What the Hell is wrong with Tennessee?

Is a Tennessee Gubernatorial Candidate Threatening Secession:

"If you'll hang tough with me, we'll keep running our state the Tennessee way. If those guys in Washington don't like it, well, we'll just give 'em the boot."

GOP Gubernatorial Candidate Ron Ramsey (R-TN)

I am not sure exactly what this statement means, but I suspect this little fellow is just talking tough. Kicking Uncle Sam out of Tennessee might get some folks worked up when you consider all the benefits and:

the other government subsidy that benefits the states of Tennessee and Kentucky and that’s the Tennessee Valley Authority. Both states benefit from cheap electricity the TVA produces at again, your expense. Tennessee and Kentucky Republicans looking for smaller government haven’t been too demonstrative in demanding the removal of this federal presence from their land. Like the Oak Ridge Laboratory. Or Ft. Knox. Or Ft. Campbell. Or demand the Great Smoky Mountains National Park be sold off the tax rolls and be privatized. Nope, I can’t say I’ve heard too many calls for reducing the heavy- handed presence of the federal government by eliminating or closing these institutions.

Hat tip to the American Conservative Blog where Pat Buchanan lays down shrill tracks from time to time. There is a clever riff over there on Thomas Franks “What’s the matter with Kansas” book in which Frank wonders why so many working folks from Kansas vote for the GOP in spite of his belief that the economic policies of the GOP are wreaking havoc on their communities and livelihoods for the benefit of the extremely wealthy.

The American Conservative Blog instead wonders why so many folks from the land of the Tennessee River keep voting for politicians that like to bark about the heavy boot of Washington but keep the subsidies flowing back home.

Ramsey appears to be one of these guys who are eager to receive the benefits of the Federal Government like cheap electricity and government jobs, but bark with indignation when it comes to making health care affordable for working folks and for the self employed.

And yes, Ramsey seems to have gotten a case of the vapors over health insurance reform.