There are two races of interest in Blount County next month. The Meares-Duggan race is a no-brainer for progressives. But what about the Republican primary?

I plan to vote in it because, well, the Senator will not be a Democrat. So who is the best of this awful bunch? Who is the least worst Republican jerk?

Arguments I've heard for Finney: He's more transparent than most politicians and his support for the mountain-top removal ban shows him willing to spurn the wishes of local big developers and apply his religious beliefs to the environment.

For Overbey: He isn't a Christofascist extremist and is willing to work with Democrats in the Senate to pursue a more sane agenda - even if too conservative.

Negatives for Finney: He's an arch-right wing Christian fundamantalist extremist who wants to revive the Scopes law and institute the David Horowitz law at Maryville College. He's just a generally creepy religious nutcase.

Negatives for Overbey: He's a total opportunist doing the bidding of the Lamberts. He would never spurn his party on anything the way Finney did.

So who should a progressive support on August 7?

I lean toward Overbey. Finney and his ilk make non-Christians like me feel like second class citizens. That tends to override anything else he's done. But I don't say that as a compliment to Overbey. His "effective conservative leadership" slogans make me vomit. But at least I won't be embarrassed to have my home town associated with my Senator.

What do you think?