If you like purple
By Frank Garrett Jr.
Austin Times Staff
I opened last Sunday’s local paper to the news that incumbent governor Rick Perry has a healthy lead over his two challengers. My surprise at the gap between him and Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison soon gave way to remembering exactly where we are – Texas.
The good old boy state will always be a day late and a dollar short in fundamental politics. As badly as change is needed here, it won’t happen on the republican side of politics. Why upgrade a position in their party that would bring a much needed dose of respect back to a state already guilty of giving the world George W. Bush?
Why would republicans remotely consider nominating someone capable of bringing serious bi-partisanship to a state facing a future that includes Health Care Reform, and immigration discussions already riddled with anti-fence feelings among what will soon be the majority population?
Now that I have giving the right something to consider as they ready themselves for early voting, I want to encourage the democrats to count it all joy.
If the state electorate is as smart as they were over the last two elections, Bill White will be the next governor of Texas.
He has all the right moves to do a tremendous job, and he has gravitas too. It can’t be ignored that Texas needs a fresh face representing us with an administration in Washington fighting for a new tone in the arena of ideas.
The persistent nature of the president means he won’t give up on this campaign promise anytime soon. Our state needs a governor with the good sense to let those in power know we do not want to be left out of the conversation. Re-electing a bellicose tea party backing, Sarah Palin coveting, secession advocate would not be good politics at this time.
It is understood that the backers of Governor Perry are not all as off the wall as he is, but since silence is consent we can only assume they don’t mind his lack of diplomacy.
When I look at the positive results of change in Dallas County in the district attorneys office, the number of bad court decisions overturned, I long for a governor that just might suspend the death penalty until our system is corrected. I am also convinced the toll road deals made by the present administration leave a lot to be desired, and revamped.
I am also concerned about that fence so many republicans think will solve our illegal immigration problems. Maybe my problem is not seeing people looking for work a lot of Texans won’t do, but need done, is a threat to me. But I need to remember I am not a bigot so my position on the issue does not reflect the bias most right wingers have about the issue.
If there is anything that makes a Perry backer mad its thinkers like me who believe in treating people like human beings regardless of their place of birth. If I had a dollar for every time I have voted against candidates who use fear and loathing as a campaign tool I would be a black Bill Gates.
So all things considered maybe we should be pleased that the incumbent is leading in the polls and likely to get the nomination.
It would be easier for Bill White to beat Perry than the Senator. There are some tea partiers very un-Perry because of his toll road perks to non-Texans.
You know there are a lot of women he could not count as his supporters. Black and Brown voters would probably tolerate a rainy day outside to vote against him.
Anti-death penalty types would work hard to elect Bill White, and I won’t even guesstimate how many voting age students would support the former Houston Mayor noted for his support of education initiatives.
We just might be looking at a purple state if enough people decide it is indeed time for change in Texas. With a redrawing of district lines on the minds of some of us, it would be nice to have the opportunity to undo the electoral damage Tom DeLay did to our state – while Perry stood by and said nothing.
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