you can find me now at andy2012.blogspot.com

It has been too long ...

Since I last posted.

but here I am again.

The political season is shaping up in Tennessee. Attorney Bob Tuke is challenging U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander. Also running in the Democratic primary is Knox County Clerk Mike Padgett.

Tuke should win. He is a former TN Democratic Party Chair and currently heads-up the Obama effort in Tennessee.

He should win the primary, that is.

Lamar will still be our Senator in 2009.

On the state level, former Lt. Governor John Wilder is retiring from the Senate after 44 years of service, 36 of them as Speaker.

This makes it a bit more likely that the GOP will have a majority in the Senate when the legislature reconvenes in January of 2009. The current split is 16-16 with one Independent.

Races that were expected to be challenged and now look safe for the Republicans include Jim Tracy's seat in Murfreesboro (SD 16) and Diane Black's in Sumner and Robertson Countis (SD 18).

Both are well-liked and have a decent amount of campaign cash. And the filing deadline is Thursday and neither has an opponent yet.

The Democrats do have a strong candidate running in Senate District 12 to replace Tommy Kilby, who is retiring. This will be a tight race and probably involve lots of money on both sides.

The House will likely retain the current 53-46 Democratic majority. Both parties have 5 members leaving or retiring.

After Election Day 2008, candidates will start working in earnest on the Governor's race in 2010. The most frequently mentioned Democrat is Congressman Lincoln Davis, a former state rep and state senator. Other possible candidates include former House Majority Leader Kim McMillan, former Nashville Mayor (also a former House Majority Leader) Bill Purcell, and currenet Senate Democratic Leader Jim Kyle.

On the Republican side, Bill Frist is mentioned quite a bit as is Zach Wamp. Other possible candidates include Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey and Knoxville state Senator Jamie Woodson. Of course, if Frist runs, he will not face a serious GOP challenge and will be favored to win over any Democrat.

So, I'm back. More to post as the season develops.

The Great Need of the Hour

On Sunday, Barack Obama spoke at Ebenezer Baptist Church. He chose as his theme Dr. King's focus on Unity as The Great Need of the Hour.

Obama is fond of saying he's running for President because of what Dr. King called, "the fierce urgency of now."

Now, at this hour, our need is unity.

Obama's campaign is a national one and his message understandably relates to the crisis of excessive partisanship in Washington -- division caused by a President who stubbornly moves forward even when all indicators point to his being wrong.

America needs to move forward -- and move forward together.

But my point today is that Tennessee, where I now live, has a similar need. At a time when an approaching Governor's race and a nearly evenly split legislature means heightened partisanship, we need unity. We need to move forward.

Our state faces great challenges in education and health care and economic development. In 2007, the legislature had an opportunity to release funds to help with school construction costs around the state. Instead, they went home. They felt good because we had a surplus and because schools overall got more money and because they got to engage in some pork barrel spending.

But the kids in schools with 10 or 12 portables didn't feel so good. These semi-permanent buildings on the campuses of too many schools in Sumner County (my home) and others rarely have bathrooms, some lack windows, and they keep kids away from their schoolmates -- it's almost as if 100-200 kids in some cases are a part of a separate school.

In one instance I know of, an elementary school has had the same portables for over 20 years.

Every corner of that building is used for instruction. No space is wasted.

And the community has given up asking for new classrooms because "it's always been this way."

It didn't have to be -- but the legislature went home.

I've never met a four- or five-year-0ld child was a Democrat or a Republican. But I know every child deserves a good education -- in the school building that's not crowded -- and not in a portable.

I know that every four-year-old in our state should have access to one of the highest-quality Pre-K programs in the United States -- but that certain voices in the legislature want to restrict Pre-K and prevent its expansion. These children can't lobby, they can't ask for what they need, and they don't care about a silly fight among grown-ups they don't know in a place that seems far away.

I also know that Tennessee's CoverKids program has some of the most stringent restrictions of any Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in the country. What that means is enrollment is low, and many kids are left without health care.

That's not a Democratic or Republican issue -- it's a moral imperative.

But improving our schools, building new ones, providing easy access to quality health care for kids -- those issues require more political will than is currently being exercised.

The great need of the hour in Tennessee is new leadership at the legislature. Leadership that supports Governor Bredesen on key issues like Pre-K. Leadership that negotiates a reasonable compromise so funds are available for school construction. And leadership that stands up to Governor Bredesen and the bureaucracy and pushes for a CoverKids program that truly does cover all children in our state.

In an election year focused on change -- on real, fundamental change and not just rhetorical change, anything is possible.

With hard work, with commitment, with focus -- "the way it's always been" --doesn't have to be anymore.

2008 presents us with a tremendous opportunity -- not just at the national level -- but here in Tennessee as well.

A chance to change and grow and move forward as one state. New voices need to be heard in the halls of power.

The urgency is fierce.

The time is now.

Tennessee Early Voting

Early voting began in Tennessee yesterday. I am proud to say I was among the first Tennesseans to cast a vote for Barack Obama.

Obama has a Nashville office and recently opened an office in Memphis. The Nevada campaign is heating up -- and so is South Carolina. Through both of these contests, Tennesseans will be able to vote early.

Vote early. Vote Obama.

We have a race ...

So, after Obama's convincing win in Iowa, Hillary narrowly wins NH.

the race is on. And 2 people are in it.

John Edwards will likely see a steady decline in his support. I would suspect that many of his supporters would vote for Barack Obama.

It's good that we have a race. Voters should thoroughly vet Clinton and Obama and decide who they want. I prefer Obama, of course. And I think in time, many Democrats will agree that he's the candidate we should nominate. His organization is fabulous and he is electable and creates all sorts of challenges for the Republicans.

One more day!

Obama is opening up a big lead on Clinton. CNN has it at 10 points, USA Today at 13.

This is incredible. The crowds in NH appear to be incredible. A win in NH will likely lead to wins in Nevada and South Carolina.

Hillary will have a tough time recovering from a second consecutive loss -- especially if it is not close.

BUT -- it is NOT over. People in NH who support OBAMA must go vote! This is becoming a movement. It's not about Barack Obama anymore. He is becoming a vehicle for change. Sure, he's a smart guy and he'll make a fine President. But it's about the people from all walks of life who believe it is time for a new day in America.

Young voters who are staking their claim on the political system. New voters who have been disenchanted for far too long. I get the feeling I'm watching history. I wonder if this is how my dad felt as a young man watching Bobby Kennedy?

And on the GOP side, Huckabee may be changing the face of the party. At least now they are talking about working people. Huckabee is forcing the issue. That's good for the Republicans. Of course, if Huckabee is not the nominee, they may well ignore this lesson. That would be a mistake. Republicans, if they are to survive, must start representing those working class voters who consistently give power to the GOP -- instead of the small group of wealthy donors who benefit from many Republican policies.

While the Republicans sort out their identity, though, something electric is happening for Democrats.

NH, your time has come! Vote for change, hope, and a new America. Vote Obama!

Excitement in Iowa

So, Obama won Iowa. HUGE victory, 9 points ahead of Hillary.

Watching last night, I couldn't help but feel incredibly emotional.

I know what it's like to work hard for a candidate and watch them win. To have that moment of victory that is the payoff for your efforts. I know what it's like to work for the candidate who people say can't win -- the candidate who is not supposed to beat the machine.

When I worked for the mayoral campaign of Eldon Renaud in Bowling Green, I was 20 years old and the campaign team was comprised of a number of other young, eager WKU students. The machine of Bowling Green politics had hand-picked their candidate. All the "smart" money was backing him, and Renaud was given no chance.

But with the help of people like Rick Malek, Jeff Oliver, Joel Banashak, Fred Lucas, and Krista Knaul, Eldon won -- by 18 points! The feeling of victory was amazing. We had worked early mornings greeting workers at factories ... we had organized events on campus and reached out to college students who would be voting for the first time ... we had stuffed envelopes, made calls, and held signs.

And I've also worked for candidates who came close, but lost. That's a tough feeling. And I remember the excitement Howard Dean generated in 2004 -- he had raised big money, generated big crowds, and was supposed to beat the "machine." And he didn't.

So, I was more skeptical this year. Though I had hope that Obama could win Iowa, I wasn't sure. Perhaps the Clinton machine and the Democratic establishment would begin the annointing of Hillary. Perhaps another people-powered candidate would come close, but come up short.

But Obama raised money dollar-for-dollar with Hillary. He didn't take money from PACs or lobbyists. And, he approached the campaign with the mind and heart of an organizer. The HUGE Democratic turnout is encouraging. The demographics of Obama's voters show he has broad appeal. Sure, he has young voters -- 17-29 year olds were definitely strongly for Obama. But he has middle-aged voters, and he won among women. What's more, he didn't just inspire some 18 year old college kid, he convinced them to get out and caucus. That's incredible. The number of first-time caucus-goers last night was amazing -- and they were there for Barack Obama.

Can he repeat in New Hampshire? Quite possibly. If so, it becomes a very clear 2 person race. Obama-Hillary. And, Obama has the money and the infrastructure to win the national primary on February 5th. In 2004, John Kerry won Iowa and closed the deal in NH. If Obama wins NH, it becomes all the more likely that he's the nominee.

Hillary's entire campaign is premised on her being "inevitable." With that aura gone, she MUST win New Hampshire or the justification for her candidacy becomes muddled. She voted for the war, she voted for John Roberts, she voted for a bill giving Bush authority to go into Iran ... why would Democrats support her? The only reason is if she appears strong and like a winner. Coming in 3rd in Iowa is no way to do that -- ask Howard Dean. A loss in NH means more and more "big" Democrats will shift to Obama.

There are just 4 days now before NH votes. I know Hillary is capable of turning the tide -- of going negative, of working harder, whatever. I also know that if Obama's organization is strong in NH, if his approach remains the same, he's well-positioned.

And I know I'm excited. It's time for change. It's time for Obama.