Republican lost the battle, but won the war!

Interesting article by friend Andy Hogue with The Lone Star Report.

In what is perhaps a first for the State of Texas, a recently sworn-in Republican House member with no Democratic opponent was defeated in a special election held Saturday to fulfill an unexpired term — yet still retains his seat.

Such a result would have normally ousted the new member from his office until January, but due to his opponent’s prior withdrawal from the Dallas-area House race the election results were considered void.

Former Plano City Council member Mabrie Jackson technically won in Saturday’s HD 66 open seat election with 56 percent of the votes cast (or 1,363 votes) to Rep. Van Taylor‘s (R-Plano) 44 percent (1,049 votes), many North Texas news sources reported. However, Jackson previously withdrew from the race — alas, not in time for the special election to be removed from voting machines. So the special election was held in conjunction with municipal elections, and votes were counted … then promptly ignored. (The numbers do not even appear on the Secretary of State’s election night report.)

Jackson told LSR shortly after the primary that whoever wins the primary runoff in April should appear on the special election ballot, too (Taylor won the primary runoff 58-42 percent). Jackson and Taylor appeared in a three-way primary election with Wayne Richard in March (when Jackson carried 43 percent, Taylor 32 percent, and Richard 25 percent — Richard endorsed Taylor for the runoff).

The May 8 election was a special called election to fulfill the very brief unexpired term of Brian McCall, who announced his departure in November and resigned April 2 to take the Texas State University system chancellor’s position … but not in time to avoid the Governor having to call a special May election, as required by statute.

Taylor was sworn in last month and a sign is already placed on the HD 66 House office in the Capitol Extension. There was apparently some question regarding whether Taylor was properly sworn in, but according to a press statement from the Texas Secretary of State’s office:

Mabrie Jackson filed a timely, written and effective withdrawal under state law from the special election in House District 66. Pursuant to state law, once this occurred, Van Taylor was unopposed and the Election Code granted the Secretary of State the authority to declare Mr. Taylor elected.

At that point, the election was not to be held and the law required the entity conducting the election — Collin County — to post the declaration of election the Secretary of State issued in regard to Mr. Taylor in the polling places that would be used in the special election. (Election Code section 2.055).

In this case, however, the county was not able to remove Ms. Jackson’s name from the ballot, nor could it remove the special election from the ballot, apparently because of the voting technology used and the fact the county had planned to hold joint elections. [...]

ELECTION DAY!!!!!

Update:

 
” You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift. You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred. You cannot build character and courage by taking away men’s initiative and independence. You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves.
 
—Abraham Lincoln—

 

Hello my fellow freedom loving Americans!!  The day is finally here, election day 2008.  I am in Clovis, NM helping to get out the vote (GOTV).  I will be writing about updates here in NM.  Please feel free to comment below about other areas of the country!  Lines, problems, issues, results lets share the knowldge of what is happening at the ground level.

A Little Perspective. . .

John Glenn (DEMOCRAT) said this —– It should make us all think a little:

There were 39 combat related killings in Iraq in January. In the fair city of Detroit there were 35 murders in the month of January. That’s just one American city, about as deadly as the entire war-torn country of Iraq

When some claim that President Bush shouldn’t have started this war, tell them the following:

• FDR (DEMOCRAT) led us into World War II. Germany never attacked us; Japan did. From 1941-1945, 450,000 lives were lost … an average of 112,500 per year.
• Truman (DEMOCRAT) finished that war and started one in Korea . North Korea never attacked us. From 1950-1953, 55,000 lives were lost … an average of 18,334 per year.
• LBJ (DEMOCRAT) sent combat troops to the Vietnam conflict in 1962. Vietnam never attacked us.
• Johnson (DEMOCRAT) turned Vietnam into a quagmire. From 1965-1975, 58,000 lives were lost … an average of 5,800 per year.
• Clinton (DEMOCRAT) went to war in Bosnia without UN or French consent. Bosnia never attacked us. He was offered Osama bin Laden’s head on a platter three times by Sudan and did nothing. Osama has attacked us on multiple occasions.

In the years since terrorists attacked us, President Bush has liberated two countries, crushed the Taliban, crippled al-Qaida, put nuclear inspectors in Libya, Iran, and, North Korea without firing a shot, and captured a terrorist who slaughtered 300,000 of his own people. And the Democrats are complaining about how long the war is taking

But Wait, There’s more.

• It took less time to take Iraq than it took Janet Reno (DEMOCRAT) to take the Branch Davidian compound. That was a 51-day operation.
• We’ve been looking for evidence for chemical weapons in Iraq for less time than it took Hillary Clinton (DEMOCRAT) to find the Rose law firm billing records.
• It took less time for the 3rd Infantry Division and the Marines to destroy the Medina Republican Guard than it took Ted Kennedy to call the police after his Oldsmobile sank at Chappaquiddick.
• It took less time to take Iraq than it took to count the votes in Florida!

Vote Match Quiz

This a is a very fun and informative quiz. The presidental match up is messed up BUT you can find your match with any US Senate Race, House Incumbents, Political Philosophy, or Political Celebrity. Vote Match Quiz

$700 Billion Bailout – Bad Idea

I am against the bailout. This is socialism and we cannot afford to step any closer to that line. This is even more important given the Dems candidate for president!

Here is the breakdown. The government wants to buy the debt on homes in the US. How do they by it? YOUR MONEY.

Freedom Works launched a petition against the massive $700 billion Wall Street Bailout that Congress is debating. Please take a few seconds to sign it!

Now lets talk about how this relates to the Presidential Debate. McCain wanted to postpone so that he as a United States Senator, elected by the people of his state to work to best represent them in issue of discussion, could be an active part in this bailout bologna. Obama was against moving the debate.

Once Obama realized that this was not a good position to take he decided to create some argument that a president should be able to “multitask.” Obama claims that we the American people need to hear where the candidates stand on the issues. He has been campaigning for almost TWO YEARS. He has had PLENTY of time to explain his personal positions. Why is he still concerned that the American people do not know where he stands? Perhaps because he has still not stated plans or ideas on a number of subjects during these past two years.

Ask yourself who has the servant’s heart? Who steps up as a Leader? Who is more concerned with doing the job than getting the job? Once again McCain has put Country First! And Once again Obama has chosen to put himself and his campaign first.

Amarillo Attorney Exits State House Race

Amarillo attorney exits state House race

This title does what it should. I nearly fell out of my chair when this article popped up in my email. State Representative John Smithee is an attorney in Amarillo too! In reality James Wood, attorney in Amarillo, the Democrat candidate withdrew from the race for medical reasons.