Publisher’s Positions
Republican Rally A Huge Success
Last Thursday, Knox County saw its most enthusiastic gathering of Republicans in decades at an old-fashioned rally featuring barbecue and bluegrass music. Over 600 people came through the doors and folks got to the Expo Center well before the 5 o’clock kick-off. The event was headlined by Congressman Tim Burchett who was wearing clothes appropriate for barbecue and bluegrass. Burchett’s predecessor in Congress, Jimmy Duncan, despite the advice given by his daddy about not being remembered once out of office, proved to be as well-liked by the happy crowd of Republicans as ever. Both Duncan and Burchett had the crowd whistling, shouting and applauding.
The event was to promote the entire ticket from top to bottom. Special support from the event came from state legislators Senator Becky Duncan Massey, Representative Jason Zachary, Representative Justin Lafferty, Representative Michele Carringer, Representative Elaine Davis and Representative Dave Wright. All of them made great remarks for the appreciative audience.
The courthouse turned out. Clerk of the Circuit Court, Charlie Susano, circulated through the crowd, greeting friends and making new ones. Mayor Glenn Jacobs spoke earlier in the evening and it was easy to see why he remains so personally popular with voters. Knox County Trustee Justin Biggs, Criminal Court Clerk Mike Hammond and Register of Deeds Nick McBride mixed and mingled as did Property Assessor Phil Ballard. Ballard’s opponent in the August GOP primary, Jackie Raley worked at the front helping to register and record guests to the event.
Many Knox County Republicans made a beeline for Sheriff Tom Spangler, rejoicing in his recent diagnosis of being cancer-free. KCSO Chief Deputy Bernie Lyons, a longtime law enforcement professional who has a wide acquaintanceship of his own, was at Spangler’s side.
The office of District Attorney General Charme Allen was out in force. Chief Deputy Attorney General Sam Lee and his lovely wife were there as was General Franklin Ammons, a talented young attorney. Chancellor Bud Armstrong, long a favorite of Knox County Republicans, moved through the crowd steadily. Chancellor Chris Haegerty joined my wife Kim for a plate of barbecue.
The Knox County Commission was well represented. Both commissioners at-large, Larsen Jay and Kim Frazier, were on hand. County Commission Chair Gina Oster and her husband, Stanton, warmly greeted friends. South Knoxville’s Andy Fox was shaking hands, as was East Knox County’s Adam Thompson, both of whom are new to the commission. Commissioner Rhonda Lee glided through the throng in a hat entirely appropriate for the beautiful weather. Commissioner Terry Hill was there, along with her husband, Steve.
The Knox County Board of Education was also well represented with Chair Betsy Henderson, Kristy Kristi and Travis Wright hurrying to the event after an official meeting of the board. All three are very popular with their constituents and all of them were warmly greeted by fellow Republicans.
There were a great many former officeholders present and South Knoxville had three former county commissioners holding court: Ray Hill, Mike Brown, Fred Flenniken and Carson Dailey.
Every demographic imaginable was represented at the biggest GOP rally in decades. Folks in their eighties and a large number of young people equally enjoyed the food and fellowship.
GOP State Chairman Scott Golden joined local chairman Buddy Burkhardt on stage.
By every measure, the event was a complete success. Thanks to all those who had a hand in planning and executing the event, which could not have been any better. It amply demonstrated that Knox County’s Republican Party is not only alive but is very much still kicking. The enthusiasm of those attending was electric.
Federal Response To Helene Is Disgusting
The devastation of the effects of the recent hurricane to much of the southeast is enough to take one’s breath away. It has inflicted intense suffering upon the families of many of our fellow citizens who remain without food, water, or electricity. All of us have read stories about families who lost their lives. One can only say a prayer when reading about the grandparents sitting on top of their roof with their 7-year-old grandson awaiting rescue. The roof eventually collapsed and they all drowned. It is heartbreaking.
Our congressman, Tim Burchett, immediately suspended his fundraising for his own campaign and asked supporters to donate instead to relieve the suffering of our fellow citizens and neighbors. Yet we discover FEMA is broke, having spent billions of dollars in keeping illegal aliens in luxury hotels, providing sex changes, and the like. Now there is nothing left for the people who paid the taxes in the first place.
There is nothing wrong with taking care of one’s own first. In fact, it is where love and compassion begin. The Left likes to point out it is already illegal to vote fraudulently. It’s also illegal to just come across our border, but it’s happened somewhere between 14 or 20 million times. The same people telling us voter fraud is illegal already have also been flying illegals into this country consistently. We’ve discovered there are as many as 500,000 criminals among them; rapists, murderers, thieves, because there has been no proper vetting. That same proper vetting occurs in the legal process of immigrating to this country. We’ve allowed terrorists into this country and we have no idea where they are and God help us when we hear from them, as we surely will.
The current administration is paying a lot less attention to Americans, some of whom are our own fellow Tennesseans, as well as those in North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina after 40 trillion gallons of water fell on the Southeast. They don’t have the same concern for American citizens as they do illegal aliens and folks really ought to ask themselves why is that?
Condolences To The Winfield Dunn And Jim Sasser Families
There was a time when newspapers noted the passing of prominent people in the community. I believe that is a worthy tradition and we have always tried to recognize those folks here at The Focus.
Readers will find two articles by Ray Hill about former governor Winfield Dunn, who passed away recently. Be sure to read both stories about an amazing man who was an excellent governor and a fine person. The Focus family sends its sincere condolences to the members of the Dunn family on Governor Dunn’s passing. He left behind him a great legacy.
The Focus also wants to acknowledge the passing of former U. S. Senator Jim Sasser. Sasser was elected in 1976 when Tennessee was Jimmy Carter’s second-best state in the nation after his own Georgia. Sasser went on to serve 18 years in the United States Senate.
A Democrat, Jim Sasser worked hard for Tennessee and Tennesseans. Sasser was well known for something Tennesseans have come to expect from their congressmen and senators, which is good constituent service and that had much to do with Sasser’s popularity with his people.
The political pendulum swings both ways and Jim Sasser left the Senate in 1994 when he was upset in the GOP landslide by Dr. Bill Frist. Sasser went on to become our country’s ambassador to China.
When we forget that those who don’t agree with us are also people, we are well on our way to losing our humanity and violating our Christian principles. While I certainly did not agree with Senator Sasser’s politics, I think it is important we acknowledge those who loved and worked for Tennessee and Jim Sasser certainly did that. The Focus family sends its condolences to the family of Senator Sasser.
