Publisher’s Positions
Kamala The Chameleon
You read it here first, but it has spread throughout the country following my editorial about “reimagining” Kamala. Evidently, Kamala is the perfect political chameleon. She has demonstrated she can change her political colors and adapt to any background. Chameleon Kamala would have us believe she was a hard nosed prosecutor instead of someone whose bail fund helped to put violent criminals back on the streets in the name of social justice. Naturally, some of those offenders killed again. One was a male sex offender who allegedly assaulted other women before he was arrested once again. The bail fund eventually took in more than $41 million dollars. The bail system’s value to a community and those who have been victimized by criminals is that those charged with a criminal offense remain in jail without being able to hurt or harm others prior to being tried. The sad truth is those who have been previously convicted are those who are more likely to break the law once again.
The Democratic National Convention has been some kind of spectacle. The Democrats had planned to officially bury poor old Joe Biden and have a love fest as a public send off. Instead, they kept the President of the United States waiting well past prime time television. Biden had to give his farewell to the American people while most of the country was asleep.
Michelle and Barack Obama tried hard to rekindle the fire of hope beneath the candidacy of Kamala the Chameleon. All Michelle did was steal the spotlight from Kamala and the contrast between the two women could not be greater. Michelle Obama is, however, an interesting choice as the self-designated apostle of “hope.” She attended Princeton and Harvard Law School, practiced with a prestigious and elite firm, became the First Lady of the United States, owns a $12 million house on Martha’s Vineyard, one of the most exclusive places to live in the world, and is about to acquire another in Hawaii. No former presidential couple of the United States has ever so quickly amassed such a pile of wealth and lived the lifestyle of the “rich and famous” as have Barack and Michelle Obama. Michelle is an odd person to represent hopelessness. Apparently, Michelle would have been one of those her very well-to-do parents would have been suspicious of.
Kamala the Chameleon became the Democratic nominee for president without winning a single primary or delegate through an election. There hasn’t been such a closed convention held in the United States in more than 100 years.
The very people who so loudly say they love democracy, even if they do knife it in the back at every opportunity, kept Biden in the basement away from unscripted events, news conferences, and the American people. The strategy is the same with Kamala the Chameleon. These are the people who are strangling democracy in darkness. They can never save what they intend to destroy.
Bill Baxter, A Good Man
Bill Baxter passed away on August 18, 2024, at the age of 71. Baxter was the epitome of someone who gave freely of himself and his talents throughout his lifetime. Bill Baxter was deeply involved in the Knoxville community. At an early age, Baxter ran for elective office, losing a close race in the Republican primary. He never ran for elective office again, but Bill Baxter did remain active on behalf of GOP causes and candidates for the rest of his life.
A man who was always optimistic in his outlook, Bill Baxter was the son of a successful man and the heir to Holston Gases. Many people forgot Bill was an attorney by trade and a good one. After working as a lawyer, Bill Baxter succeeded his father Pat as president of Holston Gases in 1985. Baxter helped to make the business bigger and even more successful and it became one of the largest of its kind in the country. Holston Gases has locations in Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.
Bill and Ginger Baxter raised four children and son Joe Baxter is to take over the company next month. Throughout his time in business, Baxter gave back to the community through philanthropy as well as service. That service was varied, but Bill never shied away from doing anything for his city and county. Bill Baxter always answered the call to community service whenever it came.
Baxter served on the Knox County Election Commission, Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation, as well as serving on the executive board of directors for Fountain City Town Hall.
Bill Baxter served in the cabinet of the late Governor Don Sundquist as Tennessee’s Commissioner of Economic & Community Development. Baxter was named by President George W. Bush to serve as a member of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority. Baxter was the last person to serve as the full-time chairman of the TVA Board, which at the time was comprised of three individuals.
Baxter never tired of helping and actively working in causes to help those less fortunate as well as working along side his wife Ginger in our community with the Knoxville Zoo and other organizations.
Bill Baxter is gone too soon, but his memory should long endure for he represented the best of us in doing for others, including his country, state and community. Wherever he might have been, Bill Baxter’s home was always Knoxville and Tennessee.
I extend my heartfelt condolences to the entire Baxter family.
