Hard Hitting Conservative Commentary by Gary M. Polland
Volume XXIV Number 7 – August 4, 2025
Thoughts This Fortnight
By Gary Polland
Publisher and Editor-in-Chief
HOBBY CENTER POLL DEMONSTRATES THAT
HARRIS COUNTY IS ON THE WRONG TRACK
The recently released UH Hobby Center poll reveals that 57% of Harris County residents polled think we are on the wrong track. Harris County government for the past seven years has been run by left wing Democrats. Clearly residents are not better off. This creates an opportunity in the 2026 election, if the Republican party can field quality, well-financed candidates. Currently, the field of candidates is forming. The big question is will we get what we need. Harris County’s future is on the line.
LESSONS FROM THE ARGENTINAN MIRACLE
The progress in Argentina’s economy after decades of stagnation and high inflation is remarkable. President Milei has done a remarkable job. In around 20 months he has axed the fiscal deficit, cut the number of government agencies from 18 to 8, deregulated key parts of the economy, eliminated rent controls among other things, & reduced inflation from over 100% on a yearly rate to below 24%. The economy is projected to grow at 5.5% in 2025. It is an economic miracle generated by a commitment to free market economics.
The lesson for us is a commitment to a free-market economy can jump-start our economy and with tax simplification and getting control of government spending we can get the kind of growth that benefits all.
THROW OUT THE INTERLLECTUAL IDIOTS
By Brian Ettinger
Guest Columnist
We elect intellectual idiots as our government officials. The House and Senate are full of them. It is both Democrats and Republicans as they share in this issue. Currently more Democrats than Republicans, but it can change. These individuals have formal education degrees but are blinded by their hate for the other party’s representatives and promote ridiculous viewpoints. This includes the morons in the media, and it is at the point of people doing criminal acts in the name of peaceful protest or these elected officials encouraging it that individuals will be hurt, killed and property and businesses destroyed. Everything is a resistance and who cares about the cost as long as my viewpoint wins. So again, I am pushing for Public Elected or Judges Appointments to have term limits. 1) House of Representatives: 3 two-year terms with a set limit of campaign funding, no $10 million dollars or more for this office. Limit PAC, media and fund raising to a total of $1 million dollars. 2) Senators: elected 2 six-year terms. Campaign funding limits to $5 million dollars, no soft money, PAC’s or free advertisements. These limits are for statewide office holders. 3) All Judges appointed under the federal government system for 10 years and the term is terminated 4) Supreme Court 12 years and done. Get rid of all lifetime appointments. 4) President and Vice President: one term 6 years no agenda reelection on a presidential campaign as need to take the money and special interest and lobbyist out of this process. No more spending a billion plus dollars as this money corrupts our government. If these elected and appointed officials cannot get their agenda done within the time frame laid out above, then they are useless. Our federal government needs to not be stale and needs fresh ideas. Right now, we can take 435 plus another 100 off the street and replace the current intellectual idiots in Congress and the Senate and they could not do a worse job than we have in office. To hear some of the statements from these elected officials, including the media, shows how incompetent, hateful, have no respect for each other, promote harm if we do not agree with their point of view and encourages violence and they need to be held accountable. So, it is time to throw them all out of office. Lastly our education system has been broken for over last 50 years with the teacher’s union and post-Vietnam left-leaning teachers and professors and if we do not do a total revamping of this system, we will be educating more intellectual bias idiots. Our elected leaders need to have more compassion and kindness as the public steps up on all natural disasters and shows their kindness. All these elected officials do is make up absurd statements for their political agendas. Just food for thought.
Political and Campaign Newswire
By Marc Cowart
Managing Editor
A SUMMARY OF KEY BILLS FILED IN THE SPECIAL SESSION
Bills filed in the 1ST Special Session (July 21-August 19, 2025) of the 89th Texas Legislature include:
- Natural Disaster Response & Flood Relief:
- SB 1 (Sen. Charles Perry): Related to natural disaster preparation and recovery.
- SB 2 (Sen. Paul Bettencourt): Focuses on improving flood emergency communications and warning systems.
- SB 3 (Sen. Joan Huffman): Provides relief funding for the Texas Hill Country, impacted by recent floods.
- THC Products Regulation:
- SB 5 (Sen. Charles Perry): Addresses the regulation or banning of consumable hemp products containing THC. (A previous version of the bill was vetoed by Abbott, who sought regulation rather than a ban).
- Congressional Redistricting:
- SB 4 (Sen. Phil King): Aims to provide a revised congressional redistricting plan to address constitutional concerns raised by the U.S. Department of Justice.
- Other key legislation:
- SB 7 (Sen. Mayes Middleton): Protecting women’s privacy in sex-segregated spaces.
- SB 8 (Sen. Paul Bettencourt): Eliminating the STAAR test.
- SB 9 (Sen. Paul Bettencourt): Cutting property taxes.
- SB 10 (Sen. Tan Parker): Aimed at protecting human trafficking victims.
- SB 11 (Sen. Bryan Hughes): Legislation related to the Attorney General’s election prosecution powers.
- SB 12 (Sen. Mayes Middleton): Seeking to ban taxpayer-funded lobbying.
- SB 13 (Sen. Charles Perry): Creating incentives for water conservation projects.
- SB 14 (Sen. Phil King): Addresses personnel records for law enforcement.
- SB 15 (Sen. Royce West): Focuses on title theft and deed fraud protection.
- SB 16 (Sen. Bryan Hughes): Covers aspects of the state’s judicial department administration.
SPECIAL ELECTION SET FOR HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL
AT‑LARGE 4 SEAT THIS NOVEMBER
On November 4, 2025, Houston voters will head to the polls in a special election for the City Council At‑Large Position 4. The vacancy was created after Council Member Letitia Plummer resigned on July 8, 2025, following her announcement that she’s entering the Democratic primary for Harris County Judge in 2026. Plummer’s announcement triggered the resignation, but she will continue to hold the city council seat until a successor is elected.
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo has not yet indicated whether or not she will seek re-election. In addition to Plummer, former Houston Mayor Annise Parker has also announced that she will seek the Democratic nomination for Harris County Judge.
Announced candidates include:
- Attorney Alejandra Salinas
- Former Houston City Councilmember Dwight Boykins
- Al Lloyd
- Obes Nwabara
The deadline to file for the seat is August 18, 2025.
TCR TO BEGIN INTERVIEWING CANDIDATES
The Texas Conservative Review will soon begin interviewing prospective candidates for the November 4, 2025 and March 3, 2026 Republican Primary elections for potential endorsement. Candidates who wish to be considered for endorsement by TCR should schedule an interview by contacting Marc Cowart by phone at 832-282-2175 or by emailing [email protected].
EVENTS CALENDAR
Click link for full details
August 11, 2025 CPAC Houston
August 12, 2025 Pachyderm Club of Northwest Houston
August 12, 2025 Texas Tea Party Republican Women
August 14, 2025 Cypress Republicans Luncheon with Congressman Morgan Luttrell
ELECTION CALENDAR
November 4, 2025 General Election (CD 18 and SD 9 for example)
January 1, 2025: First day to apply for a ballot by mail for any 2025 election
July 19, 2025: First day to file for a place on the November 4, 2025 General Election
August 18, 2025: Last day to file for a place on the November 4, 2025 General Election
October 6, 2025: Last day to register to vote in the November 4, 2025 General Election
October 20, 2025: First day of Early Voting for the November 4, 2025 General Election
October 31, 2025: Last day of Early Voting for the November 4, 2025 General Election
November 4, 2025: Election Day
March 3, 2026 Primary Election
January 1, 2026: First day to apply for a ballot by mail for any 2026 election
September 9, 2025: First day to file for Precinct Chairman for the March 3, 2026 Primary Election
November 8, 2025: First day to file for all other offices for the March 3, 2026 Primary Election
December 8, 2025: Last day to file for a place on the ballot for the March 3, 2026 Primary Election
February 2, 2025: Last day to register to vote in the March 3, 2026 Primary Election
February 17, 2026: First day of Early Voting for the March 3, 2026 Primary Election
February 20, 2026: Last day to apply for a ballot by mail for the March 3, 2026 Primary Election
February 27, 2026: Last day of Early Voting for the March 3, 2026 Primary Election
March 3, 2026: Election Day
May 26, 2026 Primary Runoff Election
April 27, 2026: Last day to register to vote in the May 2, 2026 Primary Runoff Election
May 15, 2026: Last day to apply for a ballot by mail for the May 26, 2026 Primary Runoff Election
May 18, 2026: First day of Early Voting for the May 26, 2026 Primary Runoff Election
May 22, 2026: Last day of Early Voting for the May 26, 2026 Primary Runoff Election
May 26, 2026 Election Day for the 2026 Primary Runoff Election
For information on becoming a candidate on the Republican Primary Election Ballot, visit https://www.harriscountygop.com/run-for-office/
ADVERTISE HERE!
To advertise online or in a printed edition of the Texas Conservative Review, please contact Marc Cowart at 832-282-2175 or email [email protected]
ADDITIONS, CORRECTIONS OR FEEDBACK?
E-mail Marc Cowart at [email protected]
About Your Editor
Gary Polland is a long-time conservative and Republican spokesman, fund-raiser, and leader who served 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 four-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.
