Karen

While the continuing drip, drip, drip of the price to Americans for the rising price at the gas pump, the oil and gas industry presents a story of ideological political theory gone wrong. The energy sector is crucial to our economic growth, and high energy costs have a major impact on job creation. We have an abundant supply of natural resources in America that we must use to meet our nation's energy needs. We need policies that allow us to harness our own resources, develop new sources... Read Full Story

It looks like the three judge panel in San Antonio - consisting of two Democrats and one Republican (one Democrat the brother in law of a Texas State Senator) - will have the final word on the state's re-districting map. Despite the fact that Texas is a bright red state, the Democrats will have the final word, thanks in large part to the lawsuits filed and the assistance of the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. The latest update concerning the primary date and re-districting for... Read Full Story

Texas Rep Ron Paul is not running for re-election. His District 14 seat in the U.S. House of Representatives is now being pursued by 14 candidates seeking to replace him. Only one is a Democrat - former Congressman Nick Lampson. I have a suggestion: How about considering Felicia Harris for the seat? She is a current Pearland City Council member and an attorney. My friend David Jennings wrote about her not too long ago. I get a lot of emails from candidates and the Republican party on... Read Full Story

The annual charade of the President presenting a budget to Congress has now been carried out. The President is obligated to do this. We all know it is a sham exercise. This budget is particularly cynical on the part of Barack Obama. Clearly, he is running for re-election and feels that the latest numbers on the economy point to a slowly improving picture. The fact is, Barack Obama and his failed economic policies have made it all worse. Our recovery is slow to non-existent in many areas of... Read Full Story

And, today brings a new email from Harris County Republican Party chairman Woodfill concerning his plea for Republicans to call or email Attorney General Abbott and Republican Party of Texas chairman Munisteri. He says he wants a truce in the war on words and ends with a renewed plea for Republicans to contact the before mentioned gentlemen. Here it is: Harris County Republicans Set To Lose State House Seats Under Current Map We have to live with these lines for the next ten years... Read Full Story

Seems there is some extra confusion about the re-districting battle going on around the lawsuits and the three judge panel re-drawing the maps. Saturday, I received an email from the Harris County Republican Party chairman Jared Woodfill asking me to contact the Austin offices of Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott and Republican Party of Texas chairman Steve Munisteri and tell them I don't want Harris County to lose two districts in the fray. Sunday I received an email from Republican... Read Full Story

This is why people like me, a Republican woman activist and political blogger, don't particularly like Rick Santorum: he's a whiner and he has a nasty spirit. Here is some further proof of this conclusion: he made a point of claiming that Mitt Romney "rigged" the straw poll conducted by CPAC. And, then he said that there really wasn't anything wrong with "rigging" a straw poll. Really? This is where we are in the GOP presidential primary? Santorum stopped short of accusing his... Read Full Story

Anyone else see the hypocrisy of ACU Chairman Al Cardenas introducing Tony Fabrizio, of Fabrizio, McLaughlin & Associates with glowing words of thanks for being CPAC's guy to conduct the straw polls for over 20 years, for free, to boot? Fabrizio is the adviser brought on with the Perry campaign as Governor Perry began a sincere nationwide run for President. He is also largely credited for torpedoing the campaign behind the scenes by giving quotes promoting friction between the Texas... Read Full Story

It would appear that gay bashing is making a comeback - or that it never really left us. Some recent headlines have brought the issue to the forefront. Frankly, it all makes me sad. This weekend is the big CPAC 2012 event in Washington, D.C. Hosted by the American Conservative Union (ACU), it is noticeably without a sponsor from the previous two years - that of GOProud. A conservative gay organization, they were the targets of some anti-gay bigotry from some other CPAC sponsors and they... Read Full Story

As with many pieces of legislation, the initial intention may not be the intended final result. Take for instance the new mandate issued by HHS on reproductive services and religious institutions. This is not about contraception, it is about the threat of legislation merging into Catholic or other religious institutions. Notre Dame University and Catholic University are noting the obvious intrusion of this administration on how they insure employees. The new mandate blessed by HHS... Read Full Story