[Update 10/22/08: We received a response from Becky Ruppe yesterday.  Click here to read and/or discuss Ruppe's response.] Absent a response from 12th District State Senate candidate Becky Ruppe to our question about why Democrats — especially liberal ones — should vote for her on November 4, the administrators of Scott County Liberals & Friends [...]

[Join the discussion of this post on our Forum.] A few weeks ago, we published a profile of Morgan County Executive Becky Ruppe, Democratic candidate for the Tennessee State Senate from District 12. (Twelve is your State Senate district if you live in Scott, Fentress, Morgan, Campbell, Roane, or Rhea County.) Ruppe offered an impressive [...]

Incumbent U.S. Senators of either major party are notoriously difficult to unseat. Consider Democrat Robert Byrd of West Virginia, the longest-serving U.S. Senator in history at 49 years (and counting). Ted Kennedy has weathered controversy, tragedy, and a malignant brain tumor in his 45 years of Senate service for the state of Massachusetts. “Independent” Senator [...]

[UPDATE 10/15/2008: What a difference a campaign flyer can make. Given Becky Ruppe's apparent enthusiam for stirring up anti-gay, anti-secularist feeling in her bid for the Tennessee State Senate, we no longer back her candidacy. Read more here and here.] Let’s face it: Obama is probably not going to win Tennessee. Our state is solidly [...]

[Read the article, then join the discussion here!] Gary Boyatt preaches hate — plain & simple. He calls his program, which airs Sunday evenings at 8:30 on WBNT / OCV, “The Bible Believer’s Broadcast” but it might as well be “The Bible Thumper’s Broadcast.” He is Scott County’s very own Jerry Falwell. During one of [...]

Tennessee State House Representative Stacey Campfield (R-Knoxville/District 18) has introduced a bill that would prohibit K-8 classroom discussion of any sexual orientation other than heterosexuality. Link to the Memphis Flyer story Text of the bill (Adobe PDF) This from the same guy who proudly promotes “Confederate Values” bumper stickers, and who compared the Tennessee House [...]