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Volume IX Number 12 - June 30, 2010     RSS Feed
A Periodic Newsletter for Committed Texas Conservatives


In This Issue

A New State Chairman; Cathie Adams: Thank you for your service

Mission To China: Part 2

Public Defender For Harris County Debate Gets More Bizarre

A Philosophy Of Life By Friend Richard Russell

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A New State Chairman;
Cathie Adams: Thank you for your service

The victory of Steve Munisteri for state chairman sends an important message, the era of the Weddington - Benkiser clique is over. There is again a place in the party for economic and social conservatives and for the hanger-on types who profited at the expense of the party, their days at the trough are over.

For Cathie Adams, it was a sad day. She is a great conservative leader that inherited many problems and was making significant progress in cleaning things up. As payback, since no good deed goes unpunished, she was thrown under the bus by Tina Benkiser's executive director, among others. She should be thanked for her long, committed service to the GOP and conservative causes.

The victor, Steve Munisteri, brings a lot to the table and will bring a fresh set of eyes to the party. Hopefully, it will be a more open party to those sidelined in the past, like economic conservatives, libertarian conservatives and tea party conservatives. There is a lot that a state party can and must do and Steve is smart, sophisticated and independent enough to do so.

Mission To China: Part 2

When traveling overseas it's fascinating to read local newspapers where you kind of get their worldview. So here is what TCR found interesting in the Chinese media during our trip:

(1) China is exercising it's muscle in the South China Sea and seeking to stop fishing by Vietnam, the Philippines, and Malaysia in disputed waters.
TCR Comment: Interestingly, on this issue, Vietnam is supported by the USA.

(2) Labor unrest suicides at Foxconn Technology (makes iPhones and iPads), and strikes at Honda related to pay and working conditions.
TCR Comment: China is in the early stages of a labor movement, which could help liberalize China.

(3) Healthcare issue: Hong Kong looks at a Health Protection Act which would have medical insurance similar to the U.S., and add some innovative provisions: No premium increases due to claims made, pre-existing conditions strictly construed and encourage medical savings accounts.

(4) Clean Energy leadership: China plans to be the world leader in solar wind, nuclear, and hydroelectric. China plans to produce 8% of the total power capacity by nuclear by 2020; it plans seven wind power bases, which can produce 10 gigawatts each.

(5) Interesting, the only thing covered extensively in May in China about the U.S. was the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. More about that in the next issue.

Public Defender For Harris County Debate
Gets More Bizarre

In the midst of a tough economic climate, one wonders why the county would go forward with a new program that would significantly increase the cost to taxpayers for indigent services?

What is fascinating is the media, left-wing echo chamber on the issue. The Houston Chronicle has published a lot of articles and columns, but not one from the other side. For example, a fair look at the present private attorney systems that works quite well or about the failing public defenders system all over the country, or telling about systems being bailed out by adding private appointed attorneys. What is the long-term fiscal effect of Rodney Ellis and his minister allies plan of an independent public defenders office that leaves county government with no control but they get to foot the bill? We have seen how this works, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Post Office come to mind federally. Locally, the Harris County Hospital District comes to mind, but at least that Board is appointed by the County Commissioners, while "an independent" public defender would not be. And keep in mind: to hire good defense lawyers, costs a lot of money, possibly forcing the District Attorney's Office and County Attorney's Office to reasonably request additional funds to be competitive. Can you spell TAX INCREASE?

And the alleged benefits, lower jail population: there is no proof, better representation for indigents: no proof, quicker trials: no proof, judges dictate in the present system, telling appointed attorneys how to handle their cases: no proof. As GOP leader Court Koenning said, "This is a solution in search of a problem" and is why the Harris County GOP passed a resolution, saying no.

A Philosophy Of Life By Friend Richard Russell

Every now and then we come across something that impacts us. Here is the latest: In order to have a happy life one needs a philosophy of life. "My philosophy is this-everything that happens to me I take as a learning experience. I'm here to learn, that's the real reason for my trip. And if I can help other people through my experience, it makes my life worthwhile, no complaining, just keep learning... What items seem to work every time... (1) The hardest thing in life is to obtain the correct information about anything. (2) The second hardest thing in life is to get any one to DO what they say they're going to do." www.dowtheoryletters.com


TCR on the Air

Red, White & Blue, featuring TCR Editor Gary Polland and liberal commentator David Jones, Fridays at 7:30 p.m. and replaying Sundays at 5:30 p.m. and Thursdays at 11 p.m. on PBS Houston Channel 8. Coming soon Mayor Annise Parker, Congressmen Ted Poe and Gene Green, Harris County District Attorney Pat Lykos and many others. For a new fun feature go to www.houstonpbs.org and under Red White and Blue, you can see commentary about the show and its guests by Gary and David each week. The current show as well as past shows are also available on YouTube.

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 thirteenth year of editing a newsletter dealing with key conservative and Republican issues. The last eight years he has edited Texas Conservative Review. Gary is a practicing attorney and strategic consultant. He can be reached at (713) 621-6335.

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