Mikal Watts

[muse]

Mikal Watts is supposedly going to announce his exploratory committee for US Senate tomorrow.

Anyone know anything about him? Anything at all?

Everyone I ask knows little to nothing about him.

So . . . scoop? Details? Anything?

[johncoby2]

1. I know his slogan.....

Watts Up?

[NoPasaran]

2. Supposedly he has a license to print money

Apparently it was well spent in the Juan Garcia race.

[PDittie]

3. From Texas Shark Watch:

"Liberal Democrats" Nick Lampson and Martin Frost? Someone's bias is showing ...

Corpus Christi liberal personal injury trial lawyer Mikal Watts of the Watts Law Firm has given hundreds of thousands to Democrat candidates and committees, including liberal Democrats Barbara Boxer, John Edwards, Tom Daschle, John Kerry, Nick Lampson, and Martin Frost.

In addition to backing liberal Democrats at the federal level, Watts has also given thousands to state Democrats like Kirk Watson and Sherry Boyles. Although the bulk of his booty continues to go to Democrats, Watts has increasingly bankrolled selected Republicans both directly and indirectly.

Late in 2004, Watts gave $125,000 to the Good Government Political Action Committee, which in turn contributed $10,000 to David Dewhurst, $25,000 to GOP plaintiff lawyer State Rep. Bryan Hughes, and $50,000 to HillCo PAC, a well connected Austin lobbying firm that has in turn made large donations to Republican statewide officials. Watts has also contributed thousands to Republican Texas Supreme Court Justices Wallace Jefferson and Paul Green.

In March 2006, Watts contributed $10,000 to Texans For Insurance Reform (TFIR), which in the most recent primary backed GOP legislative candidates Gus Ramirez and John Devine who lost to Leo Berman and Patricia Harless respectively. Similarly, TFIR pumped thousands into the campaigns of plaintiff lawyers Drew Mouton and Wade Gent, who were defeated by Jim Landtroop and Betty Brown respectively.

In 2003, Watts forked over $75,000 to Save Texas Courts, a massive and unsuccessful trial lawyer campaign to defeat Proposition 12, which capped non-economic damages in medical malpractice cases, thereby reducing insurance rates and expanding the supply of doctors. Watts has also made dozens of contributions to the Texas Trial Lawyer Political Action Committee.

http://www.txsharkwatch.org/watts-pirtle.html

[johncoby2]

4. Texas Shark Watch

This is a front group for insurance companies and homebuilders.

[NoPasaran]

5. Sounds like a man after my own heart

[Tejanocrat]

6. There's a good summary at Texas Blue:

Senator Watts?

By Josh Berthume, 05/01/2007

Mikal Watts is regularly among the five most prolific givers to Democratic candidates in Texas. He's 39 years old, with a wife and three kids, and has spent the better part of the last 20 years in Corpus Christi, involving himself in Democratic politics to varying degrees. As a plaintiff's attorney, he's garnered settlements and verdicts for his clients totaling over $2 billion. You may be further interested to know that he's seriously considering a run against John Cornyn.... You may not know who he is, but Mikal Watts has probably thought about you if you've driven a Ford with Firestone tires, or if you ever took Rezulin for diabetes, or had AT&T illegally give your phone records to the federal government. You may not know who Mikal Watts is, but he's probably thought about you if you're a Democratic voter in Texas.

Will there be a prominent, credible challenger for Cornyn? This is of primary concern among Texas Democrats with an eye toward the future. ... But who might end up running for the Democratic nomination, and what might that eventual candidacy need to look like in order to win? A conservative price tag on the total cost of running a credible campaign against John Cornyn of $15 million has been thrown around, but I'm not sure that gets even a great candidate with a smart campaign over 47%. To really put the shoes to Cornyn, a Democratic challenger is going to need about $25 million over the course of the campaign. They will also need to have broad appeal, and a connection to South Texas wouldn't hurt.

Ways and means - In addressing the funding issue, it is important to point out that Mikal Watts is a man of means. Anyone familiar with Democratic politics in Corpus Christi, or in and around South Texas, knows that he regularly contributes to campaigns, often a great deal. In 2006, he was instrumental in enabling freshman State Representative Juan Garcia's field operation. From the beginning, people called Garcia's race against Republican incumbent Gene Seaman unwinnable, but somehow they pulled it together. I had heard from a number of sources about what is now affectionately referred to as "the Army of Juan," so I asked Christian Archer, Garcia's campaign strategist, about the role Watts had played.... "I had originally gone to Mikal and asked him to raise $50,000 to enable the field operation," says Archer. "Not only did he do that, but after becoming more engaged with Garcia and observing our grassroots operation, he eventually helped us fully fund the effort. Because of that, we were able to knock on 85,000 doors." Watts was engaged in the actual grassroots effort as well. "He would read the exams, and he would pump up the block walkers before they went out. He understands the importance of grassroots politics, and appreciates what it takes to do it right."... Mikal Watts had a fundraiser for the DSCC a few weeks ago, putting together just over $1.1 million for Schumer, as told by the Burnt Orange Report, Roll Call, and other sources. Schumer and the DSCC have taken an interest in Texas that we've not seen in a while, going so far as to commission a poll on Cornyn's vulnerability.... Danny Noyola, Jr. is a State Democratic Executive Committeeman from Corpus Christi, where Watts resided until a very recent move to San Antonio. He was quick to cite Watts' level of involvement in Democratic politics in the area. "He's given money to and been involved with many local progressive organizations like LULAC and NAACP, and he's been helping candidates get elected, including both Democrats and candidates for non-partisan offices throughout Nueces county."

Former Texas Land Commissioner and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Garry Mauro was impressed by Watts' fundraising capability. "It's pretty impressive what Mikal did . You put that on top of the San Antonio/Bexar County project, and his GOTV effort for Juan Garcia, and he's definitely a player. The question is: does he want to be a candidate? I think he's a long way from deciding to be a Senate candidate, but when you look at everything he's done, he's certainly the most interesting person who's being discussed, and in my mind, of the people that are being discussed, he's the one who would be most likely to win."

Former Texas House Speaker and Lieutenant Governor Ben Barnes recognizes Watts' fundraising potential as being a positive aspect to his potential candidacy. “Mikal Watts is a smart guy, and I am excited that such a successful Texan is interested in politics," says Barnes. "He would make a strong candidate because this is going to be an expensive race and Mikal has the ability to raise the necessary funds.”... Rick Noriega has been discussed in this publication at great length. ... "We all owe Mikal thanks for his fundraising. I understand his event for the DSCC was a great success," said Noriega. "I believe that anyone willing to offer themselves up for public service deserves our respect...."

http://www.thetexasblue.com/senator-watts

[muse]

7. His lawsuits

against Ford. What do we know about that?

What other campaigns has he been involved in?

[Tejanocrat]

8. This lawsuit of his really impressed me (I looked this up after reading Texas Blue's Watts bio)

Local attorneys file suit against AT&T

CORPUS CHRISTI - A group of local attorneys has filed a class action lawsuit against AT&T that accuses the company of handing over confidential phone records, as part of a government spying program.... Each targeting phone companies for their role in a highly controversial program. The government is accused of monitoring calls from millions of Americans dating back to 2001, with the data coming from some of the country's largest telephone service providers. ... "We're dealing with people here in South Texas who are AT&T subscribers who have had their phone records illegally given to the federal government," said plaintiff attorney Mikal Watts.

According to Watts, third party corporations like AT&T, formerly known as SBC don't have the right to ignore federal laws preventing them from handing over records, even if they were asked by the government to do so.

"In this country, we have a right to privacy. One branch of the government, whether it be the executive branch or any of the other branches, doesn't have the right to pretend a law does not exist, and apparently that's what has happened here," Watts said....

http://www.kristv.com/Global/story.asp?S=4920249

[sonias]

9. He's certainly better than the box turtle

He comes with his own money source and tons smarter than Tony Sanchez who didn't know how to run a campaign, and well wasn't really a Democrat.

Sonia

[meg]

10. South Texas Chisme is not happy with Mikal Watts

link

We don't think highly of Mr. Watts at South Texas Chisme. On the other hand, if you like Joe Lieberman or CradDICK Dems, we think you'll love Mikal Watts.

[NoPasaran]

11. I'm announcing a new corollary to Godwin's Rule

Discussion ceases when someone invokes Joe Lieberman.

[muse]

12. Good info in those links

Lots and lots of background on Watts.

I'm curious about one of the remarks in there that San Antonio is not so happy with Watts either.

[TexasLinda]

13. I suspect some toes were stepped on

when Mikal moved to San Antonio and started spreading his money around. The local Democratic establishment was gushing over him at first, but I don't know how they feel about him now. Democrats are a little disorganized in San Antonio (are they organized anywhere?), so I wouldn't be surprised if Mikal tried to "help" the local party by sending in some of his people to run things. According to the Bexar County Democratic Party's website (http://bexardemocrats.org) they have 459 vacant precinct chair positions out of 620 (http://bexardemocrats.org/PrecinctChairs.html). As I understand it, the previous county chair deliberately kept the vacancies high because it was easier to control the smaller County Executive Committee. The current chair has been trying to fill vacancies, but many of the precinct chairs from the old regime refuse to come to CEC meetings, thus preventing a quorum. I doubt the CEC has had a quorum in the last year.

I am suspicious of Mikal, but not necessarily against him. I wasn't happy with the way he had Vilma Luna vote at times -- especially when it came to redistricting. I believe he's ambitious and opportunistic, and could just as easily run as a moderate Republican. Of course, "ambitious and opportunistic" is pretty much the definition of a politician. I don't expect a candidate to be a saint or idealogically pure. (He may be a rascal, but he's our rascal.) I'd like a better choice, but I'm afraid Mikal's money will scare anybody else off. In any case, if Mikal is the Democratic candidate I will vote for him. I held my nose and voted for Tony Sanchez and Mikal has to be better than him -- and anybody is better than Cornyn.

I would like to know what role Mikal played in the 2006 House District 33 race. It's rumored that he helped finance Danny Noyola Sr's attempt to draw votes from Solomon Ortiz Jr so that Republican Joe McComb would win. The attempt failed, as did Noyola's attempt to take over the local Texas Democratic Women chapter. Does anybody know what Mikal's involvement was?

[sonias]

16. He made Luna vote for redistricting?

If that's true he's dead. That puts him in the same category with Sanchez - he's a DINO.

Ah crap!

Sonia

[Czolgosz]

32. If that was true, I couldn't support Watts, but I'm 99% sure you're mistaken.

Luna was a state representative (and a lawyer) long before Watts hired her (as a lawyer).

From what I can tell, Luna was deep in Craddick's pocket long, long before she came to work (as a lawyer) at Watts's law firm.

I really think it's a huge leap to attribute Luna's crappiest votes to Watts. Hell, by that standard, anyone who hires a Republican should be disqualified from seeking public office as a Democrat.

If you find evidence linking Watts to Luna's redistricting vote, please share it (because that would be disqualifying information to me). Otherwise, you are making a rough and unfair insinuation without facts to support them.

Please clarify your basis for this allegation.

[PDittie]

23. This comment at STC has the info you're looking for:

http://stxc.blogspot.com/2007/06/mikal-watts-makes-his-run-official.html#c159975887060294734

[Czolgosz]

33. Just so you know, the person who made that comment also attacked Rep. Juan Garcia as a Communist

sympathizer while he accused the Nueces County Democratic Party as being controlled by Communists.

[TexasLinda]

34. I thought Mikal was behind the whole "everybody is a Communist"

farce. At least that was the impression that the nimrods involved with the campaign were trying to give. I understand that Mikal's pal Connie Gutierrez actually said the Nueces County Democratic Party was controlled by Communists on a local radio talk show. Apparently the local Democratic Women's club (Coastal Bend Texas Democratic Women), the local Progressive Populists Caucus, and the Democratic candidate for House District 33 (Solomon Ortiz Jr) were also all Communists.

[PDittie]

35. Wow. Who knew Corpus was full of Commies? eom

[Czolgosz]

39. No. "Communist" hunter "Jaime Kenedeno" is Anton Haley. He has no affiliation with Watts.

Also, while it is true that Watts supported pro-labor Danny Noyola Sr. to fill Vilma Luna's spot, David Noyola has been telling anyone who will listen that Watts dropped Danny Sr. like a hot potato after Solly won the precinct chair vote and that Watts personally asked Danny Sr. to drop out for the sake of party unity. Ask Danny Sr. or David yourself.

[TexasLinda]

42. I apologize if I gave the impression that Watts had any

connection with Jaime; that was not my intention. Jaime appears to hate Watts almost as much as he does Communists -- and just about everybody else. However, I don't believe Jaime was the lead "Communist" hunter. Somebody else started it and he just joined in, enthusiastically as usual. And it's entirely possible that some of the people involved incorrectly hinted they had Watts' backing.

I confirmed with another source that Mikal had nothing to do with Noyola's continued campaign against Ortiz. Thanks for answering my question.

[Anton Haley]

50. You are incorrect

Just wanted to let you know I am here. I hope I am allowed to respond without somebody wetting their pants and erasing the inconvenient observations and documentation that is obtuse to one's agenda.

If you want to run through the whole story all over again we can do that but the Heron's lease is over and he has been tossed aside. I Anton Haley fight the good fight. I support Mikal Watts 4 U S Senate. I dont hate anyone but I sure love a good game of hardball with pitchers of GODSPEED and base runners of legal time I just keep on getting base hits.



Posted on June 2, 2007 at 05:29:17 AM by Jaime Kenedeno

These guys will never pay me for anything.

They would rather kill me.

But then they would have to wonder where all of that information was partitioned and to who.

We could work with anyone should we accomplish great things that we hold true and that Homero & his wife hold true. Issues we define and redefine with the advice and consent of our networks.

A buck is a buck and I have no problem busting my ass for a few, but it dont tell me WATT to do. I do WATT I do because that is WATT I feel like doing; because I believe, have faith or I am inspired by the spirit of God or Humanity.

I'm not a pussy like most of these politicians and I can always tell you to your face WATT I write from a keyboard. Either way it comes from my CORAZON and nobody will ever buy that from this Haley. I might take your droppings, your trash and your throwaways but that is only because I am a very resourceful man.

Dont ever mistake my kindness and my patience for weakness.

And if you deserve it,
then be assured there is a day of reckoning in your future.

When I promise I deliver.

And there is plenty of time

No hurry.

Thank you to all who support our efforts and thank you for the good deeds."

[PDittie]

14. RG Ratcliffe has a little more

some of it new:

Watts and his law firm in the past three years gave more than $1 million to the Good Government Political Action Committee, which has been headquartered at the Corpus Christi offices of his law firm. However, the committee also has been the vehicle by which Watts makes donations to Republican candidates.

If you run Watts name through the Texas Ethics Commission data base, you'll only find one instance of him giving to a Republican: $1,500 to Wallace Jefferson for Supreme Court in 2002.

The Good Government PAC is a whole 'nother matter.

During the 2006 elections, the committee donated $2,500 to Rep. Toby Goodman, R-Arlington, an ally of Speaker Tom Craddick who lost re-election to a Democratic challenger. The committee also donated $1,000 to Rep. Phil King, R-Weatherford, one of Craddick's staunchest backers. Among the Democrats who supported Craddick for speaker this year Rep. Norma Chavez of El Paso got $10,000 for her campaign; Rep. Sylvester Turner of Houston, $10,000; and Rep. Kevin Bailey, $1,000.

The PAC in 2005 gave $15,000 to Republican Attorney General Greg Abbott, who earlier this year reported having $5.6 million in his campaign account.

During the 2004 election cycle, Watts personally donated $125,000 to the Good Government PAC, which in turn gave $100,000 of it to the Hillco Pac. Many Democrats view the Hillco Pac as the lobby vehicle that helps keep Craddick in power.

The fifteen large to Abbott is a deal-killer for me.

I will work for anybody that opposes Watts (that also isn't a Repuke).

[muse]

19. Noriega? Radnofsky?

This was interesting at the end of Ratcliffe's blog entry:

Watts' money apparently already has run U.S. Rep. Nick Lampson out of the race. The question is whether Watt's spending will drive Democratic purists to take a harder look at a candidacy by Rep. Rick Noriega, R-Houston.

Of course, we can't forget Barbara Ann Radnofsky, who has maintained an email list going for two years.

[PDittie]

21. I would have to say that

I would be very surprised at this point if BAR were to run.

And very, VERY disappointed if Rick Noriega did not.

[Czolgosz]

31. Mikal Watts Raises Texas Record for DSCC: $1.1 Million

link to whole article: http://www.burntorangereport.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=3294

I am as disappointed as anyone to see a Democrat who gave money to Abbott (who's one hell of sick puppy), but I can't find where the "Good Government PAC" is just Mikal Watts. It looks like it's a PAC that takes money from several donors. How can you link the $15,000 to Watts?

Also, in the context of $1,100,000 million raised for Democrats, the $15,000 from the Good Government PAC is pretty small peanuts.

I was troubled by the suggestion that Watts has given a lot of money to Republicans, so I checked and he's given a lot of money to Democrats and Democrat organizations (this is money from Watts, not from some PAC which Watts and many others contributed to):

Sakai, Peter A. -- $ 2,500.00
Bernsen, David E. -- $ 10,000.00
Watts, Sandra L. -- $ 30,000.00
Huerta, Martha -- $ 1,875.00
Saldana, Sarah Ruth -- $ 1,000.00
Watts, Sandra L. -- $ 14,751.00
Watts, Sandra L. -- $ 30,000.00
Mirabal, Margaret G. -- $ 5,000.00
Boyles, Sherry L. -- $ 1,000.00
Watson, Kirk P. -- $ 25,000.00
Galvan, Robert M. -- $ 2,500.00
Northwest Democrats Of Bexar County Pac, -- $ 500.00
Saldana, Marisela -- $ 2,500.00
Galvan, Robert M. -- $ 2,500.00
Texans For Insurance Reform, -- $ 10,000.00
Saldana, Marisela -- $ 2,500.00
Bell, R. Christopher -- $ 2,800.00
Coastal Bend Texas Democratic Women, -- $ 1,500.00
Longoria, Jose -- $ 2,500.00
Terrell, Richard C. -- $ 1,000.00
Venso, Norma -- $ 1,500.00
Canales-black, Barbara -- $ 5,000.00
Canales-black, Barbara -- $ 5,760.00
Watts, Sandra L. -- $ 30,000.00
Save Texas Courts, -- $ 75,000.00
Hale, Oscar J. -- $ 1,250.00
Pena, Ruben R. -- $ 2,500.00
San Angelo Firefighters Committee For Responsible Government, -- $ 60.00
Mireles, Andy -- $ 5,000.00

[johncoby2]

15. Watt does Watt look like?

I havent even seen a picture of the guy. Someone?

[meg]

17. check his picture in the caller times

link

[johncoby2]

18. Ive seen better heads on a

boil!

[0.5.empty]

20. I have kept to myself on this guy, but now's the time

to make some noise. Mikal Watts (when, oh when is he going to
spell is first name correctly?) will be an incredible
liability to Democrats should he win the primary. Huge targets
will be painted on him. A trial lawyer who benefited from
obscene adjudicated awards from major corporations - anyone
remember the Firestone decision? - who is trying to BUY his
election to the Senate with his own ill-gotten gains. God, can
you hear the commercials? Texans will turn off to this guy in
droves. No matter that he is a really smart guy. Perception is
everything in politics, especially Texas politics.

The only credible candidate for US Senate is Rick Noriega. We
all know Rick. He is a Lt. Colonel in the Texas National
Guard, also in the US Army, has served his country in
Afghanistan and on the US border with Mexico in drug
interdiction ops. He has served ably and well in the Texas
House, as has his spouse, Melissa (currently running for
Houston city council), and has demonstrated his patriotism and
progressivism on numerous times. I have no problem with this
man's candidacy. Muse has gathered info on a possible ballot
opponent to her man, Rick. Muse, he is really smart, graduated
from UT in 2 years, and from UT Law School in another 2. He
just doesn't have Rick's credentials. 

I really don't trust this guy - I don't know where he stands
on the issues of the day and don't know if they are truly
heart felt. I know Rick. Watts' vast sums of money could be
better spent on a Rick Noriega campaign for Senate. If Watts
really wants a Texas Democrat in the Senate in '08 he needs to
get with this simple fact.

[PDittie]

22. I'm in 100% agreement

Repukes will label, tar, and feather Watts and with his record of contributing to Dewhurst, Abbott, and the worst of the Texas Legislature which supported Craddick, ought to be disowned by the Texas Democratic Party (or at least the progressive branch).

Noriega picks up all kinds of support that Watts has no chance at.

Noriega is our best shot at unseating Cornyn.

[TexasLinda]

24. I like Noriega

and would much rather see him run for senate than Watts. Let's hope Mikal's money doesn't scare him off.

[johncoby2]

37. I dont see the donations to republicans

Ive looked at his ethics reports and I dont see it.

Someone?

Now, he did give in 2004 $100,000 to the Good Government Political Action Committee. What the hell is that? And he has contributed and supported LOTS of Democrats and Democratic organizations.

Watts WILL NOT appease the left wing of the party. Never. Ever. Ever. Period. No way. At all. Period.

So, lets get off that boat real quick and stop trying to convince any of them to do so.

But then again, I havent heard a thing about him so it is hard for anyone to make a decision this early in the game.

[muse]

43. It's the Good Government PAC

that gave $$ to Rs, Craddick Ds and Hillco.

Good Government PAC is housed in his law office.

[Tejanocrat]

44. It's time we reverse the ENDLESS string of defeats unfairly suffered by statewide Hispanic candidate...

[TexasLinda]

45. Then Noriega should run.

He's an experienced legislator with a history of public service and service to his country (link).

Edited to add link.

[TexasLinda]

46. Let me clarify...

I would much prefer that someone like military veteran and experienced legislator Rick Noriega be our Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate. However, if Mikal Watts is our candidate I will vote for him (in spite of the endorsement from BOR). While I have expressed some doubts and concerns about a Watts candidacy, I do not dislike him personally.

[Czolgosz]

47. Did BOR endorse Watts? Is a BOR endorsement bad? We're talking about BurntOrangeReport, right?

I'm lost here ...

[theredstate]

48. BOR hasn't endorsed anyone.

They are just having a lively discussion about the only candidate to file paperwork to look into the Senate race.

[Czolgosz]

49. That's a very good discussion with helpful information. Thanks.

[TexasLinda]

82. BOR is part of Draft Rick Noriega movement

so I appologize. To me it looked like they were endorsing Watts, but I see now they are supporting (but not necessarily endorsing) efforts to get Noriega into the race.

As for previous comments about me voting for Watts if he is our Democratic candidate, I've had a change of heart after reading the many posts here and elsewhere. If Watts is our candidate I just won't vote in the Senate race. Watts and his money don't need me. If Noriega gets into the race, as I believe he will, I will donate money directly to his campaign and volunteer my time to help him get elected.

[johncoby2]

25. Bottom line......it will take 12Million to run.

If a candidate can't make the dough, he/she cant bake.

It is very unfortunate. A senate race requires TV commercials. And they are expensive.

[art3]

26. 20 Million

I read that cornyn will have raised over 20 million bucks for this race. that is why so many great guys do not run. it is intesnive stuff having to raise dough every day, stay on message and try not to lose touch with your own kids in the process. i want noriega to run-but i also knwo the potential price he must be weighing right now. and I am still not sure about bill white-he may jump in .

[muse]

27. Bill White is not jumping in

Watch for him to run for governor in 2010.

[merci_me]

28. I have to agree with Muse

You've said before that White may run for senate. Do you have any clue who would be running for mayor in the November election? Because I can guarantee you, Bill White is NOT the kind of man to run for mayor in November, be sworn in the first week in January and head straight over to file for senate.

Look for White to win the mayoral race, hands-down. Go to bat for Rick Noriega for senate and after completing his last term as mayor (term limits), run for governor in 2010. Though with his fantastic talent as an executive, organizer and consensus builder, he'd also be a great lt gov.

[muse]

29. Exactly

Look for Annise Parker to run for Mayor of Houston in 2010.

[art3]

30. yup

i agree. it is more likely bill white will runin 2010-i wonder aboutjohn sharp who has been rumored to run for guv as well. that would be a heck of a primary. and with kay baily once again appaering to run for guv this would be a hell of a race. my dream is for kay baily to step down from senate to run for guv-leaving an open seat. yummy

[TexasLinda]

40. I'm not that jaded -- yet.

But I'm getting there. Like many others here I give a lot of time and money to Democratic causes and candidates, and I vote in every election. My time and money are given freely, without strings attached and without the thought of getting anything in return other than good government (I'm not a political consultant.). I have friends who have totally dropped out of the political process because they feel their votes, and voices, don't count because they can't attach large checks to them. They're probably right. If I ever get to the point where I desperately latch on to a candidate just because he has the biggest bank account, then I'll be dropping out too. I'm one of those misguided individuals who's been voting straight ticket. However, Mikal and the folks over on the Burnt Orange Report have made a good point -- sometimes the Republican is the better candidate and we shouldn't just blindly vote for somebody because he has a D after his name. Who knows, maybe Cornyn will get a primary opponent who's a decent human being and has some legislative experience.

[Gingergal]

36. Is Mikal Watts anti-choice?

On another blog, the question was asked about Mikal Watts’ stand on a woman’s right to choose. The blogger wrote that people in the state received a call from a polling firm asking if the voter would support a pro-life Democrat for U.S. Senate. The blogger talked to the pollsters who confirmed it was a poll by Watts but refused to confirm the question. The blogger called several times to ask Mikal Watts to give his position on the issue, and he never returned the calls. Mr. Watts needs to clear up his stance on reproductive freedom for women.

http://blogs.chron.com/texaspolitics/archives/2007/05/is_mikal_watts.html

From Texas Politics
"Is Mikal Watts an anti-abortion Democrat for U.S. Senate?

A Republican recently told me that San Antonio lawyer Mikal Watts was doing a poll to explore a 2008 race challenging the re-election of Republican U.S. Sen. John Cornyn.

The poll supposedly included a question like: If you knew John Cornyn was pro-choice, would you support a pro-life Democrat for U.S. Senate?

Austin pollster Jeff Smith confirmed that he was polling for Watts, but he said what was reported by the Republican was a "distortion" of the question on the poll. However, Smith declined to describe the language used in the poll, saying it was proprietary information belonging to Watts.

That was more than a week ago. Since that time, I have left repeated messages at Watts' law offices in San Antonio and Corpus Christi to ask him about the question on his poll. Watts has yet to call me back."

[PDittie]

38. The answer to this question probably depends

on how big a check you're willing to write him.

This guy's principles appear to be for sale to the highest bidder.

[Gingergal]

41. GGPAC,city elections,open beaches & dissolution

If you check the Good Government PAC (GGPAC)(Good Government Political Action Committee - 00054722) for the January to March 2007 Texas Ethics Report, you find that GGPAC supported the following candidates in the last city elections in April 2007. They are non-partisan races but the list is telling: Kendra Kennison, Nelda Martinez, Jesse Noyola. They are the establishment/the political elite/machine/anti-reform candidates. Kendra's husband Rex and Jesse Noyola voted to close the access to the open public beaches.
Then, the Good Govt. PAC returned $7500 to Watts Law Firm (same address as the Good Govt. Pac) and DISSOLVED the GGPAC as of end of March 2007, probably because Mr. Watts no longer needed a state PAC for his proposed U.S. Senate race.

<http://www.ethics.state.tx.us/php/filer.php?acct=00054722gpac>

[TexasLinda]

51. Texas Kaos: Keeping Piles of Cash in the Proper Perspective

See boadicea's excellent post over on http://www.texaskaos.com/showDiary.do;jsessionid=9DC18C551BC3C43B4EECA21E5000CB79?diaryId=3408'>Texas Kaos. I really hope Rick Noriega decides to get in the U.S. Senate race.

[Freddie Stubbs]

52. He contributed to Ted Poe's reelection campaign last year

http://www.newsmeat.com/campaign_contributions_to_politicians/donor_list.php?candidate_id=H4TX02108&li=W

[Cat Herder]

53. Patriot my ass

and right before the election

His wife made a contribution too

[theredstate]

54. Let's see the whole picture

I have never seen or used this site until you linked to it but let's show the whole picture here.

If this site is accurate, then it shows that Watts gave $91,483 to Democrats or about 98% (See http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?st=TX&last=Watts&first=Mikal ).

This is a discussion occurring here and across Texas. I think a 100% purity test is unreasonable.

If we take a hard and honest look into any candidate, there will be things he or she have said or done that we don't agree with. We will never find the perfect candidate. I just want a good candidate that can win against John Cornyn.

[sonias]

56. 100% purity test?

Maybe it is unreasonable to expect 100% purity, but Ted Poe? For the love of any supreme entity of your choice! What the hell did he do that for?

He's not even his Congressman, that race wasn't even a contest, Poe ranks as a bottom feeder on the political power scale just slightly higher than Pete Sessions. What was Mikel throwing money at Poe for? I could still be pissed if he threw the money at Smokey Joe Barton, but at least I could understand he was going for the power. Barton even as a republican is ranked 69th. He's the highest ranking republican in their delegation for Texas.

http://www.congress.org/congressorg/power_rankings/state.tt?state=TX
Rep. Barton (R-TX-6) 4 23.03 69

Rep. Poe (R-TX-2) 31 5.03 422
Rep. Sessions (R-TX-32) 32 4.53 425

District 2 - Port Author, Beaumont, Kingwood. Some of what used to be District 9 - Nick Lampson's old district with new strongly conservative areas near Houston added.
2006 General Election Results Source: SOS web site
U. S. Representative District 2
Ted Poe(I) REP 90,490 65.63%
Gary E. Binderim DEM 45,080 32.69%
Justo J. Perez LIB 2,295 1.66%
-----------
Race Total 137,865

:wtf:

Sonia

[PDittie]

62. The whole picture needs to include

all of the contributions from the Good Government PAC, since Watts donated thousands of dollars to it, it in turn donated its money to Republicans all over the place, its headquarters was Watts' law office in Corpus, and the PAC has suddenly disappeared.

This "98%" thing is disingenuous. Let's recalculate with all of the contributions.

As posted upthread, Watts and his wife donated to Ted Poe in the closing days of the last campaign. A Democrat running against him named Gary Binderim could have used a contribution like that. There's a pattern here: Watts did the same thing when he gave five-figure sums through the GGPAC to Dewhurst and Abbott.

Why does Watts -- and his PAC -- give to incumbent Republicans in races where they are already perceived to be well ahead?

Does a true blue Democrat committed to the goals and ideals of the party do that? I don't think so.

[Czolgosz]

64. The "whole picture" needs to include where the candidates stand on key issues and not just who they

give money to and who they got money from.

I'm not saying that any Watts link to Ted Poe isn't a factor to weigh and I'm not saying any Noriega link to Bob Perry and Dick Weekley isn't also a factor to consider, but if you base your whole decision solely on those singular contribution issues, you're missing the more critical issue of what positions the candidates would ultimately champion in the Senate. I'd gladly take an ex-Republican like Jim Webb or Wes Clark who has seen the light and will now advocate for important progressive issues when the alternative is re-electing a stooge like John Cornyn.

You ask "Why does Watts -- and his PAC -- give to incumbent Republicans in races where they are already perceived to be well ahead?" I couldn't begin to guess why, but -- while I'd prefer that none of our candidates give or receive funds to or from notorious Republicans -- if someone was going to give money to a Republican, I'd much prefer he give that money "in the closing days" of the campaign to "incumbent Republicans in races where they are already perceived to be well ahead" instead of giving that money to Republicans early in the race or in close races where directing the contribution the other way might make a difference.

I would hope that you and I will both ultimately back the most progressive candidate who has the best chance of beating Cornyn. But you are sounding like you have made up your mind already and we don't even know who the candidates are yet or what positions those candidates will advocate in favor of. Can't we try to avoid any "friendly fire" at our candidates at least until we know who's running and what they stand for? That's all I'd like to see.

[Anton Haley]

68. Why does Mikal give to Republicans?

One word EXPEDIENCY.

For legislation to pass it needs affirmance from both sides of the aisle.

Mikal is not a sell out, you get WATT you see, a very determined competitor.

[Czolgosz]

55. Forgot to mention EDWARDS, JOHN (D), BIDEN, JOSEPH R JR (D), COMMITTEE FOR HISPANIC CAUSES/BUILDING

OUR LEADERSHIP DIVERSITY PAC, ORTIZ FOR CONGRESS COMMITTEE, TESTER, JON (D), MENENDEZ, ROBERT (D), RADNOFSKY, BARBARA ANN (D), RAYMOND, RICHARD EDWARD (D), CUELLAR, HENRY R (D), BATTLEGROUND VICTORY FUND NO. 2 (D), BATTLEGROUND VICTORY FUND NO. 1 (D), BATTLEGROUND VICTORY FUND NO. 3 (D), STRONGER AMERICA NOW, DOGGETT, LLOYD A MR. (D), STENHOLM, CHARLIE W. (D), KERRY, JOHN F (D), LAMPSON, NICHOLAS V (D), FROST, MARTIN (D), DRISCOLL, JOSEPH E (D), EDWARDS, CHET (D).

Watts gave hundreds of thousands to Democrats and you only mention the one contribution to a single Republican?

LINK: http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?st=TX&last=Watts&first=Mikal

Bitching about Watts because he gave 2% to Republicans and "only" 98% to Democrats makes as little sense as those who would beat up Rick Noriega because he has been receiving campaign financing from Dick Weekley and Bob Perry.

Both Watts and Noriega are good candidates. I hope they both run.

[sonias]

57. Oh me too

It's not like I want Watts to stay out of the race. There is nothing wrong with questioning either of the potential candidates. That's what a primary election is for. May the best candidate win. I agree that there is no such thing as a perfect candidate. I don't like those Weekley & Perry contributions to Norriega either, but if we're going to have elections where the candidates are dependent on contributions from special interests - you get what you pay for. Rick fights hard at the Lege for good things. He's a good public servant.

I think it would do Watts a lot of good to see the game from the other side of the fence. And I wouldn't count Norriega out just because he doesn't come with his own money mint. Norriega has public and military service to tout and that's gold. Plus he knows how to run a campaign on the other side. He's not a newbie there. And the fact that his name ends in a vowel is a plus for a statewide ticket.

Sonia

[Czolgosz]

58. I agree. I wish Watts's record of giving and Noriega's record of receiving were pristine, but they

are both clearly Democrats who have supported the party and both should run for higher office. If they choose to run for the same office, that's exactly what the primary is for. May the best candidate win (and may the loser promptly endorse the winner).

Money is not the beginning or the end of a candidate's quest and it's not an end in itself but a means to an end and nothing more. With that said, I would worry about a candidate who couldn't raise money, but Rick Noriega can definitely raise money. I'm sure Noriega will be able to raise a million or more before the primary if he chooses to run.

I'm not sure whether or not a name that "ends in a vowel is a plus for a statewide ticket" is true for the general election, but I wish it to be true because we have a dearth of statewide office holders (from either party) whose names end in a vowel, but I feel certain it helps in the primary.

[johncoby2]

59. Rick fights hard at the Lege for good things. He's a good public servant.

AMEN!

Why doesn't Rick run and Michael be his financial manager? Killer team!

[Czolgosz]

60. Agreed! Better yet, why doesn't one run for Senate and one run for Lt. Governor in 2010?

I don't care who runs for which race because I know that I prefer both Noriega and Watts to either Cornyn or Dewhurst. (I say one might consider running for Lt. Gov. only because I understand and hope that White may be running for Gov.).

If our biggest problem as Democrats is that we have too many good candidates for offices currently held by incumbent Republicans, things must be turning around for the Texas Democratic Party.

[Cat Herder]

61. Oh all right (big sigh)

given the time of my op and that I don't work the graveyard shift I'll retract my hissy fit and state that if I'd had a better night of sleep I would not have chimed in.:crazy:

You're right, Czolgosz. Next time I can't sleep I'll read the Texas Democratic Party rules. That ought to make me sleep like a baby.:silly:

[meg]

63. 2% isn't an accurate picture of Watts contributions

See Burka blog comment and please check the ethics commission reports yourself. I did.

Good Government Pac, Hillco Pac, $ 50,000.00
Good Government Pac, Heflin, Talmadge L. $ 5,000.00
Good Government Pac, David Dewhurst Committee, $ 20,000.00
Good Government Pac, Hillco Pac, $ 50,000.00
Good Government Pac, Texans For Greg Abbott, $ 15,000.00

While you're at it check the telephone number and address for the Good Government PAC - I don't doubt that its Watts' baby.

[Czolgosz]

65. If you read further down in that link, you will see this:

From Burka Blog

The Good Gov't PAC received contributions from a few Republicans but mostly Democrats (mainly Watts) and gave out contributions to a few Republicans but mostly Democrats. Also, there seems to be a distinction between the type of candidates Watts gave to personally and the type of candidates the Good Gov't PAC gave to. I read a blog comment that suggested Vilma Luna (who was then a Watts employee) directed the funds for the PAC. Are we sure that Watts was responsible for directing PAC funds to Abbot and Dewhurst?

I notice that $100,000 of those contributions went to Hillco. Hillco is where Vilma Luna now works. I would tend to think that the fact that such a large contribution from the PAC to Hillco would further suggest that it was Luna, and not necessarily Watts, who was directing the GGPAC funds.

But I don't know one way or the other if Watts or Luna was directing those funds. Do you know?

If neither of us knows, isn't it bit premature to break out the torches and pitchforks?

[meg]

66. who is directing the Good Government PAC

Here's what we do know for sure.

The PAC is run out of Watts' law office. Not Vilma Luna's.
Watts is THE big donor to the PAC. Not Vilma Luna.
Vilma Luna worked for Watts. Watts did not work for Vilma Luna.

[Czolgosz]

67. The PAC was run out of an address where Luna and Watts both officed, the funds were directed to some

noticeable degree to Luna's Democratic political allies, before Luna left the offices she shared with Watts $100,000 of the PAC funds were directed to Hillco where Luna went to work after she left the offices she shared with Watts, and Luna had already been a state legislator for almost a decade before she came to work with Watts.

I have no idea who directed the PAC funds, but if I shared office space with a state representative who had served in the legislature for over a decade, I might assume that she had some insights into the ins and outs of the legislature which alluded me and so I might very well give substantial weight to her judgment in directing PAC contributions to the legislature.

Clearly, there is information we need before we reach any judgments.

[Anton Haley]

69. Why does anyone need to ask who directed the Good Government PAC

Mikal directed it and proudly I might add.

No doubt about it. Of course I am sure there was an understanding between him and the donors.

The Good Government PAC is WATT blasted Garcia into Austin. The final blast anyway.

Who cares about all that crap, Mikal Watts can defeat Cornyn while Noriega might be a handsome choice he cannot flex his muscles like Mikal; everybody knows that. This will come to light in the final months of the election. Mikal will be supported enormously at the polls and once in office he will make you proud. And all of this coming from his local adversary.

[meg]

70. This is a joke, right?

Jaime, you said, "Mikal will be supported enormously at the polls and once in office he will make you proud."

You are kidding , aren't you?

[Anton Haley]

71. FIRST AND FOREMOST, MIKAL WATTS IS A COMPETITOR........

The way he is a fiduciary for whom he advocates has everything to do with a successful result. The one thing I believe, that is personal to Mikal Watts is the Capelo Legislation and the federal resolutions he might regain for the trial lawyers. The TLR legislation along with Capelo's medical malpractice legislation and misinformation campaign is one that will not fade until concessions are made to balance the scales. If they leave a latex glove in (accidentally) and sew you back up, how much is it worth 250K? If it causes your child to die how much is it worth 250K?

[Anton Haley]

72. Another thing about Mikal,....

He is a Texan, he is robust and he is pretty upfront about his endeavors. The Texas People will like him and both sides of the aisle already respect him. The Far left will find every reason to filter him out but he is far better than the boring stale representation we have right now in the U S Senate. Will he be responsive to his constituency?

Why dont you guys call him up and ask him or email him and see if he will respond. He has always answered his calls and his emails, that is more than I can say for Cornyn, Kay Bailey, Grande, Solly, Chuy or Juan. Solly does answer his letters.

[johncoby2]

73. What is his phone number? Email address?

PM it to me so I can invite him to Houston.

[Tejanocrat]

74. Is your Google broken?

[johncoby2]

75. My internets are down.

all of them.

[theredstate]

76. New article on Watts

Check out the latest article from R.G. Ratcliffe.

This might answer a few questions.

[Czolgosz]

77. The article does answer SOME questions (and I LOVE some of his comments)

Charles Kuffner has some interesting observations on the abortion discussion from R.G. Ratcliffe's interview of Watts:

Watts' statement on the issue does make me feel better about the possibility of him being the candidate in November. That's no small thing.

Another good sign: Watts seems to do pretty well by the Hackett test. I wish Ratcliffe had asked him more specifically about lessons learned from the Tony Sanchez debacle of 2002, because I think it's pretty clear that running a "I'm like the Republican, but better" campaign isn't going to cut it. It looks like Watts will avoid this trap, but I'd still have liked to hear it more explictly.

http://www.offthekuff.com/mt/archives/009645.html

I agree with Kuffner about Watts offering some reason to feel better about Watts's views. I'm not on board with the pro-life issue (in fact, it's a VERY big minus for me), but I'm not a one-issue voter either, so there are some of Watts's pro-life comments which offer at least the possibility for common ground:

A lot of {Texans} when they say they are pro-life, they would like a pro-life position after the baby is delivered as well. They would like pre-natal care, post-natal care, early childhood development, early childhood education, after-school programs. Those lives that are so precious when we are debating pro-life versus pro-choice, if we're going to have the life, let's invest in the life so it has a chance to be successful and compete in our society.

http://blogs.chron.com/texaspolitics/archives/2007/06/democrat_mikal.html

I'm still not on board with respect to this issue, but there is room for hope.

Now, here is the part of the interview that everyone should LOVE (these are Watts' statements about building the party back up from the grassroots):

"I love the nuts and bolts of grassroots politics. What a statewide campaign does is give us the opportunity to lay the kind of infrastructure that the Democratic Party needs to lay. I'm talking about communicating with voters from stem to stern over and over again in every county in the state. And when this campaign is over, we will have laid a lot of foundation for the return of the Democratic Party in this state. ... My plans involve a whole lot of face to face contact with the people of Texas over 16 months. There's going to be money for the media in the end, but I don't think you can run a campaign just with media. You need to run a campaign where you are pressing the flesh.... I focus on is electing Democrats.

What I don't want to hear from 60-year-old consultants is that this race isn't winnable. That's what we heard in Juan Garcia's race. If I think a race is winnable, we're going to put the time and the energy and the shoe leather, my shoe leather, into those races.

I'm real proud of what happened with Juan Garcia. I'm real proud of what happened with Sen. Carlos Uresti.

There were a whole bunch of people who were saying that race couldn't be won. I got convinced that Carlos was the right man for that race. I got convinced that if someone would give him a chance to communicate his progressive message, the people of that district would respond to that message, and that's what happened. ... There is a reason why presidential candidates are not carrying Texas, and the reason is they are making choices to pull out of Texas. If somebody will invest the resources and the time and the shoe leather in Texas, Texans are ready to vote for a Democrat with the right message.

But it's kind of a fallacious argument to say Democrats have been losing in Texas for 30 years. Guess what, the last guy to campaign in Texas was Jimmy Carter. Perhaps that's why he won it. "

http://blogs.chron.com/texaspolitics/archives/2007/06/democrat_mikal.html

To me, that's about the best message I could hope to hear from a statewide candidate. I'm still very eager to hear Rick Noriega's decision, but I'm looking to the election (the primary and the general).

[Justitia]

78. I'm holding out for Noriega. I don't vote for anti-choice, republican funders. -eom

[Gingergal]

79. And his position on public schools?

He sends his child to private school in San Antonio. What kind of support for the public schools does that show?

"He grew up in Corpus Christi, where he established and maintains his local law practice, but moved in August to San Antonio after his eldest daughter was admitted to a private school."

<http://caller.com/news/2007/jun/01/local-lawyer-mikal-watts-plans-bid-against-us/>

[art3]

80. Cant Blame Anyone for That

just a query here-
but dont most wealthy folks and politicians send their kids to private schools? Im not sure I can blame people for not sending their kids to public schools. my family has tauht int he system for decades and its really about as bad as ever. the violence, gangs, crime and teachers powerless to stop student abuse to me says enough. until our schools are reformed things generations will grow up without proper education or worse. Imnot sure if I cn blame anyone who sends their kids to private schools or even homeschools. I might with my own...
art3

[theredstate]

81. I don't think Watts wants to shut down public schools, if that is what you are getting at...

I wouldn't make anything out of sending his daughter to private school. San Antonio, the 7th largest city in the country, could be providing his daughter a lot more opportunities than Corpus Christi such as extracurricular activities, college prep classes or even religious classes.

The next thing is that someone will say if he drives a Toyota then he doesn't support American automakers. Why don't we hear what his positions are on the issues before making assumptions?

[dannoynted1]

83. The Red State........

makes an excellent point.....we should all want our public schools to be one we want to send our children to, not because we have to.

Corpus Christi I.S.D. was having a lot of problems before but we finally have a top notch Superintendent who happens to be from South Texas. I am privileged to see it.

Education is a worthy endeavor without thought to financial profit.