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Karl Rove has no shame. At the GOP Statesman Dinner last week, he touted the generous, kind hearts of John and Cindy McCain for their adoption of a girl from Africa whom they had brought here originally for medical treatment. Eight years ago, Rove is credited with the South Carolina smear that McCain had fathered a black daughter, later adopted by the family.

What a difference eight years make!

No shame indeed.

Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam, chairman for the TNGOP Statesman's Dinner, says it should be open and he's going to "make some calls."

State Sen. Tim Burchette says it's "about the nearly stupidest think he's ever heard of," adding that they're probably just trying to stir up interest because nobody wants to come to their "boring chicken dinner."

"Ridiculous" says U.S. Rep. Jimmy Duncan, who notes it has always been open to the press, contrary to Hobbs spin that it has traditionally been a closed affair. (Hobbs offered to sell reporters tickets for $500, but everything would have to be off the record.)

The Knoxville News Sentinel has more...

Kleinheider reports that the TNGOP Statesman's Dinner will be closed to the press, and only those with tickets will get to enjoy an evening with Karl Rove.

Sean Braisted explains.

The Donkey’s Mouth:

A routine bill to reauthorize the continued existence of approximately 60 state agencies and departments is now being held hostage by Senate Republicans in the Government Operations Committee. Ramsey says he will not allow the bill to pass unless the state changes the way it elects justices to the Supreme Court in a way that allows Ramsey to appoint activist judges to the panel. "[This bill] is the hammer that I have. I’ll admit that," Ramsey told the Tennessean.

When all you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail. How'd that work out for Newt Gingrich?

By now, everyone is familiar with the TNGOP Chair Robin Smith who stood boldly behind the traditional GOP fear-mongering hitpiece entitled Anti-Semites for Obama which sought to appeal to those well-known GOP allies, fear and bigotry, in asserting

The Tennessee Republican Party today joins a growing chorus of Americans concerned about the future of the nation of Israel, the only stable democracy in the Middle East, if Sen. Barack Hussein Obama is elected president of the United States.

The release, according to Knoxnews.com, "cites Obama's support from Nation of Islam Minister Louis Farrakhan and other controversial figures," and was so offensive that even John McCain repudiated it. Not one to be easily deterred, however,

The Tennessee Republican Party put out their weekly manifesto with the following gem:

It can be guaranteed that the Islamic extremists who monitor our resolve and remain vigilant for opportunities to attack innocent Americans are "hopeful" that Barack Obama will be the next President. Their goal to remove the "filthy bacteria" (according to Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad) of Israel off the face of the earth will be much easier with either of these liberal, leftist Democrats/Progressives in the White House.

Do they have Ted Kaczynski on retainer to help write these things or something?

Every week the Tennessee Republican Party puts out a work of creative fiction to "inform" the party faithful on all the great things the GOP is doing for them. This week's edition talks about the Presidential primaries, noting differences between the parties and highlighting "what's at stake."

Normally these propaganda pieces are good for a chuckle and then they hit the recycle bin. But this one is so full of misdirection, misinformation, and at least one outright lie that I thought I should bring it to your attention in case you weren't aware of what Tennessee Republicans are being spoon fed by their party apparatchik. This is what we are up against...