BREAKING NEWS: Ciro Rodriguez withdraws in CD-23

Wow! (0.00 / 0)

I don't know what else to say, except "Wow!"

I'd give Gilliland an even shot with Ciro.  However, if Uresti can use his brother's operation, then I think he has a chance.  I still think we're headed for a run-off.

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by: blank @ Wed Aug 30, 2006 at 21:24:59 PM CDT

This is huge for Lukin (2.00 / 1)

There's no other way to spin it.

Half-million in the bank.  Ciro's out.  Gallego's on board.  Puente's on board.  And Lukin hasn't even gotten started. 

Bonilla better grab as many congressional souveneirs as he can. This December, TX 23 is going D.

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by: takebacktexas23 @ Wed Aug 30, 2006 at 21:37:27 PM CDT

Uresti is now the front runner (0.00 / 0)

Uresti is clearly the front runner.  Not sure how people can think Gilliland is the front runner.  They must not know the district or live in it.  Gillialand does not even live in the district, he lives in alamo heights the voters want someone who lives in the district and not trying to just throw money at the race.  Albert Uresti has lived in the district and knows the district.  Uresti is not a carpet bagger but represents the district.

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by: sademocrat @ Wed Aug 30, 2006 at 22:22:09 PM CDT

Actually (0.00 / 0)

I don't think Albert Bustamante (the person Bonilla ousted) ever lived in the district until the year Bonilla defeated him. 

And as far as living in the district, does Uresti live on the northwest side or in the area his brother represented as a state rep, because prior to being redrawn this year, Bonilla's district never went to the southside of San Antonio or Bexar County.

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by: SADem @ Wed Aug 30, 2006 at 23:19:14 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

where you live does matter with the democrats in this district...proven already (0.00 / 0)

it is very important living in the district...i would never vote for someone that does not live in the district...that would be silly. that was key to his brother's win...madla spent a lot of time and his money out of the district and was key to him losing. so, living in alamo heights will hurt gilliand with the democrat votes...so uresti is definitely the front runner for the democrats. yes, uresti lives in the district on the southside.

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by: sademocrat @ Wed Aug 30, 2006 at 23:29:22 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Time for math (2.00 / 1)

Lukin spending money = Bonilla spending money in TX-23 = Bonilla not sending money to Shelley Hypenated-Name.

Lukin should decide on a new nickname too, something to top Lukin.

Therefore, I dub him Luke Gilliland!

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by: RBH @ Wed Aug 30, 2006 at 22:26:24 PM CDT

Who needs Bexar County? (5.00 / 1)

Bonilla's so lucky to be the only white guy in the race.

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by: Pink Lady @ Wed Aug 30, 2006 at 23:25:16 PM CDT

WTF (0.00 / 0)

Huge surprise.

Gilliland seems like a decent candidate, even though I seriously doubt Bonilla will fall until '08. As politically incorrect as it sounds, however, it will not be helpful in trying to win *crucial* Hispanic votes that Gilliland is the frontrunner.

Oh well. Beat Bonilla in '08! By then Carlos Uresti will be in the perfect position to run.

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by: Non-Texan @ Thu Aug 31, 2006 at 00:05:29 AM CDT

Gilland is only candidate that can beat Bonilla (3.00 / 1)

A few things to think about. 
This race will go to a run-off.  December runoffs are very unique animals in politics and they can be won by either side even if there is a huge margin of difference in November.  Gilland is the only D that has the resources and the connections to run a superb GOTV effort in December. 

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by: KenF @ Thu Aug 31, 2006 at 18:33:32 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Wow (0.00 / 0)

Huge news. Thanks for the post, Matt.

Now, a very great man once said that some people rob you with a fountain pen.

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by: Phillip Martin @ Thu Aug 31, 2006 at 00:18:51 AM CDT

If Lukin Gilliand is so rich... (0.00 / 0)

zhen why is he so cheap?

"Secrecy and a free, democratic government don't mix."--Harry Truman

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by: SacreBleu @ Thu Aug 31, 2006 at 00:20:19 AM CDT

what the hell? (0.00 / 0)

he gives money to the party and you bash him?

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by: Morter Forker @ Thu Aug 31, 2006 at 01:20:20 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Look, Morter Forker... (0.00 / 0)

SacreBleu does not bash. He asks questions about such statements as...

Gilliland has already put $500,000 of his own money in the race, and can clearly put more if needed.

and

Lukin Gilliland:  Lotsa money... 500k is alot of money, but it's just a drop in the bucket for him.  If he really wanted to, he could fund this entire campaign out of his pocket.

Three election cycles equal six years. All I turn up from Monsieur Gilliand's giving to federal candidates and parties amount to $200 per year. I find $250 more he give to a San Antonio candidate for judge in database of Texas Ethics Commission. This is not giving pattern of someone with $500,000 to burn, mon ami.

Perhaps he is a person of great wealth. I have no way of knowing. But I have seen one or two Potemkin Villages in my day,

Of course, some are rich but not very free in their giving and some are poor and generous. Karl-Thomas Musselman, he live in a garret and eat nothing but a few crusts of bread, but he scrape together his pennies and manage to give away at least $100.

So please, aptly-named Morter Forker, do not mistake a question for bashing. Is BOR for political discussion or simply zee cheerleading?

SacreBleu

"Secrecy and a free, democratic government don't mix."--Harry Truman

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by: SacreBleu @ Thu Aug 31, 2006 at 03:12:59 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

I aint cheerleading... (0.00 / 0)

I just think bashing people for being donors is retarded.

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by: Morter Forker @ Thu Aug 31, 2006 at 11:43:05 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Thank you Sacre Bleu (0.00 / 0)

For showing us those pics of cheerleaders.

KT, Phil... think you can hook a brother up?

thejeffersonian.blogspot.com

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by: Cincinnatus @ Thu Aug 31, 2006 at 12:07:32 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Actually... (0.00 / 0)

I went to high school with one of them. She's real nice. But no, sadly, we can't turn BOR into a dating-site.

Now, a very great man once said that some people rob you with a fountain pen.

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by: Phillip Martin @ Thu Aug 31, 2006 at 15:16:15 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Diversification Philip (0.00 / 0)

Diversification.  That's what it's all about.

thejeffersonian.blogspot.com

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by: Cincinnatus @ Thu Aug 31, 2006 at 15:19:58 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

heh (0.00 / 0)

Yeah, I don't do cheerleaders. Unless they are those cute 'yell' leaders.

Please read the Community Guidelines and How to Rate Comments.

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by: Karl-Thomas Musselman @ Thu Aug 31, 2006 at 17:46:50 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Excellent cheerleaders (0.00 / 0)

But when did UT build a Pasadena campus?

Say, weren't Rick Perry and Chris Bell cheerleaders too?  But certainly not nearly as good as eye candy.

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by: Wanderer @ Thu Aug 31, 2006 at 15:12:07 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Gilliland isn't all that cheap (2.00 / 2)

He gave Bush-Cheney '04 $2000, he gave John Cornyn  four contributions totaling $3500, and he gave Lamar Smith and Henry Bonilla each $250.

I could call that a lot of things, but 'cheap' ain't one of them.

As Stace points out, this district was the only one the court said needed to be redrawn to prevent Hispanics from being disenfranchised, and a rich white guy who donates to Republicans is suddenly the front-runner for the Democratic Party?!?

Somebody please wake me up...

Don't let the Blue Dogs getcha down. Primary them.

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by: PDiddie @ Thu Aug 31, 2006 at 04:59:01 AM CDT

Re: Gilliland isn't all that cheap (0.00 / 0)

That's interesting. It seems he makes it to all the Democratic funerals. 

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by: Tom Blackwell @ Thu Aug 31, 2006 at 05:05:22 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

That's the dad (4.50 / 4)

Lukin Sr gives $$ to GOP, Lukin Jr raises $$ for Dems. Stace links to Burka who links to Perryvworld, but only PVW has corrected. Don't count on Burka ever doing a retraction.

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by: George @ Thu Aug 31, 2006 at 06:05:38 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

The real numbers (5.00 / 4)

I posted on this earlier. Dig a little deeper guys.

See http://theredstate.t...

Gilliland is not shy in giving money to Democrats and their causes. The Texas Ethics Commission reports that Gilliland has given over $31,000 in the past 6 years. The Federal Election Commission reports that he has given over $100,000 in the past 9 years.

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by: M. Eddie Rodriguez @ Thu Aug 31, 2006 at 06:54:49 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Thank you... (5.00 / 1)

this guy helps the party out a whole lot and yall are all so quick to throw him under the bus.  Hardly any of us live in the district so lets just wait till the runoff and see what happens.  No one can predict what will happen at this point.

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by: Morter Forker @ Thu Aug 31, 2006 at 11:44:30 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

SacreBleu tried your links... (0.00 / 0)

but dommage, he come up with same contributions as at first: $1,100 federal, $250 and $100 on Ethics Commission. Zee last is a duplicate of one of zee federal ones. SacreBleu does not criticize M. Gilliand for giving, but he is skeptical of the claim of $500,000 in zee bank ready to be spent. And he wonders why when he uses zee same links as M. Rodriguez he comes up with zee different numeros. (Perhaps SacreBleu not so good with computers.)

SacreBleu also finds something interesting on Ethics database. Type in "Lukin" under payee as if it was zee surname and voila M. Gilliand is collecting $93 and $106  interest on a loan to Rep. Mike Villareal. SacreBleu wonders why if M. Gilliand is so wealthy as every someone claims, he collects zee tiny payments.

SacreBleu has read zee great American novel Huckleberry Finn in which zee Duke and Dauphin convince Jim and Huck zhey are persons of great wealth. Some people are very, very good at zhat. SacreBleu really does not know. He just advise to not take every claim at face value.

Oh, and Pasadena, UT go zhere every January, non?

"Secrecy and a free, democratic government don't mix."--Harry Truman

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by: SacreBleu @ Thu Aug 31, 2006 at 18:35:53 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

SacreBleu admits a terrible mistake... (0.00 / 0)

by misspelling Gilliland into database. Everything M. Rodriguez say is true and more. There are more contributions to Democrats under so many spellings of zee name zhat we should be grateful he is no zee write-in candidate. SacreBleu apologize for everything except the pictures of zee sexy cheerleaders.

"Secrecy and a free, democratic government don't mix."--Harry Truman

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by: SacreBleu @ Thu Aug 31, 2006 at 19:43:56 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Mea culpa as well. (5.00 / 1)

Uncareful reading on my part.

Gilliland has strong Democratic bonafides, and I would be tickled if the Tex-blogosphere *ahem* could get him (and Uresti and Bolanos as well) on a conference call.

Don't let the Blue Dogs getcha down. Primary them.

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by: PDiddie @ Sun Sep 03, 2006 at 08:39:45 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

les excuses ont accepté (0.00 / 0)

If Lukin Gillildnd Jr ever swung to the Republican side many a grave would suddenly stir as countless dead democrats rolled over in their grave.  My grandfather would rise up and with skeletal hand bring down the Demo's god's vengence upon him. Seriously, the guy bleeds red white and blue with democrat blue blood cells and burnt orange blood cells.  His DNA is the Democratic national agenda.  His bloodtype is O so very positive.  I live in the district and will definitely do what I can to help him.  It's Lukin Good for Democrats in CD-23 

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by: tcarnes @ Tue Sep 05, 2006 at 06:46:10 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Let me just hop on the bandwagon here (3.67 / 3)

Lukin Sr... Hard core Republican

Lukin Jr... Hard core Democrat (major funder of Texas Freedom Network, raised millions of dollars for Clinton/Gore and has raised, most likely, hundreds of thousands of dollars for Bexar County and Texas candidates)  So while he may only have given them $200-250 dollars.  He probably paid for those fundraisers out of his own pocket.

I don't have a preference in this race,  but let's clear the air on these matters first and foremost.

And then let's have a discussion on the issues.

Also can we get a thank you for Ciro Rodriguez for everything he has done to represent Texas as faithfully as he has?

thejeffersonian.blogspot.com

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by: Cincinnatus @ Thu Aug 31, 2006 at 12:11:28 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

3 cheers for ciro (0.00 / 0)

burka called him the "zero", and that's pretty rough.

ciro has been a lifelong friend of working families and labor, and it's a fitting tribute that he told his friends in labor first about this breaking news.  ciro's an old-fashioned nice guy in a political world that's often nasty and cruel.

whoever gets into the run-off will need ciro's help to beat bonilla.

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by: takebacktexas23 @ Thu Aug 31, 2006 at 14:58:21 PM CDT

[ Parent ]