These "journalists" sure are getting their hopes up high. Almost every article I read about Abramoff targets the pubbies specifically. Not one damn thing about the RATS.
But then again, this is the MSM. Silly me.
Posted on 01/06/2006 6:25:07 AM PST by Theodore R.
Ex-GOP Rep. Stockman Seeks DeLay Seat by John Gizzi Posted Jan 5, 2006 05:08 PM
"Nervous that the ongoing web of scandal surrounding disgraced Washington “superlobbyist” Jack Abramoff will cost Republicans enough seats to lose control of the House and convinced that Rep. Tom DeLay (R.-Tex.) might well lose his Houston-area district to a Democrat, former one-term Rep. Steve Stockman has decided to run for the seat as an independent.
The surprise announcement by conservative stalwart Stockman, who represented about one-third of what is now the 22nd District from 1994-96, was coupled by the decision of the former lawmaker to run for Congress as an independent.
“I’m not here to ensure a loss but to make sure that Nick Lampson is not elected,” explained Stockman, referring to the Democrat who unseated him in 1996 and is now the likely Democratic opponent to embattled former Majority Leader DeLay.
In an exclusive interview, Stockman emphasized that, in running as an independent rather than challenging DeLay in the Republican primary March 7, he would be free to attack old nemesis Lampson “like a pit bull.”
Under indictment in Austin for violations of state campaign finance laws and forced to relinquish his post as the No. 2 leader in the House GOP hierarchy, the 58-year-old DeLay is mentioned in almost every story about Abramoff and Abramoff’s decision to cooperate with federal prosecutors probing his dealings with members of Congress.
Although no indictments of anyone have yet to come down since Abramoff’s plea-bargain was announced last week, DeLay’s past association with the lobbyist is being highlighted in the national media. “Good Morning America,” for example, showed a film clip of DeLay’s visit several years ago to South Pacific islands represented by Abramoff’s firm and the Texan being embraced by Abramoff himself (who was sporting a beard at the time).
Voicing his friendship for his former colleague, Stockman nonetheless expressed his concern that “this Abramoff thing is hurting the party and we could lose Tom’s seat.”
With DeLay voluntarily relinquishing securely Republican portions of his district in the redistricting process that permitted the GOP to make major gains in the House from Texas in ’04, Stockman observed, “He won re-election last time with only 54% of the vote while George Bush was carrying the 22nd by better than two-to-one.”
Given the negative publicity now surrounding DeLay and the efforts of Houston-area Democrats to register displaced Katrina victims as voters, the 11-term GOP lawmaker could easily be in for the race of his life against Lampson (who served in the House in a neighboring district from 1996 until unseated by Republican Ted Poe in ’04).
As to how running as an independent helps DeLay, Stockman told me that he would be free to keep attacking Lampson for his own “ethical lapses” while in local office before he came to Congress. “And that’s something Tom can’t do under the present circumstances,” he added.
Other area Republicans have said that should DeLay abandon his re-election campaign in favor of another conservative Republican -- most likely Harris County (Houston) Judge Rob Echols. Stockman would almost certainly drop out of the race in favor of the new GOP candidate.
Stockman also said he tried to reach DeLay to discuss his strategy before announcing it, “but he never returned my call.”
Accountant Stockman made national headlines in 1994 by unseating then-House Judiciary Chairman Jack Brooks (D.). Under state election law, Stockman must get 500 signatures from voters who don’t participate in either the Democratic or Republican primaries for Congress. So far, another independent is trying to get on the 22nd District ballot and two Libertarians are vying for their party’s nomination.
John Gizzi is Political Editor of HUMAN EVENTS.
Is Stockman a DINO?
These "journalists" sure are getting their hopes up high. Almost every article I read about Abramoff targets the pubbies specifically. Not one damn thing about the RATS.
But then again, this is the MSM. Silly me.
In the 1998 Republican runoff for Railroad Commissioner, Stockman polled 257,747 votes, or 46.85 percent, to Tony Garza's 292,318, or 53.14 percent. Stockman has not been a Democrat.
If Stockman thinks DeLay should be replaced, he should run in the republican primary and take his place.
Running as an independent suggest he thinks DeLay is fine, and is only worried about the process of elections.
As an independent, the media will ignore what he says about the democrat, just like they would ignore him if he wasn't running for office. Being on the ballot won't get him extra coverage.
We have political primaries for a reason. I hope that if DeLay knows of any reason he might be indicted, he has the wisdom to step down from his primary and allow another republican to run for his seat. DeLay has been in congress a long time, and while I love many of his positions, I think that all representatives should quit after a few terms, even if they want to come back later, just to get back to their homes and families and remember what it's like to be a normal person living in the real america.
If Abramoff can convince a good number of incumbents to retire, that would be a great thing for both political parties, and for our country. So long as they don't go off and become backstabbing kiss-ups for media positions like Joe Scarborough.
Which reminds me: what ever happened to David Stockman?
The article said that he is an accountant. He lives south of Houston.
Thanks--but I meant David Stockman, who ran OMB under RWR.
exclusive interview, Stockman emphasized that, in running as an independent rather than challenging DeLay in the Republican primary March 7, he would be free to attack old nemesis Lampson “like a pit bull.”
Be free to give the election to the freaking Dems, jackass should run in the primary, get out, or be called the spoiler that he is.
This is an update on David Stockman, but it does not say what he has been doing since May 2005.
David Stockman, born 1946, was managing director of Salomon Brothers and eventually became senior managing director of a New York-based investment bank, the Blackstone Group, in the 1990s. He left Blackstone in 1998 to start his own industrial focused private equity firm, appropriately named Heartland Industrial Partners. The firm was charged with putting $1.3 billion of capital to work by investing in traditional American manufacturing companies. Stockman went on to become the CEO of one of the firm's portfolio companies, Collins and Aikman Corp., a Detroit-based manufacturer of automotive interiors and components. He was ousted from that role days before a Chapter 11 filing on May 17, 2005.
Buck W., I found out that both David and Steve Stockman were born in Michigan, but they are not related. Steve is ten years younger than David.
Many thanks!
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