Thank you Mark Maddox.....three more to go

Word on the street that I've heard today is that former Representative for the 76th, Mark Maddox, will be repeating his run from 2010.  For any blue viewed person here in West Tennessee we can breathe a little easier.  Sadly, Mr. Maddox will no longer be representing me personally in the Tennessee Legislature....due to redistricting of course.  I'm currently stuck with Curtis Halford, and no democrat to run against him at this time.

This brings me to Roy Herron's soon-to-be open State Senate seat.  I'm not quite sure why we are not finding Democrats to run campaigns for these seats.  No one has, as of yet, stepped up as a potential Democratic candidate against Herron.  If people aren't really paying attention to the outlook here in Tennessee, right now is the time for Dems to strike.  The perfect time to take back our seats and our state.  As we saw in our state's primary on Super Tuesday, Tennessee went to right-wing extremist, Rick Santorum.  Turnout was not impressive.

Our pool of elected Republican officials (i.e. Fincher, Holt, Wirgau, etc.) are proving to be worthless at the state and federal level.  Andy Holt has sponsored or co-sponsored useless legislation to increase gun rights/accessibility on college campuses, a bill targeted at unions and their ability to picket by making mass picketing a criminal offense, and a bill that we know is ultimately not meant to defend students that are not Christian, especially if used in conjunction with bill that allows those who say its okay to bully if their religious or political beliefs follow suit. (whatever happened to the separation of church and state that our founding fathers put there as a means to not allow religion to be forced on someone?)  If constituents would actually look at what their elected official (Holt & Fincher specifically) and what bills they sponsor, how they vote on other bills that would personally affect them, I would guarantee that they more than likely would not vote for them a second time and make them a one term wonder.  This is my plea.  Let's get Mark elected and get Andy "BOLT" Holt (because he bolted to Hawaii for a new truck and bolts from hard hitting questions that he knows he couldn't answer without backlash or negative reactions) out of office.  Let's get some Democrats on the ticket against Fincher, Halford and the slew of Republican contenders who have thrown their name in the hat for Senator Herron's seat.

If you or someone you know are considering running for office I encourage you to send me a message or comment with an email to contact you at so that we can get you in touch with the right people.  So Northwest Tennesseeans, let's bring our region and the entire state back to the great state it once used to be.  Let's take hatred, bigotry, and every other scare tactic the extremists throw at us out of play.  Smile. shrug it off, and know that what they do and say doesn't matter.  We are the party for the people of this state.  We are the party that does, not just talks.  So let's do it!!

One last note, Thank you Mark Maddox!!!!

TelephoneTown Hall Meetings....the new age GOP avoidance mechanism?

Just this past week, the Jackson Sun ran an op-ed from a gentleman over in Weakley county named, Michael Cooper.  As someone who tries their best to keep up on all things political affecting me and the city, state, or congressional district(s) that I live in, I can personally attest in saying that since Mr. Fincher has been in office I have not been able to find any information, until after it's occurrence, of a town hall or public appearance.  I am someone who actively calls their legislator if there is a bill that I feel absolutely strongly about to express my opinion and why it's important for it to be voted for or against.  I am someone who believes that my representation in government should legitimately care what my (and every single constituent's) opinion is (if they care to express it), no matter if they agree with it or not....and no matter what my political affiliation may be.  However, Mr. Fincher does not seem to play that way.


I can personally say that there have been several times that I have called both Senator Corker & Senator Alexander's offices to give my opinion on legislation that is up for a vote.  Their secretaries have been thorough in getting my contact information, and even after phone calls I have received follow-up emails about the vote and why they voted the way they did (sadly, never the way I wanted them).  While, it is vaguely keeping in touch with their constituents, Mr Fincher doesn't do any of this.  Never have I received an follow-up email (unless it was an electronic message I sent (via his legislature page) and allowed for an automated response from him) or any other contact in regards to a call I placed to any of his offices. I have called and asked several times about any upcoming town hall meetings or anything while Congress was on break and never got a thing. (Over his late summer break he and his wife were too busy in Israel [with a bunch of other congressional members] to the tune of  $20,227.46 to hold a town hall meeting)


After reading Mr. Cooper's op-ed in the Jackson Sun I decided to would push harder to get some answers.  I called Fincher's D.C. office.  His secretary said that he was on "the Hill" now and doesn't have anything scheduled.  I made mention of the op-ed to her and how it states that he doesn't do in-person town hall meetings, and only reverts to tele[phone]-town hall meetings.  She had no response and suggested that I email his scheduler, Sarah Collins, and see if she can give me any insight.  I sent this January 13th at 1259p CST.


It reads as so:

   I received your information from one of the women that is working in Mr. Fincher's D.C. office.  We (myself and many constituents that I have talked to) are trying to find out when there is another tele-town hall meeting, as well as a real town hall, in-person meeting.  There have been many complaints about this since Mr. Fincher took office, and also one in print in today's Jackson Sun about how he is not doing in-person town hall meetings, only tele-town hall meetings, and that the questions are being screened.  I don't think that's fair to the taxpayers that are paying his salary, travel expenses, and other expenses.  I check several times a week on his website about upcoming events where my representative might be at, but nothing is ever posted.  This is increasingly frustrating for me, a taxpaying constituent of Mr. Fincher.  I'm sure that MANY more constituents could and would agree.  I look forward to your response, and hope to hear of when Mr. Fincher will be holding a town hall meeting.

Thank you in advance for your time.

Now, I understand that this was 2 o'clock EST Friday and that this is a long holiday weekend in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, at the present time (late Sunday evening) I have gotten nothing.  Furthermore, unless word of this blog makes it back to Mr. Fincher,  I doubt I will get a response.  Actually, I'm still betting against it.  

I also want to go further in saying that I do receive update emails from Mr. Fincher's website.  Again, I do not remember ever seeing any mention of an in-person town hall meeting NOR a request to be a part of a tele-town hall meeting.  I will also say that I think that Mr. Fincher knows of me, or my name, as he asked a family member of mine, a supporter of his, about me.  She denied being related to me in fear that he might associate her with me despite the fact that she, too, is a gospel singer.  I'm guessing that he had to have known that she might know me due to facebook or something else.  This was prior to his election in 2010, probably because I was stirring up information, what little anyone could find, of him at UTM, where I was attending at the time.  

So, Mr. Fincher here is my request.  IF YOU ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT WHAT YOUR CONSTITUENTS THINK and are not afraid to answer legitimate questions about your actions including your FEC ruling (and snafu), your traveling back to your home district regularly and NOT meeting with constituents, why you are still receiving farm subsidies, but voting against unemployment benefits and other social programs that are necessary for MANY of your constituents[and their families] just to get by from one day to the next, HOLD AN IN-PERSON TOWN HALL MEETING WITH PLENTY OF NOTICE!  For a congressional district that has lost so many of the businesses that employed many residents here over the years with no new industries being created, and yet I don't see you voting for or introducing anything that will put West Tennesseeans back to work (unless you think your GOP oil pipeline will magically drop the unemployment rate in here in West Tennessee in half).  You're far too concerned with voting in line with Speaker Boehner, than legitimately doing your job and voting in the best interest of your constituents (and NOT just your big $$$ donor constituents).  

So, my question is....are the "Tele-Town Hall" meetings that he is conducting his way of avoiding hard hitting questions from his constituents???  It seems to me like this is the perfect "scenario" for him to delusion himself into thinking he's genuinely getting input from voters, but really, is just getting statements from members about "how we need[ed] God in government," and not real questions about real concerns of real citizens that are being affected by the way he votes while representing me and every other resident in his district.

I will certainly update you as to if and when I get a response from Mr. Fincher or his staff.

Oh, and one more thing....Mr. Fincher...the next time that someone runs against you (you know there will be) and there is a debate being hosted in the 8th district I think you should participate.  It'll really show West Tennesseeans just how qualified you are job you were voted in to do!!!

Anyone?? PLEASE!!! Anyone??

With the first views of the new possible districts being laid out this week, I know here in West Tennessee we are wondering, now who is going to run???

MY PLEA.......

 Will a Democrat with some GUTS please file to run against both Rep. Andy Holt & Rep. Stephen Fincher?!?!?!


If I wasn't a woman from Chicago and had funding I'd do it.  No doubt!  However, I think that there are more qualified people to do so.  Now, I am wondering if Mr. Mark Maddox will run despite the changes in the district.  Ideally, he and many of us would have liked a unified Weakley & Carroll County, but sadly, it doesn't look like this will ever be.  So, there is my first question.....

Mr. Maddox will you be filing your papers by early April?


Now, an even bigger question.....has Roy Herron STOPPED campaigning since his loss in 2010?  His website is functioning.  Not updated, but functioning.  He has had booths at different events including this year's biggest state fundraiser, Jackson Day.  I, personally, don't think he has stopped.  I think that Roy is in it to win it.  He will certainly have to change some things from his last attempt.  Visibility and marketing being the two biggest reasons he lost.  Here in Carroll County, I could not drive more than 1 minute without the sight of a "Plow Congress" sign covered with Fincher's dreaded name EVERYWHERE!  Now, I know Roy had supporters, but Fincher had his HUGE signs all over 70 & 22 MONTHS before Roy even announced he was running after withdrawing from the Gubernatorial race.  Roy needs visibility!!  Signs EVERYWHERE, and not waiting until after the filing deadline in April, he needs them NOW.  I also feel that a way to edge over Fincher is the capitalize on the esteemed award from CREW this year, that I previously mentioned in an earlier blog, him being one of Congress's most corrupt members.  Take it and run.  In a classy way, BUT RUN WITH IT!

Now, in other areas.  I'm still trying to decipher whether or not Huntingdon, where I reside, is moving into another House district.  If so, then for sure I will throw my help and support behind whomever will legitimately run a campaign against Rep. Halford.  There was a failed attempt in 2010.  I think we need someone bigger, younger, and smarter.  I have a thought, and I know he was toying with the idea in 2010, but stopped when someone else filed.  I think he would make an excellent candidate.

In other districts, please let me know who is thinking about running or who you think should run.  You can email me via the link on my blog, leave a comment here.  If you have any information you'd like to share and remain anonymous, I would be more than happy to post and not give any information out as to who you are.

proposed tennessee redistricting maps (state, senate & congressional) updated 1.6.12

From what information I've gathered from the proposed redistricting maps these are what changes West Tennessee could be possibly looking at.  I will update as I come across more information.

       Tennessee House:

Johnny Shaw, (D) - District 80: Adds a greater portion of Hardeman county and loses part of northern Madison county

Steve McDaniel, (R) - District 72: Gain southern Decatur county and lose southern Wayne county

Jimmy Eldridge, (R) - District 73: Would gain part of Rep. Shaw's district in northern Madison county

Craig Fitzhugh, (D) - District 82: would represent Crockett, Haywood, and Lauderdale counties

Curtis Halford, (R) - District 79

Vance Dennis, (R) - District 71: Would be merged with Democrat Eddie Bass; however they are drawn in a way that Dennis would likely win

Andy Holt, (R) - District 76: Gains part of Obion county including South Fulton and the northeastern part of the county 

Tim Wirgau, (R) - District 75

Jimmy Naifeh, (D) - District 81: Tipton county only (sadly he lost Tipton in 2010)

Bill Sanderson, (R) - District 77: Gained ALL of Dyer county, Lake county, but lost part of Obion County including South Fulton & NE part of the county.

Tennessee Senate:   

Lowe Finney, (D) - District 27: From Madison, Carroll & Gibson counties To Madison, Crockett, Dyer, Lake & Lauderdale Counties

Roy Herron, (D) - District 24: Carroll & Gibson counties would move into his current district

Congressional Map:

Stephen Fincher, (R) - District 8: would gain part of Shelby county

             
Tennessee House proposed Redistricting map                           
I will break these up a little bit so that there is a better view of the different districts.

West & Middle Tennessee

Middle & East Tennessee

East Tennessee

The State Senate proposed Redistricting Map looks like this:

The Congressional proposed Redistricting Map looks like this:

welcome.

well, congress will be back in session in the great state of tennessee here soon.  hearing about LOTS of wonderful bills going to be introduced, similar to OR WORSE than those introduced last year thought to be controversial.  tennessee is going to attempt again to introduce a bill that requires drug testing in order to receive food stamps, unemployment benefits, or the like.  they tried to pass this last year, but there was a hefty price tag attached to it, so it did not pass.  another BIG bill that is getting lots of national attention is one that makes it 'OK' to bully kids so long as you are a Christian or Republican.  Well, the rhetoric specifically says this:
via TPMMuckraker

The proposed bill would amend the state's current anti-bullying law to specify that the anti-bullying policy should "not be construed or interpreted to infringe upon the First Amendment rights of students and shall not prohibit their expression of religious, philosophical, or political views" as long as there's no physical threat to another student's property.

Now my question is, what happens if this person commits suicide because of the bullying?  Recently, in East Tennessee we lost a young man, Jacob Rogers, after being bullied repeatedly in school.  Now, we have religious right-wing groups like F.A.C.T. blaming it on alcohol or drug abuse.  What is wrong with the world today?  Why are Conservatives using the same rhetoric that they used against the African American community against the LGBT community?

Now let me give you an idea of where I am at in West Tennessee.  My state representative is the oh-so-wonderful, Rep. Andy Holt (R).  He's well known in these parts for introducing a bill that would allow guns on campus.  As a recent graduate of the University of Tennessee at Martin, a school in his district, I will tell you that he did not, to my knowledge, discuss what students on this campus thought of a bill like this. Most students on campus were very much opposed to a piece of legislation like this being introduced.  I will tell you this, I am doing anything I can to ensure that Mr. Holt is NOT re-elected this November!

My state senator is Lowe Finney (D).  Senator Finney is a wonderful man who genuinely fights for the real values and beliefs of those in West Tennessee.  We may not see eye-to-eye on every issue, but he is willing to listen to his constituents and take what they have to say into account.  He is someone that I can count and depend on.  The unfortunate part of this is that is the recent redistricting maps introduced go into effect, Senator Finney will no longer be my Senator, but I will gain another Senator that I am fond of, Senator Roy Herron.

Now, the biggest winner is my member of Congress.  His name is Stephen Fincher.  He is a freshman member of Congress.  He may be more well-known for being voted as one CREW's (citizens for responsibility of ethics in washington) most corrupt member's of Congress.  The list consists of fourteen members that includes 13 representatives and 1 senator of which 10 of the 14 are Republican.  For more information on Mr. Fincher and his "corruptness" you can look at CREW's page on him here.  Now keep in mind, Mr. Fincher was in office for ONLY about six or seven months before he was lucky enough to win this award!  Now, if ever there was someone I did not want in office, it would be him!  Again, I will be working diligently this election year to do what I can to ensure that he is a one-term representative!

So, here's a little insight into what I will be discussing here.  I will talk about efforts of groups across the state of Tennessee doing what they can to ensure the rights of all Tennesseeans and Americans.  I will discuss mostly local and state politics and issues.  More so, in regards to West Tennessee.  I will also be discussing the big topics of the 2012 election.  Including, my full support in the re-election of President Barack Obama!  I would appreciate if you would share this blog with other political junkies that you know!  Any and all support would be appreciated!