Randy Buttons Resigned Today

[Tippy]

Randy is the Chairman of the Democratic Party in TN...

Reason given...He wants to get back to selling real estate...

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

1. Get a real nasty bastard into that job.

Tenn needs a full-contact, Brazilian JuJitsu Dem leader. Now.

[Tippy]

2. Got someone in mind?

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

3. No but...

I would recommend someone who lacks full dentition, makes his own shine and chaws chronically. And is whip-smart.

Such people do exist. ;-)

[SharonAnn]

4. There's got to be more to it than that. He's been campaign manager

for candidates before, is he hoping to do that again?

Did somebody (Bredesen?) want a different skill set?

The TN Democratic Party has made progress during the 2 years of his leadership, but it's still got a loooong way to go.

[TN Young Dem]

5. Here's what I've heard...

I talked to a friend of mine, Joe. Joe happens to be our county party chair, and is good friends with Randy Button. Here's what Joe had to say,

"I talked to Randy at Jackson Day June 4th about this. Randy is still in great graces with the Democratic Party. He told me he felt he had served his time and it was time to move on.
My understanding is he got an offer from Doug Horne (Horne Properties and Horne Communications-which use to own WMTN Radio Station here in Morristown). Randy is a licensed Real Estate Broker and former Tax Assessor of Roane County-he knows the Real Estate Business. We will miss him. He has become a great friend of the Hamblen County Democratic Party. If I needed something, I did not hesitate to call on Randy. He was always available.
I remember the time I called him and asked him if he thought the Bush-Kerry polls were correct (New Polls showing Bush by 10 points in Tn) He asked me if I wanted him to lie to me or tell me the truth. Of course I asked for the truth. This was his estimate, but he told me it was worse than the polls. He would be truthful if you asked, and he is a true Democrat. Any time we asked his help or advice, he was available.
You can bet this was his decision. At Jackson Day it was like nothing was changing. His wife and two daughters were there and as friendly as ever. I will never forget Randy Button and his help with getting our local party on the right track. I consider him a personal friend.
My understanding is that the leader for the State Party Chairman is Bob Tuke (now State Democratic Party Treasurer). He is a Nashville attorney and played a major part in the Kerry-Edwards campaign. He was flying on the Kerry-Edwards plane when we met John Kerry and the plane in Nashville during the Presidential Campaign. I know Bob Tuke and I like him. I believe he would be great for our party.
There may be more applicants, but it will be very hard to have a more qualified person than Bob Tuke. He will have big shoes to fill to replace Randy Button, but we look forward to working with him.
Do not think that we have heard the last of Randy Button. He will continue to be a strong and influential Democrat. I think in his mind he just needs a change of pace right now."


I guess we'll have to wait and see.

[Clark2008]

7. Uhh... isn't Doug Horne a big fundie?

This is strange... very strange.

[lyrical di]

6. Great respect

I do have great respect for Randy. Tennesseans are a difficult bunch to coordinate and he did a great job.