Attorney General Greg Abbott leaving Matt's El Rancho with his entourage today at lunch. No word on any indictments. His staff doesn't have near the hot factor of Perry's boys.

Gayliens. (video)

That's all anybody's talking about today. I can't believe losers would wait in line for hours, much less days, to buy a phone. For $599 I'd expect more than cool interface...for that price it ought to tickle my ass with a feather.

Former Alabama governor, Don Siegelman, was finally sentenced in a corruption and bribery case that's been going on for a while now. He got mixed up with Richard Scrushy of HealthSouth fame and has been sentenced to seven years in prison.

Siegelman, 61, and Scrushy, 54, were convicted last year of bribery, conspiracy and mail fraud. The government accused Siegelman of naming Scrushy to a hospital regulatory board in exchange for $500,000 in donations to Siegelman’s 1999 campaign for a state lottery for education.

Ah, politics. It's such a lovely thing, isn't it?

The White House has refused to surrender documents subpoenaed by congress. They've also said that Harriet Miers will not testify under oath with a transcript. Does congress really have the nerve to issue a contempt citation?

I am not old enough to remember Watergate, but anytime I hear the words 'executive privilege' it doesn't give me the warm fuzzies.

Why in the hell is Rick Perry in Israel? In today's Statesman, the governor is all about 'building bridges' but the article couldn't help but remind us that Perry is probably considering a run for national office and that he talks out of both sides of his mouth.

Last year, to the chagrin of Jewish organizations in Texas, the Texas Republican Party declared in its platform that America is a "Christian nation" and described the separation of church and state as a "myth."

"The governor does not write platforms," Black said. "It's against some of the things he stands for."

JibJab remixes the Star Spangled Banner with the presidents. Click Permalink to watch.

Governor Perry vetoed the $297 million funding for Medicaid prescription drug benefits, but it has no impact because the bill has to be paid either way. Texas claims there is an overlap between Medicare and Medicaid eligibles in Texas and the state is paying twice for drug coverage on those enrollees. Wait, I assumed that. All I've read is said eligible...it didn't say enrolled.

I'm not sure I get it. If a person is enrolled in Medicare and provided drug coverage, but also enrolled in Medicaid and provided drug coverage are they really counted twice? Wouldn't Medicare be primary? Is this a PMPM calculation and not based on FFS or utilization of the benefit?

Someone clarify. I'll have lots of further questions. Email me for a spirited discussion on this issue.

Do we need to know that? The new Prime Minister's name is Gordon Brown. Carry on.

The NY Times reports that a survey of Americans aged 18-29 are more liberal than in the past. As they continue to drift to the left, they are also paying more attention to elections. (Ah, the great hope and fear of every politician every election cycle. Except Mark Strama.) \

My favorite conclusion:

...[T]hey believed that the nation was prepared to elect as president a woman, a black person or someone who admitted to having used marijuana. But they said that they did not believe Americans would elect someone who had used cocaine or someone who was a Mormon.

That what John Edwards said about his wife, Elizabeth, on the Tonight Show when he 'found out' she supports gay marriage. Edwards said, "I'm very strong about ending discrimination against gay and lesbian couples." Except, you know, letting them get married because that's icky...and would legitimize gay relationship. I don't want to be too harsh here, but this is what having cancer does to you...you can say what you think.

I guess Edwards had come a long way since 1988 when he said about gay people, "I'm not comfortable around those people." Maybe in another 19 years he'll think something different about them, too!

Really, I don't care about that at all. What I care about is his comment that his wife says what she thinks. Oh, how I crave a politician that would do the same. I might not like it, but wouldn't it be great to hear some honesty?

I've only slightly paid attention to the convicted killer that wants his last words before his execution to be a joke. A.) I can't believe they will allow that and b.) Here's the ultimate joke...you're life you scumbag. You are a waste of blood and tissue and good riddance. I hope it hurts when they turn the switch. If he'd like a real chuckle, I'd gladly show up in a clown costume and fry his ass. Oh, and to the media outlets that have been running this story for weeks now? Screw you, too.

The Baptist General Convention of Texas, which represents 5,600 congregations and 2.3 million Baptists, and Buckner International, a Baptist ministry that helps at-risk children, said they have joined to create the Immigration Service and Aid Center.

The Texas Suicide Prevention Council and Mental Health America in Texas have launched a new website aimed at suicide prevention among teens. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among teenagers and in the state of Texas an average of six people a day kill themselves.

There's nothing funny about suicide. I've had 8 friends kill themselves and I'm still angry at every one of them. If you see someone feeling down, talk to them. It's not always teenage moodiness, and it's not always teenagers. A personal story is in the permalink.

Governor Perry vetoed 49 (was it 49?) bills last week. There hasn't been a lot of uproar. I mean if Terri Hodge is the best you can get to give you a quote then it's pretty sad. Perry used his line-item veto power to reduce the budget by $570 million, according to a press release from the governor's office. One casualty of the line-item veto was $154 million in health insurance coverage for the 2008-09 budget year for community colleges. When the governor's office claimed that community colleges were 'padding their numbers' to get money, he pissed off some of that 39% left that like him.

"Each school is responsible for its own budget, and the governor finally put his foot down — he warned the community colleges that this would happen if they didn't stop this practice," Black said.

Holda said he is baffled by Perry's action, and his college did not falsify any employee information.

Steve Johnson, spokesman for the Texas Association of Community Colleges, said Perry's decision was a surprise.

"How dare the governor say we are falsifying information," Johnson said.

Rep. Chet Edwards to George Bush: "Listen here, dickwad, you're going to take care of the veterans you've sent into this quagmire or I will stick this finger through your tiny brain." (CNN)

The Houston Chronicle reports on an enormous scandal in El Paso. Corruption, bribery and secret meetings in bathroom stalls are de rigeur for El Paso it seems. One federal agent believes that up to 50 people could be indicted over the lengthy investigation. The investigation centers around payoffs for county contracts.

County Commissioner Haggerty said what we've always known about people in El Paso. "Some of the people I have worked with on Commissioner's Court are really stupid," said Haggerty, brother of longtime state Rep. Pat Haggerty, R-El Paso.

Well, not a major motion picture, but a politically motivated porn is got to be the next best thing.

Following the controversial political parody of Gaytanamo, released to huge critical acclaim earlier this year, New York's most filthy-fun gay film studio Dark Alley Media today announced plans to kick the US Government while it's down.

Gay Bomb will take us into the future and the year 2012. George the Second has refused to step down as leader of the free world, and the nations of Europe have banded together to fight the new American military dictatorship. Desperate to fend off its attackers, the US launches the experimental gay bomb, designed to make the enemy forces drop their guns and turn fag. But the winds of fate blow in a different direction, and soon America is brought to its knees.

When you've got a hankering to try something different, perhaps becoming a pimp is not the best career choice. Jeff Yu-Kuang Lin was a successful software programmer for a Houston start-up and when the business was sold and he left with a small fortune he couldn't decide what to do next. That's when the unique job opportunity to start a brothel presented itself.

What computer geek couldn't be lured by the promise of the "Pimp Perk"? By all accounts, Lin was a nice pimp. He even took the girls to deposit their money from their johns. Aww, isn't that the kind of pimp you'd want?

The Houston Assistant District Attorney claims that Houston has 300 such brothels. Really? I never knew they were so organized. Finding a hooker has never been easier! I wonder if they have a 401k plan.

Lady Bird Johnson is hospitalized in Austin for an undisclosed reason. At 94, every hospitalization is serious. Y'all send a prayer up for her and her family. (AAS)

Representtive Phil King's choice for Doctor of the Day this session was a sex offender. That's embarrassin'. From CBS 11, Rep. Phil King Introduced Dr. Tallant with:

It's my pleasure today to introduce Dr. Tallant. They are fine friends and great citizens from Parker County. I will also tell you that he is a retired flight surgeon with the United States Air Force who served his country well and is going to serve us today.

The Texas Medical Board reinstated Dr. Tallant's license because they needed doctors in that service area. Their website does not indicate he has been convicted of any crime.

John Edwards lands on the cover of Men's Vogue. There's even a photo slideshow.

(via)
I know I don't have to say anything about this because you thought the same thing I did.

Now that's controversial. Blogger Mike Rogers 'outs' gay Republicans. While he may think he's a hero for the gay rights movement, he's destroying lives and careers and I don't think that's cool.

He's outed so many closeted gay politicos, he's starting to make Capitol Hill look like Brokeback Mountain. All of them, he says, use their positions to actively oppose the equal rights of gay citizens while at the same time, secretly live a gay life.

I can't help but feel sorry for the people that get outed in the press. It's so public and hurtful. People who are not brave enough to live their lives as they are is the real issue. Life is too short to hate yourself and perpetuate that through your own job. (via)

Nancy Pelosi (Via Drudge)

A well-known peace activist was murdered in his truck yesterday. I guess that's one way to keep those sissy peace-lovin', hippie freaks out of your town. Not exactly the way I would do it, but eh..that's Denton for ya. (DMN)

The WSJ listed Austin as #1 city with Business Vitality. Dallas is #27. Other at-a-glance facts are very interesting. While Texas ranks 42nd in percent of income that goes to taxes, it ranks 6th in number of residents living below the poverty line. Here's the PDF so print it and put it on your bulletin board.

Finally! A "Don't You Know Who I Am?" Scandal Erupts! A bartender at the seedy bar adjacent to the Capitol has been fired for alledgedly refusing to serve Senator Whitmire one more scotch. According to the lawsuit, the bartender refused to serve Senator Whitmire a second scotch because he was visibilly intoxicated. Bartenders can get into big trouble with the law if they do that!

Well, she managed to piss Senator Whitmire right off and he said that he would have her job for this and when she felt threatened and said she would call the police he alledgedly replied that all he had to do was make a call and the police wouldn't come. OH how you all wish you were present to see Senator Whitmire in a pissing contest with a bartender!

So, what happened next? Bartender fired, d'uh. But, bartender recorded the conversation with her manager when she was getting fired and is now suing. Apparently, the manager of the bar was simply letting her know that the Cloak Room "never refuses to serve the senators" and "we won't get into trouble with the TABC" and "You're just like Melvin P. Thorpe all over again...you're about to ruin a good thing for everybody."

Mmmm, juicy.

This story highlights what's wrong in America today. There is no sense of distinction between classes anymore. The senator and a bartender are not equals and for a bartender to refuse to serve him is not right. She should have been fired if she can't get it through her thick head that rules for people like her simply do not apply to people like us. There's a reason he's a senator and she's a bartender.

Every once in a while I like to check out what keyword searches bring people to the site. This list represents just over 93,000 visitors to the site. It was a top 50 list, but I deleted all the keywords that were a variation of pinkdome, except the first one. I must admit I'm surprised that masturbation blog appears more than once. I really didn't think we were that intimate. (View the full list in the permalink)
Keyword
pink dome
doris ozmun
ben bentzin
rick perry cowboy ad
sexy cheerleader
van taylor
best video ever
masturbation blog

South Carolina Treasurer Thomas Ravenel is in some serious trouble for distributing cocaine. He was removed from office and is set to turn himself in and faces up to 20 years in prison. Ravenel is a name I know well from home. I just talked to a friend of mine back home and the story is that everyone knew about this before he was elected. Ravenel has been on the "DL" for years and even ran out on his fiance. When you are rich and Republican in Charleston and gay, being on the DL is a common thing and an 'open secret'. But, being closeted there means you get caught up with some rough trade and inevitably wind up with drugs and hustlers. It was only a matter of time. (CNN)

The news reports say he purchased 500 grams of cocaine. I can't believe he doesn't know that as someone with so much to lose you never purchase drugs yourself. Have someone else purchase it and it just magically appear in front of you. Jeesh.

Perry Chief of Staff Diedre Delisi has announced she'll be leaving in July. (via) Rumors are already circulating on who'll take her place. Who would want that job? You know it has a definite end date because a governor elected with 39% of the vote isn't the superstar he once was and if you're trying to be an up and comer in teh Republican party then maybe that gig isn't the best place. Well, unless you are an egomaniac that thinks you can turn it all around. *eye roll*

(This may be the longest post ever on Pinkdome)

As someone that nearly failed my political theory class and statistics in college, I am awed by statistics and numbers analysis. I find it fascinating to dive into numbers and review statistical analysis. I just don't want to have to do it myself.

I recently had an encounter with modern day political polling that gave me a new appreciation for statistical analysis and scientific research. The encounter I was a part of was not scientific. I went to a call center where they were doing polling for the Republican presidential primary in a Northeastern state. Once I came to terms with having to sit on a phone and ask people how important it was that their candidate oppose abortion and gay marriage, I began the process of letting the software make calls so I could read the script. (Continue reading by clicking permalink)

Celine Dion's "You and I" is the new campaign song for Hillary Clinton. I'd never heard it, but here's a YouTube video of the song. I guess I get it..."You and I were meant to fly."

Some fool is pushing Mitt Romney as the GOP frontrunner. Other candidates are all over him for giving money to Planned Parenthood while running for governor and then 'switching positions' (DIRTY!) now that he's running for president. Analysts agree that a Morman is gonna be a hard sell to Southern Evangelicals because they consider the religion a cult. Hmmm, do I kind of agree with the Southern Evangelicals?

Guiliani on the other hand is the frontrunner in most polls. You know, the mayor that created a 'police state' in NYC and had police writing tickets for everything and the dude that's been married three times and cheated on his wife and married his third cousin? Yeah, that one.

McCain follows him. McCain is 70 years old and batshit crazy. That's all I have to say about that.

Okay, Burka, you win: my interest is piqued. What exactly does the phrase "ungentlemanly personal conduct" mean?

When giving a further explanation of why Rep. Mike O'Day deserved a spot on Texas Monthly's dishonorable mention list, Burka offered the following enigma: "Mike O'Day engaged in ungentlemanly personal conduct." Which tells me ... nothing. But reading through the comments tells me a little - maybe a lot.

After refusing to explain what he meant beyond the general "O'Day knows what he did," Burka chose to publish a few comments that would suggest O'Day's a dick.

Burka moderates his comments, as will we on this post.

Following the lead of the Chronic, I invite readers to share what they know of the ungentlemanly personal conduct. Let's do our best to only embarrass and call out O'Day, though - not the parties that were on the receiving end of the "conduct." Identifying any victim of harassment is a serious violation.

Emancipation! The Texas celebration is now celebrated all over the place. Even though President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 and the war ended in April of 1865, Texas first got word in June. Kicking off a long history of Texans being the last to know anything.

There will be a parade and other events in Austin to mark the ocassion.

Today kicks off fundraising season for all the seats in the House. The party devotees will be following the money in mind-numbing analysis for the next year and handicapping races of those people that support or opposed Craddick in an effort to keep the controversy alive.

The very worst thing we learned from the story in today's Chronicle was Perry and Leininger that both support Craddick may decide to jump in more fervently to protect their man Craddick and his allies. Those two are exhausting. (Houston Chronicle)

Or, it could be that the RNC simply deleted all of them. Either way, using your RNC account to send official White House business emails is a no-no. Why does no one think that's a big deal? Is it because we've just been beat down by the hubris of this administration? I, for one, think that's my personal issue. My rage bank is way overdrawn. (CNN)

Why yes, yes it is! Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) finally admitted that it was his gun his senior aide was carrying in a briefcase. Why his senior aide had his gun and was wandering around with it is another story. Whatever the reason, the poor aide now has a legal battle since he was arrested for carrying a concealed weapon in the Capitol.

Here's the thing folks, it's ok to do things for your boss. But, if it's illegal? You don't have to do it. Like that time that person I worked for tried to get me to get him a hooker? I said no. Then I looked down my nose at him until I finally quit. You know, cause I'm morally superior and all that.

San Antonio lawyer Mikal Watts has decided to think about running against John Cornyn for the U.S. Senate. Watts may have trouble getting the Democratic nomination with his anti-abortion rhetoric. "I personally have the view: I hold the pro-life position with three exceptions: one for rape, one for incest, one for the life of the mother," Watts said. Seriously? I know abortion is the wedgiest of wedge issues, but come on. We've already got old white men trying to take away women's rights...why do we need yet another one?

I hope you folks over at the TDP are paying attention and trying to find us someone that's not retarded to run for office, because quite frankly, some of the candidates running so far have been piss poor.

Over and over again. Either that or Dell is the only business in Austin. Check out this screenshot from this morning's front page on their site.

So, I'm guessing that the accounting thing is almost over at Dell?

Dear Statesman, if you're looking for an online editor you are in luck! I'm available and currently looking for something new.

Goes to....State Representative Jessica Farrar. I received three "Women taking a seat at the Table of Power" silk scarves in the mail today with a personal note from the representative encouraging me to update my wardrobe. Class act.

The scarves are from WAND (Women's Action for New Directions).

Texas Monthly is announcing the annual Best & Worst Legislators right this very minute. We hadn't given it much thought, but we'll let you know what we hear. The issue should be on newstands next week.

The full list is in the permalink. This year was again a lot easier to pick the 'worsts' and there was no shortage. My most bittersweet moment is that Rep. Nathan Macias was given the honor of 'furniture' for being a do-nothing. Just so you folks in that district no, Rep. Carter Casteel was never 'furniture' and you dumbasses that elected him should still be hanging your heads in shame. (No, I won't just let it go.)

The Southern Baptist Convention was apparently all in an uproar over whether or not it's ok to speak in tongues or not. (It's not) The convention passed some vague language that says they would prefer you not speak in tongues. But, they say people will still do it. Wow, what an admission! How can a religion think it's ok for people to speak in tongues but not ok for gay men and women to get married?

The convention also featured several other proposals to -get this- decide "who is considered a Baptist in good standing." All of these people are going to hell as far as I'm concerned. How do you decide who's a Baptist in good standing? My grandmother could have answered this without some damn convention. She would have said, "If you accept Jesus Christ as your Savior, you are saved. For God so loved the Earth that he gave his only begotten son to die for your sins."

There's your damn litmus test.

Dear Grandma,
I'm sorry about all the swearing. I know it embarrasses you and yes, I know I was raised better than that. It's just that things are so different now and I get so mad about stuff the cuss words just kind of come out before I know it.

Love, Me

According to press reports, Governor Perry is expected to announce Phil Wilson to replace Williams as the SOS. Wilson is a deputy chief of staff for Perry and we know pretty much nothing about him. You can fill us in by leaving comments.

Harriet Miers will receive a subpeona to dish the dirt on the federal prosecutor firings. She's expected to recite a love poem about George in her opening statement.

A state lawmaker was gunned down in Monterrey yesterday. That's about the 80th murder so far this year there and it doesn't seem to be slowing down. State lawmakers refused to comment, probably because they are scared shitless. If this happened in Texas don't you think state lawmakers would be clamoring for face-time with a camera? Hell, Perry would probably call a special to approve bomb runs on the city!

There is supposedly a "war on drugs" to go with our "war on terror" and I am beginning to feel like we ought to just go down to Mexico, push those officials out of the way and say...You had your chance, now you're just pissing us off...move."

This map is sure to give you a double-take!

Somebody about a thousand times smarter than me compared individual states to countries GDP and put this together. It's awesome. And if seeing Oklahoma's GDP compared to the Phillipines doesn't make you laugh out loud today, nothing will.

From a tipster:

The Craddicktator wouldn’t recognize the Members to vote on his leadership, but now state employees have a chance. His budget lackey, Don Green, is in a run-off for the Employees Retirement System board, against Kimberly Ross Eaton, a parole officer supervisor from West Texas. You’ll recall that a Craddick-appointee to this mixed-elected and appointed board was Bill Ceverha, treasurer of the indicted TRMPAC. He also thought it would be cute to list on his financial disclosure statements a “check” as a “disclosed” gift (that turned out to be $50,000 from uber-donor Bob Perry). Do we really need Craddick money guys on the ERS board?

State employees, the ERS Board manages your retirement money! Pay Attention! Don’t throw away the ballot in your mail box! Vote by mail or online: www.ers.state.tx.us. (Voting closes July 13.) I, for one, prefer a West Texas chick skilled in tracking down criminals over someone who manages money for a dictator.

Never let anyone tell you that the federal government wastes money. After all, would you consider it a waste of $7.5 million to pay a Dayton, Ohio laboratory to develop a gay bomb? After all, Dayton is the gay capital of Montgomery County, Ohio. Go Gem City!

Back to the bomb: CBS says it would have been a "hormone bomb that could purportedly turn enemy soldiers into homosexuals and make them more interested in sex than fighting," but the Air Force evidently rejected the idea. Which sucks, because I'd have loved to watch Bush or Gates talk about it.

And I'd love to take credit for the picture, but I stole it from HuffPo.

Dallas should probably just embrace being the heroin capital of America. It's so prevalent that there was something called "cheese" heroin sold for $2 to teens. I can think of a lot of things that are miserable about living in Dallas, so a need to get high just to live there isn't the shocker. The shocker is that we keep seeing this same story every few years. Twenty-one teenagers have died in the past two years from this drug. Parents, schoolteachers, preachers, city leaders, candlestick makers in Dallas---Talk to the kids about drugs. Show them pictures of dead teenagers and say, "This will happen to you if you do drugs."

Otherwise, maybe people should just move away from Dallas. That place is whack, yo.

The Senate voted 53-38 to move the resolution regarding Attorney General Gonzales forward yesterday. "They can have their votes of no-confidence, but it's not going to make the determination about who serves in my government," said Bush in retalliation.

"They," sir are the United States Senate.
"..my government," sir is incorrect. It may be your administration, but it is our government.

Maybe the next vote ought to be about the president.

Meet Stormy, the weather dog. The local CBS station finally found intelligence to put on the local news.

Seriously, if you were the mayor of Tyler wouldn't you try to pass a city ordinance against rampant stupidity? It'd be pointless, but at least the rest of the world would know you were trying.

EL PASO, Texas — A trio of National Guard soldiers assigned to help stop illegal immigration in South Texas instead ran an immigrant smuggling operation using cell phone text messages, according to court records filed Monday by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Laredo.

Governor Perry did not receive a 'finders fee' contrary to what you might think. However, we're sure some of the proceeds from the smuggling will wind up in his campaign fund!

Secretary of State Williams announced his resignation so he can run against the juggernaut that is KBH. Williams said he's got his track shoes and he's ready to run. Kay Bailey said "What he needs is a grasp on reality because I'll give up my seat when they pry my cold, dead ass out of here. Bitch is mine."

And so we gear up for yet another fun election season. Barbara Radnofsky had a simple statement not meant for the press. One word, "Dammit."