GOP Archives - Tennessee Star

GOP Poll Challengers in Michigan Describe Massive Fraud, Racial Hostility at TCF Center in Detroit

December 5, 2020December 4, 2020 Admin

In credible and compelling testimony Wednesday night, a pair of GOP poll watchers in Michigan described what appeared to be coordinated election fraud in the TCF Center on Election night.

Hima Kolanagireddy, an IT expert from India and Andrew Sitto, a 26-year-old college business student, both described suspicious activity such as poll workers feeding ballots into the tabulating machines after they had already been counted and poll workers filling out duplicate ballots to indicate a straight Democrat ticket when the ballots did not reflect that.

Commentary: Republicans’ Populism Without Trump

December 2, 2020December 1, 2020 Admin

November’s result should not obscure the fact that Trump bequeathed Republicans a winning populist strategy. The question is whether there can be populism without his persona. Republicans should seek to find out, or at least they should be if they have any political sense. Trump has drawn Republicans the populist blueprint; now someone else must build from it.

Commentary: In Georgia, Weak Republican Politicians Pave the Way to Their Own Demise

December 1, 2020November 30, 2020 Admin

If he [Trump] continues to disillusion voters … by saying that the elections were rigged and that your vote doesn’t matter, this could have severe consequences for the administration in trying to keep those two seats Republican,” pollster-pundit and alleged Republican Frank Luntz said on “Squawk Box.”

In this stern admonition Luntz indicates what he considers to be the greatest danger facing Republicans in the runoff race for the two Senate seats in Georgia on January 5. Luntz’s warning puts his own spin on what purports to be an objective analysis of the forthcoming election. But Luntz’s comments do not seem to be especially convincing. Why would I think that because Trump has refused to concede openly and emphatically (when there is no need for him to do that now or ever), Republican candidates in Georgia’s senatorial races will be taking a severe hit?

Commentary: Building a New, Less Cowardly Republican Party

November 11, 2020November 10, 2020 Admin

If you are a conservative who has been waking up angry, upset, and frustrated with your representation in Congress in the week since the presidential election, you are not alone.

Many of us are wondering why the Republican Party seems to have been reactive and defensive rather than aggressive in support of President Trump and the America First agenda.

GOP Unveils $1.4T Spending Bill Amid Post-Election Turmoil

November 11, 2020November 10, 2020 The Associated Press

Republicans controlling the Senate unveiled a government-wide, $1.4 trillion spending bill on Tuesday, a largely bipartisan measure that faces uncertain odds during this period of post-election tumult in Washington.

The GOP-drafted measure contains funding for President Donald Trump’s border wall and other provisions opposed by Democrats, but top leaders in both parties want to try to mount a drive to enact the unfinished spending bills — which, along with a separate COVID-19 relief effort and annual defense policy bill, represent the bulk of Capitol Hill’s unfinished business for the year.

GOP Chair Shafer: Fulton County Election Officials Continued ‘Counting Ballots in Secret’ on Election Night

November 10, 2020November 11, 2020 Zachery Schmidt

In a series of Tweets Georgia GOP Chair David Schafer has accused Fulton County election officials of improper behavior.

Schafer said Fulton County election officials counted ballots in a secret after-hours session.

GOP Pushes Barrett’s Nomination Ahead, Dems Decry ‘Sham’

October 16, 2020October 15, 2020 The Associated Press

Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s Supreme Court nomination cleared a key hurdle Thursday as Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans powered past Democrats’ objections in the drive to confirm President Donald Trump’s pick before the Nov. 3 election.

The panel set Oct. 22 for its vote to recommend Barrett’s nomination to the full Senate for a final vote by month’s end.

Commentary: Dear GOP Senate, Please Get This Right!

September 23, 2020September 22, 2020 Admin

As Jack Nicholson said in “Terms of Endearment,” you were just inches from a clean getaway.
Armed with a wholly unimpressive list of accomplishments from the past four years, with the exception of confirming hundreds of federal judges, you were prepared to return home to defend your paltry record with little more than the argument that the other side is much, much worse. Which, lucky for you, is true.

Ohio, GOP Defend Limit on Ballot Drop Boxes to One per County

September 22, 2020September 21, 2020 The Associated Press

Ohio and Republican groups including the Trump campaign are fighting to uphold a GOP election chief’s directive limiting ballot drop boxes in the presidential battleground to one per county.

They told a state appellate court in filings Monday that a county judge overstepped his authority when he blocked it. The Ohio Republican Party said Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Richard Frye “relied on anecdotal evidence and ‘sound public policy,’” when the case “presents a pure question of law.”

State GOP to Take Up House District 18 Primary Challenge Wednesday, Votes to Charge Candidates a Fee to Run as a Republican

August 30, 2020August 29, 2020 Laura Baigert

At Saturday’s meeting of the Tennessee Republican Party (TRP) State Executive Committee, the majority voted to charge candidates for certain offices a fee to run as a Republican and won’t take up the issue of the House District 18 primary challenge until Wednesday.

TRP Chairman Scott Golden told The Tennessee Star he wasn’t sure why some people thought that the challenge to the House District 18 primary results would be taken up at Saturday’s meeting and said it wasn’t “because it’s against the law.”

All 39 Minnesota Delegate Votes Delivered to Trump at RNC

August 25, 2020August 24, 2020 Corinne Murdock

All 39 of Minnesota’s delegates delivered their votes to Trump at the 2020 Republican National Convention (RNC) on Monday. The official re-nomination took place in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Mike Lindell – Chairman of the Minnesota Delegation and Trump Reelection Campaign, notable MyPillow founder – announced the votes.

Virginia Republicans Gather in Video to Nominate President Trump to a Second Term Ahead of National Convention

August 20, 2020August 19, 2020 Admin

In a boisterous video Wednesday, Virginia’s Republican delegates gathered to formally announce their nomination of Donald J. Trump to a second term in 2020.

All 46 of the delegation’s votes went to President Trump.

President Trump to Speak in Minnesota on Monday

August 15, 2020August 14, 2020 Corinne Murdock

President Trump is scheduled to visit Minnesota on Monday, the first stop in a three-part campaigning tour including Wisconsin and Arizona. Each speech will address “Joe Biden’s failures on jobs and the economy.”

Ken Farnaso, the deputy press secretary for the Trump campaign, confirmed Trump’s visits in a tweet Friday morning.

Former GOP Presidential Candidate Herman Cain Dies at 74

July 30, 2020July 30, 2020 The Associated Press

Herman Cain, former Republican presidential candidate and former CEO of a major pizza chain who went on to become an ardent supporter of President Donald Trump, has died of complications from the coronavirus. He was 74.

Commentary: The GOP Can Make Inroads with Hispanics by Doing These Two Things

July 24, 2020July 23, 2020 Admin

In expected 13 percent of the electorate in the 2020 elections, American Hispanics are likely to play a crucial role in deciding contests in Arizona, Florida, and Texas. As the country’s Hispanic population grows larger, many wonder how Republicans can bring this demographic into their fold. Given that the Republican Party has dedicated a good portion of its resources to addressing this question, it’s impossible to say they’ve been ignoring Hispanics. But have they been effective?

Trump Calls Off Florida Segment of GOP National Convention

July 23, 2020July 23, 2020 The Associated Press

President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he has scrubbed his planned Republican National Convention scheduled for Florida next month, citing a “flare-up” of the coronavirus.

Trump’s formal renomination will still go forward in North Carolina, where a small subset of GOP delegates will still gather in Charlotte, North Carolina, for just four hours on Aug. 24. Florida was to have hosted four nights of programming and parties that Trump had hoped would be a “four-night infomercial” for his reelection.

Former Ohio Governor John Kasich Expected to Speak at the Democratic National Convention

July 20, 2020July 21, 2020 The Associated Press

Former Ohio Gov. John Kasich, a Republican and frequent Trump critic, has been approached and is expected to speak at the Democratic National Convention on Biden’s behalf next month, according to a person with direct knowledge of the plans who insisted on anonymity to discuss strategy. Kasich is among a handful of high-profile Republicans likely to become more active in supporting Biden in the fall.

GOP Caps Attendance for Convention Over Coronavirus Concerns

July 17, 2020July 16, 2020 Admin

The Republican National Committee announced Thursday morning that it would restrict attendance for the party’s convention next month in Jacksonville, Florida.

The announcement comes a day after the RNC announced that they would move the convention outdoors due to growing concerns over the coronavirus pandemic, The Hill reported. The decision comes as positive cases are skyrocketing across the state, according to a Johns Hopkins University database.

Commentary: The Republican Party Needs a Voter Fraud Task Force in Every State

July 16, 2020July 15, 2020 Admin

The news that the Republican Party of Connecticut has created a citizen task force to record and investigate cases of potential voter fraud ahead of the 2020 presidential election is a welcome sign that some Republican leaders understand how the Democrats intend to create Election Day chaos to ensure that President Trump is defeated.

Exclusive: GOP Influencer Alexander Ali Warns Rookies Blowing Trump’s Relection

July 15, 2020July 15, 2020 Neil W. McCabe

Ali Alexander is something of veteran in the Republican digital game and he sees warning signs for the reelection of President Donald Trump–and he cannot keep quiet about. When Alexander was growing up he learned politics when his lawyer mother took him with her to phone-bank for local judges,…

Commentary: Diversity in the Party of Lincoln

July 1, 2020July 1, 2020 Admin

In his famous Gettysburg Address, President Abraham Lincoln reminded us that we live in a country founded on the proposition that we are all created equal. Although our nation has made remarkable strides since that 1863 speech and we remain the envy of the world, the party of Lincoln still remains less diverse than it did during reconstruction – the period immediately following the Civil War when we sought to redress the inequities of slavery.

Dean Phillips Challenger Says Single-Parent Homes ‘Chief Barrier’ to African-American Advancement

June 23, 2020June 23, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

Republican congressional candidate Kendall Qualls said the “chief barrier to the advancement of the African-American community is the rise of single-parent households,” not “racism, police brutality or white privilege.”

Qualls is running against Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN-03), a first-term Democrat who unseated former Republican Congressman Erik Paulsen in 2018.

Ohio GOP Central Committee Censures Former Chairman Matt Borges for Supporting Biden

June 20, 2020June 19, 2020 Jason M. Reynolds

Matt Borges has been censured by the Ohio Republican Central Committee for working to defeat President Donald Trump and ensure Joe Biden wins the election.

Borges is the former chairman of the Ohio Republican Party. However, he has been running the Right Side PAC to support Biden, The Plain Dealer reported. The party said they took the action as well due to an FEC violation and Borges’ continued criticism of Trump. They also stripped his “chairman emeritus” status.

Rep. Phil Roe and GOP Doctors Ask Pelosi to Resume In-Person Work

May 25, 2020May 24, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

U.S. Rep. Phil Roe (R-TN-01) and his colleagues in the House Republican Doctors Caucus recently sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi asking her to resume “in-person legislative business.”

Eight GOP County Chairs Want State Legislators to Come Back to Check Bill Lee’s Powers During COVID-19 Pandemic

May 5, 2020May 5, 2020 Chris Butler

GOP officials from eight Tennessee counties sent a letter to Gov. Bill Lee Monday pleading with him to repeal all restrictions on businesses and gatherings of any kind after the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the letter, they also asked Lee to end the state legislature’s current recess.

Commentary: Rescuing the GOP’s Climate Policy From Absurdity

February 22, 2020February 21, 2020 Admin

For the fanatics on the far Left, and perhaps even for those deranged millions in the middle of the Democratic pack, there is nothing a Republican can say about “climate” that would impress them. As far as they’re concerned, Republicans are racist, sexist, and xenophobic, with a long history of “denying” that climate change is an existential crisis. So anything the GOP has to say on the topic has no credibility.

Minnesota GOP Sent Cease and Desist Letter by State Fair Over Trump Flag Display

September 3, 2019September 2, 2019 Anthony Gockowski

The Minnesota Republican Party received a cease and desist letter from the Minnesota State Fair in response to activists who were riding the popular “SkyGlider” attraction while holding Trump 2020 flags.

Kasich on Challenging Trump: ‘I Don’t See the Path Right Now’

August 30, 2019August 29, 2019 Anthony Gockowski

Former Ohio Gov. John Kasich said on CNN this week that he doesn’t “see the path right now” for mounting a successful challenge against President Donald Trump in the Republican primary.

Michigan U.S. Rep. Amash, a Trump Critic, Quits Republican Party

July 5, 2019July 4, 2019 Admin

U.S. Rep Justin Amash of Michigan is quitting the GOP. The only Republican in Congress to call for President Donald Trump’s impeachment, Amash said in an op-ed published in the Washington Post Thursday – July 4th – that he was declaring his independence from the Republican Party because the…

Rutherford County GOP Target of Apparent Bomb Scare

June 8, 2019June 9, 2019 Chris Butler

The Rutherford County Republican Party headquarters received a package Friday morning that party officials said was apparently a bomb, according to a Tennessee Republican Party press release. Officials contacted authorities and then evacuated the building on East Main Street in Murfreesboro. Murfreesboro Police Spokesman Larry Flowers said in a…

Republican Star John James Announces Senate Run on D-Day

June 7, 2019June 6, 2019 Anthony Gockowski

Veteran John James, one of Michigan’s rising Republicans stars, announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate Thursday morning, the 75th anniversary of D-Day. “I would like to announce that I am running for U.S. Senate after careful deliberation and thoughtful prayer,” James said during an appearance on “Fox &…

Republican Says Minnesota Gov. Walz’s ‘Inexperience’ and ‘Incompetence’ Forced Special Session

May 29, 2019May 29, 2019 Anthony Gockowski

Gov. Tim Walz called a special session for the Minnesota Legislature so it could finish passing some of the state’s major budget bills, but some Republicans think a special session could have been avoided. The Legislature officially adjourned on Monday, May 20 at midnight after Walz and party leaders…

No Gas Tax Increase for Minnesota

May 26, 2019May 25, 2019 Anthony Gockowski

An omnibus transportation budget bill is on its way to Gov. Tim Walz’s desk without any gas tax increase. After clearing the DFL-controlled House Friday evening, the bill passed out of the Senate later Friday night in a 54-13 vote. It’s official…no gas tax increase in Minnesota. Senate just…

Pelosi Continues Swing Through Midwest With Speech at DFL Fundraiser

May 25, 2019May 24, 2019 Anthony Gockowski

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi spoke Friday night at the DFL’s annual Humphrey-Mondale Dinner in Minneapolis, continuing her swing through key Midwest states. “The House Democratic Majority in Washington has been hard at work tackling the toughest issues facing our country, just as the DFL has been doing in Minnesota,”…

Minnesota GOP House Leader Calls 2019 Session ‘Least Productive’ and ‘Least Transparent’ in History

May 22, 2019May 21, 2019 Anthony Gockowski

House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt (R-Crown) had some harsh words for his Democratic colleagues in the Minnesota House after the 2019 legislative session came to an official close Monday at midnight. Party leaders and Gov. Tim Walz agreed on a $48.3 billion biennial budget on Sunday, giving lawmakers hardly…

Showdown in the Tennessee House GOP Caucus

May 20, 2019May 19, 2019 Laura Baigert

The stage is set for a dramatic showdown on Monday afternoon in downtown Nashville between about a dozen Republican state legislators, led by an increasingly vocal State Rep. Mike Carter (R-Ooltewah), and Tennessee Speaker of the House Glen Casada. At issue is whether the 73 member Tennessee House Republican…

GOP Strategist Bruce Mehlman Predicts We’re About To Enter ‘The Roaring 2020s’

May 16, 2019May 15, 2019 Admin

by Evie Fordham If the last few years in politics have felt disruptive, that’s because they were — and more disruption is on the way, predicted Republican strategist Bruce Mehlman of lobbying firm Mehlman Castagnetti Rosen & Thomas. Mehlman spoke to The Daily Caller News Foundation this week about…

Ohio Manufacturer Says Tariffs Have Brought ‘Growth’ and ‘Opportunities’ to Businesses

May 15, 2019May 14, 2019 Anthony Gockowski

MSNBC went to Ohio over the weekend to examine the impact of tariffs (separate from the Chinese tariffs) on businesses and retailers in the area. Glen Fish, CEO of Revere Plastic Systems, said that “since the tariff activities have kicked in, it has been a benefit for us.” “We’ve…

Minnesota Budget Talks Break Down as Shutdown Looms

May 14, 2019May 13, 2019 Anthony Gockowski

Budget negotiations broke down Monday night as a visibly frustrated Gov. Tim Walz emerged from a third round of meetings and blasted Republicans in the Senate. “I don’t have fair partners to work with right now,” Walz said during a 15-minute conversation with reporters. “They cannot stand in front…

DFL Chairman Slams Pence for ‘Legacy of Homophobia’ Ahead of Minnesota Visit

May 8, 2019May 7, 2019 Anthony Gockowski

Vice President Mike Pence is scheduled to visit Minnesota Thursday to promote the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and discuss its impact on farmers and steel workers. Pence will stop at R & J Johnson Farms in Glyndon before heading to Gerdau Ameristeel, a steel mill in St. Paul. A…

Ohio Conservatives Suggest Ways to Fix the State’s GOP

April 30, 2019April 30, 2019 Chris Butler

Two conservatives with clout in Ohio say they can fix the Ohio Republican Party, which they say has members that are too elite, lean left politically, and are too vindictive toward others. Those ideas include making Ohio a right-to-work state and changing its primary election system, they told The…

GOP Renews Calls for Omar’s Removal from Foreign Affairs Committee After She Described 9/11 as ‘Some People Did Something’

April 11, 2019April 10, 2019 Anthony Gockowski

Republicans are once again calling for Rep. Ilhan Omar’s (D-MN-05) removal from the House Foreign Affairs Committee after video leaked of her describing the 9/11 terror attacks as “some people did something.” Omar’s remarks came during her appearance at the Council on American-Islamic Relations’ (CAIR) March fundraiser in Los Angeles.…

Wisconsin Journalist to Female Republican Staffer: ‘Hope You Don’t Get Raped at a MAGA Rally’

April 3, 2019April 2, 2019 Anthony Gockowski

An editor for a Wisconsin-based publication was outed Tuesday for allegedly telling a female communications director for the National Republican Congressional Committee that she hopes she doesn’t “get raped at a MAGA rally.” In a press release, Carly Atchison advocated for the Born Alive Survivors’ Protection Act, which would protect…

Minnesota’s Hands-Free Driving Bill Could Include Exception for Those Wearing Hijabs

March 29, 2019March 28, 2019 Anthony Gockowski

A bill requiring “hands-free” communications while driving is on track to become law in Minnesota. The proposal passed the Minnesota Senate Monday in a 56-10 vote after clearing the Minnesota House last week. It would prohibit Minnesota drivers from using cell phones on the road unless they use “voice-activated” communications…

Popular Minnesota Gun Control Group Makes ‘Dubious’ Claim That It Is ‘Nonpartisan’

March 5, 2019March 4, 2019 Anthony Gockowski

A representative from Moms Demand Action sat down with Esme Murphy on WCCO Sunday morning where she repeatedly claimed that the gun-control group is “nonpartisan.” Moms Demand Action is a national organization with chapters in states all across the country that are pushing for gun-control measures, such as the red-flag…

Minnesota’s Governor Tim Walz Commits to 100 Percent Clean Energy By 2050 Despite Struggles During Polar Vortex

March 5, 2019March 4, 2019 Anthony Gockowski

Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) announced a proposal to make Minnesota a 100 percent clean energy state by 2050 at a press conference Monday morning. “Today I’m excited to be here to propose our One Minnesota path to clean energy—a set of policy proposals that will lead Minnesota to 100 percent…

Klobuchar Jokes About Eating Salad With ‘a Bit of Scalp Oil and a Pinch of Dandruff’

March 4, 2019March 3, 2019 Anthony Gockowski

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) spoke Saturday night at the esteemed Gridiron Club dinner in Washington D.C. where she attempted to joke about the recent stories detailing her abusive behavior towards her staffers. The New York Times reported February 22 that, in one instance, Klobuchar berated a staff member who forgot…

Red Flag Bill and Universal Background Checks One Step Closer to Becoming Law in Minnesota

March 2, 2019March 1, 2019 Anthony Gockowski

DFL lawmakers are closer than ever before to passing multiple gun-control bills in Minnesota as a Republican-controlled Senate stands in the way. A universal background checks bill and a “red flag” law both advanced out of committee this week. The former was approved by the House Public Safety Committee late…

Minnesota Republicans Continue Pro-Life Push With Several Pieces of Legislation

February 23, 2019February 22, 2019 Anthony Gockowski

Several pieces of pro-life legislation have been introduced by Republicans in both the Minnesota House and Senate. While they all face uphill battles against a Democratic-controlled House and a progressive in the Governor’s Mansion, pro-life leaders think that at least some of the measures should attract bipartisan support. Senate File…

Minnesota State Rep Introduces Bill to Increase Criminal Penalties for Hate Crime Hoaxes

February 21, 2019February 20, 2019 Anthony Gockowski

A Republican lawmaker plans to introduce legislation in the Minnesota House to increase the criminal penalties for hate-crime hoaxes in response to the ongoing controversy surrounding “Empire” star Jussie Smollett. Rep. Nick Zerwas’ (R-Elk River) proposed bill would elevate the false reporting of a hate crime to a gross misdemeanor…