Rick "Secesh" Perry!!

Governor Rick Perry Takes Leave Of His Senses!
Hints Texas May Have To Secede From Union!


Texas Governor Rick Perry is obviously running scared lately. He has been doing a lot of public appearances and kissing up to the right wing but he has really gone over the top hinting that Texas may need to secede from the union at some future date.
This is nuts! And Perry said that Texas had reserved the right to secede when it joined the union. That is not true. And even if it were the War Between The States settled such ideas. Texas did reserve the right to split into five states when it joined the United States in 1845. This was all part of the free state, slave state debate of the day. This proposal was never seriously considered.
I was born in Texas in 1947. I am a history buff and have read Texas and American history. For years I have heard folks mistakenly claim the notion of possible Texas secession. Frankly, I think that is an outrageous idea and I don't think most who said such a thing have ever seriously considered the ramifications of such a hare brained idea.
Rick Perry is not an honorable man. He has shown he will kiss ass and drop to the lowest common denominators in society to gain some political support.
I am not a Republican and I am not very fond of Kay Bailey Hutchison but I hope she kicks his ass! It is enough to make me think of registering as a Republican just so I can vote against Perry in the primary!

2009 City Council, Mayoral Election, Put Foxes In The Hen House!

A Good Idea For The Coliseum...Seriously!!

Today's newspaper carried a story about a new movement to allow casino gambling in Texas. Of course all eyes in Corpus Christi turn towards Padre Island beaches because that is far and away the most desired, coveted location for all of the big time projects around here.
This possibility of Texas Gulf Coast casinos may or may not be a good idea but it is not a good idea to put them on Gulf beaches. Padre Island development needs to be slowed down, not accelerated. It seems that we have trouble around here remembering that hurricanes happen! The function of Padre and Mustang Islands as a barrier to storm surge doesn't seem to matter to the many ambitious, and often foreign or out of state, developers.
In Corpus Christi there is a large, publicly owned building that is vacant, in need of repairs and near the water on the Corpus Christi Bayfront. It would be perfect for a casino.

Developer Seeks Tax Zone For Proposed $50 Million Development Along Packery Channel




More local development is in the wind. (click on pics for larger image.)

The results of the city election are still warm and today's Caller/Times featured the headline "Tax Zone Sought For Padre Island."
The new mayor and city council are expected to be all in favor of giving tax free zones and such things for what this developer says will be a "high end complex of restaurants, condos, a marina..." Plans include five or six restaurants, a boardwalk, a marina and a hotel with a conference center. He also says it could bring "nightlife and retail that has been missing on the island."
Oh my goodness!
Like all such developments they will expect the city to build infrastructure and the local and state taxing entities to give them a huge break.
He also says it will be a "high end" development. No one ever does a "low end" development do they?
Oh yeah, there is also a small matter of hurricanes. People seem to think there will never be another to strike this coast. How short the memories!



Please check out the banner on the bottom of the page. This worthwhile group is seeking counselors and other positions for their summer programs. Here is a link for more information.
http://freshairfundcounselors.smnr.us/
The Fresh Air Fund is also in need of hosts for this summer. Host families are volunteers who open their hearts and home to a child from the city to give a fresh air experience that disadvantaged children never forget. Below is a link which explains everything.
http://freshair.smnr.us/

Here are some links to a nice Polish lady's blogs with pictures from Poland, her dogs and other things.
http://foto-donata.blogspot.com/
http://foto-dona.blogspot.com/

port a cam link
http://www.corpusbeach.com/portacam2.htm

Joe Adame Defeats Henry Garrett For Mayor

Real estate developer Joe Adame has been elected as mayor of Corpus Christi, defeating the incumbent Henry Garrett. So much for the mistaken notion that incumbents can't be beaten.
Adame ran on economic development and won by a large margin. However only 16% of the registered voters bothered to vote. So Adame took over 60% of that 16%. This was considered a good turnout! That's a disgrace right there!
With the election of Adame and the return of Mark Scott and Brent Chessney to the city council, along with newcomer Chris Adler, it looks as if the foxes are now in charge of the hen house.

Nueces County Jail...

Rick Perry's Marie Antoinette Moment!




On Thursday, March 12, Governor Rick Perry said he would reject about $555 million from the federal government for expanded aid to unemployed Texans.
Perry has been all over the map about whether or not he will accept federal dollars as part of the economic stimulus plan.
The money in question would extend benefits for Texans who have been laid off during the economic downturn.
Perry did agree to accept $17 billion from the proposed plan he says will go to other purposes. You might read that as "toll roads!" ...To be operated by private companies, a really lousy idea!
By rejecting the $555 million targeted for unemployed workers Perry said he is protecting employers from higher taxes.
"Employers who have to pay more taxes have less money to make their payroll" said Perry. He said this would cause higher taxes and businesses would have to raise prices on their products, Perry told a news conference. "The calls to take the (stimulus) money and sort out the consequences later are quite troubling to me."
That's vintage Perry, all his concern is for employers, mainly big time corporate employers, and zero concern for those who have lost their jobs.
This is a heck of a legacy to carry into his reelection campaign. It seems likely Perry wont get much support from the workers who have lost their jobs and whose unemployment runs out!
Just to make matters worse Texas Workforce Commission Chairman Tom Pauken has warned that the state's unemployment compensation trust fund could be operating at a deficit by October and could fall into insolvency in the future. In light of this Perry still wants to turn down the money.
Perry, expecting a strong challenge from Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison for the gubernatorial nomination in the
Republican Party, is attempting to move to the right of Hutchison and to reinforce his conservative creds.
It will be interesting to see how it all works out but in the mean time Perry is using working and recently laid off Texans as pawns in his political game.

Ingleside Sailors Find Out Where Their New Home Port Is

Rick Perry Waffles On Bail Out Money



Texas Guv Rick Perry was one of the right wing governors who recently indicated they didn't want any Federal bail out money. Citing his "conservative principles" he voiced his opposition to some of President Obama's programs to send money to the states. Firmly standing on his convictions Perry said he wouldn't take that money.
But that was a bluff and he quickly folded and grudgingly accepted the Federal cash.
He will, for the first time, face stiff opposition in the Republican primary since Kay Bailey Hutchison, the current senior U.S. Senator from Texas, has announced her intent to run for the Republican nomination for Governor.
His campaign might be in serious trouble if he had turned down the offered $313 billion in road and bridge repair money. He may still be in trouble as he has indicated he might put most of that into projects to build toll roads in Texas. There is little support for toll roads in Texas.
As usual Governor Perry is always looking out for the big money and shows little concern for those in Texas struggling to make ends meet in this current economy.

Local White Elephants

Padre Island Bathhouse A Disaster

The much vaunted bath house on Padre Island has been closed for some time now. It seems it is falling apart and will be very expensive to repair, or more likely, to replace.
This is just another example of the squandering of tax money by our local elected officials. Folks who have been here for any length of time know that the Island always wins when it comes to the battle to maintain beachfront structures.
This gaudy bathhouse, which opened in 2002, cost about a million bucks to build.
Precinct 4 Commissioner Chuck Cazalas has an office in the building. It seems that Commissioner Cazalas, and the other commissioners, have really let down their constituents by failing to monitor and proceed with upkeep on the building which may be too far damaged to rebuild.
According to news reports a leaky water pipe caused the floors to rot out to the point of collapse. That seems to be something that could have been prevented with just a modicum of maintenance.
The commissioners set aside some $240,000, taken from bond money, to put toward repairs. This may be a woefully inadequate amount.The bath house demonstrates a lack of responsibility for the proper use of public money.

American Bank Center, Biggest Local White Elephant?

The American Bank Center was touted as being an economic engine for the area. It has done so to a degree by booking many popular shows and events which have helped contribute to the local economy. This has come at a price however. According to news reports the city has lost $11.1 million since 2004. And the losses climb each month. This is a losing proposition for the city.
This just reinforces the notion that the city just can't get anything right!

Effects Of Las Brisas


It is ironic that the day after the Corpus Christi city council refused to support reconsidering the Las Brisas project President Obama was speaking to the Parliament in Canada and telling them that the United States would engage them in ways to address pollution within the borders of the two countries.
The Las Brisas project will, among other pollutants, release large amounts of SO 2 which is a key ingredient in causing acid rain which affects Canada and the U.S. but falls disproportionately in Canada.

Richard Borchard Regional Fairgrounds; Built It...They Don't Come!

The Richard Borchard Regional Fairgrounds is a money pit. It is losing tons of money. It was overly expensive to build and it is located in Robstown which is even more remote and out of the way than is Corpus Christi. Now County Commisioners Oscar Ortiz and Betty Jean Longoria are throwing a snit fit because the County Court voted down even more unneeded expansion in the form of an arena. Just what we need, another arena in this area, paid for by taxpayers, which will lose even more money!

Term Limits Proposal Is A Loser!


Term limits is an infringement on voter’s rights and unfairly inhibits an individual’s right to run for an office.
A voter should have the right to vote for the person he or she thinks most qualified, period. There should be no such arbitrary restriction placed on office holders.
Term limits is a copout. The concept is undemocratic. It’s a kind of supposed easy fix for what some perceive to be the problems with elected officials. The notion of term limits says that voters are not smart enough or able to vote good candidates into office so we should have a steady changing of individuals regularly in order to be rid of these scoundrels which we, somehow, elected into office! One argument often heard about long serving elected officials is that they become corrupted with too long a time in their position. This is wrong, if a person of incorruptible character is elected they will remain uncorrupted.
Term limits proponents say it is difficult to defeat incumbents. Perhaps, but incumbents often lose elections, it depends on the record of the incumbent and the case made by a challenger. If the incumbent is popular with the voters or is doing a good job it should be difficult to unseat them.
The notion that a revolving door for office holders will somehow give us better government is plain wrong. Indeed the opposite may be true and it could become difficult to find people to run if, in the end, they know they are only going to be in office for a limited time.
This current proposal would limit the mayor and council members to eight years of service period, and would combine years served as council member and mayor. In other words if someone spent four years on the council that person would be limited to four years as mayor should they be elected to that position. This is extremely illogical and restrictive. This places an unfair constraint on the office holders and the voters.
The voters already have the power to limit terms at the ballot box.
It is the duty of the voters to do their due diligence when selecting office holders. It is also the duty of the voters to closely observe the representation they receive and be ready to elect a new office holder should the current one be found wanting. The responsibility for the honest and effective administration of government lies with the voters. They should actively pursue and jealously guard this prerogative.

Clean Energy...Really?

Texas Speaker of the House Tom Craddick To Step Down



Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives Tom Craddick has said he would not run for the office in the new session of the state legislature. If there is one thing he can do it is count votes and they just aint there for him now! This is good news for Texas. Craddick's rule as the most powerful politician in the state has been arrogant, autocratic and straight from the playbooks of such disgraced Republicans as Tom Delay, Karl Rove and Dick Cheney.

Below is an article from AP about the situation. (The layout is a bit screwed up for reasons I just don't quite understand. It's my computer or Blogger, I just don't know.)




Texas House speaker said to throw in the towel

By APRIL CASTRO and JAY ROOT – 2 days ago

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas House Speaker Tom Craddick, the longest serving Republican in state elective office, has apparently given up his hard-fought bid for a fourth term in the post, leaving the door open for a rival Republican who is a relative newcomer.
Craddick aides and allies said Sunday the Midland oilman, the first Republican to lead the House since the Civil War era, told his supporters that he did not have enough votes among his fellow members to remain in the powerful job.
"I talked to the speaker. He has dropped his candidacy and released his pledges," Rep. Will Hartnett, a longtime Craddick supporter, said Sunday. "He just decided it was getting too tight."
Craddick's dwindling support became insurmountable as Rep. Joe Straus, gained
strength. Shortly before word of Craddick's surrender spread, Straus, R-San Antonio,
released a list of 85 pledges of support, more than enough to win the election on Jan. 13.
"It is time for a new tone and an atmosphere of trust in the Texas House of
Representatives," Straus said, upon announcing that he had secured enough support to
win the race. "Having received the commitment of a strong majority of my colleagues, it is my goal to restore civility, fairness and transparency to the House of Representatives and its public-policy making process."
Republicans hold a 76-74 majority in the House. The narrow partisan split and divided GOP loyalties mean House Democrats will play a decisive role. All but four House Democrats endorsed Straus.
Most Republicans threw their support behind veteran Amarillo Republican Rep. John
Smithee, who entered the race Sunday.
"We're going to need a little bit of help from a higher power and that's where we're
looking," Smithee said after members of the Republican caucus meeting Sunday night
voted to support him.
At a downtown Austin steakhouse, where Craddick addressed the House Republican
caucus, Craddick rushed through a throng of reporters to get into the restaurant.
Republican Rep. Leo Berman, of Tyler, said the caucus members were not deterred by
Straus' hefty list of supporters. He said they would start calling them to bring them to their side. Berman said he wasn't worried that they were already pledged to Straus because he said they had previously been pledged to Craddick.
Craddick has been a lightning rod of controversy in Austin. He famously faced down a
rebellion at the end of the 2007 session after replacing his rules advisers and claiming "absolute" authority to brush aside challenges to his rule.

Smokers Unhappy About New Smoking Ban!

City Council Considers Smoking Ban in Bars and Other Public Places


The cartoon is one I did in 2001 about the first attempt by the city council to ban smoking in restaurants. They created a situation with smoking and non-smoking areas in the same buildings. That didn't work.

The Corpus Christi City Council has passed a second reading of a new city ordinance that will ban smoking in bars and some other public places. Bingo parlors are excluded.
Of course many bar owners, and others are in strong opposition claiming property owner's rights and individual rights are threatened. The bingo parlors were able to gain their exclusion citing the fear that they provide a considerable amount of charitable donations from their proceeds and, my goodness, they don't want to deprive these charities of their money! They cited studies that indicate such bingo games in places with smoking bans have shown a decrease in funds. The bar owners also claim they will lose money as well.
These claims are largely unsubstantiated. A look at such studies indicates that those that show a loss of revenue were financed by tobacco companies and smokers' rights groups, No objectivity here!
It also seems that studies that show no substantial loss in incomes have been produced by anti-smoking groups. Probably not much objectivity here either. It doesn't seem that there have been any scientific, objective studies done so far.
That shouldn't matter. There are no longer questions about the health threat posed by smoking and inhalation of second hand smoke. The evidence is conclusive and show real health hazards.
Tobacco smoke is a hazardous material. Courts in all jurisdictions have upheld the concept that it is illegal and prohibited to allow hazardous, carcinogenic materials to be released in the atmosphere. The rights of smokers and bar owners are trumped by the rights of the public to breath clean air. It's just that simple.