West Tennessee Conservative

A Must Watch

2011-12-17T19:33:00.000-08:00

They Always Tell You What Is Coming

2011-07-03T07:24:00.000-07:00

One thing about those pesky statists and "New World Order" folks, they will always tell what is coming.

Folks, this is what is coming for us, from Reuters

Greek sovereignty to be massively limited: Juncker

8:07am EDT
By Erik Kirschbaum
BERLIN (Reuters) - Greece faces severe restrictions on its sovereignty and must privatize state assets on a scale similar to the sell off of East German firms in the 1990s after communism fell, Eurogroup chairman Jean-Claude Juncker said.

In an interview published after euro zone finance ministers in the Eurogroup approved a further 12 billion euro ($17.43 billion) installment of Greece's bailout, Juncker said he was optimistic that measures agreed with Athens would help to resolve the country's problems.

"The sovereignty of Greece will be massively limited," he told Germany's Focus magazine in the interview released on Sunday, adding that teams of experts from around the euro zone would heading to Greece.

"For the forthcoming wave of privatizations they will need, for example, a solution based on a model of Germany's 'Treuhand agency'," Juncker added, referring to the privatization agency that sold off 14,000 East German firms between 1990 and 1994.

The Greek parliament voted on Thursday to set up a privatization agency under austerity plans agreed with the European Union and IMF which have provoked violent protests on the streets of Athens.

Greeks are acutely sensitive to any infringement of their sovereignty or suggestions of foreign "commissars" getting involved in running the country.

"One cannot be allowed to insult the Greeks. But one has to help them. They have said they are ready to accept expertise from the euro zone," Juncker said.

Athens must sell off five billion euros in state assets this year alone or risk missing targets set under its EU/IMF program, which could cut off its funding needed to keep the government running and avoid a debt default.

A repeat of Germany's Treuhand experience may prove bitter for Greeks, who are already suffering soaring unemployment as a recession drags into its third year.

Once the world's biggest holding company, Treuhand was supposed to sell off state property at a profit but closed its books with a huge deficit and a legacy of bitterness among the legions of workers whose jobs it destroyed.

Four million Germans were employed by Treuhand-owned companies in 1990 but only about 1.5 million jobs were left in 1994 when the agency closed.

Instead of reaping profits to be distributed to all east Germans, as it was designed to do, it ran up debts of 270 billion marks ($172 billion) in the fire sale of assets.

"NOT FULLY FUNCTIONAL"
Juncker, also Luxembourg's Prime Minister, first floated the idea of a Treuhand-style agency for Greece in May. He said then he believed Greece could raise considerably more than the 50 billion euros in asset sales.

"The current package of measures, which Athens has agreed to, will bring a solution to the Greek question," he said in the Focus interview. However, he added that the Greek tax collection system was "not fully functional."

On Saturday, euro zone finance ministers agreed that the fifth tranche of the 110-billion-euro bailout agreed with Greece in May 2010 would be paid by July 15, as long as the IMF's board signs off on the disbursement. The IMF is expected to meet on July 8 to approve it.

The payment will allow Greece to avoid the immediate threat of default, but the country still needs a second rescue package, which is also expected also to total around 110 billion euros and which will now probably be finalized only in September.

Juncker said the Greek crisis had been largely caused by itself. "Between 1999 and 2010 wages rose 106.6 percent even though the economy did not grow at the same pace. The wage policies were completely out of control and not based on (gains in) productivity," he said.

Alexander, Corker Trade Principles, US Security For Pork

2010-12-24T06:24:00.000-08:00

Just in case you were wondering exactly why our two US Senators from Tennessee would vote in favor of ratifying the new START Treaty, I'll go ahead and let the cat out of the bag for you:

Pork.

Yes, that's right, Pork. No, not the "other white meat", in this case it's $6.5 BILLION of YOUR TAX DOLLARS to "refurbish" Oak Ridge National Labratories.

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20101222/NEWS01/101222034/Oak-Ridge-to-get-major-boost-from-START-treaty

Thank you Bob Corker and Lamar Alexander for throwing away our National Security for some pork coming back home. Merry Christmas!

Herron, Carter, losing National Party Support in TN 6th and 8th Districts

2010-10-04T11:19:00.000-07:00

From the TN GOP:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Monday, October 4, 2010 PERMALINK
CONTACT:
Kim Ketchel, (615) 269-4260, kim@tngop.org

DEMOCRATS THROW IN THE TOWEL IN TN-06, SEE TN-08 SLIPPING AWAY

NASHVILLE, TN - A recent report from the Associated Press suggests that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) - the national organization that works to elect Democrats to the U.S. House of Representatives - has all but given up on retaining Tennessee's Sixth Congressional District. The report also says the DCCC hasn't decided whether they should fund television advertising in Tennessee's Eighth Congressional District. According to the report:

"Democrats have all but written off at least three Senate seats -- in North Dakota, Indiana and Arkansas -- and at least six House seats in Tennessee, Louisiana, New York and elsewhere as they embark on a final-weeks advertising push to minimize congressional election losses...
Democrats already appear resigned to losing at least six House seats. They include four districts left open by retirements and where no advertising is planned: Tennessee's 6th, Louisiana's 3rd, New York's 29th and Kansas' 3rd... Democrats also are trying to determine whether to move forward with advertising plans to win open Democratic-held seats like Tennessee's 8th..."

"While Brett Carter and Roy Herron fight to convince voters they still have a chance, the DCCC has a more realistic view of their opportunities - or lack thereof - in the Volunteer State," said Tennessee Republican Party Chairman Chris Devaney. "Decades of Democrat control in these districts is coming to an end and Democrats on the national level recognize their resources would be better spent elsewhere. This news is extremely encouraging for Republicans, but it is still critically important for our voters to get to the polls in November to ensure these districts are finally given true conservative leadership - leadership Democrats know their candidates can't provide."

It's All In The Words...

2010-08-10T05:32:00.000-07:00

Roy Herron spoke at the Old Country Store in Jackson, TN Monday morning 8/9/10, according to an article in today's Jackson Sun online edition.

Quoted from the article:

His ideas for improving Tennessee differ from that of his opponent, Republican Stephen Fincher, he said.
"After watching the largest, nastiest, costliest primary in the country, I heard the things said about the other two people running," he said. "Things were said about Dr. Kirkland that were just wrong."

Kirkland's willingness to reach across the aisle was heavily criticized, Herron said.

"All the progress that's been made in this state and the country have been done by good people — Democrat and Republican — working together," he said. "People need to be Americans first, then Tennesseans and then maybe politics can come third."

I have a few bones to pick with your comments, Roy.

When "progress" is made, it is because a Republican somewhere has compromised their principles and taken sides with the Democrats.

Elena Kagan- obvious leftist and judicial activist- confirmed to the Supreme Court by- Republicans "crossing the aisle"...

Roy wants us to be "Americans first, then Tennesseans, then "politics" can come third?

This is the fundamantal difference between true conservatives, and Roy Herron:

True Christian Conservatives know and understand the Natural Rights of man. We are made of God- individuals first, then members of our families, our communities, our region, then our state, and then our country. Our rights come from God, not government, and they apply to each of us, equally, as individuals. Our order goes from the bottom-up

Roy's philosophy is the exact opposite- put the "collective" first- "the country" over the individual- note the order is from the top- down.

This is just another way of Roy saying "I'm a progressive." This rejection of the Natural Rights of man is what seperates the "Progressives" from Conservatives.

Fact is, from Obama, to Elena Kagan, to Roy Herron- these people have to lie about who they really are in order to get into power, but if you look closely at what they say, they indeed tell you who they really are.

It's all in the words.

Dr. Ron Kirkland, not the man he says he is...

2010-06-17T18:30:00.000-07:00

Dear Fellow Conservatives,

I have been looking into the activities of Dr. Ron Kirkland, candidate for the TN 8th Congressional District. What I have found casts serious doubt as to his motives for running for this office.

I urge anyone interested to look into the information I have found, and decide for yourselves.

About Dr. Kirkland:

Jackson physician Dr. Ronald Kirkland, a practicing physician for 25 years, Dr. Kirkland is the immediate past Chairman of the Board of The Jackson Clinic, a multispecialty medical group comprising over 120 physicians in 14 West Tennessee locations.

Dr. Kirkland also served as Chair of the Board of the American Medical Group Association based in Alexandria, Virginia, in 2008.

During his first appearance on "The Mike Slater Show", which is broadcast on WTJS, Dr. Kirkland stated that:

"I could not run against John Tanner, I’ll say that again. What I chose to do was to take advantage of our close friendship and call him and plead with him at times to please vote the conservative line of the people of the 8th congressional district whom he represented in Washington. And I think I was effective in that."

Considering that Tanner has voted with House Speaker Nanci Pelosi over 90% of the time, I'm not exactly sure how effective Dr. Kirkland was in influencing Congressman Tanner, or was he?

Kirkland has been campaigning around the 8th District saying he is a "true conservative", however his own words, and even more importantly his own actions, speak very differently.

Along with donating money to John Tanner in the past, Kirkland has also donated money to liberal Democrat State Senator Lowe Finney (D-Jackson). When asked about his campaign contributions by Mike Slater, Kirkland responded "In my role as chairman of the board of the Jackson Clinic, it’s been necessary to speak to our representatives up there....it’s just appropriate that you help someone a little bit politically if they help you.

Which begs the question-

Dr. Kirkland was Chairman of the Board of the American Medical Group Association (AMGA) in 2008, the very time healthcare legislation now passed into law and known as Obamacare was being written.

I have found published donations to Members of Congress while Kirkland was Chair of the AMGA, and it reads like a Who's Who of the most liberal Democrats on the Hill.

1.) Max Baucus ($10,000!!!!) (D-Montana)
2.)Pete Stark (D-California)
3.)Anna Eschoo (D-California)
4.)Earl Pomeroy (D-North Dakota)
5.)RAHM EMANUEL (No explanation needed)
6.)John Dingell (D-Michigan)

The donations of the AMGA to candidates for the 2010 election cycle gets even better
1.) Nan Hayworth AMGA member $5,000 (Running for NY 19th Seat- got more info on her down the email a little bit)
2.) Our own RON KIRKLAND- AMGA Member- $5000!
3.)Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota) Senator
4.)CHARLIE RANGEL (D-Harlem)
5.)Chuck Schumer (D-NY)
6.)Steny Hoyer (Pelosi's Right Hand Man)
7.)Max Baucus
And my favorite:
8.)HARRY REID!!!

Why all this money to liberal Democrats, especially THESE? They all have to do with controlling Obamacare legislation. Kirkland saying he had no control over, or no idea who the AMGA giving money to while serving as Chair of the AMGA is like Steve Jobs saying he had no clue Apple was developing the iPhone...

So, you may be wondering why was Kirkland and the AMGA throwing money at these people? What were they trying to get written into Obamacare?

I'll tell you.

Ron Kirkland admits "I've helped form health policy at the national level."

"The American Medical Group Association (AMGA) announced significant accomplishments in its advocacy efforts.....with the inclusion of language establishing Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) in the recently passed health reform legislation" (AMGA News, March 29, 2010)

You maybe wondering what an "Accountable Care Organization" or "ACO" is. Here's what the AMGA says an ACO is: "The AMGA, Alexandria, Va., said multispecialty medical groups “already function” as accountable care groups " (Modern Healthcare Magazine, "AMGA Releases Principles for Accountable Care Organizations", June 3, 2010)

That is, multispecialty medical groups, just like The Jackson Clinic.

So what? Well, here's where it gets good. Looks like Dr. Kirkland and the Doctors at The Jackson Clinic stand to make out like bandits financially with the passage of Obamacare, thanks to the legislative language the AMGA donations and lobbyists (like Dr. Kirkland) got inserted into Obamacare creating these "ACO's".

From the same article in Modern Healthcare Magazine: "HHS officials are drafting rules for such accountable care groups to begin in 2012 under provisions in this year's health reform law that allows Medicare to give a cut of the savings to groups that meet cost-control and quality targets."

This all started with Dr. Kirkland and the AMGA getting an $18,000 per Doctor subsidy written into the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (or porkulus bill). $18,000 per doctor doesn't sound like a lot, but multiply that times the 105,000 doctors who make up the AMGA and you get a total of well over ONE BILLION DOLLARS. All taxpayer money.

And Kirkland has the gall to call out other candidates for taking $3 million in farm subsidies over the last 10 years, when he spends a BILLION of our taxpayer dollars in one shot?

Well, you may be asking, what does this have to do with everything else?

The $18,000 per doctor subsidy is supposed to be for the purchase of Electronic Medical Record software, which will take the place of the patients ability to determine whether or not they are receiving quality service from their doctor.

From Modern Healthcare Magazine, "AMGA leaders urge members to raise their voices", March 4, 2009:

"Immediate past chairman, Ronald Kirkland, who chairs the board for the Jackson (Tenn.) Clinic Professional Association, noted how congressional staffers reached out to the AMGA while drafting the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, leading to the inclusion of an $18,000 subsidy for physicians who adopt information technology.

Kirkland told the AMGA members that they can pay their dues with that amount, and added that “if this doesn’t excite you, ask a doctor to check your pulse.”

Bureaucracies love documents, and the EMR software is designed to show these "cost-saving" measures that will earn these doctors their cut of supposed Medicare savings.

Basically, Ron and the AMGA paid members of Congress to make him and his AMGA cronies even richer.

Not to mention, the Federal Government in 2012 will mandate everyone on Medicare/Medicaid and the Govt healthcare plan will have to use these "ACO's" (like the Jackson Clinic), taking away our choice of doctor, and running out of practice private physicians.

Now to part II of Dr. Kirkland.

Dr. Kirkland says he is pro-life. His campaign team released a statement stating "In NY-23 last year, national Republican politicians backed Dede Scozzafava, a liberal Republican, over Doug Hoffman, a conservative accountant."

Funny, especially when Kirkland himself has donated to the campaign of fellow AMGA member Dr. Nan Hayworth, who is running for the NY 19th District seat in the House. Hayworth is PRO-CHOICE and MODERATE

Hayworth's husband, Scott Hayworth, also a donor to Kirkland's campaign, happens to be the current Chair of the AMGA, and an abortion doctor, and pro-abortion activist with ACOG in NY.

Add in Kirkland's big brother Robert Kirkland, who has already spent over $500,000 of his own money IN THE PRIMARY in an "Independent Expenditure" campaign that has been ethically questioned to help little brother Ronald get elected, in addition to the $250,000 Ron Kirkland himself loaned his campaign.

Why is Ron so determined to occupy the 8th District seat?

I have attempted to ask the Kirkland campaign numerous times to address these issues, and I have received nothing but silence.

I have sent this information to every news organization in the 8th District, once again, nothing but silence.

I guess the newspapers would rather have all of that Kirkland advertising money coming in than to post factual information or engage in any actual journalism that would result in not-so-flattering information coming out about Dr. Kirkland.

So, I am posting this in the hopes that independent minded individuals will at least take a look, and if you get a chance "Ask Dr. Ron" yourselves about all of his activities.

Patriotically,

The West Tennessee Conservative

See Roy Run, From his Pro-Obamacare Stance...

2010-05-24T06:41:00.000-07:00

In March – after three months of silence – liberal career politician Roy Herron finally said he would’ve voted against Obamacare in response to GOP pressure:

“Starting today, the National Republican Congressional Committee will make automated calls in West Tennessee targeting Dresden State Sen. Roy Herron, the presumed frontrunner to be the Democratic nominee for the 8th congressional district seat, and his position on health care reform…In an e-mail, Herron senior adviser Carol Andrews responded: ‘Roy Herron is opposed to the legislation. He does not think we can afford a new trillion dollar program, and we should focus first on getting the economy fixed and getting jobs here. Roy’s top priority on health care is to hold costs down, and there is no evidence this bill would accomplish that.’” (Nicholas Beadle, “Republicans target Herron in automated calls on health care reform; Herron responds,” Jackson Sun “Motion Carried,” 3/4/10)

But in contrast to some Blue Dog Democrats, Roy supports allowing parts of Obama’s job-killing, Medicare-cutting healthcare takeover to remain law:

“…Blue Dog [Democrat] U.S. Rep. Mike McIntyre of North Carolina supports repealing the legislation whereas Herron said in an appearance in Carroll County this week that he would salvage parts of the bill he considers helpful and cut out those he thinks are bad.” (Nicholas Beadle, “NRCC still working hard to tie Herron to health care bill,” Jackson Sun “Motion Carried,” 4/8/10)

Tennesseans still don’t know which part(s) of the bill he opposes – he refused to tell the Jackson Sun this weekend:

“…Herron said he would work toward a more surgical approach aimed at improving the bill. As he has on the campaign trail, he said he would preserve ‘common-sense’ pieces of the bill…He said he would try to remove sections of the law ‘could harm Tennessee families and small businesses,’ but his campaign did not indicate specifically what provisions he thinks should be killed, though asked to do so in the survey.” (Nicholas Beadle, “8th District candidates tackle the big questions,” Jackson Sun, 5/23/10)

So why is Roy running from questions about his Obamacare stance? Voters can only assume he supports one or more of its deeply unpopular provisions – which begs the question: which one(s)?

Given his record, it could be the job-killing tax hikes…

“Roy Herron…supported the income tax in the past…Herron introduced a resolution in 2000 proposing a constitutional amendment to do away with the Hall income tax and allow the General Assembly to enact a tax on personal income over $100,000 annually for individuals or $200,000 annually for a married couple.” (Jeff Woods, “Along with McMillan, Herron and Kyle Supported State Income Taxes Too,” Nashville Scene “Pith in the Wind,” 7/24/09)

“Sen. Roy Herron, D-Dresden, an income tax supporter…” (Karin Miller, “Tennessee increases its sales tax,” Associated Press, 7/4/02)

“A third proposal was drafted by Sen. Roy Herron…It would simply authorize the six-figure income tax…” (Tom Humphrey and Rebecca Farrar, “Lawmakers still wrangling over budget solution,” Knoxville News-Sentinel, 6/13/00)

…Or the door it leaves open to abortion funding…

“…he's also voted against bills that sought to halt the state's funding of abortions.” (Jackson Sun, 10/28/04)

“…an earlier amendment by Sen. Roy Herron, D-Dresden…would have enshrined in the constitution the right to abortion in the three cases.” (Memphis Commercial Appeal, 3/9/04)

“…pro-choice Sen. Roy Herron…” (Knoxville News-Sentinel, 2/29/04)

“…[Herron] voted against the constitutional amendment on abortion backed by Tennessee Right to Life.” (The Tennessee Journal, 12/4/09)

…Or is it simply the idea of government-run healthcare in general?

In 1993 – when President Bill Clinton and Rep. Jim Cooper (D-TN) offered up similar government healthcare takeover plans – he supported their efforts.

“‘Do not give up on universal coverage,’ asked Clinton. Cooper followed Clinton and said his approach was much closer to Clinton's bill than either the single-payer plan proposed by liberal Democrats or the moderate Republican plan. ‘We are also committed to achieving universal coverage, and I think it should be on the President's timetable of 1998,’ said Cooper…Tennesseans and Mississippians attending the DLC's annual conference said they believe Clinton is now on the right path after a rocky start…‘The big issue for a lot of us is health care reform,’ said Tennessee State Rep. Roy Herron of Dresden. ‘I hope he and Congressman Cooper would continue to talk and find a solution.’” (James Brosnan, “Clinton, DLC tout success; health care split looms,” Memphis Commercial Appeal, 12/4/93)

“‘Our bills are very similar,’ Cooper acknowledged last month. ‘(They) have a lot in common and we’re very proud of that’…Indeed, like Clinton, Cooper would turn over control of America's health care system to the government.” (Joseph Perkins, “Clinton Lite: `Rival' health reform plan is just as ill-advised,” San Diego Union Tribune, 3/11/94)

“Alternatives rising in Congress, as support for President Clinton's original health care reform plan dwindles, have flaws…One, called ‘Clinton-Lite’ because of its resemblance to Clinton's proposed Health Security Act…would force people into government-approved health care plans, severely limit health care options, make employees pay more, and limit choice of doctors and access to specialists…With other features similar to Clinton's plan, Cooper-Grandy would move relentlessly toward greater regulation and more taxes - things lawmakers claim they want to avoid.” (“Beware ‘Clinton Lite,’ Daily Oklahoman EDITORIAL, 4/19/94)

And Roy was a vocal supporter of TennCare, a disastrous state-level precursor to Obamacare.

“Tennessee in a year has done what Washington talks about doing in a decade. Washington aims for 95 percent of our citizens to have health insurance in the next millennium. Tennessee will achieve it next month.” (Roy Herron, “A ‘Tennessee Treasure,’ Memphis Commercial Appeal, 12/25/94)

“Sen. Herron said that TennCare has been beneficial to the state in a number of ways.” (Michael Finn, “Legislator Cites Difficulty In Obtaining Tenncare Info,” Chattanooga Times Free Press, 10/10/97)

“In 1994, Tennessee launched an ambitious public insurance program to cover its uninsured. The plan, TennCare, fulfilled that mission but nearly bankrupted the state in the process. As originally envisioned, the Tennessee plan expanded Medicaid, the government health-care program for the poor, to cover people who couldn't afford insurance or who had been denied coverage by an insurance company. With an initial budget of $2.6 billion, TennCare quickly extended coverage to an additional 500,000 people by making access to its plans easy and affordable. But the program became so expensive that Tennessee was forced to scale it back in 2005. Now, as Congress debates a national health-care overhaul, state experiments like Tennessee’s are informing the discussion.” (Avery Johnson, “Tennessee Experiment's High Cost Fuels Health-Care Debate,” Wall Street Journal, 8/17/09)

“Years ago Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen, a Democrat, called it a ‘disaster.’ Today President Obama calls the same idea ‘reform.’ Both the president's prescription for the uninsured and Tennessee's TennCare program are premised on the same sugar pill: a vast expansion of health insurance coverage without affecting cost or quality…Given Tennessee's predictable experience, one wonders what ObamaCare cheerleaders have been smoking. No wonder attorneys general in so many states have gone to court.” (“The TennCare lesson: A national disaster,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review EDITORIAL, 3/27/10)

Bad Sportsmanship

2010-05-20T18:48:00.000-07:00

Ron Kirkland has bought the domain name http://www.stevenfincher.org/

Click on it and it takes you directly to http://www.votekirkland.com/

Of course Fincher's name is spelled STEPHEN FINCHER and his website is http://www.stephenfincher.org/

but, steven is a common spelling of the name and folks who innocently misspell the name are taken to Kirklands website?

And Kirkland talks of integrity?

This is just another example of the jerk of a person Kirkland is.

ADDENDUM: 6/18/10

Thank you Patsy for your comment.

We have discovered (via Patsy) that Kirkland (through HIS "DC Insiders") has also purchased the domain names www.stephenfincherforcongress.net, www.stephenfincherforcongress.org, and www.stephenfincherforcongress.com, where Stephen's name is spelled correctly.

Kirkland and his campaign's hypocricy apparently knows no bounds.

Also, Kirkland has released his financial records....well MOST of them.

Still missing are his INVESTMENTS.

Wonder if there are any investments in healthcare technology companies that make EMR software?

Or any investments in the healthcare industry that will pay off big with the passage of Obamacare?

Perhaps we should "Ask Dr. Ron" about that too...

(Political) Actions Speak Louder Than Words

2010-04-27T10:26:00.000-07:00

Actions speak louder than words, especially in the case of Dr. Ronald Kirkland.

You want to know what the AMGA and Ron Kirkland want to do with our healthcare? Look here:http://www.amga.org/Advocacy/hrp.pdf

Pay specific attention to page 2, roman numerals “II”,"III”, "IV", "V", "VI", "VII" and "VII" respictively.

A matter of "national policy" for the Federal Government to MANDATE use of multispecialty clinics (like the Jackson Clinic)???

All through the document, you may replace the word "incentivize" with "subsidize".

Also watch Ron Kirkland from the Tea Party July 4, 2009 and listen to what his reform ideas for the healthcare system are. They are directly taken from the AMGA policy. Video can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBT1Yi4Y7qY

Once again, you may replace his use of the word "incentivize" with "subsidize" all throughout the video.

Dr. Kirkland SAYS he is a conservative and the USA has the best healthcare system in the world (July 4 youtube video) so why does Ron think we should remake our healthcare system into the one Australia has? http://www.nwtntoday.com/news.php?viewStory=36107

From the article: “With the country focused on healthcare, the unique perspective of a physician is not to be “sneezed” at. In addition, Kirkland has been chairman of the board of the Jackson Clinic, with 120 physicians on staff, and has served as chairman of the board of the American Medical Group Association. The latter has given him a view of healthcare policy at the national level that few in government can claim.”

Kirklands own words from the article: “In Australia, the government subsidizes healthcare premiums for those who cannot pay. If we went to that model, needy American citizens could take that subsidy and add their own money to buy into private health insurance plans…”

Hint: Australia's healthcare system is a SOCIALIZED system.

Fact is, Ron and the AMGA had a large hand in writing the healthcare bill he now says he wants to repeal. Should this policy of government mandated use of multispecialty clinics (like the Jackson Clinic) be made into law, the patient will no longer have choice of doctor, and no longer have a say in whether they are recieving good quality care. That will be determined by the “standardized forms” in the Electronic Medical Record software.

In essence, the policy will create a monopoly of multispecialty clinics and all doctors who do not join the government preferred clinic will be forced out of practice or accept only patients who can pay cash for services all while Kirkland and his rich Doctor buddies are rolling in the cash cow they created.

Advocating a "healthcare model" that robs individual patients of doctor choice on top of taking away the ability of the individual patient to determine for themselves whether or not they recieve "quality" care from thier doctor? This is based on "conservative" principles?

Advocating a policy that will eliminate competition and "clear the playing field" for the Jackson Clinic here in West TN is based on "conservative" principles?

But the policy does ensure one thing, it makes sure Ron Kirkland gets paid, and paid well.

And we wonder why Ron recently got his MBA….

But wait, there's more:

From AMGAPAC.org:

“•Contributions to AMGA-PAC help AMGA gain access to members of Congress and staff to discuss important issues
•100% of contributions go to influence and educate members of Congress who support our delivery system model of care”

Here are a few elected officials who the AMGA gave money to while Ron was chair of the AMGA in 2008:http://soprweb.senate.gov/index.cfm?event=getFilingDetails&filingID=93392B23-124E-481E-A304-3D1D2F1A46CD

Who they gave to on a Federal level in 2008:http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgot.php?cmte=C00408120&cycle=2008

And in 2010:http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgot.php?cmte=C00408120&cycle=2010

Ron Kirkland the 2nd largest individual donor to AMGA-PAC in 2010: http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgave2.php?cmte=C00408120&cycle=2010

Ron Kirkland the largest donor in 2008:http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgave2.php?cmte=C00408120&cycle=2008

What Ron Kirkland has to say about it all: “AMGA wants to be close to all the leaders in Congress who are making the laws of the land,” Kirkland said when asked about the contributions...” quote found here: http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000003636106&cpage=2 )

How influential have Ron and the AMGA been? Straight from the house “Ways and Means” committee:http://waysandmeans.house.gov/Media/pdf/111/HCare/DELIVERY_REFORM.pdf

Now compare the above document with the AMGA policy statement: http://www.amga.org/Advocacy/hrp.pdf and tell me Kirkland has had no influence on writing the healthcare bill he now SAYS he wants to repeal.

Ron Kirkland and his campaign staff have the gall to attempt to paint a Frog Jump farmer Stephen Fincher as a “Washington Insider” due to the attention and support he (Stephen Fincher) has recieved from the National Republican Congressional Campaign Committee?

Fact is Ron Kirkland was vetted by the very same NRCC who chose Fincher over Kirkland. (Largely due to Kirkland's ties to Democrats and shaping the healthcare bill)

After all of Kirkland’s efforts at influencing Congressional Democrats to write his (Kirkland’s) own special interests (read $$$$) into the healthcare bill, he and the campaign are marching all over the 8th District touting that he (Kirkland) is a "true conservative"??

I think the case is overwhelmingly clear that Dr. Ronald Kirkland is part of the problem, not the solution to the ways of DC.

Dolla Dolla Bill, Yo.

2010-04-23T03:32:00.000-07:00

Do the Kirkland's think they can buy our congressional seat??

The Kirkland's have already put $500,000 into Ron Kirkland's campaign. And they are just getting started. Whoever heard of arguing that a brother can do an "independent" expenditure for his brother? They can't even get their stories straight in the newspaper. One day, the brothers aren't talking at all! The next day, they talk, but they just don't discuss the campaign. The next day they are back to not talking at all.

There are serious violations of the law involved here - independent expenditures are LEGALLY required to be independent. Analysts with the Federal Election Commission say it's a "slam dunk" violation of the law. The two campaigns have even shared staff. It's a real mess. Every single person working for Ron Kirkland and Bob Kirkland will end up having to hire a lawyer and go to court. Depositions. Lawsuits. And quite possibly federal court.

Wouldn't it have just been easier to do what real candidates do? Raise the money yourself. Abide by the law.

But I suspect the voters will decide that our congressional seat is not for sale.

Why Roy Herron Opposes AG-Election Bill

2010-04-20T16:13:00.000-07:00

Had this email forwarded to me today, it's from the NRCC concerning Roy Herron and the Attorney General Election Bill. Gonna have to try and get on thier mailing list, this is good stuff:

Tennessee’s attorney general is refusing to join other states in challenging the constitutionality of Obamacare…

“[Tennessee Attorney General Robert] Cooper issued a formal advisory opinion Tuesday that said the Tennessee legislature's main effort to nullify the federal health reform act likely is itself an unconstitutional attempt to pre-empt federal law. As a result, the opinion said, his office could not act as counsel for the state in trying to enforce the pre-emption.” (Richard Locker, “Lt. Gov. Ramsey urges Tennessee attorney general to sue over federal health reform,” Memphis Commercial Appeal, 4/7/10)

…Which flies against what state voters want:

“Tennessee is considering joining the states that are suing the federal government over the health care plan, arguing the requirement that every American must obtain health insurance is unconstitutional. Thirty-four percent (34%) of Tennessee voters favor that requirement, while 62% oppose it. That helps to explain why 57% think the state should sue the federal government to prevent that requirement of the health care plan from becoming law. Thirty percent (30%) oppose such a lawsuit.” (Rasmussen Reports, survey of 500 likely voters, 3/22/10)

No wonder Cooper’s flaunting the will of the people – he’s not accountable to them:

“Tennessee doesn’t have an elected attorney general…” (Alan Ehrenhalt, “A deep bench,” Governing, July 2009)

And liberal politician Roy Herron wants to keep it that way:

“[State Sen. Mae] Beavers makes the argument that Tennessee is odd-man-out in its method of choosing an Attorney General. ‘Currently, Tennessee is the only state utilizing the Supreme Court, an appointed body themselves, to appoint the attorney general. Forty-three of the fifty states select their attorney generals through popular election’…[State Sen. Doug] Henry rallied opposing statements from Overbey and from Democratic Senator Roy Herron.” (Joe White, “Move To Elect State Attorney General Hits Snag In Senate,” WPLN Radio, 4/19/10)

Because Roy has a history of supporting Obamacare-like boondoggles…

“Tennessee in a year has done what Washington talks about doing in a decade. Washington aims for 95 percent of our citizens to have health insurance in the next millennium. Tennessee will achieve it next month.” (Roy Herron, “A ‘Tennessee Treasure,’ Memphis Commercial Appeal, 12/25/94)

“Sen. Herron said that TennCare has been beneficial to the state in a number of ways.” (Michael Finn, “Legislator Cites Difficulty In Obtaining Tenncare Info,” Chattanooga Times Free Press, 10/10/97)

“In 1994, Tennessee launched an ambitious public insurance program to cover its uninsured. The plan, TennCare, fulfilled that mission but nearly bankrupted the state in the process. As originally envisioned, the Tennessee plan expanded Medicaid, the government health-care program for the poor, to cover people who couldn't afford insurance or who had been denied coverage by an insurance company. With an initial budget of $2.6 billion, TennCare quickly extended coverage to an additional 500,000 people by making access to its plans easy and affordable. But the program became so expensive that Tennessee was forced to scale it back in 2005. Now, as Congress debates a national health-care overhaul, state experiments like Tennessee’s are informing the discussion.” (Avery Johnson, “Tennessee Experiment's High Cost Fuels Health-Care Debate,” Wall Street Journal, 8/17/09)

“Years ago Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen, a Democrat, called it a ‘disaster.’ Today President Obama calls the same idea ‘reform.’ Both the president's prescription for the uninsured and Tennessee's TennCare program are premised on the same sugar pill: a vast expansion of health insurance coverage without affecting cost or quality…Given Tennessee's predictable experience, one wonders what ObamaCare cheerleaders have been smoking. No wonder attorneys general in so many states have gone to court.” (“The TennCare lesson: A national disaster,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review EDITORIAL, 3/27/10)

…Which are still hurting Tennessee to this very day:

“Herron seemed a bit taken aback when Erin pharmacy technicians Brandy Jones and Lisa Moore told him that they think TennCare – Tennessee’s Medicaid managed care program - is a disaster. ‘Millions of dollars are being wasted,’ Jones said.” (Kevin Sauls and Bonnie Lill, “Herron says he'll fight for jobs, less spending,” The Stewart Houston Times, 4/13/10)

Democrat Hijinks In West TN??

2010-04-19T10:02:00.000-07:00

I've noticed a rather disturbing pattern in West TN.

The District 27 State Senate race has the Democrat incumbent Lowe Finney running unopposed in the Democrat primary versus two conservative candidates, Don McLeary, who lost the general election in 2006 to Finney, and Colonel Jim Harding, the 20th most decorated soldier in American history....

The TN 8th Congressional District has Democrat Roy Herron running unopposed versus GOP candidates Dr. George Flinn, Dr. Ron Kirkland, and Frog Jump farmer Stephen Fincher....

And for "Govnah" we have the progeny of ol Ned Ray, Mike, running unopposed versus GOP candidates Ron Ramsey, Zach Wamp, and Bill Haslam....

Seems Democrats around here pretty much have nothing to do on Primary voting day.

Except vote Republican.

Hello Democrat votes for Don McLeary and Ron Kirkland to clear out the tougher opponents for the Democrat candidates in the general election for State Senate and US Congress...

"Govnah", however is a bit tougher for the GOP as who is the stronger candidate against McWherter?

Either way, one thing is for certain, it will take a HUGE turnout of conservatives in West TN who are well informed on the issues in order to offset the certain Democrat invasion of our primaries.

National GOP hits Herron on state income tax

2010-02-16T12:24:00.000-08:00

The National Republican Congressional Committee, the group responsible for recruiting and financing GOP candidates across the country for the House, released a web video today attacking Roy Herron for having supported a state income tax and then lying about it.

Watch it here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=be5wpt95HYk

The Jackson Sun's Nick Beadle says they cornered him in a Washington metro station and asked him if/why he sponsored a state income tax bill. His response: "I didn't support a state income tax."

As the ad goes on to prove, that's a lie. Not only did Herron support a state income tax, he sponsored a bill to establish one.

Herron knows this a huge problem for him - the state income tax is about as popular in Tennessee as Obama and Pelosi (or, as VOLuntarilyConservative said today, "having been part of the Sundquist Administration.")

That's why his campaign quickly responded to Post Politics' Kleinheider:

The rapid response from Herron adviser Carol Andrews:

“There they go
again. The Washington Republicans are lying about Roy Herron’s record.

Roy’s record is clear:

Roy Herron did not support the state
income tax pushed by Republican Governor Don Sundquist, nor did he vote for it.

Every time an income tax proposal has come before Roy Herron, he has
voted against it.”

Here's the problem for Herron, though: he may not have voted for Sundquist's state income tax, but he absolutely sponsored his own state income tax. He can't deny that. And it's folly for him to try to spin his way out of this.

If I were giving him free advice, I'd tell him to say, "Hey, I sponsored a state income tax bill because I thought it was the right thing to do at the time, but now I realize..., etc."

Instead, the NRCC's ad makes him look like a lying politician - which he is. This will get worse for him the longer he goes without telling the truth.

By the way, I have reached out to the RNCC to see if I can get on their list and am awaiting reply. Hopefully there's more where this kind of stuff came from.