Tocqueville, referencing the ancient origins of democracy and its downfall:

“Almost before anyone was aware of [Democracy’s] existence, it seized power unexpectedly. From then on each man has abjectly catered to the least of its desires. Once it was worshiped as the very image of force. Later, after its strength had been sapped by its own excesses, legislators imprudently sought to destroy it rather than educate and discipline it. Instead of teaching it to govern, they thought of only expelling it from government.”

Those last two sentences are a bit eerie, if you consider (more…)

Rob Curnock

In the interest of equal time in the media, I offered all candidates in the Texas 17 Congressional Race the opportunity to meet with me and do an interview prior to the Primary. In that interview, I asked if the candidate would visit with me once a week to have an interview, recorded either over the phone or in person, since Chet Edwards gets at least one free campaign stop on WTAW each week.

While Chet is interviewed as the sitting Congressman, the running joke in this town is (more…)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 21:58 — 30.1MB)

Click on the image for a larger view. Tracking No. at USPS.COM is 4207 7802 9104 9424 3561 1009 1164 06

So I sent a small package to Bill Flores, which he received on February 9th, as a token of my desire to start anew. There had been a flurry of activity on this blog and I had been in touch with Bill, and figured this token would bring a new beginning. In fact, I sent the package the same day I spoke with Bill.

People in sales will recognize the practice.

Usually sent by a salesperson who has gotten off on the wrong foot with a prospective client, a small box of laundry soap or other cleaner is sent to the potential client with a small note attached, reading something like, “Here’s to a clean start,” or “I hope we can make a fresh start,” or something similar.

You can see a short video that shows the actual item (more…)

Write-Ins will remember that I mentioned that receiving the endorsement of the Bryan-College Station Eagle is the kiss of death because The Eagle is not conservative in any sense of the word. With its avid support of Planned Parenthood and its fawning over Chet Edwards, you can count on it not being reliable in terms of representing the community it portends to serve.

You’ll also remember that Chuck Wilson received the endorsement of The Eagle, which I commented upon extensively, in his bid for the Texas District 17 race for Congress.

Chuck Wilson did not make the cut for the runoff, losing (more…)

Alexis invites us further beyond the first few paragraphs by exploring the history  of France over the previous 700 years – from the start of the 12^th century to his day. While it ignores the massive impact of the Plague upon migration and the fall of the feudal system, his brief summary brings him to the point he wants to make concerning democracy:

“Once citizens began to hold land by other than feudal tenure, and transferable wealth, being conspicuous, created new wellsprings of power and influence, no discovery in the arts, no improvement in commerce or industry, failed to create a comparable number of new elements of equality among men. From that moment on, every newly discovered process, every newly conceived need, every new desire that craved to be satisfied, marked further steps toward universal leveling. The taste for luxury, the love of war, the sway of fashion, indeed, all the passions of the human heart from the most superficial to the most profound, seemed to conspire to impoverish the rich and enrich the poor. (more…)

There seems to be loose ends on the Bill Flores situation with The American Writer.

I made contact with a Flores family member whom I submitted a Friend Request on facebook to. This person has been quite cordial in their interactions with me, so I thought a friend request would be the next logical step, regardless of politics. You’ll find I am conversant and cordial with everyone on facebook, regardless of their politics, because I think every person has something to offer to every other person. We can all learn and teach. I am friends with Flores’ campaign manager, as a case in point.

The friend request resulted in this relatively innocuous exchange (I’ve redacted the individual’s name (more…)

Alexis grabbed me in his introduction right away.

“Among the new things that attracted my attention during my stay in the United States, none struck me more forcefully than the equality of conditions. I readily discovered what a prodigious influence this basic fact exerts on the workings of society. It imparts a certain direction to the public spirit and a certain shape to laws, establishes new maxims for governing, and fosters distinctive habits in the governed. (more…)

I received the Press Release bout two hours ago from the Rob Curnock Campaign. I provide in its entirety:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 4, 2010

Rob Curnock Issues Statement on Delasandro Endorsement

Rob Curnock, Republican candidate for Congress in District 17, tonight issued the following statement concerning the endorsement of Timothy Delasandro, former candidate for Congress in the District 17 race: (more…)

Alexis de Tocqueville

Travel America with me for a while…

I am reading “Democracy in America” by Alexis de Tocqueville, who wrote the book from 1835 to 1840.

From the jacket flap of the version translated by Arthur Goldhammer in The Library of America edition, 2004 [ISBN 1-931082-54-5]:

“A young and aristocratic lawyer, Tocqueville came to the United States in 1831 with his friend and fellow magistrate Gustave de Beaumont to study American penitentiary systems. During their nine month visit they conducted interviews with more than 200 people on American politics, law, and social practices. After returning to France, Tocqueville read hundreds of books and documents while reflecting on what his trip revealed about the “great democratic revolution” that was transforming the Western world.” [Emphasis mine]

I was reminded of this book by my good friend and fellow avid-reader, Kelley Durham. To her I owe a debt for (more…)

In the House of Representatives Texas District 17 race you probably have an idea of who I won’t vote for, but I want to make sure.

So here’s who and why I will NOT vote for them. (more…)