Last night at 11:30 pm I was approached by a truck driver who thought he was being followed by a white Ford Explorer. It seems as he got on I-240 at the 385 intersection, the Ford Explorer drove up next to him and started shooting at him. Then the vehicle pulled to the shoulder to let him pass and he thought it had followed him.

The truck driver called 911 of course, but the first operator hung up on him and he had to call back. The next operator said they would dispatch an officer.

By around 12:15, the police had still not arrived to investigate, so I called the dispatcher. She informed me that the police were on the scene, to which I informed her that there were no police in sight. In the meantime, a number of curious truckers wanted to dig out one bullet lodged in a fiberglass hood, but I explained to them that the police would want that for evidence and leave it alone.

At 12:45, there was still no police officer on the scene. So I called back and the operator explained to me that the responding officers had ended their shifts and left for the day. According to her, the officer said he responded and the gate was locked. I explained that I had a truck with a flashing strobe light parked at the gate and it was wide open. Also, neither the dozen or so truckers nor I at the gate saw any sign of the police. She said she would dispatch another officer.

At around 1:15, an officer arrived and I showed her the bullet lodged in the fiberglass which could be recovered. She took a report, but did not collect the bullet or take photographs of the damage. She departed having done her job without having to spend too much time out of her car.

The truck driver lives in Chattanooga and was anxious to get home to hug his wife and children. As for me, I can’t remember a time when I was more ashamed of my City and its police force.

My congressman Marsha Blackburn talks about how she is not submitting earmarks this cycle.  Well she has been doing it for over 6 years, so why is she stopping now?  Let see, could be that the evil democrats control the House and the Senate…  could be that Tom Leatherwood is running in the republican primary against her… could be …well lets see what she has to say about it…

Government Spending
Congress is spending more than ever before, and to finance the shopping spree, you are facing the largest tax increase in American history; over $600 billion over five years. A chunk of that spending comes through wasteful earmarks. I haven’t submitted any earmarks to the appropriations process this year, and have signed the FreedomWorks pledge swearing off earmarks for this cycle. You might be interested in an editorial I wrote for The Tennessean on this topic.  You can find it under the taxes section of my website.

Marsha will vote against most bills now that the democrats have control and this  alone will make her look more conservative.  But, as any casual reader of BCR know, Marsha Blackburn votes for the big Omnibus spending bills and she, as my 7th district Representative, is responsible for the 9.5 TRILLION dollar debt.

Also, the ’swearing off earmarks’ is ingenuous at best.  All the money for the said bill has been voted upon, it just hasn’t been allocated to the specific items.   Ron Paul said it best:

• Mr. PAUL. Madam Speaker, abuses of the earmark process by Members of both parties demonstrate the need for reform. However, earmarks are hardly the most serious problem facing this country. In fact, many, if not most, of the problems with earmarks can be fixed by taking simple steps to bring greater transparency to the appropriations process. While I support reforms designed to shine greater sunlight on the process by which Members seek earmarks, I fear that some of my colleagues have forgotten that the abuses of the earmarking process are a symptom of the problems with Washington, not the cause. The root of the problem is an out-of-control Federal budget. I am also concerned that some reforms proposed by critics of earmarking undermine the separation of powers by eroding Congress’s constitutional role in determining how Federal funds are spent.

• Contrary to popular belief, adding earmarks to a bill does not increase Federal spending. Earmarks are added to appropriations legislation after the total funding levels have been agreed on. Therefore, earmarks simply allocate Federal money that Congress has already agreed should be spent. Thus, adding or subtracting earmarks from legislation does not increase or reduce Federal spending by even one penny.

• Since reforming, limiting, or even eliminating earmarks does nothing to reduce Federal spending, I have regarded the battle over earmarks as a distraction from the real issue–the need to reduce the size of government. Recently, opponents of earmarks have embraced an approach to earmark reform that undermines the constitutional separation of powers by encouraging the President to issue an Executive order authorizing Federal agencies to disregard congressional earmarks placed in committee reports.

• Since the President’s Executive order would not reduce Federal spending, the practical result of such an Executive order would be to transfer power over the determination of how Federal funds are spent from Congress to unelected Federal bureaucrats. Since most earmarks are generated by requests from our constituents, including local elected officials such as mayors, this executive order has the practical effect of limiting taxpayers’ ability to influence the ways the Federal Government spends tax dollars.

• Madam Speaker, the drafters of the Constitution gave Congress the powers of the purse because the drafters feared that allowing the branch of government charged with executing the laws to also write the Federal budget would concentrate too much power in one branch of government. The founders correctly viewed the separation of the lawmaking and law-enforcement powers as a vital safeguard of liberty. Whenever the President blatantly disregards orders from Congress as to how Federal funds should be spent, he is undermining the constitutional separation of powers.

• Congress has already all but ceded its authority to declare war to the executive branch. Now we are giving away our power of the purse. Madam Speaker, the logical conclusion of the arguments that it is somehow illegitimate for Members of Congress to control the disbursement of Federal funds in their district is that Congress should only meet one week a year to appropriate a lump sum to be given to the President for him to allocate to the Federal Government as he sees fit.

• Madam Speaker, all Members should support efforts to bring greater transparency to the earmarking process. However, we must not allow earmarking reform to distract us from what should be our main priority–restricting Federal spending by returning the Government to its constitutional limitations. I also urge my colleagues not to allow the current hysteria over earmarks to justify further erosion of our constitutional authority to control the Federal budget.  http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/C?r110:./temp/~r110HnbXBz 

If only Marsha Blackburn would not vote to spend money on things like Global Aids, UN, Katrina, Education, and of course, THE BRIDGE TO NOWHERE; then perhaps the debt would not have increased by about 4 TRILLION. 

Man she is out and about as of late..  Guess Tom has her on the run.

That line in the sand Leatherwood has drawn also promises to make the Republican primary for Blackburn’s seat, which will be decided by voters on the Aug. 7 ballot, a closely watched race. And the incumbent apparently isn’t taking anything for granted, because she gave Leatherwood a phone call about his rumored candidacy a couple of months ago, before he’d even formally entered the race.

“She called me, like, the day before Easter,” he said. “She had heard I was thinking about it. She left a message, and I called her back. I did ask her if she would consider not running. … She talked about how she hoped I wouldn’t run, that I could tour the district with her, that I could get to know the district, which could help me potentially in a future run.

“Of course, she let me know she was running. But for the good of the party, I wish she had not (run).”

And

On the defensive

Blackburn was in Shelby County last week, showing up at public events in Collierville, Bartlett and Lakeland. By way of knocking down some of Leatherwood’s accusations, she has told reporters that the campaign finance reporting errors were discovered, corrected and reported voluntarily once they were found.

She’s also said she believes most Republican incumbents will have picked up challengers this year as a byproduct of the current political climate. In a press session Tuesday, the congresswoman ticked off a list of the most pressing concerns voters in Shelby County have shared with her over the last few days.

“We heard that people are focused on a few specific issues,” she said. “No. 1, the price at the pump. No. 2, immigration. We also heard a lot about Congress not cutting spending and Congress looking at tax hikes. Those seemed to be the issues that were first and foremost on the minds of our constituents.”

http://www.memphisdailynews.com/editorial/Article.aspx?id=37020

jim this is for you.  They trash your national sales tax plan.  They do a good job.  I agree with them.

Is Making Taxes “Fair” the Answer?

By: Laurence M. Vance
May 12, 2008

Although tax season has come and gone once again, the various proposals for tax reform are still with us. These tax-reform plans, even though they appear outwardly to be quite different, have one thing in common that dooms them from being taken seriously by advocates of liberty and less government: they are all revenue-neutral plans seeking the most fair and efficient way to fund the federal government’s ever-increasing, multi-trillion-dollar budgets.

(Read on …)

I just finished reading an article written by Lee Millar of the SCV that details the events of the 2005 fight to save the Confederate parks. Lee Millar’s account of this battle are dishonest and portray Lee as the savior of the parks. This is far from the truth so I will set the record straight.

During my tenure on the Political Cesspool the fight to save the parks was something James Edwards and I were involved in. We were asked to lend a hand in the battle since we had a radio voice at the time and it was a noble cause.

The first round happened at the Pyramid where about 200 people came to stand for the parks and about a dozen stood against it. The meeting was late getting started to allow these dozen protestors to be bused in for the meeting with the Center City Commission. James Edwards was the one being interviewed by the local TV stations and Lee Millar was nowhere to be found.

Round two came when Al Sharpton announced he would stage a protest at Forrest Park to call for the removel of General Forrest’s statue. Bill Rolen, a friend of the Cesspool hosts, instructed JAMES EDWARDS, not Lee Millar, on how to obtain a permit for a peaceful assembly at another park. Confederate Park was to be the location of the peaceful alternative to Al Sharpton’s lunacy. Even though time was short Bill Rolen and James Edwards were able to obtain the permit and the location was secured.

Since James Edwards was out of town the local news stations contacted me to do several interviews concerning the park. The reporters were wonderful for all stations except for Channel 3’s Tom Powell. Tom Powell did not understand why we were fighting to save the parks and it translated into him being a complete ass. Also, during the interviews one reporter told me how wonderful it was to be dealing with someone other than Lee Millar. This reporter spoke of the hateful manner of Mr. Millar and was releaved not to have to deal with him again.

The peaceful vigil happened on the same day as the Sharpton rally, but with much more success than Sharpton’s thanks to Jess Bonds, Cesspool host, as well as about 100 others. The peace vigil was held without incident and was well covered by the local media.

During the interim Jess Bonds had scheduled and interviewed pro-South and black activist HK Edgerton on the Cesspool. This former NAACP chapter president spoke of the need for everyone to have and appreciate their history. HK was attacked verbally at the Pyramid and called the opposition’s favorite slur, Uncle Tom.

While scheduling the peaceful rally and inviting people to come we were faced with a new problem. No other than pro-South savior, Lee Millar, had turned into anti-South saboteur. It seems as though Mr. Millar was contacting the news media and the Sons of Confederate Veterans camps to ask that they not attend the peace vigil. When Mr. Millar was asked if he had done this during an interview on the Cesspool Mr. Millar stated he had not. We found out later that they had quoted Mr. Millar in the Commercial Appeal telling everyone to stay away.

Despite all of Lee Millar’s work to sabotage the fight to save the parks everything worked out. State Rep. Barbara Cooper was interviewed on the Cesspool as well saying that the parks scope should even be expanded. This is an abreviated account, but an honest one unlike what was given by Lee Millar. This was not an operation that was handled by one person, but by many. The group worked together to accomplish a win for the parks.

Austin

That is John McCain saying “I want your country” in his favorite language, Spanish. McCain opened his Spanish language site to coincide with Cinco de Mayo.

http://conservativeview.wordpress.com/2008/05/05/mccain-to-speak-at-open-borders-la-raza-%E2%80%9Dthe-race%E2%80%9D-conference/

Austin

Well the good guys over at the point radio show have posted an article about Marsha Blackburn that  was written by conservative journalist Jonathan Lindberg at the Memphis Mainstreet Journal. 

Now the Mainstreet Journal is too long on culture and too short on politics, and the only good writer is Mr. Lindberg.  The Point Radio Show, I don’t know, I haven’t listened, but do read their blog and it isn’t too bad.   

Here is a snip of the article:

So the question remains – is Blackburn a “rising star” among House leadership, or is she simply a Congressional foot solider – part of the conservative wing of the Republican Party?

Consider this, during her six years in Congress Blackburn has sponsored 34 bills, 32 of which have never made it out of committee. While that is hardly unusual, it hardly speaks of leading-the-charge. And while it is true Blackburn has remained an active House member, co-sponsoring hundreds of bills, many of which have been passed into law, when it comes to the issue of leadership, the argument that numerous Republican leaders throughout Shelby County are making is that Blackburn is great for sixty-second sound bites on radio or television, or for making an appearance at an event, delivering her sound bite and the exiting out the door – but when it comes to getting things done, something is lacking. 

According to these same leaders, comprising mostly of elected officials who openly support Tom Leatherwood, Blackburn is seen more as a style candidate and less of a substance candidate. Or as one Shelby County elected official asked rhetorically, “What has she really done?”

Read The following is an excerpt from the May issue of the Main Street Journal, a Memphis newsmagazine, covering the 7th Congressional Republican Primary race between U.S. Congressman Marsha Blackburn and Shelby County Register Tom Leatherwood.  here.

They also talk about Marsha and her adversion from Pork, but as you can go to this here BCR www site and see we post her latest votes and she is still voting for Pork.

See some of Marsha Blackburn’s bad votes here.

Here is the most wonderful example of how I and others like me feel. This fellow has explained it in a way that very few could. He could have left the Bush part off. That was a vote I wish to have back.

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/2008198091324

Austin

This reporter makes a great point about Marsha Blackburn knowing the negatives that affect the GOP, but not the name of a soldier killed in Iraq from her district. He may have ulterior motives, but it was a good point.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2s__F9TcdBk

Austin

My brother handed me a flyer on Monday and asked me what I thought about it. It was a rather expensive piece from Marsha Blackburn, the congressman from TN’s 7th district. It announced a meeting on May 2, 2008 at the Lakeland, TN City Hall. This meeting was to talk about such hot topics as tax increases, gas prices, economy and the sub-prime crisis. Subjects that would catch the attention of nearly every West TN resident.

I kept reading the front of the flyer and about the middle was Public Document Official Business and an even tinier notice saying this was paid for with taxpayer money. What a coincidence it is that Blackburn just happens to have a Republican opponent this election year and now she is coming to our rescue. How nice is it to send out a mailer that had to cost several thousand dollars to tell everyone how you are looking out for them on the taxpayer’s dime? Can you tell me that Mr. Leatherwood? No, you will have to pay for your campaign material out of your own pocket. You won’t be allowed to waste taxpayer money for this office until you are elected and I do not think the people of West Tennessee are smart enough to elect someone other than Marsha.

Not only did Blackburn waste taxpayer money on what amounts to campaign material, she acts as if she is the champion of her district. How could she be the champion of West TN when she is the reason we are having this trouble in the first place? How about those votes Marsha? I know a majority of the people that vote for you are stupid, but I am not. I know how you voted for CAFTA. I know your stance on the Columbia FTA. I know how you will continue to vote on “free trade” issues because according to Scott from your office you represent the workers at FedEx and not the citizens of TN’s 7th district. I hear you recieved 30,000 letters from FedEx employees telling you how wonderful you are. I hate to tell you that not all FedEx employees live in your district and there are a few more than 30,000 people in your district that you represent. Several 100,000 more people than those supposed 30,000.

I do appreciate your boy Scott verifying just where your allegiances are. I have known that you are the corporate sweet heart, but having him validate this was wonderful. Keep on voting for Marsha Blackburn so she will have to continue rescuing all of you from HER. It is what you all deserve.

Austin

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (H.R. 4986), which Congress passed on January 22 and President Bush signed into law on January 28, contained language that effectively repealed revisions to the Posse Comitatus Act made in 2006. The 2006 language made it easier for a president to declare martial law.

A wide range of freedom-loving individuals had opposed the expansion of police powers granted to the federal government as part of the ongoing “war on terror.” In an address before the House of Representatives on May 22, 2007, Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) cited “the changes made to the Insurrection Act of 1807 and to Posse Comitatus by the Defense Authorization Act of 2007.” Because of that act, warned Paul, “martial law can be declared not just for ‘insurrection’ but also for ‘natural disasters, public health reasons, terrorist attacks or incidents’ or for the vague reason called ‘other conditions.’ ”

Section 1074 of the 2008 bill (“Protection of Certain Individuals”), which provided for the military to protect designated Defense Department and military personnel, also strictly limited that role by stating: “Other than the authority to provide protection and security under this section, nothing in this section may be construed to bestow any additional law enforcement or arrest authority upon the qualified members of the Armed Forces and qualified civilian employees of the Department of Defense.”

A leading opponent in Congress of the 2006 expansion of Posse Comitatus powers, as well as a leading advocate of their repeal, was Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.).

http://www.thenewamerican.com/node/7878

Okay folks, any volunteers?  Who wants to play God?

By LINDSEY TANNER, AP Medical Writer Mon May 5, 9:47 AM ET

CHICAGO - Doctors know some patients needing lifesaving care won’t get it in a flu pandemic or other disaster. The gut-wrenching dilemma will be deciding who to let die

It seems that a group of “influential” doctors wrote a guideline for medical providers to follow in the case of a panademic.    They seem to know who should be allowed to live and die in such a case.  I guess I have to say that in a way I understand, but then again, it isn’t anyone’s right to make the decision as to who lives or dies.  In my humble opinion, it is just another case of man playing God.

 For this same reason I cannot support euthanasia.  Who is to say a miracle isn’t just around the corner?  Who is to say whose life is worth living or not?  Do these people think that just because they have a degree they are better than others?  You can bet your bottom dollar that if any of their family members met the criteria they would bust ass trying to save them.

People older than 85.

Those with severe trauma, which could include critical injuries from car crashes and shootings.

Severely burned patients older than 60.

Those with severe mental impairment, which could include advanced Alzheimer’s disease.

Those with a severe chronic disease, such as advanced heart failure, lung disease or poorly controlled diabetes.

I believe that Obama is a Socialist.  He would be worse than Hillary or McCain, and those two are Bad news.  But it may just take someone as BAD and as Socialist as Obama to Wake America Up! 

Yes, If our beloved country is to have a Revolution, No one better than the Most Socialist Democratic Presidential Candidate ever to get the Ball Rolling.  If (and I doubt it) he is elected, then the people will see what is happening to their country and Do Something about it ,  or,  we will be so far gone that they will never wake up.

I was 7 years old when I stood along a road side in Ohio near Kent.  A tank rolled its tracks along the asphalt street leaving marks as it moved past me.   A huge truck full of armed soldiers followed after it. 

Unarmed American students were shot dead by American soldiers on American soil.  What brought us to that?  Later that night I saw the students laying dead for the first time on a black and whte TV screen.

They were us:

Allison Krause, Dead

Jeffrey Miller, Dead

Sandra Scheuer, Dead

William Schoeder, Dead

67 shots, 15 seconds, nine wounded, one of these paralyzed for life.

I filed that with Bobby Kennedy and Wallace being gunned down and the space ship landing on the moon. 

Time moves on.