TN Run Like Russia Now

[Pat McGarrity]

Accurate analogy from "East_Tennessee_Spy_In_Memphis" on the Communist Appeal site:

"The State of Tennessee is now being run somewhat like Russia, with Naifeh as Putin and Williams as Medvedev."



By Richard Locker Memphis Commercial Appeal
Originally published 12:53 p.m., January 13, 2009
Updated 02:33 p.m., January 13, 2009

NASHVILLE — Republican Kent Williams won a stunning 50-49 victory for speaker of the state House of Representatives this afternoon.

The unexpected election of Williams, a moderate Republican from Elizabethton in upper East Tennessee, came after House Democrats nominated him in place of long-time Speaker Jimmy Naifeh of Covington. Williams won on the strength of his own vote plus all 49 Democrats.

He defeated Jason Mumpower of Bristol, who had been the pick of House GOP members.

Although he describes himself as conservative, Williams, 59, is viewed as a moderate by his peers and was opposed by conservative Republicans in his primary election last summer.

Republican spectators in the gallery erupted in loud boos when the vote was announced.

They booed him again when he took the podium, and someone shouted “traitor” as he pledged to be bipartisan. Republican representatives on the floor remained stony-faced.

In the aftermath of the booing, two state troopers entered the chamber and stood on both sides of the speaker’s podium.

This afternoon’s vote came after Republicans gained a 50-49 edge in the House in last year’s elections, winning a majority for the first time since 1869.

Williams, in his second two-year term in the House, owns a restaurant in downtown Elizabethton and also farms.

He plans to appoint Republicans to “at least half” of the committee chairmanships and said he plans to consult with both Republican and Democratic leaders on the appointments.

Williams said he approached Democrats about being a candidate for speaker about two days ago. When it became apparent there were not enough votes to re-elect Naifeh, Democrats threw their support behind Williams to ensure at least a share of power.

Williams said that legislation Republicans have long sought to pass, including an anti-abortion constitutional amendment and more lenient gun bills, will make it to the House floor for votes under his tenure.

“I’m not going to stack committees against anything,” he said.

[marshall]

Well, he has promised to allow things to get through committees and onto the floor. We shall now see if he is a man of his word. He is off on the wrong foot, though. And, we're not quite as bad as Russia!

[TacticaLogic]

Boss Hogg Jimmy Naifeh sat right next to him as he conducted the days business... You could almost see Naifeh's arm going right up William's backside in order to make him talk. When it was all over, Naifeh turned to him and said "Good job..."

Folk's, if it turns out that we ended up with a puppet for Naifeh as Speaker, the ballot box has failed us. It will be time to seek other means in order to maintain government by the people... If I see one liberal democrat or republican crossing the street, I'm afraid my car may suffer brake failure.

[SomeGuy]

I knew something would happen, but what utterly shocks me is Mumpowers failure to box a few Democrats over to our side, and get support from them. 1 Dem would have been sufficient to prevent this.

Out of 50 Rs, they found 1 turncoat (and Williams is not a shocker). Can we not find one principle anti-Naifeh conservative Democrat?

[johnharris]

Its my belief that Jason Mumpower had enough Democrats on standby "just in case" but the Democrat caucus managed to "persuade" them to disregard their promises to Mumpower.

[SomeGuy]

Your belief is probably very accurate, and if it is, then that was a/THE mistake then.

Mumpower should have flat out made the promise needed to secure what was needed, and run with it. Stand-by is like limbo, people don't like being left there.