Let's Wreak Havoc!

Ooh, it just dawned on me. Since Nick Lampson won't be on the ballot for the special election (and neither will the only other person on the general election ballot - Bob Smither), I get to vote for Shelley, Don or unkown guy. We ALL do. Let's strategize, Democrats! Let's make this fun, fun, fun for us! Who do we vote for to keep this interesting? Let's have strategy meetings and put our tactical plan into place. I KNOW. We can get the four counties together and pick our own Chosen One to mess with the RepubliCAN'Ts heads! Cool. I CAN'T wait to vote! I LOVE to vote. FYI, early voting starts Oct. 23rd.

Joke's On Shelley?

This is the second humorous thing I heard from Charles Kuffner tonight that made me laugh out loud (regarding Shelley running in the special election - and Lampson not running): And pending the identity of the third person or any other surprise entrants, that joke may wind up being on Shelley, who is likely to be the prohibitive favorite to win it and thus be forced to resign her City Council seat. Hey who knows, maybe the return to private life in January will give her enough time to mount a campaign for the special election to fill her Council seat. There'd be a certain poetry in that. Oh. My. God. Shelley having to resign her City Council seat!!! My comment is that I would hope she would spend some of her newly found free time to hire a personal shopper. The first thing Kuff said that made me laugh out loud? Nah. Not going to share.

Lampson Says No To The Special Election Game

He's not going to run in it. From Fort Bend Now: Campaign manager Mike Malaise said Thursday Lampson has decided to stay out of the special election because the voting process is becoming increasingly complicated as Nov. 7 approaches – and Lampson wants to simplify matters for his supports.

“We want to be able to say to his supporters, vote once for Lampson and then you’re done,” Malaise said.

-----

Malaise said Lampson believes Gov. Perry should have called a special election in May, so residents of the district would have had continuing representation in Congress. As it is, by the time the special election is held in November CD-22 will have been without a congressional representative for more than four months.

If Lampson were to run in the special election, Malaise said, he would increase odds that the race would be thrown into a runoff, since the winner of the special election must have a majority of votes, not a plurality.

A runoff might not take place until December, leaving the eventual winner with perhaps only three weeks to serve as a working member of Congress.

This amuses me. It's like Lampson called Perry's bluff. Perry and Benkiser obviously thought this special election would be beneficial to Shelley because if she won, she could say that she beat Lampson. Well, now she is running against Don Richardson and some unkown third person (all Republicans). Also, I love that this just points out that Perry is wasting taxpayer money. We aren't playing Perry's little game!

Judge Hebert: Get A Clue. You Are Not Dealing With Fools!

Mark and Juanita discovered something stupid going on at Bob Hebert's website. You know, THAT Judge Hebert. The one View From 22 and I have been all over like a black flowy judge's robe. Remember, he had listed his judicial duties on his website, all bulleted and everything for the world to see while he was busy endorsing candidates (Wallace and The Pink One). But he got caught. By me, Mark and Vince. And we told the whole wide world on the www. But - and here is where he is SO sneaky - he changed the words "judicial duties" to say "other responsibilities" on his site under "What We Do". And, he changed the last bullet to: Other than the largely administrative duties listed above, all judicial duties of the County Judge are vested in the four County Courts- at- Law maintained by Fort Bend County The last bullet used to say: Handles numerous other judicial duties such as contested probate cases and emergency mental commitments; however, the majority of these responsibilities are administered by the four Statutory County Court at Law Judges Wow. You must think we are really dumb not to notice this. And, guess what, we are so super smart (and predicted you would do this), that one of us took a screen shot of that web page, the way it USED to be. Click on the View from 22 link above. Uh huh. The screen shot is there. Either he has judicial duties and has to follow the State Code of Judicial Conduct (which makes it illegal to endorse candidates) or not. He tries to make the point that his duties are "largely" administrative. Even if some of his duties are "smally" judicial, he is a judge under the code. Someone, please tell me which it is. I guess we'll find out when Mark's official complaint is dealt with.

Don Richardson Is The Owner Of An Electronic Computer

There's a list of candidates for the special election up on the Texas Secretary of State's website. Only one name so far, although we know there will be more. Our favorite Republican, Don Richardson is on the ballot for the special election. His occupation is listed as Owner/Electronic Computer. So strange. It makes one wonder, what type of computer is non-electronic? An abacus? Previously, the moniker everyone fell back on was "Houston businessman." He's not exactly a well known entity. Yay, Don! So glad you are so good and pissed off at the RNC and Benkiser that you contine with your "go to hell" attitude with your own party. Coincidentally, I have the same attitude towards your party!

A Third Write-In For TX-22

Joe Reasbeck. Seriously, Joe Reasbeck wants the third ring in the three-ring circus. He's joining Don Richardson and Shelley as a write-in. As a friend of mine told me today, you're not done until your finger gets paralyzed from hitting the refresh button on the Texas Secretary of State's website. What do we know about this regular Joe? He was born in June, 1969. So, he's 37 years old. And, he lives in Lago Vista. Yeah, Travis County. Click on the pdf version of the candidates on the SOS website to see that info. Apparently, all you have to do to run as a candidate in any Texas congressional district is, well, live in Texas. Now we have more write-ins than official candidates on the ballot. I bet Mike Malaise, Nick Lampson's campaign manager, is giggling. Juanita scooped this. Don't mess with Juanita. Would it surprise you if you saw more write-ins posted on the SOS site tomorrow? Wouldn't surprise me. At all.

Shelley Says: It's A VERY Serious Threat

Someone sent me the transcript of a CNN interview with Sekula-Gibbs from this February. The main part of the segment was on port security. Here's what Shelley had to say:

SEKULA-GIBBS: We really can't scare people enough regarding this. It's a very real threat. HUNTER (on camera): All across the country? SEKULA-GIBBS: All across the country.

BUT, she wasn't talking about port security. No. They didn't bring wannabe Congresswoman Barbie in to talk about terrorism. They slid her into a segment right after that on the nasty bacterial infections you can get from PEDICURES. More excerpts from this compelling segment: SEKULA-GIBBS: It can really hurt people's legs. And it can leave them with disfiguring scars. So, it's very bad. HUNTER: Something these women know all too well. Several showed us their legs. MARILYN CLARKE, SUFFERED SKIN INFECTION: I had huge, oozing lesions on my leg, pussy oozing. OK, that's it! I'm done. Go ahead. Thank me in the comments for bringing you this treat.

God Bless Don Richardson

As usual, Bob Dunn at Fort Bend Now has the very latest news on TX-22. And, it's good news! Fun news! Folks, the Republican circus act in 22 is still going on under the Big Top! Step right up and enjoy the greatest show this political season! (as usual, provide your own popcorn) Don Richardson, largely an unknown candidate throughout this whole process, is in the race as a write-in. Whoops! Didn't he promise to withdraw his name after The One True Pink Candidate was chosen. Yeah, but his promise was based on Benkiser's word that FOUR MILLION dollars were coming into the district if everyone played nice and let Barbie be the only Republican write-in. Let me have Bob tell Richardson's story from here: But the next morning, he called an official at the RNC in Washington, D.C. “I said put it in writing” that $4 million would be available to the single GOP candidate running as a write-in against Lampson, Richardson said. He didn’t hear back. On Friday, Richardson said, he sent a fax to RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman, to the RNC official to whom he’d originally spoken, and to Benkiser. “I said look, if you’ll put it in writing about the $4 million and refund my campaign expenses…I will withdraw,” Richardson said. “I haven’t heard from anybody. So my name is still on the ballot.” That $4 million is starting to sound like Wallace's Chuck. E. Cheese tokens he was so proud of. And, poor, pitiful Mayor Dave. He could still be in this thing except he is so dang gullible and succeptable to Tina Benkiser's charms. I'm REALLY curious why Don Richardson (always described as "Houston businessman") is listed as the ONLY write-in candidate for TX-22 on the Texas Secretary of State website. Supposedly, Shelley drove her Barbie car up to Austin today to turn in her stuff to be a write-in. Huh

Rumsfeld Calls Me An Immoral Facist

Yeah, Rummy, I'm a critic of the Iraq war. So, you told the American Legion today that everyone like me is:

• trying to appease a new kind of facisim
• suffering from moral or intellectual confusion
• lacking the courage to fight back
• into appeasing terrorists
• all about blaming America first

OK, I'll revise my blog title:

Rumsfeld Calls Me An Immoral Facist, Stupid, A Coward, A Whimp, And Unamerican

The image that comes to my mind is of Rummy looking in the mirror and chanting this idiotic drivel - about himself. The man must be heavy into self-loathing to get all shrieky in public with this nonsense. Apparently, he can measure, though. My guess is that one-inch is about right.

Rick Perry Thinks I Am Special

Governor Blow Dry, after recovering from his severe digestive disorder (see photo at left), has suddenly decided I need representation in Congress. Nevermind that I've done without all summer. I get to vote for Nick Lampson twice, maybe three times this fall.

Thank you! I LOVE TO VOTE!

This will be fun. I'll vote twice for Nick during early voting. And, if there is a runoff for the special election, I'll get to vote for him a third time. What a fantastic opportunity to show some love for my future Congressman! Poor Shelley, wannabe Congresswoman Barbie. She'll be ON the ballot for the special and not on the ballot for the general. How confusing! It will be so easy to do the e-slate dial and click for her in the special and then, FORGET ABOUT HER in the general. Oh, and note to Mike Malaise: Watch out for write-in votes for T-H-E-P-I-N-K-O-N-E. While that is her one, true nickname, it shouldn't count as voter intent for Shelley. I started this pink thing and I get to be The Decider!

Local Bloggers To Sign Autographs at Sept. 3rd Event In Sugar Land

OK, I'm sorta making that up. I mean, we COULD sign autographs. For a price. For a good cause. I blogged about this event already. What I DIDN'T tell you is that you will get to meet famous local bloggers. All of the cool kids. Here's who I know will be there: me, muse Juanita, of beauty shop fame (Juanita! It IS a blog) Hal, Half Empty (or as I like to call it, "Full and Overflowing") Mark, View From 22, my partner in anti-crime Bryan, Bryan's Blog, coordinator of the coordinated campaign! Kuffner, with the star of every event - Olivia PDittie, from Brains and Eggs - Mrs. PDittie will be there, right? Because she always compliments me and I thrive on compliments MAYBE a special guest appearance from mcblogger (tell me this is so!!) I'm not sure about this one from Clear Lake. (I'm working on a stealth surprise visit from a Clear Lake area candidate. Stay tuned.) Who did I miss?? Oh yeah, Fernando Villarreal from The Truth Serum claims he will grace us with his presence! Join us! Sept. 3rd. 6-8:30, Sugar Land Community Center. $20 in advance, $25 at the door.

Strayhorn Is Melting Away Like The Wicked Witch Of The West

You know, like at the end of The Wizard of Oz when Dorothy throws water on her. The latest Wall Street Journal/Zogby poll for the Texas Governor race shows that Grandma is disappearing fast and is at 9.6%. Governor Blow Dry is down to 34.8%. Gee, that's the hard core Republican base percentage a lot of us are predicting he'll end up with. And, nothing more. Our hero, the good guy, Chris Bell is in second place at 23.1%. Kinky, friend of those who are determined to give us four more years of Perry, is at 22.7%. Here's hoping Kinky's support is mostly soft. We've kicked Grandma's butt, now let's kick some Kinky.

A Homework Assignment For Mom

Here's the deal. You'll see why I've been putting this off for a week. My daughter's middle school teacher sent home an assignment for ME. I'm supposed to tell the teacher about my daughter in 1,000,000 words or less. So, that she can see my child through my eyes. It won't take anywhere near one million words. Here's what she needs to know: She's brilliant. She's cute. She's funny. She's talented. She's adorable. She's the best girl in the whole world. I love her so much that words cannot describe that love. A language has not been invented to adequately express my love for her. (That's the truth and that sums it up. Somehow, I think the teacher is looking for more than this.)

Judge Bob Hebert Responds To Bloggers

How amusing that my one little blog post started a huge s**t storm in Fort Bend. I simply asked if it was judicial misconduct for Judge Bob Hebert to endorse candidates (David Wallace first, and then Sekula-Gibbs). The View From 22 picked up on it with a couple of great posts. Apparently, the heat was too much for Hebert and he felt the need to respond publicly, as reported in Fort Bend Now. Here's the gist of what is going on. I found out (through a tip from another blogger) that the State Code of Judicial Conduct prohibits judges from endorsing candidates. Sounds straightforward. The thing is that Hebert is a constitutional judge, not a statuatory judge which means he's the CEO of the county, and doesn't perform real judicial functions. Or, does he? On his own website, he proudly claims to perform judicial functions: Judicial responsibilities include:

• Sets and receives bonds or sureties for certain county officials and other appointments by the Commissioner Court
• Refuses or issues an Alcoholic Beverage Permit
• Refuses or issues Court Ordered Delayed Birth Certificates and Death Certificates
• Handles numerous other judicial duties such as contested probate cases and emergency mental commitments; however, the majority of these responsibilities are administered by the four Statutory County Court at Law Judges

So, he hears contested probate cases? Well, if he is a probate judge, he clearly has to follow the Code of Judicial Conduct. The plot thickens. Fort Bend Now did some investigating and found out that on June 1st, Hebert was granted his request to run a probate court in Fort Bend County. So, since then, this new court has been in set-up mode. He won't actually start hearing cases until early next year. But, let's be perfectly clear. Judge Hebert has been a probate judge since June 1. He will receive an extra $5500 in salary for taking on the probate judge duties.

Can someone find out if Hebert has already started receiving that salary?

Here's how Judge Hebert responded to the heat from bloggers:

He also said hearing the probate cases would represent the first judicial duties he’s performed. As such, he would have to begin operating under terms of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.

Among other things, Hebert would be prohibited from endorsing political candidates – something he’s done twice recently, in endorsing first David Wallace and then Shelley Sekula-Gibbs in the race for Congressional District 22.

In comments following a previous news article, FortBendNow readers recently raised questions over whether Hebert already is subject to the judicial code of conduct, contending he decided liquor license cases and performs other judicial duties.

Hebert said those duties are administrative, not judicial, and said the Texas attorney general has written an opinion in agreement with that position.

Mark, from The View From 22, is not buying it has filed a complaint with the State Commission on Judicial Conduct. Read it here. Had Enough of this from your elected officials, Fort Bend voters? Get a sign and stick it in your yard!

Shelley Can Wear Pink AND Fry Fish At The Same Time

Someone tell this woman that if she's going to wear pink, I'm going to make fun of her. What an awfully unflattering photo. From now on, this will be known as The Dog Photo. Via a Houston Chronicle article, we learn that S-G block walked in Fort Bend on Thursday (hope she enjoyed those Had Enough signs!) and campaigned at a fish fry in Richmond on Friday. I wonder if she used Sekula-Rodriquez with the Richmond folks. No, wait, I am 100% certain there were only white people there. The Chronicle article is more about David Wallace than Shelley. Wallace's name is mentioned 12 times. Shelley's is mentioned 12 times also, but you have to count the title of the article and the description under the photo to get to that number. Probably Mayor Dave will send this article out as a press release, along with a photo, and will have autographed copies at the ready for his fans (along with a photo). Good for the Chronicle for recognizing Wallace's enormous ego needs to be fed frequently. I would hate for my mayor to waste away into a small, small version of himself for lack of attention.

Bad Stuff Keeps Happening: IED Deaths In Iraq

IEDs are improvised explosive devices, otherwise known as roadside bombs. Any time I read about a U.S. military death in Iraq, it's almost always because of these homemade bombs. icasualites.com shows that of the 2621 of the U.S. deaths in Iraq to date, 942 were caused by IEDs. These bombs are hard to detect and can bring down a 22-ton Bradley Fighting Vehicle, turning it into an inferno. A Washington Post article recounts an incident where a IED drilled into a Humvee, cutting off both of the driver's legs. He would have bled to death except that the shrapnel was so hot that it cauterized his flesh. When another soldier with him cried out from him to stop the vehicle, he said, "I can't. I don't have any legs." As you can imagine, the IEDs are the cause of many of the horrific injuries we've heard about to soldiers and others in Iraq. Why do I bring this up, all of a sudden? I don't usually write about the war in Iraq, although I am passionately against the war. I just got an email from one of my friends in the education community. While she was teaching science yesterday (and she is a damn good teacher), she got a call on her cell phone that she didn't take. She doesn't answer her cell while she is teaching. It was her son, telling her that he got an hour and a half notice that he was being deployed to Iraq. He's in an explosive ordinance disposal unit. This is the team that identifies and denotates explosives, including IEDs. My friend is distraught because she didn't get to tell her son that she loved him before he left for Iraq. When she got home, there was a message on her phone that her daughter is being deployed to Iraq next week. Her closing message in her email was, please pray for our troops.

Dr. Shelley Flips, Flops & Is DOA

Ooh, great Houston Chronicle article up on Shelley. Lots of juicy stuff. Here's the gist of it: No one has ever won an election as a write-in candidate in Texas. She's got a seriously huge problem due to the e-slate. To vote for Shelley, you are going to have to be pretty darn committed to cozying up to that contraption. You'll be there a while. She ran her first city council race as Shelley Sekula-Rodriguez and somehow tricked the hispanic community into thinking she was one of them. She has engaged in "memo-war" tactics during her time on the Houston City Council. Due to term limits, Shelley has to go off the Council next year. Here's the big flip-flop that I'll just cut and paste from the article, because you deserve more than just a one-liner on this: Perhaps most striking has been Sekula-Gibb's recent conversion on immigration policy. She now supports a referendum to require Houston police officers to enforce immigration statutes. However, when former city councilman Mark Ellis pushed a similar change in the policy last year, she accused Ellis, who was then running for the GOP nomination to a vacant state Senate seat, of engaging in a political stunt to get elected. She flips. She definitely flops. She's DOA. RIP, SS-G.

Sept. 3rd: Meet The Candidates That Will Turn Texas and Fort Bend Blue!

I'm greedy. I want all three of Fort Bend County's Congressional Representatives to be Democrats. That's why I'm excited about Sept. 3rd. Nick Lampson (TX-22), Shane Sklar (TX-14) and Al Green (TX-9) will all be in one place showing us what it will be like when we turn Fort Bend Blue! The details: On Sunday evening, September 3rd from 6:00 - 8:30 at the Sugar Land Community Center, Fort Bend Democrats are having a good ole Texas bar-be-que with the local and statewide candidates. Congressman Al Green has agreed to be the keynote speaker. Nick Lampson, Shane Sklar, Barbara Ann Radnofsky, Chris Bell, David VanOs, Hank Gilbert, Jim Sharp, Dora Olivo, Rudy Velasquez, Farhan Shamsi, Albert Hollan, Veronica Torres, and Neeta Sane have all committed to being there. KANDO will hold a silent auction at the event to benefit all their great works in Katy, and The Texas Democratic Women Fort Bend Chapter will be selling desserts to raise funds for their organization. The tickets for this event directly benefits our local candidates. Ticket are $20 advance payment at the headquarters or $25 at the door. You can call the headquarters at 281-238-9006 to reserve your tickets! Come by HQ on Saturday and I'll be there to get that ticket in your hand. Click here for a map of the event location. Go 59 South to Hwy 6, turn right on 6 and then right on Brooks. Or exit Hwy 90 from 59 South, right on 90 and then left on Brooks. Easy!

Sherrie Shelley Sekula-Matula

I LOVE this post on Bryan's blog. For real, someone at the Fort Bend County elections office claims that SSG or Shelley will count as Shelley Sekula-Gibbs on the e-slate?

I cry e-slate e-literacy!!

What about Shelly Sherrie Matula-Sekula? Will that count as a vote for Sekula-Gibbs or Sherrie Matula? Seriously, you won't believe this but Shelley COMPLAINED that Sherrie's signs in Clear Lake will confuse the voters because they are right next to Nick Lampson signs. In other words, she thinks Sherrie Matula, who went through the primary in March and everything, is some sort of Shelley dragon-slayer trying to wreak havoc on the TX-22 What Not To Wear fashion contest (Nick Lampson ALWAYS dresses appropriately).

Go, Sherrie!

RepubliCAN'Ts

I have the best commentors of any blogger. I'm promoting this from the comments. This is just too cool and it needs to get wider play. Thanks to 2S-G for the idea for RepubliCAN'T. Enjoy. PLEASE add more "can'ts" in the comments! Let's use this! Here you go. From one of my favorite commentors: Maybe we need to rename Sekula's Party to the Republi-can't Party. They can't tell us the truth about invading Iraq. They can't find the WMDs they scared us with. They can't come up with a plan to get us out of Iraq. They can't protect our wallet. They can't protect our environment. They can't protect our civil liberties. They can't protect our Constitution. They can't lower our gas prices. They can't lower our electricity bills. They can't lower our insurance rates. They can't lower our college costs. They can't adequately fund our schools. They can't pay our teachers fairly. (muse is speechless. What a great list. Who can add to this?)

Get A Sekula-Gibbs E-Slate Decoder Ring!

Free with your purchase of The Official Shelley Sekula-Gibbs Campaign Volunteer Timeline! Perfect for framing on your wall or carrying around wadded up in your pocket. And remember,

RepubliCAN'Ts!

Below is a fascinating email to Shelley volunteers. I'm wondering about this vigorous campaign. The last candidate for TX-22 who promised to "campaign vigorously" pretended to move to Virginia and left area Republicans with a write-in candidate who gets freaked out about Sherrie Matula signs. What I'm really wondering is will the volunteer shirts be pink? Dear Sekula-Gibbs Campaign Volunteer, You are the backbone of this campaign. We have planned a vigorous ground campaign to KEEP 22 REPUBLICAN, and we will need your help every step of the way. This week, the printing presses are running non-stop to produce a huge lot of additional Sekula-Gibbs Campaign materials. Phone banks will open next Monday. Block walking has already begun and will continue until November 7. An official Shelley Sekula-Gibbs Campaign Volunteer Timeline will be published this Thursday. Together, we will reach out to every Republican voter in Congressional District 22. We will orchestrate a grand-scale voter education effort with information on how to write-in a candidate, even combined with a straight ticket vote. We are RepubliCANs, and together, we will KEEP 22 REPUBLICAN. Thank you for your support. The Conservative grassroots WILL win this campaign. God bless, The Sekula-Gibbs for Congress Team

It Makes Sense To Support Sherrie Matula!

I recently got caught up with Sherrie Matula, running for state representative in HD-129 (Clear Lake area). As always, it was great to see Sherrie and talk education with her and find out what's happening with her campaign. Here's the gist:

Tons of new endorsements! Block walking! Phone banking! Cool new bumper stickers!

I didn't think it was possible for me to become even more supportive of her race (I am VERY passionate about how we need new legislators who are education experts) until I saw this post over on Bay Area Houston. Good grief. Her opponent, John Davis (incumbent), not only doesn't have a clue about education issues, but he appears to have wardrobe issues, as well. The same issues Shelley Sekula-Gibbs has with showing up at events VERY casually dressed when everyone else is in business attire. Do you want a Sherrie Matula bumper sticker? I have a supply, so just ask! Please consider donating to Sherrie's campaign! It will make you feel SO good to invest in putting education in Texas on the right track. Oh, and, look at Sherrie! All dressed up and looking great at an event with Nick Lampson. Perhaps this is a new campaign strategy for her:

Support Sherrie Matula: The Only Candidate in HD-129 With Fashion Sense

Judicial Misconduct in Fort Bend?

I just got a tip. Bloggers love tips. Send them in to museblogger@gmail.com. Frequently. ANYWAY. Here's the thing. Read this from the State Commission on Judicial Conduct: Canon 5 Refraining from Inappropriate Political Activity (2) A judge or judicial candidate shall not authorize the public use of his or her name endorsing another candidate for any public office, except that either may indicate support for a political party. A judge or judicial candidate may attend political events and express his or her views on political matters in accord with this Canon and Canon 3B(10). And now, think back to this from Fort Bend Now (August 10): Breaking ranks with state Republican Party leaders on Thursday, Fort Bend County Judge Bob Hebert endorsed Sugar Land Mayor David Wallace’s write-in candidacy for Tom DeLay’s former congressional seat.

Almost simultaneously, Harris County Tax Collector Paul Bettencourt emerged as a potential candidate for the same position.

“I’m going to support David, and I’m going to ask other Fort Bend Republicans to vote for him,” Hebert said Thursday night. “If any Republican candidate can win in a write-in position in the 22nd District, it’s Wallace.”

Calling Democratic lawyers: Do we have a problem here?

Also, it looks like Hebert makes big bucks. "An elected official hates to vote for a pay increase because everyone thinks an elected official should work for free. No one wants to pay them. When I wasn't in office I had the same opinion," Hebert said. This after he voted to raise his salary from $89,073 to $105,000 earlier this year.

Proof That Democrats Have More Fun

I forgot this photo of Nick Lampson was in my camera. I found it when my daughter was transferring her photos of the cat (for her super creative, never-been-done-before, innovative "All About Me" project for one of her classes) into the computer. I was at the Outpost Tavern in Clear Lake on Friday for a happy hour with Nick. Good times. Good friends. GREAT candidate.

Oppo Research On "Pink Leggings" Shelley

TX-22 bloggers have been noticing something interesting the last few days. We've had visitors coming into our blogs under searches for Shelley Sekula-Gibbs, Shelley Sekula and even "Shelley Sekula-Gibbs with hyphen". It's pretty obvious there is oppo research going on with The Pink One. Please, people, here is the photo I took that you want to use! Remember, this was at a Memorial Day event at Sugar Land Town Square in May where the dress code was red, white and blue and definitely business attire for those on the dais - which for some odd reason was where this Houston City Council member was seated.

A Form Letter To FBISD

Dear Fort Bend ISD, Today was the first day of school. The day dreaded by all tired, working parents. The first words out of my mouth when I called my kids on the way home - before I asked how their day went - was, "did you bring home a lot of forms to fill out?" There were stacks of forms. How many different ways can I be asked for my email address? For emergency contact info? (One form asked for an emergency contact and their relationship to me - but did not ask for a phone number for this person!) For my work phone number? For the doctor's phone number and fax? For my blood type, hair color, height, weight and security number on my house alarm. For the middle name of my youngest cousin. I signed a ton of forms. What was I signing? Does anyone think we are reading all of these forms? No, we are making fun of the forms and the way mom signs them without reading them. My favorite one I signed was from the high school teacher who sent home two pages of classroom rules and procedures - front and back, single spaced, tiny font - and then had you sign on the bottom half of the back of the second page. My child is supposed to cut that part off and bring that back to class. One problem. It cuts off the part on the other side that has all of the detailed GRADING policies. My child's solution: read it now and remember it, mom. ??? This child knows me, right? Think, sweetie. It's me. Your mom. I am NOT going to remember all of that! Is there SOME way to centralize this information? Is there a technology solution? The alternative is to have your children fill them out and hope the info is correct and someone at the school can read their handwriting. I decided to go that route. Makes the children grow up fast to impersonate their parent. Looking forward to day 2 of school. And, eventually reading the detritus from the signing of the forms ceremony.

Shelley's Alternative Candidacy

Who is that woman with David Wallace? She doesn't look happy. If it's his wife, she sure looks like she has Had Enough. Wallace used the withdrawal method today to get out of the race for TX-22. He asked the media to join in his pity party. From his press release: Last Thursday, in a session closed to the public, an alternative candidate received the endorsement of the Texas Republican Party by winning a straw poll of 83 precinct chairs that were allowed to vote for what was labeled "the Republican choice" for the write-in candidacy to replace Tom DeLay. Since that night I have received hundreds of calls from Republican Party leaders, grassroots volunteers, Republican activists, College Republicans, Republican Women, and Republican donors throughout the District . . . people who were not allowed to vote in this straw poll . . . strongly encouraging me to continue running for the 22nd Congressional District race. Mayor Dave, is it those calls from Republican Women, that is making the wife look so unhappy? Poor Wallace. He is already such a has-been . . . . old news . . . that I couldn't even bring myself to put his name in the title of this blog post. Now it will be all about Shelley. The Shelley Show. All you are going to hear is Shelley, Shelley, Shelley. More from Dave: Without exception, these callers and supporters questioned this made-up process and asked why 83 individuals could determine the "Republican Choice" candidate for over 33,000 Republican Primary voters across the district. Rather than unifying our Party, it has only caused further fragmentation. David, when they questioned you about this, you did tell them the truth, right? That they are in this mess because of Tom DeLay. Now yall know how we've felt all these 20+ years. Yanked around. Embarrassed. Disgusted. I know a place where you can get a Had Enough sign. Then, your front yard can be like my front yard. We can be all matchy-matchy!

Clamp A Meter On Shelley's Mouth

I keep hearing from people that know her, that Shelley Sekula-Rodriguez-Gibbs, councilwoman Barbie, just does not get along with her fellow city council members. As in NEVER. Carol Alvarado, we know about, but it's just that she fell in Shelley's trap and got caught in a name-calling episode. And, a friend of mine, who knows her, says she is vicious and will stop at nothing to get what she wants. She said she is a stark, raving, lunatic . . . well you fill in the blank. So, it was with great interest that I read a Houston Press article a friend sent me about Shelley's early days on the city council. There are a ton of juicy parts, but I'll cut and snip some of the good parts for you: A wheelchair-bound woman rails to City Council about the local Multiple Sclerosis Society failing to provide financial services for patients like herself. It's a medical issue, so -- to the surprise of absolutely no one on council -- freshman member Dr. Shelley Sekula-Gibbs hones in like a buzz bomb with questions that go nowhere. ------- "Sir, this is a situation some of us are not as familiar with as you are," she begins. A colleague later wisecracks that she could begin all of her comments that way. ------- Sekula-Gibbs is back at it again, doing what she does best -- or worst -- by stretching out another lengthy public session like soft taffy on a sunbaked sidewalk. It's not that other councilmembers don't speak frequently or ask questions. They just don't do it all the time with everybody. Veteran councilmembers no longer even bother to roll their eyes at the barrage of questions and comments flowing from the 49-year-old dermatologist from Clear Lake. For them, seven months of togetherness with her has become as predictable and depressing as the heat. ------- Fellow councilmembers mutter that, no matter what her name, they'd like to clamp a meter on her mouth. ------- Sekula-Gibbs seems oblivious to the snickers and snide comments generated by what some see as her grandstanding. She says it's all about pushing her agenda for public health, which she defines so broadly that it includes air quality, the environment and transportation. Of course, it's also all about Shelley, the neophyte politician whose previous public exposure consisted mostly of being a regular on the gala circuit for medical groups. A health department source acidly describes her City Hall rampage as "democracy by Junior League. ------- While some councilmembers describe her as earnest, they note that her remarks during meetings are uninformed and even "off the wall." ------- She goes to great pains to make sure everyone knows she's the only doctor on the 15-member body. "As a physician" is one of her favorite introductory clauses. ------- Her personnel choices were questioned when her first chief of staff, Raul Castillo, bowed out rather quickly in February. He was busted at a porn shop and charged with exposing himself to a male undercover officer. ------- "Shelley is driving us all nuts," comments an exasperated colleague. "She's Miss Know-It-All. She has to say something about everything. If it has any remote connection to anything medical, she has to hold it up so she can examine it and put her two cents in. Not that there's not problems in the health department, but she wants to micromanage the place." A lobbyist who has worked with the new councilmembers rates her at the bottom of the list. "I think Shelley's pretty much out to lunch. She was smart enough to get out of medical school, but like a lot of doctors, she's developed an arrogance about thinking that her intelligence in one field automatically transfers over to another. She's made a lot of stupid statements and done a lot of stupid things." ------- "She's very, very passionate about her causes, but I just don't know if she has the time to do her homework," says the councilmember. "A lot of times the answers to her questions are in her briefing materials. I don't know if she's just not being briefed correctly or doesn't have the time to read it. But if you don't know about it, why don't you read about it before you get to the meetings? Don't waste our time being educated here." ------- OK, that's enough. There's tons more in the article, so be sure and click on the link. It's just interesting to me that I've had so many things told me lately by those who know, that are confirmed in this article from 2002. I wouldn't be surprised if her fellow council members end up campaigning for her in hopes she will go on to her next project and leave them alone.

David Wallet: Will He Stay Or Will He Go?

Mayor Dave has a new theme song (previously, it was "Up From The Grave He Arose" because of how he came back from the dead after his near-drowning in his pool - also because his radio attack ad on Lampson had the angels singing at the end during the part about how Wallet will be the savior of our congressional district). Sing along with Dave:

Should I stay or should I go now? Should I stay or should I go now? If I go there will be trouble An if I stay it will be double So come on and let me know Should I stay or should I go?

He's going to publicly make his annoucement on Monday afternoon. Location: Sugar Land Town Square. The media has been alerted. A noon appointment with the hair stylist has been scheduled. He's made a database of his potential voters and he's checked it twice. He's fielding calls from his endorsers who are asking, "how did my name get on that list?" Democrats remember the last time there was a polictical press conference at Sugar Land Town Square. We learned that air horns are the required accessory for such an event. Time's ticking, David. Will you stay or will you go?

Councilwoman Barbie Baptized Tonight

She's Pink! She wears enormous hats! She dresses inappropriately for community functions! Shelley Sekula-Gibbs has been annointed as the right-in candidate for the Republicans in TX-22 tonight at the Baptist Church. She joins David Wallet (whose campaign song is "Up From the Grave He Arose!" - more on that at another time) and Don Richardson, stealth candidate, for the So You Think You Can Vote? e-slate challenge. I cannot wait to see Shelley and David tear into each other. It will make the catfight look and sound tame, in comparison.

Have They Said The Closing Prayer?

I got a report that the Pearland gathering of God's Own Party is still going on. And, that David Wallet protestors were there. Tom DeLay spoke (guess he flew in from Virginia?). Fort Bend Democrats had a shorter, more fun, more productive get together tonight. We treated our precinct chairs to dinner, armloads of signs and other goodies to help them with their organizing efforts. Nick Lampson was there, along with our local candidates. When I arrived, there was Richard Morrison! I was all about Richard! if I'd known you were going to be here, I would have been here earlier! He said, Muse! of course I'm here, I'm a precinct chair! Because of the sign education he received on this blog, he's putting up one of those 4 x 4 Had Enough signs in his yard. See, reading musings is good for you. You might learn something every once in awhile.

We Gather Today In The Name of Tom DeLay

I want to go to one of these gatherings tonight! Republicans are meeting at opposite ends of TX-22 to carefully and deliberately ponder their non-existant chances of winning the Congressional seat. Hey, wait! The streets are safe! We could do a run on Nooky's Exotic Bakery (I finally drove by that just yesterday!) and party in the streets. Well, in between flag burning and gay marriage ceremonies. The Chronicle claims 150 Republican precinct chairmen (yes, the article said "chairmen" - no girls allowed?) will be at the official, RPT sanctioned, super-secret-handshake-required gathering at the Baptist Church in Pearland to select a write-in candidate, who will join a host of other write-ins (goal: give the voter choices!). But, the fearless leader of the Fort Bend Republican Party, Gary Gillen, exterminator to the stars, is having his own back room meeting of Fort Bend Republicans tonight, also. You have to understand that this guy also sent out a whiny letter to candidates for the TX-22 seat to PLEASE, pretty PLEASE not attend the Pearland meeting. Here's what is happening at Gillen's meeting Thursday night:

Subj: Candidate Workshop Date: 8/7/2006 5:08:33 PM Eastern Daylight Time From: {chairman@fortbendgop.org} To: Gary Gillen (e-mail removed) Cc: Janice Gillen (e-mail removed)

Dear Candidate, Party Officer or Club President:

PLEASE DO NOT FORWARD THIS COMMUNICATION

You have received this e-mail because you are a candidate, officer of the Party or you are a club president or individual with specific duties.

The job of the Republican Party is to get our candidates elected! To that end we need to discuss the upcoming campaign and how the Party can help. I would like to keep the meeting small so please do not share this with others. This will be our chance to have a frank, honest discussion.

I would like to have a meeting of candidates, Party officers and club presidents on Thursday, August 17th at 6pm at the Pecan Grove Country Club. If you choose to eat dinner, there will be a pasta, soup and salad bar for $15 per person (tax and gratuity included). This includes tea, coffee and water. You are not obligated to eat but please remember that the Country Club is giving us the room free so eating will show them that we appreciate their kindness.

In order to prepare food, they ask that we give them a count in advance so please let me know as soon as possible if you can attend and if you will eat.

In this meeting I would like to discuss: 1. Over 65 Ballot by Mail mailing 2. Republican Party Signs 3. Bags for neighborhood walk brochures 4. Newsletter 5. Headquarters -Linda Hancock 6. Neighborhood Walk Volunteers 7. Fort Bend County Fair Parade (floats) 8. Harvest Fest Parade (floats) 9. Fort Bend Fair Booth-Paul Ware 10. Harvest Fest Booth 11. Sign teams 12. Phones at Headquarters 13. By-Laws and their effect on the Chair 14. Help from state party 15. How Clubs can help candidates 16. Others issues of interest to candidates.

PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU CAN ATTEND AND IF YOU WILL EAT SO WE CAN INFORM THE COUNTRY CLUB.

Thank you, Gary

Gary Gillen,Chairman Republican Party of Fort Bend County

I guess I was forwarded this communication because I am an individual with specific duties. Muse duties (specified): 1. make fun of Republicans in Fort Bend County 2. make fun of Republicans in all other parts of TX-22 3. report on the chaos of the Republican leadership in TX-22 to good Democrats who live far, far away from here (Austin). Look back at the list above to #13. Poor Gillen. What horrible effect are those nasty by-laws having on you? Breaking out in hives, are you? You thought you were going to be Thode the Second, but instead, the Chronicle calls you just plain old Guy. Just a guy who can't lick a stamp without permission from the precinct chairs.

Let Us Pray For The Second Coming Of DeLay

A gathering of brethren of TX-22 Republican precinct chairs and state and local Party officials will be held this Thursday at 7:30 pm at First Baptist Church of Pearland. It's not an "official" Party meeting, yet no public or press may attend. Sounds like a Party meeting to me, if those are the only invitees. Of course, the Republican Party of Texas has been told by the courts that they can't replace Tom DeLay on the ballot, so maybe an "official" meeting makes it sound like they are going to do just that. Actually, they intend to pick a write-in candidate they can all get behind. Yeah, RIGHT. If it's not David Wallace, then they are going to have multiple write-ins for maximum voter confusion. Expect DeLay to be involved in the decision, as he was in the last super secret lock-in of Party officials, on Thursday. He's involved in his own little passion play, here at the end. Maybe to get more material for his book?

Sign Up!

Don't let your home owner's association (HOA) tell you anything except that you are allowed by Texas state law to put political signs up in your yard 90 days before an election. That day was August 9th, so put your signs up! My community association says we can't put out political signs out until 30 days before the election and that the size can't exceed six square feet. They are wrong on both accounts. There was a law passed last year by the Texas Legislature that says HOAs can't put those restrictions in place. Signs are allowed on your property 90 days before the election and the HOA can only limit the size to 4 x 6 feet. The law's history, text, actions, etc. on the Texas House of Representatives website. The text of the law is below: H.B. No. 873 AN ACT relating to regulation by a property owners' association of certain displays on property in a residential subdivision. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Chapter 202, Property Code, is amended by adding Section 202.009 to read as follows: Sec. 202.009. REGULATION OF DISPLAY OF POLITICAL SIGNS. (a) Except as otherwise provided by this section, a property owners' association may not enforce or adopt a restrictive covenant that prohibits a property owner from displaying on the owner's property one or more signs advertising a political candidate or ballot item for an election: (1) on or after the 90th day before the date of the election to which the sign relates; or (2) before the 10th day after that election date. (b) This section does not prohibit the enforcement or adoption of a covenant that: (1) requires a sign to be ground-mounted; or (2) limits a property owner to displaying only one sign for each candidate or ballot item. (c) This section does not prohibit the enforcement or adoption of a covenant that prohibits a sign that: (1) contains roofing material, siding, paving materials, flora, one or more balloons or lights, or any other similar building, landscaping, or nonstandard decorative component; (2) is attached in any way to plant material, a traffic control device, a light, a trailer, a vehicle, or any other existing structure or object; (3) includes the painting of architectural surfaces; (4) threatens the public health or safety; (5) is larger than four feet by six feet; (6) violates a law; (7) contains language, graphics, or any display that would be offensive to the ordinary person; or (8) is accompanied by music or other sounds or by streamers or is otherwise distracting to motorists. (d) A property owners' association may remove a sign displayed in violation of a restrictive covenant permitted by this section. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2005. This law was signed into law by Governor Perry on 6/18/2005 and went into effect immediately. If anyone in your HOA tries to get you take your signs down (or as we have heard already in one local neighborhood, taken your signs down for you), send an email to them about the new law or better yet, print out this post and hand deliver it.

Fort Bend Democrats Party All Day Long

There was a fundraiser at the Fort Bend Democrats headquarters today for Veronica Torres, running for Fort Bend County District Clerk. You would have had to seen this to believe it, but it was NON-STOP from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. She pre-sold 300 tickets and a ton of people paid at the door, so there's no telling how many people enjoyed the terrific bar-be-que. We got an idea of how Veronica is going to run the District Clerk's office. It's going to be organized and efficient, that is for sure! And, believe it or not, while all of this was going on (with AWESOME music the whole time), we had blockwalkers going out and coming in, more people doing phone banking than we had phones for (I gave one volunteer my cell phone to use the whole time) and a ton of data entry going on for the Lampson campaign. Check out Veronica's bio. I heard today that Glory Hopkins, the current Fort Bend County District Clerk (and a Republican), told someone that Torres is the best candidate for the job. You'll see muse around town sprorting her brand new Veronica Torres t-shirt!

Call This Number To Say Farewell To Tom DeLay

Fun times at the Fort Bend Democrats headquarters today! I was in charge of getting phone bankers trained, started on their calls, keeping them on track and then to check over their data and enter it into Texas VAN. WELL, I come to a name that had a note on it, "This number is for Tom DeLay's campaign office. I didn't leave a message, but I probably should have." So, I called the number! Sure enough, it's DeLay's campaign office in Greatwood in Sugar Land. Apparently, he was given the number of a voter that, we discovered later, no longer lives in Sugar Land. There was a recorded message, a female voice that was friendly, identifying the office and asking the caller to leave a message. Interesting how DeLay has requested to be officially withdrawn from the ballot in TX-22, but he still has phone service at his campaign office. Is this what he meant when he said earlier this year that he'd campaign vigorously for Congress? Have voice mail at his campaign office? Feel free to call 281-343-1333 and tell Tom how you really feel, one last time.

The Passion of DeLay: It Is Finished

It's for real. No more. No more mumbling under my breath on out of town business trips, "I live in Sugar Land, TX." People would look at me with horror and withdraw from me as if I were a leper. It was like an affliction to be represented in Congress by Tom DeLay. Today, DeLay officially requested that the Texas Secretary of State take his name off the ballot in TX-22. And, in his statement, he endorses Nick Lampson! Seriously, check this out: This letter is to inform you that by the attached sworn certificate of withdrawal, I am requesting that my name be omitted from the Nov. 7, 2006, general election ballot for the office of the United States congressman from District 22,” DeLay said in the letter.

“It has been my pleasure to serve the people of the great state of Texas; however current circumstances, of which you are very much aware, compel me to take this action in order to ensure that the people of District 22 have the opportunity to elect a congressman who truly represents their interests, goals and values,” DeLay’s letter states.

Wow. I never expected that. Even Tom DeLay has jumped on board the Nick Lampson love train. Everyone loves a winner!

Passion DeLayed

That's the title of a new book written by Christine DeLay, a chronicle of her new Tom-less life alone in Sugar Land. Maybe I'll run into her at Super Target on Hwy. 6 and we can dish about how glad we are we kicked his butt up to Virginia. So, I'm kidding. Just as amusing is the title of Tom's upcoming book, No Retreat, No Surrender: The American Passion of Tom DeLay. That's not a joke. Obviously, he couldn't title it The Texan Passion of Tom DeLay because THE MAN IS NOT A TEXAN. (Just as obvious, he should change No Retreat, No Surrender to Cut and Run.) Anyway, I read about this suspense thriller in a National Review Online article. Here's something else I learned from the article. Tom DeLay is delusional. It's true, folks. Proof: I don’t think it was selfish at all,” DeLay answered, explaining that he was caught between the requirements of running for office and dealing with his indictment, by the controversial Travis County, Texas prosecutor Ronnie Earle, on campaign-finance charges. “The political schedule didn’t match the legal schedule. When it was time to decide whether I was running for reelection or not, it was December [2005]. I was under indictment, and I was led to believe I could get to trial and have this indictment disposed of before the election, and possibly have it disposed of in January or February. I had to file [for reelection] because there was a filing deadline. So I filed, totally expecting that I would stay as Majority Leader after I had disposed of the indictment.” So, he didn't think the political schedule matched his felony-indictment-going-to-prison schedule? OK. Anyone could innocently make that assumption. There's this: “There are two Texas laws, one for ineligibility and one for withdrawing,” he told me yesterday. “You can be declared ineligible if you die, or if you have a terminal illness, or if you are convicted of a felony, or if you move to another state. And that ineligibility means the party can replace you on the ballot. If you withdraw, they cannot replace you on the ballot. The courts never got the difference.” Actually, Tom, they did get the difference. What was it, three courts? Four courts? I lost count. This is special: “He obviously spent no time looking at what’s happening in the court in which he has oversight. Within three hours, he denied this stay.” “You can always count on the judiciary to make stupid rulings,” DeLay told me. “Not only stupid, but dangerous.” It felt more like two hours to me. More: And that is when, last week, he took another poll. “It showed that nothing had changed since I made the decision right after the primary,” DeLay told me. “My negatives were still high. The polling showed that I probably had a 50-50 chance.” But DeLay’s name wasn’t the only one on the poll. The survey also explored the chances of other possible Republican candidates for his seat. It asked about Harris County judge Robert Echols, Sugar Land mayor David Wallace (who yesterday declared his write-in candidacy), and a few others. “All of them tested better than me,” DeLay told me. And all of them, DeLay believed, had a chance to defeat Democratic candidate Nick Lampson. “This is still a Republican district, and will vote for a Republican over Nick Lampson.” Oooh, now see, this is interesting. I heard about this poll and the Republicans around here were whining about how Lampson had to be the one conducting the poll to see how he polled against various challengers. WRONG. Also, there is no way a Republican is going to be elected to Congress in TX-22 on November 7. Not going to happen. Towards the end of the interview, DeLay seemed to round up some extra IQ points and said this: “I’m not confident that I would win,” DeLay answered. And thus, he cut and ran.

Make Up Your Mind Shelley!

Somebody tell me if Shelley is running or not! Somebody please get Shelley to get her story straight. Yesterday, Shelley Rodriguez-Gibbs seemed to be announcing that she was running as a write in candidate for TX-22. Today, Shelley Gibbs-Sekula said she would run but only if she was drafted by the Party. There seemed to be some noise coming from her about party unity even to the point of chastising David Wallace. But, I'm catching up on reading the Houston Chronicle online tonight and here's this from Shelley Rodriguez-Sekula: "I will seek the Republican Party's support to be its write-in candidate for Congressional District 22," Sekula-Gibbs said today in a prepared announcement. "I have openly campaigned for this seat since April, and am fully committed to run hard to win in November." Which is it? Are you definitely running as a write-in candidate (Benkiser be damned) or are you "supporting the process the Republicans are embarking on” because “the party has to be given the full opportunity to select at candidate. I am willing to wait for that process to be completed.” (as reported in Fort Bend Now) The Chronicle makes it sound like you are definitely running: Houston City Council member Shelley Sekula-Gibbs today announced her write-in candidacy for the seat former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay abandoned. Shelley-Gibbs-Rodriguez-Sekula, you are one confusing Wannabe Congresswoman Barbie. (EVERYWHERE I go, someone invariably brings up Shelley's pink outfit to me. There is NO way I am letting this go. She should NOT have shown up at an event in Sugar Land dressed like this if she didn't want to be a victim of the muse camera.) UPDATE: Today's Chronicle clarifies that Shelley WANTS to be the write-in, but will only do so if she is the Party's Chosen One. Also, surprise! Shelley has a new issue she is passionate about: Sekula-Gibbs said she hopes to support Bush's efforts to fight terrorism. Now, what made you say that, Shelley? Out of the clear blue, Shelley gets tough on terrorism.

TX-22: Republican In-Fighting Worsens; Democrats Turn Out To Volunteer For Lampson

I've seen some pretty comical things this political season. Readers of this blog know I've attended some of the Republican candidate forums in TX-22 and some of the Fort Bend County Republican Party meetings. I've seen their disorganization. I've seen the Congressional wannabes all vying for attention. Just when I think it couldn't get more amusing, well, it gets more amusing. So here's what the Rs are up to today. I heard that Benkiser was down here holed up with some folks all locked up (literally) in a super secret location and they were going to stay that way until one person was annointed as the write-in candidate. Well, guess who was at this meeting? Yeah, Tom DeLay. And, there are some TX-22 precinct chairs that are pissed off but good about the whole thing. One is calling Benkiser a bitch for not involving the grass roots in the district in the write-in decision. Another is making HUGE amounts of fun of David Wallace. That actually seems to be a game most Republican precinct chairs in 22 love to play. And why not? Wallace had the guts to declare his write-in candidacy to every major news outlet today while the super secret spy meeting was taking place. One precinct chair claims to have talked to Tim Turner who says he is wanting to be the write-in candidate everyone unites behind, while at the same time, Shelley Sekula-Gibbs was throwing her hat (yeah, that freakish damn huge one) into the ring. I know, I know, you wonder who Tim Turner is. Keep wondering. They've got Harris County SREC member, Kathy Haigler threatening any write-in candidate who is not the annoited one with being black-balled forever by the RPT of Texas. These people are vicious! Gosh. And, I just got back from a Fort Bend Lampson volunteer meeting where 50 people showed up, our largest turnout to date. More and more momentum is building for Nick's campaign. Nick is working this campaign in a very focused, determined way. We have some serious block walking and phone banking going on and that is only going to be stepped up. House parties are being scheduled like crazy (want to be invited to mine and meet your next Congressman in TX-22?). GOTV plans are in place. New volunteers are showing up out of nowhere to get behind Nick. All sorts of community outreach is happening. Big, huge, fun, exciting fundraisers are happening (I think even one with one of my favorite potential presidential candidates!!!). The signs of the times are that a lot of people have had enough and are going to vote Democratic with me. You know, you can still adopt a sign. Sales are going great! Get in on the fun.

Sekula-Gibbs Ponders Slim To None Write-In Chances

Shelley speaks, via the Houston Chronicle:

"People are giving me their input. I will make a decision in the near future," Sekula-Gibbs said. "The opportunity is very interesting. I am keenly interested in this seat and have been open about my desire. This is a different situation."

A write-in candidacy is not "insurmountable," Sekula-Gibbs said. "The demographics of the district suggest a Republican can win. Voters would not only have to be convinced I was the right candidate, but familiar with the process."

Sekula-Gibbs, who has the backing of prodigious campaign contributors such as homebuilder Bob Perry, stated a willingness to commit personal money as well.

Interpretation: Well, admittedly, I don't know what "familiar with the process means." That's Shelley-speak and often Shelley is the only one who knows what she is talking about. My guess is that what she is really saying is "I found out there isn't a hyphen on the e-slate and damn it! I have a hyphen in my name!" You know, Shelley, that is a problem. Not only will you be behind on fundraising and you have to wonder how you'll keep those Rs from voting straight ticket and understanding they need to vote office by office in order to do a write-in, but you have your own very special e-slate problems. Not that doing a write-in on an e-slate isn't tricky enough on its own. The voter has to dial in each letter of the candidate's name then click it in. I know for sure Fort Bend and Harris counties have the e-slate. I think one of the other two counties does, also. Also, it looks like you will have to fend off David Wallace. Big fun.

James Bopp, Separated From Jared Woodfill At Birth

Remember Jared Woodfill's (chair of Harris County Republican Party and an attorney) silly petition he had everyone and their dog signing declaring the whole TDP lawsuit UNFAIR! and how he was going to deliver it to the steps of the Fifth Circuit Court? Brilliant, amazing idea from attorney to try and influence federal judges. Well, now James Bopp has publicly said this (from the New York Times): "James Bopp Jr., the lawyer who argued the Republican case, said today that there may still be ways to keep Mr. DeLay off the ballot. For instance, Mr. Bopp said in a telephone interview, Gov. Rick Perry of Texas — a Republican — could appoint or nominate Mr. DeLay to another office, thereby making him ineligible to serve in Congress. "If that happened, another Republican could be named to take Mr. DeLay’s place on the ballot in November, Mr. Bopp said." See, that is one of the ways a candidate can be declared ineligible in Texas - to hold another office. Now, I have been reading about this stupid idea on the internet, but to have the RPT lawyer actually SAY it? These people have no shame. So, which guy is which, above? Bopp is in the glasses.

DeLay's Withdrawal Statement

From Fort Bend Now:

“Earlier this year, I resigned from the U.S. House of Representatives and became a resident of the state of Virginia to establish my new business, and where I now legally reside, pay taxes and vote,” DeLay said in a statement Tuesday afternoon. “This decision was and is irrevocable, which I made clear from Day One.”

DeLay said his actions were “taken in accordance with Texas law, federal precedent and common sense. I felt it was my duty to allow Texas Republicans to choose a new candidate for the fall election ballot.”

Unfortunately, DeLay said, “the Federal courts have slammed the door shut on a fair ballot choice between two 22nd District residents representing our two major parties.”

Consequently, “as a Virginia resident, I will take the actions necessary to remove my name from the Texas ballot,” DeLay said. “To do anything else would be hypocrisy.

“I strongly encourage the Republican Party to take any and all actions necessary to give Texas voters an up-or-down choice this Fall between two major party candidates,” DeLay added.

Sheryl Berg, Harris County GOP Senate District 11 Chair, said she would like to tell DeLay, “I wish you could reconsider. We needed to hear something quickly,” she added. But “we needed to get some marching orders” and not a notice of withdrawal. My comment: I'm not surprised Tom cut and ran again so quickly. This was completely expected by everyone who has a clue. On the other hand, I keep reading comments from area Republicans that they are waiting on direction from Tom as to what to do next, just like you see above from Sheryl Berg. That surprises me. And, THAT is lame.

Speculation that DeLay Will Withdraw In Favor Of Write-In Candidate

Time magazine is saying this is a surprise move, but it's no surprise to observers of the political process in TX-22. Nothing surprises us. The article says he may withdraw from the ballot within a week confirming absolutely everyone's prediction who has been paying attention at all. After all, there are those enormous legal bills, the felony indictment and the assurity of censure proceedings if he regains his seat. So, how does write-in candidacy work in Texas? First of all, according to the Secretary of State's Office, a person has to declare themselves as a write-in candidate by August 29th. For congressional office, there is a filing fee of $3125 and a requirement of 500 signautres. The Texas Election Code spells out all the details of how things go from there, after the filing takes place. Assuming the write-in candidate is certified, the list of certified write-in candidates will be posted at the polls. Their names will NOT go on the ballot. Only write-in votes for certified write-in candidates will be counted. In other words, if you vote for Elvis as your write-in candidate, it is safe to say he wasn't certified and that vote won't be counted. Here's the kicker. We use e-slate voting machines in Fort Bend County. That means the voter has to dial in each letter of the write-in candidate's name and then click it in. Go and read that Time article I reference at the top of this post. There are plenty of Republicans in Texas who aren't real impressed with this write-in strategy. But, honestly, what do they have left? I mean, I think this is it. I remain thrilled that I am supporting a terrific candidate with 8 years experience in the U.S. House. Check out Nick Lampson. Donate. Come out and volunteer with us.

Lawyers On Both Sides React To Scalia's DeLay Ruling

Here's what James Bopp, Tina Benkiser's attorney, sent out to his email list (typo is his, not mine): From: JBoppjr@aol.com [mailto:JBoppjr@aol.com] Sent: Monday, August 07, 2006 3:56 PM To: JBoppjr@aol.com Subject: Stay denied The US Supreme Court Clerk's office just call to inform us that Justice Scalia has denied the stay request. James Bopp, Jr. Bopp, Coleson & Bostrom 1 South 6th Street Terre Haute, In 47807 voice: 812-232-2434 fax: 812-235-3685 cell: 812-243-0825 jboppjr@aol.com And, here is the reaction from the good guys: "Wow! That was quick," said Cris Feldman, attorney for Texas Democrats, after hearing about Scalia denying the stay.

"That was a lightning-quick response. We're very pleased by the court's decision to deny the stay and it's now time to move toward the general election and put this matter behind us," said Feldman.

MSNBC is reporting that the Republican Party of Texas is abandoning their court fight due to Scalia refusing to grant a stay of the Fifth Circuit Court's ruling. This means Tom DeLay will either stay on the ballot against Nick Lampson, or will withdraw. UPDATE: From Bopp: "I think all our legal avenues are exhausted in terms of affecting the ruling prior to the election'"

He warned Democrats, "Be careful what you ask for."

Bopp said Democrats "insisted he run for Congress, now it's up to voters to decide if Democrats are going to be happy" on Election Day.

(Um, we're thrilled!)

Sklar! Gilbert! Garcia!

TexRoots is launched today, an online fundraising campaign that is the first of its kind in Texas. TexRoots is the effort of over 20 Texas progressive blogs who are united to raise money for strong candidates who we believe have a great chance against their Republican opponents. Our first group of endorsements are for Shane Sklar, U.S. Congress, TX-14, Hank Gilbert, Texas Commissioner of Agriculture and Juan Garcia, Texas House of Representatives, HD-32. TexRoots is associated with ActBlue, the nationally recognized online fundraising tool. More on each of these terrific candidates will follow in subsequent posts, but for now, click on the TexRoots logo above or in the sidebar to the right and start donating! Help us turn Texas Blue!

Better Know A District: Colbert Analyzes TX-22

Colbert Reports on TX-22 I don't know how I missed this, but it includes a hilarious fake interview with Tom DeLay. Watch the whole thing so you won't miss the part about Tom's "talents" that are "nasty."

Signs, Signs Everywhere Are (Democratic) Signs!

I just about had a wreck this morning on my way to the headquarters of the Fort Bend Democrats. I saw some of my friends putting up the very first Democratic signs to go up in the county. My only thought: photos for the blog. Imagine my surprise to find out these particular signs were going up RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET from the house of the Fort Bend County Republican chair, Gary Gillen. You can see the word "Gillen" in the background of this photo. You see, not only does Gary have a great big old house in Richmond, he apparently runs his PEST CONTROL business out of his home. What IS it with Republicans and pest control? Here's another view (click on the photos to make them larger): I got to the Fort Bend Democrats headquarters in one piece and put in a full day of volunteering, as did many others. You might think that since Nick Lampson doesn't really have an opponent yet (what with the original Bugman, Tom DeLay still desperately trying to find activist judges who will get him off the ballot), that the enthusiasm for volunteering for Nick would be slowing down. You would be wrong. Today was the busiest I've seen it at headquarters. We had phone banking going on, blockwalkers going out and coming back in and lots of data entry happening. Also, we had people from the community stopping in asking for yard signs and bumper stickers. Happily, we have the good stuff everyone wants, and if you want your very own yard sign(s) or bumper stickers, come on by. We are at 4801 Ave. H (Hwy 90) in Rosenberg, or call us at 281-576-9419 and we'll bring signs to you. My suggestion is that you Adopt-A-Sign. Help us take back Fort Bend County from the Bugmen! Juanita has a pretty cute adopt-a-sign story. Our signs bring people together who have HAD ENOUGH! There's even a special deal where you can adopt the sign across from Gary Gillen's home (pictured above)! THIS is the sign you want with your name written across the bottom with a sharpie! Bryan describes the busy day for Fort Bend Democrats here, along with more photos. Hal tells you what it was like putting up those signs in the heat!

TX GOP: DeLay Is A Frivolous Candidate

The lawyers for the TX GOP contended in the Fifth Circuit Court that DeLay is a “frivolous” candidate, and “removing frivolous candidates from the ballot constitutes ‘protection of voters’ under Supreme Court precedent.” Well, hello. Another Blinding Flash of the Obvious. I've lived in Sugar Land for 12 years and the ENTIRE TIME I have considered DeLay frivolous, at best, and an evil, lying, destructive, law-breaking congressfelon at worst. The RPT is just coming around to this? I certainly wish they had removed him from the ballot years ago to protect THIS voter. RPT, this is too little, too late. I think it is time for everyone to Adopt A Sign. Signs go up this weekend. Do it now and help us show Tom that we are really, really happy is still on the ballot. DeLay may be California dreaming, but he is still in Sugar Land. And, he WILL see the signs.

Skipping To The Good Parts: RPT = Morons

Twenty-six pages condensed down to the really good, hilarious parts right here. Let's get started. I'll focus on the smack down of the Republican Party of Texas (RPT) and Tina Benkiser (who chairs the party when God is too busy helping the poor), in particular: Their (RPT's ) arguments have no place in the standing analysis. The RPT's actions threaten his (Lampson's) election prospects and campaign coffers. When Benkiser reviewed the public records sent by DeLay and concluded that his residencey in Virginia made him ineligible, she unconstitutionally created a pre-election inhabitancy requirement. The RPT has not shown that the injunction disserves the public interest and certainly has not proven that the district court abused its discretion. Therefore, the RPT has not met its burden. Therefore her (Benkiser's) application of the ineligibility statute to DeLay was unconsititutional. There is evidence that Benkiser did not act reasonably and with political neutrality when she declared DeLay ineligible. Indeed, the district court's description of the events surrounding the letter sent by DeLay imply, at the very least, a lack of neutrality. (muse asks, I wonder what the judges were REALLY thinking here? Sounds like they wanted to say more.) Simply put her declaration of ineligibility was not a mere predictive, ministerial act affecting the "manner" of the election. It was a direct determination of DeLay's qualifications as a candidate. As such, the declaration was unconstitutional and cannot be saved by the Elections Clause. Here, we fail to see how removing DeLay from the ballot would protect the voters, inasmuch as it was the voters themselves who selected DeLay as the Republican candidate for the general election. DeLay has been an inhabitant of Texas for decades. (muse says, DUH. This is why these judges got promoted to the Fifth Circuit Court. The Blinding Flash of the Obvious.) Thus, Benkiser violated Texas law by declaring DeLay ineligible. The RPT's lack-of-harm arguments have been addressed above and found meritless. Oh, and regarding the Secretary of State's friend of the court brief: We will not consider this issue. There you have it. Could they have used the word "unconsitutional" any more forcefully against Benkiser? These were the parts that made me laugh uproariously. Yes, I am giddy with excitement. It's been a long wait to see someone smack down the RPT. Why they want to prolong this and go to the Supremes, I don't know. Oh, yeah, I do know. Tom DeLay can't afford to be on the ballot (lawyer's fees) and the RPT can't afford to have him on the ballot (LOSERS!) Read up on this on the TX-22 blogs: Juanita, Mark, Bryan, Hal and we are waiting on John.