Showdown Taking Shape for Primaries
State Rep. Tommy Merritt, a Republican from Longview who gives Speaker Tom Craddick heartburn, is suspicious of visitors popping up in his East Texas district, at least those who come bearing critiques of his legislative voting record.

From Speaker Tom Craddick's Office
During the waning days of the 80th legislative session, some House members sought to be recognized for a "motion to vacate the chair" in an attempt remove Speaker Tom Craddick. Some of the proponents of the motion had announced their own candidacies for speaker. This motion was improper both constitutionally and by the rules of the House.

Justice Facing Criminal and Ethics Probes in Austin
Texas Supreme Court Justice Nathan Hecht, under investigation by Travis County prosecutors after being accused of accepting an illegal contribution from a law firm, also is facing questions from the Texas Ethics Commission.

Councilwoman Resigns for State Senate Run
City Councilwoman Wendy Davis resigned Thursday night, announcing that she plans to challenge veteran state lawmaker Kim Brimer for his state Senate seat in 2008.

Kinky Says He Might Have Another Go at Governor
Kinky Friedman might run again for governor in 2010, conceivably as a Democrat.

Republican Hopefuls Debate Abortion, War
Mitt Romney yesterday said his greatest mistake in life is that he used to be pro-choice on abortion, as he defended himself against attacks from fellow Republican presidential candidates.

Obama and Clinton Take the Gloves Off In AFL-CIO Debate
Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton came under sharp attack from their Democratic presidential rivals in a highly spirited debate here Tuesday night, with Obama rebuked as irresponsible on foreign policy and Clinton accused of being too cozy with corporate America and Washington lobbyists.

Thompson Taps Former Campaign Manager
Fred Thompson on Wednesday tapped the man he credits with saving his 1994 Senate campaign to take over his likely presidential bid.

Romney Pushed on Conservative Credentials
Mitt Romney is undergoing the stiffest test yet of his effort to win over conservatives wary of his ideological credentials.

House Approves Changes to Surveillance Program
Under pressure from President George W. Bush, the House of Representatives has given final approval to changes in a terrorist surveillance program despite serious objections from many Democrats about the scope of the executive branch's new eavesdropping power.

Washington's Latest Landmark Betrayal
Chalk up another landmark achievement for congressional Democrats - last week they passed an ethics and lobbying "reform" bill. Or so we're told.

Bush Still Wields the Threat of Terrorism
Until last weekend, President Bush had repeatedly fallen short in seven months of battles with a Democratic-led Congress that would not give him what he wanted on immigration or education, health care or energy policy.

Cornyn Rival Made $40M in 18 Months
Attorney Mikal Watts has the wealth to wage a Senate race in Texas, reporting in financial disclosure forms that he earned $40 million during the 18 months that ended in June.

A Spy Chief's Political Education
Last Thursday evening, during the frantic endgame of a White House push to broaden its eavesdropping authorities, Democratic leaders from the House and the Senate gathered in the Capitol office of Nancy Pelosi, the speaker of the House, for a conference call with Mike McConnell, the nation's top intelligence official.

Is Cornyn Shifting on Fence?
Two years ago, Sen. John Cornyn said a border fence was a bad idea. Last month, he voted to build one.

Democrats Break House Rules to Allow Welfare for Illegal Immigrants
On Thursday night, Republicans won a vote to prohibit illegal immigrants from receiving federally funded welfare payments, only to have victory snatched away when Democrats changed the final vote.

Fighting For Sake Of Fighting
by Roy Maynard
Over time, most quarrels go from relevant to irrelevant. The longer the argument continues, the further from the point it strays - usually.

Limbaugh of the Left is Beating Rush at Own Game
by E.J. Dionne, Jr.
Perhaps you missed it, but last Wednesday was the 19th anniversary of Rush Limbaugh's radio show. Limbaugh was celebrating his ripe old age, in media years, in the same week that liberal blog fans were trekking to Chicago for the Yearly Kos convention. Therein lies one of the most important stories in American politics.

Battle Over Benefits
by Editors, DallasNews.com
To some Texans who work at community colleges, Gov. Rick Perry must seem like the Grinch who stole Christmas. In June, the governor vetoed $154 million in state money to pay the health benefits of community college employees who don't qualify as state workers. The veto sparked loud and persistent protests.

Rupert Murdoch: Satan or Savior?
by Cal Thomas
The grotesque amount of condescension from the elite media concerning the purchase of Dow Jones, which includes The Wall Street Journal, by "media mogul" Rupert Murdoch is astounding. You would think Hugo Chavez had just bought the newspaper with his oil money and announced an immediate tilt to the left.

When Their Bill Fails, Dems Find an Admiral to Blame
by Robert Novak
A sadder but wiser J.M. "Mike" McConnell, director of National Intelligence (DNI), told a senior Republican House member last weekend that the next time he dealt with congressional Democrats he would make sure a Republican was in the room or on the phone. After a lifetime navigating the murky waters of intelligence, Adm. McConnell at age 64 was ill prepared for the stormy seas of Capitol Hill.

Strategic Patience
by Austin Bay
According to major media, America's "surge in Iraq" is suddenly working

Taxing the Poor
by John Goodman
On Christmas Day 2002, Jack Whittaker won the lottery. He won big. At $315 million, he held the largest single winning ticket in the history of American lotteries.

Let Wisconsin Experiment with Socialized Medicine
by John Stossel
The Wall Street Journal editorial-page editors are correct in saying that Wisconsin's universal health care plan is "openly hostile to market incentives that contain costs," and that the state can "expect to attract health-care free-riders while losing productive workers who leave for less-taxing climes" says news correspondent John Stossel

Revolting Taxes, Growing Government
by Michael Quinn Sullivan
I spent part of the week in Boston at the National Conference of State Legislators. To the city that hosted the original tax protest came legislators of all parties seeking new ways to grow government and raise taxes. Paul Revere, Sam Adams and the gang would be most displeased...

South of Baghdad, a Cautionary Tale
U.S. troops had nicknamed the suspected insurgent "George Clooney" because of his handsome mug, but he wasn't so pretty after members of his own Sunni tribe shot and wounded him, then turned him over to the Americans.

Dad Crusades Against God in School
Among many parents at Rosemeade Elementary, he is viewed as a nuisance.

Intent of School Day's Moment of Silence Debated
Arguments over a lawsuit challenging Texas' minute of silence law opened in federal court Tuesday in Dallas with the plaintiff revealing a new suit, this time against the state's pledge.

Top Hispanic Republican backs Noriega for Senate
One of the top Hispanic Republicans in the nation says he cannot support U.S. Sen. John Cornyn in the next election because of the position Texas' junior senator has taken on immigration reform.