Free Republic

If it is true Wall Street favors Republicans, which is the traditional analysis, then here is a reason for share prices to be falling. John McCain might not carry Texas. How could that be? Evidently a Texas law requires a political party, in order be on the ballot, to file the names of its presidential and vice presidential candidates at least 70 days before the election. This year, that fell on Aug. 26, before either Senator McCain or Senator Barack Obama was formally nominated. Bob Barr, the Libertarian candidate, is demanding that the law be enforced, and that neither major...

The Texas Department of Transportation is asking Nueces County residents to attend a public meeting in Driscoll to comment and provide input on proposed upgrades of US 77 to a controlled access facility that meets interstate standards. The purpose of the meetings is to review proposed options for upgrading US 77 and to present recommendations, TxDOT officials said. The first round public meetings were held in early March. This second round of public meetings is being held as part of TxDOT's continued effort to gain public input on issues related to proposed improvements and to provide an opportunity for public...

What does Washington have against Texas women? Every election year, Washingtonian magazine surveys about 1,700 Capitol Hill staffers regarding members of Congress, asking them to pick gold, silver and bronze medalists in competitions ranging from "Least Likely to Star in a Scandal" and "Member I'd Like to See as President in 2012," to "Most Clueless" and "Most Likely to Star in a Scandal." The theory is based on the ancient notion that nobody knows a man like his butler, and that butlers talk to each other. Finally first: Jackson Lee This year our own Republican Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison is...

T. Boone Pickens, Scam Artist, Given Eminent Domain Authority in Texas!By Cary Wesberry • August 2, 2008 All-around jerk T. Boone Pickens has managed to swindle Texas into giving him eminent domain powers.  The State Legislature changed State Law allowing two residents in Roberts County to vote and create a municipal water district, thereby giving them the power to confiscate private property.  The two voters were Pickens’ wife and manager of his ranch.   Regardless of T. Boone Pickens, those responsible for this abomination in my State Legislature need to be held responsible for their probable criminal activity in working behind the backs of the People...

As the Republican faithful waited in anticipation to hear vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin speak Wednesday night, a local Austin man was watching his cousin take her next step as a politician, and he hopes, vice president. "If the media is not careful, they may just awaken the sleeping giant known as Republican women," said U.S. Senator John Cornyn... Palin has four cousins who live in Austin and another in San Antonio.

Topic: Memos Sent to Romenesko Date/Time: 9/5/2008 8:51:46 AM Title: Houston Chronicle to cut staff Posted By: Jim Romenesko Memo to Houston Chronicle staffers Sent: Thursday, September 04, 2008 8:01 AM Subject: Message from Jack Sweeney Dear Chronicle Colleague: It has been a difficult year for our industry and the Houston Chronicle. Revenues are down, considerably, with major expense items like newsprint showing unprecedented increases over the past twelve months. Unfortunately, as we complete our 2009 Budget Plan, prospects for a turnaround in these critical areas are not evident. Consequently, we will be initiating a job reduction program over the...

Dallas-based newspaper company A.H. Belo Corporation, which owns The Dallas Morning News, will cut more than 80 employees in addition to the 413 who will leave through a recent voluntary severance offer, the company said Thursday. About 50 of the involuntary job losses will occur at The News, with about 30 coming at The Press-Enterprise of Riverside, Calif., and an unspecified number at The Providence Journal in Rhode Island. The company anticipates completing the cuts in mid- to late October. Of the 413 employees taking the voluntary buyout, 270 came from The News. snip

Texas Railroad Commission Chairman Michael Williams is a Republican who counts President Bush among his friends, helped deliver the GOP counterpunch at the Democrats' convention and nominated John McCain at the Republican convention. (snip) "He's definitely an up-and-comer. That's recognized by the national party. That's recognized by the McCain campaign," he said, "and so I think that he will be there, and he'll be ready when that opportunity presents itself."

Kellie Hoehn was finishing one last chore before heading to bed early this morning when two men in ski masks shattered the glass on the front door of her Blue Mound home and pointed a gun in her face. “It was the most horrific thing,” she said. Locations of home invasions in Fort Worth and Blue Mound Mrs. Hoehn said the intruders told her not to scream. But she called for her husband Keith and warned him that the men had a gun. She told her 12-year-old son to grab his 5-year-old sister and the two hid in a closet....

Michael Smallwood looks more like a roadie than a scientist, sporting a shoulder-length silver mane, and jeans and a T-shirt rather than a white lab coat. But he's spent nearly two decades tinkering with a gel-like chemical compound that squeezes oil from rock, sand, dirt and whatever else it clings to. That could pay off now that his boss and benefactor, Kurt Neubauer, saw enough promise to found a company to make the substance and market it. "Discovery is the most important part of science," said Smallwood, chief science officer for Neubauer's startup, Planet Resource Recovery. With Smallwood's creation in...

As Hurricane Gustav prepared to strike the Gulf Coast, the Republican Party and the McCain campaign decided to curtail most of the planned activities of the first day of their convention in St. Paul, Minn. According to a new CBS News Poll, three-quarters of Americans approve of that decision. Ten percent disapproved of the changes. Americans also approve of President Bush’s handling of the response to Gustav, according to the poll. Fifty percent of Americans who know enough to say approve of Mr. Bush, compared to 19 percent who do not. However, 31 percent of those interviewed Monday and early...

NEAR MISSION - Police say a suspected illegal immigrant working for a Democratic state representative brutally beat another man to death with a bat Monday morning. Froylen Casares, 24, was working at a ranch owned by state Rep. Kino Flores near the intersection of North Tropser and Yukon Roads when he killed a young Hispanic male whose name authorities have not released, said Hidalgo County Sheriff Lupe Treviño. "It was a very bloody, very bloody, very gruesome crime scene," Treviño said. Authorities continue to search for Casares, of Honduras, who fled the scene before they arrived at about 5:30 a.m....

The President spent today in Texas where he recived updates on the progress of Hurrican Gustav returning to the White House later in the day. First Lady Laura Bush spent the day talking to delegates at the RNC with John McCain's wife Cindy. She also did a few TV interviews as well in which she praised John McCain choice of Sarah Palin as his running mate. The First Lady and First lady hopeful talked about the hurricane and efforts that are in palce to assist people affected. Pray for President Bush - Day - 2909 & McCain/Palin - Day -...

Agenda A regular meeting of the Mayor and City Council of the City of Waxahachie, Texas to be held in the Council Chamber at City Hall, 401 S. Rogers on Tuesday, September 2, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. Council Members: Ron Wilkinson, Mayor N.B. (Buck) Jordan, Mayor Pro Tem Chuck Beatty, Councilman Joe Jenkins, Councilman John Wray, Councilman -snip 14. Consider proposed Ordinance passing and adopting “The International Property Maintenance Code, 2006 Edition”

In my recent letter to you concerning the TTC, I misquoted some information about the company known as Cintra. Mr. Patrick Rhodes of Cintra wrote in response to my mistake. Therefore, I stand corrected with the following: Fellow citizens, the company, Cintra, is not affiliated with ZAI-ACS. Cintra is partnered with Zachry on some TxDOT projects and ACS is partnered with Zachry on some other TxDOT projects. Therefore, I hope this clarifies the over-zealous statements in my letter. Cintra is a Spanish-owned company, and ACS is a larger Spanish-owned company. Zachry, a Texas company, is affiliated with each of them...

Maria Martinez' attempt to land a cafeteria job at a suburban Dallas hospital got her arrested, jailed and deported.

OTTAWA, ONTARIO -- 08/31/08 -- The Honourable David Emerson, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Honourable Peter Gordon MacKay, Minister of National Defence and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, today announced that Canada is providing assistance with the evacuation of those in the path of Hurricane Gustav. At the request of the United States government, a Canadian Forces CC-177 aircraft left Canada earlier today for the southern U.S. Gulf Coast. The Honourable Stockwell Day, Minister of Public Safety, indicated that he had spoken with U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff to offer further assistance. "Canada and the United States...

TEXARKANA — The company selected to design Interstate 69 has revealed plans to also implement the world’s first air rail freight system in the corridor, possibly starting in Texarkana, Texas. “You [Texarkana ] have railroads here, you already have an interstate, bringing I-69 is another interstate, you’ve got Oklahoma, you’ve got I-49,” said Gary Kuhn, senior project manager for Zachary American Infrastructure. “This is what the logistics world likes to see — that opportunity to go from one mode to another very efficiently.” In a presentation to the Wilbur Smith Rotary Club, Kuhn said the freight shuttle is a new...

Wright returns. Says Obama to be first U.S. president to “have a black woman sleeping” in White House “legally” “Uncle” Jeremiah “God Damn America” Wright, the former pastor of Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.)’s former church, Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago (both tossed under the Obama bus), made an appearance today at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church in downtown Houston, Athena Jones at MSNBC’s First Read reported. Mike Snyder of the Houston Chronicle wrote that Wright has been “a regular guest minister at Wheeler Avenue for more than 15 years” although a “scheduled appearance in March was canceled because of...

CORPUS CHRISTI — A group that wants the Nueces County Republican Convention declared illegal sued local party leaders and others this week, saying the elected delegates should be barred from participating in the national convention. Visiting Judge Richard Terrell on Friday denied a request from the group to grant a temporary restraining order that would have kept the national delegates from attending next week's Republican National Convention in Minnesota. About 40 people walked out of the Nueces County Republican Convention on March 29, with some accusing local party leaders of violating several rules, including illegally seating delegates. The group conducted...

Gustav Gustav is already a Category 4 hurricane with winds exceeding 150 MPH. An estimated 1 million people have already fled the Gulf Coast as of Saturday evening. Gustav has taken 80 lives so far. Louisiana Update The lower ninth ward (St. Bernard Parish) was under mandatory evacuation at 4 p.m. Saturday. All of New Orleans is under an evacuation order Sunday morning at 8 a.m. New Orleans' airport closes tomorrow at 6. Contraflow on I-10 begins at 4 a.m. Texas Update Jefferson and Orange Counties are under mandatory evacuation taking effect 6 a.m. Sunday. This includes Beaumont, Port Arthur,...

The Pineywoods Sub-Regional Planning Commission met Thursday to hear a presentation by the commission's president, Hank Gilbert, who said the plans to move the Trans-Texas Corridor to the current U.S. Hwy. 59 location may not come to fruition. The Texas Department of Transportation initially planned to build a new highway system, which would have been as large as 1,200-feet wide, that would run through rural areas of East Texas, including Nacogdoches County. However, TxDOT scrapped those plans in June and announced a new proposal to build the TTC along the existing route of U.S. Hwy 59. But Gilbert, of the...

The 2008 peak of hurricane season is ramping up with Gustav and Hanna. The two storms pose threats to the U.S. At least 22 deaths in Hispanola are attributed to Gustav to date, and a Hurricane Warning is in effect for Jamaica. Tropical Storm Hanna has formed in the Atlantic. Gustav Hanna Visible Satellite Image LoopInfrared Satellite Image Loop Visible Image LoopInfrared Image Loop WV Satellite Image Loop WV Image Loop Public Advisory Public Advisory Discussion Discussion Buoy Data: Western Caribbean                   FL and East GOM                   Western GOM East CaribbeanWest AtlanticFlorida Forecast Models Category Wind Speed Barometric Pressure Storm...

DATA FROM AN AIR FORCE RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT INDICATE THAT GUSTAV CONTINUES TO RAPIDLY STRENGTHEN AND NOW HAS MAXIMUM WINDS NEAR 115 MPH...185 KM/HR WITH HIGHER GUSTS. THIS MAKES GUSTAV A DANGEROUS CATEGORY THREE HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON HURRICANE SCALE...THE SECOND MAJOR HURRICANE OF THE 2008 ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON.

Dallas/Fort Worth Airport may serve as a key landing point for hundreds of medical patients airlifted from New Orleans to Metroplex hospitals beginning Sunday, as Hurricane Gustav moves into the Gulf of Mexico.Additionally, if Gustav hits New Orleans, the former Delta Air Lines satellite facility near Terminal E would end up serving as temporary living quarters for 800 federal relief employees who were stationed at New Orleans' Louis Armstrong Airport as the storm approached, officials said."This is going to be a huge team effort," said Brian Magana, D/FW spokesman.The first patients are tentatively scheduled to arrive early Sunday -- D/FW...

FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas, Aug. 28, 2008 – A powder that regrows fingers and toes sounds like the stuff of fairy tales, but medical experts here are hoping they can use it to make magic happen for wounded warriors. Doctors from the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research are trying a regenerative medicine powder that’s already approved by the Food and Drug Administration in hopes of stimulating tissue growth in soldiers with missing extremities. “The powder is FDA approved and is already being used for hernia repairs and other applications,” said Dr. Steven Wolf, chief and task area manager...

HARROLD, Tex. — Students in this tiny town of grain silos and ranch-style houses spent much of the first couple of days in school this week trying to guess which of their teachers were carrying pistols under their clothes. Harrold School Superintendent David Thweatt pushed for the policy to arm teachers with concealed guns. "Country people are take-care-of-yourself people." “We made fun of them,” said Eric Howard, a 16-year-old high school junior. “Everybody knows everybody here. We will find out.” The school board in this impoverished rural hamlet in north-central Texas has drawn national attention with its decision to let...

In a continuing effort to erode the credibility of the Democratic presidential nominee, the ad describes Obama’s relationships with three characters that have frequently been used in efforts to tar Obama’s patriotism and honesty.

This amusing story comes from Ballot Access News: Section 192.031 of the Texas election code says that political parties must certify their presidential and vice-presidential candidates for the November ballot no later than 70 days before the general election. It says, “A political party is entitled to have the names of its nominees for president and vice-president placed on the ballot if before 5 p.m. of the 70th day before presidential election day, the party’s state chair signs and delivers to the secretary of state a written certification of the name’s of the party’s nominees for president and vice-president.” This...

CRAWFORD — Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison's long-shot prospect for vice president is getting a push from conservative and other pundits in the lead-up to next week's Republican National Convention. The latest flurry of speculation online and on cable television constitutes at least a third or fourth wave of chatter about Hutchison, whose name surfaces occasionally as a possible Republican vice-presidential candidate. Hutchison, a delegate to next week's convention, will address the gathering in Minneapolis-St. Paul on the subject of energy independence on Sept. 3, her office announced Tuesday. The speaker slot would seem to douse the veep-talk, but no...

CRAWFORD — Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison's long-shot prospect for vice president is getting a push from conservative and other pundits in the lead-up to next week's Republican National Convention. The latest flurry of speculation online and on cable television constitutes at least a third or fourth wave of chatter about Hutchison, whose name surfaces occasionally as a possible Republican vice-presidential candidate...

Foods vie for best of fried title at State Fair of Texas 04:52 PM CDT on Wednesday, August 27, 2008 By ERIC AASEN / The Dallas Morning News eaasen@dallasnews.com Who will be crowned this year’s king or queen of fried fair goodness? Maybe it will be a cook who whips up something sweet, like the Fried Banana Split or Texas Fried Jelly Bellys or Fire & Ice, a deep-fried pineapple ring. Or something chocolate, like the Fried Chocolate Truffles or Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Waffle Balls or Deep Fried S’mores. Then again, it could be something savory, like Chicken Fried Bacon or...

Kay believes in a woman's right to choose. She openly favors abortion rights. She believes that Roe was rightly decided. She believes the Constitution guarantees a woman's right to have an abortion. Kay Bailey Hutchinson is Pro-Choice, and OPENLY so. DO NOT LET HER SUPPORTERS TRY AND SLIP THIS ONE BY YOU: KBH is Pro-Choice, she is PRO-CHOICE She is PRO-CHOICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's good to see the state's top three leaders now on the same page – literally – on at least a few ways to attack the problem of under-funded roadway needs. Breakthrough No. 1 – admitting a problem. Gov. Rick Perry, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and House Speaker Tom Craddick – never political chums – all put their signatures on a joint statement last week conceding that Texas' "ability to fund needed transportation projects in the future is limited." Breakthrough No. 2 – committing to specific fixes. The most welcome one was a pledge to quit siphoning off road money...

FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas, Aug. 26, 2008 – Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit organization behind the program “Sesame Street,” and the United Service Organizations joined forces to bring “The Sesame Street Experience for Military Families” to 43 installations across the country. Amanda Moran of Military OneSource, helps Kassandra Chavez, 11, and her brother José, 9, put beading kits into a bag Aug. 10, 2008, at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. The table was one of many with giveaways and information at the “Sesame Street Experience.” U.S. Army photo by Cheryl Harrison  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. “The tour travels for...

EL PASO, Texas -- Security is being heightened along the southern U.S. border because of a threat that warring Mexican cartels may send hit men into the United States, authorities said Monday. Law enforcement officials would not discuss specific security measures being taken at the ports of entry, along the border or in the city of El Paso. "We received credible information that drug cartels in Mexico have given permission to hit targets on the U.S. side of the border," El Paso police spokesman Officer Chris Mears said. Authorities learned of the threat last week. U.S. Customs and Border Protection...

EL PASO, Texas — Security is being heightened along the southern U.S. border because of a threat that warring Mexican cartels may send hit men into the United States, authorities said Monday. Law enforcement officials would not discuss specific security measures being taken at the ports of entry, along the border or in the city of El Paso, Texas. "We received credible information that drug cartels in Mexico have given permission to hit targets on the U.S. side of the border," El Paso police spokesman Officer Chris Mears said.

HARROLD, Texas — Along with normal first-day jitters and excitement, students in this tiny district started school Monday wondering which teachers might be toting firearms. "It was kind of awkward knowing that some teachers were carrying guns," said Adam Lira, 17, a senior. "I don't feel like they should be, 'cause we already have locked doors and cameras. But I didn't feel threatened by it." Several parents said they had no idea that employees of the K-12 school were allowed to carry concealed guns on campus until recent publicity about the school board's policy, approved quietly last fall. They said...

TROPICAL STORM GUSTAV BECOMES A HURRICANE IN THE CARIBBEAN SOUTHEAST OF HAITI-U.S. NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER

000 WTNT32 KNHC 260258 TCPAT2 BULLETIN TROPICAL STORM GUSTAV ADVISORY NUMBER 4 NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL072008 1100 PM EDT MON AUG 25 2008 ...GUSTAV STRENGTHENS...ALMOST A HURRICANE... AT 11 PM EDT...0300 UTC...THE HURRICANE WARNING IS EXTENDED FROM PORT AU PRINCE HAITI NORTHWARD TO LE MOLE ST NICHOLAS. A HURRICANE WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT FROM BARAHONA IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC WESTWARD TO LE MOLE ST NICHOLAS HAITI. PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY SHOULD BE RUSHED TO COMPLETION. AT 11 PM EDT...THE GOVERNMENT OF JAMAICA HAS ISSUED A TROPICAL STORM WATCH FOR JAMAICA. A TROPICAL STORM...

I have had Jury Summons many times. This is my first Jury Summons from a Justice of the Peace.

Monday, August 25, 2008 GOP VEEP CHOICE: RECONSIDERING KAY Posted by: Michael Medved at 2:28 AM Most importantly, her conservative credentials are solid – and far more consistent than either Romney’s or Pawlenty’s. The American Conservative Union gives her a lifetime rating of 90.27, and a 2007 rating of 88—placing her among the more conservative Republicans in the Senate. On abortion, she’s always called herself “Pro Life” and NARAL Pro-Choice America—the leading pro-abortion lobbying group – has given her ratings of mostly 0% (like McCain) and never higher than 20%. She worked for a while as a legal correspondent for...

The selection of Joe Biden as Barack Obama’s running mate changes the whole dynamic of the Veep choice now facing John McCain. Sure, Biden brings credibility and experience and reassuring familiarity to the Democratic ticket, but he hardly adds sizzle or novelty. The Democrats feel that they’ve got enough pizzaz with their standard bearer, so it doesn’t hurt that they take a Vice Presidential contender with all the excitement of boiled Brussels sprouts. I hope that this choice now gives John McCain reason to reconsider the safe, reassuring possibilities of Mitt Romney or Tim Pawlenty—apparently, the two leading contenders for...

Central Planning is sold to a hopeful people as a way to solve societal problems, to right wrongs, and bring about perfect justice and equality. Central Planning promises you everything you are entitled to. As a bonus, goods and services produced by others are added to the list of commodities that everyone has a "right" to. Suddenly everyone is entitled to healthcare, housing, education, food, et cetera. It might sound nice that the state will magically provide all these wonderful things, but these rosy promises mask a dehumanizing, ugly reality. The other side of these entitlements is that now the...

Barack Obama has viciously attacked John McCain and his family for being successful and living the American Dream after giving so much for his country. Obama claims to be looking out for the people who have had the misfortune of losing their homes in an economic downturn? But ask yourself : if Obama cares so much for people who are having bad luck, how come he didn't take of his own family first?

Despite the warning signs placed near West University Elementary School, two drivers were caught by surprise this morning as police began enforcing a new ordinance banning cell phone use in the school zone. Parents who were bringing children for the first day of classes praised the new law, which prohibits the use of cell phones or other electronic devices during one-hour periods in the morning and afternoon.... The ban is in effect from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Violators could be liable for a fine of up to $200 for the first offense and...

Texas oil billionaire T. Boone Pickens is about to make a killing by selling water he doesn’t own. As he does it, it will be praised as a planet-friendly wind project. The basic story amounts to this: Pickens, thanks to favors from state lawmakers whose campaigns he funded, has created a new government whose only voters are two of his employers; this has empowered Pickens to more cheaply pump water from an aquifer and, by use of eminent domain, seize land across 11 counties in order to pipe the water to Dallas. To win environmentalist approval of this hardly “sustainable”...

Yes, I know she says she does not want to be vice president. Biden also said that. If offered she is not going to turn down the opportunity to make history. I know she will not be the first women running for vice president. But she will be the first QUALIFIED woman to do so. Geraldine Ferraro was the first one. But like Barack Obama, she was essentially an affirmative action choice. There can be no questioning of the first US female senator from the Texas, Kay Bailey Hutchison qualifications or her vote getting ability.

Kids With History of Skipping School To Wear Ankle Bracelets Equipped With Satellite Technology (AP) Court authorities here will be able to track students with a history of skipping school under a new program requiring them to wear ankle bracelets using satellite technology. But at least one group is worried the ankle bracelets, with Global Positioning System monitoring, will infringe on students' privacy. Linda Penn, a Bexar County justice of the peace, said she anticipates that about 50 students from four San Antonio-area school districts - likely to be mostly high schoolers - will wear the anklets during the six-month...