In a Politico article, Corker talks about the GOP strategy with the upcoming debate on a bill that would reform the financial services industry, and how he feels the current GOP strategy of “OBSTRUCT, OBSTRUCT, OBSTRUCT!” isn’t going to work on a bill that the public largely stands behind, even if they’re not clear on the specifics.

From the article:

Corker said Republicans lost their leverage when they failed to rally around the emerging deal on which he and Dodd were working until several weeks ago. Corker suggested that the lack of enthusiasm from his colleagues about those talks played into Dodd’s decision to cut short his work with Corker and move a bill to committee.

“Had everybody come together around that bipartisan negotiation, and I think had Chris [Dodd] seen that other Republicans would actually join in at that time, he might have continued on. But I think the fact that didn’t occur … the die was cast,” Corker said.

…

“I don’t think the polarity [of health care] will exist around this bill, and I think that again a major strategic error has occurred.”

It seems as if Senator Corker is one of the guys in a “shiny political celebrity high-profile” job that wants to actually get something done. Too bad he picked the wrong party to join.

One of these is Speak to Power, an online progressive community for Tennesseans that will “spotlight the goals of the democratic party/progressive ideology and discuss news of the day with a spotlight on left-leaning bloggers.”

Best part? Open and diverse discussions are encouraged and to participate you have to stand behind any comments you make.

From what I understand, the focus of Speak to Power will West Tennessee, but I predict it won’t be long until the entire state gets into the act. And this is the exact kind of unity – and hope – we need right now.