Feeling the Heat

The Tea Party members of Congress are feeling the heat for sure and they are scrambling to get out of the kitchen.  Now they want to piecemeal their way out of a shutdown by trying to open up some popular parts of the federal government.  It is not going to work.  Like I said, it’s your GOP federal government shutdown so own it.

Meet Team Davis according to the Texas Tribune here.

The Tribe returns to the playoffs for the first time since 2007 when they won the AL Central.  When was the last time the Tribe won the World Serious?

I just got back from a well-attended Anna Eastman for HISD Trustee 8 am gathering for parents in Garden Oaks.  Nice job, Anna!

The author who created Jack Ryan is no longer with us.  I liked reading the Tom Clancy series of books on Ryan.

To Guv Dude:  You don’t need to try to clarify what the First Lady said.  We understand English.

I’m thinking that Democrats across the state will be whistling a different tune tomorrow afternoon.

I am also thinking that after yesterday’s Obamacare rollout, the Obamacare haters will be in the minority sometime next year.

I really don’t think we are going to hear any positive messages coming from the Mayoral candidates any time soon.

The Tribe last won the World Serious in 1948 beating the Boston Braves in 6.

Commentary mentioned last week that ‘Stros first base coach Dave Clark would be looking for a job after the season.  I was right. 

 

Technorati Tags: Marc Campos,Campos Communications,Anna Eastman Campaign,Houston Politics,Houston Astros,Major League Baseball,President Obama,Governor Rick Perry,Houston Mayoral Race

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Voter Turnout

Commentary is thinking that we could be heading into a very low turnout election where only the hard core voters show up this November.  Here we are on September 19 and there are no TV ads running in the mayoral contest.  The only activity is on twitter or at endorsement meetings and that isn’t going to cut it.

Some of the district races are generating activity but not enough to move the voter turnout needle.  Commentary initially thought that the Dome vote might get some folks worked up but that’s not happening.

I hear a lot more about next year’s race for governor than what is going to happen this November.

Here is kind of a scary thought.  Some folks are saying that the two major mayoral candidates know they are headed to a runoff so they want to hold on to their resources for as long as they can so they can have some in Round 2.  What do I know?

Name the MLB pitching staff that has issued the most bases on balls – walks?

Congrats go to the new Editor of the Chron.  Maybe a set of fresh eyes will get the Chron to start getting serious about covering local political campaigns.  Heck, the SA Express does so why can’t the Chron? 

There are other things to cover in H-Town city politics other than pensions you know.

The ‘Stros pitchers of course have walked 588 opposing batters to lead the MLB.  Walks killed us last night.

If you like the MLB then you have to like watching the Wild Card chase.  The “Stros visit the contending Tribe this evening then next week we go to Arlington.  Hopefully the Yankees will still be relevant when we close out the season with three starting next Friday.

 

Technorati Tags: Marc Campos,Campos Communications,Houston Mayoral Race,Houston Politics,Texas Politics,Houston Elections,Houston City Hall

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On the Kuff

Kuffer asked District I candidate Ben Mendez who he was supporting in the Mayoral contest and Mendez said he was staying out of it.  Of course, Mendez cast his vote for Ben Hall at the Tejano Dems endorsement meeting last month.

This ought to be easy.  Name the MLB team with the most dingers smacked this season?

Gus Wortham Golf Course is located off of Wayside and Lawndale and is owned by the City and is one of four golf courses inside of the loop.   Three of the four are City golf courses.  Commentary doesn’t play golf but I have been told that Wortham isn’t in the best of shape.  I have also been told that it loses money.

There is group out there that has been making the rounds talking to neighborhoods around Wortham about converting the golf course into botanical gardens and maybe leaving a nine-hole golf course. 

Yesterday a few folks showed up at the H-Town City Council meeting to voice their opposition to the botanical garden idea.  They want their golf course left alone.

To date, H-Town CM James Rodriguez and his office are the only ones to do any heavy lifting to raise money toward renovating the golf course. 

It is going to take a lot more community support to get Wortham into better shape.  It can’t keep losing money forever.

It will be interesting to see which way this narrative moves so stay tuned!

Those that made it out to The Yard last night got to see Chris Carter strike out for the 200^th time this season – drats!

They also got to see a bonehead base running gaffe by Jonathan Villar that made it to the “Today” show this morning.  It was a dumbarse play for sure.

Here is how  it ends.

The Houston Press today has a piece about the Texans owner being a big GOPer.

Here it is.

Of course it was Dem voters back in 1996 that supported the referendum that got Reliant built.  Let us eat cake!

B’More of course leads all MLB teams with 199 dingers.

Those that made it to The Yard last night also got to witness our 100^th loss.  Commentary tweeted 99 “Ls” with one on the way during the fourth inning.  The Chron tweeted 100 “Ls” this morning. 

Will we lose 100 next season?  I really don’t know.

 

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Friday the What?

The Save the Dome Campaign is now called the New Dome Experience.  I can’t find their website though.  I wonder if the Texans and the Rodeo are on board. I haven’t seen their campaign signs or a push card.  Good luck and stay tuned!

H-Town CM Jerry Davis probably needs to take 20/10 to lunch sometime soon.  20/10 was heads up for sure last night as he helped Davis hold on to the Harris County Tejano Democrats endorsement.  Way to go 20/10.

Name the ‘Stro with the most fielding errors this season?

Adriana Tamez for HCC District 3 won the Harris County Tejano Democrats endorsement last night.  Way to go!

Let’s see now, Guv Dude is heading up to Maryland to steal some jobs and the Governor of Maryland is coming to the Lone Star State to take our money.  Who wins?

The Chron has a good front page article today headlined “The last loyal fan” about a ‘Stro fan at The Yard.  It is only available to subscribers or if you have a hard copy.  The article could be about a number of us diehards.  I can certainly relate.

HISD Board President Anna Eastman dropped by the Tejano Democrats meeting last night and showed me a cool photo on her phone of Anna and ‘Stro catcher Jason Castro and his wife Maris at Moreno Elementary.  The Castros were donating 3,300 books to the school.  The books had been collected at The Yard earlier this season.  Way to go Jason and Maris Castro!

The General has a piece today saying Bud Adams deserves a spot in the Football Hall of Fame.  I don’t have a problem with that.

MariGirl tweeted last night about ‘blanket bingo” at H-Town Downtown.  I got her ask her what is up with that.

Tags tweeted this today: Chris Carter is six strikeouts away from becoming only the fourth different player to strike out at least 200 times in a season.

That’s another reason to drop by The Yard this weekend. 

Third baseman Matt Dominguez of course leads the ‘Stros with 13 fielding miscues.

Another reason to drop by The Yard this weekend is dollar dogs tonight.

Another reason to drop by The Yard this weekend is being able to bring your pooch on Sunday.

The Yankees are hanging in there. 

 

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Parker says city should pass anti-discrimination ordinance

That’s the headline for the Chron story today for subscribers only.  Here is the headline on the front page of the hard copy: Parker favors law to forbid gay bias.

Go get you a copy right now!

Here is how the Texas Tribune starts the story:

The gay rights debate that sparked a bitter fight in San Antonio this summer may soon be moving to Houston.

Officials in the state’s biggest city appear willing to follow the lead of San Antonio, which last week — after nearly a month of heated protests — approved an ordinance that added sexual orientation and gender identity to the city’s nondiscrimination policy.

Houston Mayor Annise Parker, who in 2009 became the first openly gay leader of a major U.S. city, told the Houston Chronicle that the vote in San Antonio "upped the ante."

"It is absolutely something we should do, and the majority of council members have publicly stated they are in support of a nondiscrimination ordinance," Parker said. "But this is an issue that requires all of council to be engaged and agree it is time to move it forward. When it happens, we will do that."

Here is from the Chron:

"We would have to either accommodate the prohibitions in the charter or, to effectuate it as San Antonio did, we would have to put an amendment on the ballot," (City Attorney Dan) Feldman said. "The cleanest thing would be to take it the voters."

Here is the Tribune article.

Name the MLB pitcher with the most innings pitched this season?

Bonus:  Name the ‘Stro pitcher with the most innings pitched this season?

Five years ago tonight we were Iked and 13 miserable days followed and the ‘Stros played two home games on the road and I lost a tree.

Back to the nondiscrimination ordinance.  Expect all the GOP statewide candidates to come to H-Town next year to make their right wing bones so to speak.  This will probably help the effort.  I think we can prevail if you ask me. Stay tuned!

Here is a reprint of what I put out back on July 23:

Twelve years ago and back in 2001, on the H-Town city ballot, Proposition Two read as follows:

SHALL THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON BE AMENDED TO DENY HEALTH CARE AND OTHER EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS TO SAME SEX DOMESTIC PARTNERS OF CITY EMPLOYEES AND TO ADDRESS OTHER MATTERS OF CITY EMPLOYMENT AND CONTRACTING PRACTTICES BASED ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION?

On election night of Tuesday, November 6, 2001, the scoreboard read FOR 130,310 (51%) and AGAINST 123,592 (49%).

Dave Wilson and crew got the measure on the ballot and prevailed.

According to the Chron’s quickie analysis, the following neighborhoods supported the ban:

Acres Home (50.9%), Cana/Navigation/Magnolia (51.1%), Clear Lake (59.6%), Denver Harbor (56.7%), Fifth Ward (53.5%), Hobby/Glenbrook Valley (52.2%), Kingwood (68.6%), Memorial Westchester (65.6%), Outer Westheimer (61.9%), Sagemont (64%), Spring Branch (61.8%), Tanglewood/River Oaks (57.2%), and Westbury (50.45).

The following neighborhoods opposed the ban:

Astrodome/OST (59.9%), Clark/South Main/ Windsor Village (56.3%), Garden Oaks/Oak Forest (52.6%), Heights (66.9%), Kashmere/Scenic Woods/ Settegast (52%), Meyerland (56.1%), Montrose (77.4%), Near North Side (51.4%), Rice/Braeswood (61.3%), Riverside/MacGregor (59%), Sunnyside/MLK (56.5%), and Third Ward (56.3%).

The Chron also did a quickie analysis by group:

For the ban: Low-income Anglo/Hispanic (55.8%), Upper-income Anglo (51.2%), and Mexican-American (51.5%).

Against the ban: Middle-income Anglo (52.2%), Low-income Black (51.7%), and Middle-income Black (59.5%).

I mention this because I have had my ear to the ground if you know what I mean. The electorate has changed somewhat over the past twelve years. You have to think we have become a little more forward thinking these days.

Clayton Kershaw of course of the Dodgers leads MLB with 216 innings pitched and Lucas Harrell leads the ‘Stros with 140 2/3 innings pitched. 

Commentary is rooting for the Yankees to keep winning and stay in contention so our season ending series will have some drama, significance, and meaning. Just think about having A-Roid in our crib and watching Mariano Rivera close out his regular season career.  It would be real special if we beat them and prevented them from making the playoffs. Who says it can’t happen?  We just swept the Mariners after all! 

 

Technorati Tags: Marc Campos,Campos Communications,Houston Astros,Major League Baseball,Houston City Hall,Mayor Annisse Parker,Houston City Council,Gay Rights in Houston

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That is 67 Big Ones!

My parents Alicia and Tony Campos celebrated their 67^th wedding anniversary this past Saturday.  Top that!

Early to Rise is now officially early to bed.  Maybe next time around they need to make sure Hunker Down is talked to at the beginning.

Name the former ‘Stro with the third best batting average in MLB?

Robert Miller talks about the H-Town Mayoral race today and give us some background on run-offs.  Commentary mentioned it looking like a run-off a couple of weeks ago and I really got no push back.  We will see.

Here is Robert’s take.

AG Greg Abbott likes to say that he gets up every morning looking forward to suing The President or something like that.  Now he has decided to go after the City of San Antonio for their passage of an anti-discrimination ordinance.  Why doesn’t he just mind his own business?  Either that or move his arsse to SA and run for city council.

Speaking of, former sports commentator and former GOP U.S. Senate candidate Craig James has every right to talk anti-GLBT any time he wants.  He just don’t get to talk Xs and Os in reputable sports network studios.   Sorry, pal, you are out of bounds, called for encroachment, were sacked, thrown for a loss, penalized and have no way to audible your arse out of this one.

A lot of folks will be staying up late tonight as we have a kickoff around nine.  I wonder if folks will be wearing their Texans gear throughout the day.  Lay the 4 ½ and take the over 44 ½. 

Former ‘Stro Chris Johnson – now with The ATL – is batting .330 of course – third best in MLB.

We’re 47-96 so it looks like we’re going to hit the 100 loss mark at The Yard this weekend.  What a bummer!

 

Technorati Tags: Marc Campos,Campos Communications,Houston Astros,Major League Baseball,Greg Abbott,Houston Mayoral Race,Ben Hall,Mayor Annisse Parker,Harris County Commisioners Court,Houston Politics,Houston Elections,Texas Politics

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Getting It

The Texas Tribune today has a story about campaigns starting to get that Univision local newscasts are at the top of the ratings in some markets and candidates for office are appearing on their news programs. Of course Commentary has been pointing that out for a few years. It is a small step in the right direction. Now they need to start dropping their ad dollars on these Univision and other Spanish language newscasts.

Here is the Trib story.

How many MLB Hall of Fame members are wearing Twins gear?

The votes in Congress for supporting a strike on Syria are a long way off. Reports indicate that Democrats will have to shoulder the burden in getting the votes. I am getting more convinced that most GOP members of Congress will vote no just to embarrass The President. Prove me wrong, please!

I really don’t want to say much about the jailed kidnapper in Cleveland who pulled a Tom Dooley on himself.

One of Graci Garces’ opponents officially declared himself the “frontrunner” in an email he sent out yesterday. In the email he also complained about negative attacks. Oh, well.

Election Day is two months from today.

Bert Blyleven, Rod Carew, Harmon Killebrew, and Kirby Puckett of course are in the Hall of Fame wearing Twins gear.

We are in Oakland for four. It is key series for the A’s. When we get back on the 16^th, the Reds may still be in it so that could turn out to be a key series. The Yankees are still in it.

We have to go 17-6 to avoid losing 100 games this season. That is not going to happen.

 

Technorati Tags: Marc Campos,Campos Communications,Houston Astros,Major League Baseball,Spanish Language Media,Houston Elections,Houston Politics,Latino Politics,Latino Vote. Texas politics,U.S. Politics,President Obama

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Just Politics

You can’t help but wonder if GOP members of the U.S. House are going to buck their leaders on hitting Syria just to embarrass The President. You can go look at the board on CNN Commentary said was coming.

Here it is.

Name the last Twin to win the AL MVP Award?

It is just politics. Some supporters of The Mayor held a press conference yesterday to ask Ben Hall to get out of the race because he hasn’t been in H-Town long enough. Ben Hall said he would take it under consideration – NOT REALLY!

Check out the Chron.com report here.

I am surprised the Chron E-Board wasn’t a participant at the press conference.

Lisa Falkenberg in her column today writes about Barry Smitherman saying he ought to be the next AG because he and his wife had four kids. Oh, well!

Commentary is thinking that the Commissioner and MLB are not pleased to see the Yankees and A-Roid jump back into contention. In a way I’m kind of rooting for the Yankees because I would love to see The Yard host a meaningful series the last weekend of September.

Joe Mauer of course won the AL MVP Award in 2009 after leading the league with a .365 batting average.

Talk about a tease last night. We tied it in the bottom of the ninth but lost it in the 12^th.

 

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Picking Up The Pace

Election Day is nine weeks from today in case you didn’t know. I still haven’t seen any Save the Dome action. We still don’t know what is going on with Early to Rise versus Hunker Down.

I guess in the next few days somebody will put together an online tote board that says how many members of Congress will vote to strike Syria and how many will vote no.

The Senator that genuinely looks like he could be a pain in the arse during this process is Sen. John McCain. He wants more than just a strike. He wants an altering of the playing field between the Syrian rebels and the regime. He wants something a bit more sustained. I don’t know about that.

Name the first Twin to win the AL Cy Young Award?

Commentary participated in a season ticket holder discussion with the front office sales and marketing big shots Friday before the game.  Larry Dierker showed up and provided some good takes. 

There are only eleven home games remaining thank goodness. The only contenders that will be visiting The Yard this month are the Reds who will be here in a couple of weeks. The Yankees may still be in contention when they get here for the final series of the season.

The ‘Stros have fourteen road games left that include visits to contenders A’s, The Tribe, and Rangers.

Jason Castro got dinged up yesterday and now we have as our starting catcher a fella that spent eleven years in the minors before finally getting the big league call nearly a couple of weeks ago. Go figure!

Jim Perry of course won the AL Cy Young Award for the Twins in 1970 after going 24-12 and leading the team to the AL West Division title. BTW: They got swept by B’More in the ALCS.

I really don’t want to say nothing about Lo giving up a grand salami yesterday in the top of the ninth and losing the game. Good thing only 14,000 and change attended.

 

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Be Mucho Moronic

Este es un column sobre un bike rack.

That’s how the Chron’s Lisa Falkenberg starts today’s front page column about a taxpayer funded bike rack on Navigation “in the shape of giant cursive letters spelling ‘"be mucho bueno."’

Aliana Acosta, daughter of my good friend Rafael Acosta (owner of Merida Restaurant on Navigation) complained about the “Spanglish” bike rack and the “poor use of the Spanish language.”

I get where she is coming from.

H-Town Council Member James Rodriguez has the best local quote of the week when asked about the rack:

"I think it’s very moronic. And that’s being nice.”

Diane Schenke, president of the Greater East End Management District, the entity that commissioned the rack, said this:

"It wasn’t intended to be a Spanish grammar test. It’s capturing the way people talk in the neighborhood."

Huh!

Here’s from Falkenberg on Schenke’s line:

But that’s the thing. I’ve never heard anybody use that phrase, not even a fellow Gringo. That annoying Tex-Mex menu at Lupe Tortilla – "Es preety goood!" – has more grammatical precision than this artwork.

If you ask me, el Greater East End Management Distrito be mucho estupido knuckleheads.

Commentary thinks maybe it is time to rethink their leadership.

Who leads the MLB today with runs scored for the season?

The Chron E-Board wants to mediate a session between Early to Rise and Hunker Down. Here is how they end their take today:

Before lawyering up, folks should try sitting across the table and talking things out. Might we recommend the Houston Chronicle editorial board table as a good place to start?

http://www.chron.com/opinion/editorials/article/Too-early-to-sue-4772485.php

I’m OK with that on the condition that I get to sit in and watch.

To the 40% that can watch ‘Stros games, did you know that CSN reporter Julia Morales is the daughter of 1996 Dem candidate for U.S. Senator Victor Morales? Well now you do!

Matt Carpenter of course of San Luis leads the bigs today with 100 runs scored for the season.

I’ll have a light lunch today to get ready for dollar dogs this evening at The Yard. They are also handing out 10,000 baseballs on the way out. The best part of the evening should be the ‘Stros honoring softball great and Olympian Cat Osterman.

I think I heard last night that we’re 16-28 in one run games which means we could easily be 28-16 in one run games. Oh, well!

 

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