Here is Mike Morrow's report on the candidates forum published in the Nashville Political Buzz Examiner.
Henry delivers a question to love
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Friday, October 01, 2010
Another repoft from the candidates forum
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Thursday, September 30, 2010
Cooper a no-show at candidates forum,
Henry looked frail. Jones and Dominy go at it.
Jim Cooper was a no-show at tonight scheduled candidates forum sponsored by the Haywood Lane Neighborhood Association. The program consisted of three forum segments: one for U. S. House District 5 candidates, incumbent Democrat Jim Cooper and challenger Republican David Hall; one for State Senate District 21 candidates, incumbent Democrat Senator Doug Henry and challenger Republican Steve Dickerson; and State House District 59 candidates, incumbent Democrat Representative Sherry Jones and Republican challenger Councilman Duane Dominy.
Cooper was listed in the announcements as a participant in the forum. The moderator, Councilman Charlie Tygard, said Coooper was absent because he was attending a function raising money for Metro Greenways. The function was a pricey $150 per attendee event called Dinner on the Bridge. The moderator said Cooper had sent word that he may arrive late. He never made it. It is unclear if Cooper had a previous engagement or a preferred engagement. Cooper was listed in the advertisements for Dinner on the Bridge as the Honorary Chairman. It is a shame Cooper could not make this event. I would really like to see Cooper and Hall in a one-on-one debate. There are vast differences between these two candidates.
David Hall was well received and delivered a message of smaller government, less taxation and less regulation. He said Obamacare was a mistake he thinks the bailouts have been counter productive. Hall answered the question submitted by the public with calm, confidence and directness. I think that if Cooper and Hall ever did debate that Hall would come out the winner.
Cooper's failure to be at a forum where he would have to have his record examined and answer questions should surprise no one. All summer, when the public was urging Cooper to have town hall meetings and face the voters he hid out. I will give Cooper the benefit of the doubt however and assume his failure to show was simply a scheduling conflict. If so, between now and the election there is still time to engage in a public forum or debate. I urge Hall and Cooper to schedule a debate so the public can compare the two candidates and make an informed decision about this important upcoming election.
Steve Dickerson and Senator Henry had very few differences and they were gentlemanly and polite toward each other. Senator Henry looked weak and feeble and occasionally confused. He had trouble getting out of his chair and the design of the forum required the candidates to get up and down several times as they rotated their turns at the podium.
The closest thing to a real debate in the evening was between Sherry Jones and Duane Dominy. It was obvious they do not like each other and have very different policy positions. In a longer and different format they could present a real lively debate.
One point of contention in their portion of the forum was over the use of the legislators per diem. Jones only lives 10 miles from the State Capitol yet is one of the legislators who has taken the most in per Diem.
She defended receiving the amount of money she has received. Dominy said if elected he would not take it and he would propose reform of the expense reimbursement so that legislators living within 30 miles of the capitol only get mileage and meals, not the funding for lodging; those living within 100 get a higher level of per diem; and those beyond 100 miles get an even greater level of per diem.
Dominy and Jones also disagreed about an issue that should simply be a matter of fact and not a matter of opinion. Jones said most of the funding for Metro schools comes from the State. Dominy said the Federal government pays approximately 10%, the State about 30%, and Metro about 60%. Both candidates were adamant they were correct and seemed exasperated with the other over this issue. I am almost certain that Dominy is closer to correct on this point but I could be wrong. I will attempt to fact-check this issues update this post when time permits. I also recorded the event and may update with more quotes and details. Check back.
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Sen Bob Corker rated "Hero" by Taxpayers Against Earmarks
Sen. Lamar Alexander rated a "Hooligan."
Taxpayers Against Earmarks (TAE) has a page on their website called "Heroes & Hooligans" used to recognize those in Congress standing up against wasteful spending and to help taxpayers hold those politicians accountable who refuse to stop earmarking. "To be a 'Hero,' a Member of Congress must have refrained from requesting any earmarks this year," states the TAE website. "'Hooligans' are those who have requested earmarks this fiscal year, even if they support efforts to reform or eliminate the practice of earmarking." They listed all members of Congress as either "heroes" or "Hooligans."
In the Senate there were only 10 "heroes," seven of them Republicans and three of them Democrats. John McCain and Scott Brown were other notable "heroes."
In the House, there were 178 "Heros," 173 of them Republicans and five of them Democrats. Tennessee Heroes were Marsha Blackburn, Jim Cooper (Yes, our own Jim Cooper), and John Duncan. All other Tennessee Congressmen were "Hooligans."
Of the 259 House "Hooligans," 253 were Democrats and only six were Republicans. One to the six Republican "Hooligans" was Ron Paul or Texas.
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Candidates forum tonight, including Hall and Cooper
An election forum is scheduled tonight for the following candidates in the November election:
- U.S. House District 5 — Jim Cooper; David Hall.
- State Senate District 21 — Steven Dickerson, Douglas Henry
- State House District 59 — Duane Dominy, Sherry Jones
The forum will be held from 6:30-8:30 p.m., Thursday, September 30th, at the Christ Lutheran Church gymnasium, 299 Haywood Lane.
Questions can be submitted in advance by e-mail to Amelia.workman@wallerlaw.com.There has been almost no publicity for this event.
This may be the only time we will have the opportunity to see the candidates on the same stage. While a forum is not a debate, this may be the closest we get to having a debate. Giving Jim Cooper's reluctance to face the voters I am surprised but pleased he is participating. Please show up tonight and support our candidates.
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Jim Gotto gets Mitt Romney's endorsement
By: Chas Sisk, IN Session, September 30, 2010
Lucky recipients of the Romney’s blessing include Bill Haslam, Marsha Blackburn, Diane Black, Stephen Fincher, Mae Beavers, Bill Ketron, Joe Carr, Joshua Evans, Jim Gotto and Tim Wirgau. Haslam and the candidates for federal office will each receive a check for $2,500 from Romney’s political action committee, as will the Senate Republican Caucus PAC and the House Republican Caucus PAC.(link)
Comment: Congratulation Jim Gotto! Few candidates for State House races get endorsements from PAC's of this stature. This is a vote of confidence.
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Tuesday, September 28, 2010
The Gold Standard, Abolishing the Federal Reserve and Money and Banking 101
Last Wednesday night I was at a Liberty on the Rocks event and got into a discussion with someone who advocated abolishing the Federal Reserve and returning the U. S. to the gold standard. This is a reoccurring theme on the part of supporters of Ron Paul and a lot of tea party members. You see "Abolish the Fed" signs at rallies and any call for abolishing the Fed gets cheers. I am always surprised that so many people care so passionately about this issue. I am really surprised that they know enough about the issue to have a passionate opinions.
While I am not an expert on the Federal Reserve, I tend to think we need the Federal Reserve or something like it. I am also not convinced that returning to a gold standard would end inflation and solve our economic problems. I am open however to hearing the arguments from those who advocate the gold standard and abolishing the Fed. I am open to being persuaded.
In my discussion with this guy on Wednesday night, it was clear that he had strong views on the topic, but I discovered he had very little knowledge about money and banking. He did not know how money is created. If one is going to argue passionately for the gold standard and abolishing the Federal Reserve, it would help your credibility to understand a few basics about money and banking. It would help your cause if you knew what you were talking about.
Now, I am not an economist. In college, I earned enough credit-hours to have a major in economics and have continued to stay informed on economic issues since then, but there are many people who know more than I do. I think, however, that I have an understanding of a few economic basics. Here are a few essential, elementary things anyone who wants to speak intelligently about monetary policy should understand.
- Most money is not currency. The money supply includes coins, currency, traveler's checks, checking account balances, NOW accounts, and balances in credit unions accounts and more. Currency is only small part of money.
- Government does not determine the money supply; the government only controls the amount of currency. Currency and money are not the same thing.
- Money was never backed by gold, only currency.
- Money is created when people borrow and repay loans.
- An expanding money supply facilitates economic growth.
- An expanding money supply is not inflationary if goods and services are increasing by the same amount.
Modern money developed from the trade of goldsmithing at the end of the middle ages. At that time people began storing their excess gold and silver with the local goldsmith for safekeeping. When gold or silver was put in storage, a receipt was issued by the goldsmith to the owner, as a record of ownership. The paper receipts were much easier to carry than the gold or silver, especially for larger transactions, so they began to be used instead of the precious metal itself.If this explanation of how money is created is not right, then please explain why it is wrong. If I am wrong on some of the basics, please correct me. If we are on the same page about the basics, then we can move on to talking about abolishing the Federal Reserve and returning to the gold standard. I'm ready to listen.
Then the enterprising goldsmiths figured out that they could loan out the gold they held for their customers, to third parties. Or better yet, they could issue receipts instead of actually loaning the gold. The next step was recognizing that they could print more receipts and make even more loans than they held in gold. In the idea of loaning the value of gold they did not own, but only held in trust, and the value of gold that did not even exist, was the germ of the invention of modern money.
As long as not everyone wanted to redeem their receipts and loans for gold at one time, this system created by the goldsmith/bankers did facilitate trade when there was a shortage of the commodity, gold, which was used as currency. The fact that the goldsmiths provided an adequate money supply made possible the industrial revolution. Meanwhile, the goldsmith/bankers had a good thing going. They were receiving interest by loaning the gold assets that they were being paid to hold in trust for others, and additional interest from loans based on gold that did not even exist.
However, the system was not perfect. When economic conditions changed or trust in this shell game waned, there were bank runs, and people lost their money and their gold as a result. If a goldsmith could not come up with enough gold to satisfy all claims to redeem receipts for gold at a given time, the system broke down.
Banks are the modern successors to the goldsmiths. The way they operate is basically the same, although money can no longer be redeemed for gold; it is now only a token or medium of exchange. (link)
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Jim Gotto receives the endorsement of Nashville's Fraternal Order of Police
Nashville, TN–The Andrew Jackson Lodge 5 (Nashville) of the Fraternal Order of Police today announced its endorsement of the Jim Gotto, Republican candidate for Tennessee House District 60.
"I am pleased to be endorsed by The Fraternal Order of Police (FOP)," said Jim. "This endorsement is determined by a vote of the membership of the FOP, not by a committee in a smoke filled room and it is truly an honor to be recognized by those brave men and women who put their life on the line every day to protect us."
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Monday, September 27, 2010
MoveOn.Org endorses Jim Cooper
I belong to MoveOn.org so you don't have to. This radical, extremist, progressive organization is working to reelect "blue dog" Jim Cooper. I thought you might find this interesting. Rod
Dear MoveOn member,
MoveOn members in Tennessee's 5th District have voted to endorse Jim Cooper for Congress. It's up to all of us to stop the corporate takeover of Congress—you can volunteer with the campaign here:
Below is a special message for you from Jim Cooper.
Thanks for all you do.
–Steven, Anna, Duncan, Adam, Carrie, and the rest of the team
I'm thankful for the support and endorsement from Middle Tennessee MoveOn members.
Despite the devastating floods of May and our ongoing recovery, Middle Tennesseans have demonstrated their true character of strength and resilience, and I've never been more honored to serve them in Congress.
Now is a critical time in American politics, and more than ever we need leadership focused on fiscal discipline, Tennessee values, and getting our communities back to work. We're less than 6 weeks from the November election and voter turnout is crucial. With your support, we can continue making Middle Tennessee a model for the rest of the nation.
Sign up to volunteer with my campaign, put a yard sign in your yard, and share with your friends and family the importance of casting a vote on November 2.
I hope to see you at the polls.
Jim Cooper
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David Hall offers views on job creation
By Bill Theobald • TENNESSEAN WASHINGTON BUREAU • September 27, 2010
Republican challenger David Hall, Goodlettsville: Would not have voted for the stimulus legislation because he believes it intrudes on what the private sector should do. Supports extending the Bush tax cuts, at least until the economy stabilizes. He said the first step to building jobs is to get the federal government's finances in order, which would provide businesses with the sense of stability they need to expand, hire new employees or take other calculated risks that would benefit the economy.(link)
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Voter Registration Deadline...have you registerd to vote?
Register in person on or before Monday, Oct. 4th
at one of these following locations:
Or complete and mail in your:
Voter Registration Application
If you have further questions, please contact:
Davidson County Election Commission
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David Hall endorsed by Nashville's Fraternal Order of Police
Nashville, TN – David Hall, Republican nominee for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District, is pleased to accept the endorsement from Nashville’s Chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police in his race against Jim Cooper:
“Today I received word that the Nashville Chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police is endorsing me to be the next Congressman from Tennessee’s 5th District. I am especially humbled and honored by their support because these are the men and women who daily risk life and limb to keep us safe. I will work hard to make them proud," said Hall in a statement.
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Sunday, September 26, 2010
Stop Digging
As the old saying goes: if you find yourself in a hole, stop digging. But instead of trying to crawl out from its decades-long dig, Washington is just shoveling FASTER. Join our email list and get free, timely updates about the urgent issue of government overspending. We can still climb out of our fiscal hole, but it’s going to require awareness and action from you and other concerned citizens. Get involved now.
Visit Bankrupting America.
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