Question of the Weekend: Excuses
This weekends weekly reader response question is about the
Tennessee House special election in the 62nd District:
The last couple of days, I've written articles in this space about the special election taking place in Tennessee House District 62 and the propensity for the Democratic nominee in that contest to avoid public forums. Over the last several weeks, regular readers may have noticed that there has been quite a bit of discussion in this space about that particular race. The reason, of course, is because of the delicate balance of power in the Tennessee House of Representatives, and the reality that the vote in the 62nd impacts de facto control of the lower chamber.
Labels: Democrats, Elections, Tennessee politics
Cobb Wants Debate-But Only On His Terms
The Democratic nominee in Tennessee House District 62
only wants a debate if it is on his terms:
No rational political operation would expect to organize for a debate in the middle of a campaign on anything less than 48 hours' notice, so it should not be surprising that the Marsh camp suggested Monday October 12th as an alternate date. The Cobb camp's answer is not only "no," but apparently "you debate on our terms only, or there will be no debate." Mind you, this is a man who intends to serve in a deliberative body, the Tennessee House of Representatives. Does Ty Cobb expect that the debate will always be on his terms there as well? After once again refusing reasonable debate terms, the Tennessee Democratic Party has the unmitigated gall to accuse the Marsh campaign of refusing to debate, when it is Cobb who has refused to show at various public forums.
Labels: Democrats, Republican Party, Tennessee politics
Run and Hide Ty
Is the "pro-life" candidate in the Tennessee House District 62 special election
trying to hide something?:
As someone who has been active in the pro-life movement, I know that no reputable pro-life organization would want a candidate which they have endorsed to cut out on a public forum (or in Cobb's case, forums), where a large part of the audience(s) would likely share their pro-life views. Such events are to be seen as positive and prompt attendance would be encouraged-even at a place like the Webb School.
Labels: Aborticide, Democrats, Elections, Tennessee politics
Notes on the Caucus
University of Tennessee General Council
Ron Leadbetter is a glutton for punishment:
State Rep. Stacey Campfield will have a "major" opponent in next year's Republican Primary in the 7th Senate District, and it will be deja-vu for anyone who remembers Campfield's 2008 primary, because his opponent is once again the University of Tennessee General Council Ron Leadbetter. Apparently, Leadbetter wasn't pleased with one beating two years ago in the intra-party contest for the 18th District House seat, so he's decided to come back for seconds against Campfield in the race for the Senate seat being vacated by Tim Burchett. Burchett's successor, who it is said he believes privately is most likely to be Campfield, will enter a Tennessee Senate that is a thoroughly Republican body. Its committee chairs are all Republicans, it has a decidedly Republican majority, and a Republican will likely preside over it for many years to come.
I also give my thoughts on the state of leadership in the Tennessee House Republican Caucus. Labels: Republican Party, Tennessee politics
Conflicts of Interest
Tennessee House Democratic Chairman
Mike Turner sees no conflict with the possibility of serving as head of the Tennessee State Employees Association while also serving in the General Assembly, and ostensibly the Democrats' Number Two in the House of Representatives:
He would be the president of the association, and Turner does not believe that he would be lobbying for them? He might not consider what he will do to be lobbying, but if he plans to move bills or to help shepherd any legislation in the House which will have an impact on the membership over which he will be the leader, it can rightly be said that Mike Turner would be using his position as a legislator to benefit State employees, over whose union (and that is effectively what the TSEA is) he would be the head. This is singularly disappointing considering Mike Turner's seniority standing in the House. As long as he has been a member of the General Assembly, Mike Turner should know what constitutes a conflict of interest.
I don't agree with Turner's politics, but always thought well of him personally. He and I have always gotten on very well. I really thought he would be the kind of person to know better than this.
Labels: Democrats, Tennessee politics
Technically a Tax Hike
The Tennessee Department of Revenue's ability to
force people to file business taxes online is to be found-in the
"Technical Corrections" Bill:
One of the new mandates included is the requirement that Tennessee small businesses file the returns for their State sales taxes online or face a fine of up to $500. Not only is filing online not practical for certain kinds of businesses, but legislators might never have voted for this change were it a bill of its own. In searching for the source of the menacing new mandate on businesses from Nashville, I quickly learned that many legislators didn't know where the authorization to enact an online filing requirement for business taxes came from in the law. Those that did know it came from the Technical Corrections Bill, such as Reps. Mike Bell
(R-Riceville), and Joshua Evans (R-Greenbrier), were also quick to point out that they voted against the legislation.
Labels: Democrats, Duh, Republican Party, Tennessee politics
They Are Not Two
Mark 10:1-12:
And rising up from thence, he cometh into the coasts of Judea beyond the Jordan: and the multitudes flock to him again. And as he was accustomed, he taught them again. And the Pharisees coming to him asked him: Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him. But he answering, saith to them: What did Moses command you? Who said: Moses permitted to write a bill of divorce, and to put her away. To whom Jesus answering, said: Because of the hardness of your heart he wrote you that precept.
But from the beginning of the creation, God made them male and female. For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother; and shall cleave to his wife. And they two shall be in one flesh. Therefore now they are not two, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. And in the house again his disciples asked him concerning the same thing.
And he saith to them: Whosoever shall put away his wife and marry another, committeth adultery against her. And if the wife shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.
Our social liberal friends have told us for years that no-fault divorce is a wonderful thing. It has been so great for society. Deadbeat fathers, children born out of wedlock left and right, and a society which places so little value on matrimony that some have seen fit to try and redefine its very meaning. No one likes these words of Our Lord, but the Lord is very clear. People generally do not like to deal with this part of scripture because it is uncomfortable. Being honest about what Jesus said and meant in this passage places a great many people and most of American society under conviction.
Labels: Faith, Holy Mother Church
