Libertarians of the Year
Radley Balko chooses the Libertarian Heros of 2003.
It is a somewhat surprising list as it contains the name of Harold Ford, Jr. Anyone familiar with the Tennessee Ford family will be shocked to see this name spoken highly of.
The Fords ran Memphis for many years, but have branched out to Nashville and Washington of late. One Ford was given a pass after shooting at a trucker on I-40, the major artery between Nashville and Memphis. Another was given a pass after threatening utilities workers with a shotgun as they attempted to perform repairs on the easement of a Ford property. The list of Ford indiscretions is long.
But Harold Ford does seem to be cut from different cloth. Seem is the operative word.
He speaks impressively, both in person and during television interviews. He is soft-spoken and gives reasoned, thoughtful responses.
However, his inclusion on the list is due to his rhetoric. The author says, “If his voting record ever aligns with his rhetoric, he could emerge as an important voice of reason in a party too consumed with class warfare and entitlement culture.”
That is a mighty big if.
Harold Ford reminds me of a snake oil salesman — or perhaps just a snake. A particularly slimy and venomous one, at that.
In speaking to TFA members (this year? Perhaps last year) he said that he had never joined the NRA because he had never been “invited” to do so.
Neither have I, but I joined nevertheless.
Harold Ford is one to watch. His name was mentioned as a candidate for House Minority Leader when it was up for grabs (Pelosi beat him out). His name will become nationally known in the next ten years. He is young and puts a good face on the party.
He frightens me because I don’t trust him any further than I can chuck a feather under water.
Have you heard anything about Ford being a potential running mate for ‘Ducky’ Dean? (possibly in Duckie’s vain attempt to garner southern votes)
There have been some rumblings around about this but no real in depth commentary on it yet. However just as Tennessee turned it’s back on ‘hometown boy’ Gore in 2000, I’m sure the same would happen for Ford too giving each one’s history.
Ford was born 11 May 1970, meaning that if Dean won Ford would be 34 at the time of taking the oath of office in 2005. Although there are no age requirments for VP laid out in the constitution, the 12th Amendment clearly states that the vice-president must meet the criteria of elegibility for President.
That would leave Ford out of the running for this election cycle.
Ford is a DLC Clinton-clone; sounds moderate but acts liberal when he can. It’s his youth, manner and ethnicity that make him so appealing to Dems, and to television talkshows. His run against Pelosi was doomed from the get-go, as he has no real political base nationally; even in Tennessee his base is a narrow piece of Shelby County and the hopes of other Dems. Ford ran against Pelosi only to get his name and face out there. He had no expectations of actually winning. He’s still working his way up the ladder. The run was a bit of an over-reach, but not harmful.
The first generation of Fords were incredibly politically ambitious, and successful. Harold Ford, Sr., basically handed his Congressional seat to his son, like king to prince. But so far as I know, the only second-generation Ford to follow that up is Harold Jr. He was “to the manor born,” as they say. I have friends who have dealt with him over the years, including police run-ins, who describe him as privileged and arrogant. It’s the Ford gene; he’s just much, much better at controlling it.
He’s young and got a long way to go, still. I suspect he’ll be the “new face” of the Democratic party after 2008 and Hillary’s run for President. They will want to come across as moderate after the present lurch to the Left. That will be his time. He’s made noises about running for Frist’s seat, but the early word was that he’s not well-known enough around the rest of the State, he carries the Ford stink (deservedly or not), and he’s from Memphis/Shelby County. In the rest of Tennessee, being black from here is tantamount to being every stereotype of criminal, lazy, stupid and greedy. Plus, the State is going Republican.
Watch for him in 2012.
“That would leave Ford out of the running for this election cycle.”
Well – that goes into my WILT (what I learned today) file.
Thanks for the clarification.
Well put, Mike. Ford’s name was thrown up as a possible replacement for Thompson (which Alexander got) but as you say, he just doesn’t have the name recognition across the state. But his family is making a killing in Nashville “consulting” for the state government. They are powerful and becoming more so. I think you are right — 2012 or so will be about the right time for his next big move. In the meantime, more Sunday talk shows — a lot more.
Ford Theater
Robert Prather approvingly notes Radley Balko’s praise of Tennessee representative Harold Ford Jr. as one of his Libertarian Heroes of 2003. Quoth Balko: Ford makes this list more for his rhetoric and his potential than his actual voting record. …
Believe it or not, Harold Ford, Jr., is very popular in in all of west Tennessee as well as middle Tennessee. His moderate appeal may convince the conservatives in the east to ‘trust’ him. It’s possible, once he gains more face, for him to win a statewide office. His best route is to run for governor when Bredesen (sp?) resigns.