Davis Concedes

TriCities.com reports that Congressman David Davis has conceded the District-1 Senate Republican race to Johnson City Mayor Dr. Phil Roe - even though ya’ll broke the law and he’s just doing his job by pointing it out. News Channel 11 reporter George Jackson interviews Davis about his plans for the future.

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Show of Hands… Who is Fed-Up with Davis’ Hissy Fit? (This is a Republican Only vote.)

Defeated US Rep. David Davis still insists there was a well-funded and systematic effort by outside parties to influence the Republican primary – and he thinks, once he buys your voting history, he can prove it.

According to Davis, “information provided by witnesses and anecdotal evidence shows that many voters who have never voted in the Republican Primary chose a Republican ballot this time.”

Bah! Anecdotal evidence… which is by it’s very definition is useless? Witnesses? Witnesses to what? Someone holding a Nathan Vaughn and Phil Roe sign? This isn’t illegal. (And we’re choosing to believe the the signs indicate Roe had an evil network of disingenuous Democratic pseudosupporters rather than Vaughn, the Democrat who has been continuously re-elected in a predominately Republican district, having the usual Republican poll stumpers. The latter would be unthinkable, right? Think again.)

And I’m still not seeing the “fraudulent” or “perverted” part.

However, Hank Hayes (who is covering the story quite well) reports Davis’ campaign cited a code section of Tennessee law saying voters “must be bona fide members of the political party” in the primary they seek to vote. (Of course, as Jake points out, Davis conveniently left out other parts of the law, which specify affiliation must be challenged at the polls.

Davis’ second argument (just in case the first one doesn’t fly) the party system and the right of political parties to determine nominees goes to the core of the right of association guaranteed by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, and has been upheld by the Supreme Court of the United States. California Democratic Party v. Jones, 530 U.S. 567: but this case involved Blanket Primaries.  Not open primaries, which I think would weaken the argument.

So, still not seeing it.

And the bottom line is Tennessee is an open primary state. Voters can select which primary they wish to vote in at the polling place – and personally I prefer it this way. I think it’s important, particularly here in the 1st District, that voters be able to decide this based on the options before them.

Let’s say, hypothetically, I’m an animal-loving black voter. I typically vote in the Democratic Primary but feel no strong ties to the party. I live in district where 80% of the voters are Republican. There’s a congressional election coming up. While It’s not impossible that a Democratic candidate could win -it’s not likely either. Chances are my representative is going to be a Republican.

Now, in the Republican Primary, the choices are (a) a former Klansman, who kicks beagles as a hobby and (b) a conservative guy – who kicked a dog only once but by accident and some of his best friends are black. The race is expected to be close.

With the knowledge that one of these guys is most likely going to represent me in Washington, the Republicans would prefer than I stick with my own kind, keep my nose out of Republican business and hope for the best. I don’t think so.

Look, I understand the arguments in favor of closed primaries. I just don’t agree with them- and I certainly don’t think this makes the case for a switch.

The “other side” did not strategically cross invisible lines to nominate a weak candidate. Phil Roe is not a weak candidate. Gray Sasser didn’t help cook up an evil plot and use the local Lady BlueBelles as his henchgals. Despite his claims or what he believes, David Davis has not been the victim of an organized effort by any certain group or party.  The truth is – while area Republicans, Democrats, Independents and voters with no real affliation cannot seem to agree on much of anything here – they did agree on this. And the message was clear.

David Davis, thank you for your service. Your time is up.

Rather than accept this graciously, Davis continues to push and whine for a recount – one that could not possibly have a favorable outcome for him, his party, or his constituents. A new election would almost certainly see Davis defeated in record numbers. And if he’s handed a “judicial win,” he’d simply make history once again by being the most loathed politician to ever serve in the 1st District and he’d become the subject of a few very rude CafePress t-shirt designs.

(And the other thing that bugs me about Davis’ meltdown…. in 2006, when Richard Venable lost to Davis by 576 votes and was considering a recount – he did not hesitate to congratulate Davis as the apparent winner. As far as I know, Davis has yet to extend the same courtesy to Roe. Yeah. Whatta Guy. )

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Striving to Be the Next HBO Movie

According to the Times-News, Ron Ramsey doesn’t think Davis should challenge the primary results.

I agree – but I wonder what Ramsey thinks about Raymond Finney’s recount?

Just guessing here – but the since last thing the Lt. Governor needs is another Senator unwilling to view Democrats as the spawn of Satan, which they aren’t (Naifeh just makes them seem this way.) And considering that Finney’s opponent, Doug Overbey, has a history of voting for non-Republican speakers AND that out of out of 3,556 Hawkins County voters voting in the Republican Primary – only 2439 of those cast their vote for Mike Faulk. (Faulk was running unopposed, which means there were 1117 members of his own party in his home county who did not give him a courtesy vote.) I’ll bet Ramsey secretly supports Finney’s recount… and wishes the state of Tennessee had some method of handicapping political elections that would give Finney a 140 point headstart.

Also related: Davis’ theory might not be complete crap. According to captainkona, “TN420 successfully solicited 116 pledges from Liberals of all stripes (mostly here in Bristol) to vote in the Republican primary for your challenger… [skip] I told you over a year ago, via email, that I would see you out of office in the next election. And that’s exactly what happened. Don’t [expletive that rhymes with duck] with the Left. I’m captainkona, I was instrumental in your loss to Roe, and there’s not one [same expletive + ing] thing you can do about it.”

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David Davis and Sour Grapes

Defeated congressman David Davis, who has been supplementing his post-election diet with massive quantities of sour grapes, has apparently failed to garner any local sympathy or support for his “the Democrats Did It!” act.

So, he’s taking his show on the road.

The Times-News reports the politician has hired a national law firm that has worked on recounts to examine the issue, which according to everyone else is not really an issue.

It does appear there has been some voting irregularities in the Republican primary,” Davis said. “It does appear Tennessee election law may have been violated. We are working with a constitutional law firm to protect the voting rights of Republican primary voters. This is not about David Davis or Phil Roe. This is about the sanctity of the voting process, which must be protected.”

What “Baloney!” This is not about protecting the sanctity of the process. This is about a guy, who doesn’t want to go down in history as the first incumbent Republican to fumble a 1st District election since 1932.

Meanwhile, an estimated 25,000 voters, who actually did support Davis, are now kicking themselves and pretending they voted for Roe. Oh, and blogger Joe Powell has offered a bit of advice on how to deal with the 1st District mess: Vote for Democratic candidate Rob Russell instead.

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Desaturating Davis?

I am not a supporter of David Davis.  Just in case there’s someone new here, I want to be clear about that.  As a matter of fact, so there can be no misunderstandings – I’ll go ahead and tell you I’m not voting for him this week. There are at least 11,005 reasons why.

Still, when I stumbled across this side-by-side at TriCities.com – it struck me as odd-looking enough to mention.

Perhaps it’s just me but the color seems off.

Davis has the pallor of the creepy guy who refuses to come outdoors and instead spends all his time swatting at imaginary bugs and being suspicious of the microwave.  Roe, on the other hand, seems rosy cheeked and ready to take on Congress.

Now, this is the BHC file photo for Davis: they’ve used it before. So, it wasn’t desaturated for the sake of the side-by-side – but still… here’s a Times-News side-by-side for comparison.

So, what do you think? Bad photo of Davis or bit of media funny business?

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Primary Fighting in the 1st…

A rundown on the latest in the 1st District Congressional Extreme Fighting Challenge.

Earlier this month, our potato-headed incumbent congressman, David Davis wrote a letter, which basically stated, “I’m pro-life-ier than my opponent.” Roe reponded, “Are Not.” (Apparently, this one-up-on-the-same tactic is a 2008 campaign trend – as evidenced by Tinker/Cohen’s “Obama Loves Me Bigger Than You” battle. )

Anyway, a few days later, Phil Roe’s campaign released this ad:

which is different from Phil Roe’s initial ad: “I fished and farmed with my Daddy jus’ like you’ens prolly did” (The fishing ad, I think, is modeled after the 2006 David Davis Goes to Church ad, wherein Davis lip-syncs a hymn. The lip syncing incident is yet another Republican scandal Times-News reporter Hank Hayes failed to investigate and report to the public.)

Roe turns loose the gas-pumping granny. Everybody loves the Granny because she looks feisty – and viewers have this abiding hope that the ad will suddenly turn into one of those ol’ Smoky Mountain Rasslin’ Federation promos, wherein Granny will threaten to smack-down Davis with her pocketbook or hit him over the head with a folding chair.

In fact, most of us were rooting for it.

It doesn’t happen – so overall, the ad was a little disappointing.

Davis has now decided to release his own “Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire” ad – and tells Hank Hayes at the Kingsport Times-News about it. (He would have told those folks at the Herald Courier too, but everybody knows they’re jerks who won’t print Davis’ press releases as a news stories.)

The purpose of the ad, according to Davis, is to correct an “implication” that he [Davis] personally took PAC money when, technically, he never touched it. While he cannot deny the big oil money, which poured into his campaign coffers, he disputes the allegations that he “pocketed” the money… because the money never actually went into his personal pants pockets.

Sources who once stood close to members of his campaign even say, “Hell, his pants pockets ain’t even big enough to hold all that special interest money.”

I also noticed that in the ad Davis’ campaign used 2006 footage of the candidate chatting with area voters. Some suspect that after an exhaustive search, staffers couldn’t find a single voter in the district willing to appear in Davis’ 2008 ad – not even after being offered free SnoCones and some earmarks.

Nevertheless, Davis doesn’t seem worried. Apparently, an earlier poll, which he paid to have performed by people who don’t live here, shows him being in the lead. Roe, however, said polls commissioned by his campaign indicated that a surprising 70 percent of East Tennessee voters could not even name their congressman.

My poll yielded results similar to Roe’s. In fact, 72% of the voters surveyed in my poll thought their congressman’s name was “D. Money-Grubbin’ Slimy !@*#$%, which leads me to assume many have their congressman confused with their Lt. Governor.

Anyway, with the election coming up in a few days, Davis will spend his time marketing himself to area voters, whom he apparently assumes are dimwitted and can better understand a campaign pitch if its accompanied by a banjo (such as in this twangy jingle written by Davis campaign chair Sen. Rusty Crowe. And in keeping with Southern songwriting tradition, Crowe was hopped up on Busch beer when he penned the ditty. I mean, he must have been.)

Unfortunately, after hearing the tune, most district voters responded, “If he’d released a CD, we would have all voted for Democrats.”

On that note: Rob Russell has his three minutes on WJHL, during which he did not behave like a smacked ass at all.

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Hey Hank, Here's Your Sign

The Kingsport Times-News helps catch bad guys… and their good deed almost makes up for the lopsided political coverage of late… okay, not really.

C’mon! Yard signs? Hank, you actually emailed a candidate to ask how many yard signs he’d distributed throughout the district? Were you being serious or is was this your journalistic way of saying: “Neener, neener, neener! I have The Power!”

You know – I get this sneaking feeling we’ve moved beyond not covering a candidate for reasons you think are valid or because readers haven’t expressed an interest and into more of a “these people have annoyed me, so HA!” type of situation.

And maybe some of us bloggers were a bit harsh with our truth-telling. Maybe we picked on you a little too much. My Mama always said you catch more flies with honey than you do vinegar… so, I’m willing to meet you halfway. What if I volunteer for the Russell campaign AND give Rob $5? Oh, and does this count as a yard sign?

Then, if I asked very nicely – such as:

Dear Mr. Times-News Reporter:

As a reader of your newspaper, I must say your political coverage sometimes brings tears to my eyes. (It does. It really does.) And I would be ever so appreciative if you could cover the Democratic candidates in this election as proficiently as you’ve covered the Republicans. Could you please do that? Please? Oh pretty please with a cherry on top… or a beer. Your choice.

But after this, I’m definitely going to need the beer.

A.

Would something like that work?

If not, I’d feel compelled to tell you – I’ve always liked Don better anyway. Neener, neener.

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Hey Hank, Here’s Your Sign

The Kingsport Times-News helps catch bad guys… and their good deed almost makes up for the lopsided political coverage of late… okay, not really.

C’mon! Yard signs? Hank, you actually emailed a candidate to ask how many yard signs he’d distributed throughout the district? Were you being serious or is was this your journalistic way of saying: “Neener, neener, neener! I have The Power!”

You know – I get this sneaking feeling we’ve moved beyond not covering a candidate for reasons you think are valid or because readers haven’t expressed an interest and into more of a “these people have annoyed me, so HA!” type of situation.

And maybe some of us bloggers were a bit harsh with our truth-telling. Maybe we picked on you a little too much. My Mama always said you catch more flies with honey than you do vinegar… so, I’m willing to meet you halfway. What if I volunteer for the Russell campaign AND give Rob $5? Oh, and does this count as a yard sign?

Then, if I asked very nicely – such as:

Dear Mr. Times-News Reporter:

As a reader of your newspaper, I must say your political coverage sometimes brings tears to my eyes. (It does. It really does.) And I would be ever so appreciative if you could cover the Democratic candidates in this election as proficiently as you’ve covered the Republicans. Could you please do that? Please? Oh pretty please with a cherry on top… or a beer. Your choice.

But after this, I’m definitely going to need the beer.

A.

Would something like that work?

If not, I’d feel compelled to tell you – I’ve always liked Don better anyway. Neener, neener.

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Reporter Hank Hayes Keeps Painting the Inroads Red

Remember how I said if Gray Sasser thought Democrats could make inroads in the 1st District, he must have a bad map? Well, I still believe that – but I also think it’s important for you to know who helps keep the roads in this portion of the state painted a bright shade of red.

The following is allegedly an email exchange between a local reader and Kingsport Times-News political reporter Hank Hayes. (You can read the original in comments.)

—- Original Message —–
From: _________
To: hhayes@timesnews.net
Sent: Monday, July 07, 2008 3:46 PM
Subject: Where is the Democratic point of view?

I have been reading quite a bit about the Republican candidates’ views and have read and re-read the articles in the Times-News, as I feel this election is very important. I am wondering, though, where is the Democratic perspective and why aren’t Democratic candidates being interviewed concerning these matters, or cited when they speak at events? WBIR-TV did a 30 minute show and 2 Democratic candidates, Rob Russell and Michael Donihe, and one Republican, Michael Saabri showed up, but Roe and Davis were no-shows. I found no mention of this in the paper.

Contrary to the rhetoric around these parts, there are quite a few Democrats, and we do deserve to hear points of view that are not necessarily Republican. One would almost say that the Democratic point of view is being ignored on purpose. It is kind of like 2006, when David Davis arrogantly refused to debate his Democratic opponent. What was he afraid of?

Sincerely,
Mary _______
Kingsport

From: Hank Hayes
Sent: Tuesday, July 08, 2008 11:22 AM
Subject: Re: Where is the Democratic point of view?

Hello:

Thank you for the feedback.

And thank you for reading the T-N.

I tell people, both Republicans and Democrats, that “For me to cover your campaign, there has to be one.” It makes people mad, but that’s the way I feel.

Neither of the Democratic candidates in this 1st Congressional District race have ever called me.

I don’t think either of them filed a financial disclosure report with the Federal Election Commission. That suggests they have raised no money to run a campaign. And I have seen nothing to suggest that the Tennessee Democratic Party is supporting them.

If a candidate is not going to actively raise money, put together an organization and be out there trying to attract attention, do you think they deserve coverage?

There were about 12 Republicans seeking the nomination in 2006, and I covered about 5-6 of them. I did cover Rick Trent because he worked.

My feeling is just because their name is on the ballot, that doesn’t entitle them to coverage.

I’m interested in contenders – serious candidates – and not pretenders.

Hank

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The David Davis Risk Assessment

Once again, the Times-News serves as an arena for the knock-down drag-out fight between Republican 1st District Congressional Candidates Phil Roe and David Davis.

Roe, Johnson City’s mayor, said Davis wanted earmark reform during his 2006 campaign but reversed position.

“Well, he did. He either changed his mind or something, but he did,” Roe said of Davis’ stand on earmarks.

Davis, during the 2006 Republican primary race, told the Times-News that Congress needs to control federal earmarks.

“We’re spending too much money attaching budget bills to other pieces of legislation,” he said two years ago.

After being elected, Davis signed on to legislation — which is stuck in a House committee — to cap earmarks at 1 percent of total budget outlays.

But he also filed earmarks to bring federal funds back into the district.

“They need to be open and transparent and available for public scrutiny,” Davis said of earmarks. “The Constitution gives the right of funding to start in the House of Representatives, not in the Senate, not in the White House. This talk about earmarks is not to lower the budget. It’s to shift where the money goes. It’s still going to come from the taxpayer. People in Washington want to shift it to the White House. If they shift it to the White House, money in Tennessee would go to Nashville, Memphis, Chattanooga. You would not see any money coming down to Northeast Tennessee or rural America.

“Rural Americans pay taxes, too. … East Tennessee deserves its fair share coming back. We wouldn’t have a medical school (at East Tennessee State University) if there wasn’t something called an earmark.”

The entire report is here.

Of course, the article oversimplifies the problem. Area voters don’t just take issue with Davis’ earlier statements on earmarks or how this is inconsistent with his actions in office.

The problem is David Davis seems untrustworthy.

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