Found On The Web 130729

The Case for Ted Cruz -- Why Liberals Should Hope the GOP Taps Him in 2016 "If 2016 pits Clinton against Cruz, the Democrats will carry Georgia...."

Ted Cruz a dangerous temptation to GOP "And if they succumb, he's going to leave them fat, drunk and pregnant."

10 Most Absurd Things Conservatives Have Said About Sex Around Texas Abortion Battles

The Panic Button to protect a west Texas election office

Immigrants Have Cantaloupe Calves, and 4 Other Unhinged Comments from America’s Lunatic Right-Wing Fringe This Week

Rightbloggers Look to "Libertarian Populism" (Minus the Neo-Confederates) as Key to Future Success

Taking Jesus AND the Ballot Box from the Voter-Suppressing Rightwing Radicals in North Carolina

What if Anthony Weiner and Huma Abedin are lying? "What if there is a much larger scandal lurking within their private lives?"

Opponents of Stand Your Ground Propose New Law, Don’t Shoot Me for Absolutely No Reason ""If you force someone to have a reason to shoot someone, soon you will be taking away his right to shoot that person altogether," the N.R.A. said."

Soft Machine: A Bright Ray of Hope for Bradley Manning "And it comes from -- of all places -- the very pinnacle of the military justice system that is bearing down on Manning: the Court of Appeal of the Armed Forces of the United States."

It’s corporations, not killer robots "It wasn’t the rise of artificially intelligent machines, but of artificially intelligent legal entities."

Millions in US tax dollars go to Big Data for wiretap capabilities

PRISM revelations result in lost business for US cloud companies

Opening the Skies to Everyone "If all that can be just over your head without you even knowing, what are you missing right here on Earth?"

Texas Progressive Alliance Weekly Blog Roundup 130729

The Texas Progressive Alliance applauds the Justice Department's joining the fight to continue VRA pre-clearance in the state as it brings you this week's roundup.

Off the Kuff points out that Greg Abbott would deny the same type of care that he himself has benefited from to millions of people who could not now receive it.

Horwitz at Texpatriate chronicles the unmitigated disaster that occurred when Ben Hall tried to advertise on Facebook.

WCNews at Eye on Williamson says if Texas wants the federal government to stay out of its electoral business, the solution is easy. All they have to do is stop discriminating: Texas and the DOJ.

Former Democratic state representative Aaron Pena found out the hard way that becoming a Republican doesn't help much when you're driving while brown in south Texas. PDiddie at Brains and Eggs observed that not even his Greg Abbott t-shirt could save him from being ICE'd.

After hearing all of the crazy right-wing rhetoric, Texas Leftist wondered what Republicans really say about immigration reform away from the glare of talk radio and Fox News. Here's the interesting result.

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And here are some posts of interest from other Texas blogs:

Mark Bennett maintains that it is foolish to claim that "stand your ground" laws had nothing to do with the Zimmerman verdict.

Austin Contrarian demonstrates why the rent is too damn high in the capital city.

Better Texas asks what can be done to help disadvantaged children succeed in school.

Eileen Smith sorts out the Republican candidates for Lite Guv.

Texas Watch wants us to close the "Six Flags loophole".

Texas Vox wraps up water legislation from the regular and special sessions.

Texas Redistricting lays out the Section 3 arguments in the fight over the Voting Rights Act and how it should still apply here.

Juanita has had it with the spurious claims about "jars of feces" being brought to the Lege when the final vote on the anti-abortion bill was taking place.

BOR notes that Senate Democrats are demanding a women's health study during the legislative off-season.

And Tuesday Cain, the 14-year-old girl who held up a provocative sign during the protests against the omnibus anti-abortion bill at the Capitol, would appreciate it if all the so-called grownups on the Internet stopped calling her a whore.

Texas Progressive Alliance Weekly Blog Roundup 130722

The Texas Progressive Alliance sends condolences to the family and friends of legendary White House reporter Helen Thomas as it brings you this week's blog post roundup.

Off the Kuff discusses the status of abortion litigation as pro-choice forces in Texas prepare to file suit over Texas' harmful new law.

Horwitz at Texpatriate discusses the current state of municipal elections in Houston.

Can Texas Democrats win in 2014 if they focus on turning out women of all demographics to the polls? PDiddie at Brains and Eggs says 'no, but'...

WCNews at Eye on Williamson makes the case: Why Wendy Davis must run for Governor of Texas in 2014.

Texas Leftist observes that campaign season has swung into high gear for Houston, as city council members debate the true cost of 380 deals.

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And here are some posts of interest from other Texas blogs.

CultureMap Houston was on the scene of the dueling protests of Trayvon martin supporters and their opponents in River Oaks yesterday.

Half Empty says that the Republican War on Women really isn't about women.

Bluedaze delicately points out that one fracking well test does not indicate that all fracking wells are safe.

The Bayou has the news that Texas judges and district attorneys got a raise from the Lege.

Egberto Willies interviewed one of the supporters of HB-2 (the abortion restrictions bill Rick Perry signed into law last week) and came away a little concerned.

And lastly, Hair Balls reports on the new amusement park going up outside Houston that will have a Giant Texas theme.

The War On Truth Continues

Dr. Claire McCarthy writes "ABC's hiring of Jenny McCarthy: a decision that could cost lives".

Texas Progressive Alliance Weekly Blog Roundup 130715

Off the Kuff gives some advice on what to do now that the anti-abortion bill has passed.

Horwitz at Texpatriate explains why he is a Democrat.

WCNews at Eye on Williamson says the dream that once made America great has become a nightmare for too many: We must “make morality possible again”.

CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme can hardly wait to see the results of the republican War on Women in 2014. Some Blue Dogs like Eddie Lucio Jr. are already feeling a pinch.

Dr. Mark Jones of Rice University tried to take down Wendy Davis' political prospects, and PDiddie at Brains and Eggs had to take down Jones. Conservatives drinking "librul" whine still smell like vinegar.

At TexasKaos, lightseeker foresees the destruction of Texas Republican Party. Check it out: Texas Republicans - The Coming Crackup?

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And here are some posts of interest from other Texas blogs.

Juanita eulogizes Bev Carter, Fort Bend political journalist and rabble-rouser.

Lone Star Ma deplores the gutting of the Voting Rights Act.

Jason Stanford has a personal story about why the omnibus anti-abortion bill is such a miscarriage of justice.

Equality Texas reports from the Texas GSA Network Activist Camp.

Greg Wythe shreds a recent story that claims Sen. Wendy Davis is "too liberal" to win in Texas.

Texas Vox looks at a series of new studies that focus on the destructive effects of pollution.

The Texas Green Report explains why you should care about the cost of tap water.

Concerned Citizens reminds us once again that elections have consequences.

BOR analyzes the litigation that is likely to arise from the passage of the omnibus anti-abortion bill.

Wandering Round The Web

The best cartoon about the DOMA decision, at The Columbus Dispatch.

What if Hillary doesn't run? BooMan suggests several alternatives.

The invaluable (and former Dallasite) Mad Kane poetizes about when a Kansas Gun Law Backfires. (Another very topical one of hers: A Modest Men’s Reproductive Health Reg Proposal.)

Finally: Haven't they suffered enough? Rick Perry’s October trip to Israel sign of another White House bid.

The Adios, Rick Perry Song

[Sung to the tune of Auld Lang Syne. This was written by someone who attended the Dallas County Democratic Party's Adios, Rick party on July 11 to celebrate Rick Perry's not running for reelection as Governor, and sung by many of the attendees. The author prefers to remain anonymous. All the major local TV had people out to interview County Chair Darlene Ewing or Communications Director Kathleen Thompson, plus it was mentioned by the New York Times and the Texas Tribune.]

Should old Rick Perry be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
By corporate coup our state did rot
His coffers intertwined

Chorus:
Now let us raise our glass in cheer
His reign is soon behind
We'll turn ol' Texas blue, my dear
For man and womankind

We'll fund our schools and highways too
Our healthcare be refined
From all across the Lone Star State
Our futures are aligned

(Chorus)

And there's a hand my trusty friend
Give us a hand o' thine
We'll work together till the day
That Texas star does shine

(Chorus)

Should old Rick Perry be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
By corporate coup our state did rot
His coffers intertwined

(Chorus)

TPA Roundup July 8 2013

Off the Kuff explains that while the Supreme Court may have neutered the Voting Rights Act, the legal battles over the redistricting maps are far from over.

Horwitz of Texpatriate rips Houston mayoral candidate Eric Dick a new one.

The GOP's national strategy for Obamacare is erode, impede, repeat. PDiddie at Brains and Eggs thinks that's bound to be more effective than introducing bills to repeal it once a month for the past several years.

Many of the major pro-migrant groups have been pushing the U.S. House to pass the Senate's immigration reform bill, but in case you haven't heard, there are some like DosCentavos who have been railing against the bill's "border surge." DC reports on the Valley member of Congress who resigned from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus because of it. Could it trip up the CHC as the debate continues?

At TexasKaos, Libby Shaw gives us a long and passionate look at Texas women pushing back! Check out Texas GOP: Regulate Women's Reproductive Rights. But Don't Mess with Industry.

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And here are some posts of interest from other Texas blogs:

From The Desk explains to her (Republican) Congressman why charity cannot adequately replace a government program like SNAP.

Former Texan Marci Glass says she'll be post-feminist when the world is post-patriarchy.

Juanita mocks the anonymous fool that's whining about Sen. Wendy Davis' appearance.

Nonsequiteuse will keep making her voice heard in Austin until someone listens to it.

Texas Leftist warns against underestimating Wendy Davis.

Bay Area Houston had Rick Perry's press release announcing his future plans before anyone else did.

BOR suggests that SB2, the bill dealing with 17-year-old murder suspects, may be unconstitutional.

Random Findings On The Interwebs

How the Supreme Court just killed off the GOP at Americablog. Well, we can hope...

Take the Impossible "Literacy" Test. Links to what are supposedly genuine old southern segregationist tools. The one from Louisiana is both hilarious and Kafkaesque.

Oh THAT Deserves a Proclamation, Yer Honor World O' Crap reports on an alternative to NYC's stop and frisk policies. A musical alternative.

Wendy Davis at Today's Austin Rally

A transcript of her remarks, at Progress Texas.

Welcome To The Immigrants

One of the wildest tales yet of a politician really reaching out to foreigners:

Whitby councillor claims to have fathered alien child.

(Spotted by Harold Cook.)

TPA Roundup July 1, 2013

The Texas Progressive Alliance stands with Wendy as it brings you this week’s roundup.

Off the Kuff points to two recent polls about abortion to note that the people really aren’t asking for more restrictions on reproductive choice.

Horwitz of Texpatriate asks the question on everyone’s minds: will the Senate Democrats stay or go in the Second Special Session?

Rick Perry thought he learned more from the life of Wendy Davis than she did, so he mansplained it to an anti-choice organization last week. And even Joe Straus was appalled. PDiddie at Brains and Eggs observed that this mansplaining business is a much more common form of testosterone poisoning than anyone previously knew.

WCNews at Eye on Williamson says it was a bad week for voting rights, A sad day in the United States.

At TexasKaos, Libby Shaw tells us about The Night Texas Turned Blue. Wendy Davis made us all proud.

This week at McBlogger, Cap’n Kroc has a message of welcome for the people newly energized by the Filicluster.

CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme hails the Supreme Court ruling on DOMA, but check out what the DOMA ruling means in a state like Texas.

The Ghost of Sam Houston makes an appearance at Darth Politico to talk Wendy Davis, Democracy, the rule of law, and the importance of civil disobedience.

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And here are some posts of interest from other Texas blogs.

Jim Rigby pens an open letter to the women of Texas.

Iain Simpson contemplates the connection between whistleblowing and civil disobedience.

BOR explains what the SCOTUS decision on UT’s admissions policy means.

State Rep. Mark Strama announced his plans for the future.

Nonsequiteuse places the blame for Tuesday’s debacle in the Senate where it belongs, and reminds us that the fight is far from over.

Lone Star Ma stands with Wendy.

Mark Bennett gives the ten commandments of courtroom humor.

Andrea Grimes explains to people outside Texas why they should never write us off.

Texagain and Rachel Farris document their experiences in the Senate chamber during the Davis filibuster.

Concerned Citizens thinks Sen. Davis should run for Lt. Governor, not Governor.

Harold Cook updates us on the latest Republican minority outreach program.

Hello Again

After almost exactly four years, it seems like it might be a good idea to start posting here again. I have updated the sidebar by taking out or changing obsolete or non-relevant links. Long ago I stopped posting the calendar of local DCDP events here because the party website has its own archives. Let's see if I remember how this site works.