EL PASO -- Debra Medina, a GOP gubernatorial candidate running a difficult primary race against two incumbent Republicans, visits El Paso for the first time today to learn the views of business leaders and residents on topics such as property taxes and illegal immigration.

The former Wharton County Republican Party chairwoman will host a town hall meeting at the West Side Regional Command Center, at 4801 Osborne.

Medina said she was eager to interact with locals to do an assessment of the border issues, interstate commerce, military and education problems troubling El Paso.

"Before I start throwing things out, I'm going to ...

Texas and our nation have been richly blessed by immigrants from every land, race, and culture.  It is their assimilation into our uniquely American culture that has formed us into “one nation, under God” and made America the envy of the world.  Embracing those willing to work hard for a better life has strengthened us as a nation and a state, deepened our sense of national pride, and promoted ingenuity and our tremendous economic success.  On balance, Texas and America have been good to immigrants, and immigrants have been good for us.

Following our initial birth pains, Texas has historically been a great neighbor to Mexico.

As the flu season approaches...and news about flu vaccine captures headlines, we'd do well to consider the facts. The sentiments that I offered last April still hold.

I was a freshman in high school during the last swine flu panic. Remember those who forget history are destined to repeat it. So here’s the story: In 1976 an army recruit at Fort Dix said he felt tired and weak. He died the next day and four of his fellow soldiers were later hospitalized. The vaccine program implemented by public health officials resulted in 25 deaths.

As a health care professional, I know it’s important to provide objective information and calm reassurance in the face of medical crisis.

The question, Governor Perry, is NOT whether or not Cameron Todd Willingham was a “bad” man. The question sir is whether or not justice was served? Was he guilty of the crime that resulted in his execution? You are not jury and judge! You are, for the moment, our governor whose job it is to see that our laws are faithfully executed.

Your behavior is beyond reprehensible. Your action here adds to the mounting body of evidence that you give lip service to life and have repeatedly abused your office and the public trust.

In Feb. 2007, Texans learned that children placed under the state’s care had suffered sexual abuse at the hands of employees of the Texas Youth Commission.

The controversy swirling around the Cameron Todd Willingham case has caused all eyes to focus on the question of the death penalty in Texas. But the real question is justice. It is the principal role of government to insure justice and in doing that to protect innocent life. While I will agree that there are some crimes so heinous the death penalty is the only just punishment, we must protect innocent human life. That means suspending the sentence where evidence indicates that there is a shadow of doubt. Governor Perry apparently had the opportunity to do that in this case. He chose not to.

And now five years later just as evidence is to be presented to the Texas Forensic Science Commission the governor has gutted the panel.

What country can preserve its liberties if its rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms." -- Thomas Jefferson to William Stephens Smith, 1787.

The resignation of Tina Benkiser from the Republican Party of Texas provides a great opportunity for Texas Republicans to begin to right the ship.  While the proper purpose of a political party is to support its grassroots in making its platform a reality, grassroots activists in Texas have become acutely aware that, in many ways, our party has been little more than a vehicle to rubber stamp the actions of leaders and officials obstinately pursuing absolute power and maintenance of the status quo.

In a world moving more and more rapidly towards globalization, perhaps we’d do well to review exactly what insures freedom.  What is it that makes one free?  What sets a free man apart from one enslaved? 

Do we still hold these truths to be self evident, “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

I haven’t previously paid much attention to the candidacy of Debra Medina, of Wharton, for the Republican nomination for governor, but when the Rasmussen poll shows Hutchison ahead of Perry by 2% and Medina gets 3%, perhaps it’s time to pay attention. This race is fertile ground for a wild-card candidate to be a game-changer. First, as the numbers already show, Medina could throw Perry and Hutchison into a runoff. Second, because Perry and Hutchison despise each other, and because each is going to try to destroy the other, the two leading candidates are likely to be bloodied and unattractive come March 2. Medina will be the way for voters to register a “neither of the above” vote. Third, Medina is a disciple of Ron Paul.

Campaign manager responds to new Rasmussen poll
“The good news just keeps coming! The fact that we’re on the map with a polling organization like Rasmussen, it’s a clear indication that this campaign is already making a difference. We’ve got lots of time for people to find out who Debra Medina is and we see very high levels of excitement everywhere she speaks. When was the last time Texans got excited about politics? This is our time. Here we stand and here we will fight.

Rick Perry and Kay Bailey Hutchison continue to blame each other for the problems facing Texans in their individual quests to maintain and extend their established positions of political power.

In their latest clash, Hutchison has criticized Perry for taking long overdue action to secure the Texas border against the continuing problems of illegal immigration and related border violence.

DALLAS, TX Friday September 4, 2009 – Campaign Manager, Penny Langford Freeman announces Debra Medina will officially launch her campaign for Governor of Texas at the Westin Galleria Hotel located at 13340 Dallas Pkwy in Dallas, Texas on Saturday, September 12, at 9:30 AM.

“It is with great pride and excitement that I announce the candidacy of a true Texas conservative,” says Penny Langford Freeman.