TN’s Hard-Right Turn

It really is a shame that Tennesseans have continued their political hard-right turn. Tennessee was one of those “bellwether” states, at least for the last 13 or so presidential elections, until last night that is. Nope, TN, and a few other confederate states are still in denial

It’s at the local and state level where Tennesseans will see the damage done, as the State Senate was taken control of by the republicans.

Republicans have taken firm control of the Tennessee state Senate.

There were three key races in Tuesday’s Senate elections and Republicans won them all.

And, the republican’s picked up seats in the state House, taking control of that branch.(via)

That means TN’eans will have to remain vigilant to state and local issues, as the Daddy Party tells us what we can and cannot do. SJR127 comes to mind as an issue that will fall into the Daddy Party’s hands, as women will be relegated to incubator status.

So, while the majority of states are realizing a Daddy-state does not work, TN (and a few other states) tightened their grip on states. Weirdly, the TNGOP chair-person claims this is mainstream.

“Our victories send a national message that Republican values still resonate with mainstream America. The power of a consistent conservative Republican message – low taxes, small government and respect for life – once again demonstrated its power to attract a majority.”

Actually, on a national level the people rejected the far-right, making a turn back to the political center. almost everywhere, except in the confederate south. BUT, and there is a but, in the confederate south, democrats made some strong statements, by closing the gap between the daddy-state-lovers and the people.

But even in states like Alabama, Utah, Nebraska and Oklahoma, Republican strongholds where John McCain could post double-digit wins, Obama’s candidacy helped boost registration numbers, particularly in urban areas. Republicans countered by mobilizing their own base, a process aided by McCain’s vice presidential pick, Sarah Palin, who’s popular among conservatives.

“It may not shift Alabama from red to blue, or shift Tennessee from red to blue,” Ferrel Guillory, an expert in Southern politics at the University of North Carolina, said of the turnout projections. “But it could have an effect over the long term.”

And while these states have been comfortably in McCain’s column for months, a record turnout could benefit candidates further down the ballot. As in swing states, the consensus among experts is that the trend favors Democrats.

Unfortunately, AP writer, Phillip Rawls, ignores the fact that voters overwhelmingly dismissed Sarah Palin.

While Obama has a lot to do in the coming days, so does the TN Democratic party. As a Progressive Independent that won’t align myself with any party here in this state, my suggestion is to look for truly progressive candidates, instead of finding conservative democrats to run against the far-right GOP. By backing conservative dems, you are not truly highlighting the differences between the Dems and the GOP, so why should people bother changing their vote, and you are continuing to allow the GOP to take the state on a hard-right turn. To get back to center, you have to take 3 steps just to gain 1 step.