Good morning,

The purveyors of cultural rot prefer we adopt the fatalistic posture of victims. As we begin the New Year, citizens should resolve to reclaim our heritage of self-governance by stepping boldly and courageously into the public square. More on that coming up.

Here is the Texas Minute for Friday, December 29, 2023.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Phelan Fundraiser to be Hosted By Liberal Politicians

• With polling showing him unpopular with Republicans in his home district and around the state, embattled House Speaker Dade Phelan of Beaumont is holding a fundraiser in San Antonio headlined by a Democrat politician and a disgraced former speaker. Brandon Waltens has the details.
      
• In 2009, Joe Straus (R-San Antonio) conspired with the Democrat caucus and a dozen Republicans to oust Texas' first Republican House Speaker. Taking over the job, he went on to obstruct much of the GOP agenda for a decade and remained in power with the help of Democrats.
       
• More eyebrow-raising is Leticia Van de Putte's presence on Team Phelan. She was a hard-left member of the Texas Legislature for 25 years in both the House and the Senate. In 2014, she was the Democrat opponent to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. She received less than 40 percent of the general election vote.
       
• "It’s as if everyone knows he’s Democrats’ best ally." – Texas GOP Chairman Matt Rinaldi
        
• Phelan's fundraising committee also includes former State Rep. Lyle Larson, a San Antonio Republican who was routinely rated as one of the chamber's most liberal members. He was forced from office after opposing Gov. Greg Abbott and the Texas GOP on numerous policy proposals.
      
• In the GOP primary, Phelan faces two Republican opponents: David Covey and Alicia Davis.

Year in Review

COMING UP AT NOON TODAY...
You will find these Year in Review stories at TexasScorecard.com.

• Border Invasion Escalates in 2023
  The ongoing crisis on Texas’ southern border continues to threaten citizens.
    
• House-Led Impeachment of Ken Paxton Crumbled in the Senate

  After a secret impeachment cost taxpayers untold millions, Paxton was acquitted on all impeachment charges. 

           
• Number of Texas Teachers Charged With Sex Crimes Continues to Grow
  In 2023, at least 100 Texas educators faced arrest or conviction for sex with students, sexual assault of children, soliciting sex, and possessing child pornography.

Federal Court Says Targeting Kids With Sex is Constitutionally Protected

• A federal judge ruled that Texas' ban on sexually explicit performances in front of minors violates freedom of speech, but Attorney General Ken Paxton is appealing the ruling. Will Biagini has the story.
    
• Senate Bill 12 by State Sen. Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola) prohibits sexually oriented performances for children under 18 years old. It was signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott and took effect on September 1. The American Civil Liberties Union sued the state over the measure, arguing it violated constitutionally protected speech.
       
• David Hittner, a federal judge appointed to the bench by President Reagan, ruled in favor of the ACLU, allowing sexually explicit performances that target children to continue.
       
• Paxton has appealed the ruling to the Fifth Circuit, but that court has yet to issue a ruling.
     
• “When sexually-explicit performances marketed as family-friendly entertainment became common in recent years, Texas sprang into action by passing SB 12 to protect children and families,” Paxton told Texas Scorecard. “As I promised, my office is pursuing all legal remedies possible to aggressively defend this law.”

Year in Review

Despite Failure to Expand Crony Gambling, Sands Prepares to Spend Big in Texas

• Amid a push to expand gambling in Texas, Las Vegas Sands spearheaded pro-gambling lobbying and campaign contributions during the 2023 legislative session. As Daniel Greer reports, the effort failed but has marked an escalation for the issue.

        
• Contrary to the assertions made by proponents, the push for casino gambling in Texas is centered around government-enforced monopolies for politically connected multinational corporations.
        
• Studies have found that casinos generate up to 50 percent of their revenues from "problem" and pathological gamblers, leading to massive increases in welfare and law enforcement spending in those states.
       
• Following the 2023 legislative session, a political action committee connected to Sands is backing the campaigns of 28 Republicans in the House who showed support for casino gambling. Significantly, many of those voted to impeach Attorney General Ken Paxton and opposed Gov. Greg Abbott's school choice proposals.

Year in Review

Texas A&M Faced Intense Scrutiny Over Leftist Hires

• Following a hiring debacle involving the advocate of an extreme leftist ideology, the Texas A&M president suddenly resigned this summer and has since been replaced by the Board of Regents. But, as Sydnie Henry explains, the new president is just as committed to pushing the university to the social and political left. 
       
• The new president, Mark Welsh, had been the dean of TAMU’s Bush School of Government and Public Service, where he was a fierce advocate for "diversity, equity, and inclusion" programs designed to push leftist ideology.
       
• Under a new law passed this year, state universities—like Texas A&M—must block any promotion of policies, training, or activities “designed or implemented in reference to race, color, or ethnicity.” Welsh has said he opposed the law.
      
• Experts caution that A&M and other state universities are simply redeploying the same personnel and policies with new names and titles in an effort to evade the intent of the law.

PROGRAMMING NOTE:
The Texas Minute will return on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024.

Friday Reflection

It seems everyone wears weakness as a badge of secular honor and demands others validate their fears and insecurities. As the new year bears down on us, I would like to offer a different way.

Scattered throughout the Old and New Testaments of the Bible are variations of the phrases “be strong,” “be courageous,” ‘take courage,” and “fear not.” It is almost like God knows the whole “I’m a victim” thing is spiritual poison. 

It also explains why the purveyors of cultural rot prefer you to adopt the fatalistic posture of a victim. People who cower and cringe rarely fight back. The political elite wants us to live lives full of anxiety so that we can be more easily controlled.

Isaiah still speaks to us when he wrote, “Say to those who have an anxious heart, ‘Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.’”

Rather than live shadowy lives as cowering supplicants, we’re called to walk in confidence. 

As Paul wrote in his letter to the Romans, "If God is for us, who can be against us?” He later adds, "For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Yes, there are some fearsome fights ahead of us in the new year, but it doesn’t mean we should be fearful of them. When the people of God were preparing to cross in the Promised Land, God charged their leader Joshua to, “Be strong and courageous… I will be with you.” They knew they would be outnumbered in the fights to come, but they were to leave fear on the other side of the Jordan.

Throughout their conquest of the land, you find Joshua and the people echoing that phrase back and forth as words of encouragement. 

So should we.

Be strong and courageous; fear not. 

The year ahead presents itself with a great many opportunities to fight and struggle for the cause of self-governance in our republic. Take courage from the knowledge that you are not alone in this struggle. There are other men and women likewise doing what they can, where they can, to advance liberty. 

My friends: Be strong and courageous.

Quote-Unquote

"I do not want to see any of the people cringing supplicants for the favor of the Government, when they should all be independent masters of their own destiny."

– Calvin Coolidge

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