An Ol' Broad's Ramblings
Zach Wamp
I haven’t said much about the upcoming primary for TN governor. I already knew who I would NOT be supporting, but wasn’t going to be negative on the guy. I’ll be perfectly honest, the one and only time I met Zach Wamp, I got the willies, BEFORE I knew that’s who he was. He just reminded me way too much of Russ Feingold. Not in looks, but in manner. Smarmy is the word that comes to mind when I think of Feingold. I’m sure Wamp’s a real nice guy, once you get to know him. As a matter of fact, I’ve been told he is actually terrific by some who DO know him very well. I’m sure Feingold is too. But when it comes to politics, nice in personal encounters, and the type of person I’d want running the show, are not the same thing. I needed more info about Wamp’s votes in Congress, and now, I have it (via email, without me doing all the work 
):
A few of the items he Voted FOR, that I disagree:
Cash for Clunkers Funding – (H.R. 3435) The vehicles traded in were destroyed, meaning cars not ready for
the junkyard would be taken off the road, reducing the stock of used vehicles and inflating the prices of used cars. Subsidizing the car industry is unconstitutional and wasteful.
Energy-Water Appropriations – (H.R. 3183) The funds would provide $27.1 billion for the Energy Department, $5.4 billion for the Army Corps of Engineers, and $1.1 billion for the Interior Department’s Bureau of Reclamation. The Department of Energy is not authorized by the Constitution.
COPS Funding – (H.R. 1139) The funds authorized would aid in the hiring of law-enforcement officers. Providing federal aid to local law-enforcement programs is not only unconstitutional, but it also further federalizes the police system.
Supplemental Appropriations – (H.R. 2346) The Fiscal 2009 Supplemental Appropriations bill would provide an additional $96.7 billion in “emergency” funding for the current fiscal year over and above the regular appropriations. Some of the spending (e.g., foreign aid) is unconstitutional.
Bailout Bill – (H.R. 1424) This bill authorizes the Treasury Department to use $700
billion of taxpayer money to purchase troubled mortgage-related securities from banks and other
financial-related institutions, on terms set by the Treasury Secretary, who now has authority to
manage and sell those assets.
Economic Stimulus – (H.R. 5140) The stimulus has no offset and thus increases the federal deficit by the amount of the stimulus because the government must borrow the rebate money. A realistic long-term stimulus can only be achieved by lowering taxes through less government and by reducing regulatory burdens.
Thought Crimes – (H.R. 1955) Critics charge that the bill is a thinly disguised attempt to criminalize dissent,
based on the bill’s vague and open-ended language that could be used to trample basic rights to
free speech and assembly, and turn legitimate dissent into thought crimes. This bill threatens legitimate dissent.
Minimum Wage – (H.R. 2) Though many people believe that raising the federal minimum wage is a solution
to national poverty, allowing the market to dictate wages allows entry-level workers to get the
experience and job training they need to get higher paying jobs.
Foreign Aid – (H.R. 5522) Though foreign aid is supposed to help the poor and suffering in other countries, it instead has served to prop up economically deficient socialist regimes and to transfer wealth from American taxpayers to third-world elites.
Oman Trade Agreement – (H.R. 5684) These so-called free trade agreements have historically failed because they encourage the relocation of U.S. jobs to foreign countries so that the companies can get cheap labor. Meanwhile, they don’t provide the United States with trade benefits — largely because the people in those countries cannot afford to buy our products — thereby harming the U.S. economy. The agreements also
put our economic destiny in the hands of unelected foreign bureaucrats, such as those at the World Trade Organization.
Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations – (H.R. 3010) This massive social-welfare appropriations bill would provide $601.6 billion in fiscal 2006 for the Labor Department ($14.8 billion), the Education Department ($63.5 billion), the Health and Human Services Department ($474.1 billion), and related agencies.
Well, you get the idea. There are many such examples since he has been in Congress. It appears that Rep. Wamp has way too much fun spending other people’s money, as does the majority of Congress. I honestly do not want a governor that has no problem with reckless, and mostly unconstitutional spending.
What did he vote AGAINST? Not much, and few he should have vote FOR.
Ban on UN Contributions, not funding Mental Health Screening, Online Freedom of Speech, overhaul U.S. Treasury Borrowing, Defunding the NAIS, eliminate some Katrina Funding, bar funding of Iran Military Operations, specific congressional approval for Iran Military Operations, Iraq Troop Withdrawal.
So, now it’s come down between Ron Ramsey and Bill Haslam. Honestly, I’m leaning toward Ramsey, but if Haslam or Wamp wins the primary, I suppose either would be better than another Democrat. 
Thanks Jerry.
Good post- I’m sharing it on FB
Well, thank you. I appreciate that.
” I’m sure Wamp’s a real nice guy, once you get to know him.”
“I’m sure Feingold is too.
Why are so sure about these things, OB? They look like totally unjustified assumptions to me.
LOL Well, I do try to give some folks the benefit of the doubt.
Seems to me like you are raising a benefit when there is considerable doubt. (They are politicians, ya know, and that is almost three strikes against them right there.) But whatever ….
I do have my limits. Stop giving D’Bama the benefit shortly after he was sworn in.
Its pretty easy to pick out the fact he voted to spend money..cant hide that…whats harder to determine is if spending the money will do any good…..I own a car dealership and I can tell you that if we hadnt had cash for clunkers Id be out of business right now and 40 people would be ought of work…so for me and thousands of others in my industry it was a life saver.
As for the energy vote …Wamps vote is funding a whole new generation of alternative fuel vehicles that seems to be pretty timely and showing some forethought considering whats happening in the gulf today.
So like I said its easy to target someone but understanding why and the results are much harder. As for me and my 40 employees , we are voting Wamp and proud of it. I know from my own experience he has the courage to make difficult decisions. I just dont know about the others.
Broad,
Don’t know who provided your information but it is very innaccurate.
Wamp voted AGAINST Obama’s Stimulus and AGAINST Cash for Clunkers. Sounds like you fell victim to some of Ramsey’s desperate campaign propogranda.
Please change these and do more homework in the future!
Why would I change anything? As I said, if Wamp wins the primary, I will vote for him.
Source.
If I had added the whole email, it would have sounded more like Ron Paul than Ron Ramsey. Maybe you should do a bit of ‘fact checking’ BEFORE making accusations?
And btw, that’s Ol’ Broad…..not Broad. Sheesh.