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1:52 a.m.
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It's Monday, and that means it's time to show some love for the best posts from the members of the Texas Progressive Alliance for the preceding week. Check out the best that the Alliance has to offer, brought to you this week by refinish69 at Doing My Part For The Left . McBlogger has some advice for State Delegates aspiring to a seat on the floor in Denver . CouldBeTrue of stxc.blog...
Refinish69 - 1:50 a.m.
Since it became obvious to most people that Barack Obama will be the nominee for president of the Democratic Party, we have been hearing a lot of talk again about the "dream ticket" or "unity ticket". The idea is to have both Obama and Clinton on the ticket this Fall for the Democrats. The news media has made it sound like this was a broad-based movement, but it turns out that is...
jobsanger - 1:50 a.m.
Saturday was local election day and I put in a long day. I took off before 6 AM to pick up my alternate judge and then head to Morgan's Point. It would have been a lot earlier but Morgan's Point City Hall refuses to open its doors much before 7 AM to allow setup. Why Morgan's Point you might ask and why was I going there? Morgan's Point is a historical small town located at the tip of Gal...
Easter Lemming Liberal News - 1:49 a.m.
In all the hoopla about the Austin city races, it was easy to miss out on all the excitement out in the suburbs. One of the most interesting races was for Leander ISD, where incumbent Pam Waggoner faced off against challenger Will Streit. Waggoner made noise earlier this year when she became the Republican nominee to take on Donna Howard this November in TX House District 48 (I guess Ben Be...
Burnt Orange Report - Sun 11:16 p.m.
If you happened to watching the proceedings of the U.S. House on Wednesday, what you saw wasn't a pretty sight--especially if your mother was watching, too. Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Austin) voted against against H Res 1113 "Celebrating the Role of Mothers in the United States and Supporting the Goals and Ideals of Mother's Day. " Now this was a pretty stupid vote. Politicians ...
Burnt Orange Report - Sun 11:16 p.m.
Yesterday was a great day for Barack Obama, and an even better day for the hundreds and thousands of new voters registered today across the United States. Here in Austin we ran a voter registration drive that crossed the city, looking to make as many new Democrats as possible. We ended up with several hundred new voters, and dozens of new deputy registrars. We'll be at it again next weekend, Sa...
Burnt Orange Report - Sun 11:16 p.m.
It's Monday, and that means it's time to show some love for the best posts from the members of the Texas Progressive Alliance for the preceding week. Check out the best that the Alliance has to offer, brought to you this week by refinish69 at Doing My Part For The Left . McBlogger has some advice for State Delegates aspiring to a seat on the floor in Denver . CouldBeTrue of South ...
Easter Lemming Liberal News - Sun 11:14 p.m. - 4 clicks 
Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban makes a compelling case to make CEO pay cash-only : Make companies generate 100 percent of their compensation in cash that will be 100 percent expensable in the quarter paid. Counteracting the “CEO as riskmeister” myth, Cuban writes: Everyone who works for that company is at risk – of losing their jobs, benefits, raises, you name it. Employees live in the corp...
SocraticGadfly - Sun 9:12 p.m. - 6 clicks
That was a difficult title to write, y'all! Rasmussen continues to take polling snapshots of Senate races around the country with a look Northwest to Oregon . With a margin of error of 4%, Rasmussen shows incumbent Republican Senator Gordon Smith leading Democrat Jeff Merkley by 3%, 45%-42%. The same poll shows the matchup between Senator Smith and Democrat Steve Novick to be 47%-41%. This is ...
The Texas Blue - Sun 9:12 p.m. - 5 clicks
The Snooze lumps Rome’s two wars against Jewish rebels with Nazi persecution of Jews in what sets a new low standard for non-political stupidity on the editorial pages of the Snooze. The murder of 6 million European Jews in the 1940s fiercely and urgently showed why Israel was, and is, necessary. It is no small mystery, though, that the failed attempt to exterminate the Jewish people would re...
SocraticGadfly - Sun 4:58 p.m. - 7 clicks
Derrick Jackson has the lowdown on how both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are among top campaign money recipients from Exxon, Chevron and BP. In the 2008 election cycle, the second-biggest recipient of contributions from Exxon – after the $39,730 for Sen. John Cornyn, Republican of Texas – is Mr. Obama, at $23,550. Mrs. Clinton is in fourth place, at $15,700. Both are ahead of the $8,450 f...
SocraticGadfly - Sun 4:58 p.m. - 7 clicks
Of course, it's too late to stop the development. Voters rejected both incumbents who sought re-election Saturday, electing four new members to city council. District 6 incumbent Dianna Puccetti, who received 340 votes, lost to Karen Mahoney, who had 428 votes. District 3 incumbent Juan Peña lost to Elizabeth Beeton, getting just 217 votes to her 286 votes. West End voters were motivated by the...
South Texas Chisme - Sun 4:55 p.m. - 9 clicks
I think the message came through loud and clear! Voters on Saturday ousted incumbent Mayor Jerry Shults and chose to keep the councilman who in the last year became harshly critical of him. But who will take Shults’ place won’t be clear until run-off elections June 14, when voters will choose between hardware store owner Toni Randall and caregiver Chris Mallios, both strong detractors of Shults. ...
South Texas Chisme - Sun 4:55 p.m. - 10 clicks
We've seen Corpus Christi, Brownsville and the Texas House caught out for giving people health insurance. Such a crime. The real crime is that cronies and self-serving politicians have blocked universal healthcare. Now, Brownsville Mayor, Pat M. Ahumada Jr. , has asked city commissioners to pay the city back for their healthcare coverage....
South Texas Chisme - Sun 4:55 p.m. - 5 clicks
Although former sanitation department director Emma Acosta enjoyed a healthy lead over her four opponents, she didn't get the 50 percent plus one vote needed to win. She will meet Assistant County Attorney Naomi Gonzalez, who came in second, in the runoff, which could be on June 7 or June 14. ...
South Texas Chisme - Sun 4:55 p.m. - 9 clicks
Just back from Israel, Del Mar College Board of Regents Chairwoman Chris Adler confirmed one of the other items circulating Thursday night. She has been urged by some members of the business community to run for City Council District 4 against incumbent Michael McCutchon in 2009 and she is taking the idea seriously. Jaime Powell tries to smear McCutchon over the beach access issue. Jamie, Mike...
South Texas Chisme - Sun 4:55 p.m. - 7 clicks
In fact, just asking to talk put their panties in a twist. San Antonio mom Della Nagle thought it would be a simple task: Go to some of the nation's largest churches, visit with members and prove to them that she and her wife — yes, wife — can be part of a Christian family, too. But with the first church visit scheduled today in Houston, Nagle and her lesbian partner, Ruth Pinkham, whom she marr...
South Texas Chisme - Sun 4:55 p.m. - 7 clicks
Edinburg city council members stay. Incumbents Gene Espinoza and Alma A. Garza - backed by former mayor Richard Garcia - kept their Place 3 and Place 4 seats, respectively, on Saturday after the final but unofficial tallies in the city elections. Their challengers - Leonel Guerrero and Johnny Rodriguez - had been backed by Mayor Joe Ochoa. No show rejected as Elsa Mayor . Edcouch saw 2 out ...
South Texas Chisme - Sun 4:55 p.m. - 7 clicks
Cindy Liendo Espinoza becomes the first councilwoman elected since 1996. She easily beat the other two candidates, Canuta "Tita" Quintanilla and Juan Ramirez Jr., son of current District VIII Councilman Juan Ramirez, who couldn't run again because of term limits. "I think it will bring balance and a new perspective to how things are run, and it's a great thing for the city," Espinoza said about ...
South Texas Chisme - Sun 4:55 p.m. - 7 clicks
The following commentary printed in the San Antonio Express-News by Ken Allard underscores the ongoing battle between the state's transportation department, the legislature and the needs of the people of Texas. It is worth the read. P . ...
Somervell County Salon - Sun 4:55 p.m. - 8 clicks
Greg Maddux, in his fifth shot, finally got win No. 350 Saturday night, just the ninth pitcher to hit that mark. Five more puts him past Roger Clemens and wipes the Rocket off the list of most winning pitcher since Warren Spahn. That said, Mad Dog needs to retire after this year. An ERA of 4 with Petco as your home park is pretty high. And, it’s been over 4 each of the past five years. There i...
SocraticGadfly - Sun 1:52 p.m. - 11 clicks
History may point to it. As an avid reader of history, I have been leaning towards the view that we, as a nation, are causing our own collapse. It is a fact that the world great civilizations depicted in history have lasted several hundred years. Is it true that "Nothing lasts forever."? During the past several decades, the social, economic and ...
Somervell County Salon - Sun 1:48 p.m. - 9 clicks
New sun probe for less than $1 bil? Johns Hopkins says it can create a new solar exploration satellite, one to go nine times closer to the sun than Mercury for less than $750 million . Such solar probes have been discussed before, but price has always been a major roadblock. Our galactic journey causes mass extinctions Evidence is mounting that our rotation about the Milky Way can trigger lar...
SocraticGadfly - Sun 11:02 a.m. - 9 clicks
Given the way Jason Isringhausen has been blowing saves for the St. Louis Cardinals, is his removal from the closer’s role a mental health break for him or for Redbird skipper Tony La Russa? Or for us fans? “I’m just pitching like a second grader,” Isringhausen said. In 2007, Isringhausen had just two blown saves the entire season. Even though he has 11 saves this season, he also has failed t...
SocraticGadfly - Sun 11:02 a.m. - 8 clicks
Barack Obama Middle East advisor Robert Malley has stepped aside after The Times (London) asked about his connections to Hamas. Malley told The Times that he had been in regular contact with Hamas, which controls Gaza and is listed by the US State Department as a terrorist organisation. Such talks, he stressed, were related to his work for a conflict resolution think-tank and had no conne...
SocraticGadfly - Sun 11:02 a.m. - 10 clicks
By Faith Chatham - DFWRCC - May 11, 2008 Candidate for District 6, Arlington City Council, Joseph Farah wins our "top bonehead" award for bonehead mentality in a local race. Joseph Farah said Arlington badly needs a light-rail system, particularly one that runs from the city's entertainment district to Dallas. However, he opposes bus service circulating inside Arlington. "We don't want to a...
DFW Regional Concerned Citizens - Sun 11:01 a.m. - 12 clicks
The Republican Party has lost three seats in Congress in special elections since the year turned to 2008, and they face a fourth test in Mississippi on Tuesday. The district has been reliably Republican for years, but that's been no firewall to loss so far, and the GOP leadership has the slightly sick feeling that Tuesday could make the DCCC four-for-four in special elections. The Washington Pos...
The Texas Blue - Sun 11:01 a.m. - 11 clicks
Thank God the municipal elections are over. Maybe at least for Lewisville, we can now have rational discussions about where we need to focus our efforts as a city. The things I've heard about the so-called "immigration debate" are so prejudiced and so emotionally charged. I think it's now clear that our voters want our council to get back to work on the serious issues that are in our power and ...
WhosPlayin? - Sun 11:00 a.m. - 9 clicks
Courtesy of News 8 Austin, here are the partial results of yesterdays elections (Results in bold): Austin City Council Austin City Council Place 1 Lee Leffingwell 22,539 68% Jason Meeker 7,524 23% Allen Demling 3,162 10% 206 of 206 precincts reporting (100%) Austin City Council Place 3 Randi Shade 22,106 64% Jennifer Kim 9,327 27% Ken Weiss 3,030 9% 206 of 206 pr...
Texas Kaos - Sun 11:00 a.m. - 9 clicks
FOR PREVENTING U.S. ALLIES IN IRAQ FROM BECOMING A BURDEN TO THEIR NEIGHBORS AND FOR MAKING THEM BENEFICIAL TO THE PRESIDENT AND THE GOOD PEOPLE OF CRAWFORD, TEXAS (with apologies to Messrs Swift and Olbermann) IT IS a melancholy object to think this weekend about the President and his family celebrating his daughter’s wedding in Crawford, Texas, when close to 5 million Iraqis hav...
DailyKos (Texas) - Sun 10:59 a.m. - 9 clicks
This Mother's Day, take a moment to think about the mothers and kids from the YFZ Ranch in Eldorado who've been separated from each other by the state of Texas, and perhaps give a prayer that, by Father's Day, CPS has separated any actually allegedly abused kids from those where the state just dislikes their parents' religion, and returned the rest to their families, as about 75% of Grits reade...
Grits for Breakfast - Sun 10:57 a.m. - 9 clicks
By CRAIG CIVALE - WFAA-TV - May 10, 2008 An old friend has come back home to Turner Courts. Buses are darting through the neighborhood, back online, and more importantly, back after dark. "Most people have to walk home from the store, and it's dark, and they're afraid whether they come home from work or go grocery shopping, come into the complex," said Sylvia Baylor, a Turner Courts resident. ...
DFW Regional Concerned Citizens - Sun 7:29 a.m. - 16 clicks
The current media trend in reporting on national politics is to report that Senator Barack Obama has either caught up to Senator Hillary Clinton on superdelegates or that he is now in the lead. The superdelegate count has always been an ever-shifting sandpile with no foundation, with every media outlet having a unique method of counting and, indeed, their own totals for each candidate. But a b...
The Texas Blue - Sun 7:28 a.m. - 14 clicks
Despite innuendo , there actually is no proof of any widespread fraud in Texas, at least not the kind that government ID would take care of . In fact, there are far greater possibilities of fraud or malfunction with Texas’ paperless electronic voting machines . That's the moneyshot from James Harrington , the director of the Texas Civil Rights Project . This government ID scheme works...
Brains and Eggs - Sun 7:26 a.m. - 13 clicks
My recent conversation about arson cases with Innocence Project of Texas director Jeff Blackburn left me more interested in the issue of how and why people are wrongly convicted of arson based on faulty forensic science, and how many innocent people may be implicated. As it turns out, in 2006 Barry Scheck's Innocence Project in New York sponsored a formal peer review of expert testimony in two ...
Grits for Breakfast - Sun 7:25 a.m. - 13 clicks
I love stories about demographics. By 2050, the area between Houston, San Antonio and Dallas-Fort Worth will become a single......
Off the Kuff - Sun 5:47 a.m. - 17 clicks
In place 1, Lewisville City Council, Greg Tierney won re-election to his third term over challenger John Gorena. The vote was 796 (61.14%) to 506 (38.86%). In place 3, Lewisville City Council, Lathan Watts won re-election to his first full 3-year term over challenger David Fogle. The vote was 811 (63.76%) to 461 (36.24%)....
WhosPlayin? - Sat 11:18 p.m. - 13 clicks
By lightseeker2 I am always concerned when I blog. I want to offer my readers something more than just a rehash of the headlines. Additionally, I don't want to be one of those bloggers who are basically one song wonders. But, what am I do to do when Rick and his Republican buddies are revealed over and over again as the incompetent , greedy hypocrites that they are? What brought on my lates...
Texas Kaos - Sat 11:17 p.m. - 4 clicks
In many Texas cities, the city councils have imposed a smoking ban in all city businesses. Amarillo has taken a different path. The city commission decided that it should be up to the city's voters, and not just a couple of councilmen. So today, the citizens of Amarillo voted on whether they wanted to ban smoking or not. For the second time in three years, they have voted against...
jobsanger - Sat 11:17 p.m. - 19 clicks
A friend in Arizona has just written a post about the Texas boondoggle known as the Trans-Texas Corridor. She understands that the TTC is not just a Texas problem, but will affect many other states. This is one of the best in-depth posts about the TTC that I have read. I urge you to go read it at Wild Chihuahuas . The TTC will cut off many cities and towns along its route, wil...
jobsanger - Sat 11:17 p.m. - 16 clicks
Voters in the small southern Dallas County suburb appear to have approved an initiative for package sales of beer, wine, and alcohol. . With all five precincts reporting to Dallas County Elections, the measure was up 58-42 percent. If that holds up, Hutchins would be the only place in the county south of the Trinity River to sell spirits as well as beer and wine. Meanwhile, an identical propo...
SocraticGadfly - Sat 9:21 p.m. - 15 clicks
That’s the word from Kenneth Rosen , chairman of the Fisher Center for Real Estate and Urban Economics at the University of California at Berkeley, speaking at an Urban Land Institute gathering in Dallas. And, he says, we are nowhere near the bottom of the subprime collapse: He thinks foreclosures could rise as high as 35 percent of all subprime loans in the next 18 months, from 13 percent in...
SocraticGadfly - Sat 7:20 p.m. - 17 clicks
Both John McCain , against either Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, and John Cornyn , against Rick Noreiga, are polling below 50 percent right now. Especially with Cornyn being an incumbent, he and the GOP have to be worried about that. Cornyn has vulnerabilities, beginning, of course, with Iraq. And every Democratic activist knows Noreiga’s story of National Guard service in Afghanistan, so I...
SocraticGadfly - Sat 7:20 p.m. - 18 clicks
Today was a great day for Barack Obama, and an even better day for the hundreds and thousands of new voters registered today across the United States. Here in Austin we ran a voter registration drive that crossed the city, looking to make as many new Democrats as possible. The biggest problem we faced? Most people are already registered! But we did our best to make new voters, es...
DailyKos (Texas) - Sat 7:16 p.m. - 18 clicks
Election Results From Travis County Elections & Precinct by Precinct Results (pdf) Below are the current results for the major races. We're using the combined early and election day vote. Feel free to follow select jurisdictions in the comments. All reports now final. PLACE 1, AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL 206 of 206 Precincts Reporting Lee Leffingwell 22,539 ...
Burnt Orange Report - Sat 7:16 p.m. - 20 clicks
Part of that dirty campaigning he says he's not part of. But important nuances appear to have been lost in the partisan salvos, particularly on Mr. McCain’s side. An examination of Mr. Obama’s numerous public statements on the subjects indicates that he has consistently condemned Hamas as a “terrorist organization,” has not sought the group’s support and does not...
Somervell County Salon - Sat 7:15 p.m. - 14 clicks
Hooray for U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison not compelling her to go to arbitration. Obviously Halliburton and KBR wanted this kept quiet. Jamie Leigh Jones absolutely refuses to go away quietly; Testifying before Congress , allowing her name to be published, going on Dan Abrams and pursuing the trial. The AP story that ran in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram is given more treatment later. I am ...
Texas Kaos - Sat 4:53 p.m. - 15 clicks
I've heard that literally DOZENS AND DOZENS of Austinites have turned out to vote today. Not the most encouraging news --- and if we do have a runoff in the Place 3 and Place 4 races (which may or may not happen), then any runoff may come down to who has a longer list of supporters on their website. Leave any predictions below, and feel free to comment on results. Also, if you voted, let us know ...
Burnt Orange Report - Sat 4:52 p.m. - 17 clicks
The saltwater disposal company nearly devoured by a giant sinkhole this week in Liberty County was injecting sometimes double the amount of saltwater into the ground that its state permit allowed. But officials with the Texas Railroad Commission, which regulates such permits, stressed Friday that the cause of the sinkhole in the small town of Daisetta has not been determined. "We have n...
Somervell County Salon - Sat 4:51 p.m. - 15 clicks
I continue to wonder, we have nobody in THIS COUNTRY that can operate OUR assets like airports?????? A Macquarie spokesman confirmed yesterday that discussions with Austin officials were under way but stressed they were at a "very preliminary stage", with no formal proposal for an ABIA takeover on the table. According to some projections, leasing ABIA to a private operator could earn...
Somervell County Salon - Sat 4:51 p.m. - 15 clicks
Local economists agree with city of Cedar Hill Finance Director Hardy Browder — housing market recovery here in the Dallas-Fort Worth is a ways off . How far off? Economists and housing industry leaders meeting in Dallas said very late 2008 or 2009 before the housing market begins to recover. “I think we are at the bottom but I think the bottom is very rocky and long,” said Robert McLeod, chai...
SocraticGadfly - Sat 1:54 p.m. - 20 clicks
Bikers and spectators at the Cedar Hill Rotary Club’s Head for the Hills Rally, as well as voters in municipal elections, got to see stuff like this group of Indian blankets blanketing the roadsides today. There is no god and I am his prophet. ...
SocraticGadfly - Sat 1:54 p.m. - 21 clicks
An Austin American-Statesman blog reported yesterday that former Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney has darkened the state’s doorway, appearing at separate fund-raisers for Republican presumptive Presidential nominee John McCain and Senator John Cornyn (R-TX). There are multiple advantages to huddling with Texas’ right-wing political contributors, not foremost among these is...
Eye On Williamson County - Sat 1:51 p.m. - 21 clicks
Yeah, I love geese and I thought this was kutesy-kitsch. Turns out that the Bush's weren't even IN Crawford when that severe thunderstorm with hail came through, but in Salado (which is near Temple). A Crawford woman hopes her hubby isn't called away from THEIR wedding . Somebody said on teevee earlier (CNN) that Jenna didn't invite *all* of her friends because some of them apparently are p...
Somervell County Salon - Sat 1:50 p.m. - 22 clicks
Rasmussen Reports, which has been tracking the Democratic nomination daily for nearly two years, announced yesterday that it is dropping surveys of Clinton vs. Obama. "It has become clear that Barack Obama will be the Democratic nominee," Michael Boniello, Rasmussen's vice president, said in an e-mail yesterday. The pollster will now focus on the potential general-election matchup ...
Somervell County Salon - Sat 1:50 p.m. - 20 clicks
He can’t win! Don’t you understand? He’s black! He’s black! The Clintons have been trying to embed that gruesomely destructive message in the brains of white voters and superdelegates for the longest time. It’s a grotesque insult to African-Americans, who have given so much support to both Bill and Hillary over the years.... But it’s an insult to wh...
Somervell County Salon - Sat 1:50 p.m. - 19 clicks
3:30PM I've been out an about since 6:00 AM posting up signs, making sure our polling location volunteers were well prepared with push-leaflets and water, and then actually working a polling location. The day went from warm and humid to sunny and sizzling! By 1:30, the four locations in the Kingwood/Atascocita area has already amassed about 1,500 votes. So, it's safe to say that by 7PM, ...
Dos Centavos - Sat 1:49 p.m. - 20 clicks
Every week, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison sends our newspaper group her weekly column. And, just about every week for the past two months, I can guarantee I will find a call to opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling in there somewhere. Here’s this week’s nuttery: On U.S. soil and off our coasts, we have significantly more oil than Venezuela’s 80 billion barrel reserve, and our avai...
SocraticGadfly - Sat 10:27 a.m. - 21 clicks
I have to wonder about the quality of the rope that Hillary Clinton’s statistics group is smoking these days. On Talking Points Memo, Clinton has a slide show up for congressional superdelegates to view, showing that she wins “in the tough districts”. In that PowerPoint presentation, on Slide 4 to be specific, Clinton’s people clearly indicate that Hillary Clinton carried Nick Lampson’s CD...
Half Empty - Sat 10:25 a.m. - 20 clicks
It's not working and it is not appreciated. First, there was this email to me: REMINDER: State Convention Details: Dear Muse, We're nearing the end of this race, and every vote and every delegate matters. That's why the Texas State Convention being held in Austin from June 5th to June 7th is so important. National Convention delegates will be allocated based on the State Convention results,...
Musings - Sat 10:24 a.m. - 23 clicks
The Dallas Morning News wrote an OP-ED questioning the credibility of the Texas Supreme Court with an emphasis on the recent ruling for their top contributor, Bob Perry. Nothing underscores this point better than the May 2 Texas Supreme Court decision favoring Perry Homes over homeowners Jane and Robert Cull. The court's decision, overturning two lower courts' rulings to compensate the Culls...
Bay Area Houston Blog - Sat 10:24 a.m. - 19 clicks
There is little doubt that Karl Rove turned the DOJ into his toy. The Justice Department will monitor Saturday's municipal elections in a pair of Dallas suburbs that have been flash points in the immigration debate. The department said Friday that the monitoring is designed to ensure compliance with the Voting Rights Act. Dallas County is obligated to provide all election information, ballots an...
South Texas Chisme - Sat 10:24 a.m. - 21 clicks
The saltwater disposal company nearly devoured by a giant sinkhole this week in Liberty County was injecting sometimes double the amount of saltwater into the ground that its state permit allowed. But officials with the Texas Railroad Commission, which regulates such permits, stressed Friday that the cause of the sinkhole in the small town of Daisetta has not been determined. "We have no proven...
South Texas Chisme - Sat 10:24 a.m. - 22 clicks
With a quorum of the executive committee of the Webb County Democratic Party finally present in the Webb County Central Jury Room on Friday, the results of last week's recount of the ballots cast during the April 8 runoff for Webb County sheriff became official.Wednesday's canvass never materialized after attorneys for candidate Martin Cuellar suggested Webb County Democratic Party Chair Sergio M...
South Texas Chisme - Sat 10:24 a.m. - 21 clicks
The Texas Rangers are sending 10 agents to the island to audit the Galveston Police Department’s property room after District Attorney Kurt Sistrunk was forced to dismiss 16 cases because of compromised evidence. Late last month, police officials fired a civilian employee after about $18,000 in cash and an undisclosed amount of cocaine, hydrocodone and ecstasy disappeared from the property room....
South Texas Chisme - Sat 10:24 a.m. - 21 clicks
"Virtually every person charged with offense in El Paso County, and like Miss Quintana has no prior conviction, has been afforded the opportunity to enter the pre-trial diversion program," [Quintana's lawyer Stephen] Peters said. "The district attorney has decided that because she's an elected official that they are not going to do that." He added that while Quintana maintains her innocence, she...
South Texas Chisme - Sat 10:24 a.m. - 20 clicks
Leo Berman indicates immigration-type bills, aka racist sh*t, will have a field day this next session. Speaker Tom Craddick has dismissed claims from a Republican House colleague that anti-immigrant bills will be moved to a committee where they are more likely to pass. Last session, all legislation dealing with immigration and border security went to the State Affairs Committee. On the advice o...
South Texas Chisme - Sat 10:24 a.m. - 19 clicks
Two U.S. citizens and one legal permanent resident were among those arrested last month in Mount Pleasant, Texas, during a federal immigration crackdown targeting identity fraud at poultry giant Pilgrim's Pride. One 19-year-old citizen was taken from her home while still in her pajamas, and an 18-year-old citizen was shackled at his ankles, handcuffed at his wrists and tied at his waist, said th...
South Texas Chisme - Sat 10:24 a.m. - 18 clicks
The Texas Democratic Party should abolish the caucus portion for electing presidential candidates. Working people, the elderly, the disabled and people who take care of them are excluded. I understand Nueces County favorite, John Bell, is on a mission to get rid of the caucus selection system. Go, John, go!! The Texas Democratic Party was sued Friday by Latino advocacy groups that contend the c...
South Texas Chisme - Sat 10:24 a.m. - 17 clicks
The Texas Youth Commission and the US Justice Department entered into a settlement this week over allegations of abuse at the Evins unit in South Texas, but the MSM coverage was pretty vague and I haven't had time until this morning to review the Agreed Order itself (which Jim Hurley graciously emailed me upon request - it's not online). Here are some highlights: New Use of Force Rules : Unde...
Grits for Breakfast - Sat 10:22 a.m. - 22 clicks
We have a second announced candidate for State Sen. Kyle Janek's soon-to-be-open seat. Houston lawyer Grant Harpold has announced that......
Off the Kuff - Sat 8:24 a.m. - 24 clicks
Today is election day across Texas for Municipal races and others. Please remember to vote if you did not vote early. Enjoy this video of sand painting. I will be registering voters today and then trying to attend a couple of candidate parties. What are you up to today. ...
Texas Kaos - Sat 5:18 a.m. - 25 clicks
is today . Mrs. Diddie insists on going this year (and taking the dog). (The Car of a Thousand Chairs, from last year's parade.)...
Brains and Eggs - Sat 5:16 a.m. - 24 clicks
Yesterday's Attorney General poll needed no runoff as John Edwards won more than 50% in the first round. Results below the fold. With the Obama Veepstakes poll now concluded and Gov. Bill Richardson as your chosen running mate (which was covered by the Santa Fe Reporter ) it's time to take this a step further: Who would you like to see in an Obama cabinet? Today you can vote on the ne...
DailyKos (Texas) - Sat 3:20 a.m. - 71 clicks
In many Texas communities go find your precinct and vote for some local issues and candidates if you didn't early vote. Local issues often hit your pocketbook and your quality of life. Taking it back begins at the local level in your neighborhood. In Harris County go to HarrisVotes.com for your voting location. I had to tell my parents it was not at their normal location. My earlier ...
Easter Lemming Liberal News - Sat 1:55 a.m. - 25 clicks
First, old Clintons pal Terry McAuliffe says a joint Dem ticket is fine, without saying Clinton should head it . Second, Obama got eight superdelegates today . Third, the American Leadership Project isn’t spending an money on Hillary in West Virginia. Fourth, a group of state Democratic chairpersons gathered at Obama’s Chicago headquarters Friday. Of course, not everybody has gotten the...
SocraticGadfly - Sat 12:07 a.m. - 19 clicks
DDT and other toxins have accumulated for decades in the icecaps of Greenland and Antarctica. And global warming is new releasing some of this stew. Adélie penguins are being exposed, so far in trace amounts, in the Antarctic. Polar bears and other animals have already been exposed in Greenland, and Canada’s northernmost islands. So far, no worries there, either, but it is something to monitor, ...
SocraticGadfly - Sat 12:07 a.m. - 23 clicks
John McCain's wobbily responses to questions about his solicitation of Rev. John (anti-Catholic, etc.) Hagee's endorsement will be bad enough for Republicans to defend. McCain, however, isn't the only Republican who may have to defend getting close in any way to Hagee and his ilk. In the first frames of the video below, notice who is standing at Hagee's right side. As you'll see below, that pers...
Texas Kaos - Sat 12:05 a.m. - 21 clicks
With all the talk about the Visitor Center these days, I find myself brainstorming other ways to attract overnight visits in Lubbock. First, how about some more brochure racks? Check out River Smith’s: River Smith’s is right next to at least 5 hotels as well as the intersection US84 and the Marsha Sharp Freeway. It’s [...]...
Lubbock Left - Fri 9:43 p.m. - 22 clicks
News came tonight that one of the two remaining Texas Democratic congressmen who has held himself in the undecided column has now declared allegiance. On The Chron tonight is news that Ciro Rodriguez (Texas CD 23) has declared his support to the flagging campaign of Sen. Hillary Clinton. Josh Rosenblum, Ciro Rodriguez’ congressional aide offered these words in explanation: “A big reason i...
Half Empty - Fri 9:42 p.m. - 23 clicks
Congressman Ciro Rodriguez, whose spokesperson cited the district's vote as a primary reason, announced an endorsement for Hillary Clinton . As a United States Congressperson, he is a superdelegate to the DNC Convention. What say you? How significant is it that the district's support is the primary reason? ...
Burnt Orange Report - Fri 9:41 p.m. - 27 clicks
Another Texas Congressman signs on to Team Clinton: Congressman Ciro Rodriguez of Texas today announced his endorsement of Hillary Clinton for President. Congressman Rodriguez, who represents the 23rd Congressional District of Texas, is the second Democrat representing a highly competitive district to back Hillary today. Earlier, Congressman Chris Carney of Pennsylvania also endorsed Hillar...
Capitol Annex - Fri 8:05 p.m. - 24 clicks
This afternoon, I surfed around on Thomas looking at recent roll call votes to see what our local Congressman, Michael Burgess has been up to. A lot of the votes taken in Congress are on procedural matters, so it's easy to miss the little nuggets that give you true insight on the character of your elected representative....
WhosPlayin? - Fri 8:05 p.m. - 21 clicks
Two polls. Four points. Yesterday, Markos released another poll showing our campaign just 4 points behind John Cornyn in the race for U.S. Senate here in Texas (Noriega 44% -- Cornyn 48%). Again, John Cornyn is polling below 50% -- a danger sign for any incumbent. ...
DailyKos (Texas) - Fri 8:04 p.m. - 23 clicks
The El Paso Times is reporting that LULAC, the League of United Latin Americans, is suing the Texas Democratic Party, for failing to properly allocate delegates to majority hispanic areas. Their full complaint, filed in San Antonio, can be found here: http://alt.coxnewsweb.com/... ...
DailyKos (Texas) - Fri 8:04 p.m. - 25 clicks
What a kick in the teeth that would be for those of us that have been contributing money to HIS campaign, with the hope that the money would be used to fight Gramps McCain in the general election, and not bribe Hillary *I'm a Millionnairess* Clinton by helping her retire her campaign debt that she continues to incur by NOT DROPPING THE HECK OUT EVEN THOUGH SHE' S LOSING. Obama. Are you listeni...
Somervell County Salon - Fri 8:03 p.m. - 22 clicks
One can only imagine that a whole bunch of the outside is already decorated for Jenna Bush's wedding and people will be scrambling after this storm passes to put up the decorations again. Hail is predicted as well. The good side is maybe it will keep some of the many planes and military helicopters OUT of the air for awhile. ...
Somervell County Salon - Fri 8:03 p.m. - 25 clicks
Stories about Iranian arms and Iranian activity in Iraq have been a periodic staple of the news this past year. The most recent eruption of these stories has proven to be a bit problematic : Iraqi officials also have accused Iran of meddling in violence and had echoed the U.S. accusations of new Iranian-made arms being found in Basra. But neither the United States nor Iraq has displayed any o...
The Texas Blue - Fri 4:19 p.m. - 20 clicks
If you thought that right-wing, anti-tax Republicans would temper their desire to see the bogus concept of “property tax relief” move forward in light of recent media coverage showing it to be nothing more than a high-dollar tax shift, think again. None other than former State Rep. Talmadge Heflin, now the director for the Center for Fiscal Policy, we see exactly where the Republic...
Capitol Annex - Fri 4:19 p.m. - 22 clicks
Texas Congressmen Silvestre Reyes, Gene Green, and Henry Cuellar are among over a dozen members of Congress who late this week sent a letter to other Democrats touting their support for Hillary Clinton, saying she is the strongest candidate to have at the top of the ticket this fall. Here is the letter: Dear Fellow Democrat, We are writing to you because of our shared belief in our Part...
Capitol Annex - Fri 4:19 p.m. - 25 clicks
Oh - My - GOD! ... After 45 minutes of fighting, [Royce] Coker [of The Colony] says he landed a monster of a fish: a 65-pound channel catfish....
WhosPlayin? - Fri 4:19 p.m. - 27 clicks
WFAA report by Brett Shipp: Railroad Commissioners criticized for oil and gas relationships Last night Brett Shipp, again, exposed the "cozy relationship" Texas Railroad Commissioners have with the oil and gas industry. I call the commissioners Paid Protectors of Oil and Gas, but I'm a blogger so I can say that where Shipp can't be quite so blunt. Still, Shipp does an admirable job of telli...
Texas Kaos - Fri 4:19 p.m. - 25 clicks
Tomorrow the voters living within the boundaries of Fort Bend ISD will have a final opportunity to repudiate the “reform” Gang of Four that turned Fort Bend ISD on its ear for two memorable years. Two years that saw mass exodus of teachers and administrators. Two years that saw hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars flushed down the commode from the expenses incurred in replacing these people...
Half Empty - Fri 4:19 p.m. - 20 clicks
Breaking news....there's a big-ass hole in Texas. What will the Department of Republican Nomenclature do with this new challenge? ...
DailyKos (Texas) - Fri 4:18 p.m. - 28 clicks
For all of you that have been holding your breath waiting for City Elections to roll around YEAH for you they are almost here. Tomorrow is E Day for Austinites! If you still have'nt decided who to vote for you can get some great information here , here ,and here . If you don't know where you should go to vote (DUH btw) you can visit this site to find out. While you are contemp...
McBlogger - Fri 4:18 p.m. - 21 clicks
Josh Marshall at Talking Points Memo is reporting that LULAC has filed suit against the TDP over the primacaucus delegate selection procedure. The link at Marshall's site goes directly to the El Paso Times story about the suit. No details. Anyone know anything more? Update from Phillip Considering how focused the TDP has been on changing the rules going forward -- and eager ...
Burnt Orange Report - Fri 4:17 p.m. - 21 clicks
With a second poll out, there are some more positive responses about the state of Texas. DSCC: Two Polls Show Noriega in Dead Heat John Cornyn has turned his back on Texans for six years, and now Texans are returning the favor. If these polls tell us anything, it's that John Cornyn should be very nervous because Texans are ready for new leadership. MyDD: Second Poll Puts Noriega Withi...
Burnt Orange Report - Fri 4:17 p.m. - 25 clicks
I've been watching it for the longest time, stumbled across it one night when I was looking for some crunchy candy shows that were all filler fluff. Joel McHale is hilar. ...
Somervell County Salon - Fri 4:16 p.m. - 22 clicks
Just wanted to mention a couple more highlights from yesterday's "Innocence Summit" in the Texas Chambers before putting my notes away: Robert Wilonsky cited AP for the money quote from Dallas DA Craig Watkins' presentation, that "It can be argued that Texas ... may have one of the worst criminal justice systems in this country." A couple of heads shot up in the audience for sure, I can tell ...
Grits for Breakfast - Fri 4:15 p.m. - 21 clicks
I don't frequently blog about celebrity crime cases, but the story of Chicago Bears running back Cedric Benson's run in with officers from the Lower Colorado River Authority appears to have more dramatic twists the more we learn about it. Benson was a star at UT Austin but has been a bust on the field in Chicago, so his legal troubles aren't earning him much love among Windy City sportswrit...
Grits for Breakfast - Fri 4:15 p.m. - 22 clicks
WFAA report by Brett Shipp: Railroad Commissioners criticized for oil and gas relationships Last night Brett Shipp, again, exposed the “cozy relationship” Texas Railroad Commissioners have with the oil and gas industry. I call the commissioners Paid Protectors of Oil and Gas , but I’m a blogger so I can say that where Shipp can’t be quite so blunt. Still, Shipp does an admirable job of tellin...
Bluedaze - Fri 10:54 a.m. - 19 clicks
Looks like the feds are finally getting interested in the Bush administration’s illegal activity. U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein of New York yesterday ordered the CIA “to submit to the court a 2002 memo said to specify harsh interrogation methods used on suspected terrorists held abroad.” The investigation is part of a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit brought by the ACLU and other org...
Dungeon Diary - Fri 10:53 a.m. - 18 clicks
The Rick Noriega campaign sent out an email earlier today with more good news for Texas Democrats and more bad news for John Cornyn. This Research 2000 poll shows Cornyn at 48% and Noriega at 44%. This makes two polls in one week that show Senator Cornyn under 50% and two polls in one week that show Rick Noriega to be within the margin of error of Senator Cornyn. The Research 2000 poll was co...
The Texas Blue - Fri 10:53 a.m. - 17 clicks
For those of you who thought our original reporting on just how close the Texas Senate race may be might have been some sort of fluke: Believe it. The Research 2000 poll was commissioned by Daily Kos, and the crosstabs over there show some interesting details. Among those are Cornyn's high unfavorables and low level of "no opinion," which Josh mentions, as well as Bush's 37% approval rati...
The Texas Blue - Fri 10:53 a.m. - 17 clicks
For this episode of On The Record, we speak with John Cullar, County Chair for the McLennan County Democratic Party. What was your personal progression from the role of activist to the role of county chair? I began as a precinct chair and served as an election judge for several years in the mid-1980s. In 1988, I was elected to the SDEC and served until 1996. In 1995, our county chair resi...
The Texas Blue - Fri 10:53 a.m. - 17 clicks
One more datapoint that shows Texas as being in play at the Senate level. The most troubling sign in all of this for Cornyn is that his own number is hovering below 50 in both recent +4 showings. He's still got a sizable money advantage and I'd expect him to start showing some signs of genuine concern. It'll be interesting if he goes up on TV during the summer, when voters aren't paying much at...
Greg's Opinion - Fri 10:52 a.m. - 18 clicks
Independent candidate for U.S. Representative in the 26th district of Texas, Donald Tracey of Keller, Texas (right) has effectively ended his bid for access to the November, 2008 ballot. Texas Secretary of State Elections Division employee Kim Thole confirmed this morning that Tracey failed to file his required petition of 500 voters, which was due yesterday, May 8. ...
WhosPlayin? - Fri 10:52 a.m. - 21 clicks
Rick Noriega's had an excellent week-including two separate polls showing him within 4 points of Junior John Cornyn. That's got the national Netroots (at Dkos and elsewhere) very excited. Rick's campaign blog is kicking into gear as well, and to cap off the week, Rick himself will be liveblogging over at the Great Orange Satan this afternoon. 2 p.m. Eastern, 1 Central. Drop by for a chat ...
Texas Kaos - Fri 10:52 a.m. - 19 clicks
It's time for the Texas Progressive Alliance Weekly Blog Round-Up. CouldBeTrue from South Texas Chisme notes Republican-run government favors crony money over Texans' health. Asarco , a proven polluter, is given a permit to start polluting again and Abbott says lead poisoning landlords have a right to privacy. John Coby at Bay Area Houston , thinks Bob Perry should go to Hell. ...
McBlogger - Fri 10:51 a.m. - 17 clicks
Who do you think has had the best (or worst) direct mail of the municipal election cycle in Austin or anywhere in the state? Feel free to link up pictures or scans in the comments. If you have some classic mail to reminisce over, share in the comments. The point of this thread is fairly direct- don't you think? P.S. Burnt Orange Report got quoted in some direct mail this week. Scans on the f...
Burnt Orange Report - Fri 10:50 a.m. - 21 clicks
How could they? How dare they! Officials Passed "No Property Tax" Bill, Voters Approved It, But Legislators Did NOT Determine How to Apply the Law In another brazen move in 2007 Texas legislators proposed Senate Joint Resolution (SJR) 29, a long-awaited constitutional amendment that would exempt 100-percent Disabled Veterans from property taxes. SJR...
Somervell County Salon - Fri 10:48 a.m. - 17 clicks
On the heels of that Rasmussen poll showing him within four points of Sen. John Cornyn, a second poll has......
Off the Kuff - Fri 10:47 a.m. - 18 clicks
I was at Pure Austin last night, trying to blow off some steam and work through my primary grief, despite the fact that I had hurt my right knee earlier in the day by slipping and falling at Whole Foods while trying to balance an assortment of two-bite cupcakes (not a pretty sight, as you [...]...
In the Pink Texas - Fri 10:47 a.m. - 16 clicks
Tonight at 10:00 PM, Channel 8 investigative reporter, Brett Shipp , exposes the payola received by the people we elect to serve us as Railroad Commissioners. MISSION STATEMENT We serve Texas by: * Our stewardship of natural resources and the environment * Our concern for personal and community safety * Our support of enhanced development and economic vitality for the benef...
Bluedaze - Fri 8:05 a.m. - 16 clicks
I saw this on Texas Kaos . Congratulations! You can buy this entire shopping cart for 2 people! ...or you can spend the money occupying Iraq and killing over a million people. find a new source of energy QUANTITY: 1 PRICE: $100,000,000.00 High-End Laptop QUANTITY: 1 PRICE: $7,909.37 Apple MacBook Pro MB133LL/A 15.4" Laptop (2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, 2 GB RAM, 200 G...
Bluedaze - Fri 8:05 a.m. - 17 clicks
Add State Sen. Florence Shapiro (R-Plano) to the list of people who have an eye on U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison’s senate seat–if and when Hutchison resigns to run for governor (or be sworn in as governor, or retire, morphs into a griffin, become a shampoo spokeswoman, etc.): If U.S. Sen . Kay Bailey Hutchison resigns - say, to run for governor - Shapiro “has a stron...
Capitol Annex - Fri 8:04 a.m. - 23 clicks
Connolly Indicted For Illegal Contributions To City Councilman | WOAI.COM: San Antonio News T. J. Connolly has been indicted again for illegal campaign contributions. The indictment, which is against Connolly and his company, alleges he gave illegal campaign contributions to City Councilman Philip Cortez. This week’s indictment comes just four months after Connolly was indicted for fu...
Dig Deeper Texas - Fri 8:04 a.m. - 17 clicks
This Saturday, take part in something that can help every single Texas Democrat on the ballot in November. Join the Obama campaign's 50-State Voter Registration Drive . The more folks we can register now who are eager to vote for a Democrat, the more we can concentrate on turning them out in November. Right now, Barack Obama only trails John McCain by five points here in Texas, and Rick Noriega...
Burnt Orange Report - Fri 8:02 a.m. - 18 clicks
Wouldn't it be nice to have TWO Democratic senators from Texas? State Sen. Florence Shapiro of Dallas is considering setting up an exploratory committee to run for the U.S. Senate in anticipation of Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison running for governor. When Texas turns blue in November, a Republican shouldn't have a chance. Here's more about Shapiro - here , here and here ....
South Texas Chisme - Fri 8:02 a.m. - 15 clicks
What was supposed to be a quick and simple process to make official last Thursday's recount of the ballots cast in the runoff election for Webb County sheriff came to a screeching halt at Wednesday's scheduled canvass.Attorneys for candidate Martin Cuellar informed Webb County Democratic Party Chair Sergio Mora that there was not a quorum of the executive committee of the Webb County Democratic P...
South Texas Chisme - Fri 8:02 a.m. - 15 clicks
Farmers have attempted in recent months to convey a struggling industry plagued by labor shortages to congressional representatives from the Texas-Mexico border and the need for comprehensive immigration reform to tap into an able and willing supply of workers. How about higher wages and better working condidtions? I know. Farmers take it in the shorts. Food prices are rising to scary levels be...
South Texas Chisme - Fri 8:02 a.m. - 14 clicks
A second poll confirms what the first one earlier this week revealed: Republican voters do not support a second term for John Cornyn as US Senator from Texas. Even though Texas isn't yet in play for the Democratic nominee for president, a far greater number of Lone Star conservatives would vote for amnesty for illegal aliens, 100 more years in Iraq, more reactionary judges on the Supreme Cou...
Brains and Eggs - Fri 8:01 a.m. - 10 clicks
Except, of course, they're concealed weapons. Texans are applying for concealed handgun licenses at a rate nearly 40 percent higher than a year ago, causing a backlog in new applications and permit renewals, according to a newspaper report. The Houston Chronicle reported in its Thursday editions that state officials can't explain the surge in applications, while handgun instructors point to fact...
South Texas Chisme - Fri 5:43 a.m. - 17 clicks
Earlier this week Grits placed the blame for Harris County jail overcrowding at the feet of their elected officials , especially local judges, and an editorial this morning in the Houston Chronicl e agreed, concluding: A large part of the jail overcrowding problem resides with the elected judges here. They don't make good use of pre-trial release and other jail diversion programs that allow ...
Grits for Breakfast - Fri 5:41 a.m. - 11 clicks
Maybe we should put one of Gov. Perry’s proposed toll booths at the entrance-way of our State Capitol Building so that legislators and special interest visitors must pay a toll tax on their inertia regarding Public School Finance and other urgent issues? The school finance issue still has not been resolved and the insider poop is that school finance will NOT be resolved in the ...
Somervell County Salon - Fri 3:20 a.m. - 14 clicks
...and our legislature is letting them! You have to wonder what is going on in Texas when homeowners are being financially "slaughtered" by various appraisal districts. After writing my article on increasing property values, I've been contacted by dozens of irate and frightened home / property owners regarding their county appraisal district's property statements that propos...