NYT, pg1: Texan's Race Could Lead to FCC ($$$ pours into losing campaign)

[DeepModem Mom]

A Texan's Race Could Lead to the F.C.C.
By STEPHEN LABATON

Published: August 17, 2004


WASHINGTON, Aug. 14 - Becky Armendariz Klein is widely expected to lose her bid for Congress in Texas. But that has not stopped executives and lawyers from the nation's largest telephone and energy companies from pouring money into her campaign.

Indeed, some of her strongest supporters expect her to fail.

Running as a Republican in a heavily Democratic district in Texas against a five-term incumbent (Lloyd Doggett), Ms. Klein, 39, has received more in donations and fund-raising help from the telecommunications and power industries than any other rookie candidate in the nation.

Why is Ms. Klein such a draw? Because administration officials have said that in the event of a second Bush administration she would be considered by the president, whom she served as a senior policy adviser when he was governor of Texas, as a candidate to be the next head of the Federal Communications Commission. And even if that does not work out, she is expected to receive a seat on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, should a vacancy occur. Her husband is a senior official at the Pentagon....

***

....much of her money has come from a highly motivated group of executives from companies - many of them ones she once regulated as head of the (Texas Public Utility Commission) - that are investing not so much in her current Congressional campaign as in the right to be considered Friends of Becky.

"Washington is all about relationships and her relationships are far, wide and deep," said a senior executive at a large telephone company who is a supporter and spoke only if not identified. "Washington is also about getting in early - that's the way the game is played."

"She's not going to win the race," the executive added....


http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/17/business/17texas.html

[silverlib]

1. Another reason to defeat this administration

I sure do wish she wasn't from Texas, but I guess there is good news in that she is not expected to win the State election.

The PUC has long needed to be to be absorbed into another regulatory Commission (such as the Railroad Commission that regulates (probably no longer a good deception) the oil industry. At least this Commission is run by elected officials and Texans can blame only ourselves for how this agency is run. (Run by three elected officials and a stepping stone, entry level position for other State offices and Federal appointments, i.e. Carole Strahorn, State Comptroller and Tony Garza, Ambassador to Mexico who is also monolingual.

What a mess Texas politics have become. But I see a light at the end of the tunnel, and nation-wide articles such as this are part of the energy that keeps the light burning.

[Dover]

2. If Doggett loses, you can bet the fix was in.

I don't think there is a more popular, beloved (deservedly so) politician in Texas among Democrats. He has worked hard to cover his newly assigned territory and will represent them better than they ever imagined. Austinites who lost him to the district change are heartbroken.

[silverlib]

3. Yes, I'm one of those with a broken heart...

I now live in Lamar Smith's district - I have no representation.

[amber dog democrat]

4. Me too.

Have you acutally communicted with him? I feel like I want to do something oppositional but i don't know how yet.
Austin, 78704

[silverlib]

6. Yes, I've communicated with him...

but it was one-sided. Sent him a letter, as did another friend of mine - got no answer.

We are not respresented, but I will keep up my end. He will know that he does not have my support and that I will not go quietly into the night.

http://lamarsmith.house.gov/contact.asp

Please let him hear from you. I hope he recycles all the letters that go in his trash.

[amber dog democrat]

7. There has to be a way to hurt him politically.

I am looking for the chink in the armor.
Thanks for the link. I will let him know his name won't open any doors here either.
Not that he cares. But this is not going away....eventually he will.

[amber dog democrat]

5. Undoubtedly this is a cynical move on her part

She is just another hatchet person/ aparachik for the Bush Admin.
But the GOP is an opportunistic bunch and need a poster girl like her to rally around.
I am seething over this redistricting.

[boot@9]

8. Redistricting You can

thank(blame) the two Tom's...Delay and Craddick. Both are very powerful and their lust for more power is unstoppable.

[amber dog democrat]

9. and this is going to boomerang on them

they've made lots of enemies. In their case I like the old Klingon proverb.
" Revenge is a dish best served cold " . Their time will come. I promise you.
Just don't know how yet.

[newyawker99]

10. Hi boot@9!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast: