U.S. Republican Party Politics

Five Texas Takeaways from Election Night

Now that our election night hangovers have been slept off, we can now cut through the chatter and attempt to forecast what last night's election results mean to you, Dear Reader. Dallas County is really, really blue Republicans had a strong showing in local legislative races, easily fending off cha ... More >>

A Billboard Over MLK Boulevard Claims the Civil Rights Leader Was a Republican

Say you're a Republican activist hoping to woo black voters, but you're faced with the inconvenient truth that the opposing party elected the country's first African American president. What do you do? You put the one African American figure who more iconic than Barack Obama on a billboard above his ... More >>

Looks Like the Tea Party's Gonna Elect Cruz Fair and Square. So, Let's Change the Game.

Texas will elect it's next senator today. Odds are, you won't vote for him. In fact, a good number of you, even if you're registered to vote, can't vote in the truly decisive race going down Tuesday, because you were dumb enough to vote in the Democratic primary in May. Suckers. So, let's all clap ... More >>

Texas Wants 'In' on National Immigration Database, But Why It's Necessary Is A Mystery

Yesterday, Texas Secretary of State Esperanza "Hope" Andrade requested access to a federal database of immigration records as a way to ensure that voters are here legally. It's a little like putting border patrol agents at polling stations -- but without the threat of deportation, at least for now. ... More >>

FreedomWorks Will Bring Thousands of Tea Partyers to Dallas Next Week

You might remember FreedomWorks. In 2010, the nonprofit, established and funded by billionaire David Koch, helped shape a sprawling Tea Party movement into the force that swept a large number of very conservative Republicans into Congress. Call it grass roots, call it astro turf. For a hint, if on ... More >>

Republicans Have a Hispanic Problem, But Texas GOP Thinks It Has the Solution [Updated]

Five months to go and Republicans are waking up to the awful realization that over the course of the primary season -- the last five or six years, really -- they've done their level-best to alienate the largest minority demographic not only in Texas, but in the nation. It is as though the throttling ... More >>

Big Biz Made a Bargain With the GOP's Devils. Here Comes the Bill.

Big business is finally figuring out what Democrats have been saying since the worst days of George W: that the genius idea of Bush's brain, Karl Rove, was a Faustian bargain with that powerful and elusive element of American political landscape -- the ignorati. Now the ignorati are demanding thei ... More >>

Meet the Race Car-Driving Conservative After Rep. Ralph Hall's Seat

America is in a pissy, irascible, throw-the-bums-out, anti-incumbent kinda mood. Even, apparently, if it means unseating a longtime congressman with some serious seniority and a choice committee chair. According to Charlie Cook over at the National Journal, there are some 22 House Republican primar ... More >>

Hispanics Not Thrilled With Obama, But They Still Won't Vote For Rick Perry, Study Says

These days it seems as though both political parties are doing everything they can to disenfranchise one of the fastest-growing demographics in the country: Hispanics. While the GOP ratchets up anti-immigrant rhetoric and champions Arizona-style immigration legislation, the Obama administration rac ... More >>

Want to Understand Politics, the Economy, Everything? Follow the Levees.

​Figured it out. I can tell you why the Republicans keep assassinating their own nominees. It all goes back to the Trinity River levees. What? You think I can't connect those dots? Stand back. Right now the GOP rivals are reducing Newt Gingrich to road-kill in Iowa with Super-PAC attack ads o ... More >>

State GOP Legislators' Revenge Won't Be on Democrats, But on the Old, Poor and Sick

​People all over America should watch the special session of the Texas Legislature, just now beginning, if they want to see what Republicans are really up to. Among other things, they're out to kill Medicare and Medicaid. The regular session was stymied at the last minute when Democratic sta ... More >>

Running Perry, Leppert Up UT/Texas Trib's Poll

Photo by Sam Merten​If anything, the results of an already outdated University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll posted this morning -- outdated in that it features three would-be GOP presidential candidates who've said they aren't running -- more than likely reveal that at least 800 registered-to-vote ... More >>

Would-Be Dallas County GOP Chairs Square Off: "I Don't Want Dallas to Become Detroit."

​We never did talk to Debbie Georgatos about why she wants to become the next Dallas County Republican Party chair following the adios of Jonathan Neerman. No matter: After the jump, for those who have 10 minutes to spare, you'll find Georgatos and former candidate for Dallas County Judge Wade Em ... More >>

Jonathan Neerman Resigns as Dallas County GOP Chair; Former County Judge Candidate Wade Emmert "Interested" in Replacing Him

Photo by Hal SamplesJonathan Neerman​Back in December 2008, we introduced you to foul-mouthed Jonathan Neerman, who had the misfortune of taking over as Dallas County Republican Party chair during a Barack Obama-led Democratic ass-kicking at the polls. One day after the GOP swept local state ... More >>

Why'd Mayor Tom Really Quit Early?

Photo by Sam Merten​U.S. Senate candidate Tom Leppert posted to his website today a piece titled "Serious Leadership," in which he says he's just the man to take Kay Bailey's place in D.C. because, look, "I'm not a career politician and I didn't expect to be in this position. I'm a businessman." O ... More >>

Don't Shoot! We Know You're Conservative, Tom.

John Carona, Miles Away from Ordinary

Must be love this morning, as two Friends of Unfair Park who more often than not vote "D" sent along this link to the new issue of The Texas Observer (unrelated), in which the staff ranks "The People's Friends and Foes" coming out of the 81st Legislature. And topping the list of Friends is a Dallas ... More >>

Outrage peers behind the closet door at Washington's not-so-secret gays

Kay Bailey Hutchison's Fellow GOP Senators Begging Her Not to Leave D.C. Just Yet

On Tuesday, Governor Rick Perry told the Associated Press he seriously doubted Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison was going to challenge him come 2010. Because, look, "there's plenty of time for the senator to think that it's not in her best interest, Texas' best interest or the country's best interest to ... More >>

Get With the Times|Bang, Bang|Pay to Play

How Lowell Can You Go?

GOP Kisses Sheriff’s Race Goodbye

Keys to the Jail

There's only one thing tougher than running for Dallas County sheriff—getting people to care

Sheriff Lupe Valdez Is Not Going to Like This Web Site One Danged Bit

Mr. Crunchy Con Speaks|You Cheap Bastards

And to Your Right, Some Conservatives

Following up

Singing the blues at the courthouse

Zac Attack | Out in the Cold | Give It Up, Manny | Born Blue

Accidental Victors

Wait...we voted for who?

Chris Bell: S.O.L.

"Eat My Bush" and Other Likely Signs

A Fallen Star Is Born

Tom DeLay's scandals are a gold mine for two Texas filmmakers

Here Comes the Judge...Not

Throw The Shook at 'Em

Bad Judgment

That's the problem with the Democratic Party--anyone can join

No DeLay

Bad politics is good business for filmmakers

Bubble Brains

Think a strong mayor is a good idea? See who agrees with you.

Monkey Business

Buzz picks a few nits with the year that was

Bulworth

Democrat-snatchers invade Dallas

Sins of a Preacher Man

Until his overthrow, Bill Price led the Texas anti-abortion movement for 17 years. Was it politics, ego, or something worse that did him in?

Bench press

A pack of well-heeled lawyers calls for the head of mercurial Dallas Judge John Marshall

Maverick rides again

Democratic media whiz Mark McKinnon left partisan politics behind until George W. Bush swept him off his feet

Strategic withdrawal

A tax-subsidized marketing firm backs out of politics -- sort of

Buzz

Voted out

Denton Republicans oust former Dallas election manager

Letters

Buzz

Campaign casualty

Cheryl Wattley's appointment to the federal bench is M.I.A. in presidential politics

White Like Me

A Christian comes to terms with Dallas' Christian Coalition

Buzz