January 6, 2015

Pro-gay marriage in Texas ads air before court date

AUSTIN — Days before a federal court will hear arguments against Texas' gay marriage ban, a national advocacy group promoting same-sex marriage aired ads in cities across Texas to incite conversation among Texas families.

The ad shows a Fort Worth Police Department detective talking about his desire to marry his partner.

"Freedom is a big deal," Chris Gorrie a detective, said in the ad. "The freedom to marry, the freedom to say what you want to say, and the freedom to do what you want to do."

"Texans believe in freedom and liberty and part of that is to be able to marry who you love, so Chris should be able to marry whoever he loves," said Jay Doshi, a police office in the ad.

Read more: http://www.caller.com/news/state/state-bureau/progay-marriage-in-texas-ads-air-before-court-date_45835181

January 6, 2015

Austin developer Cherno Njie accused of leading failed coup in Gambia

An Austin developer who specializes in low-income, federally subsidized housing now stands accused of trying to overthrow the government of a small West African country.

The federal Department of Justice announced Monday that Cherno M. Njie, 57, had been charged with funding a failed coup in The Republic of Gambia, of which he expected to become the interim leader. Njie is one of two American citizens arrested, according to the Justice Department, along with Minnesotan Papa Faal, 46.

U.S. law forbids citizens from trying to overthrow the governments of nations with which the United States is at peace, according to the Justice Department. In response to the attempted coup, Gambian President Yahya Jammeh blamed “terrorist groups” and alleged that plotters had received backing from foreign countries.

The Justice Department charges are based mainly on an interview with Faal, according to the government affidavit. Faal told investigators that the Gambian-descended Njie — who went by the code name “Dave” — “was a businessman who financed the operation and was to be installed as the leader of The Gambia after the successful coup.”

Read more: http://www.statesman.com/news/news/austin-developer-cherno-njie-accused-of-leading-fa/njgsk/

January 6, 2015

Victoria police officer fired for tasing driver

A Victoria police officer whose use of force against a 76-year-old man gained national attention was fired Monday.

Nathanial Robinson was investigated after dash-camera video footage showed the 23-year-old officer knock Pete Vasquez to the ground and tase him twice after pulling him over Dec. 11.

After almost a month-long internal investigation by the Victoria Police Department, Chief J.J. Craig announced in a news release that Robinson violated three department policies: conduct and performance, use of force and arrest without a warrant.

The police department's policies weren't available following the announcement nor was the chief to further elaborate on those violations.

Read more: https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2015/jan/05/victoria-police-officer-fired-for-tasing-76-year-o/

January 6, 2015

Crackpot Utopia: The Year in Republican Crazy, Part 11

It's the Old Crackpot Switcheroo! Nebraska Crackpot Rep. Lee Terry was merely one of a flock of Crackpot Cuckoobirds who were all gung-ho for the release of Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl. . . until it happened and The Word came down from Crackpot Central -- and all hell broke loose.


Crackpot Utopia: A dream world as envisioned by republicans; a manifestation or expression of the deranged, warped alternate universe inhabited by republicans, at least in their minds. See also: Bachmannism, Boehneresque.

1. Once more into the idiocy: GOP and FOX whip up the hate over a POW exchange

The exchange of five Taliban prisoners of war for one U.S. prisoner of war, Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, provides a fine example of the irrationality and instability of the republican mind in 2014. Just as the republicans loved what is now called Obamacare when it was just a gleam in the eyes of the Heritage Society or when it was called Romneycare only to psychopathically turn on it in a screaming rage when President Obama embraced it, the exchange for Sergeant Bergdahl gave us yet another look at Crackpot Utopia.

You see, before President Obama orchestrated the return of our soldier, the Crackpot Party was screaming that the president had done nothing to free him, that this was just more evidence of everything from "Obama's incompetence" to him supporting "his fellow Muslims." Here's former Republican presidential candidate John McCain back on February 18 discussing the then-potential deal that had been in the works for over two years with CNN's Anderson Cooper:



-snip-

2. Crazyspeak of the Year nominee No. 14: Iowa asylum escapee Rep. Steve King

Iowa's own Rep. Steve King is no relation to the famous author of horror novels. He's more like the heinous, destructive characters that populate Stephen King's books. Just look at the guy and tell me you wouldn't cross the street to avoid coming into close contact unless you could taser him and put him back in his straitjacket.

Here is Steve King's 2014 Crazyspeak qualifying quote:



Right you are, Steve baby! You see, they don't expect to see you in heaven either, except to see you turned away at the gate, followed by a swift kick down to the pits of burning, flaming hell. Thanks, though, for providing even more proof that you'll never belong in heaven. Hell should suit you just fine, though. Say, why not leave today?

-snip-

Read more: http://downwithtyranny.blogspot.com/2015/01/crackpot-utopia-year-in-republican_3.html

January 5, 2015

Victoria woman sues police for excessive force, false arrest

[font color=green]Note: The Victoria, Texas police department was the subject of a viral video last month for tasing a 76-year-old Hispanic man during a routine traffic stop.[/font]

A Victoria woman is suing the city and several police officers after she claims they pushed her to the ground and kicked her.

Mary Frances Jones filed the lawsuit in federal court Dec. 18.

She claims Victoria Police Officer D. Stone and two other unnamed officers injured her during the early morning hours of Dec. 22, 2013.

Jones said in an interview with the Victoria Advocate that she was awoken by blue and red flashing lights outside her home in the 600 block of West Brazos Street where police were inquiring about her truck.

-snip-

Medical records will support Jones had two black eyes for two months and was put on a ventilator after she was diagnosed with pneumonia due to her broken ribs. She's visited the hospital about six times since her arrest, Jones said.

Read more: https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2015/jan/03/woman-sues-police-for-excessive-force-false-arrest/

January 4, 2015

Texas tea partier Louie Gohmert to challenge Speaker John Boehner

WASHINGTON – East Texas tea party Rep. Louie Gohmert declared this morning that he will challenge Speaker John Boehner. It’s a long shot effort fueled by dismay over Boehner’s perceived ill-treatment of conservatives.

In a statement issued by his office early Sunday, Gohmert said the November elections, in which Republicans gained control of the Senate and padded their House majority, should have emboldened the Speaker to get tough on President Barack Obama.

“Voters made clear they wanted change,” he said. Instead, he added, Boehner “forced through the CRomnibus” – a far reaching spending bill – “by passing it with Democratic votes and without time to read it.”

Gohmert issued the statement at the same time he announced his candidacy on Fox and Friends in an interview with Tucker Carlson.

Read more: http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2015/01/texas-tea-partier-louie-gohmert-to-challenge-speaker-john-boehner.html/

[font color=green]Go, go, go Gohmert, away![/font]

January 3, 2015

Gov. Jan Brewer Leaves Arizona Broke – Still Gives Big Bonuses To Staff

Gov. Jan ‘Fiscally Responsible’ Brewer leaves office this month, and she’s handing her successor, Doug Ducey, a budget deficit of half a billion dollars. The projected deficit for the next fiscal year is $1 billion. That didn’t stop her, however, from ending 2014 by handing out fat bonuses to already well-paid staffers.

An investigation by the Arizona Republic revealed that the biggest bonuses were for $10,000 each and went to 10 separate people, eight of whom are already making $125,000 a year. Smaller bonuses, still in the thousands, were given to 12 others.

The money was described as retention bonuses, which at least makes some sense. They were meant to keep staffers with Brewer for the final year of her term as governor. After all, what else could motivate them to stick with the woman?

The Brewer administration has no problem flinging around taxpayer money as long as it doesn’t benefit taxpayers. In December, the Republic also revealed that state officials gave pay raises, some topping 40 percent, to 169 employees without the Department of Administration’s approval, which is required by law.

Read more: http://reverbpress.com/politics/gov-jan-brewer-leaves-arizona-broke-still-gives-big-bonuses-to-staff/

January 3, 2015

With New Land Commissioner, a New Era for Bushes

It's official: Texas is once again Bush country.

Big names in state and national politics gathered in the Texas Senate chamber Friday to watch Republican George P. Bush — son of Jeb, nephew of George W. and grandson of George H.W. — take the oath of office as the state's twenty-eighth land commissioner, kicking off a new era for what Texas Supreme Court Justice Don Willett called “one of the most revered families in American history.”

At the helm of the General Land Office, the fresh-faced former investment consultant promised to “add to the legendary story of Texas — a story that’s just getting started." Bush was sworn-in with his father, the former Florida governor and possible 2016 presidential candidate; his mother, Columba; and his wife, Amanda, looking on.

“The General Land Office has played a critical role in changing our world,” he told an assembly that included U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas; U.S. Rep. Roger Williams, R-Austin; four former land commissioners (Jerry Patterson, Garry Mauro, David Dewhurst, and Bob Armstrong); and other state and federal officials.

Read more: http://www.texastribune.org/2015/01/02/new-land-commissioner-new-era-bush-family/

[font color=green]On the count of three, oh heck why wait...

January 3, 2015

Arkansas billboard promotes white pride radio, KKK leader claims it’s ‘not racist’

This photo taken on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2014, shows a new billboard in Harrison, Ark., that advertises the web-based "whiteprideradio.com" which has been rented by the Knights Party of Zinc, formerly the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, and comes just a year after another billboard carrying a racist message was taken down. (AP Photo/Harrison Daily Times, James White)

A billboard in Harrison, Arkansas, is promoting “whiteprideradio.com” and is being paid for by a group formerly known as the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan.

Knights Party national director Thom Robb told The Harrison Daily Times the group is leasing the space for a year. Robb was national director of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, which The Southern Poverty Law Center says Robb renamed the Knights Party.

The billboard shows a young white girl holding a puppy next and reads, “It’s NOT Racist to (love) Your People,” with a heart image replacing the word love. It refers passersby to www.whiteprideradio.com, which redirects Internet users to wwww.kkkradio.com.

The website promotes a quote in its banner, “My family LOVES it! There are shows for ALL of us – Even the Kids!” and includes a schedule for radio programs throughout the day.

Read more: http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/us-world/article/Arkansas-billboard-promotes-white-pride-radio-5990276.php

January 3, 2015

Crackpot Utopia: The Year in Republican Crazy, Part 10

Crackpot Utopia: A dream world as envisioned by republicans; a manifestation or expression of the deranged, warped alternate universe inhabited by republicans, at least in their minds. See also: Bachmannism, Boehneresque.

1. Newsmax -- Beyond Drudgery

As we all know, republicans live in some sort of comic-book bizarro alternate universe. Unfortunately, that universe overlaps with the real world that normally adjusted people live in. It's a twist of fate that defies the laws of quantum physics, but it is what it is and it's not going to go away anytime soon. The last Dark Ages lasted hundreds of years. Witches were burned and people really thought that plagues are sent by God as punishments for perceived "sins." Sound familiar?

So, you might ask yourself, how has this come about? Is it as simple as what Karl Rove arrogantly said shortly after Bush the Usurper took over the White House? You recall:

"We're an empire now, and when we act, we create our own reality."

-snip-

2. Crazyspeak of the Year nominee No. 12: Michele Bachmann

Really, I couldn't just let Ms. Batshit Loco -- already featured in Part 4 -- leave Washington without one last parting kick. She'll probably resurface on the telly soon anyway. Something like Blaze TV or Newsmax TV will hire her to dispense her unique "wisdom" and "expertise." Meanwhile, shouldn't there be a big book of Bachmann's Greatest Hits so far?

Here's a great one from this year, where she proposes "a 100% tax on monies that immigrants send home," the idea being that a 100-percent tax will make it all disappear.

-snip-

3. Crazyspeak of the Year nominee No. 13: Kimberly Guilfoyle

Now who, you ask, is Kimberly Guilfoyle? In the last installment of "Crackpot Utopia," I mentioned Rudy Giuliani's hot man-crush on Russian leader Vladimer Putin. Rudy loves Vlad so much that he rhapsodizes about him being our president. Kimberly is another poor, unfortunate asylum shut-in that Roger Ailes hired to dispense republican kookery on FOX, and she wants Putin or Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in charge of the U.S. "for 48 hours."

-snip-

- See more at: http://downwithtyranny.blogspot.com/2015/01/crackpot-utopia-year-in-republican.html