Tag Archives: Lamar Alexander

The Tenn. eleven, two by two

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I have created a page that lists the whole congressional delegation for the 112th Congress, which begins in January. The information listed with each member will be enhanced to include, among other things, campaign finance disclosures, voting records, and full contact info. (Right now I have websites and social media addresses, so you can probably get there from here.) Your suggestions are welcome for what else would be useful information to include.

As I was putting the info together, I noticed that there were often two current or incoming members who shared a particular attribute. Here are a few of those pairings:

  • Two women. Congressman Marsha Blackburn (District 7) will no longer be the lone female, as she will be joined by Diane Black (District 6). Does anyone know if Sen. Black will also go by “Congressman”?
  • Two Democrats. In a sharp reversal of its former 5-4 majority in the U.S. House delegation, the Democratic Party now only boasts two members, one each from the largest urban centers in the state. (U.S. Reps. Jim Cooper, District 5; Steve Cohen, District 9)
  • Two musicians. I’m just looking at the House here, because of course U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander is a fine pianist; but Cooper plays the banjo, and to-be freshman Stephen Fincher plays guitar and sings gospel.
  • Two “Steves.” The District 8 and District 9 neighbors are Fincher and U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, respectively.
  • Two doctors. Dr. Phil Roe (District 1) will now be joined by Dr. Scott DesJarlais (District 4) in being able to answer “is there a doctor in the House?”
  • So close: two nurses. But it was not to be. Robin Smith, who narrowly lost the District 3 primary in August (and in winning would have been all but assured victory in the general) could have been paired with Black in this category.

There is also a trio: Black, Blackburn, and Cohen are all former state senators. (Black is still one, as of this writing.)

There is only one Lamar.

There is only one who was elected before 2002: U.S. Rep. John “Jimmy” Duncan, who was elected in 1988.

A fiver with Lincoln

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Frank Strovel, a radio DJ in Campbell County, today interviewed Fourth District Congressman Lincoln Davis (D-Pall Mall) about the latter’s reelection campaign. Rep. Davis faces Republican Dr. Scott DesJarlais of South Pittsburg/Jasper, and independent candidates Paul Curtis of Winchester, James Gray of Columbia, Richard Johnson of La Follette, and Gerald York of Pall Mall.

UPDATE: While Davis compared his conservative credentials to those of U.S. Senators Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker in today’s interview—he said that they are “eleven percent” more conservative than he is—Corker yesterday endorsed DesJarlais, according to the Chattanooga Times Free Press.

Latest Haslam ad ups Bredesen, McWherter

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Knoxville mayor and Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Haslam today unveiled a new campaign ad aimed at his general election audience—in other words, not just Republicans—and it hails Tennessee’s two most recent Democratic governors along with the state’s current Republican U.S. Senators as leaders whom Haslam intends to emulate. Here is the ad script, courtesy of the campaign:

There’s no place like Tennessee. Mountains in the East, river in the West. Heartfelt music in every corner. Good people. Great leaders. Phil Bredesen, Ned McWherter, Lamar Alexander, Bob Corker. People who take our natural good and give it a shine. There’s another good man from Tennessee. Thinks he can make a difference. Seasoned in the world of business. Created thousands of jobs. As mayor, led Knoxville to its best days ever. Sees Tennessee a few steps ahead of some. Plan’s right for the future. Brings us security, prosperity. Bill Haslam. Businessman. Mayor. A good man. The right experience to be Governor. Not for any part of Tennessee, but for the good of all Tennessee.

Governor Phil Bredesen and former Gov. Ned McWherter, both popular Democratic officials, have endorsed Haslam’s chief opponent, Mike McWherter, in the November election.

Haslam campaign manager Mark Cate said “Tennessee has been blessed with great leaders—statesmen—who rise above the fray during difficult times. Bill Haslam is that type of leader, and the combination of his public and private executive experience makes him uniquely qualified to govern in these challenging times.”

UPDATE: Andy Sher of the Chattanooga Times Free Press got this reaction from the Mike McWherter campaign:

McWherter campaign spokesman Shelby White scoffed.

“It’s glaringly apparent that Bill Haslam is leaving out the eight-year term of (Republican) Gov. Don Sundquist in his new fluff piece,” White said. “He also fails to address the fact that his family strongly supported Don Sundquist and raised millions of dollars to support their quest for a state income tax.”

UPDATE 2: I found this quip by renowned political commentator A.C. Kleinheider on Facebook: “Let’s be honest. If Mike McWherter [weren't] the actual candidate running against him, even he would be thinking seriously about voting for Bill Haslam.”