then the Republicans started running and winning in Middle and West TN, starting with Nashville and Memphis suburbs, then SW TN from Lawrenceburg west, and now everywhere else in Middle and West TN outside Nashville and Memphis proper. Meanwhile, in East TN, where there are plenty of moderate voters who have nothing to do with the Mumpower GOP are being ignored here around Knoxville. If Jamie Woodson ran in Nashville or Memphis she’d be a Democrat. Hell, did you ever wonder why these Mike Williams and Kent Williams characters keep popping up? The East TN GOP is not as monolothically right wing as people thing.
So here’s the opportunity for Democrats to peel off the moderates around Knoxville and the Tri-Cities. Get over the Republican history just as ex-Dixiecrats got over their hatred of the “Party of Lincoln.”
So, who will help us do that. Well, we’ve already started, based on the committed core of Obama supporters (both during the primary and converts from the Hillary side). You won’t find many Appalachian Democrats griping about Obama these days - even if most of them voted for Hillary in February. We held a hugely successful inaugural gala here in Alcoa with 450 people coming. The Knoxville News Sentinel was shocked that so many Democrats exist in Blount County. Washington County held an even bigger one. And you better believe it, we are building up our County Commission and our party from the grassroots.
The fact of the matter is: the state Democratic Party has ignored us for too long. They give us up, even though many of us have worked on our own. Harold Ford recognized this and campaigned heavily in East TN - he got 42% of the vote in Blount County, which should be plenty for a Democrat to win statewide. His failures in non-Memphis West TN killed him ultimately, but he showed that a Democrat that actually campaigns here can build a winning state coalition.
Chip Forrester promised to reach out to us in East TN. Charles Bone represented the old order - find a few wealthy Nashville and Memphis businessmen (or Knoxville businessmen) and let them run on their own purse. Meanwhile, play defense as the bigoted clowns in the GOP yelp like puppies.
This whole thing reminds me of the 2004 DNC race between Howard Dean and the Clintonian insiders. Everybody howled that we were doomed with a “nutjob” in Dean as chair. The GOP was sure that we had committed suicide. Dean was “too abrasive” to work within the old structure, and “too extreme.”
No, Dean was willing to stand tall and proud as a Democrat. And he took no place for granted. The 2006 and 2008 elections are testimony to his success.
I don’t know if Forrester will be able to replicate in TN would Dean did nationwide. But I’m willing to believe that he can move the state party in the right direction.
Elrod, you’ve said it all quite wonderfully. To put an even finer point on the potential here (IIRC) the city of Knoxville went to Obama even though Knox Co. did not. If Obama can win Knoxville proper, Democrats can win in the East and win big statewide.
A few points that all you pro-Chip big brains may find helpful.
1. East Tennessee is an outlier in Democratic politics because there aren’t any Democrats there (relatively speaking); asking a Party to spend gobs of time and money on a region that clearly can’t help itself is ridiculous; it’s like choosing to plow resources into Utah rather than Ohio — dumb move. But I reiterate: There’s nothing Chip can do for you that you can’t do for yourself. Get busy. (And to you ETers: stop carrying on about Boss Crump. For Christsakes: it’s no wonder we lose East all the time. We’ve got a bunch of amateur historians, not political activists.)
2. Lookingto2010 needs to change his name to Lookingto2030 because that’s how long it’s going to take us to get out of this mess. And stop YELLING. It’s not going to get votes. The bottom line is: You just told Bredesen, Cooper, Tanner, Davis, Gordon, Ford, and multiple former chairs (including possible 2010 gubernatorial candidate Doug Horn, who’s from East Tennessee no less) to screw off. Once you come down off the sugar high from all those pixie stix Chip has been slipping into your soda, then you might realize the gravity of what you’re saying. It’s good that you’re willing to step up and take ownership in this thing because you guys are truly alone.
3. If Howard Dean did such a brilliant job, then why did Obama fire him? Honestly, do you even understand what role parties play? People don’t get excited about parties. The get excited about candidates (like Obama) and causes (like anti-English Only, which Bredesen and Dean helped lead on). Best I can tell, you’re only cause at this point is Chip, who has alienated every Democrat with any sense over the past decade.
4. Come to grips with this concept: TNDP will be broke. Bankrupt. Busted. Kaput. Unfortunately, it takes money to run that kind of organization. Despite what Chip is telling you, it can’t be fueled on smiles and hugs. This starry-eyed view of things will cause every national Democratic party group to permanently write off Tennessee. I mentioned Utah earlier. Well, I think we’re the new Utah in terms of the national party’s view of things. No one will touch this state with a five-mile pole under these circumstances.
Harrison I’m starting to think you’re a republican because you sure as heck don’t sound like a democrat and you’re doing a startlingly wonderful job of needlessly insulting ‘fellow?’ democrats.
First, you’re creating a straw man (oh and an extra Kudos on riffing on the preferred fake bible quote of GOPers everywhere). No one has asked for your precious gobs of money or vast amounts of time. What I and others have indicated is that we want functioning state party. You know, one that exists in all three Constitutional Grand Divisions and represents the interests and fact that there are people and voters in each? We want the TNDP to pretty much acknowledge our existence (that’s the first step and one you seem to still be in denial of) and after that we’d like to have some help establishing a genuine party apparatus. Now since you’re determined to draw an inaccurate and misleading conclusion from that statement in an effort to discredit Mr. Forrester (which is ironic because I’ve not had a dog in this chair fight) allow me to expand upon my own idea. (Pray, give this redneck Morlock your ear for just a moment).
‘Help’ is a rather broad term that was and still is being used by my person to denote the idea of curative actions to remedy the lack of party presence here. It means things like basic communication, training, funding, involvement, and outreach. Such things can largely be done by *gasp* volunteers and can range widely in monetary, material, and labor based value. I realize that squeezing quarters so tightly that the eagle shits out two dimes and nickle is very important to you so please rest assured we’re not asking you to build us giant golden donkey but rather we’re looking to be able to exchange our fliers that argue the importance of adopting bi-metalism as the saving grace of the nation for something a bit more modern like maybe even one that says “VOTE BREDESEN!”
Now you’re obviously also wondering, “why should we help those of you who faithfully send your money to us, who volunteer for any candidate we run, who support democratic causes and candidates wherever they may be located in the state, who do nothing but give the needed votes for statewide candidates to win?” Well sir/ma’am, the answer of course, is not that it’s simply the right thing to do but that it benefits you and every democrat in the state to be able to achieve such things as the governor’s mansion. And might I humbly submit that it might just help win the state House and Senate? I know, I know, with only a handful of votes this past cycle standing in the way of victory for a few Democratic candidates in East TN counties and thus also maintaining the democratic majority in the House the payoff doesn’t seem all that great to you and it’s of course a great risk to you to try just a wee bit harder… Still, my starry-eyed mind and heart can’t help but disagree with you. I think control of the House is worth having and that trying is worth it. Color me stupid but I don’t mind helping out my fellow democrats regardless of where they’re located!
And hey, while I’m dreaming: maybe, just maybe, we can one day run a viable candidate for US Senate.
Oooh and after that we might learn the fine art of talking to one another without starting from a place of condescension and insults. Ah, I’m such a dreamer…
The Forrester people on this thread are stump ignorant. For you East Tennesseans whining about being ignored, do you know how much money the state parties, both of them, give to their county parties in West and Middle Tennessee each year? ZERO. NADA. ZIP. Parties fund campaigns, you morons. They don’t fund county parties. As for this “state party structure” you idiots are pining for, it’s called county parties. Go out and join yours. Chip Forrester isn’t going to come drive you to the next meeting of the Blount County Democratic Party. Jeez, Republicans get off their asses and take action. Tennessee Democrats twist their pretty pink panties into knots and cry.
As for Democrats playing in East Tennessee, have you heard of Nathan Vaughn, Eddie Yokely, John Litz, Harry Tindell, Joe Armstrong, Jim Hackworth, John Mark Windle, Dennis Ferguson, or Tommy Kilby. They are/were East Tennessee Democrats serving in the General Assembly. Tennessee Democrats also threw a bunch of money at Fred Phillips in Upper East Tennessee in 2006. Democrats do compete in East Tennessee.
But, you know, Democrats would rather sit around and cry than actually do something. It doesn’t matter who is party chair, East Tennessee is going to whine about being ignored.
I really thought the Tenn Dem Party couldn’t find a wimpier little party chair than Gray Sasser. They outdid themselves. Chip Forrester?!?!?! Chip?!?!?! No, really. Chip?!?! Where’s the freakin’ Beave, for christ’s sake.
After a couple of years of Forrester, the party will have to make Perez Hilton chairman just to man up. Robin Smith has more hair on her nuts than Bob Tuke, Gray Sasser, and Chip Forrester combined.
And all you women at the Tennessee Democratic Party, I know you have to be feeling lonely and unsatisfied. I doubt this bunch of manly men has much interest in you. Come on over to the Tennessee Republicans. We’ll have Marsha Blackburn show you what it’s all about.
[...] So Chip Forrester was voted as Chair of the Tennessee Democratic Party yesterday. I was talking to Left Wing Cracker about it before the vote and we discussed one thing that I also saw from commenter Jen from East Tennessee mention on this long thread at Kleinheider’s house. [...]
Here’s a question for Jen: Have you once volunteered for a state legislative campaign in ET? If so, who? If not, why not? Were you waiting for Chip, as Ben says, to come up there and drive you? Why don’t you stop whining and make your own way in life instead of waiting on the Party to molly-coddle you.
Or here’s an idea. Make that doughboy of a House press secretary the new chairman. That should get the Tenn Dem testosterone level up to about a Nathan Lane.
Wow. No wonder the TN Dem party is so fcked up. I’ve never seen more divisiveness in a party in my life. Those who are anti-Chip - you claim to be Dems? Suck it up and play nice. Do you want to sit there whining about how we’re going to lose in 2010 - and pretty much guarantee it because you’re going to pout that you didn’t get your way - or are you going to shut up, get off your asses, and go for it? Why does it have to be this way? The pro-Chip group would have unified had CRB won; show that you’re just as good as they are.
Geez, Heatseaker, Ben, Harrison - did you vote for Obama? I hardly think so. You’re sowing division, not unity. Please stop. Your candidate lost -it’s a fact. The question is, now what are you going to do? If you’re Obama supporters, you’ll come together, work your asses off, and give Chip the support he needs. If you’re not, well, then I guess you’ll continue to throw your juvenile fits and bang your heads against walls. Why would you want Chip to fail if you truly are Dems? I just don’t get it.
Christ, shut up with the “moron” crap.
Take your ball and go home, just STFU about it.
Why the hell didn’t the bizpigs and the current elected officials make some attempt to recognize the discontent among rank and file Democrats? Do y’all really not think that the vote yesterday was due to how frustrated people are? This “hush, we know better, at least we’re getting elected” crap is good for Bredesen, Cooper, etc., but sucks for developing a farm team.
I don’t give a crap how many counties Bredesen won. How the fact that he ran far to the right of the Democratic base in Davidson and Shelby to win in a landslide, then did jack and shit with any political capital, benefit anyone but Bredesen? As much as I personally like Jim Cooper, there’s no way Davidson should be sending a Blue Dog. What sort of agenda is the Blue Dogs’? Controlling spending? Pshaw. That train left the station, and Republicans are better at claiming that mantle (even if they’re lying) than we are anyway.
Bizpig Democrats in this state are either chickenshit or are all terrified of the state GOP. We’ve gotten past the point where we need to push gutless pablum because it’s a firewall against the wingnuts. Guess what? We’ve given the wingnuts so much room to operate, and let them ENTIRELY define the terms of the debate. The firewall is GONE. We’re going to get wiped out unless we stand for something other than a few boring personalities clinging to office. They had their chance, and screw their threats. I’m not head over heels about Chip, but get this: what you were doing was failing everyone but a few unimaginative incumbents.
Heatseeker, really, taunting the Democrats about being sissies? The reason you guys are going to start getting beat is that schoolyard baiting actually appeals to a small number of voters, and you’ve got nothing else. Furthermore, since you brought it up, a party that offers up a comic-book obsessed doughboy like Mumpower as one of their bold leaders doesn’t need to be talking about masculinity.
I wasn’t so much “for” Bone as I was/am “against” Chip. Anybody who’s been around Tennessee Democratic politics for 5 minutes knows that: a. The man has either been fired from or torched every political job he’s had, from Gore to McWherter and on down the line; b. He greatly exaggerates, if not totally fabricates, his so-called relationship with key people on the Obama campaign (something tells me if you asked Axelrod, his response would be, “Chip who?”); c. Chip is a weirdo who shouldn’t be the party face; and d. He’s a charlatan. That last point is the most salient. Here’s a 30-year party hack claiming that he’s the agent of change. And you believe him. To put it mildly, you are rubes.
The angsty comments from these adult children throwing temper tantrums because they didn’t get their way in a fair democratic contest only serves to convince me that Forrester is the man for the job. Anyone these losers oppose so strongly has got to be on to something.
What a bunch of whiny-ass quitters. You ought to be ashamed of yourselves.
Rubes, huh?
Don’t you realize how totally FED UP the Democratic Party grass roots is with this high-handed CRAP from the big name elected officials and their moneybags friends? Don’t you realize we don’t think you’re smarter than we are, just unprincipled and concerned primarily with your own power?
If there had been the slightest indication that Bredesen and other prominent state Democrats recognized what a strong grass roots and last year’s enthusiasm could have brought, or at least acknowledged that they wasted a lot of potential because they instead conceded the entire playing field to the anti-Obama crazies and racists, there wouldn’t have been a meaningful challenge.
You guys made huge mistakes, but you think Bredesen’s massive win, with which he did NOTHING, and clinging on to two house seats that we’re going to lose after the inevitable Republican-controlled redistricting, proves what a great freakin’ job you’ve done. You guys are driving our bus over a cliff, but you’re going to jump off before it plunges in 2010.
You’re the one who ought to be ashamed, autoegocrat. You’re supporting a man who will pile-drive the party into further irrelevance and rob the bank. My understanding is that Chip’s first act as chair was to pay himself $120,000 a year. And hire or contract one of his friends, Gary Ledbetter or David Upton, at an equally outrageous sum. This man is looking to get paid, not build a party. He’s like one of those televangelists. Get your PayPal account warmed up; he’s going to take you for everything you’re worth.
DG: This default position of whining because some elected officeholder didn’t do or say exactly what you wanted them to evokes memories of Jen. What were you doing in 2008? Sitting on your dead ass fretting over why no one is reaching out to you? There’s not a thing Bredesen or anyone else couldn’t have done for you that you can’t do for yourself. Organize. Mobilize. But don’t blame others for your failure.
DG, or shockandawe, or lookingat2010withmyheadupmyass, or whatever you want to call yourself, I’m not a Democrat. Not a Republican either for that matter. But Tennessee Democrats are morons. They keep doing the same thing over and over. What’s the difference between Bob Tuke, Gray Sasser, and Chip Forrester? Huh? The leaders of your party keep getting progressively wimpier and out of touch with mainstream Tennessee. That’s blue collar rural, whether you like it or not.
And what did Forrester do as his first act as your party’s leader? He called Tennesseans a bunch of racist. Good call, Chipper. He’s an elitist, effeminate snob, just like all you left wing bloggers hollering about “bizpigs.”
Riddle me this, all of you know it all Democrats, how many Tennessee elections outside of Nashville, Memphis, and Chattanooga have been won by liberals?
But your executive committee keeps putting Nashville liberals in charge. What’s wrong with them? Of course, these are the same people that stole an election.
How many people are on that executive committee? 20? 30? Do you really think that this small group of people and five or six left-wing bloggers really represent the views of the majority of Tennesseans?
And you probably wonder why Barack Obama got his ass fed to him in Tennessee. And you’ll probably continue to wonder why Robin Smith packs Chip Forrester’s shit for him on a regular basis.
Wait, you won’t wonder. You’ll just make yourself feel superior by thinking that Tennesseans are all racist. Then you’ll clamp your mouth back on your momma’s tit.
DG, Mumpower is a fat little man, but he kicked the shit out of your boy Sasser didn’t he. He’ll have Forrester crying like a little bitch within a week. What does that say about you?
“What were you doing in 2008? Sitting on your dead ass fretting over why no one is reaching out to you?”
Why the hell are you obsessed with the bona fides of people who disagree with you?
I’m no big shot and I have no, zero, zip personal stake in this. I spent my fall making phone calls and knocking on doors in districts north and northeast of Nashville, and writing $50 checks for races I was told were very close. That’s the best I can do, buddy. And I’m sick to death of being taken for granted by the big shots. I don’t want you folks to waste my time and money anymore, and at the very least, Chip Forrester makes an effort to reach out to people like me.
Can’t you get the fact that we have to build from the bottom AND the top into your thick skull?
You don’t get it, buddy. Forrester won’t be building from either direction because he’ll have no money. He and you ran the money out of the party. Grassroots organizing takes cash, you broke jerk.
And Forrester is taking a $120,000-a-year salary? And doling out contracts to friends? You gotta be kidding me.
You people wouldn’t listen. The people that know Forrester told you he was a con man. But you’re smarter than eveyone else.
Well, you better buck up, smart guy. You’re about to find out how many of those $50 checks are out there. (Psst, little tip: there ain’t many.)
117 comments? Wow! Looks like, if nothing else, Forrester’s election has brought a lot more energy and interest in the TNDP than we’ve seen before.
My take: Real Democrats - people who are concerned about the real issues like providing our kids with a first-class education, maintaining fiscal sanity and discipline, supporting equality and protecting civil rights, and making sure that our TennCare system doesn’t bankrupt us - will support Chip Forrester. Most importantly, Forrester has already taken a warning shot across the bow of the TNGOP, which is WAY overdue. Why Davis, Gordon, Sasser, Gore, Bredesen, and Tanner didn’t do more to confront the wingnuts I will never know. Meanwhile, Forrester is the one who helped select and seat TN’s Obama delegates, and having worked with David Axelrod in the past, I think Forrester’s got pretty good odds of opening doors in the DNC and getting the funding we need.
To those who think that Forrester will somehow destroy the TNDP … look at his record of success. This guy has spent his adult lifetime working on improving the Democratic Party, and building a strong business. He obviously can’t do it alone, but if Davis, Bredesen, Cooper, Tanner, and Gordon don’t get on board and support the TNDP, what does that say about them as Democrats?
Forrester isn’t shutting anyone out. He’s including everyone - including the Davis-Tanner-Gordon-Cooper-Bredesen-Button crew and all the lobbyists who were hoping to benefit financially from their involvement in electing Bone. But the most important change is that the passionate supporters of Obama, who volunteered thousands of hours and made tens of thousands of phone calls, will be involved in renewing the party. And that’s probably a good thing.
“The leaders of your party keep getting progressively wimpier and out of touch with mainstream Tennessee. That’s blue collar rural, whether you like it or not.”
Horseshit. Do the math. We’re split three ways beween urban, rural, and suburbs. And the suburbs themselves are split between white collar (typified by much of the 7th CD) and blue collar (much of the 6th CD). And there’s also a huge demographic difference between East Tennessee rural districts and West Tennessee rural districts.
Your nonsense about “mainstream” Tennessee being some sort of rural monolith (presumably with Mump’s politics) is misguided. The far right is really well organized and funded, and has a strong presence in the rural and suburban areas, but there’s nothing “mainstream” about it.
A Democratic Party that can get its message right in all parts of Tennessee could get the upper hand in this state. I agree, it’s a big job, and I’m not sure that Chip is the guy to do it, but he doesn’t HAVE to be the guy to do it. Some elected officials know how to talk to their own constituents and get elected, but there’s nothing unified, and when Republicans redistrict with fancy computer maps, we’re going to lose two or three more seats unless we get it together.
“you broke jerk”
If you’re a Republican posing as a Democrat, you’re just an asshole.
If you’re really a Democrat, no wonder you dimwits can’t contrive a compelling reason to vote for Democrats. Really, scorn for those small contributions, and for suckers like me who give a shit enough about doing the right thing by poor Tennesseans to volunteer hundreds of hours? No wonder some many local volunteers spend the last weekend of October in Evansville, instead of shaking out every last vote for guys like Cleveland Bain.
benintn, I have a great ocean-front lot in Arizona I want to show you. It’s perfect for you.
Newsflash!
Al Gore fired Forrester. Ned McWherter ignored and continues to ignore Forrester. David Axelrod doesn’t know Forrester from my left foot. Have you actually spoken to anyone that has worked with Forrester or did you just swallow his letters and emails hook, line, and sinker?
As for that DC money, Tim Kaine has already said the 50-state strategy will be tweaked. What do you suppose that means for a state in which Obama got crushed? Let me spell it out for you: Tennessee ain’t getting no DNC $$$$, especially after the DNC finds out that every elected D in the state has bailed on Forrester.
And what’s this silliness about the “passionate supporters of Obama”? Thanks for the passion, but you lost TN in a landslide bigger than any landslide in my lifetime. For every “passionate supporter of Obama,” you drove away three or four Tennesseans that usually vote D.
Between you and Forrester, the Tennessee Democratic Party will lucky to hold Davidson and Shelby Counties.
The whiny-ass people who are upset that Bone lost probably work for one of the PR firms that have been getting tons of money for poor results over the years, and they know the gravy train is getting cut off.
And, Harrison, did you realize that Autoegocrat just ran one of the most successful campaigns in the history of Memphis, one which brought us Instant Runoff Voting. I know he knows more than you do.
To Harrison (whoever you are): Why not host a meeting with the Forrester supporters and tell them all - face to face - the truth as you see it? Because right now, you’re just a cipher. You could post a meeting online and advertise it here. That’s the kind of openness and transparency that has been missing in the Bone campaign for chair, and frankly, I think that you’ve got less trust for your side than Forrester does.
To anti-DG - as it turns out, grassroots organizing by definition does NOT involve money. Barack Obama registered 150,000 voters in Chicago without the internet and without anything other than a few phones. So, it’s just plumb wrong to argue that you need money to organize grassroots. You don’t understand how the internet has leveled the playing field. And with the $$$ behind the existing OFA apparatus, the blogosphere, and the DNC, I think the grassroots organizers already have everything they need to be successful.
The question is, will the old guard come along and give the money that they’ve been holding out on giving? Even more important from my conversations with party chairs and exec committee members, will the present economic downturn make it possible for ANYONE to give significant sums? Because as far as I can tell, EVERYONE is broke.
I don’t know why Gore and McWherter ignored Chip before, but if they’re real Democrats, they won’t ignore him now.
If Obama and his supporters drove away 3 of 4 so-called Democrats, then why did those people ever vote Democrat in the past?
Hey, DG, wake up. I’ve told you. I’m not a Democrat. I usually vote Republican, but I’ve crossed over for a few D’s that get it, like Bredesen. I don’t consider myself a Republican either.
You are so out of touch with mainstream Tennessee that you don’t realize it. You say that the far right is well organized and funded and has a strong presence in the rural and urban areas. I suppose you mean the Tennessee Republican Party? If you joined us out here, you’d find that’s not the case. The Tennessee Republican Party is no more organized out here than the Tennessee Democrat Party.
What you don’t get is that we’re conservative. You get that in our churches. You get that when you listen to talk radio. You get that when you actually talk to us rather than just sitting in Nashville and making self-righteous guesses about who we are.
How are you and Forrester going to change that by calling us racists? You’re not. You’re just going to keep pushing more and more people like me, who just might be willing to vote for some of your candidates, away from you. I might even be willing to vote for Obama next time. But I won’t vote for any state candidate that asshole Forrester shoves my way. Does that make me racist? Or am I sexist? Come on, DG, put on your big girl PC panties and tell me what’s wrong with me now.
Wow, benintn declares that the Internet made politics completely free!!!! I think I’ll run for president. Benintn knows so much about funding political campaigns but he doesn’t know that political contributions aren’t tied to economic circumstances. Hmmm? That’s pretty much Political Fundraising 101. Right after the lesson that the pool of contributors for state elections is very small. Could it be that benintn is already trying to spin Forrester’s failure?
Oh, my bad. Autoegocrat ran a Democratic campaign in Memphis and won. Whoo hoo. That’s like talking a walk in a dog and yelling “Eureka” when you step on a turd. Winning in Memphis doesn’t equip you to win statewide. All of you idiots are brimming with Chip-lite platitudes but let’s get down to brass tacks: What is it you actually want to see happen? “Build from the ground up?” What does that mean exactly. Give me three specifics that aren’t already happening in some way, shape or form. Bredesen “failed to use his political capital.” What did he not do that would have spent that so-called capital in a measurae way? And don’t start whining again about how he supposedly told Obama not to campaign here. That’s like blaming Bill Purcell for not helpful enough in the 2002 governor’s race. The Obamas were going to do whatever the hell they thought was the best use of resources and they didn’t want to spend time or money here. Apparently, they took one hard at Chip, Quacker, Lookingto2030, Jen and DG before determining: “No, we can’t.” You have no one to blame but yourselves.
I didn’t say that the internet makes politics free. I said that the existing OFA, DNC, and other apparati make the playing field much more level. As for fundraising, I know for a fact that even CR Bone agreed with Forrester that the key is not the big dollar donors, but rather building the base of small-dollar donors beyond the total 961 who donated in the 2008 cycle. The issue is that the big-money donors don’t own the party. Money can’t buy elections. And as for the big-money interests opposed to Forrester, they are apparently not real Democrats. Which is fine. Forrester isn’t running for Governor. He’s running for TNDP chair. And he won. I think that someone like Ward Cammack - who is certainly a conservative (most thought he was going to run as a Republican) - will have some crossover appeal because he really understands the economic issues and the total failure of the GOP over the past 8 years.
wow. I’m afraid to jump into this again.
Quick factcheck on TennRod - you’re entitled to your own opinions, but you’re not entitled to your own facts. To make the claim that Gore fired Forrester because he was mad about Forrester’s run against Clement is a bit silly. That was also what… 16 years ago? 17? If you have a news story, a quote from Gore, or some other piece of verifiable info on Gore-Forrester, please share it. Otherwise, I’m calling BS on this one…
benintn, I’ve raised political money. A lot of it. Everyone wants to expand the low-donor universe. If you’re running for president, you can do it (see Obama and Dean). If you’re running for U.S. Senate, maybe. If you’re running for governor, maybe not. If you’re running for the state legislature, forget it. A state party is somewhere between governor and the legislature.
On the state legs level, you do low-donor fundraising to make people feel included, but you are never going to come close to raising enough money to run your campaign by passing around the pickle jar. Same for a state party.
Also, I know for a fact that Gray Sasser put a lot of time and effort into low-donor fundraiser. Did well with it, too. I also know for a fact that Sasser put more money in Democratic campaigns for the state legislature than any previous state party chair. Will Cheek, chair of the TNDP Finance Committee, commended him for it yesterday. I also know for a fact that 90 percent of the TNDP’s money has been raised by the governor and the congressionals. I also know for a fact that these very people will not raise money for Chip Forrester. I also know for a fact that fundraisers, the DNC, and others will not work with Forrester once they know that these people are out of the party. You will see another group emerge soon. Forrester’s chairmanship is DOA.
Am I happy about it? No, but you and the executive committee did this to us.
Harrison,
You want specifics that aren’t already happening? Here’s a couple:
1. Inform - I’ve signed up for updates from the TNDP at least 7 times since I moved here in 2004, and never received a single email, print piece, nothing. If you can’t get a message out to people keenly interested, how can you get a message out to “average voters”
2. Engage - Last cycle we allowed 26 Republican House seats to go uncontested. All we needed was to pick off one or two to keep the majority. We can’t win unless we engage all Tennesseans. Being the party of “some of Tennessee” isn’t working.
3. Interact - The party’s “top down” mentality has alienated Democrats throughout the spectrum. People won’t work for you if they don’t feel some sense of ownership. Opening up the process, even in a small way, can ignite a base that has long been ignored.
4. Bread and Butter - The DLC style tactic of trying to be more conservative than conservatives has led to Republicans taking control of the language of politics and the “Conventional Wisdom” that follows. TN Democrats don’t need to out “Guns, Gays and God” the Republicans, we need to be talking to voters about things that actually matter to them, like jobs and education. Unfortunately, the candidates you and your fellow concern trolls site as “good Democrats” are the biggest perpetrators of this failed tactic. Until we address the needs of voters, instead of reacting to Republicans, we will continue to marginalize ourselves.
Have you talked to anyone that knows Forrester, benintn? Do you know anyone that knows Forrester? Probably not. You probably spend all of your time online, which is why you think Tennessee is Obama crazy and the executive committee represents everyday Tennesseans.
vibinc, where do you live? Nashville or Memphis? You are definitely urban. Ever fired a gun? Any idea how pro-gun most of Tennessee is? When do you want to come take our guns?
FYI, nationally about half of all state legislative seats go uncontested. If you’re looking to contest every seat in the General Assembly that’s up in a given cycle, you’re nuts. Give me your best guess, James Carville, as to how much that would cost.
Call BS all you want ben10. Or just wait and see if Gore gets involved in this disaster. Anyone who’s actually been involved in Democratic politics knows that Gore and every other party father would just as soon drop trou on Chip than look at him. Why because they’re smart and they’ve been there, done that with this doofus. Face it: You and the Executive Committee got played. And don’t forget: Chip rode into office with the votes of with nuts like Fred Hobbs, who called Obama a terrorist, and Harold/Sylvia Woods, who made Tennessee a national embarassment by throwing a hissy fit at the Convention and refusing to nominate Obama. Let them/you have the TNDP. Democrats who have won races will find another sandbox.
“When do you want to come take our guns?”
This portrayal of the Democratic agenda is a lie. I know dozens of Democrats with guns. I’m one. Tell me all about how the Democrats are going to increase restrictions on guns.
I’m not a big fans of guns in bars, to be honest, but I’ve seen a few bar fights, and this seems like a crazy idea. If that’s “taking away your guns” then you’re bonkers.
Vibinc, I’ve gotten 2 emails in the past two days from the TNDP, and got a weekly email while Wade Munday was Communications Director. I’ve still got a bunch, I can forward if you want.
Ironic that Bone made one key plank of his “fourfold strategy” to increase small-dollar donors, if in truth that wouldn’t make a dent in the “real issues” raised by Reality.
Again, I stick to my original point, which is that, if you’ve got people who are truly Democrats, then they oughtta give regardless of who is the chair. Is the concern that Forrester will squander funds? He hasn’t in the past. Is the concern that Forrester is too liberal? It wasn’t a concern in the past. Or is the concern that Forrester isn’t as cozy with those who want to get influence in return for their dollars??? If that’s the case, then sorry, but the REAL REALITY is that we don’t need more corruption after Tennessee Waltz.
Anti-DG,
Not that it matters, but yes, I’ve fired a gun. I’ve fired a lot of different guns, what of it? I can’t think of a single TN politician that doesn’t stand for the protection of 2nd Amendment rights, including our most “liberal” Representative in Congress, Steve Cohen.
d,
Help yourself, I’m easy to find. Just for giggles I’ll sign up again and see how it works.
Here’s something interesting … Reality says: “I also know for a fact that Sasser put more money in Democratic campaigns for the state legislature than any previous state party chair. Will Cheek, chair of the TNDP Finance Committee, commended him for it yesterday.”
And yet, despite putting more money into Democratic campaigns for State Legislature than any previous state party chair … we got the worst political thrashing in the history of the Democratic Party in Tennessee. Hmmmm….
Is it possible that maybe there are more important things than how much money you funnel into a campaign?
Nah, that couldn’t be.
And besides, the TNDP is DOA. Let’s just have the funeral now.
Harrison, it’s obvious that you’re more interested in what you can destroy than what you can create.
I wish you well, but you won’t destroy my optimism.
So on the one hand, we have people whining, “It’s not about the money. It’s about the ‘grassroots.’” Then on the other hand, we’ve got those same people crying, “Hey, no fair. The big money people have to keep supporting Chip!” Even though he insulted them and they probably don’t have confidence in his ability and honesty (or lack thereof). So which is more important? Money or grassroots. If the latter, then the Party should function just fine without its elected leaders. All Chip needs to do is raise enough to cover his $120k salary. He can run the rest of the organization on the Internet out of his apartment.
I never said the big-money people have to support anyone. What I said is that if someone is truly a Democrat, they ought to support the Democratic party at a state, local, and federal level. It’s not about fairness. It’s about acting in accordance with your values. If you’re not really a Democrat, then why argue? Go do whatever you care about doing. If your plan is to take over the world or the political system, then good luck with that - do it however you see fit. It’s a free country. For the elected officials who ran with “D” behind their name, they certainly ought to consider thanking the core Democratic base who loyally voted, donated, called, knocked, etc. I think Phil Bredesen has been a great governor and voted for him twice Bredesen and Ford are two of the reasons I left the GOP after voting Bush in 2000. I don’t think he’s been very accessible and I’m disappointed that he hasn’t done more to be responsive to the TNDP in 2008. I’m glad Davis, Tanner, and Gordon are still committed Democrats. I assume they care about the Democratic party enough to support the state org. They ought to - because they neglect their base at their own peril. They might get elected, but after 2010 they probably won’t have a district anymore.
Missed in all this is the fact that Robin Smith is still trying to blame Hillary Clinton and her supporters for the attacks on Barack Obama. Robin, I don’t know if you’ve met Bill Hobbs before, but I’d suggest that you read his blog or press releases sometime. The dude is evil.
Just because electeds are not going to support a Chip-led disaster waiting to happen doesn’t mean they’re not going to support the Democratic Party. The fallacy being promoted by ben10 and the executive committee is that you can’t support Dmocrats without supporting Chip. Got news for you: The Party is bigger than one weirdo and a piece of paper that says “TNDP.” There are all kinds of ways to participate in efforts without uttering a word or giving a dime or ounce of consideration to Chip. In fact, this purge may turn out to be the best thing that ever happened to Tennessee Democrats. Let Chip, Fred Hobbs, ben10 and Lookingto2030 have a blast with their new toy. In the meantime, you’ll see party devotees move in a different direction.
“if you’ve got people who are truly Democrats, then they oughtta give regardless of who is the chair.” Your words, benintn. So, yes, you did say that the money people should support Forrester, despite the fact that he publicly insulted them and despite the fact that they have grave concerns about his ability to raise money and his judgment in spending it. Concerns which appears justified since he is now handing himself a six-figure yearly salary and doling out contracts to his incompetent supporters.
benintn, vibnic, and other pro-Forrester commenters on this thread, how long have you lived in Tennessee? How long have you been involved in Democratic Party politics? The answer to both is “Not very.” You obviously have no idea about the pre-Bredesen TNDP. You also have no idea how much Bart Gordon, Lincoln Davis, and John Tanner have done for TNDP. These are the people responsible for the lion’s share of TNDP money.
As for why Democrats lost, take a look at the top-of-the-ticket blowout. Your vaunted Obama organization couldn’t get over low-30 percent outside of Memphis and Nashville. Tuke did no better.
Why don’t you use that political genius you think you possess to tell us how down-ticket candidates are supposed to win in that environment? Why don’t you use that political genius to tell us how close these downticket races would have been without the millions that Bredesen, Gordon, Davis, Tanner, and Sasser raised and spent?
You better pull Forrester wool from your eyes. You’ve screwed Tennessee Democrats enough.
money, money, money, money, anti-Obama, anti-Obama, money, money, money, anti-Obama, anti-grassroots, anti-grassroots, money, money, money, anti-Obama, anti-grassroots, I heart Davis, I heart Tanner, I heart Sasser, I heart Bredesen, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, Boo Obama, money, money, insult, insult, whine, whine, money, money, money, money, insult, money, whine, loveloveloveloveloveDavisBredesen, money, money, Boo Chip, Boo Chip, money, money, money, money, butmoneyworkedsowellin2008soyou’rescrewed, money, money, money, blah, blah, blah, whine, whine, tantrum throwing, lovelovelovelove the old losing way, I hate change, money, money, money.
Reality - get a clue. The rest of you…the above is all you’ve been saying for almost 24 hours. I swear, I’ve seen toddlers behave better. Take your toys - we don’t need them. I’m all for unity, but this is ridiculous. When you decide to grow up, you are welcome any time in the TNDP. Until then, just shut up. Seriously. You’re wasting oxygen.
Reality - ever heard of Stockholm Syndrome? I’m just saying…
“how long have you lived in Tennessee? How long have you been involved in Democratic Party politics? The answer to both is “Not very.””
Good lord, shut up. You’re wrong on both counts. I suspect you’re not a Democrat at all, but are an “Operation Chaos” style wingnut, sowing as much division as you can before disappearing under a new alias.
These Forrester people are ridiculous. Basically, they argue “Shut up and give us your money.” What a bunch of children. No wonder they can’t win an election. Seriously, are any of you people out of college yet.
TNDP should now change its logo to a bust of the Greek god Janus. This is typical Chip, win the battle and lose the war. He always has managed to leave everyone hurt and angry.
You know what? You don’t even have to give us money, Alex. Seriously. We’ll be just fine. Or have you ever given any? Let me turn this back on the naysayers…what have YOU done for TN Dem Party lately??
“Memories…light the corners of my mind. All those water-colored memories…of the way we were…”
Gee, if we had a good healthcare plan, I’d recommend Xanax. I hear it’s quite good when you’re freaking out. A little Barbara Streisand might help as well.
Anti-Obama? Talk to Chip. That idiot claims he’s best friends with Axelrod, et al, then counts among his top supporters the guy who called Obama a terrorist. And you wonder why the party fathers would break from these two misfits.
Here’s my impression of DG, shockandawe, and lookingat2010withmyheadupmyass, “Ouch! Oh, stop it!! Owwww, don’t criticize me!!!! Oh, oh, shut up!!! Just shut up!!!” Of course, you have to put a bunch of whimpering and blubbering in there.
If you prepubescent girls think this is bad, wait until that daily reaming you’ll start taking . . . well, I suppose that’s starting now. Anyway, why don’t you shut up and take it like a man, you sniveling babies?
Jesus, shockandawe, even I didn’t think you were enough of a pansie to sing “Memories.” Would you please return that quarter of a nut and the two pubes you have left to the nearest Bass Pro Shop?
Look up “weanie” in the dictionary, and you get a grotesque shot of shockandawe’s pathetic mug.
Hatebaiter -
Heatseaker, whatever.
Did it ever once occur to you that I’m not a man? You really are a jerk - what, only men care about politics? Only men blog? What era are you living in?? Now go away, little one. Just go away. That’s it! Good boy. Go back to your hate group. You’re not decent enough to be a member of the TNGOP, much less the TNDP.
Trust me, shockandawwwww, I never thought you were a man. Don’t think Chip Forrester is one either. Robin Smith will wipe the floor with him.
awww, you’re kinda cute when you’re not all hateful and such…
We’ll see.
As the arbiter of rational thought on this thread, I’d like to call for a timeout from the sophomoric language. Instead, let’s just agree on a single immutable truth: Chip Forrester has energized a small group of loudmouth bloggers and executive committee members who believe Obama is a terrorist. Meanwhile, he has alienated the only Democrats who win statewide and now will pay a hefty price via lack of financial and moral support from the national party (which actually cares what governors and members of Congress think). Everyone agree? (Actually, I guess that’s two immutable truths.)
All I see out of this is a democratic party chairman and his people trying to run everybody out of the party. Tennessee didn’t leave the democratic party. The democratic party left Tennessee and it doesn’t sound like the Democratic Party wants it back.
Oh, Harrison,
you’re cute too. So, so wrong, but cute.
Now move along…we grassroots supporters have work to do. Would love for you to join us, but if not, we will make it. We’ve always had people stand in our way who thought we couldn’t make progress unless we played by the old guard’s rules, but we managed to get African-Americans and women the vote (much to the disdain of those in power). We’ll be just fine - and i hope you enjoy crow, sweetie - I’m not much for traditional gender roles, but I for one will be happy to serve you a big, heaping platter of it when the impossible is accomplished.
Franklin,
you’re more than welcome in the party - the door is wide open and you simply need to walk through it. I’m extending hospitality - will you come with me into the 21st century and help make a party that includes not just the monied urbanites, but the rest of us as well?
Hey, Harrison, what’s up with the man crush on Bredesen? (Yes, shockandawww, I think Harrison is a man, too.) I voted for him a couple of times but I don’t want to know him Biblically, like you apparently do. Why don’t you answer the question the Forrester weiners are asking? What has Bredesen done for the Democrats? I voted for him because I think he’s 2/3 Republican.
Holy crap. I know these people are out to lunch when Chip’s people start comparing His struggles to suffrage and the civil rights movement. Next thing you know, Chip will be cementing his martyrdom by crucifying Himself. Word of advice to Chip: Better get someone to help you with that last nail. It’s a bitch.
Heatseaker - lol. You might be surprised - Harrison could be a woman as well. Stranger things have happened…
Harrison, dear, I didn’t capitalize the “H” in the word “his” twice…you did (you know, like you’re referring to a male deity). Perhaps thou dost protest too much! Just to help you out a little, I didn’t compare Chip to a civil rights leader (or Jesus…silly, Jesus was Jewish, not Protestant. Might want to “Bone” up on your Early Christianity). I simply said that the grassroots movement - not the establishment - has been behind many of the major 20th century movements. But that’s cute…really!
Amazing how this thread degenerated into name-calling.
Here’s an idea. What are the core values of the Democratic Party in Tennessee? What are the top items on our agenda? Opposing idiotic Republican ideas is not enough. What do we want for Tennessee - all of Tennessee?
What bothers me more than anything else is the refusal of anybody to tell us what they want. All I hear is “better public education.” Well, of course. But how? A different funding formula? New statewide standards? Investment in more teachers? How?
Then there is the question of the economy. We know the Republican option - cutting taxes and regulations - is a failure both nationwide and in Tennessee. So what do we support instead? If not an income tax, which both Democrats and Republicans are divided over, then what else? And what about spending? How should we be positioning ourselves vis-a-vis the Obama stimulus?
If there is one guiding principle to Phil Bredesen it’s fiscal sanity and pragmatic governance. OK fine. Is that what the TNDP should stand for? Should we be anti-ideological and pragmatic as a matter of principle? Should we make the Mumpower-Campfield style of cultural extremism the bugaboo and run on competence alone? That’s fine with me. But let’s figure out what the heck our overall mission is.
I can tell you, based on the nutjobs running the TNGOP - and many of them ARE bigots (is it any wonder that the TNGOP led the way in calling Obama a Muslim?) - that I know what the Republican Party stands for. But what does the Democratic Party stand for?
I have no idea if Forrester will be effective or another incompetent hack. I’m just tired of playing defense in this state and not standing for something.
Now THIS is a conversation. Thank you, Elrod - for bringing this discussion around to what really matters. I, for one, am going to step back, think about your questions, and post a thoughtful response to very thought-provoking, and timely, questions.
Forrester supports a $2 billion a year state income tax. He voted for an executive committee resolution calling for one in 1999.
Elrod for the win!
Ok let’s talk about “core values. Let’s start with Bredesen’s leadership in public education. An historic expansion of pre-K. Higher standards. Increased tobacco taxes to provide more resources to schools. Higher teacher pay. And you want to say he’s not a “real Democrat.” Or let’s talk about Gordon, the man in Congress who’s most committed to leveraging science and technology to improve American life and accomplishment. Or Lincoln Davis, who believes in the power of good roads and quality infrastructure to create jobs in rural areas. Or Jim Cooper and John Tanner, who embody fiscal responsibility. Or Harold Ford, who became the first African American to run competitively statewide. You people should be thanking these men for their contributions to the party. Instead, you and Chip spit at them and say they’re not real Democrats. You should be ashamed. You make me sick.
Elrod, thank you. You ask an excellent question. One of the tough things about statewide campaigns in Tennessee is that it’s hard to run on a single, unified vision. Especially for Democrats, who typically have to create a coalition, at a time when Republicans are running on nothing but wedge issues.
The 100% reliable approach would be to let the tax activists, theocrats and wingnuts take over everything, and discredit themselves Bush-style by running the state into the ground. But the problem is, we have to live here. Unlike Junior, most of us don’t have Manhattan pied-a-terres that when can retreat to when we want to escape Gilead-on-the-Cumberland, or Bredesen’s cash to go somewhere safer until the firestorm blows over. I sometimes do wonder if that’s their approach, because I see no coherent strategy for 2010.
DG: See my previous post. You’re an idiot, like Chip.
Um… Harrison, first of all, thanks for getting us back on the issues - focusing on positive solutions for Tennessee, which is the real focus that Tennessee Democrats (and Republicans) share in common. But the point was not to say that Davis, Ford, Tanner, Gordon, Cooper, or Bredesen are not real Democrats. The point is to say that, given the fact that they are, they ought to support the state, local, and national party. They can’t just be DINOs who do good things for themselves (and none of them can do it alone, as you’re well aware). Part of party politics, as you know, is uniting together behind a common political purpose, and joining in the common effort to push a progressive agenda. (Progressive means moving forward … not implying liberalism or change for the sake of change.) They all ought to host fundraisers, bring bucks into the state, local, and federal coffers, and show some love for the people across the state who have worked so hard to unite the country behind the Democratic party.
Listen: They do their jobs. They get elected and then work to improve this state and country. They’ve got more to worry about than getting their teets primed for suckling by ben10, lookingat2030, DG and the rest of you clowns. Now why don’t you do your job: Go “organize” and “build from the ground up” and try not to get mired in Chip’s petty partisan endeavors.
How can there be a “New Democratic Party” without the Democratic governor without the Democratic congressman? As for a coherent strategy for 2010, all I see from Forrester is a strategy of running them out of the party.That’s counterproductive.
I think Linc, Gordon, Cooper, Tanner, Cohen and Bredesen are great Tennessee Democrats. I don’t always agree with them on everything. I don’t see why, for example, Nashville has a Blue Dog representing it instead of a Progressive like Cohen. But that’s fine. Cooper is 100% committed to supporting Obama’s agenda at the Federal level, as is Gordon, Cohen, Tanner and presumably Davis. Barack Obama has a 60% approval rating in Tennessee right now, according to Rasmussen. There’s simply no reason for TN Democrats to run away from Obama like they have in the past. The primary wars and even the general election is ancient history at this point.
That said, we still need to think about our core values statewide. Yes, there are different issues in Memphis, the Cumberland Plateau, Nashville, Knoxville, the Highland Rim, Henry County, Johnson City and Chattanooga. We are a large and diverse state. But that doesn’t mean we don’t all believe in pragmatic governance, strong and well-funded public schools and universities with high standards, investment in high-tech and well-paying jobs, a quality health care system that serves all the people, an infrastructure that sustains a growing population, an environmental mandate that protects our mountains and rivers, and a commitment to basic civil rights for all Tennesseans from Appalachia to Memphis. Commitment to those values will win votes. Defining a state agenda in terms of those values will win votes. We can argue til the cows come home over organizing and fundraising, but if we don’t stand proudly for our values we will not win.
I didn’t see anyone in the Bone camp saying the party should run away from Obama. Bone was his chief fundraiser in Tennessee. I saw Forrester publicly insulting our elected Democrats and telling them there is no place for them in his party. I hear his supporters saying the same. He has a long history of spurning the party leadership.
Great. After 180 comments of you pro-Chip jokers pounding on the Governor and members of congress, I’m glad you’re finally big enough to admit that they are “real Democrats.” Now it’s time to figure out how you’re going to repair relations with these “real Democrats” so you’re not personally saddled with Chip’s new $120k salary. May I suggest, as a starting point, that we launch a Chip recall campaign? Who’s with me?! Let’s organize! From the ground up! Screw “the establishment.” Eeeee-Yaaaaa!!!!
I’d give a week’s pay to see Chip Forrester naked.
As Chip’s agent, we accept. The newly bankrupt chair needs every dime he can get.
Harrison, how much money has Forrester’s election cost you? You were one of the people making money off the TDP, weren’t you? Why else would you be bitching like this?
Harrison, Joe Lieberman can win statewide in Connecticut. What does Bredesen stand for?
LWC, whatever the situation is with these people, I also detect the familiar note of someone who is watching their gravy train melt away.
I’d bet they’re lobbyists.
Hasn’t cost me a dime. I’m just bitching because I’m distraught that my party, albeit imperfect, has officially thrown its lot with a fool who couldn’t organize his way to the bank (even if he had a dollar to deposit). But I’m hopeful that the sane party leadership will quickly find its way to a new organization. But while we’re talking about profits, what has Chip offered you, Quacker? Caveat emptor. Not just in contracts, but in political reality. You people are now an island unto yourselves. Good luck digging out of this hole.
Autoegodipshit: If you look up a few posts, you’ll see what Bredesen has done for education. And what our members of Congress have done in support of other Democratic core values. Meanwhile, do you really think lobbyists waste their time with political parties? No. They’re too busy sowing contributions with the legislature. You people really have no clue how politics works. Exhibit A in the rapid demise of Tennessee Democrats.
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2009/jan/25/davis-time-government-work-everyone/
And Chip Forrester says this guy isn’t a real Democrat.
Recall Chip! Yes! Let’s do it before he runs everyone out of the party. How do we do it? Can we disband that idiotic executive committee while we’re at it?
I believe they are a creation of state law. Why do they say … Rules are made to be broken. And laws are made to be changed. I wonder what the DNC has to say about this meltdown?
I’ve been acquainted with Chip now for several years, through party events and such. He might be a very good chairman.I can say the same about Charles Robert Bone. I’m very concerned that our elected officials are so against Chip. After all, these are very careful politicians. They don’t take stands willy nilly. They tend to collect facts and then make decisions. What verification did Chip’s supporters get from him? Do they simply support him because he said he would support them? If so, I can assure you that Bone would have done the same. I haven’t seen a sound reason why they feel Chip will be a better chairman. If they drove our elected officials out of the party for no good reason, they made a foolish and fatal mistake. I talked to my executive committee woman, and she says Chip assured her the elected officials would be on board with him. I told her that I believe Chip is dishonest or mistaken.
There’s a lot of talk about grassroots organizing. The best grassroots campaign I’ve seen in Tennessee has been the two Bredesen campaigns. They came in and got local people to run things. In my county, it was our sheriff and county mayor. Unlike Harold Ford, who sent in some kids from Nashville. It doesn’t make sense to me that Forrester doesn’t want Bredesen’s help.
“What does Bredesen stand for?”
Pre-K, which is a great program. Unfortunately, the revenue stream was insufficient because our tax system is a joke– and was before the fiscal situation in our state REALLY got screwed up. And the GOP, of course, is absolutely determined to destroy Pre-K. Without any plan to get back the legislature, Bredesen’s signature achievement will disappear. Voila, no legacy!
First Maggie T, lets please not compare Bredesens campaigns please. In 06′ he ran against Jim Bryson??? Yes Big Jim?!! Bryson had no chance in hell to win. he put his name in there at the last minute. Second of all the term you used, Harold Ford Sent in some Kids”, is offensive. Myself as well as other kids sent in did a great job. Congressman Ford lost by less than 50,000 votes. and that was in part do to Ford Sr. and his riff with many politico’s in Memphis. As well as the so called “Memphis Meltdown” in which Congressman Ford confronted Sen. Corker. I am so tired of all the “old heads” who take offense to young, fresh ideas. or see younger politico’s as a threat to their long standing positions within their counties. None of the comments that Chip doesn’t want the Gov.’s support are based on facts, just gossip and innuendo. And Maggie the bredesen Grassroots campaign was a COORDINATED campaign, where many of the volunteers who where on the ground did so for Congressman Ford, not the Gov. who had NO competition from Big Jim.
That is another reason why The Dems lost control. So many county chairs and county execs, didnt want to take advise from those from Nashville, because “they know it all” or like Ive heard, “honey I’ve been doing this for years” ” you young people from Nashville don’t understand how are county works” blah blah blah. And these people knew how it worked so well that we got our hats handed to us.
Ashford, I didn’t mean to strike a nerve, but you are wrong. First of all, I’m talking about both of the governor’s campaigns. He or his staff came to my county and recruited locals. They were Bredesen people and they worked far better with us than the Ford people did. I worked very hard for Ford and wanted him to win. I also don’t understand why Forrester doesn’t want Ford’s help. I’m sorry if you can’t accept it, Ashford, but Forrester and many of his people on this web site have said that they don’t want Bredesen or Ford in their party. That doesn’t make sense. And don’t attack me just because you disagree.
Okay, Harrison answered my question about what Bredesen has done for the Democrats. Now some of you Chipheads tell me what he has done for the Democrats. And don’t give me his bullshit promises to you about what he WILL do. Those don’t mean shit because he hasn’t done them. And don’t tell me that he worked for Al Gore and Ned McWherter. Several people on this thread are calling bullshit on those. Besides, I worked at McDonald’s as a kid. That doesn’t mean I can have beers with The Hamburglar. Give me something concrete that Chipper has done for the Tennessee Democratic Party. Hasn’t he been a part of its leadership for 20 years?
i didnt attack you, i was just giving you insight. Those whom don’t want Bredesen or Ford’s help are CRAZY. i want there help. We NEED their help. Some people are just talking to strike up nerves. The bredesen people where the Ford People to a large extent. I know personally MANY of them. I was in East Tennessee for a majority of the election and Bredesen had one, maybe two staff people in all of East Tn. He didnt have to work hard to beat Jim Bryson. Didn’t mean to make you feel like i was attacking you, but i know a lot of hard working people who implemented strategy or tried to but where met with iron gates from the counties and county parties because they where seen as young. Everyone Ive ever tried to work with I open my arms and my mind to getting the candidate elected by whatever means possible. And maybe to your point in 02′ Van Hilleary did pose a formidable foe, to a certain extent. but let me say WE NEED FORD JR. AND WE NEED BREDESEN, WE NEED EVERY POLITICO IN OUR STATE AND ABOUND!!
I’m glad DG is willing to throw in the towel on pre-K simply because he’s bummed out we don’t have an income tax. Talk about a DINO. Not to mention the fact that the income tax is the kiss of death in Tennessee politics. Is that what we’ve got to look forward to in the Chip regime? People shitting on early childhood education and promoting the income tax?
The Tennessee Democratic Party is a cesspool of corruption and it looks like Forrester has used his 25 years as an insider to learn the tricks. A $120,000 salary and contracts for his cronies? John Ford, Jerry Cooper, and Ward Crutchfield taught him well. If any state needs a third party, it’s Tennessee.
You’re bonkers if you don’t see the value of Pre-K. It has measurable positive effects on later schooling and on current child welfare.
Those who oppose it are crackpot right-wingers who hate government programs more than they like seeing poor children get a better education and have a better quality of life. Barney Frank’s knock on the far right, “they think life begins at conception and ends at birth” is particularly applicable to the TN GOP on this issue.
The problem is that it is funded out of non-dedicated revenue. That’s a disaster for the future.
Morpheus and all : The reasons why Jim Hawkins did so poorly against Black is not the fault of the TNDP or you or anybody else but Jim Hawkins. He is a very nice guy but he has a reputation for being very silly. He could have gotten arrested the first night he was a candidate because he threw a fit at the local paper (in the middle of the night) for not letting him add a sentence to their story about the candidates who filed to run for office.
He spent the rest of his campaign running around crying about who could put a magnet sign on their car at the local high school homecoming parade.
And it was no secret he really wanted to run for a judgeship. He didn’t stand a chance against Diane Black–good grief, pick a battle you can win!
The income tax is not the kiss of death.
Present it 0.0%, with the state income tax deduction on fed taxes, under $100,000 in personal or $175,000 in joint income, and then 5% with deductability over that, and constitutionally cap the sales tax.
It was devised by a Republican who wanted the tax far too flat, and there weren’t enough guarantees about sales tax caps.
Sell it as a tax cut to everyone making less than $100k. Will the rich howl? Sure, but they have been coasting for YEARS in this state.
As for Chip, he and the Republican governor were singing from the same hymnal in 1999. I have no idea what he thinks about the issue now. After the bloodbath after the honking lunatics distorted the debate, no one is going to propose it again for a while, no matter how much sense it makes.
Perfect. So DG acknowledges that Chip is the pro income-tax chair. That’s all we need. Democrats should fasten their seat belts and head for the hills. It’s going to be a long, nasty income tax revival under the Forrester reign.
IN THE INMORTAL WORDS OF RODNEY kING “CAN’T WE ALL JUAT GET ALONG”
In the immortal words of Chip, “Screw them.”
HARRISON YOU ARE SO BITTER, BUT I MUST SAY YOU ARE A PERISTANT BASTARD. GIVE IT UP AND HELP THE REST OF US DEMS TO MOVE FORWARD
To whoever called bullshit on Chip being fired by Gore or the fact that Gore simply hates the idea of Chip Forrester. If you don’t believe me, ask Gore or anyone who ever worked for Gore. They may not talk to you on the record (they are real-world politicos, after all), but they will give you the low down and will be glad to do so. Try Roy Neel or Mike Kopp or Alberta Winkler or Jim Hester or Bill Mason or Stuart Brunson or Heather Marabeti or Beth Alpert or Marla Romash or Carol Browner or Barbara Kelly or anyone else who had a real job and a real relationship with Gore. Try Gore’s fundraisers. See if there is a single one of them who supported Forrester for chairman. Maybe there is one. I wouldn’t bet on it, but I have only talked to a couple of this list recently; but, again, I wouldn’t bet on it.
Forrester lied to Gore routinely, lost his trus and confidence, and was fired months before he had planned to resign and run against Clement. Talk about trying to divide the party; Forrester did it in spades that year.
ONE THING ABOUT IT, WE HAVE NEVER HAD THIS MUCH INTEREST IN THE PARTY BEFORE,AND THAT’S A GODD THING. PASSION IN POLITICS IS GREAT AND IT HAS BEEN MISSING FOR US DEMS FOR SOME TIME IN THIS STATE. WE NOW HAVE TO ALL WORK TO REBUILD A PARTY INFRASTRUCTURE THAT HAS BEEN NEGLECTED FOR SOMETIME IN MIDDLE AND WEST TENNESSEE AND BUILD ONE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN EAST TENNESSEE. WE WILL TAKE BACK THE HOUSE IN 2010, BUT IF WE CAN COME TOGATHER WE CAN MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO TAKE BACK THE SENATE AND KEEP THE GOVENOR’S MANSION. I VOTED FOR CHIP AND THE GOVENOR AND THE CONGRESSIONALS ARE STILL MY FRIENDS, LETS PUT THIS BEHIND US AND ALL MOVE FORWARD.
Ah, the truth will out. Now we see why Bredesen, et al opposed Forrester. This is a battle between the pro-income tax wing of the Democratic Party and the anti-income tax wing of the Democratic Party. While I suppose some cudos go to Davis, Tanner, Bredesen, etc. for trying to preserve party unity by running a candidate against Forrester rather than simply outing him, they should have taken note of the fact that the very people that voted for the income tax, the party executive committee, are the very people that elect the chairman. This was a fight on the turf of the income tax cabal. The anti-income taxers couldn’t win from the start. They should have gone public with Forrester’s true nature before the vote.
Bill Hobbs is right. The Tennessee Democratic Party is now out of the shadows as the Tennessee Income Tax Party.
Good, we now have one of Naifeh’s House members on the thread. Tell us, Rep. Turner, why you support a state income tax? As has now been widely reported, Forrester is an income tax supporter. In fact, he has voted for an income tax. Forrester was elected by the pro-income tax Tenn. Democratic Party executive committee. You are a member of that body, and you say you supported Forrester. It looks like our congressmen and governor opposed Forrester because of his support for an income tax. Why do you support an income tax and when do you believe Democrats in the state legislature will bring legislation to create one?
For the record, the primary, but not the only reason, that I oppose an income tax is that it violates the state constitution.
I VOTED AGAINST THE INCOME TAX, AND I VOTED FOR FORRESTER
MILTON THE INCOME TAX IS AS DEAD IN THE STATE HOUSE AS MUMPOWERS CHANCES TO BE SPEAKER. WHEN YOU GUYS RUN OUT OF THINGS TO SAY YOU ALWAYS BRING UP THE INCOME TAX. LET ME REMIND YOU THAT IT WAS YOU REPUBS THAT PUT JUSTIN WILSON IN COMPTROLLERS OFFICE, HE WAS SUNDQUIST POINT MAN ON THE INCOME TAX. GOOD NIGHT ALL.
Perfect. So does that constitute a flip flop? Here’s a news flash Einstein: This isn’t the kind of “interest in the Party” that you want or need. Moderates are pissed at having this goofball as a chairman. I hope Bredesen and the congressionals go out tomorrow and launch Democrats 2.0. I’m so sick of the labor-income tax crowd I could puke.
How do you now then support an open advocate of an income tax as your state party chair? I consider myself a conservative more than a Republican, so I understand having differences with your party. However, Forrester’s election as chairman clearly establishes the Tenn. Democratic Party as the pro-income tax party in our state. How could you support that?
Was that Mike Turner, the house democrat leader commenting on a blog? Who is he, Stacey Campfeeld? Fabulous. That’s exactly what Tennessee Democrats need. A legislative leader lurking in the blogs. How’s that for a Profile in Courage.
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE PARTY HAS NEVER CONTROLED THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA THAT JOB GOES TO THE CAUCASES, HIS JOB IS TO BUILD A LOCAL PARTY STRUCTURE AND HELP RAISE MONEY. BUT AGAIN THE CAUCASES RAISE MOST OF THIER ON MONEY, HOPEFULLY CHIP CAN BRING SOME ORGANIZATION SO WE CAN HAVE A PARTY STRUCTURE THAT CAN COMPETE IN ALL 95 COUNTIES. I TRULY BELIVE HE CAN
He even spells like Stacey! This is the best! Go Dems go!
So Forrester can take his campaign for an income tax to all 95 counties? That’s what the Democrats want. Kent Williams is obviously part of the plan or Naifeh wouldn’t have made him speaker.
Mike -
I’m in. Let’s get this thing done - and thanks for supporting Chip.
as for the rest - it’s over. We can keep sniping or eventually join together. Hope it’s the latter, but we’re prepared for the former.
Rep. Turner: As the only elected official who supported Chip, will you pledge tonight to personally raise the funds necessary for the Party’s operation? Will you cover Chip’s new $120,000 salary? If so, isn’t that just money that would be siphoned away from your “caucas”? How do you explain to the moderate members of your “caucas” that you have installed a pro income tax person as chairman? And that you’re going to be taking money away from their races in order to keep him sitting in butter? Unless the answer is, you aren’t going to underwrite the party. In which case, where will the money come from?
Turner just spelled out exactly what has me concerned. All of the primary income tax proponents are still in power or are taking positions of power. Wilson, the guy that wrote the income tax bills for Sundquist, is comptroller. Forrester, the guy that spearheaded the state Democratic Party’s support of an income tax, now controls the state Democratic Party. Naifeh still runs the House. And Sundquist doled out a bunch of campaign cash last year, primarily to people now serving in the state Senate.
I’m telling you that these guys are gearing up for another income tax push.
Wow. You take the weekend off and log on and find all this. Mind blowing. Let me be the first to say: If this is the future of the Tennessee Democratic Party, then I want no part of it. I was barely hanging on out of loyalty/guilt. But seeing the way the Chip Forrester people are acting is a turn off. And that Heatseeker isn’t any better. I am officially switching to Independent.
Harrison, I have worked in Shelby County Democratic politics for 32 years, and it has been VOLUNTARY. I work in the private sector unrelated to my political assistance for candidates and my party.
Can you say the same thing?
You can’t officially switch to nuthin, as you should know, with our non-partisan registration. But continue voting for Republicans, liar.
You got me Quacker. I neither work in Shelby County politics. Nor do I work for the state party. Nor do I volunteer. I am a spectator who is appalled at your and Chip’s patent rejection of elected leaders who have spent their entire careers in public service focusing on Democratic ideals. Shameful.
I do not have to switch affiliations on paper. I can do it by just making the decision. Tonite, I have done just that. Thanks to you and the abusiveness of the new party leadership, I will not be voting Democrat. I have not voted Republican. But I just might after being called a liar.
What is with this D.G. yelling “liar” and “shut up” at everyone? That’s better than her attempt to explain why we wouldn’t be screwed by an income tax., but it’s silly and childish. Is she so upset that we won’t support the Forrester/Sundquist income tax?
D.G., it’s unconstitutional and unfair. The sales tax is a flat rate. Everybody pays the same. That’s fair. Let’s not punish people for being good at what they do and getting ahead.
Still waiting on Turner’s fundraising pledge. I guess he can raise money for Chip by throwing ice cream socials at the fire hall. Like I said earlier: The party will be bankrupt in no time flat. TNDP — RIP.
[...] linked to a thread yesterday where, and correct me I’m wrong, where apparently there are a few people have lost [...]
[...] Kleinheider suggests in a recent Tweet: If you are into TN politics, you probably need to carve out some time to read all the comments on this thread. [...]
I’m gonna donate a dollar for every time Harrison runs his/her mouth. So far it’s $36. SYFPH. I’ve got kids to feed.
Make that $37, you idiot. That should be enough to keep the TNDP refrigerator stocked with Chip’s Perrier for about a week.
Hey Harrison, riddle me this. If Bredesen et al hate Forrester as much as you say, why didn’t they say anything about it for the four years he was party treasurer?
“When you lie, we are gonna call you out as liars,”
Don’t know much about Forrester. Being from Bristol it’s difficult to stay in the Nashvegas loop. But if he has the spine to speak such a profound truth to power then he has my support.
The one thing the TNDP and it’s Blue Dogshit Jellyspines have always lacked was the balls to stand up for the views of the majority of Democrats.
Seems that may now be changing. Let’s hope so.
Now if we just have the vision and patience to weed out these DLC vermin and replace them with progressive, solidly Liberal candidates the great State of Tennessee can and will be healed.
Hopefully Forrester is the anti-biotic needed to remove the infection.
I have a few questions to ask so please call me.
Congratulations on your win as TNDP Chair.