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NASA Space shuttle fueling test looks successful
Southern Ledger - July 2, 2009 |
PC makers voluntarily supply Web filter in China
Southern Ledger - July 2, 2009 |
Limbo for Colombia family seeking hostage release
Southern Ledger - July 2, 2009 |
Marines suffer first casualties in Afghan campaign
Southern Ledger - July 2, 2009 |
Lawyer Rowe deciding whether to seek custody
Southern Ledger - July 2, 2009 |
James Frey writing teen science fiction novels
Southern Ledger - July 2, 2009 |
Serena, Venus reach Wimbledon final again
Southern Ledger - July 2, 2009 |
Kim sets course record at Congressional with 62
Southern Ledger - July 2, 2009 |
Votto leads Reds over Dbacks 3-2 in 10 innings
Southern Ledger - July 2, 2009 |
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IT IS BODY DOUBLE TIME ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.
July 24, 2008 -
July 31, 2008
As the primary election day looms in Tennessee it is important to remember that politicians really will say, or do, anything to get elected. Some use nuance or half-truths to hide who they really are. Others go with the full-on lie, recognizing that the more outrageous the statement the more likely it is that a significant number of people will fall for it.
During a press conference in Jordan earlier this week Presidential candidate Barack Obama touted the passage of a bill out of the Senate Banking Committee, noting that it is “my committee,” as evidence of his leadership. But Obama is not a member of that committee. Granted, after spending only 142 days in the Senate he embarked on his presidential quest and has seldom showed up for work since then. Perhaps it is understandable that he doesn’t have a clue about which committees he serves on.
Appearances can be deceiving, but a Democrat congressional candidate in Ohio took deception to a new low by using “body double” to appear in a local parade pretending to be the candidate herself! Mary Jo Kilroy is seeking to move the 15th District in Ohio into the Democrat column following the retirement of Republican Congresswoman Debra Pryce. It is an evenly split congressional district, and Kilroy only lost the seat by 1,055 votes in 2006. If she wins, will she actually go to Congress or will she send a “stand in”?
Some candidates prefer to adopt a more chameleon approach to campaigning rather than using body doubles, and Tennessee has several examples in this primary season. State Representative Kent Williams, a first term Republican from upper East Tennessee, is running for re-election in the Republican Primary. But in Nashville he was one of seven so-called Republican legislators who voted for Democrat House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh and has been a reliable vote for the Democrats on a variety of issues. Although he backs the Democrats in Nashville, he is running as a Republican back home in his heavily Republican district.
The Democrats have appreciated the support that Williams has provided to them. In fact the Assistant Majority Leader for the House Democratic Caucus, Representative John Litz, recently donated $250 to Williams’ campaign.
East Tennessee doesn’t have a lock on “fake” Republicans. In West Tennessee Bob Doll is seeking the Republican nomination in the 94th House District where current Representative Delores Gresham is seeking the State Senate seat vacated by former Lt. Governor John Wilder.
Doll ran AGAINST Gresham in 2006 as the Democrat nominee for the seat. He even took in $3000 in contributions from House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh’s political action committee. This time he says he is a Republican. Voters in Tipton, Hardeman and Fayette counties should be highly skeptical!
Amidst these lies and deceptions what are voters expected to do? To paraphrase President Ronald Reagan: “Don’t trust, and be sure to verify!” Actions speak louder than words, particularly in the final days of a campaign. When the words of a politician don’t line up with what they have done, it is a pretty safe bet that the words are not true!
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WILL BREDESEN ALTER THE TENNESSEE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE IN 2009? -
July 15, 2008 -
July 22, 2008
Despite the looming Presidential free-for-all in November, 2008 is not shaping up to be a particularly explosive political year for Tennessee. John McCain seems to have a comfortable lead in Tennessee and Barack Obama is not expected to spend significant time or money pursuing the state’s eleven electoral votes. Lamar Alexander is a safe bet for re-election to the U.S. Senate despite what may be a dismal election season for Republicans nationally. Although Congressional approval ratings have s... |
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IS RUSH WORTH $400 MILLION? -
July 7, 2008 -
July 14, 2008
News reports that talk radio giant Rush Limbaugh had inked a new eight year contract with his syndicator, Premier Radio Networks, for a reported $400 million payout immediately produced breathless outrage from some in the media ranks. “Is he worth that,” they asked with derision dripping from their lips. “Is ANYBODY worth that amount of money?” The short answer is “yes.”
Rush (who is among a tiny group of super celebrities who have achieved one name status) is not stealing this money, n... |
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THE VEEPSTAKES BEGINS. -
July 2, 2008 -
July 9, 2008
Barack Obama and John McCain will soon intensify the process of selecting their Vice Presidential nominees. Pundits will earnestly debate the merits of each prospective candidate in exhaustive detail. But ultimately the test that will determine each man’s choice is relatively simple: “Who best helps me win the White House?”
The most important factor in picking a Vice Presidential nominee should be whether or not the person is ready and able to serve as President. In reality the selectio... |
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THE BATTLE OVER GUNS WILL CONTINUE. -
June 26, 2008 -
July 3, 2008
The ink was barely dry on the historic Supreme Court decision in Heller when the anti-gun crowd started a new assault on gun rights. In Heller the Court struck down a 32 year old gun ban in Washington, D.C. and specifically recognized the Second Amendment as an individual right rather than a collective right.
The Court, in a 5-4 decision written by Justice Antonin Scalia, also found a Constitutional right to possess a handgun as a matter of personal self defense: “There are many reason... |
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JUDGES GONE WILD! -
June 19, 2008 -
June 26, 2008
In recent years many black-robed judges have shown themselves to be legislators at heart, as they impose their political ideology and agendas from the bench. Though they apparently lack the willingness, or ability, to win such legislative battles at the ballot box they are able to succeed in both writing the laws AND interpreting them thanks to the weak-kneed acquiescence of the Legislative and Executive branches of government. But having achieved the ability to dictate their will to society at... |
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