Burnt Orange Report

She's been trying to have it both ways for quite some time. When Joe Gunn stepped down as head of the Texas AFL-CIO over a year and a half ago, she made a speech at the dinner in his honor that could have almost been a Democratic stump speech. I wouldn't vote for her. I remember her as a mediocre-at-best mayor of Austin, and she's certainly not gotten any better in the interim.

I think the press has missed the underlying point. Grandma has been upset at Landslide Combs (I think she won her state representative race by about 12 votes) because, at least in Grandma's view, Commissioner Combs jumped the gun when she entered the Comptroller's race.

Combs publicly said that Strayhorn had given her blessing to entering the race, then the two argued publicly and in the press about the exact nature of their understanding. Combs publicly soft-peddled the "misunderstanding," although she told me in clear terms last spring that she was in the Comptroller's race "no matter what." I don't know her very well, so if she said that to me, she surely told it to lots of other folks.

This put Strayhorn in a box.

I like Susan Combs, but her ambition bothers me a little. She resigned her House seat to become state director for Senator Hutchison, then hopped on the Perry bandwagon when the possibility of a Hutchison/Perry gubernatorial race looked likely. This is pure speculation, but I think Commissioner Combs took that action because she wanted to tap into Perry's donor base.

I also like Strayhorn, but she has similar ambition problems and, shall we say, likes to get even.

Mark Sanders (a friend for 20-plus years) is close to Mrs. Bell, whom I do not think I know. But they were both Rob Mosbacher honchos in his race against Bob Bullock for Lieutenant Governor and Lee Brown for Mayor. Sanders worked for Rob for a long time -- promoting term limits, his political races and generally keeping his name in the news. Sanders has plenty of enemies, but everyone I know seems to think highly of Mrs. Bell.

If anyone cares about this thread, I will post more.

"She’s never been afraid to take on Rick Perry as a Republican, but it seems she wants to clear the field in the Democratic Primary because she's scared to take on Chris Bell among Democrats."

I would think she would be more afraid to take on Bob Gammage but then of course Bob Gammage is not really a candidate in the primary, is he? At least not according to Jason Stanford. Or others who insist that Chris Bell is the only "viable" candidate. None of whom have really looked at the political resume of Bob Gammage.

File this latest "entertainment" under "delusional and desperate campaign."

It reminds quite a few of the Sylvester Turner "conspiracy" in which it was intimated, never proven, that Sylvester Turner had conspired to have another Bill White put on the ballot. Perhaps insinuated is a better word. And of course now we have a San Antonio county commissioner who says someone who said they were Mark Sanders called him and offered him $3.5 million to run as comptroller. He doesn't know that it was Mark Sanders. Only that whoever it was said he was Mark Sanders.

First, why would Carole Strayhorn care who ran for comptroller? Second, why would she care who won the Democratic primary or who the Democratic candidate for governor was? Third, why would the mother of two prominent Republicans in the Bush Administration switch parties in mid-stream and run as a Democrat instead of just sitting back and hoping the White House connection worked for her in the end? As a Republican. Not a Democrat.

Always a conspiracy somewhere with Chris Bell. And a mystery. Both usually created by Chris Bell. The first was the "anthrax letter" someone sent him while he was on Houston City Council. Of course no one ever determined who sent it. Or why they even would. Other than to make him look important?

As for everyone liking Alison not everyone does and I would imagine Mark Sanders won't be calling her again any time soon. I would imagine some others won't either. Doesn't encourage friendship when your personal phone call is turned into a political conspiracy. If I had been Mark Sanders, I would have made sure the Austin-American statesman made clear he was a former long-time friend.

This is obviously going to become a circus. So get your popcorn and remember not to sit too close to the dancing elephants. Or Alison Bell.

Perry wasn't on the LRB in 2001, Cornyn was.

Hmmm, so many points to debunk and so little time...here it goes!

I would think she would be more afraid to take on Bob Gammage...

Let's see, Bob Gammage...he's filed, he's against unethical Perry, hmmm...seems to me he needs to flesh out his platform a little more. Chris of course is on the record on a number of subjects from school finance and administration, to ethics, to teen pregnancy.

Your whole Slyvester Turner conspiracy theory makes absolutely no sense.

"Always a conspiracy somewhere with Chris Bell. And a mystery."

Equally ambiguous prattle

As for everyone liking Alison...

Another point that has absolutely no bearing on anything. Also, I don't think that anyone ever said that everyone likes Alison.

Wow, that was easier than I though...when you have no real arguments in the first place, it makes the job so much easier.

"Third, why would the mother of two prominent Republicans in the Bush Administration switch parties in mid-stream and run as a Democrat instead of just sitting back and hoping the White House connection worked for her in the end? As a Republican. Not a Democrat."

I should have put as a Republican or an Independent. The latter quite possibly might happen. I doubt seriously she will ever run as a Democrat. Despite some high-powered Democrats supporting her as a Republican. Which may have something to do with this latest "conspiracy" uncovered by Chris Bell. Not as an indication of her considering switching parties. But rather an indication of who is really seeking to "get even" and it isn't Carole Strayhorn. Sometimes instead of looking at who the finger is pointed at you should instead look at who's pointing the finger and ask why they are.

The real question to be asked at this point is whether those high-powered Democrats will continue to support her or Bob Gammage. Most expect the latter to happen.

As I said, this is obviously going to become a circus.

Quite a few have commented this afternoon about the similarities between this and the Sylvester Turner "conspiracy" and I suppose your response just proves how some people will only see what they want to see and not see what they don't want to see.

"Your whole Slyvester Turner conspiracy theory makes absolutely no sense."

Makes a lot of sense to a lot of people who on that basis alone will never vote for Chris Bell.

Yes, Chris Bell has taken strong stands on a number of issues. We're all really familiar with his princpled position opposing Grand Theft Auto. Also, what IS his school finance plan? I have no idea? Statewide property tax?

Second, it’s worth noting that while One Tough Grandma was fearless enough to take on Rick Perry among Republican primary voters, she’s apparently frightened enough of Chris Bell’s strength among Democrats to want him out of the picture before considering a switch. It’s a little more validation that Chris’s optimistic New Mainstream message is resonating with Democrats across the state who are tired of Rick Perry’s failures and have no patience for candidates running as “Rick Perry lite.”

Man, Jason Stanford and company are just doing a bang up job if their guy is more popular among DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY VOTERS than a woman who has run on the GOP ticket for 25 years. You don't get points for things you are supposed to do, like you don't get a commendation at work for showing up on time. When is Bell going to do something above and beyond? I'll be looking forward to that...

"Also, what IS his school finance plan? I have no idea?"

I think he intends to appoint a commission to study it. And no doubt appoint John Sharp to head the commission.

Great post, I really enjoyed reading about that. It is fun to watch state officials twist like that

I just want to announce my candidacy for re-election right here.

I still have $5 million in the bank and that is mnore than enough to bury two tall Combs.

Betterto live to fight another day and be a burr underneath Rick Perry's saddle for the next four years.

Did you all see the Express news story of the Strayhorn camp trying to pay (bribe) some guy to run for comptroller, $3.5 million green backs. That shows two things they a nuts and they have no clue what they are doing, since the guy in the paper said he never heard of Sanders and was backing Combs they still offered the an outright bribe. He said silly or something to that effect.

But maybe this is the same brain trust that can’t get their numbers correct on the budget or taxes, and about the only thing they do well is shake down tax payers for campaign dough! Maybe she take her dough and just run away?

Did you all see the Express News story today about the Strayhorn camp trying to pay (bribe) some guy to run for comptroller as an R, $3.5 million green backs? This was six weeks ago. Maybe they wanted a three way race to force a runoff so CKMRS would have a shot at holding her current job?

That shows two things they are nuts and they have no clue what they are doing, since the guy in the paper said he never heard of Sanders and was backing Combs they still offered the an outright bribe and he went to the media. He said the offer was silly or something to that effect.

But maybe this is the same brain trust that can’t get their numbers correct on the budget or taxes, and about the only thing they do well is shake down tax payers for campaign dough! Maybe she take her dough and just run away?

I've been reading this flurry of 'telephone he said, she said' off and on for the last couple of days.

There's a lot of major league spin going on and (not to mix metaphors too much) it may take a while for the stink to settle enough to determine the source of the smell.

Here's what's been reported. Mark Sanders called Alison Bell to suggest that Chris run for comptroller and that someone(s) has $3.5 milion to help him do it.

A Republican Bexar County Commissioner Lyle Larson claims that someone offered him the same deal--though there's no real evidence. (I guess Larson didn't have a buddy in Perry's office to call)

Hmmmm ......

Does anyone believe that Strayhorn would run as a Dem? Or that Chris Bell would be the reason she wouldn't file as a Dem if she wanted to run that way. She has $7 million reasons in the bank not to be losing any sleep over it.

All the Bell people are running around claiming Strayhorn is skeered of Chris Bell and wouldn't get in the race as a Dem 'cos she might get beaten......

You've got to be kidding..... right?
Let's get this straight .... nobody's scared of Bell. Not Perry, not Strayhorn, not Gammage, not Kinky, not even Feliz Alvarado.

More interesting.... Bell's campaign guy turns around and calls his buddy in Perry's office.

Why would he do that?

Someone on another blog said,

"There's a difference between knowing 'someone on the other side' and actually sharing information. Can you imagine Chet Edwards' campaign manager last year picking up the phone to call Arlene Wohlmeguth's campaign about Dot Smith? Or Hubert Vo's campaign staff to call Talmadge Heflin about anything? or any Democrat (much less a campaign staffer) giving Tom Delay's office ANY information about an opponent."

I've wondered the same thing.

Why is Bell's campaign guy so chummy with Perry's campaign director? Is he (like Mark Sanders did with Strayhorn) angling for a job with Perry post-Democratic primary? If so, what does Stanford know about the Bell campaign that we don't? I can think of several pertinent questions to ask Sanford 1) How the fundraising going? 2) How's the statewide organization? 3) How's that email subscriber's list?

Lastly, and returning to try to unspin the various camp's take on the original phone call. If Sanders and Alison Bell have been long-term friends, maybe Sanders really WAS concerned about the Bell family post-primary. A concern that is completely independent of any Strayhorn decision.

Maybe he (Sanders) really IS concerned that now that Bell has a formidable opponent in Bob Gammage, Bell will not make it past the primary. Maybe Sanders has the Bell family's real best interest at heart.

Just a thought...

Strayhorn a Democrat?

An awful thought!
I'm sick just thinking about it.

An aide for Strayhorm isn't calling out of friendship. These are Republicans, after all -- a ruthless group that would sell anybody out for a vote.

Bells school finance plan from his website: "We need to create a Bipartisan Commission on Public Education that will bring all sides to the table to seek real solutions and common ground, free from the political hackery that passes for business-as-usual in Austin these days."

Would it kill this dude to come up with an idea that Governor Dip Shit hasn't already put in action? What does Chris Bell stand for? What is the New Mainstream? How can you represent the Mainstream when you're hovering around 25% in the polls? Isn't that called the small minority?

I don't really know Gammage either. But man, the statewide ticket sucks. Maybe we could go get Marty Aikens to come back. We could use his All-American Leadership.

She tried to deny my church its tax-exempt status. I don't care what she says or does- I'll never vote for her in a million years.

Seriously though, Damon, stop having the Chris Bell campaign write your posts for you, it's getting irritating.

One thing being overlooked is Stanford's point to the press. Applying logic to Strayhorn's decision making process won't get you where you need to go.

Also, everyone is indeed petrified of Chris Bell's strength. That is all anyone is talking about these days, how strong he is, not how boring he is or how big a dipshit he is.

"Also, everyone is indeed petrified of Chris Bell's strength. That is all anyone is talking about these days, how strong he is, not how boring he is or how big a dipshit he is."

You must be joking.

http://chron.com/disp/story.mpl/politics/3542817.html

"I've never been the darling of the insiders. I run with the people," Strayhorn said. "Right after the new year, buckle your seat belt and hang on."

Doesn't sound to me like she's planning to run as anything other than a Republican. And could care less what Chris Bell runs for.