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The Campaign Spectator
Tex Mess
What is Kay Bailey Hutchison up to?
(Page 2 of 2)
Certain overtones fall on the ear: “worthy of governing,” “enlightened” leadership, “silly rhetoric.” One thing Kay certainly won’t be, if she wins, is Perry-like. Whether that’s a selling point for Texas voters is another matter.
WHOEVER WINS THE GOP PRIMARY next March 2 should by all rights become governor, not least because the Democratic field is on the paltry side: Tom Schieffer, brother of CBS anchor Bob and a onetime partner in the Texas Rangers baseball club with George W. Bush; a couple of low-profile types knocked out in the last election; and Kinky Friedman, the humorist with the cigar, the mustache, and the black cowboy hat. At a recent upscale birthday party, I stood close enough to Kinky to pinch him. He’s droll and kind of fun, in addition to which polls show him leading the Democratic race. As governor of Texas, though? I think not. The Republican nominee should win. If the party doesn’t split. That’s the issue now — can Rick or Kay heal the inevitable wounds? I’m not sure I would count on it.
A leading Republican strategist tells me, “The race is fraught with peril for Republicans.” It’s in part — to speak crudely — a matter of money, of which there’s only so much out there. Kay and Rick are likely to spend $30 million to $40 million in trying to kill each other. Perry has mentioned $50 million.
How much does that leave for down-ballot Republicans? Not enough, perhaps, during a recession, at a time when urban Democrats in Dallas and Houston have begun keelhauling Republican candidates, helped by Texas’s growing voter pool of minorities.
Kay, I think, wants to soften the tone — dial down the noise level a bit to give the impression that neither good ol’ boys nor religious right types run the show; the trouble being that without the votes of good ol’ boys and religious right types, who as a bonus are solidly pro-business, there’s no Republican Party in Texas.
It all seems to me part and parcel of an argument going on around the country among Republicans: can we “play to the base” and succeed, or should we tweak a few things, rethink matters of policy and emphasis and tone? Kay says, to the latter question, you bet.
“I…want to build a Republican majority,” the senator says. It’s an unexceptionable objective from the Republican standpoint. So what policies get the job done? She enumerates them: better education, better transportation, healthier respect for property rights, opportunities for health care. We get there…how? Not through regulation. She isn’t for that. Not through higher taxes. She wouldn’t go there even if she wanted to, and I don’t think she does, actually. A Hutchison administration, at the end of the day, probably wouldn’t do things very differently than the Perry administration has been doing them. Maybe with kinder, gentler voice — that’s all I can think of, and it isn’t a lot for purposes of differentiation from the man she would unseat. Nor am I sure by any means how many brownie points that would earn her with voters.
AMONG PERRY’S CHARMS is a brashness that draws condescending shakes of the head outside the state, and even, to a certain degree, inside. I don’t see vast numbers of Texans embracing Democratic calls for “civility” or whatever, particularly with the Democrats themselves showing small disposition for handshakes and hugs. From watching the White House and Congress spew rhetorical gas, emit daily whoppers about cost-free economic progress, and backtrack on commitments to overseas friends of the United States, Perry understands well enough the value of policy pushback: how it charges the adrenalin, fortifies the stomach.
I have the sense that, for now, gentility isn’t the political
commodity for which most Texans yearn.
A Rasmussen poll in September, putting Hutchison two percentage
points ahead of Perry, showed 80 percent of Texans adverse in
some degree to the Obama administration and its ways. Obamacare,
climate control, government management of the auto industry
(hence threats to the pickup truck), abortion, euthanasia,
patriotism, the development of existing energy resources — one
needn’t be a Texan to sense chill winds blowing across the land.
Can Kay, all the same, prevail? Sure. She’s got a mission in mind. The mission-minded often pull off their objectives. Rick could as easily — more easily, maybe — win the primary and general election, propelled by brash charisma and growing local animus toward the liberal nostrums he loves to wallop.
Meanwhile a word of counsel seems due. Watching two conservatives cut each other up is likely to prove as enjoyable as a rattlesnake bite. Still less fun will be the job of puzzling out constructive answers to anguished questions about this family feud: Why? What for? Cui bono, Tex?
About the Author
William Murchison, a Dallas-based columnist for Creators Syndicate and author of Mortal Follies: Episcopalians and the Crisis of Mainline Christianity (Encounter Books), is completing a biography of John Dickinson..
Letter to the Editor View all comments (123) | Leave a comment
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Bubba| 11.6.09 @ 7:01AM
Kay voted for the stimulus.
I hope she enjoys her retirement.
Ripley | 11.6.09 @ 10:31AM
Why has the author not mentioned Debra Medina? She is who SHOULD become governor. Not Liberal Kay and Gardasil Perry the sellouts.
Stephanie| 11.9.09 @ 8:58PM
Ripley, it's pure and simple why he didn't mention Medina, because she is not getting far... I'm not trying to be mean but she is nothing more than someone who will hurt more then help. I saw a tv ad of her and I have to admit, she didn't have much to offer. She didn't seem to have passion to back up what she wanted to do and not only that, everything she mentioned is already being done by Rick Perry. Say what you want, but Rick Perry is a good Governor and there is nothing you can say to change that.
Also, I must say it because you put it up there. The whole Gardasil thing is blown wayyyy out of proportion. I really HATE repeating myself over and over again, but I will because you can't spread lies with the Gardasil story.
Number one: it never happened, so don't act like it did.
Number two: Governor Perry said it in his 2007 State of the State Address (it's on youtube for all to see, so it's not like it's a secret) that it was the SOLE CHOICE OF THE PARENTS WHETHER OR NOT THEIR DAUGHTER GETS THE VACCINE! Wow! A Governor that lets parents raise their own children! That's true conservatism!
Number three: the executive order (because I know that was blown out of proportion) is on the governor's website so it to is not a secret. It states at the very bottom just like he said in the State of the State that SOLE CHOICE OF THE PARENTS WHETHER OR NOT THEIR DAUGHTER GETS THE VACCINE! Lookie there! Again he is letting it be known that it is the parent’s choice.
And for those that think he did it because he received money from the drug company, well I have a question for them… if he was getting money from them then why did he allow it to be killed by the legislature? If he was taking money then he would have fought for it to become law, but it didn’t.
Now seriously, why do people insist on bringing it up when the evidence shows that he did not mandate anything? He wanted to make the vaccine available for the girls, and DID NOT force it on anyone! Also he said in his State of the State that he did not want to look a young girl in the eyes and say, "we could have stopped this" but no, a media that loves forcing fear into our lives got a hold of it and tried to destroy him. And some of you fell for it...
Ripley| 11.10.09 @ 9:18AM
Regardless, I do not trust Perry or any of the other establishment "conservatives". Perry was a supporter of Giuliani and McCain in the last Republican presidential primaries. I seriously question a "true conservative's" judgement in throwing support these guys.
Thereasa Scaffoldi| 11.10.09 @ 2:21PM
Not sure you're quite right either -- what would have been accomplished by executive order for the HPV vaccine would have made it a required vaccine. Why yes, Texans have the ability to -- in essence -- conscientiously object and refuse to vaccinate their child -- there is no disputing that there are vaccines that are on a state-mandated list. So, spin it however you like -- and I happen to be a Republican that didn't mind the HPV vaccine -- but the net result was the Governor was trying to mandate the vaccine. And, given the fact that far too many Texans don't know about the opt out system, then the end result is tens of thousands of school children would have been given another "required" shot before they went back to public schools.
Trying to make the dear Governor look like a white hat, reasonable, good conservative guy based on what he was really trying to do back then, is phony and smells of nothing more than some half rate campaign hack posting to this story.
alyeska| 11.6.09 @ 2:18PM
oh goody, another republican internecine battle! i hope it devolves into your usual steel cage grudge match and gets a dem elected.
it worked so well for y'all in ny23 :)
PCP Smoker| 11.6.09 @ 6:16PM
You are an idiot. Owens was running to the right of the liberal Scasaffavo. If she hadn't dropped out, she would have lost anyways.
Go take a shower you piece of shit.
alyeska| 11.10.09 @ 3:02AM
oooh, a little testy are we? did i strike a nerve? i intend to sit back and watch the republican primaries as the crazies battle the corporate types.
Dean the Libertarian| 11.7.09 @ 10:41AM
What a silly response. No matter who wins, Establishment Democrats or Establishment Republicans the same agenda is advanced. Get a grip and break out of the two party paradigm and your superficial partisan tribalism.
Margie| 11.7.09 @ 12:36PM
You're wrong. The Republican agenda is for limited government, limited regulation, low taxes, pro-life, and a strong Defense. Just to name a few.
Dino| 11.10.09 @ 9:21AM
In name only, Margie. What have they truly ever done for these causes? Not much. And "strong national defense" is simply codewords for foreign interventionism, preemptive war, and endless nation building. The Neo Con agenda.
PCP Smoker| 11.9.09 @ 7:04PM
The [liberal] agenda gets advanced because you asshole libertarians won't join us. After all, if it does not involve "smoking the chronic" or shooting heroin and child porn, you guys don't want anything to do with it.
Get over your sick addictions and join the fight. Oh, and clear your head and take a bath before joining us. We would not want that smell around us.
Dean the Libertarian| 11.10.09 @ 9:24AM
You sound rather stupid with this stereotyped ad hominem attack on libertarianism. I agree that some libertarians may support the issues you mentioned. I, for one, do not. I am a Christian family man with conservative values. I am a libertarian in my philosophy of GOVERNMENT. The Republican Party has done little to support or defend the values I hold, so therefore I shall return the favor.
John Navratil| 11.7.09 @ 9:54AM
And she supports the Law of the Sea Treaty with its transnational taxing authority within the U.N. Not good!
On the other hand Perry got twitted for trying to mandate Gardasil injections for all high school girls.
Perhaps the worst thing to come of this will be Bill White as senator. That's a real danger.
CS Lewis| 11.6.09 @ 7:06AM
Kay... past her prime... RINO trying to hold onto power.
Out played by George going after Perry, all for herself - not TEXAS!
Val Thompson| 11.6.09 @ 7:11AM
Personally, Miss Kay should retire to Mexico. They need her statepersonship badly. She loves illegals so much. Voted for the stimulas, allowed Mexican trucks, etc. Texans don't need her back. She ran on term limits, but what happened???? Trianglation, maybe??? Now she's going to abandon that job. For what???? Her convenience, maybe???? Whatever her reasons(?), it is not for the benefit of conservative Texans, no doubt about it. Her retirement is too good for her.
JimP| 11.6.09 @ 8:15AM
I hope Senator Hutchison reads comments here because there are many of us non-Texans who think Gov. Perry is great and we want to see him stay in office. Texas is the promised land for conservatives unable to pack up and move at the moment. We love Perry's brashness and how he tweeks the noses of the snobs who affect "more delicate sensiblities". We were thrilled when Perry in effect threatened secession if DC didn't wake up. Face it, 99% of all those who were aghast at Perry's secession comment would never even want to visit Texas, much less care that it is part of the union, except that to even suggest secession shows how the DC control freaks don't have the total control they want. They really hate to be reminded of that.
Perry has the guts to fire the verbal shots across the bow of the federal ship of state that need to be fired. Please Texas Republicans, vote for Perry. Tell Kay to go back to DC. Don't let Texas become just another politically correct fiefdom of the GOP or the Dems.
roadmaster| 11.6.09 @ 8:36AM
I don't get it at all. Hutchinson has been good on most things - RINO-lite on others. I'm going to write it off as residuals from being infected with Beltway Disease - I am a SENATOR, therefore, I am a mini-god. MuhCain has it; Goober Graham, Snowe, Collins have it; S.P.E.C.T.R.E. and Reid have it, but they're about to be "cured" by the voters of their states. Dashcle was cured but he now is infected with Lobby-itis. We need to treat the waters in DC with some disinfectant - the best way to clean house, is to CLEAN HOUSE!
Linda Carlyle| 11.6.09 @ 8:37AM
KBH is more of a RINO than you give her credit for. She has parted from John Cornyn dozens of times this year alone. Texans for Obama sent a pep talk email out this week praising the passage three agenda items: hate crimes, Lilly Ledbetter, and expanded S-CHIP. Kay Bailey voted with Obama on all three. She was recently named "porker of the month" by CAGW. She was FOR the bailout. And voted in favor of the auto bailout even months after being nicknamed "Kay Bailout" by conservatives. KBH was called out by the Club for Growth as one of a handful of "Republican Big Spenders" for voting with Harry Reid on every single appropriations bill. KBH is personally responsible for 10 billion in pork over the past few years, and she brags about that fact. Senator Hutchison is far from conservative. She was even for Obama's national service scheme which basically institutionalizes ACORN and his other "community organizers." KBH is a RINO.
Bubba| 11.6.09 @ 8:47AM
Leadership? Not mentioned, even in a puff piece by her pal. We could do worse than Perry, and I'll take my chances with Scott O'Grady replacing her in the senate.
JBobs| 11.6.09 @ 9:11AM
As a fellow Texan I have followed (and voted) for Kay. While historically a good and reliable conservative, she has lately come to exhibit an elitist, entitled (I know better than you all)attitude which is showing up in her votes. I attribute that to age and tenure. Her running for governor is driven by one thing, pure and simple... ego.
Philoktetes| 11.6.09 @ 9:39AM
JBobs, you are right, sir. It is ego. Why replace someone who holds most of your values? And furthermore, Kay is no Margaret Thatcher.
Big J| 11.6.09 @ 1:36PM
Took the words right out of my mouth, JBobs.
Look at her voting record for the last 2 years - Olympia Snowe, eat your heart out!
I was very disappointed to hear that Dick Cheney has endorsed her. What's up with that?
Aside from the ego issue, I have thought more than once that maybe she is trying to position herself to provide payback to her "good 'ole boy" network back here in Texas.
I haven't agreed with everything Governor Good Hair has done, but overall he's been a really good Governor.
One good side to all this: Maybe Kay Bailey will lose both her senate seat and the governorship.
Now that would be a good day!
Louis Jenkins| 11.6.09 @ 9:15AM
It is time for the states to claim their palce in the scheme of this nation. We, hopefully, have seen a glimmer of hope in NJ and Va. Only through strong governors who perceive that the DC strings have become bindings will the ills of this nation begin to find a cure. True conservative governors and state legislators can accomplish this task. Without compliant states DC would be weaker. All politics can be local
Adam Smith| 11.6.09 @ 9:33AM
Mr. Murchison,
I was looking forward to reading your thoughts on this race, particularly when it looks like Hutchison should leave well enough alone in Texas, when this comes up:
"Kay, I think, wants to soften the tone -- dial down the noise level a bit to give the impression that neither good ol' boys nor religious right types run the show; the trouble being that without the votes of good ol' boys and religious right types, who as a bonus are solidly pro-business, there's no Republican Party in Texas. "
And you lost me.
I can not tell you how truly sick I, and many other Independents, are of having the media boil their thoughts down on Republican candidates and resort to the broad brush tounge strokes that always, always invoke the image of Bible Thumpers & Rednecks as making up the core of the party constituency. In your example it happens to be Texas, but we could pretty much just leave that slot blank for general purpose use for the next political sage to use.
This mantra has become so universal, even in the pages of the fine American Spectator, from GOP "leaders" like Lindsay Graham, John McCain & lapdog of the left Newt Gingrich, that the real issues are always given second shrift.
Just sick today of all the PC madness in the wake of the Ft Hood terrorim perhaps. A national tradgedy that never should have happened.
No offense intended, but right now I am not much interested in politicians & commentary that avoid the real issues first for the sake of stirring the pot with the same old gunk encrusted PC ladle.
The GOP needs not so much build a party as Newt, Steele, Graham, McCain & in your estimation Hutchison.
I also really don't think all of the Independent conservatives, socially moderate / fiscally conservative Republicans (vast majority) nor Libertarian crowd in Texas appreciate you characterizing them as a bunch of Redneck Bible Thumpers either.
The image politicians & the media love to portray the GOP with needs to get a bit more sophisticated.
This is not the Acorn crowd you folks are talking too and we are sick of the broad brush and secondary address of the real issues.
The laziness of the media and the opportunism of some of the GOP needs to be addressed along with the politically correct insanity at the expense of common sense in this country.
Any other day this would maybe not have set me off. That said, I am like many who see what is happening in this country and what our leadership is doing about it and it makes me sick and sad.
And yes, angry.
Ken (Old Texican)| 11.6.09 @ 10:37AM
Adam,
HEAR HEAR!
I must admit, Perry grew somewhat slowly into his role, but he has done so and then some.
I wish every reader here would go to youtube and watch his speech on the steps of our capitol last april 15. WOW!
I could deal with Kay. She is too lady like in my eyes for these days though. Perry has my vote.
Margie| 11.6.09 @ 3:49PM
Even us Northern gals can appreciate a man with "a certain swagger" and "brashness", as the author says about Gov. Perry.
We need far, far more of them.
rt| 11.6.09 @ 11:02AM
Adam, you are spot on with your comments. I am an asian conservative redneck from ca. like you I am sick and tired of the Establishment repugs telling us who to vote for, i.e. Carly Fiorina another RINO. NO THANKS! and thanks for your thoughtful post on what is really happening.
Adam| 11.6.09 @ 11:29AM
rt,
Your thoughts echo echo many of my immigrant conservative friends.
I'll share this: The most staunchly conservtive is a former US Postal Service worker who is repulsed by what she is seeing in this country and what she saw while working for Uncle Sam.
When we first met she was an intolerant liberal who had just taken everything at face value from the media and our politicians who have made a living off of division, while contributing nothing but oppression to the country as a whole, and the communities they are supposed to acting in the long term best interest of.
The solution is to shine a light on all of this nonsense, both in the media and in the hypocrisy of our leaders.
NativeTex| 11.6.09 @ 1:08PM
The GOP and the Democrats need to tread carefully. KBH is a RINO and should not have the governorship just because she thinks that is next on her list. The independents in Texas will decide this race, not the GOP Beltway elite. Saddle up and watch out!
ncatty| 11.6.09 @ 9:38AM
Egads, she even looks like Liddy Dole.
Mike Ramsey| 11.6.09 @ 9:44AM
Good article, with a great deal of truth, but there's a simpler explanation. Ray has always wanted to be Governor.
Majito Querido| 11.6.09 @ 9:48AM
Perry great? wow fellows, not so fast...if you are a consumer in texas, get hold of yourself, you're on your own...rich men in texas do not follow laws, the make them or pay politicians like perry to brush aside any complaints...now let's see...he and his buddies changed to state contitution to allow ibm to take over the state computing systems...will save us money they said...ibm came in, dismissed hundreds of state employees and replace them with inept cheap (and unskilled) south central asians...hey wait, they put in the law that workers needed to have a texas address to work in the project...really? that should solve the issue, right? not really, just give the address of the local flea bag motel you're staying and that fulfills the requirement...perry great? yeah if you're rich and own a business that do not want any goverment involvment in it...lovers of filthy lucre adore this guy and his posses...
Big J| 11.6.09 @ 1:48PM
Are you kidding me???
Here we go with those eeeeeeeeevil rich people argument again.
"Majito Querido", you need to get a grip. This is the real world, not some video game.
In the REAL world, the eeeeeeeeevil IBM actually employs tens of thousands of "pure as the wind driven snow" Americans.
In the real world, due in part to Perry's policies, companies and home owners are flocking to Texas in unprecedented numbers.
In the real world, due in part to Perry's policies, we here in Texas have an unemployment rate two points lower than the national average.
Grow up, look around and use your head. Don't fall for the class warfare the libs are trying to wage.
If you live here, it won't benefit you one bit.
In fact, with that sort of attitude, I recommend a much more prosperous state like California, New York or Michigan.
They love their class warfare there.
owyheewine| 11.6.09 @ 10:02AM
I'm a non Texan that spent 35 years living there. I just wonder of this might be a U of Texas/ Texas A&M thing.
If there is a split among Texas Republicans, it very well may be that the Austin crowd (the Texas equivalent of the Washington beltway gang) just can't stand having another 4 years of an Aggie governor.
moron| 11.7.09 @ 8:27AM
I'm a through and through Longhorn, Aggie hater to boot. I like Kay, I'm voting for Governor Rick.
JimP| 11.6.09 @ 10:07AM
Majito Querido: a valid complaint, assuming it is correct. However, show me any government where the kind of things you complain about does not happen. I don't know of one and have never heard of one. On balance, Texas has a da*n good governor.
Mike Anthony| 11.6.09 @ 10:14AM
Kay Bailout should just stay in D.C. We in Texas don't want her. After her most recent performance, I doubt she would be re-elected senator. Her BIG ego is not a valid reason for Texas to change course. The poll Mr. Murchison refers to must have been conducted only in Austin and maybe Dallas.
And to Majito Querido, been in the Great State of Texas very long? That's right that we do not want government to control our business, and I'm not rich. BTW when writing about this great state, Texas is always capitolized. DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS.
Robert Rosencrans| 11.6.09 @ 10:20AM
You go girl! Away!
Shipley McGraw | 11.6.09 @ 10:22AM
I am looking forward to Kay Bailout resigning her Senate seat and losing to Perry. The best of both worlds. We get a new Senator who is actually conservative. We don't lose Perry, the first Governor in America to stand up against Obama. We send a message to the world that Texas Republicans are not going to send any more RINOs up to Washington.
Al Adab| 11.6.09 @ 10:30AM
Those who envisioned, promoted or supported the "stimulau" including the "bailout" are not Conservatives. If that includes the former President (as it does) Texan though he is, and the Senator from the future Republic, then so be it. Government ownership of business, manufacturers, and banks is outside the tenants of Conservative policy.m
Leadership of the Conservative movement will devolve upon those, perhaps as yet unknown, who embody the strengths and vision of the American experience. Should we succeed in rolling back the statist agenda, the world will yet celebrate, "...a new birth of Freedom".
Shipley McGraw | 11.6.09 @ 10:58AM
By the way, Rick Perry is up by 12 in the latest poll. That Rasmussen poll showing Kay Bailey up by 2 was likely an anomaly, given that every other poll shows Perry up by double-digits.
Audax| 11.6.09 @ 11:34AM
Perry versus Kinky, now that should be fun to watch....
mark v| 11.6.09 @ 11:55AM
Rick Perry is a breath of fresh air. I LIKE his brashness and swagger.
Audax| 11.6.09 @ 12:07PM
Perry has been Governer for 8 years and property taxes are still WAY TOO HIGH...I wish he would use some of that brashness to attack, and lower, Texas' high property taxes and lower the annual permissable increase from 10% to rate of inflaton plus population growth, but first a big rollback.
TXLF| 11.6.09 @ 1:59PM
Given the mood of the country towards incumbents, I'm not sure KayBay could get re-elected as Senator.
Bevo| 11.6.09 @ 2:27PM
"I'm a non Texan that spent 35 years living there. I just wonder of this might be a U of Texas/ Texas A&M thing.
If there is a split among Texas Republicans, it very well may be that the Austin crowd (the Texas equivalent of the Washington beltway gang) just can't stand having another 4 years of an Aggie governor."
You hit the nail on the head. Texas Cheerleader vs aggy milkman. In Texas politics you don't need any more of a reason.
Kay had a problem, ever aggy in the state will vote for Perry in lockstep. Kay? Horns are more likely to vote Democrat. That's a big problem for her.
One thing, Texas politics is never boring. Hook 'em
Al Adab| 11.6.09 @ 2:46PM
Bevo,
Yes I get the moniker. Hook 'em Horns. It would be fun to see the race play out between the two, horns and aggies. I even have friends from both camps. As you note, too much education turns common sense into mush.
Nonetheless, I hope that Texas thinks beyond those alignments, picks the strongest most committed Conservative and the one who, should it transpire, could best become President of the Republic. Now there is a job description.
Barbarian Heretic| 11.9.09 @ 1:52PM
Hey BEVO.... how's that brand feel? 13-0 , Baby! Whoop!
Margie| 11.6.09 @ 3:43PM
"It all seems to me part and parcel of an argument going on around the country among Republicans: can we "play to the base" and succeed, or should we tweak a few things, rethink matters of policy and emphasis and tone? Kay says, to the latter question, you bet."
The problem with that is, Kay, if that's what you're indeed trying to do, is this:
We can tell the phonies from the real deal!
Ha! Go gett'em Cowboys and Cowgirls! Round up those horses!
I'm not from Texas. Never been there but the more I learn the more I wish I was. You can try "playing to the base" and "tweaking the rules" all you want. but from what I've seen, you can't fool a Texan!
I'll be rooting for Gov. Perry.
George| 11.6.09 @ 4:01PM
There's only one possible explanation; Kay wants to become governor so she can have better credentials to run for President. I like her in the Senate, but will vote for Perry to stay governor.
Clintidote| 11.6.09 @ 4:16PM
Hey Kay, you want to raise the kids in Texas? Then go and do THAT. Raise them. Be a mom if that's what you want, and stop pestering the rest of us.
Go away, Kay.
Pingback| 11.6.09 @ 4:29PM
Twitter Trackbacks for The American Spectator : Tex Mess [spectator.org] on Topsy.co links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Diamondsrforever| 11.6.09 @ 5:32PM
Kay, my advice you can be far more helpful, if you roast a chicken for your husband, give him some extra TLC...he needs you by his side, far more, than any of us in Texas.
You're no conservative, in fact, you're a pain in the a$$. Rick Perry has our votes. You've voted more like John McCain than Mike Pence. You had a good run, but we don't need any more RINOS for a long, long time.
Buh bye.
Tiredofdoubletalk!
Diamondsrforever| 11.6.09 @ 5:38PM
P.S. A true conservative like, Debra Medina, would get my vote over Rick Perry. One can only dream.
Pingback| 11.6.09 @ 7:05PM
College Frat Boy » The American Spectator : Tex Mess links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
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College Frat Boy » The American Spectator : Tex Mess links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
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Robert Rosencrans| 11.7.09 @ 8:27AM
Here's Senator Hutchinson at her best, talking security while sabotaging it at the same time.
http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/43422
One reason DHS has been able to do this is an amendment that Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R.-Texas) slipped into an omnibus appropriations bill that Congress passed on December 18, 2007. Hutchison’s amendment put a loophole in the fence law that allowed the secretary of Homeland Security not to build the fence Congress had mandated the year before.
The Secure Fence Act of 2006 specifically ordered DHS to build two layers of reinforced fencing along 700 specific miles of the nearly 2,000 mile U.S.-Mexico border.
DaveS| 11.7.09 @ 9:59AM
This is akin (southern term) to spooning someone else's soup at a classy dinner gathering. People notice, but don't know what to say. Perry should say, "excuse me?" and Kay should say, "Sorry."
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Brian| 11.7.09 @ 9:04PM
At a time when Repubs needed to be taking the fight to the leftists in the Senate KBH was sipping tea with Hillary and Boxer. She's a nice lady but we need tigers.
liveaboard| 11.8.09 @ 9:55AM
KBH is a RINO, a federalist, and is little different from Olympia Snowe and Lindsay Graham. To elect her to Gov.Tex is worse than a mistake, it it suicide.
maggie| 11.8.09 @ 11:22AM
I've got one word for KBH....FENCE....she personally pulled all financing for a secured border fencing to protect the citizens of this country.
FENCE = NO Hutchinson.
Paul S.| 11.8.09 @ 8:43PM
Check Kay Bailout's record re earmarks.
JimE| 11.8.09 @ 9:30PM
Time for this pelosi wanna-be to retire.
TexasPatriot| 11.8.09 @ 9:55PM
HEADS UP --- CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN DEBRA MEDINA FOR TEXAS GOV. 2010 !!!
Perry and KBH both need to go !!!
http://www.medinafortexas.com/
DEBRA MEDINA A TRUE CONSERVATIVE !
Debra Medina for Texas Governor 2010
Born in Beeville and raised on a South Texas farm, Debra Medina is a wife and mother, a registered nurse, a businesswoman, a rancher and a fighter.
Debra has always drawn strength from the courage of her convictions. She first got involved in politics in the early 1990s, when she saw that local leaders were not honoring the pro-life principles that guide her beliefs. Now chairing the Republican Party of Wharton County, she took the Republican Party of Texas to court in 2008 over violations in how the state convention was run.
Standing up to Goliaths is pretty much what Debra does.
She homeschooled both her children long before homeschooling had the kind of support and visibility it has today. She graduated from San Antonio’s Baptist Memorial Hospital System School of Nursing in 1984, and later earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from the evangelical Christian Le Tourneau University. In 2002, she founded her own business, Prudentia Inc., which specializes in improving medical billing procedures.
Through it all, Debra has waged and won battles that were not always popular – battles that often demanded uncompromising personal sacrifice. But this kind of strength is no surprise. After all, one of her ancestors fought in the Revolutionary War. Another lost his life in the fall of 1842 in the Dawson Massacre near San Antonio, fighting to preserve Texas independence.
Today, Debra Medina continues this legacy. She stands solidly on the principles of limited government, a sound economy, individual liberty and the inviolable importance of family, community and faith.
Lizzy| 11.9.09 @ 9:07AM
Can you imagine Kay standing up for states rights/sovereignty, like Perry did? We need someone who is willing to do that if necessary.
Crystal Whitten| 11.9.09 @ 10:09AM
An endorsement by a guy that can't shoot straight doesn't mean that much to most Texans (Cheney).
Kay says Perry has been governor for too long, but she's been in congress since 1993 and she wants to bring DC style governance to TEXAS! I THINK NOT. Go back to your dig in DC. Unfortunately Texas has two horrible senators in DC. Wish we could get some real conservative representation.
Richard Saunders| 11.9.09 @ 10:50AM
Debra Medina has given aid and comfort to the enemy by stoking all of this liberal BS death penalty Willingham stuff. She has no true conservative track record to stand on and has no chance of winning. A vote for Medina is a vote for Kay Bailey.
Derek Leaberry| 11.9.09 @ 1:19PM
Both Governor Perry and Senator Hutchison have badly flawed elements to their record. Mrs. Hutchison is pro-abortion, pro-feminist and pro-illegal immigration. Perry worked diligently to construct a gigantic highway through the heart of Texas, a project that would have split farms and communities. Neither are truly conservative but instead are corporatists very much like the Bushes.
Perry has been a big spender as governor until the economy forced governments to curtail spending. As governor, Hutchison would spend in about the same way Perry has. If the economy was humming, Hutchison would spend like a Democrat. Of course, nearly every Republican governor in modern history are as bad, even the legendary Ronald Reagan. Republicans are for as much big government as the Democrats.
Lucidity| 11.10.09 @ 12:47PM
The "all manner of liberal mischief" that Senator Ralph W. Yarborough supported included the Civil Rights Act, expansion of the G. I. Bill, the Endangered Species Act, and designation of Padre Island as a national seashore.
Lynn| 11.10.09 @ 1:03PM
It doesn't do Texans any good to lose a Senator with her seniority.
Perry is doing a bang up job. We don't need the Senator who has done nothing about illegal immigration, coming in here telling us to be "nice".
Thereasa Scaffoldi| 11.10.09 @ 2:40PM
I'm more than mystified by the love affair with the current Governor of Texas.
Mr. Murchison, with all do respect, kind sir, if you are to make a statement such as "She sees the coming four years as her turn to be governor," then I would beg you to ask the same of the current Governor. What has he done since inheriting the office from Gov. George W. Bush or over his long illustrious career in public office (the only stable paying income or full-time career he's known) to establish a record worthy of re-election to the Republican nomination.
Consider--as you have neglected to point out here:
- He is not a life long Republican, but more of the finger to the wind variety, akin to Carole Keeton Strayhorn, who saw his future livelihood in public office deeply constrained by the Democrat party membership.
- He touts this outstanding business climate, but we've been hit by the recession and our businesses are going to be faced to pay a very substantial price for his inability to be a responsible fiscal manager and leave business taxpayers footing a major tax increase to cover a depleted unemployment fund. He'll conveniently wait to dump that on us until after March, shocking.
- He's pressed big government, anti-property rights, anti-local control provisions and positions on us for far too long. Think Trans-Texas Corridor. Think HPV vaccine mandate. Think various "user fees" strapped onto taxpayers all so he can claim not to have raised taxes. He seriously considered vetoing an education reform measure only to make the SBOE members happy, while flying in the face of true local control.
- He despises government handouts, bailouts and trust funds but clamors wildly for his enterprise slush fund dollars which have hardly been the reason for any great, sustained growth in our state. Memo to Governor --- it's called no state income tax and no significant business tax -- up until the LARGEST tax increase you imposed on businesses that only through the most misleading funny math could you ultimately suggest its a tax cut -- that's what drives business here. And, you had ZERO to do with that. In fact, I dare say, I wonder if House Republican Rick Perry (A Democrat) would have voted for or against a state income tax if given the opportunity.
This talk of the senior senator as a RINO is ridiculous. I know her record, have voted for her time and again and see her for what she is -- far more conservative and loyal to the Party than that former Democrat we have in the Governor's office today.
Don't confuse swagger with arrogance. It's the air of entitlement of someone like Gov. Rick Perry that is a huge turn off for many Republican voters and the general electorate as a whole.
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