Incumbency Was A Disadvantage In Tonight's Elections, Part Deux

OS woke up to the early news on the local stations, to check the weather for today's long drive north.

Eight county mayoral seats in the middle counties of Tennessee turned over. Incumbents were booted. In Tennessee, many of these folks serve for decades, transforming each county into a personal plantation.

In the governor's GOP primary race, Zach Wamp, Congressman from Chattanooga, enjoying the support of much of the Religious Right, lost by a wiiiiide margin after almost two years of campaigning. Voters remembered that he voted for TARP, after he was swamped by his constituents begging him to vote against it. That sort of stuff comes back to haunt. People have memories, after all, and waited for the opportunity to register their displeasure.

Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, a GOP institution in the legislature, came in a distant third. OS met Mr. Ramsey a few weeks ago as he came through town politikin'. He was, well, creepy, not anyone who should be allowed to actually run anything large.

Bill Haslam, mayor of Knoxville, who actually has successfully managed budgets, won the GOP primary. In his case, the public experience worked in his favor.

OS thinks the serfs may be irritated, that the natives may be getting restless.

Here's hoping.