4th of July Prade in Waxahachie

Paula Baucum, president of the Ellis Countu Republican Womens Club, is seeking help decorating their float for this years' 4th of July Parade in Waxahachie.

Form more details please contact Paula at arepublicangal@yahoo.com

Architects in New York unveil new Freedom Tower

By Mark Egan and Joan GrallaWed Jun 28, 5:11 PM ET

The redesigned Freedom Tower at Ground Zero in Lower Manhattan, planned to become America's tallest building, will be a monolithic glass structure reflecting the sky and topped by a sculpted antenna, the architects said on Wednesday.

Symbolic of the Declaration of Independence, the reworked 1,776-foot (541-meter) centerpiece of the World Trade Center site unveiled by architect David Childs will have a 186-foot tall (57 meter) base sheathed with rolled, heat-treated glass over concrete.

The tower is planned as a symbol of New York's revitalization after the September 11 attacks in 2001, which claimed more than 2,700 lives at the World Trade Center.

Rebuilding has been dogged by almost five years of acrimony over designs, security, insurance and control of the 16-acre (6.5-hectare) site at Ground Zero.

Developer Larry Silverstein, who leased the World Trade Center shortly before September 11, told reporters that if everything now goes according to plan, "By 2012 we should have a completely rebuilt World Trade Center more magnificent, more spectacular than it ever was."
The new Freedom Tower design uses a high-tech laminated safety glass, which if attacked by a truck bomb would shatter into falling pebbles, not break into flying shards.

General Black Jack Pershing

* In today's America we must prove we are above reproach when dealing with our sworn enemies. The above clipping reflects upon days when America knew how to fight a war to win.

GOP Fundraiser in August 10, 2006

Susan Combs keynote speaker at GOP Fundraiser in August '06

Texas Ag Commissioner Susan Combs and candidate for State Comptroller has agreed to be our keynote speaker at this years GOP fundraiser August 10, 2006. Arrangements are being made and you will be updated as more information is confirmed.

Volunteers needed for the fundraiser. Please call me at 972-938-1415 to become part of this years event.

U of Colorado Boss: Fire Ward Churchill

Monday, June 26, 2006 8:17 p.m. EDT

The top official at the University of Colorado's flagship campus on Monday recommended that the school fire the firebrand professor who compared some of the World Trade Center victims to a Nazi and later was accused of academic misconduct. Ward Churchill has displayed "a pattern of research misconduct committed over a period of time," Interim Chancellor Philip DiStefano said.

Churchill, who did not return telephone messages, has 10 days to appeal the recommendation to a faculty committee. A tenured professor of ethnic studies, he has denied allegations of plagiarism and other misconduct and has called the school's investigation a joke. NEWSMAX article

2006 Texas Republican Party Platform

So, what does the RPT platform actually state? What do we (the Texas Republicans) say we stand for? Click on this link and see for yourself. This is the platform that our elected GOP members are supposed to adhere to; this is the base of our philosophical beliefs.... How does your elected official compare?

Cheney Goes on the Offensive

WSJ - June 22, 2006

CHICAGO -- Across the country, Republicans are on the defensive in this year's battle for control of Congress. Vice President Dick Cheney came here Friday to enjoy a rare chance to play offense.

Mr. Cheney addressed a packed ballroom in an upscale downtown hotel on behalf of David McSweeney, an investment banker working to unseat one of the few Democratic incumbents seen as vulnerable in November: Rep. Melissa Bean, who hails from a traditionally Republican district outside the city.

The vice president used the occasion to ramp up the White House's increasingly aggressive campaign to portray Democrats as weak on national security. He said the call by some Democratic Party leaders to withdraw troops from Iraq would "simply validate the al Qaeda strategy and guarantee more terrorist attacks in the future."

First, the Dems are weak on national Security. They have yet to demostrate the ability to lead on the world stage which is demanded from the U.S. as the world superpower; a position so coveted that only God himself can bestow upon a country.

Secondly, the liberal WSJ continued talking about how Republicans and the conservative message in America are in jeopardy this fall. As in years past conservatives will continue to defy "the mainstream media" and show up to the polls on election day and continuing the persuit of liberty.

Warren Buffett Gives $30 Billion to Gates Foundation

In a dramatic shift in his philanthropic plans that will create a colossus in the world of giving, Berkshire Hathaway Inc. Chairman Warren Buffett, the world's second richest man, plans to give away the bulk of his fortune to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, run by the world's richest man.
The gift, valued today at more than $30 billion, will create a philanthropic organization with potential to significantly shape social issues ranging from child mortality to disease control to education. The Gates Foundation, headed by Microsoft Corp. Chairman Bill Gates and his wife Melinda, already has assets valued at $30 billion, meaning it is on course to double in size.

When she can't tell you want she needs

Tonight we shall diverge from our intellectual & carnal pusuits to those whom we depend upon; our canine & feline friends. We must occsionally acknowledge our best friends. Our furry friends that stick with us from time immemorial; our PETS. Let us take a moment to remember those kind souls that stay with us through thick & thin.

THANK YOU, RUBY!

A Million-Dollar Pool?!

Redstate uncovers a choice cut of pork:

In the 2005 Transportation Appropriations bill, the conference report accompanying the legislation included $250,000.00 for construction and renovation of the city pool in Banning, California.

In 2006, the City of Banning, California received another $250,000.00 for city pool improvements. Again, the conference report connected to the Transportation Appropriations bill contained the language.

Now, with Congress set to consider the 2007 TTHUD Appropriations Bill (Transportation, Treasury, and Housing & Urban Development), the conference report again contains $500,000.00 for renovations to the city-owned pool in Banning, California.
Banning, California, is represented by Rep. Jerry Lewis, chairman of the Appropriations Committee.

A North Korean Missile Test: Implications for the U.S. and the Regionby

Balbina Y. Hwang, Ph.D.
Senior Policy Analyst for Northeast Asia in the Asian Studies Center at The Heritage Foundation.

June 20, 2006

According to international intelligence reports, for the last five weeks, North Korea has been steadily moving towards a test launch of the Taepodong 2, an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) with a range up to 6,000 kilometers – enough to reach Alaska. Satellite intelligence reveals that Pyongyang has loaded booster rockets onto a launch pad in Musuduan-ri, in the North Hamkyong Province of northeastern North Korea, and moved fuel tanks in preparation for fueling. This action is in violation of North Korea’s international agreements and appears designed to goad the United States into direct bilateral talks. The U.S. must not take the bait. No good will come from rewarding North Korea for its belligerent behavior.

Click for Complete article

U.N. Once Again Trying To Usurp Our Second Amendment Rights

With an absurdly lengthy title that tells you all you need to know, the “U.N. Conference to Review Progress Made in the Implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects,” will begin Monday, June 26. This meeting is a follow up to the “U.N. Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons” meeting that we reported on in the summer of 2001. At that time, we told you that the Bush Administration made it perfectly clear that the United States would not support any proposal that threatened our Right to Keep and Bear Arms. NRA article

Schwarzenegger Fund-Raises for Gay GOP Group

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger plans to headline a fundraiser for gay Republicans in Hollywood next week in what would be his first appearance in front of a gay audience since he took office, according to the event's organizers. Click for rest of the article

The Real Culprit in the CIA Leak Case

Ronald Kessler-Tuesday, June 20, 2006

WASHINGTON -- Now that Karl Rove has been told he won't be indicted in the CIA leak case, it's useful to recall who the real culprit was.

On July 14, 2003, columnist Robert Novak named Valerie Plame, the wife of former Ambassador Joseph C. Wilson IV, as an "agency operative" as a way of explaining why the CIA chose to send Wilson to Niger to look into claims that Saddam Hussein was seeking to buy uranium from that country. Click for article.....

Attorney General Abbott Obtains Felony Indictment Against Corpus Christi Woman For Voter Fraud

BLOG NOTE: It's nice to see the Texas Attorney General getting serious about prosecuting those who commit voter fraud. For years violations have occurred but never followed up. See the below story about General Abbott getting tough on voter fraud.

Thursday, June 15, 2006

Maria Dora Flores indicted for marking other persons’ ballots

CORPUS CHRISTI - Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott today announced his administration’s first felony indictment for voter fraud. MORE

GIULIANI'S TEXAS CONNECTIONS

Blog Note: While an honorable man, if Giuliani and McCain are the best (and most conservative) the GOP has to offer then 2008 is going to be a very rough year for conservatives.

DallasBlog- If (as expected) Rudy Giuliani decides to run for the Republican nomination for President in 2008, he won't be starting from zero here in Texas. The former Mayor of New York has some prominent Texas Republicans already on his team. His chief of staff is former Dallas insurance executive Rudi GiulianiRoy Bailey who also served as Finance Chairman for the Texas Republican Party in the mid-90s. Bailey knows who the "heavy hitters" are in terms of big Texas givers to Republicans. The rest of the story......

Immigration Influences Apportionment

BLOG: Here are stats from 1998 on how illegal immigration effects redistricting. Unfortunately, we had to wait another 8 years for the topic to become an issue.

A new report from the Center for Immigration Studies points out a peculiar effect illegal immigration is having on congressional apportionment. Although illegals can't vote, their tendency to settle in cluster areas raises population counts in certain congressional districts. When those districts are reapportioned every 10 years, they gain in political power -- even though they contain fewer bona fide voters or legal residents. READ ARTICLE FROM NCPA

Parents Owe it to Kids to be Tech Savvy

Posted by Bobby Eberle June 14, 2006 at 7:06 am

Technologies such as the Internet and the World Wide Web are no longer novelties, but mainstream means of communication, advertising, commerce, and social interaction. Children are growing up around this technology, and parents need to make sure they know what their children are doing and what sites they are visiting on the Internet. If parents are not watching their children, they should know that others out there on the Internet are… and that’s the danger. Click for the complete article

To All Interested Republicans:

You are invited to an informal breakfast at Carolines in Midlothian at 8:30am on Saturday the 17th. We have these breakfasts the third Saturday of each month. This provides an opportunity to get to know each other better and discuss important issues.

If you have any questions just let us know.

Come join us!

Republican Party Breakfast Committee

Paula Baucum, Ron Clark, Charlie Morton, Anne Grant, Jay Benton, JoAnn & Al Thompson & Rusty Ballard, Chairman Ellis Co. Republican Party

H.R. 5252, the Communications Opportunity, Promotion and Enhancement (COPE) Act

Net neutrality is generally defined as providing for an Internet that allows innovation in technology and free speech in content. I support this goal, as long as it is done through limited regulation, allowing market forces to provide services and technologies that consumers demand.

I introduced H.R. 5252, the Communications Opportunity, Promotion and Enhancement (COPE) Act, which passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 321-101. One of the provisions in this bill addresses net neutrality, authorizing the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to review complaints of content discrimination on a case-by-case basis and enabling them to penalize a company up to $500,000 per violation. These reviews, based around the FCC principles to protect access to broadband services, will support the protection of free speech on the Internet as well as encourage business innovation in an important industry.

The primary purpose of the COPE Act is to streamline cable franchising, the process available for a video provider to enter a new market. Today there are thousands of local franchising authorities, and each may impose different restrictions on the provision of cable services in a locality. This current procedure is hindering the deployment of advanced broadband networks. Streamlining franchising will increase competition, giving consumers more options in video, voice, and data services.

H.R. 5252 strikes a balance between national standards and local oversight. It continues to allow negotiation of local franchises but also makes available an alternative national franchise process. The national franchise preserves local franchise fees, municipal control over local infrastructure, and support for public, educational and governmental channels. Most importantly, it allows for greater competition and better prices for consumers.

Again, thank you for contacting me. Please continue to keep me informed of the issues that are of importance to you.

Sincerely,

Joe Barton
Member of Congress

The Texas Young Republican State Convention

The Texas Young Republican State Convention is going to be in Dallas this August, and it's not too late to register for the early-bird special...

Please visit http://www.tyrf.org/2006tyrfconv.htm today, and register for this outstanding event!

The Heart of Texas Young Republicans is a group of young professionals between the ages of 18 and 40 interested in the working of politics. We are brought together by a common belief in Republican philosophy and a desire to take part in the political process. Our club also provides the opportunity for young men and women who are interested in conservative and efficient government and who want to become better informed and involved citizens to get more involved. Anyone between the ages of 18 and 40 is eligible and encouraged to be a Young Republican. The best way to organize is on the local level because the foundation of the Young Republicans is built from the grassroots level on up.

Mr. Bush goes to Iraq: Spreading support & Democracy

Iraq- Prez Bush showed up in Iraq this morning in a suprise move. I see this as an excellent move on Bush's part. He must demonstrate continued US support in the fight for Iraq's freedom. Additionally, the president's move will hopefully rally his base and improve his supporters morale for the war on terror.

For more of the story:
President Bush is greeted by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki during his surprise visit to the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.
President Bush made a surprise visit to Iraq on Tuesday to meet newly named Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and discuss the next steps in the troubled three-year-old war.

Words from other blogs: Thoughts On the Texas GOP Convention

The Convention delegates selected their first black Vice Chairman of the Republican Party of Texas in Dr. Robin Armstrong. The new leader is the first African-American to serve in his position since Reconstruction. I believe Armstrong will be an effective leader having been involved in grass-roots Conservative movement for the past eight years in Galveston. This flies in the fact face of the words of DNC leader Howard Dean when he said the only blacks at a GOP Convention were the cleaning crews. Shows what he knows. MORE: The Right State

Ellis County Delegates & Alternates at State

I want to thank everyone who took the time to come to the State Convention this past weekend. For those whose that did not show I wish you'd made more of an effort (Of course, a number of your had good reasons to miss. And for that reason we have alternates). For too long delegates & alternates in Ells County have failed to attend such a vital part of our party's tradition.

I wish to thank County Judge Chad Adams for making Saturday's events. While he missed Friday he was the only elected official to show up. Thanks Judge Adams!

Editors' Notes on The Texas Republican State Convention

This past weekend the Republicans held their state convention in San Antonio. By now everyone has heard about what little internal fighting there may have been. Honestly, this is no different from any other convention the GOP has held. If you have more than two people in a room there will be disagreements.

The interesting thing I noticed was the lack of energy at this convention. I've been to more than state conventions than I can remember in Texas and this was by far the most boring. While I agree that democracy (and politics) can't always be exciting; I was alarmed by the lack of enthusiasm in and around the convention.

I attribute this mostly to the fact that illegal immigration was the conventions primary focus. Unfortunately, President Bush's primary focus has been amnesty for illegal aliens. The delegation was at odds with itself.

On a positive note, delegates had a choice of two great candidates for State Vice Chair; Bobby Eberle & Robin Armstrong. The RPT and our grassroots were certain to win either way. The delegates elected Dr. Robin Armstrong whom definitely holds the conservative credentials to be the number two person at State HQ. Good Luck Dr. Armstrong!

On a personal note, while I did not win SREC man for SD22 our district definitely won. All 3 candidates would have made an excellent SREC man. Chris DeCluitt will not only make us proud but will also carry forth our conservative beliefs.

Top Party Power Players Wield Clout as State Convention Gets Under Way

June 2, 2006
Top Party Power Players Wield Clout as State Convention Gets Under Way
By Mike Hailey Capitol Inside Editor
SAN ANTONIO, Texas - As the GOP's biennial State Convention gets under way, the major players in today's Texas Republican Party are a mix of veteran party stalwarts and leaders who are relatively new to the big leagues of political activism.
The Republicans with the most sway in state party politics are not necessarily the top elected officials in Texas. Republicans such as Governor Rick Perry, Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst and House Speaker Tom Craddick might wield as much or more overall power individually as the top 13 state party players do as a group. But the Republicans who hold statewide offices or legislative leadership posts have been keeping a measure of distance between themselves and a state party organization that's veered sharply to the right in a state where bipartisan cooperation is still required to make the machinery of government run.
While the state's top elected officials benefit substantially from the vast infrastructure and ever-growing grassroots base that the Republican Party of Texas has developed and nurtured over the past 20 years, the RPT's most prominent movers and shakers in Capitol Inside's view are people who run the state and local party organizations, who have the biggest grassroots followings and who put up the money that fuels the machine. The top 13 GOP players in Texas include the state party chairwoman and her executive director. Three conservative activists from the Houston area and one longtime grassroots leader from Dallas are on the list. Three Republican county chairs have made the list as well.
The most prominent players in Texas Republican politics in 2006 include a member of the Republican National Committee and a Central Texas activist who came close in two state chair's races and is now being mentioned as having national leadership potential. Five of the activists on our list have been elected to the party positions they hold by other activists while one is an elected county official. Last but certainly not least, the final two members of the 13 most influential and high-profile Republican Party players list in Texas are the two biggest contributors to GOP politics in the state over the past decade. Here's who they are:
TOP 10 TEXAS REPUBLICAN PARTY PLAYERS IN 2006
State Party Brass
Tina Benkiser - Barring a surprise challenge at the state convention this weekend, the Houston attorney and former State Republican Executive Committee member will win her third straight state chair's race and be more firmly in control of the state party organization than ever.
Jeff Fisher - Former Van Zandt County judge who's been viewed as an unofficial Jim Leininger disciple has given the state party organization a measure of stability as its executive director for more than a year after bringing a revolving door to a halt despite initial skepticism within the state GOP ranks.
Local Party Officials
Hollis Rutledge - The president of the Texas Republican County Chairmen's Association is leaving no stones unturned in an uphill battle in the trenches as the Hidalgo County Republican chairman. He's stood up to local Democratic officials in a vigorous push for election reform and raised a significant amount of money for GOP candidates at the state and local levels.
Kenn George - A former GOP state finance chairman who served as an assistant secretary of commerce in the Reagan administration, the ex-Texas House member who made a competitive bid for land commissioner is now the Dallas County Republican chairman and tailor made for the job.
Jared Woodfill - The Harris County Republican chairman brought stability to a local party organization that had been in turmoil and quickly transformed it into a voter registration and turnout machine. He's done so well at the wheel of the local organization in the state's largest county that most Houston Republicans have found it easy to forgive him for being a trial lawyer.
National Liaison
Denise McNamara - Dallas court reporter worked her way up from the ground floor of activism with stints on the SREC and Texas Federation of Republican Women board before winning one of the state's two RNC posts in 2000 and defending it successfully in the face of stiff opposition two years ago. She's still more of a grassroots activist than an establishment insider despite the high station.
Grassroots Activists
Cathie Adams - Longtime leader of the Texas Eagle Forum has provided an army of troops who are passionate, vocal and second to none in rapid response. After losing a bid for the RNC as a member of the Benkiser slate two years ago, she bounced back with a key role on the national platform committee and may run again for the national governing board.
Gina Parker - Waco attorney and entrepreneur had strong grassroots support in two fairly close races against the current state chair and has continued to shore up her base of support despite the setbacks in bids to be the state party leader. She decided against another rematch this year and now could be in line for a leadership position in one of the nation's most prominent grassroots groups.
Steve Hotze - Physician who founded the Conservative Republicans of Harris County is the most established member of a regional power triad that is revered in local GOP quarters and scorned by some party regulars in other parts of the state. He did more than anyone to give the GOP a lock on the local judiciary, helped elect a statehouse majority and put up a spirited fight against this year's special session tax plan when the odds of winning were slim at best.
Dan Patrick - Texas Senate nominee who crushed a highly competitive field of primary rivals with more than two out of every three votes has the world's biggest megaphone as a popular Houston talk show to lead cheers for conservative causes even though his magic didn't work for others in runoffs. Some Senate members expect him to have make a splash like a Malatoff cocktail when he shows up for work next year.
Paul Bettencourt - As the tax assessor-collector in the state's largest county, the third member of Houston's grassroots GOP triad has an armory of facts and figures to support the claims that rise from the conservative causes he champions such as property appraisal caps. He's a pretty good speaker when making the case.
Contributors
James Leininger - San Antonio doctor and hospital bed magnate put money behind conservative principles while helping mold the state's highest court into an all-Republican bench, paving the path to success for Governor Rick Perry and others and pouring millions of dollars into a campaign this year to oust moderate legislators who strayed from the party line on school vouchers and other hot topics. Democrats have portrayed him as a right-wing fanatic with a controlling interest in the state GOP, but he's seemed more interested lately in internal party purity than partisan warfare.
Bob Perry - Contributions in recent years to moderately conservative Democrats who've backed tort reform are proof that the Houston homebuilder is not a Republican Party purist. But when you're the number one contributor to GOP politics in the state and nation as well, who cares?
SPECIAL MENTION
Texas Republican Who Could Be on Next Power Player List
Pete Sessions - Dallas congressman has a chance to be the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee - a post that could give him clout on par with that former U.S. Rep. Martin Frost enjoyed as the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee boss and House Democratic Caucus chair before Sessions beat him in 2004.
Bill Crocker - Newest RNC member from Texas is still relatively unknown but has prized connection as the official treasurer of Jim Leininger's incumbent elimination PAC in this year's primary competition.
Blast from the Past Who Could be Part of State GOP Future
Tom Pauken - Former state GOP chairman who wasn't afraid to criticize George W. Bush when he was still popular has been back in the spotlight as a vigorous defender of the special session tax plan approved by the Republican majority at the Texas Capitol this spring. Rumors about a last-minute state chair bid aren't expected to come true but conventioneers have had fun with them nonetheless.
Texas Republicans Who Could Have Been on Recent Power Player Lists
Mike Toomey - Former Texas House member and chief of staff to Governors Bill Clements and Rick Perry had pivotal role as designer of GOP takeover strategy at Capitol before resuming career as a lobbyist.
David Barton - Key figure in religious right as Wallbuilders founder is being forced out of job as state GOP vice-chair by term limits after wielding significant clout in party operations for the past eight years.
Bill Hammond - Texas Association of Business leader who was instrumental in strategy that put Republicans in control of the state House four years ago took a beating in 2002 elections investigation but keeps on ticking while delivering coveted endorsements on campaign and policy issues.
Tim Lambert - Lubbock activist and leading home school advocate had big grassroots base of support before being knocked out of job as RNC member by term limits two years ago.