Southwest Virginia Blogs

Archive for the ‘Tennessee’ Category

This is a strategy?

Monday, October 30th, 2006

The Republican Senatorial Committee has a new radio advertisement attacking Harold Ford Jr. In it, an announcer entices listeners to order the new Harold Ford Jr. action figure - complete with highly flexible spine. Then, the voice goes on to say that truth and values are optional.

The spot is sort of clever in the vein of humor prefered by 7th grade boys. Perhaps it will play well with the demographic that listens to talk radio. However, it certainly didn’t make me want to vote for Bob Corker.

Seriously, do these sorts of ads - the stupid or the blatantly false, like the “Shaky” ad that’s on television now - sway anyone who isn’t already a hard-core party-line voter? I cannot imagine that moderates, independents or swing voters would be motivated by this banal stuff. Question is: Can the Republicans hold onto power without the moderates in their party, the independents or swing voters, or the conservative Democrats?

- Andrea Hopkins

Posted in , Tennessee | Comments Off

Worst ad ever?

Monday, October 23rd, 2006

The ugliness of the U.S. Senate race in Tennessee is off the Richter scale. Now, the national and international press are taking note. The Washington Times reports that journalists from Britain, South Korea and Canada are following Bob Corker and Harold Ford Jr. as they campaign.

Of course, the main point of the Times story was that the latest Republican Party ad is so offensive that even Corker wants it off the air. His campaign sent out a memo to TV station manager on Monday essentially begging them not to run it.

I think I know why. Rather than swaying one to favor Corker, the ad might motivate fence-sitting moderates and independents to other side.

Is this the worst of the campaign season? Would you like to nominate another ad for this dubious distinction?

- Andrea Hopkins

Posted in , Tennessee | Comments Off

One school district

Monday, July 10th, 2006

It seems there are obstacles to consolidation. Just for starters, the county has too many schools for the number of students. Harsh fact, but true. It seems the county should get its own house in order first. Then, there is the matter of teachers’ salaries, which are considerably lower in the county because residents and leaders are tax phobic.

So would consolidation work? The state might be forcing the county and the cities down this path, so the conversation is important. The challenge for county leaders is to convince city residents that the result will not be mediocrity for all.

- Andrea Hopkins

Posted in , Tennessee | Comments Off

Posting the Commandments

Thursday, March 9th, 2006

There is no doubt the world would be a better place if we followed the spirit of the Ten Commandments. Prohibitions against killing, adultery and coveting or envying one’s neighbor are tried and true guideposts for life.

But the spirit of the latest thrust to hang them all over public buildings in Tennessee is a concern. The Commandments are, and always will be, primarily a religious document. Posting them on the courthouse wall isn’t an effective way to change the hearts and minds of anyone.

Southwest Virginia Blogs

Archive for the ‘Tennessee’ Category

This is a strategy?

Worst ad ever?

One school district

Posting the Commandments

East Tennessee’s next congressman

Bottled up in Tennessee

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