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Our state’s gubernatorial campaign is different than most these days.

The Dean reports:

State Rep. Susan Lynn’s proposal to prohibit implanting microchips into people without their permission failed Tuesday in the House Judiciary Committee on a tie vote - 5 yes, 5 no and one abstaining.

From a constituent:

Dear Congressman Gordon,

I’m writing to let you know that I strongly support health insurance reform. But you already know that. I sat with you in your Gallatin office and we talked about how difficult it is for people to understand the complexity and enormity of our current system and the necessity to address it as a whole. We regretted that this is made especially difficult when so many of your constituents have been whipped by fear into incoherence.

I want you to know how grateful I am for your service over the years, and I respect your decision to retire after this session. I have a six year old too; they grow too fast and you shouldn’t miss it.

I’m grateful for all the hard work you’ve done for your constituents, especially when you did what was right despite strong opposition and stood with the President to create as many as 3.9 million jobs with the Recovery Act. That vote alone sets you aside from the Washington Hypocrites that voted to obstruct our Nation’s economic recovery, but attend every ribbon cutting, every job training center opening, and take glory for every bit of that funding flowing into our state and regions directly from this measure.

I know the Health Care Reform Bill that is at hand now is not perfect. The “perfect” bill for some would be a much more aggressive series of changes. The “perfect” for others is to do nothing, no change at all. I would posit that the Do-Nothing crowd has gotten their way long enough. That doing nothing is the perfect choice only for those profiting from business as usual. And doing nothing is what has gotten us to the state we are in: a perfect mess.

I agree with Natoma Canfield, whose private insurance got so expensive that she had to drop it, right before she was diagnosed with leukemia. She said in a TV interview from her hospital bed, “Well, it just seems to me that everything needs a start.”

Yes, everything needs a start and health insurance reform in this country needs this start. So now, at the end of your political career that has started so many very very good things, you can set in motion one more lasting legacy for my family, your family, and the rest of your constituents. Vote yes to pass the Health Insurance Reform Bill that is now before you in Congress. Stand with the President, with your party, and with the majority of Americans who voted for the Democrats to start America back on the road to strength, unity, and health.

With Sincere Respect,

Maria Brewer

Video available here.

From Think Progress:

BENNETT: So what is the point of the obstruction — positive obstruction — of you all doing this if we’ve already lost the game?

ALEXANDER: Well, the point of our doing it is to not allow them to abuse the process further. I mean, they, we cannot allow the House or the president or any group of people to completely undermine the role of the Senate in American constitutional government, which is really to say that on big issues, we’re going to require consensus instead of majority and we need 60 votes.

BENNETT: I see. But the House bill that he would sign might be worse than the one with the amendments they’re trying to offer that you will debate.

ALEXANDER: Well, that’s a good point and but but but and we’ll…

BENNETT: It’ll have kickbacks, the Kickback and all that stuff.

ALEXANDER: We’ll have to, we’ll have to consider that as we go through the bill line by line, but basically, the Senate Republicans are not going to bail the House Democrats out by fixing a bill we all voted against.

From Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home:

On a snowy March the 11th, 1926, a daughter, Alice, was born to Patricia Cordelia Smith Wright and Aubrey Buren Wright at King’s Daughters Hospital, Columbia, TN, and for 45 years she lived on Athenaeum Street, less than two blocks from where she was born. Alice Wright Algood, 84, died on March 16, 2010.

Funeral services will be conducted Saturday at 1:00 p.m. at Zion Presbyterian Church with Rev. Arch Warren officiating. Burial will follow in Friendship Cemetery in Culleoka. The family will visit with friends Friday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Oakes & Nichols.

Memorials may be made to Zion Christian Academy, 6901 Old Zion Road, Columbia 38401 or The Polk Presidential Hall, P. O. Box 741, Columbia 38402….

…Her role in preservation throughout the nation, and specifically in Tennessee, placed her in the role of President of the Association of Preservation of Antiquities (APTA), President of the Tennessee State Museum Foundation, a member of the Tennessee Historic Commission, and was currently Chairman of the Tennessee Governor’s Residence Foundation. She was appointed by President Ronald Reagan and confirmed by the Senate of the United States to a 10-year term on the National Museum Services Board.

Active for many years in the Republican Party, she believed in the clarity and wisdom with which the Founding Fathers provided the citizens of the United States a system of good governance and stood steadfast by her convictions. She was Tennessee’s Republican National Committee Woman, Vice-Chairman of the Republican Party in Tennessee, a delegate to three National Republican Conventions and was active in numerous campaigns.

She was a member of the Maury County Planning Commission, and in 1997 was awarded the Lucille Queener Courtney Community Service Award.

Her love and knowledge of history and genealogy was generously shared with the many who sought their roots in Middle Tennessee. She was among those who reconstituted the Maury County Historical Society, and collaborated on several books concerning Maury County, most recently the Historical Society’s “Historic Maury County: People and Places.”

John Farmer was there with his camera:

All in all, around 60 people showed up and lined the sidewalk to express their opinion on the health care legislation now before Congress. At one point, Congressman Zach Wamp (R-TN) drove by in his campaign bus, slowed down and gave a number of honks (he had a noon-time lunch meeting in Munford, TN so they did not stop) as they passed. Overall, that was the rule as traffic drove by, people slowed to wave and honk their horns.

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The folks at the NRA say that the satellite city is considering it:

On Wednesday, March 17, the Belle Meade Board of Commissioners will consider a proposed ordinance (Ordinance 2010-2) that would forbid any person with a handgun carry permit to carry within the city limits.

Not only does this legislation create a victim zone inside Belle Meade by disarming law-abiding citizens, it is also a clear violation of Tennessee’s preemption statutes.

The Board of Commissioners will meet at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday at the Belle Meade City Hall located at 4705 Harding Road.

(FT: Uncle Say)