Van Irion's Campaign has the Momentum July 22, 2010 To the editor: If Van Irion's campaign for U.S. Congress has one thing that none of the other candidate's campaigns have at this point going into the early voting, it's momentum! We have had a booth set up at all of the fairs and festivals up and down the district all summer meeting the constituents of the Third District and we are being invited to attend many of the rallies that candidates for local office have been holding throughout the district. Van has also been in attendance and spoken at every TEA Party meeting and rally as often as possible, not to mention all of the standard Lincoln/Reagan Day dinners (when we were invited) and public forums (when we were invited). Of course Van is not able to attend all of these events due to scheduling conflicts but thanks to a core group of volunteers who have been around the block once or twice themselves, are knowledgeable about the Founding of our Nation, the role of government, and the Constitution; we are still able to attend these events and speak to the issues that are on the voters mind in Van's absence. I would be remiss if I failed to mention all the support we have received from most journalists and media outlets who have been willing to give us a fair shake in this race and to them we are extremely grateful. We have not asked for nor sought their endorsement. We have only asked the media to offer a fair presentation of Van Irion's message and let you, the reader or listener as the case may be, decide for yourself; "Is Van's message in line with my beliefs, with my principles?" One thing you should know about Van's campaign, it is not self-funded nor is it funded by special interests to whom he will be beholden if elected; it has been funded by the People. Van is running as a citizen representative who has signed a bonded term-limit of three terms. That means he is not asking you to send him to Washington to start a political career for his own sake, he is asking you to send him to Washington to represent you and the best interests of our Nation. As a veteran, former biomedical researcher and now, Constitutional attorney, he is unique among the eleven republican candidates and best qualified to address that which ails us; the centralization of government at the federal level. My bias may be showing, but Van is the only candidate in my opinion that is running not on platitudes but a platform of a reasoned, principled message - Our Constitution and the role of government in our lives. Thanks to some honest journalists and media, and the hard work of our volunteers, Van is getting his message out to the people and it is resonating. That is why we have the momentum; the momentum to carry us across the finish line to victory on election night. The People want their country back. They want their Constitution back. And we are at a crossroads. At some time in the distant future after we are gone our posterity will write about the events that we are living today. It is my fervent hope that they will look favorably on our efforts and realize that a great awakening of our Founding Principles occurred at this moment in our history. It is my prayer that we are up to the task that is before us. Please remember to vote on August 5. In Liberty, Richard Burroughs Oak Ridge

Why I will vote for Brent Staton for 3rd District Congress July 21, 2010 To the editor: A few years ago while working for Erlanger Medical Center, I met a family medicine physician, Dr. Brent Staton. I was immediately impressed with his passion for what he does – providing the best possible healthcare for his patients. I recall his frustration at the inability of our great nation to provide a fundamental level of care that would sustain and nourish all people so that they could be useful, productive citizens. Dr. Staton spoke to me of creating an environment where the public’s health is taken seriously and become’s the driver for economic prosperity. I learned of his humble background and his personal drive to work hard as his family in rural Tennessee had raised him to do. Now that Brent Staton is running for Congress to succeed Zach Wamp, I am even more impressed. Brent and his wife Lori have worked tirelessly to contribute to our broader community, stepping well beyond the services he provides as a family doctor. He is a man of great personal integrity and will be a positive force. He truly understands the full value of education and that we must fix our dysfunctional public education system to empower individuals to assume 21st century jobs. I am convinced that Brent Staton will bring a fresh voice from Tennessee to Washington DC. He has my support and my vote. Lawrence G. Miller Hixson, TN

Mark DeVol says "Vote your principles" July 13, 2010 To the editor: The United States is heading down a slippery slope when American voters allow the political party system, using the media and their cultural norms, to establish the legitimacy of our candidates by asserting as a standard the candidate’s ability to collect and amass large sums of money. Manipulation of the cultural dynamic by the media pressures Americans that are frustrated with the political system (entrenched by lobbyist and their money) to cast aside the very candidates that would vote in support of their views to reform congress. Thereby, frustrated Americans are pressured away from returning our country to its founding principles of balanced government and citizen representation. Nationally, several groups* have formed to support candidates who, when elected, will solidify to create a base of power thereby blocking and/or altering the congressional committees' powerful agenda. Although the groups have varying initiatives, all are committed to returning our country to its founding principles. My message to the residents of Tennessee’s Third District is, "Vote your principles." True citizen representation is the key to saving our republic and for this concept to have meaning four key occurrences (a pyridine-shift) must take place. First, the American people must reject perceived cultural norms and vote into office citizen legislators as opposed to celebrity politicians. Second, if candidates are to reject the corrupting power of money, Americans will need to involve themselves in the political process. The Third District comprises eleven counties and 632,000 residents; this leaves the candidates with only one option to get-out their message and that’s for the American people to opt-in. Third, those serving in Congress must clearly view their time in office as merely a leave of absence from their day-to-day jobs. This is most effectively demonstrated by self-limiting the number of terms served and by refusing to accept pension and health-care benefits. To consider these taxpayer-funded perks, especially after only a few years of service, is consistent with a mindset of entitlement. Fourth, once elected, We the People must hold accountable our elected officials. An informed and involved electorate is the key to preserving our representative republic. Mark DeVol Andersonville, Tennessee Candidate for Congress * http://www.conservativefreshmencoalition.com/candidates.html http://www.ruleoflawrestoration.com/ http://www.bondedtermlimits.org/ http://www.downsizedc.org/

Why I Support Van Irion June 10, 2010 To the editor: To understand why I support Van Irion I need to explain why I became involved in politics in the first place. I like so many Americans have lived most of my life in a bubble. I read the newspapers, watched the TV news and voted every other November. That I thought was what constituted being a good citizen, an engaged citizen, a responsible citizen. I wanted to live my life, work, support my family, and hoped that our government would leave me alone. I hoped that the people we elected to office would do right by us. I was wrong. When you place your hope and faith in other men you are bound to be disappointed because man is not perfect. Eventually, this leads to cynicism and a belief that there is nothing that can be done to change government. That is where I was a few years ago. When 9/11 happened for a brief period the nation seemed to unite and rally together against a common enemy that threatens all of us equally. Our life’s forever changed that day. Unfortunately it didn’t take long for democrats and their propaganda machine, the MSM, to seize on the war effort as an opportunity not to protect the nation and its citizens but as a wedge issue to be exploited for their own personal gain. They have continued to be successful exploiting that issue and creating other wedge issues, real or perceived, for their own advantage. That is when I said no more. So I went back to the beginning, to our Founding Fathers and began reexamining that little thingy they wrote called the Constitution. There is wisdom and beauty in our Constitution that transcends the ages. At the close of the Constitutional Convention in 1787, Benjamin Franklin is reported to have said, “We have given you a Republic, if you can keep it.” And who was this Republic given to? The Constitution tells us itself in those first three words of the Preamble; “WE the People . . .”. It is WE the People who are the sovereign of this nation, unique among all nations. It is WE the People who elect our fellow citizens to represent OUR interests in OUR government. And it is OUR Constitution that places limits on what OUR government can and cannot do. This Constitution is like a contract between WE the People and the government that represents us. As a civil society and a nation of laws, OUR Constitution clearly defines the duties and responsibilities of the federal government and the state governments, separates the powers of both, sets limits on those powers, and protects our nation’s citizenry against the infringement of our rights which are also clearly defined in the Bill of Rights. Now we have people in and out of government who tell us that OUR Constitution is a living breathing document as if it is some kind of variable rate mortgage you sign with a bank where your interest rate fluctuates at the whim of the market. We have people telling us that OUR Constitution is fundamentally flawed and that it doesn’t mean what it says it means. And WE the People are to believe them, surrender OUR Liberty, and let OUR government do to us as they see fit, as they deem best. I say ENOUGH! I say NO MORE! I say it is time to return OUR Constitution and OUR government to its rightful owners – WE the People. This is why I am supporting Van Irion for the Third District Congressional seat of Tennessee. Van is an attorney. I hear some of Van’s opponents in this race say that we don’t need any more attorneys in Washington. True enough, we certainly can do without the many slip and fall lawyers who have been elected to government. But Van is not just an attorney, he is a Constitutional attorney who actually understands and believes in OUR Constitution; who has pledged to return OUR Constitution to its rightful place in our society as a contract between the government and WE the People and to limit the encroachment of government in our daily life’s. I say in the current political atmosphere of this nation we cannot send enough Constitutional attorneys like Van to Washington. I have one more reason for supporting Van; he is not an Establishment Republican. It is Establishment Republicans who bear responsibility for the current political atmosphere. It is Establishment Republicans who abandoned the republican platform in favor of working with and appeasing democrats and their liberal party platform. It is Establishment Republicans who believe they can implement the liberal democrat platform, but in a more compassionate fashion. WE the People do not need any more representation in Washington from liberal democrats or Establishment Republicans who have abandoned our Founding Principles and OUR Constitution because they think they know best how to govern our life’s. To learn more about Van and how he intends to represent you, please visit van4congress.org. Richard Burroughs Oak Ridge

Robin Smith participates in 2010 Tennessee Valley Corridor National Technology Summit May 25, 2010 To the editor: This week, I will join economic and community leaders from across the Tennessee Valley at the 2010 Tennessee Valley Corridor National Technology Summit. Each year the men and women who are helping to shape Tennessee’s future through innovation and research gather to discuss the challenges ahead. Over the past two years, our nation has experienced startling changes in our economy. Unemployment continues to hold at unacceptable levels and many Tennesseans have given up the search for good work at good wages. As we reshape our economy into one that can compete and win in global competition, progress through innovation will lead the way. In countless fields including: alternative clean energy sources, improvements in research and development, and advancements in technology, the TVC is providing leadership that will result in better jobs, better education and a better quality of life for Tennesseans. Established by Congressman Zach Wamp in 1995, the TVC has been instrumental in marshalling the various unique resources throughout the Tennessee Valley and forging them into an economic and research power. The success of the TVC is at the forefront of developments that have made Tennessee a player on the world technology stage. In the labs of Oak Ridge, researchers are performing tasks that range from helping us to better understand our universe to improving the quality of the gas in our cars. One of the most vital tasks performed in Oak Ridge is the safe and secure disposal of material from nuclear weapons turned over through treaties with the United States before they can fall into the wrong hands. Oak Ridge is not just taking the lead economically, but also moving us toward a safer world. I am committed to continuing the great work started by the TVC. It is this type of new thinking, building partnerships between the government and private enterprise that I will strive to promote in Congress. By standing on principle and working with my colleagues in Congress to educate them on the national importance of the work performed throughout the Tennessee Valley Corridor, we will continue to move forward, building a better state and a better nation. I am proud to salute the innovators and job creators of the Oak Ridge National Labs, the Y-12 National Security Complex and the other leaders I will consult this week as we seek to build on successes and confront the challenges ahead. Robin Smith Hixson, Tennessee Candidate for Congress

Robin Smith, Congressional Candidate for 3rd District, Comments on Immigration May 19, 2010 To the editor: With the passage of more strict immigration enforcement laws in Arizona, this troublesome issue has returned to the front pages across the nation. For years, Americans, regardless of our party, have been asking the federal government to perform its most basic and necessary function: protect the nation. And for years there has been bipartisan failure to adequately address the issue. Sadly, Republicans and Democrats alike have turned a deaf ear to our calls. The new law in Arizona is a natural and justifiable reaction of a state drowning in this problem looking to a paralyzed federal government that refuses to act. It is discouraging to hear President Obama attack a state that is using the limited tools at their disposal to deal with an issue he refuses to address. It is chilling to hear a president state that he intends to put the force of the federal government into “reviewing” the Arizona law while he fails to put that same force into action to protect us. It is appalling to hear the Attorney General decry this law as “racial profiling” while admitting he has not taken the time to read the ten-page law. It is equally disappointing to hear Republicans call efforts to get control of illegal immigration, “inflammatory”, “race baiting” or “demagoguery.” In order to deal with the immigration issue, there is one unquestioned first step: secure the borders. We’ve heard enough about fences, virtual fences, cameras and even spy planes flying overhead. Every American knows we have the tools to secure the border. What we don’t have are leaders with the will to take action. Instead they talk around the issue and float the wrong idea of amnesty for those who have come here illegally. As we work to secure the borders, we must turn our attention to a system that has clearly failed in its mission. Decades of “reforms” have left our immigration system a confused mess. The result discourages legal immigration into the United States by forcing applicants to wait in line for years and encourages illegal entry across our borders. Today, the Washington solution is more talk about “reform” that will add more regulation onto a broken system. Put simply, you can’t build a new house on a rotten foundation. I support a full top-to-bottom review of the system and a complete overhaul that respects both our laws and human dignity. While the crisis of illegal immigrants dominates the headlines, the failures of the system affect Americans as well. Willing parents looking to adopt children from overseas must endure hours of travel to immigration offices and fight their way through a confusing bureaucratic nightmare simply to be united with a deserving child. Congress has the right and responsibility to remain vigilant and ensure that our citizens are getting good service from an agency that works for us. I think few Americans believe they have fulfilled their duty. Throughout history our nation has been strengthened and our culture enriched by the orderly regulated administration of immigration to the United States. Today, the systems that are charged with controlling immigration have broken down and failed in their responsibility. Until we elect men and women to Congress who will not falter in the face of political correctness, the problem will get worse. Robin Smith Hixson, Tennessee Candidate for Congress

IF Senator Corker's attack on AARP goes unanswered who else will be around to support Senior CITIZEN issues-------??? April 28, 2010 An open letter to Senator Bob Corker Honorable Bob Corker 800 Market Street, Suite 121 Knoxville, Tennessee 37902 Dear Senator Corker, I am disappointed with your rather sincere slur against AARP as quoted by the Associated Press Saturday and reported by WBIR-TV. I think you meant harm but yet You are ignorant about the harm your words do such as this quote, “I think AARP has done as much to hurt our country for the long term as any organization I know, because they will not allow us as a country to deal with things head on that we need to deal with.” As a disabled polio victim, I have worked for the IRS, NAVY, and 20 years for ORNL and now a disabled senior citizen, and as a volunteer for AARP Chapter #625 who is celebrating its 40 th Anniversary. At one time we had over 1100 members because of death and attacks our numbers are dwindling, But our chapter still managed to participate in two visits to the Ben Atchley Veterans Home last year. You see we still live by our motto “to serve, not to be served” and whose record in advocacy is to support strongly important issues for seniors. In Tennessee alone, there are more than 700,000 of us from every part of the political spectrum. For many years I have been working for the Anderson County ADA Oversight Board to make Anderson County Accessible to all disabled citizens. Quite a daunting task when our leaders see nothing wrong with allowing senior citizens to use bathrooms in a building built for kindergarten children in the 1950’s. These are the same AARP members who worked as secretaries for many of the communities businesses and supported ORNL Division bosses to insure their success. Many of these workers have now been working for a dozen years to advocate for the choices for care legislation that is now state law; as well as, identity theft protection, property tax relief for seniors, driver safety programs, etc. Last year our chapter was fortunate to have one of our members selected for the coveted Andrus Award. This person is always doing things for others. This year she has been selling cookbooks for the NHC nursing home. Just recently, our chapter recognized another citizen volunteer who worked with AARP in Oak Ridge in the Tax preparation office at its Senior Center for 25 years. This year the small office helped over 300 retired citizens. No one had ever thanked this volunteer for his valued work. It demeans you and your office to use rhetoric to help you spread a message of half-truths, assumption, rumor and vilification. This does nothing to improve the climate for bipartisan effort, which you maintain you seek in your work on financial reform. It also does nothing to stake any claim to being a thoughtful legislator. Your attacks on AARP and your failure to participate in any forums or “town hall” meetings with them imply you want to remain ignorant of the group’s aims, motives and methods; as well as, maintain status quo. I would expect that someone of your status would want to display wisdom and common sense after all you were elected to represent your constituents in Tennessee. No, I do not speak for AARP but I do volunteer with tens of thousands of other Americans whose nonpartisanship effort advances the causes of seniors and those who will eventually be seniors. I hope you will come to learn that this force can be a potent ally when you don’t demonize it. As a disabled artist, I have been asking a question that travels with me most of the time - when your life efforts are done. Will you leave your finger print upon society as having been for positive change to give equally to all? Sincerely yours, Lee Roy Gilliam Oak Ridge

Tim Gobble, Congressional Candidate for 3rd District: "I AM a Republican" March 23, 2010 Today, a blogger published a letter that’s been circulating in some parts of the district challenging my credentials as a Republican. This same letter was circulated before when I ran for sheriff. It is not new. I would have appreciated this blogger giving my campaign the courtesy of issuing an answer to their inquiry before they published it, I’m happy to respond and set the record straight. This letter claims I met with former Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman Bob Tuke about the possibility of challenging current Congressman Zach Wamp for this seat and running as a Democrat. The letter also suggests I considered running for sheriff as a Democrat as well. My lifelong dedication has been and is to the principles best espoused by the Republican Party of limited government , low taxes and a strong national defense. From my college years until today, the evidence is clear I am a Republican and my personal voting record proves it. Four years ago, local Republican Party bosses circulated this same letter in an effort to damage my campaign for sheriff in Bradley County. That race, just as this one, was too important for petty political tricks, and it’s a shame my opponents don’t feel the same. I’ve never shied away from offering an explanation to voters, and I’ll do the same here. After my service on the non-partisan city council and while I was serving as EMA director of Bradley County, many people, Republicans, Democrats and Independents were encouraging me to run again for public office. I had developed a reputation for standing up for the people's interest over special interest and had been proven correct when I fought corruption and mismanagement in the local police department. At the same time, I was very active in promoting jobs in Cleveland and defeated a proposed tax increase and stood for the right of the people to have a free and unrestricted voice in the affairs of government. At the time, a few local Democrats--some personal friends--asked me if I would be willing to meet with Bob Tuke, then-chairman of the Tennessee Democratic Party when he passed through Cleveland on other business. I agreed. Our meeting consisted of a fairly broad discussion regarding issues of the day. Included in that discussion was the interest I had in pursuing future political office. Like most Tennesseans, we agreed that there is much the Democrats and Republicans should be doing together to move our state and nation forward. I did express a desire to continue my public service sometime in the future and would consider various options if they were presented, but as I also explained to him, my background has always been Republican and I felt my future was as well. I was a member of the College Republicans, worked as an intern in Governor Lamar Alexander's Office, worked on the Winfield Dunn campaign for Governor with Stephanie Chivers and voted in only Republican primaries since turning 18. Following the meeting, Bob Tuke and I never met again. I later ran for sheriff of Bradley County as a Republican and beat the entrenched Republican incumbent with 70% of the vote going on to win the general election with 85% of the vote, as a Republican. My family history, voting record and position on local, state and federal issues are consistently Republican. I am very glad that I have attracted in all my previous elections and public service a wide range of support from people from all walks of life. If elected to Congress, I will work to bring people together instead of driving them apart. I will continue to serve and represent all people regardless of party affiliation, just as I have done as sheriff, consistent with my Republican principles. Tim Gobble Cleveland Tennessee Candidate for Congress

Robin Smith, Congressional Candidate for 3rd District, Comments on Health Care Bill March 22, 2010 To the editor: I condemn both the process and the result of today’s action on health care. Few Americans would ever believe their government would take action to seize 1/6 of our nation’s economy, let alone do so by cutting backroom deals with money directed into districts as payoffs for votes. In corporate America, it would be called bribery and extortion. In Washington, it’s called business-as-usual for the Pelosi-led Congress. America deserves and wants better. In their fanatical drive to tighten their grip on our freedoms, Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama have sentenced our people to rationed care, taxpayer funding of abortions, cuts in benefits to our seniors, higher taxes and turned their back on the legacy of liberty this nation represents. Throughout the summer of 2009 and into this year, Americans protested, pleaded, turned out in town halls, voted democrats out of office and made their message clear: stop this. Each time, Speaker Pelosi waved her hand, dismissed the concerns of the American people and forced this abomination on an unwilling public. There are few moments in this history of this republic where the people and their government are so starkly at odds. The arrogance on display during this process should be troubling for all Americans. I am on record as committing to work for the repeal of the current bill. The task of repealing and replacing this mistake begins tonight. As Tennesseans come together and unite behind the cause of reversing this travesty, we also unite behind the cause of restoring a government that listens to the people, hears their voices and honors our democracy. Until Nancy Pelosi is gone, this out of touch and arrogant Congress will continue to trample the liberties we hold dear. As the next Congressman for the Third District, I will proudly work toward a day when we again have a government as good as our people. Robin Smith Hixson, Tennessee Candidate for Congress

Tim Gobble, Congressional Candidate for 3rd District, Comments on Health Care Bill March 22, 2010 To the editor: The passage of this bill leads to the government takeover of one-sixth of our national economy. This bill will severely compound our out-of-control debt. I’ve always said that raising taxes cannot cover this problem, instead we must reduce spending. Our national debt is the most significant issue of our time because it impacts everything from economic growth to national security. If the people of the Third District send me to Congress, I will work hard to repeal this piece of truly destructive legislation and replace it with a fiscally responsible alternative. Tim Gobble Cleveland Tennessee Candidate for Congress

Friends of the Oak Ridge Public Library needs volunteers February 26, 2010 Do you like to read? Do you like sharing good books with friends and family? Do you and your family take advantage of and use one of the best libraries in the state? Do you want a community that is rich in the literary arts? If you answered yes to these questions, I'd like for you to consider an idea for a moment. What if there was an organization that promoted the literary arts, paid for improvements and offered help to the Oak Ridge Library, and provided year-round opportunities to buy clean used books and magazines at greatly discounted prices? What if that organization brought you notable speakers and an active monthly book discussion group and a first-class children's summer reading program? Now, what if I told you the dues were only $3 per year or $5 for the whole family? Wouldn't you want to be a part of such an organization? Well, that organization has been around for more than 50 years. It is the Friends of the Oak Ridge Public Library or FOL. It's a group that needs your help and participation to survive. And, believe it or not we aren't asking you for money, although we need you to become a member, or renew your membership if you haven't already. What we want is something more valuable than money – your time. The FOL needs volunteers to serve on its Board of Directors. It needs a vice president, a secretary, and two 2-year Directors. This effort would involve attending one meeting a month, held on the fourth Thursday at 5:30PM, attending our annual board meeting, and taking part in activities that FOL sponsors, such as several used book sales each year, author signings, and various things that the library needs. If you can volunteer your time for a year or two, please contact President Nancy Hardin at nehardin@hotmail.com or Pat Hope at thetwohopes@aol.com. I promise it will be one of the most fulfilling commitments you've ever made. Thanks. Pat Hope Oak Ridge

Robin Smith, Congressional Candidate for 3rd District Comments on Earmarks March 17, 2010 To the editor: There is little argument today that the Congress has been irresponsible in the way it has handled our nation’s budget. The flood of new spending and the increase in debt we now owe to other nations threatens our national security. Since my entry into the campaign for Tennessee’s Third Congressional District, and before as a private citizen, I have been clear in my commitment to cutting wasteful federal spending based on the very principles that the average citizen uses every month; prioritizing our true needs while moving away from pork spending. It is because I have staked out principled ground on this issue, that I was honored to receive the endorsement of Club for Growth, the nation’s leading advocacy group for conservative fiscal policy. This week, funding for the critical Chickamauga Lock funding came into question at a forum of Third District candidates. During the forum, attorney Chuck Fleischmann stated that he “rejected the endorsement of Club for Growth, a special interest group” because he “refused to sign a pledge against earmarks” and cited the risk to funding of the lock as one of the reasons he has refused to sign a pledge to work for earmark reform. The funding of this local priority has national security implications and the process for all Army Corps of Engineers projects needs to be evaluated to place all requests on the same playing field. If appropriations were handled constitutionally, funding the lock would not be a matter of earmarks. Our positions on the issue of earmarks could not be more different. Perhaps Mr. Fleischmann is less confident in the national importance of Oak Ridge and the commerce of the Tennessee River than I am. I have met with both TVA officials and key stakeholders in Oak Ridge. My commitment is unwavering on funding such issues as this that impact national and energy security. Congress is supposed to work - with members articulating the case for funding national priorities based on the national interest-in its Constitutional manner. Issues with merit should survive and those without should not. Unfortunately, Washington as we know it today has devolved into a web of parochial deals and political nest-feathering -- and it's strangling our country's economy. We need a new breed of representative in Congress, people who will go and stand up for the nation's priorities, with fierce advocacy for their home district's role in filling those priorities, but with the common good as their only motivator. This will require us to blow up the earmark process as it exists today, enact major structural budget reform, and put good of the country ahead of personal politics. In 2009 alone, 10,160 earmarks worth $19.6 billion were requested. I believe that funding for Chickamauga Lock rises above these few examples of waste: $4,545,000 for wood utilization research $254,000 for the Montana Sheep Institute $7,100,000 for NOAA for the conservation and recovery of endangered Hawaiian sea turtle populations; $550,000 for the NOAA Chesapeake Bay office for blue crab research $1.9 million for the Pleasure Beach water taxi service in Connecticut $1.8 million for swine odor and manure management research in Ames, Iowa As I have stated since day one of my campaign, I am committed to the priorities of the Third District. I won't, however, pound the podium calling for a balanced budget and reducing deficit spending while advocating the use of earmarks. We already have plenty of folks in Washington doing that now. I will not say one thing while in Washington, DC and a completely different thing at home in the District. Tennesseans deserve better. Robin Smith Hixson, Tennessee Candidate for Congress

Tim Gobble, Congressional Candidate for 3rd District Comments on Terrorism January 13, 2010 To the editor: The attempted terror attack on-board Northwest Airlines flight 253 over Detroit on Christmas day should be enough to convince even the most adamant skeptics that we are at war with an enemy that is committed to inflicting as much death and damage as possible on innocent Americans. Had the attempt been successful, not only would it have cost the lives of the 290 people aboard the plane, but possibly countless people on the ground. As a former Secret Service agent, county sheriff and member of the District Three Homeland Security Committee, I believe there are four major components that are necessary to deal effectively with the on-going war against terror. 1. We must secure our borders, seaports, waterways and airports and other critical national infrastructure. 2. We must cultivate and encourage a strong intelligence network that will effectively share information of threats, suspected terror networks and individuals that pose threats to our national security. 3. We must have tough, well-equipped and well-trained law enforcement and judges ~ both civilian and military ~ who understand the dangers and threats posed by al-Qaeda and other terror organizations. 4. We must allow our mobile military (counter-terrorism special forces) to have the latitude they need to be capable of responding swiftly and decisively world-wide to eliminate or disrupt terror cells without the necessity of committing thousands of troops and supplies on the ground for indeterminate periods of time. Terrorists are always on the move and we must be prepared and capable of moving when and where they do. I understand the very real threat posed by fanatical terror factions who place the death of innocents over their own safety. We need strong, decisive leaders in Washington who understand the importance of the United States standing strong and prepared in a world of danger and uncertainty. As the only candidate with direct national security experience, I am uniquely qualified to serve you well in Congress. Additionally, my experience promoting jobs and effectively managing public budgets will help our local economy and bring fiscal responsibility back to Washington. Tim Gobble Cleveland, Tennessee U.S. Congressional Candidate, 3rd District

Robin Smith, Congressional Candidate for 3rd District Comments on Terrorism January 12, 2010 To the editor: During the last few weeks, the phrase, “Connect the dots” has returned to our national conversation following the failed Christmas Day terror bombing. When confronting the threat of terrorism, we must “connect these dots.” Our focus, however, should be the clear picture recognizable from the dots already connected yet ignored; ignored out of the scream of “intolerance” and the fear of being deemed “politically incorrect.” For decades, the acts of terror committed toward the US, Israel, the United Kingdom and all other nations have found their grounding in one purpose: the desire to establish Islamic law globally. Young radicalized extremists of the Muslim faith have been the vehicles to inflict terror through various imaginative means as we saw on September 11, 2001. Those “dots”, along with other acts of terror and subversive activity distract from the overlooked goal that motivates these unthinkable deeds. The global Muslim community, the ummah, governed by Islamic Law, Shariah will be aimed at Muslims and non-Muslims alike. Unfortunately, political correctness is allowed to restrain our efforts to confront the threat. Skeptical? After Fort Hood, what was our response? President Barack Obama urged, “I would caution against jumping to conclusions until we get all the facts,” despite Major Nadil Malik Hasan’s cry of "Allahu Akbar", often accompanying acts of terror, as he murdered 13 U.S. soldiers on American soil. What was the initial response to the attempted bombing of Flight 253 on Christmas Day? After three days of public silence, President Obama noted, “This incident, like several that have preceded it, demonstrates that an alert and courageous citizenry are far more resilient than an isolated extremist.” The parent organization of Hamas and al Qaeda, the Muslim Brotherhood, has as its stated mission in their strategic plan from 1991, "A kind of grand jihad in eliminating and destroying the Western civilization from within and 'sabotaging' its miserable house by their hands and the hands of the believers so that it is eliminated and Allah's religion is made victorious over all other religions." Our nation must be vigilant against individuals who attempt to board airplanes with the intent to murder “innocents” to most, but “infidels” to the radical Muslims through intelligence-gathering, monitoring visas and travel patterns, behavioral profiling and the enforcement of our current immigration laws. This treatment of the symptoms must be matched with a determination to remove any cancerous threat to our nation’s sovereignty and safety. The U.S. Constitution must truly be, as Article VI notes, “the supreme law of the land” and defended by our elected officials at all times, not just when it’s viewed as popular or politically correct. So, the question must be answered: Will we permit Shariah by failing to implement effective measures or will we honor and defend our U.S. Constitution and protect Americans? Robin Smith Hixson, Tennessee Candidate for Congress

Thanks for an honest employee at Zaxby's, Norris August 29, 2009 To the editor: On August 26, 2009, I left my billfold by mistake at Zaxby’s at the Interstate at Norris. Ms. Beth Haynes found it and gave it to her manager who returned it to me. I am VERY grateful to Ms. Haynes and want to commend her for her honesty and her family for rearing a truly good person. Please patronize this Zaxby’s since the food is good and the employees are GREAT! Sincerely, Sandra J. Guinn Lenoir City

"Great publication" April 23, 2008 To the editor: Thank you for this informative and entertaining on-line publication. I look forward to checking it each day for news and feature updates and the photos that show the diversity and beauty of Anderson County. The on-line format provides an excellent tool for promoting this county as a beautiful place to live and do business. Congratulations on your quality work. Linda Kimmel Oak Ridge

"Enjoy reading TN Federal Legislators reaction to Economic Stimulus Package" February 7, 2008 Dear IAC: Thanks for your coverage of our Federal Legislators reaction to the State of the Union Address and the Presidents Economic Stimulus Package. I found it refreshing to be able to read what our legislators actually said as opposed to having someone else “interpret” it for me. Thanks for the coverage, It’s great to read what actually happened and then make up my own mind on what it means to me. Thanks again, Rick Morrow Oak Ridge

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