vibinc

Progressive Politics from Memphis

  • How the County Commission played the School Board for the fool

    There are five simple rules that Kenny Rodgers taught me about life, politics, and the budget process: Know when to hold ’em. Know when to fold ’em. Know when to walk away. Know when to run. Never count your money, while you’re sittin’ at the table. There’ll be time enough for countin’ when the dealin’s…

  • The Looming Republican Recession

    I’ve been thinking a lot about money lately, as I’m sure most folks have. The ongoing economic situation almost demands our attention. Even those who are doing better than average are nervous about the economy. What we’ve learned in the past several years is that no one is immune from the poor decision making of…

  • Moving Forward 2012 Edition – #TNDP

    This weekend the Executive Committee of the TNDP will come together to elect a new chair. The race for the Chairmanship, which began with around 6 candidates, has predictably narrowed to two: current Treasurer Dave Garrison of Nashville and former State Senator from Weakley Co., Roy Herron. Iā€™m not going to get into the pros…

  • Schadenfreude: Fiscal Cliff Edition

    schadenfreude: pleasure derived by someone from another person’s misfortune. So I know just about everyone is talking about the NRA’s crazy town response to the Newtown shootings. I think all that needs to be said about the speech delivered Friday is nicely summed up here. Quite frankly, I’m shocked that anyone was shocked by that…

  • Why Costas Was Wrong

    First of all, I think it was pretty courageous of Bob Costas to take on a controversial issue like gun control in the middle of a football game, and just hours after Jovan Belcher killed his girlfriend and then himself. Surely he knew what he was getting into. Unfortunately, I feel like Costas missed the…

  • My (Continuing) Battle With Smoking

    I remember exactly when I decided to start smoking. I was in Jr. High. A lot of the kids that I went to school with smoked. I was the new kid. I didn’t really know many folks. I wanted to fit in. It was an easy way to immediately have something in common with the…