ChronicBile: We have no idea what we're talking about, so we'll just make fools of ourselves.....

ChronicBile: For Poe, Molina, Phillips and Culberson in GOP U.S. House primary

In addition, the Chronicle endorses Rep. John Culberson, the District 7 incumbent who is seeking a third term in Congress. Culberson has proved himself an effective legislator. He wants to curb illegal immigration and balance the federal budget.

Culberson promises to do a better job of securing transit funds for Houston, and the Chronicle hopes he will act on his word.

There is no Democratic challenger in this west Houston district, so winning the Republican primary is tantamount to winning the November general election.

As is the usual case with the ChronicBile, they boldly stumble forward in their editorial section, not letting any facts cloud their judgement. They also take a nice swipe at my Congressman, "Culberson promises to do a better job of securing transit funds for Houston," implying of course that he hasn't done a good job.

Well, given the last paragraph, everyone who reads this dreck should always, always, double-check anything presented as a fact in the local cat-pan liner.

Hey guys, there is a Democratic candidate in CD07! Why does some chump like me know that and you guys don't?

Friday Baby Blogging

Here are the long-awaited pictures of my two newest nieces, Anabelle and Kyra.



Here's me with the girls, explaining how to calculate optimal Republican voting strength and showing off my 72-hour task force t-shirt. We're starting them young.

CD02 Watch

News 24 Houston: Six Republican candidates vie for votes in 2nd District

Ted Poe, Andrew Fastuca, Mark Henry, Clint Moore, John Nickel and Andrew Bolton.

Chances are you don't recognize most of those U.S. House candidate names, even if you live in their Congressional district -- District 2.

The Communists' Take on Texas

People's Weekly World Newspaper Online: Texans face school crisis

If disastrous trends in Texas portend bad developments in the rest of the nation, as they have since George W. Bush became governor, then Americans should prepare to fight if we want to save public education. Texas schools, like others throughout the nation, are afflicted. The proposed cures being peddled by the GOP, though, are considerably worse than any illness.

Having already rigged the November elections in Texas through redistricting, the state's right-wing legislative majority awaits the March 9 primary elections, in which incumbent officeholders will hide their intentions for the much-delayed special session on school finance. Rampant speculation on their "remedies" is nourished by almost daily "smoke and mirrors" pronouncements from Republican Gov. Rick Perry, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, and Texas House Speaker Tom Craddick.

This all sounds so familiar....

Bears Repeating

The only candidate in the race for 177th District Court who is Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

Storing some code here....

Rob Booth Withdraws from Race

I'm withdrawing as a candidate to be a delegate to the 2004 Republican National Convention in NYC. At our business, our landlord bills us separately for the property taxes and insurance he pays. They went up, and we have to make up the difference for last year.

So, to all you Democrats, and all you weasely Republicans who sabotaged the appraisal cap last legislative session, and to all you trial lawyers and your clients that'll sue someone if they fall down, thanks a lot.

On the positive side, this enables me to be a stalwart supporter of my friend Bob Blackmer's bid to be a delegate for Congressional District 9 to the GOP Convention in New York. That's an easy vote to commit to. Bob's a great guy.

Emily Munoz has updated her web site. And it looks even better. Now go vote for her!

Jost Rocks

Jost finds the coolest stuff: Voter Guide Toolkit 2004. I followed the link and found that the Chronicle is participating. (Note that I'm not ridiculing the local daily, this is way cool.) It lets you create your own ballot and voting cheat sheet. Here's mine, please note that my mind is not made up on every race, so these don't constitute endorsements, yet.

CD09 Watch: Seen Your Video

News 24 Houston: Three candidates competing for 9th Congressional District

Up in Austin, Republican legislators drew the new 9th Congressional District to fulfill requirements in the federal Voting Rights Act.

As a result, African-American voters should dominate at the polls next month. But when the March 9 primary comes around, the voters will have to decide which Democratic candidate will best represent them -- regardless of skin color.

Go buy the album!

BILLBOARD: Squeeze's Difford Goes Solo

Once known as half of the songwriting duo that formed the core of Squeeze, Chris Difford has released his debut solo album. Originally released in late 2002 in the U.K. on the A label, 'I Didn't Get Where I Am' was issued Tuesday in the U.S. by the New York-based independent label DRT.

And sign the dang petition!

Bump

Election: US House: Texas: CD10: John Devine: Questionnaire

CD10 Watch: $2.34 Million? I'll be the cat!

Statesman: Left out in newly drawn district

Houston mortgage company owner Ben Streusand, media-blitzing his way through his first political race, has loaned his campaign $2.34 million, including $1 million reported Friday.

Michael McCaul of Austin, a former federal prosecutor, has loaned his campaign $647,000. McCaul is the son-in-law of Lowry Mays of San Antonio, chairman and chief executive officer of Clear Channel Communications Inc., a dominant media conglomerate.

Dave Phillips of Houston, a lawyer who loaned his campaign $152,000 through the end of last year, will soon report an additional infusion of personal cash, according to campaign manager Cheryl Rowell.

And former state District Judge John Devine of Houston reported loaning his campaign $63,000 through December.

Like I never understood Peter Wareing spending all that money to lose two primaries, I will not understand these guys who spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to get into Congress. Then again, I don't have millions of dollars.

The title of this post is a play on a Ren and Stimpy episode.

CD09: Meet the Candidate Coffee

REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR THE 9TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF TEXAS

When: SATURDAY, February 28, 2004
Time: 9am to 11am
Where: Grace Assembly of Houston Church
14365 Branch Forrest Road
Highway 6 between Richmond and Westpark


Telephone: 281-639-0405

Contact: Pastor Jonker

REFRESHMENTS SERVED

Organizing Committee

Robert Searcy 600
Dorothy Caram
Arthur Peterson Precinct 335
Ed Seale Precinct 291
Gene and Julliette Pack Precinct 286

Thanks.

The "Hyphen" Makes A World of Difference

Liberal 'Logic' Always Makes Me Laugh.....

NEWSMAX: Teresa Heinz Kerry: 'I'm an African American'

First lady-wannabe Teresa Heinz Kerry sometimes describes herself as an "African American," even though she grew up amidst segregated privilege in colonial Mozambique.......

"African-hyphen-American belongs to blacks," Heinz Kerry's spokesman told reporters, insisting that it was proper for his boss to call herself African American as long as no hyphen was used or intended.

CD09 Watch: I Take It Back

AP via FWST: Incumbent faces tough battle in Houston district

On the Republican side, Hassan, who canvasses the district daily to meet people, describes himself as 'a regular guy' who knows rewards come from hard work.

'I am a winner just to be on the ballot as an immigrant,' said Hassan, who came to America in 1980 and became a U.S. citizen four years later. 'I can discuss immigration problems because I know what immigrants go through.'

He said he gets upset when people are broken down according to skin color or ethnicity and that everyone should be considered an equal.

'I am just American, plain American,' he said.

I take back my dismissive comments on Mr. Hassan. What he said is exactly what I think.

Cook on House Seats in Texas

Government Executive Magazine: Power Struggle

In the House, perhaps a dozen districts now count as very competitive. For Democrats, redistricting by the Republican-controlled Texas Legislature put five incumbents in peril: Max Sandlin (TX-01), Nick Lampson (TX-02), Chet Edwards (TX-17), Martin Frost (TX-32), and Charles Stenholm (TX-19). Insiders see Sandlin as the most vulnerable. Frost and Stenholm will each face a Republican incumbent in a heavily Republican district. Frost is pitted against Pete Sessions, and Stenholm against freshman Randy Neugebauer.

Read the whole thing, it's a good nationwide rundown.

CD10 Watch: FWD - An Opportunity to Meet John Devine

Republican Candidate for Congress (New District 10)

Saturday, February 28,2004

10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Surrey Inn Restaurant
(at the intersection of Hwy 21 and Hwy 36)
Caldwell, Texas

For more information, please call 979-596-1054

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Your are invited to come and meet John Devine and hear what he has to say. John Devine is a personal friend, and we cannot think of a better representative for the 10th Congressional District. As District Court Judge, John fought for and won his right to maintain a painting of the Ten Commandments in his courtroom. That is the kind of representative we need in Congress...one who will not only maintain his beliefs, but has the knowledge and strength of character to win important issues.

In closing, please let me state after all is said and done, and all the issues have been weighed we truly feel that John Devine will make the right decisions for this country, The 10th Congressional District, and for all families (yours and mine). We believe John's strong beliefs in family and conservative values will be a real asset for us in the U.S. House of Representatives.

In short, John stands for truth, honesty, integrity, and moral and spiritual positions. We are proud to sponsor John in his campaign for Congress. The winner of this primary will be your representative to U.S.Congress as there will be no opponent in the November election.

MAKE YOUR VOTE COUNT!
Vote in the Republican Primary

Sincerely,

Dennis & Gail Davis
vgdavis1 - at - juno.com
& Bob Vick

But I don't want to live downtown!

MySA.com: Houston's downtown development, light rail system have revamped city's image

The need to coordinate light rail and development grew more pressing last November, when Houston's voters approved a 72-mile expansion of the rail system.

As the nation's only large city without a zoning ordinance, Houston has limited tools with which to shape development.

City planning director Robert Litke said his department is working on an ordinance that could create incentives for transit-oriented development along rail corridors.

He said the city also has begun working with neighborhood coalitions to consider how to plan development along the rail corridors.

Go get 'em Owen.

JP51 Watch: That's one vote down

Houston Chronicle: Williams: A collection of little gems

City Councilman Mark Goldberg won't be able to vote for himself next month in his Republican primary race for justice of the peace.

Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector Paul Bettencourt, the county's voter registrar, said that Goldberg failed to make a timely change of address on his voter registration form.

Goldberg, sworn in for a third term on council last month, is running against incumbent Russ Ridgway for Harris County Justice of the Peace Precinct 5, Place 1. Bettencourt said that on Dec. 31, two days before the candidate filing deadline, Goldberg filed online with the Texas Department of Public Safety for a change of address on his driver's license. The new address put him within Precinct 5's boundaries.

At the same time he changed his driver's license address, Bettencourt said, Goldberg sought five applications for a change of address on his voter registration.

But Bettencourt said he cannot find evidence that Goldberg returned any of the applications to the tax assessor-collector's office.

'The bottom line is, he won't be able to vote for himself,' Bettencourt said.

So, it'll cost you $250,00 if Mark Goldberg wins, he can't vote for himself, and he's a lawyer. Do you need any more reasons to vote for Russ Ridgway? I didn't think so.

CD09 Watch: The Mountain of White Bread

Houston Chronicle: Williams: A collection of little gems

The Houston branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People has complained about advertising U.S. Rep. Chris Bell is doing in his Democratic Party primary race against former Justice of the Peace Al Green.

Yolanda Smith, the branch's executive director, issued a statement last week saying that Bell's radio advertising and mail-outs 'are misleading.'

Smith said her office has received complaints that the advertisements suggest that the NAACP is supporting Bell.

The NAACP does not formally endorse political candidates.

Bell said his advertising never makes such a claim.

It states that Bell received an 'A' rating from the annual NAACP Legislative Report.

To understand that reference, go here.

CD02 Watch: My Kind of Reporter

The Baytown Sun: Experts: Close race likely for Dist. 2 seat

By Ken Fountain

The newly drawn 2nd Congressional District of Texas winds from the Louisiana border in Jefferson County through much of Liberty County and into northern Harris County. Created during last year's bitterly fought redistricting battle in the Texas Legislature, it may prove to have one of the most interesting Texas congressional races this election season.

In Harris County, the district juts south to include the central third of Baytown before terminating in La Porte. Of Baytown's approximately 12,205 active voters (those whose current addresses are on file with the county clerk's office), 52.4 percent reside within the 2nd District. The remaining 47.6 percent reside within the 29th District, whose Democratic incumbent, U.S. Rep. Gene Green, will run unchallenged in November.

This guy is reporting facts. How novel! He'll never get a job at the ChronicBile writing like that. Read the whole thing, he gets an interview with a Rothenberg reporter.

Big! Big! Big!

WaPo: Across the City, Farewell to 'Sex'

In an Adams Morgan bar as silent as a church, with women crowded onto red velvet sofas and sitting cross-legged on the floor, a dozen TV screens were tuned into the final "Sex and the City" episode, and fan Karyn Hillenbrand was yelling at character Carrie Bradshaw.

"No," she hissed as the star of "Sex" promised her debonair boyfriend that she would give up a book party held in her honor to accompany him to his art showing. "No. No. No."

Throughout the bar, the cry echoed: "No!" "Ewww!"

Everyone was rooting against artist Aleksandr Petrovsky and in favor of Big, Carrie's six-year, off-and-on flame, and the question of the night was: Would this final episode of HBO's six-season, Sunday-night tradition finally pair off Carrie with Petrovsky, in Paris, or would she choose independence, New York and her dear, dear friends. Pre-show thinking was that there was no way she'd wind up with the artist, so when she seemed to be uncharacteristically giving up herself for him, the crowd recoiled.

We were happy with the way the series ended up, we liked Big so much we nicknamed one of our cats that. But, better than Big would have been Aiden. Much better for Carrie.

Happy Birthday George Washington!!

One of the great things I enjoyed while growing up in Virginia, is the rich history of early America. You can still see George Washingtons' marks at the Natural Bridge while surveying for Lord Fairfax. This same land was later owned by Thomas Jefferson.

President Washington, thanks for your service, sacrifice and leadership.

CD09 Watch: The Rs

Greg over at Greg's Opinion left the commenting on the GOP side of Congressional District 9 to me. CD09 is a redraw of CD25, represented by Chris Bell. CD25 used to be a bit competitive between Republicans and Democrats, at least that's what the fundraisers told everyone. The new CD09 is solidly Democratic, there's not much excited chatter about it in GOP circles.

So it's surprising that we have two names on the Republican ballot. I haven't spent too much time researching it, I don't have time. Arlette Molina has contacted me because of my blog, has stumped around town, and has signs up in the area. She is optimistic that the district is much more competetive than the numbers show. I'm all for optimism, so I'm happy to see someone take it on.

A Hassan has made no attempt to contact me in any form. A small fee to the county GOP gets you my home phone, address, and e-mail address. I haven't heard anything from him. I assume he's running on a lark, the only thing I've heard about him is that he's shown up at some candidate event wearing a Hawaiian shirt. I wear Hawaiian shirts all the time, they're a great fashion statement for those of us who aren't running for office.

If you're curious about the House District 137 GOP race between Ann Witt and Lee Zieban, go back up and follow the link to Greg's analysis. He's got it pretty well figured out.

Endorsements

For all the folks who will be voting in the Republican Primary in Harris County, here are my endorsements:

Endorsement - Russ Ridgway for Justice of the Peace, Precinct 5, Place 1

Endorsement - Emily Munoz for Ciminal District Court 177

Now Hear This

New feature on Slightly Rough is a project to recruit volunteers for STOMP, a National Republican Congressional Committee project. All good, right-thinking Americans will click on the button below and sign up to help.

Help the Republican team keep Congress!

Feel the Love...

Fort Bend / Southwest Sun: Local GOP feud erupts into a war

The Fort Bend County Republican Party is poised for a major showdown between the party chair Eric Thode and his critics.

The long simmering feud between the two sections has turned into an open warfare with Thode actively seeking to oust his critics in the upcoming precinct chair elections. The precinct chair elections have become more heated than the other elective offices in the county. Notable among the precinct elections is Precinct 3009 in Sugar Creek where Teresa Raia is pitted against Carole Hutchens.
The campaign has taken an ugly turn with both sides claiming the support of State Sen. Kyle Janek and Janek, in turn, stating that he is not taking sides on this race. First, Raia sent a mailer in which Janek's name appeared among supporters.

Carr Should've Blogged

Houston Chronicle: Embattled Metro cop discharged

Metro Police Chief Tom Lambert today discharged Officer Doug Carr, the officer allegedly caught on tape berating an African-American cabdriver during a traffic stop.

'As Metro employees and as police officers we have to show respect to all people,' Lambert said in a statement announcing the dismissal. 'We have a commitment to service, a commitment to our profession and a commitment to earning and keeping the public trust.

'This is a serious violation of those commitments. I feel this action is proper and in the best interests of the department, the profession and the community.'

Carr had been restricted to desk duty after cabdriver Amanuel Hadis, a naturalized citizen from Ethiopa, filed the complaint last week. In the complaint, Hadis claims he recorded a tirade by Carr during a Feb. 9 traffic stop. The voice on the tape says, 'We don't need your kind here. You can go back to where you come from if you don't want to abide by our laws.'

It would given a way to vent his frustrations before he blew his top at the cab driver. Glad he's gone.

Secede!

Charlotte Observer: Hey, DOT: Slow down, look around

People think Atlanta is our future, but that's just near-term. I saw the long view a few weeks ago in Houston.
Houston has one loop about six miles from downtown, a second loop about 15 miles out, and they're talking about building a third loop that would be three times longer than Charlotte's outerbelt.

You won't be surprised to learn that none of this has given Houston drivers a smooth morning commute.

Instead it's all the craziness of Charlotte traffic, squared. Total automotive gridlock one minute, the last lap at Daytona the next. Don't change lanes until you've updated your last will and testament.

We have all this to look forward to. If we don't get turned into roadkill first.

So here's my solution: Stop.

Put all those road crews to work filling potholes and painting stripes. Use the construction money to feed the hungry and help people find jobs. The state could even -- here's a concept -- give some of the cash back to the taxpayers.

We need to secede from the Union so we can keep people like Mr. Tomlinson from being able to immigrate here.

Voters Guide News

Just received my voters guide from the Free Market Foundation. There are a couple of note worthy items to point out.

In the open seats of CD-02 & CD-10, all candidates responded except for Mark Henry, John Kelley & Michael McCaul.

To me, this isn't a smart move when you are trying get some name recognition. Kelly Shackelford of Free Market Foundation is prominent on the state & national airwaves (especially with 2 Houston area radio stations running his program) as champion of Christian conservative values. I think they are giving away votes simply by not responding to the questionaire.

In the CD-09 race, there is a clear difference of issues between Republican candidates A.R. Hassan & Arlette Molina.

• Missile Defense----------------------- Hassan = Opposed ------------Molina = Strongly Favors


• Sexual Orientation Protection----- Hassan = Favors ---------------Molina = Opposed


• Human Cloning----------------------- Hassan = Favors ---------------Molina = Strongly Opposed


• Gun Waiting Period------------------ Hassan = Favors ---------------Molina = Opposed


• Replace Tax Code-------------------- Hassan = Undecided ----------Molina = Strongly Favors


• School Choice------------------------- Hassan = Undecided ----------Molina = Strongly Favors


• Federal Marriage Ammendment--- Hassan = Undecided ----------Molina = Strongly Favors


• Rolling Back Tax Cuts--------------- Hassan = Undecided -----------Molina = Opposed

Memo to HRC

Houston Voice Online: ‘The Garden of Even’ is the theme of HRC Gala

Cheryl Jacques, national president and executive director of the Human Rights Campaign will be the keynote speaker at HRC’s Houston Gala Saturday, March 20 at the Inter-Continental Houston Hotel.

[snip]

In a year when gay marriage is being debated at national, state and local levels, the theme of the gala is “The Garden of Even.”

The gala moved to the InterContinental Houston Hotel because the event has steadily increased in size from year to year. Organizers said in spite of more space this year, the event is certain to sell out.

In addition to Jacques, other speakers will include Mitchell Katine, a Houston attorney who helped bring the Lawrence versus Texas case to the U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Rep. Chris Bell and Houston City Controller Annise Parker.

I don't think that changing around Biblical references in a cutesy way is going to make things go better between you all and the evangelical community. Maybe it's just me.

But, you all have a swell time. It's not my scene, so I won't be dropping in, but you all have fun.

The Problem: Courting Moderates at the Expense of your Base

Karl Rove already received an earful on January 29th at the Republican retreat. I wonder if he is getting the message???

Washington Times: Evangelicals Frustrated with Bush

"If there is a rerun of 2000, when an estimated 6 million fewer evangelical Christians voted than in the pivotal year of 1994, then the Bush ticket will be in trouble, especially if there is no [Ralph] Nader alternative to draw Democratic votes away from the Democratic candidate,"

Religious right leaders say their constituents aren't likely to defect to the Democrats.

"What is at issue here is, will our folks be AWOL when it comes time for the election because they are just not energized and motivated?" said Family Research Council President Tony Perkins. "Social conservatives coalesce around strong leadership. That's what motivates and energizes them. And on their core issues, the leadership from the White House is not there right now."

American Family Association founder Don Wildmon said the president "has already upset the economic conservatives, and I know the problem he is having with evangelicals. ... There is a major problem there."

Song of the Day: Parents by Chris Difford

oh how they danced
oh how they cried
they got so many dreams
silence is ours
each image that fades
returns like a moon
my children look on
as I'm looking back
they see in my eyes
oh how he dances
oh he cries
he's got so many dreams in his eyes

One of the greatest songwriters ever, Chris Difford was the man behind Squeeze's lyrics. His solo album, I Didn't Get Where I Am, was recently released in the US and I heartily recommend you purchase it. It's a bit of a departure from the musical style that defined Squeeze. It's mellower and more reflective, but since he and I are getting older, it seems right.

If you don't get tears in your eyes after hearing Parents, then you have no soul.

We're number two....

American Highway Users Alliance: HOUSTON HOME TO TWO OF AMERICA'S WORST TRAFFIC BOTTLENECKS

Updated Report Also Touts City's Success at Uncorking a Previously Ranked Chokepoint; Congress Urged to Fund Improvements That Save Lives, Cut Air Pollution and Reduce Delays

WASHINGTON, DC - As Congressional debate continues on long-overdue highway legislation needed to fund road and bridge improvement projects, a new report is sparking added urgency by ranking the nation's worst highway bottlenecks, including two in the Houston metropolitan area.

The report, an update of a study originally conducted in 1999, now ranks the I-610 West Loop/I-10 interchange as America's second-worst traffic bottleneck -- up from a #15 ranking in 1999 -- blaming the site for more than 25 million hours of traffic delay each year. It also identifies the I-45/US-59 interchange as the #20 ranked bottleneck in the country. Besides highlighting severe delays, the update specifically quantifies how these and other traffic chokepoints burden the public with degraded safety, worsened air quality and wasted fuel consumption.

The rich are different....

FOXNews.com: Wealthy Candidates Tout Populist Message

WASHINGTON - John Edwards and John Kerry are trying to appeal to the common man with their populist notions and messages on the campaign trail, but the two multi-millionaires don't live like most Americans.

The top Democratic presidential hopefuls both own mansions in tony Georgetown, the Washington, D.C., neighborhood known for its prime real estate and high-end fashion boutiques.

On one historic cobblestone street lives Edwards, whose 184-year-old, 13-room home is valued at $3.8 million. About a block away is the residence where Kerry lives, a 104-year-old, four-story home with 23 rooms that is conservatively estimated to be worth $4.3 million.

13 rooms and 23 rooms? That's the weird part of these huge houses I never understand. What in the heck are you going to do with 23 rooms? If you had over 10 kids, I could see, but don't these Senators have grown kids or like one or two?

I don't begrudge them having that many rooms, knock yourselves out. But what do you do with all the rooms?

It's the count that counts....

AP Wire: Number Needed to Win Democrat Nod Changes

WASHINGTON - The ever-changing number of delegates that a Democratic presidential candidate needs to secure the party's nomination has changed again.

The number again stands at 2,162 delegates - up from 2,161 - after Democrat Ben Chandler won a special election Tuesday for a U.S. House seat in Kentucky.

It also boosts the number of total delegate votes at the party's convention in Boston this summer to 4,322, also up one. A candidate needs a simple majority of the total delegate votes to win the nomination.

Currently, John Kerry leads the delegate race with 613, more than triple John Edwards' tally of 192. Al Sharpton has 16 and Dennis Kucinich two.

Stop it! You're killing me!

Houston Press: Hair Balls

Marketplace of Ideas

Attending a meeting of the Houston Chronicle's editorial board might seem like torture to some, but apparently there are a lot of masochists out there.

River Oaks Elementary had its annual fund-raising auction recently, and item 7097 was a chance to meet with the Chron's editorial board. 'This is a coveted thing by potential politicians, corporations and non-profits,' the item read.

James Campbell, the paper's ombudsman and a River Oaks parent, was the donor. He ombudsmanly assures us auction winners won't get a guaranteed endorsement of their position.

But it doesn't sound like they receive much else: 'All the winner gets,' Campbell says, 'is a chance to sit in on a Chronicle editorial board meeting of their choosing and listen to the discussion.' (Be still our hearts -- the drama, the palpable tension as the board decides whether this is the week to heartily endorse rail again or instead just heartily endorse NASA. Again.)

The winning bid was $350, by someone we couldn't reach. But we hope they get their money's worth.

Man there are so many petty abusive things to write about this. My head is spinning. I have to sit down. Sorry.

CD02 Watch

Houston Chronicle: GOP candidates take aim at Bush over immigration

President Bush's proposed immigration policy was a target Wednesday during a forum of Republican candidates for the 2nd Congressional District, who said the plan is too lax on illegal immigrants in Texas.

The comments ranged from dismissal of the Bush plan by Houston police officer John Nickell to guarded criticism from former Judge Ted Poe, who said the United State should beef up efforts to improve the economy in Mexico to keep workers in that country.

But none of the six Republican candidates in the March 9 primary for the newly drawn district supported the party's president on the issue.

CD02 Watch

Cleveland Advocate: Forum promises full slate of candidates

By: TRISH JONES, Advocate Staff WriterFebruary 17, 2004

Cleveland will host some of the biggest names in state politics this Thursday night, as a bipartisan open candidate forum is expected to attract candidates running for federal, state and county offices.
Sponsored by the Liberty County News, part of the Cleveland Advocate group of newspapers, the Open Candidate Forum will be held at the Family Life Center of First Baptist Church, 400 West Hanson in Cleveland. A gumbo supper, catered by Pappy's BBQ of Dayton, will be served at 5:30 p.m. for $6 per plate. Candidates will be on hand at that time to mingle with citizens on an informal basis. The actual forum will begin at 6:15 p.m. with candidate introductions, platform statements, and questions asked by a seated panel and audience members.

One of the most-watched races in the state of Texas - that of the newly redistricted 2nd Congressional District contest for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives - has pulled in six Republican candidates and one Democrat, and all seven candidates have stated their intention to attend the Cleveland forum.

The Great Rail Disaster: Link via Tom Bazan

Storm in the West

Fort Bend/Southwest Sun: Fort Bend GOP leader on the offensive

The Fort Bend County Republican Party has had minor hiccups in the past, but the fight for the control of the party has never been so contentious.

Though Thode had raised the ire of a section of the party in the past by endorsing some candidates in the primaries, and has worked even against the incumbents, no one has challenged his authority seriously.

That's an order!

All enlisted and former enlisted personnel, go read this: kewlstuff : The 213 Things Skippy is No Longer Allowed to Do in the U.S. Army

If you need a reason to go, here's a sample of what you'll read:

• The MP checkpoint is not an Imperial Stormtrooper roadblock, so I should not tell them "You don't need to see my identification, these are not the droids you are looking for."
• The proper response to a chemical weapon attack is not ‘Tell my chain of command what I really think about them, and then poke holes in their masks.'
• Claymore mines are not filled with yummy candy, and it is wrong to tell new soldiers that they are.

I laughed till I cried, then I laughed till it hurt, then I had to stop reading from the pain of laughing. Link via metafilter.

Score One for the Good Guys

I was really afraid that the ChronicBile would endorse Emily Munoz for judge. What in the heck would I write? That the local daily somehow stumbled onto the truth? Well, it didn't happen.

Houston Chronicle: For Anderson: In GOP primary for 177th Criminal District Court

I'm sure that the nice things about Ms. Anderson they write are true and she's a good candidate. But now she has to wear the albatros of being the ChronicBile's choice. That'll go over real well at Harris County GOP precinct chair meetings.

So, I'd like to reiterate a bit about my endorsement of Ms. Munoz. "Fairness" is being able to see both sides of an argument and not favoring one side over another. Ms. Munoz has experience on both sides of the courtroom, both as a prosecutor and as a defense attorney. Ms. Anderson has spent many years as a prosecutor. The choice to me is clear.

Go with the candidate with the richer experience. Please vote for Emily Munoz in the GOP primary for 177th Criminal District Court.

I'm Torn

WaPo: In Texas, a New Twist On Partisan Politics

SAN ANTONIO -- A tornado of media coverage has descended on the race for Texas's 20th Congressional District, training its full might and fury on a divorced San Antonio marriage counselor with no staff, no experience in electoral politics and a campaign war chest of $150.

'I do everything myself,' said Becky Whetstone, who has declared her candidacy as an independent aiming to unseat Rep. Charlie Gonzalez, the Democratic incumbent who happens to be her ex-husband.

I'm a Republican. But I've been divorced before too. What to do? What to do?

Here's her site.

United Republicans have come out with endorsements for the 2004 Primary. I agree with most, disagree with one, and am confused on one. Obviously, they should have endorsed Emily Munoz but they didn't. And why not Ann Witt?

Hi There Sailor

Pravda.RU: Vladimir Putin sails out aboard submarine

President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation is now sailing the Arkhangelsk SSBN (Strategic Submarine Ballistic Nuclear).

The Russian leader flew over to Murmansk February 16, with Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov meeting Putin at the airport. Ivanov told the Commander-In-Chief that the North fleet's elements, as well as those of the Strategic Missile Force and the Space Force, were ready to conduct the strategic headquarters exercise's active phase.

[snip]

The Commander-In-Chief will stay aboard the Arkhangelsk until noon February 16, observing the North fleet exercise; the Arkhangelsk is also involved in this headquarters exercise.

The Arkhangelsk ranks among other third-generation heavy-duty Mk 941 Akula (Shark)-class SSBN-s (NATO reporting name, Typhoon).

There's something not quite right about that last line. ABC News is reporting that it's a Typhoon boomer, which sounds right. Akula is a NATO designator for an attack sub, could it also be the Soviet/Russian name for a class of ballistic missile boat? Man, that's confusing.

He then entered another tent, which contained submarine-crew rations, i.e. juices, fresh vegetables, fruits, wine, eggs, dairy products, caviar, Caspian roach, as well as canned meat and fish.

I like caviar, even the red. But what in blazes is Caspian roach?

Update My friend Dmitriy reports that "roach" is a type of fish. And sure enough, in my Katzner dictionary, there it is: ïëîòâà èëè òàðàíü

Jon Matthews Update: February 2004

Alert reader Pat e-mailed in to remind me that I had written here that Jon Matthews was scheduled for a court date on February 2nd. Did I know what happened?

Well, I don't know exactly, but Pat and I did some sleuthing and we found the following out:

• Jon Matthews' case number is 39007 and his case is being heard in the 268th District Court in Fort Bend County.


• Fort Bend County does not have criminal court case info online.


• You can get criminal court case info from a public computer in Room 100 of the Fort Bend County Courthouse in Richmond.


• Jon Matthews did have some kind of court date on Feb. 2, but we're not quite clear on what happened. It may have just been getting an extension, because he is now set for "pre-trial" on April 5. I assume this means when the court will hear pre-trial motions.

If there's anyone who has any solid info on this case and would like to pass it along, please feel free. It seems that there has been a lack of coverage on this after the inital flurry of the "accusations" stories.

My number one hit by search terms continues to be Jon Matthews, but I'm sorry I don't have any new reporting to point you to. I guess we'll have to do our own reporting. If there's anyone in Richmond/Rosenberg who would like to go to the trial and send in some stories, I'll give you a byline. The only thing I won't allow to be published on this site is the accuser's name.

I've set a reminder to check on April 5th and see what happens with the court appearance. If you don't see anything in here around that date, shoot me an e-mail (subs-AT-robbooth.net) to remind me to call. Thanks.

Important disclaimer: Everything I know about the law I learned from The Practice on ABC and Law and Order. If those shows aren't accurate as to court procedure I'm in big trouble.

Êðàñíàÿ Çâåçäà is the Russian-language military newspaper. Set your encoding to Cyrillic (Windows).

CD31 Watch

Stephenville Empire Tribune: Riddle sees no traditional incumbent in 31st District

Wes Riddle, a retired Army officer with degrees from West Point and Oxford, says the Republican primary for District 31 Congressman is a two-man race between himself and current Congressman John Carter, but he doesn’t view his opponent as an incumbent in the traditional sense.

“How many of you voted for him last time?” he asked a gathering at the home of Ben and Nellie Baty in Stephenville Saturday afternoon.

After the Texas Legislature finalized redistricting last year, the 31st District which Carter represents was spun almost 180 degrees. The district had extended from Williamson County to Houston; now it goes from Williamson County to Erath County.

“He’s the incumbent for the old District 31,” Riddle said. “I have a lot of nerve, but I wouldn’t have the nerve to advertise for ‘re-election’ in this new district. Nobody in Texas or America inherits a position. I see this as akin to an open race for a new position.”

Told You So!

See this?

LA CROSSE, Wis. (AP) — Struggling Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean revealed Monday that national campaign chairman Steve Grossman has departed, but the former Vermont governor would not disclose the circumstances surrounding the change.

Remember this from December? Move over Mr. Russert.

Song of the Day: What Would Brian Boitano Do?

lyrics

So what would Brian Boitano do
If he were here today,
I'm sure he'd kick an ass or two,
That's what Brian Boitano'd do.

Every once in a while I find myself singing this song for no apparent reason.

The Zoning That Dare Not Speak Its Name

The Sentinel: Should The Free Market Decide?

Houston, like many cities, is changing fast, and not just because of the Super Bowl. By 2025, low to moderate income Hispanics will be the majority in a city swelled to two million people, according to Rice University sociologist Stephen Klineberg.

At the same time, Houston, because of its laissez-faire, free market traditions, is the only major American city that has no real zoning. And so, to help it nonetheless devise some sort of plan for the expected influx of immigrants, it has hired the Washington, D.C. architect and writer Roger Lewis.

Everyone agrees that they shouldn't ghetto-ize immigrants in 'projects,' said Lewis. But in Houston, zoning is considered a 'communist conspiracy,' he said.

'Instead of the 'Z' word they use the 'D' word density implementing density where it makes sense, around transit stops,' he said. The first leg of a light rail line was constructed to link downtown with the football stadium. Lewis hopes it will act as a catalyst 'to do the right thing.'

Caught y'all! So, Owen was right. They are trying to use light rail to sneak in zoning. What a bunch of Communists!

Some of these folks I'll allow back...

MSNBC: City puts on good game face for Super Bowl

Close to 3,000 of those visitors were journalists, so the Houston Business Journal asked a collection of visiting media for their impressions of the city. The hope was that these media types, sometimes known to be cynical and straightforward, would provide a good indication as to how the city really performed.

Read down to see the out-of-state journalists comment on Houston.

Running for Spoiler the Hard Way

From Politics1

NADER ON VERGE OF FOURTH RUN?

According to close associates of former Green Party Presidential nominee Ralph Nader, he is leaning heavily in favor of announcing his Independent candidacy in the coming days. Nader plans to make his decision -- one way or the other -- within the next two weeks. Nader had suggested in interviews that he would not run in 2004 if either Kucinich or Dean won the Democratic nomination, as he believed they had adopted views somewhat similar to his own. With those two now out of contention, Nader is ready to make a fourth White House run. Nader ran as a Democrat in the 1992 NH primary, as a Green in 1996 and 2000, and now plans to run as an Independent in 2004. Without running under the Green banner, Nader will have no automatic ballot status anywhere. Instead, he'll have to create an organization that pays filing fees and/or collects enough valid signatures in each state to secure a spot on the ballot.

Gimme or Else

Click2Houston.com: House Votes To Close Texas Teacher Loophole

WASHINGTON -- Congress has overwhelmingly voted to close a loophole that has let thousands of Texas educators collect both a teacher pension and Social Security spousal benefits by working as little as one day as a clerk or janitor.

The bill cleared the House 402-19 on Wednesday. Eighteen votes against it came from Texas lawmakers, most of them Democrats.

The measure, which passed the Senate by voice vote Dec. 9, was designed to crack down on fraud by people who manage the affairs of Social Security beneficiaries unable to keep track of their own finances.

The bill now goes to President Bush, who is expected to sign it into law.

Teachers' groups and Democrats in Texas' congressional delegation said the move cuts off widows from benefits that their husbands earned in the private sector. They predicted a wave of retirements before the change takes effect this summer.

I had a lot of sympathy for the teachers in this situation until I went to a townhall meeting that Congressman Culberson held for them. It's a confusing issue and there's a lot of bad info floating around. In some cases I think the teachers have a point.

That is, until Congressman Culberson put one question to them. "If I could get you everything you want, but it meant that Social Security would go broke, would you still want me to get you everything you think is fair?"

The answer was a resounding "Who cares if it goes broke."

I was stunned. Speaking as someone who will most likely never see one thin dime of the Social Security taxes I've paid become benefits, they lost a lot/all of my sympathy.

Houston Chronicle: Metro train hits truck downtown

It Seems Like Everything's Gone Wrong Since Canada Came Along

Yahoo! News: Canada Condemns 'Racist' Conan O'Brien TV Show

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada's government on Friday condemned a show by U.S. late-night television host Conan O'Brien that insulted people in French-speaking Quebec and seemed to suggest everyone in the province was homosexual.

With all their beady little eyes
And flappin heads so full of lies

Link for the Lefties

Here you you all go: Texas' Favorite Prostitutes

Don't say I never gave you anything.

You can't handle the truth!

The link to this site, The Truth About Kevin Eltife, came from Byron. In addition to not liking little smears of this type, I really don't like it when people try to be anonymous about it. So, let's go take a look at who is the person behind the site:

Registrant:
Ian King (CTLGDN-310052)
654 Hoosier Ln.
Navasota, TX 77868
US

Domain: TRUTHABOUTKEVINELTIFE.COM
Status: ACTIVE

Administrative Contact:
Ian King (310074) jameshernandez1970@hotmail.com
979574

Weird that the name of the registrant and the e-mail address are so different. I'll keep digging.

To be quite honest, if you put Eltife's and Sadler's name in front of me yesterday and asked me which was the Democrat and which was the Republican, I'd be lucky to get the answer right.

Update 1 There's no one listed in people.yahoo.com named Ian King in Navasota. No James Hernandez either.

Vouchers: Scaring Whites with Minority Influx???

Black Commentator: New Scheme to Sell Suburbanites on School Vouchers: Scaring whites with taxes and fears of minority influx

• What is conspicuous by its absence?? There is absolutely NO mention of concern for the students (or parents). None...Zip...Nada...
  
  
• The concern is about the teachers' unions losing power & influence.
  
  
• I would hardly call New Jersey, Washington D.C. & Milwaukee bastions of the 'Hard Right'. In fact how many conservative politicians hold office there?
  
  
• I think the author needs some racial sensitivity training...... "Rich, white masters", Rod Paige as a "Sugar Daddy", "Whites fear minority Influx".....

DLI Watch

MontereyHerald.com: Base closure criteria rankle Farr

New Slightly Rough Feature

I'm introducing a new feature here called Who's Really a Dem? What we'll do is go through GOP primary races and check out candidates' contribution history. Let's see who's running for Congress now as a Republican and recently gave money to Democrats.

Why would we do this? Because I can be a jerk at times. And frankly, because I'm one of those guys who walks door-to-door for candidates and does all kinds of grunt work. In a few years I don't want some millionaire on the phone asking for my endorsement when right now he's writing big checks for the other guys.

Let's start our show in Congressional District 10. Using a nice little web site named Open Secrets, we find that candidate Ben Streusand gave $500 to Congressman Ken Bentsen in 2000. In fact it was November 6, which by my calendar was the day before the election. I'm sure all the volunteers who went out knocking doors for the Republican GOTV effort would be glad to hear about this one.

So, let's dig a little further back. Open Secrets starts out with the three most recent cycles. If we go search in 1992 and 1994, we see that Ben Streusand gave $1,750 to Robert "Bob" Krueger, who ran for the Senate against Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison.

Well, that's the results of CD10. In fairness to Mr. Streusand, he has given a lot of money to Republican candidates and committees over the years. So I could forgive him.

But I'll still publish it on the web site.

CD02 Watch: Fastuca?

Daily Kos: House Races Around the Country: The South, Part Two

In TX-2, Nick Lampson also faces six GOPers, the frontrunner being George Fastuca, former Enron executive. Lampson has the same problems that Sandlin has, so I also give him a 35-40% chance of survival.

Now I know, no one really knows how these primaries are going, but Fastuca? I'd call him a dark horse. Poe and Moore have got the name ID and the connections, in that order.

Link via OTK.

Washington Times: Conservatives call for probe

Conservative judicial groups yesterday asked for a criminal investigation into possible collusion between Democrats and special-interest groups as claimed by a top Senate Republican's former staffer.

The investigation request made to the Department of Justice is based on an ethics complaint filed by Manuel Miranda, whose work for Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, Tennessee Republican, concentrated on judicial nominations.

Mr. Miranda filed the complaint before resigning his position last week amid the investigation into how internal Democratic memos outlining the suspected collusion were obtained and eventually published in The Washington Times and Wall Street Journal.

The letter to the Justice Department, from a consortium of 23 conservative groups headed by Coalition for a Fair Judiciary, comes just days after several Democratic senators suggested to reporters that criminal charges might be filed against Republican staffers who accessed their computer files.

The groups, such as Coalition for a Fair Judiciary, which posted the Democratic memos on its Web site, have been trying to shift the focus away from the manner in which the memos were obtained to the content.

Color Me Lightgoldenrodyellow

you are lightgoldenrodyellow #FAFAD2

Your dominant hues are red and green, so you're definately not afraid to get in and stir things up. You have no time for most people's concerns, you'd rather analyze with your head than be held back by some random 'gut feeling'. Your saturation level is very low - you have better things to do than jump headfirst into every little project. You make sure your actions are going to really accomplish something before you start because you hate wasting energy making everyone else think you're working. Your outlook on life is bright. You see good things in situations where others may not be able to, and it frustrates you to see them get down on everything.

the spacefem.com html color quiz

"

I Confess

Rocky Mount Telegram: Ala. Guard Dentist Doesn't Recall Bush

The White House released dental records intended to support President Bush's account of his Air National Guard service in Alabama, while several members of the Guard unit said in interviews they don't remember ever seeing Bush at their Montgomery base.

Nor does the dentist specifically recall treating Bush.

Before this all comes out if I run for office someday, I can't remember the name of the nurse who gave me my shots upon entering Navy boot camp in San Diego in 1990.

I also can't remember the name of the officer who administered the oath to us, the name of the petty officer who drove us from the airport to boot camp, and I can't remember the name of the first guy who was our Recruit Company Commander (recruit in charge).

I hope this doesn't come back to haunt me.

CD18 Watch

Tom Bazan is leaning toward running against Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee as an Independent.

John WorldPeace has an online journal.

Happy Birthday President Lincoln

From the daily calendar, The Glory of America, Marshall & Manuel, 1999.

February 12

As the visitor reaches the top step of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., he suddenly meets the gaze of the majestic figure sitting there. Never has he seen in a statue eyes so solemn, so understanding.... On this day in 1809, Abraham Lincoln was born. During the darkest days of the Civil War, a minister said to the 16th President that he hoped the Lord was on their side. Lincoln thought for a moment before replying:

"I am not at all concerned about that, for I know that the Lord is always on the side of the right." He paused. "But it is my constant anxiety and prayer that I - and this nation - should be on the Lord's side."*

*Carpenter, Frank B. Six Months at the White House, 1866. pg 125.

CD02 Watch: Judge Poe in the News

Lake Houston Sun: Poe to deliver speech on Texas history

Slightly Rough Reverses Position

Houston Chronicle: Dean: Kerry part of 'corrupt political culture' in D.C.

MILWAUKEE -- Seizing on a fresh report about the financing of critical ads, Democrat Howard Dean assailed front-runner John Kerry on Wednesday for being part of 'the corrupt political culture in Washington.'

Struggling to right his winless campaign, Dean focused on the disclosure that former Sen. Bob Torricelli, who now raises money for Kerry, donated $50,000 to an independent group that ran controversial ads in three early-voting states.

Now I think Gov. Dean is a very smart man and I respect his opinion greatly. Torricelli is involved in the Kerry campaign?

YCT Delivers a Surprise or Two

Young Conservatives of Texas: YCT Announces Congressional Primary Endorsements

District 2: Clint Moore
District 10: Michael McCaul

I'm happy to see the endorsement of Clint, he works his tail off for the party and that doesn't get noticed enough. Nothing against Judge Poe, but good for Clint.

I'd a thunk that Judge John Devine would be the man for YCT. I wonder why they went for McCaul? Well, McCaul is working hard and impressed some people in Harris County, but Devine has the better web site.

I don't have a horse in either race.

Please Stay in Boston

Boston.com: Romney favoring public transit

Romney said he favors public transit over new or widened highways that promote sprawl-style development, citing his recent visit to Houston for the Super Bowl as an 'eyeful' and an example of 'what happens when you don't have zoning. We don't want to see strip mall after strip mall. We want to see lovely town centers and villages.'

Read: I want other people to live the way I want them to, not the way they actually want to.

Downtown Houston Revitalization - My Contribution

For the third time in less than a week, I have been in downtown Houston. An absolutely remarkable string of events, considering that only one of the visits was the result of legal compulsion. Last night, my parents, some friends, Michelle, and I saw The Producers down at the Hobby Center.

It's my kind of musical, it insults gays, Nazis, Jews, old people, people with speech impediments, lesbians, German-Americans, Swedes, fat people, Broadway producers, and the American public in general. Don't go if you're thin-skinned or politically correct.

I don't want to ruin it for anyone who hasn't seen it, but make sure to watch the dancing swastika during the Springtime for Hitler musical number. It's fabulous.

Rotting from the head...

Houston Chronicle: Cabdriver accuses officer of verbal attack With audio

A Houston cabdriver from Ethiopia has filed a complaint with Metropolitan Transit Authority police, alleging that he recorded a Metro officer cursing him repeatedly during a traffic stop and telling him to 'go back where you come from ... '

A copy of the audiotape obtained by the Houston Chronicle appears to capture Officer Doug Carr berating Central Cab Co. driver Amanuel Hadis during a tirade at a downtown intersection Monday morning.

'We don't need your kind here,' Carr tells Hadis, a naturalized U.S. citizen. 'You can go back to where you come from if you don't want to abide by our laws. You understand me?'

The responsibility for this starts right with the METRO board, who put out a rude and insulting ad by the METRO police chief. The chief is also responsible, by berating the citizens of Houston with his "People, what part of being safe don't you understand" diatribe in said ad, he set the tone for the officers under his command.

Finally, this officer is ultimately responsible for his own conduct and should never work as a peace officer ever again. I haven't listened to the tape, but I read the transcript. If it is accurate, heads need to roll at METRO. This is disgusting that this officer, whose job it is to protect and serve, decided to treat anyone in this manner.

Should have been done a long time ago....

US News & World Report: Delay Says Stuff A Ham Hock In It

After suffering through weeks of whining from both sides of the aisle about bloated budgets and deficits, House Majority Leader Tom DeLay is pushing a remarkable reform aimed squarely at double-talking lawmakers who regularly feast at the trough while decrying overspending. From now on, he says, all pork projects must be "justified."

Carter Country Debacle

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Georgia Democrats Redistricting Shot Down

Legislature given until March 1 to redraw maps

Just the messenger...

Got this in an e-mail today. I don't know how accurate the information on the page is, but I sure liked the name of the group.

More Important Than Politics

My Big Fat Obnoxious Fiance is gettting funnier and funnier every week. The premise: Girl meets guy on a reality TV show. They have to convince her parents that they've fallen in love and will be married in three days. If they get the parents to attend the ceremony, they split $1,000,000. The kicker? He's an actor and his job is to be such a jerk that he sabotages the plan.

So, there's a guy getting drunk, burping, and being a loud uncouth jerk to a woman and getting paid for it. Man, I did that for free for many years in the Navy. Where's my check?

Presidential Heights

The PHI is no joke, it's a very real phenomenon. See The Tall Man. If Sen. Kerry is the candidate, either President Bush has to pull off another Electoral College upset or start wearing lifts. I think we're in trouble.

Dean to go Green? FWIW:

The American Spectator

Former Vermont Gov. Howie Dean and his advisers are looking into options that would allow him to run for president on the Green Party ticket should he fail in his bid to wrench the Democratic nomination away from Sen. John Kerry.

Dean had been looking at the Green Party long before his campaign caught fire. As early as late last summer, Dean was considering the Greens as an option, particularly because at the time Ralph Nader, the Green nominee in 2000, appeared less interested in a run.

Everybody talks about this sort of thing happening every presidential cycle, I don't know how reliable this is. Ah, but let's feed the rumor mill.

Space City Funk is the next K.C. and the Sunshine Band.

OK, disclaimer, the singer is a friend.

I do my part for the future of our country...

I'm back from jury duty. Here in Harris County, they assign you a number and then call groups of numbers out to serve as a potential jury in the various courts. About 75% of the people there got assigned to go to one of the courts. I don't know how many actually got assigned to a jury.

They didn't even call my number. I sat in the jury assembly room for about three hours, playing Snake on my cell phone. They had CNN on the TVs, that helped a little bit.

They let us go at around 3:00. I donated my huge juror's pay ($6) to a victims compensation fund. Call me Mr. Altruism.

Jury Duty Links

Before I went off to see that Justice and Liberty are preserved in our county, I came across some blogging on jury duty. Here are some links:

Paranoid Network Intruder Ministries: Jury Duty: It's the Law

The Yellow Doggerel Democrat

Off the Kuff

I'm probably in the same boat as a lot of people. I'd love to sit on a jury, but it would probably negatively impact my job situation and income. So, while I'm excited at the romantic notion of being picked, common sense is telling me to be happy not to be picked.

This is the first time I've had jury duty in my life. I was exempt in the military and it's taken 4 years for Harris County to pick me.

Song of the Day: The Replacements - I'll Be You

Well, I laughed half the way to Tokyo
I dreamt I was Surfer Joe
An' what that means, I don't know

A dream too tired to come true
Left a rebel without a clue
And I'm searching for somethin' to do

And if it's just a game
Then we'll hold hands just the same
So what, we're bleeding but we ain't cut

And I could purge my soul perhaps
For the imminent collapse
Oh yeah, I'll tell you what we could do
You be me for a while
I'll be you

And the song of the day for the next while will be songs on Don't Tell A Soul from The Replacements. My trusty 1994 Toyota Corolla (173,000 miles) has decided that it likes the cassette and is keeping it in the player.

So, Don't Tell A Soul joins the list of cassettes that have gotten stuck in my tape players over the years. The two that come to mind are Down on the Drag by Joe Ely and Afoot by Let's Active.

AP via Aberdeen News: Russell Means says he will back Thune in Senate race

RAPID CITY, S.D. - Republican John Thune has received the backing of American Indian activist Russell Means as Thune challenges Democratic Sen. Tom Daschle in this year's election.

'I'm going to work with Sen. Thune's staff and the state Republican Party, and that will open doors to work with the National Republican Party to completely change Indian policy in America,' Means said.

He made the announcement Wednesday during a Pennington County Republican luncheon, where he declared himself a 'Lakota Libertarian Republican.'

Houston's new motto is...

Houston Chronicle: Area briefs

Driver ticketed for colliding with train

A 71-year-old Angleton man turned his vehicle left, colliding with a MetroRail train in the Texas Medical Center, the 11th collision since rail testing began last fall.

Metro spokesman Ken Connaughton said Charles Barker was northbound on Fannin approaching Dryden about noon Tuesday when he illegally attempted to turn left from the center lane, reserved for straight-ahead traffic. The northbound train was carrying about 15 passengers, Connaughton said. There were no injuries, he said.

Metro police cited Barker for making an illegal left turn, which carries a $205 fine when a collision is involved. It's also illegal to turn left at that intersection when a red X sign indicates a train is approaching, Connaughton noted.

...No Left Turn!

Thanks for visiting!

Salisbury Post Online: Clean air or else

'We are in this together,' McCrory tells crowd at environmental meeting

By Mark Wineka, Salisbury Post

Fresh from his trip to the Super Bowl to pull for his home team, Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory said don't go there -- Houston, that is.
The only land-use planning Houston employs is to make sure strip clubs are at least 500 feet away from schools. Otherwise, it's a development free-for-all, a sprawling city congested with traffic, McCrory said.

He and a friend drove from one side of the city to the other, and it took an hour-and-a-half.

McCrory said forget Charlotte's age-old concerns of not wanting to become another Atlanta.

'I don't want us to become Houston.' he said.

McCrory gave his description of Houston as a reminder for his Salisbury audience at Catawba College Wednesday night. Salisbury and Rowan County, whether residents here like it or not, are part of the Charlotte region.

Texas Legislators Speak at AFL-CIO Gathering

People's Weekly World: Texas labor pledges to 'do more in 2004'

DALLAS – More than 400 delegates to the Texas AFL-CIO Committee on Political Education convention last week vowed to make their number one priority the re-election of four Texas congressman whose districts were gerrymandered. They also vowed to "do more in '04" to drive the radical right wing out of office at both the state and federal level and to ensure that any new administration that takes over in 2005 makes the working family agenda its number one priority.

The convention opened with a panel explaining how the right wing has seized and consolidated power since 2001. Florida State Sen. Anthony Hill, an African American labor leader from both the International Longshoremen’s Association and the Service Employees International Union, described how Republicans illegally barred African Americans from voting in Florida in the 2000 presidential elections and used fear and intimidation to prevent a recount of Florida’s votes.

Texas House member Jim Dunnam (D-Waco) retold the story of how Republican Speaker of the House Tom DeLay masterminded the radical right's takeover of the Texas State Legislature and ordered them to redraw congressional districts in order to send at least seven new Republicans to Washington. They did so obediently, and thought that it would be a simple matter to win passage. But Democrats, said Dunnam, recognizing that the Republican redistricting plan imperiled minority voting rights, staged a walkout in May 2003 to stop the plan and continued a strong fight for six months. Thus they delayed passage of the redistricting plan and exposed it as a racist power grab.

The People's Weekly World is the newspaper of the Communist Party, USA.

Electronic Voting News

Mercury News: Electronic voting's hidden perils

Two years later in Bernalillo County, N.M., neither local election officials nor a Sequoia representative noticed on election night that a programming error was causing a computer running Microsoft SQL server software to delete 25 percent of ballots cast by early voters. Three days later, a Democratic Party lawyer spotted a discrepancy between the number of voters who signed in at the polls and the number of digital ballots counted. Sequoia then managed to recover the lost votes.

The Places I've Been

This thing's pretty cool. Link via The Camplog.



create your own visited country map
or write about it on the open travel guide

A Suburban Guy Goes Downtown

So, tonight I went downtown to meet Emily Munoz and discuss her race. We discussed strategy and I gave her my advice and take on how to run the campaign. She didn't pay me anything, so she got her money's worth. Having got to talk to her in depth really made me more and more secure in my endorsement of her. She's smart, a good listener, and politically adept. I think she's a name you'll want to watch for the future.

We finished up around 5:30 and since I was near Main, I figured what the heck, I'll go ride the light rail. I picked up the train near Preston and Main. I struck up a conversation with a suit-and-tie guy who was riding the train home. He lives near the Museum District and works near a train stop. He let me know that taking the train took him longer to commute, and cash-wise it was a wash, but overall he preferred the train. It was less stressful than driving.

I paid $2 for a day pass. The ticket-vending machine worked, but, urrgghh! Touch screens. I hate touch screens. I wonder how long those things will last with people touching them all day for years. My prejudice against touch screens goes back to my Navy days. Somebody somewhere convinced a Purchasing guy that touch screens were cool and we were stuck with them on a lot of our gear. So, somtimes you could pound on the screen with your fist and nothing would happen and somtimes you could wave your hand 6" from the screen and it would start interpreting your movement as selections. But, this one worked fine.

I rode the train for a few stops south and then rode it back north again. The cars were nice, on a par with the cars on the DC metro system. But my goodness! It's on the honor system. Looking around, I got the distinct impression that not everyone had paid. I didn't ask for tickets or anything, but I watched a ton of people walk up to the train and didn't see anyone stopping to pay. I can only hope they got a day pass that morning.

One fellow had a great conversation with himself/the car about how he was going to buy some beer after he got off the train. I nodded in agreement. It took about a half hour to go like three stops south and then north again. I don't see how this line is going to make money or become a commuting option for most people, but I hope the whole system is more successful when it's finished.

I got off the train at my original stop and noticed a Houston Press distribution box. It had a new issue on Wednesday night! You inside-the-loop guys have been holding out on me. All this time I thought it came out on Thursday. This deserved a drink so I went to read the Press and get a pint of Bass on Main in some Irish pub.

I don't know how well this Main Street vitalization thing is going to go. The bartender was discussing last call with the two other patrons at 6:30. Closing at 6:30? I must have been too into the big article on the Super Bowl and not paying attention. (By the way, there's an article on a shooting at the Alabama Ice House in there. Didn't I read about that on Kevin's site back when it happened in December?) I went to go get the car and head on home.

So, how in the heck do you guys find your cars in these dang parking garages? I walked around for like 15 minutes trying to find my car. I had even written down the floor on the ticket I got. No luck. Finally I had to go back on the street and retrace the route I drove to find my parking place. So I'm walking through the ticket-dispensing gates, up the sidewalk-less ramps, and there was the car.

It started to rain. I'm trying to find the signs pointing to a freeway, any freeway, but the rain's coming down and I'm worried about being hit by the train. A few wrong turns and I see the big blue, red, and white sign with a 10 on it. Thank goodness, I'm on the Katy Freeway heading back where I belong. The Replacements were blaring on my cassette player, everything was back to the way it belonged. I hope you guys enjoy the train, but I'll take the banality of suburbia any day.

CD10 Watch: Judge Devine wins debate poll

Republican Party of Washington County Texas: Results and a detailed look at the polling procedure is here.

Mr. Pot Discusses Mr. Kettle

FrontPageMagazine.com: Off-Base Congressman

The man I[fmr Cong. Bob Dornan]'m running against for Congress, Dana Rohrabacher, was rejected for the Intelligence Committee. "He was not smart enough," one person told me, or "he’s too erratic," is what another person told me.

I loved Bob Dornan back in the day. But he's calling someone "erratic"? Anyway, that's the main thrust of the interview, which is a hard-to-believe diatribe against Dana Rohrabacher. Wild and wacky stuff.

A dark room, a turn of the knob, peering into the light.... Surprise!!

Washington Times: Coming-out day for conservatives

A few years ago, Jeff O'Holleran said he began to realize that he was different from the other boys he knew.

"I started having certain thoughts," said Mr. O'Holleran, 19, a student at the University of Colorado (CU). "I would go out into my mom's car, turn it on auxiliary and listen to Rush Limbaugh."

Yesterday, he said, it was time to come out of the closet. In the middle of a crowded university dining area, he took to the podium and announced, "I'm Jeff, and I'm a conservative."

Washington Times: GOP lawmakers plan cuts in Bush budget

House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, Texas Republican, said that the theme of controlling government spending was the 'real thrust of the conversation' at the House and Senate Republican retreat last weekend.

Squeeze and Glenn Tilbrook Fans!

Glenn will appear at the SXSW music festival this year. That is all.

CD10 Watch

Brenham Banner-Press: GOP House candidates to have forum

Thanks for visiting!

Detroit Free Press: A BRIGHTER HOUSTON: Super Bowl host's makeover isn't perfect, but it proves that the little things matter

HOUSTON -- Critics have not been kind to Houston. Sprawling over several hundred square miles, Houston has long been derided as the city without a zoning code, a place where skyscrapers rise next to single-family houses, a flat, sunbaked landscape that unfurls in strip-mall monotony to the horizon.

The last week I spent covering the Super Bowl events showed me that Houston's reputation for visual blight is, for the most part, deserved. But I also found several delightful examples to the contrary. And I saw signs that the city is finally a generation or two behind the curve, learning the right lessons about good city building.

It was great to have you here, and thanks for the compliment to our city. But, I'll tell you, I lived near Columbia, Maryland for five years. It's a master planned community where all evidence of humans changing the environment is hidden as much as possible.

I never could find a dang thing there. If I couldn't avoid it, I would have to find a business over there by driving around and around. I'll take Westheimer and the sea of strip malls any day.

If you like living in a community like Columbia, knock yourself out. Go live there. But, please just let Houston be Houston. I like it like this, it's why I live here.

On with the show

Tagging on to Robs' post...

Fortunately I stopped watching the Superbowl years ago, so I did not see the 'show'. However, I did see the 'wardrobe malfunction' when I clicked on Drudge Report. Here are my observations on the show.

1) If Justin & Janet expect us to believe this wasn't planned, what was that 'borg implant' on her breast?? Too big, too cumbersome. Conclusion: Liars

2) CBS reviewing the rehearsals said they were not aware of the ending. Oh, yeah?? OK, well, they were aware of the rest of the offensive show. Conclusion: Liars

3) NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue was deeply offended by the production. Hmmm, lets see you signed a production deal with MTV. Anyone who has ever watched MTV knows what they produce. Conclusion: Liar or a Ken Lay clone (choose one)

UPDATE: The American Family Association has a message wizard that will send a complaint to the members of the FCC as well as your own Congressional delegation.

As any regular reader of this blog will easily see, I will not be mistaken for a member of the Religious Right. Not that there's anything wrong with the Religious Right, some of my best friends are Religious Righters. I listen to rock and roll, my wife and I flipped of the Super Bowl to watch Sex and the City, I drink and smoke. I disagree a lot with my culturally conservative friends. But on this Janet Jackson exposure thing, Cal Thomas has a valid point. If Justin Timberlake didn't intend to expose her breast to the audience, what in the heck was his hand doing yanking at the clothing near it? He was going to tear some clothing off without exposing her? If the CBS executives watched rehearsals, maybe they can tell us exactly what Justin was meant to do. Tear some clothing off, but not expose her?

I'll tell you what really gets me steamed. Jon Matthews, local former KSEV radio host, was arrested for allegedly exposing himself to a minor. The Left delighted in reporting that and laughing at his fate in prison. Now, Ms. Jackson and Mr. Timberlake have done what Jon Matthews was accused of doing, only they did it to TENS of MILLIONS of minors. And somewhere I know there's a Leftist saying that we Americans have to get over our "prudishness." Urrgghhh.

Song of the Day: CITY OF ANGELS by The Distillers

Its going down tonight in this town
Cause they stare and growl
They all stare and growl
I take a scar everytime i cry
Cause it aint my style no it aint my style
Going down to the gravel head to the barrel
Take this life and end this struggle
Los ANgeles come scam me please
Emptiness never sleeps at Cliftons 6 am
With your bag lady friend and your mind descending
Stripped of the right to be a human in control
Its warmer in hell so down we go

They say this is the city
The city of angels
All i see is dead wings

Its a ghost town rabid underworld
Dionysian night vitriolic twilight
A mirage comes up it never ends
Once you get burnt youre never the same
Left behind erased from time
Aint no decency in being boxed up alive
Look around aint no R.I.P. signs here
We dont rest in peace
We just disappear

So here we are Los Angeles
No angels singing in your valley of unease
I watch the sun roll down the pacific
Over hookered sunset strip

Theres a black moon tonight
Aint shining down on the western neon lights

They say this is the city
The city of angels
All i see is nothing

The dang Time Warner iControl has this as one of the videos you can watch for free and I'm addicted to it. The song reminds me of my punk rock youth.

Not paying attention...

Houston Chronicle: Two men hurt in shooting during downtown Super Bowl festivities

A shooting on a downtown Houston street crowded with Super Bowl party revelers Saturday night sent two men to the hospital.

The shooting in the 500 block of Main Street just before midnight was apparently sparked by innocent flirting, officials said.

Guys, the mayor wanted us to shoot a smile at our company, not shoot each other with pistols. Please pay closer attention.

Oh, and "sparked by innocent flirting"? I'm thinking that the spark was alcohol.

What the bus?

Houston Chronicle: Metro likely to shut part of rail line again

Metro likely will shut down the northern portion of the Main Street light rail line again tonight if Super Bowl partying along the tracks begins to pose a safety threat.

So people will be riding the bus instead, which is more flexible than the statist rail line.