Must Read Texas – October 11, 2013

CRUZ POLL RATINGS TAKE A HIT;
VALUES VOTER SUMMIT IS THIS WEEKEND;
HANCE STEPS DOWN AT TEXAS TECH
*****
Good late evening from Dallas, where there is no friendly, annual intrastate wager on the big game this year.
Doing this email on the Friday of Texas-OU weekend is SOMEWHERE between unusually difficult to impossible.
Despite starting at 6am, I was unable to finish before an 8am golf outing benefiting scholarships for the University of Texas.  Nine and a half hours later, the golf event ended.
It’s been a blur ever since, although I was privileged to see both “Smokey the Cannon” and “Bevo” today at different events.

We are just finishing now and we apologize for the terrible lateness of today’s email.
Here’s the short brief:

CRUZ POLL RATINGS TAKE A HIT

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) has seen his negatives rise nationally.
Meanwhile, Sen. Cruz appeared on CNN’s “Crossfire” opposite Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) yesterday.  The full video is worth watching.

VVS IS THIS WEEKEND

Family Research Council hosts their annual conference, the Values Voter Summit, in Washington, DC this weekend.
Here is the schedule.

Among the Texans slated to speak, listed alphabetically:
> Sen. Cruz
> U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX)
> Craig James
> State Rep. Matt Krause (R-Fort Worth)
> State Rep. Scott Turner (R-Frisco)

Of note — those not speaking: Greg Abbott, Rick Perry, John Cornyn or any of the other TX members of Congress?

HANCE STEPS DOWN AT TECH; DUNCAN TO REPLACE?

TT’s Reeve Hamilton broke the news that Texas Tech chancellor (and the only man to beat George W. Bush in a campaign) Kent Hance announced his retirement as chancellor, effective next year.
He will continue as chairman emeritus and teach his popular class on leadership.

Could his replacement be State Sen. Robert Duncan (R-Lubbock)?

#txlege
– Watchdog.org says State Rep. Trey Martinez-Fischer (D-San Antonio) has been serving under an alias for seven years.

2013 / 2014 / 2016:
– TT’s Evan Smith moderated a debate among the four GOP candidates for Lt. Gov. Friday. The video ishere.
– AP 
interviews Texas Land Commissioner and Lt. Gov. candidate Jerry Patterson.
– Gov. Perry will 
headline a fundraiser for the Republican Party of Polk County in Des Moines, IA onNov. 7.

Other stories of interest:
– The LA Times reports on the penalties levied against the company operating the fertilizer plant in West, TX which suffered a massive explosion earlier this year. 

Lighter clicks:
– A time lapse video that showcases Austin.
– There’s a joke here but I can’t figure out what it is.
– Well played, Seattle Police Department.
– Comedian Artie Lang has had a tough couple years.
– TBS Sports needs spellcheck for Christmas.
– Cameron Indoor gets a fascinating hi tech upgrade.
– Magic Johnson leaves NBA Countdown over rumored feud with Bill Simmons.
– This dog reacts roughly the same way I do when the Steelers or Longhorns are on.

Your Daily Source of Inspiration:
– Kevin Ware is back.

NEWS

AP: Lt. Gov., 3 hopefuls debate in Austin (10/11/13 11:59pm)

AP: Texas Gov. Perry Will Speak at Iowa Fundraiser (10/11/13 11:59pm)

AP: Interview: Patterson wants 4 states out of US (10/11/13 11:59pm)

USA TODAY: Conservatives get early look at potential ’16 field (10/11/13 11:59pm)

WASH POST (The Fix): Ted Cruz is growing his national profile — why that’s not all good news for him (10/11/13 11:59pm)

LAT: West, Texas, fertilizer plant that exploded cited over safety (10/11/13 11:59pm)

TT: Hance to Retire as Texas Tech Chancellor (10/11/13 11:58pm)

TT: Video: A Conversation with Four Lt. Gov. Candidates (10/11/13 11:58pm)

TT: Abbott Urges Reform, Not Repeal, of DREAM Act (10/11/13 11:58pm)

DMN: Texas Democrats blast GOP rivals for shutdown stalemate (10/11/13 11:58pm)

DMN: Tea party activist Debra Medina weighs independent run for governor (10/11/13 11:58pm)

DMN: Wendy Davis heads to Dallas for campaign reception at Gilley’s (10/11/13 11:58pm)

DMN: Shutdown: Texas Democrats prod Sen. Ted Cruz and other Texas Republicans (10/11/13 12:40pm)

WFAA ABC DALLAS: More Texas teachers moonlighting to make ends meet (10/11/13 11:58pm)

FWST ($): Anish Kapoor’s Sky Mirror is a multimillion-dollar addition to the AT&T Stadium (10/11/13 11:57pm)

FWST ($): Family of disabled teen wins $1 million judgment against Keller school district (10/11/13 11:57pm)

FWST ($): Martin high students make prom a possibility for West students (10/11/13 11:57pm)

CHRON ($): Texas Democrats seek meeting with Cornyn, Cruz (10/11/13 11:56pm)

CHRON: Hall opts not to attend Houston Chronicle screening with Parker (10/11/13 11:55pm)

CHRON: Patterson challenges Patrick to divulge tax, bankruptcy records (10/11/13 11:55pm)

CHRON: Water plan threatens sea turtles, group warns (10/11/13 11:55pm)

CHRON: Republicans hold fundraiser for Women’s Health Program (10/11/13 11:55pm)

SAEN ($): Issue of tuition splits Abbott, would be No. 2s (10/11/13 11:55pm)

SAEN ($): Looking for a way out — or a way around (10/11/13 11:55pm)

SAEN: No water, no growth: Leaders push Proposition 6 as an economic issue (10/11/13 11:55pm)

AAS ($): West fertilizer plant hit with 24 safety violations, $118,300 in fines (10/11/13 7:42am)

AAS ($): Business tax questions send Texas lower in rankings (10/11/13 7:42am)

AAS ($): Lawmakers demand change in VA painkiller prescriptions (10/11/13 7:41am)

AAS ($): Abbott: Water transfers could be among drought solutions (10/11/13 7:38am)

AAS ($): Budget impasse looks vastly different in the eyes of 2 Austin-area congressmen (10/11/13 7:37am)

WSJ ($): A Cruz Miss (10/11/13 7:34am)

TT / KUT: TxDOT to Crack Down on Toll Road Scofflaws (10/11/13 7:33am)

TT: State: Judge is Wrong to Say It Must Protect Atmosphere (10/11/13 7:32am)

NATIONAL JOURNAL: What GOP Governors Want You to Forget (10/11/13 7:20am)

MCALLEN MONITOR: Valley becomes proving ground for innovation in educational programming (10/11/13 12:58am)

VIDEO: U.S. Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) on CNN’s “Erin Burnett Outfront” (10/11/13 12:47am)

TT: Environmentalists Push for Access to Well Sites (10/11/13 12:42am)

VIDEO: U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) on CNN’s “Crossfire” (10/11/13 12:35am)

VIDEO: U.S. Reps. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) and Greg Walden (R-OR) on Fox News’ “Hannity” (10/11/13 12:33am)

THE HILL: Gallup: Cruz’s favorability ratings plummet (10/11/13 12:28am)

POLITICO: Rush Limbaugh backs Ted Cruz against GOP (10/11/13 12:27am)

NATIONAL REVIEW: Poll: Cruz Increasingly Unpopular (10/11/13 12:25am)

POLITICO: Charles Krauthammer: Where is Ted Cruz now? (10/10/13 1:15pm)

VIDEO: U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX) on Fox News’ “America’s Newsroom” (10/10/13 12:51pm)

EDITORIALS

FWST ($): Texas 360 expansion slips again (10/11/13 11:57pm)

FWST ($): It’s taken a while, but the concussion issue in football finally is being taken seriously (10/11/13 11:57pm)

CHRON: Charter change for Houston? (10/11/13 11:56pm)

CHRON: Robinson for City Council At-large Position 2 (10/11/13 11:56pm)

CHRON: Return Al Hoang to Houston City Council (10/11/13 11:56pm)

SAEN: A matter of fairness in UT System (10/11/13 11:55pm)

SAEN: 10-month pay plan eases tax burden (10/11/13 11:55pm)

SAEN: Does Texas hamstring appraisers? (10/11/13 11:55pm)

AAS ($): Government needs to find a way out of fiscal dysfunction (10/11/13 7:43am)

COLUMNS

MAYOR CLUCK & MAYOR PRICE: End threat to eliminate tax exemption for bonds (10/11/13 11:57pm)

NORMAN ($): Immigration study holds no real promise (10/11/13 11:57pm)

S. ELLIS: Coastal homeowners are underestimating storm risks (10/11/13 11:56pm)

V. FLATT & C. PHILLIPS: It’s time to focus attention on protecting the environment (10/11/13 11::56pm)

FALKENBERG ($): Florida leader in early childhood education gives a Houston pep talk (10/11/13 11:56pm)

HENDRICKS ($): Medtronic, with new device for insulin, hiring (10/11/13 11:55pm)

CHASNOFF ($): Council says “no” to “yes man” for Soules (10/11/13 11:55pm)

G. MARTIN: Shutdown spotlight glares on Texans (10/11/13 11:55pm)

CASEY: Democrats offer to fund a Medina independent bid (10/11/13 11:55pm)

HERMAN ($): Council to call time out on removal of cemetery decorations? (10/11/13 7:44am)

A. GARCIA ($): Contemporary Congress should take a few classes at Jake Pickle U (10/11/13 7:43am)

RAMSEY: Cornyn Tries to Make His Own Political Luck (10/11/13 7:32am)

MCNEELY: Davis makes it official; race for governor is on (10/11/13 7:27am)

STATE REP. SIMPSON: Beware the “Ministry of Truth” (10/11/13 12:42am)

BLOGS (from the left)

BFL: Why the GOP’s Hispanic outreach will fail in Texas (10/11/13 12:47pm)

ECLECTABLOG: Money Bomb for Wendy Davis for Texas Gov raises over $10,000. Let’s kick it up to 11. (10/11/13 7:24am)

BOR: GivetoWendy: Because El Pasoans Know Better Than to Trust Greg Abbott (10/11/13 7:19am)

BLOGS (from the right)

WATCHDOG.ORG: Texas pol serves seven terms under alias (10/11/13 7:28am)

TOWNHALL: Ex-paramedic in Texas fertilizer blast pleads guilty to conspiracy (10/11/13 7:23am)

Author: Must Read Texas

Matt Mackowiak (@MattMackowiak) & Jason Stanford http://www.MustReadTexas.com @MustReadTexas