Farouk Shami's Post-Primary Moves

[Nancy Boy]

Since there was a question a while back about who Farouk Shami voted for (Democrats or Republicans), has anyone asked him if he'll donate money to Bill White if he loses, helping to raise funds to defeat the Republican candidate?

And will we have any national Democrats helping us out? Say, like a President?

[sonias]

1. That's a great question about Farouk

I certainly hope that he will help Bill White out after the primary. I think it's probably too early for him to comment on this question.

He has to look like a real contender and saying something like that might make him look like he's admitting defeat before the primary.

Will the nationals Dems help us out? - I wouldn't hold my breath. I would guess that it depends on the Texas primary turnout.

If it looks like the Democrats turned out heavily in the primaries then they might. In 2008 the Democratic primary had more participants than the republican primary. That was a Presidential election year however, and it was a contested Democratic primary that was really important nationally. The race between Obama and Clinton was still being decided.

I hope they'd recognize the importance of Texas in 2010. Whoever we elect in 2010 in Texas will have control over the redistricting process. Texas is poised to pick up between 3-4 seats in Congress based on that. You think they might want to focus on that opportunity.

Here's a link to one of my prior threads on that race. With a link to a Huffington Post article that talked about that too.
The Most Important Race of 2010

Sonia

[PDittie]

2. White won't need the help

He'll have all the money he needs.

Cash on Hand:
Rick Perry: $11.6 million
KBH: $12.3 million
Bill White: $5.5 million

Raised in the last 6 months:
Rick Perry $7.1 million
KBH: $6 million
Bill White: $6. 2 million*

http://www.burntorangereport.com/diary/9870/txgov-perry-hutchison-white-report-millions-raised

White won't spend as much over the next six weeks as the Repugs (unless he is in a run-off and the GOP winner isn't -- unlikely scenario IMO), and the primary winner will quickly refill their coffers. White is a profligate fund-raiser.

I would be more interested in Shami donating a million bucks to, say ... Hank Gilbert or BAR or Hector Uribe or the lieutenant governor nominee and/or all four.

[sonias]

3. Shami donating to Hank Gilbert and BAR would rock

Even half a million would go a long way.


I like it! :woohoo:


Sonia

[jeffweemsforRRC]

5. Shami has already given to Hank and BAR

I haven't asked yet - he's plenty busy with his primary.

I have the good fortune to be unopposed in the primary. Has anyone heard of David Porter, who has filed against Victor Carrillo in the R primary?

[sonias]

6. Good for Farouk - I didn't know that

David Porter - nope never heard of him - :shrug:

:hi: Jeff!

Sonia

[PDittie]

7. He's a CPA from Giddings

His name shows up in this 2005 article from Texas Weekly (Ross Ramsey, who's now at the Texas Tribune) as sec/treas of a 527 formed that year to raise money to elect Republicans to the Lege.

http://texasweekly.com/newsletter/tw20051024.html (about 3/4 of the way down, under headline "Issue Campaigns of the Near Future")

His website is under construction.

www.davidjporterpc.com

There's another David J Porter CPA in Midland, and one on Twitter, who do not appear to be the candidate.

Bill Crocker, listed above in the first link as president of that PAC, is an RNC member from Austin. A Perry supporter, Kuffner says here that Crocker formed the PAC to go after "liberal Republicans". It's heavily Leininger-funded; that year they went after Carter Casteel and a few others who had opposed school vouchers.

Jeff Norwood, listed as the PAC's V-P is owner of Anthem Media, a highly-regarded GOP political consulting firm. He ran Dee Margo's campaign in '08, for one. In 2006 he ran all five of the challenger's campaigns mentioned above; that made him some enemies among incumbents who turned back the challenges. More on that in the second link below:

http://www.capitolinside.com/consultants2008.htm

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/MYSA090307_03B_Robison_2e2fb45_html1404.html

So I would surmise from this all data that this is Victor Carillo's TeaBagger challenger, and he may be well-funded if he has established some relationship with James Leininger, having already been cashed a few six-figure checks from him for the PAC. And if the guy has enough money to afford Norwood, he's not to be taken lightly.

Carillo, though the incumbent, had brain surgery last year and has reportedly made a complete recovery, but I do not know his relationship with the party hierarchy or his favorability among the TeaBag wing of the party.

[sonias]

12. David Porter sounds horrible - Leininger teabagger

Enough said! :puke:


Sonia

[PDittie]

8. Right. Wayne Slater

Twittered this yesterday:

http://twitter.com/WayneSlater/status/7883122872

(He's probably going to have to write something from a negative angle. Slater's a good guy and probably even one of us -- he's on Keith O and Rachel M's shows occasionally -- but correspondingly has to fight the perception particularly among Dallas Morning News readers that he's "librul media".)

[sonias]

11. A quick twitter like that looks bad

Gilbert gets $150K, Shami gets a Gilbert endorsement. Ouch! That's a soundbite you do not want to hear.

Sonia

[PDittie]

13. Here's the story

http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2010/01/shami-delivers-150k-to-rival-w.html

Actually the nasty part is Ross Ramsey's TexTrib story (linked in the above)

[PDittie]

14. And Hank's response

http://thescoop.hankgilbert.com/2010/01/ross-ramsey-falls-into-the-rumor-mill/

[sonias]

15. Yea Hank!

The problem is the MSM isn't going to give Hank an opportunity to respond. But I appreciate him explaining it.

So Ross is pissed at Vince and this is way to get back at him. Sounds like Ross is doing a whole lot of disservice to the community because he got his "feelings hurt". Just goes to show you - never piss off a media reporter.


Sonia

[BlueCollar]

4. IMO...Shami is another Sanchez

Democrat of opportunity..

Let's see where he stands when and if a Union tries to organize on his property...

That is...

if the Texas`AFL-CIO has the cojones..

[Lithos]

9. That is my gut reaction

Dig under the surface and you will find green (backs), not blue.

L-

[blogslut]

10. Do you really think so?

I know Mr. Shami from when I was in the cosmetology business. I was extremely impressed with the innovation and professionalism of his company and wanted to be part of it but my personal life got in the way so I did not pursue that route. I want to vote for him in this primary and Hank Gilbert putting his support behind him was a good sign for me.

[texastoast]

16. He is a really nice guy

But I'm not sure he's a Dem from what I've read from some of our other Texas posters.