Put Nick Lampson's Name on the Blank Line

Oh, how fun! Watching the Fort Bend Republicans spin around playing pin the nomination on the nearest candidate is my new favorite spectator sport. Step right up! Calling all candidates, any candidates!

This is an email from Eric Thode, outgoing Fort Bend Republican GOP Chair to area Republicans . Yes, he is preening and posing and vying for last minute attention and adoration. Well, some unimpressed local Democrats got it in their inboxes somehow, some way.

Here you go:

As you may have read in the Houston Chronicle today, I am working on a direct mail opinion poll to all Republican voters in Fort Bend County in order to garner their opinions on who should replace Congressman Tom DeLay's name on the November 2006 ballot. Below you will see the letter that will be included in the mailer along with the names of potential candidates for the appointment.

Texas Election Law will not allow us to hold a new Republican Primary. Instead, the Texas Election Code grants the power to 4 Precinct Chairs (one from each of the four counties), which is very clearly not a representative sampling of Republicans in District 22. I believe it is incumbent on the Republican Party to find out who the voters think should be on the ballot. Anything less would abdicating our duty to all Republicans.

While my 14 year tenure ends on April 30 of this year, I want to make sure that I have done everything humanly possible to assist in the CD 22 selection process. I am confident this process will help.

I hope you agree with me that gauging the opinion of all Republican voters in Fort Bend County is a good idea. I am confident that this will clearly benefit the process and our nominee. Please watch for it in the mail next week and send it back in.

Thanks.

Eric Thode
Chairman, Republican Party of Fort Bend County

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TO: All Fort Bend Republicans DATE: April 24, 2006

FROM: Eric Thode
Chairman, Republican Party of Fort Bend County

RE: Replacement Nominee for Congressional District 22

As you know, Congressman Tom DeLay has announced his plan to withdraw from the November 2006 General Election ballot. Although the Texas Election Code and the laws of Texas will not allow us to hold a new Primary Election, Texas law will allow the Republican Party to select a new candidate to run against liberal Democrat Nick Lampson.

The process calls for the selection of four "electors" from the four counties that make up Congressional District 22 - Brazoria, Fort Bend, Galveston and Harris. These four individuals will select a Republican candidate for the ballot. However, I believe Republicans across the district in Fort Bend County should help ensure that the best Republican candidate is chosen.

For the benefit of the citizens of Congressional District 22, and the Republican Party, we must ensure that our nominee has the support of a majority of the Republicans across the district and not just the choice of a group of four. If we do not do this, we could lose the election in November and Congressional District 22 will be represented by Nick Lampson -- a former Democrat Congressman from Beaumont with a very liberal voting record.

With this in mind, I want to encourage all Republican voters in Congressional District 22 in Fort Bend County to let the four electors know who should be on the ballot. In order to do this, please use the attached card to voice your opinion.

This letter and card has been mailed to EVERY household within Congressional District 22 in Fort Bend County with at least one registered voter who participated in either the 2002, 2004, or 2006 Republican Party Primary Election.

Please remove the attached card and select the candidate you think should be on the ballot this November. Then, put a stamp on it and drop it in the mail. It's that simple.

All of the publicly identified and/or announced candidates have been listed in alphabetical order. Candidates who have publicly taken themselves out of this "race" are not listed. However, there is also a blank for you to choose someone who is not listed. The choice is yours and Republicans all across the district need to let their voice be heard!

Please take the time to voice your opinion. The results of this vote will be provided to the Fort Bend elector (when that person is chosen), as well as the elector from Brazoria, Galveston and Harris counties. Additionally, the results will be made public via the internet (www.fortbendgop.org and other sites), the media, and email.

If you would like to receive the results directly, please go to www.fortbendgop.org and sign up for our electronic newsletter.

Please take the time to participate in this important process.

THE ATTACHED CARD WILL INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING NAMES IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER:

1. Pat Baig
2. Tom Campbell
3. John Devine
4. Mike Fjetland
5. State Representative Charlie Howard
6. State Senator Mike Jackson
7. Don Richardson
8. Houston City Councilmember Shelley Sekula-Gibbs
9. State Representative Robert Talton
10. State Representative Larry Taylor
11. Sugar Land Mayor David Wallace
12. A blank line will be included for any other name you wish to choose.

Yawn.

Again, for line #12, I strongly suggest you put Nick Lampson, if you are fortunate to get one of these cards in the mail.
Then, be sure and circle #12 and mail it in.

Tom DeLay is playing games, by the way. I still don't think he is going to resign. And, I wonder if he really can get his name off the ballot. He was legally living in Texas at the time of the primary. What prevents anyone at any time from trying to change the outcome of an election by moving out of Texas during a race so that their party can pick a more viable candidate? I have issues!

Also, DeLay actually wrote a letter to the South Belt Ellington Leader (east side of TX-22) saying,

"I have heard people say there should be no Special Election because it is not in the Republicans' favor to have one. That is saying we will follow the Constitution only when it yields more favorable odds.

I am old fashioned and believe we follow the Constitution as written, not just when it is in our favor.

Remember, it was Mr. DeLay who chose this course instead of bowing out early so voters could choose an alternate in the primary. The fact that a Special Election is now viewed as less favorable means that some Republicans are arguing that they don't have to follow the Constitution. Think about it.."

Like I said, the man is playing some serious games with his little Republican friends here in TX-22. Why? To show them what a big man he is? You can't put anything past this guy.

Science education shoutout: I hope everyone had a happy Earth Day on Saturday! I spent it with the board of directors of the Science Teachers Association of Texas, a great group of science education leaders from all around the state at the annual board retreat. While we gave up our Saturday to further the cause of science learning for students in Texas (8 a.m. to 11 p.m., I might add), at least we were at a beautiful location, McKinney Roughs Nature Park!