Burying the lead
I buried the lead. [On my blog, it'll be lead, not lede, thank you very much.]
On my recent post, I just listed the endorsements that a cursory search had turned up. I'll reprint 'em:
Austin American-Statesman: Rick Perry
Dallas Morning News: Rick Perry
Fort Worth Star-Telegram: Chris Bell
Houston Chronicle: Carole Strayhorn
San Antonio Express-News: Rick Perry
Midland Reporter-Telegram: Rick Perry
Galveston County Daily News: Kinky Friedman
Bryan-College Station Eagle: Rick Perry
Surprising? Yes. I mean, in today's environment it might make sense. Op-ed boards don't think highly of Bell, who hasn't really proven himself to the op-ed boards. Friedman is a joke. And Strayhorn is running a campaign that is all over the map (for heaven's sake, she just announced a steering committee two weeks before the election!).
But think back to a year ago. Then think back to two years ago. Or even three. And now, it starts to be quite surprising that most of the op-ed boards are endorsing Perry. These same folks were regularly lambasting him during that time period, frequently over Strayhorn's criticisms. Plus, the Chron ed board was never going to endorse Perry -- it's probably the most liberal in the state, and they've been among the most ardent of Perry critics.
So I buried the lead. If you were to tell me this three years ago, I'd have been shocked.
Posted by Evan @ 10/26/06 01:39 AM
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Where's the Caller-Times, that's Bell's second biggest endorsement
Posted by matth @ 10/26/06 05:22 PM
Warren Buffet has linked leasing roads to be tolled by private companies as selling off pieces of the farm and raising the mortgage.
During the 1995 legislative session, Dan Shelley, who was working for Gov. George W. Bush, pushed a bill that created strong incentives for the state to contract out welfare programs to private firms. Shortly after the bill passed, Shelley quit Bush's office and began lobbying for Lockheed-Martin-IMS, one of several companies that were vying for the welfare contract. The contract was worth approximately $2 billion.
Then, during Perry's administration, Dan Shelley, who was working as an independent “consultant” lobbying for Cintra, was hired as an aide to Gov. Perry. Next, Cintra was awarded the exclusive development rights for the corridor. Then, Shelley returned to being a lobbyist for Cintra.
Gov. Rick Perry is aggressively pursing tolling most highways, in part to be used to pay for the toll road. Yet, there exists ample money in TxDOT's coffers to pay for the roads without resorting to tolling. Revenue will mainly be used to pay for the Trans Texas Corridor -- specifically relocating the railroad lines -- to the tune of $16 billion. That was made clear once the contract with Cintra-Zachry was made public. It is something Perry does not want known. That's why it was a secret.
Gov. Perry and Lt. Gov. Dewhurst, who sit on the Texas Bond Review Board, have been trying to use money from Texas Mobility Fund ONLY to fund TOLL roads. The one who has prevented Perry’s travesty is the third member of the board -- Carole Keeton Strayhorn. She is the only candidate with a viable plan to terminate the contract with Cintra-Zachry. She is endorsed by the San Antonio Toll Party. Please vote for Strayhorn for governor.
Posted by Stan @ 10/26/06 06:08 PM
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