It is widely acknowledged by many Americans, regardless of ideological bent, or religious affiliation, that our nation is in deep trouble. While America has encountered significant challenges over its 240 year history, never before has it faced so many self-inflicted wounds that pose such serious if not lethal threats to our nation.
I do not underestimate the monumental perils our nation faced during our civil war or even World War II. But the threats of today are different, and perhaps Read more [...] America’s Best Days: A Hopeful Optimism
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It is widely acknowledged by many Americans, regardless of ideological bent, or religious affiliation, that our nation is in deep trouble. While America has encountered significant challenges over its 240 year history, never before has it faced so many self-inflicted wounds that pose such serious if not lethal threats to our nation.
I do not underestimate the monumental perils our nation faced during our civil war or even World War II. But the threats of today are different, and perhaps Read more [...] 
I am growing sick, tired and saddened over the aggressive discrimination, attacks and overt bigotry towards Christians and those who hold to an orthodox theology that has been in place for over 5,000 years that defines marriage as between one man and one woman. Up until a few years ago, this orthodox view was (and perhaps still is) mainstream in America. (And for the record, holding to the orthodox view of marriage is not akin to slavery or racism, so please don't even devolve to such a silly 
Is it fair that common everyday taxpayers in Chattanooga & Hamilton County must pay 100% of their property taxes, including individuals who are finding it difficult to make it on fixed incomes as well as small struggling businesses, while wealthy, well connected businessmen get hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars in tax breaks that go straight into their back pockets!
The Chattanooga City Council and Hamilton County Commission just gave away a 14 year $1 Million tax 
For some time now there has been a debate raging over whether Tennessee Republicans should keep their Primaries Open or Close them. In essence, a Closed Primary would mean that voters would simply vote in the Primary based on the Party with which they affiliate or register. Thus Republicans would vote in Republican Primaries and Democrats would vote in Democrat Primaries. Then, once the candidate is selected by each party via their primary elections, all voters would then choose from the 
As someone whose first vote was for Ronald Reagan in 1980, I can honestly say that I have consistently sought after the most conservative candidate I could find, but all too often I found myself voting for the lesser of two evils.
But in 2009 the political landscape changed. When the Republicans could only muster up a miserable option by the name of John McCain to run against a socialist-Marxist by the name of Barack Obama, tens of millions of grassroots Americans said enough is enough.
The 
This week the Hamilton County Commission was faced with what I believe may be one of the most important votes they have cast during their tenure. Granted, the vote was over a "mere" Resolution that resulted in no overt action or new law in our county. But there are times when simply speaking Truth and taking a stand on a foundational Principle is paramount and as such required.
The Resolution which was voted on this week addressed Amendment 1 to the Tennessee Constitution - an Amendment which 
There is not much that has elicited such a divide and strong emotion for many residents of Chattanooga as the Domestic Partnership Ordinance. Last November it narrowly passed by a city council vote of 5-4 but it was immediately blocked when a Petition was signed by over 11,000 voters. As a result it is up to Chattanooga voters on August 7 to decide whether to pass or permanently defeat the ordinance that would extend health benefits to city employee’s girlfriends and boyfriends (either same-sex 
In my desire to be an informed voter I routinely look to a candidate’s “Issues” page on their website in order to understand what it is they believe and what they value… or at least what they claim to value. But one can often find that what is openly stated on a candidate's website can at times be as important as what is left unsaid. Over the years, I have gleaned a lot by this review.
So I found it both interesting and informative when I recently reviewed the websites for the two 
If you’re a Conservative, Mike Huckabee wants to fight you.
Yep, if you consider yourself a bonafide conservative then tough guy and former Governor Mike Huckabee has challenged you to a duel. No not literally, at least I don’t think so. But he did come out this week with a challenge. In what is now becoming a routine intervention every couple years by Mike Huckabee into Tennessee politics, the former Governor turned entertainer has plastered his face and voice across the Tennessee airwaves, 
Republican House Majority Leader Eric Cantor's devastating loss this week by little known University Professor Dave Brat sent shockwaves throughout the nation. Democrats and Republicans alike were taken back by such an upset. No doubt pundits will dissect and analyze this phenomena for weeks to come.
But what does an election in a congressional district hundreds of miles away from Tennessee mean to you and me?
Are there any lessons for us to learn here in Chattanooga and across the Volunteer 