Please! Just answer this question, what did you know and when did you know it? The massive GOP-giving by Freeman - $14,100 to help Corker, $10K to help Bush in '04, $10K to Bredesen's opponents in '02 and '04, etc - and the fact that he had voted in GP primaries in '02 and '06 were not disclosed to the Executive Committee members prior to the vote on Freeman last week. So, if Forrester, who repeatedly advocates transparency, knew about the giving, why did he not inform the folks voting on Freeman before the vote?

I won't go into the details in this post (there's already a ton of info on this blog about this matter), but I would note that it's getting hotter for Forrester because there is now a resolution being circulated among Executive Committee members to oust Freeman immediately. Read the other threads to check out the text of resolution.

There's also some new developments about Freeman's dealings with Corker when Corker was Chattanooga's mayor.

Announcer: And now, a message from Pathological Liars Anonymous.

Tommy Flanagan: Hello, my name is Tommy Flanagan, and I'm a member of Pathological Liars Anonymous. In fact.. I'm the president of the organization!

I didn't always lie. No, when I was a kid, I told the truth. But then one day, I got caught stealing money out of my mother's purse. I lied. I told her it was homework - that my teacher told me to do it. And she got fired! Yeah, that's what happened!

After that, lying was easy for me. I lied about my age and joined the army. I was thirteen at the time. Yeah.. I went to Vietnam, and I was injured catching a mortar shell in my teeth. And they made me a three-star general! And then I got a job in journalism, writing for the National Enquire.. er, Geographic! Yeah.. I was making twenty thousand a ye.. month! In fact, I won the Pulitzer Prize that year! Yeah, that's the ticket.

And then my cousin died - Joe Louis - and I took it hard. Maybe too hard - I tried to kill myself. Yeahh.. I did kill myself! Sure! I was medically dead for a week and a half! It was a woman that brought me out of it - Indira Gandhi! Yeah, right.. And she told me about Pathological Liars Anonymous.

Oh, you'd be surprised how many famous people belong. In fact.. at one of the meetings I met my wife - Morgan Fairchild! Yes, I'm a changed man now, and all because of Pathological Liars Anonymous. Why, I - I even have my picture on the cover of Newsweek magazine. Yeah. Every day! Yeah.. that's the ticket! Yeah, you betcha!

So, 85 percent of Freeman's campaign donations have been to Democrats? I wonder if that statement is accurate? With the numbers I've seen as going to GOP candidates, he must have been serving up hundreds of thousands in each major election year. Maybe he should just write the state party a nice big check and call his fundraising a success.

Put a sock in it Don.

Your 'outraged' is duly noted.

Let Freeman and Forrester put their cards on the table.

If they don't, we have a different issue.

If they do, we can all evaluate without your constant noise.

Geez Louise Man, Chill.

My question is local to Knoxville: Where the hell were Harold and Sylvia Woods in this Freeman debacle? They claim to only support so-called "real Democrats," then they rubber stamp Chip's appointment of a Republican donor who votes in GOP primaries. What do they add to the state party other than making fools of Tennessee at the Democratic Convention by refusing to cast their delegate votes for the man who's now POTUS?

Sylvia was the one that nominated Freeman. You expect her to come out and say it was all a "misunderstanding?"

"Put a sock in it?" What a great reply, so very mature. Whether you agree or disagree, it seems the mature and responsible way to handle things is to address the specifics of the post or just pass up the discussion. There are a lot more people outraged over this issue than just Don. The issue is not going away.

Harrison, it's my understanding that MRS. Woods was the Executive Committee member who actually nominated Freeman. I have emailed all 4 of Knox Cty's Ex-Com members and only Bill Owen and Gayle Alley have responded. Gayle has been very forthcoming about the entire mess.

And Harrison, I am hearing loud whispers that MR. Woods is getting ready to run for Knox County Democratic Party Chair. The word is that MR. & MRS. Woods have cut some sort of deal with Obama's leading local organizer to make that happen on April 4 at the Knox Cty convention.

Freeman is a "what does it take?" He gives money only when he thinks he can pull off another sleazy deal or development scam; and money to who he thinks is going to help most politically. This goes back, documented, to the early 80's when he actually tried to set up Davidson Co. Sheriff and wore an FBI wire trying to entrap the 5-time reelected Democrat Sheriff and a huge, nasty trial ensued. All over the Sheriff blocking a land development by Freeman in the neighborhood where the Sheriff lived.

And he doesn't like Bredesen because the Gov blocked some Freeman development schemes while Nashville Mayor. And he loves Corker because they were developer partnres in a project in Chatt when Corker was Mayor. That's what Freeman said, which makes them both felons unless Freeman lied, which he does a lot. Notice a thread here? Money and graft and greed and insider dealing, all the things which has our whole country in a mess now. No wonder he was a prime giver to Bush. Freeman is a prime example of the worst in political giving to line your own pocket. And he now has the keys to the DPTN treasury.

Although really, there's not much to worry about. First they owe a Nashville law firm $80,000 for handling the Kurita matter. And then they have to raise $60,000 per month to meet all obligations. And next, because of choosing Forrester over Bone and then Forrester using the Governor's name for fundraising, 100% of the Roundtable's 100-plus members who have annually donated $5000 have closed their wallets. Rah, rah, rah Chip and Sleazeball, lead us.

Mr. Chip Forrester, Blame for this entire mess belongs at your doorstep. You have lost all credibility. This will not end until your boy Freeman is long gone. Geez, save yourself from yourself man.

Mr. Bill Freeman, You sir, are no democrat. Your only interest is to advance your own causes. You are a slippery piece of Jell-O and most certainly not a changed man as you claim. We see your kind everyday doing their dirty work and can see right through you. Oh and one more thing...you are leaving. Nice manors forcing us to show you the door.

Mrs. Sylvia Woods, Once again you have done Mr. Forrester's dirty work and assisted and deceived the very people who put you in your position. It's no wonder they used you to advance Mr. Freeman. It's what you do Sylvia. You craft deals to advance yourself. You and Mr. Freeman are cut from the same cloth.

Mr. Harold Woods, I can hardly imagine a worse candidate for Knox County Party Chair. What a joke. Why don't you and your wife jump on the broomstick and fly away?

Harold & Sylvia work very hard for the Knox County Democratic Party.

Are they always right?
Nobody is.

Do I always agree with them?
No.

But Harold & Sylvia are decent folks.
And I respect them both.

Yeah, it would be a good idea to tone down some of the personal stuff and stick to the facts and information (disputed or otherwise) and the opinions about said facts and information in this ongoing discussion.

Thanks!
Management

Harold & Sylvia can take it..after all they have been on the front lines of the labor movement & I'm sure have heard alot worse.

"Tone Down"?

Diane Jordan has thought that postes on Knoxviews about her could be toned down.

I have commented that postes on Knoxviews concerning Jim Cooper & Phil Bredesen could be toned down.

But I've found it's the nature of the blogging beast to blast away.

So be it.

Diane Jordan is welcome to post here any time.

I don't recall calling Jim Cooper or Phil Bredesen ugly names (I'm sure someone will be able to find an example if I did) but I see no problem disagreeing with or even attacking someone's policy positions as long as it doesn't get too personal.

Not you

I have been to TNDP.org webiste like Chip suggested. I can not find the Q & A section he speaks of in the video above? What no one has sent any questions or maybe that dont have the answers. When are we going to see some action by the Tennessee Democratic Executive Committee? I can not get mine to answer my questions. Both male and female Executive Committee members for the 6th district have bugged out. Where are they? I am getting responses from Gayle Alley and Bill Owens but they are not in my district. What happen on that emergency tele con a couple a days ago. Who was invited to be involved? Slow in actions, where are our leaders?

As we have discussed on another thread there is/could be? a method per the TNDP rules to hold a called meeting & @ that meeting a motion to reconsider Freeman's appointment.

Is there movement by the Committee to follow that path or is there another path under consideration to resolve this matter?

So the feeling on the Committee is:

If a majority of members request a called meeting on this matter it would be declared an emergency meeting.

But isn't the Chair required to send a 14 day notice to members for an emergancy meeting?

Are we talking just a weeks difference between the regular meeting & emergency meeting?

Or am I missing something in the by laws per emergency meeting?

I can see members wanting to get this done sooner than later & endorsing the emergency meeting.

I hear the phones are starting to ring at the TNDP HQ in Nashville wanting action to boot Bill Freeman.

I have been talking on the phone to several democrats and they are just learning of Bill Freeman's past giving and voting GOP. Let me tell you one thing for certain. They are upset one has decided to NOT give any money to the TNDP until Freeman's gone, but would contribute to candidates. The other said they would call Charles and find out what the hell is going on. I wonder how many dems out there are not aware of the current crisis in Nashville?