Texas is represented by three people on the Republican National Committee. In theory, they are supposed to represent grassroots Republicans who elected them.
Conservatives are asking what happened to Texan Bill Crocker? He ran as a staunch grassroots conservative Republican, but now apparently has decided to be a foot soldier for the administration. While TCR and conservatives support the President on many issues, we don't shy away from disagreeing when President Bush takes positions out-of-sync with grassroots conservatives.
One issue where the administration is out of touch is illegal immigration. The guest worker plan is not popular with the GOP base, with 88% of House Republicans recently voting "no."
The RNC resolution endorsed a border security plan and opposed a guest worker plan. Bill Crocker was central in the fight for a plan that would include and endorse the guest worker provision.
The sellout took place while it was reported 18,207 (other than Mexican) illegals were caught and released by Homeland Security over the last three months. Catch and release of illegals means they are not deported, but released with a promise to reappear in a few weeks, and of course they don't.
This scandal was revealed by conservative icon Phyllis Schlafly in Human Events on January 30, 2006.
Bill Crocker has some serious explaining to do. Who does he think put him in office? Maybe Texas conservatives need to start seeking a true conservative as a replacement.
RINO 2
In our last issue we identified candidates for the legislature who are Republicans In Name Only because of their hostility to controlling state spending and runway property taxes or their involvement in the educrats invasion of the GOP.
TCR got a huge response to the article, so we are revealing more RINO's as a public service.
More RINO's To Avoid In March
Candidate |
District |
Chuck Tull |
House 2 |
Jimmie Don Aycock |
House 54 |
Anne Lakusta |
House 63 |
John Young |
House 71 |
Drew Mouton |
House 85 |
Charles Scoma |
House 91 |
Diane Patrick |
House 94 |
Barbara Larson |
House 133 |
Hamas Victory Over PLO In Middle
East Clarifies The Truth
TCR was not surprised at the Hamas victory in the Palestinian elections because the choice was between terrorists who say the right thing but are corrupt, and those who say the wrong thing and who provide some social services. Like Hitler, Hamas has made clear they desire to wipe out Israel. You do not negotiate with your possible murderer.
The election clarifies what we all know about the Palestinian majority (or Arabs living in greater Israel): (1) deny Israel's right to exist, (2) pledge to continue violence, (3) reject any agreement that results in peace between Israel and Arabs with secured borders, (4) want to create an Islamic terrorist state, hostile to both the U.S. and the west.
In the past, the PLO under Arafat and Abbas talked about a peace process, but used it as cover to gain concessions with no intention of actually living in peace. Witness the fact that since the PLO started the indifada (war against Israel), more of Israel's civilians died than in any actual declared war that Israel has ever fought in.
For the U.S., the future is clear, no funds either directly or indirectly for a terrorist dominated government. Also, no contact with them and no pressure on Israel for ANY funding or concessions.
GOP Pruning Project Update
In the December 30, 2005 issue of TCR we talked about improving the GOP by pruning out officeholders who have gotten too content and let things slip.
Bill McCulloch of Harris County Probate Court No. 4. in a recent email/fax, claims to have responded to TCR's concerns and evaluation of his record, but his response leaves much unaddressed.
In the interest of fairness, TCR will share Bill McCulloch's attempted explanations of TCR's concerns and TCR's response to them.
(1) Number of open cases - Problem: Almost 20% more open cases than the other three probate courts in Harris County.
Response by McCulloch: "our purpose is not to see how rapidly we can close files."
TCR's Comment: McCulloch did not refute TCR's facts and we wonder, is he implying the other probate judges close cases too rapidly? Of course that's not true.
Verdict: Guilty
(2) Number of attorneys appointed - Problem: McCulloch appoints only 12 people for 77% of the court appointments, which smacks of cronyism.
Response by McCulloch: "Our goal is to appoint attorney ad litems we consider appropriate..."
TCR's Comment: Once again McCulloch did not refute TCR's facts and implies that the other three probate judges, indeed all of Harris County, do not appoint competent attorneys.
Verdict: Guilty
(3) Promptness in rulings - Problem: McCulloch too often is slow to rule on cases, which delays decisions and finality.
Response by McCulloch: "I feel it is important and cost effective to rule correctly rather than quickly."
TCR's Comment: McCulloch admits TCR is correct in its concerns, but excuses it again, implying his colleagues (other judges) do it wrong when they all rule promptly.
Verdict: Guilty
Note McCulloch did not respond to TCR's concerns regarding the number of open cases and average case dispositions, where out of four courts, his court is dead last.
Nothing has changed, pruning should begin here by placing Georgia Akers in Harris County Probate Court No. 4.
The Economy And Runaway Spending
Did you know that this year, Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid will consume 43% of all federal spending? We also spend $500+ billion for our military. With spending like this, how will it all be paid for?
Some conservative economic observers, specifically the reliable Richard Russell, say it will be paid for by rising inflation. The broad based money supply in the U.S. has been growing by huge percentages and now the Federal Reserve says they will not release those figures in the future. Some say it is a way to cover up big time inflation.
Yes, and inflation is back. Look around you: rising school tuition, clothing prices, home prices, raw materials (copper, etc.), rising gold and silver and just about everything you consume. Remember, inflation can be also seen in the smaller sizes for the products you consume.
With the decline in the dollars real value, as investors, you must protect yourself by investing in stocks and bonds (if growing greater than inflation) that provide good dividends and have assets like gold and silver to protect your buying power.
COMING - (Friday, February 24 at 8 pm) to Channel 8 PBS in Houston, Texas - the connection - Red, White & Blue featuring TCR Editor Gary Polland and liberal commentator David Jones. The guest is State Representative Rick Noriega.
About Your Editor
Gary Polland is a long-time conservative and Republican spokesman, fund-raiser, and leader who recently 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 ninth year of editing a newsletter dealing with key conservative and Republican issues. The last four years he has edited Texas Conservative Review. Gary is a practicing attorney and strategic consultant and can be reached at (713) 621-6335.
Tune in Thursday
Nights - Houston Warner Cable channel 17 at 6:30 PM for Texas Politics-The Real Deal
with co-hosts David Jones and Gary Polland, awarded Cable T.V. personalities of the year by the Houston Press.
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