http://gop.navpolitical.com/index.php en websites@navpolitical.com Copyright 2010 2010-08-19T21:49:33+00:00 http://www.rutherfordgop.org/index.php/chairmans-blog/time_to_stay_engaged/ http://www.rutherfordgop.org/index.php/chairmans-blog/time_to_stay_engaged/#When:21:49:33Z There is a tendency, this time of year as we endure the “dog days of summer”, to want to rest. Yes, rest is important. Rest is often essential.  But, relative to the future of Rutherford County, the State of Tennessee and Our Nation, we must not rest now. The primary races for State Representative, State Senator, U.S. Congress, and Governor have been decided. And, there is much to celebrate with the election of six republicans to serve as constitutional officers for Rutherford County for the next four years. But, there is still a general election to hold and we have exceptional, conservative republican candidates running who are worthy of your support. Now is the time to stay engaged. While the media discusses issues on a macro level with a focus on the impact of the federal government, it is actually the state government to which we must pay particular attention at this time. Here are a few reasons: First, this is a census year and the next legislature will make critical decisions on re-districting. It is imperative that this process be lead by a republican legislature. Realignment across the state will surely have an impact for many years to come based on the results of this latest census. Second, it is actually in the state legislature where our state sovereignty is defended. Because of this, we must send candidates to represent us who will fight for Tennessee values and the Tennessee Constitution. We must say “NO” to intrusion by the federal government whenever it is unwarranted or ill advised. But, this will require conservative, bold republicans to serve and to take a stand. Finally, during this upcoming legislative session, those same elected officials will be tasked with searching long and hard to develop ideas and methods to resolve the impending budget shortfall predicted to be as high as $1.5 billion. This financial crisis is due in large part due to the expiration of the federal stimulus dollars that propped up the state budget this past two years. For these reasons and more, it is imperative that “we stay engaged, now”. It is time to get involved and support these candidates as they work to earn our votes in the next few weeks. Help comes in many ways and methods. “Make A Difference!”       Office     Candidate         Tennessee Governor     Bill Haslam         U.S. 6th Congressional District     Diane Black         State Senator, 13th District     Bill Ketron (I)         State Representative, 34th District     Rick Womick         State Representative, 48th District     Joe Carr (I)         State Representative, 49th District     Mike Sparks         State Representative, 62nd District     Pat Marsh (I)   2010-08-19T21:49:33+00:00 http://www.rutherfordgop.org/index.php/chairmans-blog/republicans_victorious_on_election_day/ http://www.rutherfordgop.org/index.php/chairmans-blog/republicans_victorious_on_election_day/#When:05:01:04Z Election Night, August 5, 2010, begins a new era in Rutherford County politics. After fielding a candidate for each of the six constitutional offices for the first time at their caucus in March, the Republican Party of Rutherford County now celebrates their victories. With the election of four newcomers and re-election of two proven leaders, Rutherford County and its citizens are indeed winners.   The biggest victory for the citizens of Rutherford County was perhaps the election of Sheriffs Deputy Robert Arnold as Sheriff, ending the 26 year reign of Democrat incumbent Truman Jones Jr. “They said it wasn’t possible. They said I was going up against ‘the machine’,” declared Arnold during his victory speech.   Beginning in September, three Republican women will serve the citizens of Rutherford County for the first time. The three women elected are Lisa Duke Crowell, Laura Bohling and Heather Dawbarn. In the race for County Clerk, Lisa Duke Crowell handily defeated Democrat Lisa Harrell. Crowell, a successful realtor, received 60% of the vote and replaces Democrat Georgia Lynch who did not seek re-election. Republicans also celebrate the selection of Laura Bohling over incumbent  Democrat Eloise Gaither as Rutherford County Circuit Court Clerk. Bohling, an administrative professional, garnered 54% of the votes. The third, local business woman Heather Dawbarn, defeated incumbent Democrat Jennifer Meagher Gerhart in Thursday’s race for Register of Deeds.   Congratulations also go to two incumbent Republicans who were re-elected. The first is Mayor Ernest Burgess who will serve another four year term as chief operating officer of the county. “I’m grateful that the public believes in me. They believe that I can lead with honesty and integrity. I have to thank everyone for their support.” Mayor Burgess received 69% of the votes cast, easily defeating Independent David Limbaugh. Also re-elected August 5th was Rutherford County Trustee Teb Batey who ran unopposed and received more than 23,000 votes.   The Republican Party of Rutherford County congratulates all these exceptional people and wishes them much success as they serve the residents of Rutherford County for the next four years. 2010-08-06T05:01:04+00:00 http://www.rutherfordgop.org/index.php/chairmans-blog/we_the_people/ http://www.rutherfordgop.org/index.php/chairmans-blog/we_the_people/#When:14:43:11Z We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. In the last quarter of the 18th Century, no nation in the world was governed with separated and divided powers providing checks and balances on the exercise of authority by those who governed.  A first step toward such a result was taken with the Declaration of Independence in 1776, which was followed by the Constitution drafted in Philadelphia in 1787; in 1791 the first ten amendments were added and henceforth were called the Bill of Rights. The work of 55 men at Philadelphia in 1787 was another blow to the concept of the divine right of kings. The freedoms flowing from this Constitution created a land of opportunities. Discouraged and oppressed people from every part of the world made their way to the shores of this great country. There were many others too who risked all they had to come to America, seeking new life and new freedoms in a new land. Our Founding Fathers, in writing the Constitution, set forth the fundamental principles of freedom that we Americans have cherished for over 230 years. They realized the danger of placing too much power in any one branch of government. This is why they specifically defined the powers of the federal government in Article I, Section 8. Their intent was to limit the federal government and to ensure that the “States and the People within those States,” retained the power to govern themselves! Article I, Section 8, specifically outlines the twenty powers of Congress. These twenty powers give Congress the ability to provide for our national and internal defense, coin, regulate and raise money, maintain a military, establish a lower court system, declare war, build roads, and run a postal system. However, even with this section’s clear and concise definition of power, many of our Founding Fathers felt that the federal government was too powerful. Therefore, in order for the full ratification of the Constitution to occur, there were ten amendments added, which soon became known as the “Bill of Rights.” The tenth amendment addressed their fear of an overbearing and strong central government by stating, “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” Because of this one simple amendment, the Constitution gives NO power to the federal government to impose social welfare, health care, energy regulation or to confiscate any of the private sector! Only do the individual States, or the people within those States have that power. Yet today we see President Obama and the Democrats ignoring the Constitution and usurping it to meet their Marxist agenda. James Madison, the Father of our Constitution, commented that we were to take the text written in the Constitution literally when he stated; “Do not separate text from historical background. If you do, you will have subverted and perverted the Constitution, which can only end in a distorted, bastardized form of illegitimate government.” Today, we are witnessing the subversion and perversion of our Constitution, and the result is an illegitimate and distorted federal government.  Instead of following the Constitution, the Democrats and President Obama have created their own “Democrat Manifesto” to replace the Constitution.  Here’s how it goes: “We the Elite ruling class, do hereby decree, that massive, out of control government spending and entitlement programs are a right and granted to you by the Democrat Party.  It is our destiny to ensure total government dependency, punitive taxation, and the removal of all freedoms and liberties from American society.  We will redistribute wealth, destroy capitalism, promote the global warming hoax, maintain a culture of political corruption, make backroom deals to benefit the few, takeover the banks, takeover the automobile industry, pass more intrusive regulations, take control of the health care system, promote union thuggery, guarantee election fraud, give terrorist Constitutional rights, destroy small businesses, subvert the public education system, loathe and defund the military and ultimately take away your right to own a gun.  In the true spirit of this manifesto, we exempt ourselves from the very laws that we have so arrogantly imposed upon you and we will create a “civilian defense force” to enforce the principles of this manifesto!” My friends, over 90% of this “manifesto” has already occurred or is occurring, and we have stood by and watch it happen. Abraham Lincoln once said: “America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.”  We are witnessing the rise of unbridled tyranny and it is up to us to stand up and be the defenders of the Constitution.  It is time for America to rise from the ash heap of liberalism and make our voices heard… America Rising….Vote November 2nd, 2010 2010-04-05T14:43:11+00:00 http://www.rutherfordgop.org/index.php/chairmans-blog/meet_rick_womick/ http://www.rutherfordgop.org/index.php/chairmans-blog/meet_rick_womick/#When:20:53:37Z For our Chairman, common sense and patriotism go hand-in-hand.  This is how Rick has always lived his life.  After graduating from college in 1980, he became a public school teacher and high school football coach.  In 1983, Rick entered the U.S. Air Force and served as an F-15 Fighter Pilot through the 1st Gulf War. It was during this time that he met Jan, his beautiful wife of 22 years.  In 1992, Rick left active duty to go to work for American Airlines, as a pilot, based in Nashville.  Rick was flying 140 people from Dallas to Los Angeles on the morning that the events of September 11th occurred.  He has since become a licensed Federal Law Enforcement Officer and qualified to carry a firearm in the cockpit while flying.  Rick is still employed by American as a Boeing 777 pilot. He and Jan have been blessed with four wonderful children and have been living in Murfreesboro, Tennessee since 1993. 2010-03-05T20:53:37+00:00