TENN US SENATE: GOP LEGISLATOR ASK (LAMAR) ALEXANDER TO QUIT RACE

The Knox News Sentinel ^ | 3/30/02 | Tom Humphrey

[GailA]

GOP legislator asks Alexander to quit race

By Tom Humphrey, News-Sentinel Nashville bureau March 30, 2002

Republican state Sen. Mike Williams of Maynardville said he stayed out of a 1994 congressional primary at the urging of Lamar Alexander, and now he is urging Alexander to stay out of the U.S. Senate primary.

Perhaps not surprisingly, Alexander does not plan to honor the request, a spokesman said.

In a letter to Alexander, Williams said "you asked me not to run in the interest of party unity" when Williams was considering a 1994 race for the Republican nomination in the 4th Congressional District.

"You sincerely believed as an elder statesman in our party that a contested primary between Van Hilleary and me at that time in that particular race would be very divisive to the party," Williams wrote. "You also noted that it would waste limited financial resources that would best be saved for November."

In his letter Williams said he put aside his ego and his goal in the interest of the greater good of the party and Alexander's advice "was good."

Williams wrote that while Alexander has had "a very long and illustrious career," he has "not been on a ballot in Tennessee for 20 years."

"At this time, in the interest of party unity, I am respectfully asking you to step aside from consideration of the U.S. Senate seat so that millions of dollars will not be wasted in a primary race. Your withdrawal will keep the party united and focused on victory 2002 in November," Williams wrote.

Kevin Phillips, spokesman for the Alexander campaign, said after talking with the candidate that the former governor "does not recall" asking Williams to step aside in 1994.

As for Alexander stepping aside, Phillips said he "absolutely" would not.

"We thank Mike for his opinion," Phillips said, "but respectfully couldn't disagree more. The question is not whose turn it is. The questions are who is best prepared to serve in the Senate, to strengthen the country, to help President Bush win the war and hold the seat for Republicans. The answer is clearly Lamar Alexander."

Former Vice President Al Gore has written a fund-raising letter for the national Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee declaring that donations will go to keeping a Democratic majority in the Senate as a "bulwark against right-wing extremism."

"Democratic senators are committed to helping families caught up in the current economic downturn, while Republicans continue to make tax breaks for the wealthy and big corporations their top priority," Gore wrote.

Gore also criticizes Republicans on environmental issues, for resisting as "too expensive" prescription drug coverage for seniors and for being "more interested in paying back their campaign contributions than representing the American people."

The state Senate has now used 81 of the 90 "legislative days" allotted by the Tennessee Constitution for the 102nd General Assembly. The House has used 80.

That would normally mean the two chambers are close to adjournment, but that's not necessarily so with the continuing stalemate on taxes and a state budget.

Both chambers have adopted a schedule that calls for just one official "legislative day" each week. A "legislative day" occurs when the full House and Senate meet in floor sessions. Days devoted to committee meetings don't count as such a day, although they do count for the $114 daily expense allowance paid to lawmakers.

If the lawmakers pass the constitution's 90-day limit for "legislative days," they can continue to meet, but their $114 daily allowance is shut off.

Tom Humphrey may be reached at 615-242-7782 or humphrey@edge.net

[GailA]

Not only did lamar deny Williams sent him such a letter, he basically called Williams a LIAR.

Lamar's skeleton closet Click Here

Secondary page confirming the first Click Here

Lamar on gun control (he's no gun grabber, but he is not as pro2nd amendment as I would like) Click here

I did a Google search on both lamar and Ed Bryant. I pulled up the dirt on lamar. ZILCH, NADA dirt on Ed Bryant. I may not have liked all of Ed's votes on issues, BUT I pulled up NO dirt.

[GailA]

Everything I've read so far and from listening to our local talk show host Mike Fleming and his callers lamar is a moderate who leans a tad to the left. A rockefeller republican. While Ed Bryant molded after Ronald Reagan. :-)

Me personally I'd perfer a Ronald Reagan republican to a tax and spend rockefeller republican. After all a LIBERAL republican gave us dashole as the majority leader.

[cva66snipe]

Thanks for the links. You know I think the state and the GOP in Tennessee would have been better off if Sundquist had lost in 1998. I have some reasons for this. Sundquist split the party in half. Some Party Loyalist Lawmakers followed his policies no matter how bad they were and this made the task of the Conservatives much much harder. Sometimes a party win is anything but a win. Don Sundquist is the perfect example of that. A DEM governor would have made a United GOP with all willing to fight against the income tax.

[pnz1]

Another vote for Bryant here... On another note, we are very happy to have Mae Beavers running for state Senate in our area.

[GailA]

Congressman Bryant will be formally announcing his candidacy for the United States Senate.

Where: Williamson County Courthouse Steps When: Franklin

Time: Monday, April 1 at 12:15 PM.

Bryant U.S. Senate
(901)753-6348 * bryant2002.net
Ed Bryant for U.S. Senate
P. O. Box 9115
Cordova, TN 38088-3115

......................................................

"BOWLING PENS"

Dear Friends:
I want to thank you so much for your continued friendship and support.
It has been a busy month for the campaign. I have been dialing for dollars and traveling the new Fourth District which includes: Bledsoe, Campbell, Coffee, Cumberland, Fentress, Franklin, Giles, Grundy, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Marion, Maury, Moore, Morgan, Pickett, Scott, Van Buren, Warren, White and portions of Hickman, Roane and Williamson counties.
I plan on visiting with each of you in the coming months. It will take all of us working diligently together to retain this valuable 4th District seat we have worked so hard for since 1994.

March Update:
This month I have visited with Gen. Lester Lyles in Tullahoma at our ACC Membership Banquet, visited with folks in Marion County and Giles County. I have spoken and mingled with friends at the La Follette Rotary meeting, the Campbell County Republican Women's meeting, the Williamson County Republican Women's meeting, the Davidson County Republican Women's meeting, the Bledsoe County Lincoln Day Dinner, the Roane County Lincoln Day Dinner, the Fentress County Rotary Meeting and the Region II Business Professional Women's meeting in Coffee County. I also participated in the TECD Military Affairs state-wide meeting in Nashville and Smyra, as well as TVTC Board meeting and Tullahoma City Board meetings.

Looking Ahead:
I am looking forward to meeting with old friends and making new friends this month at the Ladies Day on the Hill, the Warren County Lincoln Day Dinner, the annual Mule Day Parade in Columbia, Cumberland County Lincoln Day Dinner, the Marion County Cornbread Festival and the Pickett County Political Rally.

Special Note:
I would be thrilled if you could join me at the Grand Opening of the Bowling for Congress Headquarters, 415 Wilson Avenue, Tullahoma, TN, on Sunday, April 7th from 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. CST. Refreshments will be served.

Staff Information: Alice Algood - Treasurer
Jess Heald - Assistant Treasurer
Reba Shipp - Finance Chairman
Sharrion Rhoten - Grassroots Organizer
Aimee Whitt - Campaign Manager
Jim Arnold and Hans Klingler - Consultants
Contact Information:

Bowling for Congress
P.O. Box 2016
Tullahoma, TN 37388
Ph/Fax: (931) 455-0072
E-mail Address: bowlingforcongress.org
Be sure to check out our new website
www.bowlingforcongress.org , and look for weekly updates. Look forward to hearing from you and best wishes to all and thanks again.

....................................................

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Layne Provine

March 28, 2002 854-7119 or 359-7119

Bates Announces Campaign against Incumbent Joe Kent

Chuck Bates filed qualifying papers with the Election Commission today to run as a Republican candidate for Tennessee House District 83. Bates will challenge 24-year incumbent Joe Kent in the district that includes parts of East Memphis and half of Germantown.

"I'm running because our state is in trouble. Tennessee doesn't have a revenue problem; we have a serious spending problem," said Bates. "The governor has proposed a 12% increase in spending in the midst of a national recession. While the good folks of Tennessee are tightening their belts, government is on a spending spree. It is clear that mismanagement is rampant. TennCare is now consuming over a quarter of every dollar in state revenues. As your state representative, I'll focus my energies on the fiscal issues that threaten our state and the future of the next generation. I'll fight to control government spending and reform or abolish TennCare," Bates remarked.

"A state legislator should be personally accountable, fiscally responsible, and personally available to represent the community. I'll be accountable, responsible and available," said Bates.

Bates is opposed to a state income tax. He is a strong supporter of the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms for personal protection, sport and the preservation of freedom.

He is News Director for the Information Radio Network, a radio news network supplying news and programming to over 700 stations nationwide and works for IRN's parent company FAMC, Inc, an international economic consulting business, as Special Assistant for Economic and Political Affairs. Bates also sits on the editorial board of the internationally circulated Monetary and Economic Review.

Bates, 29, is a resident of Germantown. He holds a Masters of Business Administration degree and is a member of the Board of Directors of Teen Challenge of Memphis, an alcohol and drug rehabilitation program with an 85% success rate. He is a member of Gideon's International and a member of the International Press Association.

Any support that can be sent our way can be mailed to:

Friends of Chuck Bates
P.O. Box 382325
Germantown, TN. 38183

PERSONAL NOTE: Chuck Bates is VERY CONSERVATIVE, a committed Christian. He co-host Unraveling the New World Order with his father Dr. Larry Bates on Christian radio Click Here

[SoCar]

I agree with you, Bryant does not have the name recognition that Alexander does and he seems like a yawner. I know Lamar's not perfect but the goal is to win the Senate, not lose because we need idealogical purity.

On a side note Sinkspur, I nearly always agree with your posts.

[Torie]

Tom Humphrey is a hubristic SOB. He is in no position to tell anyone to do anything.

[cva66snipe]

Bryant does not have the name recognition that Alexander does and he seems like a yawner. I know Lamar's not perfect but the goal is to win the Senate, not lose because we need idealogical purity.

Do you remeber what the House Managers were? Who were they can you name any of them? Two were from Tennessee. One was Jenkins the other was ED BRYANT! It find it only fitting that a man who has proven he will uphold and defend the Constitution replace the one who would not. That person who upheld it being Ed Bryant. As for the so called name recognition winning him anything? Well Mike Williams is just two counties from Lamars old stomping grounds. I would say he knows Lamar well.

BTW does not the fact that no former Tn governor has been elected Senator after the fact tell you anything about Lamars electability? Alexander is just another Friend of Daddy Bush appointment nothing more to it than that.

Lamar might carry Blount & possibly Sevier County in East Tennessee that's about it. But remember this he was from East Tennessee. Ed Bryant can carry East, Middle, & West Tennessee. But I don't think it's about what's best for Tennessee and America that concerns many. I think it's a matter of what I posted before. If Bush and the RNC had said Sundquist was the man for senate the party shills who know nothing about him would pop up in the threads trying to tell us what a fine choice it was.

Lamar is a political has been in Tennessee.

[cva66snipe]

Tom Humphrey is a hubristic SOB. He is in no position to tell anyone to do anything.

Since you seem to know the Knoxville News Sentinel so well I would bet Inna Hughs is more to your liking?

[GailA]

Electing liberal republicans is how we got judas jim, the likes of mcnasty etc.

I wouldn't vote for a republican if they were pro-abortion or anti-2nd amendment. To do so in my mind is an act of betraying the Constitution. Thankfully Lamar is a moderate not a liberal.

BUT we must all vote our concious. It does no good to snipe at each other over doing so. It is what the liberal/socialist/marxist want us to do. DIVIDE AND CONQUER.

What we MUST do is WORK and WORK HARD for the True Conservative canidates. We must stand by them and support them as best we can with either our time or our wallets or both. It is how we GOT DUBYA elected instead of albore!

So quite sniping at each other and get to WORK for Mae Beavers, Ed Bryant, Chuck Bates and Ms Bowling!

[Torie]

Lamar is a political has been in Tennessee

Lamar is odds on to be the new junior senator from Tennessee. And the idea that there is some huge ideological difference between Bryant and Alexander is unsubtantiated spin. I suspect there voting records would be very similar. Not that there is anything wrong with Bryant. I don't have a problem with him either. He is a composed and disciplined and low key guy, who posseses I suspect high intelligence. But this demonization of Lamar is simply ludicrous.

[cva66snipe]

But this demonization of Lamar is simply ludicrous.

No it's critism from those who actually live in the state and remember Alexanders deals. I'm from East Tennessee myself. Lamar being pro-state income tax will not I repeat will not win him any votes or love in this state. Lamar is a Big Government proponent. Basically all ventures in this area he was involved in after the governorship were short lived. Whittle Communications and his short tenure as the President of the University of Tennessee being among them.

When a person takes the job of president of a major university it is considered for the stability of that university a long term commitment. If he was a Conservative he could have done much good in reducing waste in that position. He didn't stay around long enough for the paint to dry on the parking space.

[BillyBoy]

>> Williams wrote that while Alexander has had "a very long and illustrious career," he has "not been on a ballot in Tennessee for 20 years." <<

When will the GOP learn to stop pushing a bunch of dull old has-beens, and look for NEW blood for the party? We're not going to hold the U.S. Senate very long if we rely on a bunch of out-of-work politicians in their 60s to take some Senate seats. The GOP already lost the chance to get two GREAT rising stars into the governors mansion: Pat O'Malley in Illinois and Bret Schundler in New Jersey. At this rate we're left with only Bill Simon in California.

C'mon, President Bush, WAKE UP! If we would have followed this policy in the Presidential election, the party would have picked Pat Buchanan as it's nominee. Instead, they went for a new guy and selected you. Can't you return the favor?

[JDGreen123]

Wrong! Lamar is more liberal than Bryant.

From Issues 2000 grading system:

Issues 2000/2001

Lamar Alexander:

Ed Bryant:

Bob Clement by the way:

As you can see, not much difference in Alexander and Clement. As a lifelong Tennessean I would even venture to say Clement is to the right of Lamar! on many issues. I also would add that we Tennessee conservatives have had RINOs shoved down our throats for 30 years and are ready for some true conservatives. Lloyd Daugherty of the Tennessee Conservative Union has said that he will likely support Clement over Alexander if Bryant does not get the nomination.

[JDGreen123]

I see you are from California so you should understand this scenario. It is Riordan vs. Simon all over again. Our Riordan candidates (Alexander-Senate, Henry-Governor, Greene & Kutsoff-Congress) vs. our Simon candidates (Bryant-Senate, Hilleary-Governor, Bowling & Blackburn or Norris - Congress).

[madison46]

Ahhh, the GOP self destructing in TN? Just what we need

[Jthro]

Lamar Alexander, like him or not, is likely to win this race. he will have too many east Tennessee votes and more than his share of middle and west Tennessee votes. Ed Bryant is a good man. However, he has not done a good job of staying visible to the voters in the entire state of Tennessee.That could be the difference in this primary race.

No matter who wins, Republican voters must unite and support whichever candidate wins the primary. Petty politics must be overcome to defeat Bob Clement, lest we just want to add another notch to the Democrats majority in the Senate.

[Jthro]

Union City is in extreme northwest Tennesse not east Tennessee.

[cva66snipe]

Issues like the second ammendment to me are not petty politics.

[Vis Numar]

If the lawmakers pass the constitution's 90-day limit for "legislative days," they can continue to meet, but their $114 daily allowance is shut off.

What a wonderful idea.