The Cot Test(Does Senator Frist Want To Be President in '08 Bad Enough?)

National Review ^ | February 15, 2005 | Robert Moran

[The Loan Arranger]

If Frist wants the presidency, he should push Bush’s agenda through the Senate. The politics of 2005-6 and the politics of 2008 are about to collide. It is no secret that Tennessee senator Bill Frist wants to be president in 2008 and that many of the Bush folks want the Senate Majority Leader to be president. Frist is a compelling future candidate with a medical background that could give him significant general-election appeal.

But, it is time to call things as they are. The next two years in the Senate are going to be rough. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.) is a hardened partisan with only one tool at his disposal, the filibuster. As the saying goes, when all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail. Reid appears poised to use his hammer as often as necessary.

If Frist wants to be president, he has to successfully push the Bush agenda through the Senate. If he is going to successfully push the Bush agenda through the Senate, he's going to have to break Democrat filibusters on Supreme Court nominees, private retirement accounts, and future legal reforms. Frist can't go to Iowa and New Hampshire in 2007-8 and win votes by being the guy in charge of the Senate when it ground to a halt. He needs to point to significant 2005-6 Senate victories that he engineered.

[Publius]

In the Mafia, they call it "going to the mattresses".

[silent_jonny]

NO SENATORS!!!

[DTogo]

"Frist '08" does not appeal to me.

[lonestar]

"Frist '08" does not appeal to me.

Ditto!

[GSlob]

Well, he could always cut open the more obstreperous opponents {he's a surgeon, after all). Could come handy.

[Bahbah]

and that many of the Bush folks want the Senate Majority Leader to be president

Where does this come from?

[Coldwater Creek]

Frist is my Senator and he does not appeal to me either.

[California Patriot]

Makes sense except for one thing: Word is that we can't insist on a real filibuster because too many of our Republican senators are old geezers who couldn't handle it.

[EagleUSA]

Well, lots of negative opinion...let's see how Frist handles this issue. If he fails, he is dead for 2008, no matter how you cut it.

[reelfoot]

I'm a Tennessean and I do not support Frist. I don't believe a majority of primary voters will, either, once they get a good look at his squishy record.

[nothingnew]

NO First Frist Fresident!...and NO sinators!

FMCDH(BITS)

[Bahbah]

I haven't sensed any real ground swell for Frist at all, and yes, 4 years is a long time. He seems like a good person and his weakness may be more perceived than real. It will not be an easy road for him and will be interesting to see how it unfolds. Of one thing I feel pretty confident and that is that the next Republican will not become a winner by running away from GW.

[silent_jonny]

Where does this come from?

From Frist probably.

[Soul Seeker]

Well, if it's well known Frist is going to run I'll give him credit. I certainly I am not aware that is his intention, and I've always held it is preferable that serious contenders not be over eager. Better they keep a low profile while the early jumpers get the early hits.

I still don't have any reason to believe this is more than inside the beltway conventional surety but could always end up surprised.

I will state no Republican will consider a wimp for office in 2008. I'm not stating Frist is one...

However Bush has scored huge hits against the Dems. Frist is a nice guy but not one I'm particularly convinced is suited to the leadership role of the Presidency. He'd have to tackle the Dems and win big to overcome the nice guy persona he has. You have to be perceived as likeable AND strong.

[Bahbah]

LOL.

[JesseJane]

I'm sorry so say this, but we have to have a candidate with some charisma and magnetism. I have a hard time listening to Frist...he's so wishy-washy, and I understand he has to beeeeeeeee that way. Also, must look good in flight-suit... (that one's for me).

[NorCalRepub]

To me he doesn't seem to have the fighter pilot attitude needed to be Pres. I don't have anything against him per se but he comes off kind of weak.......he needs to toughen up

[Martin Tell]

He did vote to convict Slick (unlike Thompson) and he's pro-life, but aside from that I can't think of a compelling reason to support him for president.

I'm from TN as well.

If he does well on the judges I will reconsider.

[Soul Seeker]

Frist may be a tough guy, but you are correct. The perception is that he is a nice guy unable to fully control the senate. Any Republian we nominate will carry a perception of strength. To be considered he'd have to win big in pushing our judges and policy. He's never been on my list for '08. This is partly why, also partly because he is a Senator and I haven't sense that individualism...that charisma that sets someone apart. I'm not convinced he is even running, but we'll see. I do agree someone that hope to win by moving away from Bush will be as popular as someone that tries to move away from Reagan. We're strong enough to handle differences in approaches, but slamming a Preasident strongly embraced by the base to win approval of the MSM isn't acceptable. Stand on your own strengths or forget it. Conservatives are not going to nominate someone on ABB sentiment, that's the Dems failure.