Sounds like Ken wishes somebody other than a Republican were running.
Report:
About 50 people attended. Majority were campaign staff or volunteers. 5 or 10 associated with the various Republican clubs that sponsored the debate, mostly "1960 Area Republicans". 10 - 15 precinct chairs or just interested citizens. (Shame again!)
Very structured debate.
Open statement,
4 questions addressed by each(same question)
Closing statement.
No rebuttals.
My notes on the debate (all paraphrasing):
Open statement:
McCaul: (paraprased, see article) I am just a simple family man lawyer, why am I getting picked on so much?
Streusand: Elect me to cut taxes and spending etc.
Question 1. How will you curb spending?
McCaul: We must consider sunset laws, look at the deficit, and how spending bills are passed in omnibus budget
Streusand: I am a businessman, I know that there is and should be a limited amount of money. We must only spend on what is necessary, can't spend on everything.
2. What do you think about or what would you do about job outsourcing to other countries?
Streusand: Penalizing companies and corporations is not the answer. We need to reduce the government burdens so that US business can compete on a fair basis
McCaul: yeah, me too. Plus for all of our high knowledge jobs we lose, we should provide re-training in community colleges
3. Is the Canadian border a bigger threat to US security than Mexico border?
McCaul: (first sentence mentioned illegal aliens problem). Blah blah blah (no meat); NEXT 4 SENTENCES HE SAYS WE HAVE TO DO SOMETING ABOUT THE "UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS"; THE "UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS PROBLEM";! Nothing about law enforcement or closing borders!
Streusand: More border patrol, more law enforcement cooperation,SECURE BOTH BORDERS!
4. Do you believe life begins at conception? Do what to change things?
Streusand: Yes. Focus on electing constructionist judjes that respect the constitution; get the feds out of this and back to the states
McCaul: Yes. (something about a prenatal protection act). Change the culture.
Close.
Stresand: Tax reform, reduce healthcare costs by removing government burdens, attack government waste that makes me sick! (gave examples of waste)
McCaul: I am a good man, the campaign is so hard, I have been attacked,..... (He actually sniffed, voice cracked just a little. Reminded me of Ron Brown funeral video of Clinton. IMO, This guy showed his lawyer training with the crocodile tears).
End of presentation.
What happened when it was over: I asked the Streusand staff about the negative ads. They say it started with negative phone calls in Travis county that they blame on McCaul's campaign. McCaul's campaign says that Streusand started it. He said / She said.
I saw pictures of Streusand campaign signs that were defaced, the middle cut out or blacked out. Not sure who did it from pictures, but they think it was McCaul supporters.
FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE: After the debate ended, I go outside to have a smoke, I was one of the first or only persons to go outside. ALL THE STREUSAND CAMPAIGN SIGNS HAD BEEN REMOVED; ONLY THE MCCAUL SIGNS REMAINED.
Good question: Why would the candidate who led the primary by 10% be motivated to escalate the negative campaign? Which candidate would be motivated to steal and deface the other's signs?
The "who went negative first" question cannot be proven by either camp. Looks like Streusand because he did it first in broadcast.
I wanted to give McCaul the benefit of the doubt, and still do. He may not have known about or approved of sign stealing.
BUT... his comments about "UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS", 4 times! shows his Austin Political Correctness attitude. The crying game about "poor me being attacked by negative ads", looked very weak. I know that this style of debate is difficult, but his responses were much more mealy-mouthed platitudes without stating his ideas or plans for action, but he liked someone else's plan, or we should look at this problem, etc.
Sorry if I stepped on anyone's toes here.
But I see Ben Streusand as a leader.
He was the FIRST to send mailers and do broadcast commercials supporting tax reform and abolishing the IRS.
He was the FIRST to send mailers and do broadcast commercials for ending illegal immigration.
He was the FIRST to send mailers and do broadcast commercials for stopping gay marriage.
He was the ONLY ONE to send mailers to me stating that he will fight for parental notification, rights of the unborn, stop fed funding for abortion, protect caregivers that refuse to participate in abortions.
McCaul mostly says: Me too.
I don't like the negative ads between these two Republicans. I told them so. I told Streusand's people that I was going to give McCaul a second look because of some of Streusand's prior donations to dems (even though he raised .5 million for Republicans).
But after last night, no way am I going to vote for a PC Austin Lawyer Perry Buddy that wants to take care of the "UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS PROBLEM" and cry about politics being tough. Go back to your civil service job, MM.
MORE TO COME IN THE NEXT SEGMENT:
McCaul and Janet Reno - I have more info.
McCaul and Johnny Chung - I have more info.
DREWSDAD SURVEY:
I got a commitment and should have Streusand's responses soon!
Sponsored by Katy Area Chamber of Commerce, the Katy Area Republicans and the Waller County Republican Party.
March 30, 2004 7:00 PM
The Club at Falcon Point
24503 Falcon Point Dr; Katy, TX 77494 (directions)
The recent election resulted in a run-off for the newly created Congressional District 10. The candidates in this run-off are Michael McCaul and Ben Streusand. Both of these gentlemen have agreed to join us on Tuesday, March 30th for a Candidate's Forum. The run-off election will be April 13th. This election is of great importance to our community and we encourage you to join us.
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I am a volunteer McCaul supporter. More later ...
Jerry Patterson, Texas Land Commissioner