Time Magazine’s Mark Helperin reports “Tennessee Governor Bredesen in line to run HHS after talks with White House officials.”
h/t to AC Kleinheider, who is still skeptical.
Thinking ahead to the next moves on the chess board, this would make Ron Ramsey the new Governor of Tennessee.
The Tennessee Senate would then have to elect a new Lieutenant Governor.
There would also need to be a special election to fill Ramsey’s Senate seat.
Would Jason Mumpower run for the Tennessee Senate?
If he won, the Tennessee House would need to elect a new Majority leader.
AND… there would then have to be a special election to fill Mumpower’s House seat.
But perhaps I’m getting ahead of myself….
What a difference an hour or two can make.
This morning I attended two meetings. The first featured WTN talk show host Ralph Bristol from Nashville’s Morning News and the second featured Jason Mumpower, the GOP Majority Leader for the TN House. The bailout and the Government’s role in influencing the lives of citizens via dispensing cash was a topic at both meetings.
In the first meeting, Bristol addressed Mitch McConnell’s plans to impact the US mortgage market. Linking to the Fox News story, Bristol noted,
McConnell on Monday demanded an amendment to President Obama’s “economic stimulus” package to give government-backed, 4% loans to homeowners – any credit-worthy borrower, including those who are seeking to refinance their loans. McConnell estimates it will save the average homeowner $466 a month — $5,600 a year, or – over the life of a 30-year mortgage — $167, 760.
He went on to say even though he stood to personally benefit from such a proposal he opposed it on principle because it was wrong for Government to be involved in the mortgage industry in such a fashion. It was little more than an appeal to voters to support him and his party because they were promising to impact citizen’s lives in ways the Constitution did not allow for. He added that until those who did not stand to benefit from a measure could vote for it and those who stood to benefit from a measure could vote against it – both votes on principle as opposed to personal benefit – the country would be at the mercy of whichever politician or political party promised the most. It was the general consensus of the meeting that sort of governance was currently the norm and there was little confidence, human nature being what it is, such tactics by Government could be stopped.
In the second meeting, Leader Mumpower mentioned Federal Bailout money in the context of how it might impact Tennessee’s state budget. Mumpower said he had some concerns about bailouts and noted Governor Bredesen might delay releasing his budget proposal until after it was clear how much money Tennessee was scheduled to receive. During the Q&A session, I asked Leader Mumpower what discussion the GOP caucus might have had about simply refusing to accept bailout money; sending it back instead on general principle. Mumpower responded the GOP Caucus had not had substantive discussions on the matter and that budget conversations would be upcoming but that there were those in the caucus who shared that sentiment.
After the meeting broke up a reporter for the Memphis Commercial Appeal approached me and asked me what my thoughts on the idea of refusing bailout money were. I responded that until people were willing to do the right thing regardless of personal cost, few substantive accomplishments would be realized. Those people who believe bailouts and faux Stimulus Packages are wrong have an obligation to back up their words with their actions or their words could rightly be questioned. The reporter noted that he had asked two elected representatives, also in attendance, to comment on the idea of refusing the money. He noted one simply laughed and walked away while another said if constituents found out that sort of money had been turned down when it could have been used to improve their district there would be trouble. These were Republican lawmakers. One would guess of the more conservative bent.
It’s not an outrageous proposition. Haley Barbour is considering it for Mississippi. So is Mark Sanford in South Carolina. Predictably, there has been a knee jerk reaction against the idea, with no discussion of the idea’s merit. Hopefully, the issue will get a fair consideration and airing both in the public square and in Legislative Plaza. It’s time to stand up for what we believe. If bailouts are bad, then so is taking bailout money. If bailouts are a good thing, then let’s have bailouts for everyone and not just a few. I’m curious to see what discussion this will bring to the Hill. Stay tuned …
Some people do not know the story of Kent Williams. They have not followed the whole story of the past 2 years or so.
Back in August 2006, Kent Williams challenged and defeated incumbent Republican State Rep. Jerome Cochran for the Tennessee Legislature seat for Carter County.
Early in the 2007 session, Kent Williams joined seven other GOP legislators in voting to retain Speaker Boss Hogg (aka Jimmy Naifeh) as the Speaker of the Tennessee House.
On April 2, 2007, Adam Groves of Tennessee Politics Blog broke news that Rep. Kent Williams was facing a possible ethics complaint…
Read More at the Arrowood Dispatch
http://www.joshuaarrowood.com/blog/archives/168
Brian Haynes at East Tennessee Conservative provides a link to a radio interview Kent Williams did on AM 910 WJCW, January 6, 2009, just a week before the Tuesday election for Tennessee’s Speaker of the House. Anyone still thinking Williams only promised to vote for “a Republican” for Speaker needs to listen to the radio clip. The hosts ask Williams if he is still on board with Jason Mumpower for Speaker. Williams replies that he is. The money quote is at about 25% of the way into the clip.
With the current timeline on the Williams betrayal showing he had already met with Odom concerning becoming Speaker himself, Williams is clearly shown as a liar who, for reasons known only to himself, shattered his party’s plans and ability to implement them with a surprise 11th hour move. Interestingly, Williams may have telegraphed his intentions during the interview. He notes that he cannot think of any reason he would have to change his intention to vote for Jason Mumpower for Speaker but allows that, in politics, anything can happen.
The days events are being aggregated here … “Tennessee ConBloggers weigh on on Kent Williams”
A first person account of the TN Speaker debacle from Blue…..
I was in the gallery this afternoon when it all went down. **sigh**
Meet Tennessee’s New GOP Speaker of the House, Jason Mu … ummm, Kent Williams?!?
Promoted from Joshua Arrowood’s ‘The Arrowood Dispatch’.
For the past several years, the GOP has show us how not to lead. As a Republican, I feel that it is my duty to speak out when I see things that potentially damage our party. I take it upon myself from time to time to aggressively pursue (attack ?) those responsible as I did with Carter County State Representative, Kent Williams. As you may remember, Williams was one of the Naifeh Republicans (a Republican turncoat whom voted for the worst of the worst, Jimmy Naifeh, as the Speaker of the House. Don’t give me all that David Davis voted for Naifeh drivel. When there is an Iraqi or Iranian type election where you vote for the only candidate available, you really don’t have much of a choice do you?) that faced scrutiny in the Republican Caucus. I took him to task for that. Then, there was a certain rumor concerning Williams that I called him out on through e-mail. No, that e-mail is no longer posted on my website since the Great Website Deletion of only a short time ago. Yes, I do still have that e-mail.
These examples show that I am willing (and sometimes maybe more than willing) to take my own party to task. (FYI, I am always more than happy to take the Democrats to task.) This is now another time that I am going to take my party to task. This one, I thought long and hard about.
The Republican Party took everyone by surprise by going against the stream in electing a majority to the State House this November. Democrats were making big gains just about everywhere else, but our Republican Party took forward a conservative message that resonated with the citizens (except for the dead voters in Memphis) of Tennessee. Now, it seems that the Republican Party is already losing its way.
(Future Speaker of the House?) Jason Mumpower saw a chance at controlling the Tennessee House of Representatives. He needed to make sure that the Republicans stuck together to give him (or another Republican) the 50 votes to remove the tyrannical Jimmy Naifeh from the House’s top spot. I have no problem there when you have most of the self-serving “Naifeh Republicans” still hanging around. Mumpower brought the Republican Caucus to Nashville where each and every Republican signed a statement saying they would vote for a Republican Speaker of the House. Robin Smith, Tennessee Republican Party Chairman, has stated that the members of the Republican Caucus could face political excommunication from the Republican Party if they do not vote with the party on certain votes.
Fast forward to earlier this week… The Republican Caucus got together to choose the high ranking, though mostly ceremonial position of Speaker Pro-Tempore. Two candidates went head to head. On the one hand, you had former Sundquist crony, pro-income tax, “Naifeh Republican,” Steve McDaniel. On the other hand, the party had a choice of the conservative Frank Nicely. Sadly, at least half of the “Republicans” voted for McDaniel as he won the Speaker Pro-Tempore spot.
This choice leaves the Republican Party with a pro-tax, self-serving, “Republican” in a leadership position. I hope this is the worst mistake that the party makes in the majority stage, but I hope that this is not enough to sink this ship from sailing into the Speaker’s Chair.
I will be a little presumptive as I say this, but I will do it anyway. Speaker Mumpower (hopefully I won’t have to edit and strike this through come January), we are looking for conservative leadership. The state is looking for Republicans to lead. We are sick of what Naifeh has tried to pass as leadership. We know YOU can do better than what we have seen for years. However, we conservatives are not finding solace in your first attempt of leadership in the majority. We expect and know we can do great things if leadership leads. As Rep. Campfield has said many times, “It matters who leads.” Lead with honor. Lead conservatively.
- Josh
Read Terry Frank and David Oatney (even if he is just giving ACK fodder, and I do say that in jest, which is not a reference to any e-mails that I received nearly two years ago)
Promoted from Terry Frank’s Frankly Speaking.
Tom Humphrey reports today (and he was first on it yesterday, too) that our Republican leaders in the House are all about promoting unity.
NASHVILLE – In their only contested race for a top House leadership position, Republicans on Monday chose the candidate who stressed party unity over one who stressed conservative credentials.
Party unity? My arse.
Unity behind what? Policy? Principle? Or Jason Mumpower living out a Tennessee edition of Machiavelli?
The “no deal” deal that was worked out and hammered home by Mumpower and Glen Casada no doubt ensured Mumpower was the official Speaker nominee. These leaders twisted arms and pressured Republicans to stick with the self-serving McDaniels over State Representative Frank Nicely.
Nicely offered himself as a candidate for the Speaker Pro-Tempore position and bless him for doing so.
McDaniel symbolizes all that went wrong with Republicans at the national level. Pro tax increases–you name ‘em, he was for ‘em. Sales tax, gas tax, cigarette tax, income tax? He was for raising them all.
Right around this time in 1998 I remember getting together with some of our local elected officials, Chip Saltsman, and Steve McDaniel. We all met for breakfast to talk politics and roads here in Anderson County. As we were heading in to the restaurant, I begged Representative McDaniel not to go forward with plans for a state income tax. Sundquist had quickly gone back on his word and talk of the tax had already spread across the state before session had even begun.
Very, very pregnant with my third son, I looked like a tick. I begged, “please, please don’t push an income tax.” I lobbied that it was the wrong policy. It would kill our party. And more.
McDaniel put his arm around me as we walked in and said something to the effect of, ”Sweetheart, we’ve just got to. We’ve got an economic crisis and there’s really no other way.”
And so with Steve McDaniel as the bearer and believer of failing ideas and a horrible and checkered history of supporting Democrats, our GOP leader to be Rep. Mumpower rewards such incompetence and character with the 2nd most powerful position.
Of course, all that depends on officially holding together the votes come the big voting day.
Now, your naive GOP reps will tell you, “we had to vote for McDaniel to keep the squishies from bailing on us.”
Well allow me to correct them. Tennessee Chairman Robin Smith made it very clear that if you are Republican and you abandon the party on crucial votes such as leadership votes, then adios amigo. The Party Structure stands ready and willing to do the heavy lifting. The enforcing. (Example: like the Democrat Party with Kurita!)
Jason Mumpower believes no one cares if the 2nd in command actually sponsored the income tax legislation. But we do care, Rep. Mumpower. We do.
But Jason Mumpower wants to be Speaker NOW!!! He won’t call McDaniel’s bluff and isn’t willing to wait for party action!!
Maybe it will all work out. Maybe not. But I’m a Winston Churchill kind of gal. You stick with what you know is right even if it may not be popular or viewed as correct at the moment.
Shunning the leadership of someone like Frank Nicely who has consistently represented the values and policies of the grassroots Republican in favor of a big government, big taxing, wheeling-dealing Republican like McDaniel is definitely a step in our new Republican majority, but a step forward? I can’t make that claim.
As a friend of mine said yesterday, “a prostitute only loves you for the hour for which you’ve paid.” Ayep. If the fear that McDaniel would sell you out led you to twist arms and pressure votes for his role as Speaker Pro Temp, how on earth can you ever afford to keep him faithful?
It’s going to be an interesting session.
And who knows if someone will flip. Jimmy Naifeh is still alive and kicking. And he plays hardball. He drinks the hard stuff, not O’Douls.
Republicans made a pledge that they would all vote for a Republican. Is there one Republican who would run as Speaker and garner all the Democrat votes and maybe one fellow Republican? I mean come on. John Wilder put together a coalition in the Senate.
Or is there a Republican willing to flip and vote for a Democrat Speaker for risk of his wife getting the infamous manilla envelope?
Oh politics on the Hill isn’t just as easy as getting there and arguing for your legislation. It’s often nasty and brutish and unfortunately, our Republicans often bring knives to gunfights.
Here’s hoping for the best, for I’m really looking forward to seeing some actual CONSERVATIVE legislation finally get a fair hearing.
But the first steps have already begun from a position of weakness, that is, principles have already been compromised.
