
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Fringe Right-Wing Nuttiness

"Well, President Obama is trying to bind the United States into a global economy where all of our nations come together in a global economy. I don’t want the United States to be in a global economy where, where our economic future is bound to that of Zimbabwe. I can’t, we can’t necessarily trust the decisions that are being made financially in other countries."
“So I think clearly this is a very bad direction because when you join the economic policy of different nations, it is one short step to joining political unity and then you would have literally, a one world government."
Even Texas Has Atheists

Thoughts On State Democratic Convention

I've been back home for a couple of days now so I guess it's time to give my thoughts on the recently completed Texas State Democratic Convention in Corpus Christi. On the whole, I would have to say it was a very successful convention -- far less contentious than most I have attended in the past (and I have been attending them since 1988). Those Democrats in attendance seemed energized, hopeful and ready to work their tails off for a successful November election.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Supreme Court On Target With Two New Decisions

I often complain about the right-wing leanings of the current United States Supreme Court, but I have to admit that I think most of their decisions this term have been right on target. That has not changed with their latest two decisions.
Helping When Help Isn't Wanted

One of my daughters has a blogger friend who lives in Europe. Although he was born in the United States, he has lived in Europe for over thirty years and is now also a citizen of a country there (which I will leave unnamed). Although they have never met in person, they have both been posting on the same blog and have been e-mailing and instant-messaging each other for a couple of years now. It is one of the nice things about the internet that people can now easily have friendships with people all over the world -- people they will probably never get to meet in person.
Oh, don't get all crazy, I am so focussed on this. There are things that in themselves are meaningless. However.... something turns up that is the proverbial straw that breaks the camel's back.
Hey, you can get knocked down, you get up, brush yourself off, and go on.
But ONE day.... everything crashes on your head, and all you want to do is leave.
And you realise you can't DO it any more. Am at that point.
This isn't a cry for help. It's been in my mind for a lonnng time. I want everyone to know... I have loved people... deeply. I have tried to make a difference in the world. Most of it didn't work.
Am hanging out for a week or so, but once I get things squared away, I will be gone.
I wish to say I loved being here. . . And the nice people here who were supportive.
I don't know how to say this.... I probably would have left the planet if not for you all.
I have a week or so to get things in order. But it was profoundly nice to meet you all.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Too Tired To Post

I apologize to my readers, but it is now midnight and I just got home from the Democratic Convention in Corpus Christi about 15 minutes ago. I have been in airports and on planes since about 11:00am this morning and I'm completely exhausted, so there will be no posts for Monday.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Stopping The Oil Leak

Policies Of "Saint Ronnie" Ruined America

If you listen to conservatives you might think that Ronald Reagan was one of our greatest presidents. Even today, they are preaching a return to the policies of the dead president. They point to the time of his presidency as a time of economic benefit for almost all Americans.
Working For A Death Penalty Moratorium

These are the very nice people at the Democratic convention who were manning the booth of the Texas Moratorium on the Death Penalty. While the Republicans mouth words about the sanctity of all life, these people actually work hard for it (and that's not easy in a state like Texas that kills more people than any other state each year). I applaud their courage and perseverance.
Has Hutchison Blown Her Re-election ?

It's starting to look like Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison's recent loss to Rick Perry in the Texas Republican primary has done damage to her political future in general. Much of this may be due to her continually shifting promises about quitting the senate.
Bill White Addresses The Convention

The high point of the state Democratic convention for many of the convention delegates came on Friday night. The party's candidate for governor made his appearance and spoke to the convention. And surprisingly, he gave a pretty rousing speech. Normally White's speaking style could put a charging bull elephant to sleep (and that might be his best chance of winning -- to lull the Republicans to sleep on election day).
Saturday, June 26, 2010
The Home Rick Perry Turned Down

As you may know, the governor's mansion in the state of Texas is currently being renovated. And Governor Rick Perry has taken the opportunity to set himself up in some pretty fancy digs at the taxpayer's expense. He has rented a real mansion which is costing taxpayer's the princely sum of $10,000 a month in rent payments. That's a rather heady sum to be billing to a state with a $15 to $18 billion dollar shortfall in the next biennium.
Convention Gets A Lone Picketer

It looks like a high-level Republican operative has infiltrated the state Democratic convention -- one of Rick Perry's aides perhaps? Seriously, a convention is not official until it has been picketed by one or more nuts. It must be too hot outside today for most Republicans (or teabaggers) because the guy pictured above was alone (and thrilled to have his picture taken). I guess he'll do though. The convention is now official.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Notes On Sarah Palin

I haven't blogged much about Sarah Palin lately, so I thought I'd catch you up on some things going on in Palin-World. It seems that things are not going too well for the Wasilla Witch. One of the biggest of these is how silly she now looks for her "drill, baby, drill" mantra. She's still trying to push that but it looks pretty feeble in light of the continuing Gulf oil disaster.
I Meet Senfronia (By Accident)

I have a confession to make. I am a political junkie. That won't surprise regular readers of this blog, but it is why I am currently attending the state Democratic convention. I haven't missed one of these conventions in years (either as a delegate or with a press pass). This year I am lucky enough to be doing both. The good Democrats of Potter County were kind enough to select me as a delegate and the state party once again credentialed me as a member of the press (I know -- they have a rather loose definition of press).
At The Convention
David Van Os On Texas Democratic Chaimanship

The other day I wrote a post on the current Texas Democratic Party chairman Boyd Richie (pictured above). The point of my post was that Richie has been utterly ineffective as chairman and the state party needs a new chairman. The Democratic Party doesn't hold a single statewide post in the state of Texas -- that's 0 for 29 if you're keeping score. And yet I still hear people talking about what a good chairman Richie has been. Frankly, I'm at a loss to understand their thinking on this.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Blasphemy !

Creationism Loses A Battle In Texas

The Institute for Creation Research (ICR) thought they had found the promised land when they moved to Texas. Texas has as many fundamentalists as any state and it has been a real battle here to keep creationism out of high school science classes -- a battle that is still being waged.
Even More Rand Paul Nonsense

This is not a new Rand Paul slip-of-the-lip but it's just too insane not to talk about. It's just another reminder of why Paul's handlers are saying he'll only answer questions that are submitted in writing. They know if they continue to allow him to do on-the-spot interviews, he'll continue to talk without engaging his brain. This way they can check his answers before the media gets them and hopefully head off further embarrassment.
"What would I do if I were governor?
First, I’d have pardoned myself and everyone included nearly a year ago.Without a pardon the case goes on and on. Fletcher has gotten no kudos whatsoever for not pardoning himself."
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Another Lie From A Top Republican

Much like Sarah Palin, one gets the feeling that Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele doesn't spend much time in the vicinity of the truth. I'm not sure whether he just doesn't care about the truth or whether he's just too stupid to know the truth. Either way, it certainly doesn't bother him to say anything he wants (mainly falsehoods) to try and make Republican policies look better than they really are.
Judge's Decision Feathers His Own Nest

When BP's shortcuts caused an oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, President Obama made what I think was a good decision to impose a moratorium on deep-water off-shore drilling. Now that it's months later and the damaged BP rig is still pouring millions of gallons of oil into the Gulf, Obama's moratorium looks even more like the right decision.
Ocean Energy
NGP Capital Resources
Quicksilver Resources
Hercules Offshore
Provident Energy
Peabody Energy
PenGrowth Energy
RPC Inc
Atlas Energy Resources
Parker Drilling
TXCO Resources
EV Energy Partners
Rowan Companies
BPZ Resources
El Paso Corp
KBR Inc
Chesapeake Energy
ATP Oil & Gas