Watch this space as the lineup trickles out today (if you can wade through the mess)...

What happens when you send out low-information reporters to cover a story. Or maybe they have an agenda? Or they read something on Twitter, more likely.

See the subject. Feel free to discuss.

My points:

1. Burchett is beatable on the issues. The red light camera thing, alone, is enough to get folks to vote against him. He's never administered a government in an executive position in his life, but he's the best the KCGOP has. Just because he is likable, doesn't mean that he should be "OK" with the "cave-in" Democrat bloc in Knox County.
2. Hutchison: Very beatable. This isn't the mid-90s anymore. He's out of touch and has legal and political problems galore. He won't even make it out of the primary.
3. Cosby: Who? Has touted his auditing skills, but auditing is not governing. He's a diversion.

Let's hear it. Why can't they come up with someone? I don't care about how McGovern in '72 blah blah blah. Why can't they come up with someone? They've conceded this election 9 months before it happens. Think of the stakes. It will be at least 4 years of treading water with Burchett. If, God forbid, Hutchison were to win, it would be devastating to the City.

Yesterday: UT report: Tennessee economy is slowly recovering

Today: Economic report for Tennessee dismal

National Park Service Announces Settlement on North Shore Road:

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced today that a settlement has been reached in a dispute begun in 1943 over a proposed 34-mile stretch of road through Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Under the terms of the agreement signed today by the Department of the Interior, Swain County, North Carolina, and Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), the Department of the Interior will pay up to $52 million into a trust fund established for the County.

Yesterday, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius called for Anthem Blue Cross to publicly justify raising premiums for its California customers by as much as 39 percent. She also wants the company to disclose how much of premiums are spent on actual health care v. administrative overhead.

The parent company of Anthem Blue Cross, WellPoint Incorporated, earned $2.7 billion in the last quarter of 2009.

Here's the letter...

Toyota has announced a voluntary recall for 2010 Prius and Lexus HS 250h vehicles to update anti-lock braking system software. Details in the press release after the jump.

While Toyota is getting all the headlines, it should also be noted that Ford announced a similar recall for a similar problem last week.

Is it just me, or are these new computer-controlled "fly by wire" systems for braking, acceleration, and steering maybe not such a good idea for mass-produced vehicles?

Toyota press release...

Obama on Sunday invited GOP and Democratic leaders to discuss possible compromises in a half-day, televised gathering on Feb. 25.

"This is a clever tactic by the president to try to put the Republicans on the defensive"

Hah! The Republicans should be on the defensive. They are trying to block legislation that could make us an even greater country by helping citizens obtain what they want and need. Healthcare reform could make us more competitive in the global economy. Many of our businesses are being dragged down with health insurance costs and need to be separated from the liability. Health insurance, and thus healthcare, should not be tied to employment or state of residence. We should be able to move freely without this as a concern.

Let's carefully put the issue in front of the people to explore the big picture.

Representative John Murtha, a strong opponent against the war in Iraq has died at age 77.

Since this topic is going to get a lot of airplay, I thought I would go fact-finding with an open mind.

Medical care suits are about 5% of personal-injury filings. Plaintiffs lose 70% of malpractice suits, and even those that win have many cases overturned or damages reduced (or eliminated) on appeal.

Less than 4 percent of tort actions are decided by a jury verdict. I found that interesting.

An insurance industry survey found no difference in malpractice insurance rates in states that had capped damages, versus states without caps. Total cost represents about 0.6% of total health care spending, and almost none of the increases. (http://www.utexas.edu/news/2005/03/10/law/).

According to J. Robert Hunter, federal insurance administrator under Presidents Ford and Carter, caps don't work because liability rates reflect not litigation costs but the insurance industry's own practices. During good times, insurers write policies even for the worst risks to generate cash for investment. When the stock market tanks, rates climb steeply to cover losses. This probably explains the current (sudden) interest in tort reform.

The last big push towards tort reform coincided with the brunt of asbestos lawsuits (if you recall, Cheney's company had significant exposure to asbestos lawsuits, which they shed by splitting up the company).

Although asbestos caused 170,000 deaths from lung cancer, the Environmental Protection Agency was never able to ban it. Lawsuits forced it from the market. (Isn't that the free market at work???)

Summary:
Tort reform is asking you to SIGN AWAY YOUR FREEDOMS in exchange for... really a tiny financial benefit, if any.

I propose a deal that if all conservatives would sign a contract forgoing their rights to sue for the next four years, and we see a 10% drop in health care costs, then we'll vote to enact it into law.

I have a TVA "Energy Right" home auditor headed this way Wednesday morning. For $150, he will conduct a 1 1/2 to 2 hour inspection of my home, then produce a slate of recommended energy improvements in priority order. If I chose to undertake any of his recommendations (I know we need duct cleaning and sealing, although only the sealing qualifies as an "improvement"), within 90 days of the audit and using one of TVA's recommended contractors, TVA will offer a "cash incentive" to reimburse 50% of my costs ($500 maximum). Details here: http://www.tva.gov/ee/in_home_eval.htm

This incentive is over and above any energy efficiency improvements I may undertake that qualify for IRS tax credits to reimburse 30% of my costs ($1,500 maximum) through December 2010. Details here: http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=206871,00.html

Anybody have any personal experience with the TVA program? Wonder why I need to use TVA's recommended contractor? Think I should get a second quote from someone not on their list (I'm inclined)?

Scott Barker files this report...

Just sent this to all the commissioners who have email (i.e. not commissioners Jack Sharp and Robert M. Lobetti)

I also told them that I was posting this here on knoxviews and encouraged them to respond here.

I think all I need is someone with a "power snake" that can unclog a drainpipe.

Any and all recommendations welcome.
Thanks in advance

Bond rating agency Moody's on Wednesday warned that the triple-A rating of U.S. treasury bonds could be in peril unless the U.S. reduces its federal budget deficit or the economy rebounds.

"Absolutely not," Mr. Geithner said in an interview with ABC News's "This Week" when asked about the prospect of the U.S. losing its top rating. "That will never happen to this country."

Why does Geithner not give me confidence? Why does Moody's want to manipulate the economy with scare tactics?

Jon at Left Wing Cracker predicts that Rep. Steve Cohen will lose the 9th district Congressional seat (but it will stay in the D column with Herenton) and that it will be Kyle v. Haslam for governor and Haslam will win. Read more...

Speaking of Left Wing Cracker, Steve has launched a new project, Speak to Power, to highlight Tennessee progressive issues.

The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development released the following layoff reports:

• MAPA Spontex is closing its Columbia TN (Maury Co.) operations affecting 132 workers starting 3/19/2010 through 6/30/2010. The company makes specialty industrial protective gloves and cleaning products. According to news reports, the French-owned company had previously sold off several of its consumer products divisions.

• Discover Financial Services is closing a Memphis call center, affecting 83 workers starting 4/1/2010 through 6/1/2010.

• The Shelby County Health Dept. is laying off 12 employees.

Based on the Super Bowl commercials tonight, you wouldn't guess that any women watch the Super Bowl, or actually care about football.
...
who would've thought that the Tim Tebow abortion ad would actually be one of the less sexist ads tonight?

Thanks to Silence Isn't Golden. I wonder how the ads did in the ratings.

Great game, epic upset!

What a game! The Saints pulled it off.

I like Peyton and the Colts, but this makes me happy!