Maybe Alexander will be too occupied with real estate speculation to mount a formidable campaign.

i'm voting for mike in the democratic primary.
if he wins in the general too

Mikey ain't qualified. Mikey ain't known outside Knox County and the people of Knox County remember the fact that he ignored the peoples will for term limits.

Vote out the Good Ole Boy, Mikey. Vote for Lamar!

"Mikey" is the only Knox politician (other than Mary Lou Horner) who had the guts to walk off when the decision came down upholding term limits.

Lamar! can't hold Padgett's boot strap. Plus, this is a Democratic year. If you don't believe me, just pay attention to the voter turnout in the primaries.

Being in Bristol, and having interacted with his staff, I can assure you that defeating Team Lamar will be an uphill battle.

Trouble is, Lamar Alexander is a totally useless politician. He has never done anything. He never comes to Sullivan county. He is a Shadow Senator if ever there was one.

When one does nothing, one's chances of doing something incredibly stupid are severely diminished.
Lamar has little dirt (other than just being a Repig) that could be used against him. How could he? He never leaves his office unless he's voting or taking a dump.

Glad to hear that someone is going to try and they have my vote. I don't care who they are.

"The mind is like a parachute, it only works when it's open."

I told a friend last week I had sworn off blogs, but I'll weigh in on our good Senator Lamar.

Mike Padgett is a nice guy. Mark Padgett, Mike's son, ran Bob Clement's campaign against Alexander in East Tennessee in 2002. I was Lamar's local campaign Chairman. Clement had tremendous statewide name recognition, connections to serious money and was a former Congressman near a populous part of the state. Lamar "death grip" Alexander spanked Clement in that race. You'd think Mark would have some words of wisdom for dear old dad.

Mike Padgett doesn't have the name recognition, money connections or experience that Bob Clement had. Things haven't changed that much for Lamar. While I wouldn't take any candidate lightly, Alexander should win a second term handily.

'Now, where's my plaid shirt...'

I told a friend last week I had sworn off blogs,...

So that's your way out of confronting a few inconvenient truths (heh). Cut and run (heh heh).

We'll try and remember you for your more honest and thoughtful debates. Hell, who am I kidding. No we won't. We'll remember you for your overriding, brown-nose loyalty to the lowest rated president of at least the last 60 years.

Word was Padgett might run for County Mayor in 2010. I figure he would have a better shot at that. But at least we have someone. It might be better to actually have a West Tn. Democrat run for the Senate. They love Lamar in Blount Co. and don't know Padgett there. OH, Mark Padgett was the local coordinator for BREDESEN not Clement in 2002, I worked with him.

Note to self: Do not die while blogging at this location. Too many grave-stompers. R.I.P., CBT. :)

Larry Van Guilder

"I'll get back to you real soon after my court case"

Dear "Factchecker", I did respond over the weekend as promised. I explained I had work commitments and, unlike you and others who post here regularly, I can't spend each day responding to questions or fetching information like a labrador retreiver.

My comment as to blogs had nothing to do with that other thread, but does have something to do with anonymous folks like you who blast away on this blog (and possibly others). It also has much to do with the fact that anonymous blog posters (with catchy names like 'Factchecker', 'Mr. McBeavy' or 'Bizzygirl') make assumptions about others based on black and white type, knowing little or nothing about those they are 'conversing' with. I'm not sure that's for me.

And to "metulj" in New Jersey, I'm not sure what role UT plays in the "political economy" of East Tennesee, but it is obviously a major educator, research institute, employer and recreation destination.

This is off-topic and doesn't have anything to do with Padgett running. Mike's a nice guy, but from ousted County Clerk to United States Senate? Not to mention he would be running against a living Tennessee political legend.

This was your response about Bush's lies?! Impressive. Do you think that if I "knew" you, then I'd understand your position to cover up and excuse (be blind toward) Bush's lies? This is a really simple debate. I think most of us around here will acknowledge lies from anyone, Democrat or Republican. You can't do that, at least beyond the border of Knox County or if the liar's name is Bush. Your credibility will always be in doubt as long as you keep coddling that small minded bully. Do you always automatically take up for O.J. Simpson too? He hasn't lied, has he? At least, nobody could "prove" he did.

I've been pretty consistent about respecting people's points of view here, unless they are trolls. (Disagreeing is something else, and I'm not shy about taking an opposing viewpoint. No apologies there.) I've refrained, though, from "piling on" you in more KV debates than you know. I think it's important to find common ground with people from the opposing side wherever it's possible, and when we've agreed over the years I've said so. I don't remember you ever supporting my position on anything, though maybe that just means you've never seen anything from me to agree with, or that I have a short memory--whatever. But I won't sit idle when you post GOP talking points that might as well have come directly from Karl Rove.

Anyway, if you want to blame your inability to defend your views on my anonymity or lack of personal relationship with you, that's your prerogative and your problem.

But you all are missing the point. Mikey makes a good pot of chili. How many bowls of Mikey's chili have you eatin' CBT?