Sat
May 10 2008
08:09:am
Cunningham's tin ear and monkeys
By: R. Neal  shortURL

The Maryville Daily Times reports on Mayor Cunningham's remarks at the Blount County Republican Lincoln Day Dinner. He apparently can't talk about policies and progress in Blount County. Instead, he lowers himself to name calling.

He referred to Blount County Democrats as "far-left loons" and called three sitting County Commissioners (who he did not name) "monkeys." Speaking of Judge Meares and his "handlers," Cunningham said that "when you wallow with the hogs, you're going to get a little mud on you."

Contrast this with remarks at the Democrat's Roosevelt Day Dinner*, such as Commissioner Wendy Pitts-Reeve's talking about Eleanor Roosevelt's fight for "equal rights, equal justice, and equal dignity."

Or Mark Padgett's remarks that "small business is the fabric of our economy" and that his Dad was committed to helping small businesses grow our economy and create jobs.

Or Joe Gallagher talking about the progress Democrats are making in Blount County and calling for an independent panel to conduct a top to bottom audit of county finances.

Or Judge Mike Meares' remarks about his extensive background and experience in criminal law, and the Constitutional system of checks and balances including an independent judiciary. Or his remarks about citizens getting involved in better government and elected officials being responsive to citizens.

The contrast is pretty clear. Blount County Democrats have a progressive message of better government for a better Blount County.

Mayor Cunningham has a tin ear when it comes to politics, so all he can do is go negative. He doesn't have anything positive to offer, and compensates by hurling insults at thousands of good, honest, hard-working Blount County voters. It's not clear how this helps his candidates, and it will be interesting to see if they reject his remarks and distance themselves, or if they share his low regard for Blount County voters.

It's difficult to understand how Mayor Cunningham got elected with nothing more to offer than name calling and a local version of "cowboy diplomacy." But he has actually done Blount County a huge favor by lowering the bar in local politics. The lesson for Blount County is that if this is the best Republicans have to offer, Democrats can do a lot better.

(*You'll have to read about the Democrat's FDR dinner here, because as far as I know the Maryville Daily Times didn't cover it. That should tell you a lot about the local paper and how cozy they are with the local political machine. EDIT: But give them credit for not glossing over these shocking remarks. I suppose they didn't have much choice, though, because lots of people herad them.)

Ed. note: Comments have been enabled for approved users.

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I am shocked by Mayor

Submitted by bizgrrl on Sat, 05/10/2008 - 08:22.

I am shocked by Mayor Cunningham's comments. I will have to think about his comments more so that I do not respond too quickly and angrily.

"And it's frightening to me," he continued. "Because most of them moved in here from somewhere else.

"And that's wonderful -- we've got a lot of wonderful people coming in here helping us do the good things ... and doing the right kinds of things for Blount County," he said. "But we have some of these far-lefters coming in here, and they hit the county line coming into Blount County criticizing everything that moves."

It sure is a good thing he clarified that it's okay that certain conservative people are moving here or he would be making the developers angry. Of course, how does he know that the majority of influx to Blount County aren't liberal? He's putting out a liberals not wanted sign. Can that affect home building, home re-sales, new business to the area?

Lamar Alexander should apologize to Blount County citizens for being on the same stage as Cunningham.

MY circuit court judge?

Submitted by Andy on Sat, 05/10/2008 - 12:16.

This quote alone tells you everything you need to know why you should get involved in Mike Meares' Campaign for Circuit Court Judge, Division II:

"And I look and I see them trying to put another one of their kind in as my circuit judge, as our circuit judge, and I find that reprehensible.

We, the citizens of Blount County of every party affiliation (or none), need Jerry Cunningham's administration to have their own Circuit Court Judge to protect their sorry behinds just like we need another hole in our heads.

Tell 10 of your neighbors who is supporting David Duggan and why. Start with the Division 1 Judge, Dale Young, who has given at least $1,000 (the maximum) to the campaign. Move on to Berrong and Cunningham, also large contributors. If you can, give money to the Meares for Judge Campaign. If you can't, give some elbow grease: (link...)

If the three Democrats have been that big of a thorn in Cunningham's side by just asking questions, then it is clear that more questions need asked. Remember: there are only 3 of them amidst 18 Republicans. Something is rotten in Denmark.

"Men are equal; it is not birth but virtue that makes the difference." --Voltaire

I thought the "their kind"

Submitted by R. Neal on Sat, 05/10/2008 - 12:22.

I thought the "their kind" remark was interesting.

Ungulates Chewing Cud

Submitted by BeyondLeft on Sun, 05/11/2008 - 15:59.

"moved in here from somewhere else"

Well, I reckon, he's got me pegged. My folks didn't move to Blount County until the early 1940's and they came all the way from Madisonville, TN; so my Dad could work at the Aluminum Company. Our Foreign roots come from a long line of Blue Collar, Pro-Union, Pro-Worker, philanthropists that date back to the early 1800's in Monroe County.

So if'n Democrats is Monkeys, then I suppose the current Right-Wing, Fascist, War-Mongering, fight-em-over-there-stead-o-over-heeyah, Capitalist Thug Party, must be Blood Thirsty Sharks; for I've never witnessed such predation on a grand scale.

I HAD some pride in John Duncan, but that was shot all to $hit, this morning on Gene Patterson's show, when Duncan said, "Those countries think they can charge us whatever they want for a barrell of Oil." How many brain dead folks get sucked into that rhetoric? OPEC doesn't meet everyday; but we DO borrow money for the Exxon War everyday--and it's driving the value of the Dollar into the dirt. The right-wing anti-liberals can talk all that rhetoric all they want, but the truth is we're trading away the value of the Dollar for an Oil War. And the us, Duncan refers to is Exxon-Mobil, Chevron-Texaco, Shell, & BP--they aren't us, they're them. So ...

I reckon it IS better that we're fighting them over there instead of over here, because if we were fighting them here, then I'd think Mexico and Oklahoma wouldn't appreciate having a War on their Borders.

viva Evo Morales

all the way from Madisonville

Submitted by gime_shltr on Sun, 05/11/2008 - 20:40.

Just what I figured, another one from south of the border...

Liberals are so

Submitted by phinney on Wed, 05/14/2008 - 09:51.

Liberals are so sensitive.

Lester

Are people oversensitive or are others ridiculously insensitive?

Submitted by Andy on Wed, 05/14/2008 - 17:37.

Lest we forget - this is just one more thing in a long line of "things" that reveal a pattern of bad behavior by those that believe they are the elite ruling class of Blount County.

Monkeys:

(link...)

Russians:

(link...)

Knox County divorce cases where his high school buddy and political crony is the presiding judge:

(link...)

Lunacy and patent mendacity of a citizen activist:

(link...)

Cavemen? Bloggers? The list goes on and on . . .

"Men are equal; it is not birth but virtue that makes the difference." --Voltaire

I think most people are

Submitted by phinney on Fri, 05/16/2008 - 09:22.

I think most people are overly sensitive. Take Obama’s resent slip of the tongue. He called a female news reporter “sweetie.” Now, obviously, there isn’t a snowballs chance in you know where that I am going to vote for this guy, but I have to take his side on this one. He meant no harm by the comment. However, a few in the media (not too many because they are not going to attack one of their own) have condemned his comments as sexist and insensitive. Come on!

You liberals are too touchy-feely. You all should realize that you have no right not to be offended. Just get over it.

Lester

I'm thinking

Submitted by Andy on Fri, 05/16/2008 - 12:36.

I'm thinking that this thread would have never started if Cunningham had just used a word like "sweetie" instead of hogs, loons, and monkeys. And if Obama had used the same words Cunningham had, can you imagine the flack he would have received?

"Men are equal; it is not birth but virtue that makes the difference." --Voltaire

Obama

Submitted by our-town on Fri, 05/16/2008 - 15:14.

I'm female and hetrosexual, and I'm afraid that I have been guilty of calling someone sweetie or honey. To me they are expressions of my southern heritage, but I really have been working to not use that language for several years as it does offend some people.

I've don't recall ever

Submitted by bizgrrl on Fri, 05/16/2008 - 17:39.

I've don't recall ever calling anyone sweetie or honey unless it was a family member or someone that was needing consoling. This is a pet peeve of mine. I am in a male dominated field and grew up with several brothers. I don't need someone calling me sweetie or honey, especially when I am trying to do my job.

To me they are expressions

Submitted by ABlevins on Fri, 05/16/2008 - 21:43.

To me they are expressions of my southern heritage

For this reason I am not offended when someone uses these terms, but like bizgrrl I work in a male dominated field and do not appreciate being called "honey" or "sweetie" at work. I have hung up the phone many times swearing under by breath that "I ain't your @#&! honey". I find it is mostly sales people who use these terms while trying to get me to purchase from them. It doesn't work.
I have often used "honey or sweetie" socially or out in public. Actually it is a respectful term many times...here in the south.

But I'll think more about that...tommorrow...

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

Don't worry your pretty

Submitted by R. Neal on Fri, 05/16/2008 - 18:14.

Bizgrrl: I don't need someone calling me sweetie or honey, especially when I am trying to do my job.

Don't worry your pretty little head about it, OK darlin'? You might get the vapors.

Blount Today adds it's 1 cent worth

Submitted by gime_shltr on Fri, 05/16/2008 - 21:19.

Kind of bland in comparison to DT: Link

I'll take exception to Alexander's comments on the oil issues of the day

Alexander said gas prices are on everyone’s minds and he pointed to the Democrats as being the party that didn’t allow progress to help alleviate oil dependency

“People can say Democrats are responsible,” Alexander said, referring to high gas prices. “They want to tax it, regulate it or blame it on George Bush,” he said.

The senator said when a vote came up to drill 50 miles off the coast of Virginia, the measure failed along party lines, 54-47 with Democrats prevailing. “If Democrats stood in a puddle of oil, they wouldn’t use it,” he said.

Wouldn't use it?

What, and let my Hummer sit in the garage and collect dust!

Funny thing that old man Jimmy Carter sitting there in a nice comfy sweater by the fire back in the late '70s. Telling us all nice little stories about how we need to get off our dependencies on oil.

What an idiot. Hindsight may be 20/20, but foresight is grounds for execution!

If we don't force the break on oil dependence now, one can only imagine the pain we'll go through when we are forced to do it.

We simply cannot drill our way to lower prices at the pump ...

Submitted by BeyondLeft on Fri, 05/23/2008 - 16:58.

Said Rep. Nick Rahall (D-WV) before Congress last week.

Dr. Shltr:

You are correct, Alexander & most recently Duncan, have lost their way on Energy Independence, for the good of spouting off their worn out Party Line rhetoric. The Oil companies are triple dipping our economy, thru Socialized funding of their Exxon War, dramatic profits at the Pump, and a new move to swiss cheese America; for their own hideous profits.

I don't know if you remember the first time you jumped off the side of the pool, into the deep end. You just had to close your eyes, grit your teeth, and with adrenaline rush, just step off. That is the kind of President we need, and that is the type of leadership, every community needs right now. We need a President that is willing to suffer the collapse of the stock market, once he announces to the American Public, "As a matter of National Security, we ask that every American sell every stock they have in All forms of Energy--from Oil, to Coal, to Electric; for those facets of our economy will no longer be Privately owned."

Then, and only then will we be able to, as Mr. Alexander stated, "alleviate oil dependency." Letting Privatized Energy Companies steer our Nation's Energy Policies, hasn't seemed to be very effective for the average consumer. If marching the Middle Class to the Soup lines just to protect Zel Miller's pick-up trucks, by refusing to raise CAFE standards, is important to any American, then they're better off with McSame.

Here locally, we need leadership that is willing to create and maintain a fleet of Blount County owned and operated 100% Bio-Diesel Buses, and Bus Stop system, that would serve the public, as transportation costs rise.

viva Evo Morales

Speaking of monkey business...

Submitted by Andy on Wed, 05/21/2008 - 18:01.

Sounds like Robert Wilson of the Knoxville News Sentinel is now taking press releases from sources that are anonymous even to him: (link...) The title is "Judge's order baffles lawyers."

Baffled? I don't think those lawyers are remotely baffled. Pissed, maybe, but not baffled. Not that the first thing MY kids would have thought of if a deputy came to the door was that I was going to jail.

The article says:

Members of the Blount County legal community are scratching their heads over a recent court order - unattached to any docketed criminal or civil case - demanding that four lawyers produce documents having to do with local court procedures.

But then goes on to say that each lawyer summoned serves as the "members of the association's Local Rules Committee." Well, let's see. On the basis of THAT information, if I were a betting man, I'd put my money on the reason they were called having to do with local court procedures that the Bar Association has recommended or enacted. Duh.

Those lawyers know exactly what documents they were asked to produce, the question is why they didn't share that info with Wilson? And did Wilson collate those with the Local Rules to see what changes had occurred and when? Apparently not.

Wilson did manage to throw in a lot of criticism from Judge Young, which is NOT newsworthy given it is well-documented that he generously supports Meares' opponent financially and naturally would say anything to discredit Meares. But if I were the reporter, I'd follow up on this part:

Young also said Meares' changes in "every form and procedure" used by his predecessor, D. Kelly Thomas Jr., had caused mass confusion and unnecessary orders that damaged the efficiency of the criminal docket.

Naturally, all changes take some getting used to by staff, but I'd like to hear more about some of the changes and some of the orders Meares has reportedly issued. For example, in Rom Meares' letter from last week, he mentions some 202 pending cases Meares inherited in which people had not yet even been served - some after more than a year. Now that's just great. Meares division covers criminal cases, so does this mean we have some 202 alleged criminals walking around a long time after their alleged crimes were committed? I would like to read what Meares has done about that. Wasn't there just a front-page article in the DT about a clean-up by the Loudoun County Sheriff last week? (link...) But we haven't heard a peep about that going on here - in fact that article says the last time it happened was 7 years ago.

Now, I realize judges don't have full-time PR people like Sheriffs do. But that might just be a story worth reporting, as opposed to stories where people feign being baffled and there's no actual information given.

"Men are equal; it is not birth but virtue that makes the difference." --Voltaire

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