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A Democratic Governor of Texas?
Interesting news out of Austin this morning where Tom Schieffer, the brother of CBS's Bob Schieffer, and a prominent figure in Texas politics will announce his candidacy to be Texas governor. Schieffer was George W. Bush's ambassador to Australia and he's sure to have to defend that from Democrats in the primary battle ahead. But his bipartisan credentials might give him some advantage should he get the nomination. Texas hasn't had a Democratic governor since George W. Bush defeated Ann Richards in 1994.
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Interesting bit here, though I have no idea what kind of rag the Texas Monthly is. Plus, what does it matter if he was terrible 34 years ago? I'm assuming that people learn things with time, right?
March 2, 2009 11:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
The Texas Monthly's a great rag. Paul Burka's blog is kind of a bit mired in conventional wisdom thinking, but Eileen Smith's In The Pink blog with Texas Monthly is a funny bit of progressive reporting on politics.
March 2, 2009 11:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
Tom who?
No thanks.
March 2, 2009 11:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
/sigh, there's no way a Dem is going to win in Texas. Currently, every state wide office is held by Republicans. The general election, unfortunately, is not where the action is. Whoever wins the Republican primary -- and it'll probably be Kay Baily Hutchinson -- is going to win the general.
March 2, 2009 11:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
I really not sure where you are coming from but maybe you happen to notice that the Democrats just took back the house in Texas. Noreiga never really got the financial backing he needed to unseat Cornyn but I tell you the news that Hutchinson is going to run against Perry in 2010 for governor is a sign that things are afoot in the lone star state. I am not saying that Hutchinson is a perfect candidate but the simple facts of the last election cycle wins for the Dems, plus Tom Craddick getting tossed as our speaker makes me believe that at a bare minimum Texas is slowly turning back towards it more centrist roots. Gov Perry has been a tool for the business and real estate lobbies in Texas during his tenure following in the fine footsteps of George W. This was always a loose loose situation for conservatives and now the chickens have come home to roost. We have rising unemployment, a not so good environmental record, record numbers of uninsured children and families, a struggling education system in the bottom 25 but hey Gov Perry can hang his hat on that budget surplus that all his tax cutting has accomplished.
Let's turn Texas blue and purple all over!
March 2, 2009 12:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Texas is turning, thanks to immigrants and snowbirds. 2010 maybe too soon. 2012 is when I think purple begins to be reality.
March 2, 2009 12:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yep, I agree with that one. 2010 may be too soon. 2012 would be more ideal in a general election.
March 2, 2009 12:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
I really don't think that there is anyone in the Republic who can beat Kay Bailey, although reading the stuff on her web page and the justifications for her actions I get from her office turn my stomach. The point about Texas not yet being ready to elect a statewide Democrat is true. There are hotbeds of progressive thought such as Austin, Dallas, and Houston, but by and large, the rest of the state is not exactly tuned into reality. The famous base is alive and well and living in most of Texas.
March 2, 2009 2:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey, I know everyone got tired of me sending that link to the drought website at NOAA, when Siegelman was in prison and Alabama was suffering severe drought of unprecedented proportions. Yes, I do believe there's a connection, by golly.
I'm one of those who believed Ram Dass when he wrote "there are no coincidences", so everyone take a look at what's up in Austin lately with that drought thingy. It seems to be getting worse every week.
http://www.drought.unl.edu/dm/12_week.gif
Maybe it's time for Texans to get back to their Democratic roots. Something is clearly amiss, if you believe in such things. And lots of good Texans believe in such things, even if some of you don't.
March 2, 2009 11:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
"Hey, I know everyone got tired of me sending that link to the drought website at NOAA, when Siegelman was in prison and Alabama was suffering severe drought of unprecedented proportions. Yes, I do believe there's a connection, by golly."
I think it was all coincidental, particularly since the drought has not been confined strictly to Alabama, but has plagued the Bible Belt in general.
I mean, given that logic, should we also cite the 2003 recall of California Gov. Gray Davis and the election of Arnold Schwarzenegger as rationale for the Golden State's current drought?
But now that I think about it, there are coincidences, and there are - well, you know, coincidences ...
And suddenly, I feel like going to church and lighting a candle.
March 2, 2009 3:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Not very likely this gets anywhere. If anything, any ambitious and electable Democrat will go for the Senate seat (likely to be vacated by Hutchison).
March 2, 2009 11:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
Don't see this happening so fast.
March 2, 2009 11:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
Happy Texas Independence Day. Schieffer was a crony of Billy Clayton Gib Lewis, right wing Democratic Speakers, who became an executive with the Texas Rangers while Bush was managing partner.
He would lose a primary to any credible Mexican American Candidate, but could win a General assuming Perry beats Hutchinson (no given).
Again, Happy Independence Day. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkgcEu6RGOQ&feature=related
March 2, 2009 12:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
A credible, centrist Democrat could win in 2010 provided that A) they can raise a boatload of money and B) Perry and Hutchison destroyed each other in a super bloody, ultra expensive GOP primary and Perry wins.
I think Hutchison would be very hard to beat statewide, but Perry is weak. He has the extreme right advantage over Hutchison in the primary in that he's got a consolidated base of the most conservative voters, but that's it.
So, the stars and millions upon millions of raised dollars would have to align around a great candidate for a Democrat to win, but I don't think it is impossible. Not likely, but not impossible.
March 2, 2009 2:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, boy. Hooray, just what we need - a right-wing Democrat as Texas governor. Yee. Haw. Does he wear a cowboy hat, too?
March 2, 2009 3:22 PM | Reply | Permalink