The Leaf-Chronicle from Clarksville, Tennessee • 7

FRIDAY, NOV. 5, 2010 THE LEAF -CHRONICLE A7 66 Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise OPINION to thereof; assemble, or and abridging to the petition freedom FIRST the of Government AMENDMENT speech, or for TO of a THE the redress press; of CONSTITUTION or the grievances. right OF of THE the UNITED people STATES peaceably OF AMERICA OUR VIEW Bredesen should have waited ere is another example of why in people continue to officials. lose faith government Gov. Phil Bredesen, former Revenue Commissioner Reagan Farr and Community Development Commissioner Matthew Kisber are involved in a new company called Silicon Ranch Corp.

that could promote solar energy investments across the United States. These same three people have spent the past two years in government trying to develop the solar power industry in Tennessee, which cluded economic incentives for businesses. Hemlock Semiconductor LLC is building a plant in Clarksville to manufacture a basic component for solar panels, and Austin Peay State University is helping to train the workforce. Another polycrystalline silicon manufacturer, Wacker Chemie AG, is setting up shop in the state, and the Bredesen administration used $62.4 million in stimulus funds to create the Tennessee Solar Institute. Additionally, the state invested $15 million in a program administered by Pathway Lending, to help Tennessee companies finance investments in energy-efficient technology.

Silicon Ranch is subleasing offices from Pathway. Farr and Pathway's president both told The Tennessean there is no other business relationship between the two other than the lease. Farr, who was one of the state's top two economic development officials, set up Silicon Ranch Corp. in Delaware in August, which is before he resigned from his state job. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the FBI have been investigating the way he handled some business tax cases unrelated to this new business.

Bredesen told The Tennessean he has invested a six-figure amount in Silicon Ranch. Farr said the governor is a playing a passive role in the business and described the investment as seed money to help get the venture off the ground. He also said Bredesen's financial backing was a key factor in deciding to pursue the business. Both Farr and Kisber also told the newspaper that the deal doesn't violate any state laws or ethics rules because Farr is the only employee and not in government anymore. Still, according to corporate records for Silicon Ranch, Bredesen is the company chairman, Kisber its president and Farr the vice chairman and secretary.

While what the three have done is not illegal, the appearance of impropriety is unmistakable. It certainly looks as though they could use contacts developed through their state positions to a launch a new business and doing it while two of them are still working for the government. They do have every right to start a new business, but they should have at least waited until January when they were all in the private sector before. doing something that could be construed as cashing in on their public service. Opinions in this space reflect a consensus of the discussion by The LeafChronicle's Editorial Board.

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Megna with questions at 931-245-0270 or at THE LEAF-CHRONICLE SINCE 1808, TENNESSEE'S OLDEST NEWSPAPER G) GANNEIT THE BUFFALO NEU6 A the VOTERS WISH TO CUT ASK and GOV'T! 00 YE SHALL the G.O.P. HOUSE SENATE DEM. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR This was not the change that Obama promised After the midterm election in 2006 where the Democrats took back control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate after 12 years of Republican rule, I wrote about how it was up to the Democrats to make something happen. Now, just four short years later, the American people have decided that it's again the Republicans they favor. This election was historic because it was the first time since the 1930 midterm election that we saw the House change hands without the Senate following suit.

This follows what most consider an historic presidential election in 2008 when Illinois Sen. Barrack Obama won the presidency. What an exciting two years we have witnessed. As huge of a night as this was, we must not forget the real story here. The Re- publicans did win back the American people, but this election was a referendum on President Obama and his lack of duty in his first two years.

He ran on change and the change we now have is not the change he promised. In most cases, after all is said and done, change is all you're left with, if you're lucky. The Republicans picking up seats in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois (Barrack Obama's old seat), and Missouri are huge and says a lot about the mindset of the American people. The map that we now see, the trend that was set on Nov. 2, 2010.

looks a lot like the map that we saw in 2000 and 2004. If President Obama does not listen to the American people and work with the Republicans in repealing ObamaCare and continuing the Bush tax cuts, 2012 very easily could be a continuance of 2010. BILLY PARRISH CLARKSVILLE 37043 Can't sell what's not wanted EW YORK Two words: NarraN tive, talked endlessly schmarrative. about Democrats the have importance of narrative missing in President Obama's case. We've heard over and over about the lack of smart messaging and the president's failure to communicate.

If only Obama could better express himself, all would be well. Seriously? This is the same president whose soaring rhetoric once sent his ratings into the heavenly realm and who, after assuming office, never stopped expressing himself. For months, he was Talking, talking, talking. Admit it. How many times did you flip on the tube and say, "Omigod, he's talking Several teleprompters had to take early retirement from sheer exhaustion.

Here's a narrative: You can't sell people what they don't want, no matter how mellifluous your pitch. This is the clear message of the midterm elections, and who didn't know? Only Democrats, apparently. They the imperial "they" say that the people weren't voting against the president. Check. Most Americans don't dislike the president, as in the person.

Obama didn't create this dismal economy, and most acknowledge that fact. But voters were clearly casting a ballot against his policies. And no, the tea partiers weren't voting against his pigmentation, as my colleague Eugene Robinson suggested in a recent column. "Take back the country," the popular tea party refrain, doesn't mean reclaim it from "the black man." It means reclaim it from a rogue government. There were so many clues, even the clueless should have seen what was coming.

In February 2009, Obama had an approval rating of 76 percent. Let me repeat that: 76 Few but God poll better. Obviously, one can only go downhill from there, but you can't pin the slide on racism. All those people didn't suddenly realize their president was African-American and become racists. Are there racists in America? Sure.

And some of them show up at tea party rallies. Say what you will about the tea party, and there's plenty to say, but it is fundamentally unfair to say the tea partiers are racist. It is also just plain incorrect to say that opposition to Obama is anti-black. The election was a referendum on policies that are widely viewed as too overreaching and, therefore, ultimately, threatening to individual freedom. It's that simple.

The essential question that voters were EDITORIAL Alane S. Megna SENIOR Teresa COMMUNITY CONVERSATION COMMUNITY Gene Washer Eugene Robinson COLUMNIST Pelosi was not a demon answering was whether government or the When she appears before private sector is better suited to create jobs. the cameras, Pelosi often This is a question on which historians and seems stiff and almost brittle. economists disagree, but it was the crux of In she's warm and enperson, Tuesday's election. At the risk of oversim- gaging also funny, earthy, plifying, the midterm bloodbath was a fight and just plain good company.

over capitalism. She tells a great story. She candidates could properly ar- turns a mean phrase. ColWhether ticulate market arguments was less imporleagues on Capitol Hill almost tant than whether they understood that expanded government means less individual and simply as good a universally describe her freedom. You don't need a doctorate in Key- good boss a nesian theory to get them apples.

person. It was frustrating to hear Obama's declining popularity since his ascendancy is easy Republicans demonize her in enough to graph. The points in his their thunderous planet-realigning dipping public stateapproval ratings correspond to specific ments, then confess privately agenda items, such as the stimulus bill and that they really liked her. Ain't health care reform. Interspersed among politics grand? those major initiatives were red flags the The GOP was only able to size of Chile.

make Pelosi an issue because In November 2009, New Jersey and Vir- she was so effective as speaker. ginia both elected Republican governors Obama came to office with a Chris Christie and Bob McDonnell, respec- long, ambitious agenda. Pelosi tively. These two elections were referen- had a big majority to work dums on Obama's agenda, specifically tied with in the House, but it was to health care. Then in January came Re- ideologically diverse Blue publican Scott Brown in Massachusetts, an- Dogs, progressives, everything other Democratic state, thundering into in between.

Somehow, she the Senate to fill the slot left vacant by Ted managed to deliver. Kennedy's death. I was at the Capitol that day It was less than reassuring to hear House when the House passed the Speaker Nancy Pelosi tell a gathering of landmark health care bill. Tea county officials: "We have to pass the bill so party groups were protesting that you can find out what is in it." Instead of hearing the people's voices, egged on by Republioutside, can members of Congress who Democrats and the White House doubled came out onto a balcony and down and began to demonize the opposifault. Fox led the catcalls.

tion. It was Rush Limbaugh's the problem. John Boehner, to- Pelosi did what was right for News was day the presumptive speaker of the House, the country, and what's right became a target du jour. In an echo of some isn't always what's popular. of the tea party's worst moments, the White Democrats may decide they House advanced the them-versus-us need a less- figure as mantra.

minority leader; if they do, They're the problem. Except, alas, "they" well, that's politics. But I'd love were The People. And their voices were be- to see her stay in the Democing ignored. For better or worse, our system ratic leadership and I'm betof governance doesn't include a monarchy.

ting that eventually she'd find Obama didn't need to be a better com- a way to take back the gavel municator. He needed to be a better lis- that she pounds with such tener. End of story. righteous authority. Kathleen Parker Eugene Robinson Washington Post columnist Washington Post columnist TASHINGTON LosW ing elections is hazard an oc- for cupational politicians, so there's no need to get all weepy about the Democratic officeholders who suddenly find themselves with more time to spend with their families.

President Obama still has the ability to set the nation's agenda and also the power of the veto, in case of emergency. Harry Reid is still Senate majority leader. As for John Boehner, he'll soon learn that his new job requires a more extensive vocabulary than "no." But amid the wreckage of Tuesday's GOP rampage, there's one person for whom I feel awful: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. She's losing her job not because she does it poorly but because she does it SO well. I regret that the nation has never come to know the actual Nancy Pelosi.

Most Americans are probably familiar only with the caricature that her political opponents sketched the effete "San Francisco liberal." That's not the Nancy Pelosi known to anyone who has ever met her. While the term "San Francisco liberal" is accurate, it's also true that she grew up and learned the rough-andtumble of politics in gritty Baltimore. Her father, Tommy D'Alesandro, was a legendary "Charm City" mayor and political boss. Her education in how to count votes, and keep them counted, began at a young age. Kathleen Parker COLUMNIST BOARD Richard V.

Stevens Owen EXECUTIVE MEMBER ACTING GENERAL MANAGER PUBLISHER EMERITUS PRINCIPLES OF ETHICAL CONDUCT Seeking and reporting the truth in a truthful way Serving the public interest Exercising fair play Maintaining independence Acting with integrity.