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Friday, January 25, 2019
Thursday, January 24, 2019
Lamar Alexander one of six Republicans to vote for Democrat-backed stop-gap spending bill ...
Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019 - Lamar Alexander was one of six Republicans who today voted for a Democrat-backed stop-gap spending bill that would have funded the
government through February 8 without allocating any additional funds
for border security.
My view is that this was a good bill. Federal workers need to get paid. Also, we are soon going to start feeling the effects of this shutdown in food inspections, home closings, and air port security and in numerous other ways if workers do not get paid. Workers won't keep working without getting paid.
The government would only only have been open for two weeks, during which time negotiations could have continued. If no deal was reached to pass a spending bill which included wall funding during this time, we would be no worse off and the government would have shut down again on February 9th. I see that there was little to lose in doing this.
Other Republicans voting for the bill, which was defeated 52–44, were Susan Collins of Maine, Cory Gardner of
Colorado, Johnny Isakson of Georgia, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Mitt
Romney of Utah.
A competing Republican-backed bill would have ended the shutdown and allocated $5.7 billion for the wall and other border security needs advocated by Democrats and would have included a three year reprieve for DACA recipients. This bill was defeated 50–47. Republican Senators Mike Lee of Utah and Tom Cotton of
Arkansas voted against the bill and Democrat Senator Joe Manchin
of West Virginia voted in favor. I have not seen an explanation of why Lee and Cotton opposed the bill. Either of the bills would have required 60 votes to overcome a filibusterer, so neither was even close to passing.
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Libs play their you'r-a-racist card to combat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez humor.
Liberals have played their yo'r-a-racist card to combat Republicans who are enjoying exposing and poking fun at the stupidity of newly elected Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Late night TV entertainment and award shows and stand-up comics routinely make fun of Donald Trump and Republicans and some of their comedy gets pretty raw, even attacking President Trump's family and they find humor in encouraging violence. However, they can't take a joke and they try to shut up conservative who poke fun at a Democrat. The biggest weapon in their tool box is the you'r-a-racist hammer.
Surely, one has to admit that Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is pretty funny. She may be bright in some ways, but I haven't seen it yet. She is attractive, in her own way. She is cute. She is charming. She is vivacious. I really like the bright red lipstick. But face it, she is not very informed. She must have read few newspapers and not paid attention in class. She knows very little about geopolitics or the Constitution or history or economics. Every time she opens her mouth she says something really stupid. I wonder if she has ever read a serious book. She gets a lot of stuff just wrong and her opinions are just liberal sound bites and bumper sticker slogans. There is not a lot of depth there, to be generous. To be less generous, one could say she is dumb as a box of rock.
The last time I remember a politician saying anything dumper than the things Alexandria-Ocasio says is when Representative Hank Johnson said he feared that stationing 8,000
Marines on Guam would cause the island to "become so overly populated
that it will tip over and capsize." So, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is not the dumbest Congressman to ever serve, just the next to the dumbest. People knew Hank Johnson was dumb and they didn't keep asking him serious questions. They let him maintain his dignity and just ignored him.
Ocasio-Cortez is invited to share her opinions everywhere. And, every time she opens her mouth she shows she is shallow and uninformed. I think what is going on is that we have a generation of people about the same age as the congressman who don't know more than she does, yet they think they are educated, so they think she is smart. Sort of like the the scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz who got his Certificate of Thinkology and then was convinced he had a brain, many people, because they have a degree, somehow think they are smart. In Ocasio-Cortez's defense, she is young and may become more informed as time goes on. A lot of her ignorance my simple be due to her age and the times in which we live.
Recently the Williamson County Republican party sent out an email blast and included was the above cartoon. I did not save the email so don't even remember what the text of the email was, but loved this cartoon. I got a chuckle. Now, the media is calling this "racist" and Democrats are demanding the Party denounce and apologize for the cartoon. I say, if you can't take a joke, screw you!
For too long Republicans have allowed Democrats to set the standard of what is acceptable. There is nothing racist about this cartoon. To Democrats who are going ballistic over this: lighten up and get a grip.
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Wednesday, January 23, 2019
Metro council picks members of police oversight board
Metro council picks members of police oversight board
- Ashlee Davis specializes in inclusion and diversity at Cargill and previously worked in President Barack Obama's administration.
- Jamel Campbell-Gooch is a grassroots organizer who is active in the nonprofit social activist organization Gideon's Army.
- Andres Martinez works as a policy and communications director at the Latino nonprofit Conexión Américas.
- Brenda Ross is a retired East Nashville activist who has served on several mayoral-appointed commissions over the years and was nominated for the board by Our Revolution Nashville and Middle Tennessee.
- Emmett Turner served as Nashville police chief from 1996 to 2003, and was the city's first and only African-American to hold the post. He left Metro to become the state of Tennessee’s assistant commissioner for fire prevention. He was nominated by the Fraternal Order of Police, which opposed the oversight board, but was also endorsed by Community Oversight Now.
- Adele Lewis is deputy chief medical examiner for the Tennessee Department of Health who specializes in pathology and forensics and has testified in court.
- Danita Marsh is a former Nashville police officer who was shot eight times while on duty in 2006. She now works out of the Nashville Conflict Resolution Center and also for the 100 Club to provide support to first responders and their families after a critical injury or death.
- Matthew Sweeney is an attorney at the firm Baker Donelson in Nashville who has a background in white-collar criminal defense and class-action and shareholder derivative litigation. He previously served as a Davidson County Circuit Court judge. He was nominated by four council members: Mina Johnson, Fabian Bedne, Anthony Davis and Bob Mendes.
- Walter Holloway is a retired former Nashville police officer of more than three decades. Walter was nominated by Councilwoman Brenda Haywood.
- Bob Cooper worked as legal counsel under former Gov. Phil Bredesen before serving as state attorney general from 2006 to 2014. He is currently a member of the compliance and government investigations practice group at Bass Berry & Sims.
- Phyllis Hildreth is vice president for institutional advancement and strategic partnerships at American Baptist College. She previously worked as chief counsel in the Office of the Public Defender for the state of Maryland and deputy secretary for the state of Maryland Department of Juvenile Justice.
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State Rep. John Clemmons announces run for mayor
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| Rep. John Clemmons |
Clemmons was first elected to the House in 2014. He recently was elected to his third term representing West Nashville’s House District 55. His district includes the Belmont area and parts of West Nashville. Clemmons is a former political director for the Tennessee Democratic Party.
Although Briley is a proud progressive, Clemmons is positioning himself to the left of Briley. In the new Nashville that will probably help him. Clemmons has criticized Briley in three areas, transportation, affordable housing and public education. I think all agree these are three problem areas that people are concerned about but many will disagree about what to do about them.
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| Mayor David Briley |
I have not seen Clemmons in person so I do not know how he projects or his personality but he is better looking than Briley. In a Tennessean article, the writer reported that Clemmons has more charisma and energy than Briley. That superficial stuff shouldn't matter but we know it does. If the election were held today, given what I know today, and if the only two candidates were Briley and Clemmons, I would stick with Briley, maybe. Or, I might just write in my own name or not vote in that election. Sometimes when the choice is between equally bad candidates I write in a name or do not vote in that election.
I strongly supported David Fox in the 2015 election and thought he had a chance of beating Megan Barry but it didn't happen. My perception is that Nashville is even more liberal now than then. As the demographics shift to younger people and more Northeastern and California immigrants, the chance for a conservative candidate to be elected mayor dims. Many of these newer immigrants to our city may not care a lot about the details of local governance and particular policy positions but they will vote for the candidate that they perceive as the most liberal. Issues like being pro-abortion, pro-gay rights, favoring removing confederate names and monument (not that we have many) and racial "social justice" are going to be more important than the city's debt, tax rates and an adequately funded pension plans. I hate to be so pessimistic but I do not see an opportunity for a path to victory for a conservative. About the best we can hope for is a social liberal who is fiscally responsible. You rarely find that combination.
I wish we could elect a mayor for Nashville who would do what Bill Haslam has done for Tennessee. I would like to see a mayor who would cut the number of metro employees, cut taxes, give employees their promised pay raise, put our pension plan on a sound sustainable footing and reform our failing school system. Since the school system is governed by an elected school board, it is difficult for the mayor to make an immediate and huge impact but the mayor can use the bully pulpit and advocate and influence. If we had the right leader who would tackle the issue, I believe the right leader could make an impact on our education system but it would not be easy. In addition to the objectives listed above modeled on Haslam's accomplishments at the state level, I would like to see a mayor who had a vision for improving public transportation that relied of new technologies and markets rather than the standard nineteenth century model of fixed rail. I don't expect to find the idea candidate.
While I do not expect to find the idea candidate, fortunately, other candidates will be announcing soon and we will have more choice than Clemmons and Briley. It is expected that Bill Freeman will again seek the office. Bill Freeman finished third in the 2015 race behind David Fox. Since then he has bought The Scene and weekly writes a political opinion piece for the publication. That gives him a public platform and keeps his name before a slice of the public. I don't know who it will be, but I would expect a Black candidate to run, maybe At-Large Metro Councilwomen Erica Gilmore. She would check the Black box and the female box and have some build in support based on those characteristics and she has ran and been elected county-wide. Renata Soto, the founder of Connexion Americas, is another person mentioned as a potential candidate. She is personable and attractive. She would have a built in base of support among immigrants citizens and might to well just because a lot of people who are hostile to President Trump might want to support a person who advocates for illegal immigration.
Another potential candidate is At-Large Councilman John cooper. While he is a Democrat and the brother of our Congressman Jim Cooper he has been a strong advocate for fiscal responsibility in the Metro Council. As of today, he is my favorite Democrat politician. I watch the Council closely and he is knowledgeable and cares deeply about the city's finances. I doubt he would do the things I want a mayor to do spelled out in a paragraph above but he would, I believe, work to restore financial stability to Nashville and keep our growing debt within bounds. He would be concerned about the nut and bolts of government and the status of reserve funds and pension plans and the line items in a budget.
If the election were held today and the candidates were Briley, Clemmons, Gilmore, Soto and Cooper, I would vote for Cooper.
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Tuesday, January 22, 2019
SEIU calls for Trump and Republicans to capitulate and reopen the government.
I thought readers may be interested in the kind of argument the largest government employees union is using to urge no compromise to resolve the government shut down.They call for Republicans and President Trump to simply capitulate.
From SEIUIt is clear SEIU only wants the government reopened on their terms. Unfortunately, many union members are going to take this at face value. Here is the letter again with my commentary:
Dear Rod,
Working families—Black, white and brown—deserve a government that is open and working to improve their lives.
As you may know, President Trump shut down critical parts of the federal government over funding for a harmful and divisive border wall. Now Republicans in the US Senate are refusing to vote on legislation that would reopen the government, holding the country hostage for a wasteful wall. Let’s be clear: any money Congress spends on building a wall comes directly out of our hard-earned paychecks through the taxes we pay. More importantly— despite what the Trump administration claims in its misinformation campaign — it wouldn’t actually strengthen border security.
Tell the Senate to focus on our nation's real priorities and reopen the government immediately!
President Trump and his Republican Congressional allies have time after time attempted to divide us by demanding billions for a border wall, while giving huge tax breaks to corporate CEOs and billionaires. It’s time for our elected leaders need to focus on our country’s real needs — like higher wages, the right to join a union no matter where you live, affordable healthcare and common-sense immigration reform.
Tell the Senate to respect the priorities of working people and reopen the government!
This means ending President Trump’s shutdown. We can’t allow him and Republicans in the Senate to continue to demand a ransom from working families for a border wall meant solely to divide us.
In Unity,
SEIU
Dear Rod,
Working families (and what families are not "working families". That is a loaded term.)—Black, white and brown—deserve a government that is open and working to improve their lives (I would quibble that government's purpose it to improve one's life.)
As you may know, President Trump shut down (Any time a government shuts down it is not due to the action of one party. The government shuts down when the administration and the legislature do not agree on the budget that funds that part of government. I would say, "as you know, Speaker Pelosi shut down..) critical parts of the federal government over funding for a harmful and divisive border wall. (Are the 654 existing miles of border wall "harmful and division?" Why is not existing fencing harmful and divisive but new fencing is? ) Now Republicans in the US Senate are refusing to vote on legislation that would reopen the government, holding the country hostage for a wasteful wall (wasteful?). Let’s be clear: any money Congress spends on building a wall comes directly out of our hard-earned paychecks through the taxes we pay (Not really. As long as the country is borrowing money then any additional spending simply increases the nations debt, which is not a good thing, but it does not come out of your paycheck.) More importantly— despite what the Trump administration claims in its misinformation campaign — it wouldn’t actually strengthen border security (Yes it would. We are not talking about a border the full 2000 miles from sea to shining sea but only 215 miles and those border agents on the ground say there are places where we need additional fencing. It is not the only thing we need and it won't solve the problem of illegal immigration but it is simply not correct to say that it wouldn't strengthen border security.)
Tell the Senate (No, tell Democrats in the House) to focus on our nation's real priorities (resolving the problem of illegal immigration should be one of the real priorities) and reopen the government immediately!
President Trump and his Republican Congressional allies have time after time attempted to divide us (I would say the Democrats and their friends in the press have tried to divide us as much as Trump and the Republicans) by demanding billions for a border wall, while giving huge tax breaks to corporate CEOs and billionaires (Those tax breaks is why we have low unemployment including the lowest ever recorded for Black Americans.) It’s time for our elected leaders need to focus on our country’s real needs — like higher wages, the right to join a union no matter where you live, affordable healthcare and common-sense immigration reform (mandated higher wages, ending right to work laws will increase unemployment slow economic growth).
Tell the Senate to respect the priorities of working people and reopen the government! (In other words, House Democrats do not need to give an inch, Trump and the Republicans need to capitulate.)
This means ending President Trump’s shutdown (Pelosi shutdown). We can’t allow him and Republicans in the Senate (she and Democrats in the House) to continue to demand a ransom from working families for a border wall meant solely to divide us (a border wall meant to contribute to nation security and help resolve a humanitarian crisis).
In Unity,
SEIU
This kind of pressure coming from the Democrats base dims the prospects of a quick resolution to the government shut down
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Monday, January 21, 2019
Mayor Briley Announces Education "Kitchen Cabinet" To Address MNPS Priority Schools
Press release- Mayor David Briley today announced that he is convening an education
“Kitchen Cabinet” to help address the needs of MNPS’ 21 Priority
schools.
The Kitchen Cabinet is made up of a diverse set of educators,
parents, nonprofit leaders and community advocates from across the city.
It will meet three times in early 2019 and make recommendations to
Mayor Briley on how the city can better support our lowest-performing
schools.
The Kitchen Cabinet’s goals are as follows:
- Analyze data on Metro Nashville’s Priority schools, including academic performance and strategies to support these schools.
- Identify promising best practices that support school improvement, including those from other urban districts
- Gather community input on how to support the district’s Priority schools and how to best leverage the role of the Mayor’s Office
The members of the Kitchen Cabinet:
- Dr. Shawn Joseph, MNPS Superintendent
- Dr. Sharon Gentry, MNPS School Board Chair
- Harry Allen, Chief Relationship Officer, Studio Bank, MNPS graduate and 2018 NPEF Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient
- Dr. Jarred Amato, Teacher, Maplewood High School
- Katie Cour, President and CEO, Nashville Public Education Foundation
- Ericka Myles Dixie, Librarian, Alex Green Elementary School
- Dr. Vince Durnan, Director, University School of Nashville
- Chris Echegaray, Community Achieves Site Manager, Whitsitt Elementary School
- Nancy Eisenbrandt, COO, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce
- Bob Kucher, VP of Programs & Partnerships, PENCIL
- Dr. Watechia Lawless, Principal, Napier Enhanced Option Elementary School
- Tameka Marshall, Teacher, Norman Binkley Elementary School
- Erin O’Hara, Executive Director, Tennessee Education Research Alliance
- Robert Taylor, Director- Men’s Initiative, Tennessee State University
- Dwayne Tucker, CEO, LEAD Public Schools
- Derrick Williams, COO, Communities in Schools
- Tomás Yan, Teacher, Antioch Middle School
- Maria Paula Zapata, Family Engagement Manager, Conexión Américas
In September 2018, the Tennessee Department of Education released the State’s list of the bottom five percent of schools based on test scores or graduation rates, also known as Priority schools. The list is generated every three years. The following 21 MNPS schools were identified as Priority schools:
- Alex Green Elementary
- Amqui Elementary
- Antioch Middle
- Bellshire Elementary
- Caldwell Elementary
- Cumberland Elementary
- Gra-Mar Middle
- Haynes Middle
- Jere Baxter Middle
- Joelton Middle
- Madison Middle
- Maplewood High
- McMurray Middle
- Moses McKissack Middle
- Robert E. Lilliard Elementary
- Rosebank Elementary
- The Cohn Learning Center
- Tom Joy Elementary
- Warner Elementary
- Whites Creek High
- Wright Middle
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Sunday, January 20, 2019
Davidson County Republican Party Reorganization Dates Set!
From The Davidson County Republican Party:
Now that the 2018 elections are
over, we must think about the direction of our Party and who will lead
us during the next two years.
Pursuant to the Tennessee Republican Party by-laws, every odd
numbered year each county party must hold a reorganization to elect its
new leaders for the upcoming two year term.
In counties with a population of over 100,000, TNGOP by-laws
state that the county must hold precinct caucuses to elect delegates and
then hold a convention of those delegates. The delegates will then vote
on the members of the County Executive Committee that will serve over
the next two years.
Precinct Caucus
to elect District officers and convention delegates
Saturday, February 9, 2019
Nashville Tomorrow Building, 1230 West Trinity Lane, Nashville
Doors open at 9:00 AM and are closed at 10:30 AM
(no one will be allowed to enter building after 10:30 AM)
Caucus to end around 11:30 - 12:00 PM
To attend the CAUCUS, you MUST pre-register by February 2, 2019. Click HERE to register. When registering, you can note if you are interested in running for one of the DCRP executive committee positions, and we will send you additional information.
To participate, you must meet the two following requirements: 1) Have a valid picture ID (Federal or state issue) with your current address; and 2) Have evidence of voting in two Republican primaries since May 2014. (If you have voted in Davidson County, we will have your data already. If
you have not voted in Davidson County since May 2014, you can request
your previous election commission to send to you your voting data. You
must bring it with you and it must be certified from the County/State
that you voted.)
Convention
to elect Davidson County Republican Party officers
Saturday, February 23, 2019
Nashville Tomorrow Building, 1230 West Trinity Lane, Nashville
Doors open at 9:00 AM and are closed at 10:30 AM
(no one will be allowed to enter building after 10:30 AM)
Convention to end around 11:30 - 12:00 PM
To attend the CONVENTION, you MUST pre-register by February 9, 2019. Click HERE to register. When registering, you can note if you are interested in running for one of the DCRP executive committee positions, and we will send you additional information.
Only authorized Delegates (to be elected at the Caucus) will be allowed on the floor of the Convention.
For more information about the County Party Reorganization, please visit our website GOPNashville.org.
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Despite the rain a bunch of people took part in the anti-Semitic affiliated liberal women's march yesterday here in Nashville
The Tennessean said nearly a thousand rallied in the anti-Semitic affiliated liberal women's march yesterday here in Nashville. I don't know how many showed up. When a liberal news organ says a thousand attended a liberal cause I normally take 75% of that number as the number who really attended. When a liberal news outlet says a thousand attended a conservative rally I normally take 125% as the number who really attended. That is just my rule of thumb.
Some reporters may be objective and give accurate estimates but I just assume they do not, not that I think they are necessarily intentionally misrepresenting the numbers but their basis cause them to see the crowds differently. I have been to gatherings where I did a systematic estimate and then read the newspapers estimates the next day and have seen they were way off.
When the press says "nearly" a thousand attended the march, I have to adjust my rule of thumb by taking about 90% or 75%. Anyway, that is still a bunch of people for a rainy day. It is far fewer than the thousands who flocked to march immediately following the President's election in 2016. That first march was cathartic for those liberals who were in shock that Hillary didn't get elected. I guess the shock has worn off and people feel less need to vent. Not that they have warmed to Trump but many have simply accepted the reality that his election really did happen.
Also, the failure to purge anti-Semites from the march has caused some to distance themselves from it. Female liberal leader Debbie Wasserman Schultz has bolted the March over its ties to antisemitism. I assume her stance and the general distaste for antisemitism kept some people away from the march. Still, I assume the crowd would have been much larger if not for the rain. At the same time as the liberal women's march was going on the inauguration of Bill Lee was occurring on the other end of Commerce Street. The ceremony was supposed to be outdoors on the Legislative Plaza but had to be moved indoors to the Memorial Auditorium. When I attended an afternoon reception for Governor Lee I talked to several people who planned to attend the inauguration but were unable to do so. The War memorial auditorium filled quickly and many who tried to attend could not. I hate that if rained on the inauguration but pleased in rained on the liberal women's march. The Bible says it rains on the just and the unjust.
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President Trump has offered a reasonable compromise to end this partial government shutdown
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| Sen. Lamar Alexander |
This week, the President proposed a sensible compromise, including relief for “dreamers,” to end this inexcusable government shutdown. It is time for Democrats to respect the president’s reasonable requests for border security including 234 new miles of physical barrier. Presidents Obama, George W. Bush, Clinton and George H.W. Bush, with bi-partisan congressional support, built 654 miles of physical barriers along our 1,954 mile southern border. Why is President Trump the only president not allowed to build more wall?
I’m hopeful Congress will pass the President’s proposal and reopen the government. In the meantime, it’s wrong for federal employees to work and not get a paycheck. That’s why I cosponsored the Pay Excepted Personnel Act -- legislation to ensure the over 400,000 federal employees who are required to work during the shutdown can receive their paycheck.
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It was a pleasure to attend a reception for Governor Bill Lee
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| Governor Bill Lee and Rick Williams Rick has been an active volunteer in Lee's campaign and was one of the host of the event and introduced the Governor. |
Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the inauguration, the ball or other related events due to the difficulty in arranging a sitter for my wife Louella, but I did have a sitter for part of the day today.
It was nice to see so many friends and meet new people at the event. Some people I see quite often at Republican functions but I got to chat with some people I only occasionally get to see. It was nice to see our new governor speak in an intimate sitting and to meet him.
Below is the Facebook posting of David Hairston on the event. David is active in conservative causes and is Chairman of Safe Access Tennessee which advocates for medical marijuana.
Thank
you, Ron McDow, for opening your home to over 150 conservative
Republicans from across Tennessee to celebrate the inauguration of our
new Governor Bill Lee. We were blessed to have our new Governor stop by and visit. Great job Rick Williams and Melissa Lening Smithson for helping Ron organize the event. As usual, Joni Schmidt Hargrove and Joni Bryan were there in support and volunteering at the event. I was excited to visit with so many friends from across the State, including but not limited to Suzanne Schoolfield Sapp (Bledsoe County Chairman, Rod Williams (the Disgruntled Republican), Judd Cowan, Mark Pody, Grace King (Red Nation Rising Tennessee) , Aaron Shane, Scott Golden, Julie Hannah, Beth Campbell, Chris Chumley's sweet bride Rachel, Robert Duvall, Jim Jim Roberts, John Wang, and Connie Allison.
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