A microcosm of Austin Weird: Behind the scenes of 'The Trailer Park Show'

"The Trailer Park Show" gang for the Christmas 2015 episode. Pictured (left to right) are James "Slow Pokey" Ritter, Legislative Director for Rep. Gilbert Pena Mikael Garcia, Travis GOP Outreach Director Michael Lee, and Austin LULAC leader Gavino Fernandez.

Is it a political round table for conservative issues? A public television free-for-all? Maybe a showcase for locals to maunder about the day's news?

"It's all those things and more," according to the host of a longtime fixture of Austin cable access.

Not unlike many shows on a public access TV channel, "The Trailer Park Show" is an unusual spectacle. During the recording of the show's annual Christmas Episode, a taping room at the Channel Austin studios on Northwestern Avenue featured a dose of the usual political commentary panel and Texas House Legislative Director Mikael Garcia and Travis GOP Outreach Director Michael Lee, as well as some special guests: the Black and Tan Comedy Tour doing an impressive improv routine, an abbreviated set (thanks to a blown amplified fuse) from a band featuring local guitarist Fritz Funderburgh kicking out some Blues-Rock tunes to rival any show in town that evening in the Live Music Capital, and anyone from the audience the host could rope in at the last minute.

And all done live. In other words, a microcosm of what keeps Austin Weird, as well as a picture of the by-the-bootstraps activism that marks the Austin conservative movement.

Fox 7: Travis GOP jumps in on effort to save ridesharing apps

KTBC-TV, Channel 7, in covering the effort to save companies such as Uber and Lyft in the City of Austin, gave some credit to the Travis County Republican Party for its efforts.

According to Fox 7 Austin:

The Travis County Republican Party is all for this: 

"Supporting this petition drive is a natural fit for Travis County Republicans, as we have always supported economic freedom and free speech. If ridesharing apps were as dangerous as their detractors say they are, then consumers would have already 'voted with their feet.' and found other transportation options. Why punish the success of companies such as Lyft and Uber? This is the free market dynamism at its best," said Andy Hogue with the Travis County Republicans. 

The petition is available to sign at Austin Java from 8 A.M. to 11 A.M. and from 4 P.M. to 8 P.M. The coalition says they only need 20,000 signatures but they're going for 30,000 just in case.
 
The group says once they have their signatures, they'll present the petition to the city clerk for validation.

Watch: http://www.fox7austin.com/news/local-news/65864047-story

Fiscal conservatives top ABJ's list of top economic development leaders

Austin District 6 City Councilman Don Zimmerman

It's a good day in Austin when a Republican City Council member and the Governor of Texas make the list of the city's top Five Economic Development Leaders to Watch in 2016.

Gov. Greg Abbott and District 6 Austin City Councilman Don Zimmerman made the list, compiled by the Austin Business Journal today. The article highlighted Zimmerman's work in opposing ride-sharing app regulations (Uber Technologies CEO Travis Kalanick also made the list, as it happens).

The ABJ also noted Republican District 8 Council member Ellen Troxclair as part of a "fiscally conservative faction" of the Austin City Council along with Zimmerman.

One week, they might try to cut economic development funds on principle, the next week they are fighting against increased regulation of ride-hailing companies. While they may not bring a lot of votes to their side, the[y] represent an increasingly influential strain of politics seen here and across the country. 

Read more:
http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news/2015/12/30/5-economic-development-leaders-to-watch-in-2016.html#g3

While it may be true that Troxclair and Zimmerman make up a small minority of the 10-member council, many issues are not decided along conservative-liberal lines. Sometimes they result in some "strange bedfellow" arrangements, such as Zimmerman's support of Democratic Council member Ora Houston's plan to build the new Travis County Civil Courthouse in East Austin.

Fiscal conservatives and Republicans make up a large portion of Austin's electorate, and more so in Travis County as a whole. A Republican candidate running in a county-wide race will usually secure anywhere between 38-42% of the vote -- a figure that's increasing year-by-year. Now that's something to watch!

Petition drive aims to give Uber/Lyft decision to the people

Although the Austin City Council left vague the specifics on a December decision to crack down on transportation network companies (such as Uber and Lyft), opponents to further regulation aren't taking any chances.

Having worked over the Christmas break to organize the resistance, a coalition calling itself Ridesharing Works for Austin announced it will be hosting a petition drive to place the current city rules on TNCs on the ballot for a yay or nay vote by, not City Council members, but the voters of Austin via a ballot referendum.

The petition will be at Austin Java (1206 Parkway, near North Lamar and 12th Street) from Tuesday, Dec. 29, through Monday, Jan. 4. Supporters plan to be at Austin Java from 7-11 a.m. and 4-8 p.m. daily in order to gather the 20,000 signatures necessary to put a measure on the next ballot -- though they may aim for many more as those on the other side will be looking for any reason they can to disqualify signatures. (Download a petition here.)

Texas reigning king of speed traps

The Watchdog.org Texas bureau expanded on a recent report that lists the Lone Star State (yes, our beloved oasis of economic freedom and individual responsibility) as the most likely place in the United States to get caught speeding.

It may have more to do with population and size, as California, Florida, and Ohio also round out the top of the list. Smaller states would, logically, have fewer "speed traps" and fewer citations issued.

But we'll let Watchdog Texas off easy this time:

Texas is infested with more speed traps than any other state, according to a new study by the National Motorists Association. 

The NMA compiled five years of data from a website it maintains, The National Speed Trap Exchange, and found Texas had far and away the highest speed trap count, with 1383 locations. 

The list falls off quickly, with Cali[f]ornia in second at 1076, Florida in third at 792 and Ohio in fourth with 680.

Read more below (but not while you're driving):
http://watchdog.org/251340/texas-speed-traps

Cahn: AG provides rearguard for campus carry movement

Local activist Adam Cahn has posted a copy of Attorney General Ken Paxton's opinion on campus carry. According to Cahnman's Musings ... 

The opinion ... lays a solid foundation should litigation on this issue become necessary. Bottom Line: If this is headed to court, Paxton's opinion is a strong place to start. 

More: http://acahnman.blogspot.com/2015/12/paxton-issues-pro-2a-campus-carry.html

Serve your favorite grinch with a cease and desist letter this 'holiday'

Certain liberals, when asked, will tell you that there's no "war on Christmas." These same politically correct
provocateurs may also tell you that you are improperly upset over the theft of our traditions and artistry used in their watered-down versions of the Christmas holiday.

NRO: Pulliam weighs in on Green vs. Green judicial race

National Review Online picked up Travis County resident Mark Pulliam's thoughts on the upcoming statewide judicial races. According to Pulliam, voters have a choice between ...

A glib, attention-seeking showman with no judicial experience versus a seasoned judge with a solid record. The March 1 primary will not only determine the Republican nominee for [Texas Supreme Court] Place 5, it will serve as a referendum on the wisdom of judicial elections. Will Texas primary voters see through this unseemly stunt?

Strong words. We're certain supporters of the challenging candidate would disagree, and that there is a reasons why the Texas Constitution allows for elected judges in certain capacities.

Who are you supporting? Let us know in the comments section below.

UPDATES: Pulliam has submitted other articles for NRO recently on the Texas statewide judicial races. We're not taking sides: these are provided for the sake of discourse and Pulliam's accomplishment of becoming a regular judicial issues columnist:

http://www.nationalreview.com/bench-memos/429207/texas-supreme-court-elections-eva-guzman-joe-pool  (Guzman-Pool race)

http://www.nationalreview.com/bench-memos/427762/sharia-law-texas-supreme-court-election (Lehrmann-Massengale race)

Obama Admin kills Austin culinary academy

Score another jobs-kill for the Obama Administration. This one is sure to chisel away at Austin's emerging foodie community.

According to BuzzFeed:

[Le Cordon Bleu's] advertisements, featuring white-coated chefs with flashing knives entreating students to “follow your passion,” were shown frequently in the 2000s. But Le Cordon Bleu’s trade degrees — which had seen huge surges in popularity during the recession — were threatened by the Obama administration’s gainful employment rule, which cuts off federal financial aid to schools where graduates borrow money at high rates to pay for school but earn little after graduation.

This begs the question: Will the Obama Administration start shutting down state-funded colleges and universities soon? It would only be fair.

The Texas Culinary Academy in Austin became Le Cordon Bleu circa 2009. Perhaps its most famous alumnus, Paul Qui, won Season 9 of "Top Chef."

On the bright side: it looks like there's now an immediate, local market for a private-sector chef school. Just don't count on federal aid.

2016 Travis County Republican and Democratic Primary candidates

Travis GOP Chairman James Dickey (left) introduces Republican Sheriff candidate Joe Martinez (right) at a Presidential Debate Watch Party held at the Alamo Drafthouse on Tuesday, Dec. 15.  

Candidate filings for the 2016 Primary are in!  While it appears Democrats still have a near-lock on judicial and countywide races, Republicans are providing some serious contenders who could make for some heated match-ups in November and bring the Austin metro area further to the right.

Below are all the candidates running for Travis County races in the 2016 Primary. Democrats are in blue and Republicans are in red.

Mackowiak: Innovation key to Charter School success

Travis County GOP Vice Chairman Matt Mackowiak defended Charter Schools in his recent column in the Austin American-Statesman:

The only thing that should matter at a school is performance. We know what works: English immersion, high standards, college preparedness, school choice for parents, closing failing schools and paying good teachers more while moving bad teachers out of the profession. 

Why should a parent have their children locked into a failing school? Why should a zip code determine a child’s fate?

Read the column at: http://www.statesman.com/news/news/opinion/mackowiak-innovation-competition-are-improving-edu/npgsw

VIDEO: The best liberal argument yet for campus gun control!

Our minds have been changed.

There was a mass shooting simulation near the University of Texas today -- a "crisis performance event" organizers called it. Many conservatives and gun rights activists thought the event went too far, while a smaller number thought it drew necessary attention to parts of the campus area where students, faculty, and staff 21 and up cannot sufficiently protect themselves against armed attackers.

But out of the chaos came the strongest argument yet for stringent gun control. Watch the video above for the pinnacle moment of the counter-protest, led by students.

No, we didn't secede, but Texans can still make a stand

The State Republican Executive Committee received a Texas-size share of media attention for its 16-34 defeat of a motion to allow a secession resolution on the upcoming Primary election ballot.

But did you know there are still some important, though non-binding, questions to appear on the March 1 ticket? Here they are ...

Proposition 1. Texas should replace the property tax system with an alternative other than an income tax and require voter approval to increase the overall tax burden. 

Proposition 2. Texas cities and counties should be required to comply with federal immigration laws or be penalized by loss of state funds. 

Proposition 3. Texas should prohibit governmental entities from collecting dues for labor unions through deductions from public employee paychecks. 

Proposition 4. Texas and its citizens should strongly assert 10th Amendment Rights guranteed by the U.S. Constitution, which states "The powers not delegated to the United States by this Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respetively, or to the people."
(Approved by the SREC, 12/5/15)

Source: Republican Party of Texas press release  (PDF file)

Austin Council candidates demand answers on why opponents received $56,000 in city funds

Two Austin Council candidates are demanding answers why their opponents received nearly $56,000 in city funds.

A letter addressed to the Austin City Clerk from local attorney Roger Borgelt issued yesterday inquires why a pair of Austin City Council candidates were given around $28,000 each to assist with campaign expenses.

'Hungary's Ron Paul' speaks to Austinites

Over the past week, a rising star in Hungarian politics shared his story of standing (sometimes alone) for free market values and individualism with Austin conservatives and liberty activists. 

Independent Member of Parliament Zoltán Kész spoke to the World Affairs Council at Austin Community College and Liberty Action Texas, among other stops.

Kész, who broke the 2/3 super-majority held by Hungary's ruling party, Fidesz, became the target of media scorn upon winning his election at age 41 earlier this year. Since then, he has used his bully pulpit to expose corruption and expand the Free Market Foundation he helped to start in Hungary in 2011. Many have compared his lone-contender status to that of former U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, who often stood alone on opposition to government expansion.

5 things we simply don't get regarding prayer

Even though this is a local political blog, can we get theological for a moment?  

Now that the lefties are practically in lockstep mocking prayer (and Nancy Pelosi is even criticizing moments of silence, for crying out loud!) this writer feels the need to express a few non-sectarian thoughts on God and the nature of prayer. Below are five things we tend to forget (or fail to grasp entirely) in our discourse about God's will and when conveying out intentions to seek God's blessings for those enduring hardship.

1. PRAYER IS NOT TELEPATHY. "Thoughts and prayers" do not "go out to the victims and their families." Prayers are requests to God. They go up to him. (And we highly doubt you are telepathic and can send thoughts across the continent and into someone else's head.) Though many may equate prayer with well-wishes, positive thinking, inward meditation, or even "good vibes," prayer as our Founding Fathers understood it is communication with the God in whom We Trust. Technically speaking, anyway.

Guns save lives

Following the Paris attacks, the Colorado Springs shooting, the San Bernardino shooting, and other horrendous attacks involving guns, we would like to provide some food for thought as we will no doubt be forced into yet another tiresome "national discussion" about our Second Amendment rights.

Click the map below for stories of situations in which a firearm was used to preserve human life via GunsSaveLives.net.

Taxpayer funds pushing new civil courthouse plan; Judge Dietz to receive $84/hour

The $287 million bond proposal for a new Travis County Civil Courthouse was given the ax last month by voting taxpayers. But that doesn't stop the County Commissioners from spending their money to bring it up again.

According to the Austin American-Statesman, retired District Judge John Dietz will get $84 per hour to come up with a new plan:

Dietz, who was the administrative judge when he retired in 2014, said Tuesday he will have two roles: helping the courts reorganize their business processes to “cope with reality” at the current facility — the overcrowded Heman Sweatt Travis County Courthouse — and helping the county find a new strategy for building a new facility.

Said bond opponent Bill Worsham in the article:

“His advice and experience is very valuable in a design process. We’re not in a design process ... This is part of the revolving door and the mechanism of having your friends and advisers on the public payroll.”

County Commissioner Gerald Daugherty, according to the report, took a more realistic tone regarding paying a consultant:

“I do think that, given the fact that the thing failed, the community needs to hear from the commissioners where we’re really headed"

More: www.statesman.com

It should be noted that Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt recently said in a Statesman video that Dietz was the one who originally called for the new courthouse.

Cahn: Zimmerman loss on refugee measure a win for public dialogue

Opinions on what to do with incoming Syrian refugees are varied -- with Gov. Greg Abbott flat-out opposed and the City of Austin ready to practically roll out the red carpet. Conservative commentator Adam Cahn notes that City Councilman Don Zimmerman's recent support of Abbott's position is a win for public discourse on the subject.

Bottom Line: Given how the votes on Council are structured (for now), the fix was in on this hearing before it began.  It still was a useful discussion to have and got several more Council members on the record.  If, God forbid, something happens a la Kate Stienle in San Francisco, the Council members who promoted this recklessly INSANE policy are going to OWN it. 

More: http://acahnman.blogspot.com/2015/11/public-safety-committee-stiffs.html

Even though Zimmerman's resolution was ill-fated from the beginning, we agree that it was a useful exercise of representation government -- which was exactly why a majority of voters supported going from at-large seats on the Austin City Council to the 10-1 district plan.