Category Archives: Meta

Thank you for seven years and here’s to seven more

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Seven years ago today, a little blog about elections and politics was launched. It started with a post centered right in the author’s own city council district.

Along the way I have learned so much about blogging, blog platforms, Movable Type, WordPress, writing, Tennessee history, Tennessee politics, gubernatorial elections, election law, campaign finance, Chattanooga, recall elections, HTML, some CSS, social media, and even a tiny bit about SEO. Heh.

Seriously, I value every reader and every subscriber, and pray that I have been able to help citizens become more informed. I have been more than compensated in return, in ways mere money could never equal. Thank you.

Hopefully it hasn’t been a waste of time.

Happy Blogger Appreciation Day

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“Hallo, Eeyore.”
“Same to you, Pooh Bear, and twice on Thursdays,” said
Eeyore gloomily.
Before Pooh could say: “Why Thursdays?” Christopher
Robin began to explain the sad story of Eeyore’s Lost House.

I’m finally getting ’round to fixing-up my Google Reader for this election cycle, and, along with the alerts, I’m reconnecting to my old Bloglines list (which has since been imported into a Google account) and adding those feeds that are still active to TnTicket’s Google account. TMI, I know, but the main point here is that I’m suddenly aware of the power that still exists in creating and maintaining one’s very own web log (and, to be fair, in participating in a multi-author site). While some of our old favorites are long gone, others are “thriving and reviving.”

So in a rather pathetic fit of spontaneity I have declared today, 27 October 2011, as my very own Blogger Appreciation Day. If you are reading this, and you blog, then consider yourself mighty appreciated.

Arthur: It must be Thursday. I never could get the hang of Thursdays.

Talkin’ ’bout his generation

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As has been expected for several months, Weston Wamp confirmed over the weekend that he is running for the U.S. House of Representatives in Tennessee’s 3rd District in 2012.

This means Wamp will face freshman incumbent U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann in the Republican primary next August, in a bid to serve in the seat his father, Zach Wamp, held until January of this year.

In addition to cashing in on his significant name recognition, Wamp is starting out of the gate by appealing to citizens of his age group, as a video posted to his campaign website and YouTube account reveals.

One other Republican candidate, Jean Howard-Hill, has announced a campaign to win this primary election, while at least two others are said to be considering a run. These include Robin Smith, former chair of the Tennessee Republican Party, who finished in second place in the 2010 primary; and Tres Wittum, former state chair of the Tennessee College Republicans.

To date, no Democrats, independents, or third party candidates have announced an intent to run.

As just a passing note of semi-related interest: Chris Carroll, who wrote the Times Free Press article linked above, is the son of Chattanooga media veteran David Carroll, currently an anchor at WRCB. Fathers passing “the mantle” to their sons is a time-honored tradition. In Wamp’s case, it will be up to the voters to decide if it holds true.

Change and hope

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Gentle reader, daily I celebrate your inquisitiveness about Tennessee elections and politics, and I try my best to sate your curiosities through this medium. It is with this in mind that I announce a few changes in the works.

The first one: There may be less content—of the commentary variety—on this site going forward. That is because I have begun a stint as a regular opinion columnist at the all-new Nooga.com. (I mention the “all-new” part only for those who may remember the domain’s former inhabitants and content.) My first column hit the tubes this morning (Saturday, 23-Apr-2011), though I anticipate them generally appearing on Fridays. (Here’s the RSS feed URL.)

Of course, if time permits and circumstances dictate it, this is still a place where I can post additional comment. But it is likely that the focus here will shift ever so slightly towards the election ballot itself. And in odd-numbered years, there is not so much need for constant updates. And that leads me to the second part of this announcement.

The second one: While I remain dedicated to the concept of “blog” as a regularly updated website with posts in reverse chronological order that are also archived by date and category, and as such will not abandon that component, I will be harnessing the awesomeness of WordPress and/or other technologies to further build out additional dimensions of Tennessee Ticket. I have a vision for a service that will:

  • fully inform voters about all of their election choices
  • entice non-voters to exercise their franchise
  • enable budget-challenged candidates to “level the playing field” and connect to more potential supporters
  • graphically connect campaign giving, campaign spending, and political appointments (think “OpenSecrets for Tennessee”)

One person cannot do all of this. (Well, it’s possible, but not if that person wants to see his family, keep his day job, maintain a home, and play guitar now and then.) Discussions have already begun with a few talented individuals, and if you would also like to be a part of this endeavor, I welcome your input.

I hope that you will continue to stay with me through this period of branching and growth. You have my sincerest thanks for being a practicing citizen.

Ticket Tweets on 2011-01-05

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  • .@DWhisenhunt and @thismachinekill and @janabarnello are tweeting from the #HamCoTN mayor appointment forum. Nice to have multi perspectives #
  • @DWhisenhunt The annexation limits were set over ten years ago, by a combo of state Leg and all 10 county/municipal govts. #
  • I can't hear the @TNDP debate on #ustream Help? No audio is coming through. I can see the video. #
  • @jrlind :) #
  • @newscoma Thank you! Just joined call. #
  • @StacyNunnally I'm on the site, but listening via phone #
  • @newscoma Those are *Windows* sounds marking the joiners/leavers. Ugh. ;) @LeftWingCracker #
  • Chip Forrester is sticking to larger national issues rather than focusing on Dems in TN #
  • Matt Kuhn calling for homegrown fundraising to combat out-of-state special interest money #
  • @cpiper No idea. Debate is among Forrester, Kuhn, Munday #
  • #TNDP Q: How to bring unity to the various Dem factions? Munday acknowledges "we are the minority party" – needs constant leader and message #
  • Forrester says communication is key to unity. Refs Gore, Clinton, HaFo, Bredesen keynoting as signs of unity. #
  • Kuhn: families squabble, agrees on communication to "each family member" #
  • Kuhn: "West End (Nashville) Democrats need Blue Dogs" #
  • Munday says TN Dems should "berate" Republicans on jobs, environment; less so (but still) on healthcare, mental health #
  • Kuhn stresses he has a 10-year plan to rebuild TN Democratic Party. #
  • Forrester references '07 Obama playbook, tools – says party is "halfway there" but needs to continue training #
  • @newscoma Dang, I missed the chatroom! But I'm trying to watch a local debate on Twitter whilst paying some attention to the #TNDP one. #
  • Kuhn says county party chairs are a good resource for finding who the next party leaders and candidates are. #
  • TN Democratic followers: if you were on the SEC, for whom would you vote for chair? DM if you don't want to say out loud or are on SEC. #fb #
  • Munday asks Kuhn about his plan for #TNS18 Kuhn responds "also a spec election in #TNH98 quot; (but all candidates are Dems in the latter) #
  • Spelling should be "Freedmen's Bureau" and what is a "U.S. Marine Civilian"? RT @thismachinekill: @janabarnello http://yfrog.com/h8wybyj #
  • .@Sean_Braisted covered the #TNDP chair debate live: http://bit.ly/epWehY #
  • TFP's Andy Sher profiles presumptive House Speaker Beth Harwell: http://bit.ly/eQvoj6 #tnpolitics #TNHouse #fb #
  • ICYMI: If you live in Robertson or Sumner Co (#TNS18) & are GOP; or in Raleigh/Frayser/No Memphis (#TNH98) & are Dem, early voting 2day-15th #
  • @Sean_Braisted It was writtn on the blog yesterday. ;) But I see your point. Also found Kuhn's diversion to #TNH98 odd, as there r *only* Ds #
  • @Sean_Braisted Just giving you a hard time, man. You shouldn't have had to learn it from TnTicket either. :) #
  • Must-read editorial by @itypewords (David Morton) on missteps in the Hamilton County mayoral appointment process: http://bit.ly/fuZlJE #fb #
  • Is Gordon Ball still in the race for @TNDP Chair? #
  • Would hope that states would move away from winner-take-all Electoral College system, not toward it. Not saying that CD Method is best, tho. #
  • @Kleinheider Random question: did Bredesen, as a fmr mayor, pick as many fellow mayors as Haslam has? #

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