If you want to have your say in the Primary election on March 4, you need to make sure you have your voter registration form filled out and sent in no later than Monday, Feb. 4. You can mail them in. They have to have a postmark on or before the 4th to be accepted.
Need info on how to register? Click here.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
New Blogs to keep an eye on
There are a couple of new blogs in the area that have come to our attention that are worth a look see and a possible bookmark. Not sure who is behind either site.
Poor Bev Carter.blogspot.com
This one takes on the terminally outraged and outrageous Fort Bend Star Publisher Bev Carter. Now Bev is a legend in her own mind in these parts. The woman is older than dirt and meaner than... well, we don't know what. Bev used to pretend she was a Republican but most of the GOP realized she really wasn't. She's bestest buds with this ultra lib blogger and often Bev gives old Susan a plug (like about every week) in her paper. Susan used to have a regular column in Bev's paper. Not sure why she stopped (but we're guessing it had something to do with complaints to the paper and/or its advertisers.). See, for Bev, money is always thicker than blood and certainly thicker than friendship. Why, we've heard tell that Bev would sell her own grandchildren out if it meant getting a few more ad bucks.
Any way, Bev pretended to be a Republican while bashing about every GOP elected official she could. Now, she "believes she is an Independent" -- guess she's still not sure. But she kisses up to and endorses Democrats. She's either a little senile, a little confused, or a little crazy. You decide. Most folks just snicker at her these days. But this new blog is kind of fun.
Fort Bend Politics.blogspot.com
This newby site has some potential. Bills itself as " Miscellaneous ramblings about Fort Bend Politics." Okay... let the blogging continue.
Poor Bev Carter.blogspot.com
This one takes on the terminally outraged and outrageous Fort Bend Star Publisher Bev Carter. Now Bev is a legend in her own mind in these parts. The woman is older than dirt and meaner than... well, we don't know what. Bev used to pretend she was a Republican but most of the GOP realized she really wasn't. She's bestest buds with this ultra lib blogger and often Bev gives old Susan a plug (like about every week) in her paper. Susan used to have a regular column in Bev's paper. Not sure why she stopped (but we're guessing it had something to do with complaints to the paper and/or its advertisers.). See, for Bev, money is always thicker than blood and certainly thicker than friendship. Why, we've heard tell that Bev would sell her own grandchildren out if it meant getting a few more ad bucks.
Any way, Bev pretended to be a Republican while bashing about every GOP elected official she could. Now, she "believes she is an Independent" -- guess she's still not sure. But she kisses up to and endorses Democrats. She's either a little senile, a little confused, or a little crazy. You decide. Most folks just snicker at her these days. But this new blog is kind of fun.
Fort Bend Politics.blogspot.com
This newby site has some potential. Bills itself as " Miscellaneous ramblings about Fort Bend Politics." Okay... let the blogging continue.
Mark of a candidate that doesn't know his district
Pete Olson's camp is showing signs it doesn't really understand District 22 or has hired some fairly incompetent campaign staff. Of course, the guy has only lived here 6 or 7 months, so that's not hard to understand.
See, most candidates running in a Republican Primary race try to focus their time, money and attention on Republican voters. Especially Republicans that vote in the primary elections. But Olson, flush with cash donations from K-Street lobbyists and Dee Cee money (90% of his donations are from outside the district) is sending campaign literature to -- Democrats.
And not just conservative Dems that might vote occasionally in the GOP primary (cuz let's face it in Fort Bend County there just aren't that many Dems to vote for). No.... Olson is sending literature to ultra-lib Dems that make a full time job out of attacking the GOP every chance they get. One of these old gals has a blog that details the gaff.
The funny thing is, Olson not only is sending his glossy, four-color, expensive mailings to Dems -- he's sending them to "seniors" who ain't. This has the libs all a twitter that Olson might be trying to disenfranchise them. We think it's all very humorous.
See, most candidates running in a Republican Primary race try to focus their time, money and attention on Republican voters. Especially Republicans that vote in the primary elections. But Olson, flush with cash donations from K-Street lobbyists and Dee Cee money (90% of his donations are from outside the district) is sending campaign literature to -- Democrats.
And not just conservative Dems that might vote occasionally in the GOP primary (cuz let's face it in Fort Bend County there just aren't that many Dems to vote for). No.... Olson is sending literature to ultra-lib Dems that make a full time job out of attacking the GOP every chance they get. One of these old gals has a blog that details the gaff.
The funny thing is, Olson not only is sending his glossy, four-color, expensive mailings to Dems -- he's sending them to "seniors" who ain't. This has the libs all a twitter that Olson might be trying to disenfranchise them. We think it's all very humorous.
Wallace in the wind
The Chronicle has an interesting "bring it home to Texas" piece on fall out of the Guiliani loss in Florida last night. This part of the article caught our eye:
Above, Wallace announces unapologetically that he's a complete political opportunist. Note that he says "a lot of people" see McCain as a leader. Not, "I" see McCain as a leader. Reading between the lines: "I don't really care what the candidate stands for or if his/her beliefs match my own. What's important is their electability. After all, if I don't attach myself to someone's coattails who can win, how can I expect to get that cushy, high-paid governmental appointment I'm looking for?"
Wallace. A man who knows no shame.
What? Wallace bills himself, when it's convenient as a social conservative. But he founds a new organization in Fort Bend (more on this later) to promote candidates that are "fiscal conservatives" but more liberal on social issues. Huh?Among his early backers was (Sugar Land Mayor David)Wallace, a political and social conservative, who said he took some heat for initially backing Giuliani, who has spoken out for abortion rights and for gun control. But Wallace said Giuliani's appeal was, in part, driven by polls that showed he was the best candidate to beat Democrat Hillary Clinton.
With Giuliani's political stumbles in New Hampshire and elsewhere, however, the electability argument disappeared. The most recent polls indicated that McCain was the only Republican who could be competitive with either Clinton or Barack Obama.
Wallace said that if Giuliani were to withdraw, his support would go to McCain, a decision the Sugar Land mayor said he suspects many Giuliani backers would also make. "It's just that a lot of people see him as a leader," Wallace said of McCain.
Above, Wallace announces unapologetically that he's a complete political opportunist. Note that he says "a lot of people" see McCain as a leader. Not, "I" see McCain as a leader. Reading between the lines: "I don't really care what the candidate stands for or if his/her beliefs match my own. What's important is their electability. After all, if I don't attach myself to someone's coattails who can win, how can I expect to get that cushy, high-paid governmental appointment I'm looking for?"
Wallace. A man who knows no shame.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Dave Wallace said what??? Let's make Sugar Land a sanctuary city, Dave?
Sugar Land Mayor David Wallace (who is supporting former Pasadena Mayor John Manlove for the CD22 race) has been in DeeCee at the U.S. Conference of Mayors annual meeting. You're NOT going to believe what this guy said on national teevee with CNN's Lou Dobbs!
Someone needs to ask Manlove if he agrees with Wallace on this.
DOBBS: The U.S. Conference of Mayors is holding its annual meeting in Washington and the conference has decided to call for so- called comprehensive immigration reform. Amnesty is back brought to you by the mayor's conference. It is simply another effort by special interest groups, socio ethnocentric interest groups and big business to bring amnesty to millions of illegal aliens and to keep our borders wide open. Louise Schiavone has our report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) LOUISE SCHIAVONE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The U.S. Conference of Mayors is calling on Washington to open the door to roughly 12 million illegal immigrants in the United States, illegal immigrants drawing on a wide menu of public services funded by U.S. citizens.
MAYOR DAVID WALLACE, SUGARLAND, TEXAS: What we're basically focusing on is wanting to make sure that we have a path to citizenship, but at the same time these individuals are paying for those services that you just mentioned. There have been a lot of discussions about worker visa program and tied to that worker visa program is the application for U.S. citizenship.
SCHIAVONE: An explicit statement of policy from the Conference of Mayors states, quote, "Local law enforcement should not be required to stop, interrogate, detain or otherwise participate in immigration enforcement activities." But by the same token, the group calls on the federal government to authorize payments to localities for, quote, "emergency health services, prosecution and the incarceration of undocumented immigrants." Some groups opposed to such measures say that will only makes matters worse.
And there's more...
SCHIAVONE: For all students under the age of 21 the Mayor's Conference also declares it should be national policy to quote, "Guarantee a public education for all children regardless of their immigration status."
PROF. KRIS KOBACH, UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI: They have no political accountability for that. No one is going to hold them personally accountable before the voters for taking that position. On the other hand, when they're back in their hometowns and they're actually passing ordinances or voting on ordinances then the constituents have a say.
(END VIDEOTAPE) SCHIAVONE: And Lou, there is a bottom line consequence to this path to citizenship as described by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, a Heritage Foundation study estimates when all of these illegal immigrants start to collect federal retirement benefits the net cost will be more than $2.5 trillion -- Lou.
DOBBS: Well these mayors, and I mean every single one of them should be thrown out of office from -- by the electorates of their cities. This is one of the most -- anyone supporting this in my opinion is absolutely without conscience, pandering to socio-special interest groups, pandering to corporate America, and acting in absolute, absolute contravention of their responsibilities in office. This is absolutely disgusting.
SCHIAVONE: Lou, there's no evidence that a lot of their constituents are on their side, but as our analysts say, when they are under this umbrella group they don't have to have any accountability for these very controversial positions that this document states.
Someone needs to ask Manlove if he agrees with Wallace on this.
DOBBS: The U.S. Conference of Mayors is holding its annual meeting in Washington and the conference has decided to call for so- called comprehensive immigration reform. Amnesty is back brought to you by the mayor's conference. It is simply another effort by special interest groups, socio ethnocentric interest groups and big business to bring amnesty to millions of illegal aliens and to keep our borders wide open. Louise Schiavone has our report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) LOUISE SCHIAVONE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The U.S. Conference of Mayors is calling on Washington to open the door to roughly 12 million illegal immigrants in the United States, illegal immigrants drawing on a wide menu of public services funded by U.S. citizens.
MAYOR DAVID WALLACE, SUGARLAND, TEXAS: What we're basically focusing on is wanting to make sure that we have a path to citizenship, but at the same time these individuals are paying for those services that you just mentioned. There have been a lot of discussions about worker visa program and tied to that worker visa program is the application for U.S. citizenship.
SCHIAVONE: An explicit statement of policy from the Conference of Mayors states, quote, "Local law enforcement should not be required to stop, interrogate, detain or otherwise participate in immigration enforcement activities." But by the same token, the group calls on the federal government to authorize payments to localities for, quote, "emergency health services, prosecution and the incarceration of undocumented immigrants." Some groups opposed to such measures say that will only makes matters worse.
And there's more...
SCHIAVONE: For all students under the age of 21 the Mayor's Conference also declares it should be national policy to quote, "Guarantee a public education for all children regardless of their immigration status."
PROF. KRIS KOBACH, UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI: They have no political accountability for that. No one is going to hold them personally accountable before the voters for taking that position. On the other hand, when they're back in their hometowns and they're actually passing ordinances or voting on ordinances then the constituents have a say.
(END VIDEOTAPE) SCHIAVONE: And Lou, there is a bottom line consequence to this path to citizenship as described by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, a Heritage Foundation study estimates when all of these illegal immigrants start to collect federal retirement benefits the net cost will be more than $2.5 trillion -- Lou.
DOBBS: Well these mayors, and I mean every single one of them should be thrown out of office from -- by the electorates of their cities. This is one of the most -- anyone supporting this in my opinion is absolutely without conscience, pandering to socio-special interest groups, pandering to corporate America, and acting in absolute, absolute contravention of their responsibilities in office. This is absolutely disgusting.
SCHIAVONE: Lou, there's no evidence that a lot of their constituents are on their side, but as our analysts say, when they are under this umbrella group they don't have to have any accountability for these very controversial positions that this document states.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Roll Call prognostications
Roll Call (subscription only) weighs in on the CD22 race. They think Sekula-Gibbs will come in first in the Primary... but we're not so sure. We think there's a good chance she could finish second. Regardless, if Shelley is in the run-off with anyone else, we predict she loses. Here's Roll Call's take:
Republicans following the 22nd district primary are reasonably confident that Sekula Gibbs will finish first on March 4 and that either Hrbacek, Olson, Manlove or Talton will join her in the April runoff, they say the race remains hard to gauge, and they caution that the unexpected could easily occur."I think it will be a classic, late-decision campaign about who has the best chance of defeating Nick [Lampson]," said one GOP insider. "I don't think it will be one where he or she who has the best message or most money will win. It will be a confluence of events."
Although Sekula Gibbs lost her write-in bid for the 110th Congress, she won a special election that was held on the same day to serve out the remainder of DeLay's term. However, her relationship with DeLay's old staff and the Texas GOP delegation turned rancorous during her brief stint on Capitol hill. Consequently, a majority of the Texas GOP House delegation - as well as many 22nd district GOP insiders - prefer that one of her opponents win the primary and advance to the November general election against Lampson. Although internal Republican polls have shown Sekula Gibbs to have wide name recognition, those same surveys show her leading the field with slim support, as low as just above 20 percent.
Sekula Gibbs' personal negatives also are high, according to Republican strategists who are unaffiliated with any of her opponents but are familiar with the surveys in question.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Olson responsible for Hrbacek Photo Flap
We've just learned from a reliable source at the Chronicle that it was the Pete Olson camp that promoted the Hrbacek photo shop story. Shame on Pete. This coming from a candidate that has been using a 9-year-old photo of himself in his Navy whites on all his literature and leading voters to believe his relatively low-level job at the Pentagon was a senior advisory position to the Joint Chiefs.
Olson, supported almost exclusively with out-of-state, lobbyist and K-street dollars, has a real set of cajones.
Olson, supported almost exclusively with out-of-state, lobbyist and K-street dollars, has a real set of cajones.
Shift Happens
OK -- this has very little to do with CD22 at all but a lot to do with thinking about the kinds of leaders we need to elect at all levels.
Coming soon....
CD22 candidate filings with the Federal Election Commission are due January 31. Should be a strong indicator of where the rubber meets the road heading into the March 4 primary... stay tuned.
Shelley vs Hendee
Shelley Sekula Gibbs is taking it on the chin this week over an exchange (click to hear it) she had with KSEV’s conservative talk show hosts Edd Hendee and Pat Gray last week over her "evolving" position on abortion. The Houston Chronicle did a story on it today as well.
Back in 2001, when Sekula Gibbs was running for a Houston City Council seat, she sought the endorsement of Planned Parenthood and said abortion should remain a legal option. But in her 2006 race against Slick Nick Lampson, she said she had undergone a complete change of heart and mind on the issue.
Today she states, “My voting record is 100 percent pro-life.” Uh... OK, Shelley. Technically that's correct but really, as Hendee and Gray pointed out you had the chance to vote on only one abortion bill during your seven-week service in Congress to fill out Tom Delay's term. This may not be exactly padding your resume but it's awfully close.
We believe Shelley when she says she's had a change of heart on the abortion issue and is now pro-life. Many good people have seen the light on this issue and changed their positions. Just please quit trying to overstate your case -- it makes you look silly.
Back in 2001, when Sekula Gibbs was running for a Houston City Council seat, she sought the endorsement of Planned Parenthood and said abortion should remain a legal option. But in her 2006 race against Slick Nick Lampson, she said she had undergone a complete change of heart and mind on the issue.
Today she states, “My voting record is 100 percent pro-life.” Uh... OK, Shelley. Technically that's correct but really, as Hendee and Gray pointed out you had the chance to vote on only one abortion bill during your seven-week service in Congress to fill out Tom Delay's term. This may not be exactly padding your resume but it's awfully close.
We believe Shelley when she says she's had a change of heart on the abortion issue and is now pro-life. Many good people have seen the light on this issue and changed their positions. Just please quit trying to overstate your case -- it makes you look silly.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Looks like Lampson will have suport of Texas AFL-CIO
Nothing official yet... but this story is a pretty strong indicator that the union thugs will support Lampson. Now ask yourself... when was the last time the AFL-CIO supported a conservative of any stripe?
Hrbacek says rivals stretched military, council records
The Chronicle is reporting today (in what should have been the real story for the Chronicle all along) that Pete Olson and Shelley Sekula Gibbs have been fluffing their backgrounds.
Dean's picture -- a mistake for sure-- but was it really misleading to voters about who he is or what he stands for? Gibbs and Olson have intentionally misled about probably the single most important issue in any election -- the personal integrity and veracity of the candidate.
The Republican congressional candidate whose campaign brochure made him look thinner accused two opponents Friday of inflating something arguably more important: their public service experience....The reality? Olson served as a junior Navy officer reporting to senior officers working under the six generals who make up the Joint Chiefs. Olson said he wrote a Pentagon memo about Latin America that was read and approved by then-Gen. John Shalikashvili, chairman of the Joint Chiefs.
Hrbacek cited Olson's claims that he served on the U.S. military's Joint Chiefs of Staff and advised senior officers in that operation at the Pentagon.
Hrbacek said Sekula Gibbs exaggerated her record on the Houston City Council by claiming that "during that period of time I rolled back taxes three times" and "helped to cap a tort reform initiative."The reality? Tax rate cuts were enacted by the entire council and the mayor, who have no jurisdiction over tort reform.
Dean's picture -- a mistake for sure-- but was it really misleading to voters about who he is or what he stands for? Gibbs and Olson have intentionally misled about probably the single most important issue in any election -- the personal integrity and veracity of the candidate.
Tempest in a Teapot? You decide.
Re the Chronicle's hit piece on Hrbacek...(the one about the photoshopped picture in his campaign brochure)... Here's a recent picture of Dean from a fundraiser earlier this week. You decide. Is the picture on the right "appreciably thinner"?
Friday, January 18, 2008
Chronicle looks at CD22 Candidate claims... doesn't bother to vet Lampson
The Houston Chronicle, well-known for its liberal-leaning editorial stances, posted an article today from its "Truth Squad." They contend Manlove, Olson, Dunbar and Gibbs are bending the truth abit on the content of their campaign stump speeches and on their resumes. Olson appears to take the biggest hit for seeming to pad his resume to make his rather low-level work at the Pentagon look like he was a key military advisor. Then again, probably need to consider the source on this...
In a separate hit piece, the Chron is also making a mountain out of a molehill over a photoshopped photo that Hrbacek used in his most recent campaign mailer. His campaign folks evidently put Dean's head on the body of what they term, "the torso of an appreciably slimmer man." We got the mailer. The image doesn't appear "appreciably slimmer" to us. Come on, guys. It's not like Hrbacek weighs 400 lbs and is trying to fool folks into thinking he's 180. He's not asking voters on a blind date, nor is this a beauty pageant. There are other photos of him in the same piece that are genuine. Focus on the ISSUES please.
Besides....It costs a lot of money to have those kinds of photos professionally taken. Personally, it bodes well for Hrbacek that he's watching his pennies on things like this. Of course, the local libs are having a field day with this -- in their usual "compassionate" manner. But we think most voters won't give a hoot. Rhymes with Right weighs in (correctly) here.
Today's political climate has changed and voters, particularly primary voters are much more interested in where a candidate stands on the issues and his/her track record. This kind of story just reeks of political "dirty tricks" -- the kind of thing that voters are completely rejecting.
Our guess... someone working for another candidate is getting nervous about the relative strength of Hrbacek's campaign. You don't try cheap shots like this if you don't think the candidate is winning.
Of course, we haven't seen the Chronicle attempt to uncover the "truth" about Slick Nick Lampson in anything he's said or done (and we're not holding our breath). Lampson is notorious for many, many, many flagrant flip-flops on his record. He's been trying to pretend he's a "Blue Dog" conservative Democrat these days... but that hardly matches his consistent liberal voting record on most issues. Even with the Chronicle's help, it's going to be tough for Lampson to fool the CD22 voters come November.
In a separate hit piece, the Chron is also making a mountain out of a molehill over a photoshopped photo that Hrbacek used in his most recent campaign mailer. His campaign folks evidently put Dean's head on the body of what they term, "the torso of an appreciably slimmer man." We got the mailer. The image doesn't appear "appreciably slimmer" to us. Come on, guys. It's not like Hrbacek weighs 400 lbs and is trying to fool folks into thinking he's 180. He's not asking voters on a blind date, nor is this a beauty pageant. There are other photos of him in the same piece that are genuine. Focus on the ISSUES please.
Besides....It costs a lot of money to have those kinds of photos professionally taken. Personally, it bodes well for Hrbacek that he's watching his pennies on things like this. Of course, the local libs are having a field day with this -- in their usual "compassionate" manner. But we think most voters won't give a hoot. Rhymes with Right weighs in (correctly) here.
Today's political climate has changed and voters, particularly primary voters are much more interested in where a candidate stands on the issues and his/her track record. This kind of story just reeks of political "dirty tricks" -- the kind of thing that voters are completely rejecting.
Our guess... someone working for another candidate is getting nervous about the relative strength of Hrbacek's campaign. You don't try cheap shots like this if you don't think the candidate is winning.
Of course, we haven't seen the Chronicle attempt to uncover the "truth" about Slick Nick Lampson in anything he's said or done (and we're not holding our breath). Lampson is notorious for many, many, many flagrant flip-flops on his record. He's been trying to pretend he's a "Blue Dog" conservative Democrat these days... but that hardly matches his consistent liberal voting record on most issues. Even with the Chronicle's help, it's going to be tough for Lampson to fool the CD22 voters come November.
Another view on CD22
Southern Political Report has echoes our take on how the CD22 GOP frontrunners are shaping up.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Candidates start to (try to) stand out...
The Rose-Rich Chamber had a CD22 Candidate forum last night and the Herald-Coaster has a recap here. Reporter Palkot gives a pretty balanced overview. It's got to be tough for reporters covering these beauty-contest events (no slam at the candidates, it's just that there are WAY too many of them.) Tough for anyone to get enough info from any of them to make a good decision. That's why you have us ;)!!
We couldn't make it to Rosenberg last night so we'll refrain from any opinions about who scored any points last night. However, we did hear from several folks who did attend. Unfortunately for the candidates 90% of the "crowd" was made up of candidates, candidate relatives, candidate campaign workers and a few people who showed up on the wrong night for bingo.
We're starting to see some yard signs popping up. We've seen Olson, Talton and one for Shelley Sekula Gibbs in the Fort Bend Area. Hrbacek has started getting up some 4 x 8 signs in high traffic locations. Local printers must be loving the business they'll get from this race alone....
P.S. Houston Chronicle sent a reporter, too. Note to SSG: PUHLEEZE stop whining that you should get my vote because your were, "the only one in the race who was willing to run against Lampson as a write-in candidate...." NOBODY cares.
We couldn't make it to Rosenberg last night so we'll refrain from any opinions about who scored any points last night. However, we did hear from several folks who did attend. Unfortunately for the candidates 90% of the "crowd" was made up of candidates, candidate relatives, candidate campaign workers and a few people who showed up on the wrong night for bingo.
We're starting to see some yard signs popping up. We've seen Olson, Talton and one for Shelley Sekula Gibbs in the Fort Bend Area. Hrbacek has started getting up some 4 x 8 signs in high traffic locations. Local printers must be loving the business they'll get from this race alone....
P.S. Houston Chronicle sent a reporter, too. Note to SSG: PUHLEEZE stop whining that you should get my vote because your were, "the only one in the race who was willing to run against Lampson as a write-in candidate...." NOBODY cares.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Red State takes a big swing at Gibbs
Backing up our contention (see below) that Shelley Sekula Gibbs may have a lot of name ID, but most of it's negative, is this recent Red State report on Shelley's waffling record on the abortion issue. Apparently Shelley got nailed on the Pat Gray radio show -- then proceeded to dig in a little deeper when she spontaneously called in to respond...
Rundown on first CD22 "ten"acious forum
The Fort Bend GOP club held the first candidate forum last night since the filing deadline as well as the first to feature all 10 candidates vying to unseat Slick Nick Lampson.
The local media were there and covered the highlights here and here.
Bob Dunn over at Fort Bend Now seems to have it right that in such a crowded field, it's going to be difficult for candidates to stand out at forum events like this. That's why name ID (among GOP primary voters) and grassroots "rubber on the road" support is going to be key in this race.
Despite the late entry of Cynthia Dunbar (elected in 2006 to the State Board of Education and whose SBOE seat partially overlaps CD22) and a couple of other minor candidates, the front runners still appear to be Sekula Gibbs, Hrbacek, Talton and maybe Olson in that order. It's a mystery to many as to why Dunbar got into the race, especially since she is going through what may become a nasty divorce. If she had gotten into the race much sooner, she may have been a viable candidate. But, as it stands, most of those who might support her are already committed to other candidates (and many view her candidacy as simply a spoiler.)
The candidate filings are due January 15 and it will be very interesting to see how the various candidates are faring vis a vis fundraising -- that may help tell the tale. However, a couple of the late filers (Dunbar and Bazzy) won't have to file this go-around. We'll just have to guess at how their fundraising is going based on what kind of spending we see happening.
Gibbs has money and name ID -- but a lot of the name ID is negative which makes her assumption that she will win the primary outright (she's actually telling folks that) without a run-off comes across as more than just a little politically naive. Dunbar's entry into the race will likely hurt her -- for all those that want to empower women in the party but have been turned off by Gibbs. Still, we expect to see Gibbs at the top in the run-off. The probable race is who will earn the #2 spot for a chance to gather up all the run-off marbles.
Hrbacek has assembled the strongest grassroots support and rumor has it he's been amassing a sizeable army of volunteers who are actively campaigning door-to-door for him. He's the real "hometown" guy in the area of the district with the largest number of voters ( Ft Bend) and the best local name ID. If he can convert some of that support to cash contributions he still looks like the #2 guy to beat in this race.
Talton has a more natural base of support on the east side of the District (he's the State Rep from Pasadena). But he'll be splitting that with John Manlove (former Mayor of Pasadena). Niether candidate has any name ID on the west side. Both will have to spend heavily here to have an impact.
But that brings up the issue of how to spend the $$ for maximum impact... it's gong to be tough. Direct mail mainly winds up in the trash. TV and radio will be out of reach for most candidates (too expensive and won't be a lot of it available once the national and statewide campaigns start chomping up air time), local weekly newspapers are poorly read and unlikely vehicles for most involved voters trying to form an opinion.
That leaves personal endorsements, yard signs and grassroots word -of-mouth. The candidate(s) that are able to assemble the best network of volunteers and campaigners are the ones that will likely find the best success at the ballot box this March 4.
The local media were there and covered the highlights here and here.
Bob Dunn over at Fort Bend Now seems to have it right that in such a crowded field, it's going to be difficult for candidates to stand out at forum events like this. That's why name ID (among GOP primary voters) and grassroots "rubber on the road" support is going to be key in this race.
Despite the late entry of Cynthia Dunbar (elected in 2006 to the State Board of Education and whose SBOE seat partially overlaps CD22) and a couple of other minor candidates, the front runners still appear to be Sekula Gibbs, Hrbacek, Talton and maybe Olson in that order. It's a mystery to many as to why Dunbar got into the race, especially since she is going through what may become a nasty divorce. If she had gotten into the race much sooner, she may have been a viable candidate. But, as it stands, most of those who might support her are already committed to other candidates (and many view her candidacy as simply a spoiler.)
The candidate filings are due January 15 and it will be very interesting to see how the various candidates are faring vis a vis fundraising -- that may help tell the tale. However, a couple of the late filers (Dunbar and Bazzy) won't have to file this go-around. We'll just have to guess at how their fundraising is going based on what kind of spending we see happening.
Gibbs has money and name ID -- but a lot of the name ID is negative which makes her assumption that she will win the primary outright (she's actually telling folks that) without a run-off comes across as more than just a little politically naive. Dunbar's entry into the race will likely hurt her -- for all those that want to empower women in the party but have been turned off by Gibbs. Still, we expect to see Gibbs at the top in the run-off. The probable race is who will earn the #2 spot for a chance to gather up all the run-off marbles.
Hrbacek has assembled the strongest grassroots support and rumor has it he's been amassing a sizeable army of volunteers who are actively campaigning door-to-door for him. He's the real "hometown" guy in the area of the district with the largest number of voters ( Ft Bend) and the best local name ID. If he can convert some of that support to cash contributions he still looks like the #2 guy to beat in this race.
Talton has a more natural base of support on the east side of the District (he's the State Rep from Pasadena). But he'll be splitting that with John Manlove (former Mayor of Pasadena). Niether candidate has any name ID on the west side. Both will have to spend heavily here to have an impact.
But that brings up the issue of how to spend the $$ for maximum impact... it's gong to be tough. Direct mail mainly winds up in the trash. TV and radio will be out of reach for most candidates (too expensive and won't be a lot of it available once the national and statewide campaigns start chomping up air time), local weekly newspapers are poorly read and unlikely vehicles for most involved voters trying to form an opinion.
That leaves personal endorsements, yard signs and grassroots word -of-mouth. The candidate(s) that are able to assemble the best network of volunteers and campaigners are the ones that will likely find the best success at the ballot box this March 4.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Hrbacek picks up key endorsement
Houston businessman and political activist Tim Turner has endorsed CD22 Candidate Dean Hrbacek. Turner finished second to Shelley Sekula-Gibbs in the 2006 vote when CD-22 precinct chairs gathered to put their support behind a Republican write-in candidate to fill Tom DeLay's seat.
Back then, Turner threw his support to Sekula Gibbs. In making his endorsement, Turner said:
Back then, Turner threw his support to Sekula Gibbs. In making his endorsement, Turner said:
A liberal Democrat, Nick Lampson, rode the Democratic tide in 2006 to steal a Republican Congressional seat. Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid are hoping that Lampson draws a weak Republican in the General Election so he can continue to hold this seat. For this reason, we cannot afford to nominate just anyone to this district. We need a rock-solid conservative, a longtime resident and someone with a record of cutting taxes and creating jobs and opportunity.
That's why I am supporting Dean Hrbacek for the Republican
nomination. As a Mayor of Sugar Land he oversaw one of the most fiscally responsible cities in America. As a businessman and tax attorney he fights the IRS on behalf of taxpayers and small businesses. And as a husband and a father he's raised three children and knows we need to create a more positive,
principled culture for our young people.
Klock Vows to Eat MREs Until Primary Election Day
CD22 candidate Brian "I-Am-Not-A-Politician" Klock (his words not ours), has announced that he will show solidarity with American Forces fighting the Global War on Terror by lunching exclusively on
MRE (Meals, Ready to Eat) rations through the March 4 primary election.
Oh.. and also he will officially announce his candidacy, outline his principal campaign themes and answer questions from the press on Thursday, January 10th, at 11:00am at the Doubletree Guest Suites -- Galleria, 5353 Westheimer and again on Friday, January 11th, at 11:00am at the American Legion Post -- Ellington Field, 11702 Old Galveston Rd.
MRE (Meals, Ready to Eat) rations through the March 4 primary election.
Oh.. and also he will officially announce his candidacy, outline his principal campaign themes and answer questions from the press on Thursday, January 10th, at 11:00am at the Doubletree Guest Suites -- Galleria, 5353 Westheimer and again on Friday, January 11th, at 11:00am at the American Legion Post -- Ellington Field, 11702 Old Galveston Rd.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Lampson... just a bad Oyster
Great article here from PoliGazette about why we can't afford to leave Slick Nick "suck up for a vote" Lampson in office. This time, he's planting a wet one on the Texas oyster industry through extension of H-2B visas which allows businesses to hire foreign workers when U.S. workers can’t be found.
Who is Lampson trying to help? This guy: Clifford Hillman, owner of Hillman Shrimp & Oyster Co, who in January pleaded guilty to a federal misdemeanor charge of conspiring to commit fraud in relation to hiring undocumented workers for a period before June 2004.
As PoliGazette points out:
We don't need another liberal in Congress unconcerned about illegal immigration in Texas. It's actions like these that reveal Lampson's true stripes.
Who is Lampson trying to help? This guy: Clifford Hillman, owner of Hillman Shrimp & Oyster Co, who in January pleaded guilty to a federal misdemeanor charge of conspiring to commit fraud in relation to hiring undocumented workers for a period before June 2004.
As PoliGazette points out:
Actually, oysters are a niche luxury item of no practical importance whatever. But Lampson, who took over Tom Delay’s seat after he resigned amid scandal, is willing to bend a few immigration rules to help the industry.
We don't need another liberal in Congress unconcerned about illegal immigration in Texas. It's actions like these that reveal Lampson's true stripes.
Talton picks up TM "Bum Steer" Award
Coming from uber liberal Texas Monthly, however, we expect Talton will wear this badge proudly. TM dinged him for this comment during last year's SCHIP debate:
A chip off the old blockhead Arguing against an expansion of the state’s Children’s Health Insurance Program, presentative Robert Talton, of Pasadena, said, “When I was raised, I didn’t have insurance, and my family did just fine.”
One little, Two little, .... ten little candidates
Just when you thought the race for CD22 couldn't get much crazier, two last minute filings up the ante (this is it.. the filing deadline was yesterday).
This now the hottest congressional race in Texas and sure to be the most watched this year. There are now 10! Republicans running for the chance to unseat Lammo Lampson in 2008.
Joining the already crowded field are Kevyn Bazzy, 33, a military intelligence expert whom nobody knows much about, and Cynthia Dunbar, 43, a staunch limited government conservative. An attorney, Dunbar won the District 10 seat on the Texas Board of Education in 2006.
Dunbar's entry came as a surprise to local party insiders who are scratching their heads trying to figure out why she got into the race -- especially when most of her likely support has already been committed to other candidates with better political pedigrees and much better name ID in the district. Will be interesting to see if her candidacy gets any traction.
Bazzy, with the snazzy name, will likely wind up splitting about 1/2% of the total primary vote with the other unknown, Ryan Rowley.
Hrbacek, Gibbs, and Olson are still the three to watch as most likely to make the run-off. They're the best organized, best funded, and have been working the district longer than any of the other candidates.
This now the hottest congressional race in Texas and sure to be the most watched this year. There are now 10! Republicans running for the chance to unseat Lammo Lampson in 2008.
Joining the already crowded field are Kevyn Bazzy, 33, a military intelligence expert whom nobody knows much about, and Cynthia Dunbar, 43, a staunch limited government conservative. An attorney, Dunbar won the District 10 seat on the Texas Board of Education in 2006.
Dunbar's entry came as a surprise to local party insiders who are scratching their heads trying to figure out why she got into the race -- especially when most of her likely support has already been committed to other candidates with better political pedigrees and much better name ID in the district. Will be interesting to see if her candidacy gets any traction.Bazzy, with the snazzy name, will likely wind up splitting about 1/2% of the total primary vote with the other unknown, Ryan Rowley.
Hrbacek, Gibbs, and Olson are still the three to watch as most likely to make the run-off. They're the best organized, best funded, and have been working the district longer than any of the other candidates.
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