The Weekly "Ah, Fall" Wrangle

The Texas Progressive Alliance reminds you that the deadline to register for the election is October 9 as it brings you this week's roundup.

Off the Kuff has a Q&A with Democratic SCOTX candidate Michelle Petty, who is running against one of the Court's least ethical members.  

BossKitty at TruthHugger wants all Texans to have all the Texas Voting Information they need, so this will stay at the top of the blog's homepage until November 6. Meanwhile, she is disgusted that our Cowardly Congress Kicks The Can Again, and is overjoyed to see more corporate manipulators exposed, in Do You Hear Me Now?

Three Wise Men forecasts the 2012 presidential and Senate elections.

With Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein scheduled to be in Houston and San Antonio from October 4-7, PDiddie at Brains and Eggs found it necessary to once again slay the persistent urban legend that Ralph Nader was responsible for Al Gore's defeat in the 2000 election.

We're facing another legislative session that will be harmful to the majority of Texans unless we act now. That's why WCNews at Eye on Williamson is pointing this out now: Here we go again.

Over at TexasKaos, Libby Shaw explains why the GOP is obsessed about voter fraud. Hint: the best way to get away with something is to accuse your opponents of it.

Neil as Texas Liberal noted that you have the right to take pictures of bridges and infrastructure and anything in plain view so long as you are not tresspassing. Neil said that business and government are teaming up to deny the basic freedom to observe and make note of the things that are around us in a so-called open society.  

CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme observes that Greg Abbott, likely gubernatorial candidate, goes all Christian Taliban by promoting bible verses in school.

Sunday Mittoons

"Mitt Romney is worth half a billion dollars and he's saying he pays 13 percent annually in taxes. Al Capone paid more than 13 percent in taxes, ladies and gentlemen." –David Letterman 

 

"Mitt Romney says he's never paid less than 13% in taxes, which I think is fair because only 13% of his money is in this country." –Jay Leno

 

"Paul Ryan just released his tax returns for the last two years, and it turns out he and his wife had a combined income of over $323,000 last year. To which Mitt Romney said, 'See, I do reach out to poor people." –Jay Leno

Georgia Rep. John Lewis: 'Your Vote Is Precious, Almost Sacred'

This week in an interview to promote her new book, Ann Coulter tried to explain to Whoopi Goldberg what it was like to be "Black" in America. She explained how Liberals are "keeping the blacks down" and conservatives like herself were trying to "reach out" to the black community, but apparently the "blacks refused to listen," or refused to take part in her warm, fuzzy, Republican generosity. She goes on to explain that the O.J. Simpson acquittal was a "good thing for America..." Needless to say, the interview did not go well. I suggest you watch it and give me your interpretation. I was hoping Whoopi would open up a can of whoop ass. What bothered me most was I couldn't believe white people still speak to black people this way on national television, in front of millions of viewers. And by the way, her new book is titled, "Mugged."

After watching this, I was reminded of the voter suppression that's already underway in this election. It's impact will surely be felt, and very few voters understand what it means. They are led to believe it's purpose is to curb "liberal voter fraud" -which has been proven to not even exist- but this is the guise they use to make the voter ID laws and pass them. Almost every Red State has passed voter laws that should ensure that those states remain red. Think about that a second...

During the 2011 legislative sessions, states across the country passed measures to make it harder for Americans – particularly African-Americans, the elderly, students and people with disabilities – to exercise their fundamental right to cast a ballot. Over thirty states considered laws that would require voters to present government-issued photo ID in order to vote. Studies suggest that up to 11 percent of American citizens lack such ID, and would be required to navigate the administrative burdens to obtain it or forgo the right to vote entirely.

Then I remembered a speech I heard while watching this years Democratic Convention. A speech by Rep. John Lewis, of Georgia. Just 50 years ago, this man was experiencing the worst part of our country's racist history and now he's determined to never go back to those days. Never!
He shares a brief story of heartache, abuse and forgiveness for those who scorned him in this must see clip.

For those of you not registered to vote, YOU HAVE LESS THAN 10 DAYS!!!
40 til election day.
Please VOTE EARLY!
Don't be fooled by waiting til election day, and then slip out early, and lie about it because you cant take the time to wait in the long lines, or whatever your bullshit excuse. Trust me, if you wait til election day to vote, that'll be the day your shit hits the fan, BIG TIME, and voting will be the last priority on your list.

DO IT TODAY!!!

I tell u what: This clip is one of the main reasons why this election is so important to you and me.
Listen to this man, his message is clear.

"Your vote is precious, almost sacred. It's the most powerful, non-violent tool we have to create a more perfect union." --John Lewis, Rep. from Georgia

The Weekly Wrangle

The Texas Progressive Alliance is enjoying the change of seasons as it brings you this week's roundup.

Off the Kuff took a deeper look at that Wilson-Perkins poll of Texas.

Three Harris County judicial candidates and two Greens -- one for US House of Representatives and one for US Senate -- received the coveted Brainy Endorsement last week from PDiddie at Brains and Eggs.

 BossKitty at TruthHugger knows this just another season for political science experiments on the voting public. Let's see how well they do on transportation funding, the Voting Rights Act, and voter ID: Generalizations: Politics is Science and we are all test subjects.

WCNews at Eye on Williamson post about his afternoon at the Texas Tribune Festival.

Libby Shaw asks What is Mitt hiding? Find out what she thinks it is at TexasKaos.

Neil at Texas Liberal posted about donations he made to both Green Presidential nominee Jill Stein and to President Obama. Neil said that Ms. Stein is best on issues such as our rigged economy, climate change, and the freedom to dissent. He also said that those who think there is no difference between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney are simply wrong.  

CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme wants you to know that polluters can do untold damage and be liable for only $2 million, thanks to Republicans and their crony capitalism.

Sunday Funnies

"Borat the Plutocrat." 

A Fly In The Soup

Of all the preposterous assumptions of humanity over humanity, nothing exceeds most of the criticisms made on the habits of the poor by the well-housed, well-warmed, and well-fed.

--Herman Melville

I applaud the "mole" who infiltrated the ranks of "The Elite Club" at Mitt Romney's 50k a plate dinner back in May of this year. I'd say the Obama campaign has been paid back tenfold for their efforts in exposing how big corporate money, and Republican donors think. And even more how Mitt Romney thinks. The video from Mother Jones is devastating for any political candidate. 
Absolutely... Devastating...
Romney's comments on "Those People," "The 47%," "kick the ball down the field and hope" (regarding Israel), "Wishing he was born a Mexican" (then it would be easier to win), and so on, were a glimpse into the world of White collar criminals, whose beliefs are twisted, and their sense of humor even more so...

Romney reveals a vision for the future that has many Americans squirming in their seats. 
All this coming off a week when he spoke out against the President on his foreign policy in Libya and was shunned by the media. The GOP is spinning Libya into "OUR EMBASSIES ARE BURNING ALL OVER THE WORLD" comments of fear and deflection -far from facts. Yes we lost an ambassador there, but to a small, separate, radical faction and not a nationally backed uprising. The work over there is dangerous to be sure, but if anything, President Obama has made it safer. The President has not escalated the conflict as the Republicans would have you believe. We see evidence of this in the "Arab Spring Movement, the withdrawal from Iraq, the killing of Bin Laden, and the recent withdrawal from Afghanistan."

Watching the video-- as much as I could stomach-- made me think even the Republicans at the dinner couldn't believe what this "Spooky Mormon" was talking about --he seems to state his views in a "whatever comes to mind" kind of way, and then changes his stance completely in mid-sentence-- but the patrons had already shelled out 50k a piece for supper and were going to sit there and nod no matter what Elder Romney had to preach.
I don't blame them, I actually feel sorry for them-- you know, in a Anne Romney sort of way.
Anne Romney is so far above all this "Running for President" stuff --you can see it on her face-- poor thing just wants to be back at her Estate; sucking down caviar with her dancing horse, and getting a rose petal rub down from her cabana boy-- with butter in her ass, and lollipops in her mouth.

I tell u what:
I think its an insult for a presidential candidate to have contempt for half of the American People.
I also think it's hypocritical for him to criticize those who pay no "federal" taxes, while he refuses to release his own tax returns.
And finally, if you're a draft dodging, outsourcing, money laundering, bully who like to dress up as state troopers and hates dogs, tea-totaling, frat boy like mitt Romney is? If you were born into a life of privilege such as he, you don't get to go around criticizing working class citizens at 50K a plate suppers. Period.

These "No Responsibility for their lives" people include: Soldiers, Senior Citizens, The working poor,
and the disabled. Welfare recipients make up a small percentage and are in desperate need more often than not. Is this what we've come to?

Squabbling over mere pennies on the dollar for the betterment of society.
Calling 47% of Americans "Lazy Freeloading Moochers." 

From what I can tell, in his 2011 return he only paid 14% in tax. Some other years may show he actually paid zero. This will be a growing issue for the Romney campaign.  Get ready for the debates and be sure you're registered to vote because this election IS the most important of our lives.

The Romney video proves it.

Romney's leaked fundraising video, is the fly in the soup that is his campaign.

Dr. J out.

10 Things I Despise:

1. Christmas/Holiday Parties- Or, any other party that I don't want to attend. But mainly, Christmas/Holiday Parties. I'm already dreading them now.

2. CVS, Kroger Plus, and whatever else kind of card they use to track you and your spending habits- CLAIM YOUR BOUNTY AND CUT UP YOUR CARDS TODAY!

3. Lying, egotistical, sexist, hypocritical bigots-  Or as I like to call them, Republicans.

4. Red Light Ticket Cameras-  Surely they're a violation of your constitutional rights? Is this the world George Orwell envisioned come to life? I believe it is. Big Brother is watching you at the corner of NW HWY and The Tollway.

5. Facebook Trolls- Spouting gibberish on others walls in the hope that they'll either bore or confuse to death those with whom they disagree. If you don't like what I have to say, then hide me, or defriend me. Don't hijack my wall. I never do, and believe me, I could.

6.  Libertarians- They're really just Republicans who're too embarrassed to admit it. Talk to one for a while and you'll realize it. They'll say something like, "it's an equal playing field in America and everyone needs to take responsibility for their own well being." "No handouts!" Then they'll go back to their job at Daddy's company...

7. Negativity on the Golf Course- It really brings me down. Playing mind games with your fellow players to score your 95 and feel good about yourself is just plain weird. Keep it chill. Then everybody wins.

8. Door to door sales people-  It's 2012. Knocking on strangers doors may not be the safest bet; These days, all sorts of crazy stuff could happen. I mean, can't you read the sign that says "NO SOLICITING?"  And don't you tell me "this isn't a sales call." DON'T YOU TELL ME THAT BECAUSE IT DAMN SURE IS! 

9. Texting while driving- Folks, the data is in on this and it's not pretty. They say that texting while driving is 10 times worse than driving under the influence of alcohol. And from what I can tell, everyone's doing it.

10. Mormons- How is it they get to make up their own cooky religion in order to have multiple sex partners, galactic underwear, tons of cash, spooky temples, and get away with it?
They're running an Elder for President for Christ's sake!
I'm thinking of starting my own religion based on The Big Lebowski. 
I'll find a sacred bottle of Kaluha in my backyard, go bowling, talk to Jesus in the form of Sam Elliot dressed as a cowboy, and drink white Russians everyday.  
Church members will be known as "Dudes."