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April 28, 2006
Is FEMA History?
Ask this question of folks directly or indirectly affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita last year, and the response would likely be "it was history a long time ago."
Americans remember watching in horror last summer as New Orleans drowned on live television. FEMA was nowhere to be found then. Residents in the devastated areas of Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana and southeast Texas didn't see FEMA for weeks in some cases after the storms went through. They went without electricity and running water, and wondered where the hell was their federal government?
Here in Houston, where the city compassionately opened its arms to thousands of Katrina evacuees, that generosity has been repaid by stalling and broken promises from FEMA and the feds. Money spent may never be reimbursed, and recently, FEMA decided to pull out of Houston all together, leaving the very real possibility that thousands of former New Orleans residents will be rendered homeless here when housing vouchers expire at the end of next month.
Meanwhile, back in Washington, where sometimes it is difficult to imagine anyone actually lives in the same world as the rest of us, today's Washington Post covers a new Senate report that has touched off Congressional debate over FEMA's future existence.
The report, titled "Hurricane Katrina: A Nation Still Unprepared" (how's that for understatement?), makes 86 recommendations to improve America's disaster response, the biggest of which is that FEMA "should be replaced by a new National Preparedness and Response Authority."
The Post piece continues:
"The new agency would recombine disaster preparedness and response activities, reclaim power over billions of dollars of state and local grants, gain responsibility for securing critical infrastructure, and restore an emphasis on natural, as well as terrorist, threats. Those functions and approaches were dispersed or downgraded by the Bush administration as FEMA was merged into DHS."
Predictably, the White House (you're doing a heckuva job, Brownie) rejected the Senate panel's recommendations, claiming "we are far better prepared today than we were this time last year, and we'll be even better prepared by June 1." Confidence-inspiring stuff from an administration that has so competently acquitted itself so far. Be afraid, be very afraid...
So, while the noise-makers in Washington yammer on at each other over what to do next, those of us on the Gulf Coast can only wait for the fast approaching hurricane season and pray we dodge the bullet. And the pundits wonder why Americans have no confidence in government these days.
Posted by houtopia at 10:59 AM
April 26, 2006
Fitzgerald Not Finished With Rove
A few days ago we wrote about the staff shakeup at the White House, and warned Democrats not to take too much joy in Karl Rove's apparent loss of policy responsibilities for the Bush administration. Rove's forte, after all, has been finding ways (usually nasty, divisive ones) to win elections, and if he is now able to turn his full attention to this fall's midterms, bad things may happen to Democrats in November.
At the end of the writing we mentioned the blog Truthout's speculation that despite numerous media reports over the last several months suggesting Rove was likely to escape the clutches of Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald, in fact Rove was still very much on Fitzgerald's radar screen and in real danger of facing criminal charges in the Valerie Plame CIA leak investigation.
In today's New York Times, Anne Kornblut confirmed the speculation. In fact, Mr. Rove is appearing before Fitzgerald's grand jury this afternoon.
Rove has denied leaking the identity of Valerie Plame, a CIA agent and wife of former Ambassador and Bush administration critic Joseph Wilson. After first saying he could not recall speaking with Time Magazine reporter Matthew Cooper about Wilson, Rove magically regained his memory and changed his story, offering details of his phone conversation with Cooper -- details which conveniently did not involve Valerie Plame's identity.
Fitzgerald is apparently interested in whether Rove's sudden and total recall was the result of another Time reporter, Viveca Novak, tipping off his lawyer, Robert Luskin, as to Rove's suspected involvement. Remember, in Rove we're talking about a guy who very likely bugged his own office during a Texas gubernatorial campaign, and then blamed his client's Democratic opponent. For Karl, facts are just details -- sometimes convenient, sometimes not.
Whether Fitzgerald's continuing investigation will lead anywhere is anybody's guess, but the renewed speculation comes at a bad time for the White House, which is desperately trying to right its course after a disastrous year. And for Rove, the situation will continue to be a distraction while the legal fee meter just keeps running. Just breaks your heart, doesn't it?
Posted by houtopia at 02:33 PM
April 23, 2006
Risk And Opportunity In November
We have written extensively in recent months about potential (good, and less than good) for Democrats in this fall's midterm election. All indicators point to a ruling Republican party in trouble -- high gas prices, an intractable situation in Iraq, rising health care costs and interest rates, and profound public dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs throughout the country.
But there's no doubting Democrats have lost their political mojo in recent years. After being whipped in the last three national elections, who wouldn't? And let's face it, having no real political power makes it difficult for Democrats to present real leadership to the American public. After all, what can they really do policy-wise?
In today's Washington Post, Dan Balz captures this unusual political dynamic.
The piece makes clear the political opportunity that is there for Democrats this fall, but offers a sobering assessment of the fairly fractured state of their party today, and how that might impede this year's electoral ambitions, particularly given the GOP's political prowess in recent election cycles.
We stick to our story. This could be a very good year for Democrats, but only if they seize a common-sense message of change and accountability.
Posted by houtopia at 09:18 PM
April 20, 2006
Sinking Fast
Today Fox News (that notoriously liberal media outlet) published the results of its new national poll. The results for President Bush are nothing short of desperate. The president's approval rating has hit an all-time low -- 33% -- in the Fox poll, which is conducted by Opinion Dynamics, principally due to hemorrhaging support among his once stalwart Republican base.
Just two-thirds of Republicans surveyed now approve of Mr. Bush's job performance, the first dip below 70% among GOP voters in his nearly six years in office, and a real shock. More predictably, only 11% of Democrats polled gave the president a positive rating.
Congress fared even worse, with just 25% of the public approving of its job performance. These numbers must make incumbent GOP Members of Congress extremely nervous, and may explain their increasingly public efforts to distance themselves from the president and his policies. Having just returned from a local town hall meeting this evening where Congressman John Culberson spent much of his time criticizing the White House for lack of enforcement of immigration laws and unwise spending of tax dollars, we saw this "distancing" in action.
The continuing public opinion slide likely also explains yesterday's resignation by White House press secretary Scott McClellan and change in job responsiblity for Bush political guru Karl Rove, who has been pulled off of policy matters to focus exclusively on the upcoming midterm election. (Note: while Democrats may derive joy from Rove's so-called "demotion", just remember he will now turn his full attention to what he does best -- winning elections. Relax at your peril.)
Today's Washington Post piece by Dan Balz boldly suggests the White House has shifted into survival mode, while media columnist Howard Kurtz wonders if the latest changes at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. amount to anything more than rearranging the deck chairs on a sinking ship.
All signs continue to point toward a real opportunity for Democrats to make real gains in November. Retaking the U.S. House of Representatives, until recently a pipe dream, now seems an achievable goal. Seventh months is a long way until November though, and much can happen -- like say, a military confrontation with Iran?
Democrats must continue to press an agenda of positive change and accountability from government. We'll see what happens.
UPDATE: Despite recent media speculation to the contrary, it appears Mr. Rove may not escape the clutches of special prosecutor Fitzgerald after all. Stay tuned.
Posted by houtopia at 07:44 PM
April 18, 2006
No Child Left Behind -- Just Left Out
Well, the Texas Legislature has reconvened in a special session to solve (or not) the state's broken public school finance mechanism. So far, key players -- with the exception of the State Comptroller -- are saying the right things about reaching a deal, if they are saying anything at all (you have been awfully quiet Mr. Lt. Governor). Given the Lege's oft-demonstrated ability to put differences aside and solve real problems over the last few years (that's your cue to laugh), we will believe there's a deal when there's actually a deal.
Providing interesting context for the special session -- since Governor Perry has declined to expand the Legislature's call to take on any actual reform to the state's educational system, which ranks at or near the bottom in most national categories -- is an article today from the Associated Press.
The authors take a look at President Bush's much touted No Child Left Behind education law, now four years old. As readers may know, and those with children in public schools know all too well, President Bush's "landmark" education reform places heavy emphasis on standardized testing to measure progress in our public schools. School ratings, and ultimately federal funding, are tied to student performance on these tests. Consequently, school teachers and administrators are under great pressure to achieve high test scores.
The article finds that nearly 2 million minority students' test scores have simply been omitted from school tallies nationwide, allowing schools to distort their overall testing performance and escape potential penalties.
In certain states (Texas among them), if the population of an individual minority group in a single school is below a certain threshhold, then, by law, scores from that group can be omitted from the school's total, creating a less than complete picture of that school's (and that minority group's) overall testing performance.
Once again, with Bush administration policy, appearance trumps reality. Never mind if actual student test performance is lacking; cut the corners you need to and pretty up the numbers. The wisdom of an educational policy that relies so heavily on standardized testing itself is debatable, to say the least, but if accurate test results are not even being gauged then what is the point? It's not No Child Left Behind -- we are leaving these children out all together.
Sadly, it's par for the course in the George W. Bush White House. Why let a little thing like the truth get in the way of running the country?
Posted by houtopia at 09:13 AM
April 15, 2006
Another Volley
Well, it didn't take long for Texas State Comptroller and hopeful independent gubernatorial candidate Carole Keeton Strayhorn to take another shot at her favorite fellow Republican, Governor Rick Perry.
The Guv has been out across the state, along with the head of his tax reform commission, former Democratic State Comptroller John Sharp, touting his new plan to reform Texas' tax structure. Sharp's commission has recommended a 1% business "gross receipts" tax, along with a buck added to every pack of cigarettes, in exchange for property tax relief.
Strayhorn, in yet another clever bit of political copy (note to Democrats: One Tough Grandma knows how to throw a punch -- watch and learn), accused Perry of "writing a hot check to pay for schools." She claimed using a current treasury surplus to fund property tax reductions will create a "gaping hole" in future budgets, and cost the state over $10 billion in the next five years.
In an equally clever retort, Perry dispatched Sharp to offer a bi-partisan critique of Strayhorn and defense of the new tax plan. Sharp dismissed the Comptroller's claims as "goofy" political rhetoric and vouched for the plan's fiscal soundness.
The Texas Legislature will descend on Austin Monday, fresh off the Easter holiday, charged with finding a solution for public school finance. Prospects for the 30-day special session remain uncertain at best, but it's clear Governor Perry, by limiting the session's call to only the finance issue, is trying to escape with doing the absolute minimum (what a shock.)
But no matter what Perry does, or does not do, he faces an eager attack dog in Strayhorn, and she's just waiting to take some flesh out of him. Once again, a battle royale between these two Republican officeholders is shaping up for the fall, and a certain other gubernatorial candidate should be waiting to capitalize.
Posted by houtopia at 10:17 PM
April 12, 2006
A Good Night
Well, the 2006 primary season in Texas is in the books, and for Democrats it was a good night.
Barbara Ann Radnofsky easily defeated perennial also-ran Gene Kelly for the right to face Kay Bailey Hutchison in this fall's race for United States Senate. Barbara is a sharp, talented candidate who will take a real fight to the junior senator in November.
Locally, first-time candidate Borris Miles took down 26-year incumbent Al Edwards in the race for State Representative District 146. Edwards, who is known in this predominantly African American district for passing legislation establishing Juneteenth as a state holiday, was hurt by his cozy relationship with Republican House Speaker Tom Craddick and a thin record of accomplishment in recent years. (Disclosure: Houtopia advised the Miles campaign.) HD 146 is solidly Democratic, so the primary decides who holds the seat.
In addition to losing Edwards, Speaker Craddick took a hit on his own side when State House incumbent Scott Campbell of Abilene was routed in last night's GOP primary. 2006 has not been a good year politically so far for Craddick, and given that a leadership challenge has already been issued by Houston Democrat Senfronia Thompson (anyone smell triangulation here?), it's not likely to get better any time soon.
National polling and news have all pointed toward a rough political season for Republicans in 2006. Last night's results in solidly "red" Texas confirm there's trouble ahead for the GOP, even deep in the heart of Texas.
Posted by houtopia at 10:53 AM
April 06, 2006
Classy!
If there's a single thing one can't accuse Tom DeLay of these days, it's inconsistency. As he prepares to slither off the political stage to a private life that likely will include lengthy appearances defending himself against felony charges, good Christian brother Tom cranked up the crazies this morning for one last venom-filled tirade against that ever-present liberal bogeyman, today played by Nick Lampson.
Soon to be unemployed DeLay campaign manager Chris Homan organized the freak show, designed to "wreck" Lampson's press conference, during which he outrageously suggested that the citizens of Congressional Disrict 22 deserve to have representation for the rest of the year, despite the Republican Party's desire to rig the process so DeLay can hand-pick his successor.
Apparently an elderly woman there to support Lampson was hit in the face with a DeLay sign and shoved by one of the young "men" there to raise hell. (Don't these guys have jobs?) There was much shouting and use of airhorns, making it difficult for reporters to hear Lampson's statement. Doesn't the image of the little spoiled brat who, when he doesn't get what he wants both covers his ears and shouts so he can't hear but also prevents anyone else from speaking, come to mind?
All in all, just the kind of classy behavior we have come to expect from Congressman DeLay and his crowd over the years. Gee, we're really going to miss them, won't you?
Posted by houtopia at 02:46 PM
April 04, 2006
A Model For The Future?
Wednesday's NY Times offers a fascinating story from Massachusetts, that should spur serious discussion about solving one of our nations most serious societal problems -- health care.
The number of uninsured Americans is somewhere between 45 and 50 million. As costs continue to skyrocket, the problem is growing at an alarming rate, as fewer and fewer families, small and mid-size businesses can afford coverage. Nowhere more pronounced is the problem than in Texas, where we have the dubious distinction of leading the nation in the number of uninsured.
Well, the Democratic-dominated Massachusetts state legislature has passed landmark legislation giving health coverage to nearly all Bay State residents -- legislation that Republican Governor and presidential hopeful Mitt Romney has said he will sign.
Rather than the single-payer system, so often pilloried by conservatives as "socialized medicine", the Massachusetts plan is one, as the article notes, that was "hammered out with proposals and input from state Democratic legislators; Mr. Romney, a Republican; Senator Edward M. Kennedy, a Democrat; insurers; academics; businesses; hospitals; and advocates for the poor, including religious leaders."
It requires those who can afford insurance to purchase it, or else face tax penalties, and offers a sliding scale for individuals, based on ability to pay. As one academic notes, "it's not the typical Massachusetts/Taxachusetts, oh-just-crazy-liberal plan."
Whether the specifics of this plan would work in Texas remains to be seen, but it clearly offers a path toward getting one of this country's greatest social dilemnas -- health care for all -- on the right track.
Posted by houtopia at 11:42 PM
Ding... Dong...
You know the rest of the song, folks.
It looks as if The Hammer has driven his last political nail. Besieged by bad polling numbers, press and a litany of former aides and associates pleadning guilty to crimes, former U.S. House Majority Leader and Sugar Land Congressman Tom DeLay has decided to leave Congress.
In an exclusive interview with Time Magazine and comments on Chris Matthews Hardball, DeLay announced that he will not run for reelection in November, and will step down "within months" from his seat and move to the Washington D.C. area.
DeLay claims polarization in his district had left him with a "50-50" chance of winning reelection, and he didn't want to risk losing the seat for the Republican Party. Perhaps, but in the wake of his former deputy chief of staff turning state's evidence on Friday, maybe his own looming federal indictment was part of the calculation.
No doubt, DeLay's exit from the race makes a GOP hold of the seat decidedly more likely, as CD22 remains a Republican district. The Democratic nominee, Nick Lampson, has lost his best chance to win the seat -- a weakened, tainted incumbent. Still, Lampson is an experienced campaigner who is sitting on $2 million, so don't count him out just yet. Popular Sugar Land Mayor David Wallace has already thrown his hat in the ring on the Republican side.
DeLay, for his part remains defiant and committed to furthering Republican and conservative causes. That's fine, but leading the charge, even outside of Congress, would seem a tall order while fighting two criminal indictments in two jurisdictions, and would be a really neat trick from the confines of a prison cell.
We breathe a sigh of relief at DeLay's resignation. The person who perhaps personified everything wrong with American politics today has been driven out of government, and that's a positive step for this country. Good riddance, Mr. DeLay.
Posted by houtopia at 12:04 AM
April 01, 2006
Some Things Just Don't Blow Over
It has been interesting to watch the public posturing of late from team Tom DeLay. Fresh off an underwhelming 62% showing in the GOP primary -- remember, he's used to getting 80% or better, and the fact that nearly 40% of his core Republican base abandoned him is not good news, no matter how they spin it -- Congressman DeLay's media strategy over the last month or so has been to push his legal troubles into the background and confidently declare he will move past them unscathed. It is a perfectly understandable strategy under the circumstances.
This week, however, saw a flurry of stories which complicate such a strategy, to say the least. It started last Sunday with a lengthy piece by R. Jeffrey Smith in the Washington Post, detailing how former DeLay chief of staff Ed Buckham enriched himself (and made regular payments to DeLay's wife) under the guise of the U.S. Family Network, a bogus grassroots lobbying organization principally funded by Washington D.C.'s current Typhoid Mary -- Jack Abramoff.
Next came word that the Congressman's license to carry a concealed handgun in Texas had been revoked, pending the outcome of his felony indictment, which is Texas law. Ouch.
On Wednesday, the aforementioned Jack Abramoff, once the most powerful lobbyist in Washington and one of Congressman DeLay's "dearest friends", was sentenced to nearly six years in federal prison for his role in the fraudulent purchase of the SunCruz Casinos shipping line. Abramoff, who apparently is not finished singing to federal prosecutors in a host of other investigations, will remain free for 90 days until his song is over. What he has offered the feds on Mr. DeLay is not yet clear, but won't likely well serve the Congressman's legal or political standing.
Finally, Mr. DeLay's former deputy chief of staff, Tony Rudy, pled guilty yesterday to illegally conspiring with Jack Abramoff (there he is again) to "corrupt public officials and defraud Abramoff's clients", while on DeLay's Congressional staff. Rudy is also cooperating with federal investigators in exchange for a reduced prison sentence.
Each of these events, taken separately, undermines Mr. DeLay's protestations of his own innocence and of the "political witch hunt" against him. Together they darken and intensify the storm clouds of illegality and unethical behavior that continue to swirl around him. Much as Congressman DeLay might wish, some things just don't blow over.
Posted by houtopia at 11:16 AM