While you all are attending film premieres, a state political party fundraiser, or StarNight, or whatever else, we're catching up on the past week's activity by Third District candidates on social networks (primarily Twitter, but I watch for Facebook and other updates as well). You probably won't read this until Monday, but here goes:
Chuck Fleischmann capped off the week by "hosting" at U.S. Senator Bob Corker's birthday party. No one knows what that entails except those who've been on the inside.
Paula Flowers was all about the federal budget on Wednesday. Flowers has taken heat from some Democrats who think her stances on healthcare and the stimulus not progressive enough. Interestingly, a potential primary opponent, Brent Davis Staton, has close ties to Congressman Lincoln Davis—like, really close. Check the middle name: "Davis." We've learned that they are uncle and nephew. So: the Democrats are running a budget hawk, a Blue Dog's kin, and a former Libertarian Party national delegate (Brent Benedict). Sorry, left wing. You got nobody.
Tim Gobble had lunch at Wally's, defended the CIA, and called for an end to bickering. We're checking to see if candidates are legally allowed to do the latter.
Art Rhodes lamented the lack of cash in "Cash for Clunkers." Yes, that would be a problem.
Robin Smith clung to "God, guns, family & country" a week ago at the Bristol NASCAR track. Later, she shouted out to Detroit rocker Ted Nugent. One question, though, for both Robin and Ted: "lawyercrat" isn't in our dictionary. Care to define that word for us?
Joe Lance
rayminner on Aug. 30, 2009
Lamentably, Robin Smith continues to employ her over-the-top brand of rhetoric. I'm sorry, but if she wins this primary it will be a major embarrassment to us. Responsible, mainstream Republicans do NOT wish to be represented in Washington by this type of shoot-from-the-lip, take-no-prisoners style. We do not have to put up with that from Senators Alexander or Corker, and we're not interested in putting up with it from Robin Smith.
John Hawbaker on Aug. 30, 2009
Nice roundup. The candidates are definitely showing a bit about their personalities and influences as they use these social networking tools, so I appreciate you keeping tabs on them.
grundygreen on Sept. 1, 2009
So is there still room for progressive populists in the TN Democratic Party?
Perhaps proggresives should give the Green Party a try.
The other two parties are too busy chasing corporate money.