Monday, October 04, 2004
On the Road: News from Texas
The Emperor's New Clothes
Well, Elephant's been in Houston for the last four days. Speaking to a gathering of private clubs in Houston. I got to share the podium with Gib Lewis, the former speaker of the Texas House and an incredibly down to earth guy. (Why are all the good politicians retiring?!). Anyway, the weekend was filed with cocktail parties and multi-course, gourmet dinners. (Yes, I LOVE my job). So, while in Texas, I thought it would be a good idea to get a feel for people's mood on the election and to test my theory that there's a level of anger that exists below the polling radar.
Now, don't get me wrong here, the folks I spoke with are the reddest of the red. The attendees consisted of business leaders, partners of law firms, and managers of some of the nation's most exclusive private clubs. They don't like Kerry, but shockingly, many of them held the same view as Elephant of the current administration.
"Bush and the Leadership had an incredible opportunity, they wasted it and it makes me sick,� said a prominent attorney.
"Bush is not a Republican" chimed in another, "you can't be spending 1/2 a trillion dollars more than you have a year and say your a republican, it's ridiculous." added one of the wives, in a lovely Texas drawl.
They all could care less about flag burning amendments, the FMA and they expressed sympathy to my complaint that the House voted to repeal DC's gun laws. "Imperial" said one woman.
The consensus was that Bush has failed both domestically and in Iraq. Most of the folks I spoke with will probably vote for Bush, but they'll hold their nose to do it, and some even said they like my idea of writing in my mother. (She could be our next president!).
What's ironic is that in the same halls where the best of the Texas debutant set are gearing up for the cotillion season, the funders and core supporters of Bush are disappointed and even angry at his missteps and bad choices. Hang on folks; it's going to be a wild ride.
Well, Elephant's been in Houston for the last four days. Speaking to a gathering of private clubs in Houston. I got to share the podium with Gib Lewis, the former speaker of the Texas House and an incredibly down to earth guy. (Why are all the good politicians retiring?!). Anyway, the weekend was filed with cocktail parties and multi-course, gourmet dinners. (Yes, I LOVE my job). So, while in Texas, I thought it would be a good idea to get a feel for people's mood on the election and to test my theory that there's a level of anger that exists below the polling radar.
Now, don't get me wrong here, the folks I spoke with are the reddest of the red. The attendees consisted of business leaders, partners of law firms, and managers of some of the nation's most exclusive private clubs. They don't like Kerry, but shockingly, many of them held the same view as Elephant of the current administration.
"Bush and the Leadership had an incredible opportunity, they wasted it and it makes me sick,� said a prominent attorney.
"Bush is not a Republican" chimed in another, "you can't be spending 1/2 a trillion dollars more than you have a year and say your a republican, it's ridiculous." added one of the wives, in a lovely Texas drawl.
They all could care less about flag burning amendments, the FMA and they expressed sympathy to my complaint that the House voted to repeal DC's gun laws. "Imperial" said one woman.
The consensus was that Bush has failed both domestically and in Iraq. Most of the folks I spoke with will probably vote for Bush, but they'll hold their nose to do it, and some even said they like my idea of writing in my mother. (She could be our next president!).
What's ironic is that in the same halls where the best of the Texas debutant set are gearing up for the cotillion season, the funders and core supporters of Bush are disappointed and even angry at his missteps and bad choices. Hang on folks; it's going to be a wild ride.
