NATIONAL REVIEW ONLINE PICKS UP ON KBH INTERVIEW

As most of you know, I had the chance to talk with Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison on Saturday’s Chad Hasty Show. The big news that came out of that interview was the fact that Hutchison had no clue when she was going to resign. First she said she had hoped to resign by this Fall, and that was still her goal. Then she went on to say that “…as long as healthcare is out there, I am going to do everything possible to fight this government takeover.” I then asked  if health care is on the table through 2010, does that mean you would stay in the Senate throughout the election? Her answer? “I didn’t say I would stay until it’s finished. I’m hoping, for sure, that we’ll be able to finish it sometime this Fall. I have not made a decision about staying beyond that.”

Not a very polished answer. She makes it sound as though she’s going to stay in as long as it takes, but then maybe not.

Why do I bring this up? Well today I was shown this piece from the National Review by Kevin D. Williamson(link) who took issue with my take on the interview. Although he left out the quote from Hutchison where she said, “as long as health care is out there, I am going to do everything possible to fight this government takeover.”

Even though Mr. Williamson tries to discredit what Robert Pratt and myself had said throughout his article, at the end he writes, “Personally, I think they’re making a little more of what Hutchison said than is entirely justified, but she did not sound terribly sure of herself.“

That’s the point Mr. Williamson. At this point should Hutchison be more sure of herself? Shouldn’t she have a better answer lined up? Shouldn’t she know when the right time to resign will be? If Hutchison doesn’t think she should resign then fine, but come out and say so.

Personally, I don’t think Hutchison is going to drop out of the race. I do think she needs to decide on when to resign though. IF she chooses to resign. Even though I don’t see Hutchison dropping out of the race, I can see how some could see that.

I also wonder how Mr. Williamson knows I’m not a KBH fan? I have agreed and disagreed with both Perry and Hutchison. And I know that I’m not part of any “Perry-generated rumors”.

More on tomorrow’s LFN.

HUTCHISON DOESN’T KNOW WHEN SHE’LL RESIGN

On Saturday’s Chad Hasty Show, Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison called into the show to discuss the campaign for Governor. During the interview we discussed funding for Tier 1, regents at Texas Tech, and other issues.

The biggest issue by far that we spoke about was resignation. I asked the Senator when she planned on resigning and she said that she had hopped to resign this Fall, but wanted to stay and fight against Government run health-care. She then followed up by saying that’s not what she said and that she is running for Governor.

Go to www.chadhasty.com and listen to the podcasts to hear the interview.

By now, KBH should be used to that question, but it’s obvious that she has no idea when she is going to step down. She is content with appearing for only 93% of the votes. The big question is… Are YOU okay with Hutchison missing votes? Should Hutchison resign so she can focus on running for Governor while someone else takes care of representing us? Personally, I think it’s time for Senator Hutchison to step aside and let someone else concentrate on one job.

On a side note, Congressman Randy Neugebauer told us on LFN today that he backs Senator Hutchison in the race for Governor. I wonder how that will play out here in west Texas.

SENATOR KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON TO RESIGN

This morning Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison told Host Mark Davis on WBAP in Dallas that she will resign in October or November while she challenges Governor Rick Perry in a heated Republican Primary.

Here’s the story from WBAP (LINK)

MOST AMERICANS ARE CONSERVATIVES, BUT NO PARTY TO GO TO.

A new Gallup poll is out and it claims that 40% of Americans identify themselves as conservative. Only 21% view themselves as Liberals. 35% of America is moderate. What’s interesting about the study is that 22% of Democrats consider themselves conservative.

The GOP would have a great chance of taking the house back and in a few years taking back the White House, but they have to find someone who is Conservative and get on message. The GOP also needs to define how conservative they are going to be. Maybe each of the candidates needs to write an essay called, “What Being A Conservative Means To Me”.

Here’s a link to the Gallup poll (link)

DEMOCRATS SET THEIR SIGHTS ON TEXAS

During the past Presidential election I said many times that by 2016 I believe Texas will be THE swing state in the U.S. and it appears as though I’m not the only one. Just look at the major cities in Texas and how they are turning even more blue every election.

DNC Chairman, Tim Kaine, announced today that the Fall DNC meeting will be held in Texas. So is Texas the next Virginia, only a much bigger prize? Here is the story from CNN:

(CNN) — Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine appears to have his eyes set on Texas, announcing Monday the organization’s fall meeting will be held in the Lone Star state.

“Not only is Texas a great, beautiful and diverse state, it represents a tremendous growth opportunity for the Democratic Party,” Kaine wrote in an e-mail to DNC supporters.

Now, some might find that notion odd given Texas’s traditionally conservative bent and its recent history of supporting Republican candidates for elective office,” Kaine continued. “But I don’t find it odd at all — and in fact, I am more convinced than ever that Texas is trending our way and will continue to do so.”

Obama lost to Republican presidential candidate John McCain by 11 percentage points and close to 1 million votes. Still, that margin is less than more than half of what it was when the state’s favored son George W. Bush was on the presidential ballot.

In his letter Monday, Kaine specifically cited Texas’ large Hispanic organization and the grassroots infrastructure put in place by the Obama campaign in 2008 as reasons the traditionally-considered red state may turn blue.

“In so many ways, I believe Texas is poised to move towards our column, just as Virginia has,” Kaine said.

Dear Friend:
It’s time to announce the location of the DNC Fall Meeting, scheduled for September 10th – 12th, 2009. I’m excited to be the first to tell you that this year’s meeting will be in Austin, Texas. In a phrase, we are Lone Star State bound!

Of course, as you know, not only is Texas a great, beautiful and diverse state, it represents a tremendous growth opportunity for the Democratic Party. Now, some might find that notion odd given Texas’s traditionally conservative bent and its recent history of supporting Republican candidates for elective office. But I don’t find it odd at all — and in fact, I am more convinced than ever that Texas is trending our way and will continue to do so.

It wasn’t that long ago — less than 10 years, in fact — that Virginia was considered just as strong a lock for the Republicans as Texas has been. In Virginia, we had Republican Governors, Republican U.S. Senators and a strong Republican majority in our Congressional delegation and state legislature. And we didn’t merit any attention from Presidential candidates during general elections because no Democratic candidate since Lyndon Johnson had won Virginia’s electoral votes.

Today? I’m the second consecutive Democrat to serve as Governor of Virginia, we took back the State Senate and have reached near parity in the House of Delegates. Both of our U.S. Senators are Democrats, and Democrats are the majority of our U.S. House delegation. And of course, in November, Barack Obama became the first Democratic Presidential candidate since 1964 to carry the Old Dominion.

In so many ways, I believe Texas is poised to move towards our column, just as Virginia has. Texas is an increasingly diverse state with a burgeoning and politically active Hispanic population that went strongly for Barack Obama in 2008. And, as a result of investments made by my predecessor, the commitments we’ve made, and the hard work of the Texas Democratic Party — which has done an outstanding job rebuilding the party, attracting good candidates, and expanding our reach — we have a strong and growing Democratic Party infrastructure. Add to that the significant investments we plan to make in Texas through Organizing for America (OFA), and the work OFA will be doing in communities across the state in support of the President’s important and popular agenda, and we have every reason to feel bullish about our chances in Texas. Exciting things are possible because we believe every single state on the map is important.

Of course, it’s also a very exciting time for us to meet because of what Democrats have accomplished electorally in the past year and because of what the President — with our support — has accomplished during his first few, short months in office.

President Obama was elected on a mandate for change. Because of his victory last November and Democrats’ relentless work to make the change he promised during the campaign a reality, women will finally receive equal pay for equal work, four million additional children have access to health care through the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, and a historic economic recovery package is putting Americans back to work. And of course, by the time we meet the Senate should have confirmed the President’s historic choice, Judge Sonia Sotomayor, for the Supreme Court.

I look forward to seeing you in Austin on September 10th at this historic time for our party and the DNC. Austin is a world-renowned destination — a truly wonderful city — and I know we’ll all have a great time. Information about making a reservation can be found below, and if you have any questions whatsoever please don’t hesitate to contact XXXXXX at XXXXX or XXXXX, or the Secretary’s Office at XXXXX.

Hope to see you there,

Governor Tim Kaine
Chairman

CHAD WILL BE TWITTERING TONIGHT

Be sure to sign up and follow me on Twitter. Not only will I be Twittering tonight during Obama’s speech, but during the morning show and throughout the day as well. How do you find me on Twitter? It’s easy:

www.twitter.com/chadhastyradio

New Poll: Hutchison Leads Perry

From the Quorum Report:

NEW POLL PUTS KBH AHEAD OF PERRY 56-31

Company uses controversial robo-dialing methodology but notes it was the most accurate in 2008 Texas GOP presidential primary

A North Carolina polling company called Public Policy Polling reports that a recent poll of 797 likely Republican primary voters puts Kay Bailey Hutchison decisively ahead of Rick Perry by a margin of 56-31.

PPP uses a controversial method of automated telephone polling that has both supporters and detractors. To pre-empt arguments about methodology, the company forwarded an analysis indicating that they had the most accurate Texas numbers in the 2008 GOP presidential primary.

KBH has 76% favorables to RP’s 60%. But the 27% Perry unfavorables lean to Hutchison by a factor of 85-8.

PPP President Dean Debman said, “Rick Perry is in grave danger of losing in the primary. It’s partly because he’s worn out his welcome with a certain segment of the Republican electorate, but he even bigger reason is that Kay Bailey Hutchison is just a lot more popular than him. It would be hard for anyone to heat her in an election.”

Most observers believe that a contested primary would draw well over a million voters rather than the six to seven hundred thousand that normally vote in a gubernatorial year.