UNDER THE DOME
Nolan Ryan outbats VP Cheney in adviser's book
Rep. Smith busts top 10 list - for speechifying.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
In adviser's book, Cheney has nothing on pitcher
U.S. Senate candidate Roger Williams, a former Texas secretary of state, often touts endorsements from retired professional athletes — the latest being Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan.
Reminded that the Ryan endorsement popped the same week that former Vice President Dick Cheney surfaced as a supporter of Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison's candidacy for governor, a Williams consultant didn't flinch or bail (that means, for you nonbaseball fans, flee the batter's box). Craig Murphy made this comparison: "Nolan Ryan can throw 100 mph. Dick Cheney would be lucky to hit 30 with wind at his back."
Sha-boom.
Murphy continued: "Ryan is the mother of all Texas sports endorsements.
"Unlike some of the football stars out there, he is beloved in both Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston. His number was retired by both of Texas' major league baseball clubs. And he owns minor league teams in Round Rock and Corpus Christi. No other Texas celebrity endorsement can touch Nolan Ryan."
At the least, credit Murphy with being a fearless swinger.
— W. Gardner Selby
Smith in top 10 — for talking
Could usually mild-mannered U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith be preening all of a hurry?
The San Antonio Republican, whose district extends into Travis County, ranks among the top 10 House members for speeches given on the House floor lately. Smith has spoken up on 60 days this year; his office says he has made more than 90 individual speeches, most of them one-minute pokes.
But Smith doesn't appear to be the most frequent speechifier from Texas. U.S. Rep. Ted Poe, R-Humble, ranks first in the nation, having spoken on 115 days.
And two other Texans have outpaced Smith: Reps. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Houston, who has spoken on 80 days, and Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Tyler, with 67 days.
Smith said he hasn't chased attention for attention's sake. "One way for me to exercise my influence is to speak out, although I don't necessarily see myself as preening," Smith said. "Over time, maybe we can influence the debate. Certainly, when the American people find out what's in any of these health care bills, that will stop the legislation. ... The outcry will be so loud that it will force the Democrats to stop and start all over again."
— W. Gardner Selby
