The next Bubba?

[TomC]

What he's trying to do in Tennessee is repair an image that Dems are fiscally irresponsible. He's managed that and has boosted school spending some. Other than that, there's little to him really. Either he's content being a capable manager rather than a visionary or he's spending four years making sure he can get another four years.

When the issue of outlawing abortion came up, he basically said he didn't want to be bothered with it- let the legislature decide. Same with the attempt to outlaw gay marriage forever.

He cut workers comp payments by 40% in the name of job creation. Would not compromise at a 20% cut.

He seems headed towards tort reform (ie abating our right to sue)

He has cut TennCare (or is trying to) which is actualy fine with me now that he has amended his plan to protect coverage for kids. We are 48th in taxes and some want us to have a health care system that provides more coverage than any other state system. It's nutty to think it shouldn't be reformed and expect us to be able to do anything else. He's reforming it to protect and enhance school funding- which I much prefer to endless benefits for able-bodied adults. Although, I do think he's kind of chickening out by not even considering a cigarette tax hike rather than cutting about 350,000 people from the TennCare rolls.


A lot of liberal Dems are POed at him. If he has a tough opponent in 2006, he could lose due to a lack of turnout from his base. Most serious Repubs are eyeing the Senate seat that Frist is vacating though. I don't expect Bredesen to have a viable challenger. (besides, the Repubs with any money should be quite happy with him.)

He is quite dull but folksy and affable. I do not see him generating much excitement in a Dem primary.

[TomC]

He's a Democrat because his base is urban Nashville. He was mayor- although Davidson County elections are nonpartisan, if he had come out as a Republican in Nashville- he wouldn't have had much of a base to start from.

[TomC]

"Why do you Dems want to chase every last moderate/conservative Democrat out of the Party?  However, as a conservative, I'd be happy to welcome him into the GOP big tent.  He's a little left on some social issues, but he has been spot on fiscally. "

I have no desire to chase Bredesen out of the party, I plan on working for his reelection, but he's not the guy I want as Presidential nominee and I've supported plenty of moderates in the past.