Posted on 01/07/2003 6:26:01 PM PST by PhiKapMom
Frist Has Busy 1st Day As Majority Leader
By ALAN FRAM
ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON (AP) -
Sen. Bill Frist was at work shortly after 6 a.m. Tuesday, gave a nationally televised interview an hour later and then went for a four-mile run. By early afternoon, two hours after becoming Senate majority leader, he had won his first floor fight against Democrats.
It was the kind of day some lawmakers spend years preparing for. Frist, a Tennessee Republican, had just over two weeks to ready himself to replace Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss., who abruptly resigned following racially charged comments.
"I'm accustomed to different directions in my life," Frist, a heart and lung transplant surgeon, licensed pilot and marathon runner, said in an interview shortly before taking the Senate floor as its leader for the first time.
A senator for eight years, Frist had planned to focus this year on trying to overhaul the financially ailing Medicare program. Some Republicans say he also had begun quietly contemplating a presidential run for 2008.
But when Lott faltered last month, Frist's GOP colleagues coalesced behind him. That launched the 50-year-old on a frantic cram course on how to run a chamber whose Byzantine rules make it unruly and unpredictable.
"I've spent every day getting ready," he said.
For the past two weeks, Frist said, he has read up on the Senate's rules and its history, even meeting last weekend with a Senate historian to study its past majority leaders. In a hunt for advice, he has spoken with Lott and other former majority leaders, including Bob Dole, R-Kan., and Howard Baker, a fellow Tennessee Republican.
He's also spent time on more nuts-and-bolts things - like helping make committee assignments for GOP colleagues, and moving his main office from the Senate Russell Office Building to the Capitol across the street.
The desk his father used for 40 years in his medical practice will probably remain in Russell, Frist said. The omnipresent doctor's pouch - he still performs surgeries and treats victims of emergencies - is already in his Capitol office, across a hallway from the Senate chamber.
"What better Christmas present - not just for you, but for those of us who care about Africa," the rock star Bono wrote by e-mail Tuesday to Frist, congratulating him. The two have visited Africa together to help combat AIDS there.
Frist compared the novelty of his newest job with the first heart transplant he performed, adding, "It was successful, 100 percent."
Even so, Frist seemed unsure of the full extent of his clout. As he rode the elevator on his way to the majority leader's office in the Capitol, he bumped into Baker, who promptly gave him a tour of the leader's suite, which Baker occupied from 1976 to 1984.
Pointing to paintings of prominent Republicans hung in the office by Lott, Frist asked Baker if he could change them.
"It hasn't sunk in on you yet," Baker said. "You can do anything, while you're up here."
After the Senate convened, swore in its 35 new members and finished procedural business, Frist delivered his first speech as majority leader. It included a pledge for a GOP agenda "inclusive of all Americans," similar to remarks several Republicans have made since Lott's ill-fated praise of Strom Thurmond's 1948 segregationist run for president.
"I'm convinced we will find, based on our own principles, common ground" between the two parties, he said.
But minutes later, he got an early lesson on legislating from Democrats when he tried getting agreement for quick passage of a 13-week extension of benefits for long-term jobless workers. A similar measure stalled in Congress just before it adjourned in November.
Frist said Democrats, who favor more generous benefits, had informally agreed Monday evening to let the measure pass. It eventually did after nearly two hours, but only after initial Democratic objections threatened to derail the GOP drive to rapidly pass the bill and move to other issues like President Bush's plans for new tax cuts.
"I guess this is what I can come to expect," a clearly frustrated Frist said to his colleagues when it looked like Democrats might delay the measure.
As the delays continued, Frist returned to his office and said in an interview that he believed Democrats would eventually realize they could not block the new benefits.
"I'm not going to leave them in charge," he said. "I sat there and listened to them for 45 minutes, but I'm not going to sit there for three hours."
Eventually, Democrats relented and the Senate passed the measure by voice vote.
"This should send a signal we're all about action, we're about accomplishment," he said afterward, claiming the first of what he hopes will be many GOP victories on his watch.
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What the hell? Is he new here?
So my question is: WTF?
Great question, though you did not qualify it enough. I presume you mean among currently or recently active politicians. (That means I can't say Thomas Jefferson for president, or even Walter Williams.)
Based on that presumption, I'd probably put Steve Forbes or Phil Gramm for president (both were candidates in the 1996 primaries), Phil Gramm would also be in the running for Majority Leader, with perhaps Dick Armey or Ron Paul for Speaker (I'd like Ron to get over his extreme isolationism first). Others deserving of consideration for one or more of these slots would include Gary Johnson (ex-governor of New Mexico). If you expand to well-known people who are not politicians, I'd like to see what Norman Schwarzkopf could do (do I have his last name spelled right?).
I'm intrigued by Condi Rice, but it's difficult to tell exactly what her true positions are because she is playing hard on Bush's team right now. But she ought to be among the serious candidates to replace Dick Cheney in 2004 if his health doesn't hold up.
That doesn't mean I think these folks are perfect, but they are considerably closer to my ideal than any of the people holding those slots now. I've seen Bill Frist in person (he's my senator) and I predict many freedom-loving people will be disappointed in him. I sincerely hope I'm wrong about that. Time will tell.
Quote of the day?
I disagree!
Before you threaten to send me off to the DU, The Dem's by far do more! Accomplish more?? Not in a world's life time! The Dem's crave doing and controlling everything to the point of dumping everybody's hard earned cash down the sewer while they spin their wheels. IMHO of course.
Trent Lott is a good Senator but as Senate Leader, Bill Frist appears to have the right stuff! I have no doubt that Senator Frist and Dubya' will have a very good working relationship.
Another odd ball here, I don't see how passing something the Democrats were all for a month ago, rates cheering or a victory celebration. When our side does the same thing as the other side it doesn't seem much like a win to me.
Love your tag line ...... that's a great use for our new (or, more precisely, revived) play toy.
Listen, read, and watch more closely and THEN compare the numbers! :)
I remember about a year ago when everybody was screaming because Dubya' was giving up the ship! He didn't. Shrewd, VERY shrewd playing going on!
Dang I missed that!
Is there a replay scheduled?
I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Forbes in 1998, and I still have his campaign poster up in my office. I wish he would have run for the NJ Senate seat. I think he is one of the nicest people in politics (which is probably why he can't get elected), and I love a man with a good tax plan.
I like Dick Armey, but Ron Paul is just a little too "out there." He put forward a bill a few years ago that got my attention (can't remember what it is, now -- must be time for bed), but the more I read up on him, the odder he seemed. Like the Republican who ran against Patsy Mink (Bob McDermott, I believe). Great guy, rock-ribbed conservative, former Marine -- but too convinced of his "rightness." He needed to be less overwhelming.
Don't know anything about Gary Johnson, and would love to hear more from Schwartz.....the General. I'm surprised he hasn't been more active politically. THAT would be a fun campaign.
Off to bed. I'm starting to snoozzzzzzzzzzzzzz
You're right, about it being "based" in New Orleans, but Owen (as Garwood is at present) located right here in Austin, in our Federal building, few blocks from me. I don't understand it but that's the way it is.
ROTFL!
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