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...