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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsRequiem for a Senator: How Lamar Alexander maneuvered himself into the dustbin of history
February 6, 2020
By Kenneth Neill- Commentary
I first met Lamar Alexander almost exactly forty years ago, when i was a cub reporter for Memphis magazine, and he was but one year into his first term as Governor of Tennessee. He served one more, then became president of the University of Tennessee, after which he served as Secretary of Education under George H.W. Bush, before moving on to three terms in the Senate. He is retiring at the end of this year.
If there is a more popular politician in the Volunteer State, I know not who it would be. When I wrote him a note a couple weeks ago, urging him to vote for documents and testimony in the Trump impeachment trial, I reminded him that, while I was a lifelong Democrat, I had voted for Alexander more often than not when his name was on the ballot.
It was difficult for me, however, to watch the contortions the Senator went through last week as the impeachment trial was winding down. For a few hours there, it appeared that Alexander was leaning towards voting yes for testimony and witnesses. But by Thursday that particular coach had turned into a pumpkin, as word trickled out that Lamar had decided to vote no on any kind of evidence.
When Senator Alexander finally released his statement, I was reminded of the wisdom of Solomon. While conceding that Trumps behavior regarding aid to Ukraine was inappropriate, Alexander cut the baby neatly in half, asserting there was no need to punish the President so late in his first term. Let the people decide, Alexander pronounced, in effect ending the chances of new evidence being introduced into the Senate trial.
Let the people decide, Lamar said. That thought kept running through my mind while I listened to Trumps bizarre victory speech earlier today at the White House. Evidently, only some people will decide. The President launched a celebration of sorts, uplifting his friends and supporters, of course, but demeaning his political enemies, named and unnamed, in a fashion never before seen inside that two-century-old building.
It seemed just the right time to send my senior Senator a follow-up letter, and so, having grown tired of listening to Trump howling at the moon in broad daylight, I did just that:
https://www.rawstory.com/2020/02/requiem-for-a-senator-how-lamar-alexander-maneuvered-himself-into-the-dustbin-of-history/
redstateblues
(10,565 posts)Ive been a Tennessean during Alexanders career and I held out hope that he would do the right thing. What a pitiful way to end a long career.
cry baby
(6,682 posts)spooky3
(34,427 posts)is for good men (and women) to do nothing."
https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/edmund_burke_377528
UniteFightBack
(8,231 posts)CatMor
(6,212 posts)but instead took the cowards way out. I dont know how these guys and gals sleep at night.
bluestarone
(16,894 posts)His WHOLE career!
crickets
(25,959 posts)The people decided when we voted for the representatives who were supposed to, ya know, represent us at just such a moment. They chose not to. Senator Alexander and every other Senator who hid behind "let the people decide" abdicated their responsibilities. They deserve every letter like this one.