Highlights from Texas Republican convention

Associated Press / Fort Wayne News Sentinal ^ | Sat, June 3, 2006

[SwinneySwitch]

"I'm glad that Bobbie didn't push for a floor fight, like Gina Parker did last convention."

Me too! But I think you're getting Gina confused with Mark Cole and the floor vote with Bill Crocker, after the convention was informed that President Reagan had died. Gina had already graciously conceded, like Bobby Eberle did this time.

I think the MSM will attempt to ignore Dr. Armstrong, like they have the three statwide elected black Republicans.

[hocndoc]

Dr. Eberle showed grace under fire. I'm glad that Dr. Armstrong won, though.

Medical doctor beats rocket scientist! (Okay, that's my take on it, as a medical doctor, anyway.)

[rock58seg]

One of the amusing stories that happened in our SD 21 caucus was Michael Esparza delivering a speech just after Congressman Bonilla. Michael gave a really good speech asking for support, However, forgot to mention his own name until asked. He was a little flustered by that until it was pointed out that the Congressman also had not mentioned his own name.

Michael is not on the ballot in Bexar County, but, I would ask that those of you in South Texas make a special effort to vote for, and support this nice young man.

[anymouse]

I have never hid my association with Dr. Armstrong.

I didn't accuse BD2K of being too close to Eberle, I did comment that he might have sour grapes over Dr. Armstrong's victory because had Eberle won instead he might have benefited career-wise from that. I'm not a political science type.

I do web site work for candidates campaigns and businesses, but it isn't even my main career focus, just a recent sideline of my IT business. As much as I would hope that Dr. Armstrong's ascension in State GOP politics may have a benefit to me, I doubt it will and I certainly am not counting on it doing so.

I knew and supported Robin long before he asked me to do his web site. And frankly had I supported Eberle instead, it might have been more beneficial to my on-line ventures that have potential to integrate with Eberle's GOPUSA. I may suffer considerably, should Eberle share BD2K's sour grape grudge. But I take Eberle at his word, that he will take the high ground and work for the best interest of the Party.

Unlike some, politics does not consume my entire life, even if lately I've become more politically active than I had the opportunity to ever be. I do what I can, when I can, for the advancement of the conservative principles that make the GOP a great party to belong to. That is common trait that I share with Dr. Armstrong.

[anymouse]

SS,

Thanks for correcting my poor memory. Now that you mention it now, it does come back that it was Bill Crocker's opponent that played the sore loser. And unlike Gina Parker, who is still very active in Party activism, Cole seems to have fallen off the face of the Earth.

Cole dug his political grave deeper at a time when we should have been focused on memorializing President Reagan. I vaguely remember Cole or someone else making an inappropriate comparison to Reagan in a speech. It didn't go over well with the gathered assembly and probably made the winning margin larger for Crocker over Cole in the floor vote.

The MSM may try to ignore Dr. Armstrong, Chief Justice Jefferson, Supreme Court Justice Wainwright and Railroad Commissioner Williams, but I don't think black Texans (and those from other states) will ignore the fact that these very capable and highly respected men are leading the Republican Party, rather than being mere token candidates.

[BellStar]

"But you can bet they eventually will be gunning for Robin like they have gone after other prominent black Republican officials."

Yes! I saw a website this morning "for $12.95 get all the dirt on Robin Armstrong". Sheesh, its already started.

[pkajj]

In SD4, Robin Armstrong won by one vote (170 - 169). The delegate sitting beside me flipped her vote at the last second to vote for Armstrong. A small example of the concept that "every vote counts".

[Redbob]

Who in the world is Robin Armstrong, and how did he defeat a proven Republican conservative activist for this important post?

Was Tina Benkiser behind this? She certainly doesn't want conservatives in responsible positions in the Texas GOP, does she?

[Redbob]

"...he has been an active Republican at the local level in Galveston County for the past eight years."

That long, eh?
</sarcasm>

[Redbob]

" I had real problems in the middle when the party advocated cumpulsory counseling for all troubled marriages,... None of that crap is the government's *bleeping* business!!"

Not the government's business?

Where did you get your marriage license?

[american spirit]

I certainly agree with you.......for many years I've watched in dismay as the higher level socialists in the Tx. Rep. party totally disregard the hard work of the grassroots activists in the state of Tx.

[ricer1]

According to www.quorumreport.com/buzz/buzz.cfm (scroll down to the June 2nd section) a three-page proposal on immigration was voted on by the Platform Committee. Did that pass and did the general delegation vote for it to be in the platform? (I wasn't able to make it to the convention because of my wife's surgery.)

-ricer1

[Redbob]

"We need to re-elect those who are closest to our viewpoint, but let them know that they need to fix the situation."

You don't think that our elected officials even so much as glance at the Party platform, do you?

Even though I'm on our platform committee here in SD12, I'm under no illusions as to its importance.

[ricer1]

You don't think that our elected officials even so much as glance at the Party platform, do you?

I know that State Rep. Charlie Howard does and he has much interest in its contents. Sadly, he's probably one of 3 or 4 that do. My own State Rep. Dan Flynn is also well acquanted with the platform, but so many of the elected R's don't give a rat's pattootee about it. Still, it's an important statement of principle that we hope would have influence on future legislation and current law that needs rewriting. -ricer1

[ricer1]

Hey Redbob, I notice on your freeper site that you are a motorcyclist and shooter. So am I. I rode to work this morn on my Yamaha V-Star 1100 Classic ('06). But it's been over a year since I've gone to the shooting range and thrown lead at a target.

-ricer1

[GulfBreeze]

Robin is awesome. RPT is awesome. Eberly is awesome.

We are a blessed group.

The Republican Party will have big things ahead for Bobby Eberly.

Just notice that the gripers aren't lamenting the loss of Bobby (they are fair weather friends indeed) rather they are continuing in their hateful spew against Tina.

Some people don't want to do anything so they would rather tear in and just hate.

They do good people like Bobby Eberle and Gina Parker a grave injustice.

Saw Gina by the way on her way into the convention Saturday morning and gave her a big hug. Told her thanks taking the high road and refusing to be used by the malcontents. I never got to thank Bobby after the convention but I did see him and his wife during the convention and told them how much I admired the clean strong race.

Watch for BIG BIG things from Robin and his service to the GOP. He is an phenominal guy. I am proud of the approx 3500 stickers I and my children handed out for Robin at the convention over the two days.

[BUSHdude2000]

Who in the world is Robin Armstrong, and how did he defeat a proven Republican conservative activist for this important post? Was Tina Benkiser behind this? She certainly doesn't want conservatives in responsible positions in the Texas GOP, does she?

Redbob, you are exactly right. Tina and the entire RPT staff were behind this. Why would she work so hard for this guy over a proven entity? She had Bobby trailed all day Friday with one of her flunkies reporting back where Bobby was and what he was doing.

[DrewsDad]

You don't think that our elected officials even so much as glance at the Party platform, do you?

I doubt many of them actually sit down and read it, but I think most will take note that 45% of those who get out to help with their campaigns were not pleased with HB3.

The press will only report on the platform if they think they can gain an advantage for their viewpoint. If we would have adopted the amendment, you can bet it would have been headlines throughout the state, "Texas Republican Party Calls for Repeal of Perry Business Tax" with a quote from Strayhorn and others.

Thanks for serving on the Platform Committee. Y'all did a great job.

[BellStar]

Did you see this?

http://www.jarbobayoutimes.com/RobinArmstrong.HTML

[anymouse]

Well in SD 11, the home district of both Robin and Bobbie, Robin won nearly 3 to 1.

Like Algore in the 2000 Presidential election, if you can't win over your own neighbors how can you expect to win over others who don't know you as well?

Even with such a lopsided vote in SD 11, it was generally understood that Bobbie was also a good candidate, just not as good as Robin.

BTW, of the 3 county delegations that make up SD 11 (Galveston, Brazoria and Harris Counties) Bobbie should have had the advantage with Harris being the largest and Brazoria being just under Galveston in delegation size. Obviously Robin won over a lot of Harris and Brazoria delegates, like he won over the majority of other Texas delegates. The fact that many other SD caucus votes were close only shows how evenly matched the candidates were.