Lamar! to leave the Senate soon?

[brooklynite]

from the Nashville City Paper:

Chancellor Gordon Gee’s departure from Vanderbilt University for The Ohio State University was a shocker yesterday. Perhaps even more surprising is the man being mentioned by Vanderbilt professorial types to replace him - U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander.

Well placed Nashville sources in both the Republican and Democratic Party say Alexander’s name is being bandied about largely by Vanderbilt staff as a possible replacement for Gee. Let me stress that does not mean Alexander has even mentioned it but that people at the school are talking his name up.

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.

...snip...

Tennessee Democrats would LOVE to have an open U.S. Senate seat in the state in 2008 for Harold Ford Jr. to seek and salvage his once promising political career. He could even be appointed to an open seat by Gov. Phil Bredesen to fill the remainder of Alexander’s term, running with the title “Senator” in front of his name. It would be like Christmas coming early for Tennessee Democrats.

http://politics.nashvillecityblogs.com/?p=62

[saltpoint]

1. I'd be happy to drive Lamar Alexander to the damn airport.

We've had more than enough of this joker as it is.

As for his replacement, I'd prefer as liberal a Democrat as possible.

[xultar]

2. I don't want to see Ford run again. He was a mess.

[indepat]

3. And Ford would have the baggage mess of a convicted family member and

another indicted family member, both involving political corruption.

[xultar]

4. I hate to say it especially about a bruva...but reality is reality and he ain't the one.

He hung in there though but they still need to find someone else. AND FAST. I don't care as long as a D wins.

[cloudbase]

5. To the Nashville City Paper:

The South's most prestigious university is Rice.

You may now return to your cheerleading.

[unc70]

6. Notice the "private" university. Then ...

First the "private" vs "public" restriction. Then comes the definition of "The South."

Rice, Vandy, Emory -- they and a couple of others seem to compete with each other for "Deep" South.

Even with that, there could be serious arguments. Is Duke "Southern"? It was started by the local Methodists as was Emory, while Vanderbilt and Rice were started by rich Yankees.

Vandy is quite good and is certainly quite Southern, although considerably younger (late 1800's) than its public rivals like UVA or UNC or private ones like Emory.