From Senator Barack Obasset (Don’t the big ears and the unflappable jowls give it away?).
On October 31, 2008,
in Liberate Your Radio from The Right,
by Mary Mancini
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- Making Plans16 May 2012, 6:38 pm
My parents are coming down for my birthday, which is nice, but also anxiety producing. The house is a mess. Something or someone has fleas. Possibly the nasty rug in the living room that we should just replace instead of fighting with it. And then they’re all “You come up with something for us to [...]...
- Banal Complaining about Facebook16 May 2012, 1:10 pm
Facebook serves two functions for me. 1. It allows me to keep up with relatives and people from high school. 2. It lets me play mindless games at lunch. I don’t want to chat with people over Facebook on my phone. I want Facebook to stop asking me. But more than that, I loathe the [...]... - I Find Myself the Weirdo16 May 2012, 1:03 pm
Yesterday, after lunch, I was falling asleep in my chair and feeling grouchy. I really wanted to go for a walk, but women’s dress shoes are just about the opposite of good walking shoes. Plus, I needed to be able to keep an eye on the office. So, I slipped off my shoes and walked [...]... - Now Captain Morgan is Seducing Your Wife With Her Eyes!15 May 2012, 10:46 pm
Honestly, I’m ready for someone to sit down and write a really smart analysis of these ads, explaining to me why it is that I love them. This one doesn’t do it for me the way the first one does, but I appreciate how creepy the old man is. Is he wearing a mask? And [...]... - A Story About Obesity Unlike Any You’ll Normally Read in The Tennessean15 May 2012, 5:31 pm
Today in The Tennessean, they ran a story about a woman who died after having gastric bypass surgery. Turns out her surgery triggered a wasting disorder where her body was turning protein into ammonia which her liver couldn’t convert into urea. So she lost weight until she died. She was 43. What’s unusual about this [...]...
- Morning Coffee – Presenting Your New Republican Overlords – Pre-Legislative Session Edition28 December 2010, 3:53 pm
The upcoming session of the Tennessee General Assembly begins in just 15 days. Between now and then there will likely be a whole bunch of nothing news wise, except for the TNDP Chair election which is about as exciting as watching socks dry in the rain (no offense guys, but seriously). Considering the huge shift from a nearly 50-50 split house to the 64-34-1 Republican super-majority, there’s gonna be a lot of changes coming our way. As Jeff Woods reports in the Nashville City paper, they ... - Morning Coffee – Surrender? No Surrender? Edition20 December 2010, 3:39 pm
In this season of giving, I’ve decided that a current events version of “The Night Before Christmas” is in order. To that end, I offer the following… Twas the week before Christmas and all through the County, Leaders in the east were assessing their bounty, The Legislature won by the right wing with care, In hopes that a Special School District would be there. The schoolchildren enjoying their Christmas break, Awaiting decisions that deciders will make, And I at my comput... - Morning Coffee – Something in the Air Edition2 December 2010, 1:27 pm
I don’t really have a lot to say this morning. I think I said myself out yesterday. Speaking of yesterday, the “sense of the commission” resolution on consolidation passed 6-3-1. Two commissioners weren’t in attendance at the time of the vote. The matter comes up again on Monday. Send your Commissioner an email in support of the resolution. It’s been busy and that business isn’t gonna stop until after the 16th. Then it’s time for the “holiday busy&... - Morning Coffee – Sharpen Your Pitchforks Edition1 December 2010, 1:15 pm
Yeah, I know. You probably thought the pitchfork sharpening season ended with the November 2nd elections. I don’t think you could have been more wrong. We live in a 24/7/365 pitchfork readiness environment now and that’s not going to change until people start feeling more certain about their economic futures. The harsh reality is that, in times like this, people can get Balkanized, in ways that may or may not be in their best interests depending on a whole host of factors, but usuall... - Morning Coffee – Post-Turkey Day Edition29 November 2010, 2:16 pm
Now that the holiday that officially sanctions gluttony is over, we can get down to really important things, like buying stuff for Christmas. Retailers are licking their chops as we speak. Black Friday and Cyber Monday will ultimately give way to “Whoopsie Wednesday” (12/22) and “I can’t find anything I want Friday” (12/24). As someone who used to co-own a retail establishment, I can tell you this is the time of year that I most dreaded and looked forward to. When t...
- Votes for Women in Tennessee6 April 2012, 2:31 am
Today was the filing deadline for candidates intending to run for the Tennessee House and Senate in 2012. This has been a particularly brutal year in the Legislature given that GOP-dominated redistricting has focused on getting rid of as many Democrats as possible, and most particularly Democratic women. This, combined with a legislative agenda that [...]... - The Brady Bust22 February 2012, 3:55 pm
Here’s the story of a handsome hustler, Who was pimping out three very lovely girls. All of them had hair of gold, like their mommas, The youngest one in curls. Here’s the story, of a man named Brady, Who was busy with campaigns of his own. He was married, with a newborn family, Yet he [...]... - Bills, Bills, Bills10 January 2012, 3:40 pm
At first we started out real cool,(cool) Writing some good laws i ain’t never seen But now your getting comfortable Ain’t telling that truth that you did no more Your slowly makin me read your print Your Bills they all are captioning And now you ask me for my vote (vote) Call me all day [...]... - Five Shopping Days Until Slut-O-Ween27 October 2011, 1:24 am
As I tend to warn people a lot: I was raised Mormon. You might not realize it, but Mormons have a dress code. It’s based on the standard of modesty set by wearing temple garments (those “magic Mormon underwear”), although pre-garment wearing youth are also encouraged to follow it as preparation for being endowed in [...]... - Going Postal10 September 2011, 5:06 pm
I love mail. Real mail, that is, the type made out of paper and delivered to your box by a uniformed, oath-sworn mail carrier. Even before I could explain why I loved mail, I loved it so much that in elementary school I volunteered for the job of collecting it from our box and sorting [...]...
- Original Poetry30 March 2011, 7:59 pm
Inauguration Dayby maria BrewerStretching dreams Pop into realityand breathe deep. The air of now.Grunting, emerging, we blink.Anticipating beauty in the new expectation of fresh wisdom.Layers of caring, and percolating joy, anddeep strength surge and weRush forward to meet the calm:the sprout that pushes through the soil,the Beginning.... - Original Poetry30 March 2011, 1:30 am
To-Do Listby Maria BrewerBe radiantAlways find connectionBurn through limitsRemain out of controlDemand the room to laughHave awe for the infinity that fills creationSanctify the utter void it springs fromTransfigure self, standing on the cusp of both... - 29 March 2011, 3:35 pm
The American Dream is a noble ideal: equality and reward for hard work. Establishing values like fairness, independence, and empowerment, Americans have long sacrificed to better themselves. But in America, we have always dreamed of bringing along our communities: our palaces have been our public schools; our monuments not towering statues unless surrounded by broad public parks and playgrounds; our legacy is ensconced in public libraries, common thoroughfares, and rural electrification projects... - Take a Lunch with Democracy15 March 2011, 1:32 pm
Today is going to be Rally day on the steps of the Tennessee State House downtown. People are coming from all over Tennessee to be heard by their state legislators. And it's going to be live streamed at the website http://march15.info/What's the use of a rally? Well, haven't you heard? This is What Democracy Looks Like.... - Devastation comes in small packages as well...15 March 2011, 7:41 am
Since Friday's disaster in Japan began, we Americans have watched its unfolding. So far away, yet so close at hand; unimaginably vast disaster striking a society so much like our own. Many of the photos are of an unimaginable scale. The stuff of our civilization made wholly uncivil and unrecognizable.Unlike most of the pictures from Japan, this picture of baby and mother being checked for radiation holds a kind of devastation we can't see. I'm not a nuclear power fear-monger, but I am a realist....
- Upper Cumberland Pride brings celebratory end to the 107th Tennessee General Assembly7 May 2012, 8:32 pm
"Your eyes don't deceive you. That's a pride celebration in Cookeville, TN with lots of people." said Nashville Committee Chair Chris Sanders who reposted this picture on Facebook on Saturday. At least one observer from Cookeville beleieved that as many as 1000 people attended the event over the course of the day. The Upper Cumberland Committee provided an absolutely amazing LGBT Pride celebration in Cookeville, Tennessee on Saturday - a perfect end to a week of victories and positive... - Nashville's Dean says that social legislation affects the business climate7 May 2012, 4:48 am
In an interview with The City Paper, Nashville Mayor Karl Dean noted that when businesses consider Nashville, they sometimes have concerns about the social legislation coming from the Tennessee General Assembly. He contrasts that socially conservative agenda at the state level with the commitment to non-discrimination in Metro Nashville:You mentioned fielding calls from other cities and people checking out Nashville and how hot it is. When you’re fielding those calls, do you ever hear,... - Thanks Speaker Harwell, Rep. Maggart and Gov. Haslam2 May 2012, 2:47 pm
House Speaker Beth Harwell, Republican Caucus Chair Rep. Debra Maggart and Governor Bill HaslamTennessee Equality Project was one of the last organizations to formally declare the defeat of the Don't Say Gay bill (HB0229/SB0049). After fighting many bills in the legislature over the years, we've learned that anything can happen in the last days of the legislative session - especially when the rules of the House or Senate are suspended to facilitate the legislative process. Until a motion to adjo... - Will Governor Haslam stand up to the bullies in his own party?19 April 2012, 4:45 pm
In this week's issue of the Memphis Flyer, Copy Editor Joe Brown calls Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam to task for whining about the media's coverage of embarassing legislation proposed by his party's government. Haslam recently complained that state and local media favor reporting on the bad bills moving through the Tennessee General Assembly over the "good" legislation supported by his administration. I urge you to read the entire column, but I'll quote some of the best passages.First of all, t... - Send thanks to the Senators who supported equality3 April 2012, 6:17 pm
Sen. Jim Kyle (D-Memphis)Sen. Jim Kyle's bill (SB2762) that would have repealed HB600/SB632 failed by a vote of 2 to 6 in the Senate State and Local Government Committee today. Senators Thelma Harper (D) and Joe Haynes (D) voted yes. Senators Stacey Campfield (R), Mike Faulk (R), Jack Johnson (R), Bill Ketron (R), Mark Norris (R) and Ken Yager (R) voted against. Senator Lowe Finney (D) was absent. B2762 would have restored the Contract Accountability Non-Discrimination Ordinance which extended L...
- I’m Done28 April 2011, 2:37 pm
Even though I know I will disappointing millions of fans (like Oprah and the Soaps), I am suspending my blogging activities. Notice how serious and freaked out I look on my daily blog route, while those yoga blankets beckon behind me to open my chakras and forget the world-wide suicide I am witnessing on the [...]... - Trump…what else you got?27 April 2011, 1:38 pm
Filed under: Uncategorized... - An hour with Tina Fey26 April 2011, 11:43 pm
Filed under: Uncategorized... - FOX News Has Spoken. Period. End of Story?26 April 2011, 5:27 pm
“Fox News can confirm the President of the United States is a citizen of the United States”. Shep Smith (click for video) So, Trump, stick that info up there in your hair nest. Filed under: Uncategorized... - Palin’s SPED Plan25 April 2011, 6:24 pm
Despite Sarah Palin’s claims to the contrary, the main stream media has never seriously taken her on from any vantage point other than pop/political icon. The LA Times’ Meghan Daum’s friends wonder why the gloves have never come off with Palin. They demand she “admit the obvious”… …Palin’s rocket ride to political fame says less [...]...
- From the "you're kidding, right?" file...16 May 2012, 9:13 pm
Chicken lovers camp out for Bearden Chick-Fil-A grand opening ... read more...... - Kucinich retiring from Congress16 May 2012, 7:54 pm
After getting gerrymandered out of his seat and considering a run in Washington State, Dennis Kucinich is throwing in the towel. In a statem... read more...... - Princess Productions presents Dennis Tufano and "Crawdaddy Crawley16 May 2012, 5:27 pm
ARE YOU READY FOR SOME MORE PRINCESS MUSIC? ... read more...... - Reading speed test16 May 2012, 4:43 pm
Take the Staples reading speed test and compare your reading speed to national averages. ... read more...... - Moving into Nature at Ijams16 May 2012, 11:55 am
What: Moving into Nature at Ijams When: Saturday, May 19, 2012 - 1:00pm Where: Ijams Nature Center, 2915 Island Home Avenue ... read more......
- Where You At?11 April 2012, 4:28 pm
Apologies for the lack of posts in the past few weeks, I should've updated sooner, but I recently started working with the Tennessee Democratic Party doing New Media. While it doesn't preclude me from blogging here, chances are most of my attention will be on the TNDP blog I'll now be operating. So if you want to see my flackery in full effect, redirect your bookmarks and feed readers to http://tndp.org/blog. ... - The End of an Era8 March 2012, 7:03 pm
The son of a Lebanese immigrant, Speaker Jimmy Naifeh, the "Lebanese Lion" as Mike Turner calls him, was perhaps the most influential and important political figure in modern Tennessee history who was not the governor. While controversial at times, Naifeh never feared speaking his mind and doing what he felt was right, despite an increasingly conservative and Republican leaning district. That meant sometimes using the power of the committee to ensure the legislature focused on issues that... - Democrats "unenthusiastic" just like in 19968 March 2012, 6:23 pm
The Tennessee Republican party is trying to spin away the great dissatisfaction with their nominee to be, Mitt Romney, by projecting some feelings on the Democratic base in Tennessee that just do not exist. In a press release, the Republicans are claiming that “The only enthusiasm gap that exists in this Presidential election is with Democrat voters. The fact that more than 1 out of 10 Democrats took the time to go to the polls to reject having President Obama as their nominee, should be... - Jason Powell Announces in District 537 March 2012, 9:26 pm
Civic leader Jason Powell has announced he will be running to replace Rep. Janis Sontany at the State House in District 53. Powell, 34, had previously run for State House in 2006 against Rep. Mary Pruitt and is starting off the race with some major endorsements from Councilman Jerry Maynard, Sheriff Daron Hall, and former US Senate candidate Bob Tuke. In his release, Powell stated that he has "always been looking for opportunities to give back" and this was another way for him to do so, alon... - Mayor Berke?28 February 2012, 3:07 pm
You won't have Chattanooga's Sen. Andy Berke to kick around at the legislature for much longer: State Senator Andy Berke announced Tuesday that he will not seek re-election to the State Senate District 10 seat he has held since 2007... ...“Although I am not running for re-election, I am dedicated to growing jobs in our area and working on issues that affect my neighbors,” Berke said. “I am excited to continue to serve Southeast Tennessee, and I look forward to new challenges and opportun...
- O Captain! My Captain!15 May 2012, 6:35 pm
When Walt Whitman wrote O Captain! My Captain! his thought processes where about a nation that was battered and nearly broken. A war split apart brothers, the death of Abraham Lincoln and an uncertain direction after so much loss. Whitman’s … Continue reading →... - An Open Letter To Bill Boner14 May 2012, 6:11 pm
Not the mayor Bill Boner, the other one. Sir, I’ve seen some wrong-headed things in politics before, but you have literally taken the cake. Let’s review the big old case of you being rather douchetacular. After having had their claims … Continue reading →... - The Last Mother’s Day13 May 2012, 6:26 pm
I do not remember the last mother’s day my mom had. I’ve thought about it quite a bit the last few days. I remember the chemo. I remember the terminal diagnosis but the actual day is something I can’t recall. … Continue reading →... - Ideas On Banning Gateway Sexual Activity12 May 2012, 3:01 pm
I’ve been thinking about things that lead to gateway sexual activity. I think there are some things the Governor, who signed the bill yesterday and made national news again, hasn’t considered which will lead kids into a life of sexual … Continue reading →... - Where Bad Poetry Meets A Songwriter12 May 2012, 2:13 am
A songwriter asked me to write about him. I did. His name is Jim Hampton. Impressions he asked for: A voice like molasses in the heat of summer, shirt torn, sweat on the brim of your cap, stains from a … Continue reading →...
- A Note On The First Amendment18 August 2010, 5:06 am
(Yes, yes, I realize that I haven't written anything in over two weeks. I promise that I will get back into a regular schedule of posting once I get myself back on a regular schedule. There will also likely be some content changes around here come the fall, stay tuned for that.)This seems like an obvious point to me, but I guess it's not to Dr." Laura and her defenders:Dr. Laura Schlessinger announced Tuesday night that she would end her radio show following her N-word rant last week."My contr... - Shame On The Anti-Defamation League30 July 2010, 8:36 pm
The Anti-Defamation League was founded in 1913 to "fight anti-Semitism and all forms of bigotry, defend democratic ideals and protect civil rights for all.” Unless, apparently, if its the democratic and civil rights of people they don't like:We regard freedom of religion as a cornerstone of the American democracy, and that freedom must include the right of all Americans – Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and other faiths – to build community centers and houses of worship.We categorically reject... - The Tennessee Goobernatorial Race29 July 2010, 4:22 pm
(Note: I'm starting a movement to make #goobernatorial the official hashtag of the Tennessee governor's race. Please consider using it whenever you tweet about the campaign, REGARDLESS of which candidate you're talking about)Tennessee tends to not make national headlines unless something bad has happened, and I guess it was only a matter of time before the Colbert Report picked up on our goobernatorial race, a campaign tailor-made for late-night comedy shows:The Colbert ReportMon - Thurs 11:30p... - The Question Of Legitimacy, Deferred23 July 2010, 10:02 pm
Last week, I wrote about the proposed Israeli conversion bill that amounted to delegitimizing Reform and Conservative Judaism. Last night, it was announced that Prime Minister Netanyahu struck a deal to delay the bill for six months until an alternative plan can be worked out.Acting on instructions from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Cabinet Secretary Zvi Hauser reached an agreement with Israel Reform and Masorti (traditional) Jewish movements, persuading them to drop a petition to the High... - A Question Of Legitimacy16 July 2010, 12:21 am
Several months ago, Peter Beinart wrote a profound article in the New York Review of Books on the failures of the American Jewish establishment. The main "failure" he recognized is the failure to recognize how many rifts there are among Jews right now--between Israelis and the Diaspora, between secular Jews and the Orthodox, and between younger liberal American Jews and the more conservative establishment.The article set off a furious debate and discussion here in the U.S., although anyone who ...
- I've Moved20 May 2011, 1:59 am
Visit me at my new home at WordPress .... southernbeale.wordpress.com.Thanks!... - I Already Hate WordPress19 May 2011, 7:03 pm
Blogger got buggered again yesterday and I'm so over it. Had to do a bunch of crap to my cookies to be able to access my dashboard. So I've started setting up a new home at WordPress but I can tell you all, I already hate it. Despise it. It's completely illogical, totally not Mac friendly. This was created by people who use PCs, I can already tell with their instructions to "right click" this and that. I hate it. I can't get my freaking blogroll set up, and frankly at this point it may never hap... - Americans Live Within Their Means & Other Wingnut Fantasies18 May 2011, 4:13 pm
Of all the tired, old bromides which have worked their way into our discourse, the old “American families have to live within a budget, and so should the federal government” meme is one of the most annoying. It's annoying because it's so easily debunked; the very people spouting this bullshit are the ones riding mountains of credit card debt, for crying out loud!I’ve written about this before but my first response is always: No! No we don’t! Since when? American consumer debt, which does... - How Dare Those Uppity Plebes Forget Their Place18 May 2011, 12:13 pm
When I first read Felix Salmon’s “Ben Stein's Top 10 Lines About DSK” I thought these were humorous “summaries” of Steins’ column defending Dominique Strauss-Kahn.They were not. They were direct quotes. And oh my God. Without further ado:Was Riker's Island really the place to put him on the allegations of one human being? Hadn't he earned slightly better treatment than that? No, he has not. Justice wears a blindfold.If he is such a womanizer and violent guy with women, why didn't he ... - I’ll Take Things It Shouldn’t Take 30 Years To Do, Alex17 May 2011, 4:18 pm
Waaaaay back in 1990 a law was passed that required the Dept. of Defense to get its books in order so we can do a full financial audit, and yet even though their deadline isn’t until 2017 it seems they won’t be making that deadline. That would be 27 years to do a financial audit of the Pentagon.And they can’t do it.Whew. Okie dokie, well thank goodness we have a bipartisan group of Senators who have a little problem with that :“Based on the findings of today’s FIAR Plan, it appears unl...
- About That Motion to Intervene…15 May 2012, 6:15 pm
Yesterday, the Commercial Appeal published an article about my decision to wade into the County redistricting issue. The decision wasn’t a difficult one. Ultimately, this comes down to the way we are represented in our County government, and the inability of that County government to do something that is, at best, an administrative task. To [...]... - Whose Rights Are Being Violated? #TNLeg #GunsInParkingLots17 April 2012, 4:19 pm
Being Lt. Gov. of Tennessee must be a pretty confusing gig. On the one hand, you’re the second in command, even though you have been elected by a tiny minority of Tennesseans, which would seem to call your “mandate” into question. But thanks to the easy compliance of a Governor who just won’t stand up [...]... - Spineless Cop-out on “Monkey” Bill #TNLeg #TNGov11 April 2012, 11:49 am
Its been widely reported, to the dismay of Science instructors statewide that yesterday TN Gov. Bill Haslam allowed HB 368 to become law without his signature. The bill, which pushes a “Teach the Controversy” agenda, preferred by groups like the Discovery Institute and the folks at the Creationism Museum seeks to push the notion that [...]... - Primum non nocere (First, do no harm)21 March 2012, 5:18 pm
There are few maxims in the western tradition that are more misunderstood than this one: “First, do no harm” I say misunderstood because it is often difficult for people, in their haste or excitement, to see the impact of their actions beyond the immediate thrill. It is, of course, most prevalent in the “gotcha” politics [...]... - Sen. Kyle Defends The “UnDo Can’t Do” Bill – #SB276213 March 2012, 9:40 pm
One of the more onerous bills that passed out of last year’s session was HB0600 dubbed the “Equal Access to Intrastate Commerce Act”. Sponsored by Glen Casada (R) of Franklin, the bill sought to remove the ability of a local government to set certain ground rules in contracts. That’s shorthand for enacting non-discrimination ordinances. Here’s [...]...
- Mad Libs18 June 2010, 2:15 pm
Dear TNDP, I’m not alone in saying it, but this is a problem. (That’s seven months, and many “Chip Forrester is Outraged on a Friday” pressers ago.) We know you know better. How about acting on it? Is…... - He’s So Excited! He’s So Scared!28 May 2010, 4:43 pm
I didn’t watch the Tea Party-hosted Republican gubernatorial debate, not only because I had other plans but because I figure such a thing would be as substantive as a pageant. While nobody emerged wearing a sash and tiara, ... - Just the Facts, Ma’am25 May 2010, 6:20 am
Last night the state House voted to commend Arizona on its upcoming centennial (in 2012) as well as for passing controversial legislation which many argue encourages racial profiling. Here’s the breakdown of how your state Democrats voted. …... - Liberal Blogger Afternoon on the Hill12 May 2010, 4:55 am
Everyone’s favorite Aunt B. did a great job summing up the Liberal Blogger Afternoon on the Hill at Tiny Cat Pants and at Pith. She fails to mention, however, the great restraint both she and I exercised in…... - Sandbagging the MetroCenter Levee4 May 2010, 5:30 am
Approximately 200 Nashvillians sandbagged the levee at MetroCenter today – despite MNPD officers explicitly saying we were entering the neighborhood “at our own risk,” and that if the levee went out we’d likely go out with it – with some…...
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