![[Masthead]](http://www.t-g.com/images/nameplate.png)
|
|
Fair ~ High: 82°F Monday, May 21, 2012 |
|
District 62 ElectionPosted Friday, August 21, 2009, at 3:52 AM
I'm sure there are many folks who don't think filling Curt Cobbs vacant House seat is a big enough deal to get you to the polls. But before you decided to go fishing instead of to the polls to vote you might want to take a drive down memory lane. This news clip from Nashville's News Channel 5 (click here) shows how Republican Kent Williams sold out his party earlier this year in January. Many people scratched their heads in amazement and wondered how such a thing could have happened. It's really simple though, he was never really a Republican, except by name.
On January 13th 2009 every Democrat in 106th General Assembly knew from the beginning of that days session what was about to transpire. There was only one way they could have know it. Kent Williams was in bed with the Democrats instead of in harmony with his own party. Prior to this over 1 million votes were cast to bring the Republicans to have control of the state legislature and one man out of his own selfish ambition chose to defeat his party's nomination. Kent Williams, you call yourself by-partisan but you are the Judas of the Republican Party. We need to learn a lesson from this wolf in sheep's clothing. We have allegations of this same kind of problem in our upcoming Republican primary here in Bedford County. At least one of the candidates past voting record is in question. I understand that in local elections we sometimes vote across party lines. I've had to do it myself. But 99 percent of the time I vote with my party. So my question to all who choose to respond to this is, if I can't judge a candidate by their voting record, then what criteria do you suggest that I use? Comments Showing comments in chronological order [Show most recent comments first] |
Originally from Rutherford County, Fernandez moved to Shelbyville to pastor "The Crossing" church and has lived here for two years.
Hot topics Blessing the Animals(21 ~ 3:51 PM, Oct 19)
Hats Off To Brit Hume
Federal Reserve Audit
RNC sucks up to a third party candidate!
Bob Corker must think we're Idiots!
|
Email link
Read comments (24)
Blog archive
![[Feed icon]](http://www.t-g.com/images/icons/feed-icon-14x14.png){kind=icon}
What if people actually voted for the person who's ideas they believed in most, instead of blindly voting for a party. I know, crazy idea right?
You mean actually research candidates and listen to debates? That's too hard. Let's just keep it simple and vote for someone who has name recognition.
Kelly,
Are you even familiar with what really happened? Kent Williams got the democrats to vote for him at the last minute because his opponent was doing things that were NOT representing the people of this State. Calling someone a Judas because he did what he felt was what the people of this State wanted. He wasn't induced by peer pressure. He did what he felt was smart.
How would you react if the other guy had a film crew documenting his rise to the top, or having flags autographed and sent to his friends, or what about the huge party he had set up on the taxpayers dime?
Better yet, were you there when it happened?
i have to say that my initial reaction was to think williams was a self-serving weasel. however, his subsequent actions, such as appointing committes which were representative of the actual nearly even split in legislators, and continuing to vote his conservative beliefs, made me give it further consideration. mumpower's subsequent scorched-earth, lets-use-our-power-to-get-even attitude made me glad for anything that kept him out of a position for which he was far too small a person. i am not quite ready to write a tribute to williams, since i dont know his real motivation. but i am sure glad he did what he did.... but i might be a traitor as well. i put the interests of the state way ahead of those of the party.
Mumpower was unanimously voted to speaker by the Republicans. Does that sound like the will of the party or bully politics? That's the will of the party. On the other hand Williams had 49 Democrats vote Yea for him and zero Republicans. That sounds like bully politics to me. My way or the highway! He is a traitor to his party and those who elected him. If Mumpower was so extreme then why would his party support him?
hi kelly,
i think we mostly disagree because we look at this thru a different filter.
i agreed in advance that it was a parliamentary trick, and i am not absolutely certain about how i feel about williams because i cannot know his true intentions. but going with what i do know, i do know this. the people elected a house with only one seat difference, virtually an even split. the "will of the party" was to put in charge a wannabe despot with the intention of completely eliminating democrat influence, the "will of the people" seemed to be a near even split. it would seem that williams listened to the voice of the people at great personal expense, since the "party" will be out to get him at re-election time. i, for one, am sick and tired of politicians who believe they are there to serve the party. i have a word for a politician who turns his back on the "will of the party" to serve the "will of the people". that word is statesman. i have followed some of the response in his home district, and he may be a traitor to the party, but he doesnt seem to be a traitor to the people who elected him. it is a crying shame that we dont have more republicans who value the people over the party.
Could you prove that there is no bias opinion here and print all the other candidates voting records as well??
It's ironic how people supposedly want bi-partisanship in every branch of government and truly discourages unilateral leadership, yet when someone from said party aligns themselves with the opposite party it is suddenly betrayal?
Seriously, it is nothing but hypocritical... John Kerry was called a flip-flopper, yet John McCain was labeled a maverick, and they both were Vietnam vets who voted with the other party on several occasions. It is ok for someone to be labeled a Democrat and vote with Republicans on several issues, and vice versa. Curt is a prime example of representing his constituents rather than the party bosses.
Partisan bickering is an attempt to avoid debating real issues, much like this nazi health care b.s., the birthers, and the deathers... any attempt to hold meaningful conversations with these kind of people is useless. Fear and divisiveness is at work again.
Kelly,
Again, you are wrong, Mumpower wasn't voted in unanimously or he would have won. How is that Bully tactics? Mumpower is the actual bully and Williams declined to be a part of it at the last moment. Were you there?
So you think being part of a party is more important than thinking for yourself? So your a Socialist? So anyone not conforming to a self-appointed leader is labeled a traitor? Why do you think the Republican party is losing? Think about it.
Evil Monkey when I explained UNANIMOUSLY of course I was talking about unanimously by his party excluding the democrats, and of course with the exception of his vote. If anyone else in the blog world didn't get that I'm glad you cleared it up. Do you not have an answer to my original question which was, if I can't judge a candidate by their voting record, then what criteria do you suggest that I use? Also I explained that I do vote across party lines when necessary, especially in local elections. Also, Mumpower was not a "self appointed" leader--it was the will of the party to vote him in. I can't believe you don't think Williams was self serving. Your just stirring the pot right. Anyway...
Kelly you said, "Mumpower was unanimously voted to speaker by the Republicans." The Republican vote for Mumpower was not unanimous because Kent Williams voted for himself. The Republicans counted their chickens before they hatched and were outsmarted by the Democrats from start to finish.
I checked Pat Marsh's voting record in Bedford Co. as Walter Casey has much well publisized. That is true that he has voted 10 out of 12 Democrat. It is untrue what Pat Marsh said that there hasn't been a Republican candidate to vote for in Bedford Co. and that it's the reason he has voted Democrat. Now, it's mighty funny that there were 300+ Republlicans that registered Republican to vote for Chris Brown for Bedford Co. Sheriff during a Republican primary. Sen. Jim Tracy, Barbara Blanton, Carl Bailey and a bunch of others at least registered to vote for Brown, but Pat Marsh didn't, he voted Democrat.
Enough about all that. If you are sick and tired of Republicans and Democrats fighting over stupid stuff, here is something to think about and consider. This is the first time your vote would really count in the state of TN. The House is 50/50. If we vote to put in an Independent Constitution Party the people of Bedford Co., Lincoln Co., and Rutherford could make a difference and history, because that candidate could be the deciding vote that could help prevent the two big parties from messing over the citizens of TN. That is something to think about for this upcoming election. We the people would have a say. Let's get this tea party going.
Excellent point sawyers69.
Kelly,
What was Mumpower's voting record? Why would you vote for him? Really, the guy voted for lottery fund to be taken out of the educational fund to be placed to help build the stadium. Is that what you stand for? Elitism?
People need to vote for the best candidate. I am a Conservative Christian running under the republican party because I agree with the core values of the party. I don't necessarily agree with the elected republican officials that are allegedly representing us. If an elected official is to represent the people then wouldn't they first have to ask us what we want? I've never had Curt Cobb, Lincoln Davis, Lamar Alexander, Phil Bredeson or anyone else ask me what I thought. I want to represent the people as a representative, not a politician who has an agenda. The candidate who's voting record is in question has already misled the citizens by touting to be a "conservative republican" when he has so blatantly voted for presidential candidates who are so far from conservative that there is no way he's being truthful about his stance. He claims to be "pro-life" but promotes embryonic stem cell research which in order to do that the "embryo" or as I like to call them BABIES are killed. There is nothing conservative about Pat Marsh, he couldn't beat Ty Cobb in a democratic primary so he decided to hide in the republican party. If you want to elect someone who is an average citizen and who will listen to the people of this district and vote for the people then on Thursday when you vote cast it for Casey Walters. The wealthy and powerful people have run this place long enough and it's time for us as citizens to take back our government. Corruption must stop, starting here with the 62nd district.
The wealthy and conservative people are normally all Republican. Hate to say it, but I really don't want to see more of the same. Ty Cobb is a normal joe, who works a 9-5 job and know what the average citizen is going through. If he already has Curt's values then why would I vote to change that? I want Bipartisanship in Bedford County, I don't want one extreme over another.
Evil Monkey . . . last time I checked, there were no broke Democrats in state or federal government either. This whole stereotype of Republicans being all elitists or wealthy is no different than the stereotype that Democrats are all socialists. It is just a false perception that is fueled by political propaganda.
And before someone accuses me being a Republican, I am actually voting for Ty Cobb. It seems with certain people that if you disagree with them then you must be a Republican or bigot and etc. Those individuals tend to always navigate the party line and can't think for themselves.
I emailed all candidates some simple and straightforward questions. I got two responses, one from a condidate that talked all around the questions and never gave a real direct answer. Then I had all my questions answered with straight answers by Casey Walters. He called me to talk about my concerns and I spent over an hour on the phone with him. He never dodged a question and never talked around them. I believe that with all honesty he is sincere about wanting to represent our district. If these other candidates cannot even asnwer a question during a campaign of all times how can I expect to get any help once they are in office. When I talk to people about who they are going to vote for the answer is always " Well hes a good ole boy", or "Ive known him for years", or my favorite "I liked his brother,so he must be good too".
Greasemonkey . . . I thought about Casey Walters until I saw some snarky comments from him on another post and it turned me off on him.
Jaxspike,
I think it just came across that way, you should talk to him, plus he is really passionate about the issues. Above all though I recommend you talk to him on the phone. I am not a volunteer for his campaign or anything, he just really impressed me.
Which comments are you referring to jaxspike? If you would email me at casey@caseywaltersrep.com.
Casey Walters coming on here and bashing other candidates is absolutely bush league politics. He should stay out of these forums and let the people decide for themselves. This immaturity will backfire very soon.
I think these forums are the ideal place for a local politician to voice their ideas. I wish more would, because it seems to me that the people on here are probably the most politically active. It could be like a small town hall meeting.
Good call greasemonkey. If the other candidates are as concerned let them post on here as well. Where are they? Do you think they will make themselves accessible in the future?
I don't like the two party system, but i am not going to let that stop me from voting for the one that represents my values.
Kent Williams has made his bed. He will have to answer to his constituents for his actions. So have all of our elected officials.
The question is, will we as constituents put in the time and effort it takes to find the truth beyond what we see on TV or just blindly follow along on party lines assuming all Democrats are socialist and all republicans are rich elitist.
If you ask me, both parties have proven themselves, (as parties) to be rich elitist bent on implementing socialism.