Friday, February 20, 2009
Legislature / Politics / Woods Odom Blames Naifeh for Democrats' Demise
Posted by Jeff Woods on Fri, Feb 20, 2009 at 8:02 AM
Odom makes the case that only by starting anew, with totally fresh leadership in the House, could the Democrats began a serious comeback. He had meant to provide that leadership as Speaker himself, but the election results had forced him to look elsewhere - in the direction of Williams, the maverick Republican who, as Williams related to a group of Democrats at a Playhouse on the Square reception Thursday night, had been a high-school basketball opponent of Odom, now a Nashvillian, when the two of them were growing up in Carter County. Williams and Odom are teammates now, and back in January they collaborated on a buzzer-beater that dashed the individual hopes of both Jimmy Naifeh and Jason Mumpower but inaugurated a new era of power-sharing and kept Democratic hopes alive.
Comments (9)
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Ha! This is amazing spin. And, for the record, Naifeh didn't really *push* an income tax. He tentatively every so often sort of mentioned in passing that maybe, I'm not saying for sure, but maybe an income tax would be a fairer and more reliable source of state revenue. Which is correct, of course, but look what happened to Don Sundquist, who oddly ends up in retrospect being the most courageous politician in recent Tennessee history. Go on and honk, goons.
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Now the Tennessee Democrat Party is run by an income tax advocate, one supported by Mr. Odom.
Hey, Jeff! I wouldn't say that the folks who talk to me exactly "chatter." That reminds me of that TV staple phrase, "We caught up with so-and-so," which has actually begun to leak over into print coverage. My reaction generally is: "Hey, the dude seemed to be standing still. Couldn't have been trouble to 'catch up.'"
Ditto with this chatter thing. They don't rattle on, nor do they chew gum and slap their sides. They just participate in a spell of reasonable conversation, which I then report on.
Same as you do.
Anyhow, nice chatting with you.
Yet another way to spin the November losses might be: Gary Odom was so obsessed with becoming speaker that he flubbed the House races, thereby causing the downward spiral that he now claims he's trying to undo. Then again ... That couldn't be true? Could it? Jackson? Did you stop carrying Gary's XS jockstrap long enough to ask that question?
Lesson to Kent Williams: If you're hanging out with Odom, better grow eyes in the back of your head. If there's anything we've learned about the House Democrats, it's that they eat their own. Without batting an eyelash.
J.W., will do.
R.B., on that XS stuff, you've evidently got inside sources which I lack. Who'd a thunk it?!
Jimmy Naifeh is an experienced legislator, who understands how to get the business of the state done, doesn't spend his time grandstanding and trying to pass silly laws that violate federal statutes and make TN appear to be what it votes like, an ultra- conservative third world state where the "small business owners" don't have to pay income taxes and can make their own grandstanding conservative maneuvers, honking and cheering and then run back to their gated communities in Williamson County and Germantown. I am very opposed to term limits because we need at least a few folks up there who know what the heck they're doing. Those are the people who need to be in leadership positions. That totally fresh leadership the Demorcrats supposedly need would be very easy to sneak up on, wouldn't they? Dream on.
Let me just say that I watched the taped version of the January 13, 2009 elections which took place in the TN House! Till then I thought I had seen the lowest level to which democrats could stoop but I was wrong. Mr. Williams deserves to be ousted from the Republican party as he is the new poster child for everything that is wrong with our political justice system. And as for Mr. Odom, I recommend some new tax dollars for a better hair piece! Let's give all of the democrats the four years they so despairingly hope for. I doubt the country will make the same mistake twice.
I saw more honor and integrity in Jason Mumpowers composure that day than I ever expect to see in the elderly man who was thrown at all Tennessean's. It's a dark day for Tennessee!
DAnderson
Sullivan County, TN
This is a prime reason that people do not trust politicians. With all the new ethic reform legislation that has come down the pike over the last few years, we seemed to continue to elect the same people that are able to side step those ethics. While I will not defend Naifeh, Odom is totally out of place. Naifeh was your chosen leader in which you voted for. Odom was your vote for sale? Did you vote for Naifeh for the sole reason of having power or because you believed in him. As an elected official you should be doing the will of the people not your own personal agenda. Odom you are a disgrace to everything that is good about this country and state. You have shown your true color once again and that color is not your tan or the true color of your hair. Your political career is at a dead stop, you will never amount to anything more than a state Representative. Being a Governor that is a laugh. I beg you to run so we can get rid of you once and for all. If you are the strongest candidate the Democrats have, the Republicans are guaranteed a victory in 2010 for Governor and state house. Instead of belittling Naifeh, praise him for his time served. Have some honor and stop being a manipulative, self-serving, untrustworthy politician.
