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Texas governor's race shaping up to be big show next year
Lubbock, TX, Avalanche-Journal ^ | 12-26-05 | AP

Posted on 12/26/2005 5:32:20 AM PST by Theodore R.

Texas governor's race shaping up to be big show next year

ASSOCIATED PRESS

AUSTIN (AP) - For the first time since Republicans claimed all statewide offices in 1998, the party faces the possibility of a big-name GOP primary showdown next year.

The March 7 primary for Texas governor will likely pit Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn, a self-described "tough grandma," against her longtime foil and incumbent Rick Perry.

"I've never been the darling of the insiders. I run with the people," Strayhorn said. "Right after the new year, buckle your seat belt and hang on."

This month Strayhorn denied speculation she might consider a run as an independent, potentially postponing a contest with Perry until the November general election. She hasn't officially filed her candidacy papers yet, but she's expected to make the Jan. 2 deadline.

Perry, meanwhile, said he's only talking about his own Republican campaign.

"I know which party I'm for and which party I'm going to run. I made that decision a decade ago. I've got other very important things to spend my time on," said Perry, who switched from the Democratic Party before his run for agriculture commissioner in 1990.

If elected to another four-year term, Perry could hold the governor's office for 10 years, making him the longest-serving governor in Texas history. He was lieutenant governor under then-Gov. George W. Bush and assumed the state's top job when Bush was elected president in 2000. Two years later, Perry was elected to his first full term as governor.

Among Democrats, who admittedly are in a rebuilding period, former Houston congressman Chris Bell and former Texas Supreme Court justice Bob Gammage will challenge each other for their party's gubernatorial nomination.

The race's wild card is musician and author Kinky Friedman, who wants to get on the ballot as an independent. He'll have to gather 45,540 signatures from registered voters after the primary, but as a sign of confidence he's hired campaign manager Dean Barkley, who helped engineer the surprise victory by former pro wrestler Jesse Ventura for governor of Minnesota.

"There will be a whole new spirit blowing through Texas," Friedman said of his candidacy earlier this month. "There will be a smile on everybody's face and a chill up the spine of every politician."

The Republican race for governor narrowed in June when Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison decided to run for re-election rather than challenge Perry. The governor had warned a primary contest would be a "bloody" and "brutal" affair.

"Perry has shown that he gives no quarter in political races. None should be expected," said consultant Bill Miller, whose company's political committee has donated to Perry's campaign.

Miller predicted a hard-hitting contest if Strayhorn makes good on her promise to run. "They're both going to go for the jugular," he said.

Both camps began shooting insults at each other early in the year. Strayhorn called Perry a "do-nothin' drugstore cowboy" who hasn't shown leadership on children's issues or school property tax relief. Perry's campaign questioned Strayhorn's ethics and accused her of using her state office for political gain.

Perry and Strayhorn are also veteran campaigners. Perry has never lost a race. Strayhorn lost a run for Congress in 1986 after she switched to the GOP from the Democratic Party, and she lost a race for Railroad Commission in 1992. But she was later elected to the commission, then went on to become Texas' first woman comptroller. She was known at the time by the last name Rylander, before she remarried.

Perry's aides portray him as the real conservative. They cast Strayhorn as a pseudo-Republican whose support comes from Democrats and trial lawyers.

"I think the primary voters will see right through that," Perry spokesman Robert Black said. "Republican primary voters need to know if trial lawyers have picked a candidate in the Republican primary and who that candidate is."

Strayhorn's camp says it wants to attract more than the usual 600,000 people who typically vote in a Texas Republican primary.

"Our game plan is to turn the Republican primary in 2006 into the general election," said Mark Sanders, Strayhorn's spokesman. "We want everyone who wants to have a say in the future of this state. In order to do that, they need to vote in the March Republican primary."

As 2005 ended, Strayhorn and Perry were busy collecting campaign cash. At the end of the latest campaign reporting period, June 30, Perry had $8.8 million in cash on hand, and Strayhorn had $7 million.

They won't have to report their contributions for the second half of the year until mid-January, but each undoubtedly added millions more dollars.

It's widely believed Perry would outspend Strayhorn, who said she plans to counter Perry's power by debating key issues and bringing together supporters of all political stripes.

"I am looking forward to the challenge," she said.


TOPICS: Politics/Elections; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: bell; billmiller; deanbarkley; democrats; friedman; gammage; gop; governor; hutchison; perry; strayhorn; tx
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To: Theodore R.

She'll get her ample a$$ handed to her in the primaries. Will be almost as satisfying as watching similar blowhard McCain embarrassed in the 2008 Prez primaries.

Perry's real worry would be if Houston mayor Bill White ran on the Dem side (but I don't think that he will this time.)


41 posted on 12/26/2005 8:23:04 AM PST by Diddle E. Squat
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To: TXBSAFH
Agreed. I am fed up with this $5 brain with a $50 haircut mounted on it. To be honest I know of many who are talking about voting for Kinky Freidman.

But you've also stated here on FR that you aren't voting for ANY Republicans, including Tom DeLay.

42 posted on 12/26/2005 8:26:25 AM PST by Diddle E. Squat
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To: basil; Churchjack
The big thing about Perry that I really don't like is his push for that huge highway corridor to split Texas right down the middle. While I recognize that I-35 is way too crowded, I just don't think that that huge corridor is necessary, and IMO, will be the end of Texas as we know it. The huge number of families and businesses that will lose to imminent domain is mind-boggling!

Actually the amount of families and businesses whose land is taken for this highway will be a fraction of those that would have had that happen to them to expand I-35 the entire route. That's the primary reason for going with the routing through rural lands, fewer affected by takings and thus a much lower cost.

The toll aspect is just to shift the construction and operating costs to private investors instead of the taxpayers. That's as conservative as one can get. Like it or not, our current gas tax revenues barely cover just current road maintenance costs, so to build the needed roads we either have to raise taxes or privatize.

And by Perry standing tough (for months) on redistricting, even as his poll numbers sank, he not only helped the state but also the nation. If he hadn't, we might well be facing a risk of losing the House next year.

43 posted on 12/26/2005 8:38:59 AM PST by Diddle E. Squat
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To: AlaninSA
Strayhorn may be an ex-Democrat, but so am I

So is Perry.

IIRC, he switched partied around 1990.

44 posted on 12/26/2005 8:48:48 AM PST by Freebird Forever (If they're truly public servants, why do they live in the mansions?)
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To: Clara Lou
The only way that I'll vote for Perry is if he is the least of the possible evils

That's pretty much the case this time around. A contested democrat primary really hurts Keeton. Her only hope is a heavy crossover vote.

I'm in the 'hold your nose and vote Perry' crowd.

45 posted on 12/26/2005 9:17:23 AM PST by PAR35
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To: Dane

Kinky may very well not make it on the ballot....

The Texas democrats ran the 'dream team' last election and they got wiped out...... Nothing has changed that much that has upgraded the democrats position, imo.


46 posted on 12/26/2005 9:30:52 AM PST by deport
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To: Diddle E. Squat

There's a lot of useful information in your post. You sound a lot like my very pragmatic husband.


47 posted on 12/26/2005 9:53:56 AM PST by basil (Exercise your Second Amendment--buy another gun today!)
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To: Clara Lou

We are not voting for Perry either.


48 posted on 12/26/2005 9:58:40 AM PST by zeaal (SPREAD TRUTH!)
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To: Clara Lou
 
> I didn't realize Strayhorn's background until I read a post further up the thread.
 
It gets worse - - - -
 
 
 
 Founding board member of Austin Community College (1973), mayor of Austin 1977-83 and don't forget - former state railroad commissioner. It'd be interesting to look up records of her past activities with those entities to get a better idea about her ideologies, though doing it by computer would probably be a challenge since I doubt a lot of records from those time periods have been digitized.

There also seems to be a relationship with Austin area gadfly Sal Costello of Texas Tollparty, who has also slid himself in with people and groups opposing the Texas Trans Corridor - seems he was the one who helped slide Strayhorn in with the TTC fight. Costello may have some interesting friends himself, since I've seen some of his stuff associated with the Bush Is Hitler/No Blood For Oil/Stop The War crowd.

Some bloggers have some input about her strategies and odd friends.



Rhymes With Right: Carole -- Go Back!
http://rhymeswithright.mu.nu/archives/111950.php


But Strayhorn has a plan -- get Democrats and Independents to vote in the GOP primary.


"Strayhorn sees crossovers as primary target"
Gubernatorial candidate urging Democrats to help her beat Perry.
By W. Gardner Selby
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Sunday, August 14, 2005
http://www.statesman.com/metrostate/content/metro/stories/08/14strayhorn.html


"Let me tell you, speaking as Republican precinct chair here in Harris County, which is the largest county in Texas, that this strategy does not sit well with most Republicans I know. We have this crazy idea that if you want to use the votes of Democrats to get the nomination for governor, you need to run in the Democrat primary. Given the current candidates for the Democrat nomination, I suspect that the nomination would be hers for the taking. It is time for her to go back to that party and seek the Democrat nomination (which she might not get, having abandoned that party once) so she can face Perry in the fall -- and lose.

I'll make you a prediction right now. I'm sure that the Perry campaign and the GOP on both the state and national levels will make sure that every signature on every Democrat nominating petition (and those for Kinky Friedman) in the state is broken down by local precinct and distributed to the precinct chairs for purposes of challenging cross-over voters. After all, Strayhorn and her supporters are correct in noting that a voter can vote in either primary on election day. However, what needs to be considered is that the same law has a limitation on that choice -- if you have signed a nominating petition for an independent or a candidate for particular party, you forfeit the option of voting in the primary of a different party. Those of us serving as election judges will have some idea of who the outsiders are, and we will be ready for them."

Posted by Greg at August 14, 2005 08:03 PM




Burnt Orange Report

November 07, 2003
Strayhorn to be "Special Guest" at Fundraiser for Democratic State Rep.
By Byron LaMasters
http://www.burntorangereport.com/mt/archives/000728.html

"Carole Keeton Strayhorn is the Republican State Comptroller. Pete Gallego is one of the Democratic Killer D leaders, so seeing Strayhorn listed as a special guest for Gallego's fundraiser is quite a surprise. Generally being "special guest" at a fundraiser implies that the guest is endorsing the purpose of the fundraiser and the purpose of this fundraiser is to raise money for the Pete Gallego campaign."

Images
http://www.burntorangereport.com/myimages/gallego1.jpg

http://www.burntorangereport.com/mt/myimages/gallego2.jpg
 
 
 

49 posted on 12/26/2005 10:04:20 AM PST by lapsus calami (What's that stink? Code Pink ! !)
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To: lapsus calami
Very interesting stuff.
50 posted on 12/26/2005 10:13:57 AM PST by Clara Lou (A conservative is a liberal who has been mugged by reality. --I. Kristol)
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To: Theodore R.

Rush is impossible to listen to for 3hours a day, 5x a week, for anybody with some clarity of mind. He comes across just like some of the worst shills for clinton during the 1990s. No matter what, his boy is a genius and his horse is winning the race. It's tiresome and tedious.

My radio day includes healthy doses of Laura Ingraham, Dennis Prager (instead of Rush), Mike Medved or Dr Laura, and Savage Nation to end the afternoon.

I find that when I do take a rare listen to Rush, he is very refreshing and funny. In the modern era, he is best in very small doses, spaced widely apart.


51 posted on 12/26/2005 10:17:38 AM PST by HitmanLV (Listen to my demos for Savage Nation contest: http://www.geocities.com/mr_vinnie_vegas/index.html)
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To: AlaninSA
 
 
Ummmmm - no.
 
See post #49
 
Don't get fooled by all that yapping by Strayhorn -  she just wants the job. She's been throwing rocks at Perry and not offering up any solutions of her own in return while ignoring the policies and activities of the true power - the state legislature. Something to definately remember - Texas is a state where the office of the governor has very little power at all. If you want to have any real effect on any sort of "change" in the governance of the state, it's with the legislature you take up your grievances.
 
 

52 posted on 12/26/2005 10:23:36 AM PST by lapsus calami (What's that stink? Code Pink ! !)
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To: yetidog
 
 
 
Yep - you're spot on about the distribution of state level political power in Texas - amazing how many people don't know, don't realize that.
 
 
 
 

53 posted on 12/26/2005 10:30:24 AM PST by lapsus calami (What's that stink? Code Pink ! !)
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To: Theodore R.
Given that Perry has the IQ of my dachshund, and the leadership of John Kerry, Strayhorn is a liberal, loud mouthed, fool, Kinky is worse and Bell is a left wing, crybaby, ass and those are his good points, expect one under vote from Ft. Bend County.
54 posted on 12/26/2005 10:34:48 AM PST by HoustonCurmudgeon (I will not support evil just because "It's the Law.")
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To: Clara Lou
 
 
 
Indeedy - Looking like she's resorting to some leftist-style election tricks. Bet we don't know the half of it....
 
 
 

55 posted on 12/26/2005 10:41:00 AM PST by lapsus calami (What's that stink? Code Pink ! !)
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To: lapsus calami

I don't agree that the office of TX governor is so powerless. The governor has both veto power and line-item vote, something the president lacks. The governor makes quite a few appointment, but they are subject to 2/3 of the State Senate, not just the majority {unless filibustered} required for presidential appointments. Many state judges first get on the bench from gubernatorial appointment, when he fills vacancies.

The governor's salary is modest, but he has access to an expense-paid mansion. The governor appoints the commissioner of education, who manages the K-12 system. But he has to choose from a list from the State Board of Education. The governor can call an unlimited number of special legislative sessions of up to 30 days each, and only his agenda items can be considered. Lawmakers won't usually press an issue knowing that the governor is opposed to its enactment.

Former Democrat Governor Ann Richards said the office was the "best job" in the nation in her book. No one said the office of governor was "institutionally weak" when John B. Connally, Jr., held it from 1963-69. A U.S. senator left the Senate to become governor: the late Marion Price Daniel, Sr., who served from 1957-63, and another U.S. senator wants the governorship but declined to run, Kay Bailey Hutchison. Lt. Governor Perry seemed very eager to become governor: he was not lamenting his "lost" powers of the lieutenant governorship.That being said, the lt. governor can block nearly any bill he opposes by refusing to have the State Senate bring up the matter.

The governor also had extensive clemency powers until a 1936 constitutional amendment placed them in the hands of the appointed (by the governor) Board of Pardons and Paroles. It was absuses of the two Democrat Ferguson administratons that removed those powers from the governor.

After six years in the office (a longer period than many governors have served), a TX governor named ALL of the appointees to the state boards and commissions. His appointees cannot be removed by a successor governor until the term of appointment runs out.


56 posted on 12/26/2005 11:44:03 AM PST by Theodore R. (Cowardice is forever!)
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To: Theodore R.

Carole Kreaton Strayhorn "tough grandma" act sounds nothing more than Ann Richards after a bad night with Molly Ivans!


57 posted on 12/26/2005 11:54:10 AM PST by Bommer (Christmas is in your heart, not WalMart!)
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To: Theodore R.

absuses should be "abuses"


58 posted on 12/26/2005 11:59:39 AM PST by Theodore R. (Cowardice is forever!)
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To: Theodore R.
 
 
I see what you're saying, and it's accurate. If I remember correctly there have been some people/groups that for what ever reasons have had some issues about the scope of the governor's appointment powers. Where I was going - but didn't quite make it - was that the Texas governor had lesser powers with legislation (and going by the examples you posted, probably with good reason) as compared to a number of other states, though what states and what powers, don't get me to lying on that.
 
Thanx for the input!
 
 

59 posted on 12/26/2005 12:11:42 PM PST by lapsus calami (What's that stink? Code Pink ! !)
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To: AlaninSA

Oh great...

Return of Ann Richards...

"One tough Grandma"...

What B.S.


60 posted on 12/26/2005 12:20:15 PM PST by streetpreacher (If at the end of the day, 100% of both sides are not angry with me, I've failed.)
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