The Salt of Tennessee

Embarassing... to say the least...

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Chip Saltsman sent RNC members the parody CD "We Hate the USA" for Christmas, which includes the controversial tune "Barack the Magic Negro." He defended his decision Friday, telling CNN the song was clearly intended as a joke.

"I think most people recognize political satire when they see it," Saltsman told CNN. "I think RNC members understand that."

Saltsman, a former chair of the Tennessee Republican Party, was a top advisor to former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and managed former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee's presidential campaign.

He is one of several candidates running to replace Duncan in the closely contested race to lead the Republican Party.

"The 2008 election was a wake-up call for Republicans to reach out and bring more people into our party," RNC Chairman Mike Duncan said in a statement reported Saturday afternoon by Politico.

"I am shocked and appalled that anyone would think this is appropriate, as it clearly does not move us in the right direction."

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Actually, I doubt that the TN GOP would find any of this inappropriate. I believe the only reason they're in favor of the 1st Amendment is so they can express their racism openly!

I'm guessing burning crosses or nooses would also be good political satire...

You got your degree? Go sit on the porch!

Since I remain steadfastly pro-Southern, anti-Republican, I'm loving Congressman Marsha's commencement speech given at MSU last week...

from today's Tennessean...

Rep. Blackburn: Savor pace of the South

U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn on Saturday urged college graduates in her native Magnolia State, whether Southern-born or not, to appreciate the region, especially what she called its lessons learned from the front porch.

Blackburn, R-Brentwood, addressed graduates of Mississippi State University at both the Friday night and Saturday morning programs in Starkville.

She praised Southerners' finely tuned internal clocks, explaining, "We know the rhythms of life are to be enjoyed and not to be sped past."

"Anything worth doing is worth doing well, and poor decisions are almost always made in a rush. When you rush to the finish line, you are speeding past opportunities.

"As you travel in life, listen to your internal clock and go at your own pace, a pace that reflects the studied contemplation of the front porch," said Blackburn.

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So I'm guessing this validates Southern Republicans' efforts to turn back the clock?

Coulter's big announcement

...is that she is a proud prostitute.


OK, maybe. But for real, with each book that comes out, it seems like more and more of her clothes come off on the cover picture. I'm thinking one or two more books and she'll just be posing in a bra and panties. This would be kinda weird if those who believe she's really a man turn out to be right. Umm... ew.

Here's the publisher's synopsis of the Coultergeist's new book...

In her most controversial and fiercely argued book yet, Ann Coulter calls out liberals for always playing the victim - when in fact, as she sees it, they are the victimizers. In GUILTY, Coulter explodes this myth to reveal that when it comes to bullying, no one outdoes the Left. GUILTY is a mordantly witty and shockingly specific catalog of offenses which Coulter presents from A to Z. And as with each of her past books, all of which were NYT bestsellers, Coulter is fearless in her penchant for saying what needs saying about politics and culture today.

Tennessee Republicans are idiots (Example #102897614)

I'm assuming anyone who reads this blog has watched the news at least ONCE in the past 8 years. Therefore, I'm not going to explain why these quotes from the Tennessean about Bush's legacy are insanely hilarious...


Tennessee GOP Chairwoman Robin Smith:

"I believe George Bush on the whole based his decisions on his convictions, not convenience."

"He's not eloquent, but most of the time people who are eloquent tend to have a level of education and polish but that does not indicate the depth of their intellect. He is a man of intellect."


Former TN Sen. Howard Baker:

"I think he has very good relations with foreign leaders."


Rep. Marsha Blackburn (TN-07):

"I think he will be remembered for the tax cuts, which did a lot of good for people and for small-business development, and I think he will be remembered for wise choices in Supreme Court justices."

Wamp gives level-headed Tennesseans hope, Blackburn gives b.s.

Rep. Zach Wamp (TN-03) on Tennessee's impending Republican domination...

Wamp, seen as a potential candidate for governor in 2010, doesn't foresee a Republican legislature flexing its muscles too much too soon, especially in light of Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen's performance.

"Governor Bredesen frankly has built credibility and good will by managing the government, and I think that will carry over to the legislature," Wamp said. "I don't believe a new majority will be too confrontational. It's a time of great challenge. With so many economic challenges, this is a time to pull together and make the government successful. I don't expect either side to get rolled."

Rep. Marsha Blackburn (TN-07) on... poli sci 101?:

"Lots of people ask me about it, and I say, 'Well, in order to understand it you've got to go back to the beginning,'" she said.

"Much of the change in our state came about not necessarily because of party affiliation but because of philosophy of government," she said. "We are truly a center-right state. We have people who want to see the state managed in a conservative vein. The problem arose, and a line was drawn in the sand, when the state income tax issue was brought to the forefront. People were asking, 'Do I come down on the right side or the left side on the issues?'"

Very profound.

Suit up, buddy

You gotta hand it to them. While the national GOP scrambles, the TN right-wing makes no excuses for its hate-filled agenda. In fact, it's becoming more and more apparent that the new state legislature will forego all those silly old-school Republican ideals of "small government" and "personal responsibility" in favor of the REALLY important issues...

From the Nashville Scene...

Evangelicals would like to clear up any confusion over who's running the state legislature.

Christian Right leaders are instructing lawmakers to put "values issues" first in the upcoming session—even at a time of economic calamity, with state tax collections falling as much as $800 million below budget.

"Some folks just don't get it!" exclaims David Fowler, president of the Rev. James Dobson-affiliated Family Action Council.

In a message to supporters, Fowler dismisses more cautious observers who are advising Republicans against full-out pursuit of the conservative Christian agenda.

"They could not be more dead wrong!" he writes. "For Republicans to ignore those who brought them to the dance is political suicide."

Outlawing abortions, of course, is at the top of the to-do list.

What else is on the evangelical agenda? Censoring television "indecency," teaching creationism in science classes, banning gay adoptions, prohibiting any mention of homosexuality in public schools—the famous "Don't Say Gay" bill—and the list goes on.

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This is gonna be fun.

Hairy Republican whores!

Courtesy of the ABC News...

It's scary that Newt Gingrich has ANY influence beyond FIXED News

From Bill-O tonight, Newt on civil rights...

Look, I think there is a gay and secular fascism in this country that wants to impose its will on the rest of us, is prepared to use violence, to use harassment. I think it is prepared to use the government if it can get control of it. I think that it is a very dangerous threat to anybody who believes in traditional religion.

Is he serious? 10 years after Matthew Shepard's murder, are heterosexuals now at risk of straight-bashing? This civil rights thing is such a pain in the A.

Tennessee's new path backward

From today's Tennessean...

Rep. Mumpower prepares for 'a new order'

Mumpower, 35, said the GOP House agenda is still under discussion, but the party will make education a priority and push for it to be taken up early in the budget process. He also expects to press for pro-business legislation, and quickly pass bills long bottlenecked in the House, including a constitutional amendment on abortion and firearm bills, before dealing with the budget.

FYI... Jason Mumpower is posed to become the new House speaker and is obviously a cookie-cutter partisan for the extremist TN GOP. God save the Governor.

One more thing, and I know they do it all the time, but it is *ridiculous* how abortion and gun ownership seem to roll one-after-the-other for Republicans. Do they not see anything wrong in wrapping fetuses and guns into one platitude?

Blackburn probed with the L-word

Congressman Marsha starts off pretty well by reiterating her view of the right-wing's path forward. Unfortunately, the same ol' b.s. starts once this weird-lookin' conservative dude uses key words like "liberal", "far-left", then brings up the scariest topic of all... SCOTUS!!!

Advice I hope TN GOP lawmakers take

The crew at the Tennessean provides some words of wisdom to the new GOP-controlled state legislature...

It would be a mistake to use newfound power to flex muscles over social issues like abortion and guns. A few lawmakers may be chomping at the bit to aggressively push such issues to the fore. The public will be better served if the legislature keeps sensible priorities and shows the best possible performance in managing the budget and working in ways all Tennesseans deserve.

We can only hope...

Marsha Blackburn on the future of right-wing politics in America

Congressman Marsha's op-ed from RCP is getting attention! I stumbled across it on some blog from Kansas, and of course among the usual crazies in TN.

I must say, in the clip from MSNBC below, MB makes sense... and she didn't even have to use phrases like "liberal elite" or "latte-sipping- *insert-some-noun-trying-to-make-yourself-sound-like-you're-not-from-Brentwood*."



I'm sure everyone knows what I'm gonna say next, including Congressman Marsha. These might have just been random names she threw out, but...

Fred Thompson?!!!! John McCain?!!!! How did the message go from new blood to two of the oldest Republicans alive?

That's all I'm gonna say about that. Even I know that Rep. Blackburn is smarter than to believe these two guys are the future of the right-wing. I know there is no such thing as "new" conservative ideas, but there has got to be at least one or two Republicans who aren't old as dirt or complete morons.

But I will say this... everyone knows that Sarah Palin is, in fact, a complete moron. I believe Marsha used the word "bases" when she spoke of Palin's rallying capabilities. No, no, Congressman... she rallied ONE base: fellow morons.

The buzz wears off... reality sets in...

WARNING: If you are still riding an Obama victory high, you might want to skip this post.

Obviously it's too much to ask to be all-around happy with the results of an election, especially when it includes such pivotal races on the federal, state, and local levels. The first thing that came to mind when MSNBC announced Obama as president-elect was "wow, this is the first time I've voted for someone and they've won!" I actually voted with the majority of Americans!

Of course, the Tennessean had to slap me in the face Wednesday morning. Newsflash: Republicans have taken control of both Houses of Tennessee's state legislature for the first time since Reconstruction. My reaction can be summarized in the following way...

Oh..... shit.

As the TN GOP states:

“The election of a Republican majority in the General Assembly is historic in its own right, and even more so given the strong Democratic tide across much of the country,” said Robin Smith, Chairman of the Tennessee Republican Party. “Our victories send a national message that Republican values still resonate with mainstream America. The power of a consistent conservative Republican message - low taxes, small government and respect for life - once again demonstrated its power to attract a majority.”

And yes, I'll just let you know right now that the no-moderates-allowed TN Repubs have confirmed their plan to strip Tennessee's women of their reproductive rights. That's what they mean by "respect for life"... unless you screw up and they condemn you to death.

Soooo... Tennessee, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana were the only states to vote more Republican in 2008 than in previous years.

I understand that, 1) TN does not have the diversity of Georgia, North Carolina, Alabama, etc., 2) TN is still mostly rural, and 3) and Obama didn't give TN a hint of attention, but why exactly did Democrats fail statewide?!! Did the TN Democratic Party not spend enough of its resources on these races? Did Obama take Democrats' attention away from the elections that were actually winnable here? Were the candidates sub-par?

Granted, in Williamson County, I didn't even have the option of voting for any Democrats besides Barack and Congressman Marsha's opponent, but still... this is ridiculous.

...And therefore Republicans will redraw TN's congressional districts in 2010. I'd expect it to look similar to the current map below, although the gerrymandering will reverse the 5D/4R split.

Thank God Gov. Bredesen will be around until then.

In other crazy right-wing news, Rep. Blackburn is now focused on climbing the remaining Republican ranks. Word is that she's looking to chair the Republican Study Committee... "a group of over 110 House Republicans organized for the purpose of advancing a conservative social and economic agenda in the House of Representatives."

This means take all regulations off the economy and put them on society.

Marsha also has a profound op-ed on RealClearPolitics telling Republicans what their path forward should be....

The core lyric of my favorite country song is "When you're in a hole, stop diggin'." That also sums up the message voters have given Republicans.

Tuesday night, our party suffered a resounding electoral defeat. President-elect Obama and his congressional partners deserve our sincere congratulations on their victory. As the country catches its breath, the conservative movement must regroup and set upon a course to prevent November 4th from repeating itself in two years.

The great question now is "how?" As a party we have added to Americans' frustration with the gulf between our message and our methods. We have become lazy in our assertions and half-hearted in our actions. It isn't good enough to evoke "Ronald Reagan" without bothering to explain how and why the ideas he articulated 30 years ago are the best framework to solve today's problems.

House Republicans are now the "last men standing" to fight for conservative values. It is up to us to articulate what a conservative believes and how a conservative behaves. In this, we cannot oppose for opposition's sake, but find the imperative to stand up and fight when we have the better idea for a stronger America.

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I actually cut out all of the parts bashing liberals.

How many years have we been waiting?

I am too happy...

To the beginning of a new revolution

Liberals in '08

Blackburn on FIXED News: Change the message... or... don't?

Congressman Marsha agrees that McCain needs a different issue in these waning days...


OK. This leftie wants to know, what freedoms and liberties do Republicans actually want to protect? Yes, we all know gun rights are generally what they're referring to, but seriously, what other rights do Republicans defend? Free speech? Free expression? Free will? Free love? Umm...

A little gift from Politico to TN-07 liberals

How exactly do the MBs match up? Some Blackburn vs. Bachmann trivia...(click for larger image)

Final plea for your $$$

As the 2008 election season draws to a close, Congressman Blackburn would like to make one final plea for campaign contributions...undoubtedly to spend on other races across the country. Hmm...maybe she'll donate your $$$ to the nice lady standing behind her in the picture above. You know, that congresswoman who's looking out for anti-Americanism on behalf of Minnesotans!

Here's the jest of it:

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"If the Obama Democrats take control of the White House, we will be facing one of the more radical shifts in the direction of our nation in American history. And if the Democrats retain control of Congress, they will control the entire federal government!

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (D.C.C.C.), along with groups like ACORN and MoveOn.org, has dumped tens of millions of dollars into Congressional races. They are constantly expanding their list of targeted seats. We must have the resources to fight back.

I need your help as we come to the finish line. As you know the last days of a campaign are always the most critical. Thank you!"

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Obviously we know SHE doesn't need our help (TN-07 has a PVI of R+12), but there's a lengthy list of Republicans who do. Therefore, help Congressman Blackburn save her freaky friends!

Big Stumpin'

Since her House seat is virtually locked up, Marsha doesn't have to jump the McCain ship just yet. From the Miami Herald:

With his presidential bid on the line, Republican John McCain made plans to beat a hasty return to Florida and announced he would land Tuesday night, pre-empting Democrat Barack Obama's arrival on Wednesday.

Gov. Sarah Palin is also planning a return trip to Florida this week. And there's no shortage of surrogates to help make up for the Republican ticket's lighter presence on television.

Seeking to shore up McCain's appeal among religious voters, Jewish Sen. Joe Lieberman is in South Florida Tuesday, while Sen. Sam Brownback, an evangelical Protestant turned Catholic, is on his way to the state. Several other former McCain rivals -- Rudy Giuliani, Fred Thompson and Mike Huckabee -- will also campaign for the Republican ticket in Florida this week.

Wait there's more: a bus tour aimed at women voters led by rising star U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee and the wife of U.S. Mel Martinez.

Again, the rising star. Good for her. Seems like there are quite a few burning out in the Republican solar system. I know, I know...the metaphor of a solar system is a little science-y for the right wing, but it was the first thing that came to mind.

What kind of party is this?

From some Ohio newspaper...

FAIRFIELD — A business owners roundtable is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 27, at Jungle Jim's International Market in Fairfield to discuss the specifics of Sen. John McCain's economic policy should he become president.

Attendees will include Patricia Heaton, who plays Raymond's wife on the sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond; Former Massacusetts Gov. Jane Swift; U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee; Lady Lynn Forester de Rothschild, heiress to the Rothschild fortune; Sandra Froman, president of the National Rifle Association; Rob Portman, former congressman and budget director of the Bush White house; and Betty Montgomery, Ohio chair of Women for McCain.

Ya...trying to comprehend this line-up gives me an instant headache. What exactly are business owners supposed to learn from Raymond's wife, an heiress, or the NRA? How to not work for anything? How to avoid paying taxes? How to shoot your way to the top?

TN Election Update...it's what you'd expect

From "that" far-left blog...

TN-Pres: Worse than Kerry

Research 2000 for Daily Kos. 10/21-22. Likely voters. MoE 4% (No trend lines)

McCain (R) 54
Obama (D) 38

In 2004, Bush won the state 57-43, meaning that Tennessee might be one of small handful of states that actually trend more Republican than the other way around.

Most of you don't know it, but there's actually a Senate race in Tennessee this year. There's not much to see -- Lamar! leads Democrat Bob Tuke 59-37 in this poll. Like much of the Southern polling we've done, African American respondents report abnormally high "undecided" numbers. It's more of that reverse Bradley effect we've been seeing, with a higher portion of black voters refusing to tell pollsters who they support. Accounting for that, it looks like both top-of-ticket Dems are at their party's absolute floor -- about 40 percent.

Let's chalk up Tennessee as a long-term project.
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Obviously TN Kos readers love them some Marsha...this is a comment re: Rep. Lincoln Davis (TN-04)/TN's political spectrum...

I swear to G-d, the only D position he possibly holds is pro labor.
But when Marsha Blackburn represents the right, the middle ends up being........ way over there somewhere.

Although I'd like Congressman Davis to move a little further away from Blackburn, I do like this clip of his..."Why I'm a Democrat"...

The Real Housewives of Otero County?

From the Las Cruces Sun-News...

ALBUQUERQUE - The chairwoman of an Otero County Republican women's group on Tuesday defended a letter to the editor in which she wrote, ''I believe Muslims are our enemies.''

Marcia Stirman, a 56-year-old interior decorator, also called Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama ''a Muslim socialist.''

Officials with the Republican Party of New Mexico had no immediate comment.

The letter ran Tuesday in the Alamogordo Daily News. It was titled ''Why I'm a Republican'' and listed 16 reasons for her party affiliation.

The list ends with Stirman saying Obama is ''a Muslim socialist.'' She also wrote, ''I believe war is a fact of life and we should always win.''

''I still have freedom of speech and an opinion. If the Islamic group doesn't like it, well, I don't like what's going on in their camp, either,'' Stirman said.

UPDATE: Marcia has resigned. How dare she tarnish the good Marcia/Marsha name.

FASCISM REVEALED!!! Example: Rep. Randy Kuhl of New York

...aaaand for today's installment of pitiful Republican swan songs...


Congressman Kuhl (NY-29) talking about suffering. Maybe now Republicans can understand how liberals have felt for the past what-seems-like-an-eternity.

FASCISM REVEALED!!! Example: Rep. Robin Hayes of North Carolina

Congressman Hayes (NC-08)... another Repub at the forefront of the pathetic mess...



I know this clip has been on the blogs for a minute, but I don't think I've ever heard a more articulate explanation of liberals from a right-winger. He must be ejukated.

You might recall some of the following from a poll I had on this blog, but, as a refresher, here are some of the groups Republicans hate:

Blacks, Hispanics, Catholics, Jews, Buddhists, Northerners, gays, Chinese, Japanese, dirty knees, Europeans, Chechens, Tibetans, Pacific Islanders, Eskimos, orphans, homeless people, actors, agnostics, aborigines, Native-Americans, Sikhs, Indians-of-any-kind, scientists, journalists, drag queens, mermaids, hula dancers, sexy beasts, musicians, PhDs, trekkies, and 99% of other peaceful groups of the world.

Some of the groups Republicans love?:

Themselves, whores.

...have I forgotten any?

What does Marsha have to do for their endorsements?!!

There should be no doubt that the right-wing would consider the Tennessean and the Commercial Appeal to be liberal, slanderous, anti-family publications (remember that Nashville and Memphis are bastions of socialism), but still, how can anyone refuse Rep. Blackburn?!!

From the Tennessean:

This newspaper endorses relative political newcomer [Randy] Morris, a Waynesboro businessman and chairman of the Wayne County Democratic Party, to represent the Seventh District.

Three-term incumbent Rep. Marsha Blackburn has become well-known nationally through her guest interviews on cable news shows and as a surrogate going on the attack for the McCain campaign. But the Brentwood Republican's accomplishments for her constituents in the Seventh District are less apparent.

In April, Rep. Blackburn's campaign announced that an audit of her campaign finances found more than $440,000 in unreported or incorrectly reported donations and expenditures since 2002.

Rep. Blackburn blamed the unreported donations on a credit-card company and on inexperienced campaign workers, but the errors raise questions about attentiveness to her campaign operations, not to mention her reputation as strong on fiscal issues.

From the Commercial Appeal:

In the district that stretches from the eastern suburbs of Memphis to the western fringe of Nashville, no credible candidate has surfaced to mount a general election challenge to the re-election efforts of Rep. Marsha Blackburn, a Brentwood Republican.

Blackburn easily shook off GOP primary challenger Tom Leatherwood despite the ethical stain on her career caused by campaign finance reporting problems and Blackburn's funneling of campaign contributions to family members.

Democratic nominee Randy Morris of Waynesboro does not have the background or resources to mount a credible campaign, however, and The Commercial Appeal makes no recommendation in this race.

NYC reaches out to Gov. Lipstick

"Aware that Sarah Palin loves being able to see Russia from her home in Alaska, the developer of The Edge, the largest new condominium development rising in Brooklyn, is wondering whether the Republican Vice Presidential nominee might like to check out some dramatic views closer to the mainland."

FASCISM REVEALED!!! Example: Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota

This is the real deal when it comes to Republican fascism.

A break

God bless her!

Cream of the crop? Obviously Blackburn!

The League of Conservation Voters has released its 2008 Scorecard...

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – For 30 years, the non-partisan LCV Scorecard has been the nationally accepted yardstick used to gauge how members of Congress voted on key energy and environmental issues.

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Rankings for Tennessee's delegation:

Lamar Alexander (REP) TN --- 18%
Bob Corker (REP) TN --- 27%

Marsha Blackburn (REP) TN-7 --- 0%
Stephen Cohen (DEM) TN-9 --- 100%
Jim Cooper (DEM) TN-5 --- 100%
David Davis (REP) TN-1 --- 0%
Lincoln Davis (DEM) TN-4 --- 85%
John Duncan (REP) TN-2 --- 8%
Bart Gordon (DEM) TN-6 --- 85%
John Tanner (DEM) TN-8 --- 85%
Zach Wamp (REP) TN-3 ---15%

Yes, David Davis also scored a big, fat zero. However, he was ousted by fellow Republicans in the TN-01 primary in favor of Phil Roe, a more environmentally-friendly right-winger (oxymoron, I think).

TN-07... still draggin' our feet!

It's voting time in Tennessee

Since we have very few true-blue liberals to vote for, we can at least vote for the moderates!

http://tnmap.state.tn.us/voterlookup/

OK... cheap, but funny shot at MB

A little exchange from Twitter...

"I just noticed this for the 1st time - does Marsha Blackburn smoke? [see pic above] - what is that stain on her 2 front teeth?"

Response from Congressman Blackburn's office:

“In the midst of a Middle Tennessee fuel crisis, debate over a $700 billion dollar bailout to avert a possible Wall Street crisis, and a significant Republican victory on energy; you can understand why I won’t comment on every random tweet out there.”

As Wonkette puts it: "Yes, whatever, smokin’ congresslady. Go enjoy your Capri 100s."

Careful, Twitterers! Congressman Marsha is apparently watching you. Weird.

This is one of those "good point"-type comments

A response to a CNN article about the Republican Frustration that is John McCain:

Yeah he's worried, and just like everyone else who might have an archaic (Republican) mindset, wouldn't you be if the son of an African and a white Kansan was outstrategizing you?

Where are the Karl's, Rush's, and Annie's at?!!

Republicans getting desperate; showing their true colors (and they aren't red, white and blue)

With very little left to cling onto, Republicans (obviously fueled by McBush and Gov. Lipstick) are becoming more and more violent and hysterical. Dumb people + hate + access to firearms = scary. Granted, Republicans have always been scary, but this time I can semi-understand how disappointed they must feel as they sense their right-wing stranglehold on American loosening.

A very disturbing video...



A live example: Strongsville, Ohio...



Seems like a good atmosphere for those who enjoy wearing white masks and robes, or others from Kansas who tirelessly present "God Hates Fags" signs.

Sean Hannity's anti-Semitism revealed in Nashville

I honestly don't see what the big deal is... Did anyone think that Hannity actually liked Jews?

Alexander/Blackburn on the lead up to the debate

From the Tennessean...

[Senator] Alexander said some of the negative issues have surfaced, such as Obama’s links to former Weatherman Bill Ayres, may come up during the debate, "but that’s not what most people want to hear about.”

“Ideology is an important part of a presidential race, but the pocketbook, is by far the biggest part.

Republican Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn predicted that Obama would have to explain his “past affiliations and associations,” and that McCain won’t be hobbled by questions about he economy.“I think that Senator McCain has a good record on that."

Hmm... seems like Marsha wants this to be the dirty fight it's becoming. No surprise that Lamar is respected 1000% more than Congressman Blackburn could ever be.

Next step: Provoke violence

I mean seriously... ENOUGH about the "liberal media." If you are dumb, you're gonna come across as dumb. That's it! Why is she trying to act like she's on some MTV reality show by blaming the producers for their "spin" on what happened?
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CNN producer Carey Bodenheimer reported Tuesday that at several recent rallies, Palin has stirred up crowds by mentioning the "liberal media." Routinely, there are boos at every mention of The New York Times and the "mainstream media," both of which are staples of Palin's stump speech.

Bodenheimer said some audience members are openly hostile to members of the traveling press covering Palin; one crowd member hurled a racial epithet at an African-American member of the press in Clearwater, Florida, on Monday.
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Gosh darn it, her reward's in Heaven!

Excitement? I wish.

Imaginary friend: Greg, are you excited that the presidential debate is in Nashville?

Greg: NOT WHEN IT TAKES ME AN HOUR AND A HALF TO GET HOME BECAUSE THE STRAIGHT TALK EXPRESS RESERVES THE RIGHT TO CLOSE OFF AN ENTIRE STRETCH OF I-40 DURING RUSH HOUR!!!

I hope that Senator McCain had a nice, smooth, hastle-free trip from the airport to his hotel.

Yep...I love it ^ 3

Can we talk some more about mavericks?

Y V. N on CBS

CBS's Early Show this morning, featuring our good ol' Repub Marsha Blackburn (TN-07) vs. Democrat Jim Moran (VA-08) on the House bail-out vote. The fun starts around minute 2:40...



I love Marsha's interjection around minute 5:20 telling Rep. Moran that "this is not a partisan issue." If you haven't already, scroll down and read her explanation of her nay vote from yesterday...aka one of her many love letters to right-wing conservatives and Senator McCain.

Moran telling Marsha that they should've done "the other things they could do" this past week is pretty funny too. I'm assuming Congressman Blackburn is referring to those groundbreaking ideas of hers like eliminating the capital gains tax and "across-the-board-except-military" spending cuts.

FIXED News = diminish Obama's support

This is too funny...



Everyone in the room (except the camera guy) plans to vote for Obama = the room is split according to FOX News. The result? Laughter, as usual.

Accountability...Who? When?

The Wall Street Bail-out and Tennessee's House delegation...

Aye
Steve Cohen (D-09)
Jim Cooper (D-05)
Bart Gordon (D-06)

Nay
Marsha Blackburn (R-07)
David Davis (R-01)
Lincoln Davis (D-04)
Jimmy Duncan (R-02)
Zach Wamp (R-03)

I guess time will tell... Here's a glimpse at Marsha's explanation (it isn't partisan at all):

Blackburn Votes Against Bailout Provision
Congratulates Conservative Colleagues for Averting Disastrous Proposal

“I fully understand the magnitude of the problem facing us and why Congress must act decisively to prevent further erosion of our economy. While the media focus has been on Wall Street, my focus has been on Main Street."

“I commend my House Republican colleagues and Senator McCain on the work they have done over the past week to craft a common sense solution from the proposal that Secretary Paulson originally brought to the Hill. They carried the conservative banner in negotiations and saved the country from what I saw as a disastrous legislative product."

“I voted against the legislation today with a heavy heart, in full consideration of the advances my conservative colleagues won during the negotiation process. Still, the flaws of the proposal challenge my free market values. Voters in Tennessee trust me to hold fast to those values and I will not abandon them now."

I love it ^ 2

That silly, liberal media.

Just so we're all on the same page

I should let you know that Marsha Blackburn has sided with the conservative Republican faction of the House regarding the current financial crisis. I'll give you a sec to catch your breath...


Blackburn Statement on Proposed Bailout
President Bush and Secretary Paulson Should Start Over

Washington, Sep 24 - The following is a statement by Congressman Marsha Blackburn (TN-7) elaborating on her position regarding President Bush's proposed bailout of the country's financial system.

"I do not support a straight bailout of Wall Street firms funded by hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars."

"While the situation is very serious, there are better ways to address it than the plan before us. The first step is for the President and Congressional Leaders to lay out a predictable and reasonable legislative process that will yield a responsible solution."

"To infuse more private capital into the Market, I would like to have a suspension of the Capital Gains tax considered as part of any proposal. To the extent that taxpayer funds must be used, they should be offset by spending reductions in other places, and be distributed in the form of short term bridge loans. I have also proposed a 5% across the board spending cut- excepting defense and homeland security funds- that could yield over $100 billion annually."

"Finally, this is a serious crisis and Congress and the White House need to deal with it seriously. All ideas, including those I listed above, should be on the table."

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What an ingenious proposal, Congressman! How many times have you suggested cutting spending on everything but the military as the solution to a problem? Are there no other ideas in the "American Conservatism for (Republican) Dumbies" book?

TNGOP: Obama hates everyone!!! Muhahaha!!!

This ranks up there with one of the stupidest rants on behalf of the TNGOP...

NASHVILLE, TN - The Tennessee Republican Party has some friendly advice for Barack Obama: Those “foreign automakers” who made those cars you criticized John McCain for buying? They employ hundreds of thousands of Americans across the heartland of America, including in so-called “swing states” like Ohio.

Today, Obama’s campaign released a new and very silly ad attacking John McCain, a certified American war hero, for owning three cars built by international automakers - a Honda, a Volkswagen and a Lexus. The junior senator from Illinois apparently doesn’t realize that foreign automakers like Honda, Volkswagen and Lexus-maker Toyota have major operations in the United States, employing hundreds of thousands of Americans.

“Obama should be proud that so many car makers from around the world have found that American workers are the best in the world, not criticizing someone for buying the cars they make,” Hobbs said. “The Obamacrats don’t like American jobs that would be created from more domestic oil drilling and, now, Obama doesn’t respect the jobs created by Americans building cars.”

“When Barack Obama attacks John McCain for owning a Honda, he might as well be attacking the tens of thousands of people in Ohio, Indiana and Alabama who build Honda Accords and Civics, Pilot SUVs and Ridgeline pickup trucks, - and the tens of thousands of Americans who make their living at dealerships selling Honda products,” said Hobbs.

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I guess TN Republicans now need to criticize all people who prefer to "buy American." Seems like that's how their train of thought works!

...and in Marsha news!!!....
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'Burn on The Factor: Sarah Palin is a "student" of foreign policy. Plus, you don't need an education to understand the inner-workings of the world.

GOP conservatism at its best

Blackburn: The new, old-fashioned feminist

By Jeff Woods of the Nashville Scene...

Marsha, Marsha!
In a campaign oddity, Blackburn emerges as a new feminist hero

When John McCain went looking for Republicans to defend his running mate against the "liberal media," Marsha Blackburn suddenly morphed into a well-coiffed Norma Rae.

This, mind you, is the Brentwood image-consultant -turned- conservative-firebrand whose feminist consciousness is so underdeveloped she wants to be called "congressman." Only six weeks ago, she voted against legislation to help stop sex discrimination in job pay.

Now she's popping up on all the cable gabfests to proudly fight for Sarah Palin—and oppressed women everywhere—as a member of the McCain-Palin Truth Squad. Blackburn is even finding much to admire about Hillary Clinton, her new role model.

It's all too much for Tennessee Democrats, who point out that conservatives like Blackburn say they support working moms but reject policies to make their lives better.

"Marsha Blackburn," says state Democratic Party spokesman Wade Munday, "is someone who has been silent on women's issues until now, who refers to herself as 'congressman' and likely relishes her quotidian stance against women's equal work for equal pay. She seems a tad bit disingenuous in her current defense of Sarah Palin. Just a tad."

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Thank you, Jeff, for pointing out Congressman Blackburn's rampant hypocrisy.

The Wicked Marsha of the North + Williamson GOP fun

Awesome blog... I wish I could say my Marsha criticism matched... http://dumpbachmann.blogspot.com/

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Anywho, here's the latest hilariousness from the racist Williamson TNGOP...

Outrage Over Gibson's Interview

09-12-08...This week, ABC's Charles Gibson held the first post-nomination interview with Governor Sarah Palin. Staring condescendingly over his granny glasses, Gibson asked her to give her opinion of the "Bush doctrine", knowing full well that there have been 6-8 separate issues variously described as the "Bush doctrine." Gov. Palin responded with grace, intelligence, and an elaborate knowledge of foreign affairs. Gibson looked like he was wearing lipstick.

Chairman Grindstaff looks like one smooth dude, huh? He doesn't strike me as a guy who has room to make jokes about "granny glasses." Trust me, I've seen pictures of some loyal WCRP members. Makes sense why Blackburn is their pride and joy.

Blackburn needs more $$$?

How many hundreds of thousands of dollars do you need, Marsha? Haven't you gotten enough from the "good ol' boy" network?

Dear friends,

The fall campaign has begun and it will be an exciting race for our Republican candidates at all levels. The addition of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as the Vice Presidential nominee has provided incredible momentum to the Presidential ticket. She helps provide a clear contrast with the ultra liberal Obama-Biden ticket.

After an aggressive primary, I will face a Democrat opponent this fall. Being a consistent conservative voice is a sure way to draw attacks from the Democrat attack machine. They will spend several hundred million dollars to make sure that the Democrats have control of the White House, the Senate and House. If I'm going to continue fighting for conservative values in Washington, I must be prepared to answer these attacks in a timely manner. As you know, this costs money.

During the next 45 days, I will continue to work day and night for the McCain-Palin ticket, work to be certain that Senator Alexander returns to the U.S. Senate, that we take the State House and that we hold a majority in the State Senate.

I need your help! I was forced to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars in the recent Primary. It was money that I was planning on spending this fall against my Democrat opponent.

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AKA...I need the money so I can filter it to other (floundering) Republican campaigns across the country (see Rep. Marilyn Musgrave).

And on a McCain-Palin-Bush-whatever note...

I love it too much

"As we say in the great State of Ala-SSSka..."

(Not-so) Breaking Blackburn news

From today's Memphis Commercial Appeal...

Blackburn added to 'most corrupt' in Congress list
By Bartholomew Sullivan

WASHINGTON -- On Wednesday, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a good-government watchdog group, added U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., to its list of the 24 "most corrupt members of Congress" over her repeated failure to file accurate campaign-finance reports.

Earlier this year, CREW filed a complaint, together with a Germantown woman, against Blackburn with the Federal Election Commission.

The group notes that Blackburn's campaign committee has repeatedly failed to accurately report its campaign contributions and expenditures, including payments made to her daughter and son-in-law. Its complaint is currently under review by FEC staffers.

CREW has focused its attention on a bipartisan group of legislators, including U.S. Reps. William Jefferson, D-La., and Alan B. Mollohan, D-W.Va., and Republican Sens. Ted Stevens of Alaska and Norm Coleman of Minnesota. It also put former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., on its "corrupt" list for his sale of stock in a family-run hospital chain.

Hmm... see more info on CREW's Blackburn report: http://www.crewsmostcorrupt.org/node/426

Rep. Marsha Blackburn owned on Larry King

4 women commenting on the lipstick controversy.

1 is lookin' the fool.

1 "GOP strategist" trying to stay out of it.

It's hilarious how many times these women have had to say "Congresswoman, with all due respect..." because Marsha has no idea what she's talking about.

Eek. Embarassing.

Congressman, I ask you, where do you owe apologies?

Does Marsha have ANY room to play ref in this case? Yeah, right.

Steve Cohen stays at the top of my list!!! Oink Oink!

Again, I'm envious of people who live in TN-09...

(Maryline) Blackburn for Obama!

I love this story. Blackburn... Obama... Palin... hilarious.

Sarah Palin congenial & 'calculating,' says nominee's Miss Alaska foe

NY DAILY NEWS

Sarah Palin may have been a runnerup in a Miss Alaska beauty contest, but she was a canny competitor behind that "Miss Congeniality" smile.

So says Maryline Blackburn, the woman who won the 1984 Miss Alaska crown.

"Sarah was very nice, but very calculating," Blackburn told the Daily News Monday. "You could tell she was always thinking, 'What's going to be my next move?'

That said, Blackburn is voting for Democrat Barack Obama - and doesn't think Palin is ready to be vice president.

Blackburn, an Army brat who was born in Europe, raised in Fairbanks, Alaska, and lives in Atlanta, became the first African-American to represent Alaska in the Miss America competition.

Palin settled for "Miss Congeniality."

"Maryline, I do love you," Palin wrote on Blackburn's pageant program. "You are more admired than you ever know. Please keep God Number One, he's got great things for you, baby."

Good Ol' Boy Hypocrisy

The fascist whine-machine that is the TNGOP produced this fascinating op-ed today. Not only do they forget that the "good ol' boy" network is code for the Republican Party, and that Sarah Palin's eBay transaction never actually happened, but they also provide some eye-opening contrasts between Alaska and Tennessee!!!...

IT’S TIME FOR PALIN-STYLE REFORM IN TENNESSEE

NASHVILLE, TN - Tennessee’s Democrat governor and the entrenched “good ol’ boy” Democratic machine in the state House might want to pay attention to the surging enthusiasm across America for the reform agenda of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as she campaigns along side Sen. John McCain in the race for the White House.

“At about the same time Gov. Palin was putting the Alaska state executive’s luxury jet up for sale on eBay, Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen was plotting to spend millions of tax dollars to add a luxury underground party room to the governor’s mansion,” said Robin Smith, Chairman of the Tennessee Republican party. “We can’t put the ballroom on eBay, but the governor could do something about the excessive use of state aircraft."

Some comparative travel-distance facts about Alaska and Tennessee:

At 656,424 square miles, Alaska is 15.5 times larger than Tennessee (42,169 square miles)

Alaska’s two largest cities, Anchorage and Fairbanks, are separated by 360 miles; Tennessee’s two largest cities, Nashville and Memphis, are separated by 200 miles

The distance from Alaska’s capital, Juneau, to its two largest cities is 732 miles to Fairbanks and 848 miles to Anchorage. By contrast, Tennessee’s capital city, Nashville, is the largest metropolitan area in the state and the rest of the top five- Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga and Clarksville - all are located within 200 miles of Nashville.

Despite its massive size compared to Tennessee, Alaska has far fewer miles of public paved roads than does Tennessee- 14, 441 versus 87,259.

“Alaska is nearly 16 times larger than Tennessee and yet Gov. Palin has found it is possible to get around the state just fine without the state owning an airplane,” Smith said. “Tennessee taxpayers have had to pay to fly Gov. Bredesen and his people around the state and to their beach vacation destinations because Tennessee doesn’t yet have a reform governor and because the state House is run by a do-nothing-Democrat, save-the-status-quo good ol’ boy network that likes it that way.”

Old fart fest Night 3: Go, Whitey, Go!

Remarks as Prepared for Delivery: Marsha Blackburn
Thursday, September 04, 2008

Xcel Energy Center

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Last night, for the first time in a long time, millions like me whispered to themselves, "thank God, someone finally gets it." We heard a voice that spoke with the accent of real America, not the washed-out, mainstream TV-speak that sometimes soothes the soul, but never solves the problem.

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We met a woman who, with the bravery that only the mother of five can summon, said "thanks but no thanks" to the good ole' boy earmarks.

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And, it's an honor for me to quote those constituents I heard from today when I say "It's about damn time!"

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To all the gray suits in the booths, who had their backs turned last night facing Washington, on behalf of the great gals in this room, I tell you -- "listen up boys!"

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As a wife, mother, business woman, and public servant; neither Governor Palin nor I need you to tell us what our limitations are, or when we might have taken on too much or reached too far.

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Every working mother knows the value of action over deliberation and decision over debate.

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Tennesseans already know and respect John McCain, and love his "straight-talk" and unyielding sense of honor.

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Last night my NASCAR dads fell in love with our hockey mom.

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We are the gun totin', God fearin,' flag wavin' Americans who are excited to see two crack shots on the ticket with the status quo in their sights.

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We know the only place Senator Obama wants to drill is your wallet.

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Leadership is not about creating perceptions, it's about creating results.

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And leadership is honed and tested on Alaska's frontier, on the deck of an aircraft carrier and in a dark, squalid cell in Vietnam.

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Last night, when I saw John and Sarah on the stage, I saw the brilliant spark of leadership catch fire illuminating the path to a brighter tomorrow.

Old fart fest Night 2: What was that?

BLAME THE MEDIA FOR STUPID WOMEN!!!

According to Marsha, the media is responsible for the politics of personal destruction.



Are you serious, Congressman? I mean seriously serious? Because I don't think you can be serious by saying that. So I'm going to conclude that you aren't being serious.

The world attacks conservative women? To quote one of their own...

"Boo-freakin-hoo."

-Michelle Malkin

Literary greatness...

This is not a joke...

Editorial Reviews

Life Equity gives women a step-by-step plan for using the powerful and valuable skills they already have to change their own lives and enrich their world.

They are experienced, smart, and effective. They have a wealth of wisdom and influence to offer and are America's richest resource. They are women. But today too many of those women view their lives and futures with a growing sense of frustration or ambivalence. At a time in which there are more opportunities for women at every level and in every realm of American life than ever before, many women wrestle with paralyzing doubt about what they can and should be doing. Congressman Marsha Blackburn exposes these fears and misconceptions and lays out a compelling corrective case for empowerment and action. Blackburn helps women of all ages discover a hidden or forgotten truth: the life they've led has prepared them for the life they dream of.

240 pages, published by Thomas Nelson, due out December 2008. Sounds like it'll be a funny book filled with the kind of stuff in Hallmark cards!

Old fart fest Night 1: Power through Fear

Terrorists... abortion... murder... communists... Reagan... Dubya... taxes... bombs... BOO!!!

Blackburn on Gov. Palin and conservative women

"Americans are most comfortable with candidates who are conservative women."

Why would that be? Think about it...

The Tennessean follows up on the old fart fest news

A few farts in Denver (Blackburn, Cantor, Romney).

Tennesseans Blackburn, Frist will speak at GOP convention

WASHINGTON — Former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and Rep. Marsha Blackburn have been added as speakers at the Republican National Convention next week.

Former senator and presidential candidate Fred Thompson is scheduled to speak Tuesday at the convention in St. Paul, Minn., and Blackburn of Brentwood also will speak that night, convention officials announced Tuesday.


Elsewhere...Marsha made "news" in Denver...

The party of President George W. Bush and his would-be successor, Arizona Sen. John McCain, has sent a slew of its leading stars to crash Democratic White House hopeful Barack Obama's party in the electoral battleground state of Colorado.

"Barack Obama was AWOL, nowhere to be found on the issue of immigration," said Florida Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart.

Others played up tensions in the Democratic party fueled by New York Sen. Hillary Clinton's loss in the primaries to Obama, which has dominated convention coverage this week.

"When you talk to Democrats, there's a lot of disunity," said Tennessee Rep. Marsha Blackburn at the same news conference with [Mitt] Romney and Diaz-Balart.

The Republicans hold their convention in St. Paul, Minnesota next week. Not a model of unity themselves, many party members are said to be staying away.

All the more reason to get into the Democrats' act. One Republican operative said this week would be "more fun" than St. Paul anyway.

A sneak peak into next week's old fart fest

Some of my favorites are on the schedule for next week's fear-mongering seminar in St. Paul...

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Monday, Sept. 1 --- Service

President George W. Bush
Vice President Richard B. Cheney

U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann (Minn.)

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Tuesday, Sept. 2 --- Reform

Former Gov. Mike Huckabee (Ark.)

Former U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson (Tenn.)

U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn (Tenn.)

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Wednesday, Sept. 3 --- Prosperity

Gov. Bobby Jindal (La.)

U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (Texas)

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Thursday, Sept. 4 --- Peace

Former U.S. Sen. Bill Frist (Tenn.)
U.S. Rep. Mary Fallin (Okla.)

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I ask you, in all seriousness, what in the hell do any of these speakers have to do with the "themes" of each day? Marsha? Reform? Kay Bailey? Prosperity? And another question... since when would peace be a "theme" embraced by the Republicans?