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) [...]
