U.S. Republican Party Politics

Texas In 2016: Hillary Beats Rick Perry?

At some point, Texas will give up its status as a GOP guarantee. That seems the consensus, at least. A burgeoning Hispanic population, increasing transplants from California and New York, and a youth bubble surpassed by only Utah -- all signs point toward an eventual purpling of this putative Republ ... More >>

Billboards Say MLK Was GOP. Who Would've Thunk It?

Billboards in Austin proclaiming that Martin Luther King Kr. was a Republican are raising more than a few eyebrows. The billboard campaign was funded by Houston conservative activist Claver Kamau-Imani, who told Hair Balls that, despite many people's assumptions to the contrary, King was a GOP man, ... More >>

T for Textbooks

A new doc explores the Texas Board of Education's fight against science, history.

One Year Ago, Rick Perry Entered The Presidential Race. How'd That Go?

It seems like several lifetimes ago, but in fact it was exactly one year ago today that the world got its first full day of Rick Perry, presidential candidate. With all the pomp, not to mention circumstance, attendant on such an august occasion, the governor of Texas deigned to allow voters to elev ... More >>

The Delicious Madness Of Ted Cruz's GOP Senate Campaign Ads

All of Texas is feeling the excitement of the GOP primary for the U.S. Senate. It's really all that Texans are talking about, apart from everything and anything else. Lt. Governor David Dewhurst, a bland and boring pol, is facing Ted Cruz, a Tea Partier who has been endorsed by Sarah Palin. (The Te ... More >>

10 Rock Stars the GOP Should Nominate for President

As the 2012 presidential race begins to heat up in earnest, Rocks Off can't help but feel that the front-runners for the Republican nomination are lacking a certain je ne sais quoi. Call it star power. Call it sex appeal. Whatever it is, these guys ain't got it. If the GOP is serious about wresti ... More >>

Rick Perry Gets The Colbert Treatment

The Colbert ReportGet More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video ArchiveStephen Colbert may have found the GOP candidate of his dreams -- Rick Perry. Colbert sounded very enthusiastic about Perry's platform and it looks like he really wants him to ru. Because it would be ... More >>

Here's Something: Obama Polls As Well As Perry In Texas; Both Over 50 Percent

Make his next one a Shiner​Here's something we wouldn't have guessed: Texans give President Obama about as good a job approval rating as they do Governor Rick Perry. More surprising, both are over 50 percent. The Texas Lyceum has a new poll out, and it shows Obama with an approval rating of ... More >>

Carl Lewis' N.J. State Senate Run Going As Smoothly As His Anthem Singing

The political career of UH's Carl Lewis has, so far, proven to be as successful as his "Star-Spangled Banner"-singing sideline. In other words, not very successful at all. Lewis, who is trying to run for the state senate from his hometown New Jersey district, has been thrown off the ballot for no ... More >>

John Culberson: I'm Just Like The Brave Iranian Protesters

Among the heroic people fighting for freedom these days -- the protesters clogging Iranian streets, taking life-threatening risks to urge democracy in a repressive regime; and, ummm, House Republicans.At least according to one House Republican, Houston's John Culberson.The Twitter-addicted rep h ... More >>

Harris County Becomes Democratic

A Country Requiem for the GOP

Early Voting in Fort Bend County

Changes in Attitude

When voters elected Martha Wong, they thought they were sending a moderate Republican to Austin. Critics say once there, she took a right turn. Now her district is rethinking its representation.

Dragon Slayer

A new Republican challenger steps forth to take on Tom DeLay

Best Democrat

District 137 state Representative Scott Hochberg

Banana Republicans

A Hispanic GOP confab leaves delegates yelling foul

Elephants Versus RINOs

Party veterans sound alarms at the proposed GOP political-purity rules

Why This Hound Won't Hunt

The Texas Ethics Commission lacks eyes, ears and teeth

Best Republican

Paul Bettencourt, Harris County tax assessor-collector

GOP Mayoral Pipe Dreams

West U rejected them, so how will they ever win Houston's City Hall?

An Open Mike

He wants to castrate pedophiles and purge the courts of politics. He has assailed fellow jurists, lawyers and lawmakers. He's maverick Mike McSpadden, a tennis ace with a tomahawk tongue.

Lonesome Donkey

Refusing to switch, Andell fights for his bench

Subpoena Envy

A legislative panel summons local GOP leaders to a show-and-tell

GOP Inc.

How "Scary" Gary Polland turned his party apparatus into a political slot machine

The Day the Democrats Died

Learning to love the one-party state

Bush vs. McCain

A shot of Texas Shrub with a Budweiser chaser

The Insider

Prayer Lunch Indigestion. A conservative kingmaker meets his match in "Mama Bear"

Political Sex Change

Guess who's embracing GOP family values?

The Insider

The Talented Mr. Stockman. A defeated politician resurrects himself in Seventh District heaven with a stash of campaign cash

Bishop's Endgame

An early GOP force could be savoring party triumphs -- from prison

The Deal Busters

GOP chair's super slush fund helps sink arena deal

Hungry: Will Judge for Food!

Which Bug Gets the Gas?

Will the next house DeLay fumigates be that big White one or his own?

GOP Sweeps Week

Republicans complete Texas political reconstruction

Rogue Elephant

Log Cabin Republicans want to be part of the GOP, which wants no part of them

The Insider

GOP Lay-Ups

Enron fuels Republican soft money machine

Insider

The Insider

The Insider

The Insider

Crashing the Grand Old Party

Dolly McKenna is the GOP candidate for the 25th District. But will Republicans vote for her?

The Kingdom and the Power

Money may be the root of all evil, but it's fueled Steven Hotze's rise from a fringe player on the religious right to kingmaker in the local Republican Party. Now he's trying to stretch his influence further afield.

The Insider

The Avenging Exterminator

Why the House majority whip got involved in the Fort Bend sheriff's race

The Insider

The Exterminator

Tom DeLay, the bug man from Sugar Land, has always despised environmental regulation. Now, as House majority whip, he's in a position to do something about it.

Turkeys (and Other Creatures) On the Ballot

Quick! It's almost Election Day!! Do you know who your candidates are? Check this guide to the mother of all ballots!

Log Cabin Fever

Gay caucus endorsements draw out profiles in political courage -- and cowardice