politics
Texas Progressive Alliance Weekly Up Date
The Texas Progressive Alliance is all about the wassailing as it brings you this week’s blog roundup.
Off the Kuff has a look at candidate filings in Harris County as of what was once the deadline date.
BossKitty at TruthHugger - sees the grim side of a corporate ruled America, is that Climate Change Controversy May Be A Conspiracy and we are the targets.
BlueBloggin – Special interests are really not very special when they represent mindless, dangerous attitudes of corporate extremists, who don’t want to be accountable for their actions. Let Me Sell you A Lie – EPA Consequences of The REINS Act – H.R. 10 shows that corporations really do own America’s lawmakers.
Bay Area Houston says Rick Perry is one rotten bastard.
Death sentences and the use of the death penalty are hitting record lows. Mostly because of the corruption and injustice in our criminal justice system. It’s led WCNews at Eye On Williamson to wonder, Is the death penalty dying?
Third-party presidential candidates may make some noise and perhaps even some news in 2012, writes PDiddie at Brains and Eggs.
At TexasKaos, Libby Shaw gives us the heads up on the latest episode of Rick Perry, fraud and hypocrite. Check out: Double Dipping Rick the Hypocrite.
CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme notes Greg Abbott called the US Supreme court to poop on Texas’ politicians and voters. That’s a republican for you.
Neil at Texas Liberal wrote a post considering the life of the real St. Nicholas. St. Nicholas was a foe of the death penalty who was said to have brought back to life children who had been cut up and were going to be pickled.
McBlogger takes on PolitiFact’s pathetic attempt to beat up Congressman Lloyd Doggett.
Refinish69 from Doing My Part For The Left wonders Do They Know It’s Christmas in Washington or anywhere else in the world.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Texas Progressive Alliance Weekly Round Up
The Texas Progressive Alliance hopes that the nation remembers Molly Ivins’ words about Texas governors as it brings you this week’s roundup.
Off the Kuff notes that the Voting Rights Act is squarely in the sight of Texas Republicans as they try to get their gerrymandered maps approved.
As Texas Governor Rick Perry (R – idiculous) officially enters the race for President, Letters From Texas presents Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Perry, But Were Afraid To Ask.
WCNews at Eye On Williamson warns that a Rick Perry presidential run should not be taken lightly, because if elected he would be Bush on Steroids.
CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme thinks that Rick Perry, (r-Dominionist), is just a puppet for the true leaders of the slow moving mob of republican fanatics.
Over at TexasKaos , Libby Shaw gives us a quick summary of Good Hair’s presidential creds in The Success of Rick Perry.
Do the King Street Patriots — via the Texas Secretary of State — intend to turn away veterans at the polls? It looks as if they do, and Open Source Dem at Brains and Eggs has the details.
Neil at Texas Liberal posted on Rick Perry’s conflicted views about gay marriage. If you read pages 26 and 27 of the hardcover edition Rick Perry’s book Fed Up!, you will see that his social conservatism and his extreme states’ rights views are not compatible. Both Rick Perry’s far-right backers and his centrist and liberal opponents should note this dramatic inconsistency.
McBlogger takes a look at S&P and finds them wanting.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Texas Progressive Alliance Weekly Round Up
The thoughts and prayers of the Texas Progressive Alliance are with the people of Norway as we bring you this week’s roundup.
Off the Kuff has an update on redistricting litigation that’s being filed.
WCNews at Eye On Williamson posts on the Lt. Gov.’s latest move, Dewhurst announces for Senate, commits to gutting Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security.
A couple of Republican bloggers thought they were breaking news with murmurings of a Texas Senate Demoratic primary challenge by Sylvia Garcia to Mario Gallegos. By the end of the day the senator, the former county commissioner, and their shared political consultant shot the rumor down in flames. PDiddie at Brains and Eggs reminds you why you just shouldn’t believe anything posted on conservative blogs.
Lightseeker takes a shot at connecting some sad dots in Republican Lies, their connection to our looming Doctor Shortage and Corporate Power. It turns out that making public policy by using the repeated Big Lie will come back to bite you in the ass after all.
Neil at Texas Liberal has begun to read Rick Perry’s book Fed Up! Neil is finding this great work to be very enjoyable so far.
At WhosPlayin, Regina responds to all those forwarded emails, and gives a dozen good reasons why she can’t support Rick Perry for President.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Texas Progressive Alliance Weekly Round Up
The Texas Progressive Alliance is ready to say “Sine Die” for the second time as it brings you this week’s roundup.
The Congressional map got its final legislative approval, and Off the Kuff analyzes the new districts.
This week WCNews at Eye On Williamson posts on the (in)action at The Lege. Quorums were broken and tempers flared, This week’s Political wrap-up, GOP laziness was the theme.
Bay Area Houston thinks the Texas Tea Party is calling for an immigration raid on homebuilder Bob Perry for his roll in killing their sanctuary bill.
This week, McBlogger tells us exactly why a federal debt default isn’t a good thing.
Rick Perry’s ‘aids’ (sic) are preparing to respond to the ‘crusted-over rumors’ of the governor’s alleged homosexual liasons. Chief ‘aid’ (sic) Dave Carney emphasizes that Perry is the ‘most tested’ candidate on the Republican side. Seriously, that’s what Politico wrote. PDiddie at Brains and Eggs has a screen shot.
CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme sees republican hate meets the greed of Rick Perry crony, Bob Perry. Greed wins.
Libby Shaw gives us the skinny: Rachel Maddow Debunks Rick Perry’s “Texas Miracle” Myth . Check it out at TexasKaos.
Public Citizen’s TexasVox shows us that while Houston implements water restrictions to deal with this global warming-enhanced drought, San Antonio is trying to do something about it by retiring their coal plant and making heavy investments in solar.
Neil at Texas Liberal compiled a Fourth of July reading list. As fun as it might be to blow off your fingers as you set off fireworks in violation of drought-mandated brushfire rules, it is even more fun to learn about your past. If you allow others to define your history—as, for example, we have allowed crazies to take over the symbolism of the Boston Tea Party—such folks will most likely use this power to also screw up your future.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Texas Progressive Alliance Weekly Round Up
The Texas Progressive Alliance is keeping all of the victims of the Arizona shooting in its thoughts as it brings you this week’s roundup.
Refinish69 at Doing My Part for the Left has misgivings about the border patrol shooting teenagers because they are throwing rocks. The hate mongering expressed in the Immigration bills for the 82nd Texas Legislature will only add fuel to the fire.
Off the Kuff writes about the upcoming legislative battle over class size limits.
Bay Area Houston gives the bird back to the Harris County GOP. (With video.)
Hydraulic fracturing brings PEAK WATER to the Eagle Ford Shale as residents find their water tables dropping. A resident found Bluedaze: DRILLING REFORM FOR TEXAS and contacted TXsharon about their flammable water.
This week on Left of College Station, Teddy covers Texas Congressional District 17’s new Republican congressman Bill Flores’ first days on the job in Congress. Also, as the 82nd Texas Legislature prepares to gavel into session facing a possible $25 billion budget shortfall, Teddy asks what’s the matter with Texas?
BossKitty at TruthHugger is watching, with amazement, current events unfolding after the Arizona Tragedy. The venom being spewed by extreme groups toward the victims and praise for the shooter is absolutely incredible. BossKitty tries to unravel the reasons these events are now mainstream in this country. Wounded America On Life Support – Op Ed.
CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme sees the republican priority – cronies, cronies, cronies.
nytexan at BlueBloggin looks at who we have become Arizona Shooting, Political Discord and Americans Disrespect. American should be ashamed of what we have become, gun toting, hate mongering Neanderthals. We are continually pointing fingers at each other, continually shouting, continually spewing incorrect information, continually exhibiting disrespect. This has now become a national pastime.
Neil at Texas Liberal posted the fourth annual version of his Martin Luther King Reading & Reference List. It is the best such reference on the web.
Texas is not like Arizona, PDiddie at Brains and Eggs observes. In Texas we don’t arrest people for looking “illegal”, or let Medicaid patients die because the governor doesn’t want to pay the bill, or shoot Congresswomen in front of supermarkets. Yet.
WhosPlayin is disgusted by a City Council that refused to table a vote on 12 gas wells and a wastewater facility when the operator submitted a weaselly P.R. document instead of a real emissions reduction plan. It’s time to replace some councilmen, because one is an illiterate fool, and the other is unethical enough to push an ordinance backed by his employer.
After the Texas Eagle Forum weighed in on the House Speaker’s race, Letters From Texas weighed in on the shenanigans of the Texas Eagle Forum.
Over at TexasKaos, libbyshaw, has a reality pill for Rick Perry and his minions. Check out The Great Texas Failure: A Smoke and Mirrors Economy.
TexasVox has a complete rundown of last week’s vote to allow the nation’s radioactive waste to come to Texas. Long story short? We got screwed.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Texas Progressive Alliance weekly blog round-up
It’s Monday, and that means it is time for another Texas Progressive Alliance weekly blog round-up. This week’s round-up was compiled by Vince from Capitol Annex.
Muse found the potties at the Harris County D.A.’s office – right next to Chuck Rosenthal’s office – thereby making her qualified to be District Attorney (according to D.A. candidate Kelly Siegler). Muse 2012: Qualified and Potty Location Trained.
Hide the silver! Off the Kuff says Tom DeLay is back in town.
CouldBeTrue at South Texas Chisme notes that Kay ‘Bye Bye’ Bailey Hutchison is getting grief from the knuckle draggers in her own party for the recently passed fence amendment. Apparently, even a little bit of sanity must be stamped out by the Republican base.
Early Voting, Hal at Half Empty says, may just be something ALL Democrats need to consider this time, in order to avoid confusion at the polls when polling sites at schools are moved this coming March 4th.
The FairTax (Mike Huckabee’s 30% national sales tax scheme), Texans for (Tort) Reform, and Houstonians for (Ir)Responsible Growth all have one billionaire in common: Leo Linbeck Jr. PDiddie at Brains and Eggs provides the 411 on his various conservative-populist activist fronts.
WCNews at Eye On Williamson points to an Inane AAS Editorial On AG’s Health Care Gambit.
Harry Balczak at McBlogger found and interesting take on the candidates in the Presidential election.
Jaye at Winding Road notes that these are the times that try Democratic souls.
Gary at Easter Lemming Liberal News wants Obama or Clinton to pay the $2,000 and and establish a precedent of auditing and hand-counting machine counted ballots. The complete series of the New Hampshire results and reasons it why may be a good idea to audit is here.
Vince at Capitol Annex notes that Texas Attorney General Gregg Abbott is testing the waters for his 2010 run for Lt. Governor with his asinine child insurance program.
BossKitty at BlueBloggin reviews the History Of US Backed Dictators – Redux. A historical look at the US setting up and backing corrupt dictators to serve our agenda.
Stace at DosCentavos bids a fond farewell to the history-making candidacy of Bill`Richardson. His thoughts and feelings on supporting the first Latino presidential candidate.
John Coby at Bay Area Houston wonders why State Representative John Davis in HD129 was a no show in the local paper write up concerning the race. State Rep John Davis a no show in Clear Lake news.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )
Why Gay Voters Must Keep Asking About Gay Rights!
I had planned to do a piece on how I am not a single issue voter and all the different issues I care about and demand answers on from elected officials and candidates. After reading an article from Newsweek, I changed my mind. You can call me a single-issue voter all you want and I don’t give a damn. I know I am not but since so many of the GLBT Community are not in a position where they can speak out, I will continue to speak out LOUD and CLEAR about the issues that are unique to our community and demand Equal Rights for All People.
The article from Newsweek tells the story of a Lesbian couple whose world was destroyed by death and how the surviving partner was treated as dirt by the hospital and the funeral home. “
Frantic efforts produced a pulse. An ambulance raced Fleming to the hospital, with Strong close behind. At the door of the hospital emergency room, a social worker informed her that only family members were allowed inside. When Strong protested that she was Fleming’s partner, the social worker said that under Washington state law, same-sex partners did not qualify as family. Only an urgent call to Fleming’s sister in Virginia cleared the way to get Strong through the doors. Ninety minutes later, Fleming died, with Strong at her side.
The nightmare didn’t end there. The next day the man handling the funeral arrangements insisted on dealing with Fleming’s mother, though Strong told him she was Fleming’s spouse. “He said, ‘You don’t have any rights in the state of Washington’.” says Strong. “I left the room and started crying.”
Together for 10 years, the couple had held a commitment ceremony that was not officially binding but a symbol of their relationship. “Kate was my wife, and I was her wife, and that’s the way we always thought of each other,” said Strong.
The second night after Fleming’s death, an anguished Strong lay awake, replaying the harrowing scenes in her mind—the flood, the hospital, the funeral home. Though still in shock, her rage was mounting. “I could handle someone calling me a homo,” she told NEWSWEEK. “But saying you don’t count, that’s something that had to change.””
This just one case in thousands where lovers or partners are treated as trash by hospitals, funeral homes, and even by the families of their lovers. I have had friends lose the rights to see their children after a partner died because only one name could be listed on the adoption papers due to the state they lived in. I have several friends who have lost the homes they built together with a loved one after the family had the will over-turned in a court of law. Until all couples have the same 1,138 rights and protections offered under the law to “straight married” couples, there is legal discrimination in America.
Charlene Strong’ quit her job and took up the fight for Equal Rights for All People in Washington state. A documentary has been made telling her story and will be released to selected film festivals next month.
“The film, “For My Wife,” will be released at selected film festivals next month. Strong, who plans to help promote the film, will also travel to New York where she will get training as a public speaker and activist from the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD). “Charlene has a powerful story that resonates with people,” says GLAAD President Neil Giuliano. “That’s why she’s very compelling.””
This is one of the reasons I speak out so forcefully about GLBT issues even in a state where I know most people are more conservative-even Democrats- and where the conversation is not always welcome. This type of tragedy has to stop being allowed to happen. It is time for the GLBT activist and their allies to speak out and keep speaking out until the laws in all states are changed. We will never end prejudice but we can end legalized discrimination.
We have come a long way in the 34 years I have been out by we still have a long way to go. The fight is not over and this soldier is willing to fight till his last breath to end this injustice in America and the World.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )
The Twelve Days of John Cornyn
On the Fourth Day of Christmas John Cornyn Gave to Me…
But as usual, the facts prove that Little Johnny Cornyn has been lying to his constituents and as a result, he should get nuttin’ for Christmas. When he actually had an opportunity to impose increased regulations on earmark funding, he voted against the legislation. The same legislation would have also increased the amount of time a Senator must wait before become a lobbyist to prevent a “revolving door”. He was one of only 14 Senators to vote against the legislation—even his own Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY.) said that “many provisions are stronger than current law” and voted for it. And even though Cornyn has said he’d push for greater earmark disclosure, when CNN asked for Cornyn’s 2008 earmarks, he refused to respond. [Roll Call Vote #294 8/2/07, Associated Press 8/2/07, CNN 6/29/07]
It’s unfortunate that John Cornyn believes he can hide from the truth. But as the song says, Santa knows if you’ve been bad or good. And with John Cornyn speaking from both sides of his mouth, he’s clearly been bad this year. Let’s hope Santa gives him the lump of coal he deserves.
The Twelve Days of John Cornyn
Three Disenfranchised Voters
U.S. Senator John Cornyn didn’t earn any points for originality this year in his choice of stocking stuffers to his minority constituents. He’ll be giving them the same present he gives them every year: a dogged attempt to take away their right to vote.
Since his days as Texas Attorney General in 2001, Cornyn has used his public office to push partisan redistricting schemes that would blatantly disenfranchise millions of Hispanic, African-American and rural voters. The map the Republicans eventually passed was found last year to have violated the Voting Rights Act by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Cornyn’s response to being foiled by the U.S. Supreme Court was to try to weaken the Voting Rights Act, vehemently opposing provisions in the Act that require “pre-clearance” by the Department of Justice for redistricting maps and voting changes. [Cox News "Window on Washington," 2/8/07] Sadly, minorities can only expect more of this Scrooge-like treatment from Cornyn in 2008. When it comes to disenfranchising voters, Cornyn is nothing if not predictable.
Texas Progressive Alliance Blog Round Up
It’s Monday, and that means it’s time for another edition of the Texas Progressive Alliance’s weekly blog round-up. This week’s round-up is compiled by Vince from Capitol Annex.
Also, as a special note, the Texas Progressive Alliance would like to announce that the time has come to announce its 2007 Texan of the Year. This year’s Texan of the Year process will be a little different than in years past. We’ve got a full slate of Texas Silver Stars (our Honorable Mentions), and four runner-ups (Texas Gold Stars) and, of course, a Texan of the Year. We’ll start by announcing the Texas Silver Stars on Friday, December 7. Then, each day from December 10 through December 13 we’ll announce a Gold Star, followed by our Texan of the Year on Friday, December 14. So be sure to check your favorite TPA blog starting this coming Friday to see who our picks are for our Texan of the Year!
What happens when it rains and containers holding lethal chemicals overflow into creek beds? See How Are Injection Well and Gas Coupling Inspections Alike? for another example of RRC negligence that puts Texans at risk. Brought to you by TXsharon at Bluedaze.
Refinish69 from Doing My Part For The Left shares his memories of loved one lost to AIDS in his World AIDS Day diary and podcast.
Gary at Easter Lemming Liberal News observes the devolving of Texas Education.
Jaye at Winding Road asks “What if abortion is outlawed in a Republican administration?“
Xanthippas at Three Wise Men informs you that when it’s the National Football League versus Big Cable, the only loser is you.
Vince at Capitol Annex takes a look at the Interim Charges for committees of the Texas House in the 80th Legislature in three posts, as well as Tom Craddick’s views on the charges.
The Texas GOP is gearing up a sophisticated voter suppression effort for the 2008 elections. PDiddie at Brains and Eggs forwards the Lone Star Project’s comprehensive report.
The Texas Cloverleaf tells us that TxDOT can no longer plead poverty! It just received a Christmas gift of $3.197 Billion from NTTA for the rights to build SH 121 Toll.
Hal at Half Empty reports that the Republican Party of Fort Bend County has taken a radical shift to the right as neoconservative evangelicals have taken over their county party leadership.
Lightseeker at Texas Kaos looks at the mess Texas Education Agency has become with TEA: We must remain neutral on junk science theory. This should be enough to make parents either vote or move to get their kids out of the Texas school systems.
Matt Glazer at Burnt Orange Report talks about the Texas Internet Revolution and the good publicity TexBlog PAC has been getting recently.
Stunned about the tuition increases at UT Law? So was Closet Purist at McBlogger who takes a detailed look at how UT Law compares to Harvard and Yale and asks, what do you get for the money?
You may have heard the right-wing echo chamber saying that the surge is working in Iraq, or that things are going better now. Texas Toad at North Texas Liberal gives us the real deal in “Some Perspective on the Surge.”
CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme notes that federal rules allow ferry
security guards to sleep on the job. Republicans say they care about security, but prove they don’t.
Off the Kuff exercises his privilege as a blogger to nitpick an article about the rise of the netroots in Texas.
Eye On Williamson takes a look at the retirement of Rep. Mike Krusee in Why We Won’t Have Mike Krusee To Kick Around Anymore.
Don’t forget to check out all the Texas Progressive Alliance blogs, too:
B & B
Bay Area Houston
Blue 19th
Blue Bloggin
Bluedaze
Brains & Eggs
Burnt Orange Report
Capitol Annex
Common Sense
Doing My Part For The Left
Dos Centavos
Easter Lemming Liberal News
Eye on Williamson
Feet To Fire
Grassroots News U Can Use
Half Empty
In The Pink Texas
Marc’s Miscellany
McBlogger
MindSpeak
Musings
North Texas Liberal
Off The Kuff
Para Justicia y Libertad
People’s Republic of Seabrook
South Texas Chisme
StoutDemBlog
Texas Kaos
Texas Truth Serum
The Agonist
The Caucus Blog
The Jeffersonian
The Red State
The Texas Blue
The Texas Clover Leaf
Three Wise Men
Who’s Playin’?
Winding Road in Urban Area
« Previous Entries
