Posted on 08/01/2012 9:26:16 AM PDT by Kfobbs
The anointed Texas political establishment contender, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, was leading in the GOP runoff race to capture the GOP nomination for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison. He had a who’s who list of solid republican mainstream backers. Most state and national election experts had already inked Dewhurst into the senatorial win column.
Yet, in the conservative voter trenches of Texas, the real who ’s who that truly counted was the voters and a Tea Party movement that would not say die or give up. In their corner was the former Alaskan Governor named Sarah “I’m Not Afraid to Fight” Palin. Palin endorsed Ted Cruz, and Ted Cruz won! Boy did he win.
But that is not the whole story. GOP insider politics in Texas had Dewhurst leading comfortably. In fact, in one corner of the political ring was Dewhurst, and the royalty of Texas politics who came out in a big way for the 66-year-old Dewhurst. The Lt. Governor even loaned $24 million from his fortune to his campaign to insure his win.
In the other corner of the political ring was Cruz, who had been the former state solicitor general and had never run for office. He was the proud son of a Cuban immigrant, and was without GOP mainstream support. Therefore he was like Rocky Balboa entering the heavyweight fight with little experience but a lot of heart and most importantly he had lots and lots of conservative grass roots Texans in his corner.
This was the runoff election and in round two, Ted “Rocky Balboa” not only got his second wind, but he received conservative Tea Party support from Texas and around the nation. He also obtained conservative...
(Excerpt) Read more at examiner.com ...
“Of course, they expect us to fall in line with their “moderate” “he can win” nominees.”
Oh, c’mon - look at who we got for a Presidential candidate! He’s a rock-ribbed...uh...
nevermind.
Dewhurst ran a disgustingly negative campaign that wasn’t even believable. It would have been had Cruz been a Democrat. :) And the more Dewhurst talked the more I thought of John Kerry. Yuck!
Perry and others also endorsed a young guy in our state rep seat that lost to a very conservative candidate. The young guy has been planning political office for his whole life I think but he hasn’t been a Republican for long, more of a “blue dog democrat” which isn’t much use except for sending money to rural areas to secure election. My opinion.
You are spot on.
GOP-E operates as faux opposition to Rats and are a tiny bit more discreet at amassing statist power and wealth, but not much. With a Tea Party candidate, they can't just wink or shake hands in their secrete, elitist manner to show they understand the charade to pacify the ignorant masses. They actually have to represent the best interests of the real powers in this republic - individual tax payers.
You are right. Palin may have brought some excitement to the race, but the voters were motivated by what happened in the state legislature. They realized that Perry, Dewhurst and Strauss had prevented too many good bills from coming to the floor and/or actively worked to defeat them.
There is a new breed of conservative coming to the legislature next session and here are the ones to watch: Stephanie Klick, Matt Krause and Donna Campbell in the Senate.
Jim DeMint and Rand Paul were much more influential than Palin as an endorsement IMHO.
You assume too much.
I truly appreciate your interest and insight, but you are apparently out-of-state.
Folks outside of Texas simply don’t realize how sick and tired we Texans are of Perry and Dewhurst. All Dewhurst’s millions and all his nasty negative ads couldn’t overcome that. He might even have lost to a less formidable candidate than Cruz.
Sarah’s endorsement didn’t hurt, and it made her look good outside the state, but I truly don’t think it mattered one whit to Texans.
Also, in my opinion, you can look for Prry to covert if not overtly support the Democrat candidate.
“Also, in my opinion, you can look for Prry to covert if not overtly support the Democrat candidate.”
Not likely..In my opinion..and I live in Texas..He will support Cruz..The primary is over.
May 10-- Sarah Palin has weighed in on the fiercely competitive Texas Senate primary race with an endorsement of Ted Cruz, the tea-party-backed candidate announced on his website Thursday.
Mr. Cruz, pulling 26 percent of likely Republican voters in the latest Public Policy Polling survey, is hoping to finish well enough in the May 29 Texas GOP primary to make it into a July 31 runoff with Mr. Dewhurst, who is comfortably in first with 38 percent.
========== Dewhurst leads Cruz in the PPP poll, 46 percent to 29 percent.
The picture is very different when it comes to former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who supports Cruz. PPP, a Democratic-leaning firm, found that 36 percent of Texas Republicans say Palin’s support would make them more likely to back a candidate, while 21 percent consider it a negative.
“In every other state, Sarah Palin’s endorsement has been a game-changer,” Cruz told Texas on the Potomac this afternoon.
Yeah, how about that Senator Fiorina!
Oh, wait...
Are you a child that thinks the most important endorsement in America, the most valuable conservative player in America doesn’t exist because it isn’t perfect like in your childish fairy tell world, in the world of reality and politics, Governor Palin is unmatched in her influence on campaigns.
The leader of the conservative movement bothers you that much?
Most of us are happy about the Cruz victory and Palins boost.
Are you a moron who can't figure out how to post an argument based upon its own merits and has to substitute a flatulent rhetorical question?
Sheesh.
The leader of the conservative movement bothers you that much?
Put a sock on it. Palin is no more THE leader than you are. The whole point of conservatism is SELF government, not the desire to be led. I'd but Beck, Rush, or Levin ahead of her in a heartbeat in terms of effectiveness.
Most of us are happy about the Cruz victory and Palins boost.
I'm fine with an effective conservative endorsement out of her, for once. I'm still remembering a growing list of RINOs she's endorsed over more capable conservatives in primary campaigns.
There is no question that Governor Palin is the leader of the conservative movement, it’s most important and effective figure, the leader of the opposition to the gop-e.
Palin is also the most effective endorsement in American history, she is literally creating a party within the party.
Her endorsements over the last almost 4 years are astounding in numbers, effectiveness, and in effectiveness of moving the party to the right.
From her first endorsement victory in December of 2008 to last night, she is phenomenal and the most coveted endorsement in the nation.
Certainly what you say is true. It’s just that their were earlier voices and big money, pre-Sarah. It’s just inconsiderate to endlessly over rate one player constantly at the expense of all others, who were in earlier.
And, of course Cruz paid his dues to Sarah for her help. Her fan base is his fan base. Who wouldn’t? I predict with Cruz’s competency that will be calling his own shots. Soon.
Don’t mind me. I don’t really like women in politics. They have mucked up civilization and feminized everything and emasculated men. (But for the brainy, deft Thatcher.)
As far as women in politics, Palin is creating a whole new generation of bold, right wing females (not just politely center right), she is truly tough and conservative, independently conservative, genetically conservative.
It’s funny how often good things “just sort of happen” when Governor Palin endorses a candidate, isn’t it?
Thanks for the ankle shot. /s
You make my point exquisitely. Never take a woman seriously is your point I take it.
Weird.
You missed not only the actual focus (literally the focused portion) of the photograph, the actual subjects of the photograph, you missed my point entirely.
You are more dedicated to your anti-Palin agenda than you like to let on.
I hope that you are correct. Time will tell.
Yes it is, look at Nebraska for instance.
Deb Fischer and Palin’s latest triumph
The intriguing nature of Fischer’s win is that the new GOP establishment, defined as the Club for Growth and Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina, had endorsed Stenberg. Palin endorsed long-shot Fischer.
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