25 March 2008
A big blunder for a Texas pol
Noriega goofs words to “Deep in the Heart…” (W. Gardner Selby, Austin American Statesman)
A video taped March 13-15 by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, promoting Rick Noriega for the U.S. Senate, yields two memorable factoids, and a singing gaffe.
Noriega, a Houston state representative, is the first Democrat to win his party’s Senate nomination in a multi-candidate primary without a runoff since 1976. And he eats his barbecue (brisket and ribs) with a napkin tucked in his shirt.
In seriousness, Noriega tells a group: “Are we going to have the resources to compete?” With whom? With Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, it goes unsaid. “I’m telling you, it’s getting ready to get tough.”
The video opens with Noriega singing what seems to be a verse of “Deep in the Heart of Texas,” though I was alerted by Cornyn’s camp that he gets the words wrong. Noriega sings: “The stars are bright and big at night.” The actual lyrics? “The stars at night are big and bright…”
Nicely done.
You'd think they might have budgeted some money to FIX the gaffe in the video. That they did not is probably reflective of just how little money the national party intends to spend on a race it's unlikely to win.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/25/08 23:31 | Texas | Technorati | Comments (3)
Endorsing Rev. Wright
First, irritation (Letters, Houston Chronicle)
All of the hoopla about the comments of Pastor Jeremiah Wright recalls the old adage that the truth will set you free — but it will first piss you off.
STATE REP. HAROLD V. DUTTON JR.
Houston
It's surprising to see any pol endorsing "Reverend" Wright's extremism as "truth." Wow.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/25/08 23:06 | Texas | Technorati | Comments (2)
21 March 2007
Fun Time
Rich Connelly notes in the Houston Press that license renewals are about to become FUN in Texas:
The federal Real ID act requires everyone renewing a license after May 11, 2008, to present a passport or birth certificate and a valid Social Security card. (After doing it once, you can then go back to online renewals.)
That's 16 million Texans who will have to be processed over a five-year period.
"It's going to be a little slice of heaven," Mange says.
For the first year alone, DPS is budgeting $160 million for increased personnel, extended office hours and possibly new locations to handle the crush.
States can opt out of the Real ID program -- there are bills before the legislature calling for Texas to do so -- but then those states are considered "non-compliant" by the feds. And that means you wouldn't be able to use your driver's license to board a plane or get in any federal building.
Some dozen states have already opted out. The hope among some folks is that if enough states do so, the feds will have to adjust their plans.
If that doesn't happen, though, you can look forward to waiting with millions of your fellow Texans as a state bureaucracy tries to handle a flood of new transactions in an untested process.
I feel safer, don't you?
Especially since a library card and social security card can be used as forms of identification to get on plane.
Yep. Definitely safer.
Asininity.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/21/07 22:46 | Texas | Technorati | Comments (0)
16 February 2007
Ahead of the curve
Many license plate frames illegal: Court ruling gives police power to stop cars with partially obscured plates (Chuck Lindell, Austin American-Statesman)
Texans who unintentionally cover even a small portion of their car's license plate can be stopped by police, ticketed and perhaps arrested for the offense, the state's highest criminal court ruled Wednesday.
The 8-1 decision left three Court of Criminal Appeals judges holding their noses — proclaiming the statute "uncommonly bad," but acknowledging that the letter of the law prohibits drivers from encasing their license plate in a frame that obscures the state name, state nickname or even portions of the artwork.
Unfortunately, the law as written unintentionally endangers civil liberties, Judge Cathy Cochran wrote in an opinion that, while siding with the majority, raises concerns about the ruling's impact.
"It is a 'gotcha' law because it allows the police to arbitrarily stop, ticket, arrest and search any person who is driving a car whose license plate frame covers up any portion of that plate's design," Cochran wrote in an opinion joined by Judges Tom Price and Cheryl Johnson. "Look around you — the vast majority of drivers on Texas roads and highways can be stopped and arrested at any given moment."
Still, Cochran wrote, under a law revised in 2003, "it is a crime . . . if that frame obscures even the tiniest bit of the doo-dad design details of the standard-issue Texas license plate."
I hate the subheadline for this story, because it's not the court that bestowed this power on police, but our state legislature.
In any case, readers of this little blog knew a long time ago that it would be a wise idea to remove their license plate brackets.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 02/16/07 10:34 | Texas | Technorati | Comments (1)
03 January 2007
I would have just stuck with Chevron
Troopers say man distracted by sign causes fatal wreck in Conroe (KTRK-13 News)
Troopers say a sign for low gas prices may have resulted in a deadly crash.
State troopers say they have not ticketed the woman's husband who caused the crash.
Troopers say Johnny Hohensee, 75, made a quick left turn in his Ford Escort towards the gas station. Another car heading the opposite direction crashed into the Escort, killing Linda Hohensee, 64.
"The driver stated that he was distracted with the sign at the gas station on the quick stop," said Trooper Chris Perkins with the Department of Public Safety.
Hmm, it's going to be hard to blame this one on Sudden Acceleration Syndrome.
I wonder why the guy wasn't ticketed?
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 01/03/07 23:13 | Texas | Technorati | Comments (0)
10 December 2006
Here's a thought...
Marketing firm tries to help Galveston shed its 'dirty' image (Associated Press)
One of Texas' best-known but equally disparaged beach towns is trying to figure out how to promote itself to outsiders while acknowledging that the town and its beaches are dirty and largely unappealing.
Galvestonians and tourists alike repeatedly cited "dirty beaches" and the town's "unclean feel" during recent interviews conducted by a marketing firm hired to help boost Galveston's image.
"Your beach is most known, but neither visitors or residents think highly of it," says the report, commissioned by Galveston's top tourism promoters. "Flaunt the uniqueness of your island. Your beaches and island are not dirty-- they are colored with stories, history and culture."
That's among the advice contained in the $76,000 promotion report commissioned by the Galveston Island Park Board of Trustees, which is responsible for overseeing tourism promotion on the island. Officials plan to spend another $24,000 designing and distributing print ads and billboards promoting Galveston around the state of Texas and to targeted cities around the United States and Canada.
Maybe they should spend some of their money on... cleaning the beaches (and town)?
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 12/10/06 17:47 | Texas | Technorati | Comments (1)
03 December 2006
Missed opportunity
Running errands around Montrose/Upper Kirby yesterday, I saw several of those Kinky Friedman "My governor is a Jewish Cowboy" bumper stickers.
The thought struck me that I missed a great Cafe Press opportunity to have a little fun at Gov. Perry's expense with this bumper sticker: "My governor is an Aggie yell leader."
Ah well.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 12/03/06 13:38 | Texas | Technorati | Comments (1)
01 November 2006
Sensible. Common-Sense. Common Sense. Got it?
Corrections (Houston Chronicle)
State Rep. Jessica Farrar, D-Houston
[snip]
2. Abortion: Instead of infringing upon the rights of women by reversing Roe v. Wade, I favor a sensible plan that is targeted toward the goal of having zero abortions in the state of Texas. This plan includes support for common-sense sexual education programs in schools that will reduce the number of teenage pregnancies. In addition, I strongly support family planning programs that will reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies. For far too long, ideology has taken precedence before common sense.
Think her communications consultant told her to emphasize "sense?"
Farrar sounds like one of those phonies who would try to call herself pro-life after all those contortions. Whatever.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 11/01/06 23:15 | Texas | Technorati | Comments (1)
25 October 2006
Thanks for the tax cut, guv
Homeowners confused, frustrated as property tax bills arrive (April Castros, Associated Press)
What was supposed to be one of Gov. Rick Perry's greatest campaign assets may have turned into one of his worst liabilities.
Perry claims in a now-pulled ad that the last special session of the Legislature would mean the "average homeowner will receive a $2,000 tax cut."
As Texas homeowners receive their bills this month, most will find their property taxes have gone up instead of down.
Whoops!
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 10/25/06 21:47 | Texas | Technorati | Comments (10)
Mandate radio
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Chris Bell, the Mandate of the New Mainstream, visited with KTRH-740 talker Chris Baker on Monday.
The podcast/mp3 is available here for anybody who's interested.
I haven't listened to much talk radio this week, so I'm catching up with some of those helpful Clear Channel podcasts.
Next up: Michael Berry.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 10/25/06 20:35 | Texas | Technorati | Comments (0)
12 October 2006
Just another abortion-rights candidate
Strayhorn answers abortion question (Janet Elliott, Chron.com)
After saying she supports more funds for family planning and embryonic stem cell research, Strayhorn was asked about abortion.
"I believe in the sanctity of life and I recognize that there are very, very difficult situations where heartbreaking decisions have to be made," she said.
She said those difficult situations definitely include pregnancies resulting from rape, incest and the life of the mother. OK, but what would she do if the Legislature passed a trigger law making abortion illegal in Texas should the U.S. Supreme Court overturn Roe v. Wade.
"I don't play what-if games," Strayhorn said. "I do not believe Roe v. Wade will be overturned."
She added that she believes in a "state's rights position," but didn't explain what that meant.
Chronicle Managing Editor John Wilburn then asked pointedly, "Do you believe individuals should be allowed to make those heart-breaking decisions without interference from government?"
And she answered, "Individuals and their doctors and their families must be the ones making those decisions."
The three lightweight challengers aren't going to get to Perry's right on abortion, but it's still a little surprising that veteran pol Strayhorn seems utterly incapable of giving a coherent answer (a problem that just killed her in the debate). It's also a little surprising that none of these challengers seems inclined to try to get to Perry's right on any issues. It's not like the Republican base is all that inspired by him. But where else would they go?
I'm with Mr. Booth on this one. It's an unexceptional group this time around.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 10/12/06 19:10 | Texas | Technorati | Comments (0)
06 October 2006
Underwhelming
For whatever reason, I found myself watching the silly gubernatorial debate instead of being out doing something more interesting tonight.
It was more underwhelming than I expected (and my expectations were really low).
I like that Chris Bell led with his signature accomplishment (taking on Tom DeLay). That sort of set the tone for the whole lackluster affair.
It's hard to believe that Texas can't produce a better candidate than those four (and the excluded Libertarian candidate).
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 10/06/06 21:13 | Texas | Technorati | Comments (0)
East Texans happy with their taxes?
Private citizens near no-show at tax hearing (Christine S. Diamond, Lufkin Daily News, via Lone Star Times)
The Texas Task Force on Appraisal Reform has heard several "horror stories" about their frustrating experiences with Texas' "stealth tax," said task force chairman Thomas W. Pauken.
But not in Lufkin.
Pauken repeatedly expressed surprise at the lack of private citizens testifying during Thursday morning's hearing.
Pitser Garrison Civic Center's meeting room was well-attended by public officials, lawyers, school officials, chief appraisers — and three private citizens.
"This is really unusual," Pauken said.
Lufkin City Manager Paul Parker, assuring Pauken the event was well-advertised, suggested low attendance indicated homeowners' satisfaction with local property tax appraisals.
Right! That's probably it, and not the 9 a.m. start time and the fact that people who own property likely also have jobs that require their presence.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 10/06/06 11:43 | Texas | Technorati | Comments (0)
14 September 2006
Ann Richards, RIP
While I disagreed with much of her political agenda, Ann Richards was one of those larger-than-life Texas figures who commanded respect. There was never any whining about "glass ceilings" from Ann Richards -- like a good Texan, she just decided to overcome barriers that frustrate others. And ascend she did.
There are various accounts of her life from the state's major newspapers today:
May she rest in peace.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 09/14/06 08:56 | Texas | Technorati | Comments (0)
06 September 2006
The problem with this argument...
Bell’s Mondale Moment: the Gift that keeps giving (Robert Black, Perry Alliance Blog)
It’s Thursday afternoon, August 31, 2006 and Chris Bell still wants to raise your taxes. It’s been three months since Governor Perry and legislators reformed the business tax, and Chris Bell still wants to raise the rate (see today’s Austin American Statesman.) It’s been four months since the comptroller certified a $8.2 billion budget surplus and…you guessed it…Chris Bell still wants to raise your taxes.
Hmm, wouldn't it be more accurate to say that Governor Perry and other legislators raised (not reformed) taxes via the new business tax, and Chris Bell thinks they should have raised taxes even more?
"We raised taxes, but our opponent will raise them more!" would be an appropriate motto from an unexceptional candidate.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 09/06/06 10:25 | Texas | Technorati | Comments (0)
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