Texas provides an interesting microcosm of the 2010 Election cycle...Arabs, Libertarians, incumbents and conservative feminism is evident. by Mark Vogl
(libertarian)
Saturday, January 16, 2010
In Texas, the Democrat's front runner for the governor is Farouk Shami, an immigrant to America from the Middle East, who earned millions and now wants to lead Texas. Shami's entrance into the race chased out two other Democratic contenders before the primary bell even rang.
For the Republicans, it's a race between Governor Rick Perry, US Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson and a little known libertarian/Republican who may be in the race to draw conservative support from Perry. (Remember the Clinton ploy: Perot pulled just enough from Bush to give us Bill and Monica.)
Texas is seen as a solidly red state, and it should be. But ,this year the race for Austin clearly illustrates just how crazy American politics has become, national and state politics are interwoven and impacting each other.
A border state with war like symptoms along the Rio Grande, an economy with strong oil-gas and agricultural sectors, a huge illegal immigrant population intermixed with a centuries' old Mexican-American population, a strong Bible Belt influence and a lack of unions, Texas may be the heart of modern American conservatism. And yes, libertarianism.
The economy in Texas is better than most of the rest of the nation. Real estate never took off in Texas like it did on the coasts , so it didn't collapse when other parts of the nation did.
But a deeper look into Texas might provide insights in to modern national challenges which have not been aired on national talk shows, or in the main stream media.
Texas and the rest of the southwest came to the United States from Mexico. And, there is a significant Mexican population which believes the US southwest should one day return to Mexico. Illegal migrants in Texas do not hide their allegiance to their homeland, they aren't Texans or Americans, and they don't plan to be. 12% of Texas public school students are illegal, and they contribute to the 30% drop out rate. in the state. If you talk with these kids you will quickly come to realize how uncertain their lives are. They talk of their parents plans to return to Mexico, they don't expect to be in Texas for their adult years.
Violence on par with the mid east occurs along the Rio Grande. Farouk Shami, the wealthy "Corzine type" Democratic candidate says the migrant workers need to be accepted, that economic development zones need to be built along the Rio Grande.
Meanwhile in the Republican ranks it is a choice of the lesser evil.
Governor Perry has been a staunch proponent of globalism through his support for the Trans Texas Corridor, a New Jersey Turnpike like autobahn that would lead from Mexico towards Kansas City, opening America's heartland to an influx from Mexico. What's that saying; "If you build it, they will come."
US Senator Hutchinson is no better. A Pro Life supporter of Roe v. Wade, Hutchinson has DC baggage including support of the bail out. Also, teachers are working for Hutchinson looking for a pay raise after election day.
Which brings us to Debra Medina, a libertarian. She was doing great in the debate, ringing all the right conservative bells, until she spoke in favor of legalizing illegal drugs!!!! In this state...that's a killer.
Amazingly, Texans don't have a good choice, they will have to settle...as will most voters in 2010 and beyond. The candidates who will address the issues people are most concerned with, unfortunately also want legal drugs or Gay marriage, or some other oddball social policy. The mainstream candidates are all tied up with special interests and globalism and won't even touch the real issues which are discussed every night at the kitchen table.
The right wing of this nation needs to do a better job of attracting, molding, grooming and lifting conservative candidates. Limbaugh may be right, the fight for conservatives is to take over the GOP...and when they do they need to establish litmus tests like the Democrats have done...there is no Pro Life in the Democratic Party. The GOP should share that clarity on social issues.
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Who is Farouk Shami? The real issue is not necessarily his religion, but his credibility. Are his Public Statements factual or just Beauty Show hype?
Farouk in San Antonio (10/21/09): “I manage business in 106 countries, I have tens of thousands of employees, and we've brought billions of dollars to the state of Texas,” Shami said.
Fact Check:
1) Farouk manufacturers the products and sells them to independent distributors/importers (in US and overseas), who in return sell to the salons. He DOES NOT manage these companies. They are his customers.
2) Likewise the employees of these distributors or the salons which use his products are NOT Farouk’s employees.
Yes, Farouk has done well for himself BUT… He is NOT the sole owner of his companies - Farouk claims (as well documented in many articles and interviews, and then repeated by the media) to be a Billionaire; however he is NOT listed on Forbes List of Billionaires – with his ego, he definitely would make sure that he would be listed if he just could prove it
Farouk claims to be Quaker? Having attended Quaker School does not make Farouk a Quaker – maybe that is all what was available at the time (or even today) for quality education in Ramallah.
Wikipedia: “The Friends School currently serves as the School for the best and the brightest. It is well known to educate the children of Palestinian elites.”
MilitantIslamMonitor: “Guilford College controversy Being Manipulated By CAIR -Quaker school tied to pro terrorist Friends school in Ramallah”
King of Jordan had sent his personal message to Farouk Shami (to a Quaker???) during the last two company conferences – Amman, Jordan (2006) and Cancun, Mexico (2008)
Farouk is a member of and guest speaker to many Muslim organizations
From FaroukforGovernor.com - Meet Farouk – “Mr. Shami and his wife have two sons, both of whom are actively involved in the company. Their union, as strong now as they day they married is a source of pride for Farouk”. – Update: He has now removed any information about the family from his campaign website (since the family members are saying that Farouk is a Muslim), as he has removed any mention about his proud Palestinian heritage from his company website.
Normally one should not bring the family issues into a political campaign; however the above statement from FaroukforGovenor.com is intended to provide a misleading impression that Farouk is a typical “all-American” successful business man.
1) Farouk has two sons and two daughters (not mentioned in his statement). Only one son is directly involved with the company, the other one has his own company selling the same/similar products to non-professional market
2) It is an arranged marriage according to Muslim traditions
3) He has shipped his wife and one daughter to Palestine for extended periods of time. For the past 20+ years his wife has spent majority of her time in Palestine, i.e. not under the ‘same roof’ as implied in Farouk’s statement.
Austin American-Statesman Editorial (01/16/10): “Farouk appears having voted... examined the records and found a signature that appears to be Shami’s on the line for Reem Shami. (Reem Shami is Farouk Shami’s daughter).” – The daughter, who was shipped to Palestine with the wife.
Does Religion Matter? - Culturally and Politically – Farouk’s religion DOES matter, not as to where or how often he practices or not, but what he believes in.
Shami is a member of the board of the American Task Force on Palestine, as was Tareq Salahi, the Whitehouse party crasher.
Regarding the Palestinian Right of Return, the ATFP states on its website that "The right of return is an integral part of international humanitarian law, and cannot be renounced by any parties”.
There is no Palestinian constituency of consequence that would agree to the renunciation of this right. There is also no Jewish constituency of consequence in Israel that would accept the return of millions of Palestinian refugees..
Everyone is concentrating on the Palestinian refugees used as a political and ideological tool by the Muslims. The majority of the 750,000 refugees left the territory due to the encouragement by the Arab nations ready to invade Israel in 1967, so that they could then return to the ‘liberated’ territory. Now 40+ years on the refugee camps, the number has grown into millions. None of the fellow Arab/Muslim countries have accepted the Palestinians into their society in any significant numbers.
Did you know that Palestinians have received more foreign aid per capita than the entire Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe after WWII? What is there show for it? Where is the money? In the private Swiss bank accounts of the select leaders, and nobody in the Western World seems to care!!!
Nobody is talking about 800,000 Jews who were forced to leave their homes in Arab countries when Israel was formed.
The Right of Return would result in the end of Israe (the only democratic society in the Middle East)l, only by different means than Hamas, PLO, Fatah, Hezbollah or Iran are promoting.
Farouk’s solution to border control – Grant every undocumented immigrant a US Citizenship who turns in a gang member. What a great idea – Really? With this high of stakes, what are chances that we would turn the country into a neighborhood watch society similar to
Gestapo in Nazi Germany
Stasi in East Germany
KGB in Soviet Union
Stasi - The Ministry for State Security (East Germany) was widely regarded as one of the most effective and repressive intelligence and secret police agencies in the world. When part-time informer adults were included, the figures reach approximately one spy per 6.5 citizens. What a Country!
The candidates who will address the issues people are most concerned with, unfortunately also want legal drugs or Gay marriage, or some other oddball social policy.
_____________________________
Since when is personal freedom considered oddball?
Who is Farouk Shami? The real issue is not necessarily his religion, but his credibility. Are his Public Statements factual or just Beauty Show hype?
Farouk in San Antonio (10/21/09): “I manage business in 106 countries, I have tens of thousands of employees, and we've brought billions of dollars to the state of Texas,” Shami said.
Fact Check:
Farouk manufacturers the products and sells them to independent distributors/importers (in US and overseas), who in return sell to the salons. He DOES NOT manage these companies. They are his customers.
Likewise the employees of these distributors or the salons which use his products are NOT Farouk’s employees.
Yes, Farouk has done well for himself BUT… He is NOT the sole owner of his companies - Farouk claims (as well documented in many articles and interviews, and then repeated by the media) to be a Billionaire; however he is NOT listed on Forbes List of Billionaires – with his ego, he definitely would make sure that he would be listed if he just could prove it
Farouk claims to be Quaker?
Having attended Quaker School does not make Farouk a Quaker – maybe that is all what was available at the time (or even today) for quality education in Ramallah.
Wikipedia: “The Friends School currently serves as the School for the best and the brightest. It is well known to educate the children of Palestinian elites.”
MilitantIslamMonitor: “Guilford College controversy Being Manipulated By CAIR -Quaker school tied to pro terrorist Friends school in Ramallah”
King of Jordan had sent his personal message to Farouk Shami (to a Quaker???) during the last two company conferences – Amman, Jordan (2006) and Cancun, Mexico (2008)
Farouk is a member of and guest speaker to many Muslim organizations
From FaroukforGovernor.com - Meet Farouk – “Mr. Shami and his wife have two sons, both of whom are actively involved in the company. Their union, as strong now as they day they married is a source of pride for Farouk”. – Update: He has now removed any information about the family from his campaign website (since the family members are saying that Farouk is a Muslim), as he has removed any mention about his proud Palestinian heritage from his company website.
Normally one should not bring the family issues into a political campaign; however the above statement from FaroukforGovenor.com is intended to provide a misleading impression that Farouk is a typical “all-American” successful business man.
Farouk has two sons and two daughters (not mentioned in his statement). Only one son is directly involved with the company, the other one has his own company selling the same/similar products to non-professional market
It is an arranged marriage according to Muslim traditions
He has shipped his wife and one daughter to Palestine for extended periods of time. For the past 20+ years his wife has spent majority of her time in Palestine, i.e. not under the ‘same roof’ as implied in Farouk’s statement.
Austin American-Statesman Editorial (01/16/10): “Farouk appears having voted... examined the records and found a signature that appears to be Shami’s on the line for Reem Shami. (Reem Shami is Farouk Shami’s daughter).” – The daughter, who was shipped to Palestine with the wife.
Does Religion Matter? - Culturally and Politically – Farouk’s religion DOES matter, not as to where or how often he practices or not, but what he believes in.
Shami is a member of the board of the American Task Force on Palestine, as was Tareq Salahi, the Whitehouse party crasher.
Regarding the Palestinian Right of Return, the ATFP states on its website that "The right of return is an integral part of international humanitarian law, and cannot be renounced by any parties”.
There is no Palestinian constituency of consequence that would agree to the renunciation of this right. There is also no Jewish constituency of consequence in Israel that would accept the return of millions of Palestinian refugees..
Everyone is concentrating on the Palestinian refugees used as a political and ideological tool by the Muslims. The majority of the 750,000 refugees left the territory due to the encouragement by the Arab nations ready to invade Israel in 1967, so that they could then return to the ‘liberated’ territory. Now 40+ years on the refugee camps, the number has grown into millions. None of the fellow Arab/Muslim countries have accepted the Palestinians into their society in any significant numbers.
Did you know that Palestinians have received more foreign aid per capita than the entire Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe after WWII? What is there show for it? Where is the money? In the private Swiss bank accounts of the select leaders, and nobody in the Western World seems to care!!!
Nobody is talking about 800,000 Jews who were forced to leave their homes in Arab countries when Israel was formed.
The Right of Return would result in the end of Israel, only by different means than Hamas, PLO, Fatah, Hezbollah or Iran are promoting.
