There will be no Constitutional amendment on abortion in 2010:

A House subcommittee voted along party lines on Tuesday to kill a contentious constitutional abortion amendment amid open partisan sniping over the legislation.

“The resolution fails,” Rep. Mary Pruitt, the Democratic chairwoman of the House Public Health and Family Assistance Subcommittee, declared after the subcommittee voted, 6-3, to defeat the measure.

The measure proposed to amend the Tennessee constitution to specify that nothing in state law explicitly protects abortion. The Senate approved the proposal earlier this year, but it was widely expected to die in the House committee, as in previous years.

Proponents said the amendment was needed for future abortion regulation; opponents have decried it as an election-year gambit and an attempt to eventually ban abortion outright.

Knox County Democrat Joe Armstrong, who sits on this committee, heaped scorn on the Republicans:

Democrats have criticized Republican sponsors of the resolution, saying it's a partisan issue that comes up almost every election year.

"Democrats and Republicans have worked together to create quality legislation," said Rep. Joe Armstrong, who voted against the resolution on Tuesday. "But it's funny this comes up ... when there's an election on the line and yet on an off year this is never mentioned."

The Knoxville Democrat emphasized the partisanship of the resolution by referencing a fellow Democrat who said he wasn't allowed to sign onto the legislation because of his party affiliation.

"By telling a pro-life Democrat he can't sign on, that proves it's not about saving life, it's about politics," Armstrong said.

This:
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Or THIS?

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I've been seeing numerous caravans of large dump trucks marked "radioactive" hauling material to the Mt. Olive community. Is this something we South Knoxvillians should be alarmed with or do we just ignore it and be thankful that it is helping us save money on our heating bills? I have also noticed the glowing night sky's have lessened the need for porch lights, and flashlights lately.

don't know whether the grid disturbance caused the units to shut down or that their shut down caused the grid disturbance

Power outages from Miami to Orlando.

There are no safety concerns. The reactors shut down as designed,"

Too bad I watched "The China Syndrome" just the other day.

Nothing to see here, move along...

From the Obama campaign:

This morning, the New York Times reported that Senator Clinton is launching what even her aides admit is a "kitchen sink" bombardment of negative attacks against Barack.

This is the same stale, Washington playbook that has driven so many Americans away from the political process.

Obama would NEVER run a negative ad against his opponent because he's above all that, right?

Obama Launches First Negative Ad

Obama's misleading NAFTA attack

And, speaking of stale Washington playbooks...

Obama does Harry and Louise, again

Seriously, I'll be glad when there's a nominee. Obama should just sit back, chill, and ride the big mo train on in to the Denver station. Clinton's political obituary has already been printed on the front page of the Sunday New York Times. What's he so worried about?

Just received a fax from Mayor Ragsdale's office regarding the p-card audit, which will be released shortly to the Mayor's Office for their review and response:

The draft audit will not be the work product or property of the Knox County Mayor's Office. Until such time as the audit is declared final, it is under the exclusive-jurisdiction of state-and local auditors.

From the point the Mayor's Office takes delivery of the draft audit, we will be afforded a specified period to prepare management's response. The Mayor's Office will review it, respond and return it to the auditors. The state and local auditors will make their determination as to when the audit is complete.

Knox County will not release any of the contents of the audit or our response until it is declared final, a determination made by the state and local auditors. Knox County bas committed to State Comptroller John Morgan that we will not comment on the audit during this review period. We intend to honor that commitment.

Copy of fax attached.

I have been passing this story along since it is such a hoot! It has gotten such a reaction that we thought we would share it with everyone. It comes from the book The Girl Scouts Triumph,

I picked it up several years ago. As a fiction story, it is totally implausible. It just turned out to be true and has a direct connection to Knoxville's Girl Scout Museum of the Tanasi Council. For those of you that haven't read it yet, the story gives you a snapshot of the WWI era. It could never happen now. Everyone would be locked up! Childrens Protective Services would put all the kids in foster care!

This link, Link..., will take you directly to the page on Art Museum Touring.com (Link...) where the story is located.

Sherrie