September 17, 2004

A Boll Weevil's Tale

In the election campaign in the same congressional district of Texas that includes the Kinko's from which the forged memos were faxed to CBS, the Democrat incumbent's campaign commercial includes a photo of him with President Bush. That's meant to imply either that Bush supports him or that he supports Bush, or both. Bush has endorsed the Republican. But, truth be told, U.S. Rep Charles Stenholm of Abilene, has long been a conservative Democrat - he was one of the famed "Boll Weevil" Dems who helped President Reagan pass his tax cuts and defense build-up.

Still, Bush has endorsed Stenholm's Republican opponent, U.S. Rep. Randy Neugebauer of Lubbock. The two incumbents are facing each other in the state's newly redrawn 19th congressional district. Texas' congressional districts were redrawn last year to erase years of Democratic gerrymandering that had made a majority of the districts lean Democratic even though the state as a whole leans Republican. After the November election, Texas will likely have many more GOP congressmen and many fewer Democrats. Stenholm is one of the endangered Democrats.

Stenholm was my congressman when I lived in Abilene in the late 1980s. He was a good congressman. But he's a Democrat, which means when Congress votes to organize itself at the start of the next session, he will vote for Nancy Pelosi to lead the House. Nancy Pelosi can not be allowed anywhere near the reigns of majority power, not at a time of peace and most certainly not at a time of war. And, so, Stenholm has to go.

And he probably will. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram lists the Stenholm-Neugebauer race as one of five in newly drawn Texas districts that now lean heavily Republican, meaning a Democratic incumbent is endangered. And the Star-Telegram says Neugebauer has the clear edge - the areas that comprise the 19th district voted heavily Republican two years ago.

Stenholm should have switched to the GOP years ago.