Some Quick Notes on Tom Schieffer

Schieffer is a Democratic primary voter's primary voting Democrat. (5.00 / 3)

Look, I'm happy to give Tom Schieffer a chance for my primary vote and will obviously vote for him in the general election (which, by way of reminding anybody who is confused, is what Democrats do after the primary election) if he gets the nomination.

But as a candidate not for Governor but for our attention as nominating Democrats he has yet to confront the key issues facing the Texas Democratic party as a political organization:
1) Out lack of brand value statewide;
2) our lack of a coherent message;
3) our lack of a bench or development system;
4) Our incredibly narrow business interest coalition;
5) our party leadership's inability to direct its resources strategically;
6) the traditional drag of the statewide ticket on downballot races; and
7) Our inability to win a single statewide race in a decade and a half.

Schieffer isn't running for Governor at this point, he's running for our nomination. And the reason why he's got a steeper hill to climb w/r/t the issues above than the other names out there is that he hasn't been a Democrat in public since I've been able to vote, and I'm 35 years old.

So it's ironic, for a guy who's running on the basis of leadership, to offer to take his bat and ball and go home, since home is where he's been for the entirety of my adult life.

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by: Rahm McDaniel @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 17:37:22 PM UTC

Winner! (0.00 / 0)

One of the best comments we've had on the site in a long time...

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 @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 17:43:20 PM UTC

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Fantastic comment! (0.00 / 0)

I'd say #5 has been improving since Boyd Richie took over (although it is still an issue), but yeah, you hit the nail on the head.

You really defined what the mission needs to be. Great!

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by: trowaman @ Thu Jun 25, 2009 at 00:27:23 AM UTC

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The Irony (0.00 / 0)

So true.

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by: Elsbeth @ Thu Jun 25, 2009 at 13:01:50 PM UTC

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yes, Tom. (0.00 / 0)

We know it's going to be hard.

We've known how hard it's been for the last 15 years. It was the desertion of our principles, and an unwillingness to stand up for what's right, on the part of people like you, that's made it of us so goddamn hard for those of us who've stayed true to the cause of responsive, progressive  governance. We shan't be taking lectures on entitlement and hard work from someone who was, and is, so apparently comfortable with his own sense of entitlement.  

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by: Robert Ryland @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 18:24:06 PM UTC

Well let's see... (0.00 / 0)

Our options are to vote in another Blue Dog Democrat which constitutes pretty much voting in another Republican?  Not if I can help it.  If he wins the Primary, okay, but that's the only way I'm voting for him.

I want a real Democrat that will fight for the people of Texas and not the corporations.  Insurance is the highest than in any other state, our schools rate at the bottom of the scale (46th), and most Texans don't have Healthcare Insurance let alone enough food to put on the table.

I've watched our great state go downhill for the last 20 years since Republicans took over.  I think it's time for people to wake up and realize that our politicians are supposed to be working for us and not for the politicians!

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by: krwheaton @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 19:54:26 PM UTC

Oops.. (0.00 / 0)

That shoudl read and not for the corporations!

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by: krwheaton @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 19:58:01 PM UTC

[ Parent ]