Texas Congressmen Jockey For Leadership Positions In Newly Shrunken Minority

As expected, members of Texas’ Republican delegation to the United States Congress are crawling all over each other in the hopes of securing leadership positions in their shrinking caucus and Republican Conference.

Congressman Jeb Hensarling (R-Dallas), who has his eye on possibly replacing U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, will likely vie for the position of Republican Conference Chair, a position that Florida’s Adam Putnam will vacate.

Farther down the list, Congressman Michael Burgess (R-Flower Mound) will challenge Thad McCotter for the policy chairmanship of the GOP conference, and Congressman Pete Sessions will challenge National Republican Congressional Campaign chairman Tom Cole of Oklahoma.

Congresswoman Kay Granger (R-Fort Worth) already serves as the conference vice chair, and Congressman John Carter (R-Round Rock) is the conference secretary. Carter is running again, but Granger is mum on her plans–especially given that she, too, may enter the battle for U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison’s seat.
Burgess had this amusing tidbit to offer the Fort Worth Star-Telegram:

“What we need to do in the minority is to develop policy with the membership and offer an alternative that is nonthreatening and nonconfrontational,” said Burgess, citing healthcare as a prime example. He clarified that the minority may have to be confrontational at times “but it doesn’t have to be 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”

That’s interesting, but I don’t see a conference led by a bunch of Texas Republicans as anything nar “nonthreatening and nonconfrontational.”

A couple of things worth noting. For one, with Granger as the Conference Vice Chair already and Hensarling leapfrogging over her to secure the top spot, we may see a delegation war start since Hensarling’s seniority in the delegation lags far behind Granger’s.

For another, there is no chance in hell that the GOP Conference is going to elect so many Texans. Hensarling, Carter, and Granger may have a shot–possibly Sessions–but it is likely that Republicans in Congress will sit up and realize that it is the Texas GOP-brand of bullshit brought to Congress by Tom DeLay that got them into their present mess in the first place and laugh most of these guys right off the ballot.

Hensarling has, however, been making significant contributions to Republicans over the years in hopes of securing his spot. And, we well may see Granger step down if she feels as though she may want to be a contender for Hutchison’s U.S. Senate seat.

As for Sessions, it is difficult to imagine that the phrase, “I’m Pete Sessions, I’m from Texas, and I’m here to help get you re-elected” will resonate with many Republicans in Congress.

On a side note, we hear that Congressman Louie Gohmert (R-Tyler) may not be able to keep his ego in check any longer and may throw his name in the hat for some manner of leadership position as well.

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