The NYT features a piece (Frist Is Treading a Perilous Path Leading to 2008) on the Senate Majority Leader’s quest for the White House.
The piece rightly points out, as I did some time back, that that position of Majority Leader is a singularly poor platform for launching a presidential bid. This is a problem for Frist, although I don’t think it is his main one.
I have long thought that he acts like a politician who wants to be president for the sake of being president and is looking for a reason to justify that desire, rather than someone who wants to accomplish certain tasks, and therefore is driven to seek the White House. As such, I find the following rather amusing, if not disingenuous:
“That’s the biggest challenge, when people say I can’t give a speech, I’m not a politician. I didn’t come here to be a politician.”
It is always amusing when politicians try to say that they aren’t politicians. Indeed, there is nothing wrong with being a politician–the issue is really what kind of politician is one going to be? (Although he is right: his speech-giving skills leave something to be desired).
And in terms of political skills, I am not sure that this list is going to catapult him into the front of the race:
Besides the two Supreme Court confirmations, he gave himself credit for the Medicare prescription drug bill, tort law changes including legal immunity for gun manufacturers and a class-action bill, and transportation and energy legislation.
I think it is dubious as to the degree to which he can claim credit for the SCOTUS confirmations and the Medicare drug plan isn’t exactly popular with the base. The gun stuff will play with a certain segment of the GOP electorate, but is hardly exciting stuff, and the transportation and energy bills were both pork-fests.
This is not the stuff of an electrifying campaign.
And, for that matter, he is going to run into the whole “where’s your foreign policy experience?” question, which is going to be key in 2008.
Frist may not quite be toast yet, but he is getting crispier by the moment.
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April 3rd, 2006 at 9:29 am
If anything, Mccain can take credit for the SCOTUS nominations, since he was the leader of he “Gang of 14.”
April 3rd, 2006 at 9:50 am
Per our gentleman’s bet, I think Edwards and First have about equal chances, but I give Edwards an edge.
I think the front runners will be two people we don’t expect at this point.
April 3rd, 2006 at 9:53 am
Mmmmm, I love the smell of crisping toast in the morning. I loved that feature of your blog, and look forward to watching toast with you in 2008.
April 3rd, 2006 at 10:22 am
It shall return.
I am toying with the idea of Congressional Toast-O-Meter as well.
We shall see how it goes.
April 3rd, 2006 at 1:21 pm
Frist jumped the shark when he stood before the Senate and made a prognosis on Terry Shaivo’s condition on the basis of a few minutes of video tape. Once a hack, always a hack.