Question For Texas DUers Who Remember Bush's Two Governor's Races

I'm curious to how the media in Texas treated Bush during his first run for Governor and his re-election bid.

Did the Texas press give him a free pass on everything, like the national media did for his first two and a half years in office.

Or was it critical of him, like it seems to be becomming now.

I ask because I'm curious what environment Bush ran in and how it could relate to a critical press covering his re-election bid this year.

Thanks!

Even worse than the national networks and papers. By and large, Texas media don't delve into politics too much. Too many Texas papers imply pick up stories off the wire. After all, if they give *free* coverage to races in an attempt to inform the public, why would the candidates need to *buy* ad space/air time? :eyes:

Sadly, too many Texans get their political news and slant on things from the national media, since our local newspeople often ignore the issues. There are some independent papers and magazines like the Texas Observer, but I think they get read by people who are already informed politically.

So it's not so much that the media goes easy on Shrub (although they do), it's that they just don't normally cover him except in a superficial way.

Why?

Texas is the second-largest state in the union, how can it not have a first-class media market?

How can it not cover politics?

What the hell is going on down there?

other than being an owner of the Texas Rangers and Poppy' son. Bush won by running the classic strategy of attacking Ann regardless of the facts. For example, Ann had built a bunch of new prisons and strengthened law enforcement working with Lt. Governor Bob Bullock and the rest of the leggy. Bush attacked her as being weak on crime.

However, I still really believe Ann lost to Bush because she had managed to piss off every single group that supported her in '90, bar none. By the summer of '94 the faces that were there in '90 were highly conspicuous by their absence. The feeling was that we had a Democratic legislature and Lt. Governor that would keep any real harm in check and that the governor's office is largely ceremonial. So people really didn't care if she beat Bush or not.

But, the answer to your question is that the media wasn't really against Ann, but they warmed to the supposedly "fresh" Bush.

Bush had no record whatsoever in his first race against Gov. Richards. He ran as an unknowned on the Bush name.

In the second race, there was no coverage or analysis whatsoever. In addition, he had a weak opponent who did not have any real backing or financial support.

because I hated what he was doing to my Texas. I do, however, remember the first one because Rove waged a full-out smear campaign on Ann Richards, one of the best and most popular governors Texas ever had. It was atrocious, with lots of "whispering", direct mail, and television/radio ads. All sorts of nastiness about how Richards was a lesbian, her children were bastards, she had kinky sex orgies in the Gov's mansion, spat on the cross--you name it, Rove said it.

I also recall that the Dallas "Observer" ran some stories on Chimpy's dirty deals surrounding Arlington Stadium and his non-majority ownership of the Texas Rangers, but most of the DFW newpapers gave him a pass. And Bush had the pulpit of just about every Protestant church in the state--lots of very wealthy, very high-profile ministers actively campaigned AGAINST Richards and FOR the Chimp.

I couldn't take it, so I left in '97. Then came 2000, and now I live in Ireland.

that's quite a change...did you experience culture shock? after TX, it was probably a good culture shock! ;)

and I suffered more culture shock moving to New England than I did when I changed continents. The Irish are a friendly bunch, especially in the glorious West. Hospitality isn't New England's strong suit, and unless you live in one of the cool places--Cambridge, Amherst, Brattleboro, Burlington, Portland, you will find more rednecks in New England than were ever dreamed of in either Texas or Ireland.