Interesting question. In my mind, there is no question. But that isn’t why I’m writing this.
I attended the Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club weekly luncheon today as usual. As most of you know, that is my favorite club in the Houston Metro area. I attend dozens of club meetings but this is the one club that I call home. I like it because the attendees are a broad cross section of the Harris County Republican Party. You always have attorneys and judges because of The Spaghetti Warehouse’s proximity to the various courthouses in downtown Houston. As well, you get grassroots activists such as Harris County District Clerk Chris Daniel, Harris County Clerk Stan Stanart, and their supporters. You always have candidates testing the waters. And you have bloggers, such as Bob Price of TexasGOPVote.com, and Yvonne Larsen and Don Hooper with BJP. And always a lot of HCRP precinct chairs like Betty Avery, Peggy Lindow, Ann Lee, etc. Tea party folks like Jim Lennon and Fred Blanton. SREC reps like Valoree Swanson and Bonnie Lugo. Insiders, outsiders, grassroots, and newbies – the perfect place to gauge Republican politics in Harris County. Plus, to be frank, the food is good and cheap – hey, I’m down with $8 for a salad, entree, and drink. Yeah, I’m a (cheap) conservative!
I’ve never witnessed anything like I witnessed today at that club. Texas Sen. John Cornyn sent a representative to the meeting, which in my memory is the first time he’s done that. I do know that he’s hired a lot of people lately, so perhaps that is why she was there. I didn’t catch her name but when she stood up to introduce herself and stated who she was shilling for, she received a chorus of boos. Never, ever would I have expected that at this club. Club President Sophia Mafrige told the crowd that the club doesn’t greet people that way and did a redo, forcing people to applaud.
I think that this incident shows the level of frustration that Republican primary voters have with the senior senator from Texas.
After the meeting was over, I was approached by Ed Vidal. Ed is what I call a “super Cruz” supporter. I didn’t know him last year but after I decided to support David Dewhurst for Senate, I kept noticing him at every meeting I attended. He would be passing out Cruz push cards or placing them on top of Dewhurst push cards that were placed on tables.
Earlier this year I decided to meet Ed. I invited him to lunch and told him that I wanted to write about Cruz and if his supporters were happy with his performance in the Senate. I never got around to writing that post. Ed was ecstatic about Cruz’s actions and loved what he was doing. Now, for those of you on the left that are reading this (I’m talking about you Scrambled Brains and others), the caricature you have of Ted Cruz supporters is wrong. Incorrect. Idiotic. Whatever adjective you choose.
Check out Ed’s Linked In. Please. I beg you. I’ll wait. And if those big words scare you, I can understand.
So when this tri-lingual international attorney approached me after the meeting and asked me to tell David Dewhurst to run against John Cornyn, what choice did I really have?
David Dewhurst should run against John Cornyn. Hey, primaries sharpen our candidates and at this stage of the political game, no one else has a chance. I think that Dewhurst would beat Cornyn, hands down, at this time in Texas politics. If someone with fewer resources would have listened to me back on January 1, 2013, perhaps they could have rounded up enough support to run. But that was then, this is now. Now it is going to take someone with significant personal financial resources to beat Cornyn at this point. The idiotic federal rules limiting contributions from any one person is an incumbent’s dream.
Look, Cornyn knows he’s vulnerable. Why do you think he’s hired so many people even though he currently has no opponent? Okay, he has a couple of guys that have zero chance of beating him as opponents but really, he has no serious opponent. He’s fielding a huge staff trying to intimidate serious potential challengers.
I don’t have any particular beef against Cornyn. He is a solid conservative, albeit thin skinned. Lord knows I’ve defended him enough that people call me a RINO. And his votes are decent enough if you look at his overall record. But he doesn’t inspire anyone and he certainly doesn’t listen to current grassroots Texans. In his heart of hearts, he supports amnesty – if you don’t believe me then talk to his closest supporters. His bad luck is that amnesty rears its ugly head in years that he is running for re-election. I think that in his heart of hearts he is against Obamacare but his ambition will not allow him to listen to his constituents. He would do Texans a much greater service by advocating for his positions, rather than trying to convince the base he is with them on these issues. Ambition seems to be his highest priority.
Dewhurst has done a lot to repair his reputation with current grassroots conservatives. He has spent a tremendous amount of time with grassroots activists this year, something he didn’t do in his race against Ted. ‘Cardboard’ Cornyn has been so absent that groups literally have to use a cardboard cutout of his likeness.
Does Dewhurst really want another term as Lt. Gov.? I don’t know the answer to that. More importantly, would Texans be better served with him at the helm of the Texas Senate or with him as a Senator in Washington, doing the will of the Republican base unlike Sen. John Cornyn? I’d submit that Dewhurst’s legacy would be better preserved by leaving state government and entering federal politics. As I did last year.
I started this post by saying that in my mind there was no question. No question at all that Dewhurst should run against Cornyn. In fact, after the RRRW forum last week, I told him that. Think about it: Dewhurst presided over the ‘Texas miracle’. Dewhurst has a solid record of cutting spending and growing an economy. Cornyn? Well, he did file a bunch of bills to defund Obamacare. But he doesn’t support Ted Cruz’s effort to kill it.
You are either with the base or against it. Hiring a bunch of ex-Freedomworks employees isn’t going to change that.
There you go Ed. 😉
Leif says
Ed Vidal? Come on. You can’t trust anyone who went to that kind of law school.
Kelly Horsley says
"You are either with the base or against it. Hiring a bunch of ex-Freedomworks employees isn’t going to change that." Love it, David!
Bob Price says
Very thought provoking article by David Jennings at BJP! Should Lt. Gov. Dewhurst run against Sen. John Cornyn?
Jim Barnes says
Dewhurst is not any better
David Cruzan says
6 one way half a dozen the other. They are both status quo republicans.
Maybe Dan Patrick will back Dewhurst like he did when he ran against Ted Cruz.
Can these life long politicians just go away?!
Anita Ochoa Bargas says
THIS WAS MY IDEA!!!
Anita Ochoa Bargas says
FIRST!!!
Anita Ochoa Bargas says
THIS WAS MY IDEA!!!
Jim Barnes says
Just as unacceptable.
David Cruzan says
Anita. I would not claim it if I were you.
Tiffany Hornsby Elizondo says
Nope. Dwayne Stovall is running against Cornyn. Ive heard nothing but good things about him.
Karen Weiss says
Isn't there a tea party candidate running against John Cornyn
James Weisinger says
hell NO
Benjamin Keith Boyd says
They're listening to you!!! 😀
Darlene Gamble-Bays says
David Dewhurst would be just another John Cornyn. We need more men/women like Ted Cruz. We need new blood with conservative principles and values who LISTENS to their constituents.
Kent A. Vining says
http://www.erickwyatt.com/
Kent A. Vining says
http://www.texansforstovall.com/
Kent A. Vining says
We have choices, people. Dewcrist has a debt to pay for the way he ran his campaign against Cruz, and Cornyn has a debt to pay as well. We. Have. Choices.
Jeannette Jones says
Maybe so; whoever does just needs a little more brass than Cornyn. Cruz set the bar pretty high!
Nim Rod says
Dwhurst is worse. He blinked when we had the TSA almost out of Texas.
Tony says
Ed Vidal is a also Vice President & Former President of the RHCIA . He and I met with Lt. Gov. Dewhurst for coffee a few months ago. Lt. Gov. Dewhurst has done an excellent job , there are always going to be detractors and supporters of any and all Candidates. I tend to agree with ED and believe he should enter at the Federal Level. I have met the Candidates opposing Sen. John Cornyn, “BJP” is right . They really don’t stand much of a chance. I believe both young Men will have a future in politics and this a great start for both of them. Lt. Gov. Dewhurst for Senate ? Very interesting..
Brains and Eggs says
Oh, I really think Louie Gohmert ought to primary Corndog. You don't?
David Farrington says
I do not like either, Need fresh blood
Ed Vidal says
Federal election laws limiting contributions are really an incumbent-protection racket. At this point in time (as Nixon used to say), a challenger to Senator Cornyn needs to be able to self-fund most of his campaign. Therefore, the most plausible candidate is Lt. Governor Dewhurst.
Other candidates, like Louie Gohmert, Katrina Pierson and Tom Pauken, needed to have started right after the election in November 2012. In fact, a few months ago I told two friends who were working on Pauken’s campaign that he should stop running for governor and instead challenge Senator Cornyn. I am a newcomer to Texas, so I am not sure why Pauken rejected this suggestion, but now it is probably too late.
The only other plausible candidate to challenge Senator Cornyn now is Governor Rick Perry, and I would not object to that either.
Rinofest says
They can Rino it out
Benjamin Keith Boyd says
Run him now
plindow says
First, the booing came from the other side of the room and it was pretty shocking, especially since the program included some non-Republicans running for City Council. You don’t act like that in front of “company.” The young lady was sitting at my table and she left early. After the meeting, Dave looked at me and others in disbelief and said, “I’ve never heard booing at a Republican event before!” Or words to that effect. I knew what he would write about.
Ed has a good idea. A vigorous give and take between candidates in the primary campaign could only help.
A friend pointed out that we loved Cornyn on the bench and we loved him as Attorney General, but those positions require different skills and different dispositions from the those required in the Senate, one of the greatest debating societies in the world. It’s the Peter Principle. (In the same conversation, we observed that Greg Abbott is a great A.G., and we know he’s going to win, but what kind of executive will he be? Different skill set.)
Cruz enjoys the benefit of having been pushed his whole life by a father who escaped from Castro’s Cuba and has never forgotten. He is still in Ted’s corner, encouraging him every step of the way. Who could ever compete with that? All you can do is grab on and get pulled along for the ride. Otherwise, you’re going to alienate your base.
Ever wonder where we would be if Boehner, Cantor, McConnell, et al had been running things in Philadelphia in 1776?
Erick Wyatt For US Senate says
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Erick Wyatt For US Senate
@ErickPWyatt
Advocatecitizen Advocatecitizen says
Vote Sen Cornyn out in March Texas
Mern Allison says
I will support Erick any way I can. Cornyn is a traitor
Desmond Taylor says
How about neither!
Pat Marant says
No Dewhurst either please.
Becky Smith Green says
Sign me up! I'm done with John Cornyn.
Tracy Donahoo says
Isn't Dewhurst the guy that lost control of the senate to the pro abortion mob and cost the tax payers a couple special sessions? Good job on promoting Wendi Davis.
Alisa M. Browning says
Dewhurst? Do we want to go from bad to worse? They are both establishment republicans and progressives!
Sandy Dean says
Dewhurst? There is a reason why he lost to some guy named Ted Cruz.
Joseph Bailey Lewis says
What? Replace a traitor with a Liberal RINO? Erick Wyatt please! Restore the Republic!!
Joe McKernan says
Erick you have a new support as of today! You have my vote.
tired dog says
I suggest Tom Pauken would have a better chance at unseating the ‘comfortable in that chair’ Cornyn, given some more resources.
Dewhurst and Cornyn are too much birds of a feather.
Michael Roberts says
Go Erick, Go!
Yvonne Larsen says
I agree with Ed Vidal; Perry could run against Cornyn…
Janet Thomas says
Great idea – lets replace one RINO with another RINO! Why do you think Cruz beat Dewhurst in the Senate race. Dewhurst will cozy up with the Democrats and RINOs in DC just like he has in Austin.
Sally Belladonna Baggins Stricklett says
o pick me up off the floor I'm laughing so hard.
Sally Belladonna Baggins Stricklett says
I know it's hard. Take a deep breath. It's time to stop the establishment addiction.
Jane Funkhouser says
I think Louie Gohmert should be encouraged to run against Cornyn. He was there in the Senate supporting Ted Cruz all night.
Jack Allen says
Yeah, right, trade one RINO for another. Hmmm… Let me think… That would be a NO!
Mike Openshaw says
Absolutely NO improvement. Dewhurst proved gutlessness on TSA last session; the only reason he bucked up on the abortion bill this time was because his power over the Senate was challenged.
Mike Openshaw says
Absolutely NO improvement. Dewhurst proved gutlessness on TSA last session; the only reason he bucked up on the abortion bill this time was because his power over the Senate was challenged.
Derek Vaughn Baker says
What a very odd suggestion… for Dewhurst to run against Cornyn. Not sure we would notice a difference.
Jean Swan says
No, we rejected him already when we chose Cruz. He needs to fade away…
Gregory Parker says
There is no change. They both are elitist, compromising, career politicians.
Angela Swann says
Absolutely not.
Al Lee says
Have you forgotten that Dewhurst spend tens of millions of dollars trying to smear Cruz with ridiculous lies just over a year ago. And you think HE would support Cruz?
Thomas Latham says
Oh he'll No!!!
Ed Vidal says
Interesting that while many people object to Dewhurst challenging Cornyn, and some suggest that Louie Gohmert would be a preferred challenger, almost no one is defending Cornyn. He is very vulnerable in the GOP primary next March.
Randy Johnson says
Dopenshaw!
Silent Archer says
Ted’s father, Rafael Cruz, should challenge Cornyn.