11.29.07

Why We Won’t Have Mike Krusee To Kick Around Anymore

Posted in 2008 Primary, Election 2008, HD-52, Williamson County at 11:55 am by wcnews

During the last several election cycles when I’d see Mike Krusee’s campaign signs with the slogan “Proven Conservative Leadership”, falsely crowing about his conservative credentials, it made me wonder why the WCGOP still put up with him. If Democrats in Williamson County knew about the issues in his personal life, surely the leaders and insiders of the WCGOP knew it too. Even if the average “conservative” voter in the county was being deceived by party leaders. So why would the supposed “party of moral values” put up with this in their ranks?

Well, it turns out, that it’s just politics. The reason Krusee was able to hang on for so long was the exact reason why most “conservatives” love to say they hate politicians not of their party, he could bring home the bacon. Getting rid of Krusee would have meant replacing him with a junior, and powerless, state representative. So as long as he kept his power and voters were kept in the dark about the other stuff, then it was a fine arrangement.

The business community in and around HD-52, a huge recipient of Krusee-supplied pork, has allowed him to keep his job for so long. Oh, the hypocrisy. Krusee’s talent of “showing donors the money” helped him stay in power so long, despite his other issues. But with his pork power coming to an end, even if he was reelected in 2008, it was time for him to go.

His power came from being the committee chair of a powerful House committee – first education, then transportation. It was from that perch that the deals were made and the bacon was brought home. With Krusee on the outs with House Speaker Tom Craddick, and too toxic for Craddick, or a new GOP speaker to keep on as chair of transportation or any other committee, his power for pork was essentially gone. With his power gone, and his loss all but assured if he ran in 2008, the WCGOP probably sent messages, not necessarily hidden, that it was time for him to move on. This way they will at least have a chance in 2008.

Here are the comments of long time WCGOP boss John Gordon regarding Krusee, which help highlight this:

Gordon also credited Krusee with working – again, often behind the scenes – in getting the Round Rock Higher Education Center built and opened two years ago.

“His personal relationship with [then-House speaker] Tom Craddick got us money for Texas State,” Gordon said. “It was the first year Craddick was speaker and we were $5 billion to $8 billion short in the state budget. We were cutting back everywhere but it was Mike Krusee and his persuasion to Tom Craddick that Williamson County was the largest county in Texas without a state university.

“Without Mike Krusee, we would not have Texas State University.”

(Interesting use of “then-House Speaker”). Yes, Krusee has long been known for his behind the scenes work and his personal relationships. With his powers of persuasion over Craddick, or a new House leader, no longer likely, we’ll no longer have Mike Krusee to kick around.

The WCGOP is now in a bit of a pickle in in HD-52, with Krusee having saddled their party as being the “tolling party“, and a district that’s quickly trending Democratic. What are they going to do, renounce toll roads and come out for raising the gas tax? Not likely. In the WCGOP’s style of unaccountable government they never thought they’d have to actually account for their disastrous governing, so soon, in an election cycle. They probably never thought a politician that once had such a bright future could fade so fast. Long ago with Mike Krusee the WCGOP traded morals for pork and now they’re left holding his baggage.

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