Center-Left State Think Tank In Embryonic Stages
Posted on July 13, 2009 at 8:07 amLongtime political operative Mark Brown, most recently of the Cammack for Governor campaign, tells Post Politics that he has been in preliminary discussions regarding the formation of a center-left think tank “dedicated to promoting progressive initiatives in Tennessee.”
It is hard to say how “real” the effort is as Brown says it is too early for him to disclose with whom these discussions have been with and what kind of financial backing the project would have at its disposal.
Nonetheless, it is an interesting prospect. Brown describes the Bredesen-centric project thusly:
“A growing number of centrist progressives in Tennessee believe our viewpoints are not being fully communicated in Tennessee’s currently polarized political environment. We want to continue building on Governor Bredesen’s work, even after he has left office. Among other initiatives, we want Tennessee to continue improving education through programs like Pre-K and we want to continue to make the state a leader in the creation of green economy jobs.”
“We are deciding how we can best accomplish these goals and how we can best improve the communication of centrist progressive ideas in Tennessee.”
Bredesen’s High Stakes Poker Game With GM
Posted on June 15, 2009 at 8:00 amI must say I enjoyed our Governor’s outing of GM’s attempt to extort Tennessee out of $200 million last week.
What is most interesting is that most folks see the move as an admission by Bredesen that he has given up on keeping the GM plant.
I don’t think he has given up. He’s just playing the cards he’s been dealt. He’s not exactly working from a position of strength. He can’t match other the states in the running monetarily. We have a budget crisis and frankly our economy is, in fact, strong enough that we can afford to lose GM in a way that Michigan just can’t.
Bredesen doesn’t have any political stroke here. He spent much of 2008 sticking a fork in the eye of Obama and the state didn’t vote for him. Tennessee is not even in play nationally.
At the political negotiating table, Tennessee’s chance at keeping GM here are rubbish. The only way to win is to change the game. And that’s exactly what Bredesen did by taking the shakedown public.
Bredesen is working the only angle he has: shame. Everyone knows that Spring Hill is the best plant in the business sense. It’s newer, more flexible and the labor situation is about as good as you get in this country.
In the backroom, Bredesen (and Tennessee) can’t win. But in the sunshine, the focus gets put on the business again. Spring Hill may still lose the plant, but now, GM will look really bad taking it away.
Now, no one wants to look bad. So after all this bad press, if Bredesen came back to GM this week and said, “Well, I can’t do the 200 million but here’s what I can do.” Might GM look at the offer in a different light now if they can wipe away the shakedown artist rep Bredesen just gave them?
Tennessee Firearms Freedom Act To Pass Without Signature
Posted on June 12, 2009 at 5:52 pmGovernor Phil Bredesen will not stand in the way of House Bill 1796. He will allow it to pass without his signature.
Bredesen, in a letter to Speaker Kent Williams, states that the bill which says that federal laws do not apply to firearms, accessories, or ammunition that is manufactured in Tennessee, will likely be found to be unconstitutional.
“This bill is not about firearms. It is about a fringe constitutional theory that I believe will be quickly dispensed with by the federal courts.
The Tennessee General Assembly lacks the Constitutional authority to limit the power and authority of federal government in this way…
…While I share the General Assembly’s commitment to federalism, this legislation contravenes our Constitution. I am allowing it to become law so that it can quickly be dealt with by the federal courts.”
Excuse me? What exactly is our governor saying here? I believe in federalism — except when the states really try to take real power back? I believe in federalism — but not for things like this?
What is unconstitutional about this? If a gun is made here and kept here what the heck business of the federal government is it? If Tennessee wants to make its own laws on firearms why is that bad and how is it unconstitutional?
Bredesen says he believes in federalism but then calls the legislation “based on a fringe constitutional theory.”
What theory would that be other than federalism? This bill doesn’t contravene the Constitution, it contravenes the modern interpretation of it. If you believe in federalism it should be a principle you abide whether the modern court agrees or not.
And if Bredesen does believe the bill is unconstitutional, why not veto it? It’ll become law either way, given our weak gubernatorial veto. The governor took an oath to the constitution, right? How is letting something pass he believes to be unconstitutional in keeping with that oath.
It would be one thing if he wasn’t sure and he wanted to dispatch it to the courts without prejudice. But there seems to be prejudice here.
If he feels the way he obviously does, he should have vetoed it. Otherwise he should have let it pass without comment.
If he doesn’t have enough fortitude to stand up to a “fringe constitutional theory” why do we need to hear about it?
Bredesen Signs Guns In Parks
Posted on at 5:20 pmAs reported by the Lebanon Democrat’s J.R. Lind on Twitter, Gov. Phil Bredesen has signed a bill that many feared he would veto.
Rep. Frank Niceley reported to have had a deal with the Bredesen administration to “clean up some language” in the bill to avoid a veto in exchange for consideration on other gun bills.
That deal fell through when Bredesen stated in a press conference that he had made no deal.
The Senate sponsor, Sen. Mae Beavers, then refused to recall the bill making the Niceley recall essentially null and void.
Bredesen had til midnight tonight to sign the legislation or it would become law without his signature and he did so late today.
However, his message to Speaker Kent Williams reveals he is not completely happy about the legislation.
“I continue to have concerns about the inclusion of local parks in this bill. The suggestion made by the sponsor to remove these local parks was good, and I’m sorry he withdrew it.
I do want to urge local governments to exercise the opt-out provisions of this bill to remove parks from its effect where they are located close to schools and other places where large numbers of children gather,” Bredesen said in the letter.
SEE ALSO:
Richard Locker
Andy Sher
AP
The Slow Schism Heal
Posted on May 7, 2009 at 8:18 amJackson Baker on the after effects of an important speech by Lincoln Davis to the health of the Democratic Party in the state:
That act, Davis’ speech itself, and the very fact of his being there signaled to many in the crowd the pending resolution of a schism between Forrester and the party’s liberal wing, on the one hand, and, on the other, the party’s conservative establishment, represented by Davis, the state’s other congressmen (except for Memphis’ Steve Cohen, who stayed out of the factional dispute), and Governor Bredesen.
That much healing remains was indicated by the fact that the only congressman attending was Davis, who happens also to represent Monteagle in Congress. Conspicuously absent were representatives of the governor’s office.
As a result of a recent working compact between the party’s two wings, Forrester and his team will focus on party organization and grassroots efforts, while candidate recruitment and fund-raising will be the province of the establishment, with Bredesen and the congressional representatives having direct oversight.
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Help
Posted on May 5, 2009 at 7:31 amYou elected represents ask for some on your behalf:
U.S. Sens. Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker and U.S. Reps. Jimmy Duncan, Lincoln Davis, Bart Gordon and John Tanner have joined Gov. Phil Bredesen in requesting that President Barack Obama issue a federal disaster declaration for four counties in Tennessee to help state and local governments recover costs for damages related to recent storms.
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Admiring Andrew Jackson
Posted on April 26, 2009 at 5:47 pmGovernor Phil Bredesen on a recent award presented him at the Hermitage:
“I’m very, very pleased by this, Andrew Jackson is a man I admire very, very much. He’s had different connections to my own life that I am going to talk about tonight. To have this first award given by the Hermitage means a lot to me and being able to share (the night) with Jon Meacham who won a Pulitizer prize this week for his work on Andrew Jackson is a great honor. He is a great writer. He’s an inspiration to me. You can actually have a real job and do other things. I’m very pleased. I have a copy of his book. I have had it signed by him. I’m not going to confessed to you that I have read it because I haven’t. My job gets in the way of things I would love to do.”
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Flack Rabbit Hops Off To Nation’s Capitol
Posted on April 1, 2009 at 10:30 am
That’s right ubiquitous PR flack, writer and blogger, Margie Maddux Newman is picking up stakes from her job at Hall Strategies here in Nashville and heading off to D.C.
On May 15, Newman will start her new gig for The Pew Center on the States managing communications for Pew’s At Home Visits for At Risk Families national policy/advocacy push.
Newman was formerly a press aide for Governor Bredesen serving as assistant for communications to Gov. Bredesen after his 2002 election and later as communications director for the Governor’s Books from Birth Foundation.
In addition to her work at Hall she is a columnist and blogger for Her Nashville, a member of our beloved SouthComm Set. Newman plans to remain a contributor to the magazine after Her move.
Newman’s last day at Hall will be April 28.
UPDATE: The word from the flacktress’s mouth.
Governor Concedes He Wasn’t Likely To Help TNDP While Freeman Was Treasurer
Posted on March 30, 2009 at 7:27 amThe Governor expresses his distaste for former Democratic Party Treasurer Bill Freeman:
Gov. Bredesen acknowledged that inclined him not to help the party with fundraising.
“The person they chose to be the treasurer worked very hard against me,” Gov. Bredesen said. “So he’s not somebody that immediately when he calls up and says, ‘I now want your help raising money,’ that you say, ‘Oh, OK.’”Gov. Bredesen’s comments to the Times Free Press were made Thursday and have not been previously published.
By Friday afternoon, with news out that state Democratic fundraising took a tumble in February, Mr. Freeman called it quits and acknowledged in a news release that his resignation stemmed in part from “opposition” to his appointment by “some of the Democratic establishment.”
“As I’ve made fundraising calls in the last month, several longtime donors have expressed their concern to me that Governor Bredesen was not as supportive of me as I had hoped,” Mr. Freeman said in a statement.
Bredesen (And His Polling) On The Governor’s Race
Posted on March 29, 2009 at 4:02 pmHank Hayes reports:
“There have been Democratic candidates come call on me just to introduce themselves, and everybody knows I’m not going to get involved in a primary,” Bredesen said. “On the Republican side there’s a lot of interest and excitement and competitiveness there. I don’t have a read on those things.
“I do a little bit of polling now and then to touch base and see where things are. Nobody has got any statewide name recognition out there. (U.S. Rep.) Zach Wamp is known very well in his district, and the same is true of Ron. In the end it will come down to who can line up the people who can provide that recognition with both money and well-known people.”
Bredesen indicated he still favors a statewide election of the lieutenant governor, who is now elected by the state Senate.
But a statewide election of the state attorney general, Bredesen said, would be a total disaster
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Freeman Out As TNDP Treasurer
Posted on March 27, 2009 at 3:52 pmFrom a presser:
NASHVILLE, March 27 -Tennessee Democratic Party Treasurer William H. “Bill” Freeman is stepping down effective immediately, Freeman and Chairman Chip Forrester announced today.
The decision comes as a result of several factors, Freeman said, including opposition to his appointment from some of the Democratic establishment.
“As I’ve made fund-raising calls in the last month, several long-time donors have expressed their concern to me that Governor Bredesen was not as supportive of me as I had hoped,” Freeman said. “By resigning now, I hope I can take away some of the criticism the Party has faced recently and give Chip Forrester a better shot at rebuilding a relationship with the Governor and taking the Party in the direction that it needs to go.”
Since his February 19th appointment, Freeman has been criticized for his past contributions to a few Republican candidates. Other commentators and Democratic activists have cited Freeman’s support of FONCE (Family Owned Non-Commercial Entity) as a source of contention with the Governor, who is pushing legislation to close a tax loophole benefiting FONCEs.
Forrester, while reluctantly accepting his resignation, said he respected Freeman’s decision.
“I think this has been a tough environment for Bill and a tough decision for him to make,” said Forrester. “I appreciate him thinking about what is best for the Tennessee Democratic Party, and I sincerely hope to build a productive relationship with Governor Bredesen going forward.”
Freeman is chairman of Freeman Webb, Inc., a real estate investment management and brokerage firm he founded with James A. Webb, III in 1979.
“Bill has done an outstanding job during his tenure with us,” said Forrester. “Serving as a treasurer and raising money is a demanding role at any time, much less during a recession. Regardless, Bill proved himself to be a successful fundraiser. With his help, the TNDP has raised over $60,000 in March alone.”
“My goal here at the TNDP remains the same: to build a strong organization that can help Democrats compete and win in 2010,” Forrester continued. “The problems facing Tennessee are too great for me to lose focus that goal.”
A replacement for Freeman has not yet been named. Forrester said he is beginning the search for a new treasurer immediately.
SEE ALSO:
Sledge
Humphrey
Sean Braisted
Enclave
OpenPen
Ilissa Gold
Nashville Scene
Southern Beale
Stacey Campfield
Southern Liberal
MTSU POLL: One In Six Tennesseans Admit To Telling Racist Jokes About The President
Posted on March 3, 2009 at 11:58 amThe newest poll on state and national issues in Tennessee is out from our friends over at Middle Tennessee State University complete with charts and graphs. Some of the more interesting findings below.
THE LEGISLATURE: “Meanwhile, the proportion of Tennesseans who approve of the state Legislature’s job performance has slid from 39% in the fall to 34%. The last time the Legislature’s approval rating sank this low was in fall 2005 and spring 2006, when Tennesseans were absorbing news of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s “Operation Tennessee Waltz” sting that led to the arrests of several legislators on bribery charges….The best predictor of disapproval is frequent newspaper reading.”
RACIST JOKES: “Nearly one in six Tennesseans has told a joke about Barack Obama’s race, and three-fourths say they’ve heard or read at least one, even though only 15 percent of Tennesseans say they would find such a joke funny.”
IRAQ: “Just over half (53 percent) of Tennesseans say sending troops to Iraq was “a mistake,” while 38 percent say the move was not a mistake, and the rest aren’t sure.”
WINE IN GROCERY STORES: “Sixty-two percent of state residents say grocery stores should be allowed to sell wine, while just over a quarter (26%) disagree, and 12% don’t know.”
BREDESEN: “Gov. Phil Bredesen’s approval rating has slipped to 52%, down from 58% in the fall and well below his tenure’s high of 72% in Spring 2004.”
“Among demographic factors, education makes the biggest difference, with under half (45%) of Tennesseans without a college degree expressing approval of Bredesen compared with nearly two-thirds (64%) of those with a college degree.”
STATE INCOME TAX: When asked to choose between the two statements: “Tennessee should amend its constitution to forbid the state from ever introducing a tax on personal income” and “Tennessee should introduce a tax on personal income to lower sales taxes and eliminate taxes on groceries,” 46% of Tennesseans support constitutionally banning a state income tax, and 40% support introducing a state income tax with cuts in sales and food taxes.
ABORTION: A majority of Tennesseans (52%) say abortion “should be legal under some circumstances, but not others.” Smaller percentages say either that abortion should be illegal under all circumstances (25%) or legal under all circumstances (19%).
OBAMA: Fifty-three percent of Tennesseans say that they approve of how President Barack Obama has done his job so far, and only 27% of Tennesseans disapprove. In the 2008 election, 57% of Tennessee voters cast their ballots for Obama’s Republican rival, John McCain, while only 42% voted for Obama
SEE ALSO:
Sean Braisted
R. Neal
Ramsey Explains Why He Announced For Governor Over The Weekend
Posted on March 2, 2009 at 2:35 pmHank Hayes reports on the Lt. Governor’s effort to stop the Haslam momentum and the aggravation it caused Rep. Wamp:
Ramsey said he will announce on Wednesday that he is forming a campaign exploratory committee with the intention of running for governor and succeeding Democrat Gov. Phil Bredesen, who under Tennessee’s Constitution cannot run for a third term in office.
Besides Haslam and Ramsey, others seeking the GOP nomination include U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp of Chattanooga and Shelby County District Attorney General Bill Gibbons.
But Ramsey said he clearly sees Haslam as his number one competitor.
“I wanted to wait (to announce) until after I got out of (legislative) session,” Ramsey said. “People were telling me I was losing five to 10 people a day with Haslam out there beating the bushes. I don’t think Zach is catching on. I don’t think Bill Gibbons is catching on, but Haslam is working harder plus he has the money…I just couldn’t wait any longer.”
…”I’m sure Bill Gibbons loved it because there are three (candidates) from East Tennessee and one from west,” Ramsey said. “Zach was halfway aggravated. He said ‘I can’t believe you’re doing this.’ It almost aggravated me. I said ‘Let me make sure I understand this Zach, I’ve been toiling in the state legislature for 17 years and took us three seats down to five seats up (Republicans went from the minority to the majority party in the state Senate)…and you’re going to be upset?’ “
Free Tool
Posted on at 1:34 pmFrom the NewsChannel5:
Gov. Phil Bredesen and first lady Andrea Conte kicked off a March to the Moon fitness challenge to state workers in Nashville.
Participating state employees will be outfitted with a free tool that monitors fitness activity, and department teams will compete for the highest level of per capita activity. At the end of the month, the winners will be awarded the Health Commissioner’s Challenge Trophy Cup.
SEE ALSO: Jeff Woods
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The Subtext
Posted on March 1, 2009 at 5:58 pmTom Humphrey reads between the lines of Gov. Phil Bredesen’s statement congratulating Gov. Kathleen Sebelius on being tapped as the new Secretary of Health and Human Services:
“And, if President Obama decides to create a separate White House position to serve as chief promoter of a national health care system - Health Care Czar, if you will - I, certainly, still might be available.”
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Sebelius, Not Bredesen, Obama’s Choice For HHS
Posted on February 28, 2009 at 6:19 pmThe Associated Press reports:
A White House source says Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius is President Barack Obama’s choice for secretary of health and human services.
There had previously been speculation he might choose Gov. Phil Bredesen to fill the post.
Governor Bredesen has issued this statement in response to reports:
“Kathleen Sebelius would be an absolutely first-rate choice for Secretary of Health and Human Services and would be in sync with President Obama’s goals for health care reform.
“We’ve been friends and worked together on various issues for several years now and I think very highly of her. She has an excellent mind, she makes decisions carefully and well, and her obvious empathy for the plight in which so many Americans find themselves will serve them and our country well. She has been a great governor, is well respected by her colleagues, and for my part, I stand ready to help her in any way.”
SEE ALSO:
Ken Whitehouse
R. Neal
Ilissa Gold
Southern Beale
Guerilla Women
What Kind Of Democrat Is This?
Posted on February 25, 2009 at 10:34 amDavid Lyons is not pleased with Governor Bredesen statements that he may end up refusing some federal stimulus money:
Gov. Bredesen is considering turning down $143 million from the federal stimulus package because, in giving another $25 per week to unemployed Tennesseans, he is afraid it might raise taxes on businesses later. Odd. I thought I voted for a Democrat. I thought government was supposed to help families in need.
Bredesen Tells Politico He Doesn’t Think He’s Out Of The Hunt For HHS
Posted on February 24, 2009 at 12:03 pmSays he is/was on a very short list:
Q: Are you out of the mix for HHS secretary?
A: I don’t think so…but I don’t know…They certainly told me I was on a fairly short list of people being considered. I refer all further questions to them. I’m just really not sure where the process is.
I think [Kansas Gov.] Kathleen [Sebelius] is a good choice and if that’s the direction they decide to go I’d certainly be very, very supportive and try to help her in any way I can.
(HT: RU)
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