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"The great changing of the guard is taking place in Texas, and the trains of transformation are rolling," "The question is: Are you on board?" -- San Antonio Republican Joe Straus

It's uncertain whether this alienated Turner from his supporters. Most of them are from North Texas — a small but vocal minority inside the Republican Party who were unsuccessful in pushing a conservative state further to the right.

That's from a news report from my local TV station.

I think we agree on all those issues. And that is my part of my point. We (as part of the Texas electorate) voted for a far more conservative government last November. A number of new reps in my area voted for a new Speaker. New blood, new leadership, not the status quo. That's why Ted Cruz in in the US Senate and not David Dewhurst.

Hey Mojo --

I agree on both points. It IS up to us to educate, advocate, but I'm telling you -- It's not a lost cause, but it's a very steep climb. Of my circle of friends, me and one other have our CHLs. Nobody else does. We're talking about an 18-2 ratio here. I don't know the numbers of CHLs v regular voters, but I'm willing to bet it's hundreds of thousands v millions

I certainly didn't take your points as a personal attack, I hope you didn't think I attacked you either.

Hey Mojo --

At the risk of sounding like an infamous ex-Senator -- What difference does it make?

Do you really think the vast majorioty of voters are going to take the time to look up who their rep voted for Speaker of the Texas House? Like I said earlier, we care, but we are a very small group.

This recorded vote is inside baseball stuff. Your average Texas voter doesn't give a flip.

I prefer to think we are determined.

But, maybe a little crazy.

It's time we faced a few facts.

1.) The go along to get along crowd is larger than those of us who wanted to try someone different (for Texas Speaker) this time.

2.) Big legislative gains take vision, and courage. Most politicians don't have any. (Lobbyists don't either)

3.) Most Texas voters are not CHL holders.

Conclusion:

We do this dance every two years and expect a different outcome. We need to temper our expectations and enjoy the two Dove and baseball seasons before the next election.

Kudos to Rep. Matt Krause, District 93 for going against the status quo, he has my vote in two years time. Also Rep Tinderholt, another newly elected state Rep, nice going guys.

Mr. Cotton -- respectfully -- most voters don't know or care who is elected speaker. We care, but a niche group like us -- CHL holders, do'n't have nearly the numbers of general voters. We probably have more voters than the "Constitutional Carry" crowd does. Seriously, I view the status quo as a step backward. Our Reps don't fear us, (or fear of being replaced) so they stuck with the same thing because they fear the Speaker more.

My opinion here folks, don't look for any big steps this session, as far as gun legislation goes. Oh we might win an incremental step here or there, but Campus carry, adding the number of places where CHL holders can carry, and no way will any sort of "open" carry legislation be passed. Licensed or not.

See everybody in two years

Then again, he may not act like a Republican. And we'll get the status quo for this session and we'll try again in two more years. Then we're all two years older, the fight is two years older, and the same questions will be asked two years from now.

OK, let me see if I have this correct -- Don't encourage your reps to vote for a new guy because he might be worse than Straus. The 'unknown' might be worse than what we have now. Well, seems to me, we KNOW the current Speaker isn't all that friendly to us. I would think a new Speaker would be an improvement since after the election the State has far more conservative members.

The status quo is not an improvement.

New leadership, new blood, a new (more conservative) approach. That, in my opinion is the way forward.