I don’t really understand how Haslam’s finances are tied up in Pilot at the moment and I don’t know under what conditions Meador can sue, but, man, nothing would make me happier at this point than to see a sign on the Centennial Boulevard Pilot that said “X cents of this gallon of gas goes to paying this tax, Y cents goes to paying that tax, Z cents goes to Jonathan Meador.” And then, maybe there would be a really comfy chair right out front of the gas station that Meador could come by and sit in whenever he wanted.
I don’t know.
I thought it was bad enough that Governor Haslam is still putting forth his “We had to arrest the protestors in order to protect the protestors” nonsense. I mean, my god, we have an economy that depends heavily on the tourism industry and Haslam’s acting like the homeless people in Nashville are so ferocious and powerful that the THP is powerless to protect people from them. Great. Just great. And when word of that starts to trickle out to vacationers, I’m sure it won’t hurt Nashville at all for people to take away from all this that we have a terrible problem with super-criminal homeless people.
What kind of governor would tell the world that the police can’t control crime in the state capitol?
Jesus Christ.
But then, then there’s Bill Gibbons, who is still insisting that, after watching the video of Jonathan Meador’s arrest, he thinks the arrest was justified. Like a commenter at Pith said, it’s like a little kid getting caught doing something wrong and then trying to lie so big that he wins. Does Gibbons not understand that the video is widely available? Does he not know that we can all hear the police talking about charging Meador with resisting arrest, not with being drunk?
Is Gibbons a fool or does he think we are?
Tiny Cat Pants 
In answer to your last question: Both.
Someone tweeted earlier that they wanted media to prove that there’s actually an increase in human [waste] at Legislative Plaza. I wanted to respond, “Certainly! Most of it is walking around on two legs, wearing a suit and tie and getting a taxpayer-funded salary.”
I do suspect, very strongly, that Haslam’s never really had to answer for anything he’s done, good or bad, and just bopped along through life letting others handle his messes. And here’s one result of that.
If you want to find turds, look in the Legislature, not in the Plaza.
Gibbons is playing good soldier, I expect. Do you expect him to contradict the offical story coming out of the Governor’s office?
Last time I checked, Gibbons (along with every other Commissioner in this state) serves at the pleasure of the Governor, because Tennessee is so averse to little-d democratic principles that there is only one statewide elected office.
Don’t expect anything in the way of independence from these people.
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Is Gibbons a fool or does he think we are?
Funny, I’ve said the exact same thing about Bill Haslam on more than one occasion.
No, here’s the deal: it’s classic Republican doubling-down. When all evidence points to you being colossally wrong, don’t apologize or change course: reach for the super glue and stick to your position harder.
I think it’s in that Republican loyalty oath they all have to take.
I’m going with Gibbons thinks we’re fools. Isn’t this also the guy who has troopers drive him from Nashville to Memphis and back again each week so he can continue to live in Memphis and work here? He obviously doesn’t care about wasting taxpayer money by way of ordering his troopers to do wasteful (or unconstitutional) jobs; he must just think we’re too stupid to realize what’s going on.
He obviously thinks we’re fools, if he expects us to swallow his bullsh*t. But this is the Republican way…trample all over people and then act like it’s their own fault for being repressed.
Andy,
I don’t know the specific histories of all the offices but Tennessee’s Constitution has been shaped over the years to move more and more power to the legislature.
After Winfield Dunn’s upset win of the Governorship in 1970 through Alexander’s decisive victory in 78, the Democratic controlled Legislature consolidated a number of appointment powers in their hands. In particular they passed the Tennessee Plan which created the Judicial Selection Commission to limit Gubernatorial appointments to the Courts to choices from a Legislature-dominated committee.
The old Public Service Commission which was elected by statewide vote was abolished under Sundquist because the PSC had become hopelessly corrupt.
Today it is conservative Republicans who want an elected Attorney General and elected judges.