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February 28 - A couple of friends have asked me to re-think my shiver about twitter.  Okay, I'll keep an open mind. However, do not do it at lunch no matter what.



February 28 - Remember how three weeks ago I told you to keep an eye on Stanford Financial long before anybody else even knew they existed.
     Honey, if I say it's Mardi Gras you better buy some beads because that sucker is back on the front page.

Federal officials alleged Friday that Texas financier R. Allen Stanford and a fellow executive engaged in a “massive Ponzi scheme” that misappropriated billions in investor funds and that they engineered a bogus $1.6 billion loan to Stanford.

The allegation of a Ponzi scheme—one that uses money from new investors to pay returns to older ones — is contained in an amended version of a civil fraud complaint the Securities and Exchange Commission filed Feb. 17 in Dallas. The earlier complaint alleged fraud, but did not describe it as a Ponzi scheme.

     Of course, they're squeezing the only female in the boardroom, hoping she'll rat on the others. 
     There's going to be an empty big ole building on Westheimer in Houston for rent soon.  Anybody want to open a barbeque joint or a real upscale bait camp? 


Susan,

As usual, your predictions are right on the spot.  But somehow you missed the most interesting headline on that copy of the Houston Chronicle.

That's the big, bold one that says, "
JOBLESS FUND APPROACHING INSOLVENCY".

That's quite a shock, since just yesterday, Rick Perry (Your governor, not mine, thank the Lord), said that he was going to refuse stimulus funds for bailing out state unemployment funds and extending benefits to the less advantaged.

David B
A New Mexican currently in Mexico


February 28 - You know why red states are red?Chapped. 

A new nationwide study (pdf) of anonymised credit-card receipts from a major online adult entertainment provider finds little variation in consumption between states.

"When it comes to adult entertainment, it seems people are more the same than different," says Benjamin Edelman at Harvard Business School.

However, there are some trends to be seen in the data. Those states that do consume the most porn tend to be more conservative and religious than states with lower levels of consumption, the study finds.

     You can read the details here
     So, the next time you see some rightwing Congressvarmint waving The Bible around, you can bet there's a Playboy magazine tucked inside. 



February 27 - Why do Republicans lie so much.  Habit, mostly.

Looks like the game is up.

Remember that story Bobby Jindal told in his big speech Tuesday night -- about how during Katrina, he stood shoulder-to-shoulder with a local sheriff who was battling government red tape to try to rescue stranded victims?

Turns out it wasn't actually, you know, true.

    Yep, he was just getting practice.



February 27 - Well, it appears that Republican Governor Rick Perry is looking for dirt on Republican Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson. 
     There's already a winner in this fight - Texas Democrats, and I'm proud as punch of that.
     Ya know, this Governor's race in the GOP primary might prove to be more fun than the State Fair and hotter than a Cadillac bumper on Del Rio parking lot in August.
     I can hardly wait.  We're taking bets over here on which one will draw blood first.  I was thinking of betting on Kay because I hear she pinches.  But Rick's a hair puller and has his nails done more often.  The guys over at Buck Pochek's Ice House and Rural Entertainment Promoters give Rick 4 to 3 odds, but I wouldn't bet your fishing pole on it.



February 27 - Carl sent me this of him up at Lake Huron this morning ---

     So, that's February at Carl's house.
     Here's February today in Texas ---

     The neighbor's azaleas.  Not quite in full bloom yet - another week maybe.
     And then there's Farmer Bob bringing me greetings and news of his tomato plants.

     All things considered, I'd rather be here.



February 26 - Thank you, Tom.



February 26 - Paul gave me the heads-up to get my hotel reservations for this sucker.

Women don’t really like Rush Limbaugh. On Feb. 23, Public Policy Polling released findings showing that only 37 percent of women hold a favorable opinion of the hate radio host, compared to 56 percent of men.

... Limbaugh brought up this poll yesterday on his radio show, noting that it was one of the largest gender gaps Public Policy Polling has seen on any issue it has polled in the past year. His solution? To convene a summit of women to find out why they dislike him.

     Paul thinks that Robin Williams might have the correct answer.
     Look, I cannot speak for all women .... what the hell am I saying?  Of course I can and I often do.  My opinion is this:  Women do not like Rush Limbaugh because, Good Lord!, he reminds them of Rush Limbaugh!


I love the video.  I noticed Daily Kos has a list of his national sponsors; is anyone working on a list of KTRH local sponsors?  I've also emailed KTRH to let them know they are no longer on my radio dial (not even for Astros games).  I would be willing to spread the word in Brazoria County.  Home Depot is already off my list and others may follow. 

Sam



February 26 - Thank you, Signe Wilkinson ---



February 26 - We get lots of email about Tom DeLay being on teevee.


RE:  Hot Tub Tommy Unhinged.

Yeah, I know it is repetitive but I liked it.  Anyway, Hot Tub Tommy appeared on Hardball and said that President Obama's State of the Union address was "Most Irresponsible, Hypocritical Speech I Have Ever Witnessed"

Irony is not dead, it's just asleep at the switch.

You can see Hot Tub Tommy here.

Paul


I swear to God, Susan, I nearly had a stroke when I saw the Congressvarmint on Hardball today!! I got so damn mad about it I sent Chris one HOT e-mail, too. I used to think Chris had a little intelligence but I am beginning to wonder about him now. Of course, Tom made an absolute ass of himself so maybe Chris did it on purpose but STILL------------ Anyway, I chastised him pretty severely - in a polite southern way. I hope you saw it, too.

Marie


I saw Hot Tub Tom on Hardball last night.  Tom DeLay - the gift to Democrats that just keeps on giving.  Doesn't he realize that his appearances just remind everybody what Republicans did to this country?  Keep on reminding us why we got rid of you and your ilk, Tom.

What is with his hysterical laugh when he gets caught being absurd? He sounds like he should be tying a damsel to the railroad tracks.

Hey Zeus



February 25 - Thanks to my friend David for this really cool lifeskills tool -- the GOP Problem Solver.  (It's work-safe.)
     And, if that's not enough to keep you busy, there's even a GOP Problem Solver Twitter!

     And, Dana Milbank does a nice job of telling us about Congressional Twitter.  I agree with him.  I had a first lunch date with a new friend a couple of weeks ago.  She sent four twitters during what will be our last lunch.  She's a grown-up.  Cripes!  Twitter is for kids, you know humans at an age where running in packs is necessary to development.  If you're a grown up and doing twitter, quit it.  You look silly and your pants droop.


"All of which raises a question: Should these guys maybe spend time fixing the country and leave the Twittering to somebody else?"

Indeed.
 
Later!
 
Kerr Mudgeon
 

Twit - an adult who indulges in twittering.

Ellen


Susan - they call it TWITtering for a reason.  I believe it was invented so teenagers could talk to each other during church. 

Carol Ann



February 25 - Y'all, if Bobby Jindal is the new hope for the Republican Party, they need to go on bended knee and tell Sarah Palin that all is forgiven.  Gracious sake, he made her look intelligent and rational.
     On the other hand, I think it was real mean of them to lock Jindal in a box and not let him listen to the President's speech before he gave the response.  Obviously that's what happened because no damn fool would have said the things Jindal said. 
     Even FOX news wasn't thrilled ---

BRIT HUME: "The speech read a lot better than it sounded. This was not Bobby Jindal's greatest oratorical moment."

NINA EASTON: "The delivery was not exactly terrific."

CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER: "Jindal didn't have a chance. He follows Obama, who in making speeches, is in a league of his own. He's in a Reagan-esque league. ... [Jindal] tried the best he could."

JUAN WILLIAMS: "It came off as amateurish, and even the tempo in which he spoke was sing-songy. He was telling stories that seemed very simplistic and almost childish.

     "The speech read a lot better than it sounded"?  Honey, that's a lot like saying, "He's not as dumb as he acts."
     Truth be known, the tired old rhetoric of the GOP wouldn't sound good coming out of Cicero's mouth. 
     Hang it up, Boys.


Click here.

Bobby Jindal's Story about Demons and Spiritual Warfare

Julie


Susan, the kindergarteners at library Story Time would have walked off from Jindal's presentation.  Must have hallucinated that he was rendering "My Pet Goat". 

Ruth


It's almost as if Frank Capra directed Mr. Jindal Goes To Washington,  but let Jon Stewart write his speech.

Brian


I'm trying to decide if Jindal is better for Democrats than Palin is.  It's a close race.

Hey Zeus



February 24 - Oh goodie, we're having BIG fun now.
     Check out Roll Call (subscription only) today with Senator Jim Bunning, a Republican from Kentucky, talking trash about Texas Republican John Cornyn ---

"I don't believe anything that John Cornyn says. I've had miscommunications with John Cornyn from, I guess, the first week of this current session of the Senate," Bunning said, according to the Louisville Courier-Journal. "He either doesn't understand English or he doesn't understand direct: 'I'm going to run,' which I said to him in the cloakroom of our chamber."

     Me?  I would lay money on the "doesn't understand English" approach.  And, Babe, that's just one of the many, many things John Cornyn doesn't understand.
     When Cornyn starts getting Republicans to call each other names, he's responding to the little voodoo doll I have of him.  I'm feeding it catnip.  No, seriously, I am.  My friend, Sister Wazoo, has a hex for everything and some involve goats and teabags.  But Cornyn, he's pure cat scratch fever material. 



February 24 - I have an mean head cold, so I'm still in my jammies toting around Kleenex and chicken soup.
     Thankfully, TK sent an interesting commentary and a fun link.

Juanita, Honey,
 
The really curious birthplace issue in the last election was not Obama's but McCain's.  John boy was born outside of the United States, in the Panama Canal Zone
 
I am also sending something that is completely non-political, but fascinating nonetheless.  It is an animation of flight 1549 with the exchanges between the pilots and the control tower providing the audio.  The totally unexcited nature of the exchange makes it all the more effective.
 
TK

     And Carl says you might want to read this after listening. 



February 23 - Darlin', I need me one of these.

     And so do you.


Great shirt but ...we haven't survived it yet...did you see the dow close today???????

Fran



February 23 - Y'all, this scares me because my favorite scent is newsprint.

The owners of The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Philadelphia Daily News filed for bankruptcy late Sunday night after talks aimed at restructuring their heavy debt load broke down, executives said.

     Newspapers are folding like grade school origami, and as we learned from the Houston Chronicle, the only thing worse than no newspaper in a town is having only one newspaper in a town. 



February 22 - My friend Deb from Aladamnbama keeps insisting that her politicians are in training to be our politicians.  I'm beginning to think she's right.
     Richard Shelby is obviously being mentored by John Cornyn ---

Another local resident asked Shelby if there was any truth to a rumor that appeared during the presidential campaign concerning Obama’s U.S. citizenship, or lack thereof.

“Well his father was Kenyan and they said he was born in Hawaii, but I haven’t seen any birth certificate,” Shelby said. “You have to be born in America to be president.”

     Well, Shelby, my Grandma Rose was born in Ireland but that doesn't mean I can dance a jig.  And, no, you can't see my birth certificate either, you moron. 
     Whatsthematter, Richard, Hawaii isn't taking this statehood thing seriously enough to suit you? 
     So, Richard, click right here.  Now you've seen his birth certificate. 
     Now, if you know what's good from you, stay away from John Cornyn because whatever it is he has, it's obviously contagious. 
 



February 22 - Y'all, just stop whatever it is you're doing, and read this
     I've been telling y'all that George Bush, Phil Gramm and Tom DeLay ruined everything for Texans, and now it's in the Washington Post. 

But now, barely a month into the Obama administration, even the proudest Texans must admit: The days of Lone Star Power are over. You may greet this news with tears or with relief, but there's no denying it. Now that George W. Bush has hightailed it back to Dallas, there is no Texan of any real significance left on the national stage. Kay Bailey Hutchison is still hanging on, and Texas has that governor, Rick whatsisname, the guy with the haircut, but the most visible Texan in Washington right now is probably the Libertarian Ron Paul. I don't think I need to say much more than that.

     It's pathetic.  I think they did it on purpose.  I think George Bush, Phil Gramm, and Tom DeLay need to be sent off to some foreign state to spend their waning days as political curiosities and the bumps on a log that they truly are.
     And that, apparently, is just not my opinion.


Susan,

This sure brightened up my day!

Going through the news today I came across the Richard Shelby craziness and Glenn Beck's fantasies of Road Warrior/Lord Of The Flies i.e. 'Worst Case Scenario' - and if he doesn't get called out publicly 
on this one something is even more wrong than I thought . On top of Alan Keyes' and Rick Santelli's tirades it's almost like the '60s again, though somehow "Power To The Corporations!" and "Make Money Not Peace" doesn't quite have the same ring.

So then I get to your page and see your hard work, and the rest of the correct thinking (I try not to use the 'r...t' word too often because of unfortunate connotations) Texans finally acknowledged in the national press.

The only mistake was saying that the days of Lone Star Power are over. Only the GOP part is.

Brian



Susan,
The foreign state of Virginia says send that trio to Alaska.  They passed through here before.  Tom He-Lies especially left a very bad taste in the northern part of my state where I live.  We feel they need a nice little glacier to reside in where they can do no more harm.  They can stay warm with the wolves and if the gov'ner happens to start shootn at 'em from a 'copter, well they know how to run and dodge.  Best of luck to them there. 
 
Dolores

February 21 - I have a friend named Carl who lives in the frozen tundra up by Lake Huron.  I have no idea why anybody would want to live there because it's colder than a witch's boob in a brass bra, but Carl seems to like it and sends me pictures of it every now and again.
     Carl is interested in Texas politics because we're kind enough to entertain him when it's too cold to go outside.  He appreciates that.
     This morning he sent me this information about Pistol Pete Sessions, Congressvarmint from 32nd congressional district of Texas - the very rich areas of Dallas.  The joke is that Bill Gates lives in the Pacific northwest because he couldn't afford a house in Highland Park.
     Anyway, Pistol Pete (who got that name because he's always shooting off his mouth), seems to have told a big ole lie and gotten caught.

National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) Chairman Pete Sessions (Texas) has closer ties to Allen Stanford and his financial empire than his office previously has acknowledged.

Sessions through a spokeswoman on Wednesday said he didn’t know Stanford “personally,” according to a Feb. 18 Bloomberg article. He also said he would keep the $41,900 in political donations he received from the fugitive and his employees.

     I think Carl is kinda wondering why Texas politicians lie so much.  Mainly habit, I guess.
     So if spring is a little late for Carl, we promise that Pete Sessions trying to explain his way out of this one will keep everyone amused.



February 20 - Well, lookie here, John Cornyn just this minute announced that he's caving ....  a tad.

HOUSTON — Republican Texas Sen. John Cornyn says he'll give $4,000 to charity to make up for contributions he accepted from Texas financier R. Allen Stanford.

Cornyn was in Houston when he was asked about contributions Stanford made to his campaign and a four-day trip Cornyn and his wife took to Antigua on Stanford.

Caribbean regulators on Friday took control of a bank in Antigua that Stanford owned. The SEC has filed a civil complaint against him accusing Stanford of fraud. FBI agents tracked him down in Virginia on Thursday to serve him with court papers.

     Lordy, Lordy, Republicans are bad at math - it was a $7,000 trip and $20,000 in cash American money, John.  I tell you what, cowboy.  You give me $27,000 and I'll give you $4,000 back and we'll call it even, okay? 
     Hummm .... maybe if Republicans were better at math, we wouldn't be in this mess to start with.


February 20 - Okay, it's it our semi-regular Phil Gramm Day here at KMBBB.  Let's check in on Phil and see what amazing and difficult thing he's done today.
     I think you'll be impressed.
     What former member of Congress is personally linked to all three of the greatest financial frauds of our time?
     Phil Gramm, of course.

     He wrote and passed legislation that enabled Enron to run amuck
     And then ---

     He killed legislation that would have interfered with Stanford Financial's illegal business model.
     And then, just because he's had so much practice -
     He's now a senior executive at UBS and
UBS just entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with the Justice Department requiring it to reveal the names of the U.S. citizens it helped evade taxes and pay a $780 million criminal fine.
     Darlin', that's a gentle reminder that the free market ain't free to you and me, but it's making Phil Gramm a very rich man. 
     All three - that's an impressive feat.  He's won the Trifecta of Turmoil.

ON EDIT:  And whoa, here's a little breaking thought and info on Gramm and UBS.


Hi, Susan, don't forget that Wendy Lee Gramm was on the SEC when it was somehow not noticing that Enron was a shell game. 

 from Ruth



February 20 - You know, after all the bad news about PBS&J, you'd think that Republican County Commissioner Andy Meyers would get the hell out of their back pocket.
     But, nooooooo.
     I tell ya, he's going to hell.  He is.  He's the biggest money grubber on the face of the planet and one day Sweet Jesus is just gonna fed up with Andy using Jesus' name in vain while he takes money from all manner of money changers.



February 20 - Okay, now we have a new expression around here:  When pig hunters fly!

MERTZON, Texas (AP) — Millions of wild pigs weighing up to 300 pounds have been tearing up crops, trampling fences and eating just about anything in their path in Texas. But now they had better watch their hairy backs.

A state lawmaker is proposing to allow ordinary Texans with rifles and shotguns to shoot the voracious, tusked animals from helicopters.

     Now my question is this:  how they gonna tell the wild hogs from members of the State Legislature?  I mean, they both look and behave the same.  Except, of course, that the hogs are better looking and they eat out of their own trough. 
     Honey, it's gonna be real difficult to tell them apart from the air.
     So, on second thought, maybe this isn't such a bad idea. 
     And then later in the article, it says --

Miller gave assurances the hunting would be closely regulated, though details on such things as how many hunters would be allowed to take part, and how many hogs they would be permitted to kill, have yet to be worked out.

"You're not going to have some bubba up there going, `Pass me a beer and ammo' and hunting some hogs," the legislator said. "We certainly want to do it right."

     Well hell, if you don't have a Bubba saying "pass me a beer and ammo", it ain't hunting.  I mean, that's what hunting is.  Look it up.
     As far as I'm concerned, having a bunch of people going around in helicopters shooting things ain't hunting - it's war. 
     And then it says that scientists at Texas A&M University (meaning anybody on campus who can operate a pocket calculator) are looking for a birth control pill for wild pigs.  Honey, if they way they look ain't working, I doubt anything else would. 
     Besides, there's an ethical question here - if we let Texas Republican reproduce at will, what right do we have to stop feral hogs?
     (Thanks to Deb for the heads-up.)


Susan-
       Spoke with my wife, Susan, about how Bubba will be able to tell the pigs from the members of the Lege while hunting pigs by chopper and she said it wouldn't be a problem at all cause the pigs would be wearing lipstick!
         Oh and can you imagine an Aggie trying to put a condom on a pig!?!??

Paul


Tell Sarah Palin those pigs are elk and she'll be the first in line. 
 
"I can see Mexico from my helicopter!"

Sam



February 19 - Bingo! 
     As promised, here is a pdf of the invitation to the Texas 2009 Inaugural Black Tie and Boots Ball with the Stanford Financial Group being a $50,000 sponsor. 
     Isn't it nice of them to help their very special friend Texas Senator John Cornyn, 2009 President of the President of the Texas State Society, look good?


Reading the invitation, I noticed Karl Rove's name.

Since when did he get to be "Honorable?"

bk



I have to admit, one of the strangest (to me) things was seeing the word "Honorable" in front of "Karl Rove".
 
Now THAT'S an oxymoron!

Lfty



February 18 - And the hits just keep on coming.
     It appears that Houston's financial Political Sugar Daddy and incidental con machine with $8 million in fraud, Stanford Financial, is also being investigated for Mexican drug cartel money laundering

The SEC's fraud charges may be the least of accused financial scammer R. Allen Stanford's worries. Federal authorities tell ABC News that the FBI and others have been investigating whether Stanford was involved in laundering drug money for Mexico's notorious Gulf Cartel.

     But that's not even the good part.
     Here's the good part:  Pete Sessions and John Cornyn aren't giving the money back
No, siree.  They feel it is their Constitutional duty to keep that money stolen from little old widow ladies investors, and the dirty drug money, too, of course.  They don't want to keep that money, mind you, but it is their duty - duty, I tell you.

Cal Jillson is a political scientist at SMU.

"It is clear that Alan Stanford is the thief-in-residence."

Republican congressman Pete Sessions of Dallas was one of his favorites; he gave him more than $4,000 since 1989.

A spokesperson says Sessions is keeping the money.

"Pete is looking down in his palms and he sees $41,000 and he says can 'I put this in my pocket or do I have to give it back?' And to anyone, including Pete Sessions, $41,000 is enough money that he wants to just think about it," said Jillson.

Senator John Cornyn took almost $20,000 and is also keeping the money.

A spokesperson tells News 8 Cornyn believes in the "presumption of innocence".

     I wonder why Cornyn doesn't believe in the presumption of innocence for anyone else?
     It would be hard to get much better than this.  But, it might. 
     I am working on proving that Stanford was a sponsor at this year's Texas State Society's 2009 Black Tie & Boots Inaugural Ball to the tune of $50,000.  And the 2009 President of the Ball?  Why, John Cornyn, of course.
     And he's keeping that money, too.



February 18 - Thank you Ben Sargent ---



February 17 - Some days are just more fun than others.
     Remember how I promised you that Stanford Financial was headed into a dead end street on a back alley filled with federal agents during a blue norther? 
     Well, if I say it's Christmas, you better buy some twinkling lights, because I do know what I'm talking about upon occasion

Washington, D.C., Feb. 17, 2009 — The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged Robert Allen Stanford and three of his companies for orchestrating a fraudulent, multi-billion dollar investment scheme centering on an $8 billion CD program.

     And remember how I told you that Tom DeLay used to protect them, but now that Tom's hid out so good that you can't find him with a map and Tonto, Texas Senator John Cornyn has stepped forward to fill the rascal vacuum

According to Cornyn's Senate disclosure reports -- posted on the site Legistorm.com, which tracks privately financed trips by members of Congress -- the Stanford Financial Group paid for the Texas senator and an unnamed companion to take a November 2004 trip down to Antigua and Barbuda, the tiny Caribbean nation where the company has its headquarters.

     Also fun is the fact that Cornyn took an undisclosed "companion" on the trip with him.  Oh, please, Sweet Jesus, let it be Tom DeLay, Lulu the Pavement Princess, or Natasha the Commie Spy. 



February 17 - Just when you thought it was safe to go to the mailbox ---

Postmaster General John E. Potter recently warned that economic times are so dire that the U.S. Postal Service may end mail delivery one day a week and freeze executive salaries. But his personal fortunes are nonetheless rising thanks to 40 percent in pay raises since 2006, a $135,000 bonus last year and several perks usually reserved for corporate CEOs.

The changes, approved by the Postal Board of Governors and contained in a little-noticed regulatory filing in December, brought Mr. Potter's total compensation and retirement benefits to more than $800,000 in 2008. 

     I don't know whose brother-in-law was getting their mail early or which Bush this guy had the dirt on, but he also got $70,000 for "security."  Hell, Babe, for $70,000 a year, Junior Janochek will come live at his house with a baseball bat and a shotgun.  Junior needs a job.
     Now, think about this:  The postal service is thinking of not delivering the mail on Saturday and they want 2 cents more for a stamp.  Think about that while you read this:

The board of governors also disclosed that it awarded Mr. Potter $135,041 in "pay-for-performance" and incentive payments for his "effective leadership during the difficult economic challenges of 2008."

     Honey, this has "Bush Administration" and "Republican Congress" tattooed all over it's chest. 


Why does the Postmaster General make more than the President of the United States?

Peggy



February 16 - Okay, so maybe this is just me and if it is, that's okay.  I know I'm strange; you don't have to talk behind my back about that.
     So I was driving around without my camera, which is always a mistake, and saw this house I had to photograph with my phone.  I apologize for the production quality.

     When I see signs in front of peoples' house, I generally stop and read them.
     This one was a treat.  It said ---

     "Struck by lightning 2 times, 2 days apart.  God showed His mighty strength 2 times and His great Mercy.  He has allowed this tree to live.  Trust in God for ALL things.  His will be done.  AMEN."

     Okay, so if it's all the same to God, I'd just as soon he not do the whole lightening thing before he gets to the mercy thing. 
     And if God's dickering with the life of a tree, I've got a rosebush out back that needs pruning.
     I'm just saying.



February 16 - Well yeah, of course I had more fun than recess in heaven last night at The Texas Observer Rabble Rouser Roundup in Austin, Texas.  It was Austin, for goodness sake.  And libruls.  And live music.  And Jim Hightower --

     Bubba didn't even mind that I found an excuse to huddle-up with Jim Hightower because what red-blooded Texas woman wouldn't?  I ended up the evening with Jim's hat.  No, seriously.  In public. With people watchin'.  I have Jim's hat.  It will be auctioned at the next Fort Bend Democrats Club function, if, that is, I can bare to part with it.  I do look powerful cute in it.
     And Bubba talked bidness with Hank Gilbert --

     Y'all help us talk Hank into running for Ag Commissioner again, ya hear? 
     The music was knee-bendin' great.  I'll tell you more about it later, but right now I have to unpack and you have to enjoy Tom Toles.



February 15 - Something really awful happened this morning.
     I was watching teevee and along came Lindsay Graham, which is horrible enough in itself if you ask me.  But then Lindsay Graham  began lecturing me about bipartisanship.  Lecturing.  Me.  And you, too.
     They should reduce my teevee bill if they're gonna let Lindsay Graham on there.
     Before that teevee appearance, they had to take Lindsay Graham in a backroom and teach him how to say the word "bipartisanship."  No, I'm serious; they did.  They had to hire a speech therapist and everything because he had never said that word before today.
     I mean, you've gotta have gall the size of Greenland to be Lindsay Graham today.
     He actually said that the American people voted for bipartisanship.  I didn't.  I absolutely did not.  I voted for change and to stop the gridlock in DeeCee.  I do not know anybody who voted for bipartisanship.  I know my neighbor who voted for Sarah Palin certainly did not vote for bipartisanship. Who voted for bipartisanship and where's their bumper sticker?
     After 6 years of Newt Gingricxh and Tom DeLay, and then 8 years of George Bush, I wanted nothing to do with Republicans, not even bi.
     And how come John McCain was only for bipartisanship after he lost?  You think it was because he freekin' lost? 
     Lindsay added, "I know bipartisanship when I see it."  Uh, dude, you don't even know election results when you see them. 



February 14 - Well, well, well, look what ole Eagle Eyes Alfredo found ---
     Remember the crumbling case of Stanford Investments I told you about?  Remember how I asked who was going to be their next Sugar Daddy now that Tom DeLay is --- well, indisposed?
     Duh.  I am sooo blonde.
     Why didn't I look exactly where I told y'all to look?  Because I'm sooo blonde, I suspect.
     It seems that Stanford Investments flew Texas Republican Senator John Cornyn to Antigua to see the operations of one of their little banks to the tune of $7,400. 
     Kinda like Tom DeLay going to the Mariana Island with Jack Abramoff? 
     I told you.  I told you.  I told you.  Cornyn is morphing into Tom DeLay. 


Dear Susan,
    I'm at a loss to figure out why it cost TWENTY-TWO-THOUSAND DOLLARS to get a Senator from Texas to Hidalgo, Texas in 2005 to accept the 2005 Border Texan of the Year award.

Don A

Dear Don A,

24 carat solid gold Hummer with hookers on board.  Round trip. 

Susan



February 13 - Josh Marshall is getting to meet John Cornyn, voted "Not a Brain Surgeon" by his college classmates.

 

     Josh says ---

It pains me to say this. But Sen. John Cornyn doesn't seem to be too bright. Cornyn was just on MSNBC explaining that spending in a severe economic downturn doesn't make sense and should be replaced by tax cuts since individuals can spend money "more efficiently" than government. I guess he doesn't get that the whole point of a stimulus bill is that in a severe recession individuals -- acting on rationale individual economic motives -- aren't spending. And only government, as a policy decision, can spend at a high rate notwithstanding the state of the economy.

     Josh, if it pained us in Texas to say that Cornyn ain't all that bright, we'd all be hooked on them Limbaugh drugs by now, Honey. 
     No, he ain't all that bright.  But, he's so slick that he can't keep his socks up. Notice how he talked real fast about the 3 times multiplier so we wouldn't know that he didn't get it unless we had fast hearing. 
     Thanks to Bruce for the heads-up!



February 13 - Looking for the next Enron?  Well, look no further than downtown Houston --- again.
     Stanford Financial survived its last run-in with federal regulators only because of the intervention of two lawmakers to whom Stanford Financial gave huge gobs of money: Bob Torricelli and Tom DeLay.

For years, R. Allen Stanford, a flamboyant Texas billionaire, richly rewarded the well-heeled clients of his private investment empire. But now federal authorities are investigating whether those rewards were simply too good to be true.

Several federal agencies, including the Securities and Exchange Commission, the F.B.I. and the Internal Revenue Service, have spent “many months” looking into the business activities of the Stanford Financial Group, which is based in Houston, and Mr. Stanford’s bank based in Antigua, which issues high-yielding certificates of deposit, according to two individuals briefed on the investigations who were not authorized to speak publicly.

The focus of the investigations appears to be how the bank could issue C.D.’s that pay interest rates that are more than twice the national average.

     Without DeLay to protect them, pay up time is just around the corner.  You know, ole Tom might want to go ahead and check himself into the Federal Pokey to get some goodtime on his record.  After all, all his friends are already there or fixing to head out. 
     By the way, the Good Folks at Stanford Financial now really, really, like Pete Sessions.  They've given him $31,000 in the last three election cycles.  You remember Taliban Pete, don't ya?


Maybe this is the way they have been laundering money to the Repugs in Texas. A bank could pay more if the cash flow was from bribe money that was laundered into interest earnings. It could even stay solvent if they were careful. Just act like a real bank and add money to "special" accounts. I know these crooks are getting money and I have long suspected offshore Banking. Is it the Bahamas that Leininger always takes Perry to? He could slip him cold hard cash there and Perry could just bank it offshore and transfer it to Switzerland per Phil Graham's investment handbook. I personally know of too many officials who have taken big risks not to have a big payoff somehow. I wonder if they are clients of this Stanford Bank? Can't wait for the list.

Cheers,
Robin



February 12 - Say whaaaa.....

AUSTIN, Texas - Texas has ordered a recall of all products ever shipped from a now-closed Peanut Corp. of America plant in Plainview amid a nationwide salmonella outbreak.

The order came Thursday evening from the Department of State Health Services. The agency says "dead rodents, rodent excrement and bird feathers" were discovered Wednesday in a crawl space above a production area.

     Well, hell, Cooter, the Texas Legislature has been operating in those same conditions for 200 years and nobody has even suggested that we shut them down.  I mean, hell, I've seen them pass some pretty good laws while standing knee-deep in cow excrement.
     I don't know 'bout you, but I just threw out three jars of peanut butter. 

 


Susan, 

I hate to dump this on you, but I have kids still young enough to eat peanut butter. 

But can’t our uber deregulation Republicans in Texas (George W and now Guv ‘Good Hair’) realize that letting bizness run rampant and unregulated until they kill somebody, just doesn’t work? 

It’s late and I’m going to type until I feel better.  I do have a great story (I think).  When I was getting my MBA at fabulous Tulane University in (more fabulous) New Orleans, I took Economics from David Friedman – son of the late Nobel Prize winning economist Milton Friedman – Reagan’s chief economic advisor).  Son of Friedman taught the exact same theory that daddy did – no surprise.  We got into a discussion about what bizness (sic) actually was obligated to be liable for, and examples such as unsafe cars, baby food, or lead in paint came up.  And ‘No’ shouted Mr. Freidman, business is not obligated to do more than the laws requires, and the regulations should not be very strict.  If a baby food Mfg. makes tainted baby food and it kills 300 babies in the US in a week or month, the MARKET will fix everything because Moms and Dads won’t buy that brand of baby food any more and they will be punished by the MARKET.   So no regulations are required on anything like that. 

I asked, “But what if there were safe regulations on that baby food, and the 300 babies weren’t killed?”  The answer, ”That would be an undue cost to business and the overall cost to society would be less than if we left it unregulated, and let the MARKET decide.” 

That answer was not a joke, it is as close to word for word as I can remember from a 1982 conversation.  The good news is that, this was one of 2 life experiences that had that totally sent me on the path of being a Yellow Dog Democrat. 

The other was when I discovered that Jerry Falwell was a Republican, but that is a topic for another rambling email. 

Thank you so much for your patience. 

Regards,

Karl


Dear Susan,
    That Sussex Spaniel who won the big dog show up where the Knicks try to play Bassett ball probably has better morals than the executives of the Peanut Corporation of America.  Not only did they ship products before the test results came back positive for salmonella, they stopped using the laboratory that was finding all the problems and switched to one that managed not to find any problems.  Then, they had the almighty gall to ask the FDA if they could keep running because they needed to pay for the peanuts that were in the rat hole used for storage. 
    Do you think it's a coincidence that the Peanut Corporation of America is headquartered in the same town where Jerry Falwell used to live?

    You probably didn't need to pitch the peanut butter unless it was a no-name brand.

Don
 


The sheer greed and lack of oversight is bad enough, but there is an aspect to this that really galls me that isn't getting mentioned.  They sold a lot of their stuff to the government, right?  A friend of mine that went through that ice storm in Kentucky just told me that he received a recall notice on some of the MRE's that FEMA handed out.  It's bad enough that you went through a natural disaster or  are getting shot at in Iraq or Afghanistan without getting Salmonella on top of things.

Dennis



Hey Susan! I was just over checking up on you and read the email to you from Karl. He was not telling a lie and the reasoning that the Friedman son used is still around today. These idiots think economics are based on magic and have for years. They also believe in Ayn Rand which just shocks me to the depth of my being (and yes, that's a little dramatic, mother always accused me of that) I ran across an editorial last month in the WSJ that is so ridiculous and so disheartening that grown-ups believe this crap I can't believe it. It's written by Stephen Moore, who's described as a senior economic writer. Senior in high school maybe. But get a load of this...
 
These are the idiots that have been in charge of our economy for the last 30 yrs. It's just no wonder we're in this mess.
 
Regards,
Susan too.


February 12 - If District Attorney John Healey does not fire Assistant DA Mike Elliott tomorrow morning then we will know that what everybody says is true - Elliott has dirt on Healey.
     This is the second time in a year that Elliott has been caught red-handed abusing his position to get retribution against his political enemies. 
     You could be next.  You could be standing there minding your own business unknowingly hacking off Elliott or one of his wife's political contributors and he will go after you.  You might beat the rap, but you will not beat the ride.
     Mayor Jamie Roberts is out more money than you even want to think about just to clear his good name. And he can't even sue Elliott because Elliott is protected under a law that says you can't sue prosecutors, even if they abuse their power. It's real hard for me be funny about this because it's disgraceful and horrifying. 
     Fire him, Healey.  Stand up like a man and fire him.  Whatever dirt he has on you we will all forgive you for, if you just act like a grown up and fire his butt.  He lied to the Grand Jury, Healey.  Fire him.
     And what the fool tarnation is this with the sheriff's department?  Sheriff Wannabe Craig Brady took the stand saying his own department screwed up the case?  Why is she still working there?  Why didn't Brady do something about it before it got to this?
     Good Lord, can't we just throw them all out and start over? 
     Maybe I can be funny about this by tomorrow, but right now I wanna smack somebody upside the head a couple of times.


I am amazed that you didn't see one of the biggest goofs in this mess!! The detectives at the sheriffs office are saying that Brady sold them out to buddyup to two rich defense lawyers and their client.  That guarentees some very large money for his campaign.  Isn't Matheny one of those perfect street officers who got $1,000?  The sheriff was proud of her last week but Brady sells her out this week???  How can he be sheriff if he doesn't support his officers?! They all need to hit the road.

LEO



February 11 - Okay, so I know you're sitting there smugly thinking that you have the best daughter-in-laws in the world.
     I need to dissuade you of that pitifully wrong thought.
     I have the best daughter-in-laws in the world, and I can prove it.
     One of my daughter-in-laws went to the Inauguration.  This is what she sent me that she bought there --

     Does that girl know me well or what?
     And what makes my life even more wonderful is that I have girlfriends who will try to mug me for these tasteful pieces of fine jewelry.
     I mean, add it to the purse that Sybil sent me and I have the perfect go-anywhere outfit!   

 

     Damn.  I am one lucky woman.



February 11- Thanks to Mike for reminding us that there's a silver lining to every cloud.

Muzak Holdings LLC, the Fort Mill, S.C. provider of background music to businesses, today announced it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection so it can restructure its debt.

     I swear on my best pair of pink boots that I once heard She Bangs done with violins and a cello in the middle of a grocery store.  It made my ears swell up like a balloon.  Dang near did a Van Gogh just not to have to listen.



February 11 - Marcia sent us our time sponge today.  Be sure to click the light switch.



February 10 - If I tell you that's it's Christmas, you better go buy some little twinkling lights and if I tell you that John Cornyn is trying to become Tom DeLay, you better start burying all your money in the  backyard because John's coming after it.
     Cowboy, anybody who didn't see this coming is blind in one eye and can't see out the other.     
     Cornyn missed the cloture vote on the stimulus package because ....

He was at a New York gathering of prominent media conservatives and Wall Street Republican donors called the Monday Meeting, held at the Grand Hyatt hotel in Midtown Manhattan.

Though not a fundraiser, the meeting is a hub of conservative money and buzz, a good place for Cornyn to tap into resources in his role as chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

     The next move is that John will get borned again again and maybe even again, and then start smoking big ole cigars and hanging out with floozy ladies.  I know this pattern and so far John is on track 9 headed for I Am The Federal Government Ville.


February 10 - Quick!   Alert the media!

CITIES SAY DEREGULATION HASN'T DELIVERED CHEAP POWER

     Or cheaper college educations?
     And tort reform hasn't lowered our insurance rates?
     Awwww.... you mean the free market ain't free for the middle class?  Awww... rats. 

In the decade since Texas deregulated its retail electricity market, rates have skyrocketed higher than any other state with such open competition, according to a report released Monday.

Commissioned by the Cities Aggregation Power Project, a nonprofit coalition of Texas municipalities, the report found that residential electricity rates rose 64 percent between 1999 and 2007. Before that, Texans paid rates that were well below the national average, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

"Consumers have paid too much for too long under deregulation," said Jay Doegey, chairman of the municipalities group, which seeks to curb market abuses.

     Dang, I hate Republicans.  They will steal the gold out of a widow woman's teeth --- while she's eating.  And then brag about it at the country club.


Susan,

See, there you go again. Wanting government to get on the backs of small businessmen who started with nothing, working in their garages 29 hours a day so they can fulfill their dreams of owning a power plant or university.

But of course the socialists, those people who just want to RUIN EVERYTHING, want to regulate them. The little people just can't understand that all those rules put in place to make businesses conduct their operations fairly places unnecessary restrictions on that jugular ripping, tooth pulling, dog killing All-American entrepreneurial spirit that has made Corporate America the model for despots worldwide.

Saint Ronald of Reagan understood this and once said in his response to a question about his proposal to relax safety standards that if many children died because of a faulty baby seat, consumers would stop buying the seat which would punish the manufacturer, who would then presumably design a better baby seat. A perfect model of free unrestricted markets at work.

Brian

 



February 10 - Uh huh.



February 9 - Honey, I want to know how many screws you gotta have loose to defend Alberto Gonzales in writing. 
     No, seriously, somebody needs to count so we can keep score in case somebody tries to defend Stalin or something.  Then we can assign a scientific numerical value to this:  14 screws loose, defend Stalin; 17 screws loose, defend Gonzales

I have defended Gonzales in the past, and I stand by that defense. It's undeniable that he made mistakes. At times, he was careless -- in his choice of words, in his management style and his failure to speak up in his own defense.

     So, Gonzales' biggest mistake is that he didn't toot his own horn enough and that he needs a thesaurus? 
     I am so glad these people are gone.  They scare me.



February 9 - My friend Evan sent me this video this morning and I started playing it.  I just now was able to stop dancing.  Ray Charles, Jerry Lee Lewis,  Ray Charles and a Rolling Stone or two. 
     And then I found this Muddy Waters and Pinetop Perkins dilly.
     And then I found .... well, I spent the day listening and dancing.  Y'all have fun.


Thank you Susan for that music!!!!  That is MY music..... went to see Little Richard last year........hurt my back, who cared??  there was a second video as well then i watched Chuck Berry..........what a #%^ genius!         thanks again...........and it followed OBAMA

Sybil


Now that's my kind of music!! And I remembered every word of the  lyrics, too.<LOL> That was FUN!

Marie



February 8 - Well, as if the Texas Talibaptist didn't have enough to do right here, what with all manner of Sodom and Gomorrah and nakkid people and floozy wimmen and drunk cowboys walking around totally unarmed in flagrant violation of the second amendment, the Texas Talibaptists have had the wherewithal to send missionaries to Alaska to minister to poor starving lawyers with severe and horrifically chronic honesty deficiencies.
     Poor pathetic unwashed Alaskan lawyers who don't even have their own "Feed the Lawyers" commercial on late night teevee.  I get all misty-eyed just thinking about it.

JUNEAU — New state gift disclosures show it cost Liberty Legal Institute and the two law firms working with it $185,000 to represent six Alaska legislators in an unsuccessful lawsuit to halt their colleagues' "troopergate" investigation into whether Gov. Sarah Palin acted improperly in firing the state's public safety director.

The legislators listed a $25,000 gift of services from the Texas-based Liberty Legal Institute. Liberty is the legal arm of the Free Market Foundation, which is associated with evangelical leader James Dobson's Focus on the Family, and lists its guiding principles as limited government and promotion of Judeo-Christian values.

     If being able to hide your public-interest activities is not a Judeo-Christian value, then I want to know what is!  And Lord knows the Talibaptist have had years of experience at hiding - the liquor, the frequent trips to Hooters, pesky little divorces ...
    



February 7 - Okay, I had me some Yes, Pecan! ice cream over at Ben and Jerry's in Sugar Land.   
     Apparently, you can't buy it in stores. 
     It was yummy good but could have used a little more vanilla.  Hint to my friends in Vermont - Al and Carol:  sneak over to the factory and dump some vanilla on their doorstep.
     And, even though the profits of this ice cream goes to progressive causes, I could not bring myself to order, "Yes, pee-can."  I had to order "Yes, pee-cahn," which doesn't even make sense, but I was a Texan looong before I became an Obamachicacita. 
     I couldn't eat the whole thing, and Honey, I do have an appetite, so order the small one and consider some hot fudge sauce on it. 



February 7 - Happy Sunny Saturday Morning --



February 7 - You know, if Nancy Pelosi had said something like this, they'd be trying her for treason or drop her buck nakkid into Mississippi with "I Support Equal Rights" tattooed on her butt. 
     Pete Session is just another creepy Texas Republican in a long string of very creepy Texas Republicans.  And his new heroes?  The Taliban, of course

When pressed to clarify, Sessions said he was not comparing the House Republican caucus to the Taliban, the Muslim fundamentalist group.

"I simply said one can see that there's a model out there for insurgency," Sessions said before being interrupted by an aide. The staffer said Sessions was trying to convey that the Republicans need to start thinking about how to act strategically from their perch in the minority.

     Honey, you know the difference between the Taliban and Texas Republicans?  One is opposed to science, equal rights for women, religious freedom, peaceful resolution of disagreements, and democracy.  The other is the Taliban.


February 6 - As a special Friday treat, I will share with you one of my very favorite blog I check every day.  Please feel free to go there, but do not use it all up.
     It is called Cake Wrecks and they show professionally made cakes every day.  You can vacuum up all your spare time at this blog. 


February 6 - You know, if Assistant DA Mike Elliott keeps his law license, much less his job after this, I think we should demand that his boss, DA John Healey be required to have the rocks in his head counted by a mental health professional. 

     Lawyers were caught off-guard in the trial against Fulshear Mayor Jamie Roberts Wednesday night when they found out sworn statements taken by a Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office detective had not been handed over as evidence in the case. Those statements, said Roberts’ attorney angrily, contained information that weakened the detective’s case against Roberts.

    The omission played into defense attorney Rusty Hardin’s contention that prosecutors and Fort Bend County investigators repeatedly looked over evidence that could exonerate Roberts from a charge of felony theft and two misdemeanor counts.

     Elliott is perfecting a new form of prosecution - use the seediest people on the planet to go after some of the best folks around who also happen to be your political enemies. 
     If you live around here, please take the time to read the whole story to know what a damn mess these folks have made of the criminal justice system.  If you don't live around here, damn, you're lucky.


I wonder if  his law school covered the topic of " suborning perjury." ? Maybe he was absent that day. I think the county is going to have an opening for a new deputy and an ADA.

Cheers,
Robin



February 5 - It looks like my mentally unhealthy neighbor, Cynthia Dunbar, may have some competition for her State Board of Education seat.

In the past two days, party activist Susan Shelton confirmed to me that she definitely plans to challenge Dunbar, and University of Texas math professor Lorenzo Sadun said he’s “very likely.” Sadun also told me he’s heard "as many as a dozen people are thinking of running" as Democrats.

     Phew!  I was getting worried that she would be re-elected by acclamation and then dye her hair blonde, get her own black cocktail dress and start appearing on Fox Spews - all of which seem to be a requirement for Head Crazy Republican Woman, a competition that's becoming increasingly stiff.
     Cynthia has just gone through a messy and very public divorce from her ex-Mr. Wonderful, Glen, a former county employee, who embarrassed her by being a tad more prissy than allowed in husbands of the Belles of Heaven Republican Women's Club.  It left Cynthia more bitter than a washtub of tonic water.  Why she decided to take it out on little children, I dunno. 
     Cynthia believes that Barack Obama is Bubba Beelzebub and that Jennifer Anniston is a secret Soviet agent intent on passing a law to make kitchens off-limits for women.  She thinks science is a tool of the devil and prays daily for the end times so she can gleefully watch you boil. 
     She's one of my neighbors, y'all.  I sleep with one eye open and the other at half staff because I'm real scared that whatever she caught might be lurking in the dark.


Hey!  There's nothing wrong with passing a law to make kitchens off limits for women.
WJH

Cynthia Dunbar got divorced? I didn't think those rightwing holier-than-thou, whackos recognized divorce. Don't they consider it evil or a sin or something? You know, since after all their marriages were made in heaven by God and all.
That woman is crazy. Just plumb crazy.

Lfty
 

Dear Susan,
    Considering how the State Board of Education has taken on the mission of making Texas the laughingstock of the Universe and isn't that far off from achieving their goal, having normal human beings with a respect for knowledge run for seats on that august body seems like a good idea.

Don A in Pennsyltucky
 



February 4 - Let's hear an "Amen!" out there for a electing a Democrat to the commissioners court who broke the extortion rule of forcing businesses to join the Economic Development Council in order to get a tax break.
     It used to be that businesses wanting to relocate to Fort Bend were forced to join the EDC in order to get any tax breaks from the county. 
     Getting new progressive blood on the court looks like it's gonna keep an eye on the good-ole-boy way of doing governmental business. 
     Atta Boy, Richard.
     And while we're handing out courage kudos, Obama will not be moved.  If CEOs can make more than $500,000 a year, they certainly don't need to borrow money from me, dammit.



February 3 - I am so glad that Tom Daschle withdrew.  He handed Obama a bushel basket of embarrassment.
     Now how 'bout a real doctor at the helm of Health and Human Services?  How 'bout Howard Dean?
     I think it's a perfect fit.  Dean is so tough that he's grown horns and that's the kind of guy I want carrying health care for me.
     To be honest, this great idea isn't mine.  Robert sent it to me, but when I opened his email, I went "Hell, yes."



February 3 - Granny Geek finds all the coolest stuff on the internet tubes.



February 3 - Thank you Marshall Ramsey --



February 3 - Well, snap.  That settles it - Rick Perry will get the Alaska vote for Governor. 
     If you noticed a disturbance in The Force yesterday, Sarah Palin endorsed Rick Perry over Kay Bailey Hutchinson.

Gov. Rick Perry’s campaign distributed a letter to members of the Texas Federation of Republican Women in which Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin endorses Perry for re-election. The letter does not mention Perry’s challenger, U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison. “While a bunch of politicians have gone to Washington, hat in hand, seeking a bailout, Governor Perry has said we should stimulate the economy with tax cuts and maintain spending discipline,” Palin says.

      Okay, first off, "tax cuts and maintaining spending discipline" in Texas means you cut health care for kids but put the Governor up in a fancy-pants house while they re-do the Gov Shack.
     But the even better thought is this --  Question: if you take two very pretty but empty heads and join them together, does that make 1/2 a real head? 
     I told you that this race was going to be the best ever.  The. Best. Ever.  Now it's promising to be a mud wrestling girl-fight with Rick Perry providing the mud. 
     We may even have to set up a special section here for this Menage a Tres.  With the hair on all three of them - it's a good time to visit The World's Most Dangerous Beauty Salon, Inc.


This is a huge break for Gov Good Hair.  He's got the support of the Holy Mother-now if he can get endorsements from both Bushs and Limbaugh he'll have The Father, the Son and the Holy Dope.

Sam in Pearland



February 2 - Remember the time our goofy sheriff went out and paid a small fortune to put his own name all over our police cars without even asking if that was legal and then ended up spending your tax money to take it off when we told him it was illegal so you got stuck for putting it on and then taking it off?
     Well, he's done it again.
     Without even asking if it was proper or legal or even ethical, he up and decided on his own, armed with his high diploma, that taking a quarter of a million dollars from an anonymous source and doling it out to a select group of sheriff department employees in the form of $1,000 cashier's checks was a smart thing to do.
     It, of course, wasn't and still isn't. 
     Honey, he's made a mess bigger than a bushel basket of wire coat hangers.
     And it's costing you a small fortune with our county judge, our county attorney and our district attorney all having to spend time trying to unravel this heap-'o-crap that Milton has created. 
     And then he's got some of his deputies going out and insulting his other members of local law enforcement - even some within his own department who didn't get a check - by being very hoity toity or looking for fight.
     Child, a group of kindergarteners with finger paints make less mess than this. 
     It has fallen upon some kind citizen to take up the duty of having to tell Milton that (1) he obviously ain't near smart enough to know the difference between a gift and a bribe, and (2) he ain't damn king of the county.
     Oh, by the way, the folks who got the checks were told that the donor was going to pay the taxes on the money.  Yeah, I know, that doesn't even make sense.  But, it's so typically Republican - love that tax free money.
     Cheeezzzz.... four more years of this?



February 2 - Little Bubba was here last night and actually laughed when I told him that was on Facebook.  He informed me that Facebook is the 8-track tape of social networking. 
     And to think that I didn't take any anesthetic when he was born because I couldn't wait to see him.
     Yes, I whacked him.


It's actually fun!  I have gotten in touch with old friends who found me through Facebook.  Of course they had to find me since I am still confused as to how it works.  It does keep me in touch with my home state of Texas while I am living in the foreign state of Virginia.  
 
Susan, you would like it here they have elections EVERY year!  Lots of practice or lots of burnout, depends on if you are on the winning side.  We turned VA blue so we like elections right now.  Thanks so much for keeping me up to date on what those scalawags are doing and for shining a light on their campaign reports!  Darn good entertainment!

Dolores


There are all sorts of time-sponge activities on Facebook.  Some are fun (I play Word Twist and Pathwords with my sister who is in Kuwait) But I'll warn you about getting involved decorating imaginary Christmas Trees, sending Hearts, etc.  I like the Free Gifts to send Birthday greetings, etc. 

It is a good place to put up pictures you want to share.  I haven'd done that, but my son has.

Fondly, EClaire


Facebook is the 8-track tape of social networking” 

Naw, it’s more like the CD of social networking.  Of course, all the cool kids use iPods & MP3 players! 

David


I hate to be the one to tell you this, but you can get Facebook for your iPhone.  Then life as you know it is officially over.

Hey Zeus



Susan,
 
I laughed out loud.
 
Same thing happened to me on "My Space."
 
I filled out the "profile" thingy ...... and a lot of "young" males wanted to be "my friend."
 
Looking for a "sugar mama"? maybe.   Looking in the wrong place? Definitely.
 
The weirdness lasted about a month, before I closed " the account."
 
There is something about being able to "hide behind" a monitor, keyboard, and CPU --- that has people doing really weird stuff sometimes.  It's all so "faceless" and impersonal , and anonymous. 
 
Have fun.
 
Evelyn


February 1 - A kind reader just informed me that I made a terrible mistake and deleted all of last month's entries.  So, I'm working on fixing it.  It you check it now, you'll see that the formatting is wonky. 
     I have company right now (Yes, I do have friends.) so I'll work on fixing it all tomorrow. 
     Reminder:  I only have half a brain and the batteries need changing.


February 1 - Okay, so my friend Maureen hounded me until I did it. 
     I'm now a victim of Facebook.
     It's only been a week, but it's been --- well, odd.
     People I don't even know want to be my Facebook friend, and some of them seem overly concerned about my erectile dysfunction or my need for a loan, or to joyfully let me know that they are anxious to get cash American money out of Zambia and God led them to me.
     I have learned that some of my friends' friends are very weird people.  I have decided that I do not want to ever see any of my friends nakkid, or know who they are friends with when I'm not around. 
     Oh friends of mine, some of your Facebook friends are very strange, so give me a heads-up if one of your nice friends wants to be friends with me or if this dude claiming to be your friend is someone who was a friend of a friend of a friend who is overly concerned about your erectile dysfunction and wants to be my friend.  I need to know before I make another mistake.
     However, if you want to be my Facebook friend and you're on Facebook and you've sent me email before here at this site or can offer some proof that you're not just somebody nakkid with a keyboard, please feel free to send a request to me asking to be my Facebook friend.  And ignore the odd people playing in the background.
     Just search Susan Bankston.  There's a lot of us but I'm the one from Houston.  Be sure to send me an email telling me your Facebook name and that you've requested to be my friend. 

 

 

 


Welcome to the website formerly known as The World's Most Dangerous Beauty Salon, Inc.

My name is Susan DuQuesnay Bankston.
I live in Richmond, Texas, in heart of Tom DeLay's old district.  It's crazy here.  No, seriously, it's triple z crazzzy.

I used to be an independent voter, but that all changed when I got to know a few local Republicans.  They are meaner than 10 acres of snakes and have the ethical compass of a bank robber. 

So, I decided that they could just Kiss My Big Blue Butt.

A lot of what I post here has to do with local politics, but you probably have the same folks in your local government.

This ain't a blog.  Blogs are way too trendy for me.  I've been doing this since 1992, so I'm used to it even if you ain't. 

Email me and I'll find a place to put it if I like it.