Burnt Orange Report

I really doubt that Perry went with the commission idea because Chris Bell said so in April while he was still exploring. And I don't doubt that the Bell team is ever more behind the commission now considering it removes an opponent that would likly have beat him. But it still leaves a primary, and plenty of time for someone else to enter the race (of the Roy Spence, Jim Turner, Charlie Stenhold, Juan Garcia, or Rick Noriega type...) as well as one other announced primary candidate Felix Alvarado, who granted, isn't likely to win, but is still there.

I'm not casting my lot in the Primary (if at all in the primary election itself) until well, we know for sure who the only possible choices will be.

We need a better known Hispanic to run for Gov. I honestly think that a Barrientos or Cisneros or better yet a female Hispanic with some political experience would win! Alvarado has polled higher that Bell and done nothing for months! Lets face it Hispanic voters vote 4 Hispanic candidates! So let’s get one! (and no Sanchez!!)

Instead of calling for a commission, why hasn't Mr. Bell come up with an actual PLAN to solve the problem? How would he fund it? How would the funding be used? How much would go to teacher pay increases? What about teacher retirement? What about curriculum? What about this? What about that? In other words, how would he handle the problem beyond calling for a commission to study the problem? The legislature has been studying it for years. A commission is going to be studying it for years as well.

He's running for governor. We need a governor who can think for himself. Not a governor who puts together commissions to find the answer for him. Keep ringing the doorbell, sweetie. Eventually you will realize you're ringing the doorbell at a vacant house.

Now he's trying to take credit for Perry putting together a commission? Please.

One thing about this is clear: Perry has had 5 tries at school finance, and has failed every single time, and now, he's had to turn to a Democrat for help.

Sounds more like he turned to a Democrat to keep him out of the race for governor. Again, please.

I think you're missing the point Snooks. I don't think any of us Bell fans think Perry woke up today and said "You know what, Chris Bell is right." But the point is that Chris Bell has been talking for months about taking a bipartisan approach to education instead of taking the old Perry approach - ramming dumb ideas down the Legislature's throat - that has failed 5 times. And check your facts before you start trashing him - Bell has been talking a lot about specific education ideas, including strongly endorsing the Hochberg plan for school finance, dismantling the high-stakes testing program for curriculum reform, and returning control to local districts to end the cookie-cutter approach to education. Saying that we need to take a bipartisan approach isn't the same thing as saying he doesn't have any ideas of his own, and it's flat out dumb to say otherwise.

Point is, we're all fed up with Rick Perry, but some of us can think of better things to do in response than join a publicity stunt with a guy so dedicated to improving Texas that he couldn't even be troubled to vote in the last decade. Sorry, I'm not buying it.

It seems to me that the worst thing anyone has to say about Bell is that he's a longshot. So be it. I always thought that the reason blogs became popular is because they allowed people to focus on ideas rather than regurgitating the same armchair-pundit horse-race bullshit that we get 24/7 on cable news. Bell is all of one month into his campaign, and with Sharp getting out, it looks like he'll have 14 months to make his case. I wonder why the Kinky supporter is so eager to convince us that he shouldn't bother?

"Bell is all of one month into his campaign, and with Sharp getting out, it looks like he'll have 14 months to make his case."

Wow. He's now the ONLY Democratic candidate for governor? Others need not apply?

Snooks,

What's Kinky's school finance plan? The one he's gonna push on the 79th leg, after he outlaws cat declawing.

K-T,

Jim Turner, Charlie Stenholm, and Steve Wolens- all competent, qualified men. But not one of them has even deigned to put a toe in the water up to now. So what in the hell are they waiting for? I mean it's Rick Freakin' Perry we're talking about here.

Katie:

John Sharp is not a major contributor to CKRMS. Ryan& Co.is. Senator Sharp and Representative Perry have been great friends and great enemies (on and off) since the early 1970s. I've been friends and supporters of both of them for almost two decades.

A Democrat is not going to win a general election in 2006. This is smart politics for Perry and good policy. John Sharp is very well respected. He could provide the cover for the Governor and the Legislature to finally fix the school finance mess.

I view this as a sign that Perry is finally (after 15 years) comfortable being a Republican and can start concentrating on governing rather than politicing. If he's going to be our Governor for four more years, he should work on being a statesman and not just a politician. Maybe I'm overly optimistic, but I see the glass half-full in this move.

Wake up People...

This committee is going nowhere. It will be stacked with Republicans and the results of their findings will be released some time after November 2006.

Sharp is a shill. But he will get to travel the state talking to businessmen, local leaders and money types all over the state laying the groundwork for a 2010 campaign on someone else's dime.

Meanwhile, poor hapless Chris Bell gets no money for his effort and gets slaughtered, amybe even running third behind Perry and Kinky.

It's not so farfetched folks.

"It seems to me that the worst thing anyone has to say about Bell is that he's a longshot."

On the blogs maybe. Off the blogs, well, he's not raised much money. Or interest.

"What's Kinky's school finance plan? The one he's gonna push on the 79th leg, after he outlaws cat declawing."

www.kinkyfriedman.com'

I think declawing is very inhumane myself. I don't know what I would do without my nails especially when I'm in a catty mood.

Kinky outlawing cat declawing means a booming cat declawing business in Oklahoma, New Mexico, Louisiana & Mexico!

Vote Kinky!
(paid pol. adv by Oklahoma & New Mexico Veterinarians for Friedman)