WPost: Bush supreme court nominee to be right-wing
Tue May 24, 2005 at 09:09:36 PM PDT
One of
Washington Post's May 25 major stories is
Bush Expected to Push for a Conservative and a sign that the Right is feeling stronger, not weaker, because of the compromise. Here's an excerpt:
Advisers said neither the deal brokered by Senate centrists nor Democratic opposition would change the president's calculus in picking the next justice. "He's not going to shy away," said a senior administration official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because no vacancy has been announced. "The Democrats can throw high and tight fastballs if they want, but it's not going to work."
Breaking from Frist? Lott & Cochran Having Second Thoughts About Nuke Option
Fri May 20, 2005 at 05:50:05 AM PDT
Breaking up is so hard to do. But we may be just beginning to see the first cracks. In particular we may be seeing from "antebellum" south senators who seem to be having second thoughts about using the "nuke option"?
This in from the Mississippi Clarion-Ledger: Mississippi's Republican senators Trent Lott and Thad Cochran's thoughts about breaking the rules to change the rules on the long-held tradition of filibusters in the U.S. Senate. In a sudden moment of clear and radiant memory, Lott now admits Republicans used the filibuster to stall at least one Clinton nominee.
One? Tickle, tickle, Mr. Lott, that's funny. Now let's be honest, Trent: How about sixty nominees? Yes, sixty!
Live from Chattanooga: Filibuster Frist Event
Tue May 17, 2005 at 12:14:22 PM PDT
About 50 people will show up today at the corner of MLK Blvd and Georgia Ave to filibuster Frist's nuke option in the Senate. Sandy at Signal Mountain put the event together, along with the help of new Democratic Party Chair Stuart James. I was with Sandy and others at Miller Park during the lunch hour, as hundreds of workers and court personnel (from the fed building) walked the sidewalks.
Below is one photo from the event. You may click on at Daily Bailout for more photos.
Sandy Lusk organized the Filibuster Frist event in Chattanooga, TN. Forty-eight to fifty-five volunteers are expected to participate today.
Spirit Stompin' - Brutality, Stupidity, Greed
Sun May 15, 2005 at 07:07:54 AM PDT
Below is an amazing poem full of fresh air and light directed at the spiritlessness of our age: brutality, stupidity, greed. Out of a spirit of creative thinking, this poem was written by a woman who was a Fortune 500 consultant but left the corporate world to become a seminarian at a progressive "think-outside-the-box" school. She lost her marriage, then moved back to Nashville (where she grew up) to help her newly divorced son. Helping with the raising of a grandson and working as a sales consultant keeps her in touch with the soulessness of our time. I hope the poem is as inspiring for you as it was for me. What do you think of her poem?
Uninsured/Unemployed~Wendy Needs $100K for surgery
Sat May 14, 2005 at 03:49:51 AM PDT
Below is another example of what I call Blog-Journalism. This one is about a middle-aged woman who has lost her job, lost her insurance, and fallen into the gap since she does not qualify for public health care. Let me know what you think about blog-journalism, and about what we should do about our health care crisis.
Will Wendy get her groove back?
"I was a pack rat in my former life, so I've been selling off stuff on ebay and at McKay's [a used bookstore in Chattanooga]."
Wendy Hilgendorf, a 42-year-old specialist in cyto-technology and histology, has fallen in the gap, the gap between affordable health care insurance and state-sponsored health care [TennCare].
"To keep my house, I had to take out all of my retirement. That lasted me about eight months. My parents help when they can. They're in Arizona. And there are programs in Chattanooga that have helped with my heating and water bills."
Olympia Snowe: "45% of Americans" Are Moderate
Fri May 13, 2005 at 08:55:47 AM PDT
As quoted in the
New York Times, Senator Snowe puts hits the nail on the head about the precipitating peril of the GOP:
Ms. Snowe, meanwhile, had a message for fellow Republicans: "Frankly," she said, "the election of the president drew from Americans who describe themselves as moderates, which is about 45 percent of Americans today. That's something we overlook at our own peril."
And Senator Collins identifies the character of the right wingism in Wash D.C.:
By this week, Ms. Collins seemed a bit worn down by that debate. "It seems like it's issue after issue this year," she said, adding that she often envies "those senators for whom everything is black and white."
For more information on how important moderates are to America, go to thresholder's blog this morning.
Waynesville, USA: Saved by Moderates
Fri May 13, 2005 at 12:38:14 AM PDT
Neither the bully Rev. Chandler, nor his sidekick Rev. Conard, at East Waynesville Baptist Church were able to triumph in the crisis that brought moderates and right-wingers head to head. Instead, it was a victory (and an omen I hope) for reasonable and moderate America.
As some of you know, I've been blog-reporting on the North Carolina church crisis for a week now. My first blog-report was here at Daily Kos and first printed story was in the Chattanooga Pulse. I've also published interviews with various members of the East Waynesville Baptist Church at my Daily Bailout blog.
Interview w/Progressive Minister: Blog-Journalism
Wed May 11, 2005 at 01:16:33 AM PDT
This is an exclusive Q & A which I did as a blog-journalist for
The Daily Bailout and the
Chattanooga Pulse.
I talked with Dr. Olin Ivey (Associate minister at Pilgrim Congregational Church in Chattanooga, TN and board member of the Urban Century Institute) on May 10, 2005.
Q: Have you heard about the East Waynesville Baptist Church situation?
A: Sure. I've read your Daily Bailout piece and seen the news.
Q: You're a minister at a progressive church in Chattanooga, just three hours from Waynesville. Do you think this case is isolated?
A: No. It is not isolated. This has been going on since the Sunday after the election at conservative churches everywhere. And a number of Baptist churches made it very clear, beginning with that Sunday, that any of their membership who had voted for Kerry were not welcome in the fellowship, threatening to kick them out. The other message was "you're going to hell if you voted for a Democrat."
Blog-Journalism: Waynesville Minister Resigns
Wed May 11, 2005 at 12:09:41 AM PDT
The
Ashville Citizen-Times has the story of Chandler's resignation.
My blog-journalist exclusive interviews with Lewis Inman and David Richardson had indicated that not only had Chandler crossed the line between faith and politics; he would be battled in court.
The IRS had been asked to reconsider tax-exempt status for the church, as reported by AP.
CNN reports that some at the church continued to support him until the end. One member, Rhonda Trantham, said:
"I don't believe he preached politics. I don't believe anyone should tell a preacher not to preach what's in the Bible."
Blount Osborne, chair of deacons, is alleged to have said:
"That was surprising, him leaving as quick as he did. I didn't figure he'd walk that way."
But then CNN continues to make the mistake that there were only 100 members. In fact, there are 400+ members, but on Sundays only about 100 attend.
[Ed]: I will post four more interviews over the next two days. For now there is a news story that I've written as a blog-journalist, with pieces from all the interviews, at the Chattanooga Pulse.
Blog-Journalism: Waynesville Baptist Interview 2
Tue May 10, 2005 at 03:52:56 PM PDT
An Exclusive Q & A
Blog-Journalism from The Daily Bailout
Daily Bailout's John Bailes talks with David Richardson on 9 May 2005. Richardson is chairman of Brotherhood Ministries at East Waynesville Baptist Church, North Carolina. An interview with Lewis Inman is here, and an earlier Kos story here. At Daily Bailout there is also a news story today(click here).
Q: Where do you live?
A: In Maggie Valley. It's known for Ghost Town. That's an amusement park. We've got a ski slope here too. Our town is a tourist place. A lot of retired people live here.
Q: How old are you?
A: 72.
Q: Married?
A: Yes.
Q: What did you do before retiring?
A: I was an industrial engineer. I grew up in Georgia and worked there and other places. I also am a Korean War veteran.
[Continue on below:]
Blog-Journalism: Exclusive Q&A with Deacon at East Waynesville Baptist
Tue May 10, 2005 at 03:56:48 AM PDT
An Exclusive Q & A
Blog-Journalism from
The Daily Bailout
A Follow-up of Sunday's Blog-Journalism
Daily Bailout's John Bailes talks with Lewis R. Inman (a deacon at East Waynesville Baptist Church, North Carolina) about recent fuss over his minister's attempts to push Kerry voters out of the church. The interview was conducted on May 9, 2005. Also, see the Chattanooga Pulse news feature on the Waynesville group.
Blog-Journalism: My Interview with Deacon at East Waynesville Baptist Church
Sun May 08, 2005 at 03:30:16 PM PDT
[Ed]: For those just logging onto this blog, here are some links as background for the interview:
Here and
here and
here.
As the Baptist church fuss explodes outward into the national psyche and international press, I decided to do what every good regional blogger-journalist should do. Call the church members.
I've interviewed one of the deacons who left East Waynesville Baptist Church last Monday night, 2 May 2005. The deacon's name is Lewis R. Inman. He and his wife, along with seven other longtime members, left the church on Monday night because of an attempt by Rev. Chan Chandler and 40 others to have eleven members kicked out of the church. Two of the members stayed behind and have attested to the same testimony of the nine who left.
What Happens When the Myth Crumbles?
Fri Apr 29, 2005 at 01:02:58 PM PDT
What do you say to people whose myths are crumbling and whose families are falling apart? (BTW, I'm not talking about the kind of physical suffering that's so terrible to hear about in Iraq every day, though that's probably more important.) I'm talking about the loss of potency of conservative Christian mythology and the breakdown of the Southern family.
Let me explain by sharing what happened today. First, a personal prelude.
My grandparents were FDR/JFK Democrats, and my parents are Republicans. My namesake--my father's father--ran Kennedy's presidential campaign in Dunbar, West Virginia. My mother's father benefitted from Kennedy's space program, working with NASA in Florida in the sixties and seventies. Then Mom and Dad got "saved" in the late sixties--AND THAT'S WHEN THE TROUBLE STARTED! Dad went to a radically fundamentalist college in Tennessee, and Mom supported him. They had a five children, and I am the oldest. Mom and Dad voted for Nixon, Ford, Reagan, and both Bushes. All my parents and grandparents have always considered themselves Christians.
BREAKING TRADITION - CONSERVATIVE OR RADICAL?
Fri Apr 22, 2005 at 02:57:53 PM PDT
A CONSERVATIVE~
a preservative agent; a political representative of conservative values; one favoring traditional rules and values; one espousing social stability and gradual development rather than abrupt changes.
In an alarming number of cases, those calling themselves "CONSERVATIVES" have moved far away from convention or tradition and instead are radicalizing America from inside out. I am amazed that not more pundits or journalists are identifying and talking about this trend. Instead we hear more about Robert Byrd fighting the filibuster when it suited his causes [SEE BYRD DOG]. For my part, I have no real problem defining Byrd as a moderate with moments of liberalism, but what do we say about "conservatives" like Frist, Bush, and others? I have no problem calling Republicans radicals; however, friends of mine find that characterization too much. But why not call them radicals? Just look at the news today.
Vox Populi Vox Dei: And all the people said, "Come on back, Dixiecrat!"
Mon Apr 18, 2005 at 12:09:14 PM PDT
So you heard it from me first. We're seeing the return of the Dixiecrat, but this time with a twist. This Dixiecrat sees class distinction where he saw racial distinction before.
Whether they knew it or not, the people who voted in Chattanooga's mayoral election just a week ago brought together labor groups and evangelical churches, joining hands across boundaries that often separate Red and Blue states. These people, who voted for Ron Littlefield for mayor, turned their backs on the wealthiest and focused their eyes on each other. It was a strange phenomenon to see in BUSH COUNTRY.
How much do we pay politicians?
Sun Apr 17, 2005 at 03:40:12 PM PDT
With wages dropping for the first time since 1990 (see
Salary.Com), how are our politicians doing?
Here are best estimates for federal level, not including various other benefits and perks:
Congressional House & Senate Members: $158,100
House & Senate Majority/Minority Leader: $175,600
Speaker of the House: $203,000
Associate Supreme Court Justices: $193,000
Supreme Court Chief Justice: $203,000
Vice President: $203,000 ($10K expenses)
President: $450,000 ($50K expenses)
Read on for link to estimates at sample state and local levels.
Counting Democracy: Conservative Chattanooga Elects Populist
Fri Apr 15, 2005 at 01:20:34 PM PDT
[Chattanooga's new mayor, Ron Littlefield]
You heard about Hamilton County Dems last Saturday, now listen to what happened to Chattanooga this week. As if prelude of things to come, Chattanooga put a populist into the mayor's office this week. He wasn't supposed to win. His opponents had all the money--almost four times as much. His opponents had all the glitz and glamor, and they had the power. In fact, everyone said his opponents were supposed to win!
But populism was striking hot against a local plutocracy called RiverCity Co., a group of very wealthy developers who have used public/private money to control downtown development. But the underdog and Democrat, Ron Littlefield, generated such an earthquake in this quiet city that even I was astonished. I was there reporting on his victory at the Littlefield headquarters, April 12. We were crowded in a warehouse on 11th St. I've been reeling since, trying to figure why all of a sudden would Chattanooga and Hamilton County be the hotbed of populism Dean-style.
