Is Rep. Anchia the best choice for Dallas? I spoke with him before and he is a smart guy. But I doubt I could give any insight concerning the loss of his hotness at the Capitol, but I will take your word for it.

Re: "I cannot imagine a worse elected office than mayor of Dallas."

Dallas city government might be a quagmire, but there is some upside to the job. With Rafael's ability and charisma, I think he'd immediately become every bit the national star Ron Kirk was as Dallas mayor. And Ron survived the job largely in tact, even if the timing wasn't great for his Senate race. I think Rafael's timing is pretty good, as far as it's possible to predict - 6 strong years as mayor and he'd be very well positioned to help lead the effort to make Texas blue again. Plus he gets to be home in Dallas with his family, rather than have to commute to Austin to serve.

That's been my pitch to him, anyway. I think he should do it. I think he can win.

Now don't pick on Laura! She can't help that the city council members she has to work with/against are bozos.

If Anchia becomes mayor of Dallas, he will be in competition with Baltimore's foxy, rock-star Mayor Martin O'Malley for the nation's hottest mayor.

http://www.bayweekly.com/year04/issuexii_02/dockxii02.html

Whoah, did Mark Strama really comment on Pinkdome? Right after one of the campaign academy peeps?

At 9:42 pm... on a Friday night?

As someone who *does* feel herself qualified to comment on hotness, I've got to say that rather than considering this a drain on the Leg's Swoon Factor, I think of it more as a challenge and an inspiration to some of our more aesthetically-challenged legislators. If Anchia replaces Miller, his absence will doubtless be missed, but I am sure that there are some who will be willing to try to fill his shoes ... and his slacks ... and his shirts ... you get where I'm going with this.

I mean, really, what member of the Texas Legislature wouldn't feel duty-bound to compensate for the loss of hotness? This about DEMOCRACY, people.

RE Wonk
If rafael anchia is involved in a hotness contest, there is no longer a contest. Anchia wins. always.

did you see the picture of the rock star mayor? not cute.

How about a walk off between Anchia, Rose, and Strama?

It's a mother fucking walk-off.

Ugh, and take Rose off the runway. not cute.

^HAHA! What Anonymous said. Patrick Rose ain't all that.
I can also speak to Rep. Anchia's hotness, but Mayor of Dallas is not a bad gig at all.
And then he'd be ready to run statewide.

Uh, folks, please. Anchia is a nice guy but he is not ready for prime time. He needs a few more years of public service before he could deal with running a big city like Dallas with all its problems and a bozo city council. Being young and seemingly smart doesn't make up for experience. Same with you Strama. Chill out. You guys are smart but you will get where you're going soon. Get some more years and good and bad experiences under your collective belts. THEN you'll be in a better position to rule the world.

"hot mess"
- I love that term!
'scuse me, I need a cold shower...

Exciting developments!

Plain spoken, you seem to have forgotten that leadership requires charisma, compassion and vision more than experience. If experience is all that matters, then Craddick would qualify as an excellent Speaker and Cheney would qualify as an excellent Vice President.

A mayor's job is to bring people together, to lay out a vision and get everybody excited about that vision. Kirk Watson and Ron Kirk are excellent examples. Clearly, Anchia has what it takes to get people excited and follow in the Watson/Kirk model.

In order to turn Texas blue, progressives need to rebuild our overall infrastructure from precinct to precinct. We can win statewide if we take over the machines of every major city in Texas.

I'll miss Laura and all of her referendums where we had to vote whether or not to make her a dictator.

Touche Travis County Dem! I don't completely disagree with you. You bet, charisma is needed to help sell the good ideas. Kirk Watson is an excellent example as is Ron Kirk (friends of mine both!). and, although I consider myself a Republican, your use of the Craddick example is also excellent. I concur that in that particular example, experience does NOT make a good leader. However, generally speaking, charisma without some solid experience makes not a good leader. Anyone can be a good cheerleader without good ideas and visa versa. I say that you have to have a balance of vision, charisma, compassoion WITH experience to make it work. You being Blue would disagree (I think) with Bush's compasionte conservatison. See! Compassion alone doesn't do it. Gotta have both, bro. Anchia has limited ideas but alot of passion. He will get there is he doesn't get corrupted by thge process.