City Hall Hustle: High Times at the Hunker A-Go-Go
Campaign antics are a good way to kill time in the mayor's race
By Wells Dunbar, Fri., April 3, 2009
With apologies to Matt Groening, here are this election campaign's forbidden words: "Tough Times." "Renewable." "The Crow's Nest." "In It for You." And of course, "Hunker Down."
While it certainly ain't the Rumble in the Jungle, this week's theme was the Hunker in the Bunker. (Or as commenters at Burnt Orange Report rang the changes, to alternately "funker down," "dunker down," or "crunker down.")
The bickering began (calling it a "kerfuffle" suggests too much gravitas) when the Brewster McCracken camp threw up a YouTube clip called "Hunker Down," a greatest-hits compilation of Lee Leffingwell's public appearances advocating that very course during the downturn. For background music, BMc spokesman Colin Rowan used the song "Hunker Down" by Florida artist Captain Josh (found in a quick perusal of iTunes). The video was up briefly before the Leffingwell camp discovered it, contacted Josh Ramsteck (Captain Josh), and made a stink out of it. Rowan owned up to the mistake, and the campaign pulled the video, saying it was planning to do so anyway, as the joke had run its course. But the Leffingwell crew will host Captain Josh for a Lee rally, as CJ had previously scheduled Central Texas dates before Hunkergate erupted.
Advantage: no one. Don't you people have better things to do?
The intellectual property altercation, however minor, does mark an inauspicious start for McCracken's new bout of messaging, as he marshaled several Austin musicians (such as Jon Dee Graham and Sara Hickman) and club owners (Momo's Paul Oveisi and Mohawk's James Moody) Wednesday to endorse him in a presser at the ME Television studios. McCracken further burnishes his hipster credentials with a "guest bartender" spot at Mohawk, ratcheting up his plans to make up for his lack of established group endorsements with ad hoc coalitions of players in exciting fields like music, film, and tech.
Speaking of which, Mohawk is hosting this joint's first-ever mayoral forum. The Austin Chronicle presents the Hustle for Mayor, at Mohawk on Tuesday, April 21, at 7pm. Mark your calendars!
Upcoming Forums
AUSTIN HOTEL & LODGING FORUM
Friday, April 3, 2pm. Driskill Hotel, 604 Brazos.
URBAN IS CORE AUSTIN SUPER FORUM (Austin Parks Foundation, Downtown Austin Alliance, Austinist.com, and others)
Saturday, April 4, 10am. St. David's Episcopal Church, 304 E. Seventh.
REPUBLICAN PARTY CANDIDATE FORUM
Tuesday, April 7, 11:30am. Green Pastures, 811 W. Live Oak.
LULAC CANDIDATE FORUM
Tuesday, April 7, 6:30pm. Metz Elementary, 84 Robert T. Martinez Jr. St.
AUSTIN WOMEN'S POLITICAL CAUCUS
Wednesday, April 8, 5:30pm. Commissioners Courtroom, Travis Co. Administration Building, 314 W. 11th.
AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS CANDIDATE FORUM
Wednesday, April 8, 6pm. Austin Center for Architecture, 801 W. 12th.
AUSTIN AREA HUMAN SERVICES ASSOCIATION
Thursday, April 9, 11:30am. Mexican American Cultural Center, 600 River St.
COMBINED ENVIRONMENTAL FORUM
Thursday, April 9, 5:30pm. Council Chambers, City Hall, 301 W. Second.
YOUNG EXECUTIVES OF AUSTIN
Thursday, April 9, 7pm. Driskill Hotel, 604 Brazos.
Got something to say? The Chronicle welcomes opinion pieces on any topic from the community. Submit yours now at austinchronicle.com/opinion.
