It is time to eliminate Gov. Perry from the office he does not deserve
Could Watson pull it off?
Gavel Grab
Gavel Grab
Send your comments and news tips to online.editor@valleyspringcomm.net
or to Mr. Stern, pstern@austin.rr.com
From a commenter: "The biggest ruse is Democrats having to continue doing business with a Republican political and power structure. Tends to weaken the blood. Bottom line: No More Republicans Sitting On The Throne In The Governor's Mansion."
* Read the comments or add you own by clicking on the "comments" button at the bottom of the story.
By Peter Stern, Driftwood, Tx
Thursday, July 2, 2009
NYTimes/AP
Lawmakers are leaving the Austin Capitol, going home to their families after Governor Rick Perry failed to get his special interest pro-toll bill approved by the Legislature in a special session.Many individual and anti-toll groups got involved getting their family, friends and neighbors to telephone and email lawmakers endlessly to create the pressure needed to ensure the demise of HB 3 and pro-toll agendas.
Meanwhile, our irresponsible governor provided a press release intended to make himself and the legislature look good while saving some face. After all, he wanted the pro-toll bill while the majority of lawmakers and the Texas community did NOT want it.
Governor's Press Release: "I am pleased that lawmakers passed legislation to continue the Texas Department of Transportation, Texas Department of Insurance and three other state agencies, and authorized the issuance of $2 billion in transportation bonds that were approved by Texas voters in 2007.
"With more than 1,000 people moving to Texas each day and a growing economy, improving transportation in our state continues to be a top priority of mine. I had hoped to reduce uncertainty regarding several major transportation projects across the state by extending the comprehensive development agreement authority for local and state transportation agencies. Although the CDA bill did not pass, we will continue to work with legislators and local officials to find transportation solutions for our state.”
However, Texans and their families are NOT safe from such a reckless governor who has a history of catering to his wealthy special interest campaign contributors and who diverts resolving the decade-long urgent issues that continue to hurt hardworking and hardly working Texans.
DallasNews
Next year, Texas voters have an early opportunity to vote in the GOP Primary for Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, thereby eliminating fellow Republican incumbent Rick Perry before the regular election. At last there is a tangible out from Perry's oppressive rule even for Republican voters.
As for Democrats, the way it looks now former Travis County DA Ronnie Earle is the most viable candidate.
Either way, it is time to eliminate Gov. Perry from the office he does not deserve.
Today, the Texas community took a giant step forward in this effort.
27 comments:
Thanks also must go to Rep. David Leibowitz, who had the courage and decency to stand up for all Texans.
Leibowitz led the charge to fix the bill that created a revolving fund that would have raided teacher retirement and public employee pension funds for risky toll road schemes.
We also need to thank Rep. Leibowitz for writing the bill that killed the pro-toll road agenda in the regular session.
Most of all, we should thank him for being a real leader of a handful of other lawmakers who don't forget they were voted in to work in the best interests of most Texans and NOT merely to cater to wealthy special interests.
You may thank Rep. Leibowitz yourself via email at:
david.leibowitz@house.state.tx.us
P
If Ronnie Earle "the Squirrel" is your best candidate, then another 8 years of Republican control of the State is in order. That guy is more corrupt and an abuser of power than Rick "Good Hair" Perry has ever thought of being.
Of all the people Earle ever tried to intimidate through "indictments" (always conveniently right before an election), he never once to my recollection ever achieved any convictions. Pathetic to say the least. And this is YOUR candidate? Again, pathetic.
I'd say go back to the drawing board and pull someone out of retirement like Mark White - a Democrat of the old school who has a spine, and one that at least tells the truth.
I would like to see Kurt Watson take a shot at running for Governor...
If you step back for a moment, you'll see our state's financial and regulatory systems are in a mess, right in there with big special interests. I'd rather not see a republican elected governor; that's their natural base, 'the haves and the have more,' W's words.
Ronnie Earle is not MY candidate. I am a long-time member of the GOP, but I try to vote for the best candidate.
However, I DID say Earle was the most viable of the other Democrats so far.
BTW, how many politicians do you know these days who are squeaky clean? Especially those running for top offices?
Now Kirk Watson would make an interesting candidate for Governor. I can respect him, though Mayor of Austin, he was able to find the middle ground for development and environmental regulation. He doesn't seem to tread the same old tired Democratic party path of hypocrisy and holier-than-thou partisanship. (Don't seems to matter to them when they commit the same "crimes" as what they claim Republicans do - ala, "transparency" of Mr. Obama's new Administration - what a joke!)
If the Dems run someone like Kirk Watson, that would give me reason to stop and think for a change rather than just punching "R". Run someone like Earle the Squirrel, and you will be certain to ensure that the Republican Party will continue to own the Texas Governor's Mansion, whether Kay Bailey or Governor Good Hair.
That's because Kirk Watson is not really a Democrat. He ran as a Democrat, which these days doesn't mean very much.
You need to look at the person's history of voting and developing bills to see what that person's agendas and allegiances lie.
Just look at "Democrats" Rep. Patrick Rose, Rep. Dawnna Dukes and even at our county level of Comm. Jeff Barton. They may run as Democrats, but their respective histories show they are anything but Democrats.
As for Watson, he is a pro-toll road special interest lawmaker. I wouldn't vote for him just for that reason.
I'd sooner vote for Sen. Hutchison than for anyone else right now. I think she is the only one who has a real chance of beating Perry.
Peter, if you're so good at divining past records of politicians, I suggest you spend some time checking Hutchison's record while she served as Texas state treasurer. Very slippery gal she was, and a dictatorial sort.
Part of her devout core of Texas followers are the extreme right wing religious wackos who want to place religion in our public school classrooms, not to mention the military-industrial complex. Do not forget her hometown, Dallas, is the home of the Texas Toll Road and, once upon a time, Haliburton. And don't think her administration wouldn't be packed full of ex Bushies and Cheneyites, too. Thieves, all.
Hutchison is of the old elitist political and financial mindset (remember Ray, her husband?). She might provide a convenient stand-in for Perry, but she's nothing more than the same ol' song and dance. Pro oil, anti green; pro development and property rights, anti conservation and smart development.
Ex-cheerleader Hutchison is old and washed up. She wants to return to Texas and retire with the title of Governor on her buckle. What has she done for Texans in the 10 tens she has served in the U. S. Senate, besides supporting sending our young men and women off to the Iraq war to die, for what, oil rights and more illicit business for Haliburton?
What has she said or acted on lately that would cause me, you and other voters to want to support her as governor?
Hey! I never said I particularly like Hutchison. Don't read into what I say.
For the most part, I want to get rid of Perry.
Right now --- at this time --- I think Hutchison is the only one who may do that.
Peter, your position reminds me of the three monkeys: covered eyes and ears, only mouth uncovered. You trash Watson for not being a 'real' democrat, and cower back to mama Hutchison's skirt who you think is the only candidate with a viable chance to kick Perry's arse. Texans have been scalped, skinned and roasted under republican regimes for near a generation. Sounds like you don't mind laying over on your back and taking more of the same torture. NO TO ANY AND ALL RETHUGS. I don't care how sweet talking they might be. I say it's time for the YELLOW DOGS to regroup and retake Texas! If Watson becomes our guy, hopefully he'll become the next guv, and hopefully he'll get support from even the most masochistic republicans.
And what are YOU doing to change things, burrito boy, besides chastising me?
Watson is in the same league as Perry, Hutchison, Earle and Watson in terms of lying to the people and doing 2-steps in their voting on urgent issues.
Point is that Texans don't have much of a choice AGAIN. So, once again it is selecting the lesser of the evils.
Whether or not you see it, Watson also is a "lying sack of manure". Who isn't these days?
I would think that it is obvious that I am NOT "lying on my back" willing to "take it" from Hutchison or whatever you say.
The fact that I wrote this commentary shows that I am not willing to take it.
We first need to get rid of Perry. The first chance to do so is with Hutchison in the GOP Primary.
Then we can vote for a Democrat or Independent. There are not many other options for Texans.
You don't have to agree with me, but you need to stop trying to "shoot the messenger". How is trying to put me down helpful in presenting your opinion?
By the way, what positive approache are YOU advocating? Voting for Watson is your cure-all?
We have a situation here where none of these people are what we need. But where are the real leaders?
Anonymous, I ask you again --- you didn't answer me --- do you know a politician who is squeaky clean?
Relax dude. I would postulate that Kinky is actually better than nothing, including Big Mama Nothing Hutchison. We, certainly I, could use some comic relief after these deadly serious GOP regimes that have robbed us all blind.
Your problem as "messenger" is that you suggest cheerleader girl (maybe you should consider drafting Sarah Pallin – she's looking for work) as the 'lesser of the evils'... anybody but Good Hair, while snarking Watson. On getting rid of Good Hair I will agree.
So try thinking outside that same tired old box, messenger boy: Kinky, as far as I can tell, if he got elected, would be beholden only to Willie Nelson and Joe Ely. And maybe his book publisher and cigar shops. What would be the harm in that?
BTW, who did you vote for in the last guv election, Chris Bell or Good Hair? Did you put your mark next to AG candidate David Van Os, or Abbot?
Van Os is someone you should meet. He is much much better than 'better than nothing."
You need cosmic relief? Kinky?
I'm with Stern. Get rid of Perry above all else and that would be FIRST with Hutchison.
Then you have the other choices you are patronizing.
As for Kinky, you must be nuts!
You want a guy who really believes that "computers are the Devil's tool"? He's just another shizoid!
CA voted in "the Governator" for our "comic relief". A lot of good that did them.
I'm with Stern. Get rid of Perry above all else.
BTW, I also like Van Os, but right now he has a few lively skeletons in his closet.
I guess I have to say that you must be a bit "off your rocker" if you want to compare Palin to Hutchison, and then want Kinky to be our governor. You really need a reality check, Dude.
Again, I'm no Hutchison fan. I just say she has the first shot at Perry for us. She can kill the demon governor.
Then you can vote for whichever "hell" you want.
"Snarking" Watson? Palin? Kinky? The "Hutch"?
A rose is a rose is a rose.
They all suck! Choose your poison.
Dear Peter: Enlighten me, why so Stern about Watson? At least he was able to get some good bills through this last "do nothing" session. Texas Monthly gave him high marks. I am really curious what you know that we don't know...
What "We" are you speaking of? There seem to be quite a few people [even on this blog] who agree that Watson is not the right candidate for governor.
I will name 2 urgent issues that Watson has been a poor "leader" on: Transportation and Higher Education. He is at the top of the food chain on both these issues.
Our transportation issues have not improved. The governor and Watson, [who is on the Senate Committee on Transportation & Home Security, also is a commissioner on CAMPO], have continued to push for toll roads above any alternative options, have enabled the gas tax freeze to continue and have permitted the diversion of our gas tax revenue to other interests, all of which have largely contributed to the lack of sufficient revenue for the building and maintenance of our roadways.
In addition, lackluster oversight of TxDOT has permitted the agency to circumvent its accountability to Texans and has contributed to a waste of our tax dollars, e.g., the advertising of the toll agenda and even permitted using our tax dollars for TxDOT to lobby in Washington for laws that would enable the agency to build toll roads on our existing and paid-for roadways.
By the way, Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison was instrumental in developing and pushing for the bill that ensured state transportation agencies could NOT build toll roads on already paid for roadways.
As for higher education, Watson was one of the prominent "leaders" along with Perry who pushed for the deregulation of higher education tuition, which since resulted in universities like UT increasing tuition costs 4 times, which has caused many of our Texas children to no longer afford that tuition.
These are only 2 urgent issues that Perry and lawmakers like Watson have failed hardworking and hardly working Texans.
So, please wake-up and see Watson for what he is... part of our problems and not a resolution for them.
Thank you for the insight...sorry I used the preposition "we" instead of "I". Unfortunately, this old hippie dropped out in 9th grade! So, thank you for not only your opinion about Watson but for correcting my grammar...
Kinky? "Better than nothing."?
Kinky would be LESS than nothing.
And I'm with the "Stern" warning about Watson.
I think I'm beginning to see some folks' strategy here: Let's trash everybody but cheerleader girl, so she maybe takes the primary away from good hair and presents the best alternative to the dem candidate in november 2010.
Perpahs, Peter you might rethink your strategy . . . let's all back good hair in the primary. Should he win, not even republicans can stand his stench, so the dem clearly becomes the only viable alternative.
If this is not an acceptable strategy, then I can only surmise you hutchison people are nothing more than republicans.
Nice try, Burrito. I don't think most of us will buy into that ruse of yours.
You have been proven wrong on this blog.
Buenos "nachos"!
That's pretty dumb, even for you BB.
I think I'll refrain from any more comments on this blog after that remark, Burrito Boy.
The biggest ruse is Democrats having to continue doing business with a Republican political and power structure. Tends to weaken the blood. Bottom line: No More Republicans Sitting On The Throne In The Governor's Mansion.
Oh snap...jeez you guys are sensitive today. Is it a full moon or what? Please humor me and allow me to propose another question...what do you all think about D)Craig Eiland throwing his hat in the ring?
This just in From Rick Perry's Department of Idiocy and (more than likely) Cronyism: Governor Good Hair is considering appointing to head up the Department of Education Cynthia Dunbar. Among her many other wacky beliefs she believes public education is unconstitutional and public schools should be abolished! Dumb and dumber (again and again).
This just in from Perry's Department of Idiocy: Perry names Gail Lowe to chair the State Board of Education thus keeping the monkeys in charge of the zoo! Aside from the fact that she tends not to spew her crazy venom as much as Dunbar the two are one and the same.
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