Per the Biden Rule - if you have a year left in your presidency, you don't get to fill a Supreme Court vacancy. The rule was used against conservatives. Now the Democrats want to ignore it. No surprise.

While the embattled HCRP Chairman Paul Simpson brags about how "great" the conventions were last week, seasoned observers know the turnout was disappointing, the enthusiasm was low, and the quality of elected officials and candidates showing up to speak was weak as the County was divided up. With eight locations spread out all over the county, there's no wonder why the quality of speakers was not strong because there were small audiences and people couldn't get to their locations.

Contrast this year with the great turnout for the joint conventions held every two years since 1998.

Also, read what one of our countywide officials, Harris County District Clerk Chris Daniel, has to say about Simpson's folly:

"I live in Fall Creek, Humble, Texas. I had to drive to Ripley House on the east side of downtown to attend my Senatorial District 6 convention. To drive to Grace Baptist Community Church in Clear Lake, where we've had the past several joint district conventions would not have been much more trouble since I already had to drive that far."

"I found that it is impossible to attend any other Senatorial District convention if I was trying to be a state delegate. So, I stuck around in my Senatorial District convention, and could not go anywhere else without giving up some other major aspects of the convention process, like arguing platform items.

"I greatly missed the family atmosphere of having all of the Senate Districts in one place. Very often, the large, unified convention is the only time I get to see many of the non-precinct chair activist Republicans of Harris County, especially if they are not members of existing Republican clubs, but activists nevertheless, in their neighborhoods, etc."

Let's see what a joint convention gave us: convenience, countywide enthusiasm, large numbers, lunch onsite, and great speakers. Why would anyone want that?

As Republicans and Conservatives, we face challenging times. The good news is the Presidential battle boosted turnout to 329,000+ in Harris County, the bad news is the Democrats had a significant jump too.

In addition, the GOP voters are dissatisfied with the state of our party and nation. It is possible our party will nominate someone who the majority of Republicans don't even support.

This tells us we will have the most challenging election in Harris County ever.

First, we know it's a Presidential election year, so Democratic turnout will go up.

Second, we know from 2014 that a bland GOTV program headlined by Harris County Works and with nothing about our great candidates, that GOP turnout declines.

The angst we all feel is demonstrated by the 60% of our primary voters who rejected the incumbent party Chairman and his 20th century mindset.

We are in a new century and what is required to be successful in politics is changing. For my generation the old way still works, but we are slowly declining in numbers.

For the younger generation, we need 21st Century solutions, and we need new, young, vigorous, and, yes, ethnic conservative leadership for our party. And we will need that in order to win in November.

Having served you as Chairman for three great terms with a 98% success rate, I know what is required for a successful leader and Rick Ramos has what it takes.

He has an inspiring story. He will be the spokesman this party desperately needs for our conservative principles and candidates; and he is not afraid of standing up for our values as he did when he was one of the leaders of the finance committee for Campaign for Houston, the real leaders of our fight to defeat HERO, the men in women's bathrooms ordinance.

He will not answer to the special interests who don't always have our best interest at heart and gravitate to the power regardless of which party it is, but to all of us.

He will be the leader who makes real impact in growing our party, and you will know he is there fighting every day for us and our values.

It is past time that the torch of leadership pass to the next generation, one of Ronald Reagan's children, Rick Ramos, to lead our party into the critical 2016 election.

If you're under 50 you really need to read this. If you're over 50, you lived through it, so share it with those under 50. Amazing to me how much I had forgotten!

When Bill Clinton was President, he allowed Hillary to assume authority over a health care reform. Even after threats and intimidation, she couldn't even get a vote in a Democratic controlled Congress. This fiasco cost the American taxpayers about $13 million in cost for studies, promotion, and other efforts.

Then President Clinton gave Hillary authority over selecting a female attorney general. Her first two selections were Zoe Baird and Kimba Wood - both were forced to withdraw their names from consideration. Next she chose Janet Reno - husband Bill described her selection as "my worst mistake." Some may not remember that Reno made the decision to gas David Koresh and the Branch Davidian religious sect in Waco, Texas, resulting in dozens of deaths of women and children.

Husband Bill allowed Hillary to make recommendations for the head of the Civil Rights Commission. Lani Guinier was her selection. When a little probing led to the discovery of Ms. Guinier's radical views, her name had to be withdrawn from consideration.

Apparently a slow learner, husband Bill allowed Hillary to make some more recommendations. She chose former law partners Web Hubbell for the Justice Department, Vince Foster for the White House staff, and William Kennedy for the Treasury Department. Her selections went well: Hubbell went to prison, Foster (presumably) committed suicide, and Kennedy was forced to resign.

Many younger votes will have no knowledge of "Travelgate." Hillary wanted to award unfettered travel contracts to Clinton friend Harry Thompson - and the White House Travel Office refused to comply. She managed to have them reported to the FBI and fired. This ruined their reputations, cost them their jobs, and caused a thirty-six month investigation. Only one employee, Billy Dale, was charged with a crime, and that of the enormous crime of mixing personal and White House funds. A jury acquitted him of any crime in less than two hours.

Still not convinced of her ineptness, Hillary was allowed to recommend a close Clinton friend, Craig Livingstone, for the position of Director of White House security. When Livingstone was investigated for the improper access of about 900 FBI files of Clinton enemies (Filegate) and the widespread use of drugs by White House staff, suddenly Hillary and the President denied even knowing Livingstone, and of course, denied knowledge of drug use in the White House.

Following this debacle, the FBI closed its White House Liaison Office after more than thirty years of service to seven presidents.

Next, when women started coming forward with allegations of sexual harassment and rape by Bill Clinton, Hillary was put in charge of the "#$%$ eruption" and scandal defense. Some of her more notable decisions in the debacle were:

She urged her husband not to settle the Paula Jones lawsuit. After the Starr investigation they settled with Ms. Jones.

She refused to release the Whitewater documents, which led to the appointment of Ken Starr as Special Prosecutor.

After $80 million of taxpayer money was spent, Starr's investigation led to Monica Lewinsky, which led to Bill lying about and later admitting his affairs.

Hillary's devious game plan resulted in Bill losing his license to practice law for 'lying under oath' to a grand jury and then his subsequent impeachment by the House of Representatives.

Hillary avoided indictment for perjury and obstruction of justice during the Starr investigation by repeating, "I do not recall," "I have no recollection," and "I don't know" a total of 56 times while under oath.

After leaving the White House, Hillary was forced to return an estimated $200,000 in White House furniture, china, and artwork that she had stolen.

What a swell party - ready for another four or eight year of this type of low-life mess?

Now we are exposed to the destruction of possibly incriminating emails while Hillary was Secretary of State and the "pay to play" schemes of the Clinton Foundation - we have no idea what shoe will fall next.

But to her loyal fans (supporters) - I guess in her own words, "what difference does it make?"

Above, a photo showing some people walking to reach their final objective, to live in a European country. Even as this photo is making it around the world, only a few will notice the truth. In the photo, there are 7 men and 1 woman. Up to this point – nothing special. But in observing a bit closer, you will notice that the woman is barefoot, accompanied by 3 children, and of the 3, she is carrying 2.

There is the problem, none of the men are helping her, because in their culture the woman represents nothing. She is only good to be a slave to the men. Do you really believe that these particular individuals could integrate into our societies and countries and respect our customs and traditions?

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:
City of Houston Finance & Other Challenges with guests Oliver Pennington, Houston City Councilmembers Amanda Edwards, Dave Martin and Larry Green.

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.