In case you missed it, Democratic Rep. Jim Cooper is now considered "at risk" in the 5th District, according to a report last week by the influential "Cook Political Report," (link)
This race is winnable by David Hall.


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A right-leaning disgruntled Republican comments on the news of the day and any other thing he damn-well pleases.
In case you missed it, Democratic Rep. Jim Cooper is now considered "at risk" in the 5th District, according to a report last week by the influential "Cook Political Report," (link)
This race is winnable by David Hall.
by guest blogger Matt Nemeth
Look out: the government has found a new way to tax and regulate your life. That is, only if you have a Health Savings Account (HSA).
Starting next year, the IRS will require you to take a doctors note to a pharmacist if you want to buy a simple bottle of over-the-counter Tylenol using your HSA card.
If you’re not familiar with the HSA it is a type of high-deductible medical insurance program introduced to consumers in 2003. Simply put, when enrolled, you have a savings account put into your name. You and your employer can add tax-free money into the account. That money is used to pay your medical bills out-of-pocket. If your treatments exceed your deductible then the insurance portion takes over and pays the rest.
This type of insurance may cost more up front but has a great side effect: individual responsibility. When the cost of a medical bill is put in the hands of the consumer, they tend to make better decisions to save money while maintaining their health.
Another benefit to the HSA is that unused funds will remain in the account indefinitely. So, if you have spent very little money over the years and want to get Lasik surgery, simply use the funds in your HSA to cover the costs.
Of course, since the individual is holding the money, the government sees this as problematic. Under new regulations being imposed by ObamaCare roughly 15,000 over-the-counter medicines will require the note from a physician if you want to use the HSA to buy them.
Who will impose these regulations? The IRS.
If you go against the new law and use your HSA to buy the OTC drugs without a note, then be prepared to pay a 20% tax on the medicine to the Feds. There is no clarity yet if a 1099 or other tax form will need to be filed along with your receipt.
Last I checked we call this an “unintended consequence”.
What other unintended consequences will this create? Well, if you have to go to a doctor to get Tylenol then you may as well ask for its stronger and more expensive version containing Codeine. After all, since you will be paying for the visit to the doctor you may as well make it worth your time. What will that do to drive up the cost of health care?
This shouldn’t come as a shock to anyone, though. The President has seemed to have a certain personal vendetta against the concept of the HSA since he took office. Individual responsibility is a concept that liberals have never been comfortable with.
This election cycle, let’s make sure Washington understands our frustration with ObamaCare and elect people who want to put the power back in the hands of the individual.
Matt Nemeth is the host of the West Nashville Eggs and Bacon Summit. It meets every 3rd Saturday of the month at the Shoney’s on White Bridge Rd. He works as a salesman and is currently the campaign manager for Timothy Lee running for State House. He currently lives downtown with his dog, Sam.
EDITORIAL: Time for ruling on mosque lawsuit
THE DAILY NEWS JOURNAL • October 27, 2010
Rutherford County Attorney Jim Cope got it right last week when he used the term "circus" to describe Chancery Court hearings on construction of a Veals Road mosque.
In fighting the issuance of more building permits for the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro, the plaintiffs and their attorney, Joe Brandon, impugned the character of the county mayor, planning director, several county commissioners and the entire Islamic population — not just the Muslims living in Rutherford County — while also attacking the very essence of Islam as a religion. (link)
Comment: Amen!
I have closely followed the story of the Murfreesboro Mosque trial in the Daily News Journal reports and from time to time I have followed the on-the-scene tweets of Scott Broden. This is high drama, and it is entertaining and disgusting. It is like watching a train wreck.
This trail would make a good screen play. If someone writes the screenplay they would probably not have to use a lot of creative license. The transcript of the trial would be sensational and entertaining enough. The screen play would make a good movie. It is the perfect sequel to the Scopes Monkey Trial. Like Scopes, it features religion, bigotry, and ignorance and takes place in a sleepy Tennessee town. (Well, Murfressesboro is not that much of a “sleepy” town but for the movie it could be portrayed as such.) I which I could have attended this trial. I did not view the trial in person but from what I read I could cast the characters and I can almost envision the movie version of the trial.
Here are some of the highlights and the twist and turns of the trial:
There has already been six days of hearings that have spread over a month and the trial resumes November 11. Total cost to the Rutherford County taxpayers is estimated to exceed $40,0000. This is ridiculous. Get on with it!
The Muslim faith is clearly a religion and should not be on trial in Murfressboro. Planning commissions are to consider zoning, and land use and impact on traffic; they are not supposed to conduct investigations of the security risk of a project’s investors. They do not have the expertise or staff.
This trial should have been about the simply question of whether or not the County followed the sunshine law. If someone associated with the mosque project expressed sympathy for the Palestinians during the recent Gaza strip fighting between Hamas and Israel, that should be of no concern to the Planning Commission and should have no bearing over whether or not a building permit should be issued.
What is on trial in Murfressoboro is the First Amendment. I am rooting for religious liberty. End this circus, now!
By: Chas Sisk, In Session, Oct. 26, 2010
David Hall, the Republican nominee for the 5th Congressional District seat held by Rep. Jim Cooper, wrapped up a fairly good couple of weeks of fundraising (by his standards) with a $5,000 contribution from Sarah PAC, the political action committee of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, according to a disclosure filed last week with the Federal Election Commission.(link)
In the primary, Sarah Palin endorced the Cece Heil candidacy.
Mr. George,
I am the campaign manager for Timothy Lee who is running to be the House Representative for District 55. Today I read the endorsements that you made in the City Paper (http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-voices/voter-s-guide-city-paper-endorsements).
Your endorsement of Gary Odom comes as a surprise - not because you threw your weight behind a 22-year incumbent but because you out-right lie about how this decision was made.
"After candidate interviews and deliberation, decisions were made..." Really? When did these interviews take place? Tim was not interviewed nor was any interest expressed to learn more about him. Based on what you wrote in your own editorial section you have lied.
If you claim that you have not lied, then please, tell me something about Tim that is not listed on his website. Something that would indicate you took the time and patience to speak with the very person who is putting his name and personal finances on the line in order to be elected to public office.
I would like to know the following:
- What source did you reference to learn more about Tim Lee and thus decide to NOT endorse him?
- When was the last time you actually spoke with Tim?
- You have 22-years of voting history to judge Odom, what information about Tim did you use to create a level and unbiased playing field on which to choose your endorsement?
If you cannot provide this then please admit in a follow-up piece that you have not actually spoken with the candidate.
You have every right to make any endorsement you wish. The issue is in the betrayal of your own audience's desire to read an honest publication. This is something you have failed to provide. Please call so we can discuss.
Regards,
Matthew Nemeth
Campaign Manager
Committee to Elect Timothy Lee
"the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro is spending $5,000 a month on a private company to provide security at the construction site. That's money the Imam said could go toward construction." (link)
It is a shame that vigilantism can deny someone their freedom of religion. If someone starts a legitimate "Friends of Religious Freedom" fund drive to help pay the cost of providing security, I will contribute.
The following was just received from the Hall Campaign:
Hey friend of the David Hall for Congress Campaign!We appreciate the support of those of you who have purchased tickets or planned to purchase tickets to a previously advertised forum between David and Congressman Jim Cooper this Friday, Oct. 29, 2010 at 7:00am.
Unfortunately, we were not able to come to mutual agreement on the terms of the event with the event's organizers, the Nashville Women's Political Caucus (NWPC), so we notified them on Wednesday of last week that we could not participate. It was simply too important to David that people not be forced to pay to attend the only head-to-head discussion of the issues between the two candidates.The NWPC has stated that they will provide a refund of the ticket price to persons who contact Joyce McDaniel at NWPC@Nashvillewpc.com and request a refund before noon on Oct. 26, 2010.Nonetheless, we hope you will keep your schedule open on Friday morning to allow you to participate in an alternative and free forum between the two candidates. We'll be sending more information as soon as it is available.
In response to my request for additional confirmation of the political yard sign stealing incident in Belle Meade, I received the following email from the Belle Meade Chief of Police:
I can confirm that Ms Barclay had contact with Sgt. Dale Corter on October 21st at 9:14 p.m. Sgt. Corter observed her removing a David Hall sign from private property. The matter is still under investigation at this time and I cannot release any further information until the issue is reviewed by the DA’s office to determine if any charges can or should be filed.
There are still some questions about who had permission to do what. We hope to have this case closed by early afternoon at which time I will be happy to release the requested information.
Thank you,
Chief
Tim Eads
Belle Meade Police Department
This is fun, fast, quick and easy. I just "called" several hundred of these. They were all "GOP Supporters" or "NO" or "wrong number" or "deceased."
Do it! Spread the word. Friend --
This movement is about people like Kelsey K.
Kelsey is a 63-year-old part-time teacher from Greencastle, Indiana.
Last week, she made more than 200 calls to make sure Hoosiers in her community are planning on voting this fall.
She talked to a 19-year-old recent high school graduate. He's currently unemployed and living with his mom, a single parent. Kelsey talked to him about the importance of this fall's elections, and she secured his commitment to vote.
And she got him so fired up that now, in between job-hunting, he's calling up his former classmates and making sure they're committed to voting on November 2nd, too.
Conversations like that one will win help us win races this fall. That's why, today, we're launching our 7 in 7 campaign -- reaching out to voters 7 million times on the phones and on the doors in seven days -- right up to the start of the final GOTV push next weekend.
Join supporters like Kelsey and use our call tool to make calls right now, or commit to doing it in the next seven days:
This is the best political video of the year!
There is nothing that beats heaping ridicule on a pompous liberal ass.
I remember when this incident occurred. My thoughts were, "What an arrogant bitch."
Her pompous sense of self importance, her inflated ego and her contempt for the military disgust me. This incident was reason enough for me to hope she is defeated. If you missed the original incident, here it is:
It is confirmed that indeed, Krissa Barclay was caught by Belle Meade police attempting to remove from someone’s yard a large David Hall yard sign in the early morning hours of Thursday October 21.
Krissa Barclay is not Jim Cooper’s campaign manager as previously reported but a campaign “field rep.” When captured by police attempting to remove the sign, she reportedly told police she was Cooper’s campaign manager.
Krissa Barclay is a well known person active in Democratic Party politics in Davidson County. She has been involved in numerous political campaigns. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Nashville Women’s Political Caucus, serving as the current Membership Chair of the organization. She is an employee of Ferrell McDaniel company, an association management and political action committee development firm.
Below is Krissa Barclay’s bio as published on the Nashville Women’s Political Caucus website:
Krissa is an independent campaign consultant and is also affiliated with The Ferrell McDaniel Company. Since January, 2003 she has managed political campaigns for Metro Council, Davidson County Judicial and Tennessee State Representatives candidates. Previously she worked as an aide to Congressman Jim Cooper during his 1994 U. S. Senate bid. She is a graduate of the University of Tennessee and Nashville School of Law. Currently she is an executive member of the Davidson County Democrat Party and the Immediate Past President. She is also a member of the Davidson County Democratic Women and the Delta Zeta Heart of Tennessee Alumnae Chapter. She is on the board for the non-profit Enplay and the Woodmont Christian Preschool Auxiliary Board. She volunteers with Mending Hearts.
High level informed sources tell me that last night, Belle Meade police stopped a person on the corner of Harding Place and Lynwood Blvd defacing a David Hall for Congress campaign sign on private property. That person was none other that Rep. Jim Cooper's Campaign mgr, Krissa Barclay. She is also a former Chairman of the Davidson County Democrat Party and VP of Membership of the Women's Political Caucus. This report needs confirmation, but I am accepting it as true.
NASHVILLE: David Hall, the Republican nominee for Congress in Tennessee's 5th District, commented on an op/ed published by Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen in the 10/21/10 edition of the Wall Street Journal. The entire article, criticizing the Democrats' version of health care legislation, may be accessed here.
Said Hall, "I appreciate Governor Bredesen's candor in going public with his concerns about what is commonly known as Obamacare. I agree with Governor Bredesen that our federal deficit is at unsustainable levels, and that America can ill afford to add to the deficit with another entitlement program. Governor Bredesen and I also agree that the unintended consequences of this gargantuan bill are worthy of a WSJ op/ed."
Hall continued, "At a joint appearance several weeks ago, career Congressman Cooper had the gall to say that he thinks the only reason we voters don't like Obamacare is because its too complicated for us to understand. I have more respect for voters in the 5th District than that, and I have a hard time believing that Governor Bredesen isn't sharp enough to see the beauty in the legislation either."
Audio and video of Congressman Cooper's remarks at the First Baptist Church of Capitol Hill Candidate forum on Oct. 10, 2010 may be viewed online here.
Tennessee's Democratic Governor Phil Bredesen, a man who knows a thing or two about health care issue, today had an article published in the Wall Street Journal in which he explains why and how Obamacare provides incentives that will cause employers and local governments to stop providing health insurance coverage for their employees. This is an excellent article that explain what is wrong with Obamacare and the consequences of this legislation. Please follow this link to read the full article: ObamaCare's Incentive to Drop Insurance.
Below are excerpts from the article.
Our federal deficit is already at unsustainable levels, and most Americans understand that we can ill afford another entitlement program that adds substantially to it. But our recent health reform has created a situation where there are strong economic incentives for employers to drop health coverage altogether. The consequence will be to drive many more people than projected—and with them, much greater cost—into the reform's federally subsidized system. This will happen because the subsidies that become available to people purchasing insurance through exchanges are extraordinarily attractive.
The authors of health reform primarily targeted the uninsured and those now buying expensive individual policies. But there's a very large third group that can also enter and that may have been grossly underestimated: the 170 million Americans who currently have employer-sponsored group insurance. Because of the magnitude of the new subsidies created by Congress, the economics become compelling for many employers to simply drop coverage and help their employees obtain replacement coverage through an exchange.The disaster that is Obamacare is a train wreck that is about to happen. It will bankrupt this nation and it must be repealed and Congress should pursue market-oriented and patient-centered reforms.
NASHVILLE: David Hall, the Republican nominee for Congress in Tennessee's 5th District, welcomed the endorsement of former Tennessee Governor Winfield Dunn during a day of campaigning at early voting sites in Davidson County on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2010.
In his remarks to volunteers preparing for a day of neighborhood canvassing, phone banking and working the polls, Governor Dunn stated, "This campaign reminds me of my first run for office, when so many people had written off the idea of a Republican being elected Governor of Tennessee. I admire David and his family and this remarkable grass roots campaign. David has earned my vote by virtue of his courage, humility and hard work." Dunn continued, "It is time to replace Jim Cooper with someone who will bring Federal spending under control and who will stand up to Nancy Pelosi and Washington special interests. I believe David Hall is that man, and I am looking forward to casting my vote for David Hall."
In 1970, Winfield Dunn decided to run for the Republican nomination for governor of Tennessee. Republicans had not even fielded a nominee in the 1966 election. Dunn defeated four primary opponents then defeated his Democratic opponent to become the first Republican elected governor of Tennessee in half a century.
Said Hall, "Governor Dunn's excitement about our campaign's momentum and the potential of replacing career Congressman Jim Cooper is inspiring. He has long fought for conservative ideals in Tennessee, and he--like a majority of his fellow residents in the 5th District, is eager to have conservative representation in Congress. I am thankful for his support."
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What! What? You mean it is not a cult or an ideology or a way of life? That is what Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey wondered aloud at a campaign stop a few months ago when asked if Muslim should have the right to build a house of worship in Murfreesboro. He said he supports the first amendment but wondered if if applied to Muslims because, you see, Islam might not really be a religion.
Hundreds of bloggers and chatters, more adamantly than Ramsey, have been saying the same thing, declaring that Muslim Americans are not eligible for the same First Amendment Freedom of Religion as other Americans. All we have to do to deny them their First Amendment rights is to decide that the Muslim faith is not a religion.
As nutty as that sounds, it has been gaining ground. I have heard otherwise perfectly sane people make that argument to me. In Rutherford county, opponents of the planned mosque filed suit against Rutherford County officials, accusing the county of improperly giving notice of the meeting at which the construction of the Mosque was approved, claiming the Planning Commission violated the sunshine law. The lawsuit also argues that Islam is not a real religion, but instead a political movement.
Today, the U. S. Justice Department has joined the debate and said that Islam is a valid religion. I welcome the U. S. Justice Department filing a brief in this case. If every local government gets to decide which religion is a real religion, there are parts of Baptist East Tennessee where, I suspect, Roman Catholicism would be declared not to be a real religion. I suspect that the Church of Scientology, Jehovah’s Witness, and Mormon’s would also not make the grade of “real” religions.
In their brief filed in the case, the Department of Justice said, “Every court addressing the question has treated Islam as a religion for purposes of the First Amendment and other federal laws. No court has held otherwise. Islam falls plainly within the understanding of a religion for constitutional and other federal legal purposes…”
OK, so this faith, which is one of the big three monotheistic religions, practices by 23% of the world’s population or about 1.57 billion people may really be a religion after all? It is if you believe the U. S. Justice Department.
Friday, October 29
7 am Registration
7:30 Breakfast and Panel Discussions
Breakfast Forum featuring the 5th Congressional District candidates
at The Mad Platter Restaurant
1239 6th Avenue North. Nashville, Tennessee
$15 members $20 non-members
The Nashville Women's Political Caucus is an organization with a membership that is mostly Cooper-fiendly. Friends of David Hall need to buy the non-member tickets while supplies last.
Cooper is working to fill the room...let's do the same! Limited Seating!
Register on line: http://www.nashvillewpc.com/
I belong to Organizing for America so you don't have to.
Read the following OfA letter. Click on the link at the start of the letter.
I must say, it appears the Democrats are far more organized and making better use of new technology than the Republicans. From your home computer you can have a call list with no effort. Of course the program could have some glitches or drawbacks but I am impressed.
I wonder if Mary P Cantrell is going to get numerous calls? The link in my letter had her as the first contact and a letter sent to someone else also had her as the first contact, so the link must have the same list sent to everyone. I am not sure how this works.
A member of the nine 12 Project Nashville list serve posted this message which I endorse:
I did not do what the writer at 9-12 project suggested. This is what I did. I did not actually call the people. I filled out the form and alternated between listing the phone as "wrong number" or "GOP supporter." I also occasionally put in a "does not speak English" and "deceased." Maybe that screws up their database. If you don't actually make the calls this is quick. You can zip through about 30 names a minute.
Obama's organization which, by the way campaigns 24/7/365 not just near elections, has sent out to his people (that's us, right---aren't we his people? Doesn't he represent us?) a way of having phone numbers and matching names of potential voters.
Go ahead. Have some fun. Sabotage their effort!
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Friend -- There's something we all need to do. Please click this link -- right now. A person's name and phone number are going to come up on the screen. You'll see where this person's from -- it'll likely be a town somewhere in your state -- and how old they are. Right now, all across the country, thousands of us are doing what you just did. Then, we're picking up our phones, and we're dialing the number beneath the name. And then -- along with those reaching out to folks from the doorsteps and the sidewalks -- we're starting a conversation. It's incredibly powerful. We're calling today "Change by the Million" -- because we know this is absolutely the most effective way we can reach people. And together, we'll reach out to folks 1 million times before the day ends. But to do that, we all have to pitch in. Click here now to get started. At first, the name that appears is just that -- letters on a screen. Look harder. This person could be a college student who voted for the first time in 2008 -- and has lost interest since then. Not currently planning on making it to the polls in 17 days. It might be a single mom who isn't sure if she'll have time to get out of work, pick up her kids from school, and still make it to her polling location on Election Day. No one's really talked to her about why it's worth it. Maybe it's an electrical worker who recently lost his job. He voted for President Obama -- but hasn't been feeling engaged the past year. He's frustrated -- and no one's talked to him about why his vote matters. Right now, you can be the person who makes sure each of them is committed to vote. You can be the person who reminds them why their vote matters. And you can be the person who ensures that they're standing in line at the polls on November 2nd. The votes may be counted on Election Day -- but that's not when elections are won. They're won right here, on days like today -- with conversations on doorsteps and on the phones. Conversations like the one you're about to have. Conversations that determine who shows up at the polls -- and who stays at home. So, please -- don't linger on the sidelines. Don't take a pass and assume there might be a better time you can pitch in, or another way you can be effective. This is the best time -- and this is the best way. So jump on the phone -- there's someone who needs to hear from you. Click here to meet them: http://my.barackobama.com/CallNow See you out there, Natalie Natalie Foster New Media Director P.S. -- Tomorrow, the First Lady and the President will be leading a rally together in Columbus, Ohio. You can watch live here. The rally begins at 6 p.m., and the President and First Lady are speaking at 8 p.m. Eastern Time. |
Paid for by Organizing for America, a project of the Democratic National Committee -- 430 South Capitol Street SE, Washington, D.C. 20003. This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. This email was sent to: Rodwilliams47@yahoo.com |
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Ben Cunningham, Tennessee Taxpayer Revolt, with Matt Nemeth, West Nashville Republicans, at Saturday's summit.
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Candidate Forum, September 30, 2010, Haywood Hills Lutheran Church, Nashville, TN
59th State House candidates,
Sherry Jones, 'Democrat Incumbent & Duane Dominy, Republican Challenger
Elect Duane Dominy