Embed from Getty ImagesHere’s a bit of interesting Tennessee history news. On Monday, the Committee on Natural Resources in the U.S. House of Representatives moved on a bill to make the James K. Polk Home in Columbia a unit of the National Park system.
Though the Polk Home is beloved by would-be-body-snatching scoundrels, I think this is a good idea. First of all, it’s obvious those poltroons could use some grown-ups in the mix and the National Park system can provide that. Second, the Polk home should have access to national resources and be a national nerdy tourist destination.
The most interesting thing about this is that the bill’s sponsor in the House is Rep. Scott DesJarlais. And he’s not the Polk home’s representative. That’s Rep. Marsha Blackburn.
I’m no great fan of DesJarlais. Obviously. But this tracks with what I’ve been hearing from his voters, when I ask them why they continue to vote for him — that he’s responsive to their issues and tries to help when others won’t. So, if the Polk scoundrels need help, it makes sense they’d turn to DesJarlais, whose district is so close it casts a shadow on the Polk home in the morning.
So, I will take a moment to stop shaking my fist in anger at the Polk folks and Scott DesJarlais and, instead give them the jazz hands of support. Thanks for looking out for Polk and Tennessee history.
