TexasTowelie
TexasTowelie's JournalForget about Abbott v. Davis. How about Cruz v. Perry?
Let us pause in our contented contemplation of a Greg Abbott-Wendy Davis gubernatorial race to observe the truly titanic struggle that will come to dominate Texas politics in the coming years – Ted Cruz vs. Rick Perry.
This might appear to be an overstatement, or at any rate a mismatch.
Right now Ted Cruz is the sun around which the entire political world revolves, and very, very hot. Meanwhile, Rick Perry is more like Pluto, his status reduced from planet to "dwarf planet,” or maybe just a big rock with some moons.
And since his announcement in July that he would not seek another term, the governor has receded further from the forefront of Texas consciousness.
More at http://www.statesman.com/weblogs/first-reading/2013/sep/19/forget-about-abbott-v-davis-how-about-cruz-v-perry/ .
Cross-posted at Texas Group.
Forget about Abbott v. Davis. How about Cruz v. Perry?
Let us pause in our contented contemplation of a Greg Abbott-Wendy Davis gubernatorial race to observe the truly titanic struggle that will come to dominate Texas politics in the coming years – Ted Cruz vs. Rick Perry.
This might appear to be an overstatement, or at any rate a mismatch.
Right now Ted Cruz is the sun around which the entire political world revolves, and very, very hot. Meanwhile, Rick Perry is more like Pluto, his status reduced from planet to "dwarf planet,” or maybe just a big rock with some moons.
And since his announcement in July that he would not seek another term, the governor has receded further from the forefront of Texas consciousness.
More at http://www.statesman.com/weblogs/first-reading/2013/sep/19/forget-about-abbott-v-davis-how-about-cruz-v-perry/ .
Cross-posted at Politics 2013 forum.
Patrick dismisses criticism of past investment by abortion foes
Lieutenant governor candidate Dan Patrick dismissed as “ridiculous” a published report Thursday about his owning stock in a company that makes the Plan B emergency contraception pill.
“I have a money manager. I don’t buy my stocks,” Patrick said of his brief investment in Teva Pharmaceuticals, maker of the so-called morning after pill.
When taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex, the drug can prevent pregnancy. Because among other things it can keep a fertilized egg from attaching to a woman’s uterus, some anti-abortion activists say Plan B destroys human life. Two abortion opponents criticized Patrick for owning the stock in this Texas Tribune story.
Patrick appeared Thursday at TribLive, the online politics outlet’s series of newsmaker interviews. When asked about the stock investment, he said he neither selected the stock personally nor had any idea that Teva makes Plan B. His broker sold the Teva shares, after six months, a few years ago, he said.
More at http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2013/09/patrick-dismisses-criticism-of-past-investment-by-abortion-foes.html/ .
DeLay appellate lawyer: ‘We won the Super Bowl'
Source: Austin American-Statesman
A 3rd Court of Appeals panel, split 2-to-1 along partisan lines, on Thursday reversed the money-laundering and conspiracy convictions that ended the political career of former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay seven years ago.
The Sugar Land Republican was facing a three-year prison sentence before the court’s majority opinion ruled that there was “legally insufficient evidence” at DeLay’s 2010 trial before a Travis County jury.
The court, in effect, acquitted DeLay of all charges. He had been free on bond, pending the appeal.
Brian Wice, DeLay’s appellate lawyer, said he told his client: “When I see you, I’m going to dump a Gatorade bucket over your head. We won the Super Bowl.”
Read more: http://www.statesman.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/court-reverses-delay-convictioncourt-reverses-dela/nZ2m7/
Gov. Perry defends decision to reject Obamacare
AUSTIN -- Texas Gov. Rick Perry appeared on CNN's "Crossfire" program Wednesday night to discuss his views on the Affordable Care Act.
While Texas didn't sign up for the program, Perry maintained that Texans are well cared for.
"But the fact is they do have access to health care," he said. "It's a bit of a misnomer for them to say they don't get health care. We don't want to participate in Obamacare. We know it's a broken system; even the expansion of Medicaid was one of those things that we said we're not going to participate in. The reason is because even the president himself in 2009 said Medicaid is a broken system. And I agree with him — Medicaid is a broken system. And why would we want to put thousands... tens of thousands of people on a system that is broken? Because it would be tantamount to putting another 1,000 people on the Titanic, knowing how that's going to turn out."
"We never thought in Texas that you judge success by the number of people on public assistance," Perry added. "We made the decision that we don't want to force people to have to buy insurance. They have access to some of the finest health care in the world with the Texas Medical Center there, one of the largest medical establishments in the country. The idea that we're going to make people buy insurance to be a part of Texas... we're about giving people freedom."
More including video at http://www.kvue.com/news/state/224340911.html .
[font color=green]What a prick![/font]
Baby for unwed U.S. Rep Joaquin Castro is a blip, not a bombshell
SAN ANTONIO — At his and twin brother Julián Castro's 39th birthday party at Pearl Stable, U.S. Rep. Joaquín Castro and fiancee Anna Flores formally announced they are expecting their first child, a girl, to be born in December.
Monday night's news wasn't a bombshell — Flores announced the pregnancy on her Facebook page in August. And judging by the lack of response (online or elsewhere) regarding the congressman's marital status, the real news seems to be that there's no news at all.
“The people who would truly be bothered and make an issue are not in his district. They're not the people who voted for him,” said Kelton Morgan, a local Republican political consultant.
“On the heels of all of the despicableness of the (nondiscrimination ordinance) debate, the people who were against that are the ones who would take issue,” Morgan said. “Maybe they're burned out, out of steam.”
More at http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/article/Baby-for-unwed-U-S-Rep-Joaquin-Castro-is-a-blip-4822215.php
Sen. Leticia Van de Putte Reminds David Dewhurst That Veterans Matter
In a GOP primary debate last night (Monday), Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst suggested none of the committees led by Democrats matter. Democrat Sen. Leticia Van de Putte reminded him that Texas veterans - the committee she chairs - actually matter quite a lot.
From the Houston Chronicle, here's what Dewhurst said:
"I will not appoint half of the Democrats as chairman of committees," he said.
Dewhurst responded that Democrats led only 5 of 17 Senate committees, and assured the crowd that none of them was important.
State Senator Leticia Van de Putte (D-San Antonio) chairs the Senate Veterans Affairs & Military Installations Committee. She shot back at Dewhurst this morning on Twitter:
- Leticia Van De Putte (@leticiavdp) September 17, 2013
Thanks for standing up for veterans, Sen. Van de Putte.
Source: http://www.burntorangereport.com/diary/14084/sen-leticia-van-de-putte-reminds-david-dewhurst-that-veterans-matter
"Four Muslim Families in San Angelo Is Four Too Many" Overheard at Tea Party
Everyone needs a hobby. For some it's Fantasy Football. Others have exercise. And still others have fear-mongering. Enter the San Angelo Tea Party.
According to Chelsea Schmid of San Angelo LIVE!, members of the San Angelo Tea Party met September 10 to listen to a speech about Sharia law and the Muslim Brotherhood. According to the article, the talk was given by Dorrie O'Brien, author of 500+ Islamic Words You Should Know. More on that in a minute.
According to the article, O'Brien is co-director of ACT! for America in Texas. What is ACT! for America?
It's a 501(c)(4) nonprofit that by its own telling is a "non-partisan, non-sectarian organization whose mission is to give Americans concerned about national security, terrorism, and the threat of radical Islam, a powerful, organized, informed and mobilized voice" and is one more example undermining Darrell Issa's baseless contentions that "liberal" nonprofits received preferential treatment over "conservative" nonprofits in the IRS review and approval process.
More at http://www.burntorangereport.com/diary/14086/four-muslim-families-in-san-angelo-is-four-too-many-overheard-at-tea-party .
Lone Democrat on appellate court decides not to run again
The lone Democrat on the state’s six-member 3rd Court of Appeals, Chief Justice Woodie Jones, said Tuesday he won’t seek re-election in 2014.
The decision to leave the Austin-based court, though difficult, was influenced by a combination of practical and political considerations, Jones said.
“I love the job. I love my staff. We have probably the most collegial court that we’ve had since the 1990s. It’s a pleasure working with everyone,” he said.
The appeals court was equally split between Republicans and Democrats just four years ago, but GOP candidates gained the upper hand by easily winning an open seat in 2010 and ousting an incumbent Democrat last year.
More at http://www.statesman.com/news/news/local/lone-democrat-on-appellate-court-decides-not-to-ru/nZzX6/ .
Senate Confirms Lesbian as Judge of U.S. Court of Federal Claims
Elaine Kaplan
An out lesbian has been confirmed as a judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims, according to the official website of the U.S. Senate.
The Senate confirmed Elaine Kaplan by a vote of 64-35 at 12:03 p.m. today. Kaplan, who currently is the acting director of the United States Office of Personnel Management, had been nominated for the position by President Barack Obama in March.
She will serve a 15-year term in this judgeship, where she will hear monetary claims against the federal government.
"These nominees have dedicated their careers to serving the public good," said Obama after nominating Kaplan as well as Patricia Campbell-Smith, reported the Human Rights Campaign. "And in so doing, they have displayed an unyielding commitment to justice and integrity. I am confident that they will serve the American people well from the Court of Federal Claims, and I am honored to nominate them today."
More at http://www.advocate.com/politics/2013/09/17/senate-confirms-lesbian-judge-us-court-federal-claims .
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: 112,120
