The governor’s office announced Wednesday that Governor Phil Bredesen met with Cecil Johnson’s attorney, and he is not considering clemency in the case.
[...]edited by: Kate,
Tennessee Editor
The governor’s office announced Wednesday that Governor Phil Bredesen met with Cecil Johnson’s attorney, and he is not considering clemency in the case.
[...]A mother is facing charges, accused of harming her babies before they were born.
Jamie Marie Snider was booked in the Warren County Jail in October, charged with aggravated assault. A grand jury previously indicted her on charges that she “intentionally or knowingly causing serious bodily injury to [...]
Matt Hurtt on the big matchup in the 6th District congressional race:
Should Tracy enter the race, it is obvious that it will likely be a two-man (er, man and woman) race against Tracy and Zelenik. Interestingly enough, this rivalry developed during the last election cycle: on the night of [...]
A little wisdom from the X-Files:
The truths are out there. And if one day I should behold a miracle – I will learn the truth is not found in science, or on some unseen plane, but by looking into my own heart. And in that moment I will be [...]
Eye surgeon Rand Paul (R) said Wednesday that he has received assurances from the National Republican Senatorial Committee that it will remain neutral in his primary battle against Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson.
“They say they have no plans of getting involved or endorsing anyone in our [...]
From the Tennessee Journal:
Bredesen’s intended gift for his successor was to make the radical cuts necessary to leave the budget balanced on a recurring basis. But the federal stimulus package, while a blessing in many ways, prevented this. Bredesen still intends to leave the state’s next chief executive a [...]
From the Associated Press:
Shortly after signing with the San Diego Chargers, Jon Runyan announced he’ll retire at the end of the season and run for Congress in New Jersey.
The 35-year-old offensive lineman said in a statement late Tuesday that he told Republican officials in Burlington County of his plans [...]
From the party blog:
“As many of us gather with family to enjoy the Thanksgiving Day feast, remember there are Tennesseans who struggle daily to make ends meet, especially during these tough economic times. That’s why it is vital we participate in this democracy to ensure we elect leaders who [...]
Bredesen on the budget quandary:
As part of the Democratic governor’s call to cut up to 9 percent, department heads presented proposals ranging from the freeing thousands of prisoners to slashing health benefits for TennCare enrollees.
Bredesen was at a loss when asked by reporters recently which of the grim options [...]
And Phil Bredesen is all about it:
Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen is “apoplectic” over the millions of dollars he believes the proposed federal health care bill would cost the Volunteer State, Senator Bob Corker said Wednesday in Chattanooga.
One of the things the legislation would do, the Republican senator told rotary [...]
Not the actual suspicious Santa
The Department of Safety has confirmed that starting around noon today that the state Capitol building was evacuated when a suspicious package was received in the mailroom that “appeared to have mechanical parts.”
Procedure was followed which included the [...]
Rod Williams implores Ron Paul Republicans to stay in the GOP despite what happened to their leader:
To all the libertarian minded Republicans and Ron Paul supporters who are hurt or offended that Matt was ousted from the Executive Committee: Matt was not removed because of his libertarian leaning or [...]
Fox is no longer a news channel and no longer an opinion channel. It’s a propaganda channel in which the hosts are actual leaders of various Republican party constituencies or mouthpieces for certain Republican politicians (van Susteren long ago abandoned any pretense of not being a p.r. [...]
The now former Davidson County GOP Vice Chair in response to the party’s statement on his removal from the party executive committee:
It should be noted again that I have violated no Party rules or bylaws, even Chairman Starnes (a former Democrat) has stated as such. I was clearly [...]
AP:
Gubernatorial candidate Zach Wamp says he will join fellow Republican Bill Gibbons in releasing his tax returns and other personal financial details.
Wamp, a congressman from Chattanooga, said in a release Wednesday that he challenges all gubernatorial candidates to follow suit and be “fully open and transparent” about potential conflicts [...]
Yes, another Happy Thanksgiving from a politician. From a Robin Smith email blast:
In 1621 settlers living in the Plymouth Colony who came to this continent from their native Europe to escape religious persecution held a celebration of their autumn harvest. To their celebration, they invited members of the local Wampanoag [...]
Yet another gubertorial candidate wishes us a Happy Turkey Day:
Last week, I had a wonderful opportunity to learn.
I was invited to East Montgomery Elementary School in Clarksville to read to Mrs. Miller’s 4th grade class. We had a terrific time together and they had lots and lots of questions. [...]
From an email:
Two weeks ago, on Veterans Day, I shared with you a story about my father. Dad was severely wounded in World War II and barely survived. After ten months in hospitals in England and Virginia, he finally returned to Tennessee.
Though Tennessee was the Promised Land, the land my [...]
Factcheck tags Al Gore:
Al Gore overstated a key fact about geothermal energy during a recent appearance on “The Tonight Show”:
Gore, Nov. 13: Two kilometers or so down in most places there are these incredibly hot rocks, because the interior of the earth is extremely hot — several million [...]
Some are asking for a change to the policy:
“If the president wants to destigmatize mental health, and destigmatize military suicide, why does he stigmatize families like ours by pretending that our son didn’t die?” said Spec. Keesling’s father, Gregg Keesling. “If Chance had been struck by lightning in Baghdad [...]
Some states, struggling to balance their budgets, are selling or leasing public property, including state office buildings, prisons and major toll ways. While a quick way to raise revenue, this strategy is attacked by some as a short-term fix that postpones making more difficult decisions.
From a tabloidy magazine:
She hates him,” a source close to the U.N. goodwill ambassador, 34, tells the new issue of Us Weekly (on newsstands now).
“She’s into education and rehabilitation and thinks Obama is all about welfare and handouts. She thinks Obama is really a socialist in disguise,” adds the [...]
From Jill Cecil Wiersma:
Smith tested positive for codeine Nov. 9. He cites an old prescription for Tylenol 3 that he took a day earlier for a sore back after moving furniture.
After being notified that Smith failed the test, City Administrator Victor Lay contacted members of the Board of Mayor [...]
From Joey Garrison:
An ordinance sponsored by At-large Councilman Charlie Tygard aims to distribute public art projects more equitably to all parts of Davidson County while accelerating the process by which new art is commissioned.
But the Metro Arts Commission opposes the bill, arguing it already intends to bring public art [...]
From the Southern Political Report:
Sums up state GOP Chairman Chris Devaney, “Anybody running against Lincoln Davis, I would put them as having a very good shot.” And Andy Sere, spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Campaign Committee (NRCC), tells SPR, “We believe that Lincoln Davis is vulnerable in 2010, [...]
Democratic sources say that former Tennessee Rep. Harold Ford Jr. — who relocated to New York City after his unsuccessful Senate bid in 2006 — has been talking about the possibility of running against vulnerable rookie New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand.
Ford, who was mentioned as a possible [...]
Tommy Sowers would like to know:
Within the next few days the President will announce his decision about the the strategy America will pursue in Afghanistan. However, the actor intended by the founders to be the lead and be loud in questions of war — the United States Congress — [...]
Dobbs’s new outreach to Latinos is a remarkable turn for a man whose very show was synonymous with the country’s vocal anti-illegal immigration movement, and who in recent months was targeted by protests from immigrant advocates who painted him as anti-Latino.
But it makes political sense.
Latinos are the country’s [...]
Josh Marshall remembers:
In any case, please don’t tell me I’m the only one who remembers Dobbs and Space.com. In case you don’t, this isn’t the first time Dobbs left CNN. He left in 1999 to found and run internet start-up Space.com. Alas, like so many boom era ventures, Space.com [...]
Senator Thelma Harper recently gave the keynote speech as area members of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity celebrated their annual Founder’s Day.
“How honored I was to stand before this wonderful group of gentlemen,” Senator Harper said. “This year, Omega Psi Phi marks 98 years of lifting up [...]
Former DCRP Vice Chair Matt Collins
Matt Collins is no longer a member of the Davidson County GOP’s executive committee.
The embattled, Ron Paul supporting libertarian Republican was removed from his position as first vice chair by a vote of 14 to [...]
Joe Lance wants his campaign money numbers — and quick:
Whether the data entry task then would fall on election bureau workers or campaign staffers is a worthy discussion, as each prospect has its pros and cons. I’m not claiming to have all the answers. But the campaign finance disclosure [...]
From the inbox:
Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday. To me, Thanksgiving means being surrounded by my family and friends while we eat good food and watch too much football.
It is also about my family’s eternal struggle to recreate my mother’s famous cornbread dressing, which we can never get to taste as [...]
David Oatney explains how his father in law will be hurting if a law requiring him to purchase workers comp insurance is not delayed or repealed:
I have a degree in political science and I have been involved in political campaigns either actively or passively (writing about them) since I [...]
From WSMV:
A Murfreesboro church and a city elementary school were hit by vandals, who used black spray paint to write anti-Christ message, anarchy symbols and vulgar language.
Police think they think the two crimes could be related since similar markings were found at both places.
Nate Rau on the council’s newest member:
There’s no rest for the weary though. Already observers wonder what Hollin’s long-term plans for the seat are. The table is set for Hollin to potentially represent District 5 for just under 10 years. Because he’s finishing a term with less than two [...]
From the campaign’s blog:
Mike McWherter, Democratic candidate for governor, has been endorsed by the Tennessee Pipe Trades (UA-TN), a labor organization representing workers in the plumbing and pipefitting industry through its eight regional chapters across the state.
The UA-TN is part of the national United Association, which has more than [...]
From the Vandy people:
Recently declassified archival materials offer new insight into the reasons behind the changing dynamics of transatlantic relations since the 1970s, according to Thomas Alan Schwartz, co-editor of The Strained Alliance: U.S.-European Relations from Nixon to Carter.
Schwartz, a professor of history at Vanderbilt University, and Matthias Schulz, [...]
Presiding officer Paul Ney
Post Politics has obtained a document explaining the process that the Davidson County Republican Party will use tonight in deciding whether to unseat Matt Collins as first vice chair.
Because county chairwoman Kathleen Starnes is one of those seeking Collins’ [...]
From the inbox:
Thursday is our day of Thanksgiving. It speaks well for our country that one of our most treasured holidays is one that is set aside for sharing time with those we love, while giving God thanks for the blessings in our lives. Even in times of hardship, we [...]
Southern Beale reflects:
Again I ask: how come there is always money for war, never money for things like education and healthcare? One of the things that kills me about our discourse is how the media always couches the debate on healthcare and education as a fiscal argument. They bought [...]
AP:
Count Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey among those who don’t believe a special legislative session is necessary next month.
A Ramsey spokesman said Tuesday the Blountville Republican thinks addressing a new workers’ compensation law can wait until lawmakers meet in regular session come January.
Sarah Palin may be “one of those“:
That’s a tip-off that she reads the Bible as a guide to geopolitical events in the End Times. This is very common among a large portion of Evangelical Christians — according to a leading expert, between 50 and 60 million Americans hold Palin’s [...]
Since being sworn into office in January 2007, U.S. Senator Bob Corker, R-Tenn., has been to each of Tennessee’s 95 counties at least twice and made more than 470 visits throughout the state.
Corker marked the milestone with a town hall meeting in Polk County, his 41st town hall [...]
Fresh from the inbox:
Later this week I will be coming off the campaign trail to gather with my wife, Mary Jane, and our children, Walker and Bess, for a traditional Thanksgiving meal. While we’re together, we’ll take time to consider those things in our lives for which we are truly [...]
Chris Dodd separates his committee into two man crews to work on financial reform.
And Sens. Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) — who already spend lots of time together working on these issues through a bipartisan seminar series they set up on financial reform — will work on [...]
The NRA on last week’s guns-in-bars shoot down.
This ruling is a setback for Tennessee’s law-abiding concealed carry permit holders,” said Chris W. Cox, NRA chief lobbyist. “We strongly urge Attorney General Robert Cooper to defend the Tennessee statute and appeal this unwise ruling.” … “Right-to-carry permit holders in Tennessee [...]
Jamie Hollin defeated Murray defeated Murray by just two votes in the Nov. 12 recall election, which was the first in the history of Metro Nashville. The Davidson County Election Commission certified the election results on Nov. 16. Under state law, Murray had until Monday to file [...]
Technology brings porn to children on a plane:
On a recent cross-country trip from Los Angeles, Jana Matthews thought she’d lucked out when her friendly seatmate cued up a cartoon on his laptop. Her four children were enthralled; she hoped listening in might keep them occupied. Then the cartoon characters [...]
The editorial board of the Knoxville News Sentinel implores politicians to make sure we know, in a timely manner, who is giving them money and how much:
It is easy to be awestruck by the amount of money raised in the state’s political campaigns, especially in a recession. And it [...]
From the Wall Street Journal:
A few weeks ago, President Barack Obama signed legislation extending an $8,000 tax credit for first-time home buyers. The refundable tax credit, available even if a family has no taxable income, will enable many more buyers to close on a home. But it also could [...]
Sometimes Google search results from the Internet can include disturbing content, even from innocuous queries. We assure you that the views expressed by such sites are not in any way endorsed by Google. [...] We apologize if you’ve had an upsetting experience using Google. We hope you [...]
Davidson County GOP’s embattled first vice chair, Matt Collins, is optimistic about the outcome of tonight’s closed door meeting of the DCRP’s executive meeting where the main agenda item will be whether or not to remove him as a member of the county party:
I look forward to a [...]
Thank you for your interest in being present for the First National Tea Party Convention to be held at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville, TN February 4 -6, 2010. Press will be allowed in a designated section of the lobby of the convention only and will not [...]
They’re gonna make a checklist. It’s all good now:
“A group of conservative Republican leaders is proposing a solution to the internecine warfare over what the party should stand for: a 10-point checklist gauging proper adherence to core principles like opposing government financing for abortion and, more generally, President Obama’s [...]
He’s ready to make a decision:
“After completing a rigorous final meeting, President Obama has the information he wants and needs to make his decision and he will announce that decision within days,” Gibbs said.
Gibbs has said that Obama will not make that announcement, likely the most important of Obama’s [...]
Rep. Zach Wamp hits fellow gubernatorial candidate Bill Haslam with a zinger:
Reached Friday, Wamp tweaked Haslam, too: “Four out of five wealthy candidates lose, and ones that win usually made their own money.”
Wamp said polls have show him leading, and he predicted that by February he would “be so [...]
Bob Corker on the trickery contained in current health reform legislation:
“This bill is not health-care reform,” he said. “There are ways to reform health insurance markets and to look at tax code reform that would add 16, 18 million people to the private sector rolls. There are ways to [...]
From WKRN:
The state money for neighborhood clinics came into being as a safety net after nearly 200,000 people off the Tennessee’s Medicaid program TennCare.
But $4 million from the health department to help dozens of neighborhood health clinics around state would go away under a plan presented to the governor [...]
An examination of what he’d be up against:
While Dobbs’s views on immigration might get him a toe-hold with some constituencies, there’s little modern evidence that opposition to immigration can power a national campaign. In order to have a shot at gaining traction nationally, Dobbs would have to tap into [...]
The Department of Children’s Services paid tuition and expenses for certain students’ last two years of college in exchange for two years of work after college.
Some students never fulfilled their obligation and never paid back the state. The state never collected. Now, during a recession, the state will [...]
In a quarterly survey, Ackerman asked 300 businesses in East Tennessee how they were doing. Half of the respondents said they’ve had to lay people off, and half said they’ve given employees time off without pay–furloughs.
“If you’re looking for what it means to employees, 82% of the people [...]
Lou Dobbs is probably running for President:
A radio interviewer on WTOP joked Monday about the “crazy” idea that the former CNN host could mount a White House bid in 2012 - but Dobbs wasn’t laughing. “What’s so crazy about that?” he responded in the interview broadcast on the Washington, [...]
A petition opposing the removal of Matt Collins as the First Vice Chair of the Davidson County GOP:
Whereas: The removal of Matt Collins would be perceived, whether rightly or wrongly, as a rejection of young, enthusiastic conservatives who voted for Ron Paul in the 2008 GOP primary, and
Whereas: [...]
From vandyunion.org:
After weeks of quiet negotiating, and 12 hours of open voting, Vanderbilt Union members approved a new one year contract, Tuesday November 10th. The contract addresses and improves several serious non-monetary work conditions for Vanderbilt workers. The sick leave policy is now more worker friendly, making it easier [...]
As an example of one service he could eliminate, the governor cited state-funded health care for poor people now delivered by health departments across the state. But he quickly added “that one would be very low on my priority list” because of the hardships of the economic [...]
From Aviation News:
Margaret Holleman, formerly staff attorney for the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority (MNAA), has been promoted to assistant legal officer.
[...]From Dru Fuller:
“If Lamar Alexander and I proposed this (health care) bill word for word just like it is there’s not a person on the other side of the aisle that would vote for this bill,” Corker, a Republican, said. “This is all about a political victory. I think [...]
Not what you might be thinking:
If saving money and eliminating unnecessary State bureaucracy are Governor Bredesen’s real objectives, this can be done very easily by eliminating every State position or piece of government makework having to do with concealed carry permits. Simply eliminate those permits and allow every Tennessean [...]
From Jill Cecil Wiersma:
Police Chief John Smith failed a random drug test of city employees and will undergo counseling as outlined in the Tennessee Drug Free Workplace Act.
City Administrator Victor Lay said Smith came to him last Monday immediately after the test earlier that day in Franklin.
“He showed positive [...]
Where? No, idea:
Gov. Bobby Jindal has added Tennessee to the list of states where he’s traveled to raise campaign cash.
Jindal’s office announced that the governor was in Nashville on Monday attending a fundraiser for his 2011 re-election bid.
Spokesman Kyle Plotkin refused to release details about who was hosting the [...]
