KBH dragging heels, playing games

October 14, 2:40 PMDallas County Republican ExaminerDavid Smith

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Is Sen. Hutchison dragging her heels on purpose?

U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison likes the idea of being Governor of Texas.  She considered the thought of running for the post in 2002 and 2006, electing to remain in Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Senate. She likes the idea of being Governor so much that she has even taken the steps to officially enter the 2010 Republican Primary race for this position.

But she doesn't like the idea of running for Governor terribly much.  Especially with a seasoned incumbent in Gov. Rick Perry engaging in a bruising and bloody campaign already.

Yesterday, Sen. Hutchison mentioned on Mark Davis' radio program here in Dallas that she may push back resigning to officially enter the Governor's race full-time into the first quarter of next year.  Said Davis, "The October-November time frame is gone" for Hutchison's resignation.  Linked here:

http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-17004-Dallas-County-Republican-Examiner~y2009m10d13-KBH-hints-at-pushing-back-resignation

Many have commented online that Hutchison seeking the office of Governor is tantamount to a self-serving effort on her part.  Many believe that Texas' ranking Senator belongs in D.C. to oversee business affecting the State in appropriations and the present health care debate.  Others detest her support for the TARP bailout in 2008.

Unfortunately, what has gone unaddressed to-date has been the possibility of political gamesmanship going on between the Perry and Hutchison camps intended to build support for their campaigns...but at the expense of the larger GOP.  There are, in fact, rumors that Gov. Perry would perhaps step down and take the vacant Presidency at Texas A&M University.  In that case he would appoint Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst to the position of U.S. Senator and several lower level positions would come open and a list of candidates would declare for the races that would fill those positions.

In the case of Hutchison's Senate seat, a special election would be scheduled next spring, most likely in May.  This would not affect those who would file for the Senate special election--those would file separately.  But Hutchison's slow departure from the Senate cause problems for those who would seek other offices in the State.  And this is causing problems for the GOP.

January 2, 2010 is the deadline for filing to run in the GOP Primary in March.  This means that anyone wishing to run for these positions must declare and file papers by January 2nd or stay home.  I have heard two rumored scenarios of how the coming fruit basket shuffle in Austin will play out.

The first involves Gov. Perry appointing someone to the Senate seat once Hutchison resigns, himself bolting for the friendly confines of College Station.  Say that appointment were Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams.  The Governor's race would then be between Senator Hutchison and, presumably, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst--that is if January 2nd hasn't passed.  Dewhurst will now be filing for Lt. Governor again.  Attorney General Greg Abbott would then seek the office of Lt. Gov. and State Rep. Dan Branch would seek Abbott's current office, freeing former Park Cities Republican Women's Club President Lisa Luby Ryan to run for Branch's seat in the Legislature.  Ryan has already announced her intent to run for this seat unless Rep. Branch runs again.  And she already has the backing of Roger Staubach.

The second scenario involves Perry appointing Dewhurst directly to the Senate.  Commissioner Williams, already declared a candidate for the Senate seat, would then be a challenger in a special election.  Scenarios in that election include a Democrat possibly winning the special election and the seat in the Senate.  But by appointing Dewhurst, Perry would once again free up several lower officials to declare for higher positions.

But in both scenarios, the absence of an appointment to the Senate prior to January 2nd negates the ability of candidates to declare for these races before the filing deadline.  This simply means that...Senator Hutchison is literally holding up the entire Texas Republican Party from getting on with life!

And I have to question if that isn't the way she wants it?

Gov. Perry, under the Texas A&M scenario, is just staying in the Governor's Mansion until Hutchison resigns from the Senate so he can force her to resign to run for the office of Governor.  When she does, he appoints her replacement, bolts for Texas A&M and the Lt. Gov. is elevated.  Of course, if Dewhurst is appointed to the Senate and Perry resigns, that leaves a few questions as to who would be in the race for Governor in the Republican Primary.

I believe Hutchison may be using the excuse of pending issues in Washington to remain there and limit Perry's options for appointing her replacement in order to limit the eventual field of Gubernatorial candidates.  After all, Dewhurst in D.C. and Perry in College Station basically means KBH in the newly rebuilt, renovated Governor's Mansion.

And I have a problem with the way these political games are being forced-fed to the electorate.  If the intent is to simply preserve each others jobs one for the other, that game will eventually end and will not bode well for the players.  If the idea is to turn out incumbents, then let's get on with it.

Resign, Kay.  Allow the GOP to move on, please.