Politex

Austin group selling Obama bumper stickers for every state

Austin-based BumperActive.com is creating a pro-Obama bumper sticker for every state. They've got 18 so far, some more clever than others.

Because this is a Texas blog, of course we're going to show you their creation for the Lone Star State.

 

 

 

 

 

But we have to say, we were more amused by their work for hope-junkies in Nebraska and Arizona.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check them all out here and let us know your favorite.

Of course, if backing the Democratic presidential nominee isn't your thing, the Texas GOP is wrapping up a contest that may be more to your liking.

-Aman Batheja

An Obama-Edwards ticket? Chet Edwards, that is

Central Texas Democrat Chet Edwards is sounding more and more like a serious candidate for the vice presidential nomination.

At least, *he* seems serious about it.  And Nancy Pelosi is serious.

So far, bloggers' responses have ranged from "Who?" to, "Oh, no! Not another guy from Texas!"

But Edwards isn't just another guy. He's President Bush's congressman, and a Democratic survivor in a deep-red state.

If you want to see Chet talk about the nomination, here's some Bryan TV video. In a few weeks, you might be seeing him on the Sunday news shows.

--Bud Kennedy

AG's office fires back at `brazen' fraudulent e-mail

How confident are Internet scam artists that they won't get nabbed by authorities? Apparently, at least one of them feels downright untouchable.

An e-mail spammer recently spewed out a new come-on using Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott's photo and his office's Web site banner.

The AG's office was not amused and issued the following press release:

``Consumer Alert: Beware of Spam E-mails Claiming to Originate from the Office of the Attorney General
   
A brazen, new spam e-mail featuring Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott’s photograph and the Office of the Attorney General’s Web page banner has recently hit inboxes statewide.

The fraudulent e-mail message, which may include the subject line, “ATTORNEY GENERAL OF TEXAS,” is given the false appearance of legitimacy because it is adorned with the agency’s distinctive online logo and an image of Attorney General Abbott. In the e-mail text addressing the recipient by name, a vague security alert warns about a “transaction with the United Nations.” The entire e-mail reads:

Attn: [Recipient Name],

This is the office of the attorney general of Texas we are using this private email box to contact you for our security reasons because a lot is going on now and so many of our citizen wish to hear from this office daily but we have choose this medium to attend to our good citizen.

[Recipient Name], we wish to inform you that your transaction with the United Nations concerning your package that is on hold now is a legitimate transaction and you must try and see you provide all that is been requested for the security of this great country.

You are at a safe hand and we are giving you % 100 assurances to continue with them and make sure that your package is being released to you.

Thanks.

Savvy e-mail users have increasingly learned to identify and delete fraudulent e-mails that falsely appear to originate from legitimate banks, credit card companies and government agencies. Recipients should not respond to the sender or click on any Web links that may appear within the message. Activating Web links that appear in unexpected e-mails may direct users to fraudulent Web sites or allow identity thieves to capture users’ sensitive personal information.

Texans can protect their e-mail addresses from spammers by working with their Internet service providers to install free filters, blocks and other junk mail management services. All computer users should also familiarize themselves with a Web site’s privacy policy before providing their e-mail addresses. Most legitimate vendors allow users to prevent the company from sharing their information with unauthorized third parties.''

Steve Campbell

Timeline of Davis' candidacy

The lawsuit State Sen. Kim Brimer filed this morning hinges on the order in which several events occurred. Here's a timeline of the events in question:

Brimer sues Democratic Party and Davis

State Sen. Kim Brimer, R-Fort Worth, filed a lawsuit today against Tarrant County Democratic Party Chair Steve Maxwell, Texas Democratic Party Chair Boyd Richie and his Democratic opponent Wendy Davis.

The suit requests the court to "disqualify Davis from the November 2008 general election."

The suit follows the same line of argument as three Fort Worth firefighters charged back in January, when they alleged in a suit that Davis couldn't run for the state senate because she didn't officially step down from her seat on the Fort Worth City Council before filing her candidacy.

"In effect, Davis sought to become a candidate for the Legislature at the same time she continued to hold a 'lucrative office', exercise her duties and enjoy the benefits of office as a member of the City Council," the suit alleges.

State election law prohibits officeholders from running for the Legislature, but state law also requires resigning officeholders to hold their seats until their successors are sworn in, according to city of Fort Worth officials.

A three-judge panel in that case ruled that the firefighters didn't have standing to challenge Davis' eligibility, only a political opponent did.

We asked Brimer back in February whether he would file his own suit. He wouldn't say.

More details to follow.

UPDATE: Click here to see a copy of the lawsuit.

Click here for a timeline of Davis' candidacy.

UPDATE 2: Brimer just sent the following statement: “I want to run against a legal opponent. The eligibility questions surrounding my opponent need to be addressed before the fall election.”

UPDATE 3: Texas Democratic Party spokesman Hector Nieto responds: “It was clear from the very beginning that Kim Brimer was scared to face Wendy Davis in an election. This is the same lawsuit the firefighters brought in the first place...Instead of letting voters decide for themselves, he’d rather use the legal system and manipulate it to get out of a real challenge. I don’t blame him. If I were Kim Brimer and I had his record, I wouldn’t want to face Wendy Davis either."

UPDATE 4: From Davis' campaign manager Matt Latham: "This is the same baseless claim that has been tried numerous times in numerous forums. The truth is that Kim Brimer does not want to have to face the voters at all. He is willing to try every politician's trick in the book, several times over, to avoid answering to the voters for his failed record of leadership. This desperate attempt to distract the voters from the real issues at stake is as transparent as it is wrong."

-Aman Batheja

House speaker chided for allowing 'ghost voting'

In a rare special report, a Travis County Grand Jury has rebuked House Speaker Tom Craddick, R-Midland, for failing to enforce rules designed to ensure members are actually casting their own votes in the Legislature.

The panel issued the report after a citizen complained about the controversial but long standing practice known as “ghost voting,’’ whereby members cast votes for their colleagues in flagrant violation of the House rules. The grand jury, citing laws that let legislative bodies largely police themselves, said it had no power to issue indictments but urged House leaders to immediately cease the practice or enforce rules against it "as one way of restoring public trust in the legislative process.''

“The Grand Jury believes an unknown, but perhaps substantial percentage, of the citizenry of this state believes the Legislature has a proclivity for passing laws for the citizens to abide by but will not even abide by its own rules, which are equivalent to laws imposed on private citizens,’’ the report stated.

Craddick spokeswoman Alexis DeLee downplayed the report, issued last week, saying members vote for each other as a “long-standing courtesy’’ when legislators are temporarily away from their desks. The controversy was captured on tape and has become a sensation on the Internet. But DeLee said the footage “does not show the whole picture, including the members’ communications with one another."

“The members always control their own voting station (can lock it and remove their key) and in the instance of the video shown, there was no evidence that any member was voted contrary to their instructions to a colleague,’’ she said. “There were also no complaints made to the speaker by any members during the time of the video . . . the members of the House determine their own rules and any changes to them.’’

-- Jay Root

Dallas vs. Tarrant: A tale of two jail documentaries

In what we suspect may become an ongoing series, here's an example of how things are done differently in Tarrant County and Dallas County.

Dallas County commissioners secured a temporary restraining order against Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez Tuesday to block a Discovery Channel film crew from shooting inside the county jail.

Commissioners said Valdez should have asked their permission first. Valdez said the decision was hers alone.

Dallas County Administrator Allen Clemson said commissioners have several concerns including inmate privacy and how the presence of a film crew in the jail may affect current and future litigation.

Meanwhile, a similar arrangement in Tarrant County went over last year without a hitch.

The makers of “Cops” filmed inside the Green Bay jail for a documentary-style show called “Inside American Jail.” (The show was later repackaged into a show called "Jail" which still runs locally on My27.)

Tarrant County Sheriff Dee Anderson was happy with the results.

Anderson agreed to the show in part because the producers offered final approval of all the footage that was shown, spokesman Terry Grisham said. (Valdez has a similar arrangement with the Discovery Channel.)

Anderson never formally asked Tarrant County Commissioners for permission to work with the film crew. However, Grisham noted that a film company worked on a show about the Tarrant County justice system in 2003. The show never aired but any concerns regarding shooting in the jail were addressed by commissioners then, Grisham said.

“I think there’s a trust that we have with our court,” Grisham said.

(Photo courtesy of Jamd.com)

-Aman Batheja

Newcomer enters Texas governor's race, promises $1.50 gas

The long list of people who want Rick Perry's job just got a little longer.

A man named Kenneth Griffin has posted 11 YouTube videos talking about his nascent campaign for Texas Governor.

His YouTube channel: TexasGov2010.

What we know so far: he likes Ron Paul and Hugo Chavez and is "extremely angry" about a lot of things including high gas prices, toll roads, speed limits and 9/11.

He urges supporters to go to www.texasgovernor2010.com though the site does not appear active yet.

As Griffin sees it, he's already won.

"I'm not waiting for day one," he says in this video. "I've begun working as governor right now. I'm currently talking with various oil executives to see what it would take to get gasoline back down to $1.50 a gallon."

Skip to the 7-minute mark of this video to hear Griffin's take on Gov. Perry and Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison.

-Aman Batheja

A new study confirms the obvious: our kids are fat

This just in: our kids are out of shape and fat.

But you knew that already.

Now official confirmation comes from the Texas Education Agency, which released preliminary results of a statewide assessment of physical health in the public school system today.

The study shows show children get more out out of shape as they get older, with less than 10 percent of high school seniors reaching the "Healthy Fitness Zone" as defined by the state test. A little less than a third of state third graders made the grade. The "fitnessgram" test measures body composition, aerobic capacity, strength, endurance and flexibility.

"These numbers clearly show that our kids are not in good physical shape,'' said state Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, whose legislation required the testing of 2.6 million Texas students.

Nelson is touting a new law that will require students in middle school to engage in "moderate or vigorous" physical activity for at least four of six semesters beginning this fall.

Not everybody is jumping for joy about the new fitness focus. Advocates of fine arts worry that kids will have to dump electives like drama and music in order to meet the new standards.

Robert Floyd, executive director of the Texas Music Educators Association, urged the Legislature to explore ways to make time for both physical education and fine arts, even if it means extending the school day.

"We all recognize the importance of children's health and the importance of physical activity for students,'' Floyd said. "But the reality is there's a limited amount of instructional time in the school day.''

-- Jay Root

Read more about this issue on our Extra Credit blog.

Craddick draws opponent in Midland: ruling

Republicans were hoping powerful House Speaker Tom Craddick wouldn't have to spend any time or money keeping his own seat in Midland. But it looks like Midland Democrat Bill Dingus will get a chance to run against the powerful incumbent after all.

The Republican Party tried to block Dingus from mounting a campaign against Craddick because he was a member of the local city council when he announced his candidacy. But an Austin judge ruled that Dingus, whose term on the council would not overlap with a term in the Legislature, is indeed eligible to run.

In 2003, Craddick became the first Texas Republican speaker in more than 130 years. He's hoping to remain in the post when the Legislature reconvenes in January.

-- Jay Root

Bush biopic movie shooting in Shreveport

Oliver Stone's biopic on the current president is shooting in Shreveport, LA, according to this writeup on W. in the LA Times.

Stone, determined to release the movie before his protagonist moves out of the White House, is hoping for an October release date.

Fun trivia from the article: Bush Sr. and Bush Jr. will have a conversation where they will discuss both the Texas Rangers and Saddam Hussein.

Worth noting: The movie poster for the film suggests the title is meant to be pronounced "dubya" and that, brace yourself, Stone may not be shooting a flattering portrayal of the former Texas governor's life. (Though the article says the filmmakers "believe they are crafting a biography so  honest that loyal Republicans and the Bushes themselves might see it.")

Also handy: this slideshow of the actors playing the key parts (including James Josh Brolin, shown left, made-up to look like Bush.).

Missing from the slideshow: a mug of Toby Jones (shown right) who will play Karl Rove.

-Aman Batheja

First hearing on 'Texas Two-Step' scheduled

The Texas Democratic Party will hold its first hearing on the controversial "Texas Two-Step" election process, which sparked widespread confusion and complaints in March. All of the hearings are open to the public, but this first one will feature invited testimony only. So if you just want to sound off about it, you're gonna have to wait.

The first hearing will be held in Austin a week from today on Monday, July 7 at the Austin Community College Health Science Building -- that's Building 9000 -- staring at 10 a.m. Party spokesman Hector Nieto said he expects there to be a hearing at some point in North Texas, but that will probably not happen until after the Democratic National Convention, to be held in Denver in late August.

Informally known as the "prima-caucus,'' the Texas presidential selection process includes both a primary and a caucus. Officials acknowledged they were overwhelmed by the interest in the caucus this year, which saw record participation but also a fair amount of mayhem and hand-wringing.

Texas Democratic Party chairman Boyd Richie said the committee will study the history of the Texas system, take expert testimony and then "consider this feedback and possibly make recommendations for changes.''

-- Jay Root

New Tarrant Dem. Chief Willing to Change His Mind

New Tarrant County Democratic Party chairman Steve Maxwell said he does not completely share the opposition of his predecessor, Art Brender, to the Trinity River Vision urban waterfront project.

"I think that any project that benefits the city of Fort Worth is a great project unless it benefits only a few people, which appears to be the case here,” said Maxwell.  “I am negative on this but my mind can be changed if it can be demonstrated that the project benefits more people.”

"I'm willing to have my mind changed."

Maxwell, who's only been chair since May, may find a welcome from Rep. Kay Granger, R-Fort Worth, who's trying to secure Democratic suppport in Congress to get the project authorized for the latest projected $576 million cost, up from the previously authorized $220 million.

-- Maria Recio

Pro-life group targeting Texas as "potential swing state" with new ad

Tony Perkins, the head of the Family Research Council, is appearing in a new political ad questioning Barack Obama on his stance on abortion.

The ad, from FRC Action, the legislative arm of the FRM, will run in Cincinnati and Dallas media markets. Now, picking Cincinnati isn't exactly surprising. Ohio is the perennial swing state. But why Dallas?

"We were looking at potential swing states and those are the first two cities that we’ve chosen," said Maria Donovan, a spokesperson for FRC Action, told us.

So FRC Action considers Texas a swing state?

"We know that Obama is targeting Texas," Donovan said.

Here's the ad:

-Aman Batheja

Texas GOP announces finalists for Anti-Obama slogan contest

The five finalists are in for the Texas Republican Party's anti-Obama bumper sticker contest.

Out of 1,300 submissions, here are the five remaining contenders for the state party's official bumper sticker for 2008:

-Obama for Change? That's all you'll have left in your pockets! (a variation on this sticker)

-Obama won't change me -- I'm voting GOP

-High gas prices? Thank a Democrat this November

-Barack Obama? Liberal like McGovern, Prepared like Carter

-Barack Obama -- The Audacity of HYPE

Those interested can vote for their pick here.

-Aman Batheja

Hours after Supreme Court rejection, Louisiana governor signs castration bill

While some Texas lawmakers have expressed disappointment at yesterday's Supreme Court ruling striking down the death penalty option for child rapists, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal has taken things a step further.

Hours after the Supreme Court ruling which specifically struck down the Louisiana law, Jindal (the second Indian to be featured on this blog) signed a bill allowing for the castration of convicted sex offenders.

The bill will allow Louisiana courts to require certain sexual offenders to undergo chemical castration by taking the drug medroxyprogesterone acetate which reduces sexual urges.

According to the bill, the convicted sex offender may choose to undergo physical castration in lieu of the drug treatment "provided the defendant file a written motion with the court stating that he intelligently and knowingly, gives his voluntary consent."

Texas passed its own castration bill back in 1997, after habitual child molester Larry Don McQuay made headlines by requesting it. That law allows inmates convicted of sex crimes against children to be voluntarily castrated to curb their sex drive.

The offer has been rarely taken up.

-Aman Batheja

Poll shows a tight race for Texas

Republican presidential hopeful John McCain is running 5 points ahead Democrat Barack Obama in Texas, and first-term Sen. John Cornyn is in a nail-biter with Democratic state Rep. Rick Noriega, a new polls shows.

The survey of likely voters by the non-partisan Texas Lyceum, a statewide leadership group and think tank, could be a bit skewed in favor of the Democrats, pollster Daron Shaw of the University of Texas at Austin says, because he made an extra effort to make sure the random sample was reflective of the state's demographics.

The between-the-lines reading is that subgroups that lean Republican tend to vote in higher numbers than subgroups that lean toward the Democrats, which might explain why the GOP has run the table in every statewide election since 1996.

According to the raw numbers, McCain (top photo) was favored by 43 percent of the respondents while Obama was backed by 38 percent in the presidential race. A hefty chunk, 17 percent, had yet to settle on a preference while Libertarian Bob Barr drew 1 percent as did independent Ralph Nader.

Cornyn was backed by 38 percent of those polls; Noriega's share was 36 percent. The balance was still mulling over the choices for the November election.

Other polls in the Senate race have been all over the map with Cornyn holding either tiny leads or really big leads. The incumbent is far better financed than the challenger, and far more familiar to voters. He's been elected twice to the Texas Supreme Court, once as attorney general, and once as U.S. senator. Noriega, a five-term Houston-area lawmaker, is in his first statewide contest.

-- John Moritz

Democrats love Big Bad John

Sen. John Cornyn's folksy television ad, Big Bad John, isn't exactly playing well, or at least the way it was intended, in Democratic circles. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee got such a kick out of the version of the Jimmy Dean song-- replete with Texas stereotypes and Cornyn wearing a fringed suede jacket -- that it actually posted it on its blog, along with the Daily Show's Jon Stewart's mocking take on it. "We figure it helps our cause more than his," says the DSCC blog.

Cornyn's reaction? "I think it's hilarious," he laughed during a conference call with reporters today. "This was a good-natured introduction we did at the Houston convention a couple of weeks ago." Cornyn said it was meant to be light-hearted and that he told the state GOP gathering after the ad: "My staff convinced me that it would be a good idea. Maybe I need a new staff." Or at least a new songwriter. Check out these lyrics:"He rose to the top, in just one term. Kept Texas in power, made lesser states squirm. Big John."

http://www.dscc.org/blog?blog_entry_KEY=292 

Maria Recio

UPDATE: RE: John Cornyn's blog: Bill O'Reilly found the ad "very watchable" when he talked about it on his show this week.
 

The drip drip drip of appropriations

After sitting in a House Appropriations Committee meeting all day, U.S. Rep. Kay Granger, was somewhat happy with the $6 million she got for building the Trinity Uptown bypass channel.

But the Fort Worth Republican was bemused that her request was shaved somewhat as the committee cut funding to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers while adding, at the same time, 20 to 21 additional projects.

"It is a little confusing to me that you have enough confidence (in the Army Corps) for projects but cut the total funding," Granger said.

Granger said she will continue her fight to get the Trinity Uptown project included in the next Water Resources Development Act as well as boost the $220 million authorization she got from Congress for the project in 2004.

Since then, Trinity Uptown's size and cost has grown. It added 1,000 acres on the city's east side and the cost has gone up to about $576 million.

Max B. Baker

Star Struck Rumor

Jim Oliver, general manager of the Tarrant Regional Water District, was not totally shocked Wednesday when he heard that the Tarrant County College system had bought the RadioShack headquarters for its new downtown campus. He had heard rumors about it weeks before.

But Oliver said he didn't know exactly what to make of those rumors. He put it in the category of the one he had heard so many times before: Hollywood Star and Austinite Matthew McConaughey was going to move into the Montgomery Ward Plaza development.

(He checked it out, by the way. It isn't true.)

"I put it in that category. It was quite a surprise when it happened," Oliver said.

Max B. Baker

Democrats snag victory from predicted defeat

House Democrats are feeling pretty chipper after the veto-proof passage of a Medicare bill Tuesday that Republicans predicted they would defeat.

The bill seeks to avoid a 10.6 percent Medicare payments to physicians, which will automatically take effect July 1 unless legislation is passed. The bill instead would hold payments at their current level for the rest of the year and establish a 1.1 percent pay hike in 2009, according to The Hill, a newspaper that covers Capitol Hill.

The final vote was 355-59, with 129 Republicans joining all of the House Democrats in voting for the bill. Among the Republicans voting for the bill were U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Lewisville.

Members of the Republican leadership opposed the bill because it calls for spending reductions to Medicare Advantage health plans, the Hill reported.

U.S. Rep. Kay Granger, R-Fort Worth, and House Republican Conference Vice Chairwoman, however, voted against the bill. U.S. Rep. Joe Barton, shortly before the vote said the bill would fail. "We're not a part of the process," Barton told the Hill. "There's a 95 percent to 100 percent chance we're going to be 'nos' regardless of the substance of the bill."

Democrats suggested Republicans who voted against the bill should pay a political price for voting no.

-Max B. Baker

Kinky Friedman: "I was a Democrat before you were born."

Ignore the "I" next to his name on the ballot in 2006.

Kinky Friedman says he's always been a Democrat and he's ready to run as one for governor if he can just raise the cash.

“If they’ve got the money then I’ve got the time,” Friedman said in a wide-ranging interview with the Star-Telegram Tuesday evening in the Hilton Garden Inn Fort Worth. Friedman's in town for a few events, including two in downtown Fort Worth Wednesday.

The cigar-toting humorist is convinced his broad-based appeal will spur those who recently supported presidential campaigns of Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton and Republican Ron Paul to coalesce behind him in 2010.

“I believe I can not only appeal to Obama people and Hillary people, but Ron Paul people and the independents and the people we used to call rednecks who are now sitting in a Starbucks some place in the suburbs,” Friedman said.

Writing off his previous independent gubernatorial campaign as failed from the start, Kinky Friedman thinks he’s the best chance for a Democrat to be Texas’ next governor.

A Texan in the Democratic Veepstakes: Chet Edwards

Suddenly, low-key Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco, is in play. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., no fan of Sen. HIllary Clinton being on the Democratic ticket, mentioned Edwards as a prospect to run with Barack Obama. That created a frenzy which Edwards addressed this afternoon in a release that did nothing to cool things down.

"It has been a privilege for me to work closely with Speaker Pelosi in behalf of our nation’s veterans, and I am humbled that she and others would suggest that the Obama campaign consider me for their VP list," said Edwards. "Given that I have not met with the Obama campaign regarding the vice presidential nomination, I would not want to speculate on the names being considered."

"My focus will continue to be serving my district and passing a VA-Military Construction Appropriations bill that respects the service and sacrifice of America’s veterans and our military families," he said.  Edwards chairs the House Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans' Affairs.

-- Maria Recio

Former FW official Ott missed fire

Former Fort Worth Assistant City Manager Marc Ott -- now Austin's city manager -- has been catching some heat lately.

Apparently he didn't know about the June 8 fire that ripped through the Texas governor's mansion, all but destroying the historic structure, until the next day. And only then when Austin Mayor Will Wynn mentioned it to him, according to the Austin American Statesman.

As a result, Ott asked the city's communications director Gene Acuna -- who through the years has served as spokesman for everything from the Texas Agriculture Department to Gov. Rick Perry's office -- to resign for not telling him about the fire.

Ott was skewered for his moves in a column by the Austin American Statesman, "If your house is on fire, don't wait for Ott to help."

-- Anna M. Tinsley

Clinton supporters challenge Denver delegates

Since the evening of March 4, some Hillary Clinton supporters have argued their candidate was robbed crucial delegates during the Texas caucus process.

Now some local Clinton supporters have taken their concerns to the Democratic National Committee, filing challenges to the delegates elected to go to the National Democratic Convention in Denver.

One that caught our eye is from Fort Worth lawyer Jason Smith. Last week, he filed a challenge to the legitimacy of the entire Texas delegation.

Political site suggests Obama and Clinton return to Texas

Two writers at Politico.com list five places Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton should campaign together. One is San Antonio but not because they think the state may tilt blue this year.

Rather, Charles Mahtesian and Amie Parnes argue that an event in San Antonio with Clinton would help Obama "among the older Hispanic voters who were underwhelmed by his candidacy during the primary season."

-Aman Batheja

Kinky Friedman coming to Fort Worth this week

Former candidate for governor Kinky Friedman is making a trip to Fort Worth on Wednesday.

The one-liner machine will first attend a cigar tasting at Tobacco Lane on the Square on Main St. at 5:30 p.m.

He’ll then walk around the corner to the Flying Saucer Draft Emporium to perform at a $50-a-ticket benefit for his Utopia Rescue Ranch.

Little Jewford will be there too. (But will Frank from Atlanta?)

On Friday, Friedman told a San Antonio radio station that he’s serious about another run for governor, as a Democrat.

Friedman has kept busy since coming in fourth in the 2006 governor’s race. He went back to writing for Texas Monthly, launched a cigar business and has a new book of essays coming out this week.

He’s also become a weekly commenter for The O’Reilly Factor on the Fox News Channel, a position that may ruffle feathers among the Democratic grassroots.

Conservative pundit Bill O’Reilly has called Friedman "our guy in Texas."

Friedman’s hoping Democrats will say the same thing.

(Screenshot from RedLasso.)

-Aman Batheja

Two new polls released in Davis/Brimer race

You know it's going to be an interesting race when both sides are claiming bragging rights from the same polling numbers.

In the state senate race between Republican Kim Brimer of Fort Worth and former Fort Worth City Councilwoman Wendy Davis, both show Brimer with a slim lead over Davis.

In a poll conducted for Davis' campaign by Washington, D.C.-based Democratic pollsters Bennett, Petts & Normington, Brimer nabs 39 percent of voters compared to Davis' 35 percent if the election were held today. Results are based on 400 likely voters in the district. The poll has a margin of error of 4.9 percent.

Austin-based TXPollWatch.com then released the results of an automated poll which has Brimer leading 44.27 percent to Davis' 35.35 percent. The results are weighted based on a sample size of 466. The margin of error is 4.54 percent. (Texas Poll Watch is a brand new site and has caught some serious flak for another recent poll.)

Bryan Eppstein, spokesman for Brimer, said, "There are two Democratic polls and both polls show Brimer winning. What does that tell you? It shows Brimer’s going to win the race this fall."

Davis spokesman Matt Latham sounded incredulous by Eppstein's response.

"He's not leading by much," Latham said, "Any incumbent who's been in office for 20 years and who's excited about a 44% (showing) is not really in touch with how this race is going."

UPDATE: Davis' campaign is now calling into question the accuracy of the Texas Poll Watch results. Among their concerns: the background of Mark Littlefield, one of the men behind the site.

-Aman Batheja

It's like Gramm and Armey never left.

Former Sen. Phil Gramm and former House Majority Leader Dick Armey, were power brokers for years. Now, the like-minded conservatives -- each with a Ph.D. in economics -- are working on John McCain's presidential bid. Gramm has an official role, Armey does speaking, but they keep tabs on each other. Like the recent speculation about Gramm slated to be treasury secretary (a recurring rumor since Gramm retired in 2002) in a McCain Administration.

"That's what I'm hoping," said Armey, who was on Capitol Hill today, "and expecting that to be the case."

-- Maria Recio

Rep. Pete Sessions' new best friends

Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Dallas, weighed in today on President Bush's proposal to allow domestic drilling along the entire Outer Continental Shelf -- but not in a way that anyone necessarily expected. During a House floor debate, Sessions said that the public shouldn't be blaming the oil companies for high energy costs. "We ought to be saying 'the energy companies are our friend,'" he said. Sessions went on to say oil companies need the opportunity to drill for domestic oil.

But that didn't sway Rep. James McGovern, D-Mass.: "With friends like oil companies, the consumers do not need enemies."

-- Maria Recio

Future Texas political ads, minus the candidates

We're still likely a few months off from seeing TV commercials for Texas candidates, but consider this a sneak-peek.

Spotrunner.com is a fast growing Los Angeles-based outfit that offers pre-made generic political campaign ads for candidates with limited resources. They'll plug in any candidate's name and photo. Starting price is $499.

You can check out some of the different templates the group offers, most aimed at helping with the election of "John Smith" to represent the good people of "Anytown."

There's even two ads tailor-made for Texas campaigns. No other state-specific ads are currently up on the site.

One of the Texas ads talks up how John Smith would uphold our state's tradition of electing "strong leaders." The other assures the viewer that Johnny will rise above "business-as-usual Austin politics."

There's other ads that could get some play in Texas: an ominous one about border security, a grouchy one about taxpayer abuse, and, our favorite, a goofy one that's sort of anti-golf.

(Tip via Slate V)

-Aman Batheja

Report calls for more environmental investment

The government should mandate caps on global warming gases and make more investments to spur low-carbon investments, according to a new report from environmental organizations.

The report also highlights what it describes as environmental successes in Texas, including the state's move to create more electric generation from wind. Texas leads the nation among states for wind power and policymakers are now considering assessing billions of dollars of additional ratepayer charges to expand wind power even more.

The report , Global Warming Solutions that Work, was a joint effort between Environment Texas and Environment America. It states that government should mandate caps on global warming pollution with a goal of reducing emissions by 15-20 percent over the next 12 years, and by 80 percent by 2050. It also calls for cities to adopt building codes with tougher energy efficiency standards, and it calls for more investment in public transportation.

“Global warming is the defining challenge of our time,” said Luke Metzger, Director of Environment Texas. “The latest climate science tells us that we must reduce its emissions of global warming pollutants quickly and dramatically if we hope to avoid the most catastrophic impacts of global warming.” 

-- R.A. Dyer

Clinton supporter planning "holy chaos" for Obama camp

Ed Hale and his feisty flock are nearing action.

The Texas rancher's web site for Hillary Clinton supporters planning to back John McCain over Barack Obama has attracted thousands of supporters along with ridicule and investigations online.

Now he's launching a 527 political action committee intent on sending a message to the Democratic National Committee: put Clinton at the top of the ticket or her die-hard supporters will defect to the GOP.

Hale predicted he'd easily raise the money for his first goal: a full page ad in the Chicago Sun-Times warning DNC Chairman Howard Dean and superdelegates about their intentions.

After that, the group hopes to run ads in the New York Times and in publications in swing states, he said.

"We're going to create holy chaos in the Democratic Party," Hale said.

-Aman Batheja

Texas GOP wants your best anti-Obama line

The Texas Republican Party is looking for aspiring Evelyn Ryans.

The GOP wants its more creative members to come up with a slogan for a new anti-Obama bumper sticker.

"While times have changed, and we get our news from cable TV or the internet...one thing has not changed -- we Texans love our cars and trucks, just like we love to share our opinions.  So here is your chance to help us devise our official Republican Party of Texas 2008 campaign bumper sticker," according to an email from the state Republicans.

Course, there are already plenty of anti-Obama and anti-McCain slogans out there.

Deadline for the Texas GOP contest is noon this Friday. You can submit your most clever piece of political wit here.

-Aman Batheja

Legal Hotline for Low-Income Electric Users

Low-income Texans suddenly dumped to high-cost electric providers because of the financial failures of their regular companies can now call a toll-free help line.

That's the word from Texas Legal Services Center executive director Randy Chapman, who said low-income customers can get help with problems that cannot be resolved by the Texas Public Utility Commission.

For instance, customers can get help to ensure that they continue receiving a special low-income discount,  and that some customers may qualify for help in getting failed electric companies to honor their legal commitments, he said.

"In the last month over 40,000 families have seen their electric companies suddenly go out of business," said Chapman. "Under PUC rules, they often get slammed to a high cost provider where their bills can be double what they were last summer.”

He said customers should be sure to have their electric bills and other related papers in order before calling. The legal hotline phone number is 1 (800) 622-2520.

-- R.A. Dyer

Mr. Veasey goes to Denver

AUSTIN — Fort Worth Democrat Marc Veasey has been selected as a "Party Leader and Elected Official" delegate for Barack Obama during the upcoming Democratic National Convention, to convene this summer in Denver.

According to a Veasey campaign consultant, the two-term state representative was chosen among elected officials, and will cast a vote during the Aug. 25-28 convention for presumptive nominee Obama. Veasey could also could vote in other party matters, such as determining the platform, said the consultant.

“I consider it a great honor to be selected as a PLEO Delegate for Senator Obama,” said Veasey. “This is perhaps the most important election of our time. Texas will be extemely important in this campaign, and I believe that we have the opportunity to make huge gains for the Democratic Party of Texas.”

According to information provided by the political consultant, “Party Leaders and Elected Official” delegates are Democratic National Committee members selected from a pool of elected officials such as big city mayors, state-wide elected officials, state legislative leaders and state legislators.

-- R.A. Dyer

Ron Paul a no-show

HOUSTON -- U.S. Rep. Joe Barton spoke briefly to the state Republican convention, encouraging them to support the right kind of change -- as in electing U.S. Sen. John McCain president -- this November.

He introduced a group of Texas congressional leaders, but at least one who had been expected was not present: Rep. Ron Paul, who formally ended his presidential bid on the first night of this convention.

-- Anna M. Tinsley

McCain sighting

HOUSTON -- At long last, there was a sighting of presidential nominee John McCain.

Not in person, but on an 8-minute video supplied by his campaign.

During the video, McCain talked of his military service and his days as a prisoner-of-war.

His mother, Roberta McCain, said she believes he would make a good president.

"I almost feel sorry for his opponent," she said on the video.

There was some applause by the dwindling crowd and a few people waved mini versions of the American flag.

-- Anna M. Tinsley

Republican two-step?

HOUSTON -- As Texas Republicans near the end of their three day convention this afternoon, many are smiling and seem more relaxed than they did earlier in the week.

They are buying Republican merchandise, food, laughing -- and, for one couple, even dancing.

As the song, "Amarillo By Morning," blared through loud speakers before the last general meeting kicks off at 1 p.m., one couple couldn't hold back.

They began two-stepping across the floor that earlier this week had been packed with delegates, alternates and observers.

They smiled and laughed as other delegates watched.

-- Anna M. Tinsley

Libertarian candidate Barr hints that he'll join Ron Paul event

Libertarian presidential candidate Bob Barr hinted Saturday that he might take his campaign to the doorstep of the Republican National Convention.

Barr said that he "would not be at all surprised" if he wound up on stage at a Ron Paul rally Sept. 2 in Minneapolis, Minn., during the Republican convention in St. Paul.

Before a speech to the Texas Libertarian party convention, Barr said that he can't think of an issue where he disagrees with Paul, the former Republican presidential candidate now promoting an ongoing Campaign for Liberty.

--Bud Kennedy