Metro Pulse/Ear to the Ground

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Whose Skull Got Dug Here

Political punditry being what it is...and isn't, the Halls Shopper's Sandra Clark and the News-Sentinel's Georgiana Vines each weighed in on the late decision by incumbent County Commissioner Larry Stephens not to campaign for reelection against a fellow Republican he encouraged to run against him.

The facts aren't in dispute. Stephens and political newcomer Rob Sanders, a surveyor, both say they talked about Sanders' candidacy, and at length agreed that Sanders should run against Stephens, rather than for the 6th District seat held by Democrat Mark Cawood. Stephens waited until way past the filing deadline, then withdrew, saying he'll support Sanders, although Stephens' name may still appear on the ballot.

The maneuver allows for Sanders to run unopposed, unless there's a big write-in, but it was not described as a deliberate bait-and-switch, nor hinted that there might have been a scam at work, by Vines in her N-S column. Clark, however, whose weekly paper serves the 6th District, was more direct in her response:

"Whether intentional or not, and I guess we'll never know for sure, this switcheroo ranks right up there with the best political skullduggery that's ever happened in Knox County."

St. Pat and the Winners

Pat Summitt swore there was "not a stitch of green anywhere on my body" for her team's St. Patrick's Day NCAA Tournament matchup with Notre Dame Sunday, so Lady Vol freshman Michelle Muñoz decided to take the luck thing into her own hands. When Summitt issued her green disclaimer in the post-game press conference, junior Kara Lawson, broke into a big 89-50 grin. "Mooney did," she said. Mu�oz, blushing, pulled the neck of her jersey over and revealed Tennessee's secret weapon—a green sports bra. "Whatever works," Summitt said. Well, the Irish wore green uniforms that shouted, "Irish," and they were coached by a lass named Muffet McGraw. So much for the effect of icons on outcomes.

St. Pat and the Wannabes

Just when Republicans thought it was safe to answer their phones, there's a job opening and Lamar! and his fund-raisers are at it again. Former governor, UT president and 0-fer-2 presidential candidate Lamar Alexander, who once said the only two jobs that interested him were the presidencies of the University of Tennessee and the U.S.A., is in all-out campaign mode seeking the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Fred Thompson. Suddenly he's everywhere, including a seminar last weekend at the Museum of Appalachia, where he gave an energetic speech and touted his name recognition, citing a Whit Ayres poll of 500 general election voters and 500 Republican primary voters showing Alexander way out in front of any likely contender, including likely Democrat nominee-to-be Bob Clement.

On the same evening, Clement was represented by the Democrats' former 7th District state Sen. Bill Owen (a probable 7th District state Senate candidate) at, believe it or not, the Tennessee Conservative Union's St. Paddy's Day meeting. TCU Chairman Lloyd Daugherty is a strong supporter of incumbent 7th District state Sen. Tim Burchett, but he is also close to Clement, who is Lamar!'s likely opponent in November. Daugherty has been an Alexander b�te noire for many years.