Political Yak

• This Could Happen to You

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  Imagine this scene at an airport as you fly back from that blogging conference in the Bahamas:
  

  Man in Black with a Badge: "Excuse me , ma'am, but I need you to give me your laptop."
  
  US Citizen: "I'm sorry?"
  
  MIB: "It's a matter of Homeland Security. Pursuant [...]

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  Posted: August 02, 2008, 4:03pm EDT
  by Russ

• Noriega Holds Online Townhall This Afternoon

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  FYI - US Senate candidate Rick Noriega is holding a live, online townhall meeting this afternoon at 1:30pm CDT.
  
  Update: Well, looks like there were a few bugs in Noriega's first virtual townhall. Some of the comments in the chat were pretty funny though. He'll be in [...]
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  Posted: August 01, 2008, 2:15pm EDT
  by Russ

• Would You Vote for a Computer Illiterate President?

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  Anna Quindlen has an interesting column in next week's Newsweek magazine, entitled The Techie in Chief. She draws some historical references to President Abraham Lincoln's understanding and use of cutting-edge technology (specifically, the telegraph) during the Civil War. She throws in a comment form the National Security Agency following [...]
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  Posted: July 31, 2008, 5:32pm EDT
  by Russ

• Hicthing A Ride with the School Board

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  I spent last weekend attending the Texas PTA Summer Leadership Conference at the Austin Convention Center. Nearly 4000 people attended, participating in hundreds of workshops on topics ranging from nutrition to PTA tax filings.
  
  I focused on a program presented by Strong Fathers for increasing dads' participation [...]
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  Posted: July 30, 2008, 1:07pm EDT
  by Russ

• Can You Hear Me Now?

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  Blogging hasn't been a priority lately (life happens), but as I glance through my recent stats I get this wistful feeling... thinking back to a year or two ago when Political Yak had a fair draw, for a local political site. It even rated as one of the [...]
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  Posted: July 30, 2008, 12:33pm EDT
  by Russ

• Mmmm! Beer... Cars!

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  Tags: DNC; beer; ethanol [...]
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  Posted: June 28, 2008, 10:18pm EDT
  by Russ

• Tim Russert - RIP

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  I knew Tim Russert only though the screen of my television, having spent many a Sunday watching him in his element on Meet the Press, but I was stunned and saddened when I heard the news this afternoon that he had died suddenly of an apparent heart attack.
  [...]
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  Posted: June 13, 2008, 9:59pm EDT
  by Russ

• Democratic Primary Cliff Notes

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  A video recap of the entire 2008 Democratic Primary season... in 8 minutes:
  
  
  
  Hat Tip: Clicked
  Tags: 2008; Democratic Party; POTUS
  [...]
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  Posted: June 10, 2008, 12:38pm EDT
  by Russ

• $45,000,000,000,000 Energy Revolution

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  The International Energy Agency has released a report suggesting a plan to halve carbon dioxide emissions by 2050 in a massive effort to create a more sustainable energy market and stave off the potentially devastating effects of global warming. Scientists estimate that such an endeavor would cost just over [...]
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  Posted: June 06, 2008, 9:32pm EDT
  by Russ

• Grassroots Good; Lobbyists Bad

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  It looks like Senator Barack Obama hasn't wasted any time in taking charge of the Democratic Party apparatus in DC. In a move seen as supportive of the DNC's 50-State organizing strategy, Obama has decided to keep Governor Howard Dean on as party chairman. He also dispatched one [...]
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  Posted: June 06, 2008, 12:00am EDT
  by Russ

• Yes We Can... Finally!!!

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  Finally!!!
  
  Tags: 2008; Obama; POTUS; Yes We Can [...]
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  Posted: June 04, 2008, 10:01pm EDT
  by Russ

• Dr Forgione to Retire

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  Dr. Pat Forgione, the longtime Austin ISD Superintendent, announced his retirement today.
  
  Forgione has been superintendent for nearly 10 years, and will be stepping down just as the state begins a review of the Texas public school accountability system. It'll be interesting, at least to those of [...]
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  Posted: February 19, 2008, 6:45pm EST
  by Russ

• Latest Texas Poll Shows Clinton, Obama About Even

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  The latest Texas poll numbers, released today from CNN/Opinion Research, show Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama running neck-and-neck with just a few short weeks before the 4 March primary. The numbers:

  Clinton - 50%
  Obama - 48%

  On the GOP side:

  McCain - 55%
  Huckabee - 32%
  [...]

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  Posted: February 18, 2008, 9:33pm EST
  by Russ

• New Texas Presidential Polls Differ

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  I just stumbled across the new Texas Credit Union League Poll of Texas Primary Voters, which offers a different take than the most recent ARG data (which I posted earlier today).
  
  Here's the Democratic data from TCUL:
  

  Clinton - 49%
  Obama - 41%

  And for the GOP:
  

  McCain [...]

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  Posted: February 15, 2008, 5:44pm EST
  by Russ

• (Another) New Texas Poll Released

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  ARG released the results of a new Texas presidential primary preferences poll this morning. This is the first poll I've seen since the IRV poll I mentioned back on 3 February, and the first one that shows Barack Obama leading Hillary Clinton. Evidence of Obamamentum hitting [...]
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  Posted: February 15, 2008, 1:13pm EST
  by Russ

• Clinton and Obama Coming to Austin

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  It appears that Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, still fighting it out for the Democratic Presidential nomination, will be holding a debate here in Austin next week. The Page is reporting that the debate will be at the LBJ Library next Thursday, February 21.
  
  More [...]
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  Posted: February 12, 2008, 2:45pm EST
  by Russ

• Mail Call: McCain x 3; DCCC; NRCC

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  Alright, it's been three weeks since I've gone through the Political Yak mail bag and things seem to have picked up a bit even though my (new) home state of Texas doesn't vote until next month. Both parties' nominations are still up for grabs, with no overwhelming lead in the [...]
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  Posted: February 04, 2008, 11:57pm EST
  by Russ

• New Texas Poll Numbers

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  IVR has some new poll numbers on the presidential primary race in Texas.
  
  Here's the breakdown for the GOP:
  
  
  

  Romney 30% (11%)
  McCain 29% (24%)
  Huckabee 20% (26%)
  Paul 8% (4%)
  Keyes 3% (0%)
  Undecided 10% (8%)

  And the Dems:
  
  
  

  Clinton 48% (46%)
  Obama 38% [...]

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  Posted: February 03, 2008, 1:10am EST
  by Russ

• American-Statesman Endorses McCain, Obama

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  This morning the editorial board of the Austin American-Statesman jumped into the fray of presidential primary politics and endorsed Senator John McCain on the GOP ticket. Tommorow's paper will carry their endorsement of Senator Barack Obama for the Dems.
  
  On McCain:

  A conservative, McCain also [...]

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  Posted: February 02, 2008, 11:58pm EST
  by Russ

• Texas Governor Settles for Second Choice

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  Texas Governor Rick Perry, who found himself suddenly without a candidate when Rudy Giuliani dropped out of the presidential race Wednesday, wasted no time in throwing his support behind another candidate, Senator John McCain.
  
  Perry officially endorsed McCain yesterday, saying that the maverick Republican "can and [...]
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  Posted: February 01, 2008, 10:49pm EST
  by Russ

• State of the Union in 60 Seconds

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  Didn't have time to watch all 50 minutes of President Bush's State of the Union address? No problem. Here are the highlights in 60 seconds.
  
  Hat Tip: Clicked
  Tags: 2008; Bush; SOTU [...]
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  Posted: January 29, 2008, 9:59pm EST
  by Russ

• Mail Call: McCain Strikes First in New Year

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  Ah, now I know it's an election year! The first piece of political junk direct mail of 2008 arrived in my mail box last week! Senator John McCain strikes first this year (at least here at the Political Yak HQ) with a request for an [...]
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  Posted: January 14, 2008, 11:08pm EST
  by Russ

• Texas Dems Force Kucinich Off Primary Ballot

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  Texas Democratic Party officials have cut Congressman Dennis Kucinich from the state's March 3 Presidential Primary ballot, citing a "defective" application. Kucinich responded by filing a lawsuit in federal court and seeking a judicial injunction to prevent his name from being dropped. An initial hearing was held in [...]
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  Posted: January 03, 2008, 3:18pm EST
  by Russ

• One Person, One Vote? Not in the Texas Legislature!

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  Well, let's say you a fine, civic-minded citizen who recently moved to Texas. You're a bit concerned when you find out that election officials can change your vote after it's been cast. But you really start to get pissed off when you discover that after the election, once whoever [...]
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  Posted: December 29, 2007, 12:35am EST
  by Russ

• Welcome to Texas, Where Big Brother Can Change Your Vote

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  Last year I posted several items about potential problems with the electronic voting machines used in Maryland (a few samples are here, here, and here). Well, another year has gone by, I'm in Texas now and election day is fast approaching.... Imagine my chagrin when I stumbled [...]
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  Posted: December 29, 2007, 12:02am EST
  by Russ

• Colbert Denied Ballot Access

  Sad news for my friends and readers in South Carolina:
  
  Reuters is reporting that Steven Colbert has lost his bid to appear on the Democratic Party presidential primary ballot in the Palmetto State. The state party's executive committee voted 13-3 to reject his application and refund his $2,500 [...]
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  Posted: November 01, 2007, 8:42pm EDT
  by Russ

• More State Deciders Deciding Who They Want to Decide

  There seems to have been a flurry of gubernatorial endorsements for the 2008 presidential race in recent days, so I thought I would do a quick search and check on those that I may have missed. Here's the tally of what I found:
  
  Rudy Giuliani:
  

  • Texas Governor Rick Perry

  Mike [...]
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  Posted: October 19, 2007, 10:42pm EDT
  by Russ

• What if You gave a Primary and Nobody Came?

  Due to Michigan's encroachment on New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary, most of the Democratic candidtes for president have withdrawn from the state's January 15th ballot. Those remaining? Chris Dodd, Mike Gravel, Hillary Clinton and Dennis Kucinich (who's is trying to withdraw). So, when you're snubbed by most of your party's candidates, [...]
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  Posted: October 19, 2007, 9:52pm EDT
  by Russ

• Massachusetts Governor to Endorse Obama

  The AP is reporting that Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick will endorse Senator Barack Obama for President next week. This is of particular interest since Patrick worked for President Bill Clinton as the head of the Department of Justice civil rights division, and some see his endorsement of Senator Obama [...]
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  Posted: October 17, 2007, 9:09pm EDT
  by Russ

• Austin Progressive Talk Yanked Off Air

  When we moved to the Austin area about 5 months ago, one of the first things I did was try to find an all-news or news-talk radio station. The first one I came across was KOKE 1600, which primarily carried Air America programming. I had never listened to Air [...]
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  Posted: October 17, 2007, 8:13pm EDT
  by Russ

• Vote Colbert in 2008?

  
  Yes, the Democratic and Republican presidential primary races just got more crowded. Steven Colbert has officially thrown his hat in the ring! This is a good thing. Seriously! Colbert would actually make the debates worth watching!

  ;-)
  
  Tags: 2008; president; Steven Colbert
  

  [...]
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  Posted: October 17, 2007, 2:25pm EDT
  by Russ

• Texas Governor Endorses Giuliani

  Governor Rick Perry of Texas announced on Fox News this morning that he is endorsing former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani for President. Perry's statement makes him the first sitting governor to endorse a Republican candidate in the race. When asked if he would consider running as Giuliani's vice-presidential [...]
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  Posted: October 17, 2007, 10:04am EDT
  by Russ

• All Politics Is Local, Even In the Blogosphere

  The web has steadily gained in significance for political campaigns ever since Senator John McCain famously raised $1 million in a single day, primarily online, during the early 2000 primary season. The original online focus of fundraising remained key, but had also expanded to other areas by the time the [...]
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  Posted: October 15, 2007, 2:51pm EDT
  by Russ

• The Sound of Fingers Tapping on a Keyboard

  So, if a blog has been abandoned for nearly a year when a new entry is suddenly posted, will anybody read it? Well, amazingly 10 readers still subscribe to the Political Yak RSS feed, so perhaps somebody will.
  
  Hi, folks! Yes, the Yak is back, though circumstances have [...]
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  Posted: October 11, 2007, 9:08pm EDT
  by Russ