Wow! You will never guess who invited me to dinner. Well, it is not an invitation exactly, but President Obama wants me to come to dinner. He says we don't have a lot of chances to have dinner together and he wants me to take advantage of this offer to maybe have dinner with him. He says he hopes to see me soon. What he wants me to do is to enter the lottery to have dinner with him. If I win I don't have to pay for anything. He says, "All you need to bring are your stories and ideas for this campaign and our country — we'll cover your airfare and the meal." It will be an intimate get together, just me and the Prez and three other lottery winners.
Here is my invitation:
Friend --
Because you and I don't have a lot of chances to have dinner together, I hope you'll take advantage of the one that's coming up this fall.
So if you've been sitting on this, now's the time to toss your name in the hat:
I like these dinners not just because I get to hear from supporters like you, but because they're part of what makes our organization different.
Other campaigns save seats at the table for special-interest PACs and Washington lobbyists -- and you can see the effects in the decisions they make and the priorities they set.
Our campaign rejects all contributions from Washington lobbyists, and we refuse all money from corporate PACs. That means we're accountable only to the people, not special interests.
Instead, we're relying on millions of people like you giving just $3 or whatever you can pitch in.
Today’s Tennessean reports that United Way is seeing an increased need for services and that United Ways is increasing this year’s fundraising campaign to $15 million. That there is a need for increased charitable giving is undeniable. With an official unemployment rate of 8.8% no one can doubt that there are lots of people hurting. Many people who are working are working at jobs that pay much less than what they formerly earned. People are continuing to lose their homes to foreclosure, families are doubling up, and more people are homeless. Many people who thought they would never need them have had to go on food stamps. A lot of people have lost their insurance coverage when they lost their job. People are hurting and there is a greater need for charitable giving than any time in my lifetime.
United Way generally does an admirable job of assessing the needs of the community and allocating resource. With such obvious needs however, I cannot understand why United Way would continue to fund an organization that is primarily political in nature. With so many people in crisis, needing food and basic services, why would United Way continue to fund The Neighborhood Resource Center?
What is the Neighborhood Resource Center? The Neighborhood Resource Center says this about itself: "We offer organizing assistance to help community groups build membership, identify common goals, and develop strategies to move their groups ahead. Most neighborhoods face common issues, so the lessons learned in one community can be quickly put to use in another."
They also say they are, "dedicated to assisting Nashville residents in the formation and development of neighborhood-related organizations. NRC assists residents by providing information, leadership training, consulting, and supportive services, as well as by forming collaborative relationships with, and providing support to, institutions that serve neighborhoods."
In practice, NRC trains citizens in understanding zoning and planning issue and the operation of Metro government and how to put pressure on government agencies and elected officials to meet the needs of communities, as seen by NRC and the various community organizations with which they work. They also provide training in how to run for Metro Council and how to conduct meetings. These are not bad things to do, but they are clearly political activities, not charitable activities. These services can be provided by organizations like the League of Women Voters, and political parties, elected Metro Councilmen, or by an NRC that raises funds as political contributions, instead of competing for charitable contributions.
The Neighborhood Resource Center (NRC) received $228,711 from United Way this year. In the previous year, they received $237,000. This level of funding is much greater than what most United-way organization receive. As long as United Way continues to fund the NRC to the tune of a quarter million dollars a year, I would suggest you withhold your money from United Way and give to a deserving charity directly or use your charitable dollars to directly help a family member or neighbor who is out of work and is about to lose their home or who cannot make their car payment. If you feel you must contribute to United Way, please pick a deserving charity and designate your funding.
As long as United Way funding goes to the NRC, you need to realize that if you give to United Way, a portion of your charitable dollars are funding a political organization and not helping people in crisis.
Pictured above is Kathleen Starnes, Chairman of the Davidson County Republican Party, and Billy Fields, Chairman of the Davidson County Democratic Party.
This picture came into my possession and at first I thought of blackmailing Kathleen Starnes. There are some Republicans who think you are not Republican enough if you can be on friendly terms with Democrats.Then I thought maybe I could blackmail Billy Fields. There are probably just as many Democrats who will think Billy Fields is not sufficiently Democrat if he can embrace a Republican. I just decided to publish it. Maybe we need reminders on occasion that just because we disagree we do not have to be disagreeable. Maybe "a hug a Democrat/hug a Republican Day" would be a good thing.
This picture was taken yesterday at the inauguration ceremonies of Mayor Dean and the new Metro Council. Goodwill did fill the air. I congratulate the Mayor on his reelection and salute the new council as they take office. I wish each of them the wisdom to make good decisions and the integrity to always do what they know is best for our city. The Mayor is always in the news and gets accolades and recognition but for the members of the Metro Council, they often have a thankless job. I think them for their service to our city.
There is a lot that is attractive about Nashville. There is a lot that is charming and beautiful but there is some really ugly in Nashville, and not much is uglier than the Hume Fogg dumpsters.
Two dumpsters sit on the wide sidewalks adjacent to Hume Fogg magnet school on 7th Ave. North. They are across the street from the world headquarters of the Barbershop Harmony Society, the largest all male acappella singing organization in the world. They are also across the street from the majestic Masonic Grand Lodge of Tennessee.
These dumpster take up most of the sidewalk. They are ugly, they attract flies, they stink and they ooze a sticky liquid, and debris that doesn't fit in the dumpsters spills out onto the sidewalk.
Hume Fogg has room on the rear alley to place these dumpsters but of course, Hume Fogg would lose a couple parking spaces.
Government never does a very good job of policing itself. Can anyone believe that if Hume Fogg was a private school or any other private business that they would be allowed to have these dumpster sit on the side walk like this?
Barbershop Harmony Society Building
Grand Masonic Lodge
Metro: Please make Hume Fogg move this eyesore and public nuisance to the rear.
Hume Fogg: Have you no shame? Be a good citizen and move these dumpsters!
Well, if you missed Saturday's West Nashville Eggs and Bacon Summit then you missed a very heated debate. Joe Kirkpatrick and Rod Williams were our guests.
Joe came to talk about his radio show on 880 AM which airs Monday through Friday from 8-10am. He is passionate and well educated about both local and national politics. Tune into his show to hear him along with former Representative Terry Lynn. Joe provided a very interesting perspective on democracy and the media.
Rod spoke in depth about a recent blog post he made regarding the United Way and their funding of the Neighborhood Resource Center. Through his investigative work Rod feels that the NRC is a front-group for political activities. He provided an interesting perspective.
The debate began when members of both the United Way and NRC showed up to debate the blog post that Rod made. Both sides presented very compelling evidence to their cases. The debate at one point became very heated yet, in the interest of democracy, remained civil. Anyone who was there learned a great deal about all parties involved and are better off for this. It also goes to show how even when two groups disagree, they can do so in a very respectful manner even when emotions run high.
I certainly hope to see you next month. If you have any suggestions for speakers coming up, feel free to send them to my attention. Have a great week!
The post office is struggling with financial problems and considering closing some small rural post offices and discontinuing Saturday delivery and ending the next day delivery guarantee. That is Ok by me. Do either or all.
Obviously a good quick postal service is not as important as it used to be. There was a time when the mail was delivered twice a day, but that ended about 60 years ago. With advances in alternative ways to communicate, the postal service is less important.I never write a letter anymore; I email. I pay my bills by automatic draft or on-line.As far as I am concerned, the postal service could be privatized and the US Postal Service shut down, but I don't see that happening. If the postal service went away, I wouldn't miss it.
One thing not being discussed, is abolishing third class mail. Junk Mail: I hate it! I get advertisements to buy life insurance, to join AARP, Heating and Air Conditioning offers, pizza deals, oil change offers, and credit card offers and solicitation for contributions. Because I do give to political causes, I guess my name gets sold to everyone with a right-of-center cause. I seldom get anything of value in my mail box.Why should the postal service subsidize advertising? If I could do so, I would opt out of all third class mail, but I have don't have that option, I am forced to receive it. Why should the government force me to receive mail I don't want?
Even if third class mail is not costing the postal service money, I want the rates increased so mailers will send me less of it. I suggest making third class mail more expensive than first class. I don't know the cost to the postal service of third class mail but this is a cost to me: My time taking it out of the mail box and putting in the trash unopened and then taking the trash to the curb. There is also a cost to the city for trash disposal or recycle cost.
End junk mail, save some trees, and remove an irritant from my life!
Food stamp waste fraud and abuse also has a multiplier effect, because if one is on food stamps then the children of the food stamp recipient are automatically eligible for free or reduced school lunches and various other assistance programs use receipt of food stamps as an automatic qualifier for program assistance.
In states with bottle deposits a new form of food stamp fraud is called "water dumping." Food stamp recipients will purchase water and immediately poor the water down the drain and redeem the plastic bottles. (link)
In Atlanta, a local TV station caught a man buying food stamp cards in the parking lot of a grocery store, using them to purchase items in the store, and then the purchased items were used to stock the shelves in his near by convenience market.(link)
The fraud and abuse in the food stamp program is so wide spread that it is now the norm and hardly news worthy. As I see it, the fraud, waste and abuse is not as offensive as what it does to people. It creates a mentality of entitlement, criminality and dependency. It robs people of their dignity and self worth. If one sells their food stamps for 50 cents on the dollar because everyone else is doing it, then fraudulently getting public housing does not seem so wrong; gaming the system becomes the norm and then one develops an attitude of permanent underclass dependency in which it is too expensive to stop being poor.
NASHVILLE – Josh Stites will be the next Councilman for District 13 following his victory on Thursday in the general election against opponent Marilyn Robinson. After low turnout in early voting, Stites took the election with 60% of the vote compared to Robinson’s 40%. More than 1,000 votes were cast with nearly 250 cast in early voting.
“I look forward to serving my community and the City of Nashville for the next four years,” said Stites. “I want to thank all of those who supported my campaign and voted for me; your belief in my candidacy has been truly uplifting. I look forward to hearing from the people of District 13 to determine what will help make our district even better.”
“I also want to thank my wife, Jenny, and my family for their support. They have worked especially hard during this campaign, and without their help this would have been a far greater challenge.”
“I plan to represent our city well by encouraging growth in business, responsible spending, sound budgeting and fiscal policy and much more. Nashville is a great city, and a growing city. We need to plan well for the future, and I look forward to being a part of that planning.”
Stites will be sworn in at a date to be announced in the coming weeks.
Josh Stites has been declared the winner in District 13, with 617 votes to Marilyn Robinson’s 405 after all results came in, Davidson County election commission officials said
PLEASE REMEMBER TO GET OUT TO VOTE IN THE RUNOFF ELECTIONS TODAY!
There are three very tight runoffs today in Metro Davidson County and these candidates need everyone to turn out. Check your neighbors who are unable to get to the polls in these precincts and ask to drive them. Make sure your friends and family members in these districts get out to vote. This is the most important election right now for Metro Nashville Davidson County!
Look at this picture. what do you think is the topic of the story that accompanies this photo? Smoking perhaps? That is what I first thought when I saw the picture, but this is the picture on the front page of the Local section of The Tennessean yesterday accompanying a story titled, "Many older adults scramble to pay for food."
I know it is not politically correct to think such things but I immediately thought, that if she can afford to smoke, she doesn't need food stamps. The story says that 56 year old Therese Marrs was laid off from her factory job in February and has been unable to find work. Her household consist of she, her husband and their 16 year old daughter. The article does not say how much her husband earns. It does report however that she is receiving unemployment. I think things like how much her husband earns and how much she receives in food stamps would be relevant to the story but apparently the author did not. The story's focus is that many baby boomers have been hit especially hard by the recession and many have had to turn to food stamps to survive.
To qualify for food stamps a family of three has to earn below $1984 a month or $23808 a year. If she is receiving $250 a week unemployment, that would mean her husband could not be earning over $10884 annually and they still qualify for food stamps. Something does not add up. The article does say her husband "recently" got a job. I wonder if they are still legally eligible for food stamps. If the household is now earning over $23808 they should not be getting those food stamps. Did he fail to report the change in income?
That aside however, what is it costing her to smoke? Assume a pack of cigarettes cost $4.84 a pack and assume she smokes two packs a day that comes to $290.40 a month. If she is making the maximum allowable to collect food stamps (1983.99) her two-pack a day habit is 15% of her family income. Assume her husband has a two-pack a day habit and cigarettes are eating up 29% of their income. Assume the 16-year old smokes a pack every other day and that adds another $72.60 and makes cigarettes eat up $653.46 of their $1983.99 income or 33% of the family budget.
The reporter didn't tell us much about the finances of the Marrs household, but if we assume Mr Marrs is working but getting their food stamps legally, then he must be making right under the maximum limit so the household would get only about $112 in food stamps. If food stamps were awarded when he was not working, they could be receiving about $460 worth of food stamps.
Use of food stamps are at a historic high in this country with one in eight Americans on Food Stamps. This cannot continue. I believe those in the other party have a goal of making more and more Americans dependent on government hand outs. If you are receiving food stamps or getting some other government hand out, then you are more likely to vote for the party that promises you more, not the party that promises government frugality. If the goal is to turn the whole country into a citizenry who are subjects, dependent on government largess, they are close to achieving that goal.
Do I think that food stamps should not go to people who smoke? I am not sure I am there yet, but if we reach a point at which we must began curtailing food stamp outlays, I would give preference to those who do not smoke. If one has money to spend on cable TV, the lottery, beer, or cigarettes, I question if they really need food stamps.
One thing, I do think the government should do is vigorously investigate fraud and abuse. I would estimate that about 40% of all food stamp outlays result from fraud. I have little to base that on except my own observations. I admit it is just a guess. Working in a field which puts me in close contact with low-income people, I know that these abuses are very common.
The "babydaddy" lives in the home and has income, but the Mom and child receive food stamps not reporting his income.
The babydaddy does not live in the home and does not pay child support but voluntarily gives the mom money each month. This is not reported in calculating food stamps.
Food stamps are used as currency. Food stamps are not actually issued any more. The recipient gets a debit card and a pin number. The person getting the food stamps will sell to others the use of his card. The going rate in Nashville is $100 of food stamps for $50.
Two or three generations of single moms will live in one house and get food stamps as if they were separate families although they are one household.
People will qualify for food stamps legitimately but then not report their new income when they do get a job and will continue getting food stamps long after they are ineligible.
A lot of people, such as taxi cab drivers and beauticians, not only cheat on their income tax, by not reporting all of their income but they also draw food stamps because they under report their income.
Back to the picture: I also noticed that the women in the picture has a flat screen TV and is overweight. Not that that should disqualify her from food stamps, but this picture is almost a caricature of a food stamp recipient. What were they thinking?
On September 11, 2001 I got up like most days and got ready for work. As I recall, I had the TV on when a program was interrupted saying a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center. I did not think a lot about it at first. No details were available, and I assumed some private small plane had flown off course and accidentally crashed into the building. By the time I got to work, the second plane had hit and it was clear that the U. S. was under attack.
My long-time, long-distance girl friend, Louella Ballenger, who is now my wife, worked in Washington DC at the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, located right next to Union Station which is across the street from the back of the US Capitol. I do not recall the sequence of events exactly, but it must have been after the Pentagon was hit and I started wondering what was next. I feared we were under an all out attack. I tried several times to reach Louella. I wanted to see if she was all right and tell her I loved her. I feared the worse. After several attempts, I reached her. Chaos was reigning at her place of work. People were free to leave work, but the subways were not running and the roadways were jammed. She was waiting out the crisis at her office. We told each other how much we loved each others.
After getting off the phone with Louella, I just had a sense that I needed to talk to people I love so I next called my daughter. Rachel was in no danger of course. She was in Chattanooga attending college but I just wanted to hear her voice and tell her I loved her. I then called my mother.
I remember how everyone at work and everyone I talked to was effected by the event. I went to my boss, Cathie Dodd, and said we ought to do something. She agreed. We busied ourselves the next day putting together a program and emailing and calling people to tell them about it. With little advance notice, we had a full house. Co-workers and people from other agencies we work with, friends and people from the community joined in a memorial service at work. We prayed and sang songs and were comforted. All rancor and petty conflicts were put aside as we held hands in prayer and hugged and comforted each other. It was a healing process.
After the immediate crisis was over, I asked Louella to quit her job and move to Nashville. We had, had a long-distance relationship for about ten years and were in love and we planned that when she retired she would then move down to Nashville and we would get married and be together. I think 9-11 made us realize that you don't know what tomorrow holds and that life is short. Louella took early retirement, we bought a house and on thanksgiving weekend Louella moved to Nashville.
This song by Allen Jackson captures that day perfectly for me. Alan Jackson said a day or two after the event he woke up and this song just poured out of him. He said it was the easiest song he ever wrote.
Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning
by Alan Jackson
Were you when the world stopped turning that September day
Out in the yard with your wife and children
Working on some stage in LA
Did you stand there in shock at the site of
That black smoke rising against that blue sky
Did you shout out in anger
In fear for your neighbor
Or did you just sit down and cry
Did you weep for the children
Who lost their dear loved ones
And pray for the ones who don't know
Did you rejoice for the people who walked from the rubble
And sob for the ones left below
Did you burst out in prideFor the red white and blue
The heroes who died just doing what they do
Did you look up to heaven for some kind of answer
And look at yourself to what really mattersI
'm just a singer of simple songs
I'm not a real political man
I watch CNN but I'm not sure I can tell you
The difference in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith hope and love are some good things he gave us
And the greatest is love
Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day
Teaching a class full of innocent children
Driving down some cold interstate
Did you feel guilty cause you're a survivor
In a crowded room did you feel alone
Did you call up your mother and tell her you love her
Did you dust off that bible at home
Did you open your eyes and hope it never happened
Close your eyes and not go to sleep
Did you notice the sunset the first time in ages
Speak with some stranger on the street
Did you lay down at night and think of tomorrow
Go out and buy you a gun
Did you turn off that violent old movie you're watching
And turn on "I Love Lucy" reruns
Did you go to a church and hold hands with some stranger
Stand in line and give your own blood
Did you just stay home and cling tight to your family
Thank God you had somebody to love
I'm just a singer of simple songs
I'm not a real political man
I watch CNN but I'm not sure I can tell you
The difference in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith hope and love are some good things he gave us
And the greatest is love
I'm just a singer of simple songs
I'm not a real political man
I watch CNN but I'm not sure I can tell you
The difference in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith hope and love are some good things he gave us
And the greatest is love
The greatest is love
The greatest is love
Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day
I read your article in The Tennessean this morning about how United Way is hurting for cash and how 32 area agencies are scrambling to meet the need for emergency food and shelter services after having received huge cuts in federal aid.
Ms. young, there are some of us who would like to help but cannot in good conscience give to United Way at this time. Let me tell you why. United Way supports an organization that is primarily a liberal political organization rather than a charity.
That organization is the Neighborhood Resource Center. I do not know how much funding they are receiving this year. I have asked United Way but I have not received that information. In 2009 however, NRC received $237,000 in United Way funding.
The Neighborhood Resource Center says this about themselves: "We offer organizing assistance to help community groups build membership, identify common goals, and develop strategies to move their groups ahead. Most neighborhoods face common issues, so the lessons learned in one community can be quickly put to use in another."
They also say they are, "dedicated to assisting Nashville residents in the formation and development of neighborhood-related organizations. NRC assists residents by providing information, leadership training, consulting, and supportive services, as well as by forming collaborative relationships with, and providing support to, institutions that serve neighborhoods."
Those thing are not objectionable but those activities are political activities not charitable ones. To provide those services we have a political arena. Those services can be provided by organizations like the League of Women Voters, and political parties or by an NRC that raises funds as political contributions, instead of charitable contributions.
In practice, NRC trains citizens in understanding zoning and planning issue and the operation of Metro government and how to put pressure on government agencies and elected officials to meet the needs of communities, as seen by NRC and the various community organization with which they work. They also provide training in how to run for Metro Council. Those are not bad things to do, but are clearly political activities, not charitable activities.
The worse offense of NRC is that they are promoting the Contract for the American Dream. The Contract for the American Dream is a major effort to energize the left. It calls for new massive government spending and wealth redistribution. This effort is headed by radical leftist and self-identified Communist, Van Jones and is supported by groups such as Code Pink, Daily Kos and MoveOn.org. For those of us who are of a conservative political persuasion, why should we support United Way, when United Way is supporting an organization that is promoting The Contract for the American Dream?
The Neighborhood Resources Center is funding the salaries of people who do much of their political work under different organizational names. If one looks at how they are connected, The Neighborhood Resource Center either directly or indirectly has strong ties to the Nashville Neighborhood Defense Fund, which endorses candidates for Metro Council, and Neighbors for Progress, an organization that led the fight to support the Mayors effort to destroy the fair grounds.
I hope you can see why as a conservative, I cannot at this time support United Way. In my view United Way should discontinue their funding category "Building Strong Neighborhoods" and should defund The Neighborhood Resource Center. That function and that organization should not be competing with dollars to meet the emergency food and shelter services needs of this community. United Way should defund NRC and reallocate that money to these 32 organizations in need that are providing emergency food and shelter.
Ms Young, I and I am sure many others would like to help meet the need of those agencies who had a funding cut, but cannot do so through United Way. If you could publish a list of the 32 agencies in need of funding, people may want to make a contribution directly to one or more of those agencies.
Ms Young, this is an open letter. I am sending it to my friends and am posting it on my blog and Facebook page. When I receive your reply I will also post it.
Sincerely,
Rod Williams
Below is my contact information.
home 292-8900, cell 509-3900,
Please visit my blog: http://adisgruntledrepublican.blogspot.com
Today, Americans for Limited Government President Bill Wilson responded to Barack Obama's call for an infrastructure bank:
Barack Obama's call for an infrastructure bank could be worth looking at, but only if all such spending is specifically exempt from Davis-Bacon union wage guarantees, and is accompanied by off-setting spending reductions elsewhere in the bloated budget. Otherwise, it will just be a payout to Obama's big labor political allies in the midst of the worst sovereign debt crisis in history.
This is a great idea! I hope Republicans do not reject President Obama's proposal outright. After he reveals how his proposal is to be funded, I hope Congress will use his proposal as a starting point to create something that will get American's back to work. Republicans in Congress, however, should not accept that spending now will be off set by spending cuts in future years. One Congress cannot bind the spending decisions of the next Congress. While I hope to see Obama defeated as much as anyone, I think President Obmaba is right and we cannot wait 18 months to try and address the unemployment crisis. Also, America's infrastructure is falling apart and their is road and bridge and sewer work that must be addressed and cannot be put off forever.
If Obama is serious about getting Americans back to work and his speech was nothing more than campaign posturing, then he should readily agree to remove Davis-Bacon from any jobs bill. In Nashville, Davis Bacon requires a wage of $12.94 for painters and sandblasters. I bet that in today's economy a contractor could get painters for considerably less than that. Why should the federal government, rather than the market, decide the wage rate paid for every position on a construction project? Exempt projects from Davis-Bacon, put more people to work and get more accomplished for the same amount of money.
I got this email today from the MoveOn faction of the Obamanistas and thought you may find it interested. The Obamanistas are opening up their wallets to take on the tea party and right wing extremist like Bill Haslam. What? Right-wing extremist? Bill Haslam? I guess anyone to the right of Karl Marx is a right wing extremist.
Anyway, the Obamanistas are organized down to the neighborhood level. They are raising money and organizing and have tentacles that run deep. Labor unions and community organizers are busy advancing the "Contract for the American Dream", the radical agenda formulated by former White House Green Energy Czar and self-admitted Communist Van Jones.
We who oppose the radical "Contract for the American Dream" agenda must unite, network, stay informed and be willing to open our wallets to match the effort of groups like MoveOn.
Want to ruin Bill Haslam's day?
Thursday, September 8, 2011 2:01 PM
From:Steven Biel, MoveOn.org Civic Action"
To: "Rod "
Dear Tennessee MoveOn member,
In the last two weeks, MoveOn members have signed up to donate a whopping $25,000 each month to help take on Bill Haslam and other governors pursuing an extremist right-wing agenda.
If we can double that, we'll have enough resources to bring MoveOn's grassroots muscle and Internet organizing to state capitols across the country—and go to toe-to-toe with tea party governors across America, heading into a critical election year.
Bill Haslam really, really doesn't want that to happen. Can you chip in $20 a month and ruin Bill Haslam's day?
Yes, I can give $20 a month to fight Bill Haslam
Sorry, I can't
Tennessee Republicans have gone on a right-wing binge, with new restrictions on abortion, unprecedented attacks on teachers' rights, and deep budget cuts that are pushing us toward a double-dip recession. And Republicans are pushing the same far-right agenda in state capitols across the country.1
The scariest part is, these right-wing extremists are pushing for even more. In states across the country, Republicans are calling "special sessions" to ram through even deeper budget cuts and partisan redistricting maps that will lock in GOP dominance for years to come.2
This is one of the biggest expansions we've ever taken on. Can you help give us the ongoing resources we need by making a donation of $20 per month? It's easy, and you can cancel at any time.
Yes, I can give $20 a month to fight Bill Haslam
Sorry, I can't
Thanks for all you do.
–Steven, Michael, Adam Q., Elena, and the rest of the team
NASHVILLE – June Lambert, retired Metro School Board Chair has publicly endorsed Josh Stites in the District 13 race for Metro Council. The open seat has been occupied for 8 years by outgoing Councilman Carl Burch, who is term limited.
"Josh understands the challenges facing our schools and the leadership that is required to meet those challenges,” said Ms. Lambert. ‘I have found Josh to be a hard-working, dependable young man who will represent our district with distinction on the Metro Council. We would be fortunate to have him advocating on our behalf and behalf of our children."
“I appreciate Mrs. Lambert’s support,” said Stites. “Educating the children of Nashville at the highest level is of utmost importance for the future of our city. She has been a leader for our schools and I am honored to have her support.”
Early voting began in five runoff elections across Davidson County August 26th and runs through September 10th. Election Day is September 15th.
About Josh Stites
Josh Stites is a resident of council district 13 where he lives with his wife, Jenny. He holds a B.B.A and an MBA in finance from Abilene Christian and Baylor Universities. Josh is active in his church community and with organizations such as the Nashville Homeless Ministry. You can learn more about Josh and his vision for Nashville by visiting his website at www.joshstites.comhttp://www.joshstites.com/Josh_Stites/Welcome.html.
If this is only rhetoric and not to be taken seriously, then it is extremely dangerous rhetoric. After the Gabrielle Giffords shooting, Obama urged a return to civility and tried to blame the shooting of Giffords on the rhetoric of the tea party despite the shooter having absolutely no ties to the tea party movement. The Obama media chimed in on the chorus. Now, where is Obama in calling for civility and where is the establishment media in calling for a moderation of the rhetoric?
Obama and main stream media are hypocrites. They want to silence the critics of Obama but are silent when the left calls for violence.
While warming up the crowd for President Obama's in Detroit, Michigan on Monday, Teamster President Jimmy Hoffa said it was time to kill members of the tea party! Here is his remarks:
We got to keep an eye on the battle that we face: The war on workers. And you see it everywhere, it is the Tea Party. And you know, there is only one way to beat and win that war. The one thing about working people is we like a good fight. And you know what? They've got a war, they got a war with us and there's only going to be one winner. It's going to be the workers of Michigan, and America. We're going to win that war.
President Obama, this is your army. We are ready to march. Let's take these son of bitches out and give America back to an America where we belong.
That is not symbolic language; that is not subtle. To "take out" means nothing less than to kill someone. Coming from a Teamster labor union leader, saying it is time to "take out" someone should not be taken lightly. Did President Obama chastise him? Did President Obama say, "we do not endorse murder as a way to settle our differences in America. We defeat our enemies at the ballot box?" No, he did not!
Shame on President Obama for allowing this call to murder his opponents go unchallenged. His failure to denounce, indicates his agreement.
When Hoffa said it is time to "take out" the Tea Party and the President does not lecture him on restraining himself, then we have reason to be concerned. This may cause members of the Tea Party to start arming themselves for self defense? This may result in the stockpiling weapons? If a tea party spokesman had said it was time to "take out" the President, what would be the response?
Since this declaration of war on members of the tea party has been made, I just hope no loose screw in the tea party decides to take out the President before the Obamanistas can take out the tea party. Before something terrible happens, Hoffa needs to apologize and the President needs to make clear that he does not endorse killing members of the political opposition.
I believe you can tell a lot about a person by knowing who their friends are. I was recently told by a friend about a fundraiser for Metro Council District 4 Candidate Brady Banks that I found interesting.
In Metro Council elections, many candidates make general statements about supporting fiscal responsibility and supporting good schools and favoring adequate police protection that you really don't know much about how the candidate will legislate if he is elected. In many cases, the campaigns are so short on specifics that you must have some other basis for making a decision. One good measure of a candidate is to look at who is supporting him.
It is common knowledge that Mr. Banks is a former community organizer for Mayor Dean and has no business experience. He has spend his career in politics including a stint as a paid campaign worker for Presidential candidate John Edwards in the New Hampshire primary and a period on the campaign of a Democrat seeking a state Senate seat in west Tennessee. His website is very generic with vague positions on the issues.
On the issue of taxes, Banks told the Tennessean he'd consider raising taxes to maintain or expand government services, which in my view is reason enough not to vote for him. I think the Nashville's tax rate is high enough already and we should look at more efficient government rather than raising taxes. I do know that Dave Patterson has taken a stance adamantly opposing raising taxes.
After doing some investigating, I confirmed who the host committee members were for the Banks fundraiser and was not surprised to find they are a who's who of elected liberals:
Councilmember At-Large Megan Barry
Councilmember At-Large Jerry Maynard
Councilmember Greg & Kim Adkins
Councilmember Jason & Margaret Holleman
Councilmember Mike Jameson
Councilmember Sean McGuire
|Councilmember Bo Mitchell
Councilmember Anna Page
Councilmember elect Fabian Bedne
I then looked at who supports Dave Patterson's campaign and found it to be leading conservatives. These are the people who were on the host committee of a recent Dave Patterson fund raiser:
Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey
Speaker Beth Harwell
Senator Jack Johnson
Senator Jim Tracy
Rep Jim Gotto
Councilman Karen Bennett
Councilman Jim Hodge
Councilman Eric Crafton
The conclusion I reach is that this election is about Liberalism vs. Conservatism, low taxes vs. high taxes, and fiscal responsibility vs. excessive spending. Nashville has crushing debt and out of control spending. The question to the voters of the 4th District is: do you want our city to become the next Detroit or do we elect Conservatives who have the real world experience to reverse course and put our city on firm financial ground?
My wife and I were also on the host committee for Dave's fundraiser. I know Dave personally and know he is a man of principle and integrity and conservative values.
