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What’s the use of a state convention anyway?

That might be an odd question to ask what with about 10,000 ruby red Republicans gathered right now in Fort Worth to rally around the party’s platform and leaders. But, not to sound too contrarian about it, what are they really doing up there? Other, that is, from deciding with their platform to what extent Texas should allow undocumented immigrants to participate in the economy.

That’s partly because the biggest function of the convention — choosing the party’s standard bearers for the fall elections — leaves little for the delegates to do other than vote yes.

Former Republican Party of Texas Chairman Tom Pauken thinks his party is missing an opportunity to create more interest in the convention when it limits delegates’ ability to determine the party’s nominees.

He points to states like Virginia and Utah, where the convention has a much bigger role in nominating candidates. Getting candidates in front of the convention to make their case with the nomination not finally determined would create more excitement, he said.

Since his time as party chairman 20 years ago, Pauken said he’s seen a decline in turnout at the party convention. People aren’t fighting to be a delegate or an alternate like before, something that Pauken attributes to a growing sense of apathy among rank-and-file Republicans.

“What it says is people are saying, 'What difference does it make? Does my voice matter?'” Pauken said.

One other effect, according to Pauken, is that it “would take some of the power of big money out.”

The last point might say more about Pauken, whose ill-starred run for governor this cycle was effectively ended before it could begin by Greg Abbott’s $20 million-plus campaign war chest.

Pauken is not attending this year’s convention, he said, joining lite guv also-rans David Dewhurst and Jerry Patterson in skipping the party’s confab.

Others point to a risk in putting more of the nominating process in the hands of the party supporters hard-core enough to make a trek to the party convention. To take the case of Virginia, the convention made grassroots conservative Ken Cuccinelli a lock for the nomination for governor. But the convention also allowed for the nomination for lieutenant governor of E.W. Jackson, whose penchant for controversial statements on gays, the president and Planned Parenthood limited his viability in the general election.

Pauken, though, said the influence of outside money has weakened the party as a whole. For him, that’s a big concern because of the rise of grassroots groups like the Tea Party that he said are loyal more to the group than the party.

“My overall concern with the party, both in Texas and nationally, is the absence of leadership,” he said. “I don’t think the party can unite the forces within it. … This isn’t something the party can do on its own.”

Enlarge Bob Daemmrich

U.S. Sen Ted Cruz and Gov. Rick Perry at Fort Hood on April 4, 2014.

One added feature of this week’s GOP state convention is a presidential straw poll in which attendees will cast electronic ballots for one of 14 potential contenders in 2016.

Some of the biggest names on the ballot also have speaking roles at the convention — Gov. Rick Perry and U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Rand Paul of Kentucky. The ballot includes others, like Jeb Bush, Chris Christie, Bobby Jindal and Marco Rubio, who are in the national conversation as strong potential front-runners.

The results are nonbinding but will no doubt be scrutinized for signs of where the loyalties of the party base lie, with Perry or with Cruz. The question is especially apt after Cruz easily bested Perry in a straw poll at the Republican Leadership Conference last week in New Orleans.

It’s not likely that these results would impact definitively Perry’s thinking on whether to run in 2016. His valedictory speech on Thursday to the party faithful was widely seen as a statement of purpose that he intends to seek higher office.

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There was some maneuvering this past week over a state Senate seat that isn’t open yet.

Lubbock Republican Robert Duncan will be leaving sometime soon after being named the sole finalist to become Texas Tech University’s next chancellor. That opens up a spot in the Senate that isn’t vacant all that often. Duncan took over in December 1994.

One of Lubbock’s state representatives, Charles Perry, has wasted no time expressing his intent to run to succeed Duncan. This week, it was announced that he had the endorsement of tort reform group, Texans for Lawsuit Reform.

The moves by Perry are an obvious attempt to clear the room of potential rivals for the Senate seat. We will see a few months from now how successful they turn out to be.

One person who is definitely not in the running for Duncan’s Senate seat is Tech’s outgoing chancellor, Kent Hance. He told the Tribune’s Ross Ramsey this week, “Let me quote LBJ on that ... If nominated, I will not run. If elected, I will not serve.”

Hance held the SD-28 seat for a term in the 1970s before being elected to Congress in 1979 (memorably besting George W. Bush in the general election).

*****

State Sen. Bob Deuell, R-Greenville, decided late last week not to seek a recount in the primary runoff that he lost by exactly 300 out of more than 36,000 votes cast. In making the decision, he said, “we concluded the election was well conducted and there is no need for a recount.”

That conclusion hasn’t always stopped other candidates for seeking recounts. Deuell didn’t take that route, opting instead to concede gracefully and commit to a seamless transition.

In other words, in leaving, he demonstrated the traits that show why more politicians like him are needed.

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This week in the Texas Weekly Newsreel: The Sunset Advisory Commission has a few suggestions for the Department of State Health Services, the state GOP convention kicks off in Fort Worth and firearms are not allowed inside.

You can view the video at: https://trib.it/1j418JV

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This week, the insiders focused on Texas Republicans, starting with their assessment of which group dominates the Party. Social conservatives led the list among the government and political insiders, followed by grassroots and then fiscal conservatives.

The Texas GOP’s platform plank on immigration is up for debate, and nearly half of the insiders said the delegates should leave it alone. Almost one in five said the party should advocate for more lenient laws and enforcement, and 10 percent said it should push for stricter immigration laws and enforcement.

The Log Cabin Republicans, a group that advocates for gays and lesbians in the GOP, was denied space for a booth at the convention in Fort Worth; 87 percent of the insiders said the GOP should allow them to rent space.

Finally, we asked about the importance of party platforms to the voting public. Platforms make no difference, according to nearly three-fourths of the insiders.

As always, we have attached a full set of verbatim comments from this week’s survey. Here’s a sampling:

Enlarge Emily Albracht

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The Texas GOP is holding its state convention this week. Based on the primaries and the runoffs, how would you describe the dominant forces in Republican Party politics in Texas right now? [Check all that apply]

• "When the candidates for Ag Commissioner have to come out in support of traditional marriage (one heifer for every bull?), and property tax reform, I think it's clear who's running the show."

• "What is best description for evangelical, theocratic, gun loving, gay baiting, government hating beneficiary, wimmin belong in the kitchen, fence off the brown people throw backs. It ain't 'conservative'. Perhaps that's the code breaking definition for 'true conservative.'"

• "If you look at the statewide winners it will be clear that the 'abortion issue' played a significant role in who emerged from the crowded fields."

• "All of the first four are well-represented, though the establishment conservatives are a bit stunned at their loss of historic control."

• "Tea Party"

• "Anti-government."

• "Combination of fiscal and social. People just tired of government."

Enlarge Emily Albracht

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Republicans are expected to debate their immigration platform at the convention. What would be the best outcome?

• "The surest way to undermine the party's state-wide dominance is to backtrack on the current immigration plank."

• "Best outcome for whom? The Democrats are of course hoping for a series of Patrick Buchanan you tube op moments of gun waving, race baiting lunacy to galvanize the sleeping minority majority, and the Y and X gen- ambivalents, (however futile.)"

• "Best outcome for whom? For Dems, the best outcome would be a platform of stricter immigration law and enforcement--the better to drum the Republicans. For Republicans, it would be to leave it as is--the better to appear to be solving a problem and not creating huge divides and tension."

• "A hybrid approach supporting strong enforcement measures, coupled with a guest worker program (without citizenship) to fill some jobs we don't want to do, such as agriculture jobs, construction, landscaping, and service industry jobs would the most pragmatic resolution. Realistically, I do not see this version of language gaining enough support of the delegates attending this week's convention in Ft. Worth."

• "Leave Texas Solution in platform"

Enlarge Emily Albracht

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Should the Texas GOP allow the Log Cabin Republicans, a group that advocates for gay and lesbian rights, to rent a booth at its convention?

• "Republicans believe theirs is the party of the better ideas. They should not be afraid to test that in the marketplace."

• "The GOP should be supporting civil unions and protecting the definition of marriage. These are two different things. The party is alienating the only conservative group that can spread this message."

• "Few will stop by, but yes, allow them. To disallow them will hurt the GOP more than it hurts."

• "They should allow for symbolic purposes. By not allowing it, they clearly indicate that their tent is closed. It may give them one more election but ultimately, it will hurt."

• "You might not agree with them but why act like the fascists on the left and completely shut out another voice on issues."

• "They can decide to do whatever they want."

Enlarge Emily Albracht

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Do political party platforms make any difference to the voting public?

• "Candidates invariably must emphasize the key points of the platform. THAT affects what voters think of the GOP."

• "Platforms matter only when their contents include examples of rank extremism - AKA the Texas GOP Platform."

• "Voting public??? Only those that care about party platforms vote anymore."

• "To most voters, no. No one even reads those silly platforms. And once elected, few legislators give them much weight."

• "Platforms are developed by the diehards - and then quickly forgotten."

• "Of course not. Second-biggest waste of time in politics (next to legislative interim hearings). But it gives the party apparatchiks something to do and it gives them a (false) sense of importance, so platforms serve a purpose for the officeholders that need the apparatchiks' support come election time."

Our thanks to this week's participants: Allen Blakemore, Allen Place, Andrew Biar, Andy Sansom, Bee Moorhead, Bill Hammond, Billy Howe, Bill Stevens, Bradford Shields, Brandon Aghamalian, Bruce Gibson, Bruce Scott, Barbara Schlief, Tom Duffy, Cathie Adams, Chris Britton, Charles Bailey, Cal Jillson, Clyde Alexander, Colin Strother, Corbin Van Arsdale, Carl Richie, Christopher Shields, Dennis Speight, Dale Laine, Darren Whitehurst, David White, David Cabrales, Deborah Ingersoll, Denise Davis, Doc Arnold, Dominic Giarratani, Robert Kepple, Elna Christopher, Ed Small, Jason Sabo, Gary Polland, Gene Acuna, George Allen, Gerard Torres, Stephanie Gibson, Glenn Deshields, Gardner Pate, Grant Ruckel, Hector De Leon, Holly DeShields, Jack Erskine, Jenny Aghamalian, James LeBas, Jay Arnold, Jay Pritchard, Jeff Eller, Pete Laney, Jerod Patterson, Jerry Philips, John Greytok, Jim Grace, Janis Carter, J. McCartt, Jon Fisher, Jim Sartwelle, Jason Skaggs, June Deadrick, Ken Whalen, Karen Reagan, Keats Norfleet, Kinnan Golemon, Ken Hodges, Kathy Hutto, Kim Ross, Keir Murray, Kraege Polan, Nick Lampson, Laura Huffman, Lydia Camarillo, Lisa Kaufman, Leslie Lemon, Luis Saenz, Larry Soward, Luke Legate, Marc Campos, Matt Mackowiak, Mike Moses, Mark Jones, Martha Smiley, Michael Quinn Sullivan, Myra Leo, Nora Del Bosque, Nef Partida, Nelson Nease, Norman Garza, Nancy Sims, Pat Nugent, Dave Beckwith, Wayne Pierce, Jay Propes, Peck Young, Raif Calvert, Randy Cubriel, Richard Pineda, Richard Dyer, Richard Khouri, Richie Jackson, Bob Strauser, Robert Jones, Robert Scott, Royce Poinsett, Robert Peeler, Ruben Longoria, Seth Winick, Steve Minick, Snapper Carr, Steve Scurlock, Stan Schlueter, Jason Stanford, Sherry Sylvester, Tom Blanton, Thure Cannon, Tom Kleinworth, Tom Phillips, Trey Trainor, Eric Glenn, Vicki Truitt, Victor Alcorta, Corbin Casteel, Wayne Hamilton, Ware Wendell, Woody Widrow, Angelo Zottarelli.

Enlarge Todd Wiseman

Friday, June 6

• Fundraiser for Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor Leticia Van de Putte; 118 W. Jefferson Blvd., Dallas (6-7:30 p.m.)
• Texas Regional NORML Conference, a three-day event devoted to reform of marijuana laws; 304 W. Houston St., Fort Worth

Tuesday, June 8

• 2014 Clean Fleet Technologies Conference with keynote address by John L. Nau III, president and chief executive officer of Silver Eagle Distributors; 1 Stadium Drive, Sugar Land (8 a.m.-4 p.m.)

Republicans began gathering in Fort Worth for their state convention. Aside from the open-carry activists outside, the initial focus fell on the work of the platform committee, which was reworking language from two years ago on immigration reform. In addition, a plank on homosexuality was being reworked after a gay GOP group, the Log Cabin Republicans, was denied a booth at the convention.

Attorney General Greg Abbott asked the presiding judge in the challenge to the state's school finance system to recuse himself. At question, according to Abbott, are emails sent by District Judge John Dietz to attorneys working for the school districts challenging the state. Dietz declined the request and now the matter will go to San Antonio Judge David Peeples.

President Barack Obama issued an order to dramatically slash carbon dioxide emissions from the country's power plants. The action is expected to have a large impact in Texas because the state is the nation's largest emitter of the greenhouse gas.

A recommendation from the state's Sunset Advisory Commission to shutter six of Texas' 13 state-supported living centers has reopened a giant divide in the disability community that had seemed to narrow in recent years. Singled out for closure was the Austin center, which could shutter by August 2017.

Harvey Aikman of Mission was appointed by Gov. Rick Perry to the Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners for a term to expire Jan. 1, 2015.

Henry Porretto of Galveston was reappointed by Perry to the Board of Pilot Commissioners for Galveston County Ports for a term to expire Feb. 1, 2018.

Perry appointed four members — Jesse Barba of McAllen, Luis De La Garza of Laredo, Laurie Fontana of Houston and Brian Padden of Austin — to the Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board for terms to expire Jan. 31, 2016.

Ann Bishop will step down as executive director of the Employees Retirement System of Texas after the 2015 legislative session, finishing what will be a more than decade-long tenure at the helm of the agency. A national search will be conducted to find a replacement who will serve alongside Bishop during next session to ease the transition in leadership.

Deaths: Grace Garcia, executive director of Annie's List, in a car crash in Waxahachie. She previously served as a senior advisor in the U.S. State Department under Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. She also worked as a scheduler in the Clinton White House.