Rick wins Texan of the Year... from his nemesis the Dallas Morning News...

Rick takes first place in the Dallas newspaper's Texan of the Year ranking (link). Excerpt follows...

           "A Texan (or Texans) who has had uncommon impact; who exemplifies Texas traits of trailblazing, independence and staring down adversity; and who has affected or influenced lives.

"Recognition is for impact – positive or negative – made over the past year."

THE 2010 FINALISTS

1. Rick Perry: Texas governor still unbeaten

2. Ron Washington: Underdog Texas Rangers manager

3. Kelly Siegler: Prosecutor behind death row exoneration

4. Ed Whitacre: Leader of GM turnaround

5. Border heroes: Volunteers who brave Juárez's violence

6. Greg Hall: Key to Chilean mine rescue

7. Dick Armey: Tea party's master tactician

8. Jennifer Smith: Crusader against distracted driving

9. Amy Chyao: Phenom science student

10. Joel Burns: Fort Worth City Council member

PAST WINNERS

2009: The heroes of Fort Hood

2008: Craig Watkins

2 007: The Illegal Immigrant

2006 : Roy Velez

2005: Houston

2004: Karl Rove

2003: George W. Bush

Look at some of those cop outs they have had in the past... Houston for example...

Do you think Rick knows about this "honor" or even cares?

Prominent Hispanic Republican group praises Rick, bashes Palin...

Rick has made some friends in the Hispanic Republican community (link). Excerpt follows...

A grass-roots group of Latino Republicans who oppose Arizona-style immigration laws is establishing a foothold in Iowa and wants to influence the GOP's presidential selection process in the 2012 Iowa caucuses.

Somos Republicans, which in Spanish means "We are Republicans," began two years ago in Arizona and claims 6,000 members in 10 states, primarily in the Southwest. The organization has appointed Bob Quasius Sr. of Ankeny, a Republican activist, as director of its fledgling Midwest organization.

"Although we have a small group in Iowa, we are gaining in members and have solidified ourselves with the Hispanic media," said DeeDee Garcia Blase of Scottsdale, Ariz., the founder of Somos Republicans.

The group is already making it clear it won't support Sarah Palin for president because of her endorsement of illegal immigration hard-liner Tom Tancredo in his unsuccessful bid for Colorado governor.

[SNIP]

The group has urged Texas Gov. Rick Perry to run for president because he opposes an Arizona-style immigration law in Texas.

Rick did win at least 38 or 39 percent of the Hispanic vote according to most observers, and if you talk to Rick's peeps they say they have numbers to show he won more like 42 or 43 percent of the Hispanic vote... and closer to 48 or 49% across the state if you take out a few of the most heavily Democratic counties in South Texas and look across the rest of the state where Hispanics are more assimilated into anglo-majority society...

I do think aligning herself with Tom Tancredo was a terrible mistake... he is a bomb thrower for the sake of bomb throwing...

Another clever anti Straus web video...

Very entertaining from the anti Joe Straus peeps... they have done some good work so far... will it make a difference though? Their task is daunting...

Some interesting comments from some of the new freshmen...

While I am inclined to say the speakers race is all but over a lot can still happen...

Some of the comments by these Austin area freshman legislators make you kind of wonder how solid Straus' pledges really are... it kind of sounds like some of the peeps who are known supporters of Joe Straus may not really be supporters after all (link). Excerpts follow...

Of the four, three — Charles Schwertner of Georgetown, Paul Workman of Austin and Larry Gonzales of Round Rock — pledged to support Straus, though Workman said he hasn't made a final decision and Gonzales said he is no longer committed to Straus. The other one — Jason Isaac of Dripping Springs — says he hasn't pledged to anyone and is still undecided.

[SNIP]

Workman, who will represent southwestern Travis County, said that although he pledged to Straus before the election, "I have not made a final decision on the speaker's race."

He said that giving Straus his pledge seemed to be the right thing to do at the time but that since then, "some things have come out that I'm not sure are true but that are certainly giving me pause." He declined to elaborate.

In the meantime, said Workman, who defeated Democratic Rep. Valinda Bolton to become the sole Travis County Republican in the House, "I'm just going to lie low and see how it unfolds."

Gonzales, who defeated Democratic Rep. Diana Maldonado , also said he's watching and waiting.

In an interview last week , he said he had not pledged to support any candidate.

However, Gonzales' name appeared on a list of Straus supporters that the speaker released Nov. 3. When asked about that later, Gonzales acknowledged that he had given Straus a "verbal" commitment before the election but said that "today, I am taking the time to consider what is best" for the district.

He said he doesn't anticipate making a decision until "much later." He wants to see who else might get into the race, he said. And he's trying to learn about the case Straus' critics are making.

He said he's hearing from constituents frequently on the speaker's race. So is Isaac, who defeated Democratic Rep. Patrick Rose.

"More often than not, they're telling me to support Paxton," Isaac said.

But Isaac said he hasn't made up his mind and is "not in a hurry to make a decision."

You kind of wonder... if these Austin area Republicans are so on the fence... what about the peeps all around the state especially the very very conservative districts...

Then again the party switching giving the Republicans a super majority really makes you think the race is all but over...

Is Aaron Pena switching parties? Allan Ritter already has switched... Republicans have a super majority now... no excuses...

Republicans now have a super majority in the Texas House with Allan Ritter's switch (link). Excerpt follows...

State Representative Allan Ritter has confirmed to KFDM News that he's switching from the Democratic to Republican Party and will make an announcement next week in Austin, expected to be attended by Governor Rick Perry and a number of other GOP leaders and colleagues from the legislature.

Who gets credit? Rick maybe gets a little credit... Joe Straus definitely gets some credit... the tea party gets a lot of credit...

I remember one of Kay's speeches during the primary... talking about how she was the best shot at getting Republicans a solid majority in the Texas House... and how under Rick it was a hopeless cause and Democrats would probably take over...

Didn't quite work out that way did it?

Aaron Pena is also potentially switching, but that's not confirmed yet (link). Excerpt follows...

“As a result of the devastation in the general election, where Texas Democrats lost their conservative and much of the moderate wing of their party, I responded to questions posed by the Rio Grande Guardian as to what the future holds for the party.

“That article caused a lot of speculation and the Texas Tribune, in a podcast, and Texas Monthly’s Paul Burka, in a blog, asked questions about my future.

“Although Paul took his post down soon afterwards, it opened up the floodgates and I have received over 50 calls, from Democrats and Republicans alike.

“Many of the Democrats are still thinking the party can be reformed and that perhaps, in a decade, we can be competitive again.

“Many of the calls from Republicans, including lawmakers, were that our community can still have a seat at the table now. Why wait a decade when you can have opportunities now?

“And so, after the large number of calls today and the growing speculation, I can say I am taking the matter under consideration and I will issue a public statement in the coming days, one way or the other.

Michael Quinn Sullivan opined that this means Republicans will have fewer excuses for not accomplishing big things this session... but Sullivan doesn't acknowledge that it probably also means that Straus is the guy... he gets at least some of the credit for party switchers coming to his side (link). Excerpt follows...

For the GOP, the pressure to deliver on conservative initiatives and priorities just got even higher. If the job is left undone come May, expect the Texas electoral tsunami to take out what it brought in. The Republicans will have no one to blame if the job doesn't get done.

If the Republican super-majority can deliver, though, Texas will benefit and the voters will remember.

With Mr. Ritter's welcome switch, the balance of governing power has altogether changed in the state Capitol. Now we see if the GOP has the courage and wherewithal to use this power to lead Texas boldly and effectively.

It does put a lot of pressure on Straus to have a solid conservative session... and he won't have many excuses... it also means he needs to pick conservative committee chairs... this is total domination for Republicans... and total annihilation for Democrats... the surviving Democrats are mostly far left, and the moderates can see what that means for them to be lumped in together with far left Democratic leadership... so they are jumping ship...

The fake polls come out in the speakers race...

89% of Texas GOP primary voters favor a more conservative speaker (link). Excerpt follows...

DALLAS, Dec. 8, 2010 – In the first round of an ongoing, informal telephone poll, Heritage Alliance found more than 89 percent of registered Republican primary voters in favor of a more conservative Texas House Speaker to lead next year’s session.

 

In polling that began one week after the November elections, Heritage Alliance surveyed 8,238 “1R” voters—those who had participated in at least one recent GOP primary— in 43 of 99 GOP-held State House districts. (Voters were not polled in 21 districts where the State Representative had already called for a new State House Speaker.)

 

When asked, “If you want your State Representative to support a true conservative Republican for House Speaker, instead of a moderate Republican, press 1,” more than 89 percent indicated they wanted a more conservative Speaker.

 

Michael Smith, Executive Vice President of Heritage Alliance, said his organization called only registered voters because, “to quote pollster Scott Rasmussen, it’s the people who vote who ultimately decide everything.

 

“These are the voters who show up even for the primaries, when 9 out of 10 registered voters stay home,” Smith added. “They pay attention, and they act. Clearly this matters to them.”

 

Voters who favored a more-conservative House Speaker were given the URL to Heritage Alliance’s advocacy site (www.txvoice.com) and invited to call or e-mail their State Representative directly. In the case of districts where new Representatives take office in January, respondents had the option of calling or e-mailing their Representative-Elect.

Not a real poll in other words...

This also doesn't really tell us almost anything about the actual speakers race...

Tea Party 911 looks to "oust RINO Straus"

http://www.teaparty911.com/articles/contact_joe_straus_supporters.htm

Interesting...

South Steps...

A new blog on the scene... http://southsteps.com/

Kay under fire on the DREAM act...

Kay is having some problems on the DREAM act (link). Excerpt follows...

Hutchison is considered one of a few swing votes Democrats need to pass the measure, which offers a path to legalization for illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. as children and stayed in school and out of trouble. The newest version of the bill, which addresses many of critics' concerns, could come up for a vote in the House this week, but it's still considered a long shot.

Mostly, the group at the Leland building wanted to let Hutchison, or at least a few of her staffers, see the faces of a few people whose futures depend on the bill's passage.

They didn't get far.

As they approached the tall building with dark reflective windows, an officer with the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Protective Service blocked their path.

"We just got word the office is closed," the officer told the crowd and the scattering of TV cameras and reporters. "You have to call the local number to get an appointment."

This makes me think Kay is running... she was once for the DREAM act as far as I know... but she may be thinking she has to be against it to win a primary in 2012...

Joe Straus didn't answer the Texas Alliance for Life's questionnaire...

Chisum and Paxton responded, but no response posted from Joe Straus (link). Excerpt follows...

11/30/10 AUSTIN -- On November 15, we hand-delivered surveys to the Capitol offices of the three candidates for Texas House Speaker, a position that is elected by a majority vote of the Texas House on the first day of the next session, Tuesday, January 11. 

The survey has 10 short questions on issues important to pro-life Texans, including issues regarding overturning Roe v. Wade, partial-birth abortion, public funding for embryonic stem cell research, and public funding for Planned Parenthood. This is the same survey that was sent to all candidates for Texas Senate and Representatives in the Primary Election and General Election.

To see the responses, click on the name:

• Warren Chisum

• Ken Paxton

• Joe Straus (did not answer)

Shouldn't Straus answer those questions to avoid peeps thinking he isn't pro life... if he is pro life... what does he have to lose... unless he is not pro life...

Rick named the number one Hispanic friendly politician of 2010...

Rick was named as Hispanic friendly by a group of Hispanic Republicans in Arizona (link). Excerpt follows...

Phoenix, AZ – Somos Republicans would like to congratulate Governor Rick Perry for winning his 2010 gubernatorial election.  Our organization is announcing the designation of the Texas Governor as the #1 Hispanic-friendly U.S. politician of the year.  Governor Rick Perry has proven his executive leadership as he had to confront the slow economic growth during the great recession much like the rest of the nation; however, Texas’ decline has been milder than the rest of the country.   More importantly, when asked about the harsh Arizona anti-immigration law, Governor Rick Perry said such a law “would not be the right direction for Texas” and would distract law enforcement from fighting other crimes.

We believe Governor Perry should be recognized for making a courageous statement with regard to the controversial immigration law during a time in which extreme anti-immigrant messaging has been on the rise.  We encourage the rest of the GOP to embrace and emulate such a courageous position.

Very interesting...

Chuck Norris and Rick...

(link)

I missed this particular picture last week...

Prominent Kay supporter supports Ken Paxton over Joe Straus...

Denise McNamara who was anti Rick throughout the primary and remained very quiet in the general election is back... and she seems to be on the other side of it this time... Last time she was for the more moderate Kay... this time she is against the more moderate Joe Straus (link). Excerpt follows...

Media types, Democrats, and some Republicans are playing the religion card in the Speaker’s race. This election has nothing to do with religion; it has everything to do with policy. And with leadership.

Speaker Straus did have a Republican majority last session. Yes, it was a slim majority, but he had one nevertheless. That is a fact. Despite that, major legislation, such as Voter ID, was killed under his watch. That is a fact. Democrats chaired too many committees. Another fact.

 

Each session the Members should choose, from within the GOP Caucus, the most capable and qualified candidate for Speaker. That candidate this time around is Ken Paxton. His resume, professionalism, and competence, as well as his courage, make him the best choice.

 

Joe Straus had the backing of only 11 Republicans last session (notwithstanding the tradition of unanimous election of the obvious winner); he was not the GOP’s candidate. He should not be their choice this time. 

As the speakers race continues it is interesting to see some of the Rick vs. Kay alliances break down... which kind of shows that for some peeps politics is more about personalities and loyalties than issues or principles...

The online battle for speaker...

This is all so new... it all used to be conducted behind closed doors and at smoke filled rooms around Austin...

New email from the Peter Morrison report...

Copied and pasted word for word....

Summary of this week's report:

Please send a fax to ask Rep. Larry Taylor, the Chair of the House

Republican Caucus, to call a meeting to select a conservative

Speaker:

http://www.morrisonreport.com/fax_test/index.php?faxID=96

Also, please call Taylor's office at (281) 338-0924 and let him

know that Texas Republicans want a truly conservative speaker

chosen by the Republican majority, not the Democrats.

Full report:

The race to replace liberal, pro-abortion Joe Straus as Texas

Speaker continues.  Today, I want to tell you about an opportunity

we may have to enable the cowardly Republican holdouts for Straus

to do the right thing.

The Republicans in the House have an organization called the House

Republican Caucus, which consists of all Republican members and

presumably members-elect.  This caucus could meet before the

session begins and choose a Speaker supported by the majority of

Republicans, instead of Joe Straus who was elected by the Democrats

and eleven Republican sellouts.

The caucus can meet and call for a secret ballot for Speaker, which

Straus is likely to lose because members can vote their conscience

without fear of reprisal from Joe Straus and his thugs' unethical

intimidation attempts.  However, the only person who can call for a

meeting of the Republican caucus is Rep. Larry Taylor, its

chairman.  So far, Taylor has been reluctant to call the meeting.

We may have a real opportunity here, as Taylor was recently

attacked by the liberal media over some frivolous ethics charges

related to how he handled the accounting of his travel expenses.

Taylor's travel expenses as a state representative are reimbursed

by the state (which is reasonable since state reps make only $7200

a year), so to avoid cash flow issues during the delay between the

expenses and reimbursement, he used campaign contributions to pay

for travel expenses and then reimbursed the campaign once the state

reimbursed him.  This is perfectly legal and ethical.

However, as we all know, part of the media's propaganda narrative

is that all conservatives are "corrupt" and liberals are virtuous.

Hence, they always play up purported ethics issues with Republicans

while ignoring the outright fraud, vote buying and bribery that is

part and parcel of the Democratic machine (see Charlie Rangel,

Maxine Waters, etc).

Anyway, the Houston Chronicle ran a story a few days ago calling

attention to this accounting issue with Rep. Taylor, and they also

asked Joe Straus his opinion of Taylor's actions.  Straus, instead

of defending him, threw Taylor "under the bus" and called for new

ethics regulations.  He did not defend his fellow Republican, but

rather took a cheap shot to further enhance his cozy relationship

with the controlled media.

Now that Joe Straus has shown where his true loyalty lies, Rep.

Taylor should feel relieved of any duty to Straus and call the

meeting, especially if pressured to do so by the grassroots.

TAKE ACTION:

Please send a fax to Rep. Taylor asking him to call a meeting to

select a conservative Speaker:

http://www.morrisonreport.com/fax_test/index.php?faxID=96

Also, please call Taylor's office at (281) 338-0924 and let him

know that Texas Republicans want a truly conservative speaker

chosen by the Republican majority, not the Democrats.

The Peter Morrison Report

http://www.PeterMorrisonReport.com

http://www.facebook.com/morrisonreport

Sources:

http://www.empowertexans.com/node/1488

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7313016.html

http://galvestondailynews.com/story/193778

Kay is going to be tea partied...

There are apparently a lot of peeps ready to challenge Kay if she runs again (link). Excerpt follows...

Only Kay Bailey Hutchison knows whether she'll seek another six-year term in the U.S. Senate.

But Texas' senior senator -- once the most popular Republican in the state in terms of voter support -- has a target on her back if she does run, put there by the increasingly influential and conservative Tea Party grassroots movement.

"She personifies everything that the Tea Party is fighting," said Konni Burton, a member of the Northeast Tarrant Tea Party steering committee. "She is a Republican, but when you check her votes on many issues, they are not ones that conservatives are happy with."

Hutchison hasn't said whether she'll retire or seek re-election in 2012, but several prominent Texans -- including Republicans such as former Secretary of State Roger Williams and Railroad Commissioners Michael Williams and Elizabeth Ames Jones, along with Democratic former Comptroller John Sharp -- have long said they plan to run.

And now there's talk of perhaps a half-dozen or more Tea Party-affiliated candidates joining the race if Hutchison seeks re-election.

Kay's entire campaign against Rick showed the blue print for whatever Republican emerges to challenge her in 2012... or all the Republicans who will challenge her in 2012...

Kay got some really bad advice... she had some staffers who were unable to direct her the right direction either because she didn't listen to them or because they were just bad...

I hope Kay doesn't force the Republican party to spend tens of millions of dollars in 2012 fighting within itself... but at the same time that obviously didn't hurt much in 2010... if anything it might have clarified some issues and energized the base...

Rick's national profile...

Rick's campaign stump speech in Texas is being tested at the national level now (link). Excerpt follows...

"The timing is right," says University of Houston political scientist Jim Granato. "With the wind of the November elections at his back, Gov. Perry could sustain and even accelerate the (Republicans') current political momentum."

By galvanizing GOP governors, coordinating efforts with ascendant Republicans on Capitol Hill and barnstorming on behalf of his book, Fed Up! Our Fight to Save America from Washington, Perry hopes to foment a rebellion against federal regulation that could trigger the most sweeping devolution of federal powers to the states in decades.

"The governor has a great passion for freeing states from the one-size-fits-all mentality. He firmly believes that if you unleash the states you get good ideas for solving problems — not a magic wand, but good ideas," says Dave Carney, a veteran GOP political consultant and Perry confidante.

In some ways this message sounds like Fred Thompson's message, but I think Rick has a better operation than Fred had in 2008... but I think Rick will actually have more credibility with this message if he truly refuses not to run for president... if he can truly get governors together in a coalition to challenge Obama successfully he may be far more effective at driving the states rights and federalism message than Fred was... or wasn't... in the 2008 presidential race...

Aaron Peña tries to make Democrats in Texas have a come to Jesus moment...

Yes Democrats these days mostly don't believe in the divinity of Jesus... but Aaron Peña is trying to make his party come to terms with their losses... which he believes are not short term but part of a long walk in the wilderness (link). Excerpt follows...

EDINBURG, Dec. 5 - State Rep. Aaron Peña says the dream that sweeping demographic changes in Texas will somehow come to the rescue of the State Democratic Party is an illusion.

The Edinburg Democrat says a growing percentage of Hispanics are shifting over to the Republican Party in part because his party no longer reflects their values. And, he predicts his party faces decades in the political wilderness in Texas.

“The Democratic Party in Texas has got decades of rebuilding to do. Their dream of demographic salvation is an illusion,” Peña said, in an in-depth interview with the Guardian about his party’s rout at the Nov. 2 general election.

Go read that entire interview.... it is filled with interesting nuggets... Aaron Peña was challenged in a primary for not being liberal enough but he prevailed... he alludes to that... he also alludes to the consultants who run the Democratic party being the main problem. I wonder if he is talking about Matt Angle at all...

One of those robot talking video things for the speakers race...

Sort of funny... these are all over the place... even in the Geico commercials... these are getting old but they are still funny this week...

The Weekly Standard calls Rick the most successful governor in America...

Praise for Rick from Fred Barnes (link). Excerpt follows...

The governor whose state has fared the best over the past decade is Rick Perry of Texas, 60, elected to a third term on November 2. The era of Texas as America’s most prosperous and influential state has begun, social critic Joel Kotkin wrote recently, replacing the era of California. It happened on Perry’s watch.

One thing Ryan, Jindal, Rubio, Christie, and Perry have in common is they’re not running for president. I asked Jindal, who’s already announced for reelection as governor of Louisiana in 2011, if he has any intention of seeking the Republican presidential nomination in 2012. He gave a one word answer: “No.”

Barnes seems to take Rick at his unequivocal word that he is not running in 2012...

Texas "insiders" think Rick is running for president...

These insiders aren't very bright (link). Excerpt follows...

Our insiders believe that Gov. Rick Perry is running for president in 2012 but don't that believe he should.

The latest Texas Weekly/Texas Tribune Inside Intelligence survey found 58 percent think the governor is in the race. But only 22 percent think he should run, while 70 percent say he shouldn't.

And it doesn't appear that many people think Perry is a real contender. In an open-ended question, his name didn't come up that much. Respondents were asked, "What Republican do you think will have the best shot at the White House in two years, and who do you think will win?"

They came back with a lot of Mitt Romney and John Thune and Sarah Palin but not a lot of Perry. Some of the verbatim responses follow; you can see all of the responses here.

• "I think Mitt Romney will ultimately be the nominee for the party but to win in the general the running mate must be strategic. Perhaps a Haley Barbour or John Thune."

• "John Thune will win Republican nomination and White House."

• "If sanity reins in the land, probably Romney, if insanity reins, Palin. Mitch Daniels is also worth watching."

• "Far too early to tell who has the "best" shot, but Rick Perry, John Kasich, and Chris Christie have good shots should they take the plunge. Dr. Condi Rice is an interesting choice for running mate no matter who takes the nomination."

• "It is way too early to have a clue. 2 years ago at this time we were all ushering in the Age of Aquarius as Obama was being carried to the thrown. It is a different world now and will be in 2 more years."

Romney? Really? He may poll the highest right now, but he couldn't even beat John McCain in 2008... I don't see Romney... nor do I see Rick running... I do see John Thune running but not catching fire when I think of the conversations I have had with grassroots peeps who feel like he is too much of a RINO...

On that last comment... the "thrown" should have obviously been spelled "throne" but that is the only response that really is worth anything...

My interpretation of these results... about a third of the insiders are Rick's peeps... and Rick's peeps in this collection of insiders all responded both that he is not running and he shouldn't run... meanwhile some of the neutral peeps and 100% of the anti Rick peeps responded that they think he is running but also said he shouldn't run...

Some of the responses though just show how Texas insiders should stay inside Texas and not try to be national pundits... although the insiders definitely were right in predicting Rick's win against Bill White a few weeks before the election...

The Economist sees Rick as a moderating influence on the strong majority in the legislature...

This is an intriguing take from the Economist's writer who is based in Texas (link). Excerpt follows...

ONE of the first plays by America’s tea-party tendency came in April 2009 in Austin, the capital of Texas. After speaking at an anti-tax rally, Rick Perry, the governor, intimated that Texas might think about secession “if Washington continues to thumb their nose at the American people”. Grandstanding like this is normal in Texas. What is more surprising is that, as the tea-party movement surged through the 2010 election cycle, Texas actually turned out to be one of the less incendiary states.

And Mr Perry is now sounding less fiery than some had feared. Earlier this month he easily won re-election to his third full term. He then set off on a short national tour to promote his new book, “Fed Up!” Fighting words, but his prescriptions—“repeal Obamacare”, “adopt certain important structural reforms”—are common enough. Some wonder whether Mr Perry has presidential ambitions for 2012. He says no, and may mean it: last week, in San Diego, he accepted a post as head of the Republican Governors Association. 

[SNIP]

 Texas might also feel the force of a resurgent right over immigration. The state takes a fairly balanced view of border issues in general and, for cultural and economic reasons, tends to support immigration more than the country as a whole. When Arizona passed its draconian anti-immigration law, for example, Mr Perry said this was “not the right direction for Texas”. Some legislators, however, disagree, and one has already filed a bill modelled on Arizona’s.

The governor’s view is the more popular. But Democrats are worried that an Arizona-style bill might nonetheless make its way to his desk. In that case, 2011 may be the year that Mr Perry becomes the moderating influence on Texas politics. Stranger things have happened. 

I think it is interesting that this international publication pays so much attention to Texas... more so than many national publications based in New York...

Joe Straus has a new web video...

Professionally done...  looks good... takes you through the speaker's political resume... doesn't necessarily address the criticisms of him though... especially the criticisms in the other videos out there...

Have the holidays stalled the speakers race... frozen it in place?

It seems like things have gotten sort of quiet in the speakers race...

Anyone hearing anything?

One thing I found interesting is that the Paxton peeps seem to have dropped the ball when it comes to blogger out reach (link). Excerpt follows...

Comments

Display comments as (Linear | Threaded)

• 11/21/2010 12:25 PM Leon wrote:

  I don't understand why there is any question of the Speaker's conservative foundation. Clearly, he is going to hold all of our conservative values close.

  Reply to this

• 11/21/2010 6:14 PM Texas Trooper wrote:

  RINO JOE needs to GO !!

  Reply to this

• 11/24/2010 10:13 AM Ken Emanuelson wrote:

  Have you posted an open letter from Ken Paxton, also?

  If not, why not?

  Reply to this

  1. 11/24/2010 10:36 AM Kathleen McKinley wrote:

     A friend of mine who works for Joe asked me to post a guest post from him. I called Ken Paxton's office immediately and left a message that said I would welcome a guest post from him. That was a week ago. I haven't heard back.

     Reply to this

So my hunch was right about Kathleen McKinley not really endorsing Joe Straus, but just providing a forum for him to express his views... Paxton's peeps should send her something and be more proactive...

On the other side Joe Straus' peeps are spending a lot of time courting bloggers... without a lot of payoff since bloggers tend to also be more conservative and tea party minded... they do have David Jennings from Big Jolly on their side out there defending Straus... and the Pondering Penguin was not very happy that a Georgia based national blog Red State was taking a position on the Texas speakers race... but again she didn't actually endorse Straus...

The pro Paxton blogs seem to have arrived at that conclusion of their own accord... without any specific out reach...

Right before Thanksgiving there were a lot of things going on... videos being put out... state reps committing to Paxton... but other than two more freshmen Republicans committing to Paxton (link) it is getting really quiet now... will it heat up again?

Grading Politifact... Gardner Selby gets an F....

Sublime Bloviations blog does a great job fact checking Politifact and finds they are full of it (link). Excerpt follows...

Grading PolitiFact (Texas): Rick Perry and Ponzi schemes

This again?  It's illuminating to find PolitiFact so unrepentant regarding its failures.  PolitiFact has found the comparison between Social Security financing and Ponzi schemes "Barely True," "False" and now "False" again.

Just one problem:  It's true.  A reasonable effort by PolitiFact should find it "Half True" or better.

The key PolitiFact finding is that the "Ponzi scheme" is fraudulent by definition.  And if you can get journalist and non-economist Michell/Mitchell Zuckoff to proclaim that as a fact in his role as expert source then it's mission accomplished, in a manner of speaking.

Michell (sic) Zuckoff, a Boston University journalism professor who has written a book on Ponzi, noted critical dissimilarities between Social Security and a Ponzi scheme, which by definition is both fraudulent and unsustainable.

"First, in the case of Social Security, no one is being misled," Zuckoff's January 2009 article in Fortune magazine says. "...Social Security is exactly what it claims to be: A mandatory transfer payment system under which current workers are taxed on their incomes to pay benefits, with no promises of huge returns."
(bold emphasis added)

The problem for Zuckoff and PolitiFact is that economists don't see it that way:

A Ponzi scheme is a strategy of rolling over a debt forever and thereby never paying it back.

Kevin X. Huang and Jan Werner are not alone:

To Kindelberger and other writers on financial scams, the essential feature of Ponzi's activities was 'misrepresentation or the violation of an implicit or explicit trust' (1978: 79-80).  In economic theory, however, the label 'Ponzi' survives largely stripped of its connotation of fraud.

(The New Palgrave Dictionary of Money & Finance)

What gives Mitchell Zuckoff (and PolitiFact) the right to discount the definition of "Ponzi scheme" as understood by economists?

Nothing.  Nothing at all.

Zuckoff and PolitiFact make the claim of exclusive definition out of apparent ignorance, though I have evidence that staffers at the Providence Journal(source of PolitiFact Rhode Island) took note of the criticism and didn't care enough to change the story.

When three teams of journalists successively flub a similar fact check it starts to resemble a pattern.

The grades:

W. Gardner Selby:  F

Brenda Bell:  F

Perhaps there's a tendency to trust their colleagues at PolitiFact.  Regardless, it's unacceptable and appalling that PolitiFact got this fact check wrong on three consecutive tries.

Really a great read... even Paul Krugman has called Social Security a Ponzi scheme... Politifact is awful... period...

Corruption?

Erick Erickson of Red State escalated the rhetoric and called the hearing on Bryan Hughes' allegation about Larry Phillips threatening members with redistricting if they didn't support Straus "Corruption" (link). Excerpt follows...

I know some of you are a bit perplexed about why I, a guy in Georgia, keep writing about Joe Straus, a liberal elitist in Texas.

It is very simple really. Texas is going to make big gains in the census and pick up some congressional districts. Conservatives across the country must be concerned that the man who will have the heaviest hand in drawing those lines is 100% NARAL supported and ridiculously corrupt.

We must fight at the state level here to help the conservative cause nationally in the 2012 elections.

And what happened late yesterday should concern everyone — really concern everyone, not to mention embarrass all the Texans.

As I previously mentioned, Straus sent out his loyal lieutenant Larry Phillips to tell a number of Republican State House members that if they did not vote for Straus, Straus would draw them out of their districts.

When the accusation was made, Straus referred the matter to the House Ethics Committee. Larry Phillips just so happens to be Vice Chair of that committee.

Here is where it gets fun.

Phillips did not recuse himself until after he was named as the man making the threats for Straus.

Rep. Bryan Hughes testified under oath that Phillips had made the threats.

Phillips was then called to testify and would not testify under oath. Phillips denied everything.

In other words, Hughes was willing to swear an oath and risk jail if he lied. Phillips refused to swear an oath so that, because he lied, nothing could happen to him.

And then the Speaker’s investigative committee declined to take any action.

It’s like suddenly Louisiana politicians have taken over Texas.

Why wouldn't Phillips just testify under oath? And why wouldn't Hopson recuse himself? The Straus team needs to be much less antagonistic and secretive and old boys insider esque here because they are just giving tea party peeps and bloggers something to write about... the more peeps write about it the more chance there is that Straus is booted... it is really that simple.

I don't know if there was corruption... I really have no idea what happened or if Bryan Hughes was taking something out of context or exaggerating but I doubt he out right made it up... Larry Phillips is saying that Hughes is lying under oath... but Phillips won't go under oath to say so? It doesn't pass the smell test...

Ken Herman... a Jewish journalist... argues it is okay to let religion play a role in a political choice...

Ken Herman certainly has some humorous moments, but he tackled a pretty serious issue this week (link). Excerpt follows...

Let's see if with a collective deep breath we can think our way through an ugly little political undercurrent that might hyperventilate into an ugly big overcurrent.

Some Christian conservatives in Texas are urging other Christian conservatives to help oust Texas House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, who is Jewish.

[SNIP]

Is the anti-Straus movement anti-Semitic? Could be, but what I've seen seems to be more pro-Christian.

I may be naive, but I'm going to try to make the case that there's nothing wrong with allowing your religion to inform your politics, and there is nothing wrong with siding with politicians who share your religion-informed politics.

A really interesting take on this race and the controversy that somehow got ginned up... take a step back from the ledge peeps... take a deep breath... and focus on the issues and leadership...

David Barton weighs in on the Speakers race with a video...

The influential social conservative leader doesn't endorse Paxton per se but does oppose Joe Straus... but is that picture really Harvey Kronberg?

My junk just got felt...

As someone traveling on one of the busiest travel days in America... I got my junk felt... it was a lot more invasive than I expected...

Rick has an idea that might help. He wants to take the TSA peeps who feel your junk and put them on the border (link). Excerpt follows...

The incoming chairman of the Republican Governors Association suggested Friday that TSA screeners would be more help securing the nation's border with Mexico.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry said Friday on Fox Business Network that states need to "push Washington back into that box that we call the United States constitution," but said the federal government needs to follow through on its responsibility of securing the U.S. border. 

"Just in the last two weeks, I've had five of my citizens who've lost their lives on that border with Mexico, and that is an irresponsible lack of focus by our federal government," Perry said, calling the federal security an "abject failure."

When asked if, in the wake of the TSA invasive pat-down controversy, he'd replace TSA screeners as states are allowed under federal law, Perry had an idea.

"How about we take all those TSA agents and put them on the border with Mexico where they can do some security there?" Perry said. "That's where we need security substantially more than in our airports and what we're seeing out of this bunch."

Frankly I don't mind the full body scan that much but if you are scanning my body there better be a medical reason for it... I don't need all of that extra radiation in my body... you better be checking out to see how I am doing in there...

You really have to give it to Rick... he is in tune with the populist grass roots when it comes to issues like this... he was basically the first politician to come out against these junk feelers... and he pulled off the double whammy by suggesting they should also go help secure the border... he just gets it doesn't he?

More anti Straus web sites and videos...

This is a very well put together video...



http://womenonthewall.org/

http://stopjoe.info/

http://stopjoestraus.com/

There is also an Oust Straus Facebook page... and a lot of other grassroots activity...

Straus as I have mentioned has a strong presence too... with a growing Facebook community... his peeps have also gotten a couple of bloggers on his team... although the anti Straus bloggers far out number the pro Straus bloggers.

The teams are revealing themselves...

Who will succeed Ed Kuempel?

After Representative Kuempel passed away there was an immediate scramble to fill his seat (link). Excerpt follows...

Ten, count 'em, 10, candidates are in the running to replace the late Rep. Ed Kuempel (R-Seguin) in a special election.

Kuempel died two days following the general election, following a bout of heart complications. Gov. Rick Perry announced Dec. 14 (a Tuesday) as the date of the special election for HD 44 (Guadalupe, Gonzales, and Wilson counties), and the filing deadline was 5 p.m. Monday.

They are, according to the Texas Secretary of State's office:

• Daniel Rodriguez Andrade (D), 45, of Seguin, a real estate business owner.

• Ron Avery (R), 63, of Seguin, an architect.

• Chris Burchell (R), 46, of Adkins, a law enforcement officer.

• Jim Fish (R), 53, of Cibolo, an entrepreneur.

• Tony Gergely (L), 51, of Seguin, a chemist who owns a laboratory which produces chemicals for commercial fishermen.

• Gary W. Inmon (R), 43, of Schertz, a private practice attorney and president-elect of the Texas Association of School Boards.

• John Kuempel (R), 40, of Seguin, a salesman and son of Rep. Kuempel.

• Myrna McLeroy (R), 72, of Gonzales, an oil and gas landman, a former State Republican Executive Committeewoman.

• Cheryl Dees Patterson (D), 44, of Seguin, a real estate agent.

• Robin R. Walker (R), 58, of Seguin, a self-employed business manager who challenged Rep. Kuempel in the GOP primary, drawing 25 percent.

Early voting is scheduled from Nov. 29-Dec. 10. Candidates from all parties will appear on the same ballot. If no candidate receives a majority, a runoff will follow about a month later.

I have heard that John Kuempel and Robin Walker are the top candidates, but why wouldn't some of these other candidates be formidable too?

Larry Phillips... vice chairman of the panel investigating... Larry Phillips... recuses himself...

This is strange. Bryan Hughes is alleging that Larry Phillips is the person who reached out to him on behalf of Straus and suggested that there would be consequences in redistricting if Hughes didn't go along (link). Excerpt follows...

Rep. Larry Phillips, R-Sherman, the vice chairman of the House committee charged with investigating ethics complaints, was identified today as the House leadership member who allegedly warned a colleague that lawmakers who fail to support Speaker Joe Straus for re-election could face retribution through redistricting.

Rep. Charles L. "Chuck" Hopson, chairman of the House General Investigating and Ethics Committee, made the disclosure before the committee went into closed executive session to discuss the allegation.  Phillips recused himself as vice chairman of the panel and was participating in the closed session. He was not immediately available for comment.

Hopson ordered the inquiry after Rep. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, released a statement saying that a member of Straus' leadership team warned him that members who fail to support Straus in the speaker's race could be punished when lawmakers redraw legislative districts next year.

This is really amazing stuff... however my belief is that nobody is paying attention at all... this is all insider gamesmanship until perhaps after the new year when there will be a stretch of about 10 days of fast and furious campaigning by insiders and outsiders alike. For now both sides would be smart to build their armies and if you are Straus avoid embarrassments like this...

I had suggested that Phillips should recuse himself because he took money from Straus this year, but he had to recuse himself because he is the one being accused of threatening Hughes... Hopson should also recuse himself because of the enormous amount of money Straus gave his campaign this year... just to prove this is not a sham hearing...

Hughes played that whole thing very smartly... and depending on what happens now he should probably give more details...

On the one hand threatening redistricting someone out of their seat is likely unethical and possibly illegal... on the other hand we don't know what actually happened... it could have been an innocent remark by Phillips that Hughes blew up into something bigger we really don't know... except Hughes testified under oath and Phillips did not testify under oath and they disagreed on what was said... which is a little bit suspicious...

If Paxton keeps picking up 2 or 3 new pledges each day it has the possibility to snow ball but I think everyone can count, and Straus still has many many more pledges than he needs... it will take a critical mass of an opposition... many of whom got burned 2 years ago opposing Straus and do not want to get burned again now... before Straus is truly threatened...

Speakers race in pictures...

The Texas Tribune did a good job on this although in some ways it is more dizzying than it needs to be (link)...

Their version is interactive... you can click on faces and see details over at the Texas Tribune web page...

I think they could have made it a lot easier to follow... but maybe they wanted it to seem confusing to convey reality.

Peeps committing to Paxton...

There has been a small drip drop of peeps in the Texas House unpledging from Straus and committing to Paxton... and other freshmen committing to Paxton... it is still a fairly small number though. Does anyone see this trend continuing through the holidays? Or is the task too much of an up hill climb for Straus' foes...

Ken Paxton has a web site now too...

Straus had a web site called http://www.conservatives4joestraus.com/

They messed up because if you go to http://www.conservativesforjoestraus.com/ it actually takes you to http://no2joestraus.com/ which is obviously an anti Straus web site...

Now there is also http://www.paxtonforspeaker.com/

There also seems to be some serious action at Side Line Bomb Thrower http://sidelinebombthrower.com/ which is now permanently listed over there on the side of Rick vs. Kay...

They wrote a few blogs supporting Rick in the gubernatorial race... and also bashed Michael Sullivan a little bit... now they seem to be the main blog out there supporting Joe Straus...

Meanwhile Red State keeps chugging along bashing Straus... and Texas bloggers are printing guest blogs from Joe Straus... not necessarily endorsing Straus it seems but putting their takes on the situation...

Texas Sparkle at the Houston Chronicle just prints the guest blog without any commentary (link)... does that mean she is endorsing Straus? It doesn't seem like she has weighed in at all on either side...

The Pondering Penguin is staying neutral but seems to be leaning toward Straus and at least doesn't like that a Georgia blogger is having such an influence on the Texas speakers race (link). Excerpt follows...

Why has the founder of a conservative blog, in Georgia, become so heavily invested in the race for Speaker of the House in the Texas state legislature? Why would this city council member from Macon, Georgia and professional blogger, as well as a newly popular conservative commentator on talking head cable shows and radio star wanna be (he all but begs Rush to allow him to guest host) decide to make a stand on his choice for this particular election?

I dared to make a comment on his Facebook page as he weighed in on the race - encouraging his Texas readers to call House members and asking them to "burn up some phone lines". I did so because I just think his involvement is strange. Maybe it's me. Maybe not. I have no way of knowing. He, however, responded, making references to 'stuck pigs' so there you have that, for whatever it's worth.

I am not taking a position either and I do like Red State but I also want to see Texans decide the Texas speakers race... not Mike Huckabee who has endorsed Paxton... Dick Armey has also endorsed Paxton but at least he is a Texan... Armey endorsed Kay over Rick though so he is not necessarily the best barometer in intraparty fights...

How will all of this play out? Is any of this getting through the clutter?

About Joe Straus and that 100% NARAL rating... how fair is that anyway?

The anti Straus peeps have a video out that makes the case pretty succinctly why Straus should not be speaker... and it includes a link about Straus' 100% rating from NARAL the pro abortion group (link)...



It is a tough video... to be sure...

The untrustworthy Dallas Morning News gave that claim about NARAL 3 peppers on its hotness scale (link). Excerpt follows...

THE FACTS:

In 2007, Straus voted 100 percent of the time with NARAL Pro-Choice Texas. However, he only voted on one of nine votes the group considered crucial that session. Straus voted "aye" on an unsuccessful amendment to the state budget that would have shifted to child-abuse prevention efforts $5 million previously allotted to "pregnancy crisis centers," which advise women and girls about alternatives to abortions.

Sara Cleveland, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Texas, said Straus favors helping women obtain family-planning services and birth control but is hardly in lockstep with her group. In the 2005 session, his first, it rated him a 45. That year, he voted on 11 of the group's 14 key roll calls - and against them on six of them. (As speaker, he doesn't cast votes so he had no score last year.) The 2009 session's biggest abortion-related issue was an unsuccesful bill that would have mandated sonograms for women seeking abortions. Texans for Life president Kyleen Wright of Mansfield has said Straus worked with her "consistently and in good faith" on that measure.

THE BOTTOM LINE:

Straus isn't a fervent social conservative, but it's misleading to cast him as a staunch abortion-rights advocate.

THREE PEPPERS

While the Dallas Morning News is known for bad fact checks just like all the rest of the MSM, this one resonates. It does seem to be a little bit misleading to say he is strictly pro abortion or to use his rabbi's affiliation with Planned Parenthood as proof of what he believes on the issue, but you can't blame anyone for saying he had a 100% rating from NARAL... because that's the rating NARAL gave him... I think Straus should come out more forcefully on this issue if he wants to prove he is really pro life...

This did help... pro life advocate Kyleen Wright endorsed Straus (link). The letter follows...

Kyleen Wright, President of Texans for Life Coalition, wrote this letter in support of Speaker Joe Straus’ strong Pro-Life position. Please take a moment to read:

A charge has been leveled that Speaker Straus and his lieutenants killed the sonogram bill last session. This is categorically false, and I am disappointed about this and other claims, as well as the tenor of this race.

Speaker Straus’s office and lieutenants, in particular Chairman Charlie Geren and Chairman Todd Smith, worked consistently and in good faith with Texans for Life to pass the popular pro- life measure. Chairman Geren, as a member of the State Affairs Committee, worked to ensure an April hearing and to strengthen the weaker senate version of the bill at my request. Chairman Smith also pushed for hearings on the bill and a stronger version.

What finally killed the sonogram bill was the same thing that killed so many bills: the filibuster of the Voter ID bill, as the clock simply ran out. Even so, had former Speaker Craddick not missed the formal hearing called by Chairman Solomons on April 30th, the bill would have been voted out and ahead of Voter ID on the calendar, sailing to victory. A final Hail Mary Pass was played when Chairman Geren again intervened to secure the #2 spot on the Major State Calendar for the bill at the end of the session.

Furthermore, it was the Speaker’s team who rallied to my aid to defeat the Planned Parenthood sex ed bills.

Texans for Life and I are very grateful for the help of Speaker Straus and his team.

I have been taken to task for my assertions that Speaker Straus and his lieutenants helped pro- life efforts in the last session, and that there were all kind of other shenanigans we were up against. A quick review is in order.

First, it was a Craddick lieutenant who, on April 17th, pulled down all the budget amendments that pro-­lifers had put forth after months of research and the establishment of an elaborate on- site support system to assist members debating them. Pro- life leaders were devastated to see Rep. Phil King announce a deal had been struck with liberal Democrat and abortion advocate, Jessica Farrar. Without talking to a single stakeholder, this lieutenant, according to another pro- life leader, “gave up a lot, including a potentially devastating blow against Planned Parenthood…and got very little.” What we “got” was a weak and unsustainable embryo destruction rider.

As for the hearing on the sonogram bill, it was established that no controversial bills would be heard before the budget passed, the single legislative requirement for the session. This was a very tense, closely divided house after all. Nevertheless, the first week after the budget passed, the sonogram bill was heard in State Affairs. For the first time in the collective institutional memory of pro- life leaders, Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro- Choice Texas gave no public testimony against a pro-life bill. This did not bode well for us, and brought to mind rumors that there were members determined to ensure nothing pro- life would pass on Straus’ watch.

The significance of Craddick walking the vote on April 30th, is that he told the bill author ahead  of  time that he would not be there and did not want us to know. Clearly, arrangements could have been made as he and we were aware of the need to get this bill moving through the process before voter ID exploded in the house. Subsequent  delays in getting the bill out of committee were the result of  in- fighting among members and pro- life leaders about the substance of the bill. The Senate version was very weak and there was confusion over  whether or not Senator Dan Patrick had promised senators that the bill would not be strengthened in the House. Straus lieutenant Rep. Charlie Geren, at my urging, fought for a stronger version which eventually did pass out of committee.

Meanwhile, the Planned Parenthood sex ed bills were working their way through Public Education, and it was Craddick supporters we had to peel off the bill. It’s not a great leap in logic to suspect that those working against pro- life victories for the Straus team would just as soon hang a Planned Parenthood bill around his neck. Finally, in the midst of the chubbing, my colleagues and I wrote the members of the Republican Caucus to urge them to end the chubbing  because the sonogram bill was still in play. We reminded them that in the previous session Speaker Craddick had pulled the sonogram bill down to prevent the Democrats from chubbing, and suggesting it was our turn to benefit from a little horse- trading.

I attach for you the response I received from a Craddick lieutenant responding frankly that they could not because there were other bills just ahead on the calendar that they did not want to vote on. The member’s name has been redacted, and an unredacted copy has been provided to media for corroboration. Click here to read the e-mail response.

There are other emails I am not releasing, including one from a pro- life leader noting with surprise that certain Straus lieutenants had been our best help on the sonogram bill, and another detailing how Charlie Geren “could not have been more gracious and assured me he wanted us to work together.”

My loyalty is to the Life issue, and will not be clouded by personal loyalties. People will draw their own conclusions, but reasonable people will not find it unbelievable that members and others who lost power and influence in the sea change of leadership had an ax to grind against Straus. The continued demonization of Speaker Straus and distortion of his record is just more of the same.

Kyleen Wright

Those are all important points that can't be ignored...

Straus probably needs to be articulating some of this a little bit more forcefully... because you see and hear 100% NARAL enough times and it becomes a rallying point...