I’m going to take another stab at writing about Tuesday’s shenanigans in the House. Now that the dust has fallen and the story is (gasp) 48 hours old, let’s talk about some things that need addressing. I sort of compare the whole Kent Williams/Gary Odom/Jimmy Naifeh drama to when my grandmother watched soap operas when I was a kid. If this isn’t your cup of tea, go look at this picture of a platypus.
After months of one of those supercouple’s fighting, bantering and then falling for each other, eventually you’d have the show where they’d get together and do the deed which was usually filled with lust, passion and a pay off. My grandmother loved her some soaps and would wait with bated breath for those moments.
And THEN, a new set of problems would air it’s ugly head and keep the starcrossed lovers apart, confused, fighting, etc.
Do you see where I’m going with this?
While all the drama is going on, we need to keep in mind that politics is still happening behind the scenes. And we are so busy watching the “fun” stuff that we may be missing out on the important issues that impacts our day-to-day lives.
Let’s also be clear. In my opinion, both sides of the political aisle have been arrogant recently. The arrogance over having a house majority, arrogance over bumfuzzling other politicians, arrogance over pulling a fast one. And don’t forget about redistricting, which has been the behind the scenes talk since November.
I’ve received several emails from both sides of the aisle on this one and I guess the bottom line for me is this:
A.) The GOP was played on Tuesday. See soap opera reference above. The TNDP has been played in the past. It’s a chess match, folks. It swerves from side to side. And it is understood that both parties are supposed to stick together. But they don’t. It’s as easy as that. As for political drama earlier this week, it was amazing. But as they say about sports, you are only as good as your last game. Same thing goes for politics.
B.) Some secretive stuff was going on while the drama played out. Remember that. What was your Rep. or Senator doing during all of this? Hmmm.
C.) The average person I talked to yesterday had no idea what went on in the house on Tuesday. They could have cared less (which is another post for another day.) The big talk in Hoots yesterday was the TVA increase on their electricity bills and how the hell they were going to pay it. We also discussed doing a benefit for a local group of brothers who have a heart disease. The oldest, who is a senior in high school, needs a heart transplant.
You see, not everyone is a political junkie.
D.) In my neck of the woods, this is scaring the hell out of us because UT is looking at cutting 700 jobs which will completely impact my community. The only guy I see talking about these things is Sen. Andy Berke.
E.) Does anyone in the Tennessee House know Robert’s Rules of Order? Just asking.
I know. My fellow progressives are probably saying “‘Coma! Shut up.” I understand, but I also think we need to put this in perspective. The house has been a dunghole for years. Although Tuesday’s hootenanny was great fun for us on the left, we still have several months to get through and there is work to be done.
And, to quote Sharon Cobb from the comments yesterday: “Gawd, that was some brilliant politics, yesterday. Sick and twisted, but brilliant.”
It was. Now it’s time to get busy.
Well said!
As always, very well thought out and reasoned. The irony here is that, if Williams had not done what he did and Mumpower became Speaker, NONE of those things that need to be addressed, such as cuts at UT or cleaning up the TVA ash, would have been addressed, because Mumpower and Casada would have been too busy with their Guns, Gays and God agenda.
Just sayin’, that’s all.
It’s a good point, Cracker, as always. You know me, always trying to find the balance (Libra)
Thanks Michael.
Every day, ‘Coma, you come up with something else to make me adore and admire you more. If that were even possible, that is. I bow, I curtsey, I bring you Frescas.
Thank you for putting the hay down where the goats can get at it, as one of my former editors used to say. You write from the best perspective of all, that of a citizen journalist — someone who realizes her task is to explain HOW news will directly affect her neighbors, because it also affects her. That’s what so many political analysts lack: the perspective to see beyond their sources and their own navels. (They also possess tendencies toward shouting and smugness, where YOU calmly say, “Hey, let me tell you what I’m thinking while we’re sitting here talking.” Genius.)
I commend you mightily for telling it like it needs to be told. The only thing that changes in the Lege (or in politics in general, really) is the name — the game remains the same. (This is why I refused to cover the Hill back in my pirate days; I have no patience with those sort of shenanigans and would have been arrested for slapping somebody. Seriously. The state troopers used to tease me. And I got into enough trouble calling out the city and county gubmints as it was.)
I may also be e-mailing you later about some NewsTechZilla stuff. We are moving into the 21st, finally, it seems. (It’s amazing what The Powers That Be will suddenly agree is a priority when the money for the old priority is gone.)
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
She IS our Goddess of the blogosphere, from Memphis to Mountain City, and from Tiptonville to Cleveland and all points in between.
Guys, I’m blushing.
You are great.
Thank you.
This is why I have pointed my readers in your direction.
i don’t have a dog in this hunt since i live in kentucky. but i gotta say, the drama down there rivals stephano coming back from the dead a gazillion times over! if i did have residence in tennessee, i would be asking that question, what exactly was everyone up to during the mess? very well placed “hmmm” there, my friend.
so my comment? i loved the platypus.
YOU ARE RIGHT ON ABOUT THE SECRET, I HEAR THAT WILLIAMS WAS NOT THE FIRST CHOICE OR THE FIRST OFFERED THE DEAL. ODOM SAYS HE APPROACHED WILLIAMS AND WILLIAMS SAYS HE APPROACHED THE DEMS,THE REAL SKINNY IS THERE WAS ANOTHER SET OF PLAYERS THAT PULLED THIS OFF.