No lunch will be provided, you are encouraged however, to brown bag your lunch and eat on the patio with us, weather permitting. Those wishing to eat and socialize, meet at 11:30.
Business to be conducted at this meeting:
Elect seven delegates and two alternates for the TFDW Convention
Collect Dollar Table Items for Convention (explanation below).
Finalize the sale of ads for the Convention Program Booklet.
Discuss our participation in the Convention Service Project.
Members are asked to bring the following items with them to the meeting:
Donations for the Dollar Table (Here’s your chance to regift. Items will be wrapped and used in a fundraiser benefitting the TFDW).
Donations for door prizes (Items must be a $5 value or higher. Items will be given away at all TFDW functions).
Any monies collected for the ad sales.
Several Southern Baptist Ministers across the nation are leading prayers in their congregations asking God to kill Obama and “leave his children fatherless.” They reference Psalm 109:8 as a biblical commandment for all Christians to pray for Obama’s quick death. John Avlon interviews two of the ministers and reports:
Praying for President Obama’s death has become a sick cottage industry for some evangelicals on the lunatic fringe. Bumper stickers, T-shirts, and teddy bears are sold with the wholesome-sounding slogan “Pray for Obama” but tagged with the more troublesome “Psalm 109:8”—which reads “May his days be few; may another take his place of leadership” followed by “May his children be fatherless and his wife a widow.”
In Wingnut circles, it’s known as the “Imprecatory Prayer.” Offered not just from select pulpits, but increasingly expressed through tweets and forwarded via email, this decidedly un-Christian Christian subculture has found its most enthusiastic advocates in a few Obama Derangement Syndrome-afflicted preachers—notably Orange County’s Wiley Drake and Arizona’s Steven L. Anderson.
Pastor Wiley Drake kicked off this Presidents’ Day Weekend with an email blast to his supporters saying “Imprecatory Prayer is now our DUTY” and announcing a daily teleconference call to advance the cause. Drake has been an enthusiastic advocate of imprecatory prayer since he announced that God answered his call with the murder of Kansas abortion clinic doctor George Tiller in church last May. “George Tiller was far greater in his atrocities than Adolf Hitler,” Drake said at the time, “so I am happy. I am glad that he is dead.” This emboldened him to add “the usurper that is in the White House … B. Hussein Obama” to the list said in his church on Sundays.
It is often reported that self-identification as a Christian is declining in America. Those in the republican “family values” right wing claim its because of the left wing waging a “War on Christianity and Christian Values”. Could it be that folks are really turning away from Christianity because of lunatics like these calling themselves Christians and giving the rest of us a bad name?
Tuesday Night’s Mardi Gras Party at the Murfreesboro Lions Club has been postponed until further notice due to icy roads and inclement weather. Those who have purchased tickets will have their tickets honored at a later time to be announced. Please let friends and family know of this postponed event. Thank You.
Gubernatorial Candidate Kim McMillan will be in town Tuesday for lunch at City Cafe from 12:30-1:30, will visit the MTSU campus, and join our Mardi Gras fundraiser at the Lions’ Club Tuesday evening from 4-8pm as our guest cook. The City Cafe is located on the square in Murfreesboro on East Main Street. Ms McMillan invites all to join her for a dutch treat lunch.
Enjoy a delicious lunch while Pat Shea, President and CEO of the YWCA Nashville, encourages women in Murfreesboro in their own personal journeys. Plus, network and learn more about other success stories from women featured in the issue.
This is an afternoon that you will not want to miss!
Sponsored by: Georgia Career Institute, Body & Face Medical Cosmetic Center, Reeves Sain and Murfreesboro Magazine.
Thursday & Friday, March 11 & 12 at 11:30am
Embassy Suites
1200 Conference Center Drive
Murfreesboro, TN
Tickets are $30 in advance, $35 at the door, and includes lunch.
Last Saturday night was a shocking beginning to the Tea Party Convention held in Nashville, Tennessee at the Gaylord Entertainment Center. Republican Congressman Tom Tancredo opened the convention by calling for voter literacy tests, which were used selectively in the Jim Crow South to deny the black vote.
Literacy tests were used to great effect, and were required at the poll worker’s discretion. The poll workers in the Jim Crow South were white. If a white voter wished to cast a vote, they were not required to pass a literacy test. If a black voter came to the polls, the worker would require him or her to pass a “civics literacy test” in order to vote. Following are some of the actual questions that appeared on Alabama literacy tests between 1890 and 1966 were asked only to black voters. See if you could have passed the test and voted in the Jim Crow South:
1. If a person charged with treason denies his guilt, how many persons must testify against him before he can be convicted?
2. In what year did Congress gain the right to prohibit the migration of persons to the states?
3. The power of granting patents, that is os securing to inventors the exclusive right of their discoveries, is given to the Congress for the purpose of ______________.
How did you do? Not too well? Well, during Jim Crow you wouldn’t have to worry about taking this test at all if you were white. Now a Republican Congressman wishes to return our country to the 1890’s, and he received massive applause from his Tea Party audience. It happened right here in Middle Tennessee.
VOTE Online to Expand Free Medical Clinic for Warren/Van Buren Counties $250K Prize from Pepsi Could Help Isha Care Build a Permanent Facility
MCMINNVILLE—Two minutes of your time can make a big difference in the lives of thousands of uninsured Tennesseans who are unable to afford medical care.
Non-profit Isha Care Free Clinic of McMinnville is ranked in the top 5 in an online
contest hosted by Pepsi to win $250,000. Currently operating out of temporary space at the Harrison Ferry CIC on Highway 8, if Isha Care wins this prize the Clinic will be able to construct a permanent medical facility.
Visit the Isha Care website to VOTE: www.ishacare.org or visit the contest page at www.refresheverything.com/ishacare. The top 2 finishers of the contest both win $250,000. Any U.S. resident can cast 1 vote every day, so supporters can bookmark the link and vote daily to help win the prize. Voting ends Sunday, Feb 28 at 11pm (CST).
“The Warren and Van Buren county community members have been extremely supportive of the free clinic,” said Dr. Kalpana Rajdev, Medical Director of Isha Care. “But more funding is needed in order to establish a permanent facility, which is a dire and growing need. It is a common misconception that the uninsured are those who are out of work, but the population needing free care is much larger than that. Many people coming into our clinic are employed, but they can no longer afford the skyrocketing costs of care or health insurance—It is an epidemic of its own.”
Families USA (March 2009) reported that an astounding 30% of Tennessee residents were without health insurance for all or part of 2009. Of those who were uninsured, nearly 75% were employed at the time.
Dr. Rajdev sees the new free clinic as one viable solution for our local community to fulfill the urgent and ever-increasing need for access to basic medical care for those who cannot afford it. Construction plans for the Isha Care free clinic outline a 1500 square foot facility with two exam rooms, a laboratory, a waiting room, and equipment for electronic patient records.
Isha Care Free Clinic is a non-profit primary care clinic established in September, 2008. The clinic provides free medical care to the uninsured of Warren, Van Buren, and Sequatchie counties. Isha Care is wholly operated by volunteer physicians and staff out of temporary space at the local Harrison Ferry CIC just off Highway 8 in McMinnville. The clinic offers free care on Saturdays from 8am until noon. For more information contact Isha Care at 931-815-8500, or www.ishacare.org.
Yesterday’s Tea Party Convention in Nashville is attended by folks who say they are patriotic conservatives who obey God, but they didn’t even bother to open their convention with a prayer or pledge of allegiance. In fact, there wasn’t even an American Flag in the hall at all yesterday. Are Tea Partiers/Republicans all talk when it comes to God and Country? You can read it for yourself:
The convention’s first day lacked the orchestrated staging of most modern political events. The convention host delivered a meandering welcome speech without notes, saying he misplaced them. Former congressman Tom Tancredo (R-Colo.) offered a fiery defense of Judeo-Christian faith and traditional American values, but there was no prayer or Pledge of Allegiance to open the convention — nor was there an American flag in the convention hall. (Skoda blamed the oversight on the hotel staff.)
Since the price of tickets to this convention were $550 per attendee, surely they could have afforded a large flag for everyone to pledge. Or maybe Sarah Palin’s $100,000 speaking fee was so great that they had to skimp on the patriotism.
MURFREESBORO - Jonathon Fagan, Chairman of the Rutherford County Democratic Party, today announced a convention to be held on March 13 to nominate Democrats for the offices of County Mayor, Register of Deeds, Circuit Court Clerk, Sheriff, Trustee, and County Clerk. Three Democratic incumbents will be seeking nomination - Register of Deeds Jennifer Gerhardt, Sheriff Truman Jones, and Circuit Court Clerk Eloise Gaither. Lisa Harrell, 31-year veteran of the County Clerk’s office, will be seeking nomination to succeed Democrat Georgia Lynch who is retiring as County Clerk after 8 years of service.
“Money is tight right now, and holding a county primary with only one candidate for each office would have been wasteful of taxpayer dollars,” Fagan said.
With a total voter turnout of only 10,000, the last May County Primary in 2006 cost taxpayers $100,000, or $10 per vote.
“Saving $100,000 could mean retaining 3 or 4 county jobs for family breadwinners in tough economic times,” Fagan added.
The convention will be held at the Rutherford County Courthouse on March 13, 2010 at 10:00 am. All attendees will be required to produce their voter registration card or photo I.D. before entering the hall. Candidates who wish to be considered for nomination should contact the Rutherford County Democratic Party prior to March 1st, 2010 at (615) 796-1472 and must meet all state and local requirements to hold said office. Further details and a list of officers and contact information can be found at www.rutherfordcountydemocrats.org.
2010 is the first and maybe the last year in Rutherford County history that either Democrats or Republicans will nominate candidates for public office by convention. The decision to caucus is made by local party Chairmen each election year.
“This is truly historic,” Fagan said. “Andrew Jackson began Democratic politics in Rutherford County in 1822, so it is only fitting that we continue making a little history.”
The Rutherford County Democratic Party will be hosting a Mardi Gras party at the Murfreesboro Lions Club on Fat Tuesday, February 16th from 4-8pm. Come out and enjoy some Naw’lins style fare prepared by Gubernatorial candidate, Kim McMillan, who will help prepare some great traditional dishes. We will also have a silent auction for some beautifully crafted Mardi Gras masks, activities for kids, and music. It is going to be a great event, so call and get your tickets today.
The menu includes Jambalaya, Red Beans and Rice, and, of course, Kings Cake! Tickets are selling now online by clicking here, they are $12.00 for adults and $5.00 for kids. Please contact Will at 615.796.1472 or Pat at 615.336.7450 for tickets and info or purchase online by clicking here.
Over 400 folks braved heavy rain, hail, and tornado warnings to help kick off Lisa Harrell’s campaign for Rutherford County Clerk at the Blackman Community Center. The chili was wonderful, the deserts were delicious, and a good time was had by all. Thank you to all the volunteers for putting on a great event!
NASHVILLE - Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman Chip Forrester said the legislative record of state Sen. Bill Ketron indicates that the Murfreesboro lawmaker is simply a “yes” man for fellow Republican senator and gubernatorial candidate Ron Ramsey, the state’s lieutenant governor.
“The district’s voters deserve an elected official who is looking after their interests, not someone who is more worried about political posturing and feathering his own nest,” Forrester said. “Mr. Ketron has demonstrated time and again that his priorities align more with the powers that be than with the hard-working families in Middle Tennessee.
“At a time when families are struggling to make ends meet and the state’s budget is being trimmed to the bone, you have a legislator introducing bills that bleed the working man, delay fair and accurate elections, and shut the door to a more open government. Mr. Ketron is out of touch with ordinary people.”
For example, Ketron introduced poorly written workers compensation legislation that passed into law in 2008 but was delayed at the beginning of this year’s legislative session after concerns arose; a bill that delayed implementation of a law requiring the purchase of new voting equipment across the state; and a bill that would make some public records off limits to the general public.
“We need lawmakers in the General Assembly who understand the challenges we face and work tirelessly to make Tennessee a better place to live and raise a family,” Forrester said.
“Policies that create jobs for our communities, ensure our children are well educated and make our lives more comfortable should be at the top of the priority list, not how to take care of a special interest group contributing to your campaign or a colleague with ulterior motives.”
Ketron has even admitted he doesn’t always have time to thoroughly read and understand legislation he votes for or against. He represents Lincoln, Marshall, Maury and part of Rutherford counties in the Senate.
“The thing was on a fast track,” Ketron reportedly told the Murfreesboro Daily News Journal when explaining his vote to reform education through the state’s application for federal stimulus money. “We barely had time to read through it.”
Forrester called Ketron’s explanation for not reading legislation thoroughly before casting a vote a “lame excuse and a blatant disregard for your duty as a legislator.”
“It appears to me that Mr. Ketron is Ron Ramsey’s ‘yes’ man,” he added.
MURFREESBORO - Today Rutherford County Democratic Party Chairman Jonathon Fagan admonished Representative Donna Rowland (R-Murfreesboro) for refusing to sign onto a resolution (HJR0750)in the Tennessee legislature honoring Congressman Bart Gordon’s 26 years of service to Tennessee.
“Rowland has already gained a reputation as an incompetent and ineffectual Representative, and this petty partisanship adds immaturity to that reputation,” Fagan said. He added that Rowland has herself sponsored many resolutions in the past, even for her current boyfriend Ronnie Barrett, and questions why Rowland would not simply add her name to a resolution honoring a retiring Congressman of 26 years from our own county.
On Wednesday, January 27 2010, Representative Kent Coleman (D-Murfreesboro) sponsored a resolution honoring the retiring Congressman. It is customary for all Representatives to sign on and co-sponsor such resolutions of recognition for retiring Congressman and Senators. However, Republican Leader Glen Casada of Brentwood notified Coleman that House Republicans would not be doing so.
“Bart Gordon has worked for Rutherford County and the Sixth District for over a quarter century. Whether or not we all agree with his every decision, he deserves to be recognized for his service just as Republicans Bill Frist and Fred Thompson were recognized by all Democrats for their service.”
Rep. Rowland and 36 Republican colleagues, in an unprecedented partisan move, refused to sign the resolution. By contrast, when Republicans Bill Frist and Fred Thompson retired from the U.S. Senate all 99 House members, Republican and Democrat, co-sponsored a resolution of recognition. At that time, both the Tennessee Senate and the Tennessee House of Representatives were controlled by Democrats, but Republicans are unwilling to return the favor this time around.
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The Rutherford County Democratic Party will be hosting a Mardi Gras party at the Murfreesboro Lions Club on Fat Tuesday, February 16th from 4-8pm. Come out and enjoy some Naw’lins style fare prepared by Gubernatorial candidate, Kim McMillan, who will help prepare some great traditional dishes. We will also have a silent auction for some beautifully crafted Mardi Gras masks, activities for kids, and music. It is going to be a great event, so call and get your tickets today.
