Bully, Ideologue, Worst - Sen. Patrick Targeted by Colleagues and Media Alike

[TexasTowelie]

Dan Patrick seems to have no issue with verbal altercation. The state senator, representing parts of northwest Houston, has gained quick notoriety for transferring his acidic on-air personality to the halls of Austin. He's offered crocodile tears for the students he purports to support. He's castigated pro-choice advocates on the floor while coddling those in his camp. Patrick, the Senate Educational Committee chair, has introduced a political theater that Texas hasn't seen in some time.

But while Hair Balls has been harping on Patrick's method acting for some time, and while those on the other side of the aisle have often cited him while chastising Texas's hard-right Republican branch, it appears those closer to Patrick are finally taking notice. If this week is any indicator, Patrick has rapidly morphed into one of the most maligned characters set to take part in Gov. Perry's special session. Those tears and jeers he so often employs have finally corroded those who should otherwise offer their support, or non-biased ear, as he attempts to chug toward higher office.

Put simply: Patrick's foes are no longer the Democrats that he and his committee can so rapidly write off. Those he's ticked off are far closer than he'd like to enjoy.

The first he seems to have lost is the Texas Monthly, which recently revealed its list of Best and Worst Legislators of the 2013 Session. Some may have been surprised to see Patrick's name in the "Worst" list. After all, despite the abject and embarrassing failures of his neo-voucher scheme -- the GOP-controlled House hardly gave it a second's thought -- Patrick managed to both shift graduation requirements and lift the charter cap. Not an altogether unproductive session.

More at http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs/2013/06/bully_ideologue_dan_patrick_wo.php .

[font color=green]It is a long article, but worth reading since he appears to be setting himself up to run for higher office. The most significant factor hampering him is that there are plenty of other Republicans ahead of him in line.[/font]

[Gothmog]

1. Patrick is a jerk

I being a jerk usually works for conservatives. Look at Carnival Cruz

[Paladin]

2. God help us---he's a perfect fit for the Governor's office.

A loud-mouthed, empty-headed, self-promoting, hyper-conservative dickhead like Dan Patrick? Face it: he's a natural.

The only mitigating factor might be the years and years of over-the-top statements he's made on his AM radio station. Back when I lived in the Houston area, I listened to his show every once in a while---I heard him making wistful noises one day about establishing a theocracy in the U.S.. And I was listening that afternoon in 2004 when he went into full on-air meltdown over Janet Jackson's half-second of breast exposure at the Super Bowl: Patrick was literally screaming into the microphone over that incident, babbling in tongues. Also, he could be faulted about potential political appointments, considering Jon Matthews, one of Patrick's talkers, was convicted of Indecency With A Child, and a parole violation, thereafter. Way to pick 'em, Dan.

Regardless of the foregoing, Patrick can probably count on getting 75% of the vote in places like Comal County. I'm so sick of our state being embarrassed by and hated for the toxic political leadership we come up with. I probably won't live to see it get any better. Time to get another six of Tecate and some limes......