Good morning, 

We are a republic, not a democracy. And there are some very important reasons why. 

But first, here is today's Texas Minute.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Tuesday, January 7, 2020
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• Just days after ending his sputtering candidacy for the presidential nomination, Texas Democrat Julián Castro has endorsed U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren for the position, triggering speculation he has his eyes on the vice presidency. Brandon Waltens has the details.
       
• One of the candidates running to replace U.S. Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Clarendon) received some encouragement this week from President Donald Trump’s son, Eric. Read about the younger Trump’s support for Republican congressional hopeful Ronny Jackson in a report by Thomas Warren.
      
• Despite being the self-described live music capitol of the world, Austin’s mayor is surprisingly tone-deaf. Amid startling citywide crises that he helped create, Mayor Steve Adler is under fire from citizens over photos he posted online from his family’s “luxurious” adventures overseas. Jacob Asmussen has the details.
      
• “I cannot imagine how many more lives would have been lost if this church had not been allowed to organize a team in order to protect themselves.” – Dana Harris, the former state director for Concerned Women for America of Texas, in a commentary about the events in White Settlement, west of Fort Worth.
      
• Join me in wishing a very happy birthday to my brother-in-law, Clint Campbell!

• As the election year heats up, we’ll often hear politicians – Republicans and Democrats alike – describe our country as a “great democracy.” But is it? Was it ever supposed to be? A good friend recently forwarded to me a great commentary written by the celebrated economist and author Walter Williams entitled “Why We Are a Republic, Not a Democracy.”
       
• Our founding fathers were as afraid of the tyranny that could be exercised by a majority as surely as by a despot, in trodding on the rights of a political minority. They wanted a nation built on laws designed to impede tyrannical governments. Chief Justice John Marshall once wrote: “Between a balanced republic and a democracy, the difference is like that between order and chaos.”
     
• In his article, Williams focused on why the founding fathers were so intent on creating the electoral college – and why we should be so intent on protecting it. While written in 2018, Dr. Williams’ words are just as important today.