How bout that November election?
October 6th, 2006 by Atomictumor
Man, 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.
October 6th, 2006 at 2:07 pm
Looks like the same picks I would have made, with the only differences being in the reasoning behind them. I actually know Bob Corker, and like him. Some of the things he did in Chattanooga center on private solutions to public problems, like helping start up a foundation to pay bonuses to the best-performing teachers in the city’s worst-performing schools. He also headed up an effort to convert slum housing to private owner-occupancy, because people tend to take better care of something that’s theirs, not the government’s or some landlord’s. Also, I don’t think Corker’s as far right on the social agenda as he had to run in the primary — he’s mostly a fiscal conservative, let the private sector do it’s thing kind of guy.
I like Hackworth even more than I dislike Massengill (which is considerable), but I sure wish he’d support someone else for the leadership positions. That’s about my only gripe with him, and I do understand political reality. However, he listens, and he gets the right stuff done.
McNally’s unopposed for State Senate, but he’s still a treasure. Zach Wamp is almost unopposed (because most of us don’t even know his opponent’s name). Still, with the nuttiness that’s been going on in Washington, I hope that the “throw the bums out” mentality doesn’t come close to hurting Zach. He’s one of those guys that I know would rat on a creep, even in his own party.
I love your endorsements — candor is a beautiful thing.
October 6th, 2006 at 2:18 pm
Thanks NM.
Now, by what method would the mayor of the city of Chattanooga have any influence over the schools of Hamilton County? When they consolidated in the 90s (the year after I graduated, actually, after MANY years of trying), along with a general mediocracy, I thought it also brought along the end of Chatt-town proper’s influence of the school system.
Because MAN, the city had some BAD superintendents back in the day.
October 6th, 2006 at 2:26 pm
One thing I like about Bredesn is his statewide support for the Free Book A Month program for all TN kids, a program started by that wiley Dolly Parton. The there’s his creation of an actual TennCare Fraud department — cleaning up after Sundquist was a major effort for the last 4 years.
Still problems in the program, yes, but it’s much better than it was.
Ford and Corker. Yeesh. Frist set the bar so low, almost anyone else will be an improvement. There are some third, fourth, etc etc party candidates to consider, but they have more chance of jumping up and knocking Jupiter out of it’s orbit with their heads than in being elected.
In state elections — another yeesh. I saw a bumper sticker recently that read “Tennessee - Not All Are Politicians Are Indicted!!”
I keep foolishly hoping for an escape from Party control of the government. Which is kinda like me trying to knock Jupiter fer a loop.
October 6th, 2006 at 5:14 pm
Yeah, we take advantage of that free book thing for our youngest. We’ve gotten books for free that would have cost us at least $100 if not much more in the store. Can’t beat that. I remember when I was a kid, my most sacred possessions were my books.
October 6th, 2006 at 6:28 pm
IMHO, the single most important thing for children to learn in the early years is not only to learn to read, but to learn to love reading. People who are avid readers learn continuously, which is healthy for everyone. It’s well documented (though the reasoning sometimes disputed) that students from homes with a greater number of books perform better in school through graduation.
The Imagination Library program doesn’t discriminate — all kids have an opportunity to learn to enjoy reading early. I think it’s a terriffic investment.
October 6th, 2006 at 7:46 pm
You missed a perfect opp to link “fark jokes” to this link:
October 7th, 2006 at 10:37 am
“IMHO, the single most important thing for children to learn in the early years is not only to learn to read, but to learn to love reading.”
Exactly.
October 7th, 2006 at 1:35 pm
And hey, not only is the Bredesen administration supporting this reading program - it came from a “celebrity.”
Exceptions to the rules, I guess. Sadly, not all counties have signed up for this program yet - wonder how those folk will vote come November??
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