The Hispanic Caucus kerfuffle seems to have amounted to much ado about nothing, so before I dash off for an early supper and this evening's plenary, here's some Texas political news headlines and related excerpts.
-- Abbott senior campaign adviser Dave Carney compared Wendy Davis to Satan. Because an Abbott intern comparing her to Hitler last month just wasn't bad enough.
This ain't the Texas anybody wants to live in, folks. Maybe that's why Carney lives on his own private island (because he is so neighborly).
-- The very conservative opt-in polling outfit Politix has one going on the Texas governor's race, and at this moment it's Abbott 50, Davis 46, Other 4. If I had to put down a bet today on the final numbers in November, that would very probably be them. Feel free to go cast your ballot.
-- Obama has named three Texas federal judges in an apparent bridging of the impasse between he and Ted Cruz and John Cornyn.
Go read about them all, but take particular note of Pittman.
-- One step forward, one step back. One of Houston's most virulently bigoted organizations is having a big Sunday church push to get the signatures necessary to place on the November ballot a repeal of Houston's equal rights ordinance.
I still think this would be a terrific development for Democratic turnout in November. But remind me again why we aren't taxing churches?
-- Lastly, five things at the Texas Democratic convention that make Republicans crap their pants. Two...
-- Abbott senior campaign adviser Dave Carney compared Wendy Davis to Satan. Because an Abbott intern comparing her to Hitler last month just wasn't bad enough.
This ain't the Texas anybody wants to live in, folks. Maybe that's why Carney lives on his own private island (because he is so neighborly).
-- The very conservative opt-in polling outfit Politix has one going on the Texas governor's race, and at this moment it's Abbott 50, Davis 46, Other 4. If I had to put down a bet today on the final numbers in November, that would very probably be them. Feel free to go cast your ballot.
-- Obama has named three Texas federal judges in an apparent bridging of the impasse between he and Ted Cruz and John Cornyn.
If confirmed, U.S. Attorney Robert Pitman of San Antonio, Texarkana lawyer Robert Schroeder III, and Sherman Magistrate Judge Amos Mazzant III will all get lifetime jobs as U.S. district court judges.
Go read about them all, but take particular note of Pittman.
Pitman’s appointment would be “historic,” Tobias added, because he would be the first openly gay federal judge in the state.
Pitman is used to breaking ground. He became Texas’ first openly gay U.S. attorney, and one of the first anywhere. Before his appointment in 2011 as the top federal prosecutor for the Western District of Texas, he served as a magistrate judge.
Pitman, nominated for a seat in San Antonio, earned his law degree from the University of Texas. If confirmed by the Senate, he will take the bench formerly filled by W. Royal Furgeson Jr., dean of the University of North Texas Dallas College of Law that is set to open this fall.
Furgeson, reached Thursday night, called him “an outstanding choice. His career covers a wide range of experience. At every juncture, he has performed brilliantly. He works hard. He is very balanced and has excellent temperament. And he is a very decent, honorable and humble person.”
-- One step forward, one step back. One of Houston's most virulently bigoted organizations is having a big Sunday church push to get the signatures necessary to place on the November ballot a repeal of Houston's equal rights ordinance.
An email from the far-right Houston Area Pastor Council today calls on pastors “to serve as the turning point in the anti-family tide” by using their churches this Sunday to collect signatures for a referendum overturning the city’s recently passed Equal Rights Ordinance (HERO).
[...]
Now the Houston Area Pastor Council, led by one of the city’s most vicious voices of hate, Dave Welch, hopes to repeal the HERO with a public vote. A signature campaign to put San Antonio’s new Nondiscrimination Ordinance up for a public referendum last year failed. The number of required petition signers is lower in Houston, however. Supporters of a November HERO referendum must submit their list of signers to the city by July 3.
I still think this would be a terrific development for Democratic turnout in November. But remind me again why we aren't taxing churches?
-- Lastly, five things at the Texas Democratic convention that make Republicans crap their pants. Two...
3. Diverse groups of women
Every time a GOP leader mentions women’s issues it should automatically be followed by a foot in mouth emoticon.
4. Young People
It’s called the Grand OLD Party for a reason.
