Back on 3 Dec, I put up a post about the FCC and their game of hide and seek for the ‘field meeting’ that was suppose to be held today, but was changed to the 14th. As of right now, Monday - 10am, their site STILL has no [...]
Back on 3 Dec, I put up a post about the FCC and their game of hide and seek for the ‘field meeting’ that was suppose to be held today, but was changed to the 14th. As of right now, Monday - 10am, their site STILL has no [...]
When talking about the healthcare issue the people that support a plan where the government gets involved seem to forget some historical facts that should give them pause before turning our health over to the government. Has there been anything, and I mean anything, that the government has controlled that [...]
Cuz they end up with slime like this for kids!
Crashed pickup looted with woman trapped inside (not linkable)
Sixty-nine-year-old Helen Hutton was injured and trapped in an upside down vehicle Saturday afternoon, but that apparently elicited little sympathy from a Savannah man.
According to Savannah police, Jimmy Milstead, 38 saw the crash [...]
Cuz they end up with slime like this for kids!
Crashed pickup looted with woman trapped inside (not linkable)
Sixty-nine-year-old Helen Hutton was injured and trapped in an upside down vehicle Saturday afternoon, but that apparently elicited little sympathy from a Savannah man.
According to Savannah police, Jimmy Milstead, 38 saw the crash [...]
A Page by Page Guide to Democrats’ Health Care Bill
The Democrats’ $2.5 trillion, 2,074-page health care bill contains many provisions that will increase the cost of health care in America. Here are just a few:
Page 324 includes an $8 billion tax on individuals that have non-government “approved” health [...]In case you have not already heard, the corruption in the U.S. Senate has reached a new low. Senator Mary Landrieu, Democrat from Louisiana, sold her vote on the cloture motion on the Reid Healthcare Bill for not $1oo,000,000 as had been reported for the past couple of days, no [...]
I have listened to Jim Cooper talk about the health care plans the past several weeks. He claims to be a “Blue Dog” Democrat, based on principal and fiscal conservatism, but in the end whether it is the stimulus plan, the budget or healthcare he falls right into line and [...]
Bredesen’s Monument to Government Waste Unveiled Today
Governor Phil Bredesen and First Lady Andrea Conte will officially dedicate “Conservation Hall” this afternoon, marking an end to a facelift to the Tennessee Governor’s Mansion that turned into a disastrous boondoggle for taxpayers.
Repairs to the Governor’s Mansion began in 2005 with the [...]
I’ve been trying to pay attention to some recent goings on in our little corner of Tennessee concerning the Hardin County schools, the school board, and tax issues. Unfortunately, because the local fish wrap’s website totally sucks, I can’t link back to articles on the issue.
From today’s edition, we [...]
On the 3rd, I posted about a tax issue here in Podunk. Well, it looks like they are going to have a referendum.
Date For County Wide Referendum Set
The Hardin County Election Commission convened on Tuesday, October 6th and a date has been set for a county wide special [...]
This past weekend, I attended a couple of very informative events held in Nashville. Out of complete curiosity, when I got home, I decided to snoop The Tennessean to see what they had to say about the events. Imagine my shock and surprise (insert massive sarcasm here) when [...]
Many folks aren’t able to make it all the way to D.C. this coming weekend, so, around the country, people will be gathering. We’ll be doing the same in Nashville.
September 12th from 12-5PM at Legislative Plaza in Downtown Nashville, TN.
This Is Not A Protest. It is a [...]
There is a Youtube video making the rounds right now. It is called “I Pledge”. At the end, the voices unanimously agree to be “servants to the president”. It can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqcPA1ysSbw. What gives me chills is how this video stirs echoes of the past, and not [...]
Do you know someone who is collecting unemployment insurance (UI) benefits in TN? Sounds kind of strange doesn’t it, that one can benefit from being unemployed? Believe it or not, some choose to be unemployed rather than work. Do you ever wonder where all this money is coming from? What [...]

Created by a teenager in Trussville, Alabama. Amazing, spine-tingling, thought provoking, and tear jerking.
Incredible Tea Party \”Commercial\”
Original file on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkmxG5Ta3N0
****Corrected Post****
I wrote to Mr. Alexander expressing my dismay with his vote for now Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. I told him he had lost my vote over his vote for her. He gave me a gracious and detailed response, but I feel he still misses the boat on [...]
1 month later, only holes are in anti-gun argument
by Phil Valentine
Is it safe to go back to the restaurants? Has the smoke cleared?
It’s almost been almost a month since the law allowing gun-carry permit holders to carry in bars and restaurants if they’re not drinking, and I [...]

Think about it. Who is ideally positioned to kill President Obama’s brand of health care reform? Right now, we need to make these Blue Dogs our best friends. We need to let them know we support some kind of reform, but not a “Public Option” and not [...]

This is a critical summer for the United States, its economy, its people, and the way that health care is delivered in our country. I have no doubt you are struggling with a great deal of pressure from all sides in the rush to make something happen this [...]
Critics of the guns-in-bars bill passed this past year seem adamant in their belief that only the text of a TCA statute has kept us safe from wild west shootouts in Printer’s Alley for lo-these-many-years.
Given the mystical powers of TCA to inhibit the behavior of [...]
Ms. Spears and I exchanged several email messages this morning (in my capacity as Vice President of the Tennessee Association of Church-Related Schools). I am happy to report that she has issued the following letter of clarification:
Dear Home School Parent:
It was brought to my attention that the letter sent out [...]

Did you know it is now TABOO to spank a child? Not that it is frowned upon in some circles, but that it is TABOO. That’s what the Tennessean is reporting this morning.
The paper also suggests that spanking is almost exclusively a religious phenomenon as seen by [...]
There are some bureaucrats (aka educrats) who just can’t seem to grasp the idea that they are not in charge of ALL the children. Doesn’t matter what the law says, parents cannot be allowed to teach their own children un-supervised. They’re not professionals! How will we know if the children [...]

I fear that many Republicans, Libertarians, and other proponents of limited government have given up on the health care fight and adopted a defeatest attitude that believes, “at best we can try to limit the damage.” I say we can do more!
President Obama and many on [...]
Ken Marrero (Blue Collar Muse, The Tennessee ConserVoliance, American Liberty Alliance) arranged a blogger meet with Tn GOP Governor candidate Bill Haslam yesterday afternoon.
To read the rest go to Bear Creek Ledger.
Bill Haslam, 2010 Tn Election, Governor Tennessee, John Harris, [...]
Like you couldn’t see this coming. The Spring Hill GM plant in Tn didn’t have a chance in hell of receiving this contract. The UAW threw their union comrades in Spring Hill under the bus, they’re just following the lead of the new CEO (Obama) of GM (Government Motors). I [...]

It’s in the news again.
Created in 1989, the Convention (often abbreviated as the “CRC”) has a number of laudable goals and features. It has been ratified by 193 countries around the world. The only two UN member states which have NOT ratified it are Somalia and the United [...]
The Democrats stepped slightly aside from the school house door after a $100 million arm twisting by US Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and allowed the charter bill to pass. Final vote 79 yes, 15 no.
Details and three short videos, to include the kerfluffle between Jones and Kelsey, at [...]

Well, some local folks finally got together and are throwing their own TEA Party! Whoo Hoo! Now, since I don’t have an official logo thingy, this picture will have to do!
Where: Selmer City Park - Selmer, Tennessee
When: 27 June 2009, 1:00 till ??
Why: To put it quite [...]
Since I don’t seem able to embed video on this site, go over to my site, and watch the video.
The confirmation of Sonia Sotomayor is almost a sure thing. Who do we have to blame for this confirmation? The GOP, of course. Because of years of weak leadership, the GOP has put itself into a position where there are powerless to stop anything.
This saga began in 2003. In 2003, [...]
This Thursday night (6/4/2009), at 8:00 PM Pacific/10:00 PM Central/11:00 PM Eastern, I’ll be on the blogtalkradio show Life, Liberty & the Pursuit of Conservatism.
The show is hosted by Babe Huggett (who blogs at TheRealityCheck.org) and Warner Todd Huston (who is a prolific blogger and owner of [...]
Written by Jean Barwick
Conservative Women’s Action Network (CWAN.org)
May 29, 2009
As Second Circuit Judge Sonya Sotomayor moves into the vetting process for a seat on the nation’s highest court, volumes of opinions both for and against Sotomayor have flooded the media. Long before Justice Souter’s official announcement that [...]
Written by Jean Barwick
Conservative Women’s Action Network (CWAN.org)
May 21, 2009
The Federal Reserve Act was signed into law in 1913 by Woodrow Wilson to establish a private, centralized banking system for the United States. Charged with the lofty goal of ending recessions, bank panics and depressions which its [...]
Lawmakers Using Public Funds for Eye-Catching Purchases
Florida Rep. Alcee Hastings spent $24,730 in taxpayer money last year to lease a 2008 luxury Lexus hybrid sedan. Ohio Rep. Michael Turner expensed a $1,435 digital camera. Eni Faleomavaega, the House delegate from American Samoa, bought two 46-inch Sony TVs.
The expenditures were [...]
There is a huge concern that all votes are counted EXCEPT for the military vote! Especially when that vote relates to our deployed troops.
From Brian Faughnan at American Issues Project
Among those who have studied the issue of military voting, there seems to be little disagreement that there is [...]
Again, Rep. Susan Lynn (R-Mt. Juliet) is on the front lines of a legislative battle and doing yeoman’s work in getting the word out about an outrageous power grab by the State of Tennessee.
The bill in question is HB2289/SB2239. Ignore the bill summary at that link. Like many [...]
Ken Marrero, aka the Blue Collar Muse - http://bluecollarmuse.com,
called for a meeting of The TN ConserVOLiance - http://tenncva.com to have meet, greet, listen, and question with Senator Ken Yager.
The senator opened up with the normal wholesome folksy conservative platitudes about mamma, work ethics, and apple pie [...]
Weapons of Mass Instruction
John Taylor Gatto has a new book out. That is cause for celebration. For those who are not familiar with him, a bit of his biography is in order. Gatto taught for 30 years in the public schools of New York City, specifically Community [...]
I’m thrilled with the outcome of last night’s House vote to restore the Tennessee State Constitution as ‘the law of the land’ in our state. The passage of SJR127 has taken a lot of time and warriors like the diminutive-in-stature-only Bobbie Patray of Tennessee Eagle Forum are owed an [...]
If you’ve read this far, you are either looking for some info to reinforce your values or to rebuke the selfish, money grubbing corporate elitists. Regardless, the question is vital and important, whether or not your personal choice of answers is supported. It’s vital because, while the question is [...]
Last night I attended a screening of the film “Homegrown Jihad” here in Nashville. It chronicled the decades old presence, here in the US, of the group Jamaat al-Fuqra, generally known as Muslims of America. The evening was hosted by ACT! West Nashville and emceed by WTN [...]
Nothing like moving the corruption of Memphis’ city politics to the national level.
The current mayor of Memphis, Willie Herenton (why do I always think of the Dr. Suess book, Horton Hears A Who?) won his 5th term, and a few months later, announced he was going to [...]
Just call her ‘Dr. Dolly’: Parton receives Ph.D.
Award-winning entertainer, businesswoman and education advocate Dolly Parton has a new title.
“Just think, I am Dr. Dolly!” she said Friday after receiving an honorary doctorate of humane and musical letters from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.
Always joking about her buxom figure, [...]
We have a small paper, called The Adamsville Post/Pickwick Express, in our area. Unfortunately, the last time they updated the website was back in August of last year. The Mr picked up a free copy ($30 for home delivery) a few days ago, and I just got around to snooping [...]
There’s an old saying, “Watch the pennies and the dollars will take care of themselves!” TN State Representative Donna Rowland (R - District 34, Murfreesboro) has an interesting report on her efforts to do precisely that.
A week ago, Murfreesboro blogger Matthew Hurtt noted an anomaly on Representative Rowland’s [...]
It’ll cost state employees to smoke
Current and former state employees have until the end of this year to quit smoking, or pay the consequences.
The consequences, in this case, will be a $600 smoking surcharge that goes into effect on New Year’s Day 2010 for everyone in the state employee [...]
The State of Tennessee’s jihad against homeschoolers continues.
It began in late 2007 and continued into 2008. An employee of the Department of Education, nominally in charge of the office of non-public schooling was criss-crossing the state making a presentation in which she declared that the diplomas issued by Tennessee’s church-related, [...]
As they did last year.
And the year before that.
And the year before that.
Here’s how that number is derived and reported by the Centers for Disease Control:
“Using new and improved statistical models, CDC scientists estimate that an average of 36,000 people (up from 20,000 in previous estimates) die from influenza-related complications [...]
“Constitution” is defined as “The way in which a thing is composed or made up” and “The physical character of the body as to strength, health, etc …” before it is defined as “The system of fundamental principles according to which a nation, state, corporation, or the like, is [...]
Tennessee has to do something about how its Supreme Court and Intermediate Appellate Court judges get seated on those courts. The current procedure expires in June and what happens next depends on who you talk to. Some say chaos will ensue. Some say the Constitution will prevail. But both sides [...]
Judge selection debate flares in Tennessee
Tennessee’s judicial system is coming under its sharpest attack in a generation, as groups of lawmakers and activists are trying to overturn the state’s process for selecting judges.
That sentence makes it sound like there is some backroom dealings going on with a group of [...]
In a faceoff between Willie Herenton and Steve Cohen, whom would you vote for?
Steve Cohen 90% 1271 votes
Willie Herenton 9% 141 votes
1412 total votes
I would suggest Willie do what he said he was going to do last year, and step down as mayor of Memphis!
Now, on [...]
Have you been frustrated with Lamar Alexander? Conservative Women’s Action Network (CWAN) has a petition which is a “Vote of No Confidence” for you to sign and mail to Lamar Alexander. This seems to be the only way to communicate with Senator Alexander since he doesn’t make himself available [...]
Memphis City Schools has rung up problems with cells
Poor oversight of phones hits taxpayers in wallets
Memphis City Schools provides many employees with cell phones to handle district business, but taxpayers picked up the tab for plenty more than monthly service charges.
They paid for ring tones and screen savers, [...]
I had a really weird dream last night. I dreamt that I was going to interview B. Hussein. When we sat down, I asked my first question, and he starting talking…….and never stopped. What was the question? I honestly have no idea….can’t remember, but I do remember that the answer, [...]

Senator Corker held a breakfast this morning at Boxwood Bistro in Williamson County. The format of the event after a nice breakfast buffet was Senator Corker gave a talk about life in DC. Then he took questions from the group.
To read more go to Bear Creek Ledger.
I was unable to make it to the Nashville Tea Party, being in the middle of the day and all, but I decided to make time to go to the one in Murfreesboro. There is strength in numbers, after all, and today we are all one big number. It was [...]
I thought I would share with you the email I just posted to Rep. Bart Gordon (D-TN). Every year on tax day, I feel it my Constitutional duty to let him know of my distaste in the current tax code and wasteful spending. Feel free to write your congressman with [...]
So the Department of Homeland Security today declassified a report that says anyone who disagrees with any liberal agenda item is a right-wing extremist and possible terrorist. The report sites the following as reasons to suspect an increase in recruits with no evidence to support this report:
Continue reading at: [americandad.blogivists.com]
American Dad
From Matthew Hurtt who got it from Colby Sledge.
5:32 p.m. FINAL UPDATE: The House passes HB0962, the guns-in-restaurants bill that would allow handgun carry permit holders to carry their weapons into restaurants that serve alcohol. The bill, as amended, would ban those weapons from restaurants from 11 p.m. [...]
There are no buffer zones for religious establishments that I have been able to find outside of what is mentioned in the article. There are provisions made for licensed establishments. Really the restaurant owner is well within his rights to sell alcohol at his establishment. He needs to satisfy Tennessee [...]
Veteran tests positive for HIV after VA mistake
A U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs patient has tested positive for HIV since being treated with equipment that exposed thousands of patients to other patients’ body fluids.
The VA on Monday did not return telephone and e-mail messages seeking comment about the location [...]
From the desk of MatthewHurtt.com:
I had the privilege of hearing Shelby County District Attorney General Bill Gibbons speak tonight at an event hosted by the Tennessee ConserVOLiance. Gibbons is one of four Republican candidates for Governor of Tennessee for the 2010 election cycle. The event began at 7:00 [...]
I was listening to the radio today and they made a point that I really had never thought about. Think about this for a minute. If the Republican Party is for the rich guy and the Democratic Party is for the common man . . .
continue reading at http://americandad.blogivists.com/2009/04/01/who-is-the-party-of-the-average-american-not-who-you-might-think/
American [...]

U.S. Sen. Feingold introduced legislation to eliminate the Fed death penalty. He says the death penalty is inconsistent with basic American principles of justice, liberty and equality. He is right, at least if continue
With the impending GIVE and SERVE legislation now before Congress, slavery is making a comeback, thanks to the Democrat Party and President Barack Obama. The ACLU has fought for years to keep criminals in prison from having to work hard, claiming you can’t make them work against their will, yet [...]

West Virginia, Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Hawaii, Florida, Minnesota, Arizona
Eight U.S. States, these States legislators have begun something that may need to be brought before every state in the union.
Continue reading at http://americandad.blogivists.com/2009/03/26/random-drug-tests-for-welfare-recipients/
American Dad

Homeschooling sports teams are coming of age. The breadth, depth, and quality of play at the national basketball tournament has been steadily improving for the past five or six years. This year’s event in Springfield, MO involves 340 teams from 20 states playing games in 33 [...]
I read a post from a blowhard (I can’t remember his name) at Huff post who made fun of the New American Tea Party movement. He claimed that the Original Boston Tea Party was about British Parliament trying help a global corporation - The East India Tea Company . . .
Continue reading at http://americandad.blogivists.com/2009/03/18/blowhard-at-huff-post-needs-a-history-lesson/
American Dad
I’ve only lived in this state for 2 years now, and there is still much to learn. One thing I have learned though, which is extremely disappointing, many of the representatives, from local to national, have forgotten that we have a U.S. Constitution. I’m not real sure why this has [...]
The news is pretty much officially in. I’m hoping it’s not more of the same promise to adhere to Conservative principles on the stump and tuck them away in a drawer once elected. But the jury is still out on Tennessee’s GOP Senators when one considers the merits of SB [...]
Memphis and Nashville don’t have opposing professional sports teams so they can’t “play” one another. But the bloodsport of Government is an acceptable alternative and so Memphis and Nashville are set to square off. The issue? What else? Money … Specifically, minimum wage laws.
Memphis wants the right to set a [...]
Last night in Knoxville, The Tennessee ConserVOLiance hosted the third Candidate Forum with Zach Wamp for bloggers and activists across the state. As with previous meetings in Nashville and Jackson, it was well attended with excellent questions and answers. With 16 months to go to the 2010 primary and 4 [...]
One piece of legislation sure to start conversations is the texting while driving bill moving through the legislature. As conservatives, we may be torn by the idea of less government intrusion into our lives and being safe on the road. As a lifelong conservative, this has been something I’ve pondered [...]
The Shootist reports that several purchasers of expended brass ammunition casing from the Department of Defense have been notified that they may no longer use the brass for reloading and resale. The DOD, effective immediately is requiring that the shell casings be destroyed. They [...]
Mrs. Smith would not be the odds on favorite for me for several reasons. First and foremost, and I know I am an odd-ball here and probably most certainly in the minority, though I have met many older folks and some younger one’s as well who agree with me, [...]
Often times when I hear the 2nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution (2nd) discussed, even by those calling themselves conservative, and quite often by those running for political office, they allow for the prohibition of firearms possession by those who have been convicted of a felony. I do not share [...]
When you see those words, you generally think of the wacky left coast, California. Well, this time it is happening next door, in North Carolina. There, Judge Ned Mangum has determined that a parent’s “narrow” teaching is detrimental to her children’s education, even though they are two grades ahead. He [...]
Body of missing 29-year-old woman found off Salem Road
A man suspected in the disappearance of Lisa Renee Davis shot and killed himself this afternoon, leaving a note that led to the discovery of her body.
Davis, 29, a part-time model, had been missing since Sunday. Her body was found in [...]

From the blog of Matthew Hurtt … if you haven’t yet had the opportunity to read this post, please do so. Thank you!
More charges filed in Palin e-mail hacking case
Three more federal charges have been filed against a University of Tennessee student charged with hacking into the personal e-mail account of Sarah Palin, the Alaska governor and former Republican vice presidential nominee.
David Kernell, the son of a Democratic Tennessee legislator, pleaded [...]
The Germans are scrapping their voting machines because of concerns about the vulnerability to manipulation - and the inability of voters to verify that their vote was properly recorded. Story from the German Foreign Ministry in the US.
Ballot security is the cornerstone of free elections.
So why are State Sen. [...]
Well, it’s official; we have a generation in college now that is completely an entitlement generation. The Liberals have done their job. They have trained them to expect the world handed to them on a platter and it has taken hold.
I work on the campus of MTSU. MTSU, like every [...]
There has been a war going on for a very long time….millennium as a matter of fact. In today’s world, the war is still being waged, on many different fronts, but the objective is still the same. We are battling for our very soul, as people, as a nation, the [...]

I had the opportunity to discuss MTSU’s budget difficulties today on the morning show - “Morning Browser” - hosted by WKRN Producer Christian Grantham.
See the video here.
A few numbers and comparisons that might help folks adjust to the new realities.
Tennessee, with 6 million people, is now projected to receive $4.5 BILLION as its share of the Stimulus Package. Rep. Stacey Campfield has posted the latest details online. That’s $750 for every man woman and child [...]
Jerry Cooper Highway. That is what a stretch of Highway 70 South from McMinnville to Spring Valley Road in Warren County will be named if bill SB26 passes in the Tennessee legislature. It recently passed the Senate Transportation committee with a unanimous vote. What is so bad about that? So [...]
First and foremost, I want to thank Ken for allowing me the privilege of posting here on The Tennessee ConserVOLiance. As a right-of-center blogger (mostly libertarian), I understand the importance of developing an interconnected community of like-minded individuals, and I appreciate what Ken and others have done with sites like [...]
Wilson schools ban God and get sued
The Wilson County school board is back in trouble with God.
Less than a year after a federal judge ruled that the school district had illegally promoted religion, the board faces a new lawsuit.
This time, they are accused of banning God.
The Alliance Defense Fund, [...]
The subject of women in political leadership carries with it no little political correctness discourse even among the most conservative individuals. Many Christians were googlie-eyed at the thought of Palin as President. I was not. This is a subject I believe needs to be faced honestly to understand God’s design [...]
NASA climatologist James Hansen has joined the call for civil disobedience at tomorrow’s Capitol Climate Action Demonstration - March 2nd 2009. The organizors are targeting the Capitol Power Plant, a coal-fired plant in DC which supplies heating and cooling to the Capitol and Congressional office buildings.
The Capitol Climate Action Project [...]
I’ve mentioned a couple of times the Cheatham County County School Board Watchdog blog. I’ve applauded their efforts to monitor and hold their system accountable. They have been under fire since the beginning. From my October post introducing them:
The blog’s first post is dated just weeks ago and already they’ve [...]