Perry Goes Negative on Bell

Sharks, Indeed! (2.00 / 1)

I smell fear in the water!

I guess Perry got tired of beating up on "grandma" when Bell got a competitive infusion of cash!!!

"A time comes when silence is betrayal." Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.

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by: liberaldemdave @ Fri Oct 13, 2006 at 13:51:43 PM CDT

Perry's Just Picking On Bell to Try To Keep Strayhorn down (0.00 / 0)

Perry and Bell are just trying to protect the remnants of their parties.
I'll be voting for Strayhorn. I like Kinky until he made those bad comments.

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by: JanetSA @ Fri Oct 13, 2006 at 20:39:38 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I was interested in Strayhorn until I learned she's a crass opportunist (4.50 / 4)

Here are just a few highlights:

# Political party incontinence - In 1985, she said "I have been a lifelong Democrat, but I'm going to spend the rest of my life vigorously and wholeheartedly in the GOP." Now she says, "I am a Republican. But I know I must set partisan politics aside and do what's right for Texas. That is why I am running for governor as an independent."

# Toll roads - In 2000 Strayhorn reviewed the Texas Department of Transportation recommended toll roads and said, "Building highways through toll financing rather than pay-as-you-go financing dramatically speeds the time it takes to complete a given project." Now she says, "I am adamantly opposed to this massive toll plan," Strayhorn said. "Rick Perry calls it Trans-Texas Corridor. I call it Trans-Texas Catastrophe, and as governor, I will blast it off the bureaucratic books."

# Private school vouchers - She won election as comptroller in 1998 with the help of a $950,000 loan from voucher advocate James Leininger. Strayhorn said she supported vouchers.  In January, she said, "When I've talked about vouchers; philosophically I wouldn't have a problem with that for disadvantaged kids. But let me tell you what, that was before we had five years of this administration that is absolutely totally dismantling our public school system day by day." A few weeks later she said, earlier this year, Strayhorn vowed to "veto any type of legislation that puts a single dollar into any voucher program." And a few weeks after that, she said "I'm not saying I would never support them. I'm saying that I would take vouchers off the table for discussion. No more talk until we address the needs of public schools."

# Reproductive choice - In 1985, She refused to discuss her position on abortion with the Austin American-Statesman, but later told the Christian Science Monitor she opposes abortion personally and would rule out tax dollars for its practice, except in cases of rape incest or where the mother's life is threatened.  In the 1990s, she signed pledges for the Republican National Coalition for Life to oppose abortion and told Greater Austin Right to Life that she supported overturning the Supreme Court decision allowing abortions. Now she says, "I have made my position very clear. As a mama and a grandmama, I believe in the sanctity of life, but I understand that there are those heartbreaking situations where heartbreaking decisions have to be made."

# DeLay's illegal partisan redistricting scheme - As a member of the Legislative Redistricting Board, Strayhorn cast the deciding vote to re-draw Texas House districts to reward Republicans and punish Democrats. Now, she claims that partisanship is crippling Texas.

# Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) - She called for cutting CHIP spending in 2003, by requiring registration every six instead of 12 months. In 2004, she blamed Perry's tight-fistedness for a large drop in enrollment, saying "It's unconscionable that we're dead last in percent of children on health insurance."

# Tuition Deregulation - She called for it in 2003, but nine months later said a student's tuition rate should be frozen at what they paid as a freshman.

# TAKS Test - She endorsed grade advancement based on testing in 1998. But a few weeks ago, she said she would "scale back the importance of the state's standardized TAKS test."

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by: stopkinky @ Fri Oct 13, 2006 at 21:50:59 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I LOVE that ad (5.00 / 1)

It is the perfect mixture of phony mistatements and Swiftboaty imagery.

Is it too late to get this nominated for the Academy Awards?

Look for Bell's numbers to spike despite this ad.

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by: stopkinky @ Fri Oct 13, 2006 at 14:31:07 PM CDT

seems to me (3.00 / 1)

this ad can only help Bell. His major problem is name ID, this will at least tell people he's in the race. And he doesn't really need to win swing voters, so the "tax-loving liberal" stuff shouldn't hurt him too much.

Perry's been treating Bell as his main opponent for months. I guess he's hoping that if he ignores Kinky & Strayhorn, they'll just go away...

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by: abby @ Fri Oct 13, 2006 at 15:34:38 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Yeah (4.00 / 2)

Strategy-wise, this seems like a really stupid move on Perry's part. At best, it might keep a small slice of Kinkies from switching to Bell, but that is offset by legitimizing Bell to the 'I'm a Democrat, but Bell can't win' hand-wringers. Bell should leave Perry a voicemail thanking him for the increased name rec.

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by: George @ Fri Oct 13, 2006 at 15:42:38 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I agree that ad should help Bell (5.00 / 1)

Perry is just a big negative. He's done nothing positive, and this ad is only going to help him with his really hard core base.  They were going to vote for him anyway.

Now more people will know Chis Bell is running against Perry.  And since 2/3 of the poll sample last week said they didn't like Perry, now they know how to hit back at him.

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by: sonia @ Fri Oct 13, 2006 at 16:04:16 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I think it's brilliant. Perry's "base" is the GOP which is about 45% of the vote. (0.00 / 0)

If Perry gets 85% of that base, he wins.

Attacking Democrats is how Republicans rally their base.

Plus, if Perry runs an ad bragging about cutting taxes, then Strayhorn shoves the factual misrepresentations up his ass.

If Perry runs an ad mistating that Bell wants to raise taxes (which is not really true), then Perry gives the strong impression that he's against raising taxes (which is not really true), but Strayhorn will not touch those misrepresentations.

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by: stopkinky @ Fri Oct 13, 2006 at 16:06:13 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

agreed (0.00 / 0)

Unfortunatly, this may indeed rally up some of the base.  If we are lucky, some of the base will only rally against Bell, and continue to split against Perry.

The reason that the significance of anti-Bell stuff hasn't come out now is because Bell has not had the money until now.  At this point, I think Perry understands that without doing anything, Bell's positive TV ads (which I suspect might run through the rest of the campaign) could bring his support up to be really close to Perry's.  Bell positive ads without negative anti-Bell ads could even give swing-voters to Bell, but Perry knows that he at least is stopping the typical swings from going Dem...

Damn Republicans and their strategies.

"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 @ Fri Oct 13, 2006 at 17:06:22 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

There is another variable to consider (0.00 / 0)

And that's turnout.  Perry wins with 85% of his base IF his base turns out in large enough numbers.  If, on the other hand, his base stays home in large numbers, then maybe, just maybe, Bell can pull it off. 

It's a negative basis for hope, though, because I still see little hope for positive reinforcement in Bell's base.

Right now, nothing troubles me more in this race than the idea of a governor elected with only 30% or 35% of the vote.  I would like to see every single candidate promise to support a Constitutional amendment to require runoffs so that the governor has always won with the support of the majority.  If Bell would jump out there as the first to make that promise, I would even consider voting for him.

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by: Wanderer @ Mon Oct 16, 2006 at 10:38:51 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Pathetic (0.00 / 0)

How does the personal life of his contributor have any significance?  It's a such a pathetic attempt to create a non-existant scandal that it should win a reward as such.

Oh no!  Bell's a liberal!  Bell wants to raise taxes?  How?  I'm sure the immigration vote was out of context.  And Perry's trying to defend the border?  He's had 6 years to do it and hasn't done shit.

"I love America more than any other country in this world, and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually."- James A. Baldwin

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by: Timothy @ Fri Oct 13, 2006 at 16:22:30 PM CDT

Bell... (0.00 / 0)

Wants to make sure every business pays their fair share. That's the "raising taxes."

For Perry to claim Bell's "raising taxes" when Perry passed a 200% tax increase on small businesses is rather pathetic.

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

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by: Phillip Martin @ Fri Oct 13, 2006 at 16:54:28 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

agreed (0.00 / 0)

So it boosts Bell's name ID...ok...but it also rallies the wingnuts.  The effects cancel out, the status quo holds, and the clock continues to run down.  Perry wins by default.  Sucks.

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by: thegipper @ Fri Oct 13, 2006 at 16:28:25 PM CDT

I think they're bored (0.00 / 0)

I got 4 press-distribution e-mails from Robert Black today. I think the Perry camp is bored. It's been an easy cycle for them, with little to no need for a lot of media backfire. I feel like they spent months and months doing research on Bell, and they just can't wait to start going after him...

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

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by: Phillip Martin @ Fri Oct 13, 2006 at 17:11:48 PM CDT

Perry and the Trans Texas Corridor (3.00 / 2)

We need to find out how much Zachary Construction, the company that is involved with the TTC, has donated to Perry.  Zachary ranks 9 out of the 20 highest donors to Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison. 

Perry is totally on board with the TTC.

That ought to tell you something, folks. 

With Congressional lawmakers, records of donations are made readily available to the public. 

http://www.opensecre...

What about Texas?  In a debate in Houston last night between candidates for State legislature, incumbent Martha Wong said that environmental and other studies are taking place in the communities along the corridor.

Is this really true?  Environmental studies?  Since when in Texas? 

Ms. Wong also extolled the virtues of the company or companies that would be "paying Texas to build the corridor" and how tolls would generate more revenues for the state. 

Who will pay the tolls?  Jane and Joe Citizen, of course.

Why are companies paying to build a highway, one must wonder.  Since when to do companies build things out of the goodness and generosity of their hearts?

Sorry but I don't get it.  No, I do indeed get it.  Unfortunately, I smell money-changing hands.  Do the math, do the research and the truth will become apparent.

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by: Libby Shaw @ Fri Oct 13, 2006 at 21:51:35 PM CDT

Brilliant... (0.00 / 0)

I may disagree with the ad, because I'm a Democrat, but I have to say it's the single best ad I've seen in this Gov race yet.  It's funny, it plays off your opponent's ad, and it's very effective.  I don't know that it hurts Bell, though.  In fact, I'm tempted to say it REALLY hurts Kinky more than anybody else, since this paints Bell as more liberal than I've ever seen him before.  Grandma is dying the death of silence.

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by: David O. @ Sat Oct 14, 2006 at 10:30:09 AM CDT

Yeah (0.00 / 0)

But it's not that hard to be the best ad of the cycle when almost all of them have been soooo pathetic.

Please read the Community Guidelines and How to Rate Comments.

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by: Karl-Thomas Musselman @ Sun Oct 15, 2006 at 21:19:33 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Shark Ad (5.00 / 1)

Seems like an ad run by someone who is getting scared to me.  The content is fluff.  Perry is full of it over border security.  What has he done for border security?  Everyone in this state knows our borders are hemorrhaging.  Did Bell really say he’d increase taxes?  When?  “Weak on border security and wrong on taxes” is part of the GOP campaign spin against Democrats.  Bunches of words strung together that translate to “we need to stay in power so we can continue to line our pockets and those of our corporate buddies, lobbyists and friends. “

Perhaps Perry is afraid the sharks are coming after him.  Maybe he is worried that the families whose farms, ranches and communities that will be torn up by the TTC will hire O’Quinn to represent them, once Texans sniff out the back room deals made at their expense.

I’ve seen O’Quinn in the courtroom when serving on jury duty.  He is no idiot.  His colorful and sometimes controversial personality has nothing to do with his competence as an attorney or with his intelligence.  He can smell a rat miles away.  Sharks, too.  LOL

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by: Libby Shaw @ Sat Oct 14, 2006 at 15:21:28 PM CDT

Counterattack! (0.00 / 0)

I agree that Perry went negative is a move of desperation. But ignoring this ad invites disaster. It cannot go unanswered. Many campaigns have been lost because Candidate X did a hatchetjob on Candidate Y, and Y  ignored it. They've painted us with that "weak and liberal" brush for far, far too long. The Bell Campaign needs to devise a counterattack ad quickly.

Rick Perry is running on his record and that's his biggest weakness. Say it honestly: Perry is scared that people will notice he's done a poor job, and his choice is to use "liberal" likes its a nasty word. Point to the fact that Perry has held power for so long and hasn't accomplished anything, and end it with the "when I'm Governor" mantra. There are so many levels on which to attack Perry, it's not even funny. But gaining control of the dialogue again and showing strength can only be gained by counterattacking.

S. 

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by: Skylor Williams @ Sun Oct 15, 2006 at 23:18:09 PM CDT