But mostly it feels like everyone is waiting for Lt. Gov. Dewhurst to come out of hiding or wherever he’s been so that the campaign can really begin. Personally, I think Dewhurst is playing it smart avoiding the little forums because the plain truth is, he has no supporters there. Don’t believe me? Go to a few and talk to the people that attend. The kindest comment that you will hear is that he is a RINO – and it goes downhill from there.
Taking advantage of the news vacuum in the race, former Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert has released a comprehensive plan to get America working again. And when I say comprehensive, I do mean comprehensive. This is the kind of stuff that we usually see from think tanks, not candidates for U.S. Senator. I mean, seriously, where’s the rhetoric? You won’t find much of it here. This is about the extent of the rhetoric:
No doubt, detractors will attack and criticize my proposals. I welcome it. Instead of offering a sweeping vision for reform, I could have put forth dyed-in-the-wool, run-of-the-mill proposals that my opponents are talking about on the campaign trail. But I know their plans will not lead us out of this recession or end the overreach of government. I say go big or go home.
I have to admire the guy for trying this route in a Texas Republican primary, especially one fueled by the remnants of the 2010 tea party successes. These remnants much prefer slogans like “Don’t Tread on Me” over reading comprehensive solutions to the situation we find our country in today. The plan itself is based upon solid conservative principles and is innovative at the same time. But will Texas Republican Party primary voters take the time to read it? Who knows? Maybe if they watch his introduction to it, it will spur them to at least read the Executive Summary he has produced.
You want truth? Try this on for size:
The common practice for Republican politicians today is to rail against President Obama's economy and call for rolling back his disastrous policies. The truth is that Obama has made our situation far worse, but our problems did not start with Obama and they won't stop by simply rolling back his policies. We are in a crisis that has been created by Washington and can only be fixed by outsiders, not more lawyers and career politicians. This plan is about creating new opportunities that aren't out there today. Make no mistake; these proposals will change the way our government works. And for those like me who have felt the pull of government holding our country back from its place in history as the "shining city upon a hill," this plan will restore the greatness that we know our country can achieve.
What? It isn’t all President Obama’s fault? Really?
Think about that. As best as I can tell, every other candidate in this race is running strictly and solely against President Obama. That is all well and good, and certainly President Obama has been a disaster for the country but if the next senator from Texas doesn’t understand that the problems we face are far deeper than President Obama’s policies, then we stand no chance of reversing course.
Don’t take my word for it. Read this plan. If you like it but still like your candidate better than Mr. Leppert, that’s fine, but tell your candidate to adopt it or at the very least to read it. You never know what can happen when good ideas are shared.
