Seems like the She-Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison is skootching closer to running for Governor in 2010.  Saturday, the Quorum Report printed the list of her 300 BFFs who are going to help her win the right to squat in that burnt out mess of a mansion over on Colorado Street.

Leading her list are GOP has beens party stalwarts like Phil Gramm.  Yes, that Phil Gramm, the former Senator, Aggie economist & Enron stockholder that said we’re nothin’ but a nation of whiners.   One of my favorite people.

Then, there’s Rod Paige, former HISD Superintendent and W’s secretary of education and architect of No Child Left Behind.   Woo hoo, betcha that’s gonna get you a lot of votes.

How about former congressman Henry Bonilla?  He founded the “American Dream PAC”, but instead of dreams, Bonilla’s hand-picked treasurer got caught with his hand in the PAC cookie jar.  Whoops.  In spite of having a congressional district drawn just for him, he managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory and lost the seat to a dimocrat. 

Then, there’s convicted drunk driver Congressman Kevin Brady from The Woodlands.

So far, we are underwhelmed.  So goes the battle of the big-haired former rah rahs.

Have you wandered over to one of those librul dimocrat blogs lately?  Most of ‘em have a countdown clock until W leaves office.  If you happen to be able to tell time, you will note the countdown clock is a bit off, and one is about 12 hours off. 

Evidently on Planet Dimocrat, W leaves office at Midnight.  The rest of us realize that W leaves office at noon, when #44 takes the oath of office.  Evidently, between the midnight witching hour and high noon there’s no one in charge of Planet Dimocrat.

We always say, there’s a reason we call them DIMocrats….

The speaker is done.

According to an Associated Press story in the Dallas Morning News, four members reported that Craddick is dropping his bid to remain Speaker. 

Over at the Statesman,  Representative Sid Miller dismissed Straus’ gang of 85 stating:

“I don’t think it will matter.  The dynamics of the race has changed. It’s not a Straus-Craddick race anymore. It’s a whole new day.”

Whatever you say, Sid.

The Houston Chronicle reports that the Speaker tossed in his towel.  Representative Will Hartnett (Dallas) said Craddick has withdrawn and freed his pledges.  According to Harnett, the “vast bulk” of the erstwhile speaker’s pledges are now supporting John Smithee.

So now, according to Craddick loyalists, it’s shaping up to be a Straus-Smithee race for the speaker.

Bring it on.

The King is Dead.  Long live the King!!

Per the Quorum Report, Representative Joe Straus just released these comments:

“Since entering the House, I have been guided by the very straightforward principle of representing my District first, while continually evaluating what is best for Texas - the way in which a democratic body should function.” 

“The needs of special interests and partisianship will take a back seat to doing what is right for our State at this critical time.”

“It is time for a new tone and an atmosphere of trust in the Texas House of Representatives.”

“Having received the committment of a strong majority of my colleagues, it is my goal to restore civility, fairness and transparency to the House of Representatives and its public-policy making process. 

“Speaker Tom Craddick has served  with distinction in the Texas House for four decades.  I have great respect for him personally and honor his service to the State.”

“In the coming days, I look forward to meeting with each Representative and discussing their district’s priorities.”

Straus also released a list of 83 members he says support him as speaker. 

It’s a veritable who’s who of the house - including now former speaker candidates Byron Cook, Pete Gallego, Burt Solomons, Scott Hochberg, Delwin Jones, Jim Keffer, Ed Kuempel, Brian McCall, Tommy Merritt, and Allan Ritter.

There are some notable exceptions:  Craddick D’s Harold Dutton (Houston), still speaker candidate and Craddick BFF Sly Turner (Houston); Baby Boy Gattis and his unholy trio - Kolkhorst, Hamilton, and Harless; and odd speaker candidate out John Smithee.

Let’s try some cipherin’ here:  83 supporters plus Straus his ownself equals 84, which is eight more than the 76 required to successfully stage a palace coup in the Texas House.  Those are some mighty impressive numbers.

It might be all over, ‘cept for the shoutin’ and band wagon jumpin’ on.  But the fat lady don’t sing until January 13th.

Hey, Virginia…there just may be a Santa Claus after all!

If you’ve been following the latest news and spews, it really looks like we actually might have a new speaker of the house next session. 

Wannabe blue fish include:  Pete Gallego (Alpine), Scott Hochberg (Houston), Allan Ritter (Nederland), Sefronia Thompson (Houston), and Sly Turner (Houston). 

Red fish wannabes include:  Bryon Cook (Palestine), Tom Craddick (Midland), Dan Gattis (Georgetown), Delwin Jones (Lubbock), Jim Keffer (Eastland), Ed Kuempel (Seguin), Brian McCall (Plano), Tommy Merritt (Longview), and Burt Solomons (Carrollton).  Odd fish John Smithee (Amarillo) has been announcing he’s fixin’ to announce, which at this point, may be moot.

Right now, representative Joe Straus of San Antonio is claiming the post position.  According to Harvey Kronberg over at the Quorum Report, Strauss is fixin’ to release his list of 80 members that have pledged to support him.

For all y’all who don’t grasp the significance of that announcement, remember there are 76 red fish and 74 blue fish in the Texas House of Representatives.  It only takes 76 votes to win the exclusive rights to entertain lobbyists and perch upon the $10,000 toilets in the speaker’s capitol crib.  The chances of two or more red fish somehow magically turning into blue fish is, well, as we say here in Texas, a big fat nada.  But stranger things have happened….

Straus claims he has four more pledges than that.  Hmmm.

Now, pledges are a funny thing.  These days, most aren’t worth the paper they are written on, if it looks like someone else might suck off some of your supporters.  In the House, everybody wants to ride the winning horse.  Otherwise, they’re stood in the corner for who knows how long.  Under speaker Craddick, you were publically (or privately or both) branded as a traitor (or*gasp* a RINO), stuck in the corner, treated like a pariah by one and all, until the speaker decided to end your misery and just threw your worthless butt under the bus to be ground into dust.

Our very own Baby Boy Gattis has three…yes three!!… red fish pledged to support his stab at the speakership - Lois Kilkorst (Brenham), Tuffy Hamilton (Mauriceville), and Patricia Harless (Spring).  If Craddick does manage to keep his old, cold fingers on the speaker’s gavel, Baby Boy and his unholy trio of supporters get bupkiss during the next session.  If his three red fish sneak off to another school of fish or otherwise get eaten by other, bigger badder red fish, Baby Boy gets bupkiss during the next session.  If Baby Boy and his three fishcateers hold out - they just might turn out to be the tie breakers speakermakers, and the appropriate committee plums will fall at their feet.

Craddick is a crafty old codger and he has freakin’ mountains of moolah to spread around to hang on to those high-priced pissers in his capitol crib.  While it looks like Craddick might be circling the drain, a lot can happen between now and January 13 when the members will actually cast their vote for their leader. 

We can only hope….