Comment Archives: stories: News: Woods
Re: “Only the Tennessee GOP could accomplish legislative gridlock wielding a supermajority”
Of course the charters would have re-segregated schools. But the main goal is to have government pay for religious education, and to bankrupt the public school system. Then, when the "unfortunates" have little or no education due to underfunding, the corporate masters can claim that there is no one "qualified" and they can justify sub-standard wages, which is the same outcome that the new law that doesn't require that companies pay prevailing wage will also accomplish.
Re: “State GOP lawmakers defy their leaders, with little evident resistance”
The author aptly demonstrates the difference of mentality between freedom loving, independent minded, true citizen Republicans, and Democrats who embrace being whipped into line like a bunch of mewling PC sheep.
You could not have made the difference clearer.
Re: “State GOP lawmakers defy their leaders, with little evident resistance”
The Author obviously doesn't understand the Republican Party in Tennessee. Governor Haslam may be the highest elected state official in Tennessee, but he is not the head of the Tennessee Republican Party. We believe in a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. Conservative Republicans are the head of the Tennessee Republican Party, not any one officeholder.
Re: “State GOP lawmakers defy their leaders, with little evident resistance”
Great article and it is good to see one telling it like it is. It is about time the real republicans started acting like they should. They have let the rinos run the party too long.
Re: “State GOP lawmakers defy their leaders, with little evident resistance”
>>"McWherter would have sent the goon squad down there and done away with the whole county,"<<
And libtards call Republicans "crazy"............
Pure hypocrites.
Re: “The calendar says March, but thanks to Tennessee’s legislature it’s mayday for LGBT students”
I'm curious to know how many guidance counselors and teachers Campfield conferred with as he drafted this bill. Guess what? The ones I know think it's a HORRIBLE idea. Because it is truly awful.
Not only will this bill hurt the kids (GOP-intended?) who are LGBTQ (and especially Q), but it's also gonna hurt kids struggling with other serious issues. Campfield et. al: Is it so important for you to think you can stop/cure people who are gay that you are willing to completely ignore and dismiss every medical organization that opposes you as well as warnings from experienced teachers and guidance counselors? If so, do you then consider a kid dealing with a divorce or bullying as collateral damage in your mission to alleviate gayness?? What if that kid didn't have a supportive parent or what if the kid was unable to afford a private referral? Sometimes a kid can benefit tremendously from just spending a few lunches with a trusted guidance counselor. You'd know that if you actually spoke to the people whose hands you want to tie with this garbage you call "classroom protection".
Your incessant- well, 'persecution' is the only word that comes to mind- is so singleminded, so focused... Why are you so afraid of LGBTQ people?? Would treating them equally- NORMALLY- be that impossible for you? Your obsession with these bills is not only potentially harmful to ALL Tennessee kids, it's embarrassing. There are some of us in Tennessee who have other things to do besides worry that a middle school guidance counselor might actually tell a scared gay kid that their sexual orientation in no way makes them less of a person or someone undeserving of fair treatment, understanding, love, or basic compassion.
This bill won't pass (I hope) but the fact Campfield and his ilk continue to push it is appalling.
Re: “The state moves closer to a charter-school authorizer — or as Democrats call it, 'a death panel for public schools'”
The appeals process has been in place for years. The decision to overturn a local school board's decision has always been defined as "final." It turns out the code was not enforceable, so it was necessary to revise the language. The legislative body passed the previous language, but now many members are questioning an enforceable amendment? Come on. And for the record, local control isn't always what it seems. I am a public school parent in Davidson County, and I am very much in support of a statewide authorizer. There are hundreds of parents who are. There are also hundreds of parents who are not. But to say the local board represents the entire community and what they want is completely inaccurate. Yes, I voted in the last school board election in my district....but my district is one vote out of nine. Local control? Please.
Re: “GOP legislators push back against their party's lunatic fringe”
Leave it to Beavers: the Constitution is unconstitutional !
Re: “Speaker Beth Harwell drops the hammer on Nashville Democrats as a state charter-school authorizer looms”
As a conservative, I believe Harwell is taking this too far. Rather than simply taking charter authority for itself, the state should have some appeal power to make the call if a school attempting to charter feels its being wrongfully rejected.
This is a case of throwing the baby out with the bathwater, and conservatives should not be supporting any attempts at a state power grab.
The Nashville Democrats are acting like spoiled children, and clearly require some check on their abuse of power, but this is definitely going too ar.
Re: “Speaker Beth Harwell drops the hammer on Nashville Democrats as a state charter-school authorizer looms”
Posted this on a Pith thread, people need to learn more about Great Hearts and question why in the world this group is having ANY impact on policy in TN:
http://www.blogforarizona.com/blog/2012/09/nashville-schools-principled-stand-against-great-hearts-charters-costs-them-34-million.html
http://www.blogforarizona.com/blog/2012/09/great-hearts-charters-educational-model-costs-more-than-we-get-from-the-state.html
http://www.blogforarizona.com/blog/2012/12/a-great-hearts-charter-tell-all-book-banned-by-great-hearts.html
http://www.blogforarizona.com/blog/2012/11/charter-schools-the-new-segregation.html
http://www.blogforarizona.com/blog/2012/09/do-great-hearts-charter-schools-charge-optional-1200-tuition-to-parents.html
http://www.blogforarizona.com/blog/2012/11/sweetheart-deals-with-charter-insiders.html
Re: “Speaker Beth Harwell drops the hammer on Nashville Democrats as a state charter-school authorizer looms”
I live in Bellevue and would LOVE a charter school where I live (and ftr, I'm not rich). Instead my son is on the waiting list for a charter school no where near us that was 87% black in the last report I saw published. Maybe it's the racists that want to exclude middle-class whites?
Re: “Speaker Beth Harwell drops the hammer on Nashville Democrats as a state charter-school authorizer looms”
Turner is such a goof. Madison and Antioch already have charter schools. Too bad he's turned this into a purely political issue instead of trying to work on a policy that promotes a much stronger public education system in Nashville and Memphis. Both cities need serious reform.
Re: “Conservatives want judges to sing for their supper and submit to contested elections — but will that pimp out the bench?”
I do not like the idea of Tennessee Supreme Court Justices campaigning for their placement on the bench. However, the article's author Jeff Woods, makes statements that suggest he has no faith in our political process which is understandable in some respect. But worse, that he has no faith in the Tennessee voter. That I cannot understand unless Mr. Woods feels he is smarter that everyone else or he doesn't vote.
Re: “Disgusted Tennessee Democrats say killing the state party could actually make it stronger”
SHAMEFUL! I do not understand why anyone would reward this bad behavior? Who would support the Republicans' obstruction agenda? What is happening to the American Spirit?
It's the President, most Democrats, and some Republicans who STOPPED the bleeding; it is the Democrats who have been struggling to prevent the collapse of the U.S. Economy; it is Democrats who have been struggling to protect American workers and consumers; it is Democrats who are struggling to get aid to Disaster victims; struggling to create jobs and keep the U.S. economy moving while the Republicans just keep saying No, No, No; and have pushed to the U.S. Government to the brink of Default.
What kind of person would support this ugly, vicious, behavior rather than supporting help for the country and the American people. Who would do this? Many, many people have died so that this nation shall long endure. It is our duty. It is our responsibility for all of us to do all that we can so this nation shall endure
We can't just sit back and say No, No, No when poverty is increasing and people are struggling across the country. This is America, Sweet Land of Liberty, we ALL must to do our part now to help America recover.
CHOICE: We do have a choice. We can stand Up For The Country and ALL American People so the U.S. economy can grow; or we can continue to Provide Free Rides For the millionaires and the wealthy investors and allow everyone fall off the cliff. We can do that. Let me be clear: I have no problem with people making money. It is GOOD to make money in America. However, we must protect the people on Main Street. We must be fair and balanced.
However, if we all do our part, if we are fair and balanced, I am confident that the U.S. Economy will come roaring back like a lion.
Re: “The triumphant state GOP savors the prospect of gerrymandering the defeated Democrats back to the Stone Age”
Or not so much. That is a real stretch, and I think you are probably alone in such an analysis.
The goal of majority minority seats in Congress is to make sure that there is no lack of opportunity to win a seat. Not that only a minority would be allowed to win. There is a difference.
Re: “The triumphant state GOP savors the prospect of gerrymandering the defeated Democrats back to the Stone Age”
Perry,
Cohen supports legislation that requires race to be a factor in everything from some hiring decisions to admission policies in college. There is one majority minority Congressional seat in Tennessee as drawn by the Democrats in 2001. Which is more important, some hiring decisions or a seat in Congress?
Or you can look at it as Cohen passing laws that he won't have to abide by.
Re: “The triumphant state GOP savors the prospect of gerrymandering the defeated Democrats back to the Stone Age”
Mark, that's the most ridiculous comment I believe I have ever seen. So Cohen is a hypocite because he is white? He should give up being in Congress because he is a different race than the people he represents? That's simply asinine, and you usually make better comments than that.
And I don't know what parts of Sumner and Wilson Counties adjacent to Nashville would make the 5th more Democratic. Just the opposite is true. I suspect that Diane Black would want all of her home county and would also love to have those Mt. Juliet Republicans in her district. As for Rutherford, you may be right about LaVergne (which went for Obama), but no more, since Ketron wants the rest of his home county for his own ambitions. Otherwise, if you want to add Democrats to the 5th outside of Nashville, there aren't too many options, but you would probably need to go back into Cheatham and Robertson Counties.
Re: “The triumphant state GOP savors the prospect of gerrymandering the defeated Democrats back to the Stone Age”
Steve,
You are correct about John Ryder. He is the best and we are lucky to have him. From what I am hearing, the Republicans are not trying to get too creative in order to pick up marginal seats. A safe 63-65 House majority and 22-11 in the Senate seems about right. The Congressional districts will probably be 7-2 with the 5th becoming more Democratic with areas drawn in from Rutherford, Wilson and Sumner counties.
No doubt the Democrats will sue but that could get tricky if the Republicans create a couple more majority minority districts. Then the Democrats would be suing to stop a plan that increased minority representation. I would pay to see the responses to that.
Anyway that wouldn't be an issue if Democrats could elect a few minority candidates from majority white Democratic districts like the 5th and 9th congressional districts. If Congressman Cohen was really committed to affirmative action he could resign and endorse one of many qualified minority Democrats in his district. But expecting Cohen to live up to ideals he legislates for the rest of us is too much to hope for.
Re: “The triumphant state GOP savors the prospect of gerrymandering the defeated Democrats back to the Stone Age”
Perry, it is unacceptable to everyone in Columbia I've mentioned this to. Division, in this case racial division -- segregation, is not good. And no, one is not necessarily better represented by two reps rather than one. Those of us represented by two county commissioners know they sometimes cancel each other out!
Re: “Only the Tennessee GOP could accomplish legislative gridlock wielding a supermajority”
Certainly biased reporting. Does the scene have any reporting that is not anti Republican?
Most of the state votes Republican, why dont you ever give that view?