Posted on 02/09/2009 8:33:09 PM PST by Scott Martin
Tennessee Republicans ousted the new House speaker from their party Monday, giving up their first chance in 150 years to control the entire Legislature, instead choosing to punish him for banding with Democrats to win his seat.
Kent Williams was the first Republican speaker in the state in 40 years. But party loyalists were angered that he snapped up the top position by joining all 49 Democrats in January to beat GOP nominee and House Republican Jason Mumpower by one vote.
The decision Monday to banish him resulted in the loss of a 50-49 House majority the Republicans had for just a month. They control the Senate 19-14.
State GOP Chairwoman Robin Smith brushed aside questions about losing control, saying the decision to oust Williams was driven by principles and rules.
"You can call it 49-49, Williams," said Smith, who acted after the party's top leaders last week approved a resolution to oust the speaker.
"The politically expedient thing to do would be to overlook whatever he's done," Smith said. "If we claim to stand for something, and we continue to look the other way when people behave in such a manner, it really negates all that we stand for."
The move means Williams won't be able to run for re-election as a Republican in 2010 in his heavily GOP district. He says he's disappointed but has no intention of joining the Democratic Party and that the decision shows the state GOP has "just hit rock bottom."
"Hopefully we will have some changes in our Tennessee GOP, maybe we will have someone more level-headed, someone who doesn't rule by hate," said the two-term lawmaker from Elizabethton, who indicated if he does run again, it'll be as an independent...
(Excerpt) Read more at onenewsnow.com ...
again...another GOP woman with more balls than RINO Spincter
Understand the man is mentally deranged. He is a creep and sleaze (molested a lady State Rep), a drunk, and a pathological liar. He lied to everyone in the caucus right up to the moment of the vote, said “I’m voting for Mumpower.” When the Democrats nominated him, he said without hesistating, “Williams.” He’s the most despicable, villainous, backstabbing, power-hungry weasel in the history of the state of Tennessee (and that puts him in such august company as Al Gore, Jr., but give Al some credit, he was at least ethical and HONEST enough to never run as a Republican).
Republicans retain a numerical majority in the legislature as a whole because they hold a 19-14 lead in the Senate.
Take out gun, shoot self in head.
Hell yeah!! That is impressive.
I was just thinking earlier today that the national GOP ought to throw Snowe, Specter, and that other idiot out of the party and teach them a lesson and prove that the party stands for something.
If only. Unfortunately, the Senate fancies themselves as the American version of the House of Lords and as such will never get down and dirty.
Well, at least the Republicans never will.
I was led to believe a man could never be molested by a woman. I bet that was yet another lie.
This is an astonishing turn of events. Lets hope it sweeps across the nation.
I can think of at least 3 that Michael Steele needs to oust as well. They seem to side with Dems more than us, so who needs them?
Too bad our G.O.P. congress thiefs and senate criminals don’t measure up the the party members in Tennessee.
Lots of RINO crap that should be jettisoned in both houses of our federal govt.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.