Category: “Bo Knows” Blog
Bipartisan Turmoil, Nuclear Option Saved Volunteer State’s Reputation
By Bo Roberts Nearly 50 years ago this week, in an unexpected move, five veteran Democratic state senators bolted away from their caucus, joining their minority GOP colleagues to re-elect Bill Snodgrass as the Comptroller of the state of Tennessee. In the view of many, their uncommon action was a textbook example of cooler heads prevailing, as their votes were crucial
Read MoreOne more flying leap for Black entrepreneurs
It’s such a Nashville story…. young people coming to Middle Tennesseeand soaring beyond their wildest dreams. A young, Black couple is betting their future success on an airport conceptthat might well launch a national network. Nashville Threads is the brainchild of creators Jamie and Karen Anderson-Isabel, who have already flourished with their parent company, DalmatianCreative Agency, Inc. They have been
Read MoreTOP QUESTION FOR LEGISLATURE: WBFT?
There are only a few times in an office holder’s career that a milestone moment arrives when the primary question should be: What’s Best for Tennessee? (WBFT?) One of those times is this week during the General Assembly’s special session called by Gov. Bill Lee. It offers a chance to make a bold, bipartisan statement demonstrating that employment opportunities benefit
Read MoreNever forget how Tennessee athletes shone in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics
Tennessee State University Coach Ed Temple’s Tigerbelles sent many champions to Japan. When the national teams paraded in the Opening Ceremonies at the Tokyo Olympics on July 23, many viewers with Tennessee connections watched with pride while recalling and reliving the first Tokyo games in 1964. A compelling highlight from that 1964 competition saw two close friends toe the starting
Read MoreAn open letter to first lady (and first teacher) Jill Biden
Our country must make a direct investment in the very people who have the future of our society in their hands — K-12 public school teachers. Bo Roberts is a Nashville-based marketing consultant. He may be reached at bo@roberts strategies.com. Thanks to recent Belmont University graduate Emily Vo for her research on this project.Dear madam first lady: I am writing
Read MoreOur fragile democracy calls for formidable Republicans
A modest, honorable, former Republican president leaned in close to a modest, honorable, congressional Democrat leader, and, speaking through his face mask, said: “Joe Biden is the only one who could have been elected.” Those words, relayed by receiver Rep. Jim Clyburn of S.C., stood out most amidst all the immensely moving speeches, poems and songs heard on Inauguration Day
Read MorePANDEMIC PERSPECTIVE
Dec. 7, 1941 (Invasion of Pearl Harbor): Deaths–2,035 Sep. 11, 2001 (Invasion of New York): Deaths–2,996 Dec. 3, 2020 (One day in COVID invasion of U.S.): Deaths-2,857 World War II: Total U.S. deaths: 407,316 in 3½ years COVID-19: Total U.S. deaths as Dec. 6, 2020: 281,000 in 9 months Projected total of COVID-19 deaths after
Read MoreWho owns downtown Nashville? The world does
Not long ago I found myself differing— a rare occurrence during the past several decades—- with my friend Keel Hunt’s thoughts about “Who owns downtown Nashville, and what should its future be?” That subject, the centerpiece of his most recent column, totally got my attention. I don’t think I’d be exaggerating in suggesting that downtown Nashville is owned these days,
Read MoreJULY WEEKEND MARKED END OF A SIGNIFICANT ERA
Tennessee headed for embarrassing Senate representation By Bo Roberts A long, impressive era of noteworthy U.S. senate representation in the Volunteer State is hurtling headlong towards its demise, as was illustrated so pointedly over the July Fourth weekend. It is the end of literate, ethical, non-partisan strain of politics that began with and encompassed the essence of the brilliantly diplomatic
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