The 2006 Senate Race
Well I guess this is supposed to be the time where I congratulate Bob Corker on his hard-fought campaign victory, but I'm not. I have a hard time congratulating someone who wins when the contest is on a far from level playing field. It would be like congratulating the Indianapolis Colts for beating a high school football team. I have often mentioned a website called Opensecrets.org where all the examples I had found over the last decade or so showed that whoever spent the most money in a campaign won. So it should be no secret that Bob Corker won when he spent more than anyone else. But enough on Corker and his campaign.

First, I can't thank people enough for all the encouragement, support, and prayers during this race. It has been very frustrating at times, but very rewarding as well. Now some might looks at the votes I got and think that 3,555 votes is a bit of a let-down for all the time I put into this race. But I look at it another way. Two years ago I wasn't thinking about running for office of any kind. I was just a guy who got up and went to work and lived life. It wasn't until the summer of 2005 that I made any public announcement as I handed out flyers to people who were attending a Phil Valentine "De-magnetize Tennessee" rally about illegal immigrants. I was a complete unknown with no record of any public service in any capacity. I was basically ignored by the media during the entire campaign. No matter how many times I would contact newspapers, TV stations, or radio shows, I could only get appearances on a few...and to those, most notably Steve Hilton's show on 97.7 FM, I'm extremely appreciative. I wasn't allowed to debate or appear on any candidate forums. Due to working a full-time job, I wasn't able to make as many appearances as I wanted to. I also know that people are very leery about contributing money to an independent, and all expenses came out of my pocket. I have also heard from some people today that they truly wanted to vote for me, but they were so concerned about Harold Ford winning, they decided to vote for Corker. Two years ago I was a complete unknown and then threw my name into one of the hottest Senate races in the country. So am I let-down with 3,555 votes? Not at all. To think this was accomplished with hardly any media exposure and almost no money, I don't have anything to hang my head about.

I know that a lot of the votes came as a result of people I've met over the last year or so who were willing to take their time to spread the word. I honestly can't thank each of you enough for doing that. And I truly thank everyone who voted for me. There were probably a lot of things I could have done differently in this race to get my name out, and I have learned a lot about the political process and campaigns. I dived in head-first to process I knew very little about, and did the best I could knowing what I knew. But like I said, I have become much better educated. I say this because I have an announcement to make.

The announcement is that I will be running again in 2008. Right now I'm just going to take several weeks and relax. I'm going to enjoy this time of year with Thanksgiving and Christmas, but after the start of 2007 I will get things going again. This time I won't be a complete unknown, and I will have had the experience of going through this process. I'll be running again because I have a bad feeling that the issues I ran on this time will be the same issues that need to be addressed for 2008. I said in an interview that if all that happens from my campaign is that I can sleep well election night knowing I voted for the one person I know is honest about what their beliefs are and will tell it like it is, then I'll be happy. It's great that 3,554 other people felt the same way about an unknown.

Again, thank you to everyone who spread the word, offered support and encouragement, and voted for me. We'll do this again in 2008!

I want to leave you for now with a pretty funny joke someone sent me -

While walking down the street one day a US senator is tragically hit by a truck and dies. His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the
entrance.

"Welcome to heaven," says St. Peter. "Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these
parts, you see, so we're not sure what to do with you."

"No problem, just let me in," says the man.

"Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from higher up. What we'll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can
choose where to spend eternity."

"Really, I've made up my mind. I want to be in heaven," says the senator.

"I'm sorry, but we have our rules."

And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the
middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him.

Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had
while getting rich at the expense of the people.

They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and champagne.

Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who has a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a
good time that before he realizes it, it is time to go.

Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises...

The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him.

"Now it's time to visit heaven."

So, 24 hours pass with the senator joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They
have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns.

"Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity."

The senator reflects for a minute, then he answers: "Well, I would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful,
but I think I would be better off in hell."

So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell.

Now the doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage.

He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above.

The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulder. "I don't understand," stammers the senator. "Yesterday I was here and
there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there's just a
wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What happened?"

The devil looks at him, smiles and says, "Yesterday we were campaigning...... Today you voted."