GOP re-election efforts, Texans, and death

The Republican Party, which has died, is now being embalmed.

Maria Recio, of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, notes that Sen. John Cornyn (R-Tx) will become the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which puts "him in charge of re-election prospects for the GOP in 2010."

In the House it appears that Rep. Pete Sessions, a Repug from Dallas, will become the chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee.

While the chairmanship of the House Republican Conference is up for grabs, there is a possibility that Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Lewisville, will gain that seat although the current chairman, Thaddeus McCotter of Michigan, has the support of John Boehner, the House Minority Leader.


Why would this be important? Isn't one Repugnican just as bad as another Repugnican?

Not really. Texas Repugnicans are a special breed. Let's take a look at the womb from which Cornyn, Sessions and Burgess sprung and the teat on which they continue to suck.

The womb is the Texas Republican Party and the teat is the current platform of that party.


Vince Liebowitz at capitolannex.com gives us a glimpse of the worst of this paean to radicalism and Christianism. Here are a few of the planks: [Note that Liebowitz's comments follow each plank]

* We believe that human life is sacred, created in the image of God. Life begins at the moment of fertilization [my emphasis] and ends at the point of natural death. All innocent human life must be protected.

[So, if you don't believe in God, tough: you were created in his image anyway. Oh, and that 'natural death' part? We assume the Texas GOP counts a lethal injection as a 'natural death.']

* We believe that traditional marriage is a legal and moral commitment between a natural man and a natural woman. We recognize that the family is the foundational unit of a healthy society and consists of those related by blood, marriage, or adoption. The family is responsible for its own welfare, education, moral training, conduct, and property.

[... of course, it wouldn't be a GOP platform without gay-bashing within the first 1,000 words.]

* Promote stem cell research with public funds, and prohibit public funds for research that destroys human embryos.

[Isn't that kind of emasculating stem cell research?]

* Law enforcement should make Child and Sex Abuse and Methamphetamine Drug Manufacturing their top priority.

[Fighting meth should be a higher priority than fighting domestic violence, rape, and murder? How sad.]

* Protect the authority of the State Board of Education to manage the Permanent School Fund and control textbook content; expand the cap on charter schools; and remove funding for bilingual education.

[... of course, no GOP platform is complete without something to make sure the money men get theirs and smack[ing] down immigrants.]


Here's a quick run-down on a few other rotted planks in this rotten platform:

1. Opposition to the Census. Count only the people living in a dwelling.

2. Turn churches into an extension of political parties.

3. No reparations.

4. People who get a law degree online should be allowed to take Texas Bar Exam. [This is directly related to a former state legislator's daughter.]

5. Support federal or state photo ID at in-person voting.

6. Make it a felony to provide a same-sex couple with a marriage license.

7. Homosexuality breaks down the family unit, blah, blah, blah. No rights for homosexuals.

8. Oppose legalization of sodomy.

9. Oppose "morning after" pill.

10. Do away with Social Security.

11. Beat up the disabled.

12. More school vouchers.


Ah, there's so much more. You can read Leibowitz's entire article here.


So what does it mean that GOP re-election efforts in 2010 are likely to be led by congress folks from the state of Texas who subscribe to and represent this platform!

It is a gift that keeps on giving for the Democrats.

The Texas GOP represents the neanderthals of political life in 2008; Texas Repugnicans walk in lock-step with the extremist Christian right, the racists and the rednecks. Because they do not represent a growing majority of Americans, they become more irrelevant every day. The Republican Party is dead. The embalming will be done by Repugs from Texas between now and 2010.


Whosplayin.com has reduced the Texas Republican Platform to its irrelevant essence.

"We, the Radical Right Republicans of Texas, hate everything and everyone. We therefore call upon Angry Jesus to ride in on his Righteous Dinosaur of Death ... and smite all of the liberals, moderates, economists, scientists, educated elites, Mexicans, Muslims, and homosexuals. Amen."


That's about right!