I wouldn’t put too much stock in this poll, which was commissioned by Conservative Republicans of Texas, a group headed by a prominent social conservative Dr. Steven Hotze. The Dewhurst camp’s fingerprints are all over it. The Houston Chronicle points out that the polling firm (Dresner, Wickers,
I was stunned to read the e-mail exchange between Dan Patrick and John Carona in the Quorum Report’s “Daily Buzz” section, in which Patrick accuses Carona of spreading “rumors and untruths” about him and his wife and the state of their marriage. In a later e-mail, Patrick writes, “I can
The poll’s findings: 41% of conservatives do not regard Romney as a conservative; only 5% regard him as very conservative 43% of liberals do not regard Obama as a liberal; only 8% of liberals regard him as very liberal These findings suggest that both candidates may face an enthusiasm
I will be on vacation this week and will not be posting while I’m on the road. I will see you back here next week.
Dear Jim Crane, new owner of the Houston Astros: Please don’t screw things up as badly as the last guy did.
A report by the Pew Hispanic Center finds that the huge wave of immigration from Mexico not only seems to have come to an end but is also reversing itself. This is a remarkable development, one that would have seemed unthinkable even five years ago. Illegal immigrants are
I’m going to poach off the Trib predictions. —Wentworth vs. Jones/Campbell From the beginning I have been certain that Wentworth would win this race. What’s more, I think it’s important that he do so. TLR is getting too big for its britches. The danger for Wentworth is a runoff
Louie, this is not the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
My general rule about polls is to accept that polling organizations, including PPP, are good at what they do and they seldom get it wrong. That said, I think they got it wrong. I don’t think this is a twelve-point race. I haven’t seen anything, in the debates
Public Policy Polling published its latest survey of Texas politics on Tuesday. Here are the numbers: Texas primay Romney 50% Gingrich 43% Paul 14% Hispanic Voters Obama 56% Romney 34% Young Voters Obama 57% Romney 35% Tea Party voters Romney 44% Gingrich 38% Evangelical voters Romney 40% Gingrich 45%
In addition to his own race for reelection to the House, Straus must fend off challenges to his committee chairs. Eleven chairs face primary opponents, including several who head top-tier committees (Appropriations, Ways & Means, and State Affairs). Conventional wisdom holds that Eissler, Pitts, Hamilton, Hopson, and Truitt have tough
This was the headline of Patricia Kilday Hart’s strong column in the Houston Chronicle last week. It asks a good question. Her focus is on the Greater Houston Partnership. I asked a similar question a couple of years ago–why isn’t the business community more involved in state government?–and
Writing in The Eagle, the newspaper for Bryan-College Station, president emeritus Ray Bowen and distinguished alumnus John Hagler charge that A&M regents have “failed the university.” The article appeared on April 21, San Jacinto Day, the most important date on the Aggie calendar. This is the day on
Politicalwire.com has an online poll that asks the question, “Which Republican candidate ran the worst campaign?” The editors write: This isn’t an easy question: Of the Republican presidential candidates, who ran the worst campaign? Explain your answer in the comments. Who ran the worst campaign? Michele Bachmann
This email was circulated by a longtime Republican activist: If you are in Travis County proper, we desperately need you to come the the Republican county convention this Saturday because all hell is breaking loose with the street scum the RP people are recruiting to help them overturn the rules
From the San Antonio Express-News: State officials will have to end a key women’s health program if Planned Parenthood wins a legal battle to continue participating, Texas’ solicitor general told a federal judge Thursday. “In the end, Planned Parenthood would rather shut down the Women’s Health Program in its
This ought to end any speculation about whether there is a real contest for Hutchison’s Senate seat. Now there is no race, though there never really had been one from the beginning. Dewhurst was a cinch to win. Too much money, too much name I.D, too insignificant opposition. He was
This following email was sent by Denise McNamara, the former Republican National Committeewoman for Texas: Fellow Conservatives: Our conservative GOP platform is under attack! Under the guise of “simplifying” the RPT platform, liberal activists are organizing in an attempt to gut our conservative planks. It’s time to rally the troops.
The governor’s support of new fiscal restrictions on state government has one clear effect: undercutting what conservatives achieved in the 82nd Legislature. Perry is essentially saying, “They didn’t do enough, and I will do what they should have done.” In a single stroke, he denies lawmakers credit for the most
NOTE TO READERS: IN MY INITIAL POST, I MISTAKENLY ATTRIBUTED THE ATTACK ON THE TEXAS CONSERVATIVE ROUNDTABLE AND THE TEXAS TRIBUNE TO THE YOUNG CONSERVATIVES OF TEXAS. IN FACT, THE INFORMATION CAME FROM AGENDAWISE. I REGRET THE ERROR AND THE CONFUSION, AND I HAVE UPDATED AND CORRECTED THE POST. From
Last week (4/14) I wrote an article, based on several developments that had occurred in recent days, raising the possibility that our overheated politics might be making a turn to the mild side. I mentioned the backlash against Rush Limbaugh for his attack on Georgetown University law student Sandra Fluke;
This is his official statement: “Governor Perry and I have worked closely over the last nine years to limit the size of government and balance the budget without raising taxes on Texas taxpayers. The budget objectives proposed by Governor Perry will reinforce the fiscally conservative principles that Republicans lawmakers have
Straus’s statement on the Perry pledge: “Speaker Straus not only agrees with the principles outlined in Governor Perry’s compact but also has delivered results on them, leading the House to balanced, no-new taxes budgets, preserving a strong Rainy Day fund and being one of the only legislators ever to lead
The Texas Tribune had a story yesterday by Ross Ramsey about Perry’s fight to stay relevant (my characterization, not Ramsey’s). From the Trib: On Monday, he will unveil a financial pledge and challenge candidates in Texas to sign on, agreeing to oppose new taxes and tax increases, to
This e-mail went out to party regulars over the signature of Bill Crocker, Republican national committeeman: Please plan to attend the SD [Senate District] conventions next Saturday and bring all your friends. We need to be sure we are not overwhelmed by the Ron Paul people, who still want to
Is something happening out there? Has a subtle shift occurred in political discourse? Dallas talk radio host Mark Davis is off the air, writes the Star-Telegram‘s Bud Kennedy. Apparently, WBAP, the station on which he has appeared for the past eighteen years, has been bought by Cumulus Media. Redstate.com is
The debate was contentious from the start. The moderator immediately brought up the text message Ted Cruz sent to Craig James a couple of days before the debate, suggesting that James ask Dewhurst why he had chosen to skip 32 candidate forums. James had responded that Cruz was trying to
Note to readers: the law passed earlier this week. Well, what would you expect of a state that was the scene of the Scopes “Monkey” trial in 1925? Could this happen here? Could Perry label it an “emergency” issue? Remember, when asked in New Hampshire by a young boy whether
Mary Lookadoo, the school superintendent in Mineola, was a late entrant into the race against incumbent Bryan Hughes. Ratliff”s endorsement reads, in part: “I don’t often get involved in campaigns. I was happy to serve my area and my state in the Texas Senate, but have taken a step back
So I am told by an eyewitness. Not exactly music to Greg Abbott’s ears.
Rick Santorum’s withdrawal from the presidential race leaves the state Republican party scrambling for primary turnout. The presidential race was the main drawing card for the primary. Early polling showed Santorum running strongly with 45% of the vote. The Senate race will bring out some voters. Dewhurst has name ID,
From Politicalwire.com: Michael Gerson: “The GOP’s main problem is not the contraceptive issue; it is the perception that it has become too ideological on many issues. Women and independent voters have seen a party enthusiastically confirming its most damaging stereotypes. The composite Republican candidate — reflecting the party’s ideological
His daughter’s illness is the reason. He is scheduled to make a statement at Gettysburg. Our best wishes go to him and his family.
The Texas Eagle Forum has upped the ante for the May 29 Texas presidential primary. Five prominent conservatives have signed a TEF e-mail headlined “Texas’ role in choosing the president.” It calls for a winner-take-all Republican presidential primary, rather than awarding the state’s 155 delegates based on proportionality, as stipulated
B. Rapoport was a Texas giant. Universally respected by Republicans and Democrats alike, he served his state as chairman of the University of Texas Board of Regents. For half a century, he supported the Texas Observer in its mission of bringing great public service journalism to Texans. His granddaughter, Abby,
From today’s Statesman: Trailing badly in the race for the GOP presidential nomination, Rick Santorum is banking on a fast-moving effort to change the Texas primary into a winner-take-all affair, sending all 152 eligible delegates to the state’s top vote-getter. Weston Martinez, a Santorum supporter and Texas Republican
This is a biggie — CLEAT is the biggest law enforcement organization in the state.
Maybe the times are a-changin’ in the Texas House if legislators are willing to challenge Michael Quinn Sullivan. Win or lose, the ethics complaints lodged against Sullivan by two committee chairs, Vicki Truitt and Jim Keffer, are a shot across the bow and an indication that Sullivan’s detractors are not
I seldom devote time to reading press releases, but this one from the Dallas County Republican Assembly caught my eye. The subject of the release was endorsements in local races, but what really intrigued me was the DCRA’s self-description: The Dallas County Republican Assembly is a chapter of
I received a call from Catherine Frazier in the governor’s office early today (Tuesday). She was very critical of the last paragraph of the blog post about the allegations in the e- book. This is how it reads: The question that must be asked, and must be answered, is what
Their names are Nathan Hecht and Don Willett, and they are the only two of the five justices on the Texas Supreme Court who (1) v0ted to to protect the private property rights of beachfront landowners instead of protecting long-established public rights of access; and (2) are up for reelection
The Chronicle’s Gary Scharrer has the story: AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry’s heavy use of painkillers to help relieve severe back pain may have kept the governor from the top of his game last fall during an aborted presidential run, according an e-book being released Tuesday. Perry campaign adviser Ray
The blogger WillcoWatchdog is reporting on his Web site that the Austin Police Association has endorsed Jana Duty for DA against John Bradley. The endorsement was made on March 28. UPDATE: Bradley issued a press release Monday saying that he had received the endorsements of seven Williamson County mayors.
Will Fisher v. The University of Texas at Austin help the U.S. Supreme Court decide affirmative action once and for all? Not likely, which is why it's time to let public universities make their own decision about which students to accept.
The outcome of the battle over healthcare before the Supreme Court was preordained. The majority was going to rule against Obama because he called them out in an earlier State of the Union Address over the Citizens United decision. Readers may recall that Alito was shown on TV, sitting in
Romney holds a comfortable lead over Rick Santorum going into Tuesday’s primary election. Wisconsin does not have the profile of a state that is Santorum-friendly. I saw a graphic on TV on Friday showing that the percentage of voters who are evangelicals is much smaller in Wisconsin than in Ohio,
From Michael Li’s “Texas Redistricting” Web site, earlier today: The D.C. district court has set trial in Texas’ voter ID suit for July 9-13. That’s nearly three weeks earlier than requested by the Justice Department and intervenors. However, the court also directed that issues related to the constitutionality of
This was the topic of a breakfast discussion yesterday, in which I participated. One of our group, a former legislator who served with Perry in the House, said it happened it 2002. Kay Bailey Hutchison was giving indications that she planned to run for governor against Perry, who had inherited
“Comptroller Combs has made it her personal mission to increase transparency in the finances of the Texas government,” said Jeff Morris, YCT State Chairman. “She is truly a hero to taxpayers who wish to see their money spent wisely and efficiently.” Oh, I see. Like giving Formula 1 $25 million
John Bradley, Rick Perry’s choice to block the Forensic Science Commission’s investigation into the flawed arson science that led to the conviction and subsequent execution of Cameron Todd Willingham, is in a tough Republican Primary reelection battle with county attorney Jana Duty. Bradley has also been in the news recently
