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Thompson in TN Raises $700,000 -- While the Nashville City Paper is noting that Fred Thompson has peeled off lots of big name Mitt Romney supporters (but not noted GOP fundraiser Ted Welch), today's Washington Post gives a guestimate of how much money Fred raised at the Nashville fundraiser that he was mum on last week - $700K. In the Post, some of Fred's advisors say they won't be using the red truck, a ploy that worked so well for Fred's races in Tennessee, but there are some advisors who say it is the right image. There is a lot riding on Thompson's campaign. Newt Gingrich says he won't jump in the race for President unless Thompson's campaign falters. Fred will host another fundraiser on Friday in Atlanta. Rudy Guilliani will also apparently be in Georgia that day. [Ed. Note: Edited this portion to clarify a split decision among Thompson advisors about the red truck, per the Post article.]

Bredesen Gets 3 Spots on UT Board -- Some of the best political appointments a Governor can make are to the UT Board of Trustees. The trustees get free football tickets and get to chart the future direction of the University both in Knoxville and the other UT-affiliated schools across the state. Gov. Bredesen gets three appointments with Jim Haslam, Susan Richardson-Williams and William B. Stokely III, all Republicans are set go off the board. The list of possible replacements include: Donald Bosch, Gregory P. Isaacs, Pamela Reeves, Charles Anderson, Kevin Clayton, Doug Horne, Bob Talbott, Bob Petrone, and Mintha Roach, CEO of KUB. Talbott would be somewhat of a wildcard. He's a a known Republican who has been a strong Bredesen supporter.

Alexander's Immigration Position Explored -- The Tennessean does a feature story in which they explore Sen. Lamar Alexander's position on immigration. Alexander sums up his position philosophically: "People fear we are losing our national identity ... We have more pluribus and not enough unum." To that end, he's sponsored bills to make English the national language and offer citizenship courses for immigrants. That's drawn praise for effort from the National Council of La Raza, the largest Hispanic advocacy group in the country, but others criticized Alexander's fear of multiculturalism.

CoverTN Signs Up Smokers -- Two months after the state started offering low-cost health insurance to uninsured Tennesseans who work for small businesses - dubbed CoverTN, a high percentage of smokers have signed up for the taxpayer-supported plan, state data collected from participants show. That's probably a reaction to higher insurance rates for smokers seeking to enroll in private plans. Perhaps part of the state's plan is to collect more money back from these smokers in the form of the increased tobacco tax the Legislature passed this year.

City Paper's New Look -- The Nashville City Paper has launched a new website - we're on a cool new feature that seems to round-up local political blogs. It looks like it will be a draw. The City Paper has also added some new blogs, including one we'll be proud to add to our list - Clint Brewer seems to be the biggest contributor to a tag-team blog called Political Animals.

The Titans were dealt two body blows to their running game this offseason.

Most notable was the loss of Travis Henry in free agency. I was one of those who was critical of Tennessee GM Mike Reinfeldt for not being able to re-sign him, but I understand how it happened. Not that I have to like it.

LenDale White delivered the other blow by showing up for OTAs out of shape, overweight, and nursing a hamstring, the same thing which caused his draft stock to plummet a year ago. It’s once more raised questions about his dedication, commitment and work ethic.

Enough questions were raised to make the Titans spend a second-round draft pick for another running back and to re-sign Chris Brown, who had fallen out of favor and was allowed to walk as an unrestricted free agent. (more&#823

Beth over at AdAge.com puts together a nice collection of data on bloggers. (scroll to the bottom to download a pdf with pie charts) As a 30 year old, English speaking Latino, Mac owning, non-everyday flosser, US male, I appear to fall squarely in the middle. (something I have never done in a survey)

Everybody wants to put people into a group – the problem with bloggers is that they are more defined by their conversations than by their attributes. Find out what they are talking about and you will find out about them. (seems too easy to be true)

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Bredesen Continues Cig Tax Tour -- Gov. Bredesen will be in Chattanooga today continuing his tour touting the proposed 40c cigarette tax increase to fully fund the proposed changes to the state's Basic Education Plan. The BEP changes, Bredesen says, are contingent the state approving the 40c per pack increase in the cigarette tax. However, Republicans say they would rather use state surplus dollars to pay for the BEP without increasing taxes. Bredesen was in Knox Co. last week promoting the tax increase - and is speaking before the counties with the most to gain under the proposed BEP changes.

Goetz: Taxes from Businesses, Not Consumers -- State Finance Commissioner Dave Goetz, criticizing Republican plans to return some state surplus dollars to consumers, says that the surplus in state collections came from businesses and not consumers. Goetz: "If they really wanted to give back to the people that are producing the overage, they would give a cut to business taxes ... I'm not making that argument, I'm just looking for the logic." But Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey responded that consumers end up paying corporate taxes anyway. Ramsey: "We know that it's hard to give back (to businesses)," Ramsey said. "We just feel like the surplus needs to go back to the people who are paying the tax in the end anyway."

Richardson Pulled in for Dem Fundraiser -- New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, a presidential contender for the Democratic nomination, will be the speaker for Democrats' biggest event of the year - their annual Jackson Day celebration. Ben Chao, with the Nashville political consulting firm of Fletcher Rowley Chao Riddle Inc., has been named political director of Richardson's national campaign - and apparently Richardson is chum with Gov. Bredesen as well.

Lambuth Honors Wilder -- Lambuth University will inherit the permanent collection of longtime Lt. Gov. John Wilder's papers, the University along with plans for a John S. Wilder Institute for Public Service. Jack Wood, Tennessee Room librarian for the Jackson-Madison County Public Library commenting on the collection: "Official correspondences, or if there is a diary or calendars that point to the day-to-day operations of the government, are important to the historian to know how things operate." Lambuth will also establish a scholarship in Wilder's name for students in the fields of public service.

The Knox YRs held a bloggers forum at the Green Hills Grille Tuesday evening - well-moderated by Ben Farmer.

It was truly my pleasure to listen to Tennessee's conservative pioneers in the political blogosphere. Participating on a panel that included many of the icons of East Tennessee blogging Terry Frank, Brian Hornback, and Rob Huddleston was humbling. These are folks whose opinions I seek daily by reading their blogs, whose ideas, more often than not, I find, square with my own in regard to government and governing, and whose analytical abilities are keen.

The ability of these three bloggers to disagree without being disagreeable, to dissect without eviseration, and to hone an issue to surgical precision is amongst the best in the world of politics on the internet.




As this week has been more chaotic than most, I offer apologies for not having posted before now my sincere thanks for being invited and allowed to offer my "two cents" worth on blogging and politics. The hospitality was terrific; but, the time to visit too short.

I'd like to get to know each member of this group of future leaders in the GOP. There's a place at the political table waiting for you now. Take a seat!

State Has $1.3B Extra -- For the fourth straight year, tax revenues have grown faster than the economy, producing $600M in unexpected nonrecurring revenue plus another $700M in recurring revenue above projections. Volatile corporate taxes are responsible for much of this year's increase. Economists suggested that the Legislature invest much of the rainy day fund and Bredesen officials reacting to the budget numbers seemed to endorse the idea - along with funding the changes to the BEP. Economists are predicting a modest slowdown in the economy in the coming year. Bredesen's original budget proposal already spent some of the state's non-recurring surplus dollars. More here, here and here

Lamar Files English Only Workplace Bill -- Sen. Lamar Alexander has filed a bill that would shield employeers who declare English as the only workplace language from potential lawsuits. Alexander says there have already been cases where employers have been sued under equal opportunity statutes for not allowing languages other than English to be spoken on the job. The number of charges filed with the EEOC alleging discrimination based on English-only policies has risen from 32 in 1996 to about 200 in 2006. Alexander: "In America, requiring English in the workplace is not discrimination; it's common sense."

With Exemption for Small Biz, Living Wage Passes in Shelby Co -- The Shelby Co. Commission passed a living wage ordinance similar to the City of Memphis, which requires companies contracting with the county to pay their employees at least a living wage - estimate at $12/hr. The ordinance was set to fail with the objection of one Democratic Commissioner, but a last minute amendment exempted local companies who employee less than 10 people. The ordinance will be up for a final reading May 21.

Legislature Okays Metro Election Move -- The Legislature cleared the way Monday for the Davidson County Election Commission to change the date of Metro’s runoff election this year, which happened to fall on the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah.

Permanent Ban on Felons Holding Offices Passes -- Elected officials convicted of felonies involving their office or official duties would be permanently banned from seeking or holding elected office again in Tennessee under a bill approved Monday night. The permanent ban on holding office that the bill imposes would apply only to officials convicted of crimes involving their offices, but House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh says he thinks the bill would have a retroactive effect - a thus apply to lawmakers convicted in TN Waltz.