Please add "Smokey Joe" Barton to your long list of Republicans and politicos considering a run for the yet to be vacant seat of Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison. The twelve-term Republican, and staunch supporter of all things that pollute the environment, had this to say through a spokesperson:
"[Barton] believes serving the entire state of Texas as their next senator would be an honor."
It might be an honor to "Smokey Joe," but it would be a huge dishonor to everyday Texans to have him as a Texas senator. You may recall that this isn't the first time that Joe Barton has run in a special election to fill a vacant senate seat. Barton last ran in 1993 with a field of twenty-four other candidates in an effort to win a seat vacated by incoming Clinton Administration Treasurer, Lloyd Bentsen. Ole' Smokey came in third, just missing the runoff. Kay Bailey Hutchison went on to defeat former Railroad Commissioner Bob Krueger. Barton's ego sees an opportunity to best history this time, I suppose.
"Smokey Joe" has had bouts of health problems in the last two to four years, which has led to speculation that he would resign his District 6 congressional seat, encompassing parts of Tarrant County, and not seek another term in office. News that Barton is considering a run for the United States senate is no surprise to me as I always felt that, because of our convoluted special election laws in Texas that he could make a serious run as he did in 1993. The problem is that Barton wouldn't know E-T-H-I-C-S if you spotted him every letter in the term, plus the full definition of it. And, because of his background previously before congress as an oil and gas industry consultant, and spectacular record of being a best friend to energy interests, and deep in denial over global warming, you best believe that Ole' Smokey would live up to his nickname as a senator from Texas. Needless to say, he would have a following. I'm not positive that in a huge field of candidates if Barton would come close to the third place finish he managed in 1993. |
