Loosing Vaughn was a true loss for KPT all around. If you a middle class individual trying to earn an honest wage, Vaughn fought for you.
Despite what has happened in the election process, we all have to put on our big boy/girl britches and hope that Shipley can offer more of the same or if something different, something better. It's much easier to slander the other side then to learn what makes you different and try to appreciate that those differences is what makes America great regardless of your partisanship.
On a personal note - I do hope he makes a comeback. If not, I hope that Shipley can represent us in the best possible way.

What is with people putting "conservative Republican" in quotes when they talk about me? I didn't know that the GOP was a totalitarian institution in which everyone has to agree on everything! I didn't know that you had to vote with the party even if you think that their campaign strategy and tactics were shameful. If I had lived in Rep. Foley's district in Florida and I had voted for a Democrat after Foley was caught trying to be a kiddie fiddler, would I have been a "RINO" then? Nathan Vaughn was a very good representative for this district. He was a great member of the BMA and he was an effective state legislator. He was pro-life, despite what people seem to say about him on here. He bucked the Dems on many occasions, which caused him a great deal of flak in the caucus room. To get on here and act like he is some far-left whackjob along the lines of Henry Waxman or Maxine Waters is intellectually dishonest. And that is true. As I said during the campaign. Nathan Vaughn is the only Democrat I ever voted for, and I would be proud to vote for him again. If you want to question my values or my partisan allegiance, feel free to do so. You can go through my comments about the bailout and President Obama if you want. I imagine that you won't, though, because the pro-Shipley folks only seem to want to pull out a chunk here and a chunk there, rather than examining the whole record.

Tennessee is a non-union supporting state. NV scored very low on the TN Chamber scorecard for pro-business legislation. Union states are losing jobs, while TN right to work state is gaining jobs. Such companies as Eastman and Domtar employees do just fine without unions. The voters had their say... good riddance for sure. Enough is enough.

GASP! Posed for pictures with union members?! Ghastly! Supports labor unions? Unbelievable! Unions? They represent WORKERS, for crying out loud! What was he thinking? Union members are the LOWER class! They are not rich. They have no power. They are merely the worker bees. No wonder Mr. Vaughn was bested. Lordy mercy me. Union supporter! AND a Democrat. And he made no headway in a Republican state during his tenure. What a shame! You sure can tell by the posters here they aren't prejudiced. They don't have a racist bone in their collective body. Whew. Good riddance to bad rubbish, my sainted grandma used to say. Whatever that means.

So, "birds of a feather" flocked together once again in Kingsport! Just another reminder to 2nd District citizens that Vaughn IS a DEMOCRAT! Looks like a campaign kickoff to me. With 'friends' like DEM Odum, Vaughn should be thinking 'who needs enemies'?! Odum is the one who convinced Republican Williams to betray his party and side with the Democrats to minimize the Republican Majority in the House. Now, Williams cannot be trusted by either party and is a 'man without a party'. Also, more whining from Vaughn--always the victim. I recall reading about him sueing the AAU while on the Kpt BMA...just because he felt he had been mistreated! The truth may hurt, but he can thank his bird-friend DEM Yokley for posting their union-rally photos on his website with him and other bird-friend DEM Litz! Point of the matter...Vaughn IS pro-union, Vaughn DID have a union-rally, and Vaughn DID receive union campaign contributions! These are all verifiable FACTS. What about the lies calling my Rep. 'pro-abortionist Mumpower' on the website the Dems put up on the internet a couple of years ago?! He didn't SUE anyone--just had the pack of LIES taken down. What about the TRASH the Dems loaded up on the internet about Representative Shipley?! He didn't SUE anyone, nor have I seen him in the paper whining about the mistreatment of him or his family. In following Representative Shipley, I see that his constituent service and legislation is that of a STATESMAN, not a Politician. He has already initiated more substantive legislation than NV did in 6 years! Solving REAL problems! I'm sure he'll be happy to stand accountable for his record, unlike NV who never defended his voting record--just cried foul play
"racism,negative campaigning"! Democrat state party chair Forrester has vowed to attack and beat all Republicans in 2010!! "Conservative Republicans" like Brown ("rinos") need to pay very close attention and stand with the principles of the Republican party for TN, and not let the Dems 'DUPE' you again!!

If all these who have posted on this story are from Kingsport and Sullivan County people its easy to see who elected the Mayor of Kingsport and Sullivan County.
LIKE attract Like.

I believe Mr. Taylor was responding to a question from me. I understood it perfectly.

What in the world are you talking about, Eric? It's almost like Vaughn sits you down in front of the computer and just tells you to start typing and click post every 20 minutes or so regardless of what it says or how much sense it makes.

People in general do not like what they don't understand. So instead of researching and learning for themselves, its alot easier just to say "GOD DID IT" and snipe at those who do not agree with them, regardless of what "god" may think of it.

Mr. Taylor, what on earth did you ever do to deserve that psycho? Never seen so much hatred and bile spewed in one place by one person. And these holier than the Pope-ers who post faux pious comments here and then call others names need a reality check. Evidently, even when they post comments they don't read them later and discover just how absurd they sound. No, THEY are not racists. Some of their best friends are black. They're just good ol' conservative republicans who have high IQ's - and it shows.

Invaded? What are you going on about now? Stop letting other people post comments under your screen name. Lying is a sin too, ya know.

Oops correction: "oh she never left, and damned anyone not of her religious/political bend."

Emily the reason we all assume you are someone else if you use the exact same phrases and words of another that was once on here... daily...hourly... oh she never left and damned not of her religious/political bend.

Personal attacks? That was a generalization of the thought processes that are posted here. And what's my party? Your history of comments tells your own tale, Mud.

Here we go again, Eric Taylor and his personal attacks on the people of east Tennessee. This just goes to show the character of himself and his party. Shame!!

You're right, Eric. I don't have an IQ of 54. It's much higher than that. And yes, I am proud of it. Thanks for noticing. Good hearing from you today. Anymore personal attacks? How about calling me a racist? That's what your boy seems to love to do. I bet if I voted for him I would feel so much better about myself... I missed my chance with Obama, but it may not be too late.

Some of these comments are hilarious. Ah, good ole East Tennessee redneck republicans...we may not have an IQ of 54, but by god we are proud of it! Thats enough Doris.

Didn't we just get done with an election cycle? Why is Nathan trying to start it up again already? It just doesn't make sense. If racism is alive and well, then why did this same area elect him three different times before deciding to go a different direction? The fact of the matter is Nathan lost. I, for one, am tired of him continuing to insult my neighbors and I for insinuating we're a bunch of racists for sending him home. Obviously Nathan didn't come right out and say it, but I can sure hear the drum beat to the march deep inside all of this rhetoric. Tony Shipley is just the better man for the job. Nathan, I voted for you three times. This time I voted for Tony. Am I a racist? He's already doing great work - things you would have never even thought about. And Richard Brown, being the "conservative Republican" that you are, I would challenge you to sit down with Rep. Shipley, hear out his legislative agenda and his political philosophy and see if you still wouldn't support him. As a true "conversative Republican," I'm sure you'd be pretty intrigued to hear what the man has to say. I bet he'd love to have coffee with you should you desire to contact him. Might as well be fully informed about your candidates, right?

Oh, and to those who don't think Shipley's people played dirty try this one. I saw a woman holding a Shipley sign walk over to another gentleman wearing an Obama button and right in his face said, "If you support him you're a Baby Killer." I'm sure she was commended as a godly courageous woman instead of the rude psycho she is.

To all the crybaby head-in-the sand GOP members, I was there at the polls during this last election and witnessed first hand the racism. As a visible Obama supporter, I was subjected to "n...r lover!" several times in at the polls. Now these were the vocal ones. I wonder how many felt that way and didn't scream it from their car (cowards) but expressed it on a ballot? Racism is alive and well and it's right here in East Tennessee. Also, to mr. Bozeman and his "Times-NoNews liberal bias". You have got to be kidding! LOLOLOLOL

If Mr. Vaugh isn't done with public life, I think the votes say he is, they spoke and he pulled the OJ defense, I lost because everyone is a racist. Mr. Vaugh you lost because you were ineffective in your job. You rode the "black" train until it was time to disconnect you from the train. If you do get elected it will be in a state wide election, because it is my belief that the people of this area has spoken and you lost. Go get a nice job with one of the big wigs you help in all areas of town and let the peoples voice be heard.

Bobby Cole, you can always give your $13.00 to someone more appreciative and go see your buddy Shipley for something better. Isn't it just like one of you holier-than-thou folks to whine about something that a poor person would really appreciate. All of you in those big glass houses, always remember that what goes around, comes around. In one form or another. Just for your information, there was only happiness and comradere at that gathering, no crying was done. Get over yourself.

If anyone is ignoring the facts in this column it is you Mr. Bozeman. If Nathan Vaughn was interested in "abortion on demand," as you put it, then why is he consistently referred to as a "pro-life Democrat" in state media? Why did he get Tennessee Right TO Life's endorsement in 2004? If you want to tell me that he is for "abortion on demand" because he voted for Jimmy Naifeh, that is simply nonsense. You can't negate a legislator's consistent anti-abortion position because he voted for his party's speaker, anymore than we can label someone like Heath Shuler a liberal Democrat because he voted to seat Nancy Pelosi and then voted against the bailout bill. I, as a conservative Republican, think that Nathan Vaughn represented our values well during his tenure in Nashville and would welcome the chance to vote for him again. Of course, I can see the man and not the party, something that the pro-Shipley folks on here can not. How is the House doing under Republican leadership now? Oh....right. Also, just to point out to Mr. Provost, Nathan Vaughn is not quoted as mentioning anything about racism in this story. Odom does, and Vaughn decries the general "dirty tricks." The reporter is the one who brings up the blackbird flier, not Vaughn.

If Andy didn't vote then Andy shouldn't complain.

Higher taxes? You mean the TAX CUT that was given to 95% of working American families, as promised by President Obama on the campaign trail?

You can make up your own opinions, Andy, but you can't make up your own facts.

FAIL

Nathan Vaughn uses the same excuses that Barack Obama uses. That is, you must be racist if you didn't vote for him. That is ridiculous. I didn't vote for either one because they are both liberals who support higher taxes, less personal freedom, who support abortion on demand, and who are against our values.

God help, it amazes me how angry you republicans are, even though you won. Now you can continue to work to keep Tennessee in the 19th Century.

Every time Nathan Vaughn says he lost because of racism, he's calling his former constituents that voted for Rep. Shipley instead of him again racists. Are we racists? I think not. Are we smart enough to understand Vaughn was ineffective? Absolutely.

The website had REAL PICTURES of Vaughn with union leaders! How is that "untruthful"? They weren't altered in the slightest!

I find it awfully funny that Vaughn called for unity. He calls for unity by launching a campaign to unseat the guy who beat him four months after the fact? That must be a whole new kind of unity.

Hank should have had this story printed under "breaking news" for the new info on Scott Gilmer. Hasn't there already been four articles and a front page story on that issue? Why dedicate half of this one to beating the dead horse?

Andy is exactly right. The bias in this story has Hank Hayes dipping to a new low. Pick up Monday's edition of the Kingsport Times News - Hank is going to run another update on Vaughn's campaign account. He'll run a correction the following day showing the correct amount which is half of the originally reported figure bured in the B section.

Looks like birds of a feather are still flocking together. Big city liberal Democrat Gary Odom (who has repeatedly voted for higher taxes and abortion on demand) comes to town to support Nathan Vaughn (who also spent his time in the legislature supporting higher taxes and casting votes that insured abortion on demand would remain the law in Tennessee).

The Times-NoNews' liberal bias is so evident in this article because it ignores the facts.