Welcome back to Round Two. In Round One, I introduced you to the candidated for the race for the Democratic primary for Texas State Governor. The candidates are Chris Bell, Bob Gammage, and Rashad Jafer.

As with Round One, Jafer was unable to participate in the interview, and his comments and stances are taken from his campaign website (so above-linked). The comments of Bell and Gammage are taken directly from their interview at Polstate.com.

Let’s get started…

Important Issues

When asked what the most important issues facing the state right now, aside from public school finance, Gammage replied: “Ethics, or lack thereof, in government.” Gammage then goes on to speak about some of the corruption within the state government, and that it should be cleaned up. He also take a few moments to go fully partisan and lay some out on Rick Perry. To his credit, Gammage did express the point that something needed to be done.

Bell replied, “The problem with the culture both in Washington and Texas is an excessive tolerance for corruption. As often as not, what they do that’s illegal isn’t as bad as what they do that’s legal.” Bell then spends a paragraph speaking about Tom DeLay, who he started the ball rolling on, initially. Bell then gets to the heart of the matter and states, “As governor, I would use the top office in Texas as a bully pulpit for ethics reform by applying something as radical as common sense to the situation.” In short, he’s going to buzzword the buzzword buzzword and clean up ethics with common sense. Sounds okay to me. Bell then goes on to outline just how he’s going to use common sense to make sense of ehtical nonsense. heh. “We’re going to do something that a couple of other states have pioneered and ban procurement lobbying.” He states that if one wishes a state contract, then one would have to deal with the person designated to talk to them, and no one else. If one attempts to go around that person and get their pals in the legislature to help out, they not only lose the contract, but could be banned from lobbying. Bell follows that proclomation up with an even better one: “we’re going to allow the ethics commission to enforce ethics laws.” Bell then goes on to state that soft money loopholes would be closed, resonable limits will be imposed on campaign contributions, and finally adopt a non-partisan (yay) redistricting process to encourage competitive elections, not partisan advantage. With luck, we won’t see the entire state democratic party taking a vacation at the same time, either.

Jafer, again, was not able to participate. Upon looking at his website, no one particular topic jumps out at me as his most important. However, he lists four specific goals.

Campainging

Polstate asks the candidates what it’s like campaigning across the state, and what do the candidates hear most from people concerning the changes they’d like to hear.

Bell takes a single paragraph to state that he believes the Texas culture is alive and well, and that we need to release the greatness, again, of Texas.

Gammage takes a slightly lengthier approach and explains how busy and tiring the campaign trail can be. Gammage states that “voters tell me they want a candidate who will talk about core principles and Texas values; they want a democrat who will stand up and fight; a candidate who will work to rebuild our grassroots and unite our party under a banner of positive reform; a candidate who will proudly say “we’re right, they’re wrong and here’s what we’re going to do to build a better Texas.” Gammage then climbed the high dive, and did a double-gainer backflip right into the partisan politicing waters: “That’s what this campaign is all about. It is about holding Rick Perry, Tom DeLay, and Texas Republicans accountable for their failed leadership and corruption.”

To be honest, it is about to make me sick of living in Texas. This blogger feels that the campaign shouldn’t be focused on partisan crap. Concentrate on building a better Texas, and leave the finger pointing and mud slinging to someone better suited to do it - my five year old neighbor.

Jafer’s website does not list much about his being on the campaign trail; although, to me, it seems Jafer has a good idea of what Texas wants, and needs for the future.

Conclusion

The remainder of the Polstate interview concentrated on politicking and campaigning between Bell and Gammage, only. As the two primary candidates for the democratic party, they spent a few moments discussing where they stood, and why people should choose them over their primary opponent.

Personally, I say reject the politicrats, and go with grass roots.

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