Old Government Road 06/16/2008

It’s growing harder and harder to think that Senator Hutchison will pass on running for Governor in 2010. Less than a month ago, her harsh words before the Texas Association of Business against the business franchise tax that Governor Perry signed into law were well documented. And now more recently, Texas’ senior Senator was in attendance at the Republican Party Convention in Houston, where campaign buttons supporting her possible 2010 run surfaced from nowhere while she offered a counter opinion to a pet project of Governor Perry’s, the Trans Texas Corridor.

This back to back beating that she has put to Governor Perry’s politics, coupled with the audiences that she has been speaking before, can only lead one to reasonably conclude that Senator Hutchison is in in 2010. With that all but cleared up, we can now focus our attention and gossip at what her possible resignation from the Senate could trigger, a little game I like to call…musical chairs.

Right now, Republicans are log-jammed at the top, no one able to move up without someone in front of them bowing out. We saw a small example of this in ‘06 with Strayhorn leaving the Comptroller position to run for Governor, and Combs leaving her Ag. Commissioner post to follow in her footsteps. But it was not nearly enough to satisfy all the statewide Republicans, members in the Legislature, and even a few watching from the outside who are all waiting around for their turn to climb the ladder without having to challenge an incumbent R.

If Hutchison leaves, they could all get their shot. The scenario that the Dallas Morning News draws out is one that I’ve heard before. Senator Hutchison leaves, and at least Florence Shapiro and Lt. Governor Dewhurst jump in the running for her Senate Seat. Then Attorney General Greg Abbott puts his 7 million dollars to work gunning for the Lt. Guv post, and the fallout just continues from there.

Imagine if Susan Combs also decided to go for either the US Senate Seat or the Lt. Guv post. What about Jerry Patterson and Todd Staples? Both are products of the State Senate and therefore it is not without ration to think that they may desire the Senate’s top spot. How does Rail Road Commissioner Michael Williams fit in, especially after he delivered a speech at the Republican Convention that have people buzzing about him possibly running for the US Senate? What about Roger Williams?

And with the likes of State Legislators Dan Branch, Dan Patrick, Jane Nelson and others poised to possibly also jump in the statewide mix, what Senator Hutchison could trigger is something we have not seen in Texas in a very long time (if ever), a contentious Republican Primary up and down the statewide ticket.

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The Game of Musical Chairs is Upon Us

Tuesday, June 16, 2008 By Jake Hatlin It’s growing harder and harder to think that Senator Hutchison will pass on running for Governor in 2010. Less than a month ago, her harsh words before the Texas Association of Business against the business franchise tax that Governor Perry signed into law were well documented. And now more recently, Texas’ senior Senator was in attendance at the Republican Party Convention in Houston, where campaign buttons supporting her possible 2010 run surfaced from nowhere while she offered a counter opinion to a pet project of Governor Perry’s, the Trans Texas Corridor. “I am fighting against tolls on highways that have already been paid for by Texas taxpayers. These initiatives are a violation of the public trust,” Ms. Hutchison said. “And that is why I strongly oppose the Trans-Texas Corridor.” This back to back beating that she has put to Governor Perry’s politics, coupled with the audiences that she has been speaking before, can only lead one to reasonably conclude that Senator Hutchison is in in 2010. With that all but cleared up, we can now focus our attention and gossip at what her possible resignation from the Senate could trigger, a little game I like to call…musical chairs. Right now, Republicans are log-jammed at the top, no one able to move up without someone in front of them bowing out. We saw a small example of this in ‘06 with Strayhorn leaving the Comptroller position to run for Governor, and Combs leaving her Ag. Commissioner post to follow in her footsteps. But it was not nearly enough to satisfy all the statewide Republicans, members in the Legislature, and even a few watching from the outside who are all waiting around for their turn to climb the ladder without having to challenge an incumbent R. If Hutchison leaves, they could all get their shot. The scenario that the Dallas Morning News draws out is one that I’ve heard before. Senator Hutchison leaves, and at least Florence Shapiro and Lt. Governor Dewhurst jump in the running for her Senate Seat. Then Attorney General Greg Abbott puts his 7 million dollars to work gunning for the Lt. Guv post, and the fallout just continues from there. Imagine if Susan Combs also decided to go for either the US Senate Seat or the Lt. Guv post. What about Jerry Patterson and Todd Staples? Both are products of the State Senate and therefore it is not without ration to think that they may desire the Senate’s top spot. How does Rail Road Commissioner Michael Williams fit in, especially after he delivered a speech at the Republican Convention that have people buzzing about him possibly running for the US Senate? What about Roger Williams? And with the likes of State Legislators Dan Branch, Dan Patrick, Jane Nelson and others poised to possibly also jump in the statewide mix, what Senator Hutchison could trigger is something we have not seen in Texas in a very long time (if ever), a contentious Republican Primary up and down the statewide ticket. Go Back

The Game of Musical Chairs is Upon Us