The Executive Branch was intended by the Constitution’s authors and ratifiers to be precisely that – the executor of policies made by Congress, not a competing power center empowered to thwart Congress’s attempts to gain information.
If the Executive can simply refuse to allow Executive Branch personnel to testify before Congress and refuse to pursue congressional contempt referrals, Congress will be altogether unable to perform its legislative functions. It will be subordinate to the Presidency in the way that Parliament was subordinate to English kings before the establishment of Parliament’s unlimited power to investigate in the 17th century….
This is my personal journey to the Republican National Convention in Tampa Bay, Florida, August 27 – 31, 2012. It is my perspective and is meant only to describe what actions were taken by me and the circumstances taken to achieve my goal.
It did occur to me to go to the National Convention in 2008 as a volunteer, but it was just a passing thought. The delegates in 2008 experienced the exhilarating announcement of Sarah Palin as our vice president and, truthfully, I want to be present when Mitt Romney announces his choice for vice president. Read more about My Personal Journey To Tampa Bay, Florida The National Convention
Since the 2012 Republican Party of Texas Convention ended almost two weeks ago, there has been a lot of misinformation being spread about what the 2012 Platform (and especially the Immigration Plank) really says and what has been taken out. It is my hope that I can set the record straight about what happened on the Platform Committee and why it happened.
The following statement was released in response to the Minority Leader’s assertion that Congress’ investigation of Attorney General Eric Holder and Fast and Furious is part of an effort to suppress votes:
Nancy Pelosi is wrong again. The Congressional investigation into Fast and Furious is about the suppression of gunwalking, not voters. As the minority leader should know, the Attorney General lost all credibility to investigate Fast & Furious long before Congress voted to hold him in contempt. Read more about Poe To Pelosi: This Is About The Supression Of Gunwalking Not Votes
Today, I released the following statement regarding House passage of the Domestic Energy and Jobs Act, a package of seven domestic energy production bills:
Today House Republicans reaffirmed our commitment to getting Americans back to work and reducing rising energy costs. The Domestic Energy and Jobs Act will encourage domestic energy production to create opportunities for job growth and give hardworking families relief at the pump. We need to look no further than May’s dismal jobs report to know that American families and small businesses are in desperate need of real solutions to chronic unemployment. Read more about Pete Sessions Statement on House Vote to Promote American Energy Production, Jobs
While I have to agree that the state convention was a great success, it was not without incident. There were many winners and losers as Delegates campaigned for different positions in their Senate and Congressional Districts making for some tense situations.
I began pondering the concept of ethics as it relates to politics this last week and immediately the old adage “power corrupts” came to my mind. A short Google search revealed that the phrase is attributed to one Lord Acton whose entire quote went something like this: “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men.” As I further pondered this, I too considered the condition of man’s soul. Is man basically evil? I first considered this very question in Ms. Brown’s literature class when we were reading Golding’s Lord of the Flies.
At work on Monday morning, I received a call on my cell phone from Jessica with the Ted Cruz campaign, stumbling over “Mrs. Nuckols” and offering me the chance to be a “host” at their fundraiser next week.
I guess someone didn’t get the memo that I switched my support to Texas’ Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst for Texas Senator months ago. Or that after being invited by several emails and phone calls – two on my cell phone, a couple at home – I challenged Mr. Cruz at a “meet and greet” here in New Braunfels back in May. Jessica’s call inspired me to revive this post I’ve been editing, on and off, since June 1.
Texas Congressman Ted Poe speaks on the House Floor regarding Fast and Furious and Obamas use of executive privilege:
Historian Kevin Gutzman 
Since the 2012 Republican Party of Texas Convention ended almost two weeks ago, there has been a lot of misinformation being spread about what the 2012 Platform (and especially the Immigration Plank) really says and what has been taken out. It is my hope that I can set the record straight about what happened on the Platform Committee and why it happened.
The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC)
The following statement was released in response to the Minority Leader’s assertion that Congress’ investigation of Attorney General Eric Holder and Fast and Furious is part of an effort to suppress votes:
Today, I released the following statement regarding House passage of the Domestic Energy and Jobs Act, a package of seven domestic energy production bills:
I began pondering the concept of ethics as it relates to politics this last week and immediately the old adage “power corrupts” came to my mind. A short Google search revealed that the phrase is attributed to one Lord Acton whose entire quote went something like this: “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men.” As I further pondered this, I too considered the condition of man’s soul. Is man basically evil? I first considered this very question in Ms. Brown’s literature class when we were reading Golding’s Lord of the Flies. 
At work on Monday morning, I received a call on my cell phone from Jessica with the Ted Cruz campaign, stumbling over “Mrs. Nuckols” and offering me the chance to be a “host” at their fundraiser next week.
