Political Chaos In Nashville

Tim McGraw makes a lot more sense than Schwarzenegger

Last weekend country music superstar Tim McGraw (husband of Faith Hill and a Tennessee Democrat) went into the studio and recorded two duets with rock'n'roll legend Jerry Lee Lewis in Memphis. I only wanted to know one thing: would McGraw be running for governor-- and save Democrats the Faustian dilemma of having to choose between Harold Ford or sitting it out and watching a corporate shill like Zach Wamp take over the state house from retiring Governor Phil Bredesen. I was in Mali when he told reporters a few weeks ago that he is still interested in running for governor-- but not this time around. McGraw is 41 and he thinks running for governor is something he'd like to do when he's around 50. Damn, I hope that doesn't mean the folks in Tennessee will be stuck with losers like Wamp or Ford 'til then! 'Cause Tennessee can be a pretty wild place politically even without either of those two sleazy characters.

Yesterday was completely insane in Nashville politics. Bucking the national trend, Republicans won a 50-49 seat majority in the General Assembly in November-- when McCain beat Obama 57-42%-- and yesterday they were ready to elect their first Speaker since Reconstruction (140 years ago)! It didn't quite work out the way they planned.

Representative Jason Mumpower of Bristol received the first nomination.  Republicans hoped to end the nomination process there, but after more political wrangling, allowed Democrats to submit a candidate.

What happened next some may describe as the political play of the decade as all 49 Democrats backed Kent Williams, a Sophomore Republican from Carter County, a district just miles from Mumpower's hometown.

During the voice vote on the Speaker's position, the House clerk called every Democrat first, then every Republican, except Williams.  The 49 to 49 split was then decided by Williams.

Williams accepted the position amid cheers and boos, prompting state troopers to enter the House chambers ready to respond to an outburst.

After the vote, Representative Gerald McCormick reacted.  "I think we've elected a dishonest and dishonorable man to Speaker.  He's made a joke of the government, he should be ashamed of himself, he's a bold face liar."

Republicans promptly kicked Williams out of their next caucus meeting.  Rep. Eric Watson says "everyone is surprised right now that's what's happening. We don't know the outcome yet, its not over."

Republicans still hold a 50 to 49 majority.  But what that means now, is unknown.

Sounds more like New York than Tennessee!