Interesting Reads

Ben Hall finally got some good run in the press today.  Lisa Falkenberg’s column today on Ben is creating some buzz for sure.  I’m sure folks are going to be talking about the back and forth on who said what.  Here is a taste:

Hall believes part of the problem may be Parker’s "strident" leadership style, a bit of which he’s experienced during his few private encounters with her. The first time they met, at a University of Houston event, Hall said, the two shook hands and he recalls the mayor saying " ‘It’s nice meeting you. I’m going to whip your ass so bad that you’ll never run for public office again.’ " At which point, Hall said, "I immediately told my friend, ‘My goodness, I now know what’s wrong with the city.’ "

You have to subscribe or pick up a hard copy if you want to read the rest – sorry.

I’m thinking this race is going to get more interesting.

Everybody knows that Pete Rose tops the MLB all time list for base hits with 4,256 and Ty Cobb is numero 2 with 4,191 – who is numero 3?

Big Jolly has the best take to date on Early to Rise so check it out here.

The Chron E-Board gave the Lite Guv a well deserved spanking today.  Here are parts:

David Dewhurst is no Hemingway hero. His late-night call on behalf of a relative arrested for shoplifting was merely the latest example of his tendency to flail under pressure. What he did was not illegal, as best we can tell, but it was graceless and awkward. And funny, in an icky sort of way.

Dewhurst seems rattled already, and the race has barely begun.

And:

Dewhurst seems rattled already, and the race has barely begun.

"The world breaks everyone," Papa Hemingway observed, "and afterward, some are strong at the broken places."

And some are not.

Here is the entire E-Board take.

He needs to get out of the race.

Hank Aaron of course is numero 3 all time with 3,771 base hits.

Ryan Broid apologized yesterday.  Who cares?

I wonder how many folks will be dropping by The Yard this weekend to see the AL East last place Jays?

 

Technorati Tags: Marc Campos,Campos Communications,Texas Politics,Texas Elections,David Dewhurst,Houston Mayoral Race,Houston Mayor Annisse Parker,Ben Hall,Houston Elections,Houston Politics

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Waiting on the Rest

Happy Numero 14 to Dante today!  Happy Birthday Dante!

Lone Star State Democrats are waiting on State Sen. Wendy Davis to officially declare for Governor.  If she does get in the race, what Democrats are going to run for other statewide races?  Here is from Burkablog:

I think it can be safely assumed that Wendy Davis will run for governor in 2014, although the announcement may come later rather than sooner. The question is, where do the Democrats look for candidates to fill out their ticket after Davis? What about the other statewide offices?

The bench is very thin. Julian Castro appears to be looking at 2018 for his breakout race. Joaquin Castro isn’t going to give up his congressional seat. This is a critical election cycle, but every major statewide race has an open seat (except, of course, for lieutenant governor, but that has the feel of an open seat with the incumbent, David Dewhurst, being challenged by three credible current officeholders). Do the Democrats have a credible candidate for attorney general? Comptroller? Ag commissioner? And what about legislative races? Congressional races? The last time there was a midterm election, in 2010, the Democrats lost every contested race. The paucity of credible candidates is a real problem. Wendy Davis IS the Democratic brand.

We need to fill out the rest of the roster.  Are there any takers out there?

Last night the Rangers scored 11 runs against us in third inning.  What is the record for most runs scored against the ‘Stros in an inning?

The Early to Rise folks will try to get specific today as they lay out their plan in public to the Harris County Department of Education (HCDE).  I am hoping HCDE Trustees will step up and take responsibility and make sure this proposal is transparent.  They can’t let the newly formed without a track record Harris County Readiness Corporation dictate the terms or push them around.  After all, the HCDE Trustees are elected by the voters and the Readiness Corp. folks aren’t.  I also hope they don’t leave it up to the HCDE Superintendent to work out all the details.  Stay tuned!

Commentary saw some Roy Morales for At-Large 3 signs around a local eatery this past weekend.  I am thinking that Morales and At-Large 3 candidate Roland Chavez will probably split the Latino vote that shows up to vote.

Way back in 1989 at Riverfront, Cinncy of course scored 14 runs in the first inning against the ‘Stros.

I really don’t have anything to say about last night’s blowout.  I don’t want to talk about having one of our back-up infielders come in to play catcher and pitcher.  It has just been that kind of season. 

 

Technorati Tags: Marc Campos,Campos Communications,HISD,State Senator Wendy Davis,Texas Elections,Texas Politics,Houston Elections,Houston Politics,2014 Texas Governors Race

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Progress in 2014

Second things first:  I enjoy watching Tea Party Sen. Rand Paul and GOP Gov. Chris Christie slap each other around and call each other names ranging from “King of Bacon” to “juvenile.”  It is fun.  Keep it up.

Same thing goes for Tea Party Sen. Ted Cruz pi__ing off the establishment GOP in DC.  It is fun to watch this intra-party civil war.

Now I am going to enjoy watching local GOP members of Congress Poe and Culberson disagreeing on light rail funding for H-Town.

Some folks say the ‘Stros trading away Joe Morgan was the lousiest trade in team history.  When did we make that trade?

We have nowhere to go but up!  That’s what we expect!  I’m talking about what is left of the team after we traded away Bud Norris.

I don’t think we can go much lower than a $13 million team payroll under MLB rules.  The gut job is now complete.  We are now officially starting over.

I have been patient and have held back on totally ripping the team.   I expect August and September to kind of set the table for 2014.  I expect progress in 2014.

In 2014, progress will not be defined by losing 100 after we lose 105 or so this season.  Got it!

Alyson Footnotes and other got a chuckle from Fox Sports Ken Rosenthal’s tweet yesterday on the Bud Norris trade for L.J. Hoes:

Sources: #Orioles agree to acquire Norris from #Astros for Hoes and another piece.

Now that Bud Norris is gone one of the sports writers tweeted that the ‘Stros active payroll is now around $13 mil.  You know who makes $13 mil?  Wandy does, so does Hunter Pence, so does Adrian Ethier and so does The Flyin’ Hawaiian.  That’s great!  Our team is worth one Wandy, or one Hunter, or one Ethier, or one Flyin’ Hawaiian.

Let’s see!  How many Hoes can you get for $13 mil …awwwww!

On November 29, 1971, Joe Morgan was part of a multi-player trade that sent Morgan to the Reds of course and the rest is Hall of Fame history.

The final score from last night:  $13 million payroll team 11, $92 million payroll team 0 thanks in part to Jason Castro’s 1st MLB grand salami!

 

Technorati Tags: Marc Campos,Campos Communications,Ted Cruz,Tea Party of Texas,Senator Rand Paul,Governor Rick Perry,Chris Christie,Texas Politics,Texas Elections,Texas Legislature,2016 Republican Presidential Primary

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DPS Says (Pardon the Pun) No Sh_t!

The DPS says they didn’t save or confiscate the feces from Friday at the Capitol.  There ain’t any doodoo or poop on the evidence shelves.  That’s bulls__t if you ask me.  That’s what you call flushing the evidence down the toilet.

My pal Robert Miller said this last week:

(State Sen. Wendy) Davis and (AG Greg) Abbott are both rocketing into orbit.  One is integral to the renaissance of the Texas Democratic party, but the other is the next Governor of Texas.

This is what Robert said yesterday:

Governor General Abbott appears unbeatable by Democrat or Republican. 

Robert “appears” to leave a glimmer of hope for a Dem on the table.  Robert also has given Abbott a new title.

Here is Robert’s take.

Commentary wasn’t able to catch much of last night’s Dinger Derby.  Some folks know that the Dinger Derby began in 1985.  How many MLBers have won the Dinger Derby more than once?

Kuffer takes a look at the campaign reports from The Mayor and Ben Hall here.

You have to be impressed with the $2.2 mil that the Mayor hauled in and her team has every right to be high fiving and beating their chests.   Nice job!

Of course don’t get too cocky since Ben Hall plunked down $1.5 mil of his own dough into the race and it looks like he could plunk down another $1.5.   Show me the TV ads!

BEN HALL STATEMENT ON ZIMMERMAN VERDICT (released Sunday).
Houston, TX – Houston mayoral candidate Ben Hall released the following statement on the Trayvon Martin verdict:
"I am disappointed with the Trayvon Martin verdict. There can be no satisfaction or celebration in that case. A 17 year old life has been taken. How could an innocent trip to buy candy turn into death? Parents and communities are left with questions on all sides. We have a verdict indeed, but there remain nagging uncertainties about the story upon which that verdict is based. Death has robbed us of Trayvon’s account of events — silenced by a lone bullet to his heart.
"I am also disappointed that the fatal events on that rainy night in Florida began simply by the way Trayvon looked. In a diverse world, we must insist that people be judged by what they do rather than how they look.
"This case renews my commitment to the principles of acceptance, tolerance and diversity in our world. If elected Houston’s next mayor, I will remain steadfast in ensuring that our law enforcement and forensic personnel continue to receive the necessary training, equipment and resources to protect the rights not only of the living but also the dead who can speak no more.
"My prayers are with the families, communities, and this great country."

Commentary has groused lately about the buildup in congestion around I-10 and Studemont/Heights/Yale because of all the development with no relief in sight.  It is like the City doesn’t even want to acknowledge a problem.  My pal Jeff Balke of the H-Town Press says there is a new apartment development going up in our ‘hood and the City appears helpless when it comes to helping out the residents.  Here is what he says The Leader wrote about CM Ellen Cohen:

She said her goal is "to ensure that the quality of life of my constituents remains high, and the best approach is to bring the developers and the residents to the table to address their concerns and attempt to find ways to compromise for the betterment of the community."

From Balke: In this case, "compromise" would appear to mean "bend over and take it" for residents.

Ouch!

Here is all of Balke.

Ken Griffey, Jr. won the Dinger Derby in 1994, 1998, and 1999 and Prince Fielder won it in 2009 and 2012 of course.

Commentary likes the current MLB All Star Game set-up where the winning league gets World Serious hosting honors.  Some folks don’t like it.  From a ‘Stros fan standpoint for tonight’s game we can only hope that Jason Castro gets in the game and maybe catch Mariano Rivera’s last All Star Game appearance.

 

Technorati Tags: Marc Campos,Campos Communications,Greg Abbott,State Senator Wendy Davis,2014 Texas Governors Race,Houston Mayoral Race,Mayor Annise Parker,Ben Hall,Houston Astros,Major League Baseball,Texas Politics,Houston Politics,Texas Legislature,Trayvon Martin

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Is this the Coronation of Greg Abbott?

Are the next sixteen months in statewide politics going to be a coronation rather than a campaign?  I’m talking about AG Greg Abbott’s expected bid for Governor.

“We now know that Greg Abbott will be the next Governor of the state of Texas,” says Rice University’s Mark Jones.

This is from Robert Miller:

“(State Sen. Wendy) Davis and (AG Greg) Abbott are both rocketing into orbit.  One is integral to the renaissance of the Texas Democratic party, but the other is the next Governor of Texas.”

Maybe not!  Here is from a Chron.com piece:

Democrats say Abbott has done little more than use his office to promote himself and advance his political career, a rap Abbott’s campaign calls “spurious partisan charges.” Matt Angle, a Democratic strategist, describes Abbott as a fierce partisan who panders to his base and still has not proven he can take a punch.

“He’s never had a competitive race,” Angle said.

Stay tuned!

By the way Robert, where have you been?

Maybe now here in H-Town we can focus our energy on H-Town City, HISD, HCC, and Dome campaigns. 

Name the first ‘Stro to ever start for a NL All Star Team?

The Chron E-Board said this today:

As politically astute as anyone in modern Texas history, Rick Perry has never lost an election and deserves credit for transforming the office of governor.

What would you call Iowa and South Carolina in January of 2012?

Guv Dude said this yesterday:

"Any future considerations I will announce in due time, and I will arrive at that decision appropriately."

So do you win if you bet this?

Chooses not to run for re-election as governor, says he’s contemplating a presidential run (3:2 odds, 40 percent probability).

Or do you win if you bet this?

Chooses not to run for re-election, doesn’t comment on a presidential run (7:1 odds, 12 percent probability).

So I’ve got 18 months or so to decide if I’m going to retire Guv Dude’s name here at Commentary. 

I wonder if the Chron will put out a betting line on when the Lite Guv will throw in the towel.  He has to be able to read the hand writing on the wall. 

Former ‘Stros first baseman Lee May of course started at first for the NL All Star in 1972 and played the entire game and went one for four.

The ‘Stros are 20 ½ behind and start a twofer in San Luis this evening.  I think it is time for us to bring up George Springer, Jarred Cosart, and Jonathan Villar.  Why not?

 

Technorati Tags: Marc Campos,Campos Communications,Texas Politics,Houston Politics,Governor Rick Perry,2016 Republican Presidential Primary,2014 Texas State Elections,2014 Governor’s Race,Texas Legislature,Greg Abbott

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A Very Slow Friday

A lot of folks took the day off according to this morning’s traffic reports from the freeway.  That is what happens when the fifth of July falls on a Friday.

A lot of folks are also waiting to hear where Dwight Howard will be playing this season.  Rocket fans have their fingers crossed.

Even Dr. Sheldon Cooper got into the act by posting this video asking Howard to become a Rocket.

Knock, knock!  “Dwight!”  Knock, knock!  “Dwight!”  Knock, knock!  “Dwight!”

There still not much on the Guv Dude front on his future plans – nada. 

Name the ‘Stro player with the most MLB All Star Game selections?

Commentary made the Washington Post’s “She the People” by Melinda Henneberger today.  She even used my Wednesday headline as part of their headline.  Here is a part:

Longtime Democratic consultant Marc Campos, of Houston, who calls Perry “Governor Dude,” is less sure than some others in the state about how the governor will come down on the question of “to dude or not to dude” for a fourth term. “Oops means oops,” Campos jokes, referring not only to Perry’s inability to remember the name of the third federal agency he’d vowed to cut, but also to Perry’s presidential chances if he does run again in ’16.

Yet Campos assesses his own party’s chances of taking the governorship next year no less realistically, quoting Rocco Lampone’s line in “The Godfather Part II” that shooting Hyman Roth would be “difficult, not impossible. It would have to be a hardly-any-room-for-error type of campaign,” he says, and darn well funded.

Here is the entire piece.

Kuffer has a good take on the Dude announcement.

In the hard copy of today’s Chron the E-Board calls Dude’s refusal to accept more Medicaid dollars “Perrycare.”

Check it out here.

B-G-O leads the ‘Stros in MLB All Star Game selections with seven of course. 

We should have won yesterday but you can’t when you throw two wild pitches.  Well at least Brett Wallace is starting to play like a first round draft pick.  We will have to wait a couple of weeks to see the team back at The Yard.

 

Technorati Tags: Marc Campos,Campos Communications,Governor Rick Perry,Texas Politics,Houston Politics,Houston Rockets,Obamacare,Houston Astros,Major League Baseball,Texas Legislature,Texas Governors Race 2014,State Senator Wendy Davis,Republican Presidential Primary

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To Dude or not to Dude

Guv Dude will let us know from San Antonio this Monday his future plans.

Hmmm!  Let’s see.  San Antonio?

I’m thinking maybe he could be a tour guide at The Alamo.

Maybe he’s going to join Anjelah Johnson, the Taco Cabana “TC Girl”, and be the “TC Dude.”

Maybe he’ll be the new voice of the Whataburger ads and they can have one of those online contests on whether he should be called “Fancy Dude” or “Spicy Dude.”

My pal Bill Miller told Patti Kilday Hart that he thinks Guv Dude is running for president.

I don’t think that is going to happen.

One unnamed political observer told Hart that Dude was running for reelection because he didn’t want folks to think that Sen. Wendy Davis chased his arse out of office.

I don’t believe that.

The Pirates have the best record in MLB.  When was the last time they lost 100 or more games in a season?

My pal Jose de Jesus Ortiz has a piece on chron.com about the ‘Stros giving baseball a bad name in H-Town.  Here is how it starts:

Quite simply there’s not much positive to say about the Astros’ performance Monday night.

If the game had been a boxing match, it would have been stopped after five innings and the licensing body would wonder why Jeff Luhnow put such an overmatched roster on the field against the Rays.

If you love baseball and genuinely love Houston and baseball in Houston, performances like the one on Monday night must make you wonder if the game plan will kill baseball in Houston for years to come.

Houston is a front-running town, and the Astros cannot afford to lose a generation of fans. Keep in mind that once the Texans start training camp in three weeks, all the attention will turn to the Texans.

Here is the entire piece.

In 2010 the Pirates went 57-105.

The combined score of the last two games is Rays 20, ‘Stros zip.  Here is what the Skipper said about the last two games:

“It’s hard to judge these last couple games because we’ve faced their top pitchers.  We’ll come around and it’s nothing to worry about.”

A week or so ago I thought we were playing pretty good.  I don’t know what to say but look at the Pirates.

 

Technorati Tags: Marc Campos,Campos Communications,Governor Rick Perry,Texas Politics,Houston Politics,Houston Astros,Major League Baseball,2014 Texas State Elections,Texas Governors Race 2014,2016 Republican Presidential Primary,Texas Elections

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The Betting Line

The Big Jolly has a take on the Lite Guv here.

Burkablog has a take on Wendy Davis and Dems here.

My pal Jay Root has a piece on Guv Dude here.

Evan Longoria of the Rays was the third overall pick of the 2006 MLB Amateur Player Draft.  Name two top ten picks of the 2006 draft that are NL Cy Young Award winners.

Jay Root writes about Guv Dude and establishing national cred.  Does it matter?  Dude isn’t a national factor these days.  Nobody that has any sense thinks he will ever be a presidential contender.  It is not going to happen.  Oops means oops!

The Big Jolly fella refers to the three challengers to the Lite Guv as the” three dwarfs.”  Well one of those dwarfs is going to kick is arse.

It is interesting that Guv Dude and the Lite Guv are largely responsible for the mayhem up in Austin and it very possible that both may decide not to run next year because they can’t get reelected.

I’m thinking the folks in Vegas won’t even put out a 2014 betting line on Dude and the Lite Guv.

Burkablog says Wendy Davis will need around $50 mil to be competitive.  Nobody said it would be cheap.

Tim Lincecum (2008 and 2009) was picked tenth and Clayton Kershaw (2011) was picked seventh of course in the 2006 draft.

I’m glad only 12,000 and change showed up last night.  It was a mugging pure and simple.  We only got two measly hits.  Enough of this!   We need to bring up the prospects NOW!

 

Technorati Tags: Marc Campos,Campos Communications,Governor Rick Perry,State Senator Wendy Davis,Texas Politics,Houston Politics,Houston Astros,Major League Baseball,Texas Legislature

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And the Globe Goes……

Commentary is the last guy to talk about what happens within the Lone Star State GOP.  Burkablog has a take today on AG Abbott setting his sights for Governor.  Burkablog kind of hints that Guv Dude isn’t interested, is hanging them up, or is not focused.

Check out Burkablog’s take here.

Of course the current legislative session is the stage to show folks how hard right you can run so folks need to watch out and stay tuned!

The second highest vote getter of the 1996 MLB Hall of Fame voting didn’t get inducted until 2000.  Name the player?

Politico has a story today about prominent GOPers gathering in Miami this weekend to talk about fixing their Latino problem.

Check out the story here.

Of course, I don’t know why they have to meet.  They can just pass around some of the stuff I’ve been saying about bashing the Latino community and giving a nod and a wink to Arizona Governor Jan Brewer.  How about fully embracing immigration reform and The DREAM Act?  Get right on our issues first.  We get to dictate our own issues, you know!

Some folks were a bit surprised when Houston Woman Magazine came out with their H-Town 50 Most Influential Women List for 2012. H-Town Council Member Helena Brown made the list.  All I can say is to get your own magazine and produce your own list.

Tony Perez was second in the 1996 Hall of Fame balloting with 65.7 % of the votes.  He got in with 77% of the votes 14 years after he stopped playing.

Sunday afternoon will be an all steel blue, battle red, or liberty white afternoon as folks around these parts hope for a minor miracle, a Hail Mary, a statue of liberty, or heck, even a dipsy doodle.

Afterwards we get to watch the Golden Globes and see if the fella on the five dominates the evening.

I don’t know if B-G-O needs a political consultant, PR guy, media advisor, or just a plain talking to.  B-G-O needed just 39 votes to get into the Hall of Fame.  B-G-O said yesterday that he would have voted for Barry Bonds and The Rocket.   That certainly isn’t going to win him any friends among the voters.  B-G-O just needs to worry about B-G-O if you ask me.

 

Technorati Tags: Marc Campos,Campos Communications,Latino politics,Texas Latino Politics,Houston Latino Politics,Houston Politics,Harris County Politics,Texas Politics,National Politics,National Latino Politics,Houston Elections,Harris County Elections,Texas Elections,U.S. Elections,The Latino vote in Texas,Latino vote in Harris County,Latino Vote in the United States,Houston Astros,Major League Baseball,Minute Maid Park,Governor Rick Perry,Texas Governor’s Election

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Dreaming Dude

My pal Jay Root from the Texas Tribune has a piece today on Guv Dude and 2014.  Check it out here.
I want to say Dude’s just talking smack but you never know with Dude.  Surely somebody close to him is telling him that he would have so much baggage in 2016 that he would just be accelerating the Dems return to power.  Don’t you think?   I would hope that he runs again.

There is also talk that Dude is thinking about running for Prez in 2016.  Surely he must be kidding – right?  His 2012 effort was one of the most ridiculed Prez campaigns of all time.    Some of his folks need to find a hobby that doesn’t involve politics. 

Here is an easy one.  Name the only former ‘Stro that has ever been in uniform and sat in the ‘Stros dugout during a game at Colt Stadium, the Astrodome, and The Yard?

Here is Patricia Kilday Hart’s story on Judge Kirkland and his opponent.
Stay tuned as I got a nice Judge Kirkland mailer yesterday.  Good job to his mail crew!

CEWDEM sent out a piece from the Lone Star Project about the race for Congress up in CD 33.  I don’t think the Lone Star Project cares much about Domingo Garcia.  I don’t think they ever have.

Burkablog has a piece today on GOP Party purity. 
Check it out here.
Burkablog also says that the face and the future of the Lone Star State Dem Party ought to be the GOP Texas House Speaker.  Well, the GOP Speaker doesn’t act like he wants this role.

Commentary grew up with Dick Clark and “American Bandstand” and I’ve been humming that tune for the past 16 hours or so since I heard that he left us. 

I wonder what is the over/under for the Dem Senatorial District Conventions this Saturday.

Former ‘Stro Larry Dierker of course once wore the Colts 45 uniform at Colt Stadium, he wore the blue and orange and gold at the Astrodome, and he wore the brick red at The Yard.

The team is 4-8 as we lost another one run game last night – arrgh!

 

Technorati Tags: Marc Campos,Campos Communications,Latino politics,Texas Latino Politics,Houston Latino Politics,Houston Politics,Harris County Politics,Texas Politics,National Politics,National Latino Politics,Houston Elections,Harris County Elections,Texas Elections,U.S. Elections,Houston Astros,Major League Baseball,Minute Maid Park,Houston Astrodome,2012 U.S. Presidential Election,Governor Rick Perry,Texas Democratic Party,Texas GOP

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