No, I know it may sound like it, but this is NOT Jimmy Buffett, nor will he be posting here (although that would be pretty damn cool). Anyone that knows me, knows that I am a huge Jimmy fan. As a matter of fact, if I didnt think I’d look like a total douchebag, I would have a personalized tag on my car that says LSTMNGO, but yeah, I think guys with personalized tags looks like complete douchebags. I am digressing, but anyways, I thought with my first post, I would explain what I’m trying to do here and the purpose of this blog…and what better place to start than explain the title. I think if one listens, you can find a lot of meaning and life lessons in Jimmy’s songs…plus they just make you feel good! So, as you can guess, “Last Mango in Paris” is my favorite Jimmy song. Anytime i’m down or in a bad mood, Jimmy can always bring me back to the land of the living…but this song in particular really speaks to me and the way I like to live life. I tend to not be one to worry about what I am going to be doing in five years, one year, or a couple months really. I enjoy living in the now and enjoying the day to day challenges and rewards, and yes, sometimes trials that life may bring. BUT, as Capt. Tony said, “Our lives change like the weather…and Jimmy, there’s still so much to be done.”

…and that leads me into the point of this blog. As most people that are actually reading this know, I just finished up running Mike Padgett’s U.S. Senate campaign. I have spent the last week wrapping up a few things at the office and enjoying some downtime at the house…ok, mostly downtime at the house. Well, during this downtime I got to thinking back on the campaign and the things I thought went well…aaaaand a thing or two that didn’t go so well (not winning being the chief one). However, one of the areas that I felt we, as a campaign, excelled at was in new media world. I once heard someone say that the internet was soon going to be Tennessee’s fourth grand division. I think it has transformed into that…now the jury is still out as to the effect it has with the average voter in Tennessee. I think it is an excellent tool to communicate with activists, donors and the younger generation today. However, I still don’t think it has the effect on the average voter that direct mail, radio or TV has. Anyways, back to my point…personally, I believe that our on-line presence was top notch. It was an area that Mike and our team put a lot of time and effort into. We had a daily online journal, twittered quite often about, posted (most) news releases and policy statements the day they went out as well as just having a good overall website (no i didn’t design it myself).  In addition, we got a lot of good traffic with the blog community. Mike and I both got to meet and know several bloggers out there during the course of the campaign…and its this that has brought me to where I am now…sitting at my kitchen table at 1am starting my own blog…because i feel that, “there’s still so much to be done,” or said.

I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know both A.C. Kleinheider and Sean Braisted over the last few months. I met several other bloggers throughout the campaign, but I want to give mad props to A.C. and Sean for the work they do and time they put into their blogs. They are the only ones I ended up talking to on multiple occasions, so I feel more comfortable referencing them here. During this, I not only developed an appreciation for those of you out there that devote your time to your blogs, but also became a little jealous of you. In my career I have always spoke for a candidate (or known that my words, whether on purpose or not, would reflect on them) and that has always limited what I was able to say on various issues…as least in any public forum. Well, for better or worse, right now I am not working for anyone other than myself and figured I would take this time to start this up and offer my views and comments for the public to enjoy…or ignore if you prefer!

This is an outlet for me to, hopefully, add another voice to the mix and see where it goes. I don’t intend for this to be a pro democrat blog nor will it be an anti republican one…as most people that know me know, I have always been and continue to be a strong democrat. I don’t consider myself  liberal by any means though…I tend to fall in the John Tanner, Lowe Finney, Mike Padgett camp. (OK, so i’ve worked for two of those guys, but that’s obviously for good reason!) If Mike is the original Southern Appalachian Democrat, then as much as a guy from rural West Tennessee can be, I’m officially the second Southern Appalachian Democrat.

“Last Mango…” will merely be my opinions and my take on the happenings of the day. I hope you will continue to read what I have to say and feel free to comment or email me as you see fit. I definitely have my own writing style, won’t always use the best grammar and may ramble some, but hey, its my blog, I can do that!

Remember, “there’s still so much to be done,” so let’s get to it…