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July 31, 2006

National Poetry Slam Aug. 9-12th

Dear Liberals, Activists, and Flawless Texans,

Being a liberal in Texas is harder than Dick Cheney’s robot heart. Y’all know. You do the work. You give your time, energy, and resources to your neighbors, your country, and the world. Your reward: lots of email asking for more time and money!

So, I am not going to ask you for anything. Instead I’d like to invite you to the National Poetry Slam (www.myspace.com/nps2006). Running from August 9-12th, 500 poets, social activists, hell raisers, and artists will descend upon Congress Avenue’s finest venues for 4 tremendous days of competition.

And here’s the important part activists…the first two days of shows are FREE. We want you to come and listen, bring your pals, and argue about what it all means late into the night.

The National Poetry Slam is an event meant for you. We want to shake the foundations and make some changes. We want to have the tough discussions, tell our truths, and enjoy this beautiful city.

Check this week’s Austin Chronicle for show times and exact locations. Remember there are teams from all over the country (and FRANCE!) performing at the Art House, Ruta Maya, The Hideout Theater, Jo’s (on 2nd), Ego’s, and Antone’s. If you have any questions, feel free to email me: genvc@yahoo.com.

Thanks and peace.

Genevieve Van Cleve
220-1740

Here’s a schedule of where Team Austin will be:

Wednesday:
(7 p.m.) on Wednesday night at Ruta Maya, Austin - Ego's Team will compete against Decatur, Detroit, Mesa, and Corpus Christi.

Thursday:
(9 p.m.) on Thursday night at the Hideout, Austin - Ego's Team will compete against Boise, Bowling Green, Ventura, and Omaha.

Posted by genvc at 10:22 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Adopt a sign

And you thought Travis County Dems had all the clever ideas...

This is a yard sign. It needs adopting. For a mere $10 donation to Fort Bend Democrats, I will write your name and hometown on the bottom of this sign with a felt-tip marker and plant it safely in the yard of a local Democrat. For many people here, it's the first time they've seen the word "Democratic." For a $20 donation, I will plant the sign, take a picture of it and email you the picture and name of the street where the sign is.

Posted by mayor mcsleaze at 10:03 PM | Comments (1)

News from HankLand

The Texas Young Democrats have been tracking Hank as he travels around Texas talking about the TTC and the effect it will have on Agriculture. Speaking of Hank, his new website has launched and it looks great! Go Hank, GO!

Speaking of the TTC, I've talked to a few D members of the Lege and each one has said roughly the same thing... the Republicans made it clear that the only new roads that they would allow to be built in Texas (and trust me, we need the roads) would be toll roads. Whatever you do, let people know about this! No one wants a bunch of good Democrats who hate this thing voted out when the real blame lies with the assholes in the Republican caucus. The only way we're going to get freeway expansion and new roads, is to unseat a lot of Republicans in November.

Posted by mcblogger at 04:31 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack

An excellent review of Godless by Ann Coulter

Sometimes you read a review of a book so stunningly spot-on and well written that it leaves you breathless.







This is that review

This week, sweet Ann Coulter released her latest in a series of pre-rehab books, entitled Godless. Naturally, the title led me to believe that it was an unexpectedly candid autobiography. Alas, she may be saving that book until after she's been strapped to a bed at Hazelden for a month. Instead of using this book to dabble in the bracing novelty of introspection, Miss Coulter turns her two-setting mind ("off" and "off her rocker") to hector us about religion.

Let's be honest: Reading a book about religion from Ann Coulter is tantamount to reading a book about dieting from Michael Moore. After all, who wants to be lectured about not being Christian enough by an almost-50 year-old boozehound in a black leather miniskirt who has never been married? Count me as having a healthy skepticism over whether Miss Coulter has saved herself for marriage. Or anything, for that matter.

All this from Mrs. Betty Bowers, America's Best Christian.

Posted by mcblogger at 01:45 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Hank and the TTC

Faith Chatham has a great piece up over at Texas Kaos on the TTC. Check it out here... lots of great pictures and information. This is an issue that continues to gain mo and it's obvious as hell that it is going to take down a lot of Republicans in rural areas.

Posted by mcblogger at 10:27 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Ewe. I'm so not using soy sauce anytime soon...

The Chinese have decided to make soy sauce... out of human hair. Like I could make this up...

The journalists then found the amino acid syrup manufacturer (a bioengineering company) in Hubei province. When asking how the amino acid syrup (or powder) was generated, the manufacturer replied that the powder was generated from human hair ( 1 , 2 , 3 ). Because the human hair was gathered from salon, barbershop and hospitals around the country, it was unhygienic and mixed with condom, used hospital cottons, used menstrual cycle pad, used syringe, etc (figure 1). After filtered by the workers, the hair would then cut small for being processed into amino acid syrup (chart 1) ( 1 ).

Posted by mcblogger at 09:46 AM | Comments (6) | TrackBack

July 30, 2006

Dregs : ASSlove; Separation anxiety and more

Muse has a great article up via the Houston Chronicle about a little problem with Perry's ethic's report. Seems he noted many of those small time donors who are sending him pennies to protest the tax scheme he and the Republicans shoved through the legislature earlier this year. Apparently, they noted the donors with the acronym ASS which stands for A Small Supporter. Get it. HA! Very clever those shitheals in Perry's office. Godo job, Y'all.

Posted by mcblogger at 05:16 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

The eels! Will no one think about the eels!

Iraq is still on fire, Israel is bombing the crap out of Lebanon while Hezbollah shoots rockets into Israel, but at least dead eels are finally starting to get some respect.

Giant dead eel tossing contest canceled

LONDON - For more than 30 years, crowds have flocked to the small English fishing village of Lyme Regis to watch an annual tradition — two teams of fishermen standing on wooden platforms as human bowling pins, hurling a dead giant eel at each other. But the ritual was abruptly abandoned after an animal rights activist threatened to draw negative publicity to the latest tournament, organizers said Saturday

The practice, known as conger cuddling, is the annual highlight in the small coastal town about 155 miles southwest of London. The object of the game is to knock the opposing team off the platform by swinging a 25-pound eel at them.

Crowds have flocked to Lyme Regis since 1974 to watch rival teams of nine men swing the giant conger eel — suspended in the harbor by a rope — and local residents said they are dismayed at the demise of their historic event.

Andrew Kaye, a resident and spokesman for the Lyme Regis lifeboat crews who raise money through the tournament, said an anonymous e-mailer had called the practice disrespectful to the dead eel.

The lone activist threatened to film the contest to attract adverse media attention, Kaye said

They called this thing off because of a threat from an anonymous emailer? God help us all if that guy ever gets his hands on a blog!

Posted by mayor mcsleaze at 12:16 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Homage to catatonia

Interoffice memo
To: McBlogger
Re:Lee Siegel calling bloggers fascists

I told you there was going to be hell to pay when we bombed Guernica, invaded Poland and put all those people in concentration camps.

Posted by mayor mcsleaze at 08:00 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

Continued Important Coverage of Lance Bass

We hear that he'll be teaming up with J. Depp for Ass-Pirates of the Carribean.

Seriously, we only tease Lance because he teased us for so long.

And because the politics of it all- so hawt!

Posted by spamburgler at 03:28 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBack

July 29, 2006

Lee Siegel whines about how mean bloggers are

TNR has an article up by Lee Siegel in which he whines Malkin-esque-ly about bloggers being fascists.

This isn't the first time I've heard this argument so it's hardly an original thought (not that Seigel is ever bothered by those). The MSM and tradmed people think we're all on the same page. What they don't get is that we're NOT all on the same page. They keep trying to figure out why people love blogs and it's so simple... they give people a chance to interact in an immediate way. I could also mention that in some cases the writing is better than that from people like Siegel (Seriously, trashing bloggers with hyperbole? Quit whining and do a better job... maybe then people will buy a subscription). I do not include myself in this because honestly I think half the time an orangutan could write better. The other half of the time it actually IS an orangutan writing.

He calls us fascists because some people asked him to suck their balls. Big fucking deal. What a crybaby. Then he spends too much time ripping on Kos. Who.Fucking.Cares?

Other than Lee Siegel and Joe Lieberman, I mean. Oh, and Lee... I'll need to see a picture before I invite you suck my balls.

Posted by mcblogger at 01:10 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

July 28, 2006

Birthday ideas for McBlogger

Some of you are aware that in a few months I will be celebrating another birthday. I know you've already begun thinking of things to buy me (like a body bag or a grave marker) so to help you along I thought I'd mention a few things from time to time that I would like.

Talisker


Yummy, yummy scotch. Talisker is from the Isle of Skye and I Iove it. Buy some for me here and google for the location closest to you.

Toy Watch


I got an email from Neimans yesterday advertising these watches. I want one. The red one. You can buy it here.
Of course I know it'll be out of style in six months. Why do you think I want YOU to spend YOUR money on it and GIVE it to me?

You think I'm kidding but you people better get to work. I want some good stuff this year.

Posted by mcblogger at 03:02 PM | Comments (13) | TrackBack

Excuse me, Sir. May I see your computer?

ars technica has the deets up on intrusive searches of computer hardware by border agents.

The case made its way to a Nevada court, which found Romm guilty. An appeal of the case went to the Ninth Circuit in San Francisco, which was charged with deciding an important issue: can border patrol agents search laptops without a warrant and without probable cause? The court's ruling was handed down on Monday, and said that yes, agents can search laptops for any reason.

Granted, the guy was into kiddie porno but how long will it be until some kid is busted for illegal MP3's on his iPod by some overzealous wage slave?

Posted by mcblogger at 02:00 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Update - Ask A... Dildo that may or may not have been in Rick Perry's ass

It's been a week and the dildo is getting impatient. We have recieved 2 (two) questions from you lazy bitches at McBlogger corporate (read:my office). Don't be shy, no question is too dumb to ask the dildo...

What are you afraid of? Delisi and Black? Creampuffs. Let the omniscient dildo wrap you in it's protective embrace. And then penetrate just like it may or may not be penetrating Rick Perry as I write.

Posted by mcblogger at 12:31 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack

Another bad bill from Senator Cornyn DIES

SCS has a great post up about Cornyn's bill to hand US taxpayer money to Latin and South American governments to 'build roads' (no doubt with Cintra Zachry). I guess someone told him it was a bad idea because he's given up on it. He's also abandoned plans to have taxpayers buy him a new pool and a PlayStation 3 (when they FINALLY arrive in stores). Instead he's settling for a Rolex and he's going to get it as a gift from a lobbyist.

A lobbyist whose client will receive a $20 mn contract from the DoD with Cornyn's support. We're guessing put doesn't that just SOUND right?

Posted by mcblogger at 12:02 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Mandrake, have you ever seen a commie drink a glass of water?

If you watch Comedy Central late at night you're probably aware that a new flick called America: From Freedom to Fascism is opening in Austin today. While it would seem that the title could encompass a wide range of outrages, this movie actually seems to focus on the particular part of the crackpotosphere which holds that all evil flows from the Internal Revenue Service and the Federal Reserve. Of course, they are part and parcel of the nefarious New World Order conspiracy which leads to black helicopters in our skies, fluoride in our water, and jackbooted UN troops in our streets. Sort of like an Alex Jones/Jeff Davis public access show except presumably the guy in the control room knows how to run the audio board. Of course, I can only guess about that since bloggers were excluded from the press screening.

Far more intriguing is the recommendation given by Todd David Schwartz, who says this film

Makes Fahrenheit 911 look like Bambi

(I know I always have to fight back the tears when that mean hunter shoots Michael Moore's mom.)

Still, since I haven't seen the movie and presumably he has, I'll leave the last word to TDS:

"I would advise movie theatre managers to hand out vomit bags. You may end up needing one."

Kind of sounds like Gigli.

Posted by mayor mcsleaze at 09:08 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

The Chinese can be so naive

So recently the Flag Burning Amendment reared it's retarded head again. HRC even wrote a version of her own which makes her a douche royale. Still, it's always interesting to see what happens in other countries when the flag is desecrated... and hear what they think about us.

From Riding Sun

When a Chinese used a hunting rifle to shoot at birds on a university campus, he shot a hole in the Communist's red diaper cloth [the Chinese flag] by accident. As a result, he was sentenced to 20 years in jail. In America, "publicly" burning the American flag on the street is regarded an expression of thought and an exercise of freedom of speech, and is constitutionally protected.

The day that I can burn the Chinese national flag at Tiananmen Square will be the day when mainland China becomes an "America" with democracy and economic wealth — a beautiful, good and wealthy country.

Posted by mcblogger at 01:22 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

July 27, 2006

Boys Banding Up Behind Bass

With the stunning announcement of N'Sync's Lance Bass's blatent and latent homosexuality, fellow bandmates have had to be careful in their press statements so as to not ensure the wrath of the Gay Mafia (head up of course by Elton John).

Sadly, Justin Timberlake (whose surname is Apache for Hard Wood Near Water) fell into the trap of unfortunate 'official statements'.

"Lance is one of my great friends," Timberlake said in a statement issued by publicist, Ken Sunshine. "I support him and wish him all the happiness in the world."

An otherwise safe statement was screwed up by the fact that his publicist's name is Ken Sunshine. Now that's just gay.

Bandmate Joey Fatone had this to say.

Joey Fatone from N’Sync also has kind words for Bass: "He took years to really think about how he was going to tell everyone. I back him up 100 percent."

We bet you back him up Joey. At least we know who's a bottom now. We just didn't know that you walked in on Lance once.

Fatone was the first 'NSYNC bandmate Bass told about being gay, after Fatone walked in on Bass and a male date at his house in Orlando, Florida. Fatone's response at the time? "Dude, I don't care," Bass recalled him saying. Chris Kirkpatrick found out last summer and JC Chasez three months ago.

But all jokes aside (which puts every boy band in existance off the table), what really gets to me most is the human element to this story. It reminds us that even fake people are real people.

Telling his bandmates has been easy, but telling his family was another matter. His sister became pale and started crying when he told her, while his mother "broke down." "The worst part about it was my mom found out not from me," Bass said. "She found out on the Internet, and that's what just killed me. ... It destroyed her for a little bit." His father, in the meantime, was concerned about diseases, telling Lance that "It's much easier for gay people to get AIDS," and "Statistics show that these relationships don't last. You know it's not going to last." "I was like, 'Dad, wow!' "

Posted by spamburgler at 08:09 PM | Comments (6) | TrackBack

Visuals We Didn't Want of Our Parents

How would you like to be the Republican Senator of Minnesota? Um, not so much today (nor being a Republican ANYDAY!) But I wouldn't want to be the Senator, getting a call from the cops that my Dad is doing it in the back seat of a car in a parking lot.

Ok, there are SO many things wrong with this story....

"Coleman's Father Cited for Lewd Conduct
Police charged the 81-year-old father of Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN) and a female companion "after officers reported seeing them engaged in a sex act in the parking lot of a popular pizzeria," the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Coleman issued a statement: "I love my father dearly. I do not condone his actions or behavior, and I am deeply disturbed by what I have learned. He clearly has some issues that need to be dealt with, and I will encourage him to seek the necessary help."

Posted by at 05:25 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

TTC Road Show in Temple

I went, I saw, I exhausted myself handing out flyers and bumper stickers for Hank. I ran into CanOFun as well as Bree Buchanon, Fred Head, Edward Lindsay, Linda Stall from Corridor Watch, Agnes from Blackland Coalition, Barbara McLean from Forthright, 3rd Left Productions (she's making a TTC doc), Mary Beth Harrell and of course OSB.

1472. That was the official count of the people who attended and signed TX DoT's form. There were probably a few hundred more who didn't. If you have a chance to go to one of the meetings, you really should. This thing is a nightmare, more than I ever could have imagined. Not only is it environmentally a bad idea, it will do nothing to relieve congestion in the cities and will more than likely restrict building additional freeways capacity.

Of the 1472, there were 11 who were for it, including the galactically stupid Mayor of Temple who WOULD.NOT.SHUT.UP. Fucktard. Honestly, the WORST politician I have ever seen. I was rooting for some of the good ole boys who were standing around me to kick the shit out of him in the parking lot as he tried to weasel out. Alas, no bloodsport.

Talked to a TX DoT rep who said the money required to fully expand the 35 freeway to the fifty year traffic projection is 28 bn. That was the official number. UNOFFICIALLY, they were talking about 12-16. Big money to be sure but a hell of a lot better than 30-40 TTC-35 is probably going to cost.

More and some pics in the supersize

The people I felt worst for (other than those who will lose their homes if this thing gets built) were the TX DoT staff who were friendly, courteous and TOLD what to say and do. I don't like Perry playing politics with the staff, especially when he tasks them with selling such an unpopular concept.

All in all a great meeting. Howdy to everyone!

OSB

Hank

Mary Beth Harrell

Hank talking to folks

Posted by mcblogger at 12:10 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Chris Matthews gets it....

Sister Ruth pointed me too this after reading the post about Shelly and the chickenhawks like Cheney who hide behind her. It's a 'video' of Imus' boring ass show when Chris Matthews called in for an interview. It's long (about 12 minutes) but he tags the neocons perfectly. An excerpt:

MATTHEWS: I think we’ve completely lost the ability to be a power broker. Look at Condi Rice, it’s a joke. He trusted the pencil necks–it’s ideology with this crowd.

MATTHEWS: It’s all ideology with this crowd. All they care about is ideology. The President bought it, hook, line and sinker. He had– but you know, it was just put into his head, some time after 9-11, and his philosophy is what he has given it. He didn’t have to have any philosophy when he went in, and they handed it to him. These guys– the guys–you know, the guys that you used to make fun of at school–pencil necks, the intellectuals, the guys you never trusted. All of the sudden, he trusts the intellectuals, the guys you knew at school, yeah, they’re a bunch of pencil necks and now he buys–completely–their ideology, because he didn’t have one of his own coming in. That was his problem. I don’t know what Bush stood for, except I’m a cool guy and Gore isn’t, and that was our problem. We elected the guy because he was a little cooler than the other guy, and, I hope the next election, it isn’t a problem of who goes to bed with their wife at 9:30 at night, or who knows how to tell a joke on a stage. But it’s who had the sense of strength that comes from having read books, most of their life, tried to understand history

Then I found this yesterday and I simply could not believe I found myself agreeing with Chris Matthews AND Patrick Buchanan. Seriously, watch it.

Could Bob Shrum be more of a tool? When the hell did NBC hire him as a 'political analyst'? Morons.

Posted by mcblogger at 11:05 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Myron LOVES him some oil rigs in the Gulf

(Seriously, you Republicans have got to hire better spokespeople. Myron makes my eyes hurt and he's just so fucking dumb)

Our old pal Myron Ebell was on CNBC advocating unrestricted drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. Sounds like a great idea, right? Why not put thousands of tons of machinery in one of the most hurricane prone bodies of water on the planet. Even better, let's use the machinery to drill a hole in the floor of the ocean and suck up fuels like natural gas a petroleum. You know, if they spill into the ocean it's only the people on the beachfront in MS, AL, LA, FL and TX who'll be forced to deal with it. At least they're already voting Republican so they're not going anywhere.

Myron LOVES to shill for the people who write his checks, the oil companies that are the ultimate funding source of his shell of an organization, the Competitive Enterprise Institute. They should call themselves the Big Oil Prostitute.

I can dream of a day when the Gulf is so crowded with drilling platforms that you can literally hop from platform to platform, from Texas to the Yucatan. Anyone else think this is kind of dumb? The idea that we can drill our way to energy independence is dumb from a number of perspectives not the least of which is that there's an environmentally better alternative that actually COULD make us independent.

If only people like Myron would stop sacrificing their integrity.

Posted by mcblogger at 01:15 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

July 26, 2006

A modest proposal for peace between Israel and Lebanon

While it's exciting as hell to argue back and forth about Israel, Lebanon and Hezbollah (we could also throw in Iran and Syria but that would just muddy the waters), it's counterproductive. So, in the interests of global peace and security, I would like to propose the following:

If they need more money, the Israeli's should cough it up. The Lebanese are still trying to rebuild after decades of fundamentalist bullshit. While they should have eliminated Hezbollah years ago it just wasn't practical. Will vigilante's end up killing some innocent people? No doubt. But will they FINALLY put the fear of God in these bastards? Oh hell yes.

Hezbollah doesn't want compromise or negotiation. They want the end of Israel. So, it's either eliminate Israel or take out Hezbollah. I'm for the later, especially as it will help finally bring peace to Lebanon.

Posted by mcblogger at 03:21 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Ask A .... Fairy Princess....'Cause My Gaydar is better than Your Gaydar

Way back when, when I had a brief bout of bad music, I liked 'N Sync. Mainly because I lived in WeHo (West Hollywood, for those of you who don't KNOW) and we KNEW those pretty boys were too pretty to be straight.

So na-ne-na-ne boo boo to all you nay-sayers!

Lance Bass: I'm gay
'N Sync singer worried he would harm group

Wednesday, July 26, 2006; Posted: 1:16 p.m. EDT (17:16 GMT)

NEW YORK (AP) -- Lance Bass, band member of 'N Sync, says he's gay and in a "very stable" relationship with a reality show star.

Bass, who formed 'N Sync with Justin Timberlake, JC Chasez, Joey Fatone and Chris Kirkpatrick, tells People magazine that he didn't earlier disclose his sexuality because he didn't want to affect the group's popularity.

"I knew that I was in this popular band and I had four other guys' careers in my hand, and I knew that if I ever acted on it or even said (that I was gay), it would overpower everything," he tells the magazine.

'N Sync is known for a string of hits including "Bye Bye Bye" and "It's Gonna Be Me." The band went on hiatus in 2002. Bass has also found headlines for undertaking astronaut training and failing to raise money for a trip into space.

Bass says he wondered if his coming out could prompt "the end of 'N Sync." He explains, "So I had that weight on me of like, 'Wow, if I ever let anyone know, it's bad.' So I just never did."

The singer says he's in a "very stable" relationship with 32-year-old actor Reichen Lehmkuhl, winner of season four of CBS' "Amazing Race."

Bass and Fatone, 29, are developing a sitcom pilot inspired by the screwball comedy "The Odd Couple," in which his character will be gay.

"The thing is, I'm not ashamed -- that's the one thing I want to say," Bass says. "I don't think it's wrong, I'm not devastated going through this. I'm more liberated and happy than I've been my whole life. I'm just happy."

Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Posted by at 02:35 PM | Comments (18) | TrackBack

Texas Parks listed on MLS? Perry's selling out the State!

PDiddie has a great post up about The Texas Progress Council's efforts to shed light on the Republican plan to sell State Parks. That's right, boys and girls, Perry has decided to sell the land to the highest bidder. While the Alamo and San Jac aren't on the block yet, 46,000 acres of Big Bend may soon be.

The lie coming from Perry, Staples and the rest of the R's is that the State doesn't have enough money to operate the parks. Unfortunately, that's just legislative and fiscal mismanagement on their part. Rather than cop to it and admit to the people of Texas that they need to pay a little more to get the stuff they want out of government (you know, ROADS, POLICE, EDUCATION, PARKS), they're making excuses and selling off invaluable state treasures.

I always thought Perry and Staples were spendthrift but I had no idea just how far they'd sink. They're like greedy heirs, selling of their inheritance before the body's even cold. Of course, they never think about that day when they'll be out of assets... and there will be nothing left to sell. Problem is, it's not just them... they're going to drag us all down with them unless we get rid of them in November.

Posted by mcblogger at 02:17 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Malkin sucks off Chickenhawks

Shelly Malkin, whiner extraordinaire, is once again carrying water for the chickenhawks. This time, she does it with an assist from Jeff Jacoby.

You don't need medical training to express an opinion on healthcare. You don't have to be on the police force to comment on matters of law and order. You don't have to be a parent or a teacher or a graduate to be heard on the educational controversies of the day. You don't have to be a journalist to comment on this or any other column.

Shelly, dumbass, when people call Rummy and Cheney chickenhawks it's to point out that they when they had the chance to go out in the field and fight they weaseled out. No one is saying that civilian control of the military is bad. However, as long as nutters like yourself insist on calling brave men and women (like Max Cleland) cowards, THEN WE ARE GOING TO BLOODY YOUR FUCKING NOSE.

Jesus, Shelly. Have none of you ever been in a fight? It's not fun. Maybe that's the problem with y'all... we're fighting a war today because y'all were a bunch of pussies in high school.

Posted by mcblogger at 01:26 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Todd Staples : Promoter of Terrorism

Protecting Texas families by advocating sound anti-terrorism and inspection policies in conjunction with federal officials to ensure a safe and reliable food and water supply, and to secure our borders.

That's lifted straight off Todd's lame page-o-goals (Don't Get Stapled rips on another of Todd's goals here). One has to wonder how Todd's pet project, the TTC will fit into this. It allows for trucks, etc. to pass THROUGHcheck the Texas/Mexico border and NOT BE TOUCHED UNTIL THE SHIPMENT HITS THE TRANSFER HUB IN KANSAS CITY. That's right, Todd's Trans-Texas Corridor could conceiveably allow a nuclear weapon to be transported into the United States and Travel within 30 miles of San Antonio, Austin and Dallas, putting more than TEN MILLION TEXANS at risk.

Sound anti-terrorism? I'm calling bullshit on Todd. He's pandering and cares as much about your security as he does about the rights of hispanics to vote in the valley (the SC recently ruled redistricting that Todd helped push through back in 2003 violated the rights of hispanics in The Valley).

Todd's helping al Qaida by making it easier for them to strike deep in the heart of Texas.

Posted by mcblogger at 09:54 AM | Comments (7) | TrackBack

Presidential signing statements and impeachment

Both Nate over at Common Sense and Bradley at North Texas Liberal have posts up about the ABA's TASK FORCE ON PRESIDENTIAL SIGNING STATEMENTS AND THE SEPARATION OF POWERS DOCTRINE. And what did the task force vote to recommend? Among other things that they should...

oppose, as contrary to the rule of law and our constitutional system of separation of powers, a President's issuance of signing statements to claim the authority or state the intention to disregard or decline to enforce all or part of a law he has signed, or to interpret such a law in a manner inconsistent with the clear intent of Congress

Now Specter is readying a bill that would allow Congress to sue the President over the signing statements. It's a stop gap to avoid impeachment which is what would normally happen when the President breaks the law (even the ones he doesn't think he should have to follow). Or obstructs an investigation.

Posted by mcblogger at 02:03 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

July 25, 2006

Murkowski May Not Make It

A new(ish) poll out of Alaska shows Republican Gov. Frank Murkowski may not make it past his primary:

Posted by at 10:12 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack

It Wasn't Mercury In Retrograde Today...

It was all the fuckers trying to put prayer in schools invading Austin! Yes, that anger you felt in the air was the White House Conference on Faith-Based and Community Initiatives prowling about the ATX. Bible-pushers on us heathens!

They met today as one "in a series of regional meetings designed to help faith-based organizations better utilize Federal and private funding."

In other words, how can we more effectively take all funding from family planning and sex education so our children get knocked up at 12 years old and put it to lame ass programs like making them wear a ring to promise to not have sex until marriage?

I want to know why no one warned us about this!

Posted by at 04:27 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

A problem with Neimans? Damn you, contractors!

The Statesman is reporting a minor fire at the site of the STILL under construction Neiman Marcus here in Austin.

Workers installing an air-conditioning unit sparked a fire Monday that caused an estimated $1 million in damage to a Neiman Marcus store being built in North Austin, a fire official said. There were no injuries reported.

The blaze began about 1 p.m. at the construction site at 11701 N. MoPac Blvd. (Loop 1) just south of Burnet Road.

Listen up, shit heals. I know y'all are just doing your job but some of us have been waiting for that store for more than a DECADE. We need our

Posted by mcblogger at 03:53 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

TTC : Tons of fun for every-one!

Loads of stuff out today about the TTC. Karl-Thomas of BOR has an awesome editorial in the Daily Texan (he's posted it here) dealing with the TTC.

The most unsettling thing about the project is that the terms are sealed, unreadable by the public. Texans have no way of knowing who will ultimately pay for the inevitable cost overruns, nor do they know what will happen when the actual revenues from the TTC are lower than the estimates used to secure the financing. Who will pay for that: the private management company or Texas taxpayers?

The entire piece is spot on, especially in regard to the TTC raising property taxes in every county it cuts through.

The Daily Texan scoops the AAS with a great story on the TTC hearing last night in Georgetown.

The more than 250 Williamson County residents who gathered at Georgetown High School Monday night weren't there to hear a Texas Department of Public Safety official explain the ins-and-outs of the Trans-Texas Corridor. Though questions abounded, most of the meeting attendees came ready with their own answer: Don't build it.

The Trans-Texas Corridor, proposed by Gov. Rick Perry in 2002, is scheduled to begin construction in 2010 and slated to cut a 1,200-feet-wide toll road through Texas running from Oklahoma to the Mexico border.

"I'd like for all of you that are opposed to this to raise your hands," said former state Rep. Fred Head, who is running for state comptroller in November, at the public hearing.

Nearly every hand in the room shot up.

Eye on Williamson also has a piece up about the meeting last night in Georgetown and the Somervell County Salon posts about the meeting in Waco (which was where Hank was last night). Needless to say, The TTC is becoming the nightmare issue for the Republicans, especially Todd Staples (who authored the bill that gave the damn thing life) and Rick Perry (who signed Staples' bill).

Neither Todd Staples nor Rick Perry showed at any of the meetings proving once again they are complete pussies cunts. Rick, are you going to hide behind Robert Black until election day?

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John Edwards... on myspace?

Oh,damn. I really liked him.

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BUSH - MORE TROOPS TO IRAQ

President Bush, at a press conference with Iraqi PM al-Maliki, said that he would be increasing the number of US troops in Iraq. He also reiterated his ridiculous belief that the one thing Islamic terrorists hate is Democracy.

I don't even get the impression HE believes this bullshit anymore.

Remind me again why all this started? Oh yeah, because Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rove and Rice all talked up a threat from Iraqi WMDs. People said, at the time, Iraq didn't have WMDs but that didn't stop the people in the White House who ALWAYS know better than everyone else because they think they know better (see how that works? Cool, huh?). They doctored intel, sold the package to Congress and the US invaded a country that hadn't DONE A GODDAMN THING TO US.

Worst President in history? Oh, that's not nearly damning enough. This motherfucker needs to spend the rest of his life in a very dank, dark cell in Leavenworth. With a very agressive and extremely lonely man named Willard who will make W his bitch.

Posted by mcblogger at 10:59 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

Dregs : Oil Independence in five years; polls reveal more of the same

Have a goodun!

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July 24, 2006

Ask A ... Dildo that may (or may not) have been up Rick Perry's ass

Certainly y'all remember the scandal involving Rick Perry's questionable sexuality two years ago. The Governor denied the allegations and went on to feed his angry base some red meat last year on the Anti-Gay Marriage Amendment. Still the questions are out there and will likely remain for years... unless, of course, Geoff Conner (Perry's alleged lover) ever comes forward.

Rather than explore the question of whether or not Rick Perry is gay (which is, frankly, overtired), we thought we'd advance things a bit and ask the far more important question, What would a dildo that may (or may not) have been up Rick Perry's ass have to say for itself? Hypothetically. Of course, in hypothetical land, Rick Perry is actually a good Governor as oppossed to the shitbox we currently have in that pretty house caddy-corner from the Capitol. So, in this post we are going to just go ahead and assume Rick's into some assplay. Seriously, straight boys can be, too. See how that works? Gay or Straight, in hypothetical land there is a dildo that may (or may not ) have been up Rick Perry's ass and now you can ask it questions!

This is a picture of the actual dildo that may (or may not) have been up Rick Perry's ass. Seriously, ask it questions but please don't be freaks... email them in so we can keep them private until the dildo has a chance to answer them. Some will of course ask why we phrased the title in such an ackward way. Well, Rick's dildo may look completely different and we really needed a visual aid on this. This may be the kind Rick likes. Or it may not. Or he may not even own one. But we're assuming he does.

Go crazy, Kids!

If you like the dildo that may (or may not) have been up Rick Perry's ass, please visit these delightful people who'll be happy to supply you with your own for $17.99... if it's not illegal to purchase them where you live.

Posted by mcblogger at 12:30 PM | Comments (22) | TrackBack

What kind of 'Tards make fun of disabilities?

The kind that live in Nephi, Utah (duh!)

So a neighbor puts up a sign saying "Caution, Retards in the Area" because (supposedly) the 13-year-old developmentally disabled boy has been "harrassing" his daughter.

So the NBC affiliate goes out to the scene, and this is what happens:

"As we were filming the sign, we could see the neighbors who put it up were outside, so we approached them for their side of the story.

Sam Penrod, Eyewitness News: "Why did you put that sign up?

Neighbor: "I've been harassed for six months, my daughter has been assaulted."

Sam Penrod, Eyewitness News "By who?"

Neighbor: 'The young boy, we got pictures and everything and they would not press charges because he is handicapped.' The neighbor claims Colton threw a rock at his young daughter. Other neighbors told us they have frequently found Colton wandering onto their property."

Kids wander and throw rocks all the time. They are kids, that's all there is to do, besides hang out in the Wendy's parking lot eating frostys and macking (oh, wait, that's what I did in small town Louisiana, after we went cow tipping...)

Only a total asshole does something like this.

Read the whole story here (including great pictures of the Trailer Mama telling off the police!)

Posted by at 11:33 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Gingrich is a douche

Newt has been making the rounds on the talking head circuit, bleating on about how the WoT is actually World War III. It's good someone finally let him in on what we've all known for a while. Of course, the R's being as stupid a box of rocks, think they've stumbled on something new...

"This is World War III," Gingrich said. "Israel wouldn't leave southern Lebanon as long as there was a single missile there. I would go in and clean them all out and I would announce that any Iranian airplane trying to bring missiles to re-supply them would be shot down. This idea that we have this one-sided war where the other team gets to plan how to kill us and we get to talk, is nuts."

Because then the Iranians would claim it was a humanitarian flight or some nonsense. It's the complete lack of subtlety that really irritates me about people like Newt. Of course, the R's are also looking at this as a helping hand going into the midterms.

Gingrich also maintained that the use of the term "World War III" could re-energise the base of the Republican Party. He pointed out that public opinion can change "the minute you use the language" of World War III. The message then, he said, is "okay, if we're in the third world war, which side do you think should win?"

Well of course we should win it, you dipshit. That's the problem with you guys... you talk, you bluster, then you go and FUCK EVERYTHING UP. We shouldn't even BE in Iraq, for example, except that you morons wanted us to be. So you cooked up intelligence and spewed ad nauseum about mushroom clouds on Meet The Press.

Start running your mouth you fat Georgia cracker. Voters trust Democrats more on Nat Sec because of your endless screwups. Start running these talking points and you're going to get more than a proverbial bloody nose. You try playing this shit going into the fall and you'll be lucky if the Republican Party even in Texas doesn't end up on life support.

Posted by mcblogger at 02:24 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

July 23, 2006

Sunday Fun

I've had this floating around for a couple of months but have only recently had a chance to really listen to it. It's Graham Coxon's new album, Love Travels at Illegal Speeds and it's ROCKS. Check it out when you have a chance.

Posted by mcblogger at 06:23 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Here It Comes...

This week's Time magazine reports the following:

"... As for Bush himself, he is curtailing his traditional August working vacation at the ranch so that he can barnstorm before the midterm elections. Their outlook thus far seems so ominous for the G.O.P. that one presidential adviser wants Bush to beef up his counsel's office for the tangle of investigations that a Democrat-controlled House might pursue.

With the Democrats determined to make a major issue of Bush's foreign policy competence, the President seems ready to leap at the chance to refresh the landscape and make his own history. He had deliberately diverged from the Middle East course set by his two predecessors when he hired an unabashedly pro-Israel staff. "I'm all for conferences," Bush said in a 2004 appearance with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, "just so long as the conferences produce something." George H.W. Bush and his Secretary of State James Baker were seen as heroes by some Palestinians; Bill Clinton made the quest for Middle East peace a centerpiece of his legacy project. Bush aides say the times were different then and the vaunted progress under Clinton turned out to be what one called "a false stability."

Imagine that.... the Director of Lessons Learned (who makes more money than the Director of Fact Checking) must have told his President that the only way to defeat Democrats is by delving into their personal and not-so-public lives in attempt to disgrace them, because, let's face it, they ARE wrong on all the issues...

Read the whole story here

Posted by at 11:55 AM | Comments (6) | TrackBack

July 22, 2006

Ask A... Homosexual in Lebanon!

The rockets red flare, the bombs bursting in aiir, but is it proof that the homosexuals are still there? We know that's what you've been asking yourself as Israel takes Beirut to task for not keeping thier terrorists in line. Thanks to some pulitzer level reporting, we have this "Ask A...." interview for you.

Let's begin with the most pressing questions.

What's happening with gay people there now? Are gay clubs closing?

HiL: Almost all the clubs -- gay and nongay -- are closed since the Israeli aggression, so I suppose that means the gay clubs are closed.

How is the war affecting gay people in Lebanon?

HiL: The war is affecting gay people the same way it is affecting straight people for the moment. It is depressing for both gay and nongay people to see that all the effort Lebanese people have made for the past 15 years has been destroyed within five days.

Actually, for more of this fabulous interview, please go here. Yes, believe it or not, it's a real interview and I've lied to you the entire length of this post about it being a McBlogger production. Then again, gay.com never really was known for it's amazing journalistic skillz.

Posted by spamburgler at 01:05 AM | Comments (10) | TrackBack

July 21, 2006

UPDATED - A series of unfortunate pictures...

... of Todd Staples and his Giant


Freak Head...


These guys I really feel bad for. I mean, they're having to hang out with Big Head Todd of the Tassel Loafers. That can't be fun for them. I bet he's boring the shit out of them with tales of his super lameness. Like when he went to Whole Foods downtown and saw a chick with blue hair. Gasp!

I think the guy in the purple shirt either wants to kill Todd or is trying to figure out a way to kill himself.

Again with that wicked huge head. Todd's not the smartest guy in the State by a long shot so you have to wonder how defective all that tissue between his ears has to be. You know there is a lot of it. It's a shame he hasn't used it more.

His head is so large and distracting in this picture you almost don't notice the other two people. I think the older guy is someone from Cintra.

This is a shot of Todd, his wife and Mr. and Mrs. Geeque of Lamont, OK. Todd had just finished begging for money from Mr. Geeque when this picture was taken. The group was on it's way to a fancy dinner at the Golden Corrall (where else?).

See how Todd's head really distracts from his criminal sense of style? In that way it's extremely helpful.

UPDATE: We were informed last night that the woman standing next to Todd isn't his wife. Apparently that woman is Todd's mom. We apologize for the mistake.


Here's a shot of Todd when he was a little boy...

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WE love us some Kirk Watson

Yes, I like Kirk. Not in THAT way, but in that 'guy I respect kinda way'. I can't take y'all anywhere, can I?

This week, Kirk's on target about health care... so perfectly on target, in fact, that I wanted to alert you to what the presumptive Senator from Travis County has to say.

Briefly, the speech emphasizes both the dollar and human costs of the holes in the state's health care system, as well as the toll on our economy. It also advocates four critical, common-sense approaches that will dramatically help Texans' health care and the state's budget:

* Cut down on emergency room visits
* Ask for the state's fair share of federal health care money
* Increase health care to children
* Look for creative, innovative, efficient ways of providing health care

Now, if you're like me, you read that list and are as underwhelmed by my creativity as you are disappointed that we're not doing those four things already. Believe me, nothing would make me happier than having to get more inventive about improving health care for Texans. But such is the tragic state of Texas that such a basic to-do list hasn't been done.

Go Kirk!

Hello, Friends.
I'm sure that between this summer's barbecues, swimming, vacations, and, you know, work, you've kept up with the developments on KirkWatson.com. But in case you've been too busy to pay attention to me, I wanted to point you to a speech I gave to a group of Texas hospital administrators about one of the most important and vexing issues facing this state: health care. Here's an excerpt and a link:

"I grew up in a hospital. My mother worked most of my life as a nurse in a hospital. I got the chance to work there too as an orderly. I loved being an orderly, even though the nurses were merciless in finding the nastiest things on earth for me to do.

I'm also passionate about health care. For very personal reasons.

I'm supposed to be dead. As many of you know, I'm a cancer survivor. I would be dead, but for access to excellent, early and frequent health care. I'm one of those people who did not die because I didn't need more health care than I could afford.

I lost my mother Billye Watson to cancer when she was only 62. Daddy died because of cancer 13 months before her, when he was only 66. But, both lived many years fighting that beast because of access to quality health care.

Each day, Liz, our son Preston, and I address the needs of that great kid who is basically on a life support system, working to control his Type 1 diabetes with at least 4 shots of insulin a day and blood tests that are no less frequent than 8-10 times a day.

So, I'm personally committed to assuring health care for Texans. It is a key reason I want to be in public service.

Briefly, the speech emphasizes both the dollar and human costs of the holes in the state's health care system, as well as the toll on our economy. It also advocates four critical, common-sense approaches that will dramatically help Texans' health care and the state's budget:

* Cut down on emergency room visits
* Ask for the state's fair share of federal health care money
* Increase health care to children
* Look for creative, innovative, efficient ways of providing health care

Now, if you're like me, you read that list and are as underwhelmed by my creativity as you are disappointed that we're not doing those four things already. Believe me, nothing would make me happier than having to get more inventive about improving health care for Texans. But such is the tragic state of Texas that such a basic to-do list hasn't been done.

If you want to learn more about the challenges facing Texas' health care system, I highly recommend reading Code Red, a report compiled by a distinguished panel of experts and published by the University of Texas System. It provides a true road map for where we need to go and how we need to get there. Seriously, if you read only one high-level policy document this summer (I know there are probably several on your bedside table right now), read this one. Then encourage elected officials to steal its ideas. I don't think the authors will mind.

In other news, I continue to get out in the community to hear what folks are thinking and to share ideas. On Monday, I traveled to South Texas to look at a health care facility there. Also in the last few days, I have talked with:

* A group supporting stem cell research
* The Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber Corporate Roundtable Luncheon
* The interns and volunteers at Environment Texas
* Rep. Mark Strama's splendid Campaign Academy for young people
* Residents of Westminster Manor retirement center

This weekend, Preston–who turns 17 next month–and I are headed to Colorado to look at colleges. I'm not sure I'm equipped at this point for three days of low heat, low humidity, and thin oxygen. Hopefully, the separation anxiety will take the edge off.

Thanks, as always, for everything you all do to help Central Texas. Keep having a good summer, and I'll see you soon.

Copyright © 2006 Kirk Watson for Texas Senate. Political advertisement paid for by Kirk Watson for Texas Senate, P.O. Box 2004, Austin, TX, 78768; Rosie Mendoza, Treasurer.
If you do not wish to receive future Watson Wires, reply to this email with the word 'unsubscribe' in the subject line.

Posted by mcblogger at 03:18 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Dirty Coal? Oh, fuck you TXU, Rick Perry and Todd Staples

Does Governor Buttplug think global warming is all a bunch of bullshit?

You betcha!


Why the hell else would he fast track new dirty coal power plants, not to mention giving all kinds of lulu's to polluters like TXI in Midlothian. You have to ask... why does he hate people who like to breathe so much?

Of course, the DMN only wants to talk about it in the context of Bell's criticism. Then they can make it all about a campaign instead of a very real public health issue.

Our good friend Tassel Loafer Todd had his finger in the pie. As always... he is a greedy fuck. What saga of political corruption and lobbying pay-to-play would be complete without some donations from the very people who are benefitting from the laws he writes to make it easier for people to get away with destroying the environment. Need to get a faster permit to make the air more polluted? Just call TLT. He's the go-to guy for stuff like this as long as there is something in it for him. Perry'll sign it, too... but he's going to need a bigger check.

(via The North Texas Liberal)

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Poll : UT to come in second

Sports. I don't know a damn thing about them so would someone please 'splain to me how the hell OU is going to beat us next year?

Defending national champion Texas is picked to finish second in the Big 12 South in a media poll released Thursday. Oklahoma, which received 23 of the 28 first-place votes, was the odds-on pick to win the division. Texas received the other five first-place votes.

My natural inclination is to think this is just the AAS being dumb.

Posted by mcblogger at 11:00 AM | Comments (