I thought it might be helpful for you to watch “Last Man Standing, Politics Texas Style.

http://www.texastribune.org/stories/2009/dec/29/last-man-standing-part-two/

It is only part of it, but you should probably buy it and watch the whole thing.

The professor that made the documentary teaches at UT. This is his site.

http://www.utexas.edu/lbj/faculty/paul-stekler/

This is a link to Patrick’s site. He was 24 when he won the house seat from Rick Green. http://www.patrickrose.com/issues/

Hope this helps, or is at least encouraging. Good luck in the primary.

Lorraine DeNardis

I thought it might be helpful for you to watch “Last Man Standing, Politics Texas Style.

http://www.texastribune.org/stories/2009/dec/29/last-man-standing-part-two/

It is only part of it, but you should probably buy it and watch the whole thing.

The professor that made the documentary teaches at UT. This is his site.

http://www.utexas.edu/lbj/faculty/paul-stekler/

This is a link to Patrick’s site. He was 24 when he won the house seat from Rick Green. http://www.patrickrose.com/issues/

Hope this helps, or is at least encouraging. Good luck in the primary.

Lorraine DeNardis

@Colin: Yeah, I see your point, looking out for potential buzzwords is a good idea. I was crushed by word limits unfortunately, but I hope that future LWV guides might give us some more space…

@Colin: Yeah, I see your point, looking out for potential buzzwords is a good idea. I was crushed by word limits unfortunately, but I hope that future LWV guides might give us some more space…

Well done for choosing to run. I wish you the best of luck!

My critiques would only be slight, as I think you’ve generally did a great job answering these questions.

In general, people voting always want practical solutions that speak to them. Debra Medina has done this well by focusing on her property tax point. In other words – she’s not all ideology. You have done this well in answering the question about CO2 with specific examples.

This next one may be a little controversial, but I would avoid certain buzzwords that have a negative connotation with one side of the spectrum. As a libertarian, you are looking to draw from elements of the right and left. So words like “private” and “free-market” are an anathema to many on the left who would support you if you didn’t use words that sound so republican (to them, obviously we would jump for joy if the GOP supported anything like free-markets!). I find that rather than “privatise” you might use words that emphasis local control – community, individuals, regular people. And I think this is the same with “free-market” – which is defined by choice – so maybe something like: “the government should work in every way to reduce its own spending, thereby allowing the the innovative and resourceful community and business leaders in Texas to adjust resources and capital toward creating new jobs without interference by the government.” That’s a really quick, pandering example, but welcome to politics!

I realise that you have limited word count for these things, but those are a few suggestions from me. Again, well done for running!

Well done for choosing to run. I wish you the best of luck!

My critiques would only be slight, as I think you’ve generally did a great job answering these questions.

In general, people voting always want practical solutions that speak to them. Debra Medina has done this well by focusing on her property tax point. In other words – she’s not all ideology. You have done this well in answering the question about CO2 with specific examples.

This next one may be a little controversial, but I would avoid certain buzzwords that have a negative connotation with one side of the spectrum. As a libertarian, you are looking to draw from elements of the right and left. So words like “private” and “free-market” are an anathema to many on the left who would support you if you didn’t use words that sound so republican (to them, obviously we would jump for joy if the GOP supported anything like free-markets!). I find that rather than “privatise” you might use words that emphasis local control – community, individuals, regular people. And I think this is the same with “free-market” – which is defined by choice – so maybe something like: “the government should work in every way to reduce its own spending, thereby allowing the the innovative and resourceful community and business leaders in Texas to adjust resources and capital toward creating new jobs without interference by the government.” That’s a really quick, pandering example, but welcome to politics!

I realise that you have limited word count for these things, but those are a few suggestions from me. Again, well done for running!