Powerful video
Wednesday, April 23rd, 2008 |Great questions…why can’t we vote? Call your representative. If you’re in the Fightin’ 33rd here in Tennessee like me your rep is Jim Hackworth: rep.jim.hackworth@legislature.state.tn.us, (865) 482-2455.
Archive for the ‘TN Politics’ Category
Watch Your Back, Woodson
Thursday, April 3rd, 2008 |
Look’s like Sen. Woodson has some competition this year:
Republican state Sen. Jamie Woodson will have no opponent in the GOP primary for re-election to her 6th District seat, but she will face a Democrat, Gary Farmer, in the November general election, based on petitions filed with the Knox County Election Commission by today’s noon deadline.
If a Democrat fills her seat he might support expansion of Pre-K programs, engage in progressive causes, grant millions of tax-payer dollars to PBS, spend tax surpluses on foreign-language school expansions, rehash failing funding formulas like BEP 2.0 to benefit pet projects, give per-gallon tax subsidies to oil companies, and introduce legislation that limits the free speech of bloggers.
Hopefully Woodson will win so we’ll have a Republican who will support expansion of Pre-K programs, engage in progressive causes, grant millions of tax-payer dollars to PBS, spend tax surpluses on foreign-language school expansions, rehash failing funding formulas like BEP 2.0 to benefit pet projects, give per-gallon tax subsidies to oil companies, and introduce legislation that limits the free speech of bloggers.
My fingers are crossed for you, Senator.
Smells Like an Election Year
Tuesday, March 11th, 2008 |From KnoxNews.com:
NASHVILLE - A proposal to make it a crime for illegal immigrants to accept pay for work done in Tennessee is headed for floor votes in both chambers of the General Assembly.
The Senate Commerce Committee voted unanimously today to advance the proposal to make it a misdemeanor for illegal immigrants to accept pay.
The measure sponsored by Sen. Joe Haynes, a Goodlettsville Democrat, could lead to fines of $500, up to six months in jail and require illegal immigrants to forfeit any earnings they receive.
Haynes says the Legislature is prevented from enacting tougher penalties against employers who hire illegal immigrants because the state must defer to federal laws on the matter.
While I’m for measures to penalize illegal immigration, I think this is a moronically backwards way of doing so. Why aren’t we going after the employers? How is it even feasible to enforce this (”I can’t ask if you’re here illegally, and I’m not profiling, but hypothetically if you were here illegally, have you been working and getting paid? Because if you have I need to give you a fine. No? Okay. Here’s a driver’s license and a voter registration card — sorry to have troubled you.”)?
How is it that lawmakers are getting paid to come up with junk like this? My six year old son could draft a better document.
Sigh. I digress. Here’s why it’s stupid: Haynes says that the state has to defer to federal laws on employers. I call bull-feces.
Tennessee regulates labor and workforce on a state level, as evidenced by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce. That’s right — an entire department devoted to enforcing Tennessee State Labor Laws. But Mr. Haynes says they can’t do anything about employers. Their hands are tied, poor kids. They’d like to be able to regulate the workforce, they just can’t.
This is just a sad, sad attempt by state Democrats to make themselves look more conservative before November. There are a number of bills being introduced this year for that exact purpose (my own representative, Jim Hackworth, has his name attached to an “interesting” abortion bill). However, those bills don’t stand up to close scrutiny by the informed.
Fortunately for the Dems people don’t seem very interested in being informed this election cycle. They prefer to be inspired.
Best Quote from the Knoxville Sunshine Law Lawsuit
Saturday, September 29th, 2007 |“I apologize for my lack of judicial eloquence in calling it silly, but occasionally I am completely overcome by common sense.”
Here’s to you, Mr. “I won’t step down even though I’m a danger to myself and those around me” guy
Friday, September 14th, 2007 |
Yep, that Rep. Briley is livin’ the High Life:
“I think I do have a position which presents itself with lots of opportunities to highlight many of these issues and to do good for people,” the Nashville Democrat told The Tennessean. “I have to go back and do that. I have no intention of stepping down at this point.”
I hear his pal Naifeh is takin’ him out for drinks to celebrate…
Briley Tape Released
Wednesday, September 12th, 2007 |
Although I haven’t seen actual footage yet, there’s a tape of Rep. Briley being arrested for drunken driving, resisting arrest, and felony vandalism. A full report on the tape is available from Nashville’s City Paper:
The officers tried again and again to calm Briley and make his handcuffs more comfortable. One officer told the other police officers to “keep an eye on him,” and said Briley was “acting stupid” and was “liable to do anything.”
Listen, I’m not calling for the man’s death. As soon as he does the responsible thing and steps down, or the House Speaker removes him from his committee seats, I’ll back off and let the man take care of his business privately. Until that point I think we, the citizens of the State of Tennessee, should be as loud and persistent as possible in calling for his removal.
“Well, what if it was you, Wes?!” Well, what if it was? I’d fully expect to lose clients, be removed from my position as youth pastor, removed from positions of authority within my church organization, and lose my ministerial license. That’s starters. Would I deserve a second chance? Maybe. But not until I’ve met the consequences of my actions.
That’s the issue here — are there consequences for our actions? And if so, is there then a different set of consequences for the social elite and powerful? And if THAT’S true, doesn’t that yank the rug out from under 99% of liberalism?
No, Mr. Naifeh, YOU are the lowlife
Monday, September 10th, 2007 |
Republican leaders in the Tennessee House are calling for the resignation of Rep. Bob Briley after his DUI arrest this weekend. But he didn’t just drive drunk — he fled the scene and led officers on a 100+ MPH chase before finally stopping. He was arrested at gunpoint after stopping in the middle of the road, and the police report notes that he kicked the window of a patrol car.
So how does House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh respond to the calls for Briley to step down? By calling Republicans lowlifes:
“I think that’s pretty lowlife. I have absolutely no use for those people,” said Naifeh.
A KnoxNews.com story gives even more detail:
Naifeh said today that Briley suffers from alcoholism, was in treatment last fall and is preparing to enter treatment again. “I will do everything I possibly can to help Rob Briley down the road to recovery,” he said.
How about helping him down the road to his house, you jerk.
Mr. Naifeh, how DARE you call those who want to protect the public lowlifes? I know that to you, a career politician with higher hopes for himself than the state of Tennessee, it’s hard to imagine but there are actually people out there who value the lives of the people that you have “absolutely no use for”.
I’d much rather call for the resignation of a cocky drunkard than attend another memorial for someone killed by one. Forget trying to protect the 1,000+ people who’ll be killed by a drunk driver in Tennessee this year — Mr. Naifeh’s sole concern here is protecting his seat in the Speaker’s chair.
So how about this — I’m calling for Briley to step down for irresponsible behavior and Naifeh to step down for his reckless and irresponsible comments.
Words Mean Something Part. 3
Monday, August 13th, 2007 |A well-known Tennessee liberal blogger recently posted the following in response to TN Rep. Stacey Campfield speaking at a T-FIRE event:
Okay, Tennesee [sic], it’s become apparent to me that y’all may need a little refresher course on what is racist.
Noticing that there are people in the world who are different than you–not racist.
Being uncomfortable with those differences, but assume that’s your problem to get over–not racist.
Seeing that people are different than you and assuming that you’re better than them–racist
Treating people who are different than you poorly because they’re different than you–racist.
Actively seeking to define how people that are different than you are worse than you and then seeking to cause them harm–REALLY REALLY RACIST.
That’s like the big no-no of racist behavior.
There are two points to make:
1.) None of those are the definition of “racist”. The word racist, according to the American Heritage Dictionary means “(1) The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others. (2) Discrimination or prejudice based on race.”
2.) Aunt B., by her own definition, is a racist. She says that assuming you’re better than someone makes you a racist, and yet she assumes herself to be more lofty and educated than the entire population of the state of Tennessee by beginning her post with the line “Okay, Tennesee [sic… oh, the irony], it’s become apparent to me that y’all may need a little refresher course on what is racist.” Thanks for setting us uneducated hicks straight.
So just to revue:
racism ≠ thinking you’re better than someone or treating people differently
liberalism = constant hypocrisy
Woodson a Progressive Woman?
Wednesday, August 8th, 2007 |
Tonight I met with some friends for dinner in Knoxville’s Old City and ended up with a few minutes to kill. When in the Old City one is never more than two paces from an assortment of alternative newspapers so I quickly grabbed up one that I had never seen before, Knoxville Voice (a very well done paper, I might add).
You expect in the alternatives to find, well, alternative views (read: liberal). So it was no shock to me to see a story about the formation of the Progressive Women’s Coalition and the subsequent launch party held on July 19. What did surprise me, however, was to see Sen. Jamie Woodson chatting it up in the accompanying photo and a mention of her in the story. She apparently wasn’t the only Republican in attendance.
The leaders of PWC are quick to say that the “progressive” isn’t code for liberal, but here is the Statement of Principles from their website:
- Government that is open for everybody to participate in and that is not conducted behind closed doors.
- Efficiently run government that is ethical and responsible with the money it collects in taxes, tariffs, and fees.
- Government that recognizes and respects the dignity of people of all skin colors, ethnic origins, gender/sexual orientations, ages, incomes, abilities, and cultural and religious traditions.
- An education system that meets the needs of all our citizens, rich or poor, no matter which neighborhoods they live in.
- Affordable, quality healthcare for all citizens, including safe family-planning choices for women.
- Affordable and safe housing.
- Government that recognizes the importance of the separation of church and state activities in order to preserve the liberty of all.
- Sustainable development planning. We depend on the natural world for our health and happiness. We need to make intelligent choices for the preservation of the health and beauty of East Tennessee’s hills, valleys, water, air, and soil, so that we can balance community and economic development and conserve our natural resources. .
- Finally, and most important, the understanding that all Knox County citizens have something to bring to the table, and that open, respectful debate is the key to solving our problems as a community.
I’m sorry, but if that’s not a liberal organization then MoveOn.org should be open for federal funding through the Department of Education. While not all those points are outright liberal ideals, many are, such as the advocacy of readily available abortion services in Knox County. (Their website has an FAQ where the question is posed “Q: What about abortion? I don’t want to join a group that’s for abortion.” They respond: “No one is “for” abortion. But…” Excuse me?!?!)
They’re emphasizing the “importance of the separation of church and state” (ie - Christianity) while demanding respect for “other” cultural and religious traditions, advocating abortion, calling for recognition and respect for all sexual orientations, and demanding “eco-friendly” development. I’m not in Sen. Woodson’s district, but I believe she, and any other Republican that attended, has some questions to answer as to why she would throw her support behind such an obviously liberal movement.
Once again Sen. Woodson is showing that her conservatism is only skin-deep.
Stuff Went Down
Sunday, June 10th, 2007 |Apparently WKRN blogger Brittney Gilbert has resigned/otherwise lost her job over some random “racial issue” that will be unremembered a week or so from now. It’s a shame on one hand, but I have to say that Brittney had a way of dealing it just as harshly as she ended up taking it. She was just as vicious as an attacker as those who went after her, and those things have a way of coming full circle.
Interestingly, she was defended in this way over at TinyCatPants:
So, let me tell you a little bit about life on the ground here in Tennessee. Here, we liberal bloggers are outnumbered by conservative bloggers by about six to one, I’d guess. Here, there are maybe a dozen feminist bloggers throughout the whole state and a handful, at best, bloggers who blog for immigrant rights.
NiT is the one platform we have to reach a larger readership, to try to influence policy.
If we lose Brittney, we lose the one prominent liberal feminist voice in the state being paid by a news outlet. We lose our gathering place, we lose our rallying place.
Unfortunately for Brittney this has little to do with her as a person and everything to do with her as a figure head. So if I can remove any personal feelings here on both sides I would have to say that this is, in the long term, a good move by WKRN. If a news outlet is being outright used as a platform for liberals to influence policy I have little in terms of sympathy for that kind of situation.
Again, no offense to Brittney — she did her job well. A little too well in this instance. I frankly think the whole issue really is nonsense. But at the end of the day they didn’t rip her brain out and make her turn in her home keys. She still has a blog and I’m sure we’ll hear plenty from her as the days go on.
The shame here is that she lost her job for nothing. The upside is that she can now use her personal blog to be as wide open and transparent on issues as she wishes with no fears over job security, and we can go back to hoping, in the face of mounds of evidence to the contrary, that the media is impartial.
Good luck, Brittney.
A Headline We Should Never See
Tuesday, May 8th, 2007 |From KnoxNews.com:
State will have money to burn
NASHVILLE - Economists told the State Funding Board on Monday that the state government will have about $600 million more to spend next year than expected when Gov. Phil Bredesen’s budget proposal was originally presented.
Dr. Bill Fox, who heads the University of Tennessee’s Center for Business and Economic Research, also recommended that the state’s “rainy day” savings fund be increased to about $1.1 billion. It is now at a record high level of $497 million.
Imagine that. The state will have a $600 million surplus and they just happen to have a recommendation to increase the rainy day fund by that same amount. WEIRD. That should keep all that pesky talk of giving taxpayers their change back to a minimum.
Finney backing away from Creation question?
Wednesday, March 14th, 2007 |From KnoxNews:
The state senator who proposed forcing Tennessee’s top education official to answer if a supreme being created the universe said he may stop pushing the matter.
“I’m not sure I’m going forward with that,” Sen. Raymond Finney, R-Maryville, said Tuesday in a telephone interview from his Nashville office. “I’m probably going to reword it anyway. This may not be the time and place for that.”
Finney cited a workload with other legislation as one reason to reconsider the resolution he introduced, which asks Education Commissioner Lana Seivers to answer whether the universe “has been created or has merely happened by random, unplanned, and purposeless occurrences.”
…“I probably made a mistake in approaching it from a creation aspect, which raises red flags,”…
…If Finney proceeds with the resolution, it only has to pass the Republican-controlled Senate and won’t be considered by the Democratic-controlled House or the governor…
Why in the world would Finney back down on this? Sen. Finney has already faced the ridicule and insults — dropping the subject at this point saves him no embarrassment. It, in fact, opens him and the resolution up to more dismissive ridicule.
He introduced a resolution that does nothing but ask a simple question of our Education Commissioner: “Was the universe created or did it just randomly happen to come into existence?” It’s a fine question and one that I’m interested to hear answered. I hope that the senator will tune out the vocal minority, stand his ground, and wait for the answer.
Blogger Day on the Hill: What Could Have Been
Thursday, March 8th, 2007 |Via NiT comes this nifty invite from Howard Gentry’s Nashville Mayoral campaign:
Nashville Bloggers, Howard Gentry would like to meet you!
Where: Gentry For Mayor Campaign Headquarters
1819 Charlotte Avenue
When: Saturday, April 14
Time: Noon (we’ll end at 1 PM)We know bloggers have jobs, families and other interests, so we hope this time and date will be convenient for as many of you as possible. Please RSVP to Evans Donnell at evans@howardgentry.com or call 830-4585 by Wednesday, April 11.
We’ll have some food and soft drinks since it’s lunchtime. And our headquarters is wireless-friendly, so live blogging is an option. See you there!
I don’t know anything about the man, his politics, or his plans for Nashville, but I do know that he has figured out how to host a truly blogger friendly event. Take notes, Kara & Mumsy!
Ned Lamont? Really?
Tuesday, March 6th, 2007 |As a conservative I don’t have much to gloat about from the last election cycle. One of the few bright spots, however, was Ned Lamont’s defeat by Democratic Sen. Joe Lieberman after his disappointing loss to the same in the Democratic primary. So what’s Ned doing with his time now days? Why, speaking at the Democracy for Tennessee Convention, of course!
Sean Braisted has a write-up on his blog about the whole deal:
Ned is the progressive patriot who stood up to Joe Lieberman by challenging - and beating - him in Connecticut’s Democratic primary election.
Only liberals can make someone who lost an election sound like a winner and national icon. (If that’s the case Republicans are in luck — we’ve got heroes and icons comin’ out our ears…)
With Dems losing top leadership in the Senate and unable to unseat key Republicans around the state, I think this is just an awful choice for a speaker. I wonder how the keynote will go?
“Hey, gang. I’m Ned Lamont. The DFT guys asked me to come and speak a little bit about disappointment and loss in politics. They wanted me to help you feel a little bit better about your situation. See, just like you, I managed to lose my race at a time when Democrats had to be mostly brain dead and/or learning disabled to not win. But here we are, right? (pause for laughter/sobs)…”
Like I said, I don’t have any reason to be gloating after the beating Republicans took, but I’ll take what I can get. Thanks DFT!
Blogger Day on the Hill
Tuesday, March 6th, 2007 |Am I the only one that thinks this is a joke? Am I the only one not excited about being asked to drop everything on three week’s notice to attend a bunch of regularly scheduled house sessions? Honestly — look at the schedule. There’s a 30 minute welcome from Mumpower on Monday the 26th, and a coffee and donut thing the next morning, followed by a “thanks for coming” at noon. The rest of the time is filled with such exciting activities as “[sitting] in the gallery and [witnessing] a session of the 105th General Assembly” and bloggers “[attending] committees at their leisure” and… oh… that’s pretty much it. Excited yet?
You know what it reminds me of? When friends drop in unexpectedly on a busy day.
“Oh, hey Bob. Uh, I was about to go wash the car. You can come with me I guess… watch me vacuum?”
Seriously. Where’s the Q&A session? Where’s the session where we get to ask our representatives about matters important to blogging, communication, technology, and open government? Sure there’s the donut thing where you could ask those questions. But it’s so informal and lackluster and not conducive to what we do at all. What will end up happening is that a couple of bloggers will end up dominating the heavy hitters (if they’re even there) while the others mill around and talk to people who still haven’t figured out how they got elected.
Grr.
Maybe I’m just out of the loop. Maybe this should excite me to no end. But it doesn’t. It actually ticks me off a little.
