PinkDome

Thanks for the memories

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 09:15:01 -0600

May 8, 2008:
Hey y'all! Well, I know you've seen this coming and I can't believe it is actually so hard to do, but it is time for me to say goodbye. I cannot believe how much a part of me this blog became and can't tell you how many great people I've met and how much fun I've had poking fun at Texas and national politics.

I talked to Pink Lady about one last happy hour and if we can find the time, she'll talk about it on her blog.

The blog will stick around for archives and who knows, maybe someone will take up the mantle of being the sexy drunk blogger for Austin. It just won't be me anymore. If someone does convince me they have what it takes to be "PinkDome" I hope you'll welcome them with open arms. Or who knows, when the gavel comes down on the next legislative session I may get drunk and have something to say.

Much love to those of you I love and the rest of you can go suck it.

Adios, MoFo

Stop by the new place sometime.

One bad apple spoils the bunch?

Sun, 06 Apr 2008 10:05:28 -0600

Sure, it's tiring to have to deal with Terry Keel in any sense of the word. Even more so when he makes a point. The filing of a criminal case with the Travis County D.A.'s office is nothing but a political ploy to get the story in the paper. When a press release or leaked information to the press would have been just as explosive. But, that's not how Terry works. Now, instead of focusing on the issue at hand, everyone can jump on the "This is just politics and Terry Keel's well known for filing frivolous complaints to get his name in the paper."

But, the issue isn't really about Terry Keel at all. It's about an anonymous blog. I know a thing or two about being an anonymous blogger. When I first started blogging the people up in the pinkdome and in the traditional media were fit to be tied trying to figure out who I was and what "agenda" I had to destroy people's political career. They were all sorely disappointed when it was finally discovered that I was a not a political insider, I wasn't even from the State of Texas and I didn't give three shits about destroying (or helping, for that matter) anybody's political career. (Full disclosure: I readily admit to my admiration and almost unhealthy devotion to Carter Casteel.) They hated that more than they hated not knowing who I was!

Political consultants use a variety of methods to boost a campaign and undermine an opponent. I receive emails by the hundreds during campaign season with fantastic claims and anonymous tips about candidates. I'm sure more than half of them all come from campaign staff. Sometimes I will look into a rumor and see if it's got legs and if so I'll post about it. I've even been known to post "blind items" because I didn't want to come right out and say what legislator was diddling his assistant. But, there is a big difference between my anonymous blogging and the anonymous blog created by a political consultant as a platform to anonymously further the campaign of the candidates he/she represents. HOOGE difference.

Here's what I can tell you about trying to be an anonymous blogger: Don't bother. Someone will always find out. Then they will blab it to everybody. There are NO EXCEPTIONS to this rule. Ask me about the death threats I've received sometime and how someone wrote me a nice letter to tell me how they knew where I lived and exactly what they were going to do to my dog sometime...it's a great story.

Not to mention the traditional media writing bad things about this blog and me personally, or elected officials trying to pass legislation to allow bloggers to be sued. All of that was to go after people that were just ordinary citizens with opinions and a platform to share those. It was because people think these anonymous bloggers have an "agenda" and are "out to get someone" and now maybe it turns out they were right all along. Maybe there was an anonymous blogger posting negative stories about politicians and policy with an agenda other than an opinion.

I'm no longer anonymous. But I am embarrassed that what all those people feared when I started blogging is exactly what has apparently happened. Someone with an agenda did exactly what I swore I would never do.

I'm also embarrassed that it was Terry Keel who figured it out for real. I mean, one thing we know about political consultants, conspiracy theorists, party activists and rabid policy people is that they can't write or tell a story worth shit. We should have all been able to figure it out.

I consistently read just a few political blogs. I read In The Pink Texas because we're basically the same person. She started a blog for the same reason I did, she's smart and funny and has a lot to say about the absurdity of politics. I read BOR because they have a lot of time on their hands to write about what's going on in Texas politics. They actually care about activism and consider themselves to the liberal blog of record. I like Grits For Breakfast because there is nobody that knows more about the criminal justice stuff than he does.

$110,000 a kid?!?!

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 21:24:28 -0600

The Texas Youth Commission is spending $110k per kid under the current system. You know, the one that does not work, is in corruption overload and still living with the shame of abuse. Senator Whitmire has a different idea. He said it would cost about half of what the state is paying now.

Half-off! I love the sound of that! I love me a bargain. (source)

In Memorium: D Willis 1975-2008

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 18:11:21 -0600

When I heard the news on Sunday I did not believe it. Rest In Peace, friend.

Famous last words?

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 07:25:35 -0600

Remember the headline a couple of weeks ago that Austin's economy would be spared from this economic downturn that dare not speak its name? Here are the headlines from today's news in Austin:
Dell to lay off 900 people
Motion lays off 18% of workforce in Austin
New home starts at 5 year low
Food prices on the rise
Oil down, gas prices hit record

Nope...nothing but rosy economic news all around. Someone pass the champagne!

So, When's the recession?

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 07:15:25 -0600

The video below caused a little controversy. Does it really imply that since I posted it I hope that the Dems get in power and tax the shit out of the top 10% income earners? No, it doesn't.

Yes, for the administration to say out loud that we are in a recession is a self-fulfilling prophecy. No, taxing the rich isn't the way to build a strong economy. Yes, the country is in varying stages of denial about the state of the economy. No, I do not think McCain or the GOP are the right people to get us back on track.

OMG! The Republicans won't be good at stimulating the economy?! How could you say that? That's what they do! That's who they are!

Nope. The GOP's domestic policy and attempts to control spending during this administration is an embarrassment. The GOP has become the spend party. The GOP won't raise your taxes, but they'll spend every goddamn dime you've given 'em.

War, war, war. Quite frankly, If I were about to lose my house to foreclosure and lose my job I wouldn't be caring about terrorists or Iraq or genocide in Darfur. I'd be wondering how I was going to get a new job if the economy continues to free fall.

It's the economy, stupid.

McCain's latest speech on the economy was to ask the financial institutions in trouble to help their customers. Gee! Thanks! What a great idea? We're laying off people and our customers can't pay their bills on time, but we'll just let it slide.

I do not believe the government should put in some big bailout plan...for either the financial institutions or for the homeowners. Both were culpable in predatory lending and in stupidity. But, 900,000 foreclosures on the books this year is not good for the whole. That means, the government really does have to do something. What? I don't know. I don't get paid enough to figure that out. Hell, if it were me I'd come up with some Draconian program to require homeowners in foreclosure to pay the government back with their first born child if I were to bail them out. But, I'm a jerk.

Maybe we'll have Hooverville chic before too long.

I don't advocate more taxes, but I will pay my fair share. It's my duty to the country to keep it solvent. I do insist they spend my money wisely, though.

Recession: The Movie

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 18:59:11 -0600

Loved it. (Via)

Republicans Went Crazy

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 07:30:06 -0600

Republicans used to be the party of limited government, rugged individualism and were famous for the saying, "The government is not your daddy. That's the difference between Republicans and Democrats." But, the GOPs fascination with our bedrooms, our homes, and our private lives is now like that annoying OCD friend that you used to could handle but now they get on your nerves.

Rick Perry's latest idea? Fighting obesity! With government money! He wants to put aside $250k to do just that. I'm opposed to obesity, but I'm more opposed to government money going to give money to a magic injection that will reduce fat.

If we are truly going to fight obesity in this country we have to fight root causes...poverty, education, and food alternatives in our school lunch programs. Not lining people up for an injection.

Bad idea, bad politics. It's the same kind of dumb ideas coming from a state government that refuses to get their head out of the sand and deal with the real problems facing Texans every day.Texans deserve better...I'm being generous here...but forcing us to live with the leadership we deserve in this state is getting more and more painful.

$240 a week?!

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 23:04:38 -0600

That's what one guy said he makes a week in Camden, Alabama. The story on CNN says the people of Camden spend a higher percentage of their income on gas than anywhere else in the country. Apparently, there are few jobs in Camden so people commute 70 or 80 miles to Selma or Montgomery for $7 an hour jobs.

When I read this all I could think of was OMG...are people really that poor? I spend more than $240 a week on champagne.

If my income were that low I think I would seriously consider how much public assistance was because why work if food stamps and welfare could get you to say...$200 a week. You'd almost save money by not working at all. Or, cleaning people's houses or something...

Talk about some abject poverty.

Fred Thompson Back To Acting

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 09:26:00 -0600

So, after a half-hearted run for president you just go back to acting? Wow...so dedicated to public service it amazes me. Pure selflessness is beautiful, ain't it?

Good Friday

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 07:45:39 -0600

Holy week is a special time. As Lent draws to a close with the celebration of Easter, Christians are ending a time of reflection and entering into a time of celebration. On the third day He rose...

Throughout all the arguing over involving religion together with politics and no matter how angry I get over some of the actions of some Christians, it is my own Faith and my own relationship with my beliefs that make this a special time.

I think if there weren't the perversion of religion in this country by zealots, fanatics, greed-mongers and manipulators of the Holy Text we would be a better people for it.

Obama is a pimp. A mack daddy long legged pimp..

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 18:39:32 -0600

But not in a good way.

What is wrong at the Austin Police Department?

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 07:48:06 -0600

Something is. Police Chief Art Acevedo is having to make statements a lot lately. He's firing folks and disciplining people and coming up with new ways that the citizenry can complain about how they were treated by an officer. Which is great, if that's what we need to do to clean some stuff up, but I think they should let us know what all they think is wrong over there.

In the past few months we've had a police officer in trouble for picking up a hooker, one fired for shooting a suspect. In the back. Twice. Today I read some officer is fired for some sort of vague lesbian comment.

I want to see crime statistics for the past six months. Up or down? The incidence of the S.W.A.T. being deployed in this town is certainly up over last year.

I'm beginning to wonder if the job is too much for Acevedo or is the Austin Police Department just in that big a mess that we are only just now finding out about it?

Why "Fake News" works for me...

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 07:56:23 -0600

This clip from SNL is a great example of why fake news works. With something as obvious as the story about Elliot Spitzer, the news should have just done the story this way in the first place.