Showing posts with label Bo French. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bo French. Show all posts

Thursday, March 1, 2018

#TXLEGE: Team Geren attempting to further milk false CPS report


"While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage."
2 Peter 2:19

This is absolutely disgraceful; from the Inbox:
Bo French Eviscerates Geren and his Democrat Allies’ Release of False CPS Report
“You know they are desperate when their only hope is to use CPS one more time to allege child abuse”

(Fort Worth, TX) On Wednesday the CPS report on the French family was leaked to the media in an attempt to, yet again, weaponize CPS and allege child abuse. The Quorum Report, an online blog, released the documents and noted that the conclusion was that the French family posed a “moderate risk” for child abuse. Left out, likely due to lack of research, was the fact that all families that don’t cooperate with CPS are noted as “moderate risk”.

French laid out significant details stating, “This is again a new low for Charlie Geren. You know they are desperate when their only hope is to use CPS one more time to allege child abuse.

Let me point out some facts: 

1. CPS will classify ANY parents who refuse to cooperate with a CPS investigation as presenting a “moderate risk” (as distinct from “low risk” or “high risk”) of future child abuse.  The basis for the “moderate risk” classification is the failure to cooperate, but that logic is entirely circular; we declined to cooperate precisely because we don’t abuse or neglect our children, and we therefore don’t want them exposed to an invasive and humiliating CPS interview and exam. The report shows we knew it was a political attack from day one.

2.  CPS did NOT find any actual child abuse or neglect in 2016. Obviously, there was none, as our pediatrician confirmed in his examination of all four of our children the Saturday morning after the Friday night CPS visit.  All CPS “concluded” in 2016 was, based on a default administrative assumption, was that there was a “moderate” risk of child abuse in the FUTURE.  We are now living in the future; it’s 2018 and there have NOT been any additional reports of child abuse or neglect in our home, despite the fact that our four children are around “mandatory reporters” (teachers, doctors, nurses, coaches, etc.) all the time.  Why no more reports or CPS visits since the 2016 election? Because, obviously, we do not abuse or neglect our children, and the one report ever made was politically motivated.  

3. Now let’s go back to the actual deposition; it’s clear to anyone who reviews Mr. Sorensen’s sworn testimony that he filed the false CPS report.  But he did so with NO PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE about the health or welfare of our children.  Sorensen testified that he has never met our children, never seen them in person, never been to our home, never been in the same room as our children, and he admitted under oath that he knows nothing about how we parent our kids. Stated another way, the Geren operative who phoned in the false CPS report admitted under oath that he knew nothing about the health or welfare of our kids.  And, to be clear, this Geren campaign worker was NOT a mandatory reporter to CPS of any sort.  

4. The Geren aid who phoned in the false CPS report had NO REASONABLE BASIS for doing so.  He admitted under oath that his ONLY knowledge of the welfare or health of my children was a snippet of conversation that he eavesdropped on, as he overheard me talking to my 2016 campaign manager about the purported injury to our youngest son’s ribs.  

5. Even as testified to by Sorensen, no child abuse could have occurred here because he acknowledged that we took our youngest son to a chiropractor, who is: (a) perfectly capable of diagnosing a broken bone; and (b) a mandatory reporter of suspected child abuse to CPS.  

6. Sorensen’s motivation was transparently political. He made the call the Friday before the Tuesday election.  He “very badly” wanted to see Mr. Geren win. He had worked 60-70 hours per week, 6 or 7 days per week, for Geren’s campaign from June 2015 to March 1, 2016.  Democrat Sorensen knocked on over 10,000 doors for Geren.  He was heavily invested in Geren winning, and he “went the extra mile” to make that happen by calling CPS.  

8. Bottom line: Geren surrogates’ focus on the “moderate risk” of future abuse classification that CPS assigned to my family because we would not cooperate with the CPS investigation is as cynical as it is desperate.  Geren’s staff created this CPS mess by making a completely false and baseless CPS report for transparently political purposes.  

9. Geren’s staff must be held accountable for weaponizing CPS is the 2016 race.  It defies all decency that they are attempting to weaponized it again in the 2018 campaign.”
Bottom Line: Please Ft. Worth, for the love of all that is righteous, show this false CPS report filing, lobbyist fornicating, sexual predator enabling sociopath the door next Tuesday....

Monday, February 26, 2018

#TXLEGE: Charlie Geren staffer who filed false CPS Report's ASTONISHING Deposition Video


"All these evil things come from within and defile a man."
Mark 7:23

This is sick:



Highlights:
  • "Did Charlie Geren call Texas Child Protective Services and allege that Bo and Sheridan French were abusing or neglecting their children?!?"
    • (Democrat) lawyer tells him not to answer
  • "You weaponized CPS for political purposes, didn't you sir?!?"
    • (Democrat) lawyer again tells him not to answer.
    • Note: If the answer to this question is "no," then it's an easy one to answer.
  • "Are you the source of information in this report?!?"
    • (Democrat) lawyer again tells him not to answer.
  • "You made that tip to child services in an effort to give Charlie Geren's campaign a political advantage."
    • (Democrat) lawyer  again tells him not to answer. 
  • "It's fair to say, you were eager for Representative Geren's campaign to prevail."
    • "Yes"
  • "It's fair to say you were invested in the outcome of the campaign."
    • (Democrat) lawyer objects.
  • "You badly wanted Mr. Geren to win."
Bottom Line: Charlie Geren is a sociopath.  This is what sociopaths do.  Please Ft. Worth, finish this guy off....

Thursday, February 22, 2018

#TXLEGE: Campaign that filed false CPS report last cycle files frivolous criminal complaint this cycle


"A merry heart does good, like medicine,
But a broken spirit dries the bones."
Proverbs 17:22

One of this website's longstanding frustrations with Republican campaigns is the lack of creative thinking.  We tend to use the same, stale, rhetoric over and over again...then we wonder why large segments of the population tune us out.  In that spirit, we welcome Empower Texans' recent mailer in the Charlie Geren/Bo French race.

At its core, the mailer is about Charlie Geren's decade plus sexual relationship with a (female) lobbyist.  True, he finally did marry the poor girl last year.  But, prior to that, they had been living in sin for a long, long time.

The satirical mailer purported to be from the "Texas Ethics Disclosure Board," an obviously fictitious entity.  It gave voters written "NOTICE" that Charlie and Mindy have engaged in a decade long sexual relationship, then listed several of Mindy's lobby clients.  Honestly, we wish we'd thought of it.

But you know an attack has been effective when it begets this level of ludicrous overreaction:
A criminal complaint against Empower Texans, a conservative group that mailed out an attack ad resembling an official government notice that targeted GOP state Rep. Charlie Geren, is “under review” by the Travis County District Attorney’s office, The Texas Tribune has learned.

A person who self-identified as a Tarrant County voter sent a letter to the DA’s office alleging that the group ran afoul of a criminal law that prohibits people from posing as government authorities, correspondence obtained by the Tribune shows. Mindy Montford, Travis County's first assistant district attorney, confirmed that her office had received a complaint about the group on Tuesday.

The controversial mailer attacks Geren for his “relationship” with a lobbyist — who happens to be his wife, Mindy Ellmer. What voters see in bold letters when they open the mail piece is “NOTICE,” above a slightly smaller font that says, “Of Relationship With Registered Lobbyist.” Then it lists Ellmer's long list of corporate lobby clients.

The mailer purports to come from the “Texas Ethics Disclosure Board,” an official-sounding name that Empower Texans registered with the Secretary of State's office late last month. There is no such government agency, though there is a Texas Ethics Commission that polices campaign and lobbyist disclosure rules.

....

"They're trying to deceive my constituents," said Geren, a top target of the group. The longtime Fort Worth lawmaker, one of outgoing House Speaker Joe Straus' top lieutenants, said the advertisement was designed to look official.

"It looks like it's coming from a state agency and it's not," Geren said. "A guy at church handed it to me and said what is this. I said it's another lie by Empower Texans, and he said, 'Well it looked real.' "

The complaint alleges Empower Texans may have violated a provision of the Texas Penal Code, under section 37.11, which prohibits people from posing as government officials. Specifically, the law says a person commits a third degree felony if he “knowingly purports to exercise any function of a public servant or of a public office, including that of a judge and court, and the position or office through which he purports to exercise a function of a public servant or public office has no lawful existence under the constitution or laws of this state or of the United States.”
Obviously, the Geren campaign's position is absurd.  The law in question was designed to protect actual governmental entities.  In other words, if the mailer in question purported to be from the actual Texas "Ethics" Commission, that would have been highly illegal.

That's not what happened.

In this instance, the entity in question was not an actual governmental body.  Thus, the law in question doesn't apply.  Furthermore, fictional organizations that are not what they purport to be are nothing new in Texas politics.

[Note: That being said, this is the Travis County DA we're talking about, so anything's possible.]

But here's the kicker: Charlie Geren is the guy whose campaign operative filed a false CPS report against Bo French's family last cycle.  Now, they're filing a frivolous criminal complaint.  We've seen this movie.

Finally, not that it's relevant to the discussion, we have to include a clip from this Texas Monthly screed because it's too funny not to share:
Michael Quinn Sullivan’s Latest Stunt Aims to Undermine our Democracy

As if anyone needed further proof, MQS’s bogus mailer shows that he is no better than Russian trolls.

At a lanky six-foot-four, Michael Quinn Sullivan is hard to miss around the Capitol. And even when he’s not there, it can feel like the specter of him still is. As president and CEO of Empower Texans, he has been an organizational force among the tea party groups of Texas, feeding them misinformation about state politicians. The man is known as Mucus (a play on his initials, MQS) because he engages in yucky deceptive politics, with a win-at-any-cost philosophy. His methods, like those of the Russians who meddled in the 2016 election, foment distrust in government and diminish the desire of citizens to vote, which then primes the pump for abuse.

Sullivan’s latest political stunt is case in point. On January 28, Empower Texans, operating under the assumed name of the Texas Ethics Disclosure Board (there’s no such thing) sent postcards to voters in the Fort Worth district of Representative Charlie Geren. It read: “This notice from the Texas Ethics Disclosure Board is directed to voters in HOUSE DISTRICT 99 concerning a candidate for office who must disclose a relationship with a registered lobbyist pursuant to Tex. Gov’t Code 572.0531.” It then lists the clients of lobbyist Mindy R. Ellmer, who, it just so happens, is Geren’s wife.

The clear intent of this mailer was to mislead voters into believing that Geren had done something wrong, or at least suspect.

....

Because of their dark money, groups like Empower Texans thrive in the shadows of secrecy and misinformation, using the same kind of loopholes that allowed Russian spies to try to manipulate voters in the 2016 elections. A cockroach that dashes across a plate at a picnic only spoils a small portion of the meal, but almost everyone will throw away the entire plate of food rather than risk contamination. That is how a democracy is spoiled.
[Note: You can read the whole thing here; that being said, given that Texas Monthly was recently caught in a pay-to-play scheme for website traffic, you might want to think twice before giving them the clicks.]

Bottom Line: It's common sense.  If you don't want people to come up with creative ways to inform voters that you've had a decade long sexual relationship with a lobbyist, don't have a decade long sexual relationship with a lobbyist.  If you choose to have a decade long sexual relationship with a lobbyist, and a watchdog group informs the voters in a creative way, that's no excuse to file a bogus criminal complaint.

Tuesday, February 20, 2018

#TXLEGE: Ted Cruz ENDORSES McNutt, praises French....


"As iron sharpens iron,
So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend."
Proverbs 27:17

From the first day early voting inbox.

First Thomas McNutt:
I'm honored and humbled to announce Ted Cruz has endorsed our campaign!

"We are blessed in Texas to have so many solid conservatives running for office. I’m asking Texas voters to carefully consider the choices before them this election cycle, and to stand with those who have proven themselves to be conservatives of conviction. I am proud to endorse Thomas McNutt for Texas House and urge the voters of the 8th District to join me by supporting him." 
~Senator Cruz

When EVERY campaign tries to act like the conservative choice on the ballot, it’s extremely helpful for a warrior like Senator Cruz to provide clarity on the true conservative choice.
Next, Bo French:
Sen. Cruz Applauds Bo French's Conservative Leadership
French running against Liberal Charlie Geren for Tarrant County District

(FORT WORTH)-- Today, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz released a statement praising the campaign and candidacy of Bo French for the Texas House of Representatives in District 99.

Sen. Cruz said: "Bo French has displayed a passion for his conservative principles and a commitment to his community that is not often seen in politics. Numerous trusted conservatives have endorsed his campaign, including Texas Right to Life, Texans for Fiscal Responsibility, the Texas Home School Coalition, and Gun Owners of America, among many others - a testament to his hard work."

French is a businessman, rancher and investor from Fort Worth. In the primary he faces long-time incumbent Charlie Geren, who has represented the district for the past 18 years. During that time, Geren has consistently received failing grades from conservative organizations around the state such as Texans for Fiscal Responsibility and Texas Right to Life.

Sen. Cruz continued, "Bo's experience as an entrepreneur, service to his hometown of Fort Worth, and conviction in defense of his values have been widely recognized and are important characteristics in any GOP candidate."

Bo French and Charlie Geren are the only two candidates for District 99 in the Republican Primary being held on March 6, 2018. District 99 covers the northwest corner of Tarrant County. French and Geren also faced each other in the primary in 2016. The Texas House of Representatives has 150 members elected to two-year terms.
Bottom Line: Obviously, these races are no-brainers for anyone paying attention (ie. people who read this website), but Cruz's actions clarify matters for the broader public.

Monday, February 19, 2018

#TXLEGE: Team Geren seeks to DELAY ACCOUNTABILITY for false CPS report


"Woe to those who rise early in the morning,
That they may follow intoxicating drink;
Who continue until night, till wine inflames them!"
Isaiah 5:11

[Note: Empower Texans has more here.]

From the Inbox:
Democrat Activist and Former Geren Staffer Tries to Delay Deposition

(Fort Worth, TX) On Friday, David Sorenson, the Democrat activist and former paid staffer for Representative Charlie Geren (R-Fort Worth) who is accused of filing a knowingly false CPS complaint against the French family sought to delay his court-ordered pre-election deposition, which is currently scheduled for next Friday, February 23.

Sorensen’s last-ditch attempt to delay his deposition until after the election began with changing legal counsel. Late Friday afternoon, Steve Maxwell entered the case as lead counsel for Sorensen. Maxwell is a former Democrat Party Chairman in Tarrant County.

Sorensen’s new legal team immediately filed an Anti-SLAPP Motion to Dismiss. This Anti-SLAPP Motion to Dismiss automatically stays discovery—which would include staying Sorensen’s court-ordered pre-election deposition scheduled for this upcoming Friday. Sorensen’s responses to the French family’s written discovery—which would have revealed Sorensen’s role in making the false CPS report on the eve of the 2016 election—were also due yesterday, but were not provided due to the 11th hour stay triggered by the Anti-SLAPP Motion. Notably, a word-for-word identical Anti-SLAPP Motion was filed by Sorensen last fall, and then denied by a Tarrant County District Court.

French commented on this desperate legal maneuver stating, “Charlie Geren's political machine is pulling out all the stops to keep the truth from coming out. We were set to depose Mr. Sorenson next Friday, but they can't let that happen. Today they filed a motion, claiming that our suit violates their client’s First Amendment right to file the false report with CPS. They are seriously claiming that the First Amendment creates a right to file false reports with law enforcement to hurt a political opponent. I find that absurd.”

Chris Kratovil, counsel to Bo French also commented stating, “I have been practicing law in Texas for 17 years, and this is the hardest I have ever seen any witness in any case resist being deposed. It certainly begs the question why this defendant is fighting so desperately hard to postpone answering questions under oath.”

Charlie Geren claimed to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that not only did he not know about the CPS complaint, he was also unaware that multiple staffers were in a legal battle going back to last June 2017. Geren has attempted to convince his community that the entire Fort Worth legal community knew that his staff was in a legal battle but he was completely unaware until he received a phone call from the press six months later.

This last-minute legal maneuver will likely delay the deposition of Mr. Sorenson until after the March 6th primary election.

Thursday, January 4, 2018

#TXLEGE: Geren suddenly starting to feel heat?!?


"While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage."
2 Peter 2:19

[UPDATE: We learned after publication that Geren actually released the statement before Christmas.  That still makes the timing of his re-releasing it strange.  That being said, our points still stand and we will simply note that this is a good reason why elected officials shouldn't block political opponents from viewing social media posts.]

Charlie Geren blocked us on Twitter awhile back, so thanks to Lawerence Person's Battleswarm Blog for catching this tweet in a format we were able to screenshot:


First things first:  Why now?!?  The French lawsuit has been out for a month and this is Geren's first comment.  We've heard more shoes are going to drop, but nothing tangible; Geren's statement has a bit of a "doth protest too much" feel.

As to Geren's assertion that "I can shed no light on the disputed facts," that claim would have more credibility if Geren hadn't just last month been caught lying about his knowledge related to sexual abuse in the Texas House.

At best, it would appear that Geren is incompetently oblivious to multiple recent examples reprehensible behavior in areas where he has jurisdiction.

The whole thing is just strange.

Bottom Line: We'll see what happens, but history suggest that when extended silence shifts to vigorous denial, it often seems to work out poorly for the denier.

Wednesday, December 6, 2017

#TXLEGE: Charlie Geren seems to miss a lot of things happening under his nose....


"While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage."
2 Peter 2:19

On Monday Bo French, Charlie Geren's opponent in both 2016 and 2018, filed a lawsuit related to actions by a Geren campaign operative last cycle.

Direct Action TX explains:
Last year Charlie Geren had his most credible primary challenge to date from Bo French for the TX House District 99 Republican Primary. It was well known that Charlie was nervous and campaigned harder than he ever had – and with good reason. Now it appears he and his campaign may have used some good ‘ol fashioned tomfoolery in order to pull off a win.

Today Bo and Sheridan French filed suit against Charlie’s campaign staffer and well known democrat, David Sorensen, in a story that is very disturbing and challenges our sense of decency.

On Friday February 26, 2016, 4 Days before the primary, CPS, along with a FTW police officer, showed up at the French residence with a complaint that their son had suffered a broken rib and allegations of physical abuse from Bo against the children. This was followed by repeat visits to the home on Saturday and Sunday. Oddly, once the election was over on that Tuesday, they never showed back up.

The Frenches have filed a civil suit against Sorensen, claiming he filed the report with CPS, with the intent to gain an unfair advantage for the Charlie Geren campaign in the final days of the primary. The suit claims: Defamation/Libel; Business Disparagement; Intrusion of Seclusion; Invasion of Privacy; and Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress.

According to the filing, Sorensen put his scheme into effect by supplying a false report to CPS claiming Mr. French’s youngest son had suffered broken ribs and that the son was not provided adequate medical care. It was further falsely reported that the police had responded to domestic abuse calls at the French residence in the past. CPS’s internal investigation found that the Frenches’ son never had any broken ribs and that the police had never at any time been called to the French residence. After nearly a year the CPS proceeding was closed without any further investigation of the Frenches, but not until after Mr. French lost to Sorensen’s employer in the primary election.

....

Sorensen has an interesting employment history. He currently advertises himself as a progressive liberal, but the only record of employment include liberal establishment Republican Ken Sheets’s followed by Charlie Geren’s campaign last year. After leaving Geren’s campaign, he went to work for the Tarrant County Democrat party. This further fuels speculation about Charlie Geren’s real ideological leanings and demonstrates that Charlie nor the democrats concern themselves with ideology or character.

....

It should come as no surprise to anyone reading this that Charlie’s campaign was managed by Murphy Nasica, widely known to be the most unethical political outfit in Texas.
Geren predictably denies:
“If this happened, and I don’t know if it did, I was unaware of it,” he said. “I didn’t instruct anyone to do it. If I had known about it, I would have put a stop to it. I have never, in any campaign, brought up anybody’s family.”
And where, pray tell, has Charlie Geren recently had to backtrack after claiming he knew nothing about sleazy behavior?!?
Speaking with reporters after the hearing, Geren said that in his nine years as chairman of the committee he had received “a few” complaints of harassment.

Those investigations, Geren said, included addressing the complaint with the victims and the person accused of sexual harassment “to determine if there really was an issue" in hopes of resolving it “between those two people.”

Geren’s comments contrast with what he told the Tribune in November, when he refused to discuss the process for handling complaints because he said he had not received any. A request under public information laws for complaints made since 2011 turned up no records.

“There’s nothing to talk about because we don’t have any,” Geren told the Tribune last month. “I don’t deal in ifs. When there’s one I’ll handle it. And that’s it.”
For the sake of discussion, let's take Geren at his word: At best, he's disqualifyingly incompetent.

As to the lawsuit itself, it's well worth the 15 minutes it'll take you to read:



Bottom Line: Charlie Geren denying he knows about his campaign operative filing a false CPS report sounds a lot like Charlie Geren denying he knows about sexual misconduct in the Texas House (while having a very public sexual relationship with a lobbyist).

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Bo French discusses state of his race


"Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word,"
Acts 4:29

Bo French did an interview with the local NBC affiliate this past weekend:



Watch My interview on The Lonestar Report!
Posted by Bo French on Monday, February 22, 2016


Highlights:
  • NW Tarrant County
  • Charlie outspending Bo 4 or 5 to 1.
  • Charlie doesn't want to talk about his record.
  • Taya Kyle stuff: "Attempt by a desperate politician."
  • High Turnout = Good.

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Bo (French) Knows BORDER SECURITY!!!


"And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings,"
Acts 17:26

This is a really good point:







Bottom Line: Bo French's personal experience securing properties along the border can only help solve this problem that has been unnecessarily festering for decades....

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Our First Round of 2016 Candidate Endorsements


"When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice;
But when a wicked man rules, the people groan."
Proverbs 29:2

It's that time in the political cycle.  With the Texas Republican primary only three and a half months out, we must separate wheat from chaff.  Therefore, Cahnman's Musings endorses the following candidates:

PRESIDENT

Ted Cruz (Previously Donated):

Among the candidates running, Ted Cruz defines the problems facing the United States best; because Ted properly defines the problem, he's able to properly discuss solutions.

Early in this campaign, Ted coined the phrase "Washington Cartel" to describe the entrenched culture he is running to break up and replace.  It's a devastatingly accurate phrase.  On issue after issue, corrupt career politicians in both parties have colluded with lobbyists and the media to pass the lobby agenda while stiffing voters.  Nothing is going to change in D.C. until you blow up the corrupt insider culture.  America's problems pre-date the current President and will, unless radical change occurs, continue long after he leaves.  Ted Cruz would be that radical change.  While other candidates have taken on bad ideas in the other party, no one in this race has taken on his own party like Ted Cruz.

It's uncanny how closely, after 4 years of observation, Ted's views on DIFFICULT public policy issues continue to mirror our own.  On issues like the border and national security, Ted strikes a middle ground between hawks and libertarians that draws on the best ideas of both but avoids their respective excesses.  Ted Cruz is the only candidate with a plausible path to the White House who understands our DESPERATE need to reign in the Federal Reserve.  Ted Cruz made the grotesque Export-Import "bank" a household name.  When it comes to judicial nominations (and saving babies), Ted Cruz has stated that he's NOT afraid of a confirmation fight.


UNITED STATES HOUSE

Matt McCall, CD-21:

In the Congressional district where we reside, Matt McCall is running for the second time against a 30 year incumbent who has failed to deliver.

We've been disgusted with our 30 year incumbent congressman since he voted for the TARP bailout in 2008.  Three years later, this 30 year incumbent attempted to pass a hideous invasion of internet privacy called SOPA.  Over 30 years, the incumbent has run up a record we described in 2012 as: "Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad."

Despite having lived in his district for most of the past seven years, we'd never met the incumbent Congressman until earlier this year.  Strangely enough, Matt McCall's underfunded 2014 campaign managed to capture 34% of the vote.  Since then, the incumbent has voted modestly better, but a couple months of better votes cannot repair years of violated trust.  Matt McCall would be a fresh start.  Between a 30 year incumbent and a fresh start, the choice is obvious.

TEXAS SENATE

David Simpson, SD-1:

The best symbol for this race is the back microphone in the chamber of the Texas House of Representatives.

There is more than one good candidate in this race.  Between those good candidates, David Simpson is the one who was most frequently a public thorn in the side of House leadership.  There's a reason why Jonathan Stickland and Konni Burton support David Simpson.

On the policy front, David Simpson is the only candidate in this race to vote against Governor Abbott's godless act of socialism "pre-K" scheme.  The clearest way to send a message to Governor Abbott over "pre-K" would be to send David Simpson to the Texas Senate.  Finally, it's not a secret this website supports marijuana legalization.

TEXAS HOUSE (Running for Re-Election)

Jonathan Stickland, HD-92 (Previously Donated):


You know someone terrifies leadership when they resort to intimidation and lawlessness to stop him; Team Straus has done this to Jonathan Stickland more times than we can count.

Jonathan Stickland has a habit his colleagues despise: he reads bills.  Because Jonathan Stickland reads bills, Jonathan Stickland comes prepared to ask his colleagues difficult questions on the Texas House floor.  They HATE that.  Last session, at personal peril and legal expense, Jonathan Stickland (with an assist from Dan Patrick) killed a bill that would have granted law enforcement authority to rent-a-cops from the Federal Reserve.  For that alone, Jonathan Stickland deserves re-election.

Jonathan Stickland is the conscience of the Texas House of Representatives.  Jonathan Stickland keeps the Texas House of Representatives honest.  Jonathan Stickland has carried legislation to promote conservative priorities like Constitutional Carry and repealing tuition subsidies for illegal aliens.  Jonathan Stickland is a conservative champion.  Let's send Jonathan Stickland back for another two years!!!

Matt Rinaldi, HD-115:

This one was the most difficult decision.  That's not because of anything Matt Rinaldi did; Matt Rinaldi's awesome.  We just have such a low opinion of Matt Rinaldi's opponent that we're not sure he needs our help.

Before he was sworn in, Matt Rinaldi set the tone for the session when he publicly disemboweled the Joe Biden of Texas Republicans in a debate over the speaker's race.  During the session, Matt Rinaldi used social skills to play good cop to Stickland's bad cop.  By the end of the session, Matt Rinaldi had edged out Stickland as the most conservative representative.

One note about Matt Rinaldi's opponent: A former state representative, Matt Rinaldi's opponent is the latest entitled, narcissistic, progeny of a Texas political dynasty to attempt to buy public office.  Think of the Bush family minus the ethics and manners.  While there are plenty of positive reasons to vote for Matt Rinaldi, striking a blow against political dynasties is another good one.

Tony Tinderholt, HD-94:


The #3 conservative last session, Tony Tinderholt is the latest sensation to emerge from Tarrant County.

Early in the session, Tony Tinderholt filed a complaint against a lawless Travis County judge who attempted to use a probate case to re-write Texas' marriage laws.  In so doing, Tony Tinderholt gave Jon Stewart a fit.  If Tony Tinderholt can give Jon Stewart a fit, he's alright in our book.

Tony Tinderholt took out a Straus lieutenant in 2014.  Now, Team Straus is looking for revenge. Re-electing Tony Tinderholt would preserve a seat that had been in RINO hands until very recently.

TEXAS HOUSE (Challenger Candidates)

Jeff Judson, HD-121:

Jeff Judson is the strongest challenger Joe Straus has ever seen; that alone is sufficient reason to support Jeff Judson.

Jeff Judson is the former President of the Texas Public Policy Foundation.  Jeff Judson has run successfully for local office in the district.  Jeff Judson has defeated left-wing transportation proposals locally and is well versed in transportation policy.

Jeff Judson is also an outspoken school choice supporter.  Education is the most liberal policy realm in the Texas House, and Joe Straus has pledged to maintain the status quo if he returns.  Joe Straus is an obstacle to structural governmental reforms, and Jeff Judson is the strongest candidate to remove that obstacle.

Thomas McNutt, HD-8:

Thomas McNutt is running against Byron Cook; that alone is reason to support Thomas McNutt.

Thomas McNutt is a fourth-generation steward of one of the most successful family-owned businesses in Texas' History.  Thomas McNutt supports economic liberty and, unlike the incumbent, opposes illegal immigration.  Thomas McNutt will NOT kill 8 pro-life bills in committee out of spite.

Thomas McNutt has been endorsed by Empower Texans, Texas Right to Life, and Texas Values.  Corsicana is a conservative stronghold and its residents deserve better than a lawless state rep who supports corrupt, liberal, "leadership."  Thomas McNutt is the conservative consensus choice to replace a prominent member of the corrupt cartel that runs the Texas House.

Bo French, HD-99:

Bo French is running against Charlie Geren; that alone is reason to support Bo French.

Just this morning, Bo French was endorsed by Empower Texans.  As they write: “Bo French is a bold champion for values and principles that Texans hold dear,” said TFR’s president, Michael Quinn Sullivan. “Bo French’s smart, no-nonsense approach to good public policy is precisely what taxpayers are demanding. Just as importantly, French will fight the cronyism and corruption that has infested so many levels of government.”

Tarrant County is the leading edge of Texas' grassroots renaissance.  Up to this point, HD-99 has resisted these countywide, statewide, and national trends.  On March 1st, voters in Northwestern Tarrant County will have the opportunity to send Bo French to Austin to represent their conservative values.

Jay Wiley, HD-47:

We've known Jay Wiley since he ran for Austin City Council in 2014.  After he (barely) came up short in that race, we had hoped Jay Wiley would run for HD-47.  Thankfully, he did.

Jay Wiley is the choice for Travis County taxpayers based on local issues alone.  Unlike the silent incumbent, Jay Wiley was a vocal opponent of the recent courthouse bond.  The husband of an ob-gyn, Jay Wiley has committed himself to reducing your property taxes by eliminating the odious entity known as Central Health.

While it's in Travis County, HD-47 is one of the safest Republican districts in Texas.  There's NO reason for Travis County conservatives to pull punches.  Whether your motivating issue is property taxes, defending babies, property taxes, illegal immigration, property taxes, anything else, or property taxes, Jay Wiley is the clear conservative choice in HD-47.

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Wallace Hall at NE Tarrant Tea Party


"The wicked flee when no one pursues,
But the righteous are bold as a lion.?
Proverbs 28:1

Wallace Hall spoke to the NE Tarrant Tea Party last week; start with Hall's prepared remarks:



Highlights:
  • "There hasn't been a lot to be optimistic about" in Texas govt. the past few years.
  • "Being a Regent is a significant responsibility that should be taken very serious [sic]."
  • "It is not sufficient to treat the role of regent as an honorary post."
  • $15 billion annual budget, over 200k students in full UT system.
  • "It is critical that the funding under our direction is not wasted."
  • Insisted on following National Accounting Standards.
    • UT restated their financials by over $200 million.
    • Author's Note: Personally, out of all the UT scandals Wallace has uncovered, we think this one is the worst. 
  • Blew the whistle on "forgivable loan" program.
  • Sought "proper compliance with the Texas Public Information Act."
    • "Incredibly, three years after this effort has begun, the project remains a work in progress."
  • Procurement irregularities related to no-bid contracts.
  • The admissions stuff.
  • "The most prominent attempt to stop me was in the form of a campaign by House speaker Joe Straus to impeach me."
  • Bill Powers created "a phalanx of defenders."
  • For the past 10 years, UT Austin has "languished."
  • "Regents are either too intimidated or disinterested to perform their regental duties, this is made worse when board members see it as their duty to block honest inquiry because they fear exposing friends and/or politicians."
  • "It is one thing for board members to sit by while others ask uncomfortable questions (or, in other words, perform their duties), it is something else for board members to encourage opposition to other board members who ask uncomfortable questions."
    • "Unfortunately, that is what is taking place on our board."
    • "Our board leadership consistently has pushed for more and more rule changes that restrict, if not make impossible, efforts by Regents to obtain information."
  • Only gets: "Spoon-fed, redacted, information."
  • "Opacity is our enemy."
  • Runs through Criminalization of Politics



Highlights:
  • Perry was very insistent that costs were too high.
  • No idea he would find what he found heading in.
  • "The big pink building" was when he couldn't function as a fiduciary.
  • Stickland: "They knew the message, they just reject conservative principles."
  • Gene Powell "was terrific."
  • Cranberg, Pejovich also "terrific."
  • "Senator Zaffirini would make some condescending comment to the press."
  • Stickland: UT gave an "incredible" spread to legislators.
    • "Amazing to me" how many people this was the only issue they cared about.
    • They kept impeachment "completely away from Jonathan Stickland."
  • Value of a discretionary seat at UT-Austin has increased tremendously over the past two decades.
  • UT-Austin: 24,000 employees for 50,000 students.
    • "I still don't know the answer for that."
  • Straus' offer: Walked over to Gov's [Perry] office and said 7 reasons to impeach.
    • Jessie Ancira called Perry's Chief of Staff and said the whole thing would go away if Wallace resigned.
  • Wallace: "Governor Perry has been a stalwart."
    • Stickland: "On this issue."
  • "Our board never got to speak to the [Kroll] investigators."
  • The Board has never discussed admissions or the Kroll report.
  • Gets anonymous calls and e-mails "frequently."
  • Stickland plugs Bo French.
  • Stickland: UT still stonewalling the Lege.
  • Stickland: Establishment tries to make examples out of ringleaders.
  • "If they don't do what they said somehow there's this really complicated explanation...."
  • "There's no use trying to persuade people once they've gone down that path, all you can do is replace them."
  • Tenure reform something else the Board hasn't discussed.

Thursday, June 25, 2015

What #SCOTUSCare means for upcoming #TXLEGE Primaries


"When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice;
But when a wicked man rules, the people groan."
Proverbs 29:2

"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."
Tenth Amendment; United States Constitution

Today's U.S. Supreme Court ruling wasn't surprising.  It was par for the D.C. course.  However, it clarifies priorities closer to home.

Texas has GOT to elect legislators willing to stand up to the federal government.

The tenth amendment was a major reason we shifted our political focus from the Federal to the State level.  Unfortunately, the last two legislatures ignored it.  That must change.

We have to plan for the worst.  Every decision in the coming months must be made under the assumption that either Jeb Bush or Hillary Clinton will be the next President.  Either one will continue business as usual.

The pressure coming from Washington is going to get worse.  When that happens, the Texas Association of Business will fall in line.  When that happens, as currently constituted, the legislature will cave.

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The most important way to stand up to the federal government is to stop taking money with strings attached.  In discussing the state budget, there's a dirty little unavoidable phrase: all funds.  "All funds" includes transfer payments from the Feds.

The legislature just approved a budget where federal funds account for 32.4%.  It's primarily Medicaid.  Education is second.  Transportation funding (which usually comes with mass transportation mandates) also takes up a chunk.  That number must come down.  Every one of those dollars gives Washington leverage.

Unfortunately, those dollars also beget Austin lobbyists who will fight to the death for the gravy train.  At this point, who cares?!?  Standing up to the Federal government will require telling Austin lobbyists to pound sand.

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One specific note on Medicaid: In 2011, there was talk of having Texas opt-out entirely from the Federal Medicaid program.  That option must come back into consideration.  Obviously, there's no chance this happens if Straus returns.

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While we're on the topic, it's worth noting that reducing Texas' dependence on Federal dollars was a key component of Konni Burton's campaign.  Jonathan Stickland has also spoken favorably about this idea.  Finally, Tarrant County House candidate Bo French addressed the ruling this afternoon:


After the SCOTUS ruling today, I can’t help but think about how we got into this mess. We continue to elect Democrats,...
Posted by Bo French on Thursday, June 25, 2015

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Bottom Line: Today's ruling doesn't change anything.  This case was always a long-shot. Once again, we've seen that D.C. won't get us out of this mess.  Texans need to make standing up to the Federal government a key priority in assessing legislative candidates.  Get to work.

Friday, June 19, 2015

Charlie Geren: Glutton for Punishment


"You rebuke the proud—the cursed,
Who stray from Your commandments."
Psalm 119:21

LOL:



Bottom Line: Charlie's gonna lose this race.

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Update: Bo French welcomes Charlie into the race....


Yesterday Charlie Geren announced his intention to run for re-election to represent House District 99.I want to...
Posted by Bo French on Friday, June 19, 2015