Monday, January 17, 2011
The Move to Maryville
I haven't posted on here in a few months, but that is not to say that those months have been relaxing or unproductive.
In early summer of 2010, Angela and I decided that the time had come for us to explore leaving Knox County. We certainly were comfortable in Knox - we owned a nice house that was relatively inexpensive, had a great office arrangement in Fountain City that was not far from the house, a wonderful church home at Central Baptist Church of Fountain City, and great and inexpensive daycare for the boys at CBCFC - but we both knew that the time was rapidly approaching where change would be necessary.
First and foremost, I did not want my boys to attend Knox County Schools. It simply wasn't an option. If we had remained in Knox County, I would have placed the boys in private schools, and tuition for those is equal to or exceeds what I paid to attend college. Perhaps Knox County Schools are all well and good for some folks, but I wanted Leo and Wil to have as good of an education as could be provided, because that is essential for their lives to be fulfilling. (Did you know that I have yet to have someone convicted of a crime in court where they had a 4-year college degree? In fact, I have only had one person convicted where the person had a 2-year Associate's degree, and that was just recently.) I wasn't convinced that could happen in Knox County, where more of the emphasis seems to be on administration and fiefdoms rather than on quality teaching and moulding the students into future leaders of America.
Second, Angela and I felt that there was a location where we were already part of a community, even if we weren't living there. Even with living in Knox County, we worked almost exclusively in the courts of other counties and were traveling nearly 400 miles a week for work purposes. With my work weeks topping 100 hours routinely in 2010, that doesn't leave much time for community activities close to home.
Third, I didn't feel that I was having any impact whatsoever on Knox County. Besides my tax dollars, I didn't feel as if I was making a difference there. Now, that's not to say that changes couldn't have occurred that would have rectified my impact, but it wasn't what it should have been or what I expect of myself.
Thus, in September, Angela and I started working towards finding a new residence in Maryville. Maryville's schools are incredible; it's like having private schooling in a public school system. In fact, I've known some children that have been educated in Knox County's private schools who have transferred to Blount County, and their parents have told me to a man that they feel their children have received a better education in Maryville. Plus, with the majority of my practice and the majority of Angela's practice being in Blount County, it just made sense to look "south of the river" for a new house.
After a long search (and some divine intervention), we found that house in Royal Oaks, a golf course community in Maryville. (No, I have no idea where Shaq lives.) It's much more house than I ever could have dreamed I would own, and from the desk in my office, I can see the hole on the 13th green. It may take a couple more months to get settled (moving, Christmas, both boys having birthdays, illness, and snow have made December and January tough months for settling in), but I feel that it will be worth it in the long run.
So, in any case, we are officially in Blount County now. (I hope that my decision not to run for State Executive Committe in the 6th District makes sense now to those who wondered why I decided not to run for the vacant position.) My political involvement is certainly not dead - not by a long shot. The right opportunity will come along - you'll just have to trust me on that front for now.
And this blog is not dead. Yes, I have been working almost entirely off of FaceBook for the past year or so, but I am committed to making this blog more active in 2011. Besides, 2010 wasn't much to write about, to be honest. 2011 - I have a feeling this year will be a bit more interesting...
Finally, I still have a home for sale in Knox County. It is just out of the Knoxville city limits (you can avoid paying city taxes by a couple of hundred yards), has nothing wrong with it (it was as maintenance free as any owner could ask of a home), is on a quiet cul-de-sac, is part of a great subdivision which goes all-out for just about every holiday (especially Halloween and Independence Day), and is a steal given that I have priced it about $13,000 below what I paid for it in 2007. Plus, you receive awesome representation in the General Assembly through Senator Jamie Woodson and Representative Bill Dunn. So, if you're feeling so inclined...
In early summer of 2010, Angela and I decided that the time had come for us to explore leaving Knox County. We certainly were comfortable in Knox - we owned a nice house that was relatively inexpensive, had a great office arrangement in Fountain City that was not far from the house, a wonderful church home at Central Baptist Church of Fountain City, and great and inexpensive daycare for the boys at CBCFC - but we both knew that the time was rapidly approaching where change would be necessary.
First and foremost, I did not want my boys to attend Knox County Schools. It simply wasn't an option. If we had remained in Knox County, I would have placed the boys in private schools, and tuition for those is equal to or exceeds what I paid to attend college. Perhaps Knox County Schools are all well and good for some folks, but I wanted Leo and Wil to have as good of an education as could be provided, because that is essential for their lives to be fulfilling. (Did you know that I have yet to have someone convicted of a crime in court where they had a 4-year college degree? In fact, I have only had one person convicted where the person had a 2-year Associate's degree, and that was just recently.) I wasn't convinced that could happen in Knox County, where more of the emphasis seems to be on administration and fiefdoms rather than on quality teaching and moulding the students into future leaders of America.
Second, Angela and I felt that there was a location where we were already part of a community, even if we weren't living there. Even with living in Knox County, we worked almost exclusively in the courts of other counties and were traveling nearly 400 miles a week for work purposes. With my work weeks topping 100 hours routinely in 2010, that doesn't leave much time for community activities close to home.
Third, I didn't feel that I was having any impact whatsoever on Knox County. Besides my tax dollars, I didn't feel as if I was making a difference there. Now, that's not to say that changes couldn't have occurred that would have rectified my impact, but it wasn't what it should have been or what I expect of myself.
Thus, in September, Angela and I started working towards finding a new residence in Maryville. Maryville's schools are incredible; it's like having private schooling in a public school system. In fact, I've known some children that have been educated in Knox County's private schools who have transferred to Blount County, and their parents have told me to a man that they feel their children have received a better education in Maryville. Plus, with the majority of my practice and the majority of Angela's practice being in Blount County, it just made sense to look "south of the river" for a new house.
After a long search (and some divine intervention), we found that house in Royal Oaks, a golf course community in Maryville. (No, I have no idea where Shaq lives.) It's much more house than I ever could have dreamed I would own, and from the desk in my office, I can see the hole on the 13th green. It may take a couple more months to get settled (moving, Christmas, both boys having birthdays, illness, and snow have made December and January tough months for settling in), but I feel that it will be worth it in the long run.
So, in any case, we are officially in Blount County now. (I hope that my decision not to run for State Executive Committe in the 6th District makes sense now to those who wondered why I decided not to run for the vacant position.) My political involvement is certainly not dead - not by a long shot. The right opportunity will come along - you'll just have to trust me on that front for now.
And this blog is not dead. Yes, I have been working almost entirely off of FaceBook for the past year or so, but I am committed to making this blog more active in 2011. Besides, 2010 wasn't much to write about, to be honest. 2011 - I have a feeling this year will be a bit more interesting...
Finally, I still have a home for sale in Knox County. It is just out of the Knoxville city limits (you can avoid paying city taxes by a couple of hundred yards), has nothing wrong with it (it was as maintenance free as any owner could ask of a home), is on a quiet cul-de-sac, is part of a great subdivision which goes all-out for just about every holiday (especially Halloween and Independence Day), and is a steal given that I have priced it about $13,000 below what I paid for it in 2007. Plus, you receive awesome representation in the General Assembly through Senator Jamie Woodson and Representative Bill Dunn. So, if you're feeling so inclined...
Labels: Education, Knox County Politics, Maryville, Relocating
Sunday, March 07, 2010
Tennessee This Week
I'm watching "Tennessee This Week" on this fine day here in Knoxville, and I have to wonder:
Do you have to be delusional to Chair the Tennessee Democratic Party, or is it the office itself that makes one crazy?
Seriously, I want to know. Chip Forrester is on WATE with Gene Patterson now talking about the great job that D.C. Democrats are doing and how Tennesseans want to elect candidates that will assist the "new leadership" in their legislative initiatives.
Really? I mean, really? He keeps referring to Tennessee as a moderate state, too. That's funny. I seem to remember Tennessee going red in 2006 and 2008 - very possibly more so than any other state in the Union.
I understand that it's Forrester's job to do what he can to help his candidates, but what one has to realize that is by openly lying about things viewers (or readers) know to be false, that one loses credibility. It's no different than a closing argument where your client has basically admitted to the charge (be it contempt or a criminal offense) during his or her testimony. If an attorney then tells the judge that in his closing that his client didn't commit a contemptible offense or commit the crime, he loses credibility with the judge. The judge might tune out that attorney and ignore any valid arguments that he may have regarding other issues, like sentencing.
By spreading the joy that Tennesseans have with Obama, Pelosi, and Reid - in the face of poll numbers that show the opposite - Forrester risks being hastened to nothing more than white noise. Or, at the least, being compared to Kevin Bacon...
Do you have to be delusional to Chair the Tennessee Democratic Party, or is it the office itself that makes one crazy?
Seriously, I want to know. Chip Forrester is on WATE with Gene Patterson now talking about the great job that D.C. Democrats are doing and how Tennesseans want to elect candidates that will assist the "new leadership" in their legislative initiatives.
Really? I mean, really? He keeps referring to Tennessee as a moderate state, too. That's funny. I seem to remember Tennessee going red in 2006 and 2008 - very possibly more so than any other state in the Union.
I understand that it's Forrester's job to do what he can to help his candidates, but what one has to realize that is by openly lying about things viewers (or readers) know to be false, that one loses credibility. It's no different than a closing argument where your client has basically admitted to the charge (be it contempt or a criminal offense) during his or her testimony. If an attorney then tells the judge that in his closing that his client didn't commit a contemptible offense or commit the crime, he loses credibility with the judge. The judge might tune out that attorney and ignore any valid arguments that he may have regarding other issues, like sentencing.
By spreading the joy that Tennesseans have with Obama, Pelosi, and Reid - in the face of poll numbers that show the opposite - Forrester risks being hastened to nothing more than white noise. Or, at the least, being compared to Kevin Bacon...
Labels: Knox County Politics, President Obama, TN Democrats
Friday, February 26, 2010
Recap of East Knox County Pro-Life Rally
Fletcher Armstrong has a great recap of the pro-life rally earlier this week that occurred in East Knoxville. I'm sure that Planned Parenthood is shocked by the resistance to their presence in the most liberal area of Knox County.
Labels: Abortion, Knox County Politics, Pro-Life
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Good Times
It's amazing how a little taste of victory can change your outlook on life. A good win Monday in court has certainly raised my spirits during these dog days of summer.
Yes, it is true that Greg Mackay, a tried and true Democrat, remains as the Knox County Administrator of Elections. But that should not be a surprise to anyone. It surely wasn't to me. If I had any doubts as to what was going down, they were alleviated when I arrived at 7:40 A.M. on Monday morning at the City-County Building and witnessed Mackay glad handing and backslapping Election Commissioner Paul Crilly. The liberals of Knox County had already said that Crilly was in Mackay's back pocket, so it didn't take much to put two and two together and reinforce their assertion.
What is quite sad, though, is one exchange that occurred while I was answering questions from the Election Commission Monday morning. I was asked about Convenience Voting, and I stated that I believed there were more pressing issues related to Knox County elections than a total reconstruction of how we do elections, that this was not the right time for such a discussion. Chairman Heagerty asked me what I meant by that. I replied that, for instance, that our voting machines were not compliant with the HAVA 2005 standard nor the TVCA standard that must be implemented by 2010. Heagerty asked if it was my opinion that our current machines did not meet those standards, and I replied that it was my understanding that no machines in Tennessee at this current time met both standards. I could tell from the reactions in the room that the commissioners either a) didn't believe me or b) didn't know what I was talking about.
In either case, it's a poor reflection on their employee, Mr. Mackay, if he has not kept the commission apprised of this looming problem. To reinforce my contention (with a tip of the hat to A.C.), the Secretary of State put out some information yesterday regarding the TVCA which backs up what I told the Election Commission.
Much like when Mackay - despite being told that what he was doing was going to jeopardize Knox County's lease with Knoxville Center management - placed an early voting location in East Town Mall despite a prohibition on solicitation there, it appears that Knox County elections are still behind the curve. (How do I know that the election office was warned? Because I was the one who warned them.)
And before there are calls of "sour grapes," please note that I told the Election Commission that I cared not if they gave the job to me or some other qualified candidate. I was honest in that I had a great job come Tuesday morning either way and that I was not exactly looking forward to exiting the practice of law for such a political apolitical position. That probably didn't help my candidacy, but it was the truth. I just think it's a shame what happened to keep the status quo in Knox County.
Yes, it is true that Greg Mackay, a tried and true Democrat, remains as the Knox County Administrator of Elections. But that should not be a surprise to anyone. It surely wasn't to me. If I had any doubts as to what was going down, they were alleviated when I arrived at 7:40 A.M. on Monday morning at the City-County Building and witnessed Mackay glad handing and backslapping Election Commissioner Paul Crilly. The liberals of Knox County had already said that Crilly was in Mackay's back pocket, so it didn't take much to put two and two together and reinforce their assertion.
What is quite sad, though, is one exchange that occurred while I was answering questions from the Election Commission Monday morning. I was asked about Convenience Voting, and I stated that I believed there were more pressing issues related to Knox County elections than a total reconstruction of how we do elections, that this was not the right time for such a discussion. Chairman Heagerty asked me what I meant by that. I replied that, for instance, that our voting machines were not compliant with the HAVA 2005 standard nor the TVCA standard that must be implemented by 2010. Heagerty asked if it was my opinion that our current machines did not meet those standards, and I replied that it was my understanding that no machines in Tennessee at this current time met both standards. I could tell from the reactions in the room that the commissioners either a) didn't believe me or b) didn't know what I was talking about.
In either case, it's a poor reflection on their employee, Mr. Mackay, if he has not kept the commission apprised of this looming problem. To reinforce my contention (with a tip of the hat to A.C.), the Secretary of State put out some information yesterday regarding the TVCA which backs up what I told the Election Commission.
Much like when Mackay - despite being told that what he was doing was going to jeopardize Knox County's lease with Knoxville Center management - placed an early voting location in East Town Mall despite a prohibition on solicitation there, it appears that Knox County elections are still behind the curve. (How do I know that the election office was warned? Because I was the one who warned them.)
And before there are calls of "sour grapes," please note that I told the Election Commission that I cared not if they gave the job to me or some other qualified candidate. I was honest in that I had a great job come Tuesday morning either way and that I was not exactly looking forward to exiting the practice of law for such a political apolitical position. That probably didn't help my candidacy, but it was the truth. I just think it's a shame what happened to keep the status quo in Knox County.
Labels: Election Reform, Knox County Politics
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Lockett Urged to Resign
There was much talk amongst those in the courthouses of East Tennessee about Knox County's Law Director, Bill Lockett, and his admitted theft misappropriation from his previous law firm.
It's somewhat shocking. Law students all take a course in legal ethics, and aspiring attorneys have to pass a national test to be admitted to practice. While there are sticky issues, it's been said that you can pass the test by maintaining two universal truths - don't steal from your clients or your firm, and don't have sex with your clients. Seems pretty simple, doesn't it?
The attorneys I have heard from since the story broke have been near unanimous - Lockett should resign.
It's somewhat shocking. Law students all take a course in legal ethics, and aspiring attorneys have to pass a national test to be admitted to practice. While there are sticky issues, it's been said that you can pass the test by maintaining two universal truths - don't steal from your clients or your firm, and don't have sex with your clients. Seems pretty simple, doesn't it?
The attorneys I have heard from since the story broke have been near unanimous - Lockett should resign.
Labels: Ethics, Knox County Politics, Law
Monday, March 09, 2009
A Few Words about the Knox County Election Administrator
My name has been floated as a possibility for the Knox County Election Administrator position. I know this, and I have spoken with several members of the Knox County GOP Caucus regarding the position.
The truth is that I am interested in the position. However, I have a tremendous amount of respect for Steve Hall, and I anticipate that if he would be a great Administrator.
I am aware that my friend, Rep. Stacey Campfield, will support Steve Hall if Steve does go through with the vetting process. That's fine with me, by the way; Stacey and Steve have helped each other with elections for many years.
I am also aware that Stacey is going to do what he has to do to get his man the position, as put forth by KNS columnist Georgiana Vines. I'm not sure if he will be successful, but that is the way to getting your man the job. Of course, if the other members of the Knox County GOP Caucus don't play along...
MORE:
KnoxViews
Post Politics (I and II)
The truth is that I am interested in the position. However, I have a tremendous amount of respect for Steve Hall, and I anticipate that if he would be a great Administrator.
I am aware that my friend, Rep. Stacey Campfield, will support Steve Hall if Steve does go through with the vetting process. That's fine with me, by the way; Stacey and Steve have helped each other with elections for many years.
I am also aware that Stacey is going to do what he has to do to get his man the position, as put forth by KNS columnist Georgiana Vines. I'm not sure if he will be successful, but that is the way to getting your man the job. Of course, if the other members of the Knox County GOP Caucus don't play along...
MORE:
KnoxViews
Post Politics (I and II)
Labels: Election Reform, Knox County GOP, Knox County Politics
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
The Duncan BBQ
For the first time in many years, I missed last night's Duncan Family BBQ in Knoxville.
I very much wanted to spend time with my friends there, especially current Congressman Jimmy Duncan and future Tennessee Senator John Duncan, III.
Of course, I have been having a wonderful week here in South Carolina with my family, and I wouldn't trade that for anything - even free BBQ, bluegrass, and friendship. (And if you had seen Leo crawl across the green of the 6th hole at Shipyard last night and put the ball in the hole and then stand by the pin, you would know how much "Da Da" loves his boy.)
I very much wanted to spend time with my friends there, especially current Congressman Jimmy Duncan and future Tennessee Senator John Duncan, III.
Of course, I have been having a wonderful week here in South Carolina with my family, and I wouldn't trade that for anything - even free BBQ, bluegrass, and friendship. (And if you had seen Leo crawl across the green of the 6th hole at Shipyard last night and put the ball in the hole and then stand by the pin, you would know how much "Da Da" loves his boy.)
Labels: 2010 General Assembly Campaigns, Jimmy Duncan, Knox County Politics
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Republican or Conservative? The Two are Distinct.
First, you need to understand where this post is coming from. Yesterday, I asked a simple, honest question - I wanted to know why Brian Hornback was so critical of Republican nominees in Knox County. Quite frankly, I'm not sure why he is doing so, so I thought I would see if anyone else had any ideas. This wasn't any subtle dig or attempt to stir the pot. I just thought it odd to see the former head of Knox County Republican Party attacking Republican nominees Ruthie Kuhlman and Foster Arnett, Jr.
Now, I suspect that Brian probably holds a grudge against Arnett for taking his boy Scott Moore behind the woodshed in the GOP primary for County Clerk, but I don't know that for a fact. That's why I asked. Maybe Brian has some built up guile against Arnett reaching back to the days of Victor Ashe or even earlier. I certainly don't know.
The same goes for Ruthie Kuhlman. As Brian pointed out, Ruthie has supported Democratic candidates recently. However, that's not the reason for Brian's hate of Kuhlman, as his posts against her span back to hours after her primary victory, and knowledge of her support of Democratic candidates is only a few days old. There's something else there. Maybe Brian likes lawyers? Nope, not from his reaction...
So Brian Hornback lets loose with the poison that he normally saves for private conversations. He calls me a liar, but doesn't say what I am lying about. He calls me a lawyer, as if that is going to hurt my feelings. He says that I support either Clinton or Obama, but he can't point to anywhere that I have endorsed either of the Democratic candidates. He says something about Tyler Harber, but I have no clue what the heck he is talking about. He comments on Randy Neal's site that I'm not "from around here," as if being tied with Knox County politics somehow makes one wiser to the ways of the world.
Brian's right - I'm not from around here. And I'm damn proud of it. I'm from the 1st District of the Great State of Tennessee, where people support candidates that believe what they believe. We sat with Jimmy Quillen and Bill Jenkins at church socials and pancake breakfasts, talking about what we could do to make this world a better place through the vehicles of limited government, lower taxes, religious and civil liberties, protection of the right to bear arms, and a strong military to defend our borders.
The bond we felt has to do with belief and ideology, not party loyalty. This is more of an Appalachian trait, it seems, than a Tennessean one or a Southern one. I suppose that one could expand voting for a common ideology instead of with party affiliation to many parts of the South, and Zell Miller of Georgia would be an example of this phenomenon. In fact, those Republicans who cheered Zell's loyalty to his ideology at the expense of his party and then deride those of us who do the same thing as the party of McCain drifts Left are nothing more than hypocrites and opportunists.
I am not supporting John McCain. I will not vote for John McCain. I have not been shy about those statements. If given the choice of candidates who have not supported tax cuts, a limited government, the right to bear arms, closing our borders to the flow of criminals crossing them, and only serve to feed their own insatiable thirst for power, I will vote for none of them. I had hoped to vote for the Constitution Party's Alan Keyes (who I previously worked for in my second presidential campaign), but he recently lost his bid to be placed on the ballot to Chuck Baldwin.
If I were to vote today, I would vote for Chuck Baldwin. Unlike many of his predecessors, he is getting some genuine press, as demonstrated here in this piece in WorldNetDaily. And no one should be surprised, as I said that I might support the Constitution Party nominee over a year ago. (Also, check out Baldwin's speech linked to in the April, 2007 post.)
And this is the difference between Brian Hornback and myself. As I have said many times on this blog and off, Brian Hornback was perfect for being Chairman of the Knox County GOP. That job is all about being for the party - even when the party is flat-out wrong. Brian kept the peace (as good as it could be in Knox County) and supported Republicans at all times. That is why I was taken aback that he was so negative towards Kuhlman and Arnett.
I'm not saying that Brian is wrong to be against them. I don't live in the 4th District, so I won't be voting for Kuhlman, but I certainly will be voting for Arnett, just as I did in the primary. Brian's actions just struck me as odd, so I asked an open question to see if anyone knew why. Brian took offense, and he acted out. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised.
But, then again, I'm not from around here. My conservatism is based on the writings of Kuyper, Burke, Chesterton, Buckley, Nash, and Reagan. I seriously doubt they would know what to do with Knox County politics, either.
Now, I suspect that Brian probably holds a grudge against Arnett for taking his boy Scott Moore behind the woodshed in the GOP primary for County Clerk, but I don't know that for a fact. That's why I asked. Maybe Brian has some built up guile against Arnett reaching back to the days of Victor Ashe or even earlier. I certainly don't know.
The same goes for Ruthie Kuhlman. As Brian pointed out, Ruthie has supported Democratic candidates recently. However, that's not the reason for Brian's hate of Kuhlman, as his posts against her span back to hours after her primary victory, and knowledge of her support of Democratic candidates is only a few days old. There's something else there. Maybe Brian likes lawyers? Nope, not from his reaction...
So Brian Hornback lets loose with the poison that he normally saves for private conversations. He calls me a liar, but doesn't say what I am lying about. He calls me a lawyer, as if that is going to hurt my feelings. He says that I support either Clinton or Obama, but he can't point to anywhere that I have endorsed either of the Democratic candidates. He says something about Tyler Harber, but I have no clue what the heck he is talking about. He comments on Randy Neal's site that I'm not "from around here," as if being tied with Knox County politics somehow makes one wiser to the ways of the world.
Brian's right - I'm not from around here. And I'm damn proud of it. I'm from the 1st District of the Great State of Tennessee, where people support candidates that believe what they believe. We sat with Jimmy Quillen and Bill Jenkins at church socials and pancake breakfasts, talking about what we could do to make this world a better place through the vehicles of limited government, lower taxes, religious and civil liberties, protection of the right to bear arms, and a strong military to defend our borders.
The bond we felt has to do with belief and ideology, not party loyalty. This is more of an Appalachian trait, it seems, than a Tennessean one or a Southern one. I suppose that one could expand voting for a common ideology instead of with party affiliation to many parts of the South, and Zell Miller of Georgia would be an example of this phenomenon. In fact, those Republicans who cheered Zell's loyalty to his ideology at the expense of his party and then deride those of us who do the same thing as the party of McCain drifts Left are nothing more than hypocrites and opportunists.
I am not supporting John McCain. I will not vote for John McCain. I have not been shy about those statements. If given the choice of candidates who have not supported tax cuts, a limited government, the right to bear arms, closing our borders to the flow of criminals crossing them, and only serve to feed their own insatiable thirst for power, I will vote for none of them. I had hoped to vote for the Constitution Party's Alan Keyes (who I previously worked for in my second presidential campaign), but he recently lost his bid to be placed on the ballot to Chuck Baldwin.
If I were to vote today, I would vote for Chuck Baldwin. Unlike many of his predecessors, he is getting some genuine press, as demonstrated here in this piece in WorldNetDaily. And no one should be surprised, as I said that I might support the Constitution Party nominee over a year ago. (Also, check out Baldwin's speech linked to in the April, 2007 post.)
And this is the difference between Brian Hornback and myself. As I have said many times on this blog and off, Brian Hornback was perfect for being Chairman of the Knox County GOP. That job is all about being for the party - even when the party is flat-out wrong. Brian kept the peace (as good as it could be in Knox County) and supported Republicans at all times. That is why I was taken aback that he was so negative towards Kuhlman and Arnett.
I'm not saying that Brian is wrong to be against them. I don't live in the 4th District, so I won't be voting for Kuhlman, but I certainly will be voting for Arnett, just as I did in the primary. Brian's actions just struck me as odd, so I asked an open question to see if anyone knew why. Brian took offense, and he acted out. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised.
But, then again, I'm not from around here. My conservatism is based on the writings of Kuyper, Burke, Chesterton, Buckley, Nash, and Reagan. I seriously doubt they would know what to do with Knox County politics, either.
Labels: 2008 General Election, Knox County GOP, Knox County Politics
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Republican-on-Republican Crime?
It's no secret that I am not supporting the GOP nominee for the White House, John McCain. I have been consistent in that viewpoint, and my convictions are based on the moderate McCain's views that support criminals entering the United States, his lack of support for previous tax cuts, his treachery against Republican social conservatives, and what I perceived during my time on Capitol Hill as his general lack of sanity.
However, I'm curious about what is going on in Knox County. Someone answer me this:
Why is the previous Knox County GOP Chairman openly supporting Democrats?
I routinely read my friend Brian Hornback's blog, and it is apparent that he is solidly against Republican nominee for County Clerk Foster Arnett, Jr., as well as Republican nominee for County Commission, Seat 4A Ruthie Kuhlman.
Is it a grudge? Is it an ideological difference? Anyone care to speculate?
However, I'm curious about what is going on in Knox County. Someone answer me this:
Why is the previous Knox County GOP Chairman openly supporting Democrats?
I routinely read my friend Brian Hornback's blog, and it is apparent that he is solidly against Republican nominee for County Clerk Foster Arnett, Jr., as well as Republican nominee for County Commission, Seat 4A Ruthie Kuhlman.
Is it a grudge? Is it an ideological difference? Anyone care to speculate?
Labels: Knox County GOP, Knox County Politics
Places to Avoid in Knox County?
Byron over at Knoxville Trivia has five spots that you need to avoid in Knox County - unless, that is, you are looking to buy drugs, get shot, be sodomized, or have your catalytic converter stolen.
Yikes! Maybe I'll just stay here in South Carolina for a while...
Yikes! Maybe I'll just stay here in South Carolina for a while...
Labels: Crime, Knox County Politics
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
April Showers...
Things have simply been too busy to focus on VOLuntarilyConservative recently. I'm referring to the following:
- A new (old) partner at The Huddleston Law Firm. After some blatant (and even admitted) discriminatory actions by Phil Bredesen's Department of Children's Services - all of which run afoul of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 - Republican State Executive Committeewoman Angela Huddleston has rejoined the firm. Her focus will be on juvenile matters and child support petitions. There is always a great deal of work on the front end of bringing anyone into a small firm, and I have been reminded of that over the past month. (I can't really go into any further details on the actions of DCS, as it hasn't been decided whether or not Angela will pursue this through litigation. I will say that the irony is not lost on me that the State's agency that is statutorily charged with the protection of children is so blatantly against them in specific situations. I'm sure there will be more to come on this at a later date.)
- A growing boy. Little Leo ain't so little anymore. He's gone through another growth spurt, and he's probably pushing 15.5 lbs - at least. Leo also has the two earliest endorsements ever, too - both Mike Faulk and Lamar Alexander have endorsed him for Governor! No word on when Leo will start raising funds for his campaign (although he does have quite a bit of Dad's change in his piggy bank)...
- Hearings, trials, and prelims. Work has been nuts lately. My New Year's resolution was to work less this year. I did the math yesterday after court, and I am actually marginally ahead of my pace for 2007. Oh well. Just another New Year's resolution that I wasn't able to keep...
- Political disillusionment. Although this blog was founded with a multidimensional focus on politics, sports, religion, and the like, it has become primarily a political and policy blog. While I love writing about sports, I simply had too many people (mostly female readers) who told me all over the state that they wanted more policy and family posts and fewer sports posts. Over the past year, I have tried to accommodate that. The problem becomes when the politics dries up. I have made no secret about my disdain for the three remaining presidential choices. I won't vote for any of them. Lamar's future dismantling of the Democratic sacrificial lamb will spawn a few posts later on in the year, but there's not much there now. The only real race that has me fired up is Mike Faulk's return of Mountain 'publican ideals against the charlatan Mike Williams in the 4th District. Which leads me to...
- Not liking being in Knox County that much. Angela and I have attended many Lincoln Days and other political events throughout Tennessee this year, and we have come to the conclusion that we are certainly loved everywhere in Tennessee - with the exception of Knox County. And that doesn't really both me that much. It has become apparent to me that the ills that have afflicted Knox County politics will not be cured this year, or any other time in the near future. The culture of corruption runs too deep. Even those who you believe to be your friends are involved in some way that helps out their individual interests, and all will put themselves above conservative ideology. Take the most recent kangaroo court meeting of the Knox County GOP Executive Committee. Technically, this group is supposed to meet every quarter, but they haven't met since Irene McCrary took over as Chairman in early 2007. An emergency meeting of the committee was called with an eye towards rejecting the charter amendments. Some members were not able to attend due to the sloppy nature in which the meeting was called, and it appears that some members weren't even notified. However, all of those who wanted to keep the size of Knox County government big and bloated were there. A quorum was declared present, although no one has ever been able to provide a copy of the Knox County GOP by-laws to me or Angela. The rejection of the charter amendments was ramrodded through (although not unanimously - Angela voted against it). But this is the Knox County GOP - it stands for big government and personal gain over smaller government and liberty for Tennesseans everywhere. Heck, at a recent gathering, it was actually discussed that candidates should pay into the Knox County GOP coffers, as the county party is looking at bankruptcy due to its lack of a fundraiser (other counties hold Lincoln Days to raise money- the Knox County version has nothing to do with the county party, as per the Tennessee Republican Party and my own investigation). Given its failures, I am strongly considering bringing the matter to the State Executive Committee at its next meeting in July, as the local party needs to be demolished and rebuilt from the ground up.
- The wettest drought I have ever seen. I've never had to mow my grass every 5 days during any other droughts. I wish the National Weather Service would quit talking about this drought, because it seems to rain every day after they do so.
So, yeah, it's been busy around here...
Labels: 2008 General Election, 2008 Tennessee General Assembly Campaigns, Baby, Firm Life, Knox County GOP, Knox County Politics, Weather
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Lamar Draws Another Democratic Challenger
Sorry I'm so late on this one folks. It's taken me hours to stop laughing after reading the announcement that former Knox County Clerk Mike Padgett will be running against Senator Lamar Alexander this November. Of course, that assumes that Padgett can get past Chris Lugo in the August primary, which is no sure thing given that 1) no one outside of Knox County knows who Mike Padgett is, and 2) those who do know who he is don't like him that much.
Now let me get this straight - only days after watching the political power base of Knox County - those who ignored term limits and sold Knox County government up the river for their own personal political gain - get destroyed by an angry voting public, Mike Padgett - one of the key figures in said power base - suddenly comes up with the idea that Tennesseans want him to run for a higher, more important office?!?!
It's almost as if Padgett read this post by Brian Hornback and thought that Brian wasn't being facetious.
Lugo has more name recognition coming in, but Padgett will undoubtedly have the Knox County good ole boys dirty money machine backing him. This should be decent entertainment for the summer.
MORE: Brian Hornback weighs in and gives some advice to those who might need to expose Mr. Padgett's record of service.
Now let me get this straight - only days after watching the political power base of Knox County - those who ignored term limits and sold Knox County government up the river for their own personal political gain - get destroyed by an angry voting public, Mike Padgett - one of the key figures in said power base - suddenly comes up with the idea that Tennesseans want him to run for a higher, more important office?!?!
It's almost as if Padgett read this post by Brian Hornback and thought that Brian wasn't being facetious.
Lugo has more name recognition coming in, but Padgett will undoubtedly have the Knox County good ole boys dirty money machine backing him. This should be decent entertainment for the summer.
MORE: Brian Hornback weighs in and gives some advice to those who might need to expose Mr. Padgett's record of service.
Labels: 2008 Senate Races, Knox County Politics, Lamar
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Knox County Actually DOES Throw the Bums Out
With the lone exception of Fred Sisk winning the GOP nomination for Trustee, Knox County voters put their vote where their mouth was on Tuesday, choosing to throw out illegal appointees and others (like Scott Moore) who were connected to the backroom politics that has permeated our county government for so many years. Even the attorney who represented the scoundrels in Chancery Court was given his walking papers.
It's hard to argue with any of the Knox County Commission selections on the GOP side. It appears that Sisk survived because of the protest vote being split four-ways, allowing for his small plurality to win the day.
The purge knew no party affiliation, and I have heard many Republicans planning to vote Democratic on certain races come August to make sure that the cleansing of the old ways of doing things is complete.
Overall, it was a dark day for those who were running things and great day for those who should be in charge - the people of Knox County.
It's hard to argue with any of the Knox County Commission selections on the GOP side. It appears that Sisk survived because of the protest vote being split four-ways, allowing for his small plurality to win the day.
The purge knew no party affiliation, and I have heard many Republicans planning to vote Democratic on certain races come August to make sure that the cleansing of the old ways of doing things is complete.
Overall, it was a dark day for those who were running things and great day for those who should be in charge - the people of Knox County.
Labels: Knox County Politics
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
February 2008 Knox County Election Guide
(In response to public request, I am bringing this post to the top of the page until the polls close.)
First, a few ground rules. I'm not listing uncontested races, and I'm not listing every race. The primary (pun intended) factors regarding endorsements are conservative philosophies and ethics. Ethics can be interpreted in many ways, and one of those ways is lack of ties to the corrupt people recently in office, currently in office, or in some way being related to Tim Hutchison.
After discussing the candidates and viewing their various backgrounds, here are the VOLuntarilyConservative endorsements for tomorrow's primaries:
GOP Nominee for President of the United States: Fred Thompson
Many people say that a vote for Fred, the only real conservative to have run for this office in 2008, is throwing your vote away. My view is that I will do whatever I can to get Fred on the ballot, including a spot as the Vice Presidential nominee. Fred would obviously not be McCain's choice, as the age factor comes into play and McCain has likely dealt that card to Huckaphony. Several people "in the know" keep telling me that Fred is Romney's #1 pick as VP. If that is the case, I can't fault a vote for Romney here, no matter how repugnant I may view some of his acts as Governor of Massachusetts. Of course, even taking those views into consideration, Romney is still miles more conservative than McCain and Huckaphony.
County Clerk: Foster Arnett, Jr.
This is a real no-brainer in my opinion. While Mike McMillan and Bryan Bates are also in the race technically, this is a match-up of Arnett and Knox County Commission Chairman Scott Moore. Given that there is probably no one more at fault for the entire debacle in Knox County than Moore, it's impossible to see how Moore wins here - unless Arnett, McMillan, and Bates divide the anti-incumbent forces to the point that Moore cruises on name recognition. And this is exactly what Moore is counting on.
How do I know this? Because a fellow conservative who holds elective office approached me last July as a surrogate for Scott Moore. This person, whom I counted as a friend, asked if I would run for County Clerk and attack Foster Arnett, with the idea being that Scott Moore would cruise to victory as the mudslinging got ugly between us. Moore would then coerce those in power to appoint me to take his place on the Knox County Commission, as I had just moved into his 7th District, as a form of quid pro quo.
I wasn't surprised that Moore was looking to finagle his way into the financially lucrative Clerk's position, but I was shocked that a conservative friend would think that I would have such low morals as to take part in such an act. I attempted to talk to GOP Chairwoman Robin Smith about these shenanigans, but we weren't able to touch base. I suppose that it is fair to say that I had to reassess my political involvements after that proposal, because I was astonished that anyone would perceive me that way. Sure I like to win, but I would rather lose than win dishonestly. If that's a fault, then so be it.
Regarding Foster Arnett, he has worked hard in the past several months to reacquaint Knox County with himself. Arnett is well-known in the community, and it appears that he will do all he can to put a trusting face on the County Clerk's office.
(See UPDATE at the end of this post.)
Property Assessor: Phil Ballard
This race may be the most vicious of the Knox County races, with former Trustee Mike Lowe battling current Commissioner Phil Ballard. I want to saw that this is a weak endorsement, as I know from certain inside sources that one of the chief architects that led to the appointment of the immensely unqualified Tim Greene as a "Black Wednesday" appointment for the 9th District County Commission seat was none other than Phil Ballard. However, he appears to be a better choice than Lowe. It should be noted that Ballard is endorsed by Rep. Parkey Strader, as well, another noted Knox County conservative.
Trustee: No Endorsement
I can make cases for Roger Kane, Steve Hill, and Steve Rogers, which probably plays into the hands of Fred Sisk, who was the recipient of one of the illegal appointments on "Black Wednesday." I will probably vote for Kane, but, as I wrote above, I can make a good case for Hill and Rogers, too.
Law Director: John Owings
This endorsement certainly doesn't take anything away from Bill Lockett, Owings' opponent. Lockett is a good and decent attorney, much like Owings. However, this is a case where I just don't see why Owings should be ousted. He defended the likes of Moore, Lambert, and Pinkston against the Sunshine Law violations - not because he wanted to, but because it was his job to do so. I know how that feels, folks, because I've defended rapists, deadbeat dads, and the like because someone has to do it under the Constitution.
Owings rose to this position when his predecessor, Mike Moyers, was elected as Knox County Chancellor, so there certainly isn't the obvious taint that so many of the other races have. I guess one of the good things about having so many lawyers in Knox County is that we have good candidates for attorney-type political positions every election cycle.
County Commission Seat 4A - Ruthie Kuhlman
In a race where a good deal of the attention has been paid to Richard Cate - a former illegal appointee - and William Daniels, whom I have spoken with and appears to be quite a good candidate in his own right, it appears that Ruthie Stone Kuhlman is the best choice. Kuhlman seems to be a classical conservative, favoring a smaller, more efficient government, which Knox County sorely needs.
County Commission Seat 4B - Ed Shouse
You have to admire Ed Shouse, a former Knoxville City Councilman, who has taken the fight to Lee Tramel, a former illegal appointee and one of Tim Hutchison's well-funded employees in the Sheriff's Department. No one is Shouse's family works for Knox County, which already gives him a boost over Tramel.
County Commission Seat 5C - No Endorsement
There are three good candidates for this seat - Thomas Baer (a nuclear engineer and Navy vet), Richard Briggs (a medical doctor and combat vet), and Jim McEvers (who has a master's degree in engineering and has worked on nuclear projects around the world). Picking between the three is tough, but it sure looks like the 5th District is going to bring some much needed intelligence to the County Commission if one of these three is elected.
County Commission Seat 6A and 8B - No Endorsement
Too many good candidates for the 6A seat and not enough for the 8B seat. I probably lean towards Brad Anders for 6A, as he is a trained crisis negotiator for the City of Knoxville, and Lord knows that previous editions of the County Commission could have used one of those. The 8B race has been ugly all the way around, with allegations flying regarding candidates' backgrounds (Porter and Wright) and possible improper leave from a county job to campaign (Frazier). Ugh.
County Commission Seat 9A - Mike Brown
This was probably one of the easiest choices on the ballot. Tim Greene - Brown's opponent and one of the illegal appointees - should never have been considered for appointment, having never met with the voters of the 9th District prior to being appointed. Greene never produced a resume, never made a public appearance - yet was picked by Paul Pinkston's hand-picked selection committee. The good news for voters in South Knox County is that all signs point to you having honest representation in the form of Mike Brown in the near future. The bad news is that you still have Paul Pinkston. It can't always be good news, folks...
That's pretty much it for the Knox County ballot. While I will cast my vote for State Senator Jamie Woodson, I certainly won't be voting for Rep. Tim Burchett as a delegate for the Republican National Convention. After all, Burchett has proven that he has trouble voting for Republicans. It sure would embarrass us Tennesseans if he ended up pledging a delegate for Hillary Clinton in Minneapolis, now wouldn't it?
UPDATE (2/5/08 8:06 A.M.) - A few e-mails have inquired as to how I knew that the conservative friend who approached me regarding running for County Clerk was actually doing so at the behest of Scott Moore. The truth is that I don't have any solid proof, only that the person told me that Scott Moore had sanctioned the move. I believed this person. You can make up your own mind as to whether the offer was legitimate or not. I obviously have.
First, a few ground rules. I'm not listing uncontested races, and I'm not listing every race. The primary (pun intended) factors regarding endorsements are conservative philosophies and ethics. Ethics can be interpreted in many ways, and one of those ways is lack of ties to the corrupt people recently in office, currently in office, or in some way being related to Tim Hutchison.
After discussing the candidates and viewing their various backgrounds, here are the VOLuntarilyConservative endorsements for tomorrow's primaries:
GOP Nominee for President of the United States: Fred Thompson
Many people say that a vote for Fred, the only real conservative to have run for this office in 2008, is throwing your vote away. My view is that I will do whatever I can to get Fred on the ballot, including a spot as the Vice Presidential nominee. Fred would obviously not be McCain's choice, as the age factor comes into play and McCain has likely dealt that card to Huckaphony. Several people "in the know" keep telling me that Fred is Romney's #1 pick as VP. If that is the case, I can't fault a vote for Romney here, no matter how repugnant I may view some of his acts as Governor of Massachusetts. Of course, even taking those views into consideration, Romney is still miles more conservative than McCain and Huckaphony.
County Clerk: Foster Arnett, Jr.
This is a real no-brainer in my opinion. While Mike McMillan and Bryan Bates are also in the race technically, this is a match-up of Arnett and Knox County Commission Chairman Scott Moore. Given that there is probably no one more at fault for the entire debacle in Knox County than Moore, it's impossible to see how Moore wins here - unless Arnett, McMillan, and Bates divide the anti-incumbent forces to the point that Moore cruises on name recognition. And this is exactly what Moore is counting on.
How do I know this? Because a fellow conservative who holds elective office approached me last July as a surrogate for Scott Moore. This person, whom I counted as a friend, asked if I would run for County Clerk and attack Foster Arnett, with the idea being that Scott Moore would cruise to victory as the mudslinging got ugly between us. Moore would then coerce those in power to appoint me to take his place on the Knox County Commission, as I had just moved into his 7th District, as a form of quid pro quo.
I wasn't surprised that Moore was looking to finagle his way into the financially lucrative Clerk's position, but I was shocked that a conservative friend would think that I would have such low morals as to take part in such an act. I attempted to talk to GOP Chairwoman Robin Smith about these shenanigans, but we weren't able to touch base. I suppose that it is fair to say that I had to reassess my political involvements after that proposal, because I was astonished that anyone would perceive me that way. Sure I like to win, but I would rather lose than win dishonestly. If that's a fault, then so be it.
Regarding Foster Arnett, he has worked hard in the past several months to reacquaint Knox County with himself. Arnett is well-known in the community, and it appears that he will do all he can to put a trusting face on the County Clerk's office.
(See UPDATE at the end of this post.)
Property Assessor: Phil Ballard
This race may be the most vicious of the Knox County races, with former Trustee Mike Lowe battling current Commissioner Phil Ballard. I want to saw that this is a weak endorsement, as I know from certain inside sources that one of the chief architects that led to the appointment of the immensely unqualified Tim Greene as a "Black Wednesday" appointment for the 9th District County Commission seat was none other than Phil Ballard. However, he appears to be a better choice than Lowe. It should be noted that Ballard is endorsed by Rep. Parkey Strader, as well, another noted Knox County conservative.
Trustee: No Endorsement
I can make cases for Roger Kane, Steve Hill, and Steve Rogers, which probably plays into the hands of Fred Sisk, who was the recipient of one of the illegal appointments on "Black Wednesday." I will probably vote for Kane, but, as I wrote above, I can make a good case for Hill and Rogers, too.
Law Director: John Owings
This endorsement certainly doesn't take anything away from Bill Lockett, Owings' opponent. Lockett is a good and decent attorney, much like Owings. However, this is a case where I just don't see why Owings should be ousted. He defended the likes of Moore, Lambert, and Pinkston against the Sunshine Law violations - not because he wanted to, but because it was his job to do so. I know how that feels, folks, because I've defended rapists, deadbeat dads, and the like because someone has to do it under the Constitution.
Owings rose to this position when his predecessor, Mike Moyers, was elected as Knox County Chancellor, so there certainly isn't the obvious taint that so many of the other races have. I guess one of the good things about having so many lawyers in Knox County is that we have good candidates for attorney-type political positions every election cycle.
County Commission Seat 4A - Ruthie Kuhlman
In a race where a good deal of the attention has been paid to Richard Cate - a former illegal appointee - and William Daniels, whom I have spoken with and appears to be quite a good candidate in his own right, it appears that Ruthie Stone Kuhlman is the best choice. Kuhlman seems to be a classical conservative, favoring a smaller, more efficient government, which Knox County sorely needs.
County Commission Seat 4B - Ed Shouse
You have to admire Ed Shouse, a former Knoxville City Councilman, who has taken the fight to Lee Tramel, a former illegal appointee and one of Tim Hutchison's well-funded employees in the Sheriff's Department. No one is Shouse's family works for Knox County, which already gives him a boost over Tramel.
County Commission Seat 5C - No Endorsement
There are three good candidates for this seat - Thomas Baer (a nuclear engineer and Navy vet), Richard Briggs (a medical doctor and combat vet), and Jim McEvers (who has a master's degree in engineering and has worked on nuclear projects around the world). Picking between the three is tough, but it sure looks like the 5th District is going to bring some much needed intelligence to the County Commission if one of these three is elected.
County Commission Seat 6A and 8B - No Endorsement
Too many good candidates for the 6A seat and not enough for the 8B seat. I probably lean towards Brad Anders for 6A, as he is a trained crisis negotiator for the City of Knoxville, and Lord knows that previous editions of the County Commission could have used one of those. The 8B race has been ugly all the way around, with allegations flying regarding candidates' backgrounds (Porter and Wright) and possible improper leave from a county job to campaign (Frazier). Ugh.
County Commission Seat 9A - Mike Brown
This was probably one of the easiest choices on the ballot. Tim Greene - Brown's opponent and one of the illegal appointees - should never have been considered for appointment, having never met with the voters of the 9th District prior to being appointed. Greene never produced a resume, never made a public appearance - yet was picked by Paul Pinkston's hand-picked selection committee. The good news for voters in South Knox County is that all signs point to you having honest representation in the form of Mike Brown in the near future. The bad news is that you still have Paul Pinkston. It can't always be good news, folks...
That's pretty much it for the Knox County ballot. While I will cast my vote for State Senator Jamie Woodson, I certainly won't be voting for Rep. Tim Burchett as a delegate for the Republican National Convention. After all, Burchett has proven that he has trouble voting for Republicans. It sure would embarrass us Tennesseans if he ended up pledging a delegate for Hillary Clinton in Minneapolis, now wouldn't it?
UPDATE (2/5/08 8:06 A.M.) - A few e-mails have inquired as to how I knew that the conservative friend who approached me regarding running for County Clerk was actually doing so at the behest of Scott Moore. The truth is that I don't have any solid proof, only that the person told me that Scott Moore had sanctioned the move. I believed this person. You can make up your own mind as to whether the offer was legitimate or not. I obviously have.
Labels: 2008 GOP Presidential Primary, Knox County Politics
Expensive New Voting Machines Failing in Knox County
The Knoxville News Sentinel has been liveblogging the local election scene today from locations all around Knox County.
It sure sounds like an inordinately high number of those new expensive voting machines - the ones that have been used only a few times since they were purchased - are failing. Sounds like it might not be the best idea to wait until later today to vote, folks. If we all have to take turns voting on the same working machine, the polls may end up closing on us.
UPDATE (1:31 P.M.): The VOLConFamily just returned from voting at the Shannondale precinct, and turnout there was about what it typically is there. All of the voting machines appeared to be functioning normally, and the whole process probably took about 5 minutes. Heck, it took longer to get Leo strapped into his Snugli Carrier than it took to get through the line and vote.
Labels: Knox County Politics, Voting
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Light Blogging
Today will be light on the blogging, folks, as I have what appears to be an all-day affair in Sevier County protecting a little five year-old girl from harm.
I'll try to post as soon as the results from Florida are known. Like Sharon Cobb, I think that only two viable candidates come out of Florida for the GOP. And the winner tonight has the advantage going into Super Tuesday.
I'm also working on a Knox County Voters Guide to be released later this week.
I'll try to post as soon as the results from Florida are known. Like Sharon Cobb, I think that only two viable candidates come out of Florida for the GOP. And the winner tonight has the advantage going into Super Tuesday.
I'm also working on a Knox County Voters Guide to be released later this week.
Labels: 2008 GOP Presidential Primary, Firm Life, Knox County Politics
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Moncier Sues Knox County Commissioners - Again
OK, so I had heard about this one coming. Knoxville Attorney Herb Moncier has sued Knox County Commissioners Scott Moore and Paul Pinkston in their individual capacities for apparently lying in their sworn testimony as part of the Sunshine Law trial.
Moncier sued Moore and Pinkston in their individual capacities so that Knox County Law Director John Owings wouldn't have to defend them. Smart move, as always, by Moncier, in that it could lead to Owings being part of the Plaintiff's case instead of the Defense. Let Moore and Pinkston get their own lawyers.
If Moncier wins, then Moore and Pinkston could be removed from their elected positions.
Quite frankly, it's a shame that Moncier had to do this. If Knox County District Attorney Randy Nichols was doing his job, the two would already have been charged with perjury. From what I have read in their sworn depositions, heard from their sworn testimony before Chancellor Weaver, and know from my own knowledge, I don't see how one could argue that the felony of perjury was not committed.
Moncier sued Moore and Pinkston in their individual capacities so that Knox County Law Director John Owings wouldn't have to defend them. Smart move, as always, by Moncier, in that it could lead to Owings being part of the Plaintiff's case instead of the Defense. Let Moore and Pinkston get their own lawyers.
If Moncier wins, then Moore and Pinkston could be removed from their elected positions.
Quite frankly, it's a shame that Moncier had to do this. If Knox County District Attorney Randy Nichols was doing his job, the two would already have been charged with perjury. From what I have read in their sworn depositions, heard from their sworn testimony before Chancellor Weaver, and know from my own knowledge, I don't see how one could argue that the felony of perjury was not committed.
Labels: Knox County Politics
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Tim Burchett: The Next Mike Williams?
It's been interesting to read the various reports coming from the Tennessee GOP on how Phil Bredesen is using what amounts to a financial shell game to fund his wife's desire for a nicer Governor's Mansion.
Apparently, a certain state senator from Knox County either 1) didn't get the message or 2) is once again in league with Governor Bredesen.
(An aside - why is it that the supposedly Republican senators from Knox County seem to more loyal to Phil Bredesen than to the Republican voters that elected them?)
In an editorial in the Knoxville News-Sentinel which didn't draw too much ink (more than likely due to its timing around Christmas), Tim Burchett shows that not all of the Tennessee Republicans think that using taxpayer funding to gregariously expand the Governor's Mansion is a bad thing.
When I came to this one particular line in the column:
"So why is Tim Burchett, one of the most conservative Republicans in the General Assembly, asking the readers of the News Sentinel to support the project also?"
I had to restrain myself from spraying egg nog out of my nose. If Tim Burchett is a conservative Republican, then I need to find another label.
I applaud the Fightin' Fourth in its effort to cleanse the Republican rolls of its RINO, Benedict Arnold Mike Williams. What would it take for the Smokin' Seventh to do the same?
Apparently, a certain state senator from Knox County either 1) didn't get the message or 2) is once again in league with Governor Bredesen.
(An aside - why is it that the supposedly Republican senators from Knox County seem to more loyal to Phil Bredesen than to the Republican voters that elected them?)
In an editorial in the Knoxville News-Sentinel which didn't draw too much ink (more than likely due to its timing around Christmas), Tim Burchett shows that not all of the Tennessee Republicans think that using taxpayer funding to gregariously expand the Governor's Mansion is a bad thing.
When I came to this one particular line in the column:
"So why is Tim Burchett, one of the most conservative Republicans in the General Assembly, asking the readers of the News Sentinel to support the project also?"
I had to restrain myself from spraying egg nog out of my nose. If Tim Burchett is a conservative Republican, then I need to find another label.
I applaud the Fightin' Fourth in its effort to cleanse the Republican rolls of its RINO, Benedict Arnold Mike Williams. What would it take for the Smokin' Seventh to do the same?
Labels: 2008 Tennessee General Assembly Campaigns, Knox County Politics
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Knox County News: Lloyd Daugherty Withdraws
Courtesy of Randy Neal, and confirmed by Greg Mackay in the comments.
Wow. That was fast. Daugherty was the "name candidate" in the 6th District, but now he's out before the campaign even begins in substance.
Wow. That was fast. Daugherty was the "name candidate" in the 6th District, but now he's out before the campaign even begins in substance.
Labels: Knox County Politics
Friday, November 30, 2007
I Ain't Your Proxy
Updating some rather ancient plans, I will not be the VOLConWife's voting proxy at Saturday's Republican State Executive Committee meeting. 6th District Committeeman John Dance's wife will have that honor.
No, I am staying home with my extremely pregnant wife. Besides, as most of you can probably surmise, I am tending to side with this quote by the newly-retired Parkey Strader of Knox County:
"With politics like it is, I don't like it anymore. Politics is ugly now, and I don't enjoy it. I might as well get out and give someone else the chance to think about running."
Yeah, after some of the developments this year (particularly in Knox County), I can see that.
No, I am staying home with my extremely pregnant wife. Besides, as most of you can probably surmise, I am tending to side with this quote by the newly-retired Parkey Strader of Knox County:
"With politics like it is, I don't like it anymore. Politics is ugly now, and I don't enjoy it. I might as well get out and give someone else the chance to think about running."
Yeah, after some of the developments this year (particularly in Knox County), I can see that.
Labels: Knox County Politics, State Executive Committee
