Free Republic

...White criticized Perry by name or inference six times... ...(Shami) stumbled on the issue of voter identification, inaccurately saying the state requires a driver's license now to vote and he would not support changing the law. The issue that nearly shut down the Legislature last year was a battle over whether to require a photo identification to vote. White seized on the issue to make another attack on Perry, describing voter identification as a political wedge issue. “That is a classic illustration of where Governor Perry has brought the partisan politics of Washington to the statehouse,” White said. “Under both...

AUSTIN — One once ran for office on a promise to challenge Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi to hand-to-hand combat while swimming in the Gulf of Sidra. Another is a flamboyant private investigator with an international reputation as the “real James Bond,” who participated in the exhumation of Lee Harvey Oswald. A third is a San Antonio doctor who paints and wants to teach Hispanics they need to learn to govern themselves. The fourth is a Prairie View A&M associate professor who says blacks need to stop thinking of themselves as victims and believe they can accomplish anything. The fifth...

...Friedman's departure left outgoing Houston Mayor Bill White and hair-care millionaire Farouk Shami as the two main contenders for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination and lessened the chances of the race going to a runoff. While it does not clear the field for White, it gives him the advantage over a less-known and less experienced opponent. White has a track record in office and proof he can win elections. Shami says he will spend $10 million of his own money to win the nomination with his rags-to-riches life story, but he still will have to answer the ultimate question: Is Texas...

After weeks of speculation and buzz, it was reported this morning in the Houston Chronicle newspaper that Farouk Shami has announced he is running for the Democratic nomination of governor of the state of Texas. In an exclusive interview in the September issue of MODERN SALON, Farouk hinted at the possibility. When MODERN Editor in Chief Laurel Smoke asked about rumors surrounding Shami’s political ambitions, he answered, “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.” A few weeks ago, Shami hosted thousands of guests, including current Texas governor Rick Perry and Houston Mayor Bill White, for the ribbon cutting of CHI USA, a...