Just remember Napalm Sticks to Kids.

Jason

Since I am have been involved in the field of drug abuse in sport for over twenty years I do have opinions regarding the curren media and congressional hype. Sports testing laboratories are far more sophisticated than those testing for workplace drug abuse. The investment in equipment and people is far greater due to over 3500 medicattions allegedly being used to enhance performance; only a handful of drugs are tested for workplace. What is interesting is the “objective” testing results are far lower than the assertions of drug use in baseball or sport in genral. The sport testing positivity rate is less than 1%, while assertions are usually “80% of players are using drugs”. This represent a signficant gap which is difficult to explain. It is my opinion that the few who are caught using justify their use by stating that “80% are using” or “everbody else is using”; the press likes the higher number because it makes “news”; objective scientific evidence is not sensational.

There is certainly a bigger, and longer, story to be told but fundamentally I believe both the press and Congress have it wrong; most athletes are trying to play “natural”. It is interesting that the positivity rate in sports testing (less than 1%) is much lower than workplace drug testing (3-9%) despite much more frequent testing for many more drugs at much greater sensitivity. Obviously the fans are bigger drug users than the players…..including sports writers.

As for your assertion that the SCDP doesn’t want to take over every office in Sumner County…did you not at least wince a little bit when you wrote that? Do you expect me (or anyone else for that matter) to believe that you wouldn’t switch places in a heartbeat? Or that you’re not trying to win? Don’t piss on my leg and tell me it’s raining.

As for doing good works in the community, that’s great, I’m very glad to hear that’s a concern to you and your party. My cohorts and I in the GOP are constantly working for the good of Sumner County (and Middle Tennessee for that matter) on a regular basis, though generally not under the GOP banner. Time doesn’t permit me to tell you about all the great things that have been done with little fanfare. Typically it’s through Rotary (which Debra, Diane and I are members of) or other organizations we contribute to or work within.

Len, next time you need to make your blood boil, be sure to think of, and visit, ericjackson.org!

EJ

Mr. Jackson’s makes some interesting points, however they clearly show the mind-set that is the problem with GOP politics in Sumner County. He also seems to not understand the nature of political columns. Let me see if I can shed some light.

First, its important to point out that Mr. Jackson, like me, has an agenda. He has been part of the local GOP machine for some time and has done work for Rep. Maggart. There is certainly no lack of bias there.

Second, he seems to characterize my columns as “attacks.” I don’t agree. I certainly point out serious problems with GOP legislative initiatives, but I do not personally attack either Sen. Black or Rep. Maggart. In fact, I consider Debra to be a friend. We may sit on opposite sides of the aisle, but I like to think we get along just fine. We even have some friends in common. I’m sure both Debra and Sen. Black (who I am not friends with) realize that I am just doing my job and they don’t take things personally.

Third -and most importantly- it is clear that Mr. Jackson and the SCDP define progress and success in different ways. The Sumner GOP is intent on taking over every elected office in the county. Politicizing local offices is not good for the people of Sumner County. There are countless examples, including individuals setting aside their own personal political philosophy and running with the (R) after their name so they can get elected. While this is sad, I’d rather have Democrats who call themselves Republicans in office than the other way around.

As far as our less-than-stellar record of election victories, I can only ask “Are you surprised?” This is a red county in a red state during (until recently) a national “red tide.” Considering we held some county commission seats, held Rep. McDonald’s seat, won the county for Governor Bredesen and Congressman Gordon and beat an incumbent Republican in the Gallatin Mayor’s race, we could have done much worse.

In addition, we have had other types of success. Most of us in the SCDP are involved not for purely partisan reasons, but because we want to do good in our community. Through SCDP and affiliate organizations we have more than doubled the size of the party, engaged in a series of civic projects from cleaning up litter to helping veterans and have generally made it known that there are other ways of thinking about issues than what is prevalent in GOP politics. Many folks who are disenchanted with the way things are have found a home in the SCDP. To me, that is more than worth the effort we have put forth. And as I look to the national scene, where we see a Democratic majority in both houses, where we see a majority of governorships in Democratic hands, where we see the majority of state legislators nationwide affiliated with the Democratic Party, and where in the primary election Democrats have out-voted Republicans by sometimes huge majorities, I think it is only a matter of time before SCDP can measure success at the ballot box as well as in the community.

In closing, I find it interesting that Sumner County Republicans are casting stones our way. There are well-known divisions within your party. Perhaps a better use of your time and energy would be to heal those wounds rather than trying creating more over on our side.

Best wishes,

Len Assante
Chair, Sumner County Democratic Party
len.assante@sumnerdems.org

The cool thing is that I’ve been working on this site for a little over a month and I finally got called an asshole. I finally feel like I’m doing my job.

Also, Jonathan knows Mayor Foster by the back of his head? I don’t know what that means and I’m not going to ask.

By the way, Jonathan, the fifth photo down…that’s me with a…DEMOCRAT!!!

Here’s Jonathan Beaty’s reasoned and articulate response to the facts laid out in my letter to the editor:

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Please do not share this horseshit with me again. This guy is out of his freaking mind. Sumner County idiots elected Diane Black over then speaker pro-temp Graves back in 2004. This was done to promote the Hendersonville Republican agenda, not in concern what was best for their community. Who the hell in their right mind gets rid of speaker pro-temp from their county with a Democratic house and Governor? If Hendersonville wants to be a part of Williamson County so bad, by all means get the hell out! Sumner County has gone to shit with the installation of all these simple-minded Repubs. Due to the negative relationship Black and Maggert have with the Democrats in power at the state level, we have lost significant amounts of cash flow to help improve infrastructure. We have no earmarks and no involvement in state politics due to the Republican voters. All these two have done is raise hell about abortion which will never make it past subcommittee! I agree Allman has not been good for the party or the people of Sumner County for allowing Hendersonville party machinists to hijack our county. As to Corker, Tennessee was one of the only states to elect a Republican Senator during the last election. Good thinking! As for local republican cronies, such as Judge Gay, another Hendersonville native, they are also ruining this county through over-crowded jails and court systems. Judge Hunter has been a Democrat his entire life, but was forced to trade sides to ensure his success in the last election. Pretty sad that good people have to change their party to be elected judge. A judgeship should be about knowledge of the law and fairness, not based on political agendas. Anyway, the only point I can agree with the Jackson asshole is that Allman and Assante have not been good for the Democratic party. But I say this only with pointing out that Hendersonville Republicans have hijacked our county politics at the expense of the people in this county. Hope you are proud Mr Jackson. And by the way, nice head Mayor Foster! I repeat, please do not send this horseshit to me anymore or you will never again do any service for this company. Go to hell!

-Jonathan Beaty
J.Beaty@mitsui.com

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p.s. Jonathan, if you don’t like me sharing your hate with the world, don’t send it to me via email, a medium that you should always consider public.