Wake up and smell the roses, somebody must have poured a whole can of DA on your bod!  Tennessee is ruled by an oligarchy.  Approximately 100 powerful individuals run the State.  It is the wishes of these oligarchs that Republicans (not too conservative Republicans) rule the State at this time.  When Mayor Bredesen ran for Gov he was backed by the oligarchy because of his fondness for tight fiscal policy and care less attitude about social issues (helped that he was a carpet bagging Yankee expatriate).  When Governor Convict (God Rest his Soul) Blanton was in office he was not a favorite of the elite oligarchy and got hell for it.  He at least was a real honest crook.  A friend of mine was in the Capitol Towers Building when Governor Convict was in a room with a bunch of his top advisers on the bed in the room was hundreds of thousands of dollars.  Each adviser took his share of the money as it slowly disappeared from the bed.  The oligarchs did not get their "fair share" of the Blanton loot and conspired with Gov Elect Oligarch Alexander to kick Blanton out of office.  Alexander proved to be an excellent lap dog for the powers that be and remains so today as a fiscal conservative and a social liberal.  A parking place at the airport doesn't even scratch the surface of the privileges that State elected officials have.  It doesn't matter a hill of beans if the elected official is a Republican or Democrat they get all the bennies including fake travel claims, women or men, and all the liquor they want on demand.  Enemies of the oligarchy often from poorer hillbilly districts often end up dead or chased out of office for being caught making love to a billy goat on camera.  Give up there will never be a clean government until Jesus returns and does away with all governments!  PS Mr Jacobs you are very well read and know perfectly well what I am saying is true.  The trouble is that the animal farms are now all owned by Archer Daniels Midland or Monsanto.  Not to mention being our time's Tojo Yamamoto you might forcefully plant your foot in my derriere!!