Category Archives: Uncategorized

Dan Patrick Gets Dope Slapped by House

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Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (TP) really, really wanted a vote on one of his pet projects – school vouchers.  After getting the increasingly right-wing Texas senate to pass a bill that would create education savings accounts allowing parents to remove children from public schools and send them to private alternatives, and provide tax breaks for businesses offering donations to help pay for private schooling.  The measure went down in flames in the Texas House – about the last bastion of occasional sanity in GOP-dominated Texas politics.   The House voted 103-44 to reject Patrick’s plan.  Democrats and rural Republicans torpedoed any chance of passage.  Republicans wonder how they sell a bill that  would reduce public school funding to parents who actually like public schools and have a harder time selling Patrick’s patchwork plan to rural voters where the public schools are the only option.

On to the bathrooms!

Today in Texas History – April 7

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From the Annals of the Halls of Congress –  In 1913, Sam Rayburn of Windom took the oath of office as a member of the United States House of Representatives.  Mr. Sam, as he was known, was to serve in Congress from the presidency of Woodrow Wilson until that of John F. Kennedy.  Rayburn  rose to majority leader in 1937 and was elected Speaker of the House in 1940.  He remained Speaker until his death in 1961.  Rayburn was a master politician who helped negotiate the Roosevelt-Garner ticket in 1932 backing his friend John Nance Garner for Vice-President.  He worked tirelessly to pass New Deal legislation and as chairman of the Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee in the 1930s he oversaw legislation that established the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Federal Communications Commission.   He worked closely with Senate majority leader Lyndon B. Johnson in the 1950s and Texas benefitted greatly from have the two pillars of power working in D.C.  Rayburn was married only briefly and said that his greatest regret was not have a tow-haired son to take fishing.  The Sam Rayburn Reservoir and several schools in East Texas are name after Mr. Sam.  He was the longest serving Speaker in U.S. history.

Today in Texas History – April 6

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From the Annals of the Artists –  In 1911,  friends of sculptor Elisabet Ney founded the Texas Fine Arts Association and the Elisabet Ney Museum to honor the late artist. Ney had immigrated to Texas in 1872 and was one of the first professional sculptors in the state. In 1892, Ney built her impressive house and studio, Formosa,  in the Hyde Park area of Austin.  Ney is famous for creating the sculptures of Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston on display at the Capitol and the tomb of Confederate Gen. Albert Sydney Johnston at the Texas State Cemetery.  After her death in  1907, her friends Bride Neill Taylor, Julia Pease, Emma Cherry, and Emma Kyle Burleson decided to use Formosa as a the annual meeting place for the new association and as a gallery for its exhibitions.  In 1941 the city of Austin assumed ownership of the Elizabeth Ney Museum.  It remains a popular tourist destination to this day.

How Low Can He Go (cont.)?

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The latest Quinnipiac University Poll has Donald Trump at a 35% approval rating -with 57% of Americans disapproving of the neophyte president. The negative 22 point spread is unprecedented for a president less than 3 months into his first term.  Trump only seems to be holding on to the hardcore GOP base with 79% of Republicans still approving of his job performance.  Overall, he is underwater with men, women, whites, non-whites, Democrats, Independents and people with brains.  Other than Republicans he still has support from Russians, alien smugglers, polluters, Israeli settlers, late night comedians desperate for material, golf course designers, the criminally insane and anyone predicting that the end times are near.

Even more troubling for Trump are poll numbers showing that –

64% think he is not honest (Red can’t imagine where they get that idea)

66% think he is not level-headed (Well how could he be with that hair?)

55% think he is not a strong leader (Can’t even get wife to live in the freaking White House)

57% think he does not care about ordinary Americans (It’s difficult to really care about ordinary Americans when you have never actually met one)

It is really hard to make a comeback when 2/3rds of Americans think you are a liar and there is objective proof to back that up.

 

Red Endorses Beto O’Rourke for U.S. Senate

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Last week Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D- El Paso) announced his candidacy for U.S. Senate seeking to unseat “Lying” Ted Cruz (TP-Texas).  O’Rourke comes from a political family – his father was El Paso County Judge.  O’Rourke himself has been in politics for about 12 years – first serving as an El Paso City Councilman and then barely unseating 8-term Congressman Silvestre Reyes in the Democratic primary in 2012.

O’Rourke carries some baggage from his days as a rock musician and two arrests – neither of which resulted in a conviction.  Since then, he has operated a successful business – making enough money to venture into politics.  His legislative track record is light, but that would be expected from a Democratic Congressman from Texas serving in a GOP dominated House of Representatives.

O’Rourke has taken strong stands on legalization of marijuana and protecting LGBT rights, but he kicked off his “campaign” when he and Rep. Will Hurd (R-San Antonio) embarked on a 3 day road trip to D.C. when airline flights were cancelled.  The two representatives live-blogged their discussions as they drove east and created remarkable internet buzz by rationally and civilly discussing the issues.

It is worth noting, that no one from El Paso has ever been elected to state-wide office and that O’Rourke is a long shot against the Cruz publicity and money machine.  The only hope would be that Cruz’s overweening ambition and narcissism will turn off enough moderates to consider making a switch.  Still it would be remarkable if O’Rourke could crass the 45% threshold.  But when faced with a choice of “Lying” Ted or a long shot, Red is not afraid of big odds.  Red is fully on the Beto Bandwagon.

If you are interested in O’Rourke’s campaign, you can find out more at betofortexas.com.

Dave Bliss – Despicable, Disgusting and Dumbfounding – and Those are the Nicest Things You Can Say About Him

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It’s not as if Baylor needed more bad news – even if its old news – but a new documentary on the lowest of the many low moments in Baylor Athletics history has reminded many of what a completely corrupt athletics program Baylor has been running for decades now.  It’s not enough that Head Football Coach Art Briles keeps trying to rehabilitate himself after he let his football players abuse and rape women.  It’s not enough that Baylor apparently strong-armed the Waco police into helping cover up their players’ crimes.  Now, everyone has to be reminded that former Head Basketball Coach Bliss actually attempted to cover up a murder of one of his players – by another player.  And rather than having a respectable degree of remorse, Bliss apparently still thinks he got the short end of the stick by being banned from coaching for 10 years.  Yet amazingly, another supposedly Christian college hired Bliss two years ago.  Bliss had been the basketball coach at Southwestern Christian University in Bethany, OK  – which Red is sure is a fine institution that believes in forgiveness such that it hires complete scum like Bliss – until Showtime recently aired the new documentary detailing Bliss’ role in covering up the murder of  Patrick Dennehy by teammate Carlton Dotson in 2003.  Bliss claimed that Dennehy was a drug dealer – a vicious lie that Bliss refuses to let go of.   Deadspin has more on why Bliss was likely forced to resign and why this piece of walking human filth should never be around college students again.

Southwestern Christian University men’s basketball coach Dave Bliss announced his resignation this evening just a few days after Showtime premiered a documentary on the murder of former Baylor player Patrick Dennehy by then-teammate Carlton Dotson in 2003. Bliss was the Bears’ coach at the time, and his handling of the scandal is a major part of the documentary.

Bliss agreed to be interviewed for the documentary, even though it would inevitably reflect harshly on his time in charge of Baylor. After Dennehy was killed, Bliss repeatedly claimed that he had paid his tuition at Baylor by selling drugs. In fact, Bliss had violated NCAA rules by paying Dennehy’s tuition himself after Dennehy transferred from New Mexico. The NCAA was closing in on Bliss, and he cooked up the drug dealing story (which Waco PD say there is no evidence for) to shake investigators.

In the documentary, he repeated his claim, saying, “He was selling drugs. He sold to all the white guys on campus … He was the worst.” Despite the apparent fabrication, Bliss defended his comments after they were revealed last month.

No Mo’ Romo (cont.)

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ESPN is reporting that Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo will retire and take up a career in broadcasting.  This means that all of Houston can let out a collective sigh of relief (or cry of agony as the case may be).  Red for one is glad that the Texans will not fall for the trap of signing a tired, old Tony Romo to be their starting QB for what would likely be 3 games before he goes down for the season.   The idea that TR was the answer to the Texans’ quarterback problem always struck Red as ludicrous.  Romo had a track record of near abject failure in the playoffs and to think that would change in Houston was a pipedream.

Dallas is expected to designate Romo as a post-June 1 release, softening the blow against the Cowboys’ cap this season. Instead of counting $24.7 million in 2017, Romo would count $10.7 million this year and $8.9 million in 2018. The Cowboys would gain $14 million in cap space, but it would not become available until June 2. But after Tuesday, Romo will no longer be with the Cowboys.

Romo’s decision came down to his health, sources close to the situation told ESPN. Romo, who turns 37 on April 21, believes his family and his health are paramount at this time in his life. He was limited to playing in just parts of five games over the past two seasons because of collarbone and back injuries, and he suffered a compression fracture in his back last August that led to him ultimately giving way to Dak Prescott.

The upside for Red is that Romo is rumored to replace addled and incoherent Phil Simms in the booth next to overrated and annoying Jim Nantz.   Nothing would make Red happier than TR having to put up with prima donna Nantz and his smarminess on 18 weekends next season.

Red’s MLB Predictions 2017

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Red has a fondness for baseball because it is the only sport (other than MLS) which manages to get in an entire season in the same calendar year.  Red was sadly forced to give up his baseball career at an early age because he had a rag arm.  Red could hit and run, and more or less field, but unless you play second base, you have to be able to throw decently to progress at baseball.   Just ask Steve Sax.

NL Central –  Chicago Cubs.

The Cubs really did not lose much from their MLB Championship squad (and no it is not a World Championship).   Just try to get a ticket this season.

NL West – San Francisco Giants

The Giants always win in odd years.  They still have the best clutch pitcher in baseball in Baumgartner and who else is Red going to pick – the Hated Dodgers?

NL -East – Philadelphia Phillies

What is Red smoking, you ask?  The real stuff.  Every year one team rises from the ashes of despair.  Usually but getting off to a hot start and then hanging on for dear life.  Watch out if the Phillies start out 30-15.

NL -Wildcards

Washington Nationals  – A really solid club with excellent starting pitching.  What’s not to like.

St. Louis Cardinals – The Yankees of the National League can only be held down for so long.

AL -Central – Cleveland Indians

This could be the most competitive division in MLB.  Both Detroit and KC are clearly capable of  giving the loaded Tribe a run for their money.  But maybe just maybe Cleveland’s time has come.  Watch out Browns fans.

AL -East – Baltimore Orioles

Orioles were in the playoffs last season, so they won’t surprise anyone.  Expect Mark Trumbo and gang to load up on homers again (253 led MLB last season).  At times, the O’s did it with smoke and mirrors – 19 stolen bases, horrid outfield defense – but they still did it.

AL – West – Seattle Mariners

The Mariners have fielded pretty damn good teams for several seasons with absolutely nothing to show for it.  This year it all clicks.

AL -Wildcards

Houston Astros – A popular pick to win the AL, the Astros could have the best infield in baseball if Guriel is the real deal and Bregman does slump it like a sophomore.  The Astros somehow managed to win despite Keuchel stinking and McCullers going down.  The bullpen is the key this season.  Giles is not a closer.  Maybe someone steps up, maybe not.

KC Royals –  Still a damn good team.

 

Today in Texas History – April 3

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From the Annals of Voting Rights  –  In 1944, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its opinion in Smith v. Allwright.   The Court held that the Democratic Party’s “white primary” system was unconstitutional.  The case started when African-American dentist Lonnie E. Smith attempted to vote in the Democratic primary in his Harris County precinct.   Under the “white primary” system, Smith was denied a ballot.   In the 1940’s, winning the Democratic primary was tantamount to election in all but rate cases.  If you could not vote in the primary, essentially you could not vote at all.   Smith fought back with the assistance of attorneys supplied by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (including future U.S. Supreme Court justice Thurgood Marshall).  Smith filed suit in the U.S.  District Court for the Southern District of Texas in 1942 arguing that he had been wrongfully denied his right to vote under the Fourteenth, Fifteenth, and Seventeenth amendments by the precinct election judge, S. E. Allwright.  He lost at the district court, but appealed all the way to the Supreme Court which in an 8-1 decision ruled in his favor.  Discrimination continued in the form of “poll taxes” and other tactics employed to suppress minority voting, but tThe Smith decision did end the white primary in Texas. The number of African Americans registered to vote in Texas increased from 30,000 in 1940 to 100,000 in 1947.

Jared Kushner – Smartest Man in the World

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What were the odds?  Isn’t it amazing that Jared Kusher,  the son-in-law of Donald Trump, just happens to be the smartest man in the entire world.   How lucky can you get?  Kushner is so damn smart that he is in charge of U.S. policy for Mexico, Canada, China, trade, the Mid-East and now Iraq.  After all, his father-in-law told him,  “If you can’t produce peace in the Middle East, nobody can.”  So the 30-something wealthy scion who has no political or diplomatic experience and who has never done anything but work for his father or his father-in-law – is the one – the wunderkind who can finally  do what total lightweights like John Kerry, Hillary Clinton, Condaleeza Rice, Colin Powell,  Warren Christopher, James Baker III, George Schultz, Alexander Haig,  Edmund Muskie, Cyrus Vance, Henry Kissinger, William Rogers, Dean Rusk, Christian Herter,  John Foster Dulles and George Freaking Marshall were unable to accomplish.  What a godsend!

Oh, and in his spare time, Kushner gets to totally reinvent our entire government by bringing the best that the American business model (e.g. be born wealthy and marry up) has to offer.  I am sure that Red speaks for a grateful nation in thanking Ivanka Trump for having the wisdom to marry this absolute genius and savior of humanity.

Meanwhile, at Foggy Bottom,  Rex Tillerson is busy updating his Facebook page, doing the NY Times crossword, and wondering why he isn’t at the ranch enjoying time with his grandchildren.