Well, crap! Harwell???

[E4 No More]

House GOP Nominates Harwell For Speaker - Nashville News Story - WSMV Nashville

Republicans have elected Green Hills-area Rep. Beth Harwell of Nashville as their nominee for House speaker.

Harwell, who would become Tennessee's first female speaker if elected by the full chamber in January, defeated House Republican Caucus Chairman Glen Casada of Franklin on Thursday.

"She will be one of the best speakers the state has ever had," Casada said of Harwell.

Republicans this month picked up 14 seats in the lower chamber of the General Assembly to give them a 64-34 advantage over Democrats.

Tea party groups and gun rights groups heavily backed Casada because Harwell is viewed by them as a moderate. She has, in the past, focused less on social issues and voted against guns in bars.

It's a vote she explained as following the will of her constituents.

The solid majority makes it less likely that Democrats would be able to thwart the GOP nominee again like they did in 2008 by electing Republican Rep. Kent Williams as speaker.

Williams was stripped of his Republican credentials for the maneuver, though he was easily re-elected as an independent. He has announced he won't seek another term as speaker.

As far as working with Democrats, Harwell said she doesn't see it as a necessity, with 64 Republicans in the House.

"The reality is we do not need a single Democratic vote to do anything on the House floor," said Harwell.

So what can be expected from Harwell as speaker? She was co-chair of Gov.-elect Bill Haslam's campaign, so the two would be expected to work well together.

Her comments after the fact focused less on social issues and more on the big issue: the economy.

"We have an economy that needs repair. We want to focus on the job creation and building an environment that is conducive to job creation in the state of Tennessee," Harwell said.

[Guest tnxdshooter]

Dude we are so screwed. The antis have finally won.

[Guest tnxdshooter]

I will bet ole randy rayburn is laughing his ass off as we speak.

[Guest Guy N. Cognito]

Dude we are so screwed. The antis have finally won.

A bit dramatic, don't you think?

[Punisher84]

A bit dramatic, don't you think?

Not even close. That bitch is bad news.

[Guest Guy N. Cognito]

Not even close. That bitch is bad news.

Relax, guys. She isn't the most gun-friendly politician out there, but I'm pretty sure her Rebuplican brethren will keep her in line.

[mikegideon]

Relax, guys. She isn't the most gun-friendly politician out there, but I'm pretty sure her Rebuplican brethren will keep her in line.

I'm not a big fan of the Republicans OR the Democrats. With that said, the Republicans tend to be pretty good at sticking together on the issues.

[seez52]

time will tell, she's probably about as good as what we ended up with in the governors chair.

[safeandsecure]

Not that they (or anyone else) cares, but I don't like EITHER party. I am so sick and tired of party agendas ... ... and comments about not "needing" democratic votes reminds me too much of Pelosi and her attitude of not "needing" republican votes.

Guess I'm a mugwump, but I'd really like to see our elected officials work TOGETHER for Tennesseans and Americans, rather than "democrats" or "republicans."

Rant over.

[Guest tnxdshooter]

Not that they (or anyone else) cares, but I don't like EITHER party. I am so sick and tired of party agendas ... ... and comments about not "needing" democratic votes reminds me too much of Pelosi and her attitude of not "needing" republican votes.

Guess I'm a mugwump, but I'd really like to see our elected officials work TOGETHER for Tennesseans and Americans, rather than "democrats" or "republicans."

Rant over.

That is the thing, no politicians do anything for the public that elects them. Basically, bottom line is that if a certain bill some how lines their pockets or allows for self-help then they will vote for it. If it does not line the pockets or help them they won't vote for it. They could give a damn less what "we the people" think.

[1gewehr]

Guess I'm a mugwump, but I'd really like to see our elected officials work TOGETHER for Tennesseans and Americans, rather than "democrats" or "republicans."

I don't vote for parties, but for individuals. I do not care what party they are in. As for working together, I'd prefer they actually just stayed home and left us the he!! alone 99% of the time. Every time they 'work together' it ends up costing me more money and freedom.

[Guest tnxdshooter]

Relax, guys. She isn't the most gun-friendly politician out there, but I'm pretty sure her Rebuplican brethren will keep her in line.

Nope you can bet every gun bill that comes across her desk will be voted against by her. We will not be able to release any more gun bills as long as she is speaker I am afraid. I could be wrong but in this case unfortunately, I am pretty sure that I am right.

[Guest mds3d]

I think some might be overestimating the power the Speaker of the House in Tennessee has. Who she appoints to committees is her most important decision, after that she seems to have little power beyond the influence of the position.

We did OK with a democrat elected speaker, I think we will do fine now.

[safeandsecure]

I don't vote for parties, but for individuals. I do not care what party they are in. As for working together, I'd prefer they actually just stayed home and left us the he!! alone 99% of the time. Every time they 'work together' it ends up costing me more money and freedom.

That's my whole point. Until they work for US, rather than themselves or their respective parties, we're going to continue to be screwed.

And as for voting for individuals rather than parties, we're limited, pretty much, to the two "individuals" that the major parties provide and promote. And there's very little "individual' left at that point. If the "individual" fails to toe the party line, they lose party support and money. So we're back to our elected representatives doing what's going to please the party, rather than what's best for us ... ...

It may take a while, but if these "party-liners" keep getting voted out of office each term, they may ... might ... eventually get the message that most of us are tired of "agendas" coming before what is right and best for the state and country.

My , for what it's worth ... and again, not that anyone cares what I think. Most especially our elected "representatives."

[Punisher84]

I think some might be overestimating the power the Speaker of the House in Tennessee has. Who she appoints to committees is her most important decision, after that she seems to have little power beyond the influence of the position.

We did OK with a democrat elected speaker, I think we will do fine now.

Do you remember a guy named Jimmy Naifeh?

[Worriedman]

I think some might be overestimating the power the Speaker of the House in Tennessee has. Who she appoints to committees is her most important decision, after that she seems to have little power beyond the influence of the position.

We did OK with a democrat elected speaker, I think we will do fine now.

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.

[Raoul]

Seems like every time we vote for change we get chains.

[JayC]

Relax, guys. She isn't the most gun-friendly politician out there, but I'm pretty sure her Rebuplican brethren will keep her in line.

Have you ever spoken to her? She's much worse than the last speaker... she's just as much a RINO and totally anti-tea party 2nd amendment... It's not just the guns in bar bill that she has voted anti-gun on...

She's the one who sponsored (as in the primary sponsor) of the take all your guns away if you receive a protective order... not just your HCP, but the sheriff would come to your house and confiscate all firearms in it until the order was removed.

She's just one step to the right of the crazy hat lady in the legislature.

[Mark A]

I can't help but wonder if the results would have been different if the votes were public instead of secret. Kind of hard to run and hide when you are on the record.

[Guest HvyMtl]

http://www.tngunowners.com/forums/tennessee-politics-legislation/48557-tennessee-patriot-alert-house-speaker.html

Discussed here as well.

She was Haslam's Co-Chair for his election campaign. She will be more than willing to push his agenda.

The only defense will be Senate...

[Worriedman]

Democrats did not wait long to start reaching across the isle:

Harwell toy company under fire | TennViews

HARWELL'S BIG TIME TOYS ASKED TO DISCLOSE SAFETY INFORMATION

WITH TOY RECALLS RISING, BRENTWOOD COMPANY OUTSOURCES TO CHINA

NASHVILLE- With Christmas approaching, and a burgeoning list of toy recalls, state Democrats are calling on State Representative Beth Harwell (R-Nashville) to disclose all chemicals and product-safety testing procedures used by her family-owned toy company, Big Time Toys LLC, which manufactures its products in China.

The request comes after a nonprofit watchdog group Public Citizen yesterday issued a report "Santa's Sweatshop: Made in D.C. with Bad Trade Policy," claiming the "root cause" of this year's toy safety crisis is the growth of U.S. toy companies like Big Time Toys who outsource to countries without adequate safety systems -- namely, China.

"Millions of parents and kids across the country are affected by the toy recall crisis, it's time for Representative Harwell to step up and fully disclose the list of chemicals used in these made-in-China toys," said Wade Munday, spokesman for the Tennessee Democratic Party. "She also needs to disclose product-safety testing measures and disclose whether any of the substances have been considered in recalls."

[Guest Guy N. Cognito]

Do you remember a guy named Jimmy Naifeh?

Do you remember the Democratic majority that supported him? Do you really think that his position alone is what gave him that power?

[Guest Guy N. Cognito]

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.

Again, with the support of a Democratic majority that shared his views.

[Guest Guy N. Cognito]

Guys, look at what we got done with a Republican majority and an (essentially) democratic speaker. The sky is not falling, Chicken Little.

[Guest Guy N. Cognito]

Have you ever spoken to her? She's much worse than the last speaker... she's just as much a RINO and totally anti-tea party 2nd amendment... It's not just the guns in bar bill that she has voted anti-gun on...

She's the one who sponsored (as in the primary sponsor) of the take all your guns away if you receive a protective order... not just your HCP, but the sheriff would come to your house and confiscate all firearms in it until the order was removed.

She's just one step to the right of the crazy hat lady in the legislature.

Yes. I've also spoken to (and know way too much about) Casada. Between the two, unfortunately, she's the better choice.