Labels: Conservatism, Democrats, Republican Party, Tennessee politics
posted by Deacon David Oatney @ 1:48 AM
0 comments
Tennesseans have been left with the impression that this law was about letting people pack heat in Tootsie's. While the legislation certainly allowed for that (provided the owners of Tootie's didn't object), the purpose wasn't to insure that honky-tonk patrons could have big irons on their hips, but to insure that those who had concealed-carry permits had the benefit of personal protection if they needed it when taking their family out to dinner-a regular activity for many, if not most Tennesseans.
Labels: Conservatism, Political correctness, Tennessee politics
posted by Deacon David Oatney @ 4:07 PM
1 comments
Despite Zach Wamp wishing that Ron Ramsey would find some reason to drop out (he admitted as much to Rob Huddleston and myself at the Statesman's Dinner this year when he told us that he thought Ramsey was going to have to "make some decisions" so that Bill Haslam could have a serious competitor), Ron Ramsey's campaign is still showing signs of astonishing resilience, and neither he nor Wamp appear to be going anywhere but the campaign trail. Bill Gibbons' seeming desire to fight on insures that Haslam can't "run away" with a victory, and that if he gets one next August, he will have had to work hard for it. None of the current Republican primary polls show Haslam winning in a blowout.
Labels: Elections, Republican Party, Tennessee politics
posted by Deacon David Oatney @ 11:31 PM
0 comments
So what killed the Tennessee State Fair?
Regionalism is a huge part of the problem, of course. East Tennessee has the Tennessee Valley Fair as its popular regional agricultural exhibition, and people in this area would just as soon drive to Knoxville to a fair just as large or larger than the State Fair as they would drive all the way to Nashville for an exhibition of similar, or now lesser quality. West Tennessee also has the closer West Tennessee State Fair for people in that part of the State.
Labels: Conservatism, Miscellany
posted by Deacon David Oatney @ 3:08 PM
0 comments
During the last legislative session, the Governor delayed presenting a budget until federal stimulus money arrived. When that money did appear on the scene, it wasn't nearly as much as what some had projected, leading to cuts no one had foreseen, and "technical corrections." Instead of waiting until mid-June to pass the budget and adjourn, the General Assembly could have been out as early as the second week of May. This year, there will be little reason to delay the inevitable. And what will Phil Bredesen's final legacy be?
Labels: Democrats, Republican Party, Tennessee politics
posted by Deacon David Oatney @ 4:43 PM
0 comments
One has to feel for the Democrats, because they all know that legislative races notwithstanding, unless something changes drastically with the developing political dynamic in Tennessee the Democratic nominee will be beaten. Without some major political help, they will be badly beaten. This is not because the voters have predetermined the result, but because both the media and most political pundits have determined that the next Governor will be a Republican.
Labels: Democrats, Tennessee politics
posted by Deacon David Oatney @ 1:31 PM
3 comments
Labels: Faith, Holy Mother Church, Music
posted by Deacon David Oatney @ 11:27 PM
0 comments
