Thu
Sep 14 2006
10:35 pm
A k2k conversation to make a guy jealous
By: cafkia


I read the following exchange on k2k and frankly, was more than a little surprised by it. 

 

Posted by: "************************************

Tue Sep 12, 2006 1:52 pm (PST)

Why should someone on the left of the political spectrum support
Harold Ford Jr.? He is pro-war, anti-gay, luke warm on abortion
rights, unsure about the minimum wage, and has a right-wing
immigration policy.

***************

(link...)
www.h4gov.com

--- In k2k@yahoogroups.com, "****************" <bssteve@...> wrote:
>
> Hi All!
> Knox County Democratic Party Chairwoman Betty Reddick asked me to
send this out:
> Democratic Women of Knox County will be staffing telephones for
phone banking. This will be for Ford, Gov Bredesen and Schree
Pettigrew. We will begin on Tuesday, September 12th, working
weeknights 5:30pm to 8:00pm and 10am to 4pm on Saturdays. Location
will be at Labor Temple on Morgan St. We will be putting much
emphasis on the Ford campaign for the first week. Please call Betty
Reddick at 525-5580 or email jsrdk@... to volunteer definite times as
we will have a scheduler to keep us on the correct timing. We will
have a lot of fun and meet new Democrats, so please give me a date
and time you will be available to help.
> Thank you,
> Betty Reddick
> KCDP Chair
>
>
> S***************
> 865-***-****
> bssteve@...
> (link...)
>
> Get Involved! Join the Knoxville Democrat MeetUp!
> http://democrat.meetup.com/82/
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
2b.

Re: Phone Banking for Bredesen, Ford Jr., and Schree Pettigrew

Posted by: "**************************************

Tue Sep 12, 2006 2:18 pm (PST)

In addition to Marty's points, Ford is also pro death penalty and anti gun control. In my opinion both positions are really unbelievable for an African American to have when the black community has suffered for so long because of how unfairly the death penalty has been meted out and the carnage that guns bestow daily in inner city, largely black, communities. I can not imagine a true liberal, progressive or whatever voting for this guy even while holding their collective noses!

*********
 
 I have every intention of voting for Junior.  I disagree with him on many points, some pretty severely.  However, the process by which we choose our senators does not effectively allow for an infinite range of choices.  For all intent and purposes, I must choose either Junior or Corker(hint: not gonna happen)((As a matter of fact, everytime I see one of his signs, I always read it as "Borg Corker".  Doubtless, it is simply some rare politically motivated form of dyslexia but, I actually kind of enjoy it.).
 
There is a pretty palpable sense of frustration among many progressive thinking individuals.  I are one and I feel it.  But the realist in me understands that a journey is composed of many, many steps.  Junior is not my ideal candidate but what I know of him from our brief meetings, listening to him speak, and a cursory review of his voting record lead me to believe that he is far superior to our current senatorial representative and would be superior as well to his competition in the upcoming election.  No, not perfect, just better and for now, that will have to do.
 
I don't have a magic wand that I can wave and turn republicans human.  I can't snap my fingers and instantly force reason and insight onto conservative democrats,  All I can do is try to incrementally improve my nation, my representation.  All I can do is take the steps that will move us forward with real improvement.  Even through the frustration, i would think that the politically aware authors of those k2k posts would understand that.
 
CAFKIA 
 
EDIT 9/15/06 18:28:  The title of this post refers to my jealousy at being forced to travel one step at a time rather than simply being able to instantaneously be at my destination as the authors of those k2k posts are apparently able to do.  I included the original exhortation to phone-bank and such soley for the purpose of background. 
Topics:
CBT's picture

Hint...I doubt Junior means

Submitted by CBT on Thu, 2006/09/14 - 10:47pm.

Hint...I doubt Junior means much of anything he says. It doesn't match his record and background. I would be very interested to look at some of Junior's congressional campaign literature, particularly from the first couple of elections. Anyone have any of those handy? You think his Congressional campaigns had any of the "conservative" messages he's been preaching in this Senate race. I think not.

Junior is saying what it takes for him to stand the best chance of getting elected in a state which has over the past 12 years elected George W. Bush (twice, once over Al Gore), Fred Thompson, Bill Frist and Lamar Alexander.

It would take a huge leap of faith to believe Junior is committed to anti-gay marriage, pro-gun, pro-death penalty, etc. If those are your issues, it's far more believable that Corker would vote the way he talks.

CBT's picture

"You seem to be all hooked

Submitted by CBT on Fri, 2006/09/15 - 11:00am.

"You seem to be all hooked up with the GOP machine. Why not dispatch some half-rate campaign flunky to find out about Junior's past campaign positions on this stuff as you posit? That's real politicking, not what Corker seems to be up to."

Ooo yeah, I'm a big deal with the GOP'ers. Heck, I couldn't "dispatch" people when I was Party Chairman.

I'm sure ol' Bob has some good opp. people working on Junior. Past campaign literature seems like a place to start, if any can be found. Might make for an interesting comparison.

And, how 'bout this, a TV spot titled "Ford Family Values" complete with newspaper clips, photos in cuffs and the like. Now, that's "real" politicking that will get those "low-information voters" pushing the buttons!

SteveMule's picture

Phone Banking & Ford Jr & other stuff

Submitted by SteveMule on Fri, 2006/09/15 - 1:37am.

Hi All!

First off, bssteve@hotmail.com is me.  It's an old hotmail account I setup a long time ago.  In order to manage all the email lists I'm on I have K2K set up for that account. 

Secondly, all I wanted to do with that K2K posting was inform as many people as possible about the phone banking effort being conducted and invite larger participation.

Thirdly, Harold Ford Jr. is simply the best progressive choice we have.  Is he the best progressive candidate in the world?  NO. He is just the best we have.  On several levels Ford must play to and, or represent the people of Tennessee, most of whom are more conservative than some of us would like.   

Take Care, Be Good and don't play in the street!

SteveMule

bizgrrl's picture

Yes, CAFKIA, I am with you.

Submitted by bizgrrl on Fri, 2006/09/15 - 6:42am.

Yes, CAFKIA, I am with you. I cannot think of one time I agreed with every point of view of the person running for office. I was impressed the few times I saw HFJ in person. I truly believe he could be good for our state.

S Carpenter's picture

Who ya gonna vote for instead? Nader

Submitted by S Carpenter on Fri, 2006/09/15 - 7:47am.

 

Too true, Mr. Cafkia, I was thinking we already learned this lesson in "00.  

rikki's picture

who's we?

Submitted by rikki on Fri, 2006/09/15 - 11:13am.

What's been learned and by whom?

There are plenty of people in Tennessee and the U.S. whose politics are not represented by either party, and they have every right to voice their opinions and vote their self-interest. There was a true progressive Dem running for the Senate seat. She was forced out of the race. That suggests to me that Democrats haven't learned a thing. In fact, it looks a bit like the big dog Dems are worried that progressives might actually constitute a majority of Dem voters, and they can't risk a primary contest testing that notion.

I'm personally comfortable voting for HFJr despite some serious disagreements, but it's not because of anything Democrats have done. It's because I believe Ford is sufficiently intelligent and well intentioned to serve in the Senate and because I believe there is no matter more critical to our country's future than imprisoning Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld and retiring President Finger-Puller. It's probably grossly optimistic of me to believe a Democratic Congress would have the fortitude to get that done, but that's what's keeping me from casting a protest vote.

Stacey's picture

True Progressive?

Submitted by Stacey (not verified) on Fri, 2006/09/15 - 1:47pm.

Where people get that Kurita was a true progressive I have no idea. I talked to TFT people who said she wouldn't lift a finger to help on the income tax, she was also anti-gay marriage and pro-gun. She said some anti-war stuff that got people excited and showed up at a Democracy for Tn meeting, but her state votes weren't progressive and she didn't have to vote on the war. I think people just like her because she labled herself as an outsider. As for the "Ford Family Values" I've been thinking that if Corker really wanted to get down and dirty there's plenty of stuff to use. I like the Ford in the church ad. Wish these guys would debate in Knoxville. Stacey

Eleanor A's picture

And, how 'bout this, a TV

Submitted by Eleanor A on Fri, 2006/09/15 - 2:33pm.

And, how 'bout this, a TV spot titled "Ford Family Values" complete with newspaper clips, photos in cuffs and the like. Now, that's "real" politicking that will get those "low-information voters" pushing the buttons!

You must not have seen the photos of Corker's daughters making the rounds. Looks like he's got himself a case of Jenna Bush-itis. Although it doesn't surprise me that you think an advertisement based on personal attacks, not issues, would be appropriate. Frankly, if I were Corker's campaign that's what I'd resort to, too - he sure can't run on personal integrity (won't release tax returns), safety issues (911 system a disaster), or fiscal responsibility (during Corker’s tenure as Mayor, the City of Chattanooga’s long term debt jumped by over $150 million, or 48%. Corker also presided over a $23 million – or 18.5% – spending increase and accepted three pay raises.)

What Rikki said, pretty much. I'm voting for Ford because I know he won't vote lockstep for the garbage the Bush Administration will put out for the next couple more years. (Anyone else been seeing those 1/20/09 bumper stickers around? I'm thinking about making a paperclip chain and taking one off every day, like we used to do to count down the days until Christmas...)

bill young's picture

the majority

Submitted by bill young (not verified) on Fri, 2006/09/15 - 3:11pm.

The Democrats won a majority in the Senate in the FDR sweep of '32 & then lost the majority in the '46 mid terms & regained it in the Truman upset of '48..then lost it in the Ike sweep of '52..then,in the '54 mid terms, the Democrats got it back & held the majority till the Reagan sweep of '80....mid terms '86 went for the Democrats till the Republican sweep of '94...briefly(june 2001)the Democrats held a majority when Senator Jeffords switched from Republican to independent voting with the Democratic caucus...in the '02 mid terms the Republicans won the majority they now hold....Why have I gone on & on about the majority?..because THE MAJORITY PARTY CAUCUS RUNS THE SENATE!...It is why,in Rhode Island,President Bush & the RNC went for the liberal Republican incumbent Chafee in the primary & why,in Connecticut,the Democrats are walking a tight rope between the nominee,Lamont,& Lieberman...if Lamont wins he will vote in the Democratic caucus...Lieberman has pledged to vote with the Democrats...BUT if the Democrats go to far & Lieberman wins a close one..ya never know how Joe may go...The Ford/Corker race is one of the keys to winning a majority...CBT is a good fellow & we are united in rootng for our beloved Vols against the hated Gators..but we disagree when it comes to the US Senate..I think Harold Ford,Jr.is the best candidate..& the Democrats will lead this country to a brighter future

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.

TN Progressive

TN Politics

Knox TN Today

Local TV News

News Sentinel

    State News

    Wire Reports

    Lost Medicaid Funding

    To date, the failure to expand Medicaid/TennCare has cost the State of Tennessee ? in lost federal funding. (Source)

    Search and Archives