I called my new Rep in Arlington yesterday, Barbara Nash, and Joe Straus is working her hard (see my last two posts). All she has heard about Ken Paxton is garbage (from Joe Straus and friends of course). We need to keep calling and persuading. Be polite but insistent. Know the facts. Ask our new reps to do independent research. We elected some good new folks but they are being co-opted by Joe Straus and his machine. Keep calling — we can win this!

I have Jerry Madden from Plano and south Collin County. Not really a RINO but straying towards that territory and perhaps getting a bit complacent from going without meaningful electoral opposition for some time now. That and the fact that he seems to be a bit closer to Straus than I’d like is going to make him a tough nut to crack, but you never know until you try.

I had already emailed and faxed my rep John Smithee and he was sitting on a fence at the time. I “requested” he put in writing who he would be supporting and I received a letter back from him which said basically he had not made up his mind one way or another and would be reviewing info, etc. Kinda disappointing as Amarillo is one of the most conversative cities in Texas. But I’ll contact him again.

I would also add that I’ve found Ken to be a cautious guy, and pleasant to those who don’t fully agree with him. A truly good choice for the job.
I personally worked in elect 4 different State Reps districts this time, all successful efforts. 3 of the 4 have gone to Paxton. The 4th (Stefani Carter) is hiding from her constituents and about 90% of the volunteers who worked for her. She will make a BIG mistake if she goes with Straus (We’ve repeatedly told her that he’ll have to leave conservative legislation to die in committee to pay off his Democratic supporters).
Stefani, Angie Chen Button and Jerry Madden are all tough nuts to crack but I will tell; my inside sources say the pressure is working, if we can keep it up, right up to January 11th. On that day, the MORNING of the vote (they’re trying to push the rally to afternoon- after the vote), I hope we can rally enough dedicated conservatives to surround the Capital with a line of marchers. And those that DON’T understand the need for a conservative Speaker, need to be reminded why in the next primary- by their opponents.

Read through some of this:

http://northtexasteaparty.org/2010/11/19/a-message-to-the-independent-conservative-republican-members/

There absolutely needs to be a Republican caucus on this. We cannot go into the Legislature as a divided body on this matter. The Republican Texas House caucus needs to decide who the right Republican Speaker should be.

As noted above, Strauss is not pro-life and pro-life groups have opposed him. See http://www.lifenews.com/2010/12/09/opi-1032

Straus has more than enough votes, and the opposition of constituents does not and will not matter to enough of them to make any difference.

Expect the outcome to be no different from 2007 under Craddick or 2009 under Straus. Nothing of significance is going to pass. With sessions that are unrealistically short and infrequent, it’s a wonder anything ever has before.

since he is one of the Dems who Joe gave a committee chair to last session. Mark Strama actually Used this Appointment as a Campaign Issue since, as he claimed, it showed how he worked across party lines and was not partisan–HA!.
Also, do not forget all the money Joe gave Democratic House Candidates, who in some cases had a Republican opponent in the race. Additionally, Joe gave ZERO money to any House Republican candidate in Travis county, the seat of State Govt.
Thank You Joe for the help you gave to the party–the Democratic Party that is!

What is conservative about trying to oust a Speaker who just helped the GOP gain a huge majority, who can raise tons of money for the party, cares more about governing than political posturing, worked in the Reagan Administration, has shown admirable leadership qualities, who has been a Republican all his life, who is a family man, did not seek this position of leadership but who accepts the responsibilty of the office with fortitude and dignity, and who has said he will support a conservative agenda given the larger majority in the House? …. Nothing. This is not conservative, it is radical. Give the man a chance to lead the GOP House and judge him on the results. I think you will be surprised at how things turn out. Come on folks, let’s get behind our leaders and move forward with solving the problems that are facing Texas. Stop these political games that will only lead to strife within the party. As Paul Burka, Texas Monthly political guru, this race has been over for a long time. Time to unite and move forward. For those Reps who vote against the Speaker, I think it is going to be a hard session and they might be the ones who end up with a primary opponent … and a well funded one at that.

Straus had nothing to do with the huge gain—give that to the TEA Party and we reject Straus!!!

Diane Patrick, Rep for S.Arlington, DWG and Pantego is not listening about changing her commitment to Straus. I’ve called, emailed and confronted her at a Tea Party meeting abouit pulling her pledge to Straus but she refuses to listen or even respond.

She needs to understand that her support for Straus will kill her chance at reelection the next time around.

We have to go nationwide and crush all the snowe and collins and any weak kneed Repub we can find, we tea party guys need to use the Rinos as cannon fodder and rid ourselves of them all. As a Born and raised Texan, Strauss is a weasel, he can’t even run his own ranch.

The SATP invited him to speak recently to dispell any rumors or bad press. I guess he had something better to do.

http://www.sanantonioteaparty.us/102082/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Michael Gallops, mgallops@texasra.org

DALLAS – Today, the Texas Republican Assembly Board of Directors announced their endorsement of State Representative Ken Paxton (R-McKinney) for Speaker in the Texas House of Representatives.

The race for speaker in the Texas House is the first fight for conservative principles that lawmakers will face in January. In November, we saw an unprecedented mandate given to the Republican Party, and we believe that the interests of all Texans will be best served with a conservative leader in the House of Representatives. With that in mind, the TXRA Board of Directors opted to endorse in this race.

Representative Paxton is the very definition of a conservative Republican. He has ranked among the most consistent conservatives in the Texas House throughout his tenure as state representative, and our board of directors is confident in his ability to lead the Texas House beginning in January.

The Republican Assembly board is demanding that Republicans caucus and select the speaker without input from the Democrats. We are endorsing Ken Paxton and are recommending that legislators support and vote for him.

The board of directors chose to endorse in the speaker’s race without the membership of the Republican Assembly due to the time constraints in this race.

The Texas Republican Assembly is comprised of chapters around the state of Texas. The organization regularly endorses in Republican primary contests, and this year endorsed conservatives such as incoming state representatives David Simpson, Erwin Cain, Charles Perry, and others.

The Texas Republican Assembly is a grassroots movement to take back the Republican Party for the vast and disenfranchised majority of its members: Reagan conservatives, who believe in small government, lower taxes, free market capitalism, a strong defense, the right to life, and a decent and moral America.