Dan Branch

May 27, 2014

The Big Day

Texans are heading to the polls for this year's primary runoffs

By Erica Grieder

May 26, 2014

The Silent Majority

Why moderate Republicans should run as moderate Republicans.

May 21, 2014

Triumph of the Know-Nothings

If this is the worst election season in recent memory, what does that mean for Texas in 2015?

March 10, 2014

The Case Against Dropping Out

Republicans shouldn't pressure Dewhurst or Branch to drop out

By Erica Grieder

February 26, 2014

Gromer Jeffers of the Dallas Morning News has written a story that is fascinating indeed: four Republican lawmakers–all Christian conservatives–have fallen prey to what they claim is a Ponzi scheme orchestrated by a McKinney businessman who once claimed to have discovered Noah’s Ark. The politicians involved (Ken Paxton,

December 9, 2013

The Dan Branch Effect

I take a dim view of Dan Branch’s campaign for attorney general. A former member of our Best legislators list, Branch is in the process of ruining himself by running away from who he really is, which is a mainstream Republican. On Sunday, the Houston Chronicle

October 17, 2013

Dan Branch on Voter Fraud

Attorney general candidate Dan Branch has issued a statement vowing to attack voter fraud. And once again, I am compelled to point out that voter fraud is a solution in search of a problem. Except for rare incidents, such as those involving ACORN a few years back, voter

July 29, 2013

Dan Branch Responds

Last week I wrote a post regarding Dan Branch’s announcement for attorney general, in which I lamented whether candidates will ever again run for higher office by explaining how they will execute the specific duties of that office. Branch took exception to my analysis and has sent in

January 20, 2013

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

May 22, 2009

Watching paint dry

How else to describe the pace of House debate? I can’t recall another session when the default option was for both parties to chub every bill. The debate over the unemployment insurance bill was particularly dilatory. Why is this bill even being debated? Rick Perry has drawn his line in

Object Lesson|

April 30, 2009

Dan Branch’s Bookcase

State representative Dan Branch’s bookcase.

By Kristie Ramirez

January 19, 2009

Let the speculation begin

Committee appointments will be the first real test of the Straus speakership. How many of the 149 members can he satisfy? Here are some of the problems he will face: —Straus has said that there will be no retaliation against Craddick loyalists. Good luck in keeping that promise. The ABCs

January 8, 2009

Did the Democrats make a mistake? UPDATE

Note to readers: This original post (scroll down below the asterisks) noting the ironies for both parties surrounding the presumed election of Straus as speaker, has kicked up a bit of a furor. I unwittingly blundered into a fierce debate among Democrats. Party people such as Matt Angle think that

January 4, 2009

Branch said to be with Straus

Birds of a feather, Alamo Heights and Highland Park, both rooftop districts. School finance will be fun.

December 30, 2008

The Next Speaker

It will be Dan Gattis, John Smithee, or Burt Solomons. Gattis has to build some momentum. The test, in a speaker’s race, is not whether a candidate can reach out to other members. It’s whether other members, believing that a candidate is for real, reach out to him. These next

December 29, 2008

No Time for Tom

Everyone wants to attend Craddick’s funeral, but the corpse is still breathing—barely. One more nail in the awaiting coffin: The Democrats published their names. It’s vital, as January 13 approaches, that the insurgents do everything possible to bolster their credibility, and the best way to do that was lay out

October 14, 2008

The Predictor

I learned today about a method of analyzing House races that may be able to predict winners (no warranties, expressed or implied) in close races for the Texas House of Representatives. The idea is to determine whether Democrats have a chance to win certain races, based on primary turnout of