Joe Gets His Way!
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Monday, May 17, 2010
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Wednesday, May 05, 2010
Perry Says Oil Spill May Be "Act Of God!"
Click on pic for larger image
From Politico:
Perry warned against a 'a knee-jerk reaction' to the spill and said the government doesn’t know what caused the leak.
AP
Texas Gov. Rick Perry Monday offered a stern warning against halting oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico in the wake of a massive oil leak, and he raised the question of whether the explosion was an “act of God.”
The Republican governor, speaking at the Chamber of Commerce in Washington, warned against a “a knee-jerk reaction” to the spill and said the government doesn’t know what caused the leak, which took 11 lives and threatens the Gulf coast’s vast fishing industry.
“We don’t know what the event that has allowed for this massive oil to be released,” Perry said alongside several other governors on a panel Monday. “And until we know that, I hope we don’t see a knee-jerk reaction across this country that says we’re going to shut down drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, because the
cost to this country will be staggering.”
Perry questioned whether the spill was “just an act of God that occurred” and said that any “politically driven” decisions could put the U.S. in further economic peril.
“From time to time there are going to be things that occur that are acts of God
that cannot be prevented,” Perry said.
His line of thinking offers a foil to liberal groups and lawmakers who are calling for an immediate halting in off-shore drilling, something that the Obama administration has championed. MoveOn called for President Barack Obama to reinstate the ban on off-shore drilling Monday.
From Politico:
Perry warned against a 'a knee-jerk reaction' to the spill and said the government doesn’t know what caused the leak.
AP
Texas Gov. Rick Perry Monday offered a stern warning against halting oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico in the wake of a massive oil leak, and he raised the question of whether the explosion was an “act of God.”
The Republican governor, speaking at the Chamber of Commerce in Washington, warned against a “a knee-jerk reaction” to the spill and said the government doesn’t know what caused the leak, which took 11 lives and threatens the Gulf coast’s vast fishing industry.
“We don’t know what the event that has allowed for this massive oil to be released,” Perry said alongside several other governors on a panel Monday. “And until we know that, I hope we don’t see a knee-jerk reaction across this country that says we’re going to shut down drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, because the
cost to this country will be staggering.”
Perry questioned whether the spill was “just an act of God that occurred” and said that any “politically driven” decisions could put the U.S. in further economic peril.
“From time to time there are going to be things that occur that are acts of God
that cannot be prevented,” Perry said.
His line of thinking offers a foil to liberal groups and lawmakers who are calling for an immediate halting in off-shore drilling, something that the Obama administration has championed. MoveOn called for President Barack Obama to reinstate the ban on off-shore drilling Monday.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Perry Plugs Pesky Coyote!
Click on pic for larger image
Texas Governor Rick Perry recently reported that he shot and killed, with one shot he claimed, a coyote who threatened his pet dog as he was jogging in his gated community Austin neighborhood.
It is illegal to fire a gun within the city limits but Gov. Perry, who has a concealed carry permit, claimed he fired in defense of his pet which is legally permissible.
Click on pic for larger imageTexas Governor Rick Perry recently reported that he shot and killed, with one shot he claimed, a coyote who threatened his pet dog as he was jogging in his gated community Austin neighborhood.
It is illegal to fire a gun within the city limits but Gov. Perry, who has a concealed carry permit, claimed he fired in defense of his pet which is legally permissible.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Friday, April 16, 2010
Saturday, April 10, 2010
As Corpus Christi Turns! ...And The Wheel Goes 'Round And 'Round...
Anna Jimenez
Well, where do we start? Carlos Valdez, longtime County DA retires and is immediately hired by Corpus Chrsit City Manager Angel Escobar. with no preliimnary searches or other candidates even considered, to be the new city attorney. This is approved by a vote on the city council and is done in record time.
Then Governor Rick Perry appoints Republican Anna Jimenez to fill Valdez' former position on an interim basis until the next elections when the position will be voted on by the public.
Jimenez immediately shakes up the DA's office, demoting some longtime staff attorneys, like Mark Skurka, who has worked in the department for 23 years, thus causing them to take large salary cuts. She also hired a private attorney to become her assistant and promoted other staff members within the department. Two former prosecutors resigned rather than take the pay cuts or the reassignment.
Jimenez has worked there for 4 years.
County Judge Loyd Neal allowed Jimenez to do this without advertising the jobs for seven days, which the county requires, under an exemption rule which allows the County Judge to give verbal approval for such changes.
The question is, does an interim appointment, with much less tenure or experience, have the authority and know how to so drastically overturn this department?.
Mark Skurka
Carlos Valdez
Click on pics for larger images
Anna Jimenez
Well, where do we start? Carlos Valdez, longtime County DA retires and is immediately hired by Corpus Chrsit City Manager Angel Escobar. with no preliimnary searches or other candidates even considered, to be the new city attorney. This is approved by a vote on the city council and is done in record time.
Then Governor Rick Perry appoints Republican Anna Jimenez to fill Valdez' former position on an interim basis until the next elections when the position will be voted on by the public.
Jimenez immediately shakes up the DA's office, demoting some longtime staff attorneys, like Mark Skurka, who has worked in the department for 23 years, thus causing them to take large salary cuts. She also hired a private attorney to become her assistant and promoted other staff members within the department. Two former prosecutors resigned rather than take the pay cuts or the reassignment.
Jimenez has worked there for 4 years.
County Judge Loyd Neal allowed Jimenez to do this without advertising the jobs for seven days, which the county requires, under an exemption rule which allows the County Judge to give verbal approval for such changes.
The question is, does an interim appointment, with much less tenure or experience, have the authority and know how to so drastically overturn this department?.
Mark Skurka
Friday, April 02, 2010
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Friday, March 19, 2010
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Friday, March 05, 2010
County Needs To Change Election Method
The current system for the elections of county officials is flawed. Currently we have a partisan primary election with the winners facing off in a November election.
In the recent primary election many ran unopposed in their primary and some offices had primary races for one party but none in any other. Therefore if a candidate wins his primary and there was no primary in other parties then that person has won the seat.
This is basically unfair. This means that all voters who are independents or belong to opposing parties get no say in the election for that position.
Partisan politics should have no place in the election of County Commissioners or in judicial races.
Just as the City Council elections do not indulge in party politics, the County should follow suit.
In the past primary the Commissioner for Precinct 4 had a primary opponent and he lost. Since there was no Democrat running the winner of the Republican primary will be the next commissioner for that seat.
It is a certainty that there are many people in Nueces County who are not Republicans would vote for the incumbent but will not get that chance, they will have no one to cast their vote for.
This is wrong and should be changed.
Ideally a number of candidates for an office should be able to file and have themselves presented to the voters. If none of that group obtains 50% or more of the vote then the two top vote getters would have a runoff.
This way all of the voters would get their say, that’s the fair way to do it.
To change this would require an amemmndement to the State Constitution. That is a tall order but every general election in Texas finds amendments on the ballot. This is one that should be proposed.
Change Needed In County Elections
The current system for the elections of county officials is flawed. Currently we have a partisan primary election with the winners facing off in a November election.
In the recent primary election many ran unopposed in their primary and some offices had primary races for one party but none in any other. Therefore if a candidate wins his primary and there was no primary in other parties then that person has won the seat.
This is basically unfair. This means that all voters who are independents or belong to opposing parties get no say in the election for that position.
Partisan politics should have no place in the election of County Commissioners or in judicial races.
Just as the City Council elections do not indulge in party politics, the County should follow suit.
In the past primary the Commissioner for Precinct 4 had a primary opponent and he lost. Since there was no Democrat running the winner of the Republican primary will be the next commissioner for that seat.
It is a certainty that there are many people in Nueces County who are not Republicans would vote for the incumbent but will not get that chance, they will have no one to cast their vote for.
This is wrong and should be changed.
Ideally a number of candidates for an office should be able to file and have themselves presented to the voters. If none of that group obtains 50% or more of the vote then the two top vote getters would have a runoff.
This way all of the voters would get their say, that’s the fair way to do it.
To change this would require an amemmndement to the State Constitution. That is a tall order but every general election in Texas finds amendments on the ballot. This is one that should be proposed.
Thursday, March 04, 2010
Growth! Growth! We Need More Growth!Click on pic for larger image
In the recent local primary elections all those running for office echoed calls for more growth. Growth, mindless growth, never mind that our streets, sewers, drainage systems and other parts of the infrastructure are hopelessly inadequate for our present occupants.
Ah yes, 'infrastructure!" Another word that candidates like to bandy around, even if it may sometimes seem that some of them haven't the foggiest idea of exactly what that word means!
Tuesday, March 02, 2010
Today Is Texas Independence Day
On this day in 1836 Texas declared independence from Mexico.
Texas independence is still a dream for some it seems.
Texas Governor Perry is in a primary race for an unprecedented fourth term. During the campaign he suggested Texas might consider secession from the union and he palled around with members of a state secessionist group.
I suppose Perry fantasizes about himself at the helm of the New Texas Republic.
Click on pic for larger image
Texas independence is still a dream for some it seems.
Texas Governor Perry is in a primary race for an unprecedented fourth term. During the campaign he suggested Texas might consider secession from the union and he palled around with members of a state secessionist group.
I suppose Perry fantasizes about himself at the helm of the New Texas Republic.
Click on pic for larger image
Friday, February 26, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
The Corpus Christi city council voted yesterday to demolish the Memorial Coliseum.
What to do with the coliseum has been an issue for years, ever since it has been allowed to deteriorate following the opening of the ABC Bank Center which now hosts the events the coliseum used to book.
It has been a highly contentious issue and probably will continue to be so.
At present there are no plans as to what the site will become. You can bet the prevailing attitude on the city council will be to once again to solicit more over the top and over reaching projects. Sadly these developers and pro-development types just cannot abide empty space, especially on a waterfront property! All they see is money money money there.
Pic: One proposal that was turned down. Click on pic for larger image
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Mayor Joe Adame And Corpus Christi City Council Considering
School Crossing Guard Pay And Benefit Cuts!
Mayor Adame and the Corpus Christi City Council are considering cutting pay and benefits of the school crossing guards to cut expenses. School crossing guards are among the lowest paid, with the least benefits, of all city employees. What a courageous idea. It is time to put a new mayor and a new city council in place. The current group has lost its credibility and ability to make decisions.
If they have so little regard for these important employees they should consider going to old style, low tech as shown in the lower pic!
Click on pics for larger image
School Crossing Guard Pay And Benefit Cuts!
Mayor Adame and the Corpus Christi City Council are considering cutting pay and benefits of the school crossing guards to cut expenses. School crossing guards are among the lowest paid, with the least benefits, of all city employees. What a courageous idea. It is time to put a new mayor and a new city council in place. The current group has lost its credibility and ability to make decisions.
If they have so little regard for these important employees they should consider going to old style, low tech as shown in the lower pic!
Click on pics for larger image
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