GOP: Prostitutes Good! Gay Bathroom Sex Bad

Soon to be former Senator Larry Craig says he's not gay, he never was gay and never will be gay. He's so not gay, that he wonders if he's ever going to be "gay" (happy) again. He's got the whole vast right wing conspiracy raining down on him, ready to replace him with another hard core right-winger, while they ignore Vitter, who has admitted - belatedly - to his own illegal sex acts (prostitution). Why the double standard from our dear friends on the right who are so chatty about The Rule of Law? That could be because Louisiana's Democratic governor would surely replace Vitter with a Democrat. Craig is a naughty, nasty boy from a very red state while Vitter is a naughty, nasty boy from a blue(r) state. Craig has a geography problem. Why these people sought public office where this kind of behavior is going to be found at out at some point, I cannot imagine.

My Katrina Experience, Revisited

It's hard to think about Katrina. I had a very moving, interesting experience at Reliant Arena when I volunteered there one night four or five days after the evacuees began arriving in Houston. The day after I volunteered, I sent the following email out to my family and friends. It's a long account, but one that is very unique, involving a lost little girl who I protected and mothered for nine hours. I came home and wept and wept afterwards. It made me teary to read it again: Dear friends, I've been back to the dome, this time with success. I think just about all of you know about my adolescent sleep habits - my preference to sleep from 4 a.m. to noon. Well, this got turned around even worse on Saturday, when I literally almost slept all day to catch up on sleep after hosting the health ed conference all week. I know myself well enough to know I wouldn't be able to sleep that night, so I decided that I'd try to go volunteer at the dome during the overnight hours. I arrived at 2 a.m. along with a handful of other night owls. All of us were alarmingly energetic and ready to go. We were assigned to the Reliant Arena, where about 6000 evacuees are housed. On the way over we passed the Astrodome, and looked down into an opening down a ramp onto the floor of the dome and saw a sea of thousands and thousands of cots. Really, quite a shocking sight for anyone who has ever been in the dome for any reason. I was warned by the guy that eventually ended up being my partner, Charlie, with a Thai last name that I can't spell, who had volunteered a couple of other times already, that the Red Cross was not exactly a well oiled machine. So we did some waiting around, but eventually we were oriented and paired up and Charlie and I were assigned to walk the arena area which was filled with sleeping evacuees on cots. Rows and rows and rows of tightly spaced cots, many with mommas with 2-3 little kids curled up with them. It was freezing cold in there, so one thing we did, was adjust blankets when asked or get more blankets. There were people in there sleeping with oxygen tanks and people in wheel chairs. People of all ages and most of them were african american. We just kind of picked up trash as we walked the rows, took care of any needs of anyone who woke up and had requests, etc. At one point, I went out to the eating area (a well stocked area with tons of soft drinks and water on ice, plus snacks 24/7) to get some water and I ran into a couple of people with interesting stories. One woman was trying to make coffee at about 4 a.m. The evacuees were given a welcome kit and in it were some instant coffee granules. She wanted to know if there was some hot water. I went off in search of a Red Cross volunteer. These are the people in charge of the whole shelter/relief effort and absolutely the only ones with any answers at all. They wear distinctive vests. There are very few of them. I found the one guy in charge and he said that while he had never run a shelter anywhere in the world without coffee, this shelter did not have coffee nor hot water. (Hello: Word to starbucks, get these people some damn coffee!!!) But, this woman was content to use hot water from the tap. She just wanted my assurance that the water was safe because she had spent many days at the superdome where that was not the case. She said the super dome was crazy. She said people developed creative opportunities in the dome. If people had 3 cigarettes, they'd sell them for $5 each. One guy busted into a vending machine and was bleeding all down his back, but he was running around selling those cokes for $5 each. She said she went to the dome with the understanding that it was the safest structure in New Orleans. When the hurricane went over, the building shook, made awful noises and it was obvious something was happening to the roof. She happened to be sitting right in the section where the roof opened up and the water poured in, so she simply got up and moved her seat. She said she spent a lot of time from that point on wondering what had happened to New Orleans if all of that had happened to the dome, which was a steel structure. She didn't find out more until she was bused out and could see some neighborhoods out of the windows, including her own which was not as badly hit as others. She said it was surreal being trapped in there with no news and with all of the "creative entrepreneurship" going on. She was really just a sweet, funny, normal, young grandma type person. Oh, she still had a superdome mentality. She wanted to know how she was going to get her coffee back into the arena area without being mobbed. She said if anyone had coffee in the superdome, they would have been attacked. It took me awhile to convince her she was in Houston, and she had left her superdome experience behind. It was VERY orderly in the Reliant Arena. I met another woman, maybe around 50 years old, who looked familiar. She told me she had been in a hospital in New Orleans, had been evacuated from there and dumped on a bridge on I-10 (yall have seen the coverage of this on the news - ridiculous, pathetic, example of the ineptitude of the rescue effort) and finally - after a ridiculous amount of waiting - was put on a bus to San Antonio. Then she bought her own bus ticket to Houston and had just arrived. She was desperately looking for her 4 kids who had been with her mother when the hurricane hit. She had heard multiple times from neighbors that they had been rescued by boat, but she didn't know where they were. I look at her kind of puzzled and said, you know, I saw a very similar story on TV, Geraldo, I thought. She said, "I'm that woman." Sure enough, she was the woman I had just seen on TV a few hours before. Sorry, to go on so long, but things got more interesting. About this time, I got talking to a guy who was going to university in the Valley, but had flown in to volunteer and had driven straight to the dome, when I was called over to man the entrance to the arena sleeping area while a cot was changed out. This was at 5 a.m. They need someone to stand at the entrance to each sleeping area to be sure food doesn't go in and out and to just kind of keep a presence and keep order. I had been there all of 30 seconds when I turned around to face the darkened room with the sea of cots to find a little girl stumbling towards me - just right there in front of me. I right away knew we were in trouble if she didn't know which cot she was from, because every cot looked the same and everyone looked the same - a lump covered from head to toe by a gray blanket. She was VERY sleepy and couldn't talk much. I got her to walk around a bit with me, and asked her to help me find her mom and her cot, but there was no way she was going to figure that out. So, I got Charlie to pick her up and off we went in search of a Red Cross person in charge. We were very fortunate to run into a Red Cross volunteer who basically said, wait a minute, let me look at her, I just checked in her and her whole family an hour or so ago (in other words, they just arrived in Houston). He was able to find a scrap piece of paper with all of their names on it. This was not their official check in papers. I want to say right now that no one was EVER able to find their official papers for me no matter how many times I asked or who I asked. I was NOT happy about this. I have some serious, serious issues with the way they are checking in people and keeping up with people. This child had nothing on her person identifying her. Also, they had NO official way of dealing with missing children. She was sick - coughing and eventually throwing up. When she was awake and lucid, I was able to run through some of the names on the paper - are you Makayla? NO, she said. Are you Tameka? NO! "My NAME is PARIS!!!" She said this kind of like, good lord, are you the dumbest woman on the planet or what? Quite a feisty little gal (later when she was hydrated, had slept and was in a great mood, she told me she was four years old). Smart and feisty. Fortunately, I am raising the archetype feisty/smart girl in my own home, so this girl and I were well matched. We got a cot for her out away from the sleeping area and I immediately got a crew to start making and posting signs about where to find Paris. I decided to take her to the medic area, so all the signs had instructions to find her there. Note that these signs went up at 5:30 a.m. In the medic area, which was EXTREMELY well organized (bravo Houston medical community) and very extensive, they became very concerned about her. They gave her an IV to hydrate her and a breathing treatment, none of which she liked at all. I stayed with her and held her hand. The nurses asked me to stay with her the whole time she was back in the medic area to serve as the one person she would recognize through all of this. Little did I know what a long haul that would be. Paris cried and cried for her mom. I tried to calm her down. I finally sang songs to her and she fell asleep. When she woke up about an hour later, I went to the clothing area and picked her out all cute new clothes - purple from head to toe - which made her VERY happy. She really felt better after the hydration and sleep and she talked to me about her one year old brother and when I told her I had an eleven year old daughter, she told me, well, I have a SEVEN year old sister (kind of like, well, take that!) During this time, I had people make more signs about this child. Where was her mom? By this time, she had identified her mom on the list of names, so we knew who she was. I had people holding signs with her name all over the area. I had people going through the sleeping and eating areas asking if they knew Paris. I made a couple of rounds. Nothing. But I guarantee you, by the time this was all over, just about every volunteer and evacuee knew we were looking for Paris' family, but where was anyone who cared about her? I ended up holding Paris in my arms in a chair in the medic area while she slept for about two hours and the whole time, social workers and others came back to talk with me and get this girl's story. It got to be 11 a.m. (please note I thought I'd be back at home long before that time) and we began to wonder if she had been abandoned. Paris was convinced her family was looking for her. About this time, someone saw one of our signs and said they knew that Paris' aunt was staying in the Ramada Inn in Houston. We got that number and called. This person called my cell and things got weird fast. The aunt was the sister of the dad - the dad? Paris had specifically acted like there was no dad when I asked about him - and this aunt said she said she had custody of Paris. I had enough at this point. A police officer was passing through the medic area and I said, find me a police officer who can help me and find me a CPS case worker NOW. It got to be funny back in medic, because everyone knew at that point I was not letting Paris leave with anyone. No damn way. How, did I, a simple volunteer, get involved in a custody dispute just because the Red Cross can't keep up with the people they registered into their shelter? Sure enough, the dad, the aunt and the mom all show up before CPS and the cop wants to hand Paris over to the dad. No. No damn way. Over my dead body. Not until CPS arrived. So, about that time, CPS arrived - thank God - a competent, nice woman - and they let Paris' mom come back to where Paris and I were. Paris didn't even go to her mom. The mom didn't even touch Paris. The mom was very young and very upset. She had some convoluted story about leaving Paris with her mom and her mom left her in the arena with a woman named Linda. This is when Paris wandered away looking for her mom. I mistakenly thought she had wandered off a cot that contained her mom. Oh, mom had PARIS tattooed on her arm. Later, the doc joked with me that she could tell that I was skeptical that this was the mom until she showed me the tattoo. Then, CPS let's the dad come back. Paris wasn't too sure about him at first, but then latched on to him and wouldn't leave him. She NEVER touched her mom the whole time I was there. The dad had driven down from Dallas because someone had seen the signs in the arena and called him. I gave the CPS person my account of things and my name and phone number and I was able to leave, finally at 2 p.m. twelve hours after I arrived. I had really wanted to leave around 10 a.m., but that was about the time Paris became obviously very attached to me to the point that she had to have me in sight. Her parents argued right in front of her about her custody - curse words flying - Paris was crying. It was sad. Oh, I had looked both parents in the eye and said, you need to know that starting at 5 a.m. until right now, I served as Paris' momma (Paris nodded). I cleaned up your baby's throw up, I held her hand while she cried when she got an IV, I sang her to sleep, I held her for two hours while she slept, I got her cute new clothes, I played with her, she pretended she was the doctor and I was her patient (she says I am OK because I am breathing) and I tried to answer her questions about where you were. They had the good sense to cry and thank me. In case you are counting, I was her mom for nine hours. I left Paris not knowing what happened to her. There is the possibility she was taken into CPS custody. No one's story matched and no one was stepping up to the plate as a responsible parent. I can hardly stand to think about it. Anyway, I got back to the house, got a couple of hours of sleep and am good to go. When I was holding Paris and I was so tired and wanted to go home, I got to thinking about all of the good people in New Orleans who always threw in the lagniappe whenever I visited their unique city. Always. Whether it was a little extra treat at dinner or a little extra story or a little extra, unexpected fun, the lagniappe was always happening at every turn in New Orleans. I knew I had to do it for that little girl. Most of the people I met today are good folks who are in great need. I suggest you do what you can and then throw in some lagniappe on top of that. laissez les bon temps roulez, Martha

NASA Administrator Says Independent Commission Report Was Senasational

Michael Griffin, NASA Administrator, is commenting at a press conference about the astronaut alcohol allegations reported by the independent Commission on astronaut health. (I'm liveblogging it). He's saying that those allegations were serious and sensational. He used the word "sensational" twice. Griffin also is very clear that the thinks the allegations in the Commission report are untrue. He says NASA has looked back at 20 years of experimental data and his conclusion is that there never has been an incident of alcohol abuse that caused anyone to think an astronaut was unfit to fly. The interesting thing about the whistleblowers to the Commission is that they were promised anonymity and their names can't be shared with NASA. Griffin is saying those anonymous whistle blowers are lying. OK, he just said "sensational" three more times. That's sort of sensationalism by him, in my opinion. He's dismissing that part of the report. The Commission, by the way, was chock full of distinguished professionals (NASA requested the empaneling of the Commission.) The investigation that NASA did in follow-up to the Commission report was an open format. The lead investigator looked at 20 years of reports and did 90 in-person interviews (not everyone that could have been involved in the alleged crew incidents, but representatives of crew personnel.) There is going to be an anonymous survey in September to get additional information that will inform the investigation. To be honest, that was what I was expecting today - results of anonymous surveys. Griffin comes off as defensive of NASA, and that is probably his role. But, his answers and demeanor don't entirely lay the matter to rest. (read the independent commission's report and NASA's investigation report at the bottom of this msnbc.com article.) UPDATE: Yikes. I guess I missed this part of the press conference (I tuned in late), where Griffin gives his assessment of the two reports about alcohol:

Administrator Griffin said that, in his opinion, “the story did not occur.” He compared the claims to past tales about poisoned Halloween candy.

“There is a Web site for urban legends — go look it up,” Griffin told reporters. “There are quite a number of things out there that are cited that are not true. This is one of them.”

I think we are in liar, liar, pants on fire territory with those remarks.

Cornyn Silent On Craig Sex Scandal

All of the 5-person Senate Republican leadership - save one - issued a joint statement today complaining that they did not find out about Sen. Larry Craig's guilty plea to charges of disorderly (gay sex) conduct, until yesterday. They also asked the Senate ethics committee to investigate Craig. This is not a happy group. Finally, the Rs seem to have had enough of naughty Republican boys getting caught in the act, while mouthing off about "moral values." Who was the one Senate leadership holdout? Texas' own junior senator, John "Box Turtle" Cornyn. Yeah, the one with the concern for box turtles having sex with their human neighbors. He did not sign the joint statement. Cornyn is often called Bush's lapdog. Sounds like he's spending some time sitting in Craig's lap, also. Craig's the same guy who is obviously having a difficult time determining the definitions of the words, "I", "am", "not" and "gay."

Another One Bites The Dust

This one took too long to happen (as did Rove's resignation). Why are both of these guys returning to Texas? Vast right wing conspiracy. Yawn. Goodbye, Alberto Gonzales. Texas is not waiting with open arms to welcome you back.

Texas Blog Round-Up!

It's time once again for the weekly Texas Progressive Alliance blog round-up. This week's round-up is brought to you by Vince from Capitol Annex. Getting this week's round-up off to a great start, we want to thank our friends over at the 50 State Blog Network for taking note of our round-up and mentioning it in their round-up. John at Bay Area Houston thinks it is time to drag Ari Fleisher out of town for using disabled vets in his pro-war commercials. After the space shuttle safely landed this week, Krazypuppy at Texas Kaos wonders "Who Does an Astronaut Have to Bleep to Get Some Attention From the Media?" At Bluedaze, TXsharon tell us that Barnett Shale drilling with it's insatiable thirst for fresh water is just another kind of blood for oil war. Barnett Shale Drilling: It's not sexy but Noriega for TX US Sen. is. Alexandra Pelosi screened her documentary "Friends of God" in Houston last Thursday, and PDiddie at Brains and Eggs has the report. WCNews at Eye On Williamson posts on the lawsuit filed against Round Rock Independent School District for allowing prayer at high school commencements in Graduation Prayer At Three RRISD High Schools Draws Lawsuit. Todd Hill at Burnt Orange Report talks impeachment. Funny thing is because independent Linda Curtis is working to "Impeach Perry". Stop Cornyn talks endorsements this week. Watts has picked up a few mayorial endorsements in the Valley and Lt. Col. Rick Noriega is getting the endorsement of some big statewide Democrats Monday. Our chances continue to look good in 2008. Steve Southwell at WhosPlayin.com finds himself agreeing with a Republican city councilman regarding the government's role in banning smoking in restaurants and bars. Vince at Capitol Annex continues his exploration of the last days of the 80th Texas Legislature and the events surrounding the resignations of the House Parliamentarians and uncovers a smoking gun--an opinion drafted by former Legislator and now-Parliamentarian Terry Keel days before he was appointed to the post. Muse muses about 8th graders--including her own--who are on the front lines of Texas' education accountability system. Texas Toad at North Texas Liberal asks some important questions concerning education and a forthcoming campaign for intelligent design in the classroom. Easter Lemming spots censorship and uncivil airwaves on Houston radio news. He relates that to the censored radio guest and himself become less conservative years ago when exposed to the Wall Street rape of employees in leveraged buyouts. McBlogger takes some time out of his far too busy schedule to bash all the immigrants in Austin. Half Empty writes about Rick Noriega's Enthusiastic Ovation at the SDEC quarterly meeting this past weekend. Off the Kuff asks how students can be expected to understand the debate over evolution and "intelligent design" when it's clear that neither SBOE members nor newspaper reporters really understand it.

Dualing Margaritas

I saw this in the Fort Worth Star Telegram:

Location, location

They come for the politics and stay for the fajitas.

The escalating race to unseat Texas Sen. John Cornyn comes to Cowtown this week, more specifically to Joe T. Garcia's.

There, San Antonio lawyer Mikal Watts, who is exploring a bid to run against Cornyn as a Democrat, will have a reception hosted by Jason Stephens, president of the Tarrant County Trial Lawyers Association, and three other lawyers.

Two days later, state Rep. Rick Noriega, D-Houston, also a candidate for Cornyn's seat, will hold a fundraiser at Joe T.'s hosted by fellow Democratic state Reps. Lon Burnam and Marc Veasey, both of Fort Worth, and Paula Pierson of Arlington.

Looks like campaigns have learned there are few things better at opening a potential donor's wallet than a couple of Joe T.'s famous margaritas.

ILMSJTFM (I love me some Joe T's famous margaritas.)

Time To Start Thinking About TAKS Tests

Tomorrow is the first day of school. We are starting school later this year because our Dear Leaders (R-Texas Legislature) told us what was good for us - well, for Business - and gave us a longer summer break in which to spend our non-existent vacation dollars. So, here I am with an 8th grade girl in my house who is ready to go to school tomorrow with these questions on her mind - did those 7th grade boys grow up over the summer? Are they taller? Cuter? Which leads to the Question of the Day: What will I wear to school tomorrow so they can see how cute I am? The Houston Chronicle reminds me that my 8th grader has been and continues to be part of the group of students who are on the front lines of the state's education accountability system. They were the first group that had to pass the 3rd grade and 5th grade TAKS tests in order to promote to the next grade. This year, the 8th grade science test they take will count towards their school's and district's accountability rating for the first time. Eighth graders have taken the test for two years now, but this is the first year the scores will "count". And, like all TAKS tests, it will take more correct answers to pass this year than it did the past two years (there is always a 3-year phase in to the standard passing score, which is why you sometimes see passing rates go down over several years - it gets harder to pass the test.) I can assure you that middle school science teachers are asking, "what strategies can I use to ensure student success on the science TAKS test?", not "who got cute over the summer?" I know; I've been working with some of these teachers on science learning strategies. For the public school teachers out there, you are our heroes. You are working hard everyday, in the very challenging arena of high stakes testing, to make sure your students are learning. To my favorite 8th grader: You are brilliant, talented, funny and a joy to be around. And, cute.

New Rick Noriega Endorsements!

Governor Dolph Briscoe, Lt. Gov. Bill Hobby and State Senator Rodney Ellis will announce their support for Rick Noriega against John Cornyn for U.S. Senate at 11 a.m. on Monday at the George R. Brown Convention Center. Click on the press release for more details.
UPDATE: Kos is loving this, too. Also, remember how the Texas netroots set a goal for 800 online donations by Sept. 30th? We've been working this and guess what? We are at 624 donations and nearly $46K. Chip in a few bucks and we'll be at 800 donations way before the deadline, with an opportunity to show even more overwhelming grassroots support for Rick!

I About Died When I Found Out That "Mature" People Like Sex!

What a COMPLETE surprise. Who would have guessed? And, thank God, every single mainstream media outlet has clued us in. The age of the people in the survey started at 57, yet all of the references are to the "elderly" and to the "later years". The Washington Post had this to say: "more than half to three-quarters of those questioned remain sexually active, with a significant proportion engaging in frequent and varied sexual behavior." (Varied sexual behavior=oral sex. I took out my WaPo decoder and figured that out.) Here's what you need to know. The oldest baby boomer is 61 years old right now. The youngest is 40-something. Be prepared, people. The boomers are all about accomplishment and performance. This group is driven. There will be a tremendous market for sex toys for people in their 80's in 20 years. I suggest someone get on that right now. There will be a lot of "get off of me, you are hurting my hip replacement! Just saying.

Countdown

Countdown to Election Day 2007: 75 days Countdown to Iowa: 143 days Countdown to Tsunami Tuesday: 165 days Countdown to Election Day 2008: 439 days Countdown to Inauguration Day 2009: 516 days Got this from msnbc.com. Just 75 days until the City of Houston elections, area school bond elections and until we vote on 16 state constitutional amendments (someone told me we are voting on abolishing the Department of Hides?!) That would be November 6th. I fear I'm going to get old and cranky waiting 439 and 516 days.

Houston Police Officer Could Use Your Help!

Worthy cause alert! Houston Police Sgt. Joel Izaguirre was recently involved in a major accident that resulted in the loss of his left arm. With his return to active duty unlikely and the birth of his third son a week before the accident, Joel and his family need help. There is a BBQ benefit on Friday, September 28th starting at 11 a.m. and continuing until the food is gone! Just $7.50/plate. Click on the flyer below for more information. And, pass the flyer on to others.

Rick Noriega Visits The Lake

firedoglake, that is. Noriega participated in a liveblog interview yesterday, where he was introduced by Howie Klein to firedoglake readers. Rick is fast becoming the favorite netroots candidate for this cycle. He's got Kos' support and now the firedoglake community is on board, showing their support in the comments and by their donations to Blue America (you can show Noriega some love there, too!). Some highlights from the liveblogging:

howieklein @ 5

Rick, welcome to Firedoglake. I’m sure everywhere here is as eager as I am to know how a real PROGRESSIVE Democrat is going to win in one of the redder states in the country. Tell us how you can make our contributions work for bringing about a better America via Texas.

Rick: We’ve got to get back to the basics of “We the People.” We all must answer the call to service for our state and nation for the common good.

Dembones @ 22

It’s a pleasure to have you with us this afternoon. My question regards the 57 Democrats (16 in the Senate) who voted with Republicans on the recent FISA revisions. These Democrats sided with the President that the threat to this country is so great that we must relinquish some of our freedoms in order to remain safe. Many of these Democrats feared political retribution for appearing “soft on terrorism.” Would you explain to us your feelings on whether amending FISA was appropriate; on exchanging freedoms for security; and on the political triangulation of Democrats afraid to stand for their beliefs in the face of withering Republican counterattacks?

Rick: FISA is about Repubs again using fear as a political motivator. It’s unfortunate that we relinquish liberty to folks like our administration and the Attorney General. We need people in DC that have walked the walk and can speak with credibility on these issues without being afraid.

martha @ 40

Rick, please update us on the support you are getting around the state!

Rick: Great grassroots support from all over the state. I am telling folks that I am working to EARN their support based on my voting record, years of public service etc.

When I return from Ft. Benning our campaign will share some of the more public endorsements.

TexasEllen @ 43

I’m an old lady who grew up in the Rio Grande Valley and Corpus Christi. The Borderlands are a special place to me and the idea of an ugly fence cutting off the centuries old interchange just grates. Perhaps Tom Tancredo really thinks that all those place names in Texas were put on the map by some pilgrim with a Spanish/English dictionary.

Rick: The current leadership believes that you lead by dividing people. I believe we need new leadership that calls out to people to work together.

LS @ 63

Texas constituent here..welcome.

How do you feel about the Trans-Texas Corridor? I’ve seen signs up already on the road down to Brownsville for future Rt. 69. I understand they are planning a 10-lane highway - all the way to Canada. To do that there would need to be lots of claims of eminent domain.

Rick: We need an interstate in RGV. Ports on the west coast are over loaded. Mexico building two more on the their W. Coast. Panama Canal will be expanded. Real opportunity to expand our import/export traffic thru TX ports.

However, we need infrastructure to move goods to market. Process of how Perry and co. wanted to privatize road system really violated trust with the people in working our land deals.

WestHoustonDem @ 112

Hi Rick and Melissa! Good to see you both here.

Rick - there issues that you and your primary opponent totally disagree on, but one trumps them all for me. He actually describes himself as pro-life, which I prefer to call pro-forced-pregnancy. Can you comment on your stand on women’s reproductive rights?

Rick: 100% voting record with TARAL/NARAL. I’ve witnessed in Afghanistan when a government tells women what they can and cannot do, what they can and cannot wear.

This is not the role of government. Women’s rights are continuously under siege.

It is another deliberate distracter, or wedge issue by the far right.

refinish69 @ 144

In the past few years we have seen the Republican Party discriminate and refuse to pass legislation to end discrimination for the GLBT Community. If you are elected, will you work to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and “Hate Crimes” Bill?

Rick: I’ve voted for all hate crime leg. in the TX House. I was one of 13? votes against HJR 6 in TX.

I hate bullies. Folks that gratuitously “other” people like the Repubs often do violate my vision of We the People.

Melissa Noriega (that's Council Member Melissa Noriega!) joined in, also. There's much more over at firedoglake. Check it out.

Children At Risk Gives Rep. Rick Noriega An A

This week, the Texas Observer Blog pointed to the Children At Risk Legislative Report Card for the 80th Legislature, but the press conference announcing the grades was held last month. A transcript of a portion of that press conference is below, including the remarks about one of the grade "A" recipients, Rick Noriega. The Children at Risk report and the report card can be found at the Texas Observer Blog link above. CHILDREN AT RISK Who Made the Grade? Press Conference 7.19.07 Good Morning! I am Dr. Bob Sanborn, President and CEO of CHILDREN AT RISK. We are here today to issue the C@R Legislative Report Card for Texas’ 80th Legislative Session. Last January as the 80th Legislative Session started we at C@R met with members of the Houston Delegation to let them know that we would be grading their performance in regard to key children’s issues. WE WANT TO INSURE THAT THE CHILDREN OF HOUSTON ARE WELL REPRESENTED WHEN IN COMES TO THEIR NEEDS. CHILDREN AT RISK has historically been known for our research and data collection and our Growing Up in Houston Book that we put out every other year with hard data on the status of Houston’s Children. We couple that data with collaboration with other leading children’s organizations, and partner with public officials to work towards meeting the needs of all of our children in four key areas… Children’s Physical and Mental Health, Public Schools, Safety and Security, and the Basic Needs of our Children. Today we want to announce who were those leaders in the Legislature who made a true difference for children, and who were those who we look forward to working with in the future to make a difference. • During the last session over 6,000 bills were filed • CHILDREN AT RISK tracked close to 200 bills that related to the well being of our children…many important pieced never reached the floor for a vote • For our Report Card we looked specifically at 40 bills that reached the floor for a vote, that we believed were the core legislative pieces in regard to a better life for the Children of Houston. They break down into: o Education: 5 o Physical and Mental Health: 11 (Including HB 109, the CHIP expansion bill which we believe was the most significant piece of pro-children legislation in front of our representatives this session) o Human Trafficking: 4 o Child Welfare: 7 o Juvenile Justice: 5 o Environment: 8 There was some significant success in the session this year. Notably: • CHIP-expansion 130,000 more children are on the insurance roles • TYC • Human Trafficking We want to Thank all who Speak Out for Children! Through CHILDREN AT RISK's network of communication, over 1,500 letters were sent to the Legislature during the Session. Hundreds of faxes, phone calls , and face to face meetings also impressed upon the legislators the importance of meeting the needs of children. Methodology During the 80th Legislative Session, CHILDREN AT RISK challenged legislators to “Make the Grade.” The State of Texas Children 2007 Report Card was developed to hold legislators accountable and to insure that children are represented during the legislative process. Legislators were graded on the following: • Voting record of significant issues/legislation impacting children • Leadership of children issues • Committee outcomes effecting children How did the Legislature as a whole rank? --- C+ How did the Houston delegation do? --- B Part of the reason that Houston’s delegation fares so well in our grading is that we are blessed with great leaders in our community. Today we are honoring the six legislators that received our highest grades. An “A”. Joining me in honoring these legislators is the Chief of Pediatrics here at Ben Taub Hospital, chair of the board of CHILDREN AT RISK, and a longtime advocate for children in the Houston area, Dr. Jeffrey Starke. Dr. Starke? A few words? Remarks on Representative Rick Noriega: Rep. Rick Noriega has been a true champion for children during his eight years of service in the Texas State House of Representatives. His commitment to making children’s issues a legislative priority during the 80th Session were exemplified by his authorship of key education reform legislation on which C@R worked with Rep. Noriega, infant care program for incarcerated mothers, and efforts to improve Houston’s air quality. We are particularly pleased that Representative Noriega is able to give a strong voice to the importance of children’s issues in the Appropriations Committee. We look forward to continuing our relationship with Rep. Noriega.

It's Monday; Time To Round Up The Texas Blogs

It's Monday, and that means it is time once again for the Texas Progressive Alliance Weekly Blog Round-Up, where we review the best in Texas blogging from our various member blogs. This week's installment is brought to you by Vince at Capitol Annex. TxSharon at BlueDaze brings us an interesting story about drilling companies in Wise County getting caught lying about water usage. Sometimes, the truth just slips out as it did when an oil field worker told TXsharonher about water usage in Barnett Shale drilling: Depleting and polluting our water in Wise County, Texas. Texas Toad at North Texas Liberal asks "Will There Be Mercy For Kenneth Foster?" John C. at Bay Area Houston Blog tells us about the newest corporation and industry to exploit the Federal Arbitration Act-- Comcast, in Another Consumer Scam: Comcast Arbitration. If you want pictures of Rick Noriega at YearlyKos, Charles at Off The Kuff has them here. McBlogger at McBlogger looks at the mortgage industry brouhaha and decides the sky isn't falling after all. Easter Lemming does another of his Liberal News Digest's from progressive media. There really is a liberal news media, if you know where to look outside the mass media. WCNews at Eye On Williamson posts regarding Williamson County County Attorney Jana Duty filing a brief with AG Greg Abbott regarding whether County Judge and Commissioners can use outside counsel without the County Attorney's consent in County Attorney Asks AG Abbott For Opinion On Hiring Of Outside Legal Counsel. Hal at Half Empty points out that if you want quality education don't come to school bond issue meetings with box cutters. Vince at Capitol Annex takes a look at the briefs filed before the Attorney General in the opinion request on the power of the Speaker of the House of Representatives. And...Several Texas bloggers were also represented at Yearly Kos in Chicago, and did some great liveblogging. Here are some samples: Burnt Orange Report; Muse from Musings was liveblogging all over the place, including at her blog where she brings us the ePluribus interview with Rick Noriega, Markos of DailyKos' special endorsement of Rick Noriega, a session on female bloggers, a panel on local blogs, liveblogging of the the presidential forum, and at Capitol Annex where she blogged on the MSM-blog panel (also here, here, and here); And, don?t forget about these other Texas Progressive Alliance Members: Three Wise Men, In The Pink Texas, Marc?s Miscellany, Common Sense, The Agonist, People?s Republic of Seabrook, B and B, Brains and Eggs, Texas Kaos, Feet To The Fire, and Who?s Playin?.

Liveblog of Local Blogging Panel at Yearly Kos

I'm liveblogging a roundtable panel on local blogging (well attended) - DavidNYC , who is a frontpager at Daily Kos and ran the Swing State Project, is the moderator. He tells us that Markos in his press conference yesterday, said that the most exciting development in the blogosphere is the rise of local and state blogs. Panelists: Wendy Norris - Colorado Confidential Phillip Anderson - The Albany Project Mike Caulfield - Blue Hampshire Physical process of setting up blogs: Caufield - got on Blogger - was very quick (good platform for a single person blog, gets high ranking in google); when decided to form Blue Hampshire, went to soapblox Anderson - first version was Blogger; then moved to soapblox to have a community site. Norris - a funded project (by a non-profit). Uses soapblox. Communication with traditional media: Norris - get a really good sitemeter (google analytics, statcounter). She sees the MSM on her site. Tracks what those folks are reading on the site. Sends rss feed to reporters who are covering the same beats she is. Tries to establish a relationship and learn their constraints and concerns. She hears that their stories are mangled by their editors. Joined the Colorado Press Association. Has press credentials. She's done some investigation of candidate ethics reports in Colorado! MSM picked up on her story about one candidate and a $20K problem and expanded on it. It totally blew up on the guy and he lost his election. Caufield - Newspapers in NH - not so good. Difficulty in NH politics - major newspaper has a conservative agenda. Lots of stories get lost. His goal is to dispute the facts in a particular article, but not disparage the reporter. (P.S. Caufield not a fan of Blognet News and their blog stat ratings). You can effect a change if you try to stick to the facts. Has an example of pushing something up to the national media (The Hill) who then pushed it back to the local media. Take that step of talking to reporters. Anderson - scooped a huge story right when they launched their blog (about NY state legislators and secretive earmarks) and found the press coming to them. They've since maintained relationships with all of those people. They freely call the MSM and are given attribution in the MSM stories. They've moved from original reporting to activism (have gotten involved in campaigns). MSM looks to the blog to see what they are interested in - must be worth reporting. Norris makes the point that it's confusing when your blog is both about activism and journalistic reporting. It's confusing to the MSM and to blog readers. She is an online journalist. When she writes about something that needs activism, she sends it to an activist group for them to get going on it. Caufield - there are Democratic voices in your state that are not always heard in the MSM. Blogs can provide a place for those voices - often in the comments. When a story breaks, the MSM can go to blog comments and take the tenor of a conversation - a wider discourse can create a new story. Time for questions: I asked the first one! About MSM not attributing things in their stories to bloggers. I gave examples of my work with John exposing ethics violations among Texas legislators. We see "our" stories in the mainstream media without attribution. Apparently this is a problem with the big blogs as well. Josh Marshall with Talking Points Memo has a huge problem with the AP picking up his original reporting and claiming it as its own. A suggestion was made for local bloggers to get involved in their local press associations - their meetings are open to the public and it will raise your profile. There is some sense that the MSM viewpoint is that bloggers should be happy that their story is getting out, no matter if without attribution (good dog! pat on the head). The main point of agreement among the panel is to cultivate relationships with local media. Then you can call them up if they don't attribute. There's also the bigger picture that we want to get our stories out, so it's great when the MSM picks up on our stuff. The problem is that we link to them, but they don't link to us. By the way, I heard from a prominent Texas activist while I've been here, that the Houston Chronicle got all over their reporters very recently for not following the local blogs better!

Presidential Candidate Forum at YearlyKos

Hillary, Obama, Edwards, Richardson, Dodd, Kucinich, and Gravel (how do you spell that?) are at Yearly Kos answering questions from moderators and questions submitted online.

The Supreme Court, healthcare and the deficit have been covered so far. Richardson admits he "screwed up" in a previous debate about who he'd appoint to the SC (used Justice White as a model who voted against choice). Hillary points out that every Democratic candidate for president is for universal healthcare, which distinguishes them from the Republicans.

Two of the candidates (Obama and Richardson) said there needs to be pay-go in government. That hasn't been passed by this Congress? Sure thought that was the new way we were operating.

There is a little bit of pandering going on (Dodd bringing up O'Reilly which got cheers and "thank God there is a Daily Kos" - seriously, he said that. That's silly).

Edwards is pretty fired up. He says that real change is going to mean not negotiating with those that won't ever agree to give up their power (ex: pharmaceutical companies). Wow, he's saying politicians shouldn't take a dime from lobbyists. The Democratic party is the party of the people. Cheers!

Gravel is calling bullshit on how his opponents onstage are good at dramatic statements to get everyone riled up. He doesn't think they are saying anything new from four years ago. Accuses them of saying things based on "how does this affect my election". And, how does their answer affect the special interest money they receive. Didn't Edwards just call bullshit on all of that, too?

Ha! One of the moderators just made a slip of the tongue and was referring to President Bush and said "President Clinton".

Hillary's plan for Iraq as President: 1. decrease funding 2. have a plan for troop withdrawal and redeployment 3. put real pressure on the Iraqi government which the Bush administration has not done.

Kucinich: Impeach Cheney. (cheers)

Kucinich and Richardson: Get out now. (Richardson says that is his one point plan.)

Gravel rambles. Something about cloture - go on and on until you get the votes on Iraq. If they aren't getting the votes, you must not want to do it. He sounds like a grampa on the radio. Oh, Lord - "we don't need to be in all of these countries." He said that. People are chuckling.

Obama: we need to hunt down those who perpetrated 9-11 (um, sounds like Bush . . . and Kerry.) We have unleased civil war in Iraq. He said other stuff, I zoned out.

Edwards: America is not safer because of Bush. Hammering on Bush. We need a new way of framing this discussion. I'll find these people and will stop them. There has been no long term strategy to keep America safe. War on Terror - a bumper sticker, not a strategy or policy.

Hillary: the world opinion of us is more anti-Bush, rather than anti-America. There is a global war on terrorists. We need better diplomatic strategies, and not go to the military strategies first. Bush is waging a war he does not know how to wage. She emphasizes again that there has not been a long range strategy on terrorists.

Kucinich raises the spectre of neocons.

China - a menace? China - a trade partner?
Obama - if we are there debtors and they are our bankers, then we don't have the leverage we need. We need to put pressure on them in terms of human rights and trade. I zoned out again. I'm not sure why he does this to me!!

Dodd advocates universal service of people - not mandatory. Triple Peace Corpy, for example.

Edwards gets called on his New Hampshire debate comment that it would be dangerous if Musharraf is displaced. He says he met with Musharraf and asked what could change with the way Pakistanis hate America (dude, there is a reason for that - see: U.S. support for mujahadeen in Pakistan in order to run the Russians out of Afghanistan). Musharraf said their kids need a good public education (rather than being educated in madrassas). We need to ratchet up our diplomatic leverage with Musharraf.

New question: If elected, will you hire an official White House blogger (all raise their hands). Gravel will be The Blogging President, Edwards will have Elizabeth be his official blogger. :)

50 state strategy: Hillary will have one. Blue voters in red states. Rural voters. Gives example of how she won her NY Senate race by going all over the state.

Bill Richardson: We need a candidate that energizes voters. But he is not so much energizing me.

I haven't heard a lot here that is different from what I have heard from these candidates before whether in person or in a debate. This format seems to have the right balance of formality and casualness. They get to go over their alloted time a little and they can raise their hand to respond to comments from their opponents.

Edwards says he is not taking lobbyist money.

Hillary says in her 35 years of service she has a record of not been influenced by lobbyist contributions. There is booing and hissing and she says, I've been waiting for this! That's why I'm here! Lobbyists represent nurses, teachers, corporations, etc. - real Americans. She thanks the progressive blogosphere movement for what they are doing to change things. Yes, she will take lobbyist money.

Dodd: we have to have public financing for elections. People stand and cheer.

Obama gets all over Hillary: Washington lobbyists have disproportionate influence and the healthcare lobbyists are an example.

Kucinich: nails Edwards on taking money from hedge funds.

Finally, this gets interesting. Edwards won't take money from Washington lobbyists. Since he needs to raise money to run a good campaign, he'll take hedge fund money. Until we have public financing of elections. (muse has curious/confused look look on her face). Edwards asks the audience, "who is represented by Washington lobbyists". Points to three people. Bullshit. More people (and their interests) are represented by lobbyists than they realize.

Dodd gets impassioned by things that are obvious. Where are his real solutions? Policies?

Hillary seems to be the only one that recognizes that solutions are complicated. Lots of cheerleading stuff going on from the others. She has her own applause moments that get a good reaction from the crowd. She is also self deprecating and funny. "John and I are having a vigorous agreement."

Edwards seems about ready to burst a blood vessel throughout this whole thing.

Are we safer? Lots of finger pointing on this - Hillary said we are safer! We are not! No, he said that! Kucinich: we'll be the light of the world. Well, that killed that whole discussion.

Richardson gets some funny stuff off: I'll be a member of the executive branch.

We're done!

My favorite thing is that some of these folks really showed their personality. I would say this got vigorous before it ended!

Hillary smokes everyone because she has plans and understands the complexities of what is going on. Edwards is a man on a mission that all Democrats can agree with. I wish he had lightened up. Obama is getting better, but his lack of experience shows all the time. Richardson - why isn't he stronger? He has more punch lines and platitudes than the real stuff I want to hear. Gravel needs to don a sweater and sit by the radio and go quietly into the night. Kucinch, geez, personality of a turtle (no offense to the man-marrying box turtles). Oops! Forgot Dodd. Why is he running?

Now see, this was way more like a real debate than that silly YouTube "debate". The candidates got to challenge each other, respond to their opponents remarks and request time for follow-up.

Good job, YearlyKos organizers!

Girl Bloggers at YearlyKos and it's Presidential Candidate Day!

Today is presidential candidate day at YearlyKos! Clinton, Edwards, Obama, Richardson, Dodd and Gravel will be here for 1 p.m. forum. Each candidate will participate in a breakout session with convention participants. We had to choose our candidate breakout session when we registered and I chose Edwards. We got a colored wristband that identifies which breakout session we can attend. All hell broke out when it was announced at the Thursday night keynote that Hillary would NOT be at her breakout - Ann Lewis would represent her. Then, the next morning, we were informed that Hillary would be here, but her breakout session would be at an earlier time to accommodate her schedule. No problem. I'll be at her session at noon. I switched with someone to get her wristband. I'm very curious how she'll be treated. So far, the sessions have been very respectful even if a panelist is not so well loved by the kossacks.

I went to a session this morning on female bloggers. Packed room and great panelists (photo above). Lots of these women have been harassed in the comments on their blogs and some have had to contact law enforcement. I have comment moderation for this reason.

To my Texas blogger friends - girl bloggers rule!

Oh, and for all of you idiot right wing bloggers and commentors - these are perfectly normal people here at Yearly Koks. Grassroots activists who are very, very smart and trying to make the world a better place. I have not seen anyone go off and act crazy or reveal their horns or tails. Glad yall are afraid of us, though, since you do fear very well - keep up the fear. It's going to get you nowhere in the short run and long run.

Rick Noriega And Markos At Yearly Kos

I wrote about my experiences with Rick Noriega at Yearly Kos yesterday over at Off the Kuff (with photos).

Here are a few more.

Rick liveblogged on Daily Kos from the blooger room at Yearly Kos. Markos stopped by to see Rick and we pinned a Rick Noriega badge on him.

He left the blogger room to go to a press conference about the convention with approximately 75 mainstream media reporters. Markos was asked about running candidates everywhere - and would that really work in the red states. Markos said "absolutely" and lifted his Rick Noriega pin off his jacked a bit. He said Rick Noriega is here at Yearly Kos and he is exactly the kind of candidate that can win in Texas against John Cornyn.


That was yesterday, Thursday, and today Markos is still wearing his Rick Noriega pin.

At Yearly Kos With Rick Noriega

I'm here at Yearly Kos with Rick Noriega. It's interesting how many people recognize him by sight or, if not, immediately recognize him when he introduces himself.

This is the first day of the convention and people will be arriving all day. The exhibit hall is being set up.

We took advantage of a quiet exhibit hall for his epluribus interview with Kay Shepherd.

Then, Rick went to the Military Families Netroots Caucus where 10 impassioned people talked about the war and families.

We have several more interviews, lots of meeting and greeting to do with bloggers and other political folks.

Stay tuned throughout the day!

Is Fred Thompson's Child Bride Running The Campaign?

Sounds like the wheels are coming off Fred Thompson's bus to the White House, before it's even started down the highway. He's raised less money than expected, is not real stellar on the campaign trail and who is running his campaign anyway? When is he going to announce? When is he going to morph into Ronald Reagan? The cowboy hat sure isn't working in that Washington Post photo. Looks like a UFO landed on his head. His campaign is disorganized to the point that his child bride (photos here and here) is running campaign meetings.