It takes some folks a little longer than others to realize that today's Republican party is kinda, well, fucktard crazy. I got it in 2000, this guy just got it recently. But it least he got it. Welcome, friend!
[...]In what has to be one of the stupidest decisions ever made by someone seeking office, Kinky Friedman, mediocre author and appalling bad entertainer, announced today that he would challenge Hank Gilbert to be the Democratic Party's nominee for Commissioner of Agriculture.
Yep. Someone whose only real experience with agriculture [...]
In what will come as a shocking revelation only to those who've been asleep for 30 years (or working in Republican Administrations), it appears that the Chinese and Pakistanis have a lovely little nuclear co-op going which helped Pakistan in building a bomb and helped China increase their bomb-grade' [...]
Granted, no one reads the Washington Times except Moonies and really, really stupid, but it's still a publication that gets cached on the web and simple searches reveal, once again, our Governor fully out of his depth...
Texas Gov. Rick Perry on Thursday compared President Obama being awarded the Nobel [...]As a Republican strategist, it's really gotta suck to live in Travis County. Maybe that explains Ted Delisi's oh-so-dour column about the prospects of Democrats next year. I mean, when you're living in an area that's thoroughly Democratic, economically vibrant and entrepreneurial, it's gotta be depressing. Austin is pretty' [...]
I often chide my friends in Houston for having kind of dull, stupid muni elections based on 'qualifications' and 'skills' instead of the more fun 'bullshit' that often permeates city elections here in Austin. That's not to say candidates in Austin elections aren't qualified and possessed of the skills necessary' [...]
Rep. Hopson filed for re-election as a Republican on the 7th which means there's now something else horrible that occurred on that day to distract us from the painful memory of the attack on Pearl Harbor. The write up in the Jacksonville Progress (attributed to Special, which usually means [...]
Credit where it's due, BAR has managed to resurrect one of the talking points of the 2005 No Nonsense in November campaign which fought the Texas Anti-Gay Marriage Amendment.
The amendment, approved by the Legislature and overwhelmingly ratified by voters, declares that "marriage in this state shall consist only'" [...]Apparently, in an effort to show they're good at something other than fucking up the state and pissing off bloggers who really, really dislike them already and really, really LOVE making fun of how weak and stupid they are, they've now moved to pissing up the legs... drumroll, [...]
Well, Cathie and mooks over at the RPT tried to make hay on Friday. I wrote this in response and this little candyass referred to the post today with what I certainly hope is affected indignation...
The reference about "bloodying-up" Cathie is especially disturbing. Cathie Adams, of course, is [...]Who represents the quintessential American woman more, MoDo or Sarah Palin? My money is on MoDo... no one cares any more about critter cooking rural politicians from Alaska.
[...]On Friday, within an hour of Hank Gilbert's announcement he was moving to the Ag Commissioner's race, Todd Staples tweeted this out...
After losing the ag race, losing in a local election & a deceptive run for gov, Hank Gilbert now says he is going to run for ag comm againTeam [...]
The RPT, in response to this, tweeted this.
To Cathie and all our friends over at the RPT, you want to stay out of this. We'll bloody you up soon enough and you really don't want a premature boot (or Gucci slip on as the case is today) [...]
...just please, stop giving them cancer. That is the message the State is sending to O&G operators in the Barnett Shale.
[...]I'm watching the super fun Senate confirmation hearing for Fed Chair Ben Bernanke. Aside from the par payouts on the CDS (Credit Default Swaps) written by AIG (many of which were lottery tickets), he's done a decent job or, at least, as decent a job as anyone could have done.' [...]
This is just sad... especially this Rabbi
Demonstrators on both sides of the issue were relatively scarce in the Capitol on Wednesday. A small group of Orthodox Jews gathered outside the Senate chamber, one of them holding a sign that read “Gay Union/A Rebellion Against the Almighty.”Rabbi Yisroel Dovid Weiss [...]
If you're in San Antonio, even if you're not in Commissioner Precinct 4, please take some time tomorrow to swing by and meet Anna Campos
Wednesday, December 2nd
5:30 - 7:00 pm
Azuca
713 S. Alamo
San Antonio, TX 78205
A recent lawsuit makes it clear that despite the rhetoric about free markets and capitalism, the Washington Times is a failure as a commercial enterprise.
Too harsh? How the hell would YOU describe a newspaper that can only survive if their parent organization contributes $40 mn per year to [...]
First off, more people were out shopping on Black Friday this year. However, on average they spent less than last year. Not the end of the world and aggregate sales should be higher... but it paints a grim picture of a still distressed consumer.
Next up, banks are taking [...]
With all the crap flying about in my professional life (you may have heard that banking's not doing all that well right now unless, of course, you work for a company whose name rhymes with soldman gachs) and all the stupid speculation on the Democratic ticket, it's easy to forget [...]
Well, it didn't take long for the runoff in the Houston Mayor race to turn nasty. Apparently, Gene Locke has been busy building himself a little coalition made up of people who don't like teh gays including Dr. Stephen Hotze (who is anything but and whom I've always thought was' [...]
Former Ambassador Tom Schieffer will exit the race for Governor this afternoon... more details will come as they are available. I've just been waiting for a confirmation.
My bet? The man has a bunch of debt and will back Shami to get it paid off.
Update : OR, is the sugar' [...]
The Texas Progressive Alliance is starting to feel an odd craving for can-shaped servings of cranberry sauce as it brings you this week's highlights from the blogs.
TXsharon continues to follow the abuses of Aruba Petroleum in a Barnett Shale backyard and Wednesday the Wise County Messenger picked up the [...]
Bob Moser wrote this piece in the Texas Observer a few weeks ago, a real change from his earlier opinion that Hank was a nobody with no real business in a race for Governor.
The state’s long-suffering progressives, on the other hand, have been staring at next year’s elections — [...]OMG. I wish it was OK to beat stupid people senseless... if it was, I'd LOVE to introduce that fucktard Dick Armey's face to a hardcover copy of the Community Reinvestment Act since he's decided it (and not poor decision making at the banks) was the reason the banking' [...]
Farouk Shami announces and the race shrinks, effectively, to two. Anyone dazzled by Kinky now folds to Shami and Schieffer hasn't a chance to beat him in a money war (not to mention that Schieffer generates the same buzz and excitement as a bowl of cold vegetable soup)' [...]
As part of the health care reform package, the President cut a deal with drug makers for their cooperation. They agreed to voluntarily reduce prices. What wasn't specified was the start date and from what level they discounts would apply. It appears that they've decided to go ahead jack everything [...]
Are they afraid of actually allowing the Constitution to work or of the terrorists? Both, maybe?
[...]WHAT A FUCKING PUTZ...
“It is foremost on his mind and the mind of the economic team,” Emanuel said of deficit reduction in comments yesterday at the Wall Street Journal’s CEO Council conference in Washington.
Fucktard. IN A RECESSION LIKE THIS, YOU WORRY ABOUT JOBS. YOU WORRY [...]
Farouk Shami is putting $10 mln into his run to be the Democratic Gubernatorial candidate. I just wish he'd spend some of it on his website. Specifically, on simple things like spell check (suport?!?) and the legally required campaign disclosure that's usually at the bottom.
Sure, we have typos' [...]
Apparently, Burka and Sen. Carona agree with Hank. Meanwhile, the rest of the Democratic field is no where on the issue. Well, except for Schieffer who got soundly slapped down for saying no to taxes and no to tolls, with the lame statement that he's for eliminating [...]
Here is a collection of some of the worst engagement photos ever taken. It IS true, there's someone out there for everyone.
[...]I should start by saying I wasn’t in the best of moods to go out. I like to argue with my body when it tells me that I don’t want to go out, and force it to go out anyway. Makes me feel like I’m fighting depression. The exception is [...]
Writing this week's installment of This Week In Lawyerin' is as serendipitous and effortless as it gets. This week's installment is quite literally "low hanging fruit." A banana to be precise. (Probably a couple of plums in there, too, but that's not really the focus of the story)
Senator Support Hose decided today NOT to resign prior to the primary. Instead, she's decided to continue her project in the Senate which consists, primarily, of fucking things up for her constituents. And wasting her contributors money in a vain attempt to beat 39% who will, because [...]
A little something worth a read... about the slow start in the investigation of the credit collapse and ensuing recession. Food for thought for those who want a faster timeline. Granted, this isn't the 30's so it will go faster. But we need someone with teeth leading it who' [...]
FORMER Vice President Dick Cheney offered to endorse Sen. Hutchison in her race for Governor. Like an idiot, she accepted the endorsement. Not missing a beat, Hank Gilbert's campaign ridiculed the endorsement and the idiot who accepted it.
[...]Someone recently asked me how I am able to drink so much and not look a total wreck at the end of the night. That little story really has nothing to do with this post and the only reason I'm putting it in is that it makes me look good.' [...]
Prior to 1954, what we now call Veterans Day was called Armistice Day to commemorate the end of the Great War on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918.
I mention this only because this day of remembrance was dedicated to the end of [...]
Chris Thorman forwarded me a piece he did on the effect stimulus funds have had on construction jobs. He did a really fantastic job analyzing the data without skewing in one direction or the other. The verdict is that at this stage of deployment, it's clear the stimulus is [...]
One of 39%'s appointees to a regulatory agency (TABC) thought it was OK to solicit donations for 39% from the people he regulates. The dumbass didn't think it was a problem. Folks in West Texas and Denton disagreed.
So, what's going on with that guy? Will the AG's [...]
Newsweek was kind enough to print an amateurish book review from Mark Sanford about a new bio of Rand by Anne Heller. I was privileged to read it on the internet, created in no small part through the efforts of the US government which he so blissfully dismisses as [...]
Last Wednesday night in Houston, I did something that no statewide candidate in Texas history has ever done: I released a comprehensive policy statement on issues of importance to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender
Texans.
In front of a packed house at a meeting of the Houston GLBT Political Caucus, [...]
Aruba Petroleum is drilling a Barnett Shale gas well in the backyard of Tim and Christine. Their property was taken, it's value diminished, they were threatened and now Aruba Petroleum spilled toxic drilling waste a few feet from where their daughter plays. Another tale (with VIDEO) about the Victims [...]
Could it be the sainted One True DemocratTM Dennis Kucinich? Sure, why not? The Ohio congressman's vote Saturday night against against the health care bill is just the latest in a long series of votes that have found him voting with the Republicans and the so-called Blue [...]
Is this guy even a Democrat? Apparently, he is now. Say hello to Farouk Shami who has announced his intention to run in the Democratic Primary. He's the guy who is an owner of the company that makes the Chi hair iron and Biosilk hair [...]
Considering that the 130 has been needed since the late 80's, it's little wonder that it's pretty close to meeting projections. It's also the only way some people can get home without winding through the countryside so you have a captive audience. What is also not surprising is that' [...]
Some of you may have noticed that McBlogger's legal correspondent has been a bit hither and yon of late. Well here's your big fat mea culpa.
Not much of an excuse really, except that I'm distracted because it's football season. And Harry Balczak loves hims some football.' [...]
Well, more information came out this afternoon about the Texas Tribune/YouGov (remember them?) poll
On the Democratic side, nobody had great numbers. Kinky Friedman leads the pack, with 19 percent, followed by Tom Schieffer, with 10 percent, former Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle, with 5 percent, Mark Thompson, with [...]So the Texas Tribune launched today with some interesting polling data... now, if someone can just explain to me how a man who won a contested primary in 2006 with almost 75% of the vote polls less than 1% in this poll AND it's not a colossal screw [...]
That's right... Hohan's dad going mano a diva with Nene from the RHOA. The only thing that would make me laugh more is a cage match between the two.
[...]Matt Taibbi is the kinda reporter who gets about half of a sensational story right, then fucks it all to hell by adding extraneous garbage and outright lies.
In this piece, he proposes to run Dr. Elizabeth Warren, current chair of the TARP oversight panel, against President Obama. Why?
1) [...]
As a real-live attorney, I really resent it when people start spouting off about what a screwed up legal system we have, based on whatever outrageous thirdhand horseshit they've heard or read in the Corporate Media. Trust me, whatever reported kangaroo court injustice it is that has your Hanes all' [...]
What. A. Joke. Then, read this.
Not for nothing but the Schieffer campaign's pathetic attempt to step on the coverage of Hank Gilbert's transportation policy was really stupid on a number of levels.
You point out, far better than the Gilbert campaign ever could, that you don't have' [...]
Once again, it's just awesome to see a taxpayer funded agency using our money to lobby against something most people support. Thanks, Texas Railroad Commission for wasting time and our money and for allowing polluters to poison the air in North Texas.
[...]We at McBlogger know how hard it can be to show love to friends and family, especially children. Sometimes, you just don't feel like giving hugs or kisses. We know how difficult it can be, after a long hard day, to suck it up and read that same damn story' [...]
FINALLY, a transportation plan Democrats and Republicans can agree on. Hank Gilbert released his transportation policy proposals today at a press conference in Ft. Worth. The full proposal is here and the press release is here.
Some of the details include
An elected Transportation committee made up of 14 [...]
While I don't live in Houston, some of the authors and readers call it home. And they've been bitching that we haven't endorsed a candidate yet in the Houston mayoral race. So, here goes...
WE ENDORSE ANNISE PARKER. GO VOTE FOR HER
She's talented, articulate, competent and has done an excellent' [...]
The Texas Progressive Alliance is ready for the start of the World Series, and it presents to you its weekly highlight reel as we await the first pitch.
quizas of South Texas Chisme wonders about the US detaining a Mexican human rights activist.
WWJD on Carter Avenue? TXsharon wants [...]
I never thought our Lt. Governor was one of the crazies. So, imagine my surprise when he claimed he'd balanced the budget without help from the Feds, the same lie that 39% has been pushing all over the state like a bad check.
Jason Embry wasn't amused and [...]
Much has been made about the Landmark ruling in KS. It needs to be remembered that all the legal maneuvering still resulted in the foreclosure of the home to satisfy the first lien. At issue was the second lien which Sovereign did not properly perfect, at least not according [...]
So, the fucktards that comprise the State Republican Executive Committee (what passes for leadership in the other party) elected themselves a new chair, which they had to do when Tina Fish got pulled over to 39%'s campaign in what we can only assume is an act of self-mutilation. Ladies [...]
Apparently, when an organization swings to the far right, companies choose to leave it. What. A. Shock.
[...]I didn't care for 'Napoleon Dynamite'. I just didn't get it. And nothing could ever compel me to suffer through 'Nacho Libre', not even a lifetime supply of Glenlivet. But I can't wait to see this!
On the 20th, I posted this about comments made by Tom Schieffer on health care reform. I realized this morning that I left out one additional comment regarding his remarks...
Schieffer was asked where he stood on the public option. Supporters argue that private insurance companies will not lower [...]The Texas Progressive Alliance celebrates the start of early voting for the 2009 elections with its always on time weekly blog roundup.
Human tragedies are mounting in the Barnett Shale as study after study shows high levels of toxins in the air. The only ones who can't seem to find anything' [...]
E.J. Dionne over at the WaPo has a very interesting article up today about the problems Democrats may have in 2010 with young voters. It seems the Under-30 vote may be cooling to the Obamessiah and congressional Dems.
As someone who is safely out of that [...]
If your wondering just how solid our campaign finance laws are, go look at this piece on the swiftboat network. Doesn't it make you feel good to know that laws designed to keep campaign fundraising transparent really do anything but?
Working for Hank has restricted some of the blogging I can do... however, this just had to be said. I did manage to clean up my language. Somewhat.
Last week Tom Schieffer, who is running for the Democratic nomination, had a nice chat with the Rio Grande Guardian. He was [...]
Dan Neil, a former lineman for the Horns and the Denver Broncos, is now a salesman for a manufacturing firm. He'd also like to be the Republican candidate in HD 48 running against Representative Donna Howard in the 2010 general election.
Now, I'll give $50 cash to the first [...]
For those of us still pissed at the White House for not, you know, working harder on health care reform and instead prostrating themselves to please Sen. Snowe, there is some funny. The campaign to take on FOX continues...
Stick with it, kids. It's time someone finally stated the obvious [...]
Mark it down, girls and boys... I'm agreeing with ARNOLD GARCIA
Toward the tail end of last week, U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who are competing for the Republican gubernatorial nomination, both signed pledges not to raise state taxes. They did so at the behest' [...]Scarecrow over at FDL reminds us that it was Sen. Olympia Snowe who helped jack up the stimulus package, directly putting more than 40k people out of work... because of politics.
“When history calls . . .” we’d better hope Olympia Snowe is not the only one listening. [...]
If we need another round of stimulus, I can't think of a better idea...
The Administration and Congress are informing the public that everything is beginning to look good because of the trillions of dollars that they provided to repair the banks. The problem is that they have it backwards;' [...]If you thought the Bush folks, once the compliant media started getting a little more testy, seemed more incompetent, you were pretty much spot on...
after chris, Jonathan Horn, and I learned about the president’s $700-billion-bailout proposal and drafted the remarks announcing it to a stunned nation, Ed said the [...]As a follow up to the Mayor's piece this AM, I'd like to take a little time to spill some reality on the speculation and innuendo. The TTC is a really minor part of Hank Gilbert's campaign. Actually, it was even in 2006. The broader issues are eminent [...]
No one was happier than I was when Hank Gilbert entered the Democratic Primary for the gubernatorial nomination. Tom Schieffer, the semi-official candidate of what passes for the Texas Democratic Establishment, struck me as possessing all the charisma of Chris Bell taking a nap, making very real the awful prospect [...]
Or, as some of you might like to think of it, Limbaugh v Scarborough. It would seem that the round mound of sound has actually picked on another conservative who is unafraid of slapping him with his dick.
Texas Association of Business president Bill Hammond raises his ugly head. More on that later
When the former bishop of the Austin Diocese, Greg Aymond, was installed as Archbishop of New Orleans, the now vacant Austin position that could take up to 18 months to fill by Pope Benedict the 16th [...]
In Goodfellas, a restaurant owner has some problems with Joe Pesci's character and goes running to the family boss, played by Paul Sorvino. He asks Sorvino's character to step in, take an interest in the joint so maybe Joe Pesci won't forget to pay his tab.
What ended up happening' [...]
... but I'm sure Captain Kroc will hate it.
' [...]Maybe the most worthless organization this side of the Heritage Foundation continues its’ creep toward conservative Christian extremism. Recent statements from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce about global warming would make the Texas SBOE envious.
"We've never questioned the science behind global warming," the chamber's spokesman said. "The chamber is'" [...]Stung by the furor over NASA's launch of a probe meant to impact the Moon, enabling scientists to look for signs of water, spokesman Herbert Visafloud acknowledged that many Americans are more comfortable with traditional methods of discovery and colonization. The next rocket, he said, would carry a payload of [...]
Why Bartlett continues to call himself a Republican is a mystery, especially when he says things like this...
His conservatism starts with the idea that high taxes are no longer the problem, even if complaining about them still makes for good politics. This year, federal taxes are on pace to [...]...she's sure to make Americans in general and Alaskans in particular look like a bunch of low-brow, mouthbreathing hillbillies.
It was Sarah's trip to Asia and her first appearance since her resignation as Alaska's top Mum. In her state capital, she told us, you could see a [...]
Much has recently been made of our collective debt and the rapid increasing of it by the current government. It's odd how so many debt hawks have come out of the woodwork recently and loudly... my only question of them is WHERE THE FUCK HAVE YOU BEEN, ASSHOLES? See, many [...]
It must be true, it's on the internet...
The District of Columbia was at the top of the pack, thanks to the high amounts of fish and DHA omega-3-fortified foods and supplements consumed there, the quantity of fruits and vegetables its residents eat and the fact that many of the [...]
Texas is now #1 in SECOND teen pregnancies. You know, because condoms would promote sex.
Would you buy sex from this lady?
Apparently, the cops in University Park (with the help of their big brother, DPD) think this lady is a prostitute. She claims to just [...]
Obama's FCC comes out in favor of Net Neutrality. Which is hella cool since we've been worried about that for a while.
Meanwhile, Kay Baby is still shilling for AT&T. I can't wait to see her contributors list and cross check with that AT&T lobbyists and employees. [...]
We want a public option. We do not want anything less.
[...]In 1945, President Truman signed an Executive Order restoring the standard spelling of "cigarette". The name of the tobacco product had been shortened to "cigaret" in 1942 to make more t's and e's available for the War Effort.
The efforts of the War Spelling Board also paid off in helping [...]
