Gen. Ric Sanchez: "Scoring Political Points"

What's the role of Ben Barnes in recruiting Gen. Sanchez? (5.00 / 1)

Equally troublesome to Democrats of a populist, anti-Establishment bent is the question raised in one report that Ben Barnes took-on the task of recruiting
a prominent candidate to curry favor with top Senate Democrats. Barnes has long enjoyed a lucrative lobbying practice for a number of Fortune 500 companies and assorted special interests, and has carved out a niche as one of the leading bag men (bag people?) for the Senate Democratic leadership. He hauls in the corporate PAC money from the likes of Boeing and American Airlines and in exchange asks Sente Democrats to tread lightly when corporate interests are on the line. Nothing new about that role.  This entails no change of position for Ben Barnes since his days as treasurer of John Connally's campaign for the 1980 Republican presidential nomination. On the contrary, it is merely a return to his nominal Democratic Party allegiance that meshes nicely with his lifelong work on behalf of the  Establishment's agenda under the banner of the Democratic Party. That goes hand in hand with co-opting the libs, taking a trendy position on the social/cultural/wedge issues, being conspicuously listed as a contributor to organizations like Planned Parenthood and the Texas Civil Rights Project, both very worth causes, and employing all of the other gimmicks that Establishment-types  regularly use to seduce the innocent.

Dave Shapiro    

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by: Dave Shapiro @ Sun Jun 26, 2011 at 21:30:26 PM UTC

Don't forget sycophantic bloggers (1.00 / 1)

There is one more gimmick Barnes can employ, literally hire, namely, sycophantic bloggers who make sure there is no critical forum within or without the state party or the five or so local chapters of DSCC/DCCC in Texas.

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by: JRBehrman @ Mon Jun 27, 2011 at 00:29:20 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Who? (5.00 / 2)

Who would Barnes hire?

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 27, 2011 at 03:33:49 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

He's referring to me, Phil (0.00 / 0)

I guess he missed the post last week about making my decision not to support Sanchez and why.

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by: McBlogger @ Wed Jun 29, 2011 at 16:37:49 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

The Electorate or the Donorate? (1.00 / 1)

KTM,

Before deleting this comment, please consider that ...

The "Texas right of center electorate" is a construct of pimp-consultants simultaneously raising money while picking "winners" -- meaning losers -- namely, candidates, races, and -- surprise -- themselves as campaign consultants. With a few up and coming sycophants they can spend the money on "likely voter" campaigns featuring a decades-old mix of racially segmented media messages, "GOTV", and proprietary technologies they get a portion of the license fee from.

These packaged candidate/campaign deals are peddled to the "Big Money Boys". But, this has been so unsuccessful for so long, one wonders if it can be done any longer.

The AFL-CIO has been fleeced and given up on this.

There is, maybe, one rich, bored, living lawyer left dumping big bucks into a media campaign of his own design that does not appear to involve any actual candidates.

Meanwhile, the GOP has an actually proficient small-donor campaign fund-raising and mobilization machine based on a common technology -- the same one Obama brought to Texas in 2008 but has since folded or withdrawn.

The GOP technology is nothing the same-old, same-old SDEC would even consider a competitive alternative to. They have a really great licensing deal on the VAN. The SDEC is an awards banquet for sycophants, not a strategic or technology forum.

So, Rick Sanchez can re-run the Wes Clark nomination campaign and defeat his likely opponent ... nobody.

But, how does he win the general election Bill White just lost persuasively and expensively, ...

If the party can not raise enough money to keep the doors open on the Little Office, ...

If the Big Donors are tapped-out, dead, or, simply, looking at zero return on their "investments", ...

If the Obama campaign uses its operation in Texas to harvest volunteers and money for battleground states, and ...

If the party establishment itself has nothing to stand on or run on but "ain't it awful hand-wringing and grand-standing by districted incumbents with no race to run, and 70's-vintage "celebrate diversity" identity politics masking zero-sum patronage among street-level race-hustlers?

I'm just askin'.  

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by: JRBehrman @ Mon Jun 27, 2011 at 00:24:00 AM UTC

Give us some solutions -- please (3.00 / 2)

you are on the SDEC, correct?

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by: v2aggie2 @ Mon Jun 27, 2011 at 00:59:52 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Consultants peddle solutions (0.00 / 0)

I do strategy, tactics, signals, ordnance, and finance, also counter vote-suppression.

However, there is no forum for elaborating these in this party. The SDEC does nothing of the sort. Many other loyal Democrats, not on the AFL-CIO or TTL payroll, have many other contributions to make.

But, our time is wasted on empty ritual and time-wasting by the brain-dead Palace Guard.

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by: JRBehrman @ Mon Jun 27, 2011 at 17:34:24 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

John (0.00 / 0)

As an SDEC Member, you have a vote and an immediate leadership role to shape the direction of the TDP. Can you please show any fruits of your efforts? If your ideas are so sound, shouldn't your fellow SDEC Members stand agree with you?

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 27, 2011 at 03:32:53 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

The SDEC is not a leadership or strategic forum (0.00 / 0)

It ratifies deals uncritically. It takes no resonsibility in exchange for exercising no power.

The SDEC has no plans or standards, just a mix of written and unwritten rules that are selectively enforced so as to perpetuate a patently failed party establishment in Austin -- a Speaker's Claque (with no Speaker).

This is how the State Legislature worked "back in the day" when we dominated bi-partisan concession-tending regime in Austin that the GOP has now hijacked. Clearly, that regime is no longer bi-partisan, but we still wallow in nostalgia for it, conduct our business habitually, and cling to the "center-right electorate" theory and "likely voter" corollary, consultants, and voter file. Those all used to work. But, the world changed in 1994 and 2000. The TDP and, for that matter, the DSCC/DCCC has not yet adjusted.

Delegate votes in the state convention -- apart from ex-officio delegates -- reflect the actual distribution of Democratic voters. Composition of the SDEC favors GOP voters and those in the lobby as administer the party's McGovern-era racial quotas and patronage. This is a formula for rewarding sycophancy, not proficiency.

So, SDEC meetings are stuffed with non-voting members, honorific resolutions, and time-wasting ritual. There is simply no time to seriously or fairly consider questions, such as the employment of Ed Martin, that are sprung on the body by the staff and protected by the Palace Guard.

From cycle to cycle, the celebratory happy-talk results in catastrophic losses every eight years. In my tenure, the SDEC has become more defensive and apologetic rather than imaginative and critical.

I and others on the SDEC do come forward from Senate Districts outside of Austin with lots of both actual and potential Democratic voters or loyalists and small donors.

We bring constructive proposals that relate to increasing turnout of new and old, rural and urban, "base voters" using technologies and techniques that do not involve kick-backs and cross-subsidies to the Austin-based hangers-on and auxiliaries. But, these are quashed in committee by the Palace Guard and the hired help.

Statewide candidates, self-funded or pimped-out to their own bundler/consultants, just ignore the state party establishment which is, indeed, so negligent as to let the LaRouch cult get on the primary ballot steal votes and time from legitimate Democrats.

The likely-voter and center-right nonsense, is just the half-baked rationale for "keeping on, keeping on", turning the state into a "red-state" bastion, keeping it there, but promising to "turn Texas blue" Real Soon Now without even discussing much less rectifying profound problems of party governance and finance.

The SDEC is not a leadership of strategic forum. Neither is the Burnt Orange Report.

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by: JRBehrman @ Mon Jun 27, 2011 at 17:27:19 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Not buying it (5.00 / 3)

If a majority on the SDEC wanted to change something, it could. You're blaming some imaginary "Palace Guard" for the simple fact that you lack the leadership ability to put into place any changes you want.

You have a much more direct role to play, and are making excuses for not playing them. That's unfortunate. And, in the mean time, if you want to dismiss BOR's role as a forum, then I'd have to ask why you write here in the first place.

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 27, 2011 at 17:51:42 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Current TDP is more like Council-Manger (4.33 / 3)

And I feel like folks are making an argument that such a large organization needs to be run with some greater "Strong Mayor" powers...with a bunch of advisory committees.

The SDEC is like an ineffective giant City Council, with an unpaid Mayor, and an Executive Director that is responsible to no one. I mean, I can't imagine why we'd have problems running a multi-million dollar institution this way...

Please read the Community Guidelines and How to Rate Comments.

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by: Karl-Thomas Musselman @ Tue Jun 28, 2011 at 23:25:46 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

In Reply to Mr. Behrman (5.00 / 1)

Mr. Behrman notes:

The "Texas right of center electorate" is a construct of pimp-consultants simultaneously raising money while picking "winners" -- meaning losers -- namely, candidates, races, and -- surprise -- themselves as campaign consultants.

There are a number of consultants in Texas who do not buy into the "right of center electorate" theory, or the failed methods and campaigns of the past. Yes, there are conservative areas and conservative districts of this state. However, with a well-funded, viable, liberal or progressive of well-left-of-center statewide candidate that actually paints a serious contrast between the right-wing candidates the Republicans nominate, I believe we'd have different fortunes in Texas. Unfortunately, the kind of folks you are talking about simply aren't willing to give it a try, even though there has been some polling in recent years that show a sharper contrast between R's and D's in Texas would be far more beneficial for the D's.  

Vince Leibowitz

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by: Vince Leibowitz @ Mon Jun 27, 2011 at 03:53:26 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Ricardo Sanchez (5.00 / 3)

I am not particularly excited about Sanchez candidacy and, frankly, hope someone with more mainstream Democratic or progressive views gets in the race. A Ricardo Sanchez candidacy will be a disaster for Texas Democrats--Republicans will be able to eviscerate him (he's already made public statements and statements on his website that conflict with information in his autobiography). Not only that, he won't be able to excite our voters enough to do anything significant in terms of field, outreach, etc. And, let's face it: when voters want to vote for a candidate with Sanchez's views, they'll just vote for a Republican rather than a Republican lite.

It appears we are going to repeat mistake of anointing candidates who simply don't pose a stark enough contrast to the Republicans and their platform to give anyone a reason to actually vote for the Democrat.


Vince Leibowitz

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by: Vince Leibowitz @ Mon Jun 27, 2011 at 03:47:34 AM UTC

Re: (0.00 / 0)

Minor point, but I think the section on his site is titled "education" and not "education vouchers."

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by: David Mauro @ Mon Jun 27, 2011 at 13:13:06 PM UTC

Frontrunner? (3.00 / 3)

He's the frontrunner among Washington consultants, but I bet Gene Kelly would outpoll him among TX Dem primary voters. Not that I would shed too many tears over that outcome...

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by: George @ Mon Jun 27, 2011 at 15:07:07 PM UTC

I would shed tears (3.00 / 1)

I have issues with Sanchez, but at least he trying to run a legitimate campaign.  Gene Kelly doesn't do anything, and it is a disgrace that such a person has any chance to win.

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by: v2aggie2 @ Tue Jun 28, 2011 at 01:44:12 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

A Democrat? (5.00 / 2)

Those three opinions Sanchez has posted are all right-wing positions, barring immigrants from state services, support for private-school vouchers & 'tax cuts create jobs' w/the latter being undeniably false by anyone who cares to know the facts of the last 30+ years. Why should I support let alone vote for yet another right-wing authoritarian masquerading as a democrat?

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by: darms @ Mon Jun 27, 2011 at 17:20:02 PM UTC

There is an alternative to the Repub-lite Sanchez. (5.00 / 1)

Sean Hubbard from Dallas is on the primary ballot for the U.S. Senate race in Texas already, and he's running as an honest-to-goodness Democrat. He's young and energetic, he's been involved in campaigns before in Texas, and he's a proud advocate for progressive values. He's out talking to voters right now, because the DSCC has cynically made it clear that they just want a Hispanic name who'll be a watered-down version of John Cornyn.

We deserve better.

Check out   www.HubbardForSenate.com   and make your own decision.

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by: clintastic @ Mon Jun 27, 2011 at 19:01:05 PM UTC

Texas' "right of center electorate" is a product of demographics (0.00 / 0)

 
Re:  The "Texas right of center electorate" is a construct of pimp-consultants simultaneously raising money while picking "winners" -- meaning losers -- namely, candidates, races, and -- surprise -- themselves as campaign consultants.

That's a serious mistake and is way off-base. The most significant factor in predicting the outcome of elections is the composition of the electoral demographics - which demographic groups vote in largest numbers. The affluent suburbanites in places like  Collin, Denton, Montgomery counties and the more down scale Anglo voters in small towns and rural areas of Texas have been no more "brainwashed" than their cohorts in similar areas in N. Carolina, Tenn., Miss., or elsewhere. To claim otherwise is prima facia evidence of not keeping current on the basic literature of political science and not even being aware of what has been written in the best political journalism available.. The quality of the candidate, the issue environment, the mechanics of GOTV, etc. are all factors, but they rank far behind the composition of the electorate. Brilliantly led and well-financed Democratic campaigns still won't do very well if the electorate consists of the voters of Denton County or Midland or Harrison County. Give Karl Rove a million bucks and he would still have difficulty carrying Starr County for a conservative Republican.

   Dave Shapiro  

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by: Dave Shapiro @ Mon Jun 27, 2011 at 19:24:50 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

That should be magnet as in attracting students for a (0.00 / 0)

special interest.

"child is placed in a magnate school"

yeah 3 Republican positions. Ugh

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by: TexMex @ Tue Jun 28, 2011 at 11:40:28 AM UTC

Perpetuating False Narratives (3.00 / 1)

"We simply cannot provide illegal immigrants with blanket access to all of the services and benefits that are afforded to our citizens."

It should be news to a lot of immigrants, documented and undocumented, that they apparently have blanket access to the same services as citizens.  It's one thing to attack right-wing bogeymen; it's another to actually help perpetuate outright fabrications.

Then again, maybe Gen. Sanchez expects that by the time he'd be elected, the Republicans will have ensured that the only services any of us will have access to will be emergency rooms, police, and fire.

"In this world of sin and sorrow there is always something to be thankful for; as for me, I rejoice that I am not a Republican." - H.L. Mencken

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by: PI Lawyer @ Sat Jul 02, 2011 at 06:26:48 AM UTC

Sanchez has removed the voucher statement (0.00 / 0)

from his Education page on his website. The other two still hold true. I'll be looking hard at Sean Hubbard.

As long as corporations are people and money is speech, then democracy is a farce.

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by: Blue_in_Guadalupe @ Sun Jul 03, 2011 at 01:38:27 AM UTC