Rep. Lincoln Davis A No For Governor
Posted on January 29, 2009 at 7:17 pmA presser confirms what everyone had pretty much figured:
After discussions with family and friends, and spending some time alone in prayer, I have come to the conclusion that I can be of better service to the state I love by remaining in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Anyone seeking a higher office has to consider not only what they can do in their new position, but what they give up for the people they represent. As a new member of the House Appropriations Committee, I will have a significant opportunity to practice fiscal responsibility of our nation’s finances and assure the priorities of my rural constituents are heard loud and clear. This recent appointment is an opportunity for the district I represent that I could not easily turn away from. Moreover, I can continue making sure Oak Ridge National Lab, Arnold Air Force Base, the University of Tennessee Space Institute and other regional needs have committed representation in Washington.
I believe our future Governor will need to be a good manager of our state’s resources, be a good ambassador, and surround him or herself with people of good character. Additionally, our State Constitution says that every child should be afforded equal access to a good education, which I hope will be the centerpiece of the incoming administration. Governor Bredesen has done an exceptional job given the mess he inherited and our current economic troubles.
My decision not to run for Governor does not take away from my unflinching commitment to the state of Tennessee, where I have spent my entire life. I will continue to travel the state, and seek out ways for me to best serve the people of Tennessee.
While Davis had more or less said before the start of even the 2008 election cycle that he would likely be a candidate for Governor in 2010, recent events indicated he probably would not, in fact, be a candidate.
As cited in the presser, Davis’s appointment to the powerful Appropriations Committee certainly played a big role. Other factors likely to have affected his decision was the historic (almost) handover of the state legislature to the Republicans and the handover of his own party to a radical band of Obama activists in stark rebuke of his wishes.
Also, the unfortunate verbal gaffe of his chief of staff, Beecher Fraiser, over then candidate Obama’s alleged “terrorist connections” and the resulting fallout probably didn’t help either.
SEE ALSO:
Jeff Woods
Tom Humphrey
Herman Wang
Comments
19 Responses to “Rep. Lincoln Davis A No For Governor”
Way to go, Chip Forrester! Thank you for running this DINO out of the race for governor. We don’t need anyone as conservative as Lincoln Davis running our state.
He’s not a DINO. He’s a conservative, yes, but Lincoln Davis has never shied away from the Democratic brand. He has a very powerful spot in Congress right now and is likely perfectly content to remain there rather than risk it all on a gubernatorial run.
And somehow, if Lincoln Davis really wanted to run for Governor, I think Chip Forrester would be the last person standing in his way.
Not so fast, GoldnI. A.C. and Alex are on to something. Davis was breathing all hot and heavy to run for governor until the Chipinistas took over his party. A week hasn’t passed since Chip became chair and Davis is out? Coincidence? I doubt it.
Then again, would you want to run a statewide race with these incompetent wingnuts running your party and an income-tax loving effete weiner as your party’s public face?
I tell you, Chip keeps piling up the victories. Five days on the job and it already looks like Tennessee Democrats won’t win another election for at least a generation.
Agreed. Chip blamed Lincoln, Bredesen, Gordon, et al, for last year’s losses. Now candidates are thinking twice about throwing in with the left wing-controlled TNDP. What a disaster. Meanwhile: Where is Chip in his candidate recruitment? He’s apparently a genius at that, if you believe the Executive Committee. Time to step up Chip.
On a serious note, who are the Democrats left with? Harold Ford? And how on Earth is the Democratic Party going to support him after Forrestor thumbed his nose at him as well? It’s not looking good. What few people are left, Forrestor has alienated.
Of course, Forrester put Davis out of the governor’s race. Davis is anti-income tax. Anyone against an income tax has no place in the power structure of Forrester’s new order for Tennessee. Forrester may be the most extreme party chair in state history.
Well good rid-ens to the pro-life, anti gay rights, anti OBAMA (the leader of the Democratic party) DINO. He didnt endorse the Presidential candidate of his own party and he was gonna have hell to pay for it. Ana don’t worry its only these three or four guys on here that are trying to cause chaos and havoc on the blogs because the have no insight or ability to maneuver within their own party.
One week does not make a chairmanship.
Works for me. The 4th district is a tough one for a Democrat to hold. And Davis is too conservative for me as Governor. In fact, if he ran against Bill Haslam, the more liberal candidate would be Bill Haslam.
“Other factors likely to have affected his decision was the historic (almost) handover of the state legislature to the Republicans and the handover of his own party to a radical band of Obama activists in stark rebuke of his wishes.”
Kleinheider, you ignorant slut. Why don’t you come out from inside Hobbsie’s pants and try being impartial again….
There is one reason and one reason only that Lincoln Davis is not running for Governor. The same reason that Chip Saltsman is no longer running for RNC chair. The same reason that Frist didn’t run for Pesident…
He knew he couldn’t win.
All of ACK’s reasons, ScottJ, are perfectly valid. TNDP is no longer a factor, and its absence as a political force in Tennessee will be a handicap for any Democratic candidate. His Goober Pyle doofus Chief of Staff put the nail in his coffin as far as Tennessee’s black voters are concerned. He would have no statewide Democratic base, and Republicans will want t vote for a real GOPer, not a “me too” semi-Democrat.
It doesn’t take long on the blogs to see that the angry left is most definitely in Forrester’s corner. Frankly, I’m deeply troubled. Whether you agree or disagree with Lincoln Davis or Harold Ford, Jr. on a given matter of policy, they are the Democrats two best chances of holding the governor’s office, but it looks as if the Forrester extremists have run both of them out of the race. What do they plan now? If they’re looking for ideological purity, their pool of candidates is very small, and, to be quite honest, a pure liberal can’t win a statewide race in Tennessee. This is not a good situation.
No one has run Harold Ford Jr. off. When did Chip Forrester say the hell with Ford Jr. He didnt. he didnt say it about Davis either. Since when are you an extremist for supporting your party Chair???? If everyone is so concerned know, where were you doing Bob Tuke’s term, Randy Button or Gray Sasser for that matter?
Chip definitely insulted Harold. Chip said Harold, Bredesen, Davis and others were the reason Obama lost Tennessee. He blamed their so-called “failed tactics.” And the Executive Committee members fell for it hook, line and sinker. Here’s a question for the Obama wingnuts in the room … You’re pretty torn up about the people you call DINOs. But what about Chip’s exec committee supporters who called Obama a terrorist? Or who refused to cast their delegate votes for him at the convention? You should be thanking Harold, Phil, Lincoln, Bart, et al, for providing the statesmen-like counter-balance to those idiots. Instead, you criticize. Sayonara Democratic Party in Tennessee.
Chip, you might want to pick a few less shrill bloggers to defend you. I’ll give the ones you have credit. You have definitely taught them how to talk out of both sides of their mouths.
Ok, Chipinista, listen up. We’re going to review the media plan again.
1. Money people - bad.
2. Democrats that win elections - bad.
3. We didn’t run the money people or the Democrats that win elections out of the party, even though we think they are bad.
4. Scream “RACIST!!!!”
5. Repeat #4 as necessary.
6. Use exclamation points liberally.
Where did all the trolls come from? I’ll bet they work for firms on the TNDP gravy train who have been cut off, and care not one whit about how the party is run.
Davis realizes A) he could be in the majority in Congress for a long time and B) could move up so C) it’s presumably less stresssful as a Congressman than a Governor so D) he opted out.
As to the trolls: when you say it’s not about the money, it’s about the money.
His vote on the stimulus/spending bill disallusioned a lot of potential voters so he is best sticking to what he has in hand.
Nice conspiracy theories, fellow blogheads, but they have no relationship to reality.
The hard fact is that Speaker Pelosi’s appointment of Lincoln to a plum spot on the Appropriations committee came with the commitment that Lincoln was going to serve for a minimum of two years.
Lincoln gave up his plans to run for Governor a while ago. Forrester’s election had nothing to do with it.
Word was spreading like wildfire among executive committee members last weekend that if Forrester won, Davis was out. Might want to check up on that.
Crub, I want his house seat for the GOP.
Have to wait till 2012 redistricting. Prepare for far less of your precious democrats.