Democrats Opposed to Secret Ballots
Democrats think Tennesseans are too stupid to
decide for themselves whether or not to organize a union:
Three Tennessee Democrats on the Tennessee House Employee Affairs Subcommittee apparently don't like the notion of workers in our State having the sovereign right to a secret ballot when deciding whether or not to organize. House Bill 1916 sponsored by Representative Susan Lynn (R-Mount Juliet) not only says that workers have the right to decide by secret ballot to unionize or not, but makes it illegal in Tennessee for a union to assume upon itself the ability to organize without a vote of employees taken by way of a secret ballot.
Labels: Democrats, Elections, Republican Party, Tennessee politics
Is Davis Saving For Later?
In choosing not to run for Congress in 2010, former Tennessee First District Congressman
David Davis may have saved himself:
I had supported David Davis, and was nearly prepared to do so again. However, my gut told me that this time he was going to have a much more difficult time getting votes than he had in either 2006 or 2008. Some of Davis' supporters were trying aggressively to paint Congressman Roe as pro-choice because he voted for some bills that had questionable riders on them relating to abortion funding overseas. Since Dr. Roe's specialty has been the health care issue and related matters pertaining to the U.S. Agency for International Development's medical aid to the Third World, I suspect he was aware of what he was voting for and also knew that if he wanted some things passed in his arena of specialty, he was going to have to swallow some things he might not otherwise be inclined to vote for. Because of his overall record on the pro-life issue, it is hard to question Dr. Roe's commitment to the pro-life cause based on that record-National Right to Life does not (Roe spoke at the March for Life). More importantly, I suspect that after David Davis ran his polls leading up to his official decision on Monday, the numbers may have suggested a close race, but also might have showed that the people of East Tennessee weren't buying the idea that Phil Roe is pro-abortion, either.
Labels: Congress, Republican Party, Tennessee politics
How Not to Run the GOP
Want to see how a Republican executive committee
should not behave? Check out
what happened two States away:
Apparently, Ohio Central Committee bylaws must allow that body to endorse candidates in primaries as a matter of regular practice. Whether the rules allow for this or not, it is a thoroughly shameful practice because it undermines the GOP's ability to command the loyalty of its voter base. Perhaps even more disgusting is that in this particular case, the move by the committee to encourage one candidate to drop his campaign for one office and instead run for another benefited the cousin of the State party Chairman (see DeWine family corruption).
Labels: Conservatism, Republican Party
It's Not Love, But It's Not Bad...
Phil Bredesen's
tenure as Governor:
Even so, we should all give thanks. Yes, frequently in this space I am critical of the Governor, and I often wish that members of his administration would make wiser taxation and spending choices (see Farr, Reagan and the cigarette border tax fiasco), and I think the attitude of this administration toward the liberties of the people is nothing short of a complete disgrace. I also have to wonder, however, how much of these problems are really Bredesen's doing, and how much of the blame lies with the people around him. Unlike his two most recent predecessors (Democrat Ned McWherter and Republican Don Sundquist), Bredesen has never seriously threatened to impose an income tax and has accepted that it is not politically acceptable in Tennessee. Phil Bredesen will likely leave office with Tennessee's finances in better shape than many other States where the choices they will make in the months and years ahead are far more drastic than anything Tennesseans will probably have to deal with.
Labels: Conservatism, Democrats, Republican Party, Tennessee politics
Don't Ask, Do Tell
State Rep. Tony Shipley didn't ask for his new Legislative Assistant,
but he sure enjoys having him:
"The Speaker is who signs the paperwork," Shipley told The Examiner, further adding "I didn't ask for my own secretary at all, but it was offered and I am glad to have the extra help in serving constituents." Rep. Shipley said that a law student from the Tri-Cities area who is familiar with the 2nd District which he represents has been hired as his new legislative assistant. "He knows my district, and that is going to work out very well for both of us, and for my constituents."
Labels: Republican Party, Tennessee politics
Fulfilled In Your Hearing
Luke 4:21-30:
And he began to say to them: This day is fulfilled this scripture in your ears. And all gave testimony to him: and they wondered at the words of grace that proceeded from his mouth, and they said: Is not this the son of Joseph? And he said to them: Doubtless you will say to me this similitude: Physician, heal thyself: as great things as we have heard done in Capharnaum, do also here in thy own country. And he said: Amen I say to you, that no prophet is accepted in his own country. In truth I say to you, there were many widows in the days of Elias in Israel, when heaven was shut up three years and six months, when there was a great famine throughout all the earth.And to none of them was Elias sent, but to Sarepta of Sidon, to a widow woman. And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet: and none of them was cleansed but Naaman the Syrian. And all they in the synagogue, hearing these things, were filled with anger. And they rose up and thrust him out of the city; and they brought him to the brow of the hill, whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong. But he passing through the midst of them, went his way.
Labels: Faith, Holy Mother Church
