Excellent blog Adam.

I agree; nice-looking blog. However:

It was Beth Halteman-Harwell who declared the illegal contributuions "no big deal." Still, Randy Button did say "nobody's going to be perfect." Button is a gentleman who tries to take the high road whenever possible. But as more information emerged about the FEC probe, including last summer's record fine issued under the agency's ADR program, it became clear that there were more significant and systemic problems under Halteman-Harwell's leadership. If she's going to run for governor ... and if she has the temerity to attempt a holier-than-thou position on ethics ... then she's going to have to answer some tough questions, including explaining her longstanding political ties to Sundquist.

As Tuke said, if she gets in, we're looking forward to a spirited race ...

Good idea. I like the site. I put a link to it over on my blog. I wish you luck.

Bob Tuke is a partner in a law firm, Trauger & Tuke.

One of Trauger & Tuke's clients - which means, one of Tuke's income sources - is Standex International.

Here's T&T's client list: http://www.tntlaw.net/clients.html

Standex is based in New Hampshire, not Tennessee, and outsources production several countries, including China and Mexico.

When Bob Tuke calls on Standex to move all of its production stateside and all of its distribution warehouses to Tennessee, I'll take his criticism of Beth Harwell seriously.

The truth is, if Big Time Toys produced its toys in Tennessee, its labor costs would be orders of magnitute higher than its production costs in China, meaning the toys would have exorbitant price tags. Which meas the toys wouldn't sell, which means the 12 people BTT employs in Tennessee would be out of a job, and children would have fewer toys.

Why is Bob Tuke for tossing Tennesseans out of work and depriving children of toys?

I love it! Reductio ad absurdum. But Tuke is welcome to his opinion ... why do you hate freedom, Bill Hobbs???

Glad to see Hobbs re-emerging. The blogosphere has been a bit timid during his semi-hiatus. Meanwhile, I have no idea if Bob Tuke represents Standex. But two observations:

1) Beth Halteman-Harwell is a sitting legislator who's floating her name for governor. We have a fairly long tradition in America of holding elected officials to a high threshold. If she has a good reason for sending jobs to China, let her stand up and explain it. Maybe the voters will agree; maybe they won't.

2) Beth Halteman-Harwell had the temerity to cast a vote in 2004 to encourage the use of U.S. labor and services in state government contracts [Public Chapter 630, 2004]. If she thinks it's wrong for state government, then why is it right for Big Time Toys LLC? Again, just looking for an explanation ...

Just to make it crystal clear ... I agree with encouraging the use of U.S. labor and services. I'd just like to know how that vote jibes with her business practice ...

So the Harwells own a business and have people producing their products in another country, and that's being comapred to a local law firm which is bringing out of state clients onto their balance sheet here in Tennessee? Makes Tuke look even better in my book. Thanks for letting me know.

Bob Tuke is a patriot who served his country and a steward of good government. He's doing his job, he's doing it well, and he's not doing anything the GOP wouldn't be doing. I'll be looking for the so-called fairness when the GOP turns their knives on Bredesen (remember, the guy who was pushing Buddhism as mayor?)and Ford.

The Republicans won't take out knives against Bredesen because they freaking LOVE him. He's the best Republican governor this state ever had.