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Latest Issue

Hard Hitting Conservative Commentary by Gary M. Polland

Volume XXIV Number 2 – February 12, 2025


Thoughts This Fortnight

By Gary Polland
Publisher and Editor-in-Chief

TRUMP ROLLS EARLY WITH HIS MAGA AGENDA

From TCR, what has impressed us so far in acts by President Trump.

1. Government Diversity Programs

Trump signed an order calling for the elimination of government diversity programs.  That includes the ending of all federal offices and jobs related to DEI.

In a memo released January 21, the Trump administration said all federal DEI office staff would be placed on paid leave by 5:00 pm the following day because their offices were being closed.

The order directs the administration to review which federal contractors have provided DEI training materials to government agencies and revokes the Equal Employment Opportunity Order signed in 1965 by then-President Lyndon B. Johnson.  Trump directed agencies to stop using gender identity or preferred pronouns.

Federal workers have been told to report colleagues who may seek to continue DEI programs.

2. Funding Freeze

The Trump administration issued a memo pausing potentially trillions of dollars in federal aid.

3. Buyout Offers

The Trump administration has offered buyouts to 2 million civilian full-time federal workers.  The “deferred resignation program” would allow federal employees to remain on the payroll through September 30 without having to work in person and possibly having their duties reduced or eliminated in the meantime, according to an email sent to federal employees.

The email gives federal employees until February 6 (now extended by a federal judge) to decide whether to take part.  It instructed interested employees to reply to the email from a government account and type the word “resign.”

4. Cutting the Size of the Federal Workforce

Trump ordered federal workers back to the office full-time and agencies to take steps to halt remote work arrangements.  Approximately between 8-54 per cent federal workers are onsite depending on which survey you believe.

He issued a freeze on federal hiring, except for military, immigration enforcement, national security and public safety jobs.  He reinstated his first-term Schedule F executive order, which would make it easier to fire.

5. Direction Change at Pentagon

Trump has signed orders to remove DEI directives from the military, reinstate thousands of troops who were kicked out for refusing COVID-19 vaccines during the pandemic, and is for ending transgender soldiers.

One of the executive orders signed by Trump said that expressing a “gender identity” different from an individual’s sex at birth did not meet military standards.

6. No Men in Women’s Sports

7. Released all weapons for Israel put on hold by the Biden administration.

8. Using Tariffs to obtain anti-immigration, concessions from neighbor and to assign domestic business enhancement.


CITY OF HOUSTON LOSING STREAK BEFORE
TEXAS SUPREME COURT CONTINUES

With no fault of Mayor John Whitmire, the City of Houston’s losing streak before the Texas Supreme Court continues, Houston lost the Sylvester Turner-inspiredsuits versus the Houston firefighters, the most recent loss on the drainage/infrastructure fee diversion.  The suit was inspired by well-respected engineer Bob Jones.  The City under previous mayors diverted funds from infrastructure improperly.  If you drive around Houston, you will see our crumbling streets and sidewalks, our broken streetlights, faded lane marking, and it goes on and on, so you are not surprised. 

Citizens of Houston have been paying into the drainage/infrastructure fee and gotten little or nothing for it.  It is estimated the city needs to spend an additional $100 million or so this year.  It is a drop in the bucket if we want to catch up; there is a lot to be done.

This is clear, Houston needs its own version of DOGE to reduce fraud, waste and abuse so we can spend what is needed to restore our infrastructure.


TEXAS 2025 PRIORITIES FROM GOVERNOR ABBOTT AND
LT. GOVERNOR PATRICK

Our two key statewide Texas leaders have released their priorities:

The highlights are:

  • Water Infrastructure Investment
  • Removing the Cap on the Rainy-Day Fund to Secure Texas’ Long-term Financial Future
  • Property Tax Relief
  • School Choice
  • Reforming Bail – keeping violent criminals off our streets
  • Stopping Taxpayer Dollars being used for Lobbyists
  • Texas’ Electric Grid Reliability
  • DOGE – Improving Government Efficiency

The agendas are ambitious and helps move Texas forward.


HARRIS COUNTY ELEVATE STRATEGIES SCANDAL – INQUIRING MINDS WANT TO KNOW, WHY THE DISMISSAL?

Observers are wondering why the misuse of official information, tampering with official records regarding the $11 million COVID-19 contract to Elevate Strategies, a one-person firm with strong Democratic ties and little public health experience, ushered through Lina Hidalgo’s office?

So the public needs an explanation.  Why the dismissal?  This was done by normally tough on Democrats, Ken Paxton.  So far, no real explanations have been forthcoming which fuels thoughts of something that does not make sense.


FACT – MASS DEPORTATIONS SAVE $62 BILLION PER YEAR

Lately, Democrats are complaining about the costs of deportation of illegals.  During the Joe Biden administration, the Democrats never met a spending program they did not love.  This is the latest excuse for not securing our borders and not deporting criminal illegals in the country.  Bottom line, it will save us money.


About Your Editor

Gary Polland is a long-time conservative and Republican spokesman, fund-raiser, and leader who completed three terms as the Harris County Republican Chairman. During his three terms, Gary was described as “the most successful county Chairman in America” by Human Events – The National Conservative Weekly. He is in his twenty-eighth year of editing a newsletter dealing with key conservative and Republican issues. For the last twenty-three years, he has edited the Texas Conservative Review. As a public service for the previous 20 years, Gary has published election guides for the GOP primary, general elections, and city elections, all to assist conservative candidates. Gary also for 20 years cohosted Red, White and Blue on Houston Public Media TV 8 PBS Houston, longest running political talk show in Texas history and for the last two-plus years Gary has been a regular commentator on Fox 26-Houston’s “What’s Your Point” airing Sunday’s at 7 a.m. Gary serves on the Board of Directors of American Values, a national pro-family, pro-faith, conservative organization supporting the unity of the American people around the vision of our founding fathers and dedicated to reminding the public of the conservative principles fundamental to the survival of our nation. Gary is a practicing attorney and strategic consultant. He can be reached at (713) 621-6335.

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