May 09, 2008
Vote! Vote! Vote!
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 contemplating, watch a video!
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Roundin' up the TPA
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.
Doing My Part For The Left's Refinish69 joins Austin high school students in Breaking the Silence.
WhosPlayin writes about the disturbing trend for hospitals to require payment up front for expensive services like chemotherapy. Even "non-profit" hospitals like U.T.'s M.D. Anderson are doing this, even while reducing free care and racking up huge surpluses.
Off the Kuff looks at the race for Harris County Sheriff and foresees immigration issues playing a big role.
The Texas Cloverleaf wonders why Governor 39% appointed a policy nerd to chair the Transportation Commission, rather than someone who knows anything about roads. Cronyism perhaps?
In the wake of the SCOTUS decision approving voter ID legislation last week, PDiddie of Brains and Eggs fact-checks the need for it.
North Texas Liberal's Texas Toad takes a look at the new Republican culture war over something just as useless:
allowing guns in national parks. Thank you, John Cornyn.
WCNews at Eye On Williamson has this post on the Reaction To Perry's TxDOT Appointments.
McBlogger take a moment to talk about the state of the TTC and Guv. 39%'s appointments to the Transportation Commission.
Lightseeker shares his opinion On Trusting Free Market to Regulate Government over at Texas Kaos.
Vince at Capitol Annex shows another example of Voter ID Idiocy, this time highlighting an editorial from the Texarkana Gazette's pseudo-ivory-tower-intellectual editorial board and explains why such thinking is typical of suburban newspaper editors.
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May 08, 2008
Ethics panel dismisses Vitter complaint
Ethics committee says alleged conduct, if proven true, would be "reprehensible" but not really that big a deal. No word yet on the accusations of selling children, harvesting organs from the poor or cockfighting.
read more | digg story
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Debate-O-Rama (the City Council Ed)
KXAN hosted a debate yesterday between the candidates for City Council. I haven't watched it yet, mostly because I've already made up my mind and can't deal with confusion today.
Take a look at it here. Apparently, Kim v. Shade was pretty exciting.
"I'm seeing there's a boldfaced lie come out of her mouth about what I supposedly promised according to some fictitious character," said Shade as she stood next to her Kim during the debate."Even on Ms. Shade's Web site, there's a statement by the police union, and they said Ms. Shade is clearly supporting increasing resources in public safety," Kim said.
The fight didn't stop with the two opponents. The fire and police unions have filed a complaint against Kim with the Public Utilities Commission. They said anonymous phone calls are against the law. Kim's campaign said they have already submitted the phone call script to the PUC and were told they have done nothing wrong.
"I think its showing that either Jennifer Kim is running scared and getting desperate, or she's getting really bad advice," said Shade after the debate.
A couple of things...
1) Kim's not desperate... Shade hasn't built the broad base of support even among the activists that she really needs. Not everyone is sold and frankly, we like someone a little irascible in office. When the City Council is chummy things go off the rails quickly and fixing it is usually pretty damn expensive.
2) The PUC signed off on the script. CASE CLOSED. Beside, I don't know anyone who's received this call. NOT A SOUL. So, by bitching and moaning about a call that wouldn't have had much of an impact, you're keeping it in the public eye. Now all anyone knows is that Kim's campaign made a call about Shade's 'commitment' to spend us more into the hole. Nice.
Frankly, there is a limit to how much public safety we can afford. WE'RE THERE. I tell you what, take more police off traffic and put them on violent crime. God knows we could do with a few less working MoPac, 35, 183 and Ben White. SERIOUSLY.
3) We're fed up with the public safety unions playing with the City Council races. They never seem to focus on the big picture and there HAS TO BE A BALANCE.
Finally, if anyone does choose to watch the debate, will you please let me know how badly Meeker shoots himself in the foot?
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Crushing Dreams : I'm totally going to be a nominee to national!
So you went to your precinct convention, got a spot at county and from there managed to finagle a delegate seat at state. Congratulations. You're like the other 500+ of us in SD14. Welcome. Here are a few tips
1) Most of the people there (even some of the volunteers) will be delegates. Seriously, you're nothing special, so drop the 'tude.
2) Don't act like you know everything. If you have a question, just ask. Please don't bullshit your way through it.
And finally...
3) Don't be crushed when your dream of going to Denver dies in the caucus. Oh, and yeah... that IS what's going to happen.
Over the last few weeks I've rec'd emails and snail mail from people I don't know and have never seen at anything who are DEDICATED to running for national delegate. And by God, they think THEY and they alone deserve the slot. Even though prior to the primary this year, no one even knew they existed.
Yeah... if this is your first real involvement no one is going to vote for you. There's a bunch of other people who been active and involved for 10, 20, 30 or, in some cases, 40 years. While we're thrilled you're helping out now, you're kind of Johnny (or Jane) Come Lately. And we're not sending you to national.
Let me let you all in on a secret... The delegate slots will be decided before we walk into the caucus. Don't get mad... it's a meritocracy and you just haven't done as much as others. Don't get depressed and don't get angry. This is just the way it works. Stay active, stay involved and don't be petty. We need you because, frankly, some of us are getting pretty burned out.
We know this message won't dissuade you from running. But, if we could ask a favor, don't give a speech. It's just holding us up from getting to the bar Friday night and the booze I'll have with me isn't going to last us all evening.
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May 07, 2008
Cuz I'm Always Down For A Guuud Time!!!
So who does'nt love this? Imagine, it's Tuesday afternoon, you are driving around downtown looking for a good spot for wings and beer attempting to temporarily dodge campaign madness ...Well! Lo and behold, there on the I-35 Frontage Road at 11th Street there stand good ol Sam Osemene (For Austin City Council Place Something or Other) (see doesntreallymatter.com) or (The Federalist Papers) standing there in all his glorious political manhood waving one of his campaign signs. Good spot Sam!
Austinites like wings and beer on Tuesday afternoons and there is none of that at 35 and 11th...
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McCain and Cornyn stand up to put down Vets
WOW. And you only thought Hillary was going a little tone deaf. As many of you already know, the GI benefits to which veterans are entitled have been shrinking for a number of years, so Senator Webb decided to do something about it and even managed to line up bipartisan support.
Two Republicans noticeably absent? Why none other than John McCain and our own John 'I hunt with a 28 gauge' Cornyn. McCain put up his own, woefully inadequate bill that the President likes. Because it spends $4 billion less than Webb's bill. And doesn't provide nearly as much for the people who are actually, you know, fighting the war on terra. Cornyn just likes screwing over vets, we suppose. We can't think of any other rationale since he's been wholly unconcerned with fiscal responsibility. President Bush is using that excuse which is kind of like a serial killer claiming to be worried about abortion.
As for McCain, there's no excuse. These men and women are worth whatever money we have to spend. If y'all hadn't focused so much on handouts to the oil companies, we wouldn't have to worry about paying for it. If you'd get out of the way and return taxes to where they should be, we'd easily have the money.
Or if we just stopped wasting BILLIONS in Iraq.
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May 06, 2008
Oh, Cornyn... Really? This is what you want to talk about?
OMG... you know, you're not a good Senator. You were a piss poor AG. You're a terrible columnist and now we can add bad natural science teacher.
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May 05, 2008
Noriega within FOUR POINTS of Cornyn?
According to Rasmussen... yes. Even HRC and Obama are within a few points of McCain in Texas putting us solidly in play.
Keep in mind, Noriega is a relative unknown with little name ID. This is a PARTY ID poll and it's clear that whatever advantage the R's had in the past has evaporated under the heat of rank incompetence.
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OMG! No! Say it ain't so, WaPo!
Apparently, in a SHOCKING development, an industry group sponsored a study and that study was used by the FDA and EPA to determine that a plastic additive was safe.
I know, my faith in our current unregulated government is shaken. TO.IT'S.CORE.
In other news of the obvious, a Texans for Lawsuit Reform (the morons who gave us unlimited corporate power) study showed that lawsuit reform has been good for 'Texas'. I guess by 'Texas' they mean 'Corporations'.
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May 04, 2008
Rumor : Farm Bureau to support KBH?
There is a rumor circulating that Farm Bureau, after supporting 39% in 2006, intends to support KBH in the 2010 Republican Primary. This should surprise no one given FB's opposition to 39%'s TTC. What surprised all of us was that they supported him in the first place.
No, no... I won't tell you where I heard it. Don't even ask.
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May 03, 2008
Ted Nugent's Mangina
In January, 2007 we posted this about Ted Nugent. Last week, Vince with Capitol Annex emailed to let me know that we were only #2 on a Google search of 'Ted Nugent' and 'mangina'. We are, of course, planning to sue Google.
And yes, I was surprised to learn that 'Mangina' is apparently a real last name. I bet that guy NEVER got beaten up when he was a kid. Not once.
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May 02, 2008
Roundin' up the TPA
North Texas Liberal analyzed the arguments from Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Flower Mound, and Newt Gingrich in favor of the flat tax. See our conclusions here.
The Commissioner of the General Land Office of Texas is a monumental ass. PDiddie of Brains and Eggs has the dirty details in "Discussted".
WCNews at Eye On Williamson has This Week's Transportation Wrap-Up.
WhosPlayin resumes his watch on GOP Congressman Michael Burgess, and joins North Texas Liberal in rejecting his "flat tax" proposal as a tax increase on the middle class.
Hal at Half Empty wonders why Texas' junior senator, John Cornyn, doesn't support our troops.
Over at McBlogger, Captain Kroc has a real problem with some of the concessions the City made to a certain developer looking to build condos on Lake Lady Bird.
The Texas Cloverleaf promotes a story about more shenanigans in the Texas Youth Commission, this time forcing a Denton County superintendent to quit before she is fired.
Last week, KUHT (PBS Channel 8) in Houston ran a special on immigration and public attitudes towards it called Houston Have Your Say, which included public officials, activists, ordinary citizens, and a couple of bloggers. Off the Kuff was one of those bloggers, and he wrote about his impressions here.
Vince at Capitol Annex notes that the Texas Association of Business is calling for education reform and wonders if anyone else sees the hypocrisy in that situation.
BossKitty at BlueBloggin looks at yet another VA screw up and continues to ignore the welfare of our troops in the VA Caught In Suicide Coverup.
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Booby Prize
The phone rang. It was Sister Ruth.
"I've just gotten the worst piece of political literature ever in my mailbox..."
"Oh," I responded. "You got Randi Shade's mailer too."
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Cocktail Flu and early conference calls
It's been a rough morning at McBlogger HQ. We overdid things last night first at the SFA, then at the Alamo where we went to see The Beast Within.
I probably wouldn't have had quite so much had I known that the downtown Alamo has a LIQUOR LICENSE, making it a vast improvement over all the Alamo's in existence and those that came before. And now we don't have to sneak in a flask.
Quit judging me.
Truth be told, it's less alcohol and more lack of sleep since I had a conference call that started at 7:00.
YES. I can go to bed at 3:00 and wake up at 6:30. I'm cool like that. And by cool, I mean ready to bitchslap folks for even minor infractions.
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May 01, 2008
DUH!!!
Most of you are aware that Jason Meeker is not one of my favorite candidates, in fact if it were up to me he would not be allowed to run for anything...ever... My own unique interpretation of Meeker the Gleekers Ridiculous Campaign Circus is that he is not only into self defeating behavior but he is in fact getting off on his own ignorant, irritating and thoughtless actions.... It's ok Jason many of us are enjoying it to...
Jasons Latest! InFactDaily.Com
Small dramas continue in Place 1 race . . . Political consultant Mark Nathan of Austin Strategies was annoyed to find that someone had put a campaign sign in his yard without his permission. The fact that the sign was for Place 1 candidate Jason Meeker did not set very well, either – Nathan is a consultant for Place 1 incumbent Lee Leffingwell. Accordingly, Nathan fired off an email to Meeker: “I'm writing to let you know that you just put up one of your large 4' x 6' signs on my property at 1627 Barton Springs Road, obviously without my permission,” Nathan wrote. “Putting up a 4' x 6' sign without permission on the property of your opponent's campaign manager is a truly unique strategy! As it happens, while I was taking your sign down, I noticed that it doesn't have any of the legally required disclaimer language on it.” After informing Meeker of the law, and making a request that he remove the signs, Nathan continued, “I appreciate that you are a first-time candidate, and, according to today's news accounts, that you have not been able to raise sufficient funds to retain a campaign manager who might have helped you become familiar with the basic state and city laws governing political campaign advertising.” He also asked for Meeker’s plans to remedy the problems with his campaign signs, and of course, an apology . .
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We tell you how you should vote (Austin City Council Ed.)
Why bother calling them 'endorsements' when we really mean 'This is how you should vote'? The election is, of course, May 10th but that's a Saturday and it's right before Mother's Day so don't even bother waiting (EV locations here, Mobile Voting here).
Place 1 - Demling - First Choice, followed by Leiffingwell.
No votes for Meeker. I know that will come as a hooooooge surprise. This was nearly a unanimous vote. Except for Harry who voted for the man referred to by some as a human narcolepsy canon.
Place 3 - Kim - First Choice, followed by no one.
Randi, we love 'ya but we just don't completely trust 'ya. Jennifer can be a little impersonal and abrasive (who the hell isn't, especially on a SUNDAY MORNING WHEN I'M HUNG OVER AND NEED SOME EGGS AND HOTD, Julie) but she's also a terribly hard worker who has come together with some of her colleagues on the council to solve some serious problems. Policy wonk? Yep. And that, at this time, is what we need.
Place 4 - Cravey - First Choice, followed by Morrison and Gale.
We like Galindo as a person, but we find some of his ideology ridiculous and ideas patently absurd (community land trusts... great idea, an absolute motherfucker to finance. NOT a viable solution anytime in the next five to ten years). He needs some seasoning and a massive CTJ on housing in the central city. Morrison is a great lady who is very involved with the ANC... and apparently, not much else. Still, it's good that she IS involved especially since it pisses off Mike Dahmus and that always makes me laugh.
There was one vote for Gale and no, it did not come from me. I thought she was far too serious as a candidate this time. I frankly miss the whimsy of her previous campaigns. I think those people in Dallas did something to her... they turned her into someone kinda serious.
As for Osemene, we like you but there's MUCH less to city council than the Federalist Papers would have you believe. MUCH LESS.
In case we're not getting through to you and you stubbornly insist on doing your own research, Phillip over at BOR has the resource page we totally would have created if we had the time (and actually, you know, cared about these people and their campaigns). Go check it out.
But really, what we tell you should be enough.
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