Burnt Orange Report

Texas GOP Convention Tidbits

By Byron LaMasters

The Texas GOP convention is in full swing today. As I mentioned earlier, they've already engaged in their obligatory gay bashing. And, of course, things wouldn't be right unless they got hysterical about guns. Via War Liberal the San Antonio Express-News reports on the festivities:

Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson, who championed Texas' concealed handgun law as a state senator, was on a right-to-bear-arms crusade Thursday.

His target: signs he spotted at the Convention Center and city parking garages that he said wrongly warn people against carrying weapons there.

He said cities can't impose such regulations except in areas or circumstances specified by state or federal law.

"Every time I see a sign, I call somebody," Patterson said. As for his own weapon, he said, "I always carry unless prohibited by state or federal law."

And then there's the attempts for minority voter outreach:

African American state GOP delegates gathered for their first summit, with many in the relatively small group raising their hands when asked how many were attending their first convention. Benkiser said she has worked to reach into communities that don't traditionally vote Republican.

Still, she said, "I know many of you in the African American community have been Republicans forever, it seems. ... This party is where your heritage is."

As most African-Americans would tell you, the Republican Party dropped it's heritage as the party of Lincoln and abolition when it embraced Barry Goldwater in 1964. And they haven't looked back.

(Speaking of GOP minority outreach, Atrios has a great example of how Republicans just don't get it. On a sign-up page for Spanish-speaking Bush supporters, they list four options for occupation: "war veteran or retired military; teacher or educator; senior citizen; or farmer or rancher". You know, some Republicans just don't seem to realize that Hispanics just might be lawyers and doctors and businessmen, etc.)

And then, don't forget about Roy Moore:

Former Chief Justice Roy Moore of the Alabama Supreme Court recounted for an adoring GOP audience his ouster from office after he failed to remove a monument of the Ten Commandments from the state judicial building.

Moore spoke at a reception at the invitation of Gina Parker, a Waco lawyer and businesswoman challenging state GOP Chairman Tina Benkiser for the party's top slot at its state convention.

"It's about God," Moore said. "It's not about the Ten Commandments. It's not about the monument. It's not about religion. ... It's about the acknowledgement of God."

Moore also spoke against what he called judicial activism.

Roy Moore is speaking of judicial activism??? Are you kidding me? Roy Moore is perhaps the biggest judicial activist in America. As someone who was elected to interpret the law, he openly refused to obey an order from a higher court, and thus was rightfully removed from office.

Moving on, Off the Kuff has the low-down on Rick Perry's remarks. Basically, Perry tried his best to stress that he was a good conservative in order to make the GOP base forget that he supports gambling.