By Brandon Lewis [Founder of The Tennessee Conservative] –
Until I was 13, I lived in a single-wide trailer off Rural Route 5 about fifty feet from my Maw Maw and Paw Paw’s house.
Often, when I’d come in the screen door, I’d find Maw Maw hunched over a piece of notebook paper, feverishly writing letters to kin folk in her neat, flowing script.
Her hands, gnarled with arthritis, would painstakingly form every letter. She sat at their simple aluminum dinner table, papers neatly stacked and arranged for correspondence.
She did not have a telephone or air conditioning – and did not desire either. She did not like TV, a trait I inherited.
Letters came and went, mainly from Aunts Glady, Noma, June and occasionally Uncle Cloise.
She took writing to people seriously and disliked being interrupted while doing it.
It has been some time since I’ve written to you – and frankly I feel guilty about it.
Granted, I spend a lot of time working on the Tennessee Conservative… recording the podcasts, replying to the emails and keeping the ship afloat.
However, this is my favorite form of communication. And yet, it is incredibly time consuming.
In the winter, I burn the candle at both ends.
As you may know, I coach painting contractors for a living. When they are slow, I am busy. Frantically so.
There is a scene in the movie, Uncle Buck, where he is explaining, in a moment of conscientious struggle, that his entire living is riding on a wager he needs to place at the race track… having been tipped off by an unscrupulous stable hand about a sure bet.
In a way, like Uncle Buck, my year – and income – depends upon how I handle the execution of my business during the winter months.
On top of this, the legislature meets smack-dab in the middle of my busy season. It’s our job at the Tennessee Conservative to keep you informed about what’s going on there from a Conservative perspective… and we are the only news organization that does it.
So, I must mind the mill… often to the neglect of other things.
One of those things has been writing to you. Please accept my apologies.
So, here, in brief, is what’s on my mind…
#1 – The Upcoming Legislative Session
I must admit, after the past two years of reporting on what’s going on in Nashville, I’m not optimistic about this session.
Many of the problems we are dealing with in Tennessee, like illegal immigration, the mutilation of kids, social media censorship and our poor performing schools, all had solutions submitted last year.
All were killed by RINOs and TNGOP leadership offered no assistance to usher them through the process.
Bad bills are already being submitted to make illegal immigration easier in Tennessee, just like the one sponsored by Sen. Shane Reeves last year giving illegals professional licenses. GOP leadership gave full throated support to this bill and passed it last year. Gov. Lee signed it into law.
One bad bill has already been submitted by Rep. Dale Carr to make it easier for illegals to replace native workers in Tennessee. So far, it has no Senate sponsor.
Our publication was admonished by the GOP caucus press staffer for even informing you of this. They act as if we can’t read the bills to interpret their effects.
At the heart of all this is a massive conflict of interest is the TNGOP.
All the money comes from the left, all the votes come from Conservatives. When push comes to shove, the money wins – against your interest.
Jason, who has slaved over the Follow the Money Report, has just sent me the draft version. It has taken countless hours and several months to put this together and I hope to get it to you within the next few weeks.
In this report, we’ll tell you who owes whom. By learning this, it may become clearer to you why elected officials say one thing yet do another.
#2 – Fielding Conservative Candidates
In the last election cycle, I was encouraged to see a few RINOs sent packing at the hands of more Conservative candidates in Tennessee. However, the same Chamber-of-Commerce leadership remains… beholden to special interests, unlikely to move a Conservative agenda.
Many Conservatives came very close to winning, but fell short. This was, in large part, because of a lack of experience, guidance and quality political vendors.
This is something I plan on rectifying for those who are interested.
In the late spring or early summer, it is my intention to put on a Conservative Candidates Academy. Running for office is NOT something you do a few months ahead of time.
The earlier you start, the better off you’ll be.
It’s not something to do based upon your own personal inclinations.
No, running for office is a technical, programmatic process that requires experience – if you hope to win.
It is my sincere belief that we can easily put 3X the Conservatives in office during the next election cycle with solid coaching, support and tactics.
Stay tuned for that…
#3 – The Christmas Season
Since my kids are young, Christmas is an all-out affair. Our house is bustling with last minute decorating and preparing for three big events at the Lewis household.
We are the type of people who put up our decorations late – and leave them up long past the socially acceptable time.
We stay home on Christmas day and have extended family over the day after. On New Year’s, we are hosting our closest friends from out of state… so it will be a flop fest. Kids will be running wild everywhere.
Eggnog will be necessary.
I hope you and your family have a splendid time.
#4 – Our Year End Campaign
In the next day or so, you may get a text message from me, asking you to support our year-end campaign.
For the most part, that money goes towards supporting our paid staff and writers here at the Tennessee Conservative. Though I have sunk a small fortune into this publication, I have yet to take a penny from it.
So, rest assured your money goes direct to the source where it is needed most.
Only 4% of our readers give… we are sustained by the “Thin Red Line” of patriots in TN who care about state and local government.
And I thank God for them.
Please, if you can, click here and put something in our Christmas stocking.
It need not be a fortune, but we’d use it if you sent it!
THANK YOU to our monthly supporters. I wish I could hug every one of you!
#5 – “Wasting” Time
In the hustle and bustle of this time of year, I think it’s nice to get caught up in pleasant distractions…
Wrestling with the kids.
Watching a perfectly tended fire.
Cuddling with your spouse.
Enjoying a meal with a friend.
Reading a good book.
Presently, I’m devouring the “Horatio Hornblower” series… a fictional account of a conflicted yet heroic figure during the golden age of Britain’s naval superiority around colonial times.
It’s fantastic and I highly recommend it.
#6 – Getting Back at It
My to-do list awaits my attention – and I must get back to “work.”
If, in the coming weeks, you do not get a letter from me – think nothing of it.
It’s not from a lack of interest as I have stated previously…
Readers will occasionally send me back emails that say… “Your emails are too long. No one will read all that!”
To which I reply, “I don’t write them for the people who do not read them. I write them for the people who do!”
You are, apparently, one of those people.
God Bless You!
Merry Christmas!
Yours Truly…
Brandon
