http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/bryant/ en-us Fri, 24 Jul 2009 20:27:25 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2300392/posts TRENTON -- Former Sen. Wayne Bryant, once a titan of New Jersey politics, was sentenced to four years in federal prison today for trading on his clout as budget chairman to obtain a pension-padding job. "I cannot express how deeply sorry I am for the scorn my actions have caused," said Bryant, who choked up while apologizing for his crimes in Trenton today. Bryant will also pay $113,167 in restitution to UMDNJ. A jury convicted Bryant, a Democrat from Camden County, of 12 counts of pension fraud and bribery eight months ago, in a high profile trial the exposed a... NJ.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2300392/posts#comment Fri, 24 Jul 2009 20:27:25 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2285527/posts Noted Chicagoan and basketballophile Barack Obama appears to be writing off the California vote in 2012, at least the basketball fans around Los Angeles. In a pre-holiday interview with the Associated Press, Obama was asked who was the better player -- six-time NBA champion Michael Jordan or four-time champion Kobe Bryant? Without even a moment's hesitation, the ex-senator from Illinois blurted out, "Oh, Michael!" Then, apparently realizing what he'd just said and the profound impact on any 2012 election, the new president hastened to add: "I mean, Kobe's terrific. Don't get me wrong. But I haven't seen anybody match up... Los Angeles Times / Blogs http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2285527/posts#comment Sat, 4 Jul 2009 17:42:56 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2135067/posts Former senator Wayne R. Bryant was found guilty yesterday of selling his office as one of New Jersey's most influential lawmakers for a medical school job that padded his pension, in a case that also put on trial the secret political horse-trading of the state budget process. A federal jury in Trenton convicted Bryant of bribery for soliciting a job at the School of Osteopathic Medicine in Camden County and using his influence to help the school acquire $10.5 million in state grants between 2003 and 2006.The jury also found Bryant, 61, of Lawnside, guilty of 11 counts of mail... star ledger http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2135067/posts#comment Thu, 20 Nov 2008 02:37:38 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2076366/posts MOUNT LAUREL, N.J. – A former New Jersey lawmaker with a national reputation for pushing welfare reform is facing charges of using his political clout to land no-work government jobs as a way to boost his income and increase his pension benefits — from $28,000 a year to $81,000. ... The Democrat could face several years in prison if convicted on all counts. AP on Yahoo http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2076366/posts#comment Sun, 7 Sep 2008 00:06:54 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2005539/posts PORTLAND, Ore. — A lawyer who watched a police officer park illegally in front of a restaurant, then wait around while his meal was prepared, issued the officer a series of citizen-initiated violations. Eric Bryant said he was sitting at the restaurant March 7 when Officer Chad Stensgaard parked his patrol car next to a no-parking sign and walked inside to wait for his food, the Portland Mercury reported Thursday. Bryant told the weekly paper that when he asked Stensgaard about his car, the officer asked Bryant: "If someone broke into your house, would you rather have the police be... The Canadian Press http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2005539/posts#comment Wed, 23 Apr 2008 02:23:04 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1677504/posts Former Chattanooga Mayor Bob Corker is headed for a U.S. Senate showdown with Democrat Harold Ford Jr. in November after sweeping to the Republican nomination on Thursday night. Corker celebrated the win for the seat now held by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist at the Sheraton Read House in Chattanooga. He had fought a bloody primary against former Congressmen Ed Bryant and Van Hilleary, who made concession speeches. In Hamilton County, Corker piled up 20,555 votes to 5,863 for Bryant and 3,919 for Hilleary. The Nashville Tennessean, with 1,762 of 2,432 precincts statewide reporting, had Corker at 175,092, Bryant at... The Chatanoogan http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1677504/posts#comment Fri, 4 Aug 2006 04:17:09 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1677481/posts Bob Corker looks like he'll be the winner in the US Senate Primary in Tennessee, while Van Hilleary has already conceded. Nashville Tennessean http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1677481/posts#comment Fri, 4 Aug 2006 03:09:24 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1677476/posts I remember hearing something that President Ronald Reagan once (well, actually, a lot more than once) said. He described it as the "Eleventh Commandment" of GOP politics: "Thou shalt not speak ill of a fellow Republican." The point behind this Reagan quote is the topic of this week's commentary. Here of late, in Tennessee's GOP U.S. Senatorial primary, it seems that this "political commandment" has been thrown to the wolves. Not a day goes by that I don't see, hear and/or read one of the top three GOP contenders doing a little morality sniping at one or both of the... WBIR (NBC-Knoxville) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1677476/posts#comment Fri, 4 Aug 2006 03:00:37 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1677033/posts NASHVILLE - While much attention and money have been focused on air attacks in the Republican U.S. Senate primary, the outcome of today's election could hinge on a much quieter "ground war." Collectively, the campaigns of Ed Bryant, Bob Corker and Van Hilleary have made close to 2 million phone calls to voters, based on figures provided by spokesmen for the three candidates. Each candidate has also had hundreds of volunteers knocking on thousands of doors at voter homes, making a personal pitch for votes when someone answers and leaving behind a flier when no one is at home. The... Knoxville News Sentinel http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1677033/posts#comment Thu, 3 Aug 2006 14:33:05 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1676918/posts I remain skeptical about polling results in a Republican primary. A statewide poll includes Democrats, independents and the occasional liar. But there have been several polls recently which, taken together, suggest Bob Corker has been leading in the Senate primary. I predicted earlier that Ed Bryant and Van Hilleary would not split the conservative vote evenly, but one of them would break out near election time. I thought it might be Hilleary, given his higher name recognition at the start of the race. State Rep. Chris Clem, the sage of Chattanooga, agreed with my analysis but said Bryant would be... Metropulse (Knoxville, TN) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1676918/posts#comment Thu, 3 Aug 2006 11:29:13 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1676627/posts HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. -- Ed Bryant called on supporters in the pro-life, home-school and other conservative groups to help turn out a large vote for him in Thursday's Republican primary, warning that GOP control of Congress is at stake. "Go out and go the extra mile for this campaign and make sure we finish in first place. We're going to win. Carry the message out there that we literally could lose control of the United States Senate if we don't win in Tennessee. "And we won't win in Tennessee -- we'll lose this race to Congressman Ford, the Democrat -- if... Memphis Commercial Appeal http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1676627/posts#comment Wed, 2 Aug 2006 21:10:21 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1675683/posts Ed Bryant and Bob Corker have revised attack advertising after questions arose over the truthfulness of earlier versions, though both continue to insist as Thursday's election approaches that they have done nothing wrong. Van Hilleary, the third major candidate in the Republican U.S. Senate primary, told a news conference Monday that Corker ads remain "devoid of honesty and integrity" and unfairly lump him and Bryant together. One of the revised Corker attack ads, aired for the first time Monday, continues to paint Bryant and Hilleary as "ineffective congressmen" who are "making personal attacks" on the wealthy businessman and former Chattanooga... Knoxville News Sentinel http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1675683/posts#comment Tue, 1 Aug 2006 13:47:06 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1675073/posts A fund-raiser for U.S. Rep. Harold Ford Jr., Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, will be 5:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Tennessee Theatre, a major event in an election that is drawing national attention. Those contributing will be "credited" for another event in Nashville on Thursday, Election Day, where former President Bill Clinton will join Ford at LP Field, the Titans' stadium, for a "road to victory" rally. The cost for the Knoxville reception is $150 as a patron, $1,000 as a sponsor and $5,000 as a host. Gov. Phil Bredesen is expected to attend the Knoxville reception, said state... Knoxville News Sentinel http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1675073/posts#comment Mon, 31 Jul 2006 14:24:18 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1674520/posts This summer's Republican U.S. Senate race just may have established a Tennessee political precedent or two that will be followed in lower-level campaigns to come. In races for the state Legislature, for example, every incumbent who voted for the state budget can henceforth be attacked for voting to raise his or her own pay under the precedent established by Bob Corker's innovative attack advertising. Corker aired television commercials declaring that his primary opponents, former U.S. Reps. Ed Bryant and Van Hilleary, voted to raise their own pay. The claim is based, the campaign said, on Dec. 15, 2000, votes cast... Knoxville News Sentinel http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1674520/posts#comment Sun, 30 Jul 2006 06:05:32 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1674315/posts With Republican majorities in the House and Senate, and a Republican in the White House, the GOP should have picked up where Ronald Reagan left off -- leading the nation as constitutional constructionists. Unfortunately, a cadre of constitutional obstructionists has split the Republican Party, diminished party loyalty and taken public support for the President and Congress to historic lows. Townhall.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1674315/posts#comment Sat, 29 Jul 2006 18:39:40 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1673771/posts Republican Bob Corker reported giving another $420,000 in personal money to his U.S. Senate campaign on Thursday, while Van Hilleary belatedly filed a personal disclosure revealing $336,000 in income from a Washington law and lobbying firm. Corker's latest contribution to his own campaign brings his total self-funding to almost $2.2 million. As of July 14, Corker had also reported raising $6.5 million from others. The total of $8.7 million puts Corker on track toward setting a record for spending on a U.S. Senate campaign in Tennessee. That will almost certainly be the case if he wins the Aug. 3 primary.... Knoxville News Sentinel http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1673771/posts#comment Fri, 28 Jul 2006 14:48:52 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1672544/posts Republican U.S. Senate candidate Bob Corker traveled to Washington on Tuesday to collect contributions from political action committees and others, prompting opponents in both political parties to accuse him of hypocrisy. As campaigns of both major primary foes noted, Corker has made a theme of referring to Ed Bryant and Van Hilleary - former congressmen who have both served as lobbyists - as "Washington insiders" and "career politicians." U.S. Rep. Harold Ford Jr., the presumptive Democratic Senate nominee, said Corker "has been the loudest" of all Republicans in criticizing him for raising money outside of Tennessee. "Hypocrisy, thy name is... Knoxville News Sentinel http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1672544/posts#comment Wed, 26 Jul 2006 14:39:49 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1672517/posts Republican U.S. Senate frontrunner Bob Corker went to Washington and had fund-raisers with D.C. lobbyists this week, prompting his opponents to call him ''very hypocritical.'' Tuesday night, Corker attended a $250-per-person, $1,000-per-political-action-committee (PAC) fund-raiser at the office of Capitol Decisions Inc., a wing of the largest independent lobbying firm in Washington, D.C. This morning, Corker attended a “meet and greet” — where a ticket price wasn’t required but donations were accepted — that was hosted by Independent Petroleum Association of America. That organization employs lobbyists and has a PAC that has given Corker $5,000 for his primary election. The two... The City Paper (Nashville) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1672517/posts#comment Wed, 26 Jul 2006 14:19:50 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1670739/posts Republican U.S. Senate candidate Bob Corker holds a 16-point lead over his Aug. 3 primary election opponents, according to a poll conducted last week for the Chattanooga Times Free Press. "Corker looks to be in pretty good shape," said Brad Coker, managing director of Washington, D.C.-based Mason-Dixon Polling & Research Inc. "I would clearly put him in there as the favorite and the front-runner at this point." Thirty-nine percent of likely Republican primary voters surveyed said they would vote for Mr. Corker, compared to 23 percent for Ed Bryant and 22 percent for Van Hilleary. One percent of respondents said... TFPonline.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1670739/posts#comment Sun, 23 Jul 2006 05:41:31 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1669361/posts A University of Tennessee poll conducted earlier this month shows Bob Corker holds leads over his Republican primary rivals and Democratic U.S. Rep. Harold Ford Jr. in the state's U.S. Senate race, though one in five voters is undecided. Races between Ford, the presumptive Democratic nominee, and Corker's Republican opponents, former congressmen Van Hilleary and Ed Bryant, would be a statistical dead-heat, according to the poll of 501 registered voters. Corker's GOP opponents say the polling is flawed and conducted before their own television ads have had a chance to take effect. Corker, former mayor of Chattanooga, is the preference... Knoxville News Sentinel http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1669361/posts#comment Thu, 20 Jul 2006 19:43:45 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1669352/posts NASHVILLE — Republican U.S. Senate candidate Bob Corker revealed today that he has put more than $1.7 million of his own money into his campaign. Under federal campaign financing laws, that triggers the so-called "millionaires amendment" and means that other candidates in the GOP primary may now raise and spend more money. There are two main effects: The normal $2,100 per person, per election limit on campaign donations to candidates is lifted. According to Jennifer Coxe, campaign manager for Van Hilleary, the formula involved means that Corker's opponents may now receive up to $12,600 from each donor. Federal law also... Knoxville News Sentinel http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1669352/posts#comment Thu, 20 Jul 2006 19:33:08 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1668258/posts The Bob Corker for Senate campaign on Tuesday released a survey of 600 likely Republican voters that showed Bob Corker with 46% of the vote, Ed Bryant 24% and Van Hilleary 17%. The poll was completed this past Thursday, the evening before early voting began, Corker officials said. Glen Bolger, the Corker campaign’s pollster, said, “These results make it clear that Bob Corker remains in the driver’s seat for the Republican nomination. Both Ed Bryant and Van Hilleary have yet to offer voters a compelling positive reason to support their candidacies, and as result trail by significant margins as voters... Chattanoogan.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1668258/posts#comment Wed, 19 Jul 2006 03:41:49 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1667440/posts WASHINGTON - Tennessee's Senate race has caught the attention of national political parties because some observers think the contest could determine who controls the U.S. Senate. Democrats need to pick up six seats to win control of the Senate, and under many scenarios, the Tennessee race would be a crucial part of the electoral math. The seat is open because Republican Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist is stepping down to keep a term-limit pledge and weigh a presidential run. The likely Democratic nominee, Rep. Harold Ford, is a Memphis Democrat hoping to move from the House to the Senate. He... AP http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1667440/posts#comment Mon, 17 Jul 2006 22:21:04 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1666519/posts The debate you might see among the three Republican U.S. Senate candidates if Democrat Harold Ford Jr. were thrown in for added entertainment value: The moderator would begin by explaining the rules, namely that the candidates will take turns posing questions, which may be directed at one of the other candidates, though each will have an opportunity to respond. The moderator would intervene only when he deems - in his sole and exclusive judgment - that moderation is in order. The right to ask the opening question, reasonably, is determined by a random drawing that Ed Bryant won. After that,... Knoxville News Sentinel http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1666519/posts#comment Sun, 16 Jul 2006 05:13:10 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1665680/posts Larry, Curly and Moe, they ain't. Ed, Bob and Van - Bryant, Corker and Hilleary, respectively - were deadly serious about staking out their differences during Thursday's televised debate at West High School. The three Republicans running for the U.S. Senate metaphorically poked eyes, slapped faces and cracked skulls during the hourlong forum, but they took exception to the presumptive Democratic nominee's characterization of them as "The Three Stooges." After listening to a recording of a radio broadcast during which U.S. Rep. Harold Ford Jr. said, "The Stooges are funny, but you can't take them seriously," Hilleary responded with a... Knoxville News Sentinel http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1665680/posts#comment Fri, 14 Jul 2006 14:54:07 GMT