« BACK  |  PRINT

RS

EDITOR OF REDSTATE

Cruz or Williams in Texas

By: Erick Erickson (Diary)  |  January 14th, 2011 at 02:16 PM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

The rumor is that, as we all expected David Dewhurst, who is more like DewCrist, is going to be running for Kay Bailey Hutchison’s Senate seat. Senator Hutchison has said she is not going to run again.

DewCrist has the money and is the man to beat. We must beat him.

In a state with no income tax, DewCrist is on record supporting an income tax. He’s not as good as we can do.

There are two, however, who will make conservatives happy:

Ted Cruz and Michael Williams.

Williams is more charismatic and dynamic than Ted Cruz, who has never run for statewide office before. Ted Cruz is, however, a bit more to the right than Williams.

They would both be stellar candidates, but only one of them can win. And here’s the catch — if they fight it out, DewCrist will win. That is unacceptable.

I will go with either Williams or Cruz. But I think we should see how much money they can raise before I or you decide. Money is going to be a necessary component in this fight against DewCrist. In a state like Texas, all the grassroots support in the world will not get you very far if you don’t have the money to mobilize them and increase your name ID.

Whether it is Williams or Cruz, we win. But only if we rally and not divide between the two, letting Dewcrist win.

Tags: , ,

COMMENTS

POSTING RULES  |  LOGIN TO COMMENT  |  REGISTER TODAY
  • Dan McLaughlin

    That’s gonna leave a mark.

    I like both Cruz and Williams a lot. Agreed that they should both have a chance to prove themselves if both run, but that eventually we’ll need to unite behind one or the other.

  • Composer_Man

    The last I knew, Ted Cruz was going to run for Attorney General if Greg Abbott sought other office. What are the chances that Abbott would run for senator and Cruz could make his first office run for Attorney General?

    Or perhaps Abbott is thinking about the governor’s seat in 4 years. . .

    Just wondering – I like all three of them. (And actually, I thought David Dewhurst was regarded as a strong conservative. I guess I need to read up a little more.)

  • Composer_Man

    The last I knew, Ted Cruz was going to run for Attorney General if Greg Abbott sought other office. What are the chances that Abbott would run for senator and Cruz could make his first office run for Attorney General?

    Or perhaps Abbott is thinking about the governor’s seat in 4 years. . .

    Just wondering – I like all three of them. (And actually, I thought David Dewhurst was regarded as a strong conservative. I guess I need to read up a little more.)

  • Goldwater_Conservative

    Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert will come in, and former Secretary of State Roger Williams is in. Leppert is pretty moderate, but I was wondeirng what is the knock on Roger Williams?

  • chbroussard

    But you’re right that’s it’s about the $$. They’ve got to be able to raise tons of it. If it appears that one of them is just not catching on, I hope he will bow out in the best interests of the state. These are both honorable gentlemen, so I’m hoping this would be the case. The last thing we need is a dogfight within the party. We’re already going to be expending a lot of our efforts to keep Joe Straus and his cronies at bay, which I fully expect will be a 24-7 job.

  • chbroussard

    But you’re right that’s it’s about the $$. They’ve got to be able to raise tons of it. If it appears that one of them is just not catching on, I hope he will bow out in the best interests of the state. These are both honorable gentlemen, so I’m hoping this would be the case. The last thing we need is a dogfight within the party. We’re already going to be expending a lot of our efforts to keep Joe Straus and his cronies at bay, which I fully expect will be a 24-7 job.

  • AceInTX

    Unless of course you know something I don’t…heh

    He’s been campaigning and raising money for a year already.

    Dewhurst is the establishment pick….he didn’t art running last year…my guess is because he knew Key wasn’t really going to drop out after the primaries…that or the establishment got caught flat footed when Williams started running and the establishment talked her into staying out the rest of her term to give them time to collect their marbles…

    either way..Williams has a head start…and should be our guy to run against the establishment.

    Here’s his site and some video to go with it…this guy “makes a thrill run up my leg…heh”

    He’s got a great Bio including working for Ronaldus Magnus, GHW Bush, GW Bush…and 3 terms as RR Commissioner overseeing Texas Energy production. He chaired the commission for 2 of those 3 terms. He was Tea Party before Tea Party was cool!

    The guy’s a rock star and will walk into the senate and fit in right along side Demint, Rubio, Toomy, Buck, Lee, and Paul

    Michael Williams for US Senate

    Listen to these speeches…you won’t be disappointed

    DON’T MESS WITH TEXAS TEA PARTY RALLY 4/15/2009

    SHORT BIO AND 2008 TEXAS GOP CONVENTION SPEECH

    2004 TEXAS GOP CONVENTION SPEECH.

    WILLIAMS ON “PASSION”

    WILLIAMS ON “TECHNOLOGY TODAY”

  • AceInTX

    Like Crist, he’s the establishment guy…but that’s where the comparison ends…

    don’t get me wrong…as anti establishment as I am…Dewhurst is a non started for me if for no other reason than the fact that he’s the establishment guy.

    and he’s milk toast…rhin gruel…whatever you want to call him…but he’s no “Wind Sock Carlie Crist”

  • AceInTX

    Michael Williams has a head start on this…and he’s an exciting guy…see below

  • Goldwater_Conservative

    former secretary of State, he is known in the political circles here but he is a car dealer right now. http://www.rogerforsenate.com/

  • rdelbov

    that Dewhurst supports a state income tax or has been on record supporting a state income tax? I can’t find a thing on it when he was in college in 1969?

    I have always heard Dewhurst was a solid conservative and can’t find a thing about him supporting a state income tax.

    In fact I can’t recall any republican in Texas supporting a state income tax.

  • AceInTX
  • AceInTX
  • Goldwater_Conservative

    but for that matter Cruz and Michael Williams are not that well known either outside of the politically active.

  • AceInTX

    I’d like to see some more on that from Erick before I come down one way or the other.

  • AceInTX

    and so does most of the GOP grass roots as a result.

  • chbroussard

    I donated to Williams through DeMint’s Senate Conservatives Fund. Don’t know how much he raised, because at that time KBH was still non-committal, Will be interested to see if he is returned to DeMint’s website. Will be surprised if he doesn’t.

    Note: Apologizing in advance if my comments double post again. Sorry.

  • chbroussard

    I donated to Williams through DeMint’s Senate Conservatives Fund. Don’t know how much he raised, because at that time KBH was still non-committal, Will be interested to see if he is returned to DeMint’s website. Will be surprised if he doesn’t.

    Note: Apologizing in advance if my comments double post again. Sorry.

  • earlgrey

    to ask which one would be the best fighter for conservative ideas in the Senate. It is not just the ideas that matter, but the fight.

    does Williams have any $ left from when he started his campaign against KBH?

  • http://www.flaliberty.org scorpio0679

    Thanks for identifying this race and the potential candidates early on, Erick. Hopefully going forward we will be able to consolidate grassroots conservative support behind a single, legitimate, electable candidate early enough to have an advantage over the establishment choice. The establishment is great at hand picking their candidate early, leaving conservatives to divide themselves over who to support.

    FL-SEN 2012 is going to be another big one to watch. Hopefully, Erick, you have your eye on that race as well.

  • Jonbontx

    the Demonrats choose to have enter the race!!!! I know that Chris Bell won’t run, but it would be fun to watch him get beaten, again. Right now the only person I can think of would be Bill White, but don’t think that he has much of a snowballs chance.

  • http://www.skiloveland.com skicougar

    i’ve been a foot soldier in the texas gop for 10 years now, and the conservatives have been buzzing over Williams ever since he decided to make a run while the Hutch did her texas two step.

    He may not be the rockstar that Rubio was, but he’s very good and the Tea partiers love him.

    I suspect the tea party movement isnt ready to quit yet and that could be enough to carry him to win the nomination over and establishment guy like Dewhurst and a democrat just isnt going to win a US Senate seat in Texas in 2012.

  • Dan McLaughlin

    But you’d also benefit from watching Ted Cruz speak. He’s a rock star.

  • Finrod

    I saw him at the first RedState gathering in Atlanta July 2009, and he was the most dynamic speaker I saw there– which is high praise, considering he had Nikki Haley and Liz Cheney as competition.

    He’s the kind of conservative speaker that would make Media Mutters and their ilk spitting mad on a regular basis, which is reason enough right there to back him, IMHO.

  • graciegirl

    maybe…Debra Medina. You would not believe how much support she still has even though she didNOT throw her support to Perry, instead endorsed an Independent. This made me terminally angry with her. I think she just used the Republican platform for name recognition.

    Just because Perry beat Bill White more soundly than we thought does not mean he will not try again. I am also for Williams or maybe Cruz but Bill White HAS to be beaten!

    Thanks Kay for waiting. Dan Patrick says she waited so that Perry could not pick her replacement. Easy to believe. It would have given the public a chance to know Michael Williams before an election. BTW, Adios Kay!

  • texasgalt

    He is sitting on 2 million cash. He will have supporters (not me).

  • barry915barry

    he gave in 2006. Barry

    http://lubbockonline.com/stories/040106/sta_040106087.shtml

  • texasgalt

    She was a little too happy with Skr Straus.

  • lineholder

    not endorsed yet.
    http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2011/01/demint-drops-na.php

    Apparently DeMint may have rained on Cornyn’s parade in the process.
    http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2011/01/cornyn-is-demin.php

    I’m from NC. We have Burr of all people. Okay, but nothing to get excited about, which is a big part of the problem here.

    I’m almost green with envy for Texas right now.

  • LibertarianHawk

    “They would both be stellar candidates, but only one of them can win. And here?s the catch ? if they fight it out, DewCrist will win. That is unacceptable.”

    ***

    That sounds about like what gave Dan Coats the Republican nomination for Senate in Indiana. Marlin Stutzman and John Hostettler divided the “anti-establishment” vote — and, between them, garnered some 52% of the vote. Coats won with less than 40% of the vote.

    The people backing Stutzman (and I was one of them), I think, made the mistake of focusing all of their attention on Coats and more or less ignoring Hostettler.

    We should learn from that. If we want to keep the RINOs out, we have to try to unite the conservative forces. Else they’ll win by default.

  • LibertarianHawk

    Nothing against bowties, if so. But it just struck me as a bit unusual.

    The last politician I can remember who always wore a bowtie was Paul Simon (the leftist Senator, not the leftist singer).

  • jackhammer

    Was the single best college debater I ever witnessed. He should be able to get elected statewide.

    Funny thing is he was part of “team of the year” one year after Austan Goolsbee, Obama’s head economics advisor…..two more polar opposites are tough to imagine.

  • Darin_H

    He’s been running for it for the last 2-3 years (when KBH promised to quit her senate seat), he has already built the grassroots support and just needs to build on that. Nothing against Cruz, we just need to pick one and pick him early.

    Williams for Senate!

  • irishgirl

    He’s also known in the oil/gas industry. For those outside of Texas (or the oil/gas industry for that matter) the RRC regulates same in Texas.

  • IJB

    …And one other TX Dem (can’t remember who).

    It’s so cute to read those guys over at SSP – they have truly convinced themselves that the Dems have a chance to win in TX! (As IF!!) :)

  • Martin Knight

    Maybe this is not exactly kosher conservatism-wise, but let me be honest; given the fact that both Cruz and Williams are solid diamond-ribbed conservatives, the thumb on the scale for me is race.

    An African-American Senator from hardcore GOP Texas? And let’s say we get lucky and Jennifer Carroll throws her hat into the ring against Bill Nelson in Florida and we get behind her early?

    There’s no guarantee that this would result in any gains for us in the black community – in fact, it likely wouldn’t. However, can you imagine the massive hole it would make in the GOP = KKK narrative if the GOP had two black Senators and the Democrats had none?

    And better yet, both are four-square conservatives who the base can easily get behind and who would also have no problem getting establishment backing.

  • AceInTX

    Cornyn is of that crowd….

    I’m not privy to the inner workings of the Texas GOP but I suspect KBH made the promise to step down along with the powers that be figured Dewhurst would be able to slide in…Then Wlliams came on so strong they talked Kay into staying till the end of her term to give Dewhurst time…

    The thing is this Williams never stopped campaigning…Dewhurst may have the advantage of insider connections…but Williams has been building up the Grass routes since Kay backed out of her promise to step down…I’m hoping that extra time will make the difference

  • AceInTX

    but since he was campaigning up to the point when she decided to stick it out…and he just suspended his official campaign and has kept working on it…he’s bound to have a war chest…he’s never backed off or stopped…he’s been on Cavuto making noises about running and believe he would have run this time whether Kay ran this time or not.

  • AceInTX

    I’d get rid of the bow tie as well

  • AceInTX
  • AceInTX

    Williams for 2012!!!!

  • thurman

    First, I am just taking a few days to enjoy the fact that Kay Bailout will go away quietly into the night and not require another slash and burn primary after her narcissistic Gov bid.

    There is a fantastic lineup of potential candidates waiting in the wings– but M. Williams is a future national star, he is ready for his closeup now.

    I don’t think he’ll have any problem raising cash with his connections in the energy industry plus his rabid Tea Party following.

    Cruz needs his chance to shine too, I like the idea of him running for AG if open and building his resume a little more, but also has the makings of a breakout star.

    Dewhurst, R. Williams, Greg Abbott, Leppert, etc are all rumored to be in the mix.

    It’s too bad we can’t get a chance to vote for both Senate seats this year, so we could send 2 solid conservative stars like Williams and Cruz to represent TX properly.

    M. Williams is my guy but I’d be happy to back Cruz for any office he chooses to pursue. I like the idea of grooming him for 2014 for Cornyn’s seat.

    I love the idea of rallying around our candidate early in a primary, especially since the NRSC hasn’t seemed to learn their lesson.

    So how long until Jesmer and Cornyn endorse Dewhurst?

  • Michael Dugas

    Smart well spoken, GREAT communicator. He is a walking talking example to the world that being American of African decent doesn’t mean you HAVE to be a Dimwitocrat. To me he is a win win all the way.

  • rubb

    Roger is the Williams that is going to have the behind the scenes support of Gov Perry. He also has several million dollars on hand already. Roger Williams is a rock solid conservative with a sterling reputation as a business owner and state level office holder. His policy positions and his knowledge of Texas politics and politicians can make him a favorite of Tea Party and establishment voters.

  • freemanja1991

    Elizabeth Ames Jone? what is wrong with her? I’ve heard she want to run as well?

  • rdelbov

    apparently has alwauys been against an “income tax” as we know it. The tax that an individual pays on his income. Like a 1040 tax.

    Texas apparently does not have a corporate tax which is stunning as Illinois now has a 7% corporate tax. Why are any corporations based anywhere but Texas?

    Dewhurst was in favor of taxing the business income of corporations or small businessman/LLCs. This is no way near the same as a “state income tax”.

    I am be confused but Dewhurst makes it clear he opposes a state income tax but would be opposed to a corporate tax on income.

    Does not appear to be the same

  • riverking

    That’s about how long I’ve been getting campaign eMails from Roger Williams. I’m so unimpressed from them that I hope Michael Williams gets serious about this race.

    Michael Williams needs to work on full name recognition. I think I see a little confusion on that score just in this short thread.

  • bigredone

    Flip a coin. Let the two men decide it with a coin flip, if they are that good.

    Can’t say. Don ‘t live in Texas.

  • froster

    I was talking about this in another diary and another user came up with one vote (on the Miers nomination) that they disagreed with Cornyn.

    Or is it just about his (lack of) work as head of the RSCC?

  • froster

    but the commentators think Wicker and the guy in Wyoming (Wyoming!) might lose.

    I think Chet Edwards may run.

  • graciegirl

    still like her. Go figure. They think she was tricked by Beck.

    and Yes! she and Straus have been very cozy lately what with her plan to replace Texas property tax with increased sales tax and his agreement to support that. My Rep told me it would ONLY take 15% to accomplish that. Leading people on! In what century are we gonna/do we wanna do that.

    Watching Straus nominated with six speeches Tuesday was enough to make you hurl. What I am hearing now is that Straus and Dewhurst might just have to deliver but the next hurdle is the 2/3 rule in the Senate. Dan Patrick is trying to get rid of that now so we can get something done in TX.

    Really like Williams, Abbott, maybe Cruz but Dewhurst!?

  • texasgalt

    because Lt Gov Dewhurst will be strong.

  • texasgalt

    because Lt Gov Dewhurst will be strong.

  • jackhammer

    Dan, I might be mistaken, but I remember you and me going into a debate against Ted Cruz and David Panton back at a Harvard or BU debate tournament, and standing in awe of his amazing speaking ability.

    I remember how much Donald Rumsfeld’s control of a room reminded me of Cruz, and I thought Princeton had something to do with it.

    Cruz & Rubio on the Senate floor on our side borders on a ‘wet dream’…..

    I can get behind Williams, especially if he only really considers 1 term and then makes way for Cruz……Cruz could make a good Governor too….

  • Martin Knight
  • http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

    On the front we’ve essentially decided it’s going to happen so we’re not going to beat people up for it as long as the posters are otherwise playing by the rules.

    Which means paid consultants and staff have to disclose, but ordinary grassroots activists have liberty.

  • Martin Knight
  • AceInTX
  • littlel

    and he is certainly my choice for Senate. The big issue will be money! It seems Dewy has the machine place that Williams does not, which is also a minus for Cruz. As for state wide electability, Dewy is not loved by grassrooters like Michael is. But as past experience shows, money will be the objective and I most certainly will NOT be sending ANY money to the RNC or RNSC given the pitiful excuses they seek to elect!

  • texasgalt

    He needs another good spanking.

  • texasgalt

    former mayor of Dallas. He would have little chance . . . already lost a TX Senate race before.

    Would the Donks waste another 10 million on White? We can hope.

  • texasgalt

    former mayor of Dallas. He would have little chance . . . already lost a TX Senate race before.

    Would the Donks waste another 10 million on White? We can hope.

  • rubb

    Never assume you know who someone is. I never comment on matters I know nothing of. I haven’t decided who to support yet. Just stating what I believe to be the truth. We have a strange political world down here. Remember the shooting star that was Medina, you could see it in how quickly she faded from sight Bill White was going to give Rick Perry a tough run, right up until the votes were cast. If you are not down here, it’s hard to get a feel for what is going to happen. Even though a lot of us didn’t like it, we knew Strauss would be speaker. If you read the Houston and Dallas papers, you are going to be way off mark trying to gauge the political climate, and even worse at trying to influence the outcome. What most people don’t realize, is even though this is a very conservative state on social issues, it was a very Democrat leaning state until recently. The people here are pragmatists, and are not very predictable if you aren’t paying very close attention. The state is home to a large chunk of the largest corporations in the country, and a mecca for people coming from the old rust belt and northeastern states in search of economic activity. The only problem with that is, they vote to institute the same policies that ruined their home states We also have a huge population of citizens from countries south of the border, legal and illegal. It makes for a tough place to predict if you are not involved very closely.

  • mattminton

    Just before the race for Governor started, when it might look like KBH (can’t wait for her to be gone!) would resign her seat. I was VERY impressed. Big, warm, booming voice, knowledgeable on energy issues, unafraid to express his Christian faith, a rock-solid conservative. He’s got my dollar.

  • chbroussard
  • chbroussard
  • itrytobenice

    When you can’t choose, try to get them both.

    If the candidates could agree to a bit of collusion, they could have a bit of a grudge match right now, say with a 30 day fundraising race and a name recognition poll; decide the winner of the grudge match was going in 2012 and the loser could face Cornyn in 2014.

    The 2014 candidate could count on the 2012 candidate for support in his race and the current one could count on the loser for this race.

  • davesinsanantonio

    two things will happen. The first is that it will give the RINO or the Dem a chance to gain ground and money, thus making the final race that much harder, and maybe not successful. The second is that no matter how cordial the two are to each other, how issues focused they are, their supporters will become more and more “partisan” for their guy the longer their two-way race lasts, and the more “partisan” they become, the more likely they are to either sit out the final, or even to work for the opposition out of pique. So, for the good of the state and the country, we must insist on an early resolution. Better yet, get one to find a different race now, and support him on to victory in it. That way we get two great office holders instead of one bad one.

  • zanadeu

    I would like to see Fair Tax (fairtax.org)support to be made an issue in the Texas Senate race. Texas Senator Cornyn is on record in support of the Fair Tax and would really to see both Texas Senators support the Fair Tax.

    If only one candidate comes out in support of FairTax, then he would have my support. If more than one supports FairTax… only then would I have to look deeper.

    I believe that the Fairtax would encourage jobs to come back to the USA… so for me, Fairtax support is a litmus test.

    http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fair-Tax-Supporters-In-Texas/167832999925280

  • talgus

    appears to be Bush41′s choice. Makes him not mine.

  • http://travismonitor.blogspot.com Freedoms Truth

    There, that settles it.

    Cruz was running for AG before and he needs to stick with that plan.

    And if Jerry Patterson wants to head back to TX Senate, Patterson for Lt Gov.

  • http://travismonitor.blogspot.com Freedoms Truth

    … but what is right with her?
    Why does she stand out above Michael Williams or others? I heard Roger Williams, Michael Williams and Elizabeth Ames Jones in mid-2009 – real early – and I was surprised at how good Roger and Michael were … she didnt stand out.

    Also, coming from oil family and San Antone like Cornyn, Straus, et al, she exudes the establishment side of the party vibe, and Dewhurst will crowd out that space. Frankly, she comes across as a KBH clone.

    Nice woman, but we dont need the next KBH in that seat, we need a conservative Rock Star who will be fighting the good fight and doing it very articulately. There are tough battles to fight. Jones aint it. Fortunately, Michael Williams fills the reqts.

  • http://travismonitor.blogspot.com Freedoms Truth

    So long as Michael Williams has enough to execute a full state-wide campaign. That level would probably need to be around $3 million +.

    If he can get to that, he’s winnable even if Dewhurst spends $10m +.

    JMHO.

  • riverking

    … but not necessarily a show-stopper. I’m going to lean to the candidate who most strongly supports the Fair Tax but I’m not going to stay out if none do and I’m not going to support a Fair Tax supporter who is otherwise a RINO or worse.

    I just received an eMail from Roger Williams bragging that George H W Bush has endorsed him. That, if anything, is a minus for me. It merely means that Roger Williams is, if anything, more of an establishment candidate than I thought. Sorry.

    Roger Williams’ eMail also had the effrontery to ask for a donation of $2400! or $4800 if we donate as a couple! I wish I had anywhere near as much money as somebody out there thinks I have.

  • http://twitter.com/michael_s_grant msgrant

    Great values, resume, and life-story. His dad came from Cuba and lived American dream. CRITICAL: he’s an articulate communicator of Reaganesque conservative values. Example here:
    http://www.tedcruz.org/post/2009/08/13/Ted-Cruz-Addresses-the-Fort-Bend-County-Tea-Party.aspx