Happy News from Tennessee

Just got back from Michael Moore's appearance here in The Music City.

It was sponsored by Music Row Democrats, and it was such a success that people were pounding on the windows after they had sold all their tickets. They had to open up another tier in the Gaylord Entertainment Center.

Rep. John Tanner, the guy who was first nailed in Moore's gambit to enlist children of Congressmen, was there. He delivered the same schpiel he did at the Labor Day picnic, that Tennessee is the next in line to be re-districted, and we must work state-wide.

Then we got Robert Ellis Orral, the "Al Gore lives on my street" guy. He did that song, but was un-Nashvillian in that he didn't push his own trip, just spoke out for being a Democrat.

Then we got Steve Earle. He played "Copperhead Road" and "The Mountain," and talked about how when companies just do top-mining, nobody gets a job. I love that man. He played our Halloween party when I was in college, because my girlfriend rightly recognized his genius.

Earle has lost lots of weight, so he's almost as slim as he was back in the day when he was a pink-and-black rockabilly dude. He looks great.

He talked about how he's got two sons, 22 and 17, and he's doing all this with them in mind, and if anyone else has kids this age, they should think about it. And also that he's lived here in Tennessee for about 30 years, and he knows it's not a Republican state. He's right.

Then Moore came out. He was wonderful. He had people on their feet many times. He talked about all those Michael Moore things, the troops, jobs, etc. Plus, he had all these helpful spots for the Bush campaign. ;-)

I'm running out of steam, but I think it's important to point out that this was in Tennessee, and there were plenty of people down from Kentucky, too.

In addition, this appearance was not well publicized, but it more than sold out, and when my friend and I went out drinking later, everybody wanted to know what happened.

It raised a buttload of money for Music City Democrats, who have been running this really great ad with real Tennessee Democrats. I've seen it on MSNBC here a bunch of times, and it's beautiful, because MCD is all creatives.

This state is gonna go blue, y'all. I saw a flyer about the SUSA poll and their lame-ass sampling, and they sample equally across the state, without taking into account the urban areas like Nashville and Memphis—you know, where the people are.

•  estes kefauver

  always managed to get himself elected in tennessee, even if no one would admit to voting for him the next day....
  

  by gracchus on Sun Oct 10, 2004 at 06:43:17 AM PDT

•  What did he mean about redistricting?

  I know that the GOP may take over the TN state leg this year, but they still have a Dem governor. Does he mean that they would then defeat Bredesen in 2006?

  It took a long time to set things up in Texas...I don't know if it would be that easy in Tennessee.

  by JamesB3 on Sun Oct 10, 2004 at 07:18:30 AM PDT

  •  Bredeson is popular

    My wingnut brother said he wasn't too bad for a Democrat, so he must be doing o.k. there.

    by Unstable Isotope on Sun Oct 10, 2004 at 09:19:58 AM PDT

•  The mountain?

  Was that the Dave Carter song or another song by the same title?

  by jenrose on Sun Oct 10, 2004 at 07:53:13 AM PDT

  •  oops

    Nebbermind... Just figured it out.
    

    by jenrose on Sun Oct 10, 2004 at 07:56:10 AM PDT

•  Good diary - this is what the GOP want to do in TN

  Email from the GOP "Teamleader" programme... I wonder how many non-GOP supporters are actually on their mailing list?! The only zip code I had to hand when I registered was one in TN as it didn't want to accept my UK address :-)

  Email Subject: Door-to-Door Volunteers

  October 9, 2004

  72 Hour Program

  Dear Dave,

  The Tennessee Victory 2004 Program is recruiting people to go door-to-door for President Bush and the Republican team the Saturday, Sunday and Monday before the election. This door-to-door effort will also help with many of the key legislative races across the state. Volunteers will receive $50.00 a day for expenses for each day they volunteer and will also be provided a lunch. This is a wonderful opportunity to get involved with the campaigns and ensure that Tennessee remains GOP COUNTRY!

  If you are interested in volunteering please call David Weed at the Tennessee Republican Party 615-329-9595 ext.25 or by email at [e-mail]. Spaces are limited so to ensure a spot please call soon.

  David Weed
  72 Hour Director,
  Tennessee Republican Party

  Absentee/Early Voting!
  We are dedicated to providing information that will help make voting easier for you. We've created online tools just for Team Leaders. If you are registered and interested in voting early or voting by mail, select your state here.

  by Steve UK on Sun Oct 10, 2004 at 08:02:44 AM PDT

•  Thanks, Hamletta!

  I dont believe Ive EVER gotten happy news from Tennessee before! Make you a deal, you get TN to go blue, and I'LL get NC to go blue. Whattya say?

  by RNinNC on Sun Oct 10, 2004 at 09:21:23 AM PDT