The Texas Republican Party continues to pander to the far right of their party. Today, 58 Texas Republicans have joined together to launch the Independent Conservative Republicans of Texas.
Their mission is simple.
As members of the Independent Conservative Republicans of Texas, we pledge to defend the values and principles on which our nation was founded. We are proud Republicans who support our party. But our first allegiance is to the people, the conservative majority of our party who elected us to office.
We pledge not to divide, but to unite Conservatives everywhere. We pledge to make America and Texas stronger by defending individual liberty, freedom, and the free market ideals that made our country the envy of the world.
The group calls themselves the Independent Conservative Republicans of Texas. What is independent about them? Absolutely nothing. All of these lawmakers are part of the monolithic block of Texas Republicans who do and say whatever Rick Perry and Grover Norquist want them to say. This is a weak and pathetic ploy, on Republicans part, to re-brand their failed Party before the general elections -- when they know that they will be held accountable for the laundry list of failures they have put in place since 2003.
When their party began to listen to moderates and work with Democrats to pass bipartisan legislation, they put up controversial Voter ID and shut down the House. These members want to increase the government's role in your bedroom, house, small business, and infringe on your social freedoms like speech, privacy, and every bill in the bill rights except the 2nd, which they believe covers the right to carry grenade launchers.
This group of 58 consists of 44 members of the House and 14 Senators is an impressive list. THe 44 House members bare a striking similarity to the 44 members who supported Craddick and his dictatorial regime.
The founder of this bunch is none other than Dan Patrick, who Phil Martin once called the leader of the Senate (even though the constitutional authority rests with Lt. Gov David Dewhursts, but Dewhurst can't lead himself out of the capitol without help).
By now, some of you might be asking what has me so worked up about this fanatic wing of the Republican Party. The answer is simple, and picture are worth a thousand words (or something like that). Tell me what party would want to be assoicated with this (keep in mind the search was just "Tea Party Signs") or the more offensive "tea party racism".
The reality is, this is language and politics unbecoming of an honest and open public discourse.
They have created a contract with Texas that includes:
We give our word to stand for conservative principles
and to put people before party.
We give our word to be fiscally accountable,
limit the size of government,
and fight for free market principles.
We give our word to protect our borders
and to support a strong military.
We give our word to protect life, support strong family values,
and uphold the Judeo-Christian beliefs our nation was founded upon.
We give our word to defend the Constitution
and protect the sovereign rights of Texas.
Keep in mind, in Texas we change our constitution all the time, so if they want to uphold the constitution, it doesn't take much to pass a Prop 2 style hate amendment to make the constitution reflect their interpretation of the Judeo-Christian doctrines they want. Second, government in Texas is so small, there is a $12 billion structural deficit that was only made balanced by... wait for it... accepting federal money!
The budget that created this deficit AND borrowed federal money was written by a Republican House, a Republican Senate, and signed by a Republican Governor.
Let's talk about real problems and solutions. Let's have a real debate. Let's talk about real ideas and what would help ever Texan and not the 58 Republicans who want more power in the Texas legislature. Craddick, Dan Patrick and Phil King want to use fear and rhetoric and we deserve better in Texas.
This political stunt is not only offensive, it is morally reprehensible.
These 58 elected officials are pandering to the far right of their party and in doing so owe every Texan an explanation why and must call out the fanatics of this movement and call on them to end the language of hate and racism.
With a handful of exceptions, the House members who joined Patrick's group are not heavy-lifters under GOP Speaker Joe Straus. And most of the key lawmakers who helped elect Straus - Reps. Jim Pitts, Dan Branch, Burt Solomons, Charlie Geren, Jim Keffer, among others - aren't on the list. Neither is Straus.
Begs the question, is this a 2010 election strategy or a 2011 speaker fight?
Yesterday, the Texas Republican Party tried to distract voters by offering jokes instead of solutions to our energy crisis.
On August 1st, Republicans from across the country joined together to break the law and rules of Congress to stage a political stunt on the House floor. Instead of offering solutions to our problems, Republicans failed to compromised on any issue before the House recessed for August.
While electric bills are on the rise and oil and gas companies are seeing windfall profits they have come up with the solution of fundraising to send "gift baskets" to 11 members of the House of Representatives:
The Republican Party of Texas is sending "gift baskets" to 11... members of Congress from Texas including Al Green (D-Houston ), Gene Green (D-Houston), Hinojosa (D-Mercedes), Jackson-Lee (D-Houston), Johnson (D-Dallas), Ortiz (D-Corpus Christi), Reyes (D-El Paso), Rodriguez (D-San Antonio), Cuellar (D-Laredo), Doggett (D-Austin), Edwards (D-Waco), and Gonzalez (D-San Antonio) with items they may need on their taxpayer funded vacation.
While Democrats have been doing their jobs in Washington, Republicans have been visiting Las Vegas strip clubs, text messaging people from the House floor during important debates, and refusing to debate Democratic challengers.
All Texans are asking for as an end to the culture of corruption, but the TRP and Republican leaders refuse. Instead they are actively fundraising to buy "gifts" for Democrats in Congress. What kind of gifts?
Tom Craddick, Suzanna Hupp and the Republican Party are shameful. The Republican Party of Texas started the 2008 cycle attempting to silence the voice of the voters by asking judges to remove candidates in Midland and Fort Worth. They failed. Now Craddick has a new tactic- remove a third party option all together.
Suzanna Hupp and Tom Craddick are rightfully concerned. We have strong Democratic incumbents and challengers like TexBlog PAC endorsed Chris Turner, Diana Maldonado, Sherrie Matula, and others like Robert Miklos, Joel Redmond, Joe Moody, and many many more.
The scary thing is the blatant disregard the Republican Party has toward Texas voters. Their desire for power and control means they are trying to actively remove third party candidates from the ballot.
Today, Laylan Copelin is reporting that Craddick is meeting with Libertarian's in the Speaker's office to ask them to remove their names. This is tantamount to being called into the principal's office and being asked to go to a different school or just drop out.
Craddick and Hupp are aggressively asking Libertarians to remove their name and remove options for the voters.
The scary thing is, it has worked in at least one high profile race.
The only Libertarian candidate to drop off the ballot in Central Texas so far is Alan Hultgren, who was running against state Rep. Valinda Bolton, D-Austin, and Republican Donna Keel.
With less than three months to go, it is clear Craddick is afraid of losing his job. It is obvious we have him against the ropes, and he isn't going down with out a fight. To complete the sports metaphor, it is entirely possible Craddick lands a lucky punch and our hopes to win back the House are dashed.
Remember, this is the same Republican party that drew congressional districts that silenced tens of thousands of Hispanic and African American voters. Congressional districts ruled unconstitutional by the most conservative Supreme Court we have had in decades. This is the party that will swift boat, TRMPAC, DeLay, their way to victory.
If you aren't volunteering for your county party or for a candidate do it today. If you haven't donated to TexBlog PAC, do it today. Scare the Republican Party of Texas, make your voice heard today.
The Texas Republican Party seems to have a fundamental inability to understand the internet. Today, the TRP bashed the netroots again, but this time they ignored the simple fact that we have achieved our goals… again.
During their last attack on the TexBlog PAC, we outperformed. Now they are attacking the netroots for supporting Lt. Col. Rick Noriega.
Today the Republican Party of Texas questioned Democratic Senate wannabee Rick Noriega and the commitment of his "Netroots" community in his quest for the Democratic nomination for the United States Senate seat currently held by Senator John Cornyn. Noriega challenged his "Netroots" community to step up and donate to his campaign to counter the successful events featuring President George W. Bush on behalf of Senator Cornyn.
"Rick Noriega has requested online money help to kick start his anemic campaign from the most liberal left leaning donors of the national Democratic Party. Apparently with a whopping three day total of $2,045 via the internet these liberal donors don't find his candidacy viable," stated Hans Klingler, Spokesman for the Texas G.O.P.
Well let's clear the record really quick. We have raised a couple thousand on other sites, but Team Noriega, has received the endorsement from Democracy for America, General Wes Clark, and apparently another impressive endorsement is on the way. At the same time, 885 people have donated $45,689. Rather than doing a little research, the Republican party has just made a huge assumption, and we all know what happens when you assume.
Klingler, has already attacked the TexBlog PAC calling it "an echo chamber" and called us a "majority in the virtual world". Now he is attacking a man who has defended our country, helped Katrina evacuees in Houston, and passed the first teacher pay raise since 2003.
Maybe if the top down Republican Party would empower people as opposed to mocking and doubting them, then they would be able to raise money and activate volunteers online.
Instead, the TRP is interested in protecting the culture of corruption Perry, Dewhurst, and Craddick have established. Rather than a party of people, the Republicans blindly attack what they are scared of. Clearly Klingler and the Republican Party is afraid of you and what you have the power to do.
The Texas Republican Party has been on the losing side of a lot of battles lately. Looking back just 2 years Democrats have won 7 state House seats, picked up 2 Congressional seats, won all but one special election, defended every incumbent in Austin. Remember that Tom DeLay guy? He is gone too. Not to mention the fact that Dallas County is blue and Harris is on the tipping point.
It’s a good time to be a Democrat in Texas. We are learning to win again, and with John Cornyn vulnerable we are starting to factor in to the national debate.
The Wall Street Journal wrote a piece few could have hoped for in 2004, The Troubled Texas GOP. Where did the GOP stranglehold on Texas go?
Don't believe that voters would ever draw such a conclusion in Texas? In June several national polls found younger voters are turning away from the GOP. One of them, conducted by CBS News, the New York Times and MTV, found that 54% of 17- to 29-year-olds would vote for a Democratic candidate for president, while only 32% would vote Republican.
[...]
"There's a certain inevitability in demographics," [Royal Masset] told me. "We knew that if we could win 40% of the Hispanic vote," as Mr. Bush did in 2004, "we'd control Texas until 2030." But in 2006, the number of Texas Hispanics who voted Republican fell to between 30% and 35% (depending on the poll).
This shift alone spells trouble for Republicans. Many conservatives may not want to hear it, but Mr. Masset puts the blame on talk radio and cable TV reaction to immigration reform. He says an uncompromising attitude toward comprehensive reform and appeals to fear sometimes carry a whiff of racism that alienates Hispanics. "Houston is no more than six years behind Dallas," he warns.
Extremists have hijacked the Republican Party and they are driving their own party further out of touch with average American’s.
"Voting is the most fundamental right in a democracy, and we should all be working to encourage more participation in fair elections free from fraud and intimidation instead of using tax dollars to promote a partisan agenda." Chairman Boyd Richie
The "Voter ID" agenda is part of a state-by-state effort orchestrated by Karl Rove with the clear intention of suppressing the vote among certain groups of voters - seniors, college students, lower income voters and minorities - who typically vote Democratic.
Today is a clear example of how the Republican Party and the Democratic Party differ wildly in their ideology. The Republican's want to restrict voters. By offering House Bills 218 and 626, they want to make it harder for seniors, college students, low income Texans, and minorities to vote.
On a recent True Courage Action Network, a non-partisan non-profit conference call, it was revealed that the minimum cost, even for voters who have been voting for 20 years but maybe move, or get married and change names, will be roughly $20 for the certified copy of a both certificate. And, possibly as much as $90 if you are a naturalized citizen.
Here are the facts. HB 218 will require ALL voters to present a photo ID OR two forms of government approved non-photo ID.
HB 218 is one step closer to voter suppression and HB 626 is a giant leap towards a poll tax.
HB 626 would literally end voter registration drives and registration by mail as we know them today by requiring every person who registers to provide a certified copy (not a photocopy) of a birth certificate ($23), citizenship papers ($200) or a passport, mailed in a business reply envelope if not presented in person. By requiring a "certified" copy instead of a photocopy, the days of voter registration tables, door-to-door voter registration and registration by mail would be over.
