Corpus Christi City Council Chisme

Rene Saenz from S. Tx Politics T.V. Show fame is rumored to have started a exploratory committee for a run at City Council.
He has set his eyes on Jesse Noyolas seat.
Rumor is that he has already lined up significant support. This Chisme hound has already heard from many reliable people who are involed with the Chamber, City, Molina and Teaching community.

More details to come.

Chris Bell in Corpus Christi Wednesday!

From the Solomon Ortiz Jr. campaign email:

Tomorrow, Wednesday - November 1st

Join Congressman Solomon P. Ortiz as he welcomes Chris Bell and all the Democratic Candidates. 

First Robstown!

10:00 am – 11:00 am
Meet and Greet
Robstown Headquarters
407 E. Main

Then on to Corpus!

11:30am – 1:00 pm
Meet the Candidates Rally
Nueces County Court House
901 Leopard St.

FREE Food, Drinks & Music
All are welcome and encouraged to attend!
Meet our next Gov. of Texas!

faith, family and rallying around the flag

Bob Long, Bastrop County Republican Party chair, said "As the new people and the established residents see what the Republican Party is about, they'll be voting Republican"

Long said the Republican platform, which includes ideas of "faith, family and rallying around the flag," fits voters in Bastrop County. He expects to benefit from the influx of residents into the county, east of Austin.

Faith. Does that mean hurting the poor and disadvantaged? Does that mean destroying the environment for corporate profits? Is it okay to pose as God or the instrument of God to obtain your own private agenda? The Republican Golden Rule appears to be 'do whatever you want to the chumps and take what you want whenever you want it.'

Family. Does that mean taking advantage of underage pages like Republican Representative Mark Foley did? Does that mean having a mistress like Republican Representative Don Sherwood did and then almost choking her to death as she alleges? Does family mean attempted sexual assault on a cocktail waitress like Republican Jim Gibbons appears to have done? Does family mean cheating on successive wives like purported Republican presidential candidate and former House leader, Newt Gingrich? New Gingrich's infidelities are a 'nothing burger' to Republicans.

Rallying around the flag. Does that mean using American patriotism to trick the public into a war for oil? Does that mean using American pride to cover for the militaristic bullying of a failed American president and his failed foreign policies?

It seems to me that the Republican platform consists of emotional hot buttons used to push the Republican golden rule. Vote Republican and too bad, chumps!

Fort Bend turn out lower than expected

Not willing to dial in Shelley Long name? Demoralized over Tom DeLay and the Republican party? Lets hope it's the Republicans staying home!

As of Friday, a total of 6,647 ballots had been cast in the county. The Fort Bend County Rosenberg Annex (1,370 voters) and the First Colony Community Center (1,377 voters) saw the most activity.

On the other hand, Zogby says the Democrats should not count Lampson in their column just yet.

Thirty-five percent of respondents said they would vote for a write-in candidate, a statistical tie with the 36 percent support for Democrat Nick Lampson, according to the poll of more than 500 likely voters in the 22nd Congressional District.

Most who say they will write in a candidate plan on naming Shelley Sekula-Gibbs, the Houston city councilwoman backed by the Republican Party. Two lesser-known candidates also are running as write-ins.

I can hardly wait to see the results on election day! One thing's for sure, Tom DeLay is gone, gone, gone.

Valley mother given Sophie's Choice

Nora Galvan was given a heart-breaking decision.

When she learned that her two youngest children were both being deployed to Iraq, military officials asked if she would like to have one of them remain behind.

"She couldn't make that choice," Amy, Galvan's daughter, said, adding that choosing one to stay would haunt her mother if anything happened to the other.Both kids went.

Why should any mother have to lose a child for Bush's war? So far, 100 Americans dead in Iraq this October.

Texans more concerned about war

From a Houston Chronicle-KHOU-TV poll:

Fifty-two percent of those surveyed said the fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan is the most important issue facing the United States. That's almost double the percentage reported by national surveys conducted during the same period.

Maybe, that's because our kids are dying at a higher rate than other states. 3,046 dead and counting. It's an open secret that Bush will continue the carnage until after the election. Shame on you, George Bush!

Who's your govenor?

The W. Gardner Selby focuses on James 'Rick' Perry's confidence while expressing some doubt.

But if [Perry's] wrong — if voters desert him for, say, his steadfast support for multiple toll roads across Texas — Perry stands to become the first front-running governor since Democrat Ann Richards in 1994 to be overtaken down the stretch.

R. G. Ratcliffe and Lisa Falkenberg are channeling the Republican line in their Houston Chronicle/San Antion Express News story - 'Don't bother, Perry's going to win even though nobody in Texas likes him'.

Elizabeth Pierson of the Brownsville Herald/Valley Star notes that economy is a big issue in the valley where unemployment is much higher than the state average. And, yet, Perry has not used his slush funds in the valley where it is needed the most.

Republican crony government

Crony is as crony does.

Did the [Texas] Public Utility Commission sit on a report containing potentially damaging information about the state’s largest electric utility?

That question and others about the commission’s secrecy have some people wondering whether it’s representing the public or the industries it was meant to regulate.

And with Texans’ electricity prices nearly double the national average, the issue has some lawmakers calling to re-regulate the industry, said Phil King, chairman of the House Regulated Industries Committee.

The Galveston Daily News has been all over the Texas PUC. Thanks!

New air quality monitor available for Corpus Christi

Citizens for Environmental Justice spokeswoman Suzie Canales said data will report air quality near the refinery zone on the group's Web site at www.cfejcorpuschristi.org.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality also provides hourly averaged data at its Web site, www.tceq.state.tx.us.

Joe Barton, pro autism and breast cancer

Well, maybe he isn't actually for autism and breast cancer. Hard to say. What we can say is that Joe Barton doesn't give a rap if you our your family suffers from autism or breast cancer.

Heading one of Congress' most powerful committees, Rep. Joe Barton has become the No. 1 enemy of groups pushing for more research into two of the nation's most prevalent diseases – autism and breast cancer.

The Ennis Republican is blocking two bills that have widespread support on Capitol Hill while he tries to overhaul the federal agency that directs most disease research.

Republicans, the party of 'eat shit and die'.

What Danny Noyola Sr.'s vanity costs you

Solomon Ortiz Jr. won the right to be the Democratic candidate on the ballot for SD33 when Vilma Luna (DINO-Corpus Christi) vacated her house seat. James 'Rick' Perry decided to mess things up, as he usually does, by calling a special election. So now there are two elections to be decided on the same day - one for the state representative seat that that expires in January and one for the state representative seat that starts in January and lasts two years.

Danny Noyola Sr. decided to run for the term that ends in January. Is he running to syphon off Democratic votes? Is that his purpose? Is he running to split the party?

In any case, if the special election three-way goes into a runoff, guess what? The taxpayers of Nueces County are stuck for $80-100K.

Thanks, Danny.

Help Solomon Ortiz Jr. and make sure a runoff is not required!

Shame, shame on McKenna Hospital!

McKenna Hospital officials in Comal County ascribe to the Lieberman standard for rape victims: 'go get in a car and find another facility to take care of you, because we don't really care if you got raped'.

After years of delays, the final contracts and protocols have been signed to begin a Sexual Assault Response Team program at McKenna Memorial Hospital.

The breakthrough came Thursday after county officials and members of the nonprofit board pushing for the program expressed frustration at the slow pace of progress and prepared to run the program out of the Comal County Health Department instead of the hospital.

Border fence is a stupid idea

Even Senator John Cornyn knows it. Cornyn let it slip that the fence would never be built, that the fence was just so much electioneering for the racists. El Pasoans figured that out.

El Pasoans and their elected officials saw security and political pandering in the border fence bill signed Thursday by President Bush.

Silvestre Reyes nails it.

"The bill the president signed today represents the worst in election-year politics — it is an empty gesture for the sole purpose of sending a false message about the security of our nation," said Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-El Paso, a former border patrol agent. "This fence doesn't come close to solving our problem."

But people who care about addressing real problems instead of producing sound bites and photo-ops have real concerns about that fence, virtual or not.

'Fences along the river don't do well," observed Schuster, 54, who was raised on his family's 3,000-acre farm on the river near San Juan. ''When we have a lot of rain and the river rises ... it pretty well washes anything downriver."

...

Nancy Millar, vice president of McAllen's Convention and Visitor's Bureau, said the fence could ''devastate" wildlife and ecotourism in the lower Rio Grande Valley that pumps $125 million into the economy each year. She said that's because the border fence could occupy some of the same land as nature preserves and wildlife corridors which federal biologists have spent millions of dollars to restore since 1979.

''The Valley has spent many years and put tremendous effort in promoting ourselves as the country's best birding destination, which we are," Millar said. ''This fence has the potential of ruining a lot of that."

Don't hold your breath waiting for Cornyn to help. Cornyn was apparently against the fence before he was for it.

Discussion of the controversial border fence plan, signed into law Thursday by President Bush, was part of a Republican Get-Out-The-Vote Rally in El Paso, but the heated District 29 state Senate race continues to be foremost on Republicans' minds.

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, in town Thursday to campaign for his party's local candidates, said building a border fence is only part of the solution to curbing illegal immigration across the porous U.S. Southern border.

Texas Attorney General helps Tom DeLay's legal team

Greg Abbott has no shame, but, then, he is a Republican afterall.

An open-records spat between Earle and Attorney General Greg Abbott morphed into a legal dispute over whether prosecutors can protect their work product — even if it shows up as a list of witnesses or money spent on experts in a stack of invoices.

On Thursday, State District Judge Scott Jenkins handed Earle a victory, ruling that state law allows prosecutors to keep their work product confidential. He also ruled that most of what Earle doesn't want to give to the public can be kept secret, at least for now.

"This ruling supports law enforcement by keeping criminal defendants from gaining premature access to sensitive or life-threatening information that could compromise an investigation," Earle said in a written statement.

The issue emerged when the Houston Chronicle sought documents showing how much Earle spent investigating DeLay, who was indicted in 2005 on charges he laundered corporate money into campaign donations. A trial is not expected until next year.

Playing gotcha!

The Galveston Daily News plays a little gotcha with Public Citizen over a detail in the James 'Rick' Perry and TXU love affair.

However, [Public Citizen] maintains that there was a quid pro quo between Perry and TXU.

Both the governor and the company deny any such arrangement.

Smith pointed to the provision in the letter saying that TXU would not request another rate adjustment until April 1.

Under Texas law, the rates in question can only be changed when the price of natural gas changes and only when power companies request an adjustment. No power company has ever asked that its rates be reduced to reflect the falling price of natural gas.

At the time the TXU wrote Perry, the federal government was predicting that gas prices were expected to stay through the winter.

Bob Bezdek survey - mixed news

53% of Nueces County voters are AGAINST closing the beach, Democratic County Judge candidate, Larry Olivarez, trails Republican Loyd Neal by 10 points, Democratic County Sheriff candidate, Jimmy Rodriguez, trails Republican Jim Kaelin by 15 points.

Bob Bezdek, a Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi professor whose campaign politics class interviewed Nueces County residents, said the survey is a snapshot of voter intentions. However, he pointed out the data wasn't entirely reflective of likely voters.

See previous post.

Propaganda pusher for sale

You remember Clear Channel. They're the folks that smacked the Dixie Chicks when Natalie Maines said she didn't like George Bush, either. The Dixie Chicks were the number 1 country act when Clear Channel, the largest radio group, boycotted them.

Clear Channel Communications Inc. on Wednesday confirmed it is considering putting itself up for sale and has hired Goldman Sachs as an adviser.

Since CNBC reported the company was "warming" to the idea of a buyout on Tuesday, media outlets around the world had begun speculating the company could go private because of lackluster radio ad sales and sluggish stock prices.

I say, good riddance!

ESlate chops names off

Turns out that Virginia's gubernatorial candidate James Webb isn't the only candidate to have his name truncated on the summary page by poorly designed ESlate software . Texas ESlates share that design flaw.

As voters review their ballots, they may be surprised to see that the Hart InterCivic Inc. eSlate voting machines chop off candidate names longer than about 15 letters. So Kinky Friedman becomes "Richard 'Kinky' F." Carole Keeton Strayhorn: "Carole Keeton St."

And Texas' senior senator? Just call her "Kay Bailey Hutch."

The problem is not new, but it won't be fixed before the Nov. 7 election, either. Both Hart InterCivic and local officials stress that every candidate's name appears correctly on the voting screen. The glitch occurs on only the last screen, when voters are given the option to see a summary of their choices and double-check their ballot. The votes are not affected and still count, Travis County Clerk Dana DeBeauvoir said.

"Absolutely your vote still counts," she said.

And, don't forget that ES&S couldn't figure out how to design a ballot without a completely blank page for those precincts WITHOUT a special election.

Fence is meant to be divisive

One protest ends:

Tired, blistered but still enthusiastic, Jay Johnson-Castro and his contingent of border walkers ended their 211-mile trek from Laredo to Brownsville on Wednesday.

...

“It’s just an ugly bad idea,” said Neck, a Vietnam-era Marine veteran, and said Johnson-Castro was a veteran of the U.S. Navy. Neck followed Johnson-Castro as he walked from Laredo in his pickup and made sure water and Gatorade were available for the weary walker. The group stayed in hotels, churches and homes during the night and walked about 15 miles per day, Neck said.

“Now, I can look at myself in the mirror” if the fence is built, Neck said. “The only thing worse than putting up a wall is putting up a wall silently.”

More on the walk here.

The Associated Press pushes Bush's propaganda about the fence:

When President Bush signs a bill authorizing 700 miles of new fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border, he'll give GOP candidates a pre-election platform for asserting they're tough on illegal immigration.

And, how does a fence make you tough on illegal immigration? Wouldn't a real reporter ask that question instead of leading with that dubious assertion?

The San Antonio Express News covered the San Antonio CNN, Lou Dobbs townhall meeting on immigration and called Lou Dobbs out on his rhetoric.

Most of the heated exchanges centered on Dobbs' fiery and determinate use of language, leaving the substance of the discussion mostly on the side.

"Objectivity is a trap that I have no interest in," Dobbs said before the show. "I think of neutrality ... as something I certainly could not achieve."

Wouldn't it be nice to have unbiased reporters who try to pass on unvarnished information? Wouldn't it be nice to have people in public office who recognize real problems and try to solve them?

Henry B. Gonzalez' papers go to UT Austin

The collection will be accessible to the public Wednesday at the Congressional History Collection at the University of Texas Center For American History.

1.7% of Nueces County voted first day

Vote early like 3,431 Nueces County voters did the first day of early voting.

Early voting just started Monday, but a lot of voters have already cast ballots. Although this is a mid-term election, Monday's turnout was more like a Presidential Election.

A vote for a Democrat is a vote for good public schools

A vote for a Republican is a vote to put the price of a state college education out of reach and drain tax payer money away from public schools into the pockets of cronies. James 'Rick' Perry lies about college tuition while the Houston Chronicle tells us Texas tuition is now higher than average.

Perry says

It costs $600 less per year to attend a Texas university (than in other states).

The Chronicle says:

The sticker prices at Texas public universities — once considered a rock-bottom bargain — climbed above the national average this fall for the first time since state lawmakers deregulated tuition three years ago, the College Board reported Tuesday.

You can thank James 'Rick' Perry, Tom Craddick, David Dewhurst and all of their Republican cronies for these tuition rates.

Here's what Bell has to say:

We need to create a Bipartisan Commission on Public Education that will bring all sides to the table to seek real solutions and common ground, free from the political hackery that passes for business-as-usual in Austin these days.

The rebuilding of our public education system needs to go beyond the question of financing to address the equally important questions of what and how we are teaching our children. We need to stop wasting money on textbooks that are selected not for their educational value but for their ability to please partisan censors and state bureaucrats. We need to reject the hypocrisy that demands accountability in one breath and calls for massive budget cuts in the next breath. And we need to work harder to recruit and retain committed, talented educators.

Texas deserves the best public education system in the country, but we won't achieve this goal until we stop letting politics constantly interfere with the process. Education is about knowledge and empowerment, not about cynical partisanship. With new leadership and a renewed commitment to our shared moral obligation, Texas schools will shine once more.

Be careful when voting

Many Texas ballots are long and complicated for this election. Nueces County alone has 59 different ballot combinations. The Bexar County ballot may or may not start off with a completely blank page.

Do yourself a favor. Get a sample ballot for your precinct.

Nueces County has sample ballots here. The sample ballots are organized by precinct number. Use your voter card to check your precinct number or find your precinct number here. Check your county's website for your sample ballot.

If you vote a straight Democratic ticket, check your ballot for non-partisan races that are not marked with a straight party vote. All of the special elections are non-partisan and you must vote separately in those races. There are two races on the ballot for each special election - one for the unexpired term and one for the term starting in January 2007. Vote in both!

Vote! Vote early! Bring your filled out sample ballot!

Solomon Ortiz Jr is 'pretty cool'!

Many of the local candidates went to the West Oso School District in Nueces County where honor students interviewed them.

Mayra Guevara spent about 20 minutes interviewing Solomon Ortiz Jr., the Democratic candidate for District 33 representative.

Though she was a little nervous interviewing the legislative hopeful, Mayra listened attentively as Ortiz explained his stance on issues facing Coastal Bend youth, like increasing tuition and public school funding. In the process, she was surprised to learn about Ortiz's work with youth in the organization Fighting to Rid Gangs in America.

"He was pretty cool," Mayra said. "He talked about the issues and what he has done for youth, helping kids with drug abuse."

Aransan Pass development ok'ed

Giving beach property away is a local sport. Corpus Christi wants to do it and Aransas Pass is doing it.

A crowd of more than 100 people broke out in applause and boos as the City Council voted 3-2 to sell city and state owned harbor lands to developers.

The contentious vote led to the arrest of an opponent of the sale Tuesday night after Mayor Jesus Galvan told police a woman kicked him as he was leaving City Hall.

..

But we were all standing around her and she didn't try to kick him," [Resident Bea Limon] said, adding Garrett was talking with Juan Garcia, a candidate for state representative who stopped by to do some campaigning.

Maybe Juan will get to testify.

Vote AGAINST
Charter Amendment #1

Vote FOR
Charter Amendment #2

Check out the Beach Access Coalition website for the latest.

Perry in deep trouble?

A friend passed this poll data on - 32 for James 'Rick' Perry, 28 for Chris Bell, 20 for c4n3p and Kinky off the radar.

I hope we hear this poll data officially soon.

Chris Bell can win and you can help make sure it happens. Get your Democratic friends out to vote. Tell your Kinky-leaning friends that they have a real chance to get Perry out of office by voting for Bell.

Help Chris Bell. As a side benefit, embarass Bush.

Update: Houtopia says it's a Dallas Morning News poll and the numbers are 32 for Perry, 27 for Bell. I don't see it on the DMN site, yet.

Word is, the Dallas Morning News will report tomorrow on a statewide poll conducted by Brian Epstein for Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison. The poll will show Rick Perry is in deep trouble -- garnering just 32% support of those sampled -- with Chris Bell nipping at his heels at 27%, Carole Strayhorn trailing with 20%, and Kinky Friedman cratering in single digits. This is huge news, folks.

Gene Seaman, toast?

From the Texas Democratic Party press release:

GENE SEAMAN BATTLES TO SAVE LAGGING RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN

Republicans Forced to Play Defense in House District 32

( Austin , TX )—Today, House Speaker Tom Craddick appeared at a Corpus Christi press conference with embattled incumbent State Rep. Gene Seaman (R-32) in an attempt to bolster Seaman’s lagging re-election campaign. Seaman is facing Democratic challenger Juan Garcia, an extremely strong candidate who is running a rigorous campaign against the ethically challenged incumbent.

“Tom Craddick’s visit to District 32 is an indication of Seaman’s vulnerability and proof that Republicans are having to play defense in House districts they previously thought were safe,” said Texas Democratic Party spokeswoman Amber Moon . “Plagued by a number of ethical problems and facing a strong Democratic challenger, Rep. Seaman is forced to pull out all the stops in an attempt to save his endangered re-election bid.”

Last month, it was reported that Gene Seaman has spent over $126,000 from campaign contributions to pay his wife rent and condo dues and has apparently used a front company to deflect attention from this illegal activity. Additionally, the Seamans claimed a homestead exemption on the Austin property despite the fact that their primary residence is in Corpus Christi , as well as an over-65 tax exemption on both properties. It is illegal to claim a homestead exemption on more than one property or more than one over-65 exemption per couple.

“Who does Gene Seaman really represent—everyday Texans or the special interest donors who are purchasing him a second home?” asked Moon. “No press conference can cover up Gene Seaman’s sorry record when it comes to ethics. House District 32 deserves a Representative like Juan Garcia who will provide honest and ethical leadership in Austin .”

Help Juan Garcia out!

Dirty tricks in Aransas Pass?

Many members of the Aransas Pass City Council have a history of being sleazy. I wounldn't trust them, either.

Residents opposed to the sale of Conn Brown Harbor said they are concerned about the latest version of a contract to sell the land and said they believe a meeting today is an effort to cement the deal before voters weigh in.

The new contract, copies of which began circulating last weekend, has several major changes from the contract the City Council approved in June, including a requirement that the city pay the developers $1 million in damages if the deal falls through.

Perry's afraid

James 'Rick' Perry is afraid he's gonna lose. Even R. G. Ratcliffe thinks Chris Bell may pull off the 'impossible'. The Austin American Statesman says Bush will be in Texas election eve.

President Bush, Perry's predecessor as governor, is penciled in for a rally with Perry before Bush votes on Election Day near his ranch in Crawford. The event, which will support other GOP statewide elected officials, is slated for Reunion Arena in Dallas.

And Bush's White House predecessor, President Clinton, is mulling a Texas stop for Bell.

Bush is rallying the Bush bots in Houston, too. Will that help? SurveyUSA has Bush at 45% approval in Texas in October. Check out that data. James 'Rick' Perry will only get around a third of the vote at best. Even Republicans have had enough.

Help Chris Bell. As a side benefit, embarass Bush.

Get your Democratic friends out to vote early!

Stealing from the poor

A former housing authority assistant director [of the low rent program] has been indicted for embezzling almost $300,000.

Dora Perez, 37, of San Benito [in Cameron County] was arrested by the FBI Thursday and has been accused of stealing $273,591 from Housing and Urban Development funds while she worked for the housing authority.

How is Iraq likeTexas electric rates?

Here are the top five reasons.

1. People are going without electricity more than ever
   
2. Pollution is everywhere
   
3. All of your money goes to Republican cronies like TXU and Halliburton
   
4. Rick Perry believes the current plan is working and the state should stay the course.
5. It's all about the oil

Vote Democratic today! One reason why:

Electric bills are already too high, they might go even higher shortly after the elections -- and the next governor of Texas needs to do something about it.

That's the loud-and-clear message some candidates are reporting back from the campaign trail.

Lots of luck with that if Perry is re-elected. Republicans don't care about public welfare. Republicans don't care about solving problems. Vote for Chris Bell. Today!

Laredo detention center property fight

The land, which has been up for sale several times in the last five years, has several “unknown, unquanitifiable liablilities,” Ramirez said in July. It had previously been owned by the U.S. government, and it is largely unascertained what it was specifically used for.

Ramirez and Assistant County Attorney Nathan Bratton could not be reached for comment, but in July, Ramirez said a hypothetical scenario that could lead to a potential lawsuit would be underground storage tanks located on the property leaking into the soil and contaminating a stream miles away.

Bruni said the handling of the requests for proposals was flawed, and protested hiring a consulting group to provide an environmental assessment of the property, saying it is unfair to require “the taxpayers to pay.”

Toxic land for detainees? And a lawsuit already.

Shapleigh leads whats his name

State Senator Shapleigh is leading his opponent. We need him to have some say in the Texas senate and 11 Democratic state senators are required for that.

Democratic state Sen. Eliot Shapleigh is leading his Republican challenger, Donald "Dee" Margo, by a two-to-one margin going into the Nov. 7 election, according to a poll conducted for the El Paso Times.

The Times Poll shows that 49.9 percent of those surveyed said they intend to vote for Shapleigh versus 26.1 percent for Margo, with 24 percent undecided.

The results indicate that Margo, as of two weeks ago, had made almost no headway with voters since the last Times poll in February, when 24.7 percent of the registered voters polled said they would vote for him.

But since the February poll, Shapleigh's support has slipped from 58.7 percent among registered voters to 49.9 percent, while the undecided respondents rose from 16.5 percent to 24 percent.

All that negative advertising on whats his name's part has worked to drop Shapleigh's numbers. Show the Republicans we've had enough. If you're in his district, go out and vote today for Senator Shapleigh.

SD32 candidate profiles

The Caller Times profiles Juan Garcia and Gene Seaman who are running for Texas State Representative District 32. Juan is a bright, energetic, educated and appealing candidate.

[Juan Garcia] started at UCLA, where he graduated with honors, and moved on to Harvard University. There, he earned a law degree and a master's degree in public policy from Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government before heading off to the first war in the Persian Gulf as a Naval officer and pilot.

Gene Seaman is dull, tired and tainted.

Seaman's defense is reminding the region that without him, the region would be left with a delegation that has little seniority and is mostly, if not all Democrat, in a Republican-controlled Legislature.

Seaman's campaign is 'vote for me cause I'm a crony Republican?'

Help Juan Garcia out.

Sore loser Heflin up to dirty tricks?

We all remember FORMER State Representative Talmage Heflin's temper tantrum when he lost his race in 2004. Herbert Vo, the Democratic victor in that race for SD 149, has reason to believe that Heflin's campaign is faking calls from the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Political Caucus.

In the latest skirmish, Vo convened a press conference last week in the office of attorney and former Harris County Democratic Chair Larry Veselka, who represented the fledgling representative during the 2004 election challenge.

Veselka asked the Harris County District Attorney's Office to investigate automated phone calls to voters allegedly made on Vo's behalf by the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Political Caucus. The message repeatedly commended Vo for supporting gay rights.

Vo does support gay rights and is endorsed by the caucus. But the caucus denied making the calls, and supporters openly suspected the Heflin campaign of a trick to stir conservative voters with one of their hot-button issues.

It's ethics, smethics for Republicans. Help out Herbert Vo.

Republican crony capitalism at work

Get control of government. Sell out the public to the highest bidder. Does anybody wonder why Federal prosecution of Texas polluters is dropping while pollution is increasing?

The lack of new environmental prosecutions by the U.S. Attorney's Office is remarkable for a city that has vied with Los Angeles for the title of the nation's smog capital, say environmentalists and some current and former officials.

"We've got more (pollution) than anyone else in the country and, therefore, we should have a lot of prosecutions," said Neil Carman, clean-air program director for the Sierra Club.

And, yet, the Houston Chronicle also tells us

Nuclear not a dirty word in W. Texas. In West Texas county, some say nuclear projects are welcome.

Whaa?

SD29, Hot Race?

The San Antonio Express News tells us a Shapleigh loss would give Republicans total control of the senate. Last session's 11 Democratic senators could block floor debate, 10 senators cannot. Lt. Governor Dewhurst's supported Democrat Shapleigh in El Paso. Even Dewhurst sees the danger of total Republican control.

Why is the race hot this year? Shapleigh's opponent is pouring his own bags of money into the race. Even Laura Bush fundraised for him. All that money means lots of nasty, negative TV ads.

Help Senator Shapleigh out. Give him some money to counter Mr. Money Bags on TV.

Even a little bit of money will help, if we all chip in. Do it!!

Dewhurst blames Craddick

Republican Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst says the Texas House of Representatives is the reason why the Legislature hasn't funded a full-fledged medical school in El Paso, not Democratic state Sen. Eliot Shapleigh, whose Republican opponent, Donald "Dee" Margo, is suggesting Shapleigh is to blame in campaign ads and forums.

Dewhurst told the El Paso Times editorial board last week that the lack of medical school funding was never an issue in the Senate, where he, Shapleigh and other senators worked together to get the funding.

As lieutenant governor, Dew hurst is president of the Senate.

All I can say is "wow!"

Perry's donor accused of manipulating energy market

Is anyone surprised that big James 'Rick' Perry donor, TXU, is the company accused of trying to manipulate the Texas energy market?

In a report released in the summer, an outside company hired by the commission to monitor power markets said it had found evidence that a company may have withheld electricity from the market on certain days in 2005.

Doing so could squeeze supply and boost prices.

High wholesale prices can quickly trickle down to consumers, as electricity providers raise retail prices to keep up with high costs.

Carranza leaves Air America

Longtime Hispanic activist and radio talk-show host Vicente Carranza has left KCCT 1150 AM, Air America Radio, after losing his 4 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday timeslot.

Mike "Pudge" Aradillas on Monday began a show during what had been Carranza's timeslot.

Early talk I've heard about Aradillas is not positive. Maybe he just got off to a bad start. We'll miss Vincente in any case.

Cameron County Pct. 1 Commissioner Benavides passes away

Cameron County Pct. 1 Commissioner Pedro “Pete” Benavides passed away at 1:20 p.m. Friday, two weeks after he suffered a stroke.

Propaganda headlines

The Austin American Statesman channels Karl Rove with this subheadline - 'Chet Edwards being challenged by a veteran of the war on terror'.

We all know that 'terror' is a tactic. How do you fight a war against a particular tactic? That point aside, the war on terror (sic) is being fought by certain CIA, FBI and other personnel.

But the Austin American Statesman isn't talking about the real efforts to combat terror. The AAS is talking about the Iraqi war which has been shown to increase the risk of terroristic attacks against the United States by creating more terrorists.

It would be more accurate, not fair in the least, but accurate, to say that Van Taylor is a veteran of increasing terrorism in the world.

Ehtics? Not in Texas.

Texas Supreme Court Justice Nathan Hecht's reprimand is overturned. Hecht is the Bush bot who touted Harriet Miers as a Supreme Court nominee because she's a good Christian. You're not supposed to use your office in a partisan way. Isn't that quaint?

A special review court tossed out an ethics reprimand against Texas Supreme Court Justice Nathan Hecht on Friday, ruling that his vocal support for Harriet Miers' nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court last year did not violate state judicial standards.

Hecht conducted more than 120 media interviews and spoke privately with a key conservative leader in October 2005 in a White House-directed blitz designed to gain support for Miers, a surprise nominee who later withdrew after coming under fire from disappointed leaders on the political right.

Tokyo Rose loses lawyer poll

You remember turncoat Rose Vela. The Corpus Christi area lawyers have their say.

In the 13th Court of Appeals, place 2 race, 161 attorneys voted in favor of Judge "Fred" Hinojosa compared to 142 votes for Judge Rose Vela.

Other Corpus Christi Bar Association poll results show Democrats Bobby Galvan and Marisela Saldaña beating their opponents while Republican Tom Greenwell beats Robert Zamora. Hey, Zamora's a great guy. We can do better than Tom Greenwell!

Why not give Robert Zamora some cash?

Denny Hastert is a dufus

Denny takes credit for the low gas prices. The Houston Chronicle complains that Denny is 'fueling' conspiracy theories. Then the Houston Chronicle takes its turn as a dufus.

The headline on Hastert's news release is certainly true. Gasoline prices, indeed, have dropped of late; the GOP is in control of Congress. And the statement makes no other overt connection between those two facts.

Oh, Chronicle, what was the price of a gallon of gas when Clinton left office? It was $1.66.

Houston schools software problems

Remember Barbara Bush giving 'a Katrina donation' with the stipulation that Houston schools must use the money to buy her son Neil's software?

Well, it seems that the HISD is having all kinds of trouble with other school software.

Just three months into the academic year, the Houston school district has racked up nearly $600,000 in overtime expenses and countless hours of lost teacher productivity because of problems with new student information software that cost $18.4 million.

A Deal for Frisco teacher?

Lets all think twice before taking kids on a field trip to a museum. You would not want them to see art. Art has to do with creativity and you can't control that. The children must think as we program them. The children must think as we program them.

The school board approved a proposal Monday night that called for Ms. McGee to be paid for the rest of the school year and that prevented her from suing in the future. Her annual salary is $56,700.

Ms. McGee and her attorney asked the district Thursday to also include in Ms. McGee's file a recommendation letter written by a former principal two years ago. They also requested a statement showing that Rogge Dunn served as her lawyer on a pro bono basis.

"It clears her name, which is the No. 1 goal she has had from day one," Mr. Dunn said of the agreement.

Mr. Dunn and Ms. McGee have repeatedly pointed to positive reviews in her personnel file. They contend the art trip sparked criticism over her performance, while the district maintains there were ongoing issues.

League of Women Voters sidelined on beach access

The Corpus Christ city council wants to turn public beach into limited access beach for the benefit of one landowner.

A League of Women Voters committee charged with studying the beach access debate recommended the group oppose banning vehicles on a segment of Padre Island beach, but the organization couldn't reach consensus on the issue.

"The League works hard to achieve consensus," said President Lois Huff. "We encourage everyone to read both sides carefully and make it a point to vote."

Before discussing the committee's recommendations Thursday, the group heard presentations from City Councilman Mark Scott, who supports a proposed vehicle ban on 7,200 feet of beach, and Pat Suter, a member of the Beach Access Coalition that is fighting the ban.

Some of you voted for Mark Scott over Pat Suter? What a shame. I'll bet the meeting was stacked with ringers.

Vote AGAINST
Charter Amendment #1

Vote FOR
Charter Amendment #2

Check out the Beach Access Coalition website for the latest.

Nueces County Democratic Events

From Nueces County Democratic Party email:

Thursday - Oct 19

U.S. Senate Debate - will air Thursday Oct. 19 at 9 pm CST on CSPAN - The Texas U.S. Senate debate sponsored by the League of Women Voters will be taped at KLRN-TV studios in San Antonio and broadcast by every PBS affiliate around the state. In addition to the PBS statewide coverage, C-Span will broadcast the debate featuring Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Barbara Ann Radnofsky and her two opponents on Thursday, October 19 at 9:00 p.m. (CST)... – It will also be broadcast on PBS in Corpus Christi at 10:00 PM on Friday, Oct 20. PLAN TO WATCH!!!!

Friday - Oct 20

Celebrate the grand opening of the new campaign Headquarters for Solomon P. Ortiz! Enjoy an evening of good food and great fun for the entire family. - 102 Airport Rd. Between Agnes & Baldwin Corpus Christi, TX - 361.881-9164 - Friday October 20, 2006 - 5pm – 7pm.

Saturday Oct 21

Block walk and Rally! Robstown Democratic Unity Headquarters - 407 East Main - Robstown, TX 78380 - Saturday, October 21, 2006 - 8:30 am – 9:00 am Continental Breakfast – 9:00 am – 12:30 Block Walking - 1p -3p Rally @ Aviator Field

Sunday - Oct 22

Solomon Ortiz Jr., Democratic Candidate for Texas House of Representatives District 33, invites you to join him for a FREE get out the vote Bar-B-Q in the Molina Veterans Park – Corner of Bloomington and Teresa on Sunday, Oct 22 From 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM

Bolaños says he'll likely bow out of District 23 race

Democrat Rick Bolaños of El Paso said Wednesday night he's out of money and likely will leave the crowded Congressional District 23 race, possibly today.

"I'm on the verge of dropping out," Bolaños, 57, told Houston Chronicle reporter Michelle Mittelstadt after a candidates' forum. "I've run out of funds to compete with the big boys."

He had no opponent in the Democratic primary in March, emerging as the sole nominee challenging San Antonio Republican Henry Bonilla.

That changed when federal judges redrew the district Aug. 4 in response to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that GOP mapmakers had violated the federal Voting Rights Act. The move threw the election open to new candidates, and that hurt Bolaños.

Almost overnight, five other Democrats elbowed their way into the race, including: former Congressman Ciro Rodriguez; businessman Lukin Gilliland Jr., who primed his campaign with $500,000 of his own money; and Albert Uresti, a retired San Antonio district fire chief and member of a politically prominent South Side family.

Bonilla needs to go and one of these good Democrats needs to beat him!

Shame on the Houston Chronicle for this headline

'Hutchison opponent stays optimistic in tough fight'

Her NAME is Barbara Ann Radnofsky. Let me repeat that. Her NAME IS BARBARA ANN RADNOFSKY!!!

Is Kay Bailey paying you or what is your problem?

Bush tool, Judge Hecht, and ethics

Remeber Harriet Miers? Bush's first choice for Sandra Day O'Connor's seat on the Supreme Court? Remember Texas Supreme Court Judge and all around Bush tool Nathan Hecht touting Harriet Miers? Evidently, you're not supposed to take partisan advantage of your office. You can't expect a Bushie to honor that rule. Even if you're a judge on the Texas Supreme Court.

A special court of review, empaneled to determine whether Texas Supreme Court Justice Nathan Hecht violated judicial ethics rules, is expected to release its decision Friday.

The review court originally intended to release its opinion Monday during a hearing in Fort Worth. That plan was canceled without explanation.

The State Commission on Judicial Conduct reprimanded Hecht in May for improperly using the prestige of his office last year to support the U.S. Supreme Court nomination of his friend Harriet Miers. Hecht appealed, claiming that the independent state agency violated his free-speech rights and misinterpreted ethics rules.

Commissioner Benavides

The respirator that had been aiding [Cameron County] Commissioner Pedro “Pete” Benavides to breathe was removed Wednesday afternoon.

Benavides has been in a coma since suffering a stroke and a “devastating cerebral hemorrhage” on Oct. 6. The effects have hindered his breathing, swallowing and other functions.

The Caller Times endorses Herrero, Ortiz and Garcia

Abel Herrero, Solomon Ortiz Jr. and Juan Garcia are endorsed in today's Caller Times in their respective state representative races. Abel has proved himself as a state representative. Juan has great promise while his opponent has ethics problems. Solomon has great promise, too, while having proved himself as Nueces County Democratic chair.

What a great set of leaders for Corpus Christi and Texas! Thank you, Caller Times!

Perry's CHIPS enrollment roadblocks hurt Spanish speakers most

Well, who could possibly be surprised at that.

Is the state doing enough to ensure that Spanish-speaking families do not face obstacles in enrolling their children in the Children's Health Insurance Program? That's one question raised in a new report on programs that provide free or low-cost health insurance for Texas children.

The report found that Spanish-speaking families were less likely to renew coverage for CHIP. Researchers at the Institute for Child Health Policy in Florida recommended that the state review materials provided to Spanish-speakers to ensure no barriers exist.

The Republicans don't care about children, least of all the children of Spanish speakers. Those parents,gasp, might be immigrants. Of course, these parents have to be working in low wage jobs in order for their children to qualify for CHIPS.

Why not just put us all in prison (detention camps) and get all the forced, no benefit labor, a crony might need?

Prison labor: The model for all US workers

We've heard about the use of prison labor which benefits businesses (cronies) at the expense of US workers. Now, we find out that in addition to substandard wages, working conditions aren't safe.

A federal recycling program that uses cheap prison labor subjects its inmate workers — including those at a Texas facility — to unsafe working conditions, according to a report to be released today in Austin by prisoner and environmental activist groups.

Prisoners employed by Federal Prison Industries Inc., a company owned by the federal government, recycle computers and other electronics in hazardous conditions, according to "Toxic Sweatshops," a report by several groups, including the California-based Computer TakeBack Campaign and the Prison Activist Resource Center. The report's release coincides with the opening of E-Scrap, a national electronic waste conference being held in Austin.

And, to add further insult to injury, the prisoners aren't necessarily guilty.

Michael Blair, convicted of killing 7-year-old Ashley Estell in 1993, is arguing that new DNA evidence proves he is innocent of the crime that spawned new laws against sex offenders.

Phil Wischkaemper, Mr. Blair's attorney, filed a motion in Collin County that contends new DNA technology, which didn't exist at the trial in 1994, shows that tissue found under Ashley's fingernails did not come from Mr. Blair.

And what about regular workers? Is prison labor what we have to look forward to? The Dallas Morning News suggests with this headline that workers should be discarded like so much used tissue when retirement comes.

Are the baby boomers dragging us down?

Kinky and Republicans wrong again

Boo. Boo. Scarey immigrants. That's the Kinky Friedman and Republican 2006 wedge issue. But, they're wrong.

We found that in fact, there’ve been several studies done in Texas and other border states trying to answer that basic question: do immigrants raise crime rates?

Pia Orrenius is an economist with the Federal Reserve Bank. We tracked her down in Dallas.

“No, no they’re not more crime prone. In fact, when you look at the national statistics, its just amazing. There’s not a single scientific study that shows immigrants are more likely to commit crime than native-born, in fact, or U.S. born,” she said.

She says past studies show young, immigrant Mexican men are substantially less likely to commit serious crimes than young men born here.

Cry baby Noyola

After being rejected by the District 33 precinct chairs for the GENERAL election, Danny Noyola Sr. entered the SPECIAL election for the unexpired state representative term. The SPECIAL election is non-partisan. The GENERAL election IS partisan.

The Democratic Party does not take sides in a non-partisan election or a primary election. The Democratic Party DOES take sides in the general election, i.e. supports the Democratic candidate. Solomon Ortiz Jr. is the Democratic candidate in the GENERAL election. Danny and his supporters know the Nueces Democratic Party cannot and SHOULD NOT provide services for his campaign. Read the Texas Democratic Party rules.

Danny Noyola Sr. hurts the party by syphoning off Democratic votes in the SPECIAL election and confuses matters for the GENERAL election. Danny helps the Republicans by running. Even in the very unlikely event he won, Danny's term would only last a few weeks while the Texas house is NOT in session.

Danny, you say you're a Democrat. Then, be a good Democrat. Quit your whinning and get out of the race.

San Antonio Express News falls for AP hit job on Harry Reid

There it was above the fold, top story in today's San Antonio Express News: another John Solomon AP hit job on Harry Reid. The propaganda machine is desperate to smear Democrats what with Abramoff in the news. Rove's assistant, Susan Ralston, quit after her ties to Abramoff got too hot. Republican Congressman Tom DeLay's felony indictments and ties to Abramoff. Republican Congressman Bob Ney pleds guilty to corruption. Republican Congressman Duke Cunningham pleds guilty to corruption. Republican Congressman Curt Weldon's new corruption investigation. And, we've all heard about Repbulican Mark Foley and and the Republican leadership cover up.

First, John Solomon implied Harry Reid pulled a fast one on land he owned. THAT WAS DEBUNKED.

The tempest that’s been created over Sen. Harry Reid’s Las Vegas real-estate transaction puts me in mind of the famous poet’s famous line “There is no there, there.”

See previous post and the DailyKos explaination.

Now, John Solomon has another Reid hit job and the San Antonio Express News puts the story above the fold. Hotest news of the day. I couldn't find the story online at the San Antonio Express News website. Seems like the webteam has more sense.

Feel free to write a letter to the editor or join their online forum.

Update: Add Bush's former FDA chief to the list of Republicans pleading guilty to corruption.

Frisco ISD offers teacher a deal

Remember the stories about the Frisco teacher who was suspended for taking her kids to an Art museum? The Frisco ISD has offered her a deal. Take the settlement package we offer and don't ever sue us. And, oh, by the way, forget about the deal with made with you earlier.

Dr. Reedy and the district's lawyer met with Ms. McGee and Mr. Dunn last week to negotiate a deal that would sever ties between the district and the teacher. After considering the agreement, Dr. Reedy said he decided that he couldn't recommend it.

The original deal also included a positive recommendation letter, three months of extra salary and public statements to be made by Ms. McGee and the district, according to district lawyers.

"In my opinion, her statements fail to address central issues in this matter: her continued misrepresentations to the press and the public; the disruption those actions and statements have caused; and the damage that it has caused to reputations of members of the staff," Dr. Reedy said Monday night.

Mr. Dunn said he felt last week's negotiations produced a fair agreement, but he said the details were confidential. He said the district initiated the negotiations, but his client wanted to clear her name.

The Fort Worth Star Telegram delves into the "she said he said' blather. If you're following this story, please give it a read.

More drilling on Padre Island Seashore

The Caller Times says you don't care. No, go right ahead. Loot more of our national treasures. Help yourself. We don't mind.

Bob Perry and his millions

Mr. Swiftboater, Bob Perry, has given $8M to the GOP for races outside of Texas.

Houston homebuilder Bob Perry, the state's top Republican donor, is venturing again into national politics, putting more than $8 million into the GOP's effort to maintain control of Congress.

Congressional Quarterly's PoliticalMoneyLine, which tracks how money is spent in politics, ranks Perry as the No. 1 donor this year.

Remember that old Watergate movie line: 'Follow the money'.

Kay Bailey channels James Baker

There have been reports flying around that James Baker, charged with finding an Iraq exit strategy, wants to partition Iraq. Lo and behold, Kay Bailey Hutchison wants to partition Iraq. Coicidence?

With sectarian violence ever worse in Iraq, U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison said Monday that more consideration should be given to dividing the country into semi-autonomous regions to help reduce conflicts.

By the way, is she trying to describe the size of the new Iraqi countries? The number of corrupt Republican politicans in Congress?

PUC keeping secrets

Doesn't the public have the right to know who is ripping them off? The Texas PUC doesn't think so. The Enron-like actions of 'Company C' are somewhat exposed, but who is 'Company C'. The PUC won't say.

The Public Utility Commission on Monday gave its legal argument for keeping secret the name of a company suspected of manipulating the electricity market last year.

With electricity prices soaring and controversy about a deal between Gov. Rick Perry and TXU growing, there is intense public interest in the name of that company.

TXU is a big Perry donor. Hummm. And, who does the PUC work for? You or James 'Rick' Perry?

See previous post.

Here we go again with NOYOLA!

Today in a feeble attempt to get attention the Danny Noyola and his “Goons” campaign ambushed Alex Garcia!

They complained that the “Party” was being un-fair to little Danny Sr.! They had the washed up old Carlos Truan call the media. But only one channel showed up and even then it didn’t make the news.

When will Danny get it?

Oh well, that’s what you get when you mix a former St. Official, a demoted School principle and ego’s the size of Texas all in the same room.

Who cares about the health of our children?

Republicans don't.

The looming legislative battle over how to fix Texas' problem-plagued child health-care system may center on a Houston boy with cancer who went four months without medical insurance because of bureaucratic mix-ups.

Thirteen-year-old Devante Johnson, who has advanced kidney cancer, had to wait for the problems to be straightened out before starting treatments his doctors say he needed.

The Craddick and Perry Republicans setup the CHIPS and Medicaid systems so that as many kids as possible would fall off the rolls. Didn't they know that some kids would die as a result? You've got to believe they did.

Don Imus trashes Joe Barton

I am NOT a Don Imus fan, but even a stopped clock is right twice a day.

Imus, whose Imus in the Morning program is heard on radio stations across much of the country and is seen nationally on weekday mornings on MSNBC, has described Barton as "a lying fat little skunk from Texas," a "pipsqueak," a "coward and a crybaby" and "another congressional dirtbag" for holding up a bill on autism research.

The emotional outbursts by Imus, as well as an orchestrated pressure campaign directed at Barton by autism research advocacy groups, stems from frustration that a Senate-passed bill did not come up for a House vote before Congress recessed Sept. 29.

The bill would increase and coordinate National Institutes of Health funding, set up far-ranging clinical studies and direct autism "centers of excellence" to conduct research, especially on environmental factors that might lead to the disorder.

How many times do we have to tell you, Republicans don't care about your kids.

A Look at HD33

The Corpus Christi Caller Times is profiling local races. Yesterday, it was the Sheriff's race. Today we have HD33. Neither HD33 profile really tried to capture the candidate.

Here's what the Caller Times neglected to mention about Solomon Ortiz Jr:

Solomon is an intelligent, hard working man who knows how to accomplish his goals. Countless campaigns and two terms as Nueces County Democratic Party chair established Solomon as a fair man who can work with all kinds of people to get the job done. Even Paul Burka was amazed at the humility, charisma and wisdom evident in such a young man.

The Caller Times gives short shrift to a young man who promises to be such a great leader.

Here's what the Caller Times forgot to say about Joe McComb:

Joe's tenure as a Nueces County Commissioner shows what kind of representative he would be. Joe left the county deeply in debt. Joe voted for a Neysmith contract while his son got a lucrative job at Neysmith. Joe promoted using recycled Christmas trees on the beach, but didn't have the labor to put them out. Joe McComb used the Workforce commission to investigate low income day care, a business in which Joe's wife expressed an interest.

As state representative, his initial focus would be on jobs, education and getting what he calls the out-of-control appraisal system to offer property tax relief.

Joe McComb's sweetheart house and business appraisals were exposed during his run for County Judge.

"I do not consider Democrats to be the enemy," McComb said. "You are up there fighting for everybody, doing what is best for the district, for Democrats, Independents, Republicans, whatever. My years on the Commissioner's Court show I can work with the other party and get things accomplished."

Yeah, right. A vote for ANY Republican is a vote for autocratic rule. Look at Craddick in the Texas House. Look at Tom DeLay in the US House. Look at King George in the Oval Office.

With Joe, we have a dim good ol' boy who will toe the Republican line while looking out for his own self interest. Or, should I just say, Joe McComb is a Republican.

The choice is clear. You've got to go with the young, savy man who will serve his constituents well, providing great leadership for many years to come.

Circulating crony money

First, James 'Rick' Perry helps coal plants. Then, coal plants help Perry. That's how crony capitolism works. Politicans like Perry come cheap.

Gov. Rick Perry has accepted more than $100,000 in campaign contributions from groups involved in construction of 16 coal-burning power plants since he agreed to speed state approval of the projects.

TXU particularly likes Perry. Is TXU the company that manupilated the Texas energy market?

Houston: A gay family mecca

Who knew? Evidently, gay Texans looking to raise a child choose Houston. The Houston Chronicle chronicles the 'gayby boom' in Houston.

A study based on the most recent U.S. Census data found that gay couples here and in two other Texas cities — San Antonio and Fort Worth-Arlington — are more likely to have children than almost any other place in the country.

Meanwhile, married heterosexuals are in minority. Maybe, Texas should not have banned gay marriage.

Border Mexicans don't like the fence, either

We've discussed how the locals on the US side of the border don't want that fence. If it was a good idea, don't you think that the locals would be the ones in favor of it?

The Mexican border locals don't much care for the idea, either.

Republicans, all about that photo-op, not about the solution.

Nueces County Sheriff's race

The Caller Times profiles both candidates in todays paper.

Jimmy Rodriquez, the Democrat, looks at the people who are in jail.

He has worked tirelessly to bring rehabilitation programs in for inmates with drug and alcohol addictions, often mentally ill offenders, who he calls the jail's frequent fliers.

It is the No. 1 problem facing crime and jails today," Rodriguez said. "It is people with mental illness, drug addiction and alcohol addiction. We see it on our streets, we see it in our jails. Eighty percent of the population in jails has one or more of these symptoms."

Jim Kaelin, the Republican, focuses on the process.

Kaelin's campaign has centered on how he will fix the ailing sheriff's department, including problems at the Nueces County Jail such as accidental prisoner releases and failed inspections.

You have to get the process right, no question. But, you have to look beyond just going through the motions. Democrats like to solve problems. It's simple. Vote Democratic in November.

Why did IBEW give $10K to close our beaches?

Check out page 15 of the 'It's About Time We Took Your Beach Away From You and Gave it to our Cronies' finance report.

The 'It's About Time ...' report is loaded with companies like San Jacinto Title, American Bank, Wells Fargo and others. The Beach Access Coalition finance report is loaded with people.

Here's the Caller Times take on the finances issue.

See previous post.

RIP Freddy Fender 1937 - 2006

Sleeping with the enemy – Connie Gutierrez

It has long been reported that Connie Gutierrez the self proclaimed President, Founder, Producer, Ex. Dir, of the Coffee Club and current Democratic Precinct Chairwoman is supporting Lord Neal the republican for County Judge. Now we have even more proof of her republican dealings thanks to a tipster who emailed a picture of Connie getting Republican Candidate Tom Greenwell combs and literature to distribute for him. She has been paid handsomely by the local republicans to help. Not bad for a woman who recently declared bankruptcy.

Call Alex Garcia http://www.nuecesdemocrats.org/ and tell him you want her removed!

Not until we purge the local party of those who serve in their own best interest, instead of the Democratic Party will be able to gain respect again.

It is like cancer, you must cut it all out or it will slowly spread and destroy you.

Dancing with the hypocrites

You may remember how the nastiest hypocrite of all, Tom DeLay, became election whip for Sara Evans during the 'Dancing with the Stars' competition? Tom told us that a vote for Sara was a vote for 'Good American Values'.

Country singer Sara Evans alleges in divorce papers that her husband committed adultery, was verbally and emotionally abusive, drank excessively and frequently watched pornography in their home.

Evans, 35, filed for divorce Thursday from Craig Schelske and announced through a spokesman that she was quitting ABC's Dancing With the Stars "to give her family full attention at this difficult time."

The couple married in 1993 and have three children ages 7, 3 and 2.

Schelske, 43 and currently unemployed, ran for Congress as a Republican from Oregon's 5th District in 2002. He is a native of Salem, Ore.

And what about Tom's old Congressional seat? Pundits are calling the race for Nick Lampson. Seems that those Republican champions of 'Good American values' can't be bothered to dial in Shelley's very long name. Too much trouble.

Cynthia Hart, a straight-ticket Republican and mother of three in suburban Houston, said she was unaware she would have to write in the Republican candidate.

"I guess I have to be more careful," Hart said. "But I'm not so sure I would take the time to go through all that."

Want more examples of Republican perfidy? Check out Republican congressman Bob Ney who just pled guilty to taking bribes in return for congressional favors. Ney refuses to resign. The Republican leadership is furious. You can bet they're furious only because he got caught. And, the Republicans are into the second week of the faux Foley ethics investigation. The Republican leadership is still in a circular firing squad over that.

What effect will the Foley fallout have in Texas?

"It's not a matter of just one or two races. Every race. Because what it really does is suppress turnout," said GOP consultant Royal Masset of the scandal surrounding Foley, who sent salacious messages to teenage boys, and the Republican House leaders accused of not acting quickly enough to stop him.

'Good American Values' my a**!

Democratic priorities apparent in Congressional visit

6 Democratic Congressional Representatives from around the country visited Corpus Christi to attend the State of the Federal Government in South Texas summit.

The other congressmen [besides Solomon Ortiz Sr.] were U.S. Reps. Ike Skelton, D-Mo., in line to chair the House Armed Services Committee if the Democrats win a majority in November; Joe Baca, D-Calif., member of the Financial Services Committee and the Agriculture Committee; Jerry F. Costello, D-Ill., member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and Science Committee; Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, member of the Agriculture and Budget committees; and Xavier Becerra, D-Calif., member of the Ways and Means Committee.

Ortiz and others noted that the visitors made the trip to Corpus Christi with the Nov. 7 election less than a month away, when they could have been in their home districts campaigning for re-election.

Baca and Cuellar agreed that Congress should focus on health and education, two areas typically cut when funding other areas.

"I think you will see more funding in these areas in the coming years," Cuellar said.

Lets promote quality health care and education for all Americans. Vote Democratic in November. It's that simple.

Who is 'Company C'

Twenty house Democrats want to know who's accused of manipulating the Texas energy market. Was it TXU?

You can bet it was a Republican crony.

[The link to the story in the Galveston County Daily News was broken at the time of this post. Check back later, it may be working.]

Houstonians not happy with tax bill

I'm glad c4n3p is running the ad about the $2K James 'Rick' Perry promised us along with a pony for our birthday. Seems like Houston has noticed the $2K lie.

Protests of local property tax assessments this year reached their highest level in 22 years in Harris County, delaying the mailing of 2006 tax bills.

The number of protests jumped 13 percent as homeowners and businesses looked for tax relief from the Harris County Appraisal District.

Republican label is 'vandalism'

We noticed early on that Republicans like James 'Rick' Perry and c4n3p ditched the Republican label in their ads. Republicans running for office don't want the general public to know who they are. Seems like the Republican brand stands for arrogant, pedophilia-harboring, incompetent politicans intent on giving your tax money to their cronies. Who wants that label?

Political signs of several candidates in the November election sprouted yellow stickers late Wednesday and early Thursday proclaiming them “Republican.”

The stickers were placed throughout the county on signs of Republican Party candidates and even some candidates for the nonpartisan Brownsville Independent School District board races.

The Republicans running for office in the Brownsville area don't like to be labeled - Republicans.

The Republican likes vouchers

Texas House District 47 Republican candidate Bill Welch likes vouchers. Vouchers are a way of giving your tax dollars to cronies who are likely to teach intolerance against people like you. Welch's top donor is Bob 'Swifboater himself' Perry.

The Democrat in the race, Valinda Bolton, is against vouchers and her top donor is Annies List. This Austin American Statesman article neglected to note that Bolton received the Texas Parent PAC endorsement for HD47. A rather pertinent point, don't you think?

Give Valinda a hand!

Get Corpus Christi to show debate!!

From the Nueces Democratic email:

On October 19 Barbara Ann Radnofsky, the Democratic candidate for US Senate will debate Kay Bailey Hutchison at KLRN-TV studios, 501 Broadway, San Antonio at 7:30 p.m. The debate will be televised at 9:00 p.m., but you need to ask your local TV station to please pick up the state-wide satellite feed. Please call the local PBS station in Corpus Christi at the following number and demand they broadcast the debate.

KEDT-TV Corpus Christi, Telephone: 855-2213, Stewart Jacoby, News Director

I don't believe KEDT wants to miss out. Please, pleae call!

Headlines you don't want to see

From News 8 Austin: 'Austin's funky water OK to drink'.

People in Austin might notice an unusual taste or color in their tap water.

When you can't trust the EPA and companies pollute with impunity, you just wonder. This time it's just the blue-green algae.

Media mouth piece hits Reid

If anybody wonders why I put hours into this blog, here's why. I am sick, sick, sick of the rightwing media hit jobs. Who cares whether Al Gore wears a brown suit. Who cares if John Kerry looks 'French'.

I do care when the San Antonio Express News print edition picks up a pure hit piece on a Democrat to try and counter the news about Republican sleaze. The DailyKos is all over this dirty tricks smear job! Thanks, Marcos!

Pass it on. Don't let the right wing create their own 'reality'.

Fraud and misconduct at EPA

Increasing fraud and other misconduct at Environmental Protection Agency water quality analysis labs has put all of us at risk for contaminants and disease outbreaks, RAW STORY has learned.

Do Republicans make you feel safe? See previous post.

DA to review her offices' death penalty case

Despite bias shown in her office, San Antonio DA, Susan Reed, can conduct the investigation into the wrongful death penalty case of Ruben Cantu. Does anybody have a rubber stamp handy?

See previous post.

At the intersection of crony and safety

The Bush administration undermines our environmental protection laws while intimidating EPA workers who are trying to do their jobs. No wonder the air is dirty in Texas.

Dirty air in El Paso with more to come?

The document shows "Asarco secretly burned toxic waste (at the smelter) for nearly a decade," Heather McMurray, an El Paso high-school teacher and representative of El Paso Get the Lead Out and Sunland Park Grassroots Environmental Group, said Wednesday at a news conference near the mothballed smelter.

The smelter was closed in 1999 because of low copper prices, but Asarco has indicated it may try to reopen the smelter if it can obtain a new state air quality permit.

Dirty land in Corpus Christi with more to come?

Asarco agreed in 1995 and 1996 to clean 30 contaminated properties in two Corpus Christi neighborhoods, Dona Park and Manchester Place, after tests showed high amounts of lead and other heavy metals linked to health problems.

An environmental group says waste manifests indicate at least 300 tons of that material was generated at the Army's chemical warfare depot at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal.

A BP exec thought he got to skate with his agreement about the deadly BP explosion.

James Galbraith, BP’s attorney, told Criss in a Wednesday hearing that the two sides had made a binding agreement in August under which global refining chief John Manzoni would provide a deposition, but Browne [BP CEO] would not.

Under the agreement, Browne could only later be deposed if Manzoni’s statement offered evidence that BP’s top man had personal knowledge of the blasts’ causes. Galbraith said nothing in Manzoni’s statement pointed to Browne having such knowledge.

However, Criss said that Browne’s statements in media interviews and online “town-hall” meetings shown to company workers showed he did have knowledge of the blasts’ roots.

A judge like Susan Criss may take our side now and then. But, whose side do Republicans take when it comes to an intersection of business cronies and your safety?

Republican cronyism at work

Bob Perry, the swiftboat guy, is a home builder. Bob Perry donates tons of money to Republicans including James 'Rick' Perry. Texas home builders designed the Texas home builder oversight board. What are the results?

Buyers of brand-new homes with cracked foundations, leaking roofs and other problems are still living with defects after turning to a state-run program designed to resolve their disputes with builders.

Good news: In about nine of 10 investigations, Texas officials have told builders to make repairs.

Bad news: Two years into the program, most builders haven't made the fixes.

When it comes to protecting your home or protecting business cronies, who do you think Republicans choose every time?

Exposing Republican arrogance

The Foley scandal exposes GOP arrogance. Republicans only care about their power, not your kids. Republican congressmen can pat teenage boys' butts on the House floor during a session and Republican leaders don't care. Power should bring perks, right?

The Houston Chronicle has a couple of stories debating the effects of the Foley scandal on Texas races.

"It's not a matter of just one or two races. Every race. Because what it really does is suppress turnout," said GOP consultant Royal Masset. "I really figure that Foley is probably at this point taking about 3 percent out of our vote. ... If people are just mad at Republicans, they're not going to vote."

...

"I don't think it has any effect until somebody can show how in the world this guy Mark Foley has anything to do with any Texas candidate, particularly the statewides," said pollster Mike Baselice, who works for GOP Gov. Rick Perry's campaign.

So James 'Rick' Perry AND his pollster are clueless. The Foley fallout is very simple. Republicans won't protect even the privileged sons of their friends from sexual predators. What makes any parent think that Republicans will make this world safer for our children? No wonder Republicans are destroying our public school systems and taking away health care from our children. No wonder Republicans sent our troops to war without proper armor or troop levels for safety, let alone victory.

And what does Bush have to say? [I know. Who cares what the idiot son has to say.]

President Bush said Wednesday that former Rep. Mark Foley's behavior toward former congressional pages was "disgusting" but predicted that voters would care more about the economy and national security than the ex-Florida lawmaker in next month's election.

"I know this Foley issue bothers a lot of people, including me, but I think when they get in that booth they are going to be thinking about how best to secure the country from attack and how best to keep the economy going," Bush said in response to a question at his Rose Garden news conference.

Does Bush mean the economy that's pushing the middle class into poverty? Does Bush mean securing the country from attack the way his team did during 2001 when countless dire warnings were given about Bin Laden and he and his team went on vacation? Does Bush mean preparing the country for a hurricane the way his team did during 2005 when he and his team went on vacation after they were given countless dire warnings about New Orleans?

If the Republicans don't care about privileged kids' safety, they sure don't care about your safety.

Gene Seaman says the truth hurts.

Negative advertising in the District 32 state representative race dominated a debate between the two candidates at the Rockport-Fulton Area Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday.

State Rep. Gene Seaman told a crowd of 200 Rockport-Fulton Area Chamber of Commerce members that a series of ads paid for by supporters of his opponent are hurting his family.

"Shame on the people who run those kinds of ads," he said, his voice cracking.

Gene, shame on you for using campaing funds to pay "rent" to your wife. Gene, shame on you for having two homestead exemptions and not paying your fair share of taxes.

I have a simple solution for you, Gene. Resign.

Update: By the way, wasn't it you, Gene, who implied your wife was at fault? All those confusing forms, you know. If anybody insulted your family, it was you, Gene.

Texas Police Chiefs gone wild

Police chief number 1:

The police chief of a small town has been charged with stealing a windshield from a golf cart.

Police Chief Mike McDonald of Lamar turned himself in to Darlington County police on Tuesday to face the charges of petty larceny and misconduct in office. He was released on $1,000 bail.

Police chief #2:

Thomas Shockley, North Richland Hills' former police chief, will have to put in 30 days of community service that could include picking up trash or washing police cars.

The embattled former police administrator pleaded guilty last week to driving while intoxicated and was sentenced to labor detail.

No Ethics Report for Danny Noyola Sr.

The race for Vilma Luna's (DINO-Corpus Christi) SD33 seat has been interesting to say the least.

Want to know who's contributing to Danny Noyola Sr.'s campaign? Too bad! His report isn't online. Solomon Ortiz Jr.'s report and Joe McComb's are.

Why is Danny running in the special election anyway? He can't ever attend a Texas House of Representatives session even if he won.

What are you trying to hid, Danny?

See previous posts - here and here.

Nueces County Democratic Events

Check out these events sent to us from the Nueces County Democratic party:

Wednesday 11

Candidate Forum, Wednesday, October 11th from 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at Funtrackers in Flour Bluff. All are invited. Please Come!

Thursday 12

Solomon Ortiz Jr. Candidate for State Representative Dist. 33 Invites You to a Happy Hour Meet and Great! Enjoy FREE appetizers and discounted drinks Thursday, October 12th - 5:00pm - 7:00pm - At the Cancun Mexican Restaurant 9605 S. Padre Island Dr - (Corner of Flour Bluff Dr. and SPID) All are welcome to attend - For more info call 225-3060 - www.solomonortizjr.com

Thursday 12

Judge Saldaña (Candidate for 148th District Court ), will be honored at a reception and fundraiser hosted by Tony LaMantia at his residence at 14721 Attoyac Drive, Corpus Christi, Texas. Refreshments will be served 5:30PM–7:30PM.

Corpus Christi City Council dirty tricks

The City Council seems incapable of playing fair with regard to the Beach Access issue. The council disrespected its citizens twice by invalidating citizen petitions. The ballot language the council chose on the beach access issue is deliberately deceptive.

So, who would expect the city's beach access fact sheet to be adequate or even fair?

Mike McCutchon, spokesman for the Beach Access Coalition, a group that opposes the ban, said the flier leaves out important facts.

"It doesn't tell you truthfully what Charter Amendment One does," McCutchon said. "I don't think people realize that Charter Amendment One does not ban vehicles. It gives the city the authority to enact an ordinance to ban vehicles in the future. That ordinance would not be subject to referendum. The city could put whatever they want in that ordinance and we would have no say about it."

Noe said the City Attorney's Office helped draft the flier and reviewed all the language and determined it was factual. State law prohibits city staff from using taxpayer dollars to campaign.

Vote AGAINST
Charter Amendment #1

Vote FOR
Charter Amendment #2

Check out the Beach Access Coalition website for the latest.

The locals don't WANT a fence!

If a border fence was a good idea, wouldn't border residents be clamoring for one in their area? Yet, border residents continue to protest the GOP's virtual symbol of security and bigotry.

A Del Rio man, who left Laredo on foot Tuesday en route to Brownsville, is raising his voice against a plan to fence off the border.Jay Johnson-Castro said he was shocked when the proposal to build a 700-mile fence passed Congress with the support of Texans President Bush, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and Sen. John Cornyn.

And, it isn't just the residents. Their representatives are complaining, too.

Cameron County commissioners on Tuesday condemned the border fence that would extend from Brownsville to Laredo and along other portions of the U.S.-Mexico border.

The double fence would cause ill will with Mexico, be ineffective in keeping out undocumented immigrants, drug smugglers or terrorists and would divert resources away from more important priorities, the commissioners said.

Brownsville voter guide to be online

You can find out, in the candidates’ own words, by visiting the 2006 Online Voters’ Guide, a community partnership project between The Brownsville Herald and the UTB-TSC Center for Civic Engagement.

The online link can be accessed at brownsvilleherald.com and the Center for Civic Engagement Web site, civicengagement.com, on Monday, Oct. 23. A preview can be viewed Thursday on The Herald home page.

Our jobs go to India, China and Brazil

A friend called me the other day to say he lost his job. His company is outsourcing to India, China and Brazil. To top it off, employees may be required to go out of the country for 30 days to train their replacements, if they want to keep the severence pay. My friend isn't alone in his loss.

IBM Corp. has given about 100 employees in Austin 30 days to find new jobs within the company because their current positions are being eliminated.

And what kind of working conditions are there overseas?

A ban on child labor took effect Tuesday, but at roadside food stalls across New Delhi, many of the boys and girls who serve glasses of piping hot tea, wash dishes, mop floors and take out trash were not celebrating.

The children of India's tens of millions of poor families are expected to work, and in many cases they are the sole breadwinners.

Why do political progressives try to change the system? We want fair working conditions and a living wage. Check out John Kelley's article on progressives.

Sherriff Samaniego's roadblocks are back

State Senators Hinojosa and Shapleigh have questioned El Paso Sheriff Samaniego's motives for stopping motorists.

Samaniego said the stationary vehicle checkpoints he suspended in June are being reimplemented now that his staff has reviewed the training for deputies conducting the stops and has made some "cosmetic changes" to the policy allowing for the checkpoints.

A show of force. Racial profiling. Just what the Republicans ordered.

Republican crony deal?

From the Texas Democratic Party email

Today, Texas Democratic Party Chairman Boyd Richie called for an investigation into a possible sweetheart deal involving the Trans Texas Corridor and a well known Republican insider, former Railroad Commissioner Barry Williamson. Chairman Richie called on Attorney General Greg Abbott and the appropriate bipartisan legislative committees to investigate information that indicates Williamson may have received inside information regarding the Trans Texas Corridor that directly profited his land acquisition company, Wilson Holding Co.

See the TDP website for more details.

Support Solomon Ortiz Jr. for SD33

From the Solomon Ortiz Jr. campaign email:

Solomon Ortiz Jr. Candidate for State Representative Dist. 33

Invites You to a Happy Hour Meet and Great!

Enjoy FREE appetizers and discounted drinks

Thursday, October 12th

5:00pm – 7:00pm

At the
Cancun Mexican Restaurant

9605 S. Padre Island Dr
(Corner of Flour Bluff Dr. and SPID)

All are welcome to attend

For more info call 225-3060
www.solomonortizjr.com

Perry Pushes Vouchers

Perry must be in San Antonio sucking up some Leininger money.

State-paid vouchers for private school tuition should have a better chance of passing in the coming legislative session, Gov. Rick Perry said Monday.

...

Craig Tounget, coordinator of the anti-voucher Coalition for Public Schools, said when legislators convene in Austin in January, "I suspect the climate will be a bit worse than it has been. ... If the chairman of the Public Education Committee gets beat in his own primary, if I'm a member of the Legislature, I'm not carrying that bill next session."

A couple of anti-voucher Republicans also were defeated, however, after being targeted by wealthy San Antonio businessman and voucher supporter James Leininger.

It is up to every one of us to get out our votes in November. Who else will protect our public schools?

See previous post.

Dallas Morning News lunacy

Todd J. Gillman of the Dallas Morning News has a serious problem with reality.

His story 'Hutchison race puts Texas Democrats in a bind' isn't about Hutchison's incumbancy advantage, Texas' Republican voting record, or Kay Bailey's war chest. Todd writes

Want to watch someone squirm? Ask the Texas Democrats in Congress how they feel about the state's Republican senior senator and whether voters should let her keep her job.

Todd thinks Democrats have nothing bad to say about Kay Bailey. Evidently, being a Bushbot is a good thing for Todd.

Since Todd is 'Google and reality' challenged, an advantage for a DMN reporter, I will list a few links for Todd.

NoKay blog
Radnofsky campaign site
South Texas Chisme Hutchison stories

Bomb, Katie, Bomb!

The fifth week was the toughest for Katie Couric, whose viewership on the "CBS Evening News" has dropped each week since her debut the day after Labor Day.

Anybody who'd put Rush Limbaugh on as a guest her first week as news anchor deserves to tank big.

Media Matters has more choice Couric cr*p.

Not at all about pedestrian safety

Corpus Christi councilman, Mark Scott, lets the cat out of the bag in the first debate on banning vehicles on a 7200' stretch of North Padre Island.

"Look for a (beach) resort in America that has cars in front of it," Scott said. "There just aren't any."

The city council vote to ban vehicles and severely limit access to our public beaches never was about pedestrian safety. It was always about making one land owner's beach front property more valuable by limiting the riff raff otherwise known as the citizens of Corpus Christi.

See previous post.

You can help Bell win!

We all saw during the gubernatorial debate that this race is between Perry and Bell. Voters need to know about Chris Bell and what he offers Texas. That means TV and radio ads. That means money. From you. Donate here. Volunteer time here.

A Houston lawyer has already pledged a sizable sum, but even $5M isn't enough.

After Friday night's see-saw gubernatorial debate, Houston personal-injury lawyer John O'Quinn gave Democrat Chris Bell a potentially record-breaking lift, promising to give his campaign $1 million now and to give or raise $4 million more later.

Bell's campaign picked up the million-dollar donation Monday amid plans to shoot fresh TV ads. If O'Quinn's offer plays out, Bell could compete with GOP Gov. Rick Perry and independent Carole Keeton Strayhorn in prime-time advertising through the Nov. 7 election. It costs an estimated $1 million weekly to reach every media market in Texas.

$5M gets us in the game. Bell needs you to win. You can make the difference.

Frank Enriquez for CD28

The McAllen Monitor gives a little love to Congressional candidatate, Frank Enriquez.

Enriquez said he wants to give voters a chance to pick someone from the Rio Grande Valley and someone who is not part of the current Congress, which he said has gone in the wrong direction on Iraq, spending, trade and border security.

"He’s been an incumbent for a couple of years, so I don’t want to minimize the challenge," Enriquez said. "But I think we’ve got something that’s gold on our side, and that’s public opinion."

The McAllen attorney blames Cuellar for siding often with Republicans, and for being part of a Congress that has not developed an exit strategy for Iraq.

Cuellar sides with Republicans. Enough said.

Leininger's still at it!

What ever we win in November, will never be safe.

Rich and relentless immediately come to mind when describing San Antonio businessman James Leininger and his longtime pursuit of tax-paid vouchers for private schools.

...

Tipping off that possibility is a Senate Education Committee hearing set for Friday in Houston. The panel will hear testimony evaluating the "impact of successful school choice programs on students, parents and teachers."

"School choice" primarily means vouchers, and this is the first time the Senate has studied the question. Previous voucher fights have been confined to the House.

But, maybe the Texas House leadership team will be better.

Texas Democrats have no hopes of regaining control of the state House, but some are optimistic about winning enough seats in the upcoming election to trigger a Republican challenge of House Speaker Tom Craddick.

Democrats need to pick off only three or four Republican House members to leave Craddick, a Republican from Midland, vulnerable to a challenge from his own party, they say.

Craddick's firm leadership style — described by some as autocratic — has created an undercurrent of discontent, and Republican losses of House seats in the Nov. 7 election could inspire a challenge, said House Mexican American Caucus Chairman Pete Gallego, D-Alpine.

Wouldn't it be nice to surprise them at the San Antonio Express News?

It's the arrogance, stupid!

What is the Republican leadership all about? Sure's there's the greed, the mendacity and the perfidity. But first and foremost, there is the arrogance to believe that they can get away with it. Many of us in the reality based community watch in horror as our constitution is shredded in the name of freedom by people trumpeting their patriotism.

Now there is a sex scandal poised to expose this arrogance for all to see and for the media to finally describe. Even the right leaning McAllen Monitor's editorial today says 'Mark Foley scandal speaks of arrogance' although the commentary that follows is less than insightful.

Meanwhile, the Austin American Statesman throws roses to the area Republican congressional candidates. The 'Lamar Smith may be hurt because of others' bad behavior' totally neglects Lamar Smith's role as part of the Republican leadership structure. Smith is on the house ethics committee. [Hello, AAS, anybody home? Republicans. Ethics. Foley. DeLay. Cunningham.] AAS' Arnold Garcia notes irony in the place of arrogance. And, who in their right mind wants Lamar 'what me worry?' Smith to chair the judiciary committee, anyway?

The AAS goes on to throw love at John Carter and Michael McCaul. AAS says both may be part of the new Republican leadership.

Carter and McCaul are keen on ferreting out wasteful government spending.

Yeah, right. Republicans never met a crony they didn't like. What have Carter and McCaul done about the porn shoppers at the US Interior department? As long as US employees are not taking care of our US park system while Republican cronies exploit our resources, who cares?

Worse, four Interior Department auditors claim in recently filed federal lawsuits that their bosses blocked them from trying to recover tens of millions of dollars in underpayments on royalty producing wells.

Again, the McAllen Monitor beats the Austin American Statesman by touting a candidate for congress who believes in our constitution! What a concept!

By "fundamentals of property," [Constitutional party CD 28, Ron Avery,] said he means that the purpose of government is to protect the life, liberty and possessions of every person in it. American founding fathers used them as the basis for the Constitution.

Avery sees examples everywhere of these principles having been abandoned, he said.

For example, the United States should not have entered into the North American Free Trade Agreement because the deal hurt American people, jobs and corporations, which the government has a responsibility to protect, he said.

Avery is running against Democrat, Frank Enriquez of McAllen, and 'looks like a Republican and smells like a Republican' Henry Cuellar of Laredo.

If you want to see Republican arrogance, look here.

Rank-and-file Republicans today sought to mount a public defense of Speaker Dennis Hastert over the page sex scandal that threatens their congressional control one month before the elections.

Rank and file Republicans. Like Lamar Smith, John Carter and Michael McCaul.

They always say 'personnel issues'

The Fresno, Texas teacher suspended after taking her kids to an art museum where there was art has a different story than the school.

District officials have vigilantly maintained that the decision stemmed from separate personnel issues and not one child's exposure to a nude artwork, which has never been identified.

Getting out the vote

We can win in November, if we get out the vote. The AFL-CIO is spending $40M on GOTV.

"What we're seeing is dozens of races that are so close that they're really going to be decided on the ground," said the president of the federation, John Sweeney, "and I think that's where we're going to make the difference."

The Houston Chronicle tells us that voter registrations are down in Harris County as well as in the rest of the country.

The main reason fewer people are registered now is that fewer are signing up, [Paul Bettencourt, Harris County tax assessor-collector,] said. Tuesday is the last day to register for the Nov. 7 election.

"We've been flat as a pancake. This is a really weak year," Bettencourt said, despite an abundance of voter-registration drives.

The trend seems to be national.

In a 50-state survey, Election Data Services found a 2.5 percent drop in registered voters from 2004 to 2006.

We'll work with the voters we've got. Go get'um!

The Foley scandal still in the news

It's always the coverup. Saturday Night Live had a great skit showing who Hastert blames - Hillary and Chelsea Clinton. Keep the comedy coming.

We've relied on comedians to carry our message for years, but yesterday a Democrat spoke eloquently on the real issues involved with the Foley scandal - protecting our children. Please check out the audio and the transcript of Minnesota Democratic House candidate Patty Wetterling's Saturday response. Her words moved me to tears.

[Note: Why is it that a google search for Wetterling's transcript only returned Fox News? I had to go to ASK which returned CNN and others.]

Bonilla cybersquatting?

Rick Bolaños, one of six Democrats running in Congressional District 23, accuses incumbent U.S. Rep. Henry Bonilla's campaign of stealing his name in cyberspace in a federal lawsuit filed here this week.

Last December, Bonilla's campaign treasurer, Jill DeYoung, registered at least a dozen Web site addresses that included Bolaños' name. She acquired the domain names — such as rickbolanosforcongress.com and rickbolanos.com — on the same day the San Antonio Express-News reported the El Paso Democrat's interest in the race.

The tactic, known as cybersquatting, has caught short numerous candidates in recent years. Last month, the Lufkin Daily News reported that Wes Suiter, the Republican candidate for Angelina County judge, had discovered that his opponent's brother-in-law snapped up a batch of Web addresses incorporating his name.

Republicans don't like to play by the rules.

The valley noticed Kinky

The ONE Texas gubernatorial debate is over. c4n3p and Richard 'Kinky' Friedman did surprisingly poorly, James 'Rick' Perry wasn't embarrassingly bad and Chris Bell looked good. Kinky seemed angry at his worst and uncomfortable at his best. c4n3p just seemed scared. Perry was surprisingly polished as he lied his way through the debate. Chris Bell was cool, to the point and on message. See the debate online.

Kinky's answers can be provocative, but have no depth. When asked about requiring martial law to put the Guard on the Texas border, Kinky said sure. Not so fast, Kinky. Despite what the Republicans are doing to our constitution, people still care about their civil liberties.

"Yeah, of course, whatever it takes," Friedman said in response to a question from an Austin television reporter about whether he would declare martial law, which would be required by law to make possible his proposal to add 8,500 National Guard troops to the border.

This race is between Chris Bell and James'Rick' Perry. Lets make sure Bell has the money to win! Donate now!

Packery Channel's South Jetty

See the cars parked on the beach? Keep our beaches open. Don't let the misleading ballot language fool you. Texas beaches belong to Texans, not some land owner from Canada.

Vote AGAINST
Charter Amendment #1

Vote FOR
Charter Amendment #2

Check out the Beach Access Coalition website for the latest. See previous post.

Cameron County Commissioner Pedro “Pete” Benavides suffered a stroke

Cameron County Commissioner Pedro “Pete” Benavides suffered a stroke Friday evening and was in serious condition at Valley Baptist Medical Center-Brownsville as of press time.

On the governor's debate

What about Governor MoFo lecturing Kinky on his language?

Beach Access wording stays

Nueces County clerk, Diana Barrera, testified that the ballots are set for November and cannot be changed even if the Beach Access Coalition wins its court battle for fair language.

"Depending on the outcome of the election, we can come back after the election and point out again the defects in the ballot language," [Dr. Michael] McCutchon said.

Dr. McCutchon withdrew his motion for an injunction.

See previous post.

Texans fed up with politicans?

That's what the Dallas Morning News says. The real headline should be 'Had Enough? Vote Democratic in November.'

Three-fourths of Texas voters doubt that property tax cuts are headed their way, despite Republican leaders' assurances that they'll save big under legislation passed last spring, a new statewide poll shows.

And seven months after lawmakers cobbled together a court-ordered fix to the school funding system, two-thirds of voters don't believe the touted remedies do the job, according to the poll conducted for The Dallas Morning News.

"Texans have an innate and continuing skepticism of state government and the claims it makes, and they're usually justified in that skepticism," said Southern Methodist University political scientist Cal Jillson. "They're kind of sitting back saying, 'Show me the money,' and it hasn't arrived."

Who screwed up school financing? Who pulled a bait and switch on property taxes? All together now: The Republicans!!

Energy deregulation soon for all Texans

Savings from deregulation? Not so much. Even the Dallas Morning News says so.

As firms gain power to set rates, expect a vast field of options, but not big savings.

Remember how tuition deregulation has worked out for parents? Does a 39% increase sound good?

Remember, Republicans do things for their cronies, not you. Don't expect energy regulation to be any different.

Get ready for that debate

The debate is on for gubernatorial candidates tonight! No Texas football fans will be watching as everyone knows Perry doesn't want to be seen or heard answering questions of any difficulty. Further limiting viewers, only Belo television markets can watch live.

Do you envision Strayhorn and Bell double teaming Perry? [Of course, your dog could probably out debate Perry.] Will Kinky try to ease the tension with some racist one-liners? Will Kinky end every answer with 'and you can buy my books online at ...'.

I fully expect Chris Bell to shine tonight. I hope people are watching!

More on the debate from the Austin American Statesman, the San Antonio Express News, the Dallas Morning News, and the El Paso Times.

More problems with that fence

We've heard about environmental issues. We've heard about separating families and communities. We've heard about business issues. Could there be more problems with an expensive fence on the Mexican border? Yup. The fence may endanger border agents by trapping them.

Border Patrol agents, “trapped” between two layers of border fencing could be sitting ducks for Mexican drug smugglers and coyotes, warns T.J. Bonner, president of the National Border Patrol Council.

This fence is just a perfect example of how Republicans solve problems: rhetoric, symbolism, hate and a complete disregard for how their decisions effect real people.

Republicans didn't care about the safety of our troups when they sent them to Iraq without proper body armor, vehicle armor or troup levels. Why should Republicans care about the safety of our border agents?

Cornyn was right?

No sooner did Congress authorize construction of a 700-mile fence on the U.S.-Mexico border last week than lawmakers rushed to approve separate legislation that ensures it will never be built, at least not as advertised, according to Republican lawmakers and immigration experts.

GOP leaders have singled out the fence as one of the primary accomplishments of the recently completed session. Many lawmakers plan to highlight their $1.2 billion down payment on its construction as they campaign in the weeks before the midterm elections.

But shortly before recessing late Friday, the House and Senate gave the Bush administration leeway to distribute the money to a combination of projects -- not just the physical barrier along the southern border. The funds may also be spent on roads, technology and "tactical infrastructure" to support the Department of Homeland Security's preferred option of a "virtual fence."

We're getting a virtual fence? The Republicans are going to campaign on a fence that isn't going to be built. Sounds like them.

See previous post.

Learn to spell republican!

Local republican candidate poses for a picture saying that his democratic opponent will not debate him. Maybe the reason is because he can't spell the Democrats name correctly!

Look closely at the sign. Its spelled ORITZ not ORTIZ.
What a joke! So much for no child left behind.

Don’t be fooled by the republicans and their perverted ways, now is our time to take back the house!

Contribute to
www.ortizforcongress.com

or
www.DCCC.org

Big fat F for AllTexas Justices

[According to the Texas Watch Foundation] all nine justices on the Texas Supreme Court earned an "F" when it came to supporting consumers.

Of course they did. They're all Republicans. Bet they all scored an A in cronyism.

Fox news says Hastert could cost 30 seats

Instead of losing 20 seats, the Republicans could lose 50. Go for it Denny!

House Republican candidates will suffer massive losses if House Speaker Dennis Hastert remains speaker until Election Day, according to internal polling data from a prominent GOP pollster, FOX News has learned.

"The data suggests Americans have bailed on the speaker," a Republican source briefed on the polling data told FOX News. "And the difference could be between a 20-seat loss and 50-seat loss."

Is Foley the thread?

According to this New York Times story, the Bush administration is waiting for other shoes to drop.

More than anything else, officials said, they are hemmed in by the unknown, girding for still more unwelcome developments in the Foley saga that could make any sort of full-throated defense or criticism of the House leadership now seem ill considered later. Mr. Foley, a Florida Republican, resigned his House seat on Friday after being confronted by ABC News with sexually explicit text messages he had sent to teenage Congressional pages.

“We’re not the keepers of the facts,” said a senior official, who was granted anonymity to speak candidly about internal deliberations on the Foley scandal.

Will there be a gay witch hunt to distract us? Do the Republicans really want to play that game? We've all heard rumors about Bush, Perry, Rove and their friends. Remember gay male prostitute Jeff Gannon's multiple visits to the White House?

In any case, the Mark Foley story is far from over.

Enron deja vue for you

Reliant and TXU price-to-beat customers have been paying electric bills based on the price of gas last October. That’s when it reached a peak after hurricanes Rita and Katrina knocked out production in the Gulf.

The Texas Public Utility Commission is making noise about this. An election year ploy or protecting the public?

Republicans reining in Texas energy companies' price gouging? I don't think so!

Fence, no fence, fence

The US Congress rushed to pass costly, symbolic and ineffective legislation to tout in campaign speeches to the bigoted and frightened. As we keep saying, the issues surrounding immigration are not new. What's new is the decision by the Republican campaign masterminds to use this topic as both a wedge of hate and a source of fear.

And the magic solution congress proposes? A fence along the border. I can hardly wait for the graffiti.

But, wait, you say. Cornyn promised us there would be no fence. Just the symbolism of the fence. Congress appropriated $1.2B for the fence, afterall. I wonder which Republican crony is in the fencing business?

And, if a fence isn't enough, we've got James 'Rick' Perry's border cam reality show to look forward to. Coming soon to a theater near you.

More than three months after announcing his plan to let anyone with Internet access report crime along the Texas-Mexico border by watching feeds from surveillance cameras, Gov. Rick Perry's virtual border watch program is still not online.

I wonder which Republican crony is in the webcam business?

First you see it, then you don't

The newly reconstituted beach on North Padre Island near Packery channel may be open next week. Only to be closed again, if we don't get the voters out in November to keep the beach open.

Don't let crony capitalism take our beach!

Vote AGAINST
Charter Amendment #1

Vote FOR
Charter Amendment #2

See previous post to catch up on the beach access saga.

Boo Hoo, poor Seaman!

Gene Seaman objects to the Mikal Watts' Good Government PAC ads exposing Seaman's Austin condo adventure. As you recall in our last episode, Seaman uses campaign funds to pay his wife for their Austin condo rent. Both the condo and the Seaman residence on Ocean Drive in Corpus Christi had homestead exemptions.

Mikal Watts points out that Seaman's approach to stiffling the ad involves intimidating the Corpus Christi TV stations.

A vote for Seaman is a vote for Republican ethics. Such as they are.

Texas Republicans going through the motions

You remember lower medical costs due to 'tort reform'? Lower insurance costs? Lower property taxes? Remember those things promised by Republican politicans during election season and delivered only in our dreams?

Now the Texas Public Utility Commission is looking into price gauging. Like a Republican would ever stop a crony from gauging the public!

Texas Public Utility Commission Chairman Paul Hudson on Wednesday said the commission is taking the first step towards launching an investigation into whether a company last year manipulated the wholesale power markets.

The PUC recently released a report by an outside consultant showing that a company may have declined to sell available power into the market, thus boosting prices last year.

The report didn’t name the company involved, but given a description of the large size of the company, it may have been TXU Corp. TXU has said it doesn’t manipulate the markets, and the report’s data on the company don’t match TXU’s own figures.

Is Hastert toast?

Former Mark Foley aide, Kirk Fordham, lent back to Foley by Republican Representative Tom Reynolds to contain the pedophile scandal has been sacrificed, i.e. fired.

Fordham says Hastert was informed at least two years ago about Foley's predilictions for underage men working at the capitol.

Keep those hits coming. The Republicans deserve every bit.

Update: Fordham appears to be singing.

We were just kidding about the fence

Sen. John Cornyn, R-San Antonio and a key liaison to the White House on immigration, said Tuesday that 700 miles of fencing approved by Congress will probably not be built because of a lack of money and other practical considerations. “It’s one thing to authorize. It’s another thing to actually appropriate the money and do it,” he told reporters.

It was all just rhetoric during an election year.

Del Mar regents have no guts

The Del Mar College Board of Regents decided Tuesday to take no action against President Carlos Garcia and let the courts handle a sexual harassment lawsuit a former student filed against him and the college last week.

...

Rivas said regents agreed the matter should be left to the courts because any evidence uncovered during an internal investigation could be used against the college in litigation.

Is Del Mar President Rivas admiting that there is a good chance Del Mar culpability will be discovered? Is Rivas admitting that the college does not want to take responsibility?

Does everyone have to act like the Republican House leadership when young people are sexually harassed?

Careful when you vote

James 'Rick' Perry's adventure in special elections has strange consequences for voters in the voting booth.

First off, ballots will be strange in those counties which are holding one or more of these special elections. Get a sample ballot ahead of time, if possible. The better election clerks will have the special election listed first. Further down the ballot should be the regular election for the same position. Be sure to vote BOTH the special election and the down-ballot regular election. Note that a straight Democratic ticket will NOT cover the special election.

Just to make things as weird as possible in Bexar County, ES&S was not able to properly program the ballots for those precincts NOT having a special election. Pay close attention here: those precincts without a special election will start their ballot with a completely blank page. No instructions, not 'this page intentionaly left blank, nada. Page down to start your ballot.

This year's ballot is going to be very, very long. Give yourself a break and vote straight Democratic after your special election selections.

And, always, always check to see that the selections are accurate BEFORE you cast your ballot!

Mark Foley still in the news

They're are the AP generic articles on 'whether Hastert will resign' and 'Foley as a victim'. The Houston Chronicle even had a story on the GOP fallout written by their reporters. The longer this story goes, the more likely voters will see Republicans as the hypocrites the are.

I went over to a conservative blogger's site to see how he was covering this story. Tom Maguire of JustOneMinute has been considered reasonable in the past by other progressive bloggers. Oh, the tortured logic Tom uses on this story to blame the gays in congress.

It's all the gays' fault that Mark Foley stayed in congress. Here's how that works. All gays in congress know each other and exchange intimate details of their lives. Therefore, all of the gays in congress knew what Mark Foley was doing. Yet, not one gay turned Mark in. It's all their fault!!

Tom Maguire conveniently forgets all about the Republican leadership's role in enabling Foley while sterotyping every gay person.

Be sure you and your friends are registered to vote!

Next week is the deadline to be registered to vote in the November election. Check out your county website in order to find out what you need to do. Register and vote DEMOCRATIC in Novemeber.

Haven't you had enough?

Support Solomon Ortiz Jr.

From the Solomon Ortiz Jr. campaign email:

Meet and greet for Solomon Ortiz Jr., candidate for State Representative District 33. Also meet your other Democratic candidates at "The Historical Texan", 3625 South Staples, next to Angelo’s Pizza.

WHEN: Saturday, October 7, 2006
TIME: 1:00 till 3:00 p.m.

Candidates Please arrive @ 2:00 p.m.
SPONSORED BY: PRECINCT CHAIR 87- Sylvia Samaniego
More info contact 854-4272 or email samaniegosylvia@yahoo.com

www.solomonortizjr.com
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The Foley Fest: Texas Angle Part II

Which Texas papers are pushing the propaganda, i.e spouting GOP talking points from the Karl Rove memo? Which papers are downplaying the Foley scandal? Which papers are dealing with the issue in a forthright manner? See Part I.

The Dallas Morning News identifies completely with the Republican party with its headlines - "Foley fallout worries GOP " and "FBI looks into Foley e-mail scandal". FINALLY calling in the FBI is sooo old GOP spin cycle. Keep up, DMN. Other DMN stories.

Curoiously, the print edition of the San Antonio Express News includes several stories about the Foley scandal, but the online edition all but ignores the story. Hummm. Shame, shame, shame on you!

There is coverage at the Forth Worth Telegram, if you search for it.

How ironic

How's the Foley scandal and the Republican leadership's reaction to it playin' for ya, Rick?

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst will appear at an Austin elementary school today to tout their programs to snare Internet predators.

Last month, Gov. Rick Perry highlighted a program to fingerprint and collect DNA from every child from kindergarten to sixth grade in case a child is kidnapped. Dewhurst pushed for minimum mandatory prison sentences of 25 years for first offenders of violent sexual crimes against young children and the death penalty for second offenders.

And Abbott has organized several taxpayer-funded town hall meetings about cyber crime. He also highlights the issue in his campaign appearances.

All together now, lets say HYPOCRISY!

The Foley Fest: Texas Angle Part I

Which Texas papers are pushing the propaganda, i.e spouting GOP talking points from the Karl Rove memo? Which papers are downplaying the Foley scandal? Which papers are dealing with the issue in a forthright manner?

The Houston Chronicle online edition wins the pushing the progaganda award with this headline 'Hastert rejects call to resign over e-mail scandal'. 'email scandal' sounds so innocuous. How about congressional pedophile scandal? The story's actual title is better 'Pressure grows for Republicans over Foley scandal' Lets see - 'Foley' has 5 letters and 'email' has 5 letters. Can't be edited for length. The Chronicle uses the AP stories.

Another Houston Chronicle/AP special is 'Foley checks into rehab as e-mails probed'. Foley excuse highlighted. Innocous email word used. [Note that email expands to 6 characters here.] Remember corrupt Republican Congressman, Ney, used alcohol as his excuse for corruption. You know how those Republicans love to reject responsibility for their actions.

The Austin American Statesman does better. Laylan Copelin gets high marks for calling James 'Rick Perry and Greg Abbott on their hypocrisy over their 'protecting children from the internet tour':

The message is the perfect stump spiel. Opponents can't argue against protecting children, no matter how remote the threat might seem. And it costs just pennies on the dollar compared with the hundreds of millions of dollars that would be necessary to improve the welfare of the children of the working poor and impoverished. More important, perhaps, the threat of child predators touches the suburban voters who are a large part of the Republican incumbents' support base.

I can't wait until Laylan adds the Foley scandal to the mix.

The AAS looks at whether pages were warned in 2001 about Foley. The article focuses on how the pages mentioned are grateful for the program and neglects the subtext that hints were made about Foley in 2001, but no offical action was taken.

Next the AAS looks at Hastert and properly notes that Hastert is on the defensive. The article includes the trick that Hastert uses to distinguish Instant Messages versus emails and notes two views of the Republican leadership actions -

"This thing should have been looked into months ago," said Rep. Walter Jones Jr., R-N.C. "That's abnormal for a 52-year-old man having those kinds of e-mails going to a 16-year-old child.

"House Majority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, rejected criticism that the leadership had done too little. He said three newspapers had the e-mails for almost a year and did not print them. "The House did more to confront the situation than anyone else," he said.

Evidently, the Republican House leadership blames the media for not investigating the Foley scandal.

More Foley Fest at the AAS.

Cheney hearts Bonilla

As if you needed more reason to vote against Bonilla and to vote for a good Democrat, just think of a vote for Bonilla as a vote for Cheney.

Vice President Dick Cheney will make a brief appearance in [San Antonio] today for a luncheon fundraiser for Rep. Henry Bonilla, the only Mexican American Republican member of Congress.

Sorry, San Antonio. The evil emanating from Cheney may make it dangerous to go outdoors today.

There has to be a joke in this headline

'Cocaine found on touring clown bus'

Not that there's anything funny about drug abuse or drug addiction.

No dildos for Texas

Republican men are so very, very insecure!

The U.S. Supreme Court refused to question a Texas law that bars the sale of dildos and other ``obscene devices,'' turning away an appeal by a store clerk facing prosecution.

Hat tip to kurth at the DemocraticUnderground for the tip!

Taxpayers pay for propaganda

We get to lose our land. We get to pay for toll roads in many ways. And, now we get to pay to sell the idea of toll roads to ourselves. Neat. Can't you just wait to get these Republicans out of public office!

The Texas Department of Transportation's $1.8 million ad campaign for the three toll roads opening Nov. 1 will kick off today with billboards and, later this month, bus-wrap and print ads, radio spots (in English and Spanish) and a targeted direct-mail pitch. But when the most visible part of the blitz shows up in November — TV commercials — the star will be Dash, a computer-generated bobblehead doll with an attitude.

If you had $1.8M, what would you spend it on? A Republican bobble head?

What's the top priority in YOUR school district?

In Galveston it's student discipline. Not better supplies. Not smaller classrooms.

Superintendent Lynne Cleveland said those at the workshop had complained about kids showing a lack of respect for authority.

For some teachers, Perry's teacher bonus plan doesn't fit their priorities.

More than two dozen Texas schools have rejected state grants to set up a merit pay program for their teachers, deciding it was unfair to pit teacher against teacher in dividing up thousands of dollars in bonus money.

Although the vast majority of the 1,161 schools that were awarded grants are expected to take the money and run with merit plans this year, teacher resistance to the idea has remained strong. Critics predict that the nation's biggest incentive pay program will not produce the academic gains that proponents suggest.

Schools in South Texas continue to be a low priority for Republicans.

The gubernatorial candidates lambasted Perry for not seeing the faculty funding [for the El Paso medical school] through in the last year and nine months and said they would ensure the money gets to El Paso quickly if they are elected. Perry defended his support for the school and said he is confident legislators will finally approve the money next year.

"I have no concerns that the El Paso medical school will be funded," Perry said.

Legislators approved the medical school expansion in 2003 and allotted some money for construction.

Starting the school is expected to cost about $350 million. Experts project it could bring as much as $1.3 billion into the local economy over 10 years.

The original plan called for the first four-year students to start classes in El Paso in the fall of 2008.

Texas Tech officials pushed the opening target to fall 2009 this year because of legislators' continued failure to provide money to hire faculty and staff needed to begin the school's accreditation process.

Of course, Perry doesn't have any concerns about the El Paso school funding. That's the problem.

Jobs Americans won't do

The Republicans wanted a shiney new wedge issue for the 2006 elections and immigration seemed perfect. You got your bigotry. You got your fear. You got your handsome young men in uniforms with large guns at the border. And a tall fence for the photo ops and symbolism. Imagine the congressional postcards.

Except people who actually live on the border keep injecting notes of reality. Except 'cheap, no-complaints labor' Republicans are already feeling the pain. Who will put up with poor wages and working conditions?

Check out this lawsuit for a glimpse of these working conditions. Imagine the situations where the workers could not complain.

The suit alleges Iowa-based giant Pioneer Hi-Bred International and Juan Pablo Gonzalez, a labor contractor from Mercedes who recruited the workers, "knowingly misled" them and failed to define the work and payment conditions in writing at the time of recruitment, among other claims.

"He treated us like slaves," plaintiff Juan Del Toro, 46, of Weslaco, said of Gonzalez, who he said recruited him in the summer of 2005 along with his wife and three teenage children.

Payment promises

They were to detassel corn in the Texas Panhandle and said they got verbal promises of $6.05 an hour; $25 a week extra if there weren't accidents; and a bonus between $500 and $1,000 apiece when the job was done.

"The big incentive for us was the bonus," Del Toro said.

When they arrived, the promised apartment appeared to be abandoned, was filled with filth and spiders and had no refrigerator, window screens or air conditioning, the family said. They said they didn't get as many hours or the level of bonuses they expected.

Del Toro said it was the worst treatment he'd experienced in 30 years of migrant farm work.

I'd love to see George Bush and James 'Rick' Perry out in the fields detasseling corn for minimum wage.

Stupid immigration policies

While the Houston police department strives to appease the immigration bigots with its new policies, Congress throws money on a border fence. Like all GOP foreign policy solutions, a fence is so medieval.

Who cares about the environment? The Republicans don't.

Who cares about the farm worker shortage? The Republicans don't.

Republicans out for a wedge issue only bigots could love don't.

And, the policy effects on real people? You know the Republicans don't care!

“Horrible,” “wrong,” “crazy” and “extremely disappointing” were just a few of the words some local [Brownsville] residents used about Congress’ approval of a border fence.

The Secure Fence Act of 2006, House Resolution 6061, calls for the construction of at least double-layered reinforced fencing “extending 15 miles northwest of the Laredo, Texas, port of entry to the Brownsville, Texas, port of entry.” The remaining portions of the 700-mile barrier would stretch across other areas of the U.S.-Mexico border.

The fence bill was passed by the House two weeks ago, and with the Senate’s authorization Friday, the measure is now on its way to President Bush for his signature.

“It’s like when East Germany built a wall between West Berlin and East Berlin,” Cameron County Judge Gilberto Hinojosa said Saturday.

Republican morals

This Houston Chronicle headline says it all 'Delay's power missed, but not his ethics woes'^*.

Mark Foley (R- Pedophile) is part of the Republican Congressional leadership team. The rest of the Republican team knew about Mark's inappropriate instant-messages and emails to teenage pages and did nothing about it.

The Foley scandal shows that the Republican leadership team isn't just about the Abramoff type corruption, it's 'anything goes while we're in power'.

Republicans don't care about solving problems. They only care about sound bites and photo-ops. If Republicans cared about keeping pedophiles away from children, wouldn't they try to protect the children of the influential who get to be pages? It's no wonder that the Republicans don't bother to keep the Texas sex registry updated.

*This headline appears only in the online news section listing of the Chronicle and isn't the title of the story.

The Chronicle story, itself, falls into the propaganda category with the meme 'Tom DeLay is gone so the Democrats can't call us on our corruption.' Guess you got THAT wrong, Bennett Roth and Michelle Mittlestadt.

The founding GI Forum still in turmoil

Officers are replaced.

Officials with the Dr. Hector P. Garcia Founding Chapter of the American GI Forum appointed a commander, vice commander, secretary and treasurer to serve until September 2007, according to Cecilia Akers, Garcia's daughter and a lifetime member of the chapter.

Oscar Guerra will lead the chapter as commander, replacing Juventino Ortiz. Jose Espinoza was appointed vice commander; Cyruss Mallison as secretary; and Ron Garza as treasurer.

Each will serve until the founding chapter holds elections for new officers. New officers could not be elected because a quorum was not present at the meeting, which was approved by the national GI Forum and is one of the provisions that allowed the chapter to be reinstated this year.

Akers said state chapter officers would research the national constitution to ensure Mallison and Garza may serve if elected. Neither are veterans.

And, the replacement is questioned.

Some members of the Dr. Hector P. Garcia Founding Chapter of the American GI Forum are upset over an officer election meeting to be held today in Corpus Christi because they say it was scheduled against their wishes and will not be valid.

But Cecilia Akers, Garcia's daughter, said not only is it valid but it is also approved by the national GI Forum and is one of the provisions that allowed the chapter to be reinstated earlier this year.

Let's hope the founding GI Forum returns to being a united, effective force against discrimmination. We need that now more than ever.

The religious right LOST the culture wars

How can I say that? Easy. Several dry Texas counties have liquor on the ballot for November.

Lufkin's Baptist churches and others are mounting a campaign to keep their corner of East Texas dry, but trends are not on their side.

Since late 2003, when changes in state law made it easier to put alcohol on local ballots, there have been 177 elections across the state to legalize some form of alcohol sales. A lopsided 82 percent have passed, according to the Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission.

Conversely, no wet areas have voted to go dry.

Today, only 42 of Texas' 254 counties are completely dry, fewer than half the number in 1975, when there were 87. And each year several more fall from the list. Located mostly in West Texas and the Panhandle, 28 of the state's dry counties have populations of fewer than 10,000.

Will the liquor vote bring more Baptists out to vote? Maybe. For now.