For this installment of On The Record, we speak with J. B. Hall, Committeeman from Senate District 28 and Constable for Tom Green County from San Angelo.

Dual news on the straw poll front today. On the GOP side: Mike Huckabee won't be attending the Republican straw poll in Fort Worth this weekend. Sam Brownback also pulled out. That means only Ron Paul, Duncan Hunter, and some other people you've never heard of will be there. On the Democratic side: The Texas Democratic Party is having an ePrimary Poll this weekend, and that promises to be much more popular than paying $75 to have Duncan Hunter yell at you.

Idaho Senator Larry Craig is still making headlines, as he resigns all his committee posts in light of repeated calls for resignation from his own party.

Two Democratic presidential candidates picked up union endorsements yesterday. The United Transportation Union declared their support for Senator Clinton (a big deal), and the International Association of Fire Fighters endorsed Senator Chris Dodd (arguably, a much bigger deal).

Not that anyone thought the Trans-Texas Corridor would fade away, but is the massive ad campaign the Texas Department of Transportation has undertaken in relation to that project necessary?

There will be two polls in Fort Worth this weekend. One will have a decisive outcome that means something, and the other will be the Republican Straw Poll.

If you were hoping for a little fall drama in the Senate chamber, you are going to get it. The chances that George Bush will nominate someone totally uncontroversial to fill Alberto Gonzales' shoes are very close to zero, and the Senate confirmation hearings are destined to be all kinds of contentious.

It was an unfortunate twist that coverage of Alberto Gonzales' resignation should consume so much of the day's news cycle when Democratic presidential candidates were in Iowa discussing cancer, an incredibly important topic that has an enormous impact on the lives of most Americans. But it did, and done can't be undone — many of you may not have heard much of the LiveStrong Presidential Cancer Forum or what was said by whom.

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales tendered his resignation on Friday. The New York Times has it that he will discuss his decision to resign at a press conference later today.

For this episode of On The Record, we speak with John Patrick, Democratic National Committee member from Galveston County, in Senate District 11.