Those fun-loving chuckleheads at FreedomWorks are at it again.
FreedomWorks, which helped insurgent Ted Cruz snatch the GOP nod for U.S. Senate from Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, said Monday it will put its muscle behind toppling Texas House Speaker Joe Straus of San Antonio from his leadership post.
The group is backing Rep. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, for speaker. House members will elect the speaker after the Legislature convenes in January.
FreedomWorks is led by former U.S. House Majority leader Dick Armey, who endorsed Matt Beebe’s long-shot challenge to Straus in the GOP primary this year. FreedomWorks also endorsed a Straus challenger for speaker two years ago.
Blah blah blah, Straus is too liberal, he has Democratic committee chairs, we will bury you, etc etc etc. Straus has the right response to these nattering nabobs. I’m going to get an early start this time around and commence ignoring these guys now.
I tend to think this is just the latest step in the Texas GOP moving so far to the right that it encroaches upon corporatism. David Dewhurst, hardly what anyone outside of the state would call a “Moderate Republican”, was defeated in his primary after being accused of being a “RINO”. Pat Lykos was defeated for not being conservative enough. I think that bipartisanship is a true four-letter word at the State Capitol, and since Straus at least attempts to treat Democrats with humanity, it is heresy that will garner immense criticism from the far-right. Of course, the whole “not being a Christian in a Christian Conservative movement” thing might rear its ugly head again and impact support from the rural members.
Lykos losing was related more to her being hated by most anyone who ever met her. She has been a worthless DA, whose main goal seems to have been driving off the more talented prosecutors. The fact that she did the right thing on trace evidence cases was coincidence.
I don’t agree with your views, Ross, regarding Lykos, but no one ever accused her of being warm and fuzzy.
Mr. Horowitz’ point regarding the drift to the right can also be seen in primary victors like John Devine defeating Justice Medina. To be sure anti-Hispanic sentiment and the arson matter also played a role for some voters. Soon to be Congressman again Stockman defeating Takach is a similar example, and again there are special factors including the unfamiliar Takach name, and residual name ID for the former congressman.