I guess he didn’t want the hassle of getting to “fix” this states budget issues and be associated with the bunker when it is finished. Didn’t Nixon get us out of Viet Nam and yet every lib tries to saddle him with getting us INTO that war? That bunker is going to blow up someone’s career and Frist might not want to be at ground zero ( pun intended) when it happens.

I think that we need a limited govt, fiscally responsible candidate and I’m not sure that Frist would be that person.

By BCB on 01.04.09 11:12 pm

Yes, indeed. And the bunker won’t be completed until the next Governor.

And regarding fiscal responsibility, yes, Frist squandered his leadership position by not pulling in the reins on big GOP spending. And we paid for it.

And are still paying for it. And he was AWOL on issues like eminent domain, not to mention he gave Tennessee the distinct honor of being numero uno as recipient of the largest amount special interest money. Although a national crisis would present on opportunity to separate the men from the boys so to speak.

We’ve got so many politicians right now who practice carpe diem politics. I don’t know if there will be any changes unless we mount a massive national term limit effort.

By Terry on 01.05.09 6:30 am

I have to say that the peril of my job has led me to hate the party bunker.

Bredesen, by the way, has screwed me twice now. He stole my beloved Houston Oilers, “Luv Ya Blue,” and now I could lose my job because of the waste of the 2007 budget surplus.

By Casey on 01.05.09 9:58 am

Casey, I’m feeling bad for you. But I think it goes beyond “waste” and gets close to criminal misconduct. He has done more than “fritter” away cash, he raised taxes just to blow the money on his personal areas for political and personal gain. Alexis de Tocqueville said that in a democracy people get the government they deserve. I guess by not getting more of the word out prior to elections, not holding our current elected officials accountable every time they vote and everyone looking at the govt in terms of what they can get; we are all accountable. I just hope you don’t get hit on a personal level. It seems that any cutback on teaching positions while touting the scholarship stuff would be a clue, but since he wants to start that damn pre-K program, it all fits nicely. Good luck Casey and let me know if I can help.

By BCB on 01.05.09 2:01 pm

BCB,

Thanks for the kind words. I think I will be okay because I have a Calvinist work ethic, although nothing like the Franks. Do you people ever sleep? My favorite words from the good book are: “by the sweat of your brow you shall earn your keep.” and “Whatever you do with your hands, do with all your might.” So I don’t think I’d be anywhere near the first cut.

We’ll just have to see what 2009 brings. I hope an economic rebound.

You are right, this has been a criminal admin that has damaged our state. The real damage done was that he seemed to bridge the gap between liberals and conservatives, but now he has pissed both camps off.

That takes talent, to be hated by both libs and conservatives.

By Casey on 01.05.09 2:15 pm

Casey–amen to BCB’s comments responding to you.

You know I found it interesting on WBIR’s roundtable many weeks ago that Don Bosch and I agreed on Pre-K.

When dollars are tight, where should the money go? I asked that of the UT professor. He didn’t answer the question. But Don did, and he said that when dollars were scarce, that higher ed was the American dream–not expanded pre-k.

Oh, and you’re far too kind, Casey. Thank you for your kind words.

By Terry on 01.05.09 2:25 pm

And now Haslam steps into view….

By BCB on 01.07.09 6:46 am

Libertarian Republicans could never support Frist, due to his sponsorship of the outrageous Internet Gaming ban late in 2006.

He may be decent on other issues. But to us libertarians, that was a deeply offensive assault on personal liberty.

It was a game killer.

By Eric Dondero on 01.10.09 8:10 am