Hays County Tea Party Candidates Illustrate Growing GOP Divide

by: Katherine Haenschen

Wed Feb 17, 2010 at 03:14 PM CST

BOR has reported recently on Tea Party primary challengers to incumbent Texas Republican Congressmen. Here in Central Texas, that division is going even deeper, with Tea Party challengers to many of the elected party officials in the Hays County Republican Party.

I'm not talking about State Reps or Judges... I'm talking about Precinct Chairs. Tea Party activists are primarying sitting Republican precinct chairs in Hays County. There's also a Tea Party challenger to Hays County Republican Chair Bud Wymore.

It kinda gets better. The Ellis County Observer, basically a blog for the "Ron Paul!!" crowd out of Midlothian, has endorsed in the Hays County GOP primary and stated its preference for particular precinct chairs. (Note: Ellis County and Hays County are about 3 hours apart on I-35. Just saying.) In each case, the Ellis County Observer has endorsed the Tea Party, anti-establishment Republican candidate.

So in case you are voting in the Hays County Republican primary and want to know how to cast a ballot for more dysfunction, here it is:

Hays County Co Chair - CLARK REGAN
Hays GOP Precinct # 116 - ROB ROARK
Hays GOP Precinct # 225 - DAVID CROWELL
Hays GOP Precinct # 330 - SEAN BOLOCK
Hays GOP Precinct # 337 - CRAIG YOUNG

This is more than an amusing side note to a busy primary season, however. Precinct chairs are the heart and sole of a grassroots party organization. They knock on the doors, participate in the phone banks, and do the work that makes a difference in close elections. Hays County is largely considered to be a bellwether county in Central Texas. If the party activists are largely taken over by Tea Party and Ron Paul folks who won't work for more "mainstream" conservative Republicans, it could make a difference in the upcoming election.

After all, any Tea Party activist who would do the work for the more compromised "moderate" Republicans would be giving up on their core values of liberty. The Tea Party movement is founded on grassroots activists showing their independence from a compromised Republican Party that has sold out our rights to the highest corporate bidders. Whether the Citizens United decision or the bank bailout, so-called "conservatives" like Kay Bailey Hutchison are really just shills for the corporate overlords who want to take away the individual liberties that Tea Party activists hold so dear.

Of course, the real threat is if Debra Medina squeaks into a run-off against Rick Perry. Then these now-entrenched activists will be ready to snap into action, and do all they can to push their Tea Party Hero into the general election.

But take heed, folks. The Tea Party is getting organized on a local level. What that will mean in the Republican Primary at the top and bottom of the ballot remains to be seen.  

Texas GOP Hall of Hypocrites

by: Libby Shaw

Wed Oct 21, 2009 at 08:40 PM CDT

Texas has its fair share of outstanding hypocrites.  Check the list below to see if your U.S. House Rep. is included in the GOP Hall of Hypocrites.  I must admit that I am not shocked to learn that my U.S. Rep., John Culberson, is among them.  I betcha your U.S. Reps are too.  

Health Care is not a Privilege

by: ProgressiveInTexas

Sat Jul 25, 2009 at 11:46 PM CDT

July 26, 2009

The Honorable Ron Paul
203 Cannon House Office Building
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Re: Web Post of July 20, 2009
“Health Care is a Good Not a Right”

Dear Representative Paul:

I beg to differ with your assessment. You appear to have mixed your analogy.

Right is to Privilege as Goods is to Services. That is a basic SAT analogy.

Health Care would be a SERVICE. One provided by trained individuals, each with their own reasons for entering the field. Health care is NOT a commodity. Beef and potatoes are commodities. Beef and potatoes are commodities produced and brought to market by individuals with individuals with some degree of college education; but higher education is not specifically required.

For arguments sake, I will address Health Care as a commodity; as a commodity, the way to reduce consumer costs would be to increase supply. If beef costs are too high then flood the market with cattle. Consumer prices drop. It is simple supply-side Economics. You remember supply side Reaganomics from the 1980's.

TX Republican Lawmakers Rail Against Stimulus Budget But Added to Its Cost

by: Libby Shaw

Sun Mar 01, 2009 at 08:55 PM CST

This morning when I opened the Houston Chronicle, one of the front page articles immediately grabbed my attention.

Texans Rip Budget Yet Add to Cost

The online edition reads:

Texas lawmakers rip budget, but seek millions

The Houston Chronicle does not single out Republicans, of course, because Texas Democrats added to the budget's costs as well. However, the Democrats are not bellowing and bellyaching about the stimulus budget while the Republicans continue to 24/7.

What hypocritical jackasses. Do Republican lawmakers actually believe they can continue to fool us with their double talk and embarrass us by their endless clown shows?  

Ron Paul Endorses a Presidential Candidate

by: Matt Glazer

Tue Sep 23, 2008 at 04:23 PM CDT

According to the Constitution Party, Ron Paul is endorsing their guy, Chuck Baldwin.

Former GOP presidential candidate, Texas Congressman Ron Paul announced today he is endorsing Constitution Party presidential candidate Chuck Baldwin.

In a letter to supporters, Paul wrote, "I'm supporting Chuck Baldwin, the Constitution Party candidate."

Paul went on to say, "There is no real choice between the two major parties and their nominees, only the rhetoric varies. The amazingly long campaign is designed to make sure the real issues are ignored."

Baldwin, a conservative commentator, columnist and pastor of a church in Pensacola, FL, campaigned for Ron Paul during the congressman's run for president. After receiving Paul's endorsement, Baldwin said, "I am humbled and deeply grateful to Dr. Paul for his support. There could not be higher praise. I am committed to carrying on the Ron Paul Revolution for a return to constitutionally limited government.

I am glad the Constitution Party gave some background on Baldwin since he isn't even on the Texas ballot.  Don't worry Ron Paul supporters, you will be able to vote for Baldwin though, he is a write in candidate.

Needless to say, Bob Barr is having a very bad day.

Why Won't Ron Paul Do More?

by: Matt Glazer

Fri Sep 19, 2008 at 04:26 PM CDT

Kathryn A. Wolfe, penned the aptly titled, "Paul's Hands-Off Philosophy Challenged After Ike Hits Home".

As Wolfe points out, Democratic Reps. Gene Green and Nick Lampson, and even some Texas Republicans have pledged to press for emergency financial aid and extended funding of debris removal.

When asked what the Republican Congressman would do, his spokeswoman Rachel Mills said the lawmaker will support the debris removal request.

However Mills said more.

But Mills said she is not sure whether Paul will back emergency appropriations for coastal communities. "I haven't had a chance to talk with him directly about that," she said. "At this point I'm not sure. We'd have to take a look at the specifics of the package."

However, when Hurricane Gustav hit, Paul was a little more open.

When Hurricane Gustav imperiled Paul's district this month, Paul reiterated his view that the government can't take care of every natural disaster. "If my house gets blown away, I have to rebuild it," he said. "I like the idea of personal responsibility in this case."

Paul has already voted once against a major aide package.  When Katrina and Rita hit the coast, Paul was just 1 of 11 House members who opposed a $51.8 billion aide package.

Right now, Rep. Ron Paul needs to put people ahead of politics.

Bob Barr Asks Ron Paul to Be His Running Mate

by: Matt Glazer

Wed Sep 10, 2008 at 04:31 PM CDT

Bob Barr, the Libertarian Party nominee for president, has invited GOP Congressman Ron Paul to be his running mate in the upcoming election. In a letter sent to Paul, Barr called Paul one of the "few American patriots" who exist in today's society, and asked him to "seriously consider this final offer as an opportunity to show true, lasting leadership beyond party politics."

The incredible part about this isn't that a Barr is asking Paul to be his running mate, it's the fact that we still aren't hearing anything about the lack of unity in the Republican Party.

Ron Paul was a candidate to be the Republican nominee for President.  He is already on the Montana ballot this November. Now, he has been asked by a third party to leave his party completely and join the Libertarian Party to run against John McCain.

It's not a total stretch, Paul ran for President as a Libertarian in 1988.

Barr's offer seems real.

Barr's running mate, Wayne Allyn Root, expressed support: "As the Libertarian Party vice presidential nominee, I believe in one thing above all else-principle. There can be no compromise on the ideals of limited government, lower taxes, lower spending, and more freedom for the American people. Those are the principles to which I've dedicated my life. The GOP and Democratic candidates only give lip service-at best-to these ideals and principles. It is only an act at election time every four years."

This signals that the Republican Party is still fractured. It also helps our statewides as the small government right are drawn to the Libertarian party.  Not to mention the effects it has on the straight ticket vote.

This all assumes two things-- Ron Paul accepts and Suzanna Hupp doesn't find a way to get Barr and Paul to drop out of the race.

Update: This just gets better.

Republican Rep. Ron Paul, the libertarian-leaning Texas lawmaker who attracted a devoted following in the GOP primaries, said Wednesday he rejected an appeal to endorse John McCain's presidential bid.

Paul said the request came from Phil Gramm, the former McCain adviser and ex-senator whom the campaign jettisoned after he said the country was a "nation of whiners" about the economy. Gramm defeated Paul in the Republican primary for the Senate in 1984.

Speaking to reporters at a news conference, Paul said Gramm called him this week and told him, "You need to endorse McCain." The Texas congressman said he refused.

"The idea was that he would do less harm than the other candidate," Paul said.

Ron Paul, Supporters Still Not Endorsing John McCain

by: Matt Glazer

Tue Sep 02, 2008 at 11:04 PM CDT

On the other hand, the libertarian side of the Republican Party has not unified behind John McCain yet.  

The Houston Chronicle is reporting that Rep. Ron Paul has thrown a counter convention in the Twin Cities.

A few hours before his Campaign for Liberty rally got under way here today, U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, or St. Paul to many of the 9,000-plus people at the gathering, bashed his Republican Party for what he said was avoidance of important issues such as deficit spending and civil liberties.

[...]

In an interview with CNN, Paul also said there was "not a heck of a lot to like" about presidential candidates John McCain [...] partly because he considers them flip-floppers.
"John McCain used to be for taxes, now he's against taxes," Paul said.

This lack of unity in the Republican Party extends beyond Congressman Paul and his parties nominee.  Republican delegation alternate Alan Smith went on record with the Chronicle saying that he is among a dozen delegates from Texas who will not be voting for John McCain.

"By calling the GOP back to its roots, we will re-invigorate positive excitement in our candidates," he said in a letter to delegates.

Smith said that as an alternate, he took an oath to vote for nominate McCain but will cast his personal presidential vote Nov. 4 for Libertarian Bob Barr of Georgia.

This is what real intraparty problems look like, not just a false media narrative.

Ron Paul's Texas Supporters Fight On

by: David Mauro

Tue Jun 10, 2008 at 00:05 AM CDT

Even though John McCain has been the Republican presumptive nominee for going on four months, many Ron Paul supporters in the Lone Star State still aren't giving up.

Instead, they're turning their sights to this weekend's Texas Republican Party Convention in Houston.

The vice chairman of the Tarrant County GOP is even speculating that, perhaps due to an enthusiasm defecit caused by John McCain (who is not exactly adored by the party's base) and the party's recent woes, the Paul supporters could take over the convention.

From the Star-Telegram: 

"If Ron Paulers show up in greater numbers than social conservatives, they could take over the whole convention -- not because they represent the majority of the state, but because they showed up in greater numbers," said Paul Stockard, a Fort Worth delegate and vice chairman of the Tarrant County Republican Party.

"They are very organized. They can make sure that as many of their people as possible get through and what's left -- the scraps -- the other people will have," he said. "If they took over Texas, it would be a big coup for them."

And from Gardner Selby of the Statesman, we have news of a battle shaping up for a spot on the RNC between two Austinites: one an ardent Paul supporter who chaired the SD25 GOP Convention and the other a lawyer (and more mainstream Republican) named Bill Crocker who is seeking re-election.

When the most excited activists in your party are unlikely to even vote for your party's nominee, you've definitely got a problem.

And, lucky for Texas Democrats, that's what the state GOP has on their hands: a bunch of inspired Ron Paul supporters who will try to take over the convention this weekend and then likely vote against John McCain in November. 

Can Ron Paul Change the Republican Party?

by: Michael Hurta

Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 10:00 AM CDT

"So when people say Ron Paul is out of the Presidential race, that's true, not true, partly true, how would you describe it?" Roberts asked.

"I would think in the nominal sense, what are the odds of us overcoming delegates of John McCain or his delegates deserting, in that way it's over. But the campaign to get the maximum number of votes the max amount of delegates to participate in writing platforms and talking about the future, I think we're very much involved and very much alive," Paul said, arguing that so many people had worked on his campaign and "I don't feel good about walking away from them."

With the Pennsylvania primary, we have now seen the "second stage" of his campaign.  With little to compete with, the Texas Congressman had his best showing of the process, netting 16 percent of Republican voters.  He made 4 stops to the state, and that combined with his vote share is a lot for a non-contender after the race is entirely over.  If he keeps this up, he'll gain a small yet significant number of delegates for the Republican Convention, and that may be enough to assert some influence on the next Republican platform.

The following seems to signify what follows:

Benton estimated that Paul will arrive at the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis with 50 delegates. That's enough to make some noise, if not enough to rewrite the party platform to suit the Texan's libertarian tastes.

What's next for the Paul Revolution? The Good Doctor has a new book coming out on April 30: "The Revolution, A Manifesto."

Would 50 be enough to re-write some of the Republican Platform?  Will he even get 50 delegates?

I'm not sure about the latter, but I don't even think he needs 50 to have an effect.  30 might even do.  The Republican Party is, policy-wise, in shambles.  The Republican Presidential Nominee even embodies policy confusion.  On social issues, he disagrees with the party's power-brokers of the last decade.  On economic issues, he isn't even sure where he stands -- if you listen to everything he says it will only confuse you.

Even on the one issue that seems to bring the party together (except Ron Paul), the War on Iraq, is thought of by some conservatives as a detriment to the cause.  The party may claim to parade "conservatism," but the party only stands together on issues astray from Reagan's movement!

So can an obscure doctor from Texas affect the Republican party?  I think so.  If there's ever a time when Republicans might listen to differing ideas, it would be now.  (Oddly, though; it seems that the National Republicans might be more likely to listen than the state ones -- who all apparently agree that immigration is devilish and that Christianity should rule.)

But how much can he change?  I'm not really sure.  And as for what he wants to get done, you may want to read his book when it arrives later this month.  And regarding how the "Revolution" actually concludes, well; I just hope it's for the good of the nation.