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The November Election 2006 Down Ballot Edition of Texas Conservative Review is in the mail and headed to your mailbox.
But, you can Read it Online right now. (opens in new window).
All Elections Are Local:
Why Down Ballot GOP Candidates Matter Most
There is a lot of frustration among grassroots conservatives as we come to the 2006 elections. We have been disappointed nationally and in the state more often than we thought possible. Polls indicate a lot of conservatives are discouraged and may not turn out to vote. THAT WOULD BE A BIG MISTAKE.
The strength of the GOP and conservatives in Texas has always been a strong base for the local vote and give significant support for down ballot conservatives. In this year of upheaval, who gets hurt if we don't turn out and vote? You guessed it. Down ballot conservatives.
Do we want to hand over the state to the "bigger" spenders of the Democratic party to go back to the way the legislature used to be? Or to a courthouse run by cronies and special interests? Or to a county government run inefficiently and ineffectively? That's what we'll get if we get "tricked" into staying home or skipping the down ballot races.
TCR has this year decided to focus on down ballot races. For the most part hard working, well-qualified officeholders without huge campaign funds. MAKE SURE YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS VOTE ON ELECTION DAY FOR ALL THE DOWN BALLOT REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES. It's simple to do so, just vote straight Republican. If for some reason you decide you can't support all the GOP candidates from top to bottom you can easily deselect any candidate by selecting another candidate for that particular office and this will not affect the rest of your straight ticket ballot and it's simple and easy.
A political party is built from the courthouse to the state house to the White House. The revitalized conservative revolution starts there too, so vote down ballot Republican, our future depends on it.
How Are We Doing Elections 2006?
Conservatives are for the most part active in the Republican Party. As such, the party's failings often get blamed on conservatives! Of course conservatives have been unhappy of late with too many indignities like Foleygate, continued pork-barrel spending, bad prescription drug plan, and no plan for victory in Iraq. The new revelations further depress a GOP base that was recovering when the political issues in September focused on national security, where the Democrats are traditionally weak.
New polls indicate the GOP could lose 21 seats and its majority in the House and a loss of four seats in the Senate. On the governor front, the GOP is in line to lose 5 seats and it could get worse and hopefully there's time to get better. To get better, the debate needs to get back to GOP strengths and with North Korea conducting a nuclear test, it certainly can.
Is there more they can do to excite the conservatives? Yes, how about "new" conservative leadership for the GOP untainted by the "sins" of the old leaders? Like the children of Israel, the GOP needs a Joshua-like leader to take them to the promised land of standing firm for core conservative principles. John Shadegg and Mike Pence come to mind in the House and in the Senate, Jon Kyl of Arizona, a rock solid conservative or conservative crusader Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, who is still leading the fight to eliminate earmarks which is a cancer destroying fiscal conservatism. As recently reported by Bob Novak in the Evans-Novak Political Report of October 11, 2006, "As they stared down the barrel of minority status in Congress, Republicans signaled their dedication to pork-barrel spending before recessing for mid-term election campaigning. Behind closed doors, the GOP's King of Pork dressed down the party's leading foe of earmarks. The last bill passed before the pre-election break was filled with carefully hidden pork. Freshman Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) continues to upset the Senate's old bulls with his crusade against appropriations earmarks. Coburn successfully added to the Defense Appropriations bill a provision requiring the Pentagon to grade the unauthorized spending attached to appropriations bills by congressmen."
If the GOP can't get new leadership and get its house in order, it doesn't deserve to be in power. The "power and control" Congress is NOT what conservatives wanted. Don't they get it? If they don't, we need to flush the RINO's out of the Congress and the State Legislature. Given our venting, there are plenty of good conservatives who deserve your support, especially down ballot. Make sure you vote for them on November 7th.
Is It Time For New GOP
Leadership
In The House In D.C.?
It's clear conservatives believe it. The problem with the GOP House leadership, it seems it's the get along gang and forget the Contract with America and base conservative principles. The litany of mistakes are large but given the new world after the elections, it's time to bring in new leadership.
The GOP CAUCUS needs to look to strong conservatives, like Republicans John Shadegg, Mike Pence, Paul Ryan, Jeff Flake and outstanding Texas conservatives like Jeb Hensarling, Ted Poe and John Culberson. This is what we need in leadership. It's time to get back to our roots. It's time for the GOP in D.C. to remember why they were elected.
COMING ON THE CONNECTION - (Friday, November 3, 2006 at 8 pm) to Channel 8 PBS in Houston, Texas - A new version of The Connection - Red, White & Blue, a press roundtable featuring a rapid fire discussion of key issues of the day with key members of the local media. Election Preview with Rick Casey and Sonny Messiah-Jiles.
Also tune in for a marathon on Sunday, November 5th at 1:30 pm for all the shows you may have missed.
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.
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