Larry Craig is still not gay

... no matter what those eight men claim, so stop saying that.

Dan Barrett for HD-97

From our press release: The Texas Progressive Alliance, a confederation of political blogs, bloggers, and online activists from across Texas, today announced its endorsement of Dan Barrett (D-Fort Worth) in the special election runoff in House District 97. "We believe that Dan Barrett will make an excellent addition to the growing numbers of Democrats in the Texas House of Representatives," said Vince Leibowitz, Chair of the Texas Progressive Alliance. "We are pleased to offer him our support," he continued. In early November, Barrett led a field of seven candidates vying for the seat vacated by retiring State Rep. Anna Mowery, a longtime ally of Texas House Speaker Tom Craddick.

"I believe the voters in House District 97 are ready for a change and will realize that Dan Barrett will be no rubber-stamp for Tom Craddick's regime and policies," said Charles Kuffner of Houston, the vice chair of the Alliance. This is the second year for the Alliance, which is made up of more than 50 bloggers representing more than 30 of the state's most widely read progressive political blogs, to endorse candidates through its TexRoots program. The TexRoots program helps bring blog readers and online activists to specific candidates and races where their funds can make an immediate difference. The Alliance endorsed three candidates for its TexRoots 2006 rollout during the mid-term elections including State Rep. Juan Garcia (D-Corpus Christi).

Prot for President

Or is it Keyser Sose'?

















Or perhaps you would prefer Gomer Pyle?











It seems obvious that Kevin Spacey is a raging socialist just to be seen talking with Hugo Chavez, so if it comes down to him or Huckabee, I'm voting red (and that ain't Republican). Chuck Norris can kiss my ass.

Texas Education Agency scorns evolution (and terminates anyone who sends e-mail about it)

TXsharon has compiled the blog posts from across the Texblogosphere and beyond regarding the dismissal of TEA science director Chris Comer, and the backstory is there in any of the links. I'll quote Steven D at Booman Tribune for the summary outrage:

If merely forwarding an email about an upcoming speaker on the issue of evolution versus "intelligent design" theory gets you shitcanned in Texas, imagine what would have happened if poor Ms. Comer had had the audacity to suggest that she herself accepted the validity of the theory of evolution? Tarred and feathered, or burned at the stake for heresy? You tell me.

And it's no surprise a Bush appointee was the person behind this outrageous decision. As the Austin-American Statesman declared in its editorial about this case, firing someone for even mentioning that intelligent design and/or creationism have "critics" smacks of Soviet-era purges. Or of the Catholic Church in the 17th century suppressing Galileo's writings about the science that supported the "theory" that the earth orbited the sun. In short, it's absurd.

Yet that is what the most extreme Christian conservatives would have us become: A nation of ignoramuses, blind to any truth other than that "revealed" by scripture as (presumably) interpreted by our designated "Spiritual Leaders." That teachers were fired in the early 20th century for teaching evolution was understandable, if incredibly shortsighted, bigoted and stupid. That we are still having these debates at the beginning of the 21st century with all we have learned since the Scopes Monkey trial boggles my imagination.

Cynthia McKinney, Green for President

Former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, who quit the Democratic Party and announced her candidacy for president as a Green last month, will make a campaign appearance in Houston this week.

She will speak at the Robert Terry Library on the Texas Southern University campus, 3100 Cleburne (at Ennis), on Tuesday December 4 at 7 p.m., discussing her quest for peace, politics in Washington and her campaign for the 2008 Green Party nomination. Questions or more information can be requested of Don Cook at 713-705-5594.

McKinney will also "freeway blog" with local activists at the Montrose overpass to US 59 at 4:30 p.m. prior to her appearance at TSU later in the evening.

McKinney first achieved renown (in Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11) as one of the few Congresspersons who publicly objected to the selection by the SCOTUS of George W Bush as president in December 2000, and was one of 31 in the House who similarly objected to the allotment of Ohio's electoral votes in 2004 to the incumbent. She has also expressed strong reservations about the federal government's role regarding the events of September 11th, 2001 (for example, the 9/11 Commission sealed all notes and transcripts of some 2,000 interviews, all forensic evidence, and both classified and non-classified documents used in compiling its final report until January 2, 2009). McKinney's interest in 9/11 relates specifically to what she expresses as her opposition to excessive government secrecy, which she challenged with numerous pieces of legislation while a member of Congress.

McKinney also chose to be an active participant in the select bipartisan committee to investigate the preparation for and response to Hurricane Katrina, despite the Democratic Party leadership's call for Democratic members to boycott the committee. She has been a longtime anti-war activist, dating back to her opposition to the Gulf War in 1991 (and continuing through to the current administration's misadventures in Iraq, and its enablers in Congress).

She made headlines when she had a dustup with a Capitol police officer in 2006, and later that year lost a second bid for re-election from her Atlanta district.

McKinney has been vilified from all angles, left and right.

Her Green Party presidential exploratory committee website is Run Cynthia Run.