Looking at the issues
I decided to get a head start on my voter research for the Texas congressional races. Annoyingly, the Democrats had no “issues” tabs, so my opinion on them remains neutral, for now.
The Republicans all had their issues tabs up and running. Very helpful — at confirming my suspicions. But something stood out about Attorney General Ken Paxton. He talked about President Donald Trump. A lot. Disturbingly often. Here is someone bragging about being an outsider while fawning praise on the literal president in every paragraph.
So I counted. The issues page of the man who “won’t bend a knee” referenced the candidate 12 times and our president 10 times, not counting the header/footer.
U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt was initially sycophantic, but started thinking his own thoughts halfway through. Sen. John Cornyn had the most detailed issues page: plenty of our senator’s thoughts and positions with passing positive mention of the president.
Opinion
I despise all three policy agendas, but Paxton’s worship of Trump is downright pathetic. The Lone Star State, proud of its rugged independence, has been reduced to a cabal of whimpering yes-men by a flamboyant Yankee.
Thomas Urech, Richardson
Talarico’s appeal is broader
U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett is hoping her candidacy for the U.S. Senate seat now held by John Cornyn will get more Democratic voters to the polls in the November general election. However, if she is the Democratic candidate, she may unwittingly motivate more Republican voters to go to the polls because she has angered them by her criticisms of President Donald Trump and other Republicans.
Republican campaign managers are looking forward to labeling Crockett a far-left radical, and Trump has already called her a “lowlife” and “low-IQ person.”
In contrast to Crockett, state Rep. James Talarico, a Democrat, is a Presbyterian seminarian who may have enough cross-party appeal to get votes from disaffected Republicans and independents in November. Talarico is the only hope Democrats have of winning the U.S. Senate race in Texas in November.
Bill Maina, North Dallas
A candidate with integrity
Re: “Backup plan dashed,” by Jack Gibson, Dec. 22 Letters.
Gibson’s backup plan doesn’t have to be dashed. Please take a close look at state Rep. James Talarico, a Democrat running for Senate in Texas. Listen to him — he speaks honestly and cares for the people of this state.
He really studied the proposals put forth in the Legislature and raised questions we would ask if given the chance. I believe he will represent us with integrity.
Carole M. Trocchio, Dallas/Lake Highlands
Senator is a yes-man
It’s hard to imagine what more Sen. John Cornyn can do to earn President Donald Trump’s endorsement. Not only does he give 99% support to Trump’s expansion of executive powers under Article II, but he has also handed over 100% of his authority under Article I.
Advice and consent? Rubber-stamp Kash Patel and Robert Kennedy Jr.? Power of the purse? Sure, increase taxes on consumers because of a TV ad quoting Reagan on tariffs.
War powers? Sure, blow up alleged terrorist foot soldiers in wooden boats from Venezuela, unless they survive execution and then just return them to be set free.
Militarization of our streets for domestic law enforcement based on fake emergencies? Let’s applaud that on Facebook and during Senate hearings, some Republican senators have said no, but never Cornyn. Sen. Ted Cruz condemns antisemite Nick Fuentes and the Federal Communications Commission chair for threatening ABC over Jimmy Kimmel, but Cornyn stays silent.
Cornyn may try to show some token courage about constitutional order if he survives the primary. Texas voters need to remember the present and decide if he has the courage to meet this moment, even if there is risk.
Bill Luthans, Dallas
Conservatives’ choices
Re: “Paxton divorce imperils support — Campaign season will reveal whether allegations sway attorney general’s voter base,” Dec. 22 news story.
In Attorney General Ken Paxton’s comment about Sen. John Cornyn, accusing Cornyn of being a Republican in name only, Paxton says that Cornyn “does not consistently side with President Donald Trump or conservative priorities.”
His use of the word “or” tells us that, in Paxton’s estimation, one must choose between Trump loyalty and conservative principles, something I agree with. Senators make a choice whether to rubber-stamp everything Trump or stick to conservative law and order and constitutional principles.
Currently Texas senators do the rubber-stamp thing. Considering his recent history, I’m not sure that Paxton is likely to stick to constitutional principles, either.
Kenneth Mathias, Grand Prairie
Puzzled by extremists
Re: “Senate candidates — good grief,” by Steven Smith, Dec. 12 Letters.
Smith wonders why extreme candidates Attorney General Ken Paxton and U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett are their parties’ leading contenders for the U.S. Senate. I haven’t seen Paxton’s numbers, but a recent poll in The Dallas Morning News found that Crockett’s rating is 85% favorable to just 9% unfavorable among her party’s primary voters. What does this say about that party’s judgment of character?
Ken Ashby, Dallas
Likening Crockett, Paxton is way off
Re: “Crockett’s trial balloon certain to crash — The Democrats’ version of Ken Paxton isn’t electable to Senate, but you’ll know her name,” by Ronell Smith, Dec. 14 Opinion.
The writer evidently knows little about Ken Paxton. To say “the Democrats’ version of Paxton” is ridiculous. Nowhere did I find any facts supporting this. Has she been impeached? Does she have a business friend with felony indictments, or a securities case resulting in a pretrial diversion program? No.
The Republican Party leader in the White House must be Smith’s example of how to write bald-face assertions without proof. Does Crockett get involved in what other states do as Paxton does? Yes, but that’s part of being a member of Congress, unlike a state-level position that Paxton holds.
Michael Bulkeley, Richardson
Not representative of me
U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett is a potty-mouthed politician who, in word and deed, has demonstrated a total disinterest in representing people in my socioeconomic background. As such, I would never trust her to represent my interests or the interests of others similarly situated.
Colin Allred had represented my district as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, and while I held in low regard his obeisance to U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi’s leadership, I at least had no doubt that he would listen and respond to any concerns of mine. Jasmine Crockett? Not a chance.
John Riggs, Highland Park
A turn-off for voters
Re: “Crockett jumps in race — Filing to run for Senate seat shakes up Democratic field,” Dec. 9 news story.
We now have a clear picture of the Democratic candidates who will vie for the Senate seat currently held by Sen. John Cornyn. U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett and state Rep. James Talarico are the two front runners since former U.S. Rep. Colin Allred dropped out.
There is no question that Crockett is very effective at gaining attention and even though her political career is still relatively new, she comes to this race with significant baggage.
On March 27, The Dallas Morning News ran an editorial headlined, “ ‘Hot Wheels’ Slam Sums Up Crude Politics,” in which the editors correctly pointed out that Crockett should apologize for her offensive “hot wheels” comments she made about our Gov. Greg Abbott. Sadly, no such apology was ever issued.
More recently, Crockett claimed that Lee Zeldin, head of the Environmental Protection Agency, had received donations from Jeffrey Epstein. It turns out it was a man who shared the same name with the convicted sex offender, but was not the same Epstein. When given the chance to apologize for making such a misleading claim, sadly she once again declined.
This is precisely the political double-talk that turns off so many potential voters.
David Alan Jones, Farmers Branch