Post Politics: 3 April 2008

Just one week after announcing her intention to seek the 71st District State House seat currently held by the retiring Rep. Randy Rinks, Dwana Pusser-Garrison, daughter of legendary McNairy County lawman Buford Pusser, has withdrawn from the race citing health concerns. Pusser-Garrison has multiple sclerosis.

Harold Ford, Jr. schedules his engagement party in Memphis on the anniversary of the death of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Church Hill attorney Mike Faulk celebrates his Scots-Irish heritage and cites a book by a Democratic U.S. Senator in officially announcing his intention to seek the Republican nomination for the Tennessee Senate's Fourth District. The Senate's lone independent, Senator Mike Williams, currently holds the seat.

A blog dedicated to bringing retailer Trader Joes to Nashville claims victory.

Former Democratic candidate for president turned Libertarian Mike Gravel covers the Beatles' Helter Skelter on YouTube.

Jackson Baker reports that a recent poll conducted by Ethridge and Associates shows Congressman Steve Cohen in good position for reelection despite announced opposition from Democrat Nikki Tinker and independent Jake Ford.

Terry Heaton links up to panel discussion involving Al Gore, John Siegenthaler and Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales.

Media Bistro discusses the ideological diversity of the talking heads on the cornucopia of political chat shows on the cable news networks.

A magnanimous Barack Obama tells reporters that he would be more than happy to hire revered former Vice President Al Gore for a high level cabinet post.

Knoxville TV blogger Katie Granju wonders who exactly is in favor of "mountaintop removal" mining.

Both of Tennessee's U.S. Senators praise a tentative bipartisan agreement on a bill to alleviate the mortgage "crisis."

A Zip Code breakdown of Mayor Karl Dean's submitted list of Metro Board and Commission appointees shows the mayor following through on his goal of geographical diversity.

61 year-old Ed Lawhorn, a Vietnam veteran and political independent, announces his intention to run for U.S. Senate versus Lamar Alexander. He will join Green Party member Chris Lugo on the general election ballot. Democrats Bob Tuke, a former party chairman, and former Knox County Clerk Mike Padgett are currently vying for the Democratic nomination for the seat.

In an increasingly digital world, Ben Cunningham warns that reliance on email rather than face to face meetings make relationships fragile in the face of conflict.

Nashville Scene editor Liz Garrigan announces a retooling of the alt-weekly's blog Pith In The Wind and shows off some great artist renderings of political and media reporters Jeff Woods and Matt Pulle.

Deft political maneuvering in the state house Criminal Practice Subcommittee yesterday insures that the state's gun permit records shall remain open until at least 2012. The bill created a Class E felony of unauthorized publication of permit information or records. An attorney general's opinion stated that the bill might have been vulnerable on First Amendment grounds. Angelia Gibson-Herrell discusses.