An Editorial Commentary

When I was going through Houston Chronicle which  came out on October 15, 2013, and wrote an editorial titled “why we miss Kay Bailey Hutchison”, while it sounds like self- deprecating of its former endorsement of Senator Ted Cruz of Texas several months earlier, it is in fact commendable and noble for a news organization to try to get right what it once did wrong.  It all reminds us of how fast today’s world changes before our own eyes.

          I give Kudos to the Houston Chronicle for being bold enough to correct its mistaken endorsement of Senator Ted Cruz. Up until 2009, and subsequent to 2013, Texas senators were known for their intellect, leadership skill, and of course commanded great respect on corridors of power in our nation’s capital, Washington Dc.  Texas Senators were looked up to in times of great crisis, and they have always made our country and our great state of Texas proud. It would be fair to say that Senators from Texas in the late 1980’s dominated Washington power house; looking back at the presidency of senior George Bush, and later his son. Most presidential candidates looked up Texas senators as potential vice presidential candidates, and several were considered at least the last runners up. Senators Lloyd Bentsen for example, a Texas senator guided the passing of the employee retirement income security Act (ERISA). He championed the creation of individual Retirement Account (IRAS) legislation improving access to health care for low income women and children and tax incentives for independent oil and gas producers to reduce dependence on foreign oil. Under President Clinton, Senator Bentsen helped champion the Clinton economic plan that contributed to $500 billion in deficit reduction and the longest economic growth of the modern time  Senator Phil Gramm on the other hand sponsored several economic initiatives with the cooperation of some Democratic senators; senators Gramm, Senator Fritz Hollings and Warren Rudman devised means of cutting the budget through across the board spending cuts. These Senators worked together regardless of their party in the best interest of the nation.

Senators Gramm and Bentsen provided America purpose driven quality leadership and at the same time brought about jobs and several projects to the state of Texas.

          
          Compared to what we have today in Washington Dc in the names of Senators Ted Cruz, and John Cornyon, we have obstructionist and dialogues who are more interested in being identified as most conservative of the tea party movement, rather than as of leaders. Texans have great reasons to miss Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison who worked as hard as these former great senators for the interest of Texas but at the same time “who understands the importance of reaching across the aisle when necessary”. Under Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison’s leadership, several high tech companies, oil and gas industries enjoyed and got great attention from the white house. At a time when people can agree to disagree on issues, Todays Texas Senators are too busy playing ideological politics, rather than taking the leadership role their predecessors were known for. In all of these, the American people are yawning for leadership. It is only a matter of time that Texas will no longer become influential  in the nation’s capital, and I guess the voters of Texas may wake up this reality sooner than later.