It’s nearly midnight, and 2006 will be in the rear view mirror. So, what I’ve done is compile a list of some of the most important, strangest, and even best of the 2,170 posts that have been on Capitol Annex this year.
Thanks for the memories, the support and your readership. To my family, loved [...]

Popularity: 8% [?]

Up to now, you’ve read here a lot at Capitol Annex about all of the various and sundry reasons that we believe it could be next to impossible to to unseat Speaker Tom Craddick (R-Midland).
You’ve also heard a lot from me concerning the concept of “eating our own” that has arisen among Democratic bloggers and [...]

Popularity: 8% [?]

Is there any more sure sign that Democrats need to get on the stick in the Rio Grande Valley than this:
History could be in the making Monday when Texas Gov. Rick Perry swears in the Cameron County judge on New Year’s Day.
“I don’t recall any governor coming in to swear in a Cameron County judge,” [...]

Popularity: 10% [?]

The Brazosport News evidently still has the stomach to watch Nancy Grace and thus catch a few gems of Congressman Ted Poe (R-Humble), who is one of her “talking heads” from time to time:
We stumbled across the tail end of Nancy Grace’s show on CNN Headline News tonight and were surprised to see Houston Congressman [...]

Popularity: 8% [?]

The Pine Blog in deep East Texas has an interview with former Congressman Charlie Wilson (whose book, Charlie Wilson’s War will soon be a movie starring Tom Hanks) about former President Gerald Ford.
Check it out, but here is an interesting snippit:
PB: NBC Nightly News’ anchor Brian Williams wrote the following on his blog: “The truth [...]

Popularity: 8% [?]

If nothing else, 2006 could be considered a year of “second acts.”
Many things that had been dominant stories in recent years had rebirths during 2006: Redistricting, Tom DeLay (and the scandals and lawsuits stemming from the 2002 election cycle), etc.
The biggest “second act” of the year was, without a doubt, Redistricting. Or, perhaps we should [...]

Popularity: 7% [?]

Quorum Report has up a letter signed by numerous House Committee chairs pledging their support to Craddick.
The only non-signatories were Pitts, who is running for Speaker, and Talton, Ritter and Eiland, who are reportedly pledged to McCall.  The list makes up almost 20 percent of the House membership.
Is this the deathknell for the opposition? I [...]

Popularity: 6% [?]

Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Six hundred minutes,
Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Moments so dear.
Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Six hundred minutes
How do you measure, measure a year?
In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights
In cups of coffee
In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife.
In five hundred twenty-five thousand
Six hundred minutes
How do you measure
A year in the life?
—From “Rent,” mucic & lyrics by [...]

Popularity: 9% [?]

With all of the seriousness of the speaker’s race (and this being Friday and all), we thought it was time for some Legislative Levity.
Folks, there is a bathroom bill filed this legislation.
But, before you start hootin’ & hollerin’ thinking this is the Sexy Cheerleader Bill of 2006, consider that this legislation (the “Restroom Access Act”) [...]

Popularity: 7% [?]

[Hat tip to Kuff's World for leading us in the direction of these stats].
As a result of significant population migration following Hurricane Katrina combined with ongoing population increases in Texas since the last census, Louisiana is poised to lose a seat in the House of Representatives and Texas is poised to gain one come in [...]

Popularity: 9% [?]