It seems US senators John "the maverick" Mc Cain and Tom Colburn are on the hunt for pure pork. The biggest pig in the nation is found in Knoxville's back yard at the nearly empty Oak Ridge Mall. Yes, your taxpayer dollars are going to install geothermal heating [...]
Well the SEC meeting didn't work out for Kent at all. So what is next? He has a few options. One is realistic.
Since the next regularly scheduled SEC meeting isn't until after the filing deadline for state house races there is only one viable way for Kent to [...]
NASCAR superstar Darrell Waltrip was at the Tennessee Republican fundraiser dinner last night. He is a Tennessee resident and wanted to come. We were able to speak together a couple times for a while as we had mutual friends from the times when my family owned a NASCAR racetrack. [...]
The capitol Christmas tree was broken in half after high winds outside the capitol hit it. I promise it wasn't all the hot air from speeches escaping as someone opened one of the capitol doors.' [...]
Payday loans were an iffy industry and the Tennessee Legislature decided they needed to be “regulated.” Once the bill was passed it didn’t “regulate” payday loans. It made them legal and turned them into thriving enterprises that hook the poor [...]
I love having at least some of the election commissioners being Republicans. Then we can see clearly how bad it has been. Thirty plus more indictments for felons being allowed to vote are being brought in three counties.
I went to a political memorabilia show yesterday. I love looking at that stuff. I have a few small pieces that I have collected over the years. It is starting to turn into a collection (The last thing I need). Yesterday I got a blue background with neon orange lettering [...]
Today is the SEC meeting where it may come up to allow Kent Williams back in the Republican party. For months he and his few supporters have yelled and screamed about how mean and unfair the evil Republican SEC committee has been to poor little innocent Kent.
Jimmy Naifeh may be considering a run for congress. That could be interesting. He would obviously be the Democrat front runner if he does. I question if he has the desire to actually try for it though.
I don't know why he would want to return to' [...]
What can I say. This image brings back some hard memories. I did not realize there were any pictures of this moment in time. This was minutes before the speaker vote. We were all praying to God to give Jason strength to be a great [...]
WPLN Reports on how many solar companies are now going broke.....But its a good thing. The ones that remain will be the stronger ones. Not to worry, Tennessee is investing heavy in solar. Don't get out too soon. Might miss the rebound that is sure' [...]
I was talking to an SEC member last night. While they wished to remain anonymous they said they did not expect a vote to allow Kent Williams back into the party to even come up for a vote at the next SEC meeting.
Andy Sher recaps a few of the ideas floating around on the red light cameras including extending the yellow lights for one second. How has it worked for safety issues elsewhere?
When Dalton’s first full year of red-light enforcement began in 2008, the Georgia [...]
Rep. Larry Turner (A.K.A. Little Larry) has passed on to the great reward this morning after an extended illness. May he rest in peace and his family find happiness in the memory of their time together. [...]
The tradition introduced by European Americans of Thanksgiving as a time to focus on God and His blessings dates back well over four centuries in America. For example, such thanksgivings occurred in 1541 at Palo Duro Canyon, Texas with Coronado and 1,500 of his men; 1 in 1564 at [...]
George Korda does an interesting article on the need for education in being the lynch pin to get good paying jobs. While he makes many great points (As usual) I tend to see the need in areas bigger then education.
What? Impossible you say? Education is the end [...]
Tom Humphrey's does a good little rundown of the potential cuts and what they would mean. These are just some so far proposed to the governor and his staff. Some I think could go deeper and some I would hazard to cut at all but we are still early [...]
In Tennessee's imaginary 11th congressional district. Yes, I know I have already announced for the states real 7th senatorial district but I figure I can do both jobs. I am sure the imaginary primary will be tough but look at all the imaginary jobs and imaginary stimulus I have' [...]
As you know, a judge has overturned the guns in restaurants bill. Rep. Vance Dennis sent this opinion on what could happen from here.
it appears that Davidson County Chancellor Claudia Bonnyman decided today that the guns-in-restaurants-that-serve-alcohol bill we passed this year is unconstitutional. It appears from [...]
It is looking like we could be having a special session in December to fix or stop enactment of the workers comp bill for sole proprietors (public chapter 1041). It is looking like it could run for three days around the 13th, 14th, 15th or 16th. [...]
I am on vacation in the Amazons of Peru but I thought I would just pass on an interesting story. I was talking with a fellow traveler from Israel. I had not passed on any of my political beliefs and I thought I would ask him what he thought Israel [...]
Memphis accepts 100 million to improve schools. Why is that a big deal? It is something Republicans have been fighting years to get. Accountability from bad teachers and reward for good ones. For years, any sort of accountability was killed by the TEA/NEA because some of their union members [...]
The cuts in k-12 education funding look to be coming. Bredesen said he wants to cover the projected $82 million in inflation and growth costs for K-12 education costs, but warned that cuts remain possible even there.
Why we can't at least move the 50 million of' [...]
The home town paper comes out against Kent Williams being reinstated as a Republican.
It should not be forgotten that no one forced Rep. Williams to sign a pledge that he would support his party’s nominee — then widely understood to be Rep. Jason Mumpower of Bristol — [...]
As many of you know I have been working for months (Years?) to set up some sort of program where home school students might get to play in TSSAA sports beyond the limited level they can participate in now. The idea was able to have a victory this last week. [...]
Tom Humphrey reports on some of the strategery going on behind the scenes of the GOP primary.
In the current Republican gubernatorial campaign, Ron Ramsey said the other day he is positioned to appeal to both wings of the party's Tennessee electorate - the "conservative activists" and' [...]
Does any of the Republican leadership remember Reagan? Ronald Reagan didn't run as a conservative during the primaries then rush to the middle in the general election like McCain. Reagan staked' [...]
After legislators were made aware of the refineries diminished capacity and potential loss of revenue other then state dollars ( a non surprise to readers of this blog) many legislators [...]
As you may know, the fed gave back the state about $5 billion in "stimulus" money. Most of it went as a carrot to start or expand social programs to push their social agenda.
Of the $5 billion only about $500 million actually went into projects that might [...]
The New York Yankees defeated the Philadelphia Phillies in six games to win the World Series. Mark Rose's favorite team may be beaten but he is not discouraged.' [...]
Kevin Brooks has announced he will not run for the state senate to be vacated by Sen. Dewyne Bunch. While K.B. and Eric Watson would have made a good senators they decided timing wasn't right this time around.
This announcement clearly eases the way for and makes' [...]
"The district regressed in the area of elementary and middle school, missing federal benchmarks in math for black students, poor students and students with disabilities, and not" [...]
Phil is bracing for the worst. While I agree with him that the cuts will probably be necessary and deeper cuts will probably be coming. I question why we did not start doing the dirty necessary work of cutting costs last year. It would have saved us having [...]
If a full term was served by a judge by what constitutional authority does the legislature have the power to call off a scheduled election? If a full term was served [...]
I went to the health clinic two days ago to get a yellow fever shot (required for some trips overseas) While there, the nurse of course hit me up for some others (tetanus, hep a and b) while I don't mind them asking I definitely got the hard sell on' [...]
A new comptroller report states no verifiable difference in Pre K versus non Pre K kids after early grades. With budget cuts coming up legislators should be willing to look at programs who's cost is high and effectiveness has proven to be limited. Other areas of education could use' [...]
Someone needs to get the Republican parties together to talk. Yes, if you didn't know there are two wings in the Republican party. The right wingers (Often called the Paulyacks after Ron Paul supporters or tea partiers) and the left wing "moderates"(Often called Lamartians after their devotion to the principals' [...]
Someone needs to get the Republican parties parties together to talk. Yes, if you didn't know there are two wings in the Republican party. The right wingers (Often called the paulyacks after Ron Paul supporters or tea partiers) and the left wing "moderates"(Often called the squishies or Lamartians after their' [...]
Vermont State Rep. Fred Maslack has read the Second Amendment to the U.S.. Constitution as well as Vermont 's own Constitution very carefully, and his strict interpretation of these documents is popping some eyeballs in New England and elsewhere.
Maslack recently proposed a bill to register non-gun-owners and [...]
The Obama socialized medicine plan is getting close to a vote and it looks like the public option is going to be a part. The latest pitch is states will be given an opt out provision. If they don't want to take part then they can opt out.
I am sure many posts will swirl around today about Sen. Dewayne Bunch and Rep. Mike Bells decision to run for the senate. While their is plenty of time to talk about the up coming election I would like to take a few minutes and talk about Senator Bunch. [...]
My mom sends me comments jokes and quotables on a regular basis. Many of them become the "Joke of the week" posts. Some just make me smile or think about a topic for a while. I liked this one.
A lawyer runs a stop sign and gets pulled over by a sheriff's deputy. He thinks that he is smarter than the deputy because he is a lawyer from Chicago and is certain that he has a better education than any cop from Nowhere, Tennessee . . . He decides [...]
I was bumped from my Facebook account for adding too many friends too quickly. I have appealed but have yet to receive any sort of response so I just set up a new account. If you were a friend or would like to be one I ask that you [...]
Bill Frist drops his plan to put Tennessee in the top 5 for education in 5 years. Thanks for the help and all but don't you think you could have had a greater impact on actually getting it to pass had you been the governor?' [...]
While questions on quotas/race/diversity of board members and employees is standard fair from members of the black caucus. The quote of the week has to go to one Black Caucus member who, while reviewing a board on ambulance regulations added a new twist to the line of questioning and seriously [...]
Reagan Farr looses in court again. I wonder how much he cost the state total now in failed lawsuits and goofy policy like the tobacco agents across state lines. [...]
The AWESOME! Rep. Susan Lynn (Who just happens to be running for the state senate in middle Tennessee) was named chairwoman on a committee to push forward the state sovereignty issue.[...]
Tonight at 6:30 is the annual Tennessee Right to Life dinner at Rothschild's catering 8807 Kingston pike Knoxville Tennessee.
Featured speaker is Mathew Staver Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel, a national nonprofit litigation, education and policy organization established in 1989. One of the nation’s preeminent constitutional attorneys, [...]
When talking with people I often hear their fears of how Obama is going to bankrupt America with his health care plan and how it is important to stop him. While I agree, I think a bigger thing to fear is the White House taking over the census. While health [...]
A husband and wife repeatedly argued about who's job it was to cook breakfast and make the coffee. The husband argued it was the wife's job. The wife argued the husbands. Finally after one particular fight the wife said.
I am having a listening tour stop at 10 a.m. today, Knoxville Expo Center AKA the I-75 expo center , 5441 Clinton Highway. Everyone is welcome to come by and share ideas, thoughts and concerns for the next legislative session. [...]
Some times baseball players get on hot streaks. A 56 game hitting streak. Not missing a game for years. In other sports it could be a long winning streak over a competitor or possibly a long streak of touchdown passes or completions.
I am inspired by the next two posts. Both stories were activated and impacted by actions brought forward by citizens. I would like to think you will see more of this sort of thing as we continue to push for a more open and responsive government.
Tom Humphrey gives a rundown on some proposed rule changes for revenue cameras, A.K.A. Red light/speed cameras. Tona Monroe-Ball one of the citizens pushing for change at the meeting was a candidate for state office last year.
Last nights results were sweet for some, bitter sweet for others and probably just bitter for a few.
The big win goes to Pat Marsh. He gets the double chocolate cake. A lot of times it just comes down to the candidate. Pat is a good one who worked [...]
First, Al Gore lost his home state in his presidential bid. Then the Democrats lost the state senate. Then the Democrats lost Al Gore's home district (badly). The same year Democrats lost a clear majority in the state house. Now they lost another Democrat stronghold that has NEVER been held [...]