Barry Smitherman, running for Attorney General, is creating a hardcore right wing campaign character, seemingly to counterbalance his long record as an Austin insider.
Smitherman spent approximately seven years in a plum appointment to the Public Utilities Commission. In 2011 he was appointed to the Railroad Commission, and in months the newbie appointee was made Chairman. This strengthened his position ahead of his first primary election, which took him a runoff to secure.
Also, his campaign finance chair is Robert Miller, a lobbyist and blogger who has been an outspoken voice of support for embattled House Speaker Joe Straus in his struggles against conservatives.
Establishment politicians never have more freedom to shape their image than when they are running for office for the first time. They have no record to weigh them down, and, not yet having incumbency to prop them up, they enjoy complete freedom to say what is needed to get elected.
Smitherman has been talking tough generally, and talking specifically about Texas breaking away from the United States of America.
Though this is music to some people’s ears, it is the kind of noise that would get a true conservative mocked at full volume by every newspaper and ruling class voice in Texas. Fidgety conservative movement people would immediately distance themselves from such a person, offering to be the first to stab him with the “that guy is crazy” blade. It would feel as if the candidate walked into a blazing fire.
When instead of a blazing fire there are a few token candles of outrage lit, but nothing uncomfortable, it is a good time to question the authenticity of the drama.
Sometimes what is not happening says much more than what is.