The Dave Bisbee Matter; Baker’s Side of the Story
In an internal campaign memo obtained by the Tolbert Report last night, I have learned that state Sen. Gilbert Baker plans to fight back against charges made by former state Sen. Dave Bisbee. Bisbee blames Sen. Baker for costing him the Senate Pro Temp position back in 2005 over Democrat Jack Critcher. But the Baker Campaign is saying that there is much more to this story.
The Baker Campaign memo says that Bisbee is “conveniently trying to re-write history.” According to them, Bisbee had a plan to join with Democrat Senator Percy Malone to change the rules to allow the majority party to elect the Senate Pro Temp rather than based on seniority as it had been in the past. In Baker’s view, his vote was to elect a conservative Democrat Jack Critcher and give Republicans a greater voice in the Senate.
I called former Sen. Shawn Womack who was a colleague and of both Baker
and Bisbee at that time to see if this story matched up with his recollection. Womack made it clear that as a Circuit Judge he really could not discuss the politics of the matter and would not hint at his support in the current U.S. Senate race but did offer to help me clear up the fact as he remember.
According to Womack, Bisbee’s plan to change the rules began in fall on 2004 when Republican approached Bisbee about the upcoming session only to learn that he did not plan to accept the Pro Temp position based on his seniority. Womack said that Bisbee instead encouraged the Republican caucus to support Malone’s proposal to allow the majority party to select the Pro Temp. In the end, rules were adopted to make the election for Pro Temp from the entire Senate body by secret ballot. Under this vote, a group of conservative Republicans backed Democrat Jack Critcher over the more moderate Republican Dave Bisbee who had then discussed to enter the race.
No doubt this new perspective on the whole Dave Bisbee matter puts the affair in a different light but something tells me this will not be the last we hear about this five year old Senate Pro Temp election, particularly if former state Sen. Jim Holt, who reportedly sided with Bisbee in this election, jumps in the U.S. Senate race, which at this point looks likely.
Tags: 2010 Candidates
December 2nd, 2009 at 1:43 pm
I think this is a non issue becasue Bisbee is not a conservitive. Baker supported the more consrvitive candidate in the race.
December 2nd, 2009 at 2:33 pm
So attacking the sitting Benton County Judge is going to help Gilbert win Benton County votes how exactly?
Love to see how this works out.
December 2nd, 2009 at 2:53 pm
[...] Sen. Dave Bisbee, according to an internal memo from Baker’s U.S. Senate campaign obtained by blogger Jason Tolbert. [...]
December 2nd, 2009 at 5:01 pm
Maybe you would like to check and see how liked the setting judge is up there. If his opposition had not had some problems he would not have even gotten elected and his wife didnt. Bisbee had made a deal with the liberal wing of the dems in the Senate if I dont understand why Jim Holt supported him. Bisbee had made it clear he was not going to take the position and was going to help the dems change the rules. He did not want the position until he thought he could hurt conservitives.
December 2nd, 2009 at 6:39 pm
This is a story that I have heard consistently for years. Baker (and conservatives in the Senate) made the right choice and the right votes. Conservatives took control of the Senate that year (“the Brotherhood”) forever changing Arkansas politics. Baker was on the side of the conservatives, along with every other Republican except Bisbee. Bisbee took the side of the liberals, without realizing that he would have the losing side historically.
Politically, in Benton County, Bisbee has cut road funds to his two biggest cities, Bentonville and Rogers, in order to increase the Counties’ take of the sales tax pie. It is the equivalent of a tax increase on all county residents, and in particular on the residents of Bentonville and Rogers (and to a lesser extent the new city of Bella Vista).
No, Bisbee is not really a popular guy up there right now. He probably opposes Baker; and Bisbee can probably get Holt to run.
But remember, this is Holt’s 3rd consective state-wide race. Each time, he has not done as well as the last time. So, while Holt is some concern; and Bisbee even some concern, neither one presents an overwhelming obstacle to Gilbert’s Primary Election.
In this Senate primary, tho, folks will see who lives by the 11th Commandment, and who does not. Those who do not live by Reagan’s 11th Commandment will see their political careers wind down.
December 2nd, 2009 at 7:02 pm
hmmm I never was really sure on how all of this went down. Northwest Arkansas has liberals…. was that when the housing market was hot?
December 2nd, 2009 at 8:52 pm
David Bisbee is making more enemies than friends with his sabotage campaign. It’s unfortunate, but if that’s how he wants things, so be it.
December 2nd, 2009 at 10:42 pm
If you have observed Bisbee any, you will understand that attacking him will not hurt Baker much.
December 2nd, 2009 at 11:35 pm
I am in Benton County, and have talked to several of the players in this matter directly. Here are my bullet points on this…
1) Bisbee has not done a good job as County Judge, but a lot of Republicans still support him and those that do tend to be establishment types, which are Baker’s natural constituency up here to the extent that he has one.
2) Barb has it wrong when she writes that “Baker was on the side of the conservatives, along with every other Republican except Bisbee”. The 8 Republican Senators were split, I believe exactly down the middle. The divide was regional, not ideaological. The NWA Republicans, including Holt, backed fellow Republican Bisbee while the central Arkansas Republicans, including Republican Party Chairman / Senator Baker, backed Democrat Critcher.
3) Point two above demonstrates the absolute absurdity of some GOP hack Republican claims that Holt is not loyal enough to the party especially in comparison to Baker.
4) Barb is correct in labeling “The Brotherhood” as the good guys, at least to the degree there is one, for conservatives. I note that though Holt says he voted Bisbee for Pro Tem, he deftly voted with the Brotherhood from there on out, resulting among other things in ending the old liberal’s domination of general improvement fund projects.
5) Barb is back off target when she says “this is Holt’s 3rd consective state-wide race. Each time, he has not done as well as the last time”. I don’t remember her or anyone else mentioning Asa Hutchinson being a three time loser. Holt got more votes in either of those elections than Asa got in ANY of them. The reason he did worse last time (though still once again pulling the ticket up by getting more votes than any Arkansas Republican on the ticket) was that an unpopular GW Bush drug down all Republicans. This time an unpopular Obama and Lincoln will drag down Lincoln. Any of the candidates that the grass roots select will have a great chance at beating Lincoln, so let’s pick a staunch one!
6) Barb writes, “So, while Holt is some concern; and Bisbee even some concern, neither one presents an overwhelming obstacle to Gilbert’s Primary Election.” Bzzzzzt. wrong answer. Arkansas Republican Primary voters have voted for Holt four times in the last three election cycles in huge numbers. He won 149 of 150 counties in the two primary races he was in, and that was before the Tea Party movement. If anything, those voters have become MORE anti-establishment and “Holt-like”. If Holt raises any money at all, you can put a fork in the Baker campaign. It’s done.
7)”In this Senate primary, tho, folks will see who lives by the 11th Commandment, and who does not. Those who do not live by Reagan’s 11th Commandment will see their political careers wind down.” So not speaking ill of them (in public) but leading a faction of Republicans to vote for the Democrat is OK? Seems like a Republican who calls it like they see it but sticks with the party in critical times is worth more than someone who leads a secret whisper campaign to insure the other side gets in. I’m just sayn’
ps- “Bisbee can probably get Holt to run”. Silly. Bisbee won’t be making the call on whether or not Holt runs. Jim Holt will. And I can tell you that no amount of pressure from ANYONE (other than Mrs. Holt) can get Jim Holt to do something unless he wants to do it.
December 2nd, 2009 at 11:51 pm
Thanks Mark. Good insight. I hope you comment here more often.
December 3rd, 2009 at 10:13 am
Mark: On your point 5, I don’t think that Bush WINNING AR by 10 points could be interpreted as Bush pulling Republican voters down. FYI, in 2004 Holt LOST by 12 points making a 22 point swing. Also, do you really expect anyone to believe that Asa and Holt faced the same caliber of candidates in 06 (Beebe vs. Asa compared to Halter vs. Holt)? Common on. I could not think of anything that would more harmful to the Republican party in AR than Holt running and getting the nomination for US Senate. I am glad that he has ran in the past, but it is time for this party to move forward and Holt has proven that he is not the candidate can make that happen.
December 3rd, 2009 at 11:57 am
Thanks, Mark, I appreciate your comments, too. I don’t always agree with you; but you make some great points.
December 3rd, 2009 at 2:24 pm
I dont know if Bisbee has anything to do with Holt thinking about running or not. But I do know that the best way to reelect Blanche is to run Jim HOlt against her. May Republicans like myself will not vote or will vote for the Green Party Candidate. Lets pick someone who can unite people not divide us.
December 4th, 2009 at 12:47 pm
Bisbee is a divider. Always has been. He’s also a Holt-lover for some odd reason. Not sure what that’s all about. The other thing about Bisbee is he has constantly over the years stuck his nose in other people’s business, namely GOP campaigns like he’s some kind of a godfather or something. Thinks a lot of himself and his perceived clout. He’s a divider not a uniter. Never has been and don’t forget it. He’s poison. I hope Holt does hang his hat on Bisbee…he’s done it before.
December 7th, 2009 at 9:04 pm
Jim Holt has said in the past that he voted for Bisbee and then prayed he would lose. Jim knows Bisbee was never a conservative and never interested in helping the republicans if it didn’t help him first.