Friday, October 27, 2006
Camera Shy
Posted by Liz Garrigan on Fri, Oct 27, 2006 at 4:18 PM
On this video, a Ford staffer can be heard saying, "That fucking guy is filming you," at which point another Ford campaign staffer manhandles a GOP video tracker's camera in a public parking lot. This was just released by the State Republican Party.
TNGOP DEMANDS FORD APOLOGY FOR MANHANDLING GOP VIDEO TRACKER - CAPTURED ON VIDEO
As George Allen Apologized to Democrat Video Tracker for Recent Behavior, So Too Should Congressman Ford
(Nashville) - Just days after Congressman Harold Ford Jr. (D-Memphis) was caught on camera during his Memphis Meltdown, Ford senior staffers were caught on tape using profanity and aggressively manhandling a young Republican staffer ֠all while Congressman Ford stood by watching idly.
"In the wake of the Memphis Meltdown, Congressman Ford and his campaign staff are unable to handle the pressure of a campaign slipping away. Just as George Allen apologized to a Democrat video tracker in Virginia for his recent behavior, Congressman Ford should also apologize for standing idly by while his staff used profanity and aggressive physical contact with a young Republican staffer. The incident is quite unstatesmen-like, just like Congressman Ford," said Chris Devaney, executive director of the Tennessee Republican Party.
machete!
Posted by Jim Ridley on Fri, Oct 27, 2006 at 3:22 PM
Which part is cooler? The lovingly faked scratches on the celluloid? The deliberately washed-out color? The flying motorcycle and the stripper with the prosthetic bazooka? Only a panel of gods convened on Olympus could answer for sure. All I know, beyond question, is that I have been waiting for this movie all my life. The trailer has been disappearing off the web, but watch it as many times as you can as long as it's on Buzznet.
My favorite part: the Crazy Babysitter Twins.
My favorite part: the Crazy Babysitter Twins.
Perry March Madness Continues
Posted by Sarah Kelley on Fri, Oct 27, 2006 at 1:11 PM
Perry March is at it again. This time the man convicted of killing his wife and the mother of his children is asking a federal judge to fault Carolyn Levine—mother of the woman he murdered—for not responding in a timely fashion to yet another lawsuit he's filed from behind bars. This story details the lengthy handwritten lawsuit filed by March last month in an effort to have his two children, ages 12 and 16, taken from their grandparents and sent to live with his new wife in Mexico.
Lawrence Levine (himself an attorney) formally responded to the lawsuit and argued that his wife never was officially served with the suit, and therefore is not required to satisfy Perry March with a response. In his latest motion, however, March accuses the Levines of abducting his children (in fact they were legally awarded custody). He goes on to suggest the judge reprimand Carolyn Levine for neglecting to answer his lawsuit, and ultimately send his children packing to Mexico.
Will he ever stop tormenting these people?
Lawrence Levine (himself an attorney) formally responded to the lawsuit and argued that his wife never was officially served with the suit, and therefore is not required to satisfy Perry March with a response. In his latest motion, however, March accuses the Levines of abducting his children (in fact they were legally awarded custody). He goes on to suggest the judge reprimand Carolyn Levine for neglecting to answer his lawsuit, and ultimately send his children packing to Mexico.
Will he ever stop tormenting these people?
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Advice for Harold
Posted by Liz Garrigan on Thu, Oct 26, 2006 at 12:53 PM
The Stranger's Dan Savage has some advice for Harold Ford Jr. in the wake of the controversial RNC ad, now off the air. Go read Savage's entire post, but here's the text of a response ad that he suggests Ford make.
The Republicans have accused me of being a heterosexual man. They're implying that I have an interest in women. It would seem that today's Republican Party is more comfortable with elected officials—male elected officials—who take an interest in teenage boys. Mark Foley is acceptable to Ken Mehlman's GOP. Heterosexual men, it seems, are not.
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
An unjust exit, a gracious return
Posted by Sarah Kelley on Wed, Oct 25, 2006 at 4:43 PM
Four decades after being kicked out of Vanderbilt for daring to take part in the civil rights movement, the Rev. James Lawson has returned to the university that once denounced him for advocating racial equality.
While a student at Vanderbilt's Divinity School, Lawson embraced the nonviolent resistance movement led by Martin Luther King Jr., orchestrating sit-ins to challenge segregation in Nashville and mentoring others on how to seek change through peaceful means. As a result of his efforts to fight racism, Lawson was expelled from Vanderbilt in 1960. The expulsion sparked controversy nationwide, and prompted dozens of faculty members to threaten resignation. Ultimately, Vanderbilt agreed to allow Lawson to return, but instead he opted to complete his studies at Boston University.
While a student at Vanderbilt's Divinity School, Lawson embraced the nonviolent resistance movement led by Martin Luther King Jr., orchestrating sit-ins to challenge segregation in Nashville and mentoring others on how to seek change through peaceful means. As a result of his efforts to fight racism, Lawson was expelled from Vanderbilt in 1960. The expulsion sparked controversy nationwide, and prompted dozens of faculty members to threaten resignation. Ultimately, Vanderbilt agreed to allow Lawson to return, but instead he opted to complete his studies at Boston University.
Political Theater for the Hardcore
Posted by Bruce Barry on Wed, Oct 25, 2006 at 1:33 PM
Most of the attention to nasty campaigns has been focused on contentious national races in battleground states, but one of the nastiest of all is right here in our backyard—Tennessee's 17th state Senate district, which includes Sumner and Wilson counties, among others.
The race pits incumbent Republican Mae Beavers against Democratic challenger-seeking-a-comeback Bob Rochelle, who was in the Senate for 20 years before calling it quits in 2002. The Rochelle campaign accuses Beavers of a "massive coverup" and calls her a "do nothing senator." A Beavers ad labels Rochelle the "prince of darkness."
Beavers and Rochelle will bring their polite civic discourse into a live one-hour debate tonight on the program OpenLine on NewsChannel 5+ at 7 pm (channel 50 on local cable; re-airs at 10 pm).
The race pits incumbent Republican Mae Beavers against Democratic challenger-seeking-a-comeback Bob Rochelle, who was in the Senate for 20 years before calling it quits in 2002. The Rochelle campaign accuses Beavers of a "massive coverup" and calls her a "do nothing senator." A Beavers ad labels Rochelle the "prince of darkness."
Beavers and Rochelle will bring their polite civic discourse into a live one-hour debate tonight on the program OpenLine on NewsChannel 5+ at 7 pm (channel 50 on local cable; re-airs at 10 pm).
This is Out of Control
Posted by Liz Garrigan on Wed, Oct 25, 2006 at 1:00 PM
Granted, the RNC ad (see an earlier post on this blog) is tough, mostly because sarcasm does tend to cut deep, but racist? The Ford apologists, including Tennessee Democratic Party chairman Bob Tuke, have even claimed during this race that characterizing Ford as a "Memphis Congressman" is code for calling him black. Some of these folks have lost their critical faculties.
UPDATE: The ad is now off the air. Here's what Corker has to say about that in a press release:
UPDATE: The ad is now off the air. Here's what Corker has to say about that in a press release:
"Within an hour of seeing the ad for the first time, our campaign publicly denounced it and issued a press release calling for it to be pulled," said U. S. Senate Candidate Bob Corker. "The ad is tacky, over the top and does not reflect the kind of campaign that we are running. Tennesseans deserve better and we are grateful the ad is no longer airing."
Brrraaaiiinnnss
Posted by Claire Suddath on Wed, Oct 25, 2006 at 11:32 AM
If you're looking for a good Halloween event and you like to dress up as a member of the undead, you might want to participate in the Zombie Walk at 5:45 pm Saturday, Oct. 28. How do you join the Zombie Walk? It's simple. Just dress up as a zombie (we suggest greenish gray body paint and an old prom dress or suit), then stumble and moan your way from The End to Springwater Supper Club.
Tragic Fiasco
Posted by Wayne Christeson on Wed, Oct 25, 2006 at 10:27 AM
Remember Pat Tillman, the man who gave up a promising professional football career to join the military and die in Afghanistan? Well, his brother Kevin Tillman joined up at the same time as Pat and served with him in both Afghanistan and Iraq. Kevin has now penned a powerful commentary on the tragic fiasco of administration bungling and deceit in the Middle East. He points out that Pat's birthday is November 6, the day before the election, the day that people can begin to honor Pat as he should be. Read the essay here.
Requiem for Tower
Posted by John Pitcher on Wed, Oct 25, 2006 at 10:15 AM
Tony Tommasini's article in this morning's New York Times about Tower Records is exactly right. He's talking about Tower near Lincoln Center, which is a gigantic and wonderful music mecca, but those of us looking for great niche music—jazz, classical, world music, whatever—in other parts of the country are going to have a harder time as well, probably even more so.
