Frist says he won't make White House run

[Engineer]

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/11/....ap/index.html

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist will not run for president in 2008, Republican officials said Wednesday, as the field of White House contenders continued to shrink more than a year before the first convention delegates are chosen.

His decision caps a 12-year stint in electoral politics in which he rose from an underdog in his 1994 Senate campaign to the position of majority leader a mere eight years later.

The decision by the Tennessee senator leaves Sen. John McCain of Arizona, Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani as the most nationally prominent contenders for the Republican nomination.

Other potential GOP contenders include Sens. Sam Brownback of Kansas and Charles Hagel of Nebraska, Gov. George Pataki of New York and Rep. Duncan Hunter of California.

Frist becomes the most high-profile campaign dropout. Earlier this fall, former Democratic Gov. Mark Warner of Virginia also announced he will not run for the presidency in 2008. Warner, like Frist, had begun putting in place a campaign organization to raise money and line up supporters in early caucus and primary states, as well as nationally.

For more than a year, Frist has been under investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission regarding allegations of insider trading in connection with the sale of shares in HCA Inc., a hospital chain and health company his father and brother founded.

Frist has vehemently denied any wrongdoing, although he has not gained the quick resolution of the issue that he had hoped for.

Frist was a physician with no experience in politics when he challenged Democratic Sen. Jim Sasser. He was swept into office in that year's Republican landslide.

[Professor]

This is excellent news Dave!

[Integrity]

Well there goes the material I had for another 14 videos...

[axl]

I'd put my money on their pick being McCain.

Not sure what Giuliani would run on; geesh just because he happened to be the mayor on 9/11? Same with Obama for the dems; what the heck has he done?

Lets hope Frist doesnt renege on this plan.

[Poker Dude]

Frist obviously withdrew because of all the dirt on him. Land casino payoffs, his SEC investigation regarding his affiliation with a private hospital, etc., etc.

He knew he was dogmeat. Still, this bastard is responsible for sending our livelihoods to the ****ter. I fault him, more than any of the other boneheads in this regard.

There is no way in hell he would have gotten elected anyway.

[bleuze]

I agree with you also. Now if we could only get rid of Nancy who took Indian Casino money and Harry who is in the pockets of the Vegas Casinos and who both want to ban online gambling. In fact, Nancy the other day said that the ban did not go far enough!

[xgambler]

I have mixed feelings. Gone is the risk that that bum will become president, but I would have enjoyed voting against that S.O.B. too!

[Market Junction]

I agree with you also. Now if we could only get rid of Nancy who took Indian Casino money and Harry who is in the pockets of the Vegas Casinos and who both want to ban online gambling. In fact, Nancy the other day said that the ban did not go far enough!

What makes you think that Harry wants to ban online gambling?

As to Frist, he realized that he wouldn't make it. First, he left the Senate, because he realized that he wouldn't get reelected. Now, he's realized that he lacks the national name required to make it out of the Republican primary.

[bud405n]

You guys just dont get it.

Our new speaker of the house, extreem left wing democrate Nance Polosi personally wrote me ( I mentioned this in here before) ) and she is 100 % for the BAN on gambling, 100% for the BAN ON GAMBLING. DO you get it, A left wing democrate , with the 3rd highest job in the US government is 100% for the BAN on gambling.

GEEZ man, if you all spent more time getting to the real reason the ban is in effect, maybe we can do something about it, but most of you , ah, you'll never get it.

[Integrity]

You guys just dont get it.

I get it.

Polosi is a huge threat, but probably won't get her personal agenda perpetuated unless we need a tie-breaker... even then at that, the House is just 50% of the process. You know that it's more complex than just her beliefs.

Also, even if she's 100% for the ban, is online gambling one of her platforms? She may have strong feelings about it, but decide to focus on other issues.

I will be happy to cover this on a webcast... do you still have the letter/email?

Thanks...