Backroads of San Angelo

2004-06-30T08:07:00.000-07:00

There's a little something in here for everyone
Liberal Oasis has some great excerpts of a speech John Kerry gave to the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition. There's really alot of stuff in there to get excited about.

On Health Care as a Right

We're the only industrial nation in the world that doesn't yet understand health care is not a privilege for the wealthy or the elected or the connected.

It is a right for all Americans and we're going to make it available to all Americans.

And George Bush, he's had four years as president to offer leadership.

He doesn't even talk about it. He doesn't even have a fake plan, ladies and gentlemen, which is normally where they are. He has no plan.

And so we've got 44 million Americans who have no care and we have costs going up for everybody in the country…

…I'm going to make certain we put in place the principle that that health care that senators and congressmen give themselves and you pay for -- it ought to be available to every American.

Go read more of it here

2004-06-11T13:28:00.000-07:00

My buddy Dave, a native Angeloan transplanted to the West Coast, has started a new blog. I'd probably be safe in describeing his politics as a bit right of center with a global perspective. Though, he promises to offer discourse on all things that "affect our world and progression as a society." He's really friggin smart and should have some good stuff. Plus he's very industrious and has already enabled comments, thereby starting a step ahead of me.

consciouscactus: check it out

2004-06-09T09:45:00.000-07:00

Spies Like Us

Here's an interesting profile of Goodfellow.

Goodfellow is apparently one of the military's main exporters of spooks, offering Signals Intelligence training, the "bread and butter" of the NSA.

Now before everyone puts on their tin foil hats, bear in mind that atleast we're not in Fort Benning, GA

Maybe this will help the base survive the 2005 closures.

(Hat tip to cruz)

2004-06-08T14:16:00.000-07:00

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2004-06-07T12:30:00.000-07:00

GOoPers

Kevin Drumsums up the Texas GOP platform in all its wingnuttery. It's some pretty scary stuff. I'd also like to remind yall that every Republican running for state office has to sign the official platform. So even if you think Robert Duncan is ok, (I do), know that he has officially endorsed this steaming pile of crap - Hopefully with atleast SOME reticence.

2004-06-01T12:21:00.000-07:00

Texas Tuesdays continues this week with a showcase on Chet Edwards. San Angelo voters should be particularly interested in this race. Edwards was one of DeLay's targets during the redistricting debacle. A conservative democrat, Edwards is the ranking member of the Military Construction Appropriations Subcommitte.

Sunday's Standard Times cited two studies, (one conducted by the DoD and one by ASU), showing how vital Goodfellow is to our local economy. With a new round of base closures set for 2005 and tens of millions of dollars in new construction currently under way at the base, this is one Democrat that ALL San Angeloans should get behind.

Drop him some change aqui. And don't forget to add $0.36 so they know it came from the blogosphere.

2004-05-26T08:54:00.000-07:00

Okay, so posting has been light over the last few weeks. I'll work to remedy that over the next several days.

First order of business is Texas Tuesdays.

The May 25 candidate is Max Sandlin. He's got a great site with a great message. Go check it out. And if you feel so inclined, give him a hand. Be sure to add $0.36

Also make sure to go to the official Texas Tuesdays website.

2004-05-11T13:47:00.000-07:00

TEXAS TUESDAYS: Vol. 2

Off the Kuff has the low down

2004-05-04T12:11:00.000-07:00

As promised, Richard Morrison has answered some questions for the folks over at Yellow Dog

If you find yourself wanting to give to Richard Morrison, make sure you add $0.36 (as in A.D. 1836) to your donation, so they'll know it came from blogs.

2004-05-04T08:28:00.000-07:00

TEXAS TUESDAYS

Welcome to Texas Tuesdays where everyone that you should be reading will coordinate their support for a different Texas candidate each week. This week it's Richard Morrison, who's running to unseat Tom DeLay. He's actually got a shot, too. DeLay's numbers are waaaay down.

Yellow Dog has a short bio. Richard's an environmental lawyer. He received special recognition for his work from the Sierra Club. (Be still my heart)

This is someone we REALLY need in congress. We can make it happen. Send him some PayPal Love

Check back with these sites for more info. (They've also promised an interview)

Yellow Dog Blog

Off the Kuff

Burnt Orange Report

2004-04-30T13:48:00.000-07:00

I like this:

Democrats may talk like atheists, but we tax like Christians.
-Ezra Klein at Pandagon

2004-04-30T06:19:00.000-07:00

Atleast Somebody's Keeping Track

The Center for American Progress has just released a comprehensive database of the outrageous claims of all our favorite right wing pundits/pols. It covers everything from Medicare to 'Activist' Judges to everyones' favorite: WMD. Of course this wouldn't be a claim vs. fact database if they didn't have the facts contradicting those claims right there in techni-color. Sourced, (often with a weblink), for your pleasure.

If you don't think your blood pressure is high enough already, click here

On a somewhat related note, Rep. Henry Waxman has a site up dedicated to showing, in excruciating detail, just how much this administration plays politics with science. Science, you may remember, used to be apolitical. If you happen to meet any Nader supporters send them here

2004-04-28T10:44:00.000-07:00

District 32

Martin Frost recently answered some interview questions submitted by bloggers at Burnt Orange Report and Off The Kuff. These are both excellent examples of lefty Texas blogs. In the interviews he talks about his chances in what has been billed one of the most competitive congressional races, nationwide.

From BOR:

There are many worthwhile campaign and political efforts that deserve financial support, but I can honestly say that no congressional race in the country better reflects the efforts of Tom DeLay and the most extreme elements in national politics challenging the will of local voters to determine who represents them in Congress. National publications are already calling this the "most competitive race in the country", and they are right. I have served in Congress for 26 years and have been a proud advocate of local concerns and local interests in North Texas. I've been willing to stand up to the leadership of both parties to protect the interests of my constituents. My opponent has distinguished himself only to the degree in which he has been willing to ignore local concerns to follow the direction of Tom DeLay and those like him.

From Off The Kuff:

Instead of trying to predict the number of seats we'll have, Democrats should stay focused on our message of growing the economy, providing security for our people, and improving healthcare and education. I'll leave it to the odds-makers to try to predict the future. I do know that if average Americans really focus on what is at stake for our country, not only for this generation but for those to come, and show up at the polls and vote their convictions, Democrats will do just fine.

There is some overlap in the interviews, particularly glaring is Mr. Frost's "baseball analogy." But it's a solid comparison, and I like baseball, so I can't fault him too much.

2004-04-28T10:28:00.000-07:00

District 6

Morris Meyer, who is running to defeat 'Smokey' Joe Barton in Texas' 6th District has submitted a guest post on Atrios.

"We received 74 more votes in the Texas primary than Barton, an early near endorsement from his hometown paper and are on track to take back this seat because "Smokey" Joe is such a horrible piece of work."

Morris was an early and avid supporter of blog advertising. It's good to see him taking full advantage of it. His post is mostly about how bad Joe Barton is, which is fair, but head over to Morris' site to see what else he's about.

2004-04-28T10:12:00.000-07:00

District 22

Markos Zuniga has some INSPIRING news about Tom DeLay's current situation:

"I've gotten my hands on some polling data from the district, and it's surprisingly poor for DeLay. His Approval/Disapprovals are 44/48. On the reelect question, 36 percent would definitely vote for him, 27 percent would consider someone else, and 27 percent would definitely vote for someone else."

link here.

You can help Richard Morrison fight the good fight

2004-04-23T11:24:00.000-07:00

Yeah, he really said that...

"I kindof like ducking questions."
-President George W. Bush speaking at an AP luncheon.

2004-03-31T14:41:00.000-08:00

...SAID THE DESERT TO THE GRAIN OF SAND

Further proof that Faux News takes Repube talking points as Gospel:

Austin District Attorney Ronnie Earle, a fierce partisan Democrat with political ambitions, is currently investigating two (of Tom DeLay's) PACs;

Vince Leibowitz at Yellow Dog nails 'em to the wall.

Atleast Mr. Earl, a thirty year veteran of the D.A.'s office has the right take about it all:

"Being called partisan and vindictive by Tom DeLay is like being called ugly by a frog." -Ronnie Earl, February 2004

You said it.

2004-03-29T08:55:00.000-08:00

I've been wanting to post on the whole Craddick/DeLay imbroglio for a while, but have yet to have the time or, what I felt, was enough of a grasp on the issue to give me the proper insight. This February 27th article in the Texas Observer gives an excellent rundown of who the players are, what happened, and a good amount of background into the legislation that came about after the Sharpstown scandal.

I think it deals a little too lightly with what in my opinion was the grand motive behind everything, (including the founding of TRM and ARM), which was Speaker of the House for Tom DeLay. It didn't have that much to do with dumping the largely conservative Dem legislators. They generally voted the will of their constituency and, (with the exception of Lloyd Doggett) did little to create headaches for the Repubes. No, DeLay needed Craddick as Texas Speaker, and Abbott as Texas AG to push through, and subsequently approve, the mid-decade redistricting. DeLay needs more friendly Republican votes in Congress come 2004. Because what Randy Neugebauer delivers that Charlie Stenholm doesn't is a vote for him (over Nancy Pelosi, or even Dennis Hastert) as SOTH come January.

But now, it turns out that DeLay can't have any party leadership roles while under indictment. Wouldn't that be some sweet justice?

Of course it didn't hurt that the newly formed district TX-11 was custom made for longtime Bush/Craddick crony Mike Conaway. Click here to contribute to his competition, Wayne Raasch. Yeah, I had to dig to find out who he was, too. Maybe some donations will help him improve his web page.

2004-03-24T08:04:00.000-08:00

Our senator lives in a black hole.

In an opening statement, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), presiding over the hearing as chairman of the subcommittee on constitutional law and a fervent supporter of banning gay marriage, dismissed as a "myth" the notion that "my marriage doesn't affect your marriage."

"Redefining marriage in a way that reduces it to a financial and legal relationship will only accelerate the deterioration of family life," Cornyn said.

Lets Recap:

accelerates the deterioration of family life

doesn't

2004-03-19T12:48:00.000-08:00

To my hundreds of thousands of readers:

If you're in the mood for a road trip this weekend, and feel like hearin some tunes while you're Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards, head to Houston for Blue Hat Project's second annual One World Beat Music Festival

It'll be big times

2004-03-19T08:45:00.000-08:00

4 MORE YEARS! 4 MORE YEARS!

No, not that guy.

this guy.

2004-03-18T14:14:00.000-08:00

FOUR Days until Houston Harte (a.k.a. 'U' 306) opens and delivers us from the evils of Sherwood Way.

WooHoo

2004-03-18T09:18:00.000-08:00

Los Lonely Boys clean-up at SXSW Austin Music Awards.

Austin 360 writes:

San Angelo sensations Los Lonely Boys took song, album and band of the year honors at the Austin Music Awards ceremony at the Austin Music Hall.

"It's a blessing," drummer Ringo Garza said of the band's meteoric rise. "I thank God we're here to play this music and pray that we live for tomorrow to play it some more."

"Heaven," written by Henry, Jojo and Ringo Garza, won song of the year. Jojo Garza also grabbed best bass player honors.

Congratulations guys.

2004-03-18T08:10:00.000-08:00

The Secretary of State's office has had results from last Tuesday's primary up on its website for a while now. What you may already know is that Democratic ballots outnumbered Republican ballots by almost 150,000. This is pretty easy to dismiss at first glance. The Republicans have a popular, (among Texas Republicans, at least), sitting president running unopposed at the head of their ballot. So of course voter turnout is low. But, essentially Kerry had already wrapped up the nomination. I suspect Dem turnout would have been much, much higher if John Edwards were still in the race. Texas Dems are slowly warming to Kerry, but I think Edwards would have brought out plenty more votes. So we're essentially looking at unopposed races at the head of each ballot.

So let's look a little deeper. Concerning U. S. Congressional races, the Dems actually had more candidates running unopposed than Republicans. I find this interesting on two levels. First, with fewer contested races, logic would dictate that Dem turnout would be lower, but it wasn't. Second, with a fresh redistricting victory under their belts, one would think that the prospect of regaining a majority of Texas delegates would spark a higher Republican turnout, but it didn't.

Does this foretell a huge Democratic swell that will deliver Texas to Kerry come November? Get real. But it might, just might, give Tom DeLay's TRMPAC a little less on their return than they had hoped.

2004-03-17T09:20:00.000-08:00

Do you want to get into the Lenten spirit, but just can't bring yourself to go watch Jesus get flagellated for two hours? Then head over to Emmanuel Episcopal Churchon Wednesdays for Lenten Soup. It costs $5.00. The proceeds go to Emmanuel's Outreach Program. Call 653-4226 to place your order.

2004-03-17T08:39:00.000-08:00

Ok, so this is obviously my first post. I've been wanting to do something like this for a while now. We'll see how well I can keep on top of the local stuff. My goal for this spot is a mix of (Democratic) political commentary, and a social and cultural calendar. Though I imagine if this thing progresses, it'll likely develop on it's own accord. I'd also like to get some guests to regularly post here as well. Though I imagine first I need to get some readers. We'll see how well that goes.