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The Sixth District Be Gettin’ Problematical, Yo

Posted on January 6, 2010 at 1:25 pm

Phil Bredesen on the politics of Rep. Bart Gordon’s district:

Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen said in an interview with The Associated Press this week that potential Democratic candidates may be dissuaded from pursuing the seat because redistricting is on the horizon after the 2010 Census.

“I’m sure part of Bart’s calculation was you can work as hard as you want this year, but you’re going to get redistricted out of it in two years.

“It’s a slightly problematical district today, and likely to become very problematical,” he said.

Keith Talley Named TNDP Communications Director

Posted on July 8, 2009 at 6:11 pm

From the presser:

The Tennessee Democratic Party has announced a new hire to direct the organization’s communications effort.

Keith Talley has been named the party’s communications director. After serving nearly seven years in Washington, D.C., as U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon’s press secretary, Talley has consulted for a number of political campaigns across Tennessee.

Talley’s past work experience also includes stints as a newspaper reporter and editor at small dailies in Arkansas and Tennessee.

“Keith brings a wealth of knowledge and understanding of the political process to the job,” Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman Chip Forrester said. “His experience will be invaluable during the 2010 election cycle.”

Gordon agreed.

“Keith did a fine job for me as my press secretary and understands the issues facing Tennessee families like affordable health care, good schools and higher paying jobs,” said Gordon, dean of the Tennessee congressional delegation.

“I know he’ll do a good job in making sure everyone understands where Democrats stand on these important issues. Keith’s experience will be an asset to the party, and I’m looking forward to working with him again.”

Interesting to note that the party has left out Talley’s most infamous resume entry: State House Caucus Political Director in 2008.

Wamp Shows Bipartisanship And An Ability To Get Things Done

Posted on December 22, 2008 at 10:03 am

Rep. Wamp helps out a fellow member of the Tennessee Congressional delegation:

U.S. Rep. Zack Wamp has made good on his promise to bring a major regional tech-driven economic-development event to Murfreesboro, the heart of U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon’s congressional district.

The news provides further impetus for efforts by Murfreesboro-based Mind2Marketplace, a nonprofit group that aims to support technology commercialization throughout Middle Tennessee.

The Oak Ridge-based Tennessee Valley Corridor’s Southeast Partnership event is set for November 2009, according to Sandy Ponder, M2M executive director.

Broadband of Brothers

Posted on December 18, 2008 at 8:05 am

Rep. Gordon uses his position as the chair of the House Science and Technology committee in the pursuit of making internet more accessible:

“Broadband is something that’s important, and we can put people to work putting in broadband that will go to all Americans all across the country. And by doing that, then again, we become more efficient in the long term.”

Auto Bailout Bill Passes House

Posted on December 10, 2008 at 11:23 pm

From the New York Times:

The House approved the rescue plan by 237 to 170, mostly along party lines, with 32 Republicans mainly from states heavily dependent on the auto industry joining 205 Democrats in supporting the measure. Voting against were 150 Republicans and 20 Democrats.

The White House so far has failed to generate support among Senate Republicans, who have the power to kill the bill.

All Tennessee House Republicans voted against the measure along with Democratic Rep. Jim Cooper. Rep. Bart Gordon did not cast a vote.

SEE ALSO:
Detriot Free Press
John Scott

Clinton Nabs Another Tennessee Super

Posted on May 14, 2008 at 10:20 am

“Automatic” delegate to the Democratic National Convention, Vicki Harwell, President of the Tennessee Federation of Democratic Women,has thrown her lot in with Hillary Clinton:

“Hillary’s decisive victory in West Virginia is the latest evidence that she is the strongest candidate to take on John McCain and win back the White House,” Harwell said. “Hillary has the plans, leadership and experience to deliver real results as President.”

Harwell was an “add-on” delegate selected at a March 8th meeting of the Democratic State Executive Committee.

At the time of her selection, Harwell indicated she was “leaning towards” backing Senator Clinton but was recently quoted in the Tennessean confirming her uncommitted status while betraying a slight openness to Obama.

Harwell had received calls from the Clinton campaign soliciting her support but none from Obama. She expressed a hope that Obama was not making assumptions in his neglecting o reach out:

“I get really irritated with the media when they paint this as a choice between race and gender,” she said. “If he’s discouraged because of that, it’s a shame. A lot of our women are supporting Obama.”

Out of seventeen Democratic superdelegates from Tennessee four now support Obama, six are pledged to Clinton and the rest remain uncommitted.

SEE ALSO: Sean Braisted

Why You Gotta Bring Up Old Stuff?

Posted on April 18, 2008 at 11:25 am

By now this is old news, of course, but for the last few days I couldn’t help but think just which Tennessee superdelegate was it Governor Bredesen was talking about in the Philadelphia Inquirer earlier this week? For a refresher, let us look at the words spoken by the Honorable Phil Governor:

Another worrisome sign: Bredesen said some Democrats running for local and statewide office in Tennessee are now distancing themselves from both Obama and Clinton.

“One of the superdelegates said to me, ‘I’m in a swing district and both of them are poison to me,’ ” Bredesen said.

Making educated guesses and looking at the list of delegates many astute political watchers made assumptions as to whom the culprit was. John Rodgers of the City Paper seemed to cement the conventional wisdom by putting the word “think” in quotes when introducing this denial by Rep. Lincoln Davis’s spokesman, Tom Hayden:

“I don’t think the governor was speaking about Lincoln Davis because he did not say this to the governor.”

But is the key word “think” here or is it the rest of this sentence? I mean the denial is in there stated rather plainly after all, is it not? Why say “think” at all then? Well, the Governor is the Governor and one doesn’t put words in the governor’s mouth. Tom Hayden can’t say who the Governor was referring to because Tom Hayden is not the Governor.

Now, of course, the Governor is never going to say whom he was referring to and whomever said it to the Governor is not likely to cop to it. But if one takes at face value the Davis denial, if one accepts the explicit denial that Lincoln Davis did not say this to the Governor, I thought it only fair to get some responses from other possible suspects.

When asked for a confirmation or a denial that his boss, Congressman John Tanner, was the superdelegate being referred to, spokesman Randy Ford said the following:

I’m not in a position to confirm or deny. As you know, Congressman Tanner isn’t yet decided in the primary race but looks forward to a successful election year for the Democratic Party. He talks regularly with Gov. Bredesen and others in the delegation on a variety of topics, but we don’t comment on those private conversations.

The other member of the Congressional delegation who would seem to fit the description would be Congressman Bart Gordon of the Sixth Congressional District:

Congressman Gordon doesn’t recall having any conversations with the governor regarding the election. I would suggest you ask Governor Bredesen who he was speaking about since he has been all over the country talking about the issue.

Of course, none of this proves anything but if one is going to parse statements there is certainly plenty to go around, is there not?

Post Politics: 11 April 2008

Posted on April 11, 2008 at 3:03 pm

In somewhat of a surprise, State Rep. Joe Towns was certified yesterday by the Shelby County Election Commission as a candidate in the 9th District Congressional Primary. Towns name had been left off the initial list of candidates after questions arose over the validity of his qualifying signatures. Those questions were resolved and Towns will join Rep,. Steve Cohen, Nikki Tinker and two others on the Democratic primary ballot. Ford family scion, Jake Ford, is running as an independent. No Republican candidate qualified.

Sen. Andy Berke warns that the border battle between Georgia and Tennessee over water rights is anything but over.

A new study contends that 13 Tennesseans died every day in 2006 due to lack of health insurance.

The Tennessee Republican Party celebrates today, Tennessee Tax Freedom Day.

Congressman Bart Gordon argues that the financial burden for reconstruction in Iraq should fall on Iraqis, not U.S. taxpayers.

Brentwood mourns City Commissioner’s sudden death.

A Hillary Clinton delegate joins the race to succeed the retiring State Rep. Phillip Pinion.

Some members of our armed forces abroad will be issued handheld lie detectors for use in the field in the War on Terror.

Tickets go on sale this morning for the appearance of Comedy Central’s Jon Stewart at the Ryman on May 9.

State Sen. Steve Roller, appointed in January to the seat left vacant by the retiring Jerry Cooper, has announced intention to run for re-election, according to a Senate Democratic Caucus press release.

Former Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee discusses his plans for the future and blames evangelical leaders’ reticence to support his campaign early for his coming up short in the race for the Republican nomination.

The Donkey’s Mouth discusses the influence of neoconservatism on the political ideology of John McCain.

Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey likes his judges like he likes his Democrats.

Andy Sher reports that the state Senate voted 29-0 Thursday for legislation that would overhaul the fee structure charged by Tennessee’s 95 county clerks.

The federal deficit is at an all-time high.

East Tennessee Congressman Jimmy Duncan, one of only six GOP members of Congress to oppose the Iraq War’s initial authorization, has not heard anything recently from Gen. David Petraeus that would cause him to change his antiwar stance.

The Associated Press is in search of the perfect modern journalist.

Sen. Lamar Alexander makes the case that Davidson County is in dire need of an immigration judge due to the success of the 287(g) program.

Joe Powell gets deep into the proposed AT&T compromise cable bill and discusses some of the devilish details.

DUI suspects in Tennessee could soon see police given the power to administratively revoke their license at the scene of their alleged crime.

Rex Hammock on the political news value of Twitter.

The Tennessee Attorney General files action against a Kingsport dog breed breeder.

This Is Huge: State workers update Wikipedia while on the taxpayers clock.

A blogger defends jealousy as a motivator in the quest for social justice.

Rep. Steve Cohen praises the Memphis Tigers from the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Tennessee Republican Party Communications Director Bill Hobbs is still railing against Department of Finance and Adminstration public information officer Lola Potter over her refusal to give him access to information on his terms.

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