Daily Dose for July 12, 2007

Crutchfield to Change Waltz Plea

Crutchfield to Change Waltz Plea -- The big news is that State Sen. Ward Crutchfield, who is one of the few legislators who hasn't yet had a trial in the FBI sting Operation Tennessee Waltz case, will change his plea to guilty today. Crutchfield has called for change-of-plea hearing today in Memphis. With Crutchfield pleading guilty, we can retract earlier comments that his State Senate district might be a GOP pickup. More here, here, here, and here

Democratic Fundraising Tactic 'Wonderful and Crooked' -- Along with bringing the news above that Crutchfield may change his plea, the Chattanooga Times Free Press has an interesting tidbit that may have wider implications. Sen. Crutchfield's attorneys wanted to exclude a secretly recorded tape in which his administrative assistant, Linda Johnson, told an undercover FBI operative about a "wonderful and crooked" way to get money into state political campaigns. That was apparently in reference to a "propriety" TN Democratic Party fundraising technique. In the motion to exclude, attorneys argued "The motion said use of the sound clip "will serve no purpose other (than) to inflame and mislead the jury regarding Democratic Party fundraising." The question then is what is this "propriety" tactic by the TN Dems that is "wonderful and crooked" - and will the public get to find out now that Crutchfield will plead guilty?

Shelby Co. Phone Lines Jammed with AC Supporters -- Supporters of a draft movement to run Shelby Co. Mayor A.C. Wharton against City Mayor Willie Herenton apparently gave out Wharton's office number for callers to use to encourage A.C. to run. The response was overwhelming, tying up Shelby Co. phone lines. The county government, which cannot use the phones for political purposes, has asked the Draft group to remove the number from its website.

SRW Gets Renominated to TVA Board -- Former TN GOP Chair Susan Richardson Williams was renominated to the TVA board by President Bush yesterday. Williams joins Thomas C. Gilliland of Blairsville, Ga., would replace former Chairman Bill Baxter and Bishop William H. Graves of Memphis as Bush's picks to fill the vacancies on the TVA board. Graves is the first black member of the TVA board. Sen. Bob Corker praised the nominations of the two Tennesseans.

Posted by Adam Groves | Email This |