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by Linda Moore
The county commission is going on a retreat this weekend, (around the 28th of Sept). They are going to Gatlinburg. Do any of y'all see a reason for them to drive all the way to Gatlinburg to do Bradley County business? Why do they do that? They could do it at the museum or the Cleveland High cafeteria or any number of places. Save gas; don't go to Gatlinburg.
The depositions for the upcoming court case, "Sheriff VS the Tax Payers," were held last week. One day it was Tim Gobble and on another day it was Gary Davis. And in the midst of all of this, all sorts of Republican meetings have been taking place. I think that's what I want to talk about; republicans.
We have the original flavor Republican club that meets at the courthouse once a month. People show up in anything from business suits and ties, to overalls and flannel shirts. It's eclectic in that it is diverse and inclusive for all socio-economic levels. There's a young Republican's club. I think they also meet once a month. Probably at a froo froo coffee shop. There is the old Republican women's club that meets up on the hill at the Holiday Inn. I've been several times. They all dress nice, smell nice and eat from the buffet. They meet once a month. There's a much newer Republican women's club that meets once a month at the courthouse during the evenings. There used to be the Bradley GOP which was created about a year ago that met at Antonio's, but it kinda fizzled and died. Now there is the brand spanking new pachyderm club that meets during lunch once a month at Antonio's restaurant.
Why do we need so many Republican clubs? Could it be division in the party? Could it be power struggles? Could it be because everyone wants to be someone important? Could it possibly be agenda driven? In the midst of all these Republican clubs is Jonathon Cantrell, showing support to the best of his abilities to every Republican club. Jonathon is president of the old Republican club. I reckon Jonathon is a "Blessed be the peace makers" situation. I've been to every Republican club to hear speakers except for the young Republicans, (I'm to old) and to the new pachyderm club. Who knows, I may show up at a pachyderm club meeting one day, but I doubt it. Many members from the old Bradley GOP club were there, (the new club that fizzled to nothing). A few members that went to the pachyderm are office holders in the old Republican club, (conflict of interest). Maybe I'm not a Republican. Maybe I'm just an old school conservative. Because I don't want to support a group of people or even a political party that is involved in any type of process to raise taxes. Maybe that's why some of us that claim to be Republicans are so surprised at what laws are passed and how high taxes are raised. We vote Republican, (smaller government, lower taxes, privacy rights) and when we do, we vote for liberal spending and laws. Maybe this is why the Republican party is showing division from the national level on down to the local level. Maybe we're voting for folks who say that they are Republicans but really they are more "progressive", (run when you hear that word it means tax increases), than old school conservatives.
At any rate, I'm entitled to an opinion. My opinion is that we already have enough Republican clubs and that any more new clubs are divisive to the party. My opinion is that it is a conflict of interest to be an office holder in two or three different Republican clubs. I reckon I'll mosey on down town to the old Republican club where folks mix it up with overalls and business suits. Maybe I'll continue to visit the two different lady's clubs from time to time. God bless Jonathon Cantrell and all the other peace makers of Bradley county. My opinion is merely that; opinion. I always run the risk of being wrong. Perhaps someone will convince me that we do indeed have need of many more Republican clubs. I'd just rather spread it thick instead of thin. There's power in numbers.
Editor's note: This is the last in a series of Hot Gossip articles to appear in The People News. This editor wishes to thank Ms. Moore for the interesting and popular articles she has submitted regularly for over a year. They will be missed. Her readers can now read her work in the Bradley News Weekly.
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