Cheney could be charm or curse in GOP's bid to regain DeLay's seat

[Robbien]

Source: Dallas News

WASHINGTON – Republicans badly want Tom DeLay's old congressional seat back, and they're already sending big guns. Vice President Dick Cheney comes to Houston on Friday to replenish GOP nominee Pete Olson's coffers.

Not bad for a first-time candidate who's basically broke in his bid to unseat Rep. Nick Lampson, D-Stafford, though Democrats call it a sign of desperation.

. . .

At last report, he owed $50,000 more than he had in the bank, after raising $900,000. The Democratic incumbent had $1 million in cash, after raising $1.3 million.

The vice president's office said Friday's event will help both the state GOP and Mr. Olson, a former Navy aviator who worked for former Sen. Phil Gramm and spent five years as Sen. John Cornyn's chief of staff.

"Pete Olson is working to bring back the old DeLay-style politics of hyperpartisanship, dishonesty and corruption. And he could not have found a better mentor than Dick Cheney," said Lampson campaign manager Anthony Gutierrez. "It's sad that Pete Olson has chosen to stand next to Dick Cheney instead of standing up for what's right."



Read more: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/washington/columnists/tgillman/stories/DN-texwatch_01nat.ART.State.Edition1.46c718a.html

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Olson is really really bad at managing cash. His opponent has only spent $400,000 so far while he has gone through a whopping $950,000 and needs Cheney to help him out of his hole.

[acmavm]

1. I'd say expecting Cheney to pull him out of his mess would be crazy BUT

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TEXAS.

[Baby Snooks]

3. Not only Texas but Ft. Bend County....

The only reason why Nick Lampson won Tom De Lay's seat was because the voters in Ft. Bend County who had voted all those years for Tom De Lay saw one of their own. But of course he wears the Democrat label. They would prefer one of their own with the Republican label.

Don't fool yourself. The majority of voters in this district are in Ft. Bend County. And Tom De Lay is still a major force in Ft. Bend County. And this time he wants to be sure one of HIS own is elected.

Dr. Mengele appeals to the voters in Ft. Bend County. The Ismaili Muslim community is still regarded as a "cult" and the Aga Khan as a "cult leader." They only recently realized they were Muslims. Which of course just added to the "threat" the Republicans feel is at hand.

"The Muslims are coming, the Muslims are coming."

This is, after all, a Christian nation. Says so, as someone in Ft. Bend County put it, in the Bible. The men in Ft. Bend County are not the most intelligent of creatures. The women, well, just think Stepford Wives.

[acmavm]

6. Thanks for the info. I have this constantly recurring dream that DeLay will

somehow end up back in the cat-bird's seat, even if from behind the scenes.

Why is that guy not in a federal prison? What's going on with the charges he's got against him?

[Baby Snooks]

7. Charges pending as they say...

The last time I checked the whole thing was still lost in the appeals process and of course the district attorney who filed the charges is leaving office and so in January the new district attorney may decide it's not worth bothering killing an already dead horse not realizing the dead horse is not really dead. I doubt you will ever see Tom De Lay run for office again but he is becoming a formidable "grey eminence" with considerable influence with the "conservatives" in Texas.

The "conservatives" in Texas really consider themselves separate from the Republican Party at this point. They would actually like to form a viable "third party" for themselves. So far there hasn't been much interest in it outside of Texas. Mainly because of Tom De Lay. Who the real conservatives around the country really were glad to be rid of.

This country is no longer just two parties. It really is just one party. But there are lots of movements. And in Texas, this "conservative" movement is still very strong. Which is how our governor managed to garner 39% of the vote in 2006.

[DailyGrind51]

2. Republicans lost once secure seats

in Illinois, Louisiana, and Mississippi, where Cheney appeared on behalf of the candidate. Cheney is poison to Republican candidates and a gift to their Democratic opponents.

[Jefferson23]

4. Look at it this way, if Cheney pulls this off for this clown, then we will better know that the

fight in November will be even more fierce than we imagine it to be now. If this guy loses, the neocons may just become dinosaurs sooner than later.

[Robbien]

8. I would be worried

since Cheney is a big draw for GOPer dollars. However this Olsen guy doesn't appear to know how to handle a buck, so the huge pile Cheney brings in will likely be squandered.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

5. Using the word "charm" in the same sentence as the name "Cheney"

is like using the word "fragrant" in the same sentence with "feces".

[DUlover2909]

10. Hahaha funny Cheney is fragrant feces.

[KamaAina]

9. What on Earth does Cheney have to do with Texas?

He's from Wyoming, remember? :sarcasm:

[bemildred]

11. My money's on "curse". nt

[hatrack]

12. Yeah, since bringing Cheney in to campaign in Mississippi worked SO well . . .

:eyes:

[Ilsa]

13. Wes Clark may do some work in this race as well.

His PAC has sent out emails requesting where he should go to help Democrats win new seats or retain them. I keep voting for this seat.

http://securingamerica.com/ Scroll down to the "Serve with me -- Vote Now! section:

Today, the WesPAC and Democrats Work communities are launching a contest to determine which Congressional District I am going to visit this summer.

This won't be an ordinary visit. I will travel to one Congressional District where a Democratic challenger is fighting to change the direction of our country to work side-by-side with area Democrats to make a positive impact through community service. We want you to tell us where we should put our values into action.

You can cast your vote here:
http://democratswork.org/index.php?page=display&id=140&clark=1

[damntexdem]

14. The Empire Strikes Back!

Cue Darth Vader music.

[sofa king]

15. How enjoyable.

It's entertaining to watch the gangsters throwing money and time into getting back an already gerrymandered, "safe" district. And they have to haul out an evil zombie with an approval rating below 25% to do it.

Keep trying, you assholes, so that we can take the rest of the world away from you while you're focused on cutting your losses.