TexasTowelie
TexasTowelie's JournalDavis, Abbott Still at Odds Over Dallas Debate
Four days after Republican gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott backed out of a planned debate with Democrat Wendy Davis in Dallas, it was unclear Tuesday whether there would be a gubernatorial debate in the city at all.
Davis agreed to Abbott's format preferences for a debate on Sept. 30 to be hosted by WFAA-TV in Dallas, the Davis campaign said Tuesday. But Abbott has committed to debating at a different venue in the city, Davis hasn't accepted the invitation to the second one and WFAA says it's no longer pursuing a debate. (The Texas Tribune had been a partner with WFAA on its original debate.)
Davis and Abbott had both agreed to the WFAA debate — as well as another debate in McAllen — but Abbott backed out of the WFAA event on Friday because of what one of his advisers said was "an inability to agree on specific details of the format." The debate was to be a roundtable conversation with no specific time limits for candidate remarks.
Davis campaign spokesman Zac Petkanas issued a statement Tuesday after the campaign met with WFAA.
Read more: http://www.texastribune.org/2014/09/02/davis-agrees-abbotts-wfaa-debate-formatting-terms/
[font color=green]Cluck, cluck, cluck.[/font]
Border Patrol agent fires at armed militia member
[font color=green]My apologies for the delay, but I didn't check my Facebook page for a few days.[/font]
McALLEN, Texas (AP) — A Border Patrol agent pursuing a group of immigrants in a wooded area near the Texas-Mexico border on Friday fired several shots at an armed man who later identified himself as a militia member.
Border Patrol spokesman Omar Zamora said agents had been chasing a group of immigrants east of Brownsville Friday afternoon when an agent saw a man holding a gun near the Rio Grande. The agent fired four shots, but did not hit the man. The man then dropped his gun and identified himself as a member of a militia. Zamora said no other details were immediately available.
Cameron County Sheriff Omar Lucio, whose agency is involved in the investigation, said the incident occurred on private property and it appeared the man had permission to be there. He was not arrested, Lucio said.
The man, whose name has not been released, was wearing camouflage and carrying a long arm that was either a rifle or shotgun, Lucio said. The agent had lost the group of immigrants when he turned around and saw the man holding the weapon.
Read more: http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/texas/article/Border-Patrol-agent-fires-at-armed-militia-member-5722505.php
Falcon sighting in tree!
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA! We once had three of these in my family!
Texas GOP On Wrong Side of the Law and Abbott Can't Recall
By Carol MorganGreg Abbott’s long-running game of whack-a-mole continues. The two recent Texas court rulings on HB2 and the constitutionality of educational funding (the ones that Abbott fought against and lost) prove that the Texas GOP, and its 2014 slate of candidates, are on the wrong side of the law.
Perhaps the Texas GOP's new campaign tune should be "I Fought the Law and the Law Won."
How can we be expected to vote for an entire party who is, not only on the wrong side of the law, but aided and abetted these unconstitutional laws to be put into practice. Why?
It’s politically damaging and embarrassing to go back in time and examine the GOP candidates’ past statements in regard to these two cases.
Glenn Hegar was actually caught on video saying he was “proud” that the Legislature didn’t reinstate the funds cut to public education.
Dan Patrick committed a double do-do on the ruling, claiming he “led the charge” to reinstate educational funding, when, in fact, he did not. Patrick’s opponent, Leticia Van de Putte, wasn’t happy with his revisionist history and she gave him a well-deserved dressing-down.
AG candidate Ken Paxton’s response? Meaningless GOP talking points through a faceless campaign spokesperson: “duty, blah-blah, responsibility, blah, children of Texas, blah”.
So now, the case will be kicked down the road to the Texas Supreme Court and educational funding will be on the front burner of the Legislature. In the meantime, voters better take good notes, because whatever statements are made by the GOP candidates, past or present, they’ll be sure to lie about it afterward.
I’m tickled to death about Judge Dietz’ ruling, but I’m more delighted by how he spanked the religious right-wing-gimme-a-voucher-or-I’ll-sue fanatics (don’t forget Dan Patrick’s a member of that club). You can read all the juicy details of Dietz’ take-down on Texas Freedom Network. Shorter version? Judge Dietz ripped the Righties a new one, reminiscent of Mr. T: Don’t waste my time, fool! And he did all in legalese.
In the meantime, most media will continue to comment on trivial things like the President’s tan suit and rant-rave on his lack of strategy for dealing with ISIS.
No strategy? No strategy? Think people, think! I know it hurts terribly…but think.
Of course, the President has a strategy, but do you think he’s going to announce it on national television with names, dates and choice of weapons, like some sort of children's play-date?
Did Truman inform us in advance of the bombing of Nagasaki? We’ll know the President’s strategy the morning after it happens, and that’s the way it should be. Stifle please…
And Labor Day…some of us worked and some didn’t. I did, but it was my choice. If you have that choice, thank a Union. And if your children aren’t forced to work in a coal mine, a factory, or textile mill, you can thank a Union for that too!
Once upon a time, robber barons and politicians feared the collective strength of the American worker. We need to make that happen again. The Right Wing carefully orchestrated the image of the "union thug" through relentless propaganda, until the middle class believed their lies. How soon we forget history...
Speaking of forgetting, a funny thing happened in a Houston raid on a voter registration drive in North Houston. With guns brandished and in bullet proof vests, officers stormed Houston Votes, a Democratic-leaning voter registration drive.
The fracas resulted in the organization’s suspension, but more importantly (for Republicans’ sake) voter registrations and records were destroyed.
The raid was initiated by Greg Abbott’s office. Yet, when asked for a comment, Mr. Abbott “can’t recall” being briefed on this raid.
Where have I heard that phrase "I do not recall" before? Back in 2007, when Alberto Gonzales testified before Congress, he used the phrase 71 times.
It’s strange how suspected criminals have such poor memories.
And more forgetting…Today was Ann Richards’ birthday. Happy birthday, darlin’. You’re sorely missed, but fortunately, we still have your words, valuable for everyone, but especially, for Democrats.
When asked what she'd do differently, she replied, “I would probably have raised more hell.”
So noted, darlin’. And that’s exactly what Democrats plan to do for the next 64 days.
Early voting resumes tomorrow, don’t forget to vote for Greg Wortham for SD28--the only REAL candidate. Listen/watch Greg in action, at the Candidate Forum on September 2, at 6:30, on the LCU Campus in the Baker Conference Building.
http://lubbockonline.com/interact/blog-post/carol-morgan/2014-09-01/texas-gop-wrong-side-law-and-abbott-cant-recall#.VAUmJGNgD2Q
Posted in its entirety by permission.
Cross-posted in the General Discussion forum.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Carol Morgan is a career/college counselor, writer, speaker, former Democratic candidate for the Texas House and the award-winning author of Of Tapestry, Time and Tears, a historical fiction about the 1947 Partition of India. Read her work at the Houston Press and MetroLeader News Service. Email Carol at elizabethcmorgan@sbcglobal.net , follow her on Twitter and on Facebook or visit her writer’s blog at www.carolmorgan.org
Texas GOP On Wrong Side of the Law and Abbott Can't Recall
By Carol MorganGreg Abbott’s long-running game of whack-a-mole continues. The two recent Texas court rulings on HB2 and the constitutionality of educational funding (the ones that Abbott fought against and lost) prove that the Texas GOP, and its 2014 slate of candidates, are on the wrong side of the law.
Perhaps the Texas GOP's new campaign tune should be "I Fought the Law and the Law Won."
How can we be expected to vote for an entire party who is, not only on the wrong side of the law, but aided and abetted these unconstitutional laws to be put into practice. Why?
It’s politically damaging and embarrassing to go back in time and examine the GOP candidates’ past statements in regard to these two cases.
Glenn Hegar was actually caught on video saying he was “proud” that the Legislature didn’t reinstate the funds cut to public education.
Dan Patrick committed a double do-do on the ruling, claiming he “led the charge” to reinstate educational funding, when, in fact, he did not. Patrick’s opponent, Leticia Van de Putte, wasn’t happy with his revisionist history and she gave him a well-deserved dressing-down.
AG candidate Ken Paxton’s response? Meaningless GOP talking points through a faceless campaign spokesperson: “duty, blah-blah, responsibility, blah, children of Texas, blah”.
So now, the case will be kicked down the road to the Texas Supreme Court and educational funding will be on the front burner of the Legislature. In the meantime, voters better take good notes, because whatever statements are made by the GOP candidates, past or present, they’ll be sure to lie about it afterward.
I’m tickled to death about Judge Dietz’ ruling, but I’m more delighted by how he spanked the religious right-wing-gimme-a-voucher-or-I’ll-sue fanatics (don’t forget Dan Patrick’s a member of that club). You can read all the juicy details of Dietz’ take-down on Texas Freedom Network. Shorter version? Judge Dietz ripped the Righties a new one, reminiscent of Mr. T: Don’t waste my time, fool! And he did all in legalese.
In the meantime, most media will continue to comment on trivial things like the President’s tan suit and rant-rave on his lack of strategy for dealing with ISIS.
No strategy? No strategy? Think people, think! I know it hurts terribly…but think.
Of course, the President has a strategy, but do you think he’s going to announce it on national television with names, dates and choice of weapons, like some sort of children's play-date?
Did Truman inform us in advance of the bombing of Nagasaki? We’ll know the President’s strategy the morning after it happens, and that’s the way it should be. Stifle please…
And Labor Day…some of us worked and some didn’t. I did, but it was my choice. If you have that choice, thank a Union. And if your children aren’t forced to work in a coal mine, a factory, or textile mill, you can thank a Union for that too!
Once upon a time, robber barons and politicians feared the collective strength of the American worker. We need to make that happen again. The Right Wing carefully orchestrated the image of the "union thug" through relentless propaganda, until the middle class believed their lies. How soon we forget history...
Speaking of forgetting, a funny thing happened in a Houston raid on a voter registration drive in North Houston. With guns brandished and in bullet proof vests, officers stormed Houston Votes, a Democratic-leaning voter registration drive.
The fracas resulted in the organization’s suspension, but more importantly (for Republicans’ sake) voter registrations and records were destroyed.
The raid was initiated by Greg Abbott’s office. Yet, when asked for a comment, Mr. Abbott “can’t recall” being briefed on this raid.
Where have I heard that phrase "I do not recall" before? Back in 2007, when Alberto Gonzales testified before Congress, he used the phrase 71 times.
It’s strange how suspected criminals have such poor memories.
And more forgetting…Today was Ann Richards’ birthday. Happy birthday, darlin’. You’re sorely missed, but fortunately, we still have your words, valuable for everyone, but especially, for Democrats.
When asked what she'd do differently, she replied, “I would probably have raised more hell.”
So noted, darlin’. And that’s exactly what Democrats plan to do for the next 64 days.
Early voting resumes tomorrow, don’t forget to vote for Greg Wortham for SD28--the only REAL candidate. Listen/watch Greg in action, at the Candidate Forum on September 2, at 6:30, on the LCU Campus in the Baker Conference Building.
http://lubbockonline.com/interact/blog-post/carol-morgan/2014-09-01/texas-gop-wrong-side-law-and-abbott-cant-recall#.VAUmJGNgD2Q
Posted in its entirety by permission.
Cross-posted in the Texas Group.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Carol Morgan is a career/college counselor, writer, speaker, former Democratic candidate for the Texas House and the award-winning author of Of Tapestry, Time and Tears, a historical fiction about the 1947 Partition of India. Read her work at the Houston Press and MetroLeader News Service. Email Carol at elizabethcmorgan@sbcglobal.net , follow her on Twitter and on Facebook or visit her writer’s blog at www.carolmorgan.org
New Texas laws go into effect Monday
More than a year after state lawmakers wrapped up their work in Austin, the final pieces of nearly a dozen new laws take effect today.
Many Texans likely won’t feel or see much difference from the new laws, since the biggest one — the last provision of the comprehensive abortion law known as HB 2, which required abortion clinics to meet the same standards as ambulatory surgical centers or close their doors — has been overturned.
Had that piece of the law taken effect, all but a handful of abortion clinics were expected to be shuttered.
That leaves around a dozen laws — touching on issues ranging from judicial and court personnel training to higher education for veterans and their families — to take effect today, a result of work last year by the Texas Legislature, according to the Legislative Reference Library of Texas.
Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/2014/08/31/6078797/new-texas-laws-go-into-effect.html
Southern California high school retires divisive Arab mascot
Gerry Maceda/The Desert Sun
THERMAL, Calif. — A Southern California high school has retired a controversial Arab mascot.
The bearded, snarling mascot with a large hooked nose who wears a head scarf did not appear at Coachella Valley High School’s season-opening football game on Friday. A belly-dancing genie that often appears with the mascot during halftime was also retired.
The Desert Sun reports (http://desert.sn/1B2qPVZ ) the change was among the steps the Coachella Valley Unified School District is taking to give the mascot a makeover.
The Arab mascot has existed since the 1920s to recognize the desert region’s reliance on date farming, a traditionally Middle Eastern crop. Over the years, the mascot evolved from a turban-wearing horseman carrying a lance to a standing figure with a scowl and a traditional head covering.
Read more: http://www.dallasnews.com/news/local-news/20140831-southern-california-high-school-retires-divisive-arab-mascot.ece
Gov. Perry withdraws 'unauthorized' Twitter post
A message on Gov. Rick Perry’s official Twitter feed was removed Sunday, with an announcement that the post was unauthorized.
Shortly after the message referring to Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg’s drunken-driving arrest last year was posted, it was withdrawn.
“A tweet just went out from my account that was unauthorized. I do not condone the tweet and I have taken it down,” the later announcement said.
-snip-
The original message included an image of Lehmberg and drew a connection between her and Perry’s recent indictment on charges that he had threatened her politically.
Read more: http://www.dallasnews.com/news/local-news/20140831-gov.-perry-withdraws-unauthorized-twitter-post.ece
Federal judge blocks enforcement of new Louisiana abortion law
Source: AP
BATON ROUGE, La. — A federal judge has temporarily blocked enforcement of Louisiana’s restrictive new abortion law. But lawyers disagree about whether his order covers doctors at all five of the state’s clinics or only two doctors and three clinics.
District Judge John deGravelles says the law can still take effect Monday. But he says officials cannot penalize the doctors and clinics that sued for breaking it until after a hearing on a broader pretrial order.
The law requires doctors who perform abortions to have admitting privileges to a nearby hospital. A lawsuit claims that likely would close all five abortion clinics.
DeGravelles says the doctors’ risk of fines and losing licenses outweighs any injury to the state from keeping the status quo. He noted the state health secretary says she won’t prosecute doctors while their hospital applications are still undecided
Read more: http://www.dallasnews.com/news/local-news/20140831-breaking-federal-judge-blocks-enforcement-of-new-louisiana-abortion-law.ece
Profile Information
Gender: MaleHometown: South Texas. most of my life I lived in Austin and Dallas
Home country: United States
Current location: Bryan, Texas
Member since: Sun Aug 14, 2011, 03:57 AM
Number of posts: 112,070
