Off the Kuff takes a look at Democratic primary races as they now stand in Harris County and elsewhere in Texas.

Refinish69 thinks sometimes you just have to say What the Hell???

Bay Area Houston says it is Time for a Joe Driver law.

CouldBeTrue wants you to know that Vermin Supreme almost beat Rick Perry in Vermont.

The Texas Tea Party had a rally and a straw poll in Houston, a few rich white bigots showed up, and Rick Perry got his ass whipped again. In other words, as PDiddie at Brains and Eggs observes, nothing has really changed for the TeaBaggers.

At TexasKaos, Libby Shaw gets us up to date on who is calling who a vulture capitialist, or Pot, meet Kettle. See her piece: Vulture Capitalist Supporters Perry, Gingrich Demonize Vulture Capitalism.

It’s been a little quiet on the issue of transportation funding lately, but that’s changed. WCNews at Eye On Williamson posts on the latest polling nonsense about how to pay for new roads, Here we go again.

Neil at Texas Liberal offered the 5th annual posting of his Martin Luther King Reading & Reference List. There are 3 new additions for 2012. This list is the best starting point to learn about M.L.K. to be found on the web.

Everyone is also outraged that Representative Mike O’Neal using the term Mrs. Yo Mama to refer to Michelle Obama. Am I offended by the statement and email. Of course, I am but I also took pot shots at Laura Bush and OMG the comments I and others have made about Barbara Bush well, I will not repeat them here.

Personal attacks and sarcasm are part of politics but I cannot understand how each side can get so damn offended at the other while we all continue to do the same thing. I call Rick Santorum Frothy. I questions Gingrich when he talks about the sanctity of marriage but divorces a wife with cancer. Hell, I have nicknames for all of them and still call them assholes, bastards and anything else I can think of when commenting on them and their policies.

Now everyone is on their damn high horse about Tim Tebow being religious and bowing in prayer after a successful play or game. Who are we to judge this young man for having a strong belief and not being afraid to show it? I might not agree with all of his beliefs about social issues but I respect him. He is not some fanatic saying all gays must die and that we caused hurricanes. He doesn’t or hasn’t gotten involved in politics except for the anti-abortion commercial for the Superbowl last year. One of my best friends is anti-abortion but I still love her and respect her mind and soul. She is extremely “Liberal” except for this one issue. Should I belittle her or deride her because of a personal beliefs? Hell NO!!!!! I actually agree with her that women should know and be educated about all options before choosing an abortion. I just think a woman should be the ultimate judge in this.

I guess this rant is about reality. I am more concerned with the actual issues and want to make things better for all people. I am sure I will keep making off color comments about politicians and comparing them to criminals from history. I am sure the people who support opponents of my candidate of choice will do the same. I how ever will talk about issues and how they affect everyday people including myself.

Off the Kuff discusses the state’s appeal of the injunction granted against the horrible sonogram law.

This week WCNews at Eye On Williamson posts on the fact that our politics can’t be fixed until the money is taken out of our political process, It’s the money.

The case against the Texas Republicans’ redistricting argument (beginning before the SCOTUS on January 9) rests almost entirely on two generations of legal precedent. And with a Court that has indicated an interest in eviscerating the Voting Rights Act, precedent doesn’t mean diddly, either. PDiddie at Brains and Eggs elaborates.

BossKitty at TruthHugger has had enough of the religious bullying by the 2012 Republican Presidential Candidates, specifically Rick Santorum. Why do we need a Jesus candidate?

At TexasKaos, Libby Shaw explains why Romney’s “job creator” lies are well, lies. Check it out: Mitt Romney: A Job Killer, Not Creator.

From Bay Area Houston The Texas Ethics Commission, Jerry Eversole, and the GOP. Texas sized embarrassments.

BlueBloggin sees the Consequences of Not Paying Attention when corporate funded American politicians make it easy to break environmental rules, ruin natural resources and not be held accountable to the human victims.

Neil at Texas Liberal noted a certificate he received in the mail from the Department of Veteran’s Affairs that noted his recently deceased father’s military service. Neil’s dad, a Korean War combat veteran, would have been glad that the certificate was signed by Barack Obama, and not by a draft-dodging liar like George W. Bush.

There were two big redistricting stories last week, and both favored the plaintiffs against Texas and its retrogressive maps. The DC Court issued its decision defining preclearance standards, and the Justice Department filed an amicus brief with SCOTUS arguing it should use the interim maps drawn by the San Antonio court. Off the Kuff has the details on each.

BossKitty at TruthHugger – can only laugh at what the GOP has put in the store window this election season, 2012 GOP Lineup and Songs From The 1960s.

WCNews at Eye On Williamson weighs in on redistricting and the Voting Rights Act, Texas Redistricting Round Up.

More Dallas wastewater is headed for Houston, as a project to route more of the Trinity River toward the Bayou City moves forward. PDiddie at Brains and Eggs says that he can’t wait to pour a tall glass of Metroplex toilet water.

CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme screams to the high heavens that Ron Paul is not a principled man.

Neil at Texas Liberal posted about a longtime musician friend looking to form a new protest band in Cincinnati. It’s unlikely that anybody in Texas will be able to join this band. But that is not the point. The point is that we all have talents, and we should work hard to make the best use of our talents in the big political year ahead. Don’t just sit around and let somebody else generate content for you to consume.

The Lewisville Texan Journal (formerly WhosPlayin) examined TxDOT right-of-way purchases along the I-35E corridor in Denton County, finding that the state was paying much, much more for properties than the tax roll values. Denton County’s Republican County Judge Mary Horn, who is spearheading the effort to expand the road with toll lanes received $993,000 for an investment property she had, which was 19.7 times more than what it was on the tax rolls for.

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.

I will be the first to admit I am scared of the future. I see Tea Party candidates still getting traction and people either ignoring their vileness and bigotry or saying they cannot possibly stay in power long. Isn’t this what the Intelligentsia of Germany said about the Nazis? Their campaign was built on hatred and bigotry and false or extreme country pride. Have we really forgotten our history that much????

I constantly try and fond the good side to the world. I vote for candidates who I think will make a difference ad protect the poor, children, women and so many other areas of our population. The fact that we have children starving in America and living in shelters and in cars is a sin!!!! It is especially heinous considering so many of the top corporations are paying no taxes or getting millions in tax cuts while people in America sleep in boxes. How has this country come to this????

Please think of the less fortunate this Holiday Season. Make a donation to the local homeless shelter,. Take some non perishable food goods to the local food bank. Call different hospitals, hospices, or elder care centers and find out if there are people who have no family for the holiday and take them a small gift. Reach out and show that we do actually care for each other.

SCOTUS has issued a stay and scrambled the 2012 elections again. Off the Kuff tries to make sense of it.

BossKitty at TruthHugger – it’s business as usual for Texas politicians want to tilt the voter tables in their favor by gerrymandering – US Supreme Court May Like New Texas Gerrymandering.

Occupy went to Washington and comes to Houston on Monday, December 12. PDiddie at Brains and Eggs follows along.

WCNews at Eye On Williamson points out that there’s a corporate hand up the back of many GOP legislators in Texas, Texas GOP legislators are corporate puppets.

At TexasKaos Libby Shaw explans how the GOP is killing the U.S. economy and the American Dream.

Neil at Texas Liberal made one post, and then another detailing the trip of recent Green Houston City Council candidate Amy Price to Washington with Occupy Houston.

CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme calls out the US Supreme Court for the corrupt hijacking of the Texas elections.

Off the Kuff provides a little perspective about redistricting and the political outcome of the ongoing litigation over it.

WCNews at Eye On Williamson says it’s time for a new direction for the Texas Democratic Party, A tremendous opportunity to create a new Democratic Party in Texas.

McBlogger says that Judge Rakoff threw a big wrench into the sweetheart deals some of the banks have been getting from the SEC.

Bay Area Houston has information if you want to Contact the Judge about State Representative Joe Driver’s sentencing.

Refinish69 has a few suggestions since The Holiday Season is Here!

BossKitty at TruthHugger – Is more comfortable with Crop Circles than the Frankenstein Tea Party the Koch Brothers created. Why the Tea Party is like a Crop Circle.

At TexasKaos, Libby Shaw summaries the choices presented by the Republican presidental hopefuls in An OOPS, Serial Flipper Flopper, Adulterers, a Sourpuss and a Scared Spin Doctor. It would be funnier, if it were not all true.

Mitt Romney’s path to the GOP nomination got considerably rockier in the past week, and that was before Herman Cain failed to deliver in 30 minutes or less. The rise of Newt Gingrich is however a dilemma for conservative fundamentalist Christians, as PDiddie at Brains and Eggs observes. Can they get behind a nominee who believes that marriage should only be between a man and a woman who does not have cancer?

Neil at Texas Liberal took a walk along some railroad tracks in Houston. On this walk, Neil encountered both solid and metaphorical aspects of life.

We have Herman Cain sticking his dick in anything that comes by or at least trying until he finally has to suspend his Presidential campaign. We have Newt gaining ground as the most likely GOP nominee even though he tried to destroy DC once before when he was there. During all of this insanity, we have cuts to government programs that help the poor, elderly and disabled. But! AMericans are spending more on the Holidays and that is a good thing right?  I guess it is as it does help the economy but I have a few suggestions to make for people.

When you are out spending every dime you can spare on the Holidays because you have bought into the hype of the Holidays being about bigger and better presents, please think of those less fortunate than you. Instead of buying the $250 coat buy one that coast $200 and tow that coast $25 and drop the $25 ones off at a homeless shelter. For every gift you buy your kids, buy one for a child on the Angel Trees at the mall. When you see the bell ringers, reach in your pocket and drop your spare change into to help homeless families. Volunteer at the local food bank and drop of a bag of dry or can goods to help those who don’t have money for a Holiday Feast.

Tis the season for getting or giving pets for the Holidays as well. Please do not support puppy mills or animal breeders gone wild. Stop by your local animal shelter and adopt a loving animal who needs a forever home. While you are at it, bring a large bag of dog or cat food and treats for the animals already there. You can always call ahead and see what kind they prefer.

I am not trying to be a total downer about the Holidays. I want people to celebrate and share the joy of the Season with friends and loved ones. It is vital to do this and part of our nature and heritage. I am all for enjoying the Holidays but I think the true meaning has been lost for many. People want to argue about putting Christ back in Christmas but don’t think about volunteering at the soup kitchen. What is up with that????  Take sometime to share your wealth no matter how small with those who have so much less than you.

I am not tooting my own horn here but I live on disability and still give what I can to charities to help those less fortunate than myself. If I can do it on a very limited budget, so can you!!! Please remember the true meaning of the Holidays and share some love and joy with those who need it the most.:)

Off the Kuff has information about the interim redistricting maps that the federal court in San Antonio will be considering.

Letters From Texas discusses Republicans not understanding basic biology, which is why some candidates might not even realize that they’re advocating banning birth control. Much worse, others do understand it.

Several Houston city council candidates earned the coveted PDiddie endorsement. Pick up your progressive voting guide at Brains and Eggs.

As early voting starts for the November constitutional amendment election get started WCNews at Eye On Williamson says Vote No on Prop 4 – the latest transportation scheme.

Libby Shaw says it best in Rick Perry: A Right Wing Wrecking Machine . She compares the degrees of diaster that seperate Perry from Romney. The result is a “how low can you go” contest that America can’t afford, not when one of these mean spirited clowns could be the next American President. See her post at TexasKaos.

Neil at Texas Liberal continues to blog about and to support Occupy Houston and Occupy Wall Street.