John Pittard, one of the respected men on Murfreesboro's City Council, would paraphrase U-T's John Ward, saying "It's politics time in Tennessee." "The funny season" is another tag for this time before elections. Now, a passel of mail arrived at the Tribune news desk about candidates and there are three editions of this newspaper before Election Day - 13 days away... more

Amid the rush to deliver something worthwhile to read and provide our sponsors a valuable audience, there come funny moments, and times to appreciate. Recent examples include: > If elected governor, Mike McWherter could send Tennessee National Guardsmen to secure our border with Mexico. If we can secure the border between two Koreas, then we can do this... more

The spirit of the saying -- there are no atheists in foxholes -- might apply to a less terrifying problem. Recessions require cooperation and belief that your neighbor has got your back. This came up as Lewisburg's now former economic and community developer, former County Mayor Terry Wallace, got a pink slip. This isn't about his departure, or much about him, except he's not a city employee now... more

Are conservatives more patriotic than liberals? Merely ask the question and liberals come unhinged. 'How dare you question my patriotism?' they ask. However, when one delves into the question there is little doubt that the America-haters in this country are primarily on the left... more

There's a pretty good story going around the county that's begging for a comparison with the Ridley Brothers' political leadership in Smyrna during the decades after World War II. Smyrna had an Air Force base to train bomber pilots and military purposes continue there. It's where 125-130 soldiers from the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment are returning Saturday morning. One of the Ridley brothers was an intelligence officer during the WWII and one worked for a general. They thought tactically... more

Understanding one another is, I think, at the root of all good relationships. So, when one of the fire chiefs asked whether I understood their operations and aggravation arising from budget cuts as proposed by county commissioners on the budget committee, my response was yes, and here's how and why... more

Marshall County Commissioners Dean Delk, Scottie Poarch, Rocky Bowden, E.W. Hill and Phil Willis were having supper at Mopey's Family Restaurant on the Nashville Highway Tuesday night after the county budget workshop in the Courthouse Annex on Lewisburg's public square... more

There have been a lot of words spoken and written recently about political correctness. These days, it seems to be politically correct to speak out against political correctness. After all, the anti-PC crowd will tell you that political correctness stifles honesty. That you can't call a spade a spade. That those of us who think political correctness -- whatever that really means -- are trying to control language and giving short shrift to The First Amendment... more

Decisions have been made on how the Marshall County Tribune will present political debates for candidates running for sheriff and county mayor in the Aug. 5 election. Tickets, accommodations and dates are on today's menu. There's no charge for tickets. ... more

OK, let's try to have a little balance in our views on cockfighting. It is not my kind of enjoyment, but ... I am a little turned off by the self-righteous tone of animal rights advocates. Is the life of a cockfighting rooster more miserable than a fattened hen who spends her whole life confined to a commercial coop, then has her feet tied to a wire and her head chopped off at Tyson Foods so we can have a healthy diet?... more

In Ayn Rand's classic Atlas Shrugged the United States reaches a point where the "moochers" and the "looters" have taken over Washington. In turn, they begin dismantling capitalism. The "producers" mysteriously disappear one by one. It's a 53-year-old story that so frighteningly parallels today that certain passages of the book will make the hair on the back of your neck stand on end... more

The purging has begun. The Tea Party flexed its muscles in Utah as it ousted three-term Senator Bob Bennett in the Republican convention there. The predictable cries came from both the Democrats and Bennett himself. Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine said it was proof that the Republican Party has now been taken over by the far-right wing. ... more

State Rep. Eddie Bass (D-Prospect) was the scheduled speaker Thursday at a ceremony in Rock Creek Park where an honor guard of Columbia Police was again to be part of an annual recognition of Police Officers Memorial Week. It's May 9-15 and Lewisburg Mayor Barbara Woods signed a proclamation acknowledging the annual observance and encouraging city residents to support their police and attend the ceremony because police play an essential role in safeguarding rights and freedoms... more

"For all that you have done for England." Those words are inside the cover of a pocket edition of the New Testament given to my mother. Her grandmother wrote the words after World War II in the gift from one Episcopalian to another for supporting Bundles for Britain... more

We've spent countless billions since 9/11 fighting terrorism. We've sacrificed untold lives in this struggle to keep us free. After all, what is terrorism's goal but to limit our freedom and force us to do what the terrorists want us to do? We've rounded up or killed hundreds of terrorists. We've freed Iraq. Al Qaeda is on the run in places like Afghanistan. But, have we defeated terrorism in America?... more

Several separate matters crossed the news desk this week, somewhat scatologically on the Southside of Lewisburg's public square. Today's story on statements to be read by county commissioners with conflicts of interest comes with this insight: It's happening elsewhere and has for years... more

A couple of things have popped up that deserve a little sunshine. One is from friends who must remain anonymous. They say there have been inquiries made to people seen as prospective successors … more

CBS has a breakout hit with the new reality show "Secret Boss," in which corporate CEOs go incognito and hobnob with their rank-and-file employees. I think they could have an even bigger success with "Secret Underling," in which a low-level worker (call him Joe Sixpack) disguises himself and infiltrates the executive suite... more

I was reading a piece in the New York Times by Frank Rich. Now, I've heard some hysterical hyperbole regarding the recent threats against congressmen in the wake of ObamaCare passing but Rich takes the cake. He compared the threats to Germany's infamous Kristallnacht. ... more

Now that the health-care reform package has passed, here are 10 misconceptions about it and the furor surrounding it: MYTH: This is only about robbing from the rich and giving to the poor. That philosophy ignores the fact most people are uninsured because of pre-existing conditions. The bill will provide immediate assistance for these patients, and prohibits pre-existing condition exclusion for children immediately. A prohibition on all denials based on pre-existing conditions begins in 2014... more