Posted on 01/05/2009 7:43:57 AM PST by MeekOneGOP
Craddick quits House speaker's race; Straus poised to take over
08:55 AM CST on Monday, January 5, 2009
AUSTIN – With a promise to end partisan clashes, newcomer and moderate Republican Joe Straus of San Antonio is poised to become the new Texas House speaker after toppling 40-year veteran Tom Craddick of Midland. In a meteoric rise, the two-term lawmaker won overwhelming support from 72 Democrats and 16 Republicans who said they were seeking a less combative atmosphere in the Capitol. Straus released a list Sunday night of 88 lawmakers – out of the 150 House members – who have pledged to vote for him when the Legislature convenes Jan. 13. In nothing short of a palace intrigue, the affable Straus managed to become the consensus candidate of upstart Republicans while he worked furiously to attract an almost insurmountable bloc of Democrats. He all but cemented his candidacy in a whirlwind 48 hours. Straus showed his winning hand just minutes before the three-term speaker was due to meet with his confederates and map out a strategy to take his fourth term. Craddick, who has been speaker since 2003, instead withdrew shortly after Straus released his list. But Craddick continued the meeting at a downtown Austin restaurant with his supporters, who said they would still fight for a more experienced, conservative Republican as speaker. They emerged from their meeting saying that 55 Craddick supporters would be backing Rep. John Smithee of Amarillo and hoped to win over Straus supporters with pressure from GOP grass-roots groups. "There will be tremendous pressure on Republicans to come back to where they belong," said Will Hartnett, R-Dallas.
(Excerpt) Read more at dallasnews.com ...
Straus just became publicly interested in this on Friday. He was just now on the Mark Davis Show on WBAP 820AM here in Dallas.
His support to become House Speaker is OVERWHELMINGLY by Democrats. Only 16 GOP support him, while 72 Democraps support him.
WHY am I getting the willies and thinking that the Democraps are poised to take over control (HIJACKING) if Straus is the one ???
"I smell a 'RAT", pardon the pun!!!!
NOT funny.
Hey! What the heck is goin’ on here in Texas ???
See my comment in #1.
I have a BAAAAAAAD feeling here since this Straus guy
is HUGELY supported by Democraps.
I didn’t vote for Conservative Republicans here in Texas
to have my representation be DEMOCRAPS, ya know ?!?!?!
What gives here ???
I smell a ‘RAT !!!
- - - - - - - -
Pingin’ some Texans and some other great folks here, too!
Think you smell a rat????? KBH will be your next Governor unless you join in to stop her. That is a rat!!! NOWAYKAY
Ping
I hate to post and run but I gotta head to work.
I just HAD to post this on FR since I didn’t see
it here when I looked.
Interested to see your comments here tonight when
I get back here.
Y’all have a GREAT day!!!
Thanks for the ping!
Thanks for posting this. I looked earlier, but no luck.
Craddick drops bid for speaker race
Concerning Straus, Quorum Report(Click Daily Buzz):
In the face of withering criticism from pro-life activist groups, Republican speaker candidate Joe Straus shared a note he sent to his colleagues last night.
He wrote, "This will clarify my position on the important life issue:
"As you know I believe in the sanctity of life. I am consistent with existing restrictions on abortion including parental notification/parental consent. I believe exceptions should exist for rape, incest and harm to the life of the Mother. That said, I fervently hope abortion is the rarest medical procedure conducted in 2009 and beyond.
"In terms of the work before us in the Texas House, I will look to elected House Members for thoughtful policy guidance on this important subject."
Quorum Report listed 3 more Straus Republican pledges(Patricia Harless, Mike “Tuffy” Hamilton, Angie Chen Button)
If you have a rep on this Straus list, contact them to get them to vote for Smithee.
The last count I saw was something like 94 onboard the Strauss vote. With a new speaker there will be changes in the committee leadership so look for an entirely new face on the Texas House. If the Repubs don’t get cracking they are headed to losing the House come 2010.
When does the next redistricting take place? Is it in the 2011 Legislative session? If so by that time the democrats may control the House and still hold sway in the Senate with enough to block any legislation.
Apparently change is on the way in Texas also.
January 5, 2009 South Texas Republicans Newsletter
Citizen Journalism Focused on Liberty, Conservatism and Independent Thought
Dear SwinneySwitch,
Newsletter: The Real Republican History of Joe Straus, Candidate for Speaker
http://www.southtexasrepublicans.com/
Opinion by Joe Solis, Editor, South Texas Republicans
There is something in his D.N.A. Yes, it is in the blood of the man.
How do I know? I read history. Let me share some with you.
“John Tower was at our house for dinner. He called and asked for a meeting. He wanted a meeting of four or five of us. He wanted to talk about his future.”
“First thing I did was have an event for him at our house. I started with the hard people first. I invited the conservative Democrats- the Louis Stumbergs and the Woodward Altgelts- the people that wouldn’t come to Tower because he’s the father of the Republican Party of Texas.”
“We had twelve or eighteen conservative Democrat leaders in our living room. I left the room and I let the men- it was all men there, good old boys- sit and talk about how he envisioned his upcoming campaign.”
- Joci Straus, Mother of State Representative Joe Straus
From Grassroots Women: A Memoir of the Texas Republican Party by Meg McKain Grier
The Straus family is one of the founders of modern Republican Party of Texas. They were around when this state was dominated by powerful Democrats. It was the Straus family that had the vision, energy, persistence and passion to launch a political revolution at the grassroots level. Joe Strauss III was right there at the beginning.
It is baffling to hear recent critics question his Republican credentials. He worked for President Ronald Reagan and he also served in the first Bush administration. His bio is clear as Austrian crystal, “As an active Republican, Representative Straus has previously served on the Management Committee of the Bexar County Republican Party, as a precinct chairman, and on numerous campaign committees for federal, state, and local candidates.”
In his quest for the position of Speaker he is being supported by over 70 Democrats.
Should Texas Republicans be concerned?
Think about this. Was Senator Tower a sellout when we solicited the support of Democrats?
Was the Straus family wrong to reach out to potential Tower supporters who were not Republicans?
This is what I call Straus Strategic Leadership.
The goal is to obtain political objectives by reaching out and attracting support from diverse quarters. This is accomplished by listening and working with others. The essence of the Straus style is to lead in a manner that is elegant, bold and refined.
The use of savvy political skills that resemble fine Chinese poetry is what readjusted the career of a 40 year House veteran yesterday afternoon. Outflanking Speaker Craddick was a work of art.
We are in need of a new political revolution in Texas, the kind that was started in the living room of the Straus family over 40 years ago. The changing demographics of Texas is making one thing clear. If we do not change we are going to be left in the “ash heap of history.”
He may not be picture perfect for every single Republican, but a potential Speaker Joe Straus from the Alamo City is what we need now.
Get out your Straus sunglasses, the future of Texas looks bright!!_______________________________________________________
Thanks for reading the new edition of South Texas Republicans. We welcome your comments, complaints and suggestions. Joe Solis, Founder and Director (SolisJoe@sbcglobal.net)
Ping!
If you want on, or off this S. Texas/Mexico ping list, please FReepMail me.
Give me a better option. I’m serious, I don’t want KBH either, but I need names! Frank Corte’s my rep, but I don’t know whether he has the temperament or experience. I do know he’s a Marine reservist and that goes a long way with me.
Colonel, USAFR
Stause is a weak liberal from Alamo Heights.
It’s the old LBJ machine at work.
He’s a RINO.
Straus has a 100% rating from NARAL and is an open borders advocate. He is a Democrat. This is BAD!!!!!
A message from David Barton pasted below.
(If you are unfamiliar with the situation, a group of 11 “dissident” Republicans in the Texas House have (apparently) joined with 64 Democrats to back Rep. Joe Straus for Speaker.)
____
As a follow up to the message you received earlier about the Texas Speaker, the first step has been taken to install an anti-life, anti-family Texas House Speaker. The 11 dissident Republicans selected Rep. Joe Straus as their candidate for Speaker, and that selection is expected to be supported by 64 anti-life and anti-family Democrats.
Unfortunately, Rep. Straus (who has been in office for only two sessions) has developed a clear voting record that demonstrates overt hostility toward unborn life and traditional family values.
Rep. Joe Straus Supported:
Making it easier to perform late-term, third-trimester abortions (SB 419, vote 672, 2005). And in the 2007 session, he received a 100 percent voting record from the radical pro-abortion group NARAL, and the pro-abortion group Planned Parenthood contributed to his reelection campaign
Homosexuals as foster parents (SB 6, vote 327, 2005)
Expanded casino gambling (HB 10, vote 939, 2007)
Increased gaming and gambling (HB 2265, vote 749, 2007)
Increased sale and consumption of alcohol during Sunday morning church hours (HB 168, vote 357, 2005)
Making it easier to sell alcohol without community approval, as is currently required (SB 1626, vote 852, 2005)
Increasing state budget spending by an amazing 19 percent over only two years (SB 1, vote 946, 2005)
Rep. Joe Straus Opposed:
Using statistically-proven methods to strengthen marriage and reduce divorce by encouraging pre-marital counseling (HB 2685, votes 384, 437, and 1407, 2007)
Parental rights, opposing a bill to let parents know the service-referrals that school counselors are making for their children (HB 2136, vote 592, 2007)
School choice (HB 1, vote 235, 2007)
Given Rep. Straus’ voting record over the past two sessions, it is unlikely that pro-life and pro-family measures will move through the Texas House of Representatives should he become the Texas House Speaker.
It is crucial that you call your State Representative immediately and demand that he/she not participate in this coup. (Even if you previously called as a result of the earlier Wall Builders message, call again. Since it is now the weekend, you can send emails to your Representative or call and leave him or her a message; then on Monday morning you can call his office and talk someone in person.) Ask for an answer. Let him or her know that if he joins in this effort, you will take it as a message that he is opposing everything you care about regarding the traditional values of life and family for which you stand. (You can find the contact information for your State Representative at http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/welcome.php.)
David Barton
Yep, he’s pathetic.
Making it easier to perform late-term, third-trimester abortions (SB 419, vote 672, 2005).
Homosexuals as foster parents (SB 6, vote 327, 2005)
Expanded casino gambling (HB 10, vote 939, 2007)
Got the same email.
Texas Politics have always been rough and Craddick must have ticked off a few too many people.
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