Free Republic

Gay Candidates Get Support That Causes May Not By JAMES C. McKINLEY Jr. December 27, 2009 HOUSTON — When an openly gay woman won the mayor’s race here this month, it was the latest in a string of victories by gay candidates across the country, a trend that seems to contradict the bans on same-sex marriage that have been passed in most states in recent years. Charles Pugh said his sexuality did not play a role in his race for Detroit’s City Council. Lupe Valdez won a bitter race in Texas in 2004, a year before the state banned same-sex...

The southern city of Houston has become the largest US metropolis to elect an openly gay mayor when Annise Parker, an open lesbian, claimed a solid victory over her rival. "I know what this win means to many of us who thought we could never achieve high office," she said in her victory speech, at which she introduced her partner Kathy and their three children, according to the Houston Chronicle. "I understand, because I feel it, too. But now, from this moment, let us join as one community," said Parker, 53. According to local election data, Democrat Parker won about...

Houston, Texas has become the largest city in the United States to elect an openly gay mayor after City Controller Annise Parker was declared the winner of a runoff election tonight. Social conservatives fought her election, funding a campaign aimed at turning out likeminded voters to support her opponent, former city attorney Gene Locke. But Parker's endorsements from labor, police, women's, gay rights and other groups were echoed by the Houston Chronicle, the area's major daily newspaper, and her campaign ran a superior get-out-the-vote effort.

HOUSTON (AP) - Annise Parker has an unbeatable lead over Gene Locke in Houston's hotly contested mayoral election, meaning she will become the city's first openly gay mayor. The Harris County elections Web site says 53.62 percent of voters who turned out Saturday chose Parker. Her rival, former city attorney Gene Locke, was pitching to become the city's second black mayor.

On Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009, the day after the Elections, in which the GOP took both State Houses in VA and NJ, 7 top elected Hardin County, TX officials held a joint news conference, and all 7 switched from the Democratic Party to the GOP. Could this be the beginning of a "movement" ?

City Controller Annise Parker is expected to face former City Attorney Gene Locke in a runoff to be the next mayor of Houston. Political pundits had long predicted that Parker, with her strong base of inside-the-loop support, was all but a shoo-in for the runoff. Parker herself had felt just as confident, and with more than 90 percent of the precincts reporting, her confidence appeared justified.

Democrats have held the Houston City Mayor's office and most of the City Council seats for a long time. However, in next Tuesday's election, Roy Morales, a Republican, is running against several well-funded democrats. I expect the democrats to split the liberal vote. Morales can win if all the conservatives get off their duff and VOTE. Turnout will be very light in this off-year election which means that conservative votes will be more important than ever. See Gary Polland's excellent website which rates the candidates based on their conservative value scores: http://www.texasconservativereview.com/

The Texas unemployment rate rose to 8 percent for the first time in 22 years. Leisure, construction and manufacturing were the hardest-hit industries last month, losing a combined 35,500 jobs.

State job losses accelerated in June, as Texas employers slashed payrolls by 40,600, according to data released Friday by the Texas Workforce Commission. The Texas unemployment rate rose to 7.5 percent in June, the highest rate in more than 16 years. The state's payrolls shrank by 2.6 percent during the first six months of the year, a slightly faster rate of decline than the 2.5 percent fall in the nation as a whole. Last month, the trade, transportation and utilities category, which includes the retail business, shed 21,700 jobs. Payrolls shrank by 11,900 jobs in professional and business services. Manufacturing...

Texas Survey of 500 Likely Voters Conducted April 16, 2009 By Rasmussen Reports How closely have you followed recent news stories about the “tea party” protests? 44% Very closely 27% Somewhat closely 23% Not very closely 6% Not at all 1% Not sure2* Do individual states have the right to leave the United States and form an independent country?31% Yes 55% No 14% Not sure3* If you could vote on the issue, would you vote for Texas to remain in the United States or to secede from the United States and form an independent country of Texas?76% For Texas to...

Thirty-one percent (31%) of Texas voters say that their state has the right to secede from the United States and form an independent country. However, the latest Rasmussen Reports poll in the state finds that if the matter was put to a vote, it wouldn’t even be close. Three-fourths (75%) of Lone Star State voters would opt to remain in the United States. Only 18% would vote to secede, and seven percent (7%) are not sure what they'd choose.

The idea of secession gets under the skin of liberals like few other things can. And this is so because secession trumps their power grabs. When someone like Perry says his state has the right to leave the union if the federal government doesn’t uphold their end of the bargain, it’s a stark reminder that “the federal government exists by and for the states, not the other way around.” And Perry has been open to the thought of breaking with the union as a last resort for some time now. Just last week, on April 9, he announced his support...

Fredericksburg, Texas, population 10,500 (2005 census) Huge turnout for a small town. What this post can't convey is the support from all the truckers passing through with full-volume air horns of support. One had to hear it to understand. The estimated Tea Party crowd was 500 people. The Marketplaz was filled to the brim as speaker after speaker entertained the crowd of democrats, independents, and republicans. Even Thomas Jefferson showed up and reminded the crowd of the responsibilities of each and every American. Thomas Jefferson & Mayor of Fredericksburg, TexasThe court house crowd...the overflow crowd stayed at the Marketplaz.

Here are some pictures of the Fort Worth Tea Party at LaGrave Field. Pretty good turnout for hardly any advertising. I am not that good at estimating crowds, but I would say at least a 1000 or more people? We even left a little early and people were still showing up. The crowd was cheering and enthusiastic, well behaved and orderly. Not much, if any sign of the media, besides what appeared to be a news helicopter flying overhead, but I am not sure. Even Governor Rick Perry showed up... Yours truly, trying to look patriotic...

Gov. Rick Perry’s (R-Texas) star is rising among a new constituency — the anti-tax “tea party” crowd — in the wake of his recent endorsement of a Texas state House resolution affirming the state’s sovereignty. The resolution urges that “all compulsory federal legislation that directs states to comply under threat of civil or criminal penalties or sanctions or that requires states to pass legislation or lose federal funding be prohibited or repealed.” Perry’s public embrace of that language — a thinly veiled reference toward the conditions set by the Obama administration’s financial stimulus package — and his efforts to reject...

Texas Gov. Perry Defies Obama & Reaffirms State of Texas Sovereignty Under 10 Amendment. "Let Texas decide what's best for Texas," he says. The "Lone Star" in a sea of Totalitarianism. Thank you Gov. Perry for standing up for individual and state rights! Bravo; you are a Conservative hero.