Tennessee Federation of College Democrats

Book Signing for Foxes in the Henhouse

March 27th, 2006

Nashville, Tenn. – Come meet the Come meet the author of Foxes in the Henhouse: How the Republicans Stole Rural America and What the Democrats Must Do To Run ‘em Out.

Sunday, April 30th at 5:00 p.m.
Cooter’s Place
2613B McGavockPike
Nashville, TN 37214

Foxes in the Henhouse is a hard hitting treatise that national Democratic leaders are lauding as a stunningly complete political blueprint for future Democratic success. Senator Bob Kerrey, who knows a little something about winning in red states, has written the foreword. This long-needed account documents the Republicans’ rise in the South and Midwest, while it exposes the hypocrisy that marked their ascent. It then offers a thorough, detailed and logical take no prisoners plan to kick them out in many cases by turning their perceived strengths into glaring weaknesses.

“Rural strategists” Dave “Mudcat” Saunders and Steve Jarding have become famous for securing Democratic victories in places they shouldn’t have – in the reddest of red states. Dave “Mudcat” Saunders, a longtime veteran of politics in Virginia, has served as rural liaison and senior adviser for Mark Warner’s successful Virginia campaign in 2001, senior advisor to Senator John Edwards, and senior advisor to Senator Bob Graham of Florida. As a self-defined “enlisted man,” Mudcat has used his meteoric rise as a national political strategist as an example to inspire rank-and-file Democratic soldiers all across America. Mudcat’s unique qualifications to help Democrats win in southern and rural America stem in part from his vast connections, knowledge, and work in the cultures of those areas.

For information, please visit www.foxesinthehenhouse.com or www.simonsays.com.

VeryFancyFrist.com

March 14th, 2006

Thought everyone might enjoy this; it’s from salon.com.

Look who’s “fancy” now 

Last week, the National Republican Senatorial Committee took a shot at Tennessee Rep. Harold Ford — a contender for the Senate seat Bill Frist is vacating — by launching fancyford.com. The site took Ford to task for living “the good life”– fancy hotels, an Armani suit, fine dining and a stop at Playboy’s Super Bowl party last year. There was something subtly racist about the whole thing; maybe it was the use of the word “fancy” — “fancy man” being a synonym for pimp — or maybe it was the picture of Ford’s black face hovering above a photo of four white Playboy Bunnies.

Whatever it was, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has just fired back. The DSCC’s veryfancyfrist.com is a spot-on replica of the fancyford site, with the focus turned on the man who’d like you to think that he’s the Republicans’ presidential front-runner.

It’s a little silly all the way around — is anyone really surprised that members of Congress stay in nice hotels and (sometimes) wear good suits? — but at least the DSCC manages to substitute substance for racism. In place of that photograph of the Playboy Bunnies, the DSCC site has a stack of cash and a photo of a ship in port, reminders of the ongoing investigation into Frist’s financial dealings and his flip-flop on the Dubai Ports World deal.

– Tim Grieve

Announcing Our New Executive Board

March 12th, 2006

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Federation of College Democrats (TFCD) is pleased to announce the election of their 2006-2007 Executive Board. Christy Holden, a senior from MTSU, was elected as President.

“It is a great honor to serve as President of the TFCD for another year,” Holden said. “This organization has come a long way since the spring of 2005 and we have big plans for the coming months.”

2006-2007 TFCD Executive Board:

• Christy Holden, President (MTSU)
• Alex Youn, Vice President (Maryville College)
• Adam Green, Communications Director (UTC)
• Landree Brotherton, Membership Director (Tusculum College)
• Margaret Franklin, Minority Affairs Director (UTC)
• Antwain Leach, Political Affairs Director (MTSU)
• Taylor Helton, Programs Director (UTC)
• Caitlin Elledge, Secretary (UTK)
• Jessica Causey, Treasurer (MTSU)

All those elected are highly involved with the chapters at their respective colleges. Holden, Youn, Green, Franklin and Causey are returning members of the Executive Board. With this experienced leadership, the TFCD is in a perfect position to build our membership in preparation for the campaign efforts that are just around the corner and to help foster cooperation among Democrats across the state.

“The College Democrats are making unbelievable headway across the state’s campuses, showing that the Democratic Party is working for students now more than ever,” said Bob Tuke, TNDP Party Chairman. “College students know that the Democratic Party put the HOPE Scholarship on the table, making college a reality for many young Tennesseans.”

The Tennessee Federation of College Democrats is a group designated to unite, lead and coordinate chapters of the College Democrats of America on college and university campuses throughout Tennessee. The TFCD currently is made up of 26 chapters across the state, representing more than 2,000 students.

David Rees: Get Your War On

March 7th, 2006

MARYVILLE, TN — Campus Progress – the youth outreach division of the Washington DC-based Center for American Progress – will sponsor an event featuring David Rees, Get Your War On, as a participant of Campus Progress’ Book Tour on Thursday, March 7, 2006, at 7 PM. David Rees will address the students at Maryville College concerning the Iraq War, Afghanistan, and other world-related current events. This discussion will open the students’ awareness on world affairs and how they can use their progressive voice to make a difference on campus. This event is sponsored by the Maryville College Democrats and the Peace and World Concerns Committee.

Along with David Rees’ discussion, students will have the opportunity to view a presentation on land mine removal in Afghanistan and a presentation on comics he has recently composed. Students will also have the opportunity to ask questions and purchase Rees’ newly publication, Get Your War On, which includes comics that David has composed that have been featured in The Rolling Stone and The Guardian. This event is part of the Campus Progress’ progressive book tour which features a wide-range of authors and speakers to address important issues facing young people.

Alex Youn, the student organizer of the event, notes the importance of David Rees’ visit to campus, “David Rees is currently addressing issues that our young generation does not necessarily pay much attention to as it should. Issues such as the forgotten war in Afghanistan are extremely important to discuss, but given David’s work cartooning, he is able to reach out to college campuses in a way that many politicians cannot. Having David on our campus will stimulate a much need conversation on our campus and community about how our government is misleading Americans when it comes to actually protecting our nation’s security. In a day when we are losing our civil liberties, we as Americans should question our government before there comes a time where that right will be taken away.”

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Campus Progress, a project of the Center for American Progress, is an effort to strengthen progressive voices on college and university campuses nationwide; counter the growing influence of right-wing groups on campus; and empower new generations of progressive leaders. To achieve these goals, Campus Progress employs a comprehensive website; funding, training, and mentoring for progressive campus publications; a campus speakers bureau; support and advice to students engaged in national, state, and local issues; and conferences and training programs, which began with our first Campus Progress National Student Conference on July 13, 2005. Campus Progress believes it’s time for progressive students to start winning the battle of ideas.

The Center for American Progress is a nonpartisan research and educational institute dedicated to promoting a strong, just and free America that ensures opportunity for all. We believe that Americans are bound together by a common commitment to these values and we aspire to ensure that our national policies reflect these values. We work to find progressive and pragmatic solutions to significant domestic and international problems and develop policy proposals that foster a government that is “of the people, by the people, and for the people.”