I do not agree that all the comments were positive for Ed Bryant. I was in the meeting. He did a poor job of making him a winner over Corker. Chattanooga is not a gimme to anyone.

A day after the Kelo decision was delivered, Freestar Media LLC submitted a proposal in the town of Weare, New Hampshire where majority opinion writer, Justice Souter, owns a farm house. They requested that the town board condemn the land and give it to them, as private developers, who promise to construct the Lost Liberty Hotel in its place. Their tax revenue would no doubt be higher than the reported $2,500 that Justice Souter paid in property taxes last year. It would create employment and attract tourism. The town has a website, and an economic development committee, which has identified its two main goals: 1) Encourage the formation of new businesses, and 2) Promote tourism. However, contrary to its stated goals and the legally sanctioned purpose of economic development, the town’s board turned down the proposal.

So much for poetic justice. Justice Souter’s influence in his community shielded him from his own ruling. No other rational justification can be found.

Thankfully, the legislative branch is now busy at work attempting to shield private property rights from the Supreme Court ruling. It seems that the two may have switched roles, with the House defending the Constitution, and the Supreme Court writing new laws.

I thought I saw Alice the other day! Or maybe it was Justice Souter –skipping in Wonderland, immune to and above the laws he passes.

Bryant, Corker, Hilleary: Questions Before Commitments
by David Moon

....Last week, I attempted an internet search, including candidate websites, to ascertain where these candidates stood on the issues. My thought was: There has to be a reason for this kind of money to be flying around so early in the game? Little was found except for Bill Hobbs.com a Nashville political blog. Mr. Hobbs' site asked the candidates one question concerning Kelo vs. New London, the recent property rights decision wrongly rendered by the Supreme Court. We, the average voter, deserve the benefit of public introspection by these candidates before deciding so early who to support....

What voters have to consider in the money race is the current situation of two conservatives, Messrs. Bryant and Hilleary, chasing a moderate, Mr. Corker - who puts out press releases saying he’s a conservative. The only recourse for the voter to pull apart the winner from the pack is to ask salient questions of the candidates. Why not try some here?

1) Where do you stand on reforming Social Security, a major domestic issue for President Bush? Is it your position that ensuring Social Security’s solvency is an immediate problem? Are you for private accounts in some form? Do you back the President’s plan?

2) How do you as a United States Senator address the current-account trade imbalance with China? Do you back the Bush administration on quotas for Chinese textiles and the need to revalue the Yuan (China’s Currency)?

3) Illegal immigration is a fast growing concern in Tennessee and America. How will you work to address this situation? Do you back Mr. Bush’s Guest Worker Program?

4) Mr. Bush proposes an exception to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty for India in order to improve both U.S. direct ties with the subcontinent, as well as serve as a geo-political counterbalance to China. How would you vote as a United States Senator on the administration’s proposal?

5) What is your Federal tax policy?

6) What experience and educational attributes separate you from the other candidates in your approach to these issues?