As Lt. Governor likes to attest: the general assembly—for the 1st time since Reconstruction—is under control of republicans in both houses of the legislature. Indeed the houses of the general assembly in the near and distant past were under democratic control. However, the majority of democrats in leadership for those years in the more recent past were what I more commonly call Ned McWherter democrats.
Ned McWherter democrats—for me—were grounded in good, old-fashion common sense and decency—sharing rural, west Tennessee values (much unlike national Democrats). There’s no legitimate fear of gun rights being diminished in Tennessee. Admittedly, there were indeed some problems in leadership in the legislature. Ever seen a boll weevil? Me neither. Because we spent millions of dollars keeping them out of cotton thanks to former Lt. Gov. John Wilder and others—this is a poor attempt at humor, for those reading for the first time. In fact, never met anyone who has seen one. When I asked him what one looked like, he said, “worse thing you’ve ever seen.” I believed him.
I write all this to offer an opinion on the history and future of our general assembly. By and large, under the leadership of the former speaker and governor and his political followers, we have been more than moderately conservative, especially in a fiscal sense. I think one of the reasons this happened was due to the fact that legislators had to politic with a governor from a different party every 8 years.
The result was borne of a pragmatic reality. Sure there were some punches thrown in every now and again, but not like we’ve sadly become accustomed today. Things have changed. I don’t think the change has been for the better. The best hope is that the majority’s reign of error will be brief.
If it’s brief, the reversal will be the outcome they author—they themselves reaching higher stages of maturity—or by us—the voters at the ballot box. I am sure many are aware of this coming reality. Just 2 years after the anti-Obama sentiment swept portions of our nation and had a ripple down effect on state races, these folks are making the impossible seem realistic. The 2010 gains will be lost if the adults in the room don’t stop letting the children lead.
I don’t need to recite the embarrassment our “leaders” have caused over the last 2+ years. By the way, being elected to office in general assembly doesn’t make you a leader. Their collective acts are demonstrating an utter lack of understanding of the term, if that’s the conventional wisdom. The usurping of local autonomy by legislators who don’t live in our county is still, and will continue to be, a thorn in my side.
Hopefully, these 2012 elections will provide cover for the adult leaders in the legislature to get in full command of the ship. Because what has happened so far is that radicals believe the 2010 electoral results gave them a mandate to behave like children.
The mindset
Imagine if you were a little boy or girl getting picked on by your older sibling. Then one day, you are stronger, bigger and able to have complete reign over your once bigger sibling. You want revenge. And you want it now. Luckily, parents and family are there to keep you in check. Otherwise, your acts of vindication would hurt everyone involved, including yourself.
This is the image in my head when I read the acts of a few setting policy in our state. All they have to do is turn it into a partisan issue, keep their foot on the gas, and it will indeed become law. I am thinking of a purported child molester going into a women’s restroom right behind a small child, as a rationale for supporting HB 600. Never mind the jackasses responsible for creating the video. The politics of fear is alive and well in our state. Childish.
Yes, they have been given the keys to the new car. Yes, they can drink Jack Daniels all day. Yes, they can drink a handle of Jack Daniels and then drive the new car. Most 16-21 year olds might think that it’s ok. Most, if not all, reasonable adults would not. Republicans see no need to negotiate, compromise, or otherwise put our state’s best foot forward. They’re simply too busily engaged in the politics of revenge. They have no fear of the returning sentiment becoming reality after redistricting.
The prevailing sentiment in a nutshell: “we can do whatever we want, when we want because we have the numbers and members necessary to do so.” Nana nana booboo. Former Rep., now Sen. Campfield never got a bill to the floor of the House when R’s were in minority. Closest he ever got was to Calendar & Rules. Then, it was sent back to committee. Now, the Senator is passing legislation. His ideas haven’t gotten better with age.
At some point very soon, the rest of the family needs the adults in each chamber to take the keys away until you show a maturity necessary to keep our state out of the ditch that is the laughing stock of national punch lines. You’re not embarrassed, but the rest of us are.
Bring on adult leadership—we’re a state, not an immature child on a weekend bender seeking revenge. And start treating the rest of us like humans—your extended family. We will all be better for it in the end.
