Memphis remains one of the most dangerous cities in the country. Between rampant violent and deadly crime on the streets, catch and release policies embraced by the local District Attorney and soft on crime judges, and city leaders more focused on screaming about Trump and the Tennessee legislature rather than focusing on solving the cultural, economic and education disaster they have produced after decades of Democrat Party rule, nothing seems to improve regarding community safety.
But now Memphis seems to have found the secret sauce to make Memphis safer! Just in time for Pride month, celebrating the LGBTQ community in Memphis, the police department rolls out a pink squad car. You can’t make up this kind of crazy woke derangement!
The MPD police car was reportedly originally wrapped in pink through a community partnership with the West Clinic and UT/West Institute for Cancer Research to support breast cancer awareness. It just “happened” to be photographed at the Memphis Pride festival. Riiight. Just an “amazing” coincidence.
In any case, it was clearly rolled out as part of a political agenda, not to make Memphis safer. Should Memphis cops be armed with pink or rainbow colored Glocks next?
OVERTON COUNTY STRAW POLL RESULTS. With only two months until primary election day on August 6, every snippet of information about where various Republican battles sit is important, from crowd size, to fundraising reports, to legitimate political polling and even straw polls. Early in the campaigning process, every straw poll at GOP political events across the state were breathlessly reported by whoever happened to prevail as an indication of momentum and insight into the ultimate result. There haven’t been as many straw polls lately, and campaigns have been less reluctant to buy numerous tables in order to tweak them in their favor. But Overton County Republicans gathered Saturday night in Livingston and conducted a straw poll to measure support in the Governor’s race and 6th Congressional district contest to replace incumbent Congressman John Rose.
Rose, along with his wife Chelsea, appeared at both the Reagan Dinner in Overton County and the one in Cumberland County scheduled for the same night. Marsha Blackburn was not at either event; and Monty Fritts chose to attend a similar dinner in his home county of Roane County in East Tennessee.
6th District candidates Van Hlleary, Johnny Garrett, and Natisha Brooks spoke at both events, while Jon Henry worked Cumberland County and was represented by his wife at Overton.
In the Governor’s race, Rose won handily with 128 votes, to 41 for Blackburn and 35 for Fritts.
In the 6th District, Henry prevailed with 68 votes, narrowly outpacing Hilleary who received 66. Garrett got 53 votes and Brooks 18.
There were reportedly numerous attendees from other counties at the Overton County event, including those from Smith, Putnam and other Upper Cumberland counties.
Early voting in these races begins in mid July, so real numbers will be tallied soon. In the 6th District, Garrett has already launched tv and radio ads and Hilleary is expected to hit the airwaves this week. Henry and Brooks are unlikely to be able to fund any significant media efforts over the next two months.
In the Governor’s race, Rose has been airing tv ads the last several weeks. Blackburn, and her supportive PACs, will likely weigh in shortly. Fritts is not expected to mount a serious media effort leading to the August 6 primary.
Steve Gill is editor and publisher of TriStar Daily.
