Republicans Serious About Winning Third Court of Appeals Ground Game

November 1st, 2012

I just got my fourth direct mailer supporting Jeff Rose, Scott Field, David Puryear, and Bob Pemberton for the Third Court of Appeals.

The Third Court of Appeals covers a large swath of central Texas, stretching from Fayette up to Sterling county:

I don’t ever recall so much obvious money and effort being put into a down ballot judicial race before.

The most important race is Field’s attempt to unset the very liberal Diane Henson. Speaking of Field, this is what was on the back of the card he handed me at last week’s Ted Cruz/Tony Dale event:

I think that’s pretty much all you can ask for in a judicial philosophy.

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Posted in Republicans, Texas, Uncategorized | No Comments »

Texas vs. California: Halloween 2012 Edition

October 31st, 2012

Six days to the election, and I’ve spent most of the night handing out candy. Six days until we choose to follow the successful Texas Red State path of low taxes and limited government, or the failing Blue State California path of bankruptcy and bigger government.

  • CalPERS sues Compton to force the bankrupt city to keep donating to the underfunded, soon-to-be-bankrupt state pension fund.
  • Incarcerating someone in a California prison guards costs and average of $47,000 a year. Ridiculous guard salaries and perks.
  • Texas has one of the lowest State-Local debt burdens in the country.
  • For a contrarian view, Victor David Hanson offers up reasons not to leave California.
  • Nothing at all to do with politics, but I can’t resist noting that the “Dream Team” Los Angeles Lakers have hit a little snag on their way to going undefeated in the regular season. Meanwhile, the completely gutted and rebuilt Houston Rockets are 1-0. You take your satisfaction where you can find it…

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    Posted in Budget, Economics, Elections, Texas | 2 Comments »

    LinkSwarm for October 30, 2012

    October 30th, 2012

    I was going to have an insightful, data-filed post on the Texas 23rd Congressional district race, but then I realized that the Los Angeles Times data I was relying on flipped at least one bit of information (NRA-ILA is doing independent expenditures against Pete Gallego, not against Rep. Francisco “Quico” Canseco), which means I can’t trust the rest. Super executive summary: Canseco has a huge cash on-hand advantage, $785,623 to $23,250, but assuming the other LA Times numbers are right, the independent expenditure race is a lot closer to even.

    Now on to a LinkSwarm a week before the election:

  • Obama is clearly winning the race for military endorsements, having 6 endorsements to Romney’s paltry 359.
  • Politico worried that Romney may let lobbyists “back” into the White House, conveniently ignoring the dozens of lobbyists Obama has on staff.
  • There’s a huge amount of outrage over the MSM trying to bury the Benghazi scandal to help Obama over the finish line.
  • Even Democratic pollster Pat Caddell is outraged:

  • Syrian rebels get antiaircraft missiles. What could possibly go wrong?
  • A Daily Beast piece on the decline of the left-wing Netroots.
  • Paul Sadler managed to raise more money for his 2004 Texas Senate race than his 2012 U.S. Senate race.
  • Remember Joseph Livoti, formerly the finance director for Ricardo Sanchez’s aborted Senate campaign? Probably not. Well, his current position is “Finance Director at Joe Miklosi for Congress”. And the Sanchez campaign doesn’t appear in his job summary. Funny that.
  • Given that Miklosi has raised about half of what his Republican opponent incumbent Mike Coffman has for the Colorado Sixth Congressional District race, but only has about one-fifth the cash on hand, Livoti seems to have retained his magic touch.
  • Michael Totten: The Islamist threat isn’t going away.
  • Some pictures of Sandy-related flooding.

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    Posted in Democrats, Elections, Foreign Policy, Jihad, Media Watch, Obama Scandals, Republicans, Texas, video | No Comments »

    Tough Race to Replace Ron Paul in U.S. 14th Congressional District

    October 29th, 2012

    When I looked over the new redistricting numbers, the Texas U.S. Congressional seat that leapt out at me as the most competitive was Rep Francisco “Quico” Canseco’s CD23, a swing seat which got minimal Republican reinforcement during redistricting. But right now I’m feeling better about that one. (Hopefully more on that topic in the next day or two.)

    Right now the seat that worries me most is CD 14, Ron Paul’s old seat, where the Democrats are making a hard run to snag an upset in what looks to be a very down year for them both statewide and nationally.

    Going off of Obama’s 2008 vote, the district got 9% less Republican in redistricting. The old 14th went 66% for McCain, the new one only 57%. That’s still a considerable advantage, but not necessarily an insurmountable one.

    Moreover, in Nicholas Valentino “Nick” Lampson of Beaumont, the Democratic party has actually found a reasonably popular local politician with qualifying experience in Congress (including one term in Tom DeLay’s old seat). National Democrats have had this seat painted as a takeover target all year. Lampson’s FEC report includes a number of Texas lawyers and some out-of-state juice, including ACTBLUE, the Professional Airways Specialists PAC, and the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers Campaign Assistance Fund. (And who knows how much soft money will be spent on behalf of Lampson by outside groups this cycle?) The Lampson campaign was also one of two TX CD campaigns that flew in Bill Clinton for a campaign appearance. An internal Lampson poll released in August showed a very close race (usual internal poll caveats apply).

    The Republican nominee, Randy Weber, is a two-term State Rep. Unlike Lampson, Weber had a crowded primary and a runoff to contend with, which ate up significant funds.

    That Roll Call piece says that Lampson has $422,000 in cash on hand, while Weber only had $55,000. However, looking at the actual FEC numbers, updated in October 17 filings, it doesn’t seem quite so bad, with Lampson having $151,218 cash on hand compared to Weber’s $83,617.

    Weber has serious (if largely expected) Republican endorsements, including Ron Paul, Rick Perry, Greg Abbott and Nolan Ryan. Ted Cruz had a joint campaign appearance with Weber today.

    If you’re looking for a Texas race where your last minute donation can have the most effect, the Randy Weber campaign is a good choice.

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    Posted in Democrats, Elections, Republicans, Texas | 1 Comment »

    Barack Obama Stands Down Throughout History

    October 27th, 2012

    “We few, we happy few, we band of brothers
    For he today that stands down with me
    on Crispian’s day shall be my brother”
    — King Obama V, October 24, 1415, the day before the English surrender at Agincourt

    “Come and take it. No, really, come and take this cannon off our hands. It’s just cluttering up the place. We’ll just stand down while you haul it away.”

    — Colonel John Henry Obama, commander of Texas forces at Gonzales, before handing over the town’s cannon to Francisco de Castaneda, October 2, 1835, ending the Texas Rebellion

    TO PRESIDENT OBAMA STOP
    FROM FT SUMTER STOP
    UNDER BOMBARDMENT BY REBELS STOP
    REQUEST PERMISSION TO COUNTERATTACK STOP

    TO FT SUMTER STOP
    FROM PRESIDENT OBAMA STOP
    STAND DOWN STOP
    STRIKE COLORS STOP
    SURRENDER FORT STOP

    — Telegram exchange, April 12, 1861, a month before the United States government recognized the Confederate States of America.

    General George S. Patton, Commander, U.S. 3rd Army: Request permission to relieve 101st Airborne surrounded by Germans at Bastogne.

    General Dwight D. Obama, Supreme Commander, Allied Forces in Europe: Attack two German armored divisions? That’s just nuts! Stand down.

    — Field message exchange December 23, 1944, three weeks before the Roosevelt-Hitler Peace Treaty was signed

    Gen. Douglas MacArthur: Pusan perimeter now stable. Request permission to launch Inchon landing under Operation Chromite.

    President Harry Obama: There’s no way we can defeat so many red Chinese. Stand down, withdraw from Pusan, and evacuate all U.S. personnel from the Korean peninsula.

    — Message exchange, September 8, 1950

    Gen. William F. Garrison, Commander UNOSOM II: Two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters have crashed in central Mogadishu following raid on Aidid compound. Request permission to send rescue force in to retrieve survivors.

    President William Jefferson Obama: Stand down. Our troops could never hope to survive such a hostile urban combat environment. We’ll just have to leave those men behind.

    — Message exchange, October 3, 1994, three days before the American withdrawal from Somalia

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    Posted in Foreign Policy, Military, Obama Scandals | No Comments »

    “Democrat of the Year” Convicted of Stealing Money From Mentally Handicaped Elderly Woman

    October 27th, 2012

    If you put this in a novel, the editor would reject it for the symbolism being too heavy-handed.

    Estelle Carson, the Denver woman named the “Jefferson County Democrat of the Year,” has been convicted of stealing money from an elderly woman with physical and mental disabilities.

    “A Jefferson County jury on Thursday convicted Carson of identity theft and theft from an at-risk person, both felonies, according to Pam Russell, spokeswoman for the district attorney. Carson, 67, is scheduled to be sentenced in December.”

    And what was so vitally important that Carson had to steal money from the handicapped?

    “Carson, who met the victim last year, wrote three checks from the woman’s account, including one to pay for Carson’s cable, Internet and phone when they were about to be canceled.”

    On Carson’s Facebook page, she says that “My president needs four more years.” [Insert your own Obama stealing people’s futures metaphor here.]

    A picture of the convicted felon from that page. Note the tie-dye t-shirt.

    “C’mon people now/Smile on your brother/Everybody get together/Try to rob one another right now.”

    Also from that page (a screen cap in case she takes it down):

    Also from her Facebook page: “I am out walking and knocking for GOTV from now until November 6.”

    Maybe. The article doesn’t say whether the judge let her out on bail before her sentencing.

    (Hat tip: Gateway Pundit.)

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    Posted in Crime, Democrats | No Comments »

    Shrinkage

    October 27th, 2012

    Mark Steyn’s latest column looks at the Incredible Shrinking Obama presidency, contrasting two videos (“the Islamophobic one and the Obamosexual one”) that “bookend the remarkable but wholly deserved collapse of the president’s reelection campaign.”

    Given yesterday’s revelations about Benghazi, that the besieged Americans were denied aid thrice by higher-ups in Washington, I think it’s safe to say Obama looks smaller than at any point during his presidency.

    I thought I would drive that point home in graphic format:

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    Posted in Elections, Foreign Policy, Jihad, Obama Scandals | No Comments »

    Pictures from Ted Cruz/Tony Dale Event in Williamson County

    October 26th, 2012

    I attended the Ted Cruz/Tony Dale event at Williamson County GOP headquarters on October 25 and took some pictures. Click to embiggen.

    Your humble blogger with the Guest of Honor, the next United States Senator from Texas, Ted Cruz:

    And just in cased you missed it, here once again is my endorsement of Cruz for the general election.

    Since I didn’t manage to get any good pictures of Tony Dale at his last event, I got two good ones this time around to make up for it:

    Here are some pics to give an idea of the Wilco GOP digs:

    They had a wide selection of GOP literature available:

    Ted Cruz solo:

    Chairman of the Republican Party of Texas Steve Munisteri, who I hope will forgive me for taking a picture than makes him look like The Joker:

    I get the impression that it was a very long day for both him and Cruz. Two ravenous Cruz staffers went to town on the chicken nuggets; I think they’d been too busy to eat before then.

    Also in attendance: Holly Hansen, Lisa Birkman, Third Court of Appeals candidate Scott Field, and Cedar Park Mayor Matt Powell.

    It was a good crowd (I’m guessing about 50-75 people) and Cruz gave a very solid stump speech. I think things look pretty good for Cruz, Dale, and (fingers crossed) Mitt Romney.

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    Posted in Elections, Republicans, Texas | 1 Comment »

    Texas Rep. Ruben Hinojosa (D-umbass) Actually Forgets the Second Amendment

    October 25th, 2012

    There’s this thing called the Constitution. Perhaps you’ve heard of it. Fundamental law of the land, guiding document for the federal government, etc. Sorta important.

    There’s this section of it called “The Second Amendment.” “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” Gives citizens the right to bear arms. Kind of a big deal. Especially in Texas.

    Perhaps someone needs to tell that to Texas Rep. Ruben Hinojosa (D-umbass), who actually managed to forget what the Second Amendment was during a debate:

    “I’m drawing a blank on the Second Amendment, but I think it’s the weapons, isn’t it? The NRA?”

    Note: This being the Internet and all, I think I should emphasize that the above actually happened. My snarky self didn’t invent it out of whole cloth. An incumbent Democratic congressman from Texas, who’s been in office since 1997, forgot the Second Amendment. “I’m drawing a blank on the First Amendment, but I think it’s the churches, isn’t it? The Pope? Any maybe newspapers?”

    There shouldn’t be a high school senior who doesn’t know what the Second Amendment is, much less a United States Congressman. Either Rep. Hinojosa is woefully ignorant of the Constitution, or else he’s suffering from some sort of debilitating mental illness. In either case, he’s unfit for office.

    Rep. Hinojosa has a Republican challenger in Dale Brueggemann. He has an uphill struggle against an entrenched incumbent in a district that went 57% for Obama, but I doubt he expected his opponent to make such a huge gaffe. I’m sure he would appreciate any help fans of the Second Amendment could throw his way.

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    Posted in Democrats, Elections, Guns, Texas | 2 Comments »

    October Surprise: Cubs Not In World Series

    October 24th, 2012

    Gloria Allred is getting ready to release her October surprise, and you won’t believe the magnitude!

    Are you ready?

    Brace yourself!

    It seems that during the divorce proceeding of Staples founder founder Tom Stemberg 20 years ago, Mitt Romney may have misvalued the profit potential for shares of Staples, with the result that the greedy Trade Federation has stopped all shipping to the small planet of Naboo. While the congress of the Republic endlessly debates this alarming chain of events—

    Oh wait, sorry, I accidentally spaced out for a moment and started channeling the opening crawl from The Phantom Menace, probably because it was the only thing I could think of less interesting than a stock valuation issue from a 20-year old divorce proceeding. Indeed, if the general public is given a choice between ancient divorce/stock value questions, or Jar Jar Binks reciting The Federalist Papers, then meesa thinksa yousa gonna be called ona to deliberate ona thisa newa Constitution!

    This is a game-changer only if the game is “see if you can bore yourself to sleep.” A real game-changer would be something like “In Baghdad in 1990, Tom Stemberg, Saddam Hussein, Osama Bin Laden and I all snorted blow off Fawn Hall’s ass.” That’s about as likely as Mila Kunis showing up on my doorstep asking to be my love slave. The whole reason Mitt is poised to win this thing (beside Obama’s mind-numbing incompetence and the senses-dulling numbness of the Liberal Reality Bubble) is because he’s no fun at parties. If he had any real baggage New Gingrich’s opposition people would have unpacked it a long time ago. He’s so clean he squeaks, which must infuriate Obama’s dirty tricks team to no end. “Damn your clean nose and upright moral values, you vile Mormon!”

    Sure, illegally unsealing an opponent’s divorce records is Obama’s finishing move, but given the distinct lack of any prurient interest angle, even the most devoted Journolista will struggle to breath life into this pathetic non-scandal.

    Messa thinksa yousa wasted a lota tima!

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    Posted in Democrats, Elections, Media Watch | 3 Comments »

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