I had the great pleasure of interviewing Mike Engelhart who is running for 151st District Court Judge in Harris County. You can check out Mike's web site at Engelhart for Judge

Mike, his lovely wife Eva and their two boys Joey and Zachary

Be sure and check for Mike's diaries on Texas Kaos

What are your plans for the 4th? Will you be attending fireworks, a parade, cookout or staying inside out of the rain like me?

Libby's commutation in conflict with recent Supreme Court decision

by: David Van Os

In a decision announced on June 21, 2007, the US Supreme Court in Rita v. United States upheld as reasonable under federal sentencing law a prison sentence of 33 months for the offense of perjury committed in testimony to a grand jury, which is virtually the same sentence imposed on Scooter Libby for the same offense.

The defendant Victor Rita was a 25-year military veteran with 35 commendations, awards and medals for his military service, and in poor medical condition. He contended that the length of his prison term was unreasonable in light of his exemplary service to the country and his health circumstances. The Supreme Court granted review in order to examine and clarify the issue of how to determine the reasonableness of a prison sentence.

Twelve days after the Supreme Court held as a matter of law that a sentence of 33 months of prison for perjury was reasonable for a decorated veteran in poor health, the president, whose sworn duty is to see that the laws are faithfully executed, commuted Scooter Libby's similar sentence for the same offense as "excessive".

Cindy Sheehan is Back and Raring to Go!!!

by: refinish69

Cindy Sheehan had stepped out of the picture as she was frustrated and tired after a very long struggle to wake America up to the Evils of the Bush Regime and the War based on Lies.

The Mounting death toll and Shrub's complete disregard for our legal system has brought Cindy back in our midst.

Call Out The Instigator

by Cindy Sheehan

Call out the Instigator

Because there’s something in the air

We got to get together sooner or later

Because the revolution’s here

You know it’s right! -Thunderclap Newman

I’m not backing off. I tried to remove myself from the political realm of the US, what BushCo is turning into an Evil Empire, but the blatant audacity of George commuting Scooter’s sentence (he’s not ruling out a full pardon —and you know he will) has dragged me kicking and screaming back in. I can’t sit back and let this BushCo drag our country further down into the murky quagmire of Fascism and violence, taking the rest of the world with them!

Will Mike McCaul Condemn Scooter's Amnesty?

by: DanGrant

The commutation of Scooter Libby's prison sentence wasn't really a surprise. We already knew the President believed in amnesty.

But the silence from our Congressman is troubling. Mike McCaul fancies himself an authority on national security and is a member of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct.

Does he condone the treasonous act of outing a clandestine intelligece agent?

Standing by your friends is one thing. Standing by a high government official convicted of lying to federal agents to cover up Dick Cheney's campaign to take the nation to war in Iraq under false pretenses is another.

We need a change in Washington - now.

Please join me at http://www.dangrantf... to see how we can make a fresh start in a new direction.

Update: Action Alert: Cornyn 1st to Cheer Libby's Commutation. Get All Your Texas Reps to Respond!

At 8:35 p.m., Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) became the first member of the Senate GOP leadership to make a statement on the matter, defending the action but using Libby's pardon to take up another cause celebre among conservatives -- the case of Border Patrol agents Ignacio "Nacho" Ramos and Jose "Alonso" Compean, who were sentenced to 11 and 12 years, respectively, for shooting a fleeing drug runner and then covering it up. This is the equivalent of saying thanks, Mr. President, but that's not good enough: "I hope he will give the same consideration to the cases of Border Patrol agents Ramos and Compeon.

Not a Draft Movement Anymore!!! Rick Noriega Announces Exploratory Committee

by: refinish6

Rep. Rick Noriega has announced he will will fill out the necessary paperwork to explore the race to defeat Junior Cornyn. Along with the draft rick movement, 49 of his Texas legislative colleagues sent a letter asking Lt. Col. Rick Noriega to run also.

The Draft Rick Noriega movement will soon be a grassroots support system for helping elected this great man as our next Texas Senator.

Get Well Soon To Kuff

by: refinish69

Texas Kaos sends it warmest wishes and thoughts of Love and Healing to Kuff as he is recovering from pneumonia

Texans need your help.

If you can help out with the flood disaster response in Marble Falls - Hands on Central Texas is posting calls for volunteers. Please see http://www.handsonce... where you can sign up for different

projects that need volunteers.

It takes a village... Sara Hickman headlines benefit picnic on Saturday in Austin area

by: roses

I've known the Roberts family for years, and since their son, John, was born two years ago, I've learned firsthand that it really does take a whole village to raise a child, especially if that child has special needs. John Roberts has septo-optic dysplasia, a birth defect of the brain and eyes. Though rare, as of 2006 it is the new leading cause of blindness in infants. John also has cerebral palsy and three additional rare eye conditions. It takes a large community of family and friends to make it possible for John to receive the ongoing therapies he needs.

So... musicians, chefs, local farmers and business owners, and many others have joined together to put on an awesome benefit picnic tomorrow (Saturday, June 30, 4 pm till sunset) at the Roberts farm near Manor--rain or shine! (There will be shelter in case of rain.)

To make a donation to help John, check out brother John Roberts

Check out the great Act Blue Page from Texas Kaos. Show some love to the candidates Texas Kaos is trying to help and remember to come join us in the fight.

On The Difficulty Of Writing, Or, The War Hits Home

by: fake consultant

I do not want to write this story, and I have been stuck for about ten days because I do not want to face the reality of this particular situation.

But here it is.

Last Friday was the day The Girlfriend and I had to travel to Fort Lewis, Washington, to attend the military departure ceremony for one of our two godsons.

He enlisted in the Army National Guard, and now it’s time to go to the Middle East.

There was no mystery or great surprise that he would be going, and the news is not all bad.

He is not in a Stryker Brigade; thank whichever deity you support, nor a military policeman. It is theoretically possible that the support role he will be filling will actually be moderately safe, which is about the best spin I can offer considering the circumstances.

He and his brother are our two godsons, and we have literally been looking out for them since the days of their birth. To illustrate the point more clearly, I was his birth photographer.

The Girlfriend and I attended Lamaze-twice-to allow us access to both deliveries, but circumstances caused us to miss his older brother’s birth by eight hours.

We have been the “bad” godparents ever since-the ones who introduced them to Beavis and Butt-Head, and Ren and Stimpy, and Skittles and Jolt Cola and Archie McPhee.

It isn’t as though I didn’t try to nip this in the bud.

I suggested the Air Force (a subject I can speak about from personal experience), but I was clearly not as persuasive as I could have been.

Which is how we found ourselves at Fort Lewis.

The families assembled in a hangar on base, a small band offered up patriotic music, important officers offered up inspiring words, and an award was presented to the officer who managed the required paperwork that made the deployment possible. Finally, with a clanging of warning bells, the hangar doors were opened to reveal the soldiers we were there to honor, standing in formation.

Nobody reacts to the officer who says: “This is the last time I will have the chance to address all of you...”

Everyone wants to look brave, soldier and family alike; but there is no way to sit in a room with small child noises filling the space, and not know the future will likely be so, so tough for some of those little children.

Goodbye Cindy Sheehan

by: lightseeker

In what she described as a ''resignation letter,'' Sheehan wrote in her online diary on the ''Daily Kos'' blog: ''Good-bye America ... you are not the country that I love and I finally realized no matter how much I sacrifice, I can't make you be that country unless you want it.

''It's up to you now.''

[snip]

''I have endured a lot of smear and hatred since Casey was killed and especially since I became the so-called ''Face'' of the American anti-war movement,'' Sheehan wrote in the diary.

How Courage is involved

by: Stewart True Courage

In all the *fuhrer* over the House Speaker's machinations this weekend, it may seem a trifle pollyanish to bring up my own organization's recent action to bestow awards on legislators. But there really is a relationship here.

In case you missed it, the True Courage Action Network recently ran a poll and asked everyone who follows the Lege which senator, rep, and advocate demonstrated the greatest courage defending Texas from the kleptocrats who are fighting right now to hold on to power. The poll winners are:

Best State Senator: Rodney Ellis

Best State Representative: Mike Villarreal

Best State Advocate: ACLU of Texas (represented by Will Harrell, Sonia Santana, and Kat Dean)

In addition, TCAN's own members chose to honor:

Sen. Mario Gallegos for: Defending Voting Rights in the Senate

Rep. Rafael Anchía for: Defending Voting Rights in the House

Sen. Royce West for: Promoting Ethics Reform

Rep. Jim Dunnam for: Delivering a Passionate Floor Speech

and

Craig McDonald of Texans for Public Justice for: Delivering a Daring Testimony.

All these individuals and organizations have the guts (well, we prefer the term "Courage") to stand on principle regarding ethics issues -- often against their own political best interests. Contrast that with the current jockeying for power in the House by people who get away with saying anything to get elected because our electorate is so ill-informed.

When accepting our awards, these winners insisted that they weren't heroes, that other people contributed more, that they were just doing what they thought they had to do. They were also eager to point out that having a network of friends in the activist community had been essential for them to pass legislation that's good for Texas and Texans.

Iscariot Caucus Still Full of S**t

by: boadicea

Capitol Annex has the rundown:

Democrats for Reform, is, of course, the group of Craddick-allied Democrats who put out a "reform" agenda earlier this year.

The reality of their agenda, however, is that it didn't amount to much and that this group actually circumvented some other good reforms.

Restore full funding of CHIP- HB 109 does not fully restore CHIP to pre-2003 levels

Reform Medicaid eligibility- vague, unclear - cannot point to anything definitive

Restore the TEXAS Grants scholarship fund- 7,000 fewer students will receive TEXAS Grants than in 2003

Repeal tuition deregulation- HB 2382 by Coleman (definitely NOT an Iscariot) was the sole piece of legislation this session repealing tuition deregulation

Anti-Abortion Terrorism Suspect Arrested in Austin

by: moiv

The American-Statesman reports the arrest of Paul Ross Evans (left) , 27, of Austin for the attempted bombing of an Austin clinic that provides abortion care.

Law enforcement officials made the announcement at a news conference this afternoon.

"Our initial estimates are that the device could have caused serious injury or death within a hundred-foot radius," Assistant Police Chief David Carter said. "I do believe the threat has been removed."

Evans made an initial appearance before a federal magistrate this afternoon. Evans, who was crying, had an attorney appointed for him.

[:::]

The bomb was in a soft-side insulated cooler and contained 2 pounds of nails, a battery, a 12-inch piece of copper pipe, a mechanical timer and a propane cylinder, according to an affidavit from an FBI agent that was used to arrest Evans.

Inside the pipe was potassium nitrate, which can be used to manufacture gunpowder, and a type of sugar called dextrin, the affidavit says.

There was also a device that would detonate the bomb ...

Well, My Cat Is In The Hospital

by: annatopia

The contamination has spread to the human food supply. Poultry in Missouri and pigs in several states are now being tested for contamination. When is this going to end?

Claude, my fourteen year old baby, threw up Monday night. We didn't think much of it because, well, cats puke sometimes. But with all the recall mess, I watched him very closely Tuesday.

Tuesday he spent the day curled up in a corner of our bedroom. When I felt his ears and throat, he was very very warm. I tried to get him to eat, and he wouldn't. He also threw up the water he drank.

thank you to everyone for sending your healing thoughts and prayers. it has helped to comfort me at this difficult time.

unfortunately, claude didn't make it.

Texas Journalism Awards "Tainted"

by: lightseeker

Texas Press Club Awards May Be Tainted - Forbes.com

By JEFF CARLTON 04.24.07, 10:08 AM ET

The Press Club of Dallas may have to review the last three years' worth of Katie Awards, one of the Southwest's most prestigious journalism prizes, because of the possibility they were rigged, the club's president said.

The entries for the 2006 Katies apparently never went before judges, and competitions from 2004 and 2005 are being probed, club President Tom Stewart said Monday.

by: moiv

As reported by the Dallas Morning News and Vince at Capitol Annex, Warren Chisum's HB 175 -- a "trigger bill" to make abortion a felony in Texas should Roe v. Wade be overturned -- appears to have gone down for the count.

A stiff anti-abortion bill is probably gone for the legislative session, dragged down partly by a budget analysis that showed outlawing all abortions would cost the state more than $400 million in health care costs over the next three years.

[:::]

The cost from ending abortions in Texas would come from an estimated 63,000 more births, of which 67 percent are likely to be supported by Medicaid, according to projections from the nonpartisan Legislative Budget Board.

Based on current abortion rates of about 78,000 a year, the board estimated that if abortion were illegal, 20 percent of women would go to a state where the procedure was legal. The remainder, based on projections, would carry their pregnancy to term and require medical and social support.

While Warren Chisum says his bill failed to make the cut because "It got hung on a bad vote in committee," and Vince Liebowitz wonders whether "some in the Legislature are simply tired of voting for bad public policy time and time and time again," a projected bill for $400,000,000 in social services was just as likely the real sticking point for the solons of the Tax Relief State.

Laura Bush: No one has Suffered More from Iraq than George and Me

by: krazypuppy

Yes. Laura Bush really did say that no American suffers more than she or Georgie do.

Laura Bush speaking on the Today Show told Anne Curry that the American people need to know that "no one suffers more than their President and I do."

Are you listening America? None of you suffer more than Laura Bush & hubby George do.

Not the families of the 3333 Americans who died in Iraq. Certainly not those 3333 Americans (because they are, well, DEAD) who were sent to their deaths by her husband based on false information, false reasons, and by unqualified leaders. Not the 26,000+ Americans who have been injured in Iraq.

Texas Kaos

Happy Easter from the Texas Kaos Gang!!!!

The show starts out with part of an interview with Boadicea one of the front pager at Texas Kaos blog and she also has her own blog - Boadicea.

There is a blogswarm dedicated to the separation of church and state, which will be held Easter Weekend, April 6-8, 2007. In the show, I discuss some of my feelings dealing with respecting all families. To get more information on the separation of church and state check out First Freedom First .

Warren Chisum & Women Who "Try Things on Their Own"

by: moiv

Texas State Representative Warren Chisum made national news in February by endorsing the idea that teaching the theory of evolution in public schools is unlawful: Copernicus got it all wrong, and the rumor that the Earth rotates around the Sun is only a Kabbalistic plot. His hasty assertion that it was all a misunderstanding is belied by his effort to force Texas high schools to teach a Bible curriculum full of misrepresentations and outright lies.

Chisum's stunning ignorance of science and American history is surpassed by his bland disregard for the lethal nature of another of his current initatives. Should Roe v. Wade be overturned, Chisum's HB 175 would make abortion a crime. Illegal abortion currently kills at least 68,000 women each year - somewhere in the world, another woman dies in the time it takes to read this story - but for Warren Chisum, that's not worth worrying about.

For the rest of the story, check out < a href="http://tinyurl.com/2jndqy">Texas Kaos

TXU takes back blackmail threat

by: lightseeker

DALLAS - TXU Corp. told regulators Friday to disregard a threat to shut down some of its power plants because of a dispute over accusations of price manipulation and said it might even put some mothballed plants back into operation.

Chief Executive C. John Wilder acknowledged that the company had mishandled the situation and promised to "get it right the next time."

For more on the story, check out Texas Kaos.

Mitt Romney Proves He is a Bigot Yet Again.

by: refinish69

Mitt Romney, in an effort to win support from the ultra conservatives, calls for a new try at the Federal Marriage Amendment. This type of Bigotry and hatred has marked the Republican party for so long that it seems it is the only way they know to campaign.

For more on the story, check Texas Kaos.

Dan Patrick (R) Walks Out on First Muslim Prayer in Senate

by: krazypuppy

The man who has shown his compassion (not to mention his IQ) for women by offering to buy their babies from them for $500, showed his tolerance for religious freedom at the Texas Senate...by walking out on the first Muslim prayer ever held in the Texas Senate.

Yes. That's right. Dan Patrick, the reichtwing radio talk show host whose "baby buying" bill was first reported by TexasKaos' moiv and has since brought widespread condemnation of Patrick, the Texas GOP and (of course) Texas, walked out on the very first Muslim prayer held in the Senate and then had the audacity to call himself tolerant!

"I think that it's important that we are tolerant as a people of all faiths, but that doesn't mean we have to endorse all faiths, and that was my decision," he said later, "I surely believe that everyone should have the right to speak, but I didn't want my attendance on the floor to appear that I was endorsing that."

Patrick was the only Texas Senator to walk out on him.

For the rest of the story, check out Texas Kaos

Easter Bonnet

Hope you enjoy the show!!!!

There's No Bidness Like Soul Bidness

by: livesinashoe

Senator Dan Patrick (R., Houston) has introduced Texas Senate Bill 1567, captioned "Relating to the creation of the adoption incentive program." The text of the bill can be found here, in html,.pdf and Word formats.

This bill proposes to pay each and every Texas woman who opts for adoption rather than abortion the sum of 500 American dollars. To incentivize adoption in this way is dangerous for the women of Texas, and exposes them to emotional damage and suffering beyond their imagining at the time of adoption. The damage can be so severe that it can be tantamount to losing one's soul.

Check the rest of the story at Texas Kaos

Another Democrat with Spine: Rep. John Murtha (D-PA)

by: lightseeker

You have to see the video. Trust me you will not regret it.

Here is a man who is focused squarely on serving the best interest of the American people and of our sons and daughters in uniform.

When he says that we should only deploy troops who are "trained and mission ready", he means it. When he says that a vote against this appropriations bill is a vote against the troops , he frames the issue beautifully.

See the rest of the story and the link to the videao at Texas Kaos.

My response to Big Oil's BIG GUNS

by: TXsharon

Hee hee

Big Oil sent out their big guns after little old me just because I tried to help Wise County residents understand the truth about Groundwater Conservation Districts--a truth Big Oil does not want us to know.

As I explained in my Op-Ed piece that was published in the Wise County Messenger on February 22nd, and in my diary here: Oil and gas exemption should be eliminated Groundwater Conservation Districts are not going to have ANY control over oil and gas companies because Groundwater Conservation Districts are EXEMPT.

For the rest of the story, check out Texas Kaos

Another AIDS Ride Diary

by: BeckyH

So, I have asked folks who work at AIDS agencies about their finding, and, as usual, it isn't good. Warning, the following diary is not for the faint of heart. Actually, it is purposefully intended to break your heart.

About AIDS in Austin: Austin has experienced over 4,400 diagnosed AIDS cases through December, 2006. Over 2,300 of these men, women and children have died.The CDC estimates 25%-30% of HIV-infected people - perhaps as many as 1,500 Central Texans - do not know that they are HIV-positive, because they have not gotten tested or tested recently. Of Austinites with full AIDS, about ? are 20-29 years old. Given an average incubation period of about 10+ years from infection to AIDS, this suggests they were infected with HIV in their teens or early 20's. Of 1,300+ HIV cases in the last 7 years, 53% are white, 22% are black, and 23% are Hispanic. Currently, about ¼ of those with full AIDS are African-American, but only 10% of the population is black. Latinos are about even (about ¼ of both cases and population), as are whites (55% vs. 60% of population).

For the rest of the story, check out Texas Kaos

It's A Mystery Why Gonzalas Still Has His Job

by: fast2write

"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science."

- Albert Einstein

Under the Microscope

by Glynn Wilson

My favorite answer to just about any political, social or technological question these days is: "It's a mystery."

When it concerns the workings of computers and the Internet, it's "a dang old dot dot dot mystery."

Life is full of mysteries. Love them or hate them, you can't avoid them.

There are things we can know; things we can't.

For a journalist or a scientist, even a social scientist, this can be infuriating.

But you learn to live with it.

One of the things we humans do to deal with all the mysteries of life is to turn for answers to literature, movies or music. Some people turn to tabloids and soap operas. But they are not worth considering in this discussion.

Why is it that some news stories "get legs" and tons of airplay, and others don't?

I've been in and around the news business for almost 30 years and sometimes still don't get it.

Is the paternity of Anna Nicole Smith's baby or Britany Spears' shaved head and rehab experience really that much more interesting than Natalie Maines' musical fight with Bush and miraculous comeback?

For the rest of the story, check Texas Kaos

Now Gov. Perry is off to Dubai! Outrageous UPDATE

by: Branded Brazoria link

Did I miss something? When exactly did Dubai and Texas become such buddies we seem to be on a corporation and politicians exchange program? While I like Dubai, especially their indoor snow skiing center, in the desert, what exactly is Governor Perry doing going while in the midst of a very important legislative session?

Seriously, it's not like the Texas Legislator is in session for long drawn out periods of time, but ol' Perfect Hair has taken his wife and a couple of aides for a week long trip around the Persian Gulf.

Breaking News!! TYC Juvenile Sex Scandal ousts TYC Board's Resignation

by: refinish69

link

I guess they had to wait till Perry was out of town so he didn't have to answer any questions.

TYC Board Resigns After Approving Rehabilitation Plan

Board members of the state's troubled youth prison system resigned en masse Friday.

The members of the Texas Youth Commission board acted after recommending a system-wide rehabilitation plan. That calls for stricter inmate supervision and new procedures for reporting and investigating sex abuse allegations.

Media Matters Sunday Campaign Deserves Your Attention

by: krazypuppy

link

On our left bar, you'll find an advertisement for what I call Media Matters Take Back Sunday campaign. Instead of linking here, I ask you to click the advertisement since it helps TexaKaos.com out.

The campaign is based off their report which found that news programs on Sunday still favor Republicans and rightwing viewpoints despite the 2006 election results. Sunday news shows, despite the relatively small audience, set up the news cycle for the week and greatly influence the frame for Americans who watch and drive the news.

Introducing the Man Who Will Beat John Cornyn

by: boadicea

link

From the diaries. Richard Morrison ran one of the strongest netroots campaigns in the 2004 cycle against Tom DeLay. He's having some password troubles, so I'm posting this on his behalf. Boadicea

In 2004, when I challenged Tom Delay at the height of his power, it was seen as a fool's errand. The Majority Leader of the House was considered unassailable.

I and my campaign team assailed him nonetheless, because it was a job that needed doing. When we held him to 55%, it was clear that Fortress Delay had more than a few cracks.

In 2008, we have another job that needs doing. Time to replace John Cornyn in the Senate. And Cornyn's numbers show him to be vulnerable to a strong, people-powered candidate from the Democratic side.

Is there such a candidate? I believe there is. I'm asking you to help me draft him into the service of his state and his country once again.

My Podcast Alley feed! {pca-fdd832855fb3325e53d9375c8f3cd57f}

Welcome to the first of many shows from Texas Kaos. This is a sister site for Texas Kaos blog. The show is an introduction to the world and some insights into what we will be doing in the future. Come join us as we fight to take Texas and America back!!!!