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August 31, 2010
After Mosque site arson, Bredesen calls for religious tolerance It took a bit of prodding from reporters. At first, Gov. Phil Bredesen seemed about to demur, claiming not to know much about the Murfreesboro mosque arson fire that's all over the national news today. (more) (return to main page) Nashville server's complaint says guns in bars create unsafe workplace The complaint alleges that it is a violation of Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations to allow permit holders to carry guns into places that serve alcohol, such as Jackson's. (more) (return to main page) ATF "leaning toward arson" in TN mosque fire Local and federal authorities are investigating a fire at the construction site of an Islamic community center and mosque in Murfreesboro, Tenn., this weekend, as well as reports of gunshots as community members gathered at the site. (more) (return to main page) Health care reform hypocrisy: States suing government willing to claim subsidies from law WASHINGTON — More than half a dozen states suing to overturn President Barack Obama's health care law are also claiming its subsidies for covering retired state government employees, according to a list released Tuesday by the administration. (more) (return to main page) Why aren't political leaders speaking out about terrorism at Murfreesboro mosque site? We're waiting for statements of outrage from our state's political leaders over the arson fire at the future site of Murfreesboro's Islamic center. It's an act of terrorism, and it's brazen. (more) (return to main page) August 27, 2010 State takes 14 months to close 2008-09 budget books Not only do late audits send red flags to Washington administrators keeping an eye on the state’s federal spending, but they also force the Legislature to make decisions based on what could be inaccurate financial reports, said Senate Republican Leader Mark Norris. (more) (return to main page) No surprise, Bob Corker still rich Sen. Bob Corker remains one of the wealthiest members of the U.S. Senate with total assets in 2009 ranging from $55.8 million to $93.2 million, according to a financial disclosure statement released Friday. (more) (return to main page) Social Security turns 75: Democrats celebrate while Tea Party Republicans grab the ax On the 75th birthday of Social Security, the American people got a choice from the two parties: Democrats resolved to protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, while Tea Party Republicans urged an end to these vital programs as we know them. (more) (return to main page) Corker calls for halt to ‘wave of debt’ The former Chattanooga mayor said he has drafted a bill he plans to offer after the November elections to help control government spending. The nine-page bill would cap spending to a portion of the nation’s gross domestic product and force a change, he said. (more) (return to main page) Jasper hi-jinks Marion County’s former administrator of elections ordered more than 100 warrants issued on behalf of individuals who had not performed work for the local election office, an investigation by the Comptroller’s Division of County Audit has concluded. (more) (return to main page) August 18, 2010 Goodbye Iraq: Last US combat brigade heads home KHABARI CROSSING, Kuwait — As their convoy reached the barbed wire at the border crossing out of Iraq on Wednesday, the soldiers whooped and cheered. Then they scrambled out of their stifling hot armored vehicles, unfurled an American flag and posed for group photos. (more) (return to main page) Presidential vacation poses image risks in a down economy [T]his Martha's Vineyard jaunt will be Obama's 22nd vacation trip (including Camp David visits) since taking office, and he has spent all or part of 68 days of his presidency on such excursions. At the same juncture of his presidency, George W. Bush had taken 57 vacation trips, which took up all or part of 227 days. (more) (return to main page) Tennessee 30th for stimulus-backed jobs Tennessee ranks 30th when it comes to the number of stimulus-related jobs currently supported by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, according to a report by Onvia. (more) (return to main page) MSNBC: Flipping seats; TN-6 #1 For Republicans to take back the House, they need to pick up a NET of 39 seats. (So if Democrats are able to win three or four GOP seats, as they’re hoping to do, then Republicans must win 42 or 43 Democratic seats.) (more) (return to main page) Corker discusses national debt, immigration with Tennessean U.S. Sen. Bob Corker, who is barnstorming the state this week, sat down with the editorial board of The Tennessean to explain his new campaign to address the national debt. (To see the slide show, click here.) Corker also took questions on mosque construction, rewriting the 14th Amendment to end birthright citizenship and whether he is weighing a run for president in 2012. (more) (return to main page) Jefferson would be ashamed of Republican mosque panderers Jefferson’s well-thumbed copy of the Koran is now in the Library of Congress. If the author of the Declaration of Independence were alive today, he would surely face censure from the big-mouthed, small-minded coterie of Republican presidential hopefuls. (more) (return to main page) New health reform benefits Despite much GOP talk against the health care reform passed by Democrats earlier this year, important parts of the law are to be implemented by Sept. 23 that should cheer most American families. Still, the battle for reform is anything but over. For Americans to receive full benefit of the new federal health care rights, states will have to enforce provision of the new benefits and demand fair prices for them. (more) (return to main page) August 16, 2010 Conservative blogger found guilty of posting death threats to judges According to a release from the FBI, Turner was arrested and charged in June of 2009 after expressing "outrage" over a handgun decision by Chief Judge Frank Easterbrook and Judges Richard Posner and William Bauer, of the Chicago-based 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. (more) (return to main page) Overdraft protection expires: No more overdraft fees without opting-in Unless a consumer chooses to opt-in for overdraft protection, their ATM and debit purchases will be declined if an account has insufficient funds. Prior to Sunday, banks could automatically enroll their customers in the service, which covers the point-of-sale transaction but can result in steep penalties. (more) (return to main page) Conservative media forecast dark results if Dems retain majority in November Conservative media figures have used extreme and violent rhetoric to drum up support for the GOP in the midterm elections and have warned of the consequences of continued Democratic majorities in Congress. (more) (return to main page) Aerial surveillance used to enforce laws High-tech eyes in the sky – from satellite imagery to sophisticated aerial photography that maps entire communities – are being employed in creative new ways by government officials, a trend that civil libertarians and others fear are eroding privacy rights. (more) (return to main page) Dr. Laura's N-word rant rounds out a year of racially charged right-wing rhetoric Schlessinger "articulated the 'n' word all the way out." On the August 10 edition of her radio show, Schlessinger repeatedly -- in her own words -- "articulated the 'n' word all the way out -- more than one time." Among other things, Schlessinger also told an African-American caller that she had a "chip on [her] shoulder." The full transcript of her remarks can be found here: (more) (return to main page) August 10, 2010 GOP demands 2-month, taxpayer-funded recess after election "Washington Republicans wrecked the economy and haven't lifted a finger to help us fix it," said Doug Thornell a top aide to Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.). "Now, the GOP wants to vote for a two-month long taxpayer-funded vacation because they believe the challenges middle class families face today should be ignored. This is the type of work ethic and arrogance that got us into this mess in the first place." (more) (return to main page) GOP moderate prevails over conservatives yet again NASHVILLE — It’s beginning to sound a little like an old Porter Wagoner tune: another day, another dollar and when daylight comes, Tennessee Republican conservatives lose yet another statewide GOP primary contest. (more) (return to main page) Fierce primary battles over, GOP tries to come together for the fall After punishing primary fights for the governor's office, two congressional seats and a state Senate position, the Tennessee GOP will have to bandage its wounds quickly and get ready to do battle with its Democratic rivals over the next three months. (more) (return to main page) States weigh bans on plastic grocery bags Importantly, the bill enjoys the endorsement of grocers, who typically have opposed plastic bag bans because paper bags are more expensive to supply. The California Grocers Association prefers the statewide measure to an ever-changing patchwork of local regulations. It also doesn’t hurt that grocers stand to pocket a few pennies on each paper bag they sell. (more) (return to main page) August 6, 2010 Hargett 'really sick' about election reporting failure The demand for online vote results crashed a state computer system Thursday night, shutting down Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett’s ability to count and post statewide vote totals and slowed the reporting of election results from Tennessee’s 95 counties. (more) (return to main page) Terrence Lakin, army 'birther,' charged with disobeying orders WASHINGTON — An Army doctor has been charged with disobeying orders after failing to show up for duty in Afghanistan and questioning whether President Barack Obama has the right to order him there. (more) (return to main page) Fat ... and getting fatter The weight-gain phenomenon is especially troublesome here. Tennessee (32.3 percent) is one of nine states in which the obesity rate was above 30 percent in 2009. Only Mississippi (34.4 percent) and Louisiana (33 percent) had higher rates. The crossing of the 30 percent threshold is grave news. (more) (return to main page) Homeowner who shot, killed intruders won't be charged KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Knox County District Attorney Randy Nichols says he won't prosecute a man who fatally shot two burglars in his home. Nichols told The Knoxville News Sentinel there's a presumption of defense when you're attacked in your home. (more) (return to main page) First punish the unemployed, then declare war on the employed Rather than extend unemployment benefits so that the millions of Americans who are out there busting their humps to find the needle-in-a-haystack that is a job of any kind, they've demanded that those benefits be offset, essentially punishing the unemployed for the deficits they giddily ran up for years. (more) (return to main page) August 4, 2010 Amnesia about Republican spending Alas, historical amnesia appears to have affected some readers, many of whom are under the impression that President Bush believed in small government and that recent Republican congressional leaders opposed federal spending. (more) (return to main page) Man files suit against Tennessee for right to carry a handgun without permit A Williamson County man whose handgun carry permit was suspended after he carried an AK-47 into a state park has filed a lawsuit against Tennessee to declare its law restricting the open carry of guns as void and unconstitutional. (more) (return to main page) 'Just Say Now': Left-Right coalition launches campaign to legalize pot A transpartisan coalition of prosecutors, judges, cops, students, bloggers and political operatives on both sides of the aisle launched a campaign Tuesday to bring an end to marijuana prohibition, focusing on ballot initiatives in 2010 and 2012. (more) (return to main page) Statewide sales tax holiday this weekend The 2010 Sales Tax Holiday begins this Friday Aug. 6th and extends through Sunday Aug. 8th. Items exempt from sales tax include clothing, school and art supplies, and computers. (more) (return to main page) August 3, 2010 Study: Employers used recession as excuse to cut even deeper and increase profits. Why is no one talking about this? This was so frustrating, talking to the Tea Partiers at their rally the other day: When I brought up this report, they defended the employers. They said employers were too afraid to spend money because of Obama's unpredictable anti-business policies. (more) (return to main page) Four deformations of the apocalypse The nation’s public debt — if honestly reckoned to include municipal bonds and the $7 trillion of new deficits baked into the cake through 2015 — will soon reach $18 trillion. That’s a Greece-scale 120 percent of gross domestic product, and fairly screams out for austerity and sacrifice. It is therefore unseemly for the Senate minority leader, Mitch McConnell, to insist that the nation’s wealthiest taxpayers be spared even a three-percentage-point rate increase. (more) (return to main page) Alan Greenspan: Extending Bush tax cuts without paying for them could be 'disastrous' "I'm very much in favor of tax cuts but not with borrowed money and the problem that we have gotten into in recent years is spending programs with borrowed money, tax cuts with borrowed money," he said. "And at the end of the day that proves disastrous. My view is I don't think we can play subtle policy here." (more) (return to main page) August 2, 2010 Outsiders' political donations are tough to track The man behind the mysterious “Tennesseans for a Better Tomorrow” 527 is Rep. Jon Lundberg, Chas reveals in an extensive story about outside money: (more) (return to main page) TN board of education adopts new national standards The Tennessee State Board of Education Friday joined 13 other states in voting to adopt new academic standards called the “common core.” (more) (return to main page) Is early voting unconstitutional in Tennessee? According to the office of Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett, 530,522 Tennesseans have already cast their ballots in for this coming Thursday's State primaries via early voting. (more) (return to main page) Archives: July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 |