Kinky Friedman Dons Democrat Tag
Kinky Friedman's next dance will be with the Democrats.

Speaker Politics an Undercurrent in House Races
When Speaker Tom Craddick gaveled the Texas House to its acrimonious conclusion in May, he had survived a rebellion by many of his own Republican committee chairmen, cheered on by the Democrats.

Justices Counter Legislature on Theology Schools
The Texas Supreme Court sided with unaccredited schools of theology Friday, ruling that the state had no authority to intervene in their religious curriculum or prohibit them from conferring degrees.

Duncan Hunter Wins GOP Straw Poll
California Rep. Duncan Hunter won a scaled-down Texas Republican straw poll Saturday, and Fred Thompson surged to an unexpected second-place finish - a possible momentum boost as he prepares to join the presidential race.

Republican Forecast: Cloudy
WASHINGTON -- For Republicans hoping the 2008 campaign will bring a fresh start after the troubled tenure of President Bush, there are sobering signs: Evidence indicates that the party's problems with the American electorate are much bigger than the president and won't go away when he leaves office.

Paul Supporters: Poll Was Rigged
After their candidate's third-place showing in the Texas Republican Party straw poll Saturday, Ron Paul supporters are spreading a theory online that the contest was rigged.

Thompson a Target at G.O.P. Debate
The Republican presidential candidates clashed Wednesday night in their most contentious debate of the campaign, in pointed exchanges over immigration, the war in Iraq and who among them is the best prepared to be commander in chief.

Rising Pressure From G.O.P. Led Senator to Quit
Within hours of the disclosure of Senator Larry E. Craig's arrest and conviction after an undercover sex sting, Republican Senate leaders concluded that the exploding political scandal needed a fast resolution, one that necessitated the Idaho Republican's prompt resignation.

Senate Candidate Played Up Contributions to Justices
Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Mikal Watts of San Antonio once tried to pressure a legal opponent into a $60 million personal injury lawsuit settlement by claiming he would have an advantage on appeal because of his firm's "heavy" campaign financial support to an appellate court's justices, "all of whom are good Democrats."

Summer of Discontent for Republicans
During the past summer, a female acquaintance of mine in her 70s who had been a faithful Republican during her long life was solicited by a GOP cold caller as a previous contributor to the party. Not this time. She informed the fund-raiser that President Bush's position on immigration was the last straw. She would not give the Republicans another dime - not now, maybe never. So, she told him, stop calling me!

Thompson Soft on Illegals in Senate Votes
Fred Thompson set a mark for obstinateness during his eight years in the Senate, ending up the lone dissenter on more votes on bills and amendments than any other Republican during that time.

President Bush Goes To Anbar Province
by Gary Bauer
The president irritated Big Media and his political opposition yesterday when he flew to Iraq and met with U.S. troops in Al-Anbar province, once written off by critics of the war as "lost." Anbar province is a vast Sunni territory where, until recently, Al Qaeda had flourished.

What Nerve
by Dallas Morning News Editor
Ask Rep. Jeb Hensarling what's on his Texas constituents' minds these days, and he'll respond without hesitation: "Illegal immigration, illegal immigration, illegal immigration."

Unflappable Fred
by Denise McNamara
Yes, I have been supporting Fred Thompson for President since January.  Many of you have been giving me a hard time, wondering, "Why are you supporting a guy who won't formally announce?"  Some of you have bought into the other candidates' propaganda about Fred lacking the "fire in the belly."  Well, tonight my candidate will appear on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and tomorrow he will formally announce via a webcast on the www.imwithfred.com website.  And he has been running first or second in the national polls for weeks.  And to those of you who didn't believe that Fred would run, all I can say is:   I told you so!

If You Build it, They Will Vote
by Denise McNamara
The Texas Straw Poll is one for the history books. The failure of the legislature to move up the Texas primary date, the scheduling of the event on Labor Day weekend and the first day of dove-hunting season, the limiting of participants to past convention delegates rather than Republican primary voters, and the lack of participation by the leading candidates all contributed to an extremely low turnout.

Texas Buys Crockett's Last Letter for $490,000
A letter believed to be the last written by Texas war hero David Crockett has been acquired by the Texas Historical Commission for $490,000, officials said Tuesday.