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With approximately 100 days until the critical November election, let's focus on Texas. The battleground in Texas in 2010 is Harris County (Houston) Texas. TCR says that, because if the Democratic Governor Candidate Bill White cannot win significantly in Harris County, he will not win statewide.
For Conservatives and Republicans and our statewide ticket, it is critical that Harris County be the top priority. A statewide GOP candidate's sweep in Harris County preserves the largest county in the GOP column with all the future ramifications for redistricting and preserving the base of the GOP.
Of course, winning in Harris County also preserves the GOP down ballot, so important for maintaining a GOP bench and dominance.
So the big question is, do the powers in the GOP statewide get it? If they do, we can have a big year. Otherwise, it could be more of a challenge than we would like to see.
Something The Major Media Missed: China's Credit Rating Agency Downgrades U.S. Debt
Breaking from Moody's, Standard & Poor's & Fitch who declare U.S. government debt the safest, China's Dagong Credit Rating Agency rates the U.S. at thirteenth in the world, due to high debt and slow growth.
Is this a precursor to competitor devaluations, and a shift in the reserve currency regime where the U.S. dollar is the reserve currency?
Now this can get a little challenging, but if the U.S. dollar loses its reserve status or has to share, it in effect further weakens the dollar's strength, which will lead to significantly higher import costs. Remember, we depend on imports of all sorts; energy, manufacturers goods, virtually the entire Wal-Mart store, etc., and will lead to higher interest rates for U.S. government debt, and that will translate into higher interest costs for business and consumers.
Some experts believe China has designs on having the reserve currency, and if successful, will have a major impact on the U.S. as the leading power in the world.
The lesson is, we need to get our fiscal house in order and we need to revitalize our manufacturing base.
TCR Looks At 2012: What About Mitch Daniels?
As part of a new series, TCR starts looking at potential GOP candidates for 2012. First up is to look at Governor Mitch Daniels of Indiana. In being reelected in 2008, Daniels got more votes than any candidate in Indiana history while Obama was carrying Indiana (first Democrat since 1964). Mitch has broad appeal, carrying the youth vote, and 20% of the Afro-American vote! He has high approval ratings. He cleaned up the states deficit he inherited in 2004 and prior to entering the Obama recession was running a $1.3 billion surplus. He has grown jobs in Indiana totaling 7% of the new U.S. employment last year.
He is a conservative reformer who has among other things: (1) canceled collective bargaining for state employees, (2) instituted a pay for performance plan, (3) cut state employment by 14%, (4) privatized the Indiana Toll road to the tune of $3.8 billion to the state.
His biography is long and distinguished, both in and out of politics, with stints as head of the Hudson Institute think tank, and as an executive with the Eli-Lilly drug company. Friends who know Mitch describe him as smart as a whip with a distinguished record of accomplishment. TCR believes he would make a great President. More next month: Mitt Romney.
If The GOP Wants To Take Congress In November,
It Better Have Some Answers To What Ails Us
All across the country in November, voters have a choice. They are not happy with the strong leftward lurch. The polls show that what Democrats have given us is not the hope and change they were looking for. For example, ObamaCare, we now are learning about a number of promises and pledges made to get it passed have been broken. Most recently, the revelation that the fine for not buying insurance is really a tax, was revealed in a brief filed by the U.S. government in lawsuits about Obama. They sold it to us as not a tax, so I guess they didn't tell the whole truth.
This points up a critical necessity for the GOP to have a vision of how to lead the country and not just say no. Fortunately, Congressman Paul Ryan has such a plan, which TCR has mentioned previously and it can be found at www.americanroadmap.org.
The leadership in Washington better wake up. The American people want forward looking leadership that addresses the myriad of problems we all face as Americans. Just being anti-Obama, while important, will it be enough?
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 Harris County District Attorney Pat Lykos, The Red White and Blue Great Debate Series featuring key contested races including Congressman Ted Poe 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. FYI: The show is up for an Emmy. We will keep you posted.
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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