Thursday, January 26, 2006
How to shoot self in foot, lesson one
John Martinez held a rather sparsely-attended "meet and greet" at the La Playa on Wednesday. I'm sure the event wasn't helped by the fact his generous host, Barbara Canales, made sure her name was prominently featured on the invitation. Although I wasn't there myself (some of us working stiffs don't have the luxury of even a one-hour lunch break,) a chisme source who attended said it looked more like a Canales/Allison/Watts family dinner than a Democratic Party function. Martinez, fresh from his loss in the non-partisan City Council election, seems to have learned nothing from the experience. Attending Democratic functions, and then ignoring the precinct chairs and middle class activists, does more harm than good. And Barbara Canales' little "I can't understand why you hate me; I'm so much prettier, younger, smarter, nicer, and richer than all you silly voters" routine is getting very old. The "Gazillionaire Attorneys Club" probably wouldn't have much fun with us beer-drinking, blue-collar types, but most candidates are at least able to shake our hands without looking nauseous. I get the impression that John Martinez wants to wash his hands after he shakes mine. And I'm hearing the same type of comment from my other working-stiff friends.If you want to hang out with people who think they're better than everyone else, John, perhaps you should have filed in the Republican Primary with the other Velacrats.
posted by GulfCoastLeftie @ 2:53 PM
17 Comments:
At 10:12 PM, sera verdad said...
Damn, now I have to wash my hands! I shook John Martinez hand and when I saw who sponsored his event at La Playa, I became nauseous. I know of several precinct chairs who choice not to attend the "Meet & Greet" because Barbara Canales' name was on the invitation. Oh well, so much for "BARBIE".
At 10:50 PM, valleycityboy said...
AhhhRemember the "Dos por nickle" days!He reminds me of that!
At 11:31 PM, ProChoiceCatholic said...
Is the general consensus that this race is Skurka's to lose?
At 12:15 PM, GulfCoastLeftie said...
Skurka doesn't seem to have the "fire in the belly." Don't know why, but he's not really working it. With some strong campaigning, I think Mark could make the run-off--but just nailing up signs and crossing his fingers will get him no better than 3rd in the primary. I have a lot of respect for him; he's got integrity, and that's becoming pretty rare these days.
At 2:29 PM, ProChoiceCatholic said...
I can't see Skurka losing supporters he had when he ran against Judge Jose Longoria (including the Smaller Times), can you? I thought I recalled Skurka doing surprisingly well in that crowded field of candidates, but maybe I'm misremembering. Anyway, if you see Skurka coming in third, who do you see as coming in first and second? I could see Hector doing well because of name identification and being the only candidate with judicial experience. I could see John doing well because he'll be the best financed. I guess I could even see Michelle doing well because some people believe that many local voters have an historical preference in favor of Latina judicial candidates. Joe is certainly working hard.So who finishes one and two if Skurka finishes third?
At 3:35 PM, GulfCoastLeftie said...
I would bet that De Pena, Skurka, and Villarreal-Kuchta would be the early favorites. De Pena--name recognition, times two; Skurka--name recognition and the only anglo; Villarreal-Kuchta being the only woman. A lot of voters decide simply based on the name. Being the only female is a huge advantage in a 5-way race. I don't have any access to polling or even info from the candidates--just guessing--but being "one of three," instead of "the only," makes it harder to break away in a crowded race.
At 5:07 PM, Jaime Kenedeño said...
Hard work usually brings good results.I guess you guys are saying Joe is the underdog in this race.Who is he?What is he about?
At 7:14 PM, ProChoiceCatholic said...
Joe's campaign literature reads almost exactly like Tom Greenwell's. If his campaign literature is any indication of his judicial philosophy, Joe seems most worried about protecting greedy HMOs and hospital corporations from the just claims of patients who are critically injured by negligent medical care. That's fine for some people, but I'm personally more interested protecting patients from HMOs than vice versa.
At 11:04 PM, ProChoiceCatholic said...
GulfCoastLeftie:It was bugging me that I couldn't remember the election results from Skurka's race against Judge Jose Longoria. I found them at the Texas Secretary of State website:Judge, 214th Judicial District (2000)Jeanette Cantu-Bazar ---- 15.38%Hector Rene Gonzalez ---- 23.99%Jose Longoria ----------- 25.90%Mike McLelland ---------- 5.64%Mark Skurka ------------- 29.06%http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exeBased on this, I'm gonna predict the following results for the County Court #3 race:Hector DePena -------------- 26%Joe Flores ----------------- 10%Michele Villarreal-Kuchta -- 15%John Martinez -------------- 20%Mark Skurka ---------------- 29%Then, DePena will beat Skurka in the runoff.You heard it hear first.
At 11:51 PM, Jaime Kenedeño said...
I am Pro patient victim of Medical Institutions.If Joe is for the Elite I cant see him getting my vote.Where are you Joe Flores?Are you for the Elite?
At 11:55 PM, Jaime Kenedeño said...
I dont think De Pena needs any more time on the Bench.He needs to spend more time with his family.Dario is a big wound that will never heal.
At 11:56 PM, Jaime Kenedeño said...
If Skurka is on the short end; does he still get to keep his day JOB?
At 12:01 AM, Jaime Kenedeño said...
Michelle Kuchta has represented domestic abusers with zeal.I cannot see her sitting that high. I hate to see both Skurka and Sales leave the DA's office.Prosecuting Criminals is their forte.
At 11:42 AM, GulfCoastLeftie said...
Prochoicecatholic--Excellent research, and I'm betting you're correct. There is always a "stupid" factor in the electorate, meaning there are people who do no research whatsoever, and vote simply for the race or gender of a person. Haven't done any research on this, but I'm betting that maybe 25% of the voters in a County Court primary race are making an educated decision, 25% name recognition, 5% family/personal friend, 20% Hispanic surname, 15% female, 10% NON-Hispanic surname. The "stupid" factor won't win you any elections, but it can provide that CRUCIAL 50 votes a candidate needs to make a run-off. I see Joe Flores as the biggest loser in this situation. De Pena and Skurka have the biggest name recognition bump, but I recall Skurka being a lot more visible 2 years ago. Name recognition is half the battle, but nothing has a bigger impact than a voter who's actually met a candidate. Activists have met all of them (at least I have.) It's that second tier of people--voters, but not attending political functions--where a candidate who's out pounding the pavement can pick up votes. A hard-working candidate is out at non-political events shaking hands (remember how Nelda Martinez was EVERYWHERE two years ago?) and making nice with non-activists. In this race, that 2nd-tier handshaking might make a big difference.
At 11:56 PM, Jaime Kenedeño said...
Polls are decieving and are manipulated with ease.Just look at Mikal's.He got Borchard to step away. It was a factor when forcing Shamsie out.It is a tool.If you put the wrong figures in a calculator you get the wrong answer.Thus it is who not WATT is conducting the polling?
At 12:08 AM, Jaime Kenedeño said...
Texas Observer Political Intelligence: 3/15/2002 Barbara Canales-Black, who is running for the open Senate District 20 seat in South Texas, is co-owner of BNP Petroleum, which has recently begun drilling for natural gas on Padre Island National Seashore. Canales-Black’s firm quietly obtained the permit in February from the National Park Service, and the drilling has since become a hot issue in South Texas and in the election. She has three primary opponents, including McAllen State Represen-tative Juan Hinojosa, and a runoff is possible. (At press-time, the primary is still five days away.) Canales-Black is the scion of a well-connected political family and has been using her oil wealth to outspend Hinojosa three to one in the race. Her father is Tony Canales, Tony Sanchez’s private attorney. (Canales, you may recall, was the one who hired the private dicks involved in the embarrassing investigation–some say smear campaign–against former Secretary of State Henry Cuellar.)And I know you guys are screening my post.You are not that good.
At 12:14 AM, Jaime Kenedeño said...
“Tony the Two Fer” lyrics(sung Two the tune of “Minnie The Moocha”)Hey folks here's the story 'bout “Tony the Two Fer”He was a lowdown hoochie “Two Fer”He was the RUFFest Couthless StaleBut “Two Fer” had a heart as big as a snailHidehidehidehi (Hidehidehidehi)Hodehodehodeho (Hodehodehodeho)Hedehedehedehe (Hedehedehedehe)Hidehidehideho (Hidehidehideho)He messed around with a bloke named JaimeHe loathed him though he was no “LIME ee”He looked him down from his uptownand showed him how he “Twofored” his own aroundHidehidehidehi (Hidehidehidehi)Whoah (Whoah)Hedehedehedehe (Hedehedehedehe)A hidehidehideho (Hidehidehideho)He had a dream about Yturria’s king of SwitzerlandHe gave him things that He was stealinHe gave him a HOUSE built of gold and cottonA diamond mine without a bottomA hidehidehidehidehidehidehi (Hidehidehidehidehidehidehi)Hodehodehodehodehodehodeho (Hodehodehodehodehodehodeho)... (...)... (...)He gave him his “Chicago Ranch” and his POLO horsesEach meal He ate was a dozen coursesHad millions of dollars worth of nickels and dimesHe sat around and counted them all millions of timesHidehidehidehi (Hidehidehidehi)Hodehodehodeho (Hodehodehodeho)Hedehedehedehe (Hedehedehedehe)Hidehidehideho (Hidehidehideho)YOUR Two, YOUR Two, YOUR “Two fer”Remix Copyright Jaime Kenedeno
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