Posted on 08/04/2014 7:12:19 AM PDT by molewhacka
Let the retributions begin!
Regardless of which candidates win in next week’s GOP primaries, the gauntlet has been laid down. In a move unprecedented in modern Tennessee politics, a sitting governor has used his office and his fundraising capabilities to attack and/or try to defeat incumbent members of his own party as well as candidates in open seat races In addition, he has helped withhold support for select incumbent Republican legislators, hoping they can be defeated by challengers.
To make matters far worse, the Governor apparently dispatched his chief of staff Mark Cate to recruit candidates to run against those Republicans the governor deemed “undesirable.”
And why? Because the targeted legislators would not automatically rubberstamp the governor’s agenda on everything from Common Core to ObamaCare’s Medicaid expansion.
On more than a few instances the governor and his people have conducted their activities through a PAC (jobs4TN) – a PAC whose early and main funding comes from the Haslams with contributions to “reliable” legislators with safe seats, who then “wash through” the contributions to other candidates – as if that would somehow giver the governor deniability. But the more nefarious activity — $150,000 worth so far – was an independent expenditure committee (Advance Tennessee) run out of a non-descript office on Pennsylvania Ave. in Washington, DC, which used media and mail vendors in Los Angeles and Wisconsin. To date, nearly all of the $150,000 was raised from Tennessee-based lobbyists, business associates and friends of the governor and Mark Cate. But 100% of the expenditures for services were spent outside the state – an obvious attempt to keep their attack ads and mailers under wraps until the last minute. Clearly, they attempted to hide their identity.
Here are the recently filed campaign reports of the Advance Tennessee PAC.
But what does this all mean
It means there will be hell to pay come next legislative session. Nothing like creating enemies of numerous members of your own party while making other members resent the governor and his minions for going after their friends (and wondering if they’re next). One should remind Leslie Hafner and her Kiddie Corp of legislative liaisons just how badly they were surprised and mauled during the March 13th Common Core votes. If Haslam wants to turn Fitzhugh into the House version of John Wilder — relying on a coalition of Dems and Republicans to control the House on key issues – he could not have seeded (ceded?) the ground any better than he has over the last few weeks.
It could be a bitter harvest, indeed.
Heck, Bill Haslam and Barack Obama have a lot in common.
Haslam is a RINO millionaire who basically bought the position.
Haslam is a typical squish, an establishment weenie that won the Republican primary (as is all too common in Tennessee) in 2010 with 47% of the vote in a 3-way race with Ron Ramsey (State Senator and Lt. Gov.) and Zach Wamp (U.S. Rep.). Both Ramsey and Wamp are more conservative than Haslam.
Haslam is as worthless as Alexander and Corker (who also won his original primary in a multi-candidate field).
Bill, however, is working hard to make Tennessee into a state Nancy Pelosi would be proud to call home.
Even the Haslam millions would not have been enough without the conservatives (Wamp and Ramsey) splitting the vote. It is interesting to note how quick Ron Ramsey glued himself to Haslam’s backside after the 2010 election.
Jimmy owns the Browns.
Buff is for sale, is he buying them too?
Some time ago I moved Haslam from the squish/weenie/worthless category into the downright-dangerous-to-America category. Whether it is his support of Common Core, fighting against the 2nd Amendment, promoting Agenda 21, promoting Islamists or any of the other anti-America actions he supports, Haslam has done a lot of damage and is the position to do even more.
Blame it on a Freudian slip. Where the Haslam's are concerned, there is often a load of buffalo bull with someone else getting stuck paying the bill.
LOL I’m often amazed how seemingly idiotic guys can become executives of billion dollar companies.
Remember this is Tennessee.
Out of curiosity although I live in the state what do you mean? I must not be as familiar with the nuances of my state’s politics as I ought?
You don’t have anything against Tennesseans in general do you?
No, not against the average Joe. Frankly, I can’t remember what caused me to reply like I did. I have never been overwhelmed by any Tennessee pol.
I certainly have nothing against you, because you are new to FR and I don’t know you. What part of the state are you from?
I forgot to welcome you to Free Republic! I am sick and on 10lpm 02. Sometimes my brain just quits on me..........
Marshall County middle Tennessee!
and like McConnell and others he will do the same thing in the General Election too.
Shelby
God help you.
Take some ibuprofen or aspirin it really helps!
I’m terminal and happy!
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