TexasTowelie
TexasTowelie's JournalRepublican developer Don Huffines says he’ll challenge Senate veteran John Carona from the right
Long-time incumbent Republican state Sen. John Carona of Dallas is facing a challenge from the right.
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Huffines helped form a political super-PAC that supported Ron Paul in last year’s presidential race. The committee spent more than $400,000 promoting Paul and criticizing Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich in the 2012 GOP primary.
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He labeled Carona, who has held his Senate seat for nearly two decades, as a “career politician” who is “out of touch with voters in his district.”
He cited a 2009 bill in the Texas Legislature to rename a portion of Interstate 20 for Barack Obama. Carona and Democratic Sen. Royce West co-sponsored the measure.
More at http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2013/10/republican-developer-don-huffines-says-hell-be-challenging-senate-veteran-john-carona-from-the-right.html/ .
Baylor Student Senate pushing to drop “homosexual acts” reference in sexual misconduct policy
Baylor University’s Student Senate is pushing to revise a portion of the school’s sexual misconduct policy referencing gay sexual relationships.
Though the group has approved the change, it would still have to be approved by the university’s board of regents.
The policy currently lists “homosexual acts” among the sexually-related conduct that could prompt disciplinary action, along with fornication and sexual abuse, assault and harassment.
But the senate last week voted to recommend dropping the “homosexual acts” reference and instead substitute the phrase “non-marital consensual deviate sexual intercourse.”
More at http://www.wacotrib.com/news/higher_education/baylor-student-senate-pushing-to-drop-homosexual-acts-reference-in/article_52c42808-e124-5333-8177-73836e43220b.html .
Cross-posted at LGBT Group.
Baylor Student Senate pushing to drop “homosexual acts” reference in sexual misconduct policy
Baylor University’s Student Senate is pushing to revise a portion of the school’s sexual misconduct policy referencing gay sexual relationships.
Though the group has approved the change, it would still have to be approved by the university’s board of regents.
The policy currently lists “homosexual acts” among the sexually-related conduct that could prompt disciplinary action, along with fornication and sexual abuse, assault and harassment.
But the senate last week voted to recommend dropping the “homosexual acts” reference and instead substitute the phrase “non-marital consensual deviate sexual intercourse.”
More at http://www.wacotrib.com/news/higher_education/baylor-student-senate-pushing-to-drop-homosexual-acts-reference-in/article_52c42808-e124-5333-8177-73836e43220b.html .
Cross-posted at Texas Group.
Ex-hand surgeon Michael Brown in Miami Hospital
Michael Brown's criminal attorney in Fort Lauderdale confirmed this morning that Brown is in the hospital in serious condition. Alvin Entin said he could not disclose anything further. However, hospital representatives are still telling us they have no information about a Michael Glyn Brown being checked in. We'll keep you posted.
Ex-hand doc Michael Brown is in serious condition in a Miami hospital, sources told Hair Balls on Sunday. Citing hospital policy, a supervisor at Mount Sinai Medical Center would not confirm if Brown was a patient.
Brown was to report to Miami authorities October 25 to begin a 30-day sentence in federal prison after pleading guilty to assaulting flight attendants aboard a British Airways flight in January.
We're staying on top of this and hope to have more information soon.
More at http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs/2013/10/michael_brown_hospital_miami.php .
Sam Houston (D) Declares for Attorney General
First of all, our apologies for missing last week's round up. It just means there is more news for this week.
Sam Houston (D), a Houston attorney and 2008 candidate for Texas Supreme Court, announced he will be a candidate for the Democratic nomination of Texas Attorney General. In 2008, Houston lead the Democratic ticket with 45.88% of the vote, 2.25% ahead of then-Senator Obama and 3.04% ahead of State Rep. Rick Noriega who was running for U.S. Senate against Sen. John Cornyn. While Houston confirmed he will be running for the position, he stated a formal announcement will be coming in a few weeks. Houston will face either State Rep. Dan Branch (R), State Senator Ken Paxton (R), or Railroad Commissioner Barry Smitherman (R) who are all competing in the Republican primary for the job currently held by Greg Abbott (R).
The race for Agriculture Commissioner also got a shake up. As previously reported, State Rep. Brandon Creighton (R) has quit the race to run for the open State Senate Seat currently held by Senator Tommy Williams (R). In his place, two former Republican State Representatives announced they will be running for the statewide office in 2014: Sid Miller and Tommy Merritt. They join Uvalde Mayor J. Allen Carnes (R) and Former Republican Party of Texas Executive Director Eric Opiela (R) in the Republican Primary. Kinky Friedman (D) is currently the only person seeking the Democratic nomination. Creighton will be joined in the special election to replace Williams by State Rep. Steve Toth (R). Sen. Williams resigned at midnight on Friday, October 25; a date is yet to be scheduled for the special election.
The race for Railroad Commissioner also got a shakeup; State Rep. Stefani Carter (R) is following in Rep. Creighton's footsteps and quit her statewide campaign. Unlike Creighton, she is not seeking a promotion of any kind and will seek re-election to the Texas House in Dallas' District 102. No Republican candidate who previoulsy declared interest in District 102 after Rep. Carter announced for Railroad Commissioner announced plans to withdraw from the race.
More at http://www.burntorangereport.com/diary/14293/bor-elections-weekly-round-up-october-14-28-sam-houston-d-declares-for-attorney-general .
Wendy Davis hires campaign manager with history-making track record
AUSTIN – Sen. Wendy Davis’s camp announced Sunday her campaign manager is Karin Johanson, who managed the bid of U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, the first openly gay member of the U.S. Senate and first woman in Wisconsin to hold the post.
“Karin has proven that she can win tough races. She has taken on and beaten a full arsenal of failed leadership, despite millions in negative ads,” said Davis Communications Director Bo Delp in a statement. “Karin will be an excellent and outstanding addition to this historic and exciting campaign. We are honored that Karin will be joining us as we continue our fight to make the promise of Texas available to all families.”
The Davis campaign in announcing Johanson’s hiring Sunday said she has more than 25 years of experience in elections and in the legislative arena.
She was chief of staff and press secretary to U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer and was executive director of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in 2006.
More at http://blog.chron.com/texaspolitics/2013/10/wendy-davis-hires-campaign-manager-with-history-making-track-record/?cmpid=hpbn .
Alice Walton asks to expunge Texas DWI arrest
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Wal-Mart heiress Alice Walton is asking that her 2011 arrest in Texas for driving while intoxicated be expunged from the records, and prosecutors say her request will likely be granted.
Charges in the case were dropped when the two-year statute of limitations ran out Oct. 7.
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported (http://bit.ly/HpmGUQ ) Sunday that Parker County, Texas, prosecutor John Forrest said he didn't pursue the charge because the state trooper who arrested Walton wasn't available to testify.
The Texas Department of Public Safety said the trooper is suspended pending an internal investigation into allegations of misconduct.
More at http://www.chron.com/news/texas/article/Alice-Walton-asks-to-expunge-Texas-DWI-arrest-4930408.php?cmpid=hpts
Congressman Randy Could Lose
By Dr. Brian CarrPresident, Behavioral Health Associates, Lubbock, Texas, 1991-Present
Chairman, City of Lubbock Board of Health, 2013
Submitted on October 27, 2013 - 9:38am
In the last few months our District 19 Congressman Randy Neugebauer has been seen in a negative light. Three weeks after verbally attacking a Park Ranger at the World War II Memorial his Facebook page and campaign page continue to receive very unhappy posts. Enjoying his 52 foot yacht anchored outside of Washington, D.C. he may have finally secured sufficient attention to merit consideration of whether he is the right representative in Washington. There are now candidates opposing him both in his own party as well as from the Democrats.
However, when one looks at the natural tendency of incumbents to be re-elected and at the margins of victory that Randy has previously demonstrated it will be quite a race for anyone to defeat him. His tenure has been less about not being a bad politician but more about him not being a very good one. With ten years in office we can all look to his record of performance. He has risen to the 33nd richest member of Congress. He has amassed sufficient wealth to spread the money around to other conservative candidates. He shouted “baby-killer” from the floor of Congress and was a principle support of the insanity of Senator Ted Cruz. It would appear that he is ready to again shut down the government in January and is wanting to add more to the 24 billion dollars lost in the last closure.
But what will it take to defeat him? Will the fact that Texas is last among the states in voter turnout lend itself to his being re-elected because citizens are uninvolved and apathetic? What are the extremes of politics and societal happenings that would clearly force him out of office. Here are a few possibilities:
1. Alien (as in from another world) relics are uncovered near Roswell, New Mexico that show that he is from another planet. This heritage would only be sufficient if it could be shown that he was not actually white but more dark green in skin color.
2. If Randy were to expire and show a complete lack of bodily functions this might improve the odds. However, given the tendency of those in Congress to die several terms before they actually leave office this might not be that much of a problem.
3. If Congressman Neugebauer were to come “out of the closet” and marry not one but two other men and at least one elephant in a public ceremony in Santa Fe, New Mexico. However, if he could play a mean game of basketball or was a good coach the citizens would likely overlook this.
4. News that Randy had commissioned a fine invisible golden robe that he would proudly wear down Broadway Avenue and that only common people could not see it might cause a commotion, particularly when a young child pointed out that she only saw him as naked.
5. Randy’s involvement in operating his yacht as a slave trader off the coast of Africa might tip the scales against him. This would only happen if he did not make a profit. His counter might be that he was only working to stem the invasion of illegal aliens.
6. Health problems such as uncontrolled flatulence might pose problems in public. Matching his wits with his new found ability he would probably overcome this by simply shouting “Tea Party” with each expulsion.
7. In his race to the furthest edges of known space and the Extreme Right the Congressman and his challenger Dr. May might encounter particles of anti-matter and be thrust into a parallel university inhabited by Dr. Stephen Hawking and the munchkins where they would rule based on height.
8. And finally, if Randy was able to collect all the money in America and enjoy it in the manner of Scrooge McDuck he might just retire and leave the bones for the next fellow to pick over. Rolling around in his gold and jewels he could feel a satisfaction of what he had accomplished.
With the slam dunk wins in the past five terms it will be difficult to unseat our Congressman. Until the citizens (and I mean the vast majority of those in his district who don’t vote) awaken he will continue in his term as a sessile polyp in the bowels of Congress.
But I’m holding out for the Alien relics.
http://lubbockonline.com/interact/blog-post/dr-brian-carr/2013-10-27/congressman-randy-could-lose
Cross-posted in Texas Group.
Congressman Randy Could Lose
By Dr. Brian CarrPresident, Behavioral Health Associates, Lubbock, Texas, 1991-Present
Chairman, City of Lubbock Board of Health, 2013
Submitted on October 27, 2013 - 9:38am
In the last few months our District 19 Congressman Randy Neugebauer has been seen in a negative light. Three weeks after verbally attacking a Park Ranger at the World War II Memorial his Facebook page and campaign page continue to receive very unhappy posts. Enjoying his 52 foot yacht anchored outside of Washington, D.C. he may have finally secured sufficient attention to merit consideration of whether he is the right representative in Washington. There are now candidates opposing him both in his own party as well as from the Democrats.
However, when one looks at the natural tendency of incumbents to be re-elected and at the margins of victory that Randy has previously demonstrated it will be quite a race for anyone to defeat him. His tenure has been less about not being a bad politician but more about him not being a very good one. With ten years in office we can all look to his record of performance. He has risen to the 33nd richest member of Congress. He has amassed sufficient wealth to spread the money around to other conservative candidates. He shouted “baby-killer” from the floor of Congress and was a principle support of the insanity of Senator Ted Cruz. It would appear that he is ready to again shut down the government in January and is wanting to add more to the 24 billion dollars lost in the last closure.
But what will it take to defeat him? Will the fact that Texas is last among the states in voter turnout lend itself to his being re-elected because citizens are uninvolved and apathetic? What are the extremes of politics and societal happenings that would clearly force him out of office. Here are a few possibilities:
1. Alien (as in from another world) relics are uncovered near Roswell, New Mexico that show that he is from another planet. This heritage would only be sufficient if it could be shown that he was not actually white but more dark green in skin color.
2. If Randy were to expire and show a complete lack of bodily functions this might improve the odds. However, given the tendency of those in Congress to die several terms before they actually leave office this might not be that much of a problem.
3. If Congressman Neugebauer were to come “out of the closet” and marry not one but two other men and at least one elephant in a public ceremony in Santa Fe, New Mexico. However, if he could play a mean game of basketball or was a good coach the citizens would likely overlook this.
4. News that Randy had commissioned a fine invisible golden robe that he would proudly wear down Broadway Avenue and that only common people could not see it might cause a commotion, particularly when a young child pointed out that she only saw him as naked.
5. Randy’s involvement in operating his yacht as a slave trader off the coast of Africa might tip the scales against him. This would only happen if he did not make a profit. His counter might be that he was only working to stem the invasion of illegal aliens.
6. Health problems such as uncontrolled flatulence might pose problems in public. Matching his wits with his new found ability he would probably overcome this by simply shouting “Tea Party” with each expulsion.
7. In his race to the furthest edges of known space and the Extreme Right the Congressman and his challenger Dr. May might encounter particles of anti-matter and be thrust into a parallel university inhabited by Dr. Stephen Hawking and the munchkins where they would rule based on height.
8. And finally, if Randy was able to collect all the money in America and enjoy it in the manner of Scrooge McDuck he might just retire and leave the bones for the next fellow to pick over. Rolling around in his gold and jewels he could feel a satisfaction of what he had accomplished.
With the slam dunk wins in the past five terms it will be difficult to unseat our Congressman. Until the citizens (and I mean the vast majority of those in his district who don’t vote) awaken he will continue in his term as a sessile polyp in the bowels of Congress.
But I’m holding out for the Alien relics.
http://lubbockonline.com/interact/blog-post/dr-brian-carr/2013-10-27/congressman-randy-could-lose
Cross-posted in Good Reads forum.
Something to consider about your gift to the State Employee Charitable Campaign
LTTE in the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal:
As an employee of the state of Texas, I receive an annual request to participate in the State Employee Charitable Campaign. This year, while scanning the list of donation options, I came across the Institute for Creation Research. The ICR may be non-profit, but it is not a charity.
It is an anti-intellectual advocacy group, dedicated to denying science and imposing the beliefs of one religion on all schoolchildren. To include the ICR in the SECC program is a disgrace, especially at a time when Texas State Board of Education creationists are once again battling to legitimize teaching of religious allegory as an alternative to established science.
In contrast to the respectful variety of worthy religious and secular charities included in the SECC, there are no science advocacy groups that counterbalance the ICR.
Therefore rather than donate to this biased and politicized campaign, I chose to give instead to the Texas Freedom Network, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization fighting to keep Texas K-12 science classes safe from religious extremists.
I urge all Texas state employees who believe in religious freedom and fact-based education to carefully consider their charitable giving options.
JORDAN BERG/Lubbock
http://lubbockonline.com/editorial-letters/2013-10-25/letter-consider-options-giving#comment-309419
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Gender: MaleHometown: South Texas. most of my life I lived in Austin and Dallas
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