Shame on Tennessee Republicans…
I love my native State of Tennessee. I have lived in several other states, traveled extensively over the US and to a number of other countries. When I escaped from the Big International Corporate Saltmine Company and had the opportunity to choose where I would spend my life, I chose Nashville. That was 20 years ago and I have never been sorry. I love Tennessee…
But I am so ashamed and offer sincere apologies for the slight majority of bible-thumping Tennessee Republican voters who, even now, three days after election results are known, believe that Bush is the second coming. If W told them they should jump off a bridge for the good of the country, they would run over each other in their rush to the river.
Other states in the country seized the opportunity to send a message and initiate change in the Senate. They sent the Republican incumbents home to lick their wounds, and elected fresh meat in the form of Democrats. Not Tennessee… Nope… Bush’s Babbling Band of Bible-thumpers turned out in sufficient numbers to replace the world’s biggest suckup and butt of jokes at home, in Washington, and across the country. Yes, I’m referring to Billy Frist — Cat Killer, former Senate Majority Leader. Frist will soon return to Tennessee, maybe to resume his role as the world’s greatest heart surgeon, and will be the person to avoid being seen with. Damned if I want his greedy, greasy hands working on my heart. Rather Tony the Butcher down in the back alley…
Frist was replaced by another suckup named Corker who has no apparent qualifications (he does not even know how to skin cats, as far as we know) to be a Senator. Nor does he appear to have a conscience or scruples, and certainly no sense of right and wrong, only a sense of right and left. His one claim to fame and the one that probably locked him in the hearts and minds of all those Tennessee voters who have lost the ability to think for themselves, relying instead on pictures and photos with large lettered captions in words of 5 characters or less, was when Bush passed thru the state for a photo-op that included an appearance with Corker. A picture of the two of them together was plastered on the front page and burned into the ever-shrinking minds of Tennessee Republican voters.
This is the very same man, whose opponent was a bright, articulate, personable Congressman from Memphis. A Democratic Congressman. A Democratic Congressman who happens to be black. This is the very same man who, having nothing positive to say about himself or the issues, did the only thing his ilk know to do — trash the opposition. Corker and his campaign ran smut ads designed to drag Congressman Ford through the mud. Despicable ads with playgirls and African drumbeats and racial overtones. Ads that brought shame to the State of Tennessee. Corker is not man enough to apologize to Ford. I will not apologize for Corker’s low-life behavior. But I will apologize to Harold Ford, Jr. for the mindless drones in Tennessee who know only to salivate when Bush rings their bell. Congressman Ford, we know your watch is not done. Thank you!
A hearty thanks to the other states who shined bright enough to make Tennessee’s mistake a non-factor in the overall outcome of the elections.
One last note and I am going to give the entire political morass the long rest it so much deserves. We are all sick and tired of dealing with it. But I believe this one last statement is very important…
Our friends across the borders and various ponds have a clarity of understanding about American politics and America’s collapsing role as a world leader. Would that we could be so lucid. A few that I particularly want to acknowledge for their support and encouragement during this painful process…
Dr. Stu Savory, an ex-pat Scot living and loving in Germany.
Johnno, who speaks to us from the Blue Mountains of Australia.
Andy Borrows, the sensitive, thinking Brit who lives on the fringes of London.
Brian Moffatt from somewhere in Canada.
Robert Brady, offering an American’s views from a Japanese mountainside.
Aine Livia, who brings a true Irish flavor.
Mr. Dry Bones, Yaakov Kirschen, straight from downtown Israel.
Liz and her dog Harvey, who offer opinions from Wales.
David Anderson who has apparently found his utopia in Costa Rica.
Fiona, whose blog V’s Spot, seems to have taken the day off, perhaps to stroll around Singapore.
And I would be remiss in omitting a true Citizen of the World, Peter (the other).
9 Comments so far
Hmm . . .
When I saw the title of your post as displayed in my Technorati Favorites widget, I thought you were finally getting around to apologizing for your beloved Vols’ loss to LSU. MY apologies to you.
We Kansans have some things to apologize for as well, as do my fellow native Texans (Rick Bones-for-a-head Perry for a second term as governor?? If William T. Sherman were still alive, he’d just about have cause again to rent out Texas an live in Hell). But, I figure: baby steps. And the 2008 election will see lots and LOTS of incumbent Republicans up for re-election, not all of whom are exactly safely seated and/or are contemplating retiring.
Patience, sir.
Yeah, JohnB, I’ve got the patience of that Job dude. Just glad it has all bottomed out and the way to the light is a bit clearer.
Don’t want to talk about the Vols…
We got a better result here in CT - even with the odd re-election of Lieberman. But we turned a couple of house seats. And lest you feel too badly, stay focused on the big picture. Overall we got enough new blood in power that Corker-boy won’t be able to cause too much damage. And it was close enought that Corker might very well be a one-term-only employee of the people.
People have the right (in our country) to believe what they choose to believe;I don’t think GWB is evil like some folks do. He may be off the mark at times that’s true,but if you want evil think of Saddam Hussein for example !
I cannot believe that little brown-nosin’, Weejun-wearin’, snot-nose Bobby Corker is Tennessee’s new senator. Sheesh, people!
Winston, I, too, am disappointed in my Southland. Georgia’s just as caught up in the Way-Back Machine as Tennessee. Why, oh, why, don’t these lovely God-fearin’ folk wake up from their stupor? Aargh! (Bless their hearts . . .)
I seem to be in illustrious comapny here! lol.
But seriously, Singapore is one of your country’s strongest allies in SE Asia. My government works extremely closely with your counterparts and we have very strong ties in many ways. A lot of Americans may not realise this.
We pay a lot of attention to the USA
Point to ponder :
Apart from Japan, Singapore’s the only other county in Asia (and that’s a huge HUGE region) to be granted “Visa Waiver” status.
Well how did your state do on the House races?
I am glad you brought this up because I had a question about Ford– was it his race that determined enough votes to cause him to lose? Someone, on one of the panels I listened to afterward, said they thought he began to go down as soon as some people in Tennessee realized he was actually black. And that one ad of Harold ‘come and see me’ did the trick to remind those who hadn’t been paying attention. The other possible problem is they claimed on the talking-head programs was the accusation that he moved to Tennessee just to run and that can be a killer in any state– unless you are Hillary Clinton.
The question becomes an important one because on the Democrat side, only Barack Obama probably has a chance to stop Hillary for the Democratic ‘08 nomination and will the secret really be that some Americans can only vote for white men where it comes to powerful offices? They asked another place if they thought a Jew could be elected to the highest office and the person answering said they believed they could; but, I wonder, do people find excuses (not facing the real reasons) for not voting for someone of color or even a woman when it comes to these high offices? I don’t know the answer to that but just am not sure that some, who claim they don’t have a prejudicial bone in their body, would go deep enough to figure out why they vote as they do.
Why did Dubya cause the delay of the Saddam verdict (hanging) until just before the mid-terms?
He was hoping for a big swing
Thank you Winston.
In many conversations recently on the subject of a turnaround in the US, those I have spoken with and myself believe that 9/11 did damage to the American psyche, and pushed the country into a period of retreat into isolation away from a world that wanted to bomb it. And we all understand that, and believe that other countries would react similarly.
Now, at least, there is hope. And I’m hanging on to that little bit of light, (as Tamar is always gently reminds us.) It is the best option, though its sometimes that hardest road to take.
I can recall the JFK campaign, and that his Catholicism was made an issue in the election, so I return to the Declaration of Independence, and forgive me if I am misquoting, doesn’t it say, something about life, liberty and freedom of religion. So it could be considered anti-constitutional if a person’s race, or religion is raised as a voting issue? Even indeed their gender.
On the issue of Negative Advertising in election campaigns, though I am never one for the censoring option, I feel this form of personal attack should be banned.
I recall seeing a German Conference broadcast some years ago, where Hillary Clinton was a speaker. I was astounded at her clarity of thought and her ability to get her point across. Whether it’s Clinton or Barack next, as long as it’s a Democrat. But if it is Hillary, I’ll be cock a hoop!