Political News Feeds
- The latest news releases from Tennessee political parties, candidates and elected officials. If your feed needs to be included here and isn't, let us know.
TN Department of Education Announces School Counselor InstituteEducating the Whole ChildNASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Education is proud to announce the fifth annual Tennessee School Counselor and Administrator Leadership Institute beginning next week in Murfreesboro. This year’s theme, “The 360 Approach: Educating the Whole Child,” addresses the critical need of ensuring that our students are both college- and career-ready. read more [Link]
Governor Bredesen, Commissioner Kisber Announce Expansion of VW Supplier in TennesseeSL Tennessee, LLC to Invest $35 Million and Create 300 New Jobs in Clinton NASHVILLE – Governor Phil Bredesen and Economic and Community Development Commissioner Matt Kisber today joined with executives of SL America to announce a $35 million expansion of SL Tennessee, LLC, a company subsidiary operating in Clinton, Tenn.. The expansion will create 300 new jobs and add ... [Link]
Devaney Statement on Tennessee Democrat Reps Voting to Raise U.S. Debt Limit Another $1.9 TrillionNASHVILLE, TN – Tennessee Republican Party Chairman Chris Devaney issued the following statement after Tennessee Democrats voted to raise America’s debt limit by $1.9 trillion which follows a vote in December to raise the debt limit by $290 billion: “Tennessee Democrats just don’t get it,” said Devaney. “Once again, President Obama and Speaker Pelosi have won out over hard-working families ... [Link]
Recreation Initiative Program Grant Cycle Announced; Workshop Slated for March 3NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation is soliciting Tennessee Recreation Initiative Program grant applications from local governments that do not currently have parks or recreation departments. TRIP grants help communities create recreation opportunities for citizens by assisting with the establishment of a parks department. Applications are due April 15, 2010, and award recipients will be announced in ... [Link]
Print This Post
Feb
3
Will the hyenas resume circling for the non-vacant Cooper seat?
By Nate Rau | Filed Under Jim Cooper, Metro Council
There was an air of disappointment during a Metro Council meeting in November when news circulated that President-elect Obama had tabbed Peter Orszag to be his director of the Office of Management and Budget.
Rep. Jim Cooper had been rumored to be a candidate for the post, a rumor he downplayed rather well. The disappointment stemmed from the fact that seemingly half of Metro’s legislative body expressed interest in running for the potential special election for Cooper’s seat, had he left. Among the Council members interested in a run at the non-vacant seat were Megan Barry, Jerry Maynard, Erik Cole, Jason Holleman and Greg Adkins.
And that was only the Council members interested in the job. There was a handful of other local pols whose names were also floated, often times by the rumored candidates them selves.
Well let the rumor mill start running again. Politico.com lists Cooper as one of a handful of potential candidates to be appointed Obama’s second choice to run the Health and Human Services department.
From Politico on potential replacements after Tom Daschle surprisingly withdrew his name. The other noteworthy name on the list is Gov. Phil Bredesen:
REPLACING DASCHLE?: Potential replacements for Daschle include former Vermont Gov. and DNC Chair Howard Dean, Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen, Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, former Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber and Rep. Jim Cooper (D-Tenn.). (4:26 p.m.)
AC Kleinheider pointed out that Cooper, who has long been invested in health care issues, would probably prefer to stay in congress as a strong independent voice. Perhaps this time there will be more restraint among those interested in the potential opening.
Comments
4 Responses to “Will the hyenas resume circling for the non-vacant Cooper seat?”
Comments Policy: The City Paper does not moderate comments before they appear on Nashville City Blogs and bears no responsibility or liability for comments posted by our readers. We do use an automatic spam filter and a dirty-words scrubber to screen out foul language. Comments with more than three hyperlinks may be automatically rejected as spam. Please stay on topic and play nice. Foul language and personal attack are not welcome here and egregious violations may result in your comment being deleted.
Leave a Reply
[...] Will the hyenas resume circling for the non-vacant Cooper seat? : Political Animals writes February 3rd, 2009 3:51 pm [...]
The problems with the recent ‘recants’ of key senior appointees to the Obama Cabinet (such as Daschle and Killefer, after Bill Richardson) is that it could eventually have an adverse effect upon our popular, beloved, and revered new President; Mr Barrack Huisein Obama. In my synopsis here I’ll offer info about the possible extroardinary and unmentioned causes of the recants (other than Tax Woes; the expressed culprit), the ‘transitionary’ nature of the current Cabinet ensemble, and the ways that it will wear on the President. Let me say that I can empathise fully (as a downtrodden politico myself) and that he must keep his chin up (even if unto death or dismemberment).
Firstly I would mention that Senator Tom Daschle is as popular, sophisticated, and qualified an individual as could possibly have been named for the Health and HS post (from a political representation and personability perspective). He has always been professionally popular, especially with the liberal Women in power/ US Senate, and has never had his resolve tested as it is today, this minute.
As for cheating on US Income taxes it is something that I have never done and would not be associated with myself (though these guys would, all else being unseen).
The fact is that these ‘appointees’ are sumarilly subjected to a barrage of torturous tactics from many angles of opposition, as could include physical attacks upon their family, their freinds, and their own person. It might be right-wing cops using spiders on people, in their sleep. It could be slight torture impossible to prove against the adversaries and yet unbearable from a working productivity perspective. It would prompt them to save what is left of their previous prominence, instead of possibly loosing all happiness potential. In the case of the ‘Killefer appointment’ it was merely a ‘comfy cozy’ relationship to last for just a while; hopefully 2 years (this is merely my opinion, of course).
The ‘Transitionary’ nature of the initial and present Cabinet of the Obama Administration is selected of persons whom could effectively help to keep the government from braking down completely (as always has been a remote possibility). Appointees such as Leon Panetta (Public Relations?) and AG Holden are drawn from the previous Clinton Administration. They are good and logical selections; yet are obviously not a part of the Conservative Right nor ‘common-man’ middle, politicly. The ‘participation level’ of Voters has hovered below 30% of all possible or registered voters for many years, if not also from the beginning of the american / US Democratic experience. The possibility of a ‘Balk’ or a ‘no-confidence’ rendering of the actions to now take place loom largely and horrificly over then nation and the world (even amid the wildly popular pre-emminence of the President, personally). Society has always been just a few steps away from ‘Anarchy”, Despostism, and eventually Dictatorship (to be saved only by enlightened revolutionaries). Mr Obama has taken on the highest calling in the Human World and it will wear on him similar to every previous State Executive; if not worse. He could be killed or, perhaps worse, completely immobilized and discredited; rendered powerless but for some shady power sharing role. He might actually have to give up all possible Happiness potential. Surrender is an option similar to a well planned ‘Bankruptcy’.
What he has to do, in my opinion a task for which he is naturally endowed and previously so very successful, is to hold his head high; to consider the down side yet keep his foucus on the up-and-up. And maybe take a drink now and then. Cheer Wine.
“It might be right-wing cops using spiders on people, in their sleep.”
Chandler, you owe me a new computer screen.
Somebody PLEEEASSE send Jim Cooper to the Obama Administration and get him the hell out of a perfectly good Congressional seat.