Hire Heath Shuler as Tennessee AD

Shuler, failing in his first DC stint.

Rep. Heath Shuler (D-NC) is rumored to be interested in becoming the next athletic director at his alma matter, the University of Tennessee. Since the former Redskins draft bust hasn't done much better in his second stint in DC than he did in his first, he should take the job if it's offered.

Reports of Shuler's interest are still just that at this point, but his spokesman didn't deny that the congressman wants the job, saying only that Shuler is focused on getting reelected in November 2012. That might be tough. Shuler is in his third term and considered retiring last year, but he won reelection in a largely conservative district. Then, just like when he was a NFL QB, he couldn't win two in a row. He unsuccessfully challenged House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) for her leadership position, and when you challenge her she tends to freeze you out later. Shuler's blunder with Pelosi was especially costly since it coincided with the erosion of the Blue Dog Caucus, a group of moderate Democrats (of which Shuler is a member) that saw its ranks dwindle by 50% in 2010. As a result, Shuler has little hope of getting anything done even if the Democrats take the House back.

Looking to 2012, Shuler faces a Democratic primary challenge from a local city councilman who is considered a serious candidate. Shuler may also be hurt by redistricting, since Republicans control his home state and could redraw the voting map to further erode Shuler's base.

It also happens that Congress would be better off without Shuler, who reportedly had periphery involvement in a major scandal and is not terribly active legislatively. Shuler introduced nine bills so far in 2011, which ranks him 272 out of 440 House members in terms of quantity, and none of those have become law. He's also not very useful to his party, voting with Democrats just 67% of the time.

As for the scandal, Shuler reportedly rented a room in the "C Street House," a large residence reportedly owned by a shadowy Christian group called "The Foundation" or "The Family," which hosts the National Prayer Breakfast annually and engages in regular lobbying activity. Several other members of Congress lived there, including ex-Sen. John Ensign, who had an affair with a staffer's wife in the house. All members living in the residence supposedly received a discounted rental rate (violation of Congressional ethics rules), and no member of Congress should be living with lobbyists (just plain inappropriate).

Shuler hasn't done a lot better in DC as a lawmaker than he did as a QB (he was 4-9 in three seasons), so given his potentially difficult reelection situation he should most definitely say "yes" if Tennessee comes calling on him.