John Cornyn is the latest example of how the GOP leadership needs a reformation.
As I start this article, John Cornyn is in his first day of lame duck status. The usual suspects (CNN, MSNever, etc.) are salivating over the thought Democrats will finally “Turn Texas Blue.” For context, Texas has not had a state wide office held by a Democrat since 1990. But will these people turn Texas, the reddest of red states, blue? I don’t think so.
Assume James Talarico, the Democratic nominee, wins the election in November, will Texas suddenly be California on the Gulf of America? No. He will be the junior senator from the state. Ted Cruz is not up for 4 years and the other side wide officers are all in a strong position for reelection.
More on the fall elections later. This election shows, again, how the GOP leadership, the “smart people,” cannot stand the party base. Cornyn is the senior senator of the most conservative state in the union and is no conservative. He’s an opportunist who’s been aligned with the moderate leadership of the party since arriving in DC 23 years ago. Cornyn was against border security (called a border wall impractical) and helped get though a Democratic gun control bill in 2022.
In the primary election, John Cornyn ran countless ads of “him and President Trump” closing the border. Hypocritical from a man who said in 2024 Trump’s time “had past” and the party needed to look for another leader. Cornyn was heir apparent to Mitch McConnel as caucus leader and served as whip for him. Seeing how the leadership of the party has consistently failed the voters, that is not a resume enhancement.
I haven’t donated the GOP since 2012 (I do make direct anonymous donations to candidates I support). The Republican establishment, though the party apparatus, is known to support their favorite candidates, those who can “win!” Classic example, in 2010 the RSCC (Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee) supported Charlie Crist against the more conservative Marco Rubio in Florida. After Rubio won the nomination, Crist switched to “independent” and finally to Democrat. Yes, the Republican party “leadership” funded a weak traitorous candidate who switched parties.
Crist, Cornyn, Bill Kennedy of Louisiana. All supported by the party leadership with party funds because they are reliable votes. Not that they will focus on what the voters wanted them to do, but what the party wants them to do. I swear the GOP leadership demands more allegiance than the mob. But they do pay for it. The RSCC put out millions in party funds to support Cornyn in the primary, when they should have left the nomination to the state voters .
Back to Texas, the now junior senator, Ted Cruz, is not liked by the party leadership. But he is supported by the voters (winning the 2024 election by 9 points). We have Ken Paxton facing James Talarico this fall. Money is pouring into Talarico’s coffers from California and New York. Will that be enough to get him the election. I don’t think so.
Mr. Talarico will have a hell of a time running for a statewide office against an experienced politician who has won three elections in Texas. In 2014, Paxton beat his challenger by 20 points and in the “blue wave” of 2018 he won by 3 points. Not to be outdone, he won in 2022 by almost 10 points after a sham impeachment.
Mr. Talarico will have to defend himself from himself. In a highly devout state, calling God “non-binary” does not infuse with himself with the religious voter. He actually spoke of the need to not eat beef, for animal “rights” and “climate change.” Mr. Talarico bragged of a vegan campaign to the people of the largest beef producing state in the country. Not to be outdone, he says God is “pro-choice and the Bible says Mary’s consent was needed before the immaculate conception.
In one of the references I reviewed, I found this point lucent. Emphasis mine:
But his comments on abortion are curious. Maybe Mr. Talarico has a different theory of the Texas electorate than I do, but his use of the Bible to justify abortion seems risky, even considered solely as a political tactic. It seems far more likely to anger rather than persuade voters who care deeply about Scripture.
It’s also hard to see what Mr. Talarico stands to gain politically by making a religious case for access to abortion. In recent years, most state ballot initiatives expanding access to abortion have passed. And since Americans as a whole are less and less religious, why bother making a biblical argument?
Very good point. Mr. Talarico would be better served focusing on other issues (fuel and food costs, illegal immigration) than abortion. Not that he is concerned with those issues. Talarico said he wants a “welcome mat” on our southern border with controlled immigration. But the fact is the Democratic party wants no border and mass amnesty for anyone coming into the United States. He can’t shake that, seeing he is selling himself as a “sane” Democrat.
Now Mr. Paxton has a record to defend, but also to run on. Yes, he was indicted for felonies and impeached by the Texas House. Paxton has legally challenged a very unpopular Biden administration over 100 times in issues such as open borders, oil production and gun rights. Mr. Paxton issued warnings of criminal charges against hospitals that performed “gender affirming care” on minors. Recently Texas Children’s Hospital agreed to stop all such procedures and establish a detransition clinic, as well as terminate five physicians who performed the procedures. These issues are very well supported by Texas voters.
Another point, Paxton was outspent almost five to one by Cornyn in the runoff election. Between the two campaigns, over one-hundred twenty million dollars. Paxton faced George P. Bush in the 2022 attorney general’s election, defeating the son of JEB! in the primary. Our Attorney General is very formidable.
Looking at this last few days, three things I will predict between now and November.
1- The RNCC will be sending emails, texts and snail mail begging me (and millions) for money. They will plead poverty as the elections are approaching fast. And I will be busy shredding mailings and blocking phone numbers and emails. RNCC, maybe you would not be destitute if you had not blown millions on candidates who can’t win, to borrow your phrase. Exaggeration? No. Reportedly the RNCC put tens of millions into the Cornyn campaign so he could get 32% of the vote. If you had not wasted this money like that, you would have money to support candidates who “can win.” Don’t worry, Ken Paxton will be getting money orders from me.
2- “Low-T” Talarico will have a fun time defending his record to the Texas voter. Saying “You can’t call yourself a Christian and destroy God’s creation with greenhouse gases ” will not endear him with the voters of the largest oil and natural gas producer in the United States. Calling women “neighbors with a uterus” and saying boys can periods will be entertaining. People will laugh all the way to the voting booth. Talarico may win a landslide in the Austin area, but that is a small section of the state.
3- Paxton will win by at least a five-point spread. Being aligned with Donald Trump right now carries some weight (fuel prices, the Iran War, etc.). But I think voters will remember just two years ago Texas had an invasion on its southern border, with accompanied human trafficking and narcotics. Texas voters, particularly the Republican base, have had enough of losing nobly to radical Democrats.
The most critical need for the GOP is a reformation in the party leadership. Trump needs clean the house of the people more concerned their next dinner invitation than winning elections. I’ve often said the last few elections have seen the fall of the House of Bush and House of Cheney. Donald Trump must replace the party staffers who pick the “candidates who can win” and give us McCain, Romney, and JEB! If we have aggressive, conservative candidates we will never lose an election. If we continue to nominate milquetoast, the GOP and the nation are lost.
Michael A. Thiac is a retired Army intelligence officer, with over 23 years experience, including serving in the Republic of Korea, Japan, and the Middle East. He is also a retired police patrol sergeant, with over 22 years’ service, and over ten year’s experience in field training of newly assigned officers. He has been published at The American Thinker, PoliceOne.com, and on his personal blog, A Cop’s Watch.
Opinions expressed are his alone and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of current or former employers.
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