On this day let's thank George W. Bush for his "comma" in Iraq

Let's take a moment on this day that President Obama declares an end to military action, to remember what George W. Bush's "comma" looks like:

4,420 Number of American soldiers killed
31,926 Number of American soldiers wounded
100,000 Number of Iraqi citizens killed
2,255,000 Number of Iraqi citizens displaced
$900 Billion Cost of Iraq war as of July 2010
0 Number of weapons of mass destruction found
0 Number of mobile biological labs found
0 Number of canisters of Anthraz found
0 Number of canisters of biological weapons found

So as we thank our soldiers for their sacrifice and welcome them home, let's remember those that were killed, wounded, and their families, as we also remember George Bush's comma.

Who is Leo Vasquez lying in bed with?

This is disturbing. (as if torching 10,000 voting machines isn't enough)

One of the groups working with our selected Harris County Voter Registrar, Leo Vasquez, to harass those who are registering voters, not only has an address which is the same as the Rick Perry Campaign, but they are now running advertisements via youtube, with doctored video. The video shows an Black lady with the sign "I only got to vote once". From Wayne Slater of the Dallas News:

On the screen is a picture of a black protester with a sign that appears to have been electronically doctored for the video. "So much for their claims to the truth," said Glenn Smith, a political progressive and Democratic political consultant. 

 

 Here is a statement from Anthony Gutierrez, Deputy Executive Director of the Texas Democratic Party:

“Not only have they completely destroyed whatever credibility they had, but all Harris County residents should be deeply disturbed by how closely Republican Voter Registrar Leo Vasquez is working with this Republican group.  They apparently are being given access to voter registration applications [1] [2] which contain personal, private information and which the Voter Registrar’s Office refused to turn over to the Democratic Party in the course of our lawsuit arguing that the personal nature of the information on the cards needed to be protected, an argument they even made in federal court.”   

That has bothered me the most, the fact that this right wing partisan organization has had special access to the data being provided to Leo Vasquez and now we find that he withheld that very same type of information when his office was sued. I heard from a number of people last night that Leo had better get his story straight in the very near future. He has a lot of explaining to do.

As the old saying goes "What a tangled web we weave when we lie like a dog with fleas".

I didn't see this coming: Fire at Mosque ruled arson

Who would have ever thought that someone in this day and age would touch a Mosque? Or would stage a hate filledprotests against a Community Center, or stab a cab driver because he is a Muslim, or piss on the prayer carpets of those praying to their God.

Nothing like a group of so-called Christians on crack taking advantage of incredibly stupid people to give every other Christian a bad name. From CBS news:

"We unfortunately did not experience hostilities for the 30 years we've been here and have only seen the hostility since approval of the site plan for the new center," said Sbenaty.

Opponents of a new Islamic center say they believe the mosque will be more than a place of prayer; they are afraid the 15-acre site that was once farmland will be turned into a terrorist training ground for Muslim militants bent on overthrowing the U.S. government. 

Shelton was among several hundred demonstrators who recently wore "Vote for Jesus" T-shirts and carried signs that said "No Sharia law for USA!," referring to the Islamic code of law. 

And who would have thought Christians could become so fucking stupid? God help us all. With incredibly stupid, moronic, Christians like this, we really don't need the devil.

White on home insurance reform

Since Rick Perry has been in office home insurance rates have soared. Perry and State Representative Larry Taylor have carried the industry's jock strap for the last 10 years leaving us with the highest rates in the nation with little if any effective oversight.

I remember when Perry issued a press release in 2002 just before the election:

"In too many cases, homeowner's insurance is getting more expensive, coverage is becoming harder to get, and instead of more companies stepping up to meet the demand, some companies have stopped writing comprehensive policies altogether."

So what happened 8 years later? Insurance is more expensive (twice the national average), coverage has been cut, and deductibles are out the roof. One of the biggest giveaways was the repeal of the requirement to obtain prior approval before raising rates. Now it is called a "file and use" system where the companies file their rate increases with Texas Department of Insurance and abuse the consumers with higher rates.

White has called for a return to the prior approval system which many in the Legislature has talked about (and nothing else) From the Houston Chronicle:

"Homeowner's insurance rates are squeezing the savings of Texas families. As governor, I'd require homeowner's insurance companies to prove why any rate increase is needed before I'd permit it," said White in a news release. "Under Perry, if they want your money they can have it. I'd put a stop to that."

"This is a common sense approach that's worked in states all over the country," White said of prior approval. "Perry said he'd fix homeowner's insurance costs in 2002. It's been eight years, and he hasn't."

White is right about the state of the insurance industry. It isn't very funny unless you read what State Representative Dwayne Bohac said about passing massive insurance reform in 2003:

"The new law will mark the beginning of the end of insurance abuse in Texas.  All rates must be just, fair, reasonable, adequate, not confiscatory, not excessive, and not unfairly discriminatory."

Yea right. Texas has the highest rates in the nation. Nice work Bohac, Perry, and Taylor.

Who torched Harris County's voting machines?

From the Houston Chronicle:

The fire destroyed 10,000 pieces of equipment, including voting machines and devices called judge's booth controllers that dispense four-digit access codes to voters and serve as mobile ballot boxes to tabulate the count at the end of Election Day.

How Convenient. 
How convenient for Governor Rick Perry and the Harris County republican party. This fire which destroyed the entire set of voting machines will make voting an incredible inconvenience and will do what Paul Bettencourt and Leo Vasquez have only dreamed of doing: suppress the vote.

How convenient for the Perry campaign. Harris County the 3rd largest county in the nation will account for 15-20% of the total state vote, and up until this fire, would have given a huge advantage to Mayor Bill White. Now it is advantage Rick Perry. Perry's campaign has worked hard to put a 3rd candidate on the ballot to draw votes from White, and his right wing groups have supported Leo Vasquez with personal for profit schemes and false allegations of voter fraud. Speaking of....

What a coincidence.
In the same week the entire set of voting machines are torched, the Harris County Voter Registrar has a grandstanding pep rally, disguised as a press conference, for his fellow tea baggers, claiming voter fraud by Houston Votes. Houston Votes has since fired back, calling for the Department of Justice to investigate Leo Vasquez's office, again.

All of this is just too convenient and too much of a coincidence. Perry has Leo Vasquez's to block out and suppress possible voters, and now he has no voting machines to suppress even more voters on election day.

Call in the Justice Department
If a fire that destroys all the voting machines in the county, a voter suppression scheme by the Voter Registrar, and an inside man wheeling and dealing for profit, and the previous Registrar resigns two weeks after being re-elected, doesn't bring out the Department of Justice to run and oversee the voting in November, nothing will.

Republican Joe Driver. Just plain dishonest.

Leo Vasquez "is a disgrace".

Fred Lewis of Texans Together and Houston Votes fires back at Harris County Tax Assessor, Leo Vasquez. From the Houston Chronicle:

"He is a disgrace," Lewis said of Vasquez. "We need to have the Justice Department come in and see what Mickey Mouse stuff he and his office are doing to suppress people." 

Houston Votes will be answering questions about Vasquez's claims of voter fraud at a press conference Friday Aug 27. I agree with Fred Lewis. The Justice Department should be called in to get to the bottom of this once and for all. Something continues to stink at Vasquez office.

HOUSTON VOTES WILL ANSWER RECKLESS ALLEGATIONS OF FRAUD MADE BY LEO VASQUEZ

HOUSTON, TX August 26, 2010 – On Friday, August 27 at 10:30 a.m. at the Historic Magnolia Ballroom located at 715 Franklin (at Milam), Houston Votes will answer and refute the reckless allegations made by Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector and Voter Registrar, Leo Vasquez on Tuesday, August 24. Leo Vasquez made reckless and false allegations against Houston Votes, the organization, in an apparently coordinated, partisan effort to suppress voter registration and to intimidate citizens into not voting. Sadly, this type of shameful tactic has worked all too well in the past.  Houston Votes is committed to non-partisan voter registration and helping register the over 600,000 citizens eligible to vote who are not even registered. 

Tomorrow we will get to the bottom of these allegations.

Leo Vasquez has a big ass to grind.

I don't care much for Leo Vasquez.

Maybe it is because he was elected selected as Harris County Tax Assessor after his republican buddy, Paul Bettencourt quit his position just weeks after being elected. A free job and he didn't have to campaign for it.

Or maybe it's because the Department of Justice launched an investigation into voter suppression by Bettencourt/Vasquez which resulted in Vasquez rolling over like a dead fish at high tide, and agreeing to a far reaching set of demands to stop any further voter suppression by his office.

Or maybe it's because he hasn't lived up to his agreement with the Department of Justice, taunting the DOJ to re-open it's investigation.

Or maybe it's because Vasquez had a republican "inside man" working with the voter rolls while moon lighting as a republican consultant selling the data he had exclusive access to.

Eitherway, I don't care for Vasquez too much as a selected official responsible for voter registration. Vasquez has been so bad at this free job, even Judge Emmett has recommended removing these responsibilities from his hands. Of course this has been nothing but talk from Emmett. What do we expect? It's an election year.

Yesterday's sucker punch of Houston Votes is a clear example that Vasquez has a cheap axe to grind before he packs his belongings from the office that he was given. Vasquez has since been voted out by his skinhead party with a tea bagger candidate, Don Sumners, who claims Hispanics are free loaders (I'm sure he doesn't mean Leo or his family members)

Personally, I would trust an alcoholic with the key to the liquor cabinet before I would trust Leo Vasquez or Sumners with voter registration. Neil and Perry have weighed in on this also.

More double dipping by State Representative Joe Driver?

In the original story by Jay Root of the Associated Press, about State Representative Joe Driver double dipping from the taxpayers, it mentioned $100,000 in mileage reimbursements:

He has also been collecting thousands of dollars in state mileage reimbursements for travel in vehicles for which his campaign has shelled out more than $100,000 since 2000.

The $100,000
According to his campaign reports and his payments from the State Comptrollers office, Driver received  over $40,000 for mileage from the State, while receiving over $100,000 for his car payment. The payments from his campaign account were made to the State Farm North Texas Federal Credit Union for "Campaign Legislative/Travel Expense Reimbursement" and "car payment".
The double dip for $140,000
There is nothing wrong with requesting reimbursement from the Comptroller for mileage for a "POV", a privately owned vehicle. The intent is to repay the owner for wear and tear, gasoline, maintenance, etc of their car, but this car clearly is being paid for by the campaign. Driver is again double dipping, charging the taxpayers for something the campaign has paid for. (Maybe Driver has an explanation for this, one that I can't see?)

So Driver pockets the $100,000 to pay for his car, and the $40,000 for mileage for a car he doesn't own.

There's $266,000 more.
Over the last ten years the Comptroller (tax payers) reimbursed Driver over $266,000 for mileage, travel, public transportation, and Per Diem. His records provided by the Comptrollers Office can be viewed here.

And the $150,000.
Driver also received $150,000 from his campaign account and placed it in the State Farm Federal Credit Union to establish an account with his campaign money to earn interest. This is a common practice with elected officials flush with money, but there are rules that must be followed to avoid mingling the money with personal funds. Surely Driver, as the conservative he is, followed these rules.

Drivers ten years of expenditures can be viewed here.

Has the GOP become the new skinheads of America?

Over the weekend I caught a few episodes of the TV series Gangland. The segment focusing on the history of the skinheads reminded me of another group in America, the Republican Party. Like the GOP the skinheads

• Claim to be Christians while spewing hatred towards non-whites
• Believe America is a white Christian nation
• Spew hatred for those who are on government assistance
• Are gun rights advocates
• Spew hatred towards gays in society
• Spew hatred towards immigrants and anyone who looks like one
• Are against non-Christians especially Muslim

The GOP, instead of working on solutions to the problems they created, they latch themselves on divisive issues only for political gain, issues the skinheads embrace. The all out attack on the proposed community center, falsely claimed to be a Mosque, 4 blocks from Ground Zero is a perfect example. The GOP isn't protesting the real Mosque at the other Ground Zero in the Pentagon or the strip club 1 block from the site. To do that would  make them look like horny skinheads.

The GOP's "summer of religious intolerance" has shown the country what they really are. All the skinheads need to do now is grow some hair to infiltrate and take over the GOP.

If they haven't already.

What the cluck?!?!? Pecker heads endorse Perry.

Governor Rick Perry, the man who is chicken to debate his challenger, Bill White, has been endorsed by a bunch of cluckers, not the guys with the white uniforms and who burn crosses, but the Texas Poultry Federation. Governor Perry had this to say about the endorsement.

Why the endorsement?
Why would these cluckers scratch out an endorsement for Perry? Because they depend upon the low cost labor force provided by illegal workers and Rick Perry has done nothing to either stop the flow or enforce the law on those who run "afoul" of the law including chicken cluckers. This is  win-win for the cluckers and the uh..Rick Perry.

If Perry didn't get the pecker head, endorsement, he would have been left with egg on his face and would be running around flapping his wings like a chicken with its head cut off.

Much like the chicken he is.

The Texas Railroad Commission, a killer Commission. Literally.

Once again, a Texas Commission has been caught protecting the very companies they are suppose to be regulating, much like the Texas Department of Insurance, the Ethics Commission, the TCEQ, and the defunct TRCC.

Brett Shipp exposes the Texas Railroad Commission for their lack of regulation concerning faulty gas couplings which have killed a number of people in Texas. In any other state, there would be a criminal investigation of the Texas Railroad Commission, but in Texas no one will be held accountable for their failures which led to the injury and deaths of the citizens they were suppose to protect.

Congratulations to Brett Shipp of WFAA in Dallas for this 4 year investigation, "Dangerous Couplings". Because of his work, and only because of his work, the Texas Railroad Commission has finally taken action. It is a great report.

Roger Clemens' major league mistake

Roger Clemens has been indicted for lying to Congress concerning his use of steroids. That wasn't his major league mistake. His mistake was not lying about Sadaam having weapons of mass destruction. If he had done that instead, Congress would have looked the other way and let him off the hook. Just like George W. Bush.

Coming soon: Republican Deception

Joe Driver should release his tax returns

In 2007 a complete review of the campaign finance reports of all House and Senate members was completed by a small group of citizens across the state. Over $3Million in undisclosed expenses were found hidden behind credit card accounts, condo purchases, reimbursements to elected officials and converting campaign money to personal funds. That report, Don't Mess with Ethics, can be found here.

Many officials were caught converting campaign cash to personal funds such as Harris County Commissioner Jerry Eversole. Converting campaign cash is clearly against the law, but the Texas Ethics Commission has never charged anyone, including Eversole. Instead they have required the official to repay the account and slapped them with a fine, paid with their campaign cash.

Free money.
A burning question has always been "Was this free money ever reported to the IRS as income?" or did they think it was "perfectly acceptable" to funnel hundreds of thousands of donor's money into purchasing a condo, selling it, keeping the profits, and not reporting it as income?

Driver is not the Lone Ranger
State Representative Joe Driver is one of possibly many who have taken advantage of a huge loophole in the Comptrollers Office by applying for reimbursement for expenses already paid by their campaign. This would include mileage for thousands of dollars for a vehicle they didn't own, or in Driver's case, the cost of travel.

And Texans are not stupid.
From the Austin Statesman editorial:

At best, what he did was stupid. At worst, it was criminal.

If Driver is as innocent and ignorant as he claims to be, he should release his tax returns for the last ten years and step down from the Appropriations Committee. He may be ignorant, but Texans are not stupid.

Or are they? We will see in november.

State Rep Joe Driver can beat the rap on double dipping

Texas State Representative Joe Driver (R-Screwed) is in a huge legal bind with the Travis County District Attorney's office beginning an investigation into his "double dipping" scheme the Associated Press unveiled yesterday. If Driver was smart, and that is debatable, he could beat the rap. Here's how:

Get a high priced attorney.
Unlike his constituents, Driver can  use his donors money to pay for a high priced attorney. Much like Harris County Commissioner, Jerry Eversole (R-Also Screwed) who spent over $50,000 of his donors money to defend against his ethics complaint. So, get a good attorney. You can afford it. You will need it.

Don't use ignorance as a defense.
The "I thought it was perfectly appropriate to charge taxpayers for expenses already paid", excuse will not work. Ever heard of the saying "ignorance of the law is not an excuse to break the law"? It applies to elected officials. Even a teabagger knows charging twice for the same expense is ethically and morally wrong and the most of them are ethically and morally wrong.

Refund the money
Driver has already set aside $49,000 to go back into his campaign account. ($32,000 over the $17,000 identified by the AP) Notice he is refunding his campaign and not the Comptrollers Office (the taxpayers). This is crucial. Stealing from the State is a felony. Stealing from your campaign isn't according to the Texas Ethics Commission. Again, ask Jerry Eversole who paid back over $40,000 for buying a cow and authentic antique western chaps with his donors money. He was also fined $75,000, and used his donors money to pay it.

Blame it on Obama
Do what State Representative Linda Harper-Brown (R-Really Screwed) did when the Dallas Morning News exposed her Mercedes scandal. Take it to the youtubes and blame President Obama and those California liberals for making you steal money from the government, you so hate.

Set an example for your constituents

If you use the above ideas, and are acquitted of this double dipping charge, you will set the example for anyone who thinks stealing is "perfectly appropriate". As long as you can afford an expensive attorney, are incredibly dim witted, can blame someone else for your actions, and are willing to pay back the money you stole, if you are caught, then you won't be held accountable.

Whoever said republicans are "soft on crime"?

They were right.

Criminal probe of State Representative Joe Driver begins

Wow! That was fast. From The Daily Caller:

Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg said her office opened a review of state Rep. Joe Driver’s travel expenses after The Associated Press reported on them Monday and she discussed the matter with House officials. Her office is responsible for ferreting out fraud and corruption in state 

 And as yet another sign of guilt:

Late Tuesday, his campaign announced he was putting $49,426 into his campaign account, money he had claimed as reimbursements from the Texas House.

From $17,000 to $49,000, claiming ignorance and now a criminal probe, all in one day. Maybe Driver should cut his losses, step down, and hope for the best.

Calling out State Representative Joe Driver

State Representative Joe Driver must think tax payers are a bunch of idiots. (and he might have a point....)

Yesterday the Associated Press released the results of their audit of Driver's travel records. Over $17,000 of travel expenses were paid for by his campaign, then submitted to the State Comptrollers Office for reimbursement with tax dollars. This is called double dipping and is illegal. Driver claims ignorance:

In a written statement late Monday night, Driver said he had consulted House "ethics specialists" and determined that he had made errors in his campaign reports, but he denied ever misusing state tax dollars. "Not one tax dollar was misspent due to my mistake on this and any mistakes that were made are being corrected immediately,"

This isn't ignorance. It is criminal. It doesn't take an "ethics specialist" (code name for a lawyer) to figure out Driver got caught stealing money from the taxpayers. Anyone with a lick of common sense knows you can't get paid twice for work. Ask any lawyer, or "ethics specialist" what happens when they double bill their clients. Hint: they go to jail.

State Representative Joe Driver has a lot of explaining to do, much like State Representative Linda Harper Brown. The Travis County District Attorney's Office should immediately begin a criminal investigation of Driver and the State Comptroller's Office should initiate an audit of their reimbursement system.

Ignorance is not an option.

Spending Campaign Cash: Joe Driver

This situation about State Representative Joe Driver double dipping, reported by the Associated Press, should upset every taxpayer in Texas. The AP identified just $17,000 of double dipping the taxpayers because records are only kept for 2 years. Driver has been in office for 18 years. He could have been double dipping for 18 full years, stealing from the taxpayers.

Driver claims he is a fiscal conservative. From his website:

Do you believe that government must tighten its belt just like we do at home? Joe Driver does. In 2010, taxpayers are in revolt against the big spending habits of the liberals in government. Joe Driver favors capping state government spending, cutting taxes and reducing government intrusion into our lives. The more money of ours they take and spend the more difficult they make it for us to solve our own problems. For our economy to recover, we need less government spending and less government, period.

He says this all while pocketing over $17,000 of tax free taxpayer money.

A review of his campaign expenses over the last 10 years shows over $173,000 in travel expenses, including payments to State Farm North Texas FCU for over $1000/month for his car payment. (Driver is a State Farm insurance salesman) He also spent over $72,000 in travel expenses prior to 2005, where the AP picked up on their investigation.

The only way to determine just how much Driver has double dipped is to open his books to the DAs office or the IRS. And don't look for the Texas Ethics Commission to investigate. Someone has to file a complaint before they would take action, and if they found evidence of wrong doing, they will slap Driver with a fine that can be paid with his campaign donations, then settle with him. This settlement would then protect him from any criminal investigation.

The TEC has never referred an investigation of an elected official to the appropriate DAs office or the Attorney General. Don't look to the TEC to change its ways in the near future.

State Representative Joe Driver stealing from the taxpayers

Why does anyone think that Republicans are fiscally and morally responsible? From the AP:

AUSTIN, Texas — A north Texas state representative who rails against the evils of runaway government spending admitted Monday that he has pocketed thousands of dollars in taxpayer money for travel expenses that his campaign had already funded.

Double Dipping:

This is called "double dipping" like the Generals in the Texas Air National Guard did, uncovered by KHOU TV. It not only is a felony, since you are stealing from the government, it is beyond incredibly stupid to think you can either get away with it, or that it is "perfectly appropriate". The AP investigation uncovered over $17,000 in double dipping by State Representative Joe Driver who is on the Appropriations Committee. Here is what Driver said:

Driver insists he thought the double-billing was perfectly appropriate — until talking about it with the AP. "Well, it doesn't sound like it is now. If you bring it up that way," he said.

Anyone who thinks double dipping is appropriate should not be on the Appropriations Committee especially with a $18 Billion looming deficit. Anyone that incredibly stupid who thinks pocketing free money from the taxpayers is fiscally and morally responsible shouldn't be a Republican or a State Representative and should be in front of the Travis County District Attorneys office.

Was his free money reported to the IRS?
Of course, after stealing $17,000 from the taxpayers and probably not reporting this free money to the IRS, Driver is saying he will "pay it back". Imagine if bank robbers, if they got caught, could just say "I thought it was perfectly appropriate, but will pay it back".

If Driver was truly a conservative, he would pay back the money and remove himself from the Appropriates Committee. He would also release his IRS statements showing that he reported the free money as taxable income. And he should also cooperate with the Travis County DAs office when they investigate.

This ain't over
There is more to this story coming soon. I would bet the AP didn't just look at Driver. I believe there are more elected officials doing the same thing, double dipping, and not reporting the income on their IRS statements.

If you build it, they won't come

After spending $81 Million tax dollars, the cruise ship terminal at the Bayport Terminal remains empty. According to elected officials at the time of the ground breaking for the terminal, Bayport was going to create 39,000 jobs. Unfortunately, none of these 39,000 are for the cruise terminal. From the Houston Chronicle:

More than 30 miles away from where those travelers gathered, the Port of Houston Authority's $81 million cruise terminal is shuttered, with no cruise ship ever making regular stops there. And no cruise line has announced plans to call on the 2-year-old Bayport Cruise Terminal.

And here is what was said in 2004 on groundbreaking day:

"The cruise business will be a highly appealing aspect of Bayport because of its close location to several popular Mexican and Caribbean vacation destinations," Pasadena City Councilman Bill Welch said...

"With the addition of the Bayport cruise terminals, we can sail to more glamorous and colorful locales," Councilman Welch said. "Many people who cruise from Houston live in this area and drive into town on Friday night. They stay in a Pasadena hotel, eat at local restaurants, perhaps even take in attractions such as NASA or the Kemah boardwalk.

I was never as optimistic about the cruise ships at Bayport as those who were to benefit from it. Going on an expensive vacation usually doesn't include driving by large industrial plants or visiting the city of Pasadena (sorry Pasadena). The area isn't exactly like The Strand in Galveston, or the French Quarter in New Orleans.

If given a choice between sailing out of Bayport or Galveston, I would take the drive to Galveston and enjoy The Strand. But those interested in a cruise no longer have that choice. This is a classic $81 Million "If you build it, they will come" misunderestimation. KPRC of Houston also covered this issue in 2009.

PHA officials claimed in 2009 that cruise ships will come to the port. Two years later the cruise terminal sits empty with no ships in sight.

Rick Perry says nothing, does nothing, blames everyone

It shouldn't be a surprise that Governor Rick Perry refuses to talk with the editorial board of Texas newspapers. Even the editors of the far right wing papers such as the Corpus Christi Times probably wouldn't endorse him after 10 years of saying anything to get elected and doing nothing to deserve it.

The governor's spokesman said that Perry's time is better spent talking directly to Texans. Translation: It's a lot easier to give canned stump speeches to partisan crowds than to sit down for an hour and answers questions about your record.

He did have time for a short question and answer session with R.G. Ratliffe in the Chronicle. Here is Rick Perry and his accomplishments in a nutshell:

Q: You tout the national surveys ranking Texas as the best place to do business, but they also are critical of the state's investment in education funding. Some of the state's universities already are doing buyouts of their most experienced faculty to meet the state budget shortages. Doesn't that have the potential of affecting the business climate in the future?

A: You are projecting some worst-case scenarios that I'm not ready to buy into.

In other words, "You are just tearing down the great state of Texas". This is a key staple of Perry's answers to any debate questions or any editorial interview. Over the last 10 years as Governor, Perry has little if any accomplishments to boast about except for selling out to the corporations, insurance industry, home builders, and toll road contractors. 

Ratcliffe's question was right on the money. The citizens of the state are paying the price for any accomplishment Perry will claim. Trying to name an accomplishment after the 10 year rule of Rick Perry is much like naming an accomplishment of the 8 year rule of the Bush Administration. It is a hell of a lot easier to name what he has done wrong.

But, then  you are just tearing down the great state of Texas.

Will the Texas Farm Bureau endorse Rick Perry?

After claiming to be for property rights, Governor Perry vetoed a bill that would have protected...wait for it...property rights. This is an issue very dear to the Texas Farm Bureau who, at least for now, has not endorsed Perry.

It is a dangerous game for them. If Perry is reelected without their endorsement, there will be blood, or at least retaliation. Will the Farm Bureau take a stand or roll over?

FBI calls Texas State Rep Debbie Riddle an anchor idiot

Texans should be grinning with pride. Debbie Riddle is a loon concerning her anchor baby terrorist claims on national network CNN. The FBI confirms she is a loon:

It's official, Texas State Rep Debbie Riddle is a *&^%ing idiot.

We have now become the "Thank God for Texas" state. From CNN Anderson Cooper 360:




Let's admit it. Texas State Representative Debbie Riddle is one Texas sized fuckin idiot.

KPRC Houston: "Shame on you Governor Perry!"

OUCH! KPRC CH2 in Houston has offered to host a debate between Bill White and Governor Rick Perry. Perry has declined. Larry Blackerby, Vice President and General Manager issued the following editorial and it isn't pretty:

A Krok of an interview

The console jockey teabagger from KLIF in Dallas hijacked Bill White in a pretty worthless interview.

Instead of asking questions about the state of the State of Texas, he attempted to do what white wing console jockeys do, dominate the conversation with worthless discussion. And he was good at it.

In part two, a caller calls him out on it, and of course the Krock gets mads and puts him on hold. Very typical white-wing Michael Berry wannabe console jockey, but then again, what was White expecting from this loser? What a krok.

Bill White campaign training in Webster

Come by for the training then join me for a beer and burger at Carlos Beer Garden just around the corner:

Bill White Community College

Learn how to reach out to prospective voters through proven techniques at a training session for volunteers interested in working on the Bill White for Governor campaign. Advance registration is strongly recommended but not required.  RSVP to Suzy Allison at suzy.allison@att.net

When:  Saturday, August 14th from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where:  City of Webster Recreation Center building, 101 Pennsylvania (at the corner of Pennsylvania & S. Austin streets),77598.
Cost:  Free
Food:  Light refreshments will be provided during the break.

Sponsors:  BAADWomen (Bay Area Association of Democratic Women) and BAND (Bay Area New Democrats)

If you haven't been able to attend an all-day Bill White University training session at the Bill White headquarters in Houston,  you will benefit from this Bill White Community College, a shorter (3 hours), local (Webster) Bill White volunteer training program. Program segments includes the following:

• Block walking training.
• Virtual phone bank familiarization.
• Phone bank training.
• Strategy overview for the Bill White effort.
• Issues, talking points, and charges and rebuttals.
• Plans for Bay Area headquarters.   
• Information on all nearby headquarters will be provided.

We'd like some clue as to how many will attend, so RSVP to Suzy Allison at suzy.allison@att.net, but feel free to come if you didn't get around to replying - we're pretty flexible.

Teabagger candidate exposes bike sharing conspiracy

Teabaggers are fun. A teabagger candidate for Governor in Colorado has exposed a bike sharing conspiracy by the Mayor of Denver. From The Denver Post:

Republican gubernatorial candidate Dan Maes is warning voters that Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper's policies, particularly his efforts to boost bike riding, are "converting Denver into a United Nations community.

Keith has more with a side of humor....

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Why does Bob Perry continue to support this simple minded bastard?

Good for State Senator Mario Gallegos for standing up to this anti-immigrant bastard, Dan Patrick. Bob Perry does NOT support Patricks anti-immigrant rants, yet he donated $30,000 to his campaign of hate and simple minded arguments.

Texas Senator Dan Patrick on Immigration from Dan Patrick on Vimeo.

John Stewart makes fun of Texas Congressman and rightfully so....

Congressman Louie Gohmert is a beer short of a six pack, a taco short of a combination platter, and he believes that Al Queda is planting babies into the United States to be raised as terrorists of the future. (Seriously) So John Stewart made fun of him and others about the so called "anchor babies".

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
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Houston Votes.

Had an opportunity last night to meet with the volunteers of an organization call Houston Votes as part of Texans Together. (Good company, cheap beer, good food. Great night!) Houston Votes is on track to register 100,000 new voters in Harris County in time for the election in November. To volunteer visit Houstonvotes.org:

Houston Votes, a project of Texans Together, is a nonpartisan voter registration drive in Harris County.  Its goal is to register 100,000 new voters by the October 4th deadline and turn out 50,000 new voters on election day.   

Great group of folks at their kickoff event. Thanks to Fred Lewis who founded Texans Together. I have known Fred for a number of years and have been very impressed with his dedication and leadership on many issues affected the citizens of Texas. Very cool individual.

Fred Lewis (Austin) is the founder and President of Texans Together Education Fund, Inc. He has worked as a public interest attorney, non-profit leader, and community organizer for years. Born and raised in Houston, he is a 4th generation Texan.

Texas dominates the recession, at a price.

Derek Thompson of The Atlantic wrote an interesting article "How Texas is Dominating the Recession". It is a good read and worth the time. I just loved the last sentence of the article:

As Brooke Rollins, president of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, told me: "Our research shows that the more tax incentives and less regulation you have, and the less likely businesses are to get sued, the more likely it is they'll want to come and prosper in your state." 

You think?  Texas has become the free market Somalia of the United States! For over a decade regulations and oversight of the various industries in Texas have been slowing whittled to nothing. Tax funded Commissions that once provided protection for the citizens of the State are now providing protection for the very industries they were designed to oversee. Much of this should sound familiar to everyone across the United States since President Bush brought this same "Somalia Light" to Washington.

Business friendly, consumer hostile
Anyone with a lick of sense, or empty wallet, knows Texas is ripe for business growth as well as for abuse. Employees are subjected to the highest rates of insurance in the United States. Electricity rates are through the roof as well as college tuition. (my three favorites) Tax breaks are given away like candy to every business who will open a door and outsource their services to India while local workers are taxed to death with fees on everything from cancer sticks to access to State Parks.

Business friendly Commissions
Our tax funded Commissions in Texas, once provided oversight and regulation of the various industries in Texas. Now instead of protecting the consumers, they actually protect the industries they are suppose to be regulating. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality hands out permits to chemical companies and polluters like crack at a dark corner. The Texas Railroad Commission provides cover and excuses for those polluting well water in Dish Texas. The Texas Department of Insurance has become the Texas Department of Insurance Companies. And then there was the Texas Residential Construction Commission:

The TRCC (TRICK)
In 2003 the home building industry wrote a bill for the State Legislature with the backing of Governor Rick Perry to create a commission stacked with members of the home building industry to supposedly provide oversight and consumer protection for new home buyers. Instead it was nothing but a "Builder Protection Agency" as the Texas Comptroller stated.

Six short years later, after a strong recommendation by the staff of the Texas Sunset Commission, the TRCC was abolished. (BTW the members of the Sunset Commission, true to form, overturned the recommendation and opted to save the TRCC) The TRCC was a perfect example of the smoke and mirrors of Texas oversight. It was the biggest trick on the citizens of Texas in the history of the State. See "The Texas Residential Construction Commission. A Consumer's Perspective"

Texas the new Somalia
Somalia is an example of the free market with no regulation, oversight, or recourse. Texas is a different Somalia with regulations and tax funded Commissions designed to protect the industries from shoddy construction, out of control insurance rates, polluting our water supply, or marketing defective products, instead of protecting the citizens of Texas. While the warlords of Somalia protect themselves with guns and terrorism, the industries of Texas use our government and threats of unemployment.

Yes Texas is dominating the recession. And we are all paying for it. Literally.

Raising Campaign Cash from Bob Perry in 2010

Bob Perry of Bob Perry Homes has donated over $1.8 Million to candidates and elected officials in the first half of 2010. This is on course to meet his $4 Million donation record in 2008. Perry is by far the largest political donor in Texas. Some interesting observations about his donations especially about donations who do not support his stance on immigration.

$150,000 to Democrats, $1,650,000 to Republicans.

$30,000 to State Senator Dan Patrick who has an anti-immigrant platform. (Perry does not support the GOPs platform on immigration)

$10,000 to State Representative Betty Brown who is anti-immigrant. (Perry does not support the GOPs platform on immigration)

$30,000 to Al Edwards who lost in the Democratic primary. (Thankfully!)

$90,000 to Texans for Chales Schwertner, almost 1/2 of his entire donations. More on this later. Does not support Perry's stance on immigration.

$45,000 to former State Senator David Sibley who lost in the primary.

$130,000 to Larry Gonzales, over 1/2 of what Gonzales raised.

$125,000 to LT Gov David Dewhurst who does not support Perry's immigration stance.

$45,000 to Republican candidate Stefani Carter.

$25,000 to Harris County Republican Party chair, Jared Woodfill who does not support Perry's stance on immigration.

What happens in Arizona, stops in Arizona.

It is that easy. Watch the damn video till the end.

GOP's top donors don't support GOP's immigration stance

R. G. Ratcliffe of the San Antonio Express had an interesting article about the great divide in the republican party concerning immigration. It is a great read:

Evangelical ministers in Texas and across the nation are splitting off from the hard right, declaring a need for immigration reform that includes a path to citizenship without first deporting the millions of people in the country illegally.

That doesn't sit well with the WARTS (white angry republican teabaggers) of the Texas GOP who hijacked their party platform:

“We oppose illegal immigration, amnesty in any form leading to citizenship, or legal status for illegal immigrants…We support…empowering state and local law enforcement agencies with authority and resources to detail illegal immigrants…We support strict and immediate enforcement of all immigration laws.”

And that doesn't sit well with the top donors of the GOP including Bob Perry of Bob Perry Homes, the largest donor in the United States, Bo Pilgrim, Red McCombs, James Leininger,  and many more. Here is what they have said about immigration and the immigrant worker. From the Dallas Morning News:

But few young Americans want to do hard physical labor, particularly in our climate.

Not only that, but immigrant workers renew and reinvigorate America. They remind us what it's like to give a job your all. We talk about old-fashioned family values; they live them. 

These are good people with good values doing work that we need done, reaching for the American Dream and helping make it a reality for all.  

So the top donors of the GOP, the homebuilders, chicken ranchers, car dealers, restaurant owners, claim Americans are lazy with no family values, and the immigrants are good people reaching for the American Dream. This isn't what the WARTS or those running for office think .

But I bet the candidates will gladly take their money, which is a post all in itself. Just who are these immigrant bashing GOP candidates sucking up to the WARTS and also receiving massive contributions from the GOP top donors who are expecting comprehensive immigration reform? Once in office who are they going to support?

More on this coming later.