Get this blog via RSSFebruary 25, 2010
Texas Primary Candidates Speak Out (updated list)
As a service to our readers, Texas on the Potomac has offered every candidate in contested congressional primaries an extensive opportunity to weigh in on their qualifications for office and their positions on the major issues facing the district.
The candidates' comments are being published in the order in which they are received.
Here is an aggregated list of candidate responses. We'll add the remainder of the candidates when (or if) they respond.
7th Congressional District
8th Congressional District
10th Congressional District
14th Congressional District
18th Congressional District
29th Congressional District
Posted by Tom McIlroy at 11:28 AM in Special Report: Texas primary
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John Culberson: It's time for President Obama to listen to Americans about health care
Texas on the Potomac regularly presents guest opinions from across the political spectrum. Today, as President Obama hosts a health-reform summit at Blair House, we offer you a guest blog from Houston Rep. John Culberson:
 Official photo Rep. John Culberson |
PRESIDENT OBAMA, LISTEN!
President Obama should listen to the millions of Americans who have said no to a government takeover of health care.
The president's latest plan for health care reform includes more spending, more taxes, and more government control - ideas the American people have repeatedly rejected. Unfortunately it seems that President Obama has not been listening. The president said he wants to sit down with Republicans and Democrats at today's health care summit to discuss their ideas. First, President Obama should listen to the millions of Americans who have said no to a government takeover of health care.
The president and House Democrats should also listen to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) whose Director on Monday indicated he does not have the information necessary to provide adequate or timely estimates of the potentially enormous costs of the president's plan. How can we have an honest discussion about a health care plan when no one knows how much it will cost? I would urge the House and Senate to postpone any floor action on a health care reform bill at least until CBO can provide a complete cost estimate for the legislation.
Sadly, the president isn't even listening to himself. In 2005, when asked about the use of reconciliation to jam a bill through the Senate Barack Obama said, "[W]hat I worry about would be you essentially still have two chambers - the House and the Senate - but you have simply majoritarian, absolute power on either side. And that's just not what the Founders intended." Given that the American people have repeatedly said "no" to a government takeover of health care and the costs of this plan are unknown, I hope the president will commit today to not jamming the bill through the Senate under reconciliation. As the president previously noted, using reconciliation is a tacit acknowledgement that the bill lacks bipartisan support and not what our Founders intended.
I look forward to hearing from the president and my colleagues today. I am confident that we can lower health care costs without adding to our already unsustainable debt burden and raising taxes on Americans who are struggling from the recession.
Posted by Richard Dunham at 09:25 AM in Health care, John Culberson, White House
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Breaking news: Obama appoints U.S. Attorney for East Texas
It's been more than a year, and we're still waiting for a U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas, based in Houston. But East Texas finally got a federal prosecutor today when President Obama nominated Judge John Stevens of Beaumont to the position.
Stevens is a longtime former Assistant U.S. Attorney who has moved up to a criminal court judgeship in Jefferson County.
We'll let you know when Houston gets its own U.S. Attorney nominee...
Here's the official bio released by the White House:
John B. Stevens, Jr.: Nominee for U.S. Attorney, Eastern District of Texas
John Stevens has been a judge in the Criminal District Court for Jefferson County in Texas since 2007. Prior to that, in 2006, Judge Stevens worked as a private contract attorney. From 1985 until 2005, Judge Stevens was an Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas. From 1981 until 1985, Judge Stevens was an associate at Provost, Umphrey Attorneys. From 1979 until 1981, Judge Stevens was an Assistant Criminal District Attorney for the Jefferson County Criminal District Attorney's Office in Texas. Judge Stevens graduated from Lamar University (1974), the University of Houston School of Law (1979), and Syracuse University (2001).
Posted by Richard Dunham at 08:15 AM in White House
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The Top Ten: Did Humans and Dinosaurs Live Together on Earth?
 Did Humans and Dinosaurs roam the earth together? A new poll shows almost a third of Texans believe they did. |
 To join our Texas on the Potomac Facebook community, click here. To follow Texas on the Potomac via Rick Dunham's Twitter feed, click here. To listen to the latest Washington Chronicles podcast from Texas on the Potomac, click here. To check out the Texas on the Potomac YouTube channel, click here. To check out Helen Thomas' latest columns and exclusive TxP videos, click here. To follow Austin bureau chief Peggy Fikac on Twitter, click here. To follow the Austin bureau's R.G. Ratcliffe on Twitter, click here. To get breaking news updates from the San Antonio Express-News via Twitter, click here. For links to some of the most popular and interesting stories published in Hearst Newspapers via Twitter, click here. For Twitter updates on Hearst's "Dead By Mistake" series,click here. To check out our blog cousin, New York on the Potomac, click here. |
Every week, Texas on the Potomac presents your favorite postings of the previous week. Today, we offer an encore of the top ten postings for the week ending February 20.
1. A new poll shows that 30 percent of Texans believe humans and dinosaurs lived together on earth. Rick Dunham reports>>>
2. Fact Check: An independent fact checking organization says President Obama "dramatically broke" a campaign promise to return to the moon. Stewart Powell reports.>>>
3. Which are the most vulnerable Senate seats in November's mid-term elections?. Rick Dunham reports>>>
4. Today in Texas History: the late fouding of Valentine, Tex. in 1882. Katie Brandenburg reports>>>
 Listen to our latest Washington Chronicles podcast by clicking on logo above. |
5. Texas Straight Talk by Ron Paul: Are US Taxpayers bailing out Greece? Ron Paul writes.">>>
6. Clinton investigator and new Baylor President Kenneth Starr says he is sorry for Clinton case. Rick Dunham reports>>>
7. Presidents' Day Trivia: How many Presidents were born in Texas? Rick Dunham has the answers>>>
8. Reaction to Obama's NASA program cuts from 27 House members. Stewart Powell reports.>>>
9. Is Obama tanking in Texas? A new poll shows just how bad his ratings are. Diana Carlton reports.>>>
10. ConocoPhillips and BP have backed out of a prominent climate change alliance. Jennifer Dlouhy reports.>>>
Posted by Tom McIlroy at 07:31 AM in Top Ten
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News links: Hutchison skips jobs bill vote
Welcome to the Texas on the Potomac news links. We will offer Texas links, "Potomac" links for Washington stories and a sampling of the best Texas political blogs. Please feel free to e-mail us with link suggestions.
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Texas Links
Kay Bailey Hutchison skips jobs bill vote. The Washington Post>>>
Drug cartel chief sentenced in secrecy. The Houston Chronicle>>>
Poll: More than half of Hispanics identify as conservative. The Dallas Morning News>>>
U.S. attorney defends immigration prosecutions. The Austin American-Statesman>>>
Segment of GOP primary voters a 'wild card'. The San Antonio Express-News>>>
Potomac Links
Md. honors same-sex marriages. The Washington Post>>>
Gentle White House nudges test the power of persuasion. The New York Times>>>
White House privately plots 2012 campaign run. Politico>>>
Contrite CEO: Toyota 'Not Perfect'. NPR>>>
Texas Blogs
Rasmussen: Perry Up, Hutchison Down. The Texas Tribune>>>
Sen. Cornyn, NRSC chair, and Sen. Menendez, DSCC chair, agree Democrats will hold onto Senate majority. The Dallas Morning News>>>
Latinos flat in Houston; Hidalgo County looks good. Dos Centavos>>>
Cornyn to Kay: Oh won't you stay... The Houston Chronicle>>>
Posted by Katie Brandenburg at 06:30 AM in News links
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Today in Texas History: Death penalty given for brutal murder of James Byrd, Jr.
 AP photo James Byrd, Jr. was murdered by white supremacists in June 1998, in Jasper. One of his killers was sentenced to the death penalty ten years ago today. |
On this date in 1999, a jury in Jasper convicted white supremacist John William King to death for the brutal dragging murder of James Byrd Jr., a black man. He had been found guilty of murder and kidnapping Feb. 23, one week after the testimony phase of his trial began.
Byrd, 49, accepted a ride from King, Shawn Allen Berry and Lawrence Russel Brewer, all of whom were drunk, on June 7, 1998. He knew one of the men.
Instead of taking Byrd home, they beat him behind a convenience store, chained him to their pickup truck and pulled him for three miles. Forensic evidence showed that Byrd had remained alive for much of the dragging and had fought to keep his head up.
Byrd's body was dumped in front of a black cemetery by the three men, who then went to a barbecue.
King and Berry were well-known supremacists. King had a tattoos of Nazi signs and one with the words "Aryan pride." He wrote a letter to Berry from prison that said they had made history for their crime and that he was prideful of the act. Police intercepted the letter.
In summer 2002, Byrd's son, Ross Byrd, joined Dick Gregor and Martin Luther King III in Texas to protest the death penalty of his father's murderers.
Byrd, who said the death penalty is "not the solution" to hate crimes, said he is against the punishment because of his Christian upbringing and the commandment that says, "Thou shall not kill."
— Hailey Branson
Posted by Katie Brandenburg at 05:30 AM in Today in Texas History
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February 24, 2010
29th Congressional District candidates speak out: Tom Stevens
Texas on the Potomac has offered every candidate in contested congressional primaries an extensive opportunity to weigh in on their qualifications for office and their positions on the major issues facing the district.
The candidates' comments will be published in the order in which they are received.
Today we hear from Republican candidate Tom Stevens :
 Supplied photo Tom Stevens |
Why would you be the best candidate for the House seat?
I am sick and tired of a bunch of dishonest crooks being in congress. I am not that way. I will point out the wrong doers even if it gets me censored and sent home. I will do it. Good change has to start some where and that will be with me. I am a hard line tuff conservative and I will fight for the morally right things to do in government. I have been a church going Christian all my life. When I go into congress I will not leave God out side. I am an anti socialist and will fight against progressive socialism at every time I can do battle with these commies with every moral fiber in my body. It is easy to say I am an honest man, every crook can say the same thing. How do you tell the difference? You can not in this short amount of time. So read my words and try to vision a person who would write these kinds of words. I believe that socialism should only be a states rights issue. That if a state becomes abusive with socialism you can always move out of that state as California people are doing now. If the federal government becomes to abusive with socialism then what can you do, there is no place to move to. There that is it in a nut shell. I believe that continued dependency upon government is wrong and it drags down the good people and never lifts up anybody and I will fight to put an end to this kind of insanity. I am a true blue free enterpriser, I will fight for free enterprise for all people, at all times, at all places with all the moral fiber in my body, but I am not a strong capitalist, but that has to do with my feelings about the federal reserve and that is to deep to get into now. If I win the primary I will get into this issue much deeper. God bless you if you vote for me and if you do not.
How would you describe your political philosophy?
I believe in the rights of life, liberty, freedom, and the right to peruse happiness in any way you want to as long as you do not walk on the rights of others. The rights of other are what fill up libraries with books of law. That is the way it must be, to keep the abusers at bay. OK, you are either going to love me or hate me for this one, I believe that only people who contribute to society should have the write to make decisions for that society. To spell it out for you if you do not pay taxes then you should not have the right to decide how those taxes are spent. God bless you if you vote for me or not.
What are the most important steps you would take to produce jobs in the district and the country?
For a person like me and my belief this is simple stuff. Remember I do not have the agenda for political power and the greed to steal money. I just want to do good moral things for free people. Drastically reduce the size of government, balance the budget, and put an end to wage withholding tax. It is immoral for a politician to take money away from some one who works for it. Improve our justice system so that blood sucking leeches can not litigate our money away form us. We can not take law suits off the table. We must be able to seek justice when we have been wronged. I do not have all the answers but my heart is good and in the right place. God bless you if you vote for me or not.
What would you do to reduce or eliminate the federal deficit?
Well this is another course in 101, what causes the federal deficit. When politicians spend more money than the government takes in that is called federal deficit now why would politician do that. Let us take a local example. The bridge from la port to Baytown cost (I am not for sure) 2,000,000,000, now gene green gets about 1%of that no bid contract. That is 20,000,000 dollars. I hope that explains why we have deficit spending. How do we stop it? Only a constitutional amendment to take away the right to privacy to elected officials and term limits could help, not much else. God bless you for voting for me or not.
What are your top priorities in fighting international terrorism?
You will hate me or love me for this. First to protect our homeland from danger from within we must have a constitutional amendment or marshal law to get all Muslims out of this country, or to have them to convert to Christianity on our terms, not theirs. We should bomb all sources of terrorist support. This will save our soldiers lives and save our homeland lives. It will also give fair warning to other countries that if they give sanctuary to terrorist they will be bombed also. If we do not know where the source of terrorist support is then that is a failure of our present day government that is in power now.
Do you favor full funding for the Constellation program or should NASA use the money for other priorities?
Constellation program is the research and development of techniques and technology to travel into outer space. If the research is on the development of a continuous powered space engine, yes. If not no. developing other things first is like putting the cart before horse, and that is a crock of Barbra Strisan, (b.s.). Coasting through space is not going to get it either. God bless you for voting for me or not.
Do you favor comprehensive immigration reform? If not, what would you do to fix the broken immigration system?
Just like I thought, the Houston chronicle would tell a lie the first chance they got to do so. The immigration system is not broken. The business people and the politicians do not want the immigration system to be maintained in this country. That is not broken, that is politics. Either way I have a greater vision. I see the day when Mexico and Canada will join with us to be the united states of North America with our constitution leading the way; we will be the greatest economic powerhouse on earth. There will be a great nashing of teeth around the rest of the world as in prophesy and that is good. God bless you for voting for me or not.
Posted by Tom McIlroy at 08:24 PM in Special Report: Texas primary
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Youth support for Democrats sinks amid recession, congressional gridlock
Support for the Democratic Party among young voters is waning and Republicans are gaining strength among Americans under the age of 30, recent polling has found.
At a conference today on the political leanings of the so-called "Millennial" generation, officials of the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press said that Democratic gains among young voters in recent elections have rolled back in the midst of a bad economy and widespread public anger at the U.S. government in general and Congress in particular.
Michael Dimock, associate director for research for the Pew Research Center, said some Democrats confused young peoples' attraction to President Obama and their distaste for Bush administration policies with lasting loyalty to the Democratic Party.
 White House photo by Pete Souza President Obama is still popular among Millennials, but his approval rating has declined significantly over the past year. |
"The plurality of young people are independent," Dimock said. "Democrats never really closed the deal with young people through this period."
Eli Pariser, board president of the liberal group MoveOn.org, said factors that anti-Bush anger is not as strong a motivating factor in the era of Obama.
"The Republican brand right now has already been able to move itself away from George Bush," he said.
The overwhelming support for Obama among young voters was touted as one reason for President Barack Obama's wide margin of victory in the 2008 presidential election. But 2009 election results and recent polling show both a decline in Democratic party identification and a drop in turnout among so-called "Millennials."
"Realignments ain't what they used to be," Reihan Salam, a fellow at the New America Foundation. "You used to see realignment and it would last for a long period of time, and now things seem to be moving a lot faster."
Millennials who favor Democrats still outnumber those who lean Republican, but the gap is shrinking. In 2008, 62 percent of registered Millennial voters favored Democrats while 30 percent favored Republicans, a gap of 32 percentage points, according to the report. By the end of 2009, that gap had narrowed to 14 points.
Obama still maintains a 57 percent approval rate among under-30 voters — higher than his approval among other generations — but it's down from 73 percent a year ago. Andrew Kohut, president of the Pew Research Center, said Obama's dropping approval level among the youngest generation of voters was probably tied to the high unemployment rate, which has hit younger workers even harder than older populations.
Millennial disenchantment with the Democrats extends to young voters' participation in the political process. Millennial voter turnout had increased from 40 percent in 2000 to 51 percent in 2008. But in gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia in 2009, that turnout dropped dramatically.
In New Jersey, voters under 30 represented 9 percent of total voters. In 2008, that percentage in the state had been 17 percent.
Posted by Katie Brandenburg at 05:16 PM in Polling (Vox Populi)
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Helen Thomas: Hillary Clinton is a hawk
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Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is finding her voice in the world of foreign affairs — and it's the sound of hawk-speak, filled with threats and warnings.
She has warned that Iran is becoming a military dictatorship. She is trying — with some success — to persuade U.S. allies to support stronger sanctions against Teheran.
There's no sign that the U.S. is about to invade Iran but there's tons of speculation that the Pentagon has been tasked to figure out what bunker-buster bombs would do to Iran's underground nuclear industry and whether such an attack would help or hinder efforts to neutralize Iran as a nuclear threat.
While a massive bombing would certainly delay Iran's nuclear development, it would not stop it. The cost of such a military option would be grave: Iran's hard-liners would be fortified politically; the growing domestic insurgency there would be silenced; and anti-American terrorists everywhere would see such an attack as justifying their own violence.
There's not much doubt that Iran is heading toward nuclear weapons, the kind of arsenal that makes any nation a military force. Iran's neighbors have those terrible devices and so the Iranians ask: Why not us, too? That's the definition of an arms race.
On a recent trip to the Middle East, Clinton told students at Qatar University that Iran's Revolutionary Guards have become more powerful than the government and are heavily involved in oil exports, gasoline imports and defense contracts.
Apparently, the hard-line mullahs were easier to deal with.
Clinton also was tough on the Palestinians during her tour in the region. She said the Palestinians — who have seen most of their land annexed or occupied by Israelis — have to make more ``concessions'' to the occupier to get peace talks going.
The word ``peace'' has not been exalted in the White House for years and neither President Obama nor his secretary of state seem to aspire to it. They fret that some conservative critic somewhere will accuse the administration of being ``soft'' on something.
Democrats continue to labor to prove they are tough, tough, tough, so that they don't have to deal with a contemporary version of the old ``Who lost China?'' rant that conservatives used to their political advantage in the 1940s and 1950s.
The rhetoric from the Obama administration is framed in terms of ``winning'' and ``victory'' while a war-weary nation searches for an end to the war in Afghanistan, which has been going on for nine years and is gaining new momentum in the form of thousands of additional American troops being sent there.
On the Israeli-Palestinian front, former Sen. George Mitchell has been shuttling back and forth with not much success in trying to bring leaders from both sides to the peace table. Obama was not much help in breaking the stalemate when he buckled to Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's refusal to impose a total freeze on settlement building. Instead, the Israeli leader offered a 10-month halt in expanding settlements. Such settlements — colonies in reality — are illegal under international law.
Unlike his domestic proposals where the president faces so much Republican opposition, Obama is in sync with the GOP in treading along the belligerent footsteps of his predecessor.
His hawkish secretary of state takes her cues from the boss.
Posted by Helen Thomas at 02:00 PM in Helen Thomas
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7th Congressional District candidates speak out: John Culberson
Texas on the Potomac has offered every candidate in contested congressional primaries an extensive opportunity to weigh in on their qualifications for office and their positions on the major issues facing the district.
The candidates' comments will be published in the order in which they are received.
Today we hear from Republican incumbent John Culberson:
Why would you be the best candidate for the House seat?
Our nation is facing an urgent fiscal crisis. Today, the individual share of the national debt for every woman, man, and child in the U.S is $39,870. This debt is almost entirely comprised of new spending that our children and grandchildren will be forced to repay with interest. We simply must stop spending our children's future. As Thomas Jefferson prophetically observed, "Loading the nation with debt and leaving it for the following generations to pay is morally irresponsible."
The people of District Seven know they can count on my to keep my word to cut taxes, cut spending, and honor the Constitution. As a staunch fiscal conservative, I have consistently opposed spending increases regardless of who occupied the Oval Office and will continue to do so as long as I am in office. Common sense tells you that spending more to save more is not a logical or coherent fiscal policy. The federal government must learn to live within its means - just like American families. It's time to let Americans keep more of what they earn and for the government to spend less. I believe that by taking these steps, our economy will experience the growth and prosperity that have defined America for generations.
How would you describe your political philosophy?
As a fiscally conservative "Jeffersonian Republican," I am committed to Thomas Jefferson's vision of limited government, individual liberty, and states' rights. Simply put, I believe in "Letting Texans Run Texas."
What are the most important steps you would take to produce jobs in the district and the country?
President Obama and Speaker Pelosi told us the so-called "stimulus" package was intended to create jobs and keep the unemployment rate below 8%. A year later, unemployment stands at nearly 10%, we have record deficits, record spending levels, and our national debt currently stands at $12.3 trillion. We need to get serious about job creation by dramatically cutting income and payroll taxes, and removing barriers to industrial productivity and profitability. Texas has weathered the economic storm better than the rest of the country because of our low-tax, limited regulation business environment, and our model tort-reform laws.
What would you do to reduce or eliminate the federal deficit?
Our national debt currently stands at $12.3 trillion, which is a $3.7 trillion or 42% increase since the Democrats took over Congress in January 2007. In three years, Congressional Democrats have accumulated more federal debt than in our nation's first 200 years. Americans do not budget their personal finances this way and neither should the federal government. Instead of increasing our debt load, we should use repaid TARP funds and unspent stimulus money for deficit reduction. We should also amend House rules to require that any increase in the statutory debt limit be considered as a stand-alone bill and pass with a supermajority two-thirds vote.
What are your top priorities in fighting international terrorism?
The U.S. is currently engaged in a war with terrorists who seek to harm our country in hopes of disrupting our way of life. We must recommit to defeating this threat and isolating terrorist regimes. We must treat and try terrorists as enemy combatants - not U.S. citizens. Europeans may want us to try terrorists in U.S. courtrooms, but Americans do not. Terrorists who kill innocent people and do not abide by international law should not be housed on U.S. soil or granted the same rights as American citizens. I have cosponsored legislation to prevent your tax dollars from being used to move terrorists to the U.S.
Do you favor full funding for the Constellation program or should NASA use the money for other priorities?
President Obama's FY2011 budget for NASA puts our security and prosperity at risk by eliminating the U.S. human spaceflight program. The budget abandons Constellation, the program most key to maintaining our leadership role in space exploration. Constellation enables us to ferry crew to space safely and funds the development of a heavy-lift cargo vehicle, which is essential to carry out scientific missions in space. The president's cuts will delay our access to space for several years and make us dependent on Russia and China, who are racing ahead with their own human spaceflight programs, making America less competitive and yielding the high ground in space.
Do you favor comprehensive immigration reform? If not, what would you do to fix the broken immigration system?
Immigration reform starts with securing our borders. With bipartisan support, I have successfully pushed a zero tolerance program that is dramatically reducing crime and illegal immigration along our southern border. Under this strict enforcement policy, anyone caught crossing the border illegally is arrested, prosecuted, and jailed for up to six months. I helped to implement this program in the Laredo and Rio Grange Sectors and I am working to expand it from Brownsville to San Diego. We also need a sensible visa system that allows people who pass background checks to enter the country legally for a period of time.
Posted by Diana Carlton at 11:00 AM in Campaigns, Congress (Delegation Watch), John Culberson, Special Report: Texas primary, Texas politics
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Video: Charlie Wilson buried at Arlington Cemetery
Here's video from the burial of former Lufkin Rep. Charlie Wilson at Arlington National Cemetery. Among the mourners was former Houston Mayor Bill White and a woman from Houston who had never met him but came to the service because she thought he was "a great American."
Watch the military ceremony, personal recollections and more from Texas TV station KTRE, which also has some links to video recollections of the legendary East Texas congressman.
Posted by Richard Dunham at 10:32 AM in Congress (Delegation Watch)
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House adopts Rep. Al Green's resolution on Black History Month
 Congressional photo Rep. Al Green |
"Black History Month gives the American people an opportunity to reflect on the story of African Americans in the United States and their significant contributions to this great country," says Green, a congressman from Houston.
"We must not forget the many accomplishments by African American civil rights activists, artists, politicians, writers, and athletes nor the indelible mark they have left in our nation's history, as well as in our culture," Green said.
U.S. House of Representatives adopted Green's resolution on a vote of 402 to 0 on Tuesday.
"Black History Month is a celebration of the enduring American spirit, a spirit that triumphs in the face of adversity. Countless men and women of all races committed themselves to the proposition that 'all men are created equal,' courageously fighting for the rights, as well as for the freedom of African-Americans. Studying the lives of these brave Americans can be truly inspirational."
Black History Month was originally established as Negro History Week in 1926 by Dr. Carter G. Woodson, an African-American author and scholar. Woodson chose the second week of February for Negro History Week because it marks the birthdays of Fredrick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln.
Posted by stewartpowell at 09:56 AM in Congress (Delegation Watch)
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18th Congressional District candidates speak out: John Faulk
Texas on the Potomac has offered every candidate in contested congressional primaries an extensive opportunity to weigh in on their qualifications for office and their positions on the major issues facing the district.
The candidates' comments will be published in the order in which they are received.
Today we hear from Republican candidate John Faulk:
 Official photoJohn Faulk |
Why would you be the best candidate for the House seat?
Voters have much to lose if we don't reverse the current liberal policy-making agenda in our great country. Continued loss of jobs, a faltering economy and runaway deficit spending combined with the already-present issues of Social Security and Medicare threaten to put a burden on future generations that will be unbearable. Terrorists continue their plans of destruction while the effects illegal immigration put an ever-increasing load on border states, including Texas.
The only solution is new leadership. Replace liberal and ineffective representatives with those who have a solid conservative philosophy combined with real-life experience to actually implement the necessary changes and return this country to the constitutional principles upon which it was founded.
I have a solid conservative platform - less government, lower taxes, more individual liberty and peace through strength. I also have decades of real public sector business experience in the Health and Medical Industry as well as an MBA. As a semi-retired Accountant, I have a demonstrated history of watching the "bottom line". I believe in a balanced budget and support limited growth of the federal government in non-defense areas. I'm a free-market champion believing the private sector can fund projects better, faster and more efficiently than government bureaucracy. I served in the military and believe this experience is essential for national security and public safety matters.
We must diligently pursue national security measures to protect our country. Democrats in Congress seem to have forgotten the lessons of 9-11. Good defense requires strong intelligence and surveillance. The best way to prevent another attack on American soil is to use every tactic and technology available to intercept terrorist communications, disrupt their funding and infiltrate their ranks while strengthening interagency communications in this country and between friendly nations.
We also have to continue strengthening our border resistance to illegal immigration for many reasons including the fact that some of those coming in illegally may pose national security threats.
I'm the most qualified candidate to run against Sheila Jackson Lee. Some opponents have said it will take an African-American candidate to beat her. Another opponent claims it will require a female candidate to beat Sheila Jackson Lee. Really? We should vote for someone based on the color of their skin and/or their gender? I maintain that these statements are an insult to the intelligence of voters - and in the latter case an affront to feminism. The citizens deserve truly effective representation.
How would you describe your political philosophy?
My political philosophy is of a conservative constitutionalist. I believe in a limited role for the federal government as our founders intended. I believe in lower taxes, less spending and individual liberty and economic freedom. I feel that that a common-sense approach is needed in Washington to solve the serious issues facing our nation, including the terrorist threat.
I believe that Congress has lost its way and no longer represents what the majority of American's desire for their country. Incumbents who have been a part of this ever-increasing government expansion need to be voted out allowing REAL change to happen.
What are the most important steps you would take to produce jobs in the district and the country?
Creating jobs must be a major focus of the country's leadership. Government does not create jobs (except for "government jobs" paid for by taxpayers). The best thing the government can do is to get out of the way of Small Business owners who make up 70 percent of employers in this country and eliminate the bureaucracy that hinders them. Eliminate the death tax; the dividend tax and set people free to flourish. Small Businesses are afraid to expand and hire new people because they fear stability with expanding federal programs and spending foolishness going on in Washington, which I'll fight against.
What would you do to reduce or eliminate the federal deficit?
The federal budget has to be balanced. I have real experience balancing budgets. I support limiting growth in non-defense areas to stop the reckless spending of the federal government. Budgetary savings must be identified through efficiency reforms throughout the federal government. I will work to find ways to eliminate wasteful government programs. I will aggressively attack the creation and funding of duplicative federal programs. According to the Office of Management and Budget, 28 percent of federal programs are either ineffective or have results that are not proven. Reforming, combining or eliminating those programs will be among my highest legislative priorities.
What are your top priorities in fighting international terrorism?
We are at war and must use every tactic and technology available to intercept terrorist communications, disrupt terrorist funding and infiltrate their ranks while strengthening interagency communications in this country and among allies. Terrorists should be interrogated and prosecuted by the military and not tried in civilian courts.
The security of our own region is significant. We must invest in port security, the Coast Guard and increase border resistance to illegal immigration. Additionally, we must retain the National Guard at Ellington Field and complete the transfer of the Armory and the Navy and Marine Training Center to Ellington.
Do you favor full funding for the Constellation program or should NASA use the money for other priorities?
As I understand it, the constellation program is not simply a mission to Mars or a return to the moon. A major part of the program is to develop next generation propulsion systems for these and future missions. NASA has had a tremendous, positive impact on the U.S. and has inspired a generation of students. We must continue that. Is there room for efficiency and waste reduction? You bet. I will address those issues and increase the budget for NASA and the Constellation program.
Do you favor comprehensive immigration reform? If not, what would you do to fix the broken immigration system?
I will fight to curtail illegal immigration and strengthen border security. I will not allow amnesty to become a bargaining chip. Even the talk of amnesty encourages a whole new wave of illegal immigrants.
America has one of the most generous immigration policies in the world. It is unacceptable that we allow millions of people to sneak in the back door of our country when the front door is available. We have tried amnesty and it does not work.
We must enforce and, as necessary, tighten our immigration laws and secure our border - it is a matter of national security.
Posted by Tom McIlroy at 09:33 AM in Special Report: Texas primary
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18th Congressional District candidates speak out: Brenda Page
Texas on the Potomac has offered every candidate in contested congressional primaries an extensive opportunity to weigh in on their qualifications for office and their positions on the major issues facing the district.
The candidates' comments will be published in the order in which they are received.
Today we hear from Republican candidate Brenda Page:
 Official photo Brenda Page |
Why would you be the best candidate for the House seat?
If you read my resume, you'll find that I am the most experienced candidate offering my services to the constituency of Congressional District 18 (CD 18). Over two decades of experience in the free market both as a manager in a Fortune 500 multi-national corporation and as a small business owner. Twenty-four years in the financial industry leading, managing, and participating in national, regional, and local teams. Received multiple awards for excellence, achievement, and leadership. Reputation for creating innovative, cost-effective, efficient solutions, controls, and procedures. Second career as an Attorney, fifty percent of my law practice goes into the community in the form of free services. My education, life of experience, inclusiveness, work ethic, and integrity should be capitalized upon - not by me, but those living in CD 18. I am not a politician, but consider myself a representative of the residents of this district. I am someone who will do the right thing, not the popular thing. I take a no nonsense approach to work. I don't need travel junkets, bribes, or hidden agendas. In an era of reality shows that aren't real, American Idols that are contrived, and Botox, I am unusual. What you see is what you get. No smoke and mirrors.
My platform is to vote No to healthcare bills that exclude Union members and Congressmen. I would also vote No to Cap and Trade and EPA/Department of Energy edicts that attempt to circumvent congressional responsibilities in these matters. I will do my best to stop the spending free-for-all and concentrate on my duties as enumerated in the US Constitution. We are a sovereign Republic. We were not created to participate in a "one world order". We have a Declaration of Independence and I want it to stay that way.
How would you describe your political philosophy?
My political philosophy is framed in the US Constitution. I view myself as an employee hired by the public. This is not a career position for me, but a patriotic duty to those who elected me. I do not adhere to an ever-expanding Federal government. I believe the Congress needs term limits established with a US Constitutional amendment. Congressmen should be totally removed from the current Federal Civil Servant retirement rolls and retirement medical plans. In times of recession or economic stress, Congress should have their pay and budgets decreased accordingly.
What are the most important steps you would take to produce jobs in the district and the country?
Reduce the national deficit, cut payroll tax, and other tax burdens. I stand behind free market principals and will vote for measures that transition our nation to a healthy economy. Taking steps toward a healthy economy results in job creation. I research issues and consistently take counsel, but make my own decisions based on an extensive career in business. The citizens of CD 18 are due someone who represents their best interests and who takes to heart the counsel of the Chambers of Commerce and business leaders while working with State, and local governments to enact practical, sustainable solutions.
What are your top priorities in fighting international terrorism?
As an American, my instinct tells me if you hurt one of our citizens, retaliation is required. However, this action should be carefully considered and based on factual evidence. So, I believe that very strong CIA and FBI field operation departments, and strong immigration law enforcement is necessary.
Do you favor full funding for the Constellation program or should NASA use the money for other priorities?
The Constellation program is worthy of America. If Congress would allocate less funding to self-serving interests the Constellation program would not be on the cutting block.
Do you favor comprehensive immigration reform? If not, what would you do to fix the broken immigration system?
No, I do not favor comprehensive immigration reform. I favor enforcement of the immigration laws currently on the books. This enforcement should be performed by the Attorney General and the Department of Homeland Security of the United States.
Posted by Tom McIlroy at 08:00 AM in Special Report: Texas primary
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News links: Texans turning out in big numbers for primaries
Welcome to the Texas on the Potomac news links. We will offer Texas links, "Potomac" links for Washington stories and a sampling of the best Texas political blogs. Please feel free to e-mail us with link suggestions.
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Texas Links
Texans turning out in big numbers for primaries. The Dallas Morning News>>>
Widow of IRS employee sues pilot's wife. The Austin American-Statesman>>>
Medina loses ground in latest poll. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram>>>
Family of Dallas officer killed in motorcade crash sues Hillary Clinton. The Dallas Morning News>>>
Potomac Links
GOP's Brown branded turncoat for jobs bill vote. The Associated Press>>>
Toyota official says recall may not fully solve safety problem. The New York Times>>>
Dick Cheney suffers mild heart attack. Politico>>>
Navy to lift ban on women serving on subs. The Associated Press>>>
Texas Blogs
Willie pitches Kinky. The Texas Tribune>>>
Not just Republicans voting in local GOP primary. The Austin American-Statesman>>>
Hutchison returns to DC to vote against Dem jobs bill. The Dallas Morning News>>>
Stormin' Mormon: Romney may be eyeing White House bid. In the Pink>>>
Posted by Katie Brandenburg at 06:30 AM in News links
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Today in Texas History: One expensive pig
On this date in 1979, swine breeder Russ Braize of Stamford sold a pig for the highest price ever recorded at the time: $42,500.
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Swine breeder Russ Braize sold the pig, named Glacier, at the Southwest Duroc Type Conference in Wichita, Kansas.
Glacier held the world record for the most expensive boar of all breeds for 18 years. The pig, a duroc boar, was sold to William and Myron Meinhart of Hudson, Iowa.
Braize had only been raising and selling show pigs since 1978.
— Hailey Branson
Posted by Katie Brandenburg at 05:30 AM in Today in Texas History
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February 23, 2010
14th Congressional District candidates speak out: Winston Cochran
Texas on the Potomac has offered every candidate in contested congressional primaries an extensive opportunity to weigh in on their qualifications for office and their positions on the major issues facing the district.
The candidates' comments will be published in the order in which they are received.
Today we hear from Democratic candidate Winston Cochran:
 Submitted photo Winston Cochran |
Why would you be the best candidate for the House seat?
A. I am an attorney with 30 years of experience in state and federal courts. No
other candidate for this race in either party is an attorney. I am certified as a
specialist in criminal law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. I was a
prosecutor for 11 years in Fort Bend County and Harris County. That included
appeals and health and pollution cases. Now I mostly represent indigent defendants.
I am the president-elect of the Galveston County Criminal Defense Lawyers
Association. I have done a lot of appellate work, with over 300 reported appellate
cases. My legal training is important because the job of a Congressman is to propose, evaluate, and vote on bills which may become law, including bills which are long and complex.
B. I have a bachelor's degree in Economics, magna cum laude, from Columbia
University. Part of Ron Paul's political strength is based on his ideas concerning
public finance and monetary policy. I am the Democratic candidate best able to show why Ron Paul's views are faulty.
C. I ran two statewide Democratic races for the Court of Criminal Appeals, in
1996 and 1998, and I was the party's nominee in 1998. I campaigned for the entire Democratic ticket and did not just focus on my own race. I will do that again if nominated. I strongly support the Democratic Party platform. One of my opponents originally filed with the Federal Election Commission as a Republican, and the other told the Victoria newspaper that he "loves Ron Paul's message."
D. I offer some original ideas, such as a tax deduction for veterinary bills
exceeding $750 in a year and oyster-shell recycling, and not just the same old
political cant.
E. Galveston needs a levee. This issue is more important than any individual
politician. Win or lose, I will campaign on this point until the polls close in
November.
How would you describe your political philosophy?
I am a moderate Democrat by modern standards. My economic views are based
on old-time Democratic liberalism, exemplified by Franklin Roosevelt, Hubert
Humphrey, Henry "Scoop" Jackson, Walter Mondale, and most of all, Ralph
Yarborough. An aggressive fiscal stimulus policy is the best way out of the
recession. I favor protecting American industry and American jobs. I am more
conservative on some social issues. For example, I support a right to choose but not partial-birth abortions. I am in favor of a strong military.
What are the most important steps you would take to produce jobs in the district and the country?
A. An aggressive public works program, starting with a levee for Galveston
and other projects needed in this district.
B. Protecting American industry, especially the petrochemical industry. Adopt Cap and Trade if and only if foreign plants are held to the same pollution and
worker safety standards as American plants.
C. Promoting recycling programs, including the recycling of oyster shells to
replenish reefs. That helps fishermen, oystermen, shrimpers and people who sell
recreational fishing equipment.
D. Reinstate the uptick rule to protect stock prices against short sellers, making
it easier for companies to raise capital.
E. Promote unionism.
What would you do to reduce or eliminate the federal deficit?
A. If we stimulate the economy with more aggressive public-works spending
we will more than make it up on the back end when the economy recovers.
B. Crack down on the use of foreign tax havens by some Americans to avoid
payment of taxes.
C. Ask the governments of other nations to pay part of the costs of foreign
citizens using American services (although most of this money should channel to
states and cities).
D. Reinstate the uptick rule, eventually increasing tax revenue from capital
gains.
E. More criminal forfeitures of organized crime assets.
What are your top priorities in fighting international terrorism?
A. Build up the Navy so we can lead other nations in fighting maritime piracy. This would have the additional benefit of helping the shipbuilding industry, which
once was much bigger on the Gulf Coast.
B. Step up legal action against terrorist financing operations and demand that
other nations do the same.
C. Support Israel.
D. Try the 911 terrorists in military court. Trying them in New York creates
too much risk to innocent people.
Do you favor full funding for the Constellation program or should NASA use the money for other priorities?
Why do we have to choose? The NASA budget should be expanded, and the
manned Constellation program deserves a generous share. NASA is the grand
champion of public works because of its economic impact and because space
exploration offers future benefits which we cannot even envision. NASA also could play a greater future role in environmental monitoring.
Do you favor comprehensive immigration reform? If not, what would you do to fix the broken immigration system?
I favor some specific things:
A. Step up enforcement against "coyotes," procurers who charge foreigners
large sums to be smuggled into the U.S. Walls or fences do little to stop the coyotes, who assemble groups on the American side of the Rio Grande and provide the means of getting past highway checkpoints.
B. Make the opportunity for citizen status more available, but not universal.
C. Recoup costs of education and medical care for foreigners illegally in the
United States from their countries of origin. For any country receiving foreign aid,
the cost could be deducted from that.
Posted by Katie Brandenburg at 09:15 PM in Campaigns, Special Report: Texas primary, Texas politics
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Texans defend Toyota as investigative probes begin
As Congress opened hearings into Toyota's safety records Tuesday, the automaker drew significant support from lawmakers and public officials representing states where plants and workers are located, including Texas.
 AP photo Rep. Joe Barton |
Rep. Joe Barton, R-Ennis, the ranking Republican on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, who defended the automaker for initiating recalls to correct the problems. Barton and committee member Michael Burgess, R-Lewisville, urged the panel to seek the facts and guard against going "on a witch hunt."
Toyota's civic advocates are many, and they've been forceful in telling Congress that while safety concerns must be addressed, the company remains "a great corporate neighbor" in communities where it operates — such as San Antonio.
"I ask that Congress be mindful of the many contributions of Toyota to our citizens and of Toyota's record of successfully identifying deficiencies, learning the causes of those deficiencies and correcting them," said wrote Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff in a letter to key lawmakers.
Wolff offered his support immediately after the federal government announced it was launching a criminal investigation of the beleaguered automaker's handling of vehicle safety concerns.
Toyota and its suppliers employ more than 4,800 people at its $1.3 billion San Antonio plant that builds Tundra trucks. It is part of a larger Texas-Mexico automotive group with more than 133,000 workers .
In letters sent to House committee chairs and their ranking Republicans, Wolff said his visits to Toyota plants in the United States are "focused on consumer and employee safety and product quality."
The hearing before the House Energy and Commerce Committee focused on safety concerns, and allegations that the automaker failed to respond to reports about product deficiencies.
Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., the panel's chairman, said federal regulators failed to clamp down on Toyota after it misled the government and consumers about the problems.
"Toyota failed its customers and the government neglected its responsibilities," Waxman said.
James Lentz, Toyota president for U.S. operations, apologized at the hearing.
House members with Toyota plants in their congressional districts, including Rep. Charlie Gonzalez, D-San Antonio, were allowed to sit in on the congressional questioning.
Toyota, meanwhile, sent workers to the hearings and made employees and executives available to reporters there.
Last week Toyota officials and employees met with Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, at the Tundra plant in San Antonio to discuss the hearings.
Cuellar is a member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee which is scheduled to hear testimony from Toyota on Wednesday on safety, whether the company ignored warnings from insurance firms and whether federal regulators responded too slowly to initial concerns.
"I'm interested in the role of the federal regulators, and why they didn't act," Cuellar said.
 Congressional photo Rep. Henry Cuellar |
But the South Texas lawmaker said he also is interested in how Toyota is addressing the safety issue and how it plans to regain the public's trust.
"This is a good company, when you talk about the thousands of jobs they have created in the United States and in my area," Cuellar said. "We've got to keep that in mind."
Texas Gov. Rick Perry, a Republican with primary challengers, has backed Toyota in talks with some members of the state's congressional delegation.
One of them was Cuellar, a former Texas secretary of state appointed by Perry in 2001.
Cuellar and Barton both spoke to Perry before the hearing. Cuellar said he and the governor spoke about safety concerns, and the need for Toyota to be treated fairly in congressional hearings.
Posted by Gary Martin at 06:22 PM in Congress (Delegation Watch), Texas business
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Decorated Texas Vietnam vet buried at Arlington
Robert L. Howard, an Army veteran from Texas and one of the Vietnam war's most highly decorated soldiers, was laid to rest Monday at Arlington National Cemetery as friends and family looked on.
A survivor of five tours in Vietnam, Howard received the Medal of Honor for directing a counterattack when enemy troops almost overwhelmed his platoon.
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Wounded by grenade blasts and unable to walk, Howard continued to command and was the last to board a helicopter that took his soldiers out of harm's way.
Howard, 70, a retired Army colonel, died of pancreatic cancer on Dec. 23 in a Waco hospice.
Despite the medals and recognition, he downplayed such accolades.
"He was very humble," said friend Benito Guerrero of San Antonio, a retired Army sergeant major. "He was one of a kind. He will be greatly missed."
Howard was buried under overcast skies in a section of the national cemetery near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a fitting tribute for a leader who won respect from those who served under him, his friends said.
In 2009, in one of his final official acts as a decorated veteran, Howard and other Medal of Honor recipients accompanied President Barack Obama to the Tomb to lay a wreath.
Born in Alabama, Howard enlisted in the Army at age 17 in 1956. He retired at Fort Sam Houston in 1992 and decided to stay in San Antonio.
Deputy U.S. Marshal James Benjamin, a San Antonio neighbor, said Howard was "a professional soldier" until the day he died.
"He was inspirational to all military people in San Antonio. He always had time to talk," Benjamin said after the service.
Guerrero, Benjamin and other friends traveled from Texas to attend the ceremony and burial. Their mood was solemn as three rifle volleys were fired. The U.S. Army Band played "America."
Howard's son, Army Sgt. Robert L. Howard Jr., was presented with a folded flag at the gravesite and passed it on to his sister, Melissa Gentsch.
Howard received eight Purple Hearts for battle wounds, though he was injured 14 times. He liked to say that six of them "didn't count" and did not accept any more, Guerrero said.
Still, Howard took part in many Purple Heart ceremonies at Fort Sam Houston for wounded soldiers. Those who knew him said Howard was actively involved in veteran's issues and supported active-duty military personnel serving overseas.
"He not only served America proudly in the military, he served after he retired, helping veterans and their families," said Larry Romo of San Antonio, the U.S. Selective Service director.
Another memorial ceremony is planned for Dodd Field Chapel at Fort Sam Houston, set for 10 a.m. Saturday.
Howard was a Sergeant First Class in the U.S. Army Special Forces in December 1968 when his platoon was attacked by a force of 250 enemy troops.
He served a total of 58 months of combat duty in Vietnam, and his battlefield exploits resulted in three nominations for the Medal of Honor. He finally received it for the 1968 battle from President Richard M. Nixon on March 2, 1971.
In addition to the nation's highest award for valor, Howard also received the Distinguished Service Cross and the Silver Star.
After retirement from the military, Howard was employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs. He spent his time "giving back" to the military, visiting troops in Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, Kosovo and Germany.
Guerrero said Howard never wanted people to talk about the medals or his heroic deeds.
"He used to say: 'I just do what I'm supposed to do,'" Guerrero said.
Posted by Gary Martin at 04:37 PM in Military (Pentagon Watch)
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Candidates for Texas governor answer questions from grassroots conservatives
As part of Texas on the Potomac's ongoing effort to keep Texans up to date on the race for governor, we are posting the questions and the videotaped answers of the candidates that were compiled by Common Sense Texans, a statewide coalition of grassroots conservative organizations that includes Tea Party and 9/12 activists.
Activist Greg Holloway said the organization posed 10 questions to Gov. Rick Perry, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and conservative grassroots activist Debra Medina on issues before Texas' March 2 primary.
Here are the questions posed by activists, followed by the candidates' videotaped answers. Holloway sets up each segment with a 25 second introduction.
1. Kerry Watson, Austin Tea Party Patriots: "Do you plan to further reduce property taxes, so that we can own our land without the threat of losing it to the government because we can't afford the tax burden? Would you eliminate property taxes entirely? Why or why not?"
2. Tammy Blair, Tyler Tea Party: "Specifically - by major program categories - how much do you intend to reduce state spending? If you say it can't or shouldn't be done, why not?"
3. Rebecca Forest, Immigration Reform Coalition of Texas: "To end the magnets that draw illegal aliens to Texas, many Texans support policies that end sanctuary cities and require all employers to use E-verify for all employees. You made your views known on those items in your last debate. Many Texans also support requiring state agencies to report the costs of services provided to illegal aliens. Do you agree? In addition, tell us what other steps you believe need to be taken at the state level to protect our borders, families, and economy from illegal immigration."
Continue reading "Candidates for Texas governor answer questions from grassroots conservatives"
Posted by stewartpowell at 03:10 PM in Campaigns, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Rick Perry, Texas Governor's Race, Texas politics
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Analysis: Trouble ahead for Democrats in midterms
Tom Davis knows something about election setbacks. The former Virginia congressman was at the helm of the National Republican Congressional Committee when the GOP took a shellacking during the second Bush administration.
Now, Davis sees some of the same signs of trouble ahead for Democrats who surged to a big House majority in the past two election cycles.
While a Republican takeover either house of Congress is far from guaranteed, Davis predicted Monday that the "out" party is likely to make major gains in November.
And though Democrats have more campaign funding than Republicans so far, Republicans have far more energy. The energy is especially evident in the Tea Party movement, said Davis, who now is president and CEO of the centrist Republican organization the Republican Main Street Partnership.
"Midterms are all about who shows up," Davis said. "Republicans are aroused and angry and the [Democratic] surge babies are asleep."
Even Texas, a solid red state, saw a surge in Democratic voters in 2008. There were 695,929 more votes for the Obama/Biden ticket in 2008 than there were for the Kerry/Edwards ticket in 2004, according to the Texas Secretary of State's office.
During the same period, 47,589 fewer votes were cast for McCain/Palin than were cast for Bush/Cheney two years earlier. McCain still won the state handily.
That up-tick in Democratic voters was made up in large part by energized youth and minority voters who are less likely to show up for the midterm election, Davis said.
Continue reading "Analysis: Trouble ahead for Democrats in midterms"
Posted by Katie Brandenburg at 12:52 PM in Campaigns
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