Sen Baucus voted for a Republican amendment to his bill. Sounds Great! But he did it so it can be taken up by the full Senate where he plans to delete it. So, WE MUST KEEP OUR EYE ON THE BALL, more specifically on the fine print and the behind the scenes manuevering. The Left is still trying to impose their will on us. We must stay alert and keep the phone, fax and e-mail lines hot with our opinions. The greater good for the country must take precedence over our personal opinions.

I just discovered the Texas Republican party website has been re-designed. It is more user friendly and contains a lot of information about the local communities. Check it out.
Texas State Republican Chairman Tina Benkiser has resigned to join the Perry for Governor Campaign. I will post the info about the new Chairman as soon as I receive it.
I also added a link to the Texas House Caucus website. Take a look at it also.

Thursday evening the American Majority conducted a training session on how to be active in running our government. I have attended many training sessions in my life but seldom one so well presented as this. The Ameican Majority will make this presentation in Wichita Falls on Thursay, October 22. If you truly want to learn how to make a difference - and be motivated to do so - attend this training. It may be the most effective three hours of political science you will ever hear.

Today, the dam cracked and 85 Democrats voted with the Republicans to attach an amendment to HR 324. HR 324 creates a new national park in an area of southern Arizona that serves as a freeway of illegal immigration and drug importation. A Republican amendment, defeated on party lines in committee, was attached to the bill to insure  the Border Patrol continues to have enforcement authority within the area. The 259-167 vote on the floor of the House brought 85 Democrats to vote against Speaker Pelosi and the Democratic agenda on allowing illegal immigrants to freely flow into the USA. It happened because of pressure from millions of Americans who called and faxed their Member of Congress to insist. It proves that we can pressure Members to hold the line on what is best for America and that our input does have an impact.

Congratulation America - it can still be our country if we stay vigilant. The NUMBERSUSA organization, alone, generated the pressure in a 36 HOUR period before the vote. Check their website at www.numbersusa.com for more details.

Wichita Falls Attorney, Larry Lewis, has announced his candidacy for Wichita County Criminal District Attorney. I guess the political season is well under way.

HANDS OFF TEXAS, sponsored by the Texas House Republican Committee, and VICTORY '10, sponsored by the Republican Party of Texas and various county GOP committees, have as their goal increasing the Republican majority in the Texas House of Representatives. Presently, the House has 76 Republicans and 74 Democrats - not enough to insure passage of the Republican agenda. Most people with knowledge of the subject believe we need a majority of 20 to insure our agenda. We have identified up to 14 seats currently held by Democrats that are vulnerable. We have already begun strategy meetings on replacing them with Republicans. Remember, each Democrat replaced by a Republican is really a net gain of 2 - one less Democrat and one more Republican. However, it will require a lot of shoe leather and greenbacks to accomplish this goal. We have started now because we need to get good people selected during the Primary Election and we need to get them known within their District. Your help, as an individual is needed starting now.
Let's work smart and hard to KEEP TEXAS RED. Let's make the next Texas House 85-65!

Thank you for visiting our Wichita County GOP Booth at the Texas-Oklahoma Fair. We were able to collect a large number of signatures on two petitions - one to support the Texas GOP effort to keep the Democrats from being successful in Texas and one to express opposition to changes in our health care system. People were very interested in our message and many expressed great concern. When people ask the purpose of the HANDS OFF TEXAS petition usually a simple "To keep the Democrats Out of Texas!" was sufficient to get them to sign.
Thanks to County Commissioner Ray Gonzales. Precinct Chairman Nolan Bell and Danny and Levada Mahler from Clay County for their help.

With the announcement this week by David Farrabee that he would not seek re-election to the Texas Legislature, Wichita Falls Mayor Lanham Lyne announced that he would seek the nomination as a Republican candidate. He made his formal announcement yesterday.
Since the primary purpose of Wichita Victory '10 is to seek the election of more Republicans to state and local office we are pleased that Mayor Lyne has chosen to run.
The importance of expanding the Republican majority in the Texas House of Representatives cannot be over stressed. The next Legislature will have the responsibility to re-district the Congressional seats as well as the state legislature and state offices that are elected on a district basis. Control of the Legislature is crucial and adding Lanham Lyne to represent Wichita and Archer counties will be a major step in insuring the success of proper re-districting.

The Texas Republican Party has announced a contest to select a logo for the statewide Victory '10 campaign. We will be submitting our design for consideration. Wish us luck!

Interest in the "HANDS OFF TEXAS" petition is high at the Texas-Oklahoma Fair. People have no reservation about signing once the purpose is explained. We have two more days of the Fair and plan to attract as many signatures as we have already received. Be sure to stop by and talk with us at the Wichita County Republican party Booth and show your support for "HANDS OFF TEXAS".

The crowds were smaller last night but still a lot of activity at our booth. People are very concerned about what the politicians ans bureaucrats are doing to their government. Virtually everyone with whom I spoke signed the HANDS OFF TEXAS petition and the petition opposing the "health care reform" proposals.
If you are unable to visit the Fair, or if you miss our Wichita County Republican Party booth you may sign the HANDS OFF TEXAS petition at www.texasgop.org website.

Last night was the opening of the Texas-Oklahoma Fair in Wichita Falls. Staying in the booth made it difficult for me to jusge the crowd but we did have about 50 people sign the HANDS OFF TEXAS petition and the stop health care legislation petition. Also had some interesting conversations about political views.
Will have the booth open again tonight, beginning at 6 p.m.

Rain aside, a successful "Hands Off Texas" rally was held at the State Capitol yesterday. Heavy rain held down the size of the crowd but not the enthusiasm. The message to the Democractic National committee, which was meeting in Austin, was clear - leave us alone!
If you did not attend, or hear about, the Rally you may still help by signing the petition at http://www.handsofftexas.com

Tomorrow the Republican Party of Texas will be co-sponsoring a "Hands Off Texas" rally at the State Capitol in Austin. The rally is to let the Democratic National Committee, which is meeting in Austin this week, know we wish them to keep their hands off Texas and that we plan to continue Republican dominance of the State. The Rally is scheduled from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Hope to see you there.

If you can't make it to Austin stop by the Wichita County Courthouse between Noon and 2:00 pm for the rally there, or else attend the showing of the 9/11 movie at the Burkburnett Amphintheater at 7:00 p.m.