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Volume XV Number 20 - August 28, 2016     RSS Feed   

A Periodic Newsletter for Committed Texas Conservatives

In This Issue

Texas Republican Leaders Take Lead, Support Our GOP Candidates From The Courthouse To The White House

HISD Mismanaged, Latest Headlines Cites Billion Dollar Bond Issue Mismanagement

$400 Million Paid To Iran In Cash, Obama Lied, It Was A Ransom

Partisan Election Of Judges: The Conundrums

Red, White and Blue
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Gary Polland
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Thoughts This Fortnight

Texas Republican Leaders Take Lead,
Support Our GOP Candidates From The
Courthouse To The White House

As we observe a relatively quiet statewide and local election cycle, three key GOP elected officials have called out other leaders and voters to support Republican candidates from the Courthouse to the White House.

The three officials, Senator John Cornyn, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, and State Senator and Republican Caucus Chair Paul Bettencourt announced their program this week.

To be sure, the Democrats are already preaching to vote the entire ballot and encourage others to do the same.

So it will be interesting to see what happens with the GOP leaders and elected officials. Will they join or stay quiet? Let us know.

HISD Mismanaged, Latest Headlines Cites
Billion Dollar Bond Issue Mismanagement

Scanning the headlines this week, the Houston Chronicle cites the mismanagement on HISD's billion dollar plus bond issue.

This is inexcusable and pathetic. With runaway property taxes funding HISD, don't we deserve better leadership and management? In addition, here is a big question: Where is the accountability for this mess? In the private sector, screwups like this result in firings.

So here's another big question: Who is resigning or being fired on account of the mismanagement?

TCR's advice: Don't hold your breath.

$400 Million Paid To Iran In Cash,
Obama Lied, It Was A Ransom

For the "most transparent administration in history" we know there was a cover-up of the exchange of $400 million for American prisoners in Iran.

Think about the implications of this action, the safety of Americans overseas is at risk from any and all engaged in the kidnapping business.

Why? Because the U.S. government led by Obama pays ransoms.

The foreign policy of the U.S. under Obama-Clinton is one mess up, disaster, mistake (take your choice) after another.

And tell me why we can trust Hillary Clinton with our future, given her leadership in the Obama debacles! You can't make this stuff up.

Partisan Election Of Judges: The Conundrums

In Texas, we have partisan elections of judges. In small counties, this is easy for the voters with maybe one or two races, so it's not a challenge to be an informed voter. In large counties, that is not so, where 20, 30, or 40 contested races are on the ballot, it's almost impossible to be an informed voter.

Added to that, our judges in election years have two contradicting roles, first as a politician seeking election, and second as an impartial arbiter of legal disputes. As a politician, they have to raise money and are usually funded by attorneys, special interests, and to some extent, friends and family. As an impartial arbiter in any other field, taking donations from those who could appear before you is a clear partial conflict.

A few years ago, then Chief Justice Tom Phillips with the support of the late Chief Justice John Hill proposed switching to an appointed retention system, at least in the larger counties for judges, but it was not successful. So our system remains the same, uninformed voters deciding who will make critical decisions. What should we do about our system?

Please send us your thoughts.


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.

New shows return Friday, September 9, 2016:
09-09-16: 9/11 - 15 Years Later.

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 nineteenth year of editing a newsletter dealing with key conservative and Republican issues. The last fifteen 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 15th 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.

© 2016 Texas Conservative Review
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