In many ways, the Tennessee Democratic Party’s Latino Summit on Saturday was everything someone might expect heading into an election year.
There were discussions about how to register people to vote, calls for volunteers to get involved with different aspects of President
Barack Obama’s re-election campaign and reminders about upcoming Tennessee Democratic Party events.
But this wasn’t a typical political function. It was the Democratic Party’s first-ever summit specifically targeting the Hispanic community, and, for party Chairman Chip Forrester, it was something that was long overdue.
Adults have a job to do. Teachers and administrators, for example, can no longer turn a blind eye to bullying that occurs on school grounds. And lawmakers, such as in the Tennessee General Assembly, should support strong anti-bullying measures instead of watering them down in a way that actually could
encourage bullying of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender teens.
As reported recently, conservative lawmakers want to amend laws to say that anti-bullying programs cannot promote a political agenda or focus on the “characteristics of the victim rather than the conduct of” the bully. This would be sort of like changing the laws against armed robbery to allow it depending on whether the bank is made of brick or concrete.
I’m taking the old saying about all politics being local to heart this year. I’m concentrating on local and state issues first, national issues second. I figure if we get the local solved, the national will
soon follow. I’m going to support public servants rather than politicians. I’m going to keep pushing the idea that one’s personal religious views do not get to dictate public policy.
I will be a politician’s worst nightmare: An informed voter.
Tom Humphrey has the story about PACs in Tennessee where in some way it appears, according to the story, that the Republicans might have been working on this for awhile. LINK
While the national media has reported at some length on the powers of the new “Super PACs” in presidential politics, state Sen. Bill Ketron may have illustrated that Tennessee leadership PACs have some super powers, too. Maybe previously unappreciated.
“PACs are like people,” said Drew Rawlins,
executive director of the Bureau of Ethics and Campaign Finance, which oversees state PACs and campaign spending generally.
Like corporations, Super PACs are people insofar as campaign finance goes. The Super PAC situation allows wealthy individuals or corporations to spend millions helping their candidate of choice.
Dr. Gene Davenport who is former Professor Emeritus from Lambuth explains how that Stephen Colbert’s satire about Super Pacs is vital and important. The column in the Jackson Sun is called “When Reality Becomes Its Own Satire”. LINK
To ridicule these decisions, in September, Colbert set up his own 501(c)(4) organization with the stated purpose of educating the public. The organization can legally donate to his Super PAC and engage in all sorts of political activity provided campaigning is not its primary purpose. Originally, Colbert called his organization the “Anonymous Shell Organization” (think “shell game”), but then was officially registered as “Colbert Super PAC SHH Institute” (think “shh” for secrecy).
Some, no doubt, will say that electing a president is far too serious a matter to have jesters entering the process itself.
But what Colbert is showing is that the system itself has become ridiculous.
Quick Hits
- Nashville activist Chris Sanders has a video addressing the suicide of a gay teen in Gordonsville in Smith County. He says its up to adults to protect young people and that Tennessee bills need to be addressed not only statewide, but locally in communities. LINK
- Not necessarily Tennessee-related, but this blog post by Danny Brown makes a lot of sense and is a
great read. Anyone in politics or who is a political junkie will enjoy this although it can apply to everything. LINK - Is Sen. Bill Ketron going to primary Scott DesJarlais or is he going to wait due to the congressman’s extensive campaign chest? LINK
- Morristown scribe Joe Powell has found a presidential candidate that wants mandatory toothbrushing law and will give everyone a free ponies if you vote for him. He also wears a boot on his head. Meet Vermin Supreme for today’s best laugh. LINK
repeatedly proclaimed by the network – at least on the fairness front.
Democrats say they will offer amendments to the state House and Senate maps unveiled last week, but with vast Republican majorities in bothchambers, it appears unlikely that the proposals will change significantly.
where a new open district has been created which has a combined minority population (black & Hispanic) that presents an opportunity to increased representation for those groups (as they put in redistricting language).
one while Reps. Barbara Cooper and G.A. Hardaway are paired in another.
whether, and to what extent, the state’s legislature can overrule its high court.The question comes as judges and judicialsystems across the country are taking shots from lawmakers and politicians for being unaccountable and out of touch with mainstream America, and after a year that saw the Tennessee General Assembly pass two laws explicitly aimed at overturning state Supreme Court decisions that lawmakers didn’t like.
income tax rate during last year’s campaign. 
session gave us the law invalidating Nashville’s anti-gay bias ordinance. His new idea would bar local governments from passing not only living-wage laws but also health-care coverage and family-leave allowances that go beyond the requirements of state law.
