Back in late 2002-early 2003, when the Senate Democratic Caucus met to determine their leaders, Senator Thurman Adams threatened to bolt the caucus, along with Bob Venables and George Bunting, to align with the Republicans if Adams was defeated in a caucus vote for President Pro-Tem. Since the Senate composition at that time was 13 Democrats and 8 Republicans, such a switch would have given the Republicans control of the Senate. (Personally, I highly doubt that Senator Bunting would have switched, in the end).
So keep that in mind when I pass on a tip we received:
It’s been said that in the event HB5 comes to the floor of the Senate and passes, Thurman Adams is prepared to resign from the Senate.
First, this tip is very believable, given Adams’ history of giving ultimatums. Second, if he has given this ultimatum, I believe Thurman Adams is as delusional as his new supporter, David Anderson. For an ultimatum to work, you have to threaten something that people do not want to see happen if they don’t vote they way you want. Here, Adams is giving some Senators that are not particularly supportive of civil rights legislation a reason to support the bill.
Adams seriously misreads his caucus if he has indeed made this threat. The only reason Adams retained his position in the last leadership election is that everyone expects Adams to retire when his term is up.