Texas: John

October 9, 2009 - 08:28 pm
NEWS FEED: Bay Area Houston

John Cornyn's letter on rape and arbitration

The Honorable John Cornyn
517 Hart Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510
Main: 202-224-2934
Fax: 202-228-2856

Dear Constituents,

This week I voted against an amendment to a defense bill that would prohibit mandatory binding arbitration clauses involving rape for any contractor receiving federal tax dollars. I would like to explain my vote.

The amendment was a result of a case involving a KBR employee, Jamie Jones. Jones was gang-raped by coworkers while working in Iraq but because of KBR's arbitration clause, she could not bring a suit against KBR to a jury trial. What many do not understand is that arbitration is a good policy for rape victims.

September 29, 2009 - 01:16 pm
NEWS FEED: Bay Area Houston

State Rep John Davis Has A Teabagger Primary Opponent

And, it's Mary Huls. From her website:

As an ordinary American I have become increasingly concerned with the dramatic expansion of the Federal Government and its increasing involvement in every aspect of our lives. This concern has led me to become active in the 912 Project and Tea Party constitutional grassroots movement.

It has become obvious that the voice of the people has been lost. It is not enough to write letters, send emails and make phone calls. Equally so, our rallies and protests are ignored or demeaned by the mainstream media. Consequently, I choose to exercise my prerogative as an ordinary citizen to enter the political arena to aid in returning government back to the people and having our voices heard once again.

August 15, 2009 - 03:15 pm
NEWS FEED: Bay Area Houston

Republican John Culberson gets owned by MSNBC

It's not fun is it John?

July 9, 2009 - 06:15 pm
NEWS FEED: Bay Area Houston

Communion on the moon.

This is pretty interesting about Buzz Aldrin taking communion on the Moon:

The astronaut later described in Guideposts magazine what took place during the radio blackout as Armstrong watched but did not participate.

"I poured the wine into the chalice our church had given me. In the one-sixth gravity of the moon the wine curled slowly and gracefully up the side of the cup. It was interesting to think that the very first liquid ever poured on the moon, and the first food eaten there, were communion elements."

Aldrin proceeded to read from John 15:5.

"I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me, and I in him, will bear much fruit; for you can do nothing without me."Take that you non-Catholics!

June 26, 2009 - 07:39 am
NEWS FEED: Bay Area Houston

More emails from Gov. Mark Sanford

As a friend of mine said: Don't ever write something on an email that you don't want spread on the internet. It can be a huge buzz kill, much like the following chat room discussion with Gov. Mark Sanford:

Sanford has entered the room.
Sanford: Anyone here yet?

Newt has entered the room.
Ensign has entered the room.
Craig has entered the room.

Newt: Here!

Ensign: Me too!

Craig: I am not gay.

Vitter has entered the room.
Vitter: I did her!

Sanford: Thanks for coming. As you know I have sinned, got caught, and tried to cover it up. Damnit. I am screwed. Any advice?

Newt: Dont worry about it. Take a few years off, then run for President.

April 5, 2009 - 06:17 pm
NEWS FEED: Bay Area Houston

John is at WrestleMania . . . and all you got was this photo


So, our friend John (JC) is at WrestleMania, and through the miracle of the internets and cell phones, he was able to send this picture to me to show all of you - because he knows you have that bated breath thing happening. Yes, it's a craptacular photo, but what do you expect from a lame cell phone?

Apparently, it's on pay per view at 6 PM. I learned that and other fun facts on the WrestleMania website. For example, someone named "The Undertaker" is "performing". There is EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE on that website. There are photos of WWE Divas (big boobies alert). There is so much more on that website that I do not understand at all.

March 5, 2009 - 12:11 pm

Cornyn Defends GOP Leader Limbaugh

Big John Cornyn has sent out a petition declaring "outrage" that sensible patriotic people would denounce the leader of the Grand Ole' Party, Rush Limbaugh, for hoping that President Obama and our country fails.

You can read the text of the letter Cornyn sent out by clicking here.  

I find it truly amazing and downright pathetic how quick Republicans are bowing before the feet of their leader, Rush Limbaugh.  It is truly an indictment on how out of touch, and frankly, out of control the Republican Party really is.  

Having said that, why isn't this "outrage" directed at people like Rush Limbaugh instead of in support of him?  Texans are demanding action and are in need of real leadership and real economic relief.

February 12, 2009 - 11:45 am

House Committee Appointments

Here's the list

Ag & Livestock - Yvonne Gonzalez Toureilles

Appropriations - Jim Pitts

Border & International Affairs  -- Veronica Gonzales

Business & Industry -- Joe Deshotel

Calendars - Brian McCall

Corrections - Jim McReynolds

County Affairs - Garnet Coleman

Criminal Jurisprudence - Pete Gallego

Culture, Recreation & Tourism - Mark Homer

Defense & Veterans Affairs - Frank Corte

Elections - Todd Smith

Energy Resources - Jim Keffer

Environmental Regulation - Byron Cook

General Investigation & Ethics - Chuck Hopson

Higher Education - Dan Branch

House Administration - Charlie Geren

Human Services - Patrick Rose

Insurance - John Smithee

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence - Todd Hunter

Land & Resource Management - Dennis Bonnen

Licensing & Adminstrative Procedures - Ed Kuempel

Local Consent & Calendars - Senfronia Thompson

Natural Resources - Allan Ritter

Pensions Investments & Financial Services - Vicki Truitt

Public Education - Rob Eissler

Public Health - Lois Kolkhorst

Public Safety - Tommy Merritt

Redistricting - Delwin Jones

Rules & Resolutions -  Ruth Jones McClendon

State Affairs - Burt Solomons

Technology, Economic Development & Workforce - Mark Strama

Transportation - Joe Pickett

Urban Affairs - Yvonne Davis

Ways & Means - Rene Oliveira

February 12, 2009 - 11:45 am

House Committee Appointments: 18 Republicans, 16 Democrats

Here's the list

11:30am, Initial thoughts:

Rep. Straus has balance in the Committee appointments, in terms of raw numbers. The only major Committee that is surprising, to me, is Rep. Rene Oliveira to Chair Ways & Means. That means that Democrats will be responsible for tax policy this session -- that could be very interesting.

If I had one ticket to see any Committee all session, it would be State Affairs. Just look at the names -- Solomons Chair, Menendez Vice-Chair...and then Byron Cook, Tom Craddick, Pete Gallego, Sylvester Turner, David Swinford, Rene Oliveira, Charlie Geren, David Farabee, Delwin Jones, Eddie Lucio III, Harvey Hilderbran, Diana Maldonado (what an appointment for her!).

February 3, 2009 - 04:00 pm

John Bender: Background On Broadcasting the Texas Legislature

Yesterday we wrote about the 97 House Members who signed a letter urging broadcasters to televise the Texas legislative session.

Here is a little background from John Bender who worked with Speaker Pete Laney to make it possible for Austinites to see the session.

Matt,

I read your item about broadcasting legislative sessions on TV statewide.  I'm the person who supervised the installation of cameras and cabling in the Capitol and arranged the first TV broadcasts of House sessions back in 1995 when Pete Laney was Speaker.  We wanted to go statewide back then but ran into a lot of obstacles, some of which still exist.