Michael Skelly, Kathleen Sebelius, and Wesley Clark

Potentially the next Vice-President of the United States appeared in Houston this week with the next US Congressman from my home district ...

U.S. Rep. John Culberson's Democratic challenger harvested some political power at the international wind power convention here Monday.

Michael Skelly, a wind power executive, is co-chairing the American Wind Energy Association convention, and some attendees also contributed to his campaign at a Monday fundraising event.

Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and retired Gen. Wesley Clark, a former Democratic presidential candidate, were the magnets at the campaign function. They are also featured speakers at the alternative energy convention.

It's pretty much over for Cumbersome at this point. He simply cannot compete with Skelly for media attention, money, or even influence. An incumbent Republican Congressman, tied still to Tom DeLay and the failures of the Bush administration, who cannot raise money and can't get any free media without ridicule.

It's almost sad to see. But not quite.

(Hat tip to Kuffner for much more detail than I can get to.)

Box Turtle boxed in

I can think of a solution for Sen. Corndog's problemo here:

Cornyn is now fifth in the Senate Republican leadership, right behind his fellow Texan, Kay Bailey Hutchison, and the article says it has been assumed he would try to follow her into the No. 4 job once she starts running for governor, which she is expected to do sometime next year.

As Cornyn demonstrated late last year when another leadership job came open, Cornyn is not looking to challenge Hutchison or try to move ahead of her.

Here’s an interesting quote in the story from an anonymous Republican: “John is very interested in advancing in leadership, and he feels trapped by (Hutchison) right now. He can’t leapfrog over her. As long as she’s there, it’s an uncomfortable position for him.”

Everybody: take off your hat and say "Aww."

Let's remind Roll Call that Box Turtle John has a strong opponent. Let's fill Col. Noriega's boots while he's away serving his country for the next two weeks.