According to my friend and our 14th District State Representative Parkey Strader (pictured here) the word in Nashville today is that there will be another Democrat defection from the party of Bob Tuke and Howard Dean.

Why can’t we get a member of the Tennessee Republican Party to challenge Governor Phil Bredesen? It is obvious the members of his own party are so thrilled with their Governor that they are checking out.

Hamilton County Commissioner Curtis Adams left the Democrat party in March of 2005. Several Democrats were indicted in the Tennessee Waltz investigation, State Senator Don McLeary on Thursday 2/2/2006 joined the Republican Party. Giving the Republicans a 18-15 majority.

On the Ophelia Ford issue, Republican State Senator Don McLeary on Thursday said “The ballot box is the backbone of our democratic society, and if we cannot run it right, then I felt we needed a new election,”

On his decision to become a Republican McLeary said “The decision that I have made has been hard, but one my heart tells me is right,”

With another defection the Republican majority will gain a 19-14 majority.

Even Knox County Democrat Chairman Jim Gray is encouraging the members of the Knox County Democrat Party to vote Republican, as reported here.