By JUAN MO-TIME
Staff Writer
Staff Writer
BROWNSVILLE, TX - In one of Bob Dylan's more-attuned songs, he sings about someone having it in for him, someone "planting stories in the press." The song is Idiot Wind, and it works nicely as soundtrack for pretty much every political campaign known around here.
It's not hard to feel the blow as it leaves a campaign and makes its way across the land. The sloganeering is familiar, as are the roadside signs and the campaign literature. You bet, I will do so much for you, it all says. And when the score is tallied at the end of every politician's term, the red side of the ledger always wins. Little is noticeable from today's Brownsville when compared to the city of twenty years ago. That stretch of new businesses along the highway and past the mall is more a sign of population growth than political accomplishment.
You could take a camera to that part of town and compare it to one of, say, 1992 and not exactly be blown over. The Downtown District has not changed, and we speak of Elizabeth Street and its busy, yet decaying neighboring counterparts.
But the photo that stands as sweetheart legacy to Cameron County Judge Carlos Cascos is the one shown atop this story. That's Cascos seated next two Republican U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, shown in his despair-white hair on the left. If ever there was a shot symbolic of Republican doings in South Texas, it is that languid photo of Cascos in full-lounge with a senator who is no friend of the Mexican border or of Hispanics. In fact, he's said to be actually proud of it, which makes us wonder whether Cascos, a rare Mexican Republican, somehow looks up to this Tower of Babble.
Cascos awaits two Democrats doing battle early next month. The winner in a race featuring former Do-Nothing Mayor Eddie Trevino and lackluster County Commissioner John Wood will face Cascos in the November election. Looking at the contest solely from a political perspective, the difference between all three is as thin as surgical wire. Trevino is favored to beat the hardly-energized Wood in the party contest. Cascos is said to be biding his time, formulating some sort of high-road, non-offending campaign suiting his sublime personality.
At stake for the citizenry is leadership in county government, always a pretentious idea, but never a winning one. Too many caudillos have held that post for Cameron County citizens to feel as if they are voting for a special candidate with a new vision, or a different, better way of doing things. On the contrary, the historical rolls of recalcitrant county judges is full of forgettable names, forgettable from the standpoint of controversy, shenanigans and ultimate defeat - defeat either against other candidates or against the governing task at hand. Cascos rode into office after a few years of horrible administration by former County Judge Gilberto Hinojosa. Perhaps he can claim a certain serenity that followed Hinojosa's reign.
Too bad there is no photo of that...
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26 comments:
The one next to Cascos,looks like Judge Salinas from Hidalgo. I can see he isn't toc comfortable.
The Mr. Salinas you refer to is no longer county judge in Hidalgo County. He recently took a job with the federal government. (2) The photo above first appeared on the Blog EdinburgPolitics, yes. (3.) We are of the opinion that, absolutely, Cascos should have met with his mentor Cornyn. But our point runs deeper. Republicans have their place in the country; that place, however, is not the Rio Grande Valley. What we hear drove Cascos to the GOP is a shot at a political office. Plus, we are of the headstrong opinion that a Mexican - or Black - in the Republican Party is a lost individual. Intellectually anyway. You have to know your history... - Editor
What!!!!!!!!!! come, come, my lad, "como diablos"!!!! that Mexicans or Hispanics or less intellectual than our counter parts, the Anglo race.
I am offended as hell, Madre!!!, I am just as smart as any of those people that consider themselves above the fray, look!!! at the mess were in.
The Senate is the white mans club as is the house of rep, the majority are white people.
Look at the economic conditions we are in, my payroll went from 9 to 6 people, to paraphase the "Dixie Chicks", I am, "mad as hell."
Don Patricio, easy with your editorials, I am your side.
Don Pancho, put the wine glass down and read carefully. We did not speak to the intelligence of the Hispanic. We absolutely believe the Hispanic brain is just as capable of smarts as any other brain. We just sincerely feel Hispanics have no business supporting - and being used by - the Republican Party, the party of racist Rush Limbaugh and ultra-racist Tom Tancredo. You are, as always, free to make your case here on that and on any other matter...- Editor
Well you do have a point, Tom Credos is a lunatic, as is Rush Limbauh, Mr. Viagra himself.
That over wieght buffon caters to the extremist right wingers, the birthiers, constituniolist, tea baggers party, those loonies remind me of the characters on the movie Deliverance.
Why any Hispanic would side with the Republican Party is beyond us. We think that it was merely political expediency/opportunism in the case of Carlos Cascos, which would be damnable, if true. Perhaps he'll drop us a note and explain himself...- Editor
Because they want to be wannabes, the fact is, that once any Tex-Mex gets a descent job, or any hispanic for that matter, the first thing they do:
A. They move and leave in an anglo subdivision.
B. They change their affiliation to the Republican party.
C. Find themselves a dumb blonde, with fake eyes, and begin showing her around.
D. Buy themselves a new car and begin to look at their counter parts down. (the old jaiva folklore)
E. Get in dept. up to their ears in credit cards.
And the list goes on and on and on. (Sorry don pancho, I have to tell it like it is bro.)
I see you didn't post what I wrote earlier. Way to go on letting others who disagree with your political ideologies views be heard. You are a true champion of freedom of expression. For the record, I know my history, and am being intellectually honest about supporting the only viable alternative to the corruption in the RGV.
Anon, you make a sure, true point with your comment on upwardly mobile Hispanics. But then even Black Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has a White wife, so. We're partial to the darker shades, for some reason, perhaps because of the fight they bring...(2.) To Second Anon, we've had similar complaints from others submitting comments. Sometimes, in electronics, something happens and they never show up. You're in the fray now. Have at it. Make your best case... - Editor
Cascos is following the foot steps of Tony Garza who ran as a Republican, first as county Judge, than was appointed to sec. of state after Geroge Bush became Governor of Texa, he later became Ambassador to Mexico after G.W. became president.
I think he is trying emulate his other fellow Republican friend.
Only, I don't think Carlos Cascos, has the connections Tony Garza had.
Keep dreaming Charlie, as they use to say in an old commercial, we fish only tunas that taste good.
Clarence Thomas is a sold out wannabe white guy, he is no friend of minorities. I wouldn't put it pass through him that he sexually harrassed that poor girl that testified against him.
We have plenty of "coconuts" here in the Valley Carlos Cascos is one of them. I will protest like Mr. Nopales wrote in an earlier blog, I will write in a candidate, I don't care who it is, no Cascos, or Trevino, thanks but no thanks.
Clarence Thomas is despise by his own race. Poor deluded man, if he only knew what people think about him, his own kind that is.
Oh well, he has company o j simpson and Michael Jackson, they all married someone else other than there own.
Mr. Editor, I just read the articles and I am impress with the comments of someone who calls himself don pancho.
His way of thinking is somewhat convoluted, but he is correct. I don't think there are any minorities in the Senate.
My high school goverment teacher use to call the Senate the white mens social club, many years ago.
I know the house of representatives has some hispanics, and afro-americans, but they are a few and counted.
I don't own a business as don pancho, but the economy is all screwed up, and that was caused by lawyers most of them white people who are in elected positions, that is for sure.
I see, your voting scale for Ruben and Eddie isn't getting any traction, well, as I stated before, none of the above would give the readers a "real choice."
Notes for all: Little by little, the comments here are becoming the sort of civilized, intelligent rolling commentary we envisioned. It's refreshing, at least to us. I must say, however, that we've also had the crazies used to seeing everything they submit to a Blog get posted. But we're not interested in profanity for profanity's sake, although used with measure and in a pointed way...well, sometimes that's what's needed. We just will never post comments comprised of mostly profanity. Here, you have a chance to exhibit your brain and thought process. We challenge you, yes... - Editor
Ah yes, the great democratic party. The party that locally gave us the great leadership of Gilberto Hinojosa & Solomon Ortiz. The party that gave us the law abiding citizens of Sherriffs Conrado Cantu & Brig Marmolejo, Starr county sheriff, commissioner Sylvia Handy, the county commissioners from willacy county, constables jimenez from La feria & Ochoa from Port Isabel, election administrator Navarro from Hidalgo county, senator eddie lucio, barney frank, ted kennedy, Governor Blagovich, & the list goes on & on & on. Yes editor, the democrat party is an epitomy of leadership, honesty & good government. and let's not leave out former commissioner Valencia, constable hoss lozano, DA Villalobos,former commissioner hector pena & the many more fine democrat officials that have graced the front pages of our newspaper and if I had more time, could come up with many many more fine leaders in our community.
Anon, granted the names you throw out are the names of failures, stupid failures even. We will concede that. Still, it is the tenets of the Democratic Party that best serve this neck of the woods, for it would be hard to find many who would side with Nixon, Haldeman, Erhlichman, Reagan, Rumsfeld, Rove, GW Bush, Cheney, Boehner, Palin, Bachman, DeLay, Rick Perry, the latter who in seceding from the U.S. would likely return South Texas to Mexico. The problem is not the tent; it is those who win control of the tent. But we do agree that those names you mention were the names of utter disappointments. In politics, Hispanics are now sophisticated enough to also be selfish and corrupt... - Editor
So then we can agree. There's corruption on both sides, so let's not paint everyone on either side with the same broad brush.
Oh please, Anon, you aren't blaming the Democratic party because of a few rotten apples, obiously you haven't been out of the Valley or read other newspapers and see all the corruption carried out elsewhere, take a look at the Senate and house of rep. Specifically at the Republican counter parts. There is mud for everyone, you sound a Cascos supporter.
Well his 15 minutes are coming up in November of this year.
Look at the mess the state of Texas is in and big daddy Rick Perry has been in control.
I can shoot statistics if I have to, but what do say, a picture is worth 1000 words.
Look up north of us, Harlingen, look at the mess they are in, at one time the commission was run, with nothing but republicans, 2% growth in ten years is nothing to brag about.
yea, yea, we heard those arguments before, we can do better, tax increases, surcharges on our license plates, streets that run like canals when it rains, please save your lectures.
Anon, yes we agree thatt there is corruption in both major parties. It comes with the territory. Politics is not pretty. Yet, how can you defend a Texas politician like Rick Perry, the Republican governor. When he tried to brand himself the "Education Governor" a few years back, it was revealed that he graduated with a 2.1 Grade-Point-Average from Texas A & M - the barest of minimums... - Editor
a few rotten apples?? lol
Cliches only get in the way. All concede: Both parties have rotten apples. At present, however, the Republican Party's barrel is bigger... - Editor
Bigger maybe, but much fewer rotten apples, especially at the local level, and at the end of the day, all politics are local.
Republicans are a wild minority in South Texas, so you have a point there. It is their huge national barrel we speak of here. Rotten apples exist in both parties, yes. Sadly, it is the coast-to-coast shame we must endure... - Editor
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