A New Perspective on Redistricting



The so-dubbed Ketronmander



In my initial post, I forewarned readers that while my objective is to get us talking to each other again, one might not always like what I have to say. I feel as if this post will serve to back up that notion.

                       

So let’s have a conversation about cutting off the dead weight.

Yesterday, Mayor Karl Dean and Congressman Jim Cooper participated in an editorial board with the Tennessean. To sum up the content, Jim Cooper plead for his political life, while newly re-elected Mayor Dean lectured on the virtues of a united Nashville.

Before I go on, let me say this: I have no strong feelings either way when it comes to Mayor Dean or Congressman Cooper. I know very little about either man and what I do know is neither impressive nor damming.

That being said, I think the fact that I as an active, dedicated and in-the-loop democrat know very little about a multi-term democratic congressman is a problem. I’m sure part of the problem is me. I should know more about Congressman Cooper. But honestly, I grew up in a house where democratic politics was the rule of law. I knew who John Wilder, Jimmy Naifeh and Ned McWherter were almost before I knew Jesus Christ. The only thing I know about Jim Cooper is that when he ran for senate, he let Fred Thompson tell him to “shut-up” during a debate like he was a three-year old.

Herein is the problem. We, as democrats, can pontificate all day about how unfair the majority party is being if they can successfully split Nashville into multiple districts. Yes, it is unnecessary. Yes, it is unfair. Yes, it is patently political-color me shocked. We did it for 140 years and no one in the general public is going to listen to us complain now that the shoe is on the proverbial other foot. I don’t like it, but I think we are remiss to be so “offended” and “shocked” by this completely legal activity.

As democrats, I think we ought to be more upset that Congressman Cooper and Mayor Dean are NOW suddenly so concerned about the redistricting process. Perhaps had either man been more concerned last fall, we’d have more than 34 seats in the House and might have a chance to actually affect redistricting. Perhaps, if Congressman Cooper had paid more attention to the reputation and state of the Democratic Party in Tennessee 10 years ago, we’d have more than 13 seats in the Senate. Perhaps, the issue here is not what the evil republicans are doing to us, but the lack of action by our own party statesmen to build a bench for state races, to build effective fundraising networks and to act as leaders all the time, not just when your district is in trouble.

To be fair, the things said in the preceding paragraph could be written about a multitude of our elder statesmen in the Democratic Party. We have let our party fall into disarray in this state and we have no one to blame but ourselves. So maybe it’s time to cut the fat. From my perspective, if Congressman Cooper is sent into retirement nothing changes for Tennessee Democrats. We’re not any better or worse off. We don’t lose an exceptional campaigner or fundraiser. We don’t lose someone who is leading or shaping the conversation for Tennessee Democrats. We don’t even lose a vote for Nancy Pelosi should we regain the majority in DC, since Cooper voted against her as Leader.

Every year, my Grandmother cuts her azalea bushes in the fall. They go from looking plush and nice, to looking lanky and forlorn. But the next spring, the strongest and most beautiful bushes are those that have been pruned. Perhaps in Tennessee, it’s time to trim our own hedges and cut off the dead weight so we too can grow into something better and stronger.

Let the conversation continue.

It's time to start a conversation. For too long we, as Tennessee Democrats, have refused to listen to one another. We have talked to each other. Goodness knows we've had enough trainings and meetings and forums and facebook groups and meet-ups to clog up every one's inbox and Google calendar, but what have we got to show for it? A Republican Governor, 34 seats in the House and 13 in the Senate to be precise.

So what's the problem here? The problem is that somewhere during out 140 year majority reign, we forgot how to listen to and deal with each other as Democrats. Now we find ourselves deeply in the minority with even more losses to come courtesy of redistricting.

So how do we fix it? That is the million dollar question. In short-I have no easy answers. I do know, however, that we won't solve it by ignoring each other as democrats and dividing ourselves into these asinine sub-groups of liberals v. moderates, unions v. business, rural v. urban, Nashville v. Knoxville v. Memphis, pro-party v. anti-party, old guard v. young turk or any other ridiculous subdivision playing out in comment sections on blogs and facebook groups that span the Tennessee Democratic sphere.

And that is why I've started this blog. We need to start a respectful dialogue about who we are as Tennessee Democrats. This blog is my contribution to that discussion. You may not like what I have to say. You may find my pro-marriage equality sentiments too liberal on one day, only to find my NRA membership too conservative on another. On this blog, however, you can always depend on honesty, respect and an earnest love for the Tennessee Democratic Party.

On a final note, I will try to post once or twice a week. Most of the post will deal with current political topics in Tennessee and how we, as Democrats, react to them. I have chosen to do this anonymously because of my job. I hope this blog will accomplish a few things. One, I hope it will disseminate information that otherwise would have remained unreported by the media at large. Two, I hope it will serve as new kind of conversation where viewpoints are presented in a precise, but respectful and serious manner. Three, I hope it will help us rebuild the party we all love.