Even Watts' press secretary is catching crap

[PDittie]

San Antonio Current (emphasis is the author's):

... Watts also has a major liability: Press secretary Kimberly Devlin.

Where did this individual, who responded to our requests for a candidate Q&A with suspicion and antipathy, come from? Waco, originally, but she recently returned to Texas from New York, where she’d served as campaign manager to Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi over three election cycles. During Suozzi’s final race, a failed antler-ramming Democratic gubernatorial primary against NY Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, The New York Times reported Devlin was demoted to a “position that requires less contact with the media, with whom she has had a sometimes contentious relationship.” The July 18, 2006 article goes on to say:

“Advisers to Mr. Suozzi described a campaign in disarray and said that Ms. Devlin’s leadership had become untenable because other senior staff members, most of whom she hired, were deeply frustrated with her. The advisers, who were granted anonymity to discuss weaknesses in their own campaign, said that Ms. Devlin was overwhelmed, reluctant to let others handle communications and strategy, and that Mr. Suozzi was not being deployed often enough or in the most effective ways.”

Devlin told the NY Times it was all lies, especially the bit where an adviser described “screaming matches between Ms. Devlin and some reporters.”

Is this one of those situations where "any publicity is good publicity"? It certainly doesn't seem so. You'd think, with all of that money, the man could hire people who didn't carry this kind of baggage. Why would a political novice employ someone with such a bad reputation? Even if the facts are in dispute, it seems prudent to avoid a person who attracts such negative controversy.

[efhmc]

1. Wouldn't she be a perfect addition to the bush group?

[nutsco101]

2. Hope I don't insult

anyone but the use of political consultants and directors to
the director of whatever leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

[Anton Haley]

3. Cant handle the truth WATT Cowards to revoke D1's posting privileges...

Censoring us only makes things louder.

I say who is getting paid and who is producing?

Pay for production.

Not reputation.

[PDittie]

4. You're just barely writing coherently

Beyond the complaint about someone being banned (I'm guessing), you appear to agree that the hiring of Kim Devlin was a mistake. Do you mind not telling Mr. Watts? I don't want anybody to lose their job, nor wish to see the campaign experience some embarrassment about her leaving voluntarily.

[Anton Haley]

6. I think Kim will workout nicely......

however I cant hold the same high hopes for Junior John.

Dear Senator Cornyn, We need to get some fresh blood in the Senate

Will you please help us by making the decision now, not to run for another term?

It is respectfully requested, should you should choose to ignore my request that we set up a series of televised debates between you and your only formidable opponent Mikal Watts?

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Jaime Kenedeño <[e-mail] >
Date: Jul 15, 2007 3:41 AM
Subject: Hector P Garcia Institute of Education, Integrity, Cultu...
To: [e-mail]

<http://hectorpgarcia.blogspot.com/2007/07/junior-john-v... >
Hector P Garcia Institute of Education, Integrity, Culture and Public Policy: Junior John voted against a plan for legalizing millions of undocumented immigrants who are already here. Is that a pro hispanic vote?.


Senator votes against Amnesty for undocumented workers who are already living in the country.

By Associated Press

Thursday, June 28, 2007


WASHINGTON -- Conservative Republican senators and a handful of Democrats are trying to put a final knife in President Bush's plan for legalizing millions of unlawful immigrants.

A broad immigration bill, embracing what critics call amnesty, survived a series of unfriendly amendments Wednesday.


Supporters must gain 60 votes in the 100-member chamber to limit debate and clear the way for a roll call on final passage, perhaps by Friday. Anything less will likely doom the legislation until a new president and Congress take office in 2009.



Junior John voted against the immigration measure that could grant legalization to the estimated 12 million unlawful immigrants if they pass background checks and pay fines and fees. It also would toughen border security and institute a new system for weeding out illegal immigrants from workplaces.




Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., was among those disappointed Wednesday. The Senate voted 55-40 to reject his amendment that would have made it easier for some immigrants to obtain visas for family members left behind in their home countries.






Kenedeno & Associates

[PDittie]

7. "only formidable opponent"?

Dude.

[nutsco101]

8. Formitable opponent

Cornyn's most formidable opponents will be Texas Women.Read
Stop Cornyn diary
on how Cornyn did not attend Lady Bird's funeral.
Reminds me of when that other idiot republican Clayton
Williams was running against Ann Richards. He thought he was
going to beat her. Then this happened.
“

In 1990, wealthy oil magnate Clayton Williams was the
Republican nominee in the election for Governor of Texas. His
opponent was State Treasurer Ann Richards, who had been dogged
during the Democratic primary by her own admissions of
alcoholism and unanswered questions about her marijuana use.
Fueled by the controversy, as well as bouyed by the millions
of dollars Williams had spent from his own personal fortune
on advertising, Williams enjoyed a significant lead over
Richards in the polls. 

then came March. Some journalists were at Williams’ ranch to
watch a cattle roping exhibition that was taking place, but
Mother Nature had not cooperated. Gray skies and rain delayed
the event, and a restless Williams began joking with the
reporters about the weather– one of the few topics that a
politician can usually speak freely about. With cameras
rolling, a grinning Williams casually let this little beauty
slip:
 bad weather is like rape: if it’s inevitable, you might as
well relax and enjoy it.”

I would like to build a house and live in the quietness of
the pause that must’ve followed that remark– that brief
second while everyone’s brain temporarily suspends all other
operations and devotes its full resources to verifying that
their ears had correctly heard and transmitted what was said.


The comment made national news that night, but despite the
furor that expectedly followed, unapologetic good old boy
Williams didn’t have the good sense to disclaim it. (If
anything, he reveled in his image as an immature playboy:
some months later, he fondly reminisced to journalists about
his trips as a young man crossing the border to pick up
Mexican prostitutes.) Williams may have been counting on the
short memory of voters, figuring that the outrage over his
joke would dissipate before the November election.
Unfortunately, the comment had a brief but stinging coda a
week before the election, when a convicted rapist repeated
Williams’ line in court during his sentencing. 

Richards won the election by only 100,000 votes, having
received a record number of votes from women. Williams
returned to his corporate duties, never to darken the
political scene again.
We saw the writing on the wall > Call it poetic justice or
political Justice. Call it Lady Bird handing us another gift
apart
from her magnificant flowers.


My point is don’t ever ever insult our Texas Women.Don’t
disrepect them in any way.Don’t discount them and don’t
ignore them. There will be serious consequences.

[Anton Haley]

11. That is an excellent point....

Junior John is anti woman, anti education, anti woman's choice, anti little person, and anti hispanic / anti minority

# Voted NO on establishing a Guest Worker program. (May 2006)
# Voted NO on allowing illegal aliens to participate in Social Security. (May 2006)
# Voted NO on giving Guest Workers a path to citizenship. (May 2006)



Junior John is a yes man for big oil, big business and outsourcing offshore.

* Voted NO on repealing tax subsidy for companies which move US jobs offshore. (Mar 2005)
* Voted YES on reforming bankruptcy to include means-testing & restrictions. (Mar 2005)
* Rated 100% by the US COC, indicating a pro-business voting record. (Dec 2003)

* Drill in Alaska; oppose global warming treaties. (Jun 2002)
* Voted NO on disallowing an oil leasing program in Alaska's AMWR. (Nov 2005)
* Voted NO on $3.1B for emergency oil assistance for hurricane-hit areas. (Oct 2005)
* Voted NO on reducing oil usage by 40% by 2025 (instead of 5%). (Jun 2005)
* Voted NO on banning drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. (Mar 2005)
* Voted YES on Bush Administration Energy Policy. (Jul 2003)
* Voted NO on targeting 100,000 hydrogen-powered vehicles by 2010. (Jun 2003)
* Voted NO on removing consideration of drilling ANWR from budget bill. (Mar 2003)



Junior John on Abortion & Same Sex Marriage

* Voted NO on $100M to reduce teen pregnancy by education & contraceptives. (Mar 2005)
* Voted YES on criminal penalty for harming unborn fetus during other crime. (Mar 2004)
* Voted YES on banning partial birth abortions except for maternal life. (Mar 2003)
* Rated 0% by NARAL, indicating a pro-life voting record. (Dec 2003)
* Voted YES on constitutional ban of same-sex marriage. (Jun 2006)


Junior John on public education

* Competition would help improve our public schools. (Jun 2002)
* Voted NO on $52M for "21st century community learning centers". (Oct 2005)
* Voted NO on $5B for grants to local educational agencies. (Oct 2005)
* Voted NO on shifting $11B from corporate tax loopholes to education. (Mar 2005)
* Rated 27% by the NEA, indicating anti-public education votes. (Dec 2003)




Junior John on JOBS
* Voted YES on raising the minimum wage to $7.25 rather than $6.25. (Mar 2005)
* Rated 0% by the AFL-CIO, indicating an anti-union voting record. (Dec 2003)


Junior John on the WAR
* Voted NO on redeploying troops out of Iraq by July 2007. (Jun 2006)
* Voted NO on investigating contract awards in Iraq & Afghanistan. (Nov 2005)
* Voted NO on requiring on-budget funding for Iraq, not emergency funding. (Apr 2005)
* Voted YES on $86 billion for military operations in Iraq & Afghanistan. (Oct 2003)

....................................................................................................

This is WATT you get from Junior John.

Junior John Had His Chance,..... He Screwed Up!

Now all he can do is "relax and enjoy it".

[Anton Haley]

13. Junior John's most formidable opponents will be Texas Women

Nuts,

"Elle Mintry my dear Watson, Elle Mintry."

Touche'

Yeah, God did Bless Texas

[johncoby2]

5. Huh?

WTF did you just say? Like Yoda you are talking.

[Gingergal]

9. Tony Sanchez also on Watts' Campaign Team!

From Quorum Report:
July 11, 2007 4:54 PM
MIKAL WATTS ASSEMBLES CAMPAIGN TEAM

All but media team in place
As the Mikal Watts for Senate campaign gathers steam (and money), QR has this update on the personnel on whom Watts will rely in the coming months
... and "gubernatorial candidate Tony Sanchez"
<http://www.quorumreport.com >

So now Tony Sanchez is advising Mikal Watts! That's a good one! Remember when Tony Sanchez claimed in 2002 to be a newly converted Democrat so he could run for Texas governor? I hear in 2006 that Sanchez jumped over to backing "independent Republican" Carole Strayhorn, she of the 3 parties, 3 husbands, and 4 names.
The irony is too rich that he is on the Mikal Watts' team.

[NoPasaran]

10. I've tried to keep an open mind about Mikal Watts

But he sure seems to be making all the wrong moves.

[fudge stripe cookays]

14. Yeah,

like having his minion here constantly stirring up shit.

We're not buying it Anton. Go peddle your bullshit somewhere else.

[NoPasaran]

15. Minions aside,

Tony Sanchez is dead to me.

[fudge stripe cookays]

16. That too. n/t

[Anton Haley]

12. The Tony Sanchez Campaign & Barbara Black as well......

invested no personal energy, no sweat, and most of all they did not invest in the little people. Remember Tony the Two Fer he said, "These Mexicans, we can buy them two for a nickel". That was the mentality and it bled through the shower of money.

[NoPasaran]

17. Can someone actually confirm or deny this?

The relevant post on QR reads:

As the Mikal Watts for Senate campaign gathers steam (and money), QR has this update on the personnel on whom Watts will rely in the coming months. They are:

-- Christian Archer, campaign manager. Archer is a prominent San Antonio-based political consultant, known for working on the campaigns of San Antonio mayor Phil Hardberger, Austin mayor Will Wynn and gubernatorial candidate Tony Sanchez. More recently, he consulted on Juan Garcia’s successful run for the Texas House.

The rest of the story, subscribers only

All I can actually tell from reading this is that Watts has hired Christian Archer, whose client list in the past has included Tony Sanchez. This is really a far cry from hiring Tony Sanchez.

[TexasThoughtCriminal]

18. Good catch. Looks like selective snipping to me. n/t

[nutsco101]

19. Is Tony Sanchez

really advising Mikal Watts. I remember Tony Sanchez's campaign. It was a lot of hoopla and it was not successful, obviously. I would hope that the candidates are depending on more than their political consultants. Juan Garcia's campaign was very successful in a small distict in South Texas.
The state of Texas is a whole different matter.

[NoPasaran]

20. I'm doubting it

He's a banker and a failed candidate, not a political consultant. And what sort of advice could he offer anyway? "Don't do this. Don't do that. Don't do that either..."