The Chip Factor

50 Responses to “The Chip Factor”

1. Heatseeker writes
   January 30th, 2009 3:11 pm

   Wow, Chipper is really racking up the hits this week. I can only imagine what damage he will do in his SECOND week as party chair.

2. Sean Braisted writes
   January 30th, 2009 3:26 pm

   Yeah, totally, some over-active political staffer is whispering in Woods’ ear and tearing up the comments section of blogs. Whatever shall he do.

3. Heatseeker writes
   January 30th, 2009 3:56 pm

   Looks like the Chipinsta are so in love with their lord and master that they can’t believe people actually think he’s a clueless weiner elected by an even more clueless bunch of weiners. They have to call everyone that criticizes Lord Chip “political staffer” or a “vendor” losing out on some money.

   First, Sean, I’m neither, but I can’t speak for other commentors.

   Second, what would it say about Lord Chip if “political staffers” and “vendors” oppose him? Hmmm. Democratic elected officials and the people that work for them think Chip’s a goober. Ever wonder if they know what they’re talking about?

   I guess I don’t have a dog in this hunt since, as I’ve said before, I usually vote Republican. I just never thought I’d see Democrats walk off a cliff like this.

4. Sean Braisted writes
   January 30th, 2009 3:59 pm

   Second, what would it say about Lord Chip if “political staffers” and “vendors” oppose him?

   That maybe they were looking for a plush job at the TNDP and just got denied?

5. Harrison writes
   January 30th, 2009 4:12 pm

   “Over-active political staffer.” Or any of the multitude of elected officials (and those around them) who didn’t support Chip. Or any of the 25 Executive Committee members who voted in the opposite direction. Or the dozens, if not hundreds, of people with whom Chip has burned bridges over the years — including those in the McWherter, Gore and Clement camps. Or perhaps it’s just rank and file Democrats who know this weirdo can’t be good for the Party.

   This vendetta you and Vibinc and Goldeneye are on to figure out who’s commenting, how many people are really commenting, etc, seems a bit obsessive and frankly creepy. Suffice to say you can’t walk in a Democratic room in this town and swing a cat without hitting someone who really dislikes Chip. That’s the fact.

6. TennDemocrat writes
   January 30th, 2009 4:15 pm

   To my knowledge, there are no “plush jobs” at the TNDP. You must be confusing that office with the Republican equivalent.

   Chip is a backstabbing, untrustworthy, incapable, disaster for the Democratic Party. He enjoys no trust from just about anyone involved in a meaninful and succesful way with state Democratic Party politics over the past 25 years. That’s why I have opposed his election. Other posters can speak for themselves.

7. Sean Braisted writes
   January 30th, 2009 4:23 pm

   Harrison,

   What I don’t understand is if the hatred for Chip Forrester is so universal, why then do all of his tractors require anonymity. That is the puzzling factor. Be loud, be proud,

8. Harrison writes
   January 30th, 2009 4:29 pm

   My name is Harrison. I choose not to use my last name because I don’t need you our some angry Chipinista TP’ing my yard.

9. Sean Braisted writes
   January 30th, 2009 4:43 pm

   Hah…I’ll leave that to the whiny babies obsessing about Chip’s neck wear.

10. Heatseeker writes
    January 30th, 2009 4:56 pm

    I’m having too much fun fucking with Democrats and watching you neurotic namby pambies obsess over who I am. Watch out, Sean, I may be right behind you!

    This is more fun than a “Friday the 13th” movie.

11. Milton writes
    January 30th, 2009 5:11 pm

    Forrester won’t provide the reasons why he supports a state income tax and his supporters won’t directly answer the criticisms that others (not I) have leveled against him. Both would rather try to distract attention from the issues at hand. That doesn’t bode well for the level of political discourse over the next two years.

12. realopenminded writes
    January 30th, 2009 8:06 pm

    Heatseeker, did Chip cut you off in traffic, or cut in front of you at Starbucks to offend you so much? I don’t care whom you are but lets please keep the dialogue pleasant and educated. I really doubt Dems would TP your yard. That’s usually the Ann Coulter crowd of angry conservatives who want people only to believe that God is on their side of the equation.

    Please lets wait til he gets his staff set up and the agenda place before us before we pass judgement “Oh wise jedi knight”

13. Heatseeker writes
    January 30th, 2009 8:25 pm

    realdumbass, I didn’t say anything about you TP’ing my yard. That was Harrison. If you want to come on out to my neck of the woods, bring it on.I’ll give you my address. But you better bring something stronger than toilet paper and you better show me some ass and elbows because I’m going to be blasting when you set foot on my property.

    What’s the matter? You jealous because I can afford Starbucks and you can’t. That why you wnat Chipper to hit me with an income tax?

14. southernfemaledem writes
    January 30th, 2009 9:29 pm

    Harrison, darling, obsessive and creepy more accurately describes your postings - and those of hotheadseeker and TNfakeDem. I’m sorry, do you just like the sound of your own voices, or do you have anything on which to base your vitrol?

    Please answer the following questions and provide evidence (note - “because I said so” and “I heard that…” does not count as evidence. I want citations):
    1. What evidence do you have that Forrester will push the state tax issue? Seriously, do you not think there are more important issues out there?
    2. Why are you so opposed to Forrester when he’s in touch with Dem ideals all over the country and in tune with the Obama agenda?
    3. What has Forrester ever done to you personally to incite so much hatred and BS? PERSONALLY - not rumors, not bowties, etc.
    4. Are you involved with the TNDP at such a level that you have any idea of what Forrester is doing and planning? I’m going to guess no - because I am, and I know what’s going on, and I know you’re not there. You know what, though? You can be! Why not stop complaining and get your ass down to the TNDP office to have a meeting and vent? Forrester will take your call.

    How about this - give him 90 days. If you still want to bitch after that, then do so. But until then, give him the benefit of the doubt. Watch for the Summit. Watch the fundraising on both the macro- and micro-levels. Keep an eye on the TNDP website for changes. Schedule a meeting with Chip to air your concerns.

    I think you’ll be surprised - or at least mollified.

    Deal?

15. Alex writes
    January 30th, 2009 11:00 pm

    Forrester is a coward and a liar. He said he would stand up for our values and immediately respond to Republican attacks. He has done neither. Ten years ago, he had the courage to stand up for an income tax. Now Forrester and all of his lackeys on this blog are spineless. Are you afraid that Republicans will criticize you? Do you not care that Tennessee has the most regressive tax system in the country? Do you think it’s fair that we tax food, for goodness sake?

    I’ve been disgusted with political parties for years, but I had some hope for the Democrats. Forget it now. Run way, you cowards.

16. Noodles Sarducci writes
    January 30th, 2009 11:48 pm

    Hey, Braindead, gonna freak out over who this southern chick is too?

    As for chickie poo or beninthepen or jen or lookingto2050 before Democrats ever win another election in Tennessee, she can blow her “citations” out her ass. Yeah, yeah, she’s a real political playah, knows everything going on. Betcha she’s having dinner with the Obama’s tonight. More likely, she’s jacking off to her Obama screensaver again.

    Well, chickie, your precious Chipper can have 650 days or so before you nimrods get hammered in 2010. What kind of idiots looks to a duck-footed cockknocker like Chip Forrester for leadership?

    The Tennessee Democratic Party has become the latest installment in the “Revenge of the Nerds” franchise . . . Or the political equivalent of the Special Olympics.

17. realopenminded writes
    January 30th, 2009 11:57 pm

    OK Alex, just move on then. You don’t even have the where with all to read what the comment before you said before you spill ignorant RETORIC. and that all you have, so don’t vote, don’t get involved and don’t worry about the dem. party. You are the less intelligent species crying out to have a voice on a blog instead of real life personal interaction with the party. Good rid-ens to you and your mentality sir.

18. southernfemaledem writes
    January 31st, 2009 12:33 am

    Spaghetti Brains,

    Now I know you’re not a Dem - you’re either a DINO or a Rethug. No self-respecting Dem would call a woman “chickie” - you’ve outed yourself. Go get your marching orders from Rush and spew your hatred to his crowd. You no longer exist.

    Oh, but before I let you go…which I will…your dating life might improve exponentially if you realized that WOMEN DON’T JACK OFF! Hmmm…who’s the nerd now? At least I know basic biology.

    Buh-bye.

19. Alex writes
    January 31st, 2009 1:49 am

    Do I think there are more important issues out there than fully funding all levels of education from pre-k to higher education? Do I think there are more important issues than keeping MORE people from being kicked off TennCare? Do I think there are more important issues than finding revenue to cover a $1 billion budget shortfall so the state doesn’t have to cut services.

    No, realopenminded, I don’t think there are more important issues than these. At one time, Forrester had the courage to publicly say he agreed with me.

    And if you were so smart, you would know the proper spelling is R-H-E-T-O-R-I-C, “wherewithal” is one word, and the pharse is “good riddance.”

20. Alex writes
    January 31st, 2009 1:51 am

    And southernfemaledem, the word is V-I-T-R-I-O-L?

    Who are you people?

21. Harrison writes
    January 31st, 2009 6:13 am

    Sorry I missed all the excitement last night. But to answer an earlier comment (and to echo my previous comments): You folks are dreaming if you think Chip is an agent of change. It looks like the mantle has fallen on me to continually remind people of the following.

    1. Chip is a 20-year party hack who has been a big part of the problem. In fact, as treasurer, that means he personally signed off on every expenditure in the last campaign cycle. Where was his outrage and sharp strategic mind while we were getting our ass kicked up and down Main Street?

    2. Chip is a charlatan. The Obama people wouldn’t know him from a hole in the wall. He either greatly exaggerates, or totally fabricates, his connections. You guys are living in a dream world if you think somehow Axelrod or Plouffe are going to show up in Tennessee and fix things just ’cause Chip said so. I imagine if you asked them about Chip, their response would be, “Chip who?”

    3. Chip has a terrible reputation. Everyone who’s been around Tennessee Democratic politics for 5 minutes can’t stand the guy. Ask some of the old McWherter hands why Chip was never hired into the administration after the ‘86 campaign. Or ask the Gore crowd why Al fired him in ‘92. This guy is poison. And the people who have been around the block know it. To you newbies: Don’t be fooled.

    4. Chip has zero support among the state’s senior Democratic leaders. Whether you care or not, that matters big time. Do you think the DNC is going to invest in Tennessee under these conditions? What happens the first time Kaine picks up the phone and calls Bredesen and asks, “What the heck is going on with the TNDP?” If he’s smart, Bredesen will say, “I’m not running again, but let me put you in touch with all of our members of Congress, who are on the ballot in 2010, and let them tell you what they think about Chip.” These men have the ability to squash this bug nationally. And they will. And that, my friends, is not a good thing.

    5. I said it before and I’ll keep saying it: The Party will be broke. There will be no macro fundraising because there will be no macro fundraisers helping. Chip will get a little labor money and a little trial bar money. But that’s it. And that ain’t gonna help. If you senior leaders aren’t going to dial for dollars, then you are screwed. Memo to Chip: It takes real resources to run a party. It can’t be fueled by hugs and smiles.

22. TennRod writes
    January 31st, 2009 8:27 am

    Harrison, you summarized it quite well. You and I are on the same page on Chip Forrester. Like Harrison, I invite any of you to contact staff and insiders from McWherter, Gore, Bredesen and our Democratic Congressmen (remember, the ones who WON elections in Tennessee) and have a serious, open-minded confidential talk with them about Forrester.

    Having said so, think I’ve had my say about this loser. I don’t like it one bit, but he is the Chairman. I will be lending my support to the alternative funding and organization entities that will replace the TNDP over the next election cycle. Our candidates, not the TNDP chairman, wll determine the future of the party. They have every opportunity to be successful, and I hope they are. The bottom line, of course, is defeeating the regressive, anti-worker, anti-woman, anti-minority, intolerant, mean-spirited Republican Party of Tennessee.

23. Harrison writes
    January 31st, 2009 9:17 am

    Amen.

24. Noodles Sarducci writes
    January 31st, 2009 9:30 am

    And to take it one step further since Braindead, Left Hand Wanker, and others want to keep bringing it up, no experienced and talented staffer will work for Forrester since he doesn’t have the blessing of the party elders. No A-list vendors will work for him. Remember, these people want to work in Tennessee in the future.

    Tell us, you political playahs, who is Chip interviewing? For that matter, is he interviewing anyone? Is he doing anything?

    You ask for more time. Why bother? The TNDP now has no money, no staff, no vendors,

    TNDP - R.I.P.

25. Jeremy writes
    January 31st, 2009 10:10 am

    Before either side torches me for what I’m about to say, all I want is to see Democrats win elections in Tennessee. I’m not a political staffer. I’m not a volunteer, and don’t ask me, I don’t have time. I vote Democrat. I follow politics. Every now and then I post on a blog. That’s it.

    Here’s what I don’t understand. Obama, for whom I voted, got trounced in Tennessee. There was no real camapaign. I live in Bellevue. No Obama volunteer ever knocked on my door. I understand that a lot of volunteers gave a lot of time to do calls, etc. in other states. That’s awesome. But Obama ran no campaign in Tennessee. Period.

    The one thing Obama did well in Tennessee is raise money. In fact, he raised almost as much money as McCain, which is saying a lot. Charles Robert Bone was on Obama’s national finance committee. I believe he joined in early ‘07. He helped raise all of that Tennessee money.

    Why in the world did Democrats turn the state party over to the people that ran the failed part of the Obama Tennessee campaign?

    For the people on the other side, why the anger? If we all want to elect Democrats, isn’t that common ground? Can’t we all come together on this thing?

26. FtCampbellDem writes
    January 31st, 2009 10:50 am

    Is Chip a GOP plant? Has anyone done more damage to TNDP than he has? Passing a resolution calling for an income tax? Brilliant! Signing the checks for campaigns that were as timid and directionless as any you’ll find in the country! Atta boy.

    But here’s the kicker. Chip stood up and made the motion to steal a legitimate election from a sitting state senator. And he did it for crass political reasons. Chip Forrester cast his lot with the Wilder good ol’ boys and trampled all over our state and federal constitution. This man will say anything and do anything to advance his political career.Yesterday, he was in bed with the good ol’ boys. Today, he’s in bed with the grassroots. Who’s next?

    If you ask me, if a third party group is formed, Rosalind Kurita ought to lead it.

27. Harrison writes
    January 31st, 2009 10:56 am

    I agree with everything you said. The problem, though, is that Chip, Braindead and a relatively narrow segment of the Obama people in Tennessee want to blame everyone else for what happened here. They blame Bredesen for not spending the so-called “political capital” he accumulated. (What was he supposed to do? Go door to door on election day and twist people’s arms?) They blame Lincoln for not being a “real Democrat.” They blame Harold for being associated with a moderate Democrat organization. They blame Bart and Tanner for not rushing to endorse Obama in the primary, despite the fact he was running 20 points down from McCain. By now, they probably blame Cooper for following his conscience and voting against the House stimulus program. They are a swarm of whiney, weird, unrealistic people who don’t know jack about campaigns other than what they read on the blogs. The Obama state director was someone named Jill Buck Wallace who nobody knows and who never even worked in a campaign before. In fact, that’s probably why the Obama campaign never bothered stopping here. They took one look at the substandard personnel they had on the ground and decided, “No we can’t.” The result: A whopping six counties went to Obama. The worst performance by a Democratic presidential candidate since Mondale. And what do these people do? They point their fingers instead at the Democrats who have actually won races in Tennessee. They are irrational. Foolish. And a virus that wi cripple Democrats here. The only thing to do, I’m afraid, is run. Run like the wind. Toward a new organization.

28. Harrison writes
    January 31st, 2009 10:57 am

    My previous comment was in response to Jeremy

29. Morpheus122 writes
    January 31st, 2009 1:08 pm

    I notice that no Forrester supporters have commented this morning unlike last Saturday. Are they all at the NCO meeting? Does he not have supporters outside Nashville? If not, how are these people going to win elections in Milan and Tullahoma and Blountville? I thought Forrester was going to expand the party not suck it further into the Nashville vortex.

30. Heatseeker writes
    January 31st, 2009 1:29 pm

    Or maybe Chipper is holding another salon on female masturbation . . . or whatever.

    “Pass the arugula, pretty please.”

    “Oh, Chip, this zinfindel is divine.”

    The only things they lack are nuts and weiners.

    Ciao, babe!

31. Morpheus122 writes
    January 31st, 2009 3:11 pm

    I just saw pics online of Chip’s victory party last Saturday. He was yukking it up in several with Gary Odom, the posterboy for ethical problems in the General Assembly. I didn’t see a single person from outside of Nashville in any pic.

    This is beginning to feel like we’ve been had.

32. Harrison writes
    January 31st, 2009 4:28 pm

    Yep. Apparently, the Chipinistas don’t understand the term, “Caveat emptor.” But they will learn. Boy, how they will learn.

33. LeftWingCracker writes
    January 31st, 2009 5:48 pm

    These trolls are either A) staffers for one of the “slighted” congresspeople, B) staffers for the Honorable Phil Governor or C) employees for firms about to go out of business because they lost their piece of the TNDP pie.

    It’s been a weekm and these morons refuse to let go. ‘

    SCREW YOU. It’s our party, too, and we’re going to have to rebuild it from the ground up, with small donors, and it’s not going to happen overnight.

    The Congressmen who apparently don’t need the party for re-election have nothing to worry about, since they are to the right of where the party is everywhere but here. Davis made the right move not running for Governor, because he’ll have the chance to move up in House leadership and committee leadership.

    As for the rest of us, we’re going to rebuild the party, and you can either join us or go join the Goopers, I don’t care.

    Lead, follow, or get the hell out of the way, trolls.

    You lost, get over it.

34. harrison writes
    January 31st, 2009 6:56 pm

    OK, I’ve gotta come clean.

    I’m really Bill Hobbs.

35. LeftWingCracker writes
    January 31st, 2009 7:08 pm

    No, even B-Ho has enough integrity to post under his own name.

36. Harrison writes
    January 31st, 2009 8:06 pm

    So sayeth the guy who operates under the handle “Left Wing Cracker.” If I haven’t been clear by now, let me just state authortatively: I’ll be damned if I surrender the party to the likes of Chip Forrester. Before this is all over, we may not only see a new organization created but we may see a well-funded effort to recruit candidates to go out and beat the idiot Executive Committee members who did this. You want to play? Let’s get it on.

37. Morpheus122 writes
    January 31st, 2009 8:18 pm

    The Chipinista, as they are being called, are nothing if not a mature and realistic lot. Thanks, LWC, for putting that on display. Tennessee Democrats have been taken for a ride. Forrester is a con man, and we are screwed. Small donors are going to give the millions needed to run campaigns? Come on! That’s a pipe dream. Armies of volunteers are going to grow like weeds? From where? Our Facebook pages are going to move Tennessee voters?

    I feel like I fell for a ponzi scheme.

38. Noodles Sarducci writes
    January 31st, 2009 8:33 pm

    Left Hand Wanker,

    I’m thrilled you and Barney Fife Forrester are running the Democrats. Are you going to do the media? How ’bout the mail? Or, with all your Memphis experience, are you going to handle the outreach to the dead? Since you’re bitching and whining about these evil vendors, who do you suppose is going to do campaigns with you political retards?

39. Heatseeker writes
    January 31st, 2009 9:16 pm

    Watch out, Left Wing Whackjob, that wacky southernchickiegirl is gonna give you a lecture on manners.

    By the way, I’m George W. Bush. Had some time on my hands. Thought I’d fuck around with some Democrats.

    So let me get this straight, Left Wingie, Chipper has no money. Chipper has no staff. Any Democrat that has ever won an election in Tennessee doesn’t want to be in the same zip code with him, except for some of those halfwit Democrats in the state legislature. And you say Chipper has run off all the vendors. I guess you mean all the people that actually run campaigns.

    Dude, that means there’s NO FUCKING PARTY LEFT. And this guy is your knight in shining armor?

    Two words for you and Chipper, Left Wingie:

    DEAD MEN WALKING!!!!!!

40. Harrison writes
    January 31st, 2009 9:32 pm

    I’m glad Cracker chimed in tonite. He motivates me. I was about ready to go away. But when I read him declaring victory and saying “screw you,” I decided: This is war. This will be the biggest, bloodiest, broke-ass mess Chip ever thought he’d encounter. We will pluck the Chipinistas, de-vein and de-bone them, push them into a meat-grinder, and make turkey sausage for breakfast. And we will do the same to their little friends on the Executive Committee. This will be the most fun political off-season ever.

41. Heatseeker writes
    January 31st, 2009 10:41 pm

    Damn straight! I’ll vote for Harrison, even if he is a damn Democrat. Better gird your loins, Chipinista! You done started a war you can’t win.

42. Ben writes
    February 1st, 2009 12:29 am

    The only people I read telling anyone to get out of the party is the Forrester people. Or they’re yelling “shut up and fove us your money.” This is crazy. Turning the party over to these people is like having someone perform surgery that has only watched “ER”.

43. Gandalfous A Birch IV writes
    February 1st, 2009 4:48 am

    “No self-respecting Dem would call a woman “chickie” - you’ve outed yourself. ”

    HA! She’s obviously never been down to War Memorial . . .

44. A Democrat writes
    February 1st, 2009 10:43 am

    I am a Democrat, and for well over a decade now, I’ve been a regular contributor to the Tennessee Democratic Party. When I first read that Chip was going to run for party chair, I didn’t think much of it. I had met Chip at party functions, but he never appeared to be a major player, even when he served as treasurer.

    I began to have my doubts when I saw that our elected officials were opposed to Chip, and since Chip’s election, I have come to believe that TNDP has made a horrible mistake.

    I’m not going to spend my entire Sunday morning detailing what anyone reading this already knows, but it seems to me that Chip and his supporters are acting like spoiled children. They exclude the very people that have been the heart and soul of this party from the party, but, of course, they want us to leave them checks on the way out.

    I won’t be writing a check to TNDP this year. If Chip proves me wrong, I may return next year.

    A final note to Chip’s supporters: don’t bother berating me for not using my name. I don’t care what you think about it.

45. LeftWingCracker writes
    February 1st, 2009 2:35 pm

    Google my handle, then you’ll find me, my name and they fact that I’ve been involved for years here. People know who I am and what I’ve done, which is more than I can say for you trolls.

46. Harrison writes
    February 1st, 2009 3:40 pm

    So anybody who deigns to comment without using their real name (or in my case, last name) is a “troll?” Or is that only a reference to people who don’t like Chip and who disagree with you? And they say Republicans are intolerant.

47. Noodles Sarducci writes
    February 1st, 2009 6:16 pm

    Ah, horseshit, Left Hand Wanker. You ain’t done shit but run your big mouth online. Big fucking deal, you lazy ass. Answer me some questions:

    1. How much money have you raised for the TNDP or Democratic candidates?

    2. How many winning Democratic candidates have you recruited?

    For Chip, the answer to both questions is zero. I’m willing to bet the answer for you is zilch. But you drooling morons are running everyone that has done the heavy lifting out of the party.

    Okay, alright. If that’s the way you want it, Wanker. Bring it. You’re going to get your shit fucked up.

48. Harrison writes
    February 1st, 2009 7:02 pm

    Language. Tsk, tsk.

49. Ben writes
    February 1st, 2009 7:02 pm

    LWC, if all these trolls are staffers, doesn’t that mean Chip has a problem?

50. Noodles Sarducci writes
    February 1st, 2009 7:19 pm

    Okay, I aplogize for the language, but the questions stand. Tell me what these people have done to justify expelling others from the party. All I’ve seen is a lot of chatter online about a presidential candidate that got thrashed in the primary and the general election in this state.