U.S. Republican Party Politics

Rick Perry: Mum's The Word

Rick Perry has adopted a more behind-the-scenes approach this time around. That doesn't mean he hasn't been busy.

Rick Perry May Be Speaking Softly but Wielding a Veto Pen This Session

The excitement was palpable as Governor Rick Perry strode into the House chamber just over two years ago to make his State of the State speech. Months before the four-term Republican governor declared his run for president, Capitol observers were parsing his every phrase and praising his uncanny po ... More >>

Follow the Money: Financial Reports Released on Alvarado, Garcia on Eve of Runoff

Mom always said you are known by the company you keep, but in the world of politics you're known by the contributors who keep you. Texans for Public Justice was out with that contributors list in that run-off duel between former Rep. Carol Alvarado and former Commissioner Sylvia Garcia for the late ... More >>

Rick Perry: Whatchya Gonna Do With All That $$$?

Since Gov. Rick Perry abandoned the fetid remains of his failed presidential bid last January, he has socked away $1.94 million in political contributions, bringing the total amount of ching deposited with Texans for Rick Perry, his political action committee, to $3.4 million, according to recent ca ... More >>

Grading Ted Cruz on Meet The Press: Meh

In his first national, mainstream media appearance since the Republican Senate nominee won the runoff election late last month, Ted Cruz displayed on Meet The Press yesterday what propelled him past Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst last month in the runoff: An ability to say pretty things, and make everyone ... More >>

Ted Cruz Is Here to Protect Texas from the UN

Texas Republican voters finally jumped to their senses Tuesday and followed the clarion call of Sarah Palin by electing Ted Cruz to the U.S. Senate over pallid insider David Dewhurst. The upset was the latest bit of rebellion from the Tea Party, adding to the footnotes that will be written in poli ... More >>

Comment of the Day: It Was Those Crafty Zionists Who Kept Rick Perry Down!

We have some great commenters here on Hair Balls, and it's time we paid some damn attention to them. So we'll be highlighting a Comment of the Day each morning or afternoon from the previous day's work. Maybe two comments, even. This will all be determined by a highly rigorous scientific formula i ... More >>

Bill O'Reilly & Dennis Miller: Bolder and Fresher

Facebook's Top Recipients of Campaign Donations Includes...Ted Cruz?

With Facebook in the news for all types of political and financial reasons, different groups are looking at where the social-media giant spends its campaign cash. According to influenceexplorer.com, the top recipient of campaign funds from individuals connected to Facebook is Barack Obama, not surp ... More >>

Comment of the Day: Craig James Killed 5 Hookers, and...

We have some great commenters here on Hair Balls, and it's time we paid some damn attention to them. So we'll be highlighting a Comment of the Day each morning, from the previous day's work. Maybe two comments, even. This will all be determined by a highly rigorous scientific formula involving wit ... More >>

Mitt Romney, American Parasite: A Look at Bain Capital

Mitt Romney has survived the serial challenges by circus clowns that was the GOP primary, and now he is out to sell the American public on his vision for the country. Some workers who have experienced that vision have some qualms about it. Romney ran Bain Capital, an investment company. As Village ... More >>

Obama's Best Campaign Strategy: Keep Singing The Blues

After President Obama crooning Al Green's "Let's Stay Together" at a Harlem fundraiser became an unlikely iTunes sensation, even topping the ringtone chart, history is now repeating itself with his version of "Sweet Home Chicago" caught on an episode of PBS' In Performance at the White House Tuesd ... More >>

Hispanic Savior and a Donkey Devotee

Comment of the Day: A Rick Perry Supporter Baffled By Whole "Sarcasm" Concept

We have some great commenters here on Hair Balls, and it's time we paid some damn attention to them. So we'll be highlighting a Comment of the Day each morning, from the previous day's work. Maybe two comments, even. This will all be determined by a highly rigorous scientific formula involving wit ... More >>

Rick Perry "Brothers" Up Herman Cain

We watched the GOP debate last night, all of its glorious jaw-dropping moment after jaw-dropping moment. Analysis seems to indicate Rick Perry did better, but to us he came across as peevish, ill-prepared and flailing. In other words, like Rick Perry in a debate. We did love his criticism of Herma ... More >>

President Perry Likes Big Butts, And You Other Brothers Can't Deny

The website Go Animate is offering everyone a chance to create a brief animation for the GOP presidential field. You choose a backdrop, provide the lines, and your candidate is spouting whatever you say. You don't get the chance to say much, though, so we couldn't have President Rick Perry offer an ... More >>

Rick Perry's Big Campaign-Cash Haul: Phil Gramm Redux?

Connally: One very expensive delegate​The political world is abuzz today with word of Rick Perry's impressive fundraising. Right after he entered the GOP presidential primary, Perry hauled in $17.1 million. The cah grab could "counter the perception that his campaign his struggling," the AP s ... More >>

Rick Perry the Gunslinger: Report Released from Brady Campaign on Perry's Gun Record

Rick Perry the Gunslinger​Governor Rick Perry's love of guns has been well documented and he is more than happy to share his thoughts on the matter, particularly when it comes to killing a coyote on a morning jog and his affinity for laser sights on his weapons of choice. In Texas, loving you ... More >>

Gun-Control Group Gives Rick Perry Great Boost (Among Gun Nuts)

WHAT? Rick Perry opposes gun-control laws?​The Brady Campaign, perhaps the nation's most prominent gun-control group, has just given Rick Perry a big ol' helping hand in the GOP primaries. They've released a report called Gunslinger: Rick Perry's Reckless Record on Guns, highlighting his reco ... More >>

Rick Perry: Maybe "Ponzi Scheme" Isn't the Slogan to Win the White House

New poll suggests the answer is "no."​Yes, Public Policy Polling is a Democratic outfit, but nevertheless their new poll released today has some interesting tidbits. "In just three weeks Barack Obama has nearly doubled his lead over Rick Perry," said Dean Debnam, PPP president. "That would se ... More >>

Redistricting GOP Was "Very, Very Clever" in Limiting Minorities' Voting Power, Expert Testifies

Richard Murray talks of the GOP, blacks and the Tea Party.​Republicans found "very, very clever ways" to minimize minority voting opportunities in new Congressional and House maps passing in June, University of Houston professor Richard Murray told a three-judge panel during the redistricting ... More >>

Stephen Colbert's PAC Gets Its Rick Perry Ad Up

Stephen Colbert had made clear he wants Rick Perry to be the Republican nominee, and his Super PAC is putting its money where his mouth is. Americans For A Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow began running this ad in Iowa today, urging straw poll voters to write in "Rick Parry?" Parry? That's "a," we're tol ... More >>

Sarah Palin Sneak Preview: The Agony of The Undefeated

That word you keep using...​There was an advance screening last night of The Undefeated, the new film by Stephen K. Bannon that traces the rise of former Alaska governor Sarah Palin from her early years as mayor of Wasilla to John McCain's 2008 Vice-Presidential candidate to her new status as ... More >>

Rick Perry v. Sarah Palin 2012: The Scorecard In Five Key Areas, Including Wildlife-Killing Methods

Sarah Palin kills moose from helicopters​Can you feel the excitement, people? It just might be possible that the 2012 GOP primary will feature a cagematch showdown between Rick Perry and Sarah Palin for the off-the-wall Tea Party constituency that can make or break a Republican candidate. Per ... More >>

Woman Who Stabbed Husband 200 Times May Get New Punishment Hearing, This Time Without A Dramatic Re-Enactment

Photo courtesy Marshall WiceSusan Wright, the woman who killed her husband and whose trial featured a prosecutor tying another to a bed and pretending to stab him 200 times, may get a new sentence.Wright stabbed her husband for real and then tried to hide his body; her attorney argued that she had s ... More >>

Rebuilding The Republican Party Without Telling Them

Some Republicans are still licking their wounds after Obama's big win last month. Others are planning for 2010. One of the "Let's get ready for 2010" groups that has popped up is Rebuild the Party. Founded by Patrick Ruffini and Mindy Finn, both new media activists, Rebuild the Party went live less ... More >>

Battle Of The Feisty Governors: Sarah Palin vs. Ann Richards

Cornyn's Killing Noriega, Money-Wise

John McCain in Houston

Sucks to be Gary Block

No Gerrymandering Required

Finding the Write Candidate

A Fallen Star Is Born

Tom DeLay's scandals are a gold mine for two Texas filmmakers

Sign Language

Traffic problems? One woman's novel guide to getting city action

A Little Jump to the Right

Can a ballot triple shift win City Hall for the GOP?

Best New Republican

Houston City Councilman Gabe Vasquez

Best Republican

Political consultant Allen Blakemore

Best Republican

State Representative Kyle Janek

Political Flights of Fancy

Dem Hispanic stars collide while a resigning judge targets the county attorney

All I Want for Christmas Is...

Some pols count blessings; others keep on running

Gunning for a Runoff

Can Bell avoid being the odd man out?

Best Judges

14th Court of Appeals Chief Justice Paul Murphy and Justice John Anderson

Justice on the Block

Is the D.A.'s office for sale to the highest bidder?

The Man Who Would Be Kingmaker

Karl Rove has masterminded all of Bush's political victories. Now he faces his toughest challenge: convincing you that the presidential front-runner owns his own soul.

Campaign Appearances

For Bush, the legislative session shows it's better to look good than do good

Easygoing George W. Bush

With help from Democrats Pete Laney and Bob Bullock, Bush has been a Republican governor Texans love. But who'll be his pals if he sets his sights on the presidency?

The Insider

The Insider

Condoms! Homosexuals! Lesbian Adoption!

After a vicious campaign, the religious right is poised to push its agenda on the State Board of Education

Candidate

With big bucks and blessings from on high, Eugene Fontenot comes out from behind his wall to buy a seat in Congress