I've made my decision.

[fantastic_jackie]

Hutchinson is a Washington turncoat. She voted for the bailouts and stimulus and refuses to be pro-life but while attempting to act like she is. She's never been a strong conservative, and I've never been impressed with her.

Perry is politician through and through, but he wasn't always so unreliable. While he's been on his best behavior since 2009, the moment the fervor dies down from the Tea Parties, etc, he'll do something else crazy.

If he really wants to gain votes, he'd explain the Trans Texas Corridor, why he wanted to mandate girls getting unneeded cancer vaccinations, stop blaming Washington for illegal immigration, repeal the in-state tuition for illegal immigrants, and support nullification for the healthcare bill if it should ever pass. Not only would he slaughter Hutchinson and eliminate the need for Medina, but Texas would truly be a leader in every sense in stead of most.

If he did even just the 1st, 4th, and 5th of these, I'd support him. Medina shouldn't need to run in Texas. Until he addresses these issues, I don't trust him.

Unfortunately, Medina only has 16% of the vote in the polls. Polls aren't very reliable in races, but I think it's safe to say that she won't win this round. - It's weird, though. Every regular conservative I talk to says they're voting for Medina. Moderate republicans are the ones that like Perry and Hutchinson, in my experience. It's contrary to the above linked poll, though.

After much consideration, I've also decided to be a delegate again this year for the GOP precint, district, and state conventions. I still don't like to call myself a Republican, but the Texas GOP has done exceptionally well as opposed to the national party.

Ironically, I'm worried about Tea Partiers and 9.12ers (which I am both) attempting to cut people like Ter and I who have been involved for years. The way it works is that you stay after the primary election polls have closed for your precinct meeting. You come up with resolutions you want added to the GOP platform, and then elect a set amount of representatives to send to District and State.

In our precint, the 9.12 group is strong, which is great. Of course, Ter and I work nights, so we've never attended the meetings. I worry that they'll try something to take over the precint meeting and have themselves elected to go to District and State.

Truthfully, I understand wanting to do something now and greatly, greatly appreciate it, but for those of us who have been consistent in the years prior, where were they then?

In any case, I suppose I'd better be prepared for a fight. Prepare for the worst and hope for the best! We've always had extra seats available in the past, so hopefully it won't be an issue.

Anyway. That there's your dose of Texan politics! Which don't apply to most of you anyway! XD

Comments

[mrstater.livejournal.com]

Well, here's a comment from your friendly neighborhood Libertarian, who is still a registered Republican...

Your first sentence made me giggle; I think that exact phrase is on a couple of anti-Hutchison commercials. ;)

I'm at a total loss as to who to vote for in the Republican primary. Hutchison is a flake, and while Medina has some interesting ideas, a couple of her big issues aren't issues I feel all that strongly about (like gun control, which is surely not that big of an issue in Texas, anyway, where everyone already has guns?), so I'm not wild about casting a vote for her. Which leaves Perry, who I was vehemently against last election, but he's been surprisingly good lately. But there's just something about him that sets my teeth on edge. You may have nailed it when you described him as a politician through and through.

What are your thoughts on Medina's idea of abolishing the property tax? It wouldn't make a huge difference for us, as we've got pretty low property taxes, but my parents have ridiculous ones and it would really be good for them. But would this screw over the renting population, who not only won't have extra income since they're not paying property taxes to begin with, but will experience a big hike at the cash register? I realize that property taxes prevent many people from buying homes, so that portion of the renting population would benefit from the tax cut. But what about people who simply don't have the income to buy?

(And a small part of me suffers from sticker shock and balks at the idea of having an even higher sales tax than we already do! I would seriously not shop for clothes in Texas; I'd wait to shop till our trips to MN, where there's no sales tax on clothes. And that wouldn't help the state, now, would it?)

I don't understand why Ron Paul doesn't try running for Governor. You'd think he'd actually have a shot at being heard in Texas.

[patriot-jackie.livejournal.com]

still a registered Republican...

Does that mean you get those annoying flyers asking begging pleading grovelling for money, too?

I think that exact phrase is on a couple of anti-Hutchison commercials. ;)

... I think you're right.

In the words of the South Park boys, Aw-Awwwww!!!

The gun control thing has to do with some of the stipulations that come with having a gun in Texas. We may be Texas and one of the most gun-friendly states in the Union, but other states beat us. For instance, we don't have open carry in Texas. (But no other state has the Castle Doctrine...) There's also fears of Washington passing some new regulations; I think she's trying to latch onto those. - And rightfully so, I suppose. Because it's not like they haven't been talking about various measures, and part of her position is to put the rights of Texans first, regardless of the federal government.

What are your thoughts on Medina's idea of abolishing the property tax?

Well, first and foremost, I doubt she'd ever get it passed. I love how executive branch politicians run on legislative change as a guarantee: did you forget about Congress? She would have to convince them to pass a minimum of a 14% sales tax in conjuction with repealing the property taxes.

But, that being said, I think she's actually right. If you think about it, why should anyone have to pay taxes on something they already own? You pay taxes on everything else only once. (... Okay, so not really, but for simplicity's sake!) And yet, people who own property in Texas - and only those who own - pay taxes on that property every single year. A varying amount as determined by a combination of the state and market. It's like paying rent to the state, AND it's Texas' version of redistributive wealth in the sense that folks who rent don't contribute.

I don't know that I suppot a straight up sales tax only or even an immediate change, but she brings up an interesting problem I'd never considered before.

I agree on Ron Paul! He wouldn't have any real say on foreign policy, which is the main thing that prevents conservatives from suppoting him on a national level. I imagine that foreign policy and national issues like the Fed are reasons why he hasn't done it, though. I'm glad he's in the House, though; I think that's still the place he needs to be.

[mrstater.livejournal.com]

Does that mean you get those annoying flyers asking begging pleading grovelling for money, too?

LOL Yes. Got the most horribly dramatic one the other day that made me want to un-register myself as a Republican. Then I decided I had better things to do.

If you think about it, why should anyone have to pay taxes on something they already own? You pay taxes on everything else only once. (... Okay, so not really, but for simplicity's sake!) And yet, people who own property in Texas - and only those who own - pay taxes on that property every single year. A varying amount as determined by a combination of the state and market. It's like paying rent to the state, AND it's Texas' version of redistributive wealth in the sense that folks who rent don't contribute.

I hadn't really considered it from that side! Good points, though! But you're right, it would never get passed.

[fishphile.livejournal.com]

Hutchinson is a Washington turncoat. She voted for the bailouts and stimulus and refuses to be pro-life but while attempting to act like she is. She's never been a strong conservative,

This made me smile. Hutchinson is definitely viewed as a conservative outside of Texas.