Category: Uncategorized

Mexico vs Iran vs GOP

In a fatal three-way matchup, Pink Dome has an interesting take on the World Cup and GOP politics:

One could look to the World Cup as a corrollary to the Republican campaign machine of 2006. Republicans, desperate to energize their base, were torn between which fear to exploit, xenophobia of Middle Easterns or xenophobia of Mexicans.
Seeing as how the 9/11 thing is sooooo 2001, they opted to exploit people’s fear of Mexicans. This battle took to the soccer fields yesterday, in an evil on evil matchup between Mexico and Iran. This base voter excitement fest ultimately ended with Mexico prevailing, just as we saw with last week’s Republican convention.

America’s World Cup team plays at noon (EST) today. Too bad I can’t stay home and watch it.

Strayhorn campaigning with state funds?

Blogger’s been acting up but hopefully it will let me get this message posted and let me get everyone’s opinion on this…

Section 556.004 of the Government Code:
§ 556.004. PROHIBITED ACTS OF AGENCIES AND
INDIVIDUALS. (a) A state agency may not use any money under its
control, including appropriated money, to finance or otherwise
support the candidacy of a person for an office in the legislative,
executive, or judicial branch of state government or of the
government of the United States. This prohibition extends to the
direct or indirect employment of a person to perform an action
described by this subsection.
(b) A state officer or employee may not use a state-owned or
state-leased motor vehicle for a purpose described by Subsection
(a).
(c) A state officer or employee may not use official
authority or influence or permit the use of a program administered
by the state agency of which the person is an officer or employee to
interfere with or affect the result of an election or nomination of
a candidate or to achieve any other political purpose.
(d) A state employee may not coerce, attempt to coerce,
command, restrict, attempt to restrict, or prevent the payment,
loan, or contribution of any thing of value to a person or political
organization for a political purpose.
(e) For purposes of Subsection (c), a state officer or
employee does not interfere with or affect the results of an
election or nomination if the individual’s conduct is permitted by
a law relating to the individual’s office or employment and is not
otherwise unlawful.
Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 268, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.
Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1498, § 1, eff. Sept. 1,
1999.

Now look at the Comptrollers (state funded) website.
Is it just me or is she promoting her campaign on the website?
http://www.window.state.tx.us/clips/

Call House members to provide Darfur funding – today

From the e-mail files:

Later today the House of Representatives will vote on whether or not to provide critical funding for humanitarian aid in Darfur. In a country where a state-sponsored genocide has already claimed over 400,000 lives and left millions more homeless and starving, this funding could literally mean the difference between life and death.
Last month, the United Nations was forced to cut daily food rations in half – well below survival level – due to lack of funds. We need your help today to make sure that this doesn’t happen again.
Please call your Representative today and ask that he or she vote for the Obey/Hyde/Lantos amendment which would add $50 million in humanitarian aid in Darfur. We have provided a call script below for you to use.
Just one minute of your time could have a tremendous impact for the millions of innocent men, women, and children in Darfur who live every day in fear of murder, starvation, and rape.
You can find contact information for your Representative here, http://www.house.gov, or if you know who your Representative is you can simply call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected. We have included a sample call script below.
Thank you once again for your commitment to helping the people of Darfur.
Sincerely,
David Rubenstein
Save Darfur Coalition

Sample call script:
Hi, this is [NAME] calling from [CITY/TOWN]. I’m calling to ask Congressman/woman _____ to support the Obey/Lantos/Hyde Amendment to add $50 million dollars for humanitarian aid in Darfur. Do you know if [HE/SHE] will vote to help provide this crucial aid to the million of men, women, and children displaced by the genocide in Darfur?
If yes:
That’s great news. Please thank [HIM/HER] for me and let [HIM/HER] know that I’ll tell my friends and family that [HE’S/SHE’S] supporting this important cause.
If no, or don’t know:
[ONLY IF NO] Do you know why not?
[EITHER WAY] Please let [HIM/HER] know that these programs are keeping millions of families alive and safe. Please ask [HIM/HER] to do everything [HE/SHE] can to ensure that humanitarian aid life support system remains intact. If possible, I’d like a written response explaining [HIS/HER] vote. Thank you for your time.