Max Powers

El Paso Times Asks for Comment

An El Paso Times reporter just asked Max for comment. 

Because it is unlikely that the comment will be published I will be kind enough to provide it to you all:

Jose "Mr. Ethics" Rodriguez

Is State Senator Jose Rodriguez as shady as Luther Jones? 

No.

Jose Rodriguez does not have to hide his corruption when he can get away with it in broad daylight.

Last month - November 27th, to be exact - your Senator, publicly lobbied the Commissioners Court  on behalf of the Gallagher Law Firm.  

Your Senator kindly informed Commissioners Court that if the Gallagher Law Firm were to be hired, that Jose himself would be hired by the law firm to work on these lawsuits. 

And guess what happened next?

The Gallagher Law Firm was hired by your County to represent it in potential lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies.

Did any other law firm have the chance to publicly address the commissioners, let alone buddy-up with a local area elected official to secure this bid?

No.

This bid was rigged. 

Jose Rodriguez's mere presence sent a message to Commissioners Court. 

"Hire these guys, and they hire me!"

And that message was probably particular well-received by one commissioner.  

His former staffer, and commissioner-for-now David Stout. 

If David Stout were ethical he would have asked if whether or not Rodriguez was registered to lobby the county. 

And if not, at the very least, Stout should have recused himself.

But no.

Stout is not ethical.  He's just an overpaid piece of shit trying to use the County to help his friend get rich.

The irony of this that Jose Rodriguez went of his way to help create the County Ethics Commission "with teeth". 

And there he is...that miserable piece of shit making a mockery of it. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What Does Dori Need To Do

With Norma Chavez in the race, Veronica Escobar is probably still shitting a brick, while Dori Fenenbock probably popped open a bottle. 

Now I am sure there are some in Escobar's camp that think Chavez is a Fenenbock plant. 

But that is highly unlikely. 

Why? 

It is too risky. 

If Fenenbock gets into a run-off with Chavez, I doubt Chavez would just bow-out.

Chavez would have just as good of a chance - I would argue better - as Dori to win. 

Let's face it, Chavez has a good chance of making it into a runoff.  If she did not, nobody would be spending money all of sudden on push polls.  Whether they are Dori-friendly or Escobar-friendly PACs.

So what does Dori need to do?

Win outright. 

Can she?

Maybe. 

Besides Norma being in the race, the other thing Dori has going for her will be the lack in interest from El Paso Republicans in the Republican primary.  I cannot imagine El Paso Republicans being all that hung up about who should be Land Commissioner.   They are probably a lot more excited about making a difference in this congressional race.   And we know El Paso Republicans can make a difference in a congressional Democratic primary.  Just ask Beto O'Rourke.   

Now Escobar and her surrogates do not look too smart spending their time bashing Republicans.  

But short of winning outright, if Dori is going to be in a run-off, she better hope it is with Escobar.  

While technically this is an open seat, we all know this is supposed to be Escobar's seat.

If Escobar goes into a run-off it is because the majority of voters are not happy with Escobar. 

Not saying that Dori will definitely beat Escobar in a run-off, but her odds are better against Escobar than with Chavez. 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Norma Chavez - Can she raise money?

Norma Chavez is running for Congress.

She has name ID. 

But does she have money?

If not, can she raise it?

The good thing for her is that her race is short.   She played it smart by filing at the last moment thereby considerably reducing the amount of money she would have need to raise if she had announced earlier.

She does not needed to raise much.

She just needs to raise enough.

Now, she probably will not raise enough locally, but perhaps nationally...given who her campaign treasurer is?

 

I can only assume "Huerta, Dolores" is THE Dolores Huerta. 

And if that is the case...

If for a second there you did not think Chavez was serious about her race, you need to think again.

Cesar Blanco - Biggest Loser?

You know who has the most to lose in this congressional race?

If your answer is "Veronica Escobar", you're wrong.

It is Cesar Blanco. 

If Escobar loses, Blanco will live with the regret. 

A veteran with DC experience who is generally liked by all Democratic locals passed up this open seat for whatever reason.  

Maybe he wants to run for State Senate once Jose Rodriguez leaves. 

Who knows?

But now he needs Escobar to win.  

Blanco will have to get more involved than he already is. 

Escobar is scattered-brain and getting bad advice from her blue falcon, Susie Byrd. 

I know the thinking is PAC money will pour-in for Escobar, but that was when it was a "one-person race".  

If I were a PAC that wanted to support Escobar and I see what the race looks like now, why pour money into this quagmire?  There are plenty of other races across the country where seats can be flipped, and things look a little less politically-complicated. 

Maybe that is where Blanco tries to work his magic again? 

I don't know.

I just hope Blanco has a list of favors to call-in should his candidate win. 

 

 

 

 

 

Veronica Escobar - Now what?

Look, I may end up eating crow in a few months, but I'm gonna marinate the shit out of that crow with sour grapes until that motherphucker tastes guuuuud.

...til then...

Your former County Judge Veronica Escobar is learning a rather ugly truth.

She just ain't all that popular.  

If she were, no white woman from the West Side who have thought about challenging her. 

If that were not enough of a sign of Escobar's unpopularity, my former employer, Norma Chavez jumps in the race. 

Now, Escobar could have overcome this unpopularity had she not spent several months dicking around.  By that I mean, the day that Beto O'Rourke had announced he was running for Senate, Escobar should have announced she was running for Congress.   But no.  She tried to be coy and cute.  Between the time of O'Rourke's announcement and her own announcement, Escobar had an opponent that raised some serious cash.  

And now, Escobar has an opponent, that has some serious name ID.

Yes, in my not so humble opinion, Chavez has a shot. 

You can talk about Chavez's negatives, but at the end of the day Chavez never voted to increase your property taxes or vote herself a pay raise.  

That and Chavez ain't married to a guy who earns his paycheck from deporting Mexicans.

As much as Escobar says, "What does my husband have to do with anything?", ultimately Escobar does spend that deportation money.  

Chavez can paint her opponents as wealthy out-of-touch West Side and Central residents, while she can run as the "Woman of the People" candidate. 

So what does Chavez need to do?

She just needs to get into a run-off with Fenenbock.

After that, Chavez will be able to tell Woody Hunt and Paul Foster, "Chupame la verga, pendejos."

 

 

 

 

Run, Norma, Run!

There is a God.

Norma Chavez will destroy Vero and Dori.  

They might as well quit now.

 

 

Commissioner David Stout - Wage Theft?

Your County Commissioner David Stout is trying to point out the fact that his opponent, Sergio Lewis, owns a small business is bad thing. 

Something about him being a business owner would make him a part-time County Commissioner. 

To which I say, "Nice."

But I digress.

The point Stout is making is that he is a “full-time Commissioner”. A full-time Commissioner that makes between salary and compensation probably over $100,000.  

So what has Stout's constituents gotten for those $100,000?

Other than him going around town fetching white zin for Susie Byrd...a whole lot of nothing. 

If anything El Paso is paying its Commissioners Court way too much. 

Look at what the Mayor and Council get paid.  They actually have a shit ton more to do. 

Next time you all see Stout, just ask him "You get over $100,000 for what exactly?"