The Salt of Tennessee

Embarassing... to say the least...

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Chip Saltsman sent RNC members the parody CD "We Hate the USA" for Christmas, which includes the controversial tune "Barack the Magic Negro." He defended his decision Friday, telling CNN the song was clearly intended as a joke.

"I think most people recognize political satire when they see it," Saltsman told CNN. "I think RNC members understand that."

Saltsman, a former chair of the Tennessee Republican Party, was a top advisor to former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and managed former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee's presidential campaign.

He is one of several candidates running to replace Duncan in the closely contested race to lead the Republican Party.

"The 2008 election was a wake-up call for Republicans to reach out and bring more people into our party," RNC Chairman Mike Duncan said in a statement reported Saturday afternoon by Politico.

"I am shocked and appalled that anyone would think this is appropriate, as it clearly does not move us in the right direction."

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Actually, I doubt that the TN GOP would find any of this inappropriate. I believe the only reason they're in favor of the 1st Amendment is so they can express their racism openly!

I'm guessing burning crosses or nooses would also be good political satire...

You got your degree? Go sit on the porch!

Since I remain steadfastly pro-Southern, anti-Republican, I'm loving Congressman Marsha's commencement speech given at MSU last week...

from today's Tennessean...

Rep. Blackburn: Savor pace of the South

U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn on Saturday urged college graduates in her native Magnolia State, whether Southern-born or not, to appreciate the region, especially what she called its lessons learned from the front porch.

Blackburn, R-Brentwood, addressed graduates of Mississippi State University at both the Friday night and Saturday morning programs in Starkville.

She praised Southerners' finely tuned internal clocks, explaining, "We know the rhythms of life are to be enjoyed and not to be sped past."

"Anything worth doing is worth doing well, and poor decisions are almost always made in a rush. When you rush to the finish line, you are speeding past opportunities.

"As you travel in life, listen to your internal clock and go at your own pace, a pace that reflects the studied contemplation of the front porch," said Blackburn.

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So I'm guessing this validates Southern Republicans' efforts to turn back the clock?

Coulter's big announcement

...is that she is a proud prostitute.


OK, maybe. But for real, with each book that comes out, it seems like more and more of her clothes come off on the cover picture. I'm thinking one or two more books and she'll just be posing in a bra and panties. This would be kinda weird if those who believe she's really a man turn out to be right. Umm... ew.

Here's the publisher's synopsis of the Coultergeist's new book...

In her most controversial and fiercely argued book yet, Ann Coulter calls out liberals for always playing the victim - when in fact, as she sees it, they are the victimizers. In GUILTY, Coulter explodes this myth to reveal that when it comes to bullying, no one outdoes the Left. GUILTY is a mordantly witty and shockingly specific catalog of offenses which Coulter presents from A to Z. And as with each of her past books, all of which were NYT bestsellers, Coulter is fearless in her penchant for saying what needs saying about politics and culture today.

Tennessee Republicans are idiots (Example #102897614)

I'm assuming anyone who reads this blog has watched the news at least ONCE in the past 8 years. Therefore, I'm not going to explain why these quotes from the Tennessean about Bush's legacy are insanely hilarious...


Tennessee GOP Chairwoman Robin Smith:

"I believe George Bush on the whole based his decisions on his convictions, not convenience."

"He's not eloquent, but most of the time people who are eloquent tend to have a level of education and polish but that does not indicate the depth of their intellect. He is a man of intellect."


Former TN Sen. Howard Baker:

"I think he has very good relations with foreign leaders."


Rep. Marsha Blackburn (TN-07):

"I think he will be remembered for the tax cuts, which did a lot of good for people and for small-business development, and I think he will be remembered for wise choices in Supreme Court justices."

Wamp gives level-headed Tennesseans hope, Blackburn gives b.s.

Rep. Zach Wamp (TN-03) on Tennessee's impending Republican domination...

Wamp, seen as a potential candidate for governor in 2010, doesn't foresee a Republican legislature flexing its muscles too much too soon, especially in light of Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen's performance.

"Governor Bredesen frankly has built credibility and good will by managing the government, and I think that will carry over to the legislature," Wamp said. "I don't believe a new majority will be too confrontational. It's a time of great challenge. With so many economic challenges, this is a time to pull together and make the government successful. I don't expect either side to get rolled."

Rep. Marsha Blackburn (TN-07) on... poli sci 101?:

"Lots of people ask me about it, and I say, 'Well, in order to understand it you've got to go back to the beginning,'" she said.

"Much of the change in our state came about not necessarily because of party affiliation but because of philosophy of government," she said. "We are truly a center-right state. We have people who want to see the state managed in a conservative vein. The problem arose, and a line was drawn in the sand, when the state income tax issue was brought to the forefront. People were asking, 'Do I come down on the right side or the left side on the issues?'"

Very profound.

Suit up, buddy

You gotta hand it to them. While the national GOP scrambles, the TN right-wing makes no excuses for its hate-filled agenda. In fact, it's becoming more and more apparent that the new state legislature will forego all those silly old-school Republican ideals of "small government" and "personal responsibility" in favor of the REALLY important issues...

From the Nashville Scene...

Evangelicals would like to clear up any confusion over who's running the state legislature.

Christian Right leaders are instructing lawmakers to put "values issues" first in the upcoming session—even at a time of economic calamity, with state tax collections falling as much as $800 million below budget.

"Some folks just don't get it!" exclaims David Fowler, president of the Rev. James Dobson-affiliated Family Action Council.

In a message to supporters, Fowler dismisses more cautious observers who are advising Republicans against full-out pursuit of the conservative Christian agenda.

"They could not be more dead wrong!" he writes. "For Republicans to ignore those who brought them to the dance is political suicide."

Outlawing abortions, of course, is at the top of the to-do list.

What else is on the evangelical agenda? Censoring television "indecency," teaching creationism in science classes, banning gay adoptions, prohibiting any mention of homosexuality in public schools—the famous "Don't Say Gay" bill—and the list goes on.

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This is gonna be fun.