We Got To Get Us Some O'That Re-form

Junior O'Daniel: We could hire our own midget, even shorter than his.

Pappy O'Daniel: Wouldn't we look like a bunch of Johnny-come-latelies, bragging on our own midget, doesn't matter how stumpy.

- - O Brother Where Art Thou, 2000

It's getting unseemly around the State Legislature now as Republicans are competing with Democrats to extract as many teeth from the overbite of meaningful ethics reform as possible. It was easy for Republicans to mount a high horse when few of their numbers faced indictment and when they weren't the party caught with special election irregularities, but now that the Legislature is getting down to business and away from side shows, there are just too many constituencies in the corporate business community that need pleasin'. So, talk of reform has itself become a show, what with voting to "free up lobbyists"; what with "midget, broom, and all."

Even perpetual Legislature foil, Tennessee Tax Revolt, which has lately attempted to "get some o'that reform," by calling for "full disclosure" by legislators, is not saying a word about "full disclosure" by lobbyists. Of course, lobbying is what TTR does, so "bragging on their own midget" in some Johnny-come-lately re-form campaign may not be a smart course for them. When it does become a smart course for them, I'm sure we'll be hearing from them.