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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2007
Tennessee Government and Politics
The expansion of the governor’s residence continues to generate a great deal of interesting and debate among
bloggers this week. The Tennesseans for Accountability in Government took out an ad in opposition to the
meeting hall, but put in the wrong phone number to call according to reports from Jennifer Peebles’ blog.
The Smell of Desparation (Southern Beale)
You know things are bad for the TN GOP when they have to turn this ridiculous “bunker” at the governor’s mansion
thing into a statewide, GOP fundraising campaign Seriously, you guys don’t have any more important issues to
worry about? Things that actually affect real Tennesseans? You know, like healthcare? Jobs? Education?
Pollution? Veterans affairs? No? …..The jokes just write themselves. Lee Beaman, the uberpartisan who never
saw a smear campaign he didn’t like (that Swift Boat Veterans donation really paid off for you, didn’t it?). Lee
Beaman, whose wife Kelly formed an "ethics in government" group that strangely was only interested in one
politician from one (rival) political party. Heh. http://sobeale.blogspot.com/2007/12/smellofdesperation.html
Terry Frank (Frankly Speaking): http://terryfrank.net/?p=2899
Bill Hobbs: http://billhobbs.com/2007/12/democrat_math.html, http://billhobbs.com/2007/12/bunker_mentality.html
Bob Krumm: http://www.bobkrumm.com/blog/?p=1678
Ben Cunningham (Taxing Tennessee): http://taxingtennessee.blogspot.com/2007/12/taxpayerbucksformore
secrets.html
Kay Brooks: http://kaybrooks.blogspot.com/2007/12/tagyoureitgov.html,
http://kaybrooks.blogspot.com/2007/12/moneypriorities.html ‘
Mad about the ‘bunker’? Don’t call this number (Tennessean/Peebles)
You might have seen the fullpage ad in this morning’s Tennessean from the group Tennesseans for Accountability
in Government, the group formed in opposition to the plans to build an underground meeting hall on the grounds of
the governor’s mansion. Surely the people energized on this issue could go on and on all day about the veracity of
the claims made in the ad. But here’s one thing we know is wrong: The phone number listed for Lt. Gov. Ron
Ramsey. The number listed there, 7412368, is actually the phone number for former Lt. Gov. (now Sen.) John
Wilder’s office. We just got a call from Wilder’s office to say they’re being flooded with phone calls from people who
saw the ad. The correct number for Ramsey’s office is 7414524. http://support.tennessean.com/blogs/?p=5975
Rob Robinson (ThinkTrain): http://thinktrain.net/2007/12/12/oopswrongltgov/
Reaction to Sen. Jerry Cooper’s resignation continued this week.
It's Only Kinda Illegal (Progressive Nashville)
Here’s the problem with politicians policing themselves: they make sure the punishment doesn’t really fit the crime.
State Sen. Jerry Cooper thinks the regulatory board only has the authority to fine him up to 15% of the $95,000 he
stole from his campaign and spent on himself. Now, it’s up to the state Attorney General to decide if he’s right.
Answer me this: Why is it a lesser crime if a candidate steals from his campaign than if a staffer did it? That staffer
would be in jail. I wouldn’t be at all surprised to find out Cooper is right—because politicians aren’t going to write
laws that hurt themselves too much. This absolutely infuriates me. Hey, Republicans (that includes you, Hobbs)…
If you’re really outraged about Sen. Cooper because of his actions and not because he has a “D” after his name,
then fix this law so it has teeth! http://liberalvoices.typepad.com/progressive_nashville/2007/12/itsonlykinda.html
A.C. Kleinheider (Volunteer Voters): http://www.news2wkrn.com/vv/2007/12/13/actsofdeterrence/
Terry Frank (Frankly Speaking): http://terryfrank.net/?p=2908
Stacey Campfield (Camp4U): http://lastcar.blogspot.com/2007/12/registrytofightitsownfineagainst.html
Jennifer Peebles: http://support.tennessean.com/blogs/?p=5924
Bill Hobbs: http://billhobbs.com/2007/12/the_cooper_loophole.html
Bloggers continue to offer commentary and reaction to proposed changes to the state Open Meetings Law this
week. Blake Fontenay’s Commercial Appeal blog post was a catalyst for comments and discussion among
bloggers this week. Several bloggers also continued to warn readers about the implications of local governmental
bodies voting in favor of the proposed changes.
Just because I’m paranoid doesn’t mean they’re not plotting (Blake’s Blog)
Call me paranoid, but if you ask me, the timing of a sudden increase in protests from elected officials about the
open meetings law seems a bit suspicious. After all, this law was enacted in 1974 and, until this year, I had never
really heard much complaining about it. Then along came a legislative study panel that was supposed to be looking
at ways to make government more accessible to the public, not less. Suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere, various
elected officials around the state all started talking about how hard it’s been to do their jobs all these years because
meeting in public is such a big hassle. The panel ended up recommending a change that would dramatically
weaken the law, which will possibly be considered by state legislators next year. Then I read today’s story about an
orientation session for our new Memphis City Council members. Apparently, the new council members spent a lot
of time fretting about how the law would limit them and expressing confusion about what they could or could not do.
http://commercialappealweb.com/blake/2007/12/11/justbecauseimparanoiddoesntmeantheyrenotplotting
againstus/#comments
Newscoma: http://newscoma.wordpress.com/2007/12/06/wedonotneedasolareclipseinourgovernment/ ,
http://newscoma.wordpress.com/2007/12/13/dontmeetinsecretandyoursafe/
Michael Silence (No Silence Here):
http://blogs.knoxnews.com/knx/silence/archives/2007/12/slamming_the_do.shtml
Vibinic: http://vibinc.blogspot.com/2007/12/sunshineintennessee.html
Politico offered a list of potential vicepresidential candidates this week, including Gov. Phil Bredesen as a possible
running mate for Barak Obama (should Obama get the Democratic nomination). John Rodgers and Adam
Kleinheider offered their reaction to Politico’s piece.
Could Phil be Barack’s Veep? (Political Animals/Rodgers)
The Politico’s Roger Simon suggests that Gov. Phil Bredesen is a possibility to serve as Barack Obama’s running
mate. Simon says: Phil Bredesen— Not a household name, he is now the Democratic governor of Tennessee and
a former mayor of Nashville. Bredesen is known for cutting spending when he has to, which is why some
Republicans like him even more than some Democrats do. He also started a successful health care company,
which gives him both business credentials and knowledge about an issue that is sure to be important in the general
election. Bredesen also cut 170,000 Tennesseans from the TennCare rolls, which angered some of his Democratic
base and would be one possible weakness in his chances of being courted. Could Phil Bredesen be Barack
Obama’s running mate? Or, if Obama loses his bid for the nomination, do you see the winner (likely Hillary Clinton)
considering Bredesen? http://politics.nashvillecityblogs.com/?p=377
A.C. Kleinheider (Volunteer Voters): http://www.news2wkrn.com/vv/2007/12/11/obamabredesen08/
State Rep. Jason Mumpower wants to go back to using the balls to draw lottery winners instead of the current
computer system. Blogger David Oatney supports the proposal while Progressive Nashville wonders if the
legislature shouldn’t be more concerned with having the same standards of accuracy and a papertrail for state
elections.
If the Tennessee Lottery ran elections (Progressive Nashville)
Mistakes happen. Just ask the Tennessee Lottery. The agency has reported that a keystroke error in programming
new equipment to randomly select numbers for games instead picked numbers that were not so random. Now
imagine such a thing happening when programming voting machines whose results decide elections. The lottery's
problem is unfortunate, but fixable. Elections aren't so easy to repair. State House Republican Leader Jason
Mumpower wants to go back to the lottery's previous system of using numbered balls to select the numbers, saying
the move is needed to restore confidence in the lottery system. If only the legislature would follow that same
thinking in deciding how best to conduct Tennessee's elections. Instead of "black blox" voting machines, we need a
verifiable paper trail so we know our elections are fair, honest and auditable.
http://liberalvoices.typepad.com/progressive_nashville/2007/12/ifthetennesse.html
David Oatney (World According to Oatney): http://oatneyworld.blogspot.com/2007/12/computersandballs.html
Stacey Campfield discussed why the income tax won’t become an issue as well as proposed pay raises for some
state employees.
The return of the I.T.? (Camp4U/Campfield)
Many people are speculating on the possible return of an Income Tax proposal. I for one do not think that form of
tax increase will be in the mix again any time soon. The last time an income tax was brought forward many of the
income tax legislative supporters were run out of Nashville on a rail. The only legislators who supported an income
tax and survived were from districts full of people who would not pay an income tax any way because many of them
did not have jobs. The thought of that form of taxation above many others made Tennesseans blood boil.
Tennesseans hated the idea of punishing people for being hard working and industrious. By the time the vote was
taken hard working people were ready to go after IT supporters. When the dust settled, Republicans picked up
several new seats from Democrat and moderates who supported IT. The Republican governor who supported it
was replaced by a Democrat. http://lastcar.blogspot.com/2007/12/returnofit.html
Shortage? What shortage? (Camp4U/Campfield)
Phil has his staff giving out permanent pay raises to their staff. Some get as much as a 55% raise. With the actual
amount raised in the realm of $60,000.00 Tom Humphries has all the details. As many people warned last year,
growing large permanent programs will lead to shortages when the economy slows. Then unless cuts are made (a
rare occurrence in the legislature) taxes go up. The numbers show that we have already overspent our children's
future but the pay offs continue. http://lastcar.blogspot.com/2007/12/shortagewhatshortage.html
News of state revenue projection and collections made headlines this week. One of the first to react to the news
was David Oatney.
He was warned (World According to Oatney/Oatney)
Governor Phil Bredesen is now warning State agencies and that revenue may fall short in the coming year because
tax collections are not where he thought they would be:…The papers aren't saying this (and do not expect them to,
most of the press in this State is on very friendly terms with the Governor) but Bredesen was warned that his new
spending prerogatives in the most recent budget could end up leaving the State with a budget shortfall. He was told
that his multiple new tax proposals and wasteful spending would lead to a shortfall of revenue. Now the inevitable
shortfall that he was warned would occur if he did not change course has come to pass, and Bredesen is having a
boohoo session in front of the press. He's saying "we're going to be short this year but I'll make sure it is okay." At
one point he said "I'm not breaking into a sweat or anything."
http://oatneyworld.blogspot.com/2007/12/hewaswarned.html
ORNL reported that it was the target of an attack by hackers this week. Local blogger Russ McBee was one of the
visitors who could have had his personal information stolen by the hackers. McBee discusses the potential for theft
and laments the amount of time it took for someone at ORNL to inform him that his personal information could have
been stolen.
ORNL data theft and me (Russ McBee/McBee)
Earlier this week, it was reported that hackers had compromised a database inside Oak Ridge National Laboratory;
this database contained personal data on all visitors to ORNL from 1990 through 2004. The names, dates of birth,
Social Security numbers, and addresses of all those visitors had been stolen by thieves. I was one of those visitors.
The database was stolen through a targeted phishing attack:… I visited ORNL numerous times during that fifteen
year time frame, mostly to conduct training for Lab personnel. Of all the places I've given out personal information,
ORNL is the last one I would have thought could result in the theft of that data. Although the data was stolen on
October 29, I just received notification of the theft a couple of days ago, after the story first broke in the media. That
gave the thieves five full weeks to do whatever they wanted with that data before I was notified
http://russmcbee.com/archive/2007/12/09/ornldatatheftandme.aspx
The City Paper’s Rex Noseworthy speculated that Andy Bryd was a contender to challenge Lamar Alexander in
next year’s Senate race.
A Byrd In The Hand (Volunteer Voters/Kleinheider)
The Nashville City Paper’s Rex Noseworthy throws out this morning (albeit misspelled) a name that has quietly
been ringing out among those interested in the 2008 United States Senate Race in Tennessee, or more to the
point, the lack thereof. After Mike McWherter closed up shop on his exploratory bid for the seat, Phil Bredesen, to
much acclaim, handicapped the race and saying that the young McWherter had made a good choice asserting
almost unequivocally that Lamar Alexander was a skilled politician who could not be beaten. Following those
statements, Bob Tuke, the former Democratic Chairman and only other established name considering the race
backed out. This left only political neophyte and attorney Kevin Doherty as the only reported name interested in the
seat. With no name and no money, a path to victory for Doherty would be hard to map out.
http://www.news2wkrn.com/vv/2007/12/10/abyrdinthehandanewpotentialalexanderchallengernamefloated/
Several blogs in west Tennessee offered live blog coverage of the murder trial of Calvin Jenks.
On the Texas Teens (Media Verse)
Deliberations of the jury are due to resume any minute now. Just before 10PM last night they rewatched the
dashboard video of the shooting. The defense attorney asked that the tape be stopped just before the part where
the citizen who found Jenks' body arrived. Was that shown in the trial part? I seem to recall it was. Not sure why
the defense attorney wouldn't want it seen, other than the emotional pull on jurors during deliberations. Anyway, the
tape was stopped and it wasn't shown. Then the jury was sent home for the night.
http://mediaversememphis.blogspot.com/2007/12/ontexasteensjuryandverdict.html
WREG Live Blog: http://trooperjenks.wordpress.com/
WMC Live Blog: http://talkingmemphis.com/calvinjenkstrial/
Nashville Mayor Karl Dean appointed a 40member task force to look at ways to raise graduation rates in Nashville
schools. Progressive Nashville looked at the mayor’s new taskforce as well as several initiatives the mayor is
promoting to help keep his campaign promise to improve Nashville schools.
Will talk turn into action (Progressive Nashville)
Two new initiatives were announced yesterday intended to help the quality of education in Nashville. Both seem to
lack focus and that raises the question of whether they will produce any real results. The first comes from Mayor
Karl Dean who has proposed a 40member task force to reduce the dropout rate in schools. The City Paper says
"four subcommittees of the project will each focus on one of the key factors research has shown to contribute to
students dropping out of school: chronic poor academic performance, student risk factors, lack of family or parental
support, and community risk factors." It is to report in June. The second came from the Metro board of education
which will create a new community task force with its members made up of appointees selected by board
members. Since Marsha Warden chairs the school board, her appointee will serve as chair of the task force. The
concepts is based on a similar idea from Austin, Texas. The task force has been given no agenda.
http://liberalvoices.typepad.com/progressive_nashville/2007/12/willtalkturn.html
National Politics
Republican presidential candidates held their final debate before the Iowa Caucuses Wednesday afternoon. Bob
Krumm looked at how the debates are preparing the candidates for what they’ll face should they win the nomination
and, beyond that, get elected to the Oval Office. Sharon Cobb wondered why the debates were during the middle
of the work day when fewer voters could tune in.
Forging steel with friendly fire (Bob Krumm)
Right after the Tim Russert debat last month, Democrats were critical of Democratic critics who had the audacity to
point out how Republicans would attack Hillary Clinton. The attitude was best summed by a writer at the liberal
blog, firedoglake: [N]ever repeat the talking points by which your opponents beat up on your own party . . .
Republicans don’t adhere to such niceties, hence the recent criticism coming from the right of Mike Huckabee for
gay and Mormon bashing. Nor have I heard of any countercriticism saying that Republicans shouldn’t repeat
Democratic talking points. Only one of these two parties is preparing its candidates for what they will face in a
general election. http://www.bobkrumm.com/blog/?p=1687
Sharon Cobb: http://sharoncobb.blogspot.com/2007/12/ihopedemocratdebatetodayisntask.html
News that Mike Huckabee has experienced a surge in the polls generated a lot of interest among bloggers this
week. It also have bloggers offering their analysis of Huckabee’s political career and campaign as well as looking at
the impact of Huckabee’s newfound popularity on other Republican candidates.
Huck: Kneecapping Mitt and Rudy for Fred and John (Bob Krumm)
Is it possible that Mike Huckabee’s recent surge is actually good news for Fred Thompson and John McCain? What
Huckabee has succeeded in accomplishing is pulling support away from the two longestablished GOP
frontrunners Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney. Ironically, that’s probably not good news for any of those three
Republican contenders. If, Huckabee can be taken down a notch–as seems quite likely given that his extreme
views on a whole host of issues will now gain greater audience with increased attention–and also given that it’s
easier to gain a fresh vote than it is to regain a vote once lost–it is quite possible that in the last few weeks before
Iowa, Fred Thompson and John McCain are the two candidates best positioned to gain from latebreaking
changes. http://www.bobkrumm.com/blog/?p=1682
Matthew Continetti (Campaign Standard):
http://www.weeklystandard.com/Weblogs/CampaignStandard/default.asp#3469
Phil Ayres (Tennessee Talk): http://tennesseetalk.com/?p=575
Sean Braistead (Music City Bloggers): http://www.musiccitybloggers.com/2007/12/10/huckabeecrazyor
stupid/#comments
Stephen Brainbridge (Punditry):
http://www.stephenbainbridge.com/punditry/comments/personal_presidential_elimination_process_the_case_of_mi
ke_huckabee/
Fred Thompson liberated? (Toby Harnden)
Greetings from Johnston, Iowa and an incredibly cramped debate press room. I’ve been pretty tough – though, I
think, fair and borne out by events – on the Fred Thompson campaign. But, credit where credit’s due, he turned in
an assured performance in today’s debate – substantive, straightforward, witty and highlighting the absurdity of
debate formats. Which made me wonder – has he thrown in the towel, subconsciously at least, and realised he’s
not going to make it? As Dean Barnett puts it “Fred came to play.”
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/foreign/tobyharnden/dec07/fred_thompson.htm
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUn8GSbUl_4&eurl=http://volunteervoters.com/
Jeff Woods (Pith in the Wind): http://blogs.nashvillescene.com/pitw/2007/12/fred_leads_debate_revolt.php
Only Thing The Democrat Iowa Caucus Will Predict Is Who Won't Be Pres (Cobb)
It's bad enough that us politicos didn't get a break from Senate season to Presidential season. But for those of us
who are Democrats, it's really aggravating. I mean, all that time and money and effort for what? To find out who
won't win the Presidential race Winning Iowa seems more like a curse. In a contested race, the Democrat Iowa
caucus winner has never gone on to win the general election. Ever. (see below) From David Speakman: Here is a
breakdown of the winners of all the Iowa caucuses since 1972, when it first moved to become first in the nation:
http://sharoncobb.blogspot.com/2007/12/ifpatternholdsonlythingdemocrat.html#comments
Right Wing Sparkle speculates on what it would look like if John Edwards won the Democratic nomination.
President Edwards? (Right Wing Sparkle)
The one scenario no one is talking about. Hillary has her venom set on Obama, but what if, in all the fray, Edwards
ends up with momentum? Maybe Democrats will see Hillary for what she is, a manipulating corrupt political
machine, but honestly feel that Obama cannot win the general election because of lack of experience and past
indiscretions? Edwards is saying all the things the left want to hear. He has been through the process before and
he is handsome and charismatic and is from the south. Don't underestimate this man. I see him getting the
nomination before Obama (although I honestly don't see anyone taking this from Hillary) Imagine Romney and
Edwards being the nominees. The hair jokes. The Ken jokes. The two best looking men to ever run for President
against each other. http://rightwingsparkle.blogspot.com/2007/12/presidentedwards.html
Around the Blogosphere
Who’s In Charge Of The “New Media Hot Sheet? (Volunteer Voters/Kleinheider)
I batted a few emails back and forth this afternoon with the Governor’s Communications man, Bob Corney,
regarding the new Bredesen Administration blog tracking service the “ New Media Hot Sheet
“ set to debut this
Thursday. The truth is this debut, like many an online product, is simply the 2.0 version of the release. The New
Media Hot Sheet, which Corney tells me is based on Slate Magazine’s “Today’s Blogs” feature, has been in beta for
the last few weeks being tested and tweaked by a select group of less than a dozen or so subscribers. In one
email, Mr. Corney laid this little bombshell in my lap:… So who is this experienced blogger tasked as architect of
the Administration’s blogging aggregation service? None other than one Michael Hickerson, better known as Big
Orange Michael in the ’sphere, an employee in the Office of Finance and Administration.
http://www.news2wkrn.com/vv/2007/12/10/orangeyoucuriouswhosinchargeofthenewmediahot
sheet/#comments
Sean Braistead (Music City Bloggers): http://www.musiccitybloggers.com/2007/12/10/thegovernorsofficetakes
noticeofblogs/
Michael Silence (No Silence Here):
http://blogs.knoxnews.com/knx/silence/archives/2007/12/tn_government_t.shtml
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