Please Pray For The Oklahoma Tornado Victims

We send our condolences to all affected by the Oklahoma tornadoes. Help by donating to the Red Cross. http://t.co/8rjt24oBuN

"In our adversity God shouts to us!" ~ C.S. Lewis

Even in our sleep, pain which cannot forget
falls drop by drop upon the heart,
until, in our own despair,
against our will,
comes wisdom
through the awful grace of God.

-Aeschylus

JOHN AUSTIN PEÑA

OCT 04, 1984 -
MAY 18, 2001

Anniversary of the Texas Recognition of Edinburg's Pedro Cano

On this day, April 15, 2009, I mark as one of the most fulfilling days of my life. On this day we were able to convince an august committee of the state of Texas to posthumously recognize the heroism of a nearly forgotten man from my hometown in Edinburg, Texas. The Texas Legislative Medal of Honor Committee nominated Pedro Cano to receive the highest award granted by the state of Texas.

Happy Mother's Day to all you lovely and amazing moms out there

Valley Soldier Killed In Afghanistan on Saturday

These four Fort Bliss soldiers were killed by an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan Saturday. From left are Spc. Thomas Murach, Spc. Brandon Prescott, Staff Sgt. Francis Phillips and Spc. Kevin Cardoza. Also killed was 1st Lt. Brandon J. Landrum. This photo shows Kevin Cardoza on the far right. He is a graduate of Edcouch-Elsa High School. My thoughts and prayers are extended to him and his family.

Cinco De Mayo

“This day is not about beer or getting drunk, or car sales or furniture. In the end, this is a day to celebrate liberty and the fight for independence. It’s about self-determination and a nation yearning to be free.” ~ Aaron Peña (Fort Worth Star Telegram, May 15, 2013) http://bit.ly/129drgp

Sine Die Approaches

33 days left until sine die. We shall be safe once again.

God's Angel

Martin Richard, the 8-year-old boy killed in the Marathon bombing, holding this sign has come to symbolize the tragedy worldwide. At 2:50 Eastern Standard Time join millions taking part in a moment of silence for the victims and their families of the Boston bombing. Because it is National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (April 21-27) please include all victims of crime in your prayers.

My Weekly "Capital Tonight" Appearance is Tonight

Tonight at 7 pm CST, you can catch me making my weekly appearance on the YNN Austin's "Capital Tonight" political program w/ anchor & host @Paul Brown and co-contributor, Sherri Greenberg, Dir. of the Center for Politics & Governance at the The LBJ School of Public Affairs at the The University of Texas at Austin. Capital Tonight is the only LIVE, statewide political show in Texas. Don't miss it tonight.

George P. Bush In The Valley On Thursday, Feb. 28

George P. Bush is returning to the Rio Grande Valley on Thursday to meet with locals and participate in at least two events. I'll be traveling with George P. throughout the day on what is expected to be another productive and informative visit.

The photo highlights one of the previous stops he made to the Rio Grande River to observe the international border and the irrigation infrastructure which services the community.

As many of you know, many of us are encouraging George P. to run for statewide office in Texas and are hoping that he will announce his intentions soon. Please join us in this effort. Visit his website at: www.georgepfortexas.com

Happy 33rd Birthday To My Son Aron

"It is not flesh and blood, but heart which makes us fathers and sons." ~ Friedrich von Schiller

Where oh where have the years gone. It was just yesterday when you were born. Today your a man. Happy Birthday my son (little man on the left).

The Long Road Home

The title says it all, "The Long Road Home." The new job in Austin keeps me away from the familiar in South Texas for extended periods of time. This afternoon I hit the road back to see family and friends after an extended absence. Last weekend my weekend with family was disrupted by a last minute request to travel to New York City for a television interview. What I miss most is the small things: backyard barbeques with the family, watching television with the family or catching a movie with my wife. I look forward to some catching up and doing some of the routine rhythms of life that we all take for granted until they're gone.

"Up" With Chris Hayes

I'll be paying a visit to "30 Rock" Plaza in New York this Saturday to participate in the news and opinion MSNBC television show "Up with Chris Hayes." The two-hour morning show comes out on Saturdays and Sundays from 7-9 a.m. Central Standard Time.

The Saturday program of "Up" generally analyzes the stories of the previous week, so it's not hard to guess what the topic of the show will be. I'll be appearing on Saturday, February 2 to talk about the U.S. Senate's "Gang of 8" immigration reform principles, President Obama's immigration strategy and any opposition to the passage of a final bill.

I've been on national news programs like CNN and FOX News before but always from a live Texas feed out of Austin. This will be my first national in-studio interview, certainly my first at 30 Rockefeller Center and MSNBC. As a certifiable news junkie, I have to say I'm looking forward to it.

Join Me On HuffPost Live On Monday

On Monday, January 28, 2013 at 10:30 a.m Central Standard Time, I'll be appearing on The Huffington Post's HuffPost Live.

HuffPost Live is an Internet-based video streaming national political program run by the popular news website The Huffington Post. The site offers news, blogs, and original content and covers politics, business, entertainment, environment, technology, popular media, lifestyle, culture, comedy, healthy living, women's interests and local news.

The subject of Monday's interview will be an effort by national Democrats to "Turn Texas Blue." The project to turn Texas into a Democratic state was highlighted in a recent Politico article:

"National Democrats are taking steps to create a large-scale independent group aimed at turning traditionally conservative Texas into a prime electoral battleground, crafting a new initiative to identify and mobilize progressive voters in the rapidly-changing state, strategists familiar with the plans told POLITICO.

The organization, dubbed “Battleground Texas,” plans to engage the state’s rapidly growing Latino population, as well as African-American voters and other Democratic-leaning constituencies that have been underrepresented at the ballot box in recent cycles. Two sources said the contemplated budget would run into the tens of millions of dollars over several years - a project Democrats hope has enough heft to help turn what has long been an electoral pipe dream into reality."

Monday's interview will be conducted HuffPost Live host and producer, Abby Huntsman. Huntsman herself is a frequent political contributor on MSNBC, CNN and ABC News. She is also the daughter of 2012 presidential candidate Jon Huntsman, Jr.

I want to personally invite all to join in on the program which also has an interactive feature that allows viewers to engage in a running commentary via the Internet site.

The topic is one that I am all to keenly aware having long ago unsuccessfuly argued the very proposal to Texas Democrats as a path to victory. That once rejected strategy by a more conservative Democratic Party has now been embraced by a very different party. Now as a Republican, I have joined our state chairman, Steve Munisteri and other like minded individuals to respond to these efforts to keep our state from following the path that is at variance with it's conservative nature.