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Kay Bailey Hutchison will resign seat to run for Governor of Texas.

By: Moe Lane (Diary)  |  July 29th, 2009 at 10:45 PM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

I find some of the rhetoric going on between Senator Hutchison and Governor Perry to be already a bit harsh, so here are the bare bones of the story:

Hutchison told WBAP-AM (820) host Mark Davis that she would officially kick-off her campaign in August.

“Formal announcement: I am in. Then the actual leaving of the Senate will be sometime — October, November — that, in that time frame,” she said.

It was her most definitive statement yet that she would leave the Senate in the middle of her third term.

This being a Senate seat, there will be an appointment made by the Governor, followed by a special election for the remaining two years of Senator Hutchison’s term.  As the disclaimer below makes clear, my recommendation for Governor Perry is to appoint Texas Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams for the position, on the grounds that Williams is a). a solid conservative; b). prepared (thanks to his role as Railroad Commissioner*) to be a powerful voice on energy policy; and c). actively running for the spot.  Oh, and d). he’ll be talking at the RS Gathering. 

You can see some my posts on the man here, and see here for an idea of how the Michael feels about our current fiscal policy.  And an opportunity to donate too, of course.

Moe Lane

*For those wondering: the Railroad Commission in Texas doesn’t handle actually railroads.  Railroad Commissioner is an elected position that handles energy policy, and it’s one of the most powerful offices in the state.

Full disclosure: I am in regular contact with the Michael Williams campaign, and I endorse him as a replacement to Senator Hutchison, once she resigns her Senate seat.

Crossposted to Moe Lane.

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COMMENTS

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  • mbecker908

    We get Kay Bitchy Hutchinson out of the Senate. She gets her clock cleaned by the current Gov. We get Michael Williams on the national scene.

    Life is sweet.

  • Richard Mullins

    Time to send an e-mail to Governor Perry. I’m sure it will not take much to let him know who we want to replace KBH.

  • IJB

    …on how likely it is that Perry will appoint Williams to this seat?

    Are there other people interested? Would Perry be inclined to go in a different direction?

    TIA.

  • izoneguy

    Against a governor of the state that is doing the best in the country?

    Against a governor who’s state created the most jobs?

    Against a governor who has the metal to stand up to Washington?

    Kay “BailOut” would melt faster than ice cubes on a hot Texas sidewalk when Obama starts pushing……

  • izoneguy

    http://www.williamsfortexas.com/posts/27

  • Richard Mullins

    I’m sure this is going on the front page. My guess is Mr Williams is on the Top of the list but anything can happen. On the point of KBH, will she go to Dallas or her hometown,LaMarque?

  • seesalrun

    Kay is no friend of Conservative America period.

    “I will fund the effort to make sure she fails” – moi in Ala.

  • JadedByPolitics
  • http://www.WILLisms.com WILLisms

    First she said she was resigning, then that she would only resign if Perry doesn’t drop out of the race. Very bizarre day for her, even by her standards.

  • seesalrun

    not hardly, stacking her chips on the polls and her instincts are very bad according to my friends in TX

    it’s just typical.

    Dems have no logic. Just hope for changing America, an America they have no clue about.

    Especially, the Americans in Texas. They detest her. Look at her record.

  • bk

    is that if she had run against Perry in 2006 when they were both up, she might have won. Perry’s reputation was a little shaky then, but he’s done much better lately it seems to me. I don’t see any way she beats him in a GOP primary next year.

    It’s not like Perry has been perfect. He really pushed this Trans-Texas Corridor idea that most people thought was awful and has been pretty much canned. It’s one that Jerome Corsi weighed in on if you care for his flavor of analysis.

    Williams would be a great choice to fill Hutchison’s seat. The RR Commission folks in Texas don’t get a lot of face time on TV in Texas, but they are involved in a lot of things going on. It looks a little weird to see a black guy in a bow tie who isn’t a Nation of Islam goofball, so you have to do a double-take the first time you see him.

    Perry could score a fair amount of political points appointing Williams, so let’s hope it happens. I don’t know who else might be running, but you couldn’t do much better than him.

  • redtillimdead

    everything i read says he is likely to appoint Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst. Not as conservative as Williams.

  • ktsub

    …Texas has such a deep bench to choose from, of course Michael Williams is my top choice, but the other two statewide elected Railroad Commissioners offer interesting opportunity

    Elizabeth Ames Jones
    http://www.jonesfortexas.com/

    Victor Carrillo
    http://www.rrc.state.tx.us/commissioners/carrillo/

    or the Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court (re-elected statewide in 08)

    Wallace Jefferson
    http://www.wallacejefferson.com/about/

    All these would do the Republican Party nationally very good, but because Bill White has the cash NOW, and is the sitting mayor of the largest city in Texas…
    my insight is that Lt. Governor David Dewhurst will be appointed and be front-and-center in the election, he is independently wealthy, and able to drop cash in NOW, something important as Bill White has the money advantage, and it will be a short sprint to the special election.

    David Dewhurst, is typical of what a Texan would look for in a politician:
    Native Texan, grew-up in Houston, went into the military, CIA, came back VERY successful in buisness, has a cattle ranch and raises American Quarterhorses, involved in the community, supports many charities, became Land Commissioner, then Lt. Governor. http://www.dewhurst.org/site/PageNavigator/homepage_v08

  • andy_in_texas

    Everyone I know who has heard Michael Williams speak or has had dealings with him, as a couple of people I know have, loves the guy. He is not extremely well-known amongst the masses yet, but I feel he has all the ingredients to connect well with electorate and win the special and be in great position for 2012. He is a conservative with common sense, he speaks directly in language we can all understand, and he does not come off as a slick political type. I will be encouraging everyone I know to email Governor Perry and encourage him to appoint Michael Williams when Senator Hutchison resigns.

    I know a lot of people are wondering about Senator Hutchison’s comment that she will resign only if Perry doesn’t drop out. I think Perry made some comment recently about her dropping out (after some good polls for him), and this was her awkward attempt to hit him back. Perry definitely delivers his zingers better.

  • wgsampson

    There is a lot of justifiable anger in Conservative Circles, but except for a few horrendous votes Kay could have been a lot worse. She voted for Bush’s tax cuts, and his SCOTUS picks (and she is voting against Sotomayor), but she voted for TARP – God Help Us. She will lose to Perry because he is saying all the right things – right now. Let’s just let her fade away, and rejoice at the opportunity.

    Perry is going to be re-elected to a Constitutional weak Governorship because he a) looks good, b) talks good, and c) doesn’t screw up too much (at least not recently). I am not sure the job requires much more. For those who marvel at the current state of the State of Texas, you need to know were the real power is – Lt. Governor. In Texas the Lt. Governor is a combination of VP and Senate Majority Leader, and we have a good one – David Dewhurst.

    Dewhurst started an energy company, kinda like GWB. GWB’s failed, Dewhurst is now worth a couple hundred million. He rose through the ranks of the Texas GOP and now, he wants to be the Senator too. He could buy the election if he wanted, but if Williams is appointed, things will be interesting.

    I agree that Michael Williams is – without question – the man. He is conservative, thoughtful, energetic, he is a great speaker, and – well – he is black. If he were to get appointed, he would get some great national face time which woluld help him raise funds.

    So, Texas is going to get an upgrade, but I don’t think that the sailing is going to be all that smoothe.

  • wgsampson

    I think the Democrats will have Bill White (Houston’s Mayor) and possibly John Sharpe (Former State Comptroller) going in the next election. Each can put in a lot of money. John Cornyn is going to back Dewhurst because he can outspend White and Sharpe combined. It is a similar situation with Florida. Cornyn backs Crist because of the money, when a game changer like Rubio is left high and dry. But David Dewurst is no Charlie Crist – I would be proud to vote for Dewhurst again. It is just that Williams is a game changer.

  • eliminatedebt

    I remember him swaying back and forth, and then recently I think I read that he wanted to have a loan instead.

  • eliminatedebt

    Because if you are going to campaign for another job and neglect your current one, you should probably resign. Bob Dole did it. It was stupid for his future, to lose the job he loved, but it was the risk he took. Kerry and Edwards missed several votes in 04. Massachusetts and North Carolina didn’t deserve their Senators to take an informal leave of absence.

  • farstar99

    She thinks the moonbats surrounding her and their indignation that someone is standing up for Texas is indicative of what she’d find at home if she ever went there.

    That and she’s counting on amnesty to propel the Democrats to permanent rule.

  • http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens
  • texas214

    The three best political figures on the stage representing Texas are Gov. Perry, Sen. Cornyn, and Michael Williams. KBH has done a reasonable job, but is going nowhere in promoting the the state, the GOP, or herself into any leadership position.

    We need to thank her for her service, but encourage the chance for new, vibrant leadership that will be given by Michael Williams.

  • http://groups.yahoo.com/group/republican587/ Elizabeth Christian

    eschristian@GovernorPerry I hope you consider appointing Texas Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams for Hutchison’s seat when she resigns- Perry 2010

  • izoneguy

    Texas Democrats to fight Perry’s stimulus rejection

    http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/031409dntexperrystimulus.30f96ff7.html

  • Menlo

    People should not write her off because Texas has open primaries. Democrats and independents will cross over in droves to vote for her.

    However, who is governor does not in reality matter when you have a legislature filled with Kay Barely Republican clones. It’s the legislature where all the power lies, and almost all Republicans in it will bend over backwards for Democrats.

    For that reason, people should not be crediting Perry for those things that may be going better here than in other states now. Beyond the veto pen, governors don’t make much difference in a state’s economy, budget, or policies. This is especially true in Texas now. The legislature doesn’t give a fig what Perry wants, and he has zero influence over them. Signing a bill into law is not comparable to drafting it and getting it passed.

  • Menlo

    People should not write her off because Texas has open primaries. Democrats and independents will cross over in droves to vote for her.

    However, who is governor does not in reality matter when you have a legislature filled with Kay Barely Republican clones. It’s the legislature where all the power lies, and almost all Republicans in it will bend over backwards for Democrats.

    For that reason, people should not be crediting Perry for those things that may be going better here than in other states now. Beyond the veto pen, governors don’t make much difference in a state’s economy, budget, or policies. This is especially true in Texas now. The legislature doesn’t give a fig what Perry wants, and he has zero influence over them. Signing a bill into law is not comparable to drafting it and getting it passed.

  • montanan

    a republican? is that correct?

  • randy streu

    Having an (R) doesn’t make you a Republican. No matter what the pundits say.

  • Menlo