Fun Times With Mark Strama

April 21st, 2008 by Jake Hatlin | Posted in Getting After The Left |

I had a chance to catch Evan Smith’s telephone interview with State Rep. Mark Strama (D-Travis County). After making it through the Obama love-fest without beating my head against the wall even once (so proud of myself), I found myself mildly intrigued by Strama’s thoughts on Democrats possibly picking up HD 52, picking up a majority in the Texas House all together, and who the next Speaker of the Texas House just might be.

Now, Sam and I only mildly dabble in making predictions, but I just couldn’t pass on the opportunity to go toe-to-toe with the esteemed Legislator hell bent on governing where we can go to the bathroom.

On HD 52 - Williamson County

Strama, much like the entire Texas Democrat party see HD 52 as their best pick-up chance. I don’t disagree that there is reason for Dems to be excited, but I do not think that they will get this seat in November. In the end, there is one major problem they face in Mike Krusee’s old district…they’re no longer running against Krusee.

Yes in 2006, once the last box was counted, Krusee limped to a victory with less than 50 percent of the vote against 2 weak general election opponents, and yes, that alone would give Democrats reason to smile, but what they don’t understand is that the ‘06 election results weren’t as much a Democrat surge in Williamson County as they were an anti-Krusee vote.

Like some legislators do, Krusee hung around a little too long, saw himself as a little too bullet proof, and his district flat-out got tired of him. Being TxDOT’s hand puppet in the House for ramming toll roads down taxpayers’ throats started the uprising. Introducing himself as a lawmaker from Austin fueled the anger with his Round Rock anchored district that eventually boiled over when their McNeil exit off I-35 got shut down because of Krusee’s toll roads.

Chairing the House Transportation Committee and still letting the footprint for the Trans Texas Corridor cut right through the high growth portions of his district left many scratching their heads. And the wide spread rumors into his personal troubles (though I can not substantiate if they are true, therefore I will not share their specifics) weren’t doing him any favors back home either. Combine all that with the fact that Krusee hadn’t gone out and campaigned in God knows how long, and what you had was a lawmaker out of touch with his district on both personal and philosophical levels.

When Democrats first started eying this seat, they were banking their hopes on exploiting all that baggage, a game plan that, of course, was knocked off track when Krusee announced that he was willingly giving up his seat in the Legislature. Now the Dems have to figure out how to combat a fresh Republican candidate in a district that is still 57-58 percent Republican.

On Democrats Picking Up A Majority In The Texas House

Strama isn’t the only Democrat saying this, but their collective cries are just not convincing. Here’s why I can’t drink the kool-aid. Give the Devil his dues, the Democrats have just about flipped everything that is flippable. They’ve gone out and taken all the historical swing districts. It’s a badge of honor that Texas Democrats should wear with pride, but it’s also a double-edged sword that will leave them having to play more defense than offense come November.

Now, it doesn’t take a genius to know that a lot depends on how the top of the ticket takes shape. Hillary will be a punch in the gut to Texas Democrats, virtually ending their hopes on the spot. Obama of course, will be better to their cause, but I don’t think he will be as beneficial in Texas as they are hoping for. Either way, I would be surprised to see the Democrats take the State House in ‘08.

Speaker Anchia?

To be fair, I know that Strama offered this idea in half humor, but I actually halfway agree with him. I consider Rafael Anchia to be a very respectable legislator who is as good at the back mike as he is at the front. But I don’t think he will be our next Speaker. The partial agreement I do share with Strama is the unspoken notion that our next Speaker would be well served by being on the back half of the seniority list.

Bravo…Strama…Bravo.

It’s true, the Texas House does need to dump the recent trend that you have to have served at least 12 years before you are Speaker worthy and start giving their underclassmen some due consideration as well. Once Craddick lets go of the gavel, I, personally, would love for our next Speaker be a Republican from the takeover class of 2002. That Republican bunch have been around just long enough to understand and respect the process, to bring some fresh ideas to the process, and too little time to be tainted by the process as well.