Monthly Archives: March 2018

Today in Texas History – March 13

Leave a reply

From the Annals of the Frontier – In 1849, Captain Seth Eastman and his unit established Camp Leona in Uvalde County. The encampment was on the Leona River and was ultimately called Fort Inge.  The Fort was intended to provide protection to settlements and travelers in the western Hill Country and was part of a federal line of forts in Texas.  The Fort was a base for U.S. Army regulars and Texas militia.   Fort Inge operated primarily as a small one-company post  with about 50 soldiers.  The Fort allowed additional settlement in the area and by the late 1850s farmers had established the nearby community of Uvalde. Fort Inge was closed in 1869 and the site today serves as part of Fort Inge County Park.

Drawing by Seth Eastman.

 

The Reality TV Show Presidency

Leave a reply

Thank you, Rex Tillerson for your service as Secretary of State. You did a tremendous job gutting the State Department and spinning your diplomatic wheels in the mud – but you see here at the White House Game we demand fantastic.  Anything less and before you know it – that beautiful White House door is hitting you in the ass.   That’s the way it works here.  But we do have some lovely parting gifts for you.  Tell him Johnny!

A case of Elmer’s Glue – to piece the shreds of your reputation back together.

A signed copy of Vladimir Putin’s autobiography – read it, learn it, live it.

Dinner for two at the McDonalds of your choice – Big Macs only.

Souvenir fissionable material  – courtesy of Kim Jung Un.

A vial of authentic Russian poison – use it as you see fit.

And a one-way ticket back to Losersville.

 

 

 

 

 

Quote for the Day

Leave a reply

“Evangelicals still believe in the commandment: Thou shalt not have sex with a porn star.”

Robert Jeffress, Pastor First Baptist Church Dallas

But not really, because in the case of Donald Trump, Jeffress will give him a pass on breaking any of the Big Ten, because if Trump will support the Gun-toting, Gay-hating, Race-baiting, War-mongering, Money-loving Prosperity Jesus Bullshit version of the New Testament preached by Jeffress and his ilk, then – well Donald – go ahead and commit adultery, screw Stormy Daniels and any other skirt you want.  Because after all, the only God this breed of Evangelical worships is the God of Money and clearly the God of Money has blessed Saint Trump.

Today in Texas History – March 9

Leave a reply

thamanjimmy: History of the Rural Electrification ...

From the Annals of the Power Grid – In 1936, the first power line built under the program of the Rural Electrification Administration was powered up.  The 58 mile line near Bartlett brought electricity within reach of nearby farms and ranches.  The REA was created under President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1935 with the goal of bringing electrification to rural areas.  When created only about 2 percent of the farms and ranches in Texas (and about 10 percent nationally) had access to electricity. The REA was primarily a lending agency under its enabling statute that was cosponsored by Texas Rep. Sam Rayburn. The Bartlett line was made possible by a $33,000 loan to a group of farmers.  It is almost impossible to overstate the impact of the REA in raising the standard of living for vast numbers of rural residents who had never had access to electricity.  By 1965, only 2 percent of Texas farms and ranches were still without electricity.

Today in Texas History – March 8

Leave a reply

The Alamo and Goliad. - ppt video online download

From the Annals of the Revolution – In 1836, Col. James W. Fannin raised a flag over the mission at La Bahia in Goliad with the words “Liberty or Death”.  Fannin, now generally regarded as an inept commander who had lost the confidence of his men, was prophetic in his announcement.  Unfortunately for Fannin and his men it would by “Death.”  In fairness to Fannin, he was facing Mexican General Jose de Urrea – by far the best of the Mexican commanders. If Urrea had been in command during the revolution, it is very likely to have been easily suppressed.  Urrea’s forces were never defeated in battle during the war and remained ready to fight after the Battle of San Jacinto. Fannin was originally ordered by Sam Houston to relieve the Alamo and then later ordered to retreat to Victoria.  He delayed in his retreat and during that action he was cornered on open ground with limited supplies and forced to surrender.  Held back at Goliad, Fannin and his men were massacred on the orders of Gen. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna.  Urrea strongly objected to executing prisoners of war, but the order was carried out by subordinates.  Fannin was among the last to be shot.

Among the Good News from Primary Night – This Gun Worshipping Gal Lost

Leave a reply

GOP Candidate Totes Assault-Style Weapon In Campaign ...

No Texas candidate for Congress wrapped themselves in the groping arms of Donald Trump more than Republican Kathaleen Wall in her race for the Second Congressional District.  Wall spent over $6 million of her own money in an effort to pander to the lowest common denominator as shown by ads such as this one.   Wall liked to paint herself as having pulled herself up out of poverty by her own bootstraps.  She also wore her version of Christianity on her sleeve as if somehow Jesus was a strong supporter of the Second Amendment and against any government welfare programs.  Red doesn’t know much about Wall’s background other than she is married to a rich older man.  What Red does know is that she blew $6 million on a losing campaign.  Alas, she will have to travel to DC on her own dime in order to feel the warm embrace of the real Donald.  There is some light at the end of the tunnel.

Today in Texas History – March 7

Leave a reply

From the Annals of the Temblors – In 1923, the only known fatality from a Texas earthquake occurred with a temblor shook El Paso causing an adobe house to collapse.  The house, however, was in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico and the fatality occurred on that side of the border.  There are still no known fatalities to have occurred in Texas from earthquakes which are not common in the state.  Even so, more than 100 earthquakes have been recorded since 1847 but most are of low magnitude causing some fright but little real damage.  Most of the recorded quakes have been in West Texas and the Panhandle.

Lyin’ Ted, er – Make that Lyin’ Rafael

Leave a reply

Sen. Ted Cruz (TP – Texas) has put out a pathetic attempt of parody song attempting to smear his opponent Beto O’Rourke with the following line:

“Liberal Robert wanted to fit in, so he changed his name to Beto and hid it with a grin.”

Of course, Rafael Edward Cruz felt no such similar need to fit in.  He just used Ted because he was a big fan of Ted Kennedy.  Red has to admit that Lyin’ Rafael has a ring to it. What it does show is that Lyin’ Ted learned from the beating he took at the hands of Trump.  Go after your opponent no matter what your personal circumstance might happen to be.  Trump was the consummate liar and crooked businessman – so he reversed that by calling his opponents liars and crooks.  Lyin’ Ted has a name that would not fit in well with his conservative base – so attack your opponent for using a nickname that was given to him and that he has carried since birth it would seem.  The only problem for Lyin’ Ted is that such a strategy may work for a once-in-a-lifetime political anomaly like Trump – it probably doesn’t work if you are already an unlikable, stick-up-your-ass narcissist like Lyin’ Ted.

 

Today in Texas History – March 6

Leave a reply

Odessa – The Globe Theatre

From the Annals of the Theatre – In 1958, groundbreaking ceremonies were held for the Globe of the Great Southwest. The theater is located in Odessa and is a replica of the original Globe Theater in Southwark, London which was built in 1598 for William Shakespeare’s acting company.  Now called simply the Globe Theater and operated by Odessa College, the theatre is 410-seat venue featuring an authentic Elizabethan stage used for classical and modern plays as well as community theater, concerts and other community events.  The GT was built in response to a proposal from Odessa College Professor Marjorie Morris.  Shakespearean scholar Dr. Allardyce Nicoll has called the theater “the most nearly authentic replica of Shakespeare’s own Globe anywhere on Earth.”