May God rest the soul of Molly Ivins, a brave and talented woman. The Texas Observer reports she succumbed to her battle with cancer today.

I'll remember, I'll remember...sunsets, rivers, hills, plains, the Gulf, woods, a thousand beers in a thousand joints, and sunshine and laughter. And people. Mostly I'll remember people. --Molly Ivins, 1976 editorial

To put it very simply, Molly told the truth through humor. That is the sign of genius and we can only guess that Heaven's top influence leaders are busy shredding documents as we speak in anticipation of a scathing review.

(Statement from the Texas Observer and obituary in the permalink)

Yesterday Rep. Alonzo from Dallas filed HB 993 to move our state's Presidential primary up to the first Tuesday in February. Rep. Richard Peña Raymond from Laredo sent us a release saying that he endorses this bill.

I think we should definitely try for early primaries. It would make candidates focus more on our state (instead of all the focus on Iowa and New Hampshire). Other larger states are looking into this, such as Illinois, Florida, and possibly even California. It would cost candidates more money to come court our state and try to connect with voters, true. It's still worth a try. With campaigns starting earlier and earlier, this move seems to be logical. What do you think?

See the release from Rep. Raymond in the permalink.

Texas ranks fifth in the nation in childhood obesity rates. Recently, several states have been taking action to curb the trend with requirements on nutritional standards and educational awareness...Texas was not one of them. We can blame a million things on obesity in children, but there are things we can do to intervene. Why we aren't is a mystery.

Maybe some of that surplus money could go to a few nutrtion classes in areas of Texas with the highest obesity rates. We could call it a 'pilot program' or something. (source)

There are inexpensive ways to reduce obesity. We could encourage eating disorders by encouraging bullying of overweight children until their self esteem is shattered and they result to anorexia (my personal preference) or bulimia to lose weight. We could also eliminate lunches in school altogether and that way only rich kids that can buy their lunch or leave campus to buy food would get to eat. We could make children build the new prisons people want so badly...hard work burns calories! Plus, they'll learn a trade!

Via the DMN blog Capitol Letters, Karen Brooks brings us the following exchanges that took place on the House floor today:

Chisum vs. Burnam
Rep. Lon Burnam, D-Fort Worth: "The reason we have such conflict is … the minority part has been totally disrespected for four years. The minority party has an opportunity to, all of us, join temporarily the Calendars Committee."
Rep. Warren Chisum, R-Pampa: "You bring up the issue of the minority party being mistreated somehow by the majority party. My feeling is, I generally served on the minority party. It is the purpose of the minority party to engage in the process and make it happen in a bipartisan manner. It is not the majority party....
"You've cut yourself off if you kill this deal here. In the minority party, you cut yourself out of being able to get your bills passed, and I encourage you not to do that."

Coleman vs. Branch
- Rep. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston stopped in front of the press table on the House floor today, fuming at a GOP chairman's on-mic threat that "minority party" members who voted against suspending the constitutional order of business were going to be cut out of the legislative process entirely.
Rep. Dan Branch, R-Dallas: "He's just acknowledging the reality."
Coleman: "Well then we can just keep beating ya'll at the polls, Mr. Branch."
Branch points toward Mr. Coleman and looks around at people standing nearby: "Now, THAT was being threatening."

Coleman and Craddick
Coleman: "Is it appropriate for a member of the House to threaten people on a vote based on the party that they may happen to be a part of, from the front mic?"
Craddick: "I wouldn't think so, Mr. Coleman."

I'm on the bkackberry so excuse typos. I'm in the House gallery trying to listen, but as usual I am distracted by the yelling and the grand theatre that is always on display below me.

This whole suspension of the 60 day rule is annoying. The rules are suspended all the time to bring shit up, why do we want to memorialize it now?

Oh and p.s. My fave journalist is smokin today.

The latest YouTube craze is turning your own words against you. The "McCain vs. McCain" video is a shameless attempt to show a man struggling through policy positions in front of a national audience. McCain's inability to decide if he's the straight talker or 'base-panderer' is much more annoying than his actual policy positions.

The Statesman has a follow-up article to Saturday's piece on Jennifer Kim and the hubbub surrounding access to the airport with her council member badge. According to today's article, Kim and the City Manager, Toby Futrell, are blaming an inaccurate 2005 memo that was passed out as part of Kim's orientation to her office. The memo evidently said that Kim could access the airport with only her council member badge - which is obviously untrue.

Whether or not the memo is an excuse for Kim getting all in a huff, based on our previous thread's comments, it seems that y'all are suggesting that Saturday's article and the mini-uproar is something she's had coming.

Oh, and Kelso jumps into the fray in this morning's paper, too.

The receptions are gearing up. Faithfully attended by you poor staffers that get a free meal and a few drinks, the lobbyists and organizations are trying to draw your bosses out more. Perks such as scholarships and massages are now on the agenda at these events, but not for you staffers.

"I wouldn't want to take off my shoes and show off my unmanicured feet," said Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin. "My door is open. I don't expect a manicure to listen to people." Frankly, we're so disturbed by the mental image of Rep. Howard's jacked-up feet we'd like to offer her a mani-pedi on us. There are no strings attached, as usual we have no agenda...but we firmly believe you shouldn't walk around with claws and hooves.

Compared to Tom DeLay's trips to Europe on the lobbyists dime, a foot massage at the Four Seasons seems tacky and like someone just isn't trying anymore.

I know y'all have been wracked with sleepless nights since we posted on Brazoria Mayor Ken Corley's recent proposal to fine residents for using the word "nigger" in an offensive or aggressive manner - what will happen next? Are there free speech concerns? Where the hell is Brazoria?

Well, it turns out the residents of Brazoria are almost uniformly opposed to Corley's attempt to control what comes out of their wordholes. Via KLTV Channel 7, Your East Texas News Leader [cue intro music and graphic], we find out that after a meeting last week, Corley decided to drop his proposal. Why? Well, let's ask the good people of Brazoria:

On the corner of Highway 36 and Mulberry, you'll find the "N-word" in black and white -- along with local plumber John Corder's feelings about it.

"I don't use it, never have used it," he said.

But he thinks a law against using it is ridiculous.

"It's a mystery in a way, why do we need it," Corder asked. "We don't need it in Brazoria."

[...]

"If you don't remove this, I'm gonna publicly ask for your resignation from the city of Brazoria," said resident Bill Lott to the mayor during the meeting.

"Let's be truthful, I use the word I'm sorry, I do," said resident Saylaio Dunlap. "I don't use it in a racial way. I don't use it to hurt nobody."

So much for No Child Left Behind. Wow, a third of all students don't graduate. That's the good news. The bad news is the dropout rate among blacks, Hispanics and low-income students is about 60 percent, according to the Center for Education at Rice University.

Naturally, the dropout rate in urban centers is higher. According to people that know about such things, higher dropout rates lead to lower wages for those without a high school education. Additionally, they are at risk for for living in poverty, health problems and jail. (I think that was from the Department of the Obvious)

So, what do we do about it? We think they should put parents in jail if their kids drop out of school! I bet we could get Rep. Wayne Smith behind this initiative. Other things we could do with dropouts? Fertilizer.

State Representative Patrick Rose is mourning the loss of his grandmother on Sunday. Our condolences to him and his family on his loss. (via)

Prince Charles and his old bag of a wife visits Philadelphia and Harlem over the weekend. His visit to schools and to talk about the environmental impact of humans on the earth was inspiring. I think it's funny they way the Brits can come over here and show up the American leadership without really trying in that big brother kind of way. It's so annoying. (via)

Nationally syndicated columnist Molly Ivins has been hospitalized in Austin. Ms. Ivins is battling a diagnosis of breast cancer. We wish her well. (via)

Saturday's Stateman has a stupid article about Austin City Council Member Jennifer Kim. Turns out she's pissed - and actually willing to make a huff about it in the press - because she can't simply show airport security her council badge and walk around the terminal with no intentions of flying.

She said it's "ridiculous" that she can't flash her council member badge to federal screeners at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, go through the same security as passengers and access the restricted terminal area - even if she has no plans to fly.

After all, she said, "it's our airport."

Records show that Kim, who is serving her second year of a three-year term, began asking city workers this month for essentially the same privilege as airport workers, who show special credentials, go through screening and then go to their jobs. Even Mayor Will Wynn and City Manager Toby Futrell don't have that access.

And when city officials told her that wasn't possible, Kim said, she then asked for - and was denied - an airport employee badge.

Kim said she thinks it's possible for her to get a special pass from airlines to meet their passengers while still going through screening. However, she said she didn't want to do that because of the wait at the ticket counter.

She said she recently planned to meet a visitor from the Ford Foundation and was delayed because she thought she could go through the security screening line without a boarding pass.

"I didn't know it was a (Transportation Security Administration) issue," she said. "I thought since it was our airport and we own it, and if we are pre-cleared, we could get through.

"Now we just have to go through all this bureaucracy to extend politeness to other people."

A word of advice: either suck it up and meet your guests in baggage claim or suck it up and wait in a line for five minutes. Or pick them up outside in a stretch Hummer, because nothing says "Austin" like a 75 foot SUV.

About six hours late on this, but Craddick released his list of cool kids that can eat at his lunch table ... and the rest of 'em that have to take their sorry ass bag lunches elsewhere.

The Statesman has a .pdf file with all of the assignments. If someone runs across a text version that's easy for me to pilfer, let me know and I'll paste it in the permalink.

It's a few days old, but I just had to throw my two cents in about Rep. Phil King being quoted in the FWST "I think it's just bad science. I think global warming is bad science." Kings bio gives us a clue as to his experience with science,

King served as a Captain in the Fort Worth Police Department, an instructor at Dallas Baptist University and a Parker County Justice of the Peace. He received a BBA and MBA from Dallas Baptist University and in 1993 earned a law degree from Texas Wesleyan University

When you elect stupid and/or ignorant people to the state legislature this is what you get. Partisan baloney from a man that does nothing but read from bullet points created by far more calculating and evil minds than his. He's a tool and a moron.

A page for a state senator in South Dakota claims that the senator felt him up one night when they were sharing a bed. The page, 18 at the time, says he shared a bed with the senator and during the night the senator rested his hand on the page's genitals. The paper uses the word groped, but technically it falls under the category of 'felt up.'

The difference between groped and felt up is a simple rule of thumb all pages, male and female, should know this legislative season. Being groped would include 'cupping' or 'squeezing' and felt up could be simple a graze of the hand or a lingering touch. I hope the Page's guide to Capitol Sex has been updated this year!

Speaker Pelosi is pretty quick with the comebacks.

Regarding the additional troops on their way to Iraq, Pelosi notes that Bush has tried this twice - and failed both times. According to the Speakers, she and Bush had the following exchange:

PELOSI: Mr. President, why do you think this time it's going to work?

BUSH: Because I told them it had to.

PELOSI: Why didn't you tell them that the other two times?

[AMERICAblog]

I've consulted with our lawyers, and apparently this CNN headline, however straightforward, would indeed be allowed in Brazoria.

[CNN]

WilcoWise claims to have the list of committee chairs that even the Quorum Report doesn't have yet. Could they be correct? Click Permalink for the list.

Republican Rep. Wayne Smith has introduced a bill that would make it a Class C Misdemeanor to skip a parent-teacher conference [text].

Certainly the idea of parents who aren't involved/interested in their kids' schooling is a troubling one, but give me a break. School administrators are overworked as it is. Now you want them to report each parent who misses a conference with a teacher?

There are bigger fish to fry this session. Get to it!






Photo from his campaign site

A four year old answers her dad's questions about how the war affects her. [Jossip]

Almost as good as Bill Richardson's response to the SOTU . . . except this little gal is a lot cuter than Bill.

From a tipster:

Hear tell that joining Chisum at the helm of Appropriations will be Ryan Guillen. Also hear Norma Chavez will be joining Appropriations, at the expense of Pickett and Haggerty.

Hear Aaron Pena will be chairing Criminal Jurisprudence, Goolsby will chair House Administration (again), and that Patrick Rose will be chairing Human Services.

State Rep. Wes "Doc" Anderson filed a resolution for a "Hol' up a minute" on building and permitting new coal plants in Texas. This issue promises to be one of some excitement this year. We aren't sure which side of the debate everyone falls on, but if we can get some bipartisan opposition and some strong supporters, throw in some environmental experts and whackos against the governor it is going to be a super-fun debate. (DMN)

Lt. Guv Dewhurst wants more prisons in Texas. We agree. More prisons, less Whataburgers. (Chron)

Rep. Ortiz' office informs us that the Rep. is sponsoring a bill to restore funding to CHIP. More info on House Bill 710 is here. Changes proposed are eliminating the waiting period, counting net income (instead of gross income), and making the eligibility time longer than just six months.

Rep. Ortiz says, "Providing health coverage for our children is the most important thing the legislature should do this session." I concur; health coverage and education spending should be priority issues for the Lege. Um, and the environment too. And women's rights. . . and I'm getting ahead of myself here.

Full release after the jump.

update: About 53 Democrat Legislators filed a CHIP bill today, so that's a good sign for this session.

- Most of the Democratic possibilities for President have posted their responses to the State of the Union last night. . . except for Obama and Hillary. What's up with that?
- McCain seemed to find it very lulling [HuffPo].

Maybe he's just thinking with his eyes closed, facing downward, seeming to snore. . .
- John Kerry is NOT running for Prez. You may now breathe a sigh of relief.
- The Senate Foreign-Relations Committee refused Bush's Iraq escalation plan [BBC]; the full Senate gets to vote on it next week.

Last night's State of the Union was another fine example of why politics disgusts most Americans. The speech had very little do with what the actual 'state of the Union' is and the hours of analysis by the pundits afterwards are as interesting as hearing a new parent talk about baby's first shit.

I appreciate the President acknowledging "Madame Speaker" and it is indeed historic and about time. I agree with the president on several of his remarks such as, limiting greenhouse gas emissions, reducing the federal deficit, working to make health care coverage affordable and his suggestion we treat immigrants without animosity. But, funnily enough, I disagree with how exactly he wants to do it almost across the board on every proposal.

Therein lies the rub, my friends. Lame duck goes "quack, quack".

[via WP]

I can't believe I'm saying this but there is not enough pomp and circumstance to the State of the Union. Where's the fanfare? Where's the pageantry? This shit is boring. Is Design on a Dime on HGTV?

Now that you're all back working furiously to screw over poor people and women up there in the Captiol, how about taking some time out to shoot us an anonymous email or fax with the latest gossip and goings-on? We aren't wandering around up there like we used to and so now we depend on y'all more than ever to share the juicy stuff with us.

We'll pick the best tip every so often and you can join Pinkdome for lunch at the UT Club or receive an Amazon gift certificate for the telling us something we didn't already know.

Cameraphone upskirt photos of Tom Craddick are not eligible.

Brazoria Mayor Ken Corley wants to make it a city ordinance to fine people for using the "N" word. It would be up to the complainant if it were found offensive or not. You know what we find more offensive? Newspapers and media outlets that refer to it as the "N" word instead of typing the word. It's "nigger" and it's one of the most offensive words in the English language today. Its use in rap and hip-hop music is not empowering, it's degrading and offensive. Its use by big-belly rednecks and fat ladies at some restaurant in Vidor is offensive.

However, you can't fine someone to not make them a racist. That's home-training and a lot of people ain't got none.

Would be a much more interesting speech than what we'll hear tonight. Get ready to leave your feedback as the President speaks to a bunch of Democrats and Republicans that hate him. This year we may actually watch the high political theatre. Send us any screen captures of the President kissing Dems on the cheek so we can use them in campaign commercials next year. Also, see if you can count how many Republicans give him the "Oh GOD don't stop and shake my hand" look.

Suggested viewing materials:
Vodka. (We can't imagine disrespecting our favorite, Veuve Clicquot, for this event)
Mute button. (Some things we just can't bear to hear)
DVDs. (To watch instead of this tripe)

It's Blog for Choice Day



Today is the 34th anniversary of the landmark Roe v. Wade decision and blog activism (which we do not fall into that category) asks that we make note of it. The site that provided the button above also asks us to write about why we're pro-choice. Hmmm, I'm not sure I can be eloquent here. Let me give it the ol' after 5 try.

I am pro-choice. I believe that there are times other than in the instance of the risk of health to the mother or rape or incest when a pregnancy is a cruel thing to both a woman, a man and the eventual child. I do not believe life begins at conception. I believe life begins the first time the little blog shits on you.

Terminating a pregnancy is not an easy decision, made flippantly and without serious agonizing decisions and pain. It is not right to always bring a child into this world. Not because the world can suck, but because of the fact that some people are not ready for a child. To force a life of misery on both a mother (single or otherwise) and a child is much more cruel than the agonizing decision to end a pregnancy.

I don't feel like going over this ad nauseum and we won't stop this debate, but for me...a woman's right to choose is her choice. I will defend that just as I would defend other personal rights and freedoms. (There are a few exceptions to that rule we'll discuss later when I contradict myself...for one, I don't think people over the age of 70 ought to be allowed to drive in metropolitan areas.)

Former Ohio Republican, Bob Ney, was sentenced to 30 months in jail by a ball-busting federal judge. Ney continues to blame his alcoholism for 'selling' his office to Abramoff. Ah, the blame game. It's something else or someone else's fault for a lack of moral fiber, integrity, civic duty and responsible citizenship. It's a great time to be an American, isn't it?

Fired for not doing your work? It's a battle with demons and alcoholism. Flashing your hoo-ha to the paparazzi? It's exhaustion and pills. Asking young boys to measure their penis for you? It's your past abuse and battle with alcohol that made you do it. Violated the trust of your congregation by preaching one thing and using meth and hiring male hookers? It's a personal battle with demons you weren't strong enough to overcome.

Why can't it just be that you're a creep or a pervert? Or...it could be that people are human. They are, by nature, weak to temptation and reckless. We all have things we're ashamed of, things we have done that we regret. My father used to tell us as kids to not doing anything under the cover of darkness that we wouldn't want to do in the town square at noon. It was because we were from a very visible family and he knew that everyone was watching us. I still do things I don't want y'all to know about, but I am discreet. It's called slumming, and I've been guilty of it. I try to let the good I do outweigh the unseemly. I also know better than to run for office or present myself as morally superior to the rest of you dolts because that would just end up embarrassing for all of us.

If the State of Texas knew this fact provided by the Centers for Disease Control:

Approximately 20 million people are currently infected with HPV. At least 50 percent of sexually active men and women acquire genital HPV infection at some point in their lives. By age 50, at least 80 percent of women will have acquired genital HPV infection. About 6.2 million Americans get a new genital HPV infection each year.

And knew that HPV is the leading cause of cervical cancer.

And knew that HPV vaccinations can prevent acquiring the HPV in the first place...

Why would we not vaccinate people prior to sexual activity and prior to the risk of contracting HPV?

Additionally, what about the men's vaccine? That's some bullshit right there. That 50% of people that get HPV is not limited to women.

Why we turn this into some debate on abstinence is beyond me. Studies already show that abstinence education does not work. This is a health issue, not a political issue.

(Source: CDC STD Facts)

I don't get it. President Bush has decided to mess around with health care (God help us all). What he's proposing isn't as important as the part I don't understand. Help me out. He's proposing a tax deduction of $7,500 for individuals and $15,000 for families on the cost of their coverage. If their coverage does not cost that much annually, they are taxed on the difference. That taxed difference amount is then used to provide health insurance coverage to some of the 47 million Americans without insurance. WTF?

Here's what I don't get: 1.) Is the deduction for the portion of the premium that I pay for my health insurance or for the total amount that my company pays? For example, if your employer pays for 50% of your health insurance premium would this new tax mean your employer would stop paying their 50% since you get a tax deduction for it...meaning your monthly premiums go up by 50% until tax deduction time?

2.) If your annual health insurance only costs you $3,000 are you still taxed on the $4,500 remaining part of that deduction? (Is that a tax on money you didn't actually see?)

3.) Would that deduction count towards just premiums or would it count towards premiums, copays, deductibles, and out-of-pocket expenses? What about non-covered expenses? Does that mean we all have to keep those receipts now?

4.) Health insurance premiums are now pre-tax deductions from your gross pay. If this were to go into effect they would be taxable, thereby reducing your net pay. Would this incentivize companies to stop offering group health coverage?

5.) Why would President Bush even think to amend the Federal Tax code by creating a new tax? He's a Republican for Chrissakes! (Albeit, a stupid one.)

Actually, I don't need to know the answer. I'll just declare this proposal DOA and move on.

Given that it's more than a year and a half away from election day, these polls don't mean shit. But they're still interesting to read. A Washington Post poll has Hillary far ahead of her other Democratic competitors, pulling in 41 percent - with Obama and Edwards being closest at 17 and 11 percent, respectively.

For the Republicans, Giuliani is over McCain, 34 to 27 percent, with the rest of the group failing to reach double digits.

In yet another amazing tale of gross incompetence in the federal government, the U.S. Education Secretary has decided not to pursue collection of monies they have overpaid to a student loan company. It's not very much, just about $800 million or so. Nelnet, a student loan provider, has billed the government at an unusually high rate of return and when auditors discovered it, it went no further.

Education Secretary Margaret Spellings rejected the inspector general's recommendation that the department should seek to recover past overpayments. She claims it may be 'precedent-setting'. We'd hate to set a precedent that if you overbill the government they will come after your ass to get their money back, that would be wrong.

If you were a small business owner and found out that one of your vendors had over-billed you for something, would you just write it off? No, you'd probably cause a great big scene in their office and try your best to get their AP person fired.

And for you UT students, what if you were shorted on your bag of weed? If you didn't demand the right amount of weed from your vendor, you'd sure as hell spread the word that he's putting his finger on the scales and he'd be out of business soon.

This is why people say that if you can't get a job in corporate America, maybe you're just smart enough to work for the government. Elected or otherwise.

Sen. Hillary Clinton announced that she's forming a presidential exploratory committee - you can watch the video on her website.

Maybe it's the lingering effects of the booze, but the constant side-to-side camera movement makes me feel like I'm on a boat the entire time. Which kinda makes me want to puke. So congrats on that, Hillary.

Just woke up to find that Hillary's officially running (ok, her site is now called "Hillary for President", but she says she's forming an exploratory committee, whatev). I honestly don't know what to think. I used to be a much bigger fan of her than I am now; I think her support of the war has a lot to do with that. Sure, it's great that a female has a really good chance of winning the nom, but still. I don't feel as excited as I should about the whole thing,

So much for your hopes of being a VP nominee, dumbass. The AP has picked up the story of Ted Nugent performing at your inaugural ball...and it's not flattering. The best part is Robert Black is clearly out of his league when confronted with the national spotlight. His statement on behalf of Perry to the media was patheta-sad.

Robert Black, downplayed the Tuesday-night incident. "Ted Nugent is a good friend of the governor's. He asked him if he would play at the inaugural. He didn't put any stipulation of what he would play," Black said.

By taking those twenty minutes you could have discussed it with a negro staff member or servant and asked for their reaction to this question, "Would you find it offensive if a performer at the governor's inaugural ball wore a confederate flag t-shirt?" Write down his answer. Then ask your landscaper or any other Mexican this question, "Would you find it offensive if a performer at the governor's inaugural ball used machine guns as props and said people that can't speak English should go back across the border?" Again, write down his answer. Finally, find one of Perry's young male staffers and ask him, "Would you find it offensive if a performer at the governor's inaugural ball said he was glad the state passed the anti-faggot law?" Write his answer down with a glitter pen.

After your quick research you would discover that, indeed, some people may have been offended. This provides you with a tactic for response. And now, Pinkdome presents the response that should have come from the governor's office. Behold.

Governor Perry is not only a supporter of the cultural arts, but performers of many genres. While the governor disagrees with Mr. Nugent's insensitive remarks and portions of his performance, Governor Perry is a strong advocate for freedom of expression. That being said, we regret that a celebration of a new beginning in Texas was marred in any way by the offensive act of any performer. Governor Perry looks forward to working for all Texans and discussing serious policy issues confronting the state and not the actions of entertainers.

After all that hubbub, hullabaloo, and hurly-burly, it turns out those damn birds died of natural causes. What a letdown.

I see the scientists tested for poison, infectious disease, and parasites, but did they check for suicide? Because a mass, Jim Jones-esque, let's-all-give-up is a little more plausible to me than this:

Gayle said a sudden temperature drop from the 50s to the 40s contributed to the birds dying at about the same time.

Oh, and this is probably the last opportunity to run this picture again, so here goes:

[Reuters]

Okay, I totally made that quote up. But it is nice to read that some Methodist clergy are very opposed to the future George "W means War that never ends" Bush prezidenshul liberry being located at SMU. They have started a website (that is very web 1.0 - obviously the ministers put it up themselves). We don't see any Austin preachers listed, but there are a few from Georgetown.

Turns out the Rickster made an interesting choice for entertainment at his inaugural ball - a Confederate shirt-wearin' Ted Nugent. Per the Houston Chronicle:

Rocking the house as the night's final act was singer Ted Nugent, a friend of Perry's known as the "Motor City Madman." Nugent appeared onstage wearing a cut-off T-shirt emblazoned with the sure-to-draw-headlines Confederate flag and shouting some unflattering remarks about non-English speakers, according to people who were in attendance. His props were machine guns.

Perry's handlers can brush it off all they want, but this type of shit certainly doesn't help his chances at the goal that's getting his silk boxers all in a bunch. Most presidential candidates, one would assume, don't want a running mate that allows their entertainment to spout off about for'ners while draped in a symbol that many in the country view as a sign of hatred. Yeah, we all know the arguments about "heritage" and "state pride," but a good portion of the country doesn't buy that shit, and the fact that we're even discussing it is the problem in and of itself.

So attawaytogo to whoever in Perry's camp booked Nugent. Personally, I would have gone with someone a little less controversial, like David Allan Coe or GG Allin's zombie.

The Senate introduced a non-binding resolution today in opposition to Bush's buildup of troops in Iraq strategy. The non-binding resolution said, in part, "it is not in the national interest of the United States to deepen its military involvement in Iraq." Where were these Senators, like, say..uhm...years ago? Non-binding resolution...wow, such bravery and intimidation.

I've issued some non-binding resolutions lately myself. They include, "it is not in the best interest of acquaintances to cockblock Pinkdome." and, "all champagne distributors in the Central Texas region should increase delivery schedules in the Clarksville and Tarrytown neighborhoods to prevent a shortage in supply for Pinkdome staff." Then, oh yeah, my most strongly worded non-binding resolution as of late, "stop being an asshole."

Anyone else have any non-binding resolutions to propose before adjournment to Six Lounge this afternoon?

Scientists have moved the Doomsday clock forward to 11:55. Scientifically stating that the world is creeping closer to a cataclysmic event of nuclear or climate disaster.

The Doomsday Clock was created in 1947 when such things were actually useful to scare the public about the dangers of Russia bombing us into oblivion. Does anybody even remember the Cold War? The clock was pushed forward this time because scientists around the globe feel that George Bush's incompetence and unchecked power have reached critical mass. Plus, Germany farted.

Doomsday, Schmoomsday. There are a million things that could lead to a cataclysmic event wiping out millions of people. My favorite scenario is giant asteroid. That would be some scary shit. Be afraid of North Korea? Whatever.