Bidge and the Splendid Splinter

As they reach the end of their stellar careers, conversations about whether Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell deserve Hall of Fame induction have been had on sports talk radio, in fine drinking establishments (and not-so-fine ones as well), and in places like this for some time.

Banjo Jones details the latest milestone reached by the Astros' sparkplug:

If Craig Biggio gets hit and killed by a bus after the game today in Cincinnati, he can go to his reward satisfied that he tied Ted Williams at #63 on the Major League Baseball all-time career hit list.

Biggio likely would have tied the record at home in Houston since Astros manager Phil Garner gave him the day off today, but Biggio was called on to pinch hit in the 7th inning and delivered a single. (That) gives him 2,654 base hits, which he's gathered during a 17-year career that likely will continue a year or two after this season. Williams played 19 seasons.

The fact Biggio started out as a catcher, moved to second base, then moved to the outfield and now has returned to second base only adds to his impressive hitting resume'.

Other names you might recognize on the all-time hit list that are within Biggio's reach are: Nellie Fox (who ended his career with Houston), 2,663 hits; Luis Aparicio, 2,677; Billy Williams, 2,711; Rusty Staub (who started his career with Houston), 2716; Lou Gehrig, 2,721, and Babe Ruth, 2,873.

He ought to be voted in on the first ballot.

Enron's "Smartest Guys"

are headed both for the courthouse and the cineplex this week.

Charles Kuffner has a take on the movie, "Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room" , which is having its Houston (and New York) debut this Friday.

And voir dire begins today in the trial of five former Enron Broadband officials. It's considered an opening act to the Big Show -- Lay and Skilling, center ring -- potentially on later this year.

I knew a handful of fellas who worked for Enron and Duke Energy and El Paso Energy during the go-go-days. They weren't the smartest guys in some rooms, but they most certainly thought they were, and that hubris made them the most arrogant guys in any room.

Very reminiscent of another group of megalomaniacs...

And maybe the best news of all...

is that we will have Tom DeLay to kick around for a while longer.

The coming week's focus will also be on Bill Frist's judicial jihad and the Social Security Baboozlepalooza and John Bolton and God knows what else.

This post seems to strike the right tone:

Personally, I'm getting a little tired of all this making fun of conservatives. When you think about it, they deserve a lot of respect.

First, they have to believe whatever the Bush administration or lesser congressional-type republicans tells them to believe. Yea sure, I know, that sounds like something any idiot could do, but those beliefs often change from day to day and often end up diametrically opposed to what they were the day before. It takes an incredibly agile mind to constantly change core values and beliefs without ever acknowledging the contradictions.

Next, they have to disbelieve absolutely whatever a certain other class of people believe. This includes democrats, independents, moderates, the educated, the scientists, the French, and just about everyone else in the world.

Then to top it all off, every piece of art or entertainment must conform to the daily beliefs, whatever they are, or it must be boycotted, burned, or banished (not stashed under the mattress, no, no, no).

And finally, they have to disbelieve, and disbelieve passionately, easily observable reality. Those people being tortured, they're not feeling any pain. South Park? Karl Rove couldn't have written it any better.

It's not easy being that fucking stupid. It really takes a lot of work. Show some respect, people.

Via Atrios.

I believe someone has already said it was 'hard work'...

Reporting from the NRA Convention:

My friend John Cobbaruvias making a statement about you-know-who yesterday.

Tom DeLay at the NRA yesterday

There's news from the MSM here and here, but the best report found so far is this one.

Both sides keep firing away. The most interesting news here is that the GOP in Sugar Land is quietly fishing for a primary opponent for the Bugman.

We're going to need more popcorn.

Update: This link (if registration is required then go to BugMeNot and get a User ID and password) will show you the report from last night's evening newscast of local CBS affiliate KHOU.

Too...much...ninnycon...

I just need to post something besides the latest stunt performed by the GOPrano goons, so...

-- Would you like to see some cool satellite photos of Area 51?

-- Those crazy madcap handicappers at Paddy Power have established German cardinal Joseph Ratzinger as a 7/2 favorite to be elected Vicar of Christ. He's being challenged on the backstretch, though:

(...) France's Jean-Marie Lustiger has come from nowhere to join him at the top of the list. "Lustiger was at 20-1 two weeks ago but they've started betting for him in just the last three or four days," a spokesman at Paddy Power said.

Can you imagine how pissed the Bush Administration is going to be if there is a French Pope? More here.

And Jesus' General reports on the unholy alliance between the House Majority Leader and Mr. Wu of HBO's Deadwood.

It might be apropo to post now the epithet assorted Deadwoodians utter at least ten times per episode, but it won't be as funny if you don't have cable.

In the Comments, perhaps?

Councilman Kevin Cole of Pearland, Tom DeLay supporter...

sent the following e-mail to DroptheHammer.org:

Hey ass hole (sic). Tom Delay happens to be my congresman (sic) and I am happy with the job he does for me and my district. Why don’t you get the F@&* out of our district and leave us alone. Better yet, come speak to me personally and I will show you what I think of you.
Kevin Cole
Pealrand (sic), TX
(Cell Phone # Redacted)

The City of Pearland subsequently scrubbed their website of references to Councilman Cole, but this screenshot contains the missing biographical data, among which is listed his position as Deacon of First Baptist Church.

Go read the whole hilarious thing.

Update: I forgot to mention that Councilman Cole shares certain ethical characteristics with his Lord and Master (and I ain't talkin' 'bout Jesus).

Update (4/16): Councilmember Cole's bio has been returned to the City of Pearland's website, but quite a bit of editing has been performed on it. And according to a commenter at the Think Progress site (where this escapade began), Cole has disavowed to his pastor and others sending the obscenity-laced e-tirade. And Banjo Jones reports his own first-hand experiences with "Banty Rooster" Cole.

Tom DeLay's cabana boy

Ted over at Crooked Timber has an excellent post on the town hall meeting with Rep. John Culberson of the 7th Congressional district of Texas.

Now for those of you who haven't been introduced, Culberson has been carrying BugMan's water -- make that chlorine and hot towels -- for as long as he's been in the U.S House. He's spent the requisite terms in anonymity, and with the increased media attention his mentor's been getting, has been summoned from the shadows to help his master in these times of trouble.

Barbara also has some thoughts on Culberson's recent MSNBC appearance.

This is the sort of Texas Republican who might rise up in place of a fallen Sugar Land Sith Lord.

Sleep well.

Houston Activism and Events for April

There's some really special items on this latest mark-your-calendar edition:

Sen. John Edwards will speak at the South Texas College of Law, 1303 San Jacinto, on Wednesday, April 27th at 5 pm. The event is free and open to the public, but you must reserve space by sending an e-mail (one ticket per e-address) to events@txdemocrats.org .

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Tom DeLay will give the keynote address at an NRA banquet being held at the George R. Brown Convention Center in downtown Houston this Saturday, April 16 at 8 pm. BAND (Bay Area New Democrats) is leading the charge to plan a peaceful protest aimed at DeLay (NOT the NRA). They want to be sure to give Delay the big welcome he deserves. Protestors will gather at 6:00 pm at the Hilton Americas, 1600 Lamar (adjacent to the GRB), to be in place by 6:30, and protest until 8:30 pm or so, then go out to celebrate. Most local media will be present. For more see the DU Meetup board.

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The Harris County Democratic Party's Brown Bag Lunch is Tuesday, April 12 from noon to 1 pm at party HQ, 1445 North Loop West, #110 (exit Ella Blvd). The topic is "TRAFFIC!" Ned Levine, PhD., safety coordinator for the Houston-Galveston Area Council will discuss red-light cameras, Safe Clear and regional transportation issues. Bring your lunch; HCDP provides the soft drinks.

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The Progressive Action Alliance (PAA) will hold its monthly meeting at Leisure Learning Unlimited bldg., 2990 Richmond, 6th floor on Thursday, April 14 from 7 to 9 pm. PAA promotes progressive candidates, ideas, and issues through action, advocacy, education, and networking. Come early -- 6:30 to 7 -- to socialize and network; bring something to eat if you wish.

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Tariq Ali and Laura Flanders will appear at Rice University on Tuesday April 19th at 7:30 PM in the Grand Hall in the Student Center. Ali, radical icon and charismatic polemicist, is the author of Street Fighting Years: An Autobiography of the Sixties and Speaking of Empire and Resistance. His startlingly prescient observations turn a sharp eye on the American and British invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq. His provocative ideas explain not only Anglo-American motivations, but the sense of betrayal and powerlessness that has led to the international surge of terrorism that Americans now claim to fight.

"In order to justify infinite war, they have invented this enemy, which -- I'm almost tired of pointing this out -- they created themselves at the height of the Cold War..."

Flanders is the host of "The Laura Flanders Show", heard weekends, 7-10 pm on the Air America Radio network. Bushwomen, her new book, is an investigation into the women in George W. Bush's Cabinet. Publisher's Weekly called Flanders' best-selling book "fierce, funny and intelligent." Flanders writes regularly for TomPaine.com, the Nation, Ms. Magazine and Znet.

A small donation is appreciated. Funds raised by this event will go to support Houston Indy Media, KPFT Pacifica Radio, Houston Global Awareness, Houston Peace and Justice Center, and the University of Houston’s Young Democrats.

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Alison and Chris Bell will host a Happy Hour and Update on his exploratory gubernatorial campaign on Thursday, April 28, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the State Bar (on the balcony), 909 Texas Avenue at Travis. Valet parking is available at the adjacent Rice Hotel. RSVP at the Chris Bell for Governor website.

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And the Houston Democratic Forum will host a reception and discussion with candidates Chris Bell and Barbara Radnofsky on Thursday, April 21 from 6:30 to 8 pm at the Houston City Club, One City Club Drive in Greenway Plaza. There will be a cash bar and validated parking. For more information, contact Mark Yzaguirre: yzaguirre@hotmail.com

Weekend of the long knives

Jack Abramoff, Rick Santorum, and Christopher Shays all ditch the USS Tom DeLay in the past 48 hours.

(I hope there are enough tiny little rat-sized life preservers on hand for the coming week...)

Et tu, Bushe'?