Monday, November 03, 2008
Election Night Parties
One of the bad parts about working for candidates is that I rarely get to many of the Election Night parties. It's become worse as I tend to work (like other GOP attorneys such as Randy Stamps and John Ryder) on the voter fraud end of things as the votes are counted and reported.
I don't think that it will be an different this year. I'm staying in state, but I have a few rural counties that I will be working in and am unlikely to make it to Nashville in time. However, for those of you who are looking to watch the returns with a particular crowd, I thought I would leave some of the ones I know of here on VOLCon. I'm not sure if all of these are open to the public (invitations may be needed for some), so call ahead.
Tennessee Republican Party
Limelight
Nashville
Starts at 7:00 P.M. CT
Phil Roe & the Washington County GOP
Meadowview Convention Center
Kingsport
Starts at 7:30 P.M. ET
Lamar Alexander
Cabana
Nashville
Starts at 6:00 P.M. CT
Knox County GOP
Crowne Plaza
Knoxville
No Information on Start Time, as website has not been updated in months
Marsha Blackburn
Embassy Suites
Franklin
Starts at 7:00 P.M. CT
Blount County GOP
The Capitol Theater
Maryville
Starts at 7:30 P.M. ET
Mike Faulk
Clinchview Golf Clubhouse
Bean Station
Starts at 7:45 P.M. ET
Debra Maggert
Italian Grill
Hendersonville
Starts at 7:00 P.M. CT
If I hear of more, I will be sure to post them and bump this post.
I don't think that it will be an different this year. I'm staying in state, but I have a few rural counties that I will be working in and am unlikely to make it to Nashville in time. However, for those of you who are looking to watch the returns with a particular crowd, I thought I would leave some of the ones I know of here on VOLCon. I'm not sure if all of these are open to the public (invitations may be needed for some), so call ahead.
Tennessee Republican Party
Limelight
Nashville
Starts at 7:00 P.M. CT
Phil Roe & the Washington County GOP
Meadowview Convention Center
Kingsport
Starts at 7:30 P.M. ET
Lamar Alexander
Cabana
Nashville
Starts at 6:00 P.M. CT
Knox County GOP
Crowne Plaza
Knoxville
No Information on Start Time, as website has not been updated in months
Marsha Blackburn
Embassy Suites
Franklin
Starts at 7:00 P.M. CT
Blount County GOP
The Capitol Theater
Maryville
Starts at 7:30 P.M. ET
Mike Faulk
Clinchview Golf Clubhouse
Bean Station
Starts at 7:45 P.M. ET
Debra Maggert
Italian Grill
Hendersonville
Starts at 7:00 P.M. CT
If I hear of more, I will be sure to post them and bump this post.
Labels: Blackburn, First District, Knox County GOP, Lamar, TN GOP
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
David Davis is Lobbying for a Recount
A not-so-anonymous source on the Republican State Executive Committee notified me that she received a telephone call from none other than Representative David Davis this afternoon.
Apparently, Davis is taking his case straight to the SEC members, hoping that they see things his way this time (as they did in 2006) as a way of keeping his hopes alive in the 1st District race that we all thought was over last Thursday night.
Apparently, Davis is taking his case straight to the SEC members, hoping that they see things his way this time (as they did in 2006) as a way of keeping his hopes alive in the 1st District race that we all thought was over last Thursday night.
Labels: 2008 Congressional Races, First District, State Executive Committee
The Desire for GOP Unity
Our dear friend, the Conservatore over at Pensieri, returns to the blogosphere after a bit of absence spent campaigning to make a plea for unity amongst Republicans, with a focus on his native 1st District of Tennessee. Dave Oatney echos those thoughts, which is apropos given that Vance worked for Phil Roe and Dave worked for David Davis. They are both getting along, so why can't their candidates of choice?
It's interesting to hear Republicans talking like that. Here in Knox County, it's more of a bloodsport for Republicans to beat the hell out of each other. Primary, general election, church softball game - all of these are equal opportunities to kick each other's teeth in.
It appears that David Davis isn't going to take Conservatore's advice or Dave's advice. It appears that he is destined to push this to the brink and destroy any chances that he had - no, still has - at political relevance in the 1st District. He's lawyered up, and given that he's chosen a law firm that specializes in election challenges, I would say that it's a longshot that their legal advice would be to concede. (There isn't a lot of money in doing that.)
Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey is also asking Davis to drop any thoughts of an election challenge. I join in that plea. It is doomed to failure. Certainly, when the matter is presented to the Republican State Executive Committee, someone is going to point out that Davis was spared a recount upon his election in 2006. Isn't what is good for the goose also good for the gander? Then the case probably winds up in court, where a judge is going to look at an intraparty challenge that was turned down by the governing body of that party and he or she will punt it out of the courthouse. From what I am reading, there simply isn't any merit to the challenge.
Of course, as Ramsey points out, it is the law of the State of Tennessee that we have open primaries. When I see someone who doesn't like the laws, I tell them to contact their elected representatives. The irony here is that Davis was one of those representatives for many years. Does anyone know if Davis ever offered up a bill to close party primaries to declared party members? I ask because I don't ever recall such a bill, but I certainly could have missed it.
Conservative Republicans are a rare breed, and we only function well when we act like conservative Republicans. Don't act like a liberal Democrat, David Davis, because we don't play the part well. It will only come back to hurt you - and your party - in the end.
It's interesting to hear Republicans talking like that. Here in Knox County, it's more of a bloodsport for Republicans to beat the hell out of each other. Primary, general election, church softball game - all of these are equal opportunities to kick each other's teeth in.
It appears that David Davis isn't going to take Conservatore's advice or Dave's advice. It appears that he is destined to push this to the brink and destroy any chances that he had - no, still has - at political relevance in the 1st District. He's lawyered up, and given that he's chosen a law firm that specializes in election challenges, I would say that it's a longshot that their legal advice would be to concede. (There isn't a lot of money in doing that.)
Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey is also asking Davis to drop any thoughts of an election challenge. I join in that plea. It is doomed to failure. Certainly, when the matter is presented to the Republican State Executive Committee, someone is going to point out that Davis was spared a recount upon his election in 2006. Isn't what is good for the goose also good for the gander? Then the case probably winds up in court, where a judge is going to look at an intraparty challenge that was turned down by the governing body of that party and he or she will punt it out of the courthouse. From what I am reading, there simply isn't any merit to the challenge.
Of course, as Ramsey points out, it is the law of the State of Tennessee that we have open primaries. When I see someone who doesn't like the laws, I tell them to contact their elected representatives. The irony here is that Davis was one of those representatives for many years. Does anyone know if Davis ever offered up a bill to close party primaries to declared party members? I ask because I don't ever recall such a bill, but I certainly could have missed it.
Conservative Republicans are a rare breed, and we only function well when we act like conservative Republicans. Don't act like a liberal Democrat, David Davis, because we don't play the part well. It will only come back to hurt you - and your party - in the end.
Labels: 2008 Congressional Races, Conservatism, First District, TN GOP
Friday, June 13, 2008
David Davis for Sale?
Demarcationville has the dust-up.
I'm not sure what is more concerning to me as someone who (rightly or wrongly) has been labeled as a "grassroots conservative activist." (Again, whatever that means...)
Obviously, the thought of an elected official taking money - even for campaign purposes - and then reciprocating with a bill that helps the source of that money is troublesome.
On a whole different level, though, is a political staff that deals so ineffectively with the media. First, it was the Wikigate incident. Now Davis' staff is getting into a pissing contest with one of the only legitimate media outlets in the 1st District?
One of my issues with David Davis' 2006 campaign was the repeated lack of ethics by some on his campaign staff. It appears that some of that juvenile behavior may have accompanied David to Washington. I know David's Chief of Staff in D.C., Brenda Otterson, and I'm surprised that she hasn't swung the axe to reign this type of behavior in. Brenda's a no-nonsense COS, one of the best on The Hill, and the power that she had in the office during her service with Bill Jenkins would have cut any behavior like this off at the knees. Has her power within the office been limited under the new Member? I have no clue, but I'm starting to wonder. I know that Brenda is retiring come the end of the year, and perhaps that has something to do with it.
David Davis has a good conservative voting record and is strong on social issues (when he's not supporting dogfighting). However, it's stuff like this that makes him vulnerable when facing a serious primary challenge from a fellow conservative like Phil Roe.
(Hat tip: Michael Silence)
I'm not sure what is more concerning to me as someone who (rightly or wrongly) has been labeled as a "grassroots conservative activist." (Again, whatever that means...)
Obviously, the thought of an elected official taking money - even for campaign purposes - and then reciprocating with a bill that helps the source of that money is troublesome.
On a whole different level, though, is a political staff that deals so ineffectively with the media. First, it was the Wikigate incident. Now Davis' staff is getting into a pissing contest with one of the only legitimate media outlets in the 1st District?
One of my issues with David Davis' 2006 campaign was the repeated lack of ethics by some on his campaign staff. It appears that some of that juvenile behavior may have accompanied David to Washington. I know David's Chief of Staff in D.C., Brenda Otterson, and I'm surprised that she hasn't swung the axe to reign this type of behavior in. Brenda's a no-nonsense COS, one of the best on The Hill, and the power that she had in the office during her service with Bill Jenkins would have cut any behavior like this off at the knees. Has her power within the office been limited under the new Member? I have no clue, but I'm starting to wonder. I know that Brenda is retiring come the end of the year, and perhaps that has something to do with it.
David Davis has a good conservative voting record and is strong on social issues (when he's not supporting dogfighting). However, it's stuff like this that makes him vulnerable when facing a serious primary challenge from a fellow conservative like Phil Roe.
(Hat tip: Michael Silence)
Labels: 2008 Congressional Races, First District
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
Is David Davis Safe in the 1st District?
As y'all know, David Oatney and I are friends. Get us at a Lincoln Day Dinner together and we'll close the place down talkin' shop. So many people have been held hostage due to our long-winded conservative political analysis, including both of our wives, Rep. Stacey Campfield, Bill Jenkins, GOP Chairman Robin Smith, and Terry Frank, just to name a few.
However, when it comes down to the 1st District race this time around, David and I are not on the same team. No hard feelings, of course, but we are riding different horses in this rodeo.
David posted over at The Davy Crockett Newsstand about the 1st District race. I agree with David that no Democrat has a chance of winning the general election there anytime in the near future. However, I'm not so quick to dismiss Dr. Phil Roe, who is challenging Congressman David Davis in the Republican Primary.
Roe was impressive in 2006, and there's no telling how much damage was done by the rumors at the time (which, I have been told by multiple sources, were started by David Davis' campaign) that Dr. Roe - a former OB who has delivered thousands of babies - was pro-abortion. I know that other candidates from 2006 were offended at the rumor tactic against Dr. Roe, and while there's no telling if Davis authorized the tactic, it appeared to many that it came from his campaign staff.
David Oatney is confident in his man, and experience tells us pundits that it's a safe bet that the incumbent will win. However, my sources have told me that Roe has been an effective fundraiser, having brought in six-figures on one night early on in the campaign. Plus, Roe has excellent campaign staff, such as veteran political players Danny Price and Bill Snodgrass (Bill Jenkins' former Chief of Staff).
I do have two small issues with Oatney's post. First, I agree with Angelia about Davis' lack of exposure this election cycle. He was nowhere to be seen - nor did he have a surrogate - at several of the early Lincoln Day Dinners in the 1st District. Second, I think the dogfighting vote acknowledged by Oatney - the vote where Davis appeared to take the untenable position of being pro-dogfighting - could be bigger than the other votes that Davis has cast in the last two years. In the wake of Michael Vick, public sentiment was on the side of those who wanted to come out stronger against interstate dogfighting. To be the only Tennessean voting against the dogfighting bill could be portrayed as being out-of-touch with Tennessee voters.
Only time will tell if this becomes the race I think it could. However, Davis should not rest on his laurels, because 78% of Republican voters in 2006 didn't pick him in the primary.
However, when it comes down to the 1st District race this time around, David and I are not on the same team. No hard feelings, of course, but we are riding different horses in this rodeo.
David posted over at The Davy Crockett Newsstand about the 1st District race. I agree with David that no Democrat has a chance of winning the general election there anytime in the near future. However, I'm not so quick to dismiss Dr. Phil Roe, who is challenging Congressman David Davis in the Republican Primary.
Roe was impressive in 2006, and there's no telling how much damage was done by the rumors at the time (which, I have been told by multiple sources, were started by David Davis' campaign) that Dr. Roe - a former OB who has delivered thousands of babies - was pro-abortion. I know that other candidates from 2006 were offended at the rumor tactic against Dr. Roe, and while there's no telling if Davis authorized the tactic, it appeared to many that it came from his campaign staff.
David Oatney is confident in his man, and experience tells us pundits that it's a safe bet that the incumbent will win. However, my sources have told me that Roe has been an effective fundraiser, having brought in six-figures on one night early on in the campaign. Plus, Roe has excellent campaign staff, such as veteran political players Danny Price and Bill Snodgrass (Bill Jenkins' former Chief of Staff).
I do have two small issues with Oatney's post. First, I agree with Angelia about Davis' lack of exposure this election cycle. He was nowhere to be seen - nor did he have a surrogate - at several of the early Lincoln Day Dinners in the 1st District. Second, I think the dogfighting vote acknowledged by Oatney - the vote where Davis appeared to take the untenable position of being pro-dogfighting - could be bigger than the other votes that Davis has cast in the last two years. In the wake of Michael Vick, public sentiment was on the side of those who wanted to come out stronger against interstate dogfighting. To be the only Tennessean voting against the dogfighting bill could be portrayed as being out-of-touch with Tennessee voters.
Only time will tell if this becomes the race I think it could. However, Davis should not rest on his laurels, because 78% of Republican voters in 2006 didn't pick him in the primary.
Labels: 2008 Congressional Races, First District
