Analysis: The End of Phelan’s Speakership

[Elderberry]

Texas Scorecard by  Michael Quinn Sullivan   | March 2, 2024

Old boss, meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

Whatever happens on Tuesday, Dade Phelan’s speakership is over. Everyone knows it.

In multiple conversations with Republican lawmakers, including those Phelan considers to be loyalists, every single one believes his speakership is not only a distraction but a detriment. Now, do not read this as some sudden conversion of “RINOs” to stalwart conservative champions.

The concerns they raise about Phelan are pragmatic.

Most importantly, they see Phelan as a symptom of the problem they describe as “Dennis Bonnen.” When the disgraced former House Speaker was forced to resign from office in 2019, he and his cronies installed Phelan as their patsy. His performance has reflected that reality. The Democrat committee chairs stayed in place, and conservative priorities were stalled.

Old boss, meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

The problem is that the Bonnen-Phelan clan has been playing House members against the Senate and the governor as the former speaker builds up his lobby practice.

Few of the House members were particularly bothered by Phelan’s apparent intoxication at the dais late in the session. But they don’t like the stone-sober blame he has cast on them for the death of the comprehensive border security bill… a death Phelan oversaw with parliamentary zeal.

Why kill it at all? Because the Bonnen-Phelan partnership requires the support of Democrats. It is why Bonnen-Phelan orchestrated the 2021 reduction in election crimes from felonies to misdemeanors. When the pressure to undo that damage in 2023 became too much to bear, Bonnen-Phelan gave the Democrats the impeachment of Ken Paxton and the death of House Bill 20.

To a man and woman, House members have noted Phelan’s internal constitution is such that should he win the primary and return in 2025 as speaker, he will be on a scorched-earth mission against the priorities of Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.

More: https://texasscorecard.com/analysis/analysis-the-end-of-phelans-speakership/

[catfish1957]

I think I have mentioned earlier, that we are subjected to 3 or 4 Phelan-Covey ads every hour on local TV.  It's gotten crazy.  I have watched politics over 50 years, and have never seen such a contested local race.

But to the point,  Phelan is lying to his constiuents that SE Texas wll be losing the speakerhip if he loses.  Truth is, he and the area lost it last year by (1) showing  with a gavel at the Speakers podium, as drunk as Foster Brooks, (2) Witchunt against Paxton, (3) suffering from full censure by the local GOP.

[Bigun]

https://twitter.com/RepStickland/status/1765263996595167573

And we ain't done yet!

[catfish1957]

My takeaways and next level strategy that I would offer Covey:

1.  Most agressive point to finish off the POS Phelan, and what was not really touch but alluded during the first campaign, was his utter disrespect for the Speakership role by conducting business at the Speaker's podium dead drunk.  In the encore, show the footage.  Embarass his f'n ass.
2. Covey had some Trump soundbites in ads, but he needs to see if Trump will name Covey personally in the new ones.  Maybe in 3 or 4 in 15-30 second spots.
3. The 3rd candidate got 10%, mostly due too people's disgust with the dirt.  Still might not hurt to court her supporters.
4. Phelan keeps perpetuating the lie that the Speakership belongs to SE Texas, and that it is being stolen from them.  The overwhelming odds are that  he loses a stand up vote next year. In fact I will guess he won't even be nominated.
5. There needs to be more coverage that even the local GOP here had Phelan censured.  That fact wasn't even touched on. 
6. Covey  needs to see if he can get an endorsement from Abbott, and maybe Cruz.
7. It is coming to surface that one of Phelan's biggest external supporters are from Big Casino money, even though Jefferson, Orange, and Jasper Counties don't even have a casino.  That has a stench that won't work well with the locals.

[Elderberry]

Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan heading to runoff against hardline conservative challenger

Texas Scorecard 3/5/2024

Phelan was neck and neck with GOP challenger David Covey with votes still being counted.

Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan is facing a runoff election after he failed to secure a majority of votes in primary voting, the clearest sign to date of his precarious position within the Republican Party.

Phelan advanced to the runoff with rival David Covey, a former chairman of the Orange County Republican Party who has been endorsed by Attorney General Ken Paxton, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller and former President Donald Trump.

The third candidate in the race, anti-tax crusader Alicia Davis, won only a fraction of a vote but prevented Phelan and Covey from securing the 50% necessary to win outright.

"This runoff is not just another race, it's the frontline of the battle for the soul of our district," Phelan said in a statement Tuesday evening. "While my opponent hides behind empty rhetoric, dishonest advertising and surrogate voices, I stand before voters with a clear record of service and conservative success."

The race had become a measure on the influence of the far-right wing of the GOP, which has cast Phelan as a traitor to the party. Paxton, seeking revenge on Phelan for supporting the House’s impeachment of him last year, campaigned for Covey in Beaumont.

The May 28 runoff promises to be a high-profile slugfest in this elbow of Texas that borders Louisiana. Both candidates and their surrogates will likely spend millions of dollars trying to sway voters in what are typically extremely low-turnout contests.

More: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/05/dade-phelan-david-covey-texas-house-speaker-primary/

[Bigun]

Dade Phelan spent $7.5 Million and only got a participation trophy!

 

[Cyber Liberty]

I think I have mentioned earlier, that we are subjected to 3 or 4 Phelan-Covey ads every hour on local TV.  It's gotten crazy.  I have watched politics over 50 years, and have never seen such a contested local race.

But to the point,  Phelan is lying to his constiuents that SE Texas wll be losing the speakerhip if he loses.  Truth is, he and the area lost it last year by (1) showing  with a gavel at the Speakers podium, as drunk as Foster Brooks, (2) Witchunt against Paxton, (3) suffering from full censure by the local GOP.

Foster Brooks was actually a tee-totaler....but he had a heck of a act, for sure.

[catfish1957]

Foster Brooks was actually a tee-totaler....but he had a heck of a act, for sure.

Good point.  Maybe I should have used Otis from Mayberry as an example.

[Cyber Liberty]

Good point.  Maybe I should have used Otis from Mayberry as an example.

No, no!  Foster would have been proud for the mention!

[Bigun]

Be on the lookout for the name Cody Harris to appear in the speaker's race next year!

Potential Speaker Candidate Hired by Bank with Ties to Bonnen and Phelan