GOP Gov. Candidates Debate

[Pat McGarrity]

I regret that I wasn't aware of the debate until today. I've been implementing new software at work and helping my Mom & Step Dad move to Oakland from Florida. I'm happy to say they are represented Senator Dolores Gresham and Representative Barrett Rich. Two pro-gun role models in our legislature. No doubt, my friend and TFA Member, Chuck Bates, did an outstanding job moderating the debate.
The one thing I'm sure of, without even attending, is that if Haslam gets the nomination, I'll be writing in a candidate. As most of you know; Haslam was part of NYC Mayor, Michael Bloomberg's radical outlaw, anti-gun mayors club, that is yet to be prosecuted for illegal straw purchases used to attack gun rights. Haslam only quit the group when he realized that it would look bad in his run for governor and would not be acceptable under any circumstances.

In Liberty,

Pat McGarrity
Director - Shelby County TFA


http://www.tennesseefirearms.com




By Zack McMillin

Posted November 14, 2009 at midnight


The most popular line at Friday night's gathering of what organizer Lee Mills called "the largest Republican voting bloc in the state of Tennessee" was offered with greatest gusto by Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn.

"If anyone asks you what you did this weekend, I want you to tell them you had dinner tonight with the next governor of the great state of Tennessee," she said.

The four strongest Republican candidates for governor all joined Shelby County's most conservative political crowd at the Memphis Area Home Builder's Association in Cordova for the Northeast Shelby Republican Club's annual "Pasta and Politics" dinner.

For those not yet tuning into the 2010 election campaign, the main candidates who will appear on the Republican ballot in the August state primaries are Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Bill Gibbons, Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam, Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey of Blountville and U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp of Chattanooga.

Just less than a year before the 2010 general election, the extent to which campaign messages have already been honed and repeated was apparent.

"This is the umpteenth time we have done this together and every one is a little different than the one before," Ramsey said.

The themes were, as co-moderator Chuck Bates put it, "red meat" Republican issues.

There was no shortage of accusations aimed at the Obama administration for government overreach, with the four candidates competing to show which would be the most enthusiastic in rejecting federal money for stimulus or health care or gun laws.

More time was spent on the issue of gun rights than any other, with Wamp and Haslam sparring over whether Haslam was to the left of Tennessee Democrats on gun laws. Haslam countering by saying gun-rights activists call Knoxville as gun-friendly as it could be given the political realities of the city.

Ramsey defended the legislature's work on expanding gun rights in Tennessee, saying: "The media was wrong and we were right. I'll stand by my vote on that all day long."

Gibbons stood firm on his history of advocating for tougher sentencing for crimes involving guns: "I am the 'gun crime is jail time' candidate and I am proud of that. I am the only candidate who as part of my job supports your right to bear arms."

There was not a single question selected by the moderators that asked specifically about what candidates would do for Memphis and Shelby County, but before the forum several people attending the dinner asked some version of it.

One of the event's organizers, Robert Hubbard, has children in Memphis City Schools and said he was leaning strongly to Gibbons because of his belief that Memphis is often forgotten by politicians from the rest of the state.

Wamp pointed out that he's made 12 visits to Memphis already, usually spending two days per visit, and said, "I have fallen in love with this city." He stressed that the next governor must focus on making Memphis "the economic engine of the Mid-South" and foresees a "renaissance" for Memphis like the one he said he helped foster in Chattanooga and Oak Ridge.

Haslam points quickly to his wife, Crissy, who is from Memphis and whose family lives here: "If I didn't take care of Memphis, she would kill me."

He added: "It's real simple -- if the state is going to succeed, Memphis and Shelby County have got to do well. It's like if the state is a business, this is your biggest branch."

Ramsey pointed to his work in the legislature supporting things from education funding to the Regional Medical Center at Memphis.

And Gibbons, seeking to protect his home turf, made his pitch by focusing on the nuts-and-bolts of three core areas -- jobs, education and public safety -- by saying that no place needs that kind of attention more than Shelby County.

"Those are big challenges everywhere in our state," Gibbons said, "but they are make or break for our community. We are at a tipping point and need a governor who can respond to those challenges."

-- Zack McMillin: 529-2564

Haslam campaign raises $1 million

Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam has reported raising another $1 million since June 30 for his Republican gubernatorial campaign.

He said Friday he received more than 6,000 contributions during the last reporting period.

Haslam had reported raising $3.8 million from the January to June reporting period, far ahead of rival candidates.

Other Republican hopefuls are Memphis Dist. Atty. Gen. Bill Gibbons, State Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey and U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp.

[macville]

Humm... interesting how Gibbons says that his job is the only one of the people running that supports gun rights. I find that comment strange since Ramsey was one of the big forces in Nashville to get the Restaurant and Parks bills passed... Plus, wasn't gibbons against both of those bills?

Right now I say Ramsey all the way. Everything I've read about him in my research has been 10x more positive than stuff for Wamp or Haslam.

Matthew

[1gewehr]

I've got to agree that Ron Ramsey seems to be the best candidate for Governor.

I urge everyone to do your homework on this issue. The next round of elections will decide whether the USA continues to slide into more control over your life or whether there is still hope of keeping us a free country.

It is NOT ENOUGH to just vote properly!! This time around, you need to find a candidate you believe in (for ANY office, dogcatcher, mayor, senator, etc) and work to have that person elected. If your candidate is not an incumbent, then they will be hurting for money. YOUR money is not enough, so get your friends and neighbors to contribute. Help out on a phone bank, deliver yard signs, offer whatever services you can. But we ALL need to be 'community organizers' for the next 11.5 months.

[bmike27]

Happy Thanksgiving everyone........

[bmike27]

(It is NOT ENOUGH to just vote properly!! This time around, you need to find a candidate you believe in (for ANY office, dogcatcher, mayor, senator, etc) and work to have that person elected. If your candidate is not an incumbent, then they will be hurting for money. YOUR money is not enough, so get your friends and neighbors to contribute. Help out on a phone bank, deliver yard signs, offer whatever services you can. But we ALL need to be 'community organizers' for the next 11.5 months.)



I agree 200% with this statement , sitting on the sidelines in this political climate is simply Un-American period..

Just as many of you have picked your choice one thing you had better keep in mind there will only be two GOP Candidates left by April.. Gibbons is likely to be the first to drop out , followed by Ramsey ( I say that because he cannot raise money during session, and hasn't done very well to date and thats with pulling money out of his senate campaign fund and playing catch up after May simply will not happen) that's the reality of any campaign and I know first hand because I've been a candidate and will again next year for a county mayor's race . Money makes the campaign wheels turn .So donating even as little as $5.00 helps every candidate , look at it this way it's $5.00 they didn't have before.


So that leaves us with I don't even know how many Democrats candidates and two GOP , I'm not going to support or hold my nose for Haslam period !

He called a close friend in January 09 to ask for their help in his campaign, he was told no and he was told that if he wanted to stand a chance of getting elected in TN , to resign his position in Bloomberg's Mayors against Guns group, he did not listen and then he dropped out of the group in May .. My friend is a former executive committee member..........


Also for those in the 6th congressional district , a friend that I've know for 3 and a half years is about to enter the race, Kerry Roberts and if your interested in a conservative representing you in D.C. then please contact him... Kerry@kerryroberts.com .. Everyone will know more about him after Thanksgiving