Here's a further example of ridge removal, this time to provide flat land for Turkey Creek East, another of those "retail meccas."

We're going to try to live blog the Democratic debate right here if I can stay alert and awake.

CNN has not said what gimmick they have lined up for tonight. Will the questions be offered up by talking bears on unicycles? Will the candidates have to wear funny clown hats?

Stay tuned...

We've been invited by Knoxville News Sentinel Online Managing Editor Jack Lail to participate in an innovative election news project at Publish2.

You'll notice a new "TN Election News" section over on the left with headlines from election related articles that have been tagged by editors and bloggers from around the state.

Read more about the project (still in beta) here. Michael Silence has a list of participants here. Jack Lail has more background here.

Local Hillary Clinton for President campaign office annouced today in the News-Sentinel.

Clinton's campaign has opened up a headquarters in the Concord Street office of William S. Owen, a delegate to the Democratic National Convention and former state senator who's known the Clintons since 1991.

Hillary Clinton East Tennessee Campaign Headquarters
601 Concord Street
Knoxville, TN
(Kingston Pike west intersection with Neyland Drive and Concord Street)

Volunteers are invited to come to the headquarters or phone 860-614-4617 for information (email b4hillary2008@yahoo.com).

Also, be sure to check out the broadcast of "Hillary’s Voices Across America: A National Town Hall live on Hallmark Channel".
February 4, 2008 at 9 p.m. EST

I hope it's not illegal to link to Brian's Blog, but look who has a crush on a Democrat! He's so cute when he's gushing.

Katie has the scoop at Knoxville Talks...

The Justice Department has announced a consent agreement with the State of Tennessee that will extend the absentee voting deadline to Feb. 15h.

Presumably, this means that Tennessee's election results cannot be certified until then, even though the ballots would not likely affect the outcome.

State press release with more details here, Department of Justice press release here.

UPDATE: We are advised by Knox Co. Elections Administrator Greg Mackay in comments that state law requires certification by the second Monday after the election, which would be Feb. 18th. So the extension might delay certification, but not beyond the deadline.

Knox Co. had 6218 early votes yesterday, bringing the total to 27,659. The breakdown is 42% Democratic and 58% Republican, a slight uptick in Democratic turnout.

Today is the last day of early voting. Locations and times here, sample ballot here. Any registered voter can vote at any early voting location.

I had promised previously to share details of the campaign finance disclosures filed 1/29/08 by 6th District commission candidates. A recap of amounts raised this period and balance on hand for each candidate follows.

Anders, Brad (R) – Raised $9.580.00/Balance $4,519.69
Bryant, Kathy (D) – Raised $1,960.00/Balance $911.76
Connatser, Charles (D) – Raised $11,918.35/Balance $1,621.29
Jones, Matthew (R) – Raised $5,165.00/Balance $326.91
McDaniel, Walter (R) –Raised (not indicated)/Balance $3.01
Shelton, Jimmie (R) – Raised -0-/Balance -0-

McDaniel and Shelton did not report any itemized contributions greater than $100.00.

An itemization of the other four candidates’ contributions greater than $100.00, excluding in-kind contributions, follows in four posts. Any such contributions from outside Knox County are flagged.

(Randy, I’ve checked this recap carefully and will stand behind its accuracy and its completeness per the parameters I indicate above--i.e., over $100.00, exclusive of in-kind contributions.)

Just thinking out loud about how it might go...

Apologies for linking my own story, but this one features one of the smartest, best people I know. What she's doing this winter could make history.

Link...

Knoxville is the nation's asthma capital . . . again:

For the third time in five years, Knoxville has been ranked as the #1 Asthma Capital, a distinction it also had in the 2004 and 2005 rankings. The factors that have helped to lift Knoxville to the top spot again include higher than average annual pollen levels, high air pollution, lack of “100% smoke-free” laws, patient over-use of asthma rescue medications and other important factors.

It's good to be back on top.

A new survey out of Britain sets the mid-point of the estimate of post-invasion deaths in Iraq at just over 1 million. That's a one followed by six zeros. The methodology was similar to a previous study that came up with a wider possible range of deaths. This one confirms that one, shifts the range up and has a lot less error. That was all worth it, wasn't it?

Oh, for cryin' out loud...

Ralph Nader, the longtime consumer advocate who was blamed by many Democrats for Al Gore’s loss in the 2000 presidential election, launched an exploratory committee Wednesday for another White House bid, and told CNN he is likely to get in the race if he can put the resources in place.

"John Edwards, the banner of Democratic Party populism, is dropping out, and Dennis Kucinich dropped out earlier, so in terms of voters who are at least interested in having major areas of injustice, deprivations, and solutions discussed in a presidential campaign, they might be interested in my exploratory effort," Nader said.

Nope. Never again, Ralph. Never again.

Hope everyone's having a good Wednesday.

<shameless promotion>

We've launched a new feature on knoxnews.com today. Songs of Appalachia profiles interesting musical folk around the region. We started the series with Charlie Acuff.

View the video and a timeline of music in the region.

If you have any feedback or suggestions for future profiles, please email the producer Lauren Spuhler.

</shameless promotion>

An excerpt from Edwards' speech in New Orleans today when he announced he was withdrawing from the race:

Bagels & Barbeque: The Jewish Experience in Tennessee exhibition at the Tennessee State Museum in Nashville closes February 3.

This exhibition explores the story of early Jewish settlers who emigrated from Europe and ended in the south. It chronicles the historic contributions of Tennessee Jews. There are art objects, historical photographs, and oral histories. You can see more pictures from the Tennessee State Museum collection on Art Museum Touring.com (Link...).

Sherrie

CNN is reporting that John Edwards has withdrawn from the presidential race. He has canceled all campaign events and is going to New Orleans to make a major policy speech.

It's a very sad thing. I'm glad I waited to vote, though. This makes it a lot easier.

UPDATE: Associated Press

Edwards planned to announce his campaign was ending with his wife and three children at his side. Then he planned to work with Habitat for Humanity at the volunteer-fueled rebuilding project Musicians' Village, the adviser said.

With that, Edwards' campaign will end the way it began 13 months ago — with the candidate pitching in to rebuild lives in a city still ravaged by Hurricane Katrina. Edwards embraced New Orleans as a glaring symbol of what he described as a Washington that didn't hear the cries of the downtrodden.

There has been discussion about realigning local elections with state and national elections which traditionally have higher turnout, the idea being that it would increase participation in local elections.

Arguments against the idea are that the state and national races would overshadow local elections would distract from local issues, ballots would be longer and more complicated, it would be harder for the media to cover local races, and local candidates would have to compete with better funded state and national campaigns for limited TV and radio advertising inventory, driving up the cost for everyone.

Owing to the term limits court ruling, Knox County is forced into holding a county primary for nearly every elected office at the same time as the presidential primary.

Has it distracted from the local races? Have candidates had any problems getting media coverage or buying advertising? Is the ballot any more complicated? Will what appears to be higher, possibly record turnout translate into more voter participation down the ballot, and will the voters be informed on local candidates and issues or just randomly pick names they recognize? (And I'm talking about the "average" voter, not political junkies who read blogs and are plugged in to the process.)

News reports put yesterday's Knox Co. early voting turnout at an impressive 5101, bringing the total to 21,445.

With two more days of early voting (today and tomorrow, Thursday Jan. 31st) and additional centers and extended hours and a decent weather forecast, we are revising our total primary turnout projection up sharply to 61,000, with a possibility of it going as high as 75,000 to 82,000.

Weather could be a factor on Tuesday with the forecast calling for a 40% chance of showers, but the predicted high of 62 should help.

This witty piece arrived in the NYT just in time for the Super Bowl game this weekend. Not many TV shows have inspired scientific research, but Seinfeld fans will enjoy this.

For none politicos who have no clue where the term "double-dipping" came from, it also sheds some light.

Link...

Tonight after the city council meeting a couple of people mentioned how much they appreciated having the full council packets - all the information provided to councilmembers for their consideration as they consider each item - online prior to the meetings. I don't think we have done a very good job of letting people know about this.

At the link below click on "agenda" and a summary agenda sheet appears with each item surrounded by a blue rectangle. Clicking within that rectangle brings up scanned versions of all background materials - actual proposed resolutions and ordinances, prior action by MPC, etc. on relevant items, drawings and sketches, and so on. For items submitted by the administration the first page or two is what we call an Agenda Information Sheet (AIS) which is prepared by the sponsoring dept. This summarizes the item, the reason for it, impact, prior action. etc. We have found that it helps council to have this sheet, and it helps us internally in putting the agenda together.

Unfortunately all of this has to be scanned as PDF, which makes some downloading rather laborious, but it is all there to be looked at while viewing on Ch 12 or to print selected items of interest in their entirety prior to the meeting. In my opinion this makes city government significantly more transparent and accessible than it has been and well worth the city's time to prepare and make available.

I know there are some downsides to technology, but I have to remind myself that this sort of application gives citizens unprecedented access to the decision-making process and provides information that had been a lot harder to come by, especially prior to government action. Anyway, I suggest browing the agenda and checking on an item or two, and checking on the Friday before the next council meeting. Thanks.

Link...

NBC/MSNBC just called Florida for McCain in a narrow (3% or so right now) win over Romney.

Personally, I'm a little surprised. I really though it would be Romney. But I have to say this is interesting in one respect. McCain is the more moderate Republican (except on war), which suggests that even the hard line GOP is coming to its senses and rejecting the faux-conservative dogma of the last eight years.

And Romney (who is practically a Democrat anywhere but Massachusetts) running so close behind is further evidence that the right wing extremists and evangelicals have lost control of the party. (Thank God or the deity of your choosing.)

Oh, and as of the last update, Hillary Clinton had more votes than any other candidate in Florida. Another good sign for Democrats.

I did my duty as a citizen and voted today. After perusing some voter guides and, of course, reading Knoxviews, I decided to vote in the Republican primary (though I kinda had to hold my nose). I can't decide which Democratic presidential candidate to vote for and since most of the Democratic candidates in the local races are unopposed, I decided certain local Republicans needed my vote the most. As for the Republican presidential candidates, I voted "uncommitted" and didn't choose one single delegate. I wonder if this type of "non-vote" will show up in the overall numbers?

New post-SC poll shows HRC up eleven points in Tennessee (link includes interesting analysis of election dynamics)

Hillary wins Florida decisively, showing a lack of momentum from SC for Obama...Everybody was on the ballot this time, to boot...

[xpost @ Tennviews]

These people have about a gazillion free podcasts including a daily news update, each guaranteed to annoy your wingnutter friends. Of course you can also enjoy them on your computer.

WUOT is doing an election feature, and they're looking for local hangouts where people discuss politics:

Where do you get together with friends to talk politics, especially local politics? WUOT-FM is looking for those places in Knox County where the lively discussion of politics is a consistent and unavoidable part of the scenery. Maybe it’s that neighborhood diner where you eat breakfast or lunch. It could be the local pub or coffee shop. Maybe it’s a particular park bench. We don’t care. We’re simply looking for a place that just seems to attract people who are outspoken and passionate about their politics. Please send your suggestions to News Director Matt Shafer Powell at matt.shafer.powell@wuot.org. Please include a phone number or email address where you can be reached.

The feature is scheduled (tentatively) to air on WUOT-FM 91.9, Monday Feb. 4th at 6:50AM, 8:50AM and 4:50PM, so get your tips to Matt as soon as you can. Also be sure to tune in, and you might hear some excerpts of an interview with some local Bubba rambling on about blogs.

The Mrs. was at the drug store picking up a prescription for me yesterday (thanks!) and there was a woman in front of her with six prescriptions to fill. The clerk was going over the cost of each prescription with her, so she could decide which ones she would have filled. She couldn't afford to pay for having them all filled.

It is immoral and just plain wrong that anyone in America has to make decisions like this. Yet millions do every day.

I just wanted to note that anecdote, but it also reminded me of the KnoxRX and BlountRX programs.

For those not in the know: Kathleen K. Townsend is Bobby's daughter and the former LG of Maryland; Kerry is Bobby Jr.'s daughter...

Link...

Los Angeles Times
Kennedys for Clinton

She stands for Democrats and for the nation, these family members say.

By Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Kerry Kennedy
January 29, 2008

This is a wonderful year for Democrats. Our party is blessed with the most impressive array of primary candidates in modern history. All would make superb presidents.

By now you may have read or heard that our cousin, Caroline Kennedy, and our uncle, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, have come out in favor of Sen. Barack Obama. We, however, are supporting Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton because we believe that she is the strongest candidate for our party and our country.

While talk of unity and compromise are inspiring to a nation wary of divisiveness, America stands at a historic crossroads where real issues divide our political landscapes. Democrats believe that America should not be torturing people, eavesdropping on our citizens or imprisoning them without habeas corpus or other constitutional rights. We should not be an imperial power. We need healthcare for all and a clean, safe environment.

The loftiest poetry will not solve these issues. We need a president willing to engage in a fistfight to safeguard and restore our national virtues.

We have worked with Hillary Clinton for 15 years (and in Kathleen's case, 25 years) and witnessed the power and depth of her convictions firsthand. We've seen her formidable work ethic, courage in the face of adversity and her dignity and clear head in crisis. We've also seen her two-fisted willingness to enter the brawl when America's principles are challenged. Her measured rhetoric, political savvy and pragmatism shield the heart of our nation's most determined and most democratic warrior.

More after the jump...

The Knoxville Asperger Support Group has a new location and date! Read more for details...