Chip's problem isn't messaging. It's his broken relationships with every major Tennessee Democratic leader over the past 20 years ... from McWherter to Gore to Clement to Bredesen to the current members of Congress. Heck, Chip even appointed as TNDP treasurer a guy who helped fund the GOP's racist attacks on Harold Ford in '06. Time for everyone to accept reality: Chip isn't going to cut it.

Well, the pictures aren't anything that special. I heard about it from people who were invited to attend, it doesn't appear that any bloggers made that list.

"Message?" What is this "message" of which you speak?

Let's see - the TNDP has a chairman and a treasurer. How about a communications director? Anyone? Bueller?

(Nothing against the Nashville blog personalities who have stepped into the information vacuum, but leaving it to the blogs to champion the TNDP on the intarwebs isn't the brightest idea.)

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Dirty deeds done dirt cheap! Special holidays, Sundays and rates!

My sources say about 50 people attended this secret summit. Mainly, they were candidates and staffers from failed 2008 campaigns. They complained that TNDP did not do enough for them. Then everyone ate lunch.

Who was invited to this shindig? My sources did not know. Why did they keep it secret?

My sources also tell me that TNDP has a communications volunteer that comes in one day a week. That is the entire PR operation.

... with hiring a communications director: No money! You see, the DNC has pulled out of the TNDP due to Chip's incompetence. Meanwhile, Chip has shat upon the Governor, members of Congress and others who typically raise the money. So therefore, Chip can't afford to hire anyone. Like I said: Chip's screwed.

UDPATE: Someone called "Spaz" has a report on the meeting. In comments. At Kleinheiders:

After some opening remarks, Chip showed a detailed Powerpoint analysis of what happened in the last election cycle - the races, who won/lost, who raised and spent how much money, etc. There were several slides on the Coordinated Campaign’s efforts. Addison Pate, who at the time worked for the House Caucus and who I believe was one of the players on the ‘08 Coordinated Campaign, made a direct apology to everyone in the room on behalf of the House caucus/CC operation for the losses. I’ll give him credit for that because the blame really can’t all be laid at the caucus’ feet. It was refreshing to hear someone take responsibility for the beating. Wonder if Bredesen will do that? Not.

Despite what “Reality” said in an above comment, nobody was bitching about not having enough money. In fact, one of the union guys pointed out that the Dems actually outraised the GOP last cycle and got bupkiss for it. That started a discussion on how much money is wasted in these campaigns on direct mail and that funds should be directed more into hiring canvassers and on grassroots strategies in general. The audience was very engaged in that discussion.

You can read the rest of the report over there. It actually sounds like it was a pretty good meeting.

So Tennessee Democrats and bloggers independent media writers have to go to Kleinheider's site (who ain't no Democrat) to a read comments about a post that links to a post back over here at an East Tennessee Democrat's website to find out what our party is up to. From someone called "Spaz."

OK, then.

Are they shooting each other in the foot? No! They are organizing and training:

(link...)

TNDP announced on Post Politics that they will have a summit in May in Monteagle. I commented that I cannot afford a weekend in Monteagle. The TNDP communication person, Holly McCall, and Left Wing Cracker then ridiculed me for being too broke to attend.

And these are Democrats? Have they not heard that there is a recession on.

The TNDP people are wildly lashing out at everyone. Maybe I am thin skinned, but they went too far. I would not attend this summit now if they paid me.