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Posted on 09/28/2009 7:18:49 PM PDT by BuckeyeTexan
It's been said that a politician thinks of the next election, while a statesman thinks of the next generation. It's a phrase that comes to mind in the race getting under way in Texas, where US Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison is challenging Governor Rick Perry for the GOP nomination in March of 2010.
Here we have a 3-term senator planning to vacate her position before the end of the year and try to unseat the governor of a state with an economy that has done exceedingly well, given the ravages of the financial meltdown across the country. Statistics for the Lone Star State show that it has largely weathered the national economic storm better than most other states. As Perry noted recently, "I'm convinced our whole country could use a little Texas-style fiscal discipline." The governor attributes the economic success to conservative policies that have been put in place after the GOP took control of the state in 2003. Those policies will be the bone of contention right up until March, as both candidates try to prove which one is the most conservative.
Meanwhile, another Republican stalwart has recently signed onto the slugfest, claiming that she is the strongest conservative in the race. Debra Medina, a South Texas native said that Perry and Hutchison have abandoned the conservative principles that got them elected in the first place. With very little money and even less name recognition in the state, it would appear that Medina's chances are nil.
However, her staunch conservative record as former chairwoman of the Wharton County Republican Party could subtract votes from Perry in the Primary, leading to the suspicion that she may be a stalking horse for Hutchison. Think about it; if you were facing a 2-term governor with a strong record of supporting limited government, low taxes, a curb on illegal immigration, the citizens' right to bear arms, and a strong anti-abortion stand, how would you overcome the odds and out-conservative him? Although she can't win the nomination with a plurality of the votes, if Hutchison can split the Perry vote, she may be able to keep him from a primary victory and force a runoff election. That would make Perry appear vulnerable enough to be defeated in the general election.
The political position that is likely to give the Senator the most trouble is her belief that the Roe vs. Wade right to abortion law was appropriate and shouldn't be overturned. Perry, on the other hand, has consistently maintained a strong pro-life stance. As a result, he has been endorsed by the Texas Alliance for Life political action committee. In addition, unlike Hutchison, Perry has opposed embryonic stem cell research, which requires the destruction of human embryos for experimentation that may lead to a treatment or cure of some diseases. Instead, the governor has endorsed the use of adult stem cells and has called for public funding for the research.
To be fair, Hutchison has voted yes on several issues that put her on the conservative side of the abortion issue. She voted to prohibit minors from crossing state lines for an abortion; she's against the use of federal funds to organizations that perform abortions; and voted yes on banning partial birth abortion, except when it endangers the life of the mother.
Nevertheless, political rhetoric aside, why is Hutchison giving up a valuable senate seat at a time when her country and her party needs all the successful Republicans it can get? Is she simply tired of the commute from home to her Washington office? Is her boredom with the DC scene so irritating that she's willing to fracture the party in the state known as a GOP stronghold in a country bitterly divided between conservative and liberal orthodoxies?
If Perry had done something to embarrass the state, either in his personal or political life, it would be easy to understand another Texas leader coming to the rescue to restore respect for the office. Instead, Hutchison seems to be more interested in personal aggrandizement than in the future of the state that has been very good to her.
Thanks to her ambition, Republicans will be forced to take sides in the coming bloodbath that can only embolden the opposition party. When the smoke clears, will the state be any better off than it is now? If Senator Hutchison really cared about the next generation, instead of the next election, she would put an end to this reckless campaign and continue her capable service to the country. By doing so, she could prove to be a statesman after all.
Bob Weir is a former detective sergeant in the New York City Police Department. He is the executive editor of The News Connection in Highland Village, Texas.
Freepmail me or ping me from the original thread to get on/off the 2010 Texas Governor's Race ping list.
My guess is money, power & being one of the boys; in that order.
Ping.
Tacos from Austin’s SoCo area?
I think she’s full of herself. She needs to prove that she’s the greatest.
Kay Bailey and Pretty Boy - neither are worth having -— consummate politicians who have learned NOTHING from the recent events of Tea Parties, Town Hall Meetings and the March on DC... although they both PRETEND they do.
Old Fashion Politicians - that is all Hutchinson and Perry are ... and nothing else... out of date - out of style - please spare us...
The best day for Texas is when they are both memories...
Can someone of worth please step forth...
She certainly is more than full of herself. A kind of a Hi, I am a whishy washy voice for this and that. Vote for me.
nail on the head
The MSM will all be rooting for her.....until the general election that is, then they will drop her like a hot potato.
Kay Bailey is an opportunist. She knows, as do many of us, that Perry is more vulnerable than those outside of Texas might think.
He has irritated his base multiple times in multiple ways in recent years. The only reason he won re-election last time was because he had no serious opposition, unless you count Kinky Friedman, an old gal with more ex-husbands than good sense, and a Democrat nobody ever heard of. Even then, he won re-election with only a plurality.
I had plans to work for whoever would unseat Perry next year, but that was before Kay Bailey jumped in.
Now it looks like they’ll shred each other to bits before next spring. If Texas Democrats had any sense, this is their chance.
What a mess.
Is their someone texas can trust and vote for?
You folks are getting the pragmatism treatment that us in Kalifornia have been treated to!
Whatever Kay’s reasons...the answer is NO.
Now is no time for mush.
Nobody in the race so far. Sad to say, slick Rick seems to be the best choice at the moment.
Whatever happens to be in the water she’s drinking, I would guess.
“Kay Bailey and Pretty Boy - neither are worth having -— consummate politicians who have learned NOTHING from the recent events of Tea Parties, Town Hall Meetings and the March on DC... although they both PRETEND they do.”
ditto
The success of the Texas economy is based on the Texas Legislature only being in session 6 months every two years - thus limiting their power to screw things up.
as I’ve said before, now if we could just get them to be in session for 2 months every 6 years. . .
Reading this article, while watching McLame on BOR...makes me think that we have found the female McLame...
I cannot understand why she’s running. Worst case scenario? She fractures the Texas GOP, and we end up with a Dihm in Guv’s office, as well as in her Senate seat.
The Legislature only meets 120 days - 4 months - not 6.
“The Legislature only meets 120 days - 4 months - not 6”
-Starts in January
-Ends in June
count em how ever ya like, I call it 6 !
I’m going to vote for the other guy. That change stuff hasn’t been working out very well lately.
I would like Reps. Sam Johnson or Michael Burgess to run.
Run, Kay, run!!!
The sooner she’s out of the Senate, the sooner we can get someone in there with more than two brain cells. As for the Governor’s seat, it ain’t happening.
The Texas Constitution specifies that the Legislature meet from the 2nd Tuesday in Jan. for a total of 140 days in every odd numbered year. The 81st legislatue met beginning on Jan. 13, 2009 and closed shop on Jun. 1, 2009..... 140 days total.
Sam Johnson would be great were it not for one problem. He would be past 80 at the start of the 2011 Gubernatorial term.
Most writers are ignoring the secessionist Larry Kilgore from Mansfield Texas. I don’t really think he has any chance but I believe he may throw a bigger wrench into the primary than Medina.
In 2006 with four in the Governor’s primary he came in 2nd with some 50,000 votes with the three challengers splitting a little over 15% of the vote. In the 2008 primary against Sen. Cornyn he garnered over 226,000 votes [18.5%] which I’m sure many were anti Cornyn. He has a following apparently although doesn’t seem to appear on the media’s radar. Between he and Medina they may throw the primary into a runoff as the article mentions.
But they don't have any sense. Heck, they don't even have anybody with more smarts than a doorknob running. The players on the rat side:
Ambassador Tom Schieffer, rancher Hank Gilbert, ex- Railroad Commission nominee Mark Thompson, teacher Felix Alvarado, whateverheis Kinky Friedman and hair-care millionaire Farouk Shami.
Schieffer is probably their best shot and that's a laugh. They've got no bench. White and Sharp, maybe a shot at the very, very outside, but they're more interested in screwing us in DC.
About the only good thing I can say about the rats is that at least Friedman is finally running where he belongs.
Now there is a chance that KBH can get enough crossovers in the primary to whop Perry. I don't think so but watch for a lot of party switching....
Thanks for that information. You’re correct that he’s apparently not on the media’s radar. I do regular searches for related articles to post for the group and I haven’t seen anything about him. I will do some checking now that you’ve brought it to my attention. I’ll ping the group to your comment. Thanks very much, deport!
This thread from back in April was my first knowledge of him. He is a fringe candidate for sure so that will limit his appeal to the mainstream I think.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2220663/posts
His website:
http://www.larrykilgore.com/Larry_Kilgore/Welcome.html
Ping to comments #26 and #29 about candidate Larry Kilgore.
I apologize for the lack of information about Kilgore thus far. I'll start adding posts regarding his candidacy to keep us better informed.
I interviewed Larry Kilgore on Patriots Heart Network...foundingfatherscry.com program. And I’ve met and talked to him.
He is a great guy and would get my vote in a New York minute if this was not a year when the party absolutely cannot be divided! KBH and RP both have huge political machines and we’ve GOT to keep KBH out of there and win the Texas Mansion again. We CANNOT let Texas go socialist at this time when we may possibly need to lead a states rights movement.
He is STRONG on states rights, conservatism and on secession should we need to! Somebody certainly to look to in the future.
I know how many days it meets.
the days occur over 6 different months.
the days occur over 6 different months.
Sometimes, sometimes not...........
crossover. Two can play that game.
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