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May 31, 2007

Funny you should ask

Can the Iraq 'Surge' Be Salvaged?

Wonders the WSJ.

Wait, wasn't the "surge" supposed to be the salvation for Bush's War?

Posted by mayor mcsleaze at 05:39 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Questionable Career Move

You know, if I was getting out of the "Attention Whore" business, I'm not sure I'd be doing this.

Anti-war icon Cindy Sheehan has gone public on her support for the 9/11 truth movement after she told a radio show that the collapse of the twin towers looked like a controlled demolition and that there should be a new investigation into the terrorist attacks.

Sheehan, who made headlines this week after she distanced herself from the Democratic party and the establishment left, joined Alex Jones to share her views on her skepticism towards the official 9/11 story.

Posted by mayor mcsleaze at 02:40 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Thank you, Rep. Burnam

With all the crap circling Saddam CradDICK and the Fun with Tolling tragedy, we haven't had much of a chance to thank Rep. Burnam of Fort Worth for doing his best to kill 39%'s horrendous political policing bill which was masquerading as a homeland security bill. In the end, Carona of Dallas (in the Senate), with the help of Corte and Escobar (in the House) managed to get an even worse, more abusive bill passed.

Let me make this clear... no one is doubting that we need to enhance homeland security. However, the way you are going about it is traitorous. You've betrayed the people of Texas if you voted for this bill... you've helped concentrate political power in the Office of the Governor. Where it certainly shouldn't be.

Thank you again, Rep. Burnam, for standing up for civil liberties and the Constitution. You, Sir, are a true Texan.

Posted by mcblogger at 01:04 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Watts announces exploratory effort

Hot on the heels of Lampson's announcement that he's going to run for re-election in CD 22, Mikal Watt's announced that he is 'exploring' running to be the Democratic nominee to run for Senate next year and finally put Sen . Corpsyn where he belongs (out on the street, natch).

I gotta say, I'm really very proud of Lampson. While I thought he was the wrong person to run against Corpsyn, I think he'll be a great candidate against Dermatologist DraculaCunt. Please run more aggressively this time, Congressman and beat the shit outta that retard!

As for Watts... I know next to nothing about him. Oh, I know the basics. What I don't know is what kind of a candidate he'll be? Any fire there or will he be Lametina Navritolova?

Anyone care to chime in here?

Posted by mcblogger at 09:28 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Man Bites Dog

So I saw this story linked over on Texas Kaos about some English performance artist eating a dog in one of those nutty stunts that animal rights fanatics do to demonstrate that, uh, something or other. I think the most delicious part of the tale was

Yoko Ono, featured on the same radio program, also tasted a bit of the dog, McGowan said. Ono's spokesman did not immediately return calls or e-mails seeking comment.

Was Yoko having doubts she was already going to Hell for breaking up the Beatles?

Posted by mayor mcsleaze at 08:42 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Great Moments in Assholery

You know, you couldn't get me to go back to high school for a million dollars. Or ten million dollars. Okay, maybe a zillion dollars. But not if I'd have to deal with Prinicpal Dicknose, as reported in today's Slag.

A handful of Dripping Springs High School seniors will be called back into the principal's office for cheering and bouncing beach balls above their heads during their graduation ceremony Friday at the Shoreline Center in Austin.

Their behavior, said Principal Greg Jung, was unacceptable.

Jung held on to diplomas for the entire 200-student graduating class for two days while district staff reviewed video of the ceremony in an effort to identify the pranksters. Jung said he expected to release diplomas for students not involved today or Friday.

Once the offenders have been identified, Jung said, he will meet with the students and their parents this month to "let them help me determine how to resolve the situation." Jung hopes the students can come up with a way to make things right, perhaps through a community service project.

Hey, Hitlerito, why don't you call the draft board and have them all shipped to Vietnam? That'll show the little bastards, yah fucking fascist asswipe!

Posted by mayor mcsleaze at 07:33 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

The result is still the same...

Here's a great article demystifying what it really means to de-fund the war. It's also a bad article because, in yet another way, it calls the Democrats in Congress cowards.

It also ignores political reality which is that any bill to 'de-fund' the war will fail because Bush will veto it and there are not enough Republicans who will cross to override the veto.

Until Republicans in Congress start feeling real heat, they are going to keep enabling their out of control President, Connecticut native George W. Bush. That's reality, it sucks and blaming Democrats in Congress is going to change none of it.

Posted by mcblogger at 12:56 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

May 30, 2007

Mayor Wynn invites you to learn what Austin is doing about global warming

Thanks to MC for passing this along!

Mayor WILL WYNN Live: Global Warming Presentation Sunday, Jun 10 at Alamo Drafthouse Downtown 4:00 and 7:00pm

The debate is over. Climate change is happening now. We're causing it. And if we don't fix it, the results will be catastrophic. "It's a global problem, but it's a local problem too. And our responses have to be both global and local," Mayor Will Wynn said back in February, when he announced the Austin Climate Protection Plan. "Austin has long been a national leader on energy efficiency, renewable power and innovative technologies. Now we need to push those efforts to the next level." This June, while your A/C is cranked high, don't turn on your oven (or microwave, if you cook like our bachelor Mayor does). Let the Alamo do the cooking (and the beer-pouring) and join us for this dramatic presentation.

In January Mayor Wynn trained with Al Gore to give the slideshow the former Vice President made famous in his Academy Award winning movie "An Inconvenient Truth." Mayor Wynn has adapted that presentation and will tell us how Austin is leading the way in confronting the climate crisis.

Mayor Wynn would like to encourage you all to familiarize yourselves with all sides of the issues and when you come to the presentation please bring a skeptic - if you know one.

The Mayor's presentation will be free. However, we are expecting a huge demand for this timely presentation so if you wish to reserve a seat you may purchase a $5 food and beverage voucher to be used on the night of the show. All other seats will be first come/first served.

Posted by mcblogger at 03:12 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

BREAKING: SLY TURNER FILES FOR SPEAKER

No joke, we're getting this from a reliable source.

Go ahead, laugh. We certainly are.

Posted by mcblogger at 01:06 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

Russia sees US ABM system, raises with new MIRV platform

Well, the Russians did say that if the US broke the ABM Treaty it would open up a pandora's box of new weapon systems.

Russia tested new missiles yesterday that a Kremlin official boasted could penetrate any defense system, and President Vladimir V. Putin warned that U.S. plans for an anti-missile shield in Europe would turn the region into a "powder keg."

First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov said Russia tested an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of carrying multiple independent warheads, and it also successfully conducted a "preliminary" test of a tactical cruise missile that he said could fly farther than existing, similar weapons.

Mostly, this is boilerplate BS for Ivanov who is running to replace Putin as Russia's next President. Being seen as the 'strong on national defense' candidate has always been a safe move in Russia. Doesn't that sound familiar?

So now, instead of our ABM systems having to hit a missile, they will have to hit 4 or more VERY small warheads. Considering it doesn't hit larger targets very well, do you think maybe we shouldn't have bothered to waste all that money on a system that can be overcome by just adding a more targets?

Posted by mcblogger at 12:43 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Tolls : Perry on SB 792

That’s what I’ve always cared about. Frankly, I don’t care who builds roads. I want them to get built timely, I want them to get build effectively, I want them to be built as cheaply for the taxpayer’s and the users of the state of Texas as they can be. And that is what is happening in our state.

Coulda fooled us.Seriously, 39%, if you want to go around lying you might want to do it about something no one knows a thing about. We call your bluff, asshat.

From the Chron blog (via EOW). Picture credit to one of Pink Lady's readers who ROCKS!

Posted by mcblogger at 10:58 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

In honor of...

Lindsay Lohan's most recent bender, we give you an old fave...

Posted by mcblogger at 09:15 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

May 29, 2007

Ladies and Gentlemen, Cindy Sheehan has left the building!

Living saint and self-annointed face of the movement against Bush's War Cindy Sheehan popped up again over the weekend. You may remember her for the great role she played in galvanising the antiwar movement with her month-long encampment outside El Presidente's Crawford, Texas pigfarm in August, 2005. That event, with the Katrina catastrophe coming right on its heels, set the credibility of the regime on a downward path from which it has never recovered.

Unfortunately for Cindy Sheehan, she then made saving the world a full-tiime job. Well, saving the world is a tough job. Just ask Jesus. Never able to recreate the magic of Crawford, she spent a year and a half engaging in the usual slew of civil disobedience stunts and fasts popular with folks who draw the wrong lessons from Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr.

On Saturday she posted an angry diary on Daily Kos, denouncing the Democratic Congress and adding

The Camp Casey Peace Institute is calling all citizens who are as disgusted as we are with you all to join us in Philadelphia on July 4th to try and figure a way out of this "two" party system that is bought and paid for by the war machine which has a stranglehold on every aspect of our lives. As for myself, I am leaving the Democratic Party.

To be honest, the only surprise in that for me was that Cindy Sheehan considered herself a Democrat. I suppose she may have voted for some in the past, but over the last couple of years her interaction with the party has been limited to lecturing prominent Democrats who don't measure up to her standards and disrupting their press conferences. Now she's "leaving" because the Congress can't wave a magic wand and end Bush's War in an instant. Whatever.

Then, two days later came another tablet down from Mount Sinai.

I have endured a lot of smear and hatred since Casey was killed and especially since I became the so-called "Face" of the American anti-war movement. Especially since I renounced any tie I have remaining with the Democratic Party, I have been further trashed on such "liberal blogs" as the Democratic Underground. Being called an "attention whore" and being told "good riddance" are some of the more milder rebukes.

Oh dear, Cindy. Some of the people who "disgust" you DARE sling a little mud back at you? How unseemly!

Good-bye America ...you are not the country that I love and I finally realized no matter how much I sacrifice, I can’t make you be that country unless you want it.

Ta ta, toots. Sorry we'e not good enough for ya!

But wait, there's more!

Just a day after announcing her resignation and turning in her halo, Cindy Sheehan made it onto both the Ed Shultz and Randi Rhodes radio shows, and she'll be on Democracy Now! on Wednesday. Uhhh, "attention whore"? If the thigh-length boots fit...

Posted by mayor mcsleaze at 10:00 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

God Says the Strangest Things

Now that Jerry Falwell's telephone has been disconnected, who is God supposed to call to chat when He's up late at night and there's nothing on TV but reruns of Law And Order? Why, none other than self-proclaimed Christian Tom DeLay, who tells all to The New Yorker

God has spoken to me. I listen to God, and what I’ve heard is that I’m supposed to devote myself to rebuilding the conservative base of the Republican Party, and I think we shouldn’t be underestimated.

Some theologians suggest that God was more likely suggesting the Hammer do something about that awful haircut.

Posted by mayor mcsleaze at 04:00 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Bin Laden's Back

Recently, President Bush pulled big scary Bin Laden out of the closet to get Americans skeered. Well, Mr. President, if you're so scared of Bin Laden now, why weren't you in 2002?

We may have took out Saddam Hussein, but the guy who was actually responsible for 9/11 is still at large. Good work there, President Bush.

Posted by mcblogger at 01:18 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

I was really thinking of being nice to Ann Coulter...

... but then I read this. My favorite part of her loving Farewell to Falwell...

He was such a good Christian that back when we used to be on TV together during Clinton's impeachment, I sometimes wanted to say to him, "Step aside, reverend -- let the mean girl handle this one."

Yes, Ann, he was such a good Christian that almost completely ignored the teachings of Christ. As for you being the mean girl, you're really little more than a trifling caricature of a real person. We know mean because we see it everyday in the mirror when we shave. You're little more than a pathetic, pitiable poseur. With ass hair and horrendous skin.

Posted by mcblogger at 09:30 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Thanks for coming. Don't the door hit your ass on the way out

Tonight, the Lege adjourned sine die. And we couldn't be happier. The faster we can get the likes of Leo Berman, Linda Harper-Brown, Frank Corte and bitch of the universe Jodie Laubenberg out of Austin, the better.

Y'all have a nice drive home. Those of us in Austin are happy to see you go. Go back home and explain yourselves to your pissed off constituents. Explain to them how you sold their roads. Explain to them how you let the insurance companies and electric utilities take advantage of them. Help them to understand how good it is that they don't have health care and that school funding isn't all that important. Trust us, you'll want to get started soon because there are so many groups gunning for y'all it ain't even funny.

No, not us. We may not like you but we hardly have the power to talk directly to your voters. Think of us just as the messenger on this one. Have a fun summer and try, as hard as you can, not to think of how close Krusee was last cycle. Seriously, you're going to want to rest up because the Republican primaries are going to be brutal. Should you survive those, you're going to have a reinvigorated Democratic Party candidate in front of you. And you'll like that even less.

Posted by mcblogger at 12:35 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

May 28, 2007

Memorial day... a time to reflect

Austinsgudpackage has a nice post up regarding the lead up to the invasion of Iraq and points out how nice it would have been had someone just listened to the CIA. Seems appropriate this Memorial Day to take time to reflect on those we've lost and the reason we lost them.

Posted by mcblogger at 10:49 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Attack of the Nazi Racoons

No, it's not tonight's fare on the History Channel.

In 1934, top Nazi party official Hermann Goering received a seemingly mundane request from the Reich Forestry Service. A fur farm near here was seeking permission to release a batch of exotic bushy-tailed critters into the wild to "enrich the local fauna" and give bored hunters something new to shoot at.

Goering approved the request and unwittingly uncorked an ecological disaster that is still spreading across Europe. The imported North American species, Procyon lotor, or the common raccoon, quickly took a liking to the forests of central Germany. Encountering no natural predators -- and with hunters increasingly called away by World War II -- the woodland creatures fruitfully multiplied and have stymied all attempts to prevent them from overtaking the Continent.

Today, as many as 1 million raccoons are estimated to live in Germany, and their numbers are steadily increasing. In 2005, hunters and speeding cars killed 10 times as many raccoons as a decade earlier, according to official statistics.

Raccoons have crawled across the border to infest each of Germany's neighbors and now range from the Baltic Sea to the Alps. Scientists say they have been spotted as far east as Chechnya. British tabloids have warned that it's only a matter of time until the "Nazi raccoons" cross the English Channel.

Posted by mayor mcsleaze at 08:15 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Of all the stupid shit...

WOW. We've been a little out of it thanks to the way too awesome bartender at the Cloak Room. And Mother Egans. And my house. However, in our absence the stupid continues unabated down at the Lege, this time with the Iscariot Caucus taking a bow for all the hard work they didn't do and, of course, heaping praise on their patron, Saddam CradDICK who has spent the entire weekend acting a dick. Sorry, that's not exactly true... occasionally Sylvester got to act like a dick, too. Good job, Sly! Way to do the folks back in Houston proud.

That's today. The events of last night are still a little surreal. Burka has his inane take on things. So does Glenn Smith at BOR. My personal take? It's about fucking time. All anyone is asking for is to find out the will of the House. CradDICK knows he no longer has the support. Which is why we've been playing this silly games. Come on, Burka... even a blind man could see it. There was no choice but to break quorum. In fact, it should have happened Friday as soon as Terry Keel showed up.

Also last night, Mike Krusee in a point of personal privilege, made a decent speech condemning CradDICK. He invoked Reagan. Why is that every Republican who gets their tit in a ringer feels the need to bring up Reagan? Still, Mike, we have to ask... why the change of heart? What's next? Opening an override of the veto on 1892?

Speaking of... yeah, that wasn't done and 792 is on it's way to the Governor. We know most of y'all are smart folks. We know you have access to the same information we've seen, that tolls are by far the most expensive way to finance roads. We also know that there are loopholes within loopholes in 792 because you trusted 39% and Dick Williamson. That was, for some of you, a political miscalculation of unprecedented proportions.

Keep talking, Nichols, about how this is a great deal. People know you're lying and it infuriates them. When the voices get loud, you'll start making excuses about how you trusted 39% and Williamson and that they are the ones to blame. Voters will blame them, too, but they aren't giving you a walk. Too many people used those excuses in 2006 to cover up for their original vote on 3588.

Money for an anti-toll campaign is already being arranged. Multiple organizations are, for the first time, working together on this. You should all be nervous. Except Leibowitz and a handful of others.

You made a serious miscalculation. You thought that the gas tax increase was unsalable to voters and that they would never learn enough about the toll plans to really get them pissed. You're wrong on both counts. Texans, over the next year, are about to learn just how far down the river you guys sold them. And they are going to be even more upset than they were last year.

Not to mention some of you Republicans will be facing off against Leininger and CradDICK. Needless to say, you made enemies at a time when that was the last thing you needed to do. Amateur hour, boys and girls. VERY amateur. Oh, and for those of you thinking the Stalls can provide cover to you, they haven't been asked to the party.

Who needs a sellout especially one who makes deals with untrustworthy people?

Posted by mcblogger at 04:19 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

Are jury verdicts in civil trials irrelevant?

According to the ultra-conservative Texas Supreme Court, you bet... if they disagree with the verdict even if it was based on sound legal ground. Way to turn the appeals process on it's head...

Reversing a multimillion dollar judgment is not out of character for a court packed with conservative judges, six of them appointed by Gov. Rick Perry before winning pro forma elections. But the legal reasoning that the slim majority used to justify its ruling was so alarming—and sets such an unappetizing precedent—that it has spawned incredulity in Texas legal circles. In effect, the court reviewed the evidence and decided the jury was wrong. It was a remarkable reach beyond the court’s usual exercise of power.

Ordinarily, appeals courts give great deference to a jury’s conclusions. Jurors, after all, are the ones who hear the witnesses, review evidence, and deliberate the case. A court usually has a compelling reason when it decides to disregard the jury’s conclusions.

What that reason might be is not clear in this case. More than a few scholars argue that the state Supreme Court doesn’t have a sound legal principle with which to justify its decision. Worse, they fear it opens the door for other Texas courts to begin arbitrarily tossing aside jury verdicts with which they disagree. If the high court continues on this course, they say, the constitutional right to a civil jury trial could be in jeopardy.

Pinche Tejano has more on the judges up for re-election next year. These folks need to be shown the door, post haste.

Posted by mcblogger at 12:14 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

House breaks

House just broke the quorum! HAHAHAHA

Posted by mcblogger at 12:45 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

May 27, 2007

Live from the Lege

Just got to the Capitol with The Mayor, Sister Ruth and Captain Kroc. Right now, Coleman is grilling Chisum about CHIP. Now the budget has just passed. Exciting stuff... If you happen to be drunk.

Posted by mcblogger at 10:09 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

100th Anniversary of the Birth of Draft Dodger Marion Morrison

Yesterday, more than a few news sources took a hero-worship approach on Morrison; some even called him the real deal. The real deal?

He had a fake name, fake persona, played fake characters in fake movies with fake storylines and fake scenarios. Of course, to the right-wing nutters, saying this about Morrison could be worse than accusing Ronnie Raygun of molestation.

Is it necessary to bring this up? I think it is.

But whatever roles he played or movies he performed in are trivial to what made up the rest of his life.

Foremost is choosing his career over service during WWII. All the excuses used to justify his decision ring hollow as the biggest stars of Hollywood, who could have used the same reasons, signed up for military service.

He certainly was a template for all those future chickenhawks who said they could better serve their country by “debating” the glories of war rather than serve.

Let’s not forget Morrison’s other shining moments that ended up on the wrong side of history:
- supported the House Un-American Activities Committee
- influential in having American screenwriter and film producer Carl Foreman blacklisted
- supported the Vietnam War
- gave campaign contributions to George Wallace
- campaigned for Dick Nixon
- justified genocide against Native Americans
- claimed African-Americans were not smart enough to run the government

This list could be a profile of a radicalized white supremacist entrenched in a high security compound in Idaho.

Maybe the most damaging aspect of his life was the influence he has exerted on today’s generation. People born after his death think Morrison is an American icon to be emulated.

I take no pleasure in doing a smackdown on John Wayne because there is evidence that in his later years he regretted his decision not to serve, and there was some stirring from him to understand the solidarity of the human spirit; however, it seems the only things taken from his life are bravado without wisdom, and stunted intellectual discernment. Two traits found in contemporary conservative mentality.

Posted by Captain Kroc at 05:10 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Mass. Senator wants to steal childhood

I just can't believe this...

A state senator is taking aim at a childhood food staple: Fluff.

Sen. Jarrett Barrios was so outraged his son Nathaniel, a third-grader, was given a peanut butter and Fluff sandwich at the King Open School in Cambridge, he said he plans to file legislation to outlaw the marshmallow spread in school lunch programs.

"A Fluff sandwich as the main course of a nutritious lunch just doesn't fly in 2006," Barrios said. "It seems a little silly to have an amendment on Fluff, but it's called for by the silliness of schools offering this as a healthy alternative in the first place."

Barrios said he will offer an amendment to a junk-food bill that would severely limit the serving in schools of marshmallow spreads such as Marshmallow Fluff, concocted by a Massachusetts man before World War I and which still is made by a family owned business in Lynn.

Marshmallow Fluff and peanut butter sandwiches -- known as Fluffernutters -- have long been a favorite of New England kids.

"I've been eating Fluff nearly my entire life," said Don Durkee, 80, whose family started the company that makes Fluff in 1920. "The irony of this is Marshmallow Fluff happened to be invented in Somerville, Barrios's home district."

This is like that bitch Combs trying to ban PB&J from schools. Or was it cupcakes? I forget... ANYWAY, marshmallow fluff is one of the few purely American foods. Hating it is like hating America. And the troops. And flag. And your grandma. It deserves better than to have some overzealous douche of a Senator running it down. It should be respected, admired even.

And don't tell me about nutrition, asshat. There are carbs AND protein AND fats in a fluffernutter sandwich. EVERYTHING a growing child needs to be among the first picked on the playground when it's time to divide up and play kickball. Seriously, if your kid ain't eating fluffernutters, he may as well be the dork kid that always gets picked last. And you know what happens to that guy.

You may remember that a fluffernutter sandwich endorsed TDP Chair Boyd Richie last year. Need we say more?

Posted by mcblogger at 02:10 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

May 26, 2007

Tolls : Rumors and more rumors

We all know that everyone caved on 792. Apparently, we're hearing that some of the members from Houston metro are under pressure from HCTRA, just like the North Texas folks are being attacked by NTTA. Keep in mind this bill doesn't do a damn thing and has so many loopholes it's ridiculous. Senator Nichols, for one, was quoted as saying that it was the moratorium everyone wanted.

Not so much, Senator. As soon as Amendment 13 was stripped out, it became worthless.

Time after time y'all keep worrying about people at the RMA's and Toll Authorities. It's really pretty silly since there are going to be some significant changes over the next few years in these organizations. Think I'm lying? Just look at the mood in Central Texas. The people most effected by toll roads are the ones most upset. Do you really think there won't be some changes in Williamson County over the next couple of years? Travis County had their's with the election of Sarah Eckhardt.

Sure, Houston has had toll roads for a while. So has Dallas. However, people aren't ready for (and won't be happy with) TXDoT's master plan. Further, they aren't ready for for-profit tolling. What you're doing with these bills is legalizing extortion. And you won't get any cover from your party.

It's time to flip and call 39%'s bluff.

Posted by mcblogger at 05:22 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

I want my rent...

I present to you, The Landlord from HELL

See more here...

Posted by mcblogger at 04:55 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

792 going to the floor today?

We've heard that SB 792 is going to the floor of the House today. Seriously, we've talked enough about this bullshit bill. At this point the damn thing should be voted down 2-148. Come on, y'all... kills this POS and override the veto on 1892. It's time to call 39%'s bluff and really put the fear of God in Ric Williamson.

Yeah, people are watching. Keep in mind we've been pissed for a while and are only getting angrier. You might also keep in mind that this hasn't gone away and won't. It's spreading. You either get on the right side or you get Krusee-fied. Your choice. Make the right one, please, because we've grown kinda fond of some of you.

Not you, Krusee. You'll NEVER be invited to the parties. And the doorman will always have a pic of you with a big red X over your face.

Posted by mcblogger at 12:53 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Remembering Terry Keel

It's been so long since we've seen Terry Keel's butt ugly face that we have to admit it induced some laughter when Barfly and I got back from 28 Weeks Later (which ROCKS, by the way!) and I turned on the feed from the House.

Barfly had never seen him before. Her comment was the funniest..."Cool timewarp hair. Very 80's nerd. He only gets laid by lake trash". As always, Barfly NAILS.IT.

Terry Keel fooled everyone in Travis County into thinking he was a moderate for a long time. Then, when he realized the gig was up and that people had figured out his scam, he suddenly announced he wasn't running or re-election. I thought he was on some kind of a multi-year drunk until he popped up on my LCD last last night. Feeding CradDICK his lines, just like an understudy in the wings of a bad high school production of "Fiddler on the roof" (May God bless the Tsar and keep him far from us!). Honestly, at times we seriously wondered why he didn't just go on and shove his hand straight up CradDICK's ass. I guess we weren't the only ones.

If something funny happens, we may blog it or we may not. Barfly and I are going 'shopping' for 'something'. The Mayor is keeping up with duckmouth's vain attempt to hold on to power. If he pulls this shit today, y'all should break quorum and fold into an automatic special. After last night, don't give in until he's off that dais.

Posted by mcblogger at 12:30 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

The Gospel according to Terry Keel

DMN photo
1. Speaker Craddick is always right.
2. In case Speaker Craddick is wrong, refer to Rule Number One.
3. You're out of order! I'm out of order! This whole freakin' House is out of order!

Posted by mayor mcsleaze at 10:07 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

May 25, 2007

Tinky-Winky Speaks

The death of Jerry Falwell reminded me of a recent chance meeting with a character that had a pivotal role in Falwell’s life.

About a month or so ago, Mr. Mcblogger had posted that some of the writers of this blog had left me in Arizona or Iowa. Actually, it was Barstow. I had convinced them that if they drove me to Simi Valley, I would piss on Reagan’s grave. When we got to Barstow, I revealed that my true intention was to go to Joshua Tree to find where Gram Parsons was cremated. Well, they thought that was creepy and we agreed to part ways.

Fortunately, I found an old timer in town who used to make the run to Joshua Tree for, in his words, “all those hippies and cosmic cowboys” until 1977. That is when a disco opened, KC and the Sunshine Band performed, and that was that. We spent the better part of the week in the national park, but when we got back, I had to find a ride home. Again fate shone my way as Large Marge hauling feed out of Bakersfield was able to take me all the way to Tucumcari where she had to head north to Dalhart to care for her old man who was on a 3 day bender after retiring/quiting/laidoff from the electric co-op.

Before starting to round up another ride, I stopped at a local diner where the average age of the customer was somewhere past ancient and all the waitresses would give Flo a run for her money. As I was lifting the cup of joe to my lips, an unusual image caught the corner of my eye. As I turned, a small purple figure appeared in the back booth near the juke box.

Well, I’m not well versed on kid shows, but the triangle antenna on top of the head jogged my memory about Tinky-Winky’s brush with greatness back in the late ‘90’s. The courteous thing to do was to leave him alone, but my curiosity got the best of me as I wondered how a fading English children’s character ended up in a lonely New Mexico outpost.

I thought introductions would be labored since how do you talk to someone who only said “eh-oh”. As I walked up to his booth, I was surprised when he inquired if I was there for an autograph, or one of those religious nutters who was going to tell him that all homosexuals are going to hell. I said neither, but was interested in knowing how he ended up in this backwater.

He said something about a shady agent who negotiated payment for his appearance on Jerry Springer for land near Taos. Unfortunately, near was 150 miles away. Anyway, to make a long story short, he decided to take title. By the time the show ended, he was so burned out on the biz, he wanted to get as far away as possible and he remembered the land.

Actually, he said it was much easier to mainstream into the community than he thought. Apparently, a song by the ’70 rock band Little Feat had mentioned Tucumcari along with the phrase “weed, whites, and wine”, and a good number of people whose brains were fried from mushrooms and hashish visited the town and decided to settle. They treated him like a spiritual icon.

He said there is a strong conservative presence in the town. Some of the local business leaders thought it would be a great idea for him to promote the city through the Chamber of Commerce, and provide funding for a theme park. What about the gay thing? Oh, don’t worry, they said, we don’t care about such things. However, when Tinky told them he was not interested in their harebrain ideas and especially handing over any money to these jackals, they started a campaign to drive out the heathen homo and accused him of molesting cats. Well, most people saw through the lies, and anyhow, the immigration issue started to flare up, and the nutters transferred their hatred to the Latinos, and left him alone.

For the most part, he was happy with the rest of the Teletubbies and enjoyed the constant hugging, even though he did mention one peccadillo of Laa-Laa. She had a bad habit of going through stretches of bathing once every couple of weeks, which made her really rank.

Our conversation finally got around to Falwell. I’ll let him speak.

Tinky-Winky: The whole gay thing really put a damper on my sex life. That handbag I carried? One of the executive producer’s bratty little kids had one and told daddy that I should carry one. I beefed a little, but when the EP started making noise about replacement, I quickly shut up. But actually it was a good thing. In the late ‘90’s it was all about the sensitive man. I was getting laid by a lot of good looking chicks who got off on the “not afraid to show my feminine side” gig.

When Falwell said I was gay, it really dried up the groupies. After that it was fag hags who wanted to cuddle and shop - please. Then that Isaac Mizrahi guy started putting out Teletubbies handbags. The worst part is I didn’t make a damn cent on that endeavor. The cheap bastards.

For awhile I pasted on my refrigerator the Hustler cartoon of Falwell having sex with his mother in an outhouse, but eventually it left an empty feeling and no closure. Instead of sulking, I decided to see what made him tick.

I believe his existence delayed the progress of fighting AIDS and the acceptance of gays, and his hateful diatribes kept alienating sane religious people who want to live a compassionate life.

His influence is waning. He is a fading figure whose power has dispersed to localized fundamentalist leaders. Even though these leaders take a more subtle approach, they still campaign against women’s reproductive choice, gay rights, stem cell, bans on school prayer, and they emphasis creationism. Their talk about global poverty and climate change is just that – talk.

Did you know that in high school he was caught using counterfeit lunch tickets? Interesting that years later he was caught using a counterfeit soul.

Tinky continued to talk about the Moral Majority and Paul Weyrich, but it was getting late and I had to find a ride home. I thanked him for his time and told him the next time I was in the area, I would stop. He gave me his card and wished me well.

After a couple of false starts, I finally caught a ride with two women. Their names were Stacie and Rachel, but kept calling themselves Thelma and Louise. I’m no Brad Pitts, but they were no Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis. I’ll leave that story for another time.

A couple of days ago, I contacted Tinky to get his take on Falwell’s death. He said he had been fighting hateful thoughts, and the gratitude he was feeling on his passing just didn’t seem right. He was contacted by the gay and lesbian advocacy group called Soulforce who instructed him on non-violence and loving your enemy. He said they were truly wonderful people.

After hanging up with him, I felt melancholy about Tinky. Here was a figure that existed to bring joy and happiness to young children who was attacked by viscous religious nutters because of their misguided beliefs. Even after all this, Tinky realized that Falwell’s fate would be decided by his maker.

Posted by Captain Kroc at 09:55 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

McBlogger responds in very McBlogger-like way to Texas Liberal's use of the phrase 'McBlogger-like'

Funny.

Actually, TL, I think your response was entirely appropriate. Any chickenshit douche who is enough of a dork to say that to you in a grocery store parking lot deserved it. And more.

One thing... quit referring to yourself in the third person. It's infuriating.

Posted by mcblogger at 06:26 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

It's the song that got me...

The Republicans in the Lege have been all about promoting religion this session. Muse thought, why stop there... why not go ahead and take things to their logical conclusion...

New state song (courtesy of Craddick D's):

Craddick loves me, this I know
For Speaker Craddick tells me so
Legislators to him belong
We are weak, but he is strong.

Yes, Craddick loves me,
Yes, Craddick loves me,
Yes, Craddick loves me,
Tom Craddick told me so.

Check out the link for more of the funny!

Posted by mcblogger at 02:05 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

The Hangman

In "Left-Wing" Communism: An Infantile Disorder (one of V. I. Lenin's chattier polemics) the Bolshevik strategist advises his British comrades to offer a temporary alliance with the reformists. He argues that, whether accepted or not, the result would be to the advantage of the radicals and their offer would support Labour "in the same way as the rope supports a hanged man"

Speaking of infantile disorders, one which has been pandemic lately is the notion that Congress, be it this one or any other, past or present, would end a war by shutting off the money spigot. They will not do it. Nor should they be expected to. Like it or not, the Constitution designates the President as Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces and also assigns him the responsibility for conducting foreign policy. You may not like it, but there it is. Ending the war is not the responsibility of Nancy Pelosi or Harry Reid. There is only one person who can end this war and he lives at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue .

Tragically, Bush has made it clear that he intends to bequeath this war to his successor, and it seems this is one of the few promises he intends to keep. And as long as enough of the republicans choose to accompany him on his road to disaster, that successor will take office on January 20, 2009. Until then, this cruel war will continue. What happens then will depend on who the next President is. The good news is that all the credible Democratic candidates have made it clear that they intend to end the war; all the credible GOPers want to continue the catastrophe under the guise of the "Global War on Terror" and if they can torture a few ragheads along the way so much the better. I know which side I prefer.

In the meantime, let's put an end to all this "support the troops" nonsense. The whole business began during Gulf War I as a way of expresing reservations about the war without actually criticizing the policy in any meaningful way. Sort of like praising omelettes while insisting you can't stand the taste of eggs. Well, the 1991 operation was a splendid little war, victory was quick, casualties were low and there were plenty of medals to go around. Son of Gulf War has turned out to be a whole 'nother matter... endless, stupid and futile. And this "support the troops" meme has become the noose (of yellow ribbon) used to hang the antiwar movement. Supporting the troops has turned out not to mean wishing them well, wishing them a safe return. Supporting the troops is just a code phrase to demand that you support the war, now and forever, no matter how misguided, barbaric, pointless. Let us speak no more of supporting the troops. Instead let us demand an end to this war and let us demand that of the one and only person who can stop it. And if he will not hear us, let us replace him with one who will.

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

Oppel's totally hard for Mike McCaul

Admit it, Rich. Your dick gets hard every time you think of CD 10's Congressman Mike McCaul. I understand. Not what it's like to get hard over The Congressman From Clear Channel, that frankly grosses me out. I understand what it's like to have the hots for someone. I think even Sister Ruth has gotten moist over a guy before. But even she's never been all worked up about a guy who, during his commercials in 2004, did nothing but say 'Conservative'. Her crushes normally know more than one word and can, on occasion, string them together into real sentences.

Yeah, I guess you kinda forgot about how dumb Mike was when you were writing your Commentary in the April 29th issue of the AAS. Love makes you do all kinds of weird things like forget that the object of your affection has been little more than a rubber stamp for President Bush since he was elected in 2004. Like that he's been an enthusiastic supporter of tax cuts for the rich that have taken this country to the brink of bankruptcy. Like ignore that he's as much an ideologue as Tom DeLay ever was. In fact, given their voting records, it's pretty damn tough to tell them apart.

Rich, you obviously weren't impressed with Ted Ankrum in 2006 which is understandable given that you generally ignore Democrats out of some kind of misplaced hatred for them. However, in a solidly Republican district, with very little money against what should have been the safest incumbent in Congress, Ted got around 42% of the vote. No name ID. No incumbency. 45% (when you add in the idiot Libertarians number) of the people in the district voted for someone other than Mike McCaul even though, odds are, they didn't know who the hell they were voting for.

Do you think his numbers have gone up or down since then, Rich? I know the answer and I'll give you a clue... I think, in about 20 months, you're going to get to spend a lot of time here in Austin with the man who would be your boyfriend.

Last point about the moderate who thinks Bush needs to get us out of Iraq... he voted to sustain Bush's veto of the bill that finally put a timeline on our departure from Iraq. Sounds like quite the moderate to me.

Posted by mcblogger at 11:38 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Tolls : You shouldn't be afraid of 39%, Senator Carona

Compromise on 792? Yep. And trust us, it won't be forgotten.

What about an override of the veto on 1892? There are still a few days left, plenty of time to tell 39% to piss off. I think the will exists in the House, but the Senate is weak. They've been intimidated by political has-beens in DFW (like that ridiculous Tarrant County Commissioner who's going to realize very soon that his political career is, in fact, over).

For those of you who just want to understand WHY 792 is so bad, take a look at this piece on just one bad aspect of the bill, market valuation for infrastructure assets. Sounds dry as hell, right? Just take a read... it'll take you all of five minutes to see that the only possible reason for 39% to demand this be in the bill is that he's looking to enrich his friends at Cintra-Zachry (who have contributed HEAVILY to him... at least the Zachry friends) at the expense of Texas taxpayers. If you think that's not going to get much wider public knowledge in 2008, you better think again. I wasn't kidding Wednesday.

Before I publish this, just a little funny blurb from Senator Carona in the Statesman post

“We have far more to lose on this than the governor,” Carona said. “And he’s given in to the will of the Legislature on a great many points.”

Actually, Senator, he's given in on little, if anything, of substance. As for having more to lose, you're right. You have your job to lose. Don't look at the Stalls. They can't help you. And neither can the walking dead politicos in North Texas you're so scared of.

The sad thing about weak politicians is that they are NEVER scared of the folks who end up being able to do the most damage. The saddest thing is that these folks are thinking of trusting Ric Williamson and 39%. You won't be forgiven for that in 2008 and 2010, folks. If you guys think Sal Costello is bad (or are threatened by millions in oppo hits from Zachry funded PACs), you ain't seen nothing yet.

Override the veto on 1892. Call 39%'s bluff.

Posted by mcblogger at 09:25 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

May 24, 2007

Congressional Democrats on the hot seat

I love Keith Olbermann's special comment. So much, in fact, that I'm going to post it.

You know, there is something to be said for being as obstinate as Bush and cutting off all funding from the DoD. It's brinksmanship and it's a game the Democrats will likely lose. I like Olbermann's commentary because it fully encapsulates all the anger and frustration I and many others feel. I don't like it because it misplaces that anger and frustration which should rightfully be directed at two places... Connecticut native George Bush who vetoed the bill that placed a deadline on our involvement in Iraq and the Congressional Republicans who let that veto stand.

It is to them that I say 'We're done'. The American people see past your pathetic and cynical attempt to hold the men and women of the US Armed Services hostage to your failed policies and misguided attempts to remake the world. While we would LOVE nothing more than for Congressional Democrats to throw a giant wrench in everything, we know that isn't possible as long as Congressional Republicans feel free to continue enabling the disastrous President Bush. Just as they've done since 2000.

Congressional Democrats have held the good of the country above all since they assumed control in January, a marked departure from the actions of the far more partisan Republicans. Maybe it's time to let them really take the bitches on. And crush them. It apparently is the only way we're going to end our involvement in a civil war and bring our troops home. Go ahead, Nancy. Make Boehner cry.

Posted by mcblogger at 11:22 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Adding insult to injury

Just a few hours after the passage of a supplemental funding bill widely interpreted as a huge defeat for congressional democrats and a betrayal of an electorate longing for an end to a dreadful, failed war, what sort of fucking idiot would send out a fundraising email? Well, a fucking idiot like Brian Wolff, Executive Director of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Today marks a new beginning for America. We took a step forward together as a nation - away from the failures of the President's policies and toward a more hopeful time. Democrats are committed to redeploying our troops and ending the war in Iraq once and for all. Our commitment will never change and our dedication will never stop.

Just what color is the sky in your world, Brian?

Posted by mayor mcsleaze at 10:23 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Thank you, Rep. Coleman

Here's the video of the exchange between Coleman and titbaby Leo Berman.

Coleman: Leo, why are you talking to me? Leo, I don't have anything to do with that. You know what? No, no, no. Because you know what the problem is with you, you're making an assumption that I had something to do with that. No, yes you did. And I think you're full of s**t.

Berman: I did not.

Coleman: Yes you did. You made an assumption that I killed that bill.

Berman: No, I don't give a s**t.

Coleman: Then why did you say it to me, leo? Why? Why don't you tell me? You're full of s**t son of a b****.

Leo doesn't realize yet that people in Tyler hate him. Which is funny. Garnet, don't worry about pissing up his leg... he won't be there in January, 2009.

Posted by mcblogger at 07:12 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

COUNTY ATTORNEY STEALS ECKHARDT STAFFER

The Travis County Attorney David Escamilla's office has swiped Commissioner Sarah Eckhardt's policy director Daniel Bradford for their Civil Litigation division. Sarah says, "I knew going in with a top notch staff that other folks would start luring them away – but I am very happy for Daniel. Besides, he's only two floors down!" The County Attorney was not available for comment.

Needless to say, Commissioner Eckhardt is now looking for a skilled policy wonk and research person who is interested in working in a fast-paced, high energy, progressive office.

Legislative writing skills, good communication and organizational skills, and quick research skills a must; sense of humor a plus.

Job Description:

Assists, advises and represents the Commissioner in the execution of her responsibilities in the operation of county government. Serves as liaison between other officials, county personnel, attorneys, boards, commissions, state and local government officials and the general public. Resolves problems and issues by conducting research, analyzing and developing action-oriented strategies, handling special projects and assisting constituents seeking information or assistance.

* Reviews agenda items for commissioner and prepares or briefs the her on relevant issues.

* Represents the commissioner at neighborhood meetings, community meetings, precinct meetings, commissioners court work sessions, city/state meetings or other key meetings by responding to constituents' needs and updating the official on issues affecting the County.

* Prepares resolutions, proclamations, office correspondence; agenda requests; reviews incoming correspondence and recommends actions that require decisions.

* Serves as advisor to the commissioner on policy issues.

* Proposes, designs and organizes legal, technical or policy development research projects and coordinates with other offices to execute them.

* Prepares office correspondence and departmental memos. Receives office visitors and officials and responds to telephone inquires.

* May conduct field visits and prepare reports on findings related to projects and activities.

* May serve as liaison to other governmental and nongovernmental agencies and organizations, and on boards and commissions.

* Monitors Commissioners Court meetings and assists in related functions; coordinates departmental activities by informing all parties involved in proceedings.

* Responds to constituents seeking information or assistance from the commissioner or county government.

* May assure that the Commissioners Court complies with all open meetings requirements and postings requirements for work sessions, voting meetings and public hearings.

* May review and resolve problems with contract, invoices and other official documents prior to official's signature.

* Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

If you are interested, please send your resume and a writing sample to Sandra Ramos at sandra@saraheckhardt.com by 5 p.m., Friday, June 1st.

Seriously, I know some of y'all are out there looking for work... especially with the Lege about to end!

Posted by mcblogger at 10:52 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

CradDICK, why the hell do you and Bill think you're special?

Bill Messer and CradDICK like to take trips to together. 'Fishing trips'. I wonder if the 'fishing trips' are anything like the 'fishing trips' that J. Edgar Hoover and Clyde Tolson used to take.

Wait. That's beside the point. Sorry about that...

Anyway, CradDICK signed up for a non-refundable trip and it got rescheduled and he couldn't make it on the new date. Like most people he asked for a refund and was told by the travel agent that the terms and conditions clearly specified 'no refunds'. Most reasonable people would have looked at their paper work, done a Homer Simpson 'D'oh' and moved on.

Most people aren't Speaker CradDICK who just can't, it seems, stop walking all over his own dick this session. He and Bill decided to send a nasty letter to the travel agent (on Messer's stationary, natch) threatening them in a variety of ways. A guy who is one of the richest members of the Texas House in history.

What? Y'all thought this wouldn't come out? Not only are you vindictive, your cheap. I would say shame on you, Speaker CradDICK, but there's already been more than enough heaped on your narrow shoulders this session.

Oh, and you have duck face, too. It's your far too wide mouth and preternaturally thin lips, in case you were wondering.

Posted by mcblogger at 10:08 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Greatest. Headline. Ever.

From Oklahoma, where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain

Convicted Penis Pump Judge Argues Sentence Too Stiff

TULSA, OK—Convicted penis pump judge Donald Thompson has tried just about every argument he can think of to gain his release from prison and after being denied parole in December, now he’s arguing that his sentence is for masturbating on the bench is too stiff.

The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board voted unanimously in December against granting early release to the former Creek County jurist. Thompson, 60, had been sentenced to four consecutive one-year jail terms and fined $40,000 last August for indecent exposure after he was found guilty last June of four felony counts following a three week jury trial.

He claims the penis pump was a gag gift on his 50th birthday from a friend and despite witness accounts, including police officers, he claims he never used it and that his sentence is too harsh. Thompson had filed a motion asking to remain free pending appeal but it was denied. Prosecutors say that Thompson hasn’t shown any remorse for his actions. Special prosecutor Richard Smothermon told the parole board that the ex-judge had turned down a plea deal which would have spared him prison time in exchange for a guilty plea to a single misdemeanor.

Posted by mayor mcsleaze at 09:20 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Thank you, Senator Gallego

HB 218, Rep. Betty Brown's odious voter suppression bill, has died. Finally. Senator Gallego penned a brilliant op/ed on the topic over at the Chronicle that I'm posting in the supersize.

Thank you again, Senator and all of us at McBlogger wish you a speedy recovery!

Why right to vote, without an ID, is worth fighting for This lawmaker counts his grandmother among reasons

By STATE SEN. MARIO GALLEGOS

In my community in Houston, thousands of first- and second-generation Americans came of age in the "greatest generation." They volunteered to protect our freedom in World War II. Many who came home had to fight to build a life for their families and exercise the rights they earned with their blood and tears.

As a firefighter, I was trained to protect their lives and property. As a state senator today, it's the least I can do to honor their sacrifices by being in Austin to protect their right to vote.

Every nonpartisan, academic study on the impact of voter ID laws in other states shows they suppress voter turnout among the elderly, low-income citizens, Hispanics, African-Americans and the disabled. But I don't need a study to know why voter ID proposals like House Bill 218 are bad; I just have to think about my grandmother.

My grandmother came from Mexico, played by the rules, became a citizen and earned her right to vote. She didn't have a driver's license, but she had her voter registration card, went to the polls where the workers knew her, and voted. If the voter ID law were in effect, I'm not sure she or others like her could have voted.

This year, close to 120 burdensome voter identification proposals were introduced in state legislatures across the nation. Not one of them has passed yet, and I want to make sure Texas isn't the only state to pass one. For many folks, a voter ID requirement doesn't sound like a big deal, but it would prevent many eligible voters from voting. Many elderly voters don't have a driver's license. Others who are disabled or work two jobs don't have the time, money or ability to get an ID card or documents they would need to vote. And new voter ID requirements would create confusion and long lines at the polls that would discourage many from voting.

When more people vote for American Idol contestants than vote for president, we should make it easier for people to vote, not harder. Voter ID proponents say it's necessary to combat "voter fraud" and raise the specter of "illegal aliens" voting, but no one has documented a single case of "voter impersonation" that HB 218 would solve. And common sense tells us noncitizens are not going to risk deportation by voting.

The bottom line is that voter ID is about politics, not fraud. In a 2004 election contest for a Harris County state House seat, a Texas House committee chaired by a conservative Republican found charges that hundreds of noncitizens voted were false. The Bush Justice Department's "Voting Access and Integrity Initiative," which directed U.S. attorneys to prioritize alleged voter fraud cases, resulted in only 24 convictions from 2002 to 2005. And the U.S. Election Assistance Commission found "that the accusations regarding widespread fraud are unjustified."

Voter ID laws passed in Georgia and Missouri were struck down by the courts, which concluded that the cost of obtaining the ID and necessary documents amounts to a 21st century poll tax.

In my community, there are veterans and people like my grandmother who earned their right to vote and shouldn't be forced to pay the modern day version of a poll tax. They are the real heroes in this story. I'm in Austin because it's my job to protect their right to vote.

Gallegos, a Democrat, represents Houston.

Posted by mcblogger at 01:34 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

May 23, 2007

Why Is Van De Putte Hero-Worshiping Dewhurst?

Via Quorum Report. Give me a fucking break. If the Dark Lord was concerned about Gallegos' health, he would have given up on that shit-for-brains bill much earlier than this. Compassionate hero, my ass.

Lt Gov. David Dewhurst sent Sen. Mario Gallegos (D-Houston) home tonight, acknowledging that it was not likely the Voter ID bill would make it to the floor tonight, the final night to pass bills.

Sen. Leticia Van De Putte (D-San Antonio), who heads the Senate's Democratic Caucus, issued this statement:

"There are two heroes in the Texas Capitol tonight.

"Senator Mario Gallegos has risked everything to stand on principle and defeat this legislation. One can agree or disagree with his views on this or any other legislation, but it cannot be disputed that what he has done demonstrates a true profile in courage. No matter what else he accomplishes in life, his actions this week will never be forgotten.

"And Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst is a hero as well. In announcing the defeat of HB 218 earlier instead of later, he has not only acknowledged the continuation of the Texas Senate as the greatest deliberative body in the world, he has also acted compassionately toward Senator Gallegos, a leader in the other political party. For that Governor Dewhurst ahs earned the gratitude of all Texans."

Posted by Boobilicious at 09:46 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Farmers Branch gets the smackdown

A federal judge shit all over the efforts of the citizens of Farmers Branch to decide for property owners to whom they can rent their properties. As an investor in rental property, allow me to say BOOYA!

Yeah, sure, this was discriminatory as hell. However, it was also a massive affront to private property rights in this country. Good to see there are some judges with sense in the federal judiciary. There sure as fucking hell aren't many on the Texas Supreme Court.

(via South Texas Chisme)

Posted by mcblogger at 08:03 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Tolls : Congress working on PPP's; Lege Blacklist; Nothing on the moratorium