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Texas Politics: Senate hearing on Willingham execution carried live

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:08:56 -0500

The Senate Criminal Justice Committee hearing on the Texas Forensics Commission investigation into the arson techniques used in the Cameron Todd Willingham case will be carried by livestream from the Senate today at 10 a.m.: http://www.senate.state.tx.us/bin/live.php Willingham was executed in...

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Texas Politics: Senate hearing on Willingham execution carried live

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:08:56 -0500

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McBlogger: So what ever happened to?

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:55:04 -0500

One of 39%'s appointees to a regulatory agency (TABC) thought it was OK to solicit donations for 39% from the people he regulates. The dumbass didn't think it was a problem. Folks in West Texas and Denton disagreed.

So, what's going on with that guy? Will the AG's [...]

Red Ink: Texas: Gene Locke is Running Pell Mell Towards Bankruptcy

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:49:00 -0500

Gene Locke is quoted in today's Chronicle Houston Politics blog as being for the development of a soccer stadium for the Dynamo. However might I remind you that the Harris County Sports Authority is on the brink of bankruptcy and may shaft the taxpayers of Harris County with [...]

Beginning To Wonder: Still pretty pissed

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:18:00 -0500

I got stuck in traffic this morning behind a car covered with bumper stickers such as: "Proud to be everything liberals hate" and that one with Obama made up to look like the Joker in Dark Knight that said "Socialism". I smiled thinking that this guy would be pretty happy [...]

Dungeon Diary: Mayan Calendars & UFOs

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:06:00 -0500

As the opening day of the new disaster movie 2012 nears, the internet is abuzz with pseudo-science! Talk of the end of the world abounds and yet it is nothing new. Back in 1844 a guy named William Miller claimed that Jesus was coming back and he knew the exact [...]

The Daily Hurricane: 45,000 Dead Annually, so Cons Dither Over Coin Design

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:00:47 -0500

You've heard about the report published by the American Journal of Public Health that documents 45,000 deaths per year due to the lack of health care coverage. The report struck at the very heart of the Republicans opposition to health care reform: insurance company monopolies are killing people' [...]

Dog Canyon: New Forensic Agency Head Bradley: Best to Meet in Secret

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:00:30 -0500

Number of comments: 1

Get Smart's "Cone of Silence"

After a few decades of covering government as a reporter, working in government as a staffer and working as a consultant to candidates and officeholders, I have yet to encounter a single circumstance in which decisions were improved by [...]

RIGHTWINGSPARKLE: "Twenty Years Later, There Is Much Work to Do"

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:54:00 -0500

Since Pres. Obama and Sec. of State Hillary Clinton didn't see fit to mention President Reagan in their addresses on the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, I thought many of you might like to read Marco Rubio's take (He is running for the Senate against RNC backed' [...]

Millard Fillmore's Bathtub: Rep. Pete Sessions stirs up a tornado; sow the wind . . .

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:42:26 -0500

When I first joined the Dallas Bar I quickly met a delightful woman who had some experience from which she spoke: Louise Raggio. On a few occasions I was fortunate enough to sit with her at a continuing education session and benefit from her explanations of how law really works [...]

Grits for Breakfast: Secrecy at forensic commission not justified based on weak investigative powers

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:26:00 -0500

I'm headed up to the capitol a little later this morning to watch the Texas Senate Criminal Justice Committee hearing on the Forensic Science Commission at 10 a.m., where new commission chairman and Williamson County DA John Bradley will explain to the committee why he shut down all' [...]

Dallas City Hall Blog: City Hall sued for strict anti-sign ordinance

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:22:15 -0500

Way back in summer '08, the Dallas City Council passed a tough new ordinance restricting "junk" signs they said clutter store windows and bring down the appearance and safety of whole neighborhoods.

Of course, the writing was on the wall even then that this wouldn't stand [...]

The Whited Sepulchre: Thomas Sowell on the motivations and incentives of politicians

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:14:17 -0500

Please stand for this month's reading from The Gospel According To Saint Thomas....Economist Thomas Sowell, the smartest man in the world now that Milton Friedman is dead, has given us an assortment of new scriptures to ponder. This month, Saint Thomas gives us a variety of new observations to ponder, [...]

Bay Area Houston: BREAKING: Michael Berry's head to explode

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:59:00 -0500

UPDATE: Peter Brown will be endorsing Annise Parker for Mayor at 1:30 today.

Peter Brown has called a press conference to endorse someone in the race for Houston Mayor. The big question concerning this endorsement is: "When will Michael Berry's head explode?".

Berry, a [...]

South Texas Chisme: CPS energy in hot water over withheld expense

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:59:00 -0500

It will be at least two weeks until CPS Energy releases any details from its investigation into why a $4 billion increase in the cost estimate for nuclear expansion was withheld from its upper management and board.So, CPS is investigating itself? Hummm. [...]

Politicker TX - Texas Politics News, Reaction, and Analysis: [Bay Area Houston] BREAKING: Michael Berry's head to explode

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:59:00 -0500

UPDATE: Peter Brown will be endorsing Annise Parker for Mayor at 1:30 today.

Peter Brown has called a press conference to endorse someone in the race for Houston Mayor. The big question concerning this endorsement is: "When will Michael Berry's head explode?".

Berry, a white wing, 38 year old, young professional, [...]

South Texas Chisme: Aaron Peña compares that d*mn fence to the Berlin Wall

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:56:00 -0500

Interestingly enough and rightfully so, most Americans see it as a symbolic end of tyranny. Here in the borderlands of this country, on the edges of my legislative district, Americans forget that a similar wall was constructed (sadly with the help of misguided elected officials) separating family members and a [...]

Burnt Orange Report: A Candidate for the Court of Criminal Appeals

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:44:16 -0500

The renewal of news about the Cameron Todd Willingham case should not only shed light on the reasons Rick Perry is a bad governor, but it should also illuminate our way-too-Republican Court of Criminal Appeals, which denied writs of Habeus Corpus to Willingham continuously, even [...]

PrairiePundit: Hiding the additional cost of Dem health care

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:41:00 -0500

Washington Times:

The official $1.1 trillion price tag for the House Democrats' health care bill excludes dozens of unfunded programs that could drive up costs when future congresses look to fund them.

Republicans said the health care bill includes two dozen programs whose funding is listed as' [...]

Bluedaze.: The Gathering Line

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:34:00 -0500

Gathering Line - a special pipeline that transports gas from the field to the main pipeline.The Gathering Line is a round-up of oil & gas drilling news brought to you by National Alliance for Drilling Reform (NA4DR), a broad alliance of grassroots activists from states across the nation that are [...]

PrairiePundit: Recycled Russian bombs supplying US nuclear power

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:32:00 -0500

NY Times:

What’s powering your home appliances?

For about 10 percent of electricity in the United States, it’s fuel from dismantled nuclear bombs, including Russian ones.

“It’s a great, easy source” of fuel, said Marina V. Alekseyenkova, an analyst at Renaissance Bank and an expert in the [...]

South Texas Chisme: Here's a headline you don't see every day

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:29:00 -0500

'New Mexico approves 5 medical marijuana producers'

While we're at it: Stop the drug war. Make drugs in consistent doses. Offer rehab. Take the profit motive away from the drug cartels. Lessen the need for addicts to steal.' [...]

TexasVox: Green-up your life! Teach your children well.

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:28:44 -0500

By Kirsten Bokenkamp Ask any kid what they do in their free time and the answer will likely include watching TV and playing video games. Indeed, children ages 8-18 watch an average of almost 4 hours of TV or movies a day – with an additional 2 hours playing video games! [...]

Rhymes With Right: Lefty Anchor From Lefty Network Demands Republicans Denounce/Distance Themselves From Protest By Democrat Family

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:27:00 -0500

In 1988, cult leader Fred Phelps was a delegate to the Democrat convention for candidate (later vice president) Al Gore. Over the years, perennial Democrat candidate Phelps has engaged in ever more vile activity in support of his twisted theology.... [...]

PrairiePundit: Army ws told of Hasan communications with al Qaeda recruiter

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:17:00 -0500

Brian Ross has been doing some first class reporting on this Fort Hood shooter. He indicates that the intercepts were passed on to Army intelligence officials before Hasan was transferred to Fort Hood. [...]

Texas Oasis: Weekend Roundup

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:47:00 -0500

Here it is Tuesday, so I'm trying to catch up with posting (plus I still have an award to pick up and run with). MrB returned from St. Louis, bringing me this souvenir (he's allergic to peanuts, or I would not have been gifted with' [...]

Kuff's World: Peter Brown has an announcement to make

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:30:00 -0500

We are about to find out who Peter Brown is backing in the Mayor's race. From the press release he sent out last night at 10:30: MEDIA ADVISORY: PETER BROWN ANNOUNCES ENDORSEMENT IN MAYORAL RUNOFF Peter Brown will host a...

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Kuff's World: Precinct analysis: City Council At Large races

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:22:40 -0500

Moving on to the At Large City Council races. I'm going to look at each of them here. First up, At Large #1: Dist Cook Litt Alls Cost Derr Rodr Perk Batt ============================================================ A 1,521 1,629 397 4,806 4,144 2,087...

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Dog Canyon: Officeholders Flee Bigfoot in East Texas!

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:00:46 -0500

Number of comments: 4

Described as “enormous and black” on the Texas Bigfoot Research Conservancy web site, Bigfoot is stalking East Texans. And their elected officials are retreating to the Republican Party. Coincidence? I think not.

Back in September, a Big Thicket hunter (buckwild107 on Youtube) took some pictures of a [...]

Kuff's World: Precinct analysis: The City Controller's race

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:23:24 -0500

Here are my numbers. As before, for maps, go see what Greg's got. Dist Green Khan Holm ============================= A 4,685 6,750 7,125 B 7,483 3,329 1,362 C 7,356 7,494 6,332 D 13,410 4,673 3,047 E 5,133 7,684 6,633 F 2,403...

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Millard Fillmore's Bathtub: 2 millionth reader, coming in November

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:17:52 -0500

Number of comments: 4
Unless things really drop off the table, Millard Fillmore’s Bathtub will have its 2 millionth reader sometime this month, probably between the 14th and the 20th. Update: No, that won’t happen. Such goofs come from posting when tired. We’ll click over 1.8 million readers, but not 2 million. What was I [...]

Whosplayin.com: Texas Blog Roundup - Week ending 11/08/09

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:00:00 -0500

The Texas Progressive Alliance hopes everyone had a happy Election Day last week, and is already looking forward to the next one. Here are this week's highlights.

TXsharon continues to report from a backyard in the Barnett Shale. Despite all the local and national press on drilling related toxins, [...]

Pete's Place: DeNiro's most famous line actually came from The Boss

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:49:00 -0500

Here's an interesting story -- at least I found it interesting. While preparing for his role in Taxi Driver, Robert De Niro attended a Bruce Springsteen concert during which the adoring crowd kept yelling Bruce's name. At one point, as the crowd is yelling "Bruce! Bruce!", Springsteen turned and said [...]

Pete's Place: There goes another great idea

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:39:00 -0500

I was going to yell, to scream, to stand on the mountaintops and hoist the flags from the valleys down below -- in another words I was prepared to raise the roofbeams with my voice-- to emphatically deny -- put all those vicious rumors to rest -- that I was [...]

Texas Moratorium Network: John Bradley's Use of Misinformation to Push His Political Agenda

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:32:00 -0500

Today, John Bradley, the new chair of the Texas Forensic Science Commission, is scheduled to testify to the Senate Committee on Criminal Justice. The question is whether Bradley's testimony to the committee or any comments he gives to the media can be trusted. Based on the statements he gave to' [...]

And Doctor Biobrain's Response Is...: Terrorist Rampages

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:16:00 -0500

Was the shooting at Fort Hood a "terrorist act"? Sure, I'll agree to that. But of course, so was Columbine. And the Virginia Tech killer. And that guy who shot up the Aerobics class. These are all terrorist acts. It's all about powerless people trying to show that they're [...]

Conservative Thoughts: Americans

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:11:32 -0500

Americans never give up when it comes to Freedom. We might get comfortable in our lives and may seem to take for granted our Freedom and Liberty because we know that the people who live within these borders of this great country understand one thing. One thing and that is [...]

Texas Moratorium Network: CNN: Texas resists family's effort to clear executed man's name

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:49:00 -0500

By Matt Smith, CNN (Read story at CNN)November 9, 2009 10:03 p.m. ESTEugenia Willingham shows photographs of her lost grandchildren and the stepson who was executed.[...]

Lone Star Times: Tuesday Open Comments

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:48:49 -0500

Two Wheelin Tuesday

Senior Republican says ‘wheels falling off’ Ethics Committee Bout time, the wheels have been flat for quite some time.

Shopping carts: Germs on wheels? Oh and never put your food in the baby seat. Let those possibilities swirl in your head. Hint: Ever [...]

Lubbock Left: Power to the People?

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:33:55 -0500

It’s been another one of those weeks where I get caught up with my life. Most notably, West Texas Comic Con came and went and was a great success.

In the meantime, some nut shot up Fort Hood, health care reform passed the House, and another crooked Republican [...]

Zippidy Doo Da: Crime and Punishment

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:33:00 -0500

The Supreme Court heard arguments today challenging the right of states to sentence juveniles to life in prison. The court ruled in 2005 that is “cruel and unusual punishment” to sentence juveniles to death. The cases before the court today both come from Florida, which [...]

Pete's Place: Why are some council members afraid to think for themselves?

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:32:00 -0500

I spent much of Monday reading, writing and just plain relaxing in my home office. For entertainment I had the Dallas City Council's agenda meeting on the television. I watched them wrangle with the question of "Just how ethical do we want to be?" for much of the morning before [...]

Pete's Place: And I thought Texas" criminal courts were corrupt

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:18:00 -0500

Texas can't hold a candle to Florida.Consider the case of Joe Sullivan, a mentally impaired boy convicted of sexual battery, largely on the testimony of two accomplices, both of whom were older than Sullivan, who each were rewarded for their testimony by given light sentences, one of them in a' [...]

jobsanger: Infuriating

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:07:00 -0500

From the hilarious blog of Atheist Comics. [...]

jobsanger: Roeder Admits Murdering Doctor

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:06:00 -0500

The trial of terrorist Scott Roeder for the murder of Dr. George Tiller will not be held until about January of 2010, but Roeder may already have put the last nail in his own legal coffin. In an interview with the Associated Press yesterday, [...]

jobsanger: A Long Time In Coming

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:05:00 -0500

Political Cartoon is by David Fitzsimmons in the Arizona Daily Star. [...]

The Bayou: Daybreaker: Soccer hooligans! Punching on the pitch up in East Texas

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:04:00 -0500

Texas cheerleaders have been doing this kind of thing for years. We refer, of course, to hazing; like that incident that occurred up in Katy last year.Back in 2003, an Illinois girls football initiation sent five girls to the hospital, one with a pig intestine around her neck. Gross, but [...]

jobsanger: Stupid Is As Murdoch Does

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:04:00 -0500

I've always thought that Rupert Murdoch (pictured), as rich as he is, was not the brightest bulb on the tree. Now it looks like he's out to prove that by limiting access to the online sites of his news organizations like the Wall Street Journal and' [...]

jobsanger: Where Are The Jobs ?

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:03:00 -0500

Political Cartoon is by R.J. Matson in Roll Call. [...]

Now Thats What I Am Talkin About!!!: Sheneneh and Wanda on the Big Screen?

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:02:49 -0500

Oh, no they didn’t! During the BET Awards, Martin Lawrence and Jamie Foxx put together a movie trailer parody that poked fun at their 90’s TV show characters Sheneneh Jenkins (Martin Lawrence Show) and Wanda Reid (In Living Color). Rumor has it that Screen Gems has approached the two [...]

jobsanger: Don't Blame All Muslims

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:02:00 -0500

The shooting at Fort Hood was a real tragedy -- there is no doubt of that. But now it seems like some people want to compound that tragedy by taking it out on innocent people in the muslim faith.
Many right-wingers are now trying to [...]

Houston's Clear Thinkers: Too Big Even to Consider Failing

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:01:00 -0500

As with many folks in the financial and legal world, I'm finishing up Andrew Ross Sorkin's entertaining new best-seller, Too Big to Fail: The Inside Story of How Wall Street and Washington Fought to Save the Financial System---and Themselves (Viking...' [...]

jobsanger: Attacking Their Own

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:01:00 -0500

Political Cartoon is by Pat Bagley in the Salt Lake Tribune. [...]

The Travis Monitor: Austin Tech Republicans - Nov 12th meeting on SBOE TEKS

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:33:00 -0500

The November Austin Tech Republicans is on November 12th, lunchtime, at Mangia's at Mopac/Duval in north Austin, and will be discussing SBOE Social Studies TEKS review. Jonathan Saenz from the Free Market Foundation and Brooke Terry from TPPF will discuss the topic.

A factoid that relates - [travismonitor.blogspot.com]:
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Gold-Plated Witch on Wheels: Quote of the Day

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:28:00 -0500

"One of the few advantages to the country in having Congress overwhelmingly in the hands of one party is that the lack of need to compromise lets the leaders of that party reveal themselves for what they are — in this case, people with unbounded arrogance and utter contempt for" [...]

The Collin County Observer: Notes on education issues in the news

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:21:13 -0500

SEX

The Dallas Morning News writes that some parents in North Texas are questioning their local schools' policies of teaching only abstinence in sex ed.

In the article, titled "Texas sex educators take tentative steps beyond abstinence" the DMN's Jessica Meyers wrote that one parent at a recent McKinney school' [...]

musings: Peter Brown to Endorse in the Mayor's Race

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:10:00 -0500

MEDIA ADVISORY: PETER BROWN ANNOUNCES ENDORSEMENT IN MAYORAL RUNOFF

Peter Brown will host a press conference, joined by family, friends and supporters, announcing his endorsement in the mayoral runoff.
WHO: Houston City Council Member and former Candidate for Mayor Peter Brown
WHAT: Peter Brown makes an official [...]

Relaxed Politics: Australians Have a Great Sense of Humor

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:09:37 -0500

Number of comments: 5
Australians Have a Great Sense of Humor …. And the rest of us are dumber than a sack of potatoes. The following was a largely circulating email that has never, of course, been verified too carefully since that might detract from the fun. Here’s the version I heard on air this evening, [...]

La Sanbe: 18-Wheeler Pride

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:03:00 -0500

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SocraticGadfly: US in A-stan for the long term

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:57:00 -0500

Or, at the least it certainly looks that way, as we build as much military infrastructure as we did in Iraq.

And, a lot of it is going toward “contractors” of various sorts. It’s ridiculous.There is no god and I am his prophet. [...]

Easter Lemming Liberal News: More Criticism of SuperFreakonomics

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:50:00 -0500

I shouldn't be surprised at SuperFreakonomics. Freakonomics reminded me somewhat of early John Stossel, while not the established wisdom they were glib "common sense" economic arguments. Like Stossel, later works veer more right and less factual. This latest seems to exhibit the bias toward particular approaches they decry in' [...]

TexasLiberal: Sultry Pilgrim Holds Turkey—Women In Colonial New England

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:43:42 -0500

Above you see a sultry Pilgrim holding a Thanksgiving Turkey. She’s going to have that turkey beheaded and served up for dinner. What was the role of women in Colonial Massachusetts and Colonial New England? From American Colonies—The Settling Of North America by Alan Taylor— “It took a family to cope with the diverse and [...]

The Travis Monitor: ObamaCare - The $3 trillion plan

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:26:00 -0500

Actual ObamalosiCare cost - $3trillion over 10 years:
Over the first 10 years, this legislation builds in gross new spending of $1.7 trillion – and most of the new spending doesn’t even start until 2014. Once that spending is fully phased in, the House Democratic bill rings up at [...]

Gold-Plated Witch on Wheels: Nobody Knows the Vice President

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:26:00 -0500

From Allahpundit, who notes that Joe Biden probably doesn't remember, either.

' [...]

Zippidy Doo Da: Crooks and ...

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:17:00 -0500

Crooks and Liars’ Blogroll had this letter to Atlantic Monthly’s James Fallows:

"I'm really confused by how the Obama administration has handled the narrative and voter expectations for this recession. I clearly understand that they had to carefully balance early 2009 dire warnings against'" [...]

Blog Fabulous: Do Families Become Closer in Tough Times?

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:10:34 -0500

Today’s economic times have put stress on many families financially and emotionally. Does struggling and solving problems together bring families closer together?

Simple family pleasures image: sxc.hu

Are there activities they can do that don’t cost a great deal of money?

My husband and I grew up in homes where [...]

The Whited Sepulchre: Fred Phelps, Gays, Jews, and Bullshit

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:44:29 -0500

Fred Phelps, the gay and lesbian hating minister of Westboro Baptist Church, recently took his "God Hates Fags" publicity circus to protest outside of Sidwell Friends, the Quaker-founded school attended by Sasha and Malia Obama.This, of course, is crossing the line.Phelps likes to protest near military funerals of servicemen and [...]

The Rag Blog: Big Pharma : The Orgasm Scam

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:36:00 -0500

'Restless Vagina Syndrome':Big Pharma's newest fake diseaseBy Terry J. Allen / November 9, 2009It’s not your fault, ladies (and certainly not your partner’s), that you don’t orgasm every time you have intercourse, or that you lack the libido of a 17-year-old boy. You have a disease: female sexual dysfunction (FSD), [...]

Gold-Plated Witch on Wheels: Sure, Fred Phelps Is A Democrat...

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:32:00 -0500

But that won't stop us from trying to tar Republicans with him!
Did Dems Ever Do This To the Bush Twins?
Well, other than the fact that Jenna and Barbara Bush were adults by the time their father was elected president, I'm sure we could find a few Code [...]

La Sanbe: Posting from phone

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:23:00 -0500

Steelers are up in Denver. Good times.

UPDATE: Game over. Steelers 28-10.
Kansas City Chief running back Larry Johnson was released from the team today. There was speculation that Pittsburgh might pick him up because of Larry's interest in the team. But Pitt's running game doesn't seem to' [...]

Bluedaze.: TCEQ Notice to Regulated Community

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:22:00 -0500

Notice to the regulated community regarding Public Participation, Flexible Permits, Qualified Facilities, and New Source Review (NSR) Reform.I'm pretty sure this all means the EPA isn't thrilled with TCEQ permitting practices. [...]

Libertarian Republican: Libertarian Victory against Corporate Welfare: Pfizer abandons Kelo property in Connecticut

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:12:00 -0500

From Cliff Thies:

“Any property may now be taken for the benefit of another private party …” Associate Justice Sandra Day O’Conner in her dissent in the Kelo decision.

“This deferential shift in phraseology enables the Court to hold, against all common sense, that a [...]

SocraticGadfly: Three dates: Berlin Wall, 9-11, Lehman collapse

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:52:00 -0500

Michael Lind weaves a compelling story of how they link together as three transition points of the last 20 years most worth note and why.There is no god and I am his prophet. [...]

Bay Area Houston: Palin to court the Tea Party nomination for President.

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:51:00 -0500

You read it here first. My prediction for the 2010 elections. Sarah Palin will seek the nomination for President of the United States from the newly formed Tea Party. Possible VP selections include Ross Perot, Joe the Plumber, Glenn Beck, and Governor Rick Perry.

Palin [...]

Politicker TX - Texas Politics News, Reaction, and Analysis: [Bay Area Houston] Palin to court the Tea Party nomination for President.

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:51:00 -0500

Palin can't stay out of the' [...]

Libertarian Republican: Political Correctness to blame for the Deaths of those 13 Brave Americans at Ft. Hood

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:45:00 -0500

Colonel Peters America's new Hero for Liberty?

From Stephen Maloney:

The following piece (excerpted - NY Daily News "Obama can't be bothered by Islamic Terrorism") by Col. Ralph Peters speaks for itself about how the lives of American soldiers were sacrificed on the altar' [...]

The Texas Cloverleaf: Texas Blog Roundup

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:32:00 -0500

Pete's Place: October's Oscar Poll

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:23:00 -0500

Last month, I conducted my first poll of the almost 500 Oscar voters representing all the branches who are willing to share with me who plan to cast their nominating votes for in this year's Oscar race. I just finished counting all the returns and here are who the nominees [...]

Gold-Plated Witch on Wheels: One More Waste of the Kelo Case

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:06:00 -0500

Pfizer abandons site of infamous Kelo eminent domain taking
The private homes that New London, Conn., took away from Suzette Kelo and her neighbors have been torn down. Their former site is a wasteland of fields of weeds, a monument to the power of eminent domain.

But now [...]

Libertarian Republican: Dick Armey says Insurance Companies shouldn't be forced by Government to cover someone who "Eats like a Pig"

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:56:00 -0500

MOOCHER WATCH!

Pre-existing Conditions; What's Government's proper role?

Former Texas Congressman and current unofficial national Tea Party leader Dick Armey took a principled libertarian stance against moocherism on CNN yesterday. Armey, in response to a general question by John Roberts as to what exactly constitutes [...]

PrairiePundit: Hasan used several computers to contact enemy

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:54:00 -0500

Times:

...

No sign of links to terror groups emerged from an initial inspection of Major Hasan’s computer at his flat in Killeen, Texas, according to officials, but experts have since uncovered multiple leads by combing through e-mails sent from several addresses and other computers. One [...]

PrairiePundit: Brits uncovered lead on Zazi plan for NY terror op

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:43:00 -0500

Telegraph:

The plan, which reportedly would have been the biggest attack on America since 9/11, was uncovered after Scotland Yard intercepted an email.

The force alerted the FBI, who launched an operation which led to airport shuttle bus driver Najibullah Zazi, 24, being charged with [...]

PrairiePundit: Communication intercepts of shooter not followed up

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:35:00 -0500

Washington Post:

The Army psychiatrist suspected of killing 12 soldiers and a civilian here last week was in e-mail contact earlier this year with a radical cleric in Yemen who has decried what he calls America's war against Islam, a federal law enforcement official said Monday.

U.S. intelligence [...]

Libertarian Republican: Drug War fighting Duo team up for major address in New Mexico

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:33:00 -0500

Albuquerque, NM (Vocus/PRWEB ) November 9, 2009 -- Former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson will speak Tuesday night alongside a former DEA task force leader about their joint campaign to legalize and regulate all drugs.

Law Enforcement Against Prohibition

Gov. [...]

Gold-Plated Witch on Wheels: Obama's Failed Stimulus in Pictures

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:15:00 -0500

Excellent. [...]

First Door on the Left: Stupid Stupak

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:12:11 -0500

Number of comments: 1

I think I have to go with John Cole on this one…

Bart Stupak

If there is one issue I am sick to death of arguing about, it is abortion. Thus, listening to all the noise about the Stupak Amendment has me rather turned off [...]

Texas Moratorium Network: Live Tuesday on the Internet: Watch the Hearing in the Texas Senate Committee on Criminal Justice about the Texas Forensic Science Commission

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:12:00 -0500

In Austin Tuesday morning, the Texas Senate Committee on Criminal Justice will question John Bradley, the newly appointed chairman of the Texas Forensic Science Commission, about the panel’s ongoing work. Before Gov. Rick Perry replaced four commission members, the panel was in the process of reviewing forensic evidence used against [...]

m e a n r a c h e l: News to Me: Quickie-Mart Now Sells Womanhood

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:09:00 -0500

Number of comments: 2
Damn, is there any better fix than being a woman?

Every day I get to wake up, shave my legs, wrestle my hair into something that more often than not resembles a squirrel's nest and think "By God. I sure am lucky to be a" [...]

PrairiePundit: Fort Hood shooter was being 'monitored' for al Qaeda ties

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:09:00 -0500

Telegraph:

Hasan, who was shot four times during his attack, has been informed by doctors that he killed 13 people and injured dozens more.

FBI agents and military investigators were last night waiting to interview him.

Intelligence officers are said to have known months ago [...]

UrbanGrounds: Random Referral Log Blogging

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:00:33 -0500

A little random referral log blogging to pass the time --- these are the terms or phrases that different people searched for (and ended up at UrbanGrounds.com) in the last hour. [...]

Half Empty: Healthcare Vote Repercussions

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:00:00 -0500

Both sides of the aisle in the House of Representatives are going to suffer repercussions as a result of the recent votes entered on Saturday for and against healthcare reform.

The DNC is going to be targeting 32 Republican members of congress who voted against HR 3962 on final [...]

UrbanGrounds: Yosvanis Valle: Date with the Executioner

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:59:28 -0500

Number of comments: 3
Tomorrow evening, shortly after 6:00 p.m., Yosvanis Valle will be put to death for the 1999 murder of Jose Junco during a robbery at the victim’s Pasadena, TX home. [...]

Libertarian Republican: Rudy on Reagan: He understood policy of strict Non-interventionism and Retreat leads to Disaster

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:59:00 -0500

In commemorating the 20th Anniversay of the Fall of the Berlin Wall, libertarian-leaning Republican Rudy Giuliani penned a two page editorial in the NY Daily News. It's titled, "Ronald Reagan's unyielding style won the Cold War."

Excerpt from the News:

Before Ronald Reagan came [...]

Gold-Plated Witch on Wheels: Why Should We Remember the Berlin Wall?

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:45:00 -0500

A young friend of mine snottily told me that she didn't consider the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall to be a big deal. As she put it:
I am sure this will irk some, but I have a problem with us being so sentimental about' [...]

The Rag Blog: BBC Poll on Capitalism : Where's the Love?

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:40:00 -0500

Global survey on free market capitalism:Majority say fix it or ditch itBy James Robbins / November 9, 2009Twenty years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, a new BBC poll has found widespread dissatisfaction with free-market capitalism.In the global poll for the BBC World Service, only 11% of those questioned [...]

Rhymes With Right: Just A Reminder Hasan Not The First

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:17:00 -0500

As pointed out by retired Col. Alan West, Nidal Hasan is only the latest home-grown jihadi to attack American troops. We have seen this before in 2003 when a SGT Hasan of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) threw hand... [...]

PrairiePundit: Al Qaeda reduces size of training

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:17:00 -0500

AP says al Qaeda is struggling to deal with the Hellfire attacks and keep its training ops running. [...]

Houston Strategies: Planes vs. high-speed vs. 'higher-speed' rail in Texas

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:09:00 -0500

This story on the Eurostar London-Paris high-speed rail caught my eye yesterday in the Chronicle Travel section. I have ridden it before, and it is a wonderful service. The speed is deceptively quiet until a train going the other direction passes by in the blink of an eye at [...]

Pulp Friction: An Immodest Proposal

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:07:00 -0500

An Immodest Proposal

First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, [...]

Rhymes With Right: When Special Laws Create Unequal Protection Of The Law

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:02:00 -0500

No one favors abuse of the elderly. But when the clear purpose of a statute is twisted to provide special protection that would be unavailable for all, we have a serious constitutional issue. PORTLAND, Ore. A judge has ordered... [...]

Pondering Penguin: After the Berlin Wall - 20 Years Later

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:00:00 -0500

"General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization, come here to this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" --Ronald Reagan

Today marks the 20th anniversary of the fall of [...]

The Ellis County Observer: Joey Got His Property Back Today

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:51:07 -0500

Joey received his computers, laptops, digital and video cameras, digital tape recorder, now-old BlackBerry cellphone from Combine Police Department today. [Click Here for Tonight's Combine City Council Agenda] “Kop Busters” indeed. Chief Steve Allen, Sgt. Brian Robinson and Detective John Allen “Jay” Hoskins are now unemployed with Combine. http://rawstory.com/08/news/2009/09/15/exclusive-gypsy-cop-accused-of-soliciting-minor-brought-down-by-kopbusters/ The CW Channel 33 Report: [...]

The Ellis County Observer: Brasscheck TV’s Take on the Fort Hood Massacre

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:43:33 -0500

http://www.brasschecktv.com/page/96.html Ok, let’s get this out of the way. Fort Hood – tragic. Now let’s look at some reality. ONE guy shooting a hand gun killed HOW many people – and on a military base? Ae you serious? And the one shooter is now in a coma? And, as of now at least, there’s no surveillance camera footage? And he’s [...]

Relaxed Politics: Two Very Different Reasons to be VERY Concerned

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:41:49 -0500

Number of comments: 12
As if Lea’s post last night wasn’t enough to make you concerned for our nation’s future, here are two links that might. American Public High School Stories: A Microcosm and Nearly half of all US children, including an overwhelming majority of black children, will eat meals at some point during their childhood [...]

The Ellis County Observer: PDF — City of Midlothian Yard Ordinances

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:39:50 -0500

Number of comments: 1
When I went to Midlothian City Hall to pick up my list of Nov. 3 special city council election voters list (first, last names, addresses), I picked up a fact sheet on the various ordinances one must follow to basically live in the city limits. Click on the Image to Make [...]

Rhymes With Right: Chiefs Cut Johnson

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:35:00 -0500

Over anti-gay slurs. The Chiefs released running back Larry Johnson on Monday, his first day back from a two-week suspension for conduct detrimental to the team. Johnson called out coach Todd Haley two weeks ago in a Twitter post before... [...]

The Ellis County Observer: Midlothian (Doesn’t) Matters

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:31:17 -0500

Here’s the recent “misprint” of the Midlothian Matters newsletter sent before the Nov. 3 special city council election: Direct Link: http://www.elliscountyobserver.com/?attachment_id=9724 Click on the Images for a Larger View [...]

Rhymes With Right: Just Previewing Paradise?

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:30:00 -0500

Some see a contradiction between this report on Ft. Hood murderer Major Nidal Hasan and the picture of the man as a devout Muslim. Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan came into the Starz strip club not far from the base at... [...]

konagod: 3

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:22:00 -0500

I've only smoked 3 cigarettes since 8:30 this morning, and I went over 5 hours today without one at all. If I can do that much, I can do much more. I can break this fucking habit. It doesn't have to control me.

[...]

Vaqueros & Wonkeros: Moody rematch?

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:19:08 -0500

Businessman Dee Margo told the El Paso Times today that he does not have his eyes set on a Senate seat run. But the chairman and CEO of JDW Insurance is pondering a bid for State Rep. Joe Moody's position... [...]

blogHOUSTON: Locke pushes soccer stadium

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:15:19 -0500

BREAKING ITS RECENT SILENCE, the Chron.com Houston Politics blog links to a post by a local lefty blogger on Gene Locke's support of the Houston Dynamo and its new stadium. The Locke campaign has apparently been trying to draw a contrast on this i... [...]

The Rag Blog: History as Politics : Remembering the Berlin Wall

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:07:00 -0500

Man straddles Berlin Wall in 1989. Photo from photosfan.com.History as politics, Politics as history: Remembering the Berlin WallBy Harry Targ / The Rag Blog / November 9, 2009...you are Americans and are meant to carry liberty and justice and the principles of humanity wherever you go, go out and sell [...]

Blog Fabulous: Cookie Monster becomes Healthy Food Monster

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:01:43 -0500

Now I know many are going to argue with me, in fact I argued it at first. I mean who were they to tell me Cookie Monster no longer ate chocolate cookies, that was the one thing he craved.

IMG: Amazon.com

I bet they were thinking the [...]

MOMocrats™: The Stu-Pitts of Congress, and Women's Health Care From the Waist Up

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:57:03 -0500

Number of comments: 0

Forgive me if I sound a little bitter despite being deeply moved by the passage of the Affordable Health Care Act this past weekend in the House. It IS a huge achievement and one-third of what we need to get the bill to President Obama to sign. I'm proud and' [...]

Brains and Eggs: A conservative in Maine gives thanks

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:48:00 -0500

He may be a Democrat, he may be a Republican, but he is certainly a conservative. [...]

Dungeon Diary: Don't Ask, Don't Give

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:34:00 -0500

Interesting tactic launched by the folks at AmericaBlog and one that might get the attention of the White House. The Gay-TM is officially turned off until the President and his people begin prodding Congress to do the right thing and repeal DOMA, DADT and pass ENDA! So many acronyms!

[...]

Only In It For The Gold: Austin Streetscape

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:17:00 -0500

[...]

PoliTex: Turner and Harris buy first scratch-off lotto tickets for veterans

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:15:00 -0500

After helping push the bill through the Texas Legislature earlier this year, State Rep. Chris Turner and State Sen. Chris Harris bought two of the first scratch-off lottery tickets for veterans Monday morning.

Turner, a Democrat, and Harris, a Republican, were two of [...]

The StandDown Texas Project: Transcripts Available in Juvenile Cases

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:35:05 -0500

The transcripts of oral arguments in Graham v. Florida and Sullivan v. Florida are now available through the Court's website.

Lyle Denniston posts an initial version of, "Analysis: The Chief leads on juvenile sentences?" A more complete version will be posted later today.

Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., [...]

The StandDown Texas Project: The Utah Parole Board

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:16:16 -0500

"Utah parole board wields power judiciously," is the title of Stephen Hunt's report in today's Salt Lake Tribune.

Members of the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole would love to gaze into an inmate's future before releasing him back onto the streets.

"I wish we had a crystal ball, but [...]

McBlogger: Notes from a degenerate

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:13:24 -0500

Newsweek was kind enough to print an amateurish book review from Mark Sanford about a new bio of Rand by Anne Heller. I was privileged to read it on the internet, created in no small part through the efforts of the US government which he so blissfully dismisses as [...]

RIGHTWINGSPARKLE: 20 Years Ago Today The Berlin Wall Fell

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:06:00 -0500

Wizbang has a delightful account of the day a mundane news conference turned into a freedom free for all.

I believe we should take great pleasure in the fact that perhaps the single greatest act of liberation during my lifetime came about as the result of a screw-up [...]

blogHOUSTON: Sixel: Chicago "organizing" tactics extend to Houston

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:03:50 -0500

CHRON COLUMNIST L.M. SIXEL reports that all those SEIU employees that have been much more "organized" in Houston in recent years are "represented by the Service Employees International Union Local 1 in Chicago." Sixel also notes that Chicago "orga... [...]

Texas Rainmaker: A Healthcare Plan So Good…

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:01:50 -0500

Number of comments: 1

They’ll throw you in prison if you don’t join it…

No, thanks.

[...]

The StandDown Texas Project: In Kansas

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:01:46 -0500

"Death penalty cases take time and scrutiny," is the title of a lengthy examination of Kansas' death penalty. As with the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin series and the Louisville Courier-Journal article, both noted earlier today, this is a lengthy examination.

Larry Williams expected to wait 10 years to see the death [...]

MOMocrats™: I'm still waiting for those defenders of children to defend them.

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:46:25 -0500

Number of comments: 3

Image by andyofne via Flickr

Really, this just goes beyond the pale. Picketing the school where our President's children attend with racist, threatening, hateful signs? Fred Phelps’ Westboro Baptist Church is a hate group that [...]

Pete's Place: SI's college football playoff bracket after games of Nov. 7

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:46:00 -0500

(1) Florida vs. (16) Miami(8) LSU vs. (9) Ohio State(5) TCU vs. (12) USC(4) Cincinnati vs. (13) Iowa(3) Alabama vs. (14) Houston(6) Boise State vs. (11) Oregon(7) Georgia Tech vs. (10) Pittsburgh(2) Texas vs. (15) Utah [...]

The StandDown Texas Project: In Kentucky

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:05:29 -0500

"Kentucky's troubled death-penalty system lets cases languish for decades, is the title of a Louisville Courier-Journal report written by R. G. Dunlop.

Kentucky is spending millions of dollars each year on a capital-punishment system so ineffective that more death-row inmates are dying of natural causes than are being executed.

Since the death penalty was [...]

Brains and Eggs: Responses from Evan Smith and Miya Shay

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:00:00 -0500

I posted about the Texas Tribune's wacky poll last week, and had a conversation with Tribune CEO Evan Smith yesterday afternoon prompted by it.

First, a correction: Farouk Shami was not included in their list of Democratic gubernatorial candidates, as I wrote. The candidates they DID [...]

Manifesto Joe's Texas Blues: Odds Are Against Real Health Care Reform In Senate, But House Vote Was Worth It

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:57:00 -0500

By Manifesto Joe

The public option for health insurance probably doesn't stand a chance in the Senate. Renegade Joe Lieberman and several "blue dog" DINOs are very likely to stop it from getting to an up-or-down vote like we saw in the House late Saturday. But it was worth' [...]

The StandDown Texas Project: In Washington State

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:50:35 -0500

The Walla Walla Union-Bulletin has begun a four-day series on the death penalty.

SUNDAY - Series overview, a column by Terry McConn and a timeline of the history of executions from 1904 to the present day.
MONDAY - The cost of trials, appeals and executions.
TUESDAY - Opponents and proponents [...]