It is time that we call the Dallas Morning News to account. Many of you North Texas residents know what I'm talking about; their publications on politics are too often under-researched, biased, and even malicious at times to the liberal cause.
I have quickly grown fond of the Republican and right-leaning readers of our site who have repeatedly displayed their intelligence and respect for democratic discussion. I think many would agree that North Texas would benefit far more from reading our discussions than they ever could from the DMN.
The endorsement makes for a clean sweep of GOP endorsements for the state races and US Congress by the paper (remember this is the same paper who endorsed Todd Staples because we need "someone who knows Austin", rather than a rancher.)
This is what the DMN had to say about Perry's opponents in the race:
...in advancing ambitious plans for education – including generous teacher raises – Mr. Bell and Ms. Strayhorn come up short on realistic ways to pay for everything. They would bank (as would Mr. Friedman) on income from casinos or slot machines. Both are illegal, however, and the Legislature has stood hard against expanded gambling.
We doubt that either Ms. Strayhorn or Mr. Bell would be the one to run such a proposal through the legislative minefield. For all her eye-catching spunk and eagerness to rumble, Ms. Strayhorn, 67, has a bad credibility problem among key lawmakers stemming from her revenue estimates as state comptroller. A political chameleon given to yapping, the former Republican could easily end up more a divider than uniter.
As for the thoughtful Mr. Bell, 46, a former one-term Houston congressman untested in an executive position, he would have the crippling disadvantage of being an unknown in Austin and a minority-party governor.
And Kinky, 61, the fountainhead of memorable one-liners? We appreciate the occasional levity from the Texas humorist but can't say much more.
While I try to find reasoning for these sweeping endorsements, all I can find is that in each editorial, they seem to endorse the Republicans because their opponents do not have detailed plans of what to do differently. I can not think of any political race in the past where an opponent offered up minute details of every little thing they're running on, so this reasoning is beyond me.
Politicans like Bell, Kinky, and Grandma should only need to point out how much Rick Perry sucks. And the polls show that the majority of Texans agree with that tactic, no matter how much the DMN wants every answer on a silver platter.
The Dallas Morning News just released it's own statewide poll for the Governor's race, conducted by Blum & Weprin Associates Inc of NYC.
It gives Perry a huge lead, though still proving 2/3 of the voters want someone else. But these numbers seem a bit stacked in Perry's favor compared to every other poll:
Perry 38%
Strayhorn 18%
Bell 15%
Friedman 14%
Undecided 14%
margin of error +/- 3.5%
If this is an accurate poll, it look like 4 more years of Rick Perry.
The DMN offered up some of its statewide office recommendations today, and here they are:
Lt. Gov: David Dewhurst
Comptroller: Susan Combs
Attorney General: Greg Abbott
Land Commissioner: Jerry Patterson
Ag Commissioner: Todd Staples
Railroad Commissioner: Elizabeth Ames Jones
Somehow this doesn't come as much surprise from this newspaper, but give me a break! All Republicans??
And the worst statement of all:
With 11 years in the Texas Legislature, GOP Sen. Todd Staples of Palestine knows Austin better than his Democratic opponent, Hank Gilbert, a knowledgeable and articulate rancher. Mr. Staples' familiarity with Austin makes him the better voice for Texas' farmers and ranchers. They deserve a commissioner who knows agriculture but can also navigate Austin.
