2010: Coincidence or Conspiracy?

As if there wasn't enough action planned in Austin on Tuesday, the Texas State History Museum Foundation announced today that it will be honoring none other than President George W. Bush and his wife Laura Bush at a dinner on the very same night as the primary election.

The Bushes will be giving speeches late in the evening, around 8:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. You know, just as election workers are tallying up all the votes that come in for Republican gubernatorial candidates Gov. Rick Perry, U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and Debra Medina.

It's no secret the Bush family has been ... well, let's just say not keen on Perry, who polls show is leading the GOP nomination fight. Might this be some elaborate scheme to steal the limelight from yet another potential Perry victory?

Nah. Emily Songy, spokeswoman for the Texas State Historical Museum Foundation, said it's just an unfortunate coincidence. You see, the foundation holds its Texas Independence Day Dinner on Texas Independence Day every year — hence the name. "It's always on Texas Independence Day, because that’s kind of what it focuses on," Songy said. It just so happens that Texas Independence Day this year is also Primary Election Day.

Bush was slated to be the honoree at this year's dinner long before polls started favoring Perry. Songy said she wasn't aware of any complaints about the event from the campaigns. The problem, she said, is mostly for the media, which now must figure out how to cover the former president's speech in addition to the multiple campaign gatherings, election celebrations, poll returns and other election-night goings-on.