August 29, 2006
Let's beat up on the Texas Trust, shall we?
Many people, especially the entrenched losers in the Democratic Party who refuse to understand that things change, are fond of talking about circular firing squads. Of course, just as they are wrong about campaign issues, messaging, press and everything else, they are wrong about the nature of the firing squad. It's not a circle, it's a line and the guns are all pointed in one direction... unfortunately for them, it's usually at their hearts.
Let's take the Texas Democratic Trust, the group of trial lawyers and their consultant hangers-on who have managed over the years, by listening to bad advice and making horrific strategic blunders(John Sharp's 2002 Urban Only Strategy, for example), to make the Democratic Party the minority in Texas. Their latest decision has a number of tongues wagging across Texas.
The Trust, ably represented by Fred Baron and Matt Angle, presented their plans at this past weekend's SDEC meeting. While they committed to funding TDP and SOME Lege races this year, they made it clear (as one source put it) that they could give less of a damn about the 2006 Statewide Ticket. Of course, many of them have already thrown their support behind OSB so it's no real suprise and at the end of the day, it's their money. Still, to hear so many within the TDP heirarchy talking about this as a good decision is, for me at least, irritating beyond belief.
This year we have a fantastic slate of statewide candidates all of whom stand a good chance of winning their races. However, even today there are those who don't want to see it because pessimism is so much easier. The Trust has been a valuable ally and the consultants tied to them are not uniformly bad. Still, there is a profound lack of wisdom in their decision making, as well as an attitude that the only thing Democrats can do is throw up their hands and wait for demographic changes that will begin to positively effect us in 2010. The only problem with that is that already those changes are being counterbalanced by R outreach to those communities. In short, the demographic change the Trust and their consultants predict will sweep Democrats into office in 2010 and beyond is unlikely have much of an effect.
The alternative? Be competitive in every race, every cycle and never again let a Republican candidate walk into office with unfunded Democratic opponents. However, yet again, this is what the Trust is doing.
It's futile to get mad at the Trust for deciding to use their money the way they see fit. Of course, it's also futile to whine about it and cast about with a 'woe is me' attitude. What we have to keep doing is working hard to elect Democrats and help out every single one, no matter how hopeless the race may look. Keep in mind that since 1994 the Trust has been very wrong on a lot of races and the best revenge is winning. As for those within the Party heirarchy... we've already stopped listening to those of you that haven't been replaced. That's why we started winning again and why we'll continue to do so in 2006.
Posted by mcblogger at August 29, 2006 03:30 PM
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Comments
That neatly (and more nicely than I could) sums it up, Mac.
Posted by: PDiddie at August 29, 2006 05:44 PM
Fred Baron just gave Bell a $25,000 check with promises for more from his trial lawyer buddies. Just sayin' is all.
Posted by: Joe at August 29, 2006 06:03 PM
Joe: Well, that encouraging. I was wondering how long it would take them to figure out that they need to hedge their bets.
Posted by: mcblogger at August 29, 2006 06:25 PM
I heard a different story from one of my friends who is a new SDEC member. As a matter of fact, that person is hopping mad that the buzz about the Trust and the meeting, in general, is so negative. What was told to me was that people (SDEC members) made hard decisions and wise choices in order to get our Party back on track, so that we can win.
Does this negative report come from someone who was there (other than a candidate)?
Posted by: muse at August 30, 2006 12:58 AM
Yes. It wasn't a candidate.
Posted by: mcblogger at August 30, 2006 11:35 AM
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