#TX2020: The NRCC is RETARDED if they think they should run incumbents in Texas

"Because of the transgression of a land, many are its princes;
But by a man of understanding and knowledge
Right will be prolonged."
Proverbs 28:2

The Cook Political Report, in discussing national congressional races, drops this nugget:

A key 2020 House battleground will be Texas. Democrats picked up two seats in the suburbs of Dallas and Houston last fall, but came within single digits in six more districts. The NRCC has already met with the six incumbents who survived close calls to secure commitments to run again and raise more money in 2020.

[Note: Emphasis added.]

No.  No.  No.  No.  No.  No.  No.  No.

This type of stale, conventional, thinking is the quickest route to a second debacle in 2020.

We can explain in two numbers from last cycle: Six and Two.

• Six -- The number of open seat races Republicans held in Congressional races.
• Note: Seats now held by Dan Crenshaw, Van Taylor, Lance Gooden, Ron Wright, Chip Roy, and Michael Cloud.

• Two -- The number of incumbent Republican congressman who lost.
• Note: Seats now held by Lizzie Pannill Fletcher and Colin Allred, which were formerly held by John Culberson and Pete Sessions.

That should be the end of this cliched discussion, but since it won't be, we'll go further.

------

Chip Roy vs. John Carter:

Nowhere is this phenomenon clearer than in two suburban Congressional districts near Austin.  In the first district, a new candidate with a dedicated grassroots following held his open seat.  In the second district, a mediocre incumbent had a closer call than anyone expected.

On the surface, the results in CD-21 (Hill Country) and CD-31 (WillCo) look similar:

It's only when one compares them to Trump's performance in 2016 that the pattern emerges:

Trump's 2016 margin minus the 2018 GOP candidate's margin follows:

• CD-21: 10% - 2.8% = 7.2% GOP dropoff between '16 and '18.

• CD-31: 13% - 3% = 10% GOP dropoff between '16 and '18.

That 2.8% is the difference between good candidates in open seats vs. lousy incumbents.

This is exactly what we predicted would happen in those two districts, and the data backs us up.

Of course, we also predicted that John Carter was in a lot of trouble in a presidential cycle...but, by all means, let's run John Friggin' Carter in a presidential cycle.

And yes, Chip Roy saved the GOP's bacon in CD-21.

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Dan Crenshaw and Van Taylor:

It wasn't as pronounced as the Chip Roy race, but a similar phenomenon emerged in Dan Crenshaw and Van Taylor's races.

2016 results here.

2018 results here.

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Learning from Pete Sessions:

Last cycle, we wrote the following about now-former congressman Pete Sessions:

Pete Sessions is a liability that should have been dealt with YEARS ago

That specific blog post was written in reference to a scandal surrounding Sessions' abuse of campaign contributions, but the headline doubles as a general metaphor for Pete Sessions.

We warned people about Sessions for YEARS.  Eventually, in a strong enough Democrat wave, he lost.  We should learn that lesson and preemptively address our other liabilities.

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Learning from John Culberson:

One of the open secrets among Republican campaign types last cycle was John Culberson's laziness.    Culberson might have held his seat if he'd simply worked harder.  Culberson approached the race with a sense of entitlement and the results speak for themselves.

Of course, incumbent politicians becoming entitled and lazy shouldn't surprise anyone.

Perhaps we shouldn't run entitled, lazy, incumbents.

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Reminder from 2018:

• Open Congressional seats Texas Republicans held: 6.

• Incumbent Congressional seats Texas Republicans lost: 2.

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Bottom Line: In a competitive general election environment, it's much better to have a good candidate running in an open seat than it is to try and drag some lousy incumbent across the finish line.

John Carter will probably survive this year (but he's still a putz who DESPERATELY needs a Primary)

"Because of the transgression of a land, many are its princes;
But by a man of understanding and knowledge
Right will be prolonged."
Proverbs 28:2

The Trib has an interesting write up about the allegedly closer-than-expected race in CD-31.  The race features an eight term incumbent Williamson County RINO against a Democrat who's an Afghanistan veteran with a compelling life story.  In a midterm year, the underlying partisanship of the district will probably hold.  But anyone who doesn't see a liability emerging for a Presidential year is FOOLING themselves.

The Trib explains:

Amid all of this money, Texas Republican operatives interviewed for this story expressed fear that [John Carter's opponent] poses an existential threat to Carter's political career and that he's not adequately prepared organizationally or financially.

...

There are a few reasons some in GOP circles fear a perfect storm is brewing against Carter. Perhaps the one quietly discussed the most is that the mechanics, fundraising and tactics of modern campaigning have changed dramatically since his first successful run more than 15 years ago and he hasn't kept up.

BINGO; John Carter is an aloof putz.

The phrase "out of touch" has become a political cliche.  But it still applies in certain circumstances.  Carter looks like one of those circumstances.

In the viral video that made her campaign politically viable, John Carter's opponent explained her reason for running.  Several years ago, she sought a meeting with Carter to discuss expanding opportunities for women in combat.  Carter's office refused to meet with her because she wasn't a campaign donor.

Say whatever you want about the wisdom of putting women in combat but, regardless, JOHN CARTER'S BEHAVIOR IS INDEFENSIBLE.  He should have, at least, taken the meeting and politely listened.  He couldn't manage that.

It's the type of unforced error that only an eight-term incumbent, who's grown waaaaay to comfortable in the swamp, could make.

Anyone who doesn't see an emerging liability is fooling themselves.

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What's happening right now in CD-31 is very similar to what we feared could have happened in CD-21 if Lamar Smith had tried to run for re-election.

The Democrat candidate in that race is also a veteran.  Had Lamar been the Republican nominee, it would have set up a spry veteran vs. aloof incumbent.  A year ago, we were very worried that Lamar could get caught napping.

Fortunately, Lamar had the good sense to not run.  With Chip Roy as the nominee, the GOP is expected to hold CD-21 comfortably.  This is a lesson Williamson and Bell counties would do well to heed next cycle.

Anyone who doesn't see an emerging liability is fooling themselves.

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Then there's this:

In touting his support for a border wall, Carter playfully joked about building a second wall, a political one between Williamson County and its more liberal neighbor, Travis County.

“It’s time to build that wall," Carter said. "If you don’t want people from Austin, liberals like the folks who most of us moved up here to get away from, if you don’t want them running ... you gotta wake up with this election."

In other words: While your opponent is talking about how you won't meet with anyone who isn't a campaign donor, your response is cheap, lazy, Austin-bashing?!?

Anyone who doesn't see an emerging liability is fooling themselves.

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Bottom Line: Anyone who doesn't see an emerging liability is fooling themselves.

CD-21: Nobody Stands Out in Cliche Filled Candidate Forum

"For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him."
Colossians 1:16

Last we, we wrote a blog post discussing the lack of creativity or intellectual bandwidth in the various races for open congressional seats across Texas; unfortunately, last night's candidate forum for the CD-21 race sponsored by the Travis and Hays County Republican parties was a textbook example of what we're talking about.

The forum was loaded with boilerplate Republican rhetoric: "Founding Fathers," "Constitution," "Cut spending [without specifics]," "Reduce regulation [without specifics]," "Strong Christian," "Rebuild the Military," "Ronald Reagan," "Servant Leadership," "Drain the Swamp."  Everybody hit their talking points.  But we hope you'll forgive for saying that, after hearing them repeatedly over the past decade, those talking points have become rather stale.

Instead, the candidates seem to be differentiating themselves based on resume and endorsements.  If we're going to play the resume/endorsement game, Chip Roy will win.  The man spent a decade in D.C., yet managed to escape with his soul and his integrity intact.  As for the others, nobody stands out.

Honestly, the most interesting candidate in this race is the worst one.  Jen Sarver is a loathsome political hack (aka. Bush crony) who made a name for herself several years ago by the depths to which she was willing to stoop to carry water for the UT Politburo.  What makes her interesting in this race, however, is that she's running as an unapologetic RINO.  In a race where 15 candidates are attempting to cram into the "conservative" lane, Sarver has the "moderate" lane to herself.  In a divided field in a district that includes Joe Straus' San Antonio stomping grounds, that might be enough to make the runoff.  This website does not support Jen Sarver's candidacy in any way, shape, or form...but we are nevertheless VERY curious to see how she ends up doing.

In terms of policy, the only candidate who (kinda, sorta) stood out was Matt McCall.  Matt endorsed using Article 3, Section 1 of the constitution to remove abortion and marriage from the Supreme Court's jurisdiction.  He also vaguely alluded to the need to abolish full cabinet departments.  On the other hand, Matt also supports placing immigration related sanctions on Mexico, a move that would be DOOMED to backfiring spectacularly.

We will also confess to a soft spot for Sam Temple, a longshot borderline-Anarchist who chided the other candidates for various stupid acts of fearmongring.

Bottom Line: Meh....

#TXLEGE: Thoughts on #SINEDIE (take 2)....

"For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God."
Romans 8:19

We're still digesting the past 24 hours, but a few observations in no particular order:

• 83 Republican house members showed up to today's caucus meeting.  That's a heck of a lot more than we expected.  We were also pleasantly surprised by the length of the meeting.

• Joe Straus personally showing up is an admission that all is not well in the Republican caucus.

• There was a whole bunch of traditional media at today's caucus meeting; media interest can only raise the profile of the issue..

• We're not sure who said it (Jim Graham?!?) but they're absolutely correct: You can't support both Greg Abbott and Joe Straus anymore.
• At this point, it remains an open question whether Greg Abbott supports Greg Abbott or Joe Straus.

• The arrogance of house leadership remains a sight to behold: Had they simply shown up for work this morning, they probably could have run out the clock with a fairly typical act of failure theater.  But they just had to jam their thumb in the eye of Abbott, Patrick/the Senate, and the Texas grassroots.  In doing so, they elevated their profile all over again.
• Note: The only reason we haven't completely given up on Greg Abbott is because the degree to which he's been publicly disrespected essentially demands a response.

• Apparently, the house Republican caucus has a September retreat scheduled; grassroots activists really ought to crash that party.
• Note: If the new RPT leadership really wanted to impress this website, they'd convince the caucus make the whole event open to the public.

• The kumbaya messaging coming out of today's caucus meeting was obnoxious.

• Abbott said all the right things in today's radio interview.  But Greg Abbott frequently says all the right things.  Its Greg Abbott's follow through that leaves a lot to be desired.

• Another special session won't accomplish anything right now.
• Note: But then there's redistricting....

• The Senate is certainly isn't perfect, but they're moving in the right direction.
• Note: And some of those moves are VERY significant....

• In both Austin and DC, the Republicans aren't getting the job done; if the grassroots are smart, they'll find challengers areas where bad Texas and U.S. members share territory and knock out multiple birds with one stone.
• Example: Michael Conaway and Drew Darby have overlapping districts.  Ditto Kevin Brady and Dan Huberty/Ernest Bailes.  Pete Sessions/Jason Villalba.
• UPDATE: Duh...Lamar Smith/Joe Straus.

• Random Thought: We wonder if the Texas Association of Business has ever taken any money from George Soros?!?
• cc: Abbott, Greg

• We're getting really, really, really sick of the socialized education industrial complex's sense of entitlement....

About that New Yorker anti-Texas Hatchet Job

"Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking,"
1 Peter 2:1

Today, the New Yorker put out a looooooooooong article about the Texas legislature.  It would be easy to pander for clicks and dismiss the whole thing as "fake news," but it's more accurate to say that it uses half-truths to cast wildly a misleading impression (very similar to how the Austin Chronicle operates).  This is not intended as a comprehensive take-down, but to give a more accurate accounting of several claims made in the article.

• The claim: "The state is as politically divided as the rest of the nation. One can drive across it and be in two different states at the same time: FM Texas and AM Texas. FM Texas is the silky voice of city dwellers, the kingdom of NPR. It is progressive, blue, reasonable, secular, and smug—almost like California. AM Texas speaks to the suburbs and the rural areas: Trumpland."
  
  Reality: This is stupid.  On the occasions we listen to terrestrial radio, we switch back and forth between AM and FM depending on the content.  Everyone we know does the same thing.

• The claim: "The eleventh largest [city in the U.S., population wise] is Austin, the capital, where I live. For the past five years, it has been one of the fastest-growing large cities in America; it now has nearly a million people, dwarfing the college town I fell in love with almost forty years ago."
  
  Reality: Austin has been one of the fastest growing cities in the country for at least a quarter century.

• The claim: "The state was always culturally conservative, religious, and militaristic, but a strain of pragmatism kept it from being fully swept up in racism and right-wing ideology."
  
  Reality: Setting aside the cheap shots embedded in the use of the words "militaristic" and "racism," the phrase "strain of pragmatism" is a euphemism for the corrupt good ol' boy network (ie. the Austin lobby) mixing business and government to protect incumbent industries from competition and put together shady real estate deals.

• The claim: "While George W. Bush was governor, between 1995 and 2000, a cordial détente between the political parties prevailed."
  
  Reality: Everyone's campaign contributors got paid...thank you very much Karl Rove.

• The claim: "In January, 2003, the Republicans finally took over the Texas legislature, and Laney lost the speakership to Tom Craddick, an ultraconservative Republican from Midland, the oil capital.
  
  Reality: LOL, Tom Craddick "ultra-conservative."  Consider the following Empower Texans scores for Tom Craddick since he left the speakers chair.  2015: 81, 2013: 61, 2011: B+.  While that puts Craddick among the more conservative half of the GOP conference, that's hardly "ultra conservative" (Note: While Empower is holding the 2017 index until after the special session, it's worth pointing out that Craddick fell into the bottom half of the GOP conference in the Mark Jones index).

• The claim: "When he entered the House, [Craddick] was twenty-five—the youngest member. “Back then, most of the other members were retired, and they ran for office as a civic duty,” he said. Now, at seventy-three, he is the longest-serving legislator in Texas history."
  
  Reality: That's an accurate statement, but we find it notable that the author doesn't have a problem with the fact that Tom Craddick has been in public office for nearly five decades.

• The claim: "Another Republican congressman, Lamar Smith, lives in San Antonio, but his district includes—and neutralizes—the liberal area surrounding the University of Texas at Austin. Smith, a member of the Tea Party Caucus, in Washington, denies that human activity affects global warming."
  
  Reality: LOL, Lamar Smith "Tea Party."  We said our piece about Lamar Smith's record during the 2012 campaign.  Our full archive on Lamar Smith can be viewed here.

• The claim: "In March, 2016, a man named Robert Morrow was elected the Republican Party chairman of Travis County, which contains Austin. Like many reporters in Texas, I received wild e-mails from Morrow for several years. He once claimed that George H. W. Bush was “a seriously addicted homosexual pedophile” who was also involved in a C.I.A. drug-smuggling ring with the Clintons. In 2011, Morrow took out a full-page ad in a local newspaper:

  HAVE YOU EVER HAD SEX WITH RICK PERRY?

  Are you a stripper, an escort, or just a “young hottie” impressed by an arrogant, entitled governor of Texas?

  Nothing came of the ad, which, Morrow said, was designed to expose Perry as “a Christian-buzzwords-spouting, ‘family values’ hypocrite and fraud.”
  Morrow, a fifty-three-year-old Princeton graduate with an M.B.A. from the University of Texas, describes himself as an independent investor. In 2015, he wrote a book with Roger Stone, the political operative and occasional adviser to Donald Trump, called “The Clintons’ War on Women.” The Austin American-Statesman noted that it appeared “to be serving as a playbook for Trump” in his attacks on Hillary Clinton. (Upon its publication, Trump tweeted, “The latest book on Hillary—Wow, a really tough one!”) Mainstream Party officials were mortified when Morrow won the Travis County election, with fifty-six per cent of the vote. They promised to “explore every single option that exists” to remove him from office. Morrow responded, “They can go fuck themselves.” In June, he tweeted, “Top priority for Travis GOP: beautiful Big Titty women!!”
  
  Reality: It's not a secret that Robert Morrow is a personal friend of this author, but for Robert Morrow to receive more discussion in this piece than Ted Cruz tells you everything you need to know.
  
  (As to the claims about George Bush 41, see here).

• We don't want to waste your time making you read it, but there's a seven paragraph ode to Ann Richards about 30% of the way through the piece.

• The claim: "Another emergency item on the Governor’s list for the 2017 session was ethics reform, but many legislators saw the move as hypocritical. Lyle Larson, a centrist Republican state representative from San Antonio, told me, “Some of the most egregious violations are in the governor’s office. It’s well known that pay-for-play has been going on in that office for years. For you to be on the Parks and Wildlife board, for instance, or to be a regent at the university, you have to make significant contributions”—to Abbott’s campaign fund."
  
  Reality: Empower Texans addressed the substance of Larson's claims here, but for the purposes of this piece we will simply note that the author accepted Larson's claim at face value.

• The Claim: "Since [Dan] Patrick became lieutenant governor, one of his signature accomplishments has been the passage of the open-carry gun law; he also successfully pushed to legalize the carrying of concealed weapons on public-college campuses."
  
  Reality: LOLOLOL.  For as much as we appreciate Dan Patrick's political savvy in terms of knowing just how far and where he can push the political envelope given the cast of Senators he has to work with, the Second Amendment has easily been the issue where the Texas Senate's performance has fallen short(est).  The only reason open carry and campus carry passed (Note: two sessions ago; the lege didn't do anything noteworthy on 2A this past regular session) was because groups like Open Carry Texas and Lone Star Gun Rights made the issue too hot to ignore.

• The Claim: "Patrick’s extremism is often countered by Joe Straus, the speaker of the House, a centrist, business-oriented conservative from San Antonio. Whereas the lieutenant governor is elected by the voters of the state, the speaker is chosen by the members. That makes a crucial difference in the way that Patrick and Straus govern."
  
  Reality: Given the extended discussion of Craddick earlier in the piece, one would think a mention of how Straus unseated Craddick might be relevant.  But for some reason, it doesn't appear.  Strange.

• The Claim: "[T]here was no actual evidence of voter fraud."
  
  Reality: LOL; see here, and here, and here, and here (we could go on).

• The Claim: "The business community in Texas fiercely opposed S.B. 6, and produced a report suggesting that its passage could cost the state up to eight and a half billion dollars. (PolitiFact determined that this figure was hyperbolic.)"
  
  Reality: The study in question was so laughably bad that it was instantly discredited; while we're on the subject, we find it notable that the author fails to discuss Kelly Hancock's brutal cross examination of the head of the Texas Association of Business.

• The Claim: "On March 2nd, I returned to the capitol to have lunch with the speaker of the House, Joe Straus....[W]e sat down to plates of delicious crab cakes."
  
  Reality: It's a minor quibble, but we find it notable that, on Texas Independence day, Joe Straus was eating crab cakes instead of brisket.

• The Claim: "[Straus'] speakership has focussed [sic] on providing the workforce and the infrastructure that Texas businesses need, by protecting public education, building roads, establishing more top-tier universities, and expanding job training. Perhaps his biggest victory was in 2013: in the middle of a devastating drought, he ushered through a two-billion-dollar revolving loan fund for state water projects.
  
  Reality: We said our piece about that monstrosity at the time.

• The Claim: "With each session, Straus has watched the Republican Party drift farther away from the “compassionate conservatism” of the Governor Bush era and become increasingly dominated by Christian ideologues, such as Patrick, for whom economic issues are secondary."
  
  Reality: REALLY?!?  Who's the guy pushing property tax limits, tighter spending caps and a higher ed. tuition freeze?!?

• The Claim: “I can only do so much to keep the focus on fiscal issues and away from the divisive stuff,” [Straus] told me.
  
  Reality: Then why did you kill the afore mentioned property tax limits, tighter spending caps, and higher ed. tuition freeze?!?

• The Claim: "Unlike Patrick, who decides which bills come to the floor in the Senate, Straus has to exercise influence by artfully appointing committee members, who can dull the fangs of fearsome bills (or let them languish until there’s no time to consider them)."
  
  Reality: That's completely true, they just normally don't say it out loud.

• The Claim: "Meanwhile, [Straus] was pressing his own legislative agenda, which included securing additional funds for public schools"
  
  Reality: MOAR MONEY FOR SOCIALIZED EDUCATION!!!  Why didn't anyone think of that before?!?

• The Claim: "Dr. John Zerwas, a Republican anesthesiologist from Richmond, Texas, is the chair of the Appropriations Committee. A business conservative in the Straus mold, he is deeply respected in the legislature, and Straus selected him to craft the House version of the budget."
  
  Reality: Only liberals respect John Zerwas.

• The Claim: "Stickland is plump, with an imposing beard, narrow-set brown eyes, and an occasional broad smile revealing beautiful teeth."
  
  Reality: LOL; we've never paid attention to Jonathan Stickland's teeth, so we can't comment one way or the other.

• The Claim: "As usual, the Texas legislature passed anti-abortion bills. One bans the safest and most common procedure for second-trimester abortions: dilation and evacuation. Supporters of the legislation call this a “dismemberment abortion.” "
  
  Reality: If you can stand to see it, learn more about dismemberment abortion here.

• The Claim: "[A]s Texas’s liberal cities have burgeoned, the state has grown markedly less red."
  
  Reality: Texas has grown significantly redder over the past decade; while it's an open question whether that trend will continue with a Republican president, it doesn't change the facts of recent history.

• The Claim: "On May 20th, Tom Mechler, the chairman of the state Republican Party, resigned, citing personal reasons. He issued a letter pleading for party unity. “A party that is fractured by anger and backbiting is a party that will not succeed,” he said. He also warned that the Republican Party had failed to attract voters outside the white demographic, and was therefore destined for electoral oblivion. “If we do not continue to make efforts to engage in the diverse communities across Texas, our state will turn blue,” he warned. He urged the next chairman to reshape the Party in the image of modern Texas.
  
  
  Soon after Mechler’s resignation, Rob Morrow—the former Travis County Republican Party chairman with the motley-fool hat—announced his candidacy for the statewide position.
  
  Reality: Another discussion of Robert Morrow, yet the author fails to mention James Dickey; odd.
  [Note: We wonder if the author attempted to speak to James Dickey at all?!?]

• The Claim: "Drew Springer, the representative from North Texas who killed Stickland’s anti-hog-abatement amendment, pleaded for H.B. 810, which would fund experimental stem-cell treatments. He spoke on behalf of his wife, who is in a wheelchair. Such treatments “might give somebody like my wife a chance to walk,” he said, between sobs. “I’d trade every one of my bills I’ve passed, every single one, to get the chance to hear H.B. 810.” The Freedom Caucus gave in on this one, and it passed."
  
  Reality: We discussed Springer's stupid little speech at the time, we only bring it up because if you follow the link to the post from May we also included a list of issues Springer considered more pressing than his wife's alleged ability to walk.

• The Claim: "The session concluded this year on Memorial Day, and so fallen soldiers were honored. Legislators said goodbye to colleagues with whom they had endured a hundred and forty of the most intense days of their lives.
  
  
  Meanwhile, buses began arriving at the capitol. Hundreds of protesters, some from distant states, burst through the doors, filling all four levels of the rotunda and spilling into the House gallery. They unfurled banners (“see you in court!”) and chanted, “S.B. 4 has got to go!” One of the protest organizers, Stephanie Gharakhanian, explained to reporters, “We wanted to make sure we gave them the sendoff they deserve.”
  
  A few of the Democrats in the chamber looked up at the chanting protesters and began to applaud. State troopers cleared the gallery and broke up the protest, but by that time some of the Republicans on the floor had taken offense. Matt Rinaldi, a member of the Freedom Caucus from Dallas County, who is sometimes rated the most conservative member of the House, later told Fox Business Network that he noticed several banners bearing the message “i am undocumented and here to stay.”
  
  Reality: This isn't a Rinaldi claim, there's video

Read the whole thing here.

Trump Administration staffing means Texans should prepare for special elections

"Prepare your outside work,
Make it fit for yourself in the field;
And afterward build your house."
Proverbs 24:27

The Trib yesterday:

As soon as the race for the White House ended Tuesday — concluding with Donald Trump's stunning victory — another one kicked into high gear: the race for jobs in the next president's administration. Throughout his campaign, Trump relied on a relatively small but loyal group of allies in Texas, and now some appear poised to reap the benefits with a one-way ticket to Washington, D.C.

In the 48 hours since Trump's win, a rough list has formed of Texans being mentioned most often as potential recruits for a Trump administration. The list includes former Gov. Rick Perry, U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul of Austin, Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller and U.S. Rep. Jeb Hensarling of Dallas. Countless other names are coming up.

"I think there’s a lot of opportunities for our current elected officials," said Matt Langston, a Republican consultant based in Austin, as Trump's win became clear late Tuesday night.

Translation: 2017 is going to be the year of the special election in Texas.

Michael McCaul is a good choice for Homeland Security.  He appears to have a passion for the subject, and it would be a face-saving way to get rid of an otherwise lousy congressman.  Can he take Lamar Smith with him?!?

Bottom Line: Real power is built one special election at a time...look at what happened to the Texas Senate in 2014.

Lamar Smith's election season anti-Hillary "Investigation"

"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world."
1 John 4:1

[Fun Fact: As a 30 year incumbent, Lamar Smith has been in D.C. six years longer than Hillary Clinton.]

LOL, there's some convenient timing:

Science Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) on Wednesday launched his own investigation of Clinton’s private email server, invoking the panel’s jurisdiction over cybersecurity issues. The new investigation will focus on the private IT companies involved in maintaining the Clinton server.

Bottom Line: Lamar Smith has voted like a liberal for 30 years.  Now, six weeks before his most competitive election in a loooooooooooooooooooong time, he just "happens" to launch an "investigation" into Hillary Clinton.  Voters will see through this publicity stunt.

Matt McCall: Get back TO THE CONSTITUTION!!!

"For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled."
Matthew 5:18

Fantastic op-ed from Matt McCall in today's San Antonio Express News:

What does the Constitution have to do with America’s financial situation? Socialism and economic fascism drive wealth to the top 1 percent, not free market capitalism. When I traveled to the Soviet Union as a young man, there were millionaires and billionaires, and everyone else was dirt poor. Government regulation, which only large businesses can afford to deal with, crushes small businesses that create 80 percent of new jobs, and it drives other jobs overseas. Instead of voting for the limited government that can return our country to solvency, professional Republican politicians have continued to vote for big government, big spending, and the mechanisms that enable special interests.

....

[Republicans] have merely opposed specific policies and programs and spending increases rather than fighting for and getting results for our values. They run for office on a platform of limited government, but once in office they preserve big government and try to ride it better than the Democrats. But the people want to kill the beast.

The solution is for the Republican Party to be the party of the Constitution. When Republicans get caught arguing over $3.2 trillion in spending vs. $3.3 trillion, they are on the Democrats’ playing field. Our values and our country lose. Gramm-Rudman, which tried to reduce the size of government by cutting spending, failed as has any iteration of it. The only way to cut the size of government is by cutting the size of government — with the Constitution.

We must take the 10th Amendment, dust it off, and ask, “Why and on what Constitutional grounds is the federal government in this or that business?” What Constitutional grounds does the federal government have in running a Department of Education or an EPA, which have only been around since the 1970’s, or any other or agency?

We can get rid of departments of the federal government and return power to the states. In times of crisis, major change is possible and necessary. Will we double down on the era of Big Government? We must not. We must reduce the size and scope of the federal government, not by trying to “rein in” spending or by “reining in” any of these various bureaucracies, but by killing them. Constitutionally.

Read the whole thing here (same article available here if you have issues with the paywall).

Straus' BIZARRE non-endorsement in HD-118

"Therefore by their fruits you will know them."
Matthew 7:20

For those unaware, there's a special election currently underway for a Texas House seat in Bexar County.  We noticed about a week ago that Straus was the only Republican in Bexar County who handn't endorsed the Republican candidate.  We'd been planning to write about it when we received the following e-mail about an hour ago:

SREC members: Why Hasn’t Joe Straus Endorsed John Lujan

 
Today, a number of members of the State Republican Executive Committee of the Texas Republican Party are asking Joe Straus why he refuses to endorse a popular Hispanic Republican in his own county.
 
John Lujan is a strong candidate for the GOP to pick up House District 118.  He is a solid, conservative, Christian, Hispanic entrepreneur and former firefighter.  Most local conservative and even moderate Republican officials have endorsed Lujan, including Senator Donna Campbell, Congressman Lamar Smith, State Rep. Lyle Larson, and County Commissioner Kevin Wolff as well as one of the Speaker’s Republican primary opponents – Jeff Judson.
 
But noticeably absent from this list is Joe Straus, who has refused to endorse Lujan.  Endorsing a fellow Republican who might pick up a seat from the Democrats is the bread and butter of politics.  It’s a no brainer. 
 
We are scratching our heads as to why this is so hard for Joe.  What is Joe’s real agenda?
 
Is it because Joe needs all the Democrat votes he can get to be reelected Speaker and actually favors Tomas Uresti, the Democrat?  If such is the case, he is willing to forego the interests and principles of his Party in order to maintain his power and allegiance with Democrats. 
 
Please Joe – be a leader for Republicans -- not just for Democrats! We believe Republican principles help people prosper.  What do you believe Joe?
 
SREC members endorsing this statement include:
 
Sue Evenwell – SD 1
Tom Roller SD - 31
Vicki Slaton – SD 2
Marvin Clede SD - 17
John Beckmeyer SD - 28
Karl Voigtsberger SD - 8
Mark Ramsey SD- 7
Jeff Judson SD - 25
Alma Perez Jackson SD - 26
Tanya Robertson – SD 11
Terri DuBose SD - 19

To Take Lamar Smith at his word...

"Whoever falsely boasts of giving
Is like clouds and wind without rain."
Proverbs 25:14

Last month, we asked Congressman Lamar Smith the following question:



Earlier in the same event, Smith had made a prediction about Paul Ryan's speakership:



Obviously, those days are not over, as Breitbart explains:

[U.S.] House Speaker Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) relied on Democrats to pass the $1 trillion dollar omnibus bill.

Most of the votes for the massive bill came from Democratic members of Congress rather than Republicans.

In the House, the Omnibus bill passed 316-113, with 150 Republicans voting yes and 166 Democrats voting yes.

....

But Ryan has tried to paint the budget as a victory for conservatives.

Ryan boasted this week on the Michael Medved show that the Omnibus bill lifted the ban on oil exports arguing that it’s “something we’ve been trying to do for 40 years in this country.” He added, “Think of what we get by removing the ban.”

However, in exchange for this lift, Democrats were able to put many liberal policies in the Omnibus bill, which explains why they ended up providing the necessary votes for the measure’s passage.

On Thursday, Pelosi bragged to her colleagues about all of the additional policy directives Democrats were able to put into the bill, saying, “Republicans’ desperate thirst for lifting the oil export ban empowered Democrats to win significant concessions throughout the Omnibus, including ridding the bill of scores of deeply destructive poison pill riders.”

That Lamar Smith personally voted against the bill is irrelevant; Lamar Smith voted for the "leadership" that used Joe Straus' playbook passed a bill written by lobbyists via Democrat votes that "gave away the store" to Democrats.

Bottom Line: Just last month, Lamar Smith told us Paul Ryan's ascendance meant the era of phony fiscal crises' was over.  That hasn't happened.  We'll see how the thirty year incumbent treats Paul Ryan between now and election day....

Matt McCall discusses the Border

“You shall not remove your neighbor’s landmark, which the men of old have set, in your inheritance which you will inherit in the land that the Lord your God is giving you to possess."
Deuteronomy 19:14

Matt McCall discusses the failure of Washington D.C., led by 30 year incumbent Lamar Smith, to secure U.S. Borders:



Highlights:

• No more explosive issue today.

• "There was a time when you came to this country you had to prove you would not be a burden."

• "I believe you can get back to the place...where the border actually means something."

Bottom Line: As Matt McCall explains on his website, "When Lamar Smith went to D.C. 30 years ago, we had 3 million illegal aliens in our country. We now have 13 million. It’s time for results on the border."

CD-21 candidates address Central Texas Republican Assembly

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

The Central Texas Republican Assembly held a special meeting this afternoon to hear from Congressman Lamar Smith; Matt McCall, his main opponent in the March primary, briefly addressed the group as well.

Smith's Prepared Remarks:



Highlights:

• Obama bad re: Keystone.

• Budget deal bad

• Paul Ryan -- re: Immigration - Saying the right things though he hasn't done them in the past.
• Something, something, "regular order."
• Phony crises followed by rushed bills: "That time is over."

• Kevin Braday as Ways and Means chair good.

• Iran deal bad.

• EPA bad

• National Science Foundation wasting lots of money.

• Patent Reform -- Sponsored "America Invents Act."
• Sponsored by Democrat Pat Leahy from Vermont in Senate.
• Heritage writes about the 2011 version of the bill: "The patent reform legislation pending in Congress has a serious flaw: It delegates to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) of the Department of Commerce the power to both hike the fees imposed on Americans who deal with the USPTO and then spend the revenue derived from those fees, without any further congressional exercise of the appropriations power. When the House of Representatives considers the patent reform bill, it should, in addition to addressing any other flaws in the bill, adopt an amendment to provide that the USPTO may spend the revenues it receives from fees “to the extent and in the amounts provided in advance in appropriations Acts” and not make the fees available to the USPTO to expend without fiscal year limitation."

Smith Q&A:

Highlights:

• Why should we send you back after 30 years of the problems getting worse?!?
• Blames Harry Reid and John Bohener.
• Seniority -- Typically takes 20 to 25 years to become a chairman.
• Author's Note -- We can think of no greater condemnation of the status quo than the statement above.

• "What assurances did you get" from Ryan re: Amnesty?!?
• Ryan doesn't trust Obama.
• Hastert rule.
• Sends reading material to other members re: Border Issues.

• Attending official candidate forum?!?
• "We'll see who files."

• "America invents" act screws small inventors.
• "I hope you're an outlier."

• How many calls did you get re: Bohenher and Ryan?!?
• Wouldn't answer but did say his office usually gets about 500 constituent contacts per week and that it takes a dozen contacts to get their attention and about 50 to flip their vote.

• Will the pattern we've seen at the state level (coalition of D's and liberal R's running everything) continue at the federal level?!?
• Give Paul Ryan a chance.

Matt McCall's remarks:

Highlights:

• "I'm Matt McCall and I'm running against Mr. Smith."

• "On the one hand he tell us he's this senior powerful member of congress...on the other hand he tells us he's only one out of 435."

• Over 30 years, which one of our values has Mr. Smith advanced?!?
• Debt up from $2 trillion to $20 trillion.
• 60.  MILLION.  ABORTIONS.

• If Paul Ryan can skip several levels of seniority to become speaker, seniority doesn't matter.

• "One man can do a lot."

Bottom Line: The contrast between a 30-year incumbent like Lamar Smith and a grassroots candidate like Matt McCall speaks for itself; thanks to both gentlemen for taking time out of their day to address the group.

Lamar Smith's Ex-Im Flip Flop

“No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”
Luke 16:13

Matt McCall raises some good points in his latest newsletter:

Lamar Smith voted to reauthorize the Export-Import bank in 1997, 2002, 2006, and 2012.  Last week, he voted against it.  Why the sudden change?
 
On Facebook, Smith says:
 
“When the bank uses taxpayer funding to help a foreign company buy an American-made product, that same company gains an advantage over American businesses.”
 
No joke.  It’s been doing that for his entire tenure in Congress.  Why change stances now?
 
Lamar has dropped in the polling from 80% to 70% to 60% in the last three Republican primaries, and as a result, all of a sudden he’s grown a conservative spine.  Do you trust that it will remain if he’s re-elected?

Read the whole thing here; Watchdog has a FANTASTIC write up about the CD-21 race here.

Why doesn't Lamar Smith want to debate?!?

"Can anyone hide himself in secret places,
So I shall not see him?” says the Lord;
“Do I not fill heaven and earth?” says the Lord.?
Jeremiah 23:24

Fascinating tidbit from Matt McCall's campaign update:

Two months ago, I was invited to a debate with Lamar Smith, Michael J. Smith, and John Murphy, the contenders for the Congressional seat for CD 21.  I immediately accepted.  The invitation came from the Kendall County Tea Party Patriots, run by Earl Smith.  The debate is scheduled for November 9.  November 9 was chosen because that week Congress is out of session and Lamar Smith is in the district.
 
Earl Smith informed me that he had been contacting Lamar Smith’s office continually for the last two months, trying to get a response regarding the debate, without success.  Earl was finally able to ask Lamar about it in person at a public forum last Tuesday.  Lamar said it was the first he’d heard about it and that he would get back with Earl by the end of the evening.  He did not.
 
On Wednesday, an invitation went out by email for a private reception at a supporter’s home for Lamar Smith---scheduled for the evening of November 9. 

 Read the whole thing here.

Bottom Line: This wreaks of Dewhurst's 2012 strategy in the U.S. Senate race, perhaps the time has come to break out the duck costume.

Matt McCall keeps his word

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

Having given Lamar Smith a run for his money last time, Matt McCall declared his candidacy for the United States House of Representatives last week:



Highlights:

• "America is We the People and I love We the People."

• "I respect Mr. Smith and his service."

• "It's been 30 years now, at the end of this term, and as the military has a policy and tradition that after 30 years your work is done, and it is time to pass the torch."

Matt McCall infiltrates Travis County

Cahnman's Musings has obtained a video recorded in an undisclosed location near Central Austin:



Highlights:

• Polling company "might be full of manure" but latest poll has race at 48% - 48%, +/- 3.8%

• "People might not be ready to fight for liberty, but I think they're willing to fight against tyranny."

• "We don't need your help in six months or for six months, we need your help right now."

• People at the polls work best.

• He was wrong on high turnout.

History Lesson: Lamar Smith disarms our Veterans

From Gun Owners of America, January 2008:

As most Americans were preparing for the Christmas holidays last month, the U.S. Congress pulled another fast one when only few people were watching.

It was December 19. Most Congressmen had left town and were either at the airport or in the air returning home. They weren't in Washington, DC, because their party leadership had told them that all the major votes were over... that the only legislative business left related to non-controversial issues, such as when Congress would return from Christmas break, etc.

But it was then, with most of the Congress gone, that the House and Senate passed the Veterans Disarmament Act without a recorded vote. It was a huge deja vu, as this was the method that a previous Democratic Congress used -- together with compliant Republicans -- to pass the original Brady Law in 1993.

....

But there were a few key Republicans who helped cosponsor the legislation: Representatives Michael Castle (DE), Christopher Shays (CT) and Lamar Smith (TX). And dishonorable mention goes to Tom Price of Georgia who was physically present on the House floor on December 19. It was Rep. Price who asked for the Unanimous Consent agreement to pass the Veterans Disarmament Act without a vote.

[Emphasis added]

....


On the other hand, GOA was able to secure a few modest concessions which should provide some protection to gun owners -- though NOT NEARLY ENOUGH PROTECTION TO JUSTIFY SUPPORT of this bill.

So having said that, what are the implications of this legislation for Americans with psychiatric diagnoses?

Although we succeeded in forcing the deletion of the ratification of the BATF regulations, per se, section 101 (c) (1) (C) contains new language which could make you a "prohibited person" (unable to own a gun) based solely on a medical finding (by a psychiatrist or psychologist), provided:

* That you had "an opportunity for a hearing by a court, board, commission or other lawful authority"; and

* In the future, that you had notice that you would be made a "prohibited person" as a result of the agency action (section 101 (c) (3)). [NOTE: This was added pursuant to negotiations over GOA's objections to the bill.]

However, even these modest gains have severe limitations. Up to 140,000 veterans had their gun rights taken away as a result of a diagnosis of a mental disorder such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). But this new law does not require two important things for those 140,000 people:

1. The new law does not require that a veteran needed to have any knowledge of the ramifications of the "diagnosis" in the past -- and the fact that this diagnosis could disarm him or her for life. How many veterans suffering from PTSD simply went to Veterans Affairs, hoping to get treatment, but now face a lifetime gun ban because of the new law?

2. Also, the act does not require that the disarmed vets even knew they had a right to appeal their diagnosis. Many of the 140,000 Americans who have now lost their Second Amendment rights first received a letter from Veterans Affairs telling them that, due to their diagnosis, a "guardian" was being appointed for them to handle their affairs. As stated above, how many vets realized that this action would deem them as "mental defective" under the 1968 Gun Control Act and strip them of their gun rights?

Moreover, how many vets realized they could challenge this action by appealing the diagnosis? If they didn't realize the significance of this VA letter, most likely, the vets did nothing, as they were more concerned with getting the monetary benefits that such a diagnosis would bring. But, whether they knew these things or not, this new law would still validate the removal of their Second Amendment rights.

 Read the whole thing here.

Congressman Lamar Smith spends money on ... ALIENS?!?

Sigh, way to go Congressman:

Chairman Lamar Smith, R-Texas scheduled a hearing Wednesday on the search for aliens. Of course, being an astute federal lawmaker, Smith disguised the topic in very scientific-sounding language, such as “Astrobiology: The Search for Biosignatures in our Solar System and Beyond.”

The search for human life on other habitable planets might someday provide us with an escape hatch when we’ve finished spoiling the environment Earth. So this is a necessary hearing, in the long term.

But aren’t there budget and debt ceiling deadlines coming a little sooner that maybe everyone in Congress should be discussing? We’re just saying.

Learn more about Lamar Smith's primary challenger here.

Did Matt McCall force Lamar Smith to do his job?!?

Congressman Lamar Smith is chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.  During the seven weeks since the Obamacare roll-out debacle, the SST committee has done nothing.  All of a sudden, this morning, Congressman Smith unveils the following piece in Breitbart News:

EXCLUSIVE -- MR. PRESIDENT, TEAR DOWN THIS WEBSITE

 584

 33

 2012

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Email ArticlePrint articleSend a Tip

by REP. LAMAR SMITH (R-TX) 19 Nov 2013 2266POST A COMMENT

Many Americans have experienced the ill effects of Obamacare. That’s because the President’s broken promises are piling up. He promised that if you like your health care plan you can keep it. But for millions of Americans, that’s not true.

He said that the law would make health insurance more affordable. But across the country, Americans are seeing their premiums go up, not down. And when launching Healthcare.gov, the Obama administration said that the website was safe, secure and open for business. We now know that isn’t true, either.

The data obtained by Healthcare.gov is one of the largest collections of personal information ever assembled. It links information between seven different federal agencies and state agencies and government contractors.

The website requires users to provide personal information like birth dates, social security numbers, and household incomes in order to obtain information about potential health coverage. But security experts have expressed concern about flaws in the site that put this personal data at risk and subject users to the threat of identity theft.

This week, the Science Committee, which I chair, held a hearing to examine security and privacy concerns about the Obamacare website. We heard from witnesses outside the government who are experts in cybersecurity and hacking websites. They provided a convincing evidence of the vulnerabilities that underlie Healthcare.gov.

The rest of the piece is a commendable explanation of security failures in the Obamacare website.  Kudos to Lamar Smith for belatedly getting his committee up to speed.  But, when the SST committee has been silent for seven weeks, why now?!?

That's where Matt McCall enters the picture.

Last week, Matt McCall (Smith's GOP Primary challenger) embarrassed Lamar Smith back in the district.  Following 2 cancellations at events where they were both scheduled to appear, McCall called out Smith.  Less than a week later, a U.S. House committee Smith chairs is holding hearings into Obamacare.  The timing is, to put it mildly, suspicious.  But better late than never.

Cahnman's Musings has reached out to the U.S. House Science, Space, and Technology committee for comment and will update this post if they respond.

Update: We spoke to a staffer on the Science committee about an hour ago.  The staffer informed us that plans for this hearing began about ten days after the Obamacare roll-out.  It takes 4 -6 weeks for a hearing to happen after staffers begin planning.  That's Standard Operating Procedure in Congress.  While this is a condemnation of how Congress operates, it looks like Lamar Smith's story checks out on this one.