July 01, 2006
Harris County CD22 selector selected

Didn't get to this story yesterday.


Despite a continuing legal dispute over the process, Harris County Republicans chose on Thursday their representative on the committee that will select a nominee to replace former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay.

"Why wouldn't we proceed if time is of the essence?" asked Harris County Republican Party Chair Jared Woodfill. "Given the fact that the election is approaching, it's important we do everything as quickly as possible within the confines of the law."

[...]

Harris County Republicans selected Kathy Haigler, a precinct chair in Deer Park who is on the State Republican Executive Committee, as their committee representative.


Haigler's the one from Harris who gets quoted in all these stories, so this isn't exactly a surprise.

She has not stated a preference among at least nine Republicans seeking the nomination.

Mm-hmm. Anyone out there thinking she won't be casting a vote for Crazy Bob Talton? Talton is a senior attorney at Woodfill & Pressler (PDF, see Page 3), as in Harris County GOP Chair Jared Woodfill & Pressler. Talton's been rumored to be the Chosen One for a month, and reported to be a lock for it for two weeks. So the coy act would seem to be little more than a ritualistic requirement.

Which means that David Wallace and Shelley Sekula Gibbs are just deluding themselves with their radio ads and immigrant bashing. They haven't figured out that playing to the crowd won't help them in this undemocratic selection process. It's a point I've made before and I'll make again - how much will they get behind the Chosen One once the selection is made, given that there's no incentive for them to suppress their ambition for a "greater good"? After all, there will be a real primary in 2008, when the tactics they're currently employing will mean something.

And hey, depending on what Judge Sparks says next week, they may be able to wait for '08 with a clear conscience, without worrying that anyone will notice their lack of enthusiasm for a nominee that isn't themselves. There's got to be some interesting hypotheticals being discussed at Wallace and Sekula Somethingorother headquarters these days.

Posted by Charles Kuffner on July 01, 2006 to Election 2006 | TrackBack
Comments

Yeah, Haigler will vote for Talton. I will be VERY curious to see how Fort Bend votes. No one out here seems to enamored with David Wallace. Will their vote go to Charlie Howard, who has NO buzz whatsoever?

Like you, I wonder if all of this is moot as Sparks may have actually figured out what a liar Tom DeLay really is.

Posted by: muse on July 1, 2006 1:38 PM

Kuffdaddy -

I'm more of a Fort Bend guy, but I know you're down with Houston scene: You know anything more about this whacko group called "Protect Our Citizens" that Gibbs has hooked up with?

After the most cursory of amateur investigations, I have concluded that they are terrifying. Their main thesis is that unless we act soon, Mexican drug cartels will elect bought-off Democratic politicians who will let them operate with impunity.

Posted by: Mark on July 1, 2006 3:22 PM

Great post, thanks for catching me up. The rumor has been that Talton or Jackson has it locked up if they are able to replace DeLay, which seems likely. I don't think all of the GOP has heard the rumors.

Posted by: Easter Lemming on July 1, 2006 8:10 PM

I probably read the same blogs and newspapers as the rest of you and I sure don't think, as does Easter Lemming, that it's likely the Republicans are going to be able to replace DeLay on the ballot. I thought it very clear that Judge Sparks believed DeLay was trying to manipulate the process. But, if they win, I sure as heck hope ol' black helicopter Bob Talton gets to run, just for the entertainment value he provides.

Posted by: Dennis on July 2, 2006 7:09 AM