THE REPUBLICAN LIBERTY CAUCUS OF TEXAS E-NEWSLETTER
October 18, 2004
http://www.rlctexas.org/newsletters/2004_10_18.htm
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IN THIS ISSUE:
o SPECIAL REQUEST - HELP US SUPPORT TALMADGE HEFLIN
o EVENT - 8/13 -
RLC AUSTIN SOCIAL
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RLC TO THE RESCUE - HELP US
SUPPORT STATE REP.
TALMADGE HEFLIN:
By Rob Booth (RLC of Texas Committee Advisor and
Former National RLC Secretary)
Tired of sitting around complaining about politics
and want to actually do something about it?
Frustrated that we live in a solidly pro-Bush state
and there isn't anything we can do in this election
cycle? Then have I got an offer for you.
State Representative Talmadge Heflin (R-149) is my
state representative here in west Houston. (Last
week the RLC of Texas officially endorsed Talmadge
Heflin.) He's a very nice guy and chair of the
state House's Appropriations Committee. He is
credited with being a major reason why the state
government was able to balance the budget last
session without raising taxes.
He should be credited with much more. I have it on
good authority that when they were redrawing the
state House district lines, he gave up good
precincts to help other Republicans get elected.
That enabled us to have a GOP majority in the state
House, which helped us redistrict the federal House
seats to better reflect Texas voting patterns.
There are only about 10 or 15 state House districts
that are competitive. His is one of them. He won
last time over a young, modestly financed,
Vietnamese-surnamed candidate with 55% (there's a
large Asian population in the district). This time
the Democrats have recruited the head of the
Vietnamese Chamber of Commerce, Hubert Vo, to run
against him.
Mr. Vo has put a good deal of his own money into the
race and has Democrats statewide helping him. They
can't stand that Talmadge was successful in his
first session as Appropriations Chair and will be
pulling all the stops to defeat him. You can't drive
5 minutes in the southern part of the district
without seeing a Hubert Vo sign along the road. A
Vietnamese businessman has paid for signs urging the
Vietnamese-speaking population to get out and vote.
This is where the RLC comes in. Talmadge has raised
money, has signs, has direct mail, but what he needs
are boots on the ground and voices on the phone. Why
should you help him? Should you count on me for
vouching for him? Well, you could but may I add that
Michael Franks (one of the most knowledgeable on
this list about Texas politics) praises Talmadge as
one of our most libertarian-leaning state Reps.
Penny Langford of the Ron Paul campaign speaks well
of him. One of the few competitive state House races
in the state has a pro-liberty Republican running
and he can win.
So what can you do?
My precinct is a swing precinct in Talmadge's
district. In 2000, Al Gore won the district by 5
votes, 661-656. Unfortunately, my Republican voters
like to vote the top of the ticket and walk away. In
down ballot races I had about 550 GOP voters, but
about 600 Democrat voters. Why? The Democrats will
vote straight ticket, but the Republicans won't vote
in races they aren't sure of. I need to convince
from 50 to 100 people (out of 3,500 registered
voters) to either vote a straight ticket or go down
the ballot to vote for Talmadge. The kicker is I
don't know who these 50-100 people are, so I have to
hit up almost everybody.
The Heflin campaign is paying for a letter from me
to the voters in my precinct. I have a neighbor in
the precinct who will help me walk door-to-door and
another who will make phone calls. My parents will
help me. I need more people.
If you're anywhere near Houston, or willing to drive
a ways for a pro-liberty Republican, please consider
coming to Houston on October 30, 2004. You can help
us complete the job and push Talmadge over the
finish line.
Don Zimmerman, RLC of Texas Executive Director, has
said that he is coming to Houston from Austin to
help Talmadge and made a good point. People coming
that far can't count on block walking, they need to
be sure they will have some productive work to do in
case of inclement weather.
I will set it up with the Heflin campaign that you
all can phone bank. Let Don and me know that you're
coming. I will give a count of RLCers to the Heflin
people. I will make sure there is something
productive to do. If something goes snafu in the
campaign office, I will find you something
productive to do.
I will also make sure that Talmadge and his campaign
team know that it was the Republican Liberty Caucus
that showed up to help him. Michael Franks, RLC of
Texas Political Director, through the SREC, will be
sure to remind him every time he sees him that he
owes part of his re-election to us. His campaign
manager is Kathy Haigler, another SREC rep. If you
will come out and help us, it will be great
publicity for us with the GOP.
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Anyone who knows me knows that I am not an alarmist.
I am a realist about politics and I study the
numbers, I've studied numbers in races for people on
this list and told them to run or not to run. I know
the numbers in this race. Talmadge has a slight
advantage, but it is by no means safe. Our local
paper, the Houston Chronicle, has tried to smear
him. See this:
http://www.chronicallybiased.com/index.php?itemid=1581&catid=4
This race is one of the most important races in
Texas this year. It's probably the most important
race for libertarian Republicans. Please consider
taking some time and investing in our future. If you
care about taxes in our state and want to help,
e-mail me at rob@robbooth.net.
Please feel free to pass this e-mail along to other
RLC members and our allies.
For more information on the Talmadge Heflin
Re-Election Campaign, go to:
http://www.talmadgeheflin.com
Thanks,
Rob Booth
Harris County GOP Precinct 0814 Chair
14807 Wintercove Court
Houston, TX 77082
832-878-5038
(POLITCAL AD PAID AND AUTHORIZED BY RLC OF TEXAS
COMMITTEE.)
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JOIN US!
If you like what we're doing and you'd like to be a
part of our
organization, consider contacting us at
hq1@rlctexas.org . If you
are still sitting on the
fence, undecided about joining other like
minded
Republican friends in the Republican Liberty
Caucus of
Texas, please consider it. We look
forward to your commitment to
joining us in our
fight for LIBERTY.
Our main focus is to help
fellow Republicans
to get involved in pro-LIBERTY Republican
campaigns, to WIN. In order to accomplish this goal
we need to
continue to grow our network of
pro-Liberty Republican friends.
There is strength in numbers.
We want to work with you. Join us today, or if you
would just like to volunteer your time in an
upcoming
campaign, please contact us: hq1@rlctexas.org or
call us at
(512) 577-8842. In addition, please forward
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o Option B:
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The Republican Liberty Caucus of Texas
Mail to:
Republican Liberty Caucus of Texas
201 W. Stassney Lane 181-B
Austin, TX 78745
Membership Options (Receive The Law by
Frederic
Bastiat for all membership levels and One
Ounce Silver
"Liberty" Dollar for Premium membership and above):
[ ] $30 Regular Membership
[ ] $50 Premium Membership
[ ] $100 Sustaining Membership
[ ] $250 Patron Membership
Special Membership Options. (Receive The Law
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OUR PURPOSE:
After decades of New Deal and Great Society social
activism ...
combined with the rapid decline in civics
and American history
education in our government-run
public schools ... mixed with a
growing population
of ill-informed and apathetic voters ...
government at
every level in this country continues to be too big,
too intrusive and too expensive.
Founded in 1990, the Republican Liberty Caucus
of Texas works to
advance the principles of limited
government, individual liberty and
free markets
within the Republican Party and throughout Texas.
Our candidates focus is on a broad range of issues,
including
education, taxation,
property rights, gun
rights, free
speech, federalism and the proper
role of
government.
In
addition to giving disenfranchised smaller-government
Republicans a home by
creating incentive to stay in our
party, the Republican Liberty Caucus of
Texas helps
avoid a potential exodus to Libertarian,
Constitutional, and other third parties, which would
open the door to big-government
victories from leftist
candidates. The Republican Liberty Caucus
of
Texas
is proud to promote the GOP's smaller-government
message. Our limited government, individual
liberty and
free market ideas will win by inclusion.
While rolling back decades of government
"nannyism"
will require a
great deal of public
education and
grassroots lobbying, the most
important means of
changing public policy is to
change public officials.
Therefore, the Republican
Liberty Caucus of Texas
works to elect
pro-liberty
Republicans to offices at
all levels, partisan and
non-partisan, in both primary
and general elections.
The Republican Liberty Caucus of Texas is
committed not to just
electing more Republicans ...
but better ones, as well.
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COMMITTEE:
Executive Director:
Mr. Don Zimmerman
Austin, TX
(512) 577-8842
Chairman:
Mr. Jerry Patterson
Austin, TX
Vice Chairman:
Penny Langford
Angleton, TX
Secretary:
Mr. John Reed
Buda, TX
Treasurer:
Mr. Richard Relph
Austin, TX
At-Large:
Mr. Trey Summitt
Dallas, TX
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Republican Liberty Caucus of
Texas
201 W. Stassney Lane 181-B
Austin, TX 78745
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