Friday, December 19, 2008
Politics / Woods Republicans Worry Frist Lacks 'Fire in the Belly'
Posted by Jeff Woods on Fri, Dec 19, 2008 at 9:15 AM
But now it's looking like he may disappoint. The latest thinking among Republican insiders is that the former senator just can't muster the all-important "fire in the belly" and probably will delay his political comeback. He says he'll announce his decision early in the New Year.
It's well known that Frist's real goal is the presidency. The question then becomes how best to fulfill that ambition? Should Frist stay on the world stage, hoping to cast himself as a modern-day Albert Schweitzer fighting AIDS and malnutrition and disease around the globe (the Schweitzer Path as it's become known in Republican circles)? Or should Frist become governor and immediately find himself beset by the urgent need to either raise taxes or cut the bejesus out of the budget? What would you do?
"By all accounts, he's genuinely undecided," one GOP source tells Pith. "There are folks who are close to him who say there's no fire in the belly for it. What is it that he's going to see in state government that's going to make it sexy all of a sudden? The answer is not very much."
If not Frist, then who? Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam, District Attorney Bill Gibbons of Memphis and Congressman Zach Wamp of Chattanooga are seen as the three most likely GOP contenders. Of the three, Haslam is the favorite, mainly because he's rich enough to pay for his own campaign.
Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn certainly doesn't lack for ambition, but she's still stinging from publicity over ethical lapses and may decide to sit out this one, some Republicans say.
As for Democrats, Congressman Lincoln Davis still might run, although that seems less likely now that he's secured an appointment to the House Appropriations Committee, from which he can sling pork-barrel projects into his district.
Otherwise, Democrats will be left with a field of lesser names. Kim McMillan, the former House majority leader, is one.
The news is that state Sens. Roy Herron and Andy Berke have both privately expressed interest in running if Davis doesn't. Doug Horne, the businessman and Democratic Party benefactor, is also thinking about it.
Comments (7)
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Eh? Schweitzer? Not president. That's the Al Gore path as well, which leads to realms far above the mere presidency of these United States.
As for governor, Run, Roy, Run.
I'm worried less about the lack of fire in Frist's belly than the lack of integrity in his soul.
I have my fingers crossed it'll be Gary Odom. Then he'll get the all-out drubbing he so desperately needs and maybe will retire from politics and just bottle and sell his oiliness.
Marsha Blackburn is my Congressman.
She is no conservative.
See her unconstitutional votes at :
http://bluecollarrepublican.com/blog/?p=614
Mickey
Andy Bereke would be my choice. I have only met the Senator twice but he seems to understand what is best for working people. He is fairly new but very,very impressive. I like Roy but TN needs fresh ideas not the same ones that have led to a complete republican take over.
It does not really matter what Marsha Blackburn says about Abortion or Gun Rights. She does vote pro-life and pro-gun, but since she advocates foreign entanglements, she belies her positions. For in the long haul, if she takes strong positions while simultaneously advocating something that will overrule those positions, then she is being less than honest with her Tennessee constituents. This is particularly true considering the United Nations. No one can support the UN and state that they are opposed to abortion and support the Second Amendment. The reality is that the UN is the biggest supporter of gun confiscation and an intense ally of such organizations as Planned Parenthood. Yet many Tennesseans do not always connect the dots and gain an understanding of the subterfuge, particularly the conservative citizen. They will applaud a politician who says she is pro-life or pro-gun and ignore the fact that she is pro-UN — or in favor of regional governments.
This is Marsha Blackburn. She loves the United Nations.
