Now what Texas Mom would not jump on the chance to head to San Diego, California? Definitely not this one, I hope you can join us!! It is going to be a wonderful opportunity for all!!

Those who have been following Voices Empower know that we have been covering the Gulen/Cosmos Foundation Charter Schools in Texas for awhile.

Please take the time to read the analysis of the 60 Min. special below. Remember Knowledge is Power!

60 Minutes on the Gulen Charters

By Diane Ravitch

I was curious to see how Lesley Stahl and 60 Minutes would deal with the Gulen Charter schools in their program last night.

The Gulen charters are the largest charter chain in the United States, with something like 135-140 charters. Few people realize that the Gulen charter chain is far larger than the KIPP chain.

They focus mainly on math and science. Some of the Gulen charters get high test scores.

That seems to seal the deal for 60 Minutes. Stahl was very impressed with the schools’ test scores and with the students’ interest in math and science.

Photo Courtesy of the New York Times

The show points out that the Gulen schools are tied, in some non-specific way, to a Turkish imam named Fethullah Gulen, who lives in seclusion in the Poconos in Pennyslvania. It notes that the Gulenists run a vast media, financial, and political empire inside Turkey, and that critics of the Gulen movement in Turkey are reluctant to appear on camera. Stahl made no reference to the page one story in the New York Times about the critics of Gulen in Turkey who are fearful and intimidated.  

Stahl says that the Gulenists are moderate and devoted to education (they told her so), and it sounds as though we are lucky that the Gulenists have imported large numbers of Turkish teachers (some of whom can barely speak English) to teach math, science, and even English! She never gets a good answer to the question of why the Gulen movement has opened so many publicly-financed schools in the United States, and she does not reflect on whether this is a good idea.

Maybe one day we will also have a chain of Japanese charter schools, Korean charter schools, Singaporean charter schools, Finnish charter schools, etc., and we can raise our test scores by importing teachers from other nations to run charter schools; what’s odd about this is that Turkey is not, unlike Japan, Korea, Singapore, and Finland, a high-performing nation. Allowing foreign nationals to open and manage charter schools, run by boards composed of their fellow nationals, opens up a new world of possibilities, especially when they need not come from high-performing nations. We might have Iranian charters, Mexican charters, Malaysian charters, Argentinean charters, Haitian charters, Cuban charters, Portuguese charters, the possibilities are endless.

But back to 60 Minutes:

Stahl interviews the head of the Texas charter school association, who defends the Gulen schools strongly. The show quotes an ex-teacher at a Gulen school who claims that the schools get kickbacks from the Turkish teachers they import (she married one of them), but the Gulen spokesman says she is not creditable because she is a disgruntled employee. No other critic appears on camera, though there are many who wonder about the propriety of funneling taxpayer dollars to a foreign-run “public” school enterprise.

CBS News did not ask one very important question. What about the role of public schools in building our democracy? The reason that taxpayers pay for public schools is to develop citizens, people who are prepared to vote and to serve on juries and to sustain our democracy into the future. That does not mean that public schools should be agnostic  or that their teachers must be true-blue patriots, but that the schools must take seriously their responsibility to prepare young people to assume the full responsibilities of citizenship: to think critically and independently; to understand our form of government; to understand other forms of government; to have a deep knowledge of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights; to understand American culture and history; to know enough about world history to be able to form a thoughtful opinion of events and to look critically at how the mainstream media portrays ideas and events. In other words, we pay for public schools to develop our future citizens, and we want them to think for themselves. That is why we have historically taken a dim view of public money being used to subsidize any partisanship or special interests in education.

This is why schools have mock trials, conduct student elections, have a student council, and adopt a pedagogical style that involves questioning and challenge.

Are the Gulen schools preparing young people to assume their roles as citizens and to improve the practice of democracy in the United States?

Those questions were never asked. 

_______________________________________________________________________

As a reference to the battles we have been fighting in Texas!

SPREAD OF GULEN SCHOOLS IN TEXAS

One of the most disheartening reports has been the connections of former executive director of the Republican Party and trusted advisor to President George W. Bush, Karen Hughes and her close ties to the Gulen/Cosmos Foundation’s Harmony Schools here in Texas. As you can hear in this video Ms. Hughes is very interested in promoting Harmony Science Charter Schools and accessing Texas  tax dollars to create competition for public schools by funding the Gulen/Harmony charter schools.

In a bold move, the Gulen/Cosmos Foundation/Harmony Charter Schools have now branched out from their usual “math and science” venues into a brand new school to open soon in Austin, Texas.

This new Gulen school will be called the Harmony School of Political Science.  This means that at taxpayers’ expense, Turkish teachers (many of whom are here on H-1 visas and are Muslims) will be teaching our students “American” history.  Can you imagine how these teachers who can hardly speak English and are fresh from Turkey will present such historically significant elements as the Holocaust, the Founding Fathers, the Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution?

Yes, all teachers in Texas (including those in the Gulen schools) are to follow the state-approved curriculum requirements; but nothing constrains teachers from teaching those requirements with a particular political spin.  Since almost all of the terrorists who have declared jihad against Americans are Muslims, then it should make us very skeptical about having Muslim teachers teach our Texas students to love, respect, and appreciate America.   

In case you did not see CBS News’ “60 Minutes”, I recommend that you watch the video

(Read the transcript of the report here.)

8.1.11 — “Protest Rally — Gulen Political Science School in Austin, Texas, on Aug. 30, 2011” by Donna Garner

=======================

7.22.11 — “Wrong Person Takes the Fall — Another Gulen Situation”  by Donna Garner

==================

“List of Gulen Charter Schools in the United States“

======================

7.17.11 — “Another Turkish Charter School in Trouble” by Donna Garner

==================================

7.14.11 — “How Blind Can People Be?” by Donna Garner

=============

7.10.11 — “Is a Changed Muslim Kosher in a Taxpayer-Funded Texas School” by Peyton Wolcott

=============================

6.29.11 – The Texas House General Investigating & Ethics Committee has begun its investigation of the Gulen Turkish charter schools (Cosmos Foundation, Harmony Schools, Rainbow Turkish House, etc.).

=================================

7.10.11 — “Are Taxpayers Paying for Free Trips to Turkey?” by Donna Garner

==================================

6.19.11 – Austin American-Statesman article by Laylan Copelin and Mike Ward, “Some Texas Lawmakers Have Second Thoughts about Turkey Trips” —

========================

6.29.11 — Texas Legislature Investigating Gulen/Cosmos Foundation/Harmony Schools: by Donna Garner

=======================

6.30.11 — “Personal Accounts: Gulen Harmony Schools” by Donna Garner

========================

7.14.11 — “Harmony Science Academies Tied to Gulen Charter Schools” by Donna Garner

=======================

“The Gulen Movement – How It Operates in Turkey and in the U. S.” –  Parts 1, 2, 3 — YouTube

Part 1:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izjnSb0owbI&feature=related

Part 2:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eD19xG-7rM&feature=related

Part 3:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72Vwt_LIrAc&feature=related

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As we enter this important election year, our voices must unite in defense of preborn American citizens who cannot defend themselves.

Please join the movement, sign the petition, and Rise Up for Life.

So what is the real story on Lance Gooden?

Photo courtesy of Stop Lance Gooden click photo for more info!

“Keep in mind while reading this that our representative in the Texas House, Lance Gooden, won’t tell us where he lives, where he works, or what he does for a living, but he will proudly proclaim his unwavering support for Joe Straus.  

Some of you might say, “But Lance says he lives in Terrell.”  Wrong.  He owns a vacant house in Terrell.  “But Lance says he works in District 4.”  No, he hasn’t told us where he works.  “But he says he’s an insurance consultant for energy and energy related companies.”  Then why does he not have a state issued insurance license?  And if he does , where is it?  District 4 voters have a right and responsibility to ask these questions, and Gooden has a duty to answer.  If he wants to live a private life, he shouldn’t run for public office. 

BTW, someone is spreading rumors that Empower Texans supports the state monkeying with police and firefighter pensions, specifically to convert them to 401Ks, and that’s why ET has endorsed Stuart Spitzer.  I will leave it to my readers to determine where these rumors are coming from, but I will tell you that this charge is absolutely, 100% FALSE.” 

The problem isn’t the conservative values of the Tea Party. It’s big-spending lackeys like Lance.

Please see post below from back in 2010 on Joe Straus’ fundraising work to get Democrats elected. 

Posted on May 6, 2010 by F Trevino

You may be asking why head to Phoenix, AZ  to organize and train Conservative Information Pushers?

Watch this video and you will understand why….

The other reason is there are key state and local races that need some help organizing the grassroots and the benefit of our training is that by organizing at the ground level we can take out Obama and State and Local progressives as well.

If you are a grassroots activist and you would like to join our training we would love to have your there. Below is the information.

FREE to Arizona Legislators
$25.00 for grassroots campaign social media activists/volunteers/staff

Learn from:

Alice Linahan, Voices Empower who was inside the Santorum social media network. She can provide the strategy of energizing the base and FLIPPING THE FUNNEL while driving the narrative. She will also be presenting her Generation Mentor Program~Bringing generations of Americans together to save our great country during the 2012 election.
Lisa Benson will be presenting BUNDLING THE GRASSROOTS FUNDRAISING PLAN -a trademarked platform. We will be formatting Twitter, Facebook and the integration of the systems on smart phones, lap tops and IPADS. Raise $$$$ and mobilize like it is 2012 and not 1973.

Photo courtesy of Townhall.com

Also joining Lisa and I will be Attorney Rachael Alexander who writes for Intellectual Conservative and Townhall.com, along with Brian Symes. Rachel and Brian will be teaching social media activism tips. 

It is going to be an amazing day. Don’t miss the opportunity to join us!! 

DATE:  Friday, May 18th 

TIME:  8:45 am – 4:30 pm

RSVP to Lisa Benson by May 17th

lbenson@lisabensonconsulting.com

602-790-6418  

Place:  Graciously Hosted At Arizona Rock Products Association 

916 West Adams Street, #1

Phoenix, Arizona  

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As we enter this important election year, our voices must unite in defense of preborn American citizens who cannot defend themselves.

Please join the movement, sign the petition, and Rise Up for Life.

Vote Early Started Yesterday! State Board of Ed Races’ Recommendations PLUS Links to Excellent Voter Guides Below 
(check with your county clerk for details) 

By Frank Mayo

Recently TBSE wrote about our research on voting records of the RINOs on the State Board of Education (SBOE) who voted with the Democrats up to 100% of the time. Readers are now clear that we need to take action to make sure we are voting for conservatives and not RINO imposters. Our list of solid conservative candidates is given below, and below the table are some great links for statewide and local race voter guides from organizations that we know and trust.

Due to redistricting some are still confused about the new districts. District boundaries have changed much so you cannot just assume that you are in the same district as before. For example SBOE representative Barbara Cargill’s new district boundaries now include the far west and the far east parts of Harris County as well as a group of counties north of Houston. (The new map has her district, previously not even including Harris county, with “earmuffs” on the sides of Harris county.) Things like that are definitely confusing! Similar situations exist near all major cities. So it is important to look up your district from your street address, districts by address here.

By the way, Mrs. Cargill is the current Chair of the SBOE and she has done an excellent job guiding the SBOE towards a consensus that results in action by the Board and not the gridlock that we have often seen in the US Congress. If only Congressional leaders would take lessons from Barbara Cargill! People in Harris County need to take careful notice to see which new district, 4, 6, or 8 now includes their address.

Special note to those of you in San Antonio:  The most important people in the legislature are the lieutenant Governor and the Speaker of the House because they choose who is assigned to the committees and appoints their chairs. Unfortunately current Speaker Joe Straus’ last YCT rating was a paltry 67%–he is not a pro-life conservative, (his wife was on the Board of Planned Parenthood and he was even given an award by them for his “tireless efforts”), and he has been supported by pro-gambling interests.  He even won the speaker’s race by joining with the left, not conservatives, and actively thwarted many conservative issues at the last session. Last, the redistricting he sent to the Governor rewarded his cronies and penalized conservative critics harshly.  That is why it was hard for conservatives to get much done in the 82^ndlegislature even with a large majority. If that happens again all conservative efforts in the legislature are in trouble. Fortunately, in District 121 conservatives have an able challenger in Matt Beebe,  website, who would be a much more distinctly conservative choice that the unreliable Straus.  Make no mistake about it.  This primary election in district 121 is the chance that Tea Party and other conservatives have for stopping this speaker.  If he wins the primary he will win the general election in November and will be too powerful to not get the speakership again. Please actively encourage your friends, family and church family to campaign for and vote for Matt Beebe!

True conservative candidates for State Board of Education   

Clip and save this table.  You may legally take it and those listed below into the voting booth with you!

Heritage Alliance (Statewide-complete):  http://ivoterguide.com/?partner=ha&type=s

Excellent guide – Candidate Answers AND Heritage Alliances “grade” on candidate (A+-F)

Texas Eagle Forum (Statewide-complete):  http://ivoterguide.com/?partner=txef&type=s (Voter Guide)

Young Conservatives of Texas (Statewide-selected races): http://www.yct.org/endorsements/ (Endorsements–Statewide & SBOE)

Liberty Institute:  http://www.freevotersguide.com  (Statewide Voter guide PLUS State Board of Education (SBOE) races. VG)

Additionally, note that many counties have local review groups, such as the ones listed below for Harris and Montgomery counties, that often include local judge and other local races.  If your county has a similar conservative group, please let us know about it!

Conservative Coalition of Harris County: ”Candidate Interview” vetting, with panelists vote on endorsements, and candidate responses to questions.
http://www.conservativecoalitionhc.org/ (Harris county down ballot voters guide with panelists vote on endorsements – Very good!)

Conservative Coalition of Montgomery County ”Candidate Interview” vetting, with panelists vote on endorsements, and candidate responses to questions.
http://www.conservativecoalitionmc.org/voterguide.pdf

Special note:  There is a real “David and Goliath” battle for the US Congress district 8 seat.  The incumbent Goliath is thought be many to have become too entrenched and too “big government”, though he remains conservative on some issues.  The solid conservative “David” challenger is Larry Youngblood, running on a lower taxes, smaller government, socially conservative platform.  Please seriously consider voting for new blood in Congress, Larry Youngblood, even if you do not personally know him well. http://www.larryyoungblood4congress.com/ 

PS:  Importantly, also note that due to the abysmally low turnout typical of primary elections, your one vote in the primary is as strong as 50 or more votes in the general election!  Please exercise it!   

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As we enter this important election year, our voices must unite in defense of preborn American citizens who cannot defend themselves.

Please join the movement, sign the petition, and Rise Up for Life.

by DJ Zitko 

During a recent forum, candidate Michael Leyman, a Republican challenger against incumbent State Representative Bill Zedler, was asked about his ten years of service with the Arlington Police Department.

An audience member questioned if he was the focus of an internal affairs investigation during his service. Leyman answered, “Yes.” When pressed to reveal the subject of the investigation, Leyman responded, “I’m not going into that. It’s none of your business.”

Mr. Leyman, why were you investigated and suspended ?

While working traffic and patrol in Future Park of Arlington, later renamed Richard Simpson Park, Leyman found a young couple in their vehicle engaged in sexual intercourse. After handing over their identification, the young man stepped out of the vehicle to speak with Leyman. Leyman advised him that his girlfriend could be arrested for indecent exposure. Leyman then asked to speak with his girlfriend privately 15 to 20 yards away where, according to the young man’s affidavit, they spoke for a “good period of time.”

The young woman accounts Leyman asking her a series of questions including where she went to school, how old she was, and even going as far as asking, “Were you having fun?”

After his private conversation with the young woman, Leyman talked to both of them together and asked the young man “why he shouldn’t arrest her.” After receiving an answer, he took down the young woman’s name, address, and “other information” but only took down the young man’s name and birth date.

Three hours later, at 8:15 p.m., Leyman phoned the woman at her home, asking her to meet him.

“Where?” the young woman repeatedly asked, to which he would respond, “I’ll let you know that if you’ll come.”

She asked if her boyfriend could come and was told by Leyman that he would “rather (she) would come alone.”

The young woman told police investigators Leyman wanted to meet her where she and her boyfriend had been engaged in their activity — near the back of the park. She initially refused, responding that she wasn’t going into the back of the park by herself at night. Leyman told her he would meet her at the front of the park in his police car instead. Giving her twenty minutes to arrive, Leyman said goodbye and hung up.

She reluctantly agreed but decided to go with her boyfriend, his step-father and a mutual friend. Upon arrival, they could not find Leyman’s vehicle. After waiting about 15 minutes and driving down to the lake and back, his police cruiser pulled into the park around 9 p.m. When Leyman approached her car, he spotted the three men ducked down in the back seat.

Her boyfriend challenged Leyman. “What are you doing calling my girlfriend?” Leyman denied making the call.

She retorted, “Did you stop us today?” Leyman admitted that he had.

She then told Leyman that she had noticed he did not have a name plate or a badge during the afternoon stop. Leyman said “I’ve got a badge, but no name plate.”

Her boyfriend asked the officer to identify himself. Leyman complied. Her boyfriend then taunted, “I hope you’ll have a good time looking for another job!” and advised Leyman they would see him in the office of Police Chief Herman Perry.

After the exchange, the woman and her companions went directly to the police station and filed a formal complaint against Leyman.

During five hours of interrogations, from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m., the foursome answered questions from two police detectives and filed their affidavits.

Believing their fellow officer, who, from the beginning vehemently denied the validity of his accusers’ story, the detectives reported to the Police Chief that they “tried every trick in the book to break this girl and (sic) for her to admit she made this up – but she would not break.”

According to affidavits, it wasn’t until 3 a.m. that Leyman admitted to phoning the woman and that all her charges were true. Detectives then reported that they “started trying to get the (department) and officer out of the heat.”

Leyman was disciplined internally and received a three-day suspension without pay.

Records from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Educations show that Leyman continued to serve in the Arlington Police department for another eight years. He moved to the Mansfield Police department where he worked for seven years before moving to the Richardson Police Department for his longest stay of 16 years. Currently, Leyman is Chief of the Mansfield ISD Police Department.

Attempts to contact Leyman via phone and e-mail have been unsuccessful. However, he did extend additional commentary during the forum to the audience member who asked the question.

“Let me be very clear about this,” said Leyman. He paused before continuing, “Uh, that was in the very early part of my career…I served my time.”

“I don’t believe something I did as a young raw rookie is something I want to discuss tonight after a career of well over forty years,” said Leyman.

After listing his resume of law enforcement experience, Leyman challenged the audience member to go back and ask any one of his previous departments about his service.

Speaking with assurance of anonymity, four police officers, each of whom served with him for ten or more years, reported to the Arlington Voice that Leyman has an apparent pattern of abusing his authority for sexual gain.

_______________________________________________________________________As we enter this important election year, our voices must unite in defense of preborn American citizens who cannot defend themselves. 

Please join the movement, sign the petition, and Rise Up for Life.

Click on photo to Donate to Matt Beebe and let's Oust Straus!

It came out last week that a pro-life group endorsed Joe Straus. My question is does that group have much credibility when Joe Straus himself states he is not? The Texas Alliance for Life also shockingly endorsed David Medina over LONG-TIME pro-life Judge John Devine. Many times on the right we see wolves in sheep’s clothing.  Is that what we are seeing now? The most frustrating thing about Republican candidates like Joe Straus is that they say one thing to get elected and then we find out it is not true. At least with Democrats we know where they stand and we don’t agree, that is why we won’t vote for them in the general election. The primary is our only opportunity to clean house in the republican party.

As far as if Joe Straus is Pro-Life or not I would say when you receive a 100% rating from NARAL and your family donates to Planned Parenthood that pretty much tells the story. But let’s not just rely on that. Let’s listen to Joe Straus in his own words.

As a little reminder as to why many Conservatives are not thrilled with Joe Straus.

More great work from the Agenda Wise Team!

Straus the weak

Fourteen points of unusual Speaker weakness for Joe Straus

1. Tea Parties, the most powerful force in Texas politics right now, uniformly oppose Joe Straus.
2. Straus is on the wrong side of the other most powerful force in Texas politics, the Governor, by opposing the Texas Budget Compact, the Governor’s signature off-season policy initiative. Gov. Perry has endorsed legislators who voted against Joe Straus for Speaker in the 83^rd Lege.
3. In the first possible year, Straus attracted a speaker challenge, and will again if he can get past his primary.
4. Several Speaker team incumbents are in primary fights, and it is largely because of their association with the Speaker.
5. Speaker team candidates are faring poorly in the many open seats in play this cycle.
6. Straus will forever be the Texas Speaker who squandered the hugely advantageous pledge card system due to inability to secure pledges.
7. In a state where pro-choice Republicans are teetering on extinction, Straus was pro-choice until his post speaker challenge “conversion”. Though wishing to avoid the accountability of the proper label, in his Evan Smith interview days after being elected speaker, Straus articulated his pro-choice position when he said he was not in favor of changing the current abortion laws.  In addition, Straus has personal and spousal ties to Planned Parenthood.
8. Straus was brought to power by the trial lawyer party, the Texas Democrats, and has proudly advertised his uncommon “fairness” with “all sides” ever since, angering all Republican party quarters accept his own Republican-only-because-they’re-in-Texas cardinals.
9. Straus is the only Texas Speaker to attract a primary challenge since 1989 according to Secretary of State website.
10. To the embarrassment (on several levels) of the entire establishment, Speaker Straus’s primary battle is very serious. The average margin of victory of challenged Republicans in 2010, none of whom had anywhere near the Speaker’s considerable advantages, was 23 points.
11. Speaker Straus was easily knocked off of his off-season message about needing new revenues, now the Governor has buried it.
12. Speaker Straus has specially targeted extremely popular Republican incumbent James White after previously claiming to never oppose incumbents. He’s helped fund raise for White’s opponent Tuffy Hamilton.
13. Straus managed his way through an entire session with 101 Republicans without any reform of bloated and arcane bureaucracies, public education, or budgeting practices, and helped kill a popular TSA anti-groping bill.
14. The friendly San Antonio Express-News Editorial Board (they endorsed Obama in 2008) had to resort to a particularly shameless brand of campaigning, desperately defending Straus’s credentials as conservative in the pages of their newspaper this week.

Texans should be thinking about which Straus clones will run for Speaker as conservatives, something almost sure to happen ahead of the 83^rd Lege.

–San Antonio Express-News campaign piece

As we enter this important election year, our voices must unite in defense of preborn American citizens who cannot defend themselves. Please join the movement, sign the petition, and Rise Up for Life.

Happy Birthday Sweet Bella Santorum

God gives us wonderful blessings in Special packages. Bella Santorum is one of those blessings.

I would say that Rick and Karen Santorum would not be the fighters they are today had they not been given the blessing of Bella. Therefore Bella is a blessing to us all. I have hope in our Country because we have people like the Santorum’s in positions of influence to change the course of the United States and get us back in the direction of

Faith

        Family and

                            Freedom. 

Please click the link and join me in wishing:

 Bella Santorum a Happy Fourth Birthday!! 

______________________________________________________________________

As we enter this important election year, our voices must unite in defense of preborn American citizens who cannot defend themselves. Please join the movement, sign the petition, and Rise Up for Life.

as One Natural Man and One Natural Woman Only

Christopher Corbett

Texas SD12 GOP Delegate

Co-Author, Answers to the Gay Deception 

1. Families are the foundation of any nation or civilization.  When families are unstable, nations are unstable.
2. As an institution, marriage is the foundation of the family.  When marriages are unstable, nations are unstable.
3. Any government, including federal, has an essential duty to protect such a critical foundation.
4. Thus, government has an essential duty to decide which relationships can be legally   defined as marriage for civil purposes. 
5. Only unions of one natural man and one natural woman have exhibited the intrinsic stability necessary to qualify for such a legal definition of marriage.

A.    Decades of peer-reviewed medical and sociological studies and data disqualify gay, polygamous, polyamorous (communal), and other relationships as being intrinsically unstable.

Note: The overwhelming testimony of secular science shows that gay relationships exhibit rates of infidelity, mental health problems, physical health problems, and other issues that far exceed heterosexual relationships.  Many gay researchers and writers admit this problem themselves.  Such problems are worse per capita in locations where gay people have more government and cultural affirmation; affirmation appears to harm them.

B. Thousands of years of history coincide with these studies.

C.  All major religions support this conclusion.

D. Biology and physiology support this conclusion.

Therefore no relationships other than one man-one woman should  qualify as a legally defined marriage.  Government has a duty to recognize and exclusively sanction the proven cornerstone necessary for the nation’s well-being.

_______________________________________________________________________

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As we enter this important election year, our voices must unite in defense of preborn American citizens who cannot defend themselves. Please join the movement, sign the petition, and Rise Up for Life.

RIP the Rino - No Pledge to Joe Straus

More great work from the Agenda Wise Team!

Straus the weak

Fourteen points of unusual Speaker weakness for Joe Straus

1. Tea Parties, the most powerful force in Texas politics right now, uniformly oppose Joe Straus.
2. Straus is on the wrong side of the other most powerful force in Texas politics, the Governor, by opposing the Texas Budget Compact, the Governor’s signature off-season policy initiative. Gov. Perry has endorsed legislators who voted against Joe Straus for Speaker in the 83^rd Lege.
3. In the first possible year, Straus attracted a speaker challenge, and will again if he can get past his primary.
4. Several Speaker team incumbents are in primary fights, and it is largely because of their association with the Speaker.
5. Speaker team candidates are faring poorly in the many open seats in play this cycle.
6. Straus will forever be the Texas Speaker who squandered the hugely advantageous pledge card system due to inability to secure pledges.
7. In a state where pro-choice Republicans are teetering on extinction, Straus was pro-choice until his post speaker challenge “conversion”. Though wishing to avoid the accountability of the proper label, in his Evan Smith interview days after being elected speaker, Straus articulated his pro-choice position when he said he was not in favor of changing the current abortion laws.  In addition, Straus has personal and spousal ties to Planned Parenthood.
8. Straus was brought to power by the trial lawyer party, the Texas Democrats, and has proudly advertised his uncommon “fairness” with “all sides” ever since, angering all Republican party quarters accept his own Republican-only-because-they’re-in-Texas cardinals.
9. Straus is the only Texas Speaker to attract a primary challenge since 1989 according to Secretary of State website.
10. To the embarrassment (on several levels) of the entire establishment, Speaker Straus’s primary battle is very serious. The average margin of victory of challenged Republicans in 2010, none of whom had anywhere near the Speaker’s considerable advantages, was 23 points.
11. Speaker Straus was easily knocked off of his off-season message about needing new revenues, now the Governor has buried it.
12. Speaker Straus has specially targeted extremely popular Republican incumbent James White after previously claiming to never oppose incumbents. He’s helped fund raise for White’s opponent Tuffy Hamilton.
13. Straus managed his way through an entire session with 101 Republicans without any reform of bloated and arcane bureaucracies, public education, or budgeting practices, and helped kill a popular TSA anti-groping bill.
14. The friendly San Antonio Express-News Editorial Board (they endorsed Obama in 2008) had to resort to a particularly shameless brand of campaigning, desperately defending Straus’s credentials as conservative in the pages of their newspaper this week.

Texans should be thinking about which Straus clones will run for Speaker as conservatives, something almost sure to happen ahead of the 83^rd Lege.

–San Antonio Express-News campaign piece