Kay Bailey Hutchison's poll numbers are slipping, she's making comments that even
Michelle Malkin finds "more than a bit disturbing." Truth is not a big priority for KBH, whether it involves perjury or campaign promises to not serve more than two terms. Between GWB and KBH, it should be obvious by now that former cheerleaders do not competent elected officials make.
Barbara Radnofsky is as smart as KBH is dim. She is running a lean and mean campaign, working the state hard by getting out and talking to people all across the state. Lubbock, Brownsville, Kerrville, Flower Mound, Ft. Worth are among her 250+ trips and thousands of miles listening to people. She makes her living as a mediator, finding ways to solve problems.
I've been to quite a few of her appearances, and I see it again and again. Lots of loyal Democrats come in to hear this person who is going to be the honorary roadbump in the Senate race. They're all very polite before the speech.
Then Barbara starts talking, not about how she's a hot-shot lawyer, but about her dad was wounded by shrapnel in a plane over Nazi Germany. About a fellow soldier risking his life by giving her dad the parachute off his back, saving his life. Still wounded, escaping from the Germans and driving cross country in a wood burning jeep before finally ending up in an English hospital. He was nineteen.
He grew up to be a NASA scientist who worked on the space program and got a man on the moon on time and under budget. This is her frame of reference. She is only there because of the sacrifice of others, and there is nothing that can't be done with enough effort.
She lights into Kay Bailey Hutchison for inadequately funding VA needs. This is not political positioning. This is dad and grandpa she's fighting for, and all the other dads and brothers and sons, moms and sisters and daughters who have served our country. Barbara pounded this issue all along the campaign trail, and finally KBH flip-flopped on the side of adequate funding.
Barbara points out the percentage of soldiers who come from Texas, largely from South Texas, and rails on the fact that there is no VA hospital south of San Antonio, meaning that many thousands of vets have to travel for up to eight hours to receive medical care. She's been calling for a VA hospital south of San Antonio for almost a year. What do you know, KBH last month finally suggested that a VA Hospital south of San Antonio would be a good thing. Barbara smiles and notes that it is very satisfying that her opponent with $12 million in the bank is basing her campaign on responding to the novice.
She moves on, advocating for healthcare, education, renewable energy, thoroughly captivating the crowd. Folks are forgetting all about that roadbump stuff. Then she opens the floor to questions. This is where she really shines. Whatever the issue, she shows incredible depth of knowledge, and answering the question without resorting to the trick of reframing the question and spouting talking points.
After the speech, she is swarmed by the formerly 'polite' crowd, shaking hands, following up on questions. I get collared by some intense individual who wants to know how much money she's raising, whether she's getting press. They realize, hey, we've got a candidate here, we can't let this opportunity slip. The formerly invincible KBH now seems like the roadbump, if we can just get Barbara a level playing field.
Things are changing. The small campaign has been in Andy and Judy, 'let's put on a show in the barn' mode, and doing a pretty damn good job, IIDSSM. But now the big kids want to help out. Harry Reid, Dick Durbin and other senators are now showing interest and planning fundraisers. I hear good things. Keep Barbara on your radar.
http://radnofsky.com/
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