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2/25/08 Newsletter
Citizen Journalism Focused on Liberty, Conservatism and Independent
Thought
Newsletter: The Quest to Take Out State Representative Frank Corte
Report and Commentary by Joe Solis/South Texas Republicans
Picture Source: The Walker Report Blog
Tony Kosub is challenging State Representative Frank Corte in the
Republican primary. The district number is 122. Why would a
political novice challenge the dean of the Bexar County legislative
delegation in the state house?
Representative Corte has always been a friend to this newsletter
over the years. The purpose of this piece is to raise a big flag
for Representative Corte. My message is simple: As a party, we are
losing our credibility every single day. This humble online
newsletter carried a similar warning banner right before we lost the
U.S. Congress and Senate.
We were told to be quiet. Don't be critical of Republicans who
spend too much in D.C. (They know what they are doing.) We were told
that perceived arrogance is part of the game. Who really cares if
they have some attitude? The grassroots was told to have faith in
our house and senate Republicans. They know better.
Look at us now. We lost in a big way. Why? We gave up our ideals.
The Tony Kosub campaign is wakeup call for all Republicans in
power. We are not pleased with the status quo in Austin, Texas. Who
really represents us?
Tony Kosub web site: www.taxpayersfortony.com
The following are points to ponder:
Austin has told us to just have 'faith' in our numbers.
Now we find out that that TX-DOT made a one billion dollar
accounting mistake.
Is this conservative leadership?
Who was looking out for us?
Austin told us that a 50 year agreement with a foreign corporation
to run some of our highways was perfectly fine. What's the fuss all
about they told us?
We need the money according to dependable TX-DOT accounting.
Is this conservative leadership?
Who was looking out for us?
Two years ago, we were told the Texas Supreme Court was going to end
our existence if we did not reform school funding.
Austin told us we needed a new business tax. Yes, a tax on gross
sales.
We now have a BRAND new business income tax.
Is this conservative leadership?
Who was looking out for us?
The legislation just sailed through since they knew better.
They tell us we do not understand.
They imply we are stupid because we don't realize it was just an
accounting procedure that would make the Supreme Court happy. That
is why we needed a new business income tax in the great state of
Texas.
It was really about them. They wanted to keep their jobs.
We do not understand transportation funding issues because we have
not seen the real numbers. That is why we need to bring in the
Spanish investors for 50 years. They get it. We do not.
Last year, former State Representative John Shields was interviewing
candidates to run against State Representative Frank Corte. He was
heard to say, "Sounds like he's been there too long." What are we
to make of this search by a former conservative state
representative? (We have 2 independent sources to verify this part
of the story.)
Many yearn for the days when men and women stood tall in Austin.
We miss the days when a backbone was made of solid iron.
What if somebody stood up and said the following?
NO foreign ownership of our highway
system under any conditions.
NO brand new business taxes against
our citizens.
NO fuzzy math at government
agencies, including one billion dollar errors.
NO to diverting highway funds to
other entities in government.
What if they didn't care about being nice to Gov. Perry or the
lobbyists?
Who is looking out for us?
I wish I knew some days.
This I know.
Conservatives are not happy with
the status quo in Austin.
The Tony Kosub campaign is about one man who is standing up and
fighting back. It is a lonely fight since incumbents usually win
these races. Let there be no doubt we will continue to lose more
races as the overall leadership grows more distant from its
political base.
Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Reid is all the proof you need of
that.
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An Invitation
from Joe Solis/The Coalition for Texas
You Are Cordially Invited to
a Breakfast Reception
featuring
Quico Canseco
Candidate for
U.S.Congress
23rd District
Date: Friday,
February 29th
Time: 8:00 a.m. -
9:15 a.m.
(Remarks at 8:30
a.m.)
Cost: FREE
(Complimentary
Breakfast)
Place: orderup (The
Colonnade)
(Behind the Texas
MedClinic)
9873 IH-10 W
San Antonio, TX 78230
TO GO: (210) 877-0007
Picture Information:
Quico Canseco & UTSA YCTmembers (photo)
Young Conservatives of Texas Endorse Quico Canseco in 23rd
Congressional District
The Young
Conservatives of Texas (YCT) are proud to announce their
endorsement of Francisco "Quico" Canseco for the
Republican Primary in the 23rd Congressional District.
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"Macias the right
choice to keep tolls off FREEways"
Terri Hall,
San Antonio
Toll Party
The most politically radioactive issue in our community is toll
roads, and there is no greater hero for the cause in Austin than my
very own State Representative Nathan Macias. Macias is working to
reverse the disastrous policy of turning FREEways into a network of
toll roads where toll proponents want to charge us for every mile we
drive in addition to gas taxes.
That's why the San Antonio Toll Party is endorsing Nathan Macias. He
adamantly opposes double tax toll roads that charge us twice for the
same stretch of road, and he'll continue to work to rein-in TxDOT
that's prone to $1 billion accounting errors and bloating their
budget by $30 billion. Every freeway into and out of District 73 is
slated to be tolled: Bandera Rd/SH-16, I-10, US 281, and I-35.
Representative Macias holds a Masters Degree in Civil Engineering
and sits on the House Transportation Committee. He fought to keep
public freeways from coming under the control of foreign companies
by co-sponsoring a private toll moratorium bill that had teeth to
it, HB 1892, which the Governor vetoed.
Macias then worked to defeat the counterfeit moratorium bill, SB
792, that opened the door to market-based tolls which Express-News
columnist Jaime Castillo described this way: "If you want to raise
funds for other projects, keep jacking up the toll price until
drivers cry 'uncle,' and then back it off a penny or two" (Express
News, July 22, 2007).
Macias also demanded accountability and open government by trying to
defeat a provision allowing TxDOT to keep financial documents secret
from the public.
Toll roads will cost the average family $2,000-$4,000 a year in new
taxes to drive on what was once a freeway and will price commuters
off our public freeways. This leaves those who cannot afford toll
taxes with few alternatives to sitting in traffic. In fact, in many
places, the only non-toll lanes will be access roads with stop
lights and slower speed limits.
Studies have shown toll roads force more traffic onto our
neighborhood streets making them more congested and less safe as
accidents increase. This increased traffic on neighborhood streets
will cost the City and County more money and could result in further
tax increases to pay for it.
Even worse, those toll lanes are being subsidized with taxpayer
money, lots of it, but you won't be able to drive on those lanes
without paying another tax, a toll tax, for every mile you drive.
Road contractors stand to make four times the money off tollways
compared to freeways. We need to re-elect Nathan Macias whose
incorruptible character will put the people's interests above
special interests.
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Follow the Money
Larson hires bidder on 281 toll road
To modify a line from
Shakespeare, "Methinks Lyle Larson dost protest too much." Bexar
County Commissioner Lyle Larson, who finds himself in a tight race
for Congress, protested our criticisms too much and with far too
much vitriol than warranted. Here's why:
Larson has hired a firm, KGB, to
handle public relations for his campaign. Nothing unusual about
that, right? Here's the kicker. KGB also happens to be part of
Zachry's consortium that's bidding on the 281 toll road. Not only
does this revelation remove all doubt about Larson's position on
toll roads, it also explains the very publicized personal attack on
me to attempt to discredit our suspicions about his toll road
stance. It's PR 101 to shoot the messenger, call your enemy a liar,
and deflect attention from the real issue, which is Larson's
inexplicable behavior of refusing to replace a pro-toll appointee to
the tolling authority when he emphatically claims to be anti-toll.
But Larson protested too much
and too loudly, which caused further digging. Now the cat's out of
the bag in plenty of time to effect the outcome of the election. If
there's one thing I've learned as a citizen advocate, it's this. If
something doesn't smell right, it's highly likely that it isn't
right.
Unfortunately, too many elected
officials are politicians rather than statesmen. They equivocate,
"spin," misrepresent, and accuse anyone who dares to criticize them
to be looneys and liars. But at the end of the day, follow the
money. The truth will be found out, and the truth will set the
taxpayers free! Now go do what your conscience tells you to do on
March 4!
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G.T.T. - Gone to Texas
By U.S. Sen. John Cornyn
February 2008
"Gone to Texas"-often written simply as the letters G.T.T.-was a
shorthand forwarding address left by settlers hurriedly departing
for Texas in the 19th century. There's now a "G.T.T." on the doors
of Washington presidential campaign offices as they scour Texas for
votes in our March 4 primary elections.
Early settlers came here for many reasons, noble and ignoble. Their
experiences, blending opportunity with hardship, helped create the
Texas mystique that still fascinates people around the globe.
"The story and idea of Texas appeal to millions of people, many of
whom have never been anywhere near the state. Somehow their
imaginations have 'Gone to Texas' and liked what they found there,"
writes Randolph B. Campbell in Gone to Texas: A History of the Lone
Star State.
Texas's population has increased in every decade since the days of
the Republic. But the rapid growth in the years before the Civil War
put an indelible stamp on our state. The people who were lured here
then, and their experiences, created the foundation for the legend
of Texas.
At the beginning of the 1800s, Native Americans outnumbered all
others in Texas. When Texas achieved independence in 1836, the
estimated population here exceeded 50,000, and the majority group
was Anglos. That number quadrupled by the 1850 census, just after
Texas became a state.
A decision to move to Texas in those days required a willingness to
face danger, drudgery and deprivation. But all that paled when
compared to the incredible promise Texas offered for a better life.
That drew thousands of settlers who'd scrawled "G.T.T." on the doors
or floors of their cabins in Tennessee, Kentucky, the Carolinas and
other places.
Most newcomers came by their own free choice. Economic
opportunity-primarily cheap and plentiful land-topped the list of
reasons for moving to Texas. Some settlers came to escape debt, a
failed business, legal problems, or what one writer calls
"rascality." For others, there was no choice at all-they came here
as chattel. In 1850, there were an estimated 58,000 slaves in Texas.
The journey to Texas required determination and endurance during a
weeks-long journey by wagon, horseback, ship or on foot. Virtually
everyone came knowing they faced hard work and uncertain futures,
and one writer described them as "toil-worn people."
The collective impact of these newcomers in the mid-1800s is well
described by writer J. Frank Dobie: "The very qualities that made
many of the Texas pioneers rebels to society and forced not a few of
them to quit it between sun and sun without leaving cards engraved
with their new addresses fitted them to conquer the
wilderness-qualities of daring bravery, reckless abandon, heavy
self-assertiveness."
Now, more than 170 years later, the unique combination of bravery,
risk-taking and optimism is still embedded in the character of
Texas. We are known and admired for that well beyond our borders.
A report from United Van Lines indicates that Texas continues to be
among the nation's leaders in attracting new residents and creating
new jobs. Now, as in the past, we are attracting freedom-loving
people seeking an opportunity to be successful.
As the political campaigners travel our state-and watch as we
celebrate Texas Independence Day March 2-let's hope they absorb the
distinctiveness of the Lone Star State, the reasons for it and our
pride in being Texans. The entire country can learn from the values
we cherish in Texas.
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"The Republicrat PLUS" (A Moderate
Viewpoint)
This is a series by 3
anonymous political insiders in Bexar County and one in Webb County.
The views of this section do not represent the views of South Texas
Republicans PAC.
We are back. Let us kick off with the race for
Bexar County Democratic Party Chair. JoAnn Ramon, and supporter of
Democratic Chairwoman Carla Vela, is not very pleased with the
endless signs that have popped up for young challenger Brent De La
Paz. Paz means Peace and there is none of that in this race.
It is obvious that Brent is picking up many young Democrats, but it
is a mystery if he can pick up the trust of confidence of the
Democrat old guard. The reality is that they are confident with
Carla even though they wish the party was more innovative in its
marketing and outreach. The establishment is always set in its ways.
My source tells me that Brent wants to open one main office to house
all of the campaign support services for Democrat candidates. The
word on the Southside is that JoAnn Ramon does not want this to
happen. Why? We believe paid political consultants would lose
business if this new building were to be erected. Why would they
need paid political experts? I think Brent is going to get spanked
by Carla, but he is giving it a good try. After years of upheaval, I
get the impression folks in the party want some tranquility. Carla
is providing that grandma, don't rock the boat, leadership during in
important political season even though she still has a chip on her
shoulder and proclaims "I am the chair!" She is running scared
despite her comments to the contrary.
The battle between Monica Caballero and Tomas Uresti continues to be
a hot one. Word is that there were some words at one of the local
early polling sites and the police had to be dispatched. We should
hear more on that later.
What about the race for Sheriff? Carl Varella is a non-entity, while
Andy Lopez is mired down with an incompetent and unruly staff. He is
going nowhere fast.
Amadeo Ortiz is still the one to beat, although, Larry Ricketts is
coming on strong considering he has run four times. Apparently he
now has money and is spending it like a drunk sailor. He has
operatives on the Eastside, Southside an of course he has consultant
Alice Guerra doing his public relations.
The battle between Judge Mary Roman and Anthony Zamora is red hot.
Accusations are flying and Judge Roman is acting desperate. Lots of
attorneys are quietly hoping she gets beat at the polls. Some say
that is going to happen.
The words on the street is that Republicans are voting in the
Democratic Primary to skew the votes for Hillary. The overwhelming
numbers of Democrats going to the early sites is phenomenal. Local
Democrats could sweep in Bexar County. It is a possibility for sure.
Only time will tell.
That is the
moderate view, I AM the Republicrat. |
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Thanks for reading the new edition of South Texas
Republicans. We welcome your comments, complaints and suggestions.
Joe Solis, Founder and Director (SolisJoe@sbcglobal.net) |
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Joe Solis, Founder and Director
South Texas Republicans PAC
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