Burnt Orange Report
News, Politics, and Fun From Deep in the Heart of Texas
|
|
Burnt Orange ReportNews, Politics, and Fun From Deep in the Heart of Texas |
|
 |
 |
August 11, 2005More on Draft SharpBy Karl-Thomas MusselmanSometimes I have to be really impressed by Texas Democrats. This week's stories about the Draft John Sharp website have generated more than their fair share of comments around these parts. I also have to find it slightly amusing that the post got forwarded from one of the consultants I commented on over to Kelly Fero and then ended up in Charles Whitaker's inbox (Yes, he exists, I've e-mailed him, and that's the last time I'm saying sorry) which then got forwarded to some friends of his in North Texas, one of which happened to be another Burnt Orange Report writer who forwarded the whole thing back to me. All within 36 hours. So, Charles Whitaker, the man with a desire to draft John Sharp, who contacted consultants down here in Austin to whip up a site, used to work for Sen. David Cain (no, not David Cain, Juggler for Jesus), celebrated his 50th Birthday last fall, and works for United Way as a union liaison at present. He, Leta Kay from Max Sandlin's campaign, and Alan Haynes all worked for Sharp I am told. He posted an update to the site this morning...
I'm sure plenty of those hits are due to Greg and I's research and posts so I will say that Charles, Archer Nathan, and Company stirred up some blog buzz on it, though the shadow of shadiness certainly is hanging over it. I don't doubt for a minute that it's a good way to ease the public and political chatter class into dealing with a Sharp candidacy, especially when it could distract us from concentrating on the Chris Bell launch. I've held the opinion for quite some time now that it is more of a matter of when, than if, when it comes to the question of John Sharp and a race for Governor of the Great State of Texas. Comments
Obviously the whole thing was set up from the beginning to invite intrigue and blog posts and web traffic. A little too Rovian for my taste, but it worked, I guess. Posted by: Israel K. at August 11, 2005 09:53 AMI am so sad. This is so pathetic. Why has God forsaken us? My plan: I am going to secretly hire Rick Cofer to use the shell of the Todd Radford for Travis County Sheriff website for the Draft Lance Armstrong for Governor Campaign in 2010. Let's start the grassroots and the conspiracy theories earlier. Posted by: Rick Perry's Comb at August 11, 2005 12:22 PMI'll one up you-- I'm going to call Nate Walker and get the shell of Celia Israel's race and start Draft Karl-Thomas for Governor 2022! Beat that, slowpoke... Posted by: Andrew Dobbs at August 11, 2005 12:51 PMI'll take Doobs up and call Haley Greer and get the shell of the Mandy Dealy campaign and Draft Dobbs for TDP Chairman at the 2006 State Convention! Posted by: Karl-Thomas at August 11, 2005 02:33 PMJeez, can I get a few slices of bread to go with the baloney in the DJS clip? If they have no indication of whether John Sharp is going to run or not, maybe they'd be better off calling the reporters he's talked to saying he'll announce in late September? The bottom line for this whole endeavor is that it artfully demonstrates the difference between John Sharp and Chris Bell. On the one hand, we have a candidate who believes in the open-source political ethos that more and more Democrats are embracing (not just bloggers, but club leaders, party officials, and people who don't even have the internet). And on the other, we have a group of people that believe they can manipulate others with lies and anonymity. No what you really have is a few seasoned Demos who have fought the good fight and found that with limited resources a decent candidate with a good name ID beats a decent democrat with no name ID. Then you can go to winning and losing races...Sharps won more at a higher level than Bell and lost some too..Bottom line for me...watch for Spence, Lyndon Olsen, Jr. or Paul Hobby to come out if poll numbers show a Demo. can win...If none of those emerge, Rick Perry will have the honor of being the longest serving Governor in the history of Texas. If that does not change KBH's mind nothing will. Posted by: Dos Centavosforu at August 11, 2005 11:18 PM"what you really have is a few seasoned Demos who have fought the good fight and found that with limited resources a decent candidate with a good name ID beats a decent democrat with no name ID." Really, Stace? They "found" this? I'd be real curious to learn how they "found" this through a smattering of anonymous endorsments. If your bottom line is to watch for a handful of people who will only run when they see a poll that tells them they'll win no matter what, then I might suggest a serious re-education on Democratic principle. I mean, hell, at least I can say this about Sharp - he's willing to run before it gets to that point. What is it that you would possibly find so flattering about someone who will only run if they see a poll rather than one willing to run on strong ideas that run counter to the damage the state GOP has done to the state and well within the mainstream of Democratic thought? If you believe in your ideas, you fight for them, win or lose ... not just when a favorable poll comes out. Posted by: Greg Wythe at August 12, 2005 07:42 AMDuring this whole non-scandal Greg cooked up over the Draft Sharp web site, it has been Greg who has been exposed time after time as engaging in unfounded allegation after unsubstantiated rmore. Now he has Sharp telling reporters that he will announce in late September? How about naming those reporters so we can call them to check? Posted by: Anonymous Anonymous at August 12, 2005 09:19 AMPost a comment
|
|
|
