Dallas auto dealers bought "croak-and-choke" with GOP, now feel ripped off

The money they "invested" in credit life insurance sold to them by the Republicans turns out to be a waste:

President George W. Bush's 12th-hour decision to lend $17.4 billion to General Motors and Chrysler may ease some of the pressures on their finances. But it might not relieve the tensions in a strained relationship between new-car dealers – many of whom are active politically – and the Republican Party.

Many area dealers say they were deeply disappointed that Republicans they had supported essentially put politics over the economy in opposing loans to GM and Chrysler.

Only three members of the area congressional delegation supported the loans – Democrats Eddie Bernice Johnson and Chet Edwards and Republican Joe Barton. North Texas is home to the GM Arlington plant, which employs about 2,500 people, and about 240 new-car dealerships.

"In general, the Democrats voted for it, and the Republicans did not," said influential local Ford dealer Sam Pack, the chairman of the Texas Automobile Dealers Association who traveled to Washington to meet with members of the Texas delegation. "This was partisan politics. And any of us who are concerned about the economy are disappointed with the Republican Party."...

"I am absolutely disappointed in them because this was the most critical vote in modern history," said Mr. Pack, who owns three Ford dealerships in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and is active in politics. ...

Carl Sewell, chairman of Dallas-based Sewell Automotive Cos., said he couldn't even get two members of the Texas delegation – both of whom he has supported – to return his calls.

"It calls our traditional relationship with our congressional leaders into question," said Mr. Sewell, also one of the most influential dealers in the U.S. "With the exception of President Bush, Democrats seem to be more aware of the importance of the auto industry and jobs than the Republicans."

Some of the Republicans' opposition was disingenuous, dealers said. Several who opposed aid to the Big Three represent states in the South and Southeast where foreign carmakers have built new plants. Others simply wanted more concessions from the UAW.

What kind of response did you get from Senators Cornyn and Hutchison, gentlemen? They voted in favor of letting your industry go under as well. Did they return your calls? And what does this translate to in terms of the 2010 governor's contest? Will you support Kay Bailey in her challenge against Rick Perry or not? How about the gaggle of conservatives, Democrat and Republican, vying to replace her in Washington whenever it is she finally decides to leave? Which ones do you like -- besides your fellow dealer Roger Williams, that is?

I suppose the answer depends in part on how much money you have left next year, or the year after. We'll wait patiently and see. Mr. Sewell certainly ought to be OK; he owns a Lexus dealership, after all.

I also look forward to reading the responses from Houston mega-dealers as well. What say you, Sterling McCall (Group 1)? Charlie Thomas (Champion)? Joe Myers? George DeMontrond? Ernie Guzman?

"'Damaged' is probably too strong to describe the relationship," said Drew Campbell, president of the New Car Dealers Association of Metropolitan Dallas. "But I think it has changed."

Mr. Campbell, a veteran of many political battles, doubts, however, that the divisions will be permanent.

"I was disappointed, too," Mr. Campbell said. "But it's like football, and there will be other games and different alliances."

Red McCombs in San Antonio used to own the Minnesota Vikings. I wonder if he thinks this is the first quarter or the fourth.

American Family Association: Soup is Gay Food

Donald Wildmon -- now entitled to be called Pastor Soup Nazi -- apparently found the words "GOD HATES FAGS" in his Campbell's Alphabet Soup and took it to heart:

Campbell Soup Company embraces homosexual agenda

Send an email to Campbell Soup Company President Douglas Conant. Tell him you want his company to stop supporting the gay agenda.

In the December, 2008 and January, 2009 issues, Campbell Soup Company bought two, two-page advertisements in the latest issues of the nation's largest homosexual magazine, "The Advocate." The ads promote their Swanson line of broth.

In one of the December ads, the Campbell Soup Company highlighted the lives of two lesbians with their son. The others feature New York City chefs. See the ads here.

Campbell Soup Company has openly begun helping homosexual activists push their agenda. Not only did the ads cost Campbell's a chunk of money, but they also sent a message that homosexual parents constitute a family and are worthy of support. They also gave their approval to the entire homosexual agenda.

Emphasis not mine.

So the good Christians over at the AFA are reading The Advocate, but only for the ads, and have discovered that the Homosexual Agenda includes a light, healthy lunch. Mmm, mmm, good. But no one could have predicted that my Bean with Bacon threatened the sanctity of marriage.

Please, no "Cream of Sum Yung Guy" comments.

Shoe me the Funny

Vasquez likely to replace Bettencourt

I didn't exactly predict it, but it looks like they took my hint:

Leopoldo Vasquez, a corporate finance professional who serves on the Texas Department of Criminal Justice board, appears to be the leading candidate to replace Paul Bettencourt as Harris County tax assessor-collector.

Calling the Yale and Columbia-educated Vasquez "very respected and very intelligent" Commissioner Steve Radack said Friday he planned to nominate Vasquez at Tuesday's (12/23) meeting.

Neither Radack nor County Judge Ed Emmett officially would confirm his selection because court members are barred from polling one another outside of meetings.

But Emmett said Vasquez is definitely on his short list.

"I would call him a very, very great choice," Emmett said

Vasquez, 42, did not return a telephone call seeking comment today.

He is chief financial officer for Maximus Coffee Group and Cadeco Industries. Prior to serving on the TDCJ board, he was a commissioner for the Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation.

I'm guessing he isn't a Democrat, which would violate one of Emmett's own pronouncements. What else would we expect from this bunch, though? Last we heard of Commissioner Toilet Plunger, he was helping Joan Huffman violate election law.

Update: This Houston Press article from 2003 sheds more light on Vasquez.

TDP hearings on prima-caucus in Houston today

Delayed by Ike and a special election, on for today:

The Texas Democratic Party's Advisory Committee on the Convention/Caucus System convenes (this) morning at 9:00 a.m. at the Communications of America Local 6222 Hall (CWA), located at 1730 Jefferson Street, Houston, TX 77003-5028 to hear citizen input before any action is taken by the state party to keep the system, change the system or tweak the system.

Lots of whining about the Texas Two-Step in the wake of the Democratic primary in March that saw Clinton's victory in the daylight voting nearly overcome by Obama's victory in the evening precinct conventions. A variety of allies have complained loudly about it.

I support the present system as is. I believe it rewards grassroots activists for extra participation and helps the state party identify those activists by harvesting their personal contact information.

Its fate will be determined within the next few months (that is, if it hasn't been already).

Coming up short

Despite Joan Huffman's slimy robocalls and election law violations, Democrats in SD-17 still couldn't be bothered to vote in today's special election. They couldn't overcome the stalking-horse Republican Stephanie Simmons who got on the November ballot at the last minute, barely survived a residency court challenge and forced the runoff in the first place. They couldn't overcome the hurdles of a runoff election scheduled nine days before Christmas with no weekend early voting, nor the Harris County EV locations all located in GOP strongholds, nor the wintry weather on Election Day.

No, only 43,000 voters returned to cast a ballot in the special election for state senator (where more than 200,000 did so a month ago), and that enabled the Republicans to turn a 52-48 deficit into a 56-44 victory.

The GOP managed a win in a race Democrats let them have, with a lousy and flawed candidate who will likely face a misdemeanor charge of violating a plain-as-the-wart-on-her-face state election law statute soon after she takes office in January.

Despite a Herculean effort to touch all those Democratic voters multiple times, they just passed on showing up to vote. They got telephoned, they got e-mailed, they got mailed, they had their doors knocked, they received literature at their door, but they still didn't vote early, and they didn't vote late.

Maybe one day they will get fed up with the kind of representation they get in Austin, but today wasn't the day.

"Vote for Chris Bell" Weekly Wrangle

Tomorrow is Election Day in SD-17. Be sure and vote for the only candidate demonstrating real reform. Here's this week's edition of the Texas Progressive Alliance's weekly Round-Up.

BossKitty at TruthHugger is amazed that today's America is repeating the 1930s era of economic depression and prohibition. America's Second Biggest Waste, War on Drugs describes how prohibition of medical marijuana keeps profiteering Big Pharma and the greedy military/industrial complex in the money, while hurting legitimate patients. Keeping medical cannabis illegal hurts everyone.

Joan Huffman's campaign for Texas Senate reached new lows during early voting last week, notes PDiddie at Brains and Eggs. First she violated election law by holding a campaign rally down the hall from an EV polling location, and then her campaign made smear robocalls to Democrats in the middle of the night. Let's put an end to this kind of politics and elect Chris Bell.

John Coby at Bay Area Houston has the top 10 reasons Paul Bettencourt quit.

jobsanger discusses America's broken and bloated healthcare system, and decides the best solution offered to date is Rep. John Conyers' National Health Insurance Act (HR 676).

Some unsolicited advice for Republicans from CouldBeTrue of South Texas
Chisme.

WCNews at Eye On Williamson discusses the likely federal stimulus and its implications on infrastructure in Texas in their posting entitled "Possible stimulus money for infrastructure creates debate on spending priorities".

This week, Mayor McSleaze at McBlogger takes on Kay Bailey and speculates on who is best positioned to take her on in 2010.

Off the Kuff finishes up his series of precinct analysis posts with a look at CD-10.

The Texas Cloverleaf looks at what could have been contained in Rick Perry's suspicious envelope.

Neil at Texas Liberal posted about Houston mayor Bill White and Harris County Judge Ed Emmett writing in the Houston Chronicle about cuts in emergency care and job reductions at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. These cuts, impacting the uninsured and a city reeling after a hurricane, are a classic Texas story of kicking the little guy while he is down.

Vince at Capitol Annex notes that sources are denying that state Sen. Leticia Van De Putte (D-San Antonio) will be leaving the Texas Senate for a position in the Obama administration.

"This is the farewell kiss, you dog"

The full statement:

"This is a gift from the Iraqis, this is the farewell kiss, you dog. This is from the widows, the orphans and those who were killed in Iraq."

It's the height of insult to do anything with your shoes in the Iraqi culture. You may recall that when the statue of Saddam was toppled in Baghdad in 2003, Iraqis took off their shoes and slapped the face with them. Apparently the Iraqi shoe-throwing journalist had a colleague who had been kidnapped and tortured.

That man has more spine than all of the United States Congress.

Huffman smear-dialing SD-17

In the middle of the night, no less. How much lower can she go?

Some Democrats -- I am one -- are getting late-night robo-calls (11:00pm-2:00am) about ethics complaints against an unnamed candidate in the SD-17 runoff. Since this slime is NOT coming from the Chris Bell campaign, it's obviously the latest effort by the usual shadowy group of Republicans who used the same tactic of smear calls and websites on Huffman herself in the general election. The purpose is not to encourage support for Huffman but to simply discourage Democratic voters from going to the polls. The website mentioned in the call, www.texasethicsreport.com, is a poor ripoff of Drudge and is quite visibly shoddy and hastily thrown together. It contains a sham ethics complaint against Bell.

Yet another robo-call is going out to certain voters trying to scare them by saying Chris Bell will take away their guns if elected, another tired conservative bromide and which is also untrue. Bell has never indicated he wants to place additional limits on second amendment rights.

Tuesday, December 16 is Election Day in SD-17. There's only one choice for reform. And decency.

Sunday Funnies

Turmoil at Hearst reflects uneasy state of newspaper biz

Last week George Irish, senior vice president of the Hearst Corporation and the head of Hearst's newspapers group (which oversees Texas dailies in Houston, San Antonio, Beaumont, Midland, Laredo, and Plainview) abruptly resigned from that position to become a director of the Hearst Foundation. I wrote about my personal saga with the man and the company here.

For a 64-year-old who climbed rapidly almost to the top of the company's ladder, that is NOT a promotion.

Irish follows CEO Victor Ganzi out the door, who got crossways with Hearst's board because he apparently wasn't making bold enough acquisitions. This is a truly remarkable amount of turnover for a conglomerate that has had a reputation for being tight-lipped when it comes to, well, all facets of its business, even (especially) how much money it makes. Because the company is one of the largest privately-owned operations on the planet, it has always placed a premium on loyalty and omerta. So to see this kind of drama play out publicly is itself revealing.

My guess is that he pulled the chain because Hearst vice chairman Frank Bennack, 75 -- Irish's new/old boss -- wasn't going to let him sit in the big chair, and running the dying newspaper division for another few years didn't look to be too hot an option either. That rumor is noted in this NY Post "Media Ink" column, reporting Ganzi's departure in June.

So the FNG is 46-year-old Steven Swartz, whiz-bang Harvard guy with the e-newspapers cred. He's got a tough task ahead; revitalize a company's flagship business at a time when the industry appears to be at the brink of extinction. But with his background in Hearst-related ventures such as magazines and yellow page directories, as well an eye for savvy acquisitions, he's probably the CEO-in-waiting.

All the old guys I used to work with in the business are out of it now themselves -- Rollie Hyde in Plainview, Aubrey Webb in Beaumont, Charlie Spence in Midland, and now Irish. My first Hearst boss after Irish, James Thomas, the long-retired publisher of the Plainview Daily Herald, passed away in July of this year at 84.

End of an era, in every way.

Friday Funny: Please Hurry