Progressive Politics from Memphis

  • Parks, Progress, & Politics

    I’ve been struggling to organize my thoughts since last week’s last week’s hasty action by the Memphis City Council regarding zoo parking. But I don’t want to get into the specifics of the issue. I think others have captured what’s going on there better, and with more detail than I could. The events of last…

  • With Us, or Agin Us

    It was one of the most stunning displays in my lifetime. In a period of heightened emotional distress, just 9 days after the 9/11 attacks. An American President stood before Congress and told America that anyone who didn’t think like he did was an ‘enemy of the state’. At the time, people didn’t see it…

  • Say you want a revolution….

    As of this writing, which began at 4am, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders has won the New Hampshire Democratic primary by nearly 22%. That’s a pretty big accomplishment for a campaign that was declared ‘too radical’ just a few months ago. And while I know that New Hampshire isn’t exactly ‘reflective of American diversity’ as so…

  • An Embarrassment of Riches

    What happened last night in Iowa was interesting and historic. For the first time in history, a woman has won the Iowa Caucus. That win is somewhat muted by the strong showing by Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, who some say could transform Democratic politics. I think its a little early to call that, but it…

  • Transparency at City Hall

    We’re just 11 days into the new administration at City Hall, and expectations are high for Mayor Jim Strickland and his team. Since his inauguration, Mayor Strickland has had his initial appointments approved, though not without some controversy from an appointees former employer. In this world of 24-hour news cycles, and extreme “I want it…

  • Changing of the Guard

    The Commercial Appeal reports that half of the members of MPD’s administrative staff have left, or will be leaving soon. This follows the recently announced departure of Police Director Toney Armstrong. While there’s no question the loss of so many seasoned officers who made their way up through the ranks will be a huge loss…