If you'd
like to make a comment,
email it to me
Email comments are in the blue boxes.
March 30 -
Okay, so how many Texas unbloggers do you know who have
their own foreign correspondent in Pennsylvania?
That's what I thought - not many.
I, of course, do.
Our friend Don A, from Pennsyltucky, sent me an email
this morning about the goings-on in his area.
Since Bubba has me doing the paperwork from Saturday's
convention (Women work with paper; men work with wood.
Women are braver because everyone knows paper cuts are
far more painful than splinters.) so I'm kinda busy to
be posting stuff.
Plus, Don A. tells a great story and has some fun links
included.
Take it away Don A. ---
It
has been an eventful week here at the Pennsyltucky Snake
University. Wednesday night Slick Willie His Own Self
stopped by and rented the Wreck Hall and filled it
pretty much to the rafters which hasn't happened very
often since they built the Bryce Jordan Center[1] and
moved all the Bassetball[2] games there. According to
people who went there, he did a pretty good job of 'splainin'
how Ms Hilary would make as good a President as he did
only she wouldn't ... well you know.
Ron Paul is coming to town in a few weeks -- the local
Libertarian crowd are trying to decide whether to come
up with the $30,000 that would be needed to rent the
same hall that Willie used or to go with something a
little smaller and less expensive. Many of these people
have become official Repugnicants in order to be able to
vote for Ron in the primary. One of them is likely to
be an official Repugnicant candidate for the State House
(which is not to be confused with the Big House even
though they are both pretty much filled with crooks).
Yesterday, Senator Obama came to town and there were
about 22,000 people who braved the lack of parking, the
snakey line along Collich Avenue, the security
detectors, and all that stuff so that they could stand
around in front of Old Main for about 2 hours. They
were lucky to have a nice day. Temperature got close to
50 F and the sun was shiny. He brought Senator Casey
with him which is significant because Bob Casey is the
oddest duck in the Senate being a pro-life Democrat and
Bob had previously said he was going to support the
party's candidate but here he was introducing and
endorsing Senator O.
Here are pictures:
There have been more than 4000 new voters registered in
the County and there are also a slew of the 15%
non-aligned voters who have affiliated with a party in
order to participate in the primary election next
month. That includes me and my 2 children (my wife has
always been a Democrat). As far as we can tell -- the
election office hasn't updated the public numbers yet --
very few of the new registrations are going to the
Repugnicant side except for the Libertarians the want to
vote for Ron Paul.
--
This is an election year. By common law,
the truth is legally suspended.
March 29 -
Okay, we did it. We held the SD18 Fort Bend
Senatorial Convention yesterday, and 750 folks showed up
rarin' to go. By contrast, 4 years ago we had 40
people at the SD18 Fort Bend Democratic convention and
most of them wanted to hold it after dark in a rural
barn so their neighbors wouldn't see them. The
Republicans in Fort Bend are one Tom DeLay-lovin',
vicious, and spiteful bunch of folks. They are
quite capable of aggravated disdain.
Anyway, back to the convention. We went 66% for
Obama. I don't have the exact numbers yet because
4 of our state delegates got so excited about going to
Austin that they ran to tell their Mommas before telling
us which candidate they support.
I gotta start by saying one thing: We had the best
volunteers in the State of Texas. No, really.
I voted and they won. They were a finely oiled
organizing machine. They also did an amazing job
of checkin'-in delegates, keeping a smile on their faces
all day long.
Hal and his commenters give them a tip o' the hat, too.
The only trouble we had all day was from one 'specially
odd woman who wasn't a delegate but bullied her way into
the room. We think she ate bullets for breakfast
and needed to shoot off her mouth. She got booed
out of the room, and she earned it, bygawd.
After that everything went smoothly. We didn't
have the rancor that
some
other Texas conventions seemed to have. My
Bubba knows how to run a convention, Honey. He got
elected permanent chair by acclamation against 5 other
candidates. That ain't easy to do.
Bubba even got newspaper attention:
Don Bankston, a
stalwart Fort Bend County Democrat, said Saturday's
Senate District 18 convention in Rosenberg was the
largest collection of Democrats he has ever seen in
the county during his 40-plus years of political
activity. The county has been dominated by
Republicans for 20 years, but the last primary saw
Democrats come out in unprecedented numbers.
"It is one of the
biggest and most diverse crowds ever," Bankston
said. "This is what this county looks like, and this
is why Republicans are scared out of their wits."
Republican ever had wits? Awww, ain't that sweet?
Bubba is being generous.
We had a lovefest. No, really. People were
huggin' on each and treating each other with dignity and
respect. Bubba has a way of bringing that out in
people. Everybody left knowing they got a fair
shake. He was given incredible help from
Parliamentarian Kyle Longhofer and the permanent
secretary, Dr. Ann Whitehead. Dr. Whitehead, by
the way, is one fine-looking proud Democratic woman who
has put up with all the Republican she can stand.
Do I hear an Amen?
I love the caucus system. It is a chance for
regular grassroots Democrats to get to know each other
and have a real voice in what happens in their
Party. I glanced at our delegate list and saw that
about 90% of our delegates will be attending their first
State convention. You gotta be proud of that.
I know I am.
One of our at-large delegates was elected because of
all her work with the local Democratic club. She
literally scrubbed floors to make our headquarters clean
before we moved in. She made coffee and phone
calls. Served both barbeque and on the finance
committee. She did the unglamorous grassroots work
and she was rewarded for it. She will have a voice
in who represents her at the national convention.
Our delegates are young and old. They are white,
brown, black, and Asian. Some are gay and some are
have disabilities. Women stand equally with men in
numbers. We look like Fort Bend County.
And, Darlin', it's a pure-dee old fluffy white boys
alert. We're boarding this ship, Bud, and you're
going overboard.
Susan,
Your
'specially odd lady even made the
Burnt Orange Report. A man even
called his wife from the convention to tell
her about it. Check "by: Sat Mar
29, 2008 at 02:20 PM CDT"
Interesting to
note: A Clinton supporter and head of
the Clinton campaign in Fort Bend showed
up to a convention that was NOT EVEN HER
OWN to speak on behalf of Clinton. The
chairperson called her behavior
inappropriate and had security escort
her out.
Was there
gunplay involved?
Misty
Dear
Misty - well, that's not entirely accurate.
But, it's close enough to true to make a
great story! She claimed to be "an official
representative of the County Chair."
That has as much authority as being the
Associate Assistant Secretary to the Vice
Chairman of the Republic of Anchorage's
Subcommittee on the Non-fiction section of
Our Lady of Perpetual Virginity's Junior
High School's Bookmobile. No, I'm
serious. Both titles are as
impressive.
And, she left before the deputy was able to get to her.
The Chairman got a standing ovation for
tossing her rump.
And, this was her district but she didn't get elected from
her precinct convention. So, of
course, that's even more impressive.
Susan
Susan -
check this out. It's an
independent's report of SD17 in Fort Bend.
Isn't that one close to you?
CM
Dear CM
- yes, in fact, it is my neighboring Senate
District. And, no, we won't let the
whiners and naysayers "screw it up."
Pecan Grove Fire Chief
Paul LeDoux questioned the authenticity of photos
shown in a Thursday night report by
KPRC-TV, which show a
woman baring her breasts next to what appears to be
the department’s fire truck.
The TV station reported that the interior of the
Pecan Grove Volunteer Fire Station “is featured in
some steamy pictures circulating on the Internet.”
Heck, I didn't even know they allowed breasts in Pecan
Grove. Could've fooled me!
March 28 -
I'm not saying that GOP CD22 candidate and six-week
Congressvarmint Shelley Sekula Gibbs is a viciously
difficult person to get along with ..... no, wait,
that's exactly what I'm saying -----
Individuals can
contribute up to $2,300 per election to
congressional campaigns, so Connecticut-based
pollster Matt Dabrowski's recent $250 contribution
to Pete Olson's campaign doesn't make him a
financial gorilla.
But $250 bought a
defiant, unusual message. Until three weeks ago,
Dabrowski was deputy campaign manager in Houston for
Olson's Republican runoff opponent, Shelley Sekula
Gibbs.
The March 10
contribution was listed on campaign records Olson
filed late tonight with the Federal Election
Commission. So was a $3,646 "separation" payment
made to Dabrowski by Sekula Gibbs' campaign. With
that much money from Sekula Gibbs, Dabrowski can
make many more flinty gestures at her or any other
candidate missing from his Christmas card list.
Y'all all recall how her entire staff walked out on her
while she was in Congress.
It's said that when she was baptized, all the fish in
the creek died. I don't know that to be true, but
I do know she's meaner than a hurricane with two eyes.
You know that mega-church minister who
keep endorsing her? Well, Darlin', his time
would be better spent praying that she quits whipping
her husband while he's washing the dishes. She's
that mean.
March 27 - Our
friend Kary sent us this little guide for public shame,
just in case you ever need it.
March 27 -
We Texans know and love him. Now it's time for you
people from foreign states to get to know Rick
Noriega, our candidate for United States Senate.
This is one of those internet series of Tubes that Ted
Stevens was talking about. The DSCC made it.
March 26 -
Our friend Sam from Pearland got his letter about John
Cornyn printed in the
Chronicle today.
Sen. John Cornyn's
highly publicized open records bill is little more
than an election-year grab for publicity.
When Congress tried
to investigate the firing of U.S. attorneys, as well
as malfeasance by Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez,
Cornyn vociferously opposed the investigation. When
Congress tried to subpoena White House aides, Cornyn
opposed it.
He has fought for
immunity for communications companies that enabled
illegal wiretap-ping by the Bush administration, and
time and time again voted for secretive no-bid
contracts to Iraq contractors.
Cornyn is for open
government as long as it doesn't get in the way of
his party's agenda.
SAM DAVIS Pearland
Sam is right. Cornyn is as worthless as a four
card flush.
The Clinton campaign
just sent out an e-mail to volunteer attorneys
requesting that they come down to Texas this weekend
to observe the county and state conventions, which
allocates caucus delegates for the State Convention
in June.
Oh yeah, like some durn writ twit from Ohio is going to
understand Texas election law. I guess Hillary is
dead set on hacking-off Texans by sending lawyers from
foreign states to pester us. Get a big ole picture
of me standing there saying, "Oh tell me, Counselor, how
do they do it in Michigan? We'd be right proud to
know."
If I don't sound too worried, it's because I know our
lawyers can beat up her lawyers.
March 25 -
While the fluffy white boys controversy rages below, I
thought I'd bring you some important news ...
Oh Sweet Sister of Shame, the Eliot Spitzer story is
not over.
It's hot, it's accurate, it's Eliot Spitzer erotic
fiction.
Politics haven't been this much fun since Bill Clinton
pulled his pants up.
(Momma, don't follow the link. I'm telling you
not to do it. Don't click it. Momma,
seriously. Don't click it and then call me telling
me I wasn't raised that way. I'm telling you now
not to click it. Ya hear? You ain't gonna
like it. Momma, stop. Now.)
Frankly, I find your
disdain for fluffy white boys in politics
troubling...hi-larious, yes, but troubling. Here's three
FWBs that I'd gladly vote for:
(I believe the guy in
the middle would make a great Commish...he's tough,
loves to travel and speaks several languages. The other
two probably couldn't take the "heat" of politics).
Kellybee
Dear Kellybee -
At first glance, I thought these were nakkid pictures of
the three Republicans on our Commissioner's Court.
However, on closer inspection I realized they are the
three guys running for re-election as district court
judges. Nakkid.
Susan
Susan, Not to put too fine a point on it,
I'd like to point out that there are only
two FWB's there. The one on the left
wearing his sailor suit and the guy in the
middle rolling a tire are actually one in
the same, namely Bip. He's French and works
for a large French tire company. Being
foriegn born he cannot serve as President of
the US, until Congress passes and the states
ratify change the Constitution. Since that
is the ultimate goal every FWB who runs
for any elective office, it's best to know
these things. Arnold S has topped out at
Gov of CA and unlike GWB cant go on to screw
up the country.
More on the
FQB'a the kid on the right, with the chef's
hat on goes by the name of Ted and is a
distant relative of the founder of
the Pillsbury Co of MN. Nice guy and is
really rolling in it.....not sure what "it"
is, but whatever it is, he rolls in it.
Just thought you'd find that of interest.
Al (Monday, my
day to play polysomething or other)
Susan-
Now, I don't wanna snow on Al's French
toast, but the guy in the middle is named "Bibendum"
("Bib" for short) and while it's true that
the U.S. Constitution prohibits him from
serving as President, I don't think Fort
Bend County has any laws that prevent French
animated characters from being elected as
County Commissioner (not being a resident of
FBC, I could be wrong about this...your
readers are free to correct me).
The reason I don't think the other two are
cut out for the rough-and-tumble of
politics...the guy on the left is a former
Navy man who starts out all friendly, but
tends to get angry when being confronted
(remind you of a certain U.S. Senator from a
western state?). The guy on the right is
sort of like Dennis Kucinich...too goofy to
be taken seriously, but likeable enough, and
he does have a "trophy wife":
Kellybee (A Man With Clearly Too Much
Free Time)
PS - Susan,
if you got nekkid district court judge
pitchers, you have an obligation to your
readers to share them...oops, on second
thought, never mind...keep 'em. -KB
Susan,
You know
I thought your readers would have been
above such a campaign smear,
"The
one on the left wearing his sailor
suit and the guy in the middle
rolling a tire are actually one in
the same, namely Bip. He's French
and works for a large French tire
company. "
Al's
right about the Frenchman in the
middle. But our boy on the left is home
grown might knock sense into the heads
of dull-witted county commissioners.
March 24 -
Our friend Sybil knows how to start Monday morning off
right.
The Washington Post announced the winners of the
Peeps Diorama contest. It's called The Peeps
Show and it's one of my favorite things outside of the
Art Car contest. Y'all remind me to enter next
year.
March 23 - Okay,
so last week I told you about how GOP County
Commissioner Tom Stavinoha is using
his grandkids to get elected.
Well, his opponent ain't no slouch in the using
department either. Check this out. (Click
the little one to get the big one.) He responds
with a half-page ad of his own.
Yes,
Greg Ordeneaux's parents, Elmo and Winkie, were
forced to take off their Vegas Hawaiian shirts, get off
their go-carts, and put on old people's clothes to get
their son elected to Commissioner's Court. I don't
know about you, but I don't like any of my kids that
much.
I'll vote for the first candidate who says, "This is
about me and my competence. I ain't dragging my
family through this."
Plus, what is it about grammar that these guys hate so
much? What did grammar ever do to them to deserve
this kind of treatment? I want to know. It's
bothering the squat outta me. Is Precinct 1
required to elect the dumbest guy on the block? Is
that law or something?
I am not sure if you will be brave
enough to print this but here goes-
I am the daughter of Elmo and Winkie
Ordeneaux and I resent you referring to
their go carts and Vegas shirts. They
have been retired and work hard to make
ends meet and do not travel much
anymore. They take time to enjoy the
simple life here in Fort Bend County.
One reason Fort Bend County has grown is
because of successful schools, example
Fort Bend ISD, and family and community
minded people. My parents were some of
those fortunate people to see this
county grow to be such a wonderful place
to live. They worked very hard to get
the consolidation of schools to form Ft.
Bend ISD and served as leaders in
community organizations like FFA, PTA,
Scouting, and church. Unlike many
people today- loyalty to their community
and school is still at the top of their
priority list. The thing I resent the
most about your comment about them is
implying they were “forced” to have
pictures taken with their son. People
that know the Ordeneauxs will laugh in
your face about that one. There is
absolutely nothing more important to
Elmo and Winkle than their family. My
parents feel honored and privileged to
be photographed with their son. I must
admit I feel sorry for you if you do not
love your children that much—maybe that
is what is wrong with America
today—there are not enough parents that
feel about their children like my
parents feel toward us. I suggest before
you print things about someone you check
out your facts--- this is one time you
are totally off track---Let’s keep on
the subject of the election and the
candidates. Remember it is Stavinoha
that started the “mud’ slinging” and you
democrats have continued it. My thoughts
are people you have nothing good to say
about them, generally resort to finding
fault in others. Think about it--
Paula
Dear Paula -
Honey, why don't you hunt up something
you could use for a sense of humor?
The State Department's
inspector general is investigating Obama's passport
breach, which occurred on three separate occasions —
Jan. 9, Feb. 21 and as recently as last week, on
March 14. On Friday, the department announced that
the Justice Department would be monitoring the probe
in case it needs to get involved.
Okay, so if Condi Rice really cared about such things,
why did she it continue to happen after the first
incident? Is there a three-strike rule here?
March 21 -
We get email from our friend Evelyn ---
Ironic. I was just reading speculation on
Daily Kos -- about who would be the one to
tell Hillary IT IS OVER?
Looks like Bill Richardson just did.
Evelyn
Gotta
love Bill Richardson's endorsement of
Obama. James Carville, a man I used to
respect, likened it to Judas and the
thirty pieces of silver. Looks to me
like the Clinton campaign hit a major
pothole' I guess it will get really
brutal now. I used to be there in the
front cheering "Go Bill, Go Hillary."
Now it's changing to "Just go away".
Sam
Sorry,
Evelyn. Mark Penn says that
Bill Richardson's moment when he could have
been effective has passed. Meaning that had
he supported Hillary, or had she won those
little states that don't matter, they all
wouldn't have to suffer such demeaning
status. You see, it's really their own
fault.
With Rep. Thomas M.
Reynolds (N.Y.), announcing his retirement
yesterday, all but two of the Republican leaders who
controlled the House before Democrats seized power
in the 2006 elections are gone or on their way out.
A look at the team, now mostly on the sidelines.
Well, I guess this means that the Contract With America
has been stamped null and void. 'Bout time!
March 21 -
Okay, okay, Don Wright hit a little tooooo close to home
on this Friday toon.
Looks
like the Party has no shortage of
stoopid Republicans. And to think that
Mr. Delay and friends went through all
that trouble to create the
paint-by-numbers districts, endure
national ridicule by using state
troopers to track down the Democratic
representatives during the redistricting
fight, and this is
the result.
It seems
heir nominee has failed Republican
primary school twice already and they're
trying to kick him upstairs.
Brian
Susan,
Well
now, GOP (God's Own Party) Shelley
would just spoil you if she drew
the long straw to go up against
Lampson. It's like if you got Fruit
Loops cereal for breakfast one morning
you'd want Fruit Loops every morning.
She's like the tone deaf girl who tries
to make a career out of playing the
violin because she thinks that playing
LOUD is the same as playing good. In
the beginning a lot of people think the
little girl is cute, but when she wants
to charge you good money for an
excruciatingly bad job--they don't think
she's cute any more.
I
really liked that photo of Tom DeLay,
Sugarland's own low-rent version of O.J.
Simpson. Seeing ole Tom in his golf
shorts reminded me of that Bugs Bunny
cartoon character, the arrogant, loud
mouthed rooster, "Foghorn Leghorn." I
dast you to take another look at those
chicken legs and NOT see a resemblance.
If Tom DeLay went to eat at KFC he'd
come out in a bucket--with biscuits &
gravy.
Earl
March 20 -
Every now and then a Republican comes along and does
something so stoopid that you want to jump up and kiss
them flat on the mouth to thank them for making it so
easy to whip all their butts come this November.
County Commissioner Tom Stavinoha is such a man.
Stavinoha (pronounced: "goofy". No, seriously, I
mean that.) ran an ad in the local newspaper yesterday.
A big ole humongous half page ad, at that. Which
he paid for, of course, with contributions from
developers and county vendors.
He's in a Republican primary run-off with
Greg Ordeneaux,
a fellow old fluffy white boy with deep and abiding
connections to developers and toll road lovers.
These two guys are not different like heads and tails
of a coin - they're more like fluffy and fluffier,
taking turns on alternate days being the fluffier.
That determination is done by a complicated formula
known only to Republican insiders and dues-paying
members of the Flat Earth Society and Fishing Club.
You really don't want to know more than that.
Anyway, back to the ad.
That sucker is so big that it won't fit on my scanner
bed. So, I scanned the good part and then took a
camera picture of the rest. There's just no
getting past my highly developed technical skills, ya
know.
So, here it is. You might want to prepare
yourself by removing sharp objects and reasoning skills
from your immediate vicinity. (Click the little
one to get the big one.)
Okay, I know you don't understand all the ninny, ninny
whining under the big headline. I don't either.
For years now, Stavinoha has blazed a clear path as the
anti-grammar candidate. He writes in some foreign
language and, of course, his math skills are still at
the counting M&M's level. Bless his heart.
But, it's the headline I want you to see.
"Talks Like Obama." What does that mean? He
knows some three syllable words?
Why pick Obama instead of Hillary? Has Stavinoha used
his unflinching reasoning skills to finally figure out
that there aren't gonna be many black folks voting in
the Republican primary, but there's liable to be a woman
or two and you can't hack them off?
Yet he forgets that in the primary, Democrats heavily
outvoted Republicans in Precinct 1. I guess Tom is
counting on everyone forgetting about this. Let me
promise him that's not gonna happen.
"Talks Like Obama"? Is this the Republican
strategy? Two white good-ole-boys calling each
other a black man?
And
then, just to make you feel really sorry for poor little
white kids, he puts pictures of his innocent little
grandchildren under this ad.
There ought to be child abuse laws against stuff like
that. Those pretty little children didn't ask to
look stoopid in public. They all ought to be
wearing tee-shirts that say, "My Paw-Paw Wasted Six
Million Dollars Of Your Money On Crappy Voting Machines
and All I Got Was This Lousy Picture in the Newspaper.
Oh Yeah, And Embarrassed. I Got Embarrassed."
Guess it wouldn't fit on the tee-shirts, huh?
If you don't think that this ad will get replayed for
months this Fall against every local Republican, then
you ain't got the good sense God gave a termite.
And, Tom, I doubt Ordeneaux wants to change diddle squat
except whose back pocket the kickbacks go to, but if
you're wondering what Obama wants to change --- here's a
starter, Sweetie: no more government run by
good-ole-boys with their back pocket open for kickbacks.
In my book, that's a damn good start.
You know, there's something you can do to help.
This Fall give Tom Stavinoha the ultimate good-ole-boy
indignity. Let him get beat
by a girl.
March 19 -
There will be a candlelight vigil tonight at 7:00 p.m.
at the Sugar Land City Hall, marking the fifth
anniversary of the tragic invasion of Iraq. A few
friends will gather together to honor the fallen and
call on our leaders to end the war.
And if
Republican County Chair Rick Miller and his unholy band
of thugs want to come and beat up old ladies again,
I'll bring the camera.
March 19
- All I could think when I read this was, "Oh Lord
help us when County Commissioner Andy Meyers
finds out about this ---"
AUSTIN -- House
Speaker Tom Craddick used about $15,000 in campaign
funds to charter a private plane from Aspen, Colo.,
to Houston and to bring his wife along to a
conference in Lithuania.
The travel is the
subject of an ethics complaint against the
Republican speaker. Although the expenditures are
probably legal, government watchdogs say they appear
excessive, The Dallas Morning News reported Tuesday.
You know it - Andy's gonna make his wife go to
Lithuania. Just because he can.
Our Republican Texas House Speaker, who took the "Crad"
out of Craddick, is known for playing cutesy with
campaign money. Local lore has it that Meyers and
Craddick have divided up all the unethical ways to spend
money that ain't yours and are each in charge of beta
testing about a dozen or so of them a month.
March 19 - I think
the Super DeLux Brand Christians are setting up shop in
my hometown. No, I'm serious. I think they are.
I'm scared.
Cynthia Dunbar is a member of the State Board of
Education and frequent candidate for anything else that
comes up where she can raise and spend money. She
recently finished in the bottom quadrant of the
10 GOP
CD22 candidates, which is hard to do considering how
tragically most of them ended their campaigns.
Face it, for most of them that race was the biggest
waste of money since Godfather III went into production.
Anyway, Cynthia lives dangerously close to me. So
close that on days there's a brisk wind, I don't go
outside for fear of catching whatever it is that's
eating her brain.
Take, for example, her most recent campaign for truth,
justice,
and
crazzzzy thinking. Her take on evolution ---
"What you have is a belief system that's based upon
faith that's being taught and mandated to be taught
without exception. And students are not allowed to
even be able to think about these issues."
It is amazing what some women will say to get on teevee,
ain't it?
Oh no, instead of going on Maury's show to talk about
her recent wildly embarrassing divorce, she has to pick
on science. You gotta ask: Babe, what has science
ever done to you to get you so upset? Okay, other
than that gravity and your butt thing.
Y'all send any of your extra science books down here,
ya hear? We're gonna be needing them.
(Oh yeah, that's a picture of her with John Ashcroft.
It's probably the only existing picture of Ashcroft with
another person, because the other persons have all
burned their's.)
Miss Susan,
Your
report about the antics of our local
flat earther* made me recall a NY
Times editorial I read earlier this
month. I'm pasting the entire ed. for
you, and have hi-lighted my favorite
part. Maybe you can share an
abbreviated version with our friends.
Kerr
P.S. What is
it that *these people do not understand
about the definition of theory?!
Florida’s ‘Theory of ...’
Has Florida come
to its senses over the teaching
of evolution? Sound science
appears to be winning the latest
round, but the struggle isn’t
over.
We were
cheered last year when a
committee appointed by the State
Department of Education drafted
a new set of science standards
that, for the first time,
actually used the word evolution
and called it a fundamental
concept underlying all of
biology. This was a huge advance
over the previous standards,
which gingerly referred only to
“change over time,” leaving it
up to teachers to decide whether
they dared to mention the e-word
in class.
The new
standards were drawn up in a
careful process over several
months by a committee of
scientists, educators, business
leaders and others, with advice
from scientific organizations
and outside experts to ensure
that they were as scientifically
accurate as possible. But then
the anti-evolution crowd — the
advocates of creationism and
intelligent design — raised a
ruckus. With the help of
sympathetic board of education
members, they forced some
last-minute revisions that
squeaked through the board by a
4-to-3 vote.
The compromise
was to insert the phrase
“scientific theory of” before
the word evolution as a sop to
opponents who contend that
evolution is just a theory, not
a fact. But it looks to
us like the scientists got the
better of the argument. School
officials inserted the same
“scientific theory of” before
every other major scientific
consensus. The document now
refers, for example, to “the
scientific theory of cells,” the
“scientific theory of atoms,”
and the “scientific theory of
electromagnetism.”
Although some
supporters of teaching evolution
grouse that the standards were
watered down, they actually look
more airtight with the
revisions. The standards make it
clear that a “scientific theory”
is well supported by evidence,
not a mere claim, and that
evolution is no different in
this respect than many other
widely accepted “theories.”
Some
anti-evolutionists are now
pushing Florida’s Legislature to
step in and allow the teaching
of alternative explanations of
biological origins. The
alternatives that they have in
mind would almost certainly not
be deemed “scientific” and would
have no legitimate place in
science classes.
If the
standards are strictly followed,
Florida may finally be on the
way toward improving the quality
of its science curriculum and
the subpar performance of its
students in national assessment.
DeLay, a former Texas Congressman, formed the
Coalition for a Conservative Majority, a 501(c)(4)
entity that bills itself as a grassroots action and
advocacy organization and has field offices in
Denver and Colorado Springs. 501(c)(4) groups are
similar to the more well-known 527 groups ....
This is kinda upsetting to me. I like Virginia a
lot because it's a great place to vacation. And I
hold no grudges against Colorado either.
I'm thinking we should find a state we all don't like
and send Tom there. Like Florida, maybe.
Semi-sadly, Tom still doesn't appear to be gainfully
employed. Bless his heart, he's been running scams
every day of his life so far. Ya think the Dairy
Queen would hire him?
They are anxious about their futures, and feel
their dreams slipping away; in an era of stagnant
wages and global competition, opportunity comes to
be seen as a zero sum game, in which your dreams
come at my expense.
The notion that your dreams
do not have to come at the expense of my dreams is
totally alien to the GOP. It is a purely
Democratic concept. And it is why Democrats are
far superior at handling the economy.
Hi Susan,
I have
been on the fence about Obama and
worried as well. In his 'talk' this
morning, i saw the presidency
differently. I believe this is the
first time i have heard these ideas
stated in public and he has been
elevated in my mind as a leader of this
country. It will be a while for every
one in America to weigh in (oh god) but
either people will get it or melt down.
Now is a person and not just an orator.
I am now
a supporter and i will put him on my
car, next to my impeach sticker!
Sybil
March 18 - My
displaced Texan friend, Carol in Vermont, naturally
thought of me this morning ---
They have an excellent chart explaining the trash in
understandable terms. Check it out and thanks to
Carol!
March 18 -
Amen to Chairman Boyd Richie of the Texas Democratic
Party --
AUSTIN – The Texas
Democratic Party said Monday it won't grant a
request from Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign that
it take extra steps to verify the signatures of
election night caucus-goers before party conventions
are held March 29.
State chairman Boyd
Richie said Texas Democrats will not "set up an
unnecessary, ad hoc 'verification' process that
could effectively disqualify delegates selected at
their precinct conventions after the fact."
There is already a process set in place to verify
delegates.
Trying to make the process resemble a bushel basket of
wire coat hangers ain't gonna help anything, Folks.
It seems to me that adding confusion to the process
just to make people distrust the system is not the best
idea I've heard lately.
If the Clinton campaign doesn't trust Texas Democrats,
then they're in a heap of trouble come November.
March 17 - You
gotta love Mo Dowd. Even when you disagree with her, you
gotta admit that
she has fun with words.
Today, she talks to George W. Bush ---
Dude, you’re already in
the ditch.
Problem is, the dude is either stoned, drunk, or
so
incredibly stoopid that he thinks he's smooth
gliding on west Texas prairie land.
You know that time you voted for a Republican? Well,
don't ever do it again. They believe an unwinnable
war, a scary-bad economy, a failing infrastructure, and
a YeeHaw! foreign policy are good times.
Republicans: they stand for more than just recessions.
They’ve
changed his meds. He must be up to his
eyebrows with happy juice. I was just
like that when I was on a pethidine drip
after surgery.
Cheers,
Jess
Disagree?
How can anyone disagree with Mo? God I
love her! No one is as snarky as she
is. I love the b***h, speaking as one
myself.
Would you not love to be a fly on the
wall when she got old Georgie cornered
somewhere alone?
I would pay good money to see that.
Best,
Kathy
I vote for
stoned.
Hey Zeus
Susan, I
read the Dowd column this morning and
thought that her use of the word
"...loco." was a bit outr'e. Don't
you?
Al
VT
Al, not in
conjunction with the qualifying "plumb."
She's speaking Texan, that one.
Susan
TX
a day later ----
Susan, Oh Mo used a qualifier,
"plumb". I thought the Texican
qualifier for Loco, was Muy. Oh Mo,
whither forest go thouest.
Al
Squire (It's Tuesday and my day for
squiring).
March 17 -
We get email about guys who think they're getting a
library built in their honor.
Dear Susan,
I don't know if you read
Joe Galloway's columns regularly. I
check the McClatchy Washington Bureau site
every day so I won't miss one because our
local snoozepaper doesn't always print
them. Today's is a pip. There is on
paragraph that should be burned onto W's
forehead because it constitutes his legacy:
"When
the price of a gallon of gasoline and a
loaf of bread both hit $5, and a
full-blown recession has a chokehold on
the country, how many Americans will be
willing to keep pouring billions and
trillions down the rat-hole of a
pre-emptive war of choice in the wrong
place, for the wrong reasons?"
DALLAS — As final
results of the Texas Democratic caucus remain
unknown, Sen. Hillary Clinton's campaign has asked
the state Democratic Party to put the brakes on the
next round of political meetings that will help
determine how many delegates each candidate will get
from Texas.
In a letter sent to
the party late Friday, Clinton asked that the March
29 count and state Senate district conventions be
delayed until the eligibility of an estimated 1
million caucus-goers is double-checked. Her campaign
wants the signatures from the March 4 caucus to be
verified first.
---------
Texas Democratic
Party spokesman Hector Nieto said Saturday that the
party has not decided about the Clinton campaign's
request.
"We're not surprised
Sen. Clinton's campaign has engaged with their
attorney, but right now the TDP remains extremely
pleased by the record-breaking turnout," Nieto said.
Hillary, we've already reserved the auditorium, sent out
the notices, bought hundreds of paperclips, and ordered
the donuts. Play by the rules
and everything will be fine. If you want to
challenge credentials, that's fine; but don't attempt to
stop the process just because you lost.
The Texas Democratic Party has bent over backwards to
be fair, especially with credential challenges.
(I'll have more to say about this after the advisory is
published on the Party site.)
March 16 -
Well, I'm home safe from the State Democratic Executive
Committee meeting. (Stopped at Meyers Barbeque in
Elgin on the way home -- still the best!)
They canvassed the votes in accordance with the
statutes and put a big blue bow on the Democratic
package to the State of Texas.
The Rules Committee for the State Party did a cool
thing - they issued an advisory for any credential
challenges. It's about 8 pages long and gives
answers to almost any danged thing you can think of when
it comes to credentials for the district / senatorial
conventions on March 31st.
The State Party will post it
on their website
ASAP.
Since we will be totally overwhelmed with all the good
folks coming to the senatorial / district convention,
you have to plan for the 100 things you can think of
that might go wrong, and then hunker down for the 100
things you didn't even dream could happen.
It's an exciting time to be a Democrat.
A special thanks to Capt. Boyd Richie, State Party
Chairman, and the folks serving on the Rules Committee
who are trying to keep it simple, clear, concise, and
fair.
March 15 -
I'm up at the State Democratic Executive Committee
meeting in Round Rock. I'll let you know what goes
on later on, but here's something that can't wait.
As most of you know, I am a Texas barbeque expert.
No kidding, I have a ribbon to prove it and everything.
So, when I say some barbeque is pretty darned good, I
know my business.
I rank Duke's Barbeque in Georgetown one of the Top Ten
barbeque joints in Texas. Try the brisket, ribs,
and potato salad, but get the sauce on the side.
The sauce is hot/sweet and good, but it tends to
overwhelm the rub. They also have a great patio
for those perfect Texas evenings with Democratic friends
from across the state.
March 14 - And a
big thanks for a Friday laugh to Dana Summers ---
WASHINGTON
(CNN) -- An accounting
scandal at the Republican Party's House campaign
organization has federal agents investigating what
happened to hundreds of thousands of dollars and
could affect several congressional campaigns, party
officials said Thursday.
Christopher Ward, the
National Republican Congressional Committee's
longtime treasurer, was fired in January after
committee officials learned that he had been making
unauthorized fund transfers dating to 2004, said
Rep. Tom Cole, the committee's chairman.
"Based on analysis
conducted to date, it appears likely that over a
period of several years Ward made several hundred
thousand dollars in unauthorized transfers of NRCC
funds to outside committees whose bank accounts he
had access to, including joint fund-raising
committees in which the NRCC participated," Cole
said in a written statement.
"He also appears to
have made subsequent transfers of several hundred
thousand dollars in funds from those outside
committees to what appear to be his personal and
business bank accounts."
Oh well, live by the greed, die by the greed.
Let's see ... this make three.
Three who have been caught. So far. What's
the saying --- good things come in three? No wait,
good things come in two or three dozen -- like donuts.
So you guys keep it up, ya hear?
March 13
- Remember me telling you about Keli Goff,
who is a friend of mine? That sweet, smart honey
grew up right here in Fort Bend County and this village
raised her well. (Yeah, that's me, Bubba, and
Bubba, Jr. in the picture with Keli's parents, Len and
Opal. We've been friends for 30 years.)
Well, you're fixing to find out why Keli is a friend of
mine.
Pat Buchanan told her to "shuddup!" on national teevee.
That's how badly she got under his skin, and how wrong
he was and knew it.
Ain't she somethin'?
The only suggestion I'd have is that instead of saying,
"Pat, that's inappropriate," like her Momma taught her
to do, next time she should say, "Hop on over here, Mr.
Buchanan, and kiss my big blue butt," like I taught her.
He should have just told her to hush up
a minute......and she should have. Both
the women were talking over him and to
my mind thats just rude.....and then
they both get concerned over his "shut
up" statement.
Baloney....and you know it girl. You
think Ophrah would be chasing around the
country for Obama if he were white?
Nah.
Hey, I do
enjoy your blog/whateveryoucall it and
its my best source of "go to" stuff...I
send it all over the place.
Bob
March 13 - We
get email about hateful stuff going on in foreign states
---
Susan,
I'm
not sure you are aware of a foreign
state to the North of yours
shaped like a dripping frying pan,
but seeing how it apparently exists in
an alternate universe you may be
forgiven.
You might want to listen to this speech
from an Oklahoma legislator.
Contrary to Ms. Kerns assessment,
as far as I can tell the bans on gay
marriagehave so far failed to weaken Al
Qaeda, solve the health care problem,
and surprisingly the economy isn't doing
any better, either.
One of
these supposed threats to our nation
wrote a nicely worded personal note on
what these sorts of comments DIRECTLY
lead to. I stress 'directly' because
what I often hear from people I argue
with is that letting gay folks get away
with living their own lives leads to
general moral decay that will ultimately
destroy society. Funny, I thought hate
speech, propaganda, and infringed rights
lead to that.
March 13 - Well,
well, well -- there are all kinds of Johns.
There's
Governor Eliot Spitzer, who is a ta-ta John, and
there's County Commissioner Andy Meyers, who is a money
John.
Take a lookie here, PBS&J, that infamous company
that's been caught illegally dipping into taxpayer's
pockets in half a dozen states, just bought themselves
some Commissioner Andy Meyers love.
Andy Meyer's little political fundraising breakfast,
arranged by another county vendor (which is against the
law -
check January 7th here), was obviously very
profitable. No bad for a guy who is not up for
re-election this year, huh?
Andy thinks greed is a Super DeLux Brand Christian
sacrament. Andy can't seem to live well enough on
his $110,000 a year county salary and overly generous
benefits, even though it's the most money he's ever made
in his life. He expects county non-bid vendors to
pay for his gasoline bill, his pickup truck, his phones,
and to keep his son employed.
So, from now on, just to keep things simple, we're
going to start calling PBS&J "Vendor #9," and Andy
Meyers gets to be "Kristen, the expensive ho."
March 13 -
Well, I got AT&T. It's a lot cheaper and twice as
fast as Comcast.
Thanks to David
for coming over and setting everything up for me.
He moved all my furniture around to get to the plugs and
didn't even laugh at the dustballs! Now, that's a
real professional.
A Piney Woods retreat
that has hosted national church conferences on
controversial issues, celebrated the consecration of
bishops and provided summer memories for thousands
of teens now faces another kind of challenge.
The nearly two square
miles of forest, hills, fields, lakes and buildings
that make up Camp Allen Conference & Retreat Center,
15 miles southeast of Navasota, lie in a
two-mile-wide strip listed in state documents as the
preferred route for the planned Interstate
69/Trans-Texas Corridor.
Proposed by Gov. Rick
Perry in 2002, the corridor plan has drawn heated
opposition at town hall meetings and public hearings
throughout Southeast Texas.
You can sign the petition
here. Or learn about
Camp Allen here.
There is no deal for
the music of the Beatles to go to
iTunes or be sold anywhere on the Internet for
downloading.
I hate to burst
everyone’s bubbles, but the story that this would
happen sprang like most inaccurate muck from a
British tabloid over the weekend. It began with some
notion that PaulMcCartney
on his own could make such a deal. And then, the
reasoning was that McCartney did it "because he
needs the money for his divorce" from the foul and
avaricious Heather Mills.
And then, lemmings
around the world subscribed to this lunacy without
doing any fact-checking.
Thanks to Christopher for the heads-up!
March 12 - I
thought I'd let you know that through an overexuberance
of really hacked-off, I canceled my Comcast account
yesterday. I can get email, but have to reply
using my gmail account.
The problem with being at the coffee shop that I know
everyone who comes in, so very little gets accomplished
my my website. However, I have caught up on all
the local gossip!
Now, in addition to his
campaign Web site,
Olson has an auxiliary site saying his opponent
positively flip-flops. It's called
shelleysaysanything.com
You
know, they should hire me to name their websites.
I dunno, I kinda like www.OlsonHeartsTomDeLay and
www.ShelleyHasABigOldTemper.com
March 11 - I
know you're not going to believe this, but I'm at the
coffee shop again.
Comcast has moved from stinkin' to egg suckin' dogs.
I just canceled my service and will be getting AT&T on
Friday. I would tell you what I've been through
since last Wednesday, but you wouldn't believe me.
Today they informed me that I had to return their modem
or be charged for it. Their broken modem.
So, I'll be making trips to the coffee shop for the
next couple of days.
March 10 -
Got yourself some questions about the
Democratic
senatorial district conventions in Fort Bend County on
March 29th?
Well, I've got a
couple of answers.
March 10 - Look at
it this way - now that you know, you can
save
money on your drug bills ---
Officials in Arlington,
Texas, said pharmaceuticals had been detected in
source water but wouldn’t say which ones or in what
amounts, citing security concerns. Julie Hunt,
director of water utilities, said to provide the
public with information regarding “which, if any,
pharmaceuticals or emerging compounds make it
through the treatment process can assist someone who
wishes to cause harm through the water supply.”
And we all know what drug is in the New York drinking
water ----
Gov. Eliot Spitzer has
informed his most senior administration officials
that he had been involved in a prostitution ring, an
administration official said this morning.
I
can't wait to hear the "Viagra in the drinking water"
defense.
Well, it was 8 below zero this morning (I
don't care to hear about T-shirts, shorts,
and flip-flops. Spring is only a few days
away..
March 10 -
Best news of the day for old hippies --
The Beatles will soon be available on iTunes.
And yes, of course I have an iPod. Goodness sakes,
I got tired of carrying that boom box on my shoulder.
Anybody have an ideas about which Beatles album I
should download first?
How about John Lennon and Yoko Ono
singing "Give Peace A Chance"?
Wanda
Revolver, Rubber Soul and Abbey Rd are
my faves, but Sgt Pepper was the first
album I ever owned so it has a
sentimental edge...
Have you seen the movie Across the
Universe yet? Watched Across the
Universe with my daughter last week
when she was here for spring break.
LOVED it. If you are a Beatles fan, it's
a must own DVD.
Fran
Susan - why
not ALL of them. They didn't make
a bad album.
TJ
Yo Susan,
Obviously, Revolution.
Your
Dam Yankee Friend in Spring,
Lorraine
March 9 - I'm
working on a little FAQ for the senatorial district
conventions. It'll help locals new to the
convention process and help you folks from foreign
states understand what the tarnation we're doing here.
I hope to have it ready by tomorrow afternoon.
I would have had it ready today but the weather was
glorious so we went crabbing. Eat your heart out.
March 9 - It
is now Day Four of Comcast Stinks Like They Have a Goat
Under Each Arm and Catfish in Their Back Pocket.
They sent a tech to my house on Saturday. Nice
enough kid, but they sent a modem tech and I need a
router tech. So, the modem tech spent two hours on
the phone trying to get a new appointment for me.
He finally stopped trying because he has other
appointments to make, so I have to start all over again
on Monday.
Thank you, Comcast. I am no better off than I was
on Thursday morning and I've wasted the better part of a
beautiful Saturday for stinkin' nothin'.
Now I understand why old ladies bring hammers to
the Comcast store.
March 8 -
Well, well, some days everything just works out okay.
GOP Congressman Rick Renzi's indictment included
allegations that Renzi embezzled premiums from his
insurance agency's clients to fund his first
congressional campaign, but it didn't identify the
clients other than to indicate that they were nonprofit
organizations.
Turns out they were
right-to-life organizations.
His initial scam was
simple. Renzi owned a small insurance brokerage
firm. His clients wrote him checks to secure
themselves insurance policies — but Renzi instead
swiped the money and funneled it to his campaign.
When clients learned that their policies had been
canceled for nonpayment, Renzi and Company allegedly
issued fake certificates to fool clients into
thinking they were covered by a different insurer.
And here's the real
irony. Renzi's insurance company specialized in
nonprofit agencies — particularly right-to-life
groups and crisis pregnancy centers.
I think I'm seeing a healthy trend here:
The
NRCC treasurer steals hundreds of thousands of dollars
from NRCC.
The right-to-life candidate steals hundreds of
thousands of dollars from right-to-life organizations.
Thanks for the help, Boys! Keep up the good work!
March 7
- Speaking of Tom DeLay, and Lord knows very few
people are, it appears that the
$52 a year blogging business thing didn't work out.
So much for his
much touted comeback, huh?
Let's see, the exterminating business didn't work out,
the congressional thing didn't work out, the book
writing thing didn't work out, the blogging thing kinda
fell apart ... but, darnit, that slutting for lobbyists
thing worked like a charm!
March 7 -
Just when you think nakkid, raw, and giggling irony is
dead, along comes my personal favorite entertaining
political consultant, Chris Homan.
This takes a tad of explaining.
Back about a week ago, I noticed
an article on Politico where someone working for
candidate Pete Olson by the name of Chris Hillman was
quoted saying that none of the local GOP congressional
candidates wanted Tom DeLay's endorsement because
"Democrats want nothing more than to say that the
nominee is the person picked by DeLay. That’s their hope
and dream."
I expressed the oddity that there was no one named
Chris Hillman working for Olson. There was,
however, someone named Chris Homan, and Chris Homan was
Tom DeLay's former vicious manager.
To be honest, the whole thing kinda smelled of weird to
me.
Well, along comes someone to help me understand it.
Here's an email from Christopher ....
Mrs. Bankston,
I'm one of
those radical, right-winger Christian
Republicans you so loathe -- but despite
your stereotypes I'm actually a nice family
guy with integrity who happens to appreciate
your service to the community, to your
party, and to FBC politics in general. I
love when you bust GOP'ers for their
hypocrisy just as much as I would if you
turned your sharp-edged rhetorical knives on
a Democrat. Just so you know who's sending
this note…
Anyway, I
just wanted to point out that the Politico
article you referenced (in a March 3rd
posting) to has changed "Hillman" to "Homan"
-- without noting the change anywhere or the
strange co-inkydink that it was DeLay's
former campaign manager saying such things
about DeLay.
I'm glad
DeLay gerrymandered me out of his district
(I'm in Cinco Ranch), but all that means is
that I'm now represented by Dr. "No". Ugh.
I think he's a nice guy in general, and I
appreciate his position on some issues, but
he's about as kooky and detached from
reality as… well… I'll let you fill in the
colorful simile. How do we keep re-electing
this guy?!? (sigh)
Have a
blessed day!
Christopher
So, I'm wondering --- if you think DeLay's not
endorsing, you're short a few tamales on your
combination platter. He's endorsing, but he's just
not using his name.
And don't forget what you can expect come November with
Chris Homan at the helm. I already bought my
helmet and boxing gloves and I can hardly wait.
Maybe Homan will have the guts to come himself next
time. Chezzz, Honey, I've whipped better men than
him.
March 7 - By the
way, it's Day Two of Comcast Stinks, just in case you're
counting.
Well, it appears that Silly Shelley is not all that
popular with her fellow former congressvarmints.
They've all endorsed her run-off opponent,
Pete Olson. (More about Pete and his "local"
connections coming soon.)
It appears that Shelley's minister
is the only person she gets along with. Maybe she
fills the love offering plate each week, and bless her
if she does.
Hey, either candidate is fine with me because they're
both carrying more baggage than the lost and found at
the bus station.
The decision seems to be between somebody mean and
arrogant or Tom DeLay, Jr.
I'm going to be interested to see how much influence
Washington, DeeCee, can bring on the other candidates to
support Olson. I suspect that the pressure washer
at the car wash will look weak compare to what those
guys bring.
March 7 -
Okay, so who's whining that the Texas caucus system is
unfair? Uh,
the loser?
Winning a caucus takes grassroots ground organization.
I dunno 'bout you, but I think proving that you have
grassroots ground organization is an important factor in
determining if you should be our party's nominee.
If Obama is better than Hillary at organizing the
grassroots and getting them back to the polls, then that
tells me that he'll be better at getting them there in
the first place in November.
Look, even in my almost 99% white conservative
precinct, Obama took the delegates 5 to 3, and he'll win
the caucus across Texas. Everybody knows that.
The caucus system builds the grassroots. It's not
popular with the paid political consultants, but it's
very popular with people who want to build the party.
Oh, and it's also not popular with people who get their
butts handed to them.
Ya know, I'm trying real hard to be positive and sweet
about both our candidates, but one of our candidates is
making that real hard.
Susan-
I don't
know if you noticed, but your friend
Steve at White's Creek is beginning to
agree with you about Hillary.
Me?
I'm a Democrat because I don't like Karl
Rove tactics.
Hey Zeus
March 6 -
Those of you familiar with our regular commenter Sam
from Pearland now get to
see Sam in real live person on the teevee!
Sam has filed suit to keep government out of churches
and vice versa. Shelley Sekula Gibbs wants to put
politics in church -- as long as the church endorses
her, of course.
When you let churches into government, you also let
government into churches.
Sam's a fighter and thank God - literally - that we
have him!
March 6 -Those of
you here through searches for information about the
county senatorial conventions - here's what I know.
Senatorial District 18
for Fort Bend County will meet in the auditorium of
Lamar Consolidated High School on Mustang Drive in
Rosenberg.
Senatorial District 13
for Fort Bend County is yet to be determined.
Senatorial District 17
for Fort Bend County is yet to be determined.
March 6 -
Okay, so Comcast is not Comtastic. Heck they're
not even Comadequate. Once again I'm on my laptop
at the coffee shop because Comcast can't seem to get my
electric internet signal to my house.
And their tech support is about as helpful as a
teaspoon in a flood. They put me through all
manner of gyrations this morning -- unplug that, then
reboot this, then go over to the wall and unscrew that
little thing on the back of ... am I getting a paycheck
from these people?
So, I've got about 20 answered emails in my box that I
can't send. If you don't hear from me, it's
because Comcast is making me wait until Saturday
afternoon for a tech person.
So, I'll peruse the news this morning and see if
there's anything I need to get hacked-off about.
By the way, I can't send email either, so if you email
me, don't expect a reply until Comcast lets me talk to
you.
March 5 - I have a
good story to tell you. And it's absolutely true.
A friend of mine is a Democratic precinct judge in
one of the ritzier precincts in the county. An old guy
comes in to vote and goes to her table.
“I want to vote in the Democratic primary for
President and in the Republican primary for all the
other races,” he announces.
“You can’t do that,” my friend explains. “We have
closed primaries in Texas. You can either vote in the
Democratic primary or the Republican primary, but not
both.”
The man bristles-up. “By gawd, I can!” he insists.
“No, you can’t. It’s the law,” she replies while
searching for her copy of the election code.
It just so happens that my friend’s poll has a
Justice Department observer at her poll to insure a fair
election. The Justice Department observer stands
silently by, watching this exchange.
“Yes, I can, by gawd! I know for a fact that I
can,” the man – who shall be known as Mr. Cantankerous
henceforth – insists. He’s riled-up and ready to bolt
now.
“I’m sorry, sir, but I cannot give you a
Presidential ballot. I can only give you a Democratic
ballot. However, if you vote here, you cannot vote
again over there,” my friend sweetly says, pointing at
the GOP table.
“By gawd, I know I can,” he was hollering now.
“Rush Limbaugh told me I could.” And he threw in an
extra “by gawd” just to make sure she understands the
King’s English. “You hearin’ me? Rush Limbaugh said I
could vote in the Democratic primary for Hillary
Clinton.”
My friend pauses, looks down at her voting book,
and twitches her mouth sideways, the way Texas women do
when
they are suffering fools gladly.
“Sir, Rush Limbaugh’s permission and ten dollars
will buy you a cup of coffee at any local Democratic
voting location,” my friend smiles.
Boy Howdy, Mr. C was coiled and hissing at that
comment. “Oh, really,” he asks in the manner of
reminding her of what forces of nature she is dealing
with, “are you trying to tell me that you’re smarter
than Rush Limbaugh?”
“My gawd, I do believe that's exactly what I'm
saying,” she gleefully replies.
I love Texas wimmen. Even the Justice
Department observer started laughing.
Susan,
Actually,
holding two separate Primaries for President
and other offices almost DID happen in 1979,
when the Texas Legislature got the bright
idea to help along John Connally's
Republican Presidential bid by splitting the
Primaries so that Democrats could vote for
Connally one day on the Republican side and
then on a separate day vote in the
Democratic Primary for other offices as if
nothing had happened. Once they realized
they couldn't stop it, several Democratic
Senators went into hiding to deny the Senate
a quorum. This was, in its day, as
celebrated as the "Great Skedaddles" of
Texas Legislators to Oklahoma and New
Mexico. Except that in 1979 "The Killer
Bees," as the rogue Senators were called,
prevailed by forcing an end to the scheme.
Connally's campaign flamed out with 1 lone
delegate before he got to Texas, having run
into a buzzsaw named Ronald Reagan. While
many voters regard it as their "God-given
right" to vote a split ticket in the
Primary, on this occasion "God" was
overruled by The Killer Bees.
March 4 -
Okay, I'm home from my precinct convention. I live
in a very, mucho, massive Republican precinct.
But, not tonight.
The number of Democrat at our precinct convention was:
a passel. I know; I counted. Count yourself
---
And the number of people at the Republican precinct
convention? Three.
By the way, Obama won the delegate race in my precinct
3 to 5.
March 4 - Oh sweet
estrogen on a jelly roll! I made new girlfriends today.
I got a call to get my big blue butt over to Manford
Williams Elementary School. That's not too far
from me so I made the trip and found this waiting for
me. A totally handmade Obama How-To-Caucus table.
Even
with whirlygigs!
Is this just not the
coolest thing you've seen in a week or three?
So, I
introduced myself and made two new girlfriends.
We're meeting-up at the district convention.
You can join us if you want to. It's the Texas
Two-Step for Obama.
Happy Primary Day, Susan!!! I made my
early trip to the polls this morning, so
I can go back this evening & caucus, and
I must say I was quite gratified at the
number of Democrats in line at 7:05
a.m.!!! Our line was FINALLY longer
than the Republican sign in line!!!!
Truly an exciting day!
I'm going to be in and out most of the day - picking up
voters and making phone calls. But, I'll let you
know if anything earth-shattering happens.
March 3
- Bubba went out with Vince, Charles and Hal and did
themselves proud this evening at the polling locations
---
You'll see these at polling locations tomorrow morning,
bright and early.
And here's a shot of Bubba of 9:30 tonight pulling the
last
sign out of his Jeep.
We finished in record time this year, which is no easy
feat considering Vince was chasing runaway signs down
the middle of Thompson Highway. We've got gale
force winds here tonight and those big signs become
magic carpets pretty easily.
See ya tomorrow morning at the polls.
March 3 -
Okay, this is creepy weird.
Politico did a story on the GOP CD 22 race and Tom
DeLay. They carefully explained that Tom DeLay is
not endorsing in the race because his endorsement would
be the kiss of death.
Ya think? But then they quote "Chris Hillman", candidate Pete
Olson's political consultant.
“Democrats want nothing
more than to say that the nominee is the person
picked by DeLay. That’s their hope and dream,” said
Olson consultant Chris Hillman. “They hope to
continue to say the name ‘Tom DeLay’ and hope that
gets them votes.”
Well, that's kinda odd.
Olson's campaign reports don't show that he's paying
anyone named Chris Hillman.
They do, however, show that Olson is paying
Chris Homan, Tom DeLay's former campaign
manager.
Okay, so now we come to the surging irony part of our
program - did Chris Homan change his name to Hillman so
he couldn't be connected to Tom DeLay in a national
publication, and then trash DeLay? Hillman, Homan
- what are the odds?
With a record voter
turnout across the country, spurred on by a tight
race for the Democratic presidential nomination, the
Fort Bend County GOP
chairman is cautioning Republicans against
cross-voting.
In an email “Election Day Alert,” party Chairman
Rick Miller said, “Any Republican voter who may be
considering voting in the Democratic Primary
election to affect the outcome of the presidential
selection should be aware that you may be negatively
affecting state and local Republican elections and
you are losing your ability to participate in this
year’s Republican Precinct, Senatorial District and
State Conventions.”
That's a crock.
Now, I know that you Republicans are trying to explain
why you've been outvoted 2.5 to 1 during early voting,
but to leave Fort Bend GOP Party Chair Rick Miller
standing there with empty hands and a equally empty head
is kinda cruel.
Republican crossover just ain't happening.
Last weekend, I checked two heavily GOP precincts.
I took the names of early voters and cross-checked them
to see voting history. They were either Democrats,
had voted regularly in the general election but never
voted in either party's primary, or were first time
voters. I found none - zero - zip - nilch - who
were regular GOP primary voters.
Ain't happening, Rick. But, nice try.
The state Democratic
Party is partying like it's 1959. Those were the
good old days, when Texas Republicans were so rare
that crowds would gather whenever one wandered into
town.
Like "The Nation", most folks give Dubya the full credit
for reviving the Texas Democratic Party. And we
throw a polite bow to the current TDP Chairman, Boyd
Richie, for being ready to capitalize on any Republican
missteps, and having a few sashaying moves of his own.
"For years, the Anglo
Democrats down here were so beaten down, they just
quit. They gave up. Now there is a bandwagon effect
that is bringing them out again," Jillson says.
A Texas Republican
strategist agrees. "The Democratic groundswell here
is so deep and so energized," says the consultant,
who didn't want to be identified. He says he
believes the Republicans have made poor tactical
choices in recent state races and that the party's
split over religious issues is costing it voters.
And here's some sweet music ---
In this season of
change, it seems all eyes are on the Texas
Democrats. And many here feel they are finally
getting the attention they deserve. After all,
they'll tell you, they were smart enough to reject
George W. Bush long before the rest of the country.
I'll say Amen and pass the plate again on that one.
Perfect.
We're having a storm here today, but I'll be out
helping put signs in front of the polls this evening.
As is tradition around here, I'll be taking pictures and
sharing them with you.
March 3 -
Okay, Hal beat me to the
best Obama video yet. Warning - it will stick
in your head all day.
March 2 - GOP
CD22 candidate
John Manlove has the taste of disgust for Shelley
and Pete. But my favorite is the
history book
timeline of his life. Oh wow, will there be a
test? Jim Squire's
main qualification seems to be that he restores old
cars. No, I'm serious. And he can make
decisions. Lots of them. Oh goodie.
And Shelley Sekula Gibbs wants you to know she's
a very good
Christian at the dinner table. But a
very mean one
all other times.
And who doesn't love
Crazy Bob
Talton - who hires and pays the cut-and-run former
GOP county chair Gary Gillen to run his campaign and
then surprisingly get his endorsement.
Thanks again to
David for all the scanning.
Hi Susan,
Well,
Shelley-Belly displayed her ignorance
again. In that flyer you so thoughtfully
memorexed, Shelley suggested that Olson run
for Congress in Washington, D.C. Yet the
tax records for the home she photographed
are in Fairfax Co., Virginia. Yes, that is
a Washington, D.C. suburb, but Olson doesn't
qualify because he doesn't reside IN the
District proper. He can run in his Virginia
Congressional District because that's where
he resides. Of course when Tom DeLay tried
to pull a reverse carpetbag con ole Shelley
thought it was peachy keen with Kool Whip on
top. She swore up and down that Tom really
HAD moved to Virginia, because he submitted
a coupon good for 20% off on a return
service visit to a Virginia Auto Lube &
Scoot place--and by God, that was good
enough for her. Hey, doesn't this speak to
her poor judgement, now that he's come
crawling back when it didn't work? I mean,
if you offered her the choice between a
"shiny new dime" or a "dirty old quarter,"
which do you think she'd pick? My money's
on, "OOOOOOOH, shiny!"
Well, I'm backing Weird Darryl Heizman for
County Septic Tank Inspector. Darryl just
loooves septic tanks--he can splash around
in one for HOURS. Look, septic is
important. We don't need an Inspector who
will hold his nose and glance at it, then
write a quickie report that he might as
well have written back at the office--which
he probably did anyway, truth be told. You
see Darryl get out of his truck with a
shovel and it gives you confidence that
he'll get to the bottom of things. You
won't want to stand downwind of him
afterwards, but that's beside the point.
Now I'm not saying that Billy Bob Preston
isn't a good man--no such thing! I just
don't think he has the "nose" for the job,
if you take my meaning. Anyway, my yard
sign is:
Weird
Darryl Heizman says:
"A Straight Flush beats A Full House"
Your best bet for County
Septic Tank Inspector
And I
stand behind that sign, too. Especially
when Darryl is taking off his sloppy hip
waders, I tell you what.
I was at an
Americans United training session today and
one of the atendees from Clear Lake brought
a copy of the attached letter. It
apparently went out to Republicans in the
district. I guess that when
pastor Riggle applied for his 501(c)(3)
tax status his word just didn't count for
anything.
AU is filing a complaint with the IRS and I
think we should all let Shelly and Pastor
Riggle know just what we think of their lack
of integrity.
March 1 -
Those disturbed by Hillary Clinton's turn toward the
dark side with the "who do you want to answer the phone
at 3:00 a.m." woo-woo let's scare the poot outta
everybody because it worked for Bush teevee ad, will
want to see the quicker than double geared lightening
response from the Obama campaign.
Hey - somebody needs to call Hillary at 3:00 a.m. and
tell her to quit running John McBush's ads for him.
Meanwhile, are you getting tired of how every little
criticism of Hillary suddenly becomes "Hillary bashing,"
usually with four or five exclamation points after it?
Yo, train to Martyrtown pulling out of the station, get
your ticket stamped. Go
Barack.
Hi Susan,
I'm completely with you on the new Clinton
ad and the Obama campaign's fast response.
On the same subject, here's another YouTube
video you'll probably get a kick out of:
Note from Susan
- be sure to watch it all the way to the
end. It has a surprise ending!
March 1 - Now
here's a pretty amazing Republican election scan.
It's something called the Fort Bend County Conservative
Voter's Guide. It's a "website" that endorses.
For money. With full color mailouts, too.
Get to
Know Katy puts out a brochure featuring Republican
candidates ....
who pay
for it. Those who give the most money get
endorsed.
While it looks like an
unbiased
endorsement list,
it ain't.
(It's 16 pages long. I'll send you the whole thing
if you email me and want it real bad.)
This dude ain't got no use for Democrats. Well, unless
we had a boatload of money to give him.
I appreciate him sending this around, because come the
general election, I'm gonna have a word with the Texas
Ethics Commission about this. He better be filing
a report with them because this is political advertising
pure and simple.
March 1 -
Okay, we interrupt the Greatest Hits of Fort Bend County
Political Mailouts to bring you this breaking news.
I was at the County Mart early voting location in
Rosenberg yesterday afternoon and evening to campaign
for my favorite candidates, Ron Reynolds and Rick
Noriega.
Honey, if I lost a bet and had to kiss County Judge Bob
Hebert's rear end with a week's warning and formal
invitations, it wouldn't have drawn a crowd as big as
was there on the last day of early voting. It was
packed.
I, of course, have pictures because I'm better at this than you
are.
First off, here's a cool lady named Sharon and her cool
Hillary car and her even cooler daughter. They
were both adorable.
I stayed clear of Rick Miller. Although he claims
that he didn't actually hit anyone that day, I know for
a fact that he drove the get-away car.
And at 7:00, there was still a long line waiting to vote
on the last day of early voting. That's the
Democratic line. The Republicans didn't have to
wait. Why? Because there weren't as many of
them. I like saying that. There weren't as
many of them. There weren't as ..... okay, okay,
I'll say to myself.
And, of course, the Obama supporters were there and
pulling for those caucus votes.
The big rumor for the day was that
Hillary is going to sue the Texas Democratic Party
over our delegate selection process.
I just want to remind Hillary of something: First
off, your people helped write the rules in the first
place. And, second off, earlier this year Dennis
Kucinich sued the Texas Democratic Party and lost big
time. And, dammit, he had Willie Nelson file the
suit. Willie Nelson. If Willie Nelson can't
intimidate the Texas Democratic Party, I'd say your
chances are slim to none and fading.
Welcome to the website formerly known as The World's Most
Dangerous Beauty Salon, Inc.
My name is
Susan DuQuesnay Bankston.
I live in Richmond, Texas, in heart of Tom
DeLay's old district. It's crazy here.
No, seriously, it's triple z crazzzy.
I used to be an independent voter, but that all changed when
I got to know a few local Republicans. They are meaner
than 10 acres of snakes and have the ethical compass of a
bank robber.
So, I
decided that they could just Kiss My Big Blue Butt.
A lot of
what I post here has to do with local politics, but you
probably have the same folks in your local government.
This ain't
a blog. Blogs are way too trendy for me. I've
been doing this since 1992, so I'm used to it even if you
ain't.
Email me
and I'll find a place to put it if I like it.
You know it - Andy's gonna make his wife go to
Lithuania. Just because he can.
Cynthia Dunbar is a member of the State Board of
Education and frequent candidate for anything else that
comes up where she can raise and spend money. She
recently finished in the bottom quadrant of the
spreading
like a virus
seen
my stapler?
As most of you know, I am a Texas barbeque expert.
No kidding, I have a ribbon to prove it and everything.
So, when I say some barbeque is pretty darned good, I
know my business. 
Andy Meyer's little political fundraising breakfast,
arranged by another county vendor (which is against the
law -
Democratic
senatorial district conventions in Fort Bend County on
March 29th?
Even
with whirlygigs!
And here's a shot of Bubba of 9:30 tonight pulling the
last
sign out of his Jeep.
