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« Metro Blames Wackenhut | Main | Tennessean: Politicians, Blogging! » January 5, 2008Running Scared: House Democrat Caucus Reveals It Will Back Briley in '08 Election
The names in bold are Republican legislators. Roberts probably was not supposed to forward them the email, given that it is about an upcoming Davidson County Democrat Party straw poll. But that's not even the most interesting thing about this. The email itself projects an image of a party running scared. Check out the underlined parts of the email, which is included below verbatim. Subject: FW: DCDP Straw Poll on January 15th, 2008The House Democrat Caucus knows that its slim majority is teetering on the edge of fading into history. Thus the Caucus is focusing on protecting its "incumbency" even to the point of trying to prevent primary challengers to its incumbents. And who is on that list the House Democrat Caucus is trying to protect? Why, none other than state Rep. Rob Briley, whose recent record includes driving drunk, smashing his car into another, occupied, vehicle, trying to evade police on a lengthy high-speed chase across two counties (endangering the lives of countless other motorists along the way), and then, upon his arrest, vandalizing a police car. Oh, and then there's the little matter of Briley having an affair with the chief lobbyist for the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association while she was lobbying the House Judiciary Committee - which Briley chaired - as it considered legislation of great interest and financial impact for the TTLA and its members. Rep. Briley has already drawn a challenger in the upcoming Democrat primary, but the House Democrat Caucus is running so scared of losing its majority that it is backing Briley. How pathetic is that? Posted in Campaign Season
Comments
Well, as much as I dislike the culture of incumbency...I hardly think an email from Addison Pate, who also happens to be on the Davidson County Democratic Executive Committee, asking the Davidson County delegation to attend a DCDP straw poll, amounts to protecting Rob Briley against Democratic challengers. They may very well do that, and I'll probably be critical if they do, but this offers no evidence other than that the Caucus supports their members...does the GOP Caucus not? Posted by: Sean Braisted at January 5, 2008 2:15 PMSean - should the day ever come that one of our members commits the several crimes that Briley committed, and that same member has an affair with a lobbyist with business before his committee, and the House GOP Caucus comes out in support of his or her re-election, I would fully expect you to criticize them for it. I might even understand the House Dem Caucus supporting Briley if it was a district that was 50/50 GOP/Dem, and they thought a primary challenge would lose them the general, but Briley's seat is in a pretty safe district for whoever gets the Dem nomination. If ever there was a chance for the Dem leadership to score points with no risk, it would be for them to dump Briley in the primary. Pate's email makes it clear that incumbency is more important to the Dem leadership than morality, ethics and abiding by the laws of the state. Posted by: Bill Hobbs at January 6, 2008 1:46 AMPate's email makes it clear that incumbency is more important to the Dem leadership than morality, ethics and abiding by the laws of the state. It doesn't do that at all. He doesn't even mention Rob Briley in the email. You infer that because he doesn't preface his statement about protecting incumbents with (except Rob Briley). We'll have to see how far they are going to go to help Rob Briley in his (assumed) race for re-election. If they go so far as to attack his primary opponents, than I will happily join you in criticizing their actions. Posted by: Sean Braisted at January 6, 2008 9:19 AMGot to keep the dream team together. Posted by: THE REP at January 7, 2008 7:15 AMPost a comment
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An interesting email forwarded to me yesterday that originated with Addison Pate, Press Secretary for the House Democratic Caucus in the Tennessee Legislature. Pate sent the email to 