Tim Woolridge: Parker Griffith In Waiting?

Tim Woolridge is NO Blue Dog Democrat.  Dennis Moore of Kansas in my view is a great example of a Blue Dog Democrat in my view.  Tim Woolridge appears to be putting his hand to the wind, realizing that so many positions that the Blue Dogs support, Tim Woolridge actually opposes.

Marion Berry was no friend of many causes that some progressives champion.  I would argue that Marion Berry was a friend of the corporate farmer, more than he was the traditional family farmer.  Marion Berry would go on his merry way and cast his votes.  He was a loyal Democrat who even came down to the House floor one time to absolutely lambaste Adam Putnam for his divisive rhetoric.

Tim Woolridge is now running to replace Marion Berry in AR-1.  Tim Woolridge has consistently opposed every major piece of legislation that promotes the Keynesian principles we likely need to get out of this economic funk.  Woolridge opposes the stimulus, card check, cap and trade, health care reform, on and on.  I can understand opposing some of these bills, but Mr. Woolridge has not endorsed specific alternative pieces of legislation that deal with such issues.

Tim Woolridge even prides himself as someone who stands up for an organization that spews lies about gay citizens and believes marriage should only be for procreational purposes called Arkansas Families First  Once again, Marion Berry was certainly no staunch defender of gay rights., but he never bragged about being a leader in an anti-gay rights group.  

I usually do not like the fear mongering that goes on with people on the left who are constantly predicting a party switch coming from somewhere.    The hot rumor last month was that John Barrow of Georgia was leaving the Democratic Party.  To this point, there proved to be no validity to the matter whatsoever.

The fact that Tim Woolridge has consistently run against his party in this election could mean that we truly have another Parker Griffith on our hands.  Marion Berry in this case would have been playing the role of Bud Cramer.

TN-06: Draft Terry Ashe for Congress

There has been a lot of negativity surrounding the two Tennessee retirements involving Bart Gordon and John Tanner.  TN-6, which is Gordon’s district appears to be the real trouble spot  If you look at the numbers it gives you reason for concern given the R+13 slant of the district.  I think we all know that this district will be particularly hard to hold, but that not mean we should not draft the best possible candidate.

NOTE:  I apologize if my R+13 number is incorrect.

I preceded to do a little research on some of the candidates who are out there on our side of the aisle.  I headed on over to Politics1 and found a description for Terry Ashe, it read Wilson County Sheriff, Farmer, Businessman, Vietnam War Veteran.  I figure this guy sounds like a good fit given they can’t use the same lines that I always hear against Democrats.  The ones about never creating a job, ambulance chaser or liberal professor.

So if you actually Google Terry Ashe, you will find that he has an outstanding military record.  Sheriff Terry Ashe has been awarded 3 purple hearts, two Bronze stars and had a Congressional Resolution passed in his honor in 1989.  This goes without mentioning his numerous Sheriff of the Year Awards and the non-profit organizations he belongs to.  You can find his entire resume here:

http://www.wilsoncotnsheriff.c…

I then went ahead and took a look at the possible federal contributions that Ashe had made in the past.  I know many of you are afraid of a Dan Boren or Zell Miller type in this type of district.  Terry Ashe does not appear to fit that mold.  Terry Ashe gave money to Jim Sasser in 1993, Al Gore in 2000 and Harold Ford Jr. in 2006.  

You can find that information here:

http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/by…

I tend to believe that this means we or someone out in the Netroots community should get a hold of Terry, get him some funds and let the guy run.  I would certainly love to find out how Republicans would go about attacking a guy with such an impeccable resume in a district that has sent a Dem to Washington before.