First off, many thanks to Ed Hubbard for his work while I took a break. Tweren’t for him, not much would have happened here. Besides, his column changed the Texas GOP! I was hoping he’d write up a recap of the festivities in Dallas last week but I fear he has attracted a higher paying opportunity. I hope he remembers me when he hits the big time.
Texas GOP Elects Steve Munisteri Chairman
I gotta admit, I was happily surprised when the delegates to the Texas Republican Convention elected Steve Munisteri as Chairman on Saturday. Not quite shocked but very close. My view of Republican politics in Texas is definitely skewed by the presence of D_n on the radio. That myopia led me to believe that Cathie Adams was a shoo-in for the job. Fortunately, Republican politics in Texas is bigger than KSEV’s listeners.
Although I was quick to give credit to Ed (his endorsement of Mr. Munisteri was read over 17,000 times last week), Ms. Adams and others give credit to Debra Medina. That’s right, she didn’t shrink up and go away. Admit it, you thought she would, didn’t you? Hmm? Certainly, D_n’s listeners thought that, given the way he trashed her so badly before the March primary. But I’ll tell you what, after seeing her carry that big ol’ sack of feed around in her commercial, I knew she wouldn’t back down from anyone. As far as I can tell, she still wants WTC 7 investigated. 😉
So anyways, Mr. Munisteri’s election is excellent news for the Texas GOP. It means we can push forward, keeping our social issues but also talk about our core conservative beliefs of a truly smaller government. Of course, we have to do more than talk about smaller government, we’ll actually have to produce. Which means we’ll have to back off of some of the goals of social conservatives, such as checkpoints, road blocks, trans fat bans, smoking bans, etc. And that will be a tricky minefield for Mr. Munisteri to traverse. Take, for instance, Rep. Kevin Brady, proud Republican from Texas. Please, take him.
Brady Co-sponsors Rail Pork
No matter how many faux Tea Party appearances a 16 year Congressman makes, chances are, when given the chance, he or she will revert to what they know best: spending money that isn’t theirs. Or, in this case, taking on debt that they aren’t responsible for.
Rep. Brady, another lead sponsor, said that the bill consitutes a “targeted and timely incentive” to create private-sector jobs that improve the environment as well.
$800 million of targeted debt. This isn’t a tax break, this is a tax credit. And what do good conservatives say about “targeted” tax credits? What do good conservatives say about the government deciding an industry should be green? Rep. Brady should be the poster child for removal from office for anyone that has had enough of Washington. And yet faux Tea Party groups continue to let him address the troops as if he is one of them. Ridiculous, yes, but you know what they say about strange bedfellows. He does have an opponent, one of those scary Libertarian dudes. Except he isn’t very scary, he’s funny and bright. Check him out: Bruce West for Congress.
Mattress Mac and Intersection Safety Cameras
Speaking of strange bedfellas, I mentioned this in passing earlier but Mac’s group is forging ahead with their plans to insert more “Intersection Safety Cameras”. Seems as though former Mayor White and current Mayor Parker both personally asked him to help. This, of course, would be the same Mattress Mac that funds a faux Tea Party group that has split several times and changes names more often than some Tea Partiers bathe. Oh, and the same one that continues to prop up Rep. Kevin Brady. Interesting, no? Anyways, a group has been formed to counter this, I’ll give you more on that soon.
Management District Expansion
Another interesting development is a group pushing an expansion of management districts. Management districts of course are just another taxing entity. In fact, the only reason I’d heard of them is because….Mattress Mac fought one in his neighborhood! Now a new group is pushing to for management districts to extend to residential areas, which is now possible because Gov. Perry did not veto a bill allowing them. And there is a person on his staff that might have influenced his decision not to veto them after having vetoed them previously. Interesting. And no links because that is a teaser – I’m not sure anyone else is working on this and if they want the story, I’m going to make them work. Or, they can wait until I write about it, which should be soon now. Plus, this will serve as a heads up to the Perry campaign because they never return my emails. There you go.
Harris County Republicans Still in Turmoil
I know, I’ve already mentioned this. But HC Repubs continue to attack County Judge Ed Emmett. Doesn’t make any sense at all to me, given the very weak slate he is going to have to cover. Think about it. Are Stan Stanart, Chris Daniel, and Don Sumners going to be on anyones political dream team? And yet, those three continue to distance themselves from Emmett because Emmett likes to think things through. My advice to the judges on the undercard: do something to get these guys to stop that nonsense and do it quickly. Emmett will win but if these guys manage to pull him down a couple of points or more, you will lose. It is that simple.
Okay, I suppose that is enough for a welcome back party. I have at least one piece of old business to clean up, then we can move forward. It would really be cool if someone that knows how to write wanted to pitch in and help cover the west side of Houston. That would be most cool.