Click on pic for larger image
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Joe and His Wreckin' Crew!
I'm Mayor Rappin' Joe with my wreckin' crew
You know there aint nothin' we wont do.
To make more money for "The Man"
We work real hard doin' all we can!
We tore down the coliseum with my wreckin' ball
Though not everyone wanted to see it fall.
For high priced salaries we have lots of dough
But when it comes to streets we have to say no!
If you don't like my budget selections
You'll just have to wait for the next elections!
Click on pic for larger image
Saturday, July 17, 2010
RTA Hires New Interim Manager For Big Bucks!
Recently the Corpus Christi Regional Transit Authority, in a move seemingly very typical of local government these days, announced that they were going to fire the current interim director, Jorge Cruz-Aedo, and hire a replacement interim director. That’s a replacement interim director!
Michael Setzer will be the man in charge for the next six months until a new and “permanent” director takes over. Setzer heads a management company, Veolia Transportation, which will be paid $126,000 during that six month period.
In addition Setzer will get reimbursement for his travel expenses, he lives in Ohio and will fly home on weekends.
Click on pic for larger image
Recently the Corpus Christi Regional Transit Authority, in a move seemingly very typical of local government these days, announced that they were going to fire the current interim director, Jorge Cruz-Aedo, and hire a replacement interim director. That’s a replacement interim director!
Michael Setzer will be the man in charge for the next six months until a new and “permanent” director takes over. Setzer heads a management company, Veolia Transportation, which will be paid $126,000 during that six month period.
In addition Setzer will get reimbursement for his travel expenses, he lives in Ohio and will fly home on weekends.
Click on pic for larger image
Monday, July 05, 2010
Perry, Texas Gop, Funnel Money To Texas Green Party
Click on pic for larger image
Rick Perry and the Texas GOP are engaging in some political sleight of hand to deceive Texas voters in the upcoming Gubernatorial election this November.
They are cynically making moves to split the ticket by helping funnel money to the Green Party and assisting them to get a spot on the ballot. They feel the Green Party will siphon off unsuspecting assorted left wing types and tree huggers and so on who might otherwise have voted for Bill White. Thus those voters will help the party most antithetical to their values.
At the moment their efforts appear to be succeeding but it aint over yet. State Dems vow further legal challenges but it will be difficult going forward. The state Supreme Court is full of Republicans, many Perry appointees.
Texas politics...sigh.
Below are press releases from the state Democratic Party.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RICHIE CALLS ON RICK PERRY To
COME CLEAN WITH TEXAS VOTERS ON
GREEN PARTY BALLOT SCAM CASE
Judge Rules that Green Party Can be Kept Off Ballot;
Source of Secret Corporate Money Tied to Former Perry Chief of Staff
(Corpus Christi, TX) – Texas Democratic Party Chairman Boyd Richie called on Rick Perry to come clean with Texas voters about what role Perry’s campaign played in funneling over $500,000 in secret corporate funds to fund a Green Party petition drive to help Perry’s floundering campaign.
During testimony today, a witness testified that he was paid approximately $12,000 by Rick Perry’s close friend and former Chief of Staff, lobbyist Mike Toomey, to create a plan to gather signatures to get the Green Party of Texas on the ballot. Today, Travis County District Judge John Dietz blocked the Green Party from a spot on the November ballot for accepting illegal corporate contributions to collect the signatures.
“It is time for Rick Perry to come clean with Texas voters,” Texas Democratic Party Chairman Boyd Richie said. “Some of Rick Perry’s closest and most trusted political advisors played a role the effort to funnel corporate money into the illegal Green Party petition drive and Texas voters deserve to know the truth about the extent of their involvement in this illegal ballot scam.”
The involvement of Perry’s associates in this illegal scheme was revealed in sworn testimony in a Travis County District Court today.
“The involvement of Perry’s associates in this illegal scheme to tamper with Texas elections is another sign that career politician Rick Perry will do anything to save his floundering campaign and extend his corrupt political career,” Richie concluded.
FACT SHEET – GREEN PARTY BALLOT SCAM
· Today, Travis County District Judge John Dietz blocked the Green Party from a spot on the November ballot due to the use of illegal corporate contributions used to collect the signatures necessary.
During testimony, it was discovered that Mike Toomey, a close friend to Rick Perry and his former Chief of Staff, paid Garrett Mize, a University of Texas student, approximately $12,000 to convince Green Party of Texas leaders to participate in the ballot petition scam.
· Perry’s family friend, Stewart Moss, a former employee of longtime Perry speechwriter Eric Bearse, first approached Mize about collecting signatures to get the Green Party on the ballot.
Mike Toomey and Rick Perry have been described as “close friends” (Source: Texas Monthly, February 2005).
· Mike Toomey was previously implicated in the TRMPAC scandal in 2002, when secret corporate donations were used to illegally elect Republicans in Texas. According to reports from the Austin American-Statesman, the “indictments…noted that TAB board members Mike Toomey and Eric Glenn, both lobbyists, played prominent roles in soliciting money. (Source: Austin American-Statesman, September 8, 2005).
July 02, 2010
Supreme Court allows Green Party to certify ballot UPDATED
The Texas Supreme Court today stayed a district judge's order blocking the Green Party of Texas from certifying its candidates for the general election ballot.
The effect of the order was to allow the Green Party to legally establish a list of candidates for the general election. But the court also set a series of deadlines for lawyers for the Texas Democratic Party and the Green Party to argue whether a ballot petition drive illegally used corporate money.
"We get to put our candidates on the ballot today. We don't know if we get to keep them there," said Green Party lawyer David Rogers.
Rogers said the order signaled that the court wants to take its time to decide whether corporate money can be legally used by a political party for ballot initiatives. He said the court signaled that there is a real legal issue "that needs to be considered carefully and thoughtfully and not in 15 minutes."
Democratic Party lawyer Chad Dunn said he does not believe the fight is over.
"The effect of the order is to give the Supreme Court time before they open up an enormous loophole for potential election fraud," Dunn said.
UPDATE: The Texas Secretary of State reports receiving a Green Party certification for the following statewide candidates:
Deb Shafto of Houston for governor
Herb Gonzales Jr. of San Antonio for lieutenant governor
Art Browning of Cypress for railroad commissioner
Edward Lindsay of Fort Worth for state comptroller
Click on pic for larger image
Rick Perry and the Texas GOP are engaging in some political sleight of hand to deceive Texas voters in the upcoming Gubernatorial election this November.
They are cynically making moves to split the ticket by helping funnel money to the Green Party and assisting them to get a spot on the ballot. They feel the Green Party will siphon off unsuspecting assorted left wing types and tree huggers and so on who might otherwise have voted for Bill White. Thus those voters will help the party most antithetical to their values.
At the moment their efforts appear to be succeeding but it aint over yet. State Dems vow further legal challenges but it will be difficult going forward. The state Supreme Court is full of Republicans, many Perry appointees.
Texas politics...sigh.
Below are press releases from the state Democratic Party.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RICHIE CALLS ON RICK PERRY To
COME CLEAN WITH TEXAS VOTERS ON
GREEN PARTY BALLOT SCAM CASE
Judge Rules that Green Party Can be Kept Off Ballot;
Source of Secret Corporate Money Tied to Former Perry Chief of Staff
(Corpus Christi, TX) – Texas Democratic Party Chairman Boyd Richie called on Rick Perry to come clean with Texas voters about what role Perry’s campaign played in funneling over $500,000 in secret corporate funds to fund a Green Party petition drive to help Perry’s floundering campaign.
During testimony today, a witness testified that he was paid approximately $12,000 by Rick Perry’s close friend and former Chief of Staff, lobbyist Mike Toomey, to create a plan to gather signatures to get the Green Party of Texas on the ballot. Today, Travis County District Judge John Dietz blocked the Green Party from a spot on the November ballot for accepting illegal corporate contributions to collect the signatures.
“It is time for Rick Perry to come clean with Texas voters,” Texas Democratic Party Chairman Boyd Richie said. “Some of Rick Perry’s closest and most trusted political advisors played a role the effort to funnel corporate money into the illegal Green Party petition drive and Texas voters deserve to know the truth about the extent of their involvement in this illegal ballot scam.”
The involvement of Perry’s associates in this illegal scheme was revealed in sworn testimony in a Travis County District Court today.
“The involvement of Perry’s associates in this illegal scheme to tamper with Texas elections is another sign that career politician Rick Perry will do anything to save his floundering campaign and extend his corrupt political career,” Richie concluded.
FACT SHEET – GREEN PARTY BALLOT SCAM
· Today, Travis County District Judge John Dietz blocked the Green Party from a spot on the November ballot due to the use of illegal corporate contributions used to collect the signatures necessary.
During testimony, it was discovered that Mike Toomey, a close friend to Rick Perry and his former Chief of Staff, paid Garrett Mize, a University of Texas student, approximately $12,000 to convince Green Party of Texas leaders to participate in the ballot petition scam.
· Perry’s family friend, Stewart Moss, a former employee of longtime Perry speechwriter Eric Bearse, first approached Mize about collecting signatures to get the Green Party on the ballot.
Mike Toomey and Rick Perry have been described as “close friends” (Source: Texas Monthly, February 2005).
· Mike Toomey was previously implicated in the TRMPAC scandal in 2002, when secret corporate donations were used to illegally elect Republicans in Texas. According to reports from the Austin American-Statesman, the “indictments…noted that TAB board members Mike Toomey and Eric Glenn, both lobbyists, played prominent roles in soliciting money. (Source: Austin American-Statesman, September 8, 2005).
July 02, 2010
Supreme Court allows Green Party to certify ballot UPDATED
The Texas Supreme Court today stayed a district judge's order blocking the Green Party of Texas from certifying its candidates for the general election ballot.
The effect of the order was to allow the Green Party to legally establish a list of candidates for the general election. But the court also set a series of deadlines for lawyers for the Texas Democratic Party and the Green Party to argue whether a ballot petition drive illegally used corporate money.
"We get to put our candidates on the ballot today. We don't know if we get to keep them there," said Green Party lawyer David Rogers.
Rogers said the order signaled that the court wants to take its time to decide whether corporate money can be legally used by a political party for ballot initiatives. He said the court signaled that there is a real legal issue "that needs to be considered carefully and thoughtfully and not in 15 minutes."
Democratic Party lawyer Chad Dunn said he does not believe the fight is over.
"The effect of the order is to give the Supreme Court time before they open up an enormous loophole for potential election fraud," Dunn said.
UPDATE: The Texas Secretary of State reports receiving a Green Party certification for the following statewide candidates:
Deb Shafto of Houston for governor
Herb Gonzales Jr. of San Antonio for lieutenant governor
Art Browning of Cypress for railroad commissioner
Edward Lindsay of Fort Worth for state comptroller
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Rick Perry: EPA Regs Don't Apply To Texas!
Texas Governor Rick Perry Seeks New Battle With Feds; EPA Standards Don't Apply To Texas Says Perry.
The Evironmental Protection Agency recently denied an operating permit from a Corpus Christi refinery saying it was in violation of the Clean Air Act.
EPA director Al Almendariz has threatened to pull permits from 39 other Texas facilities because state regulators are not enforcing strict air quality standards. For some years Texas has had the dubious distinction of having the most polluted air in the nation.
Texas Governor Rick Perry, seizing another opportunity to continue his attack on the federal governnment, has said he will defy these regulations in order to protect jobs.
“Washington just isn’t happy unless they have total control of everything,” he said.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has been underfire for being too cozy with industry and not sufficiently protective of the environment. This battle has been prominent in another local Corpus Christi controversy concerning the proposal to build a large petroleum coke fired power generation plant, Las Brisas. Local opponents of the project fear the TCEQ regs will still allow unacceptable levels of polluting air emissions.
Click on pic for larger image
Sunday, June 06, 2010
Wednesday Night Storm Smashes Through Corpus Christi Area
Click on pics for larger image Pics are from my house and my neighbors.
Wednesday night, June 2, a strong pair of storm fronts converged right over Corpus Christi bringing winds in excess of hurricane force, up to 90 mph in some areas, and driving rains. It was something of a mini hurricane which lasted for around 4 hours.
At Corpus Christi Naval air Station, near my home, RV's were blown over and six people were injured. A boat barn which had been newly completed was blown out into the Laguna Madre.
Damage was caused all over the area including roofs blown away, trees down and power was knocked out for over 67,000 people.
As of this morning some still are waiting for power to be restored.
Wednesday, June 02, 2010
Perry Turns Down Chance For $700 Million In Federal School Funds
Texas Governor Rick Perry has said that Texas will not compete in the $2 billion Race For The Top federal grants for state education. Texas schools could receive $700 million under this program. Perry says there are too many restrictions and could possibly lead to national standards for education.
That would be a setback for Perry who is more interested in setting school standards which race to the 19th century and as he swings to the right in order to ingratiate himself with Tea Party types as he eyes a run at the Presidency.
Click on pic for larger image
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Rick Perry: Fed Up!
Texas Governor Rick Perry has just announced plans for a new book entitled Fed Up!
The book is scheduled to be released in time for the fall election (what a coincidence!)when Perry will face Democrat Bill White. Perry has a substantial lead in the polls at present.
The book will be published by Little, Brown and Company.
Perry's plans for the future may include a run for the nomination for the Presidency of the federal government he says he hates so.
Perry's book title describes how Texans should feel about him!
Click on pic for larger image
( P.S.:Pic is not a copy of book's actual cover but is, rather, my own invention.)
Texas Governor Rick Perry has just announced plans for a new book entitled Fed Up!
The book is scheduled to be released in time for the fall election (what a coincidence!)when Perry will face Democrat Bill White. Perry has a substantial lead in the polls at present.
The book will be published by Little, Brown and Company.
Perry's plans for the future may include a run for the nomination for the Presidency of the federal government he says he hates so.
Perry's book title describes how Texans should feel about him!
Click on pic for larger image
( P.S.:Pic is not a copy of book's actual cover but is, rather, my own invention.)
Saturday, May 22, 2010
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
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