Just heard that Harold Ford Jr. will be seeking

[Clark2008]

the nomination for U.S. Senate in Tennessee upon Bill :scared: Frist's retirement in 2006.

I don't have a link, yet... waiting for some "official" news (if you've got one, post it).

But, I did put up a website. All you Tennesseans out here, please come visit: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/haroldfordjr2006/

GOP aspirants would include Rep. Marsha Blackburn (yep, the bitch who called us all "ghost voters" and "conspiracy theorists" on KO's show), former congressman Ed Bryant, Chattanooga mayor Bob Corker, (both of whom are traditional Republicans and NOT neo-cons) and former congressman Van Hilleary (freeper extrodinaire! Recently lost to Dem Gov. Phil Bredesen).

Mods: if this is in the wrong place, feel free to move it.

[Geek_Girl]

1. And Zach Wamp

I think he'll be running too. Do you know who else will be running on the democratic side.

[Clark2008]

6. So far, no one

We really don't have a strong Democratic Party, statewide.

It's pretty strong in Memphis and Nashville, but not in Knoxville or Chattanooga and certainly not in the smaller counties.

It's growing, don't get me wrong, but to field a viable, electable candidate for Senate? I can't think of anyone else but Ford.

[UTDemocrat8204]

72. I didn't know

Zach Wamp was running. I don't think he's too bad. But if there can't be a democrat who takes the gov place I think Mr. Corker should. He has the exerpeince after all.

[autorank]

2. Hey, terrific. The South gets its very own Diane Feinstein.

Sorry, but this is a long cry from both Senator Gore's and Senator Sasser. Now I know why Ford was saying we just have to get over it, i.e., electile dysfunction.

[Placebo]

4. Wait, what did I miss? Why are Rep. Ford & Sen. Feinstein bad?

[autorank]

8. Not bad, just tepid. Just my opinion.

Feinstein voted for the first Bush tax cut. Now that is truly amazing. Her constituents were not exactly crying for such a tax cut. Why would she do this? What kind of Democrat is she? Or could it be, she simply voted her interests as an extremely wealthy American?

Ford generates the same visceral impression I felt when I first saw Bush speak (which means next to nothing to anyone but me). However, his attack on Pelosi for "being too liberal" when he ran against her for House leader was really pathetic and his recent dismissal of the Ohio, etc. vote fraud issue, i.e., voting rights, was highly discouraging. My take is that if the issue of "voting rights" is viewed as "too hot" by any Democrat anywhere, the Democrat is useful for just one thing, quorum fodder. Seriously, why is voting rights controversial?

[Geek_Girl]

9. And He supports

A constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage.

[Placebo]

18. He does?

Eeek. That ain't gonna fly.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

31. I Want To See A Link ....

eom

[Geek_Girl]

44. Here's a link

I heard him say it at a Friend raiser in Chattanooga. He supports a constitutional ban on gay marriage but supports civil unions. Because that is what he personally believes.

Link

[Clark2008]

13. OK, so who would you LIKE to see run for Senate from

Tennessee?

I honestly cannot think of a popular enough Dem and I live here.

I'm open for suggestions, but I just don't think there are any.

[Geek_Girl]

16. I like Bredesen

But then we would need someone to run for governor. In a perfect world it would be Gore.

[Clark2008]

17. See, that's just it, all we've got it Bredesen and Ford

Gore won't run again - for anything - and I can't say as I blame him. :(

[fujiyama]

27. Even if Gore would run again

I can't see him getting elected in his state. After all, he couldn't win it in '00. Call me a pessimist but I don't think Ford will make it either. The state is leaning more and more republican. Bush won it by double digits.

[Hippo_Tron]

67. Kerry didn't campaign in Tennesee

Bush wouldn't have won by double digits if Kerry had spent some time there but he couldn't have won the state so there was no reason to.

[UTDemocrat8204]

73. I think Kerry

was in Nashville once. I remember seeing photos of him being there. But it was in the early stages. I wish he could've traveled to more southern cities. At least Edwards or a wife of one of them.

[autorank]

22. Hmmm...I'm in VA. Fortunately, we still have a pretty good bench.

It all depends. If the early polling was right about Kerry being highly competitivce in TN (pre Swift Boat), then you probably have some real lattitude. I know, find a beloved ex-coach or entertainer or, maybe Charlie Daniels will re-convert to the Left (haha). How about asking Clark who to run (WWWesD).

I do wish you luck and if Ford gets nominated, I truly hope he makes it. He's just a Memphis guy that seems a little too Nashville to me (this is bad humor, no flames please).

OR if the TN Democrats are really serious, how about this guy from East Tennessee?

[Clark2008]

29. Who is that?

eom

[autorank]

50. JOHNNY KNOXVILLE...presume he's from TN. Great guy...from

"Jack Ass" as seen on the TV/and in a theatre near you (Jack Ass, The Movie). Sorry, I thought everyone knew him.

[Clark2008]

57. Oh... I'm so embarrassed

that he uses my city.

No... as far as I know he's not FROM here... he lived here briefly. I will claim Quentin Tarantino, though, who also went to high school here.

Nope. I don't watch much television. And the only movies I really go see are for kindergartners (I have a 5-year-old son)...

I do know who he is, but I don't know that I would have recognized him in anywhere (obviously).

I don't think something called "JackAss" would rate high on my viewing radar even without the kid, btw. ;)

[autorank]

63. Well, OK. I'll refrain from including another picture. I think he's

very misunderstood and has a kind "inner child" struggling to get out.

[JohnKleeb]

65. heh is he 30 yet?

[UTDemocrat8204]

75. I remember here in

Chattanooga a couple days before the election (or pretty close anyways) they did a poll on the local news among women and voters and Kerry won by a couple points. In 2000 according to electoral-vote.com Gore only lost Tennessee by a couple percentage points.

[Radical Activist]

74. Tim McGraw

He's talked about running for US Senate from Tennessee one day. He would need some convincing to do it now. He would carry the swing voters in Nashville and Middle Tennessee that usually decide statewide elections. Imagine how powerful it would be to have a major country music star in the US Senate as a Democrat. It would help Dems everywhere.

[UTDemocrat8204]

76. I didn't know that

about Tim McGraw. Hey if Arnold can and Martin Sheen why not a country star? But does he have any political experience? I've read Sheen does have some though. Also my Dad told me Hulk Hulgan was also something in politics (I think gov or something like that?) in some state.

[Radical Activist]

77. He's a big time Democrat

and said in a couple articles he wanted to run for Senate when he's older. I wish he would do it now and I bet he would if enough people asked him to. I don't think he has political experience but a lot of people in Tennessee like that. He doesn't need it.

[geek tragedy]

10. They're not pure, and Ford commits the equally big crime of being

able to win in a red state.

[Ms. Clio]

19. He participated in the "coronation" of Reverend Moon

Clerics defend Moon event

Religious leaders affiliated with the Unification Church yesterday defended the Rev. Sun Myung Moon against media criticism of a ceremony honoring him in a Senate office building meeting room three months ago.

(snip)

At that ceremony, Rep. Danny K. Davis, Illinois Democrat, carried a crown for Rev. Moon and his wife, Hak Ja Han Moon, as "King and Queen of Peace" to commemorate their efforts to promote interfaith cooperation and reconciliation. In his speech, Rev. Moon proclaimed himself to be "humanity's Savior, Messiah, Returning Lord and True Parent."

Archbishop Stallings offered his explanation of those remarks yesterday.
"He does not mean 'Messiah' in the context that a traditional Christian means Messiah," he said. "He is not God. He is the Messiah, namely, the one who has been given the mission by Jesus to bring the world to restoration, to return it to God's original ideals for men and women."

Other legislators at the ceremony were Sens. Lindsey Graham, South Carolina Republican, and Mark Dayton, Minnesota Democrat; Reps. Curt Weldon of Pennsylvania, Christopher B. Cannon of Utah and Roscoe G. Bartlett of Maryland, all Republicans, and Sanford D. Bishop Jr. of Georgia and Harold E. Ford Jr. of Tennessee, both Democrats.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/metro/20040630-103323-5303r.htm

On the evening of March 23, a group of the Rev. Moon's powerful political friends gathered at the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington. There, the Reverend presided over a ceremony presenting "Crown of Peace" awards to a number of honored guests. Seven U.S. Congressmen -- Democrats Sen. Mark Dayton of Minnesota, Rep. Danny K. Davis of Illinois, Harold E Ford Jr. of Tennessee, Sanford D. Bishop Jr. of Georgia and Republicans Rep. Roscoe G. Bartlett of Maryland, Christopher B. Cannon of Utah, and Curt Weldon of Pennsylvania -- received "Ambassadors for Peace" awards.

The Rev. Moon, who was decked out in a campy floor-length cape, was presented with an ornate gold crown and a lifetime achievement award. Introduced by a shofar-blowing rabbi, the Rev. told the star-studded audience -- made up of congressional members and a number of religious leaders -- that a "new era" had come: "Open your hearts and receive the secrets that Heaven is disclosing in this age through me."

On his way to becoming a powerful, influential and controversial political figure, the Rev. Sun Myung Moon has developed a special relationship with the Bush family. After supporting Dubya's election through his flagship publication, The Washington Times, the newspaper's foundation sponsored a prayer luncheon attended by some 1,700 religious, civic and political leaders the day before Bush's inauguration. The guest list contained a host of religious right luminaries including the Rev. Jerry Falwell, former National Evangelical Association President Don Argue, Trinity Broadcasting Network's Paul Crouch and a host of leaders from the Southern Baptist Convention.

http://www.alternet.org/story/18660

[Clark2008]

5. Well, he's just about the only one who could win statewide

and you have to start somewhere.

I happen to like him, but I realize he's not the most popular Dem on DU.

However, his advances in securing higher education for the working class and his moderate stances on guns and such will help this state move more toward the blue.

With the exception of Bredesen, this state has few popular Democrats. While I agree Ford is no Gore, he is better than Sasser, who, unfortunately, deserves the title "tax and spend liberal." I blame Sasser, a lot, for the downfall of the Democratic Party in this state.
My God, he let Bill :scared: Frist, the living cadaver, beat him!

[fujiyama]

26. I think it's unfair

to compare him to DINO Fienstein.

She has no excuses. She's from one of the most safely Democratic states in the union.

Ford is from a very conservative state that is trending more and more republican. He's a bit too centrist for my liking, but I understand why he votes the way he does.

Hey, if it's between Ford and some nutjob republican, I'll take Ford any day.

[autorank]

64. I'll take Ford any day too but VOTING RIGHTS is not unpopular,

radical, or politically risky. Are you telling me that Ford risks something by speaking out about voter suppression, lack of an audit trail, outsourcing elections to corporate hacks? Come on, this is easy. Everybody favors free and fair elections. Ford being namby pamby on this just makes him look like a total asshole. I'll take him over any Republican just about anywhere but he's weak and calculating to the point of being silly.

[fujiyama]

68. I agree with you completely

that on those issues, there is no excuse for Dems not to speak up. It seems really foolish for ANY Dem not to want a completely verifiable paper trail...and to have electronic voting without it makes no sense at all.

[autorank]

69. I thought it would never happen to me on DU. You're on my buddy list!

Whatever that does. If you can figure out why Democrats won't take up the voting rights issue, please explain it to me. I just don't see the risk. It's easy to say (if someone must) "we're not challenging the election but this type of nonsense has to stop" and then enumerate all the lousy, slimy stuff that went on. I just don't understand why most Democratic leaders are such pussies (in the Politically Correct sense of the word).

[liberalpragmatist]

55. Gore was actually quite conservative as a senator

One big reason he didn't win the nod in '88 was he was seen as too Conservative. And he was quite Conservative. Take a look at some of his positions and statements from that time.

[Clark2008]

59. This is true

I have letters from Gore regarding abortion in 1988.

His stance?

He was pro-choice, but did not support any legislation that would use federal money to fund it.

So... THERE!

:)

(I love Gore. I love, love, love, love Gore, btw. You put down Gore, you hurt my feelings. HE hurt my feelings when he endorsed Dean - long story... I don't hate Dean... had more to do with bringing in the South than Dean. Anyway... I love, love, love, love Gore.)

[JohnKleeb]

66. Yeah he was

and ran as a moderate in 2000. I like the new Gore but to think he's always been this outspokenly with a liberal tone is absurd.

[Zynx]

78. He could run as a liberal in TN and get CRUSHED!

Only a moderate or conservative Democrat can win in TN and you just have to accept that.

[kcr]

3. He may not even get out of the primary

He is not universally loved among the base, and he and his family have issues with Herenton in Memphis. His DLC posturing may seem out of place now.

I cannot see the Repubs going for Van Hilleary. He wa a joke during the Govenor's race, to the point where other GOPers were igfnoring him or coming out for Bredesen.

My money is on Blackburn -- she is certifiable, but she would have the support of the mega churches in Memphis and Nashville and all the little mini-limbaghs in the state.

[Clark2008]

7. I don't know of any other Dem, statewide,

that could beat him in the primaries (of course, see above, I don't know of any that will be running, either).

[hayu_lol]

11. Ford is a Blue Dog Dem...a DINO

...and a Bush enabler. If you love the DLC apologists, you'll really like Ford.

[Geek_Girl]

14. That was my impression

when I went to hear him speak. I was really depressed afterward, I wish I never went.

[Julien Sorel]

20. I agree.

Democrats should simply stop running candidates in the South. Since the only ones who can win are actually Republicans, the party gains nothing by winning, and since a liberal candidate stands no chance, running one would be a waste of money. They should simply pull out of the South entirely and focus resources elsewhere.

[Capn Sunshine]

23. Thank You, Jonathan Swift

While they're at it, shouldn't they kill off Alzheiemer's patients as a service to society?

[redstateblues]

36. Doesn't matter- he has no chance at statewide office

[Geek_Girl]

12. What about

Bob Corker? He's popular in Chattanooga and chicken shit Zach Wamp.

[Clark2008]

15. I think Corker probably will get the GOP nomination, too

eom

[charlottelouise]

24. Marsha Blackburn , horrors !

I'd say you're right about Jr. and the extreme unlikeliness of his winning state-wide office. He's so unlikely to get any meaningful support outside of Memphis. I think he would do well in Memphis, despite lack of support from the mayor (see footnote below). The thought of Marsha Blackburn as our senator makes my blood run cold. She's a manic, nothing but.:crazy:


Footnote dealing with esoteric local politics: I can envision a scenario where Herenton encourages Ford to run, with the thought that Carol Chumney would make another, this time successful, run for that House seat, which would then get her out of the mayor's hair in the City Council. Actually, that wouldn't be all bad, since Carol C. is unusually progressive for Memphis, far more so then Ford Jr.

[redstateblues]

35. How could she be worse than Frist? I suppose anything's possible

Frist is an embarrassment- his fumbling as majority leader has hurt his chances at becoming the nominee. His pandering to the fundies is sickening- he will say or do anything to become the nominee.

[charlottelouise]

54. Response to Post #35

Marsha B. would be worse than Frist -- Frist can't get people worked up to riot the way MB can

[redstateblues]

34. She scored big during the anti-income tax demonstations

Plus she is from the richest county in TN- she will have tons of money

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

21. Are there any Democrats running?

Harold Ford Jr. is certainly one in name only. Pure DLC.

[fujiyama]

28. Can you think

of any liberal that would have a chance of winning a statewide office in TN?

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

47. So you get a choice between Republican(R) or Republican(D)?

Harold Ford is a facile DLC opportunist, who not only is more of a Republican moderate that a Democrat, but he actively attacks liberals.

If he should win in Tennessee, what do they end up with? Another Republican(D).

[ShaneGR]

25. We just can't have anymore smart young black males in the Senate!!

Er...... what?

[Clark2008]

30. ????

I don't know what you're implying, but I certainly never said that.

In fact, I'm trying to understand why there's such hatred here for any Democrat just because he's Southern and moderate.

And, despite what SOME people believe who have posted here, if the Dems pull out of the South, they really will be history.

[ElectroPrincess]

38. Oh unfair race baiting! ding! ding! ding!!! BUZZER!

Ford is a "smoozer" and everybody here knows that little fact ... he goes any which way the power elite are on. Sure, he espouses a number of good principles and "talks a good talk" but when it comes down to standing up for his consituents when times are tough, like Feinstein, he will side with POWER.

[Clark2008]

58. Self-delete

Thought I was being accused of something and wasn't. Ooops!

[GOPBasher]

32. Cool. I like him a lot.

He's got a good chance of winning.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

33. I Have One Question?

If Al Gore was too liberal for Tennesse how can we win it by moving left?


This wasn't intended to the o p...

[IrateCitizen]

40. It's not about "moving left"...

... it's about whether a politician shows that he is willing to stand for things, even if they are unpopular once in a while -- or if they consistently "play it safe" by saying only what people want to hear at the time.

Ford is the latter, IMHO. Each and every time I hear the man talk, he only aggravates me. He lacks a single populist bone in his body. Furthermore, much like Evan Bayh, most of his success doesn't have to do with his stance on issues but rather on the strength of his name -- he directly succeeded his father in his current seat, much as Bayh's success is related to the fact that he's the son of an IN state icon.

Do I think that he would be an improvement over Bill Frist? Absolutely. Do I think that he is the future of the party, a standard-bearer leading us in a direction we should go. Absolutely not! If we want to look to a young black voice to follow, we would do much better with the likes of Barack Obama than Harold Ford, Jr.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

41. Evan Bayh Didn't Directly Succeed His Father...

Birch Bayh was defeated by Dan Quayle because he got too far ahead of his fellow Hoosiers...

[IrateCitizen]

42. I know Bayh didn't directly succeed his father -- that was Ford.

But still, it can't be denied that the name Birch Bayh is still a pretty popular one in IN, and that Evan has probably traded more on his father's name than on his legislative accomplishments and stances on issues.

[AmerDem]

37. Let's hope by 2006 our voting system is fixed.

I said it before i'll say it again. Once we have our voting system revamped to where it is fool proof, fully honest and accountable we will get back all the seats we've lost in a shorter time then we lost them ( had them stolen).

Ford is a very good candidate and should easily win barring any fix.

[Geek_Girl]

39. Do you know where he stands on TVA?

This may be the deciding factor on whether I support him or not. If he supports the 9 member board then I won't be voting for him.

[blackangrydem]

43. Harold Ford Jr represents the future of the Democratic Party

I hope he gets the seat.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

48. The "future" being a complete merger with the Repugs?

Sadly enough, I agree with you. That's why I'm registering Green.

[Radical Activist]

53. You mean we all sell out and become slaves to ambition?

What a sad future.

[OKNancy]

45. Zell Miller is a DINO; Ford is a moderate Democrat

If you look at Ford's votes he is hardly a DINO.
His Americans for Democratic Action ( ADA ) rating is 80%
http://www.adaction.org/2003housevr.htm

Other house members with an 80% rating are:
Lantos - California
Payne - New Jersey
Rothman - New Jersey
Costello - Illinois
Udall - Colorado

and others.

[Clark2008]

60. Thank you!

Bless you for posting this.

The thing that people outside the South and the mid-West don't seem to understand is that religion IS very strong here - and not just the fundies (whom I loathe, because, well, they're not Christians).

What Ford has voted against that other Dems may vote for is primarily cultural issues. In terms of his voting record on things that actually SHOULD be taken up by Congress (taxes, health care, social security, etc.) he has voted consistantly Dem. He ventures out on things that SHOULD NEVER be in Congress to begin with (cultural and religious issues).

He'll do fine in Tennessee.

And, if it's between Ford Jr. and Bob Corker, my work is done. I'll be OK with either. As long as it's not Freeper Van Freeper or Marsha, Marsha, Marsha in the Republican chair, Tennessee will be much improved.

[WI_DEM]

46. This is good

he would be a strong candidate.

[JI7]

49. he would bring a lot to the party as a Senator

[IrateCitizen]

51. Such as...?

I've heard Harold Ford Jr. speak on positions and issues many times, and to be quite frank, I find him utterly lacking in principle outside of a slavish devotion to his own ambition.

Then again, I can't say I expect too much from a person who never held a real job -- went straight from college to law school and then to Congress -- and wouldn't even be there had he not inherited the same seat that his father held from 1975-1996.

[blackangrydem]

52. I don't understand the animosity towards Ford.

He is clearly a rising star and would help strengthen the party as a Senator.

We need powerful Senators, and he would be one.

[EQPlayer]

56. Frist retiring?

Is that published somewhere, or just an assumption based on the assumption he is running for President and doesn't want to be an absentee Senator?

[Clark2008]

61. I don't have a link, but I live here

It's been in all the newspapers.

He "promised" he wouldn't run past two terms and says he won't.

Of course, that has less to do with a real belief in keeping his word than because he wants to run for 2008 president beginning in 2006.

[EQPlayer]

70. Thanks for the reply

Too bad it hasn't really hit the national press at all, it would definitely make for some interesting speculation about who would be the next Repuke leader in the Senate and weaken his power over the next 2 years. Although I imagine the Senators already know this anyway and are lining up to take over.

Thanks again!

[TheDonkey]

62. Ford Jr. would be a very strong Democrat

and would have an excellent chance if he campaigns hard.
Harold is an excellent Democrat, yes he is more conservative than Kerry or myself but he's smart and works hard to get things done.

Would do the Democrats good to have Ford Jr as a Senator, the hatred for him on this board is sad.

[UTDemocrat8204]

71. If there can't be a democrat then

definietly Mayor Corker! I'm in Chattanooga and he's great! He's not like one of the crazy republicans out there and in our House. This is coming from a loyal democrat. Heh heh. Here's some links on Mr. Corker:
http://www.chattanooga.gov/mayor/mayorbio.htm
http://www.chattanooga.gov