God Bless England

GOD BLESS GREAT BRITAIN
I chose this title because of the terrorist attack that London suffered today. At least 37 killed, 700 wounded, and the death toll will likely rise. It is believed that perhaps this is the doing of a branch of Al Qaeda or a similar terrorist group. Prime Minister Blair has shown resolve, along with his other G8 members, that they will bring the culprits to justice. I hope that PM Blair will handle this as well as President Bush did in the days after 9/11, but not pull something like Bush did with Iraq. Everyone's prayers are with the UK.

(The above picture came from Sen. John Kerry's website, http://www.johnkerry.com/ )

BILL CLINTON 2.0
Who will be the next Bill Clinton? That is a question which preoccupies many Democrats. Will it be John Edwards? Mark Warner? Who? Well, this will become an ongoing project where I will critique all of the Democrats whom I believe could be the next Democrat to unite the nation.

CANDIDATE NUMBER ONE: PHIL BREDESEN


I chose to begin with Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen simply because his name starts with a "B," and I'm going to try to keep it in order.
FULL NAME: Philip Norman Bredesen
CURRENT OFFICE: Governor of Tennessee
BIRTHPLACE: Shortsville, New York
AGE: 61
RELIGION: Methodist
EDUCATION: Harvard University, Bachelor's in Physics
PREV. EXPERIENCE: Nashville Mayor, 1991-1999
CURRENT ANALYSIS: Phil Bredesen was first elected in 2002 over GOP Congressman Van Hilleary. Since then, he has built a reputation as a moderate Democrat and as someone who can handle crisis well. In his first year, he led Tennessee, famous for its fiscal disarray, through the mess without raising taxes, or cutting education funding. In his second year, he expanded pre-Kindergarten programs, reformed Tennessee's workers compensation prgram, and launched a war on the illegal drug methamphetamine, rampant in Northeast Tennessee. His most famous move thus far has been his reigning in of the state's financially troubled public health system, TennCare. He maintained the healthcare for children while cutting some adults who didn't meet the new stricter standards.
P2008 ANALYSIS: Phil Bredesen is pro-2nd amendment, against partial birth abortion and gay marriage, and an avid supporter of both businesses and labor unions. If he enetered the Presidential race, he could focus on the fiscal mess in Washington, DC, and the huge budget defecit and national debt. If a conservative GOPer like Allen or Frist was nominated, they couldn't attack him on his gun stance or abortion stance, two wedge issues Republicans love to use. In closing, I certainly believe Phil Bredesen is a viable candidate, and as a Southern Moderate Governor, he could bring states into play that haven't been in play for over a decade. Please go to his 2002 campaign website for more information, and continue to check it, seeing as how he will eventually put up his 2006 re-election site. http://bredesen.faithsite.com/

That's all for now. The next several posting on this subject will be on General Wesley Clark, Senator John Edwards, Governor Bill Richardson, and Governor Mark Warner.
-N