Visions of U.S. Senate Dancing in Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey's Head?

Senate speaker Ron Ramsey came out today in favor of ending party primaries for the U.S. Senate and giving the power to choose nominees to the legislature's Republican and Democratic caucuses. Can you say U.S. Sen. Ron Ramsey?

I’m going to vote for that. I think that’s an interesting prospect. Anyone would agree, do the polling, Tennessee is being run great. In general, states are being run well. The federal government is completely broken and there’s got to be something done to get their attention, and this may be it.

In a surprise, the bill to do this made it out of committees in both the House and Senate this week. We still don't expect it to pass, but stranger things have happened. In fact, they happen every day here in Bizarro World.

If Republicans are stupid enough to do this, they simultaneously will make it more likely that Democrats will win U.S. Senate seats in Tennessee. That's because Democrats in the legislature probably will nominate moderates while Republicans will go with right-wingers like Ramsey who won't enjoy much statewide appeal.