The Davidson County Republican Party Straw Poll favors Haslam

In the Davidson County Republican Party straw poll, Bill Haslam won the poll for Governor.

In the Presidential race Mitt Romney came in first, followed by Tim Pawlenty and then our own Senator Bob Coker.

In the State Senate 21 District race, Dickerson won out over Chesser.

Below is the complete poll results:

• Who is your choice for Governor?

• 203 Bill Haslam

• 105 Ron Ramsey

• 93 Zach Wamp



• Who is your choice in the 5th Congressional race?

• 12 David Hall

• 118 Jeff Hartline

• 122 CeCe Heil

• 10 Vijay Kumar

• 5 Patrick Miranda

• 10 Bob Reis

• 72 Bob Schwartz

• 7 Jarod Scott

• 10 Lonnie Spivak

• 0 Alvin Strauss

• 3 Tracy Tarum



• Who is your choice in State Senate District 21?

• 122 James Chesser

• 203 Steve Dickerson



• At this point, who is your choice for President in 2012?

• 20 Haley Barbour

• 42 Bob Corker

• 24 Chris Christie

• 8 Mitch Daniels

• 7 Jim DeMint

• 41 Mike Huckabee

• 21 Bobby Jindal

• 41 Sarah Palin

• 33 Ron Paul

• 14 General David Petraeus

• 45 Tim Pawlenty

• 66 Mitt Romney

• 12 Other



• What is the top issue that needs to be addressed by Congress and the President?

• 118 Economic growth.

• 39 Health care.

• 46 Illegal immigration.

• 138 The budget deficit and national debt.

• 9 Terrorism.

• 23 Federal Reserve.



• What is the top issue facing the next Governor of Tennessee?

• 183 Economic growth.

• 33m Health care.

• 25 Illegal immigration.

• 41 Education.

• 101 State Sovereignty.



• Do you support privatizing additional Metro services?

• 265 Yes.

• 95 No.



• Do you think Metro should sell the Fairgrounds?

• 154 Yes.

• 212 No.

The Republican picnic straw poll: Cece Heil, Jeff Hartline, and Bob Schwartz lead in the 5th Congressional race.

Everyone else an "also ran."

Over 500 people attended the Davidson County Republican Party Picnic today in the pavilion at Centennial Park. It was a great event with blaring patriotic music, barbecue, speeches, one-on-one interaction with the candidates, and a straw poll. All of the candidates for governor were there and they mingled and worked the crowd.

The straw poll revealed what has widely been the perception of informed observers in the 5th Congressional district race and that is that the two front runners are Cece Heil and Jeff Hartline and Bob Schwartz is in third place but trailing. In the straw poll a total of 405 people cast ballots, however not everyone voted in all races.

In the straw poll for the 5th Congressional District Cece Heil came in first with 122 votes, Jeff Hartline came in second with 118 and Bob Schwartz came in, in third place with 72 votes. Below is the total breakdown:

David Hall- 12
Jeffery Alan Hartline- 118
Cece Heil- 122
Vijay Kumar- 10
Patrick Miranda- 5
Bob Ries- 10
Bob Schwartz- 72
Jarod D. Scott- 7
Lonnie Speak- 10
Alvin M. Strauss- 0
Tracy C. Tarun-3

I am not very surprised by these poll results. Many people, I think, thought David Hall would pull more votes but I never thought he would do much better than he did. I am surprised that Patrick Miranda did not do better, however. Patrick is a very likable guy and in the early days of the campaign he campaigned hard and was everywhere. I thought he would be a tea party favorite. I did not think he was a front-runner but thought that he would do better than next to last.

Several of the candidates had a big presence at the picnic with signs lining the approaches to the event, decorated booths with their literature, and campaign workers wearing campaign shirts and handing out literature. Each of the candidates present made a three minute speech to the crowd but the candidates worked the crowd shaking hands and meeting people one-on-one and asking them for their vote.

Five of the candidates however were absent. Alvin M. Strauss is not a surprise. No one has ever met him. He is just a name on the ballot and has never had an active campaign. He was not expected. The absence of the other candidates however is puzzling. The other no-shows were Patrick Maranda, V. J. Kumar, Tracy Tarum and David Hall.

Patrick Maranda is said to have an illness in is family that has kept him off the campaign trail and V. J. Kumar is said to have a job conflict that interferes with his campaign schedule. I have no idea where was Tracy Tarum.

Most puzzling is David Hall. He had had a very active campaign with big signs, radio and TV ads, robo calls, mailings, a large RV professionally painted like a tour bus and has had a major presence at other events. He has spend a lot of money in his campaign. However, some weeks ago David Hall stopped attending the Egg and Bacon summits that have been occurring across the county. Where was David Hall?

The DCRP picnic was the place to be to meet Republicans who make campaign contributions, who volunteer, who influence others and who always vote. Maybe the no-shows have a good reason why they could not be present at this event. Maybe they have a strategy for winning the Republican primary that involves by-passing Republicans, but I think they missed the boat. If there was one event a candidate should have attended it is this one. I think it is reasonable to ask if the no-shows are suspending their campaign.

Despite no voice, Cece roared.

This morning about fifty people gathered at Ryan's Steakhouse in Hermitage to hear a debate between the two presumed front runners in the Republican primary for the 5th Congressional District race, Cece Heil and Jeff Hartline.

Unfortunately, Cece Heil showed up but was unable to speak. She had suffered a complete loss of her voice and could not speak beyond the faintest of a whisper. The debate went on however.

Debate moderator Ben Cunningham gave each of the candidates the questions prior to the start of the debate and Cece quickly hand wrote answers to questions which were then read by Diane di Stacio. For the rebuttal and Q&A, Cece whispered answers into the ear of Diane and Diane repeated. Despite the handicap, Cece held her own. With an incredible disadvantage, Cece performed admirably. She can write fast and whisper well.

The debate was substantive. There were distinctions drawn between the candidates. More on this debate to follow; it is time to be off to the Republican Party picnic.

Schwartz and Hartline do battle

Ever since the start of the campaign for the Republican nomination for the 5th congressional seat, the eleven candidates have been having a love-fest. There have been few policy differences.

Bob Schwartz has now taken off the gloves and has gone after the presumed front-runner Jeff Hartline on three points:

Energy Policy: Schwartz says Jeff Hartline supports increased energy taxes

Immigration: According to Schwartz, Hartline favors amnesty.

Medicare: Schwartz says Hartline favors dismantling Medicare.

The issue of immigration has so far gotten the most attention. Hartline has either flip-flopped or clarified his position which has been misrepresented, depending on which candidate you believe. In any event Hartline has taken a more hard line on immigration as a result of Bob’s criticism.

According to Schwartz, “Jeff Hartline dropped language on his web-site last night that called for amnesty for illegal workers who ‘speak English.’ Good! I’d rather have him change his position than keep a bad one.”

Hartline says of his revised or clarrified policy statement on immigrations, “I cannot keep others from misrepresenting me, but I can, and have now, clearly articulated a plan for dealing with this situation.”

Tomorrow morning, July 10th at the Hermitage Egg and Bacon Summit, Jeff Hartline will face Cece Heil in a one-on-one debate. Cece and Jeff are viewed by many observers as two of, if not the two, front runners. Bob Swartz is seen as gaining ground.

Although the deadline for filing second quarter financial reports is not until July 12, Hartline is thought to be winning the fundraising battle. Cece has received several endorsements of people of national stature including an endorsement from Sarah Palin.

Previous joint appearance of the candidates has either included so many candidates that it was hard to remember who said what or the format was not a debate. This one-on-one match up of two of the front runners should give the public a chance to see who can think on their feet and should reveal any policy differences.

Although all of the details are not finalized, Jeff Hartline and Bob Schwartz may be in a one-on-one debate next Saturday, July 17 at the Priest Lake Egg and Bacon Summit. If it occurs, this should prove interesting. The campaign is swinging into high gear.

This Saturday Vote for Bob Corker

This Saturday, July 10, the Davidson County Republican Party will be hosting the Summer Barbecue from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM in the Centennial Park Pavilion off of 27th Ave. Most of the Republican candidates for Governor, for Congress, as well as local races will be present. In addition to great barbecue the event will feature a drawing for prizes, a straw Poll, and a silent auction. The cost is $20 a person or $50 a family.

Please plan on attending this fun event and please vote for Bob Corker for President in the straw poll. Corker has been mentioned as a dark horse Presidential nominee from time to time. A win in the straw poll could help propel him into the status of being a serious contender for the nomination.

I like Bob Corker. I like his gutsy, feisty manner combined with a calm demeanor, his grasp of the issues, his well-reasoned arguments and his principled, conservative, pragmatic, business-like, problem-solving approach to government.

In the auto bailout debate last year, I thought he was by far the most persuasive and passionate critic of the government’s defacto nationalization of General Motors. He clearly defined the issues when he declared, “This is a marked departure from the past, truly breathtaking, and should send a chill through all Americans who believe in free enterprise. I worry that in one fell swoop we’ve lost our moral high ground throughout the global community as it relates to chastising other countries that use strong arm tactics to invade on private property rights.” (link)

He was prophetic when he said, “it will be interesting to see if the administration makes these decisions (to close GM facilities) based on a red state and blue state strategy or based on efficiency and capable, skilled workers at each plant. If they use the latter, our GM plant in Spring Hill, Tennessee should do very well.” As it turns out Saturn was closed despite being a state of the art production facility.

Last year as I watched the Senate hearings on the Lieberman-Warner Cap and Trade bill, I was stuck by Corker’s grasp of the issues and by his logic. He did not simply deny the science of global warming and propose doing nothing as many opponents of Cap and Trade have done. He did not demigod the proposed bill, but calmly and clearly explained how cap and trade would work and what was wrong with the Lieberman-Warner approach and why it would not achieve its objectives and the damage it would do to the economy. He proposed common sense amendments to try to fix the bill. (link) On these two issues I have thought Corker excelled and was the voice of reason and principle.

I don’t personally know Bob Corker, but I have known about him for a very long time, even before he was ever elected to public office. As one who works in the affordable housing sector, I have followed closely affordable housing issues. Bob Corker has been a leader in this field. I admit to being a “bleeding-heart conservative.” I think that term was first used by Jack Kemp to describe himself but it applies to me and I suspect Bob Corker is also a bleeding-heart conservative.

There are not many conservatives who are passionate about affordable housing, but Bob Corker has been an affordable housing leader.In Chattanooga, while a private citizen, Bob Corker helped finance and create and manage Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise (CNE). a private, non-profit corporation created to finance and develop affordable housing in that city. CNE financed, rehabilitated, or produced more than 3,000 units of affordable housing in a city of 150,000 people. CNE leveraged more dollars and did more with limited resources than any city in America. CNE won awards and was the envy of affordable housing advocates across America. Bob Corker came as close to solving the affordable housing problem in Chattanooga, as it is possible to get. (link)

Bob Corker served as mayor of Chattanooga from 2001 to 2005. As mayor he oversaw a $120 million urban renovation project, which transformed the city and made it the beautiful progressive city it is today. He was innovative in the use of property assessment freezes and tax credit financing to promote downtown development. His policies led to the development of the waterfront and spurred housing development in the city and expansion of museums and the riverfront park and the Chattanooga Aquarium. Chattanooga has emerged as a great city and most people give Bob Corker the bulk of the credit.

In addition to Corker’s record in the Senate, and as Mayor, and a leader in affordable housing, another thing I like about Corker is that he has been a successful businessman. He worked himself up from a construction superintendent to the owner of a very large construction company and a real estate developer. Unlike a lot of politician, he has experience in the real world. He has had to make payroll and examine balance sheets and put deals together, and manage big projects, something most elected politicians including the current President of the United States has never had to do.

Quite frankly, I am not impressed by any of the front runners for the Party standard bearer. I am looking for someone fresh, innovative, energetic, pragmatic, intelligent and who is a principled conservative. I think that person is Bob Corker.

If Bob Corker will announce the establishment of an exploratory committee to consider running for President, I will sign up and send him $100 immediately. If I, a modest income, frugal, middle class guy will open my wallet, there must be a lot of others who will do the same. I know a campaign for President is expensive, but Bob Corker should be able to compete. Tennessee has a lot of big contributor's to the Republican Party. I understand that the Belle Meade zip code here in Nashville is the leading zip code in the nation for political contributions to Republican candidates. With the Tennessee Republican money base and Bob’s years of contacts in the business community and politics, he should be able to raise the money.

Bob, the stars are aligned. The time is right. There may never be a better opportunity. The country needs you. Run Bob, Run

Please attend the picnic on Saturday and vote in the straw poll for Bob Corker.

Sarah Palin endorces CeCe Heil for Tennessee’s 5th District

Governor Palin and CeCe Heil

From Sarah Palin's Facebook page:

CeCe Heil for Tennessee’s 5th District
Yesterday at 10:17pm
I’m pleased to lend my support to CeCe Heil’s campaign for Congress from Tennessee’s 5th District. CeCe is another tough “mama grizzly” with the experience, passion, and integrity to restore some common sense to Washington. As a small business owner, attorney, constitutional scholar, and proud mother of two, she will fight tirelessly to protect our freedoms and rein in the excesses of an out-of-control federal government that seems set on spending away our children’s future. CeCe brings the business sense and the constitutional understanding that is so needed in DC right now. (And those of you who follow the music scene in Nashville will recognize the name of CeCe’s husband, Rick Heil, from his band Sonicflood.)

Please join me in supporting CeCe Heil’s campaign by visiting her website at http://www.ceceforcongress.com/ and following her on Facebook and Twitter.

- Sarah Palin

CeCe Heil’s Congressional Campaign Announces A-team

Nashville, TN, CeCe Heil for Congress, July 7, 2010



CeCe Heil’s congressional campaign merits A-team list of leaders. Cynthia Dunbar, Law Professor & elected member of the Texas State Board of Education, heads up the team of heavy-hitters.

CeCe Heil’s Finance Chair, Tommy Bainbridge, oversees the Financial Committee of Vicki Bartholomew, Steve Lynn, Stephen Mansfield, Jean Ann McNally, Mike McNally and William Morgan.

CeCe’s Advisory Board also boasts an impressive slate including: former Reagan cabinet member Gary Bauer, Campaign For Working Families; Jay Sekulow, Chief Counsel of America Center for Law and Justice; Mat Staver, Chief Counsel of Liberty Counsel; Dr. Mark Houston MD, Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine at Vanderbilt University; and David Barton, Founder and President of Wallbuilders.

CeCe is honored and humbled by the overwhelming support she has and continues to receive. CeCe is grateful for the expertise, time and commitment her leadership team, staff, volunteers, and supporters bring to her campaign.

Cynthia Dunbar at Madison Egg and Bacon Summit July 10

The Madison Republican Meetup Group is fortunate to have as our guest this Saturday, Ms Cynthia Dunbar. Ms Dunbar is a constitutional scholar and is the author of One Nation Under God (How the Left is Trying to Erase What Made Us Great). She is also an elected member of the Texas State Board of Education (TSBOE) and Assistant Professor at Liberty University School of Law.

Among informed liberals, Dunbar is one of the most hated women in America, somewhere in the ranks of Sarah Palin and Phyllis Schlafly. She has been accused of wanting to keep American school children dumb and has been called a Christian Taliban. There have been death threats on her life.

She is controversial because she has led the fight in Texas to insure that history books used in the Texas school system accurately present the Judeo-Christian heritage of America and present a proper understanding of the founding principles of our county and for her advocacy of what should be included in the text of history books. Since Texas is one of the largest purchasers of school text books, the textbooks written to satisfy Texas are often used in the rest of the nation.

Don’t miss the opportunity to hear this outstanding conservative leader. Anyone interested in education or the liberal bias in our schools will not want to miss this important presentation, as well as anyone wanting a better understanding of the foundations of our republic.

The Madison Republican Group meets at the Piccadilly Cafeteria in Madison Square. We meet to eat and socialize at 8:30 and the meeting gets underway at 9AM. Ms Dunbar will be the guest speaker this Saturday June 10th. Breakfast is dutch-treat and reservations are not required. Please join us.

James Chesser and Steve Dickerson to Debate!

July 7: (Wednesday) Pizza ‘n Politics Summit

(Dutch treat)

6:00 pm food & beverage – 6:30 - 8:00 pm meeting

Fido’s in Hillsboro Village on 21st Ave.

$10 minimum food and beverage (yes, beer is served)
FEATURING a debate between: Tn 21st Senate District Candidates: James Chesser and Dr. Steve Dickerson

State EC Rep Mark Rogers - Moderator
ALSO

District 5 Congressional candidate Bob Schwartz

Senate District 21 is the State Senate District served by long-term Democrat Senator Doug Henry. Doug Henry who has served in this seat ever since the Eisenhower Administration has a serious challenge this year from a progressive Democrat named Steve Yarbro. Whoever wins the Republican primary will face the winner of the Democrat primary in November. Many observers think that Yarbro has a good chance of beating the more conservative Henry and that Republican changes of winning the seat are good, expecially the if the Republican candidate is in a contest against Yarbro.

The two Republican candidates will face off in this debate. Come see this debate and see who you think will is the best candidate to challenge the Democratic nominee.

Schwartz goes after Hartline

July 4, 12:01 AM Nashville Political Buzz Examiner Mike Morrow

Republican congressional candidate Bob Schwartz warned Saturday against the GOP nominating Jeff Hartline to run against Democratic incumbent Jim Cooper, saying the well-funded Hartline doesn't have the message voters need to hear.(link)

Jeff Hartline and CeCe Heil to Debate!

MEET FELLOW GOP CONSERVATIVESFROM THE DONELSON & HERMITAGE AREAS
“Eggs & Bacon Summit ”
(Dutch treat)

Saturday, July 10, 2010
Dutch treat breakfast 8:30 am, meeting 9 am.
Ryan’s Steak House
3455 Lebanon Pike
Hermitage, TN 37076

Debate:
Jeff Hartline and CeCe Heil
Candidates for 5th Congressional District:
Moderator – Ben Cunningham

TN State House District 60 Candidate:
Jim Gotto

Event Chairman – Jer Dunlap
This event sponsored by the Davidson County Republican Party

Many observers think CeCe Heil and Jeff Hartline are the two front runners in the Republican Primary for the 5th Congressional District nomination. Come see them in a one-on-one debate!

ALERT: NURSING HOME POLL WATCHERS NEEDED..NOW

Election Poll Workers
NEEDED - NOW!

THERE WILL BE 4 TEAMS WORKING THIS THURSDAY JULY 9, FRIDAY, JULY 10, MONDAY JULY 12 AND TUESDAY JULY 13.

WE NEED VOLUNTEERS TO WORK ONE DAY OR ALL FOUR DAYS TO MAKE SURE THE VOTERS IN THESE HOMES ARE NOT INFLUENCED IN ANY WAY.

KICKER IS..
WE NEED TO KNOW NOW! THE NAMES HAVE TO BE TURNED IN BY NOON TOMORROW, JULY 6*. SO CHECK YOUR CALENDAR & SEE IF YOU HAVE THE TIME TO HELP WITH THIS VERY IMPORTANT EFFORT.
Thanks in advance!
PLEASE EMAIL :
http://us.mc565.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=KATHLEENGOP@GMAIL.COM

*Note: If your name is not in by today, you can still do this but you will miss the first day. Any names turned in by Noon, Tuesday, July 6 would be eligible to serve all 4 days of the nursing home voting. Add'l names turned in by Noon, Wednesday, July 7 would be eligible to serve the remaining 3 days, etc. The deadline is, of course, Thursday for the Monday visits since the law counts only biz days and not actual calendar days.

This is extremely important. Nursing home votes have been easy pickings for Democrats. Only the Democratic Party has had the machine to turn out the workers to do the nursing home early voting. Many nursing home voters may surfer from dementia or may simply be so grateful that someone is coming out to help them fulfill their civic duty to vote, that they will vote the way the poll workers suggest. Poll workers must not be permitted to influence voters! We need to end the practice of letting Democrats assume the nursing home vote is theirs. If you can do this, please do.

Davidson County Republican Party Summer Bar-B-Q Picnic

Davidson County Republican Party
Summer Bar-B-Q Picnic

Saturday, July 10, 201011:30am - 1:30pmRain OR ShineCentennial Park Pavilion
Meet the Republican Candidatesfor Governor, Congress, State and Local Races
$20/person or $50/family$10 for students with valid IDPurchase tickets @ www.davidsoncountygop.org
BBQ with all the fixinsStraw Poll , Silent Auction& Family Activities


Davidson County Republican Party. PO Box 158419, Nashville, TN 37215615.320.9018