partly sunny with a 75% chance of WC soccer

A decision should be coming soon (today? this week?) in the cut to 18 among the 27 remaining cities competing to become part of the United States' bid to host the World Cup in 2018 or 2022. Nashville Convention and Visitors' Bureau President Butch Spyridon sounded confident after meeting with the bid committee last month: "Spyridon told the Sports Authority he felt extremely confident about LP Field's chances of being chosen as a venue, putting the odds between "75 and 80 percent."

In order to become a World Cup host city, Nashville would likely have to beat out most of the following cities: St.Louis, Orlando, Tampa, Charlotte, Baltimore, Kansas City, Jacksonville, Atlanta and Indy. That list includes a previous World Cup host (Orlando), an MLS market (Kansas City), a former MLS market (Tampa), a traditionally very strong soccer market (St.Louis), a city with a brand new state-of-the-art retractable roof stadium (Indy) and, of course, the capital of the Southeast region of the United States (Atlanta).

It would appear that Nashville's bid to host World Cup games at LP Field would require quite an upset. Nashville is smaller than all of the cities listed above. But for almost a year, I have been laying out some of the reasons that Nashville and LP Field would make ideal hosts for the World Cup. At first it was mostly dreaming out loud, but now Nashville is tantalizingly close to making that dream become reality. 75-80 percent? I hope Spyridon is right.

2 convention centers for downtown Nashville?

Market Center Management Company plans to redesign the current Nashville Convention Center into a 12 story, 2 million sq. feet facility that would be known as the Nashville Medical Trade Center. The project is contingent, of course, on Metro Council approval of both plans to build a new convention center in SoBro (Music City Center) and its own plans for the old convention center.

proposed Nashville Medical Trade Center-photo from NashvillePost.com

This makes three potential high-profile projects and tons of potential dollars that could come to downtown Nashville, but are contingent on the city going thru with building the proposed Music City Center:

1. 2014 NCAA Women's Basketball Final Four

2. Nashville's bid to host World Cup's international broadcast center (also contingent on Nashville's bid to be WC host city for either 2018 or 2022 WC). This one becoming reality is admittedly very unlikely, even with new CC.

3. Nashville Medical Trade Center--a $250 million investment in downtown.

For me, the question of whether to build a new convention center has never been a question of need. I think that is obvious. The need is there. Obviously there are unprecedented opportunities for Nashville if we build a new convention center. Not just for more and more larger conventions, but for all sorts of prospects. Not just opportunities to bring dollars to downtown Nashville, but to bring high-profile events to the city. To grow the brand of Nashville, and make downtown a bustling destination. And to catch up with peer cities like Indianapolis.

For me, the question of a new convention center has always been about cost. Mayor Karl Dean has had a bumpy road so far with the CC, but he does appear to be listening (at least listening) to concerns about the high cost of a new CC--especially with regard to the CC hotel. That is where the project seems to get expensive--and risky for taxpayers.

Just initially hearing about the opportunities that could come with the proposed Music City Center--I think it is worth it. I think Nashville needs to build it--if we can find a responsible way to do it (as far as cost).

I would have preferred a better designed CC that was more of a city center and a place for its own residents. And I may have chosen a different location. But even though the Music City Center plans don't suit my own specific tastes in those areas, it appears to represent a wealth of opportunities for our city. And that's what is most important.

I know there will be discussion about how all these potential opportunities contingent on a new CC represent nothing more than a good sell job to the public. And there will be more questions of why the city didn't just expand on the current CC themselves. And I'm sure there will be more skepticism on whether either of these two new convention centers will ever live up to the numbers being put forth by their proponents.

I guess I'm just feeling increasingly convinced. Or maybe I have stars in my eyes . . . and buyers' remorse awaits.

Making the case

Today, Nashville makes its final pitch to the Go USA Bid committee to be included as one of the host cities in the United States' bid for either the 2018 or the 2022 World Cup.

We all know that all the World Cup games will sell out, no matter where and when they are played. But surely one of the things the committee will be taking into consideration is each city's history of attendance/support at USMNT games. While Nashville has a short history with the USMNT, it is a very good history.

LP Field hosted a World Cup warm-up friendly match between Morooco and the USMNT in 2006. Then in 2008, Olympic qualifying (and the u-21 USMNT team) came to Nashville. But the biggest soccer event Nashville has ever hosted was April 1st of 2009, when LP Field and the USMNT hosted Trinidad and Tobago for a World Cup Qualifying match before 27, 959 fans.

Of all the USMNT home games played in America in 2009, the one in Nashville was the fifth best attended. It is true, those matches do include a variety of situations against a variety of opponents, but if 2009 attendance is given any weight, then Nashville is looking good:

2009 USMNT Home Matches:

1) US 1- Mex 5 (Gold Cup Final), 7/26/09 Giants Stadium, NY: 79,156

2) US 2- Hon 1 (Gold Cup Semis) 6/06/09 Soldier Field, Chicago: 55,647

3) US 2- Hon 0 (WCQ) 7/23/09 Soldier Field, Chicago: 55, 173

4) US 2- Panama 1 OT (Gold Cup Quarters) 7/18/09 Lincoln Financial Field, Philly: 31, 087

5) US 3- T&T 0 (WCQ) 4/01/09 LP Field, Nashville: 27, 959

6) US 2- Costa Rica 0 (WCQ) 10/14/09 RFK Stadium, Washington D.C. : 26,243

7) US 2- Hon 0 (Gold Cup Group Stage) 7/08/09 RFK Stadium, Washington D.C. : 26,079

8) US 2- Haiti 2 (Gold Cup Group Stage ) 7/11/09 Gillette Stadium, Foxborough,MA: 24,137

9) US 2- El Salvador 1 (WCQ) 9/05/09 Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy, Utah: 19,066

10) US 4- Grenada 0 (Gold Cup Group Stage) 7/04/09 Qwest Field, Seattle, WA: 15,387

11) US 3- Sweden 2 (Friendly) 1/24/09 The Home Depot Center, Carson,CA: 9,918

See Also--

The Tennessean has a series of articles on Nashville's pursuit of the World Cup, coinciding with the city's final presentation to the bid committee on Tuesday:

World Cup in Nashville would spark serious celebration
Nashville continues to pursue World Cup soccer tournament
Soccer is viewed as great unifier
Competition to lure World Cup is strong
Nashville touts assets in World Cup bid application
Nashvillians should have little trouble learning soccer's rules
Nashville's immigrant community is excited about World Cup bid

A Braves fan's perspective on the Yankees winning the Series . . . again

When I think of the New York Yankees the first thing I think of is Jim Leyritz. And Mark Wohlers' hanging slider in game four of the 1996 World Series. The moment that ultimately decided that the New York Yankees, and not the Atlanta Braves, would become the 'team of the nineties.'

As a lifelong Braves fan that moment is one of the most painful that I have encountered in all of sports. The Braves had been up 2-1 in the Series and up 6-0 in game 4. But it all fell apart. I still want to scream at Bobby Cox and Mark Wholers: "Just throw the damn fastball!" Mark Wohlers had a great fastball, but that stupid slider, that stupid hanging slider . . .

Looking back it still feels like Leyritz's home run permanently turned the lights out on Atlanta Fulton County Stadium, even though one last game was played there before the Braves moved next door to Turner Field. That last game in Fulton County Stadium history was a quiet Andy Pettitte masterpiece--a 1-0 shutout of the Braves that put the Yankees one win away from what would be the first of four World Championships over the next five years.

But Braves fans probably associate that last loud crack of Leyritz's bat with the end of Fulton County (and effectively, Wohler's career as we knew it). In some awful way, it was almost an appropriate end for a truly historic place. Leyritz's historic home run flew over the same fence that Hank Aaron's historic 715th home run flew over. Atlanta Fulton County Stadium was truly a home run park, as evidenced by its nickname, The Launching Pad. Maybe it lived up to its nickname a little too well in the end. Leyritz's blast led to the Braves fizzle while the Yankees flew into history.

Pettitte on the mound leading the Yankees to a World Series victory--that brings us to last night. 13 years after Pettitte and the Yankees defeated the defending champion Atlanta Braves, Pettitte and the Yankees did the same thing to the defending champion Philadelphia Phillies.

This time it was Pettitte going 5 and 2/3 innings and getting the win in a 7-3 victory that clinched the New York Yankees' 27th World Championship. It was the first for second year manager Joe Girardi. That is another way in which 2009 is reminiscent of 1996 (Girardi, by the way, was also on the 1996 edition of the Yankees, as starting catcher. Leyritz was actually a game 4 sixth inning substitution for Girardi--which led to Leyritz's fateful home run). '96 was the first World Series title for then first year manager Joe Torre. And it ushered in an era of Yankee dominance. One has to wonder, will Joe Girardi's reign be similar to Torre's? Could this be the beginning of more Yankee supremacy?

Petite and Rivera dominating on the mound, a new manager named Joe claiming his place in history, pinstripes piling up on the pitcher's mound with Sinatra blaring in the background amid joyous smiles in the Bronx--even this bitter Braves fan has to admit: it may be haunting, it may be painful, but the Yankees winning the World Series just seems right.

27 times right.

Larry Woody's 2 Nashvilles

You may have noticed how trendy it is for members of the local news media to jump ship and shack up with the arch enemy of their former employers. Everyone who used to write for the Tennessean now writes for various South Comm publications, while others have defected from The City Paper over to the evil Gannett Corporation.

But Larry Woody is the original rebel. Yep, he defected ("retired") from The Tennessean and went to The City Paper way before it became cool to do so. Those were the days. Back before Jack White haunted the streets of 12th South, when The Nashville Scene wasn't glossy, when things just made sense.

But Nashville has changed. These days the kids are wearing skinny jeans, cutting their hair, even using condoms. But Larry Woody remembers a better time. He remembers a Nashville the way it should be--a Nashville with no bike lanes, with a solid red light district, with just more . . . tackiness. You know, back when Billy Ray Cyrus was famous for his shitty music instead of his daughter.

Woody's recent column in The City Paper lays out a well organized conspiracy by, "elitists," to kill all the good things about Nashville--namely the absolute shithole known as the Tennessee State Fairgrounds and the historic Fairgrounds Speedway. Woody brings a John Edwards perspective to the debate on the property, he lays out . . . .Larry Woody's 2 Nashvilles:


Larry Woody's Bad Nashville--these are the things and people in on the conspiracy to kill stock car racing and push out good ol' dirt & grime regular folk:

Golf courses
NHL Hockey
Condominiums
Nashville liberals
stunning views of downtown
people who don't like miles-traveling sound pollution of race cars
the new Country Music Hall of Fame
the Schermerhorn Symphony Center
the Sommet Center
Irish pubs
more hip eateries and boutiques
sushi restaurants
Ryman Auditorium (today, esp. when it hosts rock & pop shows)
Flight of the Conchords
Kid Rock (whaa?)
Mayor Karl Dean
elitists
anyone younger than 105
Ghost Ballet & other 'art'
Percy Warner Parks
urban parks in general
the infamous, "they"
Lower Broad, post clean-up...faux country



Larry Woody's Good Nashville--the victims of the grand conspiracy to un-Nashville Nashville

prize pigs and pumkins
fairgrounds
ordinary folks
working-class folks
people in work shirts with their name stitched on the pocket
the super classy & safe Tennessee State Fair & its denizens
the Grand Ole Opry
the shitty Country Music Hall of Fame from the 80's and the tacky souvenir shops that once surrounded it
Opryland
flea market & its fleamarketers
Ryman Auditorium (back when it only hosted Grand Ole Opry a couple times a week)
anyone with the last name Marlin
everyone 105 and older
people with old ball caps and scuffed shoes
Bill Goodman's Gun & Knife Show
race car drivers
Danny Denson
Shoney's
Lower Broadway when it was dirty, crime-ridden...real country

This conspiracy has pushed out, "ordinary folks," to make way for hipsters. Apparently it's a sort of gentrification . . . except the victims in this instance are white hicks:

“First they moved the Grand Ole Opry out of town, and now they’re running stock car racing out,” Denson said. “They’re doing away with the history and tradition that made our city so unique and special. It’s sad to see.”

It’s true the Ryman Auditorium remains, but the Opry’s fans got shuffled across the Cumberland River, so the “Mother Church of Country Music” could host shows by Kid Rock, the Jonas Brothers and Flight of the Conchords. (talk about revisionist history)

The remodel may be coincidental, but looking back it can easily be perceived as calculated or elitist. The original Country Music Hall of Fame used to grace the edge of Music Row, next to a Shoney’s and across the street from tacky souvenir shops. Now, the new hall is downtown near the Schermerhorn Symphony Center and the Sommet Center, and the tacky shops have given way to more hip eateries and boutiques,including an Irish pub and a sushi restaurant.

Opryland’s ruins were rebuilt as Opry Mills, a grandiose oval housing merchandise tailored more for tourists than local folk.

And while the city still loves to tout its Lower Broadway and its honky-tonks, the dirt and grime were cleaned up considerably in the past couple of decades, turning seedy into trendy.So where do our ordinary folks go? Well, the fairgrounds — the flea market and the noisy, dusty oval racetrack.

And for those who would complain about the noise? Ya' ain't got no argument, boy:

Is racing noisy? Of course it is. It was noisy when the first race was run at the fairgrounds in 1904, and it’s been noisy ever since.

But as third-generation racer Sutherlin Marlin reminded the Fair Board during a recent meeting, only residents older than 105 have a right to complain. All others knew racing was there when they moved in.

“It’s like somebody buying a house by the airport — usually at a pretty good bargain — then complaining about the planes flying over,” Denson said. “There’s not a single person living in this neighborhood [near the track] who wasn’t aware that there was a racetrack here when they moved in.”

Actually, Larry Woody is the elitist. Look at the neighborhoods surrounding the fairgrounds. There are a lot of poor people in the area. People who maybe took the bargain of being close to the noisy eyesore that he and Danny Denson love so much because they couldn't afford a quieter place farther away from the track. Or perhaps a majority of the community surrounding the racetrack decided they were tired of the noise. They do have that right, as property owners in the area. Or does racin' trump everything else?

Truth is, time has passed by Larry Woody and Danny Denson. Gone are the days when the neighborhoods surrounding the fairgrounds were filled with people who relished the idea of a night at the races. The neighborhood, like the city, has changed (and did so a long time ago).

But don't tell 'ordinary folk' they can't have their race track, their grime, their kitsch, their empty grandstands, their C-level racing. Because they were here first. And they aren't going to be caught dead at that new-fangled Super Speedway out in Gladeville.

That place is for hipsters and elitists.

Be More Like Atlanta?

Both Atlanta and Nashville struggle with urban sprawl. But while Nashville is considering spending over $1 billion on a new controversial Convention Center for SoBro, Atlanta has plans to spend $2.8 billion over the next 25 years fighting sprawl with what might be the most ambitious urban development greening project in the nation: the Atlanta Beltline.

The Atlanta Beltline will make use of abandoned railroads and old industrial wasteland to create a 22 mile loop of trails, transit, affordable housing and green neighborhood development.

From beltline.org:

Over the past 20 years, metro Atlanta’s growth has occurred in widely spread and disconnected pockets of development which have strained the region’s quality of life and economic growth. By attracting and organizing some of the region’s future growth around parks, transit, and trails, the BeltLine will help change the pattern of regional sprawl in the coming decades and lead to a vibrant and livable Atlanta with an enhanced quality of life.

The BeltLine will add 22-miles of light rail transit that will connect with the existing MARTA system and the proposed Peachtree Streetcar. New multi-use trails will follow the 22-mile transit loop, and 11 miles of additional trails will extend into surrounding neighborhoods to increase access to the BeltLine. The BeltLine will also improve the City’s transportation infrastructure by connecting neighborhoods via sidewalks, streetscapes, and road/intersection improvements leading to a more cohesive urban street grid.

Before/After photo on proposed Atlanta Beltline

Living In Denial?

Barbara Ehrenreich caught my attention last night. She was on The Daily Show to promote her newest book, "Bright-Sided: How the Relentless Promotion of Positive Thinking Has Undermined America."

From Democracy Now:

"In her new book, author Barbara Ehrenreich documents what she says is the destructive power of the positive thinking movement in the United States, from breast cancer to the workplace, to the economy, to politics as a whole. Ehrenreich opens the book by writing about her own experience with breast cancer culture after being diagnosed with the disease in 2000. She says in the prevailing positive thinking culture of America, breast cancer patients are urged to avoid feeling angry and instead find meaning and even uplift in the disease. She writes, "In the most extreme characterization, breast cancer is not a problem at all, not even an annoyance -- it is a ‘gift,’ deserving of the most heartfelt gratitude."

Wow, I totally agree. My mom is a breast cancer survivor and I think the characterization of breast cancer as a gift or a blessing is totally ridiculous. Though, I must admit, I don't know if my mom would agree. She is a devout Christian and might feel exactly that way. But, I guess the point is, not everyone does, and it's okay to feel bad about bad things happening. I sure do.

It reminds me of when there is some terrible tragedy and people say, 'it was meant to be, something good will come of it. It's just part of God's plan.' And they are saying this, usually on TV or something, after they have survived something awful while the bodies of people who didn't survive are almost literally right behind them on the screen. Meant to be? Part of God's plan? Something tells me you might not think that if you were the one who was dead. Yeah.

I get mad when I get a cold--or when I just think I might be getting a cold. And I've been warned not to be negative about it. As if being mad about the possibility that a sore throat might turn out to be the beginning of a miserable cold will actually make it happen. I'm sure if I got a serious illness I would be seriously pissed off. Sometimes pissed off leads to taking action. Not all bad.

I get that Ehrenreich's full court press on the pitfalls of positivity isn't for everyone. Different things work for different people. But her argument could stand to be heard by America as a whole, not just people like me who are tired of being told to search out the positive side of terrible situations. Is America turning into a nation of Mildred Montags clinging to their seashells and reaching for Huxley's Soma? Increasingly, we can't deal. Anti-depressants are the most prescribed drugs in America.

I'm thinking of the concrete smile of Laura Linney, in The Truman Show, assuring the TV audience that everything is A-OK even as the artificial reality crumbles around her. But no matter how ridiculous, she plays for the camera with her fake grin. Meanwhile, she is on her way to a nervous breakdown.

You can get to a point where the power of positive thinking is nothing more than living in denial. And that isn't healthy.

Time to fire Coach Fisher?

After the Titans' 0-5 start, which is the franchise's worst start since they came to Nashville, my thoughts drifted to something that Chris Collinsworth mentioned during the NBC Sunday Night Football broadcast.

Collinsworth mentioned that he was surprised that the Titans had apparently decided against instituting any kind of, 'wildcat' formation for Vince Young, even while staying with Kerry Collins as the Titans' starter. Sure, VY, may not currently be the Titans' best drop-back option at quarterback, but surely the Titans could make use of his other undeniable skills (especially when the offense is sputtering as it has lately).

The reason this caught my attention is because it would seem to highlight the larger problem at hand...and the reason you can make a strong case as to why the much-revered Jeff Fisher actually does deserve to be fired.

This season, from defense to special teams to quarterback play, Jeff Fisher has been tardy or completely inept at making the necessary changes/decisions to avert the Titans' extended winless start to the season.

Even after the Colts were gashed by the Miami Dolphins' 'wildcat,' formation the Titans failed to include such options into their gameplan for the Colts--and make no mistake--on Sunday night, the Titans had every opportunity to experiment with their offense. Yes, Vince Young finally made his 2009 debut, but only long after the Titans 0-5 start had long since become reality.

If Jeff Fisher and the Titans were really exploring every opportunity to win instead of entrenching themselves in their seemingly familiar philosophy of , 'our way or 0-and whoever we play,' then at the very least, on Sunday Night, Nashvillians would have seen an ugly VY Wildcat offense fail miserably while the game was still in question. Instead we got what seems to have become the same old Jeff Fisher status-quo--and it failed miserably.

Yes, it is nice to see a coach stand up for the players he has decided to start. But being a stand-up guy isn't what NFL coaching is all about. Especially when you are standing up for some choices that are no longer working.

Surely Fisher's unwillingness to experiment with all available options on offense is at least one reason why Bud Adams and the Tennessee Titans have to consider severing ties with one of the, admitedly, most desirable names among NFL coaches.

Turning the corner in health care reform debate?

The latest liberal linkage:

Say what you want about Keith Olbermann. His place in American politics could simply be described as the one man answer to the Fox News Revolution. So, yes, there is a lot of controversy, adversity, conflict, pettiness and combativeness involved with Olbermann as anchor man/commentator. But Keith Olbermann's hour long Special Comment on health care reform was heartfelt, sincere and filled with undeniably effective moments--none more so than the final moment. I would go so far as to say it was courageous, as he brought a decidedly personal perspective to his comment, which made it that much more genuine.

HuffPo says health care reform is gaining momentum.

Right now there seems to be an unprecedented amount of positive talk for health care reform. We aren't hearing nearly as much from the conservatives who oppose it. At the very least, HCR seems to be winning this news cycle. From Robert L. Borosage:

"The struggle over health care reform is now reaching its climax. The backroom struggle over energy and financial reform is already fierce. It is time for Democrats to unite to get these done. It is time for the two or three Senate Republicans with any iota of independence to put country over party and be part of the solution. But most of all, it is time for us to follow the money, to track the contributions, expose the lobbyists, and challenge the legislators in both parties who hope to benefit by serving special interests rather than representing their constituents."

Meanwhile, what is the far right up to? Fear mongering over the H1N1 vaccine. Obsessing over ACORN. Off message?

Meanwhile, President Obama has Arnold Schwarzenegger's support in health care reform.

Bob Dole supports health care reform, says it will pass. Tennessee's Bill Frist is supposedly on board as well. Not sure what all this Republican, "support," for health care reform really means, but one thing is for sure: the Liberal side was taken back the bully pulpit from the Teabaggers, who effectively snatched it away this summer.

State-Based "Public Options" Gaining Steam

Betsy McCaughey was obliterated by Dylan Ratigan on MSNBC the morning after being embarrassed by Anthony Weiner in health care reform debate.

Bob Cesca reminds you that the health insurance you have now sucks.

Doctors for America visit the White House. And Mad As Hell Doctors crashed the party.

Finally, I think some locals may have missed the point of all the national (and local) liberal talk of challenging Jim Cooper in the primary. It really pissed off some liberal Nashvillians who ranted about how liberal Nashville isn't. How dare national liberals assume Nashville is so liberal? Awful. People not from the left have defended him valiantly. I agree that Nashville probably isn't overly liberal. And its definitely not conservative. It's more moderate than anything. But so what?

Perhaps, the point wasn't to really primary Jim Cooper. The point was to get his attention and let him know that he has constituents who are serious about their support of a public option. Right? And to let him know there are national groups who are willing to put some pressure on him as a convincer. At the very least, I think it is safe to say that such an attempt was successful--at least at getting his attention. Whether it changes anything in the ultimate outcome of things is another matter.

Or maybe it really was evil national liberals swooping in, injecting themselves where they don't belong, trying to liberalize Nashville Dems who would rather be left alone. But I am glad to see liberals at least attempt to force Blue Dogs and Conservative Dems to stop the b.s. and help support REAL health care reform.

Oh Jesus, it's the Sarah Palin of artists!

The first thing that makes Jon McNaughton's painting, "One Nation Under God," fun is that he has created an interactive tool so you can scroll over each character in the painting to read a bit of teabaggery tinged perspective on each one. There's Jesus, Ronald Reagan, Supreme Court Judge, Satan, etc.--each of them have a little explanation as to their importance in the painting.

See, Jon McNaughton isn't taking any chances with his own brilliant, "symbolism." He wants to make sure everyone out there can see exactly what he is getting at. Just in case his 'hit you over the head' style wasn't obvious enough already.

The second thing that makes One Nation Under God fun is that the painter is apparently delusional. If you go to his website you can read a discussion on the painting that sounds like it is between Jon McNaughton and . . . himself. He begins the interview by congratulating himself, "Well Jon, you've created another masterpiece painting." Interviewer Jon eventually closes the discussion by declaring to the world that Artist Jon has, created what, "may truly be the most important new painting of the twenty first century."

I think Jon McNaughton studied art at same place Sarah Palin studied politics. I tried to google this guy to find out more about him. The most I could find out is that he has created a collection of art that you might find hanging on your grandmother's wall. Apparently not much else to know. There is a wiki entry on John McNaughton, but that is on a Hollywood Director (ironically one of characters in the painting) who made Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer.

The third thing that makes McNaughton's painting fun is the most fun part. After you read through McNaughton's delusions of grandeur and his own painful explanation of every last detail of the painting, go here, where you will find a more entertaining interactive tool which explains (sarcastically) every last detail of this hilarious disaster, ahem, I mean important masterpiece.

Yep, he would've been a great mayor

This isn't a post to criticize Mayor Karl Dean. Has he been perfect? No. Am I unsatisfied with the job he's done as mayor thus far? Overall, no, of course not. I voted for Karl Dean and I am glad he won. But I voted for David Briley before I voted for Dean (in the run-off). This post is about him--eventually.

Last Friday I was away from my computer doing typical non-computer Friday things. I missed this story. You can catch up on it here and here. A quick re-cap of the controversy from Nashville Is Talking's Christian Grantham:

"NashvillePost Political blogger Adam Kleinheider is facing charges of racism from some of his readers after posting this post earlier today.

The post features a YouTube video from State House candidate Steve Turner under the headline “Is That Jason Powell in Blackface?”

Turner, who is black, appears in the video promoting his candidacy for the state House representing the 58th District and mentions a fundraiser that takes place tonight.

Powell, who ran against the current incumbent Turner is challenging, lost to Mary Pruitt in 2006. He was one of the first people to demand Kleinheider remove the post in comments."

The uproar around the story grew when SouthComm didn't take down, retract or even comment on the post quickly. At least not quick enough. Eventually they did comment. In a variety of places. Including on SouthComm's newly acquired Nashville Scene blog, Pith in the Wind. SouthComm's CEO, Chris Ferrell even weighed in there.

I think of all the reactions to this controversy that I've read, the most reasoned, rationale response was from our sort-of-almost-mayor, David Briley. Obviously, there is more to being mayor than bringing reason to controversy, but I think his comment is evidence that, while things didn't work out for him in his bid to be mayor, yes, he would have been (and still is) a great leader for this city:

"By posting on my Facebook page yesterday that “racism is a live and well”, I intentionally did not use the word “racist”. I did not use that word because I do not believe anyone at SouthComm (including Kleinheider) believes that a person’s race determines who they are or their value to our community. That’s what I would mean by racism. I know Chris Ferrell, Ken Whitehouse, Liz Garrigan and Tom Wood well enough personally to say that just the opposite is true.

I used the word “racism” because, in my opinion, Kleinheider’s post is an example of “racism”. Part of today's racism is the continued, subtle use of a trope, description or assumption that historically was part of society's effort to perpetuate false stereotypes about race. We as a culture used these false stereotypes to subjugate blacks based on arbitrary categories of race. Kleinheider’s use of “black face” which historically was a significant part of that effort is evidence that we have not gotten beyond the issue.

I don’t post very often to Facebook, although you can see pictures of our Labor Day pig roast there. I felt Kleinheider’s post deserved a response because he has become a significant voice in Nashville for those of us who follow politics. If he is going to stick around, he ought to be held accountable for what he says. He also ought to spend some time talking to the adults in this City who lived through institutional segregation and listen to their opinions about whether race is still an issue here. Maybe then he would not joke about whether this is still the South. Maybe then he’d understand why it’s offensive to suggest a guy who dared to put his name on the ballot is just a white guy dressed up to look black.

Finally, in retrospect, it would have been a mistake for SouthComm to pull down the post immediately. The discussion has been good and in the future there will be plenty of legitimate stuff posted that someone will want taken down. I think Chris’s approach with Kleinheider makes sense. I hope Kleinheider will clear the air with his next post.

Dems=worst supermajority ever

Yesterday, not only did Dem leaders help kill the public option, they also voted for abstinence-only sex education.

Jon Stewart's commentary adds some humor to an utterly sickening reality:

"Democrats couldn't get laid in a house [where people's] soul purpose is to have consequence and disease-free sex with legislators on finance committees."

Video from The Daily Show:

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Democratic Super Majority
http://www.thedailyshow.com/
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Ron Paul Interview

Help bring World Cup to Nashville

Will LP Field be the site of World Cup games in 2022?
You can help make it reality.

Nashville is one of 27 cities still being considered to be included in the United States' bid to host the World Cup in either 2018 or 2022. Please go here and sign the petition to bring the World Cup to LP Field in Nashville, TN. All you need to do is provide your email and most importantly your Nashville zipcode. Thanks for your help.

The Golden List

We have heard about the companies pulling the plug on advertising during the Glenn Beck Show after he called the President of the United States a racist. But what about the ones that are sticking by Mr.Beck? There are almost 60 companies on the boycott list; compare that list to the companies still advertising during Beck's show and you will find great contrast.

One list reveals well known powerhouses of the American economy (Capital One, Mercedes-Benz, Clorox, Geico, GMAC Financial, Proctor and Gamble, Progressive Insurance, Radio Shack, SC Johnson, State Farm Insurance, etc.). Meanwhile the list of leftovers is, well . . . golden (you'll see). It is a weird mix of conservative media standing up for Beck, companies you probably have never heard of, along with a lot of advertising aimed at 1) seniors, and 2)people worried about their financial security, as well as 3) seniors worried about their financial future.

It should come as no surprise that companies selling fear are the many of the ones still left advertising during a show that sells fear.

Here is a list of all those companies advertising during Glen Beck's 9/02/2009 show (in order of appearance):

Fox News
Joseph A. Bank
Rosland Capital (G.Gordon Liddy peddling gold because the dollar is, "unreliable")
Accu-Check Aviva (medical supplies for those with diabetes)
Anti-Carbon Fuel Standards ad paid for by Consumer Energy Alliance
Hughes and Coleman

The Villages (jingle tells viewer it's, "Florida’s Friendliest Hometown”--it's a senior citizen retirement village)
The Weekly Standard
Merit Financial (another gold commercial--"The current economic crisis is striking close to home and your financial future could be at risk.” They assure you they are a member of the Better Business Bureau. Always comforting.)

Fox News
Easy Water (water conditioning system)
Lear Capital (another gold commercial!)
GoToMeeting.com
Fox News

Fox News
The Wall Street Journal
Zerowater.com
Comcast
A Grandmother’s Wish Care At Home (home health care for seniors)
Pinpoint (local Comcast programming)
Guaranteed Consumer Funding (financing for poor credit consumers)

Joseph A. Bank
Rosland Capital (yep, more gold)
Binder and Binder
American Advisors Group (selling reverse mortgages to seniors)

Media Matters reports that 11 more companies have also pledged to no longer advertise during Glenn Beck. One of those 11 is Binder and Binder (listed above), so you can take that one off the list as well.

Glenn Beck and Fox News, meanwhile, are enjoying high ratings and are supposedly feeling no worries about the boycott. Beck's current list of sponsors might be golden, but it certainly can't have Fox News feeling very secure about the show's financial future.

Glenn Beck on The President of the United States:

"He has a deep seated hatred for white people or the white culture"

"This guy is a racist."

You can sign the colorof change.org petition to call on advertisers to drop sponsorship of Glenn Beck here.

BRT Lite--another half-assed transit solution?

When Mayor Karl Dean was elected he ambitiously stated he wanted to make Nashville the most walkable city in the region (or did he say nation?). Unfortunately, reality is a far cry from ambition. Today, Nashville is the opposite of what Mayor Dean hopes to turn it into. Sunday's Tennessean decried that, "walking here is hazardous to your health," as evidenced by this ominous fact: "the number of pedestrian accidents has gone up nearly every year since 2004 — a grim statistic in a city already known as one of the least-pedestrian-friendly places in the country."

Meanwhile, we are being reminded that even the positive developments aren't nearly as positive as they could be. One of Mayor Dean's most important campaign promises is about to come true--the implementation of Bus Rapid Transit. The first BRT line will begin service next month.
But even that good news must be tempered with a dose of reality. In today's Nashville City Paper, Sam Claycombe writes that Nashville is actually getting "BRT Light," also known as BRT without the dedicated lanes:

It can be argued that dedicated lanes are the cornerstone of the BRT model. Building a system that is contingent on new riders with an incomplete foundation may be hazardous, since sitting in traffic in a comfortable bus is still sitting in traffic.

Although it may be riskier and more expensive to finance, a true BRT system might garner more recognition and praise. The Gallatin Road buses won’t have their own lanes, but McAteer believes BRT Light will significantly improve the quality and speed of Nashville’s mass transit.

The City Paper article mentions other recent 'failed' attempts to get Nashvillians out of their cars. In that way, BRT Light does sort of remind one of the low budget approach to commuter rail. The first Music City Star line went to Lebanon (instead of elsewhere) because it was much, much cheaper than alternatives. Now there are largely empty trains operating to Lebanon daily, while people in Southeast Nashville clamor for an alternative to the I-24 commute (same goes for routes North on I-65).



Murfreesboro is Tennessee's fastest growing city, with 101, 753 people. Also along a proposed commuter rail route to the Southeast are cities like Smyrna and LaVergne, which add another 40-50K in population. But where did the first MCS route go? To Lebanon and Mt.Juliet with a combined population of at least 100,000 less people (and less density--see above map) than the Southeast route. And some of the communities on the Lebanon line had to be dragged along.

One has to wonder--was it really worth it to build the barebones cheap line to Lebanon? Will it ultimately just slow down or kill plans to expand the Music City Star (and other local mass transit initiatives) to areas that actually want rail service? Maybe it would have been better to wait and build a line that will actually be used, even if it meant waiting longer to begin service.

The plan was to expand commuter rail service to other areas. But three years later there is only below projected ridership and no plans to expand service anytime soon. Same goes for the new BRT line on Gallatin Road. Supposedly, there are plans to eventually add dedicated lanes so that our BRT is actually BRT. No details on when that will actually happen.

I say, for once, let's actually do something all-the-way when it comes to transit. Let's add those dedicated lanes soon--like 'set a date' soon. And let's hope that these budget-wise initiatives really are beginnings and not endings.