As most of you have probably noticed, I rarely blog about current events and politics. I tend to view my blog as a more personal forum – a place to share my innermost thoughts and to display my unusual sense of humor. From time to time, I do blog about domestic issues that are consuming the news programs; however, I reserve such posts for issues that are weighing heavily on my mind at the time. You won’t find posts about what is going on in the Middle East here. For that information, check FoxNews.com (my preferred source for newsworthy events) or Brico’s blog.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I enjoy staying abreast of current events and politics, but I do not often wish to engage in conversation about these issues – especially issues concerning foreign policy. I am more concerned with what is going on in my own backyard, figuratively speaking of course. I’m a very optimistic, happy-go-lucky gal most of the time, and I don’t want to change that by getting too consumed in depressing world events.
I say all this just to prepare you for a few thoughts I’d like to share – thoughts on Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist. I have an incredible admiration for this man. In fact, I blogged about him once before. His accomplishments in the medical field and in politics make him one of the most influential men in recent history – at least in my book.
A few of his noteworthy accomplishments:
- Founded and became Surgical Director of the Vanderbilt Transplant Center in 1989. This center is now one of the premier transplant facilities in the country.
- Performed over 150 heart and lung transplants, including the first lung transplant in Tennessee, the first pediatric heart transplant in Tennessee, and the first successful combined heart-lung transplant in the Southeast.
- Lectured nationally on the topics of transplantation and organ donation.
- Elected to the U.S. Senate in 1994.
- Reelected in 2000.
- Led a successful campaign to return the organ donor card to the back of the Tennessee driver’s license.
- Wrote four books, including When Every Moment Counts. This book was intended to help families prepare for bioterrorist attacks. All profits were donated to a local preparedness charity in Tennessee.
- Unanimously elected to the position of U.S. Senate Majority Leader in 2002.
- Assumed this position having served fewer total years in the U.S. Congress than any previous leader.
- Currently viewed as a potential candidate for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination.
I had to write an essay on a person, place, or event relevant to the state of Tennessee for my Tennessee History class. I chose to write about Senator Frist since he’s one of the few prominent Tennesseans that I am interested in learning more about. I did find a very interesting piece of information about him during my studies. Did you know that he never voted until he was 36 years old? Interesting.
If and when Senator Frist runs for President, he can definitely count on my vote!
August 4th, 2006 at 10:32 am
I don’t know. Everything I’ve seen of him since after he was elected tells me he’s become a career politician all the way and replaced medicine as his passion and career.
I know he’s not running for Senate, but 1) he’s filling a campaign promise and b) he’s setting up for a presidential run. I believe he’s angling everything that’s going on in his professional career for political gain.
The fact that he rose so fast from a Freshman Senator that nobody’d ever heard of (but with a “hook”, that he was an MD) to gaining popularity by using his medical skills while in office, to suddenly rising to Senate Majority Leader? The ascension was too sudden to be simply a testement to his leadership and integrity – there had to be way too much politickin, and that’s not good for anyone, especially his constituents in Tennessee.
When a person decides to become a physician he needs to dedicate his life to medicine and healing others. Frist did so for a while, then saw a better deal in politics and for all intents and purposes turned his back on being a physician. To so easily from such a noble calling to a way of life that wallows in dishoner strikes me as very suspect.
Now, if he’s actually retired from public life and returns to the private sector as a regular doc or even an administrator, I’ll glady admit I was wrong. I hope I am. But I think we’ll forget Senator Frist was ever Dr. Frist as he attempts to become President Frist.
August 4th, 2006 at 11:35 am
Frist is poster child for the infection in the republican party known as “christian conservative”, and a prime politician for doing one thing while saying another.
Frist voted for a ban on the “partial birth” abortions (which refer to how, not when the abortion is done). He voted against abortions for women with medial health risks. He is against any government help with abortions (including education). And yet he owns a large amount of the family health care company – which preforms abortions.
He supports No Child Left Behind, the act doing more damage to our schools than drugs. He supports teaching the bible’s creationism in schools.
He wants to help health care? He is against government getting involved in health care and letting the health care industry do it’s thing (he does own that family stock after all). He opposes stem cell research and cloning research while every other country is doing great work in these areas – once again leaving the US behind in health care. Did you know we are the *only* country that allows prescription drugs to be advertised to consumers? We are also the country that pays the most for prescription drugs, maybe because the number on lobby group in terms of dollars is the pharmaceutical groups – who are also the number one in terms of money spent on advertising. Pfizer spends more than Budweiser on TV ads… wonder who pays for all that, oh yea – me. Frist is against regulating pharmaceutical companies.
Frist has used the good ole boy network to bail him out of ethic investigations for his stock, keep the family company safe while in trouble for double billing the government for medicare patients, and insider trader / SEC investigations. Martha went to jail for far less.
Still, he’ll be the running in 2008, and it’s why I – a republican – will vote for Hillary (details on that at my blog).
August 4th, 2006 at 1:30 pm
i like the fact that he doesnt seem easily bought off by the insurance and drug makers. if im not mistaken he has a good voting record on health care issues.
August 4th, 2006 at 6:45 pm
In my Eng. Comp. class I make students do their research paper on a famous US person or even that happened prior to Pearl Harbor or a PA person or place of interest. Of course, I get Iverson, but I also get some really interesting other stuff.
I’m a firm believer in “I don’t care what you believe in” as long as you can back it up and that you try to know your history.
It’s good that other teachers make students research that stuff as well.
Have a great weekend.
August 4th, 2006 at 7:10 pm
I respect your opinions and I will defend your right to express them to the death. However, I can not agree with you on this one…not a big fan of Frist.
Can we still be friends?? Hehe.
August 5th, 2006 at 9:46 am
I’m not one for politics although one of the reasons we left the UK was because of the sorry state of our government – which reminds me I need to say more on that in my blog if I remember.
I don’t like reading political stuff too much in blogs either so it’s nice that you keep it real here. I’m depressed with the world enough as it is!
August 5th, 2006 at 10:17 am
Oh they allow those fucking drug companies to advertise to us here in Canada too. It is an abomination that we the patient should be requesting the drugs we think we need. An abomination.
August 5th, 2006 at 11:19 am
Corrent me if I’m wrong binsk, but in Canada they can only adversite “F” drugs (perscriotion required) with name, price, and quanitiy. They cannot advertise a treatment for a “schedule A” disease, such as arthritis, depression, diabetes or obesity.
In the US we get ads for a drug and it’s use and told to ask our docotors about. The commercials show someone suffering from stomach problems, says it could be acid reflux and go get Nexium to fix it. Even though there are a tons of generics on the market, get the pill that costs $4 ea. Prilosec OTC (no prescription) is 70 cents and is the exact same thing. The drug companies know however that the ads sell the drugs.
Unless they have to compete. Merck spent over $500 million to market Vioxx in the US, Pfizer spent $449 million to market Celebrex. Pfizer spends 35% of it’s revenue on marketing, and 15% on R&D. Merck spends only 5% on R&D. And we haven’t touched the spending on penis pills…
August 7th, 2006 at 12:53 am
ok just wanted to stop by and say hi. so do you miss me????