Who says you can't buy your way into political office? It's a time-honored tradition here in the Lone Star State, and this election cycle is certainly NOT the exception to the rule.
Even by Lone Star standards, spending in this fall's Texas elections promises to be big as the state itself.
As the campaigns begin the post-Labor Day home stretch, political analysts and other sources predict that at least $85 million and maybe as much as $100 million will be spent in the gubernatorial race between Republican Gov. Rick Perry and Democrat Tony Sanchez.
If the race hits $100 million, it will nearly double the $53.4 million spent in 1990, when Democrat Ann Richards and Republican Clayton Williams set what then was a national record for a governor's race.
Meanwhile, political experts predict at least $100 million more will be spent on other statewide races heading to the Nov. 5 election. That includes big-dollar campaigns for U.S. Senate, lieutenant governor and state attorney general.
By comparison, $343.1 million was spent nationally on the 2000 presidential campaigns by all candidates.
In Texas, the $200 million worth of commercials, billboards, opinion polls, mailouts and other political gimmickry that may deluge the state is enough money to add two more lanes of highway between downtown Houston and Galveston.
Or a new $175 million basketball arena for the Houston Rockets, with money left for the next two years' salary for the team star, Steve Francis.
Politicians could promise more than a chicken in every pot. Each of the 7.3 million households in Texas could have six broilers.
"It's a staggering amount of money that will far exceed anything we have seen in this state," said University of Houston political scientist Richard Murray.
Unlike most states, Texas has few rules to slow the rush of campaign money.
What I find truly amazing about the amount of money being spent on this election cycle is the lack of heat it has generated. You'd think that a gazillion dollars worth of TV advertising would create SOME sort of buzz. Not this time around. In fact, I'd be willing to bet that your average Texan probably couldn't tell you who is running in any of the major statewide races. So what exactly are the candidates getting for their $200 million? Apparently, not much.
As far as the gubernatorial campaign goes, if you're using the TV ads to gauge the candidates, you're in deep trouble. Tony Sanchez is a conniving, thieving lair who would steal candy from a baby and then lie to the mother's face about it- while rifling through her purse. Rick Perry is Evil Incarnate- a clueless ideologue devoid of ideas, and best known for having perfect hair and absolutely nothing happening underneath that hair.
Issues? We don't need no stinkin' issues?!?!?
And then politicians wonder why the electorate can barely be bothered to care about politics? As far as I can see, that $200 million is doing nothing but fattening the bottom lines of a few advertising firms. What a waste....
