Category Archives: Show Business for Ugly People

Perry’s salvage job

How can you tell that sine die is approaching? Governor Perry starts getting involved in the legislative process. Perhaps state lawmakers are fatigued by Gov. Rick Perry’s long tenure or maybe they’re just balking at his leadership, but the Republican-led … Continue reading Continue reading

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The zombie nominee

As we know, the Senate confirmation of Don McLeroy as Chair of the State Board of Education, which we all thought had been scuttled back in April, got new life earlier this week when Senate Nominations Committee chair Mike Jackson, … Continue reading Continue reading

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What, me secede?

Shorter Rick Perry: “I never actually used the word ‘secede’.” Fine, whatever. The judge grants your motion to dismiss on the technicality. But we all know that you’ve raised your national profile while gaining ground in the polls, because the … Continue reading Continue reading

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What, me secede?

Shorter Rick Perry: “I never actually used the word ‘secede’.” Fine, whatever. The judge grants your motion to dismiss on the technicality. But we all know that you’ve raised your national profile while gaining ground in the polls, because the … Continue reading

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Whatever Ricky wants

It’s too early to say how much of Rick Perry’s self-proclaimed agenda will get enacted this session, as much of it hinges on the budget reconciliation process as well as on legislation that hasn’t been taken up by one chamber … Continue reading Continue reading

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No sunset for SBOE

Well, that‘s too bad. Just yesterday the Texas House approved on second reading House Bill 710, which would have made the Texas State Board of Education subject to periodic review by the Sunset Advisory Commission. That vote was 74-68. But … Continue reading

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Bell lawsuit against Perry advances

In November of 2007, Chris Bell filed a lawsuit against Governor Rick Perry’s 2006 re-election campaign and the Republican Governor’s Association claiming they illegally hid $1 million in donations from Houston homebuilder Bob Perry. The suit alleges that the RGA … Continue reading

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Donations and appointments

A lot of the people Rick Perry has appointed to various government offices have contributed to his campaign. Who knew? Gov. Rick Perry has accepted nearly $5 million in political campaign donations from people he appointed to state boards and … Continue reading

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Allen Fletcher

Rick Casey gives a short summary of this Texas Monthly feature article about State Rep. Allen Fletcher and his, um, colorful business partners, who are under investigation by the feds for running various kinds of ripoffs. There’s no indication that … Continue reading

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Allen Fletcher

Rick Casey gives a short summary of this Texas Monthly feature article about State Rep. Allen Fletcher and his, um, colorful business partners, who are under investigation by the feds for running various kinds of ripoffs. There’s no indication that … Continue reading Continue reading

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I hate you! I need disaster relief!

Care to guess who is the biggest requestor of federal disaster relief funds since 2001? Why, none other than Governor Rick “Secession 4 Eva!” Perry, that’s who. According to FEMA’s website, Texas has been the site of 13 “major disaster … Continue reading Continue reading

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I hate you! I need disaster relief!

Care to guess who is the biggest requestor of federal disaster relief funds since 2001? Why, none other than Governor Rick “Secession 4 Eva!” Perry, that’s who. According to FEMA’s website, Texas has been the site of 13 “major disaster … Continue reading

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First they came for the science books…

The State Board of Education strikes again. The Texas State Board of Education is set to appoint a social studies curriculum “expert” panel that includes absurdly unqualified ideologues who are hostile to public education and argue that laws and public … Continue reading Continue reading

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I hate you! Now gimme some money!

Damn those Washington elites! Always stuffing money into my pants campaign coffers! Rick Perry has railed against Washington, but when it comes to campaign cash, the governor has raised far more than rival Kay Bailey Hutchison from the nation’s capital. … Continue reading Continue reading

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I hate you! Now gimme some money!

Damn those Washington elites! Always stuffing money into my pants campaign coffers! Rick Perry has railed against Washington, but when it comes to campaign cash, the governor has raised far more than rival Kay Bailey Hutchison from the nation’s capital. … Continue reading

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I hate you! Please help me!

I hate you! [Governor Rick] Perry will moderate a forum Monday on President Barack Obama’s first 100 days. Expect more talk about out-of-control Washington spending, says spokesman Mark Miner, with much time spent listening to people at the Dallas-area stop … Continue reading

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I hate you! Please help me!

I hate you! [Governor Rick] Perry will moderate a forum Monday on President Barack Obama’s first 100 days. Expect more talk about out-of-control Washington spending, says spokesman Mark Miner, with much time spent listening to people at the Dallas-area stop … Continue reading Continue reading

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It would be OK with me if all those who favor it decide to leave

I ask a question about secession. Is that really what the GOP base is about these days? I get an answer. Do you think Texas would be better off as an independent nation or as part of the United States … Continue reading

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It would be OK with me if all those who favor it decide to leave

I ask a question about secession. Is that really what the GOP base is about these days? I get an answer. Do you think Texas would be better off as an independent nation or as part of the United States … Continue reading Continue reading

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Texas secession: Views differ

Looks like Rick Perry has found his audience for secession talk: Ron Paul Nation. If you don’t feel like sitting through that (can’t say I blame you), Bud Kennedy gives the capsule review: [Paul calls] secession “very much an American … Continue reading

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Texas secession: Views differ

Looks like Rick Perry has found his audience for secession talk: Ron Paul Nation. If you don’t feel like sitting through that (can’t say I blame you), Bud Kennedy gives the capsule review: [Paul calls] secession “very much an American … Continue reading Continue reading

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Voter ID must be reviewed

This is generally good news, but maybe not quite as good as it sounds. Texas’ proposed Voter ID law would be subject to approval by the U.S. Department of Justice or federal court for it to become law, federal officials … Continue reading

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Voter ID must be reviewed

This is generally good news, but maybe not quite as good as it sounds. Texas’ proposed Voter ID law would be subject to approval by the U.S. Department of Justice or federal court for it to become law, federal officials … Continue reading Continue reading

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“With Brinkley and Huntley describing contrapuntally the cities we have lost”

From the “Be careful what you vaguely allude to in a plausibly deniable way in front of a frothing crowd that knows exactly what you’re talking about and is loving every word of it” department: Rasmussen: “75% [of Texans] Opt … Continue reading

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“With Brinkley and Huntley describing contrapuntally the cities we have lost”

From the “Be careful what you vaguely allude to in a plausibly deniable way in front of a frothing crowd that knows exactly what you’re talking about and is loving every word of it” department: Rasmussen: “75% [of Texans] Opt … Continue reading Continue reading

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Perry walks back secession talk

As the sun rises in the east, so do politicians who say stupid things revise and extend those remarks afterward when people start asking them questions about what they really meant. And so it was the case with Rick Perry, … Continue reading Continue reading

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Perry walks back secession talk

As the sun rises in the east, so do politicians who say stupid things revise and extend those remarks afterward when people start asking them questions about what they really meant. And so it was the case with Rick Perry, … Continue reading

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Perry says “Look at me!”

In advance of yesterday’s teabag-a-rama, Governor Rick Perry made a successful ploy for a little national attention. WAKE UP CALL: TEXAS GOV. BACK RESOLUTION AFFIRMING SOVEREIGNTY Tue Apr 14 2009 08:44:54 ET AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry joined state Rep. … Continue reading

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Perry says “Look at me!”

In advance of yesterday’s teabag-a-rama, Governor Rick Perry made a successful ploy for a little national attention. WAKE UP CALL: TEXAS GOV. BACK RESOLUTION AFFIRMING SOVEREIGNTY Tue Apr 14 2009 08:44:54 ET AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry joined state Rep. … Continue reading Continue reading

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Dems versus Vasquez

Looks like we’re not ready to make nice with the Harris County Tax Assessor’s office over their handling of voter registration last year. Any honeymoon between Democrats and the new Harris County voter registrar ended suddenly today. Democratic state Reps. … Continue reading Continue reading

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Dems versus Vasquez

Looks like we’re not ready to make nice with the Harris County Tax Assessor’s office over their handling of voter registration last year. Any honeymoon between Democrats and the new Harris County voter registrar ended suddenly today. Democratic state Reps. … Continue reading

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Not dead yet

Just a little reminder that sometimes voters are removed from the rolls erroneously. Alegria Arce Hibbetts of Austin got a letter in late March saying that she might be dead. Or more specifically, the Texas secretary of state’s Texas Election … Continue reading

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Not dead yet

Just a little reminder that sometimes voters are removed from the rolls erroneously. Alegria Arce Hibbetts of Austin got a letter in late March saying that she might be dead. Or more specifically, the Texas secretary of state’s Texas Election … Continue reading Continue reading

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It’s the end of the world as Louie Gohmert knows it

I suppose it was to be expected that the recent Iowa Supreme Court ruling that struck down the state’s law banning gay marriage would drive certain people to even greater heights of absurdity. I still confess to being taken aback … Continue reading

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