Rick Perry vs World

22 May 2007

Speaker fight; Perry's no caretaker; demographics is destiny

William McKenzie posits that the fight over Craddick is really a fight over the future of the Texas GOP:

As late as last night, the Texas House continued to rock back and forth on the consequential question of whether someone other than Tom Craddick should be its speaker. As if that weren't important enough, that wasn't even the real question. Dig a little, and you'll find a referendum on the GOP's direction.

Is it, really? It seems to me like it probably has more to do with how satisfied members are with Craddick's management and leadership.

Team Craddick would probably be much happier with the idea that this is a referendum on ideological future or partisan unity, because that's something he's likely to win -- grassroots Republicans don't want Democrats and the media taking down their speaker. And it certainly could become a fight about that, because when the Lege isn't in session it's less about the internal and more about the external. Which is why Paul Burka must be right when he says that Craddick's chances of remaining as speaker increase if he makes it through this session.

Not a first for Texas Republicans, but this uproar is one of those debates that will influence the party and Texas years down the road.

One of those down-the-road matters is how long Republicans will run Texas. If key players make the right moves now, they can extend the GOP's reach well into the next decade. Make the wrong moves, and the party will confirm what Democrats have been saying about Republicans being incapable of governing.

Eh, there's some short-term truth to this idea, but in the long term, demographics is destiny.

Rick Perry got the message when he received only 39 percent of the vote in November's gubernatorial race. He pivoted and put out some futuristic ideas about health care and education.

Three thoughts here:

1. While Perry may have only gotten 39%, it was a very comfortable victory. There was absolutely no point during the campaign where the outcome was in doubt, once KBH exited the race.
2. I see zero evidence that Gov. Perry or any of his advisers care one scintilla about how much of the vote he received. Publically and privately, the answer is the same: the governor is fully governor, whether elected with 25% or 75%.
3. Seems to me that Perry has always taken a visionary, long-term approach to governing. This is something that the Texas media has largely missed, perhaps because he doesn't seem to trumpet his vision. Agree or disagree with the Guv, he's not been a caretaker. Caretakers don't come up with a plan to completely redesign Texas' transportation.

Posted by Evan @ 05/22/07 03:43 PM | Comments (0)

Picking your spot

Scharrer, Chron/SAEN:

Sen. Mario Gallegos spent part of Monday resting in a hospital bed but was ready to spring into action if necessary to stop a controversial voter identification bill.

Gallegos said he faced the potential of his body rejecting the liver and came to Austin against his doctor's wishes. He said doctors have warned him that he's risking his health by staying in the Capitol instead of resting at home. Doctors in Houston took a biopsy of Gallegos' liver on Friday because of complications and elevated enzymes.

I admire Gallegos courage, but I'm not sure I understand why anyone would put their life on the line for -- despite the hyperbole on both sides -- a relatively inconsequential bill.

Posted by Evan @ 05/22/07 03:16 PM | Comments (0)

21 May 2007

The best laid plans of mice and men

The Texas left must be so disappointed with the immigration brouhaha. Their whole gameplan was to run a trial lawyer against John Cornyn who would spend his own millions to blanket the airwaves with ads alleging that Cornyn is Bush's rubberstamp.

But the fact that Senator Cornyn has consistently stood against the White House on immigration rather shreds that idea. Ouch.

Posted by Evan @ 05/21/07 01:42 PM | Comments (1)

Cornyn and Hutchison op-ed

John Cornyn and Kay Bailey Hutchison wrote an op-ed this weekend. The Senators argue for border enforcement first, and no amnesty:

In 1986, the Congress approved a similar compromise plan that, in return for amnesty for most immigrants here illegally, promised an end to porous borders and disregard for our laws. Those promises were not honored. The amnesty legislation instead actually encouraged further disrespect for our laws, and led directly to the situation we face today.

Personally, I'm leaning against the immigration bill -- although I generally support the approach of the bill -- because it's important to get it exactly right. Immigration is like free trade: it crosses ideological and partisan boundaries, thus making risk-averse politicians very nervous. They don't like voting on immigration (or free trade) bills. They largely wish the issue would go away*, and only deal with it when outside groups successfully push the issue to the forefront. Once an immigration bill is passed and becomes law, politicians will go back to avoiding the issue and burying bills.

So yeah, there's some good in the bill. But the history of immigration bills is that the bad often comes back to haunt us, because ramifications are always surprising. [Ideas have consequences, who knew? --ed. Crazy, that.]

Oh, and my overall take on immigration is very Michael Barone-ish.

* Remember how Chris Bell refused to discuss immigration at all, because it was a "Republican issue." How very statesman like from Mr. Bell, given the thousands of immigrants who have died in the desert trying to reach for a better life for themselves and their families.

Posted by Evan @ 05/21/07 01:36 PM | Comments (1)

It's cold.

Has anyone else noticed what a cold year we've had in Houston? It was the coldest winter I can remember in awhile, followed by drops to freezing in late March and early April. Now, it's still quite mild for late May.

Weird. I like my heat.

Posted by Evan @ 05/21/07 11:25 AM | Comments (1)

17 May 2007

Al Gore ycophants

Have you read the Time cover story on Al Gore?

Sycophantic would be an extreme understatement. I think Pravda might've had more balanced coverage. What an embarrassment for Time.

Posted by Evan @ 05/17/07 07:09 PM | Comments (3)

15 May 2007

"You might want to look into them."

Michael Moore sent Fred Thompson a letter questioning the Senator's apparent penchant for Cuban cigars, given that he's a critic of Castro.

Thompson's thirty second video reply is priceless.

Michael Moore should've known to pick on someone more his size.

Posted by Evan @ 05/15/07 04:54 PM | Comments (0)

Keffer to challenge Craddick

Keffer to announce for Speaker. Here's his press release:

State Representative Jim Keffer (R-Eastland) announced today that he has filed his candidacy paperwork for Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives for the 81st Regular Session which will begin in January, 2009.

Keffer said he will formerly announce his candidacy for Speaker at the Texas House Republican Caucus meeting scheduled for early this afternoon.

"During the past few days, a majority of the members of the Texas House have agreed that we need a new Speaker and most have stated that they would prefer the selection of a new Speaker upon adjournment of the Regular Session rather than by placing a call on the Speaker during the session."

Keffer also challenged incumbent Texas House Speaker Tom Craddick to publicly join with him in committing to a three-term Speaker limit.

Jay Root had this bit today:

But [Texas House Democratic Leader Jim] Dunnam said if Craddick falls in the next two weeks, which is all that's left of the 2007 session, it will be an internal matter for the majority party. Dunnam also vowed to oppose a move to take Craddick out unless he has some idea about who would replace the Midland Republican.

"I would want to know why, and what the alternatives were," Dunnam said. "I can't find a Democrat who knows anything other than the rumors."

Perhaps the lack of support by Dunnam/anti-Craddick Democrats is why Keffer is not challenging Tom Craddick now. Keffer would seem to have no chance now if he can't count on Dunnam.

I kinda like the term-limit idea for Speaker though, but I generally don't think these things should be done retroactively.

Posted by Evan @ 05/15/07 03:01 PM | Comments (0)

Ken Armbrister

Perry's legislative liason, former conservative Democratic state senator from Victoria Ken Armbrister, gets a flattering profile from Christy Hoppe in the Dallas Morning News.

Posted by Evan @ 05/15/07 02:44 PM | Comments (0)

I've made money, why not give this politics thing a shot?

Ralph Hallow in the Washington Times:

New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg is prepared to spend an unprecedented $1 billion of his own $5.5 billion personal fortune for a third-party presidential campaign, personal friends of the mayor tell The Washington Times.

"He has set aside $1 billion to go for it," confided a long-time business adviser to the Republican mayor. "The thinking about where it will come from and do we have it is over, and the answer is yes, we can do it."

Another personal friend and fellow Republican said in recent days that Mr. Bloomberg, who is a social liberal and fiscal conservative, has "lowered the bar" and upped the ante for a final decision on making a run.

Political consultants everywhere are salivating.

I loved Glenn Reynolds' reaction:

What will his slogan be? "More nannyish than both major parties put together?"

Or maybe: "Making America like Singapore, only more so?"

UPDATE: With Chuck Hagel as a running mate? What a ticket. Where will they put all the surplus charisma?

As I wrote a few weeks ago, "Bloomberg is a guy who thinks he should be president." No shortage of ego on that guy.

Bloomberg is listening to self-interested political consultants telling him he has a chance, a "historic opportunity," blah, blah, blah. He's loving what they're saying; he's loving the media attention. He's not realizing that they have visions of sugar plums dancing in their head. But fools are soon parted from their money.

If he gets in, he should poll pretty well, but the law of diminishing returns would kick in too soon for him to win. His ceiling is below the percentage required for a plurality. He'd hand the presidency to the Democrats...which, given that he's more of a Democrat than a Republican, he might not mind.

Posted by Evan @ 05/15/07 02:28 PM | Comments (0)

[Previous 10 Entries] [Next 10 Entries]

SITE MENU

+ Rick Perry vs World
+ About Me

+ Archives

+ Email:
perryvsworld* at *gmail dot com

ADVERTISING

SYNDICATION

DISCLAIMER

Rick Perry vs. World is powered by Nucleus.

Site design and Nucleus customization by Kevin Whited.