First it was cigarette surveillance…

Now the Governor’s office is seizing beer.

From the Sentinel:

NASHVILLE — While their search for contraband cigarettes continues, state Department of Revenue agents also are seizing beer brought into Tennessee to avoid one of the highest malt beverage taxes in the nation.
For now, state Revenue Commissioner Reagan Farr says the beer confiscation is incidental to tobacco tax enforcement, the focus of a “cigarette surveillance program” launched last month. But that could change.

“If, as part of our cigarette tax enforcement, we continue to see alcohol is also a major problem, we’ll talk about addressing that,” Farr said. “We are not now targeting beer-only purchases.

“But if someone purchasing cigarettes (out of state) has also purchased beer, we will confiscate it,” he said.

From what I understand, agents can seize tobacco and beer. But while eggs, milks, and donuts purchased across the border aren’t “contraband” in the eyes of Tennessee law enforcement, you ARE supposed to pay the tax on groceries purchased across state lines as well. Is the Revenue Department going to address this issue if they find groceries in the cars as well?

Governor Bredesen is looking like a real “Class A” jerk right about now.

I guess the Drudge Headline will read: first cigarette surveillance, now beer surveillance. The Church Lady has nothing on the Tennessee Department of Revenue.

And speaking of Bredesen, Tom Humphrey has an absolutely MUST READ column out. I laughed out loud, but then the seriousness of his point really is no laughing matter. Here’s a sampling of Humphrey’s discussion of Bredesen pulling a Micheal Flatley on a Virginia Slim. (I bet you Rep. Brian Kelsey paid for the bacon he used in his visual display on pork back during session. Bredesen mooched his prop.)

But perhaps it is better seen as another indication of the new, bold second-term Bredesen striving for dramatic flare as he works to build a legacy. The stomping was apparently his own idea, leaving some staffers a bit disconcerted.
There are some troubling aspects of the episode. For example, it is reliably reported that Bredesen had an aide mooch the cigarette from a waitress at the restaurant where the media show was being conducted.

Thus, multi-millionaire Phil’s foot was crushing a cigarette purchased by a working woman paying new, higher taxes and subject to arrest if she imported them from Kentucky. With cigarettes going at about $3.50 a pack, the single smoke was worth about 17.5 cents.

and this:

Yes, this is the bold new Bredesen. There should be more symbolic and dramatic gubernatorial gestures in the future.
For example, the governor made a mistatement a while back in saying that some new and tougher laws on drunken driving – recommended by a task force he appointed – had passed the Legislature. They hadn’t but will be up for consideration next year.
The new, bold Bredesen should hold a news conference and crush an empty beer can against his head just before stepping into his car.

Tom Humphrey wonders if Bredesen will channel Animal House’s Bluto and smash a beer can on his head!

Let me just say this. This is the biggest PR bungle of the 21st century. I don’t know how many fine folks I’ve talked to or overheard talking about Bredesen on this issue. The most common remark: “I don’t smoke, but this is outrageous.”

Any bets that Tennessee will make it to a Leno script? Somehow eating road kill will probably make it into the joke mix as well.