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Ford To Speak At Jackson Day

By Kleinheider Posted on April 13, 2009 at 6:53 pm

The Tennessee Democratic Party’s annual fundraising event has an all-star speaker:

Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman, Chip Forrester, is pleased to announce that Harold Ford, Jr. will be the Keynote Speaker at the Andrew Jackson Day Celebration on May 30, 2009 at the Factory in Franklin, TN. Jackson Day festivities include an afternoon picnic, a dinner and keynote address by Ford, Jr., and an after-party later in the evening.

This is important news because some folks had wondered, due to the turmoil and fundraising problems in the TNDP, whether Chairman Forrester would be able to secure a big name speaker to bring people out on Jackson Day and raise some much needed funds.

It is especially noteworthy because Ford was one of signers, along with the Governor and nearly all of the state Democratic congressmen, of a letter supporting Chairman Forrester’s opponent, Charles Robert Bone.

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17 Responses to “Ford To Speak At Jackson Day”

  1. Heatseeker writes
    April 13th, 2009 7:20 pm

    On the very day that Ford announces he won’t be a candidate in the most important race Democrats have faced in years, Chairgimp Chipper announces that Ford will be the speaker at TNDP’s largest annual fundraiser.

    Do you even stop to think about timing, Chipper?

  2. Daniel writes
    April 13th, 2009 7:28 pm

    Great news for the TNDP!

  3. Sandy writes
    April 13th, 2009 7:30 pm

    I am happy Harold Ford will be the speaker at the Jackson Dinner. Dems will be motivated by his presence. He can turn out big crowds and get everyone on fired up to work for the TNDP.

    I am disappointed Ford is not running for Governor, but I figured this much because he has not been around Tennessee lately. The dinner will give us a chance to listen to the other candidates and find someone appealing.

  4. dan writes
    April 13th, 2009 7:32 pm

    There must be millions of old time democrats in this state who have flipped in their graves since the ol chipperoo took over….

  5. spaz writes
    April 13th, 2009 8:06 pm

    During Bob Tuke’s run as TNDP chairman, we saw Howard Dean, Russ Feingold, John Edwards, Joe Biden, Wes Clark, and Al Gore, roll through town on the speaking/fundraising circuit. And that wasn’t just because of the ‘04 election - Tuke and Maynard got there in ‘05.

    Sasser couldn’t get anyone good, either. This ain’t Chip’s fault. Hell, if anything its Bredesen’s - he’s practically cordoned off the state from Democrats that don’t already live here. Look at the wonders that’s done us.

  6. Harrison writes
    April 13th, 2009 8:22 pm

    I imagine Harold Ford hasn’t been keeping up with all of Chip’s screw ups and just assumed this would be like any other Jackson Day — shiny happy people holding hands. I doubt that Alissa Parker and the Franklin Democrats who are planning this event bothered to tell Harold how despised Chip still is these days. Give Harold a minute to reconnect with what’s actually happening in the state and see if he doesn’t have a scheduling conflict. You know how those pesky DC-NYC demands can be.

  7. Dr. Jellyfinger writes
    April 13th, 2009 8:51 pm

    Spaz, you just totally contradicted yourself. You named all of the Jackson Day speakers that “rolled through town” during Tuke’s and Button’s days as TNDP chair. These were all speakers during Bredesen’s tenure. How do you suppose he has cordoned off the state?

    As for Sasser, didn’t he have Claire McCaskill last year? I don’t remember her being elected to the U.S. Senate from the Volunteer State.

    And why are you laying blame for Chip’s inability to find an out-of-state speaker. I don’t see anyone criticizing him for that. Did he dispatch you to the blogs to apologize for his inadequacies?

    I heard Elissa Parker, TNDP vice chair that Chip put in charge of Jackson Day, spent the weekend making frantic phone calls trying to find a speaker.

    I agree with Harrison that it’s even money Ford actually speaks at this event.

  8. spaz writes
    April 13th, 2009 8:54 pm

    Who gives a shit what you think, Fletch?

  9. Dr. Jellyfinger writes
    April 13th, 2009 9:00 pm

    Aren’t you going to rip on Ford for being a Blue Dog, spaz? Did Chip tell you not to?

    Did you spend all weekend holding Elissa’s hair while she cried because no one wanted to speak at your little outing in the park?

  10. Harrison writes
    April 13th, 2009 9:42 pm

    Don’t hold your breath, Dr. J.

    Spaz (aka Jennifer Buck Wallace) won’t own up to her previous disavowals of Harold Ford as just another one of those “Blue Dog losers.” Spaz, like her master Chip, is a weasel.

  11. BluedogCatcher writes
    April 13th, 2009 10:05 pm

    I’ll own up to mine. That’s the nice thing about me not being the Chip insider you guys always thought I was— I can sit here and tell the truth.

    I think this gives me a hell of a good reason to stay home on Jackson Day. When Ann Coulter says you’re her favorite Democrat, you’re not gonna be one of mine.

    I could go further but really, what’s the point? I’m tired of naming his many votes with the Republicans, and I’m tired of talking about how he goes onto Fox to act like every Democrat who doesn’t vote with the Republicans is some kind of traitor.

    Yeah, this is the time you guys warned about that I won’t bother sticking up for Forrester. If this is his idea of a Democrat, he’s not the answer to any problem we’ve got.

  12. Heatseeker writes
    April 13th, 2009 11:00 pm

    Boo-ya! Harrison, looks like you nailed this Jennifer Buck Wallace right between the eyes. Spaz went stone silent, so I guess we know spaz is Jennifer Buck Wallace.

    Isn’t getting Ford for Jackson Day kinda lame? Kinda like TNGOP dragging Fred Thompson out for their big night.

    I thought Chairgimp Chipper was best of childhood, down by the schoolyard buddies with David Axelrod. Didn’t they take tai chi lessons together? Or did they just smoke cigars and drink wine?

  13. Rob Huddleston writes
    April 13th, 2009 11:07 pm

    ACK -

    Harold Ford as an all-star in his “own state?”

    Egads. When did I enter this bizarro political world?

    Cheers,

    Rob

  14. spaz writes
    April 14th, 2009 6:17 am

    I COULD rip on Harold Ford for being a Blue Dog, Jellyfish/Harrison, but Bluedog Catcher sums up everything I have to say pretty nicely.

    But this isn’t about whether or not a Blue Dog is a speaker at Jackson Day. It’s about the fact that Ford is a loser whose campaign is emblematic of why Democrats can’t win anymore in Tennessee. Top-down, poll-driven, astroturf campaigns that push Republican-lite policies are sure-fire ways for Democrats to lose here unless you’re a millionaire that can self-fund. And even then its a crap shoot. Hell, Bredesen barely squeaked past Van Hilleary in ‘02.

    Anyway, my point is… yawn. The state party hasn’t produced an interesting speaker at any event worth a damn in the last four years and they aren’t now.

    Still think I’m Jennifer Buck-Wallace, dipshits?

  15. TennRod writes
    April 14th, 2009 8:44 am

    I don’t care who you are, Spaz. I alone have never played that game. It just doesn’t matter.

    It appears that Chip & Co. have managed to make no one happy. His usual corps of supporters cannot be pleased with an uninspired, we-gotta-get-somebody choice for keynoter at Jackson Day (and seem not to be, judging by what Spaz and BCatcher have to say).

    Don’t get me wrong, Harold Ford can make a good speech, but it’s not like he’s on the A-list of faces for the future, is he? He’s not running for office himself, and the DLC is not exactly in the mainstream of Obama’s agenda of change nationally. It’s a curious choice, and it’s hard to see what the draw will be.

    Meanwhile, those who want Chip to do the right thing and resign as Chairman aren’t going to be letting up. The real money from Jackson Day does not come from the ticket sales (which, undoubtedly will sell for a lower price this year, as Chip’s base of support canot afford high prices, or else they will all be comps). The real money comes from big dollar donors who underwrite the event. Does Jerry Lee have enough in the AFL-CIO acount to carry the event? Doubtful; I understand they are hurting, too. And the deep pocket donors had dried up. And the electeds are simply not going to be twisting any arms for TNDP under Chip Forrester. Oh, as I said before, they may all actually show up and say “hey” from the podium, but they won’t be doing anything to bring in the dollars.

    So, as I have thought about Ford’s acceptance of what everyone seems to think was a desperate call from Elisa Parker (former Sasser staffer and Clinton delegate, also not a face of “change” in Tennessee), I have to conclude that this is more evidence of the deep, deep trouble of the TNDP and more smoke rising from its smoldering wreckage.

  16. Heatseeker writes
    April 14th, 2009 12:16 pm

    Spaz, that was so hot.

  17. Tianna writes
    April 19th, 2009 8:53 pm

    Hang tough Chip! The survival of The Tennessee Democratic Party is in your hands. If the previously established Democratic Party Leadership had the solutions, we would not have gotten our butts kicked to the curb at the polls last year. Sorry folks, just keeping it real. While I respect their hard work, and dedication over the years, We must get more people involved. We need fresh ideas. I am energized by Chip’s energy, genuine commitment, his love for the Party, and the people of our great state.

    Chip, you are like a breath of fresh air. I am not in any way putting Mr. Bone down. I do not know him. I am addressing the issue of some members of our leadership acting like sore losers. I recall being in my Bone’s presence only once. He appeared to be a highly professional and personable man. A man that would not want to be associated with such tacky shenanigans as those being played out in some circles in the Democratic Party.

    Chip, change is not easy my friend. We know that you are getting beat up a little. Know that we are looking and listening to what is going on.

    I am especially disgusted with Bredesen’s conduct. I really thought that Phil was a bigger person than he has shown himself to be over the last couple of months. The Obama Campaign got a lot of young people into the system as voters, and Party workers. What must they think of the way some members of our Party Leadership are behaving?

    Chip, you are doing a great job of connecting with many of those young, and not so young Organizers. While they may not have the big fat check books, they are the foot soldiers, the tireless source of energy needed for our great party to prevail in the end.

    What I am trying to say, in tough love kind of way, is that we need each other like never before in Tennessee. The nuts, and slimizers are now in charge in our beloved Tennessee. We have had our disagreements, so what? We are Democrats. We are a passionate caring people, opposed to Stratford clones devoid of original ideas being lead by a hate mongering addict. That would be Rusk, or what ever his name is.

    Now let’s get behind Chip, and work together.

    P.S. As for Harold Ford JR., that is my boy. I cannot wait to hear him speak again. Like Obama, he is highly intelligent with a lot to offer the Democratic Party, and the American people.

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