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EDITOR OF REDSTATE

Will The People of Texas Fold or Fight For Conservatives?

By: Erick Erickson (Diary)  |  January 7th, 2011 at 05:00 AM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

People of Texas, I put this post as the first post of the day at RedState and at the top of my Morning Briefing because I cannot emphasize just how important it is.

The long term future of conservatism and federalism is in your hands today. You will either hurt us as a nation or help us as a nation. Yes, there is a monumental issue before your State House of Representatives and you must get on the phones today to help us all.

On Monday, House Republicans in Texas will decide between Joe Straus and Ken Paxton as their choice for Speaker of the Texas House.

Ken Paxton is a clear conservative who will fight for states’ rights, strong federalism, and conservative values and policy.

Joe Straus is, at best, an opportunist and at worse a Democrat. Straus became the Speaker of a Republican State House with the votes of a united Democratic caucus and 11 Republicans.

This year, Joe Straus has worked overtime to elect liberal Democrats to the State House. His candidates were rejected by the voters.

Now you must put the fear of the Almighty and Living God in your State Representative that if he dare vote for Joe Straus for Speaker of the House, or any other candidate put up to steal votes from Ken Paxton, you will primary his sorry butt out of office.

With redistricting, the fight over Obamacare, and the fight between Washington and the states all at stake, there is a lot riding on choice between Ken Paxton and Joe Straus. One will assist Rick Perry and his fight against the feds. The other will undermine him.

Go here. Get on the phone. Call your State Representative. Tell him to vote for Ken Paxton or get ready to be primaried in the next election.

Below the fold, if you have any doubts, I have a review for just why this is so vitally important not just for Texas, but for the whole country.

If there is one thing that is a given in politics, it is this. Conservatives know how to win elections and they won big on November 2, 2010. There are few places where they won as big as they did in Texas. Coming into November 2nd, Republicans held the Texas House narrowly, 76-74. That margin increased dramatically in November 2nd and in the days to follow. With a margin of 101-49, Republicans now have a commanding margin in the Texas House. Better yet, a solid majority are conservative.

What conservatives have traditionally not been good at is winning the intra-party elections that decide important chairmanships and legislative agendas. I hope that is about to change and I hope Texas leads the way.

If you haven’t been paying attention to what is going on in Texas, here’s a quick refresher.

In 2009, with the support of 65 Democrats and only 11 Republicans, Republican (in name only) Joe Straus was elected Speaker of the Texas House. I would take the time to rattle off all of Joe Straus’ liberal bone fides, but they are legion. However, there are a few worth noting. On top of appointing 20 Democrats as committee chairmen in 2009,

  • Joe Straus voted to make it easier to perform third-trimester abortions (SB 419, vote 672 in 2005).
  • Joe Straus supported a Planned Parenthood, NARAL and ACLU-supported sex education bill by co-authoring HB 1842 in 2007.
  • Joe Straus co-authored HB 2704 in 2007 that would have legalized embryonic stem cell research and human cloning.
  • A Joe Straus appointed chairman killed a very popular Voter ID bill that had already passed the Texas Senate.
  • In 2010, while Speaker Straus joined with Democrat John Sharp to host a fundraiser for Democrat incumbent Patrick Rose to defeat conservative Republican challenger Jason Isaac (Rose went on to lose the race),
  • Straus lieutenants gave large contributions to Parent PAC, which spent $1M targeting conservatives in the Texas House and on the State Board of Education.

In addition to the above, Straus had a lieutenant threaten solid conservatives like Erwin Cain and others with redistricting if they did not pledge their support to Straus in the upcoming leadership election.

I promise you, there are more political skeletons in Joe Straus’ closet. But I do not have the time or space to list them all.

Running against Joe Straus is Ken Paxton. As has been noted before, if the tea party movement could build the perfect elected official from the ground up, it would come out acting a lot like Ken Paxton. Fiscally and socially conservative, Ken Paxton has consistently and tirelessly worked for the conservative movement in the trenches of the Texas State House. He has a proven track record of conservatism and I can only expect more of the same from him if he were to win the Speakership. With the recent tidal wave of conservatives winning on November 2nd, they deserve conservative leadership.

I also want to remind folks that Texas is getting 4 new federal House seats due to the new census. Texans, do you really want a man like Joe Straus in charge of drawing the lines for the new districts, a man who has shown himself more friendly to Democrats than Republicans?

Ken Paxton is going to need your help to win the Speaker election this upcoming Tuesday, January 11th. Joe Straus and his team are working hard to hold onto the Speakership. Call your state Representative today via our action center.

If you are in Texas, dig in and help Ken Paxton. He can win with your help.

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COMMENTS

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  • trutexan

    there’s no way in Hades my Rep is NOT going to vote for him. My rep’s father was one of the 11 R’s who voted against Craddick and got Straus elected. All he had to do was use all of dear departed dad’s signs to plaster all over the place to get elected. And he won in a landslide. So I need all the ammo I can get to change up the good-ol-boy system in my district. It’s going to be a tough fight but I’m up for it.

    I struggled to figure out how to do this and Glenn Beck gave me the answer. The 40 Day Challenge. Previously, I had not been active in my local church – so I started going. And I’m going to continue to attend so I become a familiar face, I’m going to get active in community events and I’m going to make sure that the people with influence in my little town know exactly who Straus is and how he got there. By next election cycle, I’ll make sure that those with influence around here won’t let John Kuemple put his sign in their business parking lot or hang it on the feed store fence. His dad only won by a margin and if Straus is elected again, I’ll be sure to point out all the damaging liberal things he does in his next term. If John Kuemple runs and wins a second time, it won’t be for a lack of trying I can promise you that.

  • trutexan

    His dad didn’t win by a margin – he was the only R on the ballot. I was thinking of another race. Apologies.

  • ithos

    How can he sit idly by and watch a Democrat become speaker of the Texas House? I can’t believe that he has no ability to impact this vote. He was squishy on amnesty and is being silent on this crucial selection. Is he just another opportunistic politician? So far it looks like he is.

  • cardcarryingmom

    I will call several other representative offices, like in Dallas and Harris counties, instead!

  • colonelfannin

    He also voted against Ronald Reagan and supported Al Gore for President and led Texans for Al Gore. He’s a pragmatist and an opportunist but more than anything else, he.s a really good politician who may well be the next president.

  • bornfreeamerican

    I contacted Angie Chen Button yesterday and her chief of staff Amanda Jeffers told me that she still plans on voting for Straus!!!! I told her that I would work diligently against her and for her opponent next voting cycle! This is her reply:
    Thank you for your e-mails concerning the Speaker of the House. Representative Button plans to support Speaker Straus when the 82nd legislature convenes. She feels that he is the best candidate to ensure the legislature passes a balanced budget without raising taxes, strong illegal immigration legislation, and voter ID legislation along with many other conservative initiatives. I would love the opportunity to discuss the matter with you and to address any concerns you may have. I can be reached at the number below at your convenience.

  • bornfreeamerican

    I contacted Angie Chen Button yesterday and her chief of staff Amanda Jeffers told me that she still plans on voting for Straus!!!! I told her that I would work diligently against her and for her opponent next voting cycle! This is her reply:
    Thank you for your e-mails concerning the Speaker of the House. Representative Button plans to support Speaker Straus when the 82nd legislature convenes. She feels that he is the best candidate to ensure the legislature passes a balanced budget without raising taxes, strong illegal immigration legislation, and voter ID legislation along with many other conservative initiatives. I would love the opportunity to discuss the matter with you and to address any concerns you may have. I can be reached at the number below at your convenience.

  • bornfreeamerican

    Angie Chen’s Phone Number is:
    Amanda Jeffers

    Chief of Staff
    Representative Angie Chen Button
    (512) 463-0486

  • bornfreeamerican

    Angie Chen’s Phone Number is:
    Amanda Jeffers

    Chief of Staff
    Representative Angie Chen Button
    (512) 463-0486

  • southernpatriots

    Texans have always been leaders, bold and courageous. It is not bold, nor courageous to vote for a flim flam Democrat supporter. It is courageous to vote for a true conservative who will help Texas lead the country in a political revolution! Go Texas! Go Conservatives!

  • edintexas

    This must be the “boiler plate” being used for responding to those of us who inform our reps we oppose Straus. A while back I received much of the same language when my e-Mail and phone call to Lance Gooden’s (House District 4) Primary Election website provided address/number finally generated an e-Mail response.

    I don’t know where Gooden stands, the Tea Party website list may not have been updated. But I suspect he’s relying on the electorate being asleep and still “pledges” to Straus,

  • michaelo

    The ‘Austin machine’ is about to pay a terrible price- for the sake of one man! Is Straus REALLY worth all the millions their buddies will have to spend to fend off all the primary challenges they will face in scores of seats? is he worth the elevated visibility their backroom actions will face for a long time because of this. the loss of an army of grassroots volunteers who will now work against their interests? Even the Austin Machine admits Paxton ‘plays well with others’

    Only extreme arrogance prevents them from seeing the cost of having their way on this one is way higher than the benefit gained from Straus (except maybe to true liberals). They are engendering an Obamacare-level backlash and are trying to shrug it off as just a handful. Even when unprecedented numbers of people are communicating with reps and showing up at their offices.

  • bornfreeamerican

    In Angie Chen’s Button’s case when the grassroots showed up at her door, they found a note on it,”Sorry we missed you.” Pure arrogance! That is like flipping us off Angie!!!

  • bornfreeamerican

    In Angie Chen’s Button’s case when the grassroots showed up at her door, they found a note on it,”Sorry we missed you.” Pure arrogance! That is like flipping us off Angie!!!

  • bobtx

    I don’t think he was at all for Gore. He was Lt Gov. at the time and would step right into the governor’s mansion with Bush’s election. I saw no evidence of him supporting Gore. He may be a bit of a RINO, but he’s not crazy!

  • hungarianfalcon

    is hanging tough w/Straus. We had a couple noteworthy Dems. in county races go down in Nov. and I new some people that couldn’t support the moderates any more regardless of what they had done on an individual basis. In other words, your either part of the problem or part of the solution.

    HF

  • honestlefty

    Larry Phillips. There isn’t much chance that he will vote for anyone but Straus.

  • honestlefty

    Larry Phillips. There isn’t much chance that he will vote for anyone but Straus.

  • s_cook2010

    All of the attacks against Mr. Straus are ridiculous. He is a solid leader and has done a great deal of good for this state. Simply because a few do not feel he is “conservative” enough, does not mean the MAJORITY of Texans do not support Mr. Straus. And I am proud of all those who have refused to allow the minority “threaten” them into voting for someone they know is less qualified to serve as Speaker. Just because someone yells the loudest, does not mean they are right.

  • audax
  • edintexas

    Please wait for the Red State site to update your input. I’m making the assumption that you are consistently double posting because you submit a comment and then don’t see the web page update promptly. RS sometimes runs quite slow (usually in the morning – there’s a suprise – the Morning Update is most busy in the morning). If you wait a while, you will find the comment posts and you do not have to “hit” submit twice.

    OTOH, if you just like double posting – knock yourself out.

  • edintexas

    My guess is he’s a staffer for one of the few remaining Dems.

  • http://jhpruitt.blogtownhall.com/ kipling

    Called the Hunter office again this morning to firmly ask for a committment. Both offices are not answering their phones so I left my name and number after urging hiim to vote for Ken Paxton.

    Here is my promise to Todd Hunter.

    If you vote for Joe Straus, I will support a primary opponent against you. If no one else runs, I will primary you. Between now and then, every piece of conservative legislation that Straus kills in committee and every piece of liberal legislation that Straus advances will be on your head and I will see that you get credit for it.

    Mr. Hunter will find it hard to get re-elected in a heavily Catholic district if he supports the extremely pro-abortion Joe Straus.

  • http://jhpruitt.blogtownhall.com/ kipling

    Called the Hunter office again this morning to firmly ask for a committment. Both offices are not answering their phones so I left my name and number after urging hiim to vote for Ken Paxton.

    Here is my promise to Todd Hunter.

    If you vote for Joe Straus, I will support a primary opponent against you. If no one else runs, I will primary you. Between now and then, every piece of conservative legislation that Straus kills in committee and every piece of liberal legislation that Straus advances will be on your head and I will see that you get credit for it.

    Mr. Hunter will find it hard to get re-elected in a heavily Catholic district if he supports the extremely pro-abortion Joe Straus.

  • barry915barry
  • barry915barry

    Don’t forget to familiarize yourself with the posting rules regarding disclosure. Barry

  • IJB
  • vandalii

    My representative, Dr. Charles Schwerter, replaces Dan Gattis in District 20 but is not listed and the phone number previously Mr. Gattis’ is now disconnected so the tool provided does not have a working number to give out. It appears our wheels turn slowly here to update information (yeah, I know it’s only 7-Jan, but…). In addition, there isn’t a listing for the main operator on the TX House of Representatives website so kinda tough to get in and find this stuff :-( . I’m pretty sure I know how Dr. Schwertner will vote, but would’ve been nice to confirm.

    I wonder is speaker Strauss had the admins on slow-down … maybe he works for the same folks as the NYC snow plow operators…

  • miroco

    Would call my rep to make him vote for Paxton—But Oops, my rep IS Paxton, he has been around for a while and has been conservative the whole time. The time for compromise and getting along is past, Texas is about the best place to prove we on the right have been RIGHT all these decades. Send Strauss to Maine or somewhere, he will fit right in with the other rino’s

  • Empiricist

    Doug Miller TX-73 NW of San Antonio (Boerne, Fredericksberg, New Braunfels)
    Call him +18306251313
    He is staying with Strauss, even though an unknown barely funded c-libertarian got >15% in the Nov general. 2nd term in Deep red district+vote for Rino=Primary loss in ’12. Having his sister-in-law counting the late returns in his Gillespie County stronghold won’t save him like it did in ’08 when he won his primary by <100 votes.

  • Empiricist

    Doug Miller TX-73 NW of San Antonio (Boerne, Fredericksberg, New Braunfels)
    Call him +18306251313
    He is staying with Strauss, even though an unknown c-libertarian got >15% in the Nov general. 2nd term in Deep red district+vote for Rino=Primary loss in ’12. Having his sister in law counting the late returns in his Gillespie County stronghold won’t save him like it did in ’08 when he won his primary by <100 votes.

  • riverking

    I called several precinct chairs in another district. Maybe changed a coujple of minds and got them to contact their representative.

  • ronlsb

    I’ve contacted my new rep, Barbara Nash, and discovered Strauss had gotten to her right after the election. She committed to him and won’t even consider She considers it a real positive that Strauss likes to work with democrats. I’ve e-mailed and called her and no longer get any response. She’s bucking her constiuents on this andshe knows it but quite simply doesn’t really care. I can only conclude if this behavior continues the Tea Party will raise up a candidate against her in the next cycle. This kind of get along and go along politics is no longer acceptable, especially in Texas!

  • ronlsb

    I’ve contacted my new rep, Barbara Nash, and discovered Strauss had gotten to her right after the election. She committed to him and won’t even consider She considers it a real positive that Strauss likes to work with democrats. I’ve e-mailed and called her and no longer get any response. She’s bucking her constiuents on this andshe knows it but quite simply doesn’t really care. I can only conclude if this behavior continues the Tea Party will raise up a candidate against her in the next cycle. This kind of get along and go along politics is no longer acceptable, especially in Texas!

  • Empiricist

    I am *not* on IE8 (on blackberry device)
    First post errored claiming it was a duplicate, so I posted again. It isn’t always the browser you hate… Sometimes it’s the server.

  • sarg01

    I’ve not been able to find any method of contacting her. I left a voicemail with her campaign phone number a few weeks ago but never heard back. No idea if it’s even being listened to.

    I do know she put an announcement back in November opposing attacks on Straus’ faith, but that’s not technically the same thing as supporting him.

    She only won by 700 votes, I believe the closest margin in the state, so might be amenable to public concerns … if we can figure out a way to reach her.

  • MojoMan

    I have just been surprised to discover the Beverly Woolley, Texas House Representative from West Houston (Memorial, Spring Branch, Galleria areas) is planning to vote for Joe Straus. I discovered this in an article published by local Fox TV on their website, which is quoted and linked as follows:

    Straus Fighting Conservative Wave to Keep Seat

    AUSTIN, Texas (AP) ? Republican Rep. Beverley Woolley has heard the threats and seen the television ads warning her that supporting Joe Straus for speaker of the Texas House could cost her re-election.

    Still, she’s standing by him.

    “I’ve got broad shoulders,” she joked, acknowledging the barrage of attacks from conservative groups.

    Woolley, who last month pledged to support the speaker, has been on the receiving end of a grassroots, conservative effort to oust Straus. Activists claim he is too moderate for the newly minted GOP supermajority in the House.

    http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/news/politics/110106-TXTexas-Speaker_28328767

    I am shocked and appalled. I wrote Beverley a letter a few months ago on this topic and now I have written another one today, the text of which I have included below:

    Beverly,

    I have just read an article published by local TV station KRIV (Fox 26) here in Houston, quoted below with a link at the bottom of the page, that appears to indicate you are boldly intending to support Joe Straus for Texas Speaker of the House. Is that right? Really?

    This is a mistake, Beverly. You need to vote for Ken Paxton.

    I voted for you in November, but I swear if you cast this vote in support of Straus, I will never vote for you for any office ever again. Not only that, I will actively support your opponents and actively oppose you in any political effort that you attempt going forward. And I know there are a great many of your other constituents that feel the same way.

    Do you take note of what happened to most of the Blue Dog Democrats who voted for Obamacare in the November elections? They got tossed out of office for defying the will of their constituents. Now you are positioning yourself as a Blue Dog Republican in a conservative Houston District. Just as the Congressional Blue Dog Democrats found their “broad shoulders” were not as broad as they originally thought, you may be setting yourself up for a similar experience based on how you handle this one vote.

    This is your Obamacare vote, Beverly. Be careful and choose wisely here. Surely you do not want to end your political career be mishandling this one vote. Do you? Please do not vote for Straus. Vote for Ken Paxton. And remember the Blue Dog Democrats who voted for Obamacare. Your shoulders may not be quite as broad as you think.

    Here is the quote from the article:

    (See above)

    Here is a link to Beverly Woolley’s information and contact page on the Texas Legislature website, for anyone who wants to contact her about this:

    http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/member-page/?district=136

    I voted for Beverly Woolley in November. If she votes for Joe Straus to be Texas Speaker of the House, I will not vote for her for anything ever again. I am really disappointed to see her acting like this. I hope she will reconsider.

  • earlgrey

    I don’t know what it isl, but we seem to have a lot of similarities at least in my opinion.

    I am really distressed by this, and I would like to see us win something. If we can make one state a flagship for conservative reform, than that would be a powerful thing. TX seemed to be the best choice. I hate seeing so many R’s do this to their own party, to the people that elected them. I don’t think any state had more tea party power than TX.

    The question I have is do these “leaders’ think the tea party/conservative movement is a flash in the pan, and is not going to haunt them next election. I don’t think that is true. I have been permanently changed and I am sure I am not the only one. Activists born in these past couple of years will not just go away.

    My prayers are with the state of TX today.

  • audax

    …now I know why. If she does this vote for Straus I want her to get a primary opponent ASAP, they’ll have two years to hold her feet to the fire and campaign.

  • MojoMan

    It looks like Beverly Woolley is avoiding her constituents on this matter. I tried to call her several times at her offices both in Houston and in Austin, and all I got was message machines at both location. I finally left a reasonably lengthy message in Austin to go along with my email that I sent earlier.

    She apparently thinks she has “broad shoulders,” and therefore does not need to bother with how the people of her district want her to vote on this. Really now.

    Here is another article in the Houston Chronicle that discusses the beginning of an organized opposition to Beverly if she votes the wrong way here:

    Two Straus GOP Supporters Targeted

    Some conservative groups are unhappy that Rep. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham. and Rep. Beverly Woolley, R-Houston, are supporting the re-election of House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio.

    Some organizations contend Straus is not conservative enough.

    Responding to the support for Straus from Kolkhorst and Woolley, Women on the Wall has released the new Houston version of their current ad campaign — Fall of the RINOS — Texas House “Speaker Showdown” TV ad which is featured on You Tube at the STOPJOE.INFO channel.

    The Houston version of the “Speaker Showdown” ad will air in key Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth districts before Tuesday’s vote for House Speaker.

    “It is truly amazing that these two legislators have decided to thumb their noses at the grassroots who overwhelmingly support a change in House leadership,” said Rebecca Forest, co-founder and president of Women on the Wall. “No matter what their conservative ratings have been in the past, if they vote for Straus they will face a well funded challenger in the 2012 Republican primary.”

    Heritage Alliance recently conducted a poll of 28,980 Republican primary voters in 77 GOP-held Texas House districts and found that nearly 90 percent of the respondents wanted a more conservative speaker than Straus.

    “For starters, neither Kolkhorst nor Woolley are dyed in the wool conservatives in the same vein as Ken Paxton,” said Forest “and anyone who suggests either of these women are the ‘Tea Party Queens’ of Texas misrepresent the truth – pure and simple.”

    http://blogs.chron.com/texaspolitics/archives/2011/01/two_straus_gop.html?

  • audax

    …I just left messages at both the offices, wish I were home in Texas right now as her office on Augusta is just a few blocks from my house. How fast can the TEA party people put up a primary apponent after Tuesday I wonder?

  • MF

    Several have documented that other browsers such as FireFox also can double post at times. Plus, for some it’s not an option to install another browser.

  • MF

    Several have documented that other browsers such as FireFox also can double post at times. Plus, for some it’s not an option to install another browser.

  • sbo6220

    some of the representatives? We may not be able to vote against a RINO in Texas, but we sure can financially support the RINOs opponent in his next election. That was very successful last Nov., and it could be again.

    Texans….give us some idea of who best to target calls, tweets, or emails to. Let’s create an even larger flood on your RINOs! What do you think?

  • sbo6220

    I just posted that we all should flood the Texas Rinos with calls, emails, or tweets! We can emphasize the importance of listening to the conservatives nationwide, and our financial power for their opponents the next time they run for election, especially if they have higher ambitions than their current seat.

  • earlgrey

    to local TX tea party groups to remove these traitors from office. Make the local tea party stronger and that could have an effect. I realize there is very little time, but working through the local tea parites in some way might make more of an impact.

  • earlgrey

    that we should go through tea parties in TX, but I don’t know that I have the best answer on this. If any Texans want to help us with some numbers, we can get some calls going.

  • michaelo

    If you work in another’s district, donated to their election, walked for their campaign – call.

  • leisureal

    I am distressed to see Barbara Nash is still “commited” to Straus. I belong to the same 912 group who really got her elected-now she is repaying us by standing with Strauss. We have sent her much info., but she refuses to budge-like Kelly Hancock.
    I wonder what kind of a deal Struass has offered them?They had better wake up , because they will be voted out in 2012. They both have many, many of their constituents very upset and willing to vote them out.
    WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE “OLD FASHIONED” FOLLOW THE
    WISHES OF THE PEOPLE WHO ELECTED YOU” OH, WHAT A NOVEL IDEA!

  • http://www.theprecinctproject.wordpress.com ColdWarrior

    where the caller can say, truthfully, one of the following:

    I am a conservative Republican elected precinct delegate and if you support and vote for Joe Straus as speaker I will recruit as many other conservatives as possible where I live and across Texas to become elected precinct delegates and attempt to retire you from your current elected public servant position

    or

    I am not yet an elected conservative Republican precinct delegate but I am going to do everything in my power to become one and if you support and vote for Joe Straus as speaker I will recruit as many other conservatives as possible where I live and across Texas to become elected precinct delegates and attempt to retire you from your current elected public servant position.

    Go here, conservative Texan Republicans, to learn more:

    http://staging.electionmall.ws/texasgopsite/inner.asp?z=2

    Thank you.

    For Liberty,

    ColdWarrior

  • michaelo

    Lot’s of canned boiler plate coming out of Straus’s camp. From responses from Reps, to posted comments. The thinking people are the ones in the other camp; their responses are highly varied (have more talking points that don’t look downright silly on paper).

  • profnickd67

    Perry was a Democrat in the 1980s — he supported Gore for President in the ’88 Democratic primaries. Perry became a Republican in ’89 and was elected as Texas’ 1st GOP lieutenant governor in 1998. He certainly didn’t support Gore in ’00.

  • rwtimm

    said on 1/3/10 at the Polk County Rep meeting that he supported Joe Strauss. All the bad press is nothing but a smear campaign and he is a conservative.

    Needless to say, he got sent a nasty email a little while ago. Reminded him of Newton’s Law, for every action there is a reaction (elections)