Capitol Annex’s Official Mascot Ellie Challenges You To Help Out KT & Catfish Help Rick Noriega
October 30, 2007 by Vince Leibowitz · Leave a Comment
[Editor's Note: Capitol Annex's Official Mascot, Ellie, shown at left in a fairly old photo, asked that I post the following message from her to you, the Capitol Annex Readership.—VL]
Dear Capitol Annex Readers:
This morning, while reading over the shoulder of He Who Feeds Me, (and dodging his big head), I saw this post from Karl-Thomas Musselman of Burnt Orange Report and his cat, Catfish. They are trying to raise $2,000 before they both land back in Texas to go to work for Rick Noriega’s U.S. Senate campaign. (Cats in politics…I though Socks was the last one!)
Although I am not normally fond of the feline species, I thought it would be a good opportunity to put the century’s old cross-species rivalry aside and help another pet with the fund-raising goal for the person who feeds them.
So, we’re challenging each reader of Capitol Annex today to give $1.00 or more to Rick Noriega’s campaign for U.S. Senate before 5 p.m. today. We’re confident that Rep. Noriega will represent his furry, four-legged constituents well, and hope you’ll help me help Karl-Thomas and Catfish (what a name for a cat!).
Please visit Act Blue and help KT and Catfish. That is all. I’m going to go back to sleep now. Fund-raising tires me out!
Sincerely,
Ellie Leibowitz
Official Mascot
CapitolAnnex.com
Bartlett Could Be Eyeing Governor’s Office In 2010
October 30, 2007 by Vince Leibowitz · Leave a Comment
Ever since the story broke that White House adviser Dan Bartlett, who worked on President Bush’s campaign for governor against the late Ann Richards, was returning to Texas, rumors have been humming around Austin about his political future.
Bartlett, who will return to Texas after the first of the year to work for Public Strategies, is rumored to be a contender for a couple of different offices in 2010.
TX CD 10: Desperate To Remain Relevant, McCaul Concocts Issues To Campaign On
October 30, 2007 by Vince Leibowitz · Leave a Comment
Clearly desperate to retain any relevance in the face of likely Democratic challenger Dan Grant (D-Austin), right-wing Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Austin) has decided to go out and create himself something to campaign on, since his record in pretty much every single area Texans care about stinks to high heaven. (And, to boot, his campaign is broke).
What did McCaul pick? Cyber security:
Out Of The Office: Governor Perry
October 30, 2007 by Vince Leibowitz · Leave a Comment
In light of this story, we just can’t resist….
Evidently, if you were privileged enough to know Governor Rick Perry’s official, personal, state email address, and sent him a message at any time during the last nine months, you probably would have received a response like this:
OUT OF OFFICE REPLY: Rick Perry, Governor of Texas
Hey, Ya’ll!
I really appreciate that you’ve emailed me with this important state business here. I promise I’ll get to it when I can, but right now I’m up in New York City with Rudy trying to decide if endorsing him is a good career move for me just now. My hair’s not gettin’ any younger! Gosh, I’m so busy right now that I long for those days when it was just me, Leininger, and Grover Norquist sunning topless on a beach in the Bahamas talkin’ about “school finance.” Hand me another MaiTi, boys!
Anyhoo, if your business is just real important and can’t wait until I’m back from New York (or Dubai, or Iraq, or wherever I am this week (Anita, check my BlackBerry, hon!), you can email ol’ Dewy, the Lite Gov. Or, if you happen to be an incarcerated person about to meet Ol’ Sparkey (hang on, Robert Black tells me it’s the Needle now, my bad, ya’ll!) then you can call Chief Justice of the Court of Criminal Appeals Sharon “Killer” Keller. Just remember to call before 5 p.m.! No after-hours repreives (sp?) for you clowns!
Texas Progressive Alliance Blog Round Up: Amendments, Elections, & Endorsements For The November 6 Ballot
October 30, 2007 by Vince Leibowitz · Leave a Comment
[This round-up of election news and endorsement posts is brought to you by the Texas Progressive Alliance in anticipation of the November 6 general election. Some of the blogs and sites included in this round-up are not member sites of the Texas Progressive Alliance, but are included in the hopes of giving voters a wider picture of the many issues facing voters in local races around the state.]
On November 6, voters all across Texas will have the opportunity to go to the polls to vote on a variety of issues. First and foremost, voters across Texas will vote on 16 amendments to the Texas Constitution including Proposition 15, the much-touted amendment to fund cancer research in the state.
In addition, voters in some municipalities, most prominently Houston, will be casting votes for city officials including mayors and city council members. College districts, independent school districts, and special districts across the state will also hold elections for their members. A number of cities and school districts will also hold bond elections to fund everything from jail construction to parks and recreation and additional school facilities. Some school districts will also hold tax rate elections to authorize tax rates higher than those allowed by the tax reform plan passed by the Texas Legislature in special session back in 2006.
Texas bloggers have dedicated a considerable amount of coverage to election issues across the state, from the statewide constitutional amendment election to local issues. Much of this coverage is highlighted below.
HD 40: Saenz Offers Misleading Information About Pena’s Vote On Legislation Authorizing Proposition 15
October 29, 2007 by Vince Leibowitz · Leave a Comment
Political races in the Rio Grande Valley are almost always so nasty they could gag a buzzard six times over. They are almost always filled with rumors, innuendo, and elaborate attempts to distort the opposition’s voting record.
And, just about every election cycle, there is one distortion that requires a lot reading through the House Journal to sort out.
This year, the first candidate to manage to run up against having released such a distortion is Edinburg engineer Eddie Saenz, who alleged as follows at a recent event, which was subsequently quoted in a press release distributed by Legislative Media:Amendment Endorsements: Reprise
October 29, 2007 by Vince Leibowitz · Leave a Comment
Last week, Capitol Annex released its endorsements on the 16 Amendments on the November 6 ballot. However, much of that was eclipsed by the news that day that Mikal Watts was leaving the race for U.S. Senate. So, we’re going to summarize our endorsements below and refer you to our four endorsement posts.
A quick and dirty list of our endorsements is below. Refer to the linked posts above for the reasons behind our choices.
Texas Progressive Alliance Blog Round Up: October 29, 2007
October 28, 2007 by Vince Leibowitz · Leave a Comment
It’s Monday, and that means it’s once again time for the Texas Progressive Alliance Blog Round-Up. This week’s round-up is complied by Vince from Capitol Annex.
Refinish69 from Doing My Part For The Left is outraged with certain politicians in Fort Worth,Texas. Homophobia Rears Its Nasty Head in Fort Worth City Council Race tells who is being a jerk and how to contact one of them.
Muse was at Armando Walle’s campaign kick-off and reports why it’s time for a change in Texas House District 140. Kevin Bailey (Craddick D) has been serving Craddick and not the district. Walle, who is from the district and has a proven track record of service and leadership, already has a large group of supporters lined up to help him take back 140 for the people.
Phillip Martin of Burnt Orange Report provides a detailed chart and analysis updating what’s going on with the Craddick D’s. The post brought forward an interesting reader response as well.
TXsharon at Bluedaze gives the Texas Railroad Commission Protection Money Breakdown. and makes it easy for you to take action. So, please take that action before you become the next victim of RRC Malpractice.
Hal at Half Empty wonders whether FEMA has finally taken a page out of George Orwell’s book when they held a ‘news conference’ this past week without a single journalist in attendance.
WhosPlayin notes that he would gladly pay the $13.30 per year per person to pay for SCHIP.
McBlogger takes a look at the strange world of Focus on the Family and the very odd people that attended their Values Voters conference.
CouldBeTrue at South Texas Chisme notes that Perry appointed a public corruption figure to the UT System Board of Regents.
Johncoby at Bay Area Houston finds the highest and lowest costs for electricity in the Houston area. Power Watch: Highest and lowest electricity rates for November.
Stace at DosCentavos features the trailer to the upcoming Jesse Salmeron film, This Is America. “This is America” is the story of a family torn apart by deportation.
NatWu at Three Wise Men exposes the truth about why we need Net Neutrality, especially with all the recent Telecom shenanigans.
North Texas Liberal’s Texas Toad gives a breakdown on the factions of the “Trinity Vote” in Dallas Weighs Pros and Cons of Trinity Toll Road.
WCNews at Eye On Williamson wonders What Will John Carter’s Excuse Be This Time For Voting Against Health Care For Children?
Off the Kuff gives his recommendations for the state and local bonds and propositions.
NYTexan at BlueBloggin asks how many wars and how many enemies can Bush have?
Vince at Capitol Annex notes that Tom Craddick has borrowed a page from Warren Chisum in announcing that trial lawyers were behind efforts to remove him during the 8oth Legislative Session and wonders why, since he reported it some months ago, it is suddenly “news” to the mainstream media.
In the wake of the Houston Chronicle’s announcement of a “position-elimination program”, PDiddie at Brains and Eggs recounts his personal experience with Hearst newspapers, budgets, and staff cutbacks in The Trouble with the Newspaper Bidness.
HD 97: Craddick’s Key Benefactors Give Thousands To Leonard
October 28, 2007 by Vince Leibowitz · Leave a Comment
If you needed any other evidence that former State Rep. Bob Leonard (R-Fort Worth), the presumed front-runner in the free-for-all for retired Rep. Anna Mowery’s seat is a tool of the Craddick-Perry establishment, try this one on for size:
They note that Leonard’s consultant, Bryan Eppstein, represents many of the leaders of the anti-Craddick faction (as well as some of the speaker’s supporters). Also, Fort Worth Rep. Charlie Geren, a Republican who has clashed with Craddick, spoke at Leonard’s fundraiser last week.
On the other hand, the firm of Mike Toomey and Bill Messer, perhaps the speaker’s biggest benefactors among Austin lobbyists, gave Leonard $5,000, and Toomey helped him raise money from the Capitol crowd. (Toomey and Messer, who both served in the Legislature with Leonard, did not respond to requests for comment.)
It is particularly interesting that much of the establishment is falling in line behind Leonard. Though Leonard served in the Legislature for five terms before Mowery took office, he has zero legislative accomplishments. Even his website lists none.
SA Business Establishment Wants To Groom Montford For Governor
October 28, 2007 by Vince Leibowitz · Leave a Comment
Add another name to the ever-growing list of people running for or being groomed for a race for Governor in 2010: former State Senator John Montford.
This summer, it was rumored that Montford would enter the U.S. Senate race against John Cornyn. Via the San Antonio Express-News, it appears as though some of the San Antonio establishment is trying to recruit Montford for the 2010 governor’s race via a run for San Antonio Mayor in 2009:
