Teabaggers on immigration: I Hate 'em but I hire 'em.

Here is the teabag party in a nutshell. Meg Whitman, the teabagger running for Governor of California said this just yesterday:

Seitz-Wald notes that just the day before the allegations, Whitman argued for a crackdown on employers who hire undocumented workers. During a debate Wednesday night, Whitman promised more resources for "enforcement of businesses hiring illegal immigrants" if elected, the LA Times reported. 

And today this is what was announced:

Meg Whitman, the Republican candidate for governor of California, looked the other way for years while employing an illegal immigrant as a housekeeper 

Whitman added "F*(^% em. I hate 'em. I hire 'em. So what?" Hypocrisy is a staple of the republican and teabagger party. (OK. I added that last comment, but it is pretty clear Whitman is a clear teabagger.)

Teabagging on the SBOE: Don McLeroy

The State Bored of Education (because of some members) has become the laughing stock of America concerning education. This is what you get when you teabag. Here is teabagger Bored member Don McLeroy on civil rights:

Oh....fyi NASA is not in the Constitution.

NASA's budget is about to be set but that hasn't fazed those opposed to government spending.

The teabaggers are very clear about this type of spending: 'IT'S NOT IN THE CONSTITUTION" followed by "I WANT MY COUNTRY BACK!" and "WHO HAS MY METAMUCIL?".

You get the point. NASA teabaggers don't have the same idea. Most are yelling for less government spending while standing in line for their paycheck from the government. They will not remind anyone that NASA is not in the constitution especially when they have a mortgage to pay.

Unfortunately many of these tea baggers will be helping to pay for Bush's tax cuts by finding a job in the private sector.

"Say it ain't Mold Joe" Nixon is back!

Former State Representative Joe Nixon (R-Houston) is back in the news again, back supporting the insurance industry, and in bed with State Representative Larry Taylor trying to shake down a attorney who represents homeowners against their industry. Taylor is an insurance salesman and Nixon, when in office, also represented the insurance industry and authored sweeping tort reforms to protect them. From the Texas Tribune. (Nixon is sitting on the left)   Nixon was also called the hypocrite of hypocrites because of a little $300,000 mold claim he had. I wrote about it back in 2004: Rep Nixon to Texas Families: Let them eat mold! During the summer of 2001 hundreds of homeowners across Texas testified on the subject of mold contamination of their homes. Many recalled months of strange rashes, nosebleeds, and upper respiratory illnesses and spending thousands of dollars for exploratory medical tests ranging from cancer to lupus. Some lost their memory. Others lost their homes. And others such as the insurance lobbyists, lawyers, and tort reformers claimed, "mold is gold", and mold claims were "frivolous" based upon hysteria not scientific facts. And then there were those who stood watching homeowners in tears pleading for help from consumer groups and the State Legislature, while they were quietly collecting their own share of the gold and conveniently ignoring the hysteria, and the claims of frivolity. Such is the case of State Representative Joe Nixon (R) Houston. In 2001 while hearings and legislation was being crafted to address mold claims, Rep Nixon received over $300,000 for his own mold claim. Like many mold victims, his life was disrupted while his family spent a year in a crowded apartment during his mold remediation. But unlike many victims, he kept silent about the dangers of toxic mold, the cost of remediation, the horrible stress upon the family, and the urgent need to address mold contamination. Rep Nixon had an opportunity to address the Texas Department of Insurance during one of many of historic mold hearings held across the state and in Austin. His position, as a Texas Representative, would have validated the claims by other homeowners affected by mold contamination. His own experience of having his family life disrupted, his financial situation threatened, and his emotions stretched to the end would have put a halt to the false claims of "hysteria", "frivolous" and "mold is gold". But he didn't. Instead he stood silently collecting his pot of gold, while others were foreclosing and struggling to keep their children in good health as well as struggling with their insurance companies. Later in the 2003 Legislation Session, Rep Nixon sponsored the tort reform bill on behalf of the insurance industry and the tort reform groups. These were the same organizations that were claiming toxic mold was based upon hysteria and had driven up the cost of insurance forcing companies out of business. Members of these organizations testified at the mold hearings, and some were appointed to the Department of Insurance Mold Task Force. All while Rep Nixon was collecting $300,000 on his own "legitimate" claim and crafting an insurance welfare bill, House Bill 4. This hypocrisy is not limited to Rep Nixon. In 2001 the Attorney Generals Office in Lubbock was evacuated and remediated due to mold contamination at the owners expense. And in 1995 the Texas Governor Mansion was remediated at a cost of $50,000 to the taxpayer. So while Rep Nixon's family, Governor Perry's family, and the employees of Attorney General John Cornyn were safe from the hazards of toxic mold, hundreds of Texas families, looking for help from their leaders, were left, out in the mold. The current focus of Rep. Nixon's mold claim is on the criminal aspect of insurance fraud and political payback, but the focus should also be on the moral aspect. How could an elected leader, in the State that invented the word "compassion", stand idle, with his hands buried in the pot of gold, while his people are in financial ruin, poor health, and pleading for help? How could Rep Nixon ignore the hearings and families who have been ravaged financially, physically, and mentally by mold contamination while he collects on his own claim and crafts legislation on behalf of those who provided his gold? This lack of compassion, in itself, should be criminal.

When teabaggers attack. Part II

This candidate is supported by Sarah Palin. It is frightening to think that this kind of person could be elected to office or even running for that matter.

It's roundup time with the Texas Progressive Alliance

Yippee-ki-aye-motorscooters! The Texas Progressive Alliance weekly roundup is out:

This week on Left of College Station, Teddy writes about why the Tea Party has an expiration date. Also, as the semiannual protest against reproductive rights 40 Days for Life begins, a guest blogger writes about being a pro-choice feminist Christian, and Teddy writes about how the Coalition for Life lies to women. Left of College Station also covers the week in headlines.

Off the Kuff interviewed Harris County Judge Ed Emmett, County Commissioner Sylvia Garcia, and Democratic candidate for County Judge Gordon Quan.

CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme knows that deregulation means more tainted food and more BP disasters like this one.

Bay Area Houston List some alternatives to white-wing wadio in Houston.

Nat-Wu at Three Wise Men examines the situation in Somalia, coverage of which has mostly ceased in the American press.

Jeff Weems, the Democratic candidate for Texas Railroad Commission, earned the endorsement of both the Dallas Morning News and the Houston Chronicle. Keith Hampton, our man for the Court of Appeals, got the DMN endorsement. Bill Moody (Texas Supreme Court),Wally Kronzer (14th Court of Appeals), and Robert Ray (1st Court of Appeals) also got endorsed by the Houston newspaper.

WCNews at Eye On Williamson has a question for you, Did you know Texas' public education finance system is hopelessly broken?

WhosPlayin calls B.S. on GOP Congressman Michael Burgess' taxpayer-funded "survey" over extending the Bush tax cuts. The only options were a dishonest choice of all or nothing, so WhosPlayin posted its own survey with the third option of "extend for the middle class".

This week at McBlogger, we take a look at Sleazy Todd Staples and his johnny-come-lately advocacy for tougher eminent domain restrictions.

Neil at Texas Liberal noted this week that the party holding the White House has lost seats in the U.S. House of Reps. in 33 of 36 midterms since the Civil War. Neil is not pleased that Democrats may lose some seats in the upcoming election, but these things do happen.

Libby Shaw at TexasKaos explains how one of our smirking Republican friends claim that "The American People Wrote the Pledge" when it was actually Written by Lobbyists Check it out.

Will ethics scandal drive Driver out of office?

The Dallas Morning News put their foot down in their endorsement of Representative Joe Driver's opponent:

State Rep. Joe Driver's double-dipping on travel reimbursements is such a lapse in ethics and judgment that it's impossible to recommend him for re-election from Garland-based House District 113. 

That pretty much says it all. Driver charged tens of thousands of dollars to his campaign for travel and then charge the State (taxpayers) for the same travel and pocketed the money. In our world it is called stealing and is considered a felony. In Joe's world and mind, it is called a misunderstanding.


Driver, a teabagger,  has already admitted the mistake, has claimed to have refunded his campaign, and has asked for forgiveness. For any other teabagger admitting to stealing would land you in jail, and pleading for forgiveness would be done in front of a judge.


No place but the Texas House can you steal from the tax payers, pay it back with a hefty apology, and get away with a slap on the hand. Unfortunately, the Dallas Morning News didn't accept it.


Good for them.

Progressive radio in the Houston area

As you well know the Houston area ia flooded with right wing hate radio including KTRH (Keep The Rightwingers Here) and yet the right wingers have lost seats in the County government and will probably lose more this year. You would think with radio stations flooding the area dedicated to the Republican Party that they would overwhelm their opponents.

For those of you looking for an alternative there are a few ways to access other shows across the country including satellite radio, streaming media, and podcasts. One of the good things about both of these shows below is that they do not screen callers like the wingers do. Here are my favorites:

Stephanie Miller.M-F 8-11 CST.
http://www.stephaniemiller.com/
Streaming option: http://www.wcpt820.com/
Stephanie Miller is a hoot! Her show is  full of wit (much like this blog). If you are looking for a serious discussion about current events, you'll find it here with a large helping of laughter. It's one of the shows you do not want to listen to while drinking milk. Here is a good summary. If you have the time tune in to Stephanie Miller. She is entertaining and intelligent.

Her national radio program is bubbling in the climate of keen awareness of and the expectation of the sea change about to occur in America.

Stephanie is no stranger to political talk and current events, as her late father, William E. Miller, was Barry Goldwater’s running mate in the Republicans’ failed 1964 bid for the presidency.
Since its September 2004 debut, The Stephanie Miller Show has become one of the most important and fastest growing shows in Progressive Talk, heard across America on radio stations, on Sirius, via podcasts and free live streaming.

Ed Schultz. M-F 11-2 CST
http://www.wegoted.com
Streaming option: http://www.wcpt820.com/
Ed follows Stephanie Miller on WCPT820 but can be heard via podcast or later in the day. Ed started his show over 5 years ago. I remember his first show where he said he was going to try it out. And he has. Great middle of the road talk show host. He now has his own show on MSNBC. About Ed:

While others preen and pontificate, Ed Schultz keeps the lines wide open for his listeners-making good on his boast that The Ed Schultz Show is Where America Comes to Talk. No radio talk show is as accessible. For most talk show hosts, unscreened callers would be considered risky. And that's exactly why Ed Schultz shares the airwaves so unselfishly. Unscripted, unpredictable and unvarnished, the give and take makes for great radio. "The most important part of talking is listening," Ed says. "An open microphone is democracy in its purest form."

Farm Bureau plants Perry

OMFG. I was wrong.

I expected the Farm Bureau to fold and endorse Perry out of fear of retaliation. Instead they remain neutral. A big loss for Perry.

The Farm Bureau had endorsed U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison in her unsuccessful effort to take out incumbent Gov. Rick Perry in the GOP primary. The Farm Bureau helped make Perry's early career, but they have had a falling out over the Trans-Texas Corridor and issues of eminent domain.

Good for the Farm Bureau.

Speaking of.... DMN endorses Jeff Weems for Railroad Commissioner

This is exactly what I thought when I first met Jeff. From the Dallas Morning News:

Seldom do we run into a first-time candidate for any office and wonder why that person hasn't already been elected to the job. But that's how impressed this newspaper is with Democrat Jeff Weems, who is seeking election to the Texas Railroad Commission.

The 52-year-old Houston attorney would be ready on Day One to make a significant contribution, which is why we strongly recommend him for the three-member panel. 

And this is another major point about Weems the DMN noticed:

This newspaper also supports Weems because of the balanced view he articulates. He understands the importance of oil and gas production to the state's economy

And as I mentioned about Porter being a chicken:

His opponent, Republican David Porter of Midland, filled out our questionnaire, but the 54-year-old CPA neither showed up for an interview alongside Weems nor returned a call seeking a phone interview.

 Jeff Weems is by far the most experienced of the bunch. Porter's claim to fame is being able to find a tax loophole for an oil company.

Another Republican, David Porter, chickens out of debating

Following the leadership of Governor Rick Perry, the candidate for the Texas Railroad Commission, David Porter, has chickened out on a debate with Jeff Weems. And for good reason. Besides finding tax loopholes for oil companies, Porter has no experience the field he would provide oversight to if elected.

Weems on the other hand has enough experience for the both of them and he is willing to talk about them and debate the issues.

"People don’t know David, and he has made little attempt to get out there and introduce himself,” Weems noted.  “I have now visited 154 counties, and my superior credentials and willingness to listen rings true to all Texans, regardless of party.  That is why I have been endorsed by both industry professionals and environmental groups – they all recognize a solid leader when they see one.”

But Porter is pulling a Perry and has refused to go head to head. Unlike most Texans, Porter and Perry have tucked tail. Sam Houston would be ashamed.

Another step in poo for Governor Rick Perry's campaign

Rick Perry's campaign manager needs a new job. So does Rick Perry. In their latest snafu (situation normal, all fouled up (as in chicken)) Perry is running a TV ad showing two small businesses in the Austin area. Both have asked for the ad to be pulled. Neither is supporting Perry. Neither wanted to be in the ad.

Small business owners might remember the massive franchise tax Perry signed into law to make up for his lack of fiscal responsibility and common sense in 2007. They might remember that he is running ads  in 2009 taking credit for cutting the same taxes that he created. And they might remember he is using them for his own political gain. But these two small business owners wont have any of it:





This is the second major snafu of the Perry campaign, although there is a boatload of smaller ones. Early on Perry's campaign manager held a press conference in front of Bill Whites campaign office. Not a good idea. He was overwhelmed with.....wait for it....volunteers from the Bill White's campaign office, including one in the chicken outfit taunting Perry for being a chicken for not debating.

Guess who won that press conference? Now White needs to win in Nov. Perry's campaign manager is helping as much as he can.

Todd Staples embarrassed then abusive

Update. KETK has an update on this situation.

Texas Agriculture Commissioner, Todd Staples is following the example of other republicans (State Rep Larry Taylor and State Rep  Bill Zedler) and has abused his official capacity after being embarrassed by his challenger Hank Gilbert.

AUSTIN-In what his opponent called a "stunning abuse of official capacity," Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples yesterday directed his agency's General Counsel to send threatening letters to a Tyler television station that covered the ongoing saga surrounding non-compliant gas pumps in East Texas. 

Staples was embarrassed after Hank Gilbert was filming at a gas station showing the pumps had not been inspected after 15 years instead of the 4 years required by law. (The Agriculture Commissioner is responsible for calibrating gasoline pumps throughout the state.) While Gilbert was filming, one of Staples inspectors just happened to come by to inspect.

The TV stations had a field day with this and resulted in a letter from the General Counsel of Todd Staples office.

KETK-TV, Tyler's NBC affiliate, received a letter from TDA General Counsel Dolores Alvarado Hibbs yesterday complaining about coverage and demanding the station retract parts of its coverage relating to non-compliant gas pumps. The letters came after the station had difficulty reaching anyone at TDA for comment on the initial story after Staples' campaign failed to return calls from reporters. 

In response to this embarrassment, Staples eventually sent out 20 inspectors to address the problems of the non-inspections. Getting embarrassed seems to be a staple of Staple's race.

Endorsement: Texans deserve Rick Perry

No place but Texas can a small majority of people re-elect someone to office then complain about it for the next 4 years. Case in point, Governor Rick Perry. Four years ago 61% of voters wanted new leadership but spread their votes across 3 opposing candidates. In the end, Perry won with 39% and the complaining continued.

Over the last 10 years Perry has, rightfully so, been blamed for the woes of the state including a looming $21 Billion deficit, the grossly unfair business tax, the Trans Texas Corridor land grab, the abuse of our education system, the skyrocketing cost of homeowners insurance, higher education, and electricity, and the fact that Texas ranks at the bottom of almost every category used to measure the status of a state.

And yet, this minority of the majority will continue to vote for Perry. Because of this, the Texans below deserve Rick Perry for another 4 years.

Hispanics. Perry and his party has demonized the language, the heritage, and have called for racial profiling of all who look Hispanic and yet Hispanics, as a whole, do not vote. This huge voting block could demand respect to the race,  but has become a non factor. All Perry has done for Hispanics is reach out  and pull them across the border with the help of his right wing nut jobs like State Representative Debbie Riddle and Congressman Gohmert (Pyle). But Hispanics don't vote. So they don't count.

Texas Teachers. When will they learn? Texas education has become the laughing stock of the country and yet teachers continue to vote for Perry. He has played games with their classrooms and their student's education. He has played games with their funding leaving Texas with a historic $21 Billion deficit. And he has blamed them for the problems he has created.

Texas Homeowners. Rick Perry sold you out to the insurance industry. 8 years ago he campaigned on stopping the rising cost of insurance. Instead he removed oversight and provided less regulation claiming more competition would lower your rates. In the end insurance rates have soared. Texas now has the 2nd highest rates in the nation with less protection for your belongings. And yet you do nothing

College Students. As with insurance Rick Perry removed the regulations on college tuition allowing the free market to drive down costs. In the end rates have doubled and yet most college students spend more time ordering a low fat, decaf, iced, Cappuccino, latte grande than they do in deciding who to vote for.

Tea Party. Rick Perry is everything the tea party is against. He is a career politician, in office for over 25 years, 10 as Governor. His office is wide open to the corporations of the state leaving the common citizen locked out. The members of the tea party are too blind with ignorance and anger to understand Perry is against what they stand for. Of all Texans, the tea party really deserves Perry.

Small Business Owners. Perry is running ads taking credit for lowering the massive franchise tax on small businesses, the very same tax he created just two years earlier. The high cost of insurance and electricity has not been kind to businesses in Texas either, yet for some reason a 30 second commercial taking credit for fixing something he broke is enough to sway the business owners in Texas.

Home builders, insurance industry, toll road builders. You don't deserve Rick Perry. You need Rick Perry. Perry has protection for your industries while selling out teachers, homeowners, ranchers, and tax payers. So go vote for Rick. He is your personal cash cow.

This year Perry has only one opponent and Texans have a clear choice: Vote and look to a better future, or vote and complain about it for the next 4 years. My bet is that the complaining will start Nov 3rd.

I hope to be proved wrong.

Out of the mouths of babes

The kids in this video are actually quoting Rick Perry.

GOP supports "Victory Lap Dance" at Ground Zero

While the illiterates of America have been staging protests against freedom of religion because of a community center being built 4 blocks from ground zero, the members of the Republican party have endorsed a strip club just two blocks away. From the GOP's Chairman, Michael Steele:

It is the wonders of the free market and the ability of these fine looking ladies to honor this site with a g-string and a wad of cash. I, along with many of my republican colleagues, know how to appreciate a fine "Victory Lap Dance" by a fine young entrepreneur, especially one with giant gazangas.

Most republicans protesting the Islamic Community Center that has a small room for prayer have looked the other way while the girls at a strip joint, two blocks closer to ground zero, are shaking their giant tits in their face for a buck and a half and a cold beer. From Newt Gingrich:

"Holy Jesus, sweet mother of pearl! It is time to divorce my 8th wife!"

And from House Minority Leader John Boehner( Bone-er)

"This fabulous all American site would give any young patriotic teabagging America a Boehner."

And Sarah Palin:

"This is a wonderful place for young 17 year olds who are unwed and pregnant to come and be worshiped for all they can provide, and for the observations and gawking of those who therefore are there to unfold themselves and all that too."

Republicans have been called fuckin' idiots for a reason. In this case, two very BIG reasons.

Better late than never. Dallas Morning News on Linda Harper Brown.

Well better late than never.

Democratic political hopeful Loretta Haldenwang took aim Monday at thousands of dollars worth of travel reimbursements Republican State Rep. Linda Harper-Brown received while driving a luxury car owned by a state contractor. 

This is a very legitimate question that Brown will have trouble answering. Back in July I noted:

According to records from the Texas Comptroller's office Representative Brown was paid over $13,000 for "7102 TRAV IN-STATE MILEAGE" from 2008-2010. This would amount to over 26,000 miles of usage of her own privately owned vehicle at 50 cents per mile, the standard government rate. But according to the article, this Mercedes is not her privately owned vehicle (POV). So how can she request and be paid for mileage for a POV?

Brown isn't the only one doing this. Senator Nichols, another Republican, used $54,000 of his donors money to buy a Ford. (I didn't know Ford made a $54,000 vehicle) Since 2008 he has received over $27,000 from the Comptrollers Office for mileage.

It must be nice to be an elected official.

You can thank Rick Perry. Dallas Cowboys lose.

Governor Rick Perry taunted the Washington Redskins in an op-ed in the Washington Post.

To put this in terms a Redskin fan can understand: The "playoffs" are what happen at the end of the "regular season," or, as it's known in D.C., "the end of the season."

Dallas lost 13-7.

Insurance Industry's State Rep from Friendswood doing their bidding

State Representative Larry Taylor (R-Friendswood) was elected to represent the insurance industry in Texas, as well as his own special interests. Taylor owns an insurance company, is the chairman of the panel on insurance, and is using and abusing his position as an elected official by going after his industry's opponents. This is what happens when you allow corporations to buy representation in our government. From the Texas Tribune:

After hundreds of homeowners and their lawyer, Democratic donor Steve Mostyn, collected millions this year in a post-hurricane settlement, the chairman of the Texas House panel on insurance, state Rep. Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood, wants to know how the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association paid out its claims...

Which is none of Taylor's or the states business. This was a settlement between the insurance industry and Mostyn's clients and no one else. Lucky for the industry they have their very own State Representative who will now use his official capability to pleasure them.

None of this would have been necessary if the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association had just paid their claims as they were paid to do in the first place. Instead they forced the homeowners to find an attorney, and they did. A good one. One that doesn't take crap from insurance companies or people like Taylor.

Instead of wasting his time and our  money abusing his office, Taylor should be policing his own industry.

Returning campaign cash: State Representative Carl Isett

I've had a real problem with State Representative Carl Isett who decided to quit the State Legislature to "devote full attention to his U.S. Navy duties". He is now a lobbyist. From Lubbock Online:

The Lubbock Republican, who represented House District 84 for nearly 14 years until May 31, is already representing four clients, including CEV Multimedia Ltd. of Lubbock. Combined, they will pay him between $40,000 and $85,000 through the end the year, 

Keeping campaign cash
But what really bothers me is that Isett, one of two CPAs in the Legislature, has used his campaign cash as a second income and it seems like he used tax payer's money also. In one year he paid his wife over $39,000 for accounting services. The Texas Ethics Commission eventually required that he return $25,000 of this and fined him $6400. He has also paid himself incredible amounts for mileage including over $20,000 in 2009.

Returning campaign cash
Isett also claimed mileage through the Comptroller's office, over $5300 in 2009. On the last day of the reporting period, 12/31/08, Isett returned $ 3,850.79 with a description of "Transfer Of State Paid Mileage From Personal Bank Acct To Officeholder Bank Account." And on the last day of the reporting period 6/30/09 he again returned $6,466.75 to his account.


Truck load of cash.
What is even more troubling is that Isett has a truck that his campaign purchased. According to his reports filed in 2004, Isett paid $12,386 for a truck to Pollard Ford from his campaign cash for "100% Business Use". If this is the campaign truck, how can he claim mileage for a privately owned vehicle (POV) that is not his POV? And how can he then ask for mileage from the Comptroller and pocket the cash? This vehicle is the property of the campaign and if anyone was to be reimbursed, it would be the campaign and not Isett.

Gravy truck is over
Well now with this gravy train gone, Isett has to make money as a lobbyist. He should hope the Travis County DA's office isn't looking at his accounts like they are with Joe Driver and possibly Linda Harper-Brown.

Rick Perry, the Insurance Industry's bitch.

What more can I say? I have been real clear about how I feel about the insurance reforms of Rick Perry in 2003. I think this video says it all:

Rick Perry: 10 years of doing nothing for border security

After 10 years what has Perry accomplished for border security besides wasting $2Million on "Mexican Cam" resulting in 3 arrests in 6 months. You have to wonder why Perry has done so little for such a long time.

Maybe it was Bush's fault. One of his fave five buddies, President George W. Bush, was in office for 8 years while Perry was Governor and yet Perry did nothing to secure funding for border security. Perry could have just speed dialed W and asked for help, but he didn't.

Maybe it was because Rick Perry's million dollar donors, especially Bob Perry the home builder and Bo Pilgrim, the chicken rancher, didn't want Rick to solve the border issue. After all, who would build homes or pluck the chickens? Here is what they said in a Dallas Morning News OP-ED about illegal immigrant labor:

As for construction, Dallas-area school systems alone underwent $750 million worth of construction this summer. According to industry executives, without foreign-born workers, few of those new or renovated classrooms would have been ready when school opened this month.

So Perry is playing both sides. Talk tough when he needs to and shutting up when told to. Here is what Bill White has to  say:

SUPPORT THE BURN A KORAN DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank God for these crazy christians for without them we would be without laughter.

The Boehner calls for stiff cuts to Social Security, Military, and Medicare

House Minority Leader John Boehner (bo-ner) has called for stiff cuts to Social Security, the military, and medicare:

WASHINGTON — House Republican Leader John Boehner (BO-NER) called for stiff cuts to Social Security, the military, and medicare.

Boehner claimed "The Iraq War is over so we can cut our military spending by $70Billion a year. Our senior citizens will have to die quicker to support those of us who benefit from the Bush tax cuts. And those who depend upon social security need to find another tit from now on."

The Boehner continued his hard, firm stance calling for the erection of a new statue in Iraq to George W. Bush for his successful war in Iraq. "If the GOP can't get aroused about Bush, what can we get aroused about?", continued The Boehner.

The Boehner was about to call for more cuts in government spending including NASA, Homeland Security, and the CIA, but he prematurely cut off the press conference. He was later seen smoking in a bathroom stall.

Skinny dipping in the Texas House?

Here is the skinny:
Ethics reports can be very difficult to read and to determine who is paying who for what. It becomes more complicated when you received information from the Comptrollers office concerning reimbursements and have found what looks like payment for the same item in the campaign reports. It is hard to determine if elected officials like Joe Driver and Linda Harper Brown are charging their campaigns and the taxpayers for the same expense. For instance, look at State Representative Callegari out of Katy Texas.

And here is the dipping:

Since 2001 Callegari has been reimbursed over $31,000 from the Comptroller for "in-state mileage". He has also been reimbursed over $73,000 from his campaign account for "mileage" for the same time period. This includes a one time payment of $12,529.44 on Dec 31,2004 the last day of the reporting period.
The information concerning reimbursements available via the internet at the Comptrollers office is limited. To fully understand what was reimbursed and for what usually requires a trip to the Comptroller's office and paying for copies of the records. His records from the Comptroller for the time period can be viewed here. His expenditures from his accounts from the Ethics Commission can be viewed here.

Since 2001 Calegari has asked the state to reimburse him over $236,000 for per diem, mileage, out of state travel, and more. The reimbursements range from $8.40 for hotel tax in Galveston to $2300 for biweekly per diem for living expenses. Of interest is the repayment of about $1500 in 2006 to the Comptroller.

The AP took months to compare the records of the Comptroller's office and Joe Driver's campaign account to find that Driver was double dipping. Whether Calegari is dipping might require a double take.

Phake photos phound in Leo Vasquez bed phellows

(Title changed from "Who is Leo Vasquez faking around with.) When you lie with dogs, you live with fleas.

Last week after Leo Vasquez's fake tea bagger pep rally disguised as a Harris County official press conference, it was noted that a video by Vasquez bed fellows, the King Street Patriots was using a doctored photo in their so-called voter purification scam. Now the original pictures have been found and the proof is in the pudding. Here is the pudding:

And here is the proof:

And here is what the real sign said:

These photos, along with an explanation of how the photos were found can be found on his post at:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/glenn-w-smith/right-wing-voter-suppress_b_706550.html
Maybe Leo Vasquez should rethink who he and the office of the Harris County Voter Registrar is in bed with. Or skip the dessert.

One in the Brown hand clinic is worth two in the Bush

You just have to question everything you see on TV.

Michael Brown, a hand surgeon in Houston, had a TV commercial claiming he will  "care for you just as I care for my own family" while his cute little daughter says "daddy's baby girl". It's as creepy as watching Glen Beck cry, or Bush talking about weapons of mass destruction:

Brown has been charged with beating his 4th wife and more:

Those are just the latest of Brown's skirmishes. In 2002, he was charged with and later convicted of beating his pregnant third wife with a broken bedpost and pulling her down the stairs by her hair. In 2006, the Texas Medical Board revoked his license after he tested positive for cocaine. He's been treated for narcissistic personality disorder, bipolar disorder and depression and spent time at an addiction rehab center and court-ordered anger management counseling, according to the medical board and other public records.

In court, public documents and earlier news articles, Darlina Barone, Brown's since-remarried third wife, told how he had an obsession with sex and firearms. He threatened to kill her if she ever tried to divorce him, she said.

Wow. This is like watching Bill O'Reilly, Limbaugh, Beck, and Bush all at the same time! You just have to question everything you see on the telley. Oh...and if that isn't enough:

In 2008, he was awarded a Republican Congressional Medal of Distinction, which included a lunch with Vice President Dick Cheney and a dinner with President George W. Bush. 

Oh why am I not surprised?

Obama's biggest mistake in Iraq

Last week we began to put an end to the worst mistake in the history of the United States ending combat operations in Iraq. As we welcome our soldiers home to their families, we need to remind ourselves of why this unnecessary war allowed to happen in the first place.

Who's on first?
Unfortunately, we don't know who manipulated the data, who made the mistake that cost the lives of over 4500 American soldiers and over $1 Trillion in tax dollars. There is speculation the President of the United States misled the country with wild exaggerations about "mushroom clouds", "yellow cake uranium", and  "mobile biological labs", but that was casually dismissed like watching a  rerun of "Who's on first" by Abbott and Costello.




Most conservatives believe the families of the 4500 dead soldiers will eventually get over it. So will the taxpayers who put the entire cost of the war(s) on a credit card they didn't own. Hey remember, as they say, freedom isn't free.

Obama's  biggest mistake
Obama made a huge mistake when he took office. He should have started an investigation into why our country committed our soldiers and resources to a war that was based on false information. How could the United States, with a defense budget of over $700 Billion, make such as incredibly huge mistake? Why has no one been held accountable? Why has no organization been dismantled for it's incredible stupidity that have affected over 35,000 American families?

WWRD?
Make no mistake about it, if the roles had been reversed, a Democratic Administration had sent us to an unnecessary war, the incoming republicans would investigate with the fervor of a sex scandal. This investigation would continue for 10 years, keeping them in power and slowly peeling off CIA agents one by one until the source would be found, prosecuted, and put in jail. A Presidential pardon would never be considered for sending our brave American soldiers to an unnecessary war especially for a Democratic President.


And they would be right

For once. What conservative would be against an investigation into who sent our troops into battle in a war based upon false information? What conservative would be against holding a criminal accountable? What conservative would look the other way while someone gets away with killing 4500 of our soldiers and wasting $1 Trillion?

The answer is simple: the republican hypocrites in Congress today. These so-called conservatives would rather wear a flag pin made in China and look the other way while an American soldier is buried in the cold ground. And they will look the other way while someone rifles through your kids college fund to pay their war monger buddies.

Obama is wrong
But, Obama is in charge now. He had an opportunity to ask these questions, but would rather look forward, let by gones be by gones, live and let live, and yada and yada.

And it is a huge mistake.

Humor for the day: Those funny conservatives.

If you want milk to come out your nose....watch this:

Harris County Voter Registrar, Leo Vasquez, should resign.

Leo Vasquez, the Tax Assessor Collector and Voter Registrar should resign while another lawsuit against him and his office for voter suppression winds its way through the United States Department of Justice. Vasquez, after surrendering in a settlement in 2009 for voter suppression, cost the taxpayers over $70,000 in attorney's fees and agreed to abide by 29 specific rules.

Yet instead of acting  like a selected Official of Harris County, conducting himself in a honorable manner, he continued running off at the mouth, holding a tea party pep rally, and conducting himself with the tact of a political blogger. Vasquez, for whatever political payback he has been promised, has soiled the office of which he inherited. He was given a chance by the Harris County Commissioners to amend the ways of his predecessor, Paul Bettencourt who quit two weeks after being re-elected, and he failed.

This latest political, grandstanding stunt, a method Vasquez is known for, clearly shows Vasquez is more interested in stopping organizations from registering new voters, then doing his own job of.... registering new voters. Vasquez has turned a tax funded office into a circus of dueling press conferences, political pep rallies, and grandstanding stunts, instead of doing the job he was selected to do. His actions, if not dealt with immediately by the County Commissioners, has destroyed any chance of Judge Emmett's ethics reform to be called anything but pure hypocrisy.

Over the last few years Harris County has been plagued with serious political scandals from former District Attorney Chuck Rosenthal, County Commissioner Jerry Eversole, former Tax Assessor Paul Bettencourt, and former Sheriff  Tommy Thomas. Vasquez has joined this group of the unethical by disgracing his office and the County.

Vasquez should resign the remainder of his short term and spend the next few months in prayer so he doesn't spend the next few years in jail.

Suit filed against Harris County Voter Registrar. Again.

Leo Vasquez should have seen this coming.

The first time the Voter Registrar was sued, Paul Bettencourt was in office and quit just 2 weeks after winning re-election in 2008. Vasquez was selected as his replacement and was forced to defend Bettencourt, ending in a quick settlement with the Department of Justice. This time, Leo has no one to pawn this suit on.

Unless he quits like Bettencourt.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                               
2 September 2010
CONTACT:
Anthony Gutierrez  (210) 685-6567
agutierrez@txdemocrats.org

TDP FILES SUIT TO PRESERVE INTEGRITY OF VOTER REGISTRATION PROCESS IN HARRIS COUNTY

Today, the Texas Democratic Party filed suit in federal court against Leo Vasquez, in his capacity as Voter Registrar in the Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector’s office. TDP Chairman Boyd Richie issued the following statement:

 “In 2008, the Texas Democratic Party was forced to take legal action in Federal Court to protect Harris County voters from the inappropriate, partisan actions of former Voter Registrar Paul Bettencourt, whose office rejected tens of thousands of legitimate voter registration applications. 

“When Leo Vasquez took office following Bettencourt's sudden resignation after the 2008 election, he defended his predecessor's actions.  However, when the Texas Democratic Party presented the Court evidence of the serious misdeeds in the Harris County voter registration office, Vasquez ultimately agreed to a settlement, providing hope that those inappropriate practices had come to an end.

“Unfortunately, we believe Leo Vasquez violated the terms of our agreement last week, based on statements and information he distributed at a press conference that resembled a political pep rally. At that event, Vasquez made reckless accusations against a non-partisan organization based on a "review" of voter registration applications conducted by a group called "True the Vote." In order to conduct such a review, Vasquez apparently provided the group access to the same applications he refused to provide the Texas Democratic Party last year, when he argued in Federal Court that such documents contained confidential information such as date of birth.

“All Harris County residents should be deeply disturbed by how easily this office disregards election law and federal court orders and by how casually they distribute voters’ confidential information.  Just last year, well-documented reports revealed that deputy voter registrar Ed Johnson was selling driver’s license information to Republican candidates as part of an illicit side-business with Republican state representative Dwayne Bohac [1] [2].

"Given Mr. Vasquez' actions last week, we have been forced to take legal action to make sure his office does not repeat the same kind of practices that denied almost 70,000 Harris County citizens the right to register and vote in 2008."

Perry ducks home insurance questions

Perry has nothing to stand on, so he literally stood on a chair in a restaurant.

He cannot defend what he and his insurance buddies did with insurance rates in Texas. He promised less regulation of his insurance industry would lead to more competition and lower rates. Instead we now pay the 2nd highest rates in the nation. (last year we were number 1).

Notice how Perry ducks (not chickens) when asked about insurance rates. White is calling for returning to pre-approval of rates like we had prior to 2003. This may not lower our rates, but at the very least the incredible increases will stop.