I have no question that Newt Gingrich has the heart of a conservative reformer, the ability to rally and captivate the conservative movement.

I supported Arizona's immigration law by joining in that lawsuit to defend it. Every day I have Texans on that border that are doing their job.

We had a $10 billion budget deficit when we got here in January of 2003. We cut that budget deficit; we did not raise taxes; we came back in '05, and we had an $8 billion surplus. That's how fast it can happen.

Armed and law-abiding citizens are a greater deterrent to violent crime than 1,000 laws passed by Congress.

When the good lord calls you home, the government ought not come get your home.

The people who illegally cross into the country are from countries that have very close ties to al Qaeda, whether it's Yemen or Afghanistan, Pakistan, China. It is an absolute national disgrace.

Here is what we know after more than a decade of Republican rule: Texas works. Even 'The New York Times' let it slip into its pages that, 'Texas is the future.'

There's places where a secure fence will work, and that strategic type fencing will work. But the idea that people can easily just stand up and say 'let's just build a fence' and be done with it and wipe our hands, and it's going to secure the border, that's not reality.

You know, to preserve our job-friendly climate the Texas legislature didn't raise taxes this last legislative session while balancing their budget and maintaining their reserves - and might I add that our budget leaves $6 billion dollars in a rainy day fund?

The Obama administration is an affront to every freedom-loving American, and a threat to every private sector job in this country.

My hope is that that person will come forward that can win the presidency that we can all get behind.

The liberals think government exists to fix what's wrong with America. They find fault with our Constitution, our economic model and our core values. We disagree with the premise of their argument. We believe there's nothing wrong with America that an extra dose of freedom won't cure.

Being the Republican front-runner was three of the most exciting hours of my entire life. I've come to grips with it, and the only lasting effect is that I refuse to go on a stage that has more than one podium on it.

I grew up in a house with no running water, 16 miles from the closest place that had a post office. I had a very parochial view of the world.

Page one of any economic plan to get America working is to give a pink slip to the current resident in the White House.

Democracy functions best when we have an active citizenry.

America needs jobs, smaller government, less spending and a president with the courage to offer more than yet another speech.

Our work is before us. It cannot be passed to future legislatures and must not be passed to future generations. May we boldly seize the moment with singular unity. And may we build a Texas of unlimited possibility.

Spreading the wealth punishes success while setting America on course for a greater dependency on government.

America's greatness is not found in the size of its government. America's greatness resides in the hearts and the minds of the people.

In the rush to become all things to all people, the federal government has lost sight of its core responsibilities. As a result we're stuck in this frustrating paradox where Washington actually neglects things it's clearly supposed to be doing, while interfering in other areas where they are neither welcome nor authorized.

Let's make what Americans buy. Buy what Americans make. And sell it to the world.

Who can be against progress, after all? But it's a fraudulent use of the word - because for the Progressive, progress is marked not be how free you are, but how much government can 'do' for you.

Guns require a finger to pull the trigger.