***Cross posted from ToaAW

Election day is upon us, and for those in TN-18th District, I asked Schree a few questions, so that voters that have not yet had the opportunity to met her, could get an idea of what she really would like to accomplish.  As I have already had the opportunity, on several occasions, to talk with Schree, I hope that these few questions will help you to understand why she would be an asset to our district.

Schree's answers are in bold:

I'm cross posting this from ToaAW. I was not able to open the new ad via the KNS for some odd reason.

According to the local paper, the RNC has pulled the racist Blonde-bimbo ad.

The Republican National Committee has pulled from the airways a
controversial ad demeaning Senate Democratic nominee Harold Ford Jr.

The RNC apparently intends to replace the ad.

The local paper also perpetuates the already debunked myth of the RNC and Ken Mehlman, that they have no control over "independent expenditures," which this ad does fall under, but there is a much more heinous "behind the curtain" thing going on here, otherwise known as a coordinated effort.

Which brings me to Corker's radio ad...Jungle Drums. 

We got a copy of the ad from a producer from WGOW radio in Chatanooga.
Bill Lockhart, the program director for WGOW, confirmed the
authenticity of the ad and that it's running on the station. "They're
freaking jungle-drums," Lockhart tells us. "It's racist -- it tries to
conjure up deep, dark African moods. Yeah, it's overtly racial."

You can hear the radio ad here.

Geeze, these good ole white boys will stop at nothing.

Update: It appears that at least two stations will not run the new Corker/RNC TV ad attacking Ford.

NOWRASTEH says Path is totally accurate.

I was wondering if there are any KnoxViews readers that are knowledgable in employment law. I may have an issue with a former employee. The thing is, in additon to certain monetary demands by this employee, there was a thinly veiled threat of "taking what is due" (read what he feels he is due) attached. From my standing, his productivity (reliant on his hours worked) does not bear out his stance of deserving back pay. Honestly, my bigger concern is that this has the potential to turn into a criminal matter, based on the threat.

I'm really not sure if this was just talk or not on his part, what my standing is, or if I could be liable to his demands. Bottom line is, I really could use some advice.

52.62% of the total population of Knoxville, TN is female, as of the 2000 census.  You wouldn't necessarily know that by the faces of the people currently in office, at the local and state levels.   But this year that may change.  Women of Knoxville, TN and particularly progressive women in Knoxville, TN, could very well start being represented by officials that share more than just their concerns, a woman's point of view. 

Which leads me to the Meet the Candidates at the TN Valley Unitarian Universalist Church and sponsored by The Women's Counsel, today.  What is so important about a "press-the-flesh" afternoon, you ask?  As put forth in the email forwarded and distributed by dfet (Democracy for East Tennessee), Knoxville has 11 women running for office, 7 of which are first-time runners.  Today's Meet the Candidate was specifically set up to meet the 7. 

Out of these 7 women, I had already met one, Shree Pettigrew, whom I have talked about before on this blog.  Also, out of these 7 women, I personally can vote for two.  Damn!  Why couldn't we find someone to run against Ivan "God Resolution" Harmon?

Nevertheless, I was able to catch up with Shree, as well as meet Ursula Bailey, who is running for General Sessions Judge, Division IV.  These are the two progressive women I will be able to vote for, as well as possibly deliver additional votes from my family household.  Good news for Shree, since I will have 5 eligible voters by election time.  unfortunately for Ursuala, she'll have to settle for three from this household.  Actually, when I met Ursula today, I took an instant like to her.  My initial impression is that she is an intelligent, caring woman.  I think she will do extremely well as a judge, not to mention she  is highly qualified.

Now, for the other women, which I strong encourage Knoxvillians to get to know, if they haven't already.
County Commission, District 2, Seat B - Amy Broyles
County Commission, District 4, Seat A - Joan Wagner
County Commission, District 4, Seat B - Elaine Davis
County Commission, District 6, Seat B - Margaret Massey-Cox
County Commission, District 7, Seat A - Faith Tapp

*Note: I looked for websites for Margaret and Faith but didn't find any.  If you know they have a website, please pass on the url, so that I can include them.

I must say that the possibility of being represented by a progressive woman is an exciting thought for me, particularly at a time and in an area where politics as usual, otherwise known as the "good 'ole boys network," has marginalized so many voices and people.  This years local elections are proof that the times, they are a changin'.  And if all these women get elected, the times will be changing for the better.

Tenneessee is not 100% red, as seen by the growing voices of progressives in blogtopia.  While progressive Tennesseans may not all know about blogging, they do know, or should know about the upcoming Compass III Conference in Nashville, next weekend (April 28-29).  This is being billed as "THE progressive gathering in Tennessee." 

Saturday includes numerous workshops as well as keynote speaker Jim Hightower.  All the workshops look like they will be interesting and informative. 

But, there is one morning workshop that will be of particular interest.  Blogging 101, of which I will be a panelist.  I'll be joining Egalia, Callie, and George to discuss various aspects of blogging.

i feel that this is important, because a number of small groups that I have been involved in over the past few years had not yet grasped the idea of blogs and blogging, and this workshop should give progressive TN'eans a chance to not only understand blogs & blogging, but also embrace blogtopia.

I hope to see you there -- you know what they say, "Be there or be square!"

A blogger all-star extraveganza is put together in the cookbook, And They Cook Too! 

You can get your own copy of ATCT! for just $15, by following the link.  Proceeds will benefit Medecins Sans Frontiéres, or for those of us afraid of the French, Doctors Without Borders.

I do have two entrees in ATCT!,  which I hope will not disappoint.  Saltimbocca, which I had made a few minor adjustments, and Garden Chicken that I had thrown together last year and had turned out quite well.

Kudos to Ginger and Kathy for their hard work in putting this together, and I hope all my readers will buy a copy or two, as well as encouraging others to buy a copy or two, and help make this fundraiser a sucess.

As I posted the other day, TN's SJR127 is a bill aimed at changing the state's constitution in order to ban abortions.  The second reading took place Monday evening.  The third reading will take place tomorrow.  Should this final reading pass, it will then go to the House.

What surprised me, and has me deeply saddened, is this post in which Eaglia points to and highlights a commenter:

Yesterday, MzNicky wrote in the comments that when she called her state senator about SJR 127 - the effort to eliminate abortion rights in Tennessee - she was told that she was the first and only one of the senator's constituents to voice an opinion on the subject.

I know we are all busy, but to what end will we allow the state of Tennessee to take away our sexual autonomy?  As several of the big-boy bloggers have pointed out, laws like this will have a severe impact on the men as well.  Just think about it, for a sec, guys.  Think about paying child support for the next 18 years, just for a night in the sack. 

It takes less than 5 minutes to make a phone call, and even less time to send an email.  It's time for all Tennesseans to stand up and do what's right.  Tennesse women are not brood mares, they are human beings entitled to independence, and our legislature must be told to stop this foolishness. 

One councilman in Nashville wants to use surveillance cameras to catch people "in illicit sex acts."

Nashville is proposing to expand its use of surveillance cameras to
fight crime by installing them in some city parks to catch people in
illicit sex acts.

A councilman who is pushing the idea said the sexual activity in some parks has prompted many complaints from the public.

Is this park having problems with women being sexually assaulted or is this a case of horny young people going behind the bushes in a consensual act, or what?

City officials said about 300 citations for indecent exposure were issued in city parks last year.

Councilman Michael Craddock has been pushing for the cameras in
Cedar Hill Park, where one of his constituents said she and her young
son saw a man masturbating.

Police who have worked undercover operations in the park say such problems aren't that unusual.

"It's almost implied that if you are a male and you're in that area, that's what you're there for," Sgt. Steve Brady said.

The problem is Masturbation! 

Here's an idea.  Provide newspaper or something for men to cover themselves with, so some sexually repressed people won't be horrified at the wanton waste of sperm by masturbating.

In order for Tennessee to ban abortion, they have to amend the state constitution.  To Tennesseans' familiar with the fight, SJR127 (pdf) is back onthe table. 

According to an alert from ACLU-TN, I received Friday (but was blocked by the damn spam filter), which states, in part:

SJR127, the dangerous constitutional amendment which would amend the
        Tennessee Constitution and remove the right to abortion, is scheduled for its second reading on the Senate Floor on Monday night, March 6. Supporters
of the constitutional amendment hope for the third and final reading of SJR127 on Thursday. March 9. It is vital that pro-choice and pro-privacy folks begin calling their elected officials now and tell them to vote against SJR127.

This lengthy alert includes lots of information that we urge you to share with your friends and family and to use as you urge your state senator and house representative to vote NO on SJR127. Contact information for your state senator and house representative can be found at www.congress.org by entering your zip code and clicking the "state" option.

TN House Majority Leader wants to give the equal pay law some teeth.  Right now the law, as written, has baby teeth at best. 

House Majority Leader Kim McMillan wants to "put some teeth" in the state's equal pay law by allowing women to sue for punitive damages in addition to lost wages.

"Women in this state, in all avenues of business, make comparably less for performing the exact same work as men," said McMillan, a Democrat who practices law in Clarksville.

 

Current law allows wage differences based on seniority, merit, quality of production or any "other reasonable differential" other than gender. McMillan would limit the "other" category to "bona fide factors" such as education, training or experience.

Under a 2004 law, employers found to have knowingly violated equal pay rules must make up the difference to their employee. A second violation would lead to a payment of double the difference, and a third violation to triple payments.

The new proposal would give women the additional right to sue for punitive damages beyond the wage difference. Punitive damages are meant to deter and punish misconduct.

Now, you can't expect this amendment to come without opposition.

I've always liked the "Think Globally, Act Locally" slogan that a lot of people and companies are using now-a-days.  It makes sense and it is a good business strategy.   It also makes good sense, to me anyway, in politics.  There is a consensus on the "Act Locally" part. 

While I generally stick to national issues in this blog, those same issues are just as important, if not more so, at the local level.  And so, I am here to say that locally, my TN state representative has made national and international headlines more than once for some not so wonderful things, which I have personally found quite embarrassing.   He was not, and is not representative of "me".  Luckily for me he has some competition for his seat this election year.  While I was at first only hopeful that someone in the 18th District would run against and win Stacey Campfield's seat, I wasn't holding my breath that there would be someone that actually had progressive ideas that will benefit the majority of TN'eans.  So, when I read Atrios quoting Kos on Monday, it stuck in my mind, knowing that something was coming up.

Actually it is the God Resolution that was removed from the Knox County Commission agenda.

A resolution recognizing God as the foundation of "our national heritage" was mysteriously added to this month's Knox County Commission agenda.

Yesterday, Michael reported that the God Resolution is being resurrected here in Knox County, Tennessee.  There is a history to the God Resolutions, which started in October 2003 with Greene County Mayor, Roger D. Jones.  At the time, God Resolutions were passed by counties in Tennessee overwhelmingly, and it spread across the country.  Knox County commissioners, however, did not pass the erroneously worded resolution, but instead voted 10-9 to have the resolution removed from the agenda. 

One might think Alabama has gone back in time to the 1960's recently, what with all the churches being set afire. 

Fires damaged or destroyed four more Baptist churches across the Alabama countryside Tuesday, less than a week after a string of five blazes that were ruled arson.

"I'm not prepared to talk about the evidence yet ... but common sense tells you there is a clear indication these fires are going to be linked," FBI acting assistant director Chip Burrus said in an interview with The Associated Press in Washington, D.C.

This story was actually sent out on the wires yesterday afternoon, I saw the AP report but didn't post about it at the time.  The reason I didn't post it, was that I was watching some of the speakers at Coretta Scott Kings' funeral.  How disturbing that churces were set a fire, in a state that was the hot-bed for the civil rights movement, on the same day a civil rights legend was laid to rest. 

Fortunately for me I missed Bush the Lesser, and only caught part of Bush the First.   I did catch most of Rev. Lowery, both Clintons, Jimmy Carter and Maya Angelou, among others.  Of the people I did get to hear speak, these folks stood out for me. 

Back to the fires.  From the WaPo article, we come up with a total number of church fires in Alabama during the past 5 years.  A total of 59, and of those, 19 are considered arson.  Deliberately set fires. 

In light of this, I'm reviving two old posts, originally found here and here, on the rise of hate crimes in the US.