What has Kirk Watson done, exactly?

By Michele Samuelson | 07/19/09

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New library named for Laura Bush opens in Westlake

By Michele Samuelson | 07/19/09

 Former First Lady Laura Bush was honored today with the opening of the Laura Bush Community Library in Westlake. A host of community leaders and politicians were on hand, as well as the lady herself. There were probably about 600 or more people present for the event, braving the central Texas heat for a chance to see Laura Bush and the opportunity to use thisnew, amazing library. There is information here about how the new... read more »

Pelosi is censoring Republicans, says Rep. Carter

By Michele Samuelson | 07/17/09

  Texas Congressman John Carter (R-TX 31) reported in Human Events Monday about some of what has been happening in Congress that isn't getting reported in the mainstream media.  Take a moment to read this bit, and then click on the link at the end for the full thing. Monday night Democrats voted to shut down the U.S. House Representatives rather than allow a handful of Republican Congressmen to speak on the floor. What could have... read more »

The Dan Patrick Factor

By Michele Samuelson | 07/13/09

 Ordinarily, I'd take Harvey Kronberg's theories lightly, but this one has given me a considerable amount of "hmmm"s in the last hour, so I thought I'd post about it. Earlier this evening, HK posited the theory that Gov. Perry could appoint State Senator Dan Patrick to KBH's empty US Senate seat (assuming, of course, it becomes vacant). HK gets into all the positives that come out of such an alliance/arrangement, so I thought I'd... read more »

Election news link dump

By Michele Samuelson | 07/13/09

I just had to look at a calendar, to make sure I'm right about it being July 2009, because all the campaign talk seemed to ramp up a notch today. Sure, sure, fundraising and TEC reporting has begun and that's why. But it's also that everyone is sick of waiting to see what KBH is going to do and is theorizing and talking shop. Shocker: Rob Johnson from Dewhurst's shop is taking the helm at Perry's campaign, and the campaign lists all new hires... read more »

Unsolicited Advice for Texas' "Blue Dot" and the "Silent Majority"

By Michele Samuelson | 07/10/09

 "Typically, the conservative attempts to conserve, to hold on to the values of the existing society. But what if the existing society is liberal? What if the existing society is inherently hostile to conservative beliefs? It is foolish for conservatives to attempt to conserve that culture. Rather, he must seek to undermine it, to thwart it, to destroy it at the root level. This means that the conservative must stop being conservative.... read more »

Texas Legislature Special Session - Two hours in

By Michele Samuelson | 07/01/09

House State Affairs has approved HB 2, the House bill to keep the lights on at the five state agencies pushed into limbo back in May. Vote was 12-0. House Transportation, called to order a half an hour after the scheduled start time, immediately went to recess while Chairman Pickett waits to get his ducks in a row (and on Lege Council, it appears). The only bill on the docket is HB 3, already a controversial piece of legislation, dealing... read more »

Video: On the ground in Honduras

By Michele Samuelson | 07/01/09

If you're not familiar with what's happening in Honduras: President Manuel Zelaya was removed by the Honduran Supreme Court after an apparent fraudulent election and coup attempt. Zelaya's ties to Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez and attempts to hijack the Honduran political process make all of this very suspicious. Meanwhile, in Washington D.C., the same president who refused to make a strong statement of support for democracy in Iran is now... read more »

Conservative Rs in TX Lege announce GOPAC-TX

By Michele Samuelson | 06/24/09

Okay now, this is an initiative to get excited about!! Rep. Phil King (R-Weatherford) and Sen. Dan Patrick (R-Houston) announced the formation of GOPAC-Texas, a fundraising, recruiting, and training effort to rebuild the Republican majority in the Texas House and Senate. This is the first time something like this has been done - pairing state efforts with a national brand - and it appears to be coming from outside the usual... read more »

SCOTUS rules for NW Austin MUD

By Michele Samuelson | 06/22/09

Well, they avoided the main constitutionality question concerning the Voting Rights Act, but the US Supreme Court ruled for Northwest Austin M.U.D. #1, saying it can bypass the preclearance requirement when moving polling locations. A lower court had ruled otherwise. The Voting Rights Act requires all or parts of 16 states with a history of discrimination in voting to get approval in advance of making changes in the way elections are... read more »