WOW re: Rabidoux

Here's a good article from the Memphis Flyer about our TN-07...

Underdog Rabidoux Stokes the Democratic Base in Challenge to Blackburn
Tue, Jun 29, 2010 at 11:00 AM

His slogan (well, one of them, anyhow) is “Vote Greg, not Marsha, Marsha, Marsha,” and he insists that that he’s got a chance to be elected on the basis of what he sees as “an anti-incumbent fever,” along with what he hopes is revulsion in the 7th congressional district against the positions of the well-entrenched incumbent.

That’s Greg Rabidoux, a professor of politics and law at Clarksville’s Austin Peay University and the latest Democrat to hazard the forbidding task of challenging U.S. Representative Marsha Blackburn.

Rabidoux basically spent the weekend in Shelby County, making the rounds of actual and potential supporters and turning up on Saturday at Sidney Chism’s annual picnic on Horn Lake Road.

Speaking to a group of hard-core Democrats on Friday night at the Germantown home of Adrienne Pakis-Gillon, Rabidoux tried to inspire his listeners with examples ranging from Barack Obama (“He started with just a small core of believers”) to last week’s marathon, record-setting Wimbledon match that took parts of three days to complete (“There’s a first time for everything”).

Allegiance to special interests and indifference to Social Security, Medicare, and other staples of contemporary American life are some of the derelictions Rabidoux charges his Republican opponent with.

However long on enthusiasm, Rabidoux is admittedly short on resources, making it prohibitive just now to get mass-media circulation for a crisply edited video spot linking Blackburn to alleged Big Oil sponsors that’s playing right now on the Internet.

But, like underdog challengers before him, Rabidoux is making virtue of necessity. Not for him the “thousand-dollar-a-plate fundraisers or the $2500 ‘spa day’ at a fancy Washington hotel” that he attributes to Blackburn, an assistant GOP whip in the House of Representatives and a fixture on the TV talk circuit.

“She’s more celebrity than public servant,” argues Rabidoux, the author of a highly readable and comprehensive study, published just last year, entitled Hollywood Politicos, Then and Now.

“There’s a disconnect there that they feel now more than ever before,” Rabidoux says regarding the constituents of the sprawling 15-county 7th congressional district, which stretches, literally, from the suburbs of Memphis to those of Nashville.

Whether that’s wishful thinking or not remains to be seen.

What's Up With Marsha?!

Another claim to fame

Tennessee is second fattest state in the nation
By Christina E. Sanchez • THE TENNESSEAN • June 29, 2010

Tennessee was named the second fattest state in the nation, tied with Alabama, according to an annual health ranking report.

The state dropped two spots from its previous ranking of fourth fattest. Mississippi was No. 1 for obesity rates for the sixth year in a row.

The seventh annual report from Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation showed that 31.6 percent of Tennessee's adults are obese. Men were more obese than women at 32.2 percent.

Also, for the first time, the report "F as in Fat" ranked minority groups state-by-state. Tennessee had the highest rates of obesity in the country for Latinos, while the state was ranked sixth for obesity among blacks.

Poverty and lack of access to healthy foods and safe neighborhoods were cited in the study as top reasons for high rates of obesity. The recession also could have caused some states to regress.

In a Blackburn world, guns are a gift from God

Blackburn Hails Supreme's 2nd Amendment Decision

Close Vote Shows Why Kagan Must Be Clear On Gun Rights

WASHINGTON- Congressman Marsha Blackburn made the following statement on the Supreme Court's ruling today that the Second Amendment applies equally to Federal, State, and local governments. "Today the Court maintained what Americans already know; our right to keep and bear arms is absolute. As the founders understood, the individual's right to self protection is endowed by the creator, not by the government," Blackburn said.

"I regret that the ruling on so obvious an issue was a narrow one. This 5-4 ruling highlights how important the confirmation hearings underway in the Senate are. Elena Kagan will do the nation a disservice if she is less than explicit in her views of 2nd Amendment rights. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to examine her position on this issue closely."

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Granted, this case was originally about gang violence in the streets of Chicago, but having guns in Brentwood is the same thing (obviously!).

Oily congressman

From the Sunlight Foundation...

Republicans cozy up with BP lobbyist Thursday

On Thursday, June 24, Dan Meyer, a lobbyist for BP, is listed as one of several hosts for a Thursday $1,000-a-plate luncheon at the boutique Hotel George in downtown Washington. Meyer, who’s with the Duberstein Group, was the Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs under George W. Bush in 2007-2008.

The fundraiser will benefit Colorado candidate Cory Gardner, who is in a tight race with incumbent Betsy Markey, D, Colo.

Amidst the biggest oil spill in US history, a series of public relations foibles, and public outrage against BP, the company’s lobbyists are continuing to work the Washington circuit.

The lunch also includes other energy lobbyists and industry players, including representatives from Koch Industries, whose political action committee is also listed as a host. House Energy and Commerce Committee members receive more contributions from Koch Industries than any other committees’ members. One member of this committee is Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., who is listed as a headliner to Thursday’s lunch. Koch donated $7,500 to Blackburn’s campaign this cycle and also donated $2,500 towards Gardner’s campaign, according to Federal Election Commission reports.

Minnesota Rep. Erik Paulsen (Whoops, Gardner’s party planning team misspelled his first name on the invitation) is also scheduled to attend.

Note: Party Time blogged last week about how Gardner canceled a Colorado fundraiser after the event’s main draw, Rep. Steve King, said that president Obama favors blacks over whites.

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Way to be in touch with Americans, Congressman!

Diplomat Blackburn

I'm entertained by the discussion of those in the "left end of the environmental community" who want to make certain we move to alternative fuels...

Does favoring a move to alternative fuels put someone on the left? If so, welcome to the millions and millions of Americans who now join me! Partay!

I challenge you...

to find something in the 2010 Texas Republican Party Platform that you support, then shoot yourself.

Giving credit where credit is due

After Congressman Joe Barton's horrific apology to BP, I commend Congressman Blackburn for distancing herself from such remarks...



Now, if only she'd support clean energy and give a rat's a** about the environment, we could really start moving forward!

'10 in 07

With all the media coverage of the crazy right-wing candidates popping up across the country, here's hoping that legit candidates like Greg Rabidoux are given their share of air-time!

Check out his YouTube channel.

TN-08 a microcosm of the '08 elections?

Sounds like it to me. I found this article from the Jackson Sun pretty interesting...

GOPers in 8th District go right