Gary
Polland 2211 Norfolk St., Suite 920 Houston, TX 77098 (713) 621-6335 Email
Thoughts This Fortnight
U.S. Weakness Under Obama In The Face Of Iranian/Russian Provocations: Scary
It used to be when Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, or George W. Bush were President, enemies knew not to mess with the U.S.
Not so now, we are patsies. The Iranians illegally seize U.S. riverine command boats and ten sailors. The U.S. reaction: grovel and apologize. The Iranian reaction: we humbled the Great Satan, the U.S.!
Then on April 11 and 12, 2016, the Russian fighters buzzed the destroyer USS Donald Cook in international waters, and then the next day a Russian helix helicopter circled the Cook seven times at low altitude and then the Russian fighters returned for 11 passes after failing to respond to our safety warnings. The U.S. reaction: a protest. A real leader would have fired a warning shot at the intruders and, next pass, shot down the intruders.
Appeasement begets more conflict and war.
It's time to elect a President who puts America first.
You Can Judge A Candidate By The Company He Keeps
In the animal kingdom, elephants and rhinos travel in herds. The same can be said in the political world; elephants - committed conservatives and R.I.N.O's (Republicans in name only) can usually be found together in herds. Case in point, the race to elect a new chairman of the Republican Party of Texas. It is a contest between Tom Mechler and Jared Woodfill that will be decided at this year's Republican State Convention in Dallas, May 12-14.
You may remember that Mechler is the former RPT Treasurer and current interim chairman completing the remainder of Steve Munisteri's term following his resignation a little over a year ago. Woodfill served the Harris County Republican Party as Finance Committee Chairman and also Legal Counsel prior to being elected to six consecutive terms as Harris County Republican Party Chairman.
In an April 11th Texas Tribune article entitled, "Analysis: No Middle Ground in Race to Lead Texas GOP", Ross Ramsey observes that the race has quickly divided along the ideological lines we see playing out on the national GOP stage with, "establishment against insurgents, social conservatives against social moderates, chamber of commerce against grassroots."
Ramsey gets it right. This race will certainly be fought along those lines. It is obvious in the policy differences between the two candidates, but also by the company they keep.
Take for example the recent endorsement of Tom Mechler by Texans for Lawsuit Reform (TLR), a bi-partisan organization formed to support common sense reforms in civil justice in Texas back in the 1990's, that has helped elect dozens upon dozens of pro-choice, anti-family Democrats who they have funded with millions of dollars. They have also supported Republican Sarah Davis, the only openly pro-choice Republican in the Texas Legislature because they support TLR's pro-business lawsuit agenda.
Woodfill on the other hand has the backing of almost every conservative organization in the state including the leaders of Texas Right to Life, Texas Home School Coalition, Texas Values, Texas Eagle Forum, National Organization for Marriage, Concerned Women for America of Texas, Houston Area Pastors Council, Conservative Republicans of Texas, and Vision America (not a complete list).
The endorsement lists alone back up the case that Ross Ramsey makes that this is a conservative versus moderate fight. We can't predict what will happen in the state chairman's race, but it could depend entirely on whose herd is the strongest. Put money on the conservatives in Texas.
Stop The Whining Donald, The Rules Are The Rules
The latest bellyaches from Donald Trump are about convention state rules for appointing delegates. The lazy Trump campaign essentially ignored the hard work and are now complaining because although he may enter the convention with more delegates, he probably won't have 1,237, the number of delegates required to be nominated.
While we are at it, the last few weeks have revealed one example after another of pettiness, ignorance, and the clown show that is the Trump campaign. Here is a list. Read and weep, conservatives, if we let this guy be our candidate for President:
Insulted the looks of Ted Cruz's wife;
He continues to threaten to run as a third party candidate if he isn't the nominee (sore loser);
In a meeting with the editorial board of the Washington Post, he dodged a question on ISIS and tactical nuclear weapons, threatened the owner of the Cubs who dared to criticize Trump, suggested nuclear proliferation was a good idea, and that we should punish women who have abortions.
And if Republicans want to win in November, a few other facts, in the Real Clear Politics average trial heat polls April 14, 2016: Clinton 48% - Trump 31%, Clinton 45% - Cruz 44%. Favorables in the latest polls: Clinton 39%, Donald Trump 31%, Ted Cruz 36%.
There is a difference in who we nominate.
We Don't Have to Live Like This Cruz For President Tax Day Ad
TCR Comment: The Cruz flat tax can get the American economic engine going again and another reason why it's Cruz or bust for President.
TCR on the Air
Red, White & Blue featuring TCR Editor Gary Polland and liberal commentator David Jones on Fridays at 7:30 pm on PBS Houston Channel 8, replaying Saturdays at 6:30 p.m. on Channel 8, Mondays at 11:30 pm on Channel 8.2 and on the web at www.houstonpublicmedia.org.
Upcoming show: The Education Crisis with guests Senator Paul Bettencourt, Dr. Cathy Mincberg, President of the Center for Reform of School Systems, and Dianne Johnson, former HISD trustee.
About Your Editor
Gary Polland is a long-time conservative and Republican spokesman, fund-raiser, and leader who completed three terms as the Harris County Republican Chairman. During his three terms, Gary was described as the most successful county Chairman in America by Human Events - The National Conservative Weekly. He is in his sixteenth year of editing a newsletter dealing with key conservative and Republican issues. The last fourteen years he has edited Texas Conservative Review. As a public service for the last 13 years, Gary has published election guides for the GOP primary, general elections and city elections, all with the purpose of assisting conservative candidates. Gary is also in his 14th year of co-hosting Red, White and Blue on PBS Houston, longest running political talk show in Texas history. Gary is a practicing attorney and strategic consultant. He can be reached at (713) 621-6335.
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