Video Of Craddick Supporters

Evidently, a videographer (name and who hired him unknown), shot the supporters of Tom Craddick outside the Austin Club the other night. Video below:

All I have to say is that if a Democratic or progressive organization is responsible for the production of this video, this is one time I will call foul. Given the culture of corruption and intimidateion of Craddick, even now this is not a point at which we can hold this vote against these members.

Memo To Paul Burka: Sometimes When You Speculate Too Wildly, You Lose Credibility

Paul Burka at Texas Monthly, who has, of late, done all he can in terms of bad reporting to give all bloggers a bad name (and who some people strongly suspect of just making stuff up from time to time), had this to say earlier:

The Craddick fete at the Austin Club seems to have drawn an uninvited street crowd. In addition to TV cameras, a freelance photograph took photos of arriving guests with a digital camera. You can bet that Craddick will know who showed up, so the cloud of suspicion falls on Democrats looking for material to use against the Craddick Ds in the 2008 Democratic primary. I don’t think these intimidation tactics work (except when Craddick uses them), especially when you resort to the same tactics as the guy you’re trying to replace.

Really, Paul? The “cloud of suspicion?” Aside from, perhaps, one or two misguided blog posts that have popped up hither and yon, do you have any evidence that Democrats were doing this and engaging in eating-your-young politics?

Also, how do you know it was a freelance photographer? What kind of digital camer? There is a big difference between the journalistic Cannon D-60 and a hand held model that tourists carry. Maybe it was one of the Craddickats themselves just taking photos for their scrapbook? Did you talk to the photographer to know it was a freelance photographer? Maybe Craddick hired the photographer? Maybe it was a freelancer for a mainstream media outlet?

A lot of people respect Paul Burka and seemed to think that, when he came to the Blogsphere, people would pretty much stop reading all the rest of us and worship at the shrine of All Things Burka.

However, with his “reporting” on the speaker’s race (some of which was so poorly done that many regular bloggers with only the most minimal of journalistic skills wouldn’t have written such baseless rumor) and the 2006 elections, Burka’s star doesn’t shine as bright.

All bloggers engage in speculation, as do all columnists for the MSM. However, the speculation Burka engages in above is so un-called for it is pathetic. Pathetic!

More On The Speaker’s Race: The Valley, North Texas & More

First, I want to direct you over to the Kaufman Herald for another piece on a Republican who is (expectedly) sticking with House Speaker Tom Craddick.

Rep. Betty Brown (R-Terrell), had this to say on her support for Speaker Craddick:

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Speaker’s Race: Raymond Leaves Craddick Camp; Faux Furor Over Secret Ballot

First off, via QR, Rep. Pete Raymond (D-Laredo) has left Tom Craddick’s camp and given his pledge to Pitts. QR has the letter here, and note this from the letter:

I have simply lost confidence in your ability or willingness to make the changes necessary for the Texas House to function in an ethical and fair manner.  Jim Pitts and I differ on many substantive issues.  I believe, however, that his commitment to restore the highest ethical standards at the highest levels of government and to treat each Member with respect is sincere.  I have known Jim Pitts since we arrived in the House together in 1993, and I believe his election to Speaker will give us the opportunity to end the current unacceptable era of corruption of the political process, which it appears you intend to continue.

Very, very strong words. I don’t believe we’d see Raymond or others using such strong words if it wasn’t clear to everyone that Craddick would be deposed.

However, now more than ever, I believe that Craddick’s winning or failing hinges on a secret ballot, period. With a secret ballot, Craddick loses. Without one, he wins.

If you go over to Quorum Report and click on the Daily Buzz section, you will see that Harvey Kronberg has done an excellent job distilling the debate about a secret ballot, including claims that the media doesn’t favor a secret ballot.

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Weekend Speaker’s Race Update: Vote Switching, Corporate Interference & More

It’s the final weekend before gavel down of the 80th Legislature, and that means that the race for Speaker of the Texas House is in its final hours.

First, let’s take a look at a couple of people who have dropped off Tom Craddick’s pledge list. First, Rep. Armando “Mando” Martinez, has decided to withhold his pledge until the day of the election. It seems that a pledge card isn’t good enough for Speaker Craddick, and that Martinez has been innundated with calls about whether or not he is firmly in the Craddick camp.

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Burnam Calls For Additional Investigation Of Craddick

State Rep. Lon Burnam (D-Fort Worth) has called for Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earl to investigate Texas House Speaker Tom Craddick [letter in .pdf format].

Many may sit back and simply think, “oh, another investigation of Craddick, big deal!”

However, this one is quite a big deal. Evidently, a company owned by Tom Craddick has been leasing office space to a company that has massive state contracts.

Yes, you read that right. As Lon Burnam noted:

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Texas Not The Only Contested Legislative Leadership Race

The Thicket, the blog of the National Conference of State Legislators, is a great place for “inside baseball” knowledge as it relates to the legislative process nationwide.

And, they’ve got a great piece up right now that shows Texas isn’t alone in its speakership battle. Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Oklahoma and Alabama all have their own leadership quirks.  Check it out here.

Speaker’s Race: Video Of McCall’s Press Conference

Video of State Rep. Brian McCall’s press conference from yesterday (couple of good quotes to follow):

Good quotes are after the jump,

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Speaker’s Race: McCall Out, Pitts Endorsed, More Votes For…Craddick?

Yesterday was a watershed day in the race for Speaker of the Texas House. Rep. Brian McCall (R-Plano) dropped out and endorsed Rep. Jim Pitts (R-Waxahachie), while House Speaker Tom Craddick actually picked up three more votes.

Debbie Riddle, Jodie Laubenberg, and Ken Paxton sent out a press release “reaffirming” their support for Craddick.

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Speaker’s Race: Gone Crazy

It seems as though the Speaker’s race has been turned on its head: Nearly every major daily is reporting that the McCall endorsement of Jim Pitts is a “sure thing” in one manner or another.

Unique among these stories, however, is silence from both McCall and Pitts.

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