Joe Straus

[paxton25]

All primaries are painful to politicians who believe their seat is their birthright. He had to spend money he didn't want to, had to campaign when he didn't want to, had to answer questions he didn't want to. They don't like that.

Of course it will take more than that. I don't think anyone that knows anything truly believes Straus won't get the votes he needs next year. Hopefully the pressure he has been receiving plus several of his RINOs getting primaried out has made him a bit more pliable this session. I am sure he doesn't want to face another painful primary again.

In my opinion, it's going to take more than a few freshmen to get Straus ousted as speaker and even more to get him out of the house. The guy is entrenched pretty well. I am well aware of several groups working hard to find a chink in his armor. Not saying it can't be done but it won't be easy and isn't likely.

his primary wasn't painful at all. few even knew he had an opponent until just before the election when his signs finally went up.

no, he didn't. like I said, no one knew he had an opponent. he put up the same signs he put up when he didn't have an opponent, ran the same few ads he ran when he didn't have an opponent.....basically he spent just enough money to get the tax break.

I am pretty sure Straus knew he had an opponent and so did the thousands that voted for him. And it is incredibly naive to think that politicians, especially ones with the arrogance of Straus, don't really care if they have a primary opponent or not no matter how viable they are. With only a 4k vote swing in the primary against the sitting speaker and incumbent against a relative unknown who didn't campaign big I am sure some real names are pondering a run next time.

[SewTexas]

All primaries are painful to politicians who believe their seat is their birthright. He had to spend money he didn't want to, had to campaign when he didn't want to, had to answer questions he didn't want to. They don't like that.

Of course it will take more than that. I don't think anyone that knows anything truly believes Straus won't get the votes he needs next year. Hopefully the pressure he has been receiving plus several of his RINOs getting primaried out has made him a bit more pliable this session. I am sure he doesn't want to face another painful primary again.

In my opinion, it's going to take more than a few freshmen to get Straus ousted as speaker and even more to get him out of the house. The guy is entrenched pretty well. I am well aware of several groups working hard to find a chink in his armor. Not saying it can't be done but it won't be easy and isn't likely.

his primary wasn't painful at all. few even knew he had an opponent until just before the election when his signs finally went up.

no, he didn't. like I said, no one knew he had an opponent. he put up the same signs he put up when he didn't have an opponent, ran the same few ads he ran when he didn't have an opponent.....basically he spent just enough money to get the tax break.

I am pretty sure Straus knew he had an opponent and so did the thousands that voted for him. And it is incredibly naive to think that politicians, especially ones with the arrogance of Straus, don't really care if they have a primary opponent or not no matter how viable they are. With only a 4k vote swing in the primary against the sitting speaker and incumbent against a relative unknown who didn't campaign big I am sure some real names are pondering a run next time.

I'm not sure where you live. (I don't know much about you at all other than you joined yesterday and already have 40 posts) I however live right on Strauss's line. I have lived through several of his elections, I know what it's like when he has competition and when he doesn't, otherwise I wouldn't have said what I did. Now, am I hoping that someone with a chance and maybe a willingness to work at winning will run one day, yes, and if that person does run I will do everything in my power to help said person win.

[paxton25]

All primaries are painful to politicians who believe their seat is their birthright. He had to spend money he didn't want to, had to campaign when he didn't want to, had to answer questions he didn't want to. They don't like that.

Of course it will take more than that. I don't think anyone that knows anything truly believes Straus won't get the votes he needs next year. Hopefully the pressure he has been receiving plus several of his RINOs getting primaried out has made him a bit more pliable this session. I am sure he doesn't want to face another painful primary again.

In my opinion, it's going to take more than a few freshmen to get Straus ousted as speaker and even more to get him out of the house. The guy is entrenched pretty well. I am well aware of several groups working hard to find a chink in his armor. Not saying it can't be done but it won't be easy and isn't likely.

his primary wasn't painful at all. few even knew he had an opponent until just before the election when his signs finally went up.

no, he didn't. like I said, no one knew he had an opponent. he put up the same signs he put up when he didn't have an opponent, ran the same few ads he ran when he didn't have an opponent.....basically he spent just enough money to get the tax break.

I am pretty sure Straus knew he had an opponent and so did the thousands that voted for him. And it is incredibly naive to think that politicians, especially ones with the arrogance of Straus, don't really care if they have a primary opponent or not no matter how viable they are. With only a 4k vote swing in the primary against the sitting speaker and incumbent against a relative unknown who didn't campaign big I am sure some real names are pondering a run next time.

I'm not sure where you live. (I don't know much about you at all other than you joined yesterday and already have 40 posts) I however live right on Strauss's line. I have lived through several of his elections, I know what it's like when he has competition and when he doesn't, otherwise I wouldn't have said what I did. Now, am I hoping that someone with a chance and maybe a willingness to work at winning will run one day, yes, and if that person does run I will do everything in my power to help said person win.

Right, you are making two different arguments though, one is that he didn't have any serious challengers this primary, which I agree with, but it is your conclusion that since he didn't have a serious challenger he felt no pain by getting primaried. What you are essentially saying is that an incumbent doesn't care one way or another if he gets primaried or not unless the opponent has a good chance of winning. I don't need to live in Straus' district to know that isn't true.

[Saffron]

From Forbes.

The Harry Reid of Texas.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/patrickglea ... timizely=a

That is a very unfair comparison. Harry Reid admits he's a Democrat.

Even though he's a ranking Democrat, Harry Reid is more conservative than Joe Straus on a lot of issues. I won't mention the big one out of respect for forum rule #11 but anybody paying attention last year knows already or can easily figure it out.

[paxton25]

Looks like it is a lock. https://www.texastribune.org/2014/11/18 ... ry-likely/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[mojo84]

sure they are, but pressure has been building against him since the last session and there are several freshmen reps. You never know who will flip either way.

In my opinion, it's going to take more than a few freshmen to get Straus ousted as speaker and even more to get him out of the house. The guy is entrenched pretty well. I am well aware of several groups working hard to find a chink in his armor. Not saying it can't be done but it won't be easy and isn't likely.

Apparently not enough flippers and freshmen showed up.

[paxton25]

sure they are, but pressure has been building against him since the last session and there are several freshmen reps. You never know who will flip either way.

In my opinion, it's going to take more than a few freshmen to get Straus ousted as speaker and even more to get him out of the house. The guy is entrenched pretty well. I am well aware of several groups working hard to find a chink in his armor. Not saying it can't be done but it won't be easy and isn't likely.

Apparently not enough flippers and freshmen showed up.

Yea, it's aggrevating, but like I said, he wasn't really in serious danger of not getting the gavel again it wasn't unexpected. It will still be interesting to see who chooses to vote against him still,

[mojo84]

sure they are, but pressure has been building against him since the last session and there are several freshmen reps. You never know who will flip either way.

In my opinion, it's going to take more than a few freshmen to get Straus ousted as speaker and even more to get him out of the house. The guy is entrenched pretty well. I am well aware of several groups working hard to find a chink in his armor. Not saying it can't be done but it won't be easy and isn't likely.

Apparently not enough flippers and freshmen showed up.

Yea, it's aggrevating, but like I said, he wasn't really in serious danger of not getting the gavel again it wasn't unexpected. It will still be interesting to see who chooses to vote against him still,

It'll be those that aren't occupying committee chairs.

[paxton25]

sure they are, but pressure has been building against him since the last session and there are several freshmen reps. You never know who will flip either way.

In my opinion, it's going to take more than a few freshmen to get Straus ousted as speaker and even more to get him out of the house. The guy is entrenched pretty well. I am well aware of several groups working hard to find a chink in his armor. Not saying it can't be done but it won't be easy and isn't likely.

Apparently not enough flippers and freshmen showed up.

Yea, it's aggrevating, but like I said, he wasn't really in serious danger of not getting the gavel again it wasn't unexpected. It will still be interesting to see who chooses to vote against him still,

It'll be those that aren't occupying committee chairs.

He gives those to democrats anyway!

[mojo84]

sure they are, but pressure has been building against him since the last session and there are several freshmen reps. You never know who will flip either way.

In my opinion, it's going to take more than a few freshmen to get Straus ousted as speaker and even more to get him out of the house. The guy is entrenched pretty well. I am well aware of several groups working hard to find a chink in his armor. Not saying it can't be done but it won't be easy and isn't likely.

Apparently not enough flippers and freshmen showed up.

Yea, it's aggrevating, but like I said, he wasn't really in serious danger of not getting the gavel again it wasn't unexpected. It will still be interesting to see who chooses to vote against him still,

It'll be those that aren't occupying committee chairs.

He gives those to democrats anyway!

Are you saying no Republicans get chairmanships? I believe some of his RINO cronies do.

[paxton25]

sure they are, but pressure has been building against him since the last session and there are several freshmen reps. You never know who will flip either way.

In my opinion, it's going to take more than a few freshmen to get Straus ousted as speaker and even more to get him out of the house. The guy is entrenched pretty well. I am well aware of several groups working hard to find a chink in his armor. Not saying it can't be done but it won't be easy and isn't likely.

Apparently not enough flippers and freshmen showed up.

Yea, it's aggrevating, but like I said, he wasn't really in serious danger of not getting the gavel again it wasn't unexpected. It will still be interesting to see who chooses to vote against him still,

It'll be those that aren't occupying committee chairs.

He gives those to democrats anyway!

Are you dating no Republicans get chairmanships? I believe some of his RINO cronies do.

No, I was trying to be humorous. Of course a RINO is pretty much a democrat so I guess that is still true!

[Bladed]

Looks like it is a lock. https://www.texastribune.org/2014/11/18 ... ry-likely/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Here is another good article: http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/ ... asty.html/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[mojo84]

Some insight on Joe.
http://www.empowertexans.com/features/t ... us-record/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[LDB415]

Perhaps someone needs to start now toward winning the seat in district 121 two years from now. Waiting for him to age out is going to leave us suffering for decades.

[mojo84]

There are some really smart wealthy influential people working on it. However, there are some really smart wealthy influential people working to make sure he gets reelected. They have vested interests in making sure he stays in office until he decides to move on to bigger better things.