Goodness, I escape to the mountains in Arkansas for a week and all hell breaks out in Texas. Go figure. Worse than the mob that took over the Texas Senate last week protesting some very commonsense restrictions on abortion was the response of the man currently holding the office, David Dewhurst, and the three dwarfs trying to unseat him: Dan Patrick, Jerry Patterson, and Todd Staples.
First, Dewhurst. He’s pointing so many fingers that it’s hard to tell what he really thinks. Which is common with Dewhurst these days. First he blamed House Speaker Joe Straus for not sending the bill over to the Senate sooner. Then he blamed obstructionist Democrats. Then he blamed the unruly mob. Then he blamed the press.
But the plain fact of the matter is that the blame, if any, lies squarely at Dewhurst’s own feet. He is the one that hired the idiotic staffer that sent out this tweet inciting the mob. He is the one that instead of firing the guy let him double down. He is the one that left the building for a nice little steak dinner. He is the one that lost control of the Senate floor Tuesday night. He should man up and own his ineptitude as he makes up for it by passing these restrictions with the gift of a second attempt from Gov. Perry.
The three dwarfs couldn’t help themselves and jumped into the fray.
Sen. Patrick says this:
“The Lieutenant Governor gave the Senator in the pink tennis shoes 12 hours to speak last Tuesday. It’s time he gave me or another conservative pro-life Republican a few minutes to move the question and pass the bill”
Click here to read his entire blame piece.
Land Commissioner Patterson says this:
Democracy took a hit last night in the Texas Senate.
Who is to blame for this breakdown of decorum and procedure in the state’s highest legislative chamber?
Everybody is pointing fingers this morning, but in the end, the responsibility for the Texas Senate falls on one man.
The Lieutenant Governor of Texas is solely responsible for the Senate.
Click here to read his entire blame piece.
Agriculture Commissioner Staples reportedly sent out a fundraising email:
“Dewhurst clearly displayed failed leadership in the Texas Senate in front of a worldwide audience.” Targeting the incumbent for dropping the ball on “a chance to pass key pro-life legislation,” he then asked for a contribution to his election campaign.
Even Railroad Commissioner Barry Smitherman got in on the act and he isn’t even running for Lt. Gov.:
Couldn’t sleep last night. So painful watching #sb5 die. MJ was in the Capitol with polite prolifers. Time for new leadership. #txlege
At this point, it isn’t even clear that Dewhurst makes it into the runoff. The three dwarfs are going to look like giants to him come election night. Voters proved last year that his record doesn’t matter and his lack of leadership on this issue (and others), as well as his continuing inability to hire the right campaign staff are pushing voters to look away again. If Dewhurst wants to win, he needs to stop acting like a desperate politician on his last legs and start acting like the Lt. Gov. of Texas. Voters want someone that has a bold vision for the future and not someone that cowers in the corner pointing fingers every which way but at himself. Remember, when you point a finger at someone, there are three fingers pointing back at you.
1937 Packard at the Museum of Automobiles at Petit Jean Mountain in Morrilton, Arkansas
The post Playing the Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst blame game appeared first on Big Jolly Politics.
