Dem In Knoxville is leaving.  No, this isn’t a “goodbye cruel world” diary (Yeah, I know some of you are disappointed, but I’m not that easy to get rid of, like the drunk in the corner with the lampshade on his head).  I’ve just decided to change my name in the blogosphere, as the old one finally became a skin that didn’t fit and needed to be shed, like a snake’s.  And you get to partake in the celebration (see poll below).

In the end, when the little light bulb came on over my head, the decision was as easy as falling off a log…  After all, I’ve been threatening to do it for some time; claiming I was “getting near my tipping point.”  And then, when you get to the tipping point, it all just happens so naturally, so easily, the flicker of a butterfly’s wings shifts the balance, lets gravity takes over, and – whoomph – it’s over and done.

The tipping point, actually, came from a direction I didn’t expect.  It came from Parker’s diary today about the latest goings-on over at that other big site, the one I call “The Big City.”  I allowed myself a happily self-righteous chuckle as I read his opening poem, as I came to the Pond with the “sanctimonious women’s studies set,” even though I was a frog of a different color, a “Treehugger.” (Another despised minority – have they been purged officially yet, Parker?)  But I could read the writing on the wall.

Then I remembered my comment at the time of that exodus, which I’ve had occasion to make again here from time to time:

The Party exists as a tool for Progressives to make change; Progressives do not exist as a tool for the Party to win elections.

And the light bulb came on, and I said to myself, “That’s it.  Time to change the nom de blog.”  The cognitive dissonance of continually seeing the tepid response of the Democrats on issue after issue yet calling myself “Dem In Knoxville”  finally became too much.  The levee burst.  No more free advertising for them every time I post a Jazz Jam, LOL.  They want my support, they can get it the old fashioned way – bribery -errrr – by supporting the positions I believe in.  I do not exist for their benefit; they exist for ours and the planet’s, if they want my support.

I am sure some will say: “You’re shooting yourself in the foot, or at least biting the hand that feeds you.  The Democrats are the only vehicle by which progressive change has any realistic hope of being achieved in today’s America.”  That may or may not be true, but that’s not the issue here.  What I’m saying is that I’m not wearing their Nike shirt and branding myself and my commentary with their name if they haven’t earned it.

But I don’t want to end this diary on a sad, bitter, or angry note; I want it to end like a New Orleans jazz funeral, so you’re invited to have some fun and take the poll below.  You’ve known me for a while – what do you think my new frog-pond name should be?  Comments are welcome, including other suggestions.  You’ll see my new name Friday on the Jazz Jam.