Search Results

Professor Pape: Iran War Not Over, Trump TRAPPED . The President has us in the middle of a dangerous war and both parties in Congress are still playing partisan politics. Get involved, folks. Thanks to the Texas Tribune, for this excellent article, " Texas is giving data centers more than $1 billion in tax breaks each year ." After you read it, don't mourn, organize with LIV! More below. We missed this notice in our last email about a hearing in the Texas House on Data Centers: Tomorrow, Thursday, April 9, at 10 am you can attend or watch online the Texas House State Affairs Committee Hearing . If you miss it, watch it later HERE . This hearing is for invited testimony, but you can submit comments before the hearing closes. HEARING NOTICE HERE . Reminders : Bastrop; Dems are holding their own forum on data centers tomorrow night at 6:30 in person and streamed. Details HERE . LIV has been doing our own research and will hold a forum " Data Center Dance " on Zoom next Monday night, April 13 @8 pm. Details HERE . (Revisit the event page over the weekend for additional information. We're also working on having a special guest.) Visit our Events page for important events this Saturday, April 11, ( Texas Forward Party Convention ) and the Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity event in Lake Jackson on Saturday, August 25. Texas is giving data centers more than $1 billion in tax breaks each year

"Where is he?" asks US Rep. Brendan Boyle about Russell Vought , OMB Director. Watch the 4-minute video or read the transcript HERE . Breaking : Just as we learned about the President's Easter Day unhinged profanity-filled Truth Social post HERE , we finished the following article. His post makes this article all the more urgent for us to keep our eyes on the prize. Hop on Zoom tonight to talk strategy for independents. RSVP Keep Your Eyes on the Prize, folks! Why has Russell Vought , the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) been missing for 15 months? It's a simple question posed by a member of the House Budget Committee, Congressman Brendon Boyle. The OMB is a key member of the Executive Branch and the President's cabinet. Its mission stated on its website is to , " assist the President in meeting his policy, budget, management and regulatory objectives and to fulfill the agency’s statutory responsibilities." What might trump (pardon the pun) the Epstein scandal, and even the massively destructive war with Iran -- chosen by the President and Bibi Netanyahu, not the U.S. Congress -- is the $40T federal debt. The Problem : Reminder: the Pentagon has failed its last 8 audits. Most Americans have no idea who Russell Vought is, what the OMB's function is, or even how dangerous to our economy are the raids by the so-called "military industrial complex" that now demands a massive increase in military spending (Politico) and cuts to domestic programs and services. (See the president's ill-timed rant about how he's too busy fighting wars to worry about childcare. HERE .) The Real Problem : Millions of Americans simply do not trust their political leaders stuck in the swamp of two-party politics. Therefore, the country is also stuck in a nightmare of confusion, war and fiscal madness, as the world is watching, and hating, us. The Solution Organize, educate and mobilize the 45% independent nonaligned voters to peacefully intervene to demand President Trump apologize and reverse course in Iran, resign or face impeachment . Third time is a charm. Russell Vought is missing alright and so are we, the American people.

March 31 Gallup Poll on the U.S. job market HERE : "The Data: In Q4 2025, 19% of college-educated workers said it was a good time to find a quality job, compared with 35% of workers without a college degree. The Trend: This marks a reversal from prior years, when college-educated workers were the more optimistic group. In addition, just 19% of Gen Z workers are optimistic about the job market, compared with a third of Gen X workers and 42% of baby boomers." Who is the Trump administration at war with, Iran or the American people? The administration appears headed off the cliff of economic and political suicide, but it doesn't look like most people (including many Congressional Republicans- SEE HERE ) are ready to jump. Keep calling your members of Congress to stop this war disaster. Are you on Social Security? Here's how this affects you. This affects us all: U.S. Tomahawk Hit Naval Base Beside Iranian School, Video Shows In Texas, at the top of LIV's list is water, land and our democracy right here in the USA. First & Foremost for Bastrop & Lee Countians! Take the time to read the Simsboro Aquifer Water Defense Fund (SAWDF) Water Report. Then, take the simple action, as they request on the "DFC Process." We apologize we missed the first date, Apr. 2, but another meeting is on April 16. Full SAWDF Report HERE The big news for all of Texas: It appears that the AI Bubble is beginning to burst • yahoo! finance: Tech Billionaires Are Quietly Rooting for AI Bubble to Collapse • Breaking Points: AI BUBBLE POP? HALF Of Datacenters Delayed/Canceled In the meantime, what do we -- Texas independents -- really have the power to do? We can organize locally. Organize a LIV Hub. We're just getting started with a survey we are testing in the field. We'll talk about it on Monday night as the only "boots on the ground" worth engaging in. Don't Forget These Upcoming Events! Monday, April 6, 8 pm online LIV weekly meeting is now just a weekly meeting. Our speaker has to reschedule for a presentation on the Save America Act. RSVP HERE   Thursday, April 9, 6:30 pm, Kerr Community Ctr : a local Bastrop forum on data centers Andy Wier (Simsboro Aquifer Water Defense Fund) and Elvis Hernandez (General Mgr of the Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District) about the impact of data centers . The small room may necessitate watching the stream on Facebook. Sponsored by Bastrop Democrats. More HERE on our Events page. Saturday, April 11 , LIV members will attend the Texas Forward Party  convention to be held in Austin. Linda Curtis , LIV's "petition queen," is conducting a petition workshop at this event. Sign up to attend this free event HERE . Monday, April 13, 8 pm online LIV weekly meeting , "The Data Center Dance: what's really going on?" LIV active members have been doing our own research on data centers and plans for incentives through tax abatements. RSVP HERE . Saturday, April 18: Come visit our cowgirl trailer at Earth Day in San Marcos at Texas State University, sponsored by the Meadows Center. Volunteers needed to help! Contact us . Saturday, April 25, 8:30 - 1 pm, Lake Jackson, TX , LIV will attend the annual event of the Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity, "War is on War is Back on the Menu". More HERE .

LIV proudly endorses Susanna Ledesma-Woody , for Travis County Commissioners Court, Pct. 4 in the Democratic Primary as the independent voice in this race. Early Voting, May 18 thru May 22 • Runoff Election Day: Tuesday, May 26. Info: HERE   There are only 5 seats on the Travis County Commissioners Court. For nearly 1.4 million people, these officials need to do some serious representing! Precinct 4 (southeast Travis County, which includes a portion of Del Valle) is arguably the most squeezed for resources. Housing prices, and stock, are getting more out of reach for the mainly working-class population.   There is a run-off in the Democratic Primary for this seat between longtime community activist, Susanna Ledesma-Woody , and George Morales III , Precinct 4 Constable, who stepped down to run for this seat. Since there is no Republican running in November, the winner of this runoff will be the next Precinct 4 Travis County Commissioner to be seated in January 2027. Morales is an affable enough guy but keeps claiming that the Democratic Party wants him in this seat. He is claiming it’s his turn .   Hey independents, you know what this is, right? Democratic Party establishment politics. This guy was making $127,266 from the counties’ coffers currently. If he wins this race, which he claims some sort of entitlement to, his salary will be $152,589 per year. Cha-ching!   Let us tell you about Susanna Ledesma-Woody.   Ledesma-Woody started as a community organizer two decades ago, founding the Del Valle Community Coalition to empower the modest-income community of Del Valle by addressing food and healthcare access, education, and a home-ownership “resilience” program and more. She joined the Del Valle ISD Board of Trustees in 2011.   Susanna has never been paid for 20 years of community service.   On the school board, Susanna has made immense changes to better the district in almost every measure of district governance, making her experience far more applicable to the Commissioners Court. Morales headed an office that serves eviction notices, warrants and traffic tickets.   And, as a school board member, Susanna was the only county official  to reject Tesla’s incentive deal, knowing full well working with bad actors would hurt working families. See KVUE HERE  and Austin Chronicle article HERE .   Susanna Ledesma-Woody is a fighter, not an entitled, partisan glad-hander. Nuff said.      Disclosure: I had the pleasure of serving with Ledesma-Woody for eight years on the Del Valle School Board.   Learn more about Susanna, volunteer and give her a donation at here website: https://www.votesusanna.net/ ________________________ Additional Info: Susanna has received the Austin-American Statesman endorsement .

Join us tonight, Monday, March 30, 8 pm for our weekly LIV meeting online. We will focus on the article linked below, "Picking our Favorite Wars" and building LIV Hubs. RSVP HERE In this Edition of LIV News March 30, 2026 • For discussion tonight, Picking our Favorite Wars and LIV Hubs HERE • LIV Endorses Susanna Ledesma-Woody , Runoff for Travis County Commissioner HERE Upcoming Events Tonight, Monday, March 30, LIV Weekly Meeting at 8: RSVP HERE We will discuss our lead article, "Picking our favorite wars." and establishing LIV Hubs . Thursday, April 2, 6:30 pm online, establishing our first LIV Hub , starting in Bastrop County. All members welcome from wherever you are in Texas. RSVP HERE . Monday, April 6, 8 pm online LIV weekly meeting, Guest Speaker Andy Griffith ( OpenBallothq.com ) will discuss his policy paper to be released by LIV this coming Thursday about the Save Act. RSVP HERE Saturday, April 11 , LIV members will attend the Texas Forward Party convention to be held in Austin. Linda Curtis , LIV's "petition queen," is conducting a petition workshop at this event. Sign up to attend this free event HERE . Monday, April 13, 8 pm online LIV weekly meeting , TENTATIVE : "The Data Center Dance: what's really going on?" SAVE THE DATE! Saturday, April 18: LIV will have a booth at the Earth Day in San Marcos at Texas State University, sponsored by the Meadows Center. Volunteers needed to help! Contact us . Saturday, April 25, 8:30 - 1 pm, Lake Jackson, TX , LIV will attend the annual event of the Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity, "War is on War is Back on the Menu". More HERE . LIV Team PS Austinites ! Read THIS Austin Bulldog article. See convention center whistle-blower and "petition queen" (and so much more), Katie Kam run in District 9 in November!

Henry Kissinger said this, according to William F. Buckley • Snopes HERE Today, people across the globe are revisiting (politically speaking) the grave of Henry Kissinger , the deeply hated national security advisor and Secretary of State during the Vietnam war, a colossal mistaken war of choice. Why is it so hard for us to believe we're here again? Short term memory loss? How about our own refusal to face our own failure to get us out of the two-party doom loop? On Saturday, I watched two important talks. One was by John Mearsheimer on Prof. Glenn Diesen 's show excerpted HERE . (Incredible hour version HERE .) I also watched Bernie Sanders' speech at the No Kings rally in St. Paul, MN HERE . John Mearsheimer is always a surprise, though I wouldn’t call it a pleasant one . He says Iran’s refusal to agree to Donald Trump’s “ 15-point demands ”* indicates that Iran believes it holds the cards. He thinks they do as well, stating, “Trump is trapped in his own war of choice,” just as our $39T debt spiral is setting in. The Pentagon  failed its eighth audit in December 2025 , on the heels of U.S. spending $188B on the war in Ukraine . Remember that war of choice -- Ukraine -- by the previous administration? If Trump carries through on his threats, he says, "it will take the world economy off a cliff." Welcome to the two-party doom loop. What Bernie did say in St. Paul is what's most important. Bernie is rarely a surprise, though we appreciate him as the most independent and consistent of the Democrats . About 22 minutes into his speech, he talks about how progressives, moderates and conservatives are united against the war with Iran. True! But, he fails to take it to the independent mat. Let's imagine for a moment if Bernie said something like this: "The Democratic Party has been mistaken by continuing to wage a strictly partisan war against the Republicans in its sole pursuit of political power. Sure, Trump is a big problem and everyone now knows this. But are the Democrats willing to lead the world in the pursuit of peace and diplomacy and how would we do that given our own hypocrisy and warmongering in Ukraine? We must stop picking our favorite wars, sorry." No, he did not say this. But, I would have given my eye teeth to see the response from the 10,000 people in that crowd. Let's talk about what we in America can do to get us out of the madness of picking our favorate wars.

Glenn Greenwald's System Update 3/21/26. Scroll to 29 minutes or read the transcript on Israeli casualties.. Join us tonight online @ 8 pm to discuss this message. Be sure to check out our new website design, a work in progress at LIVTX.org . Then scroll down for our Events page and click on tonight's event to RSVP. Please join LIV, if you haven't as these are members only meetings. BIG WAR NEWS: : Glenn Greenwald's Show on 3/21 about the damage inflicted on Israel casualties we're not hearing about in U.S. mainstream media. Glenn uses to make this claim is here -- it's journalists on the ground and in media: The U.S. and Israel Are Not Winning the War. What Can YOU DO About America's political and debt doom. Contact you members of Congress. tell them: Vote No on the Save America Act. Read our " War Dicks " article, if you haven't yet. AND tell them not a dime more for the audit-failng Pentagon. They should try passing an audit -- they're 7-0 for now. (See LIV article HERE ) Tonight, we'll discuss what Lee Drutman, author of the book, "Breaking the Two-Party Doom Loop," is saying about why a swing to his party (Democrats) as our "solution" will continue the same doom loop that is killing American democracy's future. Drutman is our kind of Democrat -- and independent Dem. More tonight on America's political and debt doom loop ....read this! "I can recognize escalating political hardball is bad for the system. But then I think: what’s more harmful is capitulating to Republican authoritarianism. A little game theory tells me my side should definitely not back down. Much as I might wish for a better party system, I’m operating with my values in the one that we have, not the one I wish we had. In a different system, I might think and feel differently. We all might. And that is precisely my point.  Both parties are flailing, and American democracy is losing legitimacy under the doom loop." Lee Drutman Read the full article linked below and join us tonight. We will talk about what's happening with petition drives underway for independent candidates at the top of the meeting. Doomier and Loopier: Why our two-party system will not – and cannot - self-correct on its own __________________________ Additional Info: Young Turks 3/20/26 show on Tucker Carlson interview with Joe Kent regarding Charlie Kirk , the left and right listening to each other, a good thing. Prof. Jeff Sachs 3/22/26 interview with Judge Napolitano on Trump's 5-day pause, the President is losing touch with reality.

The inimitable George Carlin, 1992. Caution: he practically invented the F-bomb. Breaking News Update, 2/17/26 : Joe Kent , Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, a Trump appointee and real live American patriot, resigned. His letter says it: JOE KENT'S LETTER HERE CALL YOUR MEMBER OF CONGRESS -- after you read this post -- no war and no "Save" act bills to interfere with our mid-term elections. Full Article : In 1992, comic George Carlin  did his infamous bit "Rockets and Penises in the Persian Gulf." Have a laugh, then call your members of Congress because this war is NO JOKE. This March 12 CNBC report , indicates there are thousands of Americans still stranded in the Middle-East, something Sen. Elizabeth Warren  is pushing hard to resolve working with GOP and independent Senators. Meanwhile, the President is pushing for a suite of onerous "voter registration" bills -- the "SAVE Act," the "SAVE America Act," and the MEGA Act (Make Elections Great Again.) So, this week Congress will divert its attention from this dangerous, and unpopular war, to the President's demand for federal interference and voter confusion. Please use the this page at Issue One to oppose this legislation HERE . (Read our note at the bottom as to why Texans, especially, don't need it.*) We, swing voters, do not yet know our power. Call your members of Congress today!  Tell them you want this war ended NOW and to vote no on the SAVE America Act. (Voter ID is fine, but that's not what this is.) Be sure to tell them you are an independent! Backlash on this war across the country is mounting. This includes some in right-wing movement, including   Nick Fuentes who is currently urging voters -- in the mid-terms -- to abandon Trump or to consider voting for Democrats. No kidding ! There's ample evidence offered by Breaking Points ( HERE March 13 ) that the administration is also hiding casualties , long been a practice of war hawks. Thousands of Americans and millions of people -- and the world economy and environment -- are in harm's way. The world is watching. Let's get on it! Don't panic, but DO contact your members of Congress. Contact Your Senators and US Rep HERE . Urge them to pass the War Powers Resolution and to reverse course NOW! Don't believe the war dicks are running America? Read this! The remainder of this message is AI generated and are far more factual than these war clowns, documenting its claims. Here's what we asked Gemini Google on Mach 13th: Are we headed for WWIII and Why Should We Push for the War Powers Act? The Escalation Ladder: From Proxy War to Global Flashpoint The primary argument for the "World War III" comparison isn't just about the intensity of the fighting; it’s about the interconnectedness  of the actors involved. Unlike previous decades, a conflict involving Israel and Iran no longer exists in a vacuum. The Multi-Front Reality:  Conflict has moved beyond the borders of Gaza and Lebanon, involving direct missile exchanges between sovereign nations and disrupting vital global shipping lanes in the Red Sea. The Alliance Block:  We are seeing the solidification of opposing blocs—the U.S. and its Western allies on one side, and a "coalition of necessity" involving Iran, Russia, and North Korea on the other. This mirrors the rigid alliance structures that turned regional disputes into world wars in the 20th century. Economic Contagion:  A full-scale war threatens to collapse global energy markets and paralyze trade, creating domestic hardships far beyond the Middle East. The Case for the War Powers Act In this high-stakes environment, the argument for citizen action centers on Constitutional accountability.  The War Powers Act of 1973 was designed specifically to prevent "mission creep"—where the U.S. slides into a major conflict without a formal debate or a vote from the people’s representatives. Why Your Voice Matters Now: Restoring Checks and Balances:  Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution gives Congress—not the Executive Branch—the power to declare war. Using the War Powers Act forces a public floor debate on the costs, risks, and objectives of military involvement. Preventing Unintended Escalation:  Without legislative oversight, "defensive" deployments can easily become permanent combat roles. A formal vote forces the administration to define exactly what victory looks like. Prioritizing Diplomacy:  By asserting its authority, Congress can signal that the American public prefers a de-escalatory path over an open-ended regional war. Bottom Line:  History shows that the most dangerous wars are those entered by accident or through gradual escalation. By calling your Member of Congress to invoke the War Powers Act, you are demanding that the decision to risk American lives and global stability be made in the light of day, through the democratic process, rather than behind closed doors. Key Information for Your Representative When you call, it’s most effective to keep your request specific: The Request:  Ask them to co-sponsor or support a resolution under the War Powers Act  to limit unauthorized U.S. hostilities. The Reason:  Emphasize that the risk of a regional war turning global requires a transparent, Congressionally-approved strategy. More… The New Global Alignment What began on February 28 as a targeted strike has metastasized. This is not a regional skirmish; it is a collision of global blocs. Economic Warfare:  With oil prices surging past $100 and threatening $200 per barrel, the "front line" is already at every American gas station and grocery store. The Alliance Trap:  As Russia provides intelligence to Tehran and China watches its energy lifelines being severed, the risk of a "horizontal escalation"—where conflict spreads to Europe or the Pacific—is at its highest since 1945. Unprecedented Stakes:  We have moved past proxy battles. We are now seeing direct attacks on U.S. bases and the disruption of 20% of the world’s energy supply. The Constitutional Emergency The War Powers Act of 1973  was created for exactly this moment. It was designed to ensure that the "collective judgment" of both Congress and the President applies to the introduction of U.S. forces into hostilities. As of March 2026, the 60-day "clock" for the President to obtain a formal Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) is ticking. However, the sheer scale of the current operation—which has already cost over $11 billion in its first two weeks—demands an immediate, public floor debate. Why You Must Call Congress Today Members of Congress are often content to stay silent, avoiding the political risk of a "yes" or "no" vote on war. Your phone call changes that. It forces them to do their job. When you call your Representative or Senator, your message should be simple: Demand a Debate:  Under the War Powers Act, Congress must vote to authorize these "major combat operations." Silence is an abdication of duty. Define the Mission:  What is the endgame? Is it regime change, nuclear containment, or a permanent regional presence? The American public deserves to know the "exit ramp" before the quagmire deepens. Prevent Ground Force Escalation:  While the current campaign is largely aerial, the history of the Middle East proves that "boots on the ground" are often the next step. A War Powers Resolution can explicitly bar unauthorized ground invasions. Final Thought:  We are currently witnessing the largest military mobilization of the 21st century. If we do not demand that our elected officials exercise their Constitutional authority now, we may find ourselves in a global conflict that no one voted for, but everyone must pay for. THIS ENDS THE AI GENERATED REPORT ____________________ *How many people who are not citizens try to vote per year in US elections?  Don't buy the false claims going around the internet about this. See SNOPES HERE .

After you watch this brief report, we highly recommend this article in the Big Bend Sentinel, " It's Not Over, Walls Are Still on the Ma p ." Thanks to former Texas Land Commissioner, Jerry Patterson , and MANY others, the plan for a wall through Big Bend, one of the most biodiverse national parks in the country, is getting some reconsideration. But it ain't over 'til the fat lady sings. So start singing, Texans. Jerry asks us to: Email your comments to: bigbendcomments@cbp.dhs.gov Put “Big Bend Barrier System” in the subject line Be polite and be specific Forward this to your friends DO IT NOW Here's Jeff Harper 's (federal budget nerd since Perot '92) letter you can use as an example-- but please, use your own words: Dear DHS Officials, I am writing to register my opposition to a wall being built in the treasured region that is Big Bend. There are far better options for allocating taxpayer dollars in the maintenance of national borders. This approach is woefully impractical, a waste of taxpayer dollars that will do tremendous damage to a national treasure. Please take the proper action for all things concerned. Cordially,Jeff Harper - Texas Love Big Bend, folks? Do it NOW!

We just heard the industry captors are spending big bucks to stop Hawk Dunlap  from getting into the highly likely runoff for Railroad Commission. The RRC is our energy "regulator" that's been in denial for umpteen years about threats to our water, workers and energy costs in Texas especially in the Permian Basin -- West Texas. This is a HOT statewide race that's not getting much attention due to the U.S. Senate slugfest. Please pass this on to folks likely to vote in the Republican primary. Early voting ends Friday, February 27 at 7 pm. Election Day is next Tuesday, March 3. Find your voting locations HERE . LIV's take on Hawk after we reviewed his website HERE  and its claims: Wow! Hawk Dunlap is a genuine blue collar hero, and therefore a dream come true for independent voters. His years of tough and dangerous work in the oil patch in Texas and across the world, makes him uniquely qualified to advocate for regulatory controls on the oil and gas industry to protect workers and our environment. Hawk speaks with passion and precision ( check out his website !) about the shameful result of regulatory capture that has left the Permian Basin rife with orphan and zombie wells that threaten land, water resources and safety. In a 5-way race that includes incumbent, Jim Wright,  a runoff is highly likely. If Hawk is in it, Katy bar the door for a blue collar revolution taking shape in Texas led by Hawk Dunlap! Check out the support Hawk has including major newspaper endorsement, giving plenty of credence to our claim that Dunlap is a genuine blue collar hero.

LIV Logo Howdy LIV! We are having our weekly Monday night online meeting at 8 pm tonight, February 23. RSVP to join us tonight HERE . This is an open meeting. Come prepared to talk about how you can help LIV get better organized. We have a yeoman's task -- to reach out to the 8+ million Texans who call themselves independent! We will share plenty of ideas with you tonight. Also, you can sign up for next week's meeting is on March 2, Texas Independence Day . We will focus on how to petition for independent candidates to get on the ballot. Petitioing starts on March 4, the day after the primary election. (Go to our Events Tab to see both meetings.) The following comments have been sent to the Bastrop County Commissioners Court about a resolution they will consider on the renaming of a road for Charlie Kirk. Please read carefully as we seek peace, understanding and depoliticized governance from all elected officials. Public Comments – Bastrop County Commissioner’s Court, 2/23/26 Linda Curtis for the League of Independent Voters • LIVTX.org • 512.657.2089 Bastrop County Commissioner’s Court, 2/23/26   Greetings Judge Klaus and Commissioners. I am Linda Curtis, one of the founders of the nonpartisan membership association, the League of Independent Voters (LIV).   A LIV member was upset when she heard about the Resolution proposed by Commissioner Glass to ask our State Representative and Senator to move a bill to rename a portion of FM 969 after Charlie Kirk.    I am, like Charlie Kirk, a “free speech absolutist,” not a free speech fair weather friend like we see on both sides of the political aisle too frequently and coming from high places. I am also completely committed to peace, for de-escalation of war (in all its forms) and, I believe Mr. Kirk was moving in this direction which may have precipitated his assassination. So, I am very sympathetic to his following. No one deserves the tragedy that befell Mr. Kirk and his family.   I also think that the proponent of the resolution, Justin Bezner, the new chair of the Bastrop GOP is a very good and very decent man who practices what he preaches, along with his wife, Jen.I do, however, oppose this resolution for the following reason. This court is all Republican, as are our State Rep and State Senator. The Texas GOP has been moving to lockdown one-party rule and it’s already boomeranging. That’s how we wound up with a House Speaker whose main purpose has been to obliterate local control by cities, counties and schools.    Open government is under severe attack just as the freedom of speech that Charlie Kirk was dedicated to. Did I agree with him on his positions? No, but I respected his right to say them, to try to organize around them but not to bring the weight of government behind him to tip the scales for his views or anyone else’s I might agree with. How then should the Court address these sticky wicket issues? Try to get all sides to work out a compromise. If they cannot, then don’t do it — you have far bigger fish to fry than a road name change.   To my friends of all persuasions here in Bastrop County. How do you think we wound up with a subsidized data center with a Peaker power plant to fuel it, that threatens non-attainment in Travis County without a word peeped to the TCEQ from this Court or the all-Democratic Travis County Commissioners Court? Will it raise our rates? Who knows, because our local governments are either afraid to tell us or are denied real information like the rest of us who pay the bills. My message to the Court is simply this. The moment you take office is when your party hat comes off.    It is also time for those on the court to consider stepping down from positions that conflict with a seat on this court. I’m happy to discuss this anytime.    Thank you for your service.

Hawk Dunlap Republican for Railroad Commission to replace Jim Wright, 5-way primary LIV is out to end one-party rule in Texas. Democrats haven't held statewide office since 1992. Most large municipalities are dominated by the Democratic Party. And independents and minor party candidates are largely locked out of the system altogether. This anti-competitive arrangement is not good for small "d" democracy. The Republican and Democratic primaries are underway, as we write with Primary Election Day on Tuesday, March 3rd. On Wednesday, March 4, independent candidates can start petitioning for ballot access. We'll talk more about the independents starting at our next Monday night meeting. Sign up to join us on our Events page . Why LIV recommends these Republican and Democratic Candidates in the Texas Primary. Early voting thru February 27 • Election Day, March 3 HAWK DUNLAP for Railroad Commission (Republican) (pictured above) Wow! Hawk Dunlap is a dream-come-true candidate for Texas voters. He is a genuine working class hero. His years of tough and dangerous work in the oil patch in Texas and across the world, makes him uniquely qualified to advocate for regulatory controls on the oil and gas industry to protect workers and our environment. Hawk speaks with passion and precision about the shameful result of regulatory capture that has left the Permian Basin rife with orphan and zombie wells that threaten land, water resources and safety. In a 5-way race that includes incumbent, Jim Wright , a runoff is highly likely. If Hawk is in it, Katy bar the door for a "blue-collar revolution" led by Hawk Dunlap! Check out the support Hawk has including major newspaper endorsements! Rep. Cody Harris (R-Palestine) running for reelection, TX House District 8 Rep. CODY HARRIS for State Representative (HD 8) Republican Rep. Harris is leading the Texas House Natural Resources Committee on a very difficult quest: a serious overhaul of the state's water policy, including the bugaboo of " Rule of Capture . " After years of work to protect our most precious resource, t's very important to us at LIV that we keep institutional knowledge in place for the 2027 legislative session. Harris also represents an affected district that's been in the news, facing a big attempted "water grab" that even water-rich East Texas can't afford. JAMES TALARICO for U.S. Senate (Democrat) TX Rep. James Talarico , Democrat for U.S. Senate, to replace John Cornyn, running in a 3-way primary James Talarico , as a Texas State Representative, caught our eye years ago when he introduced a bill for redistricting reform. Talarico is liberal meets conservative in this race for U.S. Senate. He is building a big tent. He was also a big hit on the Joe Rogan Show as someone who can appeal to cross-over voters as he speaks to local issues, data centers, the failing school system and for common people. He was a school teacher in a poor district. He is a Presbyterian Seminarian. He will listen to anybody and appeals to our better angels in service of freedom of thought and freedom of religion. Talarico is a great option for Texas Democrats to challenge the Texas GOP's worst instincts as they attempt scare Christians. In fact the 2026 GOP's primary ballot's 10th non-binding proposition simply states, "Texas should prohibit Sharia Law" with no more information provided. KXAN News' report on the "Sharia shuffle" is so helpful HERE . Though we respect Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett , we want to make sure the potential is real for an upset in this Senate seat contest in November. The Democratic nominee will face either current AG Ken Paxton or incumbent Senator John Cornyn running on the Republican ticket. We believe Talarico is the strongest candidate to pull that off because of his independent appeal. MARCOS VELEZ for Lt. Governor (Democrat) Marcos Velez , Democrat for Lt. Gov. to replace Dan Patrick, 3-way primary We like Rep. Vikki Goodwin (D-Austin) who is also in this race. However, we see Velez, a rank-and-file labor leader, as more representative of newly emerging, more progressive, Texas Democratic Party. Can you imagine what it would mean to have someone steeped in labor issues as our Lt. Governor? Dream for a moment. It could happen, especially if Mike Collier runs as an independent in this race. There is no runoff in November so Collier or Velez could take the seat with as little as 34%. MARY ELIZABETH KLENZ for State Representative (Democrat) Dr. Mary Elizabeth Klenz , Democrat for TX House District 17, to replace Stan Gerdes, running in a 3-way primary. Dr. Mary Klenz , a Giddings (Lee County) resident and recently retired OB/GYN, is running hard in three-way race for the Democratic nomination for Texas House District 17 -- Bastrop, Burleson, Caldwell, Lee and Milam counties. She is running on the issues relevant to the district, especially water and affordable rural healthcare. We believe she has the heart and intellect to compete with Republican State Rep. Stan Gerdes or his opponent, Tom Glass, providing serious Democratic competition in November. Please give us your feedback for this article about independents voting in the primaries in the comments section below, and keep an eye out for additional endorsements. Join us on Monday night on Zoom (go to our Events page) and feel free to contact us at contact@livtx.org . LIV is the only membership association for independent, nonaligned voters in the country. Join us!