TN Democrat Code: Partisan=Republican
Now that the tables have turned on Democrats in the Tennessee General Assembly, Republicans who actually behave like they are in the majority are being "partisan:"
The very reality that the Democrats are crying "partisanship" and expressing fear that they might be hurt in their re-election campaigns is a sign that their days of parity in the Tennessee House of Representatives may soon be coming to an end. At least for the House Democratic Leadership, "partisan" is another word for "Republican," and God forbid the Republicans begin to assert themselves and move to establish a clearer control over the House of Representatives. All the years that Democrats were in control and quashed Republican legislation (unless the Republicans in question went along with Ned McWherter and Jimmy Naifeh) it was apparently a bipartisan kumbuya, but now that the tables have turned, the Republican Leadership is guilty of partisanship.
Labels: Democrats, Republican Party, Tennessee politics
A Congress Unlike Washington?
Voters are letting people know that they want people in Washington who are not about Washington:
People like Stephen Fincher are the kind of people Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson hoped would become involved with public life. Stephen Fincher didn't get into this to enrich himself and he probably could care less about making a name for himself. When you read in the papers that someone does not have a "traditional background," it usually means that their lives would pass for very ordinary to most of America.
Labels: Congress, Conservatism, Tennessee politics
Ignition Interlock
Tennessee may soon have some of the toughest drunk driving laws in America:
"I'm thrilled that Representative Fincher is taking this issue as seriously as he is," Shipley told The Examiner Wednesday, "nothing would make me happier that for us to find a way to reconcile our two bills." Shipley said you have to look at what is possible with legislation like this, and that if Tennessee moved to a 0.08 standard it may cause more interlock devices to be ordered than could be reasonably activated in so short a period of time.
Labels: Tennessee politics
Desperate Democrats
Chip Forrester must be desperate:
If Ms. Short voluntarily chose to run without any pressure from outside Democrats, it is good for the process to have an election in November in the 3rd District. If she was goaded into doing this in any way, it makes it appear as though the Democrats are scraping the bottom of the barrel, and makes Tennessee Democratic Chairman Chip Forrester look even more hideous than he does already.
Does Brenda Short really want her major contribution to Tennessee politics to be remembered as being the sacrificial lamb for the Republican nominee?
Labels: Democrats, Tennessee politics
The Sales Tax
If economic recovery is something we are serious about, we have to remember the impact of the State sales tax:
Every Republican candidate should look at the possibility of being able to stabilize the sales tax rate where it is. If sales taxes continue to rise in the current climate, Tennesseans' discretionary spending will continue to decline and in our little part of the universe, that will actually translate into less State revenue. Raising sales taxes will also raise prices, and yes, people do consider the tax rate when deciding whether to buy material goods.
Labels: Conservatism, Democrats, Republican Party, Tennessee politics
