Over at KnoxViews:

• Live blog of Credentials Committee meeting (plus video)

• Nancy Pelosi's remarks re. the election at the kick off press conference

PLUS: Delegate seating chart

We're on the road to Denver, and will be arriving some time this afternoon. A couple of dispatches from the road at KnoxViews:

Greetings from Wakeeney KS

Kansas windmill farms

Pond Lily Globe, ca. 1905
Tiffany Studios, New York.
Leaded glass; H: 13.375 in.; D: 14.0 in.
H: 36.0 in.; D: 18.0 in
copyright The Neustadt Collection of Tiffany Glass

The exhibition Tiffany by Design: The Neustadt Collection closes Sunday, Aug. 24, at the Frist Center for The Visual Arts in Nashville. Visit the Frist page on Art Museum Touring.com (Link...).

Arguably America’s greatest art nouveau designer, Louis Comfort Tiffany created his most extraordinary works in the medium of glass. This exhibition in Upper-Level Galleries of 40 lamps conveys the beauty of his designs and complexity of the fabrication processes employed by Tiffany Studios between 1900 and 1925.

Support your local galleries and museums! They are economic engines for your community.

Sherrie

Veteran White House correspondent Helen Thomas will be featured in a documentary chronicling her storied career covering - some would say “battling” - nine U.S. Presidents from 1960 to present.

The documentary, entitled, “Thank You, Mr. President: Helen Thomas at the White House,” will debut Monday night at 9pm (Eastern Time).

Link...

There's a few factors not to be read in media reports regarding the Anderson County federal lawsuit filed by a student against the school system, claiming his First Amendment rights were violated because school officials sent the student home for repeatedly wearing clothing the system deemed in violation of the school's dress policy - clothing depicting a Confederate flag.

The now-former student, Tim Defoe, hired as attorneys representatives of a group called the North Carolina-based Southern Legal Research Center: Knoxville-based attorney Van R. Irion and SLRC founder Kirk D, Lyons. The SLRC has constantly taken up similar cases with the constant arguments of the "freedom of speech" variety.

The SLRC site list multiple legal battles on such cases, though with typically unfavorable and confusing results (as noted by the the Southern Poverty Law Center).

Lyons himself is a most controversial figure, with reports from the Southern Poverty Law Center that Lyons was married some years back in the Idaho-based Aryan Nations Compound, and has often attempted to join legal battles involving members of the neo-Nazi skinhead groups like The Order, and aiming to link himself, as mentioned above, to a variety of high-profile cases.

The Sons Of Confederate Veterans also has been split by Lyons' involvement, as Lyons' goals often go far beyond preserving 'heritage or history', as Lyons makes claims that :

"He defines himself as "an unreconstructed Southerner from Texas and a Christian." That means, he said, "that my family didn't surrender in 1865 and I haven't surrendered."

As usual, this week's roundup of Tennessee liberal bloggers covers a wide range of topics, so grab a cup of coffee and set aside some time to read the finest blogs in the state.

• 10,000 Monkeys and a Camera: An International, First-Hand Perspective ("Want to find out what bloggers who write in a language you can't read are saying? This is a great place to start.") and Running on Stolen Property

• BlountViews: Tennessee Division of Elections: No election ("But we assume nobody will press the issue with Blount County to seek further clarification, and they will do whatever they want to do as usual.") and MDT: You get what you deserve ("Do we get what we deserve, or do we get what the backroom mechanics of the local political establishment and the MDT decide we need?")

• Carole Borges: John Edwards and what seperates a man from a boy ("I'm so mad at John Edwards I could spit.") and Bush's pastor rebukes the Republican favorite son ("The Republican Right should be appalled at McCain's record when it comes to having decent morals and values.")

• The Crone Speaks: Rapists Get a Pass in Knoxville: It’s Her Fault ("This isn’t logical reasoning, it’s simple brutality that is not being acknowledged by juries.") and Bush-dog Schuler Profiting From TVA Oversight Position ("This is a pretty substantial investment, and the approval by the TVA for the land swap will greatly increase the lining of Bush-dog Schuler's pockets.")

• Cup Of Joe Powell: Debating Student Rights and Southern History ("Can a school system's dress code policy curb your free speech?") and Kitchen Sink Bath At Burger King ("Thank God the internet allows stupid to be shared on a global scale.") BONUS: Rep. David Davis can't believe he lost here, here, and here.

• Don Williams: Putin and Bush doomed to waltz thru history in each other's eyes ("No doubt, Putin saw his reflection in Bush's vacuous eyes, for this is a man who, like Bush, views war as the natural state of humankind.")

• Donkey's Mouth: Chairman Dean Responds to Arkansas Democratic Party Shooting

• Enclave: 13,000 Children Abandoned by the United States Government ("Uncle Sam is one cruel bastard to el niños.") and English Only is Astroturf, Not Grassroots

• Fletch: Hanging Around and Bigger is Better [Ed. note: Holy crap!]

• KnoxViews: Jesse Helms a great American? ("What editorial devil possessed the KNS to publish the "Citizen's Voice" tripe by June B. Griffin in today's (Aug. 16) edition?") and Doughy yet suave man about town seeks sociopathic presidential aspirant and Online convention coverage and McCain embraces Bush, supporters defect ("Saying "nobody likes a funeral," prominent Republicans are staying away from their convention.")

• Lean Left: Is It Just Me? and Testing the Limits

• Left Of The Dial: Hyper Local and Summer Blog Blues

• Left Wing Cracker: OK, how about NOW? Here's the MMHF 2008 SCHEDULE!! and Who owns McCain? Hint: it's not you.

• Liberadio(!): An Open Letter to Rep. David Davis, Candidate Tim Barnes, Nashville Public Radio, and the National Media ("Since the story broke of potential recount challenges by both candidate Barnes and Rep. Davis, a couple of things have happened.")

• Loose TN Canon: Top CIA official confesses order to forge Iraq-9/11 letter came on White House stationery'

• Nashville for the 21st Century: 80's Night at the TNGOP ("What is funny is that in 1984 the Soviet Union was on the brink of collapse. They were a paper tiger, not a bear in the woods. So, in that regard, Hobbs' comparison is fairly accurate.") and No Speaky Spanish ("Oh, and just to pour salt in the wounds of TIRRC, Crafton is proposing an interpreter fee for those who need language services. But remember, his wife is Japanese and his Brother-in-law is Hispanic, so its OK.") and Republicans Attempt Voter Suppression in Ohio ("[T]he prospect of shorter lines in minority areas and easier access to vote is keeping some GOP officials up late at night.")

• Newscoma: AT&T = Epic Fail and Random Thoughts and Martin Plant To Close ("A plant that has been around for most of my life is closing. ... This is just another huge loss for this community.")

• The Pesky Fly: Things I'm not buying for $1000, Alex and Presumptuous? Maybe. Dangerous and Wrong? Oh Yeah!

• Progressive Nashville: It's just plain mean ("These knuckle-draggers who claim they are defenders of Judeo-Christian values clearly don't understand the concept.") and Spin control ("The Tennessean wants the story to be about numbers, but rezoning is a story about people.")

• Resonance: NeoCon Dreams ("Yesterday Senator McCain said: "In the 21st century, nations don't invade other nations." Today comedian Limbaugh, et al., are framing (and condeming) the conflict as Russia's quest to control oil flows. The irony is overwhelming.")

• RoaneViews: Roane County Industrial Park causing Water Problems and Dear Tina E*****s

• Russ McBee: Pelosi caves yet again ("Pelosi is more than willing to substitute meaningless gimmicks for substantive policy, all based on her phobia of being called names by Republicans.")

• Sharon Cobb: To Be President In America--Must Be Born In America, 35 Years Of Age,....AND CHRISTIAN! Rick Warren With Obama And McCain ("In a 2008 America, one clearly has to be a Christian to be elected. And that's wrong.") and Where Does The TnGOP Stand On Us Heartless Jews? and Day 3:The Tennessee GOP Still Won't Reply To The Jewish Community Regarding It Being A Christian Organization

• Silence Isn't Golden: How Many Times Can The Straight Talk Express Derail? and I Think I'd Rather Be A Turtle ("I did my first ever scuba dive in Bora Bora.")

• Southern Beale: Saying No To Sean Hannity and Still Dropping ("This reminds me that back in April when gas prices started climbing into the stratosphere, local conservative yakker Steve Gill said it was the Democrats' fault. Well, bless his heart. So, now that gas prices are falling, do Democrats get the credit?")

• Tennessee Guerilla Women: CNN: Is Obama the AntiChrist? ("Oh, my aching head. If we weren't stuck inside the borders of a giant insane asylum, CNN would be laughed off the air.") and Hillary's Name to Be Placed in Nomination and Sexist Olympic Photos of the Day

• TennViews: Unemployment continues up: shockingly so in some Southern States ("We have less than six months until someone new is in the President's seat. How bad can it get in six months?") and National English-only group congratulates Nashville on ballot initiative, takes credit for helping ("When even the local Chamber of Commerce doesn't agree and instead takes the "progressive" point of view, it's a pretty good signal that you're on the wrong side of the issue.") and A call for party unity ("For the sake of party unity, Rob Huddleston calls for 1st District Republicans to unite and tell David Davis to shut up and go away.")

• Tiny Cat Pants: Some Child Left Behind ("I keep thinking how history will judge us, what the folks will make of the ways in which we lied to ourselves about what we're doing and why we're doing it.") and Stupidity and Women's Health

• Vibinc: Getting in a Wreck Teh Suk and Take Ice Cream off the Menu

• West Tennessee Liberal: Disrespect

• WhitesCreek Journal: Search Me and T. Boone's Boy: "Will Lie For Money" and Running From Red ("John McCain is a half assed Conservative, even if he does lie like one.")

• Women's Health News: Tennessee Women to Have Fewer Options for Reproductive Health and HHS Sec. Leavitt Responds Further to Objections, Ignores Substance ("Clearly, Leavitt values a "social statement" just as much as women's access to care, while completely ignoring objections that the proposed regulation may extend that refusal of care to very basic needs such as contraception. If that doesn't send a chill up the spine of America's women and families, I don’t know what will.")

Tennessee's unemployement rate hit 6.9% in July, the highest it has been since May, 1987. The unemployment rate was 6.5% in the previous month. Georgia's unemployement rate is up to 6.2%, the highest since March, 1993. Florida's unemployment rate is 6.1%, the highest since 1995. Mississippi's unemployment rate is is up to a whopping 7.9%. Then there's South Carolina's unemployment rate of 7%, up from 6.1% in June. North Carolina's unemployement rate is 6.6%, up from 4.7% a year ago. Alabama's doing the best of these Southern States with an unemployment rate of 5.1%, up from 4.7% in June. The only one of these Southern states less than the national unemployment rate.

The US unemployment rate is at a low 5.7%, up from 5.5% in May and June.

We have less than six months until someone new is in the President's seat. How bad can it get in six months?

Summer is drawing to a close, and the election cycle is upon us. That’s a good thing, because regular elections are the heartbeat of our American form of government. This year, the Sumner County Democratic Women have a lot to be excited about right here in Sumner County. We’re working especially hard for our great slate of candidates. We know that Sumner County is ready for change, and just as we’ve rolled up our sleeves to support Homesafe and Hannah’s Place, to give a new recreation room to the Gallatin Veteran’s Home and to clean up our stretch of adopted highway, we’re rolling up our sleeves to support our candidates.

That’s why we’re getting ready for the best little party in Middle Tennessee – the Sumner County Three-Star Celebration, to be held September 13 at beautiful Sycamore Springs in Bethpage. We’re expecting a full slate of Dem candidates – Andy Allman and Ken Wilkinson for the State House Jim Hawkins for State Senate, Bart Gordon for Congress, Bob Tuke for U.S. Senate. But it’s not all speechifying. There’ll be live music, a homestyle dinner that can’t be beat, and the best silent auction in Middle Tennessee.

That’s where you come in. We’re hoping you’ll join us for the best summer evening in Middle Tennessee. At $50 a ticket, with special pricing for full tables, (just send us an email) the Three Star is a great evening’s entertainment for a great cause.

And even if you can't join us, you can still help out by making a donation to the silent auction. It can be anything – goods, services, gift cards – be creative! Remember, a gift certificate is a great way to bring new traffic to your door - and a good first impression is the best way to develop repeat customers. We’ll make it easy - you can call or email scdw_president at comcast.net and an SCDW representative will arrange to pick up your donation.

So mark September 13th on your calendar and plan to "party" like it's 2009!

That's why we started the "Hit The Road Fund." I need your help to make sure I can stay on the campaign trail to help folks like Charlie Brown (CA-4), Eric Massa (NY-29), and Bob Tuke (TN-Sen).

Link...

Apparently things are heating up in the Sumner County races. Threatened by intelligent challengers who speak in full sentences about matters of substance rather than in talking point sound bites, both Diane Black and Debra Maggart have abruptly resigned from the League of Women Voters.

Shelley Ames, co-president of the Hendersonville league, contends that the group remains a nonpartisan political organization that encourages active participation in government. While the league doesn't endorse specific candidates or parties, Ames acknowledged that the organization does oppose particular pieces of legislation supported by Black and Maggart.

The legislators disagree with the league's opposition to: establishing a taxpayer bill of rights; requiring voter photo identification at the ballot box; and new language in the state constitution declaring, "Nothing in this Constitution secures or protects a right to abortion or requires the funding of an abortion."

Because there's nothing more critical to women voters than

1) bogus platitudes about "taxpayer's rights" in a state supported by the highly regressive sales tax, including a tax on food;

2) making the ballot box less accessible to voters, for example elderly nuns and

3) insuring that the government takes care of those weighty medical decisions so a little magnolia blossom need not trouble her mind with those big questions.

Well I'm sure they can find a nice discussion group at the Ivory and Tusk club. Or perhaps they're just chicken?

Randy Owens, the lead singer of the country group Alabama, will perform on August 15 in Knoxville at Cotton Eye(d) Joes.

There's no cover charge, but they will be taking donations at the door for the families affected by the tragic shooting at the Unitarian Church.

If you're in Knoxville, this is a great chance to have some fun and show your support for so many who need it at this time.

As reported in the Chattanooga Times Free Press:

For a state with a reputation built on the quality of its volunteer soldiers during the War of 1812, this isn’t good enough, said Jim Snell, executive director of the state-run commission Volunteer Tennessee.

According to a report recently release by the Corporation for National and Community Service, Utah is the top volunteer state.

Forty-five percent of volunteering in Tennessean is performed in the religious sector, whereas that number is 63% in Utah. Are Tennesseans heathens or is that just a Mormon thing?

Four cities in Tennessee are included in this report, Memphis, Nasvhille, Knoxville, and Chattanooga. Of these four cities, Chattanooga's average volunteer rate of 29.6% is the highest followed by Nashville at 28.5%, Memphis at 27.5%, and Knoxville at 24.8%.

It's an interesting report, check it out.

Last Monday, I was researching a story about the advertisers who bought advertising during the Olympics. The purpose of my research was to tell you who they are, and to boycott them because Of China's support of genocide in Darfur.

Well, to my surprise, I found out Barack Obama's campaign had purchased 5 million dollars worth of ads to run during the games.

Read the rest here.

Link...

Belmont University in Nashville is hosting one of the scheduled presidential debates.

First time a presidential debate will be held in Tennessee.

2008 will be the first time there will be no sitting president or vice president participating in a debate since debates were televised, starting in 1960.

Ticket information: About 150 Middle TN voters may have the opportunity to ask a question. Second-tier tickets to be distributed by Belmont U. It is unknown how many are available or how you can get one. There will be an invitation only viewing party at the Ryman.

A horrible tragedy today at Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church in Knoxville.

A Knox County Commissioner who was in attendance with his wife has an eyewitness account in comments at KnoxViews.

News coverage:

• WBIR

• News Sentinel

• WVLT

• WATE

• Associated Press

Terry McMoore at Clarksville Online files this report about a rally for Democratic Senate primary candidate Tim Barnes, who is challenging incumbent Sen. Rosalind Kurita in the 22nd district. According to the report, Sen. Thelma Harper gave a moving speech in support of Barnes.

I received the following pamphlet in the mail today (click to embiggen):

And, as suggested, I went to the website to find out more about the suggested legislation.

That referendum, if successful, would add a section 1.08 to Article 1 of the Metro charter as follows:

"English is the official language of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee. Official actions (those which bind or commit the government) shall be taken only in the English language, and all official government communications and publications shall be published only in English. No person shall have a right to government services in any other language. All meetings of the Metro Council, Boards, and Commissions of the Metropolitan Government shall be conducted in English. Nothing in this measure shall be interpreted to conflict with federal or state law."

So I found that out. But there's nothing apparent on the website or this mailer of who paid for this stuff, other than "paid for by 'Nashville English First'." That tells me nothing. However, since the Internet makes a lot of that information more or less available if you know a few simple commands...

% whois nashvilleenglishfirst.com

...and if you follow that output, you will find that the administrative contact for this domain is Nashville Metro Councilman Eric Crafton. This stands to reason, as "English first" is one of this guy's known hobby horses (follow below the cut for more).

That being said: Why doesn't he have the courage to sign his proud English name in bold print upon his own mailers?

(For what it's worth, I'm shredding the petition and I'm voting No, Nein, Nyet, Não, Ne, Mecheye, Neu, Tsha, Không, Yuk, Yanda, Naagga, Ntondo, Ochi, Ei, Neen... you get the idea.)

Howard Dean is taking a bus trip of the South. His focus will be "on winning over people who are struggling economically".

The DNC has announced stops in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Georgia.

Hey, Howard, here we are! Don't forget about us! We have a Democratic governor. Al Gore is from Tennessee. It could happen.

Kraft Foods has a free gas card offer for Publix shoppers. Buy $50 of groceries, include 4 Kraft items (approx. 17 different brands included), and get a mail-order form for a $10 ExxonMobile Cash Card.

Limit of 3 cards. Offer good through July 27, 2008.

Publix is located in certain areas of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

I think Publix is great. The Central Florida stores have great Cuban sandwiches. I would jump on this offer if Publix had stores in East Tennessee.

Foreclosure
Marcus Antonius Jansen

The exhibition at the Yeiser Art Center in Paducah, KY of the paintings of Marcus Antonius Jansen of Florida closes today, Saturday, June 12. Visit the Yeiser page on Art Museum Touring.com (Link...). He works in a Modern Urban-Expressionistic style, which is inspired greatly by his time living in New York and among the abundant graffiti. He studied art in Germany and served in the US Army for seven years. There is a link on the Yeiser page to see more of Jansen's paintings.

Support your local galleries and museums! They are economic engines for your community.

Sherrie

Sean Braisted: Obama Gets Sweetheart Deal!!!

I suppose the question is, can we afford to take a gamble on a Presidential candidate who negotiates a good deal on his home mortgage? Shouldn't we instead go with the guy who racks up tens of thousands in credit card debt and fails to pay property taxes on his oceanfront property? Because really, that is more in line with our current Government policies towards debt.

All in All, I figure the next Governor of Tennessee will be crucial in shaping our state for decades to come. Whoever it will be, they will need superior leadership capabilities. The list of possibles just dropped a big name off the list...Nashville Mayor Bill Purcell is leaving Tennessee.

Link...

William Morris
Canopic Jar: Eland, 1995
blown glass
Collection of the artist

The Hunter Museum in Chattanooga Opens Today, Monday, June 23, William Morris: Myth, Object and the Animal. Visit the Hunter Museum page on Art Museum Touring.com (Link...). Internationally known glass sculptor William Morris transforms molten glass into sculptural installations resembling unearthed artifacts, animals and ancestral peoples. The exhibition runs through Sept. 28.

If you go to the Hunter's to see Morris' work, you will, also, have the opportunity to see their other exhibition, “Women’s Work,” that examines the work of Lilly Martin Spencer. This show closes this coming Sunday June 29.

Support your local galleries and museums! They are economic engines for your community.

Sherrie

Foreclosure
Marcus Antonius Jansen

The Yeiser Art Center in Paducah's new exhibition opening today, June 21, features the paintings of Marcus Antonius Jansen. He works in a Modern Urban-Expressionistic style, which is inspired greatly by his time living in New York and among the abundant graffiti.

There is an opening reception Saturday afternoon. See Events page for details (Link...).

Support your local galleries and museums! They are economic engines for your community.

Sherrie

Major legislation from Obama and John Kerry has closed loopholes that allowed Dick Cheney's company to avoid paying Social Security to employees in Iraq.

Link...

Congressman Zach Wamp: I have more money than the disclosure forms indicate...but not much.

Congressman Lincoln Davis: The forms are about right.

Senator Alexander: After a life of public service to the people of Tennessee...I'm loaded.

Senator Corker: I don't know. First I was really rich and then I was broke...I need more time to fill out the forms.

From the (thanks for the correction) Nashville City Paper:

...Meanwhile, Davis has gubernatorial ambitions for 2010, in which Tennessee political history strongly suggests the Democratic strongholds of Shelby and Davidson counties with their large groups of black voters are a must for his or any Democrat’s aspirations for statewide office.

Fred Hobbs, a state Democratic Party Executive Committee member representing part of Davis’ district, said he understands why Davis is not endorsing Obama and is “skeptical” of the Illinois senator himself.

“Maybe [it’s] the same reason I don’t want to — I don’t exactly approve of a lot of the things he stands for and I’m not sure we know enough about him,” Hobbs said when asked why he thought Davis wasn’t endorsing Obama. “He’s got some bad connections, and he may be terrorist connected for all I can tell. It sounds kind of like he may be.”

Link...

Update: Beecher Frasier stands firm that he was misquoted:

"No one in their right mind, including me, believes Senator Obama has ties to terrorism. It is truly ridiculous for anyone to try to make hay out of these comments."

So there's the fact that President Bush's first business partner was Osama bin Laden's big brother. Is that a terrorist connection?

Wastelanders is a group of Paducah artists who have worked and lived in Paducah for 20 years or more. Their exhibition is closing Saturday, June 14 at the Yeiser Art Center in Paducah. Visit the Yeiser page on Art Museum Touring.com (Link...).

E. J. Abell
Mary Yeiser

The show is dedicated to the memory of Mary Yeiser who passed away this year at the age of 102. She is the reason for the Yeiser Art Center. It was through her efforts that we came about in 1957 as a means for her to offer the opportunity to view artwork to her students.

Support your local galleries and museums! The are economic engines for your community.

Sherrie

The Sumner County Democratic Party will hold its June Meeting at the Lunch Box on Long Hollow Pike in Gallatin at 8:30 a.m. on June 14. Join us as we hear from the campaigns of the Dems who will paint Sumner County Blue this November with an anticipated visit from Mike Padgett as well. Learn how you can be a part of this winning team, get the latest in Democratic fashion and breakfast, too!