Haslam, Do You Approve of the Budget-Busting Tax Breaks You Gave Yourself? "You Bet"

After three years of budget-busting tax breaks for Tennessee's richest citizens and giveaways for well-connected corporations -- surprise, surprise -- Tennessee is facing shortfalls.

That means it will be harder to pay essential services, like fixing our crumbling roads and bridges, improving our schools so our kids can compete for future jobs, and investing in public safety so, maybe, Tennessee wouldn't have to be the nationwide leader in gun violence.  

Given our new budget woes, Gov. Bill Haslam was asked recently if he thought all these tax breaks for the rich were still a good idea.

Haslam's answer: "You bet I do."

Here's some insight into his knee-jerk reaction. Those are tax cuts for himself. 

With both the inheritance and gift tax repealed, the greater Haslam family alone will likely get a tax break of about $300 million. (It's probably not less, but it could be more.)

Bill Haslam, do you want that $300 million tax break for your family? You bet he does. 

Haslam's repeal of gift and inheritance taxes on the rich erased any modicum of tax fairness left in our system.   

Given Tennessee's current tax structure, wealthy families, like the governor's, pay a much lower percentage of their income in state taxes (2 percent) than families who are dirt poor or even upper middle class. 

Now with budget shortfalls on health care, infrastructure and schools, millionaires and billionaires, who already pay a smaller share of their income on state taxes than fast food workers, secretaries, teachers, plumbers, nurses, police officers, and just about everyone, will pay even less. 

Nobody who works for a living to collect a paycheck should have to pay more of their wages than millionaires and billionaires who feast on Wall Street unearned income. 

We can't build a state where every family is safe and has a chance to succeed if we're asking working people to do more than the wealthy.

Because what happens next? Is Haslam going to ask for tax increases to cover much-needed bridge and road repairs, classroom improvements, or new public safety measures? 

Not likely. 

That means more cuts to services that are essential for attracting new jobs and maintaining a safe and secure way of life.

Mr. Haslam, you may have cut your own taxes, but you cannot cut your way to job growth and shared prosperity for the rest of our families.

Haslam Denies Working Tennesseans Health Care, Creates Board to Discuss State Health Problems

You can't make this stuff up.

Earlier this year, Governor Haslam canceled ObamaCare's Medicaid expansion for 330,000 low-income Tennesseans. He said he'd prefer the billions worth of our tax dollars bypass our Medicaid program and go straight into the pockets of private health insurance companies.

Who care's that his insurance company handout doesn't get close to insuring the same amount of low-income families! You working stiffs -- who don't get health care through work -- are on your own!

The problem for Bill (not Pilot or his multimillion dollar handouts for old business partners) is that the Obama administration wants the Medicaid expansion money spent insure the highest amount of  people possible for those dollars.

Haslam's private insurance plan is in the toilet. If private insurance was so cheap -- these folks would already have it.

So what's a governor who's denying care for hundreds of thousands of Tennesseans to do!?

Create a new quasi-governmental body to study Tennessee's health problems, stack it with handpicked business friends and voila! -- a publicity tour to repair the governor's callous health care image.

This health initiative is laughable on its face: Any new health board that specifically excludes coverage for the 330,000 Tennesseans who would be newly eligible for Medicaid is clearly not a serious plan to improve health outcomes and strengthen health care security for our families.

I can say with confidence that Haslam's executive-laced board won't be making house calls when your kids get sick.

Let us save this new board and taxpayers a bunch of money right now. Here's the health care plan: expand Medicaid now. 

What will it cost us? Nothing for three years and never more than 10 cents on the dollar after that.

There's $1 billion of our tax dollars just waiting to spent on health care for us! And that's not all, insuring more people drives everyone's insurance premiums lower.

This is the biggest no brainer in history, but people who are refusing to use their brains are calling the shots.

Drug Test the Politicians Running Tennessee

Stone-hearted Republicans love making poor folks stand in lines and jump through hoops.

So much so the Republican majority in Tennessee passed a law in 2012 -- sparing no expense on the taxpayer’s dime -- to drug test poor families applying for, on average, $164 a month of temporary assistance to pay for food, shelter, utilities and other family expenses. State officials have until 2014 to implement the law.

If you listen to the intolerant conservatives who run the Capitol, you would hear accusations implying that people who’ve lost their job through no fault of their own and now draw some government assistance are a bunch of do-nothing dope fiends and moochers.

Arizona has had a similar drug test-for-benefits law on the books for three years. According to The Tennessean, Arizona taxpayers have spent thousands of tax dollars administering thousands of drug tests and caught exactly one drug abuser -- ONE -- who was receiving welfare.

Penny Wise, Pound Foolish

In Tennessee, existing rules governing the service already require families receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families to keep their children in school and participate in a work-training program.

Still the state estimates enrollment in the program will drop and we will successfully deprive thousands of poor families who’ve fallen on hard times a sum total of $1.3 million annually for food and shelter with these new hurdles.

As Arizona’s record shows, a scant few applicants will be rejected because of drugs. But others, single mothers who live in the country and can’t afford to travel to the city for testing or dads who have lost their jobs and can’t afford $50 for a drug test to prove their children are worthy, will be affected too.

So do the Republicans who control Tennessee apply these rigorous, multi-layered mandates to all cash payments footed by taxpayers?

Not hardly.

WPLN reports Tennessee taxpayers are currently forking over $720,000 -- A MONTH -- as part of a near $100 million handout to the Hemlock Semiconductor Corporation of Clarksville, which earlier this year, fired 300 employees, almost its entire staff, at its silicon-production facility.

Having laid off a vast majority of its in-state workforce, Michigan-based Hemlock Semiconductor, owned in part by the Dow Corning Corporation, clearly hasn’t lived up the agreement made with the taxpayers of Tennessee.

But millions worth of Tennessee’s tax dollars keep flowing to Michigan anyway.

An article on TNReport.com in March says the total loss of tax dollars could reach $300 million factoring in state and local tax deferments and there's been "no effort from (Tennessee Republicans) to get taxpayers’ cash back."
 

Perhaps a drug test for the governor and legislators who keep signing off on the millions worth of corporate welfare checks would be appropriate.

This year Democrats in the state Senate proposed a measure that would introduce “claw back” provisions so CEOs and corporate executives who take our money but fail the test of job creation would have to give back the tax incentives they took to get started.

The proposal was signed into law, but not before it was watered down to the point where the claw back mandate was removed.

Republicans have shown they are steadfastly committed to maintaining a different set of rules for working people and the rich.

To quote America’s most trusted newsman, Jon Stewart, host of The Daily Show, "Why is it that if you take advantage of a corporate tax break you're a smart businessman, but if you take advantage of something so you don't go hungry, you're a moocher?"

Democrats believe fiercely in accountability and spending our tax dollars efficiently -- but that does not begin and end with programs that benefit the poor, working and middle class families.

Republicans conversely have shown a commitment to accountability for everyone, but themselves, their campaign donors and big corporations.

If they believe a single parent should have to take a drug test to get $165 for their children, surely we can create a “jobs test” for CEOs and corporate special interests drawing $720,000 a month.

***

In March, Hemlock announced the January layoffs were permanent, which begs the question: where is our monthly $720,000 check going?

Coincidentally, Dow Corning, one of Hemlock’s corporate parents, announced on its website in December -- a month before firing 300 Tennesseans at its Clarksville plant -- that it was expanding one of its factories for more silcone production.

Not in Clarksville,Tenn. Not even in Michigan. This “multi-million” dollar manufacturing investment was in Songjiang, China.

As our millions worth of tax dollars pad their corporate parent’s profits, they cut American jobs and invest in China.

When conservatives tell you they are “pro-business” remind them, those businesses should be creating jobs in Tennessee.

***
Thanks to KnoxViews for inspiring this post.

New State Rep from TN's Richest County Says We Can't Afford Federally Funded TennCare Expansion

Just a day after Gov. Bill Haslam did an about face on establishing state-run health insurance exchange in Tennessee as a part of the Affordable Care Act, the topic turned to whether the Tennessee legislature would expand our state's Medicaid program.

Former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist — a Republican, gasp! — is publicly advocating for the expansion of TennCare. In a column published by The Commercial Appeal, he outlined the choice Tennessee legislators face:

What is optional is the Medicaid expansion, providing insurance to those who are uninsured presently and below 133 percent of poverty level. According to the state budget report, between 2014-19 this will add 180,000 people to TennCare at a cost of $200 million of state money.

The TennCare expansion would largely cover the working poor — those who are not offered health insurance through their employer and cannot afford it on the private market. For the first three years of the expansion (through 2016) the federal government would assume all of its cost, at least in part with our tax dollars paid by Tennesseans. In 2017, Tennessee would assume 5 percent of the cost and the state's share in the cost would gradually increase to 10 percent by 2019.

A plan that spends our tax dollars on health care for Tennesseans? Sounds reasonable given our state's poor health ranking, our 1 million uninsured residents, an infant mortality rate (7.9) well above the U.S. average, and the billions worth of uncompensated health care our medical professionals deliver each year.

State Rep. Jeremy Durhum (R-Franklin)

But since when have Tennessee Republicans been concerned with reason?!

Right on cue, the first bill filed for the 108th General Assembly is one that would bar the state from expanding Medicaid and take advantage of increased funding under health care reform (some estimates put that number as high as $2 billion a year worth of new money to pay doctors for treatment, hospitals, nurses, etc.).

The opposition to President Obama's landmark health law being implemented in the Volunteer State was predictable. Newly minted state Rep. Jeremy Durham (R-Franklin), a very close friend of bill-sponsor state Sen. Brian Kelsey, told TNReport.com that Tennessee just doesn't have the money.

“I feel we can’t afford to expand Medicaid.”

To the freshman lawmaker representing Tennessee's most opulent gated communities, I respectfully disagree.

Durham, a lawyer, lives in Tennessee's wealthiest county. The average household income is more than 70 percent higher than the rest of the state. Half of Williamson County's 69,000 houses are worth more than $336,000. By most measures, the people of Williamson County are doing pretty well.

I would welcome further analysis or correction on my tax expenditure projections. Email me.

And the richest Tennesseans are doing even better with billionaire Bill Haslam in the governor's mansion. In 2012, the 107th General Assembly passed into law $900 million worth of new tax breaks for Tennessee's highest earners over the next decade.

But even in Durham's Williamson County, an estimated 15,000 people — 8 percent of residents — have no health insurance. The reality of the matter is that no part of the state is immune to health care problems.

So it really comes down to a simple test of values. Vice President Joe Biden has an excellent quotation on the matter:  

"Don't tell me what you value. Show me your budget, and I'll tell you what you value."

What do we value?

• Do we build a stronger middle class and solid foundation for families to work their way into the middle class by giving $900 million worth of tax breaks to people who don't need them? 
• Are small business owners and rural communities better off if lawmakers fork over $1.6 billion worth of tax giveaways — every year — to big corporations in the city that may or may not be creating the jobs they promised? (Some of these companies may very well be living up to their promise to hire Tennesseans, but certainly, some are not. Our legislators could hold these corporations accountable and save money by creating an evaluation process that gauges the effectiveness of tax incentives and institutes a claw back provision for corporations that break their promise to taxpayers.)
• Do we spend $200 million to expand a cost-effective health program so that 180,000 people who work for a living can get care when they're sick and that doctors and hospitals get paid when they treat patients?

I'll definitely be writing more about the battle over whether to expand TennCare or not, but I'll end with this thought:

President Obama and Democrats fought for health care reform because we believe as a matter of principle, that every American should have genuine access to affordable, quality health care. In the wealthiest nation on Earth -- no illness or accident should ever lead to a family’s financial ruin.

Affordable health care our families can rely on is key to building a strong middle class. Tennesseans who work hard and play by the rules should have the security that comes with good health care.

Extremism Breeds Extremism & A Weak Governor

One of the Scripps Howard D.C. bureau reporters called me yesterday for a comment on the newest post-election phenomenon — secession petitions!

These petitions, posted on the White House website, ask the Obama administration to "peacefully grant" Tennessee and others the right to withdraw from the union and form its own government. As of Wednesday morning, the Tennessee petition had met the 25,000-signature threshold needed to initiate a response from the White House. (We're all waiting with bated breath!)

This is, of course, counterproductive and a waste of everyone's time and tax dollars. Who's to blame?

Here's what I told The Memphis Commercial Appeal:

Brandon Puttbrese, spokesman for the Tennessee Democratic Party, called the secession petition "radical nonsense" that is "a direct result of the tea party extremism and intolerance we have seen from elected Republicans in Tennessee."

"Sadly," Puttbrese said, "this kind of extremism only breeds more of the division and rancor that is prohibiting our leaders from making progress on putting Tennesseans back to work and protecting middle class families."

For far too long, Republican politicians have been stoking the flames of hate toward supporters of health care reform, immigration reform, teachers, women, LGBT rights, and on and on.

In a rare showing of backbone, Tennessee Gov. "Waffle House" Bill Haslam immediately condemned the frivolous petitions. The Tennessean:

Gov. Bill Haslam said Tuesday he’d heard about Tennessee’s petition. He’s not a fan. “I don’t think that’s a valid option for Tennessee,” he said. “I don’t think we’ll be seceding.”

So Haslam feels his input is important on meaningless Internet petitions, but unnecessary on serious questions of ethics and integrity. When confronted with the question of whether it's ever appropriate for a doctor to have sex with his patients, how did the governor respond?

"I don’t know that there’s a whole lot that I can add."

Weak.

A Wiseacre in The Tennessee Journal

Ed Cromer at The Tennessee Journal found someone who summed up a shift in the General Assembly quite nicely. No pun intended.

From The Journal: 

According to a wiseacre representative who’ll remain nameless, the move of Republicans (Frank) Niceley and Joey Hensley from the House to the Senate improves the legislature — by raising the average IQ in both houses.

Mitt was a bad investment

A lot of interesting takeaways from the billion dollar spending spree by America's corporate tycoons.

From Forbes:

"Karl Rove's American Crossroads spent $104 million this cycle with a 1.29% return on investment."

Tennessee GOPsters Declare War on Workers & Teachers

Several Tennessee GOPsters have declared war on

teachers and workers. Shocking, I know.

Not even 30 days into the new year and several Tennessee GOPsters have laid out their plans for invigorating the state economy (wink, wink) by declaring war on the extravagant* rights of teachers and workers.

So much for freedom of speech and the free market.

First up: State Rep. Debra Maggart (R-Hendersonville) filed a bill — written by lobbyists — that would end the collective bargaining rights of teachers. Teachers often use their collective clout to fight for curriculum improvements, academic freedom and to fight for fair salaries.

If collective bargaining is taken from teachers, no one stands more to lose than the citizens of rural counties in Tennessee. These places already struggle to find quality educators. The number one reason is educator pay. Ending collective bargaining would further complicate the problem by driving down starting salaries and doing nothing to improve rural working conditions.

Here's what the state teacher's organization had to say about the proposed legislation (from the AP):

Tennessee Education Association lobbyist Jerry Winters on Monday called the proposal to do away with collective bargaining "an insult to every teacher in the state." ... "It's not a good way to get this new Legislature to begin its relationship with the teachers of this state," he said. "I think there are few people up there who are really almost intent on declaring war with the TEA."

And that's not all! Elsewhere GOPsters are on the hunt for workers' freedom of speech. 


Rep. Glen Casada (R-63) and Sen. Bill Ketron (R-13) filed HB0160/SB0139 which would make it a Class C misdemeanor for labor organizations to contribute to candidates.

In a more blatant attack on the rights of everyday Tennesseans, Casada and Ketron are trying to criminalize the freedom of speech enjoyed by worker labor unions. They want to use big government to enforce overreaching regulation that limits the free speech of average workers.

It's so ridiculous, I barely have words to complain about it.

Let me just ask this question: If you're criminalizing the political contributions of worker groups, which is just an organization of people, should you not criminalize the political contributions of every politically active organization that could be considered a group of people.

How about the contributions of businesses and corporations that don't have our best interests in mind -- only their profit margins? Should we criminalize their campaign contributions? How about Tennessee Right to Life? How about Club for Growth? American Crossroads? The Tea Party Express?

The bottom line is: Unions are the only free-market solution for workers to collectively address grievances with public and private sector management.

For Republicans, who routinely espouse their faith in the "free markets" and "limited government," this legislation should be considered an affront on both issues.

But true colors are shining through, and between the lines it's easy to read what they're saying: "We don't care if our actions contradict their very principles we claim to stand for — we're hypocrites. We're Republican."

*Ha!

Let's Maybe Plow Congress: The Attack on Health Care Reform

Armed with new business cards and a supposed mandate to repeal "ObamaCare," Tennessee's freshly minted GOP congressional delegation is ready to take on the Affordable Care Act.

Reps. Diane Black and Scott DesJarlais are gearing up for the big vote. But Eighth District Rep. Stephen Fincher is already tamping down his fervent base's expectations.

Channel 4 has the scoop:

"It's going to be hard to repeal it," said Rep.-elect Stephen Fincher. "We are going to move forward and do what we can, but we are only the House of Representatives."

That's not what he said on the campaign trail! I believe his words were: plow congress. He certainly never said, "We'll maybe plow congress."

I'm sure the "Awe shucks it's going to be harder than I ever imagined" explanation will please the anti-Obama zealots who elected him.

Other than Steve Fincher running the risk of sounding like a seasoned politician, there is a real danger to repealing the Affordable Care Act.

Before you pull the repeal lever, ask yourself these questions:

• Should we unplug the Medicare Part D supplement and force Tennessee's 85,000 senior citizens in the donut hole, maybe your grandmother, to pay even more out of pocket expenses for their prescription drugs?
• Should health insurance companies be allowed to drop me from my plan because I got sick?
• Should insurance companies be allowed to deny coverage to parents who have a child suffering with cancer?

There are many more reasons for Tennesseans to support the Affordable Care Act (small business tax credits, no lifetime limits on coverage, affordable coverage for Tennesseans with pre-existing conditions) but these three seem to drive home my point.

So instead of beating the drum for repeal that it turns out you don't want -- call your newly elected congressman or congresswoman and tell them.

Here's what you'll say: "Hey, I just read this amazing blog post that explained a few of the benefits of health care reform and we should keep ObamaCare! In fact, I think you should read up about this thing too because it doesn't sound like you know what you're talking about. Keep up the good work!"

In the comments, let me know what lines you've used or heard to get health care reform opponents to button their lips.

Reverse Robin Hood

Sen. Bob Corker has been driving all over Tennessee giving a PowerPoint presentation about America's debt problem and his ideas to fix it.

In his snake oil plan, Corker says, everything is on the table and "we all must make sacrifices."**

**Except The Rich, like Corker.

Senator Bob favors extending the Bush tax breaks for the wealthiest 2 percent.

How does he plan to offset those tax breaks and balance the budget? By taking from Medicare and Social Security.

Take from the poor and give to the rich.

From News Channel 9 (http://m.newschannel9.com/news/senator-996155-bob-corker.html):

"Senator Corker said he believes the country has to act within three years or face catastrophic economic consequences. He said that means cutting federal spending from defense to social security and medicare.

"I don't think there's anything in our budgets that should be off the table," Senator Corker said.

But a number of people at Friday's town hall meeting said the middle class and elderly are being told to make the sacrifices while the wealthiest people get tax breaks.

"I think a lot of this will hit the middle class and elderly and my concern is the Republican Party has gone against the idea of taxing the wealthy," Roger Meyer said.

When talk about cutting so-called "entitlements" began some people walked out of the meeting while others applauded Frank Pate's comments.

"I'm 66 years old, worked all my life and I resent with great fervor the fact that I'm considered being a burden on the country in the name of entitlements," Pate said.

There was also opposition to extending tax cuts for the rich, which Senator Corker said he supports, even from people in the top 2% income bracket.

Lesbians Elicit Reactionary Response

A school district in Northern Mississippi has decided to call off prom.

Why? Because a lesbian wanted to bring a date to the senior dance.

In this instance it would have been appropriate to ask, "Am I comfortable with this intelligent, young woman going on The View and blasting the sorry state of tolerance and acceptance in Northern Mississippi?"

Joy Behar's eyes light up! Elizabeth Hasselbeck tries to figure out what's going on. And Whoopi grows eyebrows!

This is exactly the story line equation that gets the morning shows and radio pundits all fired up. The controversy is built in! And to top it off the school wrecks prom for EVERYONE!

As my friends in Germany would say: Über bingo!

And now they've made the national news. Countdown to The View appearance in 3, 2, 1...

Change IS Coming to the GOP

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="289" caption="Sen. Graham, quietly trying to save the GOP"][/caption]

It's not the kind of change the GOP grand poobahs had hoped for, but it's definitely change.

That is to say, young conservatives are not falling in line with party talking points, specifically on global warming, says Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina in an interview with Paul Krugman at the Gray Lady:

“I have been to enough college campuses to know if you are 30 or younger this climate issue is not a debate. It’s a value. These young people grew up with recycling and a sensitivity to the environment — and the world will be better off for it. They are not brainwashed. ... From a Republican point of view, we should buy into it and embrace it and not belittle them. You can have a genuine debate about the science of climate change, but when you say that those who believe it are buying a hoax and are wacky people you are putting at risk your party’s future with younger people.”

I've seen this coming for a while. Republicans sticking to their tired neocon talking points are driving away intelligent people — and worst of all true conservatives.

Global warming is just one example, but you could easily lump in here: health care reform, same-sex marriage and, probably, abortion. These are all losing issues for GOP candidates as time marches on and they stay firmly put in the past.

Luxembourg-Sized Ice Block Breaks Away From Antarctica

Because these unbelievable ice fractures are happening more and more regularly, the news of theses fissures is getting low-priority placement.

Even when it's nothing shy of incredible to think a chunk of ice the size of a European country is now floating in the oceans, it will probably take a Texas-sized hunk of snow to grab headlines nowadays.

That said, I'm pointing out this article for two reasons:

This particular block of frozen water, scientists suggest, might change the circulation patterns in oceans, which could ultimately really screw with weather. That's flipping crazy.

The other piece I took from this article was the chutzpah of the AFP. Read this sentence:

Both natural cycles and manmade climate change contribute to the collapse ice shelves and glaciers.

Kudos to the AFP for the word choice. Among researchers and scientists studying glaciers, there is no debate about manmade climate change. So that's how you write it.

The rest of the media needs to grow a pair and stop kowtowing to the politics of it all.

It's nice to see the AFP writing in a way that doesn't allow climate change to get hijacked by Swift Vote-style aspersions and pumped-up rhetoric.

Think Progress Highlights Tennessee GOPocrisy

George Flinn, a Republican running to fill the seat being vacated by Rep. John Tanner, has taken a liking to his national party's passion for hypocrisy.

Think Progress reports that Flinn attacks the Recovery Act, better known as the stimulus, on his campaign Web site.

Funny considering Flinn, who also does business consulting at YourAmericanDream.com, suggests entrepreneurs should get busy applying for — you guessed it — stimulus money!

Think Progress also points to the fact that Flinn, in his capacity as a Shelby County Commissioner, voted to accept $1.6 million in federal dollars tied directly to the stimulus.

Cell Phone & Popcorn. Yikes.

This is definitely not a video posted by AT&T or Verizon.


Cell Phones Pop Corn

A long while back when I was in high school and saw the impending cell phone invasion, I resisted.

I had several reasons: the seemingly most outlandish being my fear of contracting a brain tumor from cell phone radiation.

Cell phone industry players have come out hard suggesting this is a myth, and honestly, I don't know where the science stands on this.

But I watch this video and I worry. Not for the corn which will burst into light, white fluffiness, but for my already fluffy brain. I would really prefer it didn't burst.

And from a business perspective, this is not the kind of video you want to see "go viral" if you sit in a corner office in a building that says SPRINT across the side.

If this video continues to spread, I wonder if we'll see a response. May I suggest a collaboration between T-Mobil and Orville Redenbacher? Sounds like it has the pop to be the next big viral video.

Car Shopping

I'm car shopping today. And I came across an exceptional vehicle. $159,000...wait for it...Kia Sedona!

Seems like a good deal to me so long as the seats are lined with baby seal fur and the dials are pure gold with diamond encrusted flourishes.

[caption id="attachment_147" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="The Mona Lisa of Kias?"][/caption]

The GOP's Bacon Addiction

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="450" caption="As seen in Washington, D.C., the Bacon Briefcase! Perfect for bringing the pork home to your congressional district."][/caption]

The Knoxville News Sentinel published the kind of story today that grates on my nerves to no end.

In a nut shell, the "fiscal conservatives" of my home state Tennessee are lining up to spend federal dollars. From the article:

"Our nation is sinking under a mountain of debt," said U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Chattanooga, who got nearly $4 million for various projects in his district. "While a very small percentage of the bill funded some worthwhile projects in Tennessee, the overall cost is way too high.

So there we have it. If I'm ever swimming, I hope Zack Wamp is not the lifeguard on duty. He says Uncle Sam is drowning, so the only appropriate thing to do? Hold his head under water.

What yanks my chain the most is the hypocrisy. Republicans conveniently forget their own rhetoric when it's time for funding requests. Yet that's all we hear from these clowns. "Spending is out of control, blah, blah, snore."

Spending is a big problem for the GOP. They love to hate it but can't help themselves, like teenagers with mommy and daddy's credit card.

These sorts of things live on though, and it's not to say it doesn't create an image problem. Spending habits will likely be talking points fodder for upcoming elections, especially when a "fiscal conservative" name is tied to the porky, bacony, greasy projects.

I hope they like this year's bacon because I suspect it will be the last year for pork under this president. Despite this year's omnibus bill, Obama has pledged to cut the fat in the future. So we might not see this much spending again until our next Republican administration.

Would You Rather?

Watch Elf, the 2003 Will Ferrell Christmas movie about a man who thinks he's an elf?



Or look for interesting kernals of political discourse from our nation's senators who are arguing over what to do with health care reform?



Believe it or not. Tonight. Christmastime nonsense wins me over.

Is The Tennessean a Threat to Journalism?

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="440" caption="It's easy to write inflammatory headlines."][/caption]

The headline "Is Islam a threat to America?" jumps off the pages of The Tennessean's Sunday edition.

In the words of president's supposed least favorite Christmas show star Charlie Brown: Good grief!

First: The famous question headline bothers me to no end, specifically when you're reporting on highly flammable subject matter.

Second: The subhead has an opportunity for some semblance of balance, but instead opts for the here's an opinion; here's the denial format. Seen here:

Nashville activists warn churchgoers of violent threats to America; Muslims call campaign unfair

Reading four or five graphs into the story, one can find a decent rebuttal that digs deeper than "no we're not."

Lazy. Lazy. Lazy.

The rest of the story goes on to offer some incredibly interesting -- sometimes shocking (local) -- points of view, but I dare say that many people won't keep reading. They'll be happy with the negative opinion they formed from just the headline.

Are Coal-Fueled Power Plants Bad For Our Lungs?

Is The Tennessean a Threat to Journalism?

Is Tiger Woods a Danger to His Children?

Can Sponge Bob Squarepants be Trusted?

All of these headlines plant an opinion in the reader's mind. Rather than opening a reader's mind to various viewpoints, these types of headlines subconsciously, sometimes consciously, force a reader to pick a side immediately by answering "yes" or "no."

Once a reader has an opinion formed, is it necessary to keep reading? Probably not.

The Nondescript Apology by Tiger Woods

[caption id="attachment_121" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Tiger preparing to put his balls somewhere."][/caption]

"Personal sins should not require press releases and problems within a family shouldn't have to mean public confessions," Tiger Woods says in a press release posted at his personal Web site.

Oh, Tiger. You just don't get it.

He may have mastered the art of reading a 60-foot put (with help from performance-enhancing Eagle Eye vision surgery) but he doesn't know jack about public relations or celebrity media.

You cheated once twice (that we know of), that's given. It's fact. It was printed by The Enquirer.

Next step is to come out squarely denying or 'fess up. Full disclosure. This won't go away until TMZ and funny papers run out of angles. And by the sound of the rumors flying around — you've given them plenty of angles. If addressing the situation head on is not your style, than shut your trap and fall off the planet for a few years. 'Cause if you don't think this is going to be brought up at every golf telecast for the next year, I think you're sadly mistaken.

You can't put yourself out there to become the most recognizable face in, let's say, THE WORLD, and expect absolute privacy.

What's even worse is the nondescript, sort-of apology he issued under the title, "Tiger comments on current events." And not one mention of Obama's Afghanistan war strategy! Here are the highlights with my commentary inserted in red:

I have let my family down and I regret those transgressions with all of my heart. There "transgressions." Nice and tidy. Note the plural leaves plenty of ambiguity. I have not been true to my values and the behavior my family deserves. I am not without faults and I am far short of perfect. No shit, I've seen you off the tees. I am dealing with my behavior and personal failings behind closed doors with my family. Those feelings should be shared by us alone. He's trying for a sympathy card here, but it ain't workin'. Billionaire philanderer + hot wife = No sympathy.

Although I am a well-known person and have made my career as a professional athlete, I have been dismayed to realize the full extent of what tabloid scrutiny really means. Classic. Hang the messenger. Did I mention, NO ONE FEELS BAD FOR YOU? For the last week, my family and I have been hounded to expose intimate details of our personal lives. The stories in particular that physical violence played any role in the car accident were utterly false and malicious. She beats me, but I'll look like an ass if I say that here. Elin has always done more to support our family and shown more grace than anyone could possibly expect.

This next paragraph is incredibly boring and redundant. Let me sum it up. Why can't I just live a private life in my incredibly exclusive gated neighborhood in my multi-million dollar mansion? But no matter how intense curiosity about public figures can be, there is an important and deep principle at stake which is the right to some simple, human measure of privacy. I realize there are some who don't share my view on that. But for me, the virtue of privacy is one that must be protected in matters that are intimate and within one's own family. Personal sins should not require press releases and problems within a family shouldn't have to mean public confessions.

Whatever regrets I have about letting my family down have been shared with and felt by us alone. He's right about that. I could care less. I have given this a lot of reflection and thought and I believe that there is a point at which I must stick to that principle even though it's difficult.

I will strive to be a better person and the husband and father that my family deserves. For all of those who have supported me over the years, I offer my profound apology. Blah, blah, snore.

He would have been better off not saying a thing.