Rick Perry, Bill White clash in separate interviews

Texas voters may not have a face-to-face governor’s debate between Rick Perry and Bill White this fall. But they got the next best thing Thursday.

In consecutive but separate TV interviews in Dallas, the two rivals scuffled over how best to tackle Texas’ budget hole, immigration, insurance regulation and other hot topics.

They appeared two hours apart on Inside Texas Politics on WFAA-TV (Channel 8), giving the best glimpse yet of potential conflicts as the campaign enters its crucial stretch – especially over ways to close a state budget shortfall that could be as large as $21 billion.

Full Story Here:
Rick Perry, Bill White clash in separate interviews

Texas voters may not have a face-to-face governor’s debate between Rick Perry and Bill White this fall but it’s not because people in Texas didn’t try to bring the 2 together.

All of my readers know about The Rowlett TEA Party Candidates Forum that is coming up on Saturday afternoon, if not, click the link and get informed, attend, be a part of the elections process and get involved.

We tried to get Rick Perry to attend. We invited him, on several occasions. Perry’s staff refused to accept our invitation for this meet and greet because Rick Perry is an ASS!

from: Dwayne Horner
to: TexasFred

date: Mon, Aug 30, 2010 at 2:09 PM
subject: RE: The Rowlett Candidates Forum

Fred,

Bill White refuses to release the documents that contain this financial information. Bill White refuses to release his taxes from 1993-1998, years he held public service positions that required him by law to complete annual personal financial disclosures. While Bill White was Deputy Secretary of Energy (1993-95) and Chairman of the Texas Democratic Party (1995-98), he was required by law to complete annual personal financial disclosures which have not all been made public to the people of Texas.

As a result we will not be participating.
–
Dwayne Horner
Regional Field Director – Greater Dallas
Texans for Rick Perry

We even offered the Perry campaign the option of having Perry and Bill White appear at different times, much like the event in the Dallas Morning News story, but that just wasn’t good enough for Gov. *Goodhair*.

You know what Perry, and his buddy Dwayne Horner have done with their hard headed and childish refusals? They have guaranteed that there are at least TWO Texans that will NOT be voting for Rick Perry and his ego.

White, a Democrat and former Houston mayor, for the first time ruled out an increase in the state’s sales tax. But he said he would be open to broadening the tax to include certain exempted items.

Perry, the Republican incumbent, said flatly that he would oppose any increase or broadening of the tax.

“No tax increases; you reduce spending,” he said. “We don’t have a revenue problem in this state.”

Perry actually said, “We don’t have a revenue problem in this state.”

I have to ask; Mr. Perry, are you on DRUGS or have you just gone STUPID?

We have a $21 BILLION shortfall predicted in the upcoming Texas budget, but we don’t have a revenue problem in this state? That $21B is a conservative estimate according to some financial wizards. The budget could be several BILLION more short of needed money in all fact and actuality.

First it was $11 billion. Then it was $18 billion. Now, it might be $21 billion. Does the amount of the estimated 2012-13 state budget shortfall matter? Especially when the numbers are all unofficial? And how does it play on the campaign trail? The Statesman’s Jason Embry and KUT’s Ian Crawford discuss the issue in this week’s podcast. SOURCE

But hey, what’s a few BILLIONS among friends? A billion here, a billion there, pretty soon we are talking some serious money! That seems to be the way Perry looks at it if he thinks we don’t have a revenue problem in this state. The above source is the Austin American-Statesman. Austin is libber heaven in Texas, figure out where they are going to fall into this…

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The Rowlett TEA Party Candidates Forum

The Rowlett TEA Party, a non-partisan TEA Party group, will be holding a Candidates Forum on Saturday, Sept. 25th, 2010, from 5:00PM – 9:00PM at First United Methodist Church of Rowlett located at 4405 Main Street, Rowlett, TX 75088

This is a *meet and greet* event which will allow the candidates an opportunity to meet our local residents and speak to them concerning the race they are running and why we should vote for them. It is NOT a debate.

The Forum will be moderated by Rowlett Mayor Dr. John Harper.

I have extended invitations to ALL news media in the North Texas area. We also hope that you, the candidates, will use your network to help publicize this event!

We will have the Church Sanctuary for the event but we will also have the foyer available so candidates can have a table with their campaign literature made available to the public.

We are asking that candidates make a $25.00 donation to help the Rowlett TEA Party offset the cost of the Church facility and the use of their sound system people.

We have sent an invitation to The Dallas County Democratic Party and to The Dallas County Republican Party. We hope that all of their candidates get the message regarding this very important political event.

When we receive a confirmation that a candidate has accepted the invitation, they are added to the list along with their opponent, if that opponent has responded. Otherwise, only the candidate that responded will be shown.

Candidates that have accepted

BOLD Font (ALL COLORS) has accepted the invitation
Red and Blue are self explanatory
Black and Bold Font – Declined to attend
Orange Font – Libertarian

Rick Perry (R) - Texas Governor
Bill White (D) - Texas Gubernatorial Candidate
Kathie Glass (L) - Texas Gubernatorial Candidate

Sen. Bob Deuell - (R) – SD-2
Kathleen Shaw (D) - SD-2 Candidate

Rep. Joe Driver (R) - TX 113
Jamie Dorris (D) - TX 113

Cindy Burkett (R) – State Rep 101

George Clayton (R) – SBOE, District 12
Amie Parsons (L) – SBOE, District 12

Richard Donaldson (L) - Texas Agriculture Commissioner

Wesley Johnson (D) – Justice of the Peace, Precinct 2, Place 2

Jerry Pittman (D) - Constable Precinct 2
Michael Gothard (R) – Constable Precinct 2

Lisa DeWitt (R) - 292nd Criminal District Court

Gene Roberts (R) Judge 44th Civil District Court

Marilea W. Lewis - (R) - Judge 330th District Court

Deandra Grant (R) - Dallas County Criminal Court No. 8

Bonnie Lee Goldstein (D) - 5th District Court of Appeals, Place 4
Judge Lana Myers (R) - 5th District Court of Appeals, Place 4

Lori Ashmore Peters (R) - Dallas County Probate Court 2

Matt Rinaldi (R) – 191st District Court

Jeffrey V. Coen (R) - 254th District Court

Bob Fillmore (R) – Justice 5th District Court of Appeals, Place 12
Larry Praeger (D) – Justice 5th District Court of Appeals, Place 12

Teresa Hawthorne (D) - 203rd Criminal District Court

Janet Cook (R) - County Criminal Court #3

Scala D. Byers (R) – County Criminal Court #10
Judge Roberto Canas (D) - County Criminal Court #10

John Neuhoff, Jr. (R) - 256th District Court

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Dallas County Judicial Endorsements from the DMN

These are not necessarily MY endorsements, I think my comments will make it clear who I’m supporting and who I’m not. As well as who I have formed no opinion of or have yet to make a decision on.

Editorial: Candidates, on the record

We all have a responsibility, too. We are all obligated to become informed voters between now and Election Day. The Voter Guide should help.

COMPARE candidate questionnaires, crafted by The Dallas Morning News editorial board. Also online, readers will find direct links to related news stories, blog items and voter information sites for North Texas counties and the state of Texas. dallasnews.com/voterguide

Editorial: Candidates, on the record

So, without further ado;

Editorial: We recommend Gena Slaughter in 191st Civil District Court

By her own admission, Gena Slaughter still has much to learn about being a judge, but we think she has the temperament and commitment to improve. She deserves re-election to the 191st Civil District Court bench.
(SNIP)
While bright and perceptive, Republican challenger Matthew Rinaldi, 35, didn’t make a compelling case for replacing a young judge making progress on the learning curve with another young, relatively inexperienced lawyer. With some additional experience, the Boston University Law School graduate might make a good candidate for recommendation in the future.

Editorial: We recommend Gena Slaughter in 191st Civil District Court

‘While bright and perceptive, Republican challenger Matthew Rinaldi’ translates to; Gena has boobs, Matt doesn’t.

I have met Matt Rinaldi. I spent a lot of time talking with Matt a few weekends ago at a picnic sponsored by the City of Rowlett.

Matt’s a great young man, very well spoken and fired up! He has conviction in his beliefs and he is not at all bashful about voicing those beliefs. Matt will be attending The Rowlett TEA Party Candidates Forum on Sept. 25th. Here’s a chance for a lot of Dallas County residents to hear what this fine young man has to say.

Also, Gena Slaughter was invited to the candidates forum as well. She didn’t have the common courtesy to contact us and say ‘Sorry, I can’t make it.’

Editorial: We recommend Roberts for 44th District Court judge

Republican Gene Roberts, an experienced business litigator and mediator, strikes us as having the calm demeanor and businesslike focus that the 44th Civil District Court needs after four years under the incumbent Democratic candidate, Carlos Cortez.

Roberts, 41, hasn’t been a judge, but what he offers is 12 years of experience as an SMU-educated lawyer trained in conflict resolution. One way to reduce the overall cost of our legal system is to keep potential litigants out of the courtroom to begin with, and in that regard, Roberts has the clear edge over Cortez.

Cortez, 40, a graduate of Texas Wesleyan, certainly has improved his court’s efficiency, bringing a cost-per-disposition average of $182 in 2007 down to $124 in 2010. He is confident and unquestionably smart, but his penchant for conflict undermines public confidence in his court. The Dallas Bar Association’s 2009 judicial poll gave Cortez unusually low marks across the board – especially for impartiality and judicial temperament.

Editorial: We recommend Roberts for 44th District Court judge

I personally don’t know these 2 gentlemen. They have also been invited to our TEA Party event and neither one responded either way.

With Judicial candidates, it’s very hard to get to know them, they move in a different world from most politicians, and most citizens for that matter. If the Judicial candidates don’t actually get out and mingle with We, The People, it’s hard to form an opinion.

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