This primary season has been a firestorm of ideas presented, and the good thing is that it makes the voting citizenry more aware of what is going on in the people who are running for office, and it has been a joy to see the amount of written participation in the candidates and issues. I know a number of readers have gotten on to me due to my unapologetic rhetoric devoted to truth, my Reagan/Limbaugh/Trump-Conservatism, but if I don’t bring it to the forefront, then who will? I’m going to point out the truth even unto martyrdom if necessary, and I’ve offered my own family’s skeletons in regards to my need for honesty in regards to money and the conduct of our lives in public and in private. So, why wouldn’t we expect the same behavior from those who represent us in Montgomery County? My ulterior motive, if I have any, is the truth. Throw in teamwork and transparency, and meeting realistic expectations for the betterment of Montgomery County and Texas citizens, then it’s a win/win for us. A politicians primary aim should be the well-being of their constituents, providing the best conditions for their people to survive and thrive for a better life. Do that properly by the benefit of your party as a whole, and you are good as gold; with no need to shift institutional knowledge. And one last thing, I can’t be bought. Heck, I give away money to people on the street that I feel need it, so trying to buy me? Don’t bother.
This week with Early Voting starting, I would hope that you would have taken it upon yourself to have already looked at a sample ballot. I’m not telling, nor suggesting for you to vote for any one candidate, but I’ll give an assessment on who is capable of either winning their primary or winding up in a run-off election. For me the litmus test for being a Republican in Montgomery County is the old line of less government, less taxes, and individual liberties, and there is not that much that really separates us. The battle of wills is there, which has a lot to do with the cross party political alliance that has been freezing out a certain segment of Republicans in Austin. It upsets me. I see Democrats differently from others having seen their more evil leftist cousins in action, and quite frankly how that has not created an abomination, boggles me. It reminds me of the Democrats infighting in the 1960s, when Southern Democrats countered their Civil Rights Democrat rivals.
I don’t like to write ill about anyone right of center generally. People might think so, but for me it’s about transparency, and keeping the Texas and Montgomery County GOP as strong and viable as possible. I liken it to the difference in the shifting of Greenwich Prime Meridian line, which over the 142 years of its history, has shifted to the east some 335 feet; and the same could be said of our own political center line, except in our case the line has been shifting right over time. Which for those who have remained stable in their ideology may have not moved, while the line moved past them to the right. It goes along with the old saying, ‘I didn’t leave the Democrat Party, the Democrat Party left me,’ when the center line moves to their left, making them Republicans today. They are in a party that they may not recognize what Reagan, Limbaugh, and Trump stood for.
President Reagan was not one who wanted laundry aired publicly, but he also wanted the party to come together and support primary choices whether you don’t totally agree with them or not, and I still call upon that precedent to be upheld. Even Reagan had his GOP detractors, men who had linguine spines until President Trump taught them to raise their voices, and stand up straight. For other Republicans, the ones closer to the center line, who prefer more backroom deals and less transparency. Well, that small difference is the problem, and is causing farmer Cain to clash with his brother, shepherd Abel.
Montgomery County has no doubt changed, and the demographic shift of people fleeing Democrat policies and hellhole conditions, and landing in Conroe, Magnolia, Montgomery, The Woodlands, Willis, or wherever, has diluted the red GOP base with those not so committed to Reagan principles. Standards are at what is at stake here, and a lessening of benchmark principles, holding candidates and elected officials accountable for their actions, both politically and personally. If a member of my household betrays me, and works actively against me, against my values, don’t expect me to turn the other cheek? Because I’m not. That is what the primary system is for, to put the candidates and issues to the test. Vote for whoever you feel upholds party principles the best, and we should all back them in the general election. And if you chose wrong, you got two years to make the correction.
A lot of this stems from the censure of two local state representatives by the MCGOP last year for voting with Democrats for the assumption of power. They were asked to vote with the majority GOP candidate for house speaker, and they chose a different path. How that does not offend all Republicans is beyond me.
There are Consequences to Actions, and to forgive and not punish, even when warned of potential outcomes, the reality of it, the gall, makes me wonder about systems and the reason for them. If a system is not in place to prevent discrepancies, according to common decency, then there needs to be changes. The actual Civil War was fought over it, and our tough love needs to come into play. If your kid takes your red sports for a joy ride without your permission, and brings it back all scratched up with noticeable dents, certainly some form of punishment should be the order of the day. Bad kids lead to bad adults, and bad adults lead to bad policy that detracts from Conservatism.
The ones who want to condemn the current GOP leadership’s decision to punish, from the looks of it, are not appalled by the actions that triggered the discipline in the first place. Again, another mindboggler. Montgomery County voters put in the County Executive Committee, who are mostly MAGA, and have implemented a set of standards for those who fail to abide by the party platform. Those perimeters were triggered, and actions were taken. The crux is that the opponents to the punishments say that the information should be given to the voters, and those who have transgressed are not going to volunteer their sins to the electorate. I believe the CEC is correct to make their stand. It of course is not pretty in its presentation, and it’s ugly sausage making of course, but Conservative principles need to be upheld.
Both sides of the aisle of the GOP have points, but the dilution of water vs oil is presenting itself with no middle ground to separate the two. The polar water vs the non-polar oil, the water that is able to freeze and hold its form, versus a substance that is greasy to the touch, flammable, and has a surface tension about it.
Other issues arise from foreign policy to interactions with law enforcement. Trump’s foreign policy, which some may see as aggressive, (and even with ICE and their arrests of detainees) but you can’t deny that The World is not growing safer. The United States is going after entities across the planet, regimes that have no respect for international peace, their peoples, yet only for their elites. It’s no different than President Kennedy’s policies against Cuba and Russia in October 1962, or President Reagan’s attitude against the Soviets in the 1980s. The thought that it’s impossible to enforce international law, or we can’t secure our own borders, or we can’t stop drugs from coming across the seas; those assumptions were made from those who lacked a political will. Trump has a strong political will, and it has a righteousness that backs his policies. Striking drug boats is the right thing to do, and we can see it with tons less American overdose deaths. Murder rates are at hundred year lows because the border is closed and illegal murders, rapists, and terrorists are being deported.
The Republican Party has had its internal differences, just as every party does. Styles of leadership will be debated, but there has to be room for compromise, based on ideals of Trump’s directness, Limbaugh’s idea for adherence to Conservative principles, and Reagan’s focus on the need for Conservative policies in the first place. Law has to play its part too, and when it comes to 4th Amendment rights in regards searches, there are so many issues to consider, from protection of life to exigent circumstance, destruction of evidence, etc., all with case law backing, and some may see warrant requests as a hindrance when an officer pulls over a suspect vehicle. Our No Refusal Weekends are very successful, and with using certain aspects of the program available at all times, by using some pieces of the process, technology can definitely help speed up the process; all the while maintaining a sense of legality, since any case can turn on a dime to become some instance that has never happened before.
A transparent GOP in MC is a must, and thoughts really need to be shared without disgust. It’s better to persuade with sensible rhetoric rather than raised speech.
With the primary elections starting this week, I thought I’d give a little assessment of the races in the GOP races. I’m not gonna tell you who to vote for because there are so many opinions out there, that one more isn’t gonna make a difference, so I’ll leave it up to you to vote for whomever you wish. For the U.S. Senate, with Senator John Cornyn being the incumbent, it will probably wind up in a run-off between Ken Paxton and John Cornyn. Paxton has been a go-getter as the Texas Attorney General, and survived his impeachment trial by the GOP Establishment, which puts him in the Impeachment Club with Trump. I think it will resonate with a lot of voters, and Paxton has the momentum for a run-off win. For U.S. House, District 2, Dan Crenshaw, has been a noticeable disappointment to his constituents. His threat to unalive Tucker Carlson didn’t sit well, and controversial support to Ukraine aid over southern border security has been a thorn in his side. Steve Toth, HD 15 State Representative, whose constituency takes in a small part of District 2, has been solidly opposite of what Crenshaw represents, but the district is oddly shaped and a run-off election could be possible between Crenshaw and Toth. Houston Talk Radio host Michael Berry is backing Toth. For U.S. House, District 8, it’s a crowded field, but Jessica Steinmann could come close to outright winning since Brett Jensen suspended his campaign late on February 16th.
Governor and Lieutenant Governor for Greg Abbott and Dan Patrick, respectively, should not go to run-offs. For Texas Attorney General, Chip Roy has the Congressional name recognition, and is steadfastly MAGA. He is big on the SAVE Act to mandate citizenship proof for voting, border security, etc., and it could go to a run-off with State Senator Mayes Middleton, but Roy will probably carry the day in the end. Commissioner of Agriculture incumbent Sid Miller has revolutionized the office, but Nate Sheets has received backing from Gov. Abbott and others. The State Board of Education, District 6 race, has former Conroe ISD Mama Bear Tiffany Nelson versus Barbara Denson, who has the backing of Mattress Mack. Denson’s resume could be the deciding factor. In the State Board of Education, District 8 race Audrey Young, may well retain her seat. In the State Senate, District 4, Brett Ligon, along with his name recognition and 17 years of experience as the Montgomery County District Attorney, may well give him the nod without a run-off. For State Representative, District 3 and 16, it will be a Republican Establishment vs MAGA test, with State Rep. District 3 incumbent Cecil Bell, Jr vs Kristen Plaisance; and State Rep. District 16, with incumbent Will Metcalf vs Ron Boucher. Much has been written about the incumbent’s cross-party power moves in the past couple of legislative sessions, so it will be interesting to see how the voters react. Incumbents are hard to defeat, and it is difficult to say if it’s by how far, how little, or if the unthinkable happens, when all the votes are counted. Plaisance has received a surprising number of public backing from her district, while Metcalf challenger Ron Boucher has been backed by Houston talk radio host Michael Berry.
For Montgomery County Judge, incumbent Mark Keough, has Justice of the Peace Precinct 1, Judge Wayne L. Mack, as an opponent. Keough may have several issues outside of the office, associated with his church and his DUI crash with a MC Deputy, that many don’t know about, which may have prompted Mack’s challenge. Mack has taken arrows nationwide for his religious belief, and for his fighting for prayer in his court, and his personal story is remarkable. One thing that bothers me is the vehicle allowance in Montgomery County for county officials, where some 100 people in the county received over $1750 per month in vehicle allowances, which is the highest in the state at about $21,000 per year. Bexar County is next at about $750 per month, or $9,000 per year. Harris County’s allowance is generally $6,900 annually. It’s been this way for years, and MC is way out of sync with other large counties in Texas. So when county budgets are being discussed, there are savings potentials of $1.4 million per year right there to make vehicle allowances more comparable to Harris County. The effort to badmouth Judge Mack, with a controversial cartoon posted on the Dock Line Magazine Facebook page on January 27th surprised many readers as well as myself. It is gonna be a tight race. Both men have done outstanding service for Montgomery County, and it may well come down to taxes and county spending.
And for Montgomery County Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1, the seat vacated by Judge Mack to run for county judge; Deputy Constable for Precinct 1, Captain Brian Luly, WISD School Board Member Scott Carson, and Conroe Municipal Judge William Waggoner, are in a three way battle for the next JP nod. Since Waggoner was arrested in early December for DUI, his chances are greatly reduced, and the race may well end up in a run-off, depending on if Willis voters hold Carson accountable for the Calfee Middle School water controversy.
I know this primary season has been contentious, and it’s gonna take time to heal. We have our differences, yes, but that should not stop the Republican Party in Montgomery County from accepting the results of the primary elections and unifying again. And even after the primaries, dialogue still needs to be reasserted to continue the discussion to find common ground for both sides.