Texas
updated
3:42 a.m.
No surprise. State Rep. Al Edwards has asked for a recount of the primary election votes in the race he lost to Borris Miles by 10 votes. Edwards filed the paperwork and submitted a $4,400 deposit this morning at the state Democratic Party headquarters in Austin, a spokeswoman confirmed. [...] Harris County Democratic Party ......
Off the Kuff - 3:41 a.m.
The Texas Progressive Alliance heads into March Madness with its own bracket of news and links for the week. Click on for more. CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme wonders how Republicans can be so violently against having services they desperately need? Off the Kuff analyzed county returns in the primaries for Governor, ......
Off the Kuff - 3:41 a.m.
I don't know why anyone would ever believe anything that the former head of the Texas Eagle Forum and current Chair of the Republican Party of Texas says. But in the event that you needed a reason to doubt her veracity, here are three. Hasn't anybody ever told Adams that ......
Off the Kuff - 3:41 a.m.
Conroe is set to join the parade of cities banning texting while driving. The ordinance is expected to be introduced at the March 25 meeting and could take effect in April. Those in violations of the proposed law would face fines of up to $500. The proposed ordinance would cover any text-based ......
Off the Kuff - 3:41 a.m.
Below is the schedule of events for the second day of the 2010 Anti-Death Penalty Alternative Spring Break , Tuesday, March 16. You may come to all the events or just individual sessions. Everyone is welcome. You do not need to register, just show up for the events. It is all free. It starts at noon on Tuesday. The location is the Jesse H. Jones Communication Center -...
Texas Moratorium Network - 3:10 a.m.
Regular readers remember when we wrote about American Consolidated Media, which is owned by Macquarie Media, which is a subdiv of Macquarie Bank, bought the Glen Rose Reporter a few years ago, along with other local newspapers in Texas and Oklahoma. I got to wondering how the acquisition was going and looked it up. Macquerie says ACM likely to breach loan covenant (October 2009-WSJ) ...
Somervell County Salon - Mon 11:03 p.m.
The Texas Democratic Party has far too many "blue dogs" in it -- conservatives who really don't support the progressive ideas of most Democrats. They want to use the party to achieve their own political ambitions, but are not willing to help the party to help ordinary Texans and Americans. A prime example of this is the party's current candidate for governor -- Bill White. But fortunate...
jobsanger - Mon 10:43 p.m. - 2 clicks 
Forgive me for the light blogging today, but it's kind of a holiday for me. Today is the fourth blogiversary of jobsanger. This blog was started on March 16, 2006. I can still remember being excited to see that 20 people were actually reading the blog. The fact that someone might want to read my ramblings was wonderful! Since that time, the blog has been growing in readership -- n...
jobsanger - Mon 10:43 p.m. - 2 clicks
Repent Amarillo (also Raven Amarillo) has been causing trouble and getting in the news, which is basically what they do (aside from trying to ruin people’s lives). What follows is a summary of what I’ve found about them lately. Forrest Wilder at The Texas Observer has an excellent write-up of Repent Amarillo’s activities. The Young Turks [...]...
Lubbock Left - Mon 10:06 p.m. - 3 clicks
Here is a picture I took of what passes for a river valley here in Houston. This is one of our bayous in a concrete channel. I took this photo from a bridge that passes over the bayou. A bridge or going up an elevator is really the only way to get any elevation in Houston. Below is [...] ...
TexasLiberal - Mon 8:23 p.m.
There has been yet another accident involving the Metro light rail train here in Houston. (Above—A Houston Press picture of the accident.) A Metro bus smashed into the train this afternoon and 19 people were hurt. It seems that none of the injuries are serious. The light rail train is on a track and all it does is [...] ...
TexasLiberal - Mon 8:23 p.m.
I was thinking about how they will describe the 21st century when it is all said and done. If I had to choose one word that might define it, I would choose humane. If we can just learn to allow all our thoughts and deeds towards others to be humane, then I know we can't go wrong. For me, humane is the operative word...something worthwhile to aspire to. ...
Somervell County Salon - Mon 8:05 p.m.
After over a year of Republican obstruction, whopping lies, Halloween type driven fright frenzies, hate fests, death panels, clown shows, biased news coverage, tea parties, Dick Armey and his Freedom Works and other shills for the health insurance industry,the American people will finally be able to realize a long and overdue life line known as health care reform. Thirty three million Americans w...
Texas Kaos - Mon 7:44 p.m. - 2 clicks
It turns out the incident with the Sugar Land trusty making shopping runs to the Walmart wasn't an isolated incident. According to the Houston Chronicle (" Trust in prison trusties shaky ," March 8): Days after a Texas prison trusty sneaked into a Sugar Land Walmart to buy cigarettes, contraband-sniffing dogs outside Beaumont's Stiles Unit pinpointed a cache of tobacco, 19 cell phones and...
Grits for Breakfast - Mon 5:42 p.m.
The Texas Progressive Alliance heads into March Madness with its own bracket of news and links for the week. CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme wonders how Republicans can be so violently against having services they desperately need ? Off the Kuff analyzed county returns in the primaries for Governor , Lite Guv , and the Commissioners . When are you "too gay" for your job? The ...
Left of College Station - Mon 4:09 p.m. - 3 clicks
I meant to post this over the weekend, but didn't manage to get to it. From the Inbox: Please join a diverse panel that will discuss Effective Grassroots Advocacy from Multiple Perspectives Hon. Debra Danburg, Former Texas State Representative for HD 137 Jim Boyle, Public Utility Lobbyist and Attorney (www.herreraboylelaw.com) Bee Moorhead, ......
Off the Kuff - Mon 4:08 p.m. - 3 clicks
Kesha Rogers, one of the more articulate LaRouchebags I've ever seen, won the Democratic primary in CD 22. She ran on a platform that included impeaching the President (don't ever underestimate how pissed EVERYONE is at the President, especially the libs and moderate who were jerking themselves off last year over the prospect of an African American President only to find out that in reality the m...
McBlogger - Mon 4:05 p.m.
from the CIty of Glen Rose website Old Style" size="4">NOTICE OF MEETING Old Style" size="4">PLANNING & ZONING COMMITTEE Old Style" size="4">CITY OF GLEN ROSE Old Style" size="4">MARCH 15, 2010 - 7:00 P.M. Old Style" size="4">COUNCIL CHAMBERS - TOWN HALL Style" size="4"> Style">There will be a meeting of the P...
Somervell County Salon - Mon 1:59 p.m. - 3 clicks
This Saturday, the State Democratic Executive Committee (SDEC) met in Austin for one of their regular meetings. During the meeting, a resolution was proposed (and passed) simply stating that the SDEC/TDP will not require any Democratic nominee, officer, candidate, member, or official to support anyone who associates with Lyndon LaRouche or the LaRouche movement. ( Download the full re...
Burnt Orange Report - Mon 1:58 p.m. - 7 clicks
Because only certain religions get to Love Their Country. I was talking with a friend of mine a little bit ago and he didn't know that the phrase Under God was added to the secular Pledge of Allegiance in the year 1954. I think a lot of people may not realize that, that in fact the pledge was NOT written by the Founding Fathers, was written by the cousin of Edward Bellamy (L...
Somervell County Salon - Mon 1:48 p.m.
Burnt Orange Report? I guess they're ok, if all you want to be is a sheep, like the rest of their 12,000 readers per nano-second. Off The Kuff? I'll admit that his blog has more production from their single writer than the entire Huffington Post, if you're into things like "news" and "information" and "facts." Capitol Annex? Are you kidding? Vince stops writing every time he gets a paid gig....
Letters From Texas - Mon 1:27 p.m.
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Somervell County Salon - Mon 11:42 a.m. - 2 clicks
As mentioned before, this is an attempt to get what Reinhardt said into the public eye because it must be read. Part 1 Introduction Part 2 Majority's Fundamental Errors part 3 Historical Background of the Pledge part 4 1954 Amendment and this appeal part 5 Establishment Clause part 6 More Establishment Clause-I have put the footnotest in yellow to d...
Somervell County Salon - Mon 11:25 a.m.
Brrr. Cold again today where it was shorts weather yesterday. Um. In the trash-the nice thick plastic bag that has Census 2010 written on it that served as a doorhanger since we weren't home when the census people came by. How much did THAT cost? Was it really necessary? Skank Rielle Hunter surfaces from the swamp. And Ew, so does the John Edwards sex tape . (SO GLAD HE ...
Somervell County Salon - Mon 10:41 a.m.
TX State Rep. Mike Villarreal of San Antonio brought up a valid point today in an email. A study of the 2000 Census determined 373,000 Texans were not counted. That resulted in the loss of $1 Billion in federal funding to the state. That's billion with a very large B. Apparently Rep. Villarreal had urged Governor 39% Rick Perry to promote the Census more….last October… and our lame ...
The Texas Cloverleaf - Mon 10:41 a.m. - 3 clicks
A student conference in Austin this week dubbed the " Anti-death penalty alternative spring break " may interest Grits readers. It includes several events open to the public that may be worth attending, particularly on Thursday, when they'll hear a panel of exonerated men who'd been sentenced to death row. Here are the basics: Anti-Death Penalty Alternative Spring Break, March 15-19, 201...
Grits for Breakfast - Mon 9:44 a.m. - 5 clicks
Quote from Chet Edwards in the Waco Trib this morning - “The myth is eliminating earmarks would reduce the deficit,” he said, pointing out that such a change would not impact the process where the size of the budget is determined. “It wouldn’t reduce the deficit one dime, it’d just shift the decision-making from Congress working with local officials to ...
Somervell County Salon - Mon 8:45 a.m. - 3 clicks
or companies? Have been thinking about this off and on for a long time. Remember how a few years back, Walter Maynard went to Missouri to look over the Air Evac operation? Flown out there, twice . And this was BEFORE, apparently,the Somervell County Commissioners made a decision about which air ambulance membership company to use. (That was the whole beef in the article, above, that Care F...
Somervell County Salon - Mon 8:45 a.m. - 3 clicks
Bryan Improvements Ongoing By Cassie Smith From the Bryan-College Station Eagle The city of Bryan is buzzing with more than $40 million worth of construction projects, and another $17 million of work is set to start this year. Last week, the Bryan City Council, city staff members and candidates in the May municipal election took a bus tour of about 50 capital improvement projects and new ...
Left of College Station - Mon 7:44 a.m. - 3 clicks
Why do we get angry about illegals and then assist them with work and schooling? It's an old story now. There are millions of U.S. citizens without work, but there are millions of illegals working in this nation. Our government is in denial when it argues publicly against illegal immigration and then permits illegals to live, work and attend our schools...
Somervell County Salon - Mon 7:44 a.m.
Look folks, it is past time to legalize drugs. Take the profits out of drug running and the scary shooting stuff will go away. Police have detained one man suspected of a drug cartel-related shooting outside a Walmart store late Sunday night. Two men were shot and possibly kidnapped during the incident, which occurred about 10:30 p.m. Sunday near the 1200 block of Jackson Avenue, said McAllen Po...
South Texas Chisme - Mon 7:43 a.m. - 6 clicks
Expect two waves of increases with 5.4% this year and 3.89% next. While your wallets open, expect additional fees to go green . Republicans are doing their best to kill public education. How can we be like Haiti, if just regular people can receive and education? ...
South Texas Chisme - Mon 7:43 a.m.
Republicans like their polluting cronies more than they like you. In a move that it says will save money and is a practical strategy for monitoring the state's waterways, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has proposed loosening its water quality standards. ...
South Texas Chisme - Mon 7:43 a.m. - 5 clicks
Despite clear gains made during years of recruitment campaigns to diversify the Houston Police Department, the force still is not fully reflective of the ethnic makeup of the city. Nonetheless, today there is roughly a 50-50 chance a Houston police officer responding to a call will be Hispanic, African-American or Asian. Law enforcement experts, community activists and HPD commanders say a dive...
South Texas Chisme - Mon 7:43 a.m. - 3 clicks
The Texas Progressive Alliance heads into March Madness with its own bracket of news and links for the week. CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme wonders how Republicans can be so violently against having services they desperately need ? Off the Kuff analyzed county returns in the primaries for Governor , Lite Guv , and the Commissioners . When are you "too gay" for your job? The Texa...
South Texas Chisme - Mon 6:48 a.m. - 3 clicks
It sounds like something out of a novel, but if the declassified memo from the CIA leads to more evidence, unsuspecting New Yorkers were covertly dosed with LSD in the subway. That was in 1950. The following year in a small town in France citizens suddenly went crazy. News reports from that time show that over a two-day period some 250 french residents showed up in hospitals with unexplained ...
Dungeon Diary - Mon 6:47 a.m.
Seems that the far-right folks who are trying to control our great states textbooks are intent on having young Texans become dumber than a box of rocks. I had to wait several days before I could write about this since it infuriated me to no end. These sanctimonious home-schooled idiots insist that Thomas Frigging Jefferson be removed from Texas textbooks in favor of adding John Calvin? Say what...
Dungeon Diary - Mon 6:27 a.m. - 5 clicks
The Texas Progressive Alliance heads into March Madness with its own bracket of news and links for the week. Happy St Patrick's Day! CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme wonders how Republicans can be so violently against having services they desperately need ? Off the Kuff analyzed county returns in the primaries for Governor , Lite Guv , and the Commissioners . When are you "too gay" ...
The Texas Cloverleaf - Mon 5:28 a.m. - 5 clicks
Brandi Grissom at the Texas Tribune has a piece up this morning on proposed revisions to DPS rules surrounding the oxymoronically named "Driver Responsibility" surcharge. Here's how the article opens: The tales told by Texas drivers are eerily similar. A traffic ticket for a relatively minor infraction leads to fines of hundreds, even thousands, of dollars. They can’t afford to pay or, worse...
Grits for Breakfast - Mon 5:27 a.m. - 3 clicks
According to a new state auditor's report (pdf), the Texas Department of Criminal Justice's "contracts with [private prison and treatment contractors] do not consistently include the contract requirements necessary to assess the quality of the services its providers deliver." Specifically, "The Department did not consistently include in its contracts performance standards to help ensure that the...
Grits for Breakfast - Mon 4:49 a.m. - 2 clicks
The Chron takes a closer look at Metro's finances and the recently expressed doubts about their ability to pay for the University and Uptown lines. Mayor Annise Parker said last week that she wasn't convinced the Metropolitan Transit Authority would have the money to build its planned Uptown and University rail ......
Off the Kuff - Mon 4:25 a.m.
A Houston Chronicle op ed by Emilie Farenthold , an attorney with a doctorate in public health, identifies the challenges facing whoever is hired as Harris County's juvenile probation director after the last one was fired last fall over a highly publicized security breach . The problems are more serious, she says, than making sure the metal detectors at detention are plugged in: The problems...
Grits for Breakfast - Mon 4:25 a.m. - 3 clicks
But only for the playoffs, at least for now. Under the new format, both teams would get the ball at least once unless the first team to get the ball scores a touchdown, Greg Aiello said. If the first team to get the ball makes a field goal and the other ......
Off the Kuff - Mon 3:46 a.m. - 2 clicks
Good. The State Democratic Executive Committee of the Texas Democratic Party approved a resolution today that "releases party officers and members from their obligation to support LaRouche follower Kesha Rogers." The resolution states that the movement includes "instances of illegal activities, discriminatory proclamations and thuggish behavior" and "contains clear, convincing and overwhelming ....
Off the Kuff - Mon 3:46 a.m. - 4 clicks
I'm glad to hear that the food stamp backlog should be cleared up soon. I'm not so glad to hear that one of the guys who bears responsibility for getting us into that mess in the first place now stands to benefit from the work to get us out of ......
Off the Kuff - Mon 3:46 a.m.
It is the Ides of March. You should beware. Here is an explanation of what the Term Ides of March means. (Above–The Death of Caesar. This work was painted in 1798 by Vincenzo Camuccini.) What books can you read to learn about the events surrounding the rise of Julius Caesar and the fall of the Roman Republic? I can [...] ...
TexasLiberal - Sun 11:09 p.m. - 2 clicks
For years now, doctors have been able to save lives and prolong lives by performing organ transplants. Hearts, livers, kidneys, lungs, etc. are able to be taken from those who've died and preserved long enough to replace defective organs in a person who needs a new organ to survive. This is a big step forward for medicine. There is only one problem. The only source for these replaceme...
jobsanger - Sun 11:09 p.m. - 4 clicks
For a while now, the Democratic Party has had a distasteful element of nutjobs in it. They are followers of Lyndon LaRouche. LaRouche (pictured) has been friendly with members of the KKK and is an avowed anti-semite (believing Jews are members of a world-wide conspiracy), and has made many accusations that the Queen of England is a drug dealer. LaRouche is also a criminal, having been co...
jobsanger - Sun 11:09 p.m. - 3 clicks
Below is the schedule of events for the first day of the 2010 Anti-Death Penalty Alternative Spring Break , Monday, March 15. You may come to all the events or just individual sessions. Everyone is welcome. You do not need to register, just show up for the events. It is all free. Monday, March 15 ( Jesse H. Jones Communication Center...
Texas Moratorium Network - Sun 9:21 p.m.
The so-called Texas State Board of Education has decided to remove Thomas Jefferson from the curriculum taught to school kids in Texas. (Above–Jefferson as painted by Rembrandt Peale in 1800.) From a blog in the science magazine Discover— “Board member Cynthia Dunbar wants to change a standard having students study the impact of Enlightenment ideas on political [...] ...
TexasLiberal - Sun 9:21 p.m. - 6 clicks
As mentioned, I am putting up the text from the case. Part 1 Part 2 Part3 Or read the entire thing in PDF format Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 / Style Definitions / p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; marg...
Somervell County Salon - Sun 6:06 p.m. - 2 clicks
I now turn to the real issue in this case: Does the Establishment Clause, as it has been construed by the Supreme Court, preclude the state-directed, teacher-led, daily recitation of the version of the Pledge, as amended by Congress in 1954, in public schools? The answer is crystal clear. Today’s majority not only ignores the historical record and the plain meaning of the words cont...
Somervell County Salon - Sun 6:06 p.m. - 4 clicks
I've been reading the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals dissent in the recent case of Newdow and Roe v Rio Linda Union School District. First comments about it here. I have been enthralled with reading Justice Reinhardt's dissent (l ink to PDF here with entire dissent as well as majority opinion.) I noticed in a lot of the links where I first went to find the disse...
Somervell County Salon - Sun 6:06 p.m. - 3 clicks
Here is part 1 - I intend to put all of the dissent up so that it can be read and seen. (I am putting footnotes in yellow) Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 / Style Definitions / p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.000...
Somervell County Salon - Sun 6:06 p.m.
II. Historical and Factual Background To begin with, this case concerns the daily recitation of a state-directed, teacher-led, religious version of the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools , a setting that the Supreme Court has always considered especially significant to its Establishment Clause analysis. A proper constitutional analysis must give substantial weig...
Somervell County Salon - Sun 6:06 p.m.
624, 642 (1943). Unfortunately, today the majority is clearly charting its course by a far different constellation with a far less enduring First Amendment. The Coercion Test and the “Under God” Amendment Because the state-directed, teacher-led daily recitation of the “under God” version of the Pledge “violate[s] both the Lemon test and the Endorsement te...
Somervell County Salon - Sun 6:06 p.m.
As pointed out by the Chairman of the Harris County Democratic Party: ...that while they may not be required to support the Democratic nominee for the 22nd Congressional District [LaRoucher Kesha Rogers] they cannot publicly endorse or support her opponent either. The Rules of the Texas Democratic Party specifically provide that a Party Officer shall be removed from office if during hi...
Bay Area Houston Blog - Sun 4:44 p.m. - 5 clicks
I find myself in total agreement with Bert Knab at the Glass Houses blog on why a national ID card is a bad idea and biometric identification won't stop employers from hiring illegal immigrants. Go read what he has to say . I'd add an observation I've been stressing for many years on Grits : that biometrics are generally bad identifiers for ID purposes, precisely because they can't be alter...
Grits for Breakfast - Sun 1:40 p.m. - 3 clicks
Hell, I would take Kinky over him. Thank God there is a better choice in Bill White. The latest outrage from this bag of pious bullshit is this one: Exclusive: State privatization champion gets contract to help clear up welfare mess A former state official who played a major role in the state's biggest privatization fiasco is now making money trying to help Texas fix the problems that result...
Texas Kaos - Sun 12:48 p.m. - 5 clicks
We headed downtown in the late afternoon to get some of the barbecue we heard was so good. Beautiful sunny day! Looked at the various vendor booths, got pie from Pie Peddlers and delicious tamales. Here's some of the pics- more on Somervell County Salon's flickr page ...
Somervell County Salon - Sun 12:29 p.m. - 4 clicks
Get your brackets ready, it's almost Madness time. I join in the call for the FDA to overturn the lifetime ban on donating blood by gay men. I agree, what the world needs now is more Godzilla haikus. For example: History will show Nature points out man's folly Again and again Congratulations to all of the ......
Off the Kuff - Sun 12:10 p.m. - 2 clicks
It's once again time for SXSW so to all you new people, welcome. Please be kind to the natives as they may bite. Either that or they'll take your mobile from you and beat you with it . And please, under-fucking-stand that the 3G problems you're having are all AT&T, not because you're in Austin. If you just have to make an important call and your connection sounds like it's being filtered throug...
McBlogger - Sun 11:49 a.m. - 4 clicks
I received a press release notifying me of this interview with one of the organizers of Texas' Office of Capital Writs which is scheduled to launch later this year: Details emerge of new Texas Office of Capital Writs HOUSTON -- A new office designed to provide qualified legal assistance to people who receive the death penalty in Texas was the focus of an interview on the Prison Show Friday ...
Grits for Breakfast - Sun 9:42 a.m. - 4 clicks
' Despite buzz, Perry says he has no interest in running for president ' Whaa? Perry won last time with 39% of the vote. In reality, Perry isn't that popular in Texas. Gov. Rick Perry insists that his sole political ambition is to serve the people of Texas for another four years, but his triumph over U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison in the March 2 Republican primary is propelling his name onto th...
South Texas Chisme - Sun 9:02 a.m. - 5 clicks
Hispanics? Nope. Not in Texas. We're white. Blacks are dangerous anarchists. Women? Shouldn't play sports, but should admire Phyllis Schafley. The US of A was always meant to be a Christian nation run by Republicans, the natural ruling class. That's what the barking mad Republicans want in our children's books. When did it become ok to blatantly propagandize our education? If Republicans...
South Texas Chisme - Sun 9:02 a.m. - 4 clicks
Why do Republicans hate the poor so much? Why do Republicans love their incompetent, greedy cronies so much? A former state official who played a major role in the state's biggest privatization fiasco is now making money trying to help Texas fix the problems that resulted. Gregg Phillips was the state's No. 2 social services official several years ago, and he led a push to hire a private company...
South Texas Chisme - Sun 9:02 a.m. - 5 clicks
I'd written earlier that the US Attorney should step in to prosecute allegations of wrongdoing by Dallas County constables if District Attorney Craig Watkins won't do so. But recent events have given Watkins a fresh opportunity (which I hope he takes) to take a stand against corruption and mitigate the impression that he's ignoring alleged crimes committed by Democratic elected officials. R...
Grits for Breakfast - Sun 8:41 a.m. - 3 clicks
Three articles, one message: Texas Republicans are overtly hostile to Hispanics, and they should have consequences to face at the ballot box because of it. This issue has been made all the more clear just in the past few weeks, with the intersection of Victor Carrillo's primary loss, the SBOE vendetta against Hispanic historical figures, and a new report on the changing demographics of...
Burnt Orange Report - Sun 8:41 a.m. - 3 clicks
Here are some more endorsements for the Democratic primary runoffs. First, from the Houston Area Stonewall Democrats: HASD is proud to announce that 60 of its 73 previously endorsed candidates ( 82% ) either won their respective races or made it into the April runoff. The following candidates are endorsed ......
Off the Kuff - Sun 8:04 a.m. - 2 clicks
Here's a little bit of good news. Texas’ food stamp application backlog is now expected to be cleared by the end of April, Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Tom Suehs told lawmakers today. [...] The commission had projected it would clear the backlog by February. That didn’t happen. Though the backlog disappeared ......
Off the Kuff - Sun 8:04 a.m. - 9 clicks
I think I finally figured out why they do stuff like this. The State Board of Education tentatively approved new standards for social studies Friday with members divided along party lines — some blasting them as a fraud and conservative whitewash, others praising them as a tribute to the Founding Fathers ......
Off the Kuff - Sun 8:04 a.m. - 2 clicks
I'm okay with this. Democratic gubernatorial nominee Bill White said today he does not support the legalization of slot machines and does not think Texas should legalize casinos across the state. “I don’t think the State of Texas should be promoting gambling and something for nothing,” White said. White said he does not ......
Off the Kuff - Sun 8:04 a.m. - 5 clicks
The New York Times yesterday ran an article on widespread drug cartel intimidation and assassination of reporters covering Mexico's drug war, which has resulted in many murders and other major, criminal events going uncovered in the MSM (" Fearing drug cartels, reporters in Mexico retreat ," March 13). The story opens: REYNOSA, Mexico — The big philosophical question in this gritty border town do...
Grits for Breakfast - Sun 8:04 a.m.
I attended a seminar at a luxury hotel where a few prominent Democrats were going to speak. I had my badge on while waiting in line for the breakfast buffet, when a woman using a walker asked me what my badge meant. I told her and she spat 'I wouldn't go hear xxx speak!'. My breakfast companion explained that she wasn't, in fact, invited to hear him. Then she went on about how she just hated Ob...
South Texas Chisme - Sun 7:21 a.m. - 5 clicks
This looks interesting. http://grayson.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID GRAYSON INTRODUCES PUBLIC OPTION ACT Bill Opens Up Medicare To Anyone Who Can Pay For It ...
Somervell County Salon - Sun 7:03 a.m.
A Democratic Houston judge who last week ruled that the procedures used to convict and sentence someone to death in Texas are unconstitutional has put his ruling in abeyance and scheduled a hearing on April 27 to hear evidence on the issue ( Read more here ). State District Judge Kevin Fine said he wants more information before making a final decision about whether the state's death pe...
Burnt Orange Report - Sun 12:26 a.m. - 2 clicks
James Tate, who is attending the 2010 Anti-Death Penalty Alternative Spring Break , will be guest blogging daily for the Dallas Morning News' Texas Death Penalty blog during the alternative spring break. James is a student at The University of Texas at Dallas. Join us March 15-19, 2010 in Austin, Texas for the award-winning Anti-Death Penalty Alternative Spring Break. It starts at 4:30 PM o...
Texas Moratorium Network - Sat 11:43 p.m. - 4 clicks
This is some pretty exciting news. It seems that researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), one of the most prestigious science and engineering schools in the United States, has created a new energy source -- and it's clean and renewable. The odd thing is that the only way you can see this energy source is with a very powerful microscope, because it is created by usi...
jobsanger - Sat 10:05 p.m.
In the past, I have always respected the internet site called The Huffington Post. They have always put forth intelligent articles outlining the left-wing view on politics and current affairs, and most of those articles are researched well and present cogent arguments. But one of their latest articles has me re-thinking my support of and belief in the site. They have now strayed into th...
jobsanger - Sat 10:05 p.m.
A very articulate evaluation from Rabbi Brad Hirschfield, Huff Post: "I blame the public officials who invited the participation of evangelists in a process that is meant to respect the ideas and needs of the larger public. These officials abandoned the public they are charged with serving to advocate for their own religious worldviews, and that is a complete failure of leadership for w...
Somervell County Salon - Sat 9:04 p.m.
Here is the weekly posting of the Texas Progressive Alliance weekly round-up. The TPA is a confederation of the best political bloggers in Texas. With the round-up this week is a picture of a turtle called the Texas River Cooter. As you might imagine, this is a turtle that lives in Texas. They appear to live [...] ...
TexasLiberal - Sat 7:28 p.m. - 4 clicks
In Green Zone , Matt Damon and his shaky cameraman from the Bourne flicks take on the Iraq Unpleasantness. To the nauseating camerawork is added grainy film stock. In this age of HDTV, should a Major Motion Picture look like it was shot on a cellphone? Especially with a script that has all the subtlety and nuance of Michael Moore explaining imperialism to a four year old? Meh. ...
McBlogger - Sat 7:28 p.m. - 2 clicks
the fight against politics and mediocrity by Peter Stern Public education is NOT working. We all know it. For the majority of children and parents, who rely on it, public education continues to fail the needs and the learning outcomes of the children attempting to get a quality education.&n...
Somervell County Salon - Sat 4:41 p.m.
Good for the Party! The State Democratic Executive Committee approved a resolution relieving the members of the party from supporting any LaRouche candidate running as a Democrat. RESOLVED, that no Rules or Declarations of the TexasDemocratic Party that require support for Party nominees shall be enforced orhave any application as they relate to the candidacy of any person identifying him o...
Bay Area Houston Blog - Sat 3:48 p.m. - 22 clicks
I had some trepidation, based on all the hoopla about the census coming out, about what kind of questions it might contain. Was it going to ask me about many teevees we have, or cars, or other intrusive personal questions? Nope. It's asking the SAME kind of questions the census has for the last century. I see Michelle Bachman is only going to say the number of peopl e she has in the house and n...
Somervell County Salon - Sat 1:46 p.m. - 2 clicks
This little piece of yard art is on Greenbriar, across the street from Roberts Elementary School: [caption id="attachment_26646" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="There are many ways to Go Texan"][/caption] It appeared a couple of weeks ago, just before the start of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. I can only presume that was not ......
Off the Kuff - Sat 12:04 p.m. - 3 clicks
One would think in 2010, that being "too gay" would not be an issue. But apparently it still is. CNN is reporting that America's only national tour of ice skating stars has decided to leave 3 time national champion, and 6th place finisher in the 2010 Winter Olympics, Johnny Weir off of its tour, deeming him "not family friendly". I fail to see what isn't family friendly about Johnny, other than...
The Texas Cloverleaf - Sat 11:10 a.m. - 2 clicks
Linda Chavez-Thompson , the Democratic nominee for Texas Lt. Governor, has one of the most focused, understandable messages on education that I have heard in a long time. Below is a post from Latinovations where she was a recent guest blogger. Her personal story is compelling, as well the picture she paints of the future of Texas if we don't act to improve our education system. She's g...
Musings - Sat 8:41 a.m. - 6 clicks
We know about Sugar Land's plan to build a stadium for a minor league baseball team. They've now been joined by a neighbor to the north in that pursuit. The East Montgomery County Improvement District signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ventura Sports Group and Sugar Land-based Wallace Bajjali Development ......
Off the Kuff - Sat 6:06 a.m. - 7 clicks
Fill out those forms and send them back, because redistricting and all that it entails will follow close behind. Experts' early looks at Census estimates point to a potential new congressional district in northwest Harris County. That could be alluring to state Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, who represents the area in ......
Off the Kuff - Sat 6:06 a.m. - 7 clicks
The Trib has a nice story about the state of UTSA's fledgling football program. Next fall, UTSA will spend millions to field a football team it hopes will someday compete with cross-state rivals like the University of Texas, Texas Tech and Texas A...
Off the Kuff - Sat 5:46 a.m. - 5 clicks
The Texas Legislature last year passed a statute requiring TDCJ to stop sending all prisoners back to Huntsville for release, but instead to release them either from the unit where they're housed or "regional release facilities." Judging from this article in the Beeville Bee-Picayune , the agency has opted for the latter approach: The Texas Department of Criminal Justice has confirmed that priso...
Grits for Breakfast - Sat 5:46 a.m. - 7 clicks
Well, it has come to pass that our Texas School board nut cases have prevailed on a number of points. Let Think Progress explain: Texas Board of Education cuts Thomas Jefferson out of its textbooks. The Texas Board of Education has been meeting this week to revise its social studies curriculum. During the past three days, "the board's far-right faction wielded their power to shape lessons on th...
Texas Kaos - Sat 5:21 a.m. - 10 clicks
The Fear-Monger from the 8th Congressional District is taking to the Town Hall trail once again. This time, in a last ditch effort to kill healthcare reform legislation and ostensibly hobble President Obama's first term agenda. Like many concerned citizens, I attended several of Kevin Brady's dog and pony town halls this past summer. They were all open to the public and Brady's handlers did call ...
MoCo Report - Fri 10:45 p.m. - 5 clicks
The Texas State Board of Education is meeting again, and it's looking like they will be successful in rewriting history to fit their own narrow political views. When they have finished, the real history of the United States and Texas will be replaced by right-wing propaganda. Just look at some of the outrageous decisions they have made. They have refused to allow history teachers to te...
jobsanger - Fri 10:06 p.m. - 7 clicks
From the excellent blog of Yellowdog Granny. If the fundamentalists are using the Bible to justify "traditional marriage", then there are a whole lot of marriages that are not valid (although I do hope they don't execute those people). ...
jobsanger - Fri 10:06 p.m. - 2 clicks
Have you ever wondered why the current Pope has done nothing to punish those church officials who protected child-abusing priests by moving them from church to church instead of reporting them to the proper authorities (thus providing them with a new set of unsuspecting victims)? It may be because he is guilty of doing the same thing himself. It has now been revealed that back in 1980, ...
jobsanger - Fri 10:06 p.m. - 5 clicks
With about a month left to go until the April 13th runoff election for the Democratic nomination for the 299th District Court race, Mindy Montford announced new support yesterday at a runoff kickoff fundraiser. Having already raised $25,000 in the week since the March 2nd primary where she led 2nd place finisher Karen Sage 45% to 37%, Montford announced the support of 3rd place fin...
Burnt Orange Report - Fri 9:28 p.m.
The Austin Women's Political Caucus has voted to restrict their endorsements to woman only. Can you imagine the uproar if a men's caucus voted to endorse men only? It's not like the Austin Lesbian/Gay political caucus only allows endorsements of GLBT candidates or the Mexican American Democrats only Hispanics, or Black Austin Democrats only blacks. What a disappointing move that ma...
Burnt Orange Report - Fri 9:05 p.m. - 5 clicks
Making Politics Work Better for the People Level the Playing Field a Bit More by Peter Stern The two things we urgently need to move this nation forward toward its honest and positive evolution is to impose term more realistic term limits on elected and appointed political positions at federal, state and local levels ...
Somervell County Salon - Fri 8:48 p.m. - 2 clicks
PDF-not all pages here but the ones that interested me- the rest are at the county clerk's office.. page 1. County owns the asset known as the Glen Rose hospital. It had previously leased it to the Glen Rose Medical Foundation. Foundation said it wasn't financially able to continue to operate the hospital. Lease got reassianged to the Somervell County Healthcare Authority. Lease is a buck a ye...
Somervell County Salon - Fri 8:48 p.m. - 5 clicks
AUSTIN, Texas — A far-right faction of the Texas State Board of Education succeeded Friday in injecting conservative ideals into social studies, history and economics lessons that will be taught to millions of students for the next decade. "We have been about conservatism versus liberalism," said Democrat Mavis Knight of Dallas, explaining her vote against the standards. &quo...
Somervell County Salon - Fri 8:48 p.m. - 8 clicks
I think this is an excellent idea that should be implemented widely. Via ABC-News : A new camera and sound system that can be worn like a headset may change police work as we know it. The new Taser head set cam is being tested now in four American cities, and the cops seem to think is it a game changer. Cincinnati police chief Thomas Streicher said, "It is the next giant step for law e...
Grits for Breakfast - Fri 6:10 p.m. - 2 clicks
I recently saw this big Soviet looking star on a portion of a Texas highway overpass here in Houston. I think it is meant to represent a Texas Lone Star. But it looks like a communist red star. Roads are so-called socialism because they are built with public dollars. Roads are the kind of socialism folks here in Texas [...] ...
TexasLiberal - Fri 5:44 p.m. - 8 clicks
Texas News State Farm to Raise Texas Homeowner Rates 4.5 Percent Texas Politics Textbook Issues Flare Across Partisan Divide Politics Move to Kill Filibuster Gaining Steam Among Democrats Media The End of Newspapers Foreign Policy Making Matters Worse in Afghanistan War and Peace As Afghanistan Contracting Surges, Who's Following the Money? Environment Big Oil ...
Left of College Station - Fri 4:41 p.m. - 11 clicks
I really do love the United Church of Christ congregations. Some of them are just durned creative. Take this one in Wantagh, NY. using their marquee to respond to Glen Beck's rant against social justice when he said "churches that preach about 'social justice' are fronts for communism and Nazism." Full disclosure, my home church the Cathedral of Hope in Dallas is a United Church of Chris...
Dungeon Diary - Fri 4:41 p.m. - 6 clicks
at the Somervell County Water District Site. P.S. have to say, the sound is great on it. Rough Transcript 81,000 monthly payment to F&N (Freese and NIchols) per fixed contract Gosdin-park contract Approved bills Wheeler Branch Park Project. engineers kind of skimped on road base and seal coat (one coat). Jub came in right at budget and do have enough money budgeted to add 2 inches of...
Somervell County Salon - Fri 3:01 p.m.
From the Somervell County Water District website , courtesy Kathy B General Fund Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id=ieooui> st1\:{behavior:url(#ieooui) } / Style Definitions / p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div....
Somervell County Salon - Fri 3:01 p.m.
That's what a lot of people would say, if given the chance. Could someone out there tell us why he or she is voting for Rick Perry? I promise not to bash you for it if you are honest about it. I really would love to know why people continue to vote for him. Is part or all of it that you feel he is the lesser of the evils? If so, why? Can you back it up?...
Somervell County Salon - Fri 1:39 p.m. - 6 clicks
For some bizarre reason, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Under God is okay in the Pledge because the overall tone is patriotic. From Circuit Judge Bea, p 5. The Pledge of Allegiance serves to unite our vast nation through the proud recitation of some of the ideals upon which our Republic was founded and for which we continue to strive: one Nation under God—the Founding Fathe...
Somervell County Salon - Fri 1:39 p.m. - 3 clicks
Beautiful day. I hear the female guineas in the yard and the female geese are looking for where to lay eggs and nest. I'll have to put a chair with a sign at the top of the driveway to warn people. One year the UPS guy came down the sidewalk and got the fool scared out of him when one of the females hissed at him.:) All kinds of stuff going on in Glen Rose this weekend. Gator Country at the Expo...
Somervell County Salon - Fri 1:39 p.m. - 2 clicks
As some of you may know, I am one of about 40 members of the Citizens Advisory Task Force to Austin's Comprehensive Plan, known as Imagine Austin . As co-chair of the Communications Committee on that task force, I have the opportunity to work with some really great people from across the city in developing some of the message, materials, and outreach to encourage participation. With...
Burnt Orange Report - Fri 12:47 p.m. - 11 clicks
Rep. Mark Strama has just opened the application period for his 2010 Campaign Academy . Having been both a participant and a manager of the program, I encourage you to spread the word to your high school and college friends. More info here . In the University of Texas Student Government runoff, Scott Parks & Muneezeh Kabir did indeed come from behind and win the Presid...
Burnt Orange Report - Fri 12:34 p.m. - 3 clicks
The House of Representatives approved an aid bill to Chili and impeached a Lousiana judge. They also approved a bill to establish a federal research strategy for addressing harmful algal blooms. In perhaps the most interesting news, the House Budget Committee will finally consider a health care reconciliation bill Monday. After Sen. Jim Bunning dropped his one-man hold, [...]...
Three Wise Men - Fri 12:16 p.m. - 2 clicks
Given how many law enforcement officers were also part of military reserve units deployed after 9/11, not to mention the fact that police agencies recruit heavily among ex-military, I was interested to see an AP item on a topic I've wondered about: The not-always-smooth transition from soldier to police officer after they return. Here's how the story opens (" Study: Law officers struggle to readju...
Grits for Breakfast - Fri 12:16 p.m. - 2 clicks
Have had this as a request for awhile from several people, and finally got around this morning to adding this. Some days we all post a lot and some days not so much but, even with 7 slots for stories on the main page, it's pretty easy for noteworthy posts to get farther down the page or on the next page within a short period of time. One thing I did a while back was add a Last Post By at th...
Somervell County Salon - Fri 9:05 a.m. - 2 clicks
The blog Liberty and Justice for Y'all has several notable posts which will interest Grits readers, particularly related to Fourth Amendment topics. LJY points us to an article discussing the "burgeoning jurisprudence of placing a premium on citizens’ ignorance of their Fourth Amendment rights," and another on the question of whether copying computer data constitutes a seizure . A separate p...
Grits for Breakfast - Fri 9:04 a.m. - 2 clicks
Great joint op-ed by our friend McCall Johnson over at Environment Texas and State Rep. Rafael Anchia, winner of Public Citizen’s Legislator of the Year award. Following on the heels of TXU’s announcement last week that it will offer customers an affordable solar leasing program, the gist of it is that we can’t let the [...] ...
TexasVOX: Public Citizen - Fri 8:42 a.m. - 6 clicks
Continuing the tough anti-Washington rhetoric from his primary campaign, Governor For Life Rick Perry denounced the advent of Daylight Savings Time this weekend. "Texans know how to set their own clocks without interference from federal bureaucrats," he said in a press release. Perry announced his counter-initiative, State Sovereignty Savings Time. At 2 AM Sunday morning, Texans will set their c...
McBlogger - Fri 7:46 a.m. - 6 clicks
Earlier today, the Texas State Board of Education , in a straight party line vote, voted down an amendment that would require Texas schoolchildren to study the reasons why the First Amendment prohibits the establishment of a state religion. The Board's seven Republican Board members voted against the amendment while the Board's five Democratic members voted for it. The amendment was proposed b...
The Texas Blue - Fri 7:22 a.m. - 8 clicks
From Mike Ward at the Statesman : John Moore, a retired U.S. marshal and state trooper, was appointed [Wednesday] to be the new independent ombudsman at the Texas Youth Commission. ... Moore, a Denison resident, is retired after a 25-year career as a federal marshal, and served before that as a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper and an officer in the Amarillo Police Department. He ...
Grits for Breakfast - Fri 7:03 a.m. - 4 clicks
The problem was not only inevitable as the sunrise, this blog specifically predicted it on the front end. Via AP (" Cartels trying to infiltrate border agencies ," March 12): Mexican drug cartels are infiltrating federal law enforcement agencies along the southwest border and those charged with weeding them out say they don't have the money to catch all the corrupt agents, homeland security offic...
Grits for Breakfast - Fri 7:03 a.m. - 3 clicks
Just in time for the movie with the title " Hot Tub Time Machine " comes word that something that happened 25 years ago might be re-emerging from the bubbling waters of another hot tub. Seems Utah Republican lawmaker Kevin Garn spent some tie "relaxing" in a hot tub in the nude with a 15 year old girl. Then to cover his tracks he paid her $150,000 hush money when he tried to run for US Congres...
Dungeon Diary - Fri 7:02 a.m.
This has to be one of the worst stories I have seen on KHOU ever. It is surprising. And disappointing. After watching the story below, you would think there is a massive coverup and another Chuck Rosenthal sex scandal brewing by Metro board chairman David Wolff and chief executive Frank Wilson. And yet there is this blog entry in the Houston Chronicle claiming there are no witnesses to support ...
Bay Area Houston Blog - Fri 5:43 a.m. - 4 clicks
Former Candidates Make Endorsements in District 17 Runoff Reporter: Steve Fullhart From KBTX Channel 3 Rob Curnock and Bill Flores are headed to a runoff in the Republican primary for Texas' 17th District of the US House. Both have picked up endorsements from primary opponents. Timothy Delasandro, who finished fifth in the March 2nd election, has put his support behind Curnock in his bid ...
Left of College Station - Fri 5:22 a.m. - 6 clicks
During the primary campaign Governor Rick Perry bragged about bringing jobs to our state by giving away hundreds of millions of your tax dollars in incentives (ie economic bailouts) to corporations. The Texas Observer has just released an investigative story on Rick Perry's slush fund called the Texas Enterprise Fund, and it's not very good: For the past six years, Texas Gov. Rick Perry has l...
Bay Area Houston Blog - Fri 4:47 a.m. - 6 clicks
Juan Melendez, an innocent man who spent 17 years, eight months and one day on death row in Florida will be one of the speakers at the Anti-Death Penalty Alternative Spring Break . Juan is attending as a member of Witness to Innocence . Juan will join exonerees Shujaa Graham, Curtis McCarty, Ron Keine, Derrick Jamison and Perry Cobb at alternative spring break to ...
Texas Moratorium Network - Fri 2:20 a.m. - 6 clicks
Harris County Republican Judge Larry Standley was recently caught DWI (Driving a point Without Intelligence) while giving a speech to students in the Clear Creek Independent School District on the use of drugs and alcohol. The sponsors of the event, Mothers Against Drunk Driving,apologized for the comments and asked Standley to end his speech. KTRK has the video: When asked for ...
Bay Area Houston Blog - Thu 11:45 p.m. - 2 clicks
Public Education: The Real Fix Light at the end of the Tunnel by Peter Stern I have a simpler solution. It will save a ton of tax dollars and achieve better learning outcomes. Teach children the basic needs in learning and life: reading, writing, math along with some basic science and core history. Then give them one elective ...
Somervell County Salon - Thu 10:50 p.m. - 2 clicks
Last year, Barack Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize. Along with a medallion, the prize came with a financial award of $1.4 million. Understand, this was a prize awarded to Barack Obama as a person -- not a gift to the President of the United States. Gifts given to the president are actually the property of the people of the United States, and must be left behind when the president vacates...
jobsanger - Thu 10:08 p.m.
The right-wing fundamentalists have shown us once again that they cannot stand the idea that someone might actually have fun and display their own individualism. They clutch their Bibles and freak out if anyone refuses to stay within their own narrow bounds of propriety. Take for instance the Itawamba County School Board in Mississippi. This school board exceeded their authority by pass...
jobsanger - Thu 10:08 p.m.
AUSTIN – Republicans on the State Board of Education Thursday soundly rejected a Democratic-backed proposal to require that Texas students be taught the reasons behind the prohibition of a state religion in the Bill of Rights. In a surprise decision in the curriculum standards for U.S. government classes, the board defeated an amendment by member Mavis Knight, D- Dallas...
Somervell County Salon - Thu 7:41 p.m. - 4 clicks
If I surprise my wife with flowers, maybe she’ll forget what a bastard I am. It is nothing specific I have done. I am just no damned good. ...
TexasLiberal - Thu 6:03 p.m. - 3 clicks
Texas today executed its 451st person since 1982 and the 212th person since Governor Rick Perry took office in 2000. From the Houston Chronicle : An Indiana man whose cross-country crime spree with his girlfriend a decade ago ended in a gun battle with police in San Francisco was executed Thursday for robbing and murdering a sheriff's officer in San Antonio. No late court appeals...
Texas Moratorium Network - Thu 6:03 p.m. - 5 clicks
Courtesy Peggy B Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id=ieooui> st1\:{behavior:url(#ieooui) } / Style Definitions / p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-botto...
Somervell County Salon - Thu 4:01 p.m. - 6 clicks
I am sure homeowners with State Farm insurance are calling Rick Perry and thanking him for a job well done on insurance reform passed in 2003. In documents filed with the Texas Department of Insurance, State Farm said it optedfor a lower rate increase than the 26 percent hike its projectionsindicate it needs. State Farm is also increasing the discounts itoffers consumers who buy both home ...
Bay Area Houston Blog - Thu 4:00 p.m. - 4 clicks
The flag pin below, worn by many "patriotic" American Politicians, was distributed to government employees days after 911. I kept this pin in my briefcase for years afterward. Currently I have no idea where it is, but was reminded of it while watching Michael Moore's movie, Capitalism A Love Story. America has embraced unbridled capitalism to the point of out sourcing the American flag. ...
Bay Area Houston Blog - Thu 4:00 p.m. - 3 clicks
The other day I saw an article in the Texas Tribune that was talking about how US Homeland Security grant money was dished out to various counties. In particular, there was a paragraph about how Somervell County had gotten an armoured vehicle. And you never know when terrorists might attack the nuclear power plant in the second-smallest county in the state. That’s why Somervell Count...
Somervell County Salon - Thu 3:48 p.m. - 4 clicks
The Texas Observer feature on how Rick Perry has profited politically from the Texas Enterprise Fund is the must read story of the month. Highlights, from the feature titled "Slush Fun" : The 20 companies have received a combined $174.2 million from the Enterprise Fund. During the same time period, those 20 corporations have donated $2.2 million to Perry and the governors associ...
Burnt Orange Report - Thu 2:57 p.m. - 4 clicks
The United States Department of Energy has sunk $154 million into a carbon capture and sequestration project in Texas proposed by NRG Energy near Houston. The “demonstration” project will be built on their existing Parish Generating Station in Thompsons, TX (one of the biggest and dirtiest coal plants in Texas and the United States). The [...] ...
TexasVOX: Public Citizen - Thu 2:21 p.m. - 5 clicks
Governor Perry sent a letter to Congressional leadership and the Texas delegation asking them to strip the EPA of the authority to regulate greenhouse gases, which they were told to do by the Supreme Court in 2007’s Massachusetts v. EPA. Governor Perry needs to check his facts a little more carefully. He stated in the letter “Texas [...] ...
TexasVOX: Public Citizen - Thu 2:21 p.m. - 4 clicks
On Tuesday, Bill White spoke at an event hosted by the Texas Tribune . During the course of the interview, White refused to pledge that he would cut taxes as Governor, or that he would not raise taxes as Governor. When Texas Tribune CEO noted that he may have handed Rick Perry ammo for the fall campaign, White shrugged his shoulders and said, "they'll mislead people anyway..." ...
Burnt Orange Report - Thu 1:47 p.m. - 5 clicks
If having kids, owning a home, living in America and believing in God are such important things, then why are so many people who do all four of these things so bitter? I have no problem with any of these things, but if they are as much as we are so often told they are, why [...] ...
TexasLiberal - Thu 12:42 p.m.
How come I’m willing to pay whatever taxes are required for good schools–even though I don’t have kids–while many people who have had kids vote against school bond issues and bitch about any tax increase? ...
TexasLiberal - Thu 12:09 p.m.
The National Wildlife Federation and the Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club have created a splash with their latest report: Drop by Drop: 7 Ways Texas Cities Can Conserve Water. Austin should be proud. Out of 19 cities studied in this report, our capital city was highly ranked on outdoor water ordinances and has an [...] ...
TexasVOX: Public Citizen - Thu 11:27 a.m. - 13 clicks
Fox News is trying to stir up a war in Texas and it's doing it by laying. Big surprise! The alleged "news" channel is drumming up a supposed conspiracy to make Texas textbooks "liberal". I guess the arm lock the Right-Wing has had on Texas education isn't good enough for them. Now they are intent on making the piss-poor textbooks we already use even worse. How? By claiming they are being con...
Dungeon Diary - Thu 11:07 a.m. - 12 clicks
The Texas gubernatorial bout between Republican Rick Perry and former Houston Mayor Bill White continues to garner national headlines with ABC News declaring the race as #9 to watch across the United States. Democrats are hoping that Perry's primary run, in which he expressed sympathy with secessionists, will give them a chance of taking back the governor's office for th...
Burnt Orange Report - Thu 9:22 a.m. - 3 clicks
Abraham Lincoln famously said that "The best way to get a bad law repealed is to enforce it strictly." If that's true, perhaps in the future we'll look back at the recent 35-year sentence in Tyler for a petty pot offender as a turning point regarding Texas drug policy. Or perhaps we must inarcerate thousands more just like him before those lessons will be learned. At least the case has spar...
Grits for Breakfast - Thu 9:01 a.m. - 4 clicks
Average working people resisting efforts by President Obama to make sure they are able to get health insurance is one of the most stupid things I have ever seen. I’m just not sure what more I can say on this matter. ...
TexasLiberal - Thu 8:04 a.m.
On my ride into work this morning, I was listening to my daily radio programming of Jagger in the Morning on 105.3 FM. It's sports radio now, but they will still talk about anything and everything. Today it was the US Census. Apparently there are people out there who believe the Census is an intrusion of privacy and a conspiracy. While it pains me to say this, anyone who believes that...
The Texas Cloverleaf - Thu 7:49 a.m. - 3 clicks
I get that the Tribune is trying to fill some space and they're really trying to create discussion. But seriously, can we all agree that Tom Pauken is just too goddamn stupid to be given any opportunity to do anything other than go to my fucking cleaners and pick up my shirts? This is the same fuckup who, as chair of the Texas Republican Party, got sidelined by that buttertroll Rove. Now, I ...
McBlogger - Thu 7:49 a.m. - 7 clicks
I will be the first to admit that the Republicans are not the only sleezebags around. We Democrats have our full share as well and right now the biggest one would seem to be Representative Eric Massa. Unless you have been living under a rock, you have heard about this jerk who groped one of his male staff members. That would be sexual harassment in the business world and would result in prompt ...
Dungeon Diary - Thu 7:25 a.m. - 9 clicks
"Alaska and Texas are the only states that declined to participate in the standards-writing effort. In keeping his state out, Gov. Rick Perry argued that only Texans should decide what children there learn." From NY Times: www.nytimes.com/2010/03/11/education/11educ.html ...
Somervell County Salon - Thu 7:09 a.m. - 4 clicks
We folks here in District E are lucky to have Houston City Council Member Mike Sullivan on our side. Mike Sullivan doesn't pull punches. He tells it like it is. It makes for interesting conversations. Speaking of.... Last month Mike cautioned members of the Association of Clear Lake City about their wish to be separated from Kingwood in the upcoming redistricting process. He stated that the ...
Bay Area Houston Blog - Thu 7:08 a.m. - 11 clicks
I live within 500 yards of two election day precinct polling places, and about five blocks from one of the most popular early voting locations in Travis County, so it's no surprise that by election day, my area is well-populated with political yard signs of all persuasions. Since there were so many contested judicial races in Travis County this time, and since the nomination for Governor was c...
Letters From Texas - Thu 6:26 a.m. - 14 clicks
Mayoral Candidates Mostly Agree By Cassie Smith From the Bryan-College Station Eagle The two candidates running for Bryan mayor demonstrated Wednesday that they have a lot in common. Both are lifelong residents of the city, both are business owners, both have served as mayor pro tem and view downtown as the heart of Bryan. And both believe that the city needs to focus on improving what it...
Left of College Station - Thu 5:26 a.m. - 11 clicks
Talk about special treatment by the Texas parole board! According to the Dallas News : See a man off to prison with a 15-year sentence, you expect him to stay gone awhile. Which is why some in Rockwall are surprised to hear that Ray Sumrow is out on parole after 20 months. Sumrow, 60, was the sixth-term Republican district attorney in Rockwall when convicted twice in 2008. P...
Grits for Breakfast - Thu 5:26 a.m. - 6 clicks
Pulte just couldn't overcome the massive failure of the retaining wall in San Antonio and it seems like they are finally doing the right thing : SAN ANTONIO — Centex Homes will offer to buy back 27 homes in aNorthwest Side neighborhood and plans to spend $4 million to $5 millionto rebuild a massive retaining wall that collapsed in January. Some advice to the homeowners: take the money and run. A...
Bay Area Houston Blog - Thu 5:25 a.m. - 7 clicks
ANTI-DEATH PENALTY ALTERNATIVE SPRING BREAK Open to students and nonstudents alike, this weeklong program shows you what it takes to be an activist. You'll attend workshops, write press releases, speak in public, and more, as well as meet former prisoners who spent time on death row, family members of murder victims, and many others. Register online. Mon.-Fri., March 15-19. UT...
Texas Moratorium Network - Wed 11:41 p.m. - 9 clicks
Curtis McCarty, an innocent man who spent 19 years on death row in Oklahoma will be one of the speakers at the Anti-Death Penalty Alternative Spring Break March 15-19 in Austin, Texas. Curtis is attending as a member of Witness to Innocence. He will join exonerees Shujaa Graham, Curtis McCarty, Ron Keine, Derrick Jamison, Juan Melendez and Perry Cobb at the alternative spring break...
Texas Moratorium Network - Wed 11:08 p.m. - 7 clicks
From Channel 8 news: After months of study, seismologists at SMU say a saltwater injection well at the southern end of the airport is a “plausible” cause. The injection well pumps fluids nearly three miles deep into the earth’s crust. This is how drilling companies get rid of waste water from gas drilling. When activity at the D/FW [...]...
Three Wise Men - Wed 9:05 p.m. - 7 clicks
Let’s prognosticate! I know I said it already, but my predictions for the two Republican State House candidate runoffs: John Frullo and Delwin Jones. I don’t think Frullo will win in November, but I think he is best-positioned within his party’s primary. My predictions for contested City Council races: Mayor Tom Martin will be reelected, Victor [...]...
Lubbock Left - Wed 9:05 p.m.
Fox News is lying? What is next? The Pope is Catholic? Crackers are salty? Republicans are white? Teabaggers are racists? From the Texas Education Agency: TEA News Releases Online March 10, 2010 Fox inaccurately reporting State Board of Education action AUSTIN - The Fox Network in recent days has repeatedly broadcast highlyinaccurate information about the State Board of Educatio...
Bay Area Houston Blog - Wed 8:00 p.m. - 6 clicks
The Texas Progressive Alliance would like to thank the Academy by presenting it with this week's roundup. TXsharon went undercover this week to Map Methane plumes in the Barnett Shale: "Stealth" measurements contradict Shale Gas industry safe air claims, new technology shows . Big Gas is so BUSTED! And it's all reported on Bluedaze: DRILLING REFORM FOR TEXAS . This week on Left of College Stat...
The Texas Cloverleaf - Wed 7:03 p.m. - 13 clicks
Apparently, there is some asinine petition from people calling themselves 'Senate Conservatives' . The first thing that told me this was a group of crazies is that they have selected for their leader well known liar and crazy deficit spender Sen. Jim DeMint. The second thing was that they decided to endorse Michael Williams for Senator. Which is funny since he has absolutely no shot in hell s...
McBlogger - Wed 6:25 p.m.
Tonight on Biased Transmission our studio guest is Gray Varner, an associate professor in the Department of Philosophy at Texas A&M. Topics we will discuss include the relationship between science and philosophy, the animal welfare (AW)/animal rights (AR) distinction, hunting and environmental ethics, and the concept of personhood. Listen to Biased Transmission every Wednesday on 89.1FM K...
Left of College Station - Wed 3:08 p.m. - 8 clicks
