Thanks to Greg, I was able to read this well-written and researched piece that the Hubert Vo campaign commssioned the Houston Press to write. OK, I don't know that they commissioned it, but it sure puts Mr. Vo in the best light and Talmadge in the worst.

Mr. Vo seems like the kind of self-made man that I admire, and his contributions to the community are certainly appreciated by those of us who live here. (Although some would argue that I'm on the far edge of Alief, or not in it at all.)

Anyway, what really caught my eye was this lovely bit of prose towards the end:

In what is a dangerous attribute for a politician running a tight race, Vo can sometimes come across as shy. At a recent health fair at the Notre Dame Catholic Church, he was approached by Robert Searcy, a firewood salesman whose pot belly bulged into a Talmadge Heflin T-shirt. Searcy complimented Vo a bit disingenuously, before concluding, "You should join us." Vo could have in turn invited Searcy to become a Democrat, or at least quipped back with a clever defense of his party. Instead, he declined the offer with a simple "I don't think I will" and slipped away.

Robert Searcy is the precinct chair for precinct 0600, which is right next to mine. He also used to be the precinct chair for my precinct, 0814, before I moved here. He's been very kind to me, given me advice, and been a good guy. It's kind of hard for guys in the middle of our lives to call each other "friends" when we know each other somewhat casually, but I'd say Robert is a friend.

Now what Josh Harkinson says can't really be disputed. Robert will not be asked to be a model for Playgirl anytime soon. He does have a middle-aged spread, so I can't argue with Josh on the factual accuracy of that statement.

I would like to invite Josh to meet me some time or send a picture. I'd be happy to find whatever physical flaws he might have and talk about them here on Slightly Rough. He seems to find the physical characteristics of Republicans so interesting that they deserve mention, why don't we just put Josh on a pedestal and rate him?

Josh mentions Robert as a "firewood salesman" in the same breath, I assume this is also meant to be some kind of dig at him. That's fine. In return, I'd like to announce a new Slightly Rough policy.

From now on, when discussing Josh Harkinson, he no longer writes for the Houston Press. He writes for a Houston prostitution and strip club guide. As long as the Press has the good sense to keep Robb Walsh around, the paper as a whole is immune from that characterization, but Josh, you've earned my distaste. Welcome to it.

You can take your shots at the politicians, but don't mess with my friends, Josh. I don't like it.

The Press' political coverage has really gone downhill since Fleck's departure. Even though I disagreed with the party line the Press had been representing, it was always interesting and well done. This could have been the moment when the Press became interesting and informative again. And Josh, you were so close. Too bad you had to throw in the cheap asides that even the Houston Chronicle is above.

There goes my chance at Best Blog in Houston. Fine by me.