Congressional Candidate Katie Arrington Out Of Intensive Care After Car Crash

Katie Arrington

by Evie Forham   South Carolina Republican congressional candidate Katie Arrington was moved out of intensive care and has begun physical therapy after a June 22 car crash left her in serious condition, a Thursday tweet from candidate’s Twitter account said. Arrington is expected to make a full recovery after the collision. Katie Arrington was moved out of ICU last night. Her physical therapy session today went extremely well and was twice as long as yesterday’s session. Katie knows these sessions are important steps toward her return to serving and fighting for the Lowcountry. #PrayForKatie — Katie Arrington (@karringtonsc) June 28, 2018 Arrington was sitting in the passenger seat when another car driving in the wrong lane smashed into the South Caroline state representative’s vehicle. Arrington’s driver, the candidate’s friend, Jacqueline Goff, was also critically injured, reported The Post and Courier. The other driver, Helen White, died at the scene. Arrington had surgery on her abdomen and back. She gained national attention when President Donald Trump endorsed her via Twitter in her bid to be representative of South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District over rival candidate Mark Sanford on June 12, the night of the Republican primary. Arrington beat Sanford 50.6 percent to 46.5 percent. Mark…

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Will Pro-Abortion Bredesen Support Confirmation of a Pro-Life Justice to the Supreme Court?

Phil Bredesen

On Wednesday Democrat Tennessee Senate Candidate Phil Bredesen issued a Twitter statement regarding the upcoming confirmation battle to replace Justice Anthony Kennedy on the Supreme Court. “Not long ago, Senate judicial confirmations were free of openly partisan politics. Justices Scalia & Ginsburg each got 90+ votes. I’m going to vote for or against a nominee based solely on whether I believe them to be highly qualified & ethical, not based on partisan politics.” Not long ago, Senate judicial confirmations were free of openly partisan politics. Justices Scalia & Ginsburg each got 90+ votes. I'm going to vote for or against a nominee based solely on whether I believe them to be highly qualified & ethical, not based on partisan politics. pic.twitter.com/NgzGQC8E4K — Phil Bredesen (@PhilBredesen) June 27, 2018 Bredesen did not indicate whether ideological differences on certain issues would disqualify a nominee for a Federal judicial appointment from receiving his vote for confirmation if he is elected to the U.S. Senate. Since Bredesen tweeted his statement Democrat Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who recruited Bredesen to run for Corker’s Senate seat, has called on his fellow Democrats to reject any nominee who does not embrace abortion.  And although Trump has not…

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Brad Greer Endorses 2016 GOP Primary Opponent Dr. George Flinn for Congress in 2018 Election

Brad Greer, George Flinn, David Kustoff

In 2016 Dr. George Flinn narrowly lost a multi-candidate Republican primary race to now first term 8th District Congressman David Kustoff (R-TN8). Flinn and Kustoff are facing off again in 2018, but this time one of their primary opponents, Brad Greer, has signed on to help Flinn. In the 2016 Republican primary Greer won Madison, Obion and Lake counties. “We need a Congressman who will represent the whole district – from Memphis to Lake County over to Henry County and down to Jackson,” Greer said in making his endorsement. “We need someone who will guard our West Tennessee values – faith, family, hunting, fishing and supporting our community. George Flinn embodies those values. He’s a Christian man, who loves this country.” Greer said he really got to know Dr. Flinn during the 2016 Republican Primary. “I learned during the 2016 campaign what type of man George Flinn is – he’s a man of integrity. He’s someone who cares about the people. He’s the same person behind the curtain as he is on stage. I saw it day in and day out because I was campaigning against the man,” Greer pointed out. “I came to a point of realizing, if I…

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South Carolina Congressional Hopeful Katie Arrington Badly Injured in Fatal Car Crash, Democrat Opponent Suspends Campaign, Calls for Prayer

Katie Arrington

by Thomas Phippen   South Carolina Republican congressional candidate Katie Arrington was injured in a car accident late Friday night, days after defeating incumbent Rep. Mark Sanford for the party’s nomination. Arrington was in the passenger seat of a car heading toward Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, when her vehicle was struck by a car driving in the wrong lane, the Post and Courier reports. Joe Cunningham, the Democratic nominee running against Arrington, said in a tweet that he is “suspending all campaign activities until further notice.” We are suspending all campaign activities until further notice. https://t.co/yigZupPoLz — Joe Cunningham (@JoeCunninghamSC) June 23, 2018 Arrington suffered a fractured spine and several broken ribs, and other injuries will need major surgery. She will likely undergo a major procedure to remove part of her small intestine and place a stint in her leg, according to campaign spokesman Michael Mule She is expected to recover in the hospital for two weeks, and doctors say her good health is responsible for the positive outlook. “There’s not many people as tough as Katie Arrington,” Mule said. The driver of the other vehicle was killed in the crash. Arrington defeated Sanford, a third-term congressman and former South Carolina governor, with…

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Commentary: 500 Days of Trump and He’s Just Getting Started

Donald Trump

by Jeffery Rendall   Donald Trump isn’t known to brag…but then again, yes, he is. America’s supremely confident commander in chief is quite fond of touting his own accomplishments and most of the time doesn’t appear to notice setbacks. Trump’s perpetually forward-facing orientation represents a refreshing new outlook for a Washington DC swamp infested with creatures (people) who obsess over negatives and failures. Assuming Trump does occasionally acknowledge something bad happening in his orbit, he wasn’t about to do it the other day when speaking on his first 500 days in office. Mallory Shelbourne reported in The Hill, “President Trump on Monday touted his first 500 days in the White House, saying ‘many believe’ he has achieved more than any of his predecessors in that same time frame… “Trump pointed to the GOP tax cuts, ‘lower crime,’ passing the ‘right to try’ bill, his confirmed judicial appointments and his immigration policy as accomplishments. “’Massive Tax & Regulation Cuts, Military & Vets, Lower Crime & Illegal Immigration, Stronger Borders, Judgeships, Best Economy & Jobs EVER, and much more,’ he added.” Trump’s list of achievements shows quite a lot of brevity, uncharacteristic for him. The media invariably nitpicked the list to discover exceptions to Trump’s…

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Dr. Mark Green Receives Endorsements for His Congressional Bid from Entire Republican Contingent of Tennessee’s Delegation in the US House of Representatives

Mark Green FRC endorsement

Dr. Mark Green’s campaign for Congress received a boost Thursday as all seven Republican members of Tennessee’s delegation serving in the US House of Representatives – including Phil Roe, Jimmy Duncan, Chuck Fleischmann, Scott DesJarlais, Diane Black, Marsha Blackburn, and David Kustoff – endorsed his bid to replace Rep Marsha Blackburn (R-TN-07). “A real American hero and proven conservative fighter, Mark Green will be a champion for our Tennessee values in Congress,” Congressman Marsha Blackburn said in a statement. “I’ve worked closely with Mark the last several years and have seen firsthand how hard he works for his constituents. I’m excited to endorse him to be our next Congressman.” “Tennessee has a long history of sending national leaders to Washington. I’m honored to receive the endorsement from our Tennessee Republican delegation, and I look forward to working together with them to rein in spending, rebuild our military, and repeal Obamacare,” Green said. The seven members of Congress are the latest Republican leaders in Tennessee to endorse Green’s candidacy. He has previously been endorsed by 100 grassroots conservative leaders in the state, 20 mayors in the district, Lt. Governor Randy McNally, and more than 60 members of the General Assembly who…

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Chelsea Clinton Says ‘Racist’ President Trump ‘Degrades What It Means to Be American,’ Supports Protest During Planned U.K. Visit

Chelsea Clinton

While overseas promoting her latest book, “She Persisted Around the World” Chelsea Clinton sat down with the UK’s Guardian for an exhaustive interview, in which the former First Daughter insisted President Trump “degrades what it means to be an American,”  applauded the efforts to organize mass protests against him during his planned visit in July, saying she would join the demonstration (were she British), and called the President a racist. The 3100 hundred-word feature is equal part biography and advertisement, with a consistent promotion of hard-left ideology that is all wrapped up in a brash, ‘poor me’ victimhood. In other words – Classic Clinton. Here are just some of the highlights. Blaming President Trump for “mainlined hate” She used to believe the right thing to do about “all of the meanness” was simply ignore it, she reflects. “Now I’ve come to feel differently, because I think that the way that our president and many people around him have not only mainstreamed hate, but mainlined it, is so deeply dangerous.” Her eyes fill with dismay as she cites the rising reports of bullying in schools catalogued by the Southern Poverty Law Centre. “Not just the hundreds but now thousands of instances…

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Phil Bredesen’s Dismal Record on Jobs

Democrat US Senate candidate Phil Bredesen is using a new ad in an attempt to muddy the water around his dismal performance on jobs as Tennessee Governor and Republicans are determined to not let him get away with the deception. Phil Bredesen is out with another ad for his campaign for Senate ,touting the jobs he helped bring to the state during his tenure as governor — and Republicans are already criticizing it. The spot begins airing statewide on Thursday, and the National Republican Senatorial Committee was quick to attack, saying the unemployment rate increased from 5.1 percent to 9.5 percent under Bredesen’s tenure. “Phil Bredesen’s got a lot of nerve claiming he knows how to create jobs when the opposite happened under his watch,” said NRSC Spokesman Michael McAdams. “Whether it’s saving their tax cuts or spurring job creation, Tennessee voters know they can’t trust Phil Bredesen to protect their economic interests.” In reality, the number of Tennesseans on unemployment nearly doubled under Bredesen’s stewardship and that’s only part of the story. He’s “now said emphatically that he would have voted against the tax cuts that have been creating jobs across the country even before the cuts were implemented,” per…

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Phil Bredesen Gave Big Bucks to Hillary Clinton’s 2016 Presidential Campaign

Phil Bredesen and Hillary Clinton

While Democrat Phil Bredesen wants people to believe he’s not running to oppose President Donald Trump’s reform agenda in Washington, details have emerged indicating he did that very thing by opening his wallet in a big way to Hillary Clinton when she was running against Trump in 2016. As the Nashville Post reports, both Bredesen and his wife Andrea Conte made significant contributions “to Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign and PACs that supported her race. (Bredesen gave $33,400 to the Hillary Victory Fund PAC, and Conte donated $2,700 To Hillary For America and $10,000 to the pro-Clinton Ready PAC.)” In fact, Bredesen’s contributions to Hillary Clinton and her various entities in 2016–$46,100– all but amounted to the median household income for Tennessee that year, $48,547, according to Google. Asked about the developments, Tennessee Star Political Editor Steve Gill said, “Over the next six months Phil Bredesen will wage a Trojan horse operation to try to slip into a Senate seat from Tennessee by pretending to be something he is not. Unfortunately, for Bredesen, his $68,000 contribution to Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign efforts put a giant ‘I’m With Her’ bumper sticker on that Trojan horse that Tennessee voters will not be able to ignore.” Added…

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Commentary: Tennessee Among the Nation’s Six Hottest US Senate Races

US Senate Bredesen and Blackburn

by CHQ Staff   As the first part of GOP primary election season wraps conservatives have reason to be optimistic about the chances of adding to our numbers in Mitch McConnell’s broken U.S. Senate. At a major meeting of conservative leaders yesterday, some of the movement’s best political minds handicapped the Senate races with us, and this is where we see the hottest conservative campaigns as of today. West Virginia: Conservative West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey emerged victorious in the hard-fought GOP primary and immediately jumped to a lead over incumbent Democrat Joe Manchin in the polls. Polls this far out from Election Day normally mean little, but when the incumbent is behind the challenger it is a good indication that West Virginia’s voters, who gave President Trump a 48 point advantage in the 2016 election have caught on to the fact that Manchin is a hypocrite, not a conservative. Tennessee: Conservative Representative Marsha Blackburn has the nomination to succeed retiring establishment Republican Senator Bob Corker. Blackburn, an excellent speaker and TV presence, is one of the House’s strongest voices on the pro-life agenda. Even better, when Corker started making noise about maybe un-retiring, Rep. Blackburn said “bring it on”…

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Gubernatorial Candidate Bill Lee Set to Hit the Road with a ‘Tennessee Town Hall Tour’

Bill Lee

Gubernatorial hopeful Bill Lee announced Tuesday he will embark on a statewide sojourn to host a series of ‘Tennessee Town Halls’ Tour Wednesday and continuing throughout the duration of the primary campaign. Lee, the first candidate in the race to visit all 95 counties in the first 95 days of campaigning, says he will revisit some 50 locations in each of the three grand divisions in the state. “We’re running the most aggressive grassroots campaign in Tennessee, and Maria and I can’t wait to hop on the RV and hit every corner of the state in this Town Hall Tour,” Lee said in a statement. “Tennessee is a remarkable place, and I’m going to continue to meet one on one with as many people as I can to hear from them and make my case. ” The campaign will announce the dates and locations for the Tennessee Town Halls on a “rolling basis,” beginning with event details though May 31: May 16 – Morrison in Warren County May 22 – Rogersville in Hawkins County May 24 – Jackson in Madison County May 30 – Goodlettsville in Davidson, Sumner County May 30 – Somerville in Fayette County May 31 – Germantown in Shelby County “Bill…

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Retiring Representative Jimmy Duncan (R-TN-02) Endorses Longtime Friend Jimmy Matlock to Replace Him In Washington

Former State Representative Jimmy Matlock received an enthusiastic endorsement Tuesday from the man he is seeking to replace in the House of Representatives. In a statement released by the Matlock campaign, the 15-term retiring Representative Jimmy Duncan (R-TN-02) said: Jimmy Matlock is one of the finest men I have ever known, and he is running for Congress for all the right reasons. Jimmy Matlock is running because he has a real heart for service and because he wants to help as many people as he can by doing the right things for this nation, this state, and this district. He has served in our part-time state legislature with great honor and distinction, and he is a man who knows the important national and international issues we face. Jimmy Matlock will make a great Congressman, and I am proud to endorse him to replace me. “Congressman Duncan and his family are the standard by which public service is measured,” Matlock said of his longtime friend’s endorsement. “He has been an excellent representative, and I am sad to see him go. I am truly humbled and honored to have earned his support in this race.” The field is a crowded one, with no less…

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Boyd and Black Campaigns Battle Over ‘Enhanced Modeling’ Poll Claiming She Leads in Governors Race

If the first real salvos in the Randy Boyd versus Diane Black race for Governor are any indication, then the upcoming Republican primary battle will definitely be heated. The Black campaign leaked a May 9 internal campaign memo Thursday that showed her “surging ahead” of her Republican rivals. The survey, conducted by Grassroots Targeting, was conducted between May 4-6, 2018 and polled “800 registered Tennessee Republican primary voters matched directly to the voter file.” The polling firm then “modeled an enhanced voter file” to get their results. The “enhanced model” polling shows Black with 40.6%, compared with 26.3% for rival Randy Boyd of Knoxville.  Bill Lee had support from 11.4% while Beth Harwell was at 6.4%. Only 15.3% were recorded as “undecided.” That “undecided” figure is markedly lower than virtually every other poll of the race thus far. The polling memo, from Grassroots Targeting principle Tim Saler, says Black has a substantial lead (43.2% to 21.9%) in the Nashville media market that she leads in Boyd’s home Knoxville market (40.3% to 29.5%). The polling memo made no mention of any West Tennessee results. The Boyd campaign was quick to issue a response to the Black poll data from campaign spokesman…

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New Randy Boyd Ad Focuses on Immigration: ‘Illegal Is Illegal,’ Build the Trump Wall, and No Licenses for Special Benefits for Illegals

Randy Boyd

A new Randy Boyd television ad airing across the state starting Monday hits hard on the issue of illegal immigration with “professional politicians” in Washington getting the blame. “Illegal is illegal,” Boyd says in the ad, which specifically pledges Boyd’s support for President Trump’s border wall, opposition to sanctuary cities, elimination of violent gangs like MS-13 and “no driver’s licenses or special benefits for illegal immigrants.” Notably, while two of Boyd’s primary opponents–Rep. Diane Black (R-TN-07) and Williamson County businessman Bill Lee–have issued public statements on the anti-sanctuary city bill sponsored by State Sen. Mark Green (R-Clarksville) and State Rep Jay Reedy (R-Erin) passed by the Tennessee General Assembly last month that is awaiting Gov. Haslam’s signature, Boyd has not offered a comment yet whether Haslam should sign or veto the bill. Black has urged Haslam to sign the anti-sanctuary city bill, while Lee has said as governor, he would sign the bill. You can watch the ad here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdIenUt5hTk&app=desktop Rep. Black has also been the focus of ads sponsored by Tennessee Jobs Now PAC for her support for legislation in 2001 that granted Tennessee driver’s licenses to illegal aliens (see pages 921-922). That legislation was repealed following the 9-11 terrorist…

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Bob Corlew Commentary: To Secure Our Nation’s Future, We Must Secure Our Border

by Judge Bob Corlew   Throughout the course of my campaign, I have visited every county in Tennessee’s 6th Congressional District multiple times. Each and every community in our district faces different challenges, but one constant refrain I hear from voters is they want our Congressman to stand with President Trump to secure our nation’s future for our children and grandchildren. I also hear concerns from voters about illegal immigration and problems at the border. I share these concerns, and believe that if we don’t secure our border, then we can’t secure our nation’s future. Voters are no doubt skeptical of those who promise a secure border because they have heard it all before. Many in elected office get to Washington and forget the promises they made to their constituents on illegal immigration and securing the border. I believe one reason is because these politicians don’t fully comprehend the problem and what needs to be done to secure our border. When I get to Congress, I want to help President Trump finish the wall and stop illegal immigration, but I believe actions speak louder than words. That is why I visited the U.S-Mexico border last week to understand what are…

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Congressional Candidate Bob Corlew Launches New Ad Focused on Border Security

Former judge and current Republican congressional candidate Bob Corlew announced on Tuesday the launch of a new campaign ad focused solely on his commitment to support President Trump’s efforts to shore up the United States’ national security by securing the southern border and reforming the immigration system to reflect the ‘America First’ agenda. The 30-second spot (seen below) features footage of Corlew walking border fence with two agents. In it, the former judge vows to support President Trump’s now-familiar promises to: Build the wall End chain migration Stop the flow of drug Deny amnesty to illegal aliens currently in the countru Renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) SCRIPT: V/O: How do we secure our future? It starts at the border. CORLEW: In Congress, I’ll stop criminal illegal aliens from entering our country by working with President Trump to build a wall, end chain migration, stop the flow of illegal drugs, no amnesty. And I’ll fight unfair trade deals, because open borders also costs Tennessee jobs. I’m Bob Corlew and I approve this message because securing our border and protecting jobs are values I’ll never stop never stop fighting for. Watch the commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIma2hlbDgI              

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State Senator Mark Green Posts Petition to Urge Governor Haslam Not to Veto Anti-Sanctuary Cities Bill

Governor Bill Haslam and State Senator Mark Green

State Senator Mark Green (R-Clarksville) launched a petition Friday to urge outgoing Governor Bill Haslam not to veto his anti-sanctuary cities bill. The bill is widely supported by both Tennesseans and legislators, passing the Senate 27-5 and the House 64-23 – and under Tennessee statue, a bill may pass into law without the Governor’s signature after a period of 10 days (excluding Sundays). “Enforcing our laws and protecting our citizens should not be controversial. I’m asking all Tennesseans to stand with me and call on our Governor to sign this bill that protects our citizens,” noted Senator Green in a statement. SB 2332 adds teeth to existing sanctuary cities laws by prohibiting local governments that enact sanctuary cities from receiving future economic development grants from the state. It also expands the definition of an illegal sanctuary city policy to verbal directives and other means, not just written policies. The bill appears to be serving as a kind of litmus test for many candidates as they seek to earn the support of Republican primary voters, the overwhelming majority of whom soundly reject so-called sanctuary city policies. As The Tennessee Star reported, Rep. Diane Black was the first candidate to urge Governor Haslam – who she hopes to…

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As Maury County Mayor, Candidate Andy Ogles Says He Will Focus on Fiscal Transparency

Maury County mayoral candidate Andy Ogles spoke to the Maury County Republican Party at their monthly meeting last Monday, where he said that, as County Mayor, he will focus bringing transparency in the County’s financial matters. “There are several key issues facing the county,” Ogles told The Columbia Daily Herald after the meeting Monday. “One is finance transparency; with this a recent audit by the state that found several deficiencies. That has got to be fixed.” The annual audit of the 2017 fiscal year made by the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury, published at the end of March, cited “significant deficiencies” in Maury County’s financial system, its county offices, and its public school system. In all, the Comptroller identified 13 findings, all coming from three area of operation. One finding each from the county’s director of office of accounts and budgets, and the county trustee’s office, and then 11 from the school district. Ogles told the Daily Herald his background in economics and tax policies makes the county’s finances a “huge focus” for him: We need to make sure we are streaming our financials and becoming more compliant with the state. With becoming more efficient, there is built-in savings for the taxpayer because you are…

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Commentary: NEA Political Money Should Be Toxic to Conservatives Who Take It – and Christian Teachers Who Provide It

by Steve Gill   In a 2014 article Mission America noted that the National Education Association (NEA) Teachers Union was more extreme than ever.   Beginning in the 1960s, the NEA began a progression of increased political activity, largely left-leaning and almost exclusively pro-Democrat Party. Today, NEA’s annual budget is around $367 million, not accounting for the cushy, separate budgets of its state affiliates like the TEA. Virtually none of their efforts are used to promote Republican candidates, except when seeking just enough cover in majority Red states to claim bogus “bipartisanship.” Political contributions of teacher unions hit a high in 2016, when donations hit $33.2 million. It will likely be higher in 2018, though declining NEA membership means less money collected from fewer members and more from the extremist leftwing donors and groups that have no real interest in education policy.  Of the money that went to politicians directly in 2016, ninety three percent (93%) went to Democrats. The NEA (National Education Association) probably doesn’t realize — or care — that many of their members are Republicans who may not appreciate having their member dues used to advance partisan left-wing causes. As more of their members learn how their money is…

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Rutherford County Mayor’s Race Gets ‘Radioactive’

Tina Jones

The war of words between Rutherford County Mayoral candidates Bill Ketron and Tina Jones has gone “nuclear” over claims of Ketron’s involvement in supporting the dumping of radioactive waste in the Rutherford County Middlepoint landfill well over a decade ago. Debate over what to do with the landfill has been a focal point of the campaign the last few weeks, but the radioactive waste angle has added a new twist. Jones and her supporters have asserted that Ketron was responsible for allowing companies to transport radioactive waste into Rutherford County to be dumped into the local landfill. Ketron acknowledges that radioactive waste was allowed to be deposited in the landfill, but says that he, along with former State Senator Jim Tracy, helped lead the way to obtain a voluntary agreement to stop such dumping in 2007.  The Tennessee Environmental Council has said 10 million pounds in waste from a decommissioned nuclear reactor in Michigan was dumped in Rutherford County in 2005 alone. The locations and amounts of radioactive waste dumped into Tennessee landfills is now kept secret by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) and neither the Tennessee Legislature nor Governor Haslam has addressed the issue.  Although the…

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Republican Candidate for Congress Bob Corlew Pans ‘Half-Baked’ Nashville Transit Plan

On the last day of Early Voting ahead of the all-important May 1st Election Day, congressional hopeful Bob Corlew issued a statement panning the controversial $9 billion transit plan, comparing it to the disastrous government take-over of healthcare, Obamacare. “As a resident of Wilson County, I am well-aware of the traffic and congestion problems facing those in and around Nashville,” the former judge said. “The proposal in front of Davidson County voters does little to ease traffic and congestion, and is nothing more than a blank check for a half-baked plan that reminds me of Nancy Pelosi’s ‘we have to pass the bill to know what is in it.’” Corlew added: What we do know is that the proposal costs too much, ignores the needs of our region, and proposes use of an expensive and antiquated system to meet modern needs to ease traffic and congestion. The tax increases to pay for the proposal will burden workers and those on fixed incomes, and will stunt our region’s continued explosive growth. The residents of Davidson County and the residents of middle Tennessee should demand more from their leaders. There is no doubt that we should be investing to ease movement on…

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Tea Parties Host Wilson County Candidate Meet and Greet

MT. JULIET, Tennessee — The Wilson County Tea Party and Tennessee Sixth Congressional District Tea Party groups hosted a candidate meet and greet Thursday evening. “This year’s countywide elections Aug. 2 promise to be the most exciting in years,” Wilson County Tea Party president Tom Hoffman told the Lebanon Democrat. “Many more vigorous candidates from all political persuasions are running, including conservatives, liberals, independents, Republicans and Democrats. Our Meet and Greet the Candidates will provide you an opportunity to meet candidates one-on-one in a relaxed casual setting and to ask them the burning questions that are of greatest concern to you.” Among the candidates attending was Mae Beavers, former State Senator who is now running for county mayor; Menda Holmes, who is running for the State House District 46 seat, which was formerly held by State Senator Mark Pody (R-Lebanon) who was also there. Nineteen-year-old Wilson County Commission candidate Preston George was there, as well as Dianne Corlew, who was representing her husband, Congressional hopeful Bob Corlew. Pastor Ben Graham opened the doors to the Music City Baptist Church in order to hold the first-ever Wilson County Tea Party Candidate Meet and Greet event. “As a pastor in our community with different political…

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Commentary: Surprising No One, Poll Shows the Majority of Americans Associate DC Swamp With GOP Leadership

by CHQ Staff   The public’s disapproval of a Washington, D.C, “Swamp-like” culture crosses party and ideological lines, and nearly half of Americans believe Republican leadership is supporting that same Swamp, according to a new poll from the Ear to the Ground Listening Project, in which ConservativeHQ.com is a partner. The poll of 1,000 likely voters, conducted by McLaughlin & Associates, sought to understand how concerned Americans are about a “D.C. Swamp,” who they attribute this atmosphere to, and why it remains “undrained.” “Our dive into voter perceptions of the D.C. Swamp show that Americans view their leadership in DC as having utterly failed in dealing with the Swamp and that Washington is on a different page from the American people, “said Anne Sorock, Executive Director of The Frontier Lab’s Ear to the Ground Listening Project. Concern about The Swamp:  55% of voters and 66% of Republicans are concerned about the Swamp, and nearly half (46%) of Americans think the GOP leadership is supporting it. 41% of conservatives, 44% of moderates, and 50% of Independents believe the GOP leadership supports the Swamp 45% of voters who reside in states Trump won in the 2016 presidential election believe the GOP leadership supports the Swamp Moreover,…

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Williamson County Election Commission Refers Two Cases of Alleged Democrat Vote Fraud to the District Attorney

The Williamson County Election Commission has referred materials related to an investigation into a report that seemed to show at least two Democrats – both of whom are currently running for elected office – voted in the Republican primary to the District Attorney for further investigation and possible prosecution. State law requires that in order to vote in a party primary, the voter must be a “bona fide member” of that party or “declare allegiance to the political party.” “It is unlikely that a current Democratic candidate for office would meet either of those requirements,” the Williamson Country Republican Party said in a statement released Wednesday afternoon. The Party’s Chair, Debbie Deaver added, “It appears likely two Democratic candidates for office have committed voter fraud, so I’m pleased to see the Election Commission refer this very serious matter to the District Attorney’s office.” The statement continues: Since the beginning of early voting through Tuesday, April 24, 2018, a total of 651 people who voted in the March 2016 Democratic presidential preference primary have cast early voting ballots in the current May 2018 Williamson County primary elections. Of those 651 people who voted in the 2016 Democratic primary, 344 of them…

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Tennessee Star Poll Shows Partisan Divide Among Davidson County Voters Regarding Bredesen-Blackburn Senate Race

Marsha Blackburn, Phil Bredesen

It is not surprising that former Democrat Governor and Nashville Mayor Phil Bredesen has a significant lead over Republican Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn among likely voters in heavily Democrat-leaning Davidson County. What is a bit concerning for Republican supporters of Blackburn in the level of support that Bredesen receives from Davidson County voters who identify themselves as Republicans. The polling data is from a recent Tennessee Star poll conducted by Triton Research, which conducted an automated poll of 607 likely voters over a two day period April 12-13, 2018. One of the questions in the poll dealt with the upcoming U.S. Senate race in November, 2018 with Bredesen and Blackburn competing as their party nominees. Respondents were asked: “If the election was held today, who would be your choice for U.S. Senate, Marsha Blackburn or Phil Bredesen?” Overall, Bredesen outpolled Blackburn among Davidson County self-identified likely voters by a margin of 58.8% to 36.2% with 5.1% undecided. Among self-identified Democrat voters Bredesen had an advantage of 86-10 over Blackburn; with Blackburn leading among Republican voters by a 73-21 gap. Independent voters split 63.5 to 31 in favor of Bredesen. In the poll, 46% of respondents identified themselves as Democrats while 35%…

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Second District Congressional Republican Primary Fundraising Details Show a Race That is Heating Up

The Republican primary to fill the 2nd Congressional District seat being vacated by Rep. Jimmy Duncan (R-TN-02) is heating up as Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett, businessman Jason Emert and State Rep. Jimmy Matlock (R-Lenoir City) vie for the job. First quarter 2018 fundraising reports reveal that all three will have significant resources in the race. Local political observers have said that Burchett has the advantage due to his strong support and high name recognition in Knox County, which is the largest population center in the Second District. However, there are no current public polls that have been released that might give a snapshot regarding the status of the race. The most recent Federal Election Commission fundraising reports filed by the candidates provide lots of information. The primary election date is August 2, 2018. Tim Burchett (pictured, left) Burchett reported raising $84,170.57 in total donations in the first quarter of 2018 (January-March) with $234,821.10 cash on hand. Burchett has raised a total of $377,342.18 in the race so far, with no personal loans from Burchett to his campaign. Among the major notable donors to the Burchett campaign in the first quarter are Joan and Victor Ashe (former Knoxville Mayor and…

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Romney Faces Tough Path To Replace Retiring Utah Senator Orrin Hatch

Mitt Romney & Orrin Hatch

by Thomas Phippen   Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney failed to win the Utah Republican nomination for the open U.S. Senate seat Saturday and will now compete in the June primary. Romney also failed to win a majority at the Utah GOP convention, coming in with 49 percent of delegates’ support to Rep. Mike Kennedy’s 51 percent for the nomination to fill retiring Sen. Orrin Hatch’s seat. A candidate needs 60 percent of the delegate vote to win the Utah Republican party’s nomination outright. After two rounds of voting, no candidate reached that threshold, forcing a wider primary election. If the defeat was a cause for concern to the former Republican presidential nominee, he didn’t show it. “Frankly, given the fact that I collected signatures and the delegates don’t like people who collect signatures, I’m delighted with the outcome,” Romney said, according to the Desert News. “Thank you to all the delegates who hung in there with us all day at the Convention,” Romney tweeted later Saturday. “I appreciate the support I received and look forward to the primary election.” Romney launched his signature-gathering campaign in February after months of speculation about whether he would enter the race at all. As of the end…

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Veteran Political Strategist Says Running from Trump Won’t Work for GOP

Vulnerable Republicans cannot save their political fortunes by distancing themselves from President Donald Trump, a conservative activist said Thursday. Matt Schlapp, chairman of the American Conservative Union (ACU), told guest host Raymond Arroyo on “The Laura Ingraham Show” that he learned this while working for former President George W. Bush. The president’s approval ratings sank lower and lower in his second term amid growing discontent with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

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Challenger Aaron Shane Says Incumbent State Rep. Susan Lynn’s Support of TNReady Testing Process Shows She Is Out of Touch

As State education officials continue to struggle with the failure of the online standardized testing system as part of the TNReady assessment of student progress, Aaron Shane is calling out State Representative Susan Lynn (R-Mt. Juliet) for failing to have taken action to address the problems. Shane is opposing Lynn the GOP Primary in the 57th District, which encompasses the western half of Wilson County. “The state has poured tens of millions of taxpayer dollars into the failed online testing programs,” Shane pointed out. “Graduating Seniors this year have never had the standardized testing work properly in their entire high school career. That is inexcusable. What is more inexcusable is that the Tennessee Department of Education bureaucrats have failed to fix the problem over the past half decade. “I have have had many parents and teachers share their concerns about Susan Lynn’s support for TNReady. One parent, who called her office, was told that TNReady was “not one of her concerns.” When an elected representative’s office tells a parent that the education of their children is “not her concern” it is time for us to elect a representative who will put our children first” Shane said. Shane went on to point…

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President Trump Endorses Rep Marsha Blackburn for US Senate

Trump endorses Blackburn

President Trump endorsed Representative Marsha Blackburn in her bid to replace retiring junior Senator Bob Corker Thursday via Twitter. Unusually, Mr. Trump used a feature of the microblogging site to make sure that all of Rep Blackburn’s followers would see the message by adding a period directly in front of her Twitter username, ‘@MarshaBlackburn.’ In his tweet, the president wrote Blackburn “is a wonderful woman who has always been there when we have needed her.” He continued, “Great on the Military, Border Security and Crime. Loves and works hard for the people of Tennessee. She has my full endorsement and I will be there to campaign with her!” Blackburn is the sole Republican in the running for the nomination – as is her rival, former Nashville Mayor and Governor Phil Bredesen. .@MarshaBlackburn is a wonderful woman who has always been there when we have needed her. Great on the Military, Border Security and Crime. Loves and works hard for the people of Tennessee. She has my full endorsement and I will be there to campaign with her! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 19, 2018 The Washington Times notes that although President Trump’s endorsement is no surprise, it “could prove a shot…

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State Senator Mark Green Earns the Endorsement of Lt. Governor Randy McNally in His Bid for Congress

Speaker of the State Senate and Lt. Governor Randy McNally announced his endorsement of State Senator Mark Green’s campaign for Congress Wednesday. “I congratulate Senator Mark Green on becoming the Republican nominee for Congress in District 7,” McNally said in a statement, adding: Senator Green has worked hard for his constituents, passed excellent legislation and served the Senate Republican Caucus extremely well. I appreciate all his contributions to the success of our state and I look forward his service in Washington. The campaign notes Lt. Governor McNally joins conservatives across Tennessee in endorsing Dr. Green’s campaign for Congress, and that he has been endorsed by 100 grassroots conservative leaders in the state, 20 mayors in the district, and over 60 members of the General Assembly serve on Green’s finance committee. “It’s an honor to receive Lt. Governor McNally’s endorsement. His steady leadership has been critical to Tennessee’s many successes over the last few decades. I look forward to going to Washington to return power back to our state,” Green said. While in the State Senate, Green is working to pass several pieces of legislation including an anti-sanctuary cities measure to close certain loopholes in the current law, as well as legislation that would prohibit…

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Democrat Phil Bredesen Fundraises to Within Two Hundred Thousand Dollars of Republican Marsha Blackburn – But There’s a Catch

Marsha Blackburn, Phil Bredesen

On Monday’s installment of The Gill Report – broadcast live on WETR 92.3 FM in Knoxville – conservative political talker and Tennessee Star contributor Steve Gill discussed the latest fundraising numbers and sources of contributions in what many political watchers predict will be a hotly contested race to replace retiring junior Senator Bob Corker (TN-R): The Senate fundraising numbers are in for the first quarter of this year – January, February, March. We now know that Marsha Blackburn raised $2 million in donations just in the first quarter of this year. Phil Bredesen, her likely – almost certain – candidate opposing her in the Fall elections in November as the Democrat nominee for the US Senate has raised $1.8 million. So, about 1.8 to 2 million for Marsha – within two hundred thousand dollars. What’s interesting, though, is $1.4 million of Phil Bredesen’s $1.8 million is his money. He loaned it to his campaign. So Phil Bredesen has only raised $400,000 compared to Marsha Blackburn raising $2,000,000. Now again we’ve seen all these hyperventilating articles that “Marsha’s in trouble,” the “the Republicans are in trouble,” and that “there’s this ‘Blue Wave’ building.” Well, apparently the Blue Wave, at least for Phil Bredesen in terms of…

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Dr. Mark Green’s Campaign for Congress Closes Out the First Quarter with Over $750,000 Cash-On-Hand

Mark Green FRC endorsement

In Federal Election Commission filings, congressional hopeful Dr. Mark Green reported his campaign to date has raised nearly $1.2 million, with a reported $769,000 cash-on-hand heading into the all-important second quarter of 2018. Since January 2018, the campaign reports it has received $467,949 in receipts through April 2018. “Camie and I are honored that more than 750 people have given to our campaign to bring conservative leadership to Washington. We are committed to running an aggressive grassroots campaign from now through election day, and these resources will enable us to do that,” Dr. Green said in a statement. The sole Republican in the race, Green’s campaign notes the candidate has “received broad support from the conservative movement both in Tennessee and nationally,” adding: He is endorsed by 100 grassroots conservative leaders in the state, 20 mayors in the district, and over 60 legislators serve on Green’s finance committee. National groups supporting Green include the Club for Growth, FRC Action, GOPAC, and the House Freedom Fund, and FreedomWorks. Green currently serves in the Tennessee State Senate, where he is currently working to pass several pieces of legislation including an anti-sanctuary cities measure to close certain loopholes in the current law, as…

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State Senator Dr. Mark Green Earns Grassroots Giant FreedomWorks’ Endorsement in Congressional Bid

Conservative grassroots group FreedomWorks for America announced Thursday their decision to endorse State Senator Mark Green (R-Clarksville) in his congressional bid to represent the people of Tennessee’s 7th congressional district, replacing outgoing lawmaker Marsha Blackburn. “Dr. Mark Green is going to be a force for conservatives in the House of Representatives. He will be another reliable vote and a leading advocate for less government, lower taxes, and more freedom,” FreedomWorks president Adam Brandon said in a statement. “He has worked to defend the Constitution from enemies abroad, and now he is seeking to fight to defend it against those in Congress who would trample the Constitution like Nancy Pelosi. The Green campaign notes that FreedomWorks is in good company, as other prominent national conservative organizations including the Club for Growth, FRC Action, GOPAC, and the House Freedom Fund have all backed the conservative firebrand. In Tennessee, Dr. Green has the endorsement of 100 grassroots conservative leaders and 20 mayors in the district. “History has shown us time and again: Freedom works, and government must get out of the way of individual Americans whose ingenuity, persistence, and drive can fuel the next leap forward in freedom and prosperity,” Green said; adding, “I’m honored…

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Congressional Hopeful Bob Corlew Announces Campaign Team

Bob Corlew

Bob Corlew, the former judge who is now running for the Republican nomination in Tennessee’s 6th Congressional District, announced his campaign team Friday. “When I made the decision to run for Congress, I set out to put together a marquee team of conservative professionals who have a record of winning elections in Tennessee and across the country. This team more than fits that bill,” Corlew said in a statement. “I feel confident that we are in a great position to be successful so that the people of Tennessee’s 6th Congressional District will have a Congressman who will work with President Trump and bring Christian Conservative Tennessee values to Congress.” The team consists of many veteran Republican operatives, all of whom, the campaign notes, have a track record of success. The team includes: Pollster:                            Tony Fabrizio Tony Fabrizio, a partner in Fabrizio, Lee & Associates, is widely recognized as an expert in public opinion and politics and one of the nation’s leading GOP pollsters and strategists. Fabrizio has served as the Chief Pollster on four Presidential campaigns, most notably and recently Donald Trump’s successful 2016 upset victory. Senior Advisor:                Darren Morris Darren Morris served as President Trump’s 2016 State Director for Tennessee and…

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If Elected, Democrat Phil Bredesen Would Likely Be the Wealthiest Sitting Senator

Phil Bredesen, Democrat

Financial disclosures filed Friday afternoon show that Democrat Phil Bredesen – were he to be elected to the U.S. Senate over Republican front-runner Marsha Blackburn – would likely oust fellow Democrat Mark Warner (D-VA) to become the nation’s wealthiest sitting Senator. Bredesen, who is running unopposed in the Democratic primary and is wooing Independents and moderate Republicans with rhetoric of ‘being the adult in the room,’ reports his total worth – including investments, assets, and income – at somewhere between $92 and $378 million. The large 300% swing in the total value of his net worth goes to the nature of the reporting being largely expressed in ranges. For example, the thirty-page report lists six bank accounts with cash values of as small as “$50,000 – $100,000” and as large as “$5,000,000 t0 $25,000,000.” In all, the former Nashville Mayor and ex-governor disclosed investments totalling between $88.9 and $358 million. In addition to those holdings, Bredesen says is income for this reporting period (January 2017 to February 2018) from $3.3 million to $20.1 million, which includes $8,517 from his City of Nashville pension and $110,900 from his State  of Tennessee pension. The Associated Press reported that if he’s elected, he’ll resign as chairman of his solar energy company,…

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Randy Boyd Declines to Endorse Marsha Blackburn for U.S. Senate

Randy Boyd Declines to Endorse Marsha Blackburn for U.S. Senate

Tennessee Republican gubernatorial candidate Randy Boyd appeared on WNWS Radio in Jackson, TN Thursday to talk about a variety of issues, including the need for more focus on West Tennessee economic development. Boyd is former Tennessee Commissioner of Economic Development and noted that he is a 7th generation Tennessean with 6th of those generations living in West Tennessee. After pointing out several of the economic development projects he successfully helped bring to the area Boyd noted that the region is very important to him. “West Tennessee has been left behind the last twenty years,” Boyd said. “We need a Governor who will focus on it and I will be that Governor.” “We are going to finish the Megasite,” Boyd promised, “land a big major manufacturer and several smaller manufacturers, and generate 34,000 forty jobs that will transform West Tennessee just like Middle Tennessee was transformed when Nissan landed there 34 years ago.” Host Dan Reaves asked Boyd for his thoughts about Congresswoman Diane Black (who is also running for Governor) endorsing Marsha Blackburn in her Senate primary earlier this week. “I’m not really thinking too much about what Diane Black is or isn’t doing,” Boyd said. “I think Marsha’s been…

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Rep. Diane Black Endorses Rep. Marsha Blackburn for U.S. Senate

Gubernatorial candidate and Republican Congress member Diane Black (R-TN-06) announced Wednesday her endorsement of fellow Representative Marsha Blackburn (R-TN-07) in her bid to replace retiring junior Senator Bob Corker (TN-R) in the U.S. Senate. “I’ve served alongside Marsha in the state legislature and in Congress and have always known her to be a fighter and a passionate champion for conservative causes and I support her 100%,” said Black in a statement, adding, “We need Marsha Blackburn in the U.S. Senate to protect our majority, support President Trump’s agenda, and make sure that we can confirm new conservative Supreme Court justices to the bench.” Black’s endorsement extended to Twitter, where she tweeted: I’ve served alongside @VoteMarsha in the state legislature and in Congress and have always known her to be a fighter and a passionate champion for conservative causes. I support her 100 percent in her race for U.S. Senate! https://t.co/CRRny00tfK — Diane Black (@DianeBlackTN) March 28, 2018 Looking beyond the primary to what political watchers say will be a bare-knuckles brawl of a general election in the Fall, Black called on all the GOP candidates running statewide to support Blackburn’s candidacy: It’s time for Republicans in Tennessee to unite and stand with…

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Diane Black Releases a Comprehensive Economic Plan to ‘Make Sure Every Tennessean Has the Opportunity to Live Their Version of the American Dream’

Gubernatorial candidate Diane Black released what she says is a “comprehensive plan to lift up rural communities in Tennessee and make sure every Tennessean has the opportunity to live their version of the American Dream.” “Tennessee’s economy is on the move, but not every part of our state is experiencing the economic boom,” Black said in a statement, adding: Our rural communities, which make up 60% of our state, are the lifeblood of our state, but aren’t seeing the same success as areas like Nashville. We need policies coming out of Nashville that help lift up those rural communities, rather than further their economic decline. I will fight from day one to make sure that we leave no town behind and every person in our state has the opportunity to live their version of the American Dream. Diane Black’s plan – an outline of which was provided by the campaign and is published in full below – is aimed at strengthening Tennessee’s economy and to “Leave No Town Behind” Promote Rural Infrastructure and Educational Opportunity:  I will prioritize the infrastructure needs of rural communities.  But it’s not a one-size-fits-all problem. Where the need is broadband, I will support solutions that allow…

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Letter to the Editor: Tennessee’s Best Option for Conservative Leadership Is Bill Lee

Dear Tennessee Star, In 2010, Obamacare was pushed through on a party-line vote in the dead of night. While it has absolutely eviscerated our health care system, there was a silver-lining: It galvanized the forces of conservative voters across the country to stand up and speak up. The silent majority would be silent no more. But since that day, we have seen our Republican leadership compromise on key values of spending, debt, life, immigration, and we have watched them oversee the ever-growing expansion of government into our lives. At the federal level, we continue to see a budget that funds Obamacare and Planned Parenthood, while increasing the burden of debt on our children and grandchildren. In Tennessee, we’ve seen state government expenditures grow by over 30% in the last 8 years alone. We’ve seen bills to strengthen the Copeland spending cap amendment die. And we’ve seen Common Core simply rebranded and repackaged and redeployed into our classrooms. We now have a new silent majority: Voters and activists who are ready to see results, not more campaign rhetoric and kicking the can down the road. Two years ago, we had a Republican presidential primary field that had many good candidates with…

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Mike Braun Casts His Indiana GOP Senate Rivals as Cardboard Cutouts

Businessman Mike Braun released a new television ad Monday in which he strolls around town mocking his rivals – Reps. Luke Messer and Todd Rokita – in the Indiana GOP Senate primary as a couple of cardboard cutouts. Mr. Braun, a former state lawmaker, has emerged as the wildcard in the May 8 primary election and has campaigned as the outsider, saying it is hard to tell the difference among career politicians like Mr. Messer and Mr. Rokita.

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Commentary: Close the Primaries in Tennessee for a Strong Two-Party System

by Tracy Miller, PhD   Williamson County Republican Party released a Resolution to Close the Primaries in the state of Tennessee late last week.  But why?  Isn’t it better to let Democrats help decide which Republican they like most or (perhaps) hate least? Recently, screen shots have been flying around where people admit that in order to get elected they have to slap an “R” in front of their names.  Hang out at the polling stations and you often can hear groups of Democrats mumbling about holding their nose and voting for this or that Republican candidate – the one who is most like a Democrat or the one who has the least chance of winning. This is especially true for the primaries – think NFL draft where we try to assemble the Republican lineup for the upcoming season.   No harm in letting the Patriots or the Texans help us choose our players, right?  After all, some of our opponents are often friends and all-around good sports.  Maybe a few extra Monday morning quarterbacks or opposition party coordinators can help, right? Wrong.  Enough of the comedy.  All an open primary does is allow the powerful to remain in power – because…

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Conservative Grassroots Leader Andy Ogles Wins Republican Nomination for Maury County Mayor at Convention

Conservative Grassroots Leader Andy Ogles Wins Republican Nomination for Maury County Mayor at Convention

The Maury County Republican Party held their nominating convention Saturday, and in a surprising twist, selected former Americans for Prosperity State Director and U.S. Senate candidate Andy Ogles to be the Republican nominee for County Mayor. “Maury County faces major fiscal issues in the coming years, and I think I am the candidate to solve them,” Ogles told The Daily Herald moments after his nomination. State Rep. Sheila Butt (R-Columbia), who is not seeking re-election in 2018, nominated Ogles for the office at the convention on Saturday. “I have worked with Andy Ogles on several issues over the past few years. I was delighted when he and his family chose to move to Maury County several years ago,” Butt told The Tennessee Star in an exclusive statement, adding: Andy understands the issues facing our community and the process of governing. He understands budgets and taxes. He understands the importance of a community being financially sound and meeting the needs of a growing population. There are challenges ahead for Maury County. We are in the process at the State level of passing a Private Act that will help with the accountability and the transparency of our County budget. There are real problems that need to be addressed. Andy…

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Bill to Close Tennessee’s Primaries Gains Steam

The Williamson County Republican Party Executive Committee announced Friday they passed a resolution to strongly support HB0887 and its companion Senate bill SB0772.  The proposal’s summary – sponsored by Rep. Ryan Williams (R-Cookeville) and Sen. Mark Pody (R-Lebanon) – simply states: As introduced, requires a person to declare a statewide political party affiliation before voting in a primary election. – Amends TCA Title 2. (emphasis added) Williamson County Republican Party Chair Debbie Deaver said the measure, which passed overwhelmingly 10-0, would be a welcome change. “It’s a little disingenuous to allow someone to select a candidate for a party they don’t identify with and who they will not vote for in the general election. Just like Alabama doesn’t let Tennessee pick its head coach, and Apple doesn’t have the board of Microsoft select its CEO, we should not let non-Republicans pick our nominees.” The next stop for the bill proposal is the Senate State and Local Government Committee, where it is scheduled to be heard.

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Representative Diane Black Calls Out the U.S. Senate for It’s Continued Funding of Planned Parenthood

Representative Diane Black appeared on FoxNews’ ‘Tucker Carlson Tonight’ to discuss the how it is that the Republican Congress continues to fund the nation’s largest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood. In his set-up to the interview with Black, Carlson said, “Congressional Republicans have repeatedly promised to defund Planned Parenthood. It’s hasn’t happened or even come close to happening. Even now, the country’s biggest abortion provider gets more than 500 million taxpayer dollars every year.” “Would Democrats be okay if the NRA [National Rifle Association] got half-a-billion a year? Would they let that stand?” After introducing Representative Black, Carlson said, “You’ve said many times on the record – and you seem like one of the more sincere Republican members on this question – that you’re opposed to giving half-a-billion dollars to Planned Parenthood, which is just an adjunct to the Democratic Party. Why hasn’t the Republican Congress defended it? Specifically, why?” Black replied, “That goes over to the Senate. Twice now with my leadership we have passed, in 2015 and 2017, a measure in the House, sent it over to the Senate, and they have not done their work. “I want to challenge anyone watching this show who is pro-life to call your senator and ask them where…

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Shane Reeves and Gayle Jordan Face Off at the Polls in State Senate District 14 Special Election

Republican Shane Reeves and Democrat Gayle Jordan are set to face off at the polls today as voters in the 14th State Senate District decide who will represent them in the Tennessee General Assembly, replacing former State Senator Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville), who resigned when he was was tapped by the Trump administration to serve in the USDA. Reeves, a first-time candidate, won the Republican primary in January against former State Rep. Joe Carr (R-Lascassas).  Democrat Jordan, a very far left candidate in a traditionally conservative district, ran unopposed in her party’s primary. Earlier this year, political watchers were stunned at the outcome of the special election in December to replace longtime popular State Senator Mae Beavers (R-Mt. Juliet). Her long-time friend and ally State Senator Mark Pody (R-Lebanon) ran unopposed in the primary, but low voter turnout resulted in a very narrow victory by Pody over liberal Democrat Mary Alice Carfi by a margin of scarcely 300 votes. Democrats are hoping that Pody’s close call, combined with the 39 local elections they’ve taken from Republicans in the past year, may be an indicator that the hoped for “Blue Wave” many pundits are predicting for the 2018 Congressional midterms in November will be followed by another surprisingly…

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Rutherford County Mayoral Candidate Calls for a County-Wide Safety Assessment of All Schools, Public and Private

In the wake of the horrific school shootings in Parkland, Florida, Rutherford County Mayor candidate Tina Jones called on the Rutherford County School Board along with Sheriff Mike Fitzhugh to conduct a county-wide safety assessment of all schools – public and private. “Nothing is more important than the safety and security of our children,” Jones said in a statement. “While we may have good security protocols in place for our schools, we need to make sure that they are actually being followed and determine if other ways of securing our schools should be implemented. We need to ACT rather than REACT.” Jones said that the assessment and review should focus on two critical areas: whether access to the schools is properly limited; and whether the security systems that are in place are operational. “We are all encouraged to regularly check the batteries in our home smoke detectors,” Jones noted, adding:  This safety assessment will enable us to do the same thing for our schools and should be an annual process moving forward. We also need to determine whether we have a sufficient number of School Resource Officers (SROs) in place, particularly as our student populations are growing so rapidly, and how we…

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Commentary: Democrats Won’t Defeat GOP in November But Complacency Just Might

by Jeffrey A. Rendall   In olden times by far the most tedious part of being a sailor had to be lookout duty. After all, in most cases the lookout’s stationed high up in the crow’s nest gazing out across the vast and empty sea searching for something – anything – that could be interpreted as a hazard to the ship. When sailing in the open ocean the chances of actually encountering a threat is slim indeed, yet the duty was vital nonetheless. A lookout can’t afford to be complacent. The last thing he’d want to do is to miss an iceberg dead ahead or an enemy ship to the port side. Or perhaps even a big wave. Tidal waves certainly didn’t occur very often, but when they arose they were destructive and deadly. The GOP would benefit from stationing a lookout in the proverbial political crow’s nest because Republicans hope to blunt a big blue wave this November. Some in the party are banking on tax reform to be their salvation from the ravages of a storm on the horizon. David M. Drucker of the Washington Examiner wrote, “[S]omething is happening to the dark blue Democratic tsunami that everyone saw coming, and it is happening just…

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The 2018 Midterms Look Questionable for Democrats as the Party Lurches Ever Leftward

by Jeffrey Rendall   It goes without saying most of the media’s fascination with the political dynamics of this year’s midterms has concentrated on the intra-party tug-of-war taking place within Republican ranks, the perpetual struggle between conservatives and establishment elites for control and power. Let’s face it – it’s a lot more interesting to talk about the GOP because there appears to be genuine divisions within the factions and serious disagreements over policy. Although President Trump has largely governed as a conservative the recent budget, gun rights and immigration debates revealed he’s first and foremost a pragmatic populist who favors action – any action – over ideology. In other words, Trump won’t win any awards for his staunch defense of constitutional personal liberties or the concept of limited government. Nevertheless, the vast majority of conservatives are thankful Trump and Mike Pence are steering the executive branch ship. By and large they’ve done a good job and succeeded despite the overt attempts of the deep state to force their failure. But what about the Democrats? With all the attention on the Republicans (as it usually is) there’s been precious little highlighting of the Democrats’ own petty catfights. Sure, the minority party suffers from a lack…

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President Trump Wows a Full House at Raucous CPAC 2018 Appearance

President Trump spoke at the annual 2018 gathering of the American Conservative Union’s Conservative Political Action Committee (CPAC) Friday morning to capacity crowd of enthusiastic Republicans, conservatives, pundits, bloggers, and a few perhaps less-than-ebullient, mainstream-media-types. After thanking ACU president Matt Schlapp for his gracious introduction, and then thanking the crowd, President Trump began, “I’m thrilled to be back at CPAC, with so many of my wonderful friends and amazing supporters, and proud conservatives. Remember when I first started running? Because I wasn’t a politician, fortunately. But do you remember I started running and people would say, ‘Are you sure he’s a conservative?’ I think now we’ve proved that I’m a conservative, right?” Mr. Trump outlined the important role the yearly CPAC event – now in it’s 45 year – has played in promoting conservative values and shaping policy for lasting conservative victories. “For the last year, with your help, we have put more great conservative ideas into use than perhaps ever before in American history,” he said. Then in his predictably unpredictable style, the president took a moment to admire the stage and set, noting his own portrait off to the side. “By the way, what a nice picture that is. Look…

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