It's Tuesday, June 2, 2006.

I'm Albert Moller, and this is the briefing, a daily analysis of news and events from a Christian worldview.

Well, as you know already, we are headed into a very interesting political season, and that is because increasingly the primaries are over. The election

ballot is taking shape in most states. We still have a few to go. But right now, I want us to think

about the fact that there are huge worldview issues very much at stake as we head into the midterm

elections. And of course, the big story in the elections is that the midterm elections are setting

the stage in 2006 for the next general election in 2008. So a lot of political energy, giant political

issues, all of that is before us. Let's talk about Texas. Let's talk about the senatorial race in Texas

because it is going to be one of the most interesting and informative races we could consider.

Now, just remember that it has only been in recent days that the full ballot there, both sides have been clearly defined.

And that is because on the Democratic side, it has been clear ever since the original primary.

And it is clear that it's James Talariko, a state legislator, that is going to carry the Democratic banner and is going to be facing off against what we now know, who we now know to be the Republican nominee, and that is Attorney General Ken Paxton.

And, of course, in order to get there, you had to have a runoff between the Attorney General and the incumbent U.S. Senator John Cornyn, who has served four full terms in the United States Senate,

been a very respected figure, worked his way into the Senate leadership.

Texas Republican voters said they wanted a new direction, and so they said no to John Cornyn.

They said yes to Ken Paxton, and we are off to the races, watching what is going on there in Texas.

Now, just remember, Texas is such an important state.

It's an important state, first of all in terms of national politics and national population. It's important because of the size of its population, the size of its economy, the size of its cultural influence, all that's true.

It is also a laboratory in and of itself. It's a laboratory of politics, a laboratory of a clash of worldviews.

It comes with a lot of history and a lot of Texas momentum. And as they say, everything in Texas

is big. And so the drama in this case is big. All right. Now, we will be talking about the

Republican candidate, Ken Paxton, the attorney general, but we right now need to talk about the

...