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May 27, 2005
Ed Wendt
We were saddened to learn of Ed Wendt's death yesterday, after a long illness.
Ed was best known in Houston for writing the Public Inquisition column for the African American weekly, The Forward Times. Ed always wrote with the little guy in mind. He was mistrustful of corporate and political power, and blew the whistle on abuse of such power whenever he could.
Many may not know that Ed was also a champion of civil rights. As an Anglo student at the predominantly African American Prairie View A&M University in the 1970s, Ed and fellow students successfully challenged the Waller County authorities' attempt to use residency to prevent students from voting in local elections. The students' victory was a landmark decision in Texas for voting rights.
Some 30 years later, when another Waller County DA inexplicably tried to impose the same restrictions on Prairie View students, Ed was right back out there, leading the charge against discrimination, despite already declining health. Fittingly, at a large rally on the steps of the Waller County courthouse that day, Ed was honored for his efforts, first as a student, and again so many years later.
Ed was also a Vietnam veteran, and as a member of several veterans groups, passionately advocated on their behalf. Ed's service in Vietnam cost him his liver -- likely courtesy of a hollow-tip bullet -- but despite having to have a transplant a decade or so ago and ongoing health complications because of it, he never seemed bitter about his fate or his service.
Ed Wendt was an engaging, feisty, good-hearted man. He will be missed.
Posted by houtopia at 10:58 AM
May 26, 2005
Trimming TRMPAC's Sails
Well, Round 1 is in the books -- the Texans for a Republican Majority Political Action Committee (TRMPAC) and its pere, Mr. Delay took it on the chin.
Word came this morning that State District Judge Joe Hart ruled that TRMPAC's treasurer, Bill Ceverha, failed to report hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions, and will have to pay about $200K to several defeated Democratic State House candidates from 2002. Whoops.
Mind you, this is only the civil case against TRMPAC -- a criminal investigation continues in Austin.
We are stunned that any organization associated with the U.S. House Majority Leader would be implicated in any wrongdoing. The right wing victim crowd is sure to point out the obvious -- this is just a vast, Democrat conspiracy to tear down a great leader.
Stay tuned -- the show's just beginning.
Posted by houtopia at 11:04 AM
May 21, 2005
A Crisis for Texas
Houtopia has written extensively about the Republican leadership in the Texas Legislature's laudable ability to stand firm in the face of nuisance issues -- such as public school finance, the tax bill and children's health insurance -- and focus on what actually impacts Texans in their everyday lives -- rampant illegal voting, an epidemic of gay foster parenting, and the paucity of "properly" named state highways.
In the waning days of this 79th Texas Legislative session, the GOP leadership (with the help of a few Democrats) has once again shown it is keeping its eye on the ball, and sticking to what really matters to Texas families.
There is a crisis in Texas. It's not that the public schools may be shut down in October -- oh no. It's not that the Republican State Comptroller says current state budget and revenue estimates are billions of dollars apart -- nah. And it's not that thousands of Texas children have no health insurance coverage -- nope.
What really threatens the very viability of our great state is that gay marriage is not illegal enough. Sure, there are already three state laws on the books making same-sex marriage illegal, but one can never be too sure. That no same-sex couples in Texas have actually tried to get married is irrelevant -- it could happen at any moment. So, praise indeed for our fine elected officials who toil to resolve such pressing issues of the day.
It makes one wonder -- what will our fine GOP leadership do when this critical issue is resolved once and for all this November? Maybe they and their fellow legislators can just take the next session off. After all, their real work is done.
Posted by houtopia at 08:06 PM
May 18, 2005
A Change of Heart
It has been interesting to watch the boiling outrage from the right wing over Newsweek's Michael Isikoff, and his May 9th story about the U.S. military flushing a copy of the Quran down the toilet. Riots and deaths in Afghanistan have ensued.
Some of us remember Isikoff's leading role in fomenting Bill Clinton scandal stories, many of which turned out to be totally false. Isikoff was then a darling of conservatives, even called a "respected journalist" by that intellectual tower Sean Hannity. My, how things change.
Conservatives are now calling for Isikoff's head. Newsweek's retraction of the story just isn't good enough. Never mind that he once was a one-man crusader against Bill Clinton. Now he's just another Michael Moore.
We are shocked, shocked that the right wing would shorten its collective memory, and hold up its former hero as just another example of the "liberal media."
Some of us remember the truth.
Posted by houtopia at 08:56 AM
May 14, 2005
Daddy Knows Best
The great meeting of the minds in Austin continues, as the clock runs down on this Texas Legislative session. Oh so much has been accomplished by the GOP leadership -- aren't you proud?
Today we get word that House Speaker Tom Craddick, that prince of magnanimity, has announced his conferees on school finance and the tax bill. Janet Elliott has the scoop in today's Chronicle.
We are delighted to report that the Speaker has chosen a group that speaks volumes about his commitment to fairness and bipartisanship -- of his 10 selections, all are Republican, all are white, and all but one are men. Way to go Tom!
Clearly the fact that 42% of House members are Democrats entered into the Speaker's thinking. It's heartening to see that women, who outnumber men in Texas, and who, as mothers, tend to care about public education, are so well represented among his chosen few. The fact that minorities -- who are now a majority of the Texas population -- have no representation on the conference committees may look a little suspicious, but we all know us white folks know what's best for them and have their real interest at heart, right?
We especially appreciate that, in light of the tragic death of Democratic Rep. Joe Moreno last week, Speaker Craddick has chosen to put partisanship aside and work together in the best interest of all Texans. You honor his memory, sir.
Tom Craddick and the Texas GOP, fighting for fairness and families. Daddy knows best.
Posted by houtopia at 11:30 AM
May 13, 2005
A Dying Breed
Today's NY Times has a fascinating piece on the plight of the few remaining moderate GOP Senators.
They're a small and lonely bunch, as their party has left them for the fringes of the right wing. They get pressure from both sides, on issues from the Bolton nomination, to the "nuclear" option on filibustering judges.
Folks seem to be waking up to the fact that the Republican Party is now controlled by a bunch of extremist zealots. As it leaves mainstream America in its rearview, there will be an opportunity for Democrats. Let's hope they seize it.
Posted by houtopia at 05:45 PM
May 09, 2005
Robert Talton -- Real Leadership for Texas Families
Houtopia has written in recent days of its unqualified admiration for the Texas GOP, and its ability to focus in the State Legislature on helping Texas families in their everyday lives.
By taking on the major issues of the day, such as rampant illegal voting, renaming of state highways, and the epidemic of gay foster parenting, Republicans in the Legislature have shown Texans they know what really matters to most folks.
They've fought the temptation to be distracted by fringe issues like public school finance, the tax bill and children's health insurance, and stuck to those aforementioned kitchen table issues.
Today, Pasadena State Rep. Robert Talton shows us that, once again he and his GOP colleagues have their finger (perhaps a middle finger) on the pulse of the Texas public -- damnit, there's too much low income housing!
Talton understands that it is slum lords who have been getting the short end of the stick in Austin, and by golly, he's going to do something about it! After all, they've given him thousands in campaign contributions -- their voices deserve to be heard.
The Texas GOP -- fighting for Texas families, one apartment at a time.
Posted by houtopia at 11:29 AM
May 08, 2005
Newsflash -- God is a Republican
That's the headline from the renowned political bellweather of Waynesville, NC.
It seems the Lord spoke to East Waynesville Baptist Church Pastor Chan Chandler, and told him the church's Democrats had to go. With love and charity becoming mankind's Savior, Chandler told his flock that anyone who had supported John Kerry had to repent or leave the church.
They left, along with some other heathens who were offended by Chandler's ultimatum, and their departure was allegedly cheered by those "real Christians" who stayed.
Another Hallmark moment, courtesy of the values party -- the GOP.
Posted by houtopia at 02:10 PM
A Blog Revolution? Get a Grip
Today's NY Times business section has a very interesting piece on Nick Denton and his Gawker blogging business.
Denton decidedly pooh-poohs the notion that the explosion in blogs is a wave to be surfed into getting rich.
As an uncompensated, volunteer blog, Houtopia concurs. Check the piece out -- well worth it.
Posted by houtopia at 02:03 PM
May 06, 2005
Pollyanna's Problems
Dark clouds have gathered, masking Lt. Governor David Dewhurst's previously sunny outlook on the Texas Senate's business for this legislative session. Will his planned parade all the way to Washington and the U.S. Senate be rained out?
It turns out that while it's great to talk about how unified the Senate is, and to be oh-so optimistic about property taxes and school finance, reality has a way of interfering with the best laid plans. Pollyanna's got problems.
Clay Robison has the lowdown on the revenue side in today's Chronicle. The Senate plan would cut property taxes by about 27% over the next two years, but it turns out the homestead exemption is gutted, affecting some 400,000 folks just in Harris County.
To offset the lost revenue, both a payroll and business franchise tax are being looked at, but guess what? A bunch of businesses aren't happy with either. And as the TAB and TRMPAC controversies show, business has more than just a little influence among the Republicans running the Capitol these days.
Decisions, decisions. We know Lt. Governor Dewhurst just wants to get past this and move on to important stuff, like his campaign for U.S. Senate, but these pesky little problems like balancing the State budget keep getting in the way. The Senate's gotta decide on its tax bill, it has to reach a compromise with the House, and the Governor has to sign it.
No fun. It's just like President Bush said -- this governing stuff is hard.
Posted by houtopia at 09:55 AM
Houston State Rep. Joe Moreno Killed
We were saddened to learn of Joe Moreno's death in an apparent traffic accident early this morning.
We offer our condolences to his family. He will be missed.
Posted by houtopia at 09:50 AM
May 05, 2005
The "Jackass" Speaks Out
For those of you who may have missed it, Right wing pundit Ann Coulter visited Houtopia's alma mater this week -- The University, located in Austin, TX. It was, as one might imagine, a raucous affair.
One student, an English major named Ajai Raj, really shook the crowd at the LBJ Library up when he fired an obscene question at Ms. Coulter. He was forcibly removed from the hall, arrested, and charged with a Class C Misdemeanor.
Today, Mr. Raj tells his side. Houtopia finds him refreshingly honest, unapologetic, and f---ing hilarious. Whether you agree with Raj, Coulter, or neither, here's something going on in Austin we can actually laugh about. The Texas GOP's legislative agenda? If it weren't so sad and lame, it would be worth a laugh too.
Posted by houtopia at 12:32 PM
May 03, 2005
Clouding the Sunny Side of Life
As we wrote just a few days ago, the Texas Senate GOP leadership's crowing about its school finance plan seemed, well, just a bit premature.
Cutting taxes and solving the public school finance crisis -- wow! It was bold, a revelation, a new paradigm for government management of revenue and spending! Yeah right.
As Clay Robison points out in today's Houston Chronicle, Senate GOP leaders have encountered a small speed bump on the road to having their cake and eating it too -- actually paying for their plan.
Yesterday Senate GOP leaders unveiled their version of HB3 -- the tax bill. In addition to raising the sales tax and creating a statewide property tax (in exchange for cutting local rates), the Senate has proposed a "broad-based business tax."
Well, it turns out some folks aren't too happy about this plan -- namely House Speaker Tom Craddick and businesses. A small problem, considering the two legislative bodies have only until the end of the month to work out a compromise in conference committee. Assuming they can, Governor Perry also must sign it -- hardly a guarantee.
Maybe the Lege should get back to dealing with the real crises facing the State, like stopping gay foster parenting and rampant illegal voting, renaming highways and making extra super-duper sure there's no gay marriage. After all, three laws just may not be enough.
This little stuff, like the tax bill, will work itself out.
Posted by houtopia at 09:05 AM
May 01, 2005
A Lobbyist in Full
In today's New York Times Magazine, Michael Crowley tells the tale of fallen Washington uber-lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
Much has been written about Mr. Abramoff in recent weeks, especially about his connections to U.S. House Majority Leader Tom Delay. But Crowley's piece includes Abramoff's side of the story.
Abramoff comes off in the interview as an interesting, intense, and funny person who is absolutely blind to the idea that he may have done anything wrong. The evidence sure looks to be against him.
Perhaps most troubling about the piece is its confirmation of a cynical view of politics, where money rules all. Abramoff's primary contention is that he was just playing the Washington game as it exists. Game over for him.
Posted by houtopia at 12:39 PM