Opening affirmation of the Hays County Democratic Party Convention scheduled Saturday morning in Wimberley: "One turkey, two turkey, three turkey four, five ham, six ham, seven hummus more. Say 'cheese!'"
– anonymous
By Bob Ochoa
RoundUp Editor
Ya just gotta laugh at the ridiculous predicament in which Hays County Democrats now find themselves on the eve of their county convention.
There will be no shortage of irony either. The county convention is taking place in Wimberley (first time in how long??) – the home of County Judge Liz Sumter. Sumter, you'll recall, received a sound thrashing in the March 2 primary by her challenger from the East Side, the upstart and egomaniac Jeff Barton.
We saw a photo posted on a web site on election night with Jeff prancing around atop a San Marcos bar like he was auditioning for the television series Coyote Ugly – Hays County Style. In the next photo, he was standing blithely shoulder to shoulder with bosom buddy Patrick Rose.
This was a defeat that has not gone down well among Sumter supporters, particularly in the Wimberlery Valley. But the moves for party unity are already emerging. Judge Sumter was asked to serve as the convention chair, which is sort of like the last meal before the condemned politician's appointment with the hangman – in her own back yard.
Will the insincere gestures at peacemaking work? "Are you kidding!" was the snap response from one well informed party loyalist.
A high profile West Side Democrat said recently, "Integrity is my number one requirement for a public official, and I don't see that he (Barton) has that."
"I don't want to play too much to conspiracy theories, but I/we see the collusion of real estate interests working to make development and growth easier with less regulation in Hays County," explained yet another chagrined Dem.
The dislike for Barton and his developer gang is palpable among many Democrats residing in the spacious stretches of western Hays County. There are reports that some will boycott the convention and that others are simply walking away.
Word on the street is that the new Hays County political alliance is being led by Los Quatro Amigos Barton, Rose, Will Conley and Ray Whisenant – the latter two being well known Republican honchos from Wimberley and Dripping Springs.
Conley at least, who considers himself a head wrangler in the local GOP, will have a lot of explaining to do once his deep entrenchment with Democrats Barton and Rose is exposed. Bert Cobb, who?
Conley also is sly as a desert fox. The big question is whether he can pull off helping Whisenant defeat incumbent Democrat Karen Ford for Precinct 4 Commissioner, and peel away enough Republicans from Cobb to assist Barton's run for county judge. The four amigos wouldn't be riding together if they didn't think there are sufficient numbers of Republican and Dem members of The Amigos Family to make it happen.
We dare not mention (especially not at the convention) what disaffected Dems are whispering amongst themselves . . . that Bert Cobb looks pretty good after a couple of beers. Really, the more beer they drink the more they seem willing to listen to stories of Cobb's strong independent streak, same as that little soldier guy of Straight Talk Express fame. Bert ought to drop by the convention and shake some hands.
There's another funny theory that the November election at the county level will see a clean Republican sweep – including the good Dr. Cobb as incoming County Judge, Whisenant in Pct. 4 and Mark Jones in the Pct. 2 seat, which is currently held by Barton. You see, with Sumter gone, Democrats have no real 'leaders with a plan' on the ticket. A local official observed, "Every single countywide race is an open seat (except Ford's) . . . that's what they (Democrats) did to themselves voting for Barton."
After the sweep, Barton will receive the honorary OMWC Badge, awarded by the Dem Party every four years (stands for One Man Wrecking Crew), and he'll start a new career dancing on bars along the Mexican border. Conley will have a fair amount of egg on his face, but still have enough chips left to play cards with Judge Cobb vis a vis a Whisenant win, plus all the private-to-county road conversions he's managed to accomplish and the many adoring fans that has produced for him.
Rose, of course, will be laughing all the way to the bank and the next legislative session, advancing his outstanding record of spurring on development and new sources of imported water while blocking all sensible controls on growth and consumption.
We're looking forward to a fun county convention and might even do some live blogging. Meanwhile, keep the humor.
28 comments:
You have absolutely no clue what you are talking about. Why don't you try talking with people in the leadership of the democratic party or even the convention planning committee? Or even Judge Sumter.
Get your facts straight before you publish rubbish like this.
Ah yes...let the fun and games begin. As I have said many time before it is so much fun watching the loony Left self-destruct. Who has the food vendor's franchise for this convention. This would be worth selling tickets to so that the Republicans can sit in the peanut gallery and cheer (or razz) on their favorite (or least favorite) personalities.
Mr. or Ms. Anonymous,
If you were to write a letter to be published in the Statesman or the Chronicle the editor would want you to supply essential details. You've witheld any facts to substantiate your argument. I'd really like to hear more of what you have to say. Thanks.
Come on, Anonymous 1. Who are you kidding. You are in denial if you believe this Wim Dem convention is anything but a group discussion out of both side of their mouths.
Trying to put on a phony united front is what the hypocritical Republicans try to do. This is how Democrats can show we are smarter and more honest than the Republican: We don't lie about our failures and try to spin the truth to fake unity.
The Democratic Party is in disarray because the party has moved toward the mindless free markets right - and ignorantly so. Of course Texas Democrats have always been more to the right - so now the Dems in control are noting but Republicans in Dem clothing.
Nothing wrong with the truth. The political parties don't really ocntrol anything anyway. Special interest money does - simply by buying politicians from both parties - and does what it wants.
The solution: A massive citizen effort to boycott: new home construction, new commercial development, vendors who are mindless polluters, etc.
Yet my experience says that Democrats don't honestly want to sacrifice their consumption good life to live their espoused egalitarian values. Which is one of the real reasons the Texas Dems are struggling. They say they are populace but only seem to live so as long as they don't have to give anything up.
For example: watch the what political signs go up on business locales and boycott those businesses who support your nemesis candidate. And walk in an let the business owner know you are boycotting them - and send e-mails to all your friends and colleagues who agree with you. Set up picket lines at sales offices on public land outside new real estate developments.
Do all the above with Will Conley's carwash business in San Marcos - although first get a look at the wet tee shirt, short short babes on his TV ommericials if you can.
Show the world that Democrats are not the spineless jelly rolls they think we are.
Or are we?
Anonymous 2 shows what strutting asses some of the Republican Commenters can be.
The food concession is contracted with the Katherine Anne Porter School's cooking class with the fee going to help the school's skill development so kids can get jobs when they graduate.
What would a Republican convention's food vendor be? Some alcoholic right wing nutcase who cheats on his wife - or the wife is frigid as punishment for his gay philandering?
Scumbag!
It looks like the fortunes of Dems are sliding and the Reps are improving. How?
The Republican leadership are once again having heterosexual affairs instead of gay trysts. At least now they are being true to their real family values.
Geez, some of you commenters can take a perfectly good political column and turn it into your own personal juvenile cat fight.
I want to first compliment the writer, Mr. Ochoa, for what looks and sounds like his information has come from perfectly good sources but maybe with a little exaggeration and bias. Thanks for the hilarious snap shot of John Belushi from the classic Animal House movie. Brought a good laugh.
Second, as a Democrat from "the West Side" I want to declare my (qualified) support for Dr. Cobb for Hays County Judge. I'd like to meet the man personally, as I have heard he is a man of his word. If he can give me his word he will not undo the great work accomplished by Liz Sumter, most importantly the new subdivision rules, I will most definitely take his yard sign and give him my vote rather than sit out the election. Can we possibly hear more about what Dr. Cobb is proposing as his platform and mission for our county? And how do we go about contacting him?
Cobb said Obama was a tyrant at one of the debates. I don't think he is the smartest man to come along. Medical doctor means nothing. Does Cobb think Bush wasn't a tyrant. No thanks.
Voting for Cobb instead of Barton just because you don't like Barton is like severing off your entire finger because you have a cut on your digit.
I think Economic Saboteur is on the right track. Politics is a lost battle here in Hays County. Wimberley needs to set up its own "economic security" zone by organizing the base to put up a website and a boycott-focused PAC supporting businesses (Democrat, Republican, and independent) who understand and promote sensible and sustainable economic development in west Hays County.
Forget east Hays County. They are a lost cause controlled by developers, polluters, and the local business hustlers.
Can't forget the east side when they deliver the votes. Finding a way for east and west to work together is the only solution.
"East-west solution", I can only say good luck. The I-35 corridor east side and the western hills don't mix well. They're like oil and water, with a completely different chemistry and a completely different set of values.
We on the west side want to preserve our groundwater, open spaces and fresh air. The east side, represented by Barton, Ingalsbe and Conley are preoccupied with building freeways, shopping malls and cookie cutter subdivisions.
Barton brags about his expertise in new age green space subdivision designs but I have yet to see any of his talk put into practice inside the very area he represents. He has participated hand, foot and mouth, and financially, in the uncontrolled development explosion in his side of the county.
What looks to be shaping up in November is a developer mindset tsunami on the commissioners court. By their actions, nearly all of them seem not to respect our western values.
That said, perhaps you can suggest a way forward in west-east working together that doesn't include bringing the east side's clutter out to the west side.
This whole east/west thing is moot in the Wimberley Valley since it is really a mix. Developers and tree huggers don’t agree on much and never will. I would say however, that the liberal/conservative viewpoints are much further apart here. The liberals are far out and very vocal and the conservatives are more pragmatic and quieter. The overwhelming defeat of Liz Sumter surprised many liberals in the valley but really shouldn’t have. The Rose and Perry victories were no surprise to anybody that is aware.
Thanks Bob,
Beer helps and to look at the numbers and Rose's endorsement of Cobb on his website - baby Barton needs to wonder who his friends are... This is the funniest thing that you've written even though it is spot on and right as rain. All humor has a spot of truth in it but this is full to the brim. Thanks O'Choa - you're real Irish this week.
$47.17 per vote is what it takes to elect Patrick Rose.... source is the Texas Tribune.. this should get a response on several levels.. Hays, Blanco and Caldwell counties can be bought for $47.17 a vote... still laughing from the post O'Choa, thanks.
Bert & Jason may have something going on after all.
Kill the Bill is incorrect. The treehuggers are the sensible ones.
The water glutton neocons are out of touch with nature's reality. The gluttons won't see the truth until Wimberley has a porn bookstore in town. Oh, I forgot! That's just the "free markets" at work.
Forget votes. It is beyond that focus now. Buycotts & boycotts makes the most sense now. I agree with Economic Saboteur. It is time to hit the developers where it hurts. And act accordingly with the real estate agents that sell the homes and the mortgage companies who finance them.
It is time to quit screwing around.
Today was a great convention. I'm truly excited about November. Thanks to all who planned it.
Blueticks - where does Rose endorse Cobb on his website? I may be going crazy here, but I thought Rose has been endorsing Barton for quite some time.
Had a great time at the convention. While I overheard one delegate cursing about Barton to Sumter during the convention, I think that with the great speeches and important resolutions that were presented, everyone realized the need to refocus and look at the future. This election cycle will be a hard one and we must focus on keeping seats electing our Democratic colleuges.
I constantly tell my friends when they complain about the "moderateness" of the Democrats in the county that Lloyd Doggett could not get elected for a county position here (I LOOOVE him, but he is too liberal), and we must realize that we must work across party lines to ensure success and good policy in Hays county
You Dems are going to have a hard time electing a dogcatcher after today. It looks like the criminals in Washington are going to pass the “Obama Care” bill against the wishes of the vast majority of the public. Our Country’s future is circling the bowl and you guys are celebrating your weak little convention. People won’t forget this, come November and they will be reminded by our side. The fact that Sumter lost shows the extreme weakness of the liberal arm of the party in Hays County. The only place that your left wing is strong is here on this Blog.
Lloyd Doggett is an embarrassment to Texas and only gets elected by the minority voters in East Austin and the teachers. He promises them everything. One more step to the left and he’d fall off the edge of the flat earth. I keep sticking pins in my Lloyd doll hoping for him to disappear.
I liked Kurt Kuhn and his speech. He was the highlight of the convention for me. I hope he wins his race for 3rd Court of Appeals. Rose was totally flat. And I'm so happy I didn't have to suffer through a speech from Jeff Barton.
Not sure I agree with the commenter that we need to elect Democrats just to keep Democrats in office, unless we truly hold them all accountable to implement so-called "good policy".
I am very proud that we have at least 2 good candidates in Anna Boling and Tommy Ratliff.
Frankly, I have not seen a lot of good policy come out of either Rose or Barton. I will not vote for them just because they are Democrats. I don't know many Democrats who actually know what the TOP FIVE "good policy" objectives Rose and Barton intend to pursue for Hays County if elected.
They should tell us all very clearly and very specifically what they intend to do about sfuff like:
1) controlling growth and keeping our air clean – strengthening the county's new subdivision rules and granting additional authority from the legislature
2) protecting and conserving our groundwater
3) preventing a surge in development AND our taxes (witness the doubling of Kyle's tax rate over three years; that's Barton's precinct)
4) keeping us all informed of contacts with lobbyists and persons proposing major development projects in the county
5) cutting all the speeches and BS and talking to us straight. I think we're all very tired of the BS.
Rose gave his nod to baby Barton and Cobb on election day - for those that missed it - it was really something. Pinocchio the king maker.
Snickering Republican has let us in on the real conservative mindset.
First, he believes in voodoo - with his pin cushion dolls. Clearly that is a lot easier for him then actually going out and interacting with people to promote change in a constructive manner.
Second, "against the wishes of the vast majority of the public" means he is a Fox News robot who regurgitates what he hears from the hate channel - showing that he is just another Rupert Murdoch exploited goober who cannot think for himself.
Third, his hate speak that Doggett only gets elected by "the minority voters in East Austin and the teachers" shows he is a closet racist and holds contempt for educated people who want to see children succeed through strong funding of public schools.
I think Snickering Republican is really "Sniveling Cowardly Redneck."
Snickering Republican also believes in a flat earth - which goes to show how uneducated these Christian extremists are about science. No wonder they need to believe in Creation Theory. It doesn't require analysis and critical thinking.
Instead of "Snickering Republican" how about "Laughable Bible Thumper."
Snickering Republican, we'll see who gets the last laugh this fall. You sound smug enough to believe that "Obamacare". will result in a revolt by the American people. Well it won't. Rush Limbaugh and Fox news can tell you it will and you will go on believing it. But mark my words. Unless Republicans get a clue they will become as irrelevant as the Whig Party. And one more thing. Mark my words. Rick Perry is going to get his buns shellacked by Bill White and it will be the beginning of the end for creationists, secessionists, the Texas Board of Education and all the other circus acts that embarass our state.
The elitist view in Wimberley is most apparent in many of these posts. There are people on the east side who care about the same issues. But criticizing the cookie cutter homes - when that is all the hard-working middle class can afford - is not going to get you much sympathy. Are there truly Democrats over there in Wimberley? Come on - the Wimberley organizers of the convention supported a charter school. Since when were charter schools a part of the Democratic platform?
Tthere are not enough "Democrats" in Wimberley to make a difference in any election. That should be painfully obvious to them by now. So if you go back to your Republican roots - it won't make any difference. Go for it!
I am saddened that Liz Sumter will not be leading our local party in November. I will forever hold Jeff Barton responsible for the calamity he has caused, apparently for no good reason except to satisfy his own ego and political and financial ambitions. What a spoiler. Barton will not receive my west side vote. What on earth does he stand for, anyways?
Ole Corn Cobb. He's ma man.
You mean "Get corned with Cobb" don't you?
so where is the ACTUAL reporting on the event?
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