As I have posted on other threads, I was there, literally, been there, done that and got the t-shirt.
First ever Texas straw poll, and Denise pegs it, this lead balloon fell over when legislature failed to move the primary. Big we are, but by the time we hold an election, the Republican candidate will have been annointed.
Anyone thinking this is a measure of Texas Republican opinion is deluded. Mind you, I met Duncan Fri. very impressive, but with this turnout, any delegate with a bit of patience could meet any candidate who showed.
It was not a total waste for me, I got to grip & grin with old allies and worthy opponents from Rules committee, sort of feel out the waters amongst the true political junkies, only 1,300 showed out of about 30,000 eligible
One surprise was the degree of support Ron Paul had with the old Make-us-a-caucus-state and adopt-by-reference-the-King-James-New-Testament-as-Platform hard core religious right. Also, if you get the chance to hear a who-dat candidate from Georgia, Ray McKinney, he makes Hunter look like an odds on favorite, but gives a really great speech. He ain’t Alan Keyes, but really good, it wouldn’t hurt a real candidate to study Ray’s game tapes.
Fun, but “sound and fury, signifying nothing”, to quote the Bard.
Thank you for posting a first hand account of the event.
It’s always good to have the perspective of one who was an eye witness.