Sun
Jul 23 2006
08:19 am

In a shocking new development, the Knoxville News Sentinel has endorsed Bob Corker in the GOP senate primary. Political wags and pundits are scrambling to make sense of this sensational and totally unexpected news.

Nobody saw this coming. We are through the looking glass here, people. The KNS has blown this election wide open with their strong and unequivocal endorsement of Corker.

Number9's picture

he raised taxes as mayor should not be of major concern

Charges by his GOP opponents that he raised taxes as mayor should not be of major concern to voters. Anyone who governs locally at some point is going to have to choose between taxes and reductions in services that cause a city or county to decline.

When the KNS writes that raising taxes should not be a major concern to voters they reveal who and what they really are. They are not "progressives" they just act like them. The KNS is just like Corker. Dishonest, but very good at being dishonest.

One of Corker's main television ads is where 20 some odd people say Bob Corker was the "best Mayor Chattanooga ever had". "The lowest tax rates since the 1950's." What the ad didn't say was they also had the highest taxes since the 1950's. That Corker ad is patently dishonest. Isn't this a sort of intelligence test? To see just how stupid voters actually are?

Corker, like the KNS, is the personification of style over substance. Is there any substance underneath? Is a man with a 100 million dollar net worth like you or me? Does he see us as people or units of production?

Vote for Corker and subscribe to the KNS if taxes are not a "major concern" for you and your family.

R. Neal's picture

Follow that second link

Follow that second link about the 'strong and unequivocal' endorsement. Heh.

The Dude's picture

Bob

Here's a funny story:
I work for a large company in East Tennessee which employees about 1500 people. Recently, a huge Corker sign was placed outside the corporate offices (if you travel Pellisippi towards where in ends in Maryville, I'm sure you know the company). Thursday afternoon, as I'm approuching the front doors of the company, just after a lunch break, a smiley douch comes out of the front doors and shouts "whe are are gonna get um!". I think, damn, that looks like freaking Bob Corker. I look just to the right of the front doors and their is a really big Suburban SUV, High Emissions Edition, parked. There is a big Corker sicker on it with Hamiliton County tags. 'Good lands, it is Bob Corker' I thinks to myself. A man yells something at him, as Bob walks to his SUV, and he holds a fist into the air. Then, just as I pass his SUV, he gives me a head nod and a fist into the air. Was this an ode to me being "The Man", or was he promoting white power? I don't know, but he does really remind me of W. Just really looks like he gets by on style over substance, like someone mentioned earlier. A suit, a smile, and his mom telling us to vote for him. Oh, Bob, I really expected your mom to promote another, so thanks for clearing that one up for me. Good to know where she stands.

R. Neal's picture

Heh. (You really ought to

Heh. (You really ought to register that name before somebody else grabs it!)

newscoma's picture

I'm actually shocked at the

I'm actually shocked at the Corker endorsement.

CBT's picture

Corker rides in a Chevy

Corker rides in a Chevy Tahoe, not a Suburban. About a foot and a half difference and a few mpgs.

Number9's picture

Corker rides in a Chevy

Corker rides in a Chevy Tahoe, not a Suburban. About a foot and a half difference and a few mpgs.

Same as Ragsdale's ride. Tahoe is for progressive Republicans.

Anyone hear the hug-a-thon on WNOX this morning? Bob Corker was sitting in for Hallerin Hollering Hill and had an Oprah like segment with Mike Ragsdale. You could feel the harmony. There was so much sugar you could get diabetes just by listening.

SteveMule's picture

Shocked!!

What?!

The KNS endorsed Bob Corker?!?!

I'm shocked! Shocked I tell you! There's endorsin' going on here!

Take Care, Be Good and don't play in the street!

SteveMule

Andy Axel's picture

Condolences to Bob Corker

Condolences to Bob Corker and Bob Corker. Bob Corker just had them beat.

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Old Hickory's picture

They endorsed him in 1994, he lost

I think the News Sentinel just did a huge favor to the Ed Bryant campaign, those people will work twice as hard now, just to show the Sentinel that taxes and credibility are still important in Tennessee.

Tennessee values and conservative philosophy are not for sale.

Spend it all Bob, spend it all.

KnoxVol's picture

The News-Sentinel has no credibility

 

 "When the KNS writes that raising taxes should not be a major concern to voters they reveal who and what they really are. They are not "progressives" they just act like them. The KNS is just like Corker. Dishonest, but very good at being dishonest."

You're exactly right. The News-Sentinel concealed the fact, until it was too late, the many millions of dollars that the city of Knoxville (or the taxpayers) paid to construct their new building.

Here's what the News-Sentinel got:

* A $55,000,000 dollar, low interest loan raised from a municipal bond issue floated by the city of Knoxville (that obligates the taxpayers in the event N-S's owner Scripps defaults).

* A ten year tax abatement on their $20,000,000 building and their $30,000,000 German-made printing press (they pay no taxes on the property for ten years). The personal property tax rate is 20% after 5 years (by law) so they'll pay at a rate of only 20% on the $30,000,000 printing press.

* The $3,000,000 that the city of Knoxville paid to condemn, acquire, and develop the 25.74 acre parcel of prime industrial land upon which the News-Sentinel's new building now sits (which they gave to the News-Sentinel - free of charge).

* The likely decrease in the municipal bond rating for the city of Knoxville and the higher interest rates that we must now pay on the $260,000,000 of outstanding bonds because of the added burden of the citizens guaranteeing the $55,000,000 N-S bond issue.

It was not until after it was a done deal, the building built, and the new printing press in operation that the News-Sentinel made a news report. I don't think that they told the whole story. The general public had not been the least bit aware up to that point. There was no public debate.

The News-Sentinel has no credibility.

Talk local politics at The County Seat

Rachel's picture

Hey digit - just curious. 

Hey digit - just curious.  You don't like Corker.  Who is your man in this election?

Andy Axel's picture

The Tennessean has also

The Tennessean has also endorsed Corker.

(Day late, but no surprise.)

____________________________

We are the Skyscraper Condemnation Affiliate
God save Tudor houses, antique tables, and billiards

Anonymous's picture

vote for Van

Vote Van Hilleary!

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