Johnson City news and politics » #tngov

Zach Wamp enters self proclaimed “Silly Season” as he hates on Bill Haslam at Sullivan County Dinner

Ethan Flynn — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 15:18:52 +0000

Zach Wamp took another stab at Bill Haslam’s business record,

“I’m not going to take credit for what my Dad and brother have done.” (click here for article)

He continues to tweet about class warfare as he did in the middle of the dinner, “clear choice-true conserv vs wealthy establ guy.” You read that correct. Zach Wamp has condensed his ‘super rhetoric’ into small, bite size, 140 character nuggets of…illegible conundrums.

The other day he mentioned that this was the “silly season” and that “From here on, people will say things they don’t even believe about each other, and then one person wins, and they get to serve.”

Has Zach Wamp left Ron Ramsey and Bill Haslam to enter the “silly season” by himself?

Ron Ramsey says Zach Wamp is too close to AkinsCrisp

Ethan Flynn — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 20:45:37 +0000

Zach Wamp has been under fire recently for his cozy relationship to AkinsCrisp. Ron Ramsey commented on the issue in a release earlier this month. “I’ll just say I’ve always thought it didn’t pass the smell test in the fact that there was an awful lot of money coming from Washington, D.C., that ended up getting to (public relations firm) Akins-Crisp,”

What was Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey referring to? Here’s a quick rundown of recent coverage on the issue:

Wamp set up the Tennessee Valley Corridor in 1995. (Tennessean)
AkinsCrisp received %60 of the revenues of the Tennessee Valley Corridor in the past two years (Chattanooga Times Free Press)
Most of the revenue from the Corridor comes from organizations that get federal money (Zach Wamp is on the Appropriations Committee). (Chattanooga Times Free Press)
Wamp is paying AkinsCrisp $9,000/month for campaign consulting. (Tennessee Registry of Election Finance)
Weston Wamp, the congressman’s son, is working full-time for AkinsCrisp on his dad’s campaign. (The Examiner)

Does it pass the smell test? What do you think?

Ron Ramsey’s Father Passes Away

Ethan Flynn — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 19:30:41 +0000

Sad news. Kingsport Times News reports that Lynn Ramsey, 76, of Blountville, died at the James H. Quillen V.A. Medical Center at Mountain Home.

http://www.timesnews.net/article.php?id=9024032

Wamp claims he’s spending as much as Haslam; Ramsey is not in race.

Ethan Flynn — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 10:26:27 +0000

Wamp had the lowest cash on hand of any candidate last reporting period. Haslam had almost double at $3.5 million compared to Wamp’s $2.1 million. Furthermore, Ramsey has been in session last quarter which makes me think he can only be gaining momentum. It’s hard to believe the claims Sachs Wamp is making.

http://mobile.johnsoncitypress.com/ARTICLE/77824

Haslam, Ramsey, Wamp, and McWherter agree to debate at Northeast State.

Ethan Flynn — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 14:23:04 +0000

http://www.timesnews.net/article.php?id=9023569

Bill Haslam very present in the tri-cities

Ethan Flynn — Sat, 29 May 2010 13:01:21 +0000

This is a great article about Haslam. He’s been very present here in the Johnson City area and he’s been a great listener.

http://mobile.johnsoncitypress.com/ARTICLE/77226

Give Washington the Boot! Ramsey leads the way on the budget.

Ethan Flynn — Fri, 28 May 2010 14:18:18 +0000

As bad as it is to watch politicians pander in election year, it can at times be refreshing…sort of. Ramsey has led the effort for controversial cuts in the budget including Speaker William’s fish hatchery pork project.

I’m still curious why he doesn’t try to cut all those departments that he promised he will cut as governor. But, if cutting pork scores him political points (which it does with me), then by all means, its election year.

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20100528/NEWS0201/5280344/-1/NEWS01/Ramsey+leads+Senate+to+cut+off+budget+talks