was a time when fiddle player charlie daniels supported and campaigned for jimmy carter - now he's just another, as jerry jeff walker might yell out, REDNECK...

seems that ol' charlie's reactionary politics runs extreme to the max...i mean in the 70's he was singin' bout' bein' a stoned, long-haired country boy...

by the early-mid 90's, when support for the death penalty topped out in the polls, charlie was advocating the death penalty for drug dealers...

why i even know some republicans that think that's a bit harsh ...

we know that there are some wonderfully talented musicians who support our position and our efforts, people like steve earle, rodney crowell, emmylou, nanci griffiths, natalie maines, michael kelsh, and more...they is, as we say down south, good folk...

so as i sit here this afternoon i'm just wonderin' what happened to drive tokin'-smokin' charlie daniels over the edge ... i mean just as moderates and conservatives are becoming wise to the malfunctioning of the death penalty system, a dried up talent such as mr. daniels pushes the envelope to the right, gettin down with the likes of sean hannity and rush limbaugh - well i guess they're all in show biz and sellin' the product is what they're all about ...

nonetheless (and sixpence none the richer) our work, district by district in the state, continues to bring us in touch with thoughtful tennesseans, mainstream middle americans who still hold a value like fairness dear to their heart and are willing to fight for it if they're given the tools and encouragement...

and we're thankful because they encourage us in return and we're uplifted by every classroom, conference, and convocation we address ...

now that's what i'm talkin' about...

peace out - <3