Michael Leahy

Bart Gordon (D-TN) Appears to be Concealing Taxpayer Funded European Vacation from Constituents

By Michael Patrick Leahy | 02/19/09

Incredible as it may seem, incumbent Democrat Congressman Bart Gordon (from Tennessee's Sixth Congressional District) appears to be actively concealing his taxpayer funded European vacation from his constituents. Republican challenger, inactive Army Reserve Major General Dave Evans has brought this story to light in his recent blogpost. The Washington Post reported on February 12 that Gordon would be accompanying Tennessee Congressman John... read more »

Wamp and Haslam Duke it Out for Republican Gubernatorial Money

By Michael Patrick Leahy | 02/15/09

It's all about the money. That's what Bill Haslam, Republican Mayor of Knoxville, and Zach Wamp, Republican Congressman from Chattanooga know is the bottom line in their race for the Republican Gubernatorial nomination in Tennessee. Though there are a few other announced contenders, insiders think the race is already down to these two. Haslam, whose father's oil business interests have made him a very wealthy man, held a fundraiser recently... read more »

Anuzis Combines Reagan Optimism with "Nuts and Bolts" Tech Savvy: Emerges as Late Ballot Contender to Win RNC Chair

By Michael Patrick Leahy | 01/29/09

For those of us who are conservative political junkies, tomorrow, Friday, January 30, is a big day. That's when the 168 Republican National Committee members who have gathered in Washington, D.C. vote to pick a new chairman. The six contenders have been politicking and playing a bit of hardball for the past several months, and now, the issue will soon be resolved. None of the six expect to tally up the necessary 85 votes to win on the first... read more »

Obama Fails to Preserve, Protect, and Defend the Constitution from Day One

By Michael Patrick Leahy | 01/20/09

When now President Barack Obama flubbed the lines of the inaugural oath yesterday (with a little help from Chief Justice Roberts) the symbolism of the stumble did not escape notice from those of us who doubt his devotion to the Constitution. Ultimately, however, President Obama did promise to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution, just as all of his predecessors have. It's Day One of his administration, and he's already failed in his... read more »

Will 1 Congressman and 1 Senator Challenge Obama Electoral College Votes Tomorrow ?

By Michael Patrick Leahy | 01/06/09

Yesterday, President-Elect Barack Obama promised an administration that will set a "new higher standard of accountability, transparency and oversight." Tomorrow, members of Congress will have an opportunity to ask the President-Elect to demonstrate some of that promised  transparency to the American people as it relates to details of his own personal history that are of Constitutional significance. Public Law 110-430 changed... read more »

Bill Frist Has Decided Not To Run For Governor of Tennessee

By Michael Patrick Leahy | 01/05/09

According to a news report on WWTN Radio in Nashville this morning, Former Republican Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist has decided not to run for Governor of Tennessee in the 2010 election. Frist, considered by most to be the odds on favorite to succeed incumbent Democrat Governor Phil Bredesen should he choose to seek the office, has formally informed apparent incoming Tennessee House Speaker Jason Mumpower (Republican from East... read more »

Bredesen's Handful of Sludge

By Michael Patrick Leahy | 01/04/09

On December 22, an accident at a TVA facility near the East Tennessee city of Kingston caused about one billion gallons of toxic coal ash to dump into a 300 acre area, which included parts of the nearby Emery River. Reports now say that the river and surrounding areas are contaminated with deadly arsenic and antimony at rates 150 times allowed by the EPA. A few days ago, Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen visited the site, and famously had a... read more »

The Audacity of the Woman with the Famous Political Name Who Wants to be New York's Senator

By Michael Patrick Leahy | 12/30/08

The woman in her early fifties has a famous political name. Despite her complete lack of qualifications for the office, she has decided she wants to be the United States Senator from New York. Though she's a graduate of an Ivy League law school, her practical experience is limited. Her biggest asset is her last name, and the fact that she's lived in the White House for several years of her life. A very close relative--the closest, in... read more »

Tennessee's Saltsman Stumbles Badly in RNC Chair Race

By Michael Patrick Leahy | 12/30/08

Former Tennessee GOP Chairman Chip Saltsman, fresh off a strong showing as manager of the Mike Huckabee Presidential Campaign, has stumbled badly in his efforts to become the new RNC Chairman. It's hard to imagine how he can recover from this bad mistake, and he would be well advised to withdraw his candidacy now, repair his reputation, and resurface again some time in the future. The issue arose last week, as most who follow the RNC Chair Race... read more »

Tennessee's Presidential Electors Cast Votes for McCain

By Michael Patrick Leahy | 12/15/08

Tennessee's eleven Presidential electors cast their votes today for John McCain today at the state capitol in Nashville. Each elector signed his name on the document that the Secretary of State of Tennessee is forwarding to Washington, D.C., where a combined session of Congress on January 6, 2009 will count the votes cast today in Tennessee and the other forty nine states. All the legal challenges to Barack Obama's natural citizen status appear... read more »