tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-384796912024-02-20T13:03:32.976-06:00The Travis MonitorYour voice for central Texas.Randy Samuelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05422806680210032661noreply@blogger.comBlogger1663125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38479691.post-79176391854303730952014-04-06T17:30:00.001-05:002014-04-06T17:30:33.716-05:00The Travis Monitor: "NOAH" - Freddy Krueger (Nightmare on Elm Street) and Jack Torrance (the Shining) re-tell the story of Noah in Hollywood movie<a href="http://travismonitor.blogspot.com/2014/04/noah-freddy-krueger-nightmare-on-elm.html">The Travis Monitor: "NOAH" - Freddy Krueger (Nightmare on Elm Street) and Jack Torrance (the Shining) re-tell the story of Noah in Hollywood movie</a>Don Zimmermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02639489223843453885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38479691.post-15488278297070215812014-04-06T16:46:00.001-05:002014-04-20T17:51:36.556-05:00"NOAH" - Freddy Krueger (Nightmare on Elm Street) and Jack Torrance (the Shining) rewrite the story of Noah according to Hollywood's valuesI suffered all the way to a late evening ending with "Noah", the Aronofsky directed movie version, with merely one consolation; I did not lose my birthday dinner. Credit is due for the extraordinary, and still pathetic, attempt to contradict an important Biblical lesson from God the Creator with humanist fantasies from Hollywood fans of Freddy and Jack. This important lesson is that God created humanity to be upright - to respect and care for His creation, to love justice and mercy, to obey God's fair and reasonable natural laws, and to have confidence that God will reward and rescue even a few who love goodness over the powerful masses who love evil. "Noah" the movie recasts Noah, the man who fears God instead of evil, in the image of Freddy and Jack, the murderous hacks of horror genre, who fantasize and execute homicidal fantasies on victims oblivious to the miraculous power of God. Even the official movie website portrays Noah (Russell Crowe) as a dark, brooding, ax wielding figure, far more fitting for a serial killer's still shot. So, what does Aronofsky's movie have to do with the real Noah? Well, nothing. Here are a few takeaways I got:<br />
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1. The "watchers": inspired by early Lego experiments recovered from the mostly burned playroom of a 4 year old, these talking meteorite hunks, like the rest of the movie characters, are either too confused or too stupid to be certain which side they're on, or why -- the Creator's side, or humanity's side. In the Bible story, God gave Noah revelation detailing dimensions of the ship; did the "watchers" get their ship building inspiration from Freddy and Jack? The Bible suggests "fallen angels", or demons, were evil spirits cast down from heaven because they had no interest in serving God; consequently their aim is to make war against God by tempting humanity into senseless, self destructive crimes against each other and their Creator. So, what are the "watchers", other than bizarre distractions from the Biblical story?<br />
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2. In the real story, God the Creator was regretful that He created mankind because they had resorted to every kind of irrational rebellion and treachery against God's just laws. Abuse of natural resources was (and still is) far less offensive to God that the shedding of innocent blood - anyone who bothers reading the Bible would know that because it's probably mentioned a hundred times. Of course, it's not God, but "Tubal-cain", the evil thug-ocracy leader, who reminds us we should "subdue the earth". The idea that nature should serve mankind, instead of the other way around, is heretical to political correctness - hence, we should embrace by theatrical suggestion that God's commandment is actually an organized criminal scheme. How else could one justify Progressive power to usurp property rights -- that a "blind cave spider habitat" authorizes almighty bureaucrats and politicians to destroy the property wealth of their neighbor? The movie makes the ludicrous assertion that God commanded Noah to rid the earth of humanity to save it for the innocent animals - and the blind spiders of course.</div>
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3. God's Noah was commanded to save pairs of animals, and the to chagrin of PETA, that included wives for his own sons, for the very purpose of replenishing the earth after the coming destruction. Freddy and Jack have their own ideas for Noah -- why not cage up the lonely, frustrated young men with hopelessness, and the fear and dread that they've only been saved for deliberate destruction yet to come? What better way to underscore that nightmare than by leaving a young girl to die in an animal trap while demanding parental authority to obey a godless command? The screen play writers worked tirelessly creating a fictitious "creator" everyone but Freddy and Jack should hate, and they succeeded.</div>
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4. Aronofsky's Noah, after being afloat for 9 months instead of 40 days, instead of feeling awe and gratefulness at being spared, falls victim to criminal insanity in believing the Creator who miraculously saved him now wants him to murder his own grand daughters. In the most tragically comical climax of the movie hoax, Noah finally decides he's had enough with obedience to the Creator's commandment to kill - that he is, in fact, better than the screenwriter's "creator". Who could argue that? But wasn't Noah originally chosen to protect and save his own family so the world could be replenished? Did Noah experience a regret at sea, like I experienced in the theater, realizing I had spent money and time on this piece of Hollywood trash - and wrongfully expanded our carbon footprint in rolling the film yet again for a mere handful of theater patrons?</div>
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Frankly, in the spirit of true tolerance, I was willing to stomach all this movie making crap until I read this on the official Noah movie website: "...We believe that this film is true to the essence, values and integrity of a story that is a cornerstone of faith for millions...". Really? I believe the film is a perversion of a true story so important it was recalled by no less than Jesus of Nazareth, at least according to those martyrs who not only made no money on their story, but lost their lives just testifying to it. I believe this ridiculous movie completely corrupts the integrity of a courageous, obedient man, Noah, who bears no resemblance to the movie character. </div>
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I believe the Noah film genesis is perhaps comprehensible in this way: its creators had just watched "Titanic" followed by sequels of "Nightmare on Elm Street", and imagined the Overlook hotels' Jack Torrance, freshly fallen from the drunk wagon, as crazed skipper of a rum-laden "Noah's ark"; the script was then created while the authors suffered through food poisoning among hoards of unkind, ungrateful strangers on an unsanitary, stranded cruise ship.<br />
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Don Zimmermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02639489223843453885noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38479691.post-72988834676040433012013-01-29T11:55:00.001-06:002013-01-29T11:55:56.171-06:00Texas Senator Cruz Defends Texans Guns Rights<span></span><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1359481263116_13185">Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) today sent the following letter to gun makers, their banks, and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.</span>
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See t<span>he letter <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/122799297/Letter-from-Senator-Ted-Cruz-to-Chicago-Mayor-Rahm-Emanuel-Bank-of-America-TD-Bank-Group-Smith-Wesson-and-Sturm-Ruger-Co" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>.</span><br />
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<span>It's about time someone fought back against the anti-Constitutionalists. </span>Joe Gimenezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948890491595684543noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38479691.post-19496445033728771792012-10-27T17:17:00.001-05:002012-10-27T17:21:39.327-05:00Adan Ballesteros Does it Again<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I often do things backwards. Something catches my eye and I follow the trail back to the source to get to the truth of the matter. But sometimes prior experience helps me to jump to the correct conclusion without taking the time to follow the string. Well, this time I still followed the string just to prove that the conclusion I jumped to is factually supported. <br /><br />So, what caught my eye, you ask? It was a 6" x 9" card that came in the mail yesterday attacking Toby Miller, candidate for Travis County Precinct 2 Constable, addressed to the most inexperienced voter in my household. It only took me a few seconds to determine that the two-sided black and white card was a bunch of lies and misleading out of context information. It took me a bit longer to follow the string back to the source.<br /><br />It was déjà vu all over again as I had seen the same type hit piece sent out about this time (very late) in the election cycle in 2008 when Bob Vann was running for re-election. I'm motivated by my memory of the late Bob Vann, the last very decent and honorable Precinct 2 Constable in Travis County, to get this story out. Bob was a good man and did not deserve the personal attack that Adan Ballesteros, thru the <i><b>Central Texas Constables PAC</b></i>, made against him in 2008. It is high time Adan Ballesteros paid the political price for his despicable campaign tactics. It's time for him to be defeated.<br /><br />The <i><b>Central Texas Constables PAC</b></i> (Precinct 3 Deputy Constable Stacy Suits, Treasurer) put out the smear piece on Toby Miller. I don't wish to share the mailer with you but if you live in Travis County Constable Precinct 2, you may also have seen it. The mail piece is obviously misleading, to say the least. It makes partial use of information in the stories linked below (the links are pretty much to the same story - I've just exhaustively listed all I could find). The truth is, Toby Miller was the "whistle blower", not the perpetrator, in the Jonestown alternative energy fraud case.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.courthousenews.com/2012/10/09/51101.htm/">http://www.courthousenews.com/2012/10/09/51101.htm/</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /><a href="http://www.cnsenvironmentallaw.com/2012/10/09/1387.htm/" target="_blank">http://www.cnsenvironmentallaw.com/2012/10/09/1387.htm/</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/10/10/funny-business-alleged-at-texas-wind-farm/">http://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/10/10/funny-business-alleged-at-texas-wind-farm/</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /><a href="http://www.ilawconnect.com/news/courthouse-news/funny-business-alleged-at-texas-wind-farm/" target="_blank">http://www.ilawconnect.com/news/courthouse-news/funny-business-alleged-at-texas-wind-farm/</a><br /><br /><a href="http://greenenergydealer.com/funny-business-alleged-at-texas-wind-farm/">http://greenenergydealer.com/funny-business-alleged-at-texas-wind-farm/</a><br /><br />I recall hearing Stacy Suits's name from Bob Vann back in 2008. As of the last semiannual ethics report filed for <i><b>Central Texas Constables Political Action Committee</b></i> on July 15th, 2012, Stacy Suits is listed as the treasurer and sole contributor of $6122.41 on 05/21/2012 (paid out $975 to Austin Chronicle and $5,147.41 to Quik Print, 8311 Shoal Creek, Austin, TX 78757, on that same day). Where did that money come from? I can't see how Deputy Suits could have contribute it from his own funds.<br /><br />The purpose of the PAC, as file in the July 2012 semiannual report is listed as follows:<br /><b><br />Opposed:</b> Greg Hamilton for Travis County Sheriff<br /><a href="http://204.65.203.5/public/537568.pdf" target="_blank">Click here for the Ethics Report filing.</a><br /><br />On 08/06/2008 Stacy Suits contributed $450 to this PAC; and on 10/09/2008 the <i><b>Adan Ballesteros for Constable Campaign</b></i> contributed $6,825.00 to this PAC.<br /><br />The purpose of the PAC at the time of the ethics report filed for the period ending before the 2008 General Election was as follows:<br /><b><br />Supported:</b> Richard McCain for Travis County Constable Pct 3<br /><b>Opposed:</b> Bob Vann for Travis County Constable Pct 2<br /><a href="http://204.65.203.5/public/389182.pdf" target="_blank">Click here for the Ethics Report filing.</a><br /><br />After bringing this matter up to Toby Miller, I learned that he has addressed the issue (of both the Jonestown case and the potential for the very attack piece that I've discussed herein) on his web site. Click <a href="http://tmiller4constable.com/documents/Jonestown_Wind_Fraud_Disclosure.pdf" target="_blank">here</a> to read Toby's explanation of the Jonestown case and <a href="http://tmiller4constable.com/about/" target="_blank">here</a> to read about all his disclosed organizations and affiliations.<br /><br />Stacy Suits, real estate agent and former Travis County Sheriff candidate is deputy constable in Precinct 3. I found <a href="http://www.co.travis.tx.us/commissioners_court/agendas/2010/10/ram/vs101019_19.ram" target="_blank">this video</a> of him addressing the Travis County Commissioner's Court in 2010.<br /><br />If you live in Travis County Constable Precinct 2, vote <span style="color: red;"><b>Toby Miller</b></span> for Constable and share this information with other voters in the Precinct.</span></div>
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Freedom Ain't Freehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093883001808491584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38479691.post-44696923433512345052012-08-22T21:57:00.001-05:002012-08-22T21:57:09.715-05:00ObamaCare Tax Set for January 1, 2013<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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I am a small business owner/sole proprietor who one day hopes to achieve the $250,000 income marker that would make me considered rich. Ha. Get a good laugh on that one. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Anyway, even if I do reach that milestone, I will immediately need to pay the government its bonus of $2,500 to fund one component of Obamacare, the Additional Hospital Insurance Tax on High-Income Taxpayers (aka the "Medicare Surtax). This of course is in addition to the $2500 or so I will already have paid. </div>
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Like I said, I'm not close to that, but it would be nice to grow my business to that level. That employee I'd like to hire will just have to wait for their bonus - gotta pay Uncle Sam/Uncle Obama first. How pathetic. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Here's the letter I received from my payroll service provider ADP alerting me to this tax: </div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoPlainText">
Dear JOE,</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
As a result of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care
Act, effective January 1, 2013, employers will be required to withhold a 0.9%
Additional Hospital Insurance Tax on High-Income Taxpayers (a.k.a., “Medicare
Surtax”).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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High-Income Taxpayers are defined as those with an annual
income of $200,000 for individuals, $250,000 for joint filers, and $125,000 for
married individuals filing separately. The increase applies only to the
employee portion of the Medicare tax, though the employer is responsible for
withholding and reporting.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Employers should be mindful that the law requires an
employer to withhold the Additional Medicare Tax on wages or compensation it
pays to an employee in excess of $200,000 in a calendar year. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
Reconciliation of over or under withholding for joint
filers or married individuals filing separately, is accomplished when the
employee files his/her income tax return.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>An employee has the option to have additional Federal Income Tax
withheld on Form W-4 in anticipation of meeting the wage threshold for the
additional Medicare Surtax.*</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
ADP’s payroll application has been updated and your
company payroll should reflect the new Medicare Surtax requirements as
applicable, beginning in calendar year 2013.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
For more information about the Additional Medicare Tax,
you can access the following links:</div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>• Refer to the
IRS FAQ’s at <a href="http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=258201,00.html">http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=258201,00.html</a></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>• Details can
also be found on the ADP website at <a href="http://www.adp.com/tools-and-resources/legislative-updates.aspx">http://www.adp.com/tools-and-resources/legislative-updates.aspx</a>
</div>
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<br /></div>
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We appreciate the opportunity to serve your payroll and
tax filing needs. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Sincerely yours,</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
Your ADP Service Team</div>
</blockquote>
Joe Gimenezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948890491595684543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38479691.post-55624038314989001592012-08-05T18:05:00.000-05:002012-08-11T18:52:58.105-05:00Is There a Way Out of This Present Darkness?<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="color: red;">Update 8/11/2012: Red text added and some original text marked thru.</i><br />
<i style="color: red;"> </i> <br />
I began composing this post as an email message on Thursday night two weeks ago, just a few hours before the horrific shooting in Aurora, Colorado began. Twenty-four hours later I sent the original email to <a href="http://ctra.us/wordpress/" target="_blank">Central Texas Republican Assembly</a> members and friends. With the equally horrific murderous acts this morning against <a href="http://www.jsonline.com/news/crime/reports-of-people-shot-at-sikh-temple-in-oak-creek-qc6cgc0-165059506.html" target="_blank">Sikh worshiper at their temple in the Milwaukee suburb of Oak Creek, Wisconsin</a> I feel that America is on the brink of a looming darkness and that the message I sent out via email is worth adapting to share with the wider audience of the readers of <a class="GKY2L2ICNIB blogg-title" href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=38479691#allposts">The Travis Monitor</a>.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
As I wrote the day after Aurora, we don't yet know for certain the motive of the man who shot 70 people in crowded theaters after midnight on July 20th. Nor do we know the motive of the man who reportedly shot and killed at least 6 people in Oak Creek this morning, and subsequently was shot and killed by police (<span style="color: red;"><b>Update 8/11/2012:</b> We know now that he turned the gun on himself</span>). It appears that the Aurora killer had assumed the identity of <i>The Joker</i> in the <i><b>Batman</b></i> movie, <b><i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0468569/" target="_blank">The Dark Knight</a> </i></b>and with malice of forethought planned every murderous detail (over at least a three month period) to act out this assumed identity, including the booby trapping of his own residence to kill and maim even more people remotely after the shooting (inspired perhaps by <i>The Joker's</i> acts and diabolical plans depicted in the fictional film).</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We may never know what motivated the man who perpetrated this morning's violence against humanity, since the murderer <strike>was killed by police </strike><span style="color: red;">from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head after being shot in the stomach by a police officer who responded to the scene</span><strike>—a necessary act to prevent further injury and loss of life</strike>. That said, what is clear to me from these two acts of violence (and not discounting other killings going on in the world, such as abortion-on-demand in America and genocide in countries like the Sudan and Syria) is the truth of the admonition of Scripture, "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." (<a href="http://bible.cc/1_peter/1-8.htm" target="_blank">I Peter 1:8</a>)<br />
<br />
The fact is, we need not wait to learn the motives of these murderers to ascertain that of the ultimate person behind their evil acts; for that person is our enemy, the devil. And that means that some sense can be made out of these horrific events. Evil exists! The devil (<i>Satan</i>) is the penultimate personification of that evil, and each human being has inherited the sinful/evil heart of <i>Adam</i>, even though we have been made in the image of <i>God</i>. As <i>Jeremiah</i> lamented, "The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; Who can understand it?" (<a href="http://bible.cc/jeremiah/17-9.htm" target="_blank">Jeremiah 17:9</a>)</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>The World</i>, <i>the Flesh</i> and <i>Satan</i> (with his horde of demons) cultivate and promulgate this sinfulness/evil (<span class="redheading"><a href="http://bible.cc/james/3-15.htm" target="_blank">James 3:15</a>)</span>. But, praise be to <i>God</i> that the blood of <i>Jesus Christ</i> has the power to overcome evil. We all need <i>Christ's</i> blood to cover and overpower the evil inside of us. We all need to put our trust in <i>Him</i> and accept <i>His</i> free (to us) gift, not only of Salvation (in the future sense) but of the <i>Holy Spirit </i>in the present (<span class="redheading"><a href="http://bible.cc/romans/3-25.htm" target="_blank">Romans 3:25</a>; </span><span class="redheading"><a href="http://bible.cc/2_timothy/1-14.htm" target="_blank">2 Timothy 1:14</a>)</span>.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It is painfully clear to me that <i>Satan</i> is very active in our society, especially in luring away our children. He takes pleasure in their suffering and in ours and has an insatiable appetite to kill, steal and destroy <i>God's</i> image bearers (<span class="redheading"><a href="http://bible.cc/john/10-10.htm" target="_blank">John 10:10</a>)</span>. The flesh is weak. Addiction and mental illness can be as destructive as any of <i>Satan's</i> schemes, being inspired by him. This world is a fallen place inhabited by fallen angles and fallen people, a place where bad company corrupts good character/morals (<span class="redheading"><a href="http://bible.cc/1_corinthians/15-33.htm" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 15:33</a>)</span>. The murderous <i>Satan</i> cares not how he kills—whether it be by homicide, suicide, sickness, war or "accident;" our destruction, especially our spiritual destruction, beings him pleasure, much like the pleasure <i>The Joker</i> displayed in the <i><b>Batman</b></i> series as he killed people and destroyed property, tempting the "good guy" to give up his "good way" and embrace <i>The Joker</i>'s (<i>Satan's</i>) evil philosophy. Even <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dark_Knight_%28film%29" target="_blank">Heath Ledger</a></i>, the actor who played <i>The Joker</i> in <b><i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0468569/" target="_blank">The Dark Knight</a></i></b>, did not escape <i>Satan's</i> scheme but rather succumbed to a lethal drug overdose before the film's release, apparently in an attempt to deal with sleeping difficulties he had while playing his role as <i>The Joker</i> for the big screen.<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The motivation for my first composition was to bring attention to the problem of drugs and suicide (no, I am not aiming at guns). This is still my motivation; and so with all this in mind, please support my friend <i>Karen Austin's</i> fund raising team, "<i>Carry on For Nathan</i>" to benefit the <a href="http://www.afsp.org/" target="_blank"><b>American Foundation for Suicide Prevention</b></a>. Teens are especially at risk today and I believe <i>Obama's</i> "hope and change" with it's great sucking sound of job loss and loss of prospects for a hopeful future, from a societal perspective, has discouraged and demoralized them. Also, I have come to learn that greedy and enabling adults are enticing our children with drugs and do-what-feels-good philosophy. All this, I believe, will result in more teen suicide if we do not turn our country around (that is, personally and nationally repent of the way we are heading and turn back to <i>The Creator</i>).<br />
<br />
This attack on young people has come far too close to home for me and my family. Rebellion and drugs are threatening to take another of our four sons (we lost our 3 year old son, <i>Daniel </i>in an accident in November of 2005). Our 18 year old has left home to "live with friends." He has not yet graduated from high school and at the time he left home (originally on July 5th) had no job, no money (that we know of), no driver's license and virtually no possessions. We hope and pray he will return to to the <i>Lord </i>and to us, but of course have no guarantees. Our son has very flawed parents and siblings and is himself a fallen and broken young man. I pray that we will all repent and be reconciled. We grieve with <i>Karen Austin</i> and her family as they continue to deal with the pain of the loss of <i>Nathan</i> even as we are broken hearted over our son's decision to leave our home and apparently cut ties with his family.<br />
<br />
Please pray for America's children and families, and especially right now for the survivors of the evil that raised its dark and demonic head in Theater Number 9, in Aurora, Colorado early on Friday, July 20th and again this morning in and near the Sikh Temple of Oak Creek, Wisconsin, killing at least 7 image bearers, counting the shooter.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
Please support Karen Austin per her request copied below and please pray that Americans will find the way out of this present darkness.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
_________________</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="color: blue;">
Dear Friend,<br />
<br />
I will be joining with thousands of people nationwide to walk in AFSP's Out of the Darkness Community Walk to benefit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.<br />
<br />
My personal fundraising goal is $155. I would appreciate any support that you give me for this worthwhile cause.<br />
<br />
I started a "team" called "Carry on For Nathan" for the Out of the Darkness walk in Austin on November 4, 2012. This team honors my 18-year old son who passed away on April 2, 2012. The team website is <a href="http://afsp.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.team&eventID=1713&teamID=34867">http://afsp.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.team&eventID=1713&teamID=34867</a>. Please consider joining the team, contributing financially, and/or walking with us.<br />
<br />
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is at the forefront of research, education and prevention initiatives designed to reduce loss of life from suicide. With more than 36,000 lives lost each year in the U.S. and over one million worldwide, the importance of AFSP's mission has never been greater, nor our work more urgent.<br />
<br />
Donating online is safe and easy! To make an online donation please search for my name on <a href="http://www.outofthedarkness.org/">www.outofthedarkness.org</a> and the click "support this participant". If you would rather donate by check please make the check out to AFSP and mail it in with the offline donation form.<br />
<br />
Thank you for considering this request for your support. If you have any questions about the Out of the Darkness Community Walks or AFSP do not hesitate to contact me or visit www.afsp.org.<br />
<br />
Sincerely,<br />
Karen Austin<br />
<br />
Support me!<br />
<br />
© 2012 DonorDrive® All rights reserved.</blockquote>
</div>
<div style="color: blue;">
</div>Freedom Ain't Freehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093883001808491584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38479691.post-3212349595069977982012-06-10T15:00:00.000-05:002012-06-13T11:44:34.229-05:00Texas 2012 GOP Convention for SD-14 SREC: what happened and whyFirst, I'd like to commend the very remarkable new generation of Republican leaders who elected me to the SREC in 2010, many of whom are still deeply involved and returned in 2012 through the precinct caucusing we won on April 21st. I can now clearly see that the old generation of Travis GOP leadership who has controlled the TCRP for decades inadvertently made it possible for me to win in 2010, then deliberately made it impossible for me to win in 2012. Ironically, they deserve credit for my victory, and for my defeat, from the viewpoint of pure politics. They deserve credit for having a long standing base of power - built over several decades, and being able to motivate just enough of them to regain their power over choosing the SREC member; I lost by just 18 votes, in spite of conducting a campaign of similar effort and expense to what I did in 2010. Without precinct caucusing, I would have lost by 4 or 5 times that margin.<br />
<br />
What happened is this. In 2010, I took the spring break week off for a big trip to Alaska, and missed the entire SD-14 Convention - all the temporary committee meetings and the Convention Day itself when flights were overbooked and I was stranded in Seattle. My friends pointed out that if you're running against two strong, credible challengers for SREC (Dan McDonald and Roger Borgelt), you're probably doomed to failure just for missing the most important Republican meeting of the two year campaign season. I knew that and agreed with them. What I didn't know, until just this past April (2012), was the 2010 temporary rules committee had greatly improved PRECINCT CAUCUSING, allowing far more state delegates and alternates to be chosen FROM THE PRECINCTS - that is, the grassroots. The 2010 precinct caucus rule allowed an unprecedented number of true grassroots delegates - nominated by local precincts, instead of being nominated by the at-large committee, to attended the 2010 State Convention. The psychology of this is obvious; persons selected by a committee understandably feel some loyalty to the person who holds the power to nominate them, and that loyalty will influence their judgment. At the precinct level, individual delegates feel more empowered because it is their own local friends and neighbors agreeing - ONLY AMONG THEMSELVES, without party boss oversight, who will represent them. These grassroots delegates shocked everyone (including me) by electing me to the SREC in 2010 by a slim margin of 5 votes. The old generation of leadership were litterally crying, with faces of shock and disbelief. The "grassroots" spoke, and the old generation of leadership was extremely angry at what they said!<br />
<br />
The solution to correct the 2010 mistake of the grassroots was simple - put "Gandolf", the most amazing guru, grand poobah, trusted and respected dean of Texas Republican politics, Bill Crocker, in charge of the SD-14 temporary convention, and strip ALL power of the grassroots by eliminating ALL precinct caucusing from the grassroots, going back to having all State Delegates coming from one at-large nominating committee, the members of which were appointed by, and loyal to, one man - Mr. Crocker. Mr. Crocker refused to allow me or any other person interested in keeping the precinct caucusing supplemental rule from serving on his Rules Committee ("his", because he had exclusive authority to name all the members), and the committee unanimously voted to eliminate precinct caucusing in spite of 12 out of 14 persons testifying at that committee asking for precinct caucusing to remain. (That committee also concluded all its busines in only one evening, instead of two evenings as was publicly advertised through announcements). While other metro counties like Harris and Bexar had been using precinct caucusing ever since the mid-1990s, Travis only reluctantly moved to the precinct caucusing rule in 2006 (keeping the rule in 2008 and improving it in 2010 as well). The rationale for stripping the grassroots of their power to nominate their own delegates in precinct caucusing in 2012 was remarkably shallow and dishonest, and precinct caucusing was eventually saved (at great expense to both sides of the debate), but that's covered in my earlier blog. Again - NO OTHER METRO COUNTY in Texas attempted Mr. Crocker's dishonest rationale ("it's too complex...") to eliminate precinct caucusing and consolidate nomination power through appointed committee. <br />
<br />
In spite of retaining precinct caucusing, Mr. Crocker's at-large nominations committee still retained control and made a deliberate, successful effort to screen at-large delegates based on their loyalty to incumbency power and party bosses, screening out persons of clear conscience and loyaltly only to the Constitution and the Texas platform (i.e., "principles"). You could see the success of this strategy on the number of "Samuelson" stickers on the Alternate seating rows before the SD-14 votes. The nominations committee left around 100 alternate slots open, which allowed them to leave off numerous Travis precinct chairs and other voters and activists.<br />
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I congratulate Randy and Davida on winning the positions and pray they will yield to the petitions and just demands of the grassroots, while predicting that grassroots will be underserved. My two years of service offered several key votes I would categorize as bright lines which illustrated this truth: "you cannot serve two masters". Our overall Republican political contest, and the one I just lost, really has nothing to do with the most crucial issues which WE ALL AGREE ON. It has everything to do with courage and integrity. Will political leadership stand with a clear conscience before God to truly serve principle and the rule of law, or will it bend to serve the rule of power and party bosses?<br />
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That question will continue to be asked, as it has been for thousands of years. As for me, and those who are true friends of the cause of liberty, we will continue to unapologetically serve God's rule of law with the best conscience we can -- because we answer to Him, not the political boss, and we will never insult the Lord through the idolatry of kissing the ring of power.<br />
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Blessings to all who labor on to restore our Republic! Never give up!!<br />
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Don ZimmermanDon Zimmermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02639489223843453885noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38479691.post-90963426663677250222012-04-26T11:43:00.000-05:002012-05-12T08:57:57.419-05:00Old SD Convention Movie: I Put You On The Nominations List - that other guy dropped you!<div id="mceDummy" style="color: black; font: 14px monospace; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
Lists, lists, lists....</div>
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All this chatter on the State GOP Convention Delegate lists, with SD/County Convention nominations committee members boasting power to put you on a "list" (a list which is never publicly released, and later claimed doesn't even exist), followed by accusations against others that "THEY took you off the list", is the same bad old movie I saw 10 years ago in Travis County. Same old, same old. Like many, I believed the characters in that movie the first time I saw it, but I think the rational among us now understand how that movie-game power play is done.</div>
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The all powerful nomination committee member can say, "I have the power to make you a Delegate, and you're on my 'list'". Since there is no definitive list, nor any kind of rational scoring or ranking of delegates after interviews, but only personal note-taking lists among the chair and different committee members, the committee member can repeat this false promise as many times as he wants - many dozens or even hundreds, if that many people can be reached. These persons who received these nomination promises don't realize there is no definitive "list", that no "list" will be printed or actually committed to until the Convention sees (or only hears) a list, or that each member may have a LIMITED number of appointments to that final presented list, etc. (I myself was a State Delegate Nominations Committee member in SD-14 in 2008). You are encouraged to simply believe, on faith, that the powerful nominations committee member is actually committed to, and actually has the power to, make you a State Delegate.</div>
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In 2002, the first year I was eligible to be a Delegate from Travis County (after having been State Delegate from Harris County in '96, '98, '00), I went through the Nominations Committee interview process and was told repeatedly by several committee members I was "on the list"; I kept asking specific questions about this list, about how delegates could be prioritized if there were more people than available positions, and kept asking for copies of any preliminary list that I had been added to. There were no rational answers to these questions, and no list was ever produced. In fact, the first "list" anyone saw was a list presented on paper at the Saturday Convention, minutes before the vote was to be called. With the exception of having NO PAPER LIST, Saturday's ending in the garage looked remarkable similar to the 2002 one -- same old bad movie. Of course, I was NOT on the that actual "list" in 2002, in spite of being a Precinct Chair, active in electoral campaigns, a large donor to GOP candidates, a newly elected Utility District President, a veteran of 3 prior State Conventions, and so on.</div>
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So - as for this 2012 movie sequel, when the "list" is finally "presented" to Delegates (say, at 10:30 PM, read through a weak bullhorn in a parking garage), *surprise!* people are "dropped" from the presented list, and let the recriminations begin! These recriminations are useful for creating artificial division and building up power of some characters, at the expense of others. Again, the power guy is free to make all kinds of unsubstantiated claims about the mythical "list", and falsely (or truely?) claim that other guy is to blame for you being "dropped" from "the list". The process is designed such that the truth is difficult, if not impossible, to be known, and there is disincentive for the power players involved to actually seek out the truth.</div>
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To review, if you were promised a position on the "list", and you were not on the "final" Delegate list (days after the SD-14 Convention voted on the "list" - we still didn't know exactly what's on the "list"), then you were dropped from the "list" by someone who should be the target of your divisive, emotional anger or frustration.</div>
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However, if you ask for proof of that "list" which showed you were in fact on a list, or proof that you weren't on another list or proof of who was responsible for your removal, then the "list" doesn't exist, can't be found or printed out or released, etc. </div>
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In this 2012 bad movie sequel, the Precinct Caucus Rule, passed overwhelmingly against the sophistry of the incumbent controlling leadership, has been blamed for people being "dropped from the list", but when asked for proof of any list which they were dropped from, nothing is offered. Another excuse is the Nominations Committee had no plan for dealing with Precinct Caucus nominations, as they had to do in '06, '08, '10. This could well be true, but it's inexcusable since the Committee (and practical everyone else paying attention) knew there would be a credible effort to restore the Precinct Caucus Rule; if you assume responsibility for a task, you should prepare for reasonable alternate scenarios, such as, the way it was done the last 3 Conventions. Yet another excuse is that the 2012 Precinct Caucus Rule is defective because it "disenfrancises" small precincts, or doesn't allow small precincts to Caucus. Two notes on that - first, it should be argued that small Democrat precincts with very small Republican vote are not "enfrachised" in the first place to demand delegate representation, and second, the people making this criticism are the same ones who REJECTED a Rule amendment in 2008 which would have granted ability of small precincts to combine their vote and nominate a delegate. We're incredulous at hearing criticism for omitting a Rule they stand in firm opposition to. How can the critics who want ALL precinct caucusing eliminated claim the rule is defective because MORE precinct caucusing isn't done? If that was a true concern, we would have very gladly amended the rule for MORE precinct caucusing, but since opponents already rejected the rule 4 years ago, we would be open to "rule change" accusations, and valid arguments that the convention rejected it in 2008, if we had included it. Another excuse to eliminate Precinct Caucusing was that it was "too complicated" because Travis was split in 4 SDs, and further split by 5 CDs. However, Harris County was split into 7 SDs, split further in 9 CDs, yet they didn't attempt to eliminate Precinct Caucusing with the excuse of complexity.</div>
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SO FINALLY, please understand this is the same old political power manipulation that has been going on for a decade and more, and it's why I wrote a message to Mr. Crocker REJECTING his request for me to send my "list" (yes, yet another "list") -- a request he made by phone call on a Sunday afternoon (the day before the Nominations Committee was to start interviews) <a href="http://travismonitor.blogspot.com/2012/04/why-does-tcrp-sd-14-chairman-refuse-to.html">See open letter blog</a>. Still another "list" is said to have been generated in the parking garage in the late evening on Apr. 21st -- I did not lead or promote any such last minute "whitelist" in the parking garage, for the obvious reasons I've described here. Nor did I personally attempt to work a last minute outcome by demanding another "list" be approved as a condition for passage of the Committee list as read; these are tactics the opposition uses, and tactics I detest.</div>
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Now a question for all of you - why not destroy this ridiculous bad old movie by giving ALL nomination power to the Precinct Delegations? We would be done in under 30 minutes, as you saw last Saturday; in fact, Precinct Caucuses have always had a time limit in Travis County of 30 minutes or less, and they have complied. Why not move all the nominating power to the Precinct Delegations -- and put an end to the miserable sequels of the same bad movie, and end the divisive power plays of the current nominations process? Is the preservation of control in the hands of the old establishment power brokers really worth all this ridiculous contention and arbitrary division? Let's say NO!</div>
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Don Zimmerman</div>
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SREC SD-14 Committeeman</div>
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<br /></div>Don Zimmermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02639489223843453885noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38479691.post-18354522004687075542012-04-23T16:09:00.000-05:002012-05-20T15:46:30.887-05:00What happened at the 2012 SD-14 Convention, and why?<br />
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First, let me congratulate everyone who showed up at the Convention on Saturday, and helped us win an improbable battle to restore the SD-14 Precinct Caucus Rule. I want to assure you all that a very competent and productive team contributed to this remarkable outcome, and many of us worked very hard on it. We faced the most skilled, experienced, well liked, and arguably, powerful team of Bill Crocker and Kirk Overbey, who are recognized as the most trusted experts in GOP political Convention Rules and questions and procedures in Texas, and beyond. We must admit that you do NOT win such a contest without help from the Hand of Providence, and we acknowledge that. We also acknowledge the courage and integrity of Dr. Ron Paul, who has endured decades of attacks from unscrupulous power brokers - Dr. Paul's example inspired enough people to make the difference in winning this important battle, but in fact we must recognize that many non-Ron Paul supporters also supported our victory.</div>
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Second, I want it publicly acknowledged that the reason I was kept off the Rules Committee by the leadership was so that I would NOT have the opportunity to present a "minority report" rationale for keeping Precinct Caucusing, from a position of credibility as a Rules Committee member, speaking from the podium as my opposition did. This is important, because I did not have proper time or recognition to present the argument which could well have earned a 2/3rds vote in favor on the FIRST vote, saving us valuable time, and avoiding so much divisiveness and confrontation which spilled into the night. Leadership pounded away with an argument of "complexity" and "uncertainty" of the 2010 data, and the new configuration of 4 Senate Districts and 5 Congressional District. In fact, Harris County had 7 SDs, and 9 CDs, and made no such excuses for "complexity"; they held Precinct Caucuses on Saturday, as they have for nearly 20 years. I had many other such rational arguments in favor of keeping our Caucuses that I had no opportunity to make.</div>
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Third, the strong arming to stop our side from distributing copies of our proposed Precinct Caucusing was unseemly, but completely ineffective. We asserted our Constitutional right to distribute pertinent political information at a political convention; however, the misguided efforts to suppress our right to be heard really deserves an apology. There was some irony in the fact that our opposition refused to release their Temporary Rules, even when asked to do so many days in advance; at the same time, our opposition attempted to suppress our right to distribute our rule. Such unethical attempts to keep delegates uninformed should be firmly opposed in future conventions.</div>
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Fourth, we should not appreciate the Robert's Rules manipulation which attempted to impose a 2/3rds vote on initial Rule adoption which the people intuitive knew should have been simple majority. The sophistry of that 2/3rds argument hurt the credibility of the incumbent TCRP leadership, in my opinion, and I'm very grateful that over 55% of the voting strength -- far greater than the percentage of just "Ron Paul" people, contributed to that vote which restored our voting rights for Precinct Caucusing.</div>
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Fifth, it appears that incumbent SD-14 temporary leadership was so confident of regaining exclusive power to nominate all Delegates that they had no plan for quickly merging the at-large list with the Precinct Caucus list. Consequently, while the Precinct Caucuses finished in under 30 minutes, the Nominations Committee was still not finished when they read their list at about 10:30 PM in the garage, after 5 hours or so. We were obligated to pass the Delegate list so we could see the Delegate list (namely, which slots had not been filled at all); but after passing the list we still couldn't get the list, and the nominations committee refused requests for the list to be posted, and refused to reveal how many OPEN SLOTS remained on their "bullhorn list" read aloud in the garage (there were something like 70 - 80 open slots, apparently). The Nominations Committee had exclusive power over the at-large list (with all those open slots), and consequently they kept home many individuals - even currently active Precinct Chairs, who certainly deserved to at least be Alternates. This must not happen again, and we must continue to work for more transparent and more competent technical solutions for the Nominations process.</div>
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I want to thank all the 2010 SD-14 Delegates who voted for me to serve as your SREC Committeeman for the past two years, and I ask for your vote again at the June Convention. Let us press on to restore the Constitution, enforce the Texas GOP platform, and advance local control of our political process with integrity and transparency, instead of bullying and secrecy.</div>
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Don Zimmerman</div>
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SREC SD-14 Committeeman</div>Don Zimmermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02639489223843453885noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38479691.post-33725972813091917962012-04-20T13:53:00.002-05:002012-04-20T13:53:47.077-05:00Registered Voter / Oath of Affiliation Elligibility Details from RPT -- VERY important read<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">County Chairs, please pass this email onto your temporary SD convention chairs.</span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">There has been recurring questions regarding registered Texas voters who are new to your county and also state delegate nominees who miss the county convention and I thought it would be helpful to answer these questions to our entire group:</span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Regarding voters who are new to your county: There has been some question about people who are qualified Texas voters but have moved to your county within the past 30 days and therefore are not qualified voters in your county. As you know, in order to participate in the convention, you have to be a qualified voter of your county - a qualified voter is someone who has been registered to vote for at least 30 days. In addition, anyone who is a resident of your county and able to vote a limited ballot is able to participate in your convention - this is a person who is NOT a qualified voter in your county, but is a qualified voter in another Texas County and has completed an application to register to vote in your county within the last 30 days, including the date of the convention is a person eligible to vote a limited ballot in your county. Practically speaking, a person who comes to your convention with a valid voter registration card from another Texas County can complete a voter registration card for an address in your county and will be able to participate in your convention.</span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Please note that state law prohibits anyone other than a Deputy Voter Registrar from handling completed voter registration applications. If someone shows up at your county convention to register to vote, only a deputy voter registrar may accept their completed application.</span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Regarding state delegates who miss the county convention: Some of you may have seen the email below from Governor Rick Perry that went out yesterday afternoon. We are very appreciative of the Governor's help in promoting our county and district conventions this weekend. However, we wanted to clarify that the email contains an inaccuracy about the RPT Convention process, and we wanted to bring this to your attention in case you received any questions. The item in question relates to how delegates and alternates are chosen this weekend. We visited with the Governor's staff and clarified that under RPT Rules, you do not have to attend this weekend's convention in order to be nominated and confirmed as a State Convention delegate or alternate. The Governor's staff is correcting the mistake before publicizing online any further. We just wanted to make you aware of this, in case you received any questions from your constituents.</span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Please note that on your delegate/alternate report you will flag these nominees as not having attended your county convention and we will get their oath of affiliation when they arrive at State Convention.</span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">And, speaking of state convention, check out and "like us" on the RPT 2012 state convention Facebook page,</span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-2012-Republican-Party-of-Texas-State-Convention/204342813001984" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" target="_blank">http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-2012-Republican-Party-of-Texas-State-Convention/204342813001984</a><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Please let me know if I may be of further assistance as you prepare for tomorrow. Thanks again for all you are doing.</span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Beth Cubriel</span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">From: Governor Rick Perry [</span><a href="mailto:campaign@rickperry.org" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" target="_blank">mailto:campaign@rickperry.org</a><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">]<mailto:[</span><a href="mailto:campaign@rickperry.org" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" target="_blank">mailto:campaign@rickperry.org</a><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">]></span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Sent: Thursday, April 19, 2012 5:01 PM</span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Subject: Shape Our State Republican Party Platform</span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">[Texans for Rick Perry]<</span><a href="http://rmc.ms/click/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rickperry.org%2F%3Futm_source%3DRaconteurMail%26utm_medium%3DEmail%26utm_campaign%3DShapeOurStateRepublicanPartyPlatform&c=10591&m=58390256&u=0&t=CL&a=29395799%22" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" target="_blank">http://rmc.ms/click/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rickperry.org%2F%3Futm_source%3DRaconteurMail%26utm_medium%3DEmail%26utm_campaign%3DShapeOurStateRepublicanPartyPlatform&c=10591&m=58390256&u=0&t=CL&a=29395799%22</a><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">></span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Dear Republican,</span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Whether you're a longtime Republican grassroots activist, tea party patriot or TFRW volunteer, your work and energy are critical to the success of our party and to electing conservative candidates up and down the ballot. To defeat socialism in Washington, DC, replace President Obama in the White House and keep our state and local governments strong, your efforts are critical.</span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">The Texas Republican primary election is a little over a month away and thousands of us will gather in Fort Worth at the State Convention in June. To become a State Convention Delegate or Alternate you must participate in either your County Convention or Senate District Convention this weekend. To learn more about attending your convention this weekend, please visit</span><a href="http://convention.texasgop.org/" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" target="_blank">http://convention.texasgop.org/</a><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><</span><a href="http://rmc.ms/click/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fconvention.texasgop.org%2F%3Futm_source%3DRaconteurMail%26utm_medium%3DEmail%26utm_campaign%3DShapeOurStateRepublicanPartyPlatform&c=10591&m=58390256&u=1&t=CL&a=29395799%22" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" target="_blank">http://rmc.ms/click/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fconvention.texasgop.org%2F%3Futm_source%3DRaconteurMail%26utm_medium%3DEmail%26utm_campaign%3DShapeOurStateRepublicanPartyPlatform&c=10591&m=58390256&u=1&t=CL&a=29395799%22</a><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">>. The Republican Party of Texas has put together an easy to use web page that will explain this process. This is a great way to get involved at the local level, to become a Delegate to the State Convention, and to pass resolutions that you would like included in our State Party's Platform.</span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Speaking of resolutions, this week I announced my Texas Budget Compact, which I believe is critical to keeping our state budget balanced, keeping government growth and spending in check and keeping Texas jobs and economy growing.</span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">The Texas Budget Compact includes truth-in-budgeting reforms to end payment deferrals and other budgetary shell games, a stricter spending cap and a renewed commitment to fund the priorities of our state without raising your taxes. To learn more about the Texas Budget Compact, please click here<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://www.rickperry.org/texas-budget-compact/learn-more" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" target="_blank">http://www.rickperry.org/texas-budget-compact/learn-more</a><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><</span><a href="http://rmc.ms/click/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rickperry.org%2Ftexas-budget-compact%2Flearn-more%3Futm_source%3DRaconteurMail%26utm_medium%3DEmail%26utm_campaign%3DShapeOurStateRepublicanPartyPlatform&c=10591&m=58390256&u=2&t=CL&a=29395799%22" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" target="_blank">http://rmc.ms/click/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rickperry.org%2Ftexas-budget-compact%2Flearn-more%3Futm_source%3DRaconteurMail%26utm_medium%3DEmail%26utm_campaign%3DShapeOurStateRepublicanPartyPlatform&c=10591&m=58390256&u=2&t=CL&a=29395799%22</a><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">></span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">If you agree with me on these fundamental issues, then I ask you to take the resolution below to your convention this weekend, get it adopted and send it to the State Convention. It is important that Texans across the state stand with one voice to tell Austin that we want government to live within its means. This is a great way to effectively influence your State Party Platform and have your voice heard not only at the local level, but at the Texas Capitol as well. If you have questions, please go here:</span><a href="http://www.texasgop.org/resolutions" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" target="_blank">http://www.texasgop.org/resolutions</a><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><</span><a href="http://rmc.ms/click/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.texasgop.org%2Fresolutions%3Futm_source%3DRaconteurMail%26utm_medium%3DEmail%26utm_campaign%3DShapeOurStateRepublicanPartyPlatform&c=10591&m=58390256&u=3&t=CL&a=29395799%22" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" target="_blank">http://rmc.ms/click/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.texasgop.org%2Fresolutions%3Futm_source%3DRaconteurMail%26utm_medium%3DEmail%26utm_campaign%3DShapeOurStateRepublicanPartyPlatform&c=10591&m=58390256&u=3&t=CL&a=29395799%22</a><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">></span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Resolution language</span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">TEXAS BUDGET COMPACT</span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Whereas Texas is a conservative state that taxes less per capita than almost every state in the nation; and</span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Whereas the product of relative fiscal restraint has been a reasonably strong economy in Texas as compared with the rest of the nation; and</span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Whereas the future prosperity of Texas depends on not just continuing, but improving, the state's commitment to conservative budget principles; and</span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Whereas in recent years, while the national economy declined and revenues to government decreased, Texas budget-writers used a variety of accounting gimmicks to balance the buget; and</span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Whereas by delaying payments and spending dedicated funds on general government, lawmakers have pushed off certain financial obligations to the next budget period; and</span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Whereas the increasing cost of Medicaid will consume several billion dollars more of the current budget; and</span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Whereas until Washington acts to rein in the skyrocketing costs of Medicaid, Texas lawmakers will continue to be forced to make tough choices in order to balance the budget; and</span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Whereas Texans expect its government to live within its means just as they do in their businesses and homes; and</span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Whereas, Governor Rick Perry has proposed the Texas Budget Compact to control the cost of government;</span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Now therefore Be it resolved that we urge the Texas Legislature to follow the principles of that Compact such that they:</span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">* practice truth in budgeting;</span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">* support a Constitutional limit of spending to the growth of population and inflation;</span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">* oppose any new taxes or tax increases and make the small business tax exemption permanent;</span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">* preserve a strong Rainy Day Fund;</span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">* and cut the unnecessary and duplicative government programs and agencies.</span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Adopted this _____ day of ______, 2012, at the ________________________ Convention of the Republican Party of Texas.</span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">As always, may God continue to bless you and the great State of Texas</span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">[Governor Rick Perry]</span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Rick Perry</span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Political advertisement paid for by Texans for Rick Perry</span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px monospace, "Courier New"; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />Don Zimmermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02639489223843453885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38479691.post-39777893543475511492012-04-19T12:49:00.004-05:002012-04-19T12:50:33.159-05:00Time for real change in the Travis County Tax Assessor-Collector office<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I have had a chance to meet most of the Republican candidates running in Travis County, and I think we've got a strong line-up this year. I'm hoping to write about all the races more in the coming weeks, and I thought I'd start with one of the county-wide races. </span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.vikvad.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" target="_blank">Vik Vad</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> is the Republican running for Travis County Tax Assessor-Collector. This is an open seat this year, with the lamentable Nelda Wells Spears having finally calling it quits. Vik is an Austin native and a successful entrepreneur who has also worked in real estate, having first-hand experience with the issues the Tax Assessor's office deals with daily. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I believe Vik is best person to represent the interests of taxpayers in Travis County. The office has a largely administrative function, and efficiency is a key factor. He's focused on integrity and running the office as he would a business - and fortunately, Vik Vad has had experience in the private sector with small businesses.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">You can read more about Vik </span><a href="http://www.vikvad.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" target="_blank">on his website</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">It is thrilling to me to know we have young talent in Austin like Vik Vad, and I look forward to seeing what he could accomplish in this vital role in our county.</span>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">(<a href="http://blue-dot-blues.blogspot.com/2012/04/time-for-real-change-in-travis-county.html" target="_blank">cross-posted from Blue Dot Blues</a>)</span>MJSamuelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06198520343572925552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38479691.post-77623090296499776912012-04-19T01:12:00.000-05:002012-04-19T01:12:35.143-05:00Why does the TCRP SD-14 Chairman refuse to release temporary rules?Below is an exact copy of an e-mail I sent to Mr. Bill Crocker, temporary chairman of the TCRP SD-14 Convention due to convene the morning of April 21st -- Mr. Crocker has declined to answer this and numerous other communications I've attempted with him over the last few weeks. I publish this in the hopes others may encourage him to answer these reasonable questions, and make the Rules report public in advance of the SD-14 Convention April 21st:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="plainTextContent">-------- Original message --------<br />
Subject: RE: List? <br />
From: Don Zimmerman <don.zimmerman1960@gmail.com> <br />
To: crockerlaw@earthlink.net <br />
CC: <br />
<br />
APR 17th, 2012<br />
<br />
Dear Mr. Crocker,<br />
<br />
I'm requesting a copy of the report of the temporary Rules Committee, which completed its work last night. Since the Committee work concluded last night, I'm requesting you make the Rules Report available now (Apr 17th 2012) instead of at the start of the SD Convention on Apr 21. We all have a desire to save time, and releasing rules now certainly saves time on Saturday.<br />
<br />
Based on how the temporary meetings were conducted last night (especially, many persons who waited 2.5 hours for a Nominations interview, including my wife Jennifer and my neighbor Ron Williams, and then were told to leave) and the fact that I'm supporting precinct caucuses for delegate nominations, which were rejected by the rules committee (per Mr Randall), and the fact that you declined to name me to the Nominations Committee, I'm declining your offer for me to "send a list" of my choices for delegates for Nomination by your committee. I'm only insisting that larger precincts be allowed to chose their own delegates. The Nominations Committee is exclusively under your power and I will not infringe or usurp that power.<br />
<br />
I request an answer to these requests by Apr 18th. Releasing the Rules Report is fair and reasonable and will likely save time Apr 21st.<br />
<br />
I look forward to serving grassroots Republicans in the days, months and decades to come, and having a successful Convention Saturday.<br />
<br />
Don Zimmerman<br />
SD-14 SREC Committeeman<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S™ II Skyrocket™, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone.</div>Don Zimmermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02639489223843453885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38479691.post-65314751122968080382012-04-12T15:24:00.000-05:002012-04-12T15:24:52.128-05:00RPT "Winner Take All" Rules Change effort - who benefits with which rule?Much has been said about the proposed Texas GOP Delegate Rule change, along the lines of, Texas should be "winner take all".<br />
<br />
Ironically, it was the RNC itself which learned a lesson in 2008 by the early victory of John McCain, which gave us a moribund candidate and very poor voter turnout in the Primary season after McCain was declared the winner so early. Not wishing to repeat that debacle, the RNC threatened to penalize state delegations if they didn't switch to Proportional delegate representation in early primaries. But that Proportional requirement only affected states having primaries before April 1st (2012); after April 1st, you could have a winner take all with no RNC sanctions.<br />
<br />
<br />
The SREC, thinking the Texas primary would be March 6th, voted in late 2011 for more proportional delegate allocations (more candidates could receive delegates based on the popular primary vote); knowing that the change would require DoJ "preclearance", RPT also said proportional was more fair to (racial) minorites, which is a rational argument. NOTE that Texas had a "modified" winner take all prior to 2012 - candidates scoring at least 20% in congressional districts won delegates; in fact, in 2008 Huckabee won some Texas delegates, in spite of the fact that McCain easily won the state and the nomination contest was considered over.<br />
<br />
To this day there still is some confusion about what the WTA proponents want -- a return to 2010 rules, or a pure "winner take all" for the entire state, where one candidate with say 33% of statewide vote gets everything and all other candidates with 32% or less get nothing?<br />
<br />
<br />
The "power" argument, which some in the Ron Paul paid campaign staff made, is this: use the entire aggregate vote of Texas as a bigger hammer to influence leading candidates; Santorum and Paul campaign staffers both wanted new WTA rules in an effort to slow down Romney and at least force him to come to Texas for a political debate. The grassroots argument is that the voice of the voters - especially those of the reform minded and highly energized Tea Party / Ron Paul minorities, is more important than the fortunes of the political candidates, which is also my argument.<br />
<br />
My e-mail from around the Senate District and state are about 2:1 in favor of proportional rules; however, those in favor of proportional are mostly Ron Paul supporters.<br />
<br />
<br />
The bottom line is this: like most battles in politics, there is always an unintended consequence of both victory and defeat, and there is always another winnable battle to fight. We should have proportional voting, but it's not a "hill to die on", IMHO.<br />
<br />
Here's a local TV news clip that does a decent job of summarizing the issue:<br />
<a href="http://www.kvue.com/video?id=146477885&sec=551227">http://www.kvue.com/video?id=146477885&sec=551227</a> <br />
<br />
<br />
Don Zimmerman<br />
SD-14 SREC CommitteemanDon Zimmermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02639489223843453885noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38479691.post-77815790579802307022012-04-10T23:08:00.000-05:002012-04-11T06:48:27.792-05:00Local Chapter of FAPA Commends Congress Upon 33rd Anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act<style>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">My wife was
born in Taiwan and immigrated to the United States in 1992 on a fiancée visa,
after we met and courted during her 1989-1991 stint in graduate school at
the University of Texas at Austin. When we got married, I became what the Taiwanese
affectionately call a son-in-law of Taiwan, many of whom are activists in the cause of promoting
the interests of the true nationalists from Taiwan, the TI (Taiwanese Identity/Independence)
promoting Americans of Taiwanese decent.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I became
such an activist not just because of my marriage to a beautiful daughter of Taiwan
but because it was the right thing to do and was (and still is) in the
strategic interest of the United States. Now, I have the distinct privilege
of leading a group of Taiwanese expatriates as the president of the local chapter of the
Formosan Association of Public Affairs.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Established
in 1982 in Los Angeles, CA, the Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA) is a
world-wide, Washington headquartered, non-profit organization which:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">(1) promotes
international support for the right of the people of Taiwan to establish an
independent and democratic country and to join the international community;</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">(2) promotes
relations and cooperation between Taiwan and the United States;</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">(3) protects
the right of self-determination for the people of Taiwan;</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">(4) promotes
peace and security for Taiwan; and</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">(5) advances
the rights and interests of Taiwanese communities throughout the world.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16pt; margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">FAPA's
mission is educational. The organization provides US policy makers, the media,
scholars and the general public with information on issues related to Taiwan.
FAPA informs and updates Members of Congress and their staff on Taiwanese
issues. FAPA seeks to articulate the point of view of the people of Taiwan.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Today, April
10th is the 33<sup>rd</sup> Anniversary of a seminal event in
the history of Taiwan which has given its people time and hope for eventual national self-determination. It's the day each year that Taiwanese
Americans stand still for a moment to express gratitude in some way, shape or
form to their adopted nation, the great and proud nation of the United States
of America, for helping ensure that Taiwan keeps it's identity as a free and separate country from China for as long as the people of Taiwan will it to be.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The
relationship between Taiwan and the United States is almost seven decades old, now.
But when the Carter Administration shifted diplomatic relations from our friend
and ally Taiwan to the People's Republic of China (PRC) in January 1979, Taiwan was
left vulnerable to annexation by China. In response, Congress quickly passed the <a href="http://www.taiwandocuments.org/tra01.htm" target="_blank">Taiwan Relations Act (TRA)</a> to ensure
that the United States would continue its robust engagement with Taiwan in the
areas of security, commerce and culture. Most importantly, with its security
guarantees the TRA enabled Taiwan to continue functioning as the de facto independent
country it is today.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">On April 10,
1979, with the signature of President Carter who had presided over the diplomatic disaster the put Taiwan at risk vis-a-vis</span><span class="st"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> the PRC, the TRA became the "Law
of the Land," the statutory basis for US–Taiwan relations. Thirty-three years later,
it stands as a model of Congressional leadership. Together with President
Reagan's "<a href="http://www.fapa.org/generalinfo/sixassurances.htm" target="_blank">Six Assurances</a>" (which served as further guidelines for
U.S.- Taiwan relations) the TRA remains the cornerstone of a mutually
beneficial relationship between the US and Taiwan. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">In affirming
"the preservation and enhancement of the human rights of all the people on
Taiwan" as explicit objectives, the framers of the TRA in large measure made Taiwan what
it is today—a vibrant, open society governed by democratic institutions.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Still, China
persists in irrationally claiming Taiwan as a "renegade province,"
refusing to renounce the use of force against the free choice of the people of
Taiwan, should they make any move toward formalization of their nation's independence. Taiwanese live under an ominous shadow cast by over 1400 short and
medium-range ballistic Chinese missiles aimed at them, a fact <a href="http://mccaul.house.gov/" target="_blank">Texas Congressman Michael T. McCaul (R, TX-10)</a> recently made mention of in remarks he read into the Congressional Record to commemorate the anniversary of the TRA.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The TRA
makes it quite clear and emphatic that diplomatic relations with China are based on the expectation
that the future of Taiwan will be determined by peaceful means. The
principled stance contained in the TRA has been instrumental in maintaining
peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait for more than thirty years, in
spite of the growing military threat posed by China.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">In gratitude
and appreciation to Congress, I invite all Taiwanese Americans, indeed all
freedom loving American to join me in commemorating today, April 10, 2012 as the
33rd anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Georgia;">You’re invited to a free film screening of a feature film about Taiwan</span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt;">To
educate Texans on the development of democracy in Taiwan from the perspective
of the 85% of Taiwan’s population who did not come to Taiwan as refugees from China
after World Word II or descend from these Chinese Nationalists, the Central
Texas chapter of the Formosan Association of Public Affairs will hold a
screening of the 2010 feature film, </span><a href="http://www.formosathemovie.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Formosa Betrayed</span></i></b></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt;"> starring James Van Der Beek, Tzi Ma, Will Tiao,
John Heard, and Wendy Crewson. The film will be shown in the Capitol Extension Auditorium on May 10,
2012 at 7:00 PM under the legislative sponsorship of <a href="http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/member-page/?district=45" target="_blank">Rep. Jason Isaac (R, HD-45)</a>.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt;">If you are interested in attending this free screening of this feature
film please RSVP to </span><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="mailto:dadofping@sbcglobal.net"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">dadofping@sbcglobal.net</span></a></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt;"> by May
8, 2012.</span></div>Freedom Ain't Freehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093883001808491584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38479691.post-37660050074731824182012-03-31T00:50:00.000-05:002012-03-31T00:50:09.538-05:00BLOG copy of basic Travis County GOP Convention Participation ProcessA good post copied from our friends Michelle and Randy Samuelson, From Blue-Dot-Blues Blog:<br />
<br />
<br />
Participating in the Republican Conventions in Travis County 2012 <br />
If you plan to participate in this year's Republican convention process, it will be extremely important for you to know the following:<br />
<br />
1 - Due to the timing of the primary and state convention, county parties were given the option to decide whether or not they would hold precinct conventions. After a vote of the Travis County Executive Committee on Tuesday, there will be no Precinct Conventions held this year in Travis County.<br />
<br />
2 - In order to be eligible to serve as a delegate/alternate at the Senatorial District conventions on April 21 (and in order to continue on to the State convention in June), you need to be sworn in and given an card confirming your oath as a Republican. <br />
<br />
3 - To take the oath, you have some options:<br />
<br />
Go to TCRP Headquarters between 10am and 3pm, Monday-Friday, up until April 20. Someone will be there to perform the oath. You should bring, if you have it, your most recent voter card. The address is 7901 Cameron Road, Suite 3-202, Austin, Texas 78754. The phone number, if you want to call ahead, is 512-302-1776 <br />
Contact your precinct chairman, who can also perform the oath. Not sure of your precinct? Look it up at <a href="http://facebook.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=8925f6d05f2e173097b5d0111&id=4477145cc7&e=1154b5076d" target="_blank">http://facebook.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=8925f6d05f2e173097b5d0111&id=4477145cc7&e=1154b5076d</a>. The list of precinct chairmen is available here (click on the name to get an email address): <a href="http://facebook.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=8925f6d05f2e173097b5d0111&id=56e5b8350d&e=1154b5076d" target="_blank">http://facebook.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=8925f6d05f2e173097b5d0111&id=56e5b8350d&e=1154b5076d</a> <br />
You can also take the oath the morning of the Senatorial District conventions (April 21) at registration. The party is encouraging you to do it sooner to avoid any registrations delays, but it is an option if you aren't able to make it work before then. <br />
<br />
The Senatorial District conventions for all of Travis County will be held on Saturday, April 21 at Hyde Park Baptist Church (3901 Speedway, Austin, 78751). State delegates and alternates will be elected at the convention and resolutions will be passed to send on to the state Platform Committee. Temporary Committee Meetings for all four Senate Districts in our county will be held on April 16 and 17, from 6pm to 9pm, at TCRP Headquarters if you wish to weigh in or view the process (those committees are Nominations, Rules, Resolutions, and Credentials). <br />
<br />
In order to allow for as much participation as possible, please help me spread the word! Tell every Republican you know - feel free to forward this post or re-post on your own blog as well! It's especially important to one more thing: The oath is NOT required for voting in the Republican Primary on May 29. It is ONLY required to participate in the conventions. However, once you take the oath, you cannot participate in the primary or conventions for any other political party.Don Zimmermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02639489223843453885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38479691.post-75598782261288084472012-03-28T01:59:00.000-05:002012-03-28T01:59:13.579-05:00Travis Executive Committee decisions on 2012 (Apr. 21st) Convention CycleMarch 27th, as expected, turned out to be the largest and most contested Travis GOP Executive meeting of the last two years. On the bright side, the quorum that attended allowed us to appoint 9 new precinct chairs who had been recommended by the vacancy committee. It appears that Travis County does now have the new voter registration in the new precincts available on-line. However, note that for purposes of the SD Conventions, old precinct numbers (from 2010) will still be used; if you are in a precinct with changed numbering, it would help if you had your old voter registration card as well as your new number. We also note that some new precinct chair vacancies have opened due to splitting of large precincts and certain renumbering that has happened.<br />
<br />
The Travis GOP had two important recorded votes at the March 27th (2012) meeting. First, a vote on hearing a Resolution regarding Precinct Caucusing was narrowly defeated 35-37. The point of that resolution (included below) was to have the Travis CEC recommend Precinct Caucusing to the Temporary Rules Committees. Second, an intense debate on holding Precinct Conventions prior to the SD Convention finally ended in a defeat of the motion to hold precinct conventions by a vote of 29 - 43. I argued and voted in favor of both of the defeated motions.<br />
<br />
What this means is the Temporary Convention Committees that meet on April 16th and April 17th will be extremely important as to how the SD Convention conducts business - including the critical issue of how State Delegates and Alternates are selected.<br />
<br />
Moreover, according to a strict interpretation of the rules, it is possible for the outcome of the temporary rules committee (which determines, among other things, how State GOP Delegates are chosen) to not be known until the morning of April 21st. This would mean that a rule giving all authority to at-large nominating committees - which would take away Precinct Caucusing to select delegates, would have to be challenged and modified in a floor contest; and such a floor contest certainly plays into the strength of the temporary Convention leaders and those who have decades of experience working these political conventions.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">A RESOLUTION REGARDING PRECINCT CAUCUSING FOR ELECTION OF STATE DELEGATES<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">"Be it resolved that the Travis CEC recommends county SD Temporary</span> Rules Committees to allow a Precinct Caucus, at the SD Conventions April 21<sup>st</sup> (2012), for the purpose of selecting State Delegates and alternates, consistent with the same Rules in effect from 2006 through 2010."<span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Don Zimmerman, SD-14 SREC<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Courier New';">Background:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Courier New';">Many precinct chairs and convention goers are unaware that SD Convention Precinct Caucusing, for the purpose of electing state delegates and alternates, is a relatively new rule which must be established by the SD Temporary Rules Committee. If Precinct Caucuses are not established in temporary rules, the default will be that ALL state delegates will effectively be chosen by the temporary chairman’s appointed at-large Temporary Nominations Committee. Starting in 2006, Travis County began utilizing this rule (which was already in place in other metro counties like Bexar and Harris) and it has proven popular; in fact, choosing State Delegates is listed by many as their most meaningful vote of the entire SD Convention. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Courier New';">Precinct Caucusing is a more representative way of doing Convention business, and in years past has been a faster way to pick delegates; I served on the SD-14 at-large nominations committee in 2008 – the Precinct Caucuses chose delegates in 15 minutes, while the at-large committee took hours. Precinct Caucuses permit the larger GOP precincts (that have 300 or more Rick Perry votes) to choose their own State Delegates, while the nominations committee still has delegate slots to fill at-large at their own discretion.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Courier New';">Please note that authority and responsibility for setting the Precinct Caucus rules should (and does) reside with the SD Temporary Rules Committee – there are different considerations for each SD and they must set their own rules.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Courier New';">This Resolution merely highlights this very important rule and, if approved, would express the desire of the entire TCRP group to have Precinct Caucuses on April 21<sup>st</sup>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Don Zimmermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02639489223843453885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38479691.post-56686373695292902222012-03-16T08:00:00.000-05:002012-03-16T08:00:03.016-05:00Central Texas Republican Assembly Endorsements, Round 1MARCH 15, 2012<br />
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<br />
Contact: Daniel McDonald, (512) 694-0654<br />
<br />
CENTRAL TEXAS REPUBLICAN ASSEMBLY ENDORSES CANDIDATES<br />
<br />
The Central Texas Republican Assembly (CTRA) endorsed in three primary races on Tuesday<br />
evening. The candidates endorsed were Donna Campbell (State Senate, District 25), Ken<br />
Mercer (State Board of Education, Place 5), and Jim Strickland (Travis County Commissioner,<br />
Place 3).<br />
<br />
“The CTRA is proud to put our support behind these conservative candidates,” said president<br />
Daniel McDonald. “These are the candidates we believe will best represent the Republican<br />
Party’s platform and conservative values if they are elected to their respective offices.”<br />
The candidates in several local races were sent questionnaires, and an endorsement committee<br />
made recommendations to the membership. Candidates were invited to attend Tuesday’s<br />
meeting to make their case to the membership. The CTRA will consider candidates in the other<br />
races in Travis, Hays, and Bastrop counties at an upcoming meeting.<br />
<br />
In order to endorse in a contested Republican primary, a quorum of the membership must be<br />
present, and a candidate must receive the support of two-thirds (67%) of those present.<br />
The Central Texas Republican Assembly is a grassroots volunteer organization that works to<br />
elect mainstream conservatives to public office. The CTRA is a member chapter of the Texas<br />
Republican Assembly and the National Federation of Republican Assemblies. The CTRA was<br />
founded in 2001 and is active in Travis, Hays, and Bastrop counties.<br />
<br />
-30-Freedom Ain't Freehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06093883001808491584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38479691.post-73650174559242529152012-03-09T13:59:00.000-06:002012-03-09T13:59:35.329-06:00Travis County GOP Conventions for 2012: new rules and logisticsLike other Texas Counties, the Travis County GOP is trying to deal with implementing and adjusting to the new "emergency" rules passed by the SREC on Feb 29th. Yesterday evening (08-Mar-12), Travis County GOP leadership met to discuss ways to conform to the new rules. As your SD-14 SREC representative, here is my take on the issues discussed and how grassroots Republicans can contribute to an optimum experience.<br />
<br />
1. Precinct Conventions: The Feb 29th rules provided for a Precinct Convention option to be voted on by the County Executive Committee. There was much discussion on this; the main point was raised by RNC Committman Bill Crocker, that new judicial orders prevent the Precinct Conventions from exclusively electing County Convention delegates as they have after past Primary elections. Consequently, ANYONE who arrives at the Travis SD Conventions Saturday morning, shows voter registration in Travis County, and takes the "Oath of Affiliation", is entitled to join the Precinct Delegation at the SD Convention. Given this fact, plus the additional cost and logistical / volunteer work, the leadership favored offering an Executive Committee vote (March 27th) on having "Precinct Meetings", which would be held at the order of Precinct Chairs (or precinct volunteers, in absence of a Chair); these meetings would serve for SD Convention participants to get early Oath of Office forms completed, and agree on which Resolutions (if any) they would like to forward to the temporary SD Resolutions Committee.<br />
<br />
2. Oath of Affiliation: The consensus on this issue is to ask/expect RPT to suggest a Oath to be used statewide by all counties (and even help fund printing cost); it would be a "No Carbon Required" (NCR), or carbonless copy, form which the Oath Taker would get a copy, and the Oath Administer (a Precinct Chair of other "officer" would return to the county. The Oath would include a line for Oath Administer, as well as emphasize the need for a valid UVID (Unique Voter ID), which would be used by a Convention credentials committee to verify elligibility in a certain county and precinct.<br />
<br />
3. The ESTIMATED State GOP Convention strength of the four Travis Senate Districts is as follows:<br />
SD State Delegate Strength<br />
14 211<br />
21 11<br />
24 35<br />
25 33<br />
<br />
4. Temporary Committees: It is proposed that temporary committees, for each of the four SDs, meet on the evenings for April 16th and April 17th, from 7:00PM to at least 9:00PM, at the Travis GOP headquarters. (Members of those temporary committees, which typically become permanent committees, are appointed by the Temporary SD Chairmen).<br />
Temporary Chairmen are:<br />
SD-14 Bill Crocker<br />
SD-21 Reagan Dees<br />
SD-24 Russell Gallahan<br />
SD-25 Mike Rodriguez<br />
<br />
The temporary committees include Credentials, Rules, Resolutions (Platform), Nominations, Permanent Organization.<br />
<br />
5. It is anticipated that the NCR Oath of Affiliation will be available in time for the March 27th CEC; persons who would like to take the oath early are encouraged to attend.<br />
<br />
6. It is proposed to have a pre-registration (with Oath of Affiliation) for the April 21st SD Conventions on the evening of April 20th (around 7 - 9 PM) at the Hyde Park Baptist Church (site of SD Conventions the following Saturday).<br />
<br />
In my observation, there is one very critical issue of concern to grassroots precinct convention delegates, that being the question of SD Rules regarding how State GOP Convention Delegates and Alternates are selected. For at least the past two Travis Convention cycles (2008, 2010, and for far longer than that in other metro counties), the larger GOP precincts have caucused to elect their own State Delegates according the allocation formula of one delegate/alternate for every 300 votes for Rick Perry in the 2010 election. There should be clarification now on whether SD temporary chairs believe that rule should be suspended, and all nominations done from a temporary committee. The temporary chairs have sole authority to appoint members of the committees.Don Zimmermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02639489223843453885noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38479691.post-62045662403667165712012-03-01T21:49:00.000-06:002012-03-01T21:49:32.523-06:00New "Emergency" Rules for 2012 Delegates & ConventionsDear SD-14 Republicans:<br />
<br />
Below is the official copy of the new "emergency" rules passed Feb 29th:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://s3.amazonaws.com/texasgop_pre/assets/original/SREC_Feb29_RulesAsPassed.pdf">http://s3.amazonaws.com/texasgop_pre/assets/original/SREC_Feb29_RulesAsPassed.pdf</a> <br />
<br />
The meeting lasted about 2.5 hours, and in my observation was a remarkably productive and well conducted meeting of our SREC term - even more so considering the complexity of the problem we faced.<br />
<br />
Most of the messages I got regarding these emergency rules focused on saving the Precinct Conventions; the two amendments I suggested were both adopted in the draft our SREC started with. I thought all the amendments had at least some merit, and I think the best ones were accepted while the worst were rejected.<br />
<br />
Now it is up to the county executive committees to pass their special rules, if and when and where to have the Precinct Conventions, and how to handle credentials for delegates who have no opportunity to vote in the Primary, which in all likelihood will be May 29th. We expect most County Conventions to happen April 21st.<br />
<br />
An important amendment was passed which releases the Texas National Delegates after the first vote, with that first vote proportionally bound by the popular primary vote. In the case of a brokered convention, most people felt Texas Delegates needed the flexibility to take part in the brokering, which might not extend beyond a the second round.<br />
<br />
I want to commend our State Chairman Steve Munisteri, the SREC Officials Committee, RNC Committeeman Bill Crocker, Eric Opiela and the other individuals who did an outstanding job drafting complex rules; we are back on track for an historical great Convention cycle.<br />
<br />
And to the Democrats seeking again to exploit the 1965 Voting Rights Act -- necessitated by such outrageous misdeeds as Democrat legislated "white only" primaries two generations ago, we say: <br />
<br />
"Don't Mess with Texas"!<br />
<br />
Don Zimmerman<br />
SD-14 SREC CommitteemanDon Zimmermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02639489223843453885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38479691.post-24020971740093708652012-03-01T14:27:00.003-06:002012-03-01T14:29:18.937-06:00Senate Fascists Confirm President's Intrusion on Free Exercise of ReligionWhat's in a headline?<br />
<br />
<br />
If we lived in country that respected the Constitution and the rights of its citizens to freely exercise their religion, today's vote by Senate Democrats to kill the Blunt amendment would be portrayed as an outrage, along the lines of the headline to this blog.<br />
<br />
Just so you remember, the First Amendment to the Constitution, states this:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or
prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of
speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to
assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.</blockquote>
A proponent of the Blunt amendment, Marco Rubio, <a href="http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/the-buzz-florida-politics/content/rubio-calls-failure-blunt-amendment-setback-religious-freedoms" target="_blank">said this about the Senate vote</a>:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“The Senate’s failure to pass Senator Blunt’s amendment is a setback for
religious freedoms in America. We must stop the unconstitutional
mandate under ObamaCare that requires church-affiliated organizations to
offer their workers private-insurance coverage without out-of-pocket
charges for birth control, something they are morally opposed to.
Telling religious based organizations that they must, by mandate of the
federal government, pay for things that that religion teaches is wrong.
You may not agree with what the religion believes, but that’s not the
point. The point is the First Amendment still applies. Religious freedom
still exists.” </blockquote>
<br />
By contrast to the headline to this blog entry, today's headlines about the Senate's action say this:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<h1>
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/birth-control-exemption-bill-the-blunt-amendment-killed-in-senate/2012/03/01/gIQA4tXjkR_story.html" target="_blank">Washington Post: Birth control exemption bill, the ‘Blunt amendment,’ killed in Senate</a></span></h1>
<h1>
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0312/73497.html" target="_blank">Politico: Blunt Amendment defeated in Senate </a></span></h1>
<h1>
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/213615-senate-rejects-blunt-amendment-to-kill-birth-control-mandate" target="_blank">The Hill: Senate Rejects Blunt Amendment to limit birth-control mandate</a></span></h1>
<h1>
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2012/0301/Blunt-amendment-brings-culture-wars-to-Congress" target="_blank">Christian Science Monitor: Blunt amendment brings culture wars to Congress</a></span></h1>
<h1>
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/01/politics/senate-health-care/index.html" target="_blank">CNN: Senate kills controversial 'conscience' amendment</a></span></h1>
</blockquote>
<h1>
<span style="font-size: small;">Goodbye America. It was nice while it lasted. </span></h1>
<h1>
</h1>Joe Gimenezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948890491595684543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38479691.post-35472287394173454302012-02-28T12:18:00.002-06:002012-02-28T13:48:42.218-06:00Does Anyone Else Notice These Things?Headline: <a href="http://finance.yahoo.com/news/home-prices-lowest-since-2002-153300856.html" target="_blank">Home Prices Are Lowest Since 2002</a><br />
National home prices fell 4% in the fourth quarter of 2011, putting them back at levels last seen in mid-2002. That's
the fifth consecutive annual loss and the biggest decline since 2008,
when markets were in free fall and prices plummeted more than 18%.<br />
<br />
<br />
Headline: <a href="http://ca.news.yahoo.com/flights-u-airlines-hit-10-low-222052224.html?fb_action_ids=10150588666952752&fb_action_types=news.reads&fb_source=other_multiline" target="_blank">Flights by U.S. airlines hit 10-year low</a><br />
U.S. airlines in 2011 operated the fewest number of flights since the hijack attacks on New York and <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1329261796_5">Washington</span> depressed <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1329261796_4">air travel</span> and accelerated the industry's worst-ever financial downturn, government figures on Tuesday showed. <br />
<br />
Headline: <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1429420696">U.S. Bank Profits Rise but Revenue Falls</a><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">U.S. banks reported growing profits in the fourth quarter but also saw falling revenue, casting a shadow over the industry's gradual recovery, a bank regulator said.</span> <br />
<a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204653604577251184282026616.html?mod=WSJ_hp_LEFTWhatsNewsCollection" target="_blank"><br /></a><br />
Anyone? Professor Galbraith? <br />
<br />
<br />Joe Gimenezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948890491595684543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38479691.post-5439143432344524562012-02-22T12:49:00.000-06:002012-02-22T12:49:14.149-06:00Proposed Changes to RPT Rules for Conventions/Delegates (discussed 22-Feb-2012)<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong></strong></span></div><div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>ANALYSIS</strong></span></div><div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>PROPOSED TEMPORARY AND EMERGENCY CHANGES TO RPT RULES</strong></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 4.5in; text-indent: -4.5in;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE</strong></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 4.5in; text-indent: -4.5in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">The various orders of the federal three-judge panel in <em>Perez v. Perry</em> have postponed the 2012 general primary election to a date which makes it impossible for the Republican Party of Texas (RPT) to conduct the convention procedure set forth in the Texas Election Code and the Rules of the Republican Party of Texas (RPT Rules). RPT Rule 1 allows the State Republican Executive Committee (SREC) to make temporary and emergency changes to the RPT Rules in the event judicial action makes the “conduct, operation, or implementation of [the] Rules … frustrated or impracticable, or contrary to their intent and purpose.” RULES OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF TEXAS, Rule 1(c). These changes, if approved by the SREC, will be valid until such time they are ratified by the State Convention, or until the adjournment of the State Convention, whichever comes first. <em>Id. </em>However, pursuant to Section 163.006, Texas Election Code, any further amendments made to these Rules made by the State Convention which govern or affect the Republican Party of Texas’ general or runoff primary elections, conventions or nominees, would not be effective until January 1, 2013.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 4.5in; text-indent: -4.5in;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS</strong></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 4.5in; text-indent: -4.5in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">SECTION 1. Amends RPT Rule 13 to eliminate the quorum requirement to convene a County or Senatorial District Convention. Allows the maintenance of a quorum so long as the persons in attendance comprise more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting strength of the Convention and a majority of the seated precincts are present.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 4.5in; text-indent: -4.5in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">SECTION 2. Strikes RPT Rule 19 and inserts a new RPT Rule 19A allowing for a Local Option Precinct Convention. A county executive committee (CEC), by two-thirds (2/3) vote may elect to hold precinct conventions in their county under the RPT Rules in effect on October 2, 2011, provided that that vote occur not later than fourteen (14) days prior to the date scheduled for county and senatorial district conventions, and further provided that the CEC publicize the local option precinct convention among all Republican voters in the county by, at a minimum, posting the date, time, and location(s) of such convention(s) on the county party’s website and email list, and providing a copy to the State Chairman for posting on the RPT website no later than seven (7) days prior to the date proposed for the local option precinct convention. If the county party has neither a website nor an email list, the CEC must publish an advertisement in a newspaper of general circulation in the county by the same deadline. Failure to comply with the notice provision precludes the county from holding a local option precinct convention. In the event a local option precinct convention is held in the county, the RPT Rules in effect on October 2, 2011 that govern precinct conventions and the selection of delegates to county and senatorial district conventions shall be used in that county instead of those Rules as amended in this amendment.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">SECTION 3. Strikes RPT Rules governing the conduct of precinct conventions.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">SECTION 4. Amends RPT Rule 23 to remove language relating to precinct conventions.</span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">SECTION 5. Amends RPT Rule 23A to clarify that the 2010 General Election precincts will be used in conducting County or Senatorial District Conventions. In the event a senate district splits a 2010 precinct, the State Chairman shall provide maps and delegate allocation totals to County Chairmen for use in the convention process. Provides that if no valid districts exist for senate districts one week prior to the date for senatorial district conventions (as determined by closure of the reopened filing period) all counties shall only have county conventions and delegates/alternates from those counties to the State Convention shall be chosen in a manner that ensures geographic distribution of those delegates/alternates is roughly proportional to the geographic distribution of the votes cast for the Republican nominee in the last gubernatorial election. In this event assignment to senate and congressional districts will be made at the State Convention. Sets out a voting strength of 1 vote for every 25 votes cast for the Republican nominee in the last gubernatorial election for each precinct at the County or Senatorial District Convention regardless of the number of persons present from that precinct. Eliminates the cap on State Convention delegates and alternates, and option for CECs and Senatorial District Executive Committees (SDEC) to modify delegate allotments. Provides that delegates and alternates will be assigned to congressional districts at the State Convention</span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">SECTION 6. Amends RPT Rule 24 to remove language relating to precinct conventions.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">SECTION 7. Amends RPT Rule 25 to establish that participants in a convention must be a registered voter who has affiliated with the Republican Party. Affiliation may be accomplished by voting in the Republican General Primary or by oath. Specifies oath prescribed by Texas Election Code, and provides that the oath may be executed orally or in writing, provided however that a written record, including a person’s signature, full name, permanent address, and voter unique identification number (VUID) must be maintained of all persons executing the oath and included in the minutes of a convention. The written record shall be certified by the Permanent Chairman and Permanent Secretary of the convention and three copies prepared and delivered to the County Chairman, State Chairman and chief elections officer of the county. Additionally an electronic list of all VUIDs of participants must be sent to the State Chairman. Provides that the oath must be accompanied by a notice of criminal penalty for participating in another party’s convention or primary in the same voting year. Disqualifies a person who participates in another party’s primary or convention from serving as a delegate, alternate, party officer, or nominee of the Republican Party at any level for the remainder of the voting year. Removes language relating to precinct conventions. Requires each CEC to publicize the County or Senatorial District Convention among all Republican voters in the county by, at a minimum, posting the date, time, and location(s) of such convention(s) on the county party’s website and email list, and providing a copy to the State Chairman for posting on the RPT website no later than seven (7) days prior to the date set for the convention. If the county party has neither a website nor an email list, the CEC must publish an advertisement in a newspaper of general circulation in the county by the same deadline.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">SECTION 8. Amends RPT Rule 26 to remove language relating to precinct conventions.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">SECTION 9. Amends RPT Rule 27 to remove language relating to credential challenges of precinct delegates. Provides that credential challenges of county/senatorial district delegates must be made within seven (7) days of the county or senatorial district convention.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">SECTION 10. Amends RPT Rule 28 to provide for county conventions in all counties in the event senatorial districts are not set, as evidenced by the close of filing for the general primary, one week prior to the date set for county or senatorial district conventions.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">SECTION 11. Amends RPT Rule 29 to remove language relating to precinct conventions and delegates.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">SECTION 12. Amends RPT Rule 30 to require administration of the Oath of Affiliation as the first item of business at the County or Senatorial District Convention. Requires a roll call of precincts represented. Requires the announcement of the separate and combined voting strength of each precinct. Removes the Report of the Credentials Committee as an agenda item.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">SECTION 13. Amends RPT Rule 32 to require that state delegate and alternate lists include a VUID for each delegate and alternate and be submitted in electronic form to RPT.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">SECTION 14. Amends RPT Rule 33 to allow electronic mailing of convention call to delegates and alternates. Requires SREC members to recommend temporary committee members and caucus chairs within 10 days of the County and Senatorial District Conventions.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">SECTION 15. Amends RPT Rule 38 to provide that withdrawn or deceased presidential candidates votes be deemed votes for uncommitted delegates and alternates; deletes language relating to replacement of delegates of withdrawn or deceased presidential candidates. Deletes language relating to assignment of uncommitted and committed delegates and alternates at State Convention. Requires the State Chairman, upon the SREC’s canvass of the presidential primary, to assign delegates in proportion to the statewide presidential vote. Clarifies that RNC members are uncommitted delegates. Provides for announcement of vote at national convention on a directly proportional basis related to the statewide presidential vote, with no poll taken of members for announcement of the vote. Allows for replacement of vacant delegate and alternate positions by the Chairman of the National Nominations Committee of the State Convention. Requires that delegates and alternates affiliate with the Republican Party by oath or voting in the Republican Primary.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div>Don Zimmermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02639489223843453885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38479691.post-48861184779265812842012-02-21T22:09:00.001-06:002012-02-22T12:11:03.134-06:00McCormick & Schmick's Exits Congress Location; Have You Noticed All the Others?My wife and I enjoyed going to the downtown McCormick & Schmick's for our anniversary, Valentines Day or other special occasions. It was fun going downtown and the food was great. We loved the hustle and bustle of our great capitol. From 2004 to 2011, our time in Austin, we went there many times.<br />
<br />
We just learned though that M&S downtown, at the corner of 4th and Congress has closed. Sad day.<br />
<br />
Even sadder though is the fact that M&S isn't alone. Walk down Congress and notice what I noticed last week, that store after store has gone out of business and empty store fronts are now more numerous than operating businesses. I can't name them because I am not the frequent shopper or downtown walker now, but at one time I was, when I worked downtown on fourth and Congress, across from M&S. When I'd walk to meetings I always noticed the stores because I love the buildings up and down Congress, and I liked the businesses that fit their stores to the neat architectural diversity on the main street of our state Capitol.<br />
<br />
<br />
I don't work downtown anymore and only infrequently get down there for various business meetings. But last week I had the chance to walk from the Starbucks on 6th and Congress to 823 Congress. I just happened to be looking around and started to notice the empty storefronts and I mentioned something to one of colleagues. They hadn't really noticed it, but they weren't at one time a downtown walker, like me.<br />
<br />
My point is simply this. Something is going on, and it ain't good. Downtown -- on its main street of Congress just south of the Capitol is dying right now.<br />
<br />
Wondering if any other Travis Monitor readers are seeing the same where they live or shop or walk? Please let us know. I sure hope this is an isolated situation. I fear that the Obama economy is slowly starting to hit the once prosperous, vibrant, downtown business corridor, as evidenced by the dearth of downtown store fronts. Say it ain't so.Joe Gimenezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948890491595684543noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38479691.post-19003351871903814732012-02-08T09:54:00.002-06:002012-02-08T09:54:37.125-06:00Kay Bailey Hutchinson Responds to Constituent Letter about Obama Assault on Religious Liberty of Catholics<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">Dear Friend:</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"> Thank you
for contacting me about protecting religious freedom and individual rights of
conscience. I appreciate your thoughts and comments.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"> Like you,
I am outraged and concerned about recently issued federal regulations that
would deprive Americans of important aspects of constitutionally protected
religious freedom. I support legislation that would restore and protect
these important, constitutionally guaranteed rights.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"> All three
branches of the federal government -- the Supreme Court, Congress, and a
succession of presidents -- have recognized that individuals should not be
required to engage in certain activities that conflict with their religious
beliefs or moral convictions. For instance, the 1973 Church Amendment
provides that individuals and health care entities receiving federal health
care funds may not be required to perform abortions or sterilization procedures
if the procedures conflict with their personal or religious beliefs. The
amendment also prohibits federal grantees from discriminating against employees
who decline to participate in services that they find morally objectionable.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"> The Obama
administration, however, recently issued a final regulation (under the sweeping
health care law enacted in 2010) that requires organizations to include a wide
range of free, FDA-approved contraceptive and sterilization services under the
private-insurance coverage plans offered to their workers. This
regulation, which is to take effect in August 2013, requires faith-based
organizations, universities, and other non-profits to do so, even in direct
conflict with religious beliefs or moral principles.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"> Two
Senate bills have been introduced that seek to reverse the new regulation and
reinforce freedom of religion and rights of conscience. Senator Roy Blunt
(R-MO) introduced S. 1467, the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act of 2011,
which would amend the 2010 health care law to permit a health plan to decline
coverage, without any penalty, of specific services that are contrary to the
religious beliefs of the sponsor. I support the thrust of this
legislation, which is currently being reviewed by the Senate Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions, on which I do not serve.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"> I have
cosponsored Senator Marco Rubio's (R-FL) bill, S. 2043, the Religious Freedom
Restoration Act of 2012. It is a more narrowly focused approach that
would prohibit the federal government from penalizing an organization or an
individual for choosing not to provide contraceptive or sterilization services
as part of its health insurance plan.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"> Please be
assured that I will keep your views in mind as these bills are considered by
the Senate. I appreciate hearing from you. Please do not hesitate
to contact me again about any issue that is important to you.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">Sincerely,</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">Kay Bailey Hutchison</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">United States Senator</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">284 Russell Senate Office Building</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">Washington, DC 20510</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">202-224-5922 (tel)</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">202-224-0776 (fax)</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><a href="http://hutchison.senate.gov/">http://hutchison.senate.gov</a></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>Joe Gimenezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948890491595684543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38479691.post-8561119164366591952012-02-06T11:02:00.002-06:002012-02-06T13:38:26.470-06:00More on the Attacks on Religious LibertyIn her Saturday column (<a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203889904577199523577373982.html?mod=WSJ_hp_mostpop_read">A Battle the President Can't Win</a>) in the Wall Street Journal this weekend, Peggy Noonan put the President's attack on Catholic religious liberty in perspective this weekend:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The president signed off on a Health and Human Services ruling that
says that under ObamaCare, Catholic institutions—including charities,
hospitals and schools—will be required by law, for the first time ever,
to provide and pay for insurance coverage that includes contraceptives,
abortion-inducing drugs and sterilization procedures. If they do not,
they will face ruinous fines in the millions of dollars. Or they can
always go out of business. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
In other words, the Catholic Church was told this week that its institutions can't be Catholic anymore. </blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
I invite you to imagine the moment we are living in without the
church's charities, hospitals and schools. And if you know anything
about those organizations, you know it is a fantasy that they can afford
millions in fines.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
There was no reason to make this ruling—none. Except ideology.</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The conscience clause, which keeps the church itself from having to
bow to such decisions, has always been assumed to cover the church's
institutions. </blockquote>
And the Media Research Center has been following the mainstream news channels coverage of the Obama administration's suppression of Catholic religious liberties. Actually, it's not coverage. It's non-coverage. If you haven't been hearing about it, there's a reason. See:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<a href="http://www.mrc.org/biasalert/2012/20120201101912.aspx">CBS Avoids Catholic Clash with Obama, Focuses on Church Being Stolen Blind</a> <br />
<a href="http://www.mrc.org/biasalert/2012/20120202064339.aspx">Nets Rush to Defend Planned Parenthood, Ignore Catholics Dispute with Obama</a><br />
<a href="http://www.mrc.org/biasalert/2012/20120206100852.aspx">Network Newscasts Blackout of Mandate on Catholics Continues, But Sunday Talk Shows Take It Up</a></blockquote>
Enjoy it when it happens to you too!Joe Gimenezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948890491595684543noreply@blogger.com0