Why Are There So Many Repugs Wanting To Run For Texas Governor?

[Dinger]

This was just being discussed on Washington Journal, and it struck me as odd. Seems like the bu$hies aren't too happy with the giggling murderer's replacement?

[Al-CIAda]

1. Because the state is firmly rigged now for the pukes? n/t

[izzie]

2. Holds a lot of power, and they do not have to work very hard.

:banghead:

[abluelady]

42. Exactly

It is one of the few states where the Governor has very little power and does very little work--perfect for a future President of the United States of America!

[Pacifist Patriot]

3. Ceremonial head of state. Easy job!

[bonzotex]

4. Sweet high profile job, not much responsibility, lame incumbent

Rick Perry, W's replacement in Texas, has been too low profile and ineffectual for the true believers on the right. The Texas governorship is a weak position as far as controlling and moving legislation. It is a good bully pulpit and great place to grandstand while not having to suffer many consequences for all the bad legislation that spews out of the Texas Statehouse.

Perry has angered the right wing because he hasn't pushed their pet issues hard enough. It's not that Perry isn't wingnutty enough, it's just that nobody takes him seriously. Plus, ambitious Repugs see how W was catapulted out of the Governor's mansion into the White House.

Perry is vulnerable to a primary challenge, but a bag of deer corn could win the general election in TX as long as there is a "R" behind it's name.

[tanyev]

5. Because Texans have finally realized that the

only thing Rick Perry has going for him is a good head of hair.

[bermudat]

6. Maybe they think it is a stepping stone to the presidency.

[sendero]

41. Bingo..

.... after all, it's worked for 2 presidents since the 60s.

[moondust]

7. Part-time job at full-time pay.

Looks like a big deal on the resume.

[hadrons]

8. why, because Perry sucks, but most Texas voters will still vote Repuke ...

[reality based]

9. Because Gov. Perry has a low approval rating,

because the Republican Party seems to have a lock on statewide office, and because there are two very ambitious Republican office holders US Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison and State Comptroller Carol Keeton McLellan Rylander Strayhorn who are reported to covet the job.

[Dinger]

10. Wonder If That "Caught In The Act With A Male Staffer" Thing Had An Effect

Did he get a divorce?

[reality based]

11. I don't think that it has had that much of an effect

By staying with him his wife pretty well blunted the rumors. His numbers were actually at a three year high (51%) earlier this year, but he has since returned to lower levels. He now lags both Hutchison and the turncoat Strayhorn. His and the Republican legislature's negatives are high. Our poor Democratic Party seems unable to take advantage of this, however.

[Wabbajack]

12. Did Strayhorn used to be a Dem?

[reality based]

17. Yep

She was once considered by some to be a liberal Democrat, but most of all she is considered to be an exceedingly ambitious politician. One of her sons is little Scotty McLellan, press secretary to Cheney's puppet. Of course Governor Good-hair was once a conservative Democratic state legislator.

[Freddie Stubbs]

18. Yes

http://www.polstate.com/archives/006614.html

And so is Perry: http://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/html/exec/print_exec.html

[Texas_Kat]

13. So many? I thought there were 2

Carol Keeton McLelland Reilander Strayhorn (check for spelling and order of marriages) and Kay Bailey Hutchinson.

It's much simpler than you think....

Kay Bailey wants to retire and move back to Texas. Bushies (who still back Gov "Good Hair" Perry one hundred percent) are trying everything to bribe her into NOT running. So far they have offered her an ambassadorship to the UK and the place as 3rd ranking repub in the Senate.

Yes, Carol Keeton whatever (Scotty McLelland's mom) used to be a Dem. She's looking for a 'bribe" too, I think, in order to move 'up' in the state GOP hierarchy. Maybe a promise to run unopposed for LT. Gov. Not likely that ploy would succeed because she's not a lifelong RW crazy. Just an opportunist.

[crispini]

14. Quite correct.

I think Carol Keeton Whizbang Thingamajig Woonsocket Strayhorn will probably not do it. The Perry machine has already started slinging the mud at Kay Bailey. It'll be cheerleader vs. cheerleader in the GOP catfight of the decade! I'm really looking forward to it.

I prognosticate Kay Bailey as winning, with or without the Kinky factor. Gov. Bighair to succeed Gov. Goodhair. Remember, you read it here first! :P

[Texas_Kat]

19. Not all of the potential Democrats for TX Governor have weighed in yet.

I'm predicting that we'll give'em a good fight in 2006. Particularly if Perry and Hutchinson both get bloodied in the Repub primary.

It'll be fun!

[crispini]

20. Ooooooo. Do you know some good rumors?

I keep hearing that "some big Texas Democrat" is going to throw their hat in the ring, but I never hear any more detail than that. I hear John Sharp's name tossed around sometimes but nothing definite. I like and am proud of Chris Bell for his contribution but IMO he's not really a great statewide candidate. Not enough name recognition.

[Texas_Kat]

23. Yes, and yes

I really like Chris and respect him, but I think that he may be too nice for TX politics statewide. He has to be the biggest meanest dog on the block to take on the nasties. Name recognition and money will also come into play.

John Sharp and Rick Perry were roommates at TAMU. Their antipathy goes back a long way.

I'm hoping Sharp gets into it.... but there are others as well. I think they're sorting out who runs for what so that we can field the strongest team possible in 2006.

[crispini]

24. Cooooool.

This is all so very exciting. Damn, we're going to have fun next year! :P

[Texas_Kat]

25. Should be fun!

:popcorn:

[NoPasaran]

27. We're working on Chris

We need to pump him full of raw meat and steroids to toughen him up. I predict that by the time 2006 comes around he'll be ready to rip Goodhair's head right off and use it as a football.

[losdiablosgato]

32. Chris Bell lost to John Sharp in the primary back in 2002

I think we need some new blood. Both Bell and Sharp have lost state wide one in the primary one in the general election. If the republican wound themselves then we might have a chance. But we need to take that chance wisely.

[Texas_Kat]

38. I appreciate that and understand

But I've always been of the opinion that kind of spirit has to be something 'born' not 'created'.

I'm quite willing to be wrong, but I've never failed to be disappointed yet.

[Freddie Stubbs]

40. Hasn't Sharp lost two bids for Lt. Gov in the past couple of years?

If the voters don't think that he is up for that job, why would they want him as Governor? :shrug:

[Texas_Kat]

43. I hate to put it this way, but

you'd kinda have to live in Texas to understand.

Sharp lost to Perry in 1998 (when Shrub was reelected to a 2nd term as gov) and in 2002 (you'd have had to have been here) when Sanchez ran one of the best funded and worst run campaigns for the top of the ticket (as Gov) EVER.

Don't know how it is in other states, but if the Democrat at the top of the ticket isn't an acceptable choice to the independents, most of the down ballot Democratic statewide candidates go down in flames.

[kenny blankenship]

15. they see it as the shortest, surest route to the White House

Governorships are the office in striking distance of the Presidency but also outside of Washington, so a governor can always run as another asshole against all the assholes in Washington.

Now if you want to position yourself as the BIGGEST asshole, the one who's most GA_RUN_TEEED to be the most antiWashington, most anti-UnitedStatesFedrulGummint, most holerin'est bible thumpin' anti-intellectual, most flamingest PREHIS-GODDAMN-TORIC asshole that can be found anywheres with a birth certificate in English, you want to be from Texas, the onliest state in the Union to secede TWICE over slavery.

[reality based]

22. If history is a guide

no one from Texas should ever be elected President or Vice President again. The two Texas oilmen we have now serve as the exclamation points for this statement.

[losdiablosgato]

26. Tell us how you really feel

Just kidding. And for the record not all of us Texans drag knuckles. only about 90%.}(

[TheGunslinger]

45. I wonder how many are sharpening their claws to replace Jeb?

[librechik]

16. great way to not do a lick of work, act like a tyrant and wind up prez

why wouldn't they be interested?

[FreedomAngel82]

21. Either that

or they know they can win the White House in the future by being Texas governor. Obviously they don't know much about the power behind a Bush name.

[undeterred]

28. You get to execute more people than any other governor

some folks are into that.

[losdiablosgato]

29. The TX Governor has very little power over that

Of all 50 governors in the country the TX one has the least power. As far as executions go he can only do two things to stop one.

1. He can give a one time (that is one time per inmate)stay of execution for 30 days only.

2. He can issue a pardon or clemency if and only if the TX board of Pardons and Paroles decide that one is warranted. Which they almost never do.

[undeterred]

30. Sorry I should have said "preside over"

I heard that Bush never pardoned anyone or even gave much attention to the fairness of the executions that took place during his administration.

Welcome, losdiablosgato :hi:

[losdiablosgato]

31. I believe in being fair, and in fairness

He did not say much one way or the other, but there was not much he could have done but talk. I do no remember the last time the TX board of pardons and paroles voted to pardon or grant clemency to anyone.

[undeterred]

33. He mocked Karla Faye Tucker when she begged for her life

That was the first time I ever heard of GWB. And Gonzales, who is now AG, apparently prepared summaries of the cases of people being executed- he did not tell Bush about some cases where the defense attorney slept during the trial.

[losdiablosgato]

34. It does not matter the system is set up to be an effecient killing machine

He had little power over it. I do not know what he thought, and I did not know what he said. To be honest in this state we pay little heed to the govenor.

[woodleydem]

35. Huge state with a lot of political money. I do hope that Hutchinson beats

Perry in the Republican primary--at least she is pro-choice. Besides, Perry is Bush's little do-boy, and it would be great to see him knocked off by his own party member. BTW, I recently saw that Perry's approval rating at 45% and Kay Bailey's at 67%. A bloody primary fight could fracture the Texas Republican Party, which is why Repugs don't want Hutchinson running. BTW, I believe that if Hutchinson wins the primary and goes on to win the governorship, she will run for President and probably would be a formidable national candidate.

[losdiablosgato]

36. Kay will not run for President

She is getting to old. But she most likely can win the governors office. And for the record I to like Richardson for 2008.

[Texas_Kat]

37. Actually, I'd prefer "Toll Road" Ricky to win the Repub primary.

He'd be easier for a Dem to beat.

[NoPasaran]

39. My feelings also

And if KBH leaves the Senate to run in the primary for governor and then loses, that should be the last we hear of her.

[leesa]

44. Because it's a gravy train.