Tuesday, February 26, 2008

D.C. Liberals have Gus Puryear in their sights


There seems to be a growing and well coordinated effort growing in opposition to Gus Puryear's nomination to a federal judge seat in middle Tennessee.

I clipped this out of the paper a few weeks ago and found it a bit odd, assuming that this was some fringe individual or small group that had some personal grudge and that would be all that would be the small and only ripple in the water.


Then there was this over the weekend...

Puryear faces questions about qualifications, conflicts of interest

By BILL THEOBALD • Tennessean Washington Bureau • February 24, 2008
Senators on the committee were given two weeks to submit additional questions that will be sent to Puryear for written responses.

Puryear, 39, declined to comment on questions about his fitness for the bench while the confirmation process is ongoing, said Steve Owen, spokesman for CCA.


Letters opposing Puryear were sent to the committee by Private Corrections Institute Inc., which opposes prison privatization; the Alliance for Justice, an umbrella group of dozens of national civil rights and other organizations; and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.
Among their arguments: Puryear doesn’t have the proper legal qualifications. Puryear spent less than three years in private practice in Nashville before signing on as counsel for the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs (chaired by then-Sen. Fred Thompson).

Next, he served as legislative director for former Sen. Bill Frist for about three years before becoming general counsel and vice president at CCA in January 2001.



Alex Friedmann is shown outside the Federal Courthouse in Nashville, Tenn., Feb. 19, 2008. Friedmann, who spent six years incarcerated at a Corrections Corporation of America prison in Clifton, Tenn., is conducting a public relations campaign against the nomination of Gus Puryear to become a U.S. district judge for the Middle District of Tennessee. Puryear is a Correction Corporation of America general counsel.

Tennesseans Against Gus Puryear: http://www.againstpuryear.org

It now appears that the forces of labor, former prisoners and anti-prison privatization forces have organized, using their willing lackies in the Judiciary committee to obstruct and deny a qualified, balanced, intelligent, and highly respected Tennessean.
This is a shame and should be fought against, as I had written back in June, believing that his confirmation process would have been a bit smoother.

Here comes the judge...for former Round Table Panelist

Kimberly and I just recently ran into Gus at a recent book-signing of Karlen's reprinted book along with several other of the former Round Table gang.

What good news to read.

Gus consistently articulated a very positive conservative message that was both sound and compelling when he was on the show.

Congratulations Gus....
Gus A Puryear IV, should be supported, by his fellow middle Tennesseans and conservatives in general, in confirmation for a judge in the federal realm.



3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Have you done any research on Gus Puyear? There seem to be some legitimate concerns about him -- such as his lack of courtroom and trial experience (he has only been involved in two trials in his entire legal career).

His comments about the death of a female prisoner at a Nashville jail resulted in a scathing letter from the Tennessee State Medical Examiner last week, and the medical examiner isn't a liberal activist.

Just because Mr. Puryear is a Republican doesn't mean he should get a lifetime judicial appointment if he's not qualified (of course many Dem nominees likely aren't qualified, too).

I suggest you research Mr. Puryear first, before standing up for him. Respect must be earned, not given away freely, so research first and then see if Mr. Puryear earns your respect and support.

www.againstpuryear.org

Anonymous said...

Since they only seem to be going after Puryear, and no other Republican judicial nominees, it looks like this is something specific to Gus's nomination and not generally against Republicans. Might be worth a look-see regarding what issues are raised.

Anonymous said...

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