As you are well aware, my life experience is one that regards the liberty of conscience in opposition to the tyranny of groupthink second only to the gift of life as Creator endowed rights. Your right to your opinion has no greater defender than myself.

We live in a contentious age because there is so much at stake in regards to the future of our community, state, and nation. Political passions run high, but I believe, unless those passions are secondary to those enlightened principles that established our nation we do damage to ourselves, each other, and our movement.

Consider this particular skirmish to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Rep. Fred Brown. The Texas Tea Party movement stood in opposition to Texas Speaker of the House, Joe Straus’ method of achieving power. Straus’ method subverted the will of the people.

Appreciation of this grievance and the constitutional principle upon which this grievance was based was not always practiced by those vetting candidates in the heavily contested special election. The result of that election, by not addressing the principle fueling the grievance, only intensified the grievance. The Texas Tea Party movement’s resolve remained and Joe Straus currently faces a primary challenger. [note: please urge friends and family in San Antonio to vote in this primary!]

Therefore, our current disagreement is in direct response to an insufficient vetting of those previous special election candidates which ignored or distanced itself from a necessary discussion about constitutional principles and the personal integrity of representatives of the people.

I know that we certainly agree that only by first applying those principles can the most providential choice be made regarding current issues. Further, I know we are in complete agreement that in keeping with those principles, we come to the conclusion that a government which governs least, governs best. Hence our celebration of conservatism.

Total agreement is an attempt to immanentize the eschaton. [ my current mulling topic..grin] Man-made heaven is hell. I know, I have the t-shirt….hahah!

Compatriots forever.
Nancy Coppock
Bryan/College Station Tea Party

Re. our disagreement in this race, we should’ve been more detailed on our thinking. We’ve added some info on our site; hope it helps explain.

I certainly don’t want any misunderstandings, either. Nancy, you and me are friends and VERY passionate individuals, and we are in a tough time politically and culturally. We are on the same side of this war, and sometimes catch each other in the crossfire. I hope it is clear in my post that I am confused by and disappointed in the ACTION, not the ACTOR.

I am an angry critic. I take things personally, quickly. I’m working on that, and I also know that you and Nancy take my words to heart as an opportunity to see a perspective that may not be obvious. I want the BCS Tea Party to succeed, and with every passing da it becomes more of a player and therefore more of a target. Maybe I’m not helping by pointing out what seems to me to be a discrepancy – and the only one I see with the organization – but better now from me than when others occurrences may pile up inadvertently and become fodder for a less-conscientious soul.

Thanks as always for chiming in and following!

Kristofer, sorry about this misunderstanding. So readers know, as comment moderator (and, full disclosure, I am Nancy’s husband) I wanted to suggest some changes to Nancy’s reply from 3:40pm yesterday and I didn’t want Kristofer’s subsequent response to no longer appear connected. I temporarily removed them both and emailed Kristofer’s back to him, asking him if it would be okay for him to resubmit his response.

But we don’t want anyone thinking we’re hiding or revising history, so I’ve simply reposted the two original comments. Thanks for everyone’s understanding on this.

Subscribers and commenters may get my take in my newsletter, though.