April 01, 2008

This is some bullshit

In February, 2006 a teacher decided to wash out a child's mouth with soap. The child, of course, claimed that he'd been forced to drink soap. The grandparents decided to sue. They recently won.

A state district court jury has awarded the family of a Sims Elementary School student whose teacher was accused of forcing him to drink liquid soap $15,000 in damages in a civil suit, according to court documents.

Tony Lamaro Johnson and Juanita Johnson, grandparents of Tony Lamaro Johnson II, who is now 7, had sued Susan Miller-Smith, the boy's former teacher.

Miller-Smith was accused of putting soap in Lamaro's mouth on Feb. 23, 2006.

A Travis County grand jury later declined to charge Miller-Smith with a crime. She resigned from her job with the Austin Independent School District in March 2006, a district official said.

On Friday, a jury in state district court awarded $5,000 for pain and mental anguish and $10,000 for future mental anguish, the documents said.

Kudos to the GJ, but shit all over the retard jury in the suit. I can only imagine this whiny little fuck coming home complaining about this and Grandma and Grandpa Johnson falling over themselves to baby the poor little lamb.

My mouth was all the time being washed out when I was a kid (I'm kinda slow on the uptake... plus, I kept thinking the bitch teachers were out of earshot) and it wasn't with liquid soap. IT WAS WITH LAVA. I complained about it once when I was 5. My father, being the brilliant jurist he is, decided to spank me because I'd obviously done something bad at school. That and he didn't like whining.

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February 20, 2008

Killing a satellite

Oh, if this is just another excuse to test an ASAT weapon then I'm gonna be super disappointed. We'll also look like losers if it doesn't work.

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February 07, 2008

Is That A Hypocritical Sack Of Shit On TV, Or Is It Just Michael Moore?

About a minute into this clip, the filmmaker proclaims that his morals as a Catholic preclude him from voting for Hillary Clinton, because, in case you haven't heard, she voted for a war. (WARNING: Contains Larry King)

Of course, Moore's concern for his soul didn't preclude him from supporting General Wesley Clark in the 2004 primaries. Having been a general, one could say that Clark had actually been in the war business: after all, he did conduct NATO's aerial bombardment of Yugoslavia during the Kosovo crisis. And in the 2004 general election, Moore campaigned for John Kerry, who had sat in the Senate and cast the same Yes vote on the Iraq War Resolution that Hillary Clinton did. Kerry even promised to do a better job of fighting that war, unlike Clinton's current vow to end it.

And while we're on the subject of the fashionable left, you may recall that last week the "progressive" PAC MoveOn.org rushed to climb on the Obama endorsement bandwagon. The last time they had been in the news was last September, when they ran their controversial "General Betray Us" ad, which led to our own Senator Boxturtle's resolution condemning the group. One of the Senators who voted against the measure was Hillary Clinton. Mr. Audacity of Hope? Recorded as "Not Voting". Fine job of remembering who has stood with you in the past, and who ducked out of the room, guys!

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January 12, 2008

Fly the friendly skies

AA is, as part of a DHS test, mounting defensive laser systems on their jets. For all those shoulder mounted rockets being fired by terrawrists.

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December 04, 2007

Vets being shoved aside

This is some bullshit...Apparently, the numbers of Veterans arrested for drug and alcohol abuse in Travis Count have jumped dramatically. That's the obvious issue but the underlying cause is far more disturbing.

Because of the symptoms with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and other psychiatric problems developed while in combat, veterans have succumbed to alcohol or drug abuse. This is frequently an attempt to self medicate the pain. This typically results in a dishonorable discharge, which denies any veteran VA benefits. As such veterans are thrown into the civilian population, their drug and alcohol abuse continues, yet they have no way to seek treatment for the abuse and/or their severe psychiatric problems. Furthermore, it is very difficult for veterans with dishonorable discharges to gain employment. Thus the downward spiral continues with no apparent way out.

The second problem is equally bad, but much more despicable. What is happening is that veterans returning from combat deployments take the right steps to receive treatment for PTSD and other lingering mental issues. In some of these instances, the military has pressured (coerced) the service members to sign a document stating that their mental condition was pre-existing. Such veterans are then discharged, and again denied access to VA benefits (because their disability is classified as existing prior to the military). The two primary ways these service members have been so coerced are:

1) Military members are threatened with disciplinary action. Their fragile psychiatric condition makes it very difficult for them to challenge this threat. In addition, they are pressured into signing such papers, with the "promise" that once signed, they will be discharged, and not be in further trouble. (They of course cannot get in legal trouble for having a psychiatric disorder, though when so pressured, they do not realize that this is the case).

2) The second form of coercion involves a horrible play on the condition of the service member. They are told that if they do not sign the document, their discharge will take longer. The nature of their illness is often such that they see the military as a cause of their pain, and are willing to sign away their benefits so that they can be immediately discharged.

This is a real problem nationally that's leading to extremely high suicide rates among our returning troops. The sad part is that it seems to be directed from the Administration down through DoD to classify as many Vets as possible this way to cut down on benefit payments over the next 50-60 years.

This is an absolutely inexcusable situation and one which people in liberal Austin seem to be taking seriously and working to address. The only question is why Republicans think their support of the troops begins and ends with the magnetic ribbon on their car? Is it any wonder that recruitment is going so badly?

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December 02, 2007

Everyone Hates Rahm

We at McBlogger have long thought the strategy of Democrats moving to the right on issues was a stupid one. The reasoning is that if the difference is between an R and a D who both think the same way on key issues, people go with the stronger, more believable candidate who is usually (but not always) an R. It's not that the D is a bad person, it's that you can usually tell they don't really believe what they are saying when they advocate strident right wing positions.

Dos Centavos agrees and calls bullshit on Rahm Emmanuel's strategy of playing to the right on immigration.

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November 28, 2007

Seriously...WTF!?

I have one question...what is the point of a public university system that costs more to attend than Harvard?

You think I'm joking? Under the proposed tuition hikes, it will cost more for a non-resident to attend UT Law than Harvard. Here are the numbers:

Harvard Law Tuition................$38,490 per year.
Yale Law Tuition.....................$40,900 per year.

Recommended UT Tuition

Non-resident Law '08-'09........$39,130 per year.
Non-resident Law '09-'10........$44,214 per year.

Now, here is what you get for your money.

Harvard
Average first year class size - 80.
Student to faculty ratio - 10.5 to 1.

Yale
Average first year class size - 62.
Student to faculty ratio - 7.3 to 1.

UT Austin
Average first year class size - 112.
Student to faculty ratio -14 to 1.

Considering these factors, UT should cost 55% less, since the class sizes are 55% bigger than Yale.

Therefore, the max tuition should be $40,900*.55= $22,495!!!

I could go on and on, but I guess this really is a society lacking equality. Maybe the idea of having balanced power is driving those in power to stifle the education of pretty much anyone not filthy rich.

Education should be available to anyone who wants it, and our states' failure to make education universally available clearly demonstrates a critically confused value system. "Republicans are the value party," my Ass!

OK, I'm stopping or else this will quickly deteriorate into an ugly rant.

So like I said, Seriously - WHAT THE FUCK!?

"For the people my ass!"
-Closet Purist

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November 12, 2007

Blackwater has it's own CIA

What the hell is Prince doing over there, duplicating the national security apparatus of the United States?

The operation, Total Intelligence Solutions, has assembled a roster of former spooks -- high-ranking figures from agencies such as the CIA and defense intelligence -- that mirrors the slate of former military officials who run Blackwater. Its chairman is Cofer Black, the former head of counterterrorism at CIA known for his leading role in many of the agency's more controversial programs, including the rendition and interrogation of al-Qaeda suspects and the detention of some of them in secret prisons overseas.

Its chief executive is Robert Richer, a former CIA associate deputy director of operations who was heavily involved in running the agency's role in the Iraq war.

So Prince has the guy who gave us extraordinary rendition and the guy who brought us brilliant intel in Iraq. Is anyone actually contracting with this company?

Posted by mcblogger at 01:38 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

November 01, 2007

Calling Bullshit : 100,000 people on flight restrictions?

Oh, this is just a load of crap.

The freedom to travel of more than 100,000 Americans placed on "watch" and "no fly" lists is being restricted by the Bush-Cheney regime.

Citizens who have done no more than criticize the president are being banned from airline flights, harassed at airports, strip searched, roughed up and even imprisoned, feminist author and political activist Naomi Wolf reports in her new book, "The End of America."(Chelsea Green Publishing)

"Making it more difficult for people out of favor with the state to travel back and forth across borders is a classic part of the fascist playbook," Wolf says. She noticed starting in 2002 that "almost every time I sought to board a domestic airline flight, I was called aside by the Transportation Security Administration(TSA) and given a more thorough search."

During one preboarding search, a TSA agent told her "You're on the list" and Wolf learned it is not a list of suspected terrorists but of journalists, academics, activists, and politicians "who have criticized the White House."

OK, Congress... here's a reason for impeachment.

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Calling Bullshit : 100,000 people on flight restrictions?

Oh, this is just a load of crap.

The freedom to travel of more than 100,000 Americans placed on "watch" and "no fly" lists is being restricted by the Bush-Cheney regime.

Citizens who have done no more than criticize the president are being banned from airline flights, harassed at airports, strip searched, roughed up and even imprisoned, feminist author and political activist Naomi Wolf reports in her new book, "The End of America."(Chelsea Green Publishing)

"Making it more difficult for people out of favor with the state to travel back and forth across borders is a classic part of the fascist playbook," Wolf says. She noticed starting in 2002 that "almost every time I sought to board a domestic airline flight, I was called aside by the Transportation Security Administration(TSA) and given a more thorough search."

During one preboarding search, a TSA agent told her "You're on the list" and Wolf learned it is not a list of suspected terrorists but of journalists, academics, activists, and politicians "who have criticized the White House."

OK, Congress... here's a reason for impeachment.

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October 26, 2007

The Jena 6 : When not everything is as it appears

I've held off on posting anything about this because it was hard to get my head around some things. In fact, it still is. Granted, every place in this country has it's share of racist assholes, from Louisiana to Michigan (trust me, they're there) racism is national thing. However, it certainly seemed like a lot of them were living in the Gret Stet of Louisiana. An 'all-white tree'? Noose being used for decoration? Kids getting in fights because of color? Kids being indicted for attempted second-degree murder?

The biggest issue I had was simple... why were SIX kids beating ONE kid unconscious? Frankly, I don't care about the provocation. Six on one may be great for sex (no, I've never tried it) but not so much for a fight.

The Christian Science Monitor ran an article from someone who actually lives in Jena and writes for the Jena paper. After reading it, I'm almost certain that while well intentioned, he's a little clueless about how things are for blacks in Jena. The picture he paints is one of everyone being go-along, get-along which I don't think may be wholly accurate. The excuse regarding the noose hanging from a tree is really interesting...

Myth 2: Nooses a Signal to Black Students. An investigation by school officials, police, and an FBI agent revealed the true motivation behind the placing of two nooses in the tree the day after the assembly. According to the expulsion committee, the crudely constructed nooses were not aimed at black students. Instead, they were understood to be a prank by three white students aimed at their fellow white friends, members of the school rodeo team. (The students apparently got the idea from watching episodes of "Lonesome Dove.") The committee further concluded that the three young teens had no knowledge that nooses symbolize the terrible legacy of the lynchings of countless blacks in American history. When informed of this history by school officials, they became visibly remorseful because they had many black friends. Another myth concerns their punishment, which was not a three-day suspension, but rather nine days at an alternative facility followed by two weeks of in-school suspension, Saturday detentions, attendance at Discipline Court, and evaluation by licensed mental-health professionals. The students who hung the nooses have not publicly come forward to give their version of events.

Lonesome Dove? Yeah, right. However, this is where he starts making a good point... these kids got punished, despite their ridiculous story about razzing their shit-kicker friends, far worse than what was reported by the media which made it sound like they got a slap on the wrist.

Then there was the DA who 'threatened' the black students...

Myth 4: DA's Threat to Black Students. When District Attorney Reed Walters spoke to Jena High students at an assembly in September, he did not tell black students that he could make their life miserable with "the stroke of a pen." Instead, according to Walters, "two or three girls, white girls, were chit-chatting on their cellphones or playing with their cellphones right in the middle of my dissertation. I got a little irritated at them and said, 'Pay attention to me. I am right now having to deal with an aggravated rape case where I've got to decide whether the death penalty applies or not.' I said, 'Look, I can be your best friend or your worst enemy. With the stroke of a pen I can make your life miserable so I want you to call me before you do something stupid.'"

Mr. Walters had been called to the assembly by police, who had been at the school earlier that day dealing with some students who were causing disturbances. Teachers and students have confirmed Walters's version of events.

Stupid thing to say? Oh hell yeah, but largely typical of a powertripping asshole. Racist? Maybe or maybe not. You really can't tell from the accurate version of events. You could make the case for him being racist from his seeking attempted murder indictments for the six black kids. However, you could also say he was doing it because of the brutality of the attack which seems just as, on balance, likely. And the reality is, not all these kids were the saints they were made out to be...

Myth 10: Jena 6 as Model Youth. While some members were simply caught up in the moment, others had criminal records. Bell had at least four prior violent-crime arrests before the December attack, and was on probation during most of this year.

Bell is the one whose conviction was just overturned. Note these are arrests, not convictions. Juvenile records are usually kept closed so we don't know his conviction history. He was, coincidentally, the kid who started the attack.

Myth 11: Jena Is One of the Most Racist Towns in America. Actually, Jena is a wonderful place to live for both whites and blacks. The media's distortion and outright lies concerning the case have given this rural Louisiana town a label it doesn't deserve.

Myth 12: Two Levels of Justice. Outside protesters were convinced that the prosecution of the Jena 6 was proof of a racially biased system of justice. But the US Justice Department's investigation found no evidence to support such a claim. In fact, the percentage of blacks and whites prosecuted matches the parish's population statistics.

11 may be true, but coming from a white newspaper reporter it's hardly evidence. Just as the ultra rich think the economy is great and that gas price increases are nuisance, white folks in a small town usually don't see just how bad things are for their black neighbors. As for 12, who could argue with the Bush Justice Dept. Honestly, I'm surprised they had the staff to send out to investigate.

At the end of the day I still have questions. However, I finally have some answers and a clearer narrative. I know there is still racism in this country. And I know some will use it as a reason for violence.

Posted by mcblogger at 06:35 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

September 20, 2007

Way to support the troops, Zombie Breath!

McBlogger reminded me of this item on HuffPo.

The Huffington Post has learned that Sen. John Cornyn, R-TX, will introduce a sense of the Senate resolution Thursday criticizing MoveOn.org's recent advertisement in the New York Times. The ad called into question the credibility of Lt. General David Petraeus, suggesting the pseudonym "Betray Us."

Cornyn's amendment proclaims that the general "deserves the full support of the Senate." The MoveOn advertisement, Cornyn's legislation states, not only "impugns the honor and integrity of General Petraeus," but "all the members of the United State Armed forces."

Perhaps in hopes of gaining support for his amendment, Cornyn's measure would also "reaffirm support for all the men and women of the United States Armed Forces."

On Wednesday, Cornyn showed his support for the troops by voting to sustain a GOP filibuster of the Webb Amendment, which would have required combat soldiers to receive equal time Stateside in between combat tours in Bush's War. "Too much luxury for our fighting men and women!" sez the Endless War Caucus. "And we don't have enough troops so we'd either have to bring back the draft or withdraw!"

Dear, dear. Why make those hard choices when you can send the same troops back over and over again, systematically wrecking the Army in the process?

For someone who is so concerned about the honor and integrity of a single general, I'm amazed that Cornyn has never introduced a bill condemning the delegates to the 2004 Republican National Convention who thought it cute to adorn themselves in Purple Heart bandaids, as modeled by this doughy fuck:

Strange, isn't it, that human garbage like John Cornyn and the rest of his despicable cohort can get so angered about word play on the name of a general, but when it comes to actual soldiers being hit by actual flying bits of metal, war is just a fucking joke.

Posted by mayor mcsleaze at 07:46 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

August 24, 2007

Calling Bullshit : For 100 people you couldn't get a warrant?

McConnell admits that less than 100 people in the US are being wiretapped, as well as a few thousand overseas, because of terrorism related investigations.

So, the question becomes, why did we have to gut the Fourth Amendment? It seems pretty clear than the courts are more than capable of handling warrants.

Posted by mcblogger at 10:20 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

May 31, 2007

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.

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May 27, 2007

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

February 05, 2007

Baby showers are the new suck

Tammy Wynette was right when she sang that sometimes it's hard to be a woman. You guys gets a total fucking free skate when it comes to one of life's true horrors, the baby shower! Now, I think I am just as girly as some women. I like high heels, cosmetics, Steel Magnolias, etc. However, I would rather take a strong beating
than attend a wedding or baby shower. Yeah, I like to celebrate my friends life choices, but can I send the gift by mail? I will spend more on it if it absolves me from attending. WTF could it hurt?

Until recently, I hadn't gone to one of these estrogen festivals since 1996. However, the preggers in question is a great friend with whom I once danced drunk in a cage. I can remember with great nostalgia her first girl fight where she introduced a girls face to the side of a Chevrolet truck. Oh the memories! So I felt obligated to attend. My best friend was invited as well but she had the flu. Lucky bitch. So I was solo as I stumbled around land mines, otherwise known as 'friends from high school'. A couple were cool. However, the vast majority were not. I came to the conclusion that when asked 'So, where are you living now?' , I will respond with 'Why? Are you coming over?'. Women are too fucking nosy. I'm sorry, I never ask those idiotic questions. I just don't fucking care. Oh, and if I get asked 'So, sell any houses lately?', I'm going to stab that motherfucker in the eye with an ice pick. I am going to carry one solely for that purpose.

Anyway, my friend got a lot of crap and I guess that is what really matters (drinks sure as hell didn't... there wasn't a drop to be found). I just wish she could have received her loot without having to listen to the reasons that something called Butt Paste totally rocks. I am just not part of that club (nor am I part of the 'I'm pregnant and not drinking' club. However, it did get me thinking. If I was ever to find myself in that position, how would I handle it? One can never be certain of such things, but I think this is what the invitations would look like.

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January 25, 2007

Calling Bullshit : Kinky for Senate, 2008

Laura Stromberg, you are no Kelly Fero.

There's a fresh round of rumors today that Kinky Friedman may be mulling a run against U.S. Sen. John Cornyn.

People of both parties have been in touch with him, said Laura Stromberg, who was Friedman's spokeswoman during his independent bid for governor.

"He's not calling them. They're coming to him," she said.

Friedman, who is finishing up his book on his race for governor, has said if he ran again, it likely would be under a major-party label given the obstacles facing an independent candidate.

Today, he said, "I think all options are on the table, but I certainly haven't given a lot of thought to running for anything. I've talked with some Republicans and some Democrats about various possibilities."

Even Kelly wouldn't try to pull off bullshit like this. While the Republicans are indeed desperate to get Cornyn out of the way, there is no way in hell anyone would seriously consider Kinky in an R primary. And the Democrats... oh, yeah. WE'RE just starving for some more Kinky.

This IS the bullshit rumor of the month.

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January 16, 2007

Calling Bullshit : Obama announces (and navel gazes)

Here's the video...

Our biggest problem is the smallness of our politics? With that one simple message and his announcement/non-announcement (No plans? No info? You're not going to talk until FEBRUARY?), Senator Obama shows brilliantly why he's the wrong choice to be the Democratic nominee. Yes, I know many progressives will disagree with me. I'm not saying Sen. Obama is a bad guy, in fact I think given a few years he could develop into the leader I know he can be. However, I've not seen any evidence of it. Seriously, watch the video and really listen to the words... he chalks everything up to partisanship, which, to everyone other than Sen. Obama, IS political reality in this country. Always has been, always will be. We're in the middle of what amounts to a battle for the soul of the United States against ideologues (as opposed to certain Republicans who've seen the light and have been voting with the Democrats) and Sen. Obama wants to make it all about partisanship.

Not so much, hermano.

This is exactly the kind of meaningless political pap he's been spewing for months. It's a salve and doesn't really cure any of the rifts in this county. It's the kind of feel good bullshit that pollsters say people love but, in reality, everyone with a brain sees through like a plate glass window.Where's the heart? Where's the soul? People want passion. Where the hell is yours?

WHY DO YOU WANT TO BE OUR PRESIDENT, SENATOR OBAMA? What do you hope to achieve, aside from tea parties with Radical Republicans? Do you really think by taking this presumed 'high road' they won't line up to take a piece out of you?

This guy makes me think of Kerry more and more each day. 2004 Kerry. He'll do well in a primary and get crushed in the general when the media finally asks him THE question.

He's right about one thing... the grassroots are pointing in the direction of a win. Edwards is paying attention... why isn't Obama?

Posted by mcblogger at 02:09 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

January 03, 2007

Tolls, TX DoT and stupid

Beginning Friday, TXDoT will asses the tolls on 45/1. In anticipation, I thought it would be fun to take a look at how good their billing systems are. Apparently, they have been mailing bills for 25 cents (the bills, not counting paper, actually cots 30.8 cents in postage to send) and billing people who've never actually used the roads. Of course, all new systems have bugs and anything this ridiculously complex is sure to have some as well. Especially when you don't build toll booths on the fucking road and instead decide to automate the entire process.

Lazy is what many would call it. I would be included in that many. These idiots never heard of an automated kiosk? I love the ones at theaters and... what are those machines that spit out money? ATM's?

Billing issues are already plaguing the toll road systems while TXDoT is lobbying for higher toll limits, government backing for the bonds that private companies will sell to finance the roads and, of course, the ability to convert freeways into toll roads.

Under the guise of such a flowerly reporting entitled "Forward Momentum: Recommendations to reduce congestion, enhance safety, expand economic opportunity, improve air quality, and enhance the value of Texas' transportation assets. A report to the 110th Congress, 1st Session" dated January 25 2007", TxDOT proposes that private equity become the primary resource for funding of highways. Note this is not only designated for new highways. The plan calls for "states to be able to buy back interstate segments by reimbursing the federal government its past contributions." Essentially, the state will be able to toll existing highways.

Getting extremely obvious that TXDoT is really angling for a permanent funding source, not tied to the Lege to become a self-funding bureaucracy. Which should make exactly no one happy, but is apparently what the Republicans have always had in mind.

I'm never entirely comfortable when a government entity doesn't have to go to elected officials and ask for money. I'm also not please with having to cover the profit of a private company which is more expensive than if TXDoT ran the roads themselves (some are run by TXDoT, some are not). What irritates most about this plan is that it's an endless toll. There will never be a time when the toll goes away because TXDoT wants the income, in perpetuity.

AAA now says that 'the public' prefers tolls to gas taxes. Of course, no detail is provided and it's odd that this would come out of AAA since AAA has traditionally opposed toll roads. Given that, I'm calling bullshit. I want to see the crosstabs and I want to see the how the questions were structured. It's pretty clear from what we've seen in Texas that when people actually see the cost comparison, gas taxes are ALWAYS the better option that the public supports.

Which is it, AAA?

Posted by mcblogger at 09:05 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

December 13, 2006

Calling Bullshit: In which Martin Frost hearts Matt Angle

Let me preface with the fact that I have a lot of respect for Matt and for Congressman Frost. However, Congressman Frost is kind of a dumbass here and makes the Democratic victories here in Texas more about Matt Angle and the Lone Star Project than about the very real fact that Democrats worked their asses off and started converting folks. Go ahead, click the link and tell me this article doesn't make Matt out to be the Wizard?

What he doesn't mention are the missed opportunities and mistakes. That being said, what Matt did with LSP and others did with their projects all contributed. However, making it all about one person is so goddamn irritating, Martin, that it makes me think much less of you.

I wasn't going to write anything about this, but goddamn if there wasn't an email last night, mere hours after Ciro Rodriguez won, from LSP taking credit for the damn thing. Matt, I'm going to terminate my address on your fucking list if you don't stop with the auto-fellatio. Seriously, how much did LSP raise for Ciro? From my perspective, this was the candidate, DCCC, LULAC and MALDEF. LSP didn't even like the LULAC map that produced this district; now you're the ones responsible?

The winners are never going to call bullshit, so it falls to us. Matt you do a hell of lot and there is no need to take credit for everything. It distracts from the real work ahead and breeds resentment among people who work really hard, cycle after cycle. People you're going to need at some point in the future.

Sometimes, modesty is an asset.

Posted by mcblogger at 09:52 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBack