Quesiton for Tennessee duers

[wrkclskid]

It seems that Mr. Bad medicine Frist is planning on honoring his term limits pledge and leaving his seat in 2006. It also appears, from all I have heard, that Congressman Harold Ford Jr. has already laid claim to the Dem nomination for that seat. Is this a good move for him do you think? I like him and see him as a rising star and one who is likely to get African Americans out of the political shadows they are unfortunately in due to the hidden discrimination still alive today. However, Tenn. is fairly Republican, can he win? I know he is a blue dog which may appeal to mroe conservative voters but I worry he may kill a potenitally great career by losing a race in 2006. Just bored and curoious, so let me know what you think if you would.

[Rocinante]

1. Hard to say

I wouldn't trust Bill Frist's word if I was having a heart attack and he SAID I was having one. Harold Ford shoots pretty straight, and a lot of republicans I know admire him. Whether they would vote for him is unknown at this point. I think discrimination would play a part, but only a small one hopefully.

[wrkclskid]

2. I think Frist will follow it

I think he wnats to run for Pres in 2008 and what betetr wya to look honest? Also it would give him two free years to campaign.

[asjr]

3. Frist

Oh, we have had enough of evil. He would make a horrible president. He is a horrible senator. We really got stuck with 2 losers. I know he must have some dirty laundry and while I don't support dirty politics I will make an exception in this case if Frist runs for president.

[ma4t]

4. hard to call

Rep. Ford has been making lots of appearances at forums that expose him to all Tennesseans, not just the party faithful. He does get a lot of respect from R's and independents for being thoughtful and articulate on the issues.

Tennessee is not as locked up for R's as many at DU seem to think. After all, we just elected a D governor who migrated to the state from Massachusetts, of all places, and was active in McGovern's presidential campaign. If Tennessee is as rabid an anti-Democrat, redneck state as is often portraied here how could that have happened?

I think that Rep. Ford's greatest political asset is also his greatest weakness. His family has been a powerful political force in west Tennessee for generations. It is rare for a candidate to win there without the active support of the Ford family. However; some of the elder members of the Ford dynasty have been in the public eye in an unflattering manner the past several years and some of that may rub off on him.

[tnlefty]

5. I can only hope that Ford would become the next Sen. Look at one of the

alternatives. My rep., Zach Wamp, has already stated that he is collecting money and making plans to run for Frist's seat. I hope that Zach's blind obedience to the party will kill him with workers. He voted for the overtime fiasco. Mr. Wamp has a lot in common with W, claims to be a christian while behaving differently, has a past with cocaine abuse and writing bad checks which could have contributed to his not being the brightest bulb in the box.

Race will unfortunately play a role in this area of the state. During the mid-terms the sheriff was up for re-election. The incumbent and current sheriff is an unqualified disaster and officers were quietly begging some of us in the community to work very hard to get rid of him. His opponent was a MUCH better qualified black man who had worked his way up through the sheriff's dept. and had the respect of the officers, but he wasn't elected because many people were openly stating they wouldn't vote for a black man. Sucks, huh?

[SharonAnn]

6. Zach Wampt is a member of the "Fellowship" and lives at their

group house while in Washington. He and the others have an agenda to get Christians into positions of power.

That makes him very scary to me. But then, it's not much different from lots of the R-W "fundies" here in East Tennessee.