for July 11, 2006

Daily Dose

Clinton Coming to Nashville for Ford -- According to Hamilton Co. Democratic officials former President Bill Clinton will be in Nashville for a fundraiser for Harold Ford, Jr's Senate campaign. The event will feature three receptions with the top level reception at a price tag of $10,000 in donations per couple. The event is tenatively schedule for August 4, one day after the Democratic primary.

Bryant Questions Corker's Electability -- Former Congressman Ed Bryant was in Chattanooga to give a speech to the Pachyderm Club where he called into question Bob Corker's electability. Bryant said Corker has liabilities with his record on taxes, abortion and immigration and would not be a strong challenge to Rep. Ford. Both Bryant and Corker, along with Van Hilleary have major media market television buys underway.

The Bryant-Ford Connection -- Harold Ford, Jr. criticized Ed Bryant's timeline of events in his role in the prosecution of Ford's father, Harold Ford, Sr. for bank fraud and mail fraud charges in the early 1990s. Bryant maintains the an "improper intervention" by a Democratic official of the U.S. Justice Department at the time led to the impaneling of a new jury from the Memphis area for the trial of Harold Ford Sr., then a sitting congressmen. At the time, the Justice Department was transitioning from President George HW Bush to President Clinton. A judge intially agreed with Bryant's request to move jury selection to Jackson, TN, but the decision was later overturned and jury selection came from Memphis. Jurors from Memphis helped clear Ford Sr. in a hung jury. That's not the only legal connection between the Ford family and Bryant. The U.S. District Judge presiding over Harold Ford, Sr.'s brother's Tennessee Waltz trial is Judge J. Daniel Breen, a former Bryant law partner.

Endorsement Round-up -- TeamGOP: David Davis (1st Congressional), Alan Pedigo (4th Congressional), Rory Bricco (8th Congressional), Mark White (9th Congressional). Blogger Bill Hobbs: Ed Bryant (US Senate), Jack Johnson (23rd State Senate), Bob Krumm (21st State Senate). Democracy for TN: Jason Powell (58th State House), Kevin Smith (1st State House), Chuck Womack (42nd State House), Billy Long (Hamilton Co. Sheriff), Hallie McFadden (Hamilton Co. General Sessions Court), Karen Johnson & Gracie Porter (Nashville School Board), Amy Browles & Mark Harmon (Knox Co. Commission), Herman Lawson (Sumner Co. School Board), Jared Barrett (Rutherford Co. Commission), Charles Kelly (29th TN Cir. Court).

State Supremes to Hear Charter Case -- The Knox County charter debate may finally reach a head on September 6. The State Supreme Court will use its rarely used "reach down" authority to hear the case directly on appeal from Chancellor John Weaver's court. Weaver previously declared the charter of Knox County "invalid" and "inoperative." Since that time, a federal judge has asked the State Supreme Court to take the case because its legal implications are limiting the prosecution of adult businesses and other items on the docket.

Nashville Candidates File Disclosures -- The Nashville City Paper has a good report on the financial situation of a number of local campaigns in Nashville, including the controversal election in East Nashville's District 5 School Board seat, which features blogger and home-schooling mother Kay Brooks.

Posted by Adam Groves | Email This |