Much neglected for some time now, this blog will undergo some significant changes here in the coming days as I rework the template, overhaul the blogroll, monetize the site a bit, and re-enable commenting to make it more user-friendly. You may see some changes that don't stick around for long as I experiment with the look and feel.
While the dust settles, enjoy these something old/something new blog brethren and sisteren:
-- The Yellow Something Something (formerly the Yellow Doggerel Democrat, still Steve Bates)
-- The Southern Shift
-- The Existentialist Cowboy
-- Local Texans
-- From Austin to A&M
-- Billiard Cues
-- and Newsy, which provides this video on the ever-increasing amount of money in politics:
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Texas Shorts
We're going briefs, not boxers, as we catch up with the news.
-- The Republican Party of Texas opens its state convention this weekend. We'll be posting occasional updates on the free-flowing crazy (hey, there's only so much we can all take). Here's a teaser from the Fort Worth Startlegram; the header is "Texas GOP delegates not keen on 'sensible immigration reform'"; emphasis at the end is mine:
Your compassion, your tax dollars, your brain, your soul. I hope your God calls you home very soon, Sara.
Update: they've got a three-way of nuts going for the chair. Get your corn popped now.
-- The Greens made the ballot. Let the lawsuits begin. In Harris County, their candidates for county clerk and statehouse representative in District 144 will very likely be problematic for the Dems.
Update: once again via South Texas Chisme, the Greens won't be on the ballot if it turns out their Republican benefactor has violated the law:
-- After seeing Bill White's tax returns, an envious Governor Coyote Killer called for him to quit the race. It's just too funny. The comments in the Chronic are even running against Perry... no small feat.
Still no word on debates.
-- I learned this week that Boyd Richie has an opponent for chairman of the Texas Democratic Party. Talk about David versus Goliath Neck...
-- The Trib also reminds us that there is likely to... well, maybe possibly ... be a contest for Speaker of the Texas House next year, as Joe Straus has managed to alienate several Republicans and most all of the Democrats. Some history here about how speakers never used to serve multiple terms until the 20th century, and that the consolidation of power began with Billy Clayton, who was of course scandalized -- along with dozens of others -- by L'Affaire Sharpstown in the early '70's.
-- Tory Gattis has his post up about the charter amendment petition drive organized by Renew Houston. His conclusion:
So he thinks it makes the ballot but gets rejected by the voters. I believe that's a fair handicap of the race today.
-- The Republican Party of Texas opens its state convention this weekend. We'll be posting occasional updates on the free-flowing crazy (hey, there's only so much we can all take). Here's a teaser from the Fort Worth Startlegram; the header is "Texas GOP delegates not keen on 'sensible immigration reform'"; emphasis at the end is mine:
Norm Adams wants Texas to find middle ground in the nationwide immigration debate.
The 65-year-old Houston insurance agent caused a ruckus Tuesday by presenting his "sensible immigration policy" -- a proposal that the Texas Republican Party reverse course and support a path to legalization -- to party faithful gathered in Dallas to prepare for their state convention.
His proposal is designed to secure the borders, deport noncitizens with violent records and give visas to illegal immigrants, who would pay taxes at a higher rate than citizens. In the process, he said, Republicans might regain countless Hispanic voters who shifted to the Democratic Party.
"The Republican Party needs to come together on a sensible immigration policy -- one that is not amnesty, one that is not deportation," Adams told a committee working on party platform issues. "If we get this passed, Texas will set the standard.
"I want this party to come together, folks," he said. "I hope and pray you people give this serious consideration."
Adams' proposal drew heated responses. More than 10,000 Republicans are expected in Dallas for their two-day convention, where they will approve a 2010 platform.
Sara Legvold, a delegate from Keller, was among those to speak against Adams' proposal.
"No compromises, no guest work, until we have our borders under control," she said. "I want to deport everybody who is illegal -- children, dogs, pets, birds.
"My compassion has dried up, just as my tax dollars have dried up."
Your compassion, your tax dollars, your brain, your soul. I hope your God calls you home very soon, Sara.
Update: they've got a three-way of nuts going for the chair. Get your corn popped now.
-- The Greens made the ballot. Let the lawsuits begin. In Harris County, their candidates for county clerk and statehouse representative in District 144 will very likely be problematic for the Dems.
Update: once again via South Texas Chisme, the Greens won't be on the ballot if it turns out their Republican benefactor has violated the law:
Kat Swift, state coordinator for the Green Party in Texas, said the party's attorney is awaiting written confirmation that an outside group that bankrolled the effort is not a corporation.
Texas law forbids campaign contributions from corporations.
"Unless that paperwork comes through, all of it on the up and up, we're not moving forward with it," Swift said. ...
Swift said if the party gets written confirmation that it can legally list Take Initiative America as the in-kind donor, it intends to move forward and field candidates in the fall campaign. She said the group has until June 30 to make the decision.
-- After seeing Bill White's tax returns, an envious Governor Coyote Killer called for him to quit the race. It's just too funny. The comments in the Chronic are even running against Perry... no small feat.
Still no word on debates.
-- I learned this week that Boyd Richie has an opponent for chairman of the Texas Democratic Party. Talk about David versus Goliath Neck...
-- The Trib also reminds us that there is likely to... well, maybe possibly ... be a contest for Speaker of the Texas House next year, as Joe Straus has managed to alienate several Republicans and most all of the Democrats. Some history here about how speakers never used to serve multiple terms until the 20th century, and that the consolidation of power began with Billy Clayton, who was of course scandalized -- along with dozens of others -- by L'Affaire Sharpstown in the early '70's.
-- Tory Gattis has his post up about the charter amendment petition drive organized by Renew Houston. His conclusion:
So my feelings on the initiative are mixed: I agree with the concept, but have serious concerns about the details - especially the open-ended development impact fees. Unfortunately at this point, the language is set - and I think that language will bring out some tough opponents in the fall. In addition, this is shaping up as the year of the angry, anti-tax, Tea Party voter, which does not bode well at all for initiatives like this. DOA? Maybe. We'll just have to see how it plays out.
So he thinks it makes the ballot but gets rejected by the voters. I believe that's a fair handicap of the race today.
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