Bush Returns to a Divided Texas Republican Party

[babylonsister]

Bush Returns to a Divided Texas Republican Party
By Hilary Hylton / Austin Sunday, Jan. 25, 2009


As he returns to his hometown of Midland, Texas, George W. Bush is surely happy to be back in the friendly confines of the Lone Star State. But he may be surprised to find a very different, and divided, Republican party from the one he left behind eight years ago. Rural conservatives in the party are losing clout to more moderate and urban forces, while a potentially nasty internal battle for the Governor's Mansion in 2010 is brewing.

The talk of Texas politicos these days, in fact, is a different politician returning home from the nation's capital, U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison. The two-term Republican senior senator has her eye on the Governor's Mansion currently held by Republican Rick Perry, who has already announced his intention to run for reeelction to an unprecedented third full term.

Since shortly after winning her second full term in 2006, which she said would be her last, Hutchison has been dancing a coy waltz across Texas over her plans to run in 2010 for governor. But in December she set up a gubernatorial exploratory committee, funding it with $1 million from her federal $8 million campaign chest. That move forced major Republican donors to choose sides, and it has sparked a wave of speculation about if or when she might resign her Senate seat and who would seek to replace her.

The sniping between the two giants of Texas politics already has begun. Hutchison has said state government needs a long overdue "scrubbing," while Perry has suggested her vote for the $700 billion Wall Street federal bailout reflects a "Democrat Lite" approach to economic hard times. At a press conference unveiling a pro-life auto license plate, Perry also intimated that his potential opponent has been less than 100% supportive of pro-life policies. Hutchinson, whose position on abortion has been described as "nuanced" by conservative columnist George Will, has supported federal funding for stem cell research, opposed federal funds for abortion and late-term procedures, but backed a 2003 Senate resolution endorsing the U.S. Supreme Court landmark Roe v. Wade ruling on abortion.

more...

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1873143,00.html

[Ranting_Wacko]

1. Here's hoping they take each other out and the rest of the GOP besides...

Gov. Goodhair and Kay are both dirty in the way only a Texas Republican can be. 2010 will be our year to take back Texas if we're willing to fight for it this time.

[Baby Snooks]

2. But they do vote!

"Rural conservatives in the party are losing clout to more moderate and urban forces, while a potentially nasty internal battle for the Governor's Mansion in 2010 is brewing."

The rural vote even in the Valley is what keeps the Republicans in power in this state. But the rural conservatives basically reject the "conservatism" of both Perry and Hutchison both of whom have proven to have been anything but. Given a viable option in terms of at least fiscal conservatism and they might vote for a Democrat in 2010. So far the cast of usual characters do not offer a viable option. But who knows. Maybe there's a Democrat in the legislature who will manage to shine in what is going to be a very contentious legislative session given the precarious economy and the precarious state budget.

Reality is reality and reality is right now even the flag-waving Bible-thumping fundamentalist Republicans are far more worried about being able to pay their mortgage/rent, keep the lights on, and put food on the table. Being pious, or pompous, about morality really isn't as important anymore. Simply because it doesn't pay the mortgage/rent, keep the lights on, or put food on the table.

[sonias]

3. Well bush broke that one too

He's divided everything he's come into contact with. His extreme partisanship was definitely encouraged and emulated by the the Texas GOP. And they took it to higher extremes while he was in Washington. He worked in tandem with the Texas Legislature, Tom DeLay and Tom Craddick to redistrict Texas. Bushie was right there in the middle of it. But now that the brand is losing luster the TX GOP is infighting to see which wing takes control of the sinking ship.

The new speaker, San Antonio Republican Joe Straus, is the moderate scion of an old Republican family with ties going back to John Tower and George H.W. Bush. The Straus victory is evidence of a shift in the GOP power base as urban voters gain a larger voice. Royal Masset, a longtime Texas Republican analyst, says the GOP will continue to fare well in Texas, but he sees a new polarity in the state as the old conservative/liberal labels often used to define Texas politics gives way to the emerging urban/rural dicohotomy.

"Voters in cities want government services," Masset says. "They want social security and health care. They want public education, student loans, public safety, financial security, good transportation and job creation. Republicans can still stand for limited government, but we will have to show how we can deliver needed services."

In that sense, Hutchison's more moderate Republican stance may be just what Texas voters have been looking for. Since being elected to the Senate in 1993 she has always won with more than 60% of the vote. But Perry, the former lieutenant governor who moved into the governor's mansion when Bush left for Washington in 2000, has also proved popular, serving more years than any Texas governor in history.

Perry insists "no one is more socially conservative than me," says Harvey Kronberg, but "that message is getting a little frayed even in Texas."

Perry can stick his "more socially conservative" head up his ass for all we care. I think that the TX republican primary in 2010 is going to be a blow-out and Perry is going to be roadkill.

Sonia

Sonia

[Baby Snooks]

4. He will run as an Independent

If Hutchison becomes the Republican candidate, he will run as an Independent. He probably still has 40% of the Republicans in this state solidly behind him. Hutchison might not have the remaining 60% by the time the election rolls around. Which might prove to be an advantage to the Democratic candidate. They're both really roadkill with some Republicans.

[sonias]

5. I don't think so

He's pretty full of himself, no doubt, but I think he has a cell or two in that goodhair covered brain of his. No independent party is going to win the Governor's seat in Texas - ain't going to happen.

The Governor of Texas is going to be an "R" or a "D".

And if he is stupid enough to run as an Independent and causes Buffy Kay to lose - oh man that would bring out the pitchforks in Texas. No one gave Carol 6 names a chance as an independent and as you can see, the best she did was keep Perry from breaking 40% of all the vote total.

He's still the Governor - 39% was good enough to win.


Just my two cents, which are worth even less in this economy.

Sonia

[Baby Snooks]

6. That 39%...

Don't be too sure. That 39% is pretty much a solid foundation for Rick Perry and the rest of the "conservatives" and in fact there has been talk of forming another party for the "conservatives." Sort of the other extreme of the Libertarians.

I think Kay Bailout Hutchison decided to go "full steam ahead" when she saw Craddick being ousted but Craddick irritated even some of the "conservatives" and the bottom line with Perry is going to be what happens this legislative session and the economy in Texas in 2010. If the state is still solvent and the economy is improving here, he is going to get a lot of mileage over that particularly if the national economy is still in bad shape, which some believe it will be, and Congress is still "bailing out" the crooks.

He has nothing to lose by running as an Independent. It will merely emphasize the rift within the Republican Party. And some may vote for him instead of her. He's still a "conservative" and that is what most of the 39% call themselves. Conservative first. Republican second.

[0xDEADBEEF]

7. Should we take a lesson from Rush Limbaugh...

And all go vote for Perry in the Primary? Nearly 2/3 of the state voted against him in the last election.

That would really put a hurt on the G.O.P!

[sonias]

8. Well I don't know about "all" of us

I find it very hard to cross over into the R primary and vote for an R. Besides there will be candidates in the Democratic primary I care about. It's kind of tough sitting one out in races you actually care about just to mess with the R choice for Governor.

I am sure there will be plenty of people voting in the R primary though. I really can't see Kay Buffy losing to Goodhair Perry.

Sonia