A careful, calculating centrist

That's what Newsweek calls Harold Ford, jr, receipient of this week's cover shot. "Not your daddy's democrat", is how they describe him. They're right, he's not near as radical as his daddy, just a heap more, well, calculating.

The Memphis Commercial Appeal points out what would be a problem for others:

The article carries a picture of Ford praying with his staff before a recent debate, and reprises his history, and his family's history.

Surely such a display should indicate conclusive evidence of Christo-fascism run-amok; the horrors of merging church and state; and the impending road to Armageddoom. Sounds like the left needs to get on the stick to stop this dangerous zealot from reaching power!

Huffpo has a column today wondering whether Tennessee will 'vote black', going as far to suggest the our vote will serve as a bellweather for Barrack Obama's presidential aspirations. That's more than a little condescending, though, since they're basing it only on skin color, unless Obama is actually a long lost member of the Ford family. The two are quite different.

But Newsweek doesn't jest--Ford is indeed a moderate democrat. The wildcard faced by Tennessee voters is determining whether Harold will maintain that voting record should his party take control. His past record has been accomplished under Republican House control, it remains to be seen whether he'll drift more towards port if Pelosi and company take control.