It's the weekend! No topics for today.
Check out the top 10 topics from last week.
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Gingrich to Pelosi: 'put up or shut up'
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Newt Gingrich is telling Nancy Pelosi to “put up or shut up” about this dark secret she hints that she knows that will keep Gingrich from being elected President. Pelosi told CNN’s John King that a Gingrich presidency will “never happen.” Asked how she could be so confident, Pelosi said, without further explanation: “There’s something I know.” Gingrich challenged Mrs. Pelosi to “put up or shut up” and added, “I have no idea what she’s talking about, I don’t think she has any idea what she’s talking about. But bring it on.”
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 Washington Times: Gingrich: Pelosi comments ‘hysterical’
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Ron Paul looks to caucus states
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Ron Paul will now turn more of his attention to some of the smaller caucus states as he hunts for delegates in order to have a seat at the table at the GOP convention. Paul does not plan to actively campaign in Florida, although he will participate in two Florida debates this week – tonight and Thursday. Over the next two weeks, Paul will invest in caucuses in Nevada on Feb. 4; in Maine from Feb. 4 to 11; and in Colorado and Minnesota on Feb. 7. With visits slated to those states and paid media targeted to them, Paul has made clear he will focus on galvanizing his younger, more independent-minded base for the lower-turnout affairs. Paul advisers also believe that the candidate’s anti-war, non-interventionist message on foreign policy will play better in the Plains and the Mountain West than in the South.
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politico.com: South Carolina primary speech: Ron Paul turns to caucuses
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U.S. military rescue hostages from Samali kidnappers
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U.S. military forces sent helicopters into Somalia in a nighttime raid Tuesday and freed two hostages, an American and a Dane, while killing nine kidnappers, U.S. officials confirm. American Jessica Buchanan, 32, and Dane Poul Hagan Thisted, 60, had been working with a de-mining unit of the Danish Refugee Council when they were kidnapped in October. The raid was conducted by a joint team overseen by Africa Command involving Special Operations forces, including Navy SEAL Team Six, the same unit -- though not the exact same individuals -- that killed Usama bin Laden in May, a senior U.S. military source told Fox News. President Obama authorized the operation on Monday and military commanders finalized the raid on Tuesday. U.S. officials believe the two aid workers were kidnapped by criminals -- not by Somalia's al Qaeda-linked militant group al-Shabaab. The story is - as large ships at sea have increased their defenses against pirate attacks, kidnappers have looked for other money making opportunities on land. Several hostages are still being held in Somalia, including a British tourist and two Spanish doctors seized from neighboring Kenya, and an American journalist kidnapped on Saturday.
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Fox News: US military raid frees American, Dane held hostage in Somalia
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Fed to keep rates low through 2014
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Federal Reserve officials said they expect to keep short-term interest rates near zero for almost three more years and signaled they could restart a controversial bond-buying program in yet another campaign to rev up the disappointing economic recovery. The central bank's pronouncements came after a two-day policy meeting from which officials emerged still frustrated at the slow pace of growth and a bit more confident that inflation is settling down after climbing last year. Officials hope that by signaling their intentions on short-term interest rates, long-term rates will fall, spurring investment, spending and growth. [That’s what Japan thought too, and their steadfast application of that “hope” kept the Japanese Nikkei index on a downhill track for from 1990 to 2003 – when the index dropped steadily nearly 40,000 to about 8,000].
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Wall Street Journal: Fed Sees Low Rates to 2014
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Taxpayers owed $133 billion from bailouts
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U.S. taxpayers are still owed $133 billion that companies haven't repaid from the financial bailout, and some of that will never be recovered. The bailout launched at the height of the financial crisis in September 2008 will continue to exist for years, according a report issued Thursday by Christy Romero, the acting special inspector general for the $700 billion TARP program. Some bailout programs, such as the effort to help homeowners avoid foreclosure by reducing mortgage payments, will last as late as 2017, costing the government an additional $51 billion or so. Investor doubt about the profitability of the bailed out companies has stifled the Treasury Department's efforts to sell off its stakes in 458 bailed-out companies, the report says - include AIG and General Motors. To break even on GM, the Treasury will have to wait for the stock to rise to nearly $54 a share. It closed Wednesday at $24.92. Congress authorized $700 billion for the bailout of financial companies and automakers, and $413.4 billion was paid out. So far the government has recovered about $318 billion.
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Fox News: Taxpayers still owed $132.9B from bailout: report
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King: Gingrich lied
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CNN’s John King says Gingrich didn’t tell the truth in his answer to King’s first question in the South Carolina debate – about offering witnesses to ABC to refute the claims of his ex-wife that he sought an open marriage. King reported last night, "Tonight, after persistent questioning by our staff, the Gingrich campaign concedes now Speaker Gingrich was wrong — both in his debate answer, and in our interview yesterday. Gingrich spokesman R.C. Hammond says the only people the Gingrich campaign offered to ABC were his two daughters from his first marriage."
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politico.com: Gingrich admits ABC claim was false
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TN Dems host Latino 'summit' to blast GOP
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Tennessee’s Democrat Party gathered an audience of about 100 people Saturday to listen to President Obama’s national political director make the case to Latino’s that Republicans are their enemies. Katherine Archuleta described opposition to the Dream Act as an “extremist view” that “demonizes” immigrants. Adam Nickas, executive director of the Tennessee Republican Party, questioned why the president would send Archuleta to Nashville. “I think Latino voters are more concerned about how they are going to put food on the table for their families and where they’re going to get their next paycheck than they are with electing President Obama to another term, which is what he only seems concerned about,” he said.
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The Tennessean: Latino Democrats at TN summit blast 'extremist' GOP views
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Romney signals sharper attacks against Gingrich
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Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney is signaling that he is ready to sharpen his attacks on former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, saying on Sunday that his rival is unsuited to be the party's nominee, because he “spent 40 years in Washington as a congressman and a lobbyist." Romney also suggested he would go after Gingrich on character, saying "character is a big part of leadership, as are vision, sobriety and steadiness." In that vein Romney called on Gingrich to release the report containing his advice to Freddie Mac, and to release more details of his ethics investigation in the 1990s, which resulted in a $300,000 fine. An extensive report came out at the time, but Mr. Romney has suggested additional information has been kept private.
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Wall Street Journal: Romney Signals Sharper Attacks on Gingrich
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Ralph Rant: SRLC fails to deliver
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I wouldn’t say my trip to South Carolina was a complete bust, but it did not meet my expectations - nor those of the candidates for president, two of which cancelled appearances to the Southern Republican Leadership Conference due to poor attentance.
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Ralphbristol.com: South Carolina in the rear view mirror
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Romney to release tax returns
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Calling it a big distraction for his campaign, Mitt Romney said Sunday that he will release his 2010 tax returns this week, along with an estimate of his 2011 returns, to try to put the issue behind him. Newt Gingrich, who released his own returns on Thursday, said he was satisfied with Romney's agreement to release 2010 return and 2011 estimates. That doesn’t necessarily mean the issue won’t come back later, but it seems to have satisfied the opponent who has made the most of it up until now.
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Fox News: Romney to release 2010 tax returns this week
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Rep. Joe Carr discusses Haslam agenda
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Jan. 11, 2012 - Rep. Joe Carr discusses the tax and education elements in Gov. Bill Haslam's 2012 legislative agenda.
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Ralph Rant: GOP should make a tax deal
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Jan. 25, 2012 - Here's my idea of a good tax deal the GOP should try to make with Obama.
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Newt Gingrich vision speech
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Jan. 26, 2012 - My segment-by-segment presentation and mini-analysis of the speech Newt Gingrich delivered after his victory in the South Carolia primary.
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Mitt Romney's vision speech
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Jan. 23, 2012 - This is a segment-by-segment presentation and mini-analysis of the speech Mitt Romney delivered following his second place finish in the South Carolina primary.
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Ron Paul's vision speech
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Jan. 24, 2012 - A multi-segment breakdown and my mini analysis of Ron Paul's vision speech, delivered on the night of the South Carolina primary.
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Rick Santorum's vision speech
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July 25, 2012 - This is a segment-by-segment breakdown of Rich Santorum's speech after his 3rd place finish in South Carolina.
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Cunningham, Stites, discuss hot Metro issues
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Jan. 17, 2011 - Taxi laws, backyard chickens and picking winners and losers with taxes - all hot topics for Nashville Tea Party Founder Ben Cunningman and District 13 Metro Councilman Josh Stites.
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DeMint: Now or Never
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Jan. 13, 2012 - Sen. Jim DeMint discusses his game plan to help you save the country from economic collapse.
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Beacon Center unveils new Laffer study on TN estate tax
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Dec. 8, 2011 - Here's some great information on the economic damage done by Tennessee's state estate tax.
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Join estate tax support group
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Dec. 12, 2008 - I'm not sure that's the right name for the group, but if you have a personal problem with Tennessee's state estate tax, listen to this and contact me asap.
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Ralph and Tim sing Blue Christmas
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Nov. 22, 2011 - Oh sure, it's torture, but it's only 60 seconds, and then it stops.
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Ralph Rant - Bipartisan debt solution impossible
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Nov. 28, 2011 - Those who claim partisanship is stalling a solution to the debt crisis have it exactly wrong.
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Desjarlais comments on Supercommittee failure
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Nov. 22, 2011 - Cong. Scott Desjarlais continues to display his Tea Party stripes in his contrarian view of the supercommittee failure.
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Corker and I disagree on Supercommittee
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Nov. 18th, 2011 - Sen. Bob Corker and I disagree about the failure of the Supercommittee...and we discuss other things too.
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If not Obamacare, what?
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Nov. 16, 2011 - I've outdone myself - an alternative to Obamacare and good tax reform with one stone.
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My friend, the flip-flopper
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Nov.16th, 2011 - Rep. Joe Carr of Lascassas, TN explains why he now opposes the school voucher bill.
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Rest in Peace, Fred Kielkopf
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Nov. 14, 2011 - My tribute to an uncommon "common man."
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The Clean Tax plan
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Nov. 7, 2011 - Forget "flat." No one has ever proposed a real flat tax anyway. Forget "fair." You can't slay all the necessary dragons to get from a progressive income tax to a flat or flatter sales tax, but you can so something nearly as good. You can find bipartisan support right now for a Clean Tax.
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EXCLUSIVE: Tim Ross's near death experience
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Oct. 26, 2011 - News and weather guy Tim Ross returns to Nashville's Morning News and gives us previously undisclosed details of his bike accident, that would almost certainly have killed him but for one thing.
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Ralph Rant: S&P downgrade a political move
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Aug 8, 2011 - S&P cited political gridlock when they downgraded U.S. debt, but the timing and reasoning is suspicious at best.
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Heritage scholar discusses debt downgrade
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Aug. 8, 2011 - Heritage Foundation Senior Fellor J.D. Foster discusses the S&P downgrade of U.S. debt.
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DeMint discusses the Great American Wakening
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Aug 4, 2011 - Sen. Jim DeMint rightly acknowledges I taught him everything he knows, then discusses The Great American Wakening - and some current fights over spending.
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Ralph Rant: Obama dons 'centrist' costume
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July 12, 2011 - Republican negotiators need to recognize President Obama's 'centrist' disguise for what it is, reset both the clock and the bar for raising the debt ceiling.
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Tamny on govt meddling with CPI
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July 8, 2011 - John Tamny, editor of realclearmarkets.com, discusses the plan to dicker with cost of living numbers to shrink the deficit.
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Redistributing Wealth - Destroying peace and prosperity
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June 17, 2011 - This is the raw studio audio from our special presentation on the societal problems associated with government redistribution of wealth. It runs approximately one hour.
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Sen. Rand Paul would means test entitlements
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Feb. 24, 2011 - Sen. Rand Paul tells us he would means test entitlements in order to cut spending and balance the budget.
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Click here to see view the albums in Ralph's photo gallery.
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Music City Honor Flight
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Learn more about Honor Flight, which provides free trips to Washington D.C. to WWII Vets to see the WWII Memorial. The site includes a link to make a donation online, or address to send a check to help with the cause.
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This is Honor Flight
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This video will fully explain my affinity for Honor Flight. Have a tissue handy.
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Accurate Mortgage
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Accurate Mortgage sponsors Nashville's Morning News and helped me refinance my mortgage. Ph: (615) 833-0456 or click on the link. Mike, Joe and the gang will take good care of you.
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Assisted Senior Benefits
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This private company helps veterans who served during a foreign war - and their spousees - access a little-known, but significan benefit - up to $2,000 - to help with long-term care assistance. PH (615) 724-1888.
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Cool Springs Ear, Nose, Throat and Allergy
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For a hearing problem, allergies, sleep disorders or any problems with you ears, nose or throat, call my friends at Cool Spring ENT. (615) 739-6646
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Huffines Dental Excellence
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Need a dentist? Call mine. Dr. Ricky Huffines and his wonderful staff can take care of all of your dental needs. Ph (615)815-1559 or click on the link.
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Liquidation Outlet
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For bargain basement prices on general merchandise, visit Liquidation outlet in Murfreesboro at 1020 West College Street.
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Myers Plumbing, Heating & Cooling
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This Nashville family owned business since 1977 is now servicing some of the grandchildren of their original customers. Myers has been a BBB accredited business since 1989 and receives an A+ rating from the BBB. You can depend on Myers for fair pricing and excellent service, whether you need plumbing, heating or AC service.
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Mr. B's Air Duct Cleaning
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If you need your air ducts cleaned, call Mr. B's Air Duct Cleaning. Warren and his crew will do a great job - or you pay nothing! Call (615) 244-1785.
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Pilotjourney.com
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Click here to view a video of my Discovery Flight experience from Pilotjourney.com
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Vintage Construction
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Vintage Construction offers foundation repair, and solutions water problems and mold in homes. Visit the sites to see the 12 Early Warning Signs of a structure in distress.
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 Ralph Bristol is a 30-year veteran of radio and TV broadcasting. He is a US Air Force veteran and holds a BS degree from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. Ralph was a radio and TV reporter, anchor and news director in Missouri and Illinois before joining WORD Radio in Greenville/Spartanburg, SC in 1995.
In the spring of 2007, Supertalk 99.7 WWTN beckoned Ralph to Nashville. Ralph defies political labels, and has no partisan loyalties, but can best be described as a libertarian/conservative. Ralph writes and speaks extensively on education, tax and economic issues. In his spare time, Ralph terrorizes golf courses, invents useful things with sharp tools and dead wood, and entertains audiences with irreverent humor and contrarian insight. Invite him to speak to your group at your own risk. |
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