Not everyone is happy that Grover Norquist is coming to First Tuesday.

I intend to attend First Tuesday tomorrow and I have purchased my ticket. The guest speaker will be Grover Norquist, founder of Americans for Tax Reform.  For many years he has been a leading voice for fiscal conservatism and has succeeded in holding Republicans feet to the fire with his Tax Pledge. His roll in the conservative movement is legendary. However, Grover Norquist has fallen out of favor with some conservatives because they perceive him to be allied with radical Islam. Some consider him a traitor and use very harsh language in criticizing him.  I invited a good friend of mine to attend First Tuesday with me this week and this person who is a reasonable conservative, not prone to endorsing fringe conspiracy theories, said he did not care for Grover Norquist because of his ties to the Muslim Brotherhood.  I think this is a view shared by many.

I attended the CPAC gathering in Washington for the last two years and heard critical mumbling from attendees at that event both years because Norquist was on the program.  Several conservative commentators have openly criticized Norquist, including Glen Beck, Michelle Malkin and Pam Gueller. None of these are people I am particularly impressed by but they influence an awfully lot of conservatives. Locally, J. Lee Douglas of the 9-12 group has criticized Norquist and First Tuesday and The Beacon Center for their association with Norquist. 
 

I am reposting a communication from Mr. Douglas. I do not endorse his statement, but he is influential in local conservative circles and his view is shared by many and Mr. Lee articulates his concern well. He calls on First Tuesday to cancel Mr. Norquist appearance and he ask local conservatives to boycott tomorrows meeting. 
 

I do think Mr. Norquist should address the criticism and explain his association with the Muslim Brotherhood, if there is any association, and if the terrible things some people are saying about him are not true he should deny them and denounce the people who are saying them. This criticism has been ignored long enough. It should be addressed. Rod
 

Below is the statement from J. Lee Douglas. I have highlighted the more provocative statements.

Recognizing the sign of the times in 1939, many wise Germans left their home country and quietly moved away. Others, also recognizing the sign of the times, eventually and valiantly spoke up, bringing criticism and eventual harm to themselves and their families. In all, if both groups had timely spoken up with enough conviction and demand, we might have never known of that season's costly terror.

July 2012, a 912 open letter to Republican Governor Bill Haslam was published in the Tennessean urging reconsideration of the questionable and inconspicuous hiring of Shariah-compliant specialist, Samar Ali. Despite his office having been caught providing untrue statements about Ms. Ali's hiring, Governor Haslam's office replied with silence.

This past February, the Beacon Center, a wonderful, local watchdog organization who I have admired for years, hosted a GOP hero; a man invited because of his reputed knowledge and skill in arguing for fiscal conservatism. What he, Grover Norquist, and the Beacon Center have in common is a reputation for advancing fiscal prudence in government. Who could be against that?

My own love for fiscal soundness blinded me to a friend's first caution that Grover Norquist was part of the Muslim Brotherhood (MB). Such caution had to be paranoia. In some quarters, Grover is a saint to any truly fiscal conservative. For me, an appreciation for values and principles ahead of party loyalty was so slow in coming. By that age, I should have understood better than to only see men as either Republican or Democrat. Life was so much easier then. Grover is Republican, isn't that enough? Dammit, he's one of us!

Reagan's Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Frank Gaffney, is the authority with the evidence that continues to trigger my spider senses. On that awful day, 9/11, Gaffney was in DC and went to his office just after the third airliner had struck the Pentagon. His office suite shared a common wall with Norquist (Islamic Free Market Institute). Gaffney describes in his office, a colleague lifting up a ceiling tile to hear celebration of the 911 attacks from Norquist and his colleagues, discussing how they would spin their "criticism"of the attack. I am convinced today that Grover Norquist is directly linked to the MB and you should be, too. Do your own research, you'll be helped by some of the links at the bottom.

In the spring, I notified our friends at the Beacon Center (BC) about Grover's Islamic loyalties upon learning of my invitation to join a Center-Right Coalition (CRC) that was being brought back to life by BC, Norquist, and friends. I supplied them with this link. It occurred to me that BC had not taken the time to read the information sent to them or else they felt that the threat of the Muslim Brotherhood was inferior in scope to the benefits of fiscal conservancy. If government ever does genuinely confine itself to Constitutional principles, it will matter to offset the extra tax imposed upon those infidels permitted by our Muslim masters to live.

Many of you don't know of the GOP's traditional monthly meeting in Nashville called 1st Tuesday which assembles again this coming Tuesday, September 2--open to all. For the most part, it is a who's who in Republican Circles and is run by the GOP Establishment's people although whenever I attended, I've seen friends who I love, who belong to 912 and are strongly like-minded with us. This month's guest speaker is described as 'a most powerful “Washington DC political BIG-WAVE maker”, on Harry Reid’s “5 most hated names” list!!, one of those eyebrow-raising names in Washington, DC!'

You guessed it, Grover Norquist is featured this Tuesday as a GOP Rock Star doing Nashville. Anyone on Harry Reid's bad list must be one of the good guys, right? In 1985, Grover was asked by Reagan to start Americans for Tax Reform, thirty years ago when gas cost $1.05/gal and the MB was no threat in America because there was little cash for trouble making outside of the Middle East. Seeing that both Gaffney and Norquist were shown favor by The Gipper, we may have to rely upon facts to determine Grover's current threat status.

I want to say this gently to our Republican friends, its leaders, administrators, fair-minded GOP men and women who genuinely want good for Tennessee, who pray and know that all men must answer to God: What are you doing? Isn't it true in the Scriptures that teachers will be judged more keenly, then how much more our leaders? Many of you volunteered to be a leader with its duties and its privileges.

Why are those of you involved in the Tennessee GOP bringing a man to be among you who has recognized ties to a group who today has beheaded and crucified children? Who is it that is being helped by Mr. Norquist? What is the good that he'll bring with him for you? Is Grover Norquist being welcomed here because he will advance fiscal soundness? Really? Does that trump security and common sense? Should John McCain trade on his heroism of 39 years ago any more than Grover Norquist ought on his earlier years as a fiscal conservative? How long will our national and state leaders offer an expired benefit of doubt to people whose practice betrays what we all desperately want to believe?

Norquist lobbied on behalf of Fannie and Freddie to extend home ownership tax credits that directly contributed to the housing bubble collapse and Norquist advocated for Shariah-compliant mortgage products with Fannie and Freddie. He early on advocated giving Obama all the money needed to keep destroying America when he mislead tea-party Republicans, counseling them to raise the debt ceiling (watch video at 8:50). Once, I believe, Norquist had legitimate claims to fiscal conservatism but no longer. Do the research.

At MuslimBrotherhoodInAmerica.com, you can find a ten-part course on the Muslim Brotherhood by the Center for Security Policy where there is a clip of “Norquist at a meeting in Dearborn, Michigan in October 2011 put together between George Soros’ progressives or leftists, radicals, and the Islamists.”

America is like a country waiting for a catastrophe to happen before it will wake up, drop the political correctness, and stop pretending that all religions are the same and all offer the same threat to our security.

I am urging all of our state elected officials including our Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Speaker as well as all citizens to urge 1st Tuesday's planners to cancel the event with Norquist, pay him his honorarium and consider this a great lesson about vetting who'll be permitted to address us and represent us. The best action that everyone can take is to not attend this Tuesday's meeting. Please contact your state senator and representative only if he is a Republican. This is a GOP issue only. It's time for the GOP to stand for something. Let it start here as an example for the rest of the nation.

William Wilberforce said “having heard all of this, you may choose to look the other way, but you can never say again that you did not know.”

Lee

drtmj@aol.com

 

Below are the links attached to the essay: link, link, link.

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Letter from top Haslam aide seeks to clear 'confusion' over Muslim hire ...

Letter from top Haslam aide seeks to clear 'confusion' over Muslim hire ...The Republic, August 19, 2012
"I want to start by clearly expressing there is no effort by the Haslam administration, the State of Tennessee, or any agency or department of the State to promote or advance Shariah law or Shariah complaint finance," he said in the letter. "The ...

"The promotion or advancement of religious ideology is an inappropriate role of state government that is unacceptable, and will not happen during this administration."

The Haslam administration's efforts to defuse grumbling among some fellow Republicans comes as Rep. Judd Matheny, R-Tullahoma, mulls a challenge to House Speaker Beth Harwell .....

J. Lee Douglas, .....said in a recent email to fellow members ....."We must have someone leading our legislators who is less about compromise, less about the next election and someone who needs media approval less than he needs our approval and God's approval," he wrote in the email. (read more)

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I have been kicked out of the 9-12 group.

Below is the letter I received from J. Lee Douglas a couple week ago, notifying me that my membership in the 9-12 organization was being revoked.

Rod,

I've been reading your articles about our 912 group, its direction, intentions, and criticisms of government.

There have been some parallels in our views but I'm finding an increasing departure from what you view in government and what we view.

I've recently had a few of our members contact me to point out that verbatim, you have used our Email announcements, some of which obviously were not intended to be passed on to others until a future date and you took it upon yourself to disregard our timing. (I reference our Resolution, here, Rod.)

I think that I don't want to contribute any longer to your library because you and I, or 912 and you , don't share goals that are close as they ought to be.

Thus, your membership is being withdrawn and you'll not receive any further Emails.

My best to you,

Lee

One of our members (as I said, there have been others) said:

I think Rod is doing more damage than helping us, for sure.

Here are just a few quotes that portray us as the “rebellion”, or “conspiracy theorists”, “zealots”, and “religious bigots.”


“Maury County Republicans join the rebellion. “ (Speaking of article in Columbia Daily Herald)

“The division within the Republican Party has become a chasm. It is now a public conflict. I wonder if the Party's period of ascendancy is coming to an end. Is there anything that can heal this divide? Will independents and moderates vote for a candidate of a Republican Party dominated by conspiracy theorist and zealots? Democrats should be dancing in the streets.”

“Healthy concern about those who would sympathize and collaborate with the enemies of America is quite a bit different from open religious bigotry against someone because they are a Muslim, and advocating apparent discrimination against them because of their religious beliefs. However, it would seem that we may have an ever-widening group of people that are simply making the assumption that if a person is a Muslim, they are the enemy because of their religion alone. “


And then this particular blog post is definitely not supportive of the 9/12 group.

http://www.adisgruntledrepublican.com/2012/07/ron-harwell-to-challenge-chris-devaney.html

Quote from this post: “This fringe faction of the Party is planning to take over more county parties and run more candidates for the State Executive Committee and take over the Executive Committee and elect one of their own to the post of Party chairman. “


I would have a hard time believing that this person would want to further the values of the 9/12 group. He says he is conservative, but goes right along with Establishment name-calling. He says he’s disgruntled, what is he disgruntled about? Looks like he’s pretty happy with how things are going.

Just my opinion. I don’t know him personally, never met him.

Blessings,

My comment:

I have been kicked of better places.  I am not losing any sleep over it. 

I really don't remember joining 9-12. I didn't fill out an application and anxiously await to see if I would be accepted. I don't remember any background check. I never paid any dues. I never took a blood oath or learned a secret handshake. One day, I was just a member. I may have joined by a meet-up site. I have joined several meet-up sites and then never attended a meeting or did anything else. Maybe, I clicked "like" on facebook. Anyway, I was a member and now I am not. 

I have gotten the emails of 9-12 for some time now. I am sure the members of 9-12 and I agree on most things. I vehemently oppose Obamacare. I want a smaller federal government. I oppose a state income tax. I opposed the recent metro property tax hike. I am pro-life. I think the federal government has expanded into areas never envisioned by the founding fathers and without constitutional authority. I support a balanced budget and reducing the deficit. I support school choice and curtailing union influence in education. I support welfare reform and curtailing of entitlements. I support ending the death tax. 

However, I do not believe Agenda 21 is a plot to kill 96% of the world's population by poisoning them with aspartame and fluoride. I don't think shady sidewalks are a slippery slope to the gulag.  I believe concern over Agenda 21 is waste of time.

I do believe Islam is really a religion. I believe Muslims have every bit as much of a right to build a Mosque in Murfreesboro as do the Church of Latter Day Saints, Jehovah Witness, Catholics, or Baptist to build a church.  I do not criticize Governor Haslam because his administration hired a person who happens to be Muslim. I believe the First Amendment applies to Muslims.

I support the Second Amendment right to bear arms.  However, the Second Amendment is a restriction on Government, not one's fellow citizen. The Second Amendment does not give a person the right to carry a gun onto the private property of another who does not want guns on his property.  

I like Bill Haslam and think he is a great governor. I also like Senator Bob Corker. I think some pragmatism and compromise is necessary in order to change the course of the nation. It is better to compromise and get half a loaf than to maintain absolute purity of position and get none of what you want. I think the art of governing must involve give and take and persuasion and negotiating.

I guess I am not a good fit for 9-12. When the 9-12 group is fighting Democrats and liberal policies, then we will be working for the same cause. Other times, we will not. 

I am not really mad about getting expelled form 9-12 and on most issue 9-12 and I are in the same camp. I admire J. Lee Douglas for the good that he does when he is not doing the nutty stuff, and I admire him for his dedication and leadership abilities. I wish everyone in 9-12 the best. I am sure you can carry on without me in your ranks and my feelings have not been hurt by being expelled.

God Bless. We part as friends.

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Two Cheers for 9-12 Project

by Gene Wisdom

Gene Wisdom

It was with mixed feelings that I read through Lee Douglas’s email posted here which also appeared in my Inbox.And it was with somewhat less mixed feelings that I read Rod’s response to it. 

First of all, Lee’s motivations and those of the 9-12 group are nothing to instill fear in the minds of liberty-lovers.  Their concern is to protect our freedom from expansive government as well as some threats to our nation’s survival.  I disagree with some of their legislative priorities, such as the so-called Sheriff’s Bill in Tennessee, which as I understand would require federal law enforcement to notify a local sheriff before they perform a raid or execute a warrant.  

 As a Constitutionalist conservative I believe that it is in violation of the supremacy clause of the Constitution as well as the principle of federalism.  In my brief email discussion last year with its chief sponsor, state Senator Stacy Campfield, when I raised these issues he said that it is supported by Printz v. United States, a Supreme Court decision.  I read that decision and see no basis there for this bill.  That decision is regarding unfunded mandates, in that case commanding state and local law enforcement officers to conduct background checks on prospective handgun purchasers.  When I mentioned this out along with several other passages from the Court’s decision in that case Sen. Campfield chose not to respond further.

I also disagree with 9-12’s focus on Agenda 21, an opposition which is rooted in the fever swamps of the John Birch Society.  My knowledge of that issue is admittedly sparse so I’ll defer to Rod, who has taken a close look at it.  I’ll certainly agree that Lee’s group is more familiar with it than I but the roots in JBS conspiracy “thought” is unmistakeable.

Those differences aside, 9-12 is grounded in a view of limited government inspired by the Founding Fathers.  While I disagree with them on some of the legislative direction they take from that foundation it is clearly rooted in principles we should all recognize as conservative—smaller government, distrust of internationalist institutions, lower taxes and government spending.

I guess my point of departure, besides the specific legislative issues above, is the vitriol with which they label those who disagree or “fall short” of their own devotion.  The Republican Party as “those loyal to King George”?  The “treasonous votes and behavior” of “rogue officials”?  Rogue?  That’s no big deal—lots of folks in politics wear it as a badge of honor such as the sweetheart of some of those in the Tea Party, Sarah Palin, who said she was Going Rogue.  But “treasonous”?  That is a highly defamatory term if there is not some serious evidence behind it.  At least the Founders gave us a long list of “injuries and usurpations” by the King. 

On one point of disagreement with my friend Rod, I do believe that 9-12 is correct in its concerns about Muslim influences within state government—and national.  Although I have not educated myself about the specifics of the individual noted in 9-12’s full page ad in The Tennesseean (seen at this link: http://www.912projecttennessee.com/Sharia_Law_in_TN/), I am well aware of the threat posed by Muslims within our country and their devotion to imposing Sharia law.  That awareness is largely due to 9-12 (and ACT for America)-sponsored local events featuring well-informed speakers, including a former Muslim cleric.  It is a danger about which I wish Rod would seek to become better informed through a variety of excellent conservative—and non-fevered—sources.  Rod’s ignorance about it, however, is not due to a lesser love for this country (he served our country in the Army in Vietnam--toward which this peacetime Navy man renders a smart salute and deep thanks) or an unconcern over its security.

9-12 is also to be applauded for its conservative orientation on social issues though I confess ignorance as to the extent of its direct involvement on them.  Rod and I disagree, I believe, on whether social conservatives should be welcome within the Republican Party.  Or maybe Rod believes they should just keep quiet.  I will detail more on my position in a separate essay here and perhaps Rod will engage me in debate on this, here on his blog. 

Regarding Kevin Kookogey’s role in the intra-GOP controversy I have no specific knowledge other than having met Mr. Kookogey at a local Heritage Foundation event.  I found him to be a soft-spoken very well informed conservative.  One to whom a Republican Party looking for strong roots in its conservative base should listen.

My hope is that 9-12’ers don’t, as Lee’s email suggests, define “moderate” necessarily as “unprincipled”.  The equation is sometimes well-placed, as in the case of our two U.S. Senators.  Sen. Corker’s national reputation as a bargainer and a dealer far surpasses any regard for him as a leader of principle.  A choice, seeking conservative principles, between him and a Jim Demint (Republican Senator from South Carolina and founder of the Senate Conservatives Fund) would find Mr. Corker back in business as a home builder in Chattanooga. There are others who I consider “moderately conservative” such as Rod, however, who, while he may not peg out as a 100 on a conservative index, is grounded in good common sense with conservative instincts and principles.  Such moderation in my view calls for education and persuasion, not reproach (that means I’m gonna keep working on you, Rod).      

It is my hope that 9-12 will welcome debate within its ranks.  I understand it is not a discussion forum such as (shameless plug here) a group I belong to, Conservative Fusion (www.meetup/ConservativeFusion) but is rather an activist group focused on an agenda as such groups are.  I hope that there is room, however, for principled, thoughtful debate that doesn’t define someone as “outside” for holding a position contrary to its program.  Both sides should listen. 

Lee, meet Rod.  Rod, meet Lee.    

Gene Wisdom is an Alabama native but has lived in the Nashville area since 2007. He, his wife Vicki, and their dog Savannah live near Nolensville.  Gene is a conservative activist and leads the Conservative Fusion Book Club. 

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J. Lee Douglas says, "Minute Men should see the Republican Party as those loyal to King George."

The division within the Republican Party has become a chasm. It is now a public conflict. I wonder if the Party's period of ascendancy is coming to an end. Is there anything that can heal this divide?  Will independents and moderates vote for a candidate of a Republican Party dominated by conspiracy theorist and zealots? Democrats should be dancing in the streets. I welcome comments or if anyone has insight as to the state of this conflict within the Party and what it means for the future, I would welcome hearing from you.  To submit an essay for publication, please email me at Rodwilliams47@yahoo.com.

 

I am posting the complete text of an email I received today from J. Lee Douglas, Chairman of the local 9-12 project.  Rod

 

FROM:

• J Lee Douglas

TO:

• nine-12-project-nashville-announce@meetup.com 

Sunday, July 22, 2012 9:23 PM 

Drawing a parallel between our struggle here in America and the Minute Men should see the Republican Party as those loyal to King George.  The progressives and liberals who have dominated Congress along with many US Presidents are the armies of the King.

Complaints and feeble efforts at acceptable negotiations always failed as often in 1774 as they do for us but as it always happens, everyone wises up to the reality that the formal pleasantries eventually cease and more direct words are spoken. We're drawing near to that where the gloves start to come off as they did this week end with the governor who said of us:  

FRANKLIN — County Republicans in recent days have twice fired across the bow of Gov. Bill Haslam’s administration, accusing the state’s top GOP leader of getting into bed with Muslim extremists.

In the face of that criticism, Haslam met with several of Williamson County’s most prominent Republicans for lunch at a busy downtown restaurant in Franklin. While sipping a glass of iced tea in the crowded dining room of Puckett’s Grocery and Restaurant on Thursday, the governor said his critics deserve little of his time. 

“I think that probably speaks to a pretty small survey of Republicans here,” Haslam said of the Williamson County Republican Party’s jabs. 

Last week, Haslam received more than a handful of resolutions adopted by county-level Republican offices across the state skewering him for employing gay, Muslim and Democratic workers. In Williamson County, where Haslam received 79 percent of the vote in the 2010 general election, local GOP officials focused on Samar Ali, a Muslim-American attorney in the Department of Economic and Community Development.

On Friday, in a full-page advertisement in The Tennessean, a strongly worded letter to the governor warned him not to ignore their message. The ad was paid for by the Tennessee chapter of the 912 Project and championed the Williamson County Republican Party, among others, for having the courage to “break ranks” with party loyalists. 

“We are not afraid and we won’t be intimidated,” the ad stated. “We declare our intentions to reclaim what is rightfully and Constitutionally ours, given by God and won through the blood of Americans. As of today, the choice is still in your hands. Choose the way of common sense while that option is still available.”

In the first weeks of becoming the 912ers when we met at my house it was nearly unanimous that we'd not form a 3rd party, that we'd be even more useless as Democrats and therefore our only real choice was to get involved with the Republican party and infuse our attitudes, values, and inflexible demands that the party live up to its claim to small government. 

I hate confrontation and naively hoped that through a simple electoral process that we'd put in enough reliable candidates who'd truly represent us and now I can see that that is what we're doing right now but it is not without confrontation.

It has taken us 3 years to get to the place that we've finally drawn the line and said that we're going to wear that name that the media placed on us: Intolerant, by no longer tolerating moderate, unprincipled Republican officials.
 

The governor, the state party chieftain, fired his shot over our bow by declaring us fringe and small, of no consequence.  I'll bet you last November on 2010 he wasn't thinking of us and groups like ours as of no consequence. 

This is the most important time now in 3 years to get involved locally to help the candidates and most of the help needs to go to those candidates who share our values whose primary will be the only contest they have.  If we do not prevail in these elections, we'll have to grow more and wait another 2 years to do what needs to be done. 

One of the people who I think must be strained by the sudden and public clash is our own Keven K who is chair of the Williamson GOP because nearly two years ago the 912ers showed up and voted him into his office.  He has not let us down but he is being slapped around and criticized because he stuck to the principles he promoted when he was just another nobody, albeit, unhated nobody.

In our county, Kevin is being assaulted and isolated by, who else, the local republicans who did not agree with our Resolution and are of a mind set to speak no evil of their fellow Republican.  You know how much I love the Gipper but on this, he was wrong and it kept the rogue officials from being called out for their treasonous votes and behavior. 

We unite on principle, love, and faith.  We love God and we love principle more than we love loyalty.  Loyalty is important but it isn't first and anyone attempting to unite on the basis of loyalty in disregard of principle will continue to get us our Lugars and McCains. 

Part of the ammunition being used by the establishment in our county GOP is donations, money.  Some are criticizing Kevin's bold leadership because some of the more establishment oriented and wealthier members are offended at the changes you and I are bringing.  Some are busy and gullible, willing to accept what the establishment advises.  To their ears, it's familiar. 

There are some who have begun to return to the table because they can see a returning to those principles in their own party that they once saw back in the Gipper's day.  Where will those go who don't come back now?  To the Democrats?  I don't think so, do you?  If they do, they were never part of us for principle but for position and power. 

An event is being held this Thursday evening to raise some dollars to keep the county office open.  I ask that you purchase a ticket and go to support the good changes coming.  From Williamson County, other county GOPs will happen. 

I've had a flood of Emails today from other county GOPs who want to walk with us hand in hand.  Like you, they get it about Sharia.  You'll see in the coming 1-2 weeks (if the media report it) other GOPs sending Governor Haslam their own Resolutions, criticizing him for failing to be a true conservative as he described himself to many of us, face to face.
 

I had a man today call me from Columbia.  He's a self described atheist who saw our Resolution and wanted to tell us how grateful he was to see someone standing up for what he knew was going on.  It was very gratifying.  Like him, there'll be others.

If you cannot afford the $50 ticket to go to the Thursday night event, why don't five of you chip in $10 each and send one person in your name?

If we're going to see to it that the GOP truly represents us, we're all going to have to be diligent to safeguard our freedom for our children for a long time.

L

Please join the Williamson county Republican Party for an evening with CANDIDATES including Representative charles sargent and Rob Hathaway, district 61 Jeremy durham, dennis kiser and Kenny young, district 65 Judge elect mike binkley (21st judicial district) Thursday July 26th From 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. PRINCETON HILLS 706 Sinclair Circle Brentwood, Tennessee $50 per person includes drinks (Beer, wine, soda) And hors d’oeuvres. Featuring music by  Kayla. PLEASE RSVP TO 790-7642  OR  jbarwick@williamsontngop.org

 

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J. Lee Douglas of 9-12ers addresses the troops:

Freaks and Twelvers,

 

Did you see today's Tennessean article which contained bits of information about one of our members, Kevin Kookogey?  The article was about the rebellion of the Republican party towards its party chief, Governor Haslam. 

 

Are  you surprised?  Did you believe that our work and our coaching by such men as Glenn Beck, Mark Levin, Rush Limbaugh, Walter Williams, Laura Ingrahm, Frank Gafney, Sarah Palin, Michele Bachmann and other good Americans would almost never raise the temperature of the body politic?

 

Because we outnumber socialists like Obama, Valerie Jarrett, Pelosi, Reid, Soros, Clinton and all of their very famous and very rich followers, it is only normal to begin to see a fracturing of the system as a whole.

 

Most of us recently came from and abide in the Republican party so it's only natural that the first crack would be nearest to the source of the increasing pressure!!  You, ACT, the Tea Party have built a force that is finally demanding the Republican Party's attention.  Finally.

 

You were right to be asking, "How long will they do this to me".  It's true, Romney wasn't our first pick but there are only two hands in front of us and we aren't offered a third.  If we had set forward the primaries for President by 2 years to 2014, I suspect the result would be much more agreeable to all of us.  The wave of change is just now starting to catch up.  The seeds are breaking through. 

 

I'm proud to say that it was 912ers influence and organizing that saw to our member, Kookogey, becoming Chair of his county GOP.  He has been a champion and he's one of many other liberty-minded Republicans who are becoming the future of the GOP in Tennessee. 

 

By the end of the week, the eight Tennessee County GOPs on record for criticizing Governor Haslam will have grown to twenty who are breaking the silence of approval to anything our Republican elected officials do. 

 

We've patiently waited to see a significant sign that we, who have been doing the work, do matter.

 

I need more help to keep tipping the statue as we build a genuine conservative statue to take its place.

 

Part of the push that is going to rattle the Republican establishment happens this Friday when our Resolution is going to be published in the Tennessean, either in section A or section B...won't know until Friday morning.

 

Forty of our members have stepped up bear the cost of this Resolution.  The range of contributions varies from as little as $10 to more than $1,000. 

 

A full page ad, the one that will give the greatest effect, costs $5,000.  Currently, we have $4,250 and are in need of the last $750.

 

I believe that anyone who has contributed more than $500 should not further contribute.  I ask that you not.

 

Of our full membership, we ought to be able to get enough donations, even small ones, to reach the full $750...by tomorrow at noon.

 

If you will contribute via Paypal with your credit card or Paypal account, please donate at

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=T4Z5PDK48JEUY

If you cannot pay via credit card but can assure me that you'll send me a check for this project, please Email me the amount that you'll give and the day that you'll send it out.  We're so close.

Make checks payable to  912 Project Tennessee    and send to

J. Lee Douglas

999 Lookout Ridge Dr.

Brentwood, TN 37027

These funds will be going to Friday's step 2 of taking back the Republican party.

The next step will be in two phases, August 2 and then November 6.

We love the Republicans but honestly, as a party they have been entrenched in old ways producing irresponsible Lamar Alexanders, Dick Lugars, Lindsey Grahams.  We are out of time and cannot be any nicer than this. 

There is so much buzz about what is going on this week, I agreed to do an interview with Fox's Channel 17 to discuss Governor Haslam and his partnering with Shariah focused Muslims, to even form a Muslim Advisory Council...in the name of Tennessee !    It airs tonight at 9:00.

If you want to see a copy of the Resolution that will be printed on Friday, please Email me with your statement that you won't forward it to anyone until Friday morning. 

Be encouraged, we have cause,

 

Lee

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Governor Haslam Under Fire from Fellow GOP Members - Erika Lathon

Watch J. Lee Douglas attacking Governor Haslam.

Tomorrow morning a full page ad, costing $5000, paid for by members of the 9-12 group, will appear in the Tennessean condemning Gov. Haslam for the hiring of Samar Ali, a native born Tennessee Muslim attorney.

http://m.fox17.com/news/Governor_Haslam_Under_Fire_from_Fellow_GOP_Members_-_Erika_Lathon

Jul 17, 2012 8:53pm (CDT)
A half dozen County Republican Chapters including Williamson County have passed resolutions condemning Governor Bill Haslam or calling for sanctions against him. Some GOP members are taking issue with Haslam employing openly gay staffers and the hiring of Muslim American Attorney, Samar Ali. Tea party members accuse Haslam of abandoning conservative values. State Republican Party Chairman, Chis Devaney says Haslam has a 70% approval rating and calls the attacks a distraction.

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9-12'ers to buy 1/2 to full page ad in Tennessean attacking Haslam

This Friday expect to see a half-page to full-page ad in the Tennessean condemning Governor Haslam because the State Department of Economic and Community Development hired an attorney to an important post in that office, who happens to be a Muslim.  The ad is being financed by the local 9-12 project. Below is an email being circulated by the leader of the local 9-12 group:

Our 912 members have been more generous than ever imagined in contributing funds to publish our Resolution to Governor Haslam in next Friday's Tennessean. Although we're still awaiting some checks in the mail, I can tell you that our donations are enough to purchase an entire half page and then some.

When all promised donations arrive, it is possible that we'll have enough for a 2/3 page ad or, best case scenario, we'll have received sufficient funds for a full page ad to state our bona fide case to Governor Haslam and everyone across the state who reads the Tennessean.

To read more about this issue, see this post: 

Regarding Samar Ali: The Haslam administration has already answered the 912ers.

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J. Lee Douglas of 9-12 replies to Tim Rudd in open letter

An open letter to the Rutherford County Republican Executive Committeeman Tim Rudd who has instructed Republican candidates to avoid 912 vetting and debates:

Expecting your Republican candidates to associate exclusively with your party and its political processes may succeed when your leaders are selfless, driven by noble principles and then only when the candidate himself consents to becoming Republican Party property.

 Whenever a candidate’s first loyalty can never be to any group of men, even good men, but always to his God and His principles then your Republican party is always in competition for the devotion of that candidate against an unconquerable foe. You and the GOP should be asking if your candidate is on the right side, not if he’s on your side. 

Having failed to do this, the Republican Party has seen to the election of countless, seemingly ideal individuals who go to DC, the Governor’s mansion or to the State House and turn out to be milquetoast men who have greater willingness for compromise than in defending our highest principles to every foe, including Republicans. At the end, you then reward these lost souls by celebrating them as Statesmen.

Two years ago in a debate sponsored by 912 in your Congressional District 6, the eventual winner, Representative Diane Black, to me and 200 other citizens took an oath with her raised right hand and she affirmed that her loyalty would first be to small government principles and to the people of her district always before loyalty to the Republican Party.

Disappointingly, that well known conservative think tank, The Heritage Foundation, gave Mrs. Black an indigestible voting score of 64 for her first year. Sixty-four! Speaker Boehner would have rewarded her Republican caucus cooperation with a score of 99 or higher, I'm certain. Hearing of our vocal disappointment, Mrs. Black sent her office scurrying to try and calm us down before her reputation could suffer harm.

We wonder, since she represents you and your county GOP, did any of you have a come-to-Jesus talk with Mrs. Black? If the domain of Republican candidates falls within your jurisdiction, what action were you prepared to take? When the largest American political party silently is more attentive to its bureaucratic rules and self imposed regulations than it is to electing qualified persons who can and will protect and defend the Constitution against America’s enemies, both foreign and domestic, then it becomes the absolute duty for every good citizen to insert himself into the political process for the good of country. Damn the worthless party line, the greatest country of all time is at great risk. Your lines and prejudices blur your loyalties.
If yours and the GOP across America had done its duty, only the tea party of 1773 Boston would today be known.

Mr. Rudd, 912 Project Tennessee has held classes on the Constitution, and in-depth American history, held numerous debates to highlight the strong and weak candidates. We have vetted and brought attention to the good and inferior school board members and county commissioners. Already, we have replaced some of the worst. We ignore the lines that you draw because those lines have kept you inside, away from the people where the work is happening.

For over a month now, we’ve known the thinking on imminent domain of your candidate Richard Garvin. Do you consider knowing the answer to such a question as important for your job as spokesperson for the Rutherford County GOP? The people are interested in such issues and deserve these candidates’ opinions. Will you now provide them? We have for three years.

Mr. Rudd, the reason 2010 was a bell weather year for the election of conservatives was not because of the GOP. It was and shall continue to be the work of liberty groups like ours. We offer an organized, ground game approach to our efforts that is rarely seen in a 44 member GOP office on Main Street, USA.
Your letter to candidates typifies the words of Orrin Hatch who despises groups like ours. 9-12 Project Tennessee only exists because the GOP has failed to historically educate and motivate its members and the rest of America. This failure is compounded by the politically correct resistance of the GOP to attend to those despised Godly, moral values that led to America being blessed as a people. You seek to be moral without the source of all morality. 

We are glad that you asked your Republican candidates to not participate with us because it draws a line and forces them to decide if as Americans they belong to the Republican Party or to the higher principles of freedom. Thank you for making our work easier.

We don’t seek to antagonize you but you have not shown us a hand of friendship and grace but one of passive aggression. When our goals are not separated by party lines, we are willing to work with anyone choosing our 9 principles and 12 values.

Sincerely,

J. Lee Douglas for 912 Project Tennessee

 
For more see: 

Local Republicans divided over conservative organizations

Tim Rudd: I am not picking a fight with 9-12.

Who does Tim Rudd work for and is that the reason for the 9-12 letter?

A split in conservative ranks: Why is Tim Rudd picking a fight with 9/12?

 

 

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A split in conservative ranks: Why is Tim Rudd picking a fight with 9/12?

Tim Rudd has taken an action which I am sure is likely to anger a large and active faction of the Republican Party in middle Tennessee. Rudd is the Senate District 13 member of the State Executive Committee of the Tennessee Republican Party representing Lincoln, Marshall, Maury,and Rutherford counties. Today he sent an email to various elected officials and candidates for office urging them not to participate in a vetting questionnaire and debate sponsored by the local 9/12 group.

Nine-twelve is an organization started by TV and radio personality by Glenn Beck and there are about five hundred of these groups across the country, or at least there once were.  I don't know how many of these groups still exist and if many of them have faded away or not, nor how active they are.

In middle Tennessee the 9/12 group is very active.  They have monthly social gathering and training session and they volunteer in campaigns and have an active social media network. They are headed by J. Lee Douglas who is a likeable guy and a talented leader. There membership may number in the hundreds. With grass roots groups like this, it hard to say what is the membership number. I assume, I am a member. I joined the face book page and am on the mailing list. So, whether active members are as few as 20 or as many as 700, I don't know.

The group is committed to core conservative economic and social values and advocates limited government and low taxes but does wander off into the anti-freedom of religion for Muslims territory and anti-agenda 21 conspiracy territory from time to time.  I am in agreement with most of their views except for the these areas.  Sometimes the rhetoric of some of the 9-12 members can sound pretty harsh and radical, however. They are definitely not "big-tent" Republicans. Some of the 9/12 members are quick to denounce other Republicans as RINO (Republican in Name Only) unless they are 100% in agreement with their own opinion.  Denunciation of Lamar Alexander, Bob Corker and Bill Haslam as RINO's is common in the email exchanges of the local 9/12 group.

Despite my above difference with some of the group, I know a lot of nine-twelvers and know them to be the people who will man the phone lines and go door to door campaigning and who will contribute money to the cause. They are dedicated and hardworking and passionate. 

I don't know Tim Rudd, but I was surprised to see a Republican in his position pick a fight with nine-twelvers by urging Republican candidates not to answer their questionnaire nor participate in their debate. I don't know if the letter from Rudd represented only the opinion of Tim Rudd or if this was a move by the Republican Party establishment to retaliate against this 9-12 group for some of their attacks on Republican leaders.

Watch this development to see what, if anything, happens.  The radical faction of the John Birch Society and other fringe groups have been making inroads into the Republican Party and at some point, in my view, the party is going to have to take a stand against some of the more nutty fringe Republicans. However, I do not think picking this fight at this time with this group over this issue was the right time to start a party purge. I would like to know what is going on.

Below is the letter:

From: Tim Rudd

TO:
Sen. Jim Tracy
Rep. Joe Carr
Rep. Rick Womack
Rep. Mike Sparks
Richard Garvin
Dawn White
Ryan Harring


Dear Fellow Republicans and Candidates for Republican Nomination,

Recently a non-Republican organization (9/12) sent out a “vetting” questionnaire and requested that you attend a debate sponsored by them. I urge you not to participate in this unauthorized “vetting” process. No organization outside the Republican Party has the right or responsibility to vet, interview or determine who the Republican Party’s nominee should be.

I both encourage individuals and non-partisan organizations to be involved in the political process. But, no one outside of any political organization has the right to interfere with another organization’s process. What would be the response if the Republican Party Executive Committee ask members of the Democratic Party, Libertarian Party, John Birch Society, Campaign For Liberty, 9 /12, League of Women Voters, the Tea Party or the Chamber of Commerce to report to the next GOP meeting for us to vet who should either lead those organizations or be nominees for their political parties? The response would be outrage, power grab, unethical, etc.

Any individual from any outside organization that is a Republican should volunteer and participate in the Republican Primary in support of one of our candidates, but not on behalf of an outside organization. Organizations like 9/12, the Small Business Alliance or the Middle Tennessee Property Rights Coalition can and should get involved in the General election by supporting either the Democratic, Republican or Independent candidates. ---- But not in OUR GOP PRIMARY!

The only people that should “VET” our Republican candidates are Republican Caucus or Primary voters and the Republican Party leadership. We ask that you respectfully decline participating in their or any other outside “Vetting Process” and respect the Republican Party’s process.

Very Sincerely Yours,

Tim Rudd
Republican State Executive Committeeman

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Tea Partiers yearn for a "truly red" Tennessee

NASHVILLE, May 17 - When conservative Tea Party activists helped Republicans extend their majority in Tennessee's legislature in 2010, they expected to get the legislation they wanted. (link)

Ken Marrero of Blue Collar Muse and Lee Douglas of the 9-12 group and other people you may know are quoted in this article. Ken Marrero calls for a more moderate approach to advancing the conservative agenda as opposed to the scorched earth policy of the more extreme tea party conservatives.

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The Foundations of Islam, Understanding the basic Doctrine

Thursday, February 16, 2012, 6:30 PM

Selected By: J Lee Douglas

New Hope Community Church

605 Wilson Pike, Brentwood, TN (map)

Selected By: J Lee Douglas

 Bill Warner

Author, Teacher, Publisher

Bill Warner has a PhD in physics and math and is the author of  over eighteen books on Islam. He has been a university professor, a busi­nessman and applied physicist. He founded, the Center for the Study of Political Islam and is an international speaker and teacher. He works with elected officials and has given lectures to the Danish Parliament and given testimony to the Dutch Parliament in behalf of Geert Wilders.


You may attend three Thursday evenings or one Saturday.  Thurday, February 16, 23rd and March 1st 66:30 - 8:30 PM New Hope Church, 605 Wilson Pike, Brentwood, TN  Register at www.Eventbrite.com

Or Saturday February 25  8:30 - 12:30 PM Salt and Light Institute - Embassy Center 612 Due West Ave., Madison, TN  www.Eventbrite.com 
Cost for the course is $10  The books and CD are optional and can be purchased on site for $39.  Advance registration and a photo ID are required.

Disclaimer: From time to time A Disgruntled Republican may post announcements of interest to the conservative, libertarian, or greater community. Such announcements are posted as a public service to spread awareness and do not necessarily constitute an endorsement.

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2nd Annual 9.12 Project Tennessee Membership Dinner

Saturday, February 18, 2012, 

5:00 PM Hotel 

Preston 733 Briley Pkwy, Nashville, TN

"All patriots are invited to attend our 9.12 Project Tennessee Annual Membership dinner at the lovely and chic Hotel Preston. The evening agenda is as follows:

• 5-6p Registration and social mixer (cash bar), 
• 6-7p Guest Speaker Senator Bill Ketron "Redistricting Process and Outcome" followed by Q&A,
• 7-8p Dinner and Dessert Service, 
• 8-9p Dr Ming Wang presentation and musical performance, 

Dinner $35.00 per person. 

Additional special guests will be present at this event. Evening Attire is preferred. To review the menu and register for this event please go to  www.912Projecttennessee.com"

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Right the wrong and redraw the districts!

by guest blogger J. Lee Douglas

It's been a good harvest and now we need to get the grain to the threshing floor.

Ten years ago in 2001, Jimmy Naifeh and seventy-eight power-hungry democrats agreed to redraw Tennessee's nine US congressional districts into serpentine patterns that grouped conservative-leaning neighborhoods into one single district that would give conservatives such as Marsha Blackburn an almost 95% voter selection. Among conservatives, she could almost not lose because the bulk of conservatives were strategically placed in her district. Sucks, eh? Get mad!!

The net effect for the democrats was that the remaining areas would contain conservatives who would be the minority and never able to have a fair chance to choose someone who might represent their views. An example of this thievery is Jim Cooper's district which consists mostly of Davidson County which was drawn in a way to almost guarantee his election regardless of his obedience to Madame Pelosi.

Look below at the Tennessee congressional map and notice Marsha Blackburn's (teal) district #7 how it runs from outside of Memphis, pinches off where Williamson and Hickman counties touch and then all the way to the Kentucky border in middle Tennessee north of Clarksville! Is that reasonable division of the populous? Mad yet?

This was done for the simple reason that these geographic areas are largely conservative and doing the districting this way creates an imbalance that gives a material edge to people such as Cooper or Lincoln Davis. The math becomes that we get one, they get two, three or four!

The irony? You are disenfranchised and the dems accuse you of their crime and the Tennessean carries their story. Get this, the dems who controlled all houses of the state were so happy with their divisions of congressional districts that from 1902 for sixty years they refused to reapportion the districts and finally relinquished when the US Supreme Court ordered reapportionment in 1962. Let's now act to have this injustice righted. Let's also lobby all of our representatives to NOT do to them what they did to us. We'll reap what we sow. Trust me, justice will prevail.

With the 2010 census now being complete, the new republican legislative body has a chance to right this wrong and to insure that conservative, fair policies and block redrawing of the districts takes place January 11, at the beginning of the next legislative session.

J. Lee Douglas is a practicing dentist in Brentwood Tennessee. He is married, father of four and grandfather of five. He established a Christian dental/medical clinic in Iraq in 1996 and had done oil and gas exploration in West Africa and lived for several years in Switzerland.  He is a local political activist and a Middle Tennessee leader in the TEA party movement and helped start the 9-12 Project Tennessee within 3 months of President Obama’s taking office. Prior to that time he had not been involved in political activity.

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