Texas senators seek to move up as Lott departs

Source: Houston Chronicle Washington Bureau

Nov. 27, 2007, 12:35AM
Texas senators seek to move up as Lott departs
Hutchison, Cornyn working on promotions in GOP leadership


By MICHELLE MITTELSTADT
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON — The game of musical chairs was in full swing Monday when the Senate's No. 2 Republican, Trent Lott, surprised colleagues with the announcement that he'll resign by year's end.

Texans Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn, who rank fourth and fifth, respectively, in the Senate's GOP leadership, worked the phones all day as they tried to line up support to climb a step on the ladder.

But other Senate Republicans have promotion aspirations of their own, particularly for the post Hutchison is eyeing. And with candidacies fluid, races determined by secret ballot and even the timing of the election unknown, it was far too early to predict who would emerge victorious.

"Everyone is just making calls and trying to feel where everything is," said one Senate GOP aide, speaking on condition of anonymity like virtually every other participant in a game laced with high-stakes politicking, intrigue and back-door dealings.

The only lack of suspense appeared to be who would succeed Lott, of Mississippi, as the GOP's top vote counter, with Sen. Jon Kyl of Arizona the early — and at this point uncontested — favorite for the minority whip post.





Read more: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5330640.html

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First in line? John Kyl.

I suppose it beats twiddling her thumbs in the interim...
http://www.texasmonthly.com/blogs/stateofmine/2007/10/governor-kay-bailey-hatingblogs.php
I just got back from a fifty-minute chat with the senior U.S. Senator from Texas -- an edited version of the interview will run in our December issue -- and I can report two things.

1. She's totally running for governor. I think.
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If you ask anybody in Austin right now, they say Kay Bailey Hutchison is definitely running for governor, and, in fact, she's been telling people in Austin for six months or more that she's running and that they shouldn't commit to anybody else. Can you shed a little light on the subject?

Well, I have been talking to people quietly about what I hope I can do, what I'd like to be able to do. I haven't made a commitment in any way because it's just too early -- it's too early to be gearing up. I don't want to peak in 2007 for a 2010 race. Would I like to do it? Yes. A lot of things have to happen to make it a reality. You can't plan that far ahead with certainty.

So as of today, you are not a candidate for governor?

Oh, no.

Can you tell me some of the things that would have to happen?

I would have to feel that it was the right time for Texas for me to leave the Senate. I would have to feel like I have an agenda, that I'm ready to go. I do have ideas, but if I run for governor, I'm going to have a vision and a plan, and I'll want to do big things. That takes time.

When I interviewed you in the fall of 2004, we had a conversation looking ahead to the 2006 governor's race, and you said very much the same thing you said today. I wonder if anything's different this time.

Yes, it is different. I felt that, last time, with everything considered, it was not the right time for Texas, and it was probably not the right time for the Republican Party to have that kind of challenge. I feel today that this is the right time frame. My term would be up in 2012. I would not run for reelection--

Regardless of whether you run for governor, you won't run again?

Right. So is it better for Texas for me to leave early and give someone else a chance to start building seniority before the class of 2013? I think it probably is. Plus, I'm really humbled by the number of people who believe we need leadership in Texas that I can provide. And there's not anyone who could really make a case to me that this would be divisive for the Republican Party in a way that would make me step back.

I just love it when these assholes waste their money.

But if you give hutchison and cornyn to Mexico, it's just fine. And be sure to include the governor and US repubicant reps too.