Top Perry Political Consultant Linked to Green Party Petition Scam

"dirty tricks"? (0.00 / 0)

Dems accusing the Reps of using "dirty tricks to try and prevent Democrats from winning in November".

That is rich coming from the Dems. What about the institutional dirty tricks by both majority parties via passing Texas election laws that are universally recognized as the most restrictive in the nation to prevent alternative voices, ideas and candidates to have a viable opportunity to be presented to voters on general ballots.

Sounds like the Dems are pretty scared of the Greens...not the Reps scared of the Dems possibly winning in November.  

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by: Brad M @ Fri Jun 11, 2010 at 18:24:01 PM UTC

Spot-on (0.00 / 0)

Other than Dems not being that, that scared of Greens, I totally agree. Having voted Green for Prez by write-in the last two elections (I saw through Obama before then end of 2007), and as an independent left-liberal voter, I will gladly take any and all opportunities to vote outside of the duoply box.

And, it's not just in Texas. The last time, in 2007, IIRC, Congress discussed Congressional campaign finance regulation, it was targeted to benefit only the duopoly.

There is no god and I am his prophet - SocraticGadfly

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by: SocraticGadfly @ Sat Jun 12, 2010 at 08:04:29 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Oh (0.00 / 0)

but truly that decision makes you a subsidiary of the Texas Republican Party.

Doing it this way can only hurt your party going forward. Thinking outside of this other box is more important.

I will gladly take any and all opportunities to vote outside of the duoply box.

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by: Elsbeth @ Sat Jun 12, 2010 at 18:32:16 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

uh (0.00 / 0)

Carney is a political consultant - of course he's going to be involved with lots of different political activities, not exclusively Perry's. What Carney did wasn't a scam, it was strategy. He's perfectly free to work for whomever he wants to - that's the nature of political consultants. He isn't answering to constituents, he's answering to his clients.

Carney works for Perry as well as other people. Saying that Perry had something to do with one of Carney's other projects is such a stretch that I'm surprised you're seriously writing about it at all.

Of course, if I were a democrat I guess I'd be pretty desperate, too.  

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by: txgal @ Fri Jun 11, 2010 at 19:35:39 PM UTC

Perry must be desperate (0.00 / 0)

He's lying about Bill White and he apparently believes he needs a third party candidate to possibly beat White.  Mr. 39% won in 2006 only b/c there were 4-5 candidates on the ballot.    

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by: Libby Shaw @ Fri Jun 11, 2010 at 19:54:52 PM UTC

Yes he needs all those liberal Democratic votes... (0.00 / 0)

Perry certainly doesn't need the Hutchison votes since they have been "delivered" by Hutchison herself. Medina will deliver hers. In the end, Republicans vote for Republicans.

There seems to be a pattern of the Democrats filing lawsuits every time there's an election as if filing it "proves" the Democrats are more ethical. And yet the Democratic candidates keep losing. So apparently all it does is ensure some attorneys in Austin a nice income.

Chris Bell got 31% of the vote. If it had been just him and Perry, he probably still would have gotten 31% of the vote.

Just reading his "tax returns" and wondering where all the money comes from probably is indicative of what Bill White will manage to get.  Probably not even 31% of the vote. And that's if the race is just between him and Perry.

Follow the money trail as I like to say. And this money trail is leading Bill White to the political graveyard.  

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by: Baby Snooks @ Fri Jun 11, 2010 at 20:09:09 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I wouldn't be so sure about Republicans (0.00 / 0)

voting for Republicans.  My Republican neighbors and friends in Houston can't stand Rick Perry.  They're all voting for Bill White.  Most of them are really upset over what Perry did to KBH during the primary.  Of course they are moderates and not the insane tea party Republicans that Rick Perry relies so heavily on.  Which is pretty funny considering that Rick Perry does not even work for his tea party voters.  Nor does he work for the moderates either.  But at least my moderate neighbors get that.  They figured out, like we Democrats, that Rick Perry only serves his fat cat donors.  Maybe Perry's fat cats ought to pony up and pay for his $18 billion budget short fall.  Hell, they also should pay for his $10,000 monthly mansion.  Why should taxpayers get stuck with the bill when our governor does not even work for us?

And as far as Bill White's tax returns are concerned maybe Rick Perry ought to find another non scandal to dredge up.  The fake one about White's financial profiteering and ties to BTEC during Hurricane Rita was truly pathetic and lame.   But at least it was interesting to learn that Perry's  campaign has a pimped out AP journalist or two its pockets.  

Perry's political operative would not be behind the scenes promoting a Green Party candidate were Perry not scared to death of losing.  Perry barely won 50% of the votes in a Republican primary.   There is a reason he is resorting to gutter politics and lies.  

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by: Libby Shaw @ Fri Jun 11, 2010 at 21:34:57 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Dont't forget the pimped out Houston Chronicle reporters... (0.00 / 0)

Some journalists still are journalists. And will print the story. And ask a question. Or two. Some don't like the question.  The Houston Chronicle pointed out that Wedge Group owned a majority interest in BTEC. Money doesn't have to change hands to constitute a conflict-of-interest. But there was money involved. And with the Wedge Group, well, the question should be asked how much of that taxpayer money went to Isaam Fares who in turn donated it to his favorite charity. Hezbollah.  

Maybe you live next to the Bushes. They're the only Republicans I can think of who would vote for Bill White. Of course they're friends with Isaam Fares.  The Republicans I know in Houston will not vote for him. A number of Democrats won;t either.  Nice Jewish Democrats. Who had enough finally with Helen Thomas. And have taken a second look at this curious relationship with Isaam Fares.
By your friends you shall be known as they say.  

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by: Baby Snooks @ Fri Jun 11, 2010 at 23:08:55 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

BS (0.00 / 0)

Rick Perry is definitely worried about what he's going to do AK. After King life is never that easy. Did ya hear the audio (assuming you weren't here) today in Dallas of his speech to the Texas GOP convention?? That audience sure didn't sound "Fired Up." Maybe they were just tired and bored.

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by: Elsbeth @ Sat Jun 12, 2010 at 00:04:54 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

I would like to invite Rick Perry to join us in Houston (0.00 / 0)

during our next big mother of a hurricane.  Warning.  Rick needs to know that firing his laser focused gun into the devastating winds and rain will do squat to kill the hurricane.  Hurricanes ain't coyotes, Rick.  Maybe King Rick will be screaming and begging for a power enabling generator given Houston's heat and humidity.  

By the way, I do not live next door to Bush the Father and Mother.

Houston is far more diverse than Republican operatives would like to admit. The notion that KBH and DM can "deliver" votes to Rick Perry is laughable.  

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by: Libby Shaw @ Sat Jun 12, 2010 at 03:04:09 AM UTC

For the sake of intelligent discussion.. (0.00 / 0)

http://www.texastribune.org/bl...

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by: txgal @ Sun Jun 13, 2010 at 20:37:04 PM UTC

For the sake of honest discussion (0.00 / 0)

Perry political chief: May I amend my remarks?

Rick Perry's   chief political strategist now acknowledges that the consultant who spearheaded the petition drive for the Green Party   in Texas is somebody he's worked with in the past. But Dave Carney says he didn't work with him to put the Greens on the state ballot this year. The effort could benefit Perry if the Greens' candidate for governor draws votes from Democrat   Bill White. Who paid for the Green Party petition drive is a mystery. An outside group hired paid petition-gatherers, then delivered the signatures to the Green Party free of charge. Democrats say the Perry campaign is behind it. The Perry camp denies it.

Republican out-of-state consultant Tim Mooney, who launched the petition drive for the Greens in Texas, directed a similar drive in 2004 to put Ralph Nader on the ballot in New Hampshire. Carney was also involved in that Nader petition effort in New Hampshire. Carney initially told us he didn't know Mooney. "I honestly don't think I've ever met the guy or talked with him on the phone," he said in an interview last week with the Dallas Morning News.

But Ross Ramsey at the Texas Tribune got a different reaction when he caught up with Carney at the state GOP convention this weekend in Dallas. Carney said he and Mooney had worked together in the past after all, but are no longer in contact: "I couldn't pick him out of a lineup, and I haven't seen him, emailed him or talked to him on the phone in years."

Now, a very great man once said that some people rob you with a fountain pen.

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by: Phillip Martin, Progress Texas @ Mon Jun 14, 2010 at 14:20:03 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

What happened to competition and more chocies? (0.00 / 0)

There are always a few Democrats that I think are no better than their republican opponents and I end up not voting for anyone for that position on the ballot. However if there is a Green candidate that could possibly do a better job I'll consider voting for him or her. As always the more choices the better for everyone. Also there are many republican incumbents that never have a Democratic challenger on the ballot. If there is going to be a Green or Libertarian on the ballot that at least will attempt to challenge them to clarify their positions, then I'll consider voting for a third party candidate.

Also a slot of Green candidates on the ballot could force the Democratic candidates to take a more progressive approach on many issues which will benefit a lot of Democratic grassroots organizers.  

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by: persiancowboy @ Mon Jun 14, 2010 at 18:02:28 PM UTC