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Ten years later, he's one of the most influential politicians in Washington, D.C. and will play a major role in shaping the direction of the nation.

Frist, Tennessee's senior U.S. Senator and Senate Majority Leader, was in Huntingdon Saturday as part of the Carroll County Lincoln Day Luncheon at the middle school. In remarks to a largely Republican house, Frist said the November elections will be a battle for the heart and soul of America.

"This election is so much more than electing senators, representatives and more than electing the President of the United States," Frist said. "This is a pivotal time in our history and we have two presidential candidates who want to take us down two different paths."

Frist contrasted the differences between President George W. Bush and Democratic presidential contender Sen. John Kerry.
"It's been a painful past three months," said Frist of the Democratic primary season. "The Democrats have pounded the president over and over again. The president wanted to stay presidential until the campaign kicks off. Now he's fired up and ready to go."

Frist said the Bush presidency could be summed up in three words: moral clarity, courage and character.

"That's really what this race is going to be about," Frist said. "The two paths are very different.

"Kerry's path is clear," Frist said. "He has a timid foreign policy and wants to implement class warfare. He wants higher taxes and bigger and bigger government."

The senator said the Republicans have an "optimistic view."

"We want to decrease taxes, we have a bold and decisive foreign policy," Frist said. "You can see how far we've come. For the first time in 50 years, the stars are lined up; we have Republican majority leadership in the House and Senate and its up to us to keep us down that positive, affirming path."

Frist said he didn't seek the Majority Leader job, but assumed the role after Mississippi Senator Trent Lott stepped down almost a year ago from that position. Lott made some remarks at the 100th birthday party for late South Carolina Senator Strom Thurmond that some construed as racist.

"I didn't want this job, but my colleagues asked me to do this job," Frist said. "It's a huge honor."

Now that he is in one of the most influential posts on Capital Hill, he works closely with the president. Bush even came to his home not long ago. Frist said the meeting was a productive one. "I work with the president in a very personal way and I was honored to have him there," Frist said.

The senator said that traditional American values are under attack with the trend of gay marriages across the country. He said that radical judges are legislating from the bench and that Democrats in the senate are holding up judicial appointments. But Frist did say there was good news. He said the recession, which began in during Bill Clinton's presidency in 2000, has turned around, despite the difficulties of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

"The president responded with a growth package by cutting taxes every year he's been in office," said Frist. "He passed the largest tax cut in history. That means we cut taxes on 380,000 small businesses, 439,000 capital investors and we increased the child tax credit."

Frist asserted that Tennesseans are better equipped to spend their money than bureaucrats in Washington.

The Majority Leader said that despite the fact economic indicators are more positive, some areas are experiencing hard times. He pointed out job cuts at factories in Carroll and Warren counties have created hardships in those areas. So Frist decided to join nine federal agencies to aid economic growth in Tennessee. Frist hopes this new rapid-response program will be a model for a nationwide plan.

Frist addressed the war on terror.

"We need to act boldly and decisively. We can't wait for terrorists to bring their battle to our soil," Frist said. "So we brought the battle to the terrorists on their soil and fought it on our terms. Fifty million people who were shackled by the Taliban and Al Qaeda are now freed."

He also noted that Libyan strongman Col. Moamar Q. Qaddafi has capitulated as a result of America's assertive foreign policy.
"Because of Bush's bold leadership, Qaddafi decided he had no future," Frist said. "He disclosed the whereabouts of 4,000 tons of mustard gas and nerve agents. Because of the boldness of Bush and the sacrifice of our servicemen and women, we are transforming the world."

In remarks to media following his address, Frist said he would support a constitutional amendment in support of marriage between a man and a woman, but cautioned that changing the constitution must be a deliberate process. He said that activist judges are redefining marriage.

Frist said that the senate recently passed an energy bill that will increase production of domestic oil, but did not include access to the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve, where it is estimated that 70 years of oil reserves remain untapped.

"We are dependant on 63 percent of foreign oil and that's unacceptable," Frist said.

While recent polling data suggests a tight race between Bush and Kerry, Frist feels the tide will begin to turn as the campaign season rolls along.

"More than 90 percent of the attention has been focused on the Democrats," Frist said. "In the next seven to eight months, the Republicans will have a chance to catch up and you'll see Bush steadily pull ahead."

• Audit presentation by Mark Downing;
• Second reading of beer ordinance changes to penalty section 8-233;
• First reading of an ordinance prohibiting the placement of basketball goals alongside or within public rights-of-way;
• Consideration of a resolution authorizing the donation of $100 to the McKenzie Rebel Homerun Club;
• Consideration of a resolution authorizing the donation of $100 to the Carroll County Sports Hall of Fame;
• Consideration of a resolution authorizing the city to purchase from the First Cumberland Presbyterian Church the lot beside City Hall;
• Discussion of the $6,000 bid for fireworks for the Fourth of July celebration;
• Discussion to solicit bids for the roofing of the old City Hall; and
• Opening of bids for hay production on the old landfill.

• McKenzie Royalties Selected in Weekend Revues
• Firefighters Battle Oil Fire at CSI
• McKenzie Teen Killed in Wreck at Paris Sunday
• Frist Says Election About Divergent Paths

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