in the news.

• Sen. Clinton 2000 campaign group fined over Hollywood gala.
• New Disclosure Rules Expose NEA’s Millions to ‘Left-Wing’ Causes.
• Ariel Sharon is under the (literal) knife. Powerline and Charles Krauthammer are worried.
• Pat Robertson is under the (figurative) knife: Will Franklin, Tim Graham and Jonah Goldberg are outraged… along with everyone else.
• Note: when God decides to take someone out in the Bible, the result is usually fairly immediate and certain.
• Jobs outlook: not great.
• Jobs outlook: pretty darn good.

The Senate 2006 Donnybrook

• CA: Hilleary won’t donate cash.
• CA: Ford’s on the way to Iraq for fact-finding.
• Shelby County Young Republicans: Ed Bryant to speak January 10. The group has previously hosted Bob Corker and Van Hillary.
• Bryant holds an open house on Wednesday.
• Chattanoogan: Ford Says Hilleary, Bryant, Corker Should Donate “Corrupt Abramoff Money.”
• B4B: Hilleary is Hurting Tennessee Republicans.
• Van Wagon: Van Hilleary Leads The Field, Bryant Blogger Using Liberal Talking Points to Slander Van.
• Chris Jackson: Ford Advocates Gradual Withdrawal of Troops From Iraq, Harold Ford Jr. — Underrated?

Mayor Willie Herenton.

Mayor Herenton spoke to the media yesterday and answered a wide variety of questions. Herenton says he was “never in drug rehab,” among other things:

“I’m 6 feet 6 — tall, dark and handsome. I intimidate some of these people.”

In his “state of the city” address and again yesterday, Herenton singled out media critics such as talk radio host Mike Fleming. The Mayor also directed comments to another critic: blogger Thaddeus Matthews.

The mayor also criticized recall efforts led by political commentator and Herenton critic Thaddeus Matthews as “nonsense.”

“I think it was WREG that gave a societal misfit so much coverage on a so-called recall of the mayor.”

Matthews responds here.

Ouch and ouch!

Finally, there’s this:

On countywide payroll tax:

“You may be surprised to learn that I agree with something Mr. (County Commissioner John) Willingham said. Well, I’m surprised I agree with him too. But I do think that looking at a countywide payroll tax is something we need to examine.”

Examine away!

Linked at left is Commissioner Willingham’s tax proposal, which calls for a (possibly unconstitutional) payroll tax of 2.5%.

Click on the image to download the packet in PDF format. The 15-page document includes: an executive summary of Willingham’s plan, two letters to Shelby County Mayor A.C. Wharton, a breakdown of the income and costs associated with the plan, a spreadsheet of how the plan would affect various income levels, a bizarre diagram of the city’s financial dilemma, a letter to IRS Chief Counsel Daniel Cassano, a letter (in response) from Cassano aide Thomas Moffitt to Rep. Harold Ford, Jr., a letter to attorney Stan Meadows concerning the Pyramid, and a petition to encourage the the conversion of the Pyramid into a casino.

Shelby County Commission Debate.

Below is a pic from Tuesday’s Shelby County Commission primary debate (Dist. 1 Pos. 1), mentioned Wednesday, between Mike Rude and Mike Ritz, at Range USA.

Notice the dart board in the background and then take the appropriate implications. Let’s just say it was a tough crowd.

I said I would link blog/news accounts. So far, I find only one, by John Farmer. Ignore the gratuitous pic of yours truly.

After the debate, Rude’s campaign sent out this file, in an attempt to prove his opponent supported Mayor Herenton’s campaign in 2001, rather than fellow Republican Willingham, who was defeated in 2003. Now that both Herenton and Willingham are on the same page, at least as far as taxes go, I’m not sure it matters.

Have a great weekend.

• See you Monday, Lord willing.