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Comment IPS Features |
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It is a miracle the Republicans took over
Congress in 1994, considering such lame leaders as Newt Gingrich took
the helm. The Contract with
America sounded good as a one liner, but had no real substance. The dumbest part of it was the pledge of term limits. Many qualified office holders were tainted by the rhetoric. Along the way they forgot the advantages of seniority in office. They forgot it is the wisdom, or lack of, that put them in office. It should be the wisdom, or lack of, that either keeps them there or shows them the door. Term limits take away that precious privilege of
the people. Some qualified representatives stepped down when
the term limit they set expired. Others
broke their word and ran again. It
was a choice of losing a seat or losing face. The same scenario appeared across the country. In Tennessee’s Third Congressional District,
Rep. Zach Wamp was elected in 1994 with the pledge he would serve six
terms--12 years--and step down. Currently,
he is running for his six term, which will expire in 2006. His interest is well known in running for the US
Senate now held by Bill Frist and presumably to be vacant. Rep. Wamp and Chattanooga Mayor Bob Corker are both
considered potential candidates. They
have said they will not run against each other. Picture this—if Mayor Corker goes for the
Senate seat, Rep. Wamp faces the choice of breaking his pledge or gong
back to private work, such as the real estate job he held with Fletcher
Bright. Some are insisting he should keep his pledge and
not run after serving 12 years. Other
say his service is important to his district.
It’s a tough choice, one only he can make.
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