Is anyone else feeling very apathetic about politics in TN.

[white_wolf]

So this is the 2nd election I am old enough vote and my first gubernatorial one. I have to admit I feel kind of like I don't have any real choices here. I mean all the adds i see for congressmen are people trying to out conservative the other. I saw one guy who was the official tea party endorsed candidate and I wanted to scream. I have seen a lot for Robin Smiths who I swear makes me want to throw my TV out the window with her "I'll fight to repeal Obama's big government health care and take away his check book" crap.
And the governor choices are all bad. I mean Wamp wants us to leave the Union, Haslam is a crook and oil man and this is coming from someone who lived in Knoxville his whole life. So as a last ditch effort I researched some stuff on the Dem candidate Mcwhitter and find out he is as bad as the republicans. He is anti gay marriage and he wants to teach creationism as science in our schools in the name of "traditional curriculum."
I don't mean to come across as overly negative but I'm just wondering is there anyone I can vote for and least feel like I didn't sell out my principles to vote for them? I know this is the Bible Belt but still if I have to hear how "christian and conservative"(two words that do not go together at all) a candidate is i"m going to lose it.

[ingac70]

1. I voting for Basil Marceaux in the Repuke primary.

:evilgrin:

[Tsiyu]

2. Old voter here. I hear ya.'

It's dismal here.

Anyone with any brains is staying out of politics in TN, leaving us with vultures and vampires.

There is no Dem party here. Just a bunch of people with Big Hair having parties hoping they'll win against the absolute lunatics.

How can I vote for anti-science, anti-freedom-of-religion McDumbass?

Planning on moving soon, is what I'm doing!

Sorry, Kid. I feel your pain.

[Kalyke]

5. Don't moveand leave me here!

We should be RECRUITING liberals from other states to help us tip the balance. This state is far too pretty to be left to the destructive teabagger types!

[tnlefty]

3. Welcome white_wolf!

:hi: I did not know these things about McWherter and I've forgotten whether his father, Ned, (former Gov.) was like that.

It is dismal and I'm really hoping that Wamp goes home crying tonight along with his hand-picked replacement, Robin Smith.

[SharonAnn]

4. Yes. I am 10 years here and it's worse than when I arrived. It'squite

frightening that all we have to choose from are people who say they're more conservative than the other guy, regardless of party.

It's very discouraging.

Teh ignorance! It burns!

[Kalyke]

6. I grew up here and it's never been this bad.

Both our senators were Democrats - Al Gore and Jim Sasser in my lifetime.

In fact, throughout this state's history, most of our governors and senators have been Democrats - including in the modern era (until 1994):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Governors_of_Tennessee

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_Senators_from_Tennessee

However, with the rise of rightwing radio and no rebuttal stations and the fall of the state's Democratic Party, Tennessee Democrats are taking a beating that they need to stand up against.

It's sad.

[RPChattanooga]

7. It's up to you...and me!

I feel your pain, to quote one of my favorite Presidents.
The first time I got to vote was for Jimmy Carter in '76. I remember the joy of being able to participate in running the country! Since then, or maybe beginning then, I have marveled at the sad state of our political system, but when it comes down to it, we can only blame ourselves. We, Tennessee Democrats, have failed to attract the quality candidates that can articulate our message. We have basically surrendered to the conservative movement by allowing them to control the message, and, their constituents actually go vote! Republicans tend to be more enthusiastic about going to the polls, especially in "off year" elections.

The majority of voters are moderate in their politics, despite what you hear from the right, and like you, would love to have another choice. It is up to you and me, the young and the not so young Democrats to get involved at the local level. It can be as simple as writing a letter to the editor, working for a candidate or even running for office yourself. The thing to remember is, we can lament the lack of choice in our candidates, but if all we do is gripe then nothing changes.

Don't give up. Get involved!

[dflprincess]

8. So I'm sitting in a hotel in Franklin this evening & watching the local news

I just heard the results of a poll done after the candidates for governor debated tonight & was horrified to see the Republican with like 62% of the "vote".

I decided to hop over to the Tennessee forum to get some more information. After reading the OP I can only extend my sympathies - there really is no one to vote for.

Hang in there, fellow Democrats, it sounds like the only way you have to go from here is up.

[southerncrone]

9. The worst I've seen in my lifetime & I've lived here all my 54 yrs.

McWhorter's "performance" (if you can call it that) tonight was horrible. He sounded like Phil Bredesen's personal assistant. Not that Bredesen is a bad governor....quite the opposite, but McWhorter can't expect to ride Bredesen/& Ned Ray's coat tails into the governor's mansion in today's political arena.

I don't know who is advising/coaching him, but they need to be fired. His delivery was completely unprofessional & his answers often had nothing to do w/the questions being asked. He started out horribly.... didn't address the audience or thank those involved in setting up the debate....he just began attacking Haslam immediately.....that type of politics is a big turn off to most voters, especially undecided independents. Granted, I do think Dems need to do more to expose the dirty underbelly of the Repukes, but there is a manner in which one does this gracefully to win over the audience.

He seemed woefully unprepared.....just appeared to be "winging it". Stammering & repeating the same phrases over & over. Quite frankly, he came off as unintelligent. I was embarrassed. Not sure I can work to elect this man.

I know we have better candidates we could be running. Both Jim Kyle & Kim McMillan would have done a better job.

As for Roy Herron, I was impressed until we receive his campaign literature in the mail a few days ago....complete w/religious book he wrote about politics. I swear it was just Repuke ideology. I wanted to throw up.

Have TN Dems just become Republicans in Blue suits? They have sold out in my estimation.
Makes me want to flee the state. :(