| Courtesy of a comment by Ron Wilson (who is still using the name "D. Davenport", for some reason), we have a letter from Rep. Harold Dutton, Jr. responding to the letters from Reps. Solomons, Merritt, & Jones regarding whether or not the House Parliamentarians should keep their posts for the opening day of session. So yes -- one of the House Parliamentarians is using an exposed-anonymous name to post a letter that argues that he should keep his job. But hey -- whatever works. From the comments (emphasis added is mine): This letter was issued by Rep. Harold Dutton to Burt Solomons: After reading in the newspaper quotes attributed to you that were extremely disturbing to me and other members, I initially considered it best that I not put my thoughts in writing. I don't recall the actual quote in the newspaper but after reading the quote, I remember letting the dog do his business on it and I quickly discarded the paper with the dog poop. However, I also remember thinking how in the hell does Burt Solomons know what I want, do or think. Or what gives him the right to disparage me? I haven't spoken to you since last session and unless you have some cosmic powers I am not aware of you can't know what I have been doing, thinking or desiring. Yet you attack me and several Democrats without speaking to either of us. I did question who is Burt Solomons talking to and more especially who is he listening to. Do you remember the king who had no clothes? It's worst to have no thoughts-of your own. As you critique my past support for Tom Craddick, let me put it bluntly, with a majority Republicans in the House, I stayed with Craddick because I failed to grasp why I would change a Midland Republican for a Waxahachie Republican. You can throw in-- a Carrollton Republican -- if the shoe fits. I assume the media accounts are correct that you are running for speaker. That's good. I just wish we had a rule that if you run for speaker and lose, then your seat is vacated and you must leave the House. That would force speaker campaigns to be less tasteless. It would certainly reduce the number of show horses and blowhards, leaving only serious candidates who must speak with each member and more especially listen to every member. Certainly it would be most unlikely that a candidate would begin a campaign by disparaging other members. I think you get my drift. Running for speaker does not cloak you or anyone else with the right to be stupid. That should be reserved for those who would vote for you. The media quote you as suggesting that the House is so divided and can't come together under Tom Craddick. What? And you begin your campaign by attacking members and now you have even targeted the parliamentarian. If that's your method to heal the House and bring members together, you leave me speechless-almost. When I last checked the speaker appointed the parliamentarian. So, all you have to do is become speaker and you get to choose your parliamentarian. As my coach was fond of saying-stay focused. Abandon the pit bull attack. Your December 5 Memo further states that your House colleagues joined you in calling for Terry Keel' resignation. First, as one of your House colleagues, you do not speak for me. Secondly, Terry Keel and I had some rather spirited debates on the House floor but I always maintained the highest respect for Terry Keel as a lawyer and a legislator. I still do. Leadership is defined as "the catalyst that changes struggle into progress." So far, your leadership style seems to be consumed by a last session hangover. Let that go. When your rear view mirror becomes larger than your windshield, Texans don't progress-we just struggle. Every Speaker candidate and each member of the House must commit themselves to transform our independence into an interdependence that fosters a better Texas. Democrat or republican, that's the kind of member Texans want-and deserve. Speaker, too. Harold Dutton
I've got to say -- arguing that someone is being too negative and acting like a pit bull, only using negative pit-bull attacks to make your point, doesn't make the most effective of arguments. For me. But Rep. Dutton's point and opinion is an argument that carries as much weight as any other's, and his arguments are real and felt not just by him, but by other Members. Rep. Dutton, though, isn't arguing for Craddick as Speaker. Remember this quote: Dutton suggests that Democrats embrace Craddick because on his watch, Republicans have frittered away the 26-seat majority voters gave them in the 2002 elections. Could be, Dutton said, that Craddick gets two more years on top and Democrats recapture their House majority in the 2010 elections.
My experience was Rep. Dutton is that he spoke his mind, whoever and whatever the position may be. I say that to suggest to our readers that his letter isn't necessarily a defense for Craddick, but just an honest assessment of how he feels Rep. Solomons has carried out his campaign to this point. Rep. Solomons has taken an aggressive approach. There's some logic to that approach -- you can't beat a hardball politician if you're not willin to play hardball. Craddick sure isn't leaving anything to chance, and though he has yet to release more than 13 names of support a full month after Election Day, I'm sure he's still doing everything he can to retain power. Rep. Hartnett -- one of Craddick's largest supporters -- has suggested that it will come down to the first day of session. We could be in for an interesting few weeks -- remember, two years ago, all the real "action" for the Speaker's race happened after Christmas. I'm excited that I'll be in Austin for the first day of session, whatever happens. |
