Some Considerations for the 2010 Race
As you begin to think about the next Governor's Election which will take place in 2010. I would encourage you to ask yourself some of the questions that are noted here on The Dedeacon's Blog:
*Are you concerned about your job?
*Are you concerned about your retirement?
*Does it bother you to see Tennessee Democrats and Republicans spatting in Public?
*Are you tired of seeing each Party trying to "up one" on the other Party?
*Are you tired of seeing good legislation stalled because it was an initiative of the opposing party?
*Do you think laws dealing with illegal aliens and undocumented workers need to be harsher?
*Are you against a State Income Tax?
*Do you feel that the State Needs to take a more proactive approach to economic recovery?
*Are you tired of having to support a specific Party Platform?
*Are you tired of candidates spending millions of dollars on running negative campaigns?
*Are you ready for a candidate who will listen and govern for all Tennesseans regardless of Party Affiliation?
*Do you consider yourself an independent and objective minded individual?
*Could you support someone who would ACTIVELY pursue new economic ventures for the State of Tennessee?
*Are you tired of seeing or reading negative news?
*Could you support someone who will campaign for rebuilding the "Quality of Life" in the State of Tennessee?
*Could you support someone who will take a Proactive Approach instead of a Reactive Approach to Governing and building that Quality of Life?
*Would you support a candidate who pick up the phone and call our National Legislators and the President to promote the ideals of the People of the State of Tennessee?
*Could you support a candidate who has no party platform ties?
* Are you concerned about declining property values?
*Are you concerned of how all of this bailout money given to The Automotive Companies, The Banks, and companies like AIG is going to effect you and your children?
These are just a few questions that could be asked to help you decide of how you will cast your vote in 2010.
If you have answered yes to one or more of these questions...you may have the makings of a True Independent Minded Tennessean.
I am interested in getting to know and work with these type of individuals as I consider the race for Governor in Tennessee as an INDEPENDENT! If these questions and thought have struck you in a positive way...Please leave your comments here. If you are a member of facebook, there is a new Group called Bayron Binkley for Governor for the State of Tennessee..please stop by and either leave a message or more importantly join the Group.
There will be an official organizing and strategy meeting coming in a few weeks.
Hope we can move you officially into the ranks of Independently Minded Tennesseans.
New to Facebook
With the encouragement of George Tucker and my oldest son, David I joined the ranks of Facebook. Wasn't sure of what to expect. However it has been a good thing. I have reconnected with many old friends and classmates from both David Lipscomb High School and Lipscomb University. With their profiles shown on their Facebook Page, I have been able to catch up with them and their families. Plus have been able to see pictures of their families and their current interests. It also shows contact information and allows you to communicate with them as well on the site. If you have not created your Facebook page, I would encourage you to do so.
Reflections
Looking at the profile pages and seeing old pictures on Facebook has caused a little reflection on my part. Seeing old school pictures of friends and activities...you can see how we all have aged and are aging. This has helped me to look back at my life and see what I have experienced in my time. I've gotten to be a part of many wonderful adventures. Just a few to note: 1. Graduating from College, 2. Getting married and having three sons, 3. Coaching my sons in various sports and even winning some championships, 4. Watching all three sons play for High School State Championships in Football and Baseball, 5. Starting my own business ventures, 6. Doing some traveling, most notably in Caribbean and Hawaii and various other locales in the Country, 7. Serving as a Deacon in my Church for 5 years, 8. Doing a Radio Show on WLAC AM 1510, 9. Being named a Hall of Fame member of the Franklin Baseball Club, 10. And a number of other things as well.
But as I get older, I am now 52 and the window will start to close. I will need to get busy to do some things that I have had an interest in doing for some time. Some of these things include:
1. A Run in Politics...something that we are now working on with the help of a number of folks, 2. Helping to bring Football to Lipscomb University, 3. Preach a Sunday morning sermon, 4. Tour Europe, 3. Return to Hawaii and possible a trip to Tahiti, 4. Visit Barry Stowe in Hong Kong, 5. Do the Sportscast on the WSMV News one night, 6. Become a University Athletic Director or work in an Athletic Department, 7. Get the big payday, 8. Have a Class Reunion and everyone show up. 9. Have a special reunion of all my friends and have Super T and his Band play at it, 10. Own a condo in Florida, 11. Make some significant restricted contributions to Lipscomb University, 12. Help orchestrate building a baseball stadium in Franklin, TN., 13. For my wife's sake, my sons if they so choose to marry and have families of their own, 14. Live a good life and hope that I have left a positive influence on someone., 15. To be able to do something as in The Karma Pass It On Experience, 16. Appear in a episode of CSI, 17. Hoping that Vanderbilt will win the SEC in Football, 18. Lipscomb University Mens Basketball making the NCAA Tournament, 19. Getting my sons squared away in their chosen professions, 20. Having a get together at our house on Knox Valley before we have to move, 21. Taking a summer off and visiting as many minor league ball parks across the Country, 22. Seeing David Lipscomb High School football grads, Ben Lehning, Austin and Zach Rogers running thru the "T" in Knoxville and playing in the same game, with Tennessee winning, 23. Seeing Nashville Christian High School Football Team returning to the TSSAA Playoffs, 24. Seeing all of my sons' friends succeed. More possibly to be added in the future.
Have you compiled a list? Share it with us on our comment page.
OVC vs. The Atlantic Sun
Now that all of the College Basketball Conference Tournaments are over and March Madness has begun, the talk may start again for whether if Lipscomb or Belmont will stay in the Atlantic Sun Conference. It has been discussed openly by Belmont that they may want to move to the Ohio Valley Conference. The conference commissioner has been seen at both schools during some games. Word has it that the OVC would like to have both schools and that it would make more sense with more local rivalries...Austin Peay, Tennessee Tech, UT Martin, Tennessee State, Murray State and Morehead. However, The Atlantic Sun this year was rated above the Ohio Valley as Morehead the OVC tournament winner had to play in the NCAA Play-in game in order to play Louisville the number one seed. I don't know if this would be a good move for Lipscomb. I do know that it would be costly for the school to make a jump. Could be up to a couple of Million Dollars to make that move. If its the goal of Lipscomb to make the NCAA tournament, which conference would be more conducive to achieving that goal. Right now, I would have to say the Atlantic Sun. Lipscomb has a great relationship with the Conference and I believe they are comfortable where they are. However, it appears Belmont has the itch and it looks like if Belmont wants to go to the OVC, they will have to bring Lipscomb with them. I don't think that will happen for some time.
Personally, I am pushing for Lipscomb's membership in the Pioneer Football Conference, a Division I Non-Scholarship program which includes members such as Drake, Butler, Valpariso, Davidson, Campbell, Morehead State, San Diego State and some others. Instead of paying 2 million dollars to move to a new basketball conference, use that money to start a football team.
Your comments are always welcomed on this site.
Until next time...I am...The Dedeacon.
