As many people know, Oak Ridge is a city that was born of war and designed to end war.  Carved out of beautiful farm country, our federal government built the city of Oak Ridge around a national mission and to a very large extent,  the local economy still centers on science and energy and federal contracts.

Some of the business relationships associated with these contracts were the subject of a Nashville City Paper article last week .  That City Paper article discussed Congressman Zach Wamp and individuals who felt pressured by Wamp’s associates to shell out dollars for sponsorships.

I’ve seen comments left by Wamp surrogates claiming one of the authors is gay.  Some have gone on to accuse the authors of the City Paper piece of being suspect, misguided and even Wamp himself issued denials.

I can verify however, that the Nashville City Paper is on track.  Before I get into my own personal story, please note that Congressman Wamp already has a track record that to use his team’s terminology, is suspect.

Just as a couple of examples, Congressman Wamp was targeted for a call-out by Dick Morris in an article on the ‘Do-Nothing Congress” for his “free” family trip to San Juan with the liberal Aspen Institute. And Congressman Wamp was also the ONLY Tennessee Congressman to be tied to the controversial and shady arm of now deceased Congressman Jack Murtha’s lobbying friends the PMA Group, a group under scrutiny for what appeared to be campaign donations for earmark favors.

Back when I was a newly elected Party Chairman for Anderson County, I took my core job to be to fill our local ticket and get those locals elected.  But I also understood the importance of the state officials, and from there, the federal officials.

I’m not the kind of person who likes to take credit or brag, but I will say that there is probably no one including my enemies who would not say I worked hard.  At our local level, I raised monies never before raised to give to our local GOP slate.  I met Senator Fred Thompson at a Leadership Conference down in MIssissippi and I asked him if he would help our local candidates and he was so gracious as to come help us.  We lobbied him for help with photos like this one.

I received handwritten notes from our Tennessee GOP Chairman saying that we were putting out the best newsletter they had ever seen at the local level.  We ran ads in the paper on issues, etc.  We made t-shirts.  We ran billboards.  It was an exciting time as so many of us worked together as a real team to make a difference.

Congressman Zach Wamp was our Congressman at that time and being the new party Chairman, he reached out to me to help him and in the process, perhaps generate more excitement for the local party.

I worked the door at a couple of his Wamp events doing name tags, smiling, taking checks, you know the stuff.   It was there that I got my first taste of the hypocrisy that I now know is Zach Wamp. At a fund raiser at the museum of Appalachia, his staffer from his Chattanooga office accepted a check.  It was from a PAC.  “You know Zach can’t take a PAC check,” the staffer told the donor.  “Can’t you write a personal check and then have the PAC reimburse you?” said Wamp’s staffer.  “Certainly!” said the donor.

OK. Team Wamp was playing the loophole.  But why claim NOT to take PAC money as Wamp did?  I didn’t know.  I mean, accepting PAC money is legal.  Maybe I was just being too hard, too legalistic, maybe it was no big deal that he was putting on airs so to speak.  So I kept helping and kept my mind open that he was a good guy.

Congressman Wamp then announced he wanted to do a community picnic—a barbecue, band kind of thing to generate some energy for  him and the party.  So a group of us  scheduled to meet and met several times.  At our first meeting, the lead organizer handed us  a sheet and stated what is on the handout, that is, that Congressman Wamp wants NO corporate donations/sponsors.  OK?

That sounded great.  But then came the picnic.  Yours truly cooked the barbecue, potato salad and the beans, cole slaw and whatever else we had on the menu.  But lo and behold, on the scene arrived one of the contractors bidding on the big, 2.5 billion dollar M & I contract that was to be awarded for 1998 by our Department of Energy. They had their name embroidered on their aprons and when it came time to shut down the event, I was told by Wamp’s staff to give the leftovers to the contractor, they “paid for it.”   And so we did as told and  the leftovers were given to the contractor.  I was also told that a separate contractor paid for Wamp materials that were there at that event,  (mugs, embroidered denim shirts, etc.) but I have no proof other than what I was told by Wamp staff.

OK. What’s with this guy?  Why say you’re NOT taking corporate donations and then take it?  What’s up?  Why be deliberately hypocritical? I don’t get it.  So now  two flags were raised.  I really started wondering about the guy.

Here’s the handout we received on the BBQ.  I circled the no corporate donations on the bottom for you to see.  I’m also posting the tentative budget that was set so you’ll know the rough amounts paid by corporate donor/s.

Shortly thereafter,  I received a call that Congressman Wamp wanted to plan a big fundraiser and raise LOTS of money.  So I met Congressman Wamp and his point man for the fundraiser-to-be at the Garden Plaza hotel in Oak Ridge. I will not name his point man unless it becomes necessary.  His point man now serves as a lobbyist in Nashville and I see no reason to name him at this point.

The three of us outline the generalities and make plans to move forward.  After phone calls and meetings and some faxing back and forth with staffers, we have another meeting with the point man and Congressman Wamp at our point man’s office out at Commerce Park in Oak Ridge.

At this meeting, we talk some of the details of the actual event but the important part is (of course) all about the money.  Wamp’s point man brags to Congressman Wamp that he got the ball rolling by calling one of the U.S. Government contractors and telling them that another contractor had purchased an entire table.   That contractor then agrees to purchase a table at the Wamp event.  So Wamp’s point man goes on to brag that he calls several contractors in this fashion and gets them to agree to purchase a table.

But that’s not the end of the story. He then brags to Wamp that once he got them to make the purchase of ONE table that he calls them back and tells them that the other contractor had now purchased TWO tables.  In this fashion he gets several more tables sold.  As you will see on the document I’m posting below, he actually was able to get two contractors to purchase 3 tables each and 1 contractor to purchase 4 tables.  One of those contractors goes on to win the $2.5 billion contract.

Does Congressman Wamp scold him?  Does he say that that kind of strong-arming makes him look corrupt?  Or for sale?  No, he doesn’t.  He PRAISES his point man.

And the night of the dinner Congressman Wamp announced to that date in time, the event was the MOST SUCCESSFUL fund raiser he had ever had!!  Hooray!  Hooray!

I was appalled.  None among us are without sin.  But this was entirely inappropriate.  It was a shakedown and I don’t know how you call it anything else when the wheels of government can grind to a halt with interference from your friendly neighborhood Congressman.  The contractors are good, legitimate companies vying for serious government work.  The underlying threat was that you’d better buy another table if you know what’s good for your company or if you want the wheels of government running smoothly.

And all was done with Congressman Wamp’s full knowledge and approval, ney, praise!

I’m going to paste the list of table sponsors from the event that night.  There are several people I know and like on the seating list.  Some folks are genuine Congressman Wamp fans or die hard Republicans.  But you will see that the majority of sales, if you will, at this event are by individuals who rely upon smooth waters in the government contracting business.  Lockheed Martin.  CDM Federal.  SCG.  Westinghouse.  Foster Wheeler.  CROET. Bechtel.  CH2MHill. Jacobs.  Molten Metal. And you will see several companies who were vying for a HUGE 2.5 billion dollar M & I Contract that was to be awarded at the end of 1997.  Why do you think Congressman Wamp scheduled the fundraiser when he did?  (Note: page 1 has table sponsors in the right column.)

You will see on the list several names at a table.  For instance, table 10is a Bechtel Table.  But if you know the people in this area, you know that they don’t work at Becthel.  For instance, Julia Cowart and Brandon Salamacha were scheduled to seat at table 10.  Brandon was a Young Republican volunteer and Julia was our party secretary who worked at Clinton Utilities Board at the time.  Wamp’s staff spread the people around and gave out free tickets because they KNEW there were no guests coming, that it was just all about the contractor WRITING THE CHECK! (note: I never saw the checks, I fully assume they followed the letter of the law in that they were from the representatives/employees of the companies.)

I have wanted to speak out about this for a long time.  And anyone who has ever listened to our radio show or tv show knows I have expressed my distrust of Congressman Wamp.  There is nothing personal in it, because I have never asked anything of Congressman Wamp.

But when I left the event that night after seeing VERY FEW legitimately willing donors in the room, I knew it would be my last event and my last vote for Congressman Wamp.

Program and picture of me and Congressman Wamp in 1997.  Definitely not to be construed as an endorsement.

For those who will no doubt come on here and begin to malign me, I think there is plenty of evidence that Wamp is not a truthful person if you will allow the scales to fall from your eyes.  He made a term limit pledge and broke it.  He made a PAC pledge and broke it.

There is a list.  A long list. One mistake, one broken promise may not make a difference.  But when such incidences stack up to make a list of several, then we see that some character problems do exist.  I want no such individual representing our state and I want no such person being the standard bearer of my party.  The straw that broke the camel’s back was the PBS debate that I live-blogged.  Congressman Wamp said we needed contract reform.

He’s right on that one.  And it should start by throwing out politicians like him who abuse their seats of power for personal political gain.  I know many of the contractors on this list will be upset and tense by what I have written.  But I also know that deep down, many will be thankful that Wamp has implied that life could get difficult if they don’t pay up and they’ll be glad someone is saying what they can’t.

It is certainly understandable when government has grown so large that donors will seek to be known by those politicians who make government run.  But it’s nothing short of a Jesse Jackson-style shakedown for the Congressman to imply that contractors should consider purchasing a table based on the purchases of competing contractors.

There are more stories like mine out there, including at least one direct shakedown from the Congressman himself that my husband was personally told about by the founder of one contracting company, that is the victim of the shakedown.  I hope that some who may read this will finally see that Wamp’s reign of terror as a Congressman on the Appropriations Committee is about to be over.  I hope they will step to the plate and contact a member of the media or even me and share your story.

The bottom line to this lengthy story is this: The Nashville City Paper article on its own may have no legs.  But I witnessed the same thing.  I’m just a blogger, but a blogger plus journalists with sources isn’t just a political ploy.  There is something there.

Ken Whitehouse and Stephen George have a piece in today’s City Paper that blows the lid off of Zach Wamp’s Shakedown System.  It’s a must read. Team Wamp says it ain’t so, but I’ve witnessed it myself and can verify that they are correct.  I’ll publish some of my own personal evidence to support the City Paper piece.  Here’s just a tiny little section, but read the entire piece.

Privately, at least three major sponsors complain of the expense of supporting TVC activities without seeing many, if any, tangible results for their expenditures. They question the semantics used by TVC when they take credit for a business like Volkswagen moving into the geographically designated Tennessee Valley Corridor when the organization itself was minimally involved, if at all.

But the same sponsors who are frustrated with the TVC have also been reluctant to speak publicly for fear of recrimination. Wamp, who is seated on the powerful House Appropriations Committee, maintains a tight relationship with the firm that draws the biggest paycheck from the organization. These companies fear a public complaint could result in slow-walking — or outright death — for federal budget requests and earmarks.

Update from Nashville Post. Grilling interview. I’m pretty sure it left a mark.

Here’s a wonderful resolution from JFK and then a speech from President Reagan from 1984.  My favorite words from this speech:  ”preciousness of human freedom” and that chapters are never closed.

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Whereas the high courage and the supreme sacrifice of Americans who gave their lives in battle have made it possible for our land to flourish under freedom and justice; and

Whereas the ideals and patriotism of those who answered the call to service stand as an inspiration to every new generation of Americans; and

Whereas the same principles and revolutionary beliefs for which our forbears fought and died are still at issue in the world and the challenge against them can be met only through the same qualities of courage, strength, and unflinching determination shown by our noble dead; and

Whereas Memorial Day each year provides a fitting occasion upon which our people may not only commemorate the Nation’s heroic dead but also unite in prayer for the preservation of liberty and peace free from the threat of war; and

Whereas to this end the Congress, in a joint resolution approved May 11, 1950 (64 Stat. 158), requested the President to issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to observe each Memorial Day as a day of prayer for permanent peace:

Now, Therefore, I, John F. Kennedy, President of the United States, do hereby urge the people of the United States to observe Tuesday, May 30, 1961, Memorial Day, by invoking the blessing of God on those who have died in defense of our country, and by praying for a new world of law where peace and justice shall prevail and a life of opportunity shall be assured for all; and I designate the hour beginning in each locality at eleven o’clock in the morning of that day as the time to unite in such prayer.

I also urge the press, radio, television, and all other media of information to cooperate in this observance.

In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States of America to be affixed.

DONE at the City of Washington this 24th day of April in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and sixty-one, and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and eighty-fifth.

JOHN F. KENNEDY

MetroPulse has an article up today suggesting that the Haslam family’s casino business in Nevada could be an election issue.  I’d have to say that yes, it could be.  The IF of course, is IF a targeted block of GOP Primary voters get a mailer saying something like:

Do you want to take a gamble on Bill Haslam?

This is not the kind of PR you want with the church crowd.  That is IF someone does a glossy mailer with pictures of Vegas and a little kid watching daddy put his paycheck in the slots.

It’s not enough to beat a candidate, but in a tight race, it’s enough to take a bite in a GOP primary.  And it’s a revelation that kind of hurts that reference to Jeremiah that Mayor Haslam made in last night’s debate.

You know, this makes me wonder about another church issue, that is, does Pilot Oil sell pornography in some of their stores inside and/or outside of Tennessee?  Could be an issue too with that same targeted group if they do.

From the MetroPulse:

The website for the Pilot Travel Center at Wendover, Nev., just across the border from Utah, lists as an amenity the Pilot Casino on site with 75 slot machines. The Pilot Casino in Carlin has 69 machines, in Fernley 74 machines, and in Winnemucca 70 machines. The Pilot Casinos owner is listed as a private company incorporated in Nevada called Leisure Gaming Inc. Pilot also has franchise restaurants at many of its locations.

From Tennessee Center for Policy Research:

House Speaker’s Fish Hatchery is Glaring Example of Government Waste

Fish becomes the new pork in proposed Tennessee budget

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Center for Policy Research today called on state lawmakers to oppose a $16.9 million fish hatchery contained in the proposed state budget, along with all other pork-barrel spending. Governor Phil Bredesen and House Speaker Kent Williams plan to place the hatchery in Williams’ Carter County district. According to the Bredesen administration, the hatchery would create 22 jobs in the region, which amounts to roughly $768,000 per job.

“Leave it to government to turn $17 million into just a few dozen jobs,” remarked Justin Owen, TCPR’s director of policy. “In reality, this project is about one job: Speaker Kent Williams’ job.”

The fish hatchery is proposed as part of $341 million in “contingency” spending, meaning that the money is contingent upon Congress acting to send the state this additional funding. If approved, the state will spend $16.1 this year to build the hatchery, adding to the $800,000 it has spent on the project already.

“In Tennessee, fish is the new pork,” said Owen. “At a time when people are losing their jobs and the state is hinting at raising taxes, politicians want to dig a big fish pond in Upper East Tennessee. It would be humorous if it weren’t so true.”

The project represents yet another example of wasted taxpayer money at a time when Tennesseans can least afford it. It also encourages other lawmakers to press for their own government-funded projects, driving frivolous spending even higher. The Tennessee Center for Policy Research urges state lawmakers to avoid going down this slippery slope, especially during such a tough economic climate.

“If lawmakers really want to create jobs, they should lower taxes, cut spending, and get out of the way,” Owen said. “Throwing millions of dollars at political pet projects isn’t the answer.”

Thanks to Memphis for the debate!  Great questions!!  I falsely assumed the questions would be geared away from issues that folks like me would find interesting.  They weren’t.  Good diversity…

Liveblogging the Memphis debate…

I’m going to get my children’s responses…

I guess I’d have to start with the fact that my kids commented on hair!

Opening statements:  Haslam focusing on jobs…  I’d say that’s a good strategy, but what about Washington?  They’re why we have no jobs!!!

Wamp: I’m no Wamp fan.  OK.  I’ll try to be objective.  Economic development.  He says he’s been a part of that.  He forgot the shakedown part…

Like Haslam, Wamp focusing on jobs…but he says we need leadership…for production.

Ron Ramsey is up:  Eighth generation Tennessean, self-employed…pick up truck and prayer got him started…led revolution to have Republicans take charge in the Senate in Tennessee…talking about Tennessee budget

Joe Kirkpatrick: Middle Tennessean, private sector, not on “government payroll”….wife is “speaker of our house”…changed more diapers than any candidate in the race…wow…he’s throwing some serious shots!  ”We owe a lot of money, but we don’t owe a lot of favors.”  In Obama’s America, if you disagree with Obama and you’re black, you’re an “uncle Clarence Thomas,” and if you’re white and you disagree, you’re a “domestic terrorist.”

1st Question: Would you support Arizona type legislation? And penalties for companies hiring illegals…

Haslam first up: Haslam: it’s feds fault.  Uhm, kind of evading question…doesn’t say if he would support or not…not really answering the question….need federal guidance…

Kirkpatrick: directly answers question: he says he would support Arizona Jan Brewer law and would support penalties for businesses…

Ramsey: same question and questioner directly asks if Ramsey will support/push for passage in the Senate. Ramsey says yes, he’ll push it…says it’s easy for feds to criticize when Arizona has one of the highest rates of kidnapping…I can’t keep up here, he lists a litany of changes to state law on illegal immigration…

on business…yes, they should be punished if they knowingly illegally hire.

Wamp: repeating Haslam.  Says he has some kind of 100% rating….says we should be an E-verify state.  Why he mentions Haslam, I don’t know…He says we want to be a state where “they” skip Tennessee.

Next question: fed govt response to flooding in Tennessee...

Kirkpatrick: fed response was pretty good in comparison…

Ramsey: this is a legitimate function of the federal government…not an unfunded mandate, like Obamacare, but he’s more proud of the citizens of Tennessee …they literally rolled up sleeves and got to work.

Wamp: names his experience from Washington…praises FEMA getting the checks out…says he commends Governor Bredesen

Haslam: devastation overwhelming…local and state response he thinks was strong…

Next question: Bredesen’s Pre-K: Ramsey was skeptical of Pre-K, explain your position, will you expand it, reduce it, get rid of it…

Ramsey: we have to set priorities, we can’t borrow money like Washington, we can’t borrow like Washington…we don’t need universal pre-K.  This is about return on investment, every dollar for Pre-K is coming from K-12.  Won’t see an expansion under Ramsey.  We’re reaching the at risk kids…no need for expansion.

Wamp: race to the top!!  Early childhood reading is key to education.  Wamp says our constitution supports early childhood education (pre-k.) Holy crap!! I can’t believe that was his answer.

Haslam: waiting to see more results.  It’s a question of focus.  We’re in economic situation…

Leave pre-K in place, and not expand until we have more results and budget situation is repaired.

Kirkpatrick: using pre-K, but doesn’t like what they might be teaching.  (I’m sorry, I missed some of this answer.  My apologies.)

Next question: lottery/education

Wamp: what do we do with the lottery.  Frankly, he wasn’t for it, but now we have it.  He’s the recipient of lottery funds in his family.  Everything re: the lottery should be open for discussion.

Haslam: we’re 33% behind the national average of young people who have degrees. (I think that’s what he said.) The state funding for our colleges has decreased.  Community colleges will have to play a big role.

Kirkpatrick: can’t say he’s for abolishing the lottery.  UT just raised tuition.  So lottery funds don’t go as far.  Lottery funds have been subverted to fund other areas…

Ramsey: try to be good steward of public/taxpayer dollars. We didn’t over-promise.  Lottery revenues are declining, that’s why we didn’t over-promise. Money coming in has to balance with money going out…lower class is paying for the middle class to go to school that’s why he didn’t think it was  a good idea in the first place.

Next questions are for individual candidates only:

Would you support the Health Freedom Act and how would you support TennCare?

Kirkpatrick: Beavers and Lynn sponsored this legislation and he supports them.  He would get rid of TennCare.  Consumers are behind lobbyists…If federal govt is involved in it, generally it doesn’t work.

Ramsey: is the state paying enough attention to environmental protection? Department of conservation is sometimes overzealous…no response to businesses in a timely manner.  Small businesses need to be served better.  Environmental issues: use good science, common sense, NOT emotion.  We need jobs, but not overemotional reactions.  Dept of Conservation reigned in…not working against small business.

For Wamp: is teaparty good for GOP and what do you disagree with them about?

Wamp says teaparty is good for America.  Tea Party movement is a bottom up movement…it’s getting back to the Constitution.  He doesn’t agree with everything with the teapartiers or the GOP for that matter, but they are good.

Haslam: guns in bars.  Do you support?

He says he supports it for 2nd amendment…he says it’s an individual right.  (I wonder if little Jack Mack at the Sentinel will write one of his editorials on this!!!!!)  He’d sign the legislation.

Kirkpatrick: would you support legislation/tax to deal with obesity?

No.  None of government’s business.  If we’d privatize health care, it would be affordable.  We don’t need to tax things to pay for Obamacare.  In terms of taxation, less is more.

Ramsey: what are doing to attract minority voters?

Ramsey says continue to sell the message.  Outreach for him: being himself.  Minorities are family minded, God-fearing…sticking to what he believes in is his outreach.

Wamp: question: death penalty, does it work…

Wamp says the death penalty is the ultimate deterrent, ultimate penalty.

Follow up question: was there any death penalty case in the past that you would have held up?

Wamp: ? Doesn’t say so, says we can’t really look back.

Haslam: Would you have fought to reject the federal stimulus money?

Haslam: wouldn’t have rejected it.

Round 3!  Ding-Ding! Back to questions for all candidates.

Ramsey: question: renewable energy: are you prepared to say to Tennessee and TVA no more coal?

Ramsey: no, that’s unrealistic.  Our economy runs on affordable energy.  Do we need to work towards goal of nuclear, renewables?  Yes.  But we need

market driven, affordable energy, if we have 2oo years of coal, we need to dig it out and not buy from other countries.  Renewable yes, but we don’t need to kill jobs.

Wamp: Like Lamar says, we need nuclear “renaissance.”  When he’s governor, we’re going to have energy jobs, renewable, green jobs. Nukes.

Haslam: we’ve seen what happens with smog.  As mayor, we’ve tried to model out responsibility: LED traffic signals, sustainability, solar.

We’re not going to do away with coal, but we’ve got to move forward, solar, etc.

Kirkpatrick: not going to do away with coal.  With oil, we need refineries.

Question: talk about need to cut state spending and cut employees.  How and who?

Wamp: do three things: reform the way government does business. Procurement and contract reform.  70% of all state spending is people and you have to “right size” state government.  (Sorry, I think that’s the term he’s using?)  I guess that means cutting back.

Haslam: does the state have too many employees? Haslam says we don’t have a choice if you’re not raising taxes.  If you’re not going to raise taxes, you’ve got no choice.  Predominant jobs have been added in administrative services, that’s where we would need to focus.

Kirkpatrick: supports eliminating Hall Income tax and funding government through economic theories that work.  He says Haslam said he won’t eliminate the Hall Tax.

Ramsey: next Governor has to make tough choices.  Departments can be combined.  It’s not going to be across the board cuts, it’s going to be cuts based on what are legitimate functions of state government.  He’s making these cuts right now.

What jobs would you like to deliver to areas in Tn of high unemployment:

Haslam: you can’t run economic development from the capital.  We need 10-12 regional base camps.  Need folks focused on different areas.

Kirkpatrick: rural areas, inner city unemployment–what would you do?

Illegal aliens: when we send them back we can have jobs for Americans. We need better transportation system for folks to be able to travel.  Stop raiding the transportation funds—

Ramsey: Government doesn’t create jobs, businesses create jobs.  The job of a Governor is to 1. sell the state of Tennessee.  2. sorry, I missed this!  phone rang….ugh!  I think he said government needs to create a good environment and then get out the way.

WAmp: we need production agenda.

Helping public hospitals is next question, specifically the Med?  (sorry, I’m not familiar, I’m assuming this a Memphis hospital)

Ramsey: the Med serves a large population of Mississippi and Arkansas.  We have to proceed carefully with these border hospitals.  Long term issue. Basically can’t have Tennessee dollars footing the bill for a Tennessee hospital servicing large populations of Arkansas and Mississippi. Need to look at these border hospitals like Erlanger and the Med.

Wamp: signed pledge to help the Med because Memphis matters.

Haslam: convene people who are involved.  Inefficiencies at the Med will have to be addressed.

OK.  wrapping up here.  Question for Wamp, national id card. e-verify:

There are privacy issues, but we’ve got to have a way to make sure your social sec. number is your number.  There’s got to be better way.

Missed the question.  Sorry, Avery is pushing bedtime!

Kirkpatrick: as Governor would your faith separate you from people in the state who are not of your faith?

We are to render to the Constitution and the Declaration that which is due…

Ramsey: career ladder, teacher pay.  How would you restructure?

1. Career ladder was ended long ago, but some still in it.  We need to identify who is still a part.

2. He believes in pay for performance.

3. good teachers need to be paid more

4. make sure with the non-recurring funds from race to the top be used for non-recurring programs (like training)

Closing remarks.  Sorry, I can’t get this covered.

Last year on the radio program, we hosted a wonderful discussion with Dr. Gabriel Calzada Alvarez about his study that showed so-called green jobs actually cost jobs.

We discussed our own American Department of Energy allocating time and money to debunk his study.  No information ever came forward about who requested the study, though the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, CO was the organization performing the contract.  Nawww, they don’t have any skin in the findings, do they?

Now Dr. Alvarez’s study has been backed up not only by Italian researchers, but by the Spanish government itself.  Will our Department of Energy double down against Dr. Alvarez?  Let’s watch…

From Investors Business Daily:

Jobs: A Spanish economics professor said attempts by his country to create a green economy would fail. Now a Spanish government report confirms his findings, blunting claims that the professor’s report was biased.

The professor, Gabriel Calzada Alvarez of Juan Carlos University in Madrid, produced a 41-page study last year on the European experiment of going full bore on the conservation front. He found that “the Spanish/EU-style ‘green jobs’ agenda now being promoted in the U.S. in fact destroys jobs.”

and this:

They found that in Italy, the losses were worse than they were in Spain: Each green job cost 6.9 jobs in the industrial sector and 4.8 jobs across the entire economy.

“Green investments are an ineffective policy for job creation,” they say in their report. Despite the other merits of investments in new energy, “to the extent that the ‘green deal’ is aimed at creating employment or purported as anti-crisis or stimulus policy, it is a wrong policy choice.”

Even more inconvenient for the environmental left is a study by the Spanish government. This leaked document supports the Alvarez report. The green lobby can’t claim bias in this analysis because the Zapatero administration that compiled it is a socialist government that sees windmills when more rational people see dragons.

The Most Corrupt States

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Picked up a book at a flea market by J. Edgar Hoover called Masters of Deceit.  Henry Holt edition March, 1958.  I thought it be really neat to see what he was saying back then.  I’m posting a couple of pages with some highlights because I thought you’d appreciate.  Click on the images to make them larger. NOTICE: He talks about the communists wanting to move the nation’s capitol from D.C. to someplace else, like CHICAGO!  I think we’re already there!

Some must watch videos…

First, check out David Horowitz.  Political correctness is a one-way street, isn’t it?

And then watch this incredible freedom of speech video from Sweden.  So much for the ole’ freedoms. Watch the video at this post or the youtube gods claim to you have to sign in to see it.

STOCKHOLM – A Swedish artist who angered Muslims by depicting the Prophet Muhammad as a dog was assaulted Tuesday as angry protesters interrupted his university lecture about the limits of artistic freedom.

Lars Vilks told The Associated Press a man in the front row ran up to him and head-butted him during the lecture, breaking his glasses but leaving him uninjured. It wasn’t immediately clear what happened to the attacker.

From a fellow southerner:

I never cease to be amazed.  And I’m sorry, but I believe no amount of oversight can cure this kind of abuse.  We have to starve government.  When government is as big as it is, we can’t possibly have enough watchers.

Thank to Congressman Blackburn for finding this abuse!

BLACKBURN, OLSON, ENTER EPA VIDEO CONTEST

Prize Money Will Be Returned To The Treasury

WASHINGTON-  Congressmen Pete Olson (TX-22) and Marsha Blackburn (TN-7) today submitted their joint entry to the EPA’s “Rulemaking Matters!” video contest. In April both Olson and Blackburn raised concerns over the EPA’s wasteful use of taxpayer dollars as prize money for this contest. In a hearing before the Energy and Commerce Committee late last month, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson claimed that she was unaware of programs within her department that use taxpayer dollars as prize money. Since her testimony, Congressman Blackburn’s office has identified six separate video contests initated since 2009 offering prizes of more than $30,000.

“In the great scheme of things, $30,000 may not seem like much, but Congress trusts that the executive agencies will be good stewards of every taxpayer dollar. Clearly Administrator Jackson is not. To claim ignorance of one small contest and it’s $2,500 prize is one thing; but to be ignorant of six contests involving tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars is negligence pure and simple. Her agency is throwing money away hand over fist and I am appaled that she is ignorant of it.”

“Since neither Administrator Jackson or the President have responded to my request to end this wasteful spending, I have only one immediate recourse; enter the contest, win it, and return the prize money to the treasury myself. I am greatful that my friend and colleague, Pete Olson, has joined me in this important project.”

The Blackburn-Olson entry on the importance of public participation in the federal rule making process can be seen here.

EPA “Rulemaking Matters!” contest rules can be found here.

Other EPA Video Contests with cash prizes:

Water Quality Video Contest ($5,000 prize money)

Rulemaking Matters Video Contest ($2,500 prize money)

Our Planet, Our Stuff Video Contest ($2,500 prize money)

“Faces of the Grassroots”: Environmental Justice Video Contest ($11,000 total prize money)

Learn Before You Burn Video Contest ($4,250 prize money, including a $250 Treasuy Bond)

Lead Poisoning Prevention ($5,000 prize money)

Here is Congressman Blackburn’s video entry on EPA rule making!

Are you sick to death of politicians?  Do they make you throw up in your mouth just a little?  Check out this video of Governor Christie in New Jersey.  It’s just a couple of minutes of your time,  but by gosh, I swear to you, you WILL BE refreshed.  You will see there is still hope.

And then watch Allen West, candidate for Congress down in Florida.  Straight to the point.  And he knows his history.

Hat tip to the best of the blogs, Ace on these videos.

Don’t forget to attend the Al Gore protest this morning at 8 am on the corner of Lake Loudon an Phil Fulmer Avenue. (Right across the street from Thompson-Boling arena).

Great speeches last night!  Lots of good friends!  Thanks to Knoxville Tea Party for getting the location, sound equipment, etc.  Awesome folks!!  And a fired up crowd!  Lord Monckton rocked the house!  So did Frank Nicely and Stacey Campfield as they introduced the speakers.  Awesome stuff!!  Irish film producer Phelim McAleer raised holy hell!

In a story on the protests of Al Gore’s honorary degree, the University of Tennessee deals a blow to Al Gore tonight.  In defending their gift of an honorary doctorate to Al Gore, the UT spokesman and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences admits that the science of global warming is subject to debate and interpretation.  That’s a faaaaaaaar cry from Al Gore’s mantra “it’s settled science.”

The UT Dean of Arts and Sciences doesn’t believe it’s fraud, just subject to interpretation.  Listen here to Dean Bruce Bursten:  UT Dean Al Gore (this clip is from WBIR News, link to full story is below.)  Interesting…

Listen here to WBIR’s interview.

Of course with the Climategate scandal, I think we’re seeing that some actual fraud took place in pushing the global warming agenda, so I’d have to disagree that fraud hasn’t been involved.

No, it’s not NEXT Thursday.  It’s TONIGHT!  7 pm, Tennessee Amphitheater, Knoxville, Tn.  And don’t forget the morning event at 8:00 am across the street from Thompson Boling arena where we’ll be handing out flyers and having a little spoof kind of fun.

Great Speakers, a great time, and a worthy cause!  Let’s be clear here about the awarding of this doctorate by the University of Tennessee.  This degree is not about his prestige in Tennessee.  It is about furthering Gore’s work on the global warming hoax.  If it were about his work in government, or his service as Vice-President, then why is the degree in this field:

Gore will receive the degree — an Honorary Doctor of Laws and Humane Letters in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology — at the spring commencement exercises of the College of Arts and Sciences on May 14. He will be the featured speaker at the ceremony, addressing graduates and their families along with the gathered faculty.

More details about the event at the Knoxville Tea Party site.

I’ll be on the Steve Gill show this morning talking a little anti-Gore global warming protest from here in Knoxville.  Might talk about the Governor’s race too!  Who knows?

Tune in at 8:10 Eastern/7:10 CST or listen online at http://www.gillreport.com!

Van Irion, candidate for Congress for the seat of Zach Wamp who has moved on to run for Tennessee Governor, continues to charge full steam ahead on his lawsuit against Obamacare.  You read more here.

Here’s the latest presser:

OBAMACARE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT REACHES 30,000 PLAINTIFFS

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (May 11) – A lawsuit filed by 3^rd District U.S. House Republican candidate Van Irion to overturn the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, known more commonly as Obamacare, was joined by its 30,000^th plaintiff today. Irion has set a deadline of May 31 for other plaintiffs to join at which time the complaint will be amended to add all of the co-plaintiffs that have signed on at http://www.obamacareclassaction.com/

“We are deeply gratified that so many citizens have asserted their individual rights and joined us in this lawsuit,” said Irion. “We believe the administration and Congress clearly exceeded the legal bounds established in the Constitution and specifically the 10^th Amendment. We wanted to do more than just talk about it.”

Irion is serving as pro bono attorney in the lawsuit. He was interviewed on national television in late April by Greta Van Susteren and Judge Andrew Napolitano of FoxNews about his involvement. Videos of both interviews can be seen in their entirety at: http://www.van4congress.org/news/

For Thursday’s protest of Al Gore receiving an honorary doctorate for his work on global warming, I’ve told you that Lord Monckton will be one of the guests flying in.  Come to the Amphitheater at the World’s Fair Park Thursday night at 7pm for  a great time.

If you can’t make it Thursday night or you’re too far away to drive in, you can tune in to Steve Gill on Friday morning.  Click here for all the information you need on Steve and his show.  He has an awesome online streaming set-up that doesn’t mess up like a lot of online streaming!!  Steve’s show is 5am to 8 am CST.  He’s on many stations across the state and here in East Tennessee, but I’d love to have him blasting the airwaves every morning in the heart of Knoxville!!  Anyone got a radio station?  :)

http://www.gillreport.com

State Representative Frank Nicely will introduce Lord Monckton at Thursday night’s protest! Can it get much better?  Frank’s gentlemanly southern and forceful dialect as a prelude to Lord Monckton’s graceful and deliberate delivery and British accent…Wow!  I’m lovin’ it!!

Please, spread the word to all your friends and family!  And share with bloggers and your email lists!  Lots of folks I know have already let me know they’re coming.  It promises to be great!  I hope to see you there.

State Representative Frank Nicely will introduce Lord Monckton on Thursday night at the Tennessee Amphitheater at the World’s Fair Park at 7pm EDT.

And don’t forget the second event! The second event will take place during commencement on Friday, May 14 at 8:00am when we will gather across the street from Thompson Boling Arena and hand out flyers. Please tell your family, friends and coworkers so that they can make arrangements to attend both events.

Be sure to make it Thursday night and/or Friday morning to the protest of UT giving Al Gore an honorary doctorate for gettin’ rich off of the global warming hoax!!  Thursday we’ll hear great speakers like Lord Monckton!  Friday we’ll have a little spoofy fun!

Links to the flyer and the times and places are here at this link.

The analysis begins.  What do you think of this ad?

I think the strategy with this ad is to separate Bill Haslam from his father and brother.  Bill is likable. I really think he’s a nice guy–really and truly.  I think he is a respecter of people. I actually enjoy chatting with him when I’ve had the opportunities.  I think other people feel the same way.

But when I think about voting for him, I think Bill has the family problem like Harold Ford Jr. had the family problem.  Bill may be nice, but who’s going to get kicked in the arse by the family?  Which one of my conservative friends or conservative candidates will get steamrolled by the family?  In that regard, I don’t get the feeling that Bill is actually in charge.  I see the Haslam machine, once in the Governor’s seat, crushing every new conservative candidate who puts his or her name on the ballot.  I don’t get that Bill’s that way, but I get the feeling that the family is.

I see the effort with this ad to try and get above the proverbial fray, but I’m sorry, I just don’t think Haslam strategist Tom Ingram is really gettin’ what’s going on out there right now.

In the past,  it might just be a few heck raisers like me who were frustrated with the growth in the scope, size, and cost of government.  But now people like me are just a dime a dozen.  This “be civilized” ad comes across looking more Grey Poupon than the noble public servant trying to be statesmanlike.

Ingram is still in the insider mode, that is, inside government.  But the barbarians are at the gate, and in the age of the Obama/Pelosi/Reid takeover of everything from banks to the auto industry and the salt you eat, folks aren’t really feeling that statesmanship or civility is the highest goal as we’re sliding towards Greece 2.0.

In less than ladylike terms, the civility of Lamar Alexander or Tom Ingram has only served to screw the American taxpayer. Instead of giving the warm and fuzzies, this Haslam ad is more likely to generate responses like “take that red umbrella, Mary Poppins, and your civility, and shove it where the sun don’t shine.”

When Ramsey, Wamp, or the Dem candidates really haven’t thrown any nasty shots around, I think this ad ends up making Bill Haslam look like he’s Chris Matthews blasting the teapartiers.  It’s just not clear who Haslam is asking to be civilized.  Is it the other candidates, or is it me and you?

Or is this strategy gearing up towards a massive Democrat crossover vote in the GOP primary as Dems are getting ready for getting rolled…

If you listened to our radio program, no doubt you heard us mention Lord Monckton several times.  We even played this video several times over the airwaves.  It is powerful.  It is stinging.  And it is a call to action.  Please join me and many other friends from across East Tennessee as we protest Al Gore’s honorary degree for his climate hoaxology.  Details: Tennessee Amphitheater at the World’s fair site on Thursday, May 13 at 7:00pm.

Lord Monckton:

Where will I be on Thursday night?  I’ll be at THE MOST HAPPENING EVENT in East Tennessee!  I’ll be listening to AWESOME speakers AND PROTESTING UT’s gift of an honorary degree to Climate-Huckster Al Gore.

Check out who’s coming: Lord Monckton, Steve Milloy and the awesome couple Ann and Phelim McElhinney who created the documentary Not Evil, Just Wrong.

Be there!!!  Click below for the flyer and pass them out to your friends and family!

al gore knoxville flyer

Here are the details from the Knoxville Tea Party folks and CFACT:

The first event will take place at the Tennessee Amphitheater at the World’s fair site on Thursday, May 13 at 7:00pm.  Among the speakers present will be

Lord Monckton – a world renowned climate expert who has rigorously opposed the fraudulent “science” of global warming

Ann and Phelim McElhinney – authors of the opposing documentary Not Evil, Just Wrong

Steve Milloy from JunkScience.com

The second event will take place during commencement on Friday, May 14 at 8:00 when we will gather across the street from Thompson Boling Arena and hand out flyers (see attached). Please print the flyer and pass it out to your family, friends and coworkers so that they can make arrangements to attend both events.

Prevailing wisdom would have me say that when it comes to electing the next Governor in Tennessee, it’s Haslam.  The prevailing wisdom says that it’s pretty much a done deal when it comes to the Governor’s seat, that is, Democrats 8 years, Republican 8 years, but not too much of a partisan Dem or R, the proverbial centrist type.  The progressive Democrat or progressive Republican.

Let’s be a little more on point about the type of candidate we’re talking about: we’re not looking at the candidate who is truthfully centrist or even progressive as he is insider.  The chosen candidate has to be someone who all the big money guys in the Democrat AND Republican circles can agree upon.  Someone who keeps the wheels greased and the dollars flowing as tradition would have it in Tennessee.

And when all those guys and gals agree, then the campaign dollars flow in that direction and it’s pretty much over for any candidate trying to break into the race.

So with that understanding of what my definition of prevailing wisdom is, then prevailing wisdom would say that Haslam will be the next Governor.

But as I’ve said on this site and others, I think we’re living in a rare moment in time where it is quite possible that prevailing wisdom will be shown the door.

It is for this reason that this year may be the year of the upset. I think it’s anyone’s game.  Haslam could still pull it out.  But I think it is Ron Ramsey’s race to watch.  Wamp’s playing a phony populist game right now, but he’ll only prove to be the spoiler in the match-up between Haslam and Ramsey. With all the star power Wamp has going on his team, he should have more momentum than he does, but the average guy knows he’s from Washington and knows many of his problems.  He’s trying to use Jesus to mask some of the problems, but it doesn’t seem to be working.

The battle is about Washington, D.C.  That will leave Ramsey and Haslam as the Titans and Wamp squeezed out in the corner.  Wamp can’t fight that fight.

Haslam needs the traditional Tennessee race.  Jobs.  Security.  Balancing the checkbook.  Education.

But despite the derogatory comments of twit editors or elites in both parties, the sentiments of the grassroots are considerably stronger than your traditional campaign addresses.

Haslam’s new ad even addresses the Washington spending and tries to say he’s the guy to handle spending in Tennessee.  But what about Washington?

Wamp is trying his best to help Haslam by attacking him on issues that don’t sway the primary voter, that is, by saying that Haslam is rich or big oil and that his own campaign is about jobs.  I thought Wamp was the stalking horse for Haslam when he first got in the race and though he claims he’s not, his campaign is serving in just such a capacity.

Attacking the Republican for being wealthy or an oil man doesn’t move a lot of votes in a GOP primary.  Ask yourself, gentle reader, does it bother you?

And running his own campaign on jobs is his own campaign team’s acknowledgement that Wamp can’t talk about Washington, however, the effect is to serve as an echo chamber for the Haslam strength.  I’m saying here that Wamp for Governor as the “jobs Governor” is a non-starter and his focus on the issue helps Haslam as he tries to run that traditional Tennessee campaign about jobs, education, balancing budgets, etc.

Let me just wrap up my analysis tonight by saying this: there are A LOT of rear end cheeks that are really pinched tight right now.  The Lamars and the Bakers have been driving the GOP for quite a long time.  But now the natives are restless.  They are awake.  They’re reading.  They’re looking at votes.  They are distrustful and cynical.  And that leaves an OPENING for change.  Thus, tight cheeks.

Change means financial uncertainty for a lot of the biggie wigs in the state of Tennessee.  And such change is in the hands of yes, just your average Tennessee voter.  That scares a lot of people.  Not me.  I love it.  I like it when voters are awake and listening and investigating.  No, I love it.

As a footnote, here’s evidence of what’s happening, from Bloomberg:

Utah Republicans rejected Senator Robert Bennett’s bid to be nominated for a fourth term, making him the party’s first Senate incumbent this year to fall to a conservative insurgency.

Bennett lost in voting yesterday at the state Republican convention, eliminated in the second round of balloting with almost 27 percent of the vote, losing to businessman Tim Bridgewater and lawyer Mike Lee, who was backed by small- government, low-tax activists.

When I was looking up donations to Charlie Crist, former  member of the big government, big spender wing of the GOP tent, I was looking at Senator Alexander’s TennPac as Alexander gave $10,000 to Crist instead of Marco Rubio.  I thought this was a bit of info just for you to put in your hat as you determine who you want to be your next Governor here in the state of Tennessee.

Tom Ingram, liberal, is the general consultant for Mayor Bill Haslam’s campaign (KNS). Basically the Ingram Strategy™ is to have so much money in the candidate’s bank account that you can afford to run ads over and over claiming the client/candidate is THE conservative™ in the race. In Tennessee, the conservative wins.  Any opposing candidate essentially has to have enough money to prove that the Ingram client is lying.  Easy to do if you have the bucks.  Not so easy if you don’t.  (Case in point is Haslam commercial up tonight on my TV claiming Haslam is “THE PROVEN CONSERVATIVE.” Uh, really?

Anyhow, back to the  Alexander PAC.  I thought this was interesting.  Politics pays pretty handsomely even in a down economy.  Wonder what kind of consulting Tom Ingram’s doing for a JUST RE-ELECTED U.S. Senator.  Whatever he’s doing, he gets paid $10,000 per month to do it.

Via OpenSecrets:

and here’s March’s payment:

Ingram Group, Nashville, TN

$10,000

PAC political strategy/management consul

03/06/10

Oh, and though he’s consulting Alexander and serving as strategist for Haslam, he’s still got time to do this (attn: Tea Party crowd):

Ingram retired from government work in 2009 and became a partner in The First Group with four other former Senate chiefs of staff: Kyle Simmons (Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky); Bernie Toon (Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) and Bob Russell (Sen. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.). Russel and Ingram have been roomates.

We knew Charlie Crist in Florida was the Dem-Lite candidate in the race when Republicans like Lindsey Graham and Susan Collins got behind him.  And so did Lamar.  Alexander was one of the big Crist donors passing $10,000 Crist’s way.

Senator Alexander has got to have some bruised feelings.  Courtesy of RedState, here’s Alexander on Crist before Crist showed his TRUE colors:

Lamar Alexander, U.S. Senator

“The thought of Governor Crist becoming Senator Crist is welcome news. Three years into his first term as Governor, he’s the most popular elected official in Florida’s history because of his outstanding career as a no-nonsense attorney general, a progressive education commissioner, and a fiscally conservative chief executive who last year led Florida to its largest property-tax decrease ever.”

And here’s a transcript of Senator Alexander talking with David Gregory about his disappointment with Crist:

GREGORY: We’ve had a lot of breaking news here, so–and still a lot of issues to get to. We’ll get to as much as we can on a busy Sunday morning. I do want to start with politics.

Senator Alexander, you didn’t get a commitment from the governor of Florida, who’s now a Republican, to caucus with Republicans. And the leadership, of which you’re a part, has said, “Thanks but no thanks.” You don’t want much association with Governor Crist at the moment.

ALEXANDER: Well, when he changed his mind, I changed my mind about him. I’m very disappointed by that. I mean, it really undermines the ability of people to participate in our, our, our politics. We’ve got a lot of alienated people in America right now. They want a place to have their say. So we say, “Come on in to our primary if you want to put a check and a balance on runaway government.” So he did, and now he says, “I’m not doing so well by the rules, so I’m going to go another direction.” That’s what primaries are for.

GREGORY: But why–you know, when Senator Lieberman ran as an independent, the Democratic Party did not push him away. They said, “No, we’re still, still–stay with us here.” And yet the Republican leadership has said, “No thanks, Governor.” You know, “We’ve changed our mind about you,” as you just said. Is that a right strategy?

ALEXANDER: Senator Lieberman was different. First, he ran as an independent at the same time he was running as a Democrat. Second, he had a very strong principled opposition to the Iraq war. And third, the Democratic leadership in that case said that they didn’t, they didn’t support him. So Marco Rubio has shown to the people of Florida that he’s a better candidate than Governor Crist, apparently, and Governor Crist has said, “I’m not doing too well by these rules. I think I’ll try some other rules.”

Editor of the Knoxville News Sentinel Jack McElroy fights his irrelevancy by race-baiting and making charges of “brown-skinned” bias by “jack-boots” in Arizona. (Note: I’m not going to link to his outrageous attempt to get hits on his site.)

Here’s are the comments I have left over at the Sentinel:

I can’t believe you even used the term bigot. The reason we became a melting pot in this country is because an overwhelming number of people believed in the rule of law and the noble idea that all in this nation are equal under the law. No kings. No queens.

The multi-cultural ideal that you so sanctimoniously foist in your editorials on a regular basis is proving to be divisive.

There is indeed appreciation of heritage & culture—that includes my own New River coal mining roots and my first generation Slovakian/Hungarian grandmother and grandfather, but at the end of the day, we all know we are Americans. A nation of immigrants becoming an international superpower has proven my point, Mr. McElroy. (P.S. Did you know, Mr. McElroy, that our country is not even 300 years old?)

The bigotry I’ve seen is displayed in acts that take down the American flag and hoist another, or calls for giving back parts of America. Do you dare tap out one of your editorials on that?

Your faux compassion =Balkanization. Our idea=unity.

If you could ever prove any of your editorials with some facts to back them up, I’d be immensely impressed and would say so on this site. Until then, you’re another sheep throwing barbs at people who truly believe in equality. You are masquerading as compassionate with all your well-heeled buddies who keep the Sentinel going.

Mr. McElroy, if you want to see bigotry and racism, PLEASE go into one of the so-called progressive burbs of LA, Philadelphia, New York, Houston. You’ll see real-live racism and division. It’s not we “suuuuthernerrrrs” or those “jack-boots” in Arizona.

How about folks try your strategy of following laws by taking the Sentinel for free from your boxes? I’m sure we can come up with a good reason to, right?  How about we’re entitled to it?

Prayers are going out hard and heavy for folks in Middle Tennessee.  We’ve got family in Smryna and Murfreesboro and we were told things are bad.  But videos like this one show how serious things are.

I know a lot of bureaucrats make folks plan for floods, but there’s no planning for this kind of stuff.

Click here.

Former Senator Dr. Bill Frist has worked ever so diligently at continuing to socialize medicine here in the states.  Oh, when he talks to us conservative red-staters here in Tennessee he tries to act like he’s putting up a fight.  But there are people like me who watch and listen to what he says when he’s with his well-heeled political friends.  We know that he has worked with Senator Daschle for a very long time on this so-called bipartisan effort.  (Translation:the elites get the cash they want and we the people get less competition, less consumer power, and fewer services.)

Frist gives Obama an “A” grade on Obamacare.  (Remember when Frist lied to Instapundit when people like me were pointing out that Frist was working in favor of Obamacare passage? Of course a politician will say it’s not officially a lie because he didn’t give an official endorsement.)

I’ll post the sources below, but I want you gentle readers to understand what you’re up against.  While Dr. Frist and his political friends and lobbyists work to EXPAND government involvement in our Representative Republic, watch and learn how the Frist family expands their own bottom line in China.  It’s called mining for PRIVATE PAYERS.  First, it’s only 30% government in China with the enterprise they’re embarking on, from Nashville Medical News:

Then check this little provision out:

“You register, and you pay in advance.

Then, as we’re heading for doctor shortages in the United States:

“We’ll bring over Western-trained doctors, as well, to help train in specialty-type services,” he said, adding that Chinese doctors already are in the United States for specialty training. “We are in the process of trying to recruit a CEO for the hospital, and we’re looking worldwide for that,” Elcan said.

Then there is this about the profit-making part:

Elcan said CHC will bring “American healthcare management and processes expertise” to the Chinese delivery system, which is predominately a government-pay structure. Yet, China’s emerging middle class has introduced more private-pay patients to the mix. “Part of the model for the hospital is that we will service the government-pay, as well as the private-pay, and there is potential for private-pay in that area,” Elcan said. “That area is a wealthy area of China.”

I’ve got no problem with making a buck.  A man’s incentive to build wealth helps deliver better prices, quality, and availability to consumers.  It’s a proven fact!  But isn’t it ironic that Frist and Bredesen and all the other wealthy ka-billionaires who’ve made their stockpiles in the medical industry want to keep other people from making one too?  Now that they’re simply rolling, they turn on us?

I have always truly detested hypocrisy.  And nothing has changed.

I know this is a long post, so let’s break for an intermission and a snack.  Cheese sticks!  Yum!

Here’s Dr. Frist giving the A:

Frist, a thoracic surgeon, told Time magazine back in October that if he were still in Congress, he would vote for the bill. And his support apparently hasn’t wavered. On Monday afternoon he said he would give an “A” grade to the provisions in the law aimed at expanding insurance to an additional 32 million people.

And look at this poor lady, she assumed since they were from different parties they’d disagree!

The former majority leaders disagreed on so few points that some members of the audience were surprised by the bipartisan kumbaya.  ”I came to this session because I expected to see a cat fight!” said Bernice J. Washington, a board member at Texas Health Presbyterian Plano in Dallas.

(Remember, Frist and Daschle have worked on plans together for quite some time and former Tennessee TennCare Director Brian Lapps said everything you needed to know about ObamaCare was laid out in Daschle’s book, Critical.)

And just in case you’re not ruffled enough, check out Dr. Frist’s comments here:

Asked by moderator Susan Dentzer, editor-in-chief of Health Affairs, how each of the men would have handled the healthcare reform process had they been in charge, Daschle and Frist both said they’d have tried hard to get some bipartisanship support.

“A huge mistake that was made,” Frist said, referring to the Democrat-only support of the legislation. “At the end of the day, having some itty-bitty element of bipartisanship would have made implementation a lot easier.”

Daschle agreed.

Awww.  Ain’t that so suhweeeeet?  I’m all warm and fuzzy inside.

And not to be remiss, here’s Dr. Frist on President Obama’s role:

Frist lauded Obama for his “persuasive charisma” and “command of the subject.”

“You have a president there who got his hands dirty, but still looked presidential,” Frist said.

Command of the subject? Like this:

And here are some of the details on the Frist Family/China Adventures, from Nashville Post:

China Healthcare, the hospital company launched in 2008 by Chuck Elcan and HCA co-founder Thomas Frist Jr., is preparing for a July groundbreaking on its first facility in China.

Speaking at a Nashville Health Care Council panel discussion on health care business opportunities in China, Elcan said the company is in the design and development process for the 500-bed replacement facility it’s building in a city south of Shanghai.

“Hopefully, within the next six to eight weeks, we’ll go into construction drawings,” Elcan said. “We’re anticipating breaking ground in July.”

Of course, getting to that point wasn’’t easy. Elcan’s company had to go through five levels of government approval over a nearly year-long period to get the go-ahead for its joint venture, in which the Nashville company has a 70 percent ownership stake and the local Chinese government 30 percent. It will be the first public/private hospital in China, Elcan said.

and then here’s another statement about getting paid:

“In our model, we’re hoping we can get to the point where we break even with the regular government pay, then everything else will go to the bottom line,” he said.