Question? If your spouse cheated on you. You would obviously be upset, wouldn’t you? The person you exchanged vows with, who promised constantly to express their love, commitment, to be there for better or worse. Well, they went astray. And when those vows are broken, there is a crack in that trust that, and well, it stinks. The honesty that was there wanes, but for some, for the misinformed, they still stay with the cheating spouse.
There is another spousal relationship that you may not be aware of. Your Republican politicians. Most, thankfully, have intentions that are respectable, 80%; then you have the others, who may call themselves Conservative, but do that 20% thing, and like their Democrat friends are unable to determine the Consequences to the Actions. Well, they find themselves on the wrong side of an 80/20 issue, and that doesn’t look good.
Take for instance, Dustin Burrows, from Lubbock, the Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives for the 2025 sessions, who is currently under threat of censure for his leadership this year, that the Texas GOP is saying did not follow in the footsteps of Republican values. And it’s just not him, but others around the state, like Dade Phelan, from Orange, the 2021-2024 Speaker, who both concocted plans to work with Democrats, giving them a share in the power distribution, in exchange for supporting them as speaker. If you wonder why private school vouchers didn’t get passed until this year, now you know the cause. What the 20%ers did was spousal cheating, political spouse by the way. It worked under a Biden Administration when no one was really looking, but to try it under Trump, with their Democrat friends running cowardly to other gerrymandered states when faced with Congressional redistricting. And coupled with the Charlie Kirk assassination, a reflection of GOP internals is needed. Who are your friends? Those who won’t stab you in the back for their own personal profit and power driven needs. Well, for Burrows and Phelan, the Democrat votes that helped them achieve power, will not help them in their upcoming dilemma, when the Texas GOP considers this month an effort to censure Burrows, Phelan and a host of others who have lost their way. Yep, cheating on spousal constituents, by not adhering to the vows and going against core Republican values can cause claims for divorce.
The censure move is serious for the traitor Republicans’ careers, and they will be removed from the primary ballot if they are officially sanctioned by the Texas GOP. The 20% of Republicans that voted for Burrows and Phelan along with the Democrats, well, some have support amongst their constituents. They after all did bring home the bacon to their constituents this year, and proudly admit to the fact. It may look good on paper, but when you think that Reagan Republicans, or the ones that are true to his spirit; plus Trump supporters, not afraid to express the America First attitude, their voices were shut out. It’s madness.
Other 20%ers that are being considered for censure along with Burrows and Phelan include State Representatives Angelia Orr of Itasca, Angie Chen Button of Garland, Cody Harris of Palestine, Gary VanDeaver of New Boston. Jared Patterson of Frisco, Jeff Leach of Allen, Morgan Meyer of University Park, and Stan Lambert of Abilene. They would all face potential bars from the GOP ballot. This follows counties from across the state, who have censured their own 20% State Representatives earlier this year.
For all of the TRUE Conservative Republicans that DID NOT VOTE for Burrows, their Authored legislation in 2025 was essentially ‘Dead on Arrival,’ although a few bills snuck through, with also some minor victories with amendments to bills worked through the Texas Senate. Incredibly, Burrows gave Democrats powerful positions on six Texas House sub-committees. Important bills such as preventing hostile nations from owning land in Texas were killed by Burrows, although the Senate’s effort, SB 17, passed and was signed, taking effect in September, but still there are loopholes that need to be addressed in reference to leasing of lands, especially properties near military bases.
For Burrows supporters in the Texas House, going into 2027, it looks like the third time may not be the charm. The gravy train is over. Too many important things have happened to raise awareness to state politics that many will be paying much more attention in Austin next time. Certainly, Burrows and his State Rep GOP crew didn’t think that their Democrat friends would run off, again, to all points gerrymandered, forcing the Speaker to issue arrest warrants, and quickly force those 20% of Burrows supporters to snap back too Conservative values, no doubt with their fingers crossed behind their backs.
So what is censure? A.I. will tell us its, ‘to express severe or harsh criticism, disapproval, or condemnation for someone’s actions or words.’ I’d say it’s an accurate statement, but then I’d think, ‘what the hell would one have to do to deserve such a statement?’ You really have to mess up, and Dustin Burrows and Dade Phelan have made some rather bad choices. And now they are being called on the carpet by the Texas GOP on October 11th.
We all have choices to make in life, and there are consequences to those choices. One time, in my corporate world days, I was asked to falsify a report to make a higher-up look good. I refused. Even with the offer of a nice raise and a promotion, I just couldn’t do it. You either have integrity or you don’t. If you go against your 80% friends, and the ideals that got you elected, it will boomerang on you.
My awareness of consequences to actions was born even before I entered this world, when an aunt on my father’s side, back in the 1950s, embezzled money from my grandfather. It was about $4k, which was a sizable chunk of change at the time. She did about 24-months in prison, and when I heard the story as a teenager, I made up my mind I was going to play it straight in all aspects of life’s dealings, rather it was money, business, etc. Of course, I didn’t get that corporate promotion, and besides I was diagnosed with cancer six months later. But my heart remained true, my conscience which is more than those 20% of Texas State Representatives who betrayed Republican values as set forth by the Texas GOP can say.
I always advise honesty, because there are politicians out there that promote themselves as Conservative, when they are only in it for themselves, CRINOs I call them; ‘Conservative Republicans in Name Only,’ the 20% of Republicans who don’t even deserve the Conservative label if you ask me, and now their feet are growing closer to the fire, it’s becoming more more difficult for them to maintain the charade. When you tell so many lies, it becomes difficult to keep everything in order. It’s an insult to their voters, their spouses if you will. That’s why I encourage the maintainment of honesty. In your heart, it’s easy to answer a question with true meaning, while those that deceive have to recall a rehearsed answer to a pre-perceived inquiry. If there is a pause in the response, you have to raise your guard.
Someone told me that Burrows was a Conservative. Even more than 80%er David Cook, who was backed by most Republicans. If Burrows or Phelan were 80%ers, we would have had school vouchers four years ago. My first vote was for Ronald Reagan in the 1984 primaries. My time dealing with the East German and Soviet soldiers, after his speech in West Berlin in June 1987, only reinforced my resolve for the Love of My Country, and I’ve been given a voice to express my thoughts, and speak to you to adhere to its goodness and elect politicians that are worthy of Reagan’s praise.
I’ve always been a ‘Trust, But Verify,’ guy. I loath liars. I may tell a whopper or two, but those are done in jest, to get laughs amongst my friends. No one really buys that I’m actually six-foot and very handsome. lol. But they can all detect my sincerity, my honesty, which is why I can make friends with pretty much anyone I meet.
The primaries coming up are going to be important, and you will be given choices to determine who will be on the mid-term election ballot in 2026. And it’s gonna be important to determine if the candidate you choose is an 80%er or 20%er. Do they reflect Reagan’s values, or not? Do your own research rather than relying on a mailer. Trust, but verify.