The Arrowood Dispatch

For the past several years, the GOP has show us how not to lead.  As a Republican, I feel that it is my duty to speak out when I see things that potentially damage our party.  I take it upon myself from time to time to aggressively pursue (attack ?) those responsible as I did with Carter County State Representative, Kent Williams.  As you may remember, Williams was one of the Naifeh Republicans (a Republican turncoat whom voted for the worst of the worst, Jimmy Naifeh, as the Speaker of the House.  Don’t give me all that David Davis voted for Naifeh drivel.  When there is an Iraqi or Iranian type election where you vote for the only candidate available, you really don’t have much of a choice do you?) that faced scrutiny in the Republican Caucus.  I took him to task for that.  Then, there was a certain rumor concerning Williams that I called him out on through e-mail.  No, that e-mail is no longer posted on my website since the Great Website Deletion of only a short time ago.  Yes, I do still have that e-mail. 

These examples show that I am willing (and sometimes maybe more than willing) to take my own party to task.  (FYI, I am always more than happy to take the Democrats to task.)  This is now another time that I am going to take my party to task.  This one, I thought long and hard about. 

The Republican Party took everyone by surprise by going against the stream in electing a majority to the State House this November.  Democrats were making big gains just about everywhere else, but our Republican Party took forward a conservative message that resonated with the citizens (except for the dead voters in Memphis) of Tennessee.  Now, it seems that the Republican Party is already losing its way. 

(Future Speaker of the House?) Jason Mumpower saw a chance at controlling the Tennessee House of Representatives.  He needed to make sure that the Republicans stuck together to give him (or another Republican) the 50 votes to remove the tyrannical Jimmy Naifeh from the House’s top spot.  I have no problem there when you have most of the self-serving “Naifeh Republicans” still hanging around.  Mumpower brought the Republican Caucus to Nashville where each and every Republican signed a statement saying they would vote for a Republican Speaker of the House.  Robin Smith, Tennessee Republican Party Chairman, has stated that the members of the Republican Caucus could face political excommunication from the Republican Party if they do not vote with the party on certain votes. 

Fast forward to earlier this week…  The Republican Caucus got together to choose the high ranking, though mostly ceremonial position of Speaker Pro-Tempore.  Two candidates went head to head.  On the one hand, you had former Sundquist crony, pro-income tax, “Naifeh Republican,” Steve McDaniel.  On the other hand, the party had a choice of the conservative Frank Nicely.  Sadly, at least half of the “Republicans” voted for McDaniel as he won the Speaker Pro-Tempore spot.

This choice leaves the Republican Party with a pro-tax, self-serving, “Republican” in a leadership position.  I hope this is the worst mistake that the party makes in the majority stage, but I hope that this is not enough to sink this ship from sailing into the Speaker’s Chair. 

I will be a little presumptive as I say this, but I will do it anyway.  Speaker Mumpower (hopefully I won’t have to edit and strike this through come January), we are looking for conservative leadership.  The state is looking for Republicans to lead.  We are sick of what Naifeh has tried to pass as leadership.  We know YOU can do better than what we have seen for years.  However, we conservatives are not finding solace in your first attempt of leadership in the majority.  We expect and know we can do great things if leadership leads.  As Rep. Campfield has said many times, “It matters who leads.”  Lead with honor.  Lead conservatively.

- Josh

Read Terry Frank and David Oatney (even if he is just giving ACK fodder, and I do say that in jest, which is not a reference to any e-mails that I received nearly two years ago)