July 2011
16 posts
8 tags
Straight Party Voting Unconstitutional?
That’s the argument made in a lawsuit moving through the Texas courts (Source). Currently, the question is whether or not the plaintiff has the standing to bring the suit; you can read the petition here and the response here. Earlier this year, Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson said that the Texas Constitution should be amended to allow for non-partisan judicial elections (Source). State Sen....
5 tags
8 tags
What Ben Franklin Really Said →
“Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.” - Benjamin Franklin
We’ve all heard this quote, and it was recently used by one blogger to justify not banning fireworks during a drought (here). But Benjamin Wittes asks if this quote means what we think it means. With some cues from Mr Wittes, I have found the context...
5 tags
Yes, Rick Perry Was a Democrat
And once upon a time, most of us Texans were. There are two new profiles out about Gov. Rick Perry’s time as a Democrat. The first is the Texas Tribune’s profile, which appeared in the New York Times - Rick Perry: The Democrat Years. The other is from Time, and focuses on Perry’s time as the head of Al Gore’s Texas campaign - Rick Perry’s Inconvenient Truth. A few...
4 tags
5 tags
False Assumptions About Fundraising
In which talkstraight makes a false assumption about the President’s overseas fundraising:
At the 3:29 mark: “Globally we raised more than 86-million dollars — more than $47 million for Obama for America and more than $38 million for the DNC.” If Team Obama is indeed raising money “globally” as he claims, then they would be in violation of FEC contribution law.
If we read the the Federal...
7 tags
Ron Paul Retiring from the House
The Brazoria County Facts says that Ron Paul will not be seeking re-election to his House seat in CD-14. Paul’s district has been significantly redrawn, as I discussed last month - here. The new district would have been much more difficult to win than in it’s current configuration. The addition of Jefferson County is particularly of concern for Paul. In 2008, Democratic candidates were...
6 tags
Azimuth Research Group
So, I e-mailed them (info@azimuthpolls.com) and promptly received a failure notice. Not promising. Also their phone number (202-239-6207) is apparently a cell phone in Washington D.C. for someone named Dave (yeah, I called). I’m beginning to think this is not a real polling firm.
7 tags
Ron Paul Wins Texas GOP Poll →
Can anyone discuss this poll objectively? For example, this article states: “The Azimuth Research Group has provided an analysis of its Texas GOP poll to explain its methodology.” Actually, there is no analysis, or any explanation of their methodology. As to analysis, saying Texas will play a key role in the nomination is a joke. And with regard to methodology, there is no explanation...
6 tags
WatchEveryone has been all a twitter over Obama’s social media townhall with #AskObama. It should be ripe for parody; something along the lines of this classic SNL sketch - Ask Carter. “You did some Orange Sunshine Peter.”
8 tags
Ron Paul Leads Texas Republican Primary →
I have never, ever heard of the Azimuth Research Group before (and their about page offers very little information about who they are or their methodology), and I think the only reason I am hearing about this now is because they have a poll showing Ron Paul leading the Texas primary. Their data conflicts with recent surveys of Texas. The Texas Tribune/UT poll from early May showed both Rick Perry...
7 tags
8 tags
Liberalism, Distributism and Catholicism →
Writing in the Distributist Review, Thomas Storck discusses the liberalism of the Acton Institute and its compatibility with Catholic social thought. The primary complaint with liberalism is that is divorces man and government from their duties to God. There is a specific complaint against laissez-faire, invisible hand capitalism (which they incorrectly tie to Adam Smith, as they have done before,...
6 tags
Happy Independence Day
It’s been a good Independence Day - even without fireworks. Started out in Fredericksburg, drove to Luckenbach, and ended the day in San Antonio. Pics will be posted tomorrow.
To end the night, here is the last stanza of one of my favourite poems: Columbia by Timothy Dwight:
Thus, as down a lone valley, with cedars o’erspread, From war’s dread confusion I pensively stray’d- The gloom from...
4 tags
Fireworks, Burn Bans and Common Sense
I responded to Alex’s post comments about firework’s bans earlier, and he has responded to my ask:
Until a fire that damages other people’s properties is started, there is no crime committed. The government shouldn’t be able to say, “we’re going to stop you from doing something because you might hurt others.”
People’s homes have already burned and millions in property has...
8 tags
Texas Bans Fireworks for 4th of July →
Yesterday, alexholzbach posted this story from the Daily Texan (UT’s campus newspaper). I suspected the reason he posted, but he posted it without comment. Later, he was asked about it, and here is his response. He begins by quoting Colbert (who, as usual, was being satirical, since there is no real danger of being abducted by carnies, but when you’ve been in a drought since October,...
