Richard S. Dunham is the Washington bureau chief of the Houston Chronicle. He is also the chief author of the Houston Chronicle’s popular DC political web site, Texas on the Potomac. Mr. Dunham appears regularly on ABC News’ America This Morning and has offered political analysis for CNN, CNBC, MSNBC, the News Hour with Jim Lehrer on PBS and XM Satellite Radio. A former president of the National Press Club, he is now president of the Eric Friedheim National Journalism Library, the charitable and educational arm of the National Press Club. From 1992 to July 2007, Mr. Dunham was the national political correspondent for Business Week magazine, covering the White House, Congress and national political trends.

Kathy Kiely is a political correspondent for the national newspaper USA Today. A reporter for over 20 years, Ms. Kiely has been at USA today for the last 10 years and was the Washington, DC correspondent for the New York Daily News and the Houston Post.  She is covering both the McCain and Obama campaigns and is a frequent guest on MSNBC and CNN. 

Patrick C. Oxford is the chairman of Bracewell & Giuliani. For many years, Mr. Oxford has been deeply involved in the business and civic affairs of Houston and Texas.  He was active in both of George W. Bush's gubernatorial campaigns and both of his presidential campaigns. In 2008, Mr. Oxford served as national campaign chairman for Rudy Giuliani's presidential campaign.

Larry R. Veselka is a partner in the law firm of Smyser, Kaplan and Veselka. Repeatedly selected by his peers as one of Texas' Super Lawyers, he has argued appeals before the Texas Courts of Appeals, the Texas Supreme Court, and the U.S. Courts of Appeals. Mr. Veselka’s public service includes working as an aide to Lt. Governor Bill Hobby, as the chair of the Harris County Democratic Party, and as a member of TSU’s Board of Regents.