Corruption

mirac777

Politicians to police themselves. Here is a simple idea. Have everyone make sworn depositions, and turn them in. Then call in a citizen jury FROM ANOTHER area of the state. All independants, no party affiliation. Let the people decide based upon the facts. Then give that same jury the power to hand out the punishment. Expel them from politics for repeat corruption and throw them in prison. If they decide they dont have to answer hard questions truthfully, give them 30 days in jail to think about it. After all, they take an Oath of office.Lets make that Oath mean something once again.

Knowing they will be held accountable for their actions will help prevent future corruption .

NeoKong

How much does his opinion matter ?

fpete13527

You summed in up. Straus is a liberal elitist faking to be a Conservative Republican who thinks he can forcibly keep his office, -even though Texans do not want him there.

I’m especially glad that you are staying with this because this is happening in other states in different degrees and levels.

There are many Republicans who turned pure liberal progressive under the perception that the U.S. would allow itself to fall into the gutter under our Socialist President. Instead of standing on principle and showing courage, they went into the sewer with the Democrats, who are now complete toxic sewage.

The U.S. people have stepped up to the plate, however, and they are not going to let the country go into the toilet that the liberal elite Federal Government and many State Governments have attempted to put it. Thankfully, the liberal Republican elitists are now getting a wake-up call. Some, that have integrity, will either shift out of the liberal sewer they fell in, or get out.

Others, the ones that are pure liberal elitists, like Straus (or many at the Federal level) need to be voted out – yesterday. Straus is more liberal than half the Democrats in Texas. He has no business claiming to be a Conservative and he has absolutely no business being Speaker.

Straus needs to go.

jwebb

So far, my rep – a seemingly intelligent Conservative guy – seems to back Straus. I’ve written his office with my concerns about Straus with no answer so far. A group from the county party has a meting scheduled with him next week where I will certainly make the case against Straus, so I sure appreciate getting the news here, Erick.

jwebb

So far, my rep – a seemingly intelligent Conservative guy – seems to back Straus. I’ve written his office with my concerns about Straus with no answer so far. A group from the county party has a meting scheduled with him next week where I will certainly make the case against Straus, so I sure appreciate getting the news here, Erick.

http://www.plumbbobblog.com Plumb_Bob

I was thinking “what can we do?” and it occurred to me that we could write letters to members of the Texas legislature and explain to them just how embarrassing this is to the entire state. Do you have any suggestions which legislators should receive a note? I’m fairly sure writing to Strauss would not help, but perhaps there are others in the legislature that should hear about it.

gjohnson

including corruption

walter

in every state and in every county and if you’re from a state which has townships, it happens there too. One thing that I’ve noticed is how city flight here near Philly does it’s damage. The liberals move out of the city (after ruining it – depleting it’s greatness – Ayn Rand style) into the surrounding counties and run as democrats once they get here as they were democrats while in the city. Once they lose, they wait two years, change party affiliation and then suddenly get elected . . . people forget?

Even down to the local councilmen or township commisioners there’s always trouble. Once every few years you may hear about a fist fight during a meeting. It’s reall bad because we supposedly KNOW these people as some are baseball or football coaches and we have conversations about issues…. we recently got screwed with a police force that takes up 51% of the township budget, and some new police. We had 14 police in this town in 1980 with some of them part time. Now we have over 30 and the population certainly didn’t double. We the people didn’t really want it. But we got it and we’re stuck.
The speed limits are lower, the seat belt checks have increased, the dui checkpoints have increased…. what the heck, they have to make their money somehow yes? Why not just ruin more lives?

walter

in every state and in every county and if you’re from a state which has townships, it happens there too. One thing that I’ve noticed is how city flight here near Philly does it’s damage. The liberals move out of the city (after ruining it – depleting it’s greatness – Ayn Rand style) into the surrounding counties and run as democrats once they get here as they were democrats while in the city. Once they lose, they wait two years, change party affiliation and then suddenly get elected . . . people forget?

Even down to the local councilmen or township commisioners there’s always trouble. Once every few years you may hear about a fist fight during a meeting. It’s reall bad because we supposedly KNOW these people as some are baseball or football coaches and we have conversations about issues…. we recently got screwed with a police force that takes up 51% of the township budget, and some new police. We had 14 police in this town in 1980 with some of them part time. Now we have over 30 and the population certainly didn’t double. We the people didn’t really want it. But we got it and we’re stuck.
The speed limits are lower, the seat belt checks have increased, the dui checkpoints have increased…. what the heck, they have to make their money somehow yes? Why not just ruin more lives?

godot

I have written my state rep about this issue — Dwayne Bohac — several times. By most measures, Bohac is a solid fiscal conservative. I have met him and he does seem like a straight forward guy in person.

However, he has not respnded to me yet. And his silence is beginning to bug me.

Furthermore, despite this lack of a response from my rep, I did receive an email from Straus — touting his conservative credentials. Indeed, that is what the .pdf file he forwarded to me was called — essentially “Educate Thyself on the Conservative Nature of Speaker Straus.” I have never communicated with Straus myself.

I am not sure if these two items — one an event, the other a non-event — are related. But it is troubling.

The red meat of Texas politics has always been pounded out behind closed doors. I don’t think these guys like what is happening now. They seem uncomfortable in the light of day.

bruceinva

is too simple, therefore it will never be adopted. Might actually be effective, therefore it will never be adopted.

texasgalt

http://www.redstate.com/erick/2010/11/17/republican-does-not-equal-conservative-even-in-texas/

http://www.txdirectory.com/online/txhouse/

You might consider faxing a copy of your letter(s). Then, following up with a phone call is best. Or you may wish to drop into your state reps local office- call first since they keep some odd hours in some cases.

If you have a newly elected rep, you’ll have to google the name.

In most cases, these Reps are not going to immediately agree with you. It’s still a little early and this is very tricky politically. Even if they want to dump Straus, many will be reluctant to go public at this time, but they can be influenced by they hear from the public (especially their constituents).

texasgalt

http://www.redstate.com/erick/2010/11/17/republican-does-not-equal-conservative-even-in-texas/

http://www.txdirectory.com/online/txhouse/

You might consider faxing a copy of your letter(s). Then, following up with a phone call is best. Or you may wish to drop into your state reps local office- call first since they keep some odd hours in some cases.

If you have a newly elected rep, you’ll have to google the name.

In most cases, these Reps are not going to immediately agree with you. It’s still a little early and this is very tricky politically. Even if they want to dump Straus, many will be reluctant to go public at this time, but they can be influenced by they hear from the public (especially their constituents).

texasgalt

http://www.texasinsider.org/?p=38065

And now add the name of Bill Zedler-R of Arlington.

cari

I got this from a friend today. It contains shocking information regarding Joe Straus, especially from Rice University.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPofGX_J0jA&feature=player_embedded

Goldwater_Conservative

You and the tea party better win because you have started a civil war in Texas and to the victor goes all the spoils.

The common sense conservatisim would have been to say “yeah ok Straus is a weak leader and could be described as a RINO but I think above all that he is an oportunist who wants to keep power therefore lets threaten him but ultimately support him and stay on him to appoint who we want to the committees and with redistricting”.

Or you can take the Redstate/Tea Party route of “off with their heads, kill em all, if they are not with us they must be against us” motto and push the nuclear button as you are doing. You now force Straus into the corner and he is no doubt going to have to make all kinds of deals with the devil (the dems) to keep his power. So in essense, if you dont win this, you will have profisised and then created your own demise in the process. Not to mention you continue to show selective outrage with how speakers in Texas fight to keep their position.

jhft

Hold on, Erick! Haven’t your noticed the HUGE change in Louisiana government since Bobby Jindal became governor?

ihateliberals

elections? because of People like Strauss. This man is dangerous to us all for many reasons. He may spread his ideas and methods to other states. He will control voting districts and he will have some power in supporting US Senators and Representatives for re-election/election. As we have learned from the Obama fiasco all congressional elections are now of national interest. What these guys stand for when elected affects us all and it is in our best interest to make sure we get conservatives elected no matter the state. This guy, Strauss, reminds me of Chicago politics. Extremely corrupt with no one to stop him. I guess we will always have to fight the Liberal, Socialist and communist of the world. Plus we have to be fighting Terrorist as well. I’m getting tired!!!!!

ohiohistorian

In my recollection, both bribing and threatening a politician are crimes under most state laws and under Federal law. Further, could probably indict him under RICO.

The other legislators should turn in both scumbags. A judge could put Mr. Phillips into jail until he will take an oath. While he cannot be forced to testify against himself, he can be forced to testify or spend a lot of time behind bars. We don’t need another “independent” board to be subverted politically. Let’s use the law we already have and clean up some of these legislatures.

bobtx

who does the Lt. Gov. support. Constituationally, he’s supposed to be more powerful than the Gov.. Dewhurst is supposed to be conservative and is highly regarded. You’re right, Erik, this is embarassing to we Texans…the thought of resembling Louisiana politics.

Goldwater_Conservative

You play tea party?

http://www.gmsplace.com/ civil_truth

Sure sounds like the former, as this I how I hear your advice:

If you keep resisting, he might get really angry and beat you up badly while he rapes you. Rather, just spread your legs and maybe it won’t be so bad after all.

Besides, you don’t have any grounds to say no after what I saw go on last week between you and that other guy…

So now you’ve moved from a concern troll (with a touch of PDS) to Gr?ma Wormtongue.

I find your comment here (and earlier comments) regarding the Texas legislature fight over Joe Straus to be poisonous to the future of our nation and morally execrable.

/uncivil

Goldwater_Conservative

excatly like the media is trying to portray the tea party. Hate filled, unrealistic purist who will never be more than the fringe of a fringe. Was anything I said incorrect? No, you just dont like anyone having a different view from what your chain emails tell you to do and I think thats what is dangerous.

powertothepeople

with so many on this site who, like you, demand we tuck tail and run like cowards rather than doing what is right just because we may not win or we may make someone mad?

Since when do you only fight a good fight or do what is right when the outcome is guaranteed to be victory or all good? If you base your morals, courage, and will to do what is right on guaranteed victory and will not do what is right other than when you are sure it will turn out peachy, you have no backbone, morals, or courage!

Your analogy about taking it up the ass if we do what is right seems a bit off track. I would say since you only do what is right or fight for what you believe in ONLY if it is easy and victory is assured, you are the one who has long been taking a big one right up the chute. Do not pass your issue off on us please.

http://stixblog.com Black River Wolf

You love Meagan McCain??

Goldwater_Conservative

I dont know what she stands for, and not a huge fan of her dad

Goldwater_Conservative

I didnt say run away, I said we should have used out influence to press Straus to persue the conservative cause, not cast him out where there is a great chance he is going to be the speaker. You want to “Christine O’Donell” everything because at the very least we will “send a message” and I’m trying to be a realist and say we should persue a course of action that would most likely get a win.

audax

Martin Knight

Every single one of your comments in any thread I’ve encountered them is some variant of advocacy for surrender with claims that it is somehow “common sense” or “pragmatic.”

Straus conspired with the Democratic caucus to get himself elected Speaker. In exchange he gave them important Committee chairmanships and ensured that their priorities were placed ahead of those of his own caucus – and this included bottling up and shooting down Republican legislation.

Do you deny this? And by your definition of “common sense”, he should be rewarded with support because he’s ambitious? Are you really quite so gormless?

And are you so ignorant and math-challenged that it has escaped your comprehension that 51 + 11 = 62? In other words, even if you add every Democrat and all of Joe Straus’ fellow liberal Republicans in the TX House, they’d still be 88 Republicans who can easily appoint a Speaker. In other words, there’s no deal Straus can make that can help him now.

You see, we “hate-filled purist” Tea Partiers can count.

Unfortunately for you, your form of “common sense conservatism” has a track record (e.g. Specter, Crist) we’ve already all seen – it’s not some new thing or some special new insight that you alone have managed to acquire. Back in the day, Reagan called it Pale Pastel Republicanism; one that always backed away from a fight and never advanced a single step.

The fact of the matter is that your comments here have shown that you are a very short-term thinker – the sort of unctuous timid pencil pushing bean counter that do anything but go with the flow – the sort of person that would have counselled DeGaulle to join up with Petain in WWII.

People like you are better outside than in.

Martin Knight

Please enlighten us.

Just to make it easier for you, you may add his 11 liberal GOP co-conspirators to the 51 Dems.

Goldwater_Conservative

Let me explain realisim to you. If the conservatives had the votes to overtake him or if this was even close, then yes by all means do it. But they dont, and they are not even close at this point, so my question is why piss in your messkit?

http://www.gmsplace.com/ civil_truth

You’re starting to show…

Goldwater_Conservative

You got 300 valient warriors and they are ready to fight to the end. You show up against the great persian empire and even win the intial skirmishes to show everyone you mean business and you are effective. That then forces the persian king (straus) to come and meet with you and offer you a deal which includes everything you were intially after but the once caveot of course is that he continues to be the king. At this point I and all the other realists are screaming “TAKE THE DEAL”, the tea party and Erick look into the kings eye and say I bow to no one we will fight to the end hoorah.

chihank

in a big Red State like Texas.

The Esablishment likes to say we must tolerate RINOs in Blue states. But the Establishment insists on recruiting RINOs in Red states

Goldwater_Conservative

the movie trailer line to this episode would come as Straus’ hand is rejected and he looks out at the 300 warriors and then behind him the persian empire and then looks back at Erick and says “this is madness” and Erick responds “No, THIS IS REDSTATE!!!!”

Composer_Man

I live in State District 102, where we just booted lib Carol Kent for Stefani Carter. When I read Erick’s initial posts about this, I promptly sent her a message.

Yesterday, I finally received a response. Here is the relevant portion:

“As you may know, I along with more than 120 of 150 legislators, did pledge to Speaker Straus before anyone else entered the race. I take my commitment very seriously since it goes to the heart of my integrity. As you are very familiar, the situation with the Speaker’s race has become fluid, as there are now four legislators who have entered or exited the race. This is an interesting time.

“Earlier in the month, for example, I received emails saying I should support Rep. Chisum or Rep. Straus. I met with Rep. Chisum on Wednesday, November 10th for coffee here in Dallas. The very next day, Thursday, Rep Ken Paxton entered the race. The same people who on Wednesday, said support Warren Chisum were emailing me the next day saying, “Never mind, please support Rep. Paxton.” The actual vote for Speaker will take place when the 82nd Legislature convenes in January. A lot can happen between now and then. At the time I vote, I will absolutely take your concerns into consideration. Believe me, I hear what you are saying.”

Not really sure what all that means, but I guess we’ll find out. . .

Composer_Man

I live in State District 102, where we just booted lib Carol Kent for Stefani Carter. When I read Erick’s initial posts about this, I promptly sent her a message.

Yesterday, I finally received a response. Here is the relevant portion:

“As you may know, I along with more than 120 of 150 legislators, did pledge to Speaker Straus before anyone else entered the race. I take my commitment very seriously since it goes to the heart of my integrity. As you are very familiar, the situation with the Speaker’s race has become fluid, as there are now four legislators who have entered or exited the race. This is an interesting time.

“Earlier in the month, for example, I received emails saying I should support Rep. Chisum or Rep. Straus. I met with Rep. Chisum on Wednesday, November 10th for coffee here in Dallas. The very next day, Thursday, Rep Ken Paxton entered the race. The same people who on Wednesday, said support Warren Chisum were emailing me the next day saying, “Never mind, please support Rep. Paxton.” The actual vote for Speaker will take place when the 82nd Legislature convenes in January. A lot can happen between now and then. At the time I vote, I will absolutely take your concerns into consideration. Believe me, I hear what you are saying.”

Not really sure what all that means, but I guess we’ll find out. . .

http://stixblog.com Black River Wolf

pretty much all you spout off.

janis

Whom, we were told, was the only one who could beat Barrack H. Obama. Arlen Spector, Charley Crist, Mike Castle, Lisa Murkowski, etc.

All proven winners. Right. I’ll take Spartans for 300, Alex.

arnold1

Jerry McMoonbeam opened California to collective barganing decades ago and now we have a “brothel of environmentalists, lawyers, public-sector unions, and legislative bums” that convinced the brain-dead voters of this state to stem the tide of conservatism at the Sierra Nevada Range about 4 weeks ago. They even re-elected Barbara Boxer for cripes sake!(pardon me . . . “Senator” Boxer. “After all, General, I worked sooo hard for that title.”) Does Texas really want to be spoiled and ruined that bad? My God! Fight back, you people! Take no prisoners!

Goldwater_Conservative

if I’m wrong you can stone me.

Goldwater_Conservative

I was never a mccaniac. I was a FredHead, then a Guiliani man, then I unenthusiaticly went for John. Everyone keeps bring up Spector and Crist and go find a post where I ever said anything good about either one of those guys. I liked Rubio and I’m a longtime club for growther so I love Toomey. And if you want to bring up Castle and Murkowski I would only ask how did that turn out for you?

Goldwater_Conservative

That we dont like Palin? Well yeah, me her and over 50% of the american population. What else?

http://www.gmsplace.com/ civil_truth

…not because they were outnumbered.

This battle is still remembered some 2,500 years afterwards – by comparison, who remembers the others battles of that war.

And don’t forget that this stand bought the Greeks enough time to assemble their forces and ultimately defeat Xerxes.

Not a bad outcome for the Greeks – and civilization. “Realism” instead would have yielded slavery – and altered the entire course of world history, almost certainly not for the better if Greek civilization had been destroyed in the process.

Plus millions have been inspired by the example of the 300. Not a bad ultimate outcome either.

acat

Any district including Dallas should include enough outlying areas to make it balanced – sorta like a pie with Dallas in the center.

More non-native Texans in Dallas, eh?

Mew

http://www.gmsplace.com/ civil_truth

Read some of her interviews – and then there’s her book. And here’s the link to Leon’s definitive, excoriating review of her book, and by extension, Meghan.

http://newledger.com/2010/09/review-meghan-mccains-dirty-sexy-politics/

Let me leave it at that – Leon paints a very thorough portrait.

janis

have to stand up for what we believe, for what we see as the right thing to do, even if it means defeat at some point. To continue to allow those who want to compromise what we say we stand for is to give up our right to protest when we achieve nothing but loss, loss, and more loss of our vanishing ability to win back our freedoms.

Those Spartans wouldn’t be anything but an ignominious footnote to history had they accepted Xerxes’ offer to rule Greece under his domination. And we won’t be anything but the same if we allow half-measures when we need full-throated victory.

E Pluribus Unum

We handle our traitors and scumbags.

We’re gonna break Straus into portions and toss his parts into the Brazos river before this is done.

JSobieski

Not merely for making a stand.

The Spartan King picked the most narrow spot defensible spot in order to permit 300 men to hold off an army of thousands.

Had he picked any other spot, the 300 would have been quickly overcome and nobody would remember any of it.

Planning matters. So does good strategy. Hoplites were very hard to kill in close quarters. Given the terrain, it wasn’t possible for those in the rear of the Persian army to simply push those in the front . .. forward.

Did they lose because they were betrayed? Yes.

Were the remembered because they were effective? Yes

What made their last stand effective?

Attachment to a broad an important principle AND
being so effective in making a stand that even the Persians had to take note and be impressed.

ihateliberals

George Bush (both of them) are RINO’s. They have done nothing to support good conservatives and when they start attacking the Republican that was chosen in the primary process you can tell they have no respect for the people and their will. I have been a Republican all my adult life and i have never seen so much damage be done to the party as these people have inflicted. Even the Richard Nixon scandal did not damge the party as much as they have. Am I Tea Party? No I am pro-conservative. I want the Republican Party to return to the values that made it great before Bush started the downward trend. That downward trend lead us to Bill (I can’t keep my pants closed) Clinton. His son came along then an forced us to have Hussein Obama. The people of AZ disappointed me greatly when they chose to send McCain back to the Senate. What a waste of a Senate seat.

Menlo

Straus, being the arrogant elitist he is, has pulled out all the stops to promote himself. It would not surprise me if Goldwater_Conservative was working for Straus.

Sadly, he is correct that even with its Republican majority, the house is still way too liberal and devoted to the establishment elites to consider replacing him. Between the Democrats and his appointed committee chairs whose minds are made up, he’ll only need half a dozen or so “RINOs.” Either way, we’ll be in for a repeat of the same tactics seen in 2007 and 2009. The house is most certainly hopeless.

His suggestion that we can “work with” Straus is what shows me he is disingenuous. It is unrealistic on his part to believe that is possible, particularly with someone so arrogant as Straus.

Martin Knight

That leaves, at worst, 80 GOP’ers.

Please do go ahead and explain to me how, as you claim, this is an entirely hopeless venture.

PS: Use math.

Mike Ferguson

“All that is needed for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”

I know that that isn’t exactly right but it does give the general answer to your question. Sometimes you fight even though you know you can’t when, even though you know that you may be the next to fall, and even though it would be simpler to just give up.

Sometimes you fight because honor demands it. I know this is a dying ideal in todays society, but there are those of us who still believe in personal honor. If you don’t then that is fine, but don’t disparage those that do. Corruption is a form of Evil and Evil must be challanged regardless of the cost.

Its not a matter of “winning”, just like for those 300, it was a matter of honor and it was so that Greece would know that it needed to rise up and fight.

No you may not win, but you never know if you could win if you don’t fight. There have been many “hopeless” battles in history that went to the side that should not have won.

The 300 died so that Greece could live. If you got any point from that story other than that then you should probably rethink it.

Mike Ferguson

“All that is needed for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”

I know that that isn’t exactly right but it does give the general answer to your question. Sometimes you fight even though you know you can’t when, even though you know that you may be the next to fall, and even though it would be simpler to just give up.

Sometimes you fight because honor demands it. I know this is a dying ideal in todays society, but there are those of us who still believe in personal honor. If you don’t then that is fine, but don’t disparage those that do. Corruption is a form of Evil and Evil must be challanged regardless of the cost.

Its not a matter of “winning”, just like for those 300, it was a matter of honor and it was so that Greece would know that it needed to rise up and fight.

No you may not win, but you never know if you could win if you don’t fight. There have been many “hopeless” battles in history that went to the side that should not have won.

The 300 died so that Greece could live. If you got any point from that story other than that then you should probably rethink it.

uhangtight

Seems about ten years ago something strange was going on with the Texas legislature back then, too. Something about redistricting and the Dems ran across the border and hid in a sleazy hotel in Oklahoma. Not sure if I recall all the details true, but seems as though every ten years in Texas crazy stuff goes on when it comes to changing the districts. The corruption must stop whether they call themselves a R or a D, if they are hungry for power they must be gone.

eburke

against the Castle’s and Murkowski’s, then you never get the chance to get the Paul’s, Rubio’s and Toomey’s.

But to you ‘hindsight is 20-20′ sanctimonious, smartest guy in the room types (or, as I noted above, simply a concern troll), no battle that we’re not certain to win should ever be fought.

Your shctick, whether it be concern troll or faux conservative, is getting old and wearing thin. Deny all you wish, but your posting history over time betrays you.

Bill S

Either answer Martin’s question about how you think he can win, or get the heck out of the conversation. I’m beginning to agree with those who have fingered you as a concern troll, and that’s not good.

zornorph

They were unsuccessfully trying to foil Tom Delay’s mid-decade gerrymander. I have to say, had the Dems pulled a trick like Delay did, I would have screamed bloody murder. It was sleazy, but then so was Tom Delay. I don’t miss him and I continue to blame him more so than any single person for the losses in 2006 and 2008. The absolute worst kind of politician. He’s probably a supporter of Straus, too.

fpete13527

powertothepeople

and what I comprehend is that you are a coward who is unwilling to fight for anything. You want to take the easy road to everything even if the winner is a scumbag. You do not want anyone ruffling any feathers if it means we may not win. You do not want standards proclaimed if it may alienate a single vote. And this makes you a coward.

You are what God said would make him spew, a lukewarm nothing. Never willing to stand for what is right, but around enough to not be cold.

But it is OK, Bill is on your track and your nonsense will not continue for that much longer.

Now comprehend that!

powertothepeople

so you are safe!

Goldwater_Conservative

Has about 120 pledged supporters right now. Taylor and Chisim are working in the teens. The current speaker always has the upper hand so unless some major defections start to happen from the Straus card, he is going to win.

Goldwater_Conservative

I have said over and over again he is weak, he is unimpressive and he is not very conservative. But, he is an oportunist which is why he made deals with the Dems last time to get into power and why I think he would have been open to making some deals with the conservatives if they hadnt hit the nuke button first. Instead, Redstate and the tea party are going to do a “drive-by politickin” and cause a huge mess and after its all over the only ones that are going to suffer will be the guys that signed up with Chisim and Taylor.

Goldwater_Conservative

on this site as long as you have, and been a regular reader of it for even longer. Sometimes I agree with the “lets preform some RINOplasty” idea, sometimes I think its just pissing in the wind. And, oh dear Lord, I even express my thoughts on here even if it goes contrary to the koolaid express.

texasgalt

that at this point in November 2008, nobody had even heard of the one term nobody RINO Straus and Speaker Tom Craddick had nearly everybody “committed” to him.

Paxton may very well win. These Texas reps aren’t all stupid. They are trying to gage Paxton’s chances and it is still kinda early. They don’t want to come out real strong, early and find they are one of 25 R’s that are suddenly radioactive politically should Straus’s support stay solid.

So far, about 20 reps, mostly freshman (less to lose) have come out in support of Paxton. The names on Straus’s list don’t mean that much if conservative Texans weigh in loudly on this.

texasgalt

She’ll jump from Straus if she can do it without a high probability of being ground to dust by the RINO Speaker. That’s probably about the best you could have hoped to hear.

It’s still early. If it comes undone for Straus it could happen very fast. His real support is thin.

texasgalt

Texas has a near supermajority of Republicans and they will control redistricting.

Texas is not going to become California.

texasgalt

today over nonsense and yet we had a virtual coup two years ago to put Straus in as Speaker . . . and that and his questionable actions of late seem to be just fine with way too many.

seattlebruce

Let’s get the DoJ right on this….oh……………..
Sorry state of affairs we’re in, isn’t it?

Goldwater_Conservative

you are projecting again with all kinds of thoughts, feelings, words, and ideals I never said. And when God said you are lukewarm He was reffering to those who simply never took a stand for or against Him. That doesnt appy to the Joe Straus speaker challenge.

powertothepeople

Those who stood for him would be hot and the cold are the ones who have completely stopped acting like his people. The lukewarm ones are the wishy washy ones who are neither strong in him or so unlike him no one can say they have a faith.

You are lukewarm republican. You talk just enough of a game that people would guess you were repub but then are so unwilling to take any kind of real stand you just have no real repub side. You have been spewing the do not do what is right we will not win that way nonsense for months now and it is a cowards path. Winning is the thing we all want, but doing what is right is always the better option.

It does not take a smart man to see Strauss has to be fought, win or lose. You just are so cowardly you do not even have the guts to type lets fight him. Thank God you are not in politics as you would be too weak to take any stands if everyone was not for them.

Hence you are the vomit inducing lukewarm type of person.

Goldwater_Conservative

I am actually in politics, at the very local level like Erick. Certianly, even among those that dont like me, the one thing no one will say down here is I’m afraid to take a controversial stand. I have also been involved with the GOP in my local level for a very long time, including working for my congressman whom I’m proud of Joe Barton (is he a RINO too). But the difference between me and you, is that I have, through the years, learned (sometimes in a very painfull way) that not all fights are worth the fight. Sometimes you have to see what unintended consequences you are going to produce and those may be too great.

brutusbanquo

Liberal elitism? You have officially jumped the shark Mr. Erickson. It’s hard to play Texas inside baseball from Georgia.

Martin Knight

Interesting way of saying you were all in for Crist and Specter because they were more “electable” …

Look, if the Rubio saga taught us anything (from over 50 points down and millions of dollars behind in the Primary against a candidate the entire establishment had fallen behind to a 19 point victory at the polls in November), it is that nothing ventured nothing gained.

The Senate races in NV, DE and AK all have their lessons to teach, but it’s certainly not to be more risk-averse.

godot

George Bush (both of them) are RINO?s. They have done nothing to support good conservatives

Bush 43 nominated Roberts then Alito to the SC (with the Meyers incident sandwiched in between), and Roberts to Chief Justice. These were arguably the two biggest decisions of his 8 years that involved political ideology. On this test, the test that will possibly/likely have the largest influence over time on all our lives, Bush passed.

I would like to hear of the qualified candidates you would have preferred over these two conservative lions. (Personally I like Alex Kozinski but he would never have made it).

For your quoted claim to be true, you should be able to come up with two better and qualified candidates quickly, off the top of your head. If not, then the inescapable conclusion is that your stated opinion had no basis in fact.

godot

Steph –

At least you got a response. I cant even get that much. I think alot of folks are playing things close to the vest ti see how this plays out. If they publicly oppose Straus and he wins then they are probably concerned with retribution. And, based upon what I have read, this fear does not seem unreasonable.

Still, I do wish the conservatives would get their act together. With such an overwhelming majority, they should be able to take control. It seems lke this has not fully dawned on them. Yet. Hopefully, at least one person up there is good at math and will draw it on a chalkboard for the rest of them

godot

The situation for unions in Texas is like that through much of the southern states. It is nothing like what exists in California or Michigan or Illinois.

My worry, instead, is that with all the in-migration from places like Cal, Mich and Ill that those people will vote the same dumb way they voted in their former places of residence which gave them the horrible state governments that they are now running away from.

I usually think of these places when I watch zombie movies. Dont let the zombies come to Texas!

acat

I do hope Southerners have a good indoctrination program ready to go… y’all are gonna need it!

(and y’all may want to consider redrawing district lines to ensure a minority-yankee vote for the time being – especially in Texas!)

Mew

godot

Look, facts are facts –

Straus got to the magic number with the support of 65 Democrats and just 11 Republicans (probably the 11 most liberal Reps)

He appointed the liberal Brian McCall to the 2nd most powerful House position — Chair of Calendars. McCall then used that position to block several conservative out of the legislative process.

Straus also appointed Democrat Rene Oliveira to chair the powerful House Ways and Means Committee.

Read more: http://society.ezinemark.com/texas-declares-rino-season-open-on-joe-straus-31b6bec5849.html#ixzz16KD7VOdE
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution No Derivatives

cactusjack

That big D is the biggest town in Texas? It is always an interesting moment when particularly Californians or New Yorkers (during business presentations, meetings, etc. which I have attended) are confronted with the factoid that now three of America’s 10 largest cities are in TX, Houston(Harris County) is the biggest, and is on track to dislodge Chicago as #3 within a decade I hear (the 0s rececssion is helping greatly) Not that that’s necessarily a good thing, ask Utah and AZ what it has been like to be “discovered ” by California these last 20 years. The infrastructure and population accumulating in Texas now does indeed present special problems in how to keep the place turning purple but redistricting one of the three huge SMSAs here now is just one piece of the puzzle.

cactusjack

rememberthealamo

The Castle part turned out “good” in that Coons is a real Democrat. Castle would have held the seat as a Democrat in Republican “clothing”. Now we can run a real Republican against Coons rather that get stuck with a fake Repub incumbant.

rememberthealamo

I hope you got that book from the library and didn’t put money in ME-ghan’s pocket. If she’s the future leadership of our party, we need a lobotomy.

http://www.gmsplace.com/ civil_truth

Leon performed that painful duty and terminated that book with extreme prejudice, sparing me from even considering reading the book.

acat

… were from a friend whose company was trying to get him to relocate to Dallas from Chicago. “More non-native Texans than native Texans in Dallas”, and “more restaurants per capita in Dallas” were the two memorable ones. Right up there with “more Poles in Chicago than Warsaw” …

The point being if y’all want to remain a Red State, y’all gotta have some sort of way to indoctrinate the n00bs – especially the ones from Illinois and Cali.

That’s my premise, and I hope y’all can pull it off.

Mew

cactusjack

sidelines of Cowboy games wearing a Fedora and Brooks Brothers blazer, Northeasterners figured “hmmm, Dallas must be where the civilized people who don’t wear buckskin and eat their young must live in that empty wilderness, if I have to go there I’ll go to Dallas”There are two conservatives in TX are hoping will dissuade that inborn trait to pull the D lever the Michiganders and Californians have, once’t they get here. 1) No state income tax. If they stay long enough to wear out a pair of shoes, 90% decide they reall, really like it, that being “conservative” in that respect does not cause lightning to hit them or their skin to go leprous (same effect NYers and NJers who move to FL). 2) by state law public school children are required to be taught Texas history during two years of grade school and one of middle school . Their parents may not get the big deal about the Alamo and sacrificing for freedom, but *we have their children* (nya ha ha ha ha) and most of them will stay on to the next generation and put down roots. Four more Congressional districts to be added this year after census. And so it goes.

acat

Illinois school kids are taught some lies about Lincoln, and next to nothing else of state history…

Hope this works out well for Texas – just be careful of “creeping socialism” by way of increases in social services.

Mew

cactusjack

Formerly red swaths turned distinctly purplish and the land of Goldwater became the land of McCain. We shall see over time.

http://impudent.edublogs.org/ kyle8

Lefty Californians moving to nearby states after they screwed the economy of their own state?

http://impudent.edublogs.org/ kyle8

Lefty Californians moving to nearby states after they screwed the economy of their own state?

http://908StraightSt.wordpress.com/ mbecker908

Californians, folks from Chicago and the Mexican mafia. In addition, outside of the metro Phoenix, northern AZ is and always has been a whole lot more libertarian than Republican or “conservative”. That’s a Goldwater legacy, in today’s terms, Goldwater – in his prime – would be considered a libertarian.

http://www.examiner.com/x-1597-Charlotte-Law--Politics-Examiner Mike gamecock DeVine

start voting conservative rather than to ruin their new state the same way they ruined those they left.

http://www.examiner.com/x-1597-Charlotte-Law--Politics-Examiner Mike gamecock DeVine

acat

i.e. people move from where there’s no opportunity (Cali, Illinois) to where there is more opportunity (Texas, Arizona, Utah) and .. instead of looking into why there’s more opportunity, they instead try to vote themselves the same bread and circuses they had formerly enjoyed.

This is why I mentioned that when Texas redistricts, they’d do very well to dilute the number of migrant yankees per district to prevent going excessively purple and losing exactly what makes ‘em successful.

Mew

http://908StraightSt.wordpress.com/ mbecker908

got Governor Brewer.

Menlo

The biggest relative population increase (in the whole nation actually) is right up here in Ken Paxton’s district. Despite a nearly sixfold increase in population in 20 years, there has been little change of candidates or election results anywhere in the county. Most of these people drive a very long way to the Dallas area to work.

acat

keep on keepin’ on.

Mew

http://www.examiner.com/x-1597-Charlotte-Law--Politics-Examiner Mike gamecock DeVine

I suspect that 2012 will see a further move right all across the country in races that weren’t up in 2010.

http://908StraightSt.wordpress.com/ mbecker908

And Brewer will most likely do significantly more damage to life long term in AZ than your Dem will do to you.

I’m not saying I’d trade, just sayin’. The real problem was when BO took Nappy away from us. If she’d stayed, we’d likely be in much better shape. The Republican majorities in the Legislature might have cut the last budget a whole lot more significantly than they did and we wouldn’t have even had Brewer on the top of the ballot in November.

http://www.examiner.com/x-1597-Charlotte-Law--Politics-Examiner Mike gamecock DeVine

for that reason as I think a Dem gov would have made the GOP in the state house be more conservative rather than having the Bush-DeLay effect.

I do find it telling that you pine for Big Sis as the comparison! I totally get it. One can be good in one job and not another.

less later…smile

RS

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