The Midday Brief: November 9, 2009

Your afternoon reading:

• “The clash between the state's two best-known Republicans underscores a different divide in the GOP: a fight between the party's populist and establishment wings over what it means to be conservative.” — Perry, Hutchison cast results of East Coast races as bolstering their positions — The Dallas Morning News

• “The U.S. House has taken its vote on sweeping health care reform legislation and now elected officials are trying to put their spin on what it all means.” — Cuellar, Hutchison, clash over claims of 'government takeover' of healthcare – Rio Grande Guardian

• “The man accused of killing 13 people and wounding 29 at Fort Hood is able to talk, a hospital spokesman said Monday, but it's unknown when investigators might take advantage of his improving health to press forward with their probe into the shooting spree.” — Hospital: Ft. Hood shooting suspect awake, talking — Associated Press 

• “It is still unclear how long it's going to be for Tech or any of the other schools to get the prestigious designation, better known as Tier One or flagship.” — Estimates for reaching Tier One status vary widely – Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

• “How long will it take the people of this country to see the contradictions in today's celebrations while we continue to construct our own wall in my community's backyard.” — "Tear Down this Wall!" – A Capitol Blog by State Rep. Aaron Peña

• “Marine Lance Cpl. Cody Stanley, 21,was killed Oct. 28 when an improvised explosive device exploded near him in Afghanistan.” —Lance Corporal Cody Stanley: Small Town Country Boy, Big Time Hero – Urban Grounds

New in The Texas Tribune:

• “Like many other Bushies returning to Texas and turning their attention back home, I am concerned about the future of the GOP and, more importantly, the state.” —  Mark McKinnon: Are Republican candidates ignoring Hispanics? — The Texas Tribune

• “Remember VH1's "Pop-up Video"? We loved it, too. It inspired us to launch a new feature we call Stump Interrupted, a twist on the traditional stump speech.” — Stump Interrupted: Kay Bailey Hutchison – The Texas Tribune