[Theodore R.]

I am not from TN, but I thought Sundquist beat a non-incumbent in 1994. Didn't McWherter (Sp.)have to retire after two terms? Remember McWherther dated Ann Richards at one time.

[JDGreen123]

Right. McWherter served 8 years and had to leave due to term limits. Sundquist beat Nashville's tax and spend mayor Phil Bredesen in 1994. The Democrats are running Bredesen again in 2002 vs. Van Hilleary, current US Congressman.

[tdadams]

I am not from TN, but I thought Sundquist beat a non-incumbent in 1994.

This is true. At one time, Don Sundquist was a model Republican. His popularity couldn't have been higher. That all changed in 1999. That's when Don went psychotic (and I'm saying that half joking and half seriously - with his bizarre behavior lately, I sincerely believe he may be having mental health issues). Overnight, he became public enemy number one, as documented by my protest photos from the July 12th storming of the capitol.

I think a lot of the intricacies of Tennessee politics and how things have been shifting and changing over the last 3 years specifically and 10 years in general are lost on people outside the state.

[tdadams]

Maybe this photo best illustrates how Tennesseans feel about Don Sundquist.

This is some of the kinder stuff too. Protests at the capitol were nearly an every day occurance during last year's legislative session. I've seen people dressed up like a Nazi wearing a picture of Sundquist on their face and a name badge of "Adolf Sundquist" if that gives you some idea how people here hate this guy.

If Sundquist were to announce he's stepping down from office, Tennessee would look something like Berlin in the fall of 1989 when the wall came down. People would be crying tears of joy, cheering in the streets, and partying like their team just won the Super Bowl (which it almost did in 2000, BTW, go Titans!).