Political alliances have produced among the most fragile bonds possible.

Isn’t that right, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and state Sen. Dan Patrick?

http://www.texastribune.org/2013/07/07/in-lt-gov-race-from-rivals-to-allies-to-opponents/

Dewhurst’s performance as presiding officer of the Texas Senate has come under intense fire from within the body’s Republican majority. Thus, one of those senators, Patrick, has decided to challenge Dewhurst’s bid for re-election next year. Not only are these men both Republicans, they both hail from Houston, which suggests that their respective collection of supporters contains many of the same names and organizations.

It wasn’t that long ago, as the Texas Tribune reports, that Dewhurst and Patrick were big-time pals. Patrick supported Dewhurst’s futile bid to become U.S. senator, replacing fellow Republican Kay Bailey Hutchison, who retired.

Now it’s Patrick declaring the need for “authentic conservative leadership” in the Texas Senate, which he implies Dewhurst hasn’t provided.

Given the state of Dewhurst’s political standing of late, I am unwilling to write off Patrick’s challenge as some kind of quixotic endeavor. But he’s got a crowded GOP primary field awaiting him. In addition to Dewhurst, Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson and Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples are running for the Republican nomination to be lieutenant governor.

It really stinks, at this moment, to be David Dewhurst.

In a number of other states, one might think a crowded field in one party primary would divide allegiances to the point of damaging the nominee who emerges in his or her campaign in the fall against the nominee of the other party.

But not in Texas. I’m struck by the utter lack of any serious public discussion among Democrats about who they might nominate for this important government office.

For now, the focus has turned on two former allies who I’m guessing will become intense foes. When the dust settles after next spring’s party primary, it’ll be interesting to see if Dewhurst and Patrick – along with Patterson and Staples – can become allies once again.