Boo Humbug

By the way, I can't stand Halloween. I think it teaches kids the wrong thing, i.e., begging and extortion are acceptable behavior. So I normally don't give out candy. I don't want to take part in it. I have actually told older trick-or-treaters who didn't bother even to get a costume to get a job and buy their own damn candy.

Michelle, on the other hand, loves Halloween and dressing up in costume. I think costumes are creepy and disturbing.

There, now I feel better.

Hey Senator Whitmire!

HoustonChronicle.com: Mayor hops on Metro bus and stumps for rail

"I can't believe that our friend (anti-rail leader) Michael Stevens and others would say that we actually need more concrete in this community," said state Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston. "We must not yield to those looking out for their own selfish interests."

Woo-Hoo! More Texas Redistricting News

HoustonChronicle.com: Redistricting challenges trial date chosen

Jon Matthews - His 10/22/03 Column

In My Opinion

Maybe you know this but Fort Bend County has recently purchased nearly 40 acres of land on Ransom Road. It sits directly across the road from the Sheriff's Office. Now ostensibly the stated reason for the purchase is to build a justice center. But I have uncovered the real reason. I've written here before about the strong desire of Fort Bend County Judge Bob Hebert for a county owned and operated golf course. This is the real reason for the near million-dollar land purchase. It won't be much longer before we read about the county hiring the noted justice designer Fred Couples.

Congratulations Judge Hebert. I always had faith in your long standing campaign commitment for a county golf course. The justice center ruse was a great ploy to get the commissioners to go along with you. The location is just perfect. Since the property is directly across the street from jail we could also start a job training program for inmates. Some of them could have great futures as caddies. It would also be very convenient for Sheriff Milton Wright. What do you think?

Culberson Town Hall

Saturday, November 1, 2003

2:00 p.m. – 4:00 pm

Katy Taylor High School (9th Grade Center Cafeteria)

20700 Kingsland Blvd.

EFF: State "Super-DMCA" Legislation: MPAA's Stealth Attack on Your Living Room - Hopefully this idea will die a painful death.

HoustonChronicle.com: Viewpoints: Where are fire-bombers?

A fine public servant


Two Democratic congressmen from the Houston area have seized on this dispute over cost estimates to impugn Rep. Culberson's effectiveness and integrity. Houstonians should see this exactly for what it is: an ill-informed, partisan attack on a respected member of Congress.

As a member of the Transportation, Treasury and Independent Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee of the U.S. House of Representatives, Culberson has worked diligently to ensure that Metro reports its financial status accurately and completely, that its estimates for future grants are thorough and that the Houston area gets its money's worth from Metro. Culberson has asked the questions that others would not and conducted the research that others left undone.


His hard work on my subcommittee and, in particular, his meticulous oversight of Houston's federal transit dollars, has been admirable. He should be commended as a fine public servant who is looking out for the best interests of his constituents.


Rep. Ernest Istook, R- Okla., chairman, Subcommittee on Transportation, Treasury and Independent Agencies Appropriations

Brenham Banner-Press Online Edition: Third candidate announces for District 10 seat

Ouch!

Geek.com: Mandrake Linux 9.2 install trashing CD-ROM drives - This sounds like one of those hoaxes....

Save It for Later

San Antonio Express-News: Table of Contents

March 12, 1997 San Antonio Express-News

Absentee military tax-avoiders bad idea

Bill White

The recent revelation that a former "Grand Cyclops'' of the Ku Klux Klan was the Republican candidate for the Val Verde County Commissioners Court is a dramatic demonstration of the need to revise and clarify the laws concerning military voting. The Texas Democratic Party strongly supports the rights of military personnel to participate in the elections of Texas. We also believe that military voters should follow the Department of Defense's own guidelines, which instruct...

No Rain Tax

Um, You could have used a copy editor...

Dynamist Blog: AARGH, COPY EDITORS!

That is not a graceful sentence. But all the copy editor cared about was getting ride of 'designed.'

Who’s next target for Kremlin?

METRO = Funny Numbers

HoustonChronicle.com: Rail backers, foes each say feds' letter supports their side

Tuesday, he [Cong. Culberson] got a response from Jennifer Dorn, federal transit administrator, that states it's 'essentially correct' to assume Metro has overestimated its future grant money based on a Bush administration proposal.

Me and Bill

From - Bill White for Houston's Repsonse Page (link via IPC)

Allegation: Mr. Sanchez says that Bill opposed the right of veterans to vote.


Fact: False. Bill's father is a disabled veteran and Bill's college education was financed with American Legion scholarships. The Sanchez ad cites an editorial Bill wrote 6 years ago defending the right of veterans to vote and challenging a scheme of voter fraud that victimized veterans and others in a West Texas county. Bill was fighting a candidate who had been elected in a largely Hispanic county, who had lied about his identity as the leader of the Ku Klux Klan. Bill has fought for civil rights all his life and these experiences will help him bring this city together as Mayor.

Well, Bill, you're getting a break. I don't have time to do the research on your involvement in this matter to make a solid case against you. So, I've put your response up here, in the interest of fairness. Now, if you make the runoff, you know I'm going to have some time to research this. I've already gotten a list of contacts from some veterans who are interested in you. We'll talk later....

Blog from Iraq: chiefwiggles.blog-city.com

My Mantra

Regarding the confusion a lot of people have on whether they can vote on the Metro Light Rail Developer Subsidy Proposal:

Go vote! If you live in Harris County and don't know if you are in the METRO service area, go vote! If you have a polling place open, you should be voting anyway on something. The county election workers will know if you can vote on METRO or not. So don't spend your time calling around to see if you can vote, just go vote!

And be sure to vote NO!

Message - Please pass the word on to your conservative Harris County contacts.

To ALL Harris County Residents:

Just a short note to let you know that virtually all of us across Harris County, even those outside the City of Houston, will be able to vote on the METRO Referendum in the November 4th election. I cannot begin to count the number of registered voters in the County that have called or e-mailed us at Texans for True Mobility, asking if they are eligible to vote in this election. (Go to www.TexansforTrueMobility.com for more info.)

http://www.tax.co.harris.tx.us/ - for Harris County voter registration information - your precinct # and card

http://www.harrisvotes.org/ - for Harris County voter polling locations - both early and election day

If you'd like to get involved with us, we've got several sign distribution centers around west, north, and east Harris County, with yard signs available, while supplies last.

West Harris Co, you can pick them up at Taste of Texas Restaurant at 10505 Katy Freeway, just east of Beltway 8 tollroad. Call 713-932-6901 for directions and times for pickup, and ask for Edd Hendee. This location is our primary sign depot, with over 500 available at any given time, along with bumper stickers.

Northwest Harris Co, you can pick them up at Elvie Kingston's home at 7514 Moreton Ct. Spring, in the Memorial Northwest subdivision off Steubner-Airline, between Louetta and FM2920. Call Elvie at 281-320-2912 to set up a time to come by and pick yours up.

North Harris Co, you can pick them up at my home at 311 Spring Lakes Haven, Spring (just south of Old Town Spring), in the Spring Lakes subdivision off Lexington, between Louetta and Cypresswood. Call me at 713-562-5549 to set up a time to come by and pick yours up.

Northeast Harris Co, you can pick them up at Alice Rekeweg's home at 4203 Broadleaf, Kingwood, in the Greentree subdivision near the intersection of Lake Houston Parkway & Northpark. Call Alice at 832-928-8739 to set up a time to come by and pick yours up.

Thanks again for your support on this.

Warmest Regards,

Clint Moore, Chairman

Republican Senate District 7

Republican Precinct 110

How'd I miss this one? Open source making headway in Texas government (LinuxWorld)

This is exactly what I need to learn how to do. Except on Windows. Trail of tears: MySQL, ODBC & OpenOffice 1.0 (LinuxWorld)

Hey, Is This the Guy E-Mailing Me?

James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy

Upcoming Events

5 November - 6:00 p.m.

His Excellency Olusegun Obasanjo

President, The Federal Republic of Nigeria

From Chuck Muth - Help Wanted: Boots on the Ground in Philly

For years, conservative grassroots activists watched in vain as inside-the-beltway GOP pooh-bahs pumped tons of money into the "air war" of political campaigns - radio and television ads - while their counterparts over at the unions cleaned their clocks in the ground game - volunteers on the streets and on the phones.

No mas.

A couple years ago the GOP leadership at the Republican National Committee (RNC) changed course and devoted a considerable amount of time, attention and money to developing an election day grassroots operation to rival the Democrats and their wholly-owned subsidiary, the big labor unions. The program is called the "72-Hour Task Force," and it was WILDLY successful in last year's elections.

If you've always had an interest in working on a political campaign but didn't know where to begin or what to do...here ya go.

The 72-Hour Task Force will be very active in state races next month in Kentucky and Mississippi, but also in the mayor's race in Philadelphia...which is where they really need some help. The incumbent Democrat has turned Philly into a basket case and his GOP challenger is running neck-and-neck in the polls. Election day get-out-the-vote efforts will make the difference between winning and losing in this race. And the RNC needs volunteers.

If you're interested in volunteering a few days on the weekend leading up to the November 4th election, the RNC would love to "deploy" you to the City of Brotherly Love." They'll pay for your transportation (if you live in the Washington, DC area), lodging and up to $30 per day for meals. That's a LOT of artery-clogging Philly cheese steaks! They'll also provide complete training and assistance for folks who haven't done this kind of work before. Best darn OJT you'll ever get.

If you're interested in maybe volunteering for the 72-Hour Task Force in Philadelphia, contact Shelby Watts at (202) 863-8600 for additional information.

No need for me to say anything...Nope, still a failure

Albuquerque Tribune: Redistricting falls off session's table - We dodged that bullet.

Geek.com: California wins $2 million judgement in first anti-spam case - Not knowing California law I don't know what to think about this piece of legislation, but I certainly won't lose sleep at night because these guys were shut down.

If you don't want to get on Chuck's bad side, pay him. He holds a grudge like I do: Muth's Truths

And That Congressman Should Be Rep. Lampson

Regarding this HoustonChronicle.com story... Congressman owes the voters of Houston

Here's a copy of the letter from the FTA to Congressman Lampson, via Jennifer Naedler, the campaign manager for Culberson for Congress:

[Opening]

This letter is in response to your request that the FTA comment on a chart, which you attached to your letter comparing Houston Metro fed formula funding projections to FTA projections.

First you ask whether FTA produced the chart, or the related figures. FTA did not produce the chart or the figures included therein. Also, in response to your second question, the chart and its figures were never reviewed and confirmed by FTA.

In fact, while the Administration's SAFETEA proposal calls for approximately a two percent escalation factor for annual growth for formula funding, this factor does not apply until 2005. It appears that the chart applies a two-percent increase starting in 2004 for 5409 fixed guideway modernization program funds, which is not in the SAFETEA proposal. Finally, it is important to note that accurate projections of out year formula apportionments for a particular urbanized area are difficult to make. This difficulty is due to the fact that the apportionments depend, in part upon the change in transit service factors in that area relative to the change in other urbanized areas.

I hope this responds to your request.

[Closing]

I watched the musical Chicago last night on DVD. It's rather interesting in its treatment of the media and how they create an alternative reality to fit their own needs. It's what we've been seeing for a few years now in the ChronicBile's pursuit of a pro-rail agenda. They're willing to smear anyone, show a blatant disregard for the truth, and besmirch the reputation of decent people who have a different political opinion.

Disclaimer: I'm being paid by Culberson for Congress for some technical work I'm doing (database and website stuff) on METRO. But I'm not being paid for blogging. I'm doing this out of a sense of outrage at the way people/media will lie, lie, lie to get rail passed. If they're willing to go to this length to get rail passed, what is the plan really about?

HoustonChronicle.com: Metro wants too much for too little

Finally, and most troubling, there is overwhelming proof that Metro is not financially capable of embarking on its proposed $8 billion rail plan. For example, Metro has overstated its sales tax revenue projections by $3 billion, as compared to the projections of the Harris County tax assessor collector. According to Metro's own economist, it is $2 billion off on its sales tax revenue projections. Additionally, the Federal Transit Administration recently informed Metro it was off at least tens of millions of dollars on its federal grant projections.

ABC13.com: Conservative local talk show host being investigated by police

Congressman John Culberson, who appears weekly on Matthews' show says he can't imagine the talk show host being involved in any indecency with a child. He said "I just can't even imagine…I refuse to believe it…It must be a mistake."

Thank Goodness We Didn't Buy Diebold

HoustonChronicle.com: Voters' trust hangs on eSlate reliability

Hart InterCivic vice president William Stotesbery nevertheless said the company is prepared to outfit its systems with a paper trail feature -- especially because some states are on the verge of requiring it. Texas is not one of them.

She acknowledged, however, that "any system, no matter how technologically advanced, still has to rely on the integrity of those who use it."

I've worked with eSlate since the demonstration run during the 2002 primary. It's a well designed system that seems to have lots of common sense behind it.

Lucas, did you ever get the feeling you're being used?

HoustonChronicle.com: Fed agency denies reviewing Metro budget

The federal agency that distributes grants to Metro has denied ever confirming numbers that purport to show the transit authority overestimated its future funds by more than $100 million.

But in a Wednesday letter to U.S. Rep. Nick Lampson, D-Beaumont, the administrator of the Federal Transit Administration wrote: "FTA did not produce the chart or the figures included therein."

Schechter accused Culberson and his allies of "deliberately misleading the public by ignoring the facts."

Culberson, stepping off a plane from Washington, said he was outraged by Dorn's letter.

Lampson wrote Dorn on Oct. 9, asking her to clarify where the numbers in the chart came from.

The transit authority has acknowledged there is a difference of $43 million between its projections and the Bush administration's six-year transit funding proposal, saying it's because of different rates used to calculate annual increases in federal formula funds. This money is disbursed annually to transit agencies based on factors such as population and ridership. Metro used 8 percent based on historic trends; the president's bill suggests 2 percent.

"I don't want anybody to come up with more outlandish statements about it," Lampson said. "You wonder why someone is trying to belittle this effort."

Too late Congressman, you should be ashamed.

So, I've seen glimmers of independence in Lucas Walls' coverage of this story. Even some fairness from time to time. So Lucas, you've got to ask yourself why they sent you out to the airport. Why are they having you file a story with a headline that's so misleading? Is it because METRO's numbers don't add up and the editorial board wants the rail plan passed, no matter what the consequences?

Top 10 Reasons to Vote for METRO's Light Rail Plan

1. You own Gulfgate Mall.


2. You own a company that makes rail cars.


3. You want to suck up to Lee Brown.


4. You want to bankrupt METRO.


5. You want to see stranded rail passengers rescued by the bus.


6. You want to see if these Yuppies really will ride the train and increase their commute time.


7. You want to drive by the "urban village" idiots walking outside in Houston in August.


8. You like antiques.


9. You want a slower, less reliable and more dangerous form of public transportation.


10. You like the blatant lying of your local daily paper.

C.L.O.U.T. Update October 23, 2003

The METRO Solutions Plan is placed before the voters with early voting going on through Friday October 31st. C.L.O.U.T. urges you to VOTE NO on the METRO Solutions plan as it commits $8 Billion in light rail construction which will move only 1% of the traffic. What good is a fixed guideway rail system that is INSIDE of Loop 610 when the congestion is clearly outside Loop 610 out to Beltway 8 and Loop 99? The METRO Solutions plan is flawed - It clearly costs too much and does too little.

C.L.O.U.T.'s concerns are that METRO will spend all of its funds on this program and not be able to support City, County, and State road and infrastructure projects. Any financial failure on METRO's part will put existing bus service and this General Mobility funding in doubt. That effect can clearly put a bind on local government's budgets which depend on those funds and result in PROPERTY TAX INCREASES!

C.L.O.U.T. URGES you to SAY NO TO METRO! Visit www.texansfortruemobility.com for more information on the failure of the METRO Solutions plan to address our transit issues - and the recommended 100% Solutions Plan for more roads, more capacity, better traffic management systems - and a REAL solution to CONGESTION!

Also - support the local elected officials who are standing up to METRO to stop this program and the potential financial effects of such a poorly designed transit system. Attend these Town Hall meetings if you can - the "Pro Rail people" will be there and we need to balance the discussion!

C.L.O.U.T. is working hard for you!

Edd Hendee

Culberson Town Halls - We need support for the NO VOTE to METRO!

Congressman John Culberson (R-Texas) announced he has scheduled a series of townhall meetings to discuss the Metro Solutions referendum that willappear on the general election ballot and other issues of interest tothe public. Metro and Texans for True Mobility have been invited toparticipate in the Saturday, October 25 meetings. The first hour ofeach townhall meeting will be devoted to questions about the upcomingreferendum. Both Metro and Texans for True Mobility will be given equaltime to discuss rail issues. Appellate Judge Tim Taft will moderate thedialogue. The remaining time of the meetings will address any concernsregarding national issues. The last townhall meeting, scheduled for thefirst weekend in November, will address other issues that appeal to thepublic. Bring your friends, family, and best questions to share withthe community. The meetings are scheduled for:

Saturday, October 25, 2003

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon

Spring Branch Middle School (Auditorium)

1000 Piney Point

Saturday, October 25, 2003

2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m

T.H. Rogers School (Cafetorium)

5840 San Felipe

Rob's comment: I understand that you can get yard signs from the Taste of Texas restaurant on the Katy Freeway.

Link through IPC: campaignemails

New CD17

AP Wire via FWST: East Texas congressman mulling governor's race

In related news, state Rep. Arlene Wohlgemuth, R-Burleson, announced she plans to run in the newly drawn District 17, should Republicans prevail in court. She would face other Republican challengers including former Waco Independent School District trustee Dot Snyder in the GOP primary, who has been campaigning for more than a year, the Waco Tribune-Herald reported.

New CD25

AP Wire via FWST: Popular Democrat considering bid for Austin-Valley district

AUSTIN - U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett says he is considering a re-election bid in the newly drawn district that stretches from the Texas capital to the Mexican border if a federal court doesn't throw out the redistricting map devised by the Republican-controlled Legislature.

And They're Off: CD01

Tyler Morning Telegraph: REP. CHRISTIAN RUNS FOR CONGRESS SPOT

Note to self: Check the Quixotic Records web site on Thursday to see the Squeeze sale.

The Orion Online: Keep God out of White House

The most dangerous force our country faces right now doesn't come from the threat of international terrorism. It comes from evangelical Christian fanatics connected to the White House, like Army Lt. Gen. William G. Boykin.

Busy

The lack of posting shows that I'm extremely tied up with battling the powerful business interests downtown who are trying to get the Metro rail proposal passed. They have the ChronicBile on their side, Metro is funding a pro-rail campaign with our tax dollars, and all we have is Paul Bettencourt and John Culberson.

I went to the town hall meeting this wekend. It was sparsely attended, but then again, it hasn't been well publicized. It's amazing how many people feel perfectly free to be incredibly rude during town hall meetings. I don't mean to imply that it's anywhere near a majority of the people, but when I leave the meeting, that's what I remember.

Last, the ChronicBile won't publish Congressman Culberson's op-ed on the Metro plan, but you can read it here.

Reminder for Kevin: Culberson To Host Townhall Meetings

Congressman John Culberson announced today that he has scheduled a series of townhall meetings to discuss the Metro Solutions referendum that will appear on the November 4, 2003 general election ballot and other issues of interest to the public. Metro and Texans for True Mobility have been invited to participate in the first three meetings. The meetings are scheduled for:

Saturday, October 18, 2003
9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Westchester Academy (Auditorium)
901 Yorkchester

But will he be back then? Well, for everybody, I'll be there so if you see me, give me a holler.

counterpunch: Alexander Cockburn and Jeffrey St. Clair: Wesley Clark and Waco - I haven't read this yet. Link via Kopel.

Curses, foiled again!

Light Rail Day

Letter to Viewpoints in the Houston Chronicle

Not Your YMCA Kids' Soccer

FOXSportsworld.com: UEFA to review TV footage of halftime brawl

The melee broke out after Turkish defender Alpay Ozalan poked England captain David Beckham in the face as they left the field at halftime of Saturday's 0-0 draw. Earlier, Alpay had taunted Beckham after he slipped and badly missed a penalty.

Thank goodness! We're saved!

The lawyers to the rescue! Is the ink dry on the governor's signature yet?

Texas Democrats Challenge District Map

AUSTIN, Texas (AP)--Democrats filed a motion in federal court seeking to prohibit the state from implementing the new Republican-backed congressional redistricting map, an attorney said Tuesday.

You know, I've been working up a longish piece on redistricting, trying to point out mistakes that Republicans made in this episode. Also I want to point out a lot of things that the Democrats could do better to keep the debate civil. When I see the gnashing of teeth and the name-calling, all I can think is how many Democrats were telling Martin Frost back in 91 "This map will elect too many Democrats. It's not fair." Gosh you know, I can't think of one.

Republican Party of Texas Blog (Official) - sort of a blog...

Memo to Gov. Perry

Regarding this, go see the 2002 Election Returns

Governor: Rick Perry (I) REP 2,632,591 votes


Comptroller of Public Accounts: Carole Keeton Rylander(I) REP 2,878,732 votes

GregsOpinion.com: Overreaching 101 - An excellent analysis as always from Greg, even though he's quite wrong on one point. I've met Ron Paul quite a few times and he's quite sane. It's also interesting that Greg criticizes Joby Fortsen for the tone of his e-mail, but then he goes on and gets pretty rough with several folks.

Guest Blogger

My friend Craig Dickson, dirt salesman and artist, sent out an e-mail with a rather interesting theory on the whole second Bill White story. Please note that this is just a theory. I put it up here, with Craig's permission, because I love the punchline....

The way I see it - -

This Brenda pulled a fantastic hustle.

First (She says) someone from Sylvester Turner's camp gave Brenda $2400 with a promise of $2600 more upon her getting a second Bill White to run for mayor of Houston. Brenda finds a second Bill White, who needs the money, to enter the mayoral race. He brings his family over to Brenda's and picks up $1,200 with a promise of that much or more in the near future. Man the whole White family loves politics. Then the Turner camp finds out that the second Bill White is an African American. He is going to get more of Turner votes than White votes. And they demand their money back, or else.

What should Brenda do? She gave the second Bill White family $1,200 and spent the rest.

And now the second Bill White's family wants the money promised. They honor their side of the agreement and have plans to spend this time campaigning at Disney World.

What would Lyndon Johnson do? Call the first Bill White and say for $5,000 I'll expose the scheme of entering another Bill White into the race. Can you believe "businessman" Bill White gave Brenda $5,000 to keep another African American off the ballot?

Brenda then gives the Turner camp their money back. The second Bill White family is off for Disney World. Brenda has a little pocket change. It's a win, win, win.

Orlando, of course, never having any business experience doesn't understand the hustle.

Houstonians, are we looking for a real money manager? VOTE FOR BRENDA!!!!

Craig J. Dickson

www.TrueToTexas.com

Get aboard the The METRO Money Train!

Spies Like Us

Ditto to this: Serenity's Journal: You Belong In the Deep Fryer and this: sgt hook: Nothing Better.

Thanks for the link, SGT Hook!

Are They Fraternal Twins If They're Sisters?

Politics and stuff is important and all, but more important is that the long-awaited grandchildren of my parents have arrived.

My baby sister had twin girls yesterday: Annabelle Nicole and Kyra Michele. Mother and children are resting well. Extended family are excited and proud as punch. New Dad is overwhelmed and happy as all get out. I'll be boring you all with baby pictures soon.

Capitol Inside

Feel the Love

HoustonChronicle.com: Redistricting stalled again by House Democrats' walkout

'We passed redistricting, we passed the other bills. They can do whatever,' Craddick said.

Thanks for Nothing

Through the Wall

Found this entry via the great BOR. But dude, don't tell us in a blog that you know something but aren't going to tell us. Makes me think you're BSing. Nothing personal, but put it out there or don't mention it.

New GOP Slogan: Keeping Austin Weird

| GOP runs late, fails to finish remap

House Dems Run

If you're home on a Friday night with no life and are reading redistricting stuff on the web, go to QR Buzz right now (8:58 PM CDT). The House Dems have run. Again.

Off the Kuff: More on Bill White and military voting

Far Away, So Close

I'm in precinct 0814, which will soon (maybe) be in Congressional District 9. One precinct away from CD07, Culberson, one precinct away from CD10 (formerly Congressman Doggett, whoops did I speak too soon?), two precincts from CD14 (Ron Paul! So close!), and spitting distance from CD22, Tom DeLay.

One thing I am certain of, thank goodness I didn't end up with Sheila Jackson Lee.

HoustonChronicle.com: Opponents of rail plan appear to be gaining momentum

NYT: Lawmakers Are Insisting Money for Iraq Be Loans

'My constituents are proud of this president, but they are as adamant as I am that we want our money back for reconstruction, just like we were promised,' said Representative John A. Culberson, Republican of Texas, an old ally of the president from their Austin days, who planned to propose a loan amendment but dropped it Wednesday under pressure from the White House.

Culberson Mention

FOXNews.com: House Panel Debates $87 Billion Iraq Supplemental

Underscoring the momentum against loans, Rep. John Culberson, R-Texas, said he would not offer an amendment requiring Bush to arrange for the entire Iraqi aid package to eventually be repaid. Culberson said he'd had conversations with Rice and L. Paul Bremer (search), the U.S. administrator in Iraq, but made the decision on his own.

'I came to the conclusion the Democrats would use it as a political weapon,' Culberson said.

Geek.com Geek News: Fraud feared in electronic voting machines

Culberson To Host Townhall Meetings

I'm number 20 if you do a Google Search on tattooing grapefruits, as someone did. Cheap filler, but that's pretty funny.

Culberson To Host Townhall Meetings

Congressman John Culberson announced today that he has scheduled a series of townhall meetings to discuss the Metro Solutions referendum that will appear on the November 4, 2003 general election ballot and other issues of interest to the public. Metro and Texans for True Mobility have been invited to participate in the first three meetings. The meetings are scheduled for:

Saturday, October 18, 2003

9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Westchester Academy (Auditorium)

901 Yorkchester

Saturday, October 25, 2003

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon

Spring Branch Middle School (Auditorium)

1000 Piney Point

Saturday, October 25, 2003

2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m

T.H. Rogers School (Cafetorium)

5840 San Felipe

Saturday, November 1, 2003

2:00 p.m. – 4:00 pm

Katy Taylor High School (9th Grade Center Cafeteria)

20700 Kingsland Blvd.

Seattle Rail Critics: CETA - Coalition for Effective Transportation Alternatives

Will the ChronicBile smear GWB for this?

RPPI: Cold Feet on Light Rail

A new Bush administration proposal would require cities to pick up much more of the tab for light-rail projects. And the man in DC controlling transportation money for projects like Orange County's CenterLine light-rail project, Chairman of the House Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee Ernest Istook, R-Okla., just blocked a $500 million federal grant that was supposed to go to Seattle's light-rail project, thus delaying construction indefinitely. Istook said light-rail systems are often political 'status symbols' that pay little heed to congestion relief or cost-benefit ratios.

From the Federal Voting Assistance Program

MILITARY

Where is my "legal voting residence?"

For voting purposes, your "legal voting residence" can be the state or territory where you last resided prior to entering military service or the state or territory that you have since claimed as your legal residence. To claim a new legal residence you must have simultaneous physical presence and the intent to return to that location as your primary residence. Military and family members may change their legal residence every time they change permanent duty stations or they may retain their legal residence without change. Family members may have a different legal voting residence from the member. A legal officer should be consulted before legal residence is changed because there are usually other factors that should be considered besides voting. Be sure to enter the complete address of your legal voting residence, including street or rural route and number, when completing the residence section of the FPCA. Even though you may no longer maintain formal ties such as property ownership to that residence, the address is needed to place you in a proper voting district, ward, precinct or parish.

[Endquote]

When you join the military, your home of record (permanent address) defaults to where you came from. Later on, you can change that. I did just that a couple of times. All of them were in Texas. I never paid income tax in another state (my wife did, I got to do the forms - lucky me!), never registered to vote in another state, and never voted in another state. For a while I was the Voting Assistance Officer at Ft. Meade for my department. It was a little surprising how many guys did vote, because a ton of them did. Many people looked at it as a gesture of patriotism, some were looking to "vote their paycheck" (i.e., GOP), and the poor liberal Democrats among us just wanted to at least cancel out one of our votes.

Record Number of Western Metaphors

OA Online News: West: Basin’s redistricting issues settled

"I commend Tom for hanging tough," said West, referring to Craddick’s six-month fight to put Odessa-Midland into a new district where they could elect a native son congressman. "He’s done a magnificent job of keeping his cool. He’s been rode hard and put up wet every day, and they tried to put a burr under his saddle every time they saddled up."

Tracking Bill White

In this whole mess over military voting, I've neglected one important point. What exactly did Bill White do and when did he do it? I'll be posting links and clues as I do my research.

Orlando Sanchez: Patterson Endorsement

Patterson, whose son is currently serving in the Marine Corps, said, "What you have here is a sharp contrast in candidates. One served his country with honor; another tried through frivolous lawsuits to prevent military personnel from voting in local elections. It is shameful that someone asking for your vote has a history of trying to deny others their right to vote."

Patterson is referring to the lawsuit filed in 1997 in Val Verde, Texas by Democrats, led by then Chairman of the Texas Democratic Party, Bill White, which attempted to prevent military personnel from voting in local elections. According to the San Antonio Express News, March 7, 1997, Bill White said military voters are entitled to have a say in the races for federal offices – president, vice president and the Congress – but not in state, county or local elections.

Sanchez replies, "Our veterans have put their lives on the line to keep our country free. We should never forget the sacrifice they have made for us. I am honored and privileged to receive their endorsement."

Yahoo! Groups : billwhiteforhouston

How's This for Spin?

Opponents of redistricting have been maintaining that this is a plan to execute a GOP power grab, a plan to disenfranchise minority voters, and a plan to marginalize Democrats in Texas. They're very wrong. There apparently has been no plan all along.

TCS: Tech Central Station - Bigger Worries Than BioChem

Bill White and Val Verde

There's now a little discussion in our corner of the blogosphere over military absentee voting. I started it by noting the charges that Bill White, Houston mayoral candidate, was involved in an effort to throw out military votes in Val Verde County back in 1996/1997.

I remember this event, it was one of the major events in my life. I was stationed in Virginia at OSIA (now DTRA), lived in Maryland, and had volunteered to take investigational new drugs because I was urged to work on some biological weapons dismantlement projects. I was happy to do it, I thought it was important work and liked the idea of working with something a little dangerous. Being a military interpreter and in cryptology, I sat behind a computer most of the time and wanted to risk my life (a little) in defense of the Constitution of the United States.

I was also proud to be a Texan and serious about voting. I had to jump through some hoops to vote absentee and even though I didn't always plan ahead well enough, I got to vote most of the time. I researched issues, called friends back home for advice, my mother mailed me voting guides.

So I was rather stunned to see one day that the Texas Rural Legal Aid (TRLA), funded by the Legal Services Corporation (LSC), was attempting to throw out the votes of military absentee voters. Our tax dollars fund the LSC. I was paying taxes that funded an agency that was trying to limit, or impede, my right to vote, because I voted Republican, like many military personnel.

Well, I put that little factoid in my head and when it came down to re-enlistment time, one of the reasons for getting out was to politically fight the people who attempted to disenfranchise military personnel. I still get very angry about it, and I cut no slack for anyone involved in that episode, or the attempts to throw out military votes in Florida in 2000.

I don't know what Bill White's involvement was in that case or the subsequent political maneuvering. I did watch the debate (not all of it) and when Orlando brought it up, Mr. White did not try to answer the charge. Not that it really matters, because this is a pretty simple principle. On at least two occasions, Democrats have tried to limit the rights of military personnel to vote, because they tend to vote Republican. They can cloak it in all sorts of terms and spin, but that's what it boils down to.

Here's some links on military personnel voting and the Val Verde case.

Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP)

ROA: Number 43, May 2002: Military Voting Rights

ROA: Number 3, May 1998:
Military Voting Rights

New York Times: Voting-Rights Battle Played Out in Texas

House.gov: Hearing on H.R. 699, the Military Voting Rights Act of 1997

In January, I received a court-ordered document, a questionnaire, which I found to be even more intrusive than a security clearance investigation, a 24-page document which ordered—that includes the comments—which ordered me to reveal my credit cards, bank accounts, even where my wife was sleeping on certain nights.
I resisted filling out this document, but on advice of my attorney, I spent the hours it took to complete this document. The whole purpose of the document was to challenge my residency of Val Verde County, Texas, question my citizenship and the right to vote on all issues as other Americans do. I could not remain silent. For the first time in my career, I wrote my Congressman, Congressman Bonilla of Texas. It is on his invitation that I appear before you today.
Since I entered the Air Force in 1973, I have been permanently stationed at nine different installations, California, Louisiana, Texas, Michigan, Nebraska, North Dakota, Washington, DC, Belgium, and now Hawaii, where I command the 15th Air Base Wing at Hickam Air Force Base. This summer will be the first time in my 23-year career to be assigned to the same area twice, my tenth assignment, to the Pentagon in August. And although raised in Georgia, I have returned to Georgia for no more than a week at a time to visit my family in any year, and many times not returning for several years.
After moving to Texas, I made the decision that this was a place I could live and grow upon retirement. I love Texas, and while not a native son, I have always been proud to claim Texas as my home of record. I don't own land in Del Rio, TX, but I have a Texas will. I have not visited Texas but a few times in the last 20 years, but I still bank there. I don't own a home or have relatives in Val Verde County, but I vote there. I don't drive a car in Texas, but my car insurance is still from there. Even my driver's license is from there.

HRC 2004 - Clear As Mud

Instapundit.com: HILLARY RUNNING?

The weird thing is, if you search for "Clinton" at the FEC, one of the entries you find is this the one in the above story:

The legend below the results doesn't have an explanation for the codes under the headings Des or Type. If it is an unauthorized committee, it should have a U in the Des field.

COMTE. DESIG.

DESIG - DESCRIPTION

A - AUTHORIZED BY A CANDIDATE

J - JOINT FUND RAISER

P - PRINCIPAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE OF A CANDIDATE

U - UNAUTHORIZED

So go back to the search window and type Bush. Go to committee ID P00003335. Notice the Des and Type fields. This could be a coincidence, but it's pretty fun.

Proof that Mrs. Clinton is running will come when the FEC loads up the FEC Form 1 onto the server. If it is her primary presidential committee, she'll have to indicate that.

UPDATE: Just for fun go to the FEC and search for Clark. Look at the difference between C00387712, DRAFT CLARK 2004 FOR PRESIDENT COMM; C00388603, DRAFTWESLEYCLARK.COM; and P40002792, CLARK, WESLEY K (the principal candidate's committee).

UPDATE: NEWS FLASH! Is She or Isn't She? - I guess that's closed.

ABC13.com: METRO goes toe to toe with opponents over federal funding

Paying Dearly for Free Prescription Drugs by Rep. Ron Paul

Goin' Back to Cali

I recommend Charlie Cook and his newsletter to anyone interested in politics. Lots of nuts and bolts. In the latest issue, which he doesn't allow to be forwarded by e-mail or reprinted, he takes on the recall issue.

He has "yes" on recall falling from between 56% and 51%. If recall is approved, Ahnold should win by a decent margin. He makes serious note of the fact that Arnold's support is plunging, but in 2002, 23% of the votes were cast absentee/early. So 23% haven't seen the recent revelations about Ahnold's groping habit.

For the record, although I love my California relatives and living in Monterey was fun, I am never living there again. I'm not going to fill out that state income tax form again as long as I live. It was worse, if you can believe it, than the federal form. Therefore, I don't have a dog in this recall hunt.

Reminder to Self

Link via Instapundit.

Song of the Day: Domino by Difford and Tilbrook

I knew that I had drunk too much

I had passed my drink degree

I climbed into my rented car

I was happy as could be

Then I pulled out of the driveway

And the lights began to blur

Within a mile the car was stopped

By a police officer - she said

"Did you see the light was red?

Did you see the light at all?"

Then I fell into her open arms

And that's all that I recall

Read My Lips...

HBJ: Net sales tax bill exempts small biz

Legislation to require Internet retailers to collect sales taxes exempts businesses with less than $5 million a year in remote sales.

Bill White Vs. Me

HoustonChronicle.com: White assailed for view on military voting rights

Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson attacked Houston mayoral candidate Bill White on Monday for a position he took in 1997 on the voting rights of soldiers.

White, as then-state Democratic chairman, advocated that state law be changed to prevent military personnel from voting in local elections unless they intended to return to the state after their service to establish residency.

Metro's Light Rail Developer Project

Houston Business Journal: Metro rides into real estate development

In a new initiative intended to spur economic development along the light rail line, the Metropolitan Transit Authority has been quietly acquiring tracts of real estate along the future transit corridor.

Houston Chronicle: Metro takes issue with rail opponents' math

The true difference between Metro's projections and those by the FTA and subcommittee is $43 million, Britton said.

That discrepancy exists because Metro and the federal government used a different rate to calculate annual increases in the federal formula funds the transit authority obtains. These funds are appropriated annually by Congress for mass transit across the nation and then divided up based on a formula that takes into account factors such as population and transit ridership.

deseretnews.com: Light-rail line a mixed bag for neighboring businesses

Who is it trying to "harm" Houstonians?

Metro pushing for rail safety awareness

The Department of Transportation says last year there were 4.4 fatalities for every 100 million vehicle-miles traveled involving buses. For heavy rail there were 3.2 fatalities. But light rail had 42.3 fatalities, more than 10 times either of the other transit options.

I like stories like this: sgt hook: Saving Private Dunkirk.

The Search for the Holy Rail

IMAGINE THIS SCENARIO: The CEO of a large corporation calls a meeting of the board of directors to deal with a crisis: The business is losing four dollars for every dollar earned, much of the capacity goes unused, and the customer base, never large to begin with, is eroding at an alarming rate. The board huddles and after a lengthy session the solution emerges: Expand.

The Pilot Newspaper: McWilliams Hits Trouble on Web Sites

A further complication is information acquired by local Republican leaders about McWilliams’ affiliation with an organization known as the Republican Liberty Caucus, of which he is listed as co-coordinator as webmaster@moore-gop.com.


The caucus is described as “a nationwide, grassroots organization working within the Republican Party” with goals for the active promotion of “libertarian principles of free enterprise, limited government and individual rights and to elect freedom-minded Republicans to office.”

The METRO Rail Component map shows a line in solid red going to Bush Airport (meaning it's in the Additional Rail category, bonds approved in this election) but the ballot doesn't list this line as being bonded by this election.

At the METRO web site, METRO Solutions, you can now find the ballot language and details of the rail plan.

Hope You're Having Fun Mr. Wall

deseretnews.com: Other metro areas look to copy TRAX success

TRAX also serves as inspiration for folks in Houston.

'Currently, we have a huge political debate going,' said Lucas Wall, transportation reporter for The Houston Chronicle.

Houston's first 7.5-mile light-rail line is to begin operation Jan. 1. Wall said there is also a tax referendum going on the ballot for four more light-rail lines. Wall said he wants to bring back the 'sights and feel' of light rail here to readers in Houston, who are divided and skeptical about light rail.

Stunner! Mayor Brown Goes to Court to Stop Rail!

Clear Lake Citizen: Rail fight moves into legal arena - OK, so it's not that rail...

Reason has a good proposal, and this little tidbit of info, dangled without corroboration:

The Plame Affair began back in July, when columnist Robert Novak incidentally noted that Wilson's wife Valerie Plame was a CIA agent, not the private energy consultant she pretended to be.

KPRC via Yahoo! News: METRO Chairman Defends Light-Rail's Finances

Perspectives on Plame - RAWbservations

Alcibiades & Political Vindication - RAWbservations

Houston Press: Bad Blood on the Tracks, Metro's consulting becomes insulting for some Hispanic leaders

I guess I've seen everything now...English-Russian Basketball Dictionary

FIFA Women's World Cup USA 2003: USA 1 : 0 NORWAY - I caught the end of the match.

Wait for more info...

Kuwait foils smuggling of chemicals, bio warheads from Iraq

I don't understand this bit at all..

News 24 Houston: Metro short $116 million in federal funds, according to tax assessor-collector

Bettencourt says if Metro falls short of funds, their existing programs will suffer.

But Metro vows it will never fund more money than they have, even if that means scaling down programs.

Show Me The Money

HoustonChronicle.com: Critics question projected federal funding for rail

U.S. Rep. John Culberson, R-Houston, a rail opponent, asked the FTA to determine what share Metro could expect from formula funds. It responded that while the bill laying out the formula for the next six years hadn't been passed yet, it currently calls for a 2 percent increase each year.

Staff on an appropriations subcommittee on which Culberson serves did the math and compared the results to Metro's own estimate, finding the transit authority's to be 20 percent higher. Metro projects it will receive $681 million in formula funding from 2003 through 2009.

Schechter said that no transit formula bill had ever called for an annual increase as low as 2 percent, and he didn't expect the current number to stick. He also called the comparison numbers "apples and oranges."

Culberson's office could not be reached late Wednesday to explain how the FTA and the committee were able to respond in detail to Eckels within 24 hours.

Paging Mr. Gibbons

ABC13.com: Feds say Metro needs to check light rail budget

(10/01/03 - HOUSTON) — According to documents from the Federal Transit Administration, Metro has over estimated its' federal subsidy by more than $100 million.

Is This The End?

PLAN 01365C -Sen. Staples, Duncan Proposal 10-1-03

Probably not.

Bankruptcy?! Can you get a clearance now with a bankruptcy?

WaPo: Military Prison Worker Arrested

'He was really intelligent, well-spoken and charming,' said Peter Kaplan, a Salem attorney who represented him when he filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection in 1997.

Gitmo job listings are here: Working at Titan

Scoop

Ahmed F Mehalba, the Army veteran and translator assigned to Gitmo who was recently arrested, registered at Military.com as a member of the 309th Military Intelligence Battalion. You'll have to register to view the details.

Details on Mehalba's girlfriend here: Ex-Huachuca GI is held after stint at Guantanamo - There's plenty of confusion about her name.

Strange

Robert Novak: The CIA leak

The leak now under Justice Department investigation is described by former Ambassador Wilson and critics of President Bush's Iraq policy as a reprehensible effort to silence them. To protect my own integrity and credibility, I would like to stress three points. First, I did not receive a planned leak. Second, the CIA never warned me that the disclosure of Wilson's wife working at the agency would endanger her or anybody else. Third, it was not much of a secret.

1. That doesn't matter as a legal issue. It only clears up a side issue.


2. With whom did you speak at CIA?


3. That does not matter. Was it classified? If yes, who told you the info?

Where I'm at: I think journalists who reveal this sort of info ought to be locked up too. It puts peoples' lives at risk. I'm against the independent counsel law thingie, Congress ought to investigate these types of incidents, after a criminal investigation.

Should have been worked out already...

HoustonChronicle.com: Remap may benefit Bush's ex-business partner

"We really haven't been able to make much progress on the remainder of the state, because the House's concept is to work on West Texas and then the rest of the state," said Sen. Todd Staples, R-Palestine, leader of the Senate conferees.