By WILL LESTER, Associated Press Writer
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060327/ap_on_go_co/allen_nfl_commissioner_1;_ylt=AkNr0pZnyg8xoqvHRsR3u5eMwfIE;_ylu=X3oDMTBidHQxYjh2BHNlYwN5bnN0b3J5For Republican Sen. George Allen (news, bio, voting record), who recently complained that the Senate moves too slowly, Democrats say they have the perfect job: National Football League commissioner.
In an interview that appeared in Sunday's New York Times, the first-term Virginia lawmaker and potential 2008 presidential candidate said, "I made more decisions in half a day as governor than you can make in a whole week in the Senate. It's too slow for me."
That prompted the Democrats to recommend that NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue, who is retiring this summer, consider Allen as a possible successor. Allen is the son of the late NFL Hall of Famer George Allen, who coached the Los Angeles Rams and the Washington Redskins.
"We hate to see a good Senate seat filled by someone who is so bored by his job that he doesn't even like to spend time in the state he is supposed to represent, let alone vote in a way that serves his state's interests," said J.D. Poersch, executive director of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.
Dick Wadhams, Allen's chief of staff, said the senator never said he was bored, but rather was commenting on how the Senate slows to a crawl when Democrats block legislation.
"I don't think it's any secret that Senator Allen does not like the obstructionism that has dominated the Senate," said Wadhams, citing the past and current Democratic leaders Tom Daschle and Harry Reid.
Harris Miller, who is seeking the Democratic nomination to challenge Allen, called on the Republican lawmaker to relinquish his seat if he finds the Senate too slow.
"What does he think it is? It's a deliberative body — dealing with issues of life and death," Miller said.
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