How bout that November election?
Friday, October 6th, 2006Man, election season just gets lamer and lamer. Its like a sitcom that was pretty good for the first few years, but now gets by on fart jokes. This upcoming election is enough to make me wish for the good ol’ British rule days.
Fortunately, the big three races seem like a no-brainer to me. Tell me if you disagree, and I’ll talk about the referenda next time.
Firstly, the big Frist seat race. Got Bob Corker and Harold Ford. This is actually what prompted me to start my own abortive run for office, but then I got distracted by something shiny. It would have been pretty cool too, because I was planning for t-shirts and fake babies to kiss, the whole nine yards. Maybe I’ll do it for the next Oak Ridge City Council election.
Anyway, both candidates are loooooo-sers. As much as I hate to say it, because I’m still a bit burned by the Republicans in national office, I gotta roll on the Corker side of things. Ford seems like scum. Charismatic scum, but scum nonetheless.
He strikes me as the kid in school who everybody liked, but was a bit psychotic, and completely self obsessed. His voting record, as illustrated at length by Say Uncle, who’s had some damn good coverage of this race, waffles more than an Eggo factory. On top of that, he has a familial history of pond scummery, which just doesn’t turn me on.
Bob Corker on the other hand, seems to have a cleaner political record. Chattanooga did well when he had the helm, but I really don’t think he had as much to do with that, as Chatt town was just reaping the rewards of the massive work they did in the 80s and 90s cleaning up and making the town more tourist friendly.
Problem is, he doesn’t offer me anything but an ass in the seat. His big thing seems to be immigration. Big damn deal. Either widespread cultural change, or a HUGE change in foreign policy will fix the immigration problem, and a senator in office voting on party lines, well, he’s useless.
My recommendation? Write in a candidate.
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We have the big governor race, with Bredesen up against Republican challenger Bryson. Boy, this is a little one sided. The only reason I could possibly see voting for Bryson is if you’re just a hard line party follower. If thats the case, you should probably just stay home, because its your kind of people that are killing the republic.
Judgemental? Maybe. Whats it to you?
Anyway, Bredesen has my vote for no other reason than the Pre-K education. Man, man man, I think that getting kids into quality education, paid, or at least supplimented by the state, is so crucial to getting a good start. Both of my kids have benefited (are benefitting) from Oak Ridge’s Preschool, and it really makes a difference. Not only does it help out working parents, which is no small matter, it also gets kids thinking at that age when their brains are capable of ANYTHING.
My recommendation? Bredesen, by TKO.
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The last race I want to talk about (since the TN Senate race is uncontested) is the TN District 33 House race, between Jim Hackworth and David Massengill.
Lemme put it bluntly.
Anybody, anywhere, who’d publicly state that they support ending government involvement in schools is either dangerous, or dumb as a brick. I see no reason to believe that Mr. Massengill is dangerious.
On his website he states that his issues are Immigration (blah), conservative values (blahblah), small business/taxes (which he doesn’t propose ideas about, beyond a general “good/bad”), and education. About education, he says “we need more localized control of educational resources”.
Sounds like he’s talking living room local.
Sounds like he’s completely clueless.
Now, I don’t know Jim Hackworth from Adam, tho I’ve heard good things about his record previously. I’m not necessarilly supporting him, as much as I’m saying that I see no reason why anybody sane, with functioning brain matter, would go anywhere near voting for David Massengill.
Do what you will with that.
