Texas Megathread

[badgate]

Texas Tribune -- Davis Discusses Plan to Increase Supply of Teachers

http://www.texastribune.org/2014/01/09/davis-vows-increase-supply-teachers/

Also talks about raising salaries; first education reform of many her campaign will roll out in the coming weeks.

Texas Tribune -- Dewhurst Rolls Out Education Interim Charges

http://www.texastribune.org/2014/01/09/dewhurst-rolls-out-education-interim-charges/




The Lite Guv race needs a new poll

[TX Conservative Dem]

Dewhurst will survive somehow in the runoff (if the 2nd place finisher is Patterson or Patrick) and last checked, Dewhurst is still leading by double digits, though not at the 50 percent mark.

[badgate]

Great Texas Trib article pinpointing races across the state to watch:

Texas Tribune Just A Few Races Will Tell You How the Wind Blows
http://www.texastribune.org/2014/01/13/just-few-races-will-tell-you-how-wind-blows/

Texas Tribune The Brief: Davis, Abbott could both be $10M candidates
http://www.texastribune.org/2014/01/13/brief/
(Davis expected to announce over $10M haul)

Texas Tribune Health Enrollments Surge in TX
http://www.texastribune.org/2014/01/13/health-enrollments-surge-rate-uninsured-remains-hi/

Dallas Morning News Wendy Davis endorses David Alameel for U.S. Senate
http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2014/01/wendy-davis-endorses-david-alameel-for-u-s-senate.html/
Worth posting here because it will effect the overall Dem ticket.

Talking Points memo Stockman Can't even beat Cornin in Tea Party Straw Poll
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/steve-stockman-can-t-even-beat-sen-cornyn-in-tea-party-straw-poll?utm_content=bufferff51d&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

[badgate]

Dan Patrick, the Houston state Sen. challenging Lt. Gov Dewhurst, has been endorsed by Mike Huckabee
http://www.danpatrick.org/dans-endorsements/

[badgate]

Per Gromer Jeffers, a political reporter for DMN, Patrick has won the Denton GOP straw poll:

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Here's Jeffer's piece: DMN Texas Lt. Gov Hopefuls Say They've Got The Magic To Win
http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/headlines/20140113-texas-lieutenant-governor-hopefuls-say-theyve-got-the-magic-to-win.ece


Ft Worth Star Telegram Greg Abbott meets with local educators
http://www.star-telegram.com/2014/01/13/5482589/greg-abbott-meets-with-local-educators.html?rh=1

He recited his chorus and two verses on "local control" and picked up the endorsement of the Ft. Worth Mayor.

[publicunofficial]

Wendy Davis raised $12 Million this quarter. Abbot raised $11.5 Million.

[IceSpear]

Wendy Davis raised $12 Million this quarter. Abbot raised $11.5 Million.

Wish that money was going to a Democrat who actually had a chance of winning.

(Sorry Wendy Davis fans)

[Zioneer]

Wendy Davis raised $12 Million this quarter. Abbot raised $11.5 Million.

Wish that money was going to a Democrat who actually had a chance of winning.

(Sorry Wendy Davis fans)

Basically this. Though I suppose a lot of the donors are giving simply because it's Wendy Davis, and would otherwise not give.

[badgate]

At this point in 2010 cycle, Bill White had raised about $6M.

Abbott now has about $27M cash on hand, an outrageous amount, and in other news, I keep forgetting that his name has two Ts.

[publicunofficial]

Davis is touting that she has a donation from every county in Texas. Which probably includes the one Democrat who lives in King County.

[TX Conservative Dem]

Abbott still has the overall advantage in $$$. Expect the Abbott campaign to hit Davis very hard in TV negative ads

[badgate]

Here's Lt. Gov. candidate Dan Patrick's insulting statement on Houston Mayor and likely-2018 state-wide candidate Annise Parker's marriage in California:

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[TX Conservative Dem]

Patrick does have a point

[Flake]

Patrick does have a point

[Zioneer]

Patrick does have a point

No he doesn't.

[badgate]

Patrick does have a point

Yes. A very small, insecure point.

[Rocky Rockefeller]

Actually Patrick is right, a city government can not unilaterally decide to ignore a constitutional amendment, no matter how offensive the amendment is.

[badgate]

The Dallas Morning News takes a hard look at Davis' personal story and includes quotes from Davis, her ex-husband Jeff Davis, and an anonymous close friend/colleauge

Dallas Morning News - As Wendy Davis Touts Life Story in Race for Governor, Key Facts Blurred
http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/headlines/20140118-as-wendy-davis-touts-life-story-in-race-for-governor-key-facts-blurred.ece

[Indy Texas]

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Ah yes, the ex-husband receiving the mobile residence while the ex-wife receives the family's conveyances, both those with wheels and those that sit on cinder blocks in the driveway. A true white trash Texas divorce settlement.

Maybe the lesson to be learned from both Davis' and Abbott's stories is that luck played a role in both of their success stories just as it does in everyone else's. Would Wendy Davis have made it to Harvard had she not fallen in love with a lawyer of means? Would Greg Abbott have gone onto a distinguished political career had the tree that fell on his spine been in the yard of, say, a teen mom living in a trailer without two nickels to rub together rather than a River Oaks mansion whose owners could be coaxed into giving him a settlement that has guaranteed him hundreds of thousands of dollars in annual income for the rest of his life?

[badgate]

Actually Patrick is right, a city government can not unilaterally decide to ignore a constitutional amendment, no matter how offensive the amendment is.

What Mayor Parker actually did was have the city offer "health and life insurance benefits to all spouses of legally married employees including same sex couples." I don't think that'll get overturned in court.



quote from: http://freedomoutpost.com/2013/11/houstons-lesbian-mayor-annise-parker-illegally-authorizes-sex-marriage-benefits/

[badgate]

The Daily Texan has another piece on the Davis campaign's blurring of specifics


The Daily Texan - Davis Education Policy is Short on Specifics, Just Like Her Campaign
http://www.dailytexanonline.com/opinion/2014/01/15/davis-education-policy-is-short-on-specifics-just-like-her-campaign


Key section:

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[Indy Texas]

Some of the big money donations indicating which corner Rich Texans are in this year...

Wendy Davis: 1 2

• Carolyn Oliver, emergency room doctor and healthcare advocate - $1,000,000
• Steve Mostyn, plaintiff's lawyer - $445,250
• Bobby Patton, owner of Los Angeles Dodgers - $250,000
• Sid Bass, oil and gas investor - $200,000
• Charles Butt, heir to the HEB supermarkets chain - $94,273
• Lee Fikes, CEO of Bonanza Oil - $80,000
• Jim Finley, CEO of Finley Resources (oil & gas) - $69,220

Greg Abbott: 1 2

• Doylene Perry, widow of real estate magnate Bob Perry - $250,000
• Kelcy Warren, CEO of Energy Transfer Partners - $200,000
• Marcus Hiles, CEO of Western Rim (real estate development) - $200,000
• Kenny Trout, Excel Communications founder - $200,000
• Ray Hunt, heir to Hunt family oil fortune - $100,000
• Tilman Fertitta, CEO of Landry's Restaurants - $100,000 *
• Nancy Kinder, wife of Kinder Morgan Energy CEO Richard Kinder (formerly of Enron fame) - $100,000
• Peter Thiel, CEO of PayPal, venture capitalist and libertarian activist - $100,000 **
• Paul Foster, CEO of Western Refining - $100,000
• Jeffrey Hildebrand, CEO of Hilcorp Energy, University of Texas regent - $100,000
• Bob McNair, owner of Houston Texans - $100,000
• Boone Pickens, CEO of BP Capital Management - $100,000

* I was surprised to see that the Fertittas are backing Abbott since they usually give their money to Democrats and were very big contributors to Bill White's 2010 campaign for governor.

** Technically a Rich Californian rather than a Rich Texan, Peter Thiel has always perplexed me. I'm not suggesting you're not allowed to be both gay and a Randian anarcho-capitalist but it seems odd that he always puts his money behind people who think he's sinful and depraved, that he should be allowed to be fired for his sexuality and that he shouldn't be able to get married.

[TX Conservative Dem]

Davis's inconsistencies are coming out for all to see: she's the Manti Teo of Texas politics

[Indy Texas]

Davis's inconsistencies are coming out for all to see: she's the Manti Teo of Texas politics

She lied about her age. BFD. Is there a middle-aged woman who has never done that?

[RogueBeaver]

Pubs should stay clear and let the media handle this, stick to the policy treasure trove and run up the score.