Run Chuck, Run!!!

Hey, if the Republicans can get off soundbites in the media that their own will be sporting bumper stickers that read "Run Hillary, Run!" why not have our own version?

Alan Bernstein notes that the GOP officials are officially worried that the District Attorney is damaged goods. Never mind that, though ... Rosenthal is dead set on running. Amazing how two challengers just pop up for Sheriff Tommy Thomas, but the party honchos have to conduct meetings to talk about their amorous District Attorney. Jared Woodfill's comments aren't entirely cryptic:

Woodfill acknowledged prior to the meeting that one path for Republicans could be to encourage others to challenge Rosenthal in that contest.

"We will discuss how to proceed as a party," he said.

Former Houston Police Chief Clarence Bradford is seeking the Democratic nomination for district attorney in November 2008.

Some members of the county GOP advisory committee hoped to discuss Sunday whether to encourage Rosenthal to resign or declare that he will not seek re-election after his current term expires at the end of 2008.

Rosenthal's political consultant, Allen Blakemore, said he has talked frequently in the past few days with party leaders about his opinion that no other highly qualified candidate is positioned to run.

The county GOP chairman called the e-mails a mistake prior to the meeting.

"It's not good. They are horrible," Woodfill said. "The district attorney has made a mistake."

It's not difficult to sense the fallout for the Republicans here. Now, if you really want some entertaining reading, I guess we can all thank Kuff for flushing out the Republican bloggers on this one. The results are telling ...

Whited: Says a lot while saying really nothing at all. Apparently, the grand unification theory at hateHouston is that this is all somehow connected to Rick Casey. Oh, and Bradofrd's "lack of prosecutorial experience" is worth Kevin pointing out while the actual significance of Rosenthal's actions isn't. Even more revealing that Kevin clings to the myth that Bradford hasn't discussed the crime lab. I realize the Chronicle archives are clunky, but they're not impossible to use. Nor is Bradford's website, where he mentions the crime lab in his announcement speech. Like I said, it's telling. And in this case, it's telling how Kevin will try and spin this matter away as insignificant. Nevermind that it took him 820 words to get there.

Prof. R-Squared: Easily the most insightful point on the matter. In light of Woodfill's latest statement's, it's perhaps no shock that the view expressed here is that this significantly wounds Rosenthal. Agree or disagree, but the take certainly warrants attention as honest and unafraid to actually ... ya know ... say something.

Slampo: Certainly a lot more partisan frothing here. But, like Prof. R-Squared, at least he's unafraid to actually take a stand on something more significant than the bland fact that Rick Casey wrote a column in the Chronicle. If nothing else, Slampo at least captures some of the venting that our rightwing friends no doubt share over the ordeal.

Cory @ Lose an Eye has two takes ... one of which even preceded Kuff's shout-out to Republican bloggers. His second take is along the lines of Slampo's spleen-venting. Again, it's at least an honest take, rather than an effort to expend time and effort to spinning talking points.

Riffing from Cory, it's perhaps a debatable point that Bradford v Rosenthal is now even odds. The county has been solidly Republican for roughly a decade and a half. And the District Attorney gig has always been one that favors Republicans. There's a reason that Johnny Holmes held the office for years prior to the GOP being dominant in Harris County. It just remains to be seen how much the story cuts through and how long it stands in the minds of voters who haven't really begun to focus on local races. Will Rosenthal's actions move the needle any in Tomball, Spring, & Kingwood? There's reason to be doubtful. But there's also reason for Democrats in Harris County to start getting in motion. For all the talk among some in the blogosphere about not wanting to see Texas money go to Presidential candidates who won't campaign here, there's precious little evidence of some of those folks devoting their time to local campaigns that will need all the help they can get. And you've got all the opening you could ask for running in the Chronicle on a daily basis.

UPDATE: How could I forget Anne's comment over at hateHouston:

Overall I think Rosenthal has been a fine DA. This revelation is disappointing, but the alternative is Bradford.

To quote a local blogger, "'nuff said."

Once more, we see that hateHouston writers only care about the letter next to the candidate's name. Regardless of their protestations otherwise about their high-minded, impartial objectivity. But credit should at least be given for honesty ... and brevity.