Dewhurst wins support of Combs, Patrick

The Austin-American Statesman ^ | July 26, 2012 | Kate Alexander

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Comptroller Susan Combs on Thursday added her name to the long list of Texas elected officials who are backing Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst in his bid for the U.S. Senate.

Dewhurst has been “relentless and focused on conservative principles,” said Combs, who credited the lieutenant governor for putting Texas in a strong economic position.

“Fighting for principle is not always easy and it is not always visible,” Combs said at an Austin news conference. “I will tell you that actions speak a lot louder than words.”

The low-key news conference at Run-Tex on Riverside Drive stands in stark contrast to the big-crowd events that Dewhurst’s runoff opponent, Ted Cruz, will attend today and tomorrow. Tonight, thousands of activists will pile into the American Airlines Center in Dallas to hear Cruz along with radio commentator Glenn Beck, U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint and other tea party leaders. On Friday, Sarah Palin will headline a Cruz rally in The Woodlands in advance of Tuesday’s vote.

[SNIP]

Earlier on Thursday, state Sen. Dan Patrick of Houston posted on his Facebook page that he would vote for Dewhurst. A conservative radio host, Patrick had declined to endorse in the race but did speak up several times to defend Dewhurst’s conservative record in the Texas Senate.........

Patrick added: “Cruz is a bright and talented lawyer who is also a fiery orator. I respect those who see it differently. I’m not going to be critical of Cruz. He may well win and if he does we will rally around him in November. Since both Cruz and Dewhurst have said they differ only slightly on the issues in the end it’s a matter of style and background.”

[Reddon]

Perry was booed big time by the crowd at the Republican State Convention recently when he mentioned his support of Dewhurst, at least that was encouraging!

[South40]

Loyalty? How about a loyalty to the conservative cause? Perry could have endorsed the TEA Party endorsed Cruz but showed his real colors by going with Dewhurst.

Perry's loyalty is with his crony friends and not conservatism. That, in my mind and the minds of many conservatives, speaks volumes.

[Quickgun]

I’m going to vote for Cruz, even though I don’t think of Dewhurst as bad at all. I’ll certainly support either one that makes it. Dewhurst isn’t a RHINO, except in the eyes of those whom everyone is a RHINO. We could have, and have had far worse politicians than Dewhurst....

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Starting today a 4PM CST:

FreedomWorks Events in Dallas, Texas – July 26th, 2012
Posted July 24th, 2012 by Konni

PART ONE: GOTV Training Event and Rally for Ted Cruz (Open to FreePAC ticket holders)

Where: American Airlines Center- 2500 Victory Ave, Dallas, TX 75219

When: 4:00pm-5:30pm

Speakers Include:

* FreedomWorks for America Staff
* Grassroots Activists
* Michelle Malkin

INTERMISSION: 5:30pm-6:00pm

PART TWO: FreedomWorks “FreePAC: Restoring Freedom” Conference

Where: American Airlines Center- 2500 Victory Ave, Dallas, TX 75219

When: 6:00pm-9:00pm

Speakers include:

* Ted Cruz
* Richard Mourdock
* Senator Mike Lee
* Senator Rand Paul
* Glenn Beck
* FreedomWorks President, Matt Kibbe
* FreedomWorks Chairman, Dick Armey
* Many more!

**Part Two is a ticketed event. Tickets can be purchased at www.FreePAC.org **

http://www.netarrantteaparty.com/2012/07/freedomworks-events-in-dallas-texas-july-26th-2012/

[pogo101]

I agree with you. I think much more highly of Perry than of Dewhurst. If Perry could not muster the courage even to GENTLY break with Dewhurst (by endorsing Cruz, or at least staying neutral), then I have to wonder how courageous he would have been as President. (Mind you, I backed him not as “Mister Ideal” but as the best of a bad lot. And now we have worse!)

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Tomorrow in Houston:

“Sarah Palin, whose support has been spotlighted by Ted Cruz as he battles Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst for the GOP nod for U.S. Senate, will rally for Cruz, along with archconservative U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint on Friday in The Woodlands.

The rally comes on the heels of a big tea party rally in Dallas sponsored by FreedomWorks that will feature Cruz and movement conservative stars like Richard Mourdock, Republican nominee for U.S. Senate from Indiana.

It comes days before next Tuesday’s runoff election.

The rally will be 6-7 p.m. at Town Green Park, 2099 Lake Robbins Drive in The Woodlands.

Other Cruz backers who plan to be at Friday’s rally include Cathie Adams, Amy Kremer of the Tea Party Express, and representatives of tea party groups from The Woodlands, Kingwood, Dallas Tea Party and Waco.”......

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/texas-politics/2012/07/palin-will-rally-for-cruz/

[Cincinatus' Wife]

.......”The announcement is a complete reversal from Patrick’s fallout with Dewhurst last year, when he accused Dewhurst of putting on an “elaborate political play” to kill the TSA anti-groping bill that failed in the Texas Senate last session. After the bill was killed, Patrick had announced that he would be exploring options to run for Senate and challenge Dewhurst’s bid to replace Kay Bailey Hutchison.”........

http://blog.chron.com/texaspolitics/2012/07/dan-patrick-endorses-dewhurst/

[pogo101]

Sounds like Patrick woke up with a horse’s head in his bed.

Ahhh! Ahhhh! AHhhhhhhhhhhh!!

[South40]

If Perry could not muster the courage even to GENTLY break with Dewhurst (by endorsing Cruz, or at least staying neutral), then I have to wonder how courageous he would have been as President.

Great point. I don't like Perry and never did. I especially didn't like him saying outsiders should stay out of Cruz/Dewhurst Senate race. Not only was it arrogant, it was hypocritical and revealed that he was/is fundamentally ignorant on how the US senate operates. The vote of every US senator affects every man woman and child in this nation. Everyone has a right to have a say on who wins that race, including Palin, DeMint and Santorum who Perry was chastising. You are right, we do have a lot worse. But he wasn't my man either.

[WilliamRobert]

A four way intersection, on each corner stand. Santa, The Easter Bunny, The Tooth Fair, and Real Conservative David Dewhurst. Who is the real deal and who is make believe? Neck they’re all make believe.

[Rastus]

Susan Combs, who admitted she wanted to use tax policy to control my behavior as a consumer. She spearheaded sales tax for Amazon purchases by Texans, and said, “Think of your friend and neighbors who own businesses that need that level playing field!” I think I’ll pay the sales tax and tell my “friends and neighbors” who lobbied for me to pay more to pound sand. And I already voted for Cruz.

[WilliamRobert]

Dan Patrick sold out to Dewhurst and is showing that he has compromised his values to support a RINO like DD.

I fear that Patrick may just be trying to steering attention ti his failing radio station.

[crusty old prospector]

I already voted early for Cruz. I heard a radio commercial at noon from Nolan Ryan endorsing Dewhurst. And I went to a Ranger’s game last night...

[tarheelswamprat]

The folks in most other states don’t understand the unique differences in the power relationship of the Governor versus the Lt. Governor in Texas. They mostly assume it to be much like the US President and Vice-President, where the President is the top dog and the Vice-President does as he’s told.

Texas, however, has one of the most powerful Lt. Governor offices in the nation, and these GOP establishment politicians are merely doing basic CYA in case Dewhurst pulls out a win. If they were to cross him and he won, he could cause them a lot of problems.

In addition to some of Dewhurst’s other questionable actions or positions which have been mentioned, I seem to remember seeing some mention that he was instrumental in the recent redistricting battles in which several TEA Party conservatives were shafted by the GOP establishment. Is that correct?

In any event, I’m not too troubled by these establishment CYA endorsements. The TEA Party conservatives need to just accept that most incumbents within the system aren’t going to stick their necks out, even if they are sympathetic with their goals. These battles are going to have to be won by generating enough overwhelming grassroots activity and momentum to simply sweep these people away.

[Sarajevo]

Comptroller Susan Combs on Thursday added her name to the long list of Texas elected officials who are backing Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst in his bid for the U.S. Senate.

Susan Combs is another one that can bite the jockey shorts. We need new blood with conservative ideals in Austin too.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

....These battles are going to have to be won by generating enough overwhelming grassroots activity and momentum to simply sweep these people away.

Exactly!

[Anima Mundi]

To others it is who they are “for” and to others it is who they “Fear”.

[lentulusgracchus]

(Art.) Dewhurst has been “relentless and focused on conservative principles,” said Combs....

Notice the order in which she seeded her adjectives.

"Relentless", and then "conservative". Hmmmm, wonder if she meant "ruthless"?

Sounds like Dewhurst is menacing the officeholders bigtime.

[lentulusgracchus]

.....several TEA Party conservatives were shafted by the GOP establishment. Is that correct?

That would be a yes.

I've read that Dewhurst and RiNO speaker of the Texas house Joe Straus of San Antonio (he's a Jewish liberal who votes like a "moderate" Democrat, and his speakership majority is made up of about a dozen GOP "moderates" and the entire Democratic caucus, unhorsing an incumbent conservative-Republican speaker) directly accounted for eight conservative GOP'ers in the state house being paired against each other during redistricting, resulting in losses of at least four of them (perforce) in the primaries and a very likely two-seat gain for the 'Rats because of the new district boundaries.

In addition, all the screwing around cost Texas the chance to vote for conservative presidential candidates in April; our primary was moved to May 29, in order to deny us a chance to help stop Romney.

"How do you like us now?"

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Cincinatus' Wife.

Earlier on Thursday, state Sen. Dan Patrick of Houston posted on his Facebook page that he would vote for Dewhurst... added: "Cruz is a bright and talented lawyer who is also a fiery orator. I respect those who see it differently. I'm not going to be critical of Cruz. He may well win and if he does we will rally around him in November. Since both Cruz and Dewhurst have said they differ only slightly on the issues in the end it's a matter of style and background."

And thanks ak267:

• Turnout in top 10 counties suggests voter interest in GOP runoff pretty strong (TX Senate Runoff)