Tennessee Political Blotter

It seems that Bristol Tennessee’s Resident Right Winger, Jason Mumpower was taking his prospective assent to the speakership of the TN House a little too much for granted.


KnoxViews (GDrinnen2), Klienhider, Cara Kumari

It seems that Carter County’s Kent Williams-R just worked out a deal with a wounded Tennessee Democratic Party to pull a little presto-changeo on the new Republican majority and effectively, thankfully, prevented Jason Mumpower from becoming speaker of the TN House.

Our own Jason Mumpower

Rep. Kent Williams, a more moderate sort of Republican, had sworn to vote with his party concerning the speakership and the Republican go-to guy was Mumpower. The Republicans assumed Mumpower’s conformation was automatic.
WRONG!

In a bold and unusually courageous little move, Williams and the Democratic members of the TN House pulled what is, for all intents and purposes, a coup.
Williams voted for himself along with all of the Democrats. Effectively sending the Right-Wing extremist, Mumpower to the showers.
This brilliant move could be a factor in limiting Right-Wing power in Nashville as Williams will now need to repay those Dems that voted for him by assigning committee chairs who are not Right-Wing freaks.

“Kent Williams has betrayed his constituents and the people of Carter County in breaking his pledge - his signed oath - to vote for the nominee of the Republican caucus for Speaker of the House. He lied, in a quest for personal power, in league with Democrat Speaker Jimmy Naifeh and House Minority Leader Gary Odom, in their desire to retain power despite the results of the 2008 elections.” - TNGOP Chair, Robin Smith

Well, Jason. Better luck next time. Try not to take your eye off the ball if you ever get up to bat again.
And always remember, for all you do, this blog’s for you.

Congrats to the TNDP for finding it’s backbone.