If you missed attending the Republican Founder's Day BBQ on Saturday you missed an opportunity to enjoy fellowship with your fellow Republicans and the chance to hear Texas Republican party Chairman Steve Munisteri update us on Republican accomplishments and goals.
Steve first reported that under his leadership the Texas Party has moved from a position of deficit balance to positive funding balance and a continuing growth of financial resources. Then Steve also discussed the tremendous success of the Texas Republican Party with the 2010 election. In addition to retaining all state-wide elected offices the Party added 26 additional members to the Republican Party majority in the Texas House of Representatives and a huge net gain in the number of local (county) officials.

This is great and speaks well for all Republicans but 2012 is just around the corner and we need to immediately start working for the growth of Republican political dominance throughout America. It will be based on our ability to raise and effectively spend funds to support our prositions and our candidates. It begins right here in Wichita county and extends to the State of Texas and the National Republican party levels. If you have not already pledged support to the Wichita County Republican Party then please begin your support as we plan for 2012 Victory. Then join the Republican party of Texas "Grassroots Club" and pledge $8.25 per month to support state level activites. Finally, I think our new National Republican Party Chairman will be extablishing a similar program at that level. Small amounts, from many, donated regularly, adds up to big bucks to help insure Republican Victory in 2012. let's all join to guarantee the Republican positions are heard throughout America in 2012.

January proved to be a busy month for me. I was invited to Chillicothe to speak with Republicans from a three county area who are working to re-vitalize the Republican Party in their counties. Then the next day Diane and I traveled to Austin to participate in the Inaugural events for Gov. Perry and Lt. Gov. Dewhurst. This was followed by a visit from Railroad Commissioner Elizabeth Ames Jones as she circled the State of Texas announcing her candidacy for the U.S. Senate seat.The last weekend of the month was taken by the Wichita Falls Gun and Knife show.
Future months promise to be as busy as the 2012 Election Cycle has begun. Stand by for a fast, busy year.

The 82nd Session of the Texas Legislature opened on January 11 with some fanfare and many citizens present to pose a watchful eye. the Republicans, now with a spure-majoriy 101 members in the House and a clear majority in the Senate have already begun the iportant business of balancing the State budget and re-districting the political boundaries of the State. With a 20% growth in polpulation during the last decade Texas gained 4 addional seats in the next five sessions of the Congress.

In congress the Republicans took control of the House for the 112th Session and have already begun work on a promised agenda to correct the course of the nation.

Both bodies are being watched closely by the people to see if they effectively act on our behalf.

Keep your eyes and ears open and make sure you are part of the solution and not the problem.

Merry Christmas to all. Santa came early this year and gave the Republicans in Texas and across the country a resounding Victory. Now may we earn the gift that keeps on giving by providing good stewardship for our citizens.

There is a great deal of discussion at the moment regarding the selection of the Speaker of the House for the 82nd Texas Legislature. This is a very important post as the Speaker names the House committe chairs and so set the tenor of the legislative process. The present speaker, Joe Strauss, has received wide criticism both for the manner by which he obtained the postion for the 81st Session and the manner in which e conducted himself during this term. As a rsult of the large increase in Republican membership for the 82nd Session there have been at least two members who have dclared interest in succeeding Speaker Strauss in the position.
As County Chairman I have not taken a position on the matter, other than to urge Members to give careful consideration to the House leadership. If you have an opinion on the issue I urge you to contact our new Represtative, Lanham Lyne, and let him know how you feel. I am sure he will be interested in hearing from you on the issue.

The most important mid-term election in American history will be held on November 2nd.
For the last two years a Democrat President and a Democrat controlled Congress have run rough shod over the will of the American people on a number of major issues effecting the present and future of our country. They have spent money we did not have on items we did not want and told us we were too stupid to know what is good for us.
NOW it is our turn!
ON NOVEMBER 2ND (AND BEGINNING OCTOBER 19TH IN TEXAS) WE WILL HAVE OUR CHANCE TO SPEAK OUR OPINIONS.
Most pundits and political election pollsters predict an overwhelming Republican Victory throughout America. The lateset polls show Republicans gaining control of both Houses of Congress, winning a large majority of the Gubernatorial seats that are up for election and, probably, gaining (or retaining) control of a number of State Legislatures.
HOWEVER, WE CAN NOT TAKE THIS VICTORY FOR GRANTED.
The Democrats know they are in trouble and are prepared to throw everything they can into victory. Dirty politics will be as a abundant as spring showers during the next three weeks. Our Republican candidates need your financial support to counter the Democrat money bags. Please help our good candidates wherever they are - be it Nevada, South Carolina, California, Delaware, Colorado or any of the dozens of tight races throughout the country. In Texas we need your support to defeate liberal Democrats such as Chet Edwards and to make sure we have firm control of the State House of Representatives.
BUT WE MUST HAVE YOUR VOTE TO WIN.
DON'T TAKE VICTORY FOR GRANTED.

It hardly seems possible we are down to 35 Days before Americans vote in the most important mid-term election in history.
On NOVEMBER 2ND American voters may choose between a return to our democratic Republic and a continued path to Obama style socialism. for most of us the choice is clear. For those who remain undecided - get busy and decide whether freedom is more important that being cared for.
We have estabished some clear cut choices in Texas and, for that matter, the rest of the nation. Conservative Republicans have won many primary elections, despite the press and, yes, even our entrenched Republican career politicians. Now, as conservative Republicans with great concern for the future of our country we must finish the race in a heat. The Democrats are pulling out all the stops to retain power. Truth has been thrown out the window in hopes that people will listen to whatever they hear last. Frankly, I still have faith in the American voter and their abillity to see clearly what has happened in the last 20 months.
With complete control of the Executive and Legislative branches the Obama-Reid-Pelosi Machine has tried to steam roll us into socialism. On some things they have seemed to succeed but even Democrats have balked at certain proposals. With significan majorities in both the Senate and House they have had to turn to blaming the Republicans for obstructing their agenda. The fact is, the American people are not buying what they have for sale and have repeatedly told the Senators and Representative how they felt.
Now decision time is here and we, as Republicans must make our voices heard with our vote. From coast to coast we need to speak out by voting for conservative Republican candidates at all levels. This election is important not only to stop the Obama steamroller but to insure that State legislaures are controlled by Republicans who will re-district their states to conservative advantage. Winning the present battle is not enough. We must win the War of the Decade as well.
Early voting in Texas start October 18th and conitnues to October 29th. Election Day is November 2nd. Please vote. Your country's future may depend on it.
If you have any money left after planning for Obama's goals NOW IS THE TIME TO DONATE TO REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES IN TEXAS AND ACROSS THE NATION.

The election season is now in full bloom and there is a lot of activity. A number of us were in Denton on Thursday to hear Sharron Angle, Republican Canidate for  the Nevada Senate seat now held by Harry Reid. I think we were very impressed and now we need tohelp her RETIRE HARRY REID.
The previous weekend the Wichita County Republican Party hosted a booth at the Wichita Falls Gun and Knife Show. Over 4500 people attended and I am sure all at least saw our banners, even if they did not stop and speak with us. We were able to sign up a number of new voters and discuss politics and the importance of voting  Republican in the November election. People from as far away as Massachusets and Washington told us how (and why) voters in their states were switching allegiance.
Yesterday, the Texas Federation of Women's Clubs and the Wichita County Republican Women's Club hosted a Get Out The Vote workshop to  present ideas on how we work to win.
In coming weeks we will have Phone Banks operating each Tuesday to let people know the importance of the coming election.
This will be a Republican Year. The question is how big. The even more important question is how will Republican officials lead once elected. Making sure they take us in the "right" direction will be our job.

Wow, does it never end? The 2010 General election is over 100 days away and already the campaigning is intense. We need to do our part though to insure a Republican Victory on November 2nd.
For starters, help us with phone calls on behalf of Gov. Perry on July 31st. The phone bank volunteers will be calling Republican Voters on his behalf but will also be urging voters to support the entire Republican ticket. If you will help, please call Diane McCorkill at (817) 600-9777 and get on the list for a time period during which you are available.

The SREC and Republican County Chairs met for a joint training session on July 17. Topics of discussion were varied but centered around plans for VICTORY on November 2nd. State Party Chairman, Steve Munisteri, reported on progress he has made on stabilizing the financial picture of the Party. He reported that nearly $400,000 has been received or pledged for debt retirement and that plans are nearly complete for implementing a new contribution program to involve more Party members in recurring financial support of the Republican Party of Texas (RPT). Several Republican elected officials reported on the prospects for a sweeping Republican Victory on November 2nd and the critical need for such a victory in Texas, as well as the entire naton.

More details on the new fund raising program will be reported as they become available but, basically, the program asks each Texas Republican to pledge $8.25 per month toward RPT operations. In exchange for pledging support Texas Republicans will be removed from mail and telephone calling lists presently used by the RPT for fund-raising. What a relief that will be! Many indicated they would join just to stop the constant barrage of calls and letters. However, the real fact is that the new donation program will generate more income at less cost that current and past fund raising programs. Sounds like a real WIN-WIN to me. A real plus is that it will be a cooperative State-County effort.

The bottom line of the day, to me, was the expression of Party unity by those in attendance. there seemed to be general agreement that with the selection of our candidate complete we must put aside any personal opinions and give our complete support to Republican Victory in November.
Please watch for more details and plan to join the Republican Party of Texas GRASSROOTS CLUB.

Thank you for your positive response to the recent letters asking for financial support. A number of you recognize the need to support your local and State Republican Party organizations in order for us to continue staving off the liberal charge.
The State chairman is having great success in restoring the balance of the RPT budget and in establishing a more sound finanicial base for the future. It is amazing what can happen when a large number of people contribute small, but regular amount of money to support our conservative message,
Let's keep it up!

I have updated the Wichita Victory 10 website with additional information about four conservative Republican candidates for Congress. It is generally believed among Republicans in the know that these four can win in November if we give them the support they need. Please go to www.wichitavictory10.net and learn more about them. Replacing four liberal Democrats with four conservative Republicans can be a major blow to the Obama-Reid-Pelosi machine.

Precinct 17 Chair Patrice Franklin and I were in Lewisville today to attend the Denton County Republican Party (DCRP) Precinct and Activist Training program. Presentations were made on VICTORY 2010 (similar to our Wichita Victory 10 program); how to utilize volunteers and interface with the TEA Party movement. Denton county has a very active Republican Party and is well organized, with a lot of volunteers working to maintain Republican superiority in the county.

Of particular interest to me was the presentation by Lori Medina, a member of the Dallas TEA Party movement. Lori emphasized the common END GOAL of the Republican Party and the TEA Party movement is to throw out the liberals and replace them with conservatives, most of whom she believes will be Republicans. She believes the TEA Party movement and the Republican Party should continue to follow somewhat parallel paths to bring back a reliance on the Constitution as our source of authority. She indicated that we may be coming from different backgrounds (Republicans with extensive political experience and TEA Party members with less formal involvement but new enthusiasm) but that we have to teach and inform Americans of our common principles. She did not see the TEA Party movement as divisive of the Republican Party as she believes most are basically conservative Republicans and we can work together for conservative VICTORY in November.
I am always re-invigorated when I attend one of their functions and see what can be done. It has taken them several years to build the Republican Party to it present status as the dominate political party which controls all the local elected offices in the county. We can too.

The 2010 Platform of the Republican Party of Texas is now available on-line at the Party website, www.texasgop.org. I urge you to read it and be prepared to answer questions about it.
I missed it, but our local newspaper has already written one editorial criticizing the Platform for demanding that all Republican candidates agree to it "100%". After hearing this, I went through it rather thorougly and could not find such a demand. What I found was a suggestion that the State Chairman and County Chairmen ask candidates to review it and indicate their agreement or disagreement with it. There is a section at the end directing the Platform Committee to prepare a report to the SREC about how various Republican office holders, especially members of the State Legislature act and vote on issues contained in it.
I have been reading party platforms for over 40 years. I have never seen one with which I agree 100% and cannot recall ever speaking to anyone who has, including members of the platfrom committees. Platforms are a forum through which people with personal goals may get their views expressed. I compare a party platform to a wooden floor - it contains a large number of planks, some of which are clear wood, some of which are dark wood, some of which have knot holes and each of which have individual character. Together, they make a pretty floor but some people do not like to step on knot holes, so they step around them but everyone can walk on the floor and use it for support.
Try that response on your liberal friends who criticize the content of our Party Platform. Oh, and read the Texas Democratic Party Platform if you can find it and become familiar with its content.

Two meetings have been held regarding the formation of a new club to promote and support Republican principles. today a committee will meet to draft by-laws for the group and an official organizational meeting date/time/place will be selected. Watch for more and plan to participate.
Republican clubs can be a great help to the Republican Party because they can provide a specific feeling of involvement by individuals. Too often political parties in this country are viewed as being someone else. We seem not to have the personal committment that is found among political parties in many other countries. This is both good and bad but a club can create afeeling of involvement that is otherwise missing.
Please plan to join us in promoting the Republican Party in Wichita county, Texas, and America.

At the recent Republican State Convention there was a great race for the unpaid position of State Republican Party Chairman and the winner of the three way race was Steve Munisteri. The race centered around the party finances - or lack thereof - and after winning Steve discovered the RPT was in worse financial condition than he had believed. As a result, Steve is preparing a plan to first retire the debt and second to put the RPT on a sound financial base.
We need to help because it is, afterall, OUR PARTY and our political success depends on having a strong state party. Steve is planning to launch a campaign to get recurring monthly donations from each of us so there is a solid cash flow. So, here is how we need to help - commit a minimum donation of $8.25 per month to fund on-going party operations. watch for details that will be coming out soon by frequently visiting the RPT website at www.texasgop.org.

Republican Party organizations and candidates at all levels in Texas and throughout the nation are seeking funds to finance on-going operations and political campaigns.
The Wichita County Republican Party depends on your financial support to pay for it's operations as, contrary to popular beliief, we do not receive any funds from state or national party organizations.
An e-mail or letter will soon be going to many party members asking for continuing support of $5 per month to fund our local budget. Please respond and support your local Party activities.
The current election cycle is extremely important to stopping the Obama campaign to turn America into a socialist country. We must stop him in 2010 and get the American train back on the "right" track.

We just returned from the 2010 Texas Republican Party convention in Dallas where nearly 10,000 delegates heard the Republican Message for 2010 Victory from our State elected officials and candidates. We also heard outstanding messages from Minnesota Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann and Mississippi Governor Harley Barbour. All  agreed 2010 is when we must act to win.

We're off the Republican Party of Texas State Convention today. It has been going on since tuesday when the committees began meeting. The First General Session wil begin tomorrow at noon, followed by the first Senate District Caucuses. Saturday will include another round of Sentate district Causcuses and another General Session where the Party Platform and State Chairman and Vice Chairman will be elected. Indications are, the sessions will be spirited as delegates discuss the direction they wish the Party Platform to take us during the next two years.

Of course, there will be political speeches and candidate hand shaking. All in all, an interesting and exciting two days.

To keep up with the action go to www,texasgop.org or  a blog that Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst is hosting (just google David Dewhurst to find it).

The Denton County GOP is hosting a Convention Orientation Meeting on Saturday, June 5 at the Lakeland Baptist Church (I-35W and Lewisville Main Street) from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. The meeting will cover how the State convention works and give delegates an opportunity to meet candidates for State Chairman and Vice-Chairman as well as many of the candidates for the SREC. If you are a delegate it will be worth your time to attend. Please call me if you wish more information.

Please review the content of this new web site and let me know what suggestions you have for making it a more effective communication tool. This site is easily maintained, changed and updated - something I had become unable to do with our previous site. We want it to be an effective tool, so please let us know what you think.