http://metropulse.com/news/columns/?partner=RSSMetroPulse Stories: Columnsen-uscolumns/news/columns/?partner=RSShttp://metropulse.com/feeds/headlines/columns/2008-11-21T15:44:05.801172Copyright MetroPulse, 2008http://metropulse.com/news/2008/nov/19/them-ol-red-state-blues/?partner=RSSneely@metropulse.com (Jack Neely)Wed, 19 Nov 2008 22:00:00 -0000http://metropulse.com/news/2008/nov/19/them-ol-red-state-blues/?partner=RSSknoxville-culture/secret-history140182008-11-19T17:00:002008-11-19T17:00:00Copyright MetroPulse, 2008Just a little more about the election. I’ll get back to more important stuff next week, I promise.Knoxville, TNJack NeelyThem Ol' Red-State BluesMetroPulsethem-ol-red-state-blueshttp://metropulse.com/news/2008/nov/12/red-state-blue-state/?partner=RSSneely@metropulse.com (Jack Neely)Wed, 12 Nov 2008 22:00:00 -0000http://metropulse.com/news/2008/nov/12/red-state-blue-state/?partner=RSSknoxville-culture/secret-history139942008-11-12T17:00:002008-11-12T17:00:00Copyright MetroPulse, 2008I don’t know about you, but I suffered an unsettling spell, last Tuesday night, watching the returns. At about 9:30, when most of the states of the Eastern and Central time zones had been called, but the West was still blank, the news networks’ were all showing what looked like a Civil War map. It was right eerie: the North was colored in blue, as it is in Golden Book histories of the Civil War. The old slave states of the South were in red. They were exactly the ones that were rejecting the first black presidential nominee.Knoxville, TNJack NeelyRed State Blue StateMetroPulsered-state-blue-statehttp://metropulse.com/news/2008/nov/05/scene-shift/?partner=RSSneely@metropulse.com (Jack Neely)Wed, 05 Nov 2008 22:00:00 -0000http://metropulse.com/news/2008/nov/05/scene-shift/?partner=RSSknoxville-culture/secret-history139482008-11-05T17:00:002008-11-05T17:00:00Copyright MetroPulse, 2008First, a correction to my recent column about Knox County’s once liberal usage of the word Farragut. In our nation’s capital recently, I made my way, for the first time ever, to Farragut Square. It’s just a few blocks north of the White House, along K and Connecticut, but it’s off most of the tour-bus routes, unmentioned in many guidebooks. It’s mostly a 9-5 business section now, central to several major modern office buildings and restaurants, but it was once a stylish residential address.Knoxville, TNJack NeelyScene ShiftMetroPulsescene-shifthttp://metropulse.com/news/2008/oct/29/wallflower/?partner=RSSneely@metropulse.com (Jack Neely)Wed, 29 Oct 2008 21:00:00 -0000http://metropulse.com/news/2008/oct/29/wallflower/?partner=RSSknoxville-culture/secret-history138772008-10-29T17:00:002008-10-29T17:00:00Copyright MetroPulse, 2008The McCain campaign is so confident of Tennessee’s electoral votes next month that his statewide campaign appealed to Tennessee McCain supporters to leave home and campaign in states that really matter, like North Carolina and Florida. If they’re asking local campaigners to leave town, don’t expect any candidates to come here.Knoxville, TNJack NeelyThe WallflowerMetroPulsewallflowerhttp://metropulse.com/news/2008/oct/22/lets-pass-damn-charter-amendments/?partner=RSSneely@metropulse.com (Jack Neely)Wed, 22 Oct 2008 22:00:00 -0000http://metropulse.com/news/2008/oct/22/lets-pass-damn-charter-amendments/?partner=RSSknoxville-culture/secret-history138612008-10-22T18:00:002008-10-22T18:00:00Copyright MetroPulse, 2008I don’t know about you, but after studying the issue some, I’m voting for both charter amendments, #3 and #4 on your ballot. I can’t vouch for the projected $4.5 million in savings, but it seems obvious we’ll save something, and the changes make sense for other reasons.Knoxville, TNJack NeelyLet’s Pass the Damn Charter AmendmentsMetroPulselets-pass-damn-charter-amendmentshttp://metropulse.com/news/2008/nov/19/out-now-ins/?partner=RSSWed, 19 Nov 2008 22:00:00 -0000http://metropulse.com/news/2008/nov/19/out-now-ins/?partner=RSSknoxville-issues/frank-talk140152008-11-19T17:00:002008-11-19T17:00:00Copyright MetroPulse, 2008The Democrats who have been in for decades may regret ignoring that advice as the Republicans prepare to take over the state House of Representatives.Knoxville, TNOut Now the InsMetroPulseout-now-inshttp://metropulse.com/news/2008/nov/12/black-irony/?partner=RSSWed, 12 Nov 2008 22:00:00 -0000http://metropulse.com/news/2008/nov/12/black-irony/?partner=RSSknoxville-issues/frank-talk139952008-11-12T17:00:002008-11-12T17:00:00Copyright MetroPulse, 2008It is ironic that while America was voting for Barack Obama as its first black president last week, blacks in Knoxville and across Tennessee were suffering losses in political power.Knoxville, TNBlack IronyMetroPulseblack-ironyhttp://metropulse.com/news/2008/nov/05/will-it-be-back/?partner=RSSWed, 05 Nov 2008 22:00:00 -0000http://metropulse.com/news/2008/nov/05/will-it-be-back/?partner=RSSknoxville-issues/frank-talk139492008-11-05T17:00:002008-11-05T17:00:00Copyright MetroPulse, 2008The last three governors of Tennessee served two terms. All three ran for election and re-election opposed to a state income tax. All three faced a revenue shortfall in their second term and at least considered the option of a state income tax.Knoxville, TNWill It Be Back?MetroPulsewill-it-be-backhttp://metropulse.com/news/2008/oct/29/who-will-vote/?partner=RSSWed, 29 Oct 2008 21:00:00 -0000http://metropulse.com/news/2008/oct/29/who-will-vote/?partner=RSSknoxville-issues/frank-talk138782008-10-29T17:00:002008-10-29T17:00:00Copyright MetroPulse, 2008In February there was a huge turnout and anyone who looked like an incumbent and had an opponent lost. In the August county election, the turnout was smaller and the traditional Republican ticket swept most of the offices.Knoxville, TNWho Will Vote?MetroPulsewho-will-votehttp://metropulse.com/news/2008/oct/22/wwjd/?partner=RSSWed, 22 Oct 2008 22:00:00 -0000http://metropulse.com/news/2008/oct/22/wwjd/?partner=RSSknoxville-issues/frank-talk138622008-10-22T18:00:002008-10-22T18:00:00Copyright MetroPulse, 2008Has it occurred to you that everyone who cares knows already? And that they would never vote for Obama anyway? The crowds at your events are the choir and your preaching to them gets an energetic response. But it’s not going to get the sinner on the back row to make an altar call and join you on your quest for the promised land.Knoxville, TNWWJDMetroPulsewwjdhttp://metropulse.com/news/2008/nov/12/top-tennis-comes-town/?partner=RSSWed, 12 Nov 2008 22:00:00 -0000http://metropulse.com/news/2008/nov/12/top-tennis-comes-town/?partner=RSSknoxville-issues/insights139962008-11-12T17:00:002008-11-12T17:00:00Copyright MetroPulse, 2008Tennis happens to be just about my favorite sport. So I am delighted by the prospect that more top-flight tennis is coming to Knoxville over the next few weeks than during any short span in the city’s history.Knoxville, TNTop Tennis Comes to TownMetroPulsetop-tennis-comes-townhttp://metropulse.com/news/2008/nov/05/credit-chapter-13/?partner=RSSWed, 05 Nov 2008 22:00:00 -0000http://metropulse.com/news/2008/nov/05/credit-chapter-13/?partner=RSSknoxville-issues/insights139502008-11-05T17:00:002008-11-05T17:00:00Copyright MetroPulse, 2008Pose this question to bankruptcy lawyers, lenders, and organizations that specialize in bankruptcy data compilation, and the prevalent answer is that nobody really knows. Even U.S. Bankruptcy Judge for East Tennessee Richard Stair responds, “I wish I could answer that.” And a study conducted for the Tennessee Bankers Association by a UT finance professor was inconclusive.Knoxville, TNCredit Chapter 13 MetroPulsecredit-chapter-13http://metropulse.com/news/2008/oct/22/helping-borrowers-well-lenders/?partner=RSSWed, 22 Oct 2008 22:00:00 -0000http://metropulse.com/news/2008/oct/22/helping-borrowers-well-lenders/?partner=RSSknoxville-issues/insights138632008-10-22T18:00:002008-10-22T18:00:00Copyright MetroPulse, 2008Under the $700 billion mortgage lender bailout or rescue bill that Congress reluctantly approved earlier this month, the U.S. Treasury is supposed to purchase massive pools of underwater mortgages at prices high enough to shore up their holders and restore their ability to lend.Knoxville, TNHelping Borrowers as Well as LendersMetroPulsehelping-borrowers-well-lendershttp://metropulse.com/news/2008/oct/08/housing-market-corrections-needed/?partner=RSSWed, 08 Oct 2008 22:00:00 -0000http://metropulse.com/news/2008/oct/08/housing-market-corrections-needed/?partner=RSSknoxville-issues/insights138182008-10-08T18:00:002008-10-08T18:00:00Copyright MetroPulse, 2008Anyone who thinks the federal bailout of distressed mortgage lenders is going to buoy the sagging Knoxville housing market had better think again.Knoxville, TNHousing Market Corrections NeededMetroPulsehousing-market-corrections-neededhttp://metropulse.com/news/2008/sep/24/progression-jobs-now/?partner=RSSWed, 24 Sep 2008 22:00:00 -0000http://metropulse.com/news/2008/sep/24/progression-jobs-now/?partner=RSSknoxville-issues/insights137702008-09-24T18:00:002008-09-24T18:00:00Copyright MetroPulse, 2008When Knoxville-area economic boosters launched a heralded Jobs Now! program in 2002, their goal of creating 35,000 new jobs in the six-county area over the next five years seemed ambitious at first blush.Knoxville, TNThe Progression of Jobs Now!MetroPulseprogression-jobs-nowhttp://metropulse.com/news/2008/nov/12/little-maverick-prairie/?partner=RSSWed, 12 Nov 2008 22:00:00 -0000http://metropulse.com/news/2008/nov/12/little-maverick-prairie/?partner=RSSknoxville-issues/sideways-glance139972008-11-12T17:00:002008-11-12T17:00:00Copyright MetroPulse, 2008Some time back in 2000 when Karl Rove was creating whisper campaigns about him fathering the Bangladeshi orphan he adopted, McCain must have pledged that he would climb inside his own private Trojan horse and sabotage Rove’s machine. He cozied up to extremist churches he once despised and insinuated himself into all of Bush’s mistakes.Knoxville, TNLittle Maverick on the Prairie MetroPulselittle-maverick-prairiehttp://metropulse.com/news/2008/oct/29/votes-beyond/?partner=RSSWed, 29 Oct 2008 21:00:00 -0000http://metropulse.com/news/2008/oct/29/votes-beyond/?partner=RSSknoxville-issues/sideways-glance138812008-10-29T17:00:002008-10-29T17:00:00Copyright MetroPulse, 2008If ACORN drops voter registration forms on the courthouse lawn, will fraudulent votes sprout? Nutty names like Mickey Mouse never make the rolls, but what about less obvious forgeries? Fake names show up on forms mostly because some schmoe getting paid to register people thinks his day will be shorter or his paycheck fatter if he slips fake forms in with the real ones. He forgets about the fake forms the moment the check clears.Knoxville, TNVotes from BeyondMetroPulsevotes-beyondhttp://metropulse.com/news/2008/oct/15/hold-sausage/?partner=RSSWed, 15 Oct 2008 22:00:00 -0000http://metropulse.com/news/2008/oct/15/hold-sausage/?partner=RSSknoxville-issues/sideways-glance138412008-10-15T18:00:002008-10-15T18:00:00Copyright MetroPulse, 2008Have you heard about the last-minute addition to the Knox County ballot? The Volunteer-shaded petitions got enough signatures to become referenda. When you show up to vote for president, radical changes to the structure of county government will greet you in a bewildering blizzard of gobbledygook.Knoxville, TNHold the SausageMetroPulsehold-sausagehttp://metropulse.com/news/2008/oct/01/anarchy-wall-st/?partner=RSSWed, 01 Oct 2008 21:07:00 -0000http://metropulse.com/news/2008/oct/01/anarchy-wall-st/?partner=RSSknoxville-issues/sideways-glance137972008-10-01T17:07:002008-10-01T17:07:00Copyright MetroPulse, 2008In July, former Sen. Phil Gramm said our country was in a “mental recession.” He was more correct than anyone realized. The remark got him booted from Sen. John McCain’s presidential campaign, but subsequent events kept Gramm in the news. His 1999 Financial Modernization Act triggered a proliferation of financial instruments that now have our economy on its knees.Knoxville, TNAnarchy for Wall St.MetroPulseanarchy-wall-sthttp://metropulse.com/news/2008/sep/17/freedom-cars/?partner=RSSWed, 17 Sep 2008 22:00:00 -0000http://metropulse.com/news/2008/sep/17/freedom-cars/?partner=RSSknoxville-issues/sideways-glance137472008-09-17T18:00:002008-09-17T18:00:00Copyright MetroPulse, 2008Last week’s gas-price spike was a glimpse at the future. After Katrina, gas sold at $3.50 per gallon until the supply chain was restored. The price settled back toward $2.50, but earlier this year Katrina’s prediction came true. How long until $5 per gallon gas is normal?Knoxville, TNFreedom From CarsMetroPulsefreedom-cars