Update. What's on the Council agenda for May 3rd: Saving Tennessee State Prison, banning smoking at Ascend,

The Metro Council meets Tuesday night May 3rd  at 6:30PM.  Council meetings are televised live on Comcast Channel 3 or the next day one can catch it on the Metro YouTube channel and I report the meetings here. I will summarize the meetings and give a time stamp notation pointing out the good parts, if there are any good parts. Usually there is no good debate or grandstanding or tension or clever parliamentary maneuvering. Most Council meeting are real boring but I watch then so you don't have to. If you want to know more about the operation of city government, most of the important decision are made at the Budget and Finance Committee meetings and you learn more from watching a meeting of B&F than you do the Council meeting itself.

It you want to know what will be before the Council, you need a copy of the agenda and the agenda analysis.  If you are going to watch the council meeting without a copy of the agenda, you won't know what the Council is voting on and you will be wasting your time.  Here is a link to the agenda and the staff analysis.

I am only listing those items that I think are significant or are important to me.  I may miss something, so if you really care, you may want to read the agenda for yourself.  There are 16 bills on public hearing, most of them zoning bills and, for the most part, those bore me and I don't even attempt to gain an understanding of the pros and cons of every zoning bill.  I do not generally watch meetings of the Planning Commission either, so I am not the most informed person in Metro regarding zoning issues. Most zoning bills impact only nearby residence, so while a particular zoning issue may be very important to a few people, I am only going to point out those that I know to have created a lot of controversy or have an impact beyond one small neighborhood.

Bills on Public Hearing

BILL NO. BL2016-199   in council member Sharon Hurt's district  applies a Contextual Overlay District to 232 acres. The provision for a  Contextual Overlay was established in August 2014 as a zoning tool that can be applied to residential neighborhoods. The Contextual Overlay applies design standards necessary to maintain and reinforce established form or character of residential development in a particular area. A Contextual Overlay must apply throughout the residential portion of a complete block face. A Contextual Overlay does not affect the base zoning of a property. In essence this mean you cannot build something too far outside of the norm of what is already there. The specifics are not attached and I am not sure how the public would know the specifics of what they were getting with the Contextual Overlay.

The Castle, Tennessee State Prison

BILL NO. BL2016-201   would apply a Neighborhood Landmark Overlay District to property located at 6404 and 6410 Centennial Boulevard.  This is the old State prison.  This legislative act is one step in a process to try and find a way to save the old building.   

None of the resolutions appear controversial. 

There are 13 bills on First Reading, but I don't read them until they get to second reading. First Reading is a formality to get them on the agenda.

Bill on Second reading:

BILL NO. BL2016-205 would prohibit smoking at the outdoor Ascent amphitheater.
BILL NO. BL2016-206  would authorize by permits private snow plow services. This applies to public property. Those providing this service on private drives or parking lots would not have to have a permit.  An example of where this might apply is if an Homeowners Association wanted to contract with some one for snow removal. 

None of the bills on Third reading appear controversial.

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NashvilleNext is a done deal. Now, we will find out what it means.

Press Release from Craig Owensby of the Planning Commission - The plan is the result of three years of planning and community engagement, including guidance from issue-specific committees of local leaders and experts. The public engagement process has included more than 420 meetings and presentations and more than 18,500 participants. All of the input has been directed toward anticipating future growth, creating stronger communities and maintaining our quality of life by deciding where and how we grow. 

Community engagement in NashvilleNext involved a multistep process that asked Nashvillians about their hopes for the future and asked Nashvillians what land to preserve and develop to achieve their vision. A draft plan was made available to the public in late March, and comments and amendments were accepted through June 15. At a public hearing last week, the Commission heard amendments and comments from more than 60 Nashvillians. The general direction of the plan includes: 

•  Protecting and restoring Davidson County’s natural and rural areas 
• Creating a more robust transit network 
• Encouraging housing affordability and the de-concentration of poverty 
• Encouraging new development in walkable centers and along corridors while preserving the character of existing neighborhoods 
• Guiding growth to make Nashville welcoming for new residents and improving quality of life for existing Nashvillians 

The plan also provides guidance in the areas of Education and Youth, Arts and Culture, and Economic and Workforce Development. FOR MORE INFORMATION on NashvilleNext, call (615) 862-NEXT (6398) or email info@nashvillenext.net. You can also keep up with NashvilleNext on Facebook and Twitter.

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GREEN HILLS GOP MEETING: METRO COUNCIL RACES— AND MORE!

SPECIAL PROGRAM FEATURING: THE CANDIDATES FOR METRO COUNCIL DISTRICTS 23 &34 ---PLUS— INCUMBENT COUNCIL MEMBERS EMILY EVANS (23) & CARTER TODD (34) ---PLUS--- A PRESENTATION & DISCUSSION OF THE PROPOSAL TO REDUCE THE SIZE OF METRO COUNCIL & CHANGE THE TERM LIMITS ---PLUS--- YOUR QUESTIONS!

JOIN US SATURDAY, MAY 9 COFFEE &PASTRIES AT 8:30 A.M. PROGRAM AT 9 A.M. SHARP
MEETING ROOM AT ST. PAUL SR. LIVING 5031 HILLSBORO PIKE, NASHVILLE 37215 (ACROSS FROM BURTON HILLS COMPLEX)

PETER VOYSEY, GREEN HILLS GOP SUMMIT

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Not everyone is happy that Grover Norquist is coming to First Tuesday.

I intend to attend First Tuesday tomorrow and I have purchased my ticket. The guest speaker will be Grover Norquist, founder of Americans for Tax Reform.  For many years he has been a leading voice for fiscal conservatism and has succeeded in holding Republicans feet to the fire with his Tax Pledge. His roll in the conservative movement is legendary. However, Grover Norquist has fallen out of favor with some conservatives because they perceive him to be allied with radical Islam. Some consider him a traitor and use very harsh language in criticizing him.  I invited a good friend of mine to attend First Tuesday with me this week and this person who is a reasonable conservative, not prone to endorsing fringe conspiracy theories, said he did not care for Grover Norquist because of his ties to the Muslim Brotherhood.  I think this is a view shared by many.

I attended the CPAC gathering in Washington for the last two years and heard critical mumbling from attendees at that event both years because Norquist was on the program.  Several conservative commentators have openly criticized Norquist, including Glen Beck, Michelle Malkin and Pam Gueller. None of these are people I am particularly impressed by but they influence an awfully lot of conservatives. Locally, J. Lee Douglas of the 9-12 group has criticized Norquist and First Tuesday and The Beacon Center for their association with Norquist. 
 

I am reposting a communication from Mr. Douglas. I do not endorse his statement, but he is influential in local conservative circles and his view is shared by many and Mr. Lee articulates his concern well. He calls on First Tuesday to cancel Mr. Norquist appearance and he ask local conservatives to boycott tomorrows meeting. 
 

I do think Mr. Norquist should address the criticism and explain his association with the Muslim Brotherhood, if there is any association, and if the terrible things some people are saying about him are not true he should deny them and denounce the people who are saying them. This criticism has been ignored long enough. It should be addressed. Rod
 

Below is the statement from J. Lee Douglas. I have highlighted the more provocative statements.

Recognizing the sign of the times in 1939, many wise Germans left their home country and quietly moved away. Others, also recognizing the sign of the times, eventually and valiantly spoke up, bringing criticism and eventual harm to themselves and their families. In all, if both groups had timely spoken up with enough conviction and demand, we might have never known of that season's costly terror.

July 2012, a 912 open letter to Republican Governor Bill Haslam was published in the Tennessean urging reconsideration of the questionable and inconspicuous hiring of Shariah-compliant specialist, Samar Ali. Despite his office having been caught providing untrue statements about Ms. Ali's hiring, Governor Haslam's office replied with silence.

This past February, the Beacon Center, a wonderful, local watchdog organization who I have admired for years, hosted a GOP hero; a man invited because of his reputed knowledge and skill in arguing for fiscal conservatism. What he, Grover Norquist, and the Beacon Center have in common is a reputation for advancing fiscal prudence in government. Who could be against that?

My own love for fiscal soundness blinded me to a friend's first caution that Grover Norquist was part of the Muslim Brotherhood (MB). Such caution had to be paranoia. In some quarters, Grover is a saint to any truly fiscal conservative. For me, an appreciation for values and principles ahead of party loyalty was so slow in coming. By that age, I should have understood better than to only see men as either Republican or Democrat. Life was so much easier then. Grover is Republican, isn't that enough? Dammit, he's one of us!

Reagan's Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Frank Gaffney, is the authority with the evidence that continues to trigger my spider senses. On that awful day, 9/11, Gaffney was in DC and went to his office just after the third airliner had struck the Pentagon. His office suite shared a common wall with Norquist (Islamic Free Market Institute). Gaffney describes in his office, a colleague lifting up a ceiling tile to hear celebration of the 911 attacks from Norquist and his colleagues, discussing how they would spin their "criticism"of the attack. I am convinced today that Grover Norquist is directly linked to the MB and you should be, too. Do your own research, you'll be helped by some of the links at the bottom.

In the spring, I notified our friends at the Beacon Center (BC) about Grover's Islamic loyalties upon learning of my invitation to join a Center-Right Coalition (CRC) that was being brought back to life by BC, Norquist, and friends. I supplied them with this link. It occurred to me that BC had not taken the time to read the information sent to them or else they felt that the threat of the Muslim Brotherhood was inferior in scope to the benefits of fiscal conservancy. If government ever does genuinely confine itself to Constitutional principles, it will matter to offset the extra tax imposed upon those infidels permitted by our Muslim masters to live.

Many of you don't know of the GOP's traditional monthly meeting in Nashville called 1st Tuesday which assembles again this coming Tuesday, September 2--open to all. For the most part, it is a who's who in Republican Circles and is run by the GOP Establishment's people although whenever I attended, I've seen friends who I love, who belong to 912 and are strongly like-minded with us. This month's guest speaker is described as 'a most powerful “Washington DC political BIG-WAVE maker”, on Harry Reid’s “5 most hated names” list!!, one of those eyebrow-raising names in Washington, DC!'

You guessed it, Grover Norquist is featured this Tuesday as a GOP Rock Star doing Nashville. Anyone on Harry Reid's bad list must be one of the good guys, right? In 1985, Grover was asked by Reagan to start Americans for Tax Reform, thirty years ago when gas cost $1.05/gal and the MB was no threat in America because there was little cash for trouble making outside of the Middle East. Seeing that both Gaffney and Norquist were shown favor by The Gipper, we may have to rely upon facts to determine Grover's current threat status.

I want to say this gently to our Republican friends, its leaders, administrators, fair-minded GOP men and women who genuinely want good for Tennessee, who pray and know that all men must answer to God: What are you doing? Isn't it true in the Scriptures that teachers will be judged more keenly, then how much more our leaders? Many of you volunteered to be a leader with its duties and its privileges.

Why are those of you involved in the Tennessee GOP bringing a man to be among you who has recognized ties to a group who today has beheaded and crucified children? Who is it that is being helped by Mr. Norquist? What is the good that he'll bring with him for you? Is Grover Norquist being welcomed here because he will advance fiscal soundness? Really? Does that trump security and common sense? Should John McCain trade on his heroism of 39 years ago any more than Grover Norquist ought on his earlier years as a fiscal conservative? How long will our national and state leaders offer an expired benefit of doubt to people whose practice betrays what we all desperately want to believe?

Norquist lobbied on behalf of Fannie and Freddie to extend home ownership tax credits that directly contributed to the housing bubble collapse and Norquist advocated for Shariah-compliant mortgage products with Fannie and Freddie. He early on advocated giving Obama all the money needed to keep destroying America when he mislead tea-party Republicans, counseling them to raise the debt ceiling (watch video at 8:50). Once, I believe, Norquist had legitimate claims to fiscal conservatism but no longer. Do the research.

At MuslimBrotherhoodInAmerica.com, you can find a ten-part course on the Muslim Brotherhood by the Center for Security Policy where there is a clip of “Norquist at a meeting in Dearborn, Michigan in October 2011 put together between George Soros’ progressives or leftists, radicals, and the Islamists.”

America is like a country waiting for a catastrophe to happen before it will wake up, drop the political correctness, and stop pretending that all religions are the same and all offer the same threat to our security.

I am urging all of our state elected officials including our Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Speaker as well as all citizens to urge 1st Tuesday's planners to cancel the event with Norquist, pay him his honorarium and consider this a great lesson about vetting who'll be permitted to address us and represent us. The best action that everyone can take is to not attend this Tuesday's meeting. Please contact your state senator and representative only if he is a Republican. This is a GOP issue only. It's time for the GOP to stand for something. Let it start here as an example for the rest of the nation.

William Wilberforce said “having heard all of this, you may choose to look the other way, but you can never say again that you did not know.”

Lee

drtmj@aol.com

 

Below are the links attached to the essay: link, link, link.

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Report on the Constitution Refresher

by Gene Wisdom

We conservatives in America cherish the document by which this nation of free men governs itself.  We love reading about those who handed it down to us as well as the principles behind it.  Americans as worthy as our veterans and as lowly as our politicians swear oaths to defend it.  And it is by the sacrifices of the former and the legislative recesses of the latter that we still enjoy the freedoms guaranteed by its limits on government. 

And so I joined many of my fellow conservatives for the Constitution Refresher class on August 17 organized by the 9-12 Project of Tennessee and taught by attorney and Tea Party leader Hal Rounds, and held at Three Brothers Restaurant in Murfreesboro.  It is a good thing for activists to reflect on their animating ideas and Mr. Rounds provided an excellent opportunity to immerse ourselves in our charter of government, its history, and ideas, and how it was designed to bind that government. 

He did an excellent job in the eight hours provided of detailing how our Constitution was shaped by Founders who left the Old World seeking freedom and opportunity, and took us through the Declaration of Independence and then through the document itself as well as its amendments.  All this while taking several questions from the audience.  If there was a disappointment in the presentation it was that it is not a week long or even a full weekend course.  I would love to have seen more flesh on the history and principles of the Constitution, more discussion of the disagreements even among fellow conservatives on such ideas as incorporation (of the Bill of Rights through the 14th Amendment), nullification, and judicial review as well as a more detailed examination of Supreme Court opinions. 

There was one exchange toward the end of the course which I did find rather disturbing.  The instructor mentioned the “might have been” of a Congressional payment to former slaveholders as compensation for the loss of their “property” (i.e., their slaves and fellow human beings) following the Civil War and the Thirteenth Amendment.  When I mentioned the clear injustice and evil of paying one group of men for enslaving other men I was met with defenses such as slaveholders paying for brogans for their slaves and the expense of providing them with homes/shelter.  It seemed to escape them that farmers provide shoes and barns for their horses but that treating humanely is not the same as treating humanly—and morally.  Not to mention the further injustice of asking other Americans to pay for compensation of this evil.  If anyone stood to be compensated it was the former slaves themselves by having their life and liberties stolen and beaten from them.  Oh, there were the hand-wringing protestations of “Of course, it’s evil”, but the tenor of the discussion was a not understated, “But it wasn’t that bad.” 

This was but a very short, albeit troublesome, exchange in what was a very rewarding and fruitful weekend of being reminded and taught why our Constitution is important and why devoted activists in the Tea Party, 9-12, ACT for America, and dozens of other organizations in our state and nation continue in daily honorable efforts to protect it and our liberties.  Energy is good, activism is wonderful, but we must not neglect our education in the principles we seek to defend.  Thank you, 9-12 and Mr. Rounds.  

Gene Wisdom is an Alabama native but has lived in the Nashville area since 2007. He, his wife Vicki, and their dog Savannah live near Nolensville.  Gene is a conservative activist and leads the Conservative Fusion Book Club. 

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How many attended Lamar's event; how many attended the counter protest?

From Campaign for Liberty.  That is J. Lee Douglas of the 9-12 project
 on the far left

From Britbart News

Numbers are a tricky thing, especially when those doing the counting have a bias. I was not at the Lamar Alexander event in Smyrna on Saturday, so I don't know how many people attended the rally nor how many attended the counter protest.

The Tennessean said more "than 150 tea party and libertarian activists set up in front of the Smyrna Air Center Saturday to protest Republican U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander." And, it says  Jim Jeffries, a spokesman for Alexander, "said that more than 500 people showed up for the Alexander campaign event."

The KnoxNews.com blog feature "Humphrey on the Hill" says, "the "counter-rally" attended by perhaps 200 persons from around the state."

A Britbart News story titled, "'Beat Lamar' Rally Draws More People Than Lamar Event" says, "According to organizers, over 300 people braved the heat and sun, promoting a primary challenge to Alexander next year. Alexander's event, held in an air-conditioned building and featuring local officials and Mike Huckabee drew about 250, according to local press."

I know the anti-Lamar forces had
been busy organizing for weeks. The Tennessee Campaign for Liberty, the 9-12 Project, The Nashville Tea Party, The Middle Tennessee Libertarian Party and lots of individuals and bloggers had been promoting the anti-Lamar event on social media. I expected there to be about as many anti-Lamar protesters as people attending the Lamar rally. 

It seems that the anti-Lamar forces are more passionate than the pro-Lamar forces. That probably is to be expected however. Lamar has been around on long time and there is something about being an outsider that generates more passion than being part of the establishment.

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Ward Connerly comes to Nashville, this Wednesday

Wednesday, February 13, 2013, 6:30 PM

Fifty Forward Knowles 174 Rains Ave, Nashville, TN

Ward Connelly

Ward Connerly is considered to be the man behind California’s Proposition 209 prohibiting race- and gender-based preferences in state hiring, contracting and state university admissions, a program widely known Affirmative Action.

From J. Lee Douglas of 9-12 Project Nashville:

Ward Connerly has agreed to come to Tennessee and he will be speaking at our next 912 Project on the evening of Wednesday, February 13.

You can imagine the names this witty, very intelligent man has been called:  Oreo, white on the inside, black on the outside; Uncle Tom who’s married to a white woman.

I call him a patriot for helping to restore America to its commitment of equal application of the law towards all with privilege for none.

Senator Jim Summerville is introducing a series of bills aimed at removing from state government all discrimination and preferential treatment on the basis of race, gender and ethnicity.  Who better to come here and talk to us and to also talk to the legislators about the harm being done to all men when granting privileges for the few.

Were you aware that currently 10% of all state business contracts must be performed by minorities?  Sweet if you’re a minority but sucks to be you if you’re a gringo.

Local News Channel 2 did a story recently on Summerville’s bill and they conducted interviews at predominantly black TSU to test the reaction of black students there.  Take a peek, I think that you’ll be pleasantly surprised.  Click here.  It appears that those who resist equal treatment for all men are the race hustlers most typified by Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton.  What father doesn’t want his son to succeed because the son worked hard and earned it?

If you’d like to read Summerville’s bills, go here.

Despite Jesse Jackson’s protests throughout California, Ward Connerly, almost singlehandedly saw  to the passage of Proposition 209 in California. Connerly went to war against the Ford Foundation, ACLU, The Carnegie Foundation, The Rockefeller Foundation and most importantly, the California Teachers Association.  Eleven years later, Connerly succeeded with the same bill in Michigan, passing it 58%-42 and later an identical accomplishment in Washington State.

I hope to see you Wednesday, February 13 at The Knowles Center, 174 Rains Ave, Nashville, TN - Lee

I plan on attending this meeting. and I strongly support the effort of Senator Jim Summerville. It is time to end racial preferences. Rod

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Meet and Greet with Yvonne Donnelly, National 9-12 Project Chair

Reposted from  Linda Napier

Saturday at 11:00am at Millenium Maxwell House Resort

FREE EVENT! (LUNCH AND BEVERAGES AVAILABLE AT YOUR EXPENSE)

Yvonne is the powerhouse behind the 9-12 Project from the beginning!
This is a chance to talk to her as she is visiting Nashville and wants to meet all of our incredible members!

Please feel free to bring a guest..maybe someone who wants to join us but wants to know what the 9-12 Project is all about.

SEE YOU ALL THERE!

ABOUT YVONNE
Yvonne Donnelly is the Chair of The 9/12 Project. She took on the responsibility early on to coordinate volunteers and groups across the nation and provide them a way to connect with one another. Little did she know that a little over one year latter she would continue to develop a movement through this venue. With the amount of emails coming in to the original site it was apparent that she needed help. With help from fellow volunteer Mike Opelka, Yvonne answered emails by the hundreds to ensure that people got involved locally. Through those emails other individuals emerged as leaders. You will see listed the names of our Advisory Board members. These individuals are now acting in a capacity of directing, developing and consulting through their experience and great talent

Disclaimer: From time to time A Disgruntled Republican may post announcements of interest to the conservative, libertarian, or greater community. Such announcements are posted as a public service to spread awareness and do not necessarily constitute an endorsement.

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I have been kicked out of the 9-12 group.

Below is the letter I received from J. Lee Douglas a couple week ago, notifying me that my membership in the 9-12 organization was being revoked.

Rod,

I've been reading your articles about our 912 group, its direction, intentions, and criticisms of government.

There have been some parallels in our views but I'm finding an increasing departure from what you view in government and what we view.

I've recently had a few of our members contact me to point out that verbatim, you have used our Email announcements, some of which obviously were not intended to be passed on to others until a future date and you took it upon yourself to disregard our timing. (I reference our Resolution, here, Rod.)

I think that I don't want to contribute any longer to your library because you and I, or 912 and you , don't share goals that are close as they ought to be.

Thus, your membership is being withdrawn and you'll not receive any further Emails.

My best to you,

Lee

One of our members (as I said, there have been others) said:

I think Rod is doing more damage than helping us, for sure.

Here are just a few quotes that portray us as the “rebellion”, or “conspiracy theorists”, “zealots”, and “religious bigots.”


“Maury County Republicans join the rebellion. “ (Speaking of article in Columbia Daily Herald)

“The division within the Republican Party has become a chasm. It is now a public conflict. I wonder if the Party's period of ascendancy is coming to an end. Is there anything that can heal this divide? Will independents and moderates vote for a candidate of a Republican Party dominated by conspiracy theorist and zealots? Democrats should be dancing in the streets.”

“Healthy concern about those who would sympathize and collaborate with the enemies of America is quite a bit different from open religious bigotry against someone because they are a Muslim, and advocating apparent discrimination against them because of their religious beliefs. However, it would seem that we may have an ever-widening group of people that are simply making the assumption that if a person is a Muslim, they are the enemy because of their religion alone. “


And then this particular blog post is definitely not supportive of the 9/12 group.

http://www.adisgruntledrepublican.com/2012/07/ron-harwell-to-challenge-chris-devaney.html

Quote from this post: “This fringe faction of the Party is planning to take over more county parties and run more candidates for the State Executive Committee and take over the Executive Committee and elect one of their own to the post of Party chairman. “


I would have a hard time believing that this person would want to further the values of the 9/12 group. He says he is conservative, but goes right along with Establishment name-calling. He says he’s disgruntled, what is he disgruntled about? Looks like he’s pretty happy with how things are going.

Just my opinion. I don’t know him personally, never met him.

Blessings,

My comment:

I have been kicked of better places.  I am not losing any sleep over it. 

I really don't remember joining 9-12. I didn't fill out an application and anxiously await to see if I would be accepted. I don't remember any background check. I never paid any dues. I never took a blood oath or learned a secret handshake. One day, I was just a member. I may have joined by a meet-up site. I have joined several meet-up sites and then never attended a meeting or did anything else. Maybe, I clicked "like" on facebook. Anyway, I was a member and now I am not. 

I have gotten the emails of 9-12 for some time now. I am sure the members of 9-12 and I agree on most things. I vehemently oppose Obamacare. I want a smaller federal government. I oppose a state income tax. I opposed the recent metro property tax hike. I am pro-life. I think the federal government has expanded into areas never envisioned by the founding fathers and without constitutional authority. I support a balanced budget and reducing the deficit. I support school choice and curtailing union influence in education. I support welfare reform and curtailing of entitlements. I support ending the death tax. 

However, I do not believe Agenda 21 is a plot to kill 96% of the world's population by poisoning them with aspartame and fluoride. I don't think shady sidewalks are a slippery slope to the gulag.  I believe concern over Agenda 21 is waste of time.

I do believe Islam is really a religion. I believe Muslims have every bit as much of a right to build a Mosque in Murfreesboro as do the Church of Latter Day Saints, Jehovah Witness, Catholics, or Baptist to build a church.  I do not criticize Governor Haslam because his administration hired a person who happens to be Muslim. I believe the First Amendment applies to Muslims.

I support the Second Amendment right to bear arms.  However, the Second Amendment is a restriction on Government, not one's fellow citizen. The Second Amendment does not give a person the right to carry a gun onto the private property of another who does not want guns on his property.  

I like Bill Haslam and think he is a great governor. I also like Senator Bob Corker. I think some pragmatism and compromise is necessary in order to change the course of the nation. It is better to compromise and get half a loaf than to maintain absolute purity of position and get none of what you want. I think the art of governing must involve give and take and persuasion and negotiating.

I guess I am not a good fit for 9-12. When the 9-12 group is fighting Democrats and liberal policies, then we will be working for the same cause. Other times, we will not. 

I am not really mad about getting expelled form 9-12 and on most issue 9-12 and I are in the same camp. I admire J. Lee Douglas for the good that he does when he is not doing the nutty stuff, and I admire him for his dedication and leadership abilities. I wish everyone in 9-12 the best. I am sure you can carry on without me in your ranks and my feelings have not been hurt by being expelled.

God Bless. We part as friends.

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Two Cheers for 9-12 Project

by Gene Wisdom

Gene Wisdom

It was with mixed feelings that I read through Lee Douglas’s email posted here which also appeared in my Inbox.And it was with somewhat less mixed feelings that I read Rod’s response to it. 

First of all, Lee’s motivations and those of the 9-12 group are nothing to instill fear in the minds of liberty-lovers.  Their concern is to protect our freedom from expansive government as well as some threats to our nation’s survival.  I disagree with some of their legislative priorities, such as the so-called Sheriff’s Bill in Tennessee, which as I understand would require federal law enforcement to notify a local sheriff before they perform a raid or execute a warrant.  

 As a Constitutionalist conservative I believe that it is in violation of the supremacy clause of the Constitution as well as the principle of federalism.  In my brief email discussion last year with its chief sponsor, state Senator Stacy Campfield, when I raised these issues he said that it is supported by Printz v. United States, a Supreme Court decision.  I read that decision and see no basis there for this bill.  That decision is regarding unfunded mandates, in that case commanding state and local law enforcement officers to conduct background checks on prospective handgun purchasers.  When I mentioned this out along with several other passages from the Court’s decision in that case Sen. Campfield chose not to respond further.

I also disagree with 9-12’s focus on Agenda 21, an opposition which is rooted in the fever swamps of the John Birch Society.  My knowledge of that issue is admittedly sparse so I’ll defer to Rod, who has taken a close look at it.  I’ll certainly agree that Lee’s group is more familiar with it than I but the roots in JBS conspiracy “thought” is unmistakeable.

Those differences aside, 9-12 is grounded in a view of limited government inspired by the Founding Fathers.  While I disagree with them on some of the legislative direction they take from that foundation it is clearly rooted in principles we should all recognize as conservative—smaller government, distrust of internationalist institutions, lower taxes and government spending.

I guess my point of departure, besides the specific legislative issues above, is the vitriol with which they label those who disagree or “fall short” of their own devotion.  The Republican Party as “those loyal to King George”?  The “treasonous votes and behavior” of “rogue officials”?  Rogue?  That’s no big deal—lots of folks in politics wear it as a badge of honor such as the sweetheart of some of those in the Tea Party, Sarah Palin, who said she was Going Rogue.  But “treasonous”?  That is a highly defamatory term if there is not some serious evidence behind it.  At least the Founders gave us a long list of “injuries and usurpations” by the King. 

On one point of disagreement with my friend Rod, I do believe that 9-12 is correct in its concerns about Muslim influences within state government—and national.  Although I have not educated myself about the specifics of the individual noted in 9-12’s full page ad in The Tennesseean (seen at this link: http://www.912projecttennessee.com/Sharia_Law_in_TN/), I am well aware of the threat posed by Muslims within our country and their devotion to imposing Sharia law.  That awareness is largely due to 9-12 (and ACT for America)-sponsored local events featuring well-informed speakers, including a former Muslim cleric.  It is a danger about which I wish Rod would seek to become better informed through a variety of excellent conservative—and non-fevered—sources.  Rod’s ignorance about it, however, is not due to a lesser love for this country (he served our country in the Army in Vietnam--toward which this peacetime Navy man renders a smart salute and deep thanks) or an unconcern over its security.

9-12 is also to be applauded for its conservative orientation on social issues though I confess ignorance as to the extent of its direct involvement on them.  Rod and I disagree, I believe, on whether social conservatives should be welcome within the Republican Party.  Or maybe Rod believes they should just keep quiet.  I will detail more on my position in a separate essay here and perhaps Rod will engage me in debate on this, here on his blog. 

Regarding Kevin Kookogey’s role in the intra-GOP controversy I have no specific knowledge other than having met Mr. Kookogey at a local Heritage Foundation event.  I found him to be a soft-spoken very well informed conservative.  One to whom a Republican Party looking for strong roots in its conservative base should listen.

My hope is that 9-12’ers don’t, as Lee’s email suggests, define “moderate” necessarily as “unprincipled”.  The equation is sometimes well-placed, as in the case of our two U.S. Senators.  Sen. Corker’s national reputation as a bargainer and a dealer far surpasses any regard for him as a leader of principle.  A choice, seeking conservative principles, between him and a Jim Demint (Republican Senator from South Carolina and founder of the Senate Conservatives Fund) would find Mr. Corker back in business as a home builder in Chattanooga. There are others who I consider “moderately conservative” such as Rod, however, who, while he may not peg out as a 100 on a conservative index, is grounded in good common sense with conservative instincts and principles.  Such moderation in my view calls for education and persuasion, not reproach (that means I’m gonna keep working on you, Rod).      

It is my hope that 9-12 will welcome debate within its ranks.  I understand it is not a discussion forum such as (shameless plug here) a group I belong to, Conservative Fusion (www.meetup/ConservativeFusion) but is rather an activist group focused on an agenda as such groups are.  I hope that there is room, however, for principled, thoughtful debate that doesn’t define someone as “outside” for holding a position contrary to its program.  Both sides should listen. 

Lee, meet Rod.  Rod, meet Lee.    

Gene Wisdom is an Alabama native but has lived in the Nashville area since 2007. He, his wife Vicki, and their dog Savannah live near Nolensville.  Gene is a conservative activist and leads the Conservative Fusion Book Club. 

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J. Lee Douglas says, "Minute Men should see the Republican Party as those loyal to King George."

The division within the Republican Party has become a chasm. It is now a public conflict. I wonder if the Party's period of ascendancy is coming to an end. Is there anything that can heal this divide?  Will independents and moderates vote for a candidate of a Republican Party dominated by conspiracy theorist and zealots? Democrats should be dancing in the streets. I welcome comments or if anyone has insight as to the state of this conflict within the Party and what it means for the future, I would welcome hearing from you.  To submit an essay for publication, please email me at Rodwilliams47@yahoo.com.

 

I am posting the complete text of an email I received today from J. Lee Douglas, Chairman of the local 9-12 project.  Rod

 

FROM:

• J Lee Douglas

TO:

• nine-12-project-nashville-announce@meetup.com 

Sunday, July 22, 2012 9:23 PM 

Drawing a parallel between our struggle here in America and the Minute Men should see the Republican Party as those loyal to King George.  The progressives and liberals who have dominated Congress along with many US Presidents are the armies of the King.

Complaints and feeble efforts at acceptable negotiations always failed as often in 1774 as they do for us but as it always happens, everyone wises up to the reality that the formal pleasantries eventually cease and more direct words are spoken. We're drawing near to that where the gloves start to come off as they did this week end with the governor who said of us:  

FRANKLIN — County Republicans in recent days have twice fired across the bow of Gov. Bill Haslam’s administration, accusing the state’s top GOP leader of getting into bed with Muslim extremists.

In the face of that criticism, Haslam met with several of Williamson County’s most prominent Republicans for lunch at a busy downtown restaurant in Franklin. While sipping a glass of iced tea in the crowded dining room of Puckett’s Grocery and Restaurant on Thursday, the governor said his critics deserve little of his time. 

“I think that probably speaks to a pretty small survey of Republicans here,” Haslam said of the Williamson County Republican Party’s jabs. 

Last week, Haslam received more than a handful of resolutions adopted by county-level Republican offices across the state skewering him for employing gay, Muslim and Democratic workers. In Williamson County, where Haslam received 79 percent of the vote in the 2010 general election, local GOP officials focused on Samar Ali, a Muslim-American attorney in the Department of Economic and Community Development.

On Friday, in a full-page advertisement in The Tennessean, a strongly worded letter to the governor warned him not to ignore their message. The ad was paid for by the Tennessee chapter of the 912 Project and championed the Williamson County Republican Party, among others, for having the courage to “break ranks” with party loyalists. 

“We are not afraid and we won’t be intimidated,” the ad stated. “We declare our intentions to reclaim what is rightfully and Constitutionally ours, given by God and won through the blood of Americans. As of today, the choice is still in your hands. Choose the way of common sense while that option is still available.”

In the first weeks of becoming the 912ers when we met at my house it was nearly unanimous that we'd not form a 3rd party, that we'd be even more useless as Democrats and therefore our only real choice was to get involved with the Republican party and infuse our attitudes, values, and inflexible demands that the party live up to its claim to small government. 

I hate confrontation and naively hoped that through a simple electoral process that we'd put in enough reliable candidates who'd truly represent us and now I can see that that is what we're doing right now but it is not without confrontation.

It has taken us 3 years to get to the place that we've finally drawn the line and said that we're going to wear that name that the media placed on us: Intolerant, by no longer tolerating moderate, unprincipled Republican officials.
 

The governor, the state party chieftain, fired his shot over our bow by declaring us fringe and small, of no consequence.  I'll bet you last November on 2010 he wasn't thinking of us and groups like ours as of no consequence. 

This is the most important time now in 3 years to get involved locally to help the candidates and most of the help needs to go to those candidates who share our values whose primary will be the only contest they have.  If we do not prevail in these elections, we'll have to grow more and wait another 2 years to do what needs to be done. 

One of the people who I think must be strained by the sudden and public clash is our own Keven K who is chair of the Williamson GOP because nearly two years ago the 912ers showed up and voted him into his office.  He has not let us down but he is being slapped around and criticized because he stuck to the principles he promoted when he was just another nobody, albeit, unhated nobody.

In our county, Kevin is being assaulted and isolated by, who else, the local republicans who did not agree with our Resolution and are of a mind set to speak no evil of their fellow Republican.  You know how much I love the Gipper but on this, he was wrong and it kept the rogue officials from being called out for their treasonous votes and behavior. 

We unite on principle, love, and faith.  We love God and we love principle more than we love loyalty.  Loyalty is important but it isn't first and anyone attempting to unite on the basis of loyalty in disregard of principle will continue to get us our Lugars and McCains. 

Part of the ammunition being used by the establishment in our county GOP is donations, money.  Some are criticizing Kevin's bold leadership because some of the more establishment oriented and wealthier members are offended at the changes you and I are bringing.  Some are busy and gullible, willing to accept what the establishment advises.  To their ears, it's familiar. 

There are some who have begun to return to the table because they can see a returning to those principles in their own party that they once saw back in the Gipper's day.  Where will those go who don't come back now?  To the Democrats?  I don't think so, do you?  If they do, they were never part of us for principle but for position and power. 

An event is being held this Thursday evening to raise some dollars to keep the county office open.  I ask that you purchase a ticket and go to support the good changes coming.  From Williamson County, other county GOPs will happen. 

I've had a flood of Emails today from other county GOPs who want to walk with us hand in hand.  Like you, they get it about Sharia.  You'll see in the coming 1-2 weeks (if the media report it) other GOPs sending Governor Haslam their own Resolutions, criticizing him for failing to be a true conservative as he described himself to many of us, face to face.
 

I had a man today call me from Columbia.  He's a self described atheist who saw our Resolution and wanted to tell us how grateful he was to see someone standing up for what he knew was going on.  It was very gratifying.  Like him, there'll be others.

If you cannot afford the $50 ticket to go to the Thursday night event, why don't five of you chip in $10 each and send one person in your name?

If we're going to see to it that the GOP truly represents us, we're all going to have to be diligent to safeguard our freedom for our children for a long time.

L

Please join the Williamson county Republican Party for an evening with CANDIDATES including Representative charles sargent and Rob Hathaway, district 61 Jeremy durham, dennis kiser and Kenny young, district 65 Judge elect mike binkley (21st judicial district) Thursday July 26th From 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. PRINCETON HILLS 706 Sinclair Circle Brentwood, Tennessee $50 per person includes drinks (Beer, wine, soda) And hors d’oeuvres. Featuring music by  Kayla. PLEASE RSVP TO 790-7642  OR  jbarwick@williamsontngop.org

 

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