Shelley Sekula-Rodriguez-Gibbs and the Church.

Turns out the email sent by City Councilwoman Shelley Sekula-Rodriguez-Gibbs calling on constituents to take an anti-immigration petition to their churches, will not be well recieved at the local Catholic Churches in her area.

The language and intention of this petition does not reflect the sentiment of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops or the leadership of the Roman Catholic Church in America. I strongly encourage you to read the statement from USCCB (usccb.org) and meet with Archbishop DiNardo or Bishop Vasquez from the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston to learn more on the Roman Catholic Church’s position on immigration and immigration reform.

Therefore, I cannot endorse, nor can any Roman Catholic parish or institution, clergy or religious community endorse this petition.

P.S. Confession is heard every Sunday.

The hard jokes are on Limbaugh

Rush Limbaugh being held up with illegal viagra was a great opportunity to uh...poke fun at him. So, let's do it.

Rush Limbaugh was caught with illegal viagra. He is now going to do hard time.

After hearing that Rush was caught with viagra, his radio station threatened to yank him off.

Rush was caught with large amounts of illegal viagra which has a side effect of going blind. Gives new meaning to "Are you fucking blind?".

Rush has violated his probation with possesion of illegal viagra. He better hope the inmates in jail doesn't have viagra.

After Rush was caught with illegal viagra, he asked his lawyer to give him a hand.

Because Rush was caught with viagra, his management has a boner to pick with him.

Once they knew Rush had viagra on the plane, the stewardess refused to get him off.

Geez. This is fun. Anyone else?

Tom DeLay: Leave it to Beaver.

Leave it to Tom DeLay to crack un-Christian jokes at a fundraiser.

We knew we should’ve renewed our membership at the Safari Club. They had a celebrity auctioneer Tuesday night, you see, by the name of
Tom DeLay. One of the items he auctioned off was “a sheared beaver fur vest,” and before you start sniggering at that, well, the former Majority Leader was way ahead of you.

Heard on the Hill quotes DeLay-as-auctioneer: “Who wants a beaver?” “Everybody likes beaver, even women” and (“as a couple of people in the crowd recall”), “The best thing about it, it’s a shaved beaver!”

Leave it to Tom to be a total jackass. So much for the so-called conservative Christian Tom DeLay. Next up, he will be joining Rush Limbaugh to joke about the upcoming erections elections.

Congressional hopeful rallies racists in the GOP.

Houston City councilwomen, and Congressional candidate wannabe for District 22, Shelley Sekula-Rodriguez-Gibbs sent an email "Protect Our Citizens Anti-Sanctuary Campaign" from her campaign which looks to rally the far right wing racists of the Republican party.

Please join me and other concerned Houstonians in obtaining the required signatures to get a City of Houston Charter Amendment on the ballot in November to reverse Houston's Sanctuary City policy.

This is in reference to a petition being circulated to demand the City of Houston Police to enforce federal laws in apprehending undocumented workers in the city. (as if we have the time, the money, and the manpower to do so) (and we don't)

Make no mistake what this is all about, and it is a shame that Shelley has stooped to this level bordering on racism. This is about catering to the far-far right of the Republicans in District 22 so she may get the privilege of being selected as "The Chosen One" to replace Tom DeLay on the ballot.

This is the same party with the "We hate Mexicans" platform adopted at the GOP's state convention. And this is the same party that is going to lose the House of Representatives in Congress.

And this is the reason for raising the immigration issue and the ONLY reason for doing so. The Republicans have nothing to run on and nothing to bring out the vote, so they have resorted to the "We hate Mexicans", "We hate fags", but "We love the flag" rhetoric. Her email shouldn't have been titled "Protect Our Citizens Anti-Sanctuary Campaign". It should have been "Protect the GOP From Getting Wiped Out in Nov."

Knowing Shelley, I am very surprised that she would stoop this low, be this vicious, and cold-hearted in her attempt to be "The Chosen One".

My bet is that this petition will backfire, just like the immigrant rallies, and people of all colors will denounce the racial overtones and remove the hatefilled GOP from office.

Re-revisiting re-redistricting. Again.

Today the United States Supreme Court validated the re-redistricting fiasco by Tom "The Quitter" DeLay therefore opening the doors to redistricting again once the Democrats take over the Texas House and Senate.

Make absolutely no mistake about who is responsible for this entire waste of time, civility, loss of congressional seniority, and money, Governor Rick Perry. If the Supreme Court justices knew the history of his fiasco, and how he cowered in fear to Tom DeLay, they would have immediately overturned the map drawn by the legislature and restore the maps drawn in 2001.

By law, after the 10-year census is taken, the 2001 Texas Legislature was to redraw the Congressional districts, known as redistricting, to balance out the population in each district. The Legislature was unable to agree on a map before the regular session ended. This is not unusual due to the controversial nature of the process, but instead of providing leadership Governor Rick Perry refused to call a special session to resolve the differences claiming it would be too expensive.

Therefore, by law, a panel of three federal judges took over the process. Governor Perry gambled that the three judges would be favorable to the Republican Party; instead both parties met the map created by the judges with disapproval although it did favor the Republicans, but not as much as Perry wanted.

During the following elections in 2002 the Congressional districts were competitive, with some Democrats winning in a Republican drawn district, but the Republican Party took control of the Texas House. This provided Perry with a weak excuse of “the legislature should redistrict, not the courts” and the house then filed a bill to re-redistrict once again.

Governor Perry must have forgotten his lack of leadership in 2001 when he refused to call a special session to resolve redistricting. Instead of doing his job in 2001, Perry gambled, lost, and then hoped for a Republican takeover by the House. In 2003 his gamble paid off for his party at the expense of his constituents, and civility in the Texas legislature.

The constituents at the redistricting hearings were overwhelmingly against re-redistricting. Hundreds of angry constituents at each hearing across the state called on the Representatives and Senators to work on something more important such as school finance, insurance rates, and property taxes. A hearing in Austin attended by over 200 individuals, many who traveled from out of town, was to start at 9:00 am, but was continuously postponed till 5:00 PM. The Senators, except the Democrats, walked out on the hearings. Many never showed up. Others watched, and grinned, as attendees became agitated and frustrated. It was a complete and total classless act of disrespect.

The strong armed tactics orchestrated by Jim Ellis, who has been indicted for money laundering and who ran Tom DeLay’s now defunct Texas for a Republican Majority, forced the Democrats in the House to break quorum, by leaving Texas, to force an end to the regular and first special session. The Democrats in the Senate also broke quorum to end the second session, yet could not sustain the effort and the plan passed in the third and final special session.

When the Democratic Senators returned, the leadership in the Senate could not meet the 2/3 rule, which required 2/3 of the Senate to agree to bring a bill to the floor for debate. Even moderate Republicans sided with the Democrats and the bill was doomed, until the leadership changed the rules and removed the rule. The 2/3 rule was one of the last remaining historic rules that encouraged bipartisan support for a bill or at least for the civil discussion of a bill on the floor of the Senate. And Perry destroyed it.

The entire issue of re-redistricting, orchestrated by Tom DeLay, is due to the complete and total failure of Governor Rick Perry for not having the leadership to handle the issue in 2001 or the guts to stand up to Tom DeLay. Instead he withered under pressure from Delay then waited like a coiled snake in the grass, in the hopes of regaining the House 2 years later.

What he did in re-redistricting was slimy as a snake and cowardly as a hyena. And the Republican controlled Supreme Court thank him for it today.

Ron Paul. A taxpayer's Zero.

Congressman Ron Paul in the Galveston County area is known for his anti-tax votes, sometimes being called the "taxpayers hero". But, he thinks he has done such a great job, he has no problems sucking off the tit of the government for $168,000/year of our tax dollars. So he really isn't a hero. More like a zero.

But in a strange twist, according to the Baytown Sun

Shane Sklar, a Democrat running against Republican Congressman Ron Paul, accused Paul of hypocritically touting Texas hurricane relief funding in a bill, which he actually voted against.

Paul, a former Libertarian Party presidential candidate, represents Texas District 14, which includes Chambers County.

A Sklar release stated that Paul “triumphantly announced that Congress had passed hurricane relief funding and that (Paul) had worked to have 90 percent reimbursement for Texas communities affected by Hurricane Rita” included in the bill, called The Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Hurricane Recovery.

...

But while Paul took credit in a press release for the Texas funding in the bill, “the release fails to mention, however, that Paul voted against the bill.

So not only does Paul have his lips sewn to the tit of the government, he is taking credit for providing the milk! Keep sucking Ronnie! You are doing a hell of a job!

This is hard to believe. Limbaugh caught with Viagra.

I just can't believe Limbaugh would give us the opportunity to make fun of him. Again.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Rush Limbaugh was detained for more than three hours Monday at Palm Beach International Airport after authorities said they found a bottle of Viagra in his possession without a prescription.

Customs officials found a prescription bottle labeled as Viagra in his luggage that didn't have Limbaugh's name on it, but that of two doctors, said Paul Miller, spokesman for the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office.

I mean how hard can it be to slip your upper in someone else purse?

Maybe the Oxyicon made him *&^%ing crazy. Or he lost his hearing so now he wanted to go *&^%ing blind overdosing on Viagra. I guess that gives new meaning to the phrase "Are you *&^%ing blind?". Which would complete the tri-fecta of being deaf, dumb, and blind.

All of this could be quite arrousing, especially for Rush, and for a long time. In fact all of the speculating on why Rush Oxyicon Limbaugh had illegal viagra is a bit premature.

Geez. I need a shower. No better yet, I think I need to set my self on fire.

Judge to Tom delay: "Run like a rabbit!"

The Texas Democratic Party was in Austin today asking a judge to keep Tom DeLay on the ballot so he could get his ass whipped like a real man. This is precedent setting, allowing someone who ran in the primary, and realizing he was going to lose in the general election to leave the state and become ineligible. If DeLay can do it, then any Tom, Dick, or Harry, who barely wins in the primary and destined to get his ass kicked, can just move and let someone else get his ass kicked.

DeLay testified that he understood before he made his decision the consequences of withdrawing from the race as opposed to being declared ineligible. delay resigned from Congress on June 9th.

Once delay finished testifying, Sparks [the judge] explained he could either leave or stay for the rest of the proceedings.

"My recommendation is to run like a rabbit," Sparks quipped according to an Austin Statesman newspaper account.

Read more at MSNBC

Wright Wing Wadio Wackos gone Wild.

Far right winger Chris Baker of KTRH (Keep The Rightwingers Here) in Houston Texas, was slapped around on MSNBC this afternoon and stormed off the set when confronted by a radio talk show host Bernie Ward, a liberal talk show host from California. The issue concerned the press revealing another secret spying activity by the Bush Administration. It was a sight to see! In fact see Crooks and Liars to see it!

California 1. Texas Zero.

Chris Baker is the bully of the White Wingers of KTRH. When he is confronted with facts and can't shout down his guest, he is easily brought to his knees. Baker lost it. When backed into a corner, he resorted to his trademark "I'm trying to have a dialogue" whine which he uses when he is losing an argument. He was completely out of control and resorted to calling names, personal attacks, and then disconnected his headset and stormed off the stage.

He did KTRH real proud. What a White Wing Wadio Whining Wacko.

Tom DeLay has returned! And his name is David Wallace.

David Wallace, major of Sugar Land the self proclaimed "Chosen One", has picked up right where Tom DeLay quit. While Tom DeLay's hollowed comments about the art of personal destruction have whimpered out, Wallace has his own start of personal destruction against Nick Lampson, the Democratic candidate for district 22 with a radio ad in the Houston area.

Mr. Wallace can't talk about why he should be the Chosen One, selected by 4 members of the Republican party. He can't talk about how he would overcome his rookie status, providing Texas with little if any Congressional pull in Washington. He can't talk about how he will overcome his relatively unknown status in Galvestion, Brazoria, and Harris county. He can't talk about how he would restore balance in our Government. He can't talk about his plan to complete the war in Iraq and get out troops home. He can't talk about his plan to find and prosecute those who tricked us into war. He can't talk about his plan to address the high price of gasoline, college tuition, insurance rates, our sagging economy, our historic deficit, our $9Trillion debt, our underfunded education system, or homeland security.

He can't talk about himself with a positive campaign, just like Tom DeLay talked about when he quit. Instead he did exactly what Tom DeLay did, and does, he resorted to personal attacks and negative campaigning.

Yes. The true Republican in the race for the nomination for district 22 has stood up and his name is Tom DeLay David Wallace.

This type of negative campaign must stop. Stand up and contact David Wallace and tell him to quit being a Tom DeLay.

Telephone: 281-275-2714
Fax: 281-275-2721
Email: dwallace@sugarlandtx.gov

Bob Perry. Hiding the baloney.

Texas for Public Justice, a non-partisan, non-profit policy and research organization which tracks the influence of money and corporate power in Texas politics, released their new report Ain't Nobody's Business disclosing those who hide the occupations and employers of the donors.

Austin--Texas lawmakers collectively flunked a test of their own campaign reform law, which requires state candidates to use their “best efforts” to report the employers and occupations of individual donors of $500 or more, a Texans for Public Justice report card found.

In its new report, "Ain't Nobody's Business," TPJ graded how well the 181 lawmakers elected as of November 2004 complied with this reform, which took effect in January of that year. Lawmakers reported receiving a total of more than $17 million in individual contributions of $500 or more during 2004 and 2005. A standardized test developed by TPJ found that lawmakers collectively flunked disclosure, adequately disclosing the employers and occupations of just 58 percent of their large-donor cash.

And of course, we could have expected this tidbit of information from their press release:

Five lawmakers failed to report the employer and occupation of Texas’ No. 1 contributor: Houston homebuilder Bob Perry.

$50,000 Bob Perry Perry Homes owner donated to: Elizabeth Jones
$15,000 Bob Perry Perry Homes owner donated to: Elvira Reyna
$10,000 Bob Perry Perry Homes owner donated to: Robert R. Allen
$10,000 Bob Perry Perry Homes owner donated to: Eddie Lucio
$10,000 Bob Perry Perry Homes owner donated to: Sylvester Turner
$10,000 Bob Perry Perry Homes owner donated to: John Whitmire

The full report can be found at the Texans for Public Justice website.

Arbitration: The privatization of the American justice system

A guest blog by Jordan Fogal.

What happens when a Republican homemaker goes up against an elusive construction company, a faceless bureaucracy, and the whole housing-industrial complex? Find out by reading Home Sour Home from Mother Jones. Her experience concerning arbitration is below:

Do you think arbitration laws do not apply or concern you? Do you have a new home, a car, visa, master card, discover card, american express, storage room, cellular phone, or have signed any kind of contracts, then you are bound by arbitration. You no longer have seventh amendment rights.

Most people do not realize these seemingly insignificant leaflets in there bills, are not privacy act nonsense or marketing offers. These little, well written legalese flyers are informing you ... that by continuation of services, you have just given up your right to a trial by jury and access to the courts

Because jackpot justice and lawsuit abuse needed to be contained, big business saw it's opportunity. Using this as it's madra, big business has taken over consumers lives with the ease of a stealth bomber. Frivolous lawsuits stop being frivolous when they happen to you.

Consumers were spoon fed an egregious spin on the arbitration process. Tort refrom/arbitration was going to: free up the courts, lower insurance rates and be faster and cheaper. Have you noticed how none of these things happened? Big business now has a built in clause to protect them from any responsibility.

No where is the public informed that most cannot afford arbitration. The costs are astronomical. Private companies like the American Arbitration Association, (AAA) now have complete and unrelenting power over every facet of citizens lives. No longer can consumers avail themselves of the court system, a system they pay for in their taxes. Subterfuge, half truths and lies abound when trying to get straight answers about arbitration. Can you afford fifty to a hundred thousand dollars to protect yourself? Most consumers can't ... big business knows this and uses it to their decided advantage.

In arbitration the rules of law do not apply. It is a secret kangaroo court held behind closed doors. No media is allowed. Most victims of arbitration come out in shock, many are under gag orders, referred to as secrecy agreements. Consumers are lambs to the slaughter and clueless when they meet this big bad wolf.

In arbitration the burden of proof is on the consumer. Consumers must pay for an attorney, expert testimony, case service fees, filing fees, arbitrators fees (sometimes up to $3000 dollars a day) and even the rental on the room and the stenographer. If you do not have the ready cash... you will be ask to provide your credit card information ....so they can charge to your account as costs accrue. Then you can be paying off arbitration fees forever. With the new bankruptcy laws that protect big business and the rich, consumers can no longer get relief there either.

Consumers who study the arbitration process learn quickly not to file. This sets up the win-win for the perpetrator. They also know if you complain to loudly they can threaten to file on you. You will never be free of this insidious clause. Consumers are trapped by any dispute rising from claims, past, present or future. In arbitration even blatant, fraudulent activities are protected.

Big business has the arbitration system down pat. Their legal teams, lobbyist, arbitrators and wealthy cohorts protect each other. These businesses are the repeat clients of the arbitrators and AAA, this alone comprises fairness. Most consumers, after arbitration find themselves in bankruptcy, foreclosure and emotionally as well as financially devastated. They won't be repeat customers.

We have been in arbitration and speak from first hand experience. The courts uphold arbitration decisions. There is no appeal. Until the public becomes aware and educated this privatization of the legal system will continue. We the people are the collateral damage of tort reform.

White Wing Wadio.

KTRH (Keep The Rightwingers Here) didn't used to be right wing. I remember listening to the garden line, news and weather together, Tom Tynan's home improvement show, but now the lineup is so right wing, it would make Pat Buchanan sound like a liberal.

KTRH has Sam Malone, the official cheerleader of Tom DeLay, and Chris Baker, the official nut case of KTRH, who also is a DeLay bootlicker. These two account for 6 hours of prime time radio. Sandwiched in between is a couple of hours of Debra "I talk so fast I lose my breath" Duncan. And KTRH provides 2 hours of Ed Shultz the fastest rising star in talk show, from 9:00 PM - 11:00PM.

Sam Malone and Chris Baker might take home the "I hate Mexicans" award for their continous bashing of immigrants and those who support a common sense solution to the very difficult problem. Malone and Baker try to come off as being middle of the road, when in fact they do what Republicans do best, instill fear, blame the Democrats, and entice the racists of their party.

Beside KTRH, there are a number of White Wing Wadio stations throughout the Houston area flooding the airwaves with near racist comments and enticing the worst of the Republican party and the ignorant.

Nothing like having a balance of opinion on the radio.

We have found WMD's in Iraq. Well...sort of...

Just when you think the Republican party can't sink any lower in justifying the invasion of Iraq United States Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA)(who is trailing his Democratic opponent by 18%) and Rep. Peter Hoekstra (R-MI) held a press conference and announced “we have found weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.”

Unfortuantely, these weapons were identified in a 1991 document and were dismissed by the military because they are degraded and ineffective. Watch the video from Fox News. (yes Fox News) confronting Santorum about the shameless press conference.

Next up, Senator Santorum will have a press conference to declare that Big Foot has been found.

Greater Houston Partnership to "honor" Tom DeLay?

The Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce AND the Greater Houston Partnership are having an "appreciation celebration" for Tom DeLay at the Marriot at Sugar Land Town Square on July 7th. He's resigned as our congressman has moved out of our district, and has left us without any representation in Congress. The Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Houston Partnership should move on already, just like Tom DeLay did.

In response to this, all of the Democratic clubs in TX-22 are having a party to celebrate a new government and a new way of doing the people's business. This will be a positive event with food, fun, and more fun. This will mark a new direction in politics in Congress and a new direction for District 22.

SO, please mark your calendars and join us!
Beck's Prime (Hwy 6 and 59)
7 pm Friday, July 7th
$10 for hamburgers, fries and tea (beer extra)
We have the patio reserved.
Everyone is welcome! Please join us!!

Nailing The Texas Homebuilder's Commission

Andrea Jares, Staff Writer for the Star-Telegram hit the nail on the head with her two articles on the Texas Residential Construction Commission (TRCC pronounced trick) Agency has many ties to builders and Cracked system.

"There are so many problems with the legislation that passed in 2003 it would take us hours to enumerate them," said Alex Winslow, executive director of Texas Watch, an Austin-based consumer-advocacy group. "We need real protections for homeowners so that when they buy a home they know that what they are getting is built to high-quality standards and if it's not, the builder will be held responsible for it."

The worst part of these articles is the comments from the homebuilders high-paid lobbyists and attorneys, such as:

"Prior to 2003 and this bill taking effect, I could have built you a house, and I was not required by law to give you any written warranty," said Scott Norman, the Texas Association of Builders' vice president of government affairs and general counsel. Now, he said, every builder must guarantee workmanship for a year, major systems for two years and the structure and foundation for 10 years. "That is a huge pro-consumer change," Norman said.

This cannot be any further away from the truth! Norman who probably enjoys a 6 figure income carrying the water for the homebuilding industry, has no right to talk on behalf of the consumer. This is like Osama Bin Laden talking on behalf of Homeland Security.

If any of what Norman has said was true, why is the TRCC such a truck load of crap? Providing little if any help for consumers, even according to the TRCC's own reports.

Further more, Mr. Norman's quote is misleading. Yes, the TRCC has required the homebuilding industry to provide a 1-2-10 year warranty, but they standardized on some of the most worthless warranties in the industry. How can that be good for the consumer? Read New Home Warranties. Protection or Deception?

Just as an example, the following are not covered by any warranty that Mr. Norman is proud of:

Cracks in tile after 1 year.

Tile coming off the floor after 1 year

Hardwood floors buckling after 1 year.

Hardwood floors coming off the floor after 1 year.

Roof falling off the house after 1 year.

Paint washing off after 1 year.

Windows leaking.

Cracks in the wall after 1 year.

These limitations in the warranties are absolutely ridiculous and unreasonable. Who in their right mind (besides anyone being paid by the homebuilding industry) would be proud of workmanship that allows the tile to come up off the floor of a 2 year old home, bought by an elderly couple as their last home?

Mr. Norman and all of the high paid lobbyist and attorneys should shut the hell up and stop talking as if they are representing and are helping the consumers.

Bob Perry. No place but Texas.

"No place but Texas" is a slogan used to highlight how unique the State of Texas is. Unfortuantely it can also be used to highlight the outrageous of the state also. Case in point: Bob Perry of Bob Perry Homes and Bill Ceverha.

The treasurer for Texans for a Republican Majority, a political committee at the heart of almost four years of criminal investigations and civil litigation, has paid $65,000 to former Democratic candidates in an attempt to end his role in the campaign finance saga.

During the 2002 elections, former Dallas lawmaker Bill Ceverha was treasurer of the committee founded by former U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay. Ceverha filed for personal bankruptcy last fall after a judge ruled he had violated state law by failing to disclose $600,000 of corporate money the committee spent to defeat Democrats.

Let's cut to the good parts. Ceverha lost a civil trial brought by the 5 Democrats who lost seats in the election partly due to Ceverha funnelling corporate contributions to their opponents, which is against the law. He lost was ordered to pay $196,660 to the 5 Democractic candidates. Instead, he has settled, and has filed for bankruptcy.

So here we have a former lawmaker who was found guilty of violating state law, who has filed bankruptcy, and now serves as a board member for the state's Employee Retirement System. That is so reassuring.

And Bob Perry?

Democrats have targeted Ceverha, who serves as a board member for the state's Employee Retirement System, for accepting checks as gifts without reporting the amount. Although the Texas Ethics Commission said Ceverha didn't have to disclose it, Ceverha finally revealed that Houston homebuilder Bob Perry gave him $100,000, after taxes, during 2004 and 2005 to help with his legal fees.

This $100,000 check was the subject of suit against the Ethic Commission because Ceverha listed it only as "a check" without disclosure of the amount. It could have been for $5 or $10, but instead it was for $100,000.

So here we have a former lawmaker who was found guilty of violating state law, who has filed bankruptcy, now serves as a board member for the state's Employee Retirement System, and was secretly being bankrolled by Bob Perry. For reasons unknown.

No place but Texas.

While Bush coddles Iran, Korea launches missiles.

If the recent announcement of North Korea test launching a long range missle possibly on Sunday doesn't convince you the Bush administration is completely incompetent when it comes to national security, diplomacy, and foreign affairs, then nothing will.

SEOUL — North Korea appeared poised to test-launch today what intelligence experts contend is a new multi-stage ballistic missile that probably could not reach North America but could threaten U.S. interests in Asia.
Satellite surveillance showed North Korea moving what appeared to be fuel canisters to the launch site on its remote east coast late last week in preparation.

So while the administration has been trying to win the war in Iraq and negotiating with Iran to stop the development of nuclear technology, North Korea not only has nuclear devices, it is now test firing of a long range missile, all of this of course for defense purposes only.

What in God's name is this administration doing? We have no capability what so ever to use force against Iran if it is necessary. We have no capability to stop North Korea. We are barely just staying above water in Iraq with nothing more than surprise visit gimmicks by the President.

All while North Korea has been developing nuclear capabilities and missiles right under our noses. Feel any safer now?

Don't be a dumbass Democrat.

In the Houston Chronicle's letter to the editor section on Saturday June 17, Mr. Van C. Wagnon of The Woodlands writes

"I am one of millions of boomers who support the Democratic Party. However, if it continues to ignore the wishes of the majority of its supporters and continues to blindly support and coddle illegal immigrants, we will be parting ways come Election Day, and I will vote Republican for the first time since Barry Goldwater."

I doubt seriously Mr. Wagnon is a Democrat since the Democratic Party Platform does NOT support illegal immigration, (a Democrat would have known that) but he needs to understand a very very clear and undeniable fact concerning the immigration issue. This issue has been brought up by the right wing faction of the Republican party for one reason and one reason only: THEY ARE GOING TO LOSE THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN NOVEMBER!!!!!!!

That is the only reason. The ONLY reason this issue is being brought forward with all the levels of racism, hatred, and fear they can possibly generate is because they are going to lose the house. The lilly white Republican Party have absolutely nothing else to run on. Nothing. They have had 6 years to work on the immigration issue, but only now, when they are going to lose the house, they raise the issue.

The Republican leadership is losing the war in Iraq. Wages are down. Gas is at historic levels. Gold is over $600/ounce. Our dollar is devalued. The administration is rifled with corruption. We are in $9Trillion of debt. Our deficit is over $450 Billion. What can they possibly run on? Gays and Mexicans.

Strike up the torches, light the fire in the bellies of the homophobics, mean spirited, racists in the Republican Party.

So don't be a dumbass Democrat and fall for this stupidity. Immigration is a very serious and complicated issue that should not be discussed with simple minded one liners and it should not be resolved by the simple minded Republican Party either.

Insurance lobbyist continues the whine.

Jerry Johns President, Southwestern Insurance Information Service has issued their talking points against my OP-ED on State Farms request to raise home insurance rates by 39%. (See Stand Up For The Consumer; Show State Farm The Door in Fort Bend Now)

"He states Texas has the highest insurance rates in the nation. He is wrong. That distinction belongs to Florida. Property owners in Florida now pay twice as much or more on average for homeowners insurance than do Texas homeowners."

Unfortuantely, Mr. Johns, according to the study by Forbes Magazine “The Most Expensive States To Insure Your Home 2005”

In fact, Texas has the most expensive homeowners insurance in the nation.

Maybe Mr. Jones is proud of being second place in the nation, but he surely can't be proud of what the state has allowed the insurance companies to do without reducing rates.

As my article stated:

The promised reforms, of the 2003 session, were a complete and total failure of the leadership of the state. The Insurance Commissioner at the time, Jose Montemayor, who is now working for an insurance company, caved in to every request of the industry. After historic hearings on toxic mold, he removed mold coverage without any reduction in rates or any worthwhile measures to prevent the cause of mold contamination. He allowed the use of credit scoring giving the industry the right to increase rates based upon an owners credit history. And he authorized the use of HO-A policies, which made foundation, water, and sewer damage optional. And yet not one single penny of rate reduction was realized by the owners in the state.

QED.

Nick Lampson. You just might like this guy!

In an op-ed posted to Fort Bend Now, Congressman Nick Lampson has denounced the automatic pay raise of $3300.00 for Congressman.

Congress should be ashamed of giving itself a raise at a time when our nation faces the largest debt and deficits in its history.

Our country is facing a real mess with skyrocketing deficits, wasteful spending, an over-committed military and unsecured border. But instead of working to fix the mess it has created, Congress is busy patting itself on the back with a pay raise. This is just plain wrong.

Our Congressman are receiving $168,000 a year and although I personally do not see this as a problem, they are given an automatic increase in pay unless a bill is filed and passed to stop the increase.

So you just have to like this guy Nick when he says

Every year, members of Congress continue to give themselves raises even as they short-change our troops, education, and health care and even as they run up the highest deficits and debt in history. It must stop.

While in Congress, I routinely voted for efforts to remove Congressional pay raises from the budget.

Go to Fort Bend Now and read the entire article.

You just might like this guy!

Hey Big Oil: He's coming after you!

In the speech by David Van Os, Candidate for Texas Attorney General at the Texas Democratic Convention, David made it very clear:

I have a message for the big oil companys, the insurance monopolist, utility barons, and the other robber barons preying and pillaging on the people of this state. You better spend every penny out of your billions of dollars because when I get sworn in as Attorney General of Texas, I am coming after you!

When was the last time you heard an AG of Texas fighting for the consumers of the state? Has the current AG, Greg "I got mine" Abbott fought the insurance industry, or fought for our rights to a trial by jury in a civil trial, or began an investigation into gas price gouging? When was the last time Greg "I got mine" Abbott fought for the working man of Texas?

Many are not aware, but Greg Abbott was paralyzed when he ran under a tree being cut down. Abbott who supported limits on lawsuits, and medical malpractice awards, and restricting our access to the court, received $10Million for his injuries.

Abbott was paralyzed in a freak 1984 accident when a tree fell on him while he was jogging in Houston. The Houston Chronicle reported this April that Abbott hired a leading plaintiff’s lawyer after the accident to sue the homeowner whose tree fell on him–as well as a company that once trimmed the tree. Abbott refused to reveal how much he demanded to settle his lawsuit, telling Texas Weekly only that it was "over $100,000" and that it was not an issue in the campaign.

The article continues:

If trial lawyer Kirk Watson "made millions" off personal-injury lawsuits, then he and Abbott are birds of a feather. This month the Austin American-Statesman revealed that Abbott already has received almost $3 million of an award that is expected to exceed $10 million in his lifetime. Abbott’s attorney in the case, Don Riddle (who made more than $1 million off the case), says that medical costs and other "actual damages" accounted for a fraction of the settlement, which mainly compensates Abbott for noneconomic damages, such as mental anguish.

Needless to say, Greg Abbott is a hypocrite, advocating for tort reform and limits on lawsuits. Of course, all of this AFTER Greg Abbott received his share of the wealth.

But besides the hypocrisy of Abbott, what has he done for the citizens of Texas? While our insurance rates went through the roof, he was representing a small group of people at the United State Supreme Court concerning the display of the 10 Commandments. (It would be nice if he read them once in a while.)

While our gas prices went through the gas tank, what was Greg Abbott doing? And while the homebuilding industry was donating unlimited amounts of money to create their own personalized Commission, what was Greg Abbott doing?

How about nothing. After watching my insurance rates double, and my gas bill rise by $3400/year, I am hoping David Van Os will win because it will be fun watching the oil, insurance, and homebuilding barons run like bunch of little boys who got caught stealing cookie dough.

GIVE EM HELL DAVID!

The Texas Democratic Convention. What if?

While sitting on the floor listening to the speech by Chris Bell, Democratic candidate for Governor, I had a question pop up. What if?

What if the voters of this state would get tired of the funny sound bites like "Why the hell not?", "One tough grandma", and the continous empty promises of supporting our teachers and the consumers of the state.

What if the voters decided instead to look a bit deeper in the issues of the political season, and into the records of the various candidates?

What if the voters decided to look deep into their wallets while gas prices hit $3.00/gallon and home insurance rates double and triple?

What if the voters look deep into their hearts while the leadership of the state makes deep cuts into child health care services, insurance, health care for our senior citizens, while giving more of your tax dollars to those who need it the least?

What if the voters in this state would wake up and realize that the leadership of the state has sold out to the deep pockets of the corporations providing no protection for consumers, while taking unlimited donations from these corporations?

If the voters of this state would stop, listen, read, and look deep into the issues of the upcoming campaigns, and look deep into the qualifications of the candidates, they would realize a few things.

1) Kinky Friedman is a bad joke waiting to happen. Many of his ideas are unconstitutional and some are down right stupid. He has turned a very serious issue of running for Governor of Texas into a running joke, with his wise ass comments and ideas and slogans. He is cute. He is funny. And he is a joke. Don't let it happen.

2) Rick Perry isn't a joke, but he holds the record of selling out to the corporations. He stacked commissions such as the Texas Department of Insurance and the Texas Residential Construction Commission with anti consumer commissioners. In the end our government provides protection for the industries instead of the consumers. But besides that, pick an issue such as education, taxes, school finance, redistricting and you will find a governor of failures.

3) One tough Grandma Carol Keaton Rylander Strayhorn has more names than ideas that she has actually successfully championed. Many in the state are still waiting for their two free years of college she promised 2 years ago, or a return of the Texas Tomorrow Fund which was cancelled due to lack of funding.

What if the people who read this would go to Chris Bell's website and learn about his ideas of making "ethics" more than a sound bite by limiting campaign donations? Or supporting an across the board raises for our teachers? or working to bring fairness to our tax system?

What if?

Hit the road jack!

Thanks to the Austin Statesman for printing Forget higher rates. Let's cancel State Farm, concerning State Farm's request for a 39% increase in their rates.

The reforms promised in the 2003 legislative session were a total failure of state leadership. The insurance commissioner at the time, Jose Montemayor, who now works for an insurance company, caved in to every request of the industry. After historic hearings on toxic mold, he removed mold coverage without any reduction in rates or any worthwhile measures to prevent the cause of mold contamination. He allowed the use of credit scoring, giving the industry the right to increase rates based on an owner's credit history. And he authorized the use of policies that made foundation, water and sewer damage optional.

Take a few minutes to see just how ridiculous State Farm's request is. The citizens of Texas and the leadership of the state should tell State Farm to hit the road.

Jack.

One tough dumbass.

Democrat turned Republican, running as an Independent, Carol Keaton Rylander Strayhorn, has decided that she wants the word "Grandma" on the November ballot in front of her name.

In 2002 just before the elections the Comptroller of Texas (Carol) said the state had a deficit of $5Billion. She had commercials on TV saying that every high school graduate should have 2 free years of college and "I know how to pay for it".

Yet, just months after the election she revised her estimates to the deficit to $10Billion providing the anti-tax legislature to make deep cuts in children protection, insurance, and services to our elderly.

Now she wants to put the title of "Grandma" on the ballot in front of her name.

I've got a better idea. Let's put the title of "One Tough Dumbass" in front of her name.

Strange....uh.....bed fellows

Richard Garcia: Running to abolish his office.

Richard Garcia is running for the office of Harris County Treasurer. His platform is one that is pretty strange. He is running to abolish the office and the Houston Chronicle agrees.

With Cato's passing, the time is right to consider whether this appendage of county government is worth the cost. Sanchez has made it clear he would use the office for a political agenda having little or nothing to do with its job description. The Democratic candidate, Richard Garcia, is running on a platform of abolishing it.

The Republican candidate, Orlando Sanchez who lost 2 bids for mayor and by a 2 to 1 margin against Mayor Bill White is running to use this office for immigration reform, which the office has nothing to do with.

Make no mistake about this. Orlando is looking to milk the tit of the government for a new civil service job that pays $96,000 a year and to reign over an office of 15 individuals. Richard is running to save the taxpayers the entire cost of the office, as well as his salary.

The Republicans talk a good game about cutting waste and saving taxpayers money even while their mouth is wrapped around the tit of the government and their hand on the other.

The GOP platform. A condensed version.

The Texas GOP (God's Own Party) has completed their state convention inappropriately at the Henry B Gonzales (a well respected Democrat) Convention Center in San Antonion, a name they decided not to acknowledge which is petty to say the least. You would have thought the organizers would have thought about that before they selected San Antonio, a predominantly Hispanic, and very proud community.

But then again, with God on your side and as the Chairman of the Texas State Republican Party, you can do just about anything, such as vote for a hate filled party platform all under the name of their Lord Jesus Christ, who by the way is Vice Chair of the Party.

At Saturday morning's prayer meeting, party leader Tina Benkiser assured them that God was watching over the two-day confab. "He is the chairman of this party," she said against a backdrop of flags and a GOP seal with its red, white and blue logo.

I doubt seriously that Jesus or God would approve of most of their party platform

Since the GOP believes God is looking down upon them from the Platform of the GOP, let's get to the basics of the Texas Republican Party Platform:

We hate Mexicans. There. We said it. We hate Mexicans from Mexico, unless they are mowing our lawns, cleaning our homes, building our homes for builders who support our party, or making our papas con huevos tacos (pronounced "pa-pa cone way voes"). (that's Mexican talk) Other than that, we hate Mexicans. And their flag too.

We hate fags.We don't like them. Not with a woman. Not with a man. Not with a mouse, or building a house. We doubly hate them especially if they are Mexican. Unless they are making lots of money for the companies that contribute to the party, such as homebuilders.

We hate gay marriage We support the traditional marriage of one man and one woman and would protect the sanctity of marriage between one man and one woman at one time. Or one man and more than one woman in the case of divorce. Or many men and many women in the case of many divorces. But we hate gay marriage because we believe in the sanctity of marriage.

We hate poor people. Especially if they are young and smell. And if they are Mexican or gay, then we hate them more. We cannot tolerate those who refuse to pull themselves up by their own boot straps, or who refuse to get a job in the real world, like many of the full time politicians do or the many Republicans who work for NASA and paid from our tax dollars. Poor people suck.

We hate non-Christians.America is a Christian nation. Based upon Christian values. We are full of compassion and love for our neighbors and those in need. And we are tolerant of others, except for Mexicans, gays, and poor people or anyone who doesn't believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and the ways of his teachings.

Needless to say, this is a parody of the ignorant and intolerant that have highjacked the Texas Republican Party, but it is no longer funny.

God is not their Chairman. Jesus is not their Vice Chair. And neither are in the hearts of those who support this right wing, hate filled, cold hearted, ruthless, uncompassionate bunch of losers of the Texas State Republican Party.

God help them all.

Show State Farm the door.

It is beyond belief that State Farm has filed with the Department of Texas Insurance (TDI) to raise homeowner's rates as much as 39% across the state. (see STATE FARM'S HOME RATES MAY RISE 39% NEAR COAST, Houston Chronicle) This rate increase request will be the first challenge for the new TDI Commissioner, Mike Geeslin, and the leadership of Texas, and they need to stand up for the consumers and show State Farm the door.

In 2002 Texas had the highest insurance rates in the nation. After the massive insurance reforms of the 2003 Legislation session, rates are now twice the national average and Texas again has the highest rates in the nation second only to Louisiana by 25%. If that isn't bad enough, deductibles are much higher and significant coverage such as foundation, water, sewer and mold, is now optional, at an additional cost.

The promised reforms, of the 2003 session, were a complete and total failure of the leadership of the state. The Insurance Commissioner at the time, Jose Montemayor, who is now working for an insurance company, caved in to every request of the industry. After historic hearings on toxic mold, he removed mold coverage without any reduction in rates or any worthwhile measures to prevent the cause of mold contamination. He allowed the use of credit scoring giving the industry the right to increase rates based upon an owners credit history. And he authorized the use of HO-A policies, which made foundation, water, and sewer damage optional. And yet not one single penny of rate reduction was realized by the owners in the state.

The Legislature, led by Governor Rick Perry, wasn't much help either. They failed to protect the homeowners by passing insurance friendly legislation that provided absolutely no rate relief for consumers. The Texas Attorney General at the time, John Cornyn, filed frivolous lawsuits against the insurance companies questioning over charges in their rates. The suits were frivolous because Cornyn never intended to, and never did, follow through on the charges filed against the insurance industry. The present Attorney General, Greg Abbott, has also done nothing to defend the consumers of the state.

The insurance industry, the Texas Department of Insurance, the Attorney Generals office, and the leadership of the State has provided a steady stream of excuses to the homeowners of the state while rates have doubled, tripled, and coverage has been slashed. And now State Farm wants to raise rates as much as 39%.

It is clear the leadership of the State has absolutely no interest in protecting the consumers of the state. The property tax relief passed in the recent special session will be offset by the out of control increases in insurance all while the insurance industry has had windfall profits. And the insurance industry has now found another excuse, "re-insurance" the insurance purchased by the insurance companies to protect them. Never, over the last 4 years, has the excuse of "re-insurance" been used by the industry. This is a sure sign that in the face of windfall profits, the industry is grasping for last excuses to justify rate increases.

Just like in 2002 as if on cue, the insurance industry has excessively raised their rates, right before the 2006 elections. The elected officials and candidates will again have a chance to file frivolous lawsuits, and make empty promises on the campaign trail to lower insurance rates.

Governor Perry, Attorney General Abbott, and Insurance Commissioner Mike Geeslin should stand up for the consumers and show State Farm the door, or the voters in Texas should show the leadership the door in November.

The final days of Tom DeLay.

After 20 years in Congress, Tom DeLay will quit on Friday June 9, instead of vigorously campaigning against the Democratic challenger Nick Lampson. What a lousy way to go out after 20 years of wonderful service to his constituents. (I can't believe I wrote that)

Anyway, over the years there has been some very interesting moments. Here are my favorites.

A few years ago BNSF threatened to put a rail carrying toxic chemicals just hundreds of feet from a subdivision in the Clear Lake area. The Republican members of the coalition of community activists met with DeLay to get his support to stop the train. He declined. "He didn't want to get involved". Nevermind that every other elected official from the community associations to Congress (except State Senator Mike Missing in Action Jackson) was in full support of the community. After 3 years and $1Million, the train was stopped.

A few months later Mayor Bill White held a press conference to give credit to Tom DeLay for solving the problem. DeLay lapped it up like a dog with a bowl of anti-freeze.

And there was this one:

The members of the Clear Lake High School debate club organized a debate between the candidates for District 22 including Tom DeLay(R), Mike Fjetland(I), Richard Morrison(D), and Tom Morrision(L). Everyone accepted the invitation, except Tom DeLay leaving the kids with a debate without the incumbent Congressman.

DeLay was trounced in the local news and at the last moment accepted the invitation, sneeking into the event through the back door and not mingling with the people who came to the debate like the other candidates were doing.

And then there was this one also:

Just prior to the election in 2004, Tom DeLay was "honored" for his contribution to higher education (go figure) by the University of Houston. This would have been fine, but the event was being held at the Clear lake Campus, which was not in his district. This event was clearly an ass kissing event by UHCL.

UH sent out 7500 invitations and NASA sent out invitations to all of their employees via the email system. In the end 50 people showed up.

Outside 150 loud protestors greeted DeLay as he pulled up to the front door. His conversation with the UHCL representatives were drowned out by the protestors. Inside there was mounds and mounds of cubed cheese which was left untouched as well as about 20-30 nametags that were not picked up.

Please feel free to add your own comments!

Betting on State Farm Insurance.

According to the Houston Chronicles article "STATE FARM'S HOME RATES MAY RISE 39% NEAR COAST" State Farm is threatening to raise homeowners rates by 10.7% for all policy holders, and another 9.1% to cover reinsurance. (whatever that is)

The state's largest home insurer filed rate hikes Wednesday with the Texas Department of Insurance that will boost premiums for all of its Texas consumers an average 10.7 percent to cover anticipated expenses and an additional average 9.1 percent to cover the cost of reinsurance.

This rate hike just begs the question "Are homeowners in Texas really that stupid to believe these rate hikes are justified?" And what the hell is "reinsurance"

Reinsurance, the coverage an insurance company buys as a backup to pay for its losses after a catastrophe, is becoming more expensive in the wake of last year's hurricanes, tripling in some cases.

What a load of crap. (excuse my French) Rates in Texas were the highest in the nation in 2002. In 2004 after the Texas legislature reformed Insurance in the 2003 session, rates had doubled or tripled, our deductables are higher, and we lost coverage for mold, foundation, sewer, and water damage. And according to a Forbes Magazine study Texas now has the highest rates in the nation, with the highest deductibles, and the least amount of protection.

This is a perfect opportunity for the new Texas Department Insurance Commissioner, Mike Geeslin to stand up for the consumers and deny their request to hike rates on consumers. As Texas Watch said"

"Before they start asking to increase their rates, State Farm needs to pay back the money they already owe," said Alex Winslow, executive director of the consumer group Texas Watch. "I hope Insurance Commissioner (Mike) Geeslin will see this rate increase for what it is and send it back to the scrap heap it came from."

Knowing Mike, I intend to hold my breath.

Hate to tell ya I told you so, but....

The Lone Star Project has posted a fact check on Governor Rick Perry's ads concerning the spectial session. Needless to say, they found the ad very decieving. According to the article:

Claim 1 - Deceptive

Rick Perry: A fifteen billion dollar tax cut and more money for our schools. We kept our promises to you. The average homeowner will receive a two thousand dollar tax cut.

Fact: The average Texas homeowner will receive only a $150 property tax cut this year.

Source: “[John] Sharp [Perry appointed Chairman of the Texas Tax Reform Commission] said the owner of an average home, which he described as appraised at about $118,000, would save about $150 in property taxes in the first year.” (Source: Austin American-Statesman, Friday, May 26, 2006 )

Watch the complete fact check ad.