Michael Williams at Entrepreneur Alliance in Amarillo

Texas Railroad Commission Chairman Michael Williams is in Amarillo today. I had the opportunity to visit with him briefly when he stopped at the Entrepreneur Alliance offices.

It was a fitting setting for the U.S. Senate Candidate whose message is music to the ears of Texas businessmen. He is one of the few principled and consistent conservative political figures in the country. His message is pro-business and pro-USA.

He spoke briefly on a topic that sends chills up my spine -- the Cap and Trade Scheme that Congress is working to pass. According to Williams (and I agree completely) it will have a disproportionately negative impact on Texas. It targets energy and agriculture for a significant tax burden that would cripple the state economy. I like the way he referred to it as the bill that would "cap our economy and send trade somewhere else." I think that sums it up.

Texas is one of the few states that has had positive news through the economic downturn that our country has been experiencing. That positive news is due to our pro-business economic climate. Cap and Trade will reverse those positives.

Commissioner Williams has been a public servant for 10 years on the Texas Railroad Commission. During that time he played a significant role in shrinking the size of the Commission from around 900 employees to about 600.

Hmm....smaller government, pro-business, pro-family, pro-USA...we could use some of that in Washington. With his record of integrity in office and the conservative positions that he has taken on the issues near-and-dear to all Texans, I think it is time to get him up there so that he can get to work.

I wonder what Senator Hutchison's plans are? Will she resign her seat? Or, will she try to hold onto it through the upcoming race for Governor? It promises to be interesting....

Hutchison for Governor?

The rumors are flying and seem to have credibility that Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison will run for Governor in the 2012 election. That may seem like a long time away but it will be here before you know it. I applaud her move.

Texas Governor Rick Perry has done an admirable job but it is time for someone else to step into that position. We might even see Governor Perry run for her Senate seat. I suspect that his ambitions run in that direction. Senator Hutchison's announcement that she would resign her Senate Policy Committee Chairmanship was met with a political riposte by a Perry spokesman that indicated she should be focused on helping Texans recover from hurricane Ike rather than on politics.

We will see what Hutchison's move does for Senator John Cornyn, currently the junior Senator from Texas. It could mean that he will move into her Chairmanship post. It may place him in a stronger position within the Texas Republican political hierarchy as well. He is challenged this year for his Senate seat by Rick Noriega. Noriega has conducted a bumbling campaign so far and with only a few weeks until the election is expected to fall well behind Senator Cornyn in the voting. It is in Texas' best interest to return Senator Cornyn to Washington. He has become a strong and very influential player in the Senate.

The "A" Team

OK. I know The Sun isn't known as a mainstream political authority, but after seeing this article linked on The Drudge Report, I had to post a link to it. The GOP's rock star VP candidate will reach across a lot more lines than people (especially the Dem's) anticipate. I think the futbol crowd wafting a draft in an English/Irish/Scottish/German, etc. pub will appreciate her as much as some of the folks in rural America. Senator McCain also should score well with the baseball crowd on this pick, it was certainly a home run.

There is even talk about a "coattail" effect from the McCain/Palin ticket on a number of House and Senate races. The only thing that surprises me is that no one has started calling them the "A" team. After all, one hails from Arizona and the other from Alaska. Hmm...sounds like a good title for this post.

Education and Immigration Issues in Texas Senate Race

The Texas Senate race pitting incumbent John Cornyn against Rick Noriega has had a number of interesting chapters. Most of them emphasize the fact that Noriega is a little confused in his offered solutions. The newest proposal by Noriega concerning education reform is full of contradictory statements and vague plans -- especially in regard to education for the children of undocumented immigrants. According to an article in the Houston Chronicle, Noriega believes the state should pick up the tab for educating those children which are a result of federal border policy, yet has no idea what that cost would be. He also calls for ending unfunded mandates from Washington, presumably because of the cost to Texas taxpayers, and yet those unfunded mandates are what cause the state to be required to pick up the tab on undocumented immigrant children in the first place. Senator Cornyn on the other hand, would like to see the federal government pick up the tab for their mandate.

The real issue though, is the irresponsible way Noriega proposes sweeping changes without an estimate at least, of the cost to Texas taxpayers. You would think that a current state legislator would have a better grasp on what it takes to educate our children. How can he possibly expect to gain the trust of the voters of Texas when he seems clueless on one of the most basic issues of concern to Texans?

Presidential Polling Shifts

Are the polls correct? It is sometimes difficult to trust polling results because the questions always reflect the bias of the poll creator. However, in the last few days we have seen multiple articles concerning significant shifts in poll results from Obama to McCain -- especially among women and independents. I doubt that all of the polls are wrong...

Random Thoughts on the Election

As time goes by, we will learn more and more about the amazing story of GOP Vice Presidential nominee, Sarah Palin. The story of the Palin's son Trig is itself a tribute to their beliefs, their ethics and their values.

I have not posted directly on Senator McCain's speech last Thursday evening to the RNC. I thought it was an excellent speech. It was a little slow taking off -- even appeared to be formulaic and safe -- until near the end. I think we saw the man's heart. I believe that we saw a man who is focused on service. It is easy to be cynical and think that every candidate for the highest office in the land is only looking at the power. I don't believe that's the case with John McCain. I am certain that he can be tough, driven and difficult, but I think that deep down it is fueled by a desire to serve his country.

It is time for change in Washington. It is time to get away from politics as usual and tackle the challenges that we are facing. We must tame the energy beast and wean ourselves from economic control of our energy by foreign powers that are not working in our best interests. It is time to trim the federal budget and focus on what government was designed to do rather than making it bigger in an attempt to do all things for all people -- either through misplaced idealism or through the desire to "repay" favors from special interest groups or voter groups. We don't need the bigger government that the Dem's are promising. We need to re-focus our government leaders and bureaucrats on serving the people and not themselves. I believe the McCain/Palin ticket will at least make a valiant attempt to do so. Whether they can overcome the Washington Establishment is a different prospect altogether. At least, they are unlikely to contribute to the explosive growth that is the likely outcome if Obama/Biden should win.

McCain's Wise Choice

This is one that I called back on July 2. I think she is a stellar addition to the McCain team and will complement him well as a running mate.

"McCain picks Palin as running mate

Popular Alaska governor to be first female Republican VP nominee"

Pro-family, pro-life, conservative, pro-business, Christian. This choice shows to me that McCain will exercise some wisdom in his leadership -- surround yourself with people that offset the areas that are not your strengths. Strong leaders surround themselves with strong people.

Thank you, John McCain! The GOP now has its own "Rock Star" but ours has substance!

Dancing With The Devil - 2

Money drives politics. Nothing new there. The average person really doesn't think too much about that fact except in the abstract. Occasionally, however, we get a glimpse of the murky side of the money equation.

The Democratic Party of Texas has struggled for several years now -- since Republicans took control of state government -- including both the House and Senate. In fact, they have steadily lost ground at the state level. There are some Democratic strongholds around the state, such as the Rio Grande Valley and parts of the larger cities, that continue to send Democrats to Austin and Washington to represent their interests.

One of the difficulties the party has faced in Texas is funding. With the majority of their support in low-income areas, they have struggled with the financial side of intrastate party politics. The national party has injected some funding, but when there are no hotly contested races, that funding is sparse -- until 2005, when Dallas lawyer, Fred Baron, teamed with Matt Angle, a long-time aid to Democratic Representative Martin Frost of Dallas to create the Texas Democratic Trust (TDT). The TDT has since become the primary source of funding for Democratic candidates in state contests.

Now comes the real twist. Baron has been implicated as being involved in John Edwards recent troubles with Rielle Hunter. According to The Austin American Statesman:

"After Edwards admitted last week that he had had an affair with Rielle Hunter when she was his campaign videographer, reports surfaced that Baron had helped Hunter financially. Baron told several media outlets that he had helped Hunter and former Edwards campaign aide Andrew Young, along with Young's family, move to California from North Carolina to escape tabloid reporters and paparazzi. Despite reports in the National Enquirer that Edwards is the father of Hunter's baby, Young has claimed to be the father.

Baron has said that he did not tell Edwards that he helped Hunter and Young, and he has not said how much money he gave them."

The Edwards scandal threatens to taint many of those connected with Baron because of his alleged involvement. One of the candidates who appears to have benefited greatly from the largess of the TDT is Diana Maldonado who is running for the House seat currently occupied by Rep. Mike Krusee, R-Williamson County.

I wonder how much influence $1.9 million can buy? In the same Statesman article:

"Other big donors were skeptical, Baron has said, so he paid for most of the effort himself.

He started the Texas Democratic Trust and gave it $1.9 million in 2005 and 2006, providing more than 80 percent of its funding.

In turn, the group gave about $855,000 to the Texas Democratic Party, $530,000 to the House Democratic Campaign Committee and $360,000 to the Texas Progress Council, an independent research and advocacy group.

Slightly more than half of the money raised by the state party's political action committee in 2005 and 2006 came from the Democratic Trust. Baron's recent donations are unmatched in Texas by anyone in his party."

It certainly makes you stop and think....

Obama's Embrace of Faith-based Initiative?

Obama is bombarding the MSM with press opportunities regarding his faith. His aggressive campaign to offset the many remarks about his faith is a political necessity. However, on two key issues to the evangelical vote he is at the opposite end of the spectrum. Those issues are gay/lesbian rights/marriage and abortion. The evangelical vote will be a moral vote. It is also typically a high-percentage conservative vote. There are evangelical Christians who place social issues in the Democratic camp -- that is pour money into them. The majority however, are more likely to see most social issues as needing shoe leather -- not more government programs. Issues such as poverty, crime, the disintegration of the family, etc. require Christian foot soldiers reaching into needy communities. Evangelicals often see government programs as detrimental to their efforts. Mr. Obama may be disappointed in his effect on the evangelical community.

Governor Palin's Letter to Harry Reid

One of those mentioned as a leading contender for the VP position alongside Senator John McCain in his run for the Presidency is Alaska Governor, Sarah Palin. I like her letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid concerning drilling on the outer continental shelf and in ANWR. The letter can be viewed here. (Click on the Reid link for an entertaining video)

It's the Spending, Dummy!

Have you ever noticed that when something gets "out of whack," the more you tinker with it to get it back right, the further "out of whack" it becomes? That's what happens when the economy gets in the shape that we are seeing now.

The lawmakers and political candidates all have "fixes" for the economy. One says that we need to raise taxes for the rich while the other says that we need to extend tax cuts to stimulate investment. Proponents of increasing taxes for the wealthy think that the average person will support such increases because they see the high-earners as deserving to be taxed more. That is a very elitist attitude in itself and totally discredits the intelligence of most of the American public.

I think most folks just want our tax system to be fair -- to treat us all equally -- without special breaks for particular groups.

Those who believe the tax cuts implemented by the Bush Administration are contributing to the budget deficit are also confused. Revenue is not the issue. Spending is the issue. When you cut taxes and then increase spending substantially you are going to increase the deficit. Tax cuts stimulate market activity which in turn will generate more revenue at a lower tax rate. Those cuts must be followed however, by either holding the line or decreasing spending. Budget deficits are caused when you spend more than you bring in. It's the spending, dummy -- not the revenue side of the equation!

Will the Media Call Obama to Task?

Occasionally you see a story or commentary from a national left-leaning publication that points the finger at the hypocrisy in the media. I was pleased to see just such a story today regarding Obama's rejection of Federal campaign funds. Interesting.

The Attack Dogs are Loose

It's nice to see the occasional light-hearted look at oneself in a political campaign. Especially when it's from a political figure whom you respect. It is frustrating however, to see that light-hearted view attacked (a good summary of the attacks here) by the left-leaning demo-fascists that grasp at any straw to demean the opponent of their chosen banner-bearer. Take a look at the video and tell me what you think.

Clinton's Campaign Debts

For one who has made her lifelong ambition to live off of public funds, Mrs. Clinton took the art of using other people's money to a new high in her campaign for the Presidency. She owes a record amount to businesses who will likely be short-changed. She also "loaned" the campaign a large amount of money which she has until the General Election in November to repay (or she is limited to $250,000). Any bets as to who gets paid back first?

Biased Treatment? Never!

It is interesting to me how we aren't hearing much about policy differences in the campaigns. We hear of age differences, of style differences, of speaking ability differences -- but we're not debating the merits of policy positions.

Is it a press bias that is seeking to enhance the favorable aspects of their chosen candidate? Or, is it because there is little difference in their positions? Or, is it an avoidance of substance by the candidates themselves because of the fear of alienating a particular interest group? I suspect the latter.

A Campaign of Change

The mega-campaign environment of modern politics is fueled by money. McCain has struggled to gain traction in that environment. So, he must look for strategies that will stretch the funding that he has tapped. He has the opportunity to create a new kind of campaign that operates both from the top (traditional) and from the grassroots (usually the domain of 2nd tier candidates). The increasing presence of blogs may help with that grassroots effort. It also will be necessary to re-think the other side of the equation -- the top-down piece. How well Senator McCain does in that area may be an indication of his abilities as Commander in Chief. Campaigning for President on a slim budget? Now that would truly be a campaign of change!