Nathan Moore's Thoughts
In Defense of Rob Briley
I am all for kicking my political opposition all around the ring. John Ford? Deservingly kicked where it hurts. Ward Crutchfield? Certainly requiring a major thumping. There are others, but you get the idea. Our collective ire ought to be reserved for those who willingly abuse the public trust.
But Rob Briley? As far as I can tell, there is video evidence that the guy had a complete psychological meltdown. He may be a Democrat, and a liberal Democrat, but I have never, and will never, want to see anyone personally destroyed, either by their own hand or at the hands of another. In the theater of open political warfare, it’s the ideas I want to defeat, not the person.
In what I consider to be a dark moment for my party, some of the most asinine legislation imaginable has been introduced out of Rob Briley’s troubles. That a House member would propose that a legislator charged with a DUI cannot vote or debate DUI legislation would be questionable law in any circumstance, but to be proposed as a political club to beat a guy who is already flat on the mat…well, that’s simply disgraceful. This coming on the heels of that same legislator’s public condemnation of the Fifth Amendment. Perhaps next we’ll see a bill giving the police adjudication and sentencing power - that will certainly result in some taxpayer savings. Hell, let’s just scrap the Declaration of Rights in the Tennessee Constitution and be done. We’ll likely get a sales tax reduction out of it.
All this boiled to the surface from a political post I just read, where it was bemoaned that Rob Briley was warmly welcomed back into the House chamber. It’s very possible, and I do think proper, that considering his mental instability he ought to stand down and not run for reelection. If he decides otherwise, the people of his district will determine his fate soon enough. But personally wishing him ill will is not in the cards - at least not for me.
January 11th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
Nathan –
Well done. I would add only that Briley and the Democrats are bringing some of this on themselves by letting this go on as it is. There needs to be a come-to-Jesus meeting a la the Republicans with Richard Nixon in 1972. Maybe there has been one; I don’t know. But I do know that whatever Jimmy Naifeh wants, he usually gets, so I wonder how much he’s really pushed for that.
Briley clearly needs professional help. What he doesn’t need is enablers. He’ll only get the second on Capitol Hill.
January 11th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
[...] Republican Nathan Moore thinks his party’s piling on is getting to be a bit much. Nathan thinks the Republicans need to leave Rob Briley alone: As far as I can tell, there is video evidence that the guy had a complete psychological meltdown. He may be a Democrat, and a liberal Democrat, but I have never, and will never, want to see anyone personally destroyed, either by their own hand or at the hands of another. In the theater of open political warfare, it’s the ideas I want to defeat, not the person. [...]
January 11th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
As a person I wish him no ill will. I hope he gets the help he needs.
The legislature and the people who get killed by repeat drunk drivers do not deserve him. Yes, I have been hearing from their survivors.
January 11th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
Stacy,
I don’t disagree with that aspect of it in the least.
Politically, I think the longer the Democrats let this go on (as Roger alluded to), the worse it is for all of them. Naifeh is arrogant enough he may think there won’t be any consequence to inaction.
As for Briley himself - he does need some real help. I too expected someone would have stepped in before now. If anything, I thought his brother might have intervened - perhaps he’s already tried.
January 14th, 2008 at 9:10 am
[...] Anyway, people are not pleased with the bill. Michael Silence says With all due respect, sir, that’s stupid. Nathan Moore calls it the most asinine legislation imaginable. [...]