Conservative "Outsiders" Have Inside Track in Texas
His nickname around the Texas Capitol is “mucus.”
It’s a play on Michael Quinn Sullivan’s initials — MQS — but the moniker is fitting on at least two levels: It underscores how much of an irritant the conservative activist has become to politicians who dare buck his Tea Party orthodoxy. It also says something about Sullivan’s staying power in Republican-ruled Texas.
They can’t get rid of him.
“He’s had a tremendous influence on some of my colleagues,” said longtime state Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston. “I’ve got to commend him. He’s whipped it up pretty successfully ...
Comments (15)
Proud Texan
Legislators need to remember that the only "scorecard" that matters are the voters in their district. People like MQS do nothing but speed up the transition for Austin to behave more like Washington.
BurningFeet
If living in a world without any functioning government is so wonderful, how come Somalia, which doesn't have any government, is such a wreck? Yeah, get government off our backs so we can have pirates!
Native Texan
BurningFeet, no one said not to have a functioning government. There is a wide difference between a govt. doing what it is supposed to do and one that takes over and rules the lives of its citizens while stealing money out of their pockets to redistribute to others. In other words, there is a huge difference between an American govt. and a socialist govt., and it is time to run the nanny-state socialist liberals out of Austin. And it is high-time to run the Republican RINOs out as well.
Wilkins Micawber
@"Native":
"nanny-state socialist liberals" in Austin? What the hell are you talking about?! That you assert this sort of deliberately inflammatory rhetoric as an "argument" suggests that you have no argument to make. It's merely the one-note talking point of an ideologue. It's off-gassing from the landfill.
And secondly, who says? Who says it's time to run anyone out? You? Well, I say, this is a pluralistic society, and I have as much right to be here as you. Maybe more, because your assertions fly in the face of the democratic ideals that are the foundation of this society.
I ain't leavin. I intend for my voice to be heard, and my vote to count, and that my interests are represented.
As for you and your bigoted intolerant ilk, you better get used to a wide range of people and opinions before you blow a gasket. If you don't like it, that's just too damn bad for you.
BurningFeet
Native Texan,
Exactly what is it that this guy wants to function? He is against government, which leaves it to the ENRON'S and the BP's and the AIG's to run things. Of course now in Texas it is often hard to see where the state leaves off and corporations begin. By the way, exactly what is it that your Republican run government is taking from you and running your life? Is it their intrusion into family planning that you hate? Is it their determination of who you can marry that bothers you so much? Is this redistribution of money stolen right out of your pocket and given to toll road operators the most galling? Or is everything you don't like done by RINO's and not true believers? Just curious.
IndyTexan
Nice piece. Though I don't subscribe to all the demonization that has been foisted on Jim Leininger, your point is well taken. The "outside" groups cannot claim to be so, while wielding a political axe. We truly need "outside" groups who will look at the whole picture and advocate for the whole. Too bad small "d" democracy is attacked as "liberal" as these same folks attack "the republic for which it stands."
PS I am not a libertarian - I'm a small "i" independent -- the fastest growing "outside" group in America. Liberalism and conservatism have become two sides of the same special interest pie. Linda Curtis, Independent Texans
Michael B Openshaw
"Ogden, who had promised to fight hard to use the reserve account, complained that 'outside groups' had wormed their way into Capitol corridors where only insiders once roamed."
Well, excuse the 'Great Unwashed' for becoming such an irritant to the professional political class!
It is amusing to note an organization like the Trib- who receives significant contributions from some well-known 'deep pockets' on the Left (Soros)- appears so determined to attribute success on the right primarily to some 'deep pocket' donors.
IndyTexan
The "Great Unwashed" oh, puleeze -- you must be talking about people drenched in oil and gas money.
David Huang via Texas Tribune on Facebook
So....he isn't satisfied enough with the amount of hacking and slashing that the budget has undergone? I don't get it.
Joe Estep via Texas Tribune on Facebook
"outsider" What is that a new word for "citizen"? And the Tiny Times of Texas doesn`t even try to hide its leanings by not calling this to the attention of its readers.
Bob Brown via Texas Tribune on Facebook
No Joe it is their term for lobbyist. I am a citizen and I can't afford to be at the capitol all through the session. Because I am not being paid to do that. That is the difference between citizen and lobbyist.
Ann Pittman-Thompson via Texas Tribune on Facebook
All of the ultra conservative think tanks and self appointed overseers for all things governmental are really scary!!!
Michael B Openshaw
Indy, you make me laugh. I'm one of those 'outside troublemakers' (I initiated the original call to withhold pledge cards this time around; 'Women on the Wall' followed up with their own current effort, independently developed), I don't get a NICKEL from anyone for my political activity. I work a full-time job as a database developer in a company that has NO direct dealings with state government. My group is full of middle and upper middle-class people, none paid to do this.
In some ways I envy the people 'dripping with oil and gas money'; they have some chance to have shorter than 15 hour days after the legislative session is done.
Of course I could say the Trib is dripping with money that was earned by selling the dollar short (hardly as productive an industry as the oil and gas industry is). But I'm not into that level of hyperbole.
Thomas Prentice via Texas Tribune on Facebook
This is pretty bad. I hope the Democrats run SOMEONE against all these House and Senate Republicans and hammer them, along with Republican Congressmen, the U. S. Senate race, and the down-ballot races.
Joe Estep via Texas Tribune on Facebook
OK Bob, its a lobbyist/outsider if you disagree with him and a citizen speaking for a group of other concerned citizens if you do. Thanks for the clarification.