Sen. Lamar Alexander could be facing his toughest challenge in his 36-year political career heading into the Tennessee Republican primary next month. ( I'd say that his 35 stop bus tour shows THIS IS HIS TOUGHEST CHALLENGE in 36 years, he's not doing that because he wants to)
The two-term senator — who also has served as governor, U.S. Secretary of Education, and has run for the White House twice — has six opponents in the Aug. 7 contest, The Hill reports. (36 years in government, I would just call him the Penultimate Politician, and that's not a good thing)
Alexander, 74, is the clear favorite, but tea party-backed state Rep. Joe Carr is seen as his strongest challenger.
Carr is pitching himself to voters as the candidate who would bring new ideas to a Washington that has changed greatly during Alexander's years of public service. He is a business consultant in Murfreesboro who was first elected to the Tennessee House in 2008.
He has been endorsed by conservative radio talk-show host Laura Ingraham, who hosted a rally for him in Nashville this week, and by former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.
"Thank you, Lamar Alexander, for the respect and integrity you’ve shown in your many years of public service in Washington," Palin began in a Facebook post this week. "With the new challenges in D.C., the time has come for new leaders who are willing to stand up to the political establishments and the Obama administration and say, 'no mas!'
"Unfortunately, advocating and voting for amnesty, cash for clunkers, bailouts, raising the debt ceiling, and many controversial Obama administration nominees has marred the incumbent’s record.
"Joe Carr is the new voice Tennessee needs in the U.S. Senate!" the 2008 Republican vice presidential candidate declared.
But Carr doesn't have strong financial backing from powerful outside super PACs, though the Tea Party Patriots Citizens Fund announced that it was spending $20,000 on a get-out-the-vote effort for Carr, the Tennessean reports. (Just remember, Eric Cantor spent 5 million, Eric Brat spent 300,000...money is not the be all that ends all like it use to be...but I digress)
Without big-bucks backing, however, Carr may not be able to topple Alexander because of his strong popularity throughout the state, the Hill reports. (I suspect George I-Want-To-Win-A-National-Election-So-Bad-I-Will-BLOW-my-millions-to-do-it-even-though-I-will-be-a-spoiler Flinn will be more of what you are talking about. If Carr loses, it won't be because of Alexander's "strong popularity throughout the state", it will be the nature of the ugly beast of politics which favors incumbents & the GOP's avid desire to crush the tea party. By the way, good luck with the whole crushing an idea thing...you are going to need it)
"He’s always had the people of Tennessee in mind, (surely you jest...he cares only about the elite gravy train that sustains so many of you in the ruling class...that is all) and the people know that," Fern Keasler, a resident of Maryville and a longtime Alexander supporter, told the Hill. "It’s going to take more than Joe Carr or anybody else to beat him. Lamar don’t need the job, the job needs Lamar." (HAHAHAHAHA Fern Keasler told a funny...moving on)
But Jamie Daly, who’s running for the Blount County Commission, doesn't see it that way.
"He started out OK, but in the last 10 years he seems to be like one of the good ol' boys," she told the Hill. "He just votes whatever is good for him. He’s not voting for values that are important to Tennessee." (Jamie Daly on the other hand told an undeniable truth. She nailed it..."THE GOOD OL' BOYS!)
For his part, Alexander cast himself as a "conservative with an independent streak," the Hill reports. (Conservative??? OMG if I see Lamar & the word conservative in another sentence my head is going to explode. I need a laugh & so do you. For your viewing entertainment Lamar..."The Conservative" bit.ly/1psWnMt)
"The difference is that there are conservatives who want to make a speech and conservatives who want to govern, and I’m in the latter category." (In order to be a conservative who wants to govern OR a conservative who wants to give a speech..you have to 1st be a conservative. See the previous paragraph for comic relief...)