Dear LD, please post...

Dear Cleveland Advocate/Dayton News,

Newspapers endorsing candidates is nothing unusual, but your newspapers have introduced several unique features to your endorsement for Governor of Texas.

First, most newspapers wait until the end of summer after the two nominees have aired out their differences. But I notice you have given Democrat Bill White a thumbs up already. I suspect you could say your thumbs up is not really an endorsement, but if you are politically savvy at all you know perception is reality; The phone call I got today was from a concerned voter who took your thumbs up as an endorsement.

Another really unique feature of your thumbing section is that you seem to place the most value on which candidate came to Liberty County first. Interesting priority, but as I sit here in front of my computer I have pictures of several Liberty Citizens standing by Governor Perry in the Mas Amigos on Main Street in downtown Liberty, Texas. Governor Perry stayed that night until he had visited with everyone and anyone that came. He posed for pictures. He sat at several different tables and had lengthy conversations with a variety of people. That visit is was the first of at least two visits to the city of Liberty alone. So according to your logic Bill White has some catching up to do. Oh and by the way Rick Perry didn't meet at Republican headquarters, he met where all voters would feel comfortable. Maybe Mayor White 's visit was really just for Democrats. but you might wait on giving him a thumb until he appeals to all of our citizens.

On the other hand I must give you some credit for being very courageous, According to recent elections your readers and the citizens of this county are a great deal more likely to vote for Rick Perry. Besides having voted for Perry in the past, statistics in Liberty County indicate a growing trend toward conservatives and a rejection of all Democrats running for statewide office. So your thumbs up could be a brave independent endorsement that goes against your own financial interest.

Buuut...... your endorsement could also show a bias by those who are in charge of the local papers who realize Perry is likely to win, but endorsing a much more liberal White may help local Democrats further down the ballot. For decades local Democrats have enjoyed and encouraged straight ticket voting, but now local Democratic Party leaders and their loyal media friends are doing anything an everything to discourage straight ticket voting I guess it could be coincidence that straight ticket voting n the last election favored local Republicans for the first time in over a century. Could your paper be thumbing White to stop a trend by voters of sending President bama a message by voting straight Republican?

Your paper is also unique in its political commentary in its practice of not leaving the name of the writer responsible for an editorial or opinion piece. Perhaps your admiration for Liberty Dispatch and other internet sites has influenced this,but I can't think of one reputable newspaper who would risk such a thing. Most papers are careful to have a name on these kinds of articles so they do not insult everyone who disagrees by leaving the impression that the entire staff and ownership holds the opinion expressed.

But undoubtedly that is the message you mean to convey. That The Dayton News and The Cleveland Advocate will forgo hearing the debates between the Democrat and Republican nominee for Governor and both papers will give a thumbs up to the Democrat early on. If the current Governor, who by the way holds the record for getting more Liberty County votes for Governor than any candidate for Governor in history, if he can prove he is a better candidate than Bill White we are sanding by and will let our readers know ....if he comes to Liberty County again.

Interesting politics Vanessa. Your conclusion reminds me of the Liberty radio station.