The exploding scandal around disgraced Rep. Mark Foley, the Florida Republican who trolled for underage male pages while he chaired the caucus on Missing and Exploited Children, now threatens to envelop the House leadership.
It seems that Speaker Hastert's office was notified of Foley's improprieties nearly one year ago -- by Majority Leader John Boehner -- but took no action.
Let's summarize that: the GOP House leaders knew there was sexual predator in their midst, but did nothing to stop him.
Have we had enough of this corruption?
What are we going to do about it?
Saturday, September 30, 2006
No one was tortured. A few Republicans were, however, terrorized
The Houston Progressive Blog-O-Sphere got offline and came together at the Onion Creek last night to host out-of-towner Vince Liebowitz, in town for his abuelita's 87th birthday and the Johnson-Rayburn dinner (Russ Feingold is keynoting tonight). Charles organized and Lyn, muse, Hal, Ryan G. of BOR, and the Diddies attended, and we ate, drank, and made merry. Well, as merry as potential enemy combatants can make.
For the record, few rumors were mongered even as the Friedman campaign conducted some sort of half-hearted rally/signup out on the patio. I saw one young man, cell phone glued to his head (dude, get a Bluetooth) sitting with one of those art-deco yard signs (only 15 bucks!). Left alone to carry on his phone conversations for the most part.
Hal's got a pretty funny post with pictures of the Fort Bend parade in Rosenberg. They showed their asses to the local Republicans. Seriously. Go look. Muse likewise has been all over Shelley Magoola Something-or-Other's hapless campaign, as well as state rep John Dufus' ethical lapses. Ryan recently exposed Martha Wrong's signage malfunction.
Why are all the Republicans cutting and running from debates with their challengers? Even the SCLM-alleged "safe" incumbents are dodging. What do they have to fear but fear itself?
The really surprising thing to me is that if you only looked at Texas conservative blogs, you wouldn't even know there was an election in thirty days.
If you're in the Metroplex today, this is the place to be.
For the record, few rumors were mongered even as the Friedman campaign conducted some sort of half-hearted rally/signup out on the patio. I saw one young man, cell phone glued to his head (dude, get a Bluetooth) sitting with one of those art-deco yard signs (only 15 bucks!). Left alone to carry on his phone conversations for the most part.
Hal's got a pretty funny post with pictures of the Fort Bend parade in Rosenberg. They showed their asses to the local Republicans. Seriously. Go look. Muse likewise has been all over Shelley Magoola Something-or-Other's hapless campaign, as well as state rep John Dufus' ethical lapses. Ryan recently exposed Martha Wrong's signage malfunction.
Why are all the Republicans cutting and running from debates with their challengers? Even the SCLM-alleged "safe" incumbents are dodging. What do they have to fear but fear itself?
The really surprising thing to me is that if you only looked at Texas conservative blogs, you wouldn't even know there was an election in thirty days.
If you're in the Metroplex today, this is the place to be.
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Olbermann, the Post, anthrax, and what constitutes 'funny'
Keith Olbermann, the MSNBC "Countdown" host who's been sending shockwaves through the Bushies and their toadies with his "Special Commentaries" lately, received a letter with white powder in it this week.
Here's the New York Post's reporting of it.
Here's Olbermann's response to the New York Post (transcript, and video available with additional click).
The New York Post had a different reaction when they themselves were the recipient of an anthrax hoax.
So what's so funny about getting a letter like this? KO doesn't think it's funny, but the NYP now apparently does.
Is it funny when the joke's on someone else, after it's been on you? Is it funny when the joke is only on those with whom you disagree, politically?
Is sending white powder in the mail funnier than, say, cracking wise at the airport about the "gun" in your father-in-law's luggage?
Is it funnier than putting a dead deer's head in somebody's mailbox as a college prank?
Does my definition of humor need revising?
Here's the New York Post's reporting of it.
Here's Olbermann's response to the New York Post (transcript, and video available with additional click).
The New York Post had a different reaction when they themselves were the recipient of an anthrax hoax.
So what's so funny about getting a letter like this? KO doesn't think it's funny, but the NYP now apparently does.
Is it funny when the joke's on someone else, after it's been on you? Is it funny when the joke is only on those with whom you disagree, politically?
Is sending white powder in the mail funnier than, say, cracking wise at the airport about the "gun" in your father-in-law's luggage?
Is it funnier than putting a dead deer's head in somebody's mailbox as a college prank?
Does my definition of humor need revising?
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
I want the G.I. Jew with the Kung Fu grip
And if I can't have that, then buy me a "Torture Me Elmo".(Thanks to ITPT commenter Bob Maluga for the inspiring words.)
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Byron Nelson, 1912 - 2006
"I don't know very much," Nelson said in a 1997 interview with The Associated Press. "I know a little bit about golf. I know how to make a stew. And I know how to be a decent man."
Fastow and Ebbers go to jail
A sense of closure today, and it's not necessarily the sound of clanging jail cell doors that produces it.
Jeff Andy Fastow, the former Enron CFO got six years (instead of ten) for cooperating with the prosecutors and was placed immediately into custody; Bernie Ebbers, the one-time basketball coach and WorldCom executive reported to the medium-security facility in Oakdale, LA -- we just drove past there over the weekend -- to serve a twenty-five year term, likely the rest of his life.
These were two of the highest-profile white collar criminals of the Nineties. Few rose as high and fell so far as Fastow and Ebbers. They were hailed as wizards for their business acumen, but it was eventually revealed that they were just plain old charlatans.
Next month Jeff Skilling, Fastow's capo, will be sentenced to prison, and probably for a very long time also. And with that, a most sordid chapter in the history of American corporate malfeasance will draw to a close.
Who will be this decade's Fastow, Skilling, or Ebbers? We might not yet know their names, but unfortunately some of them are probably doing business in Texas. The biggest crooks always seem to.
Could one of them be Bob Perry, of "Swift Boat" fame, who has funneled hundreds of thousands to Republicans throughout the state? Or perhaps James "Voucher" Leininger, who has done the same in order to advance his single issue, dismantling public education in Texas? Both men have made fortunes in business and poured those fortunes into the bank accounts of Republican politicians and conservative causes. Is it possible we could see their corrupt dealings land them in jail if we succeed in voting their GOP lackeys out of office in November?
The chickens always come home in the evening to roost, and dusk is coming a little sooner now that it's fall. Maybe we can hasten it along some if we do what we need to for the next 45 or so days.
These were two of the highest-profile white collar criminals of the Nineties. Few rose as high and fell so far as Fastow and Ebbers. They were hailed as wizards for their business acumen, but it was eventually revealed that they were just plain old charlatans.
Next month Jeff Skilling, Fastow's capo, will be sentenced to prison, and probably for a very long time also. And with that, a most sordid chapter in the history of American corporate malfeasance will draw to a close.
Who will be this decade's Fastow, Skilling, or Ebbers? We might not yet know their names, but unfortunately some of them are probably doing business in Texas. The biggest crooks always seem to.
Could one of them be Bob Perry, of "Swift Boat" fame, who has funneled hundreds of thousands to Republicans throughout the state? Or perhaps James "Voucher" Leininger, who has done the same in order to advance his single issue, dismantling public education in Texas? Both men have made fortunes in business and poured those fortunes into the bank accounts of Republican politicians and conservative causes. Is it possible we could see their corrupt dealings land them in jail if we succeed in voting their GOP lackeys out of office in November?
The chickens always come home in the evening to roost, and dusk is coming a little sooner now that it's fall. Maybe we can hasten it along some if we do what we need to for the next 45 or so days.
Keith Olbermann calls Bush a coward
Chris Wallace is "a monkey posing as a news caster".
FOX is a "propaganda company so blatant that Tokyo Rose would have quit".
Watch (and eat it all, neoconderthals):
FOX is a "propaganda company so blatant that Tokyo Rose would have quit".
Watch (and eat it all, neoconderthals):
Monday, September 25, 2006
Some from the others
On the heels of the Chris Bell video posted below, there have been some other Texas happenings while I've been absent ...
-- BOR has blown Kinky Friedman out of the water. No wait, Kinky Friedman did it to himself. Anyway, here's Chapter 57 of "Kinky Blows Up, and Not in a Good Way".
-- While there are some on the left who think that this is not a good thing.
-- Vince has posted a video which serves as a good primer for the governor's race.
-- Greg Abbott is getting sued over his voter "fraud" shenanigans.
--My man David has been busy in West Texas, and writes that something big is happening out there. And when the Midland Reporter-Telegram agrees, guess what? There is.
-- Here's a great picture of some real Texas leaders.
-- John and muse have stayed busy getting to the vote (in preparation for getting that vote out, starting October 23).
-- Stace posts the letter of a former Kingwood Republican who has seen the light.
-- it turns out that my wife worked with Valinda Bolton back in the Eighties, when we lived in Plainview. She's going to be an excellent legislator.
-- Kuffner reminisced about Rita. (That inspired me to pull my own three-part tale out of the 9/05 archives for you.) In Lake Charles on Saturday, they also stopped to reflect. The hurricane left widespread damage throughout Texas and Louisiana -- from which parts of the area still struggle to recover -- but only killed eleven people. Ten times more than that died in the attempted evacuation of Houston, which I considered to be its own disaster. It warrants reminding that we were lied to by our government -- I'm looking at you, Rick Perry -- about the contraflow lanes to be opened, about the gasoline trucks being sent to refuel the thousands of stranded motorists and the calamity that could have occurred had Rita not turned to the east.
Update: Fred suggests a bigot's dream team: Macaca-N***** Eggs 06.
-- BOR has blown Kinky Friedman out of the water. No wait, Kinky Friedman did it to himself. Anyway, here's Chapter 57 of "Kinky Blows Up, and Not in a Good Way".
-- While there are some on the left who think that this is not a good thing.
-- Vince has posted a video which serves as a good primer for the governor's race.
-- Greg Abbott is getting sued over his voter "fraud" shenanigans.
--My man David has been busy in West Texas, and writes that something big is happening out there. And when the Midland Reporter-Telegram agrees, guess what? There is.
-- Here's a great picture of some real Texas leaders.
-- John and muse have stayed busy getting to the vote (in preparation for getting that vote out, starting October 23).
-- Stace posts the letter of a former Kingwood Republican who has seen the light.
-- it turns out that my wife worked with Valinda Bolton back in the Eighties, when we lived in Plainview. She's going to be an excellent legislator.
-- Kuffner reminisced about Rita. (That inspired me to pull my own three-part tale out of the 9/05 archives for you.) In Lake Charles on Saturday, they also stopped to reflect. The hurricane left widespread damage throughout Texas and Louisiana -- from which parts of the area still struggle to recover -- but only killed eleven people. Ten times more than that died in the attempted evacuation of Houston, which I considered to be its own disaster. It warrants reminding that we were lied to by our government -- I'm looking at you, Rick Perry -- about the contraflow lanes to be opened, about the gasoline trucks being sent to refuel the thousands of stranded motorists and the calamity that could have occurred had Rita not turned to the east.
Update: Fred suggests a bigot's dream team: Macaca-N***** Eggs 06.
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Traveling to Louisiana today
Anticipate limited bloggage ahead as we travel to Lake Charles, then the family cemetery in Grayson (nobody passed away, just a necessary pilgrimage) and then Monroe on Friday before returning on Saturday.
Here is your news:
George "Macaca" Allen finds out he's Jewish.
There are hundreds of child prostitutes in Houston.
And Greg Abbott is still running amok:
Here is your news:
George "Macaca" Allen finds out he's Jewish.
There are hundreds of child prostitutes in Houston.
And Greg Abbott is still running amok:
The Killeen-based company that promised to protect landowners – for a fee – from potential eminent domain proceedings in connection with the proposed Trans-Texas Corridor project agreed to the terms set in a temporary injunction Thursday during a hearing before the 345th District Court in Austin.
Attorney General Greg Abbott sought the temporary injunction to stop the business "You Can't Take It" from continuing activity on grounds that the defendants may have violated parts of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices-Consumer Protection Act. ...
Hale Stewart, a Houston attorney representing the company, said his clients have shut the company down and "are moving to the immediate settlement with the Texas attorney general." ...
The company claimed to have found a loophole in eminent domain procedures using the legal precedent established through the 2005 U.S. Supreme Court decision, Kelo vs. City of New London, to justify its business plan. The company and Killeen residents Douglas Lee Thayer, Lou Ann Reed and her daughter Nykee Jolene Murray of Austin are defendants in the lawsuit. ...
Stewart said the company has only been in business for a month and hasn't purchased any properties or done any other business.
"I frankly think it's a smear campaign from Abbott," he said. "I think Greg Abbott is playing dirty."
Based on the number of companies that open every day in Texas, he said he did not understand why his clients' company was singled out.
"Why is it this one company that hasn't done any business," he said. "The Texas attorney general has shown a remarkably strong interest in this company. I find that really fascinating."
Based on the Kelo decision, Thayer claimed a company could block the state from taking any land through eminent domain.
The decision says that if an economic development project would provide an economic benefit in the form of higher tax revenues to a city, then eminent domain could not override that project, Stewart said.
The Trans-Texas Corridor is intended to relieve congestion on Interstate 35. It will parallel I-35 and extend from Oklahoma to Mexico, with possible connections to the Gulf Coast. It would not only separate car and truck lanes, but it would also include railroads and underground utilities, such as telephone, water and gas pipelines.
"I don't think it is appropriate that the attorney general's office is used to protect the Trans-Texas Corridor," Thayer said on Thursday.
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