Dan Patrick former shock jock now Lt. Governor refuses to debate. Just like Ken Paxton or under indictment AG also refusing debae.
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinio ... 105591.phpThe Houston Republican’s political strategist recently told the Texas Tribune that Patrick had no intention of debating his formidable Democratic opponent, Mike Collier.
As a political tactic, that’s understandable. But as a disservice to Texas voters, it’s indefensible. And the lieutenant governor needs to reconsider.
He should follow the lead of our state’s highest elected leader, Gov. Greg Abbott, who has agreed to meet his opponent in a debate broadcast on what amounts to a statewide network of television stations. Sure, it’s on a Friday night when many Texans traditionally attend football games. And maybe it’s a calculated political ploy: challenger Lupe Valdez, former Dallas County Sheriff, has demonstrated such a tenuous grasp on state government issues, Abbott might believe giving her more exposure could actually hurt her fellow Democrats down ballot. Still, the governor deserves credit for offering voters an opportunity to compare the candidates side by side. Even if you don’t care for Abbott’s politics, at least you can’t call him yella.
And in a recent announcement, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz — an award-winning college debater — joined the brave and bold club by proposing a series of five Friday evening debates against his challenger, U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke.
Patrick, on the other hand, is turning tail on a time-honored tenet of the democratic process. In doing so, he tacitly concedes that Collier is a serious candidate. The Democrat has an MBA and a background in the energy and accounting businesses here in Houston, where he served as a partner for PriceWaterhouseCooper. He offers smart and persuasive arguments against school vouchers, one of Patrick’s favorite causes, and he’s sharply critical of how the state’s Republican leadership has cut state funding for public education and thrown the burden back on local property tax payers. Texas voters would benefit from hearing an exchange of ideas on these and other crucial public policy issues.
https://www.chron.com/news/politics/tex ... 110616.phpAttorney General Ken Paxton said in a TV interview that he would be “happy to debate anybody on the issues” as he seeks re-election this fall, but he is now backing off that offer by refusing to debate Democrat Justin Nelson as voters decide who to hire as the state's top lawyer.
Paxton instead “will communicate directly with the voters,” his campaign spokesman, Matt Welch, wrote in an emailed statement Thursday in rejecting Nelson’s invitation to debate.
Welch did not respond when asked if Paxton’s previous offer to debate was sincere.
“I’m happy to debate anybody on the issues and I look forward to it,” Paxton said on C-SPAN’s “Newsmakers” program in November.
The Democratic challenger in the attorney general’s election is taking shots at Republican Ken Paxton in a new campaign ad, celebrating a June 25 poll that says the incumbent’s popularity among voters is slipping.
Nelson, a political newcomer and lawyer, has focused his campaign on attacking Paxton’s integrity, reminding voters the attorney general is under indictment in a securities fraud case. Paxton has yet to face trial but is nevertheless considered a favorite in the race given Democrats last won a statewide election since 1994. Democrats are betting a so-called “blue wave” of voters disenfranchised by the Trump administration could make a difference in the November midterm election.
Paxton isn’t the only Texas incumbent to reject invitations to debate. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a Republican who leads the Texas Senate, has refused to debate Democratic challenger Mike Collier. Other Republican statewide officials down the ballot have also indicated they would speak directly to voters, thus avoiding debates which offer Democrats free air time to boost their name recognition.
However, Republicans at the very top of the ticket are open to debating their Democratic challengers. Gov. Greg Abbott is debating with Democratic challenger Lupe Valdez over when to debate this fall and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz has proposed five debates with Democratic U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke.
I wonder if they are getting a bit nervous with the country seeing the crap from the Trump investigation running down hill to many of the incumbent Reptilians tuning for office this election.