DeLay Seat Turns into Fiasco

GOPUSA ^ | August 16, 2006 | Bobby Eberle

[Columbine]

In a recent speech, I told the audience about the political landscape of the 2006 elections. It’s going to be much tougher for Republicans than in recent election cycles. As a political party, we must have our act together in order to be successful. Unfortunately, that task has become tougher. The congressional seat of former Majority Leader Tom DeLay is now in jeopardy thanks in part to a failure in leadership from party officials.

Following a primary election victory, Rep. DeLay decided, through the advice of party officials, that because of the media circus that was surrounding his pending court case and other factors, the road to reelection would be tough. His opponent, former Rep. Nick Lampson, is very well funded, and has enlisted the support of Hollywood liberals and far-left organizations to help him win the seat.

In order to give the best possible opportunity to a new Republican candidate, a plan was put into place, undoubtedly under the guidance of party officials, whereby DeLay would move to Virginia, and thus be ineligible to run for a Texas congressional seat. Following Texas state law, a process would then unfold in which a new Republican nominee would be chosen to face Lampson. Sounds good on paper, right? However, the process quickly bogged down, and with no leadership or statewide/national media message the case disappeared into the courts with disastrous results.

[Digger]

I think Rove is a greatly overrated intellect. Lee Atwater must be wringing his hands over this clown show.

That's also the way I see it.

[Sans-Culotte]

When the court ruled against DeLay's replacement and Delay still stayed out of the race, his argument that he withdrew to increase the odds of the Republicans retaining the seat were shown to be false.

That is what is apparent to me. If he truly wanted the seat to be retained, he'd at least let the voters vote for him whether he campaigns or not. DeLay now seems determined that Lampson win.

Lampson can save his money and Hollyweirdos for the next campaign. He need not spend much in a race he's won by default.

[weegee]

Without a Republican on the ballot (they have to file as "dial-a-letter" electronic write in candidates), Lampson gets an "unfair advantage".

The Rats cry "disenfranchised" but they are just screwing the voters here. They said it was unfair for the party to try to seat a candidate when the voters had chosen DeLay in the primary.

Note they don't hold this principle from state to state (where election laws about how and when you can add a name to the ballot vary but the goal always remains the same).

[DallasSun]

Delay said he dropped out of the race because his internal polling showed he could not win.

[weegee]

The Houston GOP didn't venture a candidate against our lousy Clinton Rat mayor (who's incrementally backing out any attempts at tax reform). They decidedly to let him win unopposed and let him leave via term limits.

[Mr. Jeeves]

DeLay Seat Turns into Fiasco

Who is Fiasco, and what's his position on illegal immigration? ;)

[balch3]

guess again. The tide is already turning in key states like Michigan, Montana, and Penn. The RATS have peaked.

[weegee]

So what happens if someone clicks "Republican" straight ticket and then writes in the race?

I thought that the electronic sysem allowed the voter to opt out of a race and also to override a race.

[weegee]

Dems say Hall ideal to seek old seat (Dayton Daily News August 16, 2006)

Local Democrats will not only need to find a candidate to run for Congress in place of Stephanie Studebaker on less than three months notice, but they'll also need to find someone who can quickly raise the money needed to beat an incumbent.

Montgomery County Democratic Party Chairman Dennis Lieberman said he thinks former U.S. Rep. Tony Hall might be just the guy.

A special primary election will be held to choose a Democrat to run against U.S. Rep. Mike Turner, R-Centerville. The date has not been set.

Citing family issues, Studebaker on Tuesday dropped out of the race for the 3rd Congressional District. She and her husband, Sam, were arrested Sunday and each charged with domestic violence.

[weegee]

Writing in choice on eSlate will take a little more work (electronic ballot disenfranchises)

Write-in candidate names are not on the ballot by design. To cast a vote for one on the electronic eSlate machines, which don't have a keyboard, you'll have to use the "select" dial to choose "write-in."

If you think a majority of voters are going to "dial" in a candidate's name as if they were using an old rotary phone, you are mistaken.

The list of WRITE IN candidates is to be established prior to election day. "In each booth there will be a printed list of candidates who have been certified for the Congressional District 22 race." Since the names are known, it is purely procedural to require this inadequate mechanism for inputing the write in name.

The Texas ballot permits nicknames. I suggest the nickname "AAA" for one of the write-in candidates'.

[Yo-Yo]

So what changed from the Primary to statement of withdrawal? No, internal polling didn't make DeLay quit.

[DallasSun]

All I can say is that this is the reason Delay has given time and time again. And I believe it. I cannot believe he would quit if he thought he could win.

[mrsmith]

"there is no way to know that until election day"

Sure, there are plenty of reasons one could be reasonably certain a person would not be a resident: in prison or long term health care in another state for example.

The facts mattered greatly in this case.

At leasst Delay should have said he was determined that he wouldn't be a resident on election day. I still can't get over how the lawyers blew this. Unbelievable.

[DallasSun]

Also, I believe the polling. I do not think Delay would have won. He was not going to get the republican votes.

[Owen]

Bottom line: The GOP in that district needs to hold a primary the first week of September. Period. Full stop. That will stop the possibility of having multiple GOP candidates. It also means Delay maybe be required to have his name on the ballot by law, but he need not be the GOP nominee. The ballots can be prepared with a different name as the GOP nominee.

[Candor7]

At first I thought it was a sub rosa for DeLay to run for the presidential nomination, i.e., quite, keep low profile, move to Virginia, Dem legal harassment blows over and then, checkmate.

But now I think that the RINOs got to him somehow, wanting to end his iron control over the voting options in the house and move to centrist ( what were they elected for anyway?) policy positions. Tom is acting like he has the sword hanging over his head.

[RippyO]

Remember that Charlie Wilson in Ohio failed to get on the primary ballot because he couldn't come up with 50 measly signatures. He had to run as a write-in but walloped his competition anyway.

Things will be tougher because Lampson is better known than Wilson's opponents, but Repubs have a shot if they rally around a candidate.

[DallasSun]

I do not think it was the RINO's at all. I think it was the hard line republican party. I think the old guard saw a weakness here, esp the charges against him and his former staffers. I doubt they gave him much choice.

[Coop]

It is hard to compare Torricelli and Delay because one was a Senator, and one was a Representative.

That's irrelevant. Both were elected officials.

[gumboyaya]

As I understand it, per county chairman, there will be no straight line ticket all blanks must be filled. I think you've hit on something about the nickname thing. If Wallace is the chosen one then why not simply dial in "W" and complete the ballot, that would be intent as Florida proved.