Ford Not Running For TN Governor

He's leaving the door open to state Democrats, Kim McMillan, Roy Herron , Ward Cammack and Andy Berke (?).

Story here from hotline.

Tough Times for Tennessee Democrats

While President-elect Barack Obama was leading the Democratic Party to sweeping victories in most of the country on November 4th, the oldest political party on earth was suffering crushing defeats in the Volunteer State. Not only did PE Obama underperform Sen. John Kerry's anemic 2004 numbers in Tennessee, the Democratic challenger (Bob Tuke) for the US Senate seat held by Republican Lamar Alexander was utterly humiliated in one of the worst thrashings a serious Democratic candidate for state-wide office has ever endured in the land of Andrew Jackson.

Even more devastating to Democrats in TN, the Republicans seized control of both houses of the state legislature for the first time since Reconstruction. The defeats suffered by Democrats spanned the state, with stunning losses in all three of Tennessee's historic "grand divisions" (East, Middle and West). With redistricting looming after the 2010 census, GOP control of the legislature most likely portends even more future electoral losses for Tennessee Democrats.

As a dyed-in-the-wool, double-dipped, true-believing, yellow-dog Democrat, it is very painful for me to admit this, but the magnitude of the catastrophe which befell the Tennessee Democratic Party (TNDP) twelve days ago is nothing short of breathtaking. Much more hurtful is the realization that this need not have happened. Although Tennessee is deep in the Red Belt, Democrats can win in these states. TNDP officials' whining about Tennessee's strong Republican leanings and their gnashing of teeth about the steep demographic challenges we face won't cut it. 

Just look around at our neighboring states, every one of them as ruby-red as Tennessee. In KY, NC, VA, GA and even MS, Democrats ran credible state and local campaigns in 2008. Democratic candidates won US Senate and gubernatorial races in VA and NC, forced a run-off in the GA Senate contest and ran valiant state wide campaigns for the US Senate in KY and MS. Why couldn't Tennessee Democrats manage to do the same?

The sad, awful truth is that the TNDP has become the captive of an inept, corrupt, power-hungry network of good old boys determined to hold on to their idea of political relevance no matter what. Compounding their incompetence and greed, many of the leaders of the TNDP are in fact DINOs (Democrats In Name Only), fleeing in terror at any mention by the Republicans of hot-button issues like God, guns or gays. Many of these DINOs pay only lip-service to the national Democratic Party, it's leaders and its core beliefs. They've sold their souls to the Republican donors who largely fund their campaigns these days. A state political party that has lost its moral fiber is living on borrowed time.

On November 4th, time ran out and the "no matter what" happened.  The TNDP has been shown the door by the voters of Tennessee. As disheartening as election day was, this is no time for Tennessee Democrats to give up. Instead, it's time to start over. Tennessee Democrats should look at this electoral debacle as an opportunity for rebirth, re-commitment and a renewal of our moral courage. 

We can - and should - forgive the unhelpful, tepid endorsement of the Obama-Biden ticket by our sitting Democratic governor (Phil Bredesen) and a post-election cheap shot at progressive bloggers by the head of the TNDP (Gray Sasser). Even the TNDP's disgraceful persecution of a Democratic state senator (Rosalind Kurita), who dared defy the Party big-wigs, can be put behind us. Focusing on the sins of the past will not get us where we need to be. Let us just hope that they are lessons learned.

So, take heart. There are, indeed, some signs of hope. In the chaotic days since the election, it seems that all of the top officials of the TNDP have decided to resign in the near future. A good thing, that. Moreover, Tennessee Democrats are blessed with some leaders of real courage and conviction. US Representatives Jim Cooper and Steve Cohen come to mind. We also have two nationally prominent Democrats who can help lead their native state's party out of the wilderness: former Vice-President Al Gore and former US Representative Harold Ford, Jr., who now heads the Democratic Leadership Council. Both of these fine men can, and should, provide much-needed guidance to a state party that has lost its way -- and nearly everything else. 

With a new leadership team at the helm, a sincere outreach to all of the key Democratic constituencies (including progressive bloggers), a genuine effort to be inclusive and a complete break with the good old boy politics of the past, the TNDP can return to being the vibrant, competitive party it once was. Anything less, I fear, will only lead to decades more of disappointing Novembers for Tennessee Democrats. (See this related post.)

Check out these Tennessee Blogs for more on this topic:

PostPolitics

R. Neal

SeanBraisted

TinyCatPants

LeftWingCracker

SharonCobb

SouthernBeale

FreedomToSpeak

Newscoma

TennesseeGuerillaWomen

NashvilleScene

Quote of the Day

This from Harold Ford, Jr., Chairman of the Democratic Leadership Council and former US Representative from Tennessee, writing yesterday for The Washington Post:

"This may be the most consequential election since Franklin Roosevelt won the presidency in 1932."

Si se puede!

The following statement, taken from the Tennessee Democratic Party's Munday Message today offers dramatic proof of Volunteer State Democrats' commitment to cultural diversity and inclusion.  Too often in recent years, the divisive and thinly-veiled racist attitudes of some Tennessee Republicans and their sympathizers have gotten all the national media attention. 

Remember the "Call me, Harold" ad from the 2006 Senate race of Harold ford, Jr.? Or the smears against Michele Obama twice earlier this year? Or the very recent garbage known as "Obama Waffles"?

For readers across the country, here is a view of the other Tennessee... and yes, I did say Tennessee! 

This is the statement issued today by Fabian Bedne, Chair of Middle Tennessee Hispanic Democrats:

This month, we celebrate Tennessee's proud Hispanic heritage from their military service to their cultural influence in our state's formation.  It is time to recognize our multi-cultural influence in our nation and our state.

We know the struggle as ordinary Americans hoping to grasp the American dream.  America's proudest heritage are the women and men who have worked to advocate for freedom and prosperity through hard work and a responsible government.

Join the Middle Tennessee Hispanic Democrats this month as we celebrate the work of Hispanic Democrats and our cultural heritage.

Este mes celebramos con orgullo la Historia Hispana en Tennessee, desde el servicio en las fuerzas armadas hasta la influencia cultural en la formación de nuestro estado. Es tiempo de reconocer nuestra influencia multicultural en nuestra nación.

Como americanos conocemos y entendemos lo difícil que es alcanzar el sueño Americano. La herencia Americana que más nos llena de orgullo es la de las mujeres y hombres que han trabajado para lograr libertad y prosperidad para todos por medio de arduo trabajo y un gobierno responsable.

Únete a el grupo de Hispanos Demócratas de Tennessee este mes para celebrar el trabajo de los Hispanos Demócratas y nuestra herencia cultural.

Senator McShame

John McCain's campaign has sunk to a new low -- and it's only July. The presumptive Republican nominee suggested yesterday that Barack Obama would rather lose a war than lose a political campaign. What an outrageous assertion! How could a serious politician even suggest that a sitting U.S. Senator, and the presidential nominee of the oldest political party in the world, would betray his country for political gain? As Harold Ford, Jr. (former U.S. Rep from TN), said today on MSNBC's Race for the White House, "shame on you, John McCain!"

Shame indeed! Joe McCarthy must be smiling from the nether reaches of Hell.