Atomictumor

Beauchamp is not cleared, reports the Oakridger. Evidently his lawyer, Mike Ritter, spoke to soon. The TBI’s spokesperson is quoted as saying, “The TBI doesn’t, quote, clear people,”

Even Anderson County District Attorney General Jim Ramsey agreed with TBI. “We’re not in the business of clearing people,” he said.

Too bad for Beauchamp.

One thing I like about living in Oak Ridge is its lack of air traffic. Most, if not all, of OR is a No Fly Zone, if I’m not mistaken, so seeing (and hearing) planes is a rare occassion. True, it’s not something you think about, that absence of sound. Not until you hear it, at least.
Yesterday, as I was walking to the bus stop to pick up Pigpen, a group of five black helicopters flew overhead. That makes me a little nervous. They weren’t rerouted like most errant pilots, so I guess it had something to do with the labs. Perhaps they were flying in emergency rations of Jack Daniels.

The Oak Ridger has announced its endorsements for county offices, which is its prerogative, I suppose, but leaves me wondering why they made some of the choices. Problem is, they’re playing it close to the chest and not announcing why exactly they made some of the choices. Sure, they can technically endorse Ronald McDonald and Angelina Jolie for offices in Anderson County, but if they don’t post reasons for it I’m going to assume they were paid to do so.

Ronald McDonald pays well, because he’s advised and funded by that hardball bastard Mayor McCheese.

Anyway, since the ‘Tumor is a prestigious assed organization, I’m going to full on endorse some people and tell you exactly WHY I’m doing it. Keep in mind, this is me, AT, endorsing these people. Bos, Eaves, and GAC will agree if they know whats good for them, but they have not been consulted as of yet. Furthermore, I have 1s and 0s just waiting to be used by you to tell me how dumb I am. You don’t even have to use your name or address like the ‘Ridger makes you do.

• Chancellor of 7th - Man, I want to say Ramsey, because coming to age in the early ’90s I can appreciate a slacker more than anybody. However, I simply can’t understand why anybody would vote for him for any office whatsoever. I know dick all about Lantrip, but seeing as how he’s been doing the job for years now and nobody has lit anything on fire to get rid of him, I see no reason not to keep the guy working.
  Ramsey’s a charismatic fellow, and I like the guy and wish him well. I think he’d be better off ending up being the rowing hippie who wanders into the gas station every once in a while to tell you weird stories, smelling vaguely of scotch. He’s got enough cash to retire, and I get the feeling he’d rather be on the river anyway. Heres to you, river man.
• DA - Its hard to get wired up about this job, as it is hard to get wired up about the Sherriff job, because, again, as a veteran of the ’90’s, I’m still half-convinced that the DA and Sheriff are plotting to keep me down. No doubt about it.
  Still though, I like the cut of Corea’s jib. She didn’t back herself into unwisely swearing off plea bargains, which is a tool that the legal system has been enjoying since the days of Galileo, as her opponents did. She’s an independant candidate (politically speaking, we’ll get to the whole Beauchamp thing later), which I, as an independant voter, tend to like.
  What I like best about the lady is that she hasn’t done the negative, desperate campaigning the others did. There was a lot of talk earlier in the campaign that Clark was talking regarding Hunt and Corea defending criminal cases, and considering the fact that they “worked with criminals” a detriment to their ability to prosecute.
  Do I need to comment on the idiocy of such a statement? Are there enough of those 1s and 0s to lecture Dave-o on the facinating aspects of the American justice system that provides for representation to the accused? I can’t vote for somebody so obviously misinformed about the nature of the job he’s applying for.
  Les Hunt, well, he’s showing off that NRA approval like a teenager with a hickey. The fact that such a kneejerk, close-minded, self serving organization like the NRA is his top supporter is all I need to point out. No beef with guns necessarily, but got a beef with NRA. Thats another post, and way too much time spent on the DA situation.
• Commish District 8: Man, I really didn’t do a lot of homework on this one. I like Iwanski because he’s not screwed me over yet, and because he seems sincere. I had a brief chat with him in the hot sun a month or so ago when he was door to dooring, and he impressed me, so he gets one of those votes.
  I’m leaning toward Brinkman for the other vote, simply because she’s a candidate who claims she’s committed to education, and as a former Oak Ridge teacher, I’m inclined to lean in her direction. Right now, particularly in this town, education is getting the short end of the stick, and that needs to change. Of course, other candidates for office (ahemJane Miller) have courted the education issue long enough to get elected and then dropped it like a pregnant prom date.
• Commish District 7: No clue, I don’t have a dog in that race. Cemestos Gardens is on that side of town, I leave this open for Bos or Eaves if they want to throw something in.
  Edit 6:39 PM: Bos and Eaves (and a few others) have weighed in on this race, and we’re behind Joseph Lee and Jerry Creasey for reasons explained down in the comments.
• County Trustee: This is the one that really made my jaw drop with the Oak Ridger, as they supported John Stair over Rodney Archer. Hu-whaaaa?? But, I did all my talking about this stuff here, so I won’t now. Read that post if’n your interested. I think the ‘Ridger is just being contrary.
• Div.1 General Sessions Judge: Stuart. Hell yes. Because Judge Judy was only good on TV for a few minutes. There is no excuse for judges to show personality. Judges should begin impartial, and this Layton guy appears to have a hard time with that. There is also the connection to Beauchamp, in which allegedly (to prevent the jackass for suing us like he likes to do to websites that post things he doesn’t agree with, so ALLEGEDLY, and protected by amendments, and whatnot) Layton created a probation office for his campaign buddy, Beauchamp. But you didn’t hear that from me. And I live in Nebraska. Allegedly. Jackass.
  Beside that, Stuart seems to be able to keep his head about him. He’s about the least likely looking fellow to be running for a judgeship in a somewhat rural Tennessee county, but, I’m still a little suprised that I like living here too. I think the guy will do a damn fine job.
• Juvie Judge: Meldrum: We talked about Hess previously, so theres not much to mention here. I think Hess has had a great run, that would have probably ended sooner if somebody had run against here before. I doubt I’ll be dealing with Juvenile Court myself (although Pigpen’s still a bit of a wild card), but from what I’ve heard of Hess I’d be worried about showing up in front of her.
• Sheriff: I see no reason to change things here. Granted, I know nothing about the Anderson County Sheriffs Dept, and don’t mind keeping things that way. Rock on, Bill.
• County School Board: Sure wish there was an Oak Ridge City School Board election. Actually, I think my problems would be lessened if Oak Ridge did have some elections. Of course, then I’d never shut up about how we need to get rid of damn near all the bastards and replace them with people who are inclined to put citizen’s interests above political ones.

Was that so hard? If you’re going to put your name behind an endorsement, dammit, tell me why, otherwise you lose credibility. And, as the NY Times can tell you, credibility is hard to get back.