Banned Wagon
Ross Ramsey, writing in the Texas Tribune today, has a story that the Hutchison campaign asked that I not be allowed to be a panelist on the gubernatorial debate on the grounds that KERA, the Dallas PBS station that is hosting the debate, and NPR both have policies against opinion writers participating in debates. The story is correct. KERA agreed with the Hutchison campaign and invited Texas Monthly to send another panelist of our choosing. At this point, Texas Monthly withdrew as a co-sponsor of the debate.
I am a writer, and I have opinions, but I do not regard myself as an “opinion writer.” I am primarily a reporter who writes magazine articles for Texas Monthly. Those articles contain opinions. Opinions are not a synonym for “biases.” One such article is a lengthy feature on the governor’s race that I should have completed yesterday. It is a reported story. I have three notebooks and a stack of Internet research to prove it. I also blog. As a blogger, I have opinions. But Burkablog is not RedState.com or Burnt Orange Report–neither of which do I intend to denigrate, except to say that you know before you read them which side they are on. Readers don’t know which side I am going to come down on. It’s like the line from Patton: It’s not important that they know. It’s only important that I know.
I don’t have a lot more to say on this subject, except that I don’t think who is, or who isn’t, on a debate panel is really news. Panelists are bit players. The process is that panelists get together with the moderator and the producer and individually suggest questions. The moderator, with input from the panelists, decides which questions will be asked and in what order, and sometimes who will ask them. The likelihood that a biased question will make the cut is zero, about the same likelihood that a panelist would propose a biased question.
If I have any concern about this episode, it is not about myself; on debate night, I’ll watch the proceedings and blog about them. My concern is about the attempt to differentiate “opinion” journalists from “reporting” journalists. It is a false distinction. Opinion writers report. Reporters have opinions. The lines are increasingly blurred in the digital age. It is silly to have a blanket rule that excludes people who blog. It ignores the direction in which journalism is heading, which is more opinion journalism, not less. Good reporting will never be out of style, but opinions provide readers with a benchmark that, in an interactive world, stimulates their minds and expands their understanding.
P.S. The Tribune posted several examples of my writing that the Hutchison campaign objected to as “snarky.” I wouldn’t change a word.
Tagged: debates, kay bailey hutchison, kera, paul burka
Stevie F. says:
This move made the Senator look petty and/or scared. It’s just another needless distraction her campaign has created.
At this point I don’t think that saying the the KBH campaign is in the ditch is “opinion” journalism. Is anyone saying they’re doing a great job? Political analysis is unavoidable and any campaign that thinks that they should shun anyone who points out their failings is showing signs of a much bigger problem.
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Christopher Reply:
December 23rd, 2009 at 3:06 pm
Paul, just because you’re an active participant in the deterioration of journalism in this country, doesn’t mean what you do is defensible. Go back and look at your “blog” posts. What reporting did you do for those? When you ripped into both candidates TV ads, how many Texas voters did you speak to? In fact, when is the last time you wrote something that wasn’t entirely comprised of elite sources? Or just your opinion that day?
The worst part is that you’re not a blogger, either. A blogger links. Embeds. Backs up claims with outside sources (…with links!). I don’t think you know how to do these things. Going back to your TV ad recaps, you actually type out in detail what you see in the ads… Instead of just embedding the video and allowing your readers to see it for themselves. That’s sort of the point of having all of this technology at your disposal.
I don’t mean to be rude, but when you indignantly claim to be an old school reporter AND tech-savvy blogger, it just further illustrates that your writing/blogging proves you to be neither these days. We all get to a point where it’s best to just hang it up and move on for the betterment of everyone involved… No one likes to be told when they’re at that point, but… Sometimes if they’re not told, they never know. So take a good hard look at what you do, Paul, and determine whether you’re providing anything fresh and new that no one else has already contributed (in a more timely fashion).
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paulburka Reply:
December 23rd, 2009 at 10:37 pm
Never have I claimed to be a tech-savvy blogger.
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Ben Quick Reply:
December 27th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
Burka argues there is no distinction between reporting and opinion – or in other words, he uses the “fair and balanced” arguement!
Sorry Paul “the Fox” Burka, I read all your post and find it difficult to believe that somehow you could ask questions of the candidates and not have some tendency to try and validate your “opinion.” I know Paul is a professional, but that is what all reporter/opinion writers call themselves.
Jamie says:
This is yet another blunder from KBH’s camp. They can’t catch a break, can they? Textbooks will be written about this race, and the section on her campaign will be all about how NOT to run a campaign.
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anon says:
I agree that this is not really news. That said, I think it’s pretty ridiculous that the Hutchison campaign would go this route.
Any negative remarks posted by Burka on this blog about the Hutchison campaign could easily be contrast against posts that are negative towards Perry. For God’s sake, Burka just wrote an article indicating that Perry is a prime example of why term limits are necessary! Did they just happen to miss that one?
In my mind, and this is just my opinion, the Hutchison campaign’s actions on this issue make everything that Burka has said about her campaign seem even more true. Asking someone to be removed from a debate panel because you think he or she is biased or doesn’t like you shows that Hutchison is scared to take on and discuss serious issues with people who may disagree with her. It calls into question her toughness. It’s like trying to lay out ground-rules in a street fight.
The funniest part about my posting any of this is that I personally wish Hutchison would step up as a clear, viable alternative to Perry. I want to vote for her, or said another way, I want to WANT TO vote for her. Unfortunately, her campaign thus far has done nothing to convince me to do so. All Burka has done is point this out on his blog, and I think he is right for doing so.
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thomas says:
Sullivan and KBH both appear to be petty and continue to fail to deliver a vision for Texas under KBH. The debate panelists have nothing whatsoever to do with communicating that vision.
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Courtney Robertson says:
Glad you agree, Paul,that it’s not that big of a deal, as some suggest, that you won’t be a panelist. I have seen you moderate debates since I was a kid-even saw you in a movie, a good documentary-and I have always appreciated your thoughtful questions and reporting. Others can do a good job too. You offer a thoughtful, even magnanimous, post here. The debate will be most interesting.
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and says:
in other news, KBH has asked that the only people allowed to vote in the primary be KBH staffers…
she’s the only challenger i’ve ever seen try to dodge debates and remotely tough questions. a competent challgenger’s campaign would be be itching to accept any and every debate.
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paul burka's goat Reply:
December 23rd, 2009 at 1:46 pm
“And says” that idea won’t work most of Kay Hutchison current staffers are from out of state and all her former staffers still in Texas are for Perry. Reformed purse boys unite!
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Jeff Crosby Reply:
December 23rd, 2009 at 5:01 pm
If it’s just her staffers, she loses.
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Katherine says:
Thank you Paul for all the interesting articles AND blog posts you have written. I’ve always found your insight and research to be the top. I too wish I could find a way to WANT TO vote for KBH. I had high hopes for her in the beginning but it has been one flop after another. Having you at the debate may have given her an opportunity to answer the tough questions and may have been her real reason for avoiding it.
Keep up the good work that you do for Texas.
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Clark says:
Let me get this straight: the Hutchison campaign attempts to dictate who is allowed to ask her questions — and after getting their way the campaign manager brags about it?
I think Paul’s coverage has been some of the most informed of the race so far and I think the debate would have been better had he had the opportunity to ask Senator Hutchison questions.
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JB's left eye twitch says:
It really says something that KBH’s threshold for criticism is so low. “Leaders” don’t go to such lengths to exclude a journalist simply because they aren’t singing their praises. You just do what you think is right and take the hits that come your way. What on earth would she expect to happen as governor? She wants to be the fan favorite, the homecoming queen. Texas needs someone who will draw the line, make tough choices and not pander in order to be well liked. The more I learn about her, the more terrified I become.
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"snarky" says:
Let me get this straight. Hutchison doesn’t want Paul Burka, who wrote a plea full of flowers and hearts asking her to switch parties and save us from Rick Perry, to ask her some softball debate questions (they all are)?
Is this a miscalculation or just her way of negotiating?
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Barry Jagoda says:
Political campaigns often veto participation by one or another journalist in debates This gives the staff something to do and offers bragging rights for how they have helped in the debate preparation.
Media organizations and other sponsors, almost always give in to the campaigns, on these and other technical issues, because the sponsor is afraid the candidate might walk. In the Texas debate everyone knows that the event will suffer from Paul Burka’s absence from the panel.
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paulburka Reply:
December 23rd, 2009 at 2:43 pm
Barry is a longtime friend of mine, going back to Rice days. He won an Emmy for his work at CBS on the Watergate tapes, staying up all night to produce a news special. He worked in the Carter White House. He knows whereof he speaks.
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paul burka's goat says:
“Barry” name one time a Texas campaign dictated which media person could ask the questions? and more importantly what media outlet ever lied as much as KERA about their policy that bloggers are opinion writers? And the KBH had nothing to do with the decision? Come on this blog has been up since forever! And Burka was in other debates after his blog was up and ripping everyone a new ass hole on a regular basis. The real crime here is not Hutchison being afraid to face Burka but that KERA has corrupted the process and is negotiating in bad faith, by lying to the public. The other media outlets should boycott this debate, not for Burka per se but rather for lying about the process and doing the Hutchison camps bidding. I hope Perry tells them to shove it!
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paulburka Reply:
December 23rd, 2009 at 2:41 pm
It is not my idea of the way to handle things to be a martyr. I decline the role.
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Longtime reader says:
Paul, I know you started this blog in 2006. How come KERA didn’t have any problem with you being a panelist during their 2008 U.S. Senate debate?
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paulburka Reply:
December 23rd, 2009 at 2:36 pm
Because nobody complained. Why would they? I had written about Cornyn (a feature) and Noriega (a column about his service in Afghanistan).
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Is it true? says:
Rumor has it Paul that she and her people refused to talk to you about your upcoming article on the Governor’s race. True?
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paulburka says:
Not exactly. They did meet with me once. I went to one event, which I wrote about in my article that I just finished a couple of minutes ago. I don’t want to continue this line of discussion because anything I say might be construed as sour grapes, and I don’t even like grapes.
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sista4liberty says:
KERA is still not letting Ms Medina know if she’ll get an opportunity to debate with the other candidates. I only hope that they will give Debra Medina a fair chance to show what she has to offer–she’s a fresh new voice with great ideas that need to be heard by all Texans.
http://www.medinafortexas.com/
WE DO HAVE *ANOTHER* CHOICE FOLKS!!!
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Fiftycal says:
I would say that Paul would be one of the LEAST biased actual journalists that could be involved with a TV debate. I imagine that Kay Baby would be scared of some of the QUESTIONS someone like Paul would ask. BTW, is she still running for Gov.?
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Anonymous says:
good for you and good for TM. How pathetic and embarassing.
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Seriously.... says:
Anyone who says Burka is pro-Perry hasn’t been paying attention for the past 10 years. I’m sure Burka would love to report on any of Senator Hutchison’s campaign successes – if they existed.
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Kenneth D. Franks says:
This is just another example of poor campaign management and choices by the K.B.H campaign as if there were not enough already. I can’t imagine how it is supposed to help her.
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Texian Politico says:
This is a dumb move by KBH. I don’t get it.
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Anonymous says:
There are two questions here- 1) Was this is a good political move by KBH? 2) Is there a basis for her viewpoint that Burka would be less than objective? The answer to the first question is clearly no. The second question answers iself for any reader of this blog and TM in general. Burka is an old style Democrat. He likes Bill White and wants him to win. Burka writes for a magazine that touts the politics of lefty Austin insiders and hobnobs with the political class that mocks the center right views of most Texans who want smaller government and lower taxes. Burka is not as bad as most of the far left writers of TM. But his allegience to the left is hardly a matter of debate.
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Jeff Crosby says:
Anon 4:46, as a member in good standing of the Left, I can say with quite a bit of confidence that my fellow travellers and I do not regard Paul Burka as a leftist. He’s a conservative, though he often commits the apparently unpardonable sin of expressing approval of pragmatism and/or displaying a semi-open mind. If you’re looking for real leftys, go read the fine writers at the Texas Observer. Peace on Earth dude!
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craig washingtons ego says:
Never has a Texas campaign or candidate run for major office and been so inept. Burke’s sin? Pointing out the obvious.
The Kay Hutchison running is a caricature of a female Clagburn Foghorn type is not the same who we all used to hook up in the olden days, where is the spark, the fight, the passion?
Where are her ideas? Has she one new idea? And no bold font is not an idea it’s a sad sick joke.
The latest infighting has got to drive Kay crazy. Why would the so-called professional’s want drive away Dave Beckwith her oldest friend who has not yet abandoned her side. How pathetic. When will she get the message and understand the only ones urging her forward are those who will make their own 30 pieces of silver off her carcass of campaign. If she were to stop paying top dollar (the rumored $30k per month for T. Sullivan for example) how many would be standing at her side the next morning. Beckwith and Parham. That’s it.
How sad the self proclaimed “most popular” person in Texas history the top vote getter (sic) is this years Carole Strayhorn. Self-absorbed, blinded by hatred of Rick Perry and the false belief that she is better then Rick Perry fed by lobbyists and élites whom pretend to love her. Next years Texas political dictionary will replace Carole picture with Kay’s’ next to the terms irrelevant narcissist
Paul, don’t give up and don’t let the bastards win!
This Christmas week will be the beginning of the end poor Kay.
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Larry Evan's Massuese Reply:
December 23rd, 2009 at 6:44 pm
Every kiss begins with Kay. Kiss her goodbye.
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Anonymous Reply:
December 24th, 2009 at 12:55 am
Amen. This woman has always been an over-rated, empty suit. Glad it is all on display (finally) in all its emptiness for all to see. She was cute, rarely offended anyone by taking a difficult stand, and now she is just, well. . . an older woman. Her betrayal on the health care that she was risking her political career to fight against for us was the final straw. Send her home – and make that home not Texas.
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Anonymous Reply:
December 24th, 2009 at 10:08 am
Kay’s take on healthcare is reminiscent of the GOP standard-bearer’s “shut down the campaign” stunt during the 2008 general election. Maybe that’s the latest tactic being advocated by Republican campaign consultants — if you’re losing, stop campaigning: Then they can’t criticize your campaign because you’re not running one, and if you lose, it’s because you chose not to campaign in the first place. Losers.
barbwire fence says:
…perhaps the Senator was stressed from the hullaballoo back East and thought Paul was going to be one of those death panelists…
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ears1foru says:
Gosh I guess this means Mike Toomey and Buddy Jones don’t have to spend Christmas writing your questions
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Anonymous says:
The Perry camp has got to be laughing themselves silly. 6 months ago, who could have ever predicted that Kay’s campaign would go so badly that eventually KAY would try to keep BURKA off a debate panel? Back when this started, most people were talking about Burka’s love affair with Kay!
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paulburka Reply:
December 24th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
I don’t think that the Perry camp cares about who is on the debate panel. That’s not the kind of thing that they would lose sleep over. They are smart enough to know that it’s not the questions that are important, it’s the answers. They are confident that Perry will do well no matter who the panelists are. My experience in dealing with the Perry strategy team is that they are pros and they act like pros. They never complain about what I write on the blog, unless I have made a factual error. They know that Perry is not my favorite politician, and they accept that. They also know that I respect his political abilities, and that when I tell them that I am going to write a story straight down the middle, I’m going to write it straight down the middle.
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John Johnson says:
Goofy decision on Burka. It sorta reminds me of Brimmer coming up with all sorts of cheap, unwarranted objections to Wendy Davis running for office against him.
KBH is a hot tempered, ill-advised, charlatan. She has never been in this position before, and, now under a bit of pressure, her true colors are showing through. It is not a pretty sight.
This being said, I still think more of her than I do King Perry. I think he has let personal gain form the basis for his political agendas even more than she has.
It’s a toss up on the ego’s.
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Anonymous says:
Yet another example that idiots are in charge of KBH’s campaign. Everyone who has seen Burka’s “offensive” remarks on BurkaBlog fully understands that he is NOT a Perry supporter in any shape, fashion, or form. The only way those comments can truly be taken as “anti-Kay” (as distinguished from obviously valid criticisms of her campaign) are when they are printed out of context. So what does the Hutchison campaign do? Highlight them and ensure that they are dissiminated to the masses, completely out of context. Brilliant!
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Anonymous says:
Paul, as a communications and media professional, I completely disagree that the difference between “reporting” journalists and “opinion” journalists is a “false distinction.” Even though I agree that “opinion writers report [and] reporters have opinions,” it used to be (and still is in some quarters) that columnists and editorials were clearly identified as such. But those who want to express their opinons as “the way it really is” choose to find ways to blur the distinctions. Some even falsely claim that their opinions ARE the facts (Bill O’Reilly, for example). In my opinion, good journalism still recognizes and identifies the differences. That doesn’t mean readers don’t still have to use good judgment and discern opinion and perspective from factuality even in “reporting,” but in my opinion, good journalism does its best to help them in that endeavor rather than trying to hide the ball to promote their own agenda.
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dickbird Reply:
December 24th, 2009 at 11:55 am
As a communications and media professional, give me an example these days of someone not adding their opinion to any piece they write or report. The days of “who, want, when, where and why” are long gone.
A good example of your bias is stating that O’Reilly claims his opinions are fact. Please give example. You don’t think that Gibson, Rather, Brokaw, Schieffer, Couric and others don’t offer slanted viewpoints? That they don’t asked loaded questions?
If not Burka, who? Some guy off the street?
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Arthur Fenstemaker Reply:
December 24th, 2009 at 2:44 pm
dickwad, O’Reilly calls his nightly assault on truth the No Spin Zone.
There truly are none so blind as those who refuse to see.
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Anonymous Reply:
December 24th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
Thanks, Arthur. I couldn’t have said it better myself. Note also that based on Burka’s comment above, even he knows when his effort is about writing a story “straight down the middle.” What’s wrong with telling the reader/listener/viewer that’s what you’re doing? I consider that much more in integrity than spouting opinions and advertising them as “no spin.”. O’Reilly just learned how Republicans use misners in naming their legislation…like, the Patriot Act, which does everything it can do to destroy the fundamental freedoms for which this country was founded.
dickbird aka dickwad Reply:
December 24th, 2009 at 4:56 pm
O’Reilly is obnoxious to a fault, and as opinionated as anyone. But he is also unafraid to joust with those with differing views. Those on the other side of the equation are, in fact, regulars on his program. Tell me who else offers dissenting views on such a regular basis. The answer – no one. Certainly no one on your home channel – MSNBC.
I was really hoping that the Anny I was addressing with the 10:27am post – the “professional” – would have been the one to respond and answer my questions. He seems to have all the answers. You two obviously don’t.
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Spiro Eagleton says:
Merry Christmas everyone. Don’t let the political fighting and back biting get in the way of remembering what this season is all about. May God bless you and yours.
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treehugger says:
Popcorn. Need more popcorn. Meanwhile, the average primary voter is going “Burka, who the heck is Paul Burka?” At this rate, KBH provides TM with an early front runner candidate for next year’s Bum Steer cover.
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tree logger says:
True the average voter is clueless on who Burka is. But this is more about how Public TV namely KERA allowed themselves to be a shill for the senior senator. I wonder if additional appropriations or some earmarks were ever hinted at? How much federal funding from public broadcasting does KERA gets each year? Do they ever get more then the normal allotment? Was the threat from Hutchison I’m not debating if that mean nasty Paul Burka is on the panel! The KERA folded like a cheap suit. Some one needs to look at the federal funding angle. Who can trust the folks that are on the new panel are they patsies for Kay like the Dallas, I mean, the Kay Morning News asskissers are? What does it say about the media folks KBH would allow to grace her with their tough hard as nails questions. KERA has placed them in a no win situation.
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go on take the money and run says:
re: 5:44pm—Terry Sullivan makes $30k a month!!??
I could understand that if it was the Perry team paying him that much as a sabateur plant…
…or maybe he’s paid with bailout money? like the failed CEOs whose shortcomings get rewarded with bonuses? I’m so confused.
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t tyler texas says:
It must be so difficult for Senator Hutchison, after so long a career, to see it all come to an end, especially since the victor in the Republican Primary is so obnoxious. But there it is.
The 2010 Republican primary is too narrow to give the senior US Senator of the party a fighting chance. For six months or more, the only remaining question has been what the supporters of KBH will do in November; swallow their pride and vote for Perry or cast a vote for Bill White whether as a protest or with sincerity. But if anyone, including Paul Burka, makes a fair analysis of the race, he can no longer be trusted by KBH. How embarrassing for the Republicans to be Stalinists.
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Mike (YKW) says:
You should be proud of the fact that if Kay hadn’t tried to get you booted, then Rick probably would have instead. When both sides of the campaign are complaining loudly about your bias…then you’re doing your job properly.
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ps says:
Hey, Paul want some cheese with this blog? Since this is christmas, I will not comment on how whiney this blog is – yes I will – so what if she strikes you. She is the candidate – you are not. Believe it or not, I like you, Burka, but this is beneath you. Run for office and then you will have the insight to criticize. Otherwise, you are just like everyone else offering opinions from the cheap seats. I’m not particularly a fan of any of the announced candidates, but at least they have placed their names, reputations, and (some) personal finances at risk. What have you done in this arena? You and all the other editorial writers, reporters, etc are mere observers from your own particular bias. The fact hat you would feel the need to comment on her decision speaks more of your own ego than her lack of judgment. The truth is they don’t want the hard questions asked – like our current projected shortfall, the projected deficit, the lack of transportation dollars, the replacement of the stimulus funds to balance the budget, the lack of education dollars. None of you ask those questions when it matters – when it is face to face and they can’t hide behind the script. That is why no one watches the debates anyway. Get over it. Merry Christmas!
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paulburka Reply:
December 29th, 2009 at 3:33 pm
Re ps, above:
When the story broke about the Hutchison camp’s action and KERA’s decision, I had to decide how to respond to it. I didn’t think I should ignore it, since the news was already out there, so I decided that the best thing was to state what had happened, period, and not to comment on the Hutchison campaign’s action or KERA’s. That’s what I did. I didn’t “feel the need” to comment on her decision. I didn’t comment on the decision to ban me from the debate. But I did initiate a discussion defending opinion journalism.
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mamzic says:
Maybe she remembers how ineffective you were and how bad of a job you did in the 1994 debate when you let George W. Bush, “the best damn governor ever,” roll you and never answer the question you asked.
Maybe she’s afraid you’ll do the same for the current bonehead, Perry.
Seems reasonable to me.
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paulburka Reply:
December 29th, 2009 at 2:58 pm
Mamzic (or anyone): Do you remember what I asked Bush in 1994? I do. I asked him why he continued to portray himself as an outsider when he is the son of a recent president and had worked in the White House. My recollection is that Bush basically ducked the question. The way I score debates, failure to answer a question is not “rolling” somebody.
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Hedley Lamarr says:
Kay is paying the guy running her ship into the iceberg $30K a month? OMG! She went from up in the polls to down drastically in the polls and they guy who managed to steer the ship in the wrong direction gets $30 GRAND a month? I bet Ned Holmes, John Nau and her Dallas people have no idea what he was paid and will realize what a waste of money that has been.
Paul, if that guy is bragging that he knocked you off a panel I guess you should take pride in knowing that it is just another wrong move on his part.
I bet Perry’s top 3 make less than $30k a year combined.
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CollinWatcher says:
Merry xmas everyone.
First, I think this is a very odd decision, a decision that shows how thin-skinned and petty the KBH campaign can really be. Here is my theory: a decision not to allow Paul to ask a debate question must have come from KBH herself. They are longtime friends, there is no way this was done without consulting her — and her signing off.
This blog is mostly about the inside “game” of politics — and as such, it respects those who play the tactics of campaigns well. In this regard, Paul is a politics analyst — not really an opinion writer. He’s no fan of Perry, anyone who has read his articles in TM can see that. His quote in the NYT magazine on Perry was a typical barb for him.
Tactically, she’s run a poor race — that’s why she’s gone from 20 points up to 10+ points down. I don’t see that being an opinion. Does anyone else?
To many in D.C. (and here’s the key point) there is no difference between tactics and policy. The whole town is tactics and is obsessed with who’s winning today. So to the pop the KBH campaign is just help Perry, see?
Beckwith and Parham know better but they’ve both been neutered.
The overpaid D.C. staffers have internalized every criticism of KBH’s campaign as a criticism of them (that’s right), but wrongly see Paul as pro-Perry and someone who must be stopped (wrong). This was a battle not worth fighting. Good campaigns know which battles to fight and which ones to let pass.
When the financial reports come out on Jan. 15th — the story won’t be how much these goofballs are getting paid, but just how many millions they’ve wasted this fall.
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ex-Kayfan says:
Dissapointed in Kay. Have seen a lot of my friends jump ship over the last few months, and myself has jumped as well. I doubt I vote for either one. Kay has just proven she does not provide a legitimate alternative. I hope she loses and then does not seek another political office.
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Park City Pete says:
Lots of political talk around the table last night especially after the failed attempt to blow up the Delta flight to Detroit. Thank God nobody was injured.
Talk got around to the Gov race and, not kidding, everyone at the house was in awe of the horrible race Kay has run. Many know and like her, but she has shown no reason why we should vote for her, and, in fact, has given more reasons to keep Perry — who most agree has done at least a good job. Her recent vote to stop the debate and move to health care and the Perry videos highlighting her lies on it were discussed. Her TARP vote and her comments on how even she should be fired. Her terrible campaign roll-out. Her lack of substance on any issue. Her pork projects.
Paul, the consensus around the table was that you seem to just be a victim of political consultants tryingn to stay on a gravy train. You being knocked off, even if she did agree as CollinWatcher states, it was just a ploy by her consultants to try and demonstrate that they are doing something worth/thinking of ideas/etc, to justify their pay. Too bad Kay will never be remembered for what she did, but instead will be remembered on how it all ended for her.
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paulburka Reply:
December 29th, 2009 at 2:52 pm
I’m not a victim, period.
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Dan Harmon says:
The problem it seems to me is that Burka is no longer a reporter, a writer (in the neutral sense) or a blogger by any loose definition. He is a commenter or commentator. That is why often his facts are loose or inaccurate or conveniently overlooked when they contrast with his personal opinion.
That is why he was excluded and that is why he should continue to be excluded from such debates – and frankly should no longer cover the Texas legislature. When a reporter’s opinion becomes more important that what he or she is reporting on, it is time for them to move on.
That moment came quite some time ago.
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What's the Chance? says:
So does any one see a shot at Kay Hutchison throwing a hail marry pass by with drawing from the race? (She has until 12/30 to do so) Why you think to yourself? Cause she can claim the high road, avoid embarrassment and declare victory was hers had she not had to stand and fight the big bag Obama agenda.
One she can play the martyr or victim card, which is her preferred modes operandi; Two she could take the high road and avoid the worse licking of her life much more demeaning then her last primary battle where she got stomped by Steve Bartlett in 1982. Losing to Rick Perry is her worst nightmare; third she can claim she has seen the polls she would have won, but she had to put her own political goals aside to stand and fight the evil that Obama and Company is trying to force down our throats; Finally she could use her millions to do good for her legacy here in Texas. While neither state nor federal laws allow the personal use of campaign funds TX laws allow much more flexibility then the Hutchison supported McCain Feingold federal election laws.
At least we can dream.
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rumor in Tyler says:
One of Kay’s East Texas operatives let slip at a party that they did some internal polling mid-December and found that her barrage of tv advertisements did nothing to help her. He didn’t say anything about a $30,000/month salary, but he said there was a new consultant getting $20,000 a month…
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Mondalejones says:
Too bad that Texas Monthly pulled out when they didnt get their boy. But then again the Texas Monthly is best left to finding the best barbeque in Texas, not the best leaders.
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Fiftycal Reply:
December 27th, 2009 at 8:32 pm
I predict that Kay Baby will withdraw from the race soon after the filing deadline. And so will White. Then, after Perry is voted in as President, Kay Baby will be his first appointment to the Supreme Court and White will be ambassador to the Bahamas.
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David says:
Smacks of “If I can’t have my way, I’ll just take my toys and go home.” The Magazine should be more concerned about the election and less concerned about who gets to hang the plastic media badge on their cubicle wall.
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James A. Cooley says:
I may often disagree with Paul, but regard him as an icon in Texas’ political press circles. It would have been far better to have him at the event.
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Aaron Smith says:
You may regard him as an icon but most donot share your opinion – his writing is often riddled with errors or inaccurate reporting of facts. Recall his writeup sometime back when he didn’t even accurately report what the Election Code states – using the excuse that he relies on a copy onhis desk from his days working in the legislature (no one bought that Burka – the Code is online and you haven’t worked in the Lege in over 35 years).
Think of Burka not as an icon but rather as a hood ornament – to a Ford Edsel.
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doop says:
I assure you, Perry’s top 3 make more than $30,000 a year. That was a statement with no basis. Simply to go Ethics website and you can see Dave Carney made $10,000 a month last year.
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Courtney Robertson says:
The Perry people have made such a big deal of this, Paul, here and on Twitter. You’d think Kay replaced all appointees on an arson commission investigating whether we had enough evidence to execute a human being. (7 independent experts said we had no evidence.)
I’m looking forward to the debate, and to your next post. And, yes, you will be missed. But you aren’t going anywhere. My family is checking out “Last Man Standing” tonight on the Texas Tribune website. So not only will we read you here but we’ll see you in a movie. Happy New Year!
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West U Voter says:
Everybody is a crybaby. Paul- the rules are the rules. KBH- you should have resisted the urge to enforce the rules. Burka has always been fair. Frankly I am for KBH, but I think Paul’s comments were basically accurate.
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paulburka Reply:
December 29th, 2009 at 2:49 pm
I have not, and will not, question KERA’s decision to invoke its rules, or the Hutchison campaign’s decision to object to my participation. This is a tempest in a teapot. As Courtney Robertson, above, writes, this is not like Perry doing a wholesale housecleaning at the Forensic Science Commission. This is one media person replacing another. It is not a significant event. The main thing to understand about a debate is that it is not the questions that matter; it’s the answers.
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Texian Politico says:
We need a new blog post. How about an update on the candidates that have filed for legislative seats around the state?
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paulburka says:
After the filing deadline.
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