Is Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, going to leave the Senate to become the new Chancellor at Vanderbilt University in Nashville? The rumors are flying in Nashville, though Alexander's camp says there's nothing to it and he's running for re-election in 2008.
But the Nashville City Paper's Clint Brewer explains the attraction of the the Alexander-to-Vanderbilt rumor:
Here is the logic behind the chatter. Alexander is a Tennessee native, a Vandy grad, a former U.S. Secretary of Education and a former University of Tennessee President. That is just on the education side of the ledger. He is of course also a two-time governor and a sitting U.S. Senator. He has the distinction to lead the South’s most prestigious private university but is also a very familiar native of the state. There would be no "get to know you" period.
But, says Brewer, "It is likely a great deal of wishful thinking on the part of factions on both sides of the political aisle.
Alexander did not exactly shine in the amnesty bill debate even though he ended up on the right side and he has consistently disappointed conservatives with his voting record and public positions. I, for one, would like to see someone with more solid conservative beliefs representing Tennessee. Marsha Blackburn for the Senate. Who said that? Oh, wait, that was me.
Posted by: RWBlack | July 13, 2007 5:12 AM | Permalink to Comment