The Old Guard’s Predictable Playbook
With President Trump winning a $15 million settlement from ABC News after George Stephanopoulos’ defamatory statements, and filing a $10 billion lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal, the days of making wild, defamatory claims without accountability are numbered. That’s true here in Montgomery County as well.
August 9, 2025 | Media Inquiries: press@mctxgop.org
3-minute read
What you are seeing in the Texas House is the desperation of the old guard, watching their influence over the Republican Party and its voters slip away.
In a last-ditch effort to hold onto power, they’ve cut backroom deals with Democrats, forming a voting bloc to undermine true conservatives in the Texas House.
This betrayal has rightly outraged Republicans across Texas and sparked the political theater and gaslighting we are witnessing today. But this fight isn’t just limited to Austin. It’s playing out in counties across the state, including right here in Montgomery County.
The Old Guard’s Predictable Playbook
If you’ve been involved in local politics, you’ve likely seen the old guard’s predictable playbook in action. Their strategy boils down to four tactics:
Smear the Montgomery County Tea Party and Patriots PAC with vague, baseless accusations to discredit their trusted conservative voter guides.
Engage in libel and slander, knowing that local courts are slow to act.
Harass opponents with threats, frivolous TEC complaints, and lawsuits.
Claim victimhood to generate sympathy and divide the party.
Rather than focusing all of its time on voter registration, education, and turnout, which is the core work of a county GOP, the local party has had to spend valuable time and resources countering these distractions.
Rather than focusing all of its time on voter registration, education, and turnout, which is the core work of a county GOP, the local party has had to spend valuable time and resources countering these distractions.
The Party’s Response
In response, the local party formed an audit team to review the TEC filings of individuals who submit politically motivated complaints. When violations are identified, the team files counter-complaints against both the original complainants and any elected officials they are affiliated with. This proactive strategy has significantly reduced the number of frivolous filings.
Despite the old guard’s repeated attacks on the Patriots PAC and the Tea Party to try and discredit their voter guides, conservatives won 94 out of 113 precincts in the last Primary Election, proving that voters aren’t buying the lies. But the old guard hasn’t given up. Now that they can no longer hide behind baseless TEC complaints, they’ve reverted to the same tired tactics: threats, slander, and playing the victim. Those tactics may soon carry serious consequences as well. And they are well aware of this.
Attackers Hiding Behind Fake Social Media Accounts
Social media “Sock Puppet” accounts are now being used by the old guard to smear conservatives anonymously without fear of facing the legal consequences that would follow if their identities were exposed.
A recent example was posted on Facebook under an alias trying to discredit Montgomery County Republican Party Vice Chairman, Jon Bouché.
Jon is active in the local church, leads worship and a men’s Bible study, and is the founder of the party’s annual Full Armor of God prayer event. False social media claims targeting Bouché and other conservatives reflect a low-effort strategy by the old guard to divert attention from policy debates to emotional narratives. Such tactics reveal their weak arguments and obsession with power over principle.
Accountability Is Coming
With President Trump winning a $15 million settlement from ABC News and filing a $10 billion lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal, the days of making wild, defamatory claims without accountability are numbered. That’s true here in Montgomery County as well.
Let this be a warning: If you choose to spread lies for political gain and libel others on social media, be prepared because real accountability is coming.