Posted on 11/07/2002 10:24:39 AM PST by The South Texan
Roddy Stinson: Texas voters stick a fork in Ann Richards and her liberal pals
Web Posted : 11/07/2002 12:00 AM
"You can stick a fork in George Bush because he's done." — Ann Richards, speaking at a Houston rally for Democratic presidential candidate Bill Clinton on Oct. 28, 1992 "Stick a fork in Ann Richards and her liberal sidekicks because they are cooked." — The Texas electorate, sending a message to the Texas Democratic Party on Nov. 5, 2002
As late as 6:45 Tuesday night, Richards, a former one-term Texas governor, was telling CNN's Larry King:
"We are going to have an unprecedented turnout in Texas. ... Tony Sanchez could win. But it's harder for him than it is, say, for Ron Kirk or John Sharp, who I think will be the lieutenant governor. And Kirk Watson, who's a smart young man, the mayor of Austin, will become the attorney general."
Actually, Watson — the supereminent darling of Democratic liberals — hasn't been mayor of Austin since the fall of 2001 when he resigned his mayoral post to run for attorney general.
But that minor Richards goof pales when compared to her bold — and remarkably incorrect — last-minute prediction of a virtual sweep of the state's major elected offices by Texas Democrats.
The proof of her predictive blunder is in the numbers.
As this is edited early Wednesday evening ...
U.S. Senator
John Cornyn, 55%; Ron Kirk 43%
Governor
Rick Perry, 58%; Tony Sanchez, 40%
Lt. Governor
David Dewhurst, 52%; John Sharp, 46%
Attorney General
Greg Abbott, 57%; Kirk Watson, 41%
The magnitude of the Democratic defeat approaches breathtaking.
In 1998, in the lieutenant governor's race, Sharp, the Texas Democratic Party's brightest star, was defeated by Perry, a popular, two-term agriculture commissioner, by only 2 percentage points.
Four years later, Sharp — the Democrats' most electable candidate and the favorite politico of Texas pundits — lost by 6 percentage points to Dewhurst, a little-known and not particularly popular land commissioner, who had one campaign theme: "John Sharp is an out-of-step, tax-and-spend LIBERAL."
True or not, the "liberal" tag stuck, and that was sufficient reason for voters to knock out the Democrats' best candidate.
But Sharp's fall was a soft landing compared to the crash of Kirk Watson, the only unabashed liberal in a top position on the Democratic ticket.
Last February, Texas Monthly pundit Paul Burka predicted that during the 2002 campaign Greg Abbott would describe Watson with "just four words: liberal Austin trial lawyer" ... and Watson would counter "by trying to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear by asking, 'Who do you want fighting for you?'"
Texas voters provided a resounding answer to that question on Tuesday when they buried liberal Watson under a landslide of Abbott votes.
Which leads to an obvious conclusion:
Ann Richards must not have cleaned her crystal ball before palavering with Larry King Tuesday night.
Not that her way-wrong predictions will bother King or CNN's slanted-news managers.
As long as Richards is ambulatory and ready, willing and eager to put a damper on Bush Republicans, she will find a place in the lights, cameras and interview chairs of TV network big shots.
In response, Texas voters will just continue to do what they do best: watch quietly, listen politely, smile knowingly and flock to the polls to baste Miz Ann and her political pals.
To contact Roddy Stinson, call (210) 250-3155 or e-mail rstinson@express-news.net. His column appears Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
TC
I can only think that the liberals at CNN wanted some company election night. I see no reason to have Ann Richards on Larry King. Maybe because George W Bush (and also wife Laura) were the "Why" of the big Tuesday victory, maybe they figured to get back at the Bush family by having Ann on the show (to spite the Bush family).
Amen!
GOP also increased its power in the State Senate and took over the State Legislative.
So the GOP controls all three now.
The Democrats always counted on the conservatives to split their vote (while they voted straight Democrat).
After 8 years of Clinton, Florida, New Jersey, etc, etc, no more 'split voting' vote straight GOP just like their base does for their Party.
How old is that bat now, 100?? She's so old she used to babysit LBJ. And when's her next scheduled face-ironing session?
Beautiful! That's the best description of her I've ever heard and certainly the most accurate.
And the Democrats say something different?
Now that the GOP is in power, that is the media shrill, "they have to deliver'!
As if the Democrats ever 'delivered' anything but higher taxes and more Gov't!
And, she has since traded the spoon in for a flesh-colored d*#do that reeks of alcohol! Dont go away mad Ann, just go away. Be happy that you are still and will forever be Queen of the Austin Lesbians who now number in the tens of thousands.
Fantastic! See above picture- Dike On A Bike!
She denied approving 'right to carry' law and said she would never approve it.
It would lead to everyone shooting each other.
We have had no abuses of that 'right to carry' and no more 'Luby' massacres.
Never vote for a Democrat!
This shows the writers complete lack of knowledge of economics. All these promises can be fulfilled if the promises of Jobs and business growth come about. Creating a positive business environment increases revenue and decreases government cost, leaving monies for projects like those promised.
It is quite simple, when your not biased.
Yes. The previous Leg failed to pass a Congressional redistricting bill. The current boundaries were drawn up by a judge as an interim measure. The current Leg can draw up new boundaries, and should. If they get no traction in the normal session, Gov. Perry should call a special session just for that.
Yup, which gave rise to the following Aggie joke:
How many Aggies does it take to make a woman governor of Texas?
Just one.
Of course, you can see it takes a lot more Texans to make an Aggie the governor of Texas . . .
Yes, you are correct, it is called the (gasp!) free enterprise system!
What a maroooon (yes...a fellow aggie). He also refused to shake Ann's hand. Something that doesn't go over real big here in Texas.
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