September 30, 2014      5:02 PM
HK: Wow! A real debate; Patrick and Van de Putte really mix it up.
Abbott’s previous refusal for follow up questions reduced last gubernatorial debate to farce
For people who actually watch the process, last night’s
debate between Senators Dan Patrick
and Leticia Van de Putte was far
more satisfying than what was passed off as a gubernatorial debate last week.
The major take away?
Whether you agree with him or not, Patrick can talk
policy. Despite being in a candidate protection program for the last month,
Patrick’s experience on talk radio and on the Senate floor made him a far more
engaging debater than the top of the Republican ticket, AG Greg Abbott. Abbott is the
chief executive of the state’s largest law firm and like Rick Perry two years ago, is surprisingly unprepared to talk
policy. As an apparent CEO surrounded by yes men, Abbott’s performance in his
debate was full of misdirection and misleading statements. In stark contrast, Patrick is battle-tested
and hardened after six years in the state’s leading debate society. Fact checkers will have a field day, but that
is beside the point.
By Harvey Kronberg
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