Some TEXAS MONTHLY Stories on Politics
The Republic of Chad »
Eight years ago, the closest presidential election ever was settled in a political street fight. In this oral history of the Florida recount, the victors recall the unbelievable twists and turns that put George W. Bush in the White House.
by Brian D. Sweany [December 2008]
Two-Party Animal »
Why November 4 was a good day for everyone.
by Paul Burka [December 2008]
She Gets It »
by Eileen Smith [December 2008]
Sign of the Times »
Missing an Obama yard sign in West Houston.
by P. Jacob Lipp [November 2008]
The Chattering Class »
We’ve received many reader comments in the final days of the election. Some of you agree with us, some of you disagree with us, and almost all of you like to stir things up. We’re just happy that you’re paying attention, even if you’re not using your real names. Here are some of your last-minute predictions.
Compiled by Eileen Smith [November 2008]
The Day After »
We rounded up some Texas journalists and notables to give us their reactions to the long campaign which culminated in Barack Obama being elected the 44th president. Here’s what they said.
Compiled by Eileen Smith [November 2008]
Speaker Up »
TEXAS MONTHLY asked each of the candidates for Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives to submit statements on why they think they should hold the highly coveted gavel. Here’s what they had to say.
Compiled by Eileen Smith [November 2008]
Madame Secretary, I Presume? »
by Eileen Smith [November 2008]
Inflexible Fliers »
Both parties have wrapped themselves in the mantle of change this year. Only one appears capable of making it happen.
by Paul Burka [October 2008]
The Drill Team »
Is the answer to our energy crisis really offshore?
by Michael Ennis [October 2008]
Crawford: The Documentary »
When W. came to town, as told by Producer/Director David Modigliani. Left to deal with the aftermath, the real people of Crawford are changed forever. The film, which just made the first online premiere in history, can be seen in full below. (Courtesy of Live Action Projects. To purchase the just-released DVD, click here.)
[October 2008]
W. of Mass Destruction »
I attended the premiere of Oliver Stone’s "W." at the Austin Film Festival. Hopefully I can spare you the same fate.
by Eileen Smith [October 2008]
How Green Is My Bayou? »
Increasingly so. Surprise, surprise.
by Mimi Swartz [September 2008]
State of Play »
You may think you know how the Obama-McCain battle
in Texas is going to turn out. You may even be right. But
the more important outcome is down-ballot, where two
dozen or so races—and the future of politics and
policy here—will be affected by what happens at
the top of the ticket.
by Paul Burka [August 2008]
The Final Bell »
An East Austin high school shuts its doors.
by Paul Burka [August 2008]
Behind the Lines: Podcast »
Paul Burka reads “The Final Bell.”
[August 2008]
You’re Rick Noriega. Do You Approve This Message? »
Since the Republicans took over Texas, every plausible Democratic candidate for high statewide office has been the subject of an obligatory profile in Texas Monthly. Here’s yours—only it’s a bit different. It’s a memo containing loads of free advice—the kind you can afford—on how you can beat John Cornyn.
by John Spong [July 2008]
Mission Impossible »
Why we should end the war in Iraq.
by William Broyles [July 2008]
Hill’s Country »
The state director of Clinton’s presidential campaign
Garry Mauro on how Obama can win over Hillary 's
supporters.
[June 2008]
End of The Road »
During all but two of the past twenty years, someone named Bush had led our nation or led our state. Now we’re moving on.
by Michael Ennis [June 2008]
Almost Blue »
What the massive Democratic turnout says about the political landscape in Texas.
by Paul Burka [May 2008]
Fed Up »
An FBI investigation is only the latest of El Paso’s problems.
by Paul Burka [April 2008]
Mark McKinnon »
Mark McKinnon on John McCain’s comeback.
Interview by Evan Smith [March 2008]
The Democraddick Primary »
It’s the only election that matters.
by Paul Burka [March 2008]
El Gobernador »
The first Hispanic to lead Texas will be a Basque jai alai phenom, Dallas attorney, and Democratic state representative whose election, in 2018, will relegate the
GOP to semi- permanent minority status. Wanna bet?
by Paul Burka [February 2008]
Joe Straus III »
48, state representative, San Antonio
[February 2008]
Rafael Anchia »
39, state representative, Dallas
[February 2008]
Dan Bartlett »
Dan Bartlett is upbeat about Iraq and ’08.
Interview by Evan Smith [January 2008]
The Capitol Press Corpse »
Is it really time to pronounce the body?
by Paul Burka [January 2008]
Big Red »
John Cornyn won a U.S. Senate seat in 2002 by pledging allegiance to George W. Bush and riding a Republican wave to victory. But neither the president nor the wave is as strong six years later, and Cornyn’s bid for reelection may not be either.
by Paul Burka [December 2007]
No Niño Left Behind »
What part of “demography is destiny” does Texas not get?
by Paul Burka [December 2007]
43 Skiddoo »
Exit George W. Bush. Enter . . . change.
by Paul Burka [November 2007]
Requiem for a Heavyweight »
Karl Rove’s mixed legacy.
by Paul Burka [October 2007]
The Evolver »
“All you’ve got is a famous name,” a Republican operative told George W. Bush. But six years later he was governor, and six years after that he was president. And six years after that, his place in history—not to mention the fate of the world—is a little uncertain.
by Robert Draper [October 2007]
Loyalty Oaf »
Going, going, Gonzales.
by Paul Burka [October 2007]
Requiem for a Heavyweight: Podcast »
Listen to Paul Burka read his column.
by Paul Burka [October 2007]
Speaker for Life! »
Don’t bet against Tom Craddick.
by Paul Burka [September 2007]
A Lady First »
Today, many younger Texans may be inclined to think of Lady Bird Johnson as belonging entirely to the past. But if her demeanor and style seemed faintly anachronistic, the virtues instilled by her parents back in East Texas—practicality, thriftiness, good manners, and an open mind—made her remarkably effective as a first lady, more so than some of her “modern” successors.
by Jan Jarboe Russell [September 2007]
Craig’s List »
Of the many things the first black district attorney of Dallas County is doing, none is more important than rethinking the concept of guilt and innocence.
by Michael Hall [September 2007]
State of Flux »
What 2008 means for Texas.
by Paul Burka [August 2007]
The Elephant in the Room »
Does Ron Paul’s opposition to the Iraq war make him a traitor to his party and his country? Or the only real Republican in the presidential race?
by Nate Blakeslee [August 2007]
Left Behind »
The Texas Education Agency flunks out.
by Paul Burka [August 2007]
The Best and Worst Legislators 2007 »
The eightieth session began with a Speaker’s race, ended with a Speaker’s race, and was consumed in between by the usual mix of nuanced issues and nasty politics. Along the way, a handful of lawmakers put the common good ahead of all else. And a handful of lawmakers didn’t.
by Paul Burka and Patricia Kilday Hart [July 2007]
Austin Powers »
After spending a few days at the Capitol among the operatives and the onlookers, I began to draw some … conclusions.
Sketchbook by Steve Brodner [July 2007]
My Capitol »
by Paul Burka [July 2007]
Sins of Commission »
There are plenty of people to blame for the latest shock-inducing juvenile corrections scandal, beginning with the so-called reformers who didn’t heed the lessons of the last one.
by Nate Blakeslee [May 2007]
Bob Perry Needs a Hug »
Roundly criticized for helping to popularize “Swift boat” as a verb, the Houston homebuilder who is the nation’s largest individual political donor wants you to know he’s a sweet guy with a soft side. But don’t expect him to put away his checkbook anytime soon.
by S. C. Gwynne [April 2007]
The Test of Time »
George W. Bush says he doesn’t have time to think about his legacy, but the rest of us have no such trouble. We asked some of the smartest people we could think of—prize-winning historians, presidential scholars, White House vets—to predict how 43 will be judged and to suggest what, if anything, he can still do about it.
by Bruce Bartlett, Paul Begala, H. W. Brands, Douglas Brinkley, Robert Caro, Robert Dallek, Matthew Dowd, Donald L. Evans, Niall Ferguson, Bobby R. Inman, Kathleen Hall Jamieson, Michael Lind, Mark McKinnon, Marvin Olasky and Elspeth Rostow [March 2007]
North Toward Dome »
The best way to visit the Capitol, the state’s grandest public building, is to take the 45-minute guided tour. But there is much more to see if you know what to look for, and I’m going to tell you precisely that.
by Paul Burka [February 2007]
Here Comes Trouble »
Dan Patrick is causing nervous breakdowns of various size and duration—and he’s not even in the Texas Senate yet.
by Mimi Swartz [January 2007]
45 Years (Sat Nov 22 at 5:28 PM)
Can You Spare Some Change I Can Believe In? (Sat Nov 22 at 4:10 PM)
Even Worse, They're Cutting Back on Monocles (Fri Nov 21 at 8:39 AM)
