Friday, July 2, 2010
Gubernatorial Candidate Zach Wamp Spells It Out for the Flyer Staff
Posted by Jackson Baker on Fri, Jul 2, 2010 at 1:45 PM
In a comprehensive group interview (second in our series), the Chattanooga congressman talks turkey on his own vision and on why Bill Haslam (“Bobby” in Dallas) is not equipped to run the state.
Video and titles by Chris Davis
Part I:
Opening monologue: The Tennessee Technology corridor; Getting Chattanooga renewed; “a vision for the future of our state;” Tennessee’s advantages; working on reading levels; a “very unhealthy” state; a health-fitness-nutrition agenda; “safe communities”
Part II:
Opening monogue (continued): Establishing drug courts; the problem of illegal immigration; “I have demonstrated the leadership, and they’re all following what I’m doing;” Haslam’s “boatload of money” and “trying to buy the election;” “I’m running “the best television campaign in the country;” Haslam as “the most overstated candidate in the history of Tennessee,” as scofflaw on income tax disclosures, as holder of “the most inflated resume in history,” as comparable to Bobby Ewing in TV’s Dallas; how Ron Ramsey’s going backwards.
Part III:
The Ten Commandments and the House on C St. in D.C.; “I’m a pluralistic respecter of rights;” local governments making decisions; won’t deny religious convictions; foe of radicalization of religion; unfair attacks on the Akins-Crisp P.R. firm; a “smear;” on the one TARP bill he voted for (out of several); the error of “too big to fail;”Hank Paulson’s conflicts of interest — and Haslam’s (“hundreds” of them)
Part IV:
Signing the Shelby County Commission’s “full-funding” pledge for the Med; the Med and Erlanger; breaking from the GOP leadership on “12 issues;” neither party has exclusive purchase on truth; Tom DeLay’s knock on the door at 5 a.m.; “a loyal conservative;” on “speaking my mind;” dealing with “an attack on my son” and accusations concerning a volatile temper; “cool under fire;” “Yes, I’ve got passion;” a state “Establishment” supporting Haslam and centralizing power
Part V:
On the Tea Party movement and people’s fear that we’re losing our way of life; on not “pandering” to the Tea Party; more on Memphis and the University of Memphis having its own governing board; on showing the legislature “why Memhis matters;” Memphis as having the greatest economic potential in the state; on naming a Commissioner of Economic Development from Shelby County; on intent to spend more time in Memphis and Shelby County than anywhere else; on grading Governor Bredesen on taking charge of the legislature; on Haslam’s being “run over by the legislature.”
Comments (18)
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He has already lost me on the very first question. What the hell is he talking about? Did he just say HE established the TN Technology Corrider? I just read that it was established in 1983. How old is the guy?
Besides that little white lie, he has said nothing. words, words, words, words...
Ugh - he just keeps going and going and never really says anything.
I've never seen anybody talk that much that wasn't on coke.
I've got no "dawg" in this hunt (though I do think we need a Democratic governor, if for no other reason, to counterbalance our gun-besotted Republican legislators), but if Haslam is Bobby Ewing, does that make Wamp Boss Hogg from the Dukes of Hazard, or maybe Jethro from the Beverly Hillbillies? Speaking of being gun-besotted, Wamp has vowed to meet President Obama at the state line if he tried to confiscate guns. http://www.nashvillescene.com/pitw/archive…
I can't listen to this guy "tawk," any more than I can listen to Haley Barbour, Jeff Sessions or Richard Shelby. I do note, however, that Wamp is one of those Republicans who voted against the stimulus, but has sung its praises for its benefits in Tennessee. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2009/se… Can you say "hypocree-it?"
One thing is for sure, he knows the issues. Say what you may about the guy but he clearly understands the challenges facing our state and has a plan to deal with them. Looks like he has learned a thing or two from his time spent in office and I think he is a wise choice. He has a respect for Memphis that Ive not heard from the others. He just got my vote.
You folks in the suburbs of Memphis will love Bill Haslam's homeless plan. It is called scattered permanent housing. Meaning that the homeless from the urban core are put in permanent housing in your suburbs.
Here's the kicker. It isn't for families. It is for the chronically homeless. Meaning drug addicts, alcoholics, and the mentally ill. It gets worse. They can continue their addiction and not get kicked out. They do NOT have to attend drug treatment sessions. There is no 24/7 security.
It is so bad that the people of Knoxville created petitions for ballot referendums to stop the plan.
http://www.typchoice.com/ballot_referendum…
Bill Haslam is a threat to suburban communities. Know who you are voting for. Find out about Bill Haslam.
I hate to say I told so so, but check out the lefty endorsement from Knoxville of Bill Haslam, "we endorse Bill Haslam in the Republican primary because he stands alone among the GOP candidates as best representing the liberal Obama-Pelosi left-wing progressive Democratic agenda."
http://www.knoxviews.com/node/14149
The goober-natorial candidates continue their race to out-redneck one another...
Haslam Truth: R. Neal is awesome. I think it's hilarious that he endorsed Haslam. Hell, for that matter, I'll endorse him, too. I'm voting for McWherter in the general, but if I had a vote in the Republican primary, yeah I'd vote for Haslam, sure.
As for the Hazzard County metaphors, it's pretty clear that Randy Wade and Steve Cohen are the Duke boys, and so that leaves Uncle Jesse and Daisy Duke yet to be named. Who will it be? D'Army Bailey and Maxine Smith? Or what about Amp Elmore and Jeanne Richardson?
One thing's for sure: Jackson Baker is the Balladeer.
"One thing's for sure: Jackson Baker is the Balladeer."
ha yes!
beating a dead horse here, but Wamp is a theocratic loon, I don't care how he tries window dress his answers here. he's essentially a caricature who will only serve to make Tennessee the constant butt of jokes. plus, how's he going to "fellowship" with those adulterous, Gog-bothering nitwits on C-Street if he's busy down here making an ass of himself and Tennessee?
also, that whole tired meme re: "It's time fer the Federal gubmint to stop telling the State gubmint what to do, and it's time fer the State gubmint to quit telling the local gvt what to do" is getting real damn old. See, we have this thing called a Constitution, and if you're not playing along (cf Jim Crow laws, voting rights acts, OR when you are using Federal or State resources to advance a religious agenda etc etc), the Feds ARE GOING TO COME AND TELL YOU WHAT TO DO. seriously, teabagger dudes, you can not be this dense.
Haslam, by contrast, is just kind of boring (which in this context is a good thing, imo)
The Tennessee Valley Technology Corridor was established in 1995, not 1983. Make want to make note of that, Cdel.
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