Three days of mourning Ted Cruz's presidential bid and hollering about bathrooms.

If you’d rather listen to the sounds of secession than read about them, the latest Texas Miracle podcast is an all-GOP convention special edition this week, featuring the debate over Texas independence, chats with Trump supporters and more. Listen here.

5:05 p.m.

David Brockman, who’s been offering a theological perspective on the convention for us for the last three days, has some reflections on Sid Miller’s Bible-beating convention speech:

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller has become as well known for the fundamentalist Christianity he wears on his sleeve as for the cowboy hat he wears on his head. And he didn’t break character in his speech today at the closing session of the Texas GOP Convention. Wearing his trademark white Stetson, he accused the media and the “liberal left” of putting him down for his very public Christian belief in “faith, freedom, and family,” and he advocated electing “good, God-fearing conservatives to all offices from the statehouse to the White House.” In closing, he thanked Jesus Christ, took off his cowboy hat, and (as Andrea noted earlier) read from 2 Chronicles 7:14. In this passage, God tells Israel, “if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” Judging from the applause, that biblical passage went over well. Miller and the assembled delegates seem to have absolutely no doubt to whom “their wicked ways” refers: Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, the “Democrat” party, the media, and the “liberal left.” That absolute certainty about the wickedness of the GOP’s opponents has been prominently displayed throughout this convention. But in their rush to judgment, might Miller and his fellow travelers be forgetting about the first part of the passage — the part where God makes humility a precondition for divine favor? How can they be sure that the wickedness is not coming from their own policies, such as not allowing Syrian refugees to resettle in Texas, or denying millions of Texas women access to affordable reproductive services, or standing in the way of compassionate treatment for transgender Texans? These questions had little chance of being heard in the echo chamber that is the 2016 convention.

4:30 p.m.

They’re stacking the chairs and delegates are trickling away to their cars and hotel rooms. All the planks of the 2016 GOP platform, which this year were approved one-by-one by delegates, passed.

Alabama Republican Jeff Sessions, the first senator to endorse Donald Trump, appeared in the final hour of the last day of the convention to pull some more teeth in favor of his guy:

Jeff Sessions, Trump surrogate, comes on to Coldplay's "Clocks." "Never seen this many Republicans anywhere," says to emptying room #RPT16 — chris hooks (@cd_hooks) May 14, 2016

"You can do what you want to, but I'm on the side of the people," says Sessions about year's popular anger — chris hooks (@cd_hooks) May 14, 2016

Amazing how generally low-energy this convention has been compared to last year. James White speaking #RPT16 pic.twitter.com/SCQoR5CGz4 — chris hooks (@cd_hooks) May 14, 2016

It’s been … real. Yep, that was a real thing that happened. That whoooooole thing. Take us away, Ted!

2:51 p.m.

Railroad Commissioner Ryan Sitton, who entered the stage to House of Pain’s “Jump Around” and made multiple references to his exercise routine and overall fitness, was given the task of stumping for “the nominee.”

Railroad Commissioner Ryan Sitton on the GOP "nominee": This party is bigger than one man. #rpt16 — Abby Livingston (@TexasTribAbby) May 14, 2016

Sitton says he is “absolutely going to vote for our nominee in November,” party is “bigger than one man.” Who, I wonder?#RPT16 — Andrea Grimes (@andreagrimes) May 14, 2016

Sitton: “I’m going to vote for our nominee not for the man he is today but for the pres I’m hopeful all of us can help him become.” #RPT16 — Andrea Grimes (@andreagrimes) May 14, 2016

Oof.

2:38 p.m.

Texas Ag Commissioner Sid Miller, whose list of scandals and blunders may be longer than that of any currently sitting Republican official, appeared wearing his signature cowboy hat. He twanged his way through a vaguely-riling, nonspecific speech about the federal government (bad) and Texas (good) and agriculture (important) and federal bureaucracy (“make me wanna scream four-letter words”) and Hillary Clinton (very bad) and Barack Obama (real bad) and Michelle Obama (bad) and Greg Abbott (awesome) and freedom (good) and Dan Patrick (cool) and Ken Paxton (thumbs up) and a long list of other elected Republicans, who are also agreeable to Sid Miller, plus his family, who he also likes.

Miller message to Hillary: “Hey lady,” TX doesn’t want her messing around schools, kids, land, "and most especially our bathrooms.” #rpt16 — Andrea Grimes (@andreagrimes) May 14, 2016

No mention of serving with Straus or JD Sheffield 😉 #rpt16 — James M. Russell (@james4texas) May 14, 2016

Miller closed with a Bible verse from 2 Chronicles: “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

2:24 p.m.

Attorney General Ken Paxton had a tough act to follow, taking the stage after Ted Cruz to an emptying room and a lot of chatter. Paxton’s flat tone didn’t help. Oh, he had jokes — he just delivered them with all the verve of someone who hasn’t slept in, say, ten or twelve days.

"I know that Obama's on a strict diet because I know that Putin is eating his lunch." – @KenPaxtonTX #txlege #rpt16 — Lauren McGaughy (@lmcgaughy) May 14, 2016

.@KenPaxtonTX says he's sued Obama 10x & "is not even close to being finished." He & @GregAbbott_TX have filed 41 lawsuits v Obama #txlege — Lauren McGaughy (@lmcgaughy) May 14, 2016

Note to Ken Paxton's political team: Try to avoid following Ted Cruz at all costs. #txlege #rpt16 — Bobby Cervantes (@BobbyCervantes) May 14, 2016

Lots of chatting during @KenPaxtonTX speech. Someone near me shushes those talking. #txlege #rpt16 — Lauren McGaughy (@lmcgaughy) May 14, 2016

"I'm troubled by a cultural and constitutional crisis that is looming over our country." – @KenPaxtonTX #txlege #rpt16 — Lauren McGaughy (@lmcgaughy) May 14, 2016

2:10 p.m.

Heidi Cruz introduced a triumphant-ish Ted to thunderous applause this afternoon. Both Cruzes emphasized how glad they were to be back in Texas, and made several references to beds and sleeping. “Ted has never woken up a morning in his life, in our marriage, that he wasn’t happy,” said Heidi, who, along with Ted, thanked the crowd profusely for their unwavering support.

Heeeeeere's Ted. #rpt16 A video posted by Andrea Grimes (@andreagrimes) on May 14, 2016 at 11:48am PDT

It was weird, really — the thanking people repeatedly for helping the Cruzes … lose the presidential nomination to a guy who, mere months ago, people were sure was conducting an elaborate troll job on the American people.

Cruz’s speech touched on all the usual issues:

The federal government, of which Ted Cruz recently and very desperately wanted to be the head, is the worst and terrible and pointless. “Secure the borders, deliver the mail and keep us safe, that’s it!” he crowed, to wild cheers.

Obama: the worst.

Obama: awful.

Obama: bad.

Obama: just unthinkably terrible.

Obama: not a great dude.

Obama: horrible.

Obama: would rather he were not president.

Obama: thumbs down.

Obama: nope.

Cruz, whose party is currently seeking to enact legislation that would require people to present gender-identifying papers to prove they’re in the right public restroom, railed against Obama’s “decrees,” claiming that the president was attempting to become the “bathroom police” of the nation.

Cruz made no mention of Trump, and didn’t really even touch on party unity or its future, except to say: “God is not done,” said Cruz, “with America yet.”

11:30 a.m.

David weathered last night’s debate over secession on the general session floor. He writes:

Abortion came up repeatedly on the pro-secession side. One speaker claimed that the federal government has buried “states’ rights at the bottom of a landfill” under “the bodies of murdered babies,” to vigorous applause. Another proponent cited the current anti-transgender bathroom battle: Washington, she said, will “allow pervert men into women’s bathrooms.”

Read the rest of his report here.

9:50 a.m.

Things don’t get started in the general session until around 12:30. Ted Cruz is scheduled to talk around 1:45 p.m., and he’s got plenty of fans awaiting:

Also on the schedule: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who’s been having a not-great time lately, and ag commish Sid Miller, who is rather fond of charging taxpayers for out-of-state trips to get crank medical treatments and do a little rodeoin‘.

^^^^^ Saturday, May, 14 2016 ^^^^^

8:40 p.m.

I guess it’s probably time to tell y’all we’ve decamped to the patio bar to debrief about the day’s doings. We’ll be back tomorrow morning with more dispatches from the convention. In the meantime, subscribe to the Texas Miracle, our weekly news and views podcast, on iTunes, to make sure you don’t miss this week’s GOP convention special.

5:36 p.m.

And after all that rigmarole with barring me from the “Abbott University” social media class, they still wanted me at graduation.

They kicked me out of Abbott University, but they still want me at graduation. #RPT16 pic.twitter.com/1RTUKcFVsM — Andrea Grimes (@andreagrimes) May 13, 2016

5:30 p.m.

After a vociferous debate over voting to vote to vote to vote to vote if Texas should vote to secede from these here United States, secession is off the table.

The @texasgop platform plank supporting Texas secession has failed on a vote that was closer than many in the room expected it to be. #rpt16 — Sean Walsh (@SeanCWalsh) May 13, 2016

#rpt16 Finally the hall has been closed and the vote begins by scantron ballot — Dr. David R Brockman (@drdrbrockman) May 13, 2016

#rpt16 Just realized that I'm trapped in a room surrounded by folks who just seriously considered the idea of secession :0 — Dr. David R Brockman (@drdrbrockman) May 13, 2016

2:00 p.m.

Delegates are gathering on the general session hall floor now, prepping to vote (via little Scantron-like ballots, I believe) on individual planks of the proposed 2016 platform, which doesn’t include secession but does include:

Repealing the 17th Amendment

Banning red-light cameras

Overturning nationwide same-sex marriage

Opposing homosexuality

Promoting “sexual orientation change efforts”

Anti-trans bathroom legislation

Outlawing abortion

Drug testing for low-income people who receive welfare

No legalized gambling

Computer programming

Medical billing specialist

Accounting

Veterinary assistant

I may have gotten off track there at the end.

1:33 p.m.

Here’s some fun (“fun”) from the exhibition hall floor:

.@MarkDavis signing books at the Patriot Mobile booth ("America's only *conservative* phone company") #rpt16 pic.twitter.com/yw1RliUp1k — Patrick Michels (@PatrickMichels) May 13, 2016

#rpt16 friends, hurry and you'll catch ABRAHAM LINCOLN!!! at the Dan Patrick table pic.twitter.com/Ke1kY48hdP — Patrick Michels (@PatrickMichels) May 13, 2016

The #RPT16 trade show gives us an opportunity to see the stalwarts of the conservative movement in one place pic.twitter.com/LiS7QC3ORe — chris hooks (@cd_hooks) May 13, 2016

12:01 p.m.

Chris Hooks, from the general session floor:

After an impressively long delay, during which Republican delegates watched videos, sat silently through a sing-a-long and walked around aimlessly, the re-election of party Chair Tom Mechler and Vice Chair Amy Clark was announced after brief concession speeches by their fringy rivals. Woodfill came out first: In keeping with the theme of the convention, he urged party unity. Until days before the convention, Woodfill’s backers were smearing Mechler with bizarre rainbow-colored mailers. Now, they were bosom buddies. “It is now time for us to get behind the next chairman of the Republican Party of Texas,” he said. Mechler briefly emerged on stage in acknowledgement, then returned silently to the wings. Woodfill apparently won the support of enough delegations to have his nomination considered by the full body, though elected not to. Adams got trounced. For the second time, she came on stage to “Eye of the Tiger,” and for the second time, she told the convention that her grandson had picked the music. “It has been a real privilege for me to campaign and get to know better Amy Clark, Vice Chairman of the Republican Party of Texas,” said Adams. She quickly got offstage, and the convention broke for lunch.

11:20 a.m.

Here’s a dispatch from David Brockman, who pressed Dan Patrick on his “local control” claims about being “blackmailed” by Obama over trans kids using school bathrooms:

In today’s presser, Dan Patrick complained that the Obama administration’s guidance to superintendents on transgender students is overreach by the federal government. Since the Obama guidance threatens noncompliant schools with lawsuits and loss of federal funds, Patrick called it federal “blackmail” and declared that Texas will not take Obama’s “thirty pieces of silver.” In response, Patrick issued his own guidance to Texas superintendents, urging them not to comply with the federal guidance. His own guidance to superintendents, he said, “has everything to do with keeping the federal government out of local issues.” But how is the lieutenant governor’s guidance not itself interference in local issues — this time by the state? I asked Patrick to clarify. Here’s his answer in full: “I’m trying to give the superintendents some guidance because they’re asking their associations, they’re asking their legal teams, and they’ll be asking the governor, the lieutenant governor, their senators, their representatives. But most superintendents aren’t going to want to follow this policy. So I’m giving them guidance. This is my recommendation to them. You’ve got three weeks to go in the school year, listen to your parents, listen to your school board, and work through this. But don’t panic, and don’t be blackmailed, and understand that as the state — we’re just not going to accept thirty pieces of silver.” Maybe you find that answer more satisfying than I do.

11:08 a.m.

As Republican leadership takes every opportunity to harp on transgender people using bathrooms, it’s worth noting that 2016 is the first year that an LGBT Republican group has ever been allowed to table at the convention. John Wright has more.

10:51 a.m.

Chris Hooks is stationed in the loud, flashy main general session room, where John Cornyn’s just given his address.

Cornyn's speech is followed by a singalong, but no one seems to be singing #RPT16 pic.twitter.com/clQCIN2BoE — chris hooks (@cd_hooks) May 13, 2016

"I personally look forward to Ted Cruz rejoining the Senate," says Cornyn, almost convincingly #RPT16 pic.twitter.com/DsOcv0UHvp — chris hooks (@cd_hooks) May 13, 2016

"Friends don't let friends vote Democrat," says Cornyn, who recently met with Trump. "Policy matters." #RPT16 — chris hooks (@cd_hooks) May 13, 2016

10:47 a.m.

Read John Wright’s latest on where the 2016 Texas Republican platform (secession! anti-trans bills! more gay stuff! like, a lot of gay stuff!) stands.

10: 30 a.m.

David Brockman, our theologian-in-residence (or, perhaps after this convention, reluctance) shares his take on the heavy religious overtones of this year’s Texas GOP convention:

For newbies like me, the 2016 Texas GOP Convention is a raucous cacophony of sights and sounds. Gaudy banners, inspirational videos, blustering country songs, speeches, slogans, claims, counterclaims and trash-talking. And quotations. Lots of quotations: from Jesus to Washington, Reagan to Trump and a host of competing candidates. But here’s a quote you won’t find here: religion and government “will both exist in greater purity, the less they are mixed together.”

Who wrote that? Scoot on over to David’s full report to find out.

9:51 a.m.

More from the Dan Patrick anti-trans presser, called by Dan Patrick to talk about trans bathroom issues, which he has no choice but to talk about, as he is now “in the middle of” the issue, even though he would really rather not be here at his press conference about trans people using the bathrooms.

Patrick: Trump should say that he'll repeal any Obama exec order on bathrooms #txlege #rpt16 — Bobby Cervantes (@BobbyCervantes) May 13, 2016

.@DanPatrick: Texas 'won't be blackmailed' by Obama threat of funding cuts over anti-trans discrimination. 'Texas will not yield' #RPT16 — Lone Star Q (@lsqnews) May 13, 2016

.@DanPatrick keeps saying we 'won't be blackmailed for 30 pieces of silver.' Are feds giving Texas silver for education? #RPT16 #txlege — Lone Star Q (@lsqnews) May 13, 2016

John Wright asked Patrick if he’d be going against the 900-strong Texas businesses who are part of the Texas Competes pledge in favor of LGBT rights. Patrick said he absolutely would.

9:30 a.m.

“This has nothing to do with anyone being against a transgender child,” said Dan Patrick, at the press conference he called to promote his policy of preventing transgender children from using the bathrooms where they are safest.

“It’s not a fight of my choosing,” said Patrick, of the time he drove to Fort Worth and called a press conference to talk about which bathrooms transgender kids could use. “I was thrust into it,” he said, describing the local Fort Worth school district policy over which he has no authority whatsoever.

Dan Patrick's presser on the "main issue" — bathroom bans. #rpt16 (Reminder: kids currently dying in TX CPS.) pic.twitter.com/zqeDpievWW — Andrea Grimes (@andreagrimes) May 13, 2016

Reporter asks if male janitor can clean in ladies’ room. “I don’t know the answer to that,” — Patrick.#RPT16 — Andrea Grimes (@andreagrimes) May 13, 2016

Patrick spent most of the conference railing against Obama, who he says is inappropriately, and in the manner of a dictator, pushing flawed Title IX protections for gender identity on the states. Patrick said feds (Obama!) could pull school lunch funding over the trans issue if states refuse to allow trans kids to use the bathrooms that correspond to their gender identity. He promised Texas would not let that happen (by funding food, not by just allowing kids to go to the bathroom).

While Patrick uses this opportunity to puff up his hyper-conservative politics, trans Texans are the ones in real danger: of being harassed and assaulted in public facilities by bathroom-policing conservatives.

9:20 a.m.

Texas Senator John Cornyn wandered into the media room to hold his nose for a tepid Trump endorsement and to blame the anti-trans bathroom business on the media. At the Dan Patrick press conference called specifically by Dan Patrick to help Dan Patrick air his anti-trans bathroom plans.

"You can't govern without winning," says Cornyn, who's encouraging #RPT16 to unite behind Trump to defeat Hillary. pic.twitter.com/U9pdXRlQTw — Andrea Grimes (@andreagrimes) May 13, 2016

Cornyn says bathroom stuff is an issue b/c “you guys” (the media) make a big deal about it. He’s having a press conference about it. #RPT16 — Andrea Grimes (@andreagrimes) May 13, 2016

9:05 a.m.

The media are getting set up here on the third floor of the convention center for Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick’s 9:30 presser “on Obama’s upcoming transgender policy for all public schools.”

It’s early and I haven’t had nearly enough coffee, so I’m going to bullet points this:

This anti-transgender bathroom stuff is the wholesale make of the right-wing. Transgender people didn’t ask to be treated differently in bathrooms.

Transgender people have, for years, actively lobbied to stop and stymie bills that call attention to bathroom use.

Nosing around at people’s pants parts in the bathroom is not a thing anybody but the GOP wants. In fact, the only people fantasizing about using bathrooms to do creepy things to women and children are people like Republican Texas Congressman Louie Gohmert, a cisgender man, who has said he would have abused nondiscrimination policies to creep on girls at his school as a teen. And then there’s the American Family Association, which is positively afroth over the prospect of sending some grown men into the ladies’ room.

Nondiscrimination ordinances don’t create a defense to prosecution for committing sex crimes anywhere, including public bathrooms.

It is particularly rich for lawmakers like Dan Patrick to crow about local control and then openly insert themselves in the municipal dealings of who pees where.

7:35 a.m.

Good morning, y’all. The Observer team is back on the ground this morning at the 2016 Republican Party of Texas convention.

I was just checking to see what I might have missed overnight when I ran across this tweet from the Texas Federation of Republican Women.

Lt. Gov @DanPatrick winning the hearts of the TFRW Ladies by serenading them with Pretty Woman #UniteToWin2016 pic.twitter.com/TPggN9tDKZ — TFRW (@TFRW) May 13, 2016

Maybe “missed” is the wrong word?

^^^^^ Friday, May 13, 2016 ^^^^^

10:00 p.m.

That’s all for tonight, folks. Tune back in tomorrow for live updates of the party platform debate, the party leadership battle and more news from the LGBTQ front.

Overnight, how about a caption contest? Tweet us your cutline for this photo of Ken Paxton standing with his mouth agape in the middle of the convention hall:

9:34 p.m.

John Wright is sweating it out as the GOP platform committee sorts which planks delegates will vote on tomorrow. The big news: the committee gave the secession plank the boot, but word is that some secessionists may try to reintroduce the idea on the floor tomorrow.

Texas GOP platform committee rushing to meet 9:45 p.m. Printing deadline. Must print 10,000 copies by tmrw #RPT16 — Lone Star Q (@lsqnews) May 13, 2016

Here's the Texas GOP's proposed platform plank responding to Obergefell #RPT16 pic.twitter.com/MPJoWpDrJA — Lone Star Q (@lsqnews) May 13, 2016

Platform committee just restored 1st sentence of this anti-#gay plank, after it was removed yesterday #RPT16 pic.twitter.com/E5NCCCv4qZ — Lone Star Q (@lsqnews) May 13, 2016

Here's the pro-secession plank removed by the Texas GOP platform committee #RPT16 #txlege pic.twitter.com/HgJLprywP6 — Lone Star Q (@lsqnews) May 13, 2016

9:15 p.m.

Where is the Texas GOP leadership headed? Further to the right, or even further to the right?

Chris Hooks studiously analyzed the rhetoric of the four candidates vying for the Texas GOP chair and vice-chair spots, by which I mean: he watched them talk. Now, he has written some salient observations and also a few jokes about the occasionally terrifying things they had to say to the few hungry delegates who stuck around the hall for their speeches at mid-day.

8:30 p.m.

David’s settled in at the Faith, Family and Freedom event tonight, featuring Rafael Cruz, a toned-down Dan Patrick and a Christian comic:

People trickling in to the Freedom Faith & Family event, which should have started 5 min. ago. Very few seats filled at 7:35 #rpt16 — Dr. David R Brockman (@drdrbrockman) May 13, 2016

Rafael Cruz: ppl of faith must be involved in civil society, in pol process,

Encourages people of faith, esp pastors, to run for pub ofc — Dr. David R Brockman (@drdrbrockman) May 13, 2016

Very few applause lines in @DanPatrick's speech. #rpt16 But here's one: "When you move to TX, TX moves into you." — Dr. David R Brockman (@drdrbrockman) May 13, 2016

OK, that ends Dan Patrick speech. Next: "Christian comedian Bob Smiley" #rpt16 — Dr. David R Brockman (@drdrbrockman) May 13, 2016

Now jokes about why it's biblical to spank your children. Hmm. #rpt16 — Dr. David R Brockman (@drdrbrockman) May 13, 2016

5:20 p.m.

David’s found some religu-diculous merch and … literature?

Islamophobia on full display at the Act for America booth here at #RPT16. One brochure claims that the foundations of Islamic doctrine include: lying to advance Islam; killing & conquering for Allah; and that non-Muslims must “convert, pay, or die.” Despite the copious quotes from the Qur’an, these “doctrines” have little relation to Islam as it is lived out by most Muslims today.

5:00 p.m.

Dan Patrick weighed in on the subject of Texas secession (an evergreen joke to blue-staters, one that makes my blood boil) earlier, telling reporters that he is “not in favor” of the idea.

Meantime, Patrick is out meeting the grassroots on the convention floor; here’s his live Periscope interview with a Trump supporter and merch vendor.

And Ted Cruz? Well, he is much missed:

4:37 p.m.

While the #RPT16 hashtag fills up with bizarre porno-bots, I find myself not, as I had expected, tweeting from the “Abbott University” social media session led by former Breitbart writer Sarah Rumpf.

A young guy in a suit intercepted me at the sign-in table, made a Very Important Phone Call, and informed me that the session was closed to press. I made a call to Abbott’s campaign director, who also told me I wouldn’t be allowed in. He didn’t seem keen to answer my questions about why press wasn’t allowed into a session led by, well, someone who considers herself to be a journalist.

Then again, Breitbart does seem to have a special relationship with GOP leadership these days.

3:08 p.m.

From David, following up on Greg Abbott’s book plugs in his #RPT16 speech: If convention-goers somehow missed the news about Abbott’s book, this bus in the exhibit hall will remind them.

2:30 p.m.

We’re breaking for lunch and a re-charge (there’s a biergarten across the street playing a lot of Madonna that looks kind of interesting). I’ll be back later to post updates from an “Abbott University” social media class, and Patrick will be checking out the Abbott U voter registration course. Plus we’ll have more from platform debates and tonight’s “Freedom, Faith and Family Rally” with Carly Fiorina and Rafael Cruz.

1:28 p.m.

And if you feel as if some of this stuff sounds a little out-of-this-world, well …

Being circulated on the #RPT16 convention floor: an EMP petition pic.twitter.com/tpLvWyPi7i — chris hooks (@cd_hooks) May 12, 2016

1:25 p.m.

As John Wright reported this morning, the Texas GOP is considering changing the language in its platform plank that supports therapy that claims to help people change their sexual orientation. The anti-LGBTQ crowd is not pleased:

1:18 p.m.

As candidates for Texas GOP party leadership currently take the stage to argue for righter-right policies (that’s the Woodfill/Adams ticket) or the less-right-right policies (current chair, Tom Mechler), David Brockman has some thoughts on their religious claims:

Dueling Christians: Jared Woodfill, challenging Tom Mechler for Texas GOP chair, has made much of his conservative Christian credentials. His webpage prominently displays 1 Timothy 6:12 (“Fight the good fight”). His campaign statement (same website) complains that “Religious liberties are being assaulted.” There is a “war being waged by the secular left on the biblical foundations of our culture,” he writes. And he accuses an unnamed “some” of “running from our Judeo Christian heritage.” Pretty strong stuff. Not surprisingly, incumbent Mechler’s handout here at RPT 2016 leads off with conservative Christian red meat. The very first item under “Tom Mechler Believes”: “We are a Judeo-Christian nation created by God to serve as a positive influence in the world.” The second item: “We must defend the Republican platform, the sanctity of life, and traditional marriage.”

12:19 p.m.

This bathroom thing, y’all. I’m saying. Well, John Wright is saying:

12:12: p.m.

A Trump supporter here told Patrick Michels that The Donald’s crew isn’t getting a warm welcome. “Doors were slammed in our faces,” says Andrew Gillette. “There’s a serious, I don’t know, persecution or whatever you want to call it, of the Trump name right now.”

11:45 a.m.

Dan Patrick enjoyed some relaxed TED Talk-style cosplaying for his part of the big general session launch this morning, kicking off with a couple of transphobic one-liners about men using the women’s bathroom (still, for the eleventy time, not a thing, no matter how hard the GOP tries to make it one). He went on to rally the crowd in favor of a complete shutdown of the border, which made it sort of an awkward pivot to trying to ingratiate himself to Hispanic voters with remarks about abortion and, of course … men in women’s bathrooms.

The big takeaway: Patrick did the Texas GOP dirty work of coming out as the first conventioneer to call not just for a united party, but for outright support of Trump (to relatively tepid reception) because Trump might nominate Ted Cruz to the Supreme Court (which garnered cheers so loud I could barely hear Patrick talking).

Patrick: We need someone in the White House who will “close down the border once and for all.” “We need a wall.”#rpt16 — Andrea Grimes (@andreagrimes) May 12, 2016

@DanPatrick says Ted Cruz would be "the best Supreme Court justice in the history of the country" #rpt16 — Dr. David R Brockman (@drdrbrockman) May 12, 2016

@DanPatrick says Ted Cruz would be "the best Supreme Court justice in the history of the country" #rpt16 — Dr. David R Brockman (@drdrbrockman) May 12, 2016

“We must support our Republican nominee for president, Donald Trump,” says Patrick. “We must stop Hillary Clinton.” #rpt16 — Andrea Grimes (@andreagrimes) May 12, 2016

11:30 a.m.

David’s highlights from Abbott’s speech:

Not surprisingly, Governor Abbott’s opening speech offered plenty of red meat to conservative Christians. He kicked off speech with “God Bless Texas and God bless the Republican Party of Texas,” to wild applause. He continued — implying a link — that it’s been 20 years since a Democrat occupied statewide office. He ended with “something you’ll never hear at a Democrat convention — the word of God,” quoting Psalm 22 (“I will never be shaken.”) “As long as we build our fortress on the rock of God,” Abbott concluded. “America will never be shaken.”

11:23 a.m.

John Wright has this update from the chair/vice-chair race, on which noted leader of an SPLC-designated hate group Steve Hotze has some opinions:

Steve Hotze giving out Woodfill stickers, fliers saying Mechler is puppet for …. https://t.co/tyjgzaCvVh pic.twitter.com/fIDtHdf8Hn — Lone Star Q (@lsqnews) May 12, 2016

11:04 a.m.

Governor Greg Abbott has taken the stage to a standing ovation. Biggest applause breaks so far have been for the red meat base-invigorating stuff: guns, babies, ‘bortions, ‘bathrooms, ‘Bamacare.

“We need to end the butchering of babies for profit,” says Abbott. Previews criminalizing the sale/transport of fetal tissue. #rpt16 — Andrea Grimes (@andreagrimes) May 12, 2016

Abbott pivots to "the bathroom battle that the Obama admin. is waging in North Carolina," says he's coordinating with Gov. McCrory — chris hooks (@cd_hooks) May 12, 2016

Abbott: "Hillary wants to take away your guns." #RPT16 — Dr. David R Brockman (@drdrbrockman) May 12, 2016

Abbott: When “we” beat Hillary, the unborn will have full personhood rights in the US. (Making abortion illegal.) #rpt16 — Andrea Grimes (@andreagrimes) May 12, 2016

Abbott's got a copy of his book up at the podium too, might be gearing up for a reading! — Patrick Michels (@PatrickMichels) May 12, 2016

10:43 a.m.

I’ve already been aggressively offered signs for hyper-right chair/vice-chair candidates Jared Woodfill and Cathie Adams, nada from the more moderate Tom Mechler camp.

David talked to some Woodfill/Adams fans earlier:

I had a nice chat with Woodfill/Adams supporters this morning. They are supporting Woodfill not so much for religious reasons — Woodfill has made much of his conservative Christian values and support from pastors — but because (1) they didn’t like the political tactics of Mechler supporters in their locality, and (2) folks from the Woodfill campaign contacted them personally.

10:31 a.m.

Things kicked off this morning with twangy tunes, prayer (“God bless the Republican Party!”) and pledges in the convention hall.

@andreagrimes They don't want you to know how long you've been there or how much money you've given them. — Jess Hutchinson (@JessHutchinson) May 12, 2016

10:26 a.m.

From David Brockman, our resident theologian, who’s been milling around the convention floor:

Steve Hotze, founder of Conservative Republicans of Texas, was staffing the Woodfill booth this morning. When I introduced myself as with the Texas Observer, he smiled and asked me if I said my prayers this morning. I said I had, and identified myself as an Episcopalian. He then took me aside and told me a joke about Baptists and Episcopalians. This convention is already full of surprises.

9:54 a.m.

The first-ever LGBT Republican group allowed to table at the Texas GOP convention is handing out “Hillary wipes.”

9:40 a.m.

The first general session of the 2016 Texas Republican Convention gets underway in about 20 minutes (Quorum Report has a schedule of speakers). Fort Worth state Senator Konni Burton (who’s been trying to fill filibuster-famous Wendy Davis’ pink sneakers with her own anti-abortion cowboy boots since she took Davis’ seat back in 2014) will kick things off with the U.S. pledge.

Governor Greg Abbott and Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick are also coming up this morning with appearances on the big stage, followed by the candidates for the state party’s hotly (and sort of nastily) contested vice-chair and chair spots.

Y’all can follow the Texas Observer team on the ground for live tweets and photos: I’m at @AndreaGrimes, along with staffer @PatrickMichels and our dogged freelancers John Wright (@JohnIsWright), Chris Hooks (@CD_Hooks) and David Brockman (@DrDrBrockman).

9:15 a.m.

John Wright, who’s on the LGBTQ beat at this year’s convention, filed his first dispatch: a GOP platform panel has rejected the idea of booting anti-gay “reparative therapy” endorsements from the party platform. Instead, the original author of the party platform’s “reparative therapy” language suggested some minor changes that still endorse “sexual orientation change efforts.” Efforts.

^^^^^ Thursday, May 12, 2016 ^^^^^