By William Lutz on
8/29/2009 2:23 PM
The Lone Star Report's William Lutz will appear on WFAA's Inside Texas Politics with Brad Watson Sunday (that's tomorrow). The program airs at 9 a.m. on Channel 8 in North Texas. Lutz will be blasting the liberal Democrats and RINOs (Republicans in Name Only) who are attacking the good conservatives on the elected State Board of Education. The program is also archived at wfaa.com.
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By William Lutz on
8/28/2009 3:10 PM
In this week's Lone Star Report, Managing Editor William Murchison wrote the opinion piece discussing how his alma matter, the University of Texas, has abandoned teaching in Western Civilization. We post it below for your reading pleasure:
You know, don’t you, what kind of university trembles at the idea of affirming Truth? Right – a state university; which is one reason state universities are unlikely, in the broad, liberal sense, to amount to much in the 21st century.
Yeah, sure, they perform valuable scientific research. They can furnish a patina of basic knowledge. They can press diplomas into outstretched young hands. Their sports teams can rack up championships.
Which brings us to the idiots at the University of Texas, who quietly demonstrate what a state university can’t or won’t do, because, stupid, it’s a state university: a political construct, mindful of political currents and tides; unable to give offense; unable – here’s the point – to sort out life’s great questions, which questions it leaves to more intrepid, and better protected, private institutions.
The University of Texas, in its present incarnation, would no more sort out great questions than it would abolish football scholarships. The University of Texas is a gentle joke when it comes to the quest for Truth. It trembles, it quakes at the idea of offending constituents, save, perhaps, the kind who would have benefited from exposure to the Western tradition as Prof. Robert Koons hoped the Program in Western Civilization and American Institutions would provide.
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By William Lutz on
8/28/2009 11:22 AM
Gov. Rick Perry announced the appointment of Thomas Suehs as executive commissioner of health and human services. This is, by far, one of the most powerful appointed positions in state government. The executive commissioner oversees the vast majority of state health and human services programs for the poor and disabled and has extensive rulemaking authority. Efficient management of the state’s health care agencies is also of critical importance to the state’s fiscal health.
Suehs succeeds Albert Hawkins, who retired. Hawkins is one of the most knowledgeable people on the Texas budget, having worked for the Legislative Budget Board, as budget director for Gov. George W. Bush, and as executive commissioner. He was respected by Republicans and Democrats alike.
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By William Lutz on
8/28/2009 11:10 AM
This Monday, the San Antonio Water System announced it is suing the Lower Colorado River Authority over a proposed water deal that went bust, accusing the state agency of breaching a contract with the water system. How to provide for San Antonio’s growing water needs is one of the stickiest – and most controversial – questions in Texas natural resources policy.
LCRA denies wrongdoing, and several leaders from rural Texas have already expressed concerns about this lawsuit.
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By William Lutz on
8/26/2009 5:25 PM
A three-judge federal court Monday denied a Texas Democratic Party motion to throw out a lawsuit challenging its allocation plan for delegates to the Democratic National Convention The court ruled that Section 5 of the federal Voting Rights Act applies to the delegate selection formula for a state party’s political convention (including the “Texas Two-Step,” where both caucus and primary results are used to allocate Delegates to presidential candidates at the Democratic National Convention). That means the Texas Democratic Party would likely have to pre-clear its delegate allocation formula either with the U.S. Department of Justice or a three-judge federal court in Washington DC. In 2008, the formula resulted in President Barack Obama getting a majority of Texas delegates, despite Hillary Clinton winning the statewide primary.
The court stopped short, for technical reasons, of ordering pre-clearance but left no doubt about how it would rule. “Today, we continue to give force to those accomplishments [of the Voting Rights Act] by following clear Supreme Court precedent and ruling that Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1973c, applies to a political party’s delegate allocation formula for its nominating convention,” wrote Circuit Judge Edward Prado for the panel. “…Indeed, political expediency and the TDP’s stated support for Section 5 might counsel it now to seek preclearance of its delegate allocation rules instead of proceeding further in this litigation.”
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By William Lutz on
8/26/2009 12:15 PM
Last week, Kay Bailey Hutchison was roundly criticized in the Texas press for lacking a coherent, unified message in her announcement for governor. She was accused of merely attacking Gov. Rick Perry without offering alternatives of her own. Excuse the shameless self-promotion here, but Kay -- we warned you.
LSR Managing Editor William Lutz gave a commentary on WFAA television Aug. 2 warning that -- so far -- Hutchison has mainly attacked Rick Perry and not offered solutions of her own. Lutz called on Hutchison to lay out the kind of governor she would be. If only Kay had listened ...
You can listen to Lutz's commentary here.
This week, Lutz is getting ready to tape another commentary for WFAA's Inside Texas Politics, which airs every Sunday at 9 am on Channel 8 in North Texas.
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By William Lutz on
8/26/2009 11:48 AM
The San Antonio Express-News published a very interesting article this morning quoting House Speaker Joe Straus worried about the effect the Texas Governor's primary could have on next year's elections for the Texas House of Representatives. “I think that the governor and the senator need to be mindful that the party needs to grow,” he said after delivering a lunchtime speech to the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce. “That race needs to be inviting, to get more people to vote Republican. I am concerned that the governor's race not get off track” and result in turning off GOP voters in down-ballot races. This article is well worth reading.
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By Mark Lavergne on
8/26/2009 9:20 AM
Hank Gilbert, the 2006 Democratic candidate for Agriculture Commissioner, and outspoken opponent of toll roads, has told the Austin American Statesman that he plans to go for the Democratic nomination for governor.
Gilbert was quoted in the Statesman saying:
I just feel like we need that person at the top that has the experience of fighting in the (Legislature) and fighting to get things done for the people of Texas across this state, get people inspired to take a hard look.
The left-leaning Burnt Orange Report calls this "an exciting development," surmising that his entry into the race could create a more active Democratic primary and prevent Democratic voters from crossing the aisle to vote for Kay Bailey Hutchison.
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By Mark Lavergne on
8/25/2009 3:51 PM
Gov. Rick Perry Aug. 25 announced appointments to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and to the University of North Texas Board of Regents.
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By Mark Lavergne on
8/25/2009 1:36 PM
Texas Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams has gotten an endorsement from former U.S. House Speaker and conservative firebrand Newt Gingrich. Williams' campaign website has published a glowing column by Gingrich, touting Williams' extensive resume and conservative bona fides, and, of course, asking for money for Williams' campaign.
An excerpt from Gingrich's endorsement:
As someone who has been elected statewide in Texas three times, Michael caught my eye by advocating the right energy policies for America’s future. Unlike the liberals who want to bring fossil fuel exploration to a grinding halt and worsen the economic crisis, Michael wants to expand domestic exploration of both traditional fossil fuels as well as clean, renewable sources.
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