Chronicle Endorses Noriega
No, that’s not the Austin Chronicle. It’s the Houston Chronicle.
The main reason that the Chronicle gives for the endorsement is one from the distant past of Texas politics, when bringing home the bacon was more important than ideology: that the Democrats are going to be the majority party and Texas (and Houston) need to have a strong voice in the Democratic ranks, or else Texas could find itself shut out of the pork, uh, I mean the earmarks, uh, I mean our fair share of federal grants and programs. I could make a similar argument for endorsing Cornyn, however: that if Noriega is elected, and Kay Bailey resigns her seat, Texas will be left with two very junior senators with no seniority and no prospects of gaining influence in the foreseeable future. Cornyn is a member of the Republican leadership organization and rates to move up in the years to come. It is not a stretch to imagine him as minority leader, or, when the pendulum swings back to the Republicans, majority leader. He does represent the largest red state. Even if Cornyn were to lose to Noriega, I could envision him entering the special election for Hutchison’s seat — and winning.
Here are some excerpts from the endorsement editorial:
* Come January, the halls of Congress will likely be populated by strengthened Democratic majorities in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Texas will need able representation in all arenas in that shifting legislative environment. It will be especially important for Texans to have a strong, respected voice inside the expected Democratic majority in the Senate. Rick Noriega offers such a voice, with a distinctive Lone Star tone and perspective.
* Noriega, a Houstonian, describes himself as a Texas Democrat. That term, once common currency in the state’s political conversation, seems to have fallen out of favor over the past several Republican-dominated years . . . . Some old-fashioned moderate bipartisanship, Texas style, should be much welcomed in the Washington debate, particularly on overheated topics such as energy and immigration. Rick Noriega can provide it.
* Noriega well understands that there are subjects on which Texas Democrats must stand apart from the party’s national leadership. Energy is one. He is committed to bringing the message that the nation will need new domestic oil and gas supplies as it builds a bridge to greater energy independence and increased reliance on alternative energy sources. He will be able to point out in a forceful and personal way the folly of relying almost exclusively on hurricane-prone areas of the Gulf for supplies when abundant reserves can be tapped on the East and West coasts with little risk to the environment.
* On immigration, Noriega is in step with traditional Texas views of tolerance and a warm embrace of cultural differences, rooted in respect for the law. He will bring calm and reason to the national debate.
* Our decision to support Noriega was not made without due consideration of Cornyn’s strengths. The one-term incumbent has been a strong and reliable supporter of freedom of information and open government laws. And he worked to speed up the citizenship process for immigrants serving in the military. But John Cornyn also has been a too-loyal foot soldier for the Bush administration, willing to make a right turn off the cliff in support of fatally flawed policies on Iraq and torture, as well as casting improvident votes on a host of social issues. Unlike Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, he is not known for his attention to constituent services.
I regard this race as a hard choice. I don’t think Noriega is ready for the Senate, but he has come a long way since he first announced his candidacy. At the same time, I find myself in agreement with the Chronicle’s view — unstated, but implicit — that Cornyn, once widely regarded as a voice of moderation (and who ran as a moderate in 2002), has been more loyal to the hard right Republican ideology and the GOP base than to his overall Texas constituency. The Chronicle correctly singled out immigration as an issue in which he is out of step with Texas tradition. The editorial also mentioned social issues (stem cell research matters in a major medical community); it also might have brought up Cornyn’s votes (six of them, according to Noriega) against the expansion of S-CHIP, the state children’s health insurance program, even though Texas leads the nation in uninsured children.
I suspect that the deciding factor in the endorsement was that Noriega is from Houston. All politics is local, as they say, and the Chronicle’s politics clearly lean toward having a hometown senator. I would be quite surprised if the Chronicle’s sister newspaper in the Hearst family, the San Antonio Express-News, doesn’t endorse Cornyn, their local-boy-made-good.
Tagged: hearst, houston chronicle, john cornyn
ears1foru says:
Paul, although not on exact subject, am I mistaken in believing or remebering that almost all editorials for elections took place before early voting began. In Fort Worth, no Presidential endorsement, S.A. still out, whats the deal. It is not like anything really new is going to come out or the date for early voting snuck up on them. Maybe they (Papers) realize that their endorsements, in my opinion do not carry as much weight nowdays as in past with all the other media forums to get messages out.
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Anonymous says:
That’s a very disappointing endorsement.
Rick Noriega has a “good narrative” as the pundits say, but — aside from his military record — Noriega does not have a very distinguished record in the Statehouse.
As judge, John Cornyn was pivotal in the fight to turn the Texas Supreme Court into the most business-friendly court in the whole United States.
As Attorney General, Cornyn was a key member in the fight to unite Republican state attorneys general into a unified political force advancing a solid conservative agenda.
As Senator, Cornyn has been the most loyal and consistent vote to support the administration. Weighed next to Cornyn, Hutchison is so liberal in comparison to Cornyn that Hutchison seems like a virtual socialist.
For his whole career, Cornyn has been there pushing the staunchly conservative agenda embraced by the most deeply committed core of the Republican Party of Texas.
It is time for that core of “true” Republican support to re-direct their money and efforts from backing the RINOs running for Statehouse seats to support a true conservative like Cornyn, who voting record proves that he’s among the most unflinching Republicans in the whole government!
At a time when the top of out ticket is wavering, Cornyn will lead our movement back to its basic principles.
The fight to hold Cornyn’s seat is a fight “true” Republicans cannot afford to lose to an alliance of RINOs and Democrats.
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sp says:
Congratulations to Rick Noriega on this endorsement. Harris County voters, Democrats and Republicans, are supporting Rick Noriega because they appreciate his service to Texas, and because are thoroughly unimpressed with Cornyn. His only feat has been to prove just how far up he could get up Bush’s a…dministration. Instead of playing with the moo cows in his ads, he could have talked about something he’s done in the Senate for Texas. Trouble is, he’s a terrible Senator, and we know far too well how ineffective and distant he is from us. He’s only paid attention to one constituent the last six years and that’s George W. Bush. Cornyn’s done nothing but sit in W’s lap except wait patiently by his boots for his next assignment. Has he any thoughts of his own in that silver head of his? Or should we send him back so he can be the leader of the increasingly irrelevant far right wing of the Republican party? No thank you.
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CLG says:
psssst….you might want to proofread that headline.
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Anonymous says:
SP:
Perhaps it is true that Cornyn has not run the most effective campaign, but do we want a legislative leader or an effective campaigner. Cornyn is clearly NOT a Washington insider as demonstrated by the ranking of Senators based on their inside-the-beltway influence at winning earmarks and such:
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/power_rankings/party.tt?ch_party=SR&submit=GO
Unlike the Houston Chronicle, I’d rather have a strong leader with an unbending ideological belief than someone who’s only good at bringing home the bacon (which is a pork-barrel product!).
Unbiased, subjective rankings of the Senators confirm that Cornyn is a more consistent core conservative that any other Republican in the entire nation who’s up for re-election:
http://www.nationaljournal.com/voteratings/sen/lib_cons.htm?o1=con_composite&o2=desc
Just for example, Cornyn supports the administration and core Republican issues more than each of the following Senators (ranked by loyalty to the administration and strict adherence to the core Republican agenda):
Cornyn, John, R-Texas
Enzi, Michael, R-Wyo.
Bunning, Jim, R-Ky.
Isakson, Johnny, R-Ga.
Inhofe, James, R-Okla.
McConnell, Mitch, R-Ky.
Sessions, Jeff, R-Ala.
Coburn, Tom, R-Okla.
Crapo, Mike, R-Idaho
Vitter, David, R-La.
Ensign, John, R-Nev.
Chambliss, Saxby, R-Ga.
Thune, John, R-S.D.
Kyl, Jon, R-Ariz.
Lott, Trent, R-Miss.
Bond, Christopher (Kit), R-Mo.
Roberts, Pat, R-Kan.
Craig, Larry, R-Idaho
Dole, Elizabeth, R-N.C.
Shelby, Richard, R-Ala.
Graham, Lindsey, R-S.C.
Grassley, Charles, R-Iowa
Cochran, Thad, R-Miss.
Brownback, Sam, R-Kan.
Corker, Bob, R-Tenn.
Hutchison, Kay Bailey, R-Texas
Alexander, Lamar, R-Tenn.
Bennett, Robert, R-Utah
Domenici, Pete, R-N.M.
Gregg, Judd, R-N.H.
Martinez, Mel, R-Fla.
Hatch, Orrin, R-Utah
Sununu, John, R-N.H.
Murkowski, Lisa, R-Alaska
Stevens, Ted, R-Alaska
Hagel, Chuck, R-Neb.
Warner, John, R-Va.
Lugar, Richard, R-Ind.
Voinovich, George, R-Ohio
Coleman, Norm, R-Minn.
Specter, Arlen, R-Pa.
Collins, Susan, R-Maine
Smith, Gordon, R-Ore.
Snowe, Olympia, R-Maine
This list is ranked from most loyal to the president and our core agenda to most wishy-washy RINO, and only three Senators rank up with Cornyn (the great DeMint and Burr who are not up for re-election this term, the retiring Allard).
Come on core Republicans! This is OUR race! This is where we stand or fall!
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ears1foru says:
I honor Noriega’s service in the Armed Forces but for the life of me cannot think of one thing he stands out for from his time in Austin. To most people at the State Capitol, Rick was a nice guy but you went to Turner, Coleman, Gallego to name a few to get things done. Can anyone name one issue he was the point person on..please don’t just give the usual CHIPs, that was Garnet, Criminal Justice or Higher Ed that was Turner, I could go on but let me end by saying most people remember Melissa’s support for teachers more than anything Rick did. He wasn’t bad, he was just one of the back seat guys. Cornyn did support Bush too often, but as a Senator and as the AG he did alot for open records and open meetings, he stepped up child support collections and prosecution of dead beat dads. If Noriega could not stand out in Austin he will really make no difference in DC.
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jbb says:
Anonymous:
Thank you for making the case against John Cornyn and for showing how differently he has served as Senator than how he promised he would serve in 2002. Your assistance is much appreciated.
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West Texas Hillbilly says:
Big Bad John is a “true” Texan because he wears a fringed leather jacket while doing the “Lord’s work for Texas.”
Houston on the other hand is obviously not part of “real” America.
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West Texas Hillbilly says:
Actually, I should have said, Houston on the other hand is obviously not part of “real” Texas.
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Anonymous says:
Cornyn will be re-elcted comfortably for a number of reasons not least of which is because he favors low taxes which will encourage economic growth. Higher taxes in a time of enonomic turmoil is what we will get from Noriega and it is the wrong prescription.
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Anonymous says:
When, in 2016? 2008 is about the worst Democratic calendar/map for the foreseeable future. It’s only downhill for the Republicans going forward.
The GOP will not regain the US Senate for at least a decade.
What makes you think Texas will still be a “red state” by then?
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Anonymous says:
Headline Paul, correct the headline.
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Anonymous says:
This fall, the Houston Chronicle has endorsed Democrats over the Republican incumbent U.S. Senator, Sheriff, County Attorney, one State Senator, two State Representatives and one member of the State Board of Education.
And people should fully expect GOP Congressman John Culberson’s opponent to be endorsed and for Democrat Chris Bell for State Senate in District 17.
The Chronicle has endorsed no Republican challengers over any Democratic incumbents.
The Democratic challengers to Reps. Debbie Riddle and Joe Crabb have no chance. Regardless of what you may think of Riddle or Crabb, reality is reality.
This paper is not the same Houston Chronicle is once was. It’s editorial staff is now filled with hard core liberals.
Hearst executives, like General Motors and a lot of large U.S. Banks, will only figure out how bad this situation is once the building is in flames and people are yelling ‘fire.’
The big difference for Hearst is, there’s no $700 billion bailout waiting for them.
And a message to Msrs. Sweeney and Cohen: take your golden parachutes and jump!
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Anonymous says:
Anonymous at 11:51 am – Why will Texas still be a red state in 2016?
It’s spelled O-B-A-M-A. He’ll be better for the GOP than George W. Bush ever was for the Democrats.
Enjoy it, ’cause it will be brief.
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Pete says:
I look for the Democrats to borrow a page from the Hugo Chavez Rules for Good Governance if they capture the Senate. There are enough Dems who are out for blood and who would be willing to make themselves this generation’s version of the Radical Republicans of the post-civil war era, wanting to punish their adversaries.
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Anonymous Liberal Lout says:
To Pete at 1:41,
Count me among those who want to punish the radical republicans that have abused their power these last eight years. There was one heck of a lot of criminal behavior going on by officials, elected and not, in D.C. Most of these were Republicans. If there were Dems in there, too, sweep them up as well. I want a more accountable, more honest, and more shall I say CONSTITUTIONAL government.
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texun says:
I enjoyed Anon’s distinctions between real and pseudo-Republicans. Keep it up! Let’s see the right wing devour its own. It’s being doing it off and on since the Reagan years, when they tried to keep John Tower from attending the RNC because he didn’t back Reagan.
Add to the reasons Corny will be reelected the continued ineptitude of the Texas Democratic Party. Like the GOP until 1952, they’re happy running headquarters and waiting for their party to control the White House again.
Once again, they’ve let some legislative seats stay Republican without challenge. The reason–they don’t want to rile Republicans in those areas and increase their turn-out. A phony argument because they could have come up with a demographic candidate to provide a choice and to build the party. The Republicans will rouse more of their base than the Democrats in any event; they’ve been doing that since 1952.
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One Vote says:
Why not ask Rush Limbaugh what he thinks of the endorsement? Why he is the champion of honesty and “excellence in broadcasting”. Oh and while we are at it, let’s ask John what he thinks of Rush’s “challenges” with prescription drugs?
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Pete says:
Lout, it’s the Democrats’ pent up desire to foist economically disastrous policies on us that promise to turn the present day downturn to a Depression that I’m worried about. I agree that the Republicans have squandered their opportunity and don’t deserve to be in the drivers’ seat, but we don’t deserve the utter disaster that would come from the Dems if they are in complete control without some semblance of a balance in the mix.
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West Texas Hillbilly says:
Puhleaze. W et al inherited a surplus then doubled the debt and crashed the economy. Don’t talk to me about Democrat’s economically disastrous policies. How do y’all do this with a straight face?
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RWB says:
Seriously, Cornyn in the Senate will be about as useful as a football bat for the next few years as Democrats dominate. There will be reaching across the aisle from time to time, but not with a hard right Republican apparatchik like Cornyn. If we actually want Texas to represented in the Senate, we need Noriega in there. Lack of seniority will be more than trumped by the fact that he is in the ruling party.
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John Johnson says:
WTH …. enough about who’s to blame. W didn’t screw the economy up all by himself. The Repub’s didn’t do it without the help of a whole bunch of Dem’s. The last several years Dem’s have been at the helm. Senators Frank, Schummer and Dodd are as culpable as anyone in D.C. They all stink. We all stink. Pointing fingers back and forth won’t change a thing. It just slows down the process of getting the ship righted. Finger pointers have overrun this website. I’ve done my own share. Is it just recreation for you? Do you get your jollies from stirring up the pot? It would seem so.
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Anonymous says:
“Don’t talk to me about Democrat’s economically disastrous policies. How do y’all do this with a straight face?”
Like this: Taxes (especially taxes on those in higher income brackets) dampen the ability of businesses to expand and create more jobs. In turn this affects the business and fortunes of those (vendors, employees, contractors) in lower income brackets that depend on those in the higher brackets. While this dampening effect is never good for an economy at any time, it is dreadful when implemented during a time of economic downturn. Such taxes tend to prolong and deepen the economic plight when recovery is dependent on businesses rebounding and growing, not being saddled with additional barriers to such growth. In turn the stock market reacts to higher tax rates with sell offs and plunging confidence, so implementation of these higher taxes will have lasting and dire consequences. Welcome to trickle down economics, Obama style!
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John Johnson says:
RWB: Name a half dozen folks in the Senate or House, both in D.C. and Austin who aren’t apparatchik’s. Good word, but if you are using it to single out Sen. Cornyn, it doesn’t work well.
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Tellnitlikeitis says:
Good Lord, how can anyone assert that GOPers do a better job with the economy/budgets/finances?
The national debt stood at $660 million when Carter took office.
The amount of debt added during Carter’s four years: $337 billion.
Added during Ronald Reagan’s eight years: $1.6 trillion.
Added during George H. W. Bush’s four years: $1.6 trillion.
Added during Bill Clinton’s eight years: $1.5 trillion.
Added during George W. Bush’s seven years, nine months: $4.5 trillion.
Portion of the $9.5 trillion added to the national debt during the past 31 years and seven months that came during Republican presidencies: $7.7 trillion.
When it comes to investment returns over the past 75 years or so, the three worst presidents in terms of investment returns were all GOPers.
Annualized results:
– 20.2 percent under Hoover
-0.8 percent under Nixon
+1.8 under W. Bush (as of January 08, which means that this number will decline)
Best returns over the past 75 years?
Bill Clinton, with an annualized total return of +18.9 percent.
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John Johnson says:
Tellinit: Not totally dismissing what you’ve gone to a lot of trouble to post, but do you see how these numbers might not tell the whole truth? The whole story? How what someone started might run on over into the next fella’s term? Both good and bad? This is what happens, isn’t it?
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Tellnitlikeitis says:
For John Johnson….
Sure, in part.
ANd I’m no big fan of Clinton; I would have voted to impeach him because how else would you punish perjury in the case of a sitting president?
But the point of my post is to pour cold water on any notion that Democrats always run the economy into the ground.
Clinton did leave Bush with a string of surplus budget years.
But when you trigger a war and finance it with borrowed money while cutting taxes for the super wealthy….well, what can you expect but what we’ve got?
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Anonymous Liberal Lout says:
To anonymous at 3:50
Trickle down? Really?
Please. Let’s try this. People with money have to invest it somewhere. They’re forced to balance risk and return.
If they let it sit in a bank vault. No risk. Depreciation. No return.
A bank account? Little risk. Little return.
An IPO for a green energy start up? Lots of risk. Potential lots of return. If there is a loss it’s not just “not income” it’s deductible. So you only lose 65% vs. 100%. If you lower the tax rate, there’s less to benefit from the deduction and more pain from the loss. (Though there is more to gain from the risk).
Now, if you have lower taxes for higher income folks, they’ll not take any risk and enjoy their 3.5% bank account, or 10.5% structured REIT, or whatever. Because the tax burden is minimal, and why take the risk?
If you have higher taxes on risk averse income (such as passive investment, dividends, bank interest, etc.) then you’d really encourage people to invest and get returns on their money.
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John Johnson says:
No argument from me on the “what we’ve got” issue.
My concern is “how do we get out of it”. The first thing to do is stop spending. Get Iraqi military expenses paid from out of Iraqi oil revenues, stop handouts to countries who spit at us, close overseas military bases like those in South Korea where they cuss us yet like the money we pump into their economy, quit mandating corn ethanol (one of the worst federal programs to ever come down the pike) …things like this seem obvious to commonbred me and have nothing to do with being Repub or Dem. It will be interesting to see what we’re going to be asked to swallow. It will be interesting to see if we can keep it down.
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Tellnitlikeitis says:
Can’t really disagree with you…JOhn Johnson at 5:09
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Anonymous says:
Well, Anonymous Lout, I didn’t know anything about you, but from your post there is one thing I now know for sure. . . you absolutely don’t have any involvement in running any of the hundreds of thousands of sucessful businesses in this great country of ours. Your post is premised on the idea that busineses invest knowing they will end up losing money, so what they really want is high taxes rates so they can show less of a loss when they write it off. This sounds like Obama talk– up is down and down is up.
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RWB says:
John Johnson: “if you are using it to single out Sen. Cornyn, it doesn’t work well.”
Yeah, but Cornyn is the only one running for reelection to the U.S. Senate thsi year. Defeating Cornyn is the only hope we have of actually being at the table in the Senate. If Cornyn wins, we’ll have two Republicans with little influence on anything. Cornyn certainly isn’t the only Republican apparatchik in Congress, but he’s the only Texas Senator we can do anything about this year.
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John Johnson says:
RWB: I understand, but disagree. I’ll not be voting for Noreiga. The mob is yelling “throw out the bums”, but stripping the house and senate of all Repub’s that are up for re-election is a mistake. There has to be some balance. I also think that you will see a different Cornyn the next few years after Bush is gone. His debt will have been paid in full and he can become his own man.
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West Texas Hillbilly says:
I want my representative to be their own man or woman from the start, not somebody that has been bought off and owes their loyalty to somebody besides the constituents. What is wrong with Republicans? Cornyn is an indentured servant? That explains so much. That frilly leather jacket was actually some sort of bondage.
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Bill Kelly says:
ears1foru
Noreiga is not a back-bencher. In the last session alone his amendment on across the board pay raises was one of the biggest stories of the appropriations bill.
The DREAM Act anyone?
Sorry, I think you are just flat out wrong on this, but there are lots of back-benchers to choose from.
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john johnson says:
WTH: I want everyone to be happy, have plenty of money, and live in a big house. This pie in the sky wish is just about like your wanting “my rep to be their own man or woman …” They are all “beholding”, and all but a very few old timers are constantly kissing ass.
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West Texas Hillbilly says:
Such a cynic. Spend less time in your echo chamber with Fox and Rush. There are many good Americans that want to serve that have not sold their souls. Rick Noriega is one. Our representatives should be “beholden” to their constituent, not kissing the asses of those with money and power.
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Anonymous Liberal Lout says:
To Anonymous at 6:11
I DO know something about managing small businesses, risk management, etc.
From the SBA: “The latest statistics from the Small Business Administration (SBA) show that “two-thirds of new employer establishments survive at lease two years, and 44 percent survive at least four years.”
That means 66% of small businesses fail in the first four years. Tax policy, which you advocate is designed to encourage people to take risk, is important on the downside than the upside. People want to be able to cove their losses if they do fail. Looking forward, the risk is downside, not upside. The potential payoff is the upside, and people’s behavior is less directly affected by tax policy re: profits, than the deductibility of losses.
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john johnson says:
You state my point very well when you write, “Our reps SHOULD be ….” You’re right, they all “should be” but they’re not. Most all play the game to get where they are and have political debts to repay. That’s just the way it is. Not the way anyone wants it to be.
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Anonymous says:
Cornyn leads by 55-40% according to new Rasmussen Poll
Message to Houston Chronicle and Leftycrats:
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
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just cruzin says:
admission to the feast is the fact that Republicans are needed first, foremost, and always just as perhaps a few Dems with brains are
for Obama is pie in the sky and boy are we in for it with him in charge.
can’t wait to see him tell us we had to “sacrifice” as he tells us now and how that sacrifice will collapse the economy and blame it on the Repubs at the same time.
It’s feast or famine; and the poor will really stay poor, the middle class get it up the A as usual and the rich will survive but the anger will cost Americans and cause Obama to be seen as he is: lots of empty words
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ears1foru says:
First to answer Kelly, Noriega serves for a number of years and his claim to fame is offering a appropriations rider, most are of course added and the taken off in conference. To those who want to throw the bums all out, the R’s under Delay did that..it only cost Texas the Chair of Agriculture, Chair of Homeland Security, Chair of Rules and a number of subcomittees. Finally didn’t Noriega start out as a electric company lobbyist…I think that I remember that but I am not quite sure.
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john johnson says:
Electric company lobbyist? Get a rope!
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