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President Bush's State of the Union address made clear Sadaam's days are numbered. The war to remove this state sponsor of terrorism is critical. First, because he has weapons of mass destruction and is seeking more and will use them if given the opportunity. Second, because he had aided, funded, assisted and abetted scores of terrorists groups including Al Qaeda, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, etc. Third, because he has tortured, poisoned and gassed his own citizens. Fourth, because he gives $25,000 to each family of homicide bombers in Israel - rewarding murder of innocent men, women and children. Fifth, because if we wait until he has a secure nuclear option he will use it. Then what?
The key foreign leaders are falling in line behind our Congress following the strong leadership of President Bush. Sadaam still has a chance to do the right thing - but don't count on it. My hope the fall of Sadaam comes quickly with minimum loss of human life. After our success we can help bring democracy to the rest of the Middle East, besides our ally, the State of Israel.
Austin Report - Strong Leadership
For Key Committees Promising
We know the identities of the leadership of our state House and Senate committee leaders. Generally speaking, key conservatives are leading the critical committees.
The state is now set for the GOP to provide the leadership necessary to get control of runaway state spending while funding all critical programs.
Emerging ideas like de-control of tuition and fees for our universities also known as user fees is appropriate especially since the state has insufficient funds to properly fund our state universities.
Establishing priorities for funding is essential and hopefully it will be done quickly.
Avoiding the tough decisions by sending state responsibility for funding to school districts, counties and cities is a bad idea and will just mandate local tax increases.
Adding to our challenges is a declining economy which will impact our state tax revenues.
The table is set, it's our time to show what Republican leadership can do when it gets a chance.
2004 - Here Comes Hillary
Last issue we reviewed whose in and whose close for our Democrat friends in 2004. Today, I am going to suggest that Hillary Clinton is looking seriously at a race for the White House in 2004. Why do I say this? Because 2004 could under certain circumstances be a competitive year and if so, Hillary fears a Democrat could win possibly putting her out of the way until 2012 when she'd be up for Senate re-election and probably be too old to make the race and because her numbers with the Democrat base exceeds all the other announced or possible candidates and because she'd like nothing better than beating President Bush (and the Bush family a second time) and because she hopes the economy tanks and the war on terror fails.
One thing for sure if she runs, it won't be hard to motivate Republicans to work hard to beat a Clinton finally.
Democrats Pander to "Pro-Choice America"
Did you see the pandering by the Democrat candidates for President falling over each other saying they'll protect a woman's right to choose? Come on guys, talk about the issue accurately, it's not about choice, it's about a child. Can you really oppose legislation to ban partial birth abortions and oppose alternative counseling and parental notice? Do you really think that abstinence based education is not a better idea than sex education? Fortunately, we already have a President who understands. Write your congressman and Senators and legislators -tell them you want progress for the life issue this year in Washington and Austin.
Why Does Harris County Have a Balanced Budget
While Houston Plunges Into Debt?
The City of Houston now faces a $67 million deficit while the Harris County budget is in balance. Houston property taxes over the last five years are up over of 73%, while Harris County is up 50%. What's up?
Compare services at county agencies like Paul Bettencourt's Tax Office and Charles Bacarisse District Clerk's office with the City of Houston's Municipal Courts or street repair department. The difference is breathtaking.
The City of Houston --where there is a vacuum of leadership from Mayor Lee Brown and his council majority, is rudderless. Mayor Brown has apparently checked out, being out of town more than ever, while the budget gets worse. The streets are still torn up and the city spending spree in hotels, convention centers and stadiums goes on. At the same time essential services are cut back.
It's time for a change in Houston - a new conservative mayor who can get the city's fiscal house in order and a conservative majority to back him or her. We are just a few months away, so let's get ready to go.
Dispelling Common Myths About
The Proposed Palestinian State
Guest Editorial by former Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Zalman Shoval
Many regard the question of Palestinian statehood in terms of "inevitability," i.e., that there won't be a solution for the Palestinian-Israeli conflict without it. That was also the gist of President Bush's June 24 speech. Let us examine some of the conventional wisdoms with regard to Palestinian statehood.
· A disarmed Palestinian state - Prime Minister Sharon and others who support statehood in principle speak about a neutralized and disarmed entity. Yet the Palestinian Authority has never lived up to its commitment with regard to illegal arms, let alone to severing its links with terrorist and terrorist-supporting forces. Why should it be easier to enforce all those limitations once the Palestinians have achieved full sovereignty?
· Two states for two peoples - Large parts of the Arab and Muslim worlds, including no small number of Palestinians, have not yet come to accept the Jewish people's right to a national homeland in a region which they claim to be theirs alone and they would regard a Palestinian state alongside Israel as a temporary stage toward creating a Palestinian state instead of Israel.
· A mere two years ago, former prime minister Ehud Barak offered Yasser Arafat 98% of the "territories," including most of east Jerusalem plus 3% of Israel proper, only to be rebuffed by the PA chairman, who then went on to unleash the al-Aksa Intifada which has already caused more than 700 Israeli deaths.
· A democratic, stable and viable Palestinian state - One may wonder how viable economically, demographically, politically, etc., such a mini-state would actually be, especially in light of the fact that there doesn't exist a single Arab state to which any of the above definitions could easily apply.
· Solving the Palestinian problem - The real Palestinian problem has to do with the cruel reality of millions of "refugees" who have been languishing in camps, often under inhuman conditions, for over 50 years among their inhospitable brethren in the various Arab states. The planned Palestinian min-state isn't going to absorb even a fraction of those artificially and deliberately perpetuated "refugees."
· Instead of saying either "Yes" or "No" to the Quartet's unrealistic road map (U.S. and Europeans' peace plan). Israel would be better advised to think about a road map of its own.
TCR - Amen.
About
Your Editor
Gary Polland
is a long time Republican spokesman, fund-raiser and leader who
recently completed three terms as the Harris County Republican
Chair. During his time as Chairman, Gary was described as the
most successful county Chairman in America by Human Events.
For six years, Gary put out a bi-weekly newsletter which he has
continued due to requests from many Republican activists.
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