Dear Editor: I have been a conservative my whole life….and very happy with the way the governor has handled the immigration crisis…but shoving this school voucher program down the taxpayers throat is ludicrous. Thanks to the twenty one Republicans who joined the Democrats on the vote….mostly from the rural districts….ourContinue Reading
Ken Bridges In one of the most delicate moments in the history of Texas, Anson Jones stood at the center. When Sam Houston became president of the Texas Republic a second time in December 1841, he quickly named Jones as secretary of state. Examining continuing skirmishes with Mexico and failing finances, Houston hoped to try annexation a secondContinue Reading
Dick Pollman Ladies and gentleman, here is your United States Senate, then and now: Sen. Daniel Webster on March 7, 1850: “It is fortunate that there is a Senate of the United States (with) a just sense of its own dignity, and its own high responsibilities, and a body toContinue Reading
Michael Reagan Here in sunny Los Angeles, it’s raining. It’s too bad it didn’t rain real hard last Saturday. It might have helped firefighters put out the enormous fire under the 10 Freeway near downtown before the heat weakened the pillars and forced the highway to be closed. The fireContinue Reading
Ken Bridges Texas is one of four states to once have been an independent nation. Though only a short period in its long history, it has become a source of curiosity and pride for many. The last man to serve as president for the Republic of Texas was Dr. Anson Jones. While heContinue Reading
Hunter Bonner One of the hallmarks of being a Republican, and really being a normal human being, is that when you see something wrong, you address it. There is something wrong inside of the Republican Party of Texas. That problem is, we have allowed the specter of antisemitism to creepContinue Reading
Elwood Watson The ghost of political déjà vu revisited the Republican Party last week, with the GOP suffering humiliating defeats in virtually all of their political contests. The one bright spot was Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves holding onto his seat in a state so ruby red no one expected DemocratsContinue Reading
Dear Editor This is in response to the letter written by Mr. Rusty Burris in Avinger. The internet can be your friend before making statements. I agree immigration is out of control, but these gates are open every year during the monsoon season in that part of our country. TheyContinue Reading
Ken Bridges The ability to heal is an ancient and respected art. The practice of medicine, from binding wounds to folk remedies for diseases, date back thousands of years. In the twentieth century, major advances were made that eliminated many diseases and eased the suffering of countless individuals. The expansionContinue Reading
Dick Polman To the shock of nobody, Speaker Mike Johnson has already proven himself to be a contemptible little man, pitching a crackpot deal to fund aid for Israel by swiping the money from the bolstered IRS program that cracks down on rich tax cheaters. Surely Johnson must know thatContinue Reading
Michael Reagan The world is nothing but murders, massacres and the threat of war. It’s gotten so bad, you wake up and ask, “Who died overnight?” Or “Whose rockets and bombs hit who this time?” I’ll go out on a limb here and blame most of the world’s turmoil andContinue Reading
Ken Bridges/Contributing Writer On Oct. 7, Israel was attacked by Hamas terrorists from the Gaza Strip. It was an act that horrified the world. Gunmen gunned down unarmed dozens at an outdoor concert, murdered elderly Holocaust survivors, and broke into homes to kidnap and slaughter civilians. The long list of atrocities committed cannotContinue Reading
Elwood Watson/Contributing Writer The nation and much of the world is reeling from the horrific and unsettling events that have occurred between Israel and Hamas. There’s also a war still going on in Ukraine, and looming overhead is the possibility the federal government may shut down in about a month.Continue Reading
Christine Flowers/Contributing Writer One of the very first pieces of verse that I ever memorized was this, from Pastor Martin Neimoller: “First they came for the Communists / and I did not speak out / because I was not a Communist. “Then they came for the Socialists / and IContinue Reading
School vouchers: not the best choice for all Texans Another special session for Texas lawmakers has been called. Why is our governor so determined to pass “school choice” vouchers? He’s appeasing donors whose agenda calls for dismantling public education. Vouchers will serve as a discount coupon for more affluent parentsContinue Reading
Ken Bridges/Contributing Writer History knows well the story of John Hancock, the patriot from the American Revolution whose name is featured prominently on the Declaration of Independence. But there is another John Hancock who had his own adventures in war and politics. This John Hancock would travel to Texas, serve as a judgeContinue Reading
Tom Purcell/Contributing Writer President Biden is being dogged by a unique White House problem. About a week ago, Biden’s German Shepherd, Commander, bit a secret service officer — Commander’s 11th secret-service-officer biting since he moved to the White House. Commander must have been following the paw prints of Major, Biden’sContinue Reading
Michael Reagan/Contributing Writer From the first dumb question to the abrupt ending that caught everyone by surprise, the GOP presidential primary debate produced by the Fox Business channel was a total disaster. I know. I was there Wednesday night – in Row 5 of the Air Force One pavilion inContinue Reading
Ken Bridges/Contributing Writer David G. Burnet became the President of the Republic of Texas on March 17, 1836, days after the new nation’s birth. His position was only an interim position, but the 47-year-old New Jersey native was overwhelmed with reports of military defeats and retreats. The newborn republic may not have survived. Burnet had not been electedContinue Reading
Tom Purcell/Contributing Writer The easiest way to write about the House Republicans’ purported impeachment probe of President Biden, a theatrical stunt launched with zero actual evidence of high crimes and misdemeanors, is to simply focus on MAGA mascot Kevin McCarthy – the hapless Speaker best described by the late saneContinue Reading