Monday, March 22, 2010
Congress / Garrigan On John Tanner: 'He Blew It'
Posted by Liz Garrigan on Mon, Mar 22, 2010 at 6:15 PM
From the inbox -- a longtime political observer on Congressman John Tanner's vote against health reform.
John Tanner has been in the Congress for nearly 22 years. He really doesn't have much to show for it - mainly voting against arts funding and helping lead the residual segregationist-Democrat faction known as the Blue Dogs. If history remembers him for anything, it will be for being named in the Starr report as the person with whom Bill Clinton was speaking on the phone while getting his first servicing from Monica Lewinsky. (Clinton was a big multi-tasker.)
Tanner could have reversed that slide into historical obscurity by voting for the health reform bill and being one of the key figures in its passage. But he blew it.
I guess he turned out to be just who we thought he was.
Oddly, during the 1980s, Tanner and Jimmy Naifeh were known as the leading party boys in the state House. Tanner has said that he believed getting away from Naifeh saved his life. We think that going on to bigger things in Congress should have led to Tanner growing into more of a statesman. Ironically, it was Naifeh who grew, not Tanner.
Comments (12)
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Gotta wonder what he has lined up after he leaves office - maybe working for one of those lobbying firms representing health care industry?
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Bet'cha he hasn't bothered to line anything up, Ann. Twenty-two years in the Congress has displayed his political clout among those who count: the voters. And if he's been smart, and I'm sure he has, he will have employed his woman in a casual position in his office, at the top of the pay schedule. Hell, she wouldn't even have had to appear at work. Her pay, combined with his over more than a generation of 'public service' makes a nice hunk of change.
Besides, being a party boy and 'Blue Dog-ism' significantly indicates, to me at least, that he never much cared a damn about statesmanship. Which makes him relatively harmless. Chatting with Slick Willie during his blow job was just icing on the cake. (Shoot, I would have enjoyed doing something like that.)
After all, 'historical obscurity' is safe. You know, keep a low profile. Then nobody bothers you.
It's not just Tanner - it's the entire TNDP. His vote is a political calculation to help get Herron elected - nothing more. Unfortunately, it was the wrong calculation. Herron's on his own.
yes,Tanner messed up .he will become a lobbyist on K street.They all do ,its the money tree.
Tanner was the only Democrat in the state's Congressional delegation to vote no - although Cooper decided to vote yes only after it became clear the bill would pass, so I'm not sure how courageous a move it was for him. Even Bredesen came out tonight and praised the measure - even if it was through gritted teeth. I get we're a red state. What I don't get is why some of these guys even bother running as democrats. Bredesen presided over bigger healthcare cuts than Anthem or other private insurers ever has - I just don't believe that's in line with Democratic ideals. Seriously, why are these guys democrats to begin with???
Don't forget Tanner's role on the silver screen.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1653447/
Sorry, Andy. But Tanner is not the only nominal Democrat from Tennessee who opted to be on the wrong side of history this week. He shares that ignominy with Rep. Lincoln Davis. Both men enjoy taxpayer-funded healthcare for life by virtue of their "public service."
Shame on them both.
Liz;
You've been drinking too much of the kool-aid. Tanner and Lincoln Davis were the only Dems who did the right thing in Tennessee. This bill was not about healthcare; it was about power and control of the Federal govt. over peoples' lives. It will neither reduce health costs nor improve it.
The sad thing is they really think they need to protect the poor little insurance industry from the big, bad gova'ment.
People will live because they have access to health care! Wouldn't it have been nice if Tanner and Davis would have helped save lives.
Other than getting big donations and making the contacts for those lobbying jobs, what do they think we elect them for?
Senor says: "This bill was not about healthcare; it was about power and control of the Federal govt. over peoples' lives. It will neither reduce health costs nor improve it."
Well, you're partially right. The bill was not about healthcare. It was about a bunch of sore loser Republicans who put their own egos and anger ahead of the American people. Again.
Ya gotta admire the consistency.
"I get we're a red state. "
We're not in a red state.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/125450/Party-Affiliation-Despite-GOP-Gains-States-Remain-Blue.aspx?CSTS=alert
"Another 10 states can be considered Democratic leaning, in which the state's Democratic supporters outnumber Republican supporters by at least 5 percentage points but less than 10 points. These are Missouri, Kentucky, North Carolina, Florida, New Hampshire, Virginia, Colorado, Nevada, Indiana, and Tennessee."
John Tanner agreed to resign so Roy Herron could run for his seat so Roy and Mike McWherter wouldn't have to hash it out in the primary. EVERYBODY here in the 8th district knows it, the TNDP let it happen, Roy Herron is complicit to it and John Tanner will forever be remembered as a coward. It was a political calculation by a bunch of good ol' boys who are out of touch with their district, their state and reality.
I've never voted for a Republican and I'd rather deal with the nut-case from Frog Jump for 2 years than one more Good Ol' Boy FAKE Democrat like Roy Herron. My 2010 Campaign Motto is NO DOGS ALLOWED.
