Off the Kuff takes a look at the latest Lyceum poll on the Governor and Senate races in Texas.

Neil at Texas Liberal suggests that instead of blowing of your fingers lighting fireworks--during a drought in Harris County no less---that maybe you would be better off reading a book instead.

With 2010 spinning up, it's funny to watch all the different players already on the field line up to take their first hits. McBlogger, of course, thinks they're all deeply in need of a little advice which he graciously provides (with surprisingly sparse use of profanity)!

WCNews & Dembones at Eye On Williamson post on the latest controversy involving the Williamson County Commissioners Court, Budget officer not just a good idea, it's the law.

John at Bay Area Houston says Turn out the lights, the family values party is over.

What Burka leaves out is the tremendous latitude this affords Team Earle to talk about something KBH doesn't ever want to think about again. Let's be real for a moment and remember that two Texas Grand Juries thought there was enough evidence to indict her. The first time, Sen. Hairdo's attorney got the indictment dismissed on a technicality. The second time resulted in a clusterfuck of an acquittal that rested on the highly questionable decision of a judge in Fort Worth that no one (least of all Burka) seems to remember accurately.

During pre-trial, Judge Onion and Earle clashed over admissibility of evidence that was the nail in Hutchison's coffin. Thinking that the Judge wouldn't allow the evidence and knowing that without it the jury would likely acquit (making it impossible to re-indict her for what she'd done), Earle motioned to dismiss. Judge Onion, in what has to be considered a questionable (at best) act of judicial fiat, empaneled the jury and ordered them to acquit Hutchison, rather than allow the charges dismissed. Keep in mind that the only reason this ended up in Judge Onion's court was that Hutchison's attorney venue-shopped... he wanted THIS judge for a reason.

Judge Onion later claimed he would have allowed the evidence which makes one wonder about his pretrial decision not to rule on it's admissibility. Earle's decision to ask for a dismissal was based exclusively on the prospect of justice being done against an elected official who, evidence indicated, was corrupt. Not some kind of a mistake.

Now, the awesome thing about a Earle v. Hutchison matchup is that there's no Judge Onion this time and once people get to know the REAL Sen. Hutchison, there's no amount of makeup that'll help. That's what 'experts' like Burka are missing. That's a battle that Earle is uniquely positioned to fight and win.

Further, there is once again this idea that Democrats need a moderate, Republican-lite candidate who can convince middle aged white guys in the burbs to vote for a Democrat. We've been trying that for the better part of a decade and hasn't worked. The current crop of candidates in the D primary don't have that combination of balls to the wall brilliance and, in equal measure, grit that sells with Texas voters. Real Texans have been voting for faux Texans for so long, when they see the real thing they'll jump at the opportunity to support them. And that, my friends, is Ronnie Earle, a Democrat who's fiscally conservative, socially libertarian just like the majority of Texans.

As for the Delay prosecution, maybe Burka should take a look at some of Delay's polling numbers statewide. He's pretty roundly reviled among Republicans and Democrats alike because of his links to Abramoff and other lobbyists. Delay is the poster child for what's wrong with Washington and Earle was the man who helped bring him down. And you really think that's going to hurt him with crossover voters? You're kidding me, right?

I've been a part of a statewide race. I know what works and what doesn't. I've seen overfunded candidates lose worse than my guy who was outspent more than 22:1. Needless to say, you learn pretty early on that candidate selection is the important part of a campaign. Oh, sure, money and organization are essential but the initial decision is THE single most important. It's the equivalent of 'making your money on the buy' when flipping a house.

There is such a thing as a natural and Ronnie Earle is one of them. The rest of the players on the field may be impressive in their own spheres, but they suck in this one. Statewide races require a hell of a lot more.

It was Maureen Dowd. Of all the people in the world to get into a pissing match with, this one has got to be the dubest he could have possibly picked.

My only hope is that the fight will get so bitter, so nasty that they'll kill one another, a la War of the Roses.

U.S. Senate candidate Roger Williams reports that he raised more than $400,000 at a Saturday fundraiser in Weatherford. The former Secretary of State is exploring a run for the Senate seat when (or if) incumbent Kay Bailey Hutchison steps down to pursue the office of Governor.

Based on his campaign’s release, Williams now appears satisfied that he can mount a successful campaign. “This event was one of the final major events in the exploratory phase of my campaign. In this phase, I am testing the water,” said Williams. “Based on what I saw on Saturday, the water is just right for diving in.”

Among the luminaries at Williams’ event were: former Dallas Cowboys players Bob Lilly and Rayfield Wright, former football announcer Pat Summerall, U.S. Rep. Kay Granger (R-Fort Worth) and boxing promoter Don King.

Keep throwin' money down the rabbit hole, R's!

A lawsuit in federal court in Massachusetts alleges that Hasselbeck lifted "word for word" content from a book on celiac disease written by a self-published author on Cape Cod.

Hasselbeck's book, "The G-Free Diet: A Gluten-Free Survival Guide," has appeared over the past month on several best-seller lists.

Author Susan Hassett filed the lawsuit Monday, saying she sent Hasselbeck a copy of her "Living With Celiac Disease" book as a courtesy after the TV celebrity disclosed she had the illness last year.

The lawsuit says Hasselbeck's book reproduces lists of grains containing gluten along with scientific names of the grains.

Hasselbeck's book "includes dozens of paraphrased as well as word for word regurgitations of phrases" from Hassett's book, the lawsuit claims, but it doesn't cite specific examples.

It's funny, actually, because I've just begun work on a cookbook demystifying french cooking. I'm calling it Perfecting the Skill of Cooking French Cuisine. Look for it on Amazon literally any day now.

Good Appetite!

One of the reasons I like Earle is the fire and passion he brings to everything he does. He's the kind of candidate who won't let Republicans in this state know that it's OK for them to vote for a Democrat, he's the kind of man who can convince them the Republicans are full of shit, with a smile on his face and a beer in his hand.

Click the link and let's get ready to beat some 39% (or KBH) ass in 2010! It's time for REAL leadership in Austin! Run, Ronnie, Run!

For those of you wringing your hands over such a partisan choice, keep in mind that Earle prosecuted Tom Delay, a man universally reviled by Republicans and Democrats for his corruption and deep ties to lobbyists (Abramoff ringing a bell?). I'd say some other nasty things about 'worrying' and being 'stupid' and thinking that the Austin bubble represents Texas, but I'm under the impression that some of your are persuadable.

So get on board or get the goddamn hell out of the motherfucking way.

New details in Dukes' corrected reports show that she used campaign funds for gifts for constituents from Family Christian Stores, fees for the sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha, gas from Chevron and utilities from the City of Austin.

Umm, WHAT?! Sorority fees are a campaign expense? REALLY? Something about that doesn't pass the smell test!

Normally when there's a raid on an establishment that's been overserving, TABC is looking to arrest servers and bar tenders who are violating regs. That didn't happen. Instead, they arrested patrons on the flimsiest of charges, Public Intox. To see how vague the law is, take a look here. This gives law enforcement an enormous amount of latitude, something the courts usually take into account on contested PI charges. PI is used as frequently against the violent as it is against the non-violent. To get arrested for PI, you need only be walking down the street after a drink or two. That's how easy it is.

According to the account, the raid was based on the report of a 'disgruntled employee'. Now, the bar had been open for a week so that was a weak excuse. Further, taking the word of a 'disgruntled employee' makes about as much sense as me asking one of my exes to write a profile for me on a dating site.

Fortunately, it looks like political leaders in Fort Worth are asking questions and trying to investigate the true nature of this raid. These officers have just cost the city, in terms of bad PR and lawsuits, probably a couple of million dollars. Whatever your feelings on gays and lesbians, ANY taxpayer should be pissed as hell about these officers going commando on the taxpayer's dime.

Additionally, Fort Worth's PD Chief Jeff Halstead has promised to look into the 'inspection' and determine what happened. From reports he's received, it appears that the TABC agents were the bad actors in the all this.

"Why didn’t they do something?" asked Elizabeth Pax, ambassador for Queer Liberaction, a Dallas-based advocacy group. "Why didn’t your officers speak up?"

One Fort Worth officer made an initial call for assistance early on, Halstead said. Investigators think that call took place while Gibson was being injured, Halstead said.

Once patrons confronted the officers, Halstead said, the bar check took on a very different tone.

Halstead asked again for people who were at the Rainbow Lounge to come forward and tell police what they saw.

He said that the department had received about 500 calls but that only two were from people who had been at the bar. Investigators need to hear from witnesses, not just from people who want to complain, he said.

Halstead promised that he will work to employ a liaison between police and the gay community.

"We’ve got to work together," Halstead said. "Be patient, and you will see that this is just not lip service. I will meet with you wherever you want to meet. I will go to your restaurants, your house, we can eat barbecue, whatever you want to do. But we’ve got to talk.

"We will heal beyond this."

Referring to the Constitution as "almost like the Bible," Wurzelbacher said of the Founding Fathers: "They knew socialism doesn't work. They knew communism doesn't work."

Yes, they did. Almost 30 years before the author of The Communist Manifesto was even born. What vision!

Mr. The Plumber then went on to discuss progressive taxation (without even mentioning the Ovarian Lottery) which he thinks is immoral though he doesn't really understand the concept, nor the concept of morality. He also declared he was still a member of the Republican Party which will make some of my more affluent Republican friends vomit. Or, rather, it should.

One has to wonder how much the Republicans are paying this sad, pathetic douche of a man. Hopefully it's enough for him to finally realize his dream of owning his own plumbing business. Then he can actually bitch about paying taxes since he really doesn't pay much right now.

DUNNAM: NO PLANS TO SLOW ANYTHING DOWN

Wants to be clear on CDA reauthorizations; otherwise plans to expedite speedy session

The Austin rumor mill continues to churn about grand plans by House Democrats to throw a little sand into the gears of the special session.

Not so says House Democratic Leader Jim Dunnam.

"I met with Armbrister and Morrisey on another matter yesterday. I told Armbrister that while we want to be sure we understand what is in the CDA re-authorizations, we were ready to make the session go smoothly."

Dunnam added, "Of course we would like to see CHIP, unemployment insurance and TDI added to the call but we don't have any control over that."

Then there was this in the Statesman on how Sen. Nichols' zeal for open ended CDA renewal could lead us to a much longer session. My question is, simply, CAN WE JUST END THESE AND MOVE ON? The Republicans want CDA's. The Republicans want privatization. The Democrats might be OK with some of it if they know what's going on in the contracts?

Seriously, Rep. Dunnam? The fact that every time y'all vote to continue this garbage it ends up leading to a larger clusterfuck isn't enough of a clue that maybe, just maybe, y'all should just go ahead and be intransigent on the whole thing?

This is a cut and dry issue. Privatization of infrastructure is not an acceptable solution. And now, ahead of an election year, is not the time to play bipartisanship with right wing lunatics like Sen. Nichols. Not when even people in his own district are shopping for primary and general opponents for him.

Do you have any idea how much restraint I exercised just there talking about fried dough balls?

There is, however, a small problem. The company has had some issues with a name for what many are calling a delicious product. So, they're asking for your help. Please visit here and feel free to leave your suggestions.

Yes, I own stock in CKE. A lot of stock.

Oh, and every politico in and around Austin who thinks Kirk is the golden boy for '10 needs to rethink things a bit. Seriously, they're offbase and don't know the state (outside of Austin) or the mood of it right now. Sorry to rain doodoo on the parade, but reality is reality... and if you think Kirk will sell well in Smith or Gregg Counties, think again. Kirk's only shot is predicated on 39% winning the R primary (not at all a given) AND managing to work the campaign well. Therin lies the problem... his 02 run was pathetic, even worse than the 2006 Van Os run with that retarded 254 county strategy. Even if that's fixed, he's a drag at the top given some of his 'reasonable, but hard to defend' votes in the Senate. Down ballot, there's less pressure and an easier sell for a respected Senate insider that can actually be an amazing Lt. Governor.

Texans are angry. Like a nest of hornets that's been disturbed, the people of this state are looking for someone to blame for the shitty roads, the shitty schools, their economy which is not so great everywhere BUT Austin and their horrendously inflated property taxes driven up by the fact that businesses pay little in taxes. Let's not even mention they have to pay for the most expensive insurance and some of the most expensive electricity in the country.The state, in short, ain't in especially great shape as anyone who's driven on 35 between Austin and Dallas already knows. And the blame is being assigned to 39% and the worthless R's in the Lege. 15 years of Republicans have worked hard to turn Texas into Guatemala.

39% is, of course, trying to make it about 'hating Texas'. What his brill strategists don't seem to get is that Texans already think their guy is a piece of shit. His 39% of the vote in 06 wasn't, you know, an accident. All that's needed is a nasty, drag you through the mud and junk punch you on the way down, fighter to remind them all who's been in charge while the state's been going to hell. Sen. Watson ain't that guy.

They're pissed as hell because they're proud of where they live and what they've accomplished in spite of 39% and the Republicans. They're mad because they see the state circling the drain while 39% gives taxpayer money to big banks, asking nothing in return and who then turn around and screw Texas homeowners with their toxic subprime loans.

Texans are looking for a warrior, someone who can throw a punch into 39% glass jaw, then sit down and have a beer with them but at all times know that he's the kind of guy who doesn't let anything slide. I don't think that guy is Sen. Watson. I think it's Ronnie Earle.

Burka says the 'burbs will be the big battlefield because of toll roads and schools. They're a bigger deal this cycle for D's and easier to pick up in but the real opportunity is East Texas. And this year, with all the TTC 69 bullshit and the R primary, Democrats have the first real shot they've had since the 80's at rebuilding a Democratic base in East Texas.

Now, there are a number of constituencies hoping and praying that Sen. Watson runs statewide. I'm one of them, but where we break is for the office. TTLA and others are rumored to be pushing for Governor and I'd urge them to reconsider. I'd also urge Senator Watson to be realistic about what he really wants and to really think about where he can do the most good.

Telling people not to use toll roads if they don't want to and then building them is almost like telling people not to breathe if they don't want to. They are going to be hurt.

Why? Because we all will be paying toll road TAXES even if we "don't use them".

How? We will pay the extra tolls at the cash register when we purchase goods and services because businesses will divert their toll costs onto the consumer. It's common-sense.

In addition, toll roads are long-term debts that our children's grandchildren will continue to pay.

Lastly, if you think toll roads are the panacea for all our roadway, traffic and pollution ills, you are grossly mistaken. Just look at the long-time toll roads in tolling meccas like CA, NY, FL, etc., and you will see that not only do they still have the same issues and problems, but new ones have been created directly due to the building and maintenance of toll roads and plazas.

Another issue is that of Eminent Domain. Thanks to lackluster laws created by lawmakers and their wealthy special interests, property owners will NOT be compensated properly for the taking of their land.

Obviously, there are MANY reasons NOT to approve toll roads throughout Texas, but the main reasons are that toll roads are NOT cost-effective and why should Texans provide wealthy special interests with more avenues for profiteering at our expense?

The special session starts Wednesday July 1st. Contact your state lawmakers and tell them you do NOT want toll roads and to vote AGAINST private toll road leases and any other pro-toll agendas.

Contacts:

House: http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/welcome.php

Senate: http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/senate/Members.htm

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Peter Stern