| QUOTING… “A political party cannot be all things to all people. It must represent certain fundamental beliefs which must not be compromised to political expediency or simply to swell its numbers.” — Ronald Reagan |
A week from Tuesday early voting will begin for the March primary election. Every election is important ss an opportunity for us to determine which candidates will be trusted with the discrete, limited powers for their particular position. More importantly, it is a reaffirmation of the principles of self-governance for which our founding fathers gave their “lives, fortunes and sacred honor.”
We must not allow ourselves to be swayed by the cults of personality that politics so often creates. As John Quincy Adams once said, “Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.”
Several items from the week follow for your review, but let me remind you that the Empower Texans PAC will be hosting a statewide teletownhall with our endorsed candidates for Lieutenant Governor (Dan Patrick) and Attorney General (Ken Paxton). This will be an opportunity to ask them about the issues facing the state and about their campaigns.
If your schedule permits, you can listen live on the webstream, and dial-in toll-free to ask questions and offer comments.
For Texas,
Michael Quinn Sullivan
& the EmpowerTexans.com Team
Worse Than Wendy?!
Texans know Wendy Davis is the liberal bastion to which Battleground Texas and Team Obama have pinned their hopes and dreams for a “blue”—or at least purple—Texas. But, many might be shocked to know that on the Fiscal Responsibility Index for the 83rd Texas Legislative Session, Senator Wendy Davis actually out-performed a number of House Republicans when it came to taxpayer issues. Morgan Williamson named the names of legislators who have proven themselves to be worse than Wendy.
And ACU Confirms It…
Some Republicans are worse than Democrats. Is yours one of them? The vaunted American Conservative Union has done their first independent review of the Texas Legislature, and they found — like you and I have known — that there are 21 Republicans who really are worse than Democrats. The worst of the worse-than-DEMs in the GOP is J.D. Sheffield, Drew Darby and John Zerwas — three close pals of House Speaker Joe Straus. Others on ACU’s rating outscored by DEMs include Byron Cook, Charlie Geren and Todd Hunter, who compose the inner-circle of Straus’ leadership team.
Suing For Silence
Earlier this week we told you about one those Worse-Than-Wendy Republicans, State Rep. Jim Keffer, and his lawyers bullying cable companies with threats of litigation for running ads exposing his legislative record. Some guys just don’t want voters to know how badly they have been behaving in Austin…
Cargile Part I: Working (For) The Lobby
Up in House District 92, establishment pro-tax Republican Andy Cargile has been mailing nasty hit pieces against Taxpayer Champion Jonathan Stickland, the stand-out freshman lawmaker. Tony McDonald found that Cargile’s mail pieces are being heavily mailed to lobbyists in Austin! But maybe that makes sense… clearly Cargile plans on working for them, he must think they can vote for him.
Cargile Part II: Bring Out The DEMs
When not send mail to lobbyists in Austin, Andy Cargile is actively courting Democrats to cross party lines and vote for him in the GOP primary. At a campaign fundraiser a few weeks ago, attendees were urged to get their “Democratic friends” to turn out for Cargile. Meanwhile, a Democratic precinct chairman in Tarrant County was proudly pairing his “Wendy Davis” and “Andy Cargile” yard signs. I think we can assume Cargile will be another “worse than Wendy” Republican…
Cruz’ing For Education Reform
Texas lags behind other states in offering parents greater flexibility in getting their kids in the schools best suited for their needs. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz was recently in Houston advocating for he called “the civil rights issue of the 21st Century.” Too bad the moderate leadership of the near-supermajority of Republicans in the Texas legislature has been blocking needed and popular reforms. As Ross Kecseg notes, liberal Republicans like State Rep. Bennett Ratliff spent the legislative session putting bloated bureaucracies ahead of parents, students and teachers.
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