THE Red County
Representative
Burt Solomons Our Neighbor
De-Programming Students | Veterans Memorial Electoral College Experience | Phyllis Schlay
P OW E R E D BY R E D CO U N T Y
Denton County Remains
THE Red County! We can be SOOOOO proud here in Denton County! Despite an energized, organized challenge by the Democrats in nearly half our local races, Denton County remains firmly in the hands of Republicans. The State Victory team also was very proud of us as we exceeded their vote goals and won every election contest they presented us: registering voters, recruiting and seating precinct chairs and party building activities. This would not have been accomplished without the more than 1000 volunteers throughout our county who made this victory possible: Victory Chair - Tom Washington, Area Leaders, DCRP Officers and Precinct Chairs, Headquarters volunteers, poll watchers, election clerks and judges, precinct walkers, phone bankers, sign placers, and all the others who were a part of our team. Thanks to each of you! The extraordinary election effort put forth by Roy Magno and his wife Charlotte, plus their three boys (Anthony, Taylor and Johnnie) made them the clear choice for the DCRP Chairman’s Award. And the Outstanding Volunteer committee recognized Deon Starnes for her work as an Area Leader, Precinct Chair, Denton Republican Women’s Club president, convention delegate and much more. Both awards were given at the November, 2008 Volunteer Recognition Banquet and other honorees are mentioned in the story elsewhere in this newsletter. But sweet as our victory is, we must not become complacent. Statewide, we suffered losses in the legislature that resulted in a razor thin GOP majority in the House and a smaller majority in the Senate. What makes this even more critical is that the upcoming 2010 elections will determine which party controls the legislature and thus the redistricting that will take place following the 2010 census. So, thanks to our awesome volunteers – past, present and future – take a breather, but get ready to jump back into the election cycle next year to take back as many of those lost GOP seats as possible. It will be a crucial election that will determine the political makeup of Denton County and indeed the entire state for the next decade. And we can’t afford to let the Democrats control that process! Even here in Denton county, some victory margins are shrinking and we can take no seat for granted. We will be in touch!
Dianne Edmondson DCRP County Chair 2
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1400 N. Corinth St – Ste. 106 Corinth, TX 76210 940/321-2671 www.dentongop.org Chairman – DIANNE EDMONDSON 1st Vice Chair (Political Affairs) – TOM WASHINGTON 2nd Vice Chair (Finance) – BILL LAWRENCE 3rd Vice Chair (Prct. Chair Development) – RICHARD BOYER 4th Vice Chair (Outreach) – CARLOS GALLARDO Treasurer – BOB McCOMBS Recording Secretary – MARC MOFFITT Corresponding Secretary – CONNIE HUDSON Parliamentarian – MARGARET BARNES Sgt. At Arms – JEFF ANDONIAN Technology Chair – ELLIOTT WOOD Lincoln-Reagan Dinner Chair – NANCY DILLARD Program Chair – AVIE RABURN Prct. Chair Selection Chair – BARBARA RUSSELL Executive Director – ROY MAGNO Headquarters Administrator – MARCENE SEEBER
Scott W. Graves Editor-in-Chief Publisher
Departments 4
(Issue 3)
EDITOR’S NOTE
DENTON COUNT Y GOP
2 Dianne Edmondson
DENTON COUNTY R EMAINS THE R ED COUNTY? by Dianne Edmondson
Contributing Editor
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A LL IN THE CLUB
Dianne Edmondson
5
SCHOLARSHIP AVAILABLE
Marc Moffitt
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DE-PROGRAMMING STUDENTS
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VETRANS MEMORIAL BREAKS GROUND
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Thomas Sowell Dan Jaworski
by Marc Moffitt
by Thomas Sowell by Dan Jaworski
Tom Furgusun Mona Charen
PRODUCTION
Frank Chlarson Creative Director
COV E R S TO RY
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R EPRESENTATIVE BURT SOLOMONS Our Neighbor
DENTON COUNT Y GOP
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DCRP HONORS VOLUNTEERS SPECIAL DINNER
AT
The Annual Volunteer Recognition Dinner
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OUT AND A BOUT
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A N ELECTORAL COLLEGE EXPERIENCE
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“WE LOVE TO TALK”, DECLARES BIDEN
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PHYLLIS SCHLAFLY TO HEADLINE LINCOLN-R EAGAN EVENT
A Photo Essay
by Tom Furgusun by Mona Charen
RED COUNTY 17011 Beach Blvd. Suite 501 Huntington Beach, CA 92647 www.redcounty.com 800.485.1220 Red County Magazine is a publication of
Partisan Media Group, LLC Huntington Beach, California
Printed in the U.S.A. Copyright Partisan Media Group, LLC. All rights reserved. Red County Magazine is printed 6 times per year by Partisan Media Group, LLC. Address all subscription correspondence to Red County Magazine, 17011 Beach Blvd. Suite 501, Huntington Beach, CA 92647. Please allow at least six weeks for change of address. Include your old address as well as new, and if possible, enclose an address label from your recent issue.
ON THE COVER
Representative Burt Solomons (Dist. 65).
RED COUNTY
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All In the Club
BY: MARC MOFFITT
How do I get involved? What can I do to help? These are the two most asked questions of guests at our monthly Executive Committee meetings, and the best answer is “Join one of our local clubs!” Denton County is home to over fifteen GOP clubs ranging from the Denton Republican Women’s Club to the College Republicans, all of which are actively involved in supporting issues and candidates that stand for the conservative government principles upon which out Party is based. (Clubs, membership applications and meeting schedules are posted on the DCRP website: www. dentongop.org.) The purpose of the local clubs is to: • Develop personal relationships between members, elected officials, and candidates. • Provide specific opportunities for service. • Encourage grassroots issues and campaigns. Former Denton County Republican Men’s Club President, and County Commissioner Andy Eads says, “Clubs are a great way to develop relationships with office holders, their staff, and other community leaders.” During the Primary elections, several clubs hosted candidate forums and debates that provided opportunities for candidates to
discuss important issues and speak directly to the voters. Members of those clubs were given valuable personal time Marc Moffitt with the candidates to learn about candidates’ stands and qualifications in a more casual environment. “People want to know if the person they are voting for is qualified, and the best way to find out is to talk to them in person. It’s a rare opportunity that you don’t get very often, and the clubs provide that opportunity,” notes Eads. Opportunities to get involved are abundant at many of the clubs in Denton County. Following the 2008 Presidential election on November 4th, County Chairman Dianne Edmondson challenged each of the clubs to become more active in campaigns for Republican issues and candidates. “We need to make sure that we are working hard to promote conservative issues and candidates,” she says. “We are one of the most conservative counties in the nation, and it’s important that we stay that way.” Chairman Edmondson continued by saying, “It is going to be vitally important that Republicans have a solid base built up for the 2010 Elections, because that election will determine how Austin draws redistricting lines here in Denton County. Continued on facing page.
Contact Information for 2009 Denton County Clubs
Rev. 1/27/09kec
CLUB
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PresideNt
PhONe
MeetiNG day & tiMe
Conservative Toastmasters
Tim Mangrum
coach@timmangrum.com
940.239.0564
Mondays call for information
DC Republican Assembly
Greg Hayden
gmhayden@verizon.net
214-288-6626
2nd Monday 6 p.m. dinner call for location
DC Republican Men’s Club
Judge Jim Crouch
JCrouch659@yahoo.com
972-436-4216
1st Thurs of the month 7:00pm Lewisville Chamber
Denton Republican Women’s Club
Deon Starnes
neon_deon@verizon.net
(940) 300.8502
3rd Wednesdays 11:30 lunch noon meeting Loop 288 Golden Corral
Frisco Republican Men’s Club
Ed Tamm Bob Chambers
edtamm@hotmail.com rcctx@sbcglobal.net
972-668-1619
1st Thursday 6:30 PM Texas Land & Cattle Preston & Gaylord - Frisco
Frisco Area Republican Woman’s Club
Sandy Simpson
sandsimp@swbell.net
972.335.1829
2nd Tuesday - 11:30 AM Westin Stonebriar Hotel on Legacy
Legacy Republican Club
Carlos Gallardo
carlos-gallardo@att.net
972.668.1527
TBA
972.317.4891
4th Friday of the month 11:30am order food - 12:00 Meeting Landmark Grill
Lewisville Area Republican Club
Avie Raburn
araburn@texasstopgun.com
Metrocrest Republican Club
Bob Phelps
bob0701@att.net
Pachyderm Club of Denton County
Cynthia Mitchell
cynthia@cynthiamitchell.net
469.446.4246
1st Wed of the month 11:30am order food - 12:00 Meeting Texas Land and Cattle Company
Republican Business Networking
Roy Magno
roy@yoymagno.com
940.783.7339
2nd & 4th Fridays Texas Land & Cattle, Hickory Creek, I35E
Robson Ranch Republican Club
Rudy Cajka
cajka1@grandecom.net
940.262.3207
1st Thursday of each month, 7:00 p.m. Robson Ranch Clubroom
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2nd Wednesday 7:00 PM
At this time, new clubs are forming across the county to accomplish that goal of meeting the needs of those individuals who want a place to get plugged in on a local level. Roy Magno, Executive Director of the Denton County Republican Party, points out, “We want to make sure that we are making it easy for people to get involved. Sometimes the club meeting time or location is just not convenient for certain people, so other groups can be formed as needed .” Roy is working at this time on forming the Republican Business Networking Group club which will focus on developing relationships between conservative business professionals. “We are definitely looking for individuals that have a desire to get involved; we have a lot to do in the next 12 months,” notes Magno. There will also be several other clubs starting and reorganizing over the next few months throughout the county. One of those groups is the Denton County Young Republicans, which will be designed to develop professional relationships between individuals that are out of college and seeking to get involved in the local political experience. A north Denton County Club and a Castle Hills Club are also being discussed.
Scholarship Available
The Denton County Republican party is offering a $500.00 scholarship for a deserving Republican college student. All applicants must be legal Denton County residents; fulltime students taking 12 or more semester hours; either an entering Fall 2009 freshman or current student at a Texas institution of higher education; and if eligible, must be a registered to vote, or if not of voting age must show GOP involvement. Applications must be received by May 1, 2009, and be accompanied by a current transcript copy (or admission letter if entering freshman), resume and at least one letter of recommendation. Visit our website at www.dentongop.org and click on the Outreach link to download a scholarship application and to get additional information. n
Opportunities to get involved are abundant at many of the clubs in Denton County. The grassroots level of organization is often appealing to many people, especially if they have an idea for a legislative or political issue. Brooke Hambrick, Senior Field Representative at State Senator Jane Nelson’s office says, “Senator Nelson gets many great suggestions from people that we meet at the local club meetings. Those ideas are usually solid, conservative ideas that we can use to move good legislation and policies in Austin.” Mrs. Hambrick also mentioned that people often know that they are making a difference when they offer suggestions to staff members. If you would like more information regarding the local clubs that are available, or ir you are interested in starting a local club, please call Avie Rayburn @ 972-317-489, or Marc Moffitt @ 817-905-2813. You may also visit www.dentongop.org, and click on the link for Clubs/Committees. n
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De-Programming Students BY THOMAS SOWELL
Letters from parents often complain of a You can tell your overconfident young student sense of futility in trying to argue with their that you will be happy to discuss that particular own children, who have been fed a steady diet issue after he or she has taken the elementary of the politically correct vision of the world, step of reading something by somebody on the from elementary school to the university. other side. Some ask for suggestions of particular books Elementary as it may seem that we should that might make a dent in the know-it-all attitude hear both sides of an issue before making up of some young people who have heard only one our minds, that is seldom what happens on Thomas Sowell side of the story in classrooms all their lives. politically correct issues today in our schools and colleges. The biggest argument of the left is that there That is one way of going about trying to de-program is no argumentó whether the issue is global warming, “open young people. There are, for example, some good books space” laws or whatever. showing what is wrong with the “global warming” crusades or showing why male-female differences in income or Some students may even imagine that they have already occupations are not automatically discrimination. heard the other side because their teachers may have given them their version of other people’s arguments or motives. Various authors have written a lot of good books that demolish what is currently believed and taught to students But a jury would never be impressed by having the on a wide range of issues. Some of those books are listed as prosecution tell them what the defendant’s defense is. They suggested readings on my website (www.tsowell.com). would want to hear the defense attorney present that case. Yet trying to undo the propaganda that passes for Yet most students who have read and heard repeatedly education at too many schools and colleges, one issue at about the catastrophes awaiting us unless we try to stop a time, may not always be the best strategy. There are too “global warming” have never read a book, an article or even many issues on which the politically correct party line is a single word by any of the hundreds of climate scientists, in considered to be the only way to look at things. countries around the world, who have expressed opposition to that view. Given the wide range of issues on which students are indoctrinated, instead of being educated, trying to undo These students may have been shown Al Gore’s movie “An all of that would require a whole shelf full of books and Inconvenient Truth” in school, but are very unlikely to have somehow getting the students to read them all. been shown the British Channel 4 television special, “The Great Global Warming Swindle.” Another approach might be to respond to the dogmatic certainty of some young person, perhaps your own offspring, Even if we assume, for the sake of argument, that students by asking: “Have you ever read a single book on the other are being indoctrinated with the correct conclusions on side of that issue?” current issues, that would still be irrelevant educationally. Hearing only one side does nothing to equip students with Chances are, after years of being “educated,” even at some the experience to know how to sort out opposing sides of the highest-priced schools and colleges, they have not. of other issues they will have to confront in the future, When the inevitable answer to your question is “No,” you after they have left school and need to reach their own can simply point out how illogical it is to be so certain about conclusions on the issues arising later. anything when you have heard only one side of the story no Yet they are the jury that will ultimately decide the fate matter how often you have heard that one side repeated. of this nation. n Would it make sense for a jury to reach a verdict after To find out more about Thomas Sowell and read features by other having heard only the prosecution’s case, or only the defense Creators Syndicate columnists and cartoonists, visit the Creators attorney’s case, but not both? Syndicate web page at www.creators.com. Thomas Sowell is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, Stanford, There is no need to argue the specifics of the particular CA 94305. His Web site is www.tsowell.com. issue that has come up. Copyright 2009 Creators Syndicate, Inc. 6
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County’s First Official
Veterans Memorial Breaks Ground BY DAN JAWORSKI
Officials from Denton County, the City of Carrollton, citizens and veterans all gathered on a chilly December 6th morning to break ground on the county’s first official Veterans Memorial. Once built, the memorial will sit on the front lawn of the Sandy Jacobs Government Center in Carrollton. The monument is to be made of granite, honoring all five military branches with an inscription paying homage to “the men and women who have served the United States in war and peace, those who stand in harm’s way.” Ceremonial flags, a meandering path and several benches along with granite slabs with bronze plaques bearing the names of veterans will make up the memorial. Commissioner Ron Marchant presided over the ceremonies that included comments from Congressman Kenny Marchant, Carrollton Mayor Ron Branson as well as the presentation of a certificate commemorating the event from State Senator Jane Nelson. (l-r) Congressman Kenny Marchant, J. C. Banks, Hobart Marchant, and Commissioner Ron Marchant.
Also present were special guests, Hobart Marchant and J.C. Banks, both veterans of World War II. Mr. Marchant is the father to both Congressman and Commissioner Marchant while Mr. Banks is a Pearl Harbor survivor. All special guests and members of the Veterans Memorial steering committee took part in the ceremonial “turning of dirt”, marking the beginning of construction for the project. The committee hopes to continue construction of the memorial early in 2009, with the funds for the project coming entirely from private donations. So far, the committee has raised about $25,000 of the estimated $75,000 needed to complete the memorial. Those wishing to place the name of a veteran on a bronze plaque will be able to do so at an estimated donation of $50$75. The estimated cost for the construction of the memorial could reach $100,000. Commissioner Marchant has a passion for the project, saying “They’re (veterans) not a bragging bunch of people but they need to be recognized.” All donations made are tax deductible and those wishing to donate are encouraged to contact Commissioner Marchant’s office (972-434-7140). n RED COUNTY
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Pa r t y L e a d e r s h i p
Rep. Burt Solomons Our Neighbor
Raised in North Dallas and a resident of Denton County for over 30 years, Texas State Representative Burt Solomons focuses on what he sees as the job of representing his community and neighbors. Although his family had only modest means, Burt’s parents made sure that education was a priority for him. After Burt graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in Dallas, he attended Texas Tech University while also working at KLBK-TV in Lubbock, Texas starting off as a camera man and ending his career in TV as a switcher-director upon graduation. Having an interest in local governmental affairs, Burt received a graduate teaching fellowship at SMU and earned a Master’s Degree in Public Administration. His first job upon graduating was an administrative assistant for the Mayor and City Manager of Richardson, Texas. From there he moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma where he worked to put himself through the University of Tulsa law school, first working for UPS and then as a legal intern for a prominent law firm in Tulsa which utilized him to assist both litigators and transactional attorneys in the firm including doing research on various land titles for land donated to Oral Roberts University. This work focused his interest in real estate where he also became involved in municipal platting law.
Rep. Solomons makes a point during the Texas legislative session.
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Upon graduating, Burt moved back to Dallas and promptly used his legal skills to assist local governments. His first job was the Assistant City Attorney for the City of Denton, and eventually Acting City Attorney for a brief period. Asked to become General Counsel for Lawyer’s Title of Denton and Lewisville, this position gave Burt an opportunity to use his real estate skills and learn the title
business from the inside. After five years working in the (as Chairman), title business, Burt began his private law practice in Denton the Committee County and within the first year of doing so, was appointed on Economic to be the Municipal Judge of Carrollton, while continuing Development, his law practice. He also later served part-time as an Asthe Local and sistant Municipal Judge for Lewisville and Flower Mound. Consent CalenIn addition, he has served as the President of the Texas dars Committee, Municipal Courts Association and Provost of the Texas and the Select Supreme Court Judicial Education Advisory Committee, Committee on Enjoying the 200 Denton County GOP golf and attended the National Judicial College. Constitutional tournament with Burt are David Arbuckle of AT&T (left) and Larry Williams, Carrollton Revisions. Over the years Burt became quite active in local commuCity Council member. nity groups including various chambers of commerce, the Being true to his conservative Republican roots and his Carrollton-Farmers Branch Rotary Club, and was a Charter district, Rep. Solomons has carried legislation on prayer in Director of the Boys and Girls Club of Denton County. school, illegal immigration, and allowing home rule cities to limit the location of bars, liquor stores and sexually oriented While working in the title industry, Burt met his wife, businesses. In 2005, he was named the second most conserJamie, who had been raised in Carrollton, graduating from vative legislator by the Texas Young Conservatives. R. L. Turner High School. The Solomons have lived in Carrollton since their first meeting a few years before they In addition to these bills, Burt has authored many married in 1987 , and both became active major changes in Texas law. He helped in the local Republican Party. Both have create the Texas Online project, created served as precinct chairs, and Burt was the Texas No-Call List, modernized the elected to serve as a Vice-President and Texas Finance Code, re-written the Texas President of the Denton County RepubWorkers’ Compensation Act, the Business lican Men’s Club. Before being elected Organizations Code, and much of the as a state representative, Rep. Solomons mechanic’s lien law used in the State. served as a delegate to the Denton County However, it is the local bills of which Republican Convention and the State Burt is most proud. He believes these are of Texas Republican Convention and the bills that really have direct impact on as Parliamentarian to Denton County so many in his community of Denton Republican Convention. In the Texas County. He has created various district, House, Burt has participated in the Recriminal, statutory and probate courts publican Caucus as its Sergeant-of-Arms for Denton County, the Denton County and as Chair of the Caucus’ Task Force on Transportation Authority, helped Texas Economic Development, and the Texas Rep. Solomons acted as presiding speaker Women’s University build a new student Conservative Coalition. during the 2007 session in Austin. center and provide medical services, supApproached by several longtime Republicans in 1994, ported the University of North Texas in its efforts to obtain Burt agreed to file for State Representative of District 65, funding, preserved the Denton County Historical Park and has been proud to represent his community of neighFoundation, and allowed Denton County to regulate aubors and friends since then. Rep. Solomons currently serves tomotive wrecking and salvage yards – just to name a few as the Chair of the House Committee on Financial Instipieces of legislation. tutions, a position he has held for the past three sessions. Even after 14 years in the Texas House, Burt has not lost Under his leadership of 12 years on the committee, some of the “man-off-the-streets” attitude. If you meet with him in the toughest consumer protection in the United States for his district office he is most likely to be in jeans and a golf home equity lending was passed by the committee. shirt. He frequently answers his own phone, and personally Rep. Solomons was recently named as Chairman of the greets visitors to his Capitol Office if he is not on the House powerful State Affairs committee for the current legislative Floor working. During the busiest of times of the Session, session. He also has served on the House Committee on his focus is still on his community. Every night while he is Business and Industry since his first session. Through his in Austin he calls home to talk to Jamie and their daughter, service on this committee, Burt has gained an extensive Haley. As one of his close friends in Lewisville once obknowledge of a variety of large and small legislative issues served when Burt first was elected, “Burt is a local guy and involving business, homeowner associations, and workhe isn’t going to change.” His friends and neighbors in our ers’ compensation. In addition to these committees, Rep. community know he still is one of them. n Solomons has served on the Sunset Advisory Commission RED COUNTY
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d e N tO N C O U N t y G O P
DCRP
Honors Volunteers at Special Dinner
The mood was festive and the participants jovial at the annual Volunteer Recognition Dinner held November 20 at Sneaky Pete’s waterfront restaurant in Lewisville. More than 250 volunteers and elected officials enjoyed the dinner, which was emceed by State Senator Jane Nelson. County Chairman Dianne Edmondson announced that Denton County had actually exceeded the vote goals set for us by the state Victory team, maintaining the GOP hold on every partisan elected office in the county.
In addition to celebrating Denton County’s strong showing in the November election, the event gave the county’s GOP clubs the opportunity to select their Outstanding Members (see accompanying photos), feted Barbara Russell of Denton as the Precinct Chair of the Year, named Deon Starnes of Denton as the Outstanding
left to right: David Laschinger and Sen. Nelson present Rudy Cajka (center) with the Robson Ranch Outstanding Member award.
left to right: Chairman Edmondson, Barbara Russell (200 Precinct Chair of the Year), Connie Hudson (chair of the Pct. Chair of the Year committee), and Sen. Nelson.
left to right: The Roy Magno family (Chairman’s Award), Chairman Edmondson and Sen. Nelson
Volunteer and honored the Roy Magno family with the coveted Chairman’s Award. (Kathy Carrington and Marc Core were unable to attend but were named by their clubs, Denton County Republican Men’s Club and Pachyderm Club of Denton County, as Outstanding Members.) An exciting highlight of the evening was the drawing for the winner of the voter registration contest sponsored by Congressmen Kenny Marchant and Michael Burgess. Jeff Andonian of Carrollton and Susan Passierello of Argyle were the two lucky winners of a trip to Washington DC, courtesy of their congressmen. An enjoyable surprise “lesson” occurred when Justice of the Peace Joe Holland taught the group to sing “Texas, My Texas”, a song all true Texans should know!
Jana Inge, (l) and Lisa Lyon were the Outstanding members of their clubs, Denton Republican Women’s Club and Lewisville Area Republican Club.
Sen. Nelson and Paul Kramer present Shirley Spellerberg (center) with the Denton County Republican Assembly Outstanding Member award.
Thanks to the generosity of several elected officials, the top Denton County Republican Party volunteers, including poll watchers from the November election, were treated to the special dinner. Those sponsoring the event included: U.S. Senator John Cornyn; Congressmen Michael Burgess and Kenny Marchant; State Senators Jane Nelson, Chris Harris and Craig Estes; State Representatives Myra Crownover, Burt Solomons and Tan Parker; Judges Bruce McFarling, Lee Gabriel, Margaret Barnes, Darlene Whitten, Joe Bridges, Jim Crouch, Richard “Ski” Podgorski, Virgil Vahlenkamp, and David Garcia; District Attorney Paul Johnson; Sheriff Benny Parkey; District Clerk Sherri Adelstein; Commissioner Bobbie Mitchell; and Justice of the Peace Joe Holland. n RED COUNTY
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d e N tO N C O U N t y G O P
Out and About Enjoying the Volunteer Recognition Banquet –Area leaders are thanked for their efforts.
Sherri District Clerk Chair t. Pc n, ei Adelst d her an r lle Elizabeth Ke nator mom, St ate Se ow of f Jane Nelson sh with ds or ch l their voca xas.” “Texas, Our Te
The Jim Beveredge family enjoyed the banquet.
6/4% Justice of the Pe ace James De Piaz za (l), St at e Rep. Tan Park er and Judge M ar garet Barnes helped honor volunteers.
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2008 Golf Tournament
Kathy Orr celebrates making a great putt.
ris pro Chad H ar Oak mont golf er Board. ad Le e th s update
State Rep. Tan Parker is paired with Dan Jaworski.
ked up Senator John Cornyn pic the d rke wo he as some votes uar ters phones at DCRP Headq just before the Election.
Hard work pays o !
Governor Rick Pe rry dropped by DCRP Headquart ers Election and helpe before the d volunteers get literature pack ets ready.
State Senator Jane Nelson and her family at the opening day of the Texas Legislature.
RED COUNTY
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An Electoral By Tom Ferguson
Benjamin Franklin famously remarked that the Founding Fathers had given us “a Republic, if you can keep it” as our form of government. The Electoral College is a cornerstone of our republic, though few citizens understand how it works and many of those who do want to get rid of it. This ignorance is a tragedy and the malice toward the system is misdirected.
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After the General Election, many people who knew I was an Elector asked me if the results meant I had to vote for Obama! This is a fundamental misunderstanding of the process. So, first, let us take a quick tour of how the system works. You can read more details in the US Constitution, Article II, Section 1; the Twelfth Amendment, and various federal and state statutes relating to election law. Electors are associated with a particular party and/or candidate. In some states, electors are appointed directly by the state party; others are elected by caucus. In Texas, being the grass roots state that we are, the Republican electors are chosen by Congressional District Caucus during the State convention. I was chosen as the Elector for CD 24 by a vote at our 2008 Convention in Houston. In addition to the electors chosen in caucus, two ‘at large’ electors are chosen by the Nominations Committee at the State convention since each state’s electoral votes are equal to the number of Congressional representatives in the state plus two. The 34 people chosen as Electors at the RPT State convention all signed an affidavit promising to cast their votes for the Republican Presidential and VicePresidential Nominees. Similarly, the Democrats and any other parties on the ballot in Texas would have chosen 34 electors pledged to their candidates. When the General Election occurred on November 4, the voters were actually deciding which slate of electors will be chosen for the Electoral College in each state. All but two states (Maine and Nebraska) use the ‘winner take all’ system. Thus, the winner of a plurality of votes in the state is sufficient to give ALL of the electoral votes for that state to the winner. Since John McCain received the most votes in Texas, each member of the Republican slate of candidate electors was duly certified by the Secretary of State as a member of the Electoral College for Texas. To allow time for certifying the vote and possible recount issues (remember 2000!), the Electoral College does not meet until the first Monday after the second Wednesday of December (this is by federal statute). When the results are certified, the Secretary of State of Texas notifies each winning Elector of the time and place of the meeting of the Electoral College; this year, at 2pm on Monday, December 15, in the House
Col ege Experience Chamber of the State Capitol. Most of the Electors traveled to Austin on Sunday night. On Monday, the Republican Party of Texas hosted a luncheon for us near the Capitol and we were then shuttled to the Capitol for the meeting. After the ceremonial anthems and pledges, the first order of business is to choose a permanent chair, the Secretary of State, Hope Andrade, presiding until then. Pat Peale (CD 26 – Cooke County) was chosen as Chair and Mary Darby as Secretary. The staff of the Secretary of State facilitated the meeting; distributing and collecting the ballots. Each Elector was given a ballot for President and then a ballot for Vice-President. All the votes were counted and – surprise! – John McCain and Sarah Palin each received 34 votes! The Secretary of State then prepared six original copies of the results of the election and each elector signed all six copies. After all of the signatures were collected, the meeting was adjourned. The results of the election are sent to the President of the United States Senate as well as to the National Archives. Meanwhile, the Electors gathered in the Secretary of State’s office for a reception hosted by Ms. Andrade. From there, we made our way home to fill out our expense reports – the state reimburses each elector for their expenses incurred in fulfilling their duties. So, why should we keep what appears to be a largely ceremonial system? And why should we allow the possibility that the will of the “majority” may be thwarted (as in 2000, where Al Gore won a majority of the popular vote, but President Bush won the Electoral College vote 271-267)? There are movements afoot to get rid of the Electoral College – (just Google that phrase) even without changing the constitution. First of all, without the Electoral College, the presidential campaign would focus only on the major population centers of the country. By contrast, the Electoral College forces the candidates to pay attention to a wide variety of states and issues, depending on which states are battle grounds in that particular cycle. Secondly, the Electoral College compartmentalizes fraud. Because of the winner take all system, fraud in one state may help a candidate win
that state, but it does not pollute the rest of the system. Think CD 24 Presidential of a corrupt state, oh, let’s say, Elector Tom Ferguson Illinois for example! It would be possible for such a state to dump in hundreds of thousands of ‘extra’ fraudulent votes in the system. In a direct election, these fraudulent votes would devalue the votes of every legitimate voter in the country. With the Electoral College, no matter what the margin of victory in Illinois, the candidate gets 21 electoral votes, no more and no less. Finally, the Electoral College helps focus recount issues. Remember what a nightmare the election was in 2000 because of the closeness of the vote in Florida. Imagine a direct national election for president where the candidates are separated by only a few thousand votes and the loser demands a recount. The possibilities for a long, drawn-out, and fraud-prone process on a national scale (think Minnesota Senate race 2008 multiplied by 50!) are endless. With the Electoral College, any recount issues are likely to be isolated to at most a handful of states. And, just in case you need one more piece of evidence that we should keep the Electoral College, just consider this: the editorial board of the New York Times wants to get rid of it! (Google “Flunking the Electoral College” and you will see their editorial from November 19, 2008). At our luncheon prior to the Electoral College meeting, one of the electors kept joking about when he was going to get his ‘diploma’ for graduating from the Electoral College. I think he left Austin disappointed in that regard. But I challenge you to earn your Electoral College ‘diploma’ – take that facts I have laid out for you in this article; go read the Constitution and do a little research of your own. Then, next time you hear someone talk about abolishing the Electoral College, you will be prepared. Take up Benjamin Franklin’s challenge to help keep this Republic! n
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Vice-President Joe Biden (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/ Getty Images)
“We Love to Talk,” Declares Biden
BY MONA CHAREN Vice President Joseph Biden delivered the Obama administration’s first major foreign policy address last week at the Munich Security Conference. It was just the sort of thing Europeans tend to like. Biden offered bouquets to diplomacy, to multinational institutions, and to respecting other cultures. “It was not an accident,” he told his continental audience, “that (Obama) gave his very first interview as president to Al-Arabiya.”
“Our administration is reviewing policy toward Iran,” Biden declared, “but this much I can say: We are willing to talk.” Unlike whom? Obama’s predecessor? The Bush administration held at least 28 separate meetings between Americans of ambassadorial rank and Iranian officials during the eight years of the Bush presidency. According to the Middle East Forum, more than 16 meetings were held in Geneva and Paris from November 2001 through December "…attempting to falsify the history of the Bush 2002 between Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near years should not go unremarked." Eastern Affairs Ryan Crocker and senior Iranian Foreign Ministry officials. A number of high-level direct negotiaThe new administration is entitled to pursue whatever tions were conducted in 2003, and a number of indirect foreign policy they think best in the next four years (God contacts were maintained through the Europeans between help us). But attempting to falsify the history of the Bush 2003 and 2007. In March 2007, U.S. Ambassador to Iraq years should not go unremarked. Zalmay Khalilzad held a meeting with an Iranian team at a conference of Iraq’s neighbors Just as he did during the campaign, when Mona Charen in Baghdad. Khalilzad’s successor, Crocker, then-candidate Biden declared that we had also met with the Iranian ambassador. Thus “kicked Hezbollah out of Lebanon,” among the U.S. gave full backing to a (fruitless) Euother whoppers, Biden is again (presumably ropean Union initiative to negotiate with Iran with the full support and encouragement of about its nuclear program. President Obama) inventing his own history to suit his political purposes. Biden announced last week, as if there were something new under the sun, “We are will16
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ing to talk to Iran, and to offer a very clear choice: continue down your current course and there will be pressure and isolation; abandon your illicit nuclear program and support for terrorism and there will be meaningful incentives.”
U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) (L) speaks as U.S. Senator Joe Biden (D-DE) listens during the Des Moines Register Republican Presidential Debate at the Iowa Public Television studios December 12, 2007 in Johnston, Iowa. (Photo by Chris GannonPool/Getty Images)
"The U.S. and the Europeans have been perpetual Charlie Browns running to kick the football to the Iranian Lucy". Ah, “meaningful incentives.” Why didn’t someone think of that before? Let’s see, here’s a CNN clip from May 8, 2008: “The United States has signed off on a European plan that would offer increased incentives for Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment program, senior State Department officials said Thursday. …The United States, along with the other nations, has been following a ‘dual track strategy’ with Iran, which includes tightening sanctions on the regime while offering incentives if Iran suspends its enrichment activities.” Page back through the past eight years and you can find the identical story over and over again. The U.S. and the Europeans have been perpetual Charlie Browns running to kick the football to the Iranian Lucy. So now the Obama Administration proposes to do exactly, exactly the same thing. But they do so loudly proclaiming how different they are. And the clock ticks, and Ahmadinejad – who affirmatively desires global chaos because he believes it portends the arrival of the 12th imam – gets ever closer to a nuclear weapon. “ We do not believe in a clash of civilizations,” said Biden. Another straw man. The Bush administration never framed the war on terror as a clash of civilizations and in fact made every effort to remind the world that we respected Islam. We heard that Islam was a “religion of peace” more from Bush and Co. than we ever heard it from leading Muslims. One of President Bush’s first stops in the days after 9/11 was the Islamic Center in Washington, D.C. And it was Bush who began to observe Ramadan at the White House.
The new administration betrays a touching faith in diplomacy. Democrats always do. What they have never seemed to appreciate is that diplomacy without the threat of force is as effective as a watchdog with a muzzle. Perhaps Obama might consider a muzzle the next time Biden goes for an outing. n To find out more about Mona Charen and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com. Copyright 2009 Creators Syndicate, Inc.
Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the current Supreme Leader of Iran.
Islamic Center of Washington has been visited by many high profile dignitaries, including several presidents. The highest profile visit was by President George W. Bush on September 17, 2001 only days after the attacks of September 11. On national television, Bush quoted from the Koran and worked to assure Americans that vast majority of Muslims are peaceful.
President Mahmud Ahmadinejâd speaking at Columbia University on 24 September 2007
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Phyllis Schlafly
to Headline Lincoln-Reagan Event The matriarch of the modern conservative movement, Phyllis Schlafly, will be the keynote speaker at the Feb. 21 Denton County GOP Lincoln-Reagan Dinner, the major fundraising event each year for the DCRP. Mrs. Schlafly is the founder and national President of Eagle Forum, one of the foremost conservative, pro-family groups in the country, with offices in Washington, D.C. and St. Louis. A personal friend of President Reagan, she successfully mobilized thousands of pro-family activists across the nation to stop the so-called Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution as it appeared to be on a speedy path to ratification. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, who has announced formation of an exploratory committee for a gubernatorial campaign in 2010, will also be speaking, along with Congressmen Michael Burgess Sen. Kay Bailey and Kenny Marchant. Gov. Rick Hutchison Perry has also been invited. Mrs. Schlafly has taken on the hard issues of our day and delivered concise, accurate and easy-to-digest information on illegal immigration, judicial appointments, public education, national sovereignty, dangerous treaties, and more. And her successes have been many. She is routinely courted by candidates seeking the conservative vote, as her influence with conservatives throughout the country is legendary. Named by Ann Coulter as one her role models, she is described by Ms. Coulter as “… just an amazing woman! …a senior statesman in the Republican Party. She has had a dominant influence on the Republican Party platform for at least two decades. Ask any U.S. senator, Republican or Democrat: Would you rather your pet bill be opposed by [arch feminist] Gloria Steinem or Phyllis Schlafly?” Their response might be: “Gloria who?” Having been personally acquainted with President Reagan, Mrs. Schlafly will have some interesting stories to share, but her keynote address will focus on our endangered national sovereignty as she asks, “Are You Ready for Obama’s Change?” 1
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Presiden t and Phy Ronald Reagan llis Schla fly . C O M
Her remarks will inform, inspire and perhaps enrage as she shares well-documented but little-publicized facts. Many conservatives have heard her speak at both the Texas State GOP Convention as well as the National Convention, and her work to keep the national platform strongly conservative is legendary. She formed the Republican National Coalition for Life to successfully ward off the challenges to the platform’s pro-life plank. Held at the D/FW Hyatt Regency, the evening promises to be both patriotic and informative, with Mark Davis once again as Master of Ceremonies. A VIP Reception plus both live and silent auctions will add to the evening’s enjoyment. Individual dinner tickets are available for $65, VIP Reception tickets for $150 and tables of ten for $1000 and up, with various special benefits for table hosts. To make a reservation or for more information, please contact the DCRP Headquarters at 940/321-2671 or l-rdinner@dentongop.org. n
Phyllis Schlafly