No Democrat has won a statewide race in Texas since 1994, but hopefuls still see opportunity in taking on U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey DeLay and Gov. Rick Abramoff. Of course, it’s really Republican Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and Gov. Rick Perry who seek re-election, no kin to fallen Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff or indicted U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay of Sugar Land.
There’s a reason that no Democrat has won a state-wide election in Texas since 1994. When you look at the candidates fielded by the Texas Democratic Party over that time (Gary Mauro and Tony Sanchez? Give me a break….), it doesn’t take a Ph.D. behind your name to figure out that we’re not exactly wowing the electorate. Time was when Democrats ruled Texas (after all, the term “Boll Weevil Democrat” once epitomized Conservative Texas Democrats). So, what happened? Well, I’ve only lived here for 8 1/2 years, so I’m hardly an expert on Texas politics, but there can be little doubt that complacency (and the accompanying corruption) played a large part in the demise of Texas’ Democratic empire.
Now, though, Democrats sense an opportunity, and they may well be right. With both Tom DeLay and Kay Bailey Hutichison displaying huge chinks in their ethical armor, it’s very possible that a strong candidate and a well-run campaign may unseat both of them. That’s a very big “IF”, but there is perhaps more reason for optimism this year than at any time in the past 12 years. Even Governor Goodhair appears as if he might be vulnerable. After all, it’s not as if he’s actually done anything during his time in the Governor’s mansion, not that this stopped voters from re-electing him last time around.
Houston lawyer Barbara Ann Radnofsky, hunting the Dem U.S. Senate nod, says Hutchison is aligned with DeLay “in the most close possible way.”
DeLay resigned as House majority leader in September after his indictment in Travis County on charges of conspiring to violate state election law, charges he’s rated untrue. Radnofsky says Hutchison’s defense of DeLay puts her closer to him than his wife: The senator’s political committee gave DeLay’s legal defense fund $5,000 in 2004, she was listed as a host of a DeLay fundraiser late last year, and she wrote a letter, printed last month, predicting DeLay “will continue to be an effective leader.”
Extraordinary and wrong, Radnofsky says.
Tom DeLay is still an effective leader to those who are heavily invested in him- and there are an alarming number of donors who have donated large sums to him and have received an impressive return on their investment. To call Tom DeLay corrupt would be akin to calling Ted Bundy a serial killer- it’s true, but the appellation does little to convey the depth of the depravity.
Hutchison consultant Bryan Eppstein replies: “All the people who supported John Kerry in Texas ‚Äö√Ñ√Æ all the whiners - can say what they will.” His drift? Hutchison swears allegiance to President Bush, ever popular in his home state.
And marching in ideological lockstep with Our Glorious Leader certainly beats having to actually think, eh?
Dem gubernatorial candidate Bob Gammage of Llano hammers at an ethics scandal that shook the Texas Capitol 30-plus years ago, leading voters to toss powers-that-were. Now, he warns, things are worse.
Chris Bell of Houston, also a Dem gunning for governor, says Perry “and his cronies have created the same sort of cash-and-carry system that we’ve been reading about in Washington. It’s about who can write the biggest checks to candidates and who can hire the big-time lobbyists.”
Greetings from Texas- the home of the best government that money can buy. For some reason, the media in Texas has been loathe to hold the feet of Republicans to the fire. As a result, Governor Goodhair and his cronies have been allowed almost free reign in their drive to sell the favors of state government to the highest bidder.
A spokesman for Perry, who talks up his pride in Texas, called Bell’s remarks typical of “negative commentary, baseless criticism and constant attacks” from opponents.
Sure, when you have nothing to stand on, what do you fall back on? How about accusing your opponents of being “nattering nabobs of negativity”? Perry’s commercials may brag in broad generalities about being “proud of Texas”, but you’ll hear little in the way of specifics. Really, what has Rick Perry done since becoming Governor? If anyone has some answers, I’m willing to listen. I’ve been racking my brain, and I’m coming up empty, but then, I’m a cynical bastard….
It’s quite possible that Democrats have legitimate chances in several statewide races. Of course, it’s also quite possible that Democrats are heavily invested in self-delusion, thinking they have a chance because…well, because they have to. Personally, as long as Tom DeLay is tossed out on his ass, I’ll be a happy boy. Anything else would be a bonus.
