TX-Sen: Rumors of Bill White Switching Races Continue

I bet the thought of switching has crossed Bill's mind (0.00 / 0)

But I think he genuinely wants this Senate seat.  I do think that he'll jump to Guv if he needs to in order to capitalize on his strongest political position that he's ever had.

I don't see him doing that unless January comes around and there's still no sight of a KBH resignation, though.

"Let us tenderly and kindly cherish therefore, the means of knowledge. Let us dare to read, think, speak, and write."  -  John Adams

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by: Michael Hurta @ Sun Nov 08, 2009 at 23:30:47 PM UTC

Sharp has always been clear (0.00 / 0)

Sharp wants to run for Senate, even if it means waiting until 2012 and running against KBH. At least, that's what he told me himself. The White rumor, on the other hand, is pretty loud here in the Houston area. Quite a few people have told me they'd really like to see him get in the Governor's race. And, he could bring his nearly $800,000 mayoral campaign cash with him, as well as the money he's raised for the federal race.  

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by: muse @ Sun Nov 08, 2009 at 23:51:35 PM UTC

Want substance from Sharp (0.00 / 0)

Is it just me or is the Sharp campaign only able to attack? I've heard Sharp speak a few times and every time he attacked Mayor White a good bit. I really like both candidates but I wish that Sharp would stop playing dirty politics that could hurt our party in the long run.  

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by: pinko @ Mon Nov 09, 2009 at 00:41:08 AM UTC

It's time to stop (2.00 / 2)

I know I will be attacked for saying this, but isn't it about time for us to stop pretending that John Sharp has any future in a public office? The sad fact is that Sharp's chances died with the Tony Sanchez fiasco he helped engineer. His time has passed. He is not going to be elected. I know he will keep trying. But he is beginning to remind a lot of us of Jim Mattox who, like Sharp, would just not quit trying no matter how many times he was beaten. I was still stuffing envelopes for Jim in his last race---it was something we owed him for having been the best Attorney General of Texas since Jimmy Allred. But we all felt embarrassed FOR HIM.  It is long past time for us to look elsewhere for realistic candidates.

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by: WUSRPH @ Mon Nov 09, 2009 at 01:05:28 AM UTC

Bill White for Lt. Governor (5.00 / 2)

Austin-centric consultants and gossips think this matter is a joke. A serious Democratic strategist or a Texas patriot of any sort, if there are such, would actually want Bill White to run for Lt. Governor.

This is a very important post in which an intelligent and proficient Democrat like Bill White could actually thrive and better this state in profound and lasting ways. The post needs to be rather profoundly bi-partisan and Bill White can do that as well as Bill Hobby did, and that was very well indeed.

Any partisan Democrat, such as myself, would be arguing with Bill White all the time. But, that is fine. It is called deliberation and it contrasts with collusive bargaining, which is a sorry way to run any government.

The post of Lt. Governor is, in the long run, way more important than that of Governor or Senator.

::JRBehrman

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by: JRBehrman @ Mon Nov 09, 2009 at 01:14:13 AM UTC

True, but... (0.00 / 0)

Would we want our Lt. Gov. candidate to outshine the top of the ticket?

Not to mention that the Governors' race will quite possibly be easier for us to win than any of the other statewide races.  

"Let us tenderly and kindly cherish therefore, the means of knowledge. Let us dare to read, think, speak, and write."  -  John Adams

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by: Michael Hurta @ Mon Nov 09, 2009 at 01:50:32 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

white ain't goin' nowhere (0.00 / 0)

his overly-emphatic statements denying his entry would horribly damage his image after a switch.

i believe that white's desire to run for the senate is sincere.

i also believe his skill set and rolodex are suited for that race.

this crazy movement to rush someone to a decision is unfounded.  white says he is running now, in '10, in '11, or '12...we should believe him.

Please refer to KT's signature.

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by: colin @ Mon Nov 09, 2009 at 04:41:51 AM UTC

Spot on, Colin (5.00 / 1)

the only people who want White to exit the senate race amount to anyone but Bill White himself.  I would count myself in the category as he should stay right where he is. He is very sincere in running for the senate and frankly his fundraising and bank account buy him the ability to tell people to back the f**k off.

I have said it before and I'll say it again--Bill White running for governor would be a serious waste of pure leadership, intelligence, and work ethic.  The governor of Texas amounts to as much power as the Queen of England.  White comes from a mayor-centered form of government in Houston versus a city manager form.  He is a proven leader with a strong track record. The record he built for himself in Houston was not only hard earned, but well earned.  

We need White in the senate where he can make a difference, not in the governor's mansion doing ribbon cutting ceremonies and signing baseless executive orders.

I say all of this not to disparage John Sharp at all.  I simply think he is running in the wrong race and his fundraising demonstrates that donors think so too.  

Get off White's back and get on Sharp's.
Todd  

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." - Mahatma Gandhi

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by: Todd Hill @ Mon Nov 09, 2009 at 19:18:21 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

About Texas governors (0.00 / 0)

I'm not getting into the row over what race Bill White should run in, since I kind of think it's up to him.  Instead, let's examine this whole idea that the office of Texas governor is unworthy, so unworthy that it would be a waste of resources to send our best to the governor's mansion.  I think the exact opposite is true.

A strong, effective Texas governor can chart a new path for Texas.  The fact that the position is structurally weak means a more skilled operator is required to get the most out of the position - not a less skilled one.  A truly skilled governor might even have a chance at getting a modern Texas Constitution passed, with greater gubernatorial powers, which would be a relief for us all.

Meanwhile, we see that Perry the Powerless has somehow managed to leave in his wake a smoking shell of state government - in the prisons, in criminal justice, in transportation, in business taxes.  Education continues to flounder.  He may not have all the power in the world, but he's had enough power to make sure that Texas remains a political backwater.

The skills of a Bill White, or a John Connally, would not be wasted in the governor's mansion.  They are needed more than ever.  

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by: Dale Napier @ Tue Nov 10, 2009 at 15:16:47 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Disagree (0.00 / 0)

The reason Perry has made the position of governor seemingly strong is because he has had a state house, complete with a speaker and lt. governor, who have granted him such power. Since 1994 when George W. Bush was governor, and he had a Republican majority in the legislature, the policies you speak of--education etc. were beginning to be ruined at that time.  It has only become worse over the years because Republicans have set policy via the state legislature.    

So long as the state legislature is run by Republicans no Democratic governor will ever get what they want.  A Democratic governor needs a Democratic state house in order to help set the agenda and enact policy.  

The power of appointment can only get you so far. Policy is set through the legislature, not the governor's mansion.

Todd  

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." - Mahatma Gandhi

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by: Todd Hill @ Tue Nov 10, 2009 at 20:02:25 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Bush didn't have a Republican legislature (0.00 / 0)

Republicans didn't win the House until 2003. We had a Democratic Lt. Gov through 1998.

There's more than an academic Texas politics textbook aspect to the office of Governor.  And don't kid yourself - appointing every single political appointee in Texas has given Perry incredible power.

Who do you think implements the bills the Legislature passes?  Agencies ignore bills and appropriations riders all the time, or ignore legislative intent.  They implement all sorts of policies on their own through rulemaking authority.  Recent example - the Lege killed a charter school expansion bill, Perry's appointee at TEA is now exploring expanding them on his own.

Right now the TDP is doing a top 10 agency scandal series - all of them were done by Perry appointees.

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by: Joe @ Tue Nov 10, 2009 at 20:56:03 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

also (0.00 / 0)

for what it's worth - I'd prefer White stay in the Senate race. I think he'd be an incredibly effective Senator, though I think he'd be a much weaker Governor.  He could get stuff done in D.C., I fear he'd get bogged down as governor.  That's just a personal feeling though on his leadership style.  I voted for him 3 times for Houston mayor, I like him, and I think he'd be a great Senator.

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by: Joe @ Tue Nov 10, 2009 at 21:00:08 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I'm counting DINO's (0.00 / 0)

in the legislative category as well.  Bush had a hell of a lot of DINO's working in his favor, and they continued that crap under Perry because of which way the political winds were blowing.  

Otherwise, hat-tip to you.  

I won't disagree with your point on agency heads, which a governor does have power to appoint, but that's not a good enough reason for me to believe that White needs to be our governor versus our senator in D.C.

I will say that Perry has made the position of Texas governor far more powerful than it has been historically.

Todd

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." - Mahatma Gandhi

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by: Todd Hill @ Tue Nov 10, 2009 at 22:53:39 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

david mauro (0.00 / 0)

just re-read my last post and thought some might construe it as an assault on you or your thread...quite the contrary.

it is newsworthy and this issue has very long legs.

Please refer to KT's signature.

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by: colin @ Mon Nov 09, 2009 at 04:45:26 AM UTC

And Hank Gilbert Is Phoebe (0.00 / 0)

Bill White and the Governship is like the Ross and Rachel of Texas politics. Will they? Won't they?

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by: Matt Hardigree @ Mon Nov 09, 2009 at 14:16:33 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I heard the rumor as far back as the summer (0.00 / 0)

at a fundraiser for a Houston city counsel candidate. The hope among the crowd, which is heavily supportive of White, is that he runs for governor.  

Honestly, KBH is a disgrace.  She should either step down from her Senate seat and run full throttle for governor or she should shut up and stay in Washington.  The fact that Kay Bailey Hutchison finds it convenient to mess around with Texas like this should tell us what she is really about.

A typical Republican, Kay is all about Kay.  Period.

Besides, whether or not Perry or Hutchison runs Texas, the outcome for Texans is basically the same, as far as I am concerned.  KBH is no moderate.  

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by: Libby Shaw @ Mon Nov 09, 2009 at 15:47:14 PM UTC

to make it clear (0.00 / 0)

Because I believe John Sharp's political future is all behind him DOES NOT mean that I a Bill White supporter. I have no choice in that race at this time and probably will not UNTIL there really is a race. But I do not want us to waste our chance by ignoring reality.

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by: WUSRPH @ Mon Nov 09, 2009 at 19:35:31 PM UTC