I was driving along minding my own business when I heard a radio ad that almost made me pull over and lose my breakfast. Unfortunately, I don't know how to capture such ads here, but if anyone has heard this ad and wants to throw it in here they can go ahead. Kay Bailey Hutchinson released this as and it might be the most brilliant one I've heard at the state level in years.
It starts off by talking about all of the things that happen every four years: the Olympics, Leap years, and voting for Rick Perry. The argument says voting for Rick Perry takes a leap of logic of Olympic proportions. In other words, all three happen at the same time. The final line is what got me, "every four years you vote for Rick Perry and the other three you wonder why." Fantastic radio.
The ad is just one of many going back and forth in a campaign that breaks Ronald Reagan's 11th commandment ("no Republican should speak ill of another Republican.") I haven't seen this kind of mud slinging, um, well, I guess I haven't seen it at the state level. Hutchinson says that Perry has given benefits to special interests and lined the pockets of people that used to work for him. Perry says that Hutchinson has been in Washington for 17 years and has become one of them. Wow, maybe they're both right.
The beneficiary of all this madness has to be Bill White. White gets to sit back and watch the other two tear each other apart. Heck, he might even get a talking point or two. Meanwhile, Texas Monthly talked about a potential run for the White House for Gov. Perry. Who else has cold shivers running down their spine when they see this picture:
Yeah, I almost hurled as well. If Rick Perry and Sarah Palin are legitimate candidates for the Republican nomination then there is a serious brain drain in the Republican party. I can't believe either would pass muster and both would probably sling enough mud to cover up their pretty mugs. I understand the backlash against Obama now from even those that would consider themselves moderate, but I've said it once and I'll say it again: is our only choice dumb or brilliant? What happened to someone of above average intelligence and a lot of leadership qualities? Where did those folks go?
I know it's a lot to expect minds keen like Roosevelt (either one), Lincoln, Jefferson, or Madison. I know it's a lot to expect someone that will kick ass and take names like Johnson. I'll settle for merely capable at this point. This includes leadership in the Senate and House. Is it too much to ask for a Senate Majority leader to not be a castrato? Is it too much to ask for a Speaker of the House to not stick her foot in her mouth every other day. These ads from Hutchinson, Perry, and other prominent Republicans around the country indicate they are more than happy to destroy themselves. All we need to do is avoid the carnage.
Apparently, it's a lot to expect a mind at least as keen as SpongeBob Squarepants. I think that might end up being their best shot.
Just watched the news where a woman, sitting in a restaurant, was struck by a "stray" bullet -- she was saved by her Blackberry phone and the gun owner has a concealed weapons permit, so -- no foul and no charges....I'm sure she feels really much safer now...I know I DON'T
I want a Palin/Perry 2012 ticket matched against a Krugman/Spitzer ticket....Grayson running the House and Franken running the Senate and Greenwald running the Supremes....
Texas has been lacking a leader since Ann left...White will do okay until we can find a real progressive...
Boy, you gotta give it to Perry. When he finds a loose thread on your sport coat he's gonna pull it for all it's worth till your sleeve falls off.
I've watched Medina. She's a hoot. Believes that we should eliminate ALL property taxes, replace them with a higher state sales tax and that Texas would be better if EVERYBODY carried a handgun to the grocery store and the bank.
That sales tax idea is stupid. Uh....I kinda like the idea of carryin' around a "side arm". Big ol' belt buckle, strap that sucker around my leg. Look like Kevin Kline in "Silverado"......C'mon, you want to carjack ME in the parking lot of Neiman Marcus....."Go ahead, make my day".
Is Tea Party Princess and unlicensed firearm advocate Debra Medina a "truther"?
http://blogs.chron.com/texaspolitics/
On one of Perry's radio spots he identifies KBH as second on somebody's list of "wasteful pork barrell spending" behind ONLY Barney Frank.
Surely that can't be true? UNless, maybe, it's Perry's list.
This situation almost never happens. In fact, I don't recall any MAJOR republican incumbent being challenged like this EVER by another MAJOR party personality. Especially one who already had a good gig.
The name calling and mud-slinging has surprised me but neither candidate had a choice once KBH decided she wanted Perry's job and he wasn't willing to just hand it to her.
I think it's ABSOLUTELY a riot. When you throw a local, small county, precinct chairperson into the mix, who thinks the governorship of Texas is an "entry level" position and a "fine place to START one's political career, you have script Hollywood would drool over.
Whether White will benefit from this. we'll see.