U.S. Republican Party

Senator Ted Cruz Wants Everyone to Shut Up About Guns. Senate Tells Him to Stick It.

What does it mean that Republicans and independents joined Democrats yesterday to shut down Texas Senator Ted Cruz's anti-gun reform filibuster? It means Cruz lost a lot more than his filibuster. At a certain point -- Cruz's point -- the gun reform debate ceases to be about guns and becomes instea ... More >>

By Holding Craig Watkins in Contempt, Judge Lena Levario Shows She's a Good Democrat. Some Dallas Democrats May Disagree.

So who is this Democrat judge, Lena Levario, who not only stands up to Democratic Party golden boy Craig Watkins, our embattled district attorney, but holds him in contempt of court? Does she not understand the most basic tenet of Dallas County Democratic Party philosophy -- that Dr. King died so th ... More >>

Today, Democrats Are Officially Gunning for Texas' Electoral College Votes

This is day one of the Battle of Texas, which is mostly marked by a website launch. Battleground Texas, the Democratic Party's efforts to shake the GOP hold on the state, officially starts today. The site comes with a nifty graphic showing a red Texas filling up with blue (it's pretty low right now) ... More >>

Here's What Texas Stands To Lose if Congress Doesn't Compromise By March 1 Deadline

The sequester, that "Damocles sword" hanging perilously above federal spending and set to fall March 1, was supposed to be an instrument so blunt, which would cut so deeply and indiscriminately, that the cost of not reaching a bipartisan compromise on debt reduction would become unfathomable. Now, ... More >>

Mary Suhm's Secret Drilling Deal Proves That the City Manager System Doesn't Work

Don't think about this: your city manager, the CEO of Dallas City Hall, signed a secret deal five years ago promising to help a gas company set up drilling rigs and processing plants in city parks. Think about this instead: the city manager did not sign a secret agreement with drilling opponents to ... More >>

Muslim Hunting

David Horowitz has made taunting college students a spectator sport. Sometimes he's actually right.

As the National GOP Leaps into the 20th Century, Ted Cruz and His Texas Pals Cling to the 19th

Last Thursday, New York Times conservative columnist David Brooks said Republicans, smarting from Mitt Romney's defeat, have learned their lesson and are undergoing what Brooks described as a "glasnost," a term defined by Merriam-Webster as, "a Soviet policy permitting open discussion of political a ... More >>

Fellow Republicans: A Five-Point Plan to Stop Our Asses From Getting Kicked

To: Lovers of America From: The Republican National Committee RE: Emergency platform changes Dear Patriots: It seems that 47 percent was somewhat larger than we anticipated in last week's election. Henceforth, we urge all Republicans to adopt these immediate policy changes. Our new platform on ba ... More >>

Mark Davis Says "Today is the First Day of Talk Radio." Ain't That the Truth.

Not long after the networks started calling Ohio for Obama last night, but before Karl Rove tried to convince himself that Cleveland and Cincinnati were going to miraculously turn the state red, Mark Davis, the local conservative talk-radio host and Morning News contributor, dispatched the Tweet you ... More >>

There's a War on Coal Raging in Rep. Ralph Hall's Head

We haven't checked in on our favorite congressman, Representative Ralph Hall (R-Antediluvian Era) lately. Not since he dove from a functioning aircraft dressed in nothing but a form-fitting American flag. Turns out, he's been rummaging through a dusty, cobwebbed steamer trunk stuffed with contracept ... More >>

Chicago's Teacher Quality Debate? Texas Republicans Built That. Thank God.

The New York Times this morning has a piece arguing that the Chicago teachers strike is a window on the nation's heart over the last few years, where education is concerned. I would say it's been 15 years at least, and in a weird way a lot of it started right here in Dallas. In the mid-'90s Dallas ... More >>

Appeals Court Says Texas' Redistricting Maps Are Discriminatory; Texas Vows to Appeal

When the Texas legislature passed new redistricting maps in 2011, it sure seemed that the lines had been drawn to dilute the power of Democratic-leaning Hispanic voters in favor of Republicans. State leaders swore that wasn't the case, but, rather than taking them to an unfriendly Justice Department ... 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 >>

UT Poll: Most Folks Want To Keep the EPA, And What is This 'Fracking' You Speak Of?

Shale gas extracted by fracking deep formations in Texas, New York, Pennsylvania and elsewhere is supposed to be the bridge fuel to the sustainable age, capable of powering power plants and, hell, even our cars. It's become the centerpiece of President Obama's "all of the above" energy plan. In Tex ... 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 >>

Feds: Voter ID Law "Legally Unenforceable," Can't Rule Out "Discriminatory Purpose"

State legislation requiring voters to present state-issued identification such as a driver's license, a concealed-carry permit, or a U.S. passport or military ID was rejected Monday morning by the U.S. Department of Justice. "Because we conclude that the state has failed to meet its burden of dem ... More >>

How To Not Get Deported

So, you're an undocumented immigrant. Your great hope is to stick around, make a living and, some day, become naturalized. Unfortunately, our immigration laws are a tangled morass of inscrutability, insensible to the realities of a globalized world. You may have watched last week's Republican deba ... More >>

The End of Family Planning in Texas

They say they defunded Planned Parenthood. But lawmakers' attack on family planning will cost Texas money, reduce access to healthcare and result in even more abortions.

What's Occupying Tom Leppert

The Senate candidate doesn't like mobs of protesters. Someone alert the Tea Party.

It's Good to Be White...

...But let's not get cocky and blow it with anti-voting laws.

Pony Down: Craig James is Definitely Running for Senate, If This Video Is Any Indication

A screengrab from the must-see video that follows​Celina-based American Craig James wears many hats, every last one of them red white and blue. He's an SMU legend. He's a former New England Patriot. He's a father who will go to any lengths to make sure his son gets the playing time he deserve ... More >>

Dallas County GOP Will Have to Soldier On Without Georgatos on Leadership Team

Jason Villalba, a Haynes & Boone attorney, is the new Dallas County GOP vice-chair​Anderson Cooper, for one, will be disappointed, but Debbie Georgatos is no longer part of the Republican Party's local leadership team. The avant-garde filmmaker and would-be Beat poet has resigned her post "as ... More >>

Fox-y News' Own Numbers Show the Talibaptists Haven't Won Yet

​Today the Dallas school board meets to hear the possible "good news" from the superintendent -- that the district may only have to fire a quarter of its teachers instead of a third, depending on how badly the Rick Perry Banana Republicans and the TeeTee Party in Austin underfund public school ... More >>

Deja Vu: What, Not Another New Day in Politics? Plus, Don't Let the Doorknob Hit You, Rick.

Dallas, In Red and Blue

​As I wrote last night, Dallas County's new elections website is a marked improvement over versions past -- from precinct maps to mail-ins breakdowns, it contains all the details a wonk could want. So, then. After the jump a few of the more relevant color-by-numbers, including looks at the Rick Pe ... More >>

Stars and Stripes Go On Forever Among the Downtrodden at the Texas GOP Convention

Now That It Considers Debra Medina "Viable," Belo Backs Down and Extends Invite to Debate

Courtesy KERA-TVKay Bailey Hutchison, Debra Medina and Rick Perry at last week's GOP debate at the University of North Texas​First KERA wasn't sure it would let Debra Medina participate in its Republican gubernatorial debate on the University of North Texas campus, which was held last week. Then, ... More >>

Consultant to Tom Leppert and John Carona Says it's Going to Be "a Long, Painful Process" Waiting for Senator Hutchison's Next Move

John Carona​On Tuesday, state Senator John Carona said he'd "give consideration" to a mayoral run should Tom Leppert vacate office early in pursuit of Kay Bailey Hutchison's U.S. Senate seat. A top Republican in the state and one of several names included among Leppert's potential would-be suc ... More >>

See, We Asked Bill White That Question Four Times Because We Knew He Was BS'ing Us

Sam Merten​There's a reason why I went to see Houston Mayor Bill White during his stop in Plano last month. It wasn't because he was one of many folks vying for Kay Bailey Hutchison's job in the Senate, although I suppose that would have warranted the trip. Nope. I've long viewed White as the ... More >>

No, You Do It: The GOP Finds Yet Another Candidate Willing to Run for D.A.

Can a Good Democrat Vote for Perry?

Pete Sessions to Fly His Dirigible to Richardson Tomorrow Night for Town Hall Meeting

Pete Sessions​Few days back, Politico ran a piece about how politicians' town hall meetings have gotten a little out of control. Such phrases as "house of horrors," "angry, sign-carrying mobs," "disruptive behavior," "pointless" and "boiling anger and rising incivility" crop up throughout, often i ... More >>

How Lowell Can You Go?

Karl Malone and Sarah Palin Have Nothing in Common, Except This Item

In the Cards

Popular Conservative Texas House Candidate Dunning Has Some Republicans Worried

Wait, Wait. Don't Leave.

C'mon Get Happy

Even Buzz finds something to smile about in 2006

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

Chris Bell: S.O.L.

Oklahoma Snubbed

Dems bolt for Albuquerque

The Party Party

Why young, degenerate, cocksure Republicans love drugs, guns, and Bush

Strategic withdrawal

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

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GOP to gays: Butt out

Texas' Log Cabin Republicans find themselves the ultimate outsiders--vilified by both the GOP and fellow gays

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