The Tennessee Democratic Party has created a parody website dedicated to Jim Bryson. The mumbling audio is bad enough, but the entire doubletalk premise is rather weak. Jim is a conservative, and has been his entire 4 years in the State Senate. Either as Roger Abramson posits, the Democrats are wasting money on projects like this, or else Bryson is viewed as more of a threat by the Democratic Party and Phil Bredesen than the rest of us realize.

 

Meet the Bryson team on Wednesday, August 30th

2:30pm

Bryson for Governor Headquarters

1808 West End Avenue

Nashville

Please call if you have questions or need directions.

Kimberly Pitt

Bryson for Governor

615-727-0941

Democrats and lasers. First they opposed SDI in the 1980s - now they claim they’ve been blinded. From the Chattanooga Times - Free Press

    The Tennessee Democratic Party’s Victory 2006 campaign poked at GOP gubernatorial candidate Jim Bryson in an e-mail last week about laserpointer attacks.

     Tenth in a series of “big fact” e-mail statements about state Sen. Bryson, of Franklin, Tenn., the release said Bryson campaign workers “harassed Victory 2006 field staffers by pointing pocket laser beams directly into their eyes.”

     Bryson campaign spokesman Lance Frizzell said some of the Democrats were harassing GOP workers. He said the allegations of Bryson workers pointing lasers at eyes are false, but he said some Bryson staffers were pointing the lasers at cameras used by the Democratic staffers.

     “We’ve told the boys on the bus to put their laser pointers away,” he said.

     Sen. Bryson faces Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen in the Nov. 7 general election.

With laser-like precision, I can safely say it is clear that the Democrats don’t have much of anything on Jim Bryson.

AC Kleinheider pontificates about Phil Bredesen’s condition, and the issues surrounding gubernatorial succession

Frankly, it seems that they don’t know exactly what is wrong with the Governor. There seems to be a whole lot of secrecy around this issue. He was reported to have been getting better but then all of sudden it comes across the wires that the Governor is going to the Mayo Clinic for tests.

Are these tests something that they can’t do at Vandy? Is the reason they wisked the man off to Minnesota because they wish not to have the media snooping around the Vanderbilt campus? Go to small media market where no one particularly cares about a Tennessee Governor. Seems like a plan.

Then there are questions of succession. If Bredesen is very sick and out of state should we not have a clear procedure on what happens? Also if the man is in Minnesota, how will the people know in what shape the Governor is?

I wish no ill will towards Governor Bredesen and wish him a complete and full recovery. He is a political opponent, not a personal one.  This does, however, bring up interesting issues regarding incapacitation and succession that are not adequately covered by the Tennessee Constitution. Article III, Section 12 only states contingencies for removal, death or resignation. I suppose technically the governor could be removed on some trumped up minor charge by impeachment and conviction if unable to fulfill the duties designated under Article III, but that would be a rather sober and unsavory process for the General Assembly to undertake, and a poor way to address the ongoing concerns of the government in light of a duly elected governor’s poor health.

What to do, then? I would encourage full disclosure of the governor’s condition, as the people of Tennessee have a right to know the capabilities and limitations of the man heading the most pro-active branch of state government.  This is not detrimental to Bredesen, and serves to allow the people to be best informed about the state of their government.

In the meantime, responsible legislators ought to be working to amend the state constitution so that this question does not arise again.

Jay Bush asks an obvious question regarding the maligning some have decided to heap onto Jim Bryson’s “Prayer Force”

Andrew Sullivan actually equates the Bryson Prayer Force with Hezbollah…..yeah, except they’re praying for Bryson’s bus tour, not trying to blow it up! Sheesh.

While I don’t think the gubernatorial race in Tennessee is one of God’s top priorities, I certainly believe Christians should pray for fellow Christians running for office. Why is this so offensive to some?

Actually, it shouldn’t be offensive at all, especially if you’re an open-minded liberal who actually believes in tolerance and religious freedom. Sullivan is certainly not a far-left radical, and is quite conservative in many ways, but as of late he’s been often confused about a great many things.

I’m sure God has higher priorities, though I dare not speak for Him, but from a secular point of view alone, no one can reasonably say it’s a bad thing for a community of believers, no matter what the faith, to come together to pray for someone’s health and welfare.

As Jay said, not all religious practices are equal.

Hear Gubernatorial candidate Jim Bryson on the issues here.

Check out the new layout here.

Though Jim Bryson is seen as a longshot, it’s apparent that Republican financial resources are lining up behind his candidacy

A major fund-raiser Thursday night in Knoxville for state Sen. Jim Bryson, Republican nominee for governor, also will honor businessman Jim Haslam for his commitment to the Republican Party.

Tennessee U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander and others will pay tribute to Haslam at the dinner for which hosts are being asked to give or raise $10,000, which is the maximum amount a couple can give to the governor’s race, or co-hosts, who are being asked to give or raise $5,000, the maximum amount an individual can give. Table sponsors can support the event for $1,000, or an individual dinner ticket is $125.

Bredesen can of course open his purse and pour out all the bread he wants, but he’s not going to get through this thing scott free. And if he gets too comfortable, he might find himself playing the hare to Jim Bryson’s tortoise.

For your edification

NASHVILLE, TN) – GOP gubernatorial nominee Jim Bryson (R-Franklin) today announced the details of the first joint appearance with US Senate nominee Bob Corker (R-Chattanooga).  The event will take place tomorrow, Saturday, August 5, in Chattanooga on the first east Tennessee stop of Bryson’s 95 county, 30 day bus tour across Tennessee.

 “We have an excellent team this year and I am looking forward to victory in the fall,” said Sen. Bryson.  “Mayor Corker is a formidable candidate and a good friend.  I believe his message and values will resonate with voters on Election Day.”

 The event will be held at Bob Corker for Senate Headquarters at 832 Georgia Avenue in Chattanooga from 5:30-7:00 EDT.  Refreshments will be provided.   Sen. Bryson’s Big Tennessee bus tour will visit all 95 counties in 30 days.  It begins today.

The details are as follows

I’m not sure what to make of this blog - I checked Technorati for “Phil Bredesen” as I do daily, along with a few other notable names, and this blog popped up as the second entry after that Times-Free Press poll I noted below. It is entitled  “Tennessee Democrats New Slaveowners”, and is, without a doubt, not politically correct, and most angry about the “taking for granted” of the black vote by Tennessee Democratic politicians.

The Chattanooga Times-Free Press publishes the latest Tennessee gubernatorial poll

Fifty-seven percent of those surveyed selected Gov. Bredesen with 24 percent favoring state Sen. Bryson, R-Franklin. Nineteen percent were undecided.

The Mason-Dixon Polling & Research Inc. survey of 625 likely voters was conducted July 17-19 for the Chattanooga Times Free Press. The margin of error is plus or minus 4 percent.

Talk about a teflon governor. If Van Hilleary had won in 2002, he would have been eaten alive for anything remotely similar to the goings-ons of the present administration. How often can you trade campaign contributions for law enforcement promotions, shred all evidence relating to a sexual harassment complaint, manipulate the state-run healthcare system for political gain, have a deputy governor attempt to “get off” of a traffic ticket with his business card (and be caught up in all the above) and still shine with a 68% approval rating?

I think the governor needs more press.

Governor Phil Bredesen is getting absolutely hammered over his wishy-washy ways regarding illegal immigration. From Bill Hobbs

Memo to Bredesen: Republicans aren’t trying to make illegal immigration a “wedge” issue for the purposes of a campaign. They aren’t sending a few Tennessee National Guard troops to the Arizona border as a way to look “tough” on illegal immigration and prepare a future campaign commercial backdrop. They’re discussing an issue of great importance to the future of the state and, during the recent legislative session they were trying to do something to address a problem that you merely wished to ignore by passing the buck to the feds.

Memo to voters: As recently as a month ago - June 27th to be exact - Gov. Bredesen cared nothing about the issue of illegal immigration . His standard response was, “that’s a federal problem” - even after an illegal immigrant whom state and local law enforcement repeatedly set free after various DUI and other criminal arrests wound up murdering two innocent (and legal) Tennesseans - and his administration’s policies have consistently favored rewarding illegals (with driver’s licenses “certificates,” for example) rather than changing state laws to make Tennessee less attractive to illegals. Can you really trust that his change of heart is real and permanent and not poll-driven election-year flip-floppery ?

Isn’t it funny? Leftists have a habit of decrying the rich and their influence on the political process.

That is, until it’s one of their own running for governor.

Perhaps Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen should rename his company “Quasifacts” - it more suits his governing style. TennCare director JD Hickey is leaving government work to become the CEO of Qualifacts, a company majority owned by our governor, and held in a blind trust since his election in 2002. Bill Hobbs rounds it up

Gov. Bredesen’s TennCare director is leaving TennCare to become CEO of Qualifacts, a Nashville-based healthcare software company in which Bredesen is the majority owner, reports the Saturday Tennessean. While Bredesen is Qualifacts’ majority shareholder, he is not listed in the company’s website management page nor its “company overview” web page. One of the company’s listed “partners” is Dell - the computer company that Bredesen as Mayor of Nashville gave millions of tax dollars to in order to recruit it to open a facility here.

If the sale of HCA stock from Bill Frist’s blind trust caused so much rancor and eyebrow raising, then one would think that anti-corporate types and the state’s media would jump with both feet and a bowling ball onto Bredesen over his actions regarding his former TennCare director and subsequent employment.

Then consider that QuasiFacts will likely benefit from CoverTennessee contracts. It’s awfully convenient that a significant portion of TennCare was gutted, and its bureaucratic replacement could very well “blindly” enrich the majority shareholder of a company getting a new contract, who just happens to reside in Oak Hill at the Governor’s Mansion (oh wait - I forgot, resides in Forest Hills in his own mansion).

This needs to be thoroughly looked into. Bredesen has dodged many an ethical bullet, from the sexual harrassment shredding party to the deputy governor’s role in the Tennessee Highway Patrol contribution-for-promotion scandal.  So far he’s remained mostly undamaged. That isn’t quite just if you ask me.

From a press release from the Jim Bryson for Governor campaign

(NASHVILLE) – Senator Jim Bryson (R-Franklin) today announced his fundraising team, led by honorary finance chairs Mike Curb, Jim Haslam, Joe Rodgers, Ted Welch, and Pat Wilson. Four of the five chairs, Mike Curb, Joe Rodgers, Ted Welch, and Pat Wilson, have served as Finance Chairs for the National Republican Party.

 “I am honored to have the support and commitment of five national leaders of the Republican Party,” Sen. Bryson said.  “Their remarkable dedication ensures that this campaign will have the resources to mount a winning effort throughout the summer and fall.”

Well, then. Money ought not be a problem.

From Jim Bryson’s campaign on the recent poll worker indictments

“These indictments reaffirm the action of the state senate in voiding the election of Ophelia Ford.  The people of Tennessee should feel confident that elections in our state are not rigged and cannot be stolen.  Governor Bredesen criticized those who stood up for the rule of law in voiding the election and called it a “mistake” yet he is silent now that they have been vindicated.  If Tennessee is to have a government as good as its people, we must have a Governor who ignores party loyalty in supporting ethical, honest government.”

We know that Bredesen won’t do anything about it. Let’s elect Jim.

Governor Winfield Dunn

invites you to join him for the

Campaign Kick-off Event

in support of

Republican State Senator

Jim Bryson

Candidate for Governor

Thursday, June 22, 2006

The Factory at Franklin

230 Franklin Road

Franklin, Tennessee 37065

Host Reception
5:30 p.m.General Reception

6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Hosts of the Event

State Finance Co-Chair

Fran & Scooter Clippard

Joy & Russ Barger	Sandra & Joe Hutts	Linda & Dr. Ken Moore
Dewanda & Jim Carbine	Karen & Larry Kidwell	Nancy & Charles Sargent
Denzel Carbine	Cindy & Steve Kroeger	Cathy & John Simmonds
Jill & Glen Casada	Sandi & Tom Lawless	Denise & Steve Smith
Steve Cates	Dr. Joel Locke	Jimmy Stansell
Lisa & David Flow	Marjorie & John Maher	Joanie & Mike Tanner
Elizabeth & Lynn Greer	Margaret Ann Miller	Janie & Bob Yeager

Information or Reservations

Rachel Barrett (615) 727-0941

Rachel@BrysonForGovernor.com

Casual Attire

$100.00 per Couple

Bredesen “sympathetic” to “incumbent protection”, Nashville City Paper, June 15, 2006

Well, yeah, of course he is. His reasoning is, well, kind of good

“I kind of believe in honoring that process and not making it too easy to kind of go around that and ignore the primaries and then get on the ballot anyway with signatures,” Bredesen said in an interview with The City Paper.

And people make fun of Bush’s speaking style. Besides, if he were a true Tennessean, he woulda said “kinda”.

Double posted over at the Bryson for Governor blog.

UPDATE Michael Silence has more on incumbent protection from Bill Hobbs and Bob Krumm.