RHEA COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Keith Flatness, Chairman                                      Bitsy Gryder, Vice Chairman

Donna Taylor, Secretary                                         Larry Pendergrass, Treasurer

Linda Pendergrass, Vice Treasurer                      Marv Keener, Chaplain

Gary Drinkard, Parliamentarian                            Jim Murphy, PAC Chair

 

DECEMBER MEETING

The December meeting of the Rhea County Republican Party will be held on Thursday, December 6th, at 7:00 PM, at the Rhea County Sheriff’s Training Center, 711 Eagle Ln, Evensville, TN.  We look forward to seeing you there!

CONGRATULATIONS!  RCRP and Lions Club Member Mereta Keener has received the Melvin Jones Award in recognition for her outstanding humanitarian services over the past two decades.

 

RANDOM THOUGHTS

When buying and selling are controlled by the Legislators, the first things to be bought and sold will be Legislators. – P.J. O’Rourke

 

BOOK OF THE MONTH

Most of the truly great books are not “easy reads,” but if we don’t want to think a great deal we are probably better off just reading the funny paper.  It is those books that challenge us to think deeply that ultimately stay with us through the years because it is those books that shape our philosophy and thus help mold us into the person we are.

I can say beyond doubt there have been few such books to come along in my lifetime and, with one exception, this month’s selection is the greatest book I’ve ever read.

Apparently, many others think the same way; it was cited as “The Most Important Book of the Twentieth Century,” by the Harvard Literary Society.  That accolade alone would seemingly make everyone want to buy a copy and read it.  If my opinion means anything, I can tell you, as of this date, I have read this book four times.  I plan to read it again before I reach my “expiration date.”  The book is “Atlas Shrugged,” by Ayn Rand.  If you have not read it, I sincerely hope you’ll find a copy and give it your time.  If you do, I think you’ll gain more from it than you ever thought possible.

 

RANDOM THOUGHTS

The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can’t read them. – Mark Twain

COMMENTS FROM OUR REPRESENTATIVES

No comments were received in time for publication. – Editor

RANDOM THOUGHTS

The American Republic will endure until the day that the Congress discovers it can bribe the public with the public’s money. – Alexis de Tocqueville.

READERS ANNOUNCEMENTS & COMMENTS

This section is provided for our readers to make announcements about activities in their area or offer commentary on current events; they do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher.  All comments are welcomed for so long as they can be verified.  Readers are encouraged to offer appropriate responses.  Please e-mail your announcements or comments to pyrope84045@mypacks.net  – Editor.

Jim Hice, a reader from “San Fran” Cleveland, a man known for his wry humor shares the following:

 

8:00   – I made a snowman.

8:10   – A feminist passed by and asked me why I didn’t make a snow woman.

8:15   – So, I made a snow woman.

8:17   – My feminist neighbor complained about the snow woman’s voluptuous chest saying it objectified snow women everywhere.

8:20   – The gay couple living nearby threw a hissy fit and moaned it could have been two snow men instead.

8:22   – The transgender man . . . woman . . . person asked why I didn’t just make one snow person with detachable parts.

8:25   – The vegans at the end of the lane complained about the carrot nose, as veggies are food and not to decorate snow figures with.

8:28   – I am being called a racist because the snow couple is white.

8:31   – The Muslim gent across the road demands the snow woman wear a burqa.

8:40   – The Police arrive saying someone has been offended.

8:42   – The feminist neighbor complained again that the broomstick of the snow woman needs to be removed because it depicted women in a domestic role.

8:43   – The council equality officer arrived and threatened me with eviction.

8:45   – TV news crew from the ABC shows up. – I’m on the News as a suspected terrorist, racist, homophobic, sensibility offender, bent on stirring up trouble during difficult weather.

8:48   – I am asked if I have any accomplices. My children are taken by social services.

8:59   – Far left protesters offended by everything are marching down the street demanding for me to be beheaded.

 

Moral:   There is no moral to this story.  It’s just a view of the world in which we live today, and for so long as people go around looking for an excuse to be offended, it is only going to get worse!

 

Les Russell, a correspondent from Billericay, England sent disturbing news:  “Our Town Council has established a new requirement for the area around us.  We now have to have a parking permit.  I got a free one because I’m over 65 (well over!), but our younger neighbors have to pay a fee.  I’ve had to buy Visitors Cards [10 for 4 Pounds] so if anyone visits us we need to put on in their car [it is good only] for four hours.  If someone turns up without notice, I have to run out and give them a Visitors Card so they aren’t fined.  Those clever devils are always coming up with new ways to put the pinch on us.”

Rocky Silverman, a reader from Seattle, WA, offers the following observation.

The mainstream press and social media, the entertainment industry and the universities—all dominated by progressive elites—propagate scorn for conservatism. Conservative elites and many regular voters find themselves bound together by a common political opponent.

And, I am adding Jewish liberal organizations as the Reform and Conservative Congregations of America where I once attended services and can speak of. The hatred and loathing of the President is serious and reaches levels that even mentioning the President is enough to cause immediate condemnation. There is nothing like leftist intellectual elitism of pulpit rabbi’s calling the President ignorant, a racist, and a liar. Their hatred for all things Trump is over the top. They accuse him of being a Hitler, being anti-Jew and fomenting violence such as happened in Pittsburgh. For American left leaning American Jews, the word nationalism is a buzz word for white-nationalism, the far right. They can’t quite see any difference. For them, he and his followers are the scum of the earth. They see no contradiction to their own hateful and spiteful words. Fortunately, most Orthodox and the majority of Israeli’s have a more favorable opinion of him.

RANDOM THOUGHTS

We cannot expect Americans to jump from capitalism to communism.  We can assist their leaders in giving Americans small doses of socialism until they suddenly awake to find they have communism. – Nikita Khrushchev

Kathleen Marquardt, a reader from Knox County, remarked on the EU giving legal “rights” to animals:

As long as animal rights is politically correct, we will have people working to get standing in court for animals. That would mean that animal rightists could have your dog sue you for keeping it in a small backyard. Or they would sue ranchers for selling their cattle for food.

Think about this. How does one qualify to be the spokesperson for the animals? Shouldn’t the animal’s owner be the natural choice? He or she knows far better what that animal wants or needs than a social justice warrior. Ah, but no. Courts allowing standing for animals naturally have to see animal rightists as the rightful guardian of animals in question.

In Fox Rothschild LLP’s article “Another Attempt to Create Legal Standing for Animals as Plaintiffs in Lawsuits Fails,” he notes:  “The Court unfortunately opined that an appellate court or the state legislature might determine that public policy regarding this issue should permit such legal actions from animals, perhaps opening the door for an appeal or legislative action.” (1)

You may think that it will never happen here, but look at Germany.

“It makes Germany the first European Union country to pass such legislation and will encourage animal rights campaigners to fight for similar law changes elsewhere. Switzerland, a non-EU member, amended its constitution in 1992 so that animals were acknowledged as “beings” rather than things.” (2)

 

  1. https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/another-attempt-to-create-legal-67290/?fbclid=IwAR2SIlfUj-dB5o3xh0fQuQ_j4NZldzk793tXr6Yp1bRkYzwOjyEshHbtl3Q
  2. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2002/jun/22/germany.animalwelfare

 

 

RANDOM THOUGHTSI believe that this nation is the last hope of Western civilization and if this oasis of the world shall be overrun, perverted, contaminated or destroyed, then the last flickering light of humanity will be extinguished. I take no issue with those who would praise the contributions which have been made to our society by people of many races, of varied creeds and colors. … However, we have in the United States today hard-core, indigestible blocs which have not become integrated into the American way of life, but which, on the contrary are its deadly enemies. Today, as never before, untold millions are storming our gates for admission and those gates are cracking under the strain. The solution of the problems of Europe and Asia will not come through a transplanting of those problems en masse to the United States. … I do not intend to become prophetic, but if the enemies of this legislation succeed in riddling it to pieces, or in amending it beyond recognition, they will have contributed more to promote this nation’s downfall than any other group since we achieved our independence as a nation. – Senator Patrick McCarran, D-NV, on the Senate floor in 1953.

 

EDITORIAL

The Democrats will take over the House of Representatives in January!  Between now and then the Republicans have a chance to push through legislation and make good on the promises they have to date failed to keep.  To make that happen, we must urge our Republican members of the House to get busy because, after January 2019, there will, at best, exist a state of gridlock that will prevail until at least 2021 (IF the Republicans can inspire the American people to return the majorities in both Houses that they so foolishly squandered.)

To be quite honest, I remain doubtful the Republicans can summon such inspiration among the electorate to return them to the majority in 2020 but that’s a matter to be discussed at some later date.  For now, we must take immediate action to persuade the Republicans to do those things they promised to do but failed miserably in their mission.

So, what must we urge the Republicans to do before January 2019?

The Republicans ran on repealing and replacing 0bamacare.  The fact that they failed to do so was an act of betrayal on their part but they still have a chance to get that job done by reintroducing the same bill that John McCain, as his final act of defiance against President Trump, sabotaged.

The Republicans ran on sealing our borders and deporting millions of illegal aliens.  Thanks in large part to the departing Bob Corker and John McCain that legislation also failed to pass.

If each of us takes a small amount of time to contact their representatives to urge them to get these bills signed into law before January 2019, we can help our Republican representatives to restore some of their credibility and thus have a better chance of regaining their majorities in both Houses.  If we fail, the Republicans will likely also fail, and that will all add up to a failure for our country.

 

Finally, there is another promise the Republicans should have made good on.  The Republicans ran on restoring our nation’s sovereignty but bills such as H.R. 193 Restoring American Sovereignty Act of 2017, (Rogers, R-AL), hasn’t even made it out of committee.   https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr193  I contacted Mike Rogers’ office and his staffer informed me that the bill would not make it out of committee.  I asked that she kindly inform Rep. Rogers that I hoped he would keep the bill and reintroduce it if the Republicans were fortunate enough to win back their squandered majority in 2020.  She said she would pass the message along to her boss.  Perhaps you would like to phone Rep. Rogers to voice your opinion on this matter.  His phone number is 202-225-3261.  Thank you.

 

RANDOM THOUGHTS

 

Trump & 0bama by the numbers after 2 years in office:

Job Approval – Trump 50% vs 0bama 45%

Unemployment Rate – Trump 3.7% vs 0bama 9.4%

Jobs Added – Trump 3.3 million vs 0bama -2.9 million

1st Year Deficit – Trump $665 billion vs 0bama $1.4 trillion

GDP Growth – Trump 4.1% vs 0bama 1.6%

 

MINUTES FROM THE OCTOBER MEETING

 

Chairman Keith Flatness called the October 4th meeting of the Rhea County Republican Party to order at 7:00 PM.  Tom Taylor led the invocation and Joe Gryder led the Pledge of Allegience.  Keith recognized our special guests, Liz and Chuck Holloway.

 

Secretary Donna Taylor read the minutes of the September meeting.  Joe Gryder moved to accept the minutes as read.  Chuck Bauer seconded the motion and the motion carried.

 

The Treasurer’s Report was read by Chairman Flatness, in the absence of Treasurer Larry Pendergrass.  Bitsy Gryder moved to accept, second by Kris Bancroft, to accept the Treasurer’s Report.  The motion carried.

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS –

 

  • November 16th – Roane County Reagan Day Dinner starts at 5:00 PM, at Roane State.
  • Bob and Janice Michael donated $50 to RCRP because they were impressed with the “Best Bench” honoring Gladys Best.
  • Keith thanked Bitsy Gryder for coordinating the chili dinner tonight.
  • October 9th is the last day to register to vote in the November election.
  • Judge Shannon Garrison withdrew his request to the County Commission to make the election of the County Judge nonpartisan.

 

The Legislative Report was given by Kris Bancroft.  He would like to receive more responses from his questionnaire that asks his newsletter subscribers to rank [the list of concerns he had provided earlier.]

 

Kris Bancroft moved to spend $2,000 on radio and newspaper advertisements for the election of our Republican candidates in the November election.  Bitsy Gryder seconded the motion and the motion carried.

 

Bitsy Gryder moved to pay to have “robocalls” supporting Republican candidates in the November election.  Chris Bauer seconded the motion and the motion carried.

 

After discussing the Reagan Day Dinner, Bitsy Gryder moved that we pay RCHS $1,000 to use the school [facilities] for our Reagan Day Dinner, to be held on March 2nd, 2019.  Chuck Bauer seconded the motion and the motion carried.  Keith appointed Joe Gryder, Linda Pendergrass, Laura Travis, and Julie Harris to the Reagan Day Dinner Committee.

 

The committee to nominate officers for the 2019-2020 [Executive Committee] was appointed by Chairman Flatness, [the committee members are] Glen Varner, Joe Gryder, and Debby Byrd.

 

Chuck Bauer moved that we donate $600 to the Sheriff’s Department for their Christmas Toy Drive.  Glen Varner seconded the motion and the motion passed.

 

Keith told his “Joke of the Month” and the meeting was adjourned.

 

Donna Taylor, Secretary

 

RANDOM THOUGHTS

 

When all the guns have been banned, when all the words have been censored, when history has been rewritten, and when all our freedoms have been taken, only then will you discover why the 2nd Amendment was so high on the list of the Bill of Rights. – Bruce Griffey, Representative – District 75, Paris, TN

 

LAGNIAPPE

Many citizens still seem to underestimate the impact of grassroots organizing even after having witnessed the victories such organizations have achieved.  Certainly, no one can deny the “Community Organizer in Chief” – Barack Hussein 0bama – knew what he was doing; from his first term in the US Senate, he went on to win two terms in the White House!

Then, there are self-proclaimed Socialist candidates like Bill de Blasio and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez who shocked our senses by winning the Mayor’s office in New York City and a seat in the US House of Representatives, respectively.  “But that’s New York,” the average conservative seems quick to say but, could any conservative have imagined twenty years ago this could have been possible?

Who could have imagined we could see a Muslim woman who is married her brother and has the Syrian flag adorning her office elected to the House?  Still, it happened.

And there were several VERY close calls.  In the past month we have seen three candidates, in traditionally “red” states, that any rational person might claim were “unelectable” come very close to victory:  Stacey Abrams, for Governor of Georgia; Andrew Gillum, for Governor of Florida, and; “Beto” O’Rourke, who ran against the staunch conservative Ted Cruz, in Texas.  All three challengers were uber-leftists.

Conclusions:  1. What the left is doing is working.  2. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.  The two key words here are “work” and “imitation.”

 

RANDOM THOUGHTS

 

“I am no man’s man. I bark at no man’s bid. I will never come and go, and fetch and carry, at the whistle of the great man in the White House, no matter who he is. And if this petty, un-patriotic scuffling for men, and forgetting principles, goes on, it will be the overthrow of this one happy nation, and the blood and toil of our ancestors will have been expended in vain.” – David Crockett

 

LEGISLATIVE REPORT

 

In Tennessee

 

HB 2315   Sponsored by State Rep. Jay Dean Reedy, of Montgomery County, deletes TCA, Section 7-68-103 substituting instead the following:

(a)  No local governmental entity or official shall adopt or enact a sanctuary policy.  A local governmental entity that adopts or enacts a sanctuary policy is ineligible to receive any state moneys until the sanctuary policy is repealed, rescinded, or otherwise no longer in effect.

(b)  The attorney general and reporter shall receive complaints regarding any violation of this section.  A resident of this state may submit a complaint in writing in a form and manner as prescribed by the attorney general and reporter.  In lieu of submitting a complaint, a member of the general assembly may request, at any time, that the attorney general and reporter investigate and issue an opinion as to whether a local governmental entity or official has violated this section.

(c)  Upon receiving a complaint or request, the attorney general and reporter shall investigate and determine whether a violation of this section has occurred.  The attorney general and reporter shall issue and make public an opinion stating whether the local governmental entity or official, which is the subject of the complaint or request, has adopted or enacted a sanctuary policy.  Upon the issuance of an opinion by the attorney general and reporter that a local governmental entity or official has adopted or enacted a sanctuary policy, the entity, or the entity to which the official belongs, becomes ineligible to receive any state moneys that would otherwise be remitted to the entity.  Ineligibility commences on the date the opinion is issued and continues until such time that the attorney general and reporter certifies that the sanctuary policy is repealed, rescinded, or otherwise no longer in effect.

(d)  The attorney general and reporter shall send to the local governmental entity that was the subject of the investigation and to the appropriate departments of state government a copy of any opinion issued pursuant to this section and any certification by the attorney general and reporter that a violation of this section is no longer in effect.

 

In Washington DC

S 3611 A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and the Higher Education Act of 1965 to facilitate the disclosure of tax return information to carry out the Higher Education Act of 1965, and for other purposes. (Alexander, R-TN, 14 pages).  This bill facilitates the IRS’s ability to collect federally-funded student loans by establishing a mechanism to exact payments from those who have defaulted on same.

 

RANDOM THOUGHTS

It isn’t a coincidence that governments everywhere want to educate children.  Government education, in turn, is supposed to be evidence of the state’s goodness and its concern for our well-being.  The real explanation is less flattering.  If government’s propaganda can take root as children grow up, those children will never be a threat to the state’s apparatus.  They’ll fasten the chains to their own ankles. – Lew Rockwell