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As none of my elected dudes are asking for this, pretend that Al Franken represents Hoots and we will call it a day.

Could we get Rep. Mark Maddox or Sen. Roy Herron on this please or am I on my own?

I’m on my own I have a sad feeling.

Tennessee politics can be a very interesting thing. This year we have seen the Jason Mumpower/Kent Williams hootenanny, a crowded race for governor on both sides of the spectrum (I’m not talking about that one) and this week’s hokey pokey with the announcement of John Tanner citing he wasn’t going to run for another term, thus ending two decades in Washington.

Freddy Freddie O’Connell wrote today about Roy Herron throwing his hat into the congressional race and I do think it’s because he always wanted to run for the 8th. It’s been pretty much common knowledge around “these parts” for a long time as I wrote about earlier this week. I sat at a middle school basketball game last night and even folks who could care less about politics where talking about this. (Always remember, you will meet real voters at things like this. Nine times out of 10, if you are at a community event, a coffee shop or even a bar, you are going to hear what people are really thinking and they honestly only care about the election when it gets into the meat of it.)  The overall theme was that Roy has wanted to run for that seat for a long time. No one was really surprised that he went for it within hours of John Tanner’s retirement presser.

Now onto the primary as I’ve been thinking about it and talking to other political junkies here in Hoots where we’ve discussed this. You know, this race is going to have four primary television markets and I do believe that the national GOP is watching this carefully. You are going to have Nashville, Memphis, Jackson and add into the mix a bit of WPSD in Paducah which is a huge source in the upper corner here in northwest Tennessee. Two small markets and two huge television markets which are going to add up to some big dough-re-mi. That is most likely going to be on the mind of anyone even thinking about getting into the primary race.

One thing that John Tanner did very selflessly is give a one-year’s notice because whoever runs in this primary is going to have to have some jack. Already there is talk of a Dr. Ron Kirkland seeking the GOP slot out of Jackson. Other candidates names being tossed around for the Dems are Philip Pinion, Doug Jackson, Judy Barker and Mary Kate Ridgeway (and in the spirit of disclosure, I used to work for her husband, Don, when I was a program coordinator at NWTEDC.) More names will pop up in the next few days, I’m sure. The domino effect will also be into play regarding the 24th state senate seat. Who will seek the 24th if Roy were to win? If that person is already in office, and as an example of Barker/Jackson who haven’t decided yet to run or Mark Maddox who says he won’t seek John’s seat, who will seek their office if that scenario were to come to fruition? I’m thinking long term here, of course. And I’m not really talking about Jimmy Naifeh because I just don’t know if seeking this seat at 70 years-old is going to happen. Who knows? Willie Herenton says he will run against Steve Cohen, so one never knows a definitive answer with those two guys.

No one wants to talk about money for campaign races during economic times like these. And with this one getting national attention, you can bet the  parties in Washington are observing carefully what what is being said around the state. I also believe, because of the 8th’s high visibility, that we are going to see Mainstream Media more involved in this race. Sometimes they get involved, other times they don’t. As of this morning and since Tuesday, there were more than 300 news stories on Google talking about Tanner. He is a co-creator of the Blue Dog Democrats. He has the NATO thing going on. This time, I think you are going to hear a lot of traditional press.

The bottom line in this early time in the game is that this race is going to take a great deal of funding, it’s going to get a lot of attention and those Republicrats that tended to vote for Tanner (and they did) are going to be weighing their vote more heavily because this area has suffered huge job losses in recent history which is much of what I’m hearing being discussed. Tanner is what they knew and although not everyone adored him, he was well liked creating almost a new brand of voters for those in the middle who weren’t tied to a party line all the time for the past 20 years.

With what appears might be a crowded field on both sides, it’s going to take a lot of cash to get attention to win that seat.

As the rain came down across the state last week, folks like me who sit in my mother’s basement in my pajamas who blog can, and do, go through withdrawals when the Internet is not readily available and I can’t regale you. I dig regaling. The ‘tubes in Hoots East have been down since last Friday. I have it at work, but not at Casa Coma.
Yeppers, it’s been of the suck, but there really is no reason to get stabby about it although it has been highly inconvenient.
I have realized a couple of things recently. First of all, I’m bored out of my mind right now. I go through this about three times a year. I don’t like to tell people I’m bored because there is always the wise guy out there that says, “If you are bored, you are boring.”
I am not denying that I’m boring. I am not denying I’m probably depressed as hell because even though my love of Hoots is strong, sometimes I need a change of scenery.
So, let’s recap some of the sights and sounds of Hoots as I must amuse myself quickly or I might pass out. Boredom, as in news, can also put one in a coma.

A very sad Friday night at the carnival in Hoots

Seen and Heard:

• There were horses. There are always horses at the Iris Festival. Of course, they are always at the back of the parade line due to obvious reasons.
• There were clowns. They were not too scary as they were sitting on the sidewalk and one was on a cell phone texting non-stop. A texting clown seems somewhat harmless to me but I was still cautious. Nothing like a texting ANGRY clown who might go postal, as I’m a believer that a clown can turn on a dime, so I kept my distance.
• I saw Rep. Mark Maddox on Saturday and asked him why he wasn’t at the TNDP summit in Monteagle. He, in fine political bantering form, said, “I’m here with 7,000 of my best friends.” I concur there were a lot of best friends around our neck of the woods who were wet and tired but I tend to believe that that number was much smaller than that. This is Hoots for crying out loud. Maybe that’s just me.
• Another man said that when Ned McWherter talks about his son’s race, he refers to it as “our” race. I found that to be interesting.
• Folks who own juke joints around here are still wondering why they haven’t been contacted about the guns in restaurant bills. All of them say they will put up the obligatory sign saying, ironically, “No guns in this juke joint.” I’m still perplexed why this is going on when I just, I don’t know, want my one vote to count and I have decided for the fifth year in a row that I want a paper receipt when I vote. I can get one at Burger King and it’s easy. Why is not easy on something as important as voting.
• My oldest niece is throwing up today, which most likely will curb my Cinco De Mayo plans. Carnival food, the Aporkalypse scare and bad weather will do that to you. (I told you I was boring this week.) I, sadly, did not get any carnival food.
• A Chinese restaurant opened up in Hoots in the same place the last one, which closed down last year, was located. They had a California roll on the buffet. I am happy to report there was absolutely no ham in it. This is a fine revelation. Other than one of the local leaders yelling at the new proprietors about something stupid and permanently making the entire restaurant want to neck punch her for being rude, the new restaurant seems to be rather groovy.
• I saw a girl cry in another eatery whom I didn’t know. She was with a girl I did know who was trying to comfort her over what seemed to be boyfriend problems. After eavesdropping for a few minutes, I realized that this boy was seriously playing some mind kung fu on this girl. I am pretty good at the comforting thing, but yesterday, it just made me very tired and extremely sad. This young woman wasn’t going anywhere, I recognized that immediately but I foresee a world of hurt for her in the future because the things this guy was saying to her on her cell were plum awful. She kept saying they would work it out but I’m not so sure. I left feeling a little bit afraid for her.

Although I wasn’t online, I wrote quite a bit this weekend. So, fair readers, I have a question for you that needs immediate attention. Why am I so enamored with vampires and Memphis? This has been an ongoing theme for me the past few days. Talk amongst yourself and get back to me with your opinions.

Did I mention that I am bored and depressed? I did?
Forgive me.

I’ve been tooling around the TNDP site for the last few days and think it’s a mighty fine thing to behold. I wanted to give it a few days before I started talking about it. When any new website/blog starts there is usually a heady anticipation about it with lots of buzz, and either it falls off or evolves into something better/worse.

After a bit of scrutiny, I think this site is the real deal. I hope to see an upward and forward progression using these available tools as we head toward 2010.

So, I did what anyone like me would do, sent out some invitations to join to people I know and then sat back to wait to see what would happen on the site.

Ning sites are really cool, in my humble opinion, and this one is interactive. I have to say that one of my biggest criticisms about the TNDP over the past couple of years was not having a communicative tool in which to have more instant communication. From our standpoint in the west, and I’m guessing the folks over in the eastern part of the state go through this too as I can’t speak for them, was being geographically confined by location and missing out on some information. The site has opened up some of those lapses and I applaud the folks that did this.

Now, I get to play political multimedia critic and talk about a few things.

• Hoots is extremely underrepresented in the membership drive on the site. Guys, get cracking. We have an outlet and a tool now to participate in the social media aspect of this site so join up. I’d also like to see my legislators, Rep. Mark Maddox and Sen. Roy Herron on this site as well. That shows great leadership and a sense of unity. This also includes our county chair and members of the local party. I realize this sort of technical ideology is all new and stuff, but it’s time to get it going on.
• Mark Brown, who is Ward Cammack’s dude, seems to be utilizing the features of the site better than any candidate’s team right now. Videos, editorials and interactivity are coming from the Cammack camp right now and much of it is happening at the TNDP site. I tip my hat. Or Brown’s hat. Well, there is hat tipping somewhere. And, as GoldnI says, you will know him regardless if you want to or not because he’s hit the ground running.
• The county chairman’s feature articles are excellent. I like that a great deal and am glad to see the spotlight turned on each of the countys’ chairs.
• One bit of advice that I would share with the candidates for governor or any politician, especially the ones I met last week, is that if you are on Twitter, join everyone that has joined you back. And if you are actually doing the Twittering, because some people let their handlers do it, then participate. Yes, it does get noisy, but on the other hand, you will have instant feedback on what you are doing in the legislature. This is better than any poll you could ever pay a lofty commission for while getting immediate results. Thank me later for this bit of advice later over a beer because it’s the best feedback I could ever give you. Legislators who are excelling here are Sen. Jim Kyle and Sen. Andy Berke. (I hear Zack Wamp is doing that as well, but I’m talking democrats right now.) The TNDP asked a question yesterday about guns in parks but I couldn’t DM my response so make sure your direct messaging system is working on any microblogging site. It might have been me, and I own that. One thing that I like is reading Kyle talking about being a dad and his daughter’s disappointment over a lost competition where you could tell he was disappointed for her or Berke talk about everyday stuff as well as legislation. It breaks down the fourth wall, if you will, between an us and them sort of mentality. This works for a lot of people because it’s more personal. Regardless of what you may believe, it’s effective.
• Many of the bloggers talk a great deal off the radar quite a bit. I’m just saying. The new site allows more people to be in the conversation with much more specific information.

Those are just some initial thoughts.

Ken Whitehouse reports on this weekend’s leadership vote for the house:

Democrats in the Tennessee House of Representatives picked new leadership tonight as they face the reality that, for the first time since Reconstruction, they are the minority party.

Gary Odom won by two votes over Craig Fitzhugh for Democratic leader. There is a lot of drama going on but for the locals, this is of some interest.

In other caucus races, Lois DeBerry of Memphis was elected deputy Democratic leader and Morristown’s John Litz assistant leader. Dresden’s Mark Maddox was named whip, Dennis Ferguson of Roane County floor leader, Larry Turner of Memphis secretary, Cookeville’s Henry Fincher vice chair of the caucus, and Sherry Jones of Nashville caucus treasurer.

The rest is here.

I wonder how the governor feels about this because he said he has “trust issues” with Odom.

It could go like every episode of Dallas for the next two years. Sue Ellen gets drunk, J.R. Ewing has a scotch and masterminds a bunch of evil stuff, Bobby acts earnest and dies only for it to be a dream. Pamela can’t act and everyone tries to get their way for the sake of getting their way. If you don’t get the Dallas reference, just go to any episode of Days of our Lives.

You’ll get the picture.

UPDATED: In what could be the line of the day, I give you this from Silence is Golden.

Congratulations to Minority Leader Odom. I hope he’ll use this time to find a clear, articulate message for Tennessee Democrats, beyond just “We’re less psycho than the Republicans

And more from Braisted.

Well, this is interesting with a hat tip to Kleinheider:

Stoking the back-room intrigue recently was (Mark) Maddox’s announcement last month that he planned to seek (Gary) Odom’s leadership position because Odom was advertising his interest in the speakership. Odom fired back with a letter of his own saying that he had made no such comments, and that decisions would come later.

Maddox said he still believes that Odom will seek the speakership, although he admits that he has slightly less confidence in that now than he did several months ago. Amassing a war chest, he said, “would be a characteristic of somebody who’s looking at higher office.”

“The leader has given every indication that he’s running for speaker, and I want to put my hat in for that position,” he said.

Without saying what his intentions are one way or the other, Odom reiterated his comments last week that he wouldn’t consider leadership positions until after the election.

This is my opinion, and my opinion only. Odom IS looking to make a move. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that out. All politicians look up. It is what it is.

Battles behind closed doors in Nashville are so interesting to me and, that my friends, is what I believe is going on.

The Tennessee General Assembly seems to be writhing as change seems to be in the air. Instead of weapons, we see polite statements in media coverage that are barbed with really what’s going on in the back rooms.

It happens every election year.

So, if this is a throwdown between Odom and Jimmy Naifeh, I can’t help but wonder who is going to win.

People just don’t set up war chests for no reason. Remember that.

In it’s entirety.

Dear Representative Armstrong,

I hope this finds you and your family well.

Reading the Nashville press has been quite the adventure this summer:  A trooper making unauthorized background checks; the buyout program not producing as many funds as we needed; revenues still falling behind estimates and our Majority Leader indicating a desire to be Speaker.

According to at least three press stories dating back to June, Representative Odom apparently has decided to challenge Speaker Jimmy Naifeh for Speaker of the House after the November elections.

Since Leader Odom has made his intentions clear, I write today to let you know I intend to run for Democratic Majority Leader.

At a time when what we need is a united front, I regret we have this split among our leadership.  Lack of communication within our leadership is limiting Democrats’ influence and giving the opposition opportunities for success.  Lack of cooperation within our leadership emphasizes our differences resulting in legislation that is not all that it could be.  The time to end these petty power struggles and work together building a better unified coalition of democrats who pass strong, well-considered, thoughtful legislation is now.

What kind of Majority Leader do I intend to be?  I intend to do it the same way that I have led over the last six years as Assistant Majority Leader and Majority Whip:  Listening to you without preconceived notions, caring about you and your constituents and thoughtful consideration and discussion.  Every voice will be heard:  urban and rural; conservative and liberal; East, Middle, and West.  As Majority Leader, I CAN work side by side with you, our Governor, our Speaker and other elected leadership members to ensure that the legislative priorities of our caucus and the lives of our constituents come first, not personal agendas.

The bottom line is that I want to be YOUR Majority Leader and I can serve YOU effectively.

Today, our purpose is clear.  We must elect Democrats in November.  For some that may mean fund raising, for others that may mean campaigning but for all of us that certainly means working to help each other.  If you do not have an opponent, I encourage you to seek out a candidate near you and volunteer to help.  If you do have an opponent, then don’t be shy about asking me or others to help.

When it comes to this fall’s caucus election, I want to count on your vote for me.  I look forward to speaking with you soon.

Sincerely,

Mark Maddox

I love you. I do but sometimes folks have to practice tough love with the things they care about.
You guys, well, I thought you knew better but you don’t, and what I’m talking about is that I think you need to come to Hooterville and talk to some of the people I’ve been talking to the past few days. Go to all of the Hootervilles, not just mine.

You are blowing it, in my opinion, when it comes to rural voters and in many ways, you are disenfranchising younger voters here.This isn’t good, Nashville leaders.

There is a world outside of Nashville.

And, I mean this, you guys act like there isn’t sometimes and that’s a damn shame. You have young people here that want to be involved in the political process, are talking to me, and yes I work at a newspaper, that they are constantly not getting their needs met. But, with that said, the GOP is doing dandy here. New building, an air of excitement, recruiting new members, selling McCain buttons enthusiastically and creating new partnerships by reaching across the aisle to a large degree.
Heck, I’m a liberal and I’ve had a great time with the local GOP. They are rocking it.
Earlier this week, I talked to several people in their 20s and 30s who lean to the left who do not feel comfortable with the college democrats due to their age and in the local democratic party because there tends to be too much established fellowship. This isn’t your fault and I’m not blaming you but a little updated training might help from your end. They wanted to put up signs, they wanted buttons, they wanted a rally.
But, and this is just dang unforgivable, is that between 20,000 and 30,000 people were here for the Tennessee Soybean Festival and other than a handful of kids from the college running a voter registration drive, the democrats were invisible. Thousands and thousands of college kids were at the Corey Smith outdoor free concert where there were dozens of vendors when you could have come and made a huge splash and, umm …
You get my drift?
You missed a huge opportunity. Rural communities want to be involved. Engage them and pay attention.
Several years ago, I went to several meetings at the local party and was one of those young voters who felt left out. I wanted inspiring conversations, events to feel excited about. As I recall, I went to one meeting with now Sen. Lowe Finney. I can’t speak for him but I can say that I didn’t get my needs met. After a while, I gave up.
This is the county that has Ned McWherter and his legacy. But there are other counties just like mine that need leadership from the state office. I set up a website for these young voters yesterday. Have you not sent out instructions to rural communities who need your guidance about online networking, talking points and utilizing social communication sites like Twitter or Friendfeed? I’m just asking because I know I haven’t seen them but you might have. Are you talking to established rural party leadership about how to recruit young people.

Gray, we had 4.4 percent of our registered voters vote here in August.

I don’t know about other rural counties but don’t you think you need to reach out to these places that feel that voting is a waste of time because they aren’t being engaged. Yes, McCain will take Tennessee but I’m talking long-term here, not just one race. And, quite frankly, the GOP is getting it done in rural areas in Tennessee.
One young voter called the TNDP on Tuesday and was somewhat dismissed. She was devastated. I put out a call about needing some help to the Memphis Bloggers who were Johnny on the Spot and a call out to Twitter, with many people responding from Nashville.
I had to think about it. It’s more than just this race, it’s the future of this party when it comes to rural young voters who want participating. And it’s about guiding people into a new generation.

If this race is about change, you have people who want change and are willing to work for it, give them a hand. Remember, one of them called you so they are reaching out. I realize it’s a county in the middle of nowhere but voices are of value everywhere.
Guide them.
I contacted my local representatives.

We, and I say we because I’m not just griping are taking action to encourage young voters here and we, are going to try to help some of these kids. Rep. Mark Maddox and I are on it, but you have to help too. We are putting our money where our mouth is.
Politics in this state is not just in Nashville. We are not just a bunch of rednecks who need to be dismissed. One of your rising stars in the state senate started here. He was the same young man who went to that meeting with me so many years ago.
So please, help out the little guys because each vote counts in every election.
We aren’t asking you to do it, we are just asking you to be involved with everyone and not the select few.
Keep up the good work but expand it. That’s all I’m asking. I know this area, trust me on this one. I trust you will take this constructive criticism as it was meant. Not as a slam, but as an opportunity for growth.

Tough love is hard. If I pissed you off, well, too bad.
Love hurts.

Respectfully,
Newscoma