I Still Hate Chili
Fess up now. In your heart of hearts, don’t you hate it, too?
The Man in the Black Hat, Part One
Clinton Manges built his empire on brushland and oil wells, political contributions and lawsuits. His influence extends to the state capitol and oil company boardrooms. To get where he is, he studied under three masters of South Texas.
George W. Bush and the New Political Landscape
How the Republicans took over Texas—and what it means.
The Hero Had Two Faces
For fifteen years Galveston knew Tim Kingsbury as a civic leader and do-gooder. Then the wife—and life—he deserted back in Ohio caught up with him in Texas.
Water Under the Bridge
Henry Cisneros’ power derived from his ability to bring people together. It was supposed to get him elected governor, senator, president. He’s finally the president, all right —of a Spanish-language TV network. And all thoughts of a career in public life are in the past.
The Aggie Bonfire Tragedy
What’s so important about a stack of wood? Every Aggie knows that the answer is tradition—which is why, after a catastrophe that took the lives of twelve young men and women, the decision of whether to continue, change, or call a halt to the bonfire looms so large at Texas
The Man Who Isn’t There
In word and deed, the George W. Bush now residing in the White House bears little resemblance to the Texas governor I gladly sent to Washington. That's why I'm so ambivalent about reelecting him.
3666 Articles
Sports
July 26, 2016
At Play in the Fields of the Lord
Baseball, an old and idiosyncratic game, loses and old and idiosyncratic field.
Politics & Policy
July 9, 2015
The Return of Abigail Fisher
A familiar plaintiff. A familar case. Will the outcome be any different?
Politics & Policy
July 2, 2015
The Ken Paxton Problem
As bad as it is, it goes beyond any possible criminal wrongdoing.
Politics & Policy
June 29, 2015
Out of Step (And Falling Behind)
The recent decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court show how far Texas has fallen from the mainstream. The recent reactions by our leaders only make it worse.
Politics & Policy
June 2, 2015
The Leadership Race
Greg Abbott emerged this session as the state’s uncontested leader—despite a few missteps along the way.
Politics & Policy
April 20, 2015
Medicaid Hardball
Could the state’s refusal to expand the program ultimately cost billions of dollars?
Politics & Policy
April 15, 2015
Remembering Arthur “Buddy” Temple
His passing marks the end of an era in Texas.
Politics & Policy
April 8, 2015
Whither the Governor?
If you find out what Greg Abbott is up to, let the rest of us know.
Politics & Policy
March 23, 2015
What I’ve Learned
Paul Burka bids farewell to Texas Monthly—and wonders what happened to the Texas he once knew.
Politics & Policy
March 9, 2015
The Next UT President
Who will lead the flagship campus when Bill Powers leaves in June?
Politics & Policy
March 4, 2015
The Monumental Ego
There’s one thing we can all agree on when it comes to Dan Patrick.
Politics & Policy
March 3, 2015
Bob Armstrong
His death is a loss to Texas.
Politics & Policy
February 4, 2015
Why Do Conservatives Hate Common Core?
What Greg Abbott’s nominee to the UT Board of Regents means for the state.
Politics & Policy
January 21, 2015
The End of the Two-Thirds Rule
On the first full day of the Dan Patrick era, he makes his mark on the Senate.
Politics & Policy
January 20, 2015
What If They Held an Inauguration (And Nobody Came)?
It’s the turnout, stupid.
Politics & Policy
January 12, 2015
The Last Forty Years—and the Future
The dean of the Capitol press corps announces his upcoming retirement from Texas Monthly.
Politics & Policy
December 31, 2014
Wendy Davis’s Future
I was surprised to read that Wendy Davis intends to make another run at public office, as yet unspecified. Among other things, she has retracted her support for open carry. But it is hard to see what kind of future Davis has, particularly when Battleground Texas proved to be as
Politics & Policy
December 30, 2014
Jeb Bush in 2016?
The “clear frontrunner” will be hard to beat.
Politics & Policy
December 29, 2014
A Path to Medicaid Expansion?
It appears that Governor-elect Abbott is considering some form of Medicaid expansion. If this is indeed the case, it is incredibly good news for Texas. Rick Perry’s rejection of Medicaid expansion was petulant and extremely damaging to the state. The cost of expansion to the state is miniscule (mainly covering
Politics & Policy
December 22, 2014
The Rise of Joe Straus
The news that Speaker Joe Straus has become the Vice Chair of the Republican Legislative Campaign should be the final nail in the coffin of Michael Quinn Sullivan and Empower Texans. Of course I know it won’t. But it should end any speculation that Straus has any political worries whatsoever;
Politics & Policy
December 10, 2014
Finally, A Real Governor
Greg Abbott is off to a fast start—and that is good for Texas.
Politics & Policy
November 12, 2014
What Speaker’s Race?
Joe Straus is safe--and he always was.
Politics & Policy
November 11, 2014
One Week Later
After every major election, it seems I find myself writing an obituary for the Texas Democratic party. It’s not a true obituary, I suppose, since the Democrats are not exactly dead, just comatose. This year brought a rare combination of considerable early optimism by Democrats, followed by the worst pasting
Politics & Policy
November 4, 2014
Red State
Texas is a Republican state and nothing is likely to change that in the foreseeable future.
Politics & Policy
November 3, 2014
Losing the Battleground
Battleground Texas, the organization chosen by the Obama White House to “turn Texas blue,” proved to have been nothing more than a mirage. In fact, Battleground did more to sabotage the Democratic effort — unintentionally — than to support it, thanks to Jeremy Bird, Battleground’s leader. Bird produced a memo
Politics & Policy
October 27, 2014
Another Bush for President
Does Jeb Bush have a chance at the White House? Or is the family name too damaged?
Politics & Policy
October 21, 2014
The Problem With Prop 1
It provides such a meager amount of funding that it's hardly worth the effort of putting it on the ballot at all.
Politics & Policy
October 20, 2014
And the Voting Begins
UPDATE: In my original post, I mistakenly referred to previous endorsements by some of the state’s major newspapers, and I have corrected the errors.This election has all the earmarks of being one of the strangest ever. First, as I have opined before, this is the weakest ticket the Republican party
Politics & Policy
October 17, 2014
Greg Abbott and the DMN
To the surprise of no one, the Morning News has endorsed Greg Abbott for governor. It is a choice that I won’t criticize. But I will raise this red flag: that Wendy Davis has uncovered serious issues about Abbott’s character and lack of empathy for Texans who have
Politics & Policy
October 10, 2014
Voter ID Struck Down
A federal judge in Corpus Christi called the state's voter ID law "an unconstitutional poll tax"
Politics & Policy
October 8, 2014
Abbott’s Fundraising
The war chest matters in 2014, but it sets the tone in 2018.
Politics & Policy
October 2, 2014
The Home Stretch
I’m not surprised that the race for governor has tightened according to the recent Lyceum Poll. This is a contest between two candidates who have the support of large constituencies that stretch far beyond Texas. Abbott is among the state’s most prominent attorneys and is no stranger to
Politics & Policy
October 1, 2014
Davis for the Win
The final debate in the 2014 governor's race is over, and the winner was clear-cut.
Politics & Policy
September 29, 2014
Patrick v. Van de Putte
The candidates' true colors were on full display.
Politics & Policy
September 29, 2014
The Fallout From the Enterprise Fund
When one looks at the wheeling and dealing that went on with the Texas Enterprise Fund, my question is this: Why is it not an impeachable offense? These folks used the Enterprise Fund for their private playground. They awarded $222 million to entities that, according to the Dallas Morning News,
Politics & Policy
September 22, 2014
Weighing in on the Debate
Alas, I was out of the state for the Texas gubernatorial debate on Friday evening, but having watched the replay, I can’t say that I missed much. As debates go, I found it relatively low-wattage. Both candidates were articulate and reasonably polite to their opponents, though I thought Davis
Burka Blog
September 16, 2014
What State Government Does
Recent actions by state government have reinforced my belief that the state rarely does anything FOR the public; it only does things TO the public. The latest example is that Texas insurance commissioner Julia Rathgeber allowed the three largest home insurance companies to impose significant rate increases. Rathgeber could have
Politics & Policy
September 12, 2014
Out to Pasture
Paul Burka on Jim Hogan and the plight of the Democrats.
Politics & Policy
September 10, 2014
Wendy Davis, Public Relations, and the Political War
I was interested by Eric Bearse’s piece in the Quorum Report yesterday concerning Wendy Davis and abortion. Bearse wrote, among other things: “The reason Wendy Davis has never recovered politically from her abortion filibuster is she fought on turf where she couldn’t win. Outside of San Francisco and
Politics & Policy
September 10, 2014
Abbott and the Money Machine
He's still raising money for his race for governor. And it's not because he's worried about Wendy.
Politics & Policy
September 2, 2014
Another Round of School Finance
It is all but certain that Attorney General Greg Abbott will appeal Judge Dietz’s school finance ruling. It’s classic Abbott. He has to win, even if he realizes that he is going to lose.But the Legislature’s treatment of the schools during the 2011 session all but guarantees a loss for Abbott.
Politics & Policy
August 28, 2014
Ask Not for Whom the Bell Tolls
Why Republicans should listen to what female voters are saying.
Politics & Policy
August 27, 2014
The Left of Center Speaker?
The false criticism of Joe Straus.
Politics & Policy
August 27, 2014
Perry’s Defense
The governor has a first-class legal team, but some of its arguments concerning the indictment sound more like rhetoric than law.Such as “an unconstitutional attack on Perry’s rights”And …”defies common sense”And …”a violation of the Texas and U.S. constitutions”And … “an improper attempt to criminalize politics”And … “based on state
Politics & Policy
August 17, 2014
The Dumbest Thing You Can Do
Smearing the prosecutor is just about the dumbest thing a defendant in a criminal case can do. The second dumbest thing is to threaten the prosecutor.
Politics & Policy
August 16, 2014
More Thoughts on the Perry Indictments
The indictment of Rick Perry turns Texas politics upside down.
Politics & Policy
August 15, 2014
BREAKING: Governor Perry Indicted on Two Counts
UPDATE: I’ve included a link to the indictments at the bottom of this post.Thought Texas politics couldn’t get any weirder? A short time ago special prosecutor Michael McCrum announced that a grand jury had indicted Perry on two counts related to his veto of funds for the Public Integrity Unit:
Politics & Policy
August 15, 2014
Verging on Irrelevance
I don’t think Republicans recognize what is happening to their party in Texas. The GOP is verging on irrelevance. The failure of Texas to land the Republican national convention should have been a wake-up call for the state party. There was a reason why the Republicans chose Cleveland over Dallas:
Politics & Policy
August 6, 2014
What Governor’s Race?
With three months to go until the general election, there isn't much reason to talk about the governor's race. It's over.
Politics & Policy
August 5, 2014
Troops on the Border
To close this discussion, I simply want to say one thing: This was completely predictable. There was no reason to send the National Guard to the Border. There was no mission. There was no objective. It was just political theatre to make Rick Perry look like he was doing something,