Shane Sklar's new radio ad, "Change," hits the airwaves this morning. The ad highlights Ron Paul's record of ineffective leadership and lays out Shane's plan for change.
(I still contend, the best sleeper congressional race -- and thus most important race -- in Texas. - promoted by Phillip Martin)
This gem was in The Hill's coverage of yesterday's House Republican caucus meeting:
The other big surprise was the revelation that Rep. Ron Paul (R), the iconoclastic Texan who rarely sides with his own leadership on tight votes, is on a monthly payment plan to contribute “a significant” amount to the Republican election drive. Cantor would not disclose an exact dollar amount.
Keep in mind that whichever of the Republican "members and aides present" that leaked this tidbit to The Hill (the Capitol Hill newspaper that brings you "The Hill's 50 Most Beautiful People" and other innovations in journalism) did not necessarily have Ron Paul's best interest at heart. Closing ranks with Paul, a member that even Newt Gingrich let roam off the reservation, may be a sign of just how scary things look from inside the Republican leadership.
Whatever the reasons for his sudden outpouring of generosity, you can bet Ron Paul expects a return on his investment. As the FEC quarter comes to a close, help us prepare for the attacks we know are coming when Ron Paul calls in this favor. Your contribution -- whatever you can give -- will help us continue to spread our message of change and show people the real Ron Paul.
Rick Perry is going to kick Chris Bell's ASS TO NEXT TUESDAY (the 7th that is). Have you got your concession blogs ready you air conditioning loving, chair sitting, computer monitor gazing pussies. Go home carpet bagger! Chris Bell is complete SHIT! You call THAT a fucking candidate? (How the fuck does he have that terrible of a website?) How do democrats expect to win without even looking like they give a shit? Vote for us because we a democrats! Thats about all you have isn't it you fucking wuss. I hope Rick Perry chops your ill gotten student loans to SHIT! Fuck you and fuck.....what was the democrats name again?
Greg has a post up right now about Republican Congressman Ron Paul and his own problem with racially charged statements. Are you telling me that if these were said by Kinky Friedman it'd be all okay because he's a joke, I mean, joker?
With the prominence that the Klansman Duke gives Dr. Ron Paul, I'm curious how on earth the two could ever form a bond when Paul has made such statements such as these:
"If you have ever been robbed by a black teen-aged male, you know unbelievably fleet-footed they can be." – Victoria Advocate, 5/24/96
"Given the inefficiencies of what the DC laughably calls the criminal justice system, I think we can safely assume that 95 percent of the black males in that city are semi-criminal or criminal." – Victoria Advocate, 5/24/96
"Opinion polls consistently show that only five percent of blacks have sensible political opinions, i.e. support the free market, individual liberty and the end of welfare and affirmative action." –
Victoria Advocate, 5/24/96
(Another one of our Texroots candidates! - promoted by Phillip Martin)
You've heard a lot about Shane Sklar here on Burnt Orange Report. Now hear Shane talk about this exciting race in his own words:
Great things are happening everyday at the campaign, and we'd love to hear your ideas and get you more involved. You can click here to contribute or here to volunteer. And please be sure to visit our website at www.shanesklar.com to find out more.
Go Get 'Em,
Austin Bonner
Communications Director
Shane Sklar for Congress
For weeks, Ron Paul has been peddling distortions of his own record. He's called himself "a leader on homeland security" when we know he has time and time again voted against vital homeland security measures for our borders, ports, chemical facilities, and nuclear plants. Even worse, he has touted his record on hurricane recovery when we remember his outrageous votes against relief funds for victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
But now Paul has begun a nasty smear campaign against Shane Sklar. This week, Paul began push polling in our district.
First there was the grassroots. Then there was the
netroots. Now we have the TexRoots- Texas
activists who have taken to the streets as well as the Internet in support of Democratic candidates that deserve your support.
Last month, over a dozen Texas Bloggers led in part by Burnt Orange Report, joined together in
announcing the first slate of 3 candidates who have
engaged the online community in races that
matter. They are:
This week we will be launching a project at BOR
of which we are very excited- and B-Mail readers (registered users) will get to see it
before anyone else!
The Burnt Orange Political Report
There are hundreds of races across the state. That's
a lot of numbers and people for one person to keep
track of so here at BOR we are going to attempt to
do it for you. Along with Phillip Martin and Matt
Glazer, we've taken a look at every one, talked to
insiders (and outsiders), and put together a report
that details our pulse on Texas, complete with
rankings and projections.
Later this week, we'll be sending the first BOPR via
e-mail to the registerd users of our blog who will
also be first to receive updated reports every 2
weeks. Online, we'll be featuring more in depth race
by race analysis starting with the most contested
seats in Texas.
Paul Burka has some background info on Lukin Gilliland who filed as a Democrat in TX-23 against Bonilla. He has since written his campaign a half-million dollar check, hired a well known Austin consultant, and brought on board one Travis County candidate's campaign manager. I know I'll be keeping an eye on him as he seems to be the only Democrat with a real chance at actually eating into Bonilla's white voters which is needed to force that race into a run-off.
Capitol Annex goes into what's interesting about all the re-re-redistricting filers and who didn't decide to run too.
Kuff reminds us that Gov. Goodhair still has one more day to decide if he wants to call a 'special election' in TX-22. That would be just to fulfill the remainder of DeLay's lame 2-month term. Can we repeat how lame that would be?
Rick Pery v. The World informs us that Chet Edwards has picked up two endorsements from traditionally Republican leaning groups- U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Federation of Independent Business. Both groups had endorsed Chet's Republican opponent in 2004 (Arlene Wohlgemonster).
(I'm not the only one who thinks this is an important congressional race. Read everything you could want to know about Sklar's background here, and read why he can beat Ron Paul (complete with detailed poll numbers) here. - promoted by Phillip Martin)
In his Sunday column, Todd J. Gillman wrote a succinct overview of Shane Sklar's challenge in the 14th Congressional District, and the reasons people are calling this "sleeper" race ripe for an upset.
UNDER-THE-RADAR RACE
Shane Sklar hasn't gotten much press outside the coastal U.S. House district he hopes to wrest from Rep. Ron Paul. But Democratic strategist Matt Angle calls it a "sleeper" race that could yield an upset. For one thing, half the district was never represented by Dr. Paul, R-Surfside, until the last round of redistricting.
Dr. Paul, one of the few physicians in Congress, is a former Libertarian presidential nominee, and Mr. Sklar says his small-government ideology is out of sync with the district's needs.
"He's voted against hurricane assistance for a district that's over half the Texas coastline," Mr. Sklar said. "His libertarian philosophy is trumping common sense."
Mr. Sklar, a former political operative for Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco, also levels the unusual assertion that Dr. Paul wants President Bush impeached.
Indeed, on an Austin talk radio show last month, the congressman reportedly said: "I would have trouble arguing that he's been a constitutional president, and once you violate the Constitution and be proven to do that, I think these people should be removed from office."
Paul aides say he isn't much worried about winning another term, and although he says the invasion of Iraq violated the Constitution because there was no formal declaration of war, he puts more blame on Congress for letting that happen.
"He does not support impeaching the president," said spokesman Jeff Deist.
Todd J. Gillman covers Congress and the Texas delegation.
Did you ever read Shane Sklar's guest post over at Off the Kuff?
As some of you know, I'm a pretty young guy to be running for Congress -- at least compared to my opponent. As a fourth-generation rancher, I come from a region and an industry where the things that really matter are handed down from generation to generation -- land, equipment, expertise, and values. So that the fact that my lifetime has seen an unprecedented moment of change in this region and the agricultural industry makes me believe that we need a strong voice in Congress that will stand up for our values, not a narrow personal ideology.
How about Kuff's post on Juan Garcia and the money race in HD-33? Did you read that?
Have you donated to the TexRoots candidates? The whole point of this project is to identify candidates and support them because they have earned the right to your eyeballs and wallets as people who can win this year in Texas. It's in your hands if this moves forward so donate if you feel them worthy.
