Time for new Democratic Leadership

Yes, the TNDP needs new leadership.

Here's Steven Hale's take on the situation.  The resulting fallout has been less than pleasant, but not unpredictable. 

So, there are elections in 2012.  And Democrats are probably going to be worse off than they are now when it's over.

Despite a "New Path Forward" or whatever, the Party needs NEW leadership. 

Someone who can be both a compelling public face of the party AND a smart strategist who can position the Party as a vocal AND legitimate alternative to Republicans.

Someone who will take the time to mend fences and build bridges.  Someone who will listen to party stakeholders and include them. Yes, the TNDP needs to become the home of all types of Democrats.  They should encourage candidates to run, provide support, and WIN elections. 

Republicans should not go unchallenged. 

But it's not enough to express outrage and highlight mistakes of the GOP.  There should also be a strong Democratic agenda.  Otherwise, why would voters choose Democrats? 

For years, the GOP held press conferences and presented a united legislative front.  Every year they lost -- and every year they told voters:  "Vote for us, and you'll get all these things..."

Every two years, less Democrats came back to Nashville. 

Now, Democrats are basically irrelevant in the legislative process.  The road to relevance may be a long one.  But, there's a model.  It will take determined leadership, focused listening, and the presentation of a viable alternative to the status quo. 

Elect Democrats.  Rural and urban.  Liberal and conservative.  Send them to Nashville and let them sort out who controls leadership.  But unite around some common themes -- support for schools, support for working families, opportunity for all, preserving our natural resources.  The details can be worked out by listening to voters across the state. 

In January of 2013, the TNDP will have a chance to start paving that path forward.  It should begin with the selection of a new party Chair.

Franzen and Fracking

Back in 1991, Jonathan Franzen published a book that would foreshadow one of the big environmental controversies of our time -- 2012.  How did he do it?  Probably, like all great writers, he did his research on an issue and based his book on solid facts.  Nevertheless, Franzen highlights "Fracking" in this text and its results set the stage for all sorts of happenings.  The text:  Strong Motion.

It's not the story, really that moves me.  It's the characters.  Franzen's characters are your neighbor, your college roommate, possibly even you.  Not a close approximation, the real thing.  By writing this way, he puts you IN the novel.  You can't escape wanting to know more about what happens to these people you know - you really know. 

His writing is descriptive, fluid, wonderful.  At times, nearly perfect in the way a scene is described.  At times, exactly perfect. 

I first found Franzen via The Corrections and fell in love with his writing style and with the characters he writes so well. 

Strong Motion is a beautiful, elegant read well worth your time. 

                                                             

A Return Trip to Burger King

Some may remember a recent trip to Burger King I took in light of reading about their "new" menu items and the supposedly new experience of eating there.

After that trip, I was actually reluctant to go back...but, the Whopper.  It's good.  With cheese, of course.

So, I returned.  And took my daughter.

It was definitely better the second time.  The service was faster, the freestyle fountain was fully functional -- I had Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper and my daughter had Hi C Fruit Punch. 

I got the Whopper, of course. 

She got the kids meal with Chicken Strips.  And they weren't just chicken nuggets.  They were well-seasoned strips of chicken.  They were quite tasty.  Plus, they had apples as a side. 

On the downside, the store has not been remodeled and still has an "old" feel to it.  And not in the good way.  They weren't especially busy even though it was dinner time. 

People did seem to be enjoying the new smoothies, but no one bought any ice cream, let alone the Bacon Sundae, while I was there.

Burger King may be coming back.  Slowly.  If more of their stores are remodeled and they can keep the service going strong, I'm guessing people will come back, try it out, and come back again. 

What is Glass-Steagall?

...And why do you care?

In the wake of the recent JP MorganChase debacle, those of you following my Twitter feed know that I've joined in calling for a return to Glass-Steagall. 

But why? And what is Glass-Steagall, anyway.  This article, though somewhat slanted toward a bankers view of things, does a nice job of summarizing the key provisions of Glass-Steagall. 

So, here's the deal.  Because certain banks were deemed too big to fail, we not only had a huge financial meltdown -- banks were speculating with their depositors' money and lost, we also had a HUGE government-funded bailout of banks.  That would NOT have happened had Glass-Steagall been in play.  In fact, Glass-Steagall was the law of the land from 1933 until 1999.  66 years and American banking was thriving by all accounts. 

Within just 8 years of its repeal, banks were taking on HUGE risks that risked the funds of their depositors' -- funds that are largely backed by and sometimes insured with taxpayer dollars by way of the FDIC.  So, if you're a big time investment banker, you can make a big, risky bet and if you lose, no worries.  The government will be there to ensure you get paid or, at the very worst, that your depositor's get their cash back (up to $250,000 now). 

But, if Glass-Steagall were in place and an investment bank went bad, only the $ in that bank would be at risk...not deposited funds from "normal" banking -- funds backed by FDIC.  So, an investment bank fails and some investors lose and others win.  No problem.  Capitalism is working.  Homeowners and working people don't lose. 

JP Morgan has been around a long time.  They were around pre-Glass-Steagall and thrived post-Glass-Steagall.  The fact that they're making huge, risky bets on the order of those that caused the recent bank meltdown is of concern.  And it wouldn't happen if we had Glass-Steagall.

Elevator Eti-Quit

Yep, that's what he said.

So, yeah.  I've written on this topic before.

But, apparently, not enough people understand it.

Yesterday, as I walked into a building and prepared to hit the button and wait for one of the 6 elevator choices before me, I saw a man "waiting" for the elevator.

He held a cup of coffee in his hand and was standing right next to the door.  Like touching the door, really. 

Not surprisingly, the elevator door opened and nearly hit his coffee cup.  Plus, he was right in the middle of the elevator and began to walk on when two women attempted to walk out.

Um, sometimes...people on upper floors of building ride elevators to the bottom so they can leave the building.  Apparently, this guy (easily in his 50s) is not aware of how elevators work. 

Then, he backs up and says, "oh, sorry...go ahead.  Elevator eti-quit, you know."

No, I don't know.  What's eti-quit? Hmm.

Anyway, if only he was a regular reader of this informative blog he'd know exactly how to use an elevator. 

I'm not quite sure why this is a complicated issue.

Free Beer and Hot Wings vs. Tennessee Legislators

Yep. 

Our Tennessee General Assembly is providing plenty of fodder for would-be comedians.

Even Free Beer and Hot Wings are getting in on the act. 

Gateway Sexual Activity -- Here's what Hot Wings thinks.

Cheerwine and Print Ad Consistency

...Or, the ad text and the visuals should MATCH.

Here's what I'm talking about:

What do you notice about this billboard?

Go ahead...

...Did you see that?  Raised in a glass.  It says that.  Right there in RED.  Except it's not a glass, it's a cup.  A paper cup.  Which is fine, really.  But it doesn't match the ad text. 

Now, there are confused drivers all over the South and other places where this ad campaign is in play. 

Thanks, Cheerwine!