Dictator Craddick

Much political commentary has been written about the dictatorial style of Tom Craddick. He is also considered by critics to be a clever and wily politician. A telling incident which suggests this is the investigation of Delay and Craddick on diversion of campaign funds by Attorney General Earl. If true and it probably was, Craddick was able to cover his tracks and get away with it. No political commentator or observer that I have read or researched seems to praise the transparent and collegial style of Tom Craddick. When interviewed by Evan Smith of Texas Monthly on PBS, Craddick denied the accusations of his critics and appeared to be passive and as gentle as a lamb. He feigns innocence well.

Craddick was elected speaker of the house during the Republican takeover in 2002 and has managed to gain reelection because of his political skills and has been able to concentrate his power over successive terms. As a result of his dictatorial power, there was considerable controversy over his reelection to another term of the office during the last legislature and, with more democrats in the house, there certainly will be a greater fight in January to unseat powerful and dictatorial Tom Craddick. According to my sources, he will be the longest serving speaker in history. Originally, speakers in the 19th century severed only one two year terms. Only one served twice and only one served a third time. The frequent reelection of speakers began during the latter part of the 20th century.

The speaker is what his title suggests. He chairs the legislature and keeps order. That means he can shut a legislator up if he is out of order. I don’t find this a particularly undemocratic process. Craddick’s real power comes from controlling committee appointments and granting chairmanships to his cronies. Thus, legislation he wants to put in place and come up does because of his connivance with his cronies and political allies. Now this is not democracy but autocracy as well as corruption. On second thought, maybe this is just politics.

I am not sure that the Texas legislature, given its composition, is always for the little guy. In January when the legislature session begins, the rotunda, the balconies, and the halls of the legislature will be crammed with lobbyists, some of whom will be “little guys,” but no individual private citizens. Considered the fact that big energy will get to build five new dirty coal plants in Texas. This is not good for the health of the little guy. However, it’s not all bad. The little guy did benefit in 2001 from legislation pushed by the CFL-CIO although Governor Perry did veto many of its bills. Bills were passed to improve Texas workers compensation. A School Insurance Health Plan was passed, and the salaries and benefits of state employees were increased, especially correctional officers. The phone companies were also defeated in their effort to establish a statewide contract for telephone service. So I think that it is a mixed picture. Sometimes the little guy wins and more often the corporations win.

I think that Texas is a great state too, but evil lurks here and there.

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