spacer image
spacer image

Welcome! You're looking at an archived Snarkmarket entry. We've got a fresh look—and more new ideas every day—on the front page.

January 18, 2009

| Cliched Image of Americana >>

Memphis Machiavellis?

Did anybody notice this ingenious little political maneuver in Tennessee last week?

Republicans stood poised to take control of the Tennessee General Assembly for the first time in nearly 140 years. Even Gubernatorial candidate Zach Wamp roamed the halls. … When lawmakers returned from break, now an hour into session, they tackled the Speakers position. Representative Jason Mumpower of Bristol received the first nomination. Republicans hoped to end the nomination process there, but after more political wrangling, allowed Democrats to submit a candidate.

What happened next some may describe as the political play of the decade as all 49 Democrats backed Kent Williams, a Sophomore Republican from Carter County, a district just miles from Mumpower’s hometown.

Found at Political Animal.

mthompson-sig.gif
Posted January 18, 2009 at 8:12 | Comments (2) | Permasnark
File under: Briefly Noted, Snarkpolitik

Comments

The original Memphis Machiavelli now lives in Hong Kong. But these guys actually learned this trick from the Pennsylvania State House, who successfully pulled off virtually the same move two years ago.

WooT!

Nice move by the Dems. Divide and conquer.

Posted by: PoN on January 21, 2009 at 06:53 AM
spacer image
spacer image