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October 31, 2005
Alito Tells The Tale
If anyone doubted who now controls the Republican Party, it was made crystal clear this morning.
Just a few days after President Bush's nominee to replace Sandra Day O'Connor on the Supreme Court, Harriet Miers, withdrew her nomination in the face of total revolt among the religious right wing, Mr. Bush gave the faithful what they wanted -- Samuel Alito, Jr.
Miers was a question mark, with no real paper trail to even intimate at a judicial philosophy, and rather un-SCOTUS-like qualifications. She was torn to shreds, not by Democrats seeking to further damage a wounded president, but by "the base". Funny how the religious right wing, always so quick to pounce on "liberal elites", snobbishly turned up its nose at Ms. Miers' lack of pedigree.
While Miers was a bit of an enigma, and feared by the fundies to be another Souter, Alito, or "Scalito" as he is jokingly called in reference to his similarity to Justice Scalia, is prima facie a true believer. His confirmation process promises to be contentious, with the outcome far from certain.
President Bush has obviously calculated that he needs a good fight to rally that wayward base, since clearly that's all he has left politically.
This, from the same man who claimed to be a uniter, not a divider, who worked with Bob Bullock and Pete Laney while Governor of Texas, and fooled folks into believing he was a moderate.
It's now obvious who's got control of the GOP, and just how politically weak this president is. Three years is a long time to be a lame duck.
Posted by houtopia at 02:13 PM
October 28, 2005
Casey Gets It Right
Kudos to Rick Casey in today's Chronicle for alerting Houstonians to what Council watchers have known for years -- a few Council Members would rather talk loud and mug for the cameras than make good public policy.
Earlier this week, Council approved a nominal cut of a quarter penny to the City property tax rate. While not a large cut, it is the latest in a series of good faith efforts at City Hall -- following last year's cut and the passage of Prop 1, which controls rate growth -- to get skyrocketing property taxes under control.
But thanks to the State Legislature, which has so distinguished itself over the last several years, Council had to declare it had raised taxes, despite the rate cut. Casey singles out the two Houston area Senators responsible for this required Council mea culpa, and reminds us that while municipalities are now forced to face the music with the public on tax issues, the Legislature has simply passed the buck on its own inability to do anything about taxes (or anything else important).
County Tax Assessor-Collector Paul Bettencourt also heaped blame on the City, despite the fact that the Republican-controlled County government sits on a huge surplus, and yet won't entertain a property tax reduction. City residents pay County taxes too, folks, but how many sheriff's deputies, new County parks and libraries, or road improvements do we see inside the City limits?
The problem here, and nationally, is that the GOP clings to decades-old rhetoric about "tax and spend" and "big government", despite the fact that under its watch government has never been bigger and deficits never higher. These guys never met a pork project they didn't like.
So, Ms. Wiseman, Mr. Bettencourt, Mr. Janek and Mr. Williams -- you go ahead and demagogue the tax issue all you like. But folks are getting wise to the credibility gap between your rhetoric and reality.
Posted by houtopia at 02:30 PM
October 26, 2005
Houston Votes, Right?
Did anyone know there's an election going on in Houston right now? That's right, today you can visit a number of sites around town and cast your ballot for Mayor, City Council, and some State Constitutional amendments. In fact, you can do so until Friday, November 4th. And after that, there's Election Day on Tuesday November 8th!
OK, so even if you knew, you didn't care, right? Preliminary voting numbers certainly bear that out. Instead of the flood of voters we politically wretched wish would pour into polling places to excercise their democratic right, so far its been barely a trickle.
Astros baseball has certainly been a large (and welcome) distraction. Alas, hope seems to be fading there.
Afterward, Houstonians will civically snap to, right? Doubt it. The trouble (if one can call it that) is there's just no Mayor's race. 4 out of 5 Houstonians approve of Bill White's job performance (Houtopia certainly among them), and he faces no serious opposition. The Mayor's race drives the character and intensity of the election. Hence, no intensity this time around. Even a highly divisive marriage amendment seems a foregone conclusion.
So, we wretched face the prospect of a long two weeks until Election Day. No Astros to distract us, or to explain our fellow citizens' lack of interest in our obsession. Here's hoping for a Game Seven.
P.S. Election Day will come on November 8th, and we will elect a Mayor and City Council. See our recommendations here, here, and here. They're shared by Houston Police Officers, Houston Firefighters, and the Houston Chronicle.
Posted by houtopia at 09:58 AM
October 21, 2005
Senate Does The Right Thing
Several weeks ago we wrote about investigator David M. Barrett's continued taxpayer-funded effort against former HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros, over a decade after the investigation began and six years after Cisneros plead guilty to a misdemeanor.
The Senate had voted unanimously to discontinue Barrett's $2 million a year operation, since the matter was effectively resolved years ago. The House put the money back in, but today the Senate once again removed it.
We suggest the House's efforts (under the leadership of that persecuted by partisanship leader Rep. Tom DeLay), have been nothing more than insurance against a once, and perhaps future star in Democratic politics. An "ongoing investigation" and its attendant legal bills would likely be enough to discourage the immensely talented Mr. Cisneros from taking another political shot, even though this personal matter was resolved years ago.
Just remember that when Mr. DeLay and his gang whine about a partisan vendetta against them. They created this political climate over a decade ago -- they made this bed. Now DeLay, Karl Rove and others are finding out what it's like to be on the other side of the equation.
Karma's funny that way.
Posted by houtopia at 09:54 AM
The Elephant In The Room
As the Valerie Plame leak investigation drives toward its climax -- independent investigator Patrick Fitzgerald is expected to announce any indictments next week -- a hushed anticipation seems to have settled over Washington.
Today's New York Times intimates that President Bush's Deputy Chief of Staff and political architect Karl Rove, and Vice President Cheney's Chief of Staff I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby may be on the hook for criminal charges.
Further, today's Washington Post examines the eerie silence about this matter at the White House, as administration officials wait for the other shoe to drop. The piece suggests burnout and a bunker mentality among White House staff.
Indictments of Rove and/or Libby would likely mean profound structural changes for a White House already seemingly in political free fall. Charges against Rove, in particular, who is the driving political force there and the glue holding things together, would have a huge, immediate impact. If indicted his likely departure would leave a very large hole to fill.
These problems inside the Beltway, combined with a national Congressional leader's indictment yesterday, a bad situation in Iraq, and problems more palpable to the public at large, such as high gasoline prices, a lousy ongoing federal response to two major hurricanes, and a sluggish economy threaten the basic efficacy of Mr. Bush's second term.
A long Crawford vacation probably sounds pretty good right about now.
Posted by houtopia at 08:56 AM
October 18, 2005
Fitzgerald Poised To Drop Bombshells
While the country at-large worries about Iraq, gas prices, the cost of healthcare, and in at least a few towns, playoff baseball, inside the Beltway Washington seems consumed by a brewing scandal that may reach high up into the White House.
As independent counsel Patrick Fitzgerald wraps up his investigation, numerous indictments seem likely in the Valerie Plame leak matter. Beltway chatter speculates that as many as 22 current and former officials may be implicated, including Karl Rove, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, and Vice President Cheney himself. Indictments are expected as early as tomorrow, though nobody knows for sure.
Today's Washington Post sheds light on the Vice President's office's ongoing feud with the CIA over pre-Iraq War intelligence, and its likely involvement in the Plame leak itself. It also takes aim at NYT reporter Judy Miller's implausible statement that Libby never discussed Plame's identity with her. The piece is a must-read.
Washington is bracing for a good old second-term scandal -- a la Watergate, Iran-Contra & Monica Lewinsky -- and with President Bush already in a precarious political position, it seems he can ill afford more bad news right now.
While it's tempting to grab the popcorn and get ready to watch a real political thriller, the country has so many problems right now, it's just unsettling to think about further distraction from the pressing issues of the day.
Of course, Fitzgerald and his team must get to the bottom of what happened, since the public trust was very likely abused by some administration officials. But we take no joy in this unfolding drama. Once more one simply shakes one's head and asks, what the hell has happened to America?
Posted by houtopia at 06:49 PM
October 17, 2005
The Dilemna Of An Astros Fan & Political Junkie
Who knew?
Houtopia has worked behind the scenes on two citywide Council races over the last several months, laboring along with that small but colorful band of folks who live and breathe this stuff -- the "politically wretched", as described by one Chronicle writer.
The various city campaigns toiled through the spring and summer, knowing no-one was yet paying any attention to their races, but in anticipation that, after Labor Day, Houstonians would come around and catch fall election fever. Fat chance.
It didn't help that, to all our benefit, the city is in the more than capable hands of Mayor Bill White, who by showing remarkable leadership before and after two major hurricanes, deservedly faces no serious opposition. But with a couple of hot Council races and a controversial state constitutional amendment on the ballot, surely folks would wake up politically, right?
Enter the Astros. Now, we are huge fans, but after a 15-30 start, Houtopia admits to writing the hometown nine's post-season prospects off for 2005. We were hardly unique in doing so. But the 'Stros doggedly fought back, compiling the best record in baseball after their miserable start, made the post-season and kept on winning. There is already much joy in H-town, with the possibility of much, much more.
So we root (this is being written from a wi-fi friendly local watering hole shortly before Game 5's first pitch), but we also keep campaigning. Endorsements come in, signs are put up (and often torn down), yet only the wretched seem to care.
Here we sit, we political junkies and baseball fans, one week before Early Vote begins, hoping for Houston's first ever World Series, while realizing we root for our own public obsolescence this fall.
It's a strange time to be a Houston baseball fan in our business. We keep working, rooting and waiting. What else can we do?
Posted by houtopia at 06:50 PM
October 16, 2005
Judy Miller and The Times
Just a few short weeks after bigfoot New York Times' reporter Judith Miller's release from an 85-day stint in prison, the paper attempts an examination of her, and its own role in the Valerie Plame leak story.
The lengthy piece, cowritten by Don Van Natta, Adam Liptak, and Clifford Levy, centers on the difficult position the Times found itself in, by defending Miller's First Amendment right to protect a confidential source (now known to be Dick Cheney's Chief of Staff I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby), while struggling with Ms. Miller's questionable reportarial ethics and behavior, and being scooped on the story by other news organizations.
The piece suggests to us that Ms. Miller is lying about whether Libby ever disclosed Valerie Plame's identity to her, given that some variation of Plame's name appears in two sets of notes from two separate meetings between Miller and Libby.
The article also intimates that there was no clear signal sent by Libby, via his legal team, that he didn't want Miller to testify before independent investigator Patrick Fitzgerald's grand jury, which leaves the obvious question, did Miller really have to go to jail?
Her detractors answer no, and suggest her doing time was merely a public relations "martyrdom", designed to rehabilitate her image and journalistic reputation, which were badly damaged by her role in the selling of Saddam Hussein's non-existent WMD threat before the Iraq War.
The article raises more questions than it answers, and only time will gauge the effect of this drama on Miller's and the Times' reputation. She sure doesn't seem credible so far.
Posted by houtopia at 11:15 AM
October 13, 2005
Will 2006 Be The Democrats' Year?
Today's New York Times has an excellent piece from Robin Toner on the Democrats' political prospects for 2006.
It follows right along with what's been written here in recent months: there is clear opportunity there, but the opportunity must be seized. For too long, Democrats have counted on changing demographics and dissatisfaction with the Republicans' government performance to lead them to electoral victory.
Despite GOP party chair Ken Mehlman's outward confidence (what else is a national party leader supposed to say?), there is privately real concern among Republican strategists that next year could be a doozie for them.
We suspect it's unlikely that the GOP will lose its majorities in either the House or the Senate, but a good campaign cycle with good candidates by the Democrats can close the gaps. Good candidates and good campaigns, however, are easier said than done.
Here in Texas, all flows from the Governor's race. It is the marquee matchup and what drives turnout and the character of the entire election. Without a strong nominee against Rick Perry next year, downballot Democrats are unlikely to see much, if any benefit of a "backlash" against the ruling GOP. That means most of these efforts underway to recruit good folks to run for the Legislature, or County office will go for naught without a real campaign against Governor Good Hair.
This begs the question, why the hell are the trial lawyers so fixated on Carole Keeton Strayhorn? Perry will clobber her in next Spring's primary, though she'll go down swinging. Can't they read a poll?
Far more important is having a strong, well-funded Democratic nominee for 2006. A Governor with an approval rating of 40% or less is vulnerable, no matter what party he's in. The Democratic nomination for Texas Governor in 2006 is very much worth having. Let's hope folks figure that out before it's too late.
Posted by houtopia at 12:19 PM
October 12, 2005
Our Fidgeting Fearless Leader
Strong leadership was perhaps the most important quality in securing President George W. Bush's re-election to a second term. Agree or disagree, love him or hate him, you knew where he stood. Particularly during wartime, it was this steadfastness that made many Americans who were less than thrilled with his leadership, reluctant to make a change.
Oh, how much things have changed. Not even a year after receiving a "mandate" for his second term, President Bush, beset by an ongoing, worsening situation in Iraq, rising gas prices, a bungled response to Hurricane Katrina, and numerous administration scandals, appears a shell of his once swaggering political self.
In today's Washington Post, Dana Milbank describes a president hiding from the press, totally uncomfortable in his own skin, and completely off his political game.
Perhaps he misses his Svengali, Karl Rove, who is mired in serious legal trouble of his own. Maybe he's feeling uncertain about his right wing base, normally so loyal, but now miffed about the Harriet Miers nomination. Or maybe he's just tired -- tired of waiting for the economy to pick up, or for Iraq to get better, or for children to better in school.
Here stands the president, down in the dumps, at the mercy of events. So much for strong leadership.
Posted by houtopia at 02:39 PM
October 07, 2005
"Scandal" -- A Prescient Piece from Kevin Drum
About this time last year, when the presidential campaign was going hot and heavy and the outcome was far from clear, the Washington Monthly asked 16 writers from across the political spectrum to speculate on "What if President Bush Wins?", and what that would mean for the country.
He did, of course, win and now approaching a year into his second term, it is interesting to revisit these prognostications. One stands out.
Kevin Drum's prediction that scandal would be the operative word in a Bush second term has so far proved prescient indeed. From Abu Ghraib to the Rove/Plame investigation, to the recent indictment of top administration procurement officer David Savafian, to the new investigation of a White House-stationed Marine officer, to the ongoing Tom DeLay saga, scandal indeed is everywhere.
This climate of scandal, along with high gas prices, unease about the economy and health care costs, government bungling of Hurricane Katrina, and heartburn on the right over the Harriet Miers nomination, has taken a political toll on President Bush. His approval numbers, now at the lowest of his presidency, hover near those of a Watergate-damaged Nixon.
While one may feel a hint of schadenfreude watching Drum's prediction come true, far more pronounced here is a sense of worry and anxiety about the future in this great country. Things are just not right with America these days, and while relatively few may speak openly about it, people know it.
Posted by houtopia at 08:37 AM
October 04, 2005
Another Politically Astute Court Pick
President Bush has selected his nominee to replace Sandra Day O'Connor, the Supreme Court's first woman justice and frequent swing vote, and her name is Harriet Miers.
She is a former Dallas City Council Member, was once Mr. Bush's personal lawyer, former head of the Texas State Bar Association, and has never served as a judge.
Indeed, her philosophical views on hot-button issues such as civil rights, reproductive choice, government regulation, and the role of the judiciary are nearly a complete mystery. We suspect this is exactly what Karl Rove had in mind.
This administration has been taking on water (in the case of Katrina, literally) for months, and Mr. Bush's public approval numbers are the lowest of his presidency, only above a Watergate-plagued Richard Nixon among modern presidents at this point in their second term.
Mounting casualties, bills and no end in sight in Iraq, rising gas prices, investigations and indictments of top Republicans, and the two recent hurricanes have quickly clipped the sails of Mr. Bush's second-term, 51-49% "mandate".
In this sense Miers' nomination is a wise choice. While some on the left and right are understandably anxious over her absolute lack of any paper trail or record of her basic views, that there's "no there, there" to attack is welcome news for a White House that doesn't need to open another front in its ongoing and costly political war.
Just as John Roberts was, we expect Ms. Miers will be easily confirmed. The question is, who are these two judges really? Will Roberts be a William Rehnquist or a David Souter? Will Miers be an O'Connor or a Priscilla Owen?
We'll just have to hold our breath, wait and see. Only Mr. Bush and his inner circle know for sure, and maybe not even they do. Nerve racking, to say the least.
Posted by houtopia at 09:00 PM
October 01, 2005
DeLay Whines, While Your Tax Dollars Are at Work
Listening to local Congressman Tom Delay piss and moan about a "partisan witch hunt" in his indictment this week is difficult to stomach, considering he may be the most partisan leader in the history of the U.S. House of Representatives. Note to Mr. DeLay: Texans don't like whiners, so stop crying like a baby and stand trial like a man.
In fact, today's Washington Post offers an excellent example of just the climate Mr. DeLay and his hypocritical gang have created in Wahsington over the last decade. The story concerns the ongoing investigation of former HUD Secretary and San Antonio mayor Henry Cisneros, an erstwhile rising star on the national political scene.
It seems that a decade after the investigation of Cisneros began, and some six years after he plead guilty on a matter involving a personal failing, the "independent" investigator, David M. Barrett, is still billing taxpayers $2 million a year.
Several months ago, the Senate decided enough was enough and unanimously voted to strip Barrett of his funding and shut the investigation down. After all, it's been six years since Cisneros plead guilty.
But a funny thing happened. House Republicans (with a certain Sugar Land Member in charge), yielded to pressure from the right wing echo chamber, which loathed any act that would defund Clinton-bashing (it still feels so good 5 years after the fact), and restored Barrett's money.
Remember, this is the gang that was bent on ruining Commerce Secretary Ron Brown over campaign finance until he inconveniently died. These are the folks who destroyed Agriculture Secretary Mike Espy's career over football tickets. And we all know what they did to Henry Cisneros and Bill Clinton.
So forgive us if the "partisanship" bellyaching from the DeLay crowd does not persuade. You guys created this monster, and now it may eat you too. Read your scripture, Mr. Delay -- you reap what you sow.
Posted by houtopia at 10:44 AM