tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37061852024-03-13T10:48:37.186-05:00Easter Lemming Liberal NewsNews on Politics and Religion with Rants, Ideas, Links and Items for Liberals, Libertarians, Moderates, Progressives, Democrats and Anti-Authoritarians.Garyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17414725749450659875noreply@blogger.comBlogger15336125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3706185.post-43160107345386271402024-01-12T21:54:00.002-06:002024-01-12T21:54:54.402-06:00Some of the real heroes of Jan. 6.<br>
<br>
<b>Some of the real heroes of Jan. 6.</b><br>
Aides carrying the electoral ballots to safety.
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com/image/upload/t_fit-560w,f_auto,q_auto:best/newscms/2021_01/1659070/electoral-votes-picture-kb-main-210108.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="560" src="https://media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com/image/upload/t_fit-560w,f_auto,q_auto:best/newscms/2021_01/1659070/electoral-votes-picture-kb-main-210108.jpg"/></a></div><br>
<br>
<b>Officer Lt. Michael Byrd - a hero, defending lives and the Capitol.
</b><br>
<br>
<b>A villain - Ashli Babbitt<br></b>
<br>who was shot assaulting elected officials and police while breaking through a door and window:
<br><br><br>
<iframe class="BLOG_video_class" allowfullscreen="" youtube-src-id="7Z3YBtzwmHk" width="320" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7Z3YBtzwmHk"></iframe>
<br><br><br>
As the certification process was underway, Trump gave a speech encouraging his supporters to march to the Capitol. Many of them did, whereupon they joined other protesters already gathered in the area and violently breached and stormed the Capitol, eventually entering the Senate chamber as well as numerous offices. The Congressional proceedings were suspended, and the legislators were taken to secure locations.
<br><br>
Babbitt, wearing a Trump flag as a cape, was among several dozen rioters who approached the doors to the Speaker's Lobby, adjacent to the House chambers. Three uniformed officers were posted outside the Lobby where they were threatened by the crowd. One member of the mob yelled, "Fuck the Blue" (blue being a reference to the police). One officer guarding the doors told the others "They're ready to roll", and the three officers moved away from the barricaded doors leading to the Speaker's Lobby. No longer impeded by police, rioter Zachary Jordan Alam smashed a glass window beside the doors. On the other side of those doors, many lawmakers and staff were being evacuated by Capitol Police, but some were trapped in the House balcony.
<br><br>
After "he's got a gun" was yelled several times when Lieutenant Michael Byrd aimed his weapon, Babbitt, hoisted by two men, began to climb through the shattered window. She was then shot in the left shoulder by Lieutenant Byrd and fell back among the other protesters. Babbitt had been warned not to proceed through the window: one witness recalled that "Several police and Secret Service were saying 'Get back! Get down! Get out of the way!'; [Babbitt] didn't heed the call."
<br><br>
Many rioters immediately began to leave the scene, making room for a Capitol Police emergency response team to get in and administer aid, and Babbitt was transported to Washington Hospital Center where she later died. She was 35 years old. According to a January 11, 2021 crime scene examination report by the D.C. Department of Forensic Sciences, the police "recovered a 'Para Force' folding knife in Ms. Babbitt's pants pocket" after she was shot.
<br><br>
U.S. Representative Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), a witness to Babbitt's attempted breach, said that Lieutenant Byrd "didn't have a choice" but to shoot, and that his action "saved people's lives". - adapted from <i>Wikipedia</i>.
<br><br>
<b>Big villain - Trump praising an insurrectionist dying trying to kill police officers and politicians.
</b><br><br>
<iframe class="BLOG_video_class" allowfullscreen="" youtube-src-id="SjscskqLx0U" width="320" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SjscskqLx0U"></iframe>
<br><br>
<b>An American hero - Lt. Michael Byrd.
</b><br>
<br>
<iframe class="BLOG_video_class" allowfullscreen="" youtube-src-id="MuByQ7Pp5Gg" width="320" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MuByQ7Pp5Gg"></iframe>
<br><br>
<b>Americans have to take a stand on which side they are on.
</b>
<br>
<br>
I have.
<br>
<br>
.
<br/>Garyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17414725749450659875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3706185.post-37610281048651178802021-04-15T08:58:00.000-05:002021-04-15T08:58:06.236-05:00Texas Progressive Blogs 4/15/21<br />
The Texas Progressive Alliance weekly roundup counts as infrastructure. That's it, that's the intro.<div> </div><div><a href="http://www.offthekuff.com/wp/">Off the Kuff</a> analyzes the big <a href="http://www.offthekuff.com/wp/?p=99968">Senate</a> and <a href="http://www.offthekuff.com/wp/?p=99998">House</a> voter suppression bills. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://socraticgadfly.blogspot.com">SocraticGadfly</a> says that with new legislation on the table in Oklahoma and passed in New Mexico, <a href="https://socraticgadfly.blogspot.com/2021/04/more-pressure-on-texas-to-loosen-pot.html">Texas faces new pressure</a> to liberalize its marijuana laws.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://doscentavos.net/">Stace</a> is riding <a href="https://doscentavos.net/2021/04/05/contribute-to-the-ride-to-end-alzheimers/"> for Alzheimer's Research.</a> Read about it, and, if you can, make a donation!</div><div> ================= </div><div><br /></div><div>And here are some posts of interest from other Texas blogs. </div><div><br /></div><div> <a href="https://twitter.com/emilyebytx/status/1380214038492295179">Emily Eby</a> personally points out all of the bad things in voter suppression bill SB7. </div><div><br /></div><div>The <a href="https://twitter.com/TXCivilRights/status/1380139874821496843">Texas Civil Rights Project</a> reminds us that there are other, smaller but still malicious voter suppression bills to watch out for. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://progresstexas.org/blog/major-brands-send-message-voter-suppression-bad-business">Progress Texas</a> highlights the efforts to put pressure on the Legislature to reject voter suppression.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.reformaustin.org/texas-legislature/banning-taxpayer-funded-representation-would-disenfranchisev-voters/">Charles Luke</a> opines against the proposed ban on local governments hiring lobbyists at the Legislature. </div><div><br /></div>Garyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17414725749450659875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3706185.post-86221270181047721412021-02-21T17:21:00.007-06:002021-02-21T17:29:42.540-06:00Ted Cruz Ditty<br/><br/>
The dark and cold<br/>
Was getting old<br/>
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼<br/>
Deep in the heart of Texas<br/>
<br/>
Pipes burst each night<br/>
He hopped a flight<br/>
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼<br/>
Ted Cruz abandoned Texas
<br/><br/>
He tried to hide <br/>
And then he lied<br/>
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼<br/>
Ted Cruz abandoned Texas
<br/><br/>
So make a note<br/>
Next time you vote<br/>
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼<br/>
Ted Cruz abandoned Texas.<br/>
<br/>
#CancunCruz<br/>
#ResignTedCruz<br/>
#PoorSnowflake<br/><br/>
<br/>Garyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17414725749450659875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3706185.post-77556067618371476002019-10-31T09:46:00.000-05:002019-10-31T09:46:01.404-05:00TPA - Halloween 2019<b>The Texas Progressive Alliance</b> encourages you to enjoy Halloween and make sure you vote as it brings you this week's roundup.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.offthekuff.com/wp/">Off the Kuff</a> bids adieu to <a href="http://www.offthekuff.com/wp/?p=92718">soon-to-be-former Speaker Dennis Bonnen</a>, who was brought low by his dumb decision to trust Michael Quinn Sullivan and by his own trash mouth.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://socraticgadfly.blogspot.com">SocraticGadfly</a> does his alt-history schtick again and says imagine a world <a href="https://socraticgadfly.blogspot.com/2019/10/imagine-no-american-indians.html">that never had American Indians</a>.<br />
<br />
The TPA congratulates <a href="https://noahhorwitz.wordpress.com/2019/10/25/on-passing-the-bar/">Noah Horwitz</a> for passing the bar exam.<br />
<br />
=========================<br />
<br />
And here are some posts of interest from other Texas blogs.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://thecrosstab.substack.com/p/october-20-2019-are-2020-general">G. Elliott Morris</a> examines the value of 2020 general election polls at this time.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://juanitajean.com/john-cornyn-poopie-del-pollo-king/">Juanita</a> finds new reasons to dislike Sen. John Cornyn.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.sacurrent.com/the-daily/archives/2019/10/24/john-cornyn-again-shows-his-loyalty-to-trump-defending-the-presidents-decision-to-withdraw-us-troops-from-syria">Sanford Nowlin</a> is right there with her.<br />
<br />
The <a href="https://texassignal.com/rising-income-inequality-in-texas-is-out-of-control/">Texas Signal</a> reads the Census report on income inequality in Texas.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/nonsequiteuse/status/1187491491519827968">Nonsequiteuse</a> reviews the Astros front office debacle.<br />
<br />
The <a href="https://www.dailytexanonline.com/2019/10/24/why-are-they-still-here-professors-with-history-of-misconduct-still-on-spring-course">Daily Texan</a> decries UT's lack of action against professors who have been accused of sexual misconduct with students.<br />
<br />
Garyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17414725749450659875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3706185.post-18936261267901133402019-10-07T06:38:00.003-05:002019-10-07T06:38:48.191-05:00TPA October 7, 2019 <br />
The Texas Progressive Alliance wonders how many administration officials can fit under a bus as it brings you this week's roundup.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.offthekuff.com/wp/">Off the Kuff</a> looks at the recent <a href="http://www.offthekuff.com/wp/?p=92418">PPP poll of competitive Congressional districts</a> in Texas.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://socraticgadfly.blogspot.com">SocraticGadfly</a> looks at his state rep, Drew Springer, see that he's NEVER faced a general election and says that if Democrats are serious about turning Texas blue, <a href="https://socraticgadfly.blogspot.com/2019/09/should-drew-springer-be-in-trouble-well.html">they need to challenge even candidates like him</a>.<br />
<br />
<a href=" https://noahhorwitz.wordpress.com/">Noah M. Horwitz</a> endorses <a href=" https://noahhorwitz.wordpress.com/2019/10/06/warren-for-president/">Elizabeth Warren</a> for President.<br />
<br />
================<br />
<br />
And here are some posts of interest from other Texas blogs.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/christofspieler/status/1178492038771163136">Christof Spieler</a> runs through an autonomous vehicle thought exercise.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://foolishwatcher.com/2019/09/30/as-the-traitor-in-chief-calls-for-his-political-opponents-to-be-arrested-for-treason-the-whistleblower-to-be-exposed-and-a-goddamned-civil-war-his-toadies-insist-everything-is-fine/">Therese Odell</a> goes to town on Day One of Impeachment Inquiry TV.<br />
<br />
Before the verdict in the Amber Guyger murder trial came in, <a href="https://www.texasmonthly.com/politics/castle-doctrine-botham-jean-shooting/">Dan Solomon</a> analyzed the problem with the "Castle Doctrine".<br />
<br />
And after the verdict, <a href="https://gritsforbreakfast.blogspot.com/2019/10/initial-thoughts-on-amber-guyger-verdict.html">Grits</a> offered his thoughts on the trial and the case as a whole.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/gelliottmorris/status/1179781331003285505">G. Elliott Morris</a> describes Texas now as "magenta" rather than "purple", but says it is on the way there.<br />
<br />
Garyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17414725749450659875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3706185.post-27456059293135240712019-09-17T15:38:00.003-05:002019-09-17T15:38:45.934-05:00"Moscow Mitch" not working for the American people<br />
<br />
House Democrats have passed 230+ bills for the people. "Moscow Mitch" doesn't care about the American people or democracy and refuses to even bring them up for a vote. #ForThePeople<br />
<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">The House has passed 230+ bills and sent them to the Senate. Tell <a href="https://twitter.com/senatemajldr?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SenateMajLdr</a> to do his job and pass the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ForThePeople?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ForThePeople</a> plan! Call Mitch: 202-224-2541 <a href="https://t.co/KnXGTjHhit">pic.twitter.com/KnXGTjHhit</a></div>— Future Majority (@future_majority) <a href="https://twitter.com/future_majority/status/1171204134650822657?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2019</a></blockquote><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>vcGaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17414725749450659875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3706185.post-40111883859842260572019-07-24T09:10:00.003-05:002019-07-24T09:10:46.728-05:00July 22 2019 TPA <br />
<b>The Texas Progressive Alliance</b> stands with Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ayanna Presley, Ilhan Omar, and Rashida Tlaib and against Donald Trump's appalling and unacceptable racism as it brings you this week's roundup.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://offthekuff.com/wp/">Off the Kuff</a> looks at the <a href="http://offthekuff.com/wp/?p=91400">young candidates for City Council in Houston</a>, where the municipal electorate tends to be pretty old.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://socraticgadfly.blogspot.com">SocraticGadfly</a> shows and describes why Texas arts aficionados who have any chance to see <a href="https://socraticgadfly.blogspot.com/2019/07/magnificent-monet.html">the late-life Monet exhibit at the Kimball</a> need to go.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://doscentavos.net/2019/07/17/a-few-gopers-weep-over-trumps-racism/">Dos Centavos</a> scoffs at the weak Republican response to Trump's latest racist diatribe.<br />
<br />
========================<br />
<br />
And here are some posts of interest from other Texas blogs.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://bettertexasblog.org/2019/07/dont-tie-future-texans-hands-with-short-sighted-ballot-proposal/">Better Texas Blog</a> urges a vote against HJR38, the double secret illegal anti-income tax constitutional amendment.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://juanitajean.com/bye-bye-2/">Juanita</a> applauds former CCA Justice Elsa Alcala's departure from the Republican Party.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://usa.streetsblog.org/2019/07/19/houston-rolling-back-parking-requirements/">Streetsblog</a> cheers Houston's elimination of minimum parking requirements in two near-downtown neighborhoods.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/indivisible-houston/indivisible-houston-commits-to-flipping-texas/1857260884404010/">Indivisible Houston</a> commits to flipping Texas in 2020.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.thelunchtray.com/will-there-soon-be-a-federal-response-to-lunch-shaming-and-how-far-will-it-go/">The Lunch Tray</a> wants a real federal response to lunch shaming.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.heyelise.com/2019/07/18/every-trader-joes-item-you-recommended-a-complete-list/">Elise Hu</a> provides your Trader Joe's shopping list.<br />
<br />
Garyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17414725749450659875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3706185.post-70171428321987621562019-01-14T07:38:00.003-06:002019-01-14T07:38:52.027-06:00TPA Roundup 1/14/2018<b>The Texas Progressive Alliance</b> stands with federal workers and contractors and their families as it brings you this week's roundup.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://offthekuff.com/wp">Off the Kuff</a> congratulates Dan Patrick for his <a href="http://offthekuff.com/wp/?p=89202">success</a> in claiming victory on the bathroom bill.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://socraticgadfly.blogspot.com">SocraticGadfly</a> saw the number of "names" already making 2020 presidential announcements, along with the speculation about many others, and offered <a href="https://socraticgadfly.blogspot.com/2019/01/early-2020-democratic-presidential.html">his initial oddsmaking take on Democratic candidates</a> along with other assessment.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.doscentavos.net">Stace at Dos Centavos is back!</a> Last week, he provided <a href="https://doscentavos.net/2019/01/10/chicano-political-prisoner-ramsey-muniz-released/">more context to the recent prison release</a> of La Raza Unida Party's Ramsey Muñiz than the MSM. <br />
<br />
It's been a fun time, but <a href="https://texasleftist.com/"><strong>Texas Leftist</strong></a> has decided to finally close up shop in the blog format. But if you've enjoyed the great content over these years, please give my brand new venture a listen. Welcome to the <a href="https://texasleftist.com/2019/01/the-ingressive-voices-podcast-check-it-out/"><strong>Ingressive Voices Podcast</strong></a>!! Hope to see you (hear you??) there!!<br />
<br />
<br />
============================<br />
<br />
And here are some posts of interest from other Texas blogs.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.texasobserver.org/as-one-of-the-eleven-new-women-in-the-texas-house-we-must-take-sexual-misconduct-seriously/">State Rep. Erin Zwiener</a> asks us to take sexual misconduct seriously.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.texasmonthly.com/the-culture/marfa-stereotype-mock-the-simpsons/">Dan Solomon</a> notes that the town of Marfa is now famous enough to be mocked by <em>The Simpsons</em>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://gritsforbreakfast.blogspot.com/2019/01/fixing-longstanding-criminal-justice.html">Grits for Breakfast</a> gives the Lege a to do list for criminal justice reform.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.thelunchtray.com/healthier-school-food-you-can-ask-your-district-to-staythecourse/">The Lunch Tray</a> calls for action to oppose the weakening of school lunch nutrition standards.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://paradiseinhell.net/2019/01/09/individual-1-speaks-red-translates-3/">Paradise in Hell</a> remains our foremost interpreter of Individual One.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://swamplot.com/a-visual-compendium-of-where-houstons-neighborhood-names-come-from/2019-01-11/">Swamplot</a> finds a visual compendium of where Houston's neighborhood names came from.<br />
<br />
Garyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17414725749450659875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3706185.post-23758786843459177582018-12-12T09:20:00.000-06:002018-12-12T09:20:04.015-06:00TPA Roundup - 12-10-18<br />
The Texas Progressive Alliance knows the value of cooperation as it brings you this week's roundup.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://offthekuff.com/wp">Off the Kuff</a> made <a href="http://offthekuff.com/wp/?p=88761">two</a> <a href="http://offthekuff.com/wp/?p=88831">last</a> attempts to find a relationship between straight ticket voting and Democratic likeliness to "drop off" from long ballots.<br />
<br />
As winter meetings arrive, <a href="https://socraticgadfly.blogspot.com">SocraticGadfly</a> switches from politics to baseball <a href="https://socraticgadfly.blogspot.com/2018/12/goldy-to-cards-i-approve-of-this-trade.html">to applaud the Cardinals</a> for the Paul Goldschmidt trade.<br />
<br />
===========================<br />
<br />
And here are some posts of interest from other Texas blogs.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://bettertexasblog.org/2018/12/dangers-of-short-term-health-insurance-plans/">Better Texas Blog</a> warns of the dangers of short term health insurance plans.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://paradiseinhell.net/2018/12/06/plaque-in-texas-capitol-lauds-rebellion-with-distorted-and-false-version-of-history-why-is-it-still-there/">Paradise in Hell</a> wants to see that Confederate plaque in the Capitol banished.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.texasvox.org/86th-legislative-session-first-look-environmental-bills/">Texas Vox</a> takes a first look an environmental bills for the 86th Lege.<br />
<br />
The <a href="http://www.tsta.org/grading-texas/school-finance/private-donations-are-great-but-adequate-school-funding-is-the-states-job">TSTA Blog</a> reminds us that funding schools is the state's responsibility.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://juanitajean.com/poor-ole-louie-gohmert/">Juanita</a> always takes the time to marvel at the wonder of Louie Gohmert.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.thelunchtray.com/what-yesterdays-usda-announcement-means-for-school-food-and-a-mea-culpa-from-this-blogger/">The Lunch Tray</a> explains the latest USDA announcement on school mean nutrition policy.<br />
Garyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17414725749450659875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3706185.post-21354383361440575252018-06-29T15:28:00.000-05:002018-06-29T15:28:03.989-05:00Debunking three of the biggest climate change deniers <br />
<b>Richard Lindzen</b> is wrong. On the quotes page as well as the myths page you will find over 30 times he is wrong.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.skepticalscience.com/skeptic_Richard_Lindzen.htm">https://www.skepticalscience.com/skeptic_Richard_Lindzen.htm<br />
</a><br />
Here is a summary from 2012 of climate scientists taking on Lindzen.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.skepticalscience.com/climate-scientists-take-on-Richard-Lindzen.html">https://www.skepticalscience.com/climate-scientists-take-on-Richard-Lindzen.html<br />
</a><br />
And here is a dozen errors from 2017.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blog.ucsusa.org/brenda-ekwurzel/a-dozen-doozies-setting-the-record-straight-on-richard-lindzens-letter-to-president-trump">https://blog.ucsusa.org/brenda-ekwurzel/a-dozen-doozies-setting-the-record-straight-on-richard-lindzens-letter-to-president-trump<br />
</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1D02fx3TJ1U/WzaV1wBaXuI/AAAAAAAAOJQ/qbAVZLNIIZ056xuVd01t4tbxz9uGYthcgCLcBGAs/s1600/sinkingearth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1D02fx3TJ1U/WzaV1wBaXuI/AAAAAAAAOJQ/qbAVZLNIIZ056xuVd01t4tbxz9uGYthcgCLcBGAs/s320/sinkingearth.jpg" width="320" height="187" data-original-width="729" data-original-height="425" /></a></div><br />
<b>Will Harper</b> – His 23 errors.<br />
<a href="https://www.skepticalscience.com/William_Happer_arg.htm">https://www.skepticalscience.com/William_Happer_arg.htm<br />
</a><br />
A response to a 2018 lecture by Harper, one of many he gives.<br />
<br />
“Happer argues that the current concern over human-caused greenhouse gases is overblown. Although he clearly understands basic climate science, his presentation includes claims that are exaggerated, misleading, or incorrect regarding human-caused climate change. His presentation is entertaining, but he argues in many places against claims that climate scientists do not make. He acknowledges that CO2 has an influence on climate, but emphasizes that the influence is small. Yet he gives no physical reason to conclude that the current scientific understanding on the response of climate system to CO2 (the “climate sensitivity”) is wrong, other than to say that he does not trust climate models. His claims that climate models do not work are exaggerated and misleading. He also claims that increased CO2 will be beneficial by increasing plant growth – it is true that plant growth will increase by the CO2 increase alone, but he does not show that it will be beneficial, especially when climate is changing at the same time as CO2. His presentation ignores the large number of studies available that show that through climate change, CO2 will be detrimental to agricultural productivity as well as to human well-being generally.”<br />
<br />
and more:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.unc.edu/~jjwest/climatechange.html">https://www.unc.edu/~jjwest/climatechange.html<br />
</a><br />
<br />
<b>Patrick Moore</b> is policy advisor to the Heartland Institute, the leading source of climate change disinformation which has spent many millions provided by energy companies and conservative foundations and billionaires with energy company ties to stop government regulations against climate change.<br />
Greenpeace accuses him of leaving when he saw opposing Greenpeace was much more financially lucrative and his career now is speaking out against climate change.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/patrick-moore">https://www.desmogblog.com/patrick-moore<br />
</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Bjorn Lomberg</b> is pretty famous for being fully funded by energy companies to deny the severity of climate change.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/2014/06/25/millions-behind-bjorn-lomborg-copenhagen-consensus-center">https://www.desmogblog.com/2014/06/25/millions-behind-bjorn-lomborg-copenhagen-consensus-center<br />
</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/bjorn-lomborg">https://www.desmogblog.com/bjorn-lomborg<br />
</a><br />
<br />
He got major funding and wrote a book called ‘The Skeptical Environmentalist’ he was mostly known for along with his later book ‘Cool It’. Another writer decided to write a book examining that books claims. He found every reference cited was wrong or misleading in two chapters. The book ‘The Longborg Deception’ was going to handle the entire book and every citation but it would take years so he skimmed checking the cites in the other chapters. It concludes Lomborg is ‘a performance artist disguised as an academic,’ ‘misrepresenting academic research, misquoting data, relying on irrelevant studies, (omitting important citations and sources), (using the lowest estimates of likely climate changes), and citing sources that seem not to exist.’ Many of the cites appear to be simply cited to build up the number of cites with multiple entries to simply show where a person worked for example.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt1nq1hv">https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt1nq1hv<br />
</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.newsweek.com/debunking-lomborg-climate-change-skeptic-75173">http://www.newsweek.com/debunking-lomborg-climate-change-skeptic-75173<br />
</a><br />
<br />
A short critical analysis of recent articles.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://climatefeedback.org/authors/bjorn-lomborg/">https://climatefeedback.org/authors/bjorn-lomborg/<br />
</a><br />
<br />
Errors in the first book<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.lomborg-errors.dk/">http://www.lomborg-errors.dk/<br />
</a><br />
<br />
There is a reason climate change skeptics rely on lies and misrepresentations. The science and evidence of human-caused global climate change is overwhelming and the warming is accelerating.<br />
<br />
<br />
Garyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17414725749450659875noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3706185.post-38474050751653771362017-08-09T00:30:00.002-05:002017-08-09T00:30:49.746-05:00Don't use drugs kids, also avoid mind pollution<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="sizzle-embed" frameborder="0" height="436" src="https://onsizzle.com/embed/i/tomi-lahren-ann-coulter-and-kellyanne-conway-look-like-the-18131875" style="max-width: 100%;" width="500"></iframe><br />
<a href="http://onsizzle.com/i/tomi-lahren-ann-coulter-and-kellyanne-conway-look-like-the-18131875">via SIZZLE</a><br />
<br />
<br />
Garyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17414725749450659875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3706185.post-75177458622615853582017-05-16T10:31:00.000-05:002017-05-16T10:49:58.632-05:00In addition to filing election report violations I paid attention to these political items<div><b>The Texas Progressive Alliance</b> doesn't take loyalty pledges as it brings you this week's roundup.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://offthekuff.com/wp">Off the Kuff</a> considers the possibilities of <a href="http://offthekuff.com/wp/?p=80558">Big John Cornyn's Senate seat being vacated</a> by an appointment as FBI Director.<br />
<br />
<b><a href="http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/pasadena/article/Volunteer-files-complaint-with-state-over-11147853.php">A volunteer, me, files complaint over election law violations.</a></b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--U6ThZKXwc4/WRsfQ70WXvI/AAAAAAAALUo/K7b7t01qmLUlBOums1bVf-9h5qWokg9HgCLcB/s1600/LemmingSuperScope.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--U6ThZKXwc4/WRsfQ70WXvI/AAAAAAAALUo/K7b7t01qmLUlBOums1bVf-9h5qWokg9HgCLcB/s320/LemmingSuperScope.jpg" width="320" height="214" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<b>CouldBeTrue</b> of <a href="http://stxc.blogspot.com/">South Texas Chisme</a> notes <a href="http://stxc.blogspot.com/2017/05/senate-judiciary-hearing-features.html">Sally Yates owned John Cornyn and Ted Cruz this week</a>. Cornyn proved he's a Trump puppet and an excellent choice of FBI director - if you want to destroy our democracy and make Trump officially god emperor.<br />
<br />
On <a href="http://brainsandeggs.blogspot.com/2017/05/the-day-world-lost-its-mind.html">the day the world lost its mind</a>, PDiddie at <strong>Brains and Eggs</strong> was a little dizzy and nauseous but otherwise got through it ... same as everyone else.<br />
<br />
Neil at All People Have Value <a href="http://www.neilaquino.com/all-people-have-value/trumpcare-die-in-trumpcare-guts-pre-existing-condition-protections-kicks-people-off-insurance-and-kills-people">attended a Trumpcare Die-in</a> and saw a <a href="http://www.neilaquino.com/all-people-have-value/sandra-bland-railroad-car-please-recall-sandra-bland">Sandra Bland memorial railroad car</a>. APHV is part of <a href="http://www.neilaquino.com/">NeilAquino.com</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />
===============<br />
<br />
And here are <b>some posts of interest from other Texas blogs</b>.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://paradiseinhell.net/2017/05/08/vote-for-trump-you-dont-have-long-left-anyway/">Paradise in Hell</a> notes a correlation between life expectancy and Trump support.<br />
<br />
The <a href="https://texaselectionlaw.wordpress.com/2017/05/09/implementing-photo-i-d-requirements-in-texas-elections-an-oral-history/">Texas Election Law Blog</a> comments on a big ProPublica voter ID story.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://bettertexasblog.org/2017/05/promising-school-finance-bills-stuck-texas-legislative-limbo/">Better Texas Blog</a> laments the likely demise of some good school finance legislation.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.houstonchronicle.com/local/gray-matters/article/Attacks-on-LGBT-Texans-are-everywhere-Here-s-11129686.php?t=3184710045438d9cbb&cmpid=twitter-premium">Andrew Edmonson</a> tells what you can do to fight against attacks on LGBT Texans.<br />
<br />
The <a href="http://www.tsta.org/grading-texas/school-finance/charter-schools-seeking-more-tax-money">TSTA Blog</a> wonders why charter schools are asking for more tax money.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.texasvox.org/dear-representatives-people-texas-deserve-better/">Texas Vox</a> bemoans the bills killed by the House "Freedom Caucus" in a fit of legislative pique.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://info.tpj.org/Lobby_Watch/pdf/PayDay2017.pdf">TPJ</a> adds up how much predatory lenders have been spending this legislative session.<br />
<br />
<br />
Garyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17414725749450659875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3706185.post-78452227559132188542017-05-07T11:37:00.002-05:002024-01-12T22:16:33.080-06:00Disappointing Pasadena TX election for Democrats - Isbell political machine becomes Wagner machine <br />
<b>The Houston Chronicle</b> has <a href="http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/pasadena-news/article/Wagner-leading-Pasadena-mayor-s-race-in-early-11127057.php">a story on the Pasadena election</a>.<br />
<br /><br>
The Houston Chronicle links no longer work correctly.<br>
<br>
<a href="http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/pasadena-news/article/Wagner-leading-Pasadena-mayor-s-race-in-early-11127057.php" target="_blank">http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/pasadena-news/article/Wagner-leading-Pasadena-mayor-s-race-in-early-11127057.php
</a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sMPBuKYdAzo/WJnfM9J64oI/AAAAAAAAKu4/b6S-2GMdowwz-WPP_Rmx7wKrwPnKx2M1QCPcB/s1600/PatDistrictD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="354" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sMPBuKYdAzo/WJnfM9J64oI/AAAAAAAAKu4/b6S-2GMdowwz-WPP_Rmx7wKrwPnKx2M1QCPcB/s400/PatDistrictD.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Some inaccuracies. <b>The report on candidate finances</b> ignored a previous report that the Houston Chronicle had of the Moon campaign loaning itself $100,000. Moon was financed by his loan and large Real Estate PAC money.<br />
<br />
Wagner was financed by Isbell's political machine, city contractors and Isbell's large donors, pretty much exclusively. The Isbell machine has now become the Wagner machine.<br />
<br />
The last article correction is that Schoenbein is elected with 50.9% of the vote without a runoff due to the returns from the last and largest polling location with five precincts putting him over.<br />
<br />
Wagner won with 38.85% of the vote and is in a runoff with Moon with 18.29% of the vote, assuming voter errors are not found which would not significantly change the results. The next four candidates are bunched with Flores at 11.4% followed by Talton and Van Houte and with Gallegos at 9.6%. Pena had less than 2% with him ceasing to campaign in the last weeks.<br />
<br />
Turnout was a disappointing 13.45% although still much more than the last mayoral election. Although there was increased Latino turnout on the north side that was matched with increased turnout from the south side that was Anglo, older, Republican and religious. The two mayoral forums did not explore controversial topics or hard questions, surprising given the recent controversies that had national attention.<br />
<br />
During the highly attended Chamber of Commerce Mayoral Forum Wagner answered one question by leading the crowd in prayer. No controversial or tough questions were asked. One question of this election was how Wagner, Moon, and Talton would split the religious Republican vote. It was only on election day that it was clear to outside observers that Wagner had secured it as well as Isbell's donors. Every polling location had eager volunteers from the largest church in Pasadena, to which Wagner belongs, helping him with what seemed liked religious fervor. Moon seemed favored by the less numerous business Republicans and had run a campaign heavy on Chamber of Commerce boosterism - "Pasadena is the greatest city in the world."<br />
<br />
The north side vote was split between Van Houte, a current at-large council member, and two last-minute candidates with no political experience: Gallegos, a school administrator, and Flores, a Latino businessman. Pena's limited support also came from the north side. Refusing to collect money from large donors, city contractors, and click to donate here money from the Internet(!?) Van Houte's campaign ended up being underfunded and understaffed. It is unclear if the Houston Chronicle endorsement of Van Houte helped more than harmed with the large Texas distrust of the "liberal media." David Flores made a surprisingly strong showing with enthusiastic young Latino backers. He also floated by with not disclosing his Republican ties, he had gone through GOP candidate training, which could have harmed him with the younger Latino voters, and could easily have a future in politics. The Gallegos campaign, with backing from the Latino Democratic groups and some Democratic politicians mistakenly believing that the time was ripe for a Latino mayor for Pasadena, never broke through.<br />
<br />
The election is especially disappointing in corruption and favoritism not becoming key issues and the transference of Isbell's city contractor donor base to his designated successor Wagner who is highly favored in the runoff.<br />
<br />
This article needs to be read in conjunction with the Houston Chronicle's previous article on the <a href="http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Over-a-half-century-Pasadena-Mayor-Johnny-Isbell-11127104.php">crooked and dictatorial rule of current mayor Johnny Isbell</a>.<br /><br>
<a href="http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Over-a-half-century-Pasadena-Mayor-Johnny-Isbell-11127104.php" target="_blank">http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Over-a-half-century-Pasadena-Mayor-Johnny-Isbell-11127104.php
</a><br />
<br />Garyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17414725749450659875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3706185.post-42474898850072808942017-05-01T14:27:00.000-05:002017-05-01T14:27:33.193-05:00Texas Progressive Bloggers Report<br />
<b>The Texas Progressive Alliance</b> has squeezed all the news out of the past week like an $8 juice bag and put it into the roundup for you.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://offthekuff.com/wp">Off the Kuff</a> takes a <a href="http://offthekuff.com/wp/?p=80142">very early look</a> at potential Congressional races for 2018.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://socraticgadfly.blogspot.com/">SocraticGadfly</a> offers his reflections <a href="https://socraticgadfly.blogspot.com/2017/04/our-man-downtown-can-john-wiley-price.html">on the career and trial</a> of "Our Man Downtown," John Wiley Price.<br />
<br />
<b>CouldBeTrue</b> of <a href="http://stxc.blogspot.com/">South Texas Chisme</a> notes that <a href="http://stxc.blogspot.com/2017/04/republican-hatred-of-democracy-and.html">Republican hatred of democracy and people marches on Texas</a>.<br />
<br />
Democrats keep looking for excuses to kick people out from under their tent, and <a href="http://brainsandeggs.blogspot.com/2017/04/democrats-continue-purge-retrench.html">the evidence was everywhere</a> PDiddie at <strong>Brains and Eggs</strong> looked over the past couple of weeks. There aren't enough Marches, Resistances, and Revolutions to overcome so much squabbling, backbiting, and infighting.<br />
<br />
<br />
====================<br />
<br />
And here are some posts of interest from other Texas blogs.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.scottbraddock.com/2017/04/voucherletters/">Scott Braddock</a> reports on the voucher astroturfing story.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://therivardreport.com/the-case-for-reducing-frequency-and-timing-of-local-elections/">Robert Rivard</a> makes the case for changing the timing and frequency of San Antonio's elections.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://txredistricting.org/post/159959285911/texas-redistricting-plaintiffs-outline-remaining">Michael Li</a> rounds up and summarizes the remaining disputes over the Texas Congressional map.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://foolishwatcher.com/2017/04/24/the-president-of-the-united-states-just-compared-his-tv-ratings-to-september-11th-and-im-just-going-to-go-ahead-and-start-day-drinking-now-bye/">Therese Odell</a> recoils in horror from the transcript of the AP interview with Donald Trump.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://gritsforbreakfast.blogspot.com/2017/04/following-money-and-legislation-on-bail.html">Sandra Thompson</a> follows the money that is opposed to bail reform.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://juanitajean.com/phil-stephenson-from-texas/">Juanita</a> tries to explain how State Rep. Phil Stephenson twice screwed up a bill to name a highway after a murdered state trooper.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://tex.streetsblog.org/2017/04/29/why-texas-cities-need-lower-speed-limits-for-safe-neighborhood-streets/">Jay Blazek Crossley</a> advocates for lower speed limits on neighborhood streets.<br />
<br />
Former Rep. <a href="https://scotthochberg.com/hisd2.html">Scott Hochberg</a> explains why he is voting Yes on the HISD recapture referendum.<br />
<br />
<br />
Garyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17414725749450659875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3706185.post-31916911811515186612017-04-25T11:02:00.000-05:002017-04-25T11:02:16.917-05:00The Texas Progressive Alliance Blogs for Last Week<br />
<div><pre class="aLF-aPX-K0-aPE aLF-aPX-aLK-ayr-auR" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace, arial, sans-serif; user-select: text; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">The Texas Progressive Alliance knows <a href="http://www.houstonchronicle.com/neighborhood/fortbend/news/article/Fort-Bend-police-direct-11077942.php?cmpid=twitter-premium">why the alligator crossed the road</a> as it brings you this week's roundup.
<a href="http://offthekuff.com/wp">Off the Kuff</a> analyzed the <a href="http://offthekuff.com/wp/?p=80166">Texas Lyceum poll</a> of attitudes towards Trump and 2018 races.
<a href="http://elemming2.blogspot.com/">Easter Lemming</a> remarks on the <a href="http://elemming2.blogspot.com/2017/04/the-houston-chronicle-endorses-pat-van.html">great Houston Chronicle endorsement for Pat Van Houte for Pasadena mayor</a> and tells you a bit about city election political funding.
<a href="https://socraticgadfly.blogspot.com/">SocraticGadfly</a> writes about — with photos — Earth Day 2017 and climate change <a href="https://socraticgadfly.blogspot.com/2017/04/earthday-2017-how-much-hope.html">reminding readers</a> that time is running short, and that a carbon tax, a strong carbon tax, must be the baseline of any solution.
The popular political drama from the last decade <i>The West Wing</i> turns out to be a <a href="http://brainsandeggs.blogspot.com/2017/04/the-west-wing-is-poor-model-for.html">lousy model for the Democratic Party</a>, observes PDiddie at <strong>Brains and Eggs</strong>.
=================
And here are some posts of interest from other Texas blogs.
<a href="http://bettertexasblog.org/2017/04/promising-school-finance-bills-advance-texas-house-senate/">Better Texas Blog</a> looks favorably on school finance bill HB21.
<a href="http://urbanedge.blogs.rice.edu/2017/04/17/sure-houston-has-sprawl-but-some-areas-have-east-coast-levels-of-density/#.WPT882nyupq">Kyle Shelton</a> looks at the different kinds of density in Houston.
<a href="http://www.texasmonthly.com/the-daily-post/university-themed-body-armor-satirical-take-campus-carry/">Dan Solomon</a> introduces us to <a href="https://www.studentbodyarmor.com/">Student Body Armor</a>.
<a href="https://paradiseinhell.net/2017/04/18/that-ted-cruz-town-hall-was-great/">Paradise In Hell</a> attended the Ted Cruz town hall.
<a href="http://lonestarmablog.blogspot.com/2017/04/wednesdays-with-subversive-childrens.html">Lone Star Ma</a> presents an Earth Day-themed reading list.
The <a href="http://www.tsta.org/grading-texas/school-finance/denying-the-attack-on-public-education">TSTA Blog</a> isn't having it with Dan Patrick's spin on the budget.
<a href="http://www.houstonchronicle.com/local/gray-matters/article/Bart-Truxillo-11086499.php?t=1250b1b3fa438d9cbb&cmpid=twitter-premium">Lisa Gray</a> eulogizes longtime Houston preservationist Bart Truxillo.
<a href="http://txredistricting.org/post/159808463041/comparing-the-2011-and-2013-texas-state-house">Michael Li</a> compares the 2011 and 2013 State House maps in the wake of the Fifth Circuit ruling that the 2011 map was passed with discriminatory intent.
<a href="http://purple.city/2017/04/21/closing-up-shop/">Purple City</a> says goodbye and leaves us with a few of the <a href="http://purple.city/2017/04/21/going-out-of-business-sale/">ideas</a> it didn't get to finish exploring.</pre></div></div>Garyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17414725749450659875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3706185.post-91984752169561819642017-04-23T16:52:00.001-05:002017-04-23T17:00:16.786-05:00The Houston Chronicle endorses Pat Van Houte for Pasadena Mayor"A Fresh Start"<br />
<br />
A very informative endorsement.<br />
<br />
"Councilmember Pat Van Houte confronts challenges that others ignore. Van Houte has a record of standing up for the hard fight during her eight years on City Council... she wants to replace the term-limited Isbell and run a city government that's open to all of Pasadena instead of merely the well-connected. This means fairness in contracting, competitive bidding, soliciting community input and promoting transparency. Van Houte also said that she wants to reinstate a public transit circulator for senior citizens that the city had stopped funding. She hasn't raised a lot of money - Van Houte declines donations from city contractors - and her personality is more cautious librarian than charismatic populist. But there's no doubt that Van Houte as mayor would be a fresh start for a city that deserves better than its current bad press."<br />
<br />
I will provide a link to the candidate blog post with this full endorsement to avoid the pay wall.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.pat4pasadena.com/2017/04/23/houston-chronicle-endorsement/">https://www.pat4pasadena.com/2017/04/23/houston-chronicle-endorsement/</a><br />
<br />
The link has the Houston Chronicle link as well as the google cache.<br />
<br />
By the way, not accepting city contractor money, who traditionally fund city political campaigns, means the people need to step up. One opponent has well over $100,000 in his war chest, mostly a loan to himself, that he expects contractors to make good on if he wins. This is considered standard behavior.<br /><br />Easter Lemming has provided support for the Pat Van Houte campaign.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Garyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17414725749450659875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3706185.post-78576231377310835032017-03-21T20:32:00.002-05:002017-03-21T20:32:33.953-05:00Texas Progressive Bloggers Roundup<br />
<br />
The <b>Texas Progressive Alliance</b> has not been wiretapped by the UK as it brings you this week's roundup.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://offthekuff.com/wp/">Off the Kuff</a> covers the big <a href="http://offthekuff.com/wp/?p=79492">redistricting decision</a> and <a href="http://offthekuff.com/wp/?p=79538">what it all means</a> going forward.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://socraticgadfly.blogspot.com/">SocraticGadfly</a> takes Rachel Maddow's big fluffery over Trump's tax returns (and Maddow herself) <a href="https://socraticgadfly.blogspot.com/2017/03/madcow-maddow-and-trumps-tax-return.html">to the cleaners.<br />
<br />
John Coby at </a><a href="http://www.bayareahouston.us/">Bay Area Houston</a> publishes Texas Lt Gov Dan Patricks <a href="http://www.bayareahouston.us/2017/03/texas-lt-gov-dan-patrick-responds-to.html">response to the Texas masturbation bill</a>. "I will beat this bill off with both hands!"<br />
<br />
A whiff of the Eighties -- specifically <a href="http://brainsandeggs.blogspot.com/2017/03/i-thought-i-smelled-geraldo-rivera-and.html">Geraldo Rivera and Al Capone's vault</a> -- accompanied Rachel Maddow's big reveal and subsequent letdown of Trump's tax returns last Tuesday evening, at least according to PDiddie at <strong>Brains and Eggs</strong>.<br />
<br />
Neil at All People Have Value said <a href="http://www.neilaquino.com/all-people-have-value/wheels-on-meals-cuts-are-porn-of-self-mutlilation-and-cruelty-after-they-make-it-okay-to-abuse-yourself-youll-be-ready-to-abuse-others">that Trump budget was a pornography of self-mutilation and cruelty</a> for Trump supporters. APHV is part of <a href="http://www.neilaquino.com/">NeilAquino.com</a>.<br />
<br />
<strong>Easter Lemming</strong> reminds people that <a href="http://elemming2.blogspot.com/2017/03/pasadena-texas-has-chance-to-put-voter.html">Pasadena, Texas has a chance to put voter discrimination behind them</a> in this mayoral election. He is busy working for <a href="https://www.pat4pasadena.com/">Pat Van Houte's campaign</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>CouldBeTrue</b> of <a href="http://stxc.blogspot.com/">South Texas Chisme</a> marks another week of <a href="http://stxc.blogspot.com/2017/03/texas-republicans-go-all-in-to.html">Republican hate cloaked in religion</a> harming women, children and the poor.<br />
<br />
=================<br />
<br />
And here are some posts of interest from other Texas blogs.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://thecontemporarygroup.com/2017/03/10/whose-american-dream-is-it-the-tragedies-of-dinesh-dsouza-and-polite-silence/">Nipuni Gomes</a> deconstructs Dinesh D'Souza.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://freedom-to-tinker.com/2017/03/08/pragmatic-advice-for-buying-internet-of-things-devices/">Dan Wallach</a> has some practical advice for buying “Internet of Things” devices.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.thelunchtray.com/school-food-visionary-come-houston/">The Lunch Tray</a> implores a school food visionary to come to Houston.<br />
<br />
The <a href="http://www.tsta.org/grading-texas/vouchers/vouchers-offer-neither-reform-nor-choice">TSTA blog</a> reminds us that vouchers offer neither reform nor choice to schools.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://blog.hmns.org/2017/03/dont-touch-me-seven-native-texas-bugs-that-should-not-be-handled/">Beyond Bones</a> identifies seven native Texas bugs that you don't want to touch.<br />
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<a href="https://therivardreport.com/no-uber-during-austins-sxsw-it-was-weird-at-first/">Shari Biediger</a> found it to be not too hard to cope with SxSW in Austin without Uber or Lyft.<br />
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Garyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17414725749450659875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3706185.post-37778959513386321192017-03-16T16:25:00.000-05:002017-03-16T16:27:14.716-05:00Pasadena, Texas has a chance to put voter discrimination behind it<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #3c3736; font-family: "open sans"; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.125px;"><b>The best chance Pasadena, Texas has of putting it’s voting discrimination past behind is electing as new mayor the current at-large council member who has been a consistent opponent of the illegal redistricting.</b></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pat Van Houte for Pasadena Mayor</td></tr>
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Pat Van Houte has been an elected council member since 2009 when she ran on opposition to an expensive street upgrade that destroyed resident’s homes. While there are seven candidates running for mayor she has the most city council experience and is the only one running on small donations and shoe leather. She <a href="https://www.pat4pasadena.com/support/" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(153, 107, 61) !important; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="">refuses to take donations over $200 and also refuses to take donations from those who do business with the city</a>. She surprised the city establishment when her grass roots campaign involving block-walking the entire city of over 130,000 residents defeated the well-funded traditional mayor-supported candidate for one of the new at-large positions.</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Van Houte said she also would pull the plug on the city's efforts to appeal the verdict in the voting rights case.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">"The judge spent a week and a half hearing from many witnesses, looking at a lot of information and made a decision. The city has spent almost $2 million on the lawsuit already, and I don't think it is in our best interest to spend more public money on this," she said.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">In elected, Van Houte said she would work to improve communications with residents and make city government more open.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">"There are many things on the city website that are outdated. We need to do a better job of keeping it up to date. Department heads need to understand that there is an expectation that they will provide good information on a timely basis," she said. "I also want to set up a basic application for city boards and commissions so that anyone who is interested can apply and be considered and it would not be just who the politician knows getting appointed every time."</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">"Each person who has filed for mayor so far has government experience, but (for) the majority of them it's not at the city level," she said. "I have been in city government for almost eight years. I know who the department heads are. I know what departments do what and the processes of how things get done in the city. I know the backstory on many of the projects and things that we're doing. This is a stronger foundation going in, either to keep things going or to change things - having the background on it helps.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">"As an elected official, I have always looked at each issue on its own merits," she said. "I don't vote as I do because the other people are voting that way. I don't vote based on promises to city contractors."<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />"I'm bilingual, which will help. It's better to be able to communicate directly with someone in their own language rather than they try to communicate in a language in which they're not comfortable or having to get someone to translate," she said. "I've made an effort to get around and see as much as of the city as possible and to know what the issues are in each neighborhood. I think I have seen more of the city than the other candidates."<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />There are seven candidates running for the mayor position and the current long-term mayor is term-limited. Pat Van Houte is favored to be in the runoff with her recent at-large election victory and continued scandals from the present mayor and his appointments.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The major difficulty she faces is the lack of funding with some of the Republican candidates receiving support from the city contractors and businesses on campaigns that started a year ago and the addition of a couple of last minute entrants into the race spreading the opposition.</span></div>
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For more information on her candidacy see her webpage: <a href="https://www.pat4pasadena.com/" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(153, 107, 61) !important; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="">Pat4Pasadena.com </a><br />
She also has a Facebook page: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Pat4Pasadena/" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(153, 107, 61) !important; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="">Pat4Pasadena</a></div>
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Quotes in this report come from an interview with Kristi Nix for the Pasadena Citizen, which also appeared in the Houston Chronicle and AP Newswire — <a href="https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:CSCaT7xeJE4J:https://www.apnews.com/994ba20044aa427d9c9d4e8f6d592171+&cd=10&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(153, 107, 61) !important; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="">Google cache</a>.<br />
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This is cross-posted on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/EasterLemming/posts/1013595098784152">Facebook</a> and <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2017/03/16/1643942/-Pasadena-Texas-mayoral-election-is-on-rejecting-voter-discrimination">DailyKos.com</a><br />
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Garyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17414725749450659875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3706185.post-33457946531252700202017-03-16T15:22:00.002-05:002017-03-16T15:31:04.130-05:00Have you bought the GOP propaganda that our biggest problem is we are overtaxed?<br />
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<span style="background-color: #f6f7f9; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="UFICommentBody" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The GOP propaganda that we are overtaxed.</b> Those making over $200,000 have the lowest tax rate in 75 years while those making less have a much lower share of national income but higher taxes.</span></span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: #f6f7f9; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="UFICommentBody" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_326199841">Effective income tax rate by year by income -</a></span></span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: #f6f7f9; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="UFICommentBody" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #365899; font-family: inherit;"><span style="cursor: pointer;"><a href="https://qz.com/74271/income-tax-rates-since-1913/">https://qz.com/74271/income-tax-rates-since-1913/</a><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f6f7f9; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="UFICommentBody" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #365899;"><a class="" dir="ltr" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fqz.com%2F74271%2Fincome-tax-rates-since-1913%2F&h=ATNRBSD0eKuuUOg3bdhouHwk8k619fpfuSVsEKvgMJtSvSdn7SktaWlKgLlI2NU0ZzwC7qapsNK23PRX18KdvR9NBtcyJLKdjCrSugPBhHnWGPdZ5rfNR91qJSwpKynrKD_lG4cW0ilfP-D4ug" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><br /></a></span></span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: #f6f7f9; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="UFICommentBody" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The top 1% before 1980 had 25% of the wealth before 1980 but now have over 43% of the wealth because of changes in income and taxes.</span></span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: #f6f7f9; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="UFICommentBody" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://inequality.org/wealth-inequality/" target="_blank">http://inequality.org/wealth-inequality/</a></span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: #f6f7f9; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="UFICommentBody" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.cbpp.org/research/poverty-and-inequality/a-guide-to-statistics-on-historical-trends-in-income-inequality" target="_blank">http://www.cbpp.org/research/poverty-and-inequality/a-guide-to-statistics-on-historical-trends-in-income-inequality</a></span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mNvieS90LFY/WMrza26k3oI/AAAAAAAALFw/X6hEPH3lPJMbx3cWSdQQ5JcU67B1lPcCACLcB/s1600/incometop1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mNvieS90LFY/WMrza26k3oI/AAAAAAAALFw/X6hEPH3lPJMbx3cWSdQQ5JcU67B1lPcCACLcB/s320/incometop1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: #f6f7f9; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="UFICommentBody" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><br /><br />The only group doing better than the wealthy in terms of taxes are corporations. As their taxes decline, our taxes have gone up.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f6f7f9; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="UFICommentBody" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/government-tax-receipts-by-source-2010-12" target="_blank">http://www.businessinsider.com/government-tax-receipts-by-source-2010-12</a></span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Yk4arxquRgc/WMrz6eXUUNI/AAAAAAAALF4/y8mxDDLbRK4s9aDJ8fcHukp0iMND-IZ2ACLcB/s1600/federal-tax-receipts-by-source-percent-of-gdp.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Yk4arxquRgc/WMrz6eXUUNI/AAAAAAAALF4/y8mxDDLbRK4s9aDJ8fcHukp0iMND-IZ2ACLcB/s320/federal-tax-receipts-by-source-percent-of-gdp.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: #f6f7f9; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="background-color: #f6f7f9; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="UFICommentBody" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />The biggest increase in federal revenue has been on employment taxes, where workers, but not the wealthy because FICA taxes are capped by income, pay for Social Security and Medicare. Now the wealthy want to reduce those benefits and divert the revenue elsewhere. This is next on Trump's and the GOP agenda after healthcare/tax cuts for the wealthy Congressional fight we are seeing over Obamacare.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
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Garyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17414725749450659875noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3706185.post-61218835814793378882017-02-28T04:23:00.001-06:002017-02-28T05:14:36.914-06:00Sad for my country today<br />
<b>In Houston</b> <a href="http://www.houstonpress.com/arts/i-like-that-my-anti-nazi-pin-makes-people-uncomfortable-9218063">wearing an anti-Nazi pin</a> brings out the Nazi sympathiser comments but they don't consider it sympathizing with Nazis, just supporting conservative GOP values. "I’ve noticed when I’m talking to parents at my daughter’s school’s pick-up and other mundane places that glances at my pin spark comment. Not about it, but usually in support of Trump. I’ve gotten remarks about the horrors of a $15 minimum wage, socialized medicine, the dangers of various Muslims, stuff about Hillary Clinton’s emails, and on and on and ad infinitum." It is like they feel accused of being one of the bad guys and feel the need to defend themselves. In their hearts, they know they are the bad guys.<br />
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<b>Outside Atlanta</b>, a Black family was celebrating a kid's birthday with a party in a park. Over a dozen hooligans decided to have some fun terrorizing the family by hurling racial insults and threats while driving by with big Confederate flags. Some had guns. <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/pair-sentenced-terrorizing-birthday-confederate-flags-article-1.2983749">They had no idea that was illegal</a>. They found out with long prison sentences for aggravated assault, terroristic threats and street gang terrorism for some.<br />
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<b>Trump</b> announced a plan for a large increase in the military budget, which means <a href="https://thinkprogress.org/trump-budget-defense-cuts-3442b4abdc1e#.o8q0xvqxc">big cuts in programs that actually help people</a>. The opposition that gets reported is from those who think he is <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/donald-trump-us-military-budget-low-mac-thornberry-john-mccain-a7602891.html">not going far enough in his increase</a>. Trump will have to <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/stancollender/2017/02/27/trump-will-have-to-break-the-law-to-pass-his-budget/#2d7c867860ae">break the law to pass the military budget increase</a> but that is fine with him.<br />
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Garyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17414725749450659875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3706185.post-44404794423205904122017-02-26T17:07:00.000-06:002017-02-26T17:07:28.290-06:00Stay informed, follow Pat Van Houte for Pasadena Mayor<br />
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Because of slow action by <b>Harris County</b> and the <b>City of Pasadena</b>, Texas, information on Harris County and Pasadena election locations and hours and even district boundaries are so far available only on mayoral candidate Pat Van Houte's <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Pat4Pasadena/">facebook page Pat4Pasadena</a> and her <a href="https://www.pat4pasadena.com/information/">Pat4Pasadena.com website</a>.<br />
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Gary Denton works on Pat Van Houte's campaign as well as blogging as Easter Lemming.<br />
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Garyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17414725749450659875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3706185.post-71120116273360672002017-02-21T16:37:00.000-06:002017-02-21T16:37:38.337-06:00Texas Progressive Alliance Blog News For Feb 20.<br />
The Texas Progressive Alliance will light a scented candle outside Ikea in solidarity with the confused people of Sweden as it brings you this week's roundup.<br />
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<a href="http://offthekuff.com/wp">Off the Kuff</a> thinks that <a href="http://offthekuff.com/wp/?p=79001">many opportunities to make gains in 2018 will exist for Texas Democrats</a>, and they should plan accordingly.<br />
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<strong>Libby Shaw</strong> at <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/2/17/1634844/-Over-200-Republicans-decided-hide-from-constituents-next-week-instead-of-hosting-town-halls">Daily Kos</a> is amused by the Republicans hiding from their constituents. No wonder. The Party has been serving the interests of billionaires and oligarchs for decades, both domestic and Russian, apparently. <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2017/02/15/1634010/-No-Republicans-We-are-not-about-to-move-on-This-is-more-dangerous-than-Watergate">No Republicans we are not about to move on. This is more dangerous than Watergate.</a><br />
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John Coby at <a href="http://www.bayareahouston.net/">Bay Area Houston</a> supports <a href="http://www.bayareahouston.us/2017/02/for-harris-county-democratic-party.html">Lillie Schechter for Chair of the Harris County Democratic Party</a>.<br />
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The last few months have been perplexing, as we try to figure out life on the Trump train. UGH. But as <a href="http://texasleftist.com">Texas Leftist</a> points out, some things are slowly coming into focus. After seeming to be free from consequences, we're finally seeing that the President and his Administration can be <a href="https://texasleftist.com/2017/02/held-accountable-trump-advisor-resigns/">held accountable</a> for their actions. <br />
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<a href="https://socraticgadfly.blogspot.com/">SocraticGadfly</a>, on hearing about the death of Norma Jean McCorvey of Roe v. Wade fame, <a href="https://socraticgadfly.blogspot.com/2017/02/thoughts-on-death-of-roe-that-is-norma.html">offers an extended take</a> on her, the plaintiff in a simultaneous suit, and the state of abortion in America today.<br />
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Shadetree psychologist PDiddie at <strong>Brains and Eggs</strong> diagnoses President Trump as in desperate need <a href="http://brainsandeggs.blogspot.com/2017/02/the-president-needs-intervention.html">of an intervention</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/EasterLemming/posts/997419417068387">Easter Lemming Liberal News</a> showcases Pat Van Houte's grassroots campaign (<a href="https://www.pat4pasadena.com">website</a>) for Pasadena mayor which relies on small donations and prohibits donations from city contractors.<br />
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<b>CouldBeTrue</b> of <a href="http://stxc.blogspot.com/">South Texas Chisme</a> warns that the <a href="http://stxc.blogspot.com/2017/02/ken-paxton-supports-extreme.html">disrespect</a> the Republicans show are constitution is only getting worse. Now they want to actually <a href="http://stxc.blogspot.com/2017/02/texas-set-to-vote-to-upend-our.html">write their hate and kleptocracy into the document</a>, itself.<br />
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Neil at All People Have Value made note of the <a href="http://www.neilaquino.com/all-people-have-value/houston-climate-change-art-project-on-memorial-drive">climate change art exhibit made by the construction crew on Memorial Drive</a> in Houston. APHV is part of <a href="http://www.neilaquino.com/">NeilAquino.com</a>.<br />
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And here are some posts of interest from other Texas blogs.<br />
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<a href="http://gritsforbreakfast.blogspot.com/2017/02/if-crime-is-down-legislator-asks-why.html">Grits for Breakfast</a> explains why indigent defense costs have risen as crime has declined.<br />
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The <a href="https://texaselectionlaw.wordpress.com/2017/02/13/a-look-at-two-significant-election-related-bills-for-texas/">Texas Election Law Blog</a> analyzes two significant election-related bills that have been filed.<br />
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<a href="http://paradiseinhell.net/2017/02/13/one-down-4999999-to-go">Paradise in Hell</a> notes that Dear Leader Trump is now 0.00002% closer to proving his claims about election fraud.<br />
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<a href="http://www.houstonchronicle.com/local/gray-matters/article/Want-safer-streets-Think-comprehensively-10929051.php?t=000640c14d438d9cbb&cmpid=twitter-premium">Raj Mankad</a> wants to see multiple approaches taken to make our streets safer.<br />
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<a href="https://therivardreport.com/a-deep-dive-into-four-gop-talking-points-on-health-care/">Julie Rovner</a> takes a deep dive into four GOP talking points on health care.<br />
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<a href="http://www.raiseyourhandtexas.org/ryht/looking-glass-rebranding-school-vouchers/">Raise Your Hand Texas</a> explains why voucher advocates are becoming irritable.<br />
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<a href="http://houston.eater.com/2017/2/17/14646620/houston-restaurants-aclu-fundraiser-dining-for-democracy">Eater Houston</a> notes that several Houston restaurants will be raising money for the ACLU in support of their immigrant employees.<br />
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Garyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17414725749450659875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3706185.post-7068153175100842072017-02-19T18:52:00.000-06:002017-02-22T19:22:50.263-06:00Pat Van Houte For Pasadena Texas Mayor</br><br />
<b>Pasadena, Texas</b> has long have bad government. One of the main problems is the influence of city contractors. The city contractors pour tens of thousands into the mayoral campaigns and are richly rewarded by the mayor for doing so.<br />
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<b>Pat Van Houte</b> was elected at-large city councilperson two years ago and has been persuaded to run for mayor. She has never taken money from city contractors and has been a consistent opponent of the present mayor. She has always run with small donations and constant block-walking since her first winning campaign for her local council seat. She now block-walks the entire city. She block-walks many times a week all year even after she is elected to get feedback from citizens and sent local problems to the action line.</br><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JE9bUkzJdHs/WKo_CBQ_4DI/AAAAAAAAKzc/DReLRYhripwGJpt6PYRXQykUo-Q2RsauACLcB/s1600/PVH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JE9bUkzJdHs/WKo_CBQ_4DI/AAAAAAAAKzc/DReLRYhripwGJpt6PYRXQykUo-Q2RsauACLcB/s1600/PVH.jpg" /></a></div>She is the best candidate running in Pasadena and will be a huge change from how the mayor's office has been run. As an at-large council member who was elected two years ago she is favored, except for the money the city contractors will throw into supporting the Republican candidates, particularly the one who makes it into the runoff. This will be an interesting race. <br />
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<a href="https://www.pat4pasadena.com/">Pat Van Houte For Mayor website</a>.</br><br />
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Here is an article from <b>The Pasadena Citizen</b>, that was picked up by the <b>AP</b>, on the <a href="http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/pasadena/news/article/Pasadena-mayoral-candidates-a-mixof-former-10897640.php">major candidates</a>. There were two more last minute entries who have not held elected office before.<br />
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Notice - I am currently in charge of social media and Internet for the Pat Van Houte Campaign.<br />
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Garyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17414725749450659875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3706185.post-5806784700548768582016-10-20T00:17:00.000-05:002016-10-20T00:19:22.999-05:00Rants on Facebook - 1 <br />
John N Smith<br />
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-1 This was not a private conversation but on a tour bus with others and it was recorded because both men were wearing mikes because there was a possibility that part of any conversation might be used on the show.<br />
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2 Even Howard Stern says he has never heard anyone say he likes to grab women by the pussy, especially because he feels he can because he is a star.<br />
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3. The witness on the plane flight is a known serial liar and it is doubtful he would have been flying 1st class on a domestic American flight as a British 19-year-old student at the time. He has also claimed to be a pimp for underage boys to British politicians, among other things.<br />
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4. Trump claimed a reporter was lying about her being assaulted and propositioned. Immediately 6 other people said they were there or were told about Trump's actions. Since there are over ten other women coming forward and many women who aren't, it is a he said, she said, she said, she said, she said, she said, she said, she said, she said, she said, she said, etc. situation.<br />
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5. "Men should not be ashamed to be men or be apologetic for being a man." And you are not a man but a dick, much weaker than a pussy.<br />
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6. A long yahoo news investigation of Clinton's actions as Secretary of State found no evidence of any special favors, all of the meetings with donors would have been held anyway.<br />
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7. The Hillary Foundation, unlike Trump's, has been audited and releases public annual reports and does millions of dollars in good works. Trump has not donated any money to his foundation in over ten years and the main expenditures recently seem to have been buying portraits of Trump and paying off legal suits against Trump with other people's donations.<br />
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8 There is no public record of Hillary covering up her husband's "rapes and molestations." I doubt if you know what a public record is.<br />
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9. Trump is the one who actually wrote an editorial in 2013 saying that closed borders were the past, we needed open borders now.<br />
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10. Trump is the one who doesn't know the constitution and is a threat to the Bill of Rights.<br />
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11. Immigrants to the United States, illegal or legal, commit much less crime per person than people born here.<br />
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12. "Diseases once eradicated will kill tens of thousands if not hundreds of thousands." You are a paranoid sicko so naturally you think people from foreign countries carry diseases. Are you trying to preserve your "Purity of Essence"?Garyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17414725749450659875noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3706185.post-7678237804117043362016-06-17T03:03:00.002-05:002016-06-17T03:03:35.025-05:00The big divide on guns<br /><br />There are people I respect in other areas who I consider completely unhinged on guns.<br />
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One example is a well known Libertarian filk songwriter. After the Orando massacre at a gay bar she said the problem was that the bar and patrons were not carrying their own guns. The problem of anyone being able to quickly buy a civilian version of a military assault rifle converted to semi automatic and having a large magazine she refused to acknowledge or consider a problem.<br />
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When I pointed out that the bar had an armed security officer who was immediately killed she blamed the stupid security officer and the bar for only having one.<br />
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She also blamed the FBI for not keeping track of "Jihadists" because surveillance of religious minorities even if born in America should be a priority according to this Libertarian.<br />
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I also found similar opinions among the leaders of the Sad and Rabid Puppies attacking diversity in the Hugo Awards and their followers. Some of these are talented in writing if on the wrong side of a culture war.<br />
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A few decades a very fringe idea that the 2nd Amendment was an unrestricted right for all Americans to have any type of gun started being pushed by a few of the radical right. It took over the NRA which had been a mainstream group supporting gun owners and manufacturers. It infiltrated the Republican Party which was beginning its sharp right turn with the influx of Southern conservative racist Democrats fleeing a party which supported Civil Rights. It entered the more conservative legal schools. And it made it to the Republican judges on the Supreme Court.<br />
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My position is clear. Weapons solely designed for killing people quickly and easily and on a mass scale do not belong in civilian hands. If you believe they do there is something wrong with your values.<br />
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I do not know how to get this attitude of gun rights over human lives back under the rock from whence it came. Sad and dangerous times.<br />
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<br />Garyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17414725749450659875noreply@blogger.com0