What is it with politicians of all stripes and the third person? Former mayoral candidate Buck Dozier is yet another to refer to himself as though he were someone else:

Dozier says both Clement and Dean “have asked me for their support. Nobody’s offered me a job or anything like that. I want to make sure the city’s in good hands. We’ve got a lot at stake in the next decade.” Dozier acknowledges his endorsement may not mean that much. “Most people will make up their own minds regardless of what Buck Dozier does.”

When Buck finds out what Buck is going to do, he’ll let you know. Or maybe not.

One of those earlier scoops has melted: I have to say that I’m relieved after reading this from Liberadio and this updated item from the City Paper, and Briley’s camp has confirmed it with their own news release, too. Here’s the gist:

Just minutes ago, former mayoral candidate David Briley confirmed that after spending “considerable time talking with both Bob and Karl about their visions for the city, especially as it relates to the environment and sustainability,” he has decided “not to formally endorse either candidate in the race.”

Briley also declared his willingness to help either candidate, if asked, with “issues that are important to the city.” He also felt certain that with or without his endorsement his supporters would choose whichever candidate they felt would move the city of Nashville forward.

I have not kept it a secret that I don’t think Bob Clement is the best candidate to serve as mayor, and I’ve been saying that for nearly a year. I’d have liked to see Briley endorse Dean, but until a little while ago I had expected him to remain ambiguous about his support the way he just did.

Chalk this one up to the rumor mill and, ultimately, to much ado about nothing. See all the trouble that some quick-typing journalists and bloggers can get into when someone hangs out in East Nashville with a political opponent?

In revealing the remaining undisclosed members of the prospective local ownership group for the Nashville Predators, The City Paper is doing its best Baskin-Robbins impersonation today with its second major scoop of the hour:

A source close to the Nashville ownership group has revealed the five previously unnamed members of the local group wanting to buy the Predators hockey team. The five are Chris Cigarran of Healthways; Tom Cigarran of Healthways; Joel Dobberpuhl, an investment manager in Franklin; De Thompson V of Thompson Machinery; and John Thompson of Thompson Machinery. They join David Freeman of 36 Venture Capital LLC., who is the leader of the group, Herb Fritch of HeatlhSprings and William “Boots” Del Biaggio of San Jose, Calif.

If you haven’t figured it out yet, Nashville has more than its share of major players these days. I’ve heard of all of these investors, save Dobberpuhl, but I had not heard any of them mentioned as possible members of the ownership group.

Feeling clueless about who that “source” is? Take a wild guess, but base it on this last line from the paper’s story: “The City Paper is owned by wholly owned subsidiary of Thompson Machinery.” Considering that the ownership group has taken several weeks to develop, I’m honestly amazed that the news of the Thompsons’ involvement hadn’t leaked out prior to now. Is a scoop still a scoop if the boss tips you off? (Yes.)

It does make me wonder how long the paper had to hold on to the news, but regardless, I’m plenty happy to know. All of you gentlemen have my sincere thanks and my earnest support in seeking the Preds. You have done tremendous work so far that can only benefit our city. THANK YOU!

The City Paper is reporting that David Briley is about to endorse Bob Clement for mayor. As the first (and possibly only) candidate to endorse either Clement or opponent Karl Dean, this will likely prompt plenty of speculation about how this development affects the campaign.

At-Large Councilman David Briley may be making an endorsement in the Nashville mayoral race later today. Bob Clement’s mayoral campaign issued a press release Saturday saying Clement and former mayoral hopeful Briley, who landed fifth in the Aug. 2 general mayoral election, spent about two hours campaigning together this weekend at East Nashville’s Tomato Art Fest. Briley, when asked this morning if he is leaning toward endorsing Clement, responded simply, “I’m going to issue a press release later today, and I’ll just let that speak for itself.”

I can think of a few questions right off of the bat:

• Will this signal a shift in momentum back in Clement’s favor?
• Both Briley and Dean have maintained throughout the campaign that they are friends. Exactly how nasty did things get behind the scenes between them for Briley to endorse Clement?
• At the West Nashville Presidents Council forum and other events, Briley took repeated shots at Clement for his policies and for borrowing elements of Clement’s “green mayor” platform. Briley did not do the same for the most part with Dean, so what has changed for Briley to make this endorsement?
• How will Briley’s supporters react to this endorsement? Are they likely to embrace the endorsement and vote for Clement?
• How will the public react, given that Briley was last among the five major candidates in the general election? How much weight will this endorsement carry?
• What has Briley earned (if anything), in terms of promised support for future initiatives or even a position within a possible Clement administration, in exchange for making this endorsement?
• Is this a purely political calculation by Briley, or in his heart of hearts does he think Clement will do a better job as mayor than Dean will?
• Will this endorsement have any consequences for Briley with the electorate?

This is perhaps a surprising, if not entirely unforeshadowed, development in the campaign, one that is sure to generate more questions than answers. If nothing else, it means this probably won’t be a quiet week leading up to next Monday’s runoff debate.

The Tennessee Journal has another surprising tidbit about Senator Bob Corker in comparison with election opponent Harold Ford:

In late February, after his return from Iraq, Corker crisscrossed the state to meet with constituents. He also visited the state Capitol, where reporters were both impressed and amused at his newfound familiarity with generals and Iraqi officials. When one joked that he sounded like Ford, Corker momentarily was taken aback, then smiled and said that must mean he sounded good indeed.

A cynic might argue–and might well be right–that upon being exposed to life inside the Beltway, Corker has been assimilated into the culture. Still, it’s refreshing to hear a politician from one party acknowledge the experience and expertise of another, even if it’s several months after besting him on the campaign trail. It’s not as though Corker had a politically expedient alternative to the response he chose in a public situation, but it’s still a step in the right direction.

The weekly state political newsletter the Tennessee Journal (subscription required) includes details about first-term Senator Bob Corker’s experience in Washington that features some surprisingly candid admissions from the politician:

[Corker] concedes he was not very happy his first month in D.C. The Republicans had lost control of the Senate to the Democrats in the ’06 election, in which Corker was the only newly elected Republican, making him dead last in seniority. He found himself attending meetings all day yet barely scratching the surface of the issues. And he asked himself why he had spent two years seeking such a job.

The article focuses on Corker’s recent accomplishments in the Senate, and it emphasizes that he’s come to enjoy serving as a legislator. Nonetheless, I found his willingness to admit his initial feelings upon arriving in Washington quite refreshing.