Senator Corker, 

You are and have been my senator for two terms because you followed your own qualifications and ran when you determined that you were ready.  You have performed above and beyond the norm and have been a driving force in the policies and standards of our government and therefore the continuation of our blessed freedom and celebrated highly respected place of peace and security in the world. 

I shall miss your place in that special chair in the Senate come January.  However, I have continued to follow your qualifications requirements that you expressed long ago in making my decision to place my support in future elections.  As you said, it was your belief that before anyone decides to run for Congress they first should have experience as either a mayor or a governor.  You were my very successful mayor and Phil Bredesen was my very successful governor.  Both of you are, and always have been, fiscal responsibility hawks, if not gurus, and as you have made it clear, the Congress has not seen the value in placing the proper attention on that matter during the budgeting process.  I shall be supporting Governor Bredesen because I expect him to follow in your footsteps in the wise use and funding levels for the taxpayers' money.  I wanted you to know this and that political party affiliation has nothing to do with it. 

I hope you will continue to spend your remaining time in the Senate raising that white elephant in the House and Senate because the people are not happy; our government(s) are not happy; our nation is not happy; and our planet is not happy.  Save all of your progress in creating a tolerable relationship with our adversaries (Iran, Russia, North Korea) and in bolstering those we may categorize as wavering recently (too many to list). 

The United States and our partners around the globe are going to miss your wisdom, knowledge, experience, and soft but firm hand in steering this nation through the straights of time with a leadership that is seriously off kilter with the rest of the planet.  The people need to be hearing the same message and that message must be the truth.  Put it out there.  I am listening. 

Charlotte Parton