http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/ToniAnne/7451 I couldn't have said it better, so I am posting a letter that was written by a true Republican grassroots activist and state delegate from Dallas. I am also a state delegate to the Texas Republican Convention this June in Houston and the article below adequately summarizes the opinions of many delegates attending this year's convention. Texas is the Reddest State in the United States of America.  The percentage of voters who not only vote Republican, but self-identify as Republican is the highest in Texas.  We take pride in the fact that Family  Values, Economic Freedom, and Religious Freedom reign supreme in our State. The Republican Party of Texas Platform is perhaps one of the finest declarations of intent and values ever created.  The men and women who contributed to this document poured their hearts and beliefs into this directive to Republican Officials.  Individuals who identify themselves as  the Grassroots Republicans composed the majority of the contributors to the Platform. Unfortunately, in recent years, the organization that represents the Grassroots, the State Republican Executive Committee (SREC) has seen their  hands tied by the influence of the Republican Party of Texas (RPT) Chair.  The RPT Chair walks into the SREC with a list of "suggestions" and expects  them to become a part of the SREC's directives.  The Business Tax and the TTC have flourished under a Republican-controlled state government, under the direction of the subordinate SREC and the highly influential Republican Party of Texas. This disregard for the Platform, the Constitution, and the Grassroots can no longer continue.  The Grassroots built the strength of this Grand Ol' Party of Texas and should regain its influence.  We know what the average voter values.  We don't all concentrate on the same priorities: some want an end to pork barrel spending; some concentrate on changing our foreign policy; some desire an end to various federal programs; some appreciate sound money; some demand an end to illegal immigration; some wish to eliminate abortion; some despise the notion of foreign-owned tollroads obtained through eminent domain; some despise the socialist directives of the minimum wage, welfare, socialized healthcare, and all other government  intrusions that lead to higher taxes and more government control.  Whatever our priorities, Texas Republicans are the most Conservative voters in the country, but our values are rarely reflected by the actions of our elected officials because the Grassroots has little say in the Establishment-controlled RPT. We're tired of complaining to deaf ears.  We're tired of having to make excuses to independents.  We're tired of losing elections.  We're tired of arguing at our local Republican Clubs for the values and beliefs that are already articulated in the RPT Platform.  We've told them what we want, but, somehow, our elected officials haven't heard us. Join the Goldwater Conservatives, Reagan Republicans, Robertson Crowd, Ron Paul Republicans, and, well, real Conservatives at the State Convention by voting for a Permanent Convention Chair who will ensure a Fair Convention, and, more importantly, by voting for an RPT Chair who will ensure the kind of meaningful change that will ensure that the Grassroots Republicans have the influence that they rightly deserve. Make this State Convention meaningful and not just about the social networking.  We owe the 10^th largest economy in the world our full attention.  You owe it to your neighbors to do everything that you can to ensure that the integrity that the Republicans purport to value returns to the Republican Party. Sincerely, Jarrod Atkinson I couldn't have said it better, so I am posting a letter that was written by a true Republican grassroots activist and state delegate from Dallas. I am also a state delegate to the Texas Republican Convention this June in Houston and the article below adequately summarizes the opinions of many delegates attending this year's convention. Texas is the Reddest State in the United States of America.  The percentage of voters who not only vote Republican, but self-identify as Republican is the highest in Texas.  We take pride in the fact that Family  Values, Economic Freedom, and Religious Freedom reign supreme in our State. The Republican Party of Texas Platform is perhaps one of the finest declarations of intent and values ever created.  The men and women who contributed to this document poured their hearts and beliefs into this directive to Republican Officials.  Individuals who identify themselves as  the Grassroots Republicans composed the majority of the contributors to the Platform. Unfortunately, in recent years, the organization that represents the Grassroots, the State Republican Executive Committee (SREC) has seen their  hands tied by the influence of the Republican Party of Texas (RPT) Chair.  The RPT Chair walks into the SREC with a list of "suggestions" and expects  them to become a part of the SREC's directives.  The Business Tax and the TTC have flourished under a Republican-controlled state government, under the direction of the subordinate SREC and the highly influential Republican Party of Texas. This disregard for the Platform, the Constitution, and the Grassroots can no longer continue.  The Grassroots built the strength of this Grand Ol' Party of Texas and should regain its influence.  We know what the average voter values.  We don't all concentrate on the same priorities: some want an end to pork barrel spending; some concentrate on changing our foreign policy; some desire an end to various federal programs; some appreciate sound money; some demand an end to illegal immigration; some wish to eliminate abortion; some despise the notion of foreign-owned tollroads obtained through eminent domain; some despise the socialist directives of the minimum wage, welfare, socialized healthcare, and all other government  intrusions that lead to higher taxes and more government control.  Whatever our priorities, Texas Republicans are the most Conservative voters in the country, but our values are rarely reflected by the actions of our elected officials because the Grassroots has little say in the Establishment-controlled RPT. We're tired of complaining to deaf ears.  We're tired of having to make excuses to independents.  We're tired of losing elections.  We're tired of arguing at our local Republican Clubs for the values and beliefs that are already articulated in the RPT Platform.  We've told them what we want, but, somehow, our elected officials haven't heard us. Join the Goldwater Conservatives, Reagan Republicans, Robertson Crowd, Ron Paul Republicans, and, well, real Conservatives at the State Convention by voting for a Permanent Convention Chair who will ensure a Fair Convention, and, more importantly, by voting for an RPT Chair who will ensure the kind of meaningful change that will ensure that the Grassroots Republicans have the influence that they rightly deserve. Make this State Convention meaningful and not just about the social networking.  We owe the 10^th largest economy in the world our full attention.  You owe it to your neighbors to do everything that you can to ensure that the integrity that the Republicans purport to value returns to the Republican Party. Sincerely, Jarrod Atkinson en-us We've got our work cut out for us. The headliner of our ticket has not been a consistent conservative, although McCain on his worst day is still a better choice than either Democratic candidate on his/her best day. Did I mention Governor Good-Hair? I don't want to wait for a 3:00 a.m. call to stir us out of our torpor. We need to get back to our roots. "That government governs best that governs least" (Thomas Jefferson). "The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help'" (Ronald Reagan).   http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/ToniAnne/7451/#c_49523 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/ToniAnne/7451/#c_49523 We've got our work cut out for us. The headliner of our ticket has not been a consistent conservative, although McCain on his worst day is still a better choice than either Democratic candidate on his/her best day. Did I mention Governor Good-Hair? I don't want to wait for a 3:00 a.m. call to stir us out of our torpor. We need to get back to our roots. "That government governs best that governs least" (Thomas Jefferson). "The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help'" (Ronald Reagan).