An Arkansas Specter? Green or “Green”? (UPDATE – Carroll says It’s not Easy being Green.)
Coming off the heels of Sen. Arlen Specter’s defection to the Democratic Party, Rep. Steve Harrelson broke a bit of news this morning on his blog. According to his short post, “Expect an announcement on Friday of an Arkansas state legislator making the switch to the Democratic Party.”
I asked him who it is but he was sworn to secrecy. So let the speculation begin and what better place to start than right here on the Tolbert Report! Actually, it already started on twitter.
What Republican state representative would be most likely be switching to the Democrat Party? My first thought was Robbie Wills favorite Republican Rick Green. Looking at Green’s voting record over the past session, I don’t believe that anyone could tell that he actually is a Republican without looking it up. In addition, he is term limited and likely to seek the Senate seat vacated by state Sen. Denny Altes who is also term limited. vacated by Sen. Ruth Whitaker in 2012. Green maybe be worried that his consistently non-conservative voting record will draw a Republican Primary opponent and his chances are better served in the general election as a Democrat. (NOTED – Rick Green comments on my careless alligation in the comments section.)
However, Rep. Jonathan Dismang correctly points out that Harrelson never
said it was a Republican switching parties. In 2008, Arkansans elected Richard Carroll to the state house as the first ever Green Party candidate. Granted this was primarily due to Dwayne Dobbins messing things up for the Democrats in district 39 but he is still a Green Party hero. Will Carroll abandon all this to join one of the evil two major parties? Perhaps Carroll values his reelection more than his position in the Green Party and feels he would have a better chance as the Democrat Party nominee in a traditionally Democrat district or perhaps he feels the need to join the major party to be able to move through legislation.
Any other ideas who it might be? Let me know. Either way – my money is on Green or “Green.”
…
UPDATE – John Lyon with the Arkansas News Bureau spoils our fun by reporting, complete with quotes and all that jazz, that it is Rep. Richard Carroll of the Green Party that is headed to the Democrat Party.
Imaginary reports say that House Speaker Robbie Wills is in tears over the loss of his favorite phrase – “tripartisan support.”
Flashback – Rep. Richard Carroll discusses the importance of third parties with the Tolbert Report.
April 29th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
New blog post: An Arkansas Specter? Green or "Green"? http://tinyurl.com/ckllvz
April 29th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
Well that fun did not last long – It’s Carroll saying that it’s not easy being Green – http://tinyurl.com/ckllvz
April 29th, 2009 at 3:48 pm
Amazing how a person can be on business in Chicago while some freelance can spout off fantasies back in Arkansas. Guess it never occured to call Rep Green for that wouldn’t have allowed the freelance to spew forth garbage. Rep Green is not switching parties and is proud to be a Republican and a friend of Speaker Wills. Go blog something factual
April 29th, 2009 at 6:05 pm
It is amazing. Those freelancers and their fantasies – they are just crazy. I am with you 100%; I don’t trust a stinking one of them. Every time I go to Chicago on business, the rumors just start flying!
Anyway, it is clearly crazy to even imagine that you would ever do anything that was not 100% Republican. You are clearly a die-hard party man. Plus, if you switched parties, Robbie would not be able to continue to refer to his bipartisan support for his bills. He already lost his tripartisan guy today; I don’t think he could bear losing you as well. (By the way, I consider Robbie a friend too; I like giving him a hard time. He expects nothing less.)
So in short, I don’t know how I made the mistake. And it is really not like me to start rumors or speculate on things here. Regardless, thanks for stopping by the Tolbert Report. I hope it will become a daily read for you and that you will comment often.
April 30th, 2009 at 9:37 am
Tolbert: An Arkansas Specter? Green or “Green”? (UPDATE – Carroll says It’s not Easy b.. http://tinyurl.com/ckllvz
April 30th, 2009 at 9:45 am
Not to worry, Jason, you haven’t “spewed forth garbage” — you merely asked questions. That’s your job. Thanks for doing it.