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THE SAD STATE OF POLITICS
3-9-10
It
still amazes me that people ask me to write about politics or that high
officials in my party ask me to run for seats like congress.
If I had been interested in congress, I would have run in 1994 when the
board of the SE Tennessee Development District (democrats and
republicans) indicated they would support me.
I have never had any interest in being in congress. When I was at the
courthouse I had a sign on my desk that read, “For God so loved the
world that he did not send a committee.”
Congress equals committees and committees and more committees. It also
means flying to Washington on Sunday or Monday and flying home on
Fridays. I am as interested in that as I would be in being dragged from
Birchwood to downtown Watering Trough behind a pick-up truck.
It will offend some people in the party structure but it is a sad
commentary on the political health of the party when several bright
young and middle aged persons are not waiting in the wings to run for
all upcoming available offices -- especially congress. I would add to
that list the U.S. Senate, the State Senate and House, and both mayoral
offices.
It is even more sad when you realize that our congressional seat was
held for many years by Marilyn Lloyd. She left a record that would be an
asset to any Democrat making that race.
It often shocks people when I tell them I do not like politics. I doubt
that I would have ever run if I had not been fired as county manager.
After doing a good job at every job I ever attempted and having
testimonials from people like Dr. Bennie Carmichael and Dr. J. Earl
Williams and then being fired by s second class county judge, I felt I
had to vindicate myself. So I ran.
Without feigning humility, I know I was good at politics. Any man who
worked under three mayors, two county judges, a dozen good councilmen
and commissioners, and several PhDs would be good at politics if he just
paid attention. I tell people, “I learned politics by osmosis.”
The two things I dislike about it are the partisanship and all the silly
protocols you have to act like you respect. It is paralyzing our ability
to put projects together with the very best liberal and conservative
ideas and make no mistake, both kinds are needed. Like President
Eisenhower and Sen. Al Gore, Sr. building the interstate highway system,
and like Republican Sen. Norris of Nebraska and the democrats from the
Tennessee Valley forming TVA.
It is not harmless little games we are watching in Washington but the
political equivalent of Lou Gehrig’s Disease where we lose one function
at a time.
I was glad to see Rep. Kent Williams turn up his nose at the republican
protocol and form a partnership with democrats to be Speaker of the
House, much like wily old Sen. John Wilder did a couple of times with
the republicans. He’s being sliced and diced for it but he’s already
given us the best political quote in years.
When asked if he was going to join the Tea Party fad, he said, ”The
least you belong to, the least you can be kicked out of.”
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