Free Republic

Bailing out a leaky boat may be the only way to prevent it from sinking, but bailing out sinking banks with taxpayer dollars is no way to keep our economy from sinking. I was one of the House conservatives who opposed the massive bank bailout last October because I didn’t believe that government was smarter than the stock market. And now that about $350 billion in taxpayers’ money has been spent without much success, I think it should stop right now. That’s why when Congress reconvenes -- presumably Monday -- I’ll introduce legislation to give all Americans a two-month income...

Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco, said today he’s staying in Congress despite speculation he was being considered for Veteran Affairs secretary. The Waco Democrat said Sunday he told President-elect Barack Obama’s transition team that he’ll continue representing his Texas district where voters this month re-elected him to a 10th term. Edwards, who is chairman of the House Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Committee, said he believed he could be more effective in Congress than the Cabinet. Edwards defeated Republican Rob Curnock to win a 10th term on Nov. 4. He was also reported to be on Obama’s short list of...

Gov. Perry: Amnesty for Illegals 'Asinine' Texas Governor Rick Perry tells Newsmax TV the country would be much better off if it were run like states with Republican governors. He also minces no words about illegal immigration. He calls it Assinine!

A bit like the weather, partisan judicial races seem to be something many people complain about but few do anything to change. But unlike the weather, change is a possibility. That fact again gained a toehold in political discussions after last week's near-sweep of district court seats in Harris County by Democratic candidates. It was, in the words of American cultural guru Yogi Berra, deja vu all over again. In 1994, Republicans swept through the local courthouse like a West Texas windstorm, knocking out 19 judges and leaving a single civil court seat in the hands of its Democratic occupant....

As they review the results of Tuesday's election victories and begin looking toward future campaigns, some Democrats have settled on a rallying cry: Texas is next. It sounds improbable for the Republican bastion that produced President Bush and served as an early laboratory for Karl Rove's hard-nosed tactics. But Texas is one of several reliably red states that are now in Democrats' sights as party strategists begin to analyze a victorious 2008 campaign that they believe showed the contours of a new movement that could grow and prove long-lasting. A multiethnic bloc of Latinos, blacks, young people and suburban whites...

As Diane Guzman left home Wednesday to take her children to school, tears began streaming down her face when she saw that her Tahoe's back window was shattered. Then she and her children noticed police lights up and down her block and in the neighborhood. Guzman, who lives in the 4900 block of 59th Street, was one of about 130 vehicle owners victimized overnight by vandals who randomly shot out windows in the southwest quadrant of Lubbock. Most of the vehicles targeted were SUVs. Some blocks had vehicle after vehicle with shattered windows. Most reports were concentrated in the area...

Texas Democrats were poised to pick up seats in the Texas Legislature, including their first gain in the Senate in a decade, but their dreams of grabbing a majority in the House faded in the wee hours Wednesday. Veteran Sen. Kim Brimer, R-Fort Worth, was defeated by Democrat Wendy Davis. Democrats also brought down a House committee chairman, Rep. Tony Goolsby, R-Dallas. But the Democrats had their share of losses, too, making it difficult to say how many seats each party would have when the dust settled. Two House races remained too close for The Associated Press to call. Rep....

No article from the Houston Chronicle yet, probably because they endorsed Nick "SorosBoy" Lampson, (along with NObama) but Pete Olson(R) was just declared the winner of his HR TX-22 race (Tom DeLay's old seat). What a great win to send carpetbagger Lampson and the Soros Shadow Party packing. Thanks everyone that worked very hard to make this happen! As the saying goes… “Don’t Mess With Texas” - FlA U.S. House District 22 In: 94% (Latest, 11.05.08-12:45ET) Nick Lampson, D (I) 135,655 45.4% Pete Olson, R 156,632 52.4% (Declared Winner) John Wieder, L 6,492 2.2% U.S. House District 22 In: 60%...

... if anyone's counting. I've been waiting to tally the last big newspaper endorsement, and the El Paso Times finally weighed in over the weekend with a nod for John McCain. It was a notable edit for its relative tardiness (early voting was over with) and for this characterization of Barack Obama: He often sounds more like Venezuelan despot Hugo Chavez than a U.S. presidential candidate. What's down the road, nationalization of oil companies, health -care providers and more? Whew! At least our newspaper gave Mr. O respect in our recommendation editorial of John McCain. The El Paso endorsement rounds...

McCain Ahead of Obama in Texas; 23 Percent Believe Obama Is Muslim ... News from the University of Texas at Austin, TX - 6 hours ago The poll surveyed 550 registered voters in Texas Oct. 15-22, and had a margin of error of 4.2 percent. When asked to identify Obama's religion, ...

Full Interview Video - 8:08 Minutes Invoking William Ayers and Rev. Jeremiah Wright on MSNBC’s Hardball with Chris Matthews, former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay declared that Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) is a radical and a Marxist. Matthews asked DeLay if he was comfortable with the McCain campaign using phrases like, socialist, communist, anti-American. DeLay said “absolutely". Referring to his recent interview with Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN), Matthews said, “We had someone on this show the other day who said Obama should be checked out for being anti-American. Where would you put him, do you think he’s anti-American?” DeLay said,...

10.26.08 Videos: TV ads against SorosBoy Lampson: Olson for Congress: “Just Ask Nick” | NRCC Ad: Nick Lampson's Misplaced Priorities 10.26.08 Houston Chronicle: Most Republicans — and some Democrats — thought Democrat Nick Lampson would be a one-term wonder following the resignation of former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay. But Lampson has been an effective lawmaker. Still, he faces a strong GOP challenger in Pete Olson and the district is very Republican. If Lampson holds on, it will symbolize the GOP's lost opportunities of 2008. 10.25.08 Fox News: This is Tom DeLay's old seat. DeLay made the seat less Republican...

- - Nick Lampson's Voter Fraud Attacks on Pete Olson "Ironic" HOUSTON - As news came out that the FBI was investigating the liberal organization ACORN for voter fraud, Houston-area conservatives blasted Rep. Nick Lampson for his recent, baseless allegations against Pete Olson. CCM members called on Nick Lampson to repudiate ACORN's actions, citing Congressman Nick Lampson's consistent support of ACORN's legislative efforts in Washington. "I find it ironic that Nick Lampson would make these half-baked, egregious allegations of voter fraud against Pete Olson, when in reality he supports an extremely controversial organization that is currently under investigation by the...

Lampson, Olson stake claims on Political Spectrum Houston Chronicle (Endorses both Lampson and Obama - FlA) by Alan Berstein October 22, 2008 Abstract: Rascally liberal Jim Hightower, the former Texas agriculture commissioner, gets credit for the phrase, "There's nothing in the middle of the road but yellow stripes and dead armadillos." Key questions in the Houston-area race between Democratic U.S. Rep. Nick Lampson and Republican former Senate aide Pete Olson are whether Lampson has earned his middle-of-the-road stripes — and whether his political career will die there Nov. 4. Lampson has tried to relieve the odd fit ever since, saying...

John McCain is moving ahead in Texas, where he now tops Barack Obama by 10 points, 54% to 44%, in the latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in the state. For the four previous months, McCain has led by nine. His new 54% showing is also his highest ever since polling on the race in Texas began in the spring. Forty-four percent (44%) is also Obama's best showing to date. Now just one percent (1%) of Texas voters say they are undecided. Seventy-two percent (72%) believe McCain will carry the Lone Star State on Election Day,

Fort Bend County – Monday’s debate between District 22’s U.S. Representative Nick Lampson and his Republican challenger Pete Olson lasted a little over an hour. From the moment it started it was certainly charged. The debate was their one and only meeting on the campaign trail, and it was peppered with attacks and wise cracks. Even with the spirited debate, there is still a question as to which direction the district will fall. It is Tom Delay's old seat, and he gave up under a cloud of legal problems and ethical questions. After Delay resigned, election laws kept Republicans off...

The United States is in crisis. The economy is melting down. Our military is at war on two fronts. Americans approach this election in understandable fear and anger, especially at the incumbent Republican president who, however unjustly, bears the brunt of the blame for the crisis. Americans want change, yes, but banking on change alone is a risky proposition. Both Barack Obama and John McCain offer new deals to a tense, weary nation. In better times, America could afford to consider entrusting the White House to an appealing newcomer like Mr. Obama and giving control of the presidency and Congress...

The political arm of Veterans of Foreign Wars on Saturday endorsed Democratic U.S. Rep. Nick Lampson, who did not serve in the military, over Republican challenger Pete Olson, a former Navy pilot and Pentagon liaison. Also, the National Rifle Association made its backing of Lampson official, months after signaling its support of his legislative votes for gun ownership rights.

The same thing that gives Republican incumbent U.S. Sen. John Cornyn headaches in his re-election campaign gives Democratic challenger Rick Noriega hope of an upset — an unsettled electorate that makes voter turnout hard to predict. The first-term senator wouldn't have anything to worry about in an ordinary election. A Democrat hasn't won a Senate race in Texas in 20 years or carried the state in a presidential contest in 30 years. Cornyn has led in the polls and enjoyed a fundraising advantage of almost 5-1 over Noriega. Nevertheless, the polls have never shown Cornyn with a lock on re-election...

President: Sen. Barack Obama is a fresh face in modern politics, but he may have immerged on the scene a little too soon. His contagious hopefulness no doubt inspired many young voters to enter democracy for the first time. His impact on voter interest is unquestionable. How he might govern leaves most of us still scratching our heads. Obama’s recent announcement that he would “spread the wealth” sent chills down the spine of those who champion a capitalistic society, not a socialistic one. On the flipside, Sen. John McCain is a known commodity, a lawmaker with decades of admirable public...