Back In Middle School I Used To Love Them Politics
Posted on April 29, 2009 at 4:22 pmTNDP Chairman Chip Forrester calls out House Republican Caucus Chair for his connections to various campaign misdeeds:
“We all know that ridiculous rumors are posted on the internet all the time,” Forrester said. “But Glen Casada broke the rules multiple times. When a staffer impersonates an opposing candidate, that’s a crime. And when a state legislator publishes lies about a candidate being a convicted felon, that’s libel.”
“Apparently, Glen Casada couldn’t win back the House running a clean campaign, so he took out two Democratic candidates by making things up on the Internet. That is middle-school politics, and the people of Tennessee deserve better.”
Campfield Says Casada The Source Of Rumors That Led To Libel Suit Against Him
Posted on at 7:09 amHouse Republican Caucus Chair Glen Casada is again under a cloud of suspicion as this morning it has been revealed that Campfield believes that Casada is the one who told him that then Democratic state house candidate Roger Byrge had been arrested in connection with drugs.
Campfield subsequently shared the rumor on his blog. Byrge has never been arrested for drugs and is now suing Campfield.
Casada doesn’t confirm he is the source but will not deny it either:
Byrge’s lawsuit quoted Campfield as writing on his blog: “Word is a … mail piece has gone out exposing Byrge’s multiple separate drug arrests. Including arrests for possession and drug dealing. (I hear the mug shots are gold).”
Campfield’s initial legal response was to claim he held legislative immunity for comments he made on his personal blog. But his attorney last month abandoned that defense.
Casada said it was difficult to remember the details of every conversation surrounding last year’s tumultuous House elections.
“My thing is, we’re running 15, 18 races concurrently in October and November of 2008,” he said. “And there’s no telling.”
“I’m just trying to rack my brain, and don’t recall who would have told me or where I would have gotten that,” Casada said. “I don’t recall. But if Stacey says I did, then obviously I did. I’m confirming that if he says it, I must have.”
Short Answer: No
Posted on April 3, 2009 at 12:52 amRep. Henry Fincher refuses to apologize to Rep. Brian Kelsey at the request of Rep. Glen Casada. Chairman Casada is not pleased:
“Mr. Speaker I would just like to remind the body that there is no room for disrespect, for making fun of people, for mocking people. This is a body of respect. If respect is not shown on the floor then maybe that individual does need to be in the chamber.”
Beware Of The Ides Of Martial
Posted on April 1, 2009 at 2:12 pmRepublicans want to make sure their guns don’t get snagged by the Fedgov if our little experiment in Democracy starts falling apart:
The sponsor, House Republican caucus chair Glen Casada, explained martial law might be declared “by the governor, president or somebody like that” usually at a time of “invasion or civil unrest.”
“I’m a firm believer that an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure,” Casada told the subcommittee. “Obviously, things are bad under martial law, and we’d need our weapons to protect ourselves.”
Former Rep. Vaughn Sues Ethics Commision
Posted on March 19, 2009 at 12:09 amYou don’t see that everyday:
The lawsuit refers to a complaint Vaughn filed with the Tennessee Ethics Commission, accusing House Republican Caucus Chairman Glen Casada of Franklin and House Majority Leader Jason Mumpower of Bristol of improper conduct during the election by misleading voters through Web sites under Vaughn’s name.
The commission dismissed the complaint in January. In the lawsuit, Vaughn accuses the commission of not having the proper number of members to make a decision on the complaint, and calls for another review.
“I’m not really against the commission; all I’m asking them for is an investigation of the issues that I brought before them,” Vaughn said.
No Jail Time For Pleaded Out GOP Operative
Posted on March 13, 2009 at 10:44 amHank Hayes reports that Scott Gilmer, an aide to Rep. Glen Casada, will serve no jail time and pay a $50 fine for creating websites attacking Rep. Nathan Vaughn. Gilmer did not admit any guilt as part of his plea.
permalink | Comment on this post
The Margin Of Williams Caucus Victory
Posted on March 11, 2009 at 1:16 pmThe vote to affirm Speaker Kent Williams as a member of the state House GOP caucus wasn’t close:
But House Republican Caucus Chairman Glen Casada said a poll of the membership on Monday night revealed that an “overwhelming majority” of House Republicans preferred to keep Williams as a member.
“I was surprised a little bit,” said Casada, of Franklin. “But I think in the membership’s mind this is a way to demonstrate that we are moving on and that we are going to solve the problems of unemployment and the budgets shortfall.
Casada said the reason the decision had not been made public previously is because it was considered an internal issue.
“It’s almost a non-issue,” he said. “He’s in, now let’s quit talking about it and move on.”
A Republican In The Legislature Only: House GOP Votes To Keep Williams
Posted on at 10:19 amDespite being expelled from the Tennessee Republican Party by its chairwoman Robin Smith back in January, Tom Humphrey reports that Speaker Kent Williams is a Republican — at least as far as the House GOP Caucus is concerned.
Since going back on his promise to vote for Jason Mumpower for house speaker and instead joining with 49 House Democrats to elect himself speaker, Williams status as a Republican has been a matter of some debate.
While he was allowed into an open caucus meeting in February, he has been subsequently turned away from such caucus meetings this month. Republican Leader Jason Mumpower as well as Caucus Chair Glen Casada have previously asserted that they had the power to ban Williams from the caucus without the benefit of a vote.
But on Monday night there was a vote — and Kent Williams prevailed:
“I think the sentiment is to allow Kent to come into the meetings,” he said during a brief interview today. Mumpower said he assumes that will include the right to vote on caucus matters.
Mumpower refused to provide any details of the vote, but other Republican legislators say a substantial majority favored Williams’ continued presence at caucus meetings.
“I don’t want to betry the confidence of caucus members,” said Mumpower in declining to give vote totals.
He’s Gonna Come Back Tomorrow And The Next Day And The Next Day
Posted on March 8, 2009 at 7:51 pmSpeaker Kent Williams makes clear his intention to caucus with the Republican Party in the state House - whether they like it or not:
Williams also said he intends to go to future House GOP Caucus meetings whether Casada and Mumpower like it or not.
“I’ll go if I know when it is. They are not really telling me when the caucus meetings are,” Williams said. “We’ve got Mumpower and Casada and (Tennessee Republican Party Chairwoman) Robin Smith calling all the shots for those two. That’s why we needed a new direction in (House speaker) leadership.”
Williams said he’s been invited “several times” to caucus with House Democrats but admitted he would not feel comfortable in their meetings.
Regardless of how he’s being treated by House Republicans, Williams said he remains on board with supporting GOP-advocated measures such as restricting abortion and expanding rights for gun permit holders.
“I will vote for what’s best for the people of Carter County and people of Tennessee,” he said.
Williams also reacted to Smith’s recent statement at a Bedford County GOP Lincoln Day dinner that he “is probably more conservative” than she is. Smith made the decision to kick Williams out of the Tennessee Republican Party.
“If I’m more conservative than her, how come I’m not a Republican?” Williams asked.
Also in the article, Rep. Joe McCord makes clear that Williams will be welcome in his rural Republican caucus.
Former Senator And Gubernatorial Candidate Jim Bryson Started A Blog Yesterday
Posted on March 5, 2009 at 4:41 pmAnd, already, it is embroiled in controversy. House Democratic Leader Gary Odom and Rep. Ty Cobb have issued a press release denouncing today words Bryson penned not 12 hours ago on his blog. At issue is Bryson’s assertion that GM should “die with dignity.”
I feel bad for people who will lose their jobs. However, GM has been uncompetitive for a long time. When the government doesn’t allow non-competitive businesses to die, it undermines our economic system. It is time to allow GM to go into bankruptcy. If they can work out their issues and emerge, more power to them. If not, let more competitive company take over their assets and employees.
Odom and Cobb are calling for House GOP Caucus Chair Glen Casada specifically and the entire Williamson County delegation at large to rebuke the former legislator and constitutional officer candidate for his blog post.
UPDATE: Bryson reacts
Speaker Kent Williams Barred From GOP Caucus Meeting
Posted on March 4, 2009 at 5:04 pmRobin Smith had no compunction about kicking the Speaker out of the party but before today the House GOP Caucus had balked at official action.
Now it would seem the House Republicans are on their way to kicking the Speaker of the House out of their caucus:
House Speaker Kent Williams was barred from a Republican Caucus meeting Wednesday and House Republican Leader Jason Mumpower said he should stay away permanently.
Williams said he believes a majority of Republican representatives would favor allowing him to caucus with them even though state Republican Chairman Robin Smith has declared he is no longer considered a Republican.
But Mumpower said he and House Republican Chairman Glen Casada could decide to ban Williams from the caucus without a vote.
Mumpower said that he believes that “if even one member” of the House Republican Caucus opposes Williams attendance, Williams should stay away.
“If it causes dissent within the caucus, then it’s best if he did not attend - and there are more than a few members who are discontent with him attending,” said Mumpower.
MORE:
Stacey Campfield
Andy Sher
PREVIOUSLY:
Republican caucus can’t repeat state party’s mistake on Williams
What’s Robin Got To Do With It?
Rep. Glen Casada Nominates John McCain Because…
Posted on September 2, 2008 at 4:31 pmThe state House Republican number two participates in the YouTube series “I nominate John McCain because…”
Via Ken Whitehouse, who was hanging out at the YouTube booth at the Republican National Convention with former Deputy Mayor Bill Phillips when Big Brother Casada appeared on the giant screen behind them.
Recent Comments
Have you considered that by allowing people and businesses to...
I am in favor of health care reform that eliminates abuses like...
The prodigal son...
Has he said he will...
Goldni, My apologies. Your second comment posted when I responded...
GoldnI - Comments with more than one link included have to be...
Gavin, my thought exactly. If he...
Freddie, Hah. Excellent. A thorny situation, no? Perhaps we should...
Who out there is against the rights of communities to pass their...
TNGEO, That is an excellent question. Too many self-styled...