On my previous blog a question came up; Is Ed Mitchell a Democrat? Jerry Cunningham thought he was in a recent news paper comment. This reminded me of the Lincoln Day dinner statement published in the Blount Today May 21st, 2008,

Blount County Mayor Jerry Cunningham recently made an apology regarding comments he made during the May 9 Lincoln Day Dinner.

While introducing Blount County General Sessions Judge David Duggan, Cunningham spoke about how the Democratic Party in Blount County had become more liberal in the last few years and included individuals who “hit the county line criticizing everything that moves.”

After three Democrats were elected to the commission, he said he often found himself frustrated by them. His next comment at the May 9 Lincoln Day dinner was what raised the ire of some in the community.

“Janice asked me one night where I was going, and it was one of those nights I was mad with those three,” the mayor said. “I said I could go to the bottom of the hill and turn right and go to the Knoxville Zoo, or I could go left and go to the committee meeting,” he said. “I could see the monkeys at the zoo or see them at the committee meeting.”

On May 16, the mayor issued the following statement:

“Recently, in jest, at a dinner, I made some remarks which offended some folks. Since being elected, my family and I have endured many remarks made toward me, not in jest, but out of malice, anger and hatred. That, however, does not justify my remarks. As a matter of conscience, I regret having made these comments and apologize to all who were offended,” Cunningham said.

I don’t expect the democrats will ever forget that statement. I’ll bet most of the democrates will vote for Mitchell during the republican primary and hopes he wins and then deal with Mitchell instead of Cunningham during the general election.

The City of Alcoa announced today, the 7 millionth Visitor to their famous local Rail Museum


Pictured above the City of Alcoa’s Mill Street Rail Museum, established in 2010

by Lumpy Sheepbert
of the Dilly Dally Tymes Staff
01 March 2012

Heralded by fan-fare and orchestration led by the Alcoa High School Band, the City Manager and Mayor of the City of Alcoa, awarded a Key to the City to Mr. Gwrhyr Gwastawd, of Sawnsea, Wales; as he was the 7 millionth visitor to pay for admission to the Mill Street Rail Museum. The City Manager, Jon Dohnson praised the event as a smashing success. “Had we known how popular this would become, we would have built a museum here decades ago. The amount of Commerce we’ve had as a result of finally completing the Passenger Line from the Airport to Downtown Knoxville, has brought employment and visitors here from around the Nation, and as Mr. Gwastawd’s presence here proves–from around the World.”

Not to be outdone, the County had built a Museum in Townsend to compete with the Mill Street Rail Museum–the two year old Asphalting the Appalachias Museum. County Mayor, Ethy Nawl, said in a press release today, “Although we’ve only had a few visitors here at our Asphalting the Appalachias Museum, we hope to have some more stimulus money to keep the doors open, from Governor Haalsm. We know that with tyme, most folks will see the advantage of our mission, versus that crazy steel rail craze!”

Seems like Rep. Rob Andrews, D-N.J. has a real question to ask Lamar Alexander on his story, used at the recent health care summit, about his friend who is facing health care issues. I wonder how Alexander would answer – NO?

“Sen. Alexander started the discussion on their side by telling a story about a man he met in Tennessee. But if I understand the story correctly, the man is married to a woman who has breast cancer. And he’s afraid he’s going to lose his job, and if he loses his job, he told the senator, it would cost $2,000 a month for health insurance. And the senator used the man as an example of someone who didn’t want the bill but did want us to fix the problem.

It occurred to me that what people ought to focus on is that man and what the two sides are offering here……”

to read more - http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/02/26/andrews