Aides to Bredesen Say White House Is Considering Governor
It's an exaggeration to say the White House and Gov. Phil Bredesen are in serious discussions, as the Atlantic is reporting. But aides to Bredesen acknowledge there is some level of talk with the White House over the possibility that the governor might replace Tom Daschle as President Obama's health and human services secretary. "There have been indirect feelers both ways," one Bredesen administration source tells Pith.
Sources say the White House is examining the public record for Bredesen's views on health care reform, but has not yet asked the governor to submit any information. Aides insist Bredesen was truthful with reporters yesterday when he claimed he'd had no contact, even with Obama intermediaries, over the HHS job. The governor apparently hasn't talked with anyone yet personally.
They say Bredesen is indicating he'd take the job as long as he would lead Obama's ambitious health-care agenda like Daschle was supposed to do. That's what the governor told reporters last night at the Tennessee Press Association meeting.
"If it were a case of really being able to help in some fundamental way, something I really believe in which is to create universal health care, I certainly would think about it and talk about it. If it's a matter of administering a big, huge bureaucracy, I've already got that job."
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Really? Why would they even consider considering Bredesen?
Posted On: Friday, Feb. 6 2009 @ 1:21PMAnd just how exactly is Bredesen going to do what Daschle was going to do? Ahem, Daschle was majority/minority leader. Bredesen has none of those chops for getting a massive piece of legislation through a Byzantine maze of personalities and politics. He doesn't even believe in universal health care, does he? How could he lead this fight anywhere except over a cliff? He understands how HMOs work, which as we all know is to drive down prices by aggressive negotiation with providers and then denying coverage to people who are actually really sick. Or preferably just cherry-picking the well folks and hurling the sick ones into a Dante-like abyss. Somehow, I don't think that's exactly the model Obama is envisioning, although it is indeed a combination of public and private.
Posted On: Friday, Feb. 6 2009 @ 1:26PMHe is the wrong choice! In Tennessee, the acceptable standards of health care are abysmal at best. Tennessee ranks in the bottom ten of states concerning health care and it's not a surprise after I've seen what is being sold ( in East Tennessee ) isn't what's being told in misleading advertising. Buyer beware.
www.wisecountyissues.com
What a dynamic choice he would make. I certainly hope his advice on health care would be better than his political advice.
We are moving closer to government by troglodytes thanks to his advice to Obama to forget Tennessee. If Obama is truly smart he will continue to ignore Tennessee and Phil.
You can't blame Phil for wanting to escape his elected responsibilities. It can't be much fun supervising the collapse of state government.
Leaving the governor's office to Ron Ramsey will certainly nail down his legacy as a governor the republicans really appreciate.
This guy is making a joke of this state and now he wants to escape.
Change we are befuddled by.
Posted On: Friday, Feb. 6 2009 @ 5:19PMPhil Bredesen does not believe in science, as he usually lets undereducated people some office decide whether someone is eligible or even needs treatment. He takes the decision away from the treating practitioner that if more aware of health conditions regarding the person, and away from the person that is requesting the treatment. Usually the person that is requesting the treatment is the one that is also experiencing pain and considerable hardship from the illness or condition. Let's all keep in mind he also was flown to a very high rated medical center for a tick bite. If I get a tick bite I am very lucky to even get a doctor appointment or medication. Is this considered universal? or even ethical considering he killed off many people in 2005 that were critically ill. And let's not forget that many doctors left the state because they were run out of business here, especially in rural areas.
Posted On: Saturday, Feb. 7 2009 @ 1:36PM
