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Volume XVII Number 18 - July 9, 2018     RSS Feed   

A Periodic Newsletter for Committed Texas Conservatives

In This Issue

This Is Not Your Parents' Democratic Party

Don't Be Fooled By Democratic Polls In Texas

Harris County Bail Suit, Pushed By Democrats, Led By Rodney Ellis, Don't Forget Public Safety

July 4th Rains Show Houston Is Not Ready For A Serious Storm, Let Alone A Hurricane

An Overlooked Bonus In The Supreme Court Union Dues Decision

Current Absurd Behavior By Brian Ettinger, Contributing Editor

Stop Whining About Discord When You Are Causing the Discord By Bruce Bialosky, Contributing Editor

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Thoughts This Fortnight

This Is Not Your Parents' Democratic Party

Who are these Democrats, Lupe Valdez, candidate for Governor of Texas and new Democratic nominee for Congress in New York, Ocasio-Cortez?

Let's start with Ms. Valdez, Texas Monthly (no conservative magazine) lays out her deficiencies as a candidate "unpolished as a speaker and has demonstrated little command of statewide issues," ... "she owes more than $12,000 in unpaid property taxes" ... "one prominent South Texas Democrat told me... many conservative Hispanics just would not vote for a lesbian!" On the issues, she is part of the loony left on such issues as LGBTQ equality, supports sanctuary cities, expand hate crimes to sexual orientation and gender identity, pro-abortion and she supports non-citizen voters by opposing voter ID.

As for Ocasio-Cortez, the 28 year old socialist from a wealthy family in Westchester County, has called for such radical action as abolishment of ICE, free college and trade school, cheap housing for all, cheap medical care for all, restricting the right to keep and bear arms, a federal jobs guarantee that includes full healthcare (including sex change operations), paid child care and sick leave, bringing US troops home from overseas, open access to affordable abortion, expanding the existing Civil Rights Act in order to make discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity illegal.

Now, she is the face of the radical left/socialists who are controlling the Democratic Party. Like we said, this is not your parents' Democratic Party.

So who are these so-called Democrats trying to get votes from? Not the pro-family, pro-faith voters in minority communities. Not the pro-legal immigration minority communities. Not the voters in those communities that appreciate the lowest rate of unemployment in decades and the President's tax cut. They are a new breed of radicals we haven't seen in a major party in decades.

Don't Be Fooled By Democratic Polls In Texas

In recent weeks the Democratic polls claim how they are winning in Texas.

First, they "claim" Democratic challenger, Beverly Powell, leads incumbent State Senator Konni Burton by four points. The margin of error plus or minus 4 points from phone surveys of 600 people from a pollster no one heard of.

The second poll by End Citizens United that endorsed Ted Cruz's challenger, O'Rourke, what result do you think they wanted? They got what they wanted, O'Rourke only down 6 points.

This reminds one that polls are easily manipulated. Keep that in mind when you hear about the fictional blue wave.

Harris County Bail Suit,
Pushed By Democrats, Led By Rodney Ellis,
Don't Forget Public Safety

The Federal Courts continue to tinker with the Harris County Criminal Courts. Certainly, there is bipartisan agreement that poor people shouldn't be stuck in jail due to poverty, but the reforms advocated by the left go too far and neglect public safety. They unintentionally eliminate incentives for people charged with crimes to show up in court and apparently allow repeat offenders with pending cases to be released on a free bond again. Situations that the prior system dealt with, without threatening public safety.

There are numerous reported abuses in the court ordered system where repeat offenders with numerous pending cases "no show" for court and enter the free bond revolving door and get out again.

Let's hope that the new system truly protects the public and victims and avoid situations like Maranda O'Donnell, who was held in jail on driving with a suspended license and too poor to bond out.

July 4th Rains Show Houston Is Not Ready
For A Serious Storm, Let Alone A Hurricane

Call it what you will, but the City of Houston is no more prepared for heavy rain, yet another hurricane one year after Hurricane Harvey, than we were back then.

Remember this fact when Mayor Turner and his allies tell you if you just give us more money we will take care of our flooding problem. They want you to forget the $800 million plus in the "Rain Tax" spent for everything but flood control.

It seems logical based on their track record that they don't deserve another dime of taxpayer money.

An Overlooked Bonus In The
Supreme Court Union Dues Decision

You may have overlooked how significant a victory we had in the Janus v. AFSCME ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down so called "earn-share fees" aka union dues for non-members of labor unions.

If you look at the left wing's reaction to the decision, far-left groups such as Americans United for Change, Mi Familia Vota, America Votes, End Citizens United, MoveOn.org and what many others are complaining about is loss of funding.

Of course one wonders what those groups have to do with union member representation?

So, what we have learned is that the left in America depends to a significant extent on mandatory union dues.

The Supreme Court matters and it's great news that we have a President who has appointed and will continue to appoint, strict constructionists to the court.

Current Absurd Behavior
By Brian Ettinger, Contributing Editor

Where did our compassion go as Americans? We have become so polarized because we feel our views are superior and right and we have lost our compassion towards each other. It keeps getting worse each day. People working for the current administration get harassed when going out to dinner, a movie, or protest in front of their house and family. This behavior is going to get more absurd and lead to someone or many individuals getting hurt or killed. Certain behaviors start out with meaningful intentions, just as the anti-war movement during the Vietnam War, as it started out peaceful but ended up with dead college students at Kent State.

Protest for what you believe, but also respect and have compassion for others, including individuals who have an opposite point of view. The media paints a picture that it started with President Trump. It did not, as our country's history is full of this behavior. Go back in history. Just in the last century we have seen anarchist, socialist, communist treatment before and during World War I. The Japanese internment during World War II. The anti-communist witch hunt that caused individuals to lose their jobs. The Civil Rights movement being watched, beaten up and infiltrated by the FBI. Our government and the FBI have been involved in all of these activities and now we act surprised that they are biased, corrupt and politically motivated.

Our government acts unprofessional and our society picks up with behavior that is just the same. Treating each other without respect or compassion and act without any degree of moral conscience. When someone gets hurt or killed maybe individuals will come to their senses. But, until this happens they will protest but shut the other person down, follow and harass them because you disagree with them.

Keep up the lack of respect and compassion for others, as the media loves it, as long as you agree with them and their agenda.

Lastly, the media and the protesters compare the current administration officials to Nazis. All of these individuals need to know that Nazis degraded, starved, tortured and killed in concentration camps over 6 million Jewish people.

Today, this administration has done none of this but stop and arrest illegal aliens and detain them and their children. They are providing food, shelter, medical attention, and education, all at the US taxpayers expense. But, no degrading, torture, starvation and killing of people.

President Trump wants a wall and Mexico will pay for it. Here is an idea, take 5,000 federal non-violent prisoners and offer them the ability to get out of prison, renounce their citizenship, and apply for asylum in Mexico. Drive them to the Mexico border and let them go legally or illegally into Mexico, then watch how fast Mexico pays for the wall. They will build it.

So, sounds absurd. What about the behavior of the protesters and the FBI?


Brian Ettinger is a practicing attorney and contributing editor to TCR. He is a strong conservative who is concerned about America's future.

Stop Whining About Discord
When You Are Causing the Discord

By Bruce Bialosky, Contributing Editor

The level of verbal discourse in this country has reached a new low with the issue of illegal immigrants entering the country's consciousness because some have been separated from their children. This issue is worthy of a discussion to have as a country. That being said, the level of debate has reached a demeaning and harmful low as some are invoking language and taking actions that are not only improper, but downright uncivil and un-American.

This column does not debate the issues, but rather confronts the behavior of certain individuals. We can all agree that families showing up at our border looking to enter America is a problem that needs to be dealt with by our leadership. This problem has existed for a long while being confronted by the last administration, but has accelerated in recent months. You may think that it is being handled poorly by the current administration, but stooping to some of the name calling and imagery is beneath us as a society.

When you invoke the term "Nazis," you automatically lose unless the people involved adhere to and believe in Nazism -- and that is rare today. Your political opponents are not Nazis and our current government officials are not comparable to Nazis in the treatment of immigrants.

If you have not been to the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C., I suggest you go. I was honored to serve four years on the Museum's oversight council. Alternatively, you can stay in your home and watch Schindler's List. After doing either of these, you would feel ashamed for comparing our leadership and government officials to the inhumane behavior that took place during the Holocaust.

Even if you believe the worst is happening at our border, the parents and the children are being well cared for. They are being clothed, fed three meals a day, and provided housing with indoor plumbing and exercise facilities. They have medical care and they are safe from drug dealers and gangs. My God, this is the United States of America. To accuse any American of acting in the same manner Nazis treated Jews and Gays and other hated groups is beyond the pale. Just stop it. People who invoke "Nazis" as it relates to the present day demean themselves and our country as a whole.

Here is another epithet that has been used recently - internment camps. What we have on our border are not internment camps. Internment camps are how we held Japanese-Americans during World War II.

I am not going to preach about how that policy was adopted by a Democrat. That would be wrong. We were in the middle of a war where we were viciously attacked by a foreign government. There was a judgment made and to Monday-morning quarterback the decisions is too simplistic.

Those internment camps are one of the dark stains in our history. We ripped Americans from their homes because of their family heritage and forcibly put them in camps, restricting their freedoms for years. It was a vile un-American act. This is a completely different situation with people who are not American citizens trying to enter our country illegally and then we are forced as a country to house them and care for them while our government complies with the laws that have been established by our Congress and reviewed by our courts.

To use the term "internment camps" minimizes the egregious action taken by our government close to 80 years ago against Japanese Americans. It demeans the people who were affected more than it describes the actions taken by our government today. Just stop it.

It seems to be an in-vogue 'thing' to march into restaurants and disrupt the meals of patrons who oppose your political viewpoint. We all have issues about which we are highly motivated, but that does not give us license to march into someone's business and attack patrons while they are trying to have a moment of quiet peacefulness.

I understand DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen is the target du jour. She was confronted by a hostile press. That is why we have a free press. To march into a restaurant and agitate in front of other patrons makes one look like an immature fool. That is not how we address our concerns in a civilized society. You may believe this issue justified that behavior, but it does not. Just stop it.

Lastly, going to a public official's home because it can be found on the internet is just not right. Going into someone's neighborhood, disrupting their family and neighbors because you disagree with a policy position they have taken reeks of dysfunction on the part of the protesters. Just think if that were done to you. Believe me whoever participates in this errant behavior harbors policy positions repugnant to others. That is not how we communicate in a civilized society. Whatever your policy concerns are, this behavior at people's homes is not justified. Just stop it.

It may be that some people don't understand we have had heated disputes in this country since we started. Remember Shay's Rebellion? Or think about Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. They were vehement rivals. But they acted so civilly they died on the same day -- the Fourth of July. Nothing that is going on today warrants the current behavior despite the hysteria that has been whipped up in some people's minds. Nothing.

Here is another thing. What would happen if something really legitimately challenged our democracy? Have you ever heard of the fable about crying wolf? When we need people to react, they might sit on their hands and not take it seriously.

Where will this behavior lead? The natural extrapolation when alternatives are exhausted is some form of violence. That is what history shows us. We need to grasp the magnitude of these actions and adjust before it degenerates into violence.

Take a deep breath. Remember we live in the U.S.A. and be thankful and be gracious to the people with whom you disagree and then they will be gracious to you. Then vote when you have a chance for people who support your positions. That is how we settle our disagreements in this republic.


Bruce Bialosky is the founder of the Republican Jewish Coalition of California and a former Presidential appointee. You can follow Bruce on Twitter @brucebialosky.


TCR on the Air

Red, White & Blue featuring TCR Editor Gary Polland and liberal commentator David Jones on Fridays at 7:30 pm on PBS Houston Channel 8, replaying Saturday at 6:30 p.m. on Channel 8, Monday at 11:30 pm on Channel 8.2 and on the web at www.houstonpublicmedia.org.

Upcoming show (Rebroadcast):
07-13-18 - The State Of Mobility with Metro Chair Carrin F. Patman, TXDOT Planning Director William Brudnick and John Long of Bike Houston.

About Your Editor

Gary Polland is a long-time conservative and Republican spokesman, fund-raiser, and leader who completed three terms as the Harris County Republican Chairman. During his three terms, Gary was described as the most successful county Chairman in America by Human Events - The National Conservative Weekly. He is in his twenty-first year of editing a newsletter dealing with key conservative and Republican issues. The last seventeen years he has edited Texas Conservative Review. As a public service for the last 15 years, Gary has published election guides for the GOP primary, general elections and city elections, all with the purpose of assisting conservative candidates. Gary is also in his 17th year of co-hosting Red, White and Blue on PBS Houston, longest running political talk show in Texas history. Gary serves on the Board of Directors of American Values, a national pro-family, pro-faith, conservative organization supporting the unity of the American people around the vision of our founding fathers and dedicated to reminding the public of the conservative principles fundamental to the survival of our nation. Gary is a practicing attorney and strategic consultant. He can be reached at (713) 621-6335.

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