Worriedman

Democrats did not wait long to start reaching across the isle: Harwell toy company under fire | TennViews

The Speaker is a member of every committee in the House, second most powerful person in State Government behind the Lt. Governor only. Has more say about what legislation hits the floor of the House than any other person. Jimmy Naifeh, the last Democrat Speaker killed every gun bill that tried to make it through the House.

Ms. Harwell has said many times over in the last few weeks, that her response to the Restaurant Carry vote was because of her constituents view of the matter. I could almost understand that position if the majority of the residents of her district, however wrongly viewing the legality, contacted her to voice their opinion regarding her support or denial thereof, and she made her decision under a feeling of obligation to speak their wishes though her vote. A laudable situation, allowing the voters to have a say in the outcome of Legislation, (unlike the instructions received from many Legislators and Party officials relative to this latest election, which will have major impacts on all of our lives, ironically). I would hope that a true and honest appraisal of the Constitutionality of the situation would be foremost in the mind of any Representative, more especially one that wields the power of Speaker of the House. No group has the authority to demand an UN-Constitutional act on the part of any Government. To the core of that particular Bill, Governor to be Haslam has said he would have signed it into law. I hope Ms. Harwell can move closer to his stance relative to this particular subject of concern. Troubling to me still is her stance on the Parks Carry Bill. I never received a reasonable Constitutional reason for that stance, and I have sought for one to be offered. Again, her specific district's thoughts on that subject was espoused as the reason for her vote as recorded. The attempt to insinuate that she was in support of the Legislation, for State Parks, and IF an "Opt In" scenario was put forth for local municipalities as a reason to obfuscate her "No" ballot on the final Bill continues to give me pause. Citizens who are judged worthy to keep and bear arms by the statutes and laws of our land shall not have that Right infringed according to the 2nd Amendment. Additionally, Article 1 section 26 of the Declaration of Rights of the Tennessee Constitution requires that all laws which restrict the wearing of arms by the Citizens of this State who are allowed to keep them, must be grounded in a reduction of crime. Law abiding Citizens providing for their own defense as provided for in our Constitution does not fall into that category. Now however, due to her seeking a Leadership role for the House, she can no longer focus only on her 56th District's specific geographic area in consideration of legislation. This post was not thrust on her, she sought it out, so a wider look at the desires of various sensibilities will be necessary by virtue of her endeavor to be Representative to the entire State, and having control over issues that effect it. In addition, and no small item if import, we have a staunch watchmen at the helm of the Senate. I offer that Lt. Gov. Ramsey will protect our interest in the Senate and make sure that there will be no regressive/oppressive gun legislative allowed to reach the Governor's desk. Finally, we have the personal assurance of our new Governor that he is supportive of our Rights regarding the 2nd and 10th Amendments, as well as Article 1 Section 26 of the Tennessee Constitution. Video is a wonderful medium for retrospective perusal of promises made. As the Republican caucus has seen fit to name Ms. Harwell as our Speaker, I am willing to support her in this position. Per her personal assurance to me that she believes our firearms rights worthy of protection for the good of the Nation, I look forward to her service to our State as Speaker, and her support of the Founding Principals that form the basis of our Liberty. Welcome, Madame Speaker. To coin a phrase from our Sister State of Texas, the Eyes of Tennessee are upon you!

Your new Speaker is Rep. Beth Harwell.

Today is the tell, the Caucus votes this afternoon! The Speaker will be chosen, the "Official" vote will take place after the new Legislature is seated, but the deal will be done this day!

The short answer is "No". Neither will any Legislator in this year's session. I am afraid that the best we can hope for is to not lose any ground. Several of the best friends that gun owners had in the Legislature were Democrats that got beat (or chose not to run) this last round. Haslam will not push any pro-gun issues, ever, not in his make up. Will he sign Bills put on his desk that involve promoting Constitutional guarantees of the 2nd Amendment, I think so, and have him on video agreeing to do so.

Just hold on, the TSA is going Union next year, that will make it all better! Can't wait, SEIU cross breeds with TSA, that will be a pure joy. I fly at least once a week on average, and I have met about three TSA agents that don't have to take the short bus to get to work. I carry on my flights, (not LEO so it has to be placed in carry on luggage) so I have to deal with them, a lot. Worst is Memphis and best is Phoenix for carry passengers. Most airline agents know the score and the rules, most TSA agents do not. I carry a printed copy of their rules in my briefcase to show them when they get it really wrong. I have met the Supervisors in several airports, I get there 2 hours early on first flights through a new place. They can run any check on me they want to, as long as they do it to everybody else that gets on the same plane.

Naifeh is a tax and spend liberal, who just happens to be anti-gun, because somewhere a lobbyist for the NRA did not plunk down enough cash or goods to keep his patronage. I don't go to Chicago, ever, so they can have Daley. If those folks want to be oppressed and denied their Rights by one person who rules their lives, that is fine with me. State office wise in TN only the Governor is saddled with term limits, and more is the pity. Long term office holding lends itself to abuse of the system. It was intended for legislators to serve a little time and return to their previous lives, instead of amassing power by virtue survival, the longer they stay the more powerful they get due to seniority, till they fall witless in dotage from their perches. Just imagine 30 years of Al Frankin!

6.8 and Dave, I heartily disagree. Each local will re-elect a politician, if they are bringing home the bacon, regardless of their fitness for governance, it all has to do with money. Cases in point, Barney Franks and Richard Daley. Daley has had his foot on the neck of 2nd Amendment Rights in his local forever. Ted Kennedy would have been re-elected again, if he had lived this long. Term limits would preclude the favors and scams that occur now, building the machines that perpetuate control. And, if the ability to live as a King forever were restricted, then we would not have the constant flow of money going out in medical benefits and retirement that our Legislators enjoy now. Two terms and back to your "real" job, and we would all be better off. It should be a "service" not a life style or careerer.

Jimmy Naifeh is the best example I can think of relative to the necessity of term limits. The "People" want whoever can steal the most money from other regions as a politician in office, to bring back the pork to their constituents, simple as that. Allowing a King-making by virtue of longevity gives the most crooked of our politicians the ability to gain power over others who have not been in office as long, and is wrong. They currently get to vote themselves all manner of perks that we, the unwashed get to pay for, and the further this dynasty building goes on, the more removed from care of the Republic the careerer politicians get.

Judge Andrew Napolitano, if you can stand a literal interpretation of the Constitution.

I know Bob Pope well, and like me, he is not the most polished of individuals, and yes, it is a good thing that John can keep a tag line on both of us. But, there is no denying that he is 100% in favor of Tennessean's Gun Rights, and if you need his help on advocating for any issue involving those, he will show up, in spades. If he is your friend, you will have no better. IMO, if everybody that frequents these boards put as much time, money and heart into the fight, we would be much better situated than we currently are.

I have been contacted in the last couple of days by several individuals who could be considered "Blue Blood" Republicans that were absolutely furious that I have had the audacity to attempt to interfere with the selection of the TN House Speaker's position. From an e-mail received yesterday morning from one of them: "Honestly, our elected representatives do not need your help in making important decisions about leadership. I urge you to pull back and wait for the appropriate time and place to promote your issues. " In my communications with the several "Party" officials this has been an overriding theme. Not just them either, I have spoken directly with five TN Representatives, and three of them gave me the same line, that the general population, or as I see that "citizens, tax payers, voters" do not need to be concerned, it is a purvey of the elected, privileged class to make these decisions, and we should stand like the servants they consider us to be and wait on our rulers, who are better suited to decide on matters of import that will affect our lives, and those of our children and grand children. I for one, take this move to quash asserting my concerns about the quality of leadership of the House as a token that in some way the efforts to raise awareness and to advocate for participation by the great unwashed is having some measure of success.

Sadly, I think you are dead on with this assessment. Gun owners have not been vociferous in their pronouncements, and have been less than generous with their dollars as related to political candidates. We refuse to unite with hunters and shooters of the various disciplines to stake out a position of strength. The number of trial lawyers is minuscule as compared to gun owners across this state, yet they contribute millions, and as a group, we contribute nothing. They are effective, while we are not, money talks, and BS walks or so I have been told.

Very true. However, the British had the Tea Tax rigged back then, and they were going to take the munition stores at Concord and Lexington. A small group of dedicated individuals beat that one. The vast majority sat on their hands, but a few figured it was worth the effort. Tennessee does not have to take this.

They will have a caucus meeting with the new members on the 8th, that is where the wheeling and dealing, arm twisting and such is done. The great danger is that committee Chairmanships will be dealt in the attempt to put a Kent Williams style knife in the back of Concervatives. If the Judiciary Committee winds up in the hands of a Democrat as payment for support for the Speakers position, any hope of moving 2nd Amendment issues is gone for the next two years. Plus, with Harwell's record of voting against every gun Bill, it will be Naifeh as usual business in the House. The actual vote takes place in January, but the deal will be done in December. The votes are cast as a Secret ballot, but, the count by member will be available after the speaker is chosen. It is not just gun issues that are at risk, remember, every Bill that has to do with money must originate in the House. The citizens of this State have spoken on moving toward a Conservative bent, but if this travesty takes place, the will of the people will have been distorted and stolen!

The vote for Speaker takes place December 8, 2010. It is a secret ballot, so nobody has to own up to their votes.

One has to wonder about the intelligence level (or at least the commitment to Republican/Conservative principals) of a person who would align with Kent Williams. It would appear to be "reaching across the isle" of the First Order. The only way to garner the support of Dem's would be to promise Committee appointments for the coming year. Williams did the very same thing last year, as was drummed out of the Republican party for his efforts! What is it about holding a majority that is so hard for Tennessee Republicans to understand?

That is exactly what is going to happen, especially if Harwell gains the Speakers podium. Glockmeister is dead on, there will be no movement on any issue involving firearms issues, the new Governor is not going to push any initiatives, and if our Republican majority goes RINO, we, (gun owners) the smallest and least vocal group of constituents groups, is going to get pushed to the back of the line.

I think Haslam will let the Legislature lead, it is the way of good businessmen, let the staff work and you sign, if you have good staff.

That should be reason enough for all of us to get on the phone and call our Rep.s. Remember the shafting that Kent Williams gave us last year, he is striving to go down that path again. Beth Harwell does not have the Concervative's, nor the gun owner's best interest at heart, quite the contrary. She voted against Parks Carry, the Restauarant Carry Bills, and voted to uphold Bredesen's Veto of the Restaurant Bill.

If you worked to get a Representative candidate elected, you can call on them to pay attention to what is going on, and who needs to be making committee appointments, and which Bills get on the House floor for debate.

We need to get moving to make sure that Rep. Beth Harwell does NOT gain the Speaker's position. She is a ranking so called "Republican", and poured a lot of money into the State races this year, buying influence along the way. She is violently anti-gun. We might as well have Naifeh in the Speaker's spot if she is able to gain it.

Too bad the "D" did not get Naifeh as well. Oh well, re-districting will get him next time. Next most important thing is to talk with you Rep.s and be sure Beth Harwell is not elected Speaker in TN. She is a RINO of the worst proportion, and terribly anti-gun.

Uh, does no one remember the dead folks, felons and out of district folks voting for Ford in Memphis? How about the the 37 indictments issued, 35 which were felonies against Shelby County poll workers in 2006?