Fresh Eyes on the Lt. Gov.
We had lunch with the Lt. Gov. today. And when I say we, I mean myself, the News' illustrious Terry Stutz and the rest of the Capitol Press Corps, including several bouncy blond reporters ogling Mr. Dewhurst. And his tan. (And just for the record, there's no way he's that tan naturally. Have you all forgotten that we just emerged from an arctic ice age here in Austin, Texas?). A few thoughts on the luncheon, and Mr. Dewhurst's ex-wife, after the jump:
The best part was the meal -- a step up from hotel wedding food. Salad, and this fun chicken with an olive pesto rub, and asparagus and some fun couscous stuff. I sat two seats away from the Lt. Gov., close enough to eavesdrop and watch him eat (and absorb some of his glow) but not really close enough for a legitimate professional or political conversation. Not sure what got him on the subject of his ex-wife; must've been the budget surplus. The greatest line of the day: "She thought as long as there were checks in the checkbook there was still money in the bank."
The Lt. Gov. must not like iced tea, because he was the only person in the room who got served soda instead. He passed on bread (a low-carb diet?) and dessert, but the dessert (yum...strawberry shortcake) may have been because he had to get up and speak to us.
And speak he did. About sex offenders (lock 'em up). About prisons (we may need more space -- but we also need better rehab). About steroid use in high schools (we need a major deterrent.) I tuned out on some of the others because, as I said, the shortcake was delish.
But I did walk away with one tidbit of important information: Dude's observant -- and holds a grudge. He must've razzed Terry 15 times about a press conference he didn't report on earlier this week.