I am a Centrist. I believe the Democratic Party is a centrist Party. I wish the Democratic Party would fight for its centrist ideals. Like ending the the war in Iraq. Like not going to war in Iran. Like bringing balance to our tax system by reversing the extreme and radical Bush tax cuts. Like doing something about global warming. Like protecting equal rights for all Americans. Like protecting the right to choose. Like offering health care to all Americans. And so on. These Democratic principles stand in the center of American public opinion, held by a strong majority of Americans.Big Tent Democrat then bashes Hillary Clinton for advocating balanced centrist politics and policies while not calling out the Republicans for being the extremists.
The Republican Party is an extreme party whose views are completely out of the mainstream of American thought. The views espoused by the GOP must be marginalized and beaten at every turn.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Interesting New Meme - To Be A Fighting Centrist
Monday, November 12, 2007
Whatever happened to the Air Force?
The Air Force Academy is now a religious indoctrination center that tries to make sure that not only are their new officers Christians but they are the right kind of Christian.
Sadly, this is spreading to the other branches of the Armed Forces.
More hopefully this has energized a new Military Religious Freedom Foundation to expose this religious right transformation of our military.
I should write more about this but the article speaks for itself and follows several other reports.
Sadly, this is spreading to the other branches of the Armed Forces.
More hopefully this has energized a new Military Religious Freedom Foundation to expose this religious right transformation of our military.
I should write more about this but the article speaks for itself and follows several other reports.
I've been busy
Here's what I spotted as going on.
Remember Heroes on Veteran's Day.
As they gear up for a fierce battle to attempt to take Representative Nick Lampson's seat, the Fort Bend GOP disintegrates. They are still scrambling to put something together. I am glad that the independent online local news site Fort Bend Now has hung around to report on this. Susan has more.
My urban brother is upset about a trend of no appeals on parking tickets. I thought there was something in the Constitution about due process.
If you get tired of reading about backwards Republicans catch this graph of human progress and the future.
Hillary has turned to Bush's money man with the shady connections who helped set up Harken Energy.
Buried news - Bush lets in more immigrants, migrant workers for farmers.
Hedge fund manager who makes enormous profits from recessions: "worried about a recession, not a normal one, but a very bad one, the worst since the 1930s"
Time: Cox: Obama finally turns up the heat.
E*Trade caught in bad loans debacle. Technically, I have an account there and was also noticing their savings account ads this past week.
Medicare costs to rise, doctor's payments drop, AARP finally getting involved, why aren't the Democrats?
Popular Democrats and their popular government plans still shy away from liberal label. Unpopular conservative Republicans still wallowing in usage of conservative.
BBC: Debunking the top 10 climate change denier myths.
Hillary uses Bush press strategy, show them contempt and never give an inch.
Pasadena Mayoral Candidate Forum, Slocum Auditorium, SJC-Central Campus, 7:00 PM, Tuesday evening.
Robert Perry: Twelve months after being swept into Congress, the Democrats have caved in again and again to a weak and unpopular president.
America's failing health care system. Only 30 percent of Americans have access to same-day care. In Germany, 55 percent do. In New Zealand, 53 percent do. Americans find it twice as difficult to get care at night and on weekends without going to emergency rooms compared with the Dutch.
A Book from Amazon: A Year Without Made in China.
The New York Review of Books gets Krugman, why partisanship is now necessary.
Even liberal San Francisco is not immune to racist anti-Arab yahoos.
Diane Trautman is running again for the Texas state house from the Atascocita/Channelview area. She got the most votes of any Democrat running in her area but still could not get 41%. Like Sherrie Matula in 129 she needs to figure out how to get 3500 more voters flipping to Democrats in that district.
Trillions of losses soon to hit Americans, $400 billion from sub-prime, trillions from falling net worth.
Naomi Klein - The Nation: Shock Resistance in Latin America. The U.S. is about to lose the base that was planned for the introduction of US troops into Columbia before 9/11. The Iraq war stopped that war. The Bush-Cheney disaster has changed the world climate against the U.S. and losing influence and bases now follows.
I urge the GOP to listen to Bill Kristol. Instead of a 24% presidency how about a 24% party. Lieberman, that's the ticket.
Our newest Democratic major blogger calls BS on Mr. Meet The Press.
Our aid to Pakistan? Over 10 billions of dollars since 9/11, most in untraceable cash, directly to the dictator. Can somebody say Shah?
Why the Christian Right Distorts History and Why it Matters
Remember Heroes on Veteran's Day.
As they gear up for a fierce battle to attempt to take Representative Nick Lampson's seat, the Fort Bend GOP disintegrates. They are still scrambling to put something together. I am glad that the independent online local news site Fort Bend Now has hung around to report on this. Susan has more.
My urban brother is upset about a trend of no appeals on parking tickets. I thought there was something in the Constitution about due process.
If you get tired of reading about backwards Republicans catch this graph of human progress and the future.
Hillary has turned to Bush's money man with the shady connections who helped set up Harken Energy.
Buried news - Bush lets in more immigrants, migrant workers for farmers.
Hedge fund manager who makes enormous profits from recessions: "worried about a recession, not a normal one, but a very bad one, the worst since the 1930s"
Time: Cox: Obama finally turns up the heat.
E*Trade caught in bad loans debacle. Technically, I have an account there and was also noticing their savings account ads this past week.
Medicare costs to rise, doctor's payments drop, AARP finally getting involved, why aren't the Democrats?
Popular Democrats and their popular government plans still shy away from liberal label. Unpopular conservative Republicans still wallowing in usage of conservative.
BBC: Debunking the top 10 climate change denier myths.
Hillary uses Bush press strategy, show them contempt and never give an inch.
Pasadena Mayoral Candidate Forum, Slocum Auditorium, SJC-Central Campus, 7:00 PM, Tuesday evening.
Robert Perry: Twelve months after being swept into Congress, the Democrats have caved in again and again to a weak and unpopular president.
America's failing health care system. Only 30 percent of Americans have access to same-day care. In Germany, 55 percent do. In New Zealand, 53 percent do. Americans find it twice as difficult to get care at night and on weekends without going to emergency rooms compared with the Dutch.
A Book from Amazon: A Year Without Made in China.
The New York Review of Books gets Krugman, why partisanship is now necessary.
Even liberal San Francisco is not immune to racist anti-Arab yahoos.
Diane Trautman is running again for the Texas state house from the Atascocita/Channelview area. She got the most votes of any Democrat running in her area but still could not get 41%. Like Sherrie Matula in 129 she needs to figure out how to get 3500 more voters flipping to Democrats in that district.
Trillions of losses soon to hit Americans, $400 billion from sub-prime, trillions from falling net worth.
Naomi Klein - The Nation: Shock Resistance in Latin America. The U.S. is about to lose the base that was planned for the introduction of US troops into Columbia before 9/11. The Iraq war stopped that war. The Bush-Cheney disaster has changed the world climate against the U.S. and losing influence and bases now follows.
I urge the GOP to listen to Bill Kristol. Instead of a 24% presidency how about a 24% party. Lieberman, that's the ticket.
Our newest Democratic major blogger calls BS on Mr. Meet The Press.
Our aid to Pakistan? Over 10 billions of dollars since 9/11, most in untraceable cash, directly to the dictator. Can somebody say Shah?
Why the Christian Right Distorts History and Why it Matters
A running refrain in the revisionist narrative is that somehow the original intention of God and the Founding Fathers has been thwarted by some combination of liberals, judicial tyrants, the ACLU, secular humanists, and more. This notion, which seems silly to some, is tremendously powerful in the context of the conservative Christian subculture. It asserts that "the Christians," (however one may define Christians), are the intended rulers of the nation, because that's what God, the Founding Fathers, and by implication, the Constitution, sought to accomplish.
It is a powerful piece of political and religious mythology that feeds into another powerful myth - that Christians are persecuted in the United States by the very forces that have thwarted God's plan for America. The effect is to make people feel that something has been unjustly, unrighteously taken from them - and that that something must be "restored" or "reclaimed." The Christian Right's Jamestown event captured this sentiment.
But for all of the Christian revisionism that has gone into crafting this narrative, and as popular a notion as it is, there is a problem: the facts of history do not support the myth of Christian nationalism. That is why history has to be revised in the first place. This is one of many aspects of the Christian Right that has been largely ignored and has gone largely unanswered by the rest of society during its march to power.
Texas Round-Up 18
It's Monday, and that means it is time once again for the Texas Progressive Alliance's Texas Blog Round-Up. This week's round-up is brought to you by Vince from Capitol Annex.
TXsharon at Bluedaze sounds an alert about an investigative report exposing The Most Toxic Substance on Earth and the Barnett Shale gas exploration.
CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme is disgusted with UT Southwestern Medical Center's policy of using state funds to give the 'elite' special treatment while the rest of us languish.
McBlogger wants to know why Barney Frank is loving on big banks with his Kill The Mortgage Market bill, HR 3915.
Xanthippas at Three Wise Men says be on the look out for how credit card and home mortgage lenders will screw you by making you pay debts you don't actually owe.
Muse finds herself in the middle of a massive police presence and wonders if she has wandered into a manhunt. Nah, not an escaped convict, just W in town to get slobbered on by his lapdog, John Cornyn, at a fundraiser.
At Half Empty, Hal questions whether Congressmen Lantos' and Smith's excoriation of Yahoo! chiefs for releasing information to the ChiComs, is just the pot calling the kettle black.
Burnt Orange Report is all over the runoff for HD 97. Todd Hill gives an analysis of on the ground action and why Democrat Dan Barrett came in first place to secure a runoff spot in the HD 97 race this past week. Phillip Martin breaks down the numbers and price-per-vote, while also looking at some possibly illegal practices by the Republican in the runoff, Mark Shelton.
John Coby at Bay Area Houston writes about Bay Area Houston State Representative John Davis being slapped by the Ethics Watchdog. Again.
The Texas Cloverleaf's hide is chapped by the abolishment of the hide inspectors and calls for a new Texas Constitutional Convention.
BossKitty at BlueBloggin points out how the Bush administration shows their support for veterans and the troops in US Tax Dollars NOT Spent on Homeless Veterans - Words Are Cheaper.
Texas Toad at North Texas Liberal fills us in on Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson's announcement of the delay in the sale of the Christmas Mountains, as well as the reaction of Environment Texas.
Lightseeker at Texas Kaos tells that gigantic slurping sound from a few acres of scrub in north Texas was just T. Boone Pickens stealing water rights..
Vince at Capitol Annex has some reservations about the fact that the Bill White 2010 bandwagon is already rolling down the tracks.
WhosPlayin takes a look at an aspiring new "non-partisan" political party - the GOOOH party.
Gary at Easter Lemming Liberal News had one of his (in)famous what I did election day posts.
PDiddie is fed up with Democrats like Dianne Feinstein and Chuck Schumer, and intends to support only members of the Democratic Party such as Dennis Kucinich and John Edwards. He clarifies the distinction in "The Democrat Party vs. the Democratic Party", at Brains and Eggs.
WCNews at Eye on Williamson has video of the TCRP's Scott Medlock Discussing Williamson County, T. Don Hutto, & CCA.
Off the Kuff does a little after action review by examining his Election Day predictions to see how they turned out.
TXsharon at Bluedaze sounds an alert about an investigative report exposing The Most Toxic Substance on Earth and the Barnett Shale gas exploration.
CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme is disgusted with UT Southwestern Medical Center's policy of using state funds to give the 'elite' special treatment while the rest of us languish.
McBlogger wants to know why Barney Frank is loving on big banks with his Kill The Mortgage Market bill, HR 3915.
Xanthippas at Three Wise Men says be on the look out for how credit card and home mortgage lenders will screw you by making you pay debts you don't actually owe.
Muse finds herself in the middle of a massive police presence and wonders if she has wandered into a manhunt. Nah, not an escaped convict, just W in town to get slobbered on by his lapdog, John Cornyn, at a fundraiser.
At Half Empty, Hal questions whether Congressmen Lantos' and Smith's excoriation of Yahoo! chiefs for releasing information to the ChiComs, is just the pot calling the kettle black.
Burnt Orange Report is all over the runoff for HD 97. Todd Hill gives an analysis of on the ground action and why Democrat Dan Barrett came in first place to secure a runoff spot in the HD 97 race this past week. Phillip Martin breaks down the numbers and price-per-vote, while also looking at some possibly illegal practices by the Republican in the runoff, Mark Shelton.
John Coby at Bay Area Houston writes about Bay Area Houston State Representative John Davis being slapped by the Ethics Watchdog. Again.
The Texas Cloverleaf's hide is chapped by the abolishment of the hide inspectors and calls for a new Texas Constitutional Convention.
BossKitty at BlueBloggin points out how the Bush administration shows their support for veterans and the troops in US Tax Dollars NOT Spent on Homeless Veterans - Words Are Cheaper.
Texas Toad at North Texas Liberal fills us in on Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson's announcement of the delay in the sale of the Christmas Mountains, as well as the reaction of Environment Texas.
Lightseeker at Texas Kaos tells that gigantic slurping sound from a few acres of scrub in north Texas was just T. Boone Pickens stealing water rights..
Vince at Capitol Annex has some reservations about the fact that the Bill White 2010 bandwagon is already rolling down the tracks.
WhosPlayin takes a look at an aspiring new "non-partisan" political party - the GOOOH party.
PDiddie is fed up with Democrats like Dianne Feinstein and Chuck Schumer, and intends to support only members of the Democratic Party such as Dennis Kucinich and John Edwards. He clarifies the distinction in "The Democrat Party vs. the Democratic Party", at Brains and Eggs.
WCNews at Eye on Williamson has video of the TCRP's Scott Medlock Discussing Williamson County, T. Don Hutto, & CCA.
Off the Kuff does a little after action review by examining his Election Day predictions to see how they turned out.
Thursday, November 08, 2007
Who Made Up the Bush Being Converted by Billy Graham Story?
Everyone knows that Bush was a wild drunk until Billy Graham saved him during a walk and helped him become "born-again." The only problem is it didn't happen. It was just a tale to put in his biography. Craig Unger shows how both Bush and Graham denied the story, Karen Hughes added it to his "auto-biography" and who really saved Bush.
Prediction: Going to Hell in a Handbasket
Very Bad News on Economy, Stocks, and War
Only investment opportunity appears to be Gold. General Motors admitted yesterday behind financial talk that it strongly doubts it will make money for years. Stock market down 3% with worse to come. Dollar is rapidly collapsing. Our government economic statistics are lies.
More bad news - Bush and Cheney now have a slim majority of Americans supporting an attack on Iran, after an attack there will be more support, for a short while. The GOP field, except for Ron Paul, supports this. Hillary isn't strongly opposed. Cautious Democrats in Congress will not stand up against this disaster.
The Senate looks likely to endorse as our highest law enforcement officer someone who believes the president is above the law and doesn't think partial drowning is torture. Two Democrats, Senators Schumer and Feinstein, have enabled this.
Any good news? More Americans "strongly disapprove" of Bush than any president in history, except Democrats and Republicans and the media don't acknowledge this simple fact, yet. Huge majority of Americans want us out of Iraq NOW. And gays get historic House support.
This will be a bad week, a very bad month, most of next year will not be good. I am just a fountain of optimism today, aren't I?
Only investment opportunity appears to be Gold. General Motors admitted yesterday behind financial talk that it strongly doubts it will make money for years. Stock market down 3% with worse to come. Dollar is rapidly collapsing. Our government economic statistics are lies.
More bad news - Bush and Cheney now have a slim majority of Americans supporting an attack on Iran, after an attack there will be more support, for a short while. The GOP field, except for Ron Paul, supports this. Hillary isn't strongly opposed. Cautious Democrats in Congress will not stand up against this disaster.
The Senate looks likely to endorse as our highest law enforcement officer someone who believes the president is above the law and doesn't think partial drowning is torture. Two Democrats, Senators Schumer and Feinstein, have enabled this.
Any good news? More Americans "strongly disapprove" of Bush than any president in history, except Democrats and Republicans and the media don't acknowledge this simple fact, yet. Huge majority of Americans want us out of Iraq NOW. And gays get historic House support.
This will be a bad week, a very bad month, most of next year will not be good. I am just a fountain of optimism today, aren't I?
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
New Convert to End of Oil
The International Energy Agency which has long pooh-poohed concerns about energy shortages has had a sudden change of heart. Their new report claims new energy demands from India and China constitute a future global crisis which only immediate massive investments in alternate energy can avert.
Wired Autopia blog:
Wired Autopia blog:
As an overall piece of the global energy pie, oil will shrink as demand for coal skyrockets 73 percent and the use of natural gas and electricity climb too, the IEA says. Meeting the demand for all that fossil fuel will require investing $22 trillion in the supply infrastructure.America and the world will spend a long time recovering from the Supreme Court choosing Bush as president.
But of perhaps greater concern is the environmental impact of such growth. Without sweeping changes, the report states, carbon dioxide emissions will rise 57 percent to 42 gigatons by 2030. Even under the best case-scenario, which assumes the various proposals by industrialized nations to reduce emissions come to pass, emissions will climb 25 percent.
China and India will account for two-thirds of the increase, and even under the best circumstances any meaningful effort to cut emissions below current levels will require "exceptionally quick and vigorous policy actions by all countires, and unprecedented technological advances, entailing substantial costs," the report states.
So what can we do? The IEA doesn't offer a whole lot of solutions beyond saying improving energy efficiency - of everything, from automobiles to refrigerators - will be the quickest and cheapest way to begin curbing energy demand and carbon emissions. Clearly that won't be enough, and the IEA makes that point clear when it says we must explore every option and "a substantial increase is called for in public and private funding for energy technology research, development and demonstration."
How much funding? As we reported in "How Hydrogen Can Save America," the U.S. could shift much of its economy from oil to hydrogen within a decade for $100 billion - about what we spent in today's dollars to put a man on the moon.
Texas Election Results
Statewide amendments - all pass. Turnout less than 8.5%. Lowest level of support at 58% was for the mixed construction and repair project bonds for various purposes. Highest support at 86% was to totally exempt disabled veterans from ad valorem homestead taxation and increase partial disability exemption. Since the legislature did not pass the enabling laws we'll see if potential dangers of unlimited 100% tax exemptions are avoided.
Harris County Proposition 3 was defeated ($200 million for new jail space), the others narrowly passed. The new medical forensics had the most approval at 58%, proving people were paying attention to the problems at the medical lab.
I worked the election all day - 14 hours. Stayed awake after less than three hours sleep - barely. Forty citizens voted early, 60 on election day. One person accidentally pushed cast ballot instead of enter on first item. Sorry, no fix for that yet, she voted. Unfortunately, this happened at one of the very few times the judges were busy, talking to the roving tech, and didn't spot her needing help. This turnout of 100 is in a precinct that has 3200+ voters on the registration roll. You do the math.
I mentioned before closing we could go to an election night party. One person we added as a clerk that day after she voted (vote and get a temp minimum wage job!) said cool. I looked online and the closest party appeared to be Manisha Mehta's at Mamacita's in Clear Lake. I knew little about the candidate but thought some Bay Area New Democrats I knew might be there. When we got there we two were the only non-Indians and I knew no one. Not wanting to crash a party and partake of food for an election where I knew no one and couldn't have voted we left immediately. While driving back I invited two more people (one couldn't make it) to make our own party. We enjoyed Texas Road House (menu pdf). Killer Rib appetizers, shrimp skewers, baked sweet potato with honey butter and a fried onion bloom. Best shrimp I have had in the last two years, why do most places overcook? Everything including the non-alcoholic drinks was good and service was exceptional.
They were showing sports on TV. We ended up providing are own election commentary: The election conclusion we reached among us was that Don Harrison is an ass in Pasadena Council meetings now especially since he is running for mayor, but that is nothing new; and that Mehta would need to reach outside the Indian community to win. I suggested that people who don't vote be drafted but that was voted down. They are probably being punished enough by the people who do vote.
Other Harris County election night results.
Harris County Proposition 3 was defeated ($200 million for new jail space), the others narrowly passed. The new medical forensics had the most approval at 58%, proving people were paying attention to the problems at the medical lab.
I worked the election all day - 14 hours. Stayed awake after less than three hours sleep - barely. Forty citizens voted early, 60 on election day. One person accidentally pushed cast ballot instead of enter on first item. Sorry, no fix for that yet, she voted. Unfortunately, this happened at one of the very few times the judges were busy, talking to the roving tech, and didn't spot her needing help. This turnout of 100 is in a precinct that has 3200+ voters on the registration roll. You do the math.
I mentioned before closing we could go to an election night party. One person we added as a clerk that day after she voted (vote and get a temp minimum wage job!) said cool. I looked online and the closest party appeared to be Manisha Mehta's at Mamacita's in Clear Lake. I knew little about the candidate but thought some Bay Area New Democrats I knew might be there. When we got there we two were the only non-Indians and I knew no one. Not wanting to crash a party and partake of food for an election where I knew no one and couldn't have voted we left immediately. While driving back I invited two more people (one couldn't make it) to make our own party. We enjoyed Texas Road House (menu pdf). Killer Rib appetizers, shrimp skewers, baked sweet potato with honey butter and a fried onion bloom. Best shrimp I have had in the last two years, why do most places overcook? Everything including the non-alcoholic drinks was good and service was exceptional.
They were showing sports on TV. We ended up providing are own election commentary: The election conclusion we reached among us was that Don Harrison is an ass in Pasadena Council meetings now especially since he is running for mayor, but that is nothing new; and that Mehta would need to reach outside the Indian community to win. I suggested that people who don't vote be drafted but that was voted down. They are probably being punished enough by the people who do vote.
Other Harris County election night results.
Monday, November 05, 2007
Links - Things are going to Hell edition
Vote Tuesday, your last chance to read legalistic language and say Yes or No on billions of dollars.
"War with Iran would be a catastrophe that would make us look back fondly on the minor inconvenience of being bogged down in Iraq."
This isn't even up for the worst wingnutiest blog post of all time. There was some thought at first that Steven Den Beste at USS Clueless was a parody site until he was invited to write articles for the Wall Street Journal online and was recognized as a very serious blogger by the right. Now he just watches and blogs mainly about soft-core anime but swears he isn't looking at the dirty parts.
GOP Congressman blocks links from bloggers. What Steven Den Beste did but not as sophisticated.
My personalized Google News site.
It is the worst economy of our lifetimes - looking at slow job growth and declining median incomes.
But that assumes the government numbers are accurate. It is actually much worse because they are lying about jobs and inflation and incomes and GDP. This past quarter the Commerce Department assumed inflation was 0.8% in order to report good news. The year-over-year inflation of all items was 16.8% as The Economist reported. Even core inflation excluding energy and food, which for some reason the Fed does exclude, is going through the roof. Ever since Reagan the government economists have been playing with the numbers so that inflation appears lower and they can keep Social Security and other COLA payments lower.
The government statistics lies have gotten so bad there is a newsletter for businesses that need the real non-manipulated statistics. (Why did they stop reporting M3 - total money supply, because it would now show 15% annual increases.) If CPI was calculated with official 1980 methodology inflation would currently be shown as 10%.
Best case scenario is something like the late seventies and early eighties, which as those old enough to have live through them, were truly awful. Worst case scenario is we're walking into the next Great Depression.
Credit card debt is quickly accelerating as people are paying basic needs at usury rates. Also there are warning signs on defaulting car loans.
Want a new loan? Tough.
...
Non-economic -
Newsweek: "After six years of propping up and making excuses for Pervez Musharraf . . . Washington doesn't have many friends left to call on in Pakistan -- perhaps the No. 1 generator of anti-U.S. terrorism in the world today. That's the dilemma that democracy crusader George W. Bush faces after Musharraf, one of his firmest allies, took the dictator's path and declared martial law on Saturday. . . . "
Despite billions of dollars in aid, Washington had no influence.
Rich state and poor state voters
A reason to put up with expensive cable or satellite - Keith Olbermann. BBC America, Comedy Central, Adult Swim, History, Current TV and Discovery have some good programs too.
Torture, the litmus test for Americans, Congress and Attorney Generals.
Blogging - petering out?
New study: Americans wait longer for health care than other wealthy nations. Don't hear that often.
The right finds yet another kid to beat up on. This time over global warming.
Will Rudy play the race and porn card to win? Krugman: Will Democrats, and Clinton, wobble?
Banana companies slashing wages, increasing hours, shirking taxes.
Some days I wonder if the only cure for burn out is a Blue Blazer.
The right has nominated for funniest blogger someone who's idea of fun was tormenting a guy dying of pancreatic cancer and screwing up his finances after accusing him of faking. Of course, he was winning as funniest, (let's kick a cancer patient, what a hoot), with all his Freeper friends until Sadly No decided to let his past actions speak for themselves.
"War with Iran would be a catastrophe that would make us look back fondly on the minor inconvenience of being bogged down in Iraq."
This isn't even up for the worst wingnutiest blog post of all time. There was some thought at first that Steven Den Beste at USS Clueless was a parody site until he was invited to write articles for the Wall Street Journal online and was recognized as a very serious blogger by the right. Now he just watches and blogs mainly about soft-core anime but swears he isn't looking at the dirty parts.
GOP Congressman blocks links from bloggers. What Steven Den Beste did but not as sophisticated.
My personalized Google News site.
It is the worst economy of our lifetimes - looking at slow job growth and declining median incomes.
But that assumes the government numbers are accurate. It is actually much worse because they are lying about jobs and inflation and incomes and GDP. This past quarter the Commerce Department assumed inflation was 0.8% in order to report good news. The year-over-year inflation of all items was 16.8% as The Economist reported. Even core inflation excluding energy and food, which for some reason the Fed does exclude, is going through the roof. Ever since Reagan the government economists have been playing with the numbers so that inflation appears lower and they can keep Social Security and other COLA payments lower.
The government statistics lies have gotten so bad there is a newsletter for businesses that need the real non-manipulated statistics. (Why did they stop reporting M3 - total money supply, because it would now show 15% annual increases.) If CPI was calculated with official 1980 methodology inflation would currently be shown as 10%.
Best case scenario is something like the late seventies and early eighties, which as those old enough to have live through them, were truly awful. Worst case scenario is we're walking into the next Great Depression.
Credit card debt is quickly accelerating as people are paying basic needs at usury rates. Also there are warning signs on defaulting car loans.
Want a new loan? Tough.
...
Non-economic -
Newsweek: "After six years of propping up and making excuses for Pervez Musharraf . . . Washington doesn't have many friends left to call on in Pakistan -- perhaps the No. 1 generator of anti-U.S. terrorism in the world today. That's the dilemma that democracy crusader George W. Bush faces after Musharraf, one of his firmest allies, took the dictator's path and declared martial law on Saturday. . . . "
Despite billions of dollars in aid, Washington had no influence.
Rich state and poor state voters
A reason to put up with expensive cable or satellite - Keith Olbermann. BBC America, Comedy Central, Adult Swim, History, Current TV and Discovery have some good programs too.
Torture, the litmus test for Americans, Congress and Attorney Generals.
Blogging - petering out?
New study: Americans wait longer for health care than other wealthy nations. Don't hear that often.
The right finds yet another kid to beat up on. This time over global warming.
Will Rudy play the race and porn card to win? Krugman: Will Democrats, and Clinton, wobble?
Banana companies slashing wages, increasing hours, shirking taxes.
Some days I wonder if the only cure for burn out is a Blue Blazer.
The right has nominated for funniest blogger someone who's idea of fun was tormenting a guy dying of pancreatic cancer and screwing up his finances after accusing him of faking. Of course, he was winning as funniest, (let's kick a cancer patient, what a hoot), with all his Freeper friends until Sadly No decided to let his past actions speak for themselves.
Remember, remember the 5th of November
I find it interesting that it is Ron Paul grassroots surporters who latched on to Guy Fawkes Day as a day to demonstrate support - right now it looks like $3 million plus dollars worth in one day. Update - close to $4.3 million.
Everyone was amazed when Howard Dean raised $600,000 in small internet donations in one day. Ron Paul is blowing away all the GOP candidates in money raising except for Romney and Rudy. Some analysts are now talking about a brokered convention as the GOP seems so split.
Pass the popcorn and vote Tuesday, some of you may need the practice.
Everyone was amazed when Howard Dean raised $600,000 in small internet donations in one day. Ron Paul is blowing away all the GOP candidates in money raising except for Romney and Rudy. Some analysts are now talking about a brokered convention as the GOP seems so split.
Pass the popcorn and vote Tuesday, some of you may need the practice.
Vote Tuesday
Voting locations in Harris County.
My take on the Texas Amendments. More election stuff.
P.S. I'll just link to TXSharon for the progressive blog roundup #17 for this week.
My take on the Texas Amendments. More election stuff.
P.S. I'll just link to TXSharon for the progressive blog roundup #17 for this week.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Monday, October 29, 2007
Ballot Recommendations -Update
You can read about the election going on now here with directions on where to vote and other people's take on the ballot.
Here are my thoughts. I have borrowed from Kuffner for the format.
Proposition 1:
Correcting the Constitution to list Angelo State University as part of the Texas Tech system.
My vote: Skip. Let the people who are concerned about the issue decide what college system Angelo State should be part of.
Proposition 2:
Authorizing $500 million in additional state bonds for college student loans.
My vote: Yes. Educational loans are the only bonds I support at a time of budget surpluses.
Proposition 3:
Clarifying that the appraised value of a homestead for property taxes cannot increase by more than 10% in any year, even if more than a year has passed since the home was last appraised.
My vote: Yes. although this is meaningless for the great majority of people in Texas whose property gets appraised every year.
Proposition 4:
Authorizing $1 billion in additional state bonds for prisons, DPS, mental health facilities and other state projects.
My vote: No. There are good projects mixed with bad and the both could have been funded without bonds.
Proposition 5:
Allowing small towns to grant tax breaks for downtown development if approved by local voters.
My vote: Yes. Many smaller Texas towns are becoming ghost towns downtown. This will be abused but will help with the problem.
Proposition 6:
Exempting motor vehicles used in business from property tax if they are also used for personal purposes.
My vote: No. Tax breaks for those who can most afford taxes means those who can least afford it pay more.
Proposition 7:
Allowing property that was sold to the government through eminent domain to be bought back by the seller at the original sales price if the government does not use the property.
My vote: No. This grant is too unrestricted and could easily be abused.
Proposition 8:
Changing the consumer protections for home equity loans.
My vote: No. I've looked and looked and there is screwy wording in this legislation which seems to me to be aimed at protecting lending institutions and not consumers. Oral applications and blanks in the contracts are still acceptable, as are high fees.
Proposition 9:
Exempting totally disabled veterans from property taxes.
My vote: No. There was no limitation on this. What do you want to bet some millionaires transfer conditional title to estates to disabled vets to avoid taxes? Disabled vets already receive property tax breaks, this makes them unlimited.
Proposition 10:
Abolishing the office of inspector of hides and animals
My vote: Yes.
Proposition 11:
Requiring how each legislator voted on the final vote on most legislative bills to be recorded and posted on the Internet
My vote: Yes. All votes should be recorded, with video cameras as well. I want to watch the money change hands.
Proposition 12:
Authorizing $5 billion in additional state bonds for highways.
My vote: NO. Texas has the most powerful highway construction lobby in the country and seems to spend more on these state roads than people. McBlogger points out that they haven't even issued the last $3 billion bond issue yet.
Proposition 13:
Allowing judges to deny bail to defendants in family violence cases who violate certain conditions of their initial release on bail.
My vote: No. I dislike this whittling away of civil rights. This allows judges to keep people in jail who have never been convicted of a crime.
Proposition 14:
Allowing judges to serve their entire term of office even if they reach the mandatory retirement age of 75 while serving.
My vote: No. This keeps old judges in office. I don't want these 75-year-old geezers getting another extension. In the one case I can find that this currently applies to I don't want that cranky judge.
Proposition 15:
Authorizing $3 billion in bonds for a new program to fund cancer research.
My vote: NO. I don't want Perry's friends deciding what places get state bond money, even for cancer research. What do you want to bet that medical facilities, doctors and scientists suddenly start becoming political donors to get these funds? Why only research, why not cancer care?
Proposition 16:
Authorizing $250 million in additional state bonds for water and sewers in existing subdivisions that were developed with inadequate facilities.
My vote: No. McBlogger also points out that the state should have required developers to put in water and sewer systems, not come to taxpayers to put them in afterwards.
Summary: YES on 2, 3, 5, 10 and 11. I would not feel too sad if all were defeated.
Harris County bond issues.
Yes on the parks, medical examiners office and the port. No on the others. The Port is borderline Yes, can't it finance these improvements itself, albeit through privatization of facilities or other means? Privatization and other means are worse in regards to corruption than this bond issue. The roads are borderline No. Roads need improvement, but a regional mobility plan needs to be offered to the voters. Update, I am getting arguments that 1) the jail is not just an expansion but needed improvements for the public, 2) I am condemning us to crappier roads and 3) that the family law court is really needed. Your mileage may vary.
Summary: YES, 2, 4 and 6, Maybe on the others.
HOUSTON I.S.D., PROPOSITION
My vote: Yes, if I lived in HISD. If you vote no it simply means it comes back next year in a different form which is also OK.
UPDATE - Texas Progressive Alliance Blog Round Up: Amendments, Elections, & Endorsements For The November 6 Ballot. I will send you to Vince rather than repost this.
Sharon now has David Van Os on the Texas amendments. He has a number of disagreements with me. These amendments are controversial and good people can disagree.
The Houston Chronicle hasn't had much to say about the elections at all. If they add anything it will be here. Update - I found Clay Robison's report on the amendments. The Chron has also just come out urging a YES vote on all amendments and bonds.
Here are my thoughts. I have borrowed from Kuffner for the format.
Proposition 1:
Correcting the Constitution to list Angelo State University as part of the Texas Tech system.
My vote: Skip. Let the people who are concerned about the issue decide what college system Angelo State should be part of.
Proposition 2:
Authorizing $500 million in additional state bonds for college student loans.
My vote: Yes. Educational loans are the only bonds I support at a time of budget surpluses.
Proposition 3:
Clarifying that the appraised value of a homestead for property taxes cannot increase by more than 10% in any year, even if more than a year has passed since the home was last appraised.
My vote: Yes. although this is meaningless for the great majority of people in Texas whose property gets appraised every year.
Proposition 4:
Authorizing $1 billion in additional state bonds for prisons, DPS, mental health facilities and other state projects.
My vote: No. There are good projects mixed with bad and the both could have been funded without bonds.
Proposition 5:
Allowing small towns to grant tax breaks for downtown development if approved by local voters.
My vote: Yes. Many smaller Texas towns are becoming ghost towns downtown. This will be abused but will help with the problem.
Proposition 6:
Exempting motor vehicles used in business from property tax if they are also used for personal purposes.
My vote: No. Tax breaks for those who can most afford taxes means those who can least afford it pay more.
Proposition 7:
Allowing property that was sold to the government through eminent domain to be bought back by the seller at the original sales price if the government does not use the property.
My vote: No. This grant is too unrestricted and could easily be abused.
Proposition 8:
Changing the consumer protections for home equity loans.
My vote: No. I've looked and looked and there is screwy wording in this legislation which seems to me to be aimed at protecting lending institutions and not consumers. Oral applications and blanks in the contracts are still acceptable, as are high fees.
Proposition 9:
Exempting totally disabled veterans from property taxes.
My vote: No. There was no limitation on this. What do you want to bet some millionaires transfer conditional title to estates to disabled vets to avoid taxes? Disabled vets already receive property tax breaks, this makes them unlimited.
Proposition 10:
Abolishing the office of inspector of hides and animals
My vote: Yes.
Proposition 11:
Requiring how each legislator voted on the final vote on most legislative bills to be recorded and posted on the Internet
My vote: Yes. All votes should be recorded, with video cameras as well. I want to watch the money change hands.
Proposition 12:
Authorizing $5 billion in additional state bonds for highways.
My vote: NO. Texas has the most powerful highway construction lobby in the country and seems to spend more on these state roads than people. McBlogger points out that they haven't even issued the last $3 billion bond issue yet.
Proposition 13:
Allowing judges to deny bail to defendants in family violence cases who violate certain conditions of their initial release on bail.
My vote: No. I dislike this whittling away of civil rights. This allows judges to keep people in jail who have never been convicted of a crime.
Proposition 14:
Allowing judges to serve their entire term of office even if they reach the mandatory retirement age of 75 while serving.
My vote: No. This keeps old judges in office. I don't want these 75-year-old geezers getting another extension. In the one case I can find that this currently applies to I don't want that cranky judge.
Proposition 15:
Authorizing $3 billion in bonds for a new program to fund cancer research.
My vote: NO. I don't want Perry's friends deciding what places get state bond money, even for cancer research. What do you want to bet that medical facilities, doctors and scientists suddenly start becoming political donors to get these funds? Why only research, why not cancer care?
Proposition 16:
Authorizing $250 million in additional state bonds for water and sewers in existing subdivisions that were developed with inadequate facilities.
My vote: No. McBlogger also points out that the state should have required developers to put in water and sewer systems, not come to taxpayers to put them in afterwards.
Summary: YES on 2, 3, 5, 10 and 11. I would not feel too sad if all were defeated.
Harris County bond issues.
Yes on the parks, medical examiners office and the port. No on the others. The Port is borderline Yes, can't it finance these improvements itself, albeit through privatization of facilities or other means? Privatization and other means are worse in regards to corruption than this bond issue. The roads are borderline No. Roads need improvement, but a regional mobility plan needs to be offered to the voters. Update, I am getting arguments that 1) the jail is not just an expansion but needed improvements for the public, 2) I am condemning us to crappier roads and 3) that the family law court is really needed. Your mileage may vary.
Summary: YES, 2, 4 and 6, Maybe on the others.
HOUSTON I.S.D., PROPOSITION
My vote: Yes, if I lived in HISD. If you vote no it simply means it comes back next year in a different form which is also OK.
UPDATE - Texas Progressive Alliance Blog Round Up: Amendments, Elections, & Endorsements For The November 6 Ballot. I will send you to Vince rather than repost this.
Sharon now has David Van Os on the Texas amendments. He has a number of disagreements with me. These amendments are controversial and good people can disagree.
The Houston Chronicle hasn't had much to say about the elections at all. If they add anything it will be here. Update - I found Clay Robison's report on the amendments. The Chron has also just come out urging a YES vote on all amendments and bonds.
Texas Round-Up 16
It's Monday, and that means it's once again time for the Texas Progressive Alliance Blog Round-Up. This week's round-up is complied by Vince from Capitol Annex.
There is an Election Going On in TEXAS - check here for info.
Refinish69 from Doing My Part For The Left is outraged with certain politicians in Fort Worth,Texas. Homophobia Rears Its Nasty Head in Fort Worth City Council Race tells who is being a jerk and how to contact one of them.
Muse was at Armando Walle’s campaign kick-off and reports why it’s time for a change in Texas House District 140. Kevin Bailey (Craddick D) has been serving Craddick and not the district. Walle, who is from the district and has a proven track record of service and leadership, already has a large group of supporters lined up to help him take back 140 for the people.
Phillip Martin of Burnt Orange Report provides a detailed chart and analysis updating what's going on with the Craddick D's. The post brought forward an interesting reader response as well.
TXsharon at Bluedaze gives the Texas Railroad Commission Protection Money Breakdown. and makes it easy for you to take action. So, please take that action before you become the next victim of RRC Malpractice.
Hal at Half Empty wonders whether FEMA has finally taken a page out of George Orwell's book when they held a 'news conference' this past week without a single journalist in attendance.
WhosPlayin notes that he would gladly pay the $13.30 per year per person to pay for SCHIP.
McBlogger takes a look at the strange world of Focus on the Family and the very odd people that attended their Values Voters conference.
CouldBeTrue at South Texas Chisme notes that Perry appointed a public corruption figure to the UT System Board of Regents.
Johncoby at Bay Area Houston finds the highest and lowest costs for electricity in the Houston area. Power Watch: Highest and lowest electricity rates for November.
Stace at DosCentavos features the trailer to the upcoming Jesse Salmeron film, This Is America. "This is America" is the story of a family torn apart by deportation.
NatWu at Three Wise Men exposes the truth about why we need Net Neutrality, especially with all the recent Telecom shenanigans.
North Texas Liberal's Texas Toad gives a breakdown on the factions of the "Trinity Vote" in Dallas Weighs Pros and Cons of Trinity Toll Road.
WCNews at Eye On Williamson wonders What Will John Carter's Excuse Be This Time For Voting Against Health Care For Children?
Off the Kuff gives his recommendations for the state and local bonds and propositions.
NYTexan at BlueBloggin asks how many wars and how many enemies can Bush have?
Vince at Capitol Annex notes that Tom Craddick has borrowed a page from Warren Chisum in announcing that trial lawyers were behind efforts to remove him during the 8oth Legislative Session and wonders why, since he reported it some months ago, it is suddenly "news" to the mainstream media.
In the wake of the Houston Chronicle's announcement of a "position-elimination program", PDiddie at Brains and Eggs recounts his personal experience with Hearst newspapers, budgets, and staff cutbacks in The Trouble with the Newspaper Bidness. (Sounds similar to the trouble in the retail business - EL.)
There is an Election Going On in TEXAS - check here for info.
Refinish69 from Doing My Part For The Left is outraged with certain politicians in Fort Worth,Texas. Homophobia Rears Its Nasty Head in Fort Worth City Council Race tells who is being a jerk and how to contact one of them.
Muse was at Armando Walle’s campaign kick-off and reports why it’s time for a change in Texas House District 140. Kevin Bailey (Craddick D) has been serving Craddick and not the district. Walle, who is from the district and has a proven track record of service and leadership, already has a large group of supporters lined up to help him take back 140 for the people.
Phillip Martin of Burnt Orange Report provides a detailed chart and analysis updating what's going on with the Craddick D's. The post brought forward an interesting reader response as well.
TXsharon at Bluedaze gives the Texas Railroad Commission Protection Money Breakdown. and makes it easy for you to take action. So, please take that action before you become the next victim of RRC Malpractice.
Hal at Half Empty wonders whether FEMA has finally taken a page out of George Orwell's book when they held a 'news conference' this past week without a single journalist in attendance.
WhosPlayin notes that he would gladly pay the $13.30 per year per person to pay for SCHIP.
McBlogger takes a look at the strange world of Focus on the Family and the very odd people that attended their Values Voters conference.
CouldBeTrue at South Texas Chisme notes that Perry appointed a public corruption figure to the UT System Board of Regents.
Johncoby at Bay Area Houston finds the highest and lowest costs for electricity in the Houston area. Power Watch: Highest and lowest electricity rates for November.
Stace at DosCentavos features the trailer to the upcoming Jesse Salmeron film, This Is America. "This is America" is the story of a family torn apart by deportation.
NatWu at Three Wise Men exposes the truth about why we need Net Neutrality, especially with all the recent Telecom shenanigans.
North Texas Liberal's Texas Toad gives a breakdown on the factions of the "Trinity Vote" in Dallas Weighs Pros and Cons of Trinity Toll Road.
WCNews at Eye On Williamson wonders What Will John Carter's Excuse Be This Time For Voting Against Health Care For Children?
Off the Kuff gives his recommendations for the state and local bonds and propositions.
NYTexan at BlueBloggin asks how many wars and how many enemies can Bush have?
Vince at Capitol Annex notes that Tom Craddick has borrowed a page from Warren Chisum in announcing that trial lawyers were behind efforts to remove him during the 8oth Legislative Session and wonders why, since he reported it some months ago, it is suddenly "news" to the mainstream media.
In the wake of the Houston Chronicle's announcement of a "position-elimination program", PDiddie at Brains and Eggs recounts his personal experience with Hearst newspapers, budgets, and staff cutbacks in The Trouble with the Newspaper Bidness. (Sounds similar to the trouble in the retail business - EL.)
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Vote Early, vote often - Updates
No, not really but voting early is much better than waiting for election day. If something is wrong you can correct it and it is easier to find where to vote. Here is where you can vote early (PDF).
Early voting schedule for Harris County locations is:
The Texas League of Women Voters Guide For the Amendments is here (PDF). Print it out and take it with you if you want. Study the Amendments, there will be a test.
A guide with more bond issues and candidates is here (PDF) but it doesn't cover the amendments as well.
Election day locations and other info is here.
The long analysis of the proposed Texas Constitutional amendments is here (PDF) including the full text of the bills. A condensed analysis without the full text prepared by the Republican leadership is here (Word format).
My thoughts and recommendations on the bonds, amendments and propositions are here.
Updates -- Laws: Still no photo ID required because some old people don't have birth certificates and would have a problem getting a photo ID. If you requested a vote-by-mail ballot and did not return it you don't have to bring the mail-in ballot to vote, but should. Now if you don't you can vote provisionally and later the provisional ballot will count if you had not voted and everything else is correct. No wireless communications allowed within 100 feet of the voting machines, not the voting location. No phoning a friend for help or ordering pizza or answering your phone unless you are 100 feet away. Voting judges, clerks, and other people are not allowed to tell you anything about the ballot measures except what is on the ballot. You can bring voter guides in but there will not be any kept at the polling location. No election apparel items or candidate names, like t-shirts or buttons, allowed within 100 feet. Someone should tell the county clerk who last year gave small buttons for election workers that violated this.
Updates on Amendments: Scott Hochberg has a Democratic state representative view of the pros and cons of the amendments.
Independents against Perry recommendations on the Amendments.
My Dad has cancer and does not recommend allowing the governor to appoint people to decide what places get billions from public state loans for cancer research.
Harris County AFL-CIO: Vote Yes on Texas amendments #2, 8, 9, 11, 13, 15. They also support the local bonds.
Charles Kuffner has his recommendations. I am leaning toward voting against all the bond funding despite the good projects included because Texas had way more than enough money to finance them without bonds which raises the price. Republicans have an agenda of "borrow and spend" government and privatization for their cronies because they are richly rewarded for it. Liberal blogger Vince at Capital Annex recommendations.
Libertarian Recommendations.
Campaign Updates: Manlove campaigns in Fort Bend County for GOP nomination. Mikal Watts withdraws from Senate race. Rick Noriega supporters wish Mikal well.
P.S., totally unrelated but I don't want to push this post down - Riverbend is safe. Her family has fled to Syria to get out of Baghdad.
From PBS Frontline: Showdown With Iran. Seems like fundamentalists are headed for war.
Early voting schedule for Harris County locations is:
Monday-Friday, October 22-26, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 27, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sunday, October 28, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Monday-Friday, October 29-November 2, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The Texas League of Women Voters Guide For the Amendments is here (PDF). Print it out and take it with you if you want. Study the Amendments, there will be a test.
A guide with more bond issues and candidates is here (PDF) but it doesn't cover the amendments as well.
Election day locations and other info is here.
The long analysis of the proposed Texas Constitutional amendments is here (PDF) including the full text of the bills. A condensed analysis without the full text prepared by the Republican leadership is here (Word format).
My thoughts and recommendations on the bonds, amendments and propositions are here.
Updates -- Laws: Still no photo ID required because some old people don't have birth certificates and would have a problem getting a photo ID. If you requested a vote-by-mail ballot and did not return it you don't have to bring the mail-in ballot to vote, but should. Now if you don't you can vote provisionally and later the provisional ballot will count if you had not voted and everything else is correct. No wireless communications allowed within 100 feet of the voting machines, not the voting location. No phoning a friend for help or ordering pizza or answering your phone unless you are 100 feet away. Voting judges, clerks, and other people are not allowed to tell you anything about the ballot measures except what is on the ballot. You can bring voter guides in but there will not be any kept at the polling location. No election apparel items or candidate names, like t-shirts or buttons, allowed within 100 feet. Someone should tell the county clerk who last year gave small buttons for election workers that violated this.
Updates on Amendments: Scott Hochberg has a Democratic state representative view of the pros and cons of the amendments.
Independents against Perry recommendations on the Amendments.
My Dad has cancer and does not recommend allowing the governor to appoint people to decide what places get billions from public state loans for cancer research.
Harris County AFL-CIO: Vote Yes on Texas amendments #2, 8, 9, 11, 13, 15. They also support the local bonds.
Charles Kuffner has his recommendations. I am leaning toward voting against all the bond funding despite the good projects included because Texas had way more than enough money to finance them without bonds which raises the price. Republicans have an agenda of "borrow and spend" government and privatization for their cronies because they are richly rewarded for it. Liberal blogger Vince at Capital Annex recommendations.
Libertarian Recommendations.
Campaign Updates: Manlove campaigns in Fort Bend County for GOP nomination. Mikal Watts withdraws from Senate race. Rick Noriega supporters wish Mikal well.
P.S., totally unrelated but I don't want to push this post down - Riverbend is safe. Her family has fled to Syria to get out of Baghdad.
From PBS Frontline: Showdown With Iran. Seems like fundamentalists are headed for war.
Monday, October 22, 2007
GOP Congressman goes to Hawaii and all he got was the ugly Ho
A trial about power, bribery and a dirty politician took another tawdry turn Wednesday, as a hooker from Hawaii testified that Poway businessman Brent Wilkes argued with former North County Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham over who would get the prettier of two prostitutes.Randy Randy "Duke" Cunningham had a 100% rating from the Christian Coalition.
Wilkes won.
Soon after that, his government contracts dried up.
The men's dispute over the two prostitutes -- while chomping on cigars and soaking with the naked women in a private Jacuzzi in a Hawaiian resort -- happened at a crucial time.
One of Wilkes' competitors was out-bribing Wilkes to line Cunningham's pockets in 2003, according to testimony Wednesday, so Wilkes raised the stakes. Wilkes and the congressman flew to Hawaii, where Wilkes' nephew lined up two $300-an-hour hookers, the nephew told the jury Wednesday.
But Wilkes got the prettier one. And Cunningham wasn't happy.
Peak Oil Yesterday
A German study has come to my conclusion, we are already past peak oil. They are even more alarmist, or more knowledgable, in concluding that we may have peaked in many other energy supplies as well. They also have total oil production dropping by 7% a year starting now. Oil prices will continue to go up even more rapidly, although about $30 of the $90 price in dollars now is due to the fall in the dollar value, not the drop in production.
Texas Round-Up 15
It's Monday, and that means it's time to show some love for the best posts from the members of the Texas Progressive Alliance for the preceding week. Check out the best that the Alliance has to offer, brought to you this week by Vince at Capitol Annex.
PDiddie at Brains and Eggs has an advance of the Max Cleland-Karl Rove debate, coming up this Friday, October 26.
Diarist Scott Cobbat Texas Kaos updates us on the growing movement to hold rogue Judge Sharon Keller accountable for her callous disregard for the responsibility of the Appeals court while she displays her intoxication with its power.
State Senator Craig Estes, Senate District 30, was given numerous examples of Texas Railroad Commission malpractice, negligence, incompetence and cronyism at his recent Town Hall Meeting in Wise County. TXsharon at Bluedaze asks: Will Senator Estes Investigate the RRC's Malpractice?
Adam at Three Wise Men looks into the future to give us his expert opinion on the 2010 Texas Gubernatorial race.
McBlogger has been keeping a watchful eye on what's happening in Congress with FISA expansion.
At Half Empty, Hal ponders the question: which Republican candidate can the evangelicals support for President?
Muse vs. State Senator Eltife. A whole lotta safe sex going on or should the the State of Texas get involved in adults getting free condoms on campus?
Todd Hill at Burnt Orange Report interviews Dan Barrett, the only Democrat in the special election race for HD 97 in Fort Worth.
WCNews at Eye on Williamson reports on some unbelievable statements made by County Commissioner Cynthia Long on the children that are being detained at the T. Don Hutto facility in Taylor, Texas.
Vince at Capitol Annex takes a look at a State Representative, Fred Brown (R-Bryan), who has scheduled an oversight hearing of an agency that is investigating his business partner.
Bradley at North Texas Liberal celebrates one of the first and only times Sen. John Cornyn has been on the right side of the issue: securing H-2B visas for seasonal workers and joining with Sen. Barbara Mikulski of Maryland to help save small business... at least for another year.
Are government emails covered by open record laws? Off the Kuff takes a look.
CouldBeTrue at South Texas Chisme wonders if a Dallas minister will lose his church's tax exempt status by slamming Mitt Romney because 'he's not a Christian.'
Nytexan at BlueBloggin wonders why Homeland Security purchases products from China when Americans industry is disappearing and jobs are declining.
The Texas Cloverleaf looks into the pending libel and slander lawsuit against Dallas Republicans, including State Rep. Tony Goolsby.
Gary at Easter Lemming Liberal News updated on political news and gossip in the Pasadena area. Like most gossip one item was wrong.
Think arbitration is fair? Think again. John Coby at Bay Area Houston notes that the bottom line from the data is clear. In the nearly 20,000 cases where NAF [National Arbitration Forum] reached a decision, First USA prevailed in an astonishing 99.6 percent of cases.
Refinish69 at Doing My Part For The Left thinks Texas State Senator Kevin Eltife Needs Some Education.
PDiddie at Brains and Eggs has an advance of the Max Cleland-Karl Rove debate, coming up this Friday, October 26.
Diarist Scott Cobbat Texas Kaos updates us on the growing movement to hold rogue Judge Sharon Keller accountable for her callous disregard for the responsibility of the Appeals court while she displays her intoxication with its power.
State Senator Craig Estes, Senate District 30, was given numerous examples of Texas Railroad Commission malpractice, negligence, incompetence and cronyism at his recent Town Hall Meeting in Wise County. TXsharon at Bluedaze asks: Will Senator Estes Investigate the RRC's Malpractice?
Adam at Three Wise Men looks into the future to give us his expert opinion on the 2010 Texas Gubernatorial race.
McBlogger has been keeping a watchful eye on what's happening in Congress with FISA expansion.
At Half Empty, Hal ponders the question: which Republican candidate can the evangelicals support for President?
Muse vs. State Senator Eltife. A whole lotta safe sex going on or should the the State of Texas get involved in adults getting free condoms on campus?
Todd Hill at Burnt Orange Report interviews Dan Barrett, the only Democrat in the special election race for HD 97 in Fort Worth.
WCNews at Eye on Williamson reports on some unbelievable statements made by County Commissioner Cynthia Long on the children that are being detained at the T. Don Hutto facility in Taylor, Texas.
Vince at Capitol Annex takes a look at a State Representative, Fred Brown (R-Bryan), who has scheduled an oversight hearing of an agency that is investigating his business partner.
Bradley at North Texas Liberal celebrates one of the first and only times Sen. John Cornyn has been on the right side of the issue: securing H-2B visas for seasonal workers and joining with Sen. Barbara Mikulski of Maryland to help save small business... at least for another year.
Are government emails covered by open record laws? Off the Kuff takes a look.
CouldBeTrue at South Texas Chisme wonders if a Dallas minister will lose his church's tax exempt status by slamming Mitt Romney because 'he's not a Christian.'
Nytexan at BlueBloggin wonders why Homeland Security purchases products from China when Americans industry is disappearing and jobs are declining.
The Texas Cloverleaf looks into the pending libel and slander lawsuit against Dallas Republicans, including State Rep. Tony Goolsby.
Gary at Easter Lemming Liberal News updated on political news and gossip in the Pasadena area. Like most gossip one item was wrong.
Think arbitration is fair? Think again. John Coby at Bay Area Houston notes that the bottom line from the data is clear. In the nearly 20,000 cases where NAF [National Arbitration Forum] reached a decision, First USA prevailed in an astonishing 99.6 percent of cases.
Refinish69 at Doing My Part For The Left thinks Texas State Senator Kevin Eltife Needs Some Education.
Plame Again
The mass media has finally realized that Valerie Plame was an undercover operative working to keep Iran from getting nukes. But 60 Minutes scrubbed the Iran portion from their Plame interview broadcast! After advertising it.
Doesn't leaking Plame's covert identity make Cheney, Novak and company traitors? They did help Iran. Of course, the biggest help for Iran has been the invasion of Iraq.
Will the mass media now speak about her career when she was a spy with diplomatic immunity, supposedly less dangerous, when she was captured and tortured for two days? Assuming the CIA can't keep it muzzled for long. Did the CIA or the White House scrub the Iran portion of her 60 Minutes interview?
I have had many posts about being outraged at the scam the conservatives were pulling on the Valerie Plame case. The modus operandi is always the same, if you have someone embarrassing the President smear them or their family with mud, much like the smears on the families that use the SCHIP program.
Regarding modus operandi, isn't the attack on Iran campaign a little old by now? Seeing it is the exact campaign they ran before attacking Iraq? This campaign has not been as successful with only 29% of the American public supporting an attack on Iran - even though a large majority of voters believe Iran is developing nuclear weapons and is supporting attacks on our soldiers.
Valerie Plame - The edited inside story at the WP.
An online discussion with Valerie Plame about her new book and the 60 Minutes interview today here.
Doesn't leaking Plame's covert identity make Cheney, Novak and company traitors? They did help Iran. Of course, the biggest help for Iran has been the invasion of Iraq.
Will the mass media now speak about her career when she was a spy with diplomatic immunity, supposedly less dangerous, when she was captured and tortured for two days? Assuming the CIA can't keep it muzzled for long. Did the CIA or the White House scrub the Iran portion of her 60 Minutes interview?
I have had many posts about being outraged at the scam the conservatives were pulling on the Valerie Plame case. The modus operandi is always the same, if you have someone embarrassing the President smear them or their family with mud, much like the smears on the families that use the SCHIP program.
Regarding modus operandi, isn't the attack on Iran campaign a little old by now? Seeing it is the exact campaign they ran before attacking Iraq? This campaign has not been as successful with only 29% of the American public supporting an attack on Iran - even though a large majority of voters believe Iran is developing nuclear weapons and is supporting attacks on our soldiers.
Valerie Plame - The edited inside story at the WP.
An online discussion with Valerie Plame about her new book and the 60 Minutes interview today here.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Glenn Greenwald ignores the obvious
It's the water. The DC water supply is massively contaminated with unknown ingredients that makes those who live there close to brain dead. Trying to find the rhyme and reason of Washington Post columnists like Howard Kurtz becomes an exercise in futility until one concludes, as Greenwald eventually does, that they are just dumb. Howard is merely the current example, nearly all the others are as dumb.
I plan on much fewer blogging for a number of weeks. We'll see how that works out.
I plan on much fewer blogging for a number of weeks. We'll see how that works out.
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