This website is dedicated to ground zero for Tom DeLay.  It’s mostly about local politics.  Nevertheless, you folks from foreign states can better understand what kind of people go the polls and make a concerted effort to put a pencil mark beside Tom’s name every other November.  Trust me; it ain’t pretty. 

Here's the deal: This ain't a blog.  It's a professional political organization.  Send me email - I'll post it if I feel like it. 




October 31 - Roll Call (ya gotta pay to play) is reporting that Congressional Republicans are all in a snit because Exxon-Mobile donated $500 to Nick Lampson’s campaign.  Overnight, the snit cranked-up to threats, as Republicans are apt to do, with a senor GOP Congressional leadership aide saying, “…this company is going to have big problems if this is the way they’re trying to play the game.”
          Okay, so Exxon Mobile gave Tom DeLay $5,000 this quarter and 91% of their contributions go to Republicans, but they get threatened over a $500 donation that was --- catch this! --- a donation to the PAC earmarked for the Lampson campaign from one of their employees. 
          Cripes!  Wasn’t it Tom DeLay who said that political contributions are freedom of speech so we cannot regulate them?  Yeah, it was.  You know it was.  I’m telling you that Tom’s tongue is so forked that he could eat apple pie through a picket fence with it.   

October 28 - Dr. Doyle has sent the very absolute best Tom DeLay Photo Shopped Smug Shot.

 

It comes from Democratic Underground.

October 28 - First of all, I have been away so I haven't had time to say this before now. 

This is not a mug shot.

This is a SMUG shot. 
         
          As my Momma used to say: wipe that grin off your face, Missy, because there's fixin' to be heck to pay.

Now on to other stuff ...

Politics of personal destruction ---- I told you he was going to say something stoopid. 
          Tom DeLay invented it, and it rings very hollow here to those who know him.  He has personally threatened to destroy people, and delivered on that promise to others.  We have not forgotten what he did to the Blankenship family when he held a houseparty screening his former partner's deposition, what he tried to do to Sheriff Milton Wright, or maybe Nick Smith slipped his mind.  I could go on and on and I'm sure I will but I've made my point for now. 
          This is not the politics of personal destruction.  This is karma.  This is payback.  This is what goes around comes around.  This is justice, sweet justice. . This is every Willie Nelson song ever written. If you wanna dance you gotta pay the band.
          The only thing that's not coming around is that Tom DeLay not only goes after people, he goes after their families. Heck, even the Mafia is more honorable that that. 

October 27 - Okay, I'm kinda home.  That means I'm home but I still have to unpack and heal-up from having way too much fun. 
          I can't give you the whole story because Roll Call is one of those pay-for-view sites, but I can give you what's available for the public. I know several people who were there during the auction and saw it for themselves.  What they don't say in the Roll Call article is that nobody but Commissioner Tom "Hawaiian Tommy" Stavinoah  would have anything to do with DeLay. 
          Also of note this morning, DeLay is fessing-up to more stuff. 
         

October 22 -

October 20 -

"Okay, I'm going to be honest.  I was hoping that nobody would notice
that I'm on vacation for the next two weeks and a friend is updating my
website for me. I was hoping to get away with a fast one.

So, I wake up this morning on vacation and say to Bubba, "I dunno, Bubba.
 Maybe God's telling me that it's my time to pass over.  I mean, here I
am on a vacation I have always wanted to take, the Astros are going to
the World Series, and Tom DeLay is going to jail.  I've seen all I
wanted to see."

Ole Bubba waits a minute and then responds, "Well, Darlin', as long as
you're feeling that way, ask God to let you see your Bubba make a hole
in one tomorrow morning before you go."

It was then that I decided that if a good and loving God was going to
take me, I'd wake up with Dennis Quaid tomorrow instead of Bubba.

I'm sorry I'm not here to answer your emails and tell you that -- at
least according to my sources -- the Fort Bend County jailhouse looks
like the Michael Jackson trial is happening there.

Don't ya think it's kinda weird that the Fort Bend County Sheriff, Milton
Wright, was outside his jailhouse telling the press that Tom DeLay would
be treated just like everyone else who gets booked in Fort Bend County,
while at the exact same time Tom was sneaking around getting booked into
the Harris County jail?

Two things --- did Milton lie for Tom or did Tom lie to Milton? Hard to
tell since Tom is a MAJOR contributor to Milton's political campaign, so
there is motive in both theories. It's also hard to tell because both
of them would lie about what they're wearing when they're standing in
front of you. Sometimes they lie just to stay in practice.

Second thing --- if I didn't do anything wrong, I would march into the
jail in front of the entire press, look the camera in the eye, and make
a big deal about it. Why does Tom have to sneak around? Habit? Why
does he play little boy games? Dick DeGuerin's influence?

October 18 - When the past comes back to haunt you.  If you have your hand surgically attached to the cookie jar, you're gonna get caught.

October 14 - I knew it was gonna happen.  Tom DeLay is threatening to bite people.  This is such fun --- watching Tom call in his markers.  However, he might want to find someone who owes him something who is not so stoopid ----

"And if it hadn't been for him and our great Speaker of the House, Tom Craddick, in 2003 redistricting, I might not have been elected to Congress."

          Hey, duh, Bubba Conaway --- that's why Tom is in trouble now.  He's trying   to convinces us that his help didn't get you elected.   
          Y'all have fun over at the Petroleum Club, ya hear?

October 13 - You want proof that there's somebody spilling the beans to Ronnie Earle?  Here ya go.
          Okay, here's the new stuff.  Ronnie Earle has asked for all purchase records of a 2004 Toyota Sienna by Thomas Dale DeLay and phone records for September 1, 2001 until December 31, 2002 for the following phones 281-980-6331, 281-796-6568, 703-975-9443, 281-343-5844 (DeLay's daughter and son-in-law), 281-343-1333 (The DeLay campaign headquarters), 281-340-7515 (Cad Affiliates in Stafford - formerly down the hall from Tom's campaign office) , and 281-565-8363. 

October 13 - For those who enjoy pouring over papers, and you know I do, Political Money Line has found some interesting documents from both the federal and non-federal ARMPAC documents including DeLay's daughter's ARMPAC American Express card.  Have fun looking! The Washington Post has picked it up.  How slimy do you have to be to involve your wife and daughter in this mess?

October 13 - What is it about the word "leadership" that Governor Rick Perry doesn't understand?  He is such a little toad.  I have decided that voting for him would just be "one symbolic act" and nobody should be expected to do that!

October 12 - Okay, this is going to make your head hurt.  The Free Enterprise Fund, an organization troubled by the fact that corporations don’t have enough say in government, are running an anti-Ronnie Earle media campaign in Austin.
          Why Austin and not District 22 to help DeLay win re-election?  Gee, I dunno.  Maybe they’re trying to influence potential jurors? 
          If that doesn’t get your neurons synapsing fast enough to cause skid marks on your forehead, here’s the catcher – The Free Enterprise Fund won’t say how much they’re spending for the teevee ads or where they get their money.  Maybe I’ve been sleeping for the past year, but isn’t this what got Tom in trouble in the first place? 
          My source tells me that the ad features Ronnie Earle as a Rottweiler.  Yeah, in my dreams is Ronnie Earle a Rottweiler. 
          Irony is not dead where Tom DeLay is in charge. 

October 12 - The Texas Observer has an article featuring some of the Belles of Heaven Republican women, specifically Mary Ann Markarian from Sugar Land.  I'd like to quote parts of the article here but Ms. Markarian is so foul-mouthed and dirty that I can't put it on a family website, where my Momma comes. 
          As I've said before, if you want to hear really, really dirty talk, just corner a Belle and ask her about s-e-x.  She'll be an expert on stuff I don't even know about.  I suspect that's why they have to meet a lot, so they can - you know - learn more dirty stuff from each other. 

October 11 - Rarely do I write about personal matters. But this is important to me.

October 11 - Dick Deguerin's letter to Ronnie Earle that came with a subpeona.

October 11 - Last night, a 4 - 3 Fort Bend ISD school board voted to buy out Superintendent Betty Baitland's contract. They obviously have way too much money. 
          I hope the new people on the board bring back Raj Chopra as Superintendent.  Remember the unpaid home loan?  Remember the Mimosa drinks with little children's money?  Hell, I'd go back to work if they'd bring back Ole Dr. Raj. Or maybe Super Hooper is coming back to sell us some more old buildings his church doesn't want any more. 
          The dirtiest politics on earth is on school boards.

October 11 - Tom has never had to campaign before, so we thought we'd offer him a little hint.  It's not a good idea to remind voters of everything you've done wrong. 
          I was watching him on teevee the other night and he switched between being all aglow with the joy of Jesus one minute, to snarling about Ronnie Earle the next, and then he moved into whining about being a victim - all without ever switching gears.  It was a mental health training film. Honey, I think he's tri-polar. 

October 9 - Okay, this is funny. 
          Two other things --- today is John Lennon's birthday.  Irritate a young person by humming Revolution all day. 
          The other thing?  Why, GO 'STROS, of course.

October 7 - Remember when Tom DeLay was saying that he wanted to face these charges and wasn't going to try get off on a technicality?  Yeah well, that was last week.  Ancient history.  Two baptisms ago. 
          Have a lookie right here.  Also of note, the Washington Times had a story this morning (which I will not link to because I don't give free publicity to the Moonies) with Tom DeLay saying that Ronnie Earle also took illegal campaign contributions.  Come to find out, Tom was wrong.  Those contributions were perfectly legal and always have been.  But, keep those lips moving, Tom. 

October 6 - Tomorrow's Washington Post links DeLay with the money exchange.  He looks busted to me.         

October 5 - As reported here on June 8th, Fort Bend County Republican chairman Eric Thode is not going to run for re-election.  When I reported that he'd filed his final report for campaign contributions at the Texas Ethics Commission, Thode reportedly told people that he files a final report every two years.  That's some serious poopie del toro.  Until 2003, party chairmen didn't file with the Texas Ethics Commission. 
          Thode says he'll not seek other elective office.  That's not unexpected.  He is moving out of the district to be closer to his children's private Baptist school.
          The race for the party chairmanship will be a knock down drag out between the Belles of Heaven's favorite white guy and some other white guy.  The contest will take place during the March primary.  I've got debs on the popcorn concession!

October 5 - Sorry for being a little late getting this to you, but Fort Bend Now got a little scoop yesterday on Tom.  New evidence? 

October 4 - Tom DeLay has referred to his newest indictments as “an abomination of justice.”  Whoa, that boy’s been watching way too many teevee evangelists. 
          No, Tom, burning witches was an abomination of justice.  Lynching of blacks in the segregated South was an abomination of justice.  Internment of Japanese Americans during World War II was an abomination of justice.  What happened to you, Tom, is called karma.    
          By the way, an abomination today is tax cuts for the rich while cutting Medicare for the poor.  Paris Hilton uses her tax cut for a new outfit while Granny does without her drugs.  Thank you for that, Tom. 
          And.... ta! da! Tom personally sent me a two page letter with another page of reasons why he hates Ronnie Earle.  I mean, it's got my name on it and everything.  I guess he think I've had a change of heart since he's so filled with joy over being indicted.  Anyway, I'll scan the whole thing when I have time, but I'd like to offer proof that Tom DeLay is nuts.  He's sending ME letters.

I guess this is the beginning of Tomigami.

October 4 - Okay, so this explains a lot, mainly why our conservative Republican county commissioners can't stop spending money.  They think we've got more than we need.

October 4 - The school board meeting fell apart last night and I'm mighty proud of that.  One member, Laurie Caldwell, of the 4 - 3 majority saw the light and backed off. 
          I'm told that the board president demanded that no one boo during the meeting and threatened to throw people out if they did.  Let me get this right:  it's okay to cheer and clap for her but not to boo.  Oh, that's cute. 
          There's an old saying in Texas that you "dance with them what brung ya."  Let's hope that Laurie Caldwell sticks with those who brung her. 

October 3 - BREAKING!  DeLay indicted by another grand jury on new charges.  I think they're serious about this.
          DeLay's motion to quash and dismiss his first indictment.  He's decided not to extend the statute of limitations.  Hummm ... he loves those legal technicalities now, doesn't he?

October 3 - Okay, that does it.  I'm moving to Sugar Land to run for school board.  Idiots -- a specially called meeting (apparently to get rid of the Superintendent, which could not possible wait one week until the regular meeting) called on Rosh Hashanah, with a Jewish school board member in the minority of the votes.  Yeah, they really welcome diversity in FBISD, huh? 
         The 4 - 3 majority on the board thinks a one vote "mandate" is an excuse to abuse power and exclude people.
          This little blog right here illustrates the main reason I don't want to live in Sugar Land.   I finally found some time to sit and read some of this today and if junior high students were acting this way, I'd have a little Dutch Uncle visit with them. 

October 3 - From a customer --- 

"I believe that this nation sits at a crossroads.  One direction points to the higher road of the rule of law.  Sometimes hard, sometimes unpleasant, this path relies on truth, justice and the rigorous application of the principle that no man is above the law.

Now, the other road is the path of least resistance.  This is where we start making exceptions to our laws based on poll numbers and spin control.  This is when we pitch the law completely overboard when the mood fits us, when we ignore the facts in order to cover up the truth.

Shall we follow the rule of law and do our constitutional duty no matter unpleasant, or shall we follow the path of least resistance, close our eyes to the potential lawbreaking, forgive and forget, move on and tear an unfixable hole in our legal system?  No man is above the law, and no man is below the law. That's the principle that we all hold very dear in this country."
 
Tom DeLay (R-Texas), quoted in The Washington Post, October 9, 1998.

October 3 - A customer send us this link.  Apparently, Tom is pulling little ole ladies into his crime schemes now.  
          Goodness sake, what did Tom talk to Maggie Thatcher about?  Good time on 6th Street in the sixties? 

October 1 - Okay, here’s the deal.  I didn’t go to the Tomfest / Come-to-Jesus Revival at the Hess Club in Houston last night because I went to the ballgame.  Not a tough choice, huh?
          But, one of my friends snuck in.  The Houston newspaper says about 200 people “crowded into” the room.  My friend says it was closer to 150, but didn’t do a head count and won’t quibble with anyone who did.  Friend says that 75% of the people present didn’t even live in Tom’s district, but were part of the oil-buddy crowd in Houston who dropped by after work, or were local politicos indebted to DeLay.  More than one person was there in hopes of free food.  All in all, friend contends, there were maybe 25 true-believers there and the loudest was Fort Bend County Commissioner Andy Meyers.
          Andy Meyers.  That figures.
          Over my twenty years of reporting campaign contributions and expenditures, Andy Meyers has been the greediest, most unethical person in the history of the county when it comes to campaign finance.  And, Honey, that's saying something!  If a grand jury were to subpoena Andy’s campaign finance records, he’d be indicted faster than a bullet with legs.  However, we have a district attorney who is far too political to be interested in looking at any campaign finance violations. 
          Andy Meyers is standing with Tom DeLay. 

October 1 - I read my New York Times this morning and found this article buried in the Friday news dump about how the Bush administration did something – gasp! – illegal when they paid “reporters” perfectly good United States tax dollars to write good things about them.  Armstrong Williams got cash for trash with my money.  I hate it when that happens.
          However, it does bring to mind something else Armstrong wrote about Tom DeLay.  Honey, it’s 75% untrue and 26% hogwash.  I wonder who paid Armstrong to write that poopie del polo?  If I ever find out it was you and me, I'm gonna spit.

September 30 - The fat lady is beginning her aria.  When the Union Leader shouts-out a Republican, the echo can be deafening.

September 30 - How weird is this?  My friend Mary Porter alerted me to an email sent to DeLay's mailing list ---

Tomorrow, we are gathering together at the Hess Club to show our support for Congressman Tom DeLay. We hope you'll join us for this very special get together (details below and click here for a map.)

......snip......

United for DeLay Rally
Friday, September 30
4:00 p.m.
at
The Hess Club
5430 Westheimer Road
Houston, Texas 77056
(Between Chimney Rock and Sage in the Galleria area)

* INVITE YOUR FRIENDS! *

If you have any questions, please call (281) 343-1333 or email campaign@tomdelay.com .

          What are they serving?  Kool-Aide?  Crow?  Bread and water? 
          The Hess Club is an upscale joint about 20 miles outside of DeLay's district.  I wonder why they couldn't draw a crowd at home?  I guess he'll be playing his games on the road from now on.
          Ben Sargent is simply the best -----

September 29 - I just don't understand Tom DeLay and all these people from foreign states that he's taken a liking to.  I mean, why in tarnation do they keep saying that Ronnie Earle indicted Tom DeLay?  Ronnie Earle can't indict people.  In Texas, a Grand Jury of twelve citizens good and true indict people. 
          I've served on a Texas grand jury.  It's the most powerful body in the State of Texas.  They can indict the DA if they want to.  In Texas, grand juries are usually a cantankerous bunch and don't take kindly to being told what to do.  I know.  I was one.
          Maybe in New York City a DA can indict a ham sandwich, but he ain't dealt with a retired sheriff's deputy sitting on the grand jury who probably has a grudge against the DA going back 20 years over some guy the deputy arrested and the DA threw out the case.  That's what Ronnie Earle had as a foreman on this grand jury.  That same foreman says that Earle did not encourage them to indict DeLay.  For all we know, maybe Earle told them to let Tom slide. 
          By the way, I caught Tom on Wolf Blitzer this afternoon and Tom got a little testy. When Tom gets rattled, he starts talking in tongues and he's gonna say something real stoopid.  Be sure you get it on tape!

September 28 - this is chicken feed.  DeLay's problems with Ronnie Earle are minor in comparison to his problem with his connections to Jack Abramoff.  This is only a fun little prelude.  Write it down.  Our Rogue Congressman is in for a much bigger ride than this.

September 28 - I just saw Tom's press conference.  He did not have laundering relationships with that money.  Goodness sakes, he talked about Ronnie Earle like he was Kenneth Starr.  If it was good enough for Clinton, it's good enough for Tom. 
          The problem that Tom has is that there's a lot of Republicans (locals included) who want him gone.  He's become an ethical embarrassment to the party even before this indictment.  And his Super DeLux Brand Christian chatter is starting to wear thin for a man who drinks a little too much and feels he is entitled to the life of Riley.  Even Chris Matthews says that DeLay is "strutting" today. Honey, take it from those of us who have known him for decades --- he can strut sitting down!
          It takes a mighty short man to claim that his indictment is the weakest and most baseless "indictment in the history of America."  I guess that made him feel like a real man, huh? 
          And a heads-up- this is kinda important.  Since the DeLay indictment, I have gotten emails from five different organizations trying to raise money to defeat DeLay.  Four of the five aren’t even located within the district and have done nothing to help defeat DeLay except pay the salaries of their owners.  Do not give them money.   
          If you want to help defeat DeLay send your money to Nick Lampson or to a local organization or another who knows what’s going on and is within the district. 
          And in an effort to be fair, there are currently two Republicans considering running against him.  Here's contact information for both of them:

Mike Fjetland
and from the latest GOP newsletter, Pat Baig --

September 28 - PDF copy of the indictment

          Tom DeLay has been indicted on one count of conspiracy.  Vicious attacks on Ronnie Earle to come.
          Local Republican party chairman Eric Thode is eating some bitter crow now, and that's the part of this I'm enjoying most.  Eric is probably calling Tom right now to remind him that he and Sheriff Milton Wright have NEVER been indicted!  I hope Eric calls Tom every day for fifteen years and rubs it in! 
          For the record again, I do not believe that Tom DeLay should have to step down as Majority Leader while he's under indictment.  In this country, you are innocent until proven guilty.  I opposed this Republican supported rule when they made it - everybody knows they voted for the rule so they could look all church-lady and sanctimonious.  Heck, I was even willing to give them the benefit of better thought and supported the move to reverse it a year ago.  I think an indictment is just that - an indictment and no proof of guilt.  However, Republicans disagree with me about that. 
          I think there's petards and hoisting going on here. 
          Copy of the indictment is on its way!

September 28 - Best coverage of the Travis County grand jury comes from the Austin American Statesman, who has a reporter on the scene.  The Houston Chronicle is relying on the Associated press.  Local newspapers have got squat.
          By the way, remember Tom's plan to party-down at the Republican National Convention with cruise ships in New York Harbor?  Well, we might be in luck --- here's some we paid for but aren't using.  I mean, we could party in his honor.  I'll bring the chips if you'll bring the dip.  No, on second thought, leave Tom at home. 

September 27 - Wise folks figure that indictments will come down from the Travis County Grand Jury tomorrow because that's when the the statute of limitations ends. There's been a waiting line outside the Grand Jury's door lately.  Our Congressvarmint has got to be edgy tonight.  A little poorer, too, considering he's got more high priced lawyers than O J Simpson. 
          In fact, the joke in Austin is that men usually don't have as many lawyers as Tom currently does unless they've killed their wives, have some strange guy living in their pool house, and plan on making a break for it in a Bronco.  Honey, he's a one-man full employment act for trial lawyers.
          There's at least one previously sealed indictment, and with conspiracy charges leveled last week, everybody figures there's more indictments to come.  (It's hard to have a conspiracy of two.  Possible, but hard.) And then there's speculation about perjury charges.  And the charge that Tom Craddick couldn't possibly be more of a jerk.  Felony Twit isn't in the penal code but it should be. 
          However, even as the sun sets tomorrow, I don't think DeLay's legal troubles are over. 

September 25 - My sentiments exactly.  Best line so far ---

And how come fuel trucks couldn't make it to Houston, but Tom DeLay and Sheila Jackson Lee had no problem getting here? The wrong bags of gas got through.

Ken Hoffman is the best!

          And there's thoughts in the Austin American Statesman about Ronnie Earle and Tom DeLay. 
          And for you out-of-county foreigners, I'll have some comments on our local DA John Healey next week.  The best thing that can be said about Healey is that at least he's not Cliff Vacek. 

September 24 - Well, we skated on that one, didn't we? 
          As an added treat for those locked inside but fully electrified, try this Sugar Land blog - it's a keeper!

September 21 - Okay everybody!  Hunker down and I'll se ya next week!

September 20 - Okay, I'm not saying that all of Tom DeLay's friends are rotten frog-mouth opportunists who would walk over their own Mommas for a dollar cash money and a little attention ... oh, what the heck, who am I kidding?  That's exactly what I'm, saying.

September 19 - Congressvarmint Tom DeLay is always claiming that he’s misunderstood.  Hey, it worked on little waitresses back in Austin, so he’s still using it.           
          Here’s how it works.  Tom gets all filled with the neocon holy ghost and starts going crazier than a lizard with sunstroke.  When everybody’s jaw drops, Tom takes a sip of cool water and a nap, and then wakes up in a new world and claims that we just don’t understand him.
          For years, I was his interpreter.  But, he’s gotten too crazy for me.  So, they hired an expert at understanding the convoluted thinking of Tom DeLay.
          Now, Honey, you know you’ve got a mental health problem when people on hillbilly drugs have to explain what you’re saying. 

September 15 - Okay, thanks to Chris, we have finally posted Missouri City Mayor Allan Owens campaign contributions and expenditures.  He's now listed on the locals page, too.

September 14 - I dunno, maybe he's stuffing his cigars with wildweed.
          Tom DeLay is now claiming victory over the ravenous federal budget. The admittedly conservative Washington Times gives DeLay free publicity, quoting ..

House Majority Leader Tom DeLay said yesterday that Republicans have done so well in cutting spending that he declared an "ongoing victory," and said there is simply no fat left to cut in the federal budget.

          No fat?  Then Roseanne Barr is the new Twiggy.  More from the same article.

 American Conservative Union Chairman David A. Keene said federal spending already was "spiraling out of control" before Katrina, and conservatives are "increasingly losing faith in the president and the Republican leadership in Congress."

    "Excluding military and homeland security, American taxpayers have witnessed the largest spending increase under any preceding president and Congress since the Great Depression," he said.

           Tom DeLay and Michael Brown must be sharing the same foxhole.
          Hats off to the Quorum Report for letting me know about this.

September 14 - IMPORTANT! Okay, my friend Bob, which is even Bob spelled backwards, has launched an innovative website ready for you to start using.  He's looking for writers and reporters willing to file stories.  The site even has audio and video so you can have your own teevee show! 
          Fort Bend Now!

September 14 - I try to stay out of national politics.  I figure that all politics are local and somebody has to keep the reins on the folks here in this county - Lord knows they need it. 
          However, these are hard times to keep from saying, "No wonder the majority of American supported Al Gore."
         And, I needed an excuse to put an AMEN, Girlfriend! notice up at the beauty shop. Gotta love Molly. Closing lines ---

Some of you may have heard me observe a time or two -- going back to when George W. was still governor of Texas -- that the trouble with the guy is that while he is good at politics, he stinks at governance. It bores him, he's not interested, he thinks government is bad to begin with and everything would be done better if it were contracted out to corporations.

We can now safely assert that W. has stacked much of the federal government with people like himself. And what you get when you put people in charge of government who don't believe in government and who are not interested in running it well is... what happened after Hurricane Katrina.

Many a time in the past six years I have bit my tongue so I wouldn't annoy people with the always obnoxious observation, "I told you so." But, dammit it all to hell, I did tell you, and I've been telling you since 1994, and I am so sick of this man and everything he represents -- all the sleazy, smug, self-righteous graft and corruption and "Christian" moralizing and cynicism and tax cuts for all his smug, rich buddies.

Next time I tell you someone from Texas should not be president of the United States, please pay attention.

September 13 - As expected, the Travis County grand jury voted a three-count felony count indictment against Tom DeLay's underlings at TRMPAC.  John Colyandro and Jim Ellis were indicted for a first degree felony of money laundering. 
          Earle's first assistant issued this press release---

          The Travis County District Attorney’s Office today issued the following statement: 

The Travis County Grand Jury today issued a three count indictment against Jim Ellis and John Colyandro.  The new indictment adds two additional felony charges or counts to the money laundering charge already pending against these men.  The two new counts charge them with violations of the Texas Election Code and criminal conspiracy to violate the Texas Election Code.
 

These defendants were previously indicted for money laundering in which $190,000 in corporate money was sent to the Republican National Party which in turn sent a like amount to seven candidates for the Texas Legislature in 2002. The new charges in today's indictment involve the same transaction.
 

Today's indictment:

 

·        contains the same money laundering charge that was already pending;

·        charges the two defendants with making a corporate contribution in violation of the Texas Election Code;

·        charges them with the making of a political contribution to a political party within 60 days of an election in violation of the Texas Election Code; and

·        charges conspiracy to violate both provisions of the Texas Election Code.
 

Money laundering is a first degree felony with a possible punishment of 5 to 99 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. The two violations of the Election Code are third degree felonies punishable by a possible prison sentence of 2 to 10 years and a fine of up to $10,000. Criminal conspiracy as charged in this indictment is a state jail felony with a possible punishment of 180 days to 2 years in the State Jail and a fine of up to $10,000.

 

September 13 - Okay, from now on we have to require that the President of the United States must be told what the fool tarnation is going on.  Maybe we could take away his IPod and make him listen to the radio while he rides his bicycle, I dunno, think of something.  Quick! He doesn't know diddle squat.  I mean, I knew that Michael Brown had resigned before the President of the Whole Entire United States knew.  I run a beauty shop, for Pete's sake. 
          Maybe we could hire a student to come read the newspapers to him.  Maybe we could take turns calling him every day to tell him what the heck is going on.  Gee wiz, we know he’s not running the country, but it just looks bad that they don’t tell him squat.
          Several years ago, when the Astros were in the cellar, I supposed that part of the problem is that you cannot be tough and fearful when you give each other cute little bunny-rabbit names like Bags or Beege.  This is just my opinion but I think part of the problem is that when you have people named Brownie, Turd Blossom, and Big O, you cannot expect adult behavior. 
          And this is just a personal note, but instead of referring to my relatives as "people in that part of the world," there's a nickname for them, too --- Americans, dammit. 

September 12 - Roll Call is reporting that Tom DeLay's Chief of Staff, Tim Berry, is leaving to become a top lobbyist for Time-Warner.  In related news, look for Tom to star in the new HBO reality series, Desperate Congressmen.

September 10 - Travis County DA Ronnie Earle called Fort Bend County DA John Healey.  Best we can figure, they used the time to exchange recipes or chat about the weather.

September 9 - I guess he didn't want to use the "recess in heaven" analogy ---
          Camp Hell, maybe?
         

Blogged live from the Astrodome, a charming photo-op exchange between Tom DeLay and three young boys evacuated from New Orleans:

The congressman likened their stay to being at camp and asked, "Now tell me the truth boys, is this kind of fun?"

They nodded yes, but looked perplexed.

September 9 - The Austin American Statesman confirms that DeLay had a little chat with Ronnie Earle, and even did a nice graphic explaining how democracy looks on testosterone, greed, and Brylcreem. 

September 8 - Bloomberg is reporting that Tom DeLay met with prosecutors in the Travis County DA's office last month.  It appears that he said, "I did not have funky relations with that PAC ... TRM PAC."
          One of DeLay's spokesmen said, "his role in the PAC was limited to serving on its advisory board and appearing at fund raisers."  Limited?  What else would there be?  I think they mean he didn't take the lunch orders or empty the garbage cans.
          This is deja vu all over again --- remember DeLay's relations with Albo Pest Control?  Back then he explained that he didn't do nothing but run the company, so he's not responsible. 

September 8 - BIG DEAL BREAKING NEWS! Oh Honey, there's gonna be a spell of dizzies overcome the Republicans spinning this one.  Insiders say that the fat lady is singing --

The Travis County grand jury that issued the indictments, however, took no action against the Texas Association of Business' president, Bill Hammond, or any other officials with the group today.

A rare meeting among Hammond, his lawyer Roy Minton and Travis County prosecutors Wednesday might have made a difference.

          Ya think? It didn't take Lois Lane to figure that one out, huh?
          As expected, Travis County DA Ronnie Earle said that "jurisdictional" problems exist in any possible indictments of Tom DeLay.  In the semi-official Juanita Disaster Rating System, Fort Bend County DA John Healey ranks lower than Katrina but higher than the Titanic. 

September 8 - Getting this self-promotion down "Pat" has taken on a whole new meaning.  Honey, the Pat Robertson fun just never stops.  While I'm here on earth, I sure ain't gonna want FEMA on my side, and when I get to that big Great Hair Day in the sky, I don't want Pat Robertson on my side.  So, I guess this works out just fine.
          And speaking of self-promotion, The Gov is taking lessons from our county judge. I guess they have to grandstand because they're not good enough to play on the team.

September 7 - Just when you thought maybe someone cut back on his caffeine, Pat Robertson does it again.  Hot darn, this guy is more fun than recess in heaven!

September 7 - Ole Tom must be overdrawn in the clout department.  Last night he was running around saying that there wasn't gonna be no investigating.  Check out the picture -- he looks a little whipped.

September 7 - Heads up!  I have it on good authority that the Washington Post has obtained some internal ARMPAC documents and is about half a paragraph away from blowing the lid off it, too.  However, this story is expected to hit Tom DeLay closer to home. 
          Additionally, I saw Tom on teevee last night stomping his little foot that there will NOT -- no, no, never -- be an investigation of how things got to be such a mess in New Orleans.  I guess Tinker Tom thinks the US of A can't do any better than this!  As we say in Texas, "He's cruisin' for a brusin'."

September 6 - My friend Bob has a cream of the crop idea.  You might want to contact him if you think he might be on to something.  How 'bout local news right on your computer screen where you can watch it like teevee?  How 'bout reports from every MUD and city council?  How 'bout citizen journalists with cameras and notepads?  How 'bout Juanita on audio right in the comfort of your desk chair?
          Yep, Ole Bob is on to something.  If you want to help, let him know.  They pay won't be much but the citizen journalists / photographers / video camera operators / talkers will have more fun than money can buy!

September 4 - I am embarrassed by my county government.  I mean, more so than usual. 
          A good friend of mine called County Commissioner Tom Stavonoha on Thursday and asked Tom to help open the county fairgrounds for evacuees.  There are three large air-conditioned buildings there, restroom facilities for crowds, and fantastic food preparation areas.  It's the #1 best area in the county for this kind of thing.
          Stavinoha was mortified, mortified, I tell you, that anyone would even suggest that we postpone the county fair at the end of the month for something like …. well, this!  He indignantly explained that people had been planning for the fair and even spent money on their animals.  Animals, we can only surmise, are worthless without a county fair. “Yeah,” my friend responded, “we certainly wouldn’t want to inconvenience anyone running for Fair Queen so somebody who has lost everything could have a clean and safe place to sleep.”  Apparently, sarcasm is contagious and my friend has been breathing the same air as me.    
          Then we’ve got the County Judge acting like he’s a cross between Rockefeller and Donald Trump because he gave a whole whopping $5,000 out of his $133,000 tax free legal kickback fund in his campaign account, mostly which comes from non-bid vendors to the county.  Does County Judge Bob Hebert do anything - ANYTHING - without taking a bow and expecting a round of applause?   I think he should put your name on the county website because it's your pocket that money is coming out of.  
          Then to top it all off, while I was listening to ham radio operators today, it was revealed to me that we’re in a truckload of trouble here.  Check out the county’s emergency management website. "A new Basic Emergency Plan is in development. Please check back frequently, for updates."  Yeah, right.  Maybe they're waiting for Michael Brown to tell them what to do.  Cheeeezzzzzz.......

September 3 - I just heard that Donald Rumsfeld is going to New Orleans.  What?  Rumsfeld?  He hasn't made a big enough mess in Iraq?  Don't the troubled people of New Orleans have enough problems without Rummy showing up and throwing a wrench into the progress General Honore has made? 
          Republicans appear to be governing by press conference and photo op. 
          Rick Casey at the Houston Chronicle wrote one of the best pieces I've read on the Katrina problem.

September 2 - I just watched the Haley Barbour – George Bush Brag-a-thon on the teevee.  I’ve had it.  This was the final straw.  I have totally lost my sense of humor.  Those boys don’t have 17 working brain cells between them.
          I do not know what George Bush did with all the money we gave him for FEMA and Homeland Security.  Maybe Haley Barbour ate it – he looks like a man who needs to belch real loud, doesn’t he?  Maybe Bush spent it on little colorful stringer things for his bicycle handlebars or maybe clothespins and cards to put in the spokes so it’ll sound like a motorcycle. 
          Republicans are people who don’t believe that government works and then they get elected so they can prove it. 
          But for the grace of God, I could be sitting in downtown New Orleans and so could you.  Think of it this way:  we may be next now that “The Terorrists” know how vulnerable we’ve become. 

September 1 - The introduction I send for the emcee to use when I speak to clubs and organizations begins, "Susan DuQuesnay Bankston is a fifth generation Texan on his mother's side and a certified New Orleans Creole Darlin' on her daddy's side."
          My family is all safe.  Most of them are in Lafayette now, a place they consider "dangerously close to Texas."  Louisiana is tough and has always been tough.  This was written about 1927 and sung to Creole children often.  It seems history has repeated itself, including the President.  (See Haley Barbour note above)

What has happened down here, is the winds have changed
Clouds roll in from the north and it started to rain
It rained real hard, and it rained for a real long time
Six feet of water in the streets of Evangeline

The river rose all day, the river rose all night
Some people got lost in the flood, some people got away alright
The river had busted through clear down to Plaquemines
Six feet of water in the streets of Evangeline

Louisiana, Louisiana
They're trying to wash us away, they're trying to wash us away
Oh Louisiana, Louisiana
They're trying to wash us away, they're trying to wash us away

President Coolidge come down, in a railroad train
With his little fat man with a note pad in his hand
President say "little fat man, oh isn't it a shame,
What the river has done to this poor farmer's land"

Oh Louisiana, Louisiana
They're trying to wash us away, you're trying to wash us away
Oh Louisiana, oh Louisiana
They're trying to wash us away, oh lord, they're trying to wash us away
They're trying to wash us away, they're trying to wash us away