Dewhurst’s Craddick Style Moves Show He Is Posturing To Move Up The Ladder

Anyone who spent any time in the Senate Gallery yesterday could tell that Lt. Governor David Dewhurst had adopted a Craddick-style posture. His responses to parliamentary inquiries and his demeanor was that of a man on a mission. And that mission was to break the back of Senate Democrats. 

Why? Dewhurst is stuck between a rock and a hard place.

More Republicans than you can shake a stick at–in fact, nearly every non-judicial statewide GOP officeholder–have already announced that they will seek a position he has coveted relentlessly since 2001: a seat in the United States Senate. He couldn’t announce for that seat before the start of the legislative session for fear that every move he made during session would be viewed as posturing for the coming campaign. That, and the fact that he needs to actually not be a candidate for the office to secure a possible appointment to the position of Kay Bailey Hutchison actually abandons her seat before 2012.

The only other move Dewhurst can make–a run for Governor of Texas–is already coveted by two other people: the current governor, Rick Perry, and U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison.

And, Dewhurst himself is under the gun. Attorney General Greg Abbott is eyeing the Lieutenant Governor’s chair as well as a possible senate run. 

To climb out from the crack he finds himself in, Dewhurst clearly feels he needs to take charge of the Senate Chamber. It is a ploy.

Dewhurst needs right-wing, conservative Christian conservative voters to love him. Why? Because he may decide to move up. If he decides to throw caution to the wind and attempt to be a spoiler who wins in the GOP Primary for Governor, he needs to look more appealing to the right than Perry or Hutchison. Hutchison is no darling of the Right and never will be. Perry’s luster has diminished significantly in recent years, although he’ll still best Hutchison in a GOP Primary. 

If he throws his hat into the ring for a Senate race, he needs a genuine record of accomplishment and right-wing credentials to set himself apart from the gigantic herd of Republicans who intend to run. To date, Dewnurst has no such accomplishments. 

Dewhurst picked and won his first battle, but he left his fellow troops bloodied and wounded on the battlefield. It remains to be seen what his next battle will be. Whatever it is, you can bet it will be divisive and bloody.