Campaign Bizzaro

I tweeted this the other day because it did happen:

#Campaign protocols: Never show up at your opponent’s fundraiser and rant and rave and cause a scene.

It happened here locally with a candidate running in this year’s elections.  I have no idea what the candidate was thinking.

The Chron has a story today on the Mayoral race.  The story is only available to those that buy the hard copy or subscribe.  The story focuses on Ben Hall’s TV buy strategy or lack of strategy.  Respected political scientists think it is odd for Hall to pull back ads this late in the game.  We will see.

On the other hand, I still have not seen a positive ad for The Mayor.  We will also see.

The NLCS begins tonight with the Dodgers in San Luis.  Name the first two teams to ever play in the NLCS?

The Chron E-Board rolled out two more endorsements today:  Challenger David Robinson in At-Large 2 and incumbent CM Al Hoang in District F.

I’m thinking At-Large 2 CM Andrew Burks isn’t too happy this morning.

Here is the Hoang endorsement.

Here is the Hoang endorsement.

You know who doesn’t read the Chronicle these days?  Matt Schaub.

Commentary just learned “digin.”

Commentary also just learned what the fox says.

In 1969 the Mets swept The ATL in three to win the first ever NLCS of course.

I’m thinking MLB likes the fact that the Red Sox, San Luis, and Dodgers are still in the hunt.  It is good for the ratings.  I am sure they would love a Dodger/Red Sox Serious.  I have nothing against Detroit.

The Yard is quiet today.

 

Technorati Tags: Marc Campos,Campos Communications,Houston Politics,Houston Mayoral race,Houston City Counil Races

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All Politics is Local Today

To all that are still fighting the good fight against Tea Bagger GOP Voter ID laws/voter suppression and for redistricting proposals that truly reflect our growing diversity, 47 years ago today President Lyndon Baines Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act.   Among Republican U.S. Senators, the vote to enact the VRA was 30 for, 2 against.  Among House Republicans, the Act  passed 112-24.

Before I get started, Commentary said the following two and a half weeks ago (July 20):

The talking heads will once again debate tighter gun laws but nothing will happen and then we will move on to other things.  It will then happen again and as they say, coming to a theater (temple) near you.

Coming soon to a Temple near you or ditto today! 

METRO, The Port, HISD, City, and County all get a mention today.

JFK once said:  “We cannot negotiate with those who say, ‘What’s mine is mine and what’s yours is negotiable.’”

I’m kind of thinking that JFK might have been also talking about the County and small cities in their dealing with the City and METRO on the future of the GMPs.  I’m also thinking that the H-Town Mayor and the City’s METRO appointees tried to cut a deal that satisfied all parties and the County folks just wanted it all.

Check out the Saturday story in the Chron about the GMPs and the November ballot language here.

Here is from the Chron story:

"It deprives the unincorporated area of Harris County the funds necessary to continue to build the infrastructure necessary for all the people who don’t want to live in the city of Houston," said Harris County Commissioner Steve Radack. "It’s disgusting. The growth is in the unincorporated area."

And:

The proposal passed Friday would treat Houston, Harris County and the other 11 small cities in similar fashion, giving each 25 percent of the sales taxes collected within their boundaries. Humble, Katy and Missouri City would continue to receive a disproportionately larger share, Metro Chairman Gilbert Garcia said, in part, because they sit on the distant edges of Metro’s service area.

The proposal also would require another referendum by 2021.

Should voters reject the proposal, Metro would be entitled to keep all of the sales tax revenues. Garcia, however, said the mobility projects are important and said Metro would work with its member governments to continue funding them.

Afterward, representatives of the county and smaller cities were incensed, saying the move would shift millions to Houston, where the bulk of local sales taxes are collected.  Harris County Judge Ed Emmett estimated that, if the change took effect now, $84 million the county and small cities would have collected over the next three years would go to Houston instead.

Going into this deal the County and small cities maybe forgot to count votes.  The County folks and small cities should have worked something out since they didn’t have the votes to bully and run over H-Town and METRO.

You have to wonder why anyone would now oppose the ballot proposal.  If it passes, the County and small cities get some money.  If it fails, they get some money but probably not as much if the proposal passes – got it!

The Texas Sunset Advisory Commission came out with its Port review Friday and made some recommendations regarding governance, audits, and procurement policies.  Here is from their report:

Modernize the Commission’s appointment structure by providing for a Governor-appointed member with required business experience, having members elect the Chair instead of a joint appointment by the City of Houston and Harris County, and putting clear parameters around Commissioner terms, including limiting tenure to no more than 12 years.

I have a big problem with having a Governor making an appointment to our board.  I just don’t want the Governor’s Office meddling in our Port business.

I also have a problem with the Texas Legislature telling us that the Port will be better off with Commissioner term limits when the Legislature itself doesn’t have term limits.

I also prefer that the Chair continue to be jointly appointed by Commissioners’ Court and City Council rather than the Sunset recommendation of having Port Commissioners themselves elect their own Chair.  The current method encourages the County and City to work together on Port matters.

I don’t have a problem with most of the other recommendations though.

Here is the Chron story on the report.

And here is the actual report.

It is August 6 and the ‘Stros DO have a pitcher in a top 10 MLB pitching category – total games pitched.  Name the ‘Stro pitcher?

State Rep. Sylvester Turner doesn’t like the HISD bond proposal.  Here is what he put out this past Friday:

“As the bond is presented today and based on my review,  I am neither impressed or persuaded.”

And:

“If schools are designed and built for the academic needs of students today and tomorrow, I am prepared to support the bond and will gladly do so.  If the construction of a school is being proposed to make this bond politically attractive to a community that has been starved of academic programs and adequate facilities, I am neither impressed or persuaded.”

Here is the Chron piece on Rep. Turner’s concerns.

HISD Trustees will meet this Thursday to vote to put the bonds on the ballot.  Let’s see if they will cut a deal with Rep. Turner before then.  Stay tuned!

The City has the following on the City Council Agenda tomorrow/Wednesday.  It looks like the $410 mil bond program will be put on the ballot and some obsolete charter language clean-up will also be submitted.  It looks like the closed session City Council meetings proposal didn’t make it on the agenda.   I’m glad they read Commentary over at City Hall and listened to CMs Rodriguez and Costello.  Here are the agenda items:

11.ORDINANCE ordering an election to be held on November 6, 2012, for the purpose of submitting to the qualified voters of the City of Houston, Texas, certain propositions for the issuance of Public Improvement Bonds for various purposes; designating the location of each polling place and the hours that the polls shall be open.

12. ORDINANCE ordering a Special Election to be held on November 6, 2012, for the purpose of submitting to the qualified voters of the City of Houston, Texas, a proposition to update the City Charter by amending Articles I, II, and IX of the Charter to repeal various sections that are obsolete or have been superseded by State and/or Federal Law.

13. ORDINANCE ordering a Special Election to be held on November 6, 2012, for the purpose of submitting to the qualified voters of the City of Houston, Texas, a proposition to update the City Charter by amending Articles V, VIIa, and VIIb of the Charter to remove obsolete references to party primaries and partisan elections, to address the impact of current election laws and procedures, and to recognize the existence of council districts in initiative, referendum, and recall processes.

This past Saturday the Chron E-Board smacked the County folks in charge of running the local elections.   Here is how they ended up their take:

One doesn’t have to look to illegal immigrants or Breitbart exposés to find people undermining the integrity of our voting system. Just look to our own elected county officials.

Here is the entire E-Board take.

The spanking was well deserved. 

Leave it to Beaver’s to come back with a witty menu item alternative to Chicken-s___t-fil-A here.

Some folks decided to have some fun about Ann Romney’s Olympian horse and a subject I know nothing about – fancy horse riding.  In reading about this I learned the fancy horse riding sport was called “dressage” that I thought rhymed with “message.”  I’m glad I didn’t say it out loud because I learned now that “dressage” rhymes with “massage.”  Of course, the Romney campaign could have scored points with the charro leaning Latinos if they had named the horse “Reflaco” instead of “Rafalca.”  They could have made inroads with baby boomers with just a simple “Mr. Ed.”

‘Stros pitcher Wesley Wright of course is in the top 10 in games pitched this season with 53 appearances. 

The NL East first place Nationals are in town for four.  Head out to The Yard to check out some of their exciting ball players like phenom Bryce Harper, Ryan and Jordan Zimmerman, and Adam LaRoche.  Stephen Strasburg pitched yesterday so we won’t get to see him this week but I’m sure he’ll be around to hand out a few autographs.   Maybe I’ll see you there!

 

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Check Harris Votes Again

Early Voting starts next Monday (July 23) and according to HarrisVotes.org, runs through Friday (July 27) from 7 am to 7 pm.  The Early Voting locations are pretty much the same as usual.  The Tuesday, July 31 Election Day is another matter and so you had better check it out.

 A whole lot of precinctS will be voting at the Early Voting locations.  On July 31 for instance, a lot of the Heights precincts will be voting at Moody Park.  A lot of the East End precincts will be voting at either Ripley or HCC.  A lot of Montrose precincts will be voting at West Gray.  You get the picture?

 Well not really.  A few precincts will continue to vote at their usual location.  There are a few oddities.  Precinct 218 Dems will vote at HCC but Precinct 218 GOPers will vote at Ripley.  Precinct 4 Dems will vote at Moody but Precinct 4 GOPers will vote at Crockett Elementary.   Precinct 60 Dems will vote at Lanier but Precinct 60 GOPers will vote at West Gray.  Like I said, check out the list at HarrisVotes.org. 

 Will this confuse July 31 voters?  Yep!  Will this hurt turnout.  You betcha!

 Name the MLB team that has the record for most consecutive losses to start a season?

 This is from that Channel 13 story that ran yesterday on the major league snafu on getting the Harris County voting lists right:

According to a letter by outgoing Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector Don Sumners, the Harris County Department of Education trustee district lines were not updated for the May primary. In fact, each precinct was about 100,000 people off. An analysis of the Lee-Johnson race, Sumners writes, shows almost 1,400 people did not vote who should have and 872 people did who should not have.

That’s what happens when you spend your time over at H-Town City Council meetings messing in the business of other folks and not taking care of your own business!

Commentary was at the Meyerland Area Democrats meeting last night and heard the presentation from the Texas Freedom Network on the State Board of Education (SBOE).  SBOE Dist. 6 candidate Traci Jensen also spoke to the Meyerland Area Democrats and afterwards a number of the attendees took home some Traci Jensen yard signs.  FYI:  Let us know if you need a Traci Jensen yard sign.  You can go to www.jensen4stateboard.com or contact us at this office.

I also heard State Rep. Dist. 134 candidate Ann Johnson for the first time.  She’s an All Star for sure.

The Cindy Vara-Leija for Precinct 1 Constable Campaign was in my ‘hood yesterday.

B’More holds the smelly distinction of course of starting the 1988 season with 21 consecutive losses.

The ‘Stros finally hit the double digit mark for road wins last night with a 2 zip win over the Padres at Petco.  Unless we start playing a whole lot better baseball, we will certainly be the first to lose 40 road games as we sit on 35 losses today with the Cubbies being the only other MLB team with losses in the 30s – they have 32 Ls.  M-I-S-E-R-A-B-L-E

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Temper Tantrum

It looks like City Controller Ron Green is throwing a little temper tantrum because The Mayor won’t show him the bond numbers.  Here is from Chron.com:

 Green, the city’s second-highest elected official, said he has repeatedly asked for and been denied information on the measures.

“If it’s that secretive, it can’t possibly be good for the city,” Green said. ”Until such time as I get more information, I’m not supporting any bond referendum that the city puts forward.”

Oh, brother!  Settle down and wait to see the numbers like everybody else this morning then you can pronounce them good or evil.  Don’t worry – the world won’t come to an end.  And also from Chron.com:

 Green said he has heard that the package of bond measures will total approximately $400 million.

“I still believe we need to go out for more bond authorization. I think $400 million is not adequate to meet the needs of the city,” Green said.  “If you’re going to ask somebody to vote for bond referendums, you need to be realistic about what it’s going to take to meet a major CIP (capital improvement project) initiative.”

The city should take advantage of low interest rates and ask for $600 million to $800 million, even if that requires a tax increase, Green said.

In 2006, then-Mayor Bill White also did not consult with then-Controller Parker before rolling out a series of bond measures, according to Parker’s office.

If you ask me and thanks for asking, the City Controller is looking and sounding a little silly.  BTW:  The Mayor will unveil the bond program this morning at City Council.

 Here is the rest of the story.

 Last night the NL All Stars had 10 base hits and the AL All Stars had 6 base hits.  Name the league division that had the most base hits?

 One of the best lines of the 2012 Campaign comes from Vice-President Joe Biden yesterday before the National Council of La Raza:

 “Mitt Romney wants you to show your papers, but he won’t show us his,” Biden said. “So many questions…”

Keep hammering! 

 FLASH!!!!!  Chris Moran of the Chron just put this out:

 Mayor Annise Parker is unveiling a $410 million package of proposed bond measures for the November ballot that will not require a tax increase.

She proposes five bond measures. The purposes and amounts:

1. Public safety: $144 million

2. Health, sanitation and general government: $63 million

3. Affordable housing: $15 million

4. Library: $28 million

5. Parks: $160 million

“I realize many Houstonians are still recovering from the economic downturn,” Parker said in a press release. “That is why it was important to me to present a plan that does not require a tax increase. It is also the smallest bond proposal in more than 30 years. It is a fiscally responsible approach that will create jobs and improve public safety, infrastructure and quality of life.”

Let the games begin!

 A couple of days ago I got an Alan Rosen for Precinct 1 Constable mail piece and his campaign went door-to-door in my ‘hood last week.

 In my book, if you shell out a couple of hundred bucks to attend the dinger derby, you are entitled to boo players.  The other night KC fans booed Yankee Robinson Cano because he’s a Yankee and he didn’t let KC All Star Billy Butler participate in the dinger derby.  Cano was the AL derby dinger captain that picked his fellow dinger derby participants.  When Cano came up to bat during the dinger derby he was booed mercilessly and he ended up not getting a single dinger.   A few prominent baseball columnists called out the KC fans for booing Cano.  SHUT UP!!  KC fans have every right to boo.  I’m glad they did because it made the dinger derby slightly less boring.

 Well it looks the NL Pennant Champ will have World Serious home field advantage in October.   I know.  Some so called “purists” don’t like that the league that wins the All Star Game gets home field Serious advantage.  It makes the game a lot more interesting. 

 What is a baseball “purist” anyway?  They don’t like the DH?  They want to go back to day games?  They don’t like the Wild Card?  They don’t like the Kiss Kam?  Oh, well.

 The NL Central of course led all other divisions last night with five base hits (Braun 2, Furcal, Holliday, and McCutchcen.

 My favorite moment of last night was watching Chipper Jones get a base hit in his final All Star at-bat. 

 A few more days off then the roadie begins in San Fran on Friday.

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No Terms of Endearment

Yesterday the H-Town City Council Committee on Ethics, Elections and Council Governance killed the proposal to extend term limits.  The proposal won’t be on the ballot this November.  This is definitely a good thing. I’ve said it before, if folks want to change or do away with term limits, go out and get the signatures and build a grass roots campaign.

Here is from the Chron:

Councilman Andrew Burks, whose budget amendment last month sent the issue to the council’s ethics and governance committee, first tried to build a case for longer terms on its merits. He argued that it would save money in avoided election costs, attract better candidates, encourage more long-term thinking, shift officials’ focus from fundraising to public policy and reduce the use of council positions as stepping stones to other offices.

Virtually every member of the committee told Burks the proposal was the wrong idea at the wrong time and voted 9-1 to put it to rest. Even Burks, who was elected in December on his 13th try for public office, voted with the majority.

 

And:

District I Councilman James Rodriguez said any move to change term limits should come from the citizenry.

“I haven’t seen a groundswell of support for changing term limits, especially in my district, and I think they’d like us to get back to the business of running and managing this city,” he said.

Rice University political science professor Robert Stein warned the committee that putting a term limit-change on a November ballot that already may be crowded with bond issues and a sales tax referendum likely would doom it to failure.

 

Picking up on Stein’s analysis, Councilman Stephen Costello said, “We don’t need to have this particular issue on the ballot. We don’t need to have this issue competing against our future bond issue or a bond issue of the school district or a bond issue of the community college system in addition to a referendum that Metro’s going to have at the same time.” Costello then introduced the motion to kill the proposal.

As the opposition to his plan piled up, Burks snapped back with rambling complaints about the influence of lobbyists, Costello’s involvement in a ballot measure campaign that created a massive public works program that imposed a monthly fee on homeowners, and political cowardice among his colleagues.

 

CM Rodriguez (Commentary’s client) is on point on this.  CM Costello is also correct.  I’ve kind of been saying that myself the past couple of weeks.

I don’t know which lobbyist CM Burks is talking about. Commentary has had the same position on this issue since the days of the Term Limits Review Committee back in 2010. I went to most of the meetings and spoke at some of them.  I’ve been pretty consistent on this.  Oh, well!

Here is the Chron piece.

Three MLB All Star Games have been played in H-Town (1968, 1986, and 2004).  How many of the starting pitchers of those three games are in the Hall of Fame?

The Chron’s Ericka Mellon has a darn good piece today on the HISD bond proposal. You need to check it out because we could be voting on some of this stuff this November.  Here it is.

This past Sunday the Chron introduced their new sports columnist, Randy Harvey and for today’s column he bashed the ‘Stros – wow – he certainly dug deep to find something to write about.  I’m impressed – woo -woo!  Check out his column here.

Hall of Fame great Don Drysdale of course started for the NL All Stars in the Astrodome back in 1968.

Commentary watched last night’s 3 hour long and very boring dinger fest.  I’ll head out to The Yard this evening to check out the MLB All Star Game on El Grande and eat the team’s free grub.  I’m betting that Jose Altuve will see plenty of action since he is the only backup second baseman on the NL All Star team roster.

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In State Rep. 144, Ybarra Wins Key Endorsement – My Dad!

Commentary isn’t involved in the State Rep. 144 Dem Party Primary.  I do like Pasadena City Council Member Ornaldo Ybarra – heck, he’s the only candidate in that race that has ever talked to me.  CM Ybarra worked with me on an issue last year on behalf of a client and that’s how I got to know him.  I consider him one of the young leaders of the Democratic Party.  If he’s not successful this go around, he certainly will be successful the next go around.

My parents drop by my shop once or twice a week these days and we talk politics, family, ‘Stros, and issues.  We also catch up on the latest gossip.  A part of Baytown that includes my parents’ precinct is now a part of Dist. 144.  My parents have asked me about the candidates in 144 and I’ve told them that I know CM Ybarra, I’ve never met Kevin Risner, and I really don’t know HCC Trustee Mary Ann Perez.

This past Saturday Ybarra shot me an email that included the following:

“Your father (Tony Campos) called me the other day and had a good talk, he said to use his name as endorsement.”

Knowing my Dad and knowing that he likes to back up his endorsement, he’s going to spend the next couple of weeks calling or visiting all of his friends and family asking them to vote for CM Ybarra.  My Dad’s retired and he doesn’t have anything better to do.  Every little bit helps in a low turnout election.

Hey, my Dad’s the fella that sued the City of Baytown and won, so now Baytown has single member council districts.  He knows a little bit about politics and getting folks to the polls.

This MLBer has won two Cy Young Awards, has been on eight All Star teams, has won 20 or more games three different seasons, is on track to the Hall of Fame, and was picked in the First Round (17^th overall) of the 1995 MLB Amateur Player.  Who am I talking about?

Roll call!  Here are the mail pieces that have hit here at my place this primary season:  DA candidate Zack Fertitta (2), SBOE 6 candidate Traci Jensen, Pct. 1 Constable candidate Jaime Tellez, Jr., 215^th Court Judge Steve Kirkland (2), Pct. 1 Constable candidate Alan Rosen (2), Pct. 1 Constable candidate Quincy Whitaker, and Pct. 1 constable candidate Cindy Vara-Leija.

Early Voting begins today and are you ready?  I’m thinking the campaign activity in some constable and state rep races will probably mean the Latino vote turnout will increase some over its 2010 Dem Primary turnout in Harris County.  We will see.

Future Hall of Famer Roy Halladay of course has won two Cy Young Awards, has been on eight All Star teams, has won 20 games in three different seasons, and was picked by Toronto in the first round of the 1995 MLB Draft.  Halladay is celebrating his 35^th BD today.

We should have won yesterday as we now play two in Philly before coming home.

 

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Goofy Dude

An upcoming e-book called “Inside the Circus” says that Guv Dude’s goofiness on the Prez campaign trail was the result of being on pain killers.  What’s wrong with that? If you are in pain, you take pain killers, right?  Dude’s spokesperson is vehemently denying the claim.  I don’t know why Dude just doesn’t come clean and admit he was popping a few.  Last I checked, in the Lone Star State, Iowa, or New Hampshire, you can’t be charged with a CUI, err campaigning under the influence.  Here is from Chron.com:

Gov. Rick Perry‘s heavy use of painkillers to help relieve severe back pain may have kept the governor from the top of his game last fall during an aborted presidential run, according to an e-book being released today.
And:

Author James Moore, who has written about both Perry and former President George W. Bush, figures Perry would benefit by running with the painkiller defense.

“If I were the Perry organization, I would jump all over the notion that it was painkillers making me loopy on the campaign trail,” Moore said. “Otherwise, there’s no other explanation beyond the incontrovertible facts that the Texas governor is not very bright or thoughtful and has no business being considered for president or the leader with the ability to be the chief executive of this state.”

Moore said, “There’s no explanation for his goofiness that night in Manchester other than drugs or alcohol. He’s never been that silly in public and has always been able to focus his wrongheaded approach on the issues. Nobody other than the Pooh Bear had ever been so excited about a jar of syrup.”

Here is the entire Chron piece.

Here is what Burkablog said yesterday about Dude and pain killers:

I believe this story 100%. I wrote at the time, watching Perry debate, that he was clearly experiencing discomfort, that he kept twisting his torso, leaning on the podium, trying to find a comfortable position. As did several other journalists, I pointed out that he was wearing comfortable shoes, not boots. I wrote that I had had back surgery myself, and I wouldn’t wish it on anybody. It’s hard for your back muscles to hold you up.

The question that must be asked, and must be answered, is what did the people in the Perry campaign know about Perry’s use of painkillers, and when did they know it? Perry has always run a secretive operation, but to run the risk of addiction as a presidential candidate, not to mention the risk of having it be discovered, is, even by Perry standards, amazingly reckless. The revelations in the book raise a the issue of whether he should continue to serve as governor, much less contemplate another presidential race. Perry should be called upon to release his medical records immediately. If these allegations stick, I don’t see how he can be a viable candidate for any office.

Dude is damaged goods.  He is also one of these macho fellas that aren’t going to admit that pills made him look like a total dumbarse.   That comes naturally, I guess.  I also don’t think that we need a full scale investigation or hearing on this.  Oh, well!

Speaking of dumbarse moves, the Harris County GOP wanted to charge their candidates a fee to speak at their senatorial conventions but the idea got soundly rejected by their precinct judges last night.  Whose idea was that?  Was it Jared’s idea or a consultant?  Maybe that Big Jolly fella will name the culprit.

Check out the Chron story here.

Opening Day at The Yard is this Friday and Numero 45 will start at first base against the Rockies.  Name the former ‘Stro that holds the record for most Opening Day starts at third base?

Expect a whole lot of folks to show up at the City of H-Town’s Council Meeting this afternoon to talk about the revised proposed ordinance on how you go about feeding the homeless around Downtown and Midtown.  This issue has certainly stirred up a lot of emotion and passion.

Here is the Chron story.

Governor Sarah Palin joined the “lamestream” media this morning when she co-hosted “The Today Show”.  She did A-Okay.   There were references to newspaper reading, Tina Fey, and the recent movie about her.  She handled it like a pro.

The late Ken Caminiti of course made eights Opening Day starts at third base for the ‘Stros.

49-year old Jamie Moyer will take the mound for the Rockies at The Yard Saturday night – wow!

 

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Good Morning, Today

Here is a head scratching story on the Latino vote. It is on the front page of the hard copy of the Chron.   Check it out here.
Let’s see now, the Lone Star State has lost around 100,000 registered Latino voters in the last couple of years.   Where did they go?  It doesn’t surprise Commentary.  We’re letting them get away because we haven’t engaged them…..tsk, tsk, tsk!

Katie Couric is subbing this week on “Good Morning America” so “The Today Show” has been put on hold for now.  Tomorrow, Governor Sarah Palin will co-host “The Today Show”.  I have to decide who gets the DVR treatment.

Opening Day at The Yard is this Friday and Wandy will be our starting pitcher against the Rockies.  Name the former ‘Stro that holds the record for most Opening Day starts at catcher?

My pal Robert Miller headlines his take today as “Texas House – The Action is in the Primaries!”

Here is the intro:

We are now into April without a ruling from the D.C. court on pre-clearance.  I believe that the San Antonio court and the D.C. court have been communicating and coordinating all along, and the San Antonio court did not issue its interim maps without some comfort level that the D.C. court would not blow up the interim maps with an adverse pre-clearance ruling.

And:

The Democratic and Republican primaries are where the majority of the action will be in the Texas House elections.  There are likely to be at most 10 competitive elections in November.  When all is said and done, there will be 90 to 95 Republicans in the House, down from 102 currently, and Democrats will number 55 to 60, up from 48.

Here is the entire piece.

The national political talking heads are saying that if Senator Santorum doesn’t pull off an upset tomorrow in Wisconsin that he’s done and the race is over.  If so, then the GOP Prez Primary in the Lone Star State on May 29 will be meaningless.  If it is meaningless then the turnout will be low so who does that help in the U.S. Senate race and in other local races over on the GOP side?  Stay tuned!

Brad Ausmus of course was the starting catcher for ‘Stros on nine Opening Days.

The ‘Stros announced yesterday that shortstop Marwin Gonzalez will be on the Opening Day roster.  Gonzalez is from Venezuela and has yet to have a regular season big league at-bat.  I wonder if Alyson Footnote will ask him where he got the name Marwin. 

Last year’s Opening Day starting first baseman for the ‘Stros, Brett Wallace, has been sent to Oklahoma City our Triple A affiliate.

 

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Pick Your Poison

The HISD Board of Trustees and ethics made it to the Chron today as an auditor is making recommendations.  Check out this Chron piece today:

Auditors hired to investigate Houston ISD’s contract process said Thursday that trustees should stop intervening on behalf of businesses, abstain from votes on contracts involving big campaign donors and disclose all gifts they take from vendors.

The auditors also noted that documents went missing from one file that involved a suspect deal, and they reported that in some cases it was unclear why vendors were selected.

Trustees should abstain from votes involving vendors who contribute more than $250 a year to their political campaigns, the audit report said. In addition, trustees who hold leadership positions with vendors, including nonprofits, should disclose the relationships and abstain from votes involving those entities.

Here is the entire piece.

If the Board chooses not to go with the recommendations, then how about posting on HISD’s website every time they intervene on behalf of a vendor that gave to their campaign and then how about posting on HISD’s website every time they intervene on behalf of a vendor that they have a financial relationship? 

Commentary mentioned Ichiro Suzuki of the Mariners having 200 plus base hits in 10 of his 11 seasons in MLB.  How many times has he won the AL batting title?

KHOU-TV did a nice story on how the Astrodome is doing these days – not so good. 

It costs $2 to $3 million a year to keep it on life support.

It will cost $120 million to tear it down.

It will cost $350 million to renovate it into something worthwhile.

Hunker Down says the voters will have to decide the Astrodome’s future.

Check out the KHOU TV story here.

“It is a decision we have to make. I, for one, think it’s insulting to the facility and the community to leave it there rusting like some old ship that’s washed up on a beach somewhere,” said Hunker Down.

Folks know by now Commentary’s position on the Astrodome.

Check out today’s Politico piece on the GOP kind of not putting a priority on bashing same-sex marriage these days.

Let’s see, if Stop the Magnet, err Madness, gets enough signatures on their petitions, they’ll get on the ballot.  Some at HISD want to be on the ballot for a bond vote.  Ditto HCC.  The City also might want ballot space for a bond campaign.  GLBT said earlier this year they might want on. Then we have the general election candidates.  Hunker Down might as well get the Astrodome on the ballot.  Am I leaving anybody off?  Kuffer is going to be real busy.

Ichiro Suzuki of the Mariners has won the AL batting title twice of course when he batted .350 in 2001 and .372 in 2004.

Twelve years ago tonight The Yard officially opened when the Yankees came to town for the Inaugural Game.

My pal Jay Lucas is no longer Senior VP of Communications for the ‘Stros.  That’s too bad!

 

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Stop the Magnet, err Madness

Stop the Magnet is another group of H-Town folks that refuse to celebrate our diversity.  They want to have a couple of measures on the ballot this November that harass Latino looking folks.  Check out from their website:

We Need 20,000 City of Houston Registered Voters. Are you one?

Two proposed ballot measures need signatures that will challenge the status quo on illegal immigration in Houston:

A) Public Safety policy designed to allow Houston Police Officers more discretion in identifying and reporting those who fail a valid ID check on a probable cause encounter.

B) Contractors and subcontractors benefitting from taxpayer funds on a City of Houston contract would be required to use E-Verify to authorize the legal working status of their employees.

Folks like Commentary and H-Town CM James Rodriguez have been worried about local Latino voter turnout this November.  We know the far right wingers and Tea Baggers are coming out to vote in droves.  Putting this madness on the ballot just might light a fire, err fuego, in the local Latino community and then Latino voters will come out in record numbers and help Dem candidates win county wide.  This may just backfire on the GOP as they (the Jeb and George P. Bushies) try to dust off their welcome mat for Latino voters. This effort has all the ingredients necessary to create a magnet at the polls that will attract Latinos.

Local Univision will certainly be all over this and we may finally have a vehicle to get out the Latino voters.  Where can I sign a petition?

Go here to check out Stop the Magnet.

Stay tuned for Stop the Madness!

Commentary mentioned yesterday that Ichiro Suzuki of the Mariners has played 11 full seasons in the MLB.  How many times has he had 200 plus base hits in a season?  Bonus:  How many times has he led the AL in base hits in a season?

It is good to see the MLS do this.  The Dynamo is fixing to open their new crib in a few weeks and they need to be responsible community citizens.

Major League Soccer suspended Dynamo midfielder Colin Clark three games and fined him an undisclosed amount Wednesday for uttering a gay slur at a ball boy Friday night early in the Dynamo’s loss at the Seattle Sounders.

Here is the entire piece.

Let’s see, Poltico broke the story yesterday that Mitt Romney was fixing to build a car elevator for his West Coast pad and the Dem talking heads said there goes Mr. Out-of-Touch again, and the GOP talking heads responded that building the elevator was a job creator and it shouldn’t be turned into a political issue.  Then the Romney campaign announced that the elevator job was put on hold so it is no longer a political issue – got it!

Last season, Ichiro only had the 184 base hits, the first time he has had less than 200 in a season, so that makes 10 seasons that he’s had 200 plus base hits of course.   Ichiro has also led the AL in base hits in seven different seasons of course.

An experiment in tailgating will occur at The Yard the first weekend in June, according to the ‘Stros.  

 

 

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