TelephoneTown Hall Meetings....the new age GOP avoidance mechanism?

Just this past week, the Jackson Sun ran an op-ed from a gentleman over in Weakley county named, Michael Cooper.  As someone who tries their best to keep up on all things political affecting me and the city, state, or congressional district(s) that I live in, I can personally attest in saying that since Mr. Fincher has been in office I have not been able to find any information, until after it's occurrence, of a town hall or public appearance.  I am someone who actively calls their legislator if there is a bill that I feel absolutely strongly about to express my opinion and why it's important for it to be voted for or against.  I am someone who believes that my representation in government should legitimately care what my (and every single constituent's) opinion is (if they care to express it), no matter if they agree with it or not....and no matter what my political affiliation may be.  However, Mr. Fincher does not seem to play that way.


I can personally say that there have been several times that I have called both Senator Corker & Senator Alexander's offices to give my opinion on legislation that is up for a vote.  Their secretaries have been thorough in getting my contact information, and even after phone calls I have received follow-up emails about the vote and why they voted the way they did (sadly, never the way I wanted them).  While, it is vaguely keeping in touch with their constituents, Mr Fincher doesn't do any of this.  Never have I received an follow-up email (unless it was an electronic message I sent (via his legislature page) and allowed for an automated response from him) or any other contact in regards to a call I placed to any of his offices. I have called and asked several times about any upcoming town hall meetings or anything while Congress was on break and never got a thing. (Over his late summer break he and his wife were too busy in Israel [with a bunch of other congressional members] to the tune of  $20,227.46 to hold a town hall meeting)


After reading Mr. Cooper's op-ed in the Jackson Sun I decided to would push harder to get some answers.  I called Fincher's D.C. office.  His secretary said that he was on "the Hill" now and doesn't have anything scheduled.  I made mention of the op-ed to her and how it states that he doesn't do in-person town hall meetings, and only reverts to tele[phone]-town hall meetings.  She had no response and suggested that I email his scheduler, Sarah Collins, and see if she can give me any insight.  I sent this January 13th at 1259p CST.


It reads as so:

   I received your information from one of the women that is working in Mr. Fincher's D.C. office.  We (myself and many constituents that I have talked to) are trying to find out when there is another tele-town hall meeting, as well as a real town hall, in-person meeting.  There have been many complaints about this since Mr. Fincher took office, and also one in print in today's Jackson Sun about how he is not doing in-person town hall meetings, only tele-town hall meetings, and that the questions are being screened.  I don't think that's fair to the taxpayers that are paying his salary, travel expenses, and other expenses.  I check several times a week on his website about upcoming events where my representative might be at, but nothing is ever posted.  This is increasingly frustrating for me, a taxpaying constituent of Mr. Fincher.  I'm sure that MANY more constituents could and would agree.  I look forward to your response, and hope to hear of when Mr. Fincher will be holding a town hall meeting.

Thank you in advance for your time.

Now, I understand that this was 2 o'clock EST Friday and that this is a long holiday weekend in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, at the present time (late Sunday evening) I have gotten nothing.  Furthermore, unless word of this blog makes it back to Mr. Fincher,  I doubt I will get a response.  Actually, I'm still betting against it.  

I also want to go further in saying that I do receive update emails from Mr. Fincher's website.  Again, I do not remember ever seeing any mention of an in-person town hall meeting NOR a request to be a part of a tele-town hall meeting.  I will also say that I think that Mr. Fincher knows of me, or my name, as he asked a family member of mine, a supporter of his, about me.  She denied being related to me in fear that he might associate her with me despite the fact that she, too, is a gospel singer.  I'm guessing that he had to have known that she might know me due to facebook or something else.  This was prior to his election in 2010, probably because I was stirring up information, what little anyone could find, of him at UTM, where I was attending at the time.  

So, Mr. Fincher here is my request.  IF YOU ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT WHAT YOUR CONSTITUENTS THINK and are not afraid to answer legitimate questions about your actions including your FEC ruling (and snafu), your traveling back to your home district regularly and NOT meeting with constituents, why you are still receiving farm subsidies, but voting against unemployment benefits and other social programs that are necessary for MANY of your constituents[and their families] just to get by from one day to the next, HOLD AN IN-PERSON TOWN HALL MEETING WITH PLENTY OF NOTICE!  For a congressional district that has lost so many of the businesses that employed many residents here over the years with no new industries being created, and yet I don't see you voting for or introducing anything that will put West Tennesseeans back to work (unless you think your GOP oil pipeline will magically drop the unemployment rate in here in West Tennessee in half).  You're far too concerned with voting in line with Speaker Boehner, than legitimately doing your job and voting in the best interest of your constituents (and NOT just your big $$$ donor constituents).  

So, my question is....are the "Tele-Town Hall" meetings that he is conducting his way of avoiding hard hitting questions from his constituents???  It seems to me like this is the perfect "scenario" for him to delusion himself into thinking he's genuinely getting input from voters, but really, is just getting statements from members about "how we need[ed] God in government," and not real questions about real concerns of real citizens that are being affected by the way he votes while representing me and every other resident in his district.

I will certainly update you as to if and when I get a response from Mr. Fincher or his staff.

Oh, and one more thing....Mr. Fincher...the next time that someone runs against you (you know there will be) and there is a debate being hosted in the 8th district I think you should participate.  It'll really show West Tennesseeans just how qualified you are job you were voted in to do!!!

Andy Holt in Hawaii????

Why is our state rep, Andy Holt, not in Nashville you ask?  He's in Hawaii.  Now, if I cared even in the slightest about my constituents I would not be in Hawaii.  I would be representing my district.  I received information from a friend in Nashville that he was not in the first day of session.  I took it upon myself to call his office in Nashville to find out what was going on.

- Was Representative Holt in Legislation yesterday?
- No ma'am he wasn't.
- Is there a reason why he is not representing his constituents?
- He's out of town receiving an award.  He's out of state.
- Can I ask what state is he in?
- He's in Hawaii.
- Well that sounds more like a vacation than receiving any kind of accolade to me.
- Would you like to speak to Mr. Holt?
- Absolutely.
- Let me get your information and I will give him your message.


Now I have received information that Mr. Holt is in fact in Hawaii (on a tropical vacation that his constituents can only dream of) competing for an award at the American Farm Bureau's annual convention.  I don't see dates listed, but a post from January 5th state that it was currently going on.  


Now, Mr. Holt has returned my call, from Hawaii, answering all of my questions in a typical know-it-all can't be wrong fashion.  He kept reiterating the fact that since he is in the majority party in the Legislature, and that he was given blessings from Speaker Harwell to miss this week.  When I asked about redistricting and other votes this week he said that his vote didn't really matter (not something I want to hear from my Rep) because the minority party would not be getting any changes that they want in terms of redistricting.  He did say that he will be back this Saturday, and back in Nashville Tuesday unless the vote is postponed to Sunday.  The GA is closed Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.  Frankly, I am shocked that he did respond.  However, I think he may have thought that I was a Republican with his constant mentioning of the majority party and his disregard for the minority party.  


Frankly, I don't care who you received blessings from.  You were voted in. stupidly in my opinion, by the residents of the 76th and your concern is competing for a 2012 Chevy Silverado or 2012 GMC Sierra as well as fully paid registration for next year's convention in Grand Rapids.


Now if you see what I have brought up to be a problem, then I encourage you to call Rep. Holt's office in Nashville and express your thoughts of him being in Hawaii and NOT Nashville.

Andy's Nashville Office Contact Information

301 6th Avenue NorthSuite 

205 War Memorial Bldg

Nashville, TN 37243

Phone (615) 741-7847

Fax (615) 253-0293 

email: rep.andy.holt@capitol.tn.gov

On A Side Note: While speaking with Mr. Holt I did inquire about redistricting.  He did say that Huntingdon will no longer be in the 76th, but rather the 79th (Curtis Halford's district).  Bruceton and Hollow Rock will remain in Andy's district.

What does Haslam & the GOP have against teachers?

Let me preface this by saying, I got my education in Illinois.  A Chicago suburb to be more specific.  My father wanted to move to Tennessee (his home) when my parents were married, but my mother refused because, as she put it, I'd be three years behind what I'd be learning where I was at.  As of the most recent study, Tennessee is currently ranked 41 out of 50 states in education.  I can attest that the higher you're number the worse off you are.  They made some progress since I've lived here. They were at 48 in 2008.  I cannot thank my mother enough for standing her ground and keeping us out of Tennessee.

So, what am I trying to talk about?

Our genius governor wants to pass a law that will let schools opt out of paying teachers a mandated salary based on the years they've been there and the education level they have received.  He wants them to be based on their performance.  OK, sure, but the issue with this is...if you have been a teacher for 20 years already and your class is getting in the 98th percentile in english on the state tests...you can't go up.  And if you don't increase it's reflected negatively even though they are still in the highest percentile ranking you can achieve.  This is the issue that Milan city schools are having.  I spoke with a family friend who is also a teacher there, and she explained that this is happening right now.  Whereas Jackson school district might move up from the 35th percentile to the 40th from one year to the next and they are raved about.  So, if they go to this "based on performance" pay scale there will be many teachers that have been doing what they were supposed to be doing over the years, but will be punished with little to NO raises because they can't go higher than the 98th percentile.

IS THIS FAIR?  Absolutely not!  But since when does the GOP care about fair?

The second thing, in conjunction with the aforementioned proposal, that Haslam wants done is to take away the limit on classroom size.  Let me give a personal example.  When I went to college I can personally attest that those classes in which I has the normal amount of students, anywhere from 15-30, in a class I did far better than a class that was set in an auditorium that could have anywhere from 60-150 students.  The rooms aren't big enough.  If you are stuck in the back you can't hear.  You probably cannot see what is being written on the board or shown on the projector.  Not to mention, one teacher, having to be responsible for all those students.  You are a number to them, and that is all.  There is no personal bond.  There is no chance for that teacher to really give you one-on-one help that you might need.  They don't care if you pass or fail.  If anything, this will hinder a healthy educational setting.  In fact, you'd mostly deal with a T.A., and Im sure that the state wouldn't allow an assistant for the teacher to help with the overflow.

This state does not care about the stress that they put on many teachers, and not to mention the students.  If they did, they would not be looking for things to cut in education, but rather looking at things to cut internally, like for instance, Haslam's salary.  He's a millionaire.  If he actually gave a damn about saving money on the state he would work for free....or take a salary of $1 a year...heck even if he did we wouldn't know would we?  Transparency what?

CUT YOUR OWN SALARIES INSTEAD OF SLASHING EDUCATIONAL EXPENDITURES!!!!

What many people, who are NOT teachers, don't realize is that being a teacher is more than 7-330 every day.  It's grading papers on their own time at home, while taking time away from their own families.  Buying their own supplies for her classroom because the school doesn't have the budget for it.  Constantly researching new ways to keep their students involved.  I have a lot of friends who are teachers and they will tell you that they never thought it would be as time consuming as it is when they were in school to be one.  They all have said that they are increasingly frustrated with the new laws and requirements the states are doing to them, and then taking away their own rights. (i.e. collective bargaining)  It's sad to me that we are attacking the same people that we are expecting to educate our children in a way that they will go on to great colleges or universities and do better than we did.  I can personally say this.  I have a one year old.  We have EVERY intent on being out of the state of Tennessee before he enters Pre-K.  It's nothing against the teachers, it's ideas like increased classroom size and an even thinly stretched teacher that is keeping us from staying here.  So unless there are HUGE changes for the best, and certainly NOT what Gov. Haslam is proposing my son will not attend school here in this state.

My hopes, that while I am going to alternative route to be a teacher that the State Legislature will not formally introduce OR pass a law that takes away from teacher's salary and increases the number of students they are to teach.  This is mind boggling.  People need to fight back!  Start calling your Congressman and tell them that if this is introduced they need to vote NO!

re: TN gov's plan would change teacher pay, remove class size averages

A Ron Paul Revolution in West Tennessee?

I went to Jackson yesterday to get my son some new shoes.  My husband and I decided we wanted to eat healthy while we were in Jackson and were making our way to Jason's Deli.  To my utter shock I came upon this:

Now for those of you who are familiar with this area, this is right by the wal-mart on vann drive.  right near the columns.  i did not go down to the columns to see if they were there as well, but if i had to guess id say at least 100 if not more were out there.  now, for the last four years that ive been living in tennessee i cannot recall jackson getting political about much of anything and doing something like this.  now, i am not a ron paul supporter at all.  in fact, from most of the younger people that are in to him, i can personally attest that they all are or were stoners....or the majority of them are.  they see ron paul as being a support of the legalization of marijuana.  i have several supporters that I am friends with scattered across the country.  i know that several of them participate in the wacky tobacky.  now, i really never gave paul the slightest bit of attention.  he claims to be a libertarian and many of the supporters out there claimed to be libertarians and that he was as well.  

Now according to the Libertarian Party's official website this is how they describe being a libertarian:

   via Libertarian Party

What is a Libertarian?

Let's start with Webster's definition:

libertarian: A person who upholds the principles of individual liberty especially of thought and action.
Libertarian: a member of a political party advocating libertarian principles. 

Libertarians believe in, and pursue, personal freedom while maintaining personal responsibility.  The Libertarian Party itself serves a much larger pro-liberty community with the specific mission of electing Libertarians to public office.

Libertarians strongly oppose any government interfering in their personal, family and business decisions.  Essentially, we believe all Americans should be free to live their lives and pursue their interests as they see fit as long as they do no harm to another.

In a nutshell, we are advocates for a smaller government, lower taxes and more freedom.

Now, I would guess that if you didn't want the government interfering in your personal life then you would be accepting of gay rights since what they do in their house shouldn't be regulated by the government.  Then a woman would most definitely have the right to choose.  Right?  Well, we all know, Ron Paul is definitely PRO-LIFE.  Doesn't sound very libertarian like to me.  If he supports less government, then he shouldn't care or what a woman chooses.  As from his website he had this to say:
via Ron Paul Fan Site 

In an Oct. 27, 1999 speech to Congress, Ron Paul said:

“I am strongly pro-life. I think one of the most disastrous rulings of this century was Roe versus Wade. I do believe in the slippery slope theory. I believe that if people are careless and casual about life at the beginning of life, we will be careless and casual about life at the end. Abortion leads to euthanasia. I believe that.”

Now,  the site also says:

He believes that human life starts at conception, and that casual elimination of the unborn leads to a careless attitude towards all life.

So let me get this straight, if I were to have an abortion clearly I have a careless attitude towards all life?  If I am a teenager, knowingly unable to provide a reasonable life for a child, most likely without two responsible, especially financially, parents, and will rely only on state-funded health care provided by tax dollars to bring this child into this world.......and Im careless towards life if I know its better for both me, my family, and that cell mass to be terminated?  Let me say, that this doesn't make sense.

Now, recently there have been newsletters that the "good doctor" wrote in the early 90's that exploit typical racist stereotypes on blacks and gays.  So he clearly, does not really support gays like he so adamantly claims today.  I encourage you to follow twitter user RP_Newsletter .  He has been posting the different newsletters 140 characters at a time, and it is rather interesting the things that he writes.  And, I can personally attest, that as a doctor, he more than well should have known that the accusations that he made about AIDS and blood transfusions in the early 90's was BS.  I had a severe ten hour spinal surgery in 1994 that required a blood transfusion and at the age of 12 I was informed of all the different tests that were run on blood before a transfusion at the time because of the knowledge that HIV could be transferred that way.  I was blown away that he really did believe this virus could be transferred in the most ridiculous ways.

So, now my question is this, why is there all this VISIBLE support for Ron Paul?  Is there something else appealing about him that I don't know?  Can someone fill me in?  To me, I don't see the appeal to him at all.  So, now are we going to start seeing people gathering around West Tennessee in support of Romney, Gingrich, Santorum, or my personal favorite, Perry?  If I wasn't with my family, I might have ventured out there to ask those folks why they personally are voting for Paul.  Maybe I would have gotten some interesting answers.

How much more of this will we see before the primary on March 6th?

Anyone?? PLEASE!!! Anyone??

With the first views of the new possible districts being laid out this week, I know here in West Tennessee we are wondering, now who is going to run???

MY PLEA.......

 Will a Democrat with some GUTS please file to run against both Rep. Andy Holt & Rep. Stephen Fincher?!?!?!


If I wasn't a woman from Chicago and had funding I'd do it.  No doubt!  However, I think that there are more qualified people to do so.  Now, I am wondering if Mr. Mark Maddox will run despite the changes in the district.  Ideally, he and many of us would have liked a unified Weakley & Carroll County, but sadly, it doesn't look like this will ever be.  So, there is my first question.....

Mr. Maddox will you be filing your papers by early April?


Now, an even bigger question.....has Roy Herron STOPPED campaigning since his loss in 2010?  His website is functioning.  Not updated, but functioning.  He has had booths at different events including this year's biggest state fundraiser, Jackson Day.  I, personally, don't think he has stopped.  I think that Roy is in it to win it.  He will certainly have to change some things from his last attempt.  Visibility and marketing being the two biggest reasons he lost.  Here in Carroll County, I could not drive more than 1 minute without the sight of a "Plow Congress" sign covered with Fincher's dreaded name EVERYWHERE!  Now, I know Roy had supporters, but Fincher had his HUGE signs all over 70 & 22 MONTHS before Roy even announced he was running after withdrawing from the Gubernatorial race.  Roy needs visibility!!  Signs EVERYWHERE, and not waiting until after the filing deadline in April, he needs them NOW.  I also feel that a way to edge over Fincher is the capitalize on the esteemed award from CREW this year, that I previously mentioned in an earlier blog, him being one of Congress's most corrupt members.  Take it and run.  In a classy way, BUT RUN WITH IT!

Now, in other areas.  I'm still trying to decipher whether or not Huntingdon, where I reside, is moving into another House district.  If so, then for sure I will throw my help and support behind whomever will legitimately run a campaign against Rep. Halford.  There was a failed attempt in 2010.  I think we need someone bigger, younger, and smarter.  I have a thought, and I know he was toying with the idea in 2010, but stopped when someone else filed.  I think he would make an excellent candidate.

In other districts, please let me know who is thinking about running or who you think should run.  You can email me via the link on my blog, leave a comment here.  If you have any information you'd like to share and remain anonymous, I would be more than happy to post and not give any information out as to who you are.

proposed tennessee redistricting maps (state, senate & congressional) updated 1.6.12

From what information I've gathered from the proposed redistricting maps these are what changes West Tennessee could be possibly looking at.  I will update as I come across more information.

       Tennessee House:

Johnny Shaw, (D) - District 80: Adds a greater portion of Hardeman county and loses part of northern Madison county

Steve McDaniel, (R) - District 72: Gain southern Decatur county and lose southern Wayne county

Jimmy Eldridge, (R) - District 73: Would gain part of Rep. Shaw's district in northern Madison county

Craig Fitzhugh, (D) - District 82: would represent Crockett, Haywood, and Lauderdale counties

Curtis Halford, (R) - District 79

Vance Dennis, (R) - District 71: Would be merged with Democrat Eddie Bass; however they are drawn in a way that Dennis would likely win

Andy Holt, (R) - District 76: Gains part of Obion county including South Fulton and the northeastern part of the county 

Tim Wirgau, (R) - District 75

Jimmy Naifeh, (D) - District 81: Tipton county only (sadly he lost Tipton in 2010)

Bill Sanderson, (R) - District 77: Gained ALL of Dyer county, Lake county, but lost part of Obion County including South Fulton & NE part of the county.

Tennessee Senate:   

Lowe Finney, (D) - District 27: From Madison, Carroll & Gibson counties To Madison, Crockett, Dyer, Lake & Lauderdale Counties

Roy Herron, (D) - District 24: Carroll & Gibson counties would move into his current district

Congressional Map:

Stephen Fincher, (R) - District 8: would gain part of Shelby county

             
Tennessee House proposed Redistricting map                           
I will break these up a little bit so that there is a better view of the different districts.

West & Middle Tennessee

Middle & East Tennessee

East Tennessee

The State Senate proposed Redistricting Map looks like this:

The Congressional proposed Redistricting Map looks like this:

welcome.

well, congress will be back in session in the great state of tennessee here soon.  hearing about LOTS of wonderful bills going to be introduced, similar to OR WORSE than those introduced last year thought to be controversial.  tennessee is going to attempt again to introduce a bill that requires drug testing in order to receive food stamps, unemployment benefits, or the like.  they tried to pass this last year, but there was a hefty price tag attached to it, so it did not pass.  another BIG bill that is getting lots of national attention is one that makes it 'OK' to bully kids so long as you are a Christian or Republican.  Well, the rhetoric specifically says this:
via TPMMuckraker

The proposed bill would amend the state's current anti-bullying law to specify that the anti-bullying policy should "not be construed or interpreted to infringe upon the First Amendment rights of students and shall not prohibit their expression of religious, philosophical, or political views" as long as there's no physical threat to another student's property.

Now my question is, what happens if this person commits suicide because of the bullying?  Recently, in East Tennessee we lost a young man, Jacob Rogers, after being bullied repeatedly in school.  Now, we have religious right-wing groups like F.A.C.T. blaming it on alcohol or drug abuse.  What is wrong with the world today?  Why are Conservatives using the same rhetoric that they used against the African American community against the LGBT community?

Now let me give you an idea of where I am at in West Tennessee.  My state representative is the oh-so-wonderful, Rep. Andy Holt (R).  He's well known in these parts for introducing a bill that would allow guns on campus.  As a recent graduate of the University of Tennessee at Martin, a school in his district, I will tell you that he did not, to my knowledge, discuss what students on this campus thought of a bill like this. Most students on campus were very much opposed to a piece of legislation like this being introduced.  I will tell you this, I am doing anything I can to ensure that Mr. Holt is NOT re-elected this November!

My state senator is Lowe Finney (D).  Senator Finney is a wonderful man who genuinely fights for the real values and beliefs of those in West Tennessee.  We may not see eye-to-eye on every issue, but he is willing to listen to his constituents and take what they have to say into account.  He is someone that I can count and depend on.  The unfortunate part of this is that is the recent redistricting maps introduced go into effect, Senator Finney will no longer be my Senator, but I will gain another Senator that I am fond of, Senator Roy Herron.

Now, the biggest winner is my member of Congress.  His name is Stephen Fincher.  He is a freshman member of Congress.  He may be more well-known for being voted as one CREW's (citizens for responsibility of ethics in washington) most corrupt member's of Congress.  The list consists of fourteen members that includes 13 representatives and 1 senator of which 10 of the 14 are Republican.  For more information on Mr. Fincher and his "corruptness" you can look at CREW's page on him here.  Now keep in mind, Mr. Fincher was in office for ONLY about six or seven months before he was lucky enough to win this award!  Now, if ever there was someone I did not want in office, it would be him!  Again, I will be working diligently this election year to do what I can to ensure that he is a one-term representative!

So, here's a little insight into what I will be discussing here.  I will talk about efforts of groups across the state of Tennessee doing what they can to ensure the rights of all Tennesseeans and Americans.  I will discuss mostly local and state politics and issues.  More so, in regards to West Tennessee.  I will also be discussing the big topics of the 2012 election.  Including, my full support in the re-election of President Barack Obama!  I would appreciate if you would share this blog with other political junkies that you know!  Any and all support would be appreciated!