October 5, 2001

Texas Eagle Forum News & Notes

BLAIR: SURRENDER TERRORISTS OR SURRENDER POWER
In a speech to his Labor Party, British Prime Minister Tony Blair positioned Britain with the U.S. and warned Afghanistan’s Taliban regime that it must “surrender the terrorists or surrender power.” He said, “Be in no doubt, bin Laden and his people organized this atrocity. The Taliban aid and abet him. He will not desist from further acts of terror. They will not stop helping him. What ever the danger of the action we take, the dangers of inaction are far, far greater.” Saying that nothing could ever justify the events of September 11, and to ignore it would turn justice on its head, Blair continued, “There is no compromise with those people, no meeting of the minds, no point of understanding with such terror. Just a choice: defeat it or be defeated by it. And defeat it, we must.”

Source: CNN.com, 10/2/01

PRESIDENT BUSH BACKS PALESTINIAN STATE
In an attempt to shore up Arab support for a U.S.-led anti-terrorism, President Bush endorsed the creation of a Palestinian state saying that it had “always been part of a vision” for Middle East peace. But a Sharon aide warned that the U.S. endorsement could be perceived as a reward for the terrorist attacks. Gary Bauer agrees, “This is a stunning suggestion in the light of America’s ‘war’ on terrorism, which only adds confusion of our foreign policy and brings into question the advice the President is receiving from some key members of his team. It not only represents a shift in our relationship with Israel but suggests that the ‘war on terrorism’ may become compromised. Yassir Arafat and his Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) support the very evil that America and the rest of the civilized world are supposedly fighting. Yet in the aftermath of September 11, we reward him and the PLO by suggesting that we will honor their demands for statehood. Such action can only serve to embolden the most radical elements of Islamic terrorism.”

Source: Gary Bauer End of the Day fax, 10/3/01 & USA Today, 10/3/01

HOMELAND SECURITY TASK FORCE FORMED
Governor Rick Perry is forming a state task force on homeland security, which will study state security as well as identifying terrorist threats before they are carried out. Perry said there are no known threats against Texas, but the state should be prepared. Texas Land Commissioner David Dewhurst, a former CIA agent and former U.S. State Department official, will lead the 18-member Task Force, with former FBI Director William Sessions as his vice-chair.

Source: The Dallas Morning News, 10/3/01

DEWHURST TO RUN FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
A day after being named the state’s Homeland Security Chairman, David Dewhurst announced plans to stay in the race for the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor. He had seriously considered running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Republican Phil Gramm. “Let me make it clear,” said Mr. Dewhurst, “I remain a candidate for lieutenant governor and I intend to win.”

Source: The Dallas Morning News, 10/3/01

CRADDICK AND OTHERS ANNOUNCE CANDIDACY FOR SPEAKER
Longtime Republican State Rep. Tom Craddick announced his candidacy for Texas Speaker of the House, promising to “guide the House with a fair, even hand.” The Midland businessman said the 33 years of service in the House qualifies him to lead the 150-member body. Other announced candidates include the incumbent Democrat Pete Laney, and Republicans Edmund Kuempel and Brian McCall. Republican Kim Brimer is also a possibility as he is considering a race for either the state senate or the speakership. Democrats currently hold 78 House seats; Republicans hold 72. However, a redistricting plan should give Republicans as many as 90 seats after the 2002 elections.

Source: The Dallas Morning News, 10/3/01, & Quorum Report, 10/3/01

CUELLAR QUITS AS SECRETARY OF STATE
After less than a year on the job, Secretary of State Henry Cuellar shocked the Governor’s office when he abruptly announced that he is resigning immediately and considering a race for statewide office. Mr. Cuellar said he did not want to jeopardize the neutrality of the office of secretary of state, which oversees elections, as he contemplates a political bid of his own. It was not clear what race Mr. Cuellar, the highest ranking Hispanic in the Perry Administration and a Democrat, would seek. If, however, current drawn congressional districts are allowed to stand, Cuellar would be a likely candidate for a new border district.

Source: The Dallas Morning News, 10/3/01

DAVIS PICKS RATLIFF MAP FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS
State District Judge Paul Davis, a Democrat, ordered on Oct. 3 that Lt. Gov. Bill Ratliff’s congressional redistricting plan be implemented for the 2002 elections with only slight modifications. Royal Masset of the Quorum Report writes, “There is no GOP victory in Davis’ map. Assuming all incumbents run, all, except for Bentsen who was paired and Green who is history, will win and the Democrats will win two of the three open seats. After the 2002 election, Texas will have 15 Republican and 17 Democrat Congressman. This map is not a Republican victory. It is very much an incumbent protection map.” Judge Davis has given all parties in the lawsuit until October 9 to submit their objections and proposed changes to his plan.

Source: The Lone Star Report, 10/5/01 & Quorum Report, 10/3/01

CLINTON BARRED FROM SUPREME COURT
The Supreme Court suspended former president Bill Clinton from practicing law at the court and gave him 40 days to offer a reason he should not be permanently disbarred. Though the justices’ order was routine, arising from the Arkansas Supreme Court’s suspension of Clinton’s law license last year, it marks the first time a president has been disciplined by the high court. There was no immediate response from the former president, who was traveling abroad.

Source: USA Today, 10/2/01

GAY REPUBLICAN WINS VOTE ON “DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIPS”
Congress approved the 2002 Washington, D.C. House Appropriations Bill, including an amendment introduced by avowed homosexual Rep. Jim Kolbe (R-AZ) allowing the use of D.C. funds, for the first time ever, to support domestic (i.e. homosexual) partners. He offered this amendment despite the fact that all the other Appropriations Committee members chose not to offer any controversial or divisive amendments due to the recent tragedy. Rep. Dave Weldon (R-FL) countered with an amendment to strike the Kolbe Amendment, but it failed.

Source: Free Market Foundation’s Weekly Issues Alert, 9/28/01

Editor’s Note: Rep. Kolbe was the first openly homosexual to ever address a Republican National Convention. He was hand-picked by then-Governor George W. Bush to address the 2000 Republican National Convention in an attempt to show that the Republican Party and George W. Bush were “tolerant” of the homosexual lifestyle. Grassroots Republicans were outraged as the Republican Platform explicitly states that homosexuality is immoral.

HATE CRIMES STATISTICALLY RARE
Crimes motivated by hatred for a person’s race, religion or other characteristics remain an extremely small percentage of all offenses, according to the Justice Department’s Bureau of Justice Statistics. According to the report, there were 2,976 hate crimes reported to the FBI between 1997-1999. That represents a tiny fraction of 1% of the nation’s 5.4 million crimes reported over the three years.

Source: Washington Times, 10/1/01

LIBRARIES PROMOTE “BANNED BOOKS WEEK”
The American Library Association observed its 20th annual “Banned Books Week” September 22-29 with the theme, “Develop Yourself: Expose Your Mind to a Banned Book.” The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom received 646 challenges in 2000, up from 472 in 1999. “Banned Books Week serves to raise awareness about censorship and remind Americans that our freedoms can be fragile if we are not vigilant in protecting them,” said Judith Krug, director of the Office for Intellectual Freedom.

The most frequently challenged books in 1999-2000 include the “Harry Potter” series for occultism/Satanism and anti-family themes, “Heather Has Two Mommies and “Daddy’s Roommate” for homosexual content and anti-family themes, the “Alice” series for sexual content and being unsuited to age group, “The Chocolate War” for violence, offensive language and being unsuited to age group, and “Fallen Angels” for offensive language, racism and violence.

“We all cherish our First Amendment freedoms,” says Dick Carpenter of Focus on the Family, “but parents who dare to speak up when their children are assaulted with sexually explicit and violent material are not ‘censors’ and most definitely not what the ALA calls ‘threats’ to intellectual freedom.”

Source: ALA website and Family Research Council Ed Facts, 9/28/01

FEW DOCTORS OFFER ABORTION PILL RU-486
In a physician survey released this week, the Kaiser Family Foundation found that only 6% of gynecologists and 1% of general-practice doctors are providing the abortion pill, RU-486 or mifepristone, to induce medical abortions. The proportion was highest—12%--among gynecologists who perform surgical abortions. Laura Echevarria, spokesperson for the National Right to Life Committee, called the survey “good news.” NFRL has argued that RU-486 is dangerous because it can cause excessive bleeding. But reproductive health experts say it is only a matter of time before more physicians begin offering the drug because it has been available in the USA only since last November. Planned Parenthood President Gloria Feldt said that 96 out of 150 Planned Parenthood Federation of America clinics that provide surgical abortions also offer RU-486, and she hopes all will eventually.

Source: USA Today, 10/1/01

VACCINES MAY POSE MERCURY HAZARD FOR CHILDREN
Infants and children should not get vaccines with the mercury-containing preservative thimerosal, says an Institute of Medicine (IOM) report issued on Oct. 1. The report found no scientific proof that the small doses of thimerosal caused any harm, yet the panel couldn’t dismiss possible problems related to thimerosal. Thimerosal contains ethylmercury, a form of heavy metal mercury that at high levels can lead to neurological problems. Manufacturers routinely used thimerosal in vaccines starting in the 1930s. In 1999, some scientists grew concerned that low levels of ethylmercury in vaccines might add up and cause neurological problems in children. To be on the safe side, the FDA asked manufacturers to take thimerosal out of their vaccines. They did so, and by mid-2000, thimerosal-free vaccines were available. The IOM panel says parents should ask (i.e. insist) their child be given thimerosal-free vaccines.

Source: USA Today, 10/2/01

YOUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK!
Six University of Texas researchers are getting $8 million in federal grants to study why people drink too much alcohol. The money will fund laboratory studies on how alcohol affects brain functioning.

Source: USA Today, 10/3/01

Please contact us if you would like to request information, or place a friend on our e-mail list.

Phone: 972-250-0734
Fax: 972-380-2853
web: www.texaseagle.org