The Green Revolution continues in Tehran and on Twitter

By Michele Samuelson | 06/18/09

The protests continue in the streets of Tehran, and Washington speaks up days too late as the Iranian government builds a case that any challenge to Friday's presidential election results would be a threat to national security.  A democratic veneer and a tyrannical, panicked government (panicked because why else would a government raid student dorms and take to the streets to beat opposition members with nightsticks be called?) have... read more »

Violence Erupts in the Streets of Iran

By Michele Samuelson | 06/15/09

I very much wanted to address the Sarah Palin/David Letterman debacle, and talk about the Republican Party's silence and why Letterman needed to be called out, etc. I wanted to come over here and post about listening to Congressman Louie Gohmert this weekend, and what he had to say about the Bush White House and the bailouts and health care. I wanted to dish about how, at the convention I went to, a stack of Rick Perry for Governor stickers... read more »

Update on University of Texas free speech supression

By Michele Samuelson | 06/11/09

 The University of Texas chapter of Young Conservatives of Texas released the following statement regarding the free speech suppression incident on the university campus Tuesday night.   Austin, TX- The University of Texas at Austin has yet again demonstrated that some student organizations are more equal than others in terms how their 1st Amendment rights are protected on the UT campus.  While trying to pass out flyers... read more »

Gestapo Tactics at University of Texas

By Michele Samuelson | 06/10/09

I don't use such bombastic allegorical terms lightly, so when I tell you that Orientation Advisors behaved like the Gestapo to prevent incoming University of Texas freshmen from reading flyers handed out by Young Conservatives of Texas last night, please understand that I'm not exaggerating. YCT member Brianna Becker gives a full account of the incident on the YCT blog. Incoming freshmen at the University of Texas are required, as a part... read more »

Perry says yes to special session

By Michele Samuelson | 06/09/09

Any gasping and heavy sighs of disappointment you hear are all feigned.  No one can be surprised at Governor Perry's confirmation that yes, Virginia, there WILL be a special session.  We just don't know yet when, or what will be on the call. Perry can't issue executive orders to save state agencies or conduct certain other business (remember, kids, that despite Perry's political power, he really has very little governing power, thanks... read more »

Travis County Republicans endorse in PEC races

By Michele Samuelson | 06/03/09

Elections for the board of the Pedernales Electric Co-Operative are taking place right now, and end on June 12. The Travis County Republican Party has endorsed candidates in this race:   The Travis County Republican Party endorsed the candidacies of Sandy Jenkins and Linda Kay Rogers for the District 1 and District 6 positions, respectively, on the Pedernales Electric Cooperative Board. The elections are now underway and end June... read more »

The 81st Legislature in pictures

By Michele Samuelson | 06/02/09

Pics in this post were taken by myself and members of my household throughout the legislative session. I think they capture the theme quite well. Please excuse the blurriness in some - cell phone cameras only do so much. Snakes! Provided by the Sweetwater Chamber of Commerce in honor of the annual Rattlesnake Round-Up.   Two lobbyists having a lightsaber duel. Citizens lined up to testify on SB 362, the voter identification... read more »

Special legislative session, or will TXDOT and TDI shut down "sine die?"

By Michele Samuelson | 06/02/09

After 2005's Summer of the Special Session(s), I think it's perfectly natural for Texas political junkies to take about a five minute breather when the gavel falls on sine die before they begin wondering if the governor is going to call everyone back to address some major issue. The chaos and headaches that came out of the 80th legislative session in 2007 were enough to hold us over for two years, and the last couple of weeks certainly seem... read more »

Gas tax hike alive on transportation sunset bill

By Michele Samuelson | 05/29/09

SB 855 fell victim to the "chubbing" (unofficial filibuster) perpetrated by House Democrats over the course of Memorial Day weekend. A prescient move by Senator Carona has, however, saved the "local option" gas tax - he had it put on to HB 300, the TXDOT (Texas Dept. of Transportation) sunset bill that was debated in the Senate earlier this week. The amendment with Carona's language stayed on despite vocal opposition from... read more »

A look at the week ahead in the TX legislature

By Michele Samuelson | 05/18/09

What you need to know about this week in the Texas Legislature rules-wise: 1 - Senate bills are being heard on 2nd reading this week in the House. These are Senate-originating bills that have cleared the Senate floor and the appropriate House committees. 2 - House bills are being vetted in Senate committees. These are House-originating bills that passed on third reading in the House up through last Friday. Things to look out for: 1 -... read more »