It’s Do up the Dome Day!

Today is the deadline for members of the public to turn in their Astrodome proposals.  In yesterday’s Chron, Kuffer and former County Judge Jon Lindsay penned Op-Eds and gave us their thoughts.  The Chron also published an Op-Ed on the Dome that appeared in the NY Times a week or so ago.  None of the three advocated Commentary’s well known position on the Dome’s future but Kuffer had what I thought were words that ring loud and true.  Check this:

The fact is that in this country, when a stadium stops functioning as a stadium, it gets torn down. Several of the teams that the Astros played against in 1965, the Dome’s opening year, are in their third stadium since then. Ebbetts Field, where Jackie Robinson made his groundbreaking debut in 1947, was demolished in 1960, two years after the Dodgers headed to California. Apartments were built in its place. The only historic venues that still stand are those that are still used as sports arenas, such as Fenway Park, Wrigley Field, Lambeau Field and Madison Square Garden.

There is no precedent for turning an unused stadium into some other functional structure, which may be why we have struggled so much to come up with a new use for the Dome.

Hear, hear!

Here is all of Kuffer.

Here is Judge Lindsay.

Here is the NY Times.

Show me the courage!

How many times have the ‘Stros had the number one pick in the MLB Amateur Player Draft?

Speaking of Numbers Ones and dumbarse stuff falling out of your piehole, Chipper Jones tweeted the following:

Y’all think if they took all them gators they trap in Fla and La and put them in the Rio Grande, it wud stop the illegals from crossing? Jk

Then he tweeted this:

I realize that my tweet yest was offensive and distasteful. An attempt at humor was a terrible mistake. Please accept my heartfelt apology!

Here is from the Chron’s Jose de Jesus Ortiz:

Chipper Jones, who built a solid reputation during his long career with the Atlanta Braves, has atoned a bit for an ugly tweet about illegal immigrants.

“Y’all think if they took all them gators they trap in Fla and La and put them in the Rio Grande, it wud stop the illegals from crossing? Jk,” Jones tweeted from @RealCJ10 Saturday. Jones got a relative pass from the baseball media, but his tweet was beyond offensive.

Many people die each year trying to cross the border in a desperate attempt to improve their lots in life, and I simply don’t find it funny when athletes attempt to dehumanize immigrants by joking about them as though they’re some sort of prey.

Whether you agree or disagree with the U.S. immigration policies, I would assume we all agree that we must treat each other with respect and common decency. Chipper Jones is no John Rocker, and I’m glad Jones decided to apologize in another tweet tonight.

“I realize that my tweet yest was offensive and distasteful. An attempt at humor was a terrible mistake. Please accept my heartfelt apology!” he tweeted.

Chipper Jones has always been a class act when I’ve dealt with him, and I hope this was just one silly mistake. We all say stupid comments that we ultimately regret from time to time. Jones recognized his mistake, and hopefully he learned from it.

I’m putting Chipper Jones on my list of dumbarses and he’ll stay on it until I think he’s seen the light if you know what I mean.

This past Saturday With the 557^th pick in the 2013 MLB Amateur Player Draft the ‘Stros selected Jake Rodriguez.  Jake!

Of course I’m not talking about our Jake but rather Jake who catches for the Oregon State Beavers of the PAC 12.

Talk about letting folks down or misleading them or playing the hidden ball trick, I ‘m talking about the Harris County Department of Education Board of Trustees.   HCDE Trustee Jim Henley announced he was resigning.  The HCDE Board then invited folks to apply for the vacancy and send in their resumes.  The list was whittled down to six finalists that included public education activist Sue Deigaard, Latino activist Rey Guerra, and former State Board of Education candidate Traci Jensen (Commentary’s former client). The six finalists were then interviewed.

After a few special called HCDE Board meetings to deliberate on the vacancy the board went for none of the above.  This past Thursday the board met and selected former NAACP honcho Howard Jefferson.  I like Howard and consider him a pal but I don’t think he even applied.

If you ask me why ask folks to apply and have them interviewed then say no thanks. Some of the applicants would have been outstanding trustees.  What a bum deal if you ask me. I hope they have a good ‘splanation.

If the City of H-Town really wants to get serious about recycling then why don’t they have the Westpark Recycling Center open on Sundays.  It is open Monday thru Saturday.  A lot of folks can’t or won’t drive out there during the week.  Having it open on Saturday and Sunday would be a convenience.

The ‘Stros have had the number one draft pick four times of course:  Pitcher Floyd Bannister in 1976, infielder Phil Nevin in 1992, shortstop Carlos Correa in 2012, and pitcher Mark Appel last Thursday.

The ‘Stros have now lost four in a row as the bats have gone on silent mode.  We’re playing like a team that is 22-42.

 

Technorati Tags: Marc Campos,Campos Communications,Illegal immigration,Immigration reform,Immigration discrimination,Harris County Commisioners Court,Houston Astros,Major League Baseball,Astrodome

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Just an Observation

Everyone knows that Hearst owns the Chron and SA Express News.  Both newspapers share State Capitol and U.S. Capitol reporters and columnists.  Commentary regularly checks in on the SA Express News and I’ve noticed of late one big difference in local coverage.  The Express News devotes a lot of space to their City Council and school board races.  The Chron doesn’t – period.  That’s too bad.

The Chron covers City Hall issues but the only time they cover individual council members or council races is at filing deadline time and the day after the election.  Maybe Express News readers have a better appetite for City Council coverage.  I’m just making an observation.

The Tribe scored 8 runs in the first inning Friday night at The Yard.  What is the record for most runs scored in an inning against the ‘Stros?

I was at The Yard Friday evening when they flashed on El Grande the news about the second suspect being captured and folks pulled out their gizmos to read the news accounts.  My immediate reaction was a sigh of relief for the folks of Boston.  All day Friday they had been told to shelter in place or stay home.   The Bruins and Red Sox games were postponed that evening.

That’s one for the MLB record book – game called off because of manhunt.  That was the right call.  Aside from the fact that you have the second suspect on the loose, you don’t want to draw down on law enforcement at that particular time to deal with security issues and traffic around Fenway. 

The Red Sox organization gets kudos for Saturday afternoon’s pregame tribute.  Big Papi got a pass from the FCC for dropping the F bomb.  They honored victims, first responders, good Samaritans, medical personnel, and law enforcement.  Neil Diamond showed up to perform “Sweet Caroline.”  The five minute video shown on the jumbotron was very moving and emotional.

You can check it out here.

When Commentary was helping Traci Jensen, Democratic nominee for State Board of Education, District 6, last year, I was kind of surprised at a forum when the Republican candidate Donna Bahorich said she opposed vouchers.  It was surprising because Bahorich is close to Sen. Dan Patrick and in fact used to be his District Office Director. She announced her position at a couple of other forums we attended. Last week the State Board of Education voted on a resolution to oppose vouchers and it passed 10-5 with Bahorich voting against the resolution.

I wonder if the Chron will call out Bahorich on her flip flop.

On August 3, 1989 in Cincinnati the Reds scored 14 runs in the first inning of course against the ‘Stros.  We lost that game 18-2.

We lost Friday night 19-6.  It was ugly.

I don’t know what to say about the lowly ‘Stros.  You can’t really blame the players because they are who they are and what they get paid if you know what I mean.

The front office is the screw-up because they assembled this bunch.  I have to wonder why the Skipper pinch hit for Fernando Martinez in the seventh after he had a two run dinger in his first at-bat and a line drive out in his second at-bat.  We look like a 5-13 team.

 

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HISD Trustee and Board President Anna Eastman’s Reception

Early Voting in Person in the SD6 Special starts tomorrow and runs through next Tuesday.  Be there!

HISD Board President Anna Eastman sort of kicks off her campaign reelection with a reception this Thursday.  Here is what Anna sent out:

Dear Friends,

Just a friendly reminder about Thursday’s event.  Thank you in advance if you have already RSVP’d or contributed.  If you can’t attend, but would like to contribute you may do so via paypal on my Website at  www.annaeastmanforhisd.com  or send a check to Anna Eastman Campaign, 816 Ralfallen, Houston, TX 77008.  I appreciate your support!

Sincerely, Anna

The reception is from 5:30 to 7:30 pm Thursday, February 21 at 205 Bayland.  Remember, HISD has new rules on donating to HISD Trustees.  I hope you know the new rules!

If you think about this question, you should figure out the answer easily.  Name the former ‘Stro pitcher with the most thrown wild pitches all time as a ‘Stro?

Traci Jensen is speaking this evening to the Katy Area Democrats on state/national education issues in preparation to going to the SaveTXSchools rally in Austin this Saturday.  Please try to drop by.

I am not going to talk much about the Chron story yesterday about HISD shelling out $900,000 in legal fees for a trustee on an ethics lawsuit.  Here is part of the story that is only available to subscribers like Commentary:

It’s alarming and the public ought to take note that HISD is spending enormous funds defending Larry Marshall," said attorney Chad Dunn, representing the Gil Ramirez Group, the company that filed the lawsuit. "But what is more troubling is that after the disclosure of Mr. Marshall’s activities, HISD has still not undertaken a serious investigation of this matter."

Documents uncovered in the case and deposition testimony have revealed that Marshall’s longtime business associate gave him a cut of the consulting contracts she had with several HISD vendors, earning Marshall tens of thousands of dollars.

The lawsuit alleges that the payments to Marshall, as well as a free Super Bowl trip and a $25,000 campaign contribution that went unreported, amounted to bribes that helped certain companies land contracts with HISD.

Marshall’s attorney, Jarvis Hollingsworth, said the case has not produced evidence that Marshall broke the law or violated HISD’s policies.

"Larry Marshall is having to defend his long and highly respected reputation as an HISD trustee against these unfounded claims," Hollingsworth said. "I’m sure the public would not want HISD or Larry Marshall to just pay public dollars to Gil Ramirez if he’s not deserving of them, and his case has no merit."

That is kind of why we have some new rules on campaign donations.  The Chron didn’t say if the $900,000 was a record for defending a trustee on anything.  That’s a lot of money if you ask me.  I wonder how many crayons you can get for $900,000.  Oh, well!

Knuckleballer Joe Niekro of course holds the ‘Stros record with 128 wild pitches.

Nothing from The Yard today.

 

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The BSer-in-Chief and the Serial BSer

Happy Birthday today to State Rep. Carol Alvarado!

In a “Rolling Stone” interview The President called out Romney by referring to him as a BSer.  If you ask me, The President was too kind.

Closer to home, last night’s SBOE District 6 candidate conversation sponsored by the American Association of University Women – West Harris County Branch Forum saw Traci Jensen’s opponent, Donna Bahorich, run from her GOP’s platform on education. There were probably around 40 AAUW members in attendance. 

In the introduction of Bahorich a lot was mentioned about her GOP involvement – national delegate, credentials committee member, running the GOP primary, and Sen. Dan Patrick’s Chief-of-Staff.  When asked about the GOP Party’s platform that opposed teaching kids critical thinking skills, Bahorich said she wasn’t familiar with her Party’s education platform and she said that she supports teaching critical thinking skills.  I kind of find it odd that a candidate running for SBOE would forget to check out her Party’s education platform.

Bahorich was then asked about her strongly agreeing with the statement:  It’s not the government’s responsibility to be sure children are properly educated!   Bahorich evaded the question by answering that it was the responsibility of parents to get their kids educated.

She was later asked about her Party and beliefs.  She said that she aligned with the beliefs of the GOP but the GOP will not shape her beliefs.   She sure is a serial BSer for sure.

It is pretty obvious what is going on.  When she’s around the Tea Party, she feeds them the red meat they like to gobble.  When she is around people that think, she tries to BS her way through and run from the wacko GOP education platform.   A lot of the folks left the event last night with Traci’s yard signs.

There are only two pitchers that have more than 90 career World Serious strikeouts.  Name them?

The Memorial Examiner has a piece on the SBOE race and Traci’s opponent says Traci puts too much focus on the classroom – huh.  Here is from the piece:

“About half on the board have been teachers. What I bring to the board, in addition to my work with home schooling, is my experience on the whole picture, through legislative process. I have a global view of how we need to be going about our work that’s been missing from the board. My opponent is focused on the classroom, she doesn’t know legislative process,” Bahorich said.

Jensen was inspired to run for the SBOE seat following its controversial decisions involving the state social studies curriculum in 2010. A former classroom teacher in Aldine ISD, Jensen has a doctorate in curriculum and instruction. As a visiting professor at University of Houston until last year, she worked with educators across the city, state, the nation, and internationally concerning the improvement of learning and developing curriculum.

Jensen wants to end the culture wars that politicize subject matter. She advocates more creative instruction choices for teachers.

“My concern is making sure we are public education advocates, not political advocates. The state board should be advising legislators and advocating for parents and teachers,” Jensen said. “She (Bahorich) has a completely political background working for Dan Patrick for years, and she’s not worked in classrooms or in the schools.”

Here is the entire piece.

Speaking of running from your GOP party, in her mail pieces, GOP HD 134 incumbent Sarah Davis is putting out mail saying she didn’t vote to cut public education funding – double huh!  Patti Hart calls her out on this in today’s hard copy of the Chron.

From the Mayor Grinch Department, The Mayor tweeted this yesterday: Argh! Just passed second shopping area already decorated for Christmas! It’s not even Halloween yet! It’s stupid and irritating!-  Bah Humbug!  See you at the H-Town City Hall Christmas tree lighting!

After four days of Early Voting in Person in Harris County, we’re averaging just over 50,000 voters a day as compared to 42,657 per day in 2008 after four days. 

From the equal time department, the Walmart down the street is now open for business but it won’t get my business.

Hall of Fame Yankee great Whitey Ford has 94 career World Serious strikeouts and Hall of Fame San Luis great Bob Gibson has 92 of course.

The owner of the ‘Stros gets some nice run in today’s Chron here.

 

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Vote, Vote, Vote!

Here is what the County put out yesterday evening:

As of this evening we have approved 85,901 applications and sent out 82,202 ballots.  We have received 47,912 voted ballots returned.

26,810 have been generated by the GOP and 22,689 by Dems.

After Day 3 of Early Voting in Person in Harris County we stand at 150,722.  In 2008 after Day 3 we were at 126,394.  Holy guacamole!

I’m just thinking that no one will show up to the polls on November 6.

The top six World Serious career RBI leaders are Yankees.  Name them?

SBOE District 6 candidate Traci Jensen will square off against her opponent tonight at an American Association of University Women – West Harris County Branch Forum at Revere Middle School on Briar Forest at 7 pm so try to drop by.

“Party Kroger” will open tomorrow down the street from Commentary. 

The Chron has a story today about the HD 134 race between Ann Johnson and Sarah Davis.  In the article, Rice political scientist Mark Jones says Dem Johnson faces an “uphill battle.”  Oh yeah!  Then how come Davis is running TV ads accusing Johnson of supporting Obamacare?

Here is the entire Chron article on the race.

Colin Powell endorsed The President this morning.  I’m feeling a little better about the race these days.

Yankees Mickey Mantle (40), Yogi Berra (39), Lou Gehrig (35), Babe Ruth (33), Joe DiMaggio (30), and Bill Skowron (29) of course are the top six career World Serious RBI leaders.

The Tigers were favorites heading into the World Serious in part because of their pitching ace Justin Verlander.   Oh yeah!  San Fran’s Pablo Sandoval and his three dingers last night produced four RBIs.

Nothing is happening at The Yard these days.

 

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Traci’s Opponent: It’s not the government’s responsibility to be sure children are properly educated!

State Board of Education (SBOE), District 6 candidates participated in a forum last night in Alief but the folks in attendance didn’t get to learn about what the Texas Freedom Network put out yesterday.  Here is a part:

At least nine candidates — all Republicans (including SBOE 6 candidate Donna Bahorich)  — in the November 6 elections for the Texas State Board of Education appear to have a pretty dim view of the role and importance of public schools. Responding to a survey sponsored by several religious-right groups in Texas, the nine candidates said they disagree that “it is the government’s responsibility to be sure children are properly educated.” Eight (including Bahorich) of those nine candidates said they “strongly disagree” with that statement.

Here are some of Bahorich’s responses from the Texas Eagle Forum website:

It is the government’s responsibility to be sure children are properly educated?

Bahorich: Strongly Disagree.

Biology textbooks which do not teach both the scientific strengths and weaknesses of the theory of evolution should be rejected by the Board?

Bahorich: Strongly Agree.

I support the History and Social Studies curriculum standards approved by the State Board of Education in 2010.

Bahorich:  Strongly Agree.

I support displaying the Ten Commandments in public school buildings.

Bahorich:  Strongly agree.

You can check out the Texas Freedom Network piece here.

At 20 years, 11 months, and 21 days, this pitcher was the youngest to ever toss a complete game shutout game in a World Serious.  Name the pitcher.

Here is what the County put out yesterday evening:

As of this evening we have approved 84,203 applications and sent out 80,562 ballots.  We have received 44,153 voted ballots returned.

26,729 have been generated by the GOP and 22,623 by Dems.

Through Day 2 of Early Voting in Person in Harris County, 98,671 folks had participated as compared to 82,612 after Day 2 in 2008.  Ripley has 1020 after Day 2 as compared to 756 in 2008.  Franz 2380 – 2554.  IBEW 2526 – 1760.  Bush 1822 – 1046.  Northeast 2445 – 2745.

Commentary was out in West Harris County and saw some long lines at Franz and Nottingham.  Stay tuned!

I’ll hand it to the Chron for putting online all the letters that disagree with their Romney endorsement. 

Check them out here.

On October 6, 1966 in Game 2 of the World Serious, Jim Palmer of B’More of course shutout the Dodgers 6-0 at Dodger Stadium to become the youngest pitcher ever to throw a World Serious complete game shutout.

Here is part from a ‘Stros press release yesterday:

Astros Owner and Chairman Jim Crane and Houston Mayor Annise Parker led a groundbreaking ceremony for the Astros Community Leaders program this morning at Diez Park in Houston. Through its corporate partnerships, the Community Leaders program will ultimately contribute $18.0 million to the City of Houston over the next five years for youth baseball and softball programs at no cost to the city’s taxpayers.

The ceremony was hosted by Houston Parks and Recreation Director Joe Turner, who has worked with Crane and Mayor Parker to help establish the Community Leaders program. Astros President and CEO George Postolos and popular former Astros players Jose Cruz and Jimmy Wynn also took part in the ceremony along with city council members James Rodriguez, Wanda Adams and Ed Gonzalez. Jose Sanchez, who heads the East End Little League program which plays at Diez Park, spoke passionately about what the Community Leaders program will mean to his community.  Several children from the East End Little League were at the ceremony along with Darrell Miller, Major League Baseball’s Vice President of Youth and Facility Development.

Construction on three parks (Diez Park, Moody Park and Sunnyside) will begin on Thursday.

Here is the entire press release.

That’s all I have from The Yard.

 

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Doing a 180

Yesterday commentary accompanied Traci Jensen to a meeting of the Cypress-Fairbanks Association of Retired Employees (mostly retired educators) out in Cy-Fair.  Traci’s opponent Donna Bahorich was also there.  (Fact:  Bahorich home schooled her kids and even started up a home schooling materials business that included creationism curriculum.)  Yesterday she was asked by an educator her position on evolution and Bahorich responded that she would not favor bringing creationism into the classroom.   Come on!  She’s been promoting creationism in her home schooling business for years now!  She is definitely feeling the heat from Traci’s campaign.

Bahorich also goes around touting her GOP credentials, her support for the GOP platform and brags that she used to be State Senator Dan Patrick’s district director, but when she is in front of educators, she does a 180 and says she opposes vouchers – huh!  She did so last Friday and again yesterday.  I wonder if Sen. Patrick knows she’s doing a 180.  I wonder if her local Tea Party knows.

Yesterday she was asked where his children attended schools and she awkwardly tried to explain to over a hundred retired public school teachers why she home schooled her kids.  It was kind of a corny response about her falling in love with teaching.  Yeah, sure!  Her response generated some groans from the group. 

Traci easily won over the group with her sharp responses to their questions.

The Tigers are one game away from playing in the World Serious.  How many times have the Tigers won the World Serious?

MariGirl got some run in today’s SA Express News.

Check it out here.

Here is what the County put out yesterday evening:

As of this evening we have approved 78,701 applications and sent out 76,393 ballots.  We have received 31,859 voted ballots returned.

26,471 have been generated by the GOP and 21,705 by Dems.

In 2008 in Harris County, 76,187 requested mail ballots and 67,612 (88.7%) were returned and counted.  In 2010 in Harris County, 69,991 requested mail ballots and 55,560 (79.4%) were returned and counted.

The Chron E-Board supports the City Bonds.

Check out today’s endorsement here.

The Tigers have won four World Seriouses of course – 1984, 1968, 1945, and 1935.

The team is expected to announce the new coaching staff today.

 

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Smart as a Whip!

The Chron E-Board endorsed in State Board of Education races this morning and Traci Jensen got the thumbs up!  Here is part of what the E-Board said:

This year offers voters a chance to make sweeping changes. Because of redistricting, all 15 seats are up for election. In Houston-area races, the Chronicle supports an incumbent who has fought for reason and clarity, and two challengers who would be fresh voices of reason.

Here is part of what they said in endorsing Traci:

She is smart as a whip, an expert in curricula, and promises to see that the board has a “clear, concise educational direction, not an ideological agenda.”

Read the entire endorsement here.

If you want a yard sign or want to donate to Traci’s campaign go to www.jensen4stateboard.com.

Bill Maher had the best debate tweet last night:

Hello 9 1 1? There s an old man beating a child on my tv.

The Vice President kicked arse last night.  A CBS post debate poll of undecided voters showed the VP won the debate 50% to 31%.  If the best the GOP can say is that the VP was rude or smirked or unhinged, then they are admitting that the VP ruled the night.

Dems are feeling OK this morning because Vice President Joe Biden came through last night. 

Giants’ catcher Buster Posey smacked a grand salami yesterday to help send the Giants to the NLCS.  When was the last time a grand salami was hit in the World Serious?

Here is what the County put out yesterday evening:

As of this evening we have approved 72,852 applications and sent out 69,970 ballots.  We have received 21,734 voted ballots returned.

26,061 have been generated by the GOP and 21,071by Dems.

Here is a good take from Kuffer on mail ballots.

Traci Jensen was outstanding last night at the League of Women Voters State Board of Education candidate forum at Houston Media Source on live TV.  Traci was right-on in addressing questions ranging from ESL/Bilingual Education, separation of church and state, Robin Hood, and her closing when she compared herself with her opponent.

Traci and her opponent will be together and both speak at a luncheon today.

This evening the Texas Freedom Network will screen “The Revisionaries” at the Sundance Theater in Downtown H-Town.  It is sold out!

On October 23, 2005 at Cellular Field in Game 2 of the World Serious, White Sox Paul Konerko of course smacked a seventh inning grand salami off of ‘Stros pitcher Chad Qualls to give ChiSox a 7-6 win – OUCH!

If the Nats don’t win today, the new skipper of the ‘Stros will report to work tomorrow at The Yard.

 

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All Night TV

Only in the hard copy of the Chron this morning can you read Lisa Falkenberg’s up close and personal outstanding column on affirmative action and the University of Texas.  It is a great read.

It’s all night TV for Commentary this evening.  From 6:30 pm to 8 pm it’s the League of Women Voters State Board of Education candidate forum with Traci Jensen and others.  You can watch it on Houston Media Source live on Comcast 17, AT&T U-Verse 99, Phonoscope 75, TV Max 95, Sudden Link 99 or online.

Then at 8 pm it’s the VP candidate debate and the talking heads afterwards. 

Then it’s the final innings of Game 4 of Yankees and B’More or final innings of Game 5 of A’s and Tigers.

Then it’s to the DVR for “Big Bang Theory” and “Two and a Half Men.”

Raul Ibanez of the Yankees is last night’s MLB highlight reel.  When was the first time he played in the MLB post season?

Speaking of Traci Jensen, one of her opponents – the Libertarian – lists his address in Wilbarger County up near Oklahoma – huh!  Somebody needs to ‘splain that to me!

The Chron has a story today about the HISD Bond, HCC Bond, H-Town Bond, Park Bond, and METRO campaigns raising a combined $1.5 mil.  Oh yeah!  Ten days until early voting and I still haven’t gotten a single piece of mail. 

Check out the story here.

I’m not going to say much about the dumbarse GOP candidate in Fort Bend County that double dips when it comes to voting.  I’m just wondering why the GOP’s Voter Integrity Police aren’t saying anything! 

It reminds me of watching CNN last night and having a GOP talking head say it is silly for The President to keep mentioning Big Bird during his speeches.  Duh!  Romney was the one that first brought him up in last week’s debate!

Here is what the County put out yesterday evening:

As of this evening we have approved 71,101 applications and sent out 67,376 ballots.  We have received 19,468 voted ballots returned.

25,848 have been generated by the GOP and 20,866 by Dems.

The Houston GLBT will be having their Equality Brunch this Sunday.  Here is part of what they sent out yesterday:

We will be honoring HISD Trustee Anna Eastman, Dr. Maria Gonzalez, Dr. Brian Riedel, and Meghan Stabler for their amazing work in the community promoting equality and justice for all of us.

Congrats to them all! 

How often do you see a pinch hitter come up to bat in the bottom of the ninth and hit a dinger to tie the game then come back in extra innings in the bottom of the 12^th and hit a walk-off dinger?  Way to go Raul Ibanez of the Yankees last night.  That was a good game to watch!

One of Commentary’s favorite flicks is the ‘70s “Blazing Saddles” and one of the best lines of the movie is “Mongo, Santa Maria!” when “Mongo” shows up.  Of course most folks remember that former NFL great Alex Karras played “Mongo” in that Mel Brooks classic.  Alex Karras left us yesterday.  He had been battling a number of illnesses lately including dementia.  Karras also did a few seasons of “MNF” on ABC with Howard Cosell and Frank Gifford.  There was speculation that Karras’ NFL career contributed mightily to his dementia.  Wasn’t it just yesterday that I was talking about the NFL being a violent sport?

This is one of Karras’ few lines from “Blazing Saddles”:  “Mongo only pawn in game of life.”

Alex Karras was a good guy.

In 2000, Raul Ibanez first played post season ball with the Mariners of course.  He also played post season ball (2009 – 2011) with the Phillies.

Greg Lucas will no longer be part of the ‘Stros telecasts. 

 

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Debates

Commentary did a pre-debate commentary this morning over at Fox 26 News.  My GOP pal Chris Begala also provided a commentary.   We will be on the air tomorrow morning with our post debate scorecards.

Commentary thinks Paul Sadler easily kicked Ted Cruz’s arse last night.  Full disclosure – I’m a biased unapologetic liberal Dem.

Sadler sort of called Cruz a troll last night and then sort of apologized for using the word troll.  I kind of wish Sadler hadn’t apologized.  I would have waited to see if the American Trolls for Democratic Action, the United Troll Front, or the Troll PAC put out a statement condemning Sadler.

Sadler called out Cruz on the Affordable Health Care Act on giving away certain benefits. He called him out on immigration reform and The DREAM Act – Cruz said something about e-verify.

He called him out for not supporting Sen. Cornyn.  Sadler also called Cruz a liar.

Sadler ripped his Tea Party opponent.  I can understand why Cruz doesn’t want to do six debates with Sadler.  Sadler did what Cruz’s GOP primary opponents couldn’t do. 

Burkablog and a columnist for the SA Express News didn’t like last night’s debate.  I did.

We will know this evening if Miguel Cabrera wins the Triple Crown.  In 1967 when Carl Yastrzemski won the Triple Crown he also won the AL MVP Award.  Who was the AL MVP Award runner-up in 1967?

The Texas Lyceum has a poll showing Romney leading The President 58-39 in the Lone Star State.  I don’t know about that.

Kuffer has a good take on the poll here.

Last night Commentary attended the Westside Blue State Special sponsored by the Cy-Fair Area Democrats.  There were about 250 or so Dems in attendance at the Cypress Saloon on Telge.  That part of Harris County is where we need to be growing the Dem vote.  I think I’ve said that before.

Traci Jensen was there and a few people came up to her and wrote her checks right on the spot – cool.

As of yesterday in Harris County, 60,553 have requested mail ballots with 24,266 generated by the GOP and 19,236 by Dems. 

The Chron E-Board endorsed in constable races here.

The Chron E-Board endorsed in a JP race here.

Hall of Fame great Harmon Killebrew of the Twins of course was the AL MVP Award runner-up in 1967.

We’re still sitting at 106 and our last game is this afternoon at Wrigley as the playoff teams have been set but we just don’t know who will be playing where – got it!

 

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