| That's really rich. It looks like Rep McCaul would rather be running against another Washington-selected millionaire, rather than a candidate boosted by local grass-roots support. I thank Jack for his $2400 to help make the filing fee, but I hardly think that falls in the category of big money; and many would think it only fair that he help when he dropped out with only a week before the filing deadline. Those grass-roots volunteers have given enormous help getting up a website (www.ankrum2010.com)and ramping up a campaign from absolutely zero in a matter of weeks.
It's also great to be recognized by Rep. McCaul, this time. I gladly accept his appelation of attack dog. I'm going to be an attack dog for the interests of the people in his District--something he has been an abject failure at. He starts off by making a virtue of necessity. He says he isn't going to take any earmarks, when what he really means is that he can't get any earmarks because he is part of the "just say no" crowd. Some earmarks are stupid, but many are the way a Representative gets needed projects in a District. Does Rep. McCaul think that his constituents should just send their taxes to Washington, and get nothing in return?
He lauds his opposition to all of the bailout, economic stimulus, and banking regulation legislation. The result: his District got 163 stimulus jobs, while LaMar Smith got 10,095 and Lloyd Doggett got 566. Did his constituents not need the new regulations just imposed (belatedly) on the credit card companies? Are his constituents able to eat ideology?
He touts his co-sponsorship of a bill to bar the VA from naming projects for sitting members of Congress. This was aimed at John Murtha, who has been a great friend to the military and veterans, but it won't work, because John Murtha just died in a military hospital. In the meanwhile, he remained silent when two VA Regional Clinics announced for his District (Katy and Tomball) went unfunded for four years. It took a word by others to Democrat Representative Chet Edwards to put funding for these clinics into the budget and they will be up and runing in 2011. Rep McCaul is just a vindictive showboat with no substance.
He didn't mention the 3000 direct jobs lost and several thousand other indirect jobs lost in his District at the tactical truck plant in Sealy, Texas; after it was revealed that he didn't lift a finger to advocate for his constituents. This has been much discussed on these pages before and is just another indication that he is lazy, and not concerned with anything other than his reputation with the House Republican leadership. Attack Dog--yes indeed. He is a bad Representative, and I thank Jack McDonald and other concerned citizens in District 10 for allowing me to expose his lousy performance. He certainly doesn't deserve to be unopposed. So come on folks. Visit my website and make a contribution so that this old dog can continue to attack! |
