Rick Perry vs World

08 January 2010

Craig James wants Kay's Senate seat?

What? At first I thought this was a joke. But no, it's true. Craig James, ESPN college football analyst, former football star and allegedly overprotective dad wants to run.

James told the station that he's been meeting with prominent Texas Republican donors in order to raise his political profile, and will be the keynote speaker at an upcoming conservative policy luncheon being attended by Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Sen. John Cornyn.

"I'm a Texan. I'm concerned for our country," he said. "I disagree with the approach that we're having, things that are taking place, and so whatever door opens up, I'll look at it, if and when it opens up," James said.

Posted by Evan @ 01/08/10 02:33 AM | Comments (0)

Farouk Shami's team

I'm fascinated by Shami's gubernatorial bid. At a time when -- it seems to me -- most Texas Democrats are pretty excited to have a possible winner in Bill White, Shami is willing to spend $10 million to contest that wished-for coronation.

So, Texas Tribune's writeup of Shami's team fascinates me. His campaign staff has a blogger contingent: Vince Leibowitz and Charlie Ray of Capitol Annex and Pink Dome, respectively, as well as Progressive PST, apparently a "netroots" company.

Other consultants include Robert Jara, Dan McClung, Ben Tulchin, Tad Devine and Julian Mulvey. A decent list.

I'll be fascinated to see what the Texas liberal bloggers do. And with $10 million to spend, they can amply point out Bill White's shortcomings as mayor.

Posted by Evan @ 01/08/10 02:22 AM | Comments (1)

07 January 2010

Perry's own BCS themed online ad

The DMN offers context, which is about what you'd expect. Senators vote on the overall bill, not on the specific earmark. On the other hand, Kay did vote for what came out of the Appropriations committee. Which is fairly standard practice since she is a member of Approps: get your earmarks in exchange for voting for the bill.

Posted by Evan @ 01/07/10 05:55 PM | Comments (0)

Disclosure

Maybe I'm the only one who thought this was surprising, but when the Texas Tribune story appeared on Paul Burka being banished from moderating the gubernatorial debates, I didn't see a single disclosure.

If you're here, you probably know that Evan Smith left TexasMonthly to start Texas Tribune. It's essentially his operation -- he carries the title CEO and editor-in-chief. I sent an email to the very tastefully named Mr. Smith to ask why there was no mention of the fact, but haven't received a reply. I would've thought that since Smith was Burka's boss for a decade there would be some sort of note on that. In fact, I would have assumed that any story involving Texas Monthly or Burka would get some sort of disclosure.

Maybe I'm wrong. Truthfully it doesn't matter much to me, but I did find it surprising. If you've read this blog long enough you'd know that I don't care at all about disclosing. If a campaign were paying me, I wouldn't feel obligated to tell you (though I have successfully avoided ever receiving a dime from politics up to this point). My words are my words. But then, I'm not a newspaper, nor something that resembles it.

Posted by Evan @ 01/07/10 05:45 PM | Comments (0)

Tonight's the night

Will update this post later, but headed out the door now.

Kay Bailey has bought an ad during the national championship game tonight. Campaign Manager Terry Sullivan, "playing the expectations game," has called it a "game changer."

If I recall correctly, the spot cost $200,000. We assume it's the slightly modified add (a hook'em horns banner appears in the penultimate shot, if I recall correctly) as indicated on KBH's youtube.

Posted by Evan @ 01/07/10 03:50 PM | Comments (0)

That's a rumor that doesn't want to die

Stephen Moore has an article in today's WSJ touting Perry, his chances, and this piece of chisme:

I'm hearing that Senator John Cornyn, who runs the Republican Senatorial Committee, also is trying to persuade Ms. Hutchison to drop out of the governor's race run for reelection to the senate. That would stop the costly internecine warfare in the state and likely end any chance of Democrats picking up her Senate seat. Ms. Hutchison has not ruled out seeking another Senate term.

Posted by Evan @ 01/07/10 03:40 PM | Comments (0)

Every year, when the baseball Hall of Fame puts out the results of the voting, I go check Off the Kuff to hear about the injustices of the voting.

I’ll be honest, I don’t know how you can induct Dawson when guys like Bert Blyleven, Roberto Alomar, Tim Raines, Allen Trammell, and Barry Larkin are on the outside looking in, but like Rob Neyer, I’ve given up trying to figure out how these particular voters think.

Kuff, you kinda let me down this year. I normally use your work to email a sabermetrician-minded friend and sound halfway intelligent with my opinions.

Posted by Evan @ 01/07/10 10:17 AM | Comments (0)

06 January 2010

Those of you who know me will know that I am interested in how Latinos vote. I'm not Latino, but my kids will be. So I opened up Jan Jarboe Russell's op-ed with interest. Here's the beginning:

By the end of the new decade, now only three days young, the demographics of the new Texas will look a lot like San Antonio: A significant and powerful number of Texans will be Latino.

But for now, as the lineup for the 2010 statewide ballot proves, Republicans hold sway, and probably will until midway through the decade. And San Antonio's influence on state politics is marginal.

Pardon? Such prognostications with such little support. I mean, hey, I might do that, but it's a blog: there are different standards. (Also, if you have read for a long time, you'd know I have a good record.)

Also, these 2 paragraphs seem to be attempting to conflate as many issues as possible. I could go on about that, but the only thing we don't get more of is time. So I'll move on, just like Russell followed those paragraphs by talking about who has filed for the Democrats.

In some ways, 2010 is an annunciation year for the new generation of Latino leaders in San Antonio — they hear the call but are waiting for the right moment. Many, including state Rep. Mike Villarreal, the Castro twins — particularly state Rep. Joaquin Castro — were lobbied to run but decided to sit tight.

Villarreal briefly considered running for comptroller against Susan Combs but decided to run for re-election instead, help White in his statewide race for governor and look at his own options four years from now.

He made the right choice — Combs is competent and popular. She would be difficult to beat in any year.

For now, San Antonio's largest statewide influence comes from local Republicans, particularly Speaker of the House Joe Straus, who likely will be re-elected and continue to exercise powerful control. (emphasis mine)

Annunciation is essentially the same as proclamation, with the root word of announce. I don't know if it works for you, because it doesn't for me. And this paragraph I have to assume was just an editing error.

San Antonio has 1 of the titular heads of the 3 branches of government. This seems relevant.

Posted by Evan @ 01/06/10 12:29 AM | Comments (0)

05 January 2010

Houston City Councilman Jarvis Johnson to challenge Sheila!

Sheila! Jackson-Lee is going to get a primary challenge from Houston City Council memberJarvis Johnson.

I am skeptical of the chances of success, but I would assume they are low. Sheila! did support Hillary, so it's not completely unexpected that her majority black district is upset with her.

Note: Friends and I have long referred to her as Sheila! because that's what her political signs said for years and maybe still do. Either way, it amused us.

Posted by Evan @ 01/05/10 12:59 PM | Comments (0)

04 January 2010

Kelly Fero passes away

Democratic consultant Kelly Fero has been found dead in his Austin home. Condolences to his family.

Mike Lavigne remembers him thus:

The passing of Kelly Fero is a tremendous loss to those of us who knew him. Personally, I am crushed. He was my mentor and my good friend. Most who read this will only know him from the political wake he leaves behind. No doubt, those who had ever sided with or against him left the field of battle with a hard earned respect for his ample abilities in that realm. Word of his hiring struck fear into the hearts of many an opponent over the years. What I loved about Kelly is that these battles were only a single facet of what was a gem of a life.

The rest is below the jump.

[Read More]

Posted by Evan @ 01/04/10 10:29 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.