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People don't like the thought of having a homeschooler on the public school board. She became the 'anti' candidates.
Posted by: Adam | August 4, 2006 11:50 AM
I think you may be overlooking HOW Mrs. Brooks got her seat in the first place. Homeschooling was one reason she lost, sure. But the voters in her district were mostly displeased with the backroom lining up of votes that got her the seat a few months back. The Rep. party made it their goal to get a right-winger no the board. They failed. Know why? Because myself and the most of the rest of my neighbors in District 5 don't appreciate having people outside our district getting their Young Earther buddies put into office.
Posted by: brittney | August 4, 2006 01:54 PM
They wouldn't be displeased of how she got there if they liked her politics or the fact that she was a homeschooling mom. So your comments are a stretch to principlism that doesn't exist in contemporary politics - as cynical as that is.
By the way, I wouldn't say the GOP "failed" in getting Brooks on the board. We wouldn't be having this conversation if they had in fact failed - even if her term was temporary.
Posted by: Adam | August 4, 2006 04:27 PM
The GOP lined up and traded votes in order to get her in, but the people voted her out. Ah, democracy is a beautiful, beautiful thing.
The GOP wanted Brooks to win yesterday or they wouldn't have arranged to get her the temp seat. Kay Brooks didn't just lose yesterday, she was absolutely demolished. If you think that the issues surrounding Brooks are all about her homeschooling you are missing the much bigger picture. Do you deny that in this post you overlooked the controversy surrounding the shady circumstances of Brooks appoinment?
Oh, and you cannot know that voters would "not be displeased." Saying that they would behave differently under different circumstances is disingenuous. You cannot know that.
Personally, I am just thankful that when (and if) I have children, Kay Brooks won't be encouraging educators to teach my children how dinosaurs and people roamed the earth at the same time. And I am thankful that the will of a few right-wing lawmakers does not overrule the will of the people in the district in question.
The politics and logisitics of the entire thing smelled really rotten.
Posted by: brittney | August 4, 2006 05:18 PM
Do you deny that in this post you overlooked the controversy surrounding the shady circumstances of Brooks appoinment?
I just don't see it as as big of an issue as you apparently do. Lining up your friends for appointments happens quite frequently in politics.
Honestly, I don't think you think it's that big of a deal either, you just happen to be on the other end of Brook's politics - hince the 'dinosaur' comment.
But I do appreciate your level of interest in the race - at least you're living in her district and interested in the outcome of the election. That's more than can be said for some of our generation, darling. :)
Posted by: Adam | August 4, 2006 08:06 PM
I am not denying being on the opposite end of the political spectrum from Kay Brooks. Doesn't take a rocket surgeon to figure that out.
Your insistence that I do not care--that I am driven by ulterior motives--about an issue that I have spent time and energy writing about on your site is incredibly insulting. If you can't at least take me at my word, then why bother?
It is unfortunate that you continue to put words in the mouths of others rather than discuss the issue at hand.
Posted by: brittney | August 4, 2006 09:24 PM
I certainly didn't mean to imply you had ulterior motives. Obviously, what I was saying was misinterpreted, so I apologize.
Posted by: Adam | August 5, 2006 04:01 PM
Most importantly Memphis remember NOT to VOTE for JOHN FARMER !! The reason is in the name JOHN FARMER!! Lets not for get or forgive his actions during the August 3rd elections. Shelby County (Mid-towners) place a yard sign and incourage your neighbors,friends,co-workers, and church members NOT TO VOTE JOHN FARMER.. Place your vote on a TRUE candidate BEVERLY MARRERO!! She had earned her title and our support!!!
Posted by: shelbycountyvoter | September 7, 2006 08:27 PM
Daily Dose for August 04, 2006
Daily Dose
Corker v. Ford -- Harold Ford, Jr. celebrated his election night victory with former President Bill Clinton last night at the Titans LP field, where Clinton called him a "hardcore thinker." Democrats hope to capitalized on the divided primary where there were still some hard feelings this morning, Ford's camp sought to take advantatge of them, a blog on Ford's unofficial site suggesting Hilleary and Bryant supporters should back Ford. A Congressional Quarterly article also suggests Ford will need to capitalize on the tone of the negative GOP primary. Ed Bryant, preparing to come together, told his supporters, "Bob Corker is going to need our help." And Van Hilleary said Corker won "fair and square." Meanwhile, Bill Hobbs notes more votes were registered in the GOP primary than the Democratic - could be because the GOP primary was more competitive, but Hobbs asks if means anything for Corker. Corker, accepting the victory says he was "honored and humbled."
In Chattanooga -- County Commissioner Curtis Adams, who made national news earlier in the year when he switched parties to the GOP ticket fended off a challenge in a surprise victory against John Bailes. Also, Hamilton County Sheriff John Cupp was defeated in a surprising win by Democrat Billy Long.
In Nashville -- School board mom Kay Brooks, who was appointed to the Metro School Board earlier this year was defeated by Gracie Porter. Porter ran a campaign promoting vocational education in the district and capitalized on the controversy around Brooks who home schools her children. All and all, five new faces will compose the Metro School Board, including David Fox who unseated Kathleen Harkey after reports Harkey enrolled her children in a private school.
In Memphis -- Scrutinized Sens. Ophelia Ford and Kathryn Bowers, the former of which was removed from her Senate Senate after a controversial election and the later who is charged in Operation Tennessee Waltz, both won their primaries. Ford will face a repeat of her special election against Republican Terry Roland. It was a good night for the Shelby Co. Republican Party - they will hold on to most of their elected positions including spots on the County Commission and the Sheriff.
In Tri-Cities -- David Davis, who won the 1st Congressional District GOP bid, by 512 votes told the AP that he didn't think a recount was necessary. In that race, the GOP primary is tantimount to being sent to Congress. The district hasn't elected a Democrat since the 1800s.
In Knoxville -- Sheriff Tim Hutchison narrowly escaped a general election bout with former Knoxville Mayor Randy Tyree for a fifth term as Sheriff of Knox County. Hutchison's campaign outspent Tyree by a roughly 10-1, but Tyree trailed only by a few points throughout the night. Mike Moyers, the County Law Director, at the head of the debate over Knox County's charter, won his judge race over Jim Andrews and several members of the Knox County Commission who sued the County to retain their posts after the State Supreme Court ruled charter changes required them to be term limited, won.
Tennessee Politics Blog Analysis -- 2006: The Election of the Blog -- Bloggers were incredibly successful in their primary bids this election season. The state's only blogging State Legislator Stacey Campfield won a "convincing" victory over establishment challenger Gary Drinnen with 70% of the vote. Surprisingly, John Farmer a blogger from the Memphis area, won the rights to be the GOP's nominee in Congressional District 8. Even though a victory in that race is unlikely, Farmer was not expected to come out of the primary. Nashville blogger Bob Krumm, who made a splash both for blogs and his campaign in a feature story in Business TN a few months ago, also won his primary handidly. Does that mean 2006 is the primary of the blog? Perhaps.
Blogs still are not powerful enough to capture the spirit of a statewide campaign, however. In the Senate race, Ed Bryant had an impressive showing -- and his unofficial blog, Blogging for Bryant, was one of the best places on the net to track the US Senate race. Bryant ran the essence of a good grassroots campaign, with his unofficial blog continually building support among conservative coalitions and creating positive buzz on the Internet. As we saw yesterday, however, that was not enough for victory. Blogs simply don't have the exposure that conventional broadcast media has. They probably never will. But blogs provide the best place for information on demand - as my stats from yesterday's live blogging of the election will attest. That fact alone makes blogs incredibly important in the campaign moving forward. Blogs for Harold Ford Jr. and Bob Corker have already been secured - and will provide an excellent source of information to energize the base. Blogs could be the perfect media for Tennessee's grassroots Republicans to come back together in support of Bob Corker and energize younger voters and students, who are more likely to be unhappy with GOP leadership, for Harold Ford, Jr.
Blogs were an incredible force in this election - and will prove, I believe, to be an incredible force in the coming election in November.
"Porter...capitalized on the controversy around Brooks"
How so?
Posted by: brittney | August 4, 2006 11:02 AM