Comments by Kasey


Every President and his family has dined on fine cuisine while our troops ate MRE's in the field. It's just because people don't like Obama they try to make an issue out of everything that has gone on for years. George Bush took his kids everywhere, as does every President that has young children. Where was the outrage when Reagan was taking his grown children along on many trips at taxpayer expense? Valid disagreements with policies and philosophies are one thing, but the whining it to such extreme I agree there is much doubt most of it is racist.

Written on Anderson County crowd pepper-sprayed during arrest:

Anderson "Country" crowd pepper-sprayed during arrest
Another fine example of KNS' quality control. They'll correct it now that I've pointed out they're error.

Written on Letter: Paula Deen isn't alone:

I agree. I'm a transplanted "Yankee" and I think this is all B S. Deen had been vilified over something that was normal back when she admits to doing it also. The "N" word was normal until the early 70's in the north, and I would bet it hung around much longer here in the South. I heard it all the time growing up since both my parents were originally from the South, but decided for myself I didn't like the word or chose not to use it as an adult.

Written on Al Westerfield: Atheists victims of hypocrisy by some groups:

in response to JoeKing:


why would someone who didnt believe in the words care if they are on the courthouse? I can understand it being a "waste of time" issue, but how can it be offensive or upsetting to a person who does not believe?

Because those who don't believe as you might still pay taxes and support that courthouse as much as anyone else. They have a right to be equally represented. Religious beliefs on a courthouse is a violation of church and state, but that's part of the Constitution the right wingers are willing to ignore when it suits their agenda.


Many seem to forget our ancestors were once here "illegally" also. What did we do - we killed the natives and put what few survived on reservations and just took over by force.


He should have to serve to full 30 years, but he probably won't. He's kind of pretty, so he will most likely be someone's girlfriend soon.


Do any of you think he's traveling under his real name? You are delusional. I would bet he has had phony ID's the moment WiKiLeaks got involved if not before then. They're not going to give you the real flights schedules. It would make it too easy for the US to intercept him somewhere.

Written on Letter: IRS, NSA news is worrisome:

I don't like what has gone on with the IRS or the spying on citizens anymore than anyone else, but to act like this is the first time any of it has happened is B.S. The spying has been going on since creation of the Patriot Act that we know of, and anyone who claimed they were not aware of it must have been living in a cave. People at the IRS should be punished for what they did - I don't know of anyone who disagrees with that.

But you people who yell about the Constitution all the time seem to want to pick and choose what parts of the Constitution that should be followed. If you don't agree with something that happened then you scream it violates the Constitution. If it violates the Constitution but you agree with it, well then its okay to bend the rules. I think hypocrites is the word.

Written on WikiLeaks: Snowden going to Ecuador to seek asylum:

Snowden can go wherever he wants. The CIA or the Seals, or someone from the U.S. will catch up with him eventually and he will just disappear off the face of the earth. He's a traitor, and should be dealt with as such.

Written on Scott McNutt's Snark Bites: Is self-censure new fad among public figures?:

"self-censuring" mean a slap on the hand for anything they do where they get caught.

Written on Letter: Democracy needs whistle-blowers:

Snowden and Manning were not protecting the American people. Nothing has changed and nothing will change other than our enemies know more about us.

This "spying" is not new. It's been going on since shortly after 9/11. We knew it then so all the "outrage" people are claiming now is too little too late. It is not going to change anything, so get over it.

Written on Letter: Democracy needs whistle-blowers:

Dick Cheney said it best Snowden's "a traitor" and should be dealt with as such. Whether he agreed with the policy or not, he knowingly broke the law revealing classified information. I find his choice of hideouts interesting. Plenty of islands and countries do not have extradition treaties with the U.S., but he picks one that does have an extradition treaty, and close to China. It sounds more like he was hoping to sell the secrets to China than anything else.

Written on Food Network won't renew Paula Deen's contract :

I don't get the big deal being made over this. I saw Deen's interview where she said it has been many many years since she's ever used the N word.

I grew up in Illinois and 40-50 years ago everyone still used it all over. I can remember the term "black" became the preferred word when I was in high school in late 60-70's. Paula Deen is older than I am, and grew up here in the south where the N word was acceptable a lot longer than in the north. I could understand people being upset if she had used it recently. but no one has accused her of that.

We've all done things in our past that we would not do again if given the opportunity to do them over. I think maybe Food Network was looking for an excuse to dump Deen because of the complaints about her unhealthy cooking with so many fatty ingredients and this gave them just the excuse they wanted.

Written on Tenn. ends $40M in child allowances for unemployed:

Sad, just very sad.

Written on House rejects farm bill, 62 Republicans vote no:

It's about tine. This program is so full of abuse and fraud. Farming should be like any other business. Either you make it on your own or you fail. These subsidies are ridiculous just like for the oil companies.


Poor baby. At least she's with the angels now.

I'm sure parents are "responsible" gun owners.


Just because people can reproduce doesn't mean they should. Hope the child finds someone who will pay attention to him.

Written on Three more Pilot Flying J employees plead guilty:

I feel sorry for all the employees who will lose their jobs if the company goes completely under. I think it will get restructured, taken over by another group, and continue on a smaller scale. I think it is the end of the Haslam dynasty of influence. I feel bad for old Jim and brother Bill. Greedy Jimmy and his buddies really screwed things up for them.

Written on Drug-dealing Claiborne County family ordered to forfeit farm, $3 million:

Any semi-intelligent adult knows the seizure laws. If you get into drug dealing or anything else illegal you should know it could cost you everything. If it was a family farm passed down for generations then I feel sorry for the young kids in the family who have lost any inheritance they may have received because of these three criminals.

Written on Letter: Ignorance not greater here:

I too am a transplant from about 20 years ago. brought here because of my employment. It's a nice area, and many of the people are as nice and intelligent as anyone I've ever met. The problem I have is with the closed mindedness of many that I have encountered, and thinking their way is the only right way. Too many people won't even accept that people who don't agree with them could have valid points of view. Subjects like religion and politics bring out the worst of the close minded people. I think we all just need to agree to disagree on some issues, and not get so hostile towards others that don't share our personal opinions.


It seems that the security can't even keep control from "harmless" older people - they would completely fall apart and fail if a group of 20-30 something terrorists tried to breach security.

Written on Mother, daughter charged with with fraudulent fundraiser in Campbell County:

in response to nattybumpo:

I'm wondering just how it happens that these folks are arrested by the local authorities, Yet the Cancer Funds of America are scamming multi millions and all they get is some bad publicity. (sarcasm font)

Since CFA bothered to go through the trouble as getting non-profit status they were able to open bank accounts to cash the checks and redirect the funds to themselves through huge salaries. These two were telling people to make the checks out to them personally - big red flag that something's not right. I would suspect one of the businesses they hit up called to cops.

Written on Mangled facts, secrecy brew confusion about NSA:

We might as well get over this. It is not going to change. Whine and moan all you want, and all you do is get yourself upset. The Feds are not going to stop these programs. It's the world we live in unfortunately.

Do you really think if McCain or Romney had been elected it would be any different? If you do you are delusional.

The guy would leaked this is just going to disappear from the face of the earth when they catch up with him, and they will claim they never found him.

Written on State: Ex-Knox County trustee Mike Lowe used title business to bilk taxpayers:

in response to dogg:

The story leaves out some important points!

1. Fred Sisk was the Trustee and approved Murbareks firm
4 Lowe was never question by investigators


Written on Letter: Let's hope voters do remember actions:

The "scandals" are distractions, just what the GOP wants them to be. Regardless whether you support the snooping or not, it started under Bush, but the GOP wants to blame Obama for it. The IRS targeting was definitely wrong, but it was started by career employees, not people Obama hired. I was hired by the government under Reagan, but doesn't mean I share many of his views. Everything that happens is a scandal when the opposition party is in office.


Keep electing these crooks just because they have an R after their names, or they're somebody's relative. Knox County deserves what it's gets.

Written on Southern Baptists expected to take a stand against Boy Scouts:

The Southern Baptists take a stand against everything that does not fit into their narrow, close minded view of the world. Who cares?

Written on CVC exec signed document for Pilot plane:

If CVC signed the documents you can bet they discussed it with Haslam first.

Written on Letter: Don't trust Obama on major issues:

The same could be said about anyone elected. Time to get over it. He was twice elected by the majority of the people.

We had to endure 8 years of idiot boy "Bushy", so you have to endure 8 years of Obama.

Written on NSA contractor risks steep jail time for data leak:

This guy broke the law. Who is he to decide what is best for the American public - nobody. There are channels he could have gone through to protest this without compromising national security. He has his 15 minutes of fame and should spend several years in prison for it. He copied and stole classified documents and ran to a foreign country That's not whistleblowing.

Written on Greg Johnson: Cult of personality surrounding Obama bad news for nation:

Johnson wouldn't know the truth if it hit him in the face.


I don't like the phone tracking and many other things but it has been going on since shortly after 911. Obama did not start it, but he should have ended it.

Written on Fred Brown: Normandy veterans' eyes reflect acknowledgement of heroes:

Any opportunity to thank and remember our service men and women, and all they have given for this country should be acknowledged every chance we get.

Written on Tenn. lawmakers encounter Turkish protesters:

Waste of money. They should have stayed home and worked on issues affecting Tennesseans.

Written on Obama: Gov't records sweep not targeting Americans:

This has been going on since shortly after 911. Nothing new to whine about.

Written on Letter: It's long past time to leave Afghanistan:

This is something I think we all agree on - we need to quit propping up the world with money and our soldiers. If they can't solve their own problems let them kill each other off. They don't appreciate anything we do for them anyway - just expect more.

Written on Letter: Cherry-picking and the government:

I think all of us agree government needs to have limited reach into our lives. We don't agree on where we expect and need government assistance, and where we want them to leave us alone.

It would be wonderful if all seniors had planned for retirement and had continued
medical coverage, but that is not the case so we need social security and Medicare. It would be great also of people were not born with disabilities that prevented them from being self supporting, or their families could support them their whole lives. But again, that is not reality.

It would be nice if all the families were employed and totally self sufficient. But I would bet most of us know families that get food stamps and public assistance because of unemployment or not having the skills to earn more than minimum wage. This is the group that irritates me personally the most because frequently their situation is of their own making. Not all unemployment is caused from downsizing. Much of it is caused from people who do not perform or behave appropriately at work when they were employed, so they get fired. Then of course there's the ones who think they are too special to work. That someone owes them a living.

I doubt if we will ever reach agreement on what we want government to support, and where they need to leave us alone. We could just agree to disagree on some issues, and not be so hateful to those we don't agree with.

Written on Exclusive: Pilot Flying J investigation highlights plane deal:

Anyone who believes Jimmy Haslam did not know about this are truly delusional.

Written on David Hunter: Honesty, ability not to laugh are valued:

An honest mechanic is indeed a rare find. Keep him!

Written on Letter: Column was shameful:

So Bush is excused for sending thousands of our citizens to their deaths based on the lies of his "advisors", yet Obama is a mass murderer because one of his advisors made a bad choice and 4 of our citizens died, along with enemy combatants. It's a shame when any of our citizens die needlessly, but 4 hardly compares to thousands. To say the drone attacks make Obama a mass murderer, then you have to include all the bombs and innocent civilian in Irag and Afghanistan killed under Bush make him a mass murderer. In acts of war innocent people get killed unfortunately. You can't say some make one President a mass murderer and not the President who started the made up war to begin with.

Written on State appellate court upholds Knox mom being held in contempt for son's baptism:

12 year olds are not allowed legally to make decisions for themselves, so he needed parental approval to do anything. The minister should have gotten the approval of both parents in writing before performing the baptism.

Written on Letter: GOP must find way to win back voters:

Get rid of idiots like Frank Niceley, Sarah Palin, Michelle Bachman, Stacy Campfield, just to name a few would be a step in the right direction.

Written on Letter: Don't let politicians select candidates:

I'd trust the general population of Tennessee any day over a few idiot state legislators.

Written on Greg Johnson: Math, science seem difficult for Niceley:

I agree math and science may be difficult for Niceley, just like journalism is difficult for Johnson, Strickland, and the other KNS columnists.


The court is not passing any judgment on religion. They are passing judgment that the mother violated terms of the divorce agreement. 12 year olds are not allowed to decide what they think is in their best interest long term regarding anything. Many times they are allowed to voice their opinion, but not make the final decision.

The 12 year old sounds more mature than both his parents.


People sued the manufacturers of faulty body armor and won, so I don't see why they couldn't sue a helicopter manufacturer. It's up to a jury to decide if the evidence shows the helicopter parts were defective or not, and if the manufacturer is liable. None of us are experts, or know the all the details.

Either way it doesn't change the fact we lost two soldiers. Condolences to all the families and friends.

Written on Teen killed in apparent accidental shooting in Blount County:

It's sad that so many kids seem to have such easy access to their parents guns. Kids will think they're invincible to do dangerous things. Parents need to keep guns more secure.


The reason the GOP lost the last two elections are: Sarah Palin, and Romney was totally the wrong candidate. McCain would have won if he had picked a qualified running mate instead of doing what the party leaders wanted him to do. Picking Palin cost him my vote, and that of several people I know.